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| Central Pacific Hurricane Season ended yesterday with two major scares. Hurricanes Maedline and Lester at the end of August. Tropical Storm Darby made landfall in late July with a lot of rain. See story below. Image of Lester’s approach from NOAA |
“I recently met with President-elect Donald Trump to give voice to the millions of Americans, including my fellow veterans, who desperately want to end our country's illegal, counterproductive war to overthrow the Syrian government. We had an hour-long, meaningful, back-and-forth discussion about the problems with current U.S. policy in Syria and where to go from here. I felt it critical to meet with him now, before warmongering neocons convince him to escalate this war that has already taken more than 400,000 lives and left millions of Syrians homeless and in search of safety for themselves and their families.
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| Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard served in Iraq and opposed regime change in Syria. Photo from Tulsi Gabbard |
“I conveyed to the President-elect how the post-9/11 neocon agenda of interventionism and regime-change has left U.S. foreign policy absurdly disconnected from our actual security interests. Our actions to overthrow secular dictators in Iraq and Libya, and attempts now to do the same in Syria, have resulted in tremendous loss of life, failed nations, and even worse humanitarian crises while strengthening the very terrorist organizations that have declared war on America.
“Since 2011, the United States – working with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and Turkey – has been providing support to ‘rebel groups’ fighting to overthrow the government and take over Syria. A recent New York Times article reported that these ‘rebel groups’ supported by the U.S. ‘have entered into battlefield alliances with the affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, formerly known as al-Nusra.’ How the United States can work hand-in-hand with the very terrorist organization that is responsible for the killing of 3,000 Americans on 9/11 boggles my mind and curdles my blood.
“This absurd alliance has allowed terrorist groups like al-Qaeda to establish strongholds throughout Syria, including in Aleppo, where they are now using the civilian population as human shields and their deaths as propaganda tools.
“Additionally, escalating this regime-change war by implementing a ‘no fly/safe zone’ in Syria would not only be ineffective, it would put the U.S. in direct military confrontation with nuclear-power Russia, require tens of thousands of ground troops and a massive U.S. air presence, and commit us to yet another endless war in the Middle East that does not serve American or Syrian interests.
“In short, even if the U.S.-Saudi alliance were successful in overthrowing the Syrian government, we would be saddled with the responsibility of building a new nation in Syria. Trillions of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and who knows how many American lives, will be lost, and there will be little to show for it. As was true in Iraq and Libya, the U.S. has no credible government or leader able to bring order, security, and freedom to the people of Syria if Assad is overthrown. To maintain order after Assad's fall would require at least 500,000 troops in a never-ending occupation.
“The most likely outcome of this regime-change war is that it will open the door for ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups who are the most powerful fighting forces on the ground, to take over all of Syria, amass powerful weapons (many of which will have been provided to them by the U.S.), and pose a far worse threat to the Syrian people, religious minorities, and to the world.
“The crux of my advice to President-elect Trump was this: we must end this ill-conceived, counterproductive regime-change war immediately. We must focus our precious resources on investing in and rebuilding our own country and on defeating al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist groups that pose a threat to the American people.”
Gabbard sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee. She is a Lt. Col. in the Hawaiʻi National Guard with two tours in the Middle East. She has launched a petition called End the counter-productive regime change war in Syria at www.aloha.votetulsi.com
“Since 2011, the United States – working with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and Turkey – has been providing support to ‘rebel groups’ fighting to overthrow the government and take over Syria. A recent New York Times article reported that these ‘rebel groups’ supported by the U.S. ‘have entered into battlefield alliances with the affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, formerly known as al-Nusra.’ How the United States can work hand-in-hand with the very terrorist organization that is responsible for the killing of 3,000 Americans on 9/11 boggles my mind and curdles my blood.
“This absurd alliance has allowed terrorist groups like al-Qaeda to establish strongholds throughout Syria, including in Aleppo, where they are now using the civilian population as human shields and their deaths as propaganda tools.
“Additionally, escalating this regime-change war by implementing a ‘no fly/safe zone’ in Syria would not only be ineffective, it would put the U.S. in direct military confrontation with nuclear-power Russia, require tens of thousands of ground troops and a massive U.S. air presence, and commit us to yet another endless war in the Middle East that does not serve American or Syrian interests.
