Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016

A Kohola, false killer whale, beached itself at Ka Lae yesterday. Photo by Nohea Ka`awa

A KOHOLA THAT BEACHED ITSELF at Ka Lae yesterday later died.

According to Nohea Ka`awa, who witnessed the tragedy, false killer whales rarely beach themselves, “though it is the second finding here in Ka`u within a short amount of time. They usually beach themselves only when severely sick and do it as an aid to stay afloat so that there’s no struggle to breathe. Should they be stranded in the ocean while sick, they could die of drowning. In this situation, the tide was on the rise, and winds picked up, making it difficult to assist in any way as she stressed while injuring herself on the reef. She died at around 10:40 a.m.”

Rodney Kuahiwinui measures the Kohola.
Photo by Nohea Ka`awa

Ka`awa reported that a NOAA employee and two Hawai`i Division of Conservation & Resources Enforcement officers documented the incident and that NOAA decided to have the whale transported to O`ahu for further testing and to find out the exact cause of death. Rodney Kuahiwinui took measurements and transported the whale from Ka`u to be moved off island.

“For myself and many cultural practitioners of our Hawaiian traditions, the function of the Kohola within our ecosystem is highly respected,” Ka`awa said. “The Kohola and Palaoa is mentioned in our Kumulipo: ‘Hanau ka palaoa noho i kai,’ Born is the whale living in the ocean.
“These Kupuna are messengers who speak of the condition of our oceans. Whales are Kinolau (manifestations) of Kanaloa (Deity of the deep Ocean). Kanaloa is our ancestor where deep knowledge is acquired through our conciousness and unconciousness. I carry a direct lineal tie to this Akua! My last name is Kaʻawa (ʻawa, kavakava) which too is yet another Kinolau of Kanaloa. My ancestors were known as dream interpreters and would be sought out by our Ali`i to aid transcribing. “When this Kohola died, those present could feel her death within their na`au. It was bittersweet! As kanaka, we have a lot of Kuleana to our Mother Earth. Without her, our survival is no more. It is my hope that NOAA will treat this Kohola with the respect that they would the death of one of their family members. If not, she should be returned to Ka`u (where she chose to die) so that proper protocol can be performed.”
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Nurse Practitioner Megan Lewis, center, joins Dr. Dexter Hayes,
left, and Nurse Practitioner and Clinic Manager Susan Field.
Photo from Ka`u Hospital Rural Health Clinic

KA`U HOSPITAL RURAL HEALTH CLINIC celebrates the return of nurse practitioner Megan Lewis, who worked at the clinic last fall. She joined the permanent staff on Sept. 1 and sees patients Tuesday through Friday. In addition to her nurse practitioner skills, Lewis is certified to give PUC physicals. Ka`u Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris said, “Patients really love her.”

Susan Field, the Nurse Practitioner and Clinic Manager with Ka`u since 2013, serves the community on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, “helping to ensure that our patients have access to care when they need it,” said Harris.
Harris also reported that Dr. Dexter Hayes announced she will leave Jan. 9 “to pursue a year of adventure. Dr. Hayes has been with us for six years and has decided to take some well-deserved time for herself to travel, visit friends and family and enjoy her passion for diving vacations.”
Dr. Carey Gear will complete a year-long commitment to Ka`u Hospital on Nov. 30. “We have appreciated his service to our community over the past year and wish him the very best,” Harris said.
Meanwhile, Ka`u Hospital is recruiting for another permanent physician to join the clinic team. There will be no interruption in services, and “we look forward to continuing to be your local source of medical care for you and your family,” Harris said.
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HAWAI`I WILL RECEIVE $18.6 MILLION TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funds will be used to protect public health and improve water quality in Hawai`i. These funds, awarded to the state Department of Health, include a $10.3 million grant for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and an $8.3 million grant for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
The funds will be used to provide loans to counties for upgrades to drinking water and wastewater facilities. The funding will also be used to modernize aging water systems and make facilities more energy and water efficient.
In 2014, the EPA found the state Department of Health failed to spend its drinking water funds in a timely manner. Since then, the EPA and the department have worked together on a corrective action plan. As a result of that plan, the EPA is now awarding all 2016 funds and continues to work with the state Department of Health to ensure they remain in compliance.
“This new funding represents the progress the EPA and the Hawai`i Department of Health have made to restore Hawai`i’s eligibility to receive these kinds of federal investments,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This significant funding will help modernize our water systems and ensure we have safe, clean drinking water for generations to come.”
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UNUSED FEDERAL MONEY FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has led to less funding.

According to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser story this morning by Sophie Cocke, “The failure of several state agencies to maximize their use of federal funds became a charged issue during this year’s legislative session, which ended in May. In addition to the Health Department’s troubles (see story above), the state Department of Transportation’s Highways Division was also criticized for its federal funding backlog, which peaked at $940 million in 2010. The Transportation Department reduced this to $676 million this year and has a goal of cutting the amount to $450 million by 2018."
Cocke also reported on a Hawaiian Home Lands backlog of $55 million in unspent federal housing funds for Native Hawaiians. “DHHL had been receiving about $13 million a year in federal funding under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act of 1996 for housing for Native Hawaiians and Hawaiian homelands. Federal officials withheld funding in the 2016 federal fiscal year due to DHHL’s failure to spend down the funds,” she reported.
See more at staradvertiser.com.
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Noe Noe Kekaualua Photo from VAC

NOE NOE KEKAUALUA PRESENTS `OHE KAPALA, bamboo stamping, tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Volcano Art Center Gallery’s porch in Hawai`i Volcanoes National park.

Aloha Friday free cultural events are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai`i, Department of Research and Development and Hawai`i Tourism Authority.
Park entrance fees apply.

HAWAIIAN ADZE PRODUCTION HIKE takes place Saturday at 11 a.m. at Kilauea Overlook in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ranger Jay Robinson leads an easy, hour-long hike among the abandoned adze quarry at the location.
Most visitors have no idea this area was showered by large basalt rocks erupted from Kilauea during its summit eruptions of 1790 or that Hawaiians coveted the rocks for stone tools (adze).
Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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