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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard won the Ocean of Possibilities award last night. See story below. Photo from Gabbard's Flickr |
The ballot question proposed to change to the state constitution, asking: "Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?"
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| Aliʻiolani Hale, where the Supreme Court ruled Friday, Oct. 19, to not allow the Con Am question appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. Photo from Wikipedia/D. Ramey Logan |
The proposed constitutional amendment would have removed sole authority of counties over taxation, and authorize the state legislature to impose a "surcharge on investment real property." Supporting public education was to be the end use of the increased taxes. However, opponents including Hawai`i Chamber of Commerce said it could lead to a blank check for the Legislature to become involved in levying property taxes.
Gov. David Ige posted to Facebook: "The Court’s ruling on the Legislature’s amendment means we must keep searching for a way to support the dedicated teachers and staff who make a difference every day in classrooms around the state. I am committed to doing just that."
Scott Saiki, Speaker of the Hawaiʻi' House of Representatives said, "It is unfortunate that the Supreme Court is not allowing the public to vote on this question after the Legislature vetted it over the past two years."
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While the ballots for the General Election are already printed, "The Chief Election Officer shall issue a public proclamation stating that the ballot question is invalid and that any votes for or against the measure will not be counted and will have no impact,” said the order from the Supreme Court issued Friday.
Hawai`i State Teachers Association union President Corey Rosenlee said, "We are disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling and extremely grateful to thousands of teachers, parents and public school supporters who worked so hard to campaign for the Con Am. This has been a multi-year fight to fund our schools and get the constitutional amendment proposal on the ballot. While we are sad about the ruling, there is still an urgent need that students have a qualified teacher and sufficient school funding to provide our keiki with the learning environment they deserve. The fight for our schools does not end with the Supreme Court ruling; all of Hawaii must ask that our elected leaders work to ensure that our schools are properly funded.
"The current situation is unacceptable. We have more than 1,000 classrooms that lack a qualified teacher, crumbling facilities, and too many of our students are denied learning opportunities based on their special needs," Rosenlee added. "We have heard throughout this campaign the loud voice of the community to improve our schools. While there might have been disagreements on the amendment itself, there is still the strong desire from our community to invest in education. As a community, we must strive to give our keiki the schools they deserve."
While the ballots for the General Election are already printed, "The Chief Election Officer shall issue a public proclamation stating that the ballot question is invalid and that any votes for or against the measure will not be counted and will have no impact,” said the order from the Supreme Court issued Friday.Hawai`i State Teachers Association union President Corey Rosenlee said, "We are disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling and extremely grateful to thousands of teachers, parents and public school supporters who worked so hard to campaign for the Con Am. This has been a multi-year fight to fund our schools and get the constitutional amendment proposal on the ballot. While we are sad about the ruling, there is still an urgent need that students have a qualified teacher and sufficient school funding to provide our keiki with the learning environment they deserve. The fight for our schools does not end with the Supreme Court ruling; all of Hawaii must ask that our elected leaders work to ensure that our schools are properly funded.
"The current situation is unacceptable. We have more than 1,000 classrooms that lack a qualified teacher, crumbling facilities, and too many of our students are denied learning opportunities based on their special needs," Rosenlee added. "We have heard throughout this campaign the loud voice of the community to improve our schools. While there might have been disagreements on the amendment itself, there is still the strong desire from our community to invest in education. As a community, we must strive to give our keiki the schools they deserve."
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.
For over a decade, AccesSurf has worked to empower people with mobility impairments by providing adaptive surfing and therapeutic educational programs on water recreation, and enriched lives by helping families access the beach and ocean in a barrier-free environment.
REP. TULSI GABBARD WON THE OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES AWARD, given by AccesSurf in a ceremony last night. "Gabbard's efforts to help wounded warriors and others with disabilities access the healing, transformative qualities of the ocean have earned her" the award, says a statement from her office.
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| Rep. Gabbard with an attendee of the award ceremony last night. Photo from Gabbard's Flickr |
Cara Short, Executive Director of AccesSurf , said, "We are honoring Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard this year because as a water woman herself, she knows the healing power of the ocean and the importance it plays in people's lives. For many years Tulsi has supported AccesSurf programs. She is also a strong advocate for the environment, working hard on legislation to protect our coral reefs and end our addiction to fossil fuels."
AccesSurf's programs include Wounded Warrior Days at the Beach, and the Nā Koa Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta for those with service-related injuries, both programs in which Gabbard has supported and participated in the past. The organization also provides technical assistance to government agencies and other organizations to improve ocean accessibility, and has been instrumental in the international growth of adaptive surfing.
