Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, Sept. 23, 2016

Ka`u Plantation Days at Na`alehu Park begins with a pa`u parade on Hwy 11. See more below.
Photo by Ron Johnson

A FINAL RULE TO CREATE A PATHWAY for reestablishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community has been published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The final rule sets out an administrative procedure and criteria that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior would use if the Native Hawaiian community forms a unified government that then seeks such a relationship with the United States.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

“This final rule provides the Native Hawaiian community with the opportunity to exercise self-determination by reestablishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said. “Throughout this two-year rulemaking process, thousands of voices from the Native Hawaiian community and the public testified passionately about the proposal. Today is a major step forward in the reconciliation process between Native Hawaiians and the United States that began over 20 years ago. We are proud to announce this final rule that respects and supports self-governance for Native Hawaiians, one of our nation’s largest indigenous communities.”

The rule builds on more than 150 federal statutes that Congress enacted over the last century to recognize and implement the special political and trust relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. It also considered and addressed extensive public comments during the rulemaking process, which included public meetings in Hawai`i and the mainland United States.

Native Hawaiians have not had a formal unified government since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai`i in 1893. In 1993, Congress enacted the Apology Resolution, which offered an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for its role in the overthrow and committed the federal government to a process of reconciliation. As part of that reconciliation process, in 2000, DOI and the Department of Justice jointly issued a report identifying as its lead recommendation the need to foster self-determination for Native Hawaiians under Federal law.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

The decision to reorganize a Native Hawaiian government is one for the Native Hawaiian community – not the federal government – to make as an exercise of self-determination. If a formal government-to-government relationship is reestablished, it could provide the community with greater flexibility to preserve its distinct culture and traditions. It could also enhance their ability to affect its special status under federal law by exercising powers of self-government over many issues directly impacting community members.

“This is an historic step towards doing what is right and just for Native Hawaiians,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “For far too long, Native Hawaiians have been the only federally recognized native people without a government-to-government relationship with the United States. Generations of Hawaiians and allies have worked to restore this relationship, and this rule is one of the most significant developments in making this a real possibility. Although the rule establishes formal procedures for a Native Hawaiian government to establish its governmental relationship with the United States, it leaves the Hawaiian community with the authority and responsibility to reorganize its governing entity. President Obama’s leadership and personal commitment to Hawai`i was evident in the level of community engagement conducted by his administration and essential to ensuring this path forward for Native Hawaiians.”

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, “For decades, many in the Native Hawaiian community have fought for the same rights and treatment as indigenous groups across the United States, like Native American tribes and Alaska Natives. The Department of Interior announcement today simply places the decision-making authority solely within the hands of Native Hawaiians to determine what, if any, government-to-government relationship they choose to have with the U.S. federal government. I had the great honor of working as a legislative aide to Sen. Akaka, who dedicated so much of his life to creating this opportunity for our Native Hawaiian community. I look forward to continuing to engage and work alongside our Native Hawaiian brothers and sisters as they determine their path forward.”

The rule, along with Frequently Asked Questions and other supporting documents, is available for review at www.doi.gov/hawaiian.
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A 3.2-magnitude quake shook Ka`u this morning.
Photo from USGS/HVO

DID YOU FEEL IT? An earthquake rattle Ka`u’s sloped of Mauna Loa at about 9:30 a.m. According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the minor earthquake was centered 8.8 miles from Kilauea’s summit. Originally listed at magnitude 3.0, a seismic analyst later increased it to 3.2.

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TWENTY AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS will be donated by Big Island Toyota to Hawai`i Island nonprofits as part of the Be a Lifesaver Hawai`i campaign effort. Each recipient organization will also receive free lifesaving bystander chest compression only CPR and AED training at its facility as part of the AED donation. Deadline for submitting applications/nominations is close of business on Oct. 15.

Hawai`i Island nonprofits can apply to receive free AEDs.
Photo from American Red Cross

Winning nonprofits will be notified no later than Oct. 20 of their selection by the Be a Lifesaver Hawai`i committee and will be invited to attend a special presentation at Big Island Toyota’s main showroom in Hilo on Oct. 27.

Applications can be mailed or delivered in person to Big Island Toyota, Attn: Calvin Koga, 811 Kanoelehua Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720.
Contact Lisa Rantz at 932-3636 with any questions.

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Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Dr. Thomas Jaggar
is on holiday for two weeks. Photo from KDEN

“A WALK INTO THE PAST,” Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network’s Living History program, is taking a two-week break. There will be no shows on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. The program will resume on Oct. 11 and will repeat every Tuesday, with performances at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. At that time participants can meet Dr. Thomas Jaggar, portrayed by Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger, and find out what drew him to the edge of Kilauea to study volcanoes. Meet at Kilauea Visitor’s Center to be escorted to Whitney Vault, home of the original seismograph.

Hershberger is a playwright-director-actor-entertainer best known for this long-running and critically acclaimed presentation.
The performance is free; park entrance fees apply. Donations are gratefully accepted.
For more information, call 982-7344, or email kden73@aol.com.

A FREE LEGAL CLINIC COMES TO KA`U tomorrow. The Senior Counsel Division of Hawai`i Bar Association, in coordination with Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc., provides legal information at Ka`u Resource & Distance Learning Center, 96-3126 Puahala Street in Pahala, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Topics include law on estate/probate/trust, criminal, no-fault/insurance, environmental, immigration, employment/labor, landlord/tenant, personal injury, civil rights and Hawaiian rights.

CELEBRATE KA`U PLANTATION DAYS tomorrow at Na`alehu Park. A parade, with horses and riders representing the Hawaiian islands, begins at 9 a.m. along Hwy 11.

For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.

Mishka performs tomorrow. Photo from
Mauli Ola Festival

MAULI OLA FESTIVAL CONTINUES through tomorrow evening at Wood Valley Farm.

Saturday workshop topics include fermented foods, soil microbes and permaculture.
An evening concert features music by Malian, Drew Daniels, David Kai, Dread Ashanti, Love Eternal, Mishka and Youssoupha Sidibe.
For more information and tickets, see mauliolafestival.com.

TOMORROW IS A FEE-FREE DAY at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Entry fees are waived on National Public Lands Day.
Kīlauea Military Camp invites the public to experience how KMC supports America’s troops by utilizing any of its facilities and services.

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