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| West Kaʻū to Kona state Senate candidates Dru Kanuha and Brenda Ford. See story below and the forum at naleo.tv/vod/ |
KAʻŪ LEARNING ACADEMY IS NO MORE, UNLESS THERE IS A SUCCESSFUL APPEAL, according to a statement from the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission, which was issued on Monday.
It says that today the Charter School Commission "voted to revoke the charter contract for Kaʻū Learning Academy (KLA) due to multiple contract violations. A total of 22 violations, including financial and operational irregularities, enrollment discrepancies, failure to properly maintain student and employee records, and the determination that the charter school’s purported governing board was improperly constituted and did not meet statutory legal requirements.
"Additionally, on June 21, the Commission was informed by the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that after completing an investigation of possible test breaches at KLA, the 2017 assessment scores of all students tested at the school cannot be considered valid or trustworthy and will be invalidated.
"The decision to revoke the charter contract was rendered during a special hearing that had been requested by the charter school’s purported governing board after the Commission initiated the revocation process in April.
"Kaʻū Learning Academy opened its doors in 2015 serving students in grades 3-7. The projected student count for the 2018-19 school year was 93. The revocation of the charter contract means the school closes its doors immediately. Closure notifications will be sent to parents, staff and state agencies. The Commission will secure both student and financial records and conduct an inventory of school property. Within 15 days of the closure decision, the Commission will notify the charter contract holder in writing of the closure decision and transmit a copy of the notification to the Board of Education. Within 21 days of the closure decision, the contract holder may file an appeal of the decision to the BOE. The BOE will issue a final decision within 60 calendar days of the filing of the appeal.
"The Commission will work closely with the school’s students and their families to assist in the transition for students to their new schools. The Commission will also work closely with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education for any students and their families who wish to transition to a Department Public School."
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PRES. DONALD TRUMP NOMINATED BRETT KAVANAUGH TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO issued a statement. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Hirono wrote:
It says that today the Charter School Commission "voted to revoke the charter contract for Kaʻū Learning Academy (KLA) due to multiple contract violations. A total of 22 violations, including financial and operational irregularities, enrollment discrepancies, failure to properly maintain student and employee records, and the determination that the charter school’s purported governing board was improperly constituted and did not meet statutory legal requirements.
"Additionally, on June 21, the Commission was informed by the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that after completing an investigation of possible test breaches at KLA, the 2017 assessment scores of all students tested at the school cannot be considered valid or trustworthy and will be invalidated.
"The decision to revoke the charter contract was rendered during a special hearing that had been requested by the charter school’s purported governing board after the Commission initiated the revocation process in April.
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| Kaʻū Learning Academy lost its charter today. If appealed, the state Board of Education will make a final decision. Photo from KLA |
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| Endangered species tag and release programs at KLA. Photo from KLA |
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PRES. DONALD TRUMP NOMINATED BRETT KAVANAUGH TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO issued a statement. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Hirono wrote:
“Today, Donald Trump selected Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court from a list hand-picked by two organizations with a far-right ideology – the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation.
“As a federal appellate court Judge, Brett Kavanaugh’s record is replete with decisions favoring the privileged and powerful. His writings and rulings show a determination to restrict women’s reproductive freedom and strip federal agencies of their power to protect our water, air, and safety.
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| Judge Brett Cavanaugh, nominee to the Supreme Court. Photo from Wikipedia |
“Significantly, Judge Kavanaugh has advocated that Congress legislate to exempt U.S. presidents from civil and criminal actions while in office. This is of deep concern at a time when Donald Trump is a defendant in numerous civil lawsuits and is the subject of a significant criminal investigation.
“Judge Kavanaugh has not earned the benefit of the doubt. He has the burden of proof to demonstrate his ability to be independent of the President and exercise unbiased and independent judgment.
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HERE IS MORE ON THE KANUHA-FORD FORUM, Decision 2018, sponsored by Hawaiʻi County Democrats and Nā Leo TV. During the hour-long question and answer session, the Democratic candidates aiming to serve west Kaʻū and Kona, District 3 in the state Senate, shared goals and views. Watch the forum at naleo.tv/vod/, with moderator Stacy Higa. See Sunday’s Kaʻū News Briefs for the opening of the forum.
When asked about emergency preparedness, Ford praised Civil Defense, and the Community Emergency Response Teams. As a County Council member, she helped fund CERT training through the Fire Department, leading to 32 CERT organizations throughout the county. “Every community should have CERT team in it,” she said. “Everybody needs to be trained; it’s a life skill.”