Gabbard said, "My first stop when I get off the plane back in Hawai'i is almost always a quick dip in the ocean. Surfing is a centering, transformative experience that refreshes, inspires, and motivates in the best possible way. Whether it's on a surfboard, swimming, or in a canoe, the ocean's healing power transcends just physical fitness and wellbeing. Its healing, therapeutic, and transformative qualities have an incredible impact on so many. I'm proud to support AccesSurf and their service to help every person experience the ocean, regardless of their physical limitations."
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.
A TELEPHONE SCAM ASKING FOR DONATIONS FOR HAWAIʻI FIRE DEPARTMENT is going around Hawaiʻi County, reports the office of Mayor Harry Kim.
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PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ SHOOK TODAY with a 3.6-magnitude earthquake at2:40 p.m. , at a depth of .7 miles inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The quake followed a few smaller ones earlier in the day, a 3.1 earthquake on Wednesday, Oct. 17, and recent "slight inflationary trend" near and east of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. This activity, reports Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory, suggests that magma may be refilling the middle East Rift Zone. Low seismicity and reduced gas emissions do not indicate that the magma is shallow.
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KAʻŪ TROJANS 8-MAN FOOTBALL TEAM will play Pāhoa next Saturday at1 p.m. at Pāhala Ball Park
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A TELEPHONE SCAM ASKING FOR DONATIONS FOR HAWAIʻI FIRE DEPARTMENT is going around Hawaiʻi County, reports the office of Mayor Harry Kim.
Fire Chief Darren Rosario said, "The Fire Department does not engage in the solicitation of monetary donations. Any member of the public receiving such calls should disregard the solicitation, and report it the Police."
To report suspected telephone scams, please call Hawaiʻi Police Department's non-emergency number at 935-3311.
PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ SHOOK TODAY with a 3.6-magnitude earthquake at
KAʻŪ TROJANS 8-MAN FOOTBALL TEAM will play Pāhoa next Saturday at
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 Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com |
KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE
Football:
Sat, Oct 27, 1pm, BIIF Finals at Pāhala Ball Park - Pāhoa vs. Kaʻū. PINK OUT!
NEW and UPCOMING
DANCE FOR FITNESS AT KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM is open to adults on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., through Dec. 27. Bring a towel and water. For more, call 928-3102.
REGISTER KEIKI, KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, FOR CRAFT STICK FALL SIGN, an Arts & Craft's Activity in the Ka‘ū District Gym's multi-purpose room held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is open Monday, Oct. 29, through Monday, Nov. 5. For more, call 928-3102.
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.SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Coastal Clean-Up with Ke Ala Kai Foundation, Sun., Oct. 21, call for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. BYO-4WD vehicle. Canoe paddlers from any Hawai‘i Island canoe club welcome. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, mattie.hwf@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org
People & Land of Kahuku, Sun., Oct. 21, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area's human history. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23
VOTE: Early Walk-In Voting Open, Tue., Oct. 23, through Sat., Nov. 3. elections.hawaii.gov
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HOVE Road Maintenance Corp. Meeting, Tue., Oct. 23, 10am, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Oct. 25, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Oct. 25, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Oct. 25, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org
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Craft Class, Thu., Oct. 25, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
Coffee Talk, Ka Wa‘a Kaulua: The Double-Hulled Canoe, Fri., Oct. 26, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Canoe sailor and builder Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa shares his knowledge and experience of the double-hulled canoe, which are still crafted and used today. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
Fall Costume Party, Fri., Oct. 26, 1:30-3:30pm, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Snacks, activities and prizes. Free to all ages. 939-2442
Halloween Party, Fri, Oct. 26, 8pm-midnight, Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. $5 cover charge w/costume, $7 without. For patrons 21+. Call 967-8365 after 4pm for more. Park entrance fees may apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
VOTE: Deadline to submit General Election poll watcher names to Office of Elections or Clerk's Office, Sat., Oct. 27. elections.hawaii.gov
Craft Bazaar, Sat, Oct. 27, 9-3pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Discovery Harbour Community Association, 929-9576
Paint Your Own Silk Scarf Workshop w/Patti Pease Johnson, Sat., Oct. 27, 9-12:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Students paint and take home 8"x53" silk scarf using three colors of their choice. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat., Oct. 27, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
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Will & Estate Seminar, Sat., Oct. 27, 10-3pm, Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God. 929-7278
Lava Evacuee Support Group Meeting, Sat., Oct. 27, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Reoccurring every last Saturday of the month hosted by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817
Hands-On Fermented Foods Workshop: Sauerkraut and Kombucha w/Jasmine Silverstein of HeartBeet Foods, Sat., Oct. 27, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Pre-registration required. All supplies and organic ingredients provided. No cooking skills necessary. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Tiki Mama's Road to the Sea Halloween Party will feature the Night Stalkers. Doors open at4:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct, 27, at 92-9122 Mamalahoa Hwy , Ocean View. Suggested donation is $10 plus a can of food. Tiki Mama's events support Hawaiʻi Food Bank.
