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| Coffee & Cattle Day showed off ranch and Kaʻū Coffee farming life at Aikane Plantation during last week's tenth Kaʻū Coffee Festival. See story below. Photo by Lee Neal |
HAZE FROM INCREASED VOLCANIC ACTIVITY from Kilauea Volcano blanketed much of Kaʻū today as earthquakes continued from east Kaʻū into Puna. New lava outbreaks at Leilani Estates in lower Puna threatened more houses. With a dozen fissures spewing lava and smoke and 35 structures destroyed over the last five days, residents continued to enter the area and retrieve belongings from standing houses. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory officials confirmed that there is no evidence the lava will stop flowing soon.
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| Volcanic activity setting off earthquakes from Kaʻū into Puna today suggests continued lava outbreaks that have destroyed 35 structures. USGS map |
Civil Defense reported this afternoon that Hwy 130 is closed between Malama Street and Kamaili Road and Pohoiki Road is closed from 132 to Hinalo Street.
The state Department of Transportation and County of Hawaiʻi are working to create an alternate route in Puna should Keaau-Pahoa Road (Highway 130) be cut off by the eruption. The cracking at mile markers 14.4 and 14.6 on Highway 130 have widened. State and county are preparing the unpaved portion of Highway 137 that extends north of Highway 132 to Makuu Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park, to ensure access to the Kalapana and Kaimu areas.
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| Road cracks are an increasing danger in and around Leilani Estates. Hwy 130 will soon close, according the Sen. Russell Ruderman. Photo from USGS |
Civil Defense also warned thieves: "The Hawai‘i County Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office have established a policy of zero tolerance towards looting or vandalism. Under Emergency Provisions, any looting or vandalism will be treated as a felony."
While the Puna Geothermal plant is not in the direct line of the lava, Civil Defense reported that "measures are being taken to remove flammable materials offsite."
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| Kilauea Volcano's summit lake continues to drop as the lava continues underground with more breakouts in Leilani Estates today. Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
An eruption information center, to address the questions and concerns of people affected by the eruption in Puna, opened in Pāhoa today at the Sacred Hearts Church 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday , the center offers social service information for the evacuees from the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens County of Hawaiʻi
Eruption Community Information Meeting was held today at 5:30 p.m. at Pāhoa High Cafeteria. County of Hawaiʻi will address residents’ questions and concerns. Another meeting will be held Thursday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m.
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| A hungry calf gets in on the action at Aikane Coffee & Cattle Day. Photo by Kaʻū Coffee Fest |
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AIKANE PLANTATION'S KAʻŪ COFFEE & CATTLE DAY drew much appreciation for Kaʻū Coffee growing and ranching life during the tenth Kaʻū Coffee Festival last week. Merle and Phil Becker told of the history of their coffee farm that dates into the 1800s. The farm and ranch that sits high above the Pacific Ocean showed off coffee growing and milling and the raising of cattle and horses. Guests enjoyed a BBQ buffet, a hayride, and an encounter with a hungry calf. Aikane Palntation often represents Kaʻū at Ag Day at the Hawaiʻi Legislature and the annual Made in Hawai`i Show in Honolulu. The coffee farm supports two families who sell the Aikane brand at farmers markets and other locales on O`ahu. The brand also has a strong market in Japan, the Beckers said.
Bother Merle and Phil Becker are frequent volunteers at the Kaʻū Coffee Festival Hoʻoaluleʻa information booth. See aikaneplantation.com.
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THE TENTH ANNUAL KAʻŪ COFFEE FEST, manned by Kaʻū Coffee farmers and many community volunteers, is the show and tell for local growers who just finished a banner coffee growing season, receiving high prices for high quality and high volume coffee. See more photos of the farmers and their families in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| K-N-J. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| Rusty's Hawaiian. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| Kehau's. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
THE TENTH ANNUAL KAʻŪ COFFEE FEST, manned by Kaʻū Coffee farmers and many community volunteers, is the show and tell for local growers who just finished a banner coffee growing season, receiving high prices for high quality and high volume coffee. See more photos of the farmers and their families in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com. |
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, May 8 (Committees)/9 (Council), Kona; Mon/Wed, May 21 (Committees)/23 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov
C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue, May 8, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, and participate in training scenarios. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087
Return to Abundance: A Vision for Healthy Oceans, Tue, May 8, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kēhau Springer describes how Conservation International Hawai‘i works collaboratively to revitalize pono (responsible) Hawaiian fishing values and practices. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, May 9 (Council), Kona; Mon/Wed, May 21 (Committees)/23 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov
Disability Legal Services, Thu, May 10, 9:30-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Provided by Paula Boyer of Big Island Disability. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com
Ka‘ū Scenic Byway Dedication Ceremony, Thursday, May 10, at2:00 p.m. , Manuka State
Ka‘ū Scenic Byway Dedication Ceremony, Thursday, May 10, at
Papa ‘Olelo Hawai‘i: Beginning Hawaiian Language Classes, Thu, May 10, Part II, 5-6:30pm, Part V, 6:30-8pm, Volcano Art Center. 8 week courses. Hawaiian language experience preferred (basic for part II). $80/VAC Member, $90/non-Member. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222
Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Middle School Theater Night Spring Show, Thu, May 10, 6pm, Kīlauea Military Camp, Kīlauea Theater. VSAS 6th, 7th and 8th graders each perform a one-act play. Free admission; donations accepted.
Mother's Day Card - Arts & Crafts, Fri, May 11, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 6 to 12. Register May 7-11. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat, May 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org
SATURDAY, MAY 12
Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants w/ Zach Mermel, Sat, May 12, 9-noon, Volcano Arts Center
Birth of Kahuku, Sat, May 12, 9:30-11:30am , Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, May 12, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com or 430-3058.Maker Fair Spring Spree , Sat, May 12, 10-4pm , The Cooper Center Volcano Village
Zentangle: Fine Feather-Like Friends w/Lydia Meneses, Sat, May 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center. Create tiles with feather-like forms. Open to all levels, no experience necessary. Bring snack to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, Daily, May 12-Jun 24, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Public opening reception on May 12, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org
SUNDAY, MAY 13
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, May 13 & 27, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and many forms of ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO
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| Learn to play ‘ukulele in Hawaii‘i Volcanoes National Park on Friday, May 18. Event details, left. Photo from National Park Service |
The free event, Ho‘okani Pila (Play Music) Workshop, takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, in the Kahuku Unit, which is a 50-minute drive south of the park’s main entrance, near mile marker 70.5 on Highway 11. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau Experience the Skillful Work workshops. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| Explore Kīlauea Iki on a hike the Saturday before Mother's Day, with Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Photo from FHVNP |
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ONGOING
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Summer Fun - Registration through May 10, Nā‘ālehu Community Center. For grades K-6. $40 per child. $50 portion of registration fee funded by Councilwoman Maile David. Program runs Mon-Fri, Jun 12-Jul 20, 8-2pm. Richard Karasuda, 939-2510. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
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Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.
Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.
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5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m. ; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Mon, July 9: 5K, $25/person; 10K, $35/person; and 1/2 Marathon , $45/person. From July 9 to Aug 11: $30/person, $40/person, and $45/person, respectively. From Aug 13 to Sept 20: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.
One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.![]()
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Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Fundraiser runs through Wednesday, May 9. Support the Partners In Development Foundation programs in Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala, for keiki ages birth to 5 years, by purchasing tickets for a 15 oz. bag of Maebo Noodle Factory’s famous One-Ton chips for $12 each. Contact the Ka‘ū office, located in Nā‘ālehu, at 929-8571.
Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.
One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.