Kanuha said that Civil Defense and first responders like CERT should have more tools to help with community in case of emergency. Preparedness maps for all over the island and community education are needed, he said. “We live on an island… in the middle of the ocean, where we deal with tsunamis, hurricanes… earthquakes, volcanoes… It’s important to make sure (people) are well prepared,” he said.
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| Candidate Dru Kanuha, in Kona, with his ʻohana. Photo from drukanuha.nationbuilder.com |
Regarding the false missile attack on Hawaiʻi last January, Kanuha said there “is always room for improvement. The missile crisis was a disaster. We weren’t prepared.” Every disaster is going to be different; preparation needs to be improved, he said.
Ford called it a “SNAFU” and “a complete disaster.” She said there needs to be better communication with Civil Defense and the Emergency Operations Centers
When asked about the role of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, Kanuha said the state depends “hugely” on tourism. He said there should be more promotion of Hawaiʻi Island to “come here, enjoy, and ultimately, spend their money, and stay as long as they can.” He said there needs to be more communication about dangers of hiking in mountain and lava areas, about bringing in invasive species, and about living aloha when here and taking that export back with them.
Ford said the Tourism Authority is “Doing a great job advertising,” but needs to educate. She said the island offers aloha, but also “every known disaster that can be here,” referring specifically to waves, rip tides, steep hiking trails, and lava. She said that “every pest on the planet” seems to arrive on island, referring to invasive species that arrive on planes and boats. She said videos and signage could help visitors learn safety for the environment. An example: “Don’t stand on the coral; it’s an animal, it’s not a rock.”
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| Candidate Brenda Ford at the 2018 Women's Day March in Kona. Photo from votebrendaford.com |
She called for more education of visitors so they don't have accidents, even fatal ones. “One guy went out onto a lava bench, years ago. The bench broke – it wasn’t because of him, it was just ready to go; never found his body.” She said she wants to make sure that locals aren’t unhappy with visitors, and that visitors are happy, too. She called for more pre-education of people coming here, particularly concerning ecotourism. She said ecotourism is great, with its learning component, but that visitors need to learn before landing here. “It’s our responsibility.”
Kanuha called for more promotion of ecotourism – “to its highest point,” saying these visitors somewhat understand Hawaiʻi. He also said the sustainability of forests, beaches, and corals is important for this “growing segment of our tourism.” He advocates for education: “I think that ecotourism can be a great thing for our state.”
When asked about higher education facilities for West Hawaiʻi , Ford said she is “Not happy.” She said she has been working for 20 years to land a four-year college in Kona. “I’m not happy with just a learning center - it’s not enough. Our kids are just as smart as anybody else’s,” she said. She told of how her son took science classes at the existing community college in Kona, where there were no labs, and none of his credits were transferable. She talked about reaching out beyond the University of Hawaiʻi University of Washington Hilo or leave the island. “If they go to the mainland, they are not coming back. We have got to improve our higher education on this island, in the state, dramatically,” proclaimed Ford.
Kanuha, who graduated from a college in San Diego , West Hawaiʻi . He said the community college wants to expand, have more specialized instructors. “If we can build upon the existing community college,” he said, that would be a step in the right direction. “Hopefully our kids can look forward to going – and staying – at UH,” he said.
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| Brenda Ford on Decision 2018, running for state Senate. Image from Na Leo TV |
When asked about prisons, Kanuha said the prison system needs to be built upon education, which would serve a better purpose than just incarceration in the long run. It gets inmates off the criminal pathway, he said. Overcrowding, services for inmates, and getting to a point of being “a member of society, where they have a job, have a family, build a home,” off the in-and-out cycle, he said, is important.
Ford recommended putting vocational arts back into the schools. She said it would help keep young people from falling “into this mischief.” She said she opposes both privately owned prisons and sending the incarcerated out of state. She said she recommends more prison education and more therapy, and keeping families closer, which lessens isolation, which in turn can lead to more aggression. She also advocates for some former prisoners being allowed to vote again.
When asked about traffic in Kona, Ford said, “It’s bad.” She stated the new state highway to the airport is under construction, but “way overdue, way over cost.” She said there should be more mauka-makai connectors to the main highway around the island, which would also help with tsunami evacuation. “We need to get those (mauka-makai connectors) done as quickly as we possibly can,” she said.
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| Dru Kanuha on Decision 2018, running for state Senate. Image from Na Leo TV |
Kahuna said Kona has been struggling way too long with traffic, and said the completion of Queen Kauhumkanu Highway extension and adding those mauka-makai connectors was important. One cul-de-sac subdivision, he said, was recently connected to a mauka-makai thoroughfare. He said the "pinch point" between Lako Street and Kamehameha III – which would be managed by the Kuakini Highway extension, which was taken off the priority list last year – “desperately” needs to move forward.