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ONGOING
Hoʻokupu Hula No Kaʻū Cultural Festival happens Saturday, Nov. 3, atPāhala Community Center 0 a.m. to 10 p.m. Featuring Master Cultural Practitioners, Kukakuka (talk story), and many educational and cultural experiences with hands-on demonstrations. The festival is preceded by ceremonies at Punaluʻu Beach at dawn; at sunset, a ceremony will be held to honor ancestors; the festival will close with a ceremony at Makanau.
The festival features hula performed by hālau fromMexico , Japan , West Virginia , Oʻahu, South America , and Hawaiʻi Island. Traditional ethnic dance performances will come from Mexico , as well as the University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo Filipino Dancers
Sponsors include County Council member Maile David and community contributions through fundraising. See hookupukau.com.
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Public Access Room comes to Ocean View on Wednesday, Oct. 31. The non-partisan division of Hawaiʻi state legislature's legislative Reference Bureau will offer workshops. Free and open to the public, they focus on training for creating, following, and testifying on legislation.
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PAR's staff will be at Ocean View Ocean View Community Center 92-8924 Leilani Circle . The Beginners Presentation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ; the Advanced Presentation will be from 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Additional presentations will be in Kona, Waimea, Pāhoa, and Hilo, from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.
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Tūtū and Me tuition-free traveling preschool, for keiki birth to five years old and their caregivers, is temporarily moving their Pāhala site program for Oct. 23, 25, and 30, and Nov. 1, to the River of Life Assembly of God church. The group still meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. They will be back at Pāhala Community Center on Nov. 6. The Nāʻālehu location remains at Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.
Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.
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Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.
CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union's Nāʻālehu Branch is taking applications for a Member Service Representative.
The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Coastal Clean-Up with Ke Ala Kai Foundation, Sun., Oct. 21, call for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. BYO-4WD vehicle. Canoe paddlers from any Hawai‘i Island canoe club welcome. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, mattie.hwf@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org
People & Land of Kahuku, Sun., Oct. 21, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area's human history. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23
VOTE: Early Walk-In Voting Open, Tue., Oct. 23, through Sat., Nov. 3. elections.hawaii.gov
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Oct. 25, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Oct. 25, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Oct. 25, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org
Craft Class, Thu., Oct. 25, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
Coffee Talk, Ka Wa‘a Kaulua: The Double-Hulled Canoe, Fri., Oct. 26, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Canoe sailor and builder Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa shares his knowledge and experience of the double-hulled canoe, which are still crafted and used today. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
Fall Costume Party, Fri., Oct. 26, 1:30-3:30pm, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Snacks, activities and prizes. Free to all ages. 939-2442
Halloween Party, Fri, Oct. 26, 8pm-midnight, Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. $5 cover charge w/costume, $7 without. For patrons 21+. Call 967-8365 after 4pm for more. Park entrance fees may apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com
VOTE: Deadline to submit General Election poll watcher names to Office of Elections or Clerk's Office, Sat., Oct. 27. elections.hawaii.gov
Craft Bazaar, Sat, Oct. 27, 9-3pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Discovery Harbour Community Association, 929-9576
Paint Your Own Silk Scarf Workshop w/Patti Pease Johnson, Sat., Oct. 27, 9-12:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Students paint and take home 8"x53" silk scarf using three colors of their choice. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat., Oct. 27, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes
Lava Evacuee Support Group Meeting, Sat., Oct. 27, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Reoccurring every last Saturday of the month hosted by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817
Hands-On Fermented Foods Workshop: Sauerkraut and Kombucha w/Jasmine Silverstein of HeartBeet Foods, Sat., Oct. 27, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Pre-registration required. All supplies and organic ingredients provided. No cooking skills necessary. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Tiki Mama's Road to the Sea Halloween Party will feature the Night Stalkers. Doors open at
Hoʻokupu Hula No Kaʻū Cultural Festival happens Saturday, Nov. 3, at
The festival features hula performed by hālau from
Sponsors include County Council member Maile David and community contributions through fundraising. See hookupukau.com.
Two workshops will be offered. The first is geared towards newcomers, provides an introduction to the state legislative process to prepare new participants for the session. The second workshop is for those with an understanding of lawmaking. It will offer advanced advocacy tips on effective lobbying and often overlooked online resources. How-To guides, informational handouts, and other resources will be available.
Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.
The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html
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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