Wednesday May 8, 2013

Fees for using county Department of Parks & Recreation facilities, like Pahala Community Center shown here at last weekend's Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaulea where Lori Lei Shirakawa's Hula Studio danced,  could double, under a proposal that goest to public hearing. Photo by Julia Neal

BEACH PARK PAVILIONS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, BALLPARK AND GYMNASIUM FEES would double under a measure proposed to the County Council by the county Department of Parks & Recreation. Swimming pool use would remain free of charge. The ballfields and gyms would remain free for non-profit athletics. The charge for commercial money making events would go to $400 a day for the ballfields and $1,000 a day for the gyms.
      A hearing on the issue will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28 at the Aupuni Center in Hilo and at West Hawai`i Civic Center.

A Big Island march against GMO's. Sen. Russell Ruderman sponsored a labeling bill in the state legislature and a ban on new GMOs on the Big Island is before the County Council. Photo by Julia Neal

BANNING MOST GMO CROPS is a goal of County Council member Margaret Wille. Her bill will be heard in committee, with public testimony allowed at 9 a.m. in council chambers on Tuesday. Rainbow papaya, engineered to resist ringspot virus and other genetically modified organisms, already grown here would be exempt. The bill would also allow University of Hawai`i – Hilo and other institutions to continue GMO research. The bill would not affect GMO products shipped into the islands for sale, such as corn and soy. However, growing the non-exempt GMO plants on the island would draw a $1,000 fine, the legislation proposes. She said she wants to keep out the large biotech companies that grow seed corn and other mass

KA`U GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS are encouraged to apply for the state Transformation Internship Program. The program provides students the opportunity to work alongside innovators within state government and gain hands-on experience in a wide range of areas.
     “TIP represents an investment in those who have likewise invested in themselves through higher learning,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “This public-private partnership offers a unique opportunity for college and university students to gain training and experience while taking part in our ongoing transformation of state government. The students emerge ready and empowered to take an active and leading role in shaping Hawai`i’s future, particularly as they begin their respective careers in an increasingly technological global marketplace.”
   
 TIP is open to students in a wide range of majors including business administration, management information systems, computer science, social sciences (research focus), political science, public administration, human resource development, communications, engineering and other related fields.


     The TIP summer 2013 session starts in June, with applications being accepted through June 8. Applicants must be currently enrolled with junior or senior status, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, have the ability to work well in a team with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. state employees, outside consultants and private organizations) and communicate effectively at multiple levels.
     Applications can be submitted online at www.dhrd.hawaii.gov.

The family and members of the coffee cooperative of the late Mike Matsui, of Wood Valley presented his coffee at last weekend's Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaulea. Matsui was a businessman who helped encourage entrepreurship. Photo by Julia Neal

FARMERS RISK MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP comes to Pahala on Thursday, May 23 at Pahala Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Michael Holl will give and update for farmers and ranchers about taxes. The workshop is designed to help manage labor, financial and legal risks. Holl is a federally authorized tax practitioners and is experienced in resolving issues between taxpayers and the IRS. The workshop is set up to help farmers lower tax liabilities through understanding deductions, preparation and record keeping. Holl will discuss how employment laws and independent contractor requirements affect businesses and special provisions in the tax code for farm income averaging.

VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS, which raise money for Volcano Arts Center, are drawing hundreds of competitors to sign up for races on Saturday, Aug. 17. A Half Marathon, 10K and 5K are on the agenda for the roads through Volcano Village. The races start at 7 a.m. for the Half Marathon, 7:30 a.m. for the 10K and 7:45 a.m. for the 5K. Kids runs begin at 10 a.m.
      Keiki runs are free and include a 100-yard dash for one- to four-year-olds and a 200-yard dash for five- to seven-year-old children, both sponsored by Kilauea Lodge. Start and finish for all events are at Cooper Center on Wright Road.
      Artists of Volcano Art Center Gallery provide prizes to the overall winners in adult races and top two in the ten years of age divisions in all races. Entertainment, face painting, animal balloons, Health and Fitness booths, food booths and a silent auction will be held at Cooper Center finish line. Entertainment includes the Hiccup Circus.
      On Friday night, August 16, the great Rainforest Pasta Party will be open to the public as well as participants, raising money for the Friends Feeding Friends Program.
      To register or volunteer, see rainforestruns.com, email raceinfo@volcanoartcenter.org or call Sharron Faff, race director at 967-8240.

Hunter education classes are available all year. Photo by Julia Neal

HUNTERS EDUCATION CLASSES will be given at Na`alehu Community Center this Aug. 10 and 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only standby applications are being accepted as the classes are filling up. Other classes on the island will be at Kealakehe Intermediate School Cafeteria May 27, 28 and 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with only standby applications being accepted. Another session is set for June 17, 18 and 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and space is available. Another will be held July 16, 17, and 18 at Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo, which still has spaces, and at Kealakehe Intermediate School on Aug. 26, 27 and 28, with only standby registration accepted.
       See the entire schedule for the next year at dlnr.hawaii/gov/programs/huntered/classes.

KA`U SUMMER FUN REGISTRATION for keiki who completed grades kindergarten to six continues today and tomorrow. In Ocean View, registration takes place from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kahuku Park. Families can also register at their respective sites at Pahala Community Center and at Na`alehu Community Center between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
      The Summer Fun program runs from June 10 to July 19, Mondays through Fridays, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Pahala and Na`alehu and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Ocean View. Payment of $100 per child must be by cash, money order or certified check.

THE NON-PROFIT FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK present their monthly Walk in the Park Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Usually offered on second Sundays, the program brings together members of FHVNP to share in the park’s trails.
“For May only, we changed our walk to the second Saturday so as not to conflict with Mother’s Day,” said FHVNP education and outreach coordinator Elizabeth Fien.
     Led by Cheryl Gansecki, this month’s four-mile hike explores Kilauea Iki Crater. Kilauea Iki Trail begins on the crater's forested rim and descends 400 feet through the rain forest onto the crater floor. Hikers cross the still-steaming crater, pass the gaping throat of the vent that built Pu`u Pua`i cinder cone and ascend the far rim. Of interest on the hike are forest plants, birds, insects, the 1959 lava lake, steam vents and cinder and spatter cones.
     This hike, rated moderately difficult, traverses pahoehoe lava and forested trails. Participants should be prepared for the 4,000-foot elevation as well as for variable weather conditions, including sunny, windy, chilly, and/or rainy.
     FHVNP’s Saturday Walk in the Park is free for Friends members, and non-members are welcome to join the organization in order to attend. Annual memberships are $30 for individuals and $45 for families and come with a variety of benefits.
     Participants should bring a bag lunch for a rest stop along the walk. To register, contact FHVNP at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org. For more information, visit www.fhvnp.org. Park entrance fees apply.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for Arts in Bloom, a Mother’s Day orchid sale and fundraising event this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Participants can purchase pupus, mimosas, champagne, orchids and native plants. The event features live music, giveaways, a Ni`aulani Rain Forest photo tour with local photographer Britten Traughber, a talk story with a local native fauna expert, tea education by JoAnn Aguirre and more. Tickets, $5 in advance and $8 at the door, are available at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, the Ni`aulani Campus, the office of The Ka`u Calendar in Pahala, online at volcanoartcenter.org or by calling 967-8222.