Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016

Aquatic biologists research sever coral bleaching events in Hawai`i's ocean waters.
Photo from Hawai`i Department of Land & Natural Resources

FOLLOWING SEVERE CORAL BLEACHING EVENTS in 2014 and 2015 within Hawai`i’s ocean waters, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources has been working to identify management actions that can be taken to promote post-coral bleaching recovery and resiliency in Hawai`i’s coral reefs.

“The state is currently on the cutting edge of applying climate resiliency-based management, and benefits from its close partnerships with coral science experts both here and around the world,” DAR administrator Bruce Anderson said. “DAR is committed to implementing effective management strategies within its abilities, including fisheries and habitat rules.”
Dr. Ruth Gates, Director and Researcher at the University of Hawai`i’s Institute of Marine Biology, said, “Coral bleaching is an increasing threat to the health of corals reefs both in Hawai`i and globally. The state of Hawai`i has taken a very proactive stance in convening the management, conservation and scientific communities and developing a coordinated response to protect Hawai`i’s critical coral reef assets in the face of this urgent problem.”
Coral bleaching is a stress response in which the coral animal expels algae-producing organisms called zooxanthellae that live within their tissue. Once the zooxanthellae are expelled, the coral is in a weakened state and is more vulnerable to stressors including disease. If high temperatures are sustained, a coral bleaching event can lead to coral mortality.

Dr. William Walsh

To address this, DAR aquatic biologists began by gathering information and surveying more than 80 coral experts and scientists. Additionally they reviewed all existing scientific literature – a synthesis of over 200 articles.

DAR biologist Dr. William Walsh said of his team’s findings from in-water surveys in West Hawai`i, “We observed an average coral mortality of 50 percent in the West Hawai`i region, which holds some of the state’s richest coral reefs. Unfortunately, this area also experienced the highest sustained ocean temperatures during the 2015 coral bleaching event.” On Maui, DAR biologist Russell Sparks reports, “coral mortality in the hardest hit areas on Maui were between 20-30 percent.”
Last month, a workshop involving 44 Hawai`i-based scientists and managers applied a Hawai`i lens to the information previously gathered as well as to identify management recommendations in four priority locations: West Hawai`i, West Maui, Kane`ohe Bay, and North Kaua`i. These areas were chosen because they were exposed to the most severe thermal stress during the 2014 and 2015 bleaching events.
One of the outputs of this workshop was a list of top statewide management recommendations to promote coral recovery. The top-rated action in this exercise was to “establish a network of permanent, fully protected, no-take Marine Protected Areas.” According to DAR, MPAs may help corals recover from a bleaching event by removing additional environmental and human-caused stressors, including overfishing.
Reduction of land-based pollution including sediment and nutrient runoff, which can smother corals or introduce toxic substances into the environment, was also a high priority.
Additionally, protection and efficient management of herbivorous, or algae-eating, fish and invertebrates was discussed as a critical action. Herbivores remove excess algae, which can quickly take over a coral reef affected by bleaching.
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Joshua Corbin

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE SEARCHING for a 30-year-old man who frequents Ocean View wanted for sexual assault.

Joshua Corbin has no permanent address. He also has been seen in Kona and Hilo.
In addition to the sexual assault on Hawai`i Island, Corbin is wanted in Texas for sexual assault and in Kona for traffic incidents.
He is described as six feet tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. He may have a mustache and goatee.

Two female campers at Manuka said they received advice from an official not to stay there because of possible danger.
Police caution the public not to approach Corbin, as he is considered a danger to the community.
Instead, anyone who sees him or knows his whereabouts is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES passed the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act, bipartisan legislation co-introduced by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz that will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States. The bill, which passed in the Senate in April, now heads to President Obama for his signature.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

“This bill will empower native communities to tell their own stories and build their own economic opportunities,” Schatz said. “For too long, tourism has focused on so-called major destinations, and while that’s important, we have the opportunity to support cultural revitalization and economic renewal through the passage of this bill. “Visitors are increasingly seeking out a more authentic and historically rich travel experience, and there is nothing more authentic and unique than the cultural tourism experience our native communities provide.”

The NATIVE Act would require federal agencies with tourism assets and responsibilities to include tribes and native organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning. It would also provide Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native and American Indian communities with access to resources and technical assistance needed to build sustainable recreational and cultural travel and tourism infrastructure and capacity, spur economic development and create good jobs, Schatz said.
“The NATIVE Act is a strong piece of legislation that will drive economic growth not only in areas that house Native lands and cultural attractions, but also for communities in every corner of the country,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “We are pleased to see our lawmakers prioritize a measure that expands travel and tourism promotion opportunities for these lands – particularly allowing them to attract more international visitors, whose trips often have a tremendous positive ripple effect on the surrounding local economy.”
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Mauli Ola Festival takes place at Malian Lahey's
Wood Valley Farm.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for the Mauli Ola Festival later this month in Wood Valley. The event brings together a global tribe to celebrate, learn and generate new conversations about coffee, human rights and earth-friendly practices like permaculture and Leave No Trace. “Conversations like these are powerful force multipliers that can create real shifts in how the world works,” organizer Malian Lahey said. “Help us launch the first-ever Mauli Ola Festival.”

According to www.wehewehe.org, Mauli Ola is the Hawaiian term for sacred, healing energy. Similar to Qi, Prana, Mana and other terms, Mauli Ola is specifically the sacred light of healing.
The festival begins on Thursday, Sept. 22 with workshops and a bonfire and continues with music and workshops on Friday and
Saturday.
The Coffee And Human Rights Circle Sept. 21-23 is a community discussion about how to improve human rights in our industry in the spirit of open dialogue and partnership.
Barista Magazine, Ka`u Specialty LLC, Sunalini Menon, Sarah Allen, Sarah Grant and more are sponsors. Tickets include screenings of The Coffee Man, about Sasa Sestic’s WBC journey, and The Land Of Eb, about Marshallese coffee pickers in Hawai`i.
See mauliolafestival.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Kamehameha Schools offers One-Stop-Shops in Ka`u
today and next Tuesday. Photo from KS

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS OFFERS One-Stop-Shops today and next Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church Hall. Staff help with admissions, Ho`oulu Hawaiian Data Center, financial aid and scholarships.

For more information, call 982-0851, or see apps.ksbe.edu/admissions.

ORAL ABIHAI SHARES HIS PASSION for making `ukulele from discarded or naturally fallen pieces of wood tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.