Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016

A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL is the newest member of Hawai`i Board of Education. Gov. David Ige appointed Darrel Galera yesterday.

      Galera has a rich background in public education in Hawai`i. He is the School Leadership Consultant and Coach for the Hawai`i Center for Instructional Leadership and is currently serving as chair of the governor’s Every Student Succeeds Act team.

      Galera began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Moanalua High School, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1984. He has also served as principal at Shafter Elementary, S.W. King Intermediate, `Aiea Elementary, Moanalua High and Castle High. Galera has been recognized as the Hawai`i National Distinguished High School Principal of the Year, Central O`ahu District Principal of the Year and the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program’s Distinguished Teacher, 1989.
      A graduate of Waipahu High School, Galera earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration and bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies at the University of Hawai`i.
      “Darrel has been instrumental in engaging the public all across the state to help build the blueprint for our public school system,” Ige said. “His service on the board will help bridge the work of the Board of Education and the ESSA team.”
      “It’s truly an honor and privilege to serve our students and schools,” Galera said. “I’m inspired by Gov. Ige’s vision and plan for public education in Hawai`i.”
      Galera replaces Jim Williams, who resigned from the board last month.
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RECRUITMENT FOR KA`U LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM is now open. The fun, dynamic and highly interactive program builds skills that may be used in community service, jobs and personal lives. Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries and other residents of Hawai`i Island are eligible. An ideal class will have a mix of participants: high school to kupuna, beginning to experienced leaders and representatives of community nonprofits, the public/private sector, government, farming/agriculture, arts/culture, education, environment, health and human services, and faith-based organizations. Maximum class size is 30.

      Participants learn how to run effective meetings and work with different personality types, as well as public speaking and project planning and management.

      Class sessions are one weekend per month from January through April 2017. All participants are expected to volunteer 20 to 40 hours to complete a class project within six to nine months after the last class session.
      Classes take place at the new county multi-purpose room at Ka`u High School.
      For more information and to apply, call 808-620-9461, or email Gigi.O.Cairel@hawaii.gov . Deadline is Dec. 16.

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U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ IS PROUD of Hawai`i’s progress regarding energy. He responded to Blue Planet Foundation’s grade of B- on its annual Energy Report Card, which evaluated the status of transportation, efficiency, renewables, smart grids and economics.

      “Here in Hawai`i, we are making incredible progress toward reaching our state’s goal of running on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, but there is still much more work to be done,” Ige said. “Having been at the forefront of this effort since my time as lieutenant governor, I can say that this progress has taken creativity, collaboration and innovation every step of the way. I’m proud of our state for leading the country toward a clean energy future, and I look forward to working hard to get us there.”

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KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD AND A BIPARTISAN COALITION of lawmakers delivered a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper requesting answers on a report that Yahoo searched users’ private emails at the request of the federal government.

      Joseph Mann reported in Technology News that Yahoo “last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information provided by U.S. intelligence officials.”

      “As legislators, it is our responsibility to have accurate information about the intelligence activities conducted by the federal government,” the lawmakers wrote. “There is significant confusion regarding the existence and nature of Yahoo’s software program described by recent reports and the legal questions implicated by the accuracy of specific details. We request information and a briefing as soon as possible for all members of Congress to resolve the issues raised by these reports.”
      In July, Gabbard helped launch the bipartisan Fourth Amendment Caucus, composed of lawmakers committed to protecting the privacy and security of Americans in the digital age. She has introduced the Strengthening Privacy, Oversight and Transparency Act in both the 114th and 113th Congress to strengthen the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and expand its authority to balance the government’s national security and counterterrorism activities with the need to protect the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans.
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HAWAIIAN MUSICIAN AND SINGER BERT NAIHE performs songs from his CD, You’re the One, and catchy versions of other favorite tunes tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Naihe, who was born and raised in Hilo, is also a musician for Halau o ka Ua Kanileua with Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho.

      Free; park entrance fees apply.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council committee meetings tomorrow via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.

      Human Services & Social Services Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 9:30 a.m.; Finance, 11 a.m.; Public Works & Parks and Recreation, 1 p.m.; and Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 2:30 p.m.
      All meetings take place at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.
      Agendas and live streaming of the meetings are available at hawaiicounty.gov.

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