“In short, even if the U.S.-Saudi alliance were successful in overthrowing the Syrian government, we would be saddled with the responsibility of building a new nation in Syria. Trillions of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and who knows how many American lives, will be lost, and there will be little to show for it. As was true in Iraq and Libya, the U.S. has no credible government or leader able to bring order, security, and freedom to the people of Syria if Assad is overthrown. To maintain order after Assad's fall would require at least 500,000 troops in a never-ending occupation.
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| Gabbard says she wants to save American lives from regime-change wars. Photo from Tulsi Gabbard |
“The crux of my advice to President-elect Trump was this: we must end this ill-conceived, counterproductive regime-change war immediately. We must focus our precious resources on investing in and rebuilding our own country and on defeating al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist groups that pose a threat to the American people.”
Gabbard sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee. She is a Lt. Col. in the Hawaiʻi National Guard with two tours in the Middle East. She has launched a petition called End the counter-productive regime change war in Syria at www.aloha.votetulsi.com
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| State Sen. Josh Green and family. Photo from Josh Green |
“ As Chair of the Human Services Committee, it’s my job to make sure that in Hawaiʻi we don’t leave anyone behind, and that we take care of our most vulnerable citizens: our children, our seniors, the homeless, those struggling with addiction, the disabled, and people who just need an extra hand to lift themselves out of poverty.
“These are our values in Hawaiʻi: we are all one ʻohana, our compassion is our strength, and we build a better future when we take care of each other and don’t leave anyone behind.
“We should judge ourselves as a people by how we treat our most vulnerable, so I’m going to keep fighting to make sure our keiki and kūpuna have a basic standard of food, shelter, and health care, and working families can earn a living wage. I look forward to working with you to implement the best policies we can develop together, for the good of Hawaiʻi’s people,” concludes Green’s message.
See more at www.capitol.hawaii.gov
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| Hurricane Madeline approached but weakened, Image from NOAA |
HURRICANE SEASON WRAPPED YESTERDAY, without major damage from storms visiting Kaʻū.
The most threatening hurricane was Madeline at the end of August with Lester on her heels. She reached Category Four status and prompted a hurricane warning and the closing of schools, parks, businesses and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. However, she weakened to a Tropical Storm as her eye passed 75 miles south southeast of South Point. Lester, which reached Category Three, passed north of the island a few days later.
On Saturday, July 23, Tropical Storm Darby made landfall in Kaʻū, the large eye overhead, bringing much rain but little wind. The highway at Kawa flooded and was closed. Waterfalls appeared and streams rushed by. Bus service was suspended and emergency declarations signed, shelters opened and parks closed.
Darby marked the first time in recorded history that two tropical storms barreled into the Big Island within a span of three years, following Iselle’s devastation in 2014.
The 2016 Central Pacific Hurricane Season witnessed seven tropical cyclones, with Madeline and Lester blowing up into major hurricanes. Though a higher number of storms than normal, it was a mellow season compared to the record breaking 15 storms of 2015. Another unusual event of 2016 was the formation of Hurricane Pali in the Central Pacific in January, totally outside of any hurricane season. Pali stayed out to sea and left no damage.
GALLIARD STRING QUARTET PERFORMED IN NĀʻĀLEHU on Tuesday. Nāʻālehu Library patrons were treated to a short program of classical music. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi, the Galliard String Quartet, performed the last of five Big Island concerts among the books to a standing-room only audience.
The most threatening hurricane was Madeline at the end of August with Lester on her heels. She reached Category Four status and prompted a hurricane warning and the closing of schools, parks, businesses and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. However, she weakened to a Tropical Storm as her eye passed 75 miles south southeast of South Point. Lester, which reached Category Three, passed north of the island a few days later.
On Saturday, July 23, Tropical Storm Darby made landfall in Kaʻū, the large eye overhead, bringing much rain but little wind. The highway at Kawa flooded and was closed. Waterfalls appeared and streams rushed by. Bus service was suspended and emergency declarations signed, shelters opened and parks closed.
Darby marked the first time in recorded history that two tropical storms barreled into the Big Island within a span of three years, following Iselle’s devastation in 2014.
The 2016 Central Pacific Hurricane Season witnessed seven tropical cyclones, with Madeline and Lester blowing up into major hurricanes. Though a higher number of storms than normal, it was a mellow season compared to the record breaking 15 storms of 2015. Another unusual event of 2016 was the formation of Hurricane Pali in the Central Pacific in January, totally outside of any hurricane season. Pali stayed out to sea and left no damage.
