Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013

Trucks, cars and carts serve the village homecoming parade. Photo by Julia Neal

      The issue was discussed in House committee hearings spanning five days and nearly 57 hours of public testimony. There were 5,184 registered testifiers, with over 1,000 people testifying and nearly 24,400 written testimonies submitted.
      The Senate is scheduled to convene Tuesday, Nov. 11 to vote on the amended House bill.
      “I commend the House of Representatives for taking this historic vote to move justice and equality forward,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
       “After more than 50 hours of public testimony from thousands of testifiers on both sides of the issue, evaluating dozens of amendments and deliberating procedures through hours of floor debates, the House passed this significant bill, which directly creates a balance between marriage equity for same-sex couples and protects our First Amendment freedoms for religious organizations.
     “I am confident that the Senate will address the bill in the same spirit. I look forward to a successful conclusion to this major step in affirming everyone’s civil rights.”
      More information on the bill is available at capitol.hawaii.gov.

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Homecoming Queen and King for 2013. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I’S FOURTH- AND EIGHTH-GRADERS CONTINUE to progress in mathematics and reading, and for the first time, the state’s fourth-graders have scored above the national average in math. This is according to the Nation’s Report Card released Thursday by the National Assessment of Educational Progress spring 2013 state-by-state results. 

      “The growth of our state reflected in the 2013 NAEP results is another indication that we are on track to meet the higher standards we have set in our schools,” said superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “We have stressed the importance of data in determining what is working best to ensure students’ success. These NAEP results are a testament to the strong leadership in our schools and the rigorous work being done by our teachers and students.”
      Hawai`i’s fourth- and eighth-graders have steadily narrowed the achievement gap with their peers across the nation. In 2011, Hawai`i was the only state that statistically demonstrated significant improvement in both reading and mathematics at both the fourth and eighth grades. In 2013, Hawai`i’s students made significant gains in grades 4 and 8 in mathematics and grade 8 reading.
      From 2003 to 2013, Hawai`i has lead the nation in statistically significant gains, making improvements in 13 assessments out of a possible 20, tying with the District of Columbia, and five ahead of the nearest other states.
      “While all stakeholders in Hawai`i’s public education can celebrate the pattern of achievement gains, we are committed to doing better,” Matayoshi said.
      Hawai`i’s NAEP improvement over the last 10 years are:

• Grade 4 mathematics: second highest gains in the nation; 
• Grade 8 mathematics: second highest gains in the nation; 
• Grade 4 reading: 11th in the nation in gains; and 
• Grade 8 reading: fifth highest gains in the nation.       “Hawai`i has a unique education system with a single school board, superintendent and department for the entire state,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “We are able to focus our policy and programs, which are directly benefiting our students – and we are succeeding.

      “I sincerely thank all of the teachers, principals and support staff in our schools, who are working tirelessly to prepare our keiki for success in today’s global economy.”

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Homecoming parade wound through the streets of Pahala. Photo by Julia Neal

DROUGHT IN KA`U AND OTHER AREAS of Hawai`i Island is expected to continue, even with the arrival of what the National Weather Service is calling a normal to slightly wetter rainy season. Kevin Kodama, senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu, reported that, while some drought recovery is expected, “full recovery may not occur due to the intensity and longevity of existing drought conditions.”
      NWS predicts an ENSO-neutral wet season through April 2014, with neither El Nino or La Nina conditions present. Absence of these conditions allows average rainfall to occur, according to Kodama.
      Kodama also said most locations reported below average rainfall from May through September, with most of the island under some level of drought. Some areas near South Point were in the “extreme drought” category.

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LAST SATURDAY, PAHALA KARATE DOJO PARTICIPATED in the ninth annual International Karate League tournament held in Kailua-Kona. There were over 150 participants from dojos across the state. Students participated in traditional kata, weapon kata and kumite divisions. Attending were Cliff and Susan Field, Nancy Gruenler, Jack Minassian, Francisco and Jake Villa, Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy, Josiah Barrios, Maiki Cofer, John Poetzel and Cheydon Kaluahine-Salmo, placed third in his kumite division. 

      On Monday following the tournament, Nishioka Shihan, founder of the International Karate League, lead a workout for Pahala Karate Dojo at Pahala Community Center.
      Pahala Dojo, which trains Tuesdays and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, is open to new students.

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      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK JOINS national parks across the country in waiving entrance fees all three days of this Veteran’s Day weekend, today through Monday. “Our nation’s veterans have sacrificed much to protect our freedom,” park superintendent Cindy Orlando said. “To honor the selfless service of our veterans, we invite everyone to experience the American heritage by visiting their national parks at no charge this Veteran’s Day Weekend.”
      The park, which has dozens of veterans among its employees and volunteers, is open 24 hours a day, every day.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP IN HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK is recognizing Veteran’s Day weekend. An open house takes place tomorrow, when KMC invites all park visitors to experience how KMC supports America’s troops by using any of its facilities and services.
      KMC’s Veteran’s Day ceremony takes place Monday at 3 p.m. on the Front Lawn. Keynote speaker is Lt. Col. Eric Shwedo, of Pohakuloa Training Area, and guest speaker is SMSgt. Makani Miller.

Chance Emmsley Ah Yee, No. 2, received the 40-yard pass and made the 55-yard run for the touchdown. Photo by Dave Berry

      After the ceremony, a buffet is available at Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, spinach and mushroom fettuccini, breaded ono, chunky roasted red potatoes, steamed green beans, French onion soup, ice cream and a beverage. Prices are $24.95 for adults and $12.50 for children 6 to 11.

HOMECOMING PARADE from the Ka`u Trojans wound through Pahala yesterday afternoon with floats and fancy cars carrying class members along with the queen, princesses and their escorts. The enthusiastic high school students took their celebration through neighborhoods where people lined the streets and down to Ka`u Hospital where residents were waiting on the lanai. The parade was accompanied by a fire truck and police cars, as well as the principal and vice principal riding a golf cart. The parade ended at the high school ball field where the homecoming court made an appearance before those attending the homecoming game with the Moloka`i Farmers. Ka`u scored in the last 10 seconds of the game when Kainalu Ke threw a 40-yard pass to Chance Emmsley Ah Yee who ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Final score was Farmers 39, Trojans 7.

Lt. Col. Eric Schwedo

ALSO ON SUNDAY, VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP Hawai`i Wildlife Fund load a Matson container full of derelict fishing nets collected along the Ka`u Coast since last December. Loading takes place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
      To sign up, contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakaicleanups@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.