Kaʻū News Briefs for Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS OFFERING ZERO INTEREST LOANS FOR HOME REPAIRS in Kaʻū. The Habitat Rural Housing Repair Funding is available to low-income homeowners, through its Hilo division, for such repairs as fixing roof leaks, termite problems, wood rot, leaking plumbing and to build ramps and safe stairs for access.

      The Hale Aloha ʻO Hilo chapter of Habitat won a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to preserve rural homes that need fixing up, as new homes are expensive and hard to find,  and with the understanding that staying in one’s own home may be the best option. Homes in the countryside and in all of  Kaʻū’s towns and villages are located in the area of eligibility.

     To apply, applicant must have income and assets not exceeding program guidelines, have owned and occupied the home for at least a year before applying, be an owner-occupant with clear fee simple title, have sufficient equity to cover required repairs and be able to repay the no-interest loan over 20 years.

     The dwelling must be a legal structure located in a rural area and have defects that pose a health and safety hazard to occupants or be in need of improvements to make the dwelling accessible for a handicapped occupants.

      Repairs are performed by a licensed general contractor hired by the homeowner. Loan is secured by a mortgage and promissory note with 20 years to repay. To apply, call Mary Finley at 967-7230.

Jeffrey Kekoa is a graduate of the leadership training and President  of Hawaiian Home Lands Association of Kaʻū. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM, sponsored by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community Development Initiative, is recruiting for applicants through Friday, Dec. 16.
     The training will be held in the new  Kaʻū District Gym multi-purpose room. Among the  Kaʻū community leaders who have taken the training are Jeff and Donna Kekoa. Jeff is the president of the local Hawaiian Home Lands Association. Donna is known for her work at  Kaʻū Hospital Rural Health Clinic,  Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association and other community organizations.

     The training is not only open to Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries. It is open to other residents. An ideal class, says the announcement, will have a mix of participants: high school to kupuna; emerging beginner to experienced leader; representatives of community nonprofits, the public sector, private sector and government. Farmers, ranchers, artists, cultural practitioners, educators, environmentalists, health and human service workers and those with faith-based jobs and avocations are invited. Maximum class size is 30.

     The training is at no cost to participants and is valued at up to $2000 per person. It is designed to be a fun, dynamic and highly-interactive training program to build leadership skills that may be used in community service, on the job and in personal life.

      Orientation will be Jan. 7 and class sessions are one weekend per month for four months in 2017: Jan. 28-29, Feb. 15-16, March 18-19 and April 8-9. In addition to class work, participants are expected to volunteer 20 t0 40 hours to complete a class project within six to nine months after the last class session.

     To sign up, call Gigi Cairel at 808-620-9461 Hawaiian Home Lands. Email Gigi.O.Cairel@hawaii.gov. Locally, call Jeffrey Kekoa at 928-0320.

The new Kaʻū Gym will be the site of a Winter Jam for community basketball for all ages and a UH Vulcan volleyball clinic for youth. Photo by Ron Johnson

THE ALYSHA & PETE 3-ON-3  BASKETBALL WINTER JAM has announced a Dec. 2 deadline to sign up. The tournament will be held at the new  Kaʻū District Gym, Dec. 9-11 with opportunities for adults and youth of all ages. Age groups are ten and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, boys, girls and co-ed. Men and women are also invited to compete. Cost is $10 per person with strand-nicolsen_marley.jpgfive players maximum per team. The tournament helps raise money help fund Trojan Senior basketball players Pete Dacalio and Alysha Gustafson to travel to the mainland with coach Jen Makuakane to look at colleges who may provide them with sports scholarships. To sign up or donate, call Summer Dacalio at 498-7336, Pete Dacalio at 498-3518 or Alysha Gustafson at 339-0858.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I VULCAN VOLLEYBALL CLINIC will be held next Thursday, Dec. 1 at the new  Kaʻū District Gym from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for youth five to 14 years of age. The tournament is expected to feature Vulcan and Trojan volleyball star Marley Strand-Nicholaisen and other Vulcan players who just finished their season.

     All participants must have a parent sign the Dept. of Parks & Recreation release of claims form and the HI-PAL permission Release Form.

    Court shoes or rubber sold shoes are required. To register, call Pāhala Community Center at 928-3102 or 854-7316. Community police Officer Blaine Morishita is also helping through the Hawaiʻi Isle Police Activities League and can be reached at 936-7192.




THANKSGIVING DINNER AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER will be from noon to 3 p.m. The free meal is an annual gift to the community by the Ocean View Community Association.