GALLIARD STRING QUARTET PERFORMED IN NĀʻĀLEHU on Tuesday. Nāʻālehu Library patrons were treated to a short program of classical music. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi, the Galliard String Quartet, performed the last of five Big Island concerts among the books to a standing-room only audience.
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| Na`alehu Library hosted Galliard String Quartet on Tuesday. Photo by Ann Bosted |
Wu, who does not think of himself as the leader, but rather “the oldest one” has vivid, if unusual, memories of playing in Kaʻū 20 years ago with the Galliard String Quartet. “We played in a church,” he says, recalling the performance at Nāʻālehu Methodist. “It was the first time I ate Pineapple Upside Down Cake.”
The many Nāʻālehu music lovers, who squeezed themselves into the small Nāʻālehu Library, expressed their enjoyment of the free program by giving the quartet a resounding standing applause.
After the Nāʻālehu performance, the quartet flew back to Honolulu in five seats – Bai’s cello needed one of them.
See more at www.chambermusichawaii.org.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is reporting on its holiday feast, which took place on Thanksgiving Day. The free dinner for the community at Ocean View Community Center drew about 350 people from Ocean View and other communities in Kaʻū.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is reporting on its holiday feast, which took place on Thanksgiving Day. The free dinner for the community at Ocean View Community Center drew about 350 people from Ocean View and other communities in Kaʻū.
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| The free holiday feast sponsored by Ocean View Community Association drew about 350 people. Photo from Ocean View Community Association |
Ocean View Community Association vice-president Ron Gall said the association wants to send a “Mahalo to all the wonderful volunteers who prepared and served the meal (especially Dave Anderson and Paulette Frerichs), those who helped with setup and cleanup. Also much aloha to all who attended.
“Since OVCA is a private nonprofit and does not receive funding from the county or state, we greatly appreciate the generous donations from local businesses and private parties: Hawaiʻi Food Basket, HELCO, Kahuku Country Market, Kaʻū Water Delivery, Kona Walmart, Malama Market, Ocean View Pizzeria, Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Dr. Cindy from the VA Clinic, Evie Becker and Loren & Diane Heck.”
“Since OVCA is a private nonprofit and does not receive funding from the county or state, we greatly appreciate the generous donations from local businesses and private parties: Hawaiʻi Food Basket, HELCO, Kahuku Country Market, Kaʻū Water Delivery, Kona Walmart, Malama Market, Ocean View Pizzeria, Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Dr. Cindy from the VA Clinic, Evie Becker and Loren & Diane Heck.”
DEADLINE FOR ALYSHA & PETE 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL WINTER JAM is tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 2. 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 five players maximum per team. The tournament raises money to help fund Trojan Senior
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| Pāhala’s Christmas parade is Sunday, Dec. 11. Photo by Julia Neal |
PĀHALA’S CHRISTMAS PARADE welcomes community groups, churches, sports teams coffee farmers, classic vehicle drivers and more to travel through the village on Sunday, Dec. 11. The parade, in its 38th year, travels through the streets of Pāhala, with Santa and his helpers handing out candy to kids. A traditional stop is Kaʻū Hospital where long term patients come outdoors to see the decorated trucks cars and floats, marching groups and costumed characters. Participants begin gathering at the old Pāhala Armory at noon and the parade starts at 1 p.m. The parade ends at the Catholic Church on Pikake Street for refreshments. Organizer for almost four decades is Eddie Andrade. For more information, call Andrade at 928-0808.
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| Cover of The Directory, a quilt by Reta Hill |
DEADLINE FOR THE DIRECTORY, to sign up for listings and advertising for businesses, community groups, churches and agencies is Dec. 15. The annual business and community resource guide is sponsored by Kaʻū Chamber of Commerce and produced by The Kaʻū Calendar. It includes photography and art by Kaʻū residents, a calendar of events, listings and feature stories including winners of the recent Beauty of Kaʻū art show, sponsored by the Chamber.
The Directory raises scholarship money for students from Kaʻū throughout their higher education in trades, college and university studies. Printed each January, 7,500 copies of The Directory are distributed throughout Kaʻū and Volcano. To sign up, contact geneveve.fyvie@gmail.com.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY holiday exhibit daily through Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Featured at Christmas in the Country is the 17th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, with prizes awarded for the best wreaths. To participate, contact Emily Weiss at 967-8222 or gallery@volcanoartcenter.org . Free; park entrance fees apply.
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