In his closing statement, Kahuha said he is running for state Senate because he was born and raised in West Hawaiʻi – schooled at Mokuaikawa church, Kahakai, and Kealakehe. He noted that his family has lived in Kona for generations. “I know the community; I want my kids to grown up in a community where they can afford to live in a place where we've been for generations.” He said its becoming tough to live there affordably, which helps drive him to advocate for affordable housing in West Hawaiʻi and the state. He said he has a passion and respect for taking care of community. He said he loves Hawaiʻi and wants his family to stay here. He also said he brings leadership, with his council and chair positions, and collaborating, bringing everybody to the table.
In her closing statement, Ford commented that she and Kanuha had many similar goals, which “bodes well for West Hawaiʻi .” She said she will work to help the homeless, and to build a new hospital and university. She said she also will work for civil rights and to prevent gerrymandering. She said as a state Senator, she would be able to work with people on the County Council where she served, and people in the state Senate and House, even on controversial issues, even if it takes some time. She pointed to her track record. “All the different islands are facing the exact same problems; not one of us is an island in and of itself. We have to work together,” she said. Ford stated that she has proven herself when serving on the County Council.
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| Lava from Fissure 8, heading south, creeps ever closer to the presently empty Kua O Ka Lā Charter School, and Ahalanui warm ponds. Photo from Tropical Visions Video |
LAVA THREATENS KUA O KA LĀ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL AND AHALANUI COUNTY BEACH PARK, home of lower Puna’s beloved warm ponds. Lava on the south side of the 14km-long channel near Kapoho, shown in a July 8 video from Mick Kalber of Tropical Visions Video aboard a Paradise Helicopter flight, is closing in on the park and school.
Janet Babb of USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said the flow front, as of this morning’s overflight, is 600 meters from the ponds. They do not have figures as to how fast the front is moving, but Tina Neal, Scientist in Charge at USGS HVO, said it is “slow.”
USGS HVO has a seismic, GPS, and infrasound equipment installation at the school, said Neal, “which we are concerned about – we’re watching (the flow) carefully as well.” She said that if the situation gets “past the point of being safe,” they may “mount an expedition to retrieve their equipment.”
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| Thick laze from the ocean entry of lava from Fissure 8 hangs heavy over Kua O Ka Lā Charter School and Ahalanui warm ponds. The locations are less than 600 meters from active lava flow. Photo from Tropical Visions Video |
KUA O KA LĀ PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL, INACCESSIBLE AND THREATENED BY LAVA, SEEKS FUNDING to relocate to Hilo for the 2018-19 school year starting August 8. A GoFund Me Campaign seeks $15,000.
Says the GoFund Me page, “We have identified a location, but the facility needs a lot of work. We have four weeks to prepare the facility for the upcoming school year for our K through 6th students. We are looking for assistance to purchase materials and labor to get this critical renovation completed. We humbly ask for your kokua. Mahalo!”
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| Buildings and gardens at Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, smothered in laze. Photo from Tropical Visions Video |
Susie Obsorne, co-founder of the school, who lost her home to lava May 25, told The Kaʻū Calendar the challenge is putting the facility in shape. She is in final negotiations with Nani Mau Botanical Gardens in Hilo , with quotes from contractors, and hopes to start renovations next week.
Many Rotary Clubs have “pulled together in tremendous support, both financially and with labor,” said Osborne.
Many Rotary Clubs have “pulled together in tremendous support, both financially and with labor,” said Osborne.
The Kapoho campus, evacuated during the second week of May due to the eruption in lower Puna, temporarily moved to the Boys and Girls Club in Hilo, where middle and high school students will be placed for the upcoming school year. Classes for K through 6th will be at Nani Mau Botanical Gardens, once renovations are completed. Preschool is staying at Puʻula Church Hall in Nanawale.
Lava flows from Fissure 8 have cut off access to school grounds across from Ahalanui ponds. Though the school buildings and gardens for the culinary program still stand, lava is moving closer and laze blankets the school grounds.
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| Students and instructors work in the gardens at Kua O Ka Lā, which provide food for the K through 6th culinary program. Photo from kuaokala.org |
The Pre-K through 12th Hawaiian-focused school’s charter was established in 2000. Kua O Ka Lā is located on 600 acres at Puʻalaʻa, next to Ahalanui warm pond, “an intact ancient Hawaiian village complete with historical sites, fishponds, and native habitat that affords an ideal outdoor learning environment for our project-based curriculum.” The school services 230 students in Kindergarten through 12th grade at its campus.
