Ka'ū News Briefs Sunday, September 3, 2017

Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawai'i Attorney General Doug Chin and Hawai'i Coalition for Civil Rights last Wednesday
defending DACA, which Pres. Donald Trump plans to end, according to press reports today. See story below and
in the Aug. 30 Ka'u News Briefs. Photo from Office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

"WE SHOULD NOT LET DACA BECOME A DREAM DEFERRED," Sen. Mazie Hirono tweeted today, just before Politico and other news outlets reported that Pres. Donald Trump will announce an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, with a six month delay. That decision would put as many as 2,000 residents of Hawai'i, who were brought here as children without federal permission, in jeopardy of being expelled from the country, even though most grew up, went to school, work and have families here. During Pres. Barack Obama's term, DACA was established to help these immigrants, also called DREAMers, to come out of the shadows and register with the federal government, receiving permission, two years at a time, while they seek legals status in the country.
Before the likely action of Trump came out in the press today, Hirono tweeted, "If @realDonaldTrum ends DACA, we will pursue legislation and other legal avenues to stop this travesty & protect DREAMers." Hirono also tweeted, "Attacking minorities & stoking fear are pillars of @realDonaldTrump's Presidency. Will keep fighting to #SaveDACA and protect #DREAmers."
The Center for American Progress and the lobbying group FWD.us recently announced results of its study that found that ending DACA would cost 700,000 jobs over the next two years nationwide, costing the U.S. $460.3 billion in economic output over ten years.
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Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted photos of flooding in Houston (above) and
around the world to demonstrate climate change events
this past week. Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC VIEWS are words that Sen. Mazie Hirono used to describe the character of some of Pres. Donald Trump's administration officials. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, she released a statement on Friday regarding William Bradford’s resignation as Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy after media reports exposed comments Bradford made online:

“I welcome William Bradford’s resignation from his position as the Director of the Office of Indian Energy. His many offensive online statements, including that the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II was ‘necessary’ are truly beyond the pale, especially as he was appointed to lead an office that serves minority communities.

Flooding in Niger, Africa this past week.
Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

“It remains deeply troubling, however, that Bradford is only one of a number of top Trump administration officials with a history of racist and misogynistic views. Secretary Perry has still not provided me with an explanation of how Bradford cleared the Department of Energy’s vetting process despite his repugnant online history. I expect these answers to be forthcoming from the Department.”

In June, Senator Hirono led a letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to fire Bradford based on

his offensive online statements. The Secretary of Energy did not reply, reported Hirono.

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CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING HOUSTON IN THE USA. Hawai'i Sen. Brian Schatz recently retweeted photos showing Houston in Texas, Mumbai in India and Niger in Africa, all flooded this past week.

Flooding in Mumbai in India this past week.
Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

"Climate change is real an it is the most urgent challenge of our generation," Schatz insisted. "Extreme weather becoming more frequent and severe. If you don't want to call it 'climate change,' I understand, but we have to deal with it."
Schatz also tweeted, "A tax on carbon pollution would generate enough money for tax reform and fund disaster relief. It is a market oriented climate solution.
Ignoring severe weather isn't cheaper, it costs us more in recovery money than it would cost us to address carbon pollution."

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DECLINING UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I ENROLLMENT is a troubling trend facing the community, according to state Senator Kai Kahele, who gave a town hall meeting last Wednesday in Hilo. See video of the session at bigislandvideonews.com.
To a session packed with students, professors and UH-Hilo administrators, Kahele stated a "major challenge that we face is declining enrollments. And I don’t think using the word hemorrhaging is an exaggeration. I think we are hemorrhaging in enrollment. We need to plug the hole. We’re not plugging the hole.” He cautioned that increasing tuition is no solution.

A Vulcan Village would help draw students to live at the University of
Hawai'i-Hilo campus with a commercial center and housing,
said state Sen. Gil Kahele at a meeting on declining enrollment.

