Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, April 16, 2017

The late Uncle George Na`ope founded the Merrie Monarch Festival, the world's top hula event, with the 2017 celebration beginning Easter Sunday in Hilo. Na`ope 's legacy also continues in Ka`u, where his student, Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder, teaches every Wednesday at Pahala Community Center, with free classes for keiki, beginning adults and advanced adults. See more below. Photo from Big Island Video News

THE SOUTH POINT RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN is being finalized by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The draft was released last year and DHHL is working to include additional public and professional input as it determines the future of the popular visitor, ranching, fishing and camping area at Kalae, which is also home to many native plants and animals and cultural sites.
     The area has received an increase in visitors with the growing popularity of traveling to Green Sand Beach.

South Point, Kalae, the property belonging to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is the subject of a Draft South Point Resources Management Plan. Photo by Peter Anderson

     The lands held under the Hawaiian Homes Land Trust are in the ahupua`a of Kama`oa-Pu`u`eo. They extend from South Point toward Green Sand Beach and Mahana Bay. The draft points to an old plan completed for South Point in 1983 and says that "unfortunately, the ongoing issues of this area still have not been addressed three decades later. Many Ka`u community members are frustrated that there has been no progress for the management of South Point resources," the draft plan says. "However, the need to protect and preserve the natural and cultural sites of South Point" was identified as a priority project in the DHHL's Ka`u Regional Plan adopted by the Hawaiian Homes Commission.
     The new draft plan explains that South Point "is a special and unique place. Its significant cultural landscape tells of the very early native Hawaiian settlement of the area." It notes that some 710 acres are designated as a National Historic Landmark. Remaining cultural sites include Pu`u Ali`i, Kalalea Heiau, Lua o Palahemo, canoe mooring holes and Lua Makakei. "Lua o Palahemo is also a unique natural resource," with several types of anchialine pool shrimp, including `opae `ula and the endangered Vetericaris Chaceoru. Rare plants include `ohai, states the plan.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder, of Halau Hula O Leionalani, leads a visiting halau at sunrise at Punalu`u,  the namesake of the song Punalu`u written by her teacher, the late George Na`ope. Photo by Julia Neal

 “Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent chronic illnesses,” said Senator Schatz. “The Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative helps people understand why this matters and how they can make healthy choices for themselves and their families. That is why I will continue to work in the Senate to make sure our state has the resources we need to promote health and wellness.”
   The Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative is the Hawai‘i state Department of Health’s signature effort to promote healthy living through schools, communities, and workplaces. Since 2000, the initiative has used public campaigns and partnerships with the private and public sectors to successfully address health issues including nutrition, exercise, diabetes, and tobacco use.