Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013

HELICOPTERS OVER PAHALA macadamia orchards were no emergency this morning, except for their role in fighting off a macadamia pest. For the second time since Oct. 21, Royal Hawaiian Orchards sprayed pesticides from the air using a Paradise Helicopter. Spraying from helicopter is more targeted that the old style of spraying by crop dusters, reducing overspray onto adjacent properties. The helicopter can fly as low as ten feet above the canopy of the macadamia orchards. The target is a scale, called Eriococcus Ironsidei William, which was first found in South Kona in 2005.

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KA`U FARM BUREAU holds its annual meeting on Monday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Officers will be elected. Current officers are president Chris Manfredi, vice president Phil Becker, treasurer Lorie Obra and secretary Brenda Iokepa-Moses. Farmers and businesses that work with farmers are invited to join. The Farm Bureau testifies on behalf of its members to county and state government, assists with the Ka`u Coffee Festival, operates a website at kaucoffeeexchange.com, organizes education for farmers and hosts speakers for public meetings.

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AN NEW EARLY LITERACY MOBILE APP by UH-Manoa College of Education allows young children to do art in virtual coloring books, interact with phonetics exercises and learn about Hawai`i’s culture. 

      The Pihana ABCs mobile app was recreated from an early literacy coloring book that many state elementary schools use. It’s the first app developed by the Piha Pono project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Native Hawaiian Education program.
      Developers hope the app makes the literacy tools more accessible to families and schools and more engaging for children. It includes exercises to help develop phonetics, alphabetic understanding and vocabulary.
      According to a press release, it helps prepare kids for the literacy expectations outlined in the new English and language arts Common Core State Standards.
      The app is available for free on Apple and Android tablets.

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KA`U ARMY VETERANS PETER ANDERSON AND ROBERT WILLIAMS on Monday presented a binder containing signatures and short notes of appreciation to Lt. Col. Eric Shwedo, commander of Pohakuloa Training Area and his Sergeant Major Lutzen, who said they would place the binder in the recreation hall where it could be viewed by troops that come to the area as part of their training. 

      The signatures and messages were collected from many Ka`u residents wanting to show their gratitude directly to our servicemen and servicewomen and their families for the risks they take in order to protect all the families in Ka`u and in our nation, Anderson said.

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HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND EXTENDS A MAHALO to the 73 participants of Saturday’s beach cleanup event from Awawaloa to Lalahala, south of Ka`alu`alu Bay. They removed approximately 18,792 pieces of marine debris in 54 large trash bags weighing almost one ton from along this 1.5-mile stretch of coastline. As always, most of the debris collected – almost 90 percent – was plastic.
      During the event, HI Kombucha donated five growlers of their Citrus Breeze Kombucha to participants.

      For this cleanup and in the future, HWF is partnering with Recycle Hawai`i and the state Department of Health to separate some of the marine debris collected that would otherwise be bound for the landfill to a higher purpose. At this cleanup, volunteers sorted five large bags of recyclable materials for Method and the transfer station’s mixed recycling bin. Also, materials were handpicked for several debris artists including Don Elwing, Pam Longobardi and Kathleen’s Nurdle In the Rough.
      HWF’s next Ka`u Coast cleanup is Saturday, Feb. 8. Sign up with coordinator Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.

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THANKSGIVING FEASTS ARE AVAILABLE throughout Ka`u tomorrow. 

      Kilauea Military Camp’s buffet is from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, featuring roast turkey, green bean casserole, corn chowder and more. Call 967-8356.
      In Na`alehu, South Side Shaka’s Restaurant begins serving its Thanksgiving dinners at 11 a.m. Call 929-7404.
      Also in Na`alehu, Hana Hou Restaurant presents a buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. along with dinner from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Call 929-9717.
      Ocean View Community Association offers its annual meal, open to the entire community, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the community center.

THE 27TH ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE ART STUDIO TOUR takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. This self-guided tour sponsored by Volcano Village Artists Hui includes stops at seven artists’ studios and features items on display and available for purchase. 

      A special drawing for pieces contributed by each artist is held at the end of the sale. Maps are available at Volcano Village businesses and at VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com.
      For more information, call 987-3472 or email eherb@hawaii.rr.com.

KA`U COMMUNITY FLOATING LANTERN CEREMONY, Honoring Past, Present and Future Generations takes place at Punalu`u Beach Park Saturday. The event includes a community Thanksgiving potluck, Taiko drummers, music and cultural dance followed by the lantern release. Floating lanterns for inscribing messages and decorating will be provided to the first 100 registrants. Pre-registrations are being taken by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc., which is co-sponsoring the ceremony with health insurer HMSA, at 928-0101. Sign up at the Ka`u Resource & Distance Learning Center.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS on Mamalahoa Hwy in Na`alehu presents a Crèche Festival Saturday from noon until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. The celebration includes works by local crèche artists, a gallery of nativities, a children’s room with costumes and activities for the entire family. 

      For more information, call 339-7402.

One of many annual Christmas events in Ka`u, Hana Hou Restaurant's Keiki Christmas Party is on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Photo by Julia Neal

IT’S TIME TO PLAN FOR KA`U’S annual Christmas events next month. 

      Volcano Festival Chorus presents its Christmas Concert Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Sponsored by KDEN. Free; park entrance fees apply.

      Fall Creativity Day is Sunday Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Discovery Center Community Hall. Ka`u School of the Arts offers batik, `ohe kapala (bamboo stamp making), dying workshop, sewing, jewelry making and more. Call 854-1540.
      Pahala Christmas Parade winds through town beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Santa hands out candy to keiki and makes an appearance at Ka`u Hospital. To participate, call Eddie Andrade at 928-0808.
      Hana Hou Restaurant’s Keiki Christmas Party is Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with buffet dinner, lucky number prizes, keiki and photos with Santa.
      Thy Word Ministries offers free lunch plates while supplies last, live entertainment and a craft fair at Christmas in Ka`u on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji.
      Ocean View Community Association’s Keiki Christmas Party is set for Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at the community center. Santa arrives at noon with toys and for photos. Call 939-7033.
      Ka`u School of the Arts’ Christmas concerts are Saturday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Performers include Ka`u `Ohana Band, Ka`u Community Chorus, Hannah’s Makana `Ohana, David Matson and Ben Houghton. Call 854-1540.

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.