Through the school’s Hīpuʻu Program, Kua O Ka Lā’s Kumu, Kaimi Kaupiko, of Miloliʻi, and Sheri Jumalon, of Ocean View, have instructed students in Kaʻū on hands-on conservation, and cultural and environmental restoration projects, including at a heiau directly above Pāhala, and the forestry conservation area nearby.
Osborne said the lower Puna campus “is the most magical, beautiful place… and wondrous scientific learning lab.” She said she hopes to establish classes in Hilo for the 2018-19 school year, taking day trips back to the Puna location, “and then next year, go back home, ultimately.”
Enrollment is open now, for classes at the Hilo and Nanawale locations, and for the Hīpuʻu Program, a hybrid, online school for students island-wide. See kuaokala.org.
Enrollment is open now, for classes at the Hilo and Nanawale locations, and for the Hīpuʻu Program, a hybrid, online school for students island-wide. See kuaokala.org.
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NEW and UPCOMING
KAʻŪ HIGH SCHOOL IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Varsity Baseball Head Coach, Pep Squad Head, Coach, Girls Soccer Head Coach, and Boys/Girls Judo Coach for the 2018-19 school year. Anyone interested can pick up an application form at the school's main office. Deadline is July 14.
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Last year's heaviest boar was captured by Team 12, led by Tyrell Mason of Kaʻū, weighing in at 150 lbs. Photo by Guy Sesson |
SECOND ANNUAL PIG HUNT HOSTED BY KAʻŪ MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY Saturday, July 21, at the parking lot adjacent to 96-3258 Maile Street, near the old Radio Station Building. Location provided by Olson Trust.
The scale for the weigh-ins for the wild pigs will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be food booths and a variety of contests. Contact Kalani Vierra at 938-2005, Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740, or Liz Kuluwaimaka at 339-0289.
The categories include: Over-All Pua‘a prize for heaviest pig; Heaviest Boar/Laho‘ole; Heaviest Sow; Biggest Tusk; The Packing Contest, in which the hunter runs while carrying the pig; and the Smoke Meat Contest.
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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 |
TUESDAY, JULY 10
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Tue/Wed, July 10(Committees)/11 (Council), Hilo , Tue/Wed, July 24 (Committees)/25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building
C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue, July 10, 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
The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue, July 10, 4-7pm , Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
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WEDNESDAY, JULY 11
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, beginning at 9 a.m., Wed, July 11 (Council), Hilo , Tue/Wed, July 24 (Committees)/25 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building
THURSDAY, JULY 12
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thu, July 12, 10:30 -noon , Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571
Thursday Night at the Center - Witnesses in Words: The Literature of Kīlauea, Thu, July 12, 7-8pm , Volcano Art Center Volcano Village Kīlauea and their perspectives: William Ellis, Titus Coan, Mark Twain and Isabella Bird. Free; $5 donation suggested. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
Oliver!, a KDEN Production, July 13-29; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm , Sundays 2:30pm . Shows moved to UH Hilo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $20 general, $15 seniors 60+ and students, $12 keiki 12 and under. Tickets available from July 2 at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo . Info and reservations: 982-7344, kden73@aol.com
Exhibit, Birds of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park 9-5pm , Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
.org. volcanoartcenter.org
SATURDAY, JULY 14
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat, July 14, 8-11am , Ocean View Community Center
Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, July 14, 9:30am , Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, or 561-9111. nmok.org
Zentangle: Ink-Blown ‘Ōhi‘a w/Dina Wood Kageler, Sat, July 14, 10-1pm , Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Nature and Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sun, July 15, 9:30-11:30am , Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
MONDAY, JULY 16
ONGOING
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| Some of last year's Volcano Rain Forest Run participants. Photo from VRFR |
Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through Saturday, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
25th Annual
The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.
Find Your Park, invites Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Kamaʻaina and tourist alike are encouraged to experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka‘ū to Volcano to Hilo. “While Kīlauea continues to shake the ground and blast ash from its ever-changing summit crater – causing the partial closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Rangers offer new and familiar programs – free of charge, with no entry fees – for visitors at the park’s Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in Hilo, and at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo.
In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.
Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. ; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent.
Coffee Talk, in the Visitor Contact Station is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m.
Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
You can also find your park rangers in Volcano at the Volcano Art Center 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. , in Volcano Village 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.
The return of After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center
Find you park rangers at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo, Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates, and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., give a talk about all five of Hawai‘i Island’s volcanoes –including Kīlauea. Get your NPS Passport Book stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave. , Hilo Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
Two Park Rangers are stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo , from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. , every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit , Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org
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 464-9634.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.
5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22,
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