Kahele's own family has seen a lot of educational accomplishment, from his Miloli'i ancestors who fished for a living from a canoe, to his father, the late state Sen. Gil Kahele, to his own education and military and airline pilot training. Kai Kahele said the rationale being given is that Hawai'i is mirroring national trends. “Universities all across the country have declining enrollments. It’s because the economy is doing so great, students are not coming to school, they’d rather go to work. And maybe that might be true. But that’s not an excuse I want to keep hearing for declining enrollments. We need to fix it, and we need to fix it now.”

He pointed to strengthening such programs as a statewide "cradle to career" partnership and putting out more recruiting materials, outreach, summer programs, marketing, branding and outreach strategy, and social media all being in sync. Better financial aid process. Improve the teaching environment and don't devalue positions. Non-traditional and distance learning are other plans to increase enrollment.

He noted that the enrollment decline leads to tuition loss. "It’s a concern for students and the faculties and communities that are intertwined with their institutions. And to me it’s now a matter of statewide concern. The University of Hawai'i has autonomy that’s constitutionally mandated, right? The legislature is not supposed to micromanage a university. I don’t want to micromanage a university. I don’t expect our new regent to micromanage a university, unless it’s a matter of statewide concern."

Kahele noted that the largest enrollment in the last five years at UH-HIlo was at 4,157 students. The number has declined annually to 3,666 students last year. He talked about the $50,000 cost for out of state students, driving them to stay on the mainland. He also noted that tuition keeps going up for in-state students.

Enrollment is going down and tuition going up for locals and out-of state students. Not a good trend,
said Sen. Gil Kahele at a university town hall meeting. Photo from bigislandvideonews.com

Kahele recommended halting plans to increase tuition and to take a look at student life and recommended developing a community on university land. He showed a slide show of a concept called Vulcan Village on 36 acres transferred to the UH-Hilo in 1999. It was to include housing, a retail and commercial center with office space, restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and an urgent care center. The site is across from the university's athletic centers. UH put the plan out to developers but no contract was awarded.

“A key component to this that’s already in place: university zoning,” said Kahele. "You know how hard it is to get university zoning? Its either a luxury resort or residential… and we have this special zoning called university zoning. Is that a good thing?” The senator said that in order to make the project happen, "You need to have that business acumen here in Hilo.”

He also talked about making Hawai'i Community College-Hilo the premier vocational education center in the state. See the full talk at bigislandvideonews.com.

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UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball: Wednesday, Sept. 6, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away game.

Friday, Sept. 8, Ka'ū vs. St. Joseph, away game.

Eight-Man Football: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Lana'i, away game.

Cross Country: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha, away game.

Bowling: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Hilo & Konawaena at Kona Bowl.

Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli'i
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

REGISTER KEIKI FOR SUNFLOWER CRAFT until Sept. 15. The craft class, for keiki ages 6 to 14, will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at Kahuku Park from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 929-9113 for more.

A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING is set for tomorrow, Sept. 4, 4 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details, call 939-7033.

KA'Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Sept. 5, from 6 pm. to 8 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center.

HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 7. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas can be found at hawaiicounty.gov.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details call 939-2442 or 928-2015.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more details, call 939-7033.

ATLAS RECYCLING WILL COLLECTING AT SOUTH POINT U-CART on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

BIRTH OF KAHUKU a free hike within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is offered on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. Visit nps.gov/HAVO for more details.

ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PLAYERS, DRUMMERS, SINGERS AND DANCERS ARE WELCOMED for Kanikapila, on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church Hall. For more call Desmond at 937-6305.

REGISTER 5TH GRADE GIRLS FOR GEMS BY SEPT. 15. Ka‘ū fifth grade girls are invited to start registering for GEMS, Girls Exploring Math and Science. The annual all day event has been set for the Crown Marriot King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for Nov. 9.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited. Registration fee is $20 and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away because of financial need.
All fifth grade girls residing in the West Hawai‘i School complex in public, private, or home-schooled are welcome. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl, or to request a registration packet, contact Cindy Armer, GEMS chairperson at cbarmer@hotmail.com or 808-896-7180. Remember GEMS registration form must be postmarked by 9-15-17. See more details on Ka'ū News Briefs from August 15, 2017.