Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, February 1, 2019

Puʻu ʻŌʻō, from north rim, this morning. The weekly column Volcano Watch, back from hiatus during the government
shutdown, says the seven month quiet period "heralds the end of an era." See story, below. USGS photo

BILLS TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE made some progress at the Hawaiʻi Legislature this week, after receiving a pushback from Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce. The statewide organization issued a statement: "The passage of these bills would seriously harm local businesses, the state economy, job creation and, potentially, the very employees it is trying to help."
The Balance Careers reports 29 states have a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum of $7.25, including Hawaiʻi, where the minimum is $10.10. Proposals before the state legislature would the minimum higher. One of the measures, co-introduced by west Kaʻū state Rep. Richard Creagan, House Bill 11 91, proposes $17 by 2025 for workers without employer provided health insurance and $14 by 2025 for workers with employer provided health insurance. The House Labor and Public Employment committee on Thursday recommended passing the measure, with amendments.

During hearings at the Capitol on Thursday, The Chamber asked lawmakers to consider the impact the wage hikes on local businesses' ability to continue to create jobs, survive in a high cost of living state and pay for benefits currently offered to employees. "As a direct result of the significant proposed increase in the minimum wage, some businesses may have to cut back hours, reduce benefits or limit the hiring of new employees. Increasing the minimum wage will also greatly affect job opportunities, especially for new, unskilled workers. In addition to traditional adult workers changing industries, young adult workers also often receive their initial work

Twenty-nine states have a minimum wage higher than the federal minimum of $7.25, including Hawaiʻi, where
the minimum is $10.10 and proposals before the state legislature would take it higher.
Map from The Balance Careers

experience by starting at unskilled jobs," stated Chamber testimony. Chamber testimony also requested that lawmakers consider Hawaiʻi's high mandatory health care costs under the Prepaid Health Care Act.

Senate Bill 1248 would increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024. On Thursday, the Committee on Labor, Culture, and the Arts deferred the measure.

Senate Bil 789 would increase the minimum wage to $12 by 2022. On Thursday, the Committee on Labor, Culture, and the Arts recommended passage, with amendments.

House Bill 96 would allow counties to determine a higher minimum wage than the state minimum wage. On Thursday the Committee on Labor and Public Employment recommended passage with amendments.
See an overview of the minimum wage at The Balance Careers. Follow progress of the bills through their links, above.

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The Rebuild America's Schools Act would provide ten years
of grands and funding through bonds to repair and improve
schools across the country. Image from NEA

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANTS AND BONDS totaling $100 billion nationwide are proposed by U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and colleagues. The Rebuild America's Schools Act would provide funds over the next decade to assist communities in building and renovating schools while creating an estimated 1.9 million jobs, according to a statement from Hirono:

"The considerable resources provided by this legislation would help to facilitate much needed improvements to how and where our children learn, and create high-paying jobs in our communities.

"Far too many children across the country lack access to suitable learning environments, and many attend schools that are in dire need of renovations and repairs. Although states like Hawaiʻi are working to improve learning environments for their students, more investment is needed to support current efforts that are already underway, and the federal government should play a role," wrote Hirono.

The Rebuild America's Schools Act establishes formula funds for states to award local communities with competitive grant funding for school repair, renovation, and construction projects through state matching criteria and permissible spending. By focusing on communities with the greatest financial need, schools will also have the ability to expand access to high-speed broadband in order to ensure all students have access to digital learning. The bill also provides $30 billion for Qualified School Infrastructure Bonds, $10 billion each for FY 2020 through FY 2022; invests in American jobs by requiring the use of American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products; reinstates and Expands Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for use on school construction; requires the Government Accountability Office to report on projects carried out within two years after enactment with periodic updates; and ensures a comprehensive study of the physical condition of public schools at least once every five years and provides a temporary increase of $170 million for Impact Aid construction.

The bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Bobby Scott, of Virginia. He chairs the Committee on Education and Labor.

American Society of Civil Engineers gave public
school buildings across the country the grade of D+.

Hirono pointed out that the American Society of Civil Engineers gave public school buildings across the country an overall grade of D+ in its 2017 report card, and according to a 2016 State of Our Schools report, the United States collectively spends $46 billion less annually on school construction and maintenance than is necessary to ensure safe and healthy public school facilities. The report also projected that between FY 2012-2024, Hawaiʻi would spend upwards $130 million on new school construction. As it currently stands, federal dollars only cover school repair costs in cases of disasters.

Hirono and colleagues also called for Pres. Donald Trump Administration to include funding for schools as part of any comprehensive bill to improve the nation's infrastructure.

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NIUHI-SHARK HONORS KAMEHAMEHA THE GREAT during the next Volcano Art Center fine art exhibit. It opens Saturday, Feb. 16 and runs daily through March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

King Kamehameha is celebrated in paint and prose with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. An opening night reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with artist and author is preceded by a panel discussion the day before at 5:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Eyre will sign copies of his book Sunday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at VAC Gallery. The collection provides viewers a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art.

The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha, including his complex relationship with Kaʻū chief Keōua. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences.

The 200th anniversary of the death of Kamehameha the Great is May 8. His wife, Kaʻahumanu, is said to have tattooed the exact date on her arm. The year 1819 was also the time of the breaking of the ʻai kapu, which freed men and women to eat together. Later that same year, Chief Kekuaokalani, Kamehameha's nephew, fell with his wife Mānono on the battlefield at Kuamoʻo, in a last attempt to defend the kapu system.

A Volcano Art Center statement says, "Hawaiʻi Island is not only the place of Kamehameha's birth, it is also the beautiful and dramatic setting of much of his life's story, the source of his power, the home of his final days, and the hidden place of his bundled bones."

Eyre has taught Hawaiian language at Kamehameha Schools for 23 years. Kamehameha—The Rise of a King won a Palapala Poʻokela Award for excellence in Hawaiian culture, a Nēnē Book Award, a Moonbeam Children's Book Award, and a Read Aloud America selection award. Eyre is the author of seven books. The most recent is a collection of haiku poems entitled not a one.

Born and raised on the island of Oʻahu, Pao graduated from Kamehameha Schools in 1989. He earned a BFA at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 1994, with an emphasis in Ceramics, earning an Outstanding Senior Ceramic Student Award. Pao received a Masters of Fine Arts with first-class honors in 1999 from Elam School of Fine Arts at University of Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand. He returned to Hawaiʻi in 2000 to take a full-time teaching position at the Kamehameha Schools in Visual Arts. In January 2018, he transferred to the Keaʻau campus. Outside of his teaching schedule, Pao continues to create his own art.

Several civic and social groups including ʻAhuʻena Inc., Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo, Kamehameha Publishing, Volcano Art Center, Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi, East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center, Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, Malu ʻĀina-Center for Non-violent Education and Action, and Puʻu Koholā National Park have joined efforts to mark the year.

Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

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NO TSUNAMI THREAT FROM A 6.6-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE at 6:30 a.m., 10 miles from Chipas, Mexico, near the border of Honduras, reports Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense.

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VOLCANO WATCH IS BACK, after a five-week hiatus due to the government shutdown. This week's Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates, states no lava at Puʻu ʻŌʻō for seven months heralds the end of an era:

One of the most frequent questions asked of USGS HVO scientists the last several months has been, "Is the Lower East Rift eruption over?" But the same question could – and should – be asked of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō, erupting in 1983. USGS photo

On Jan. 3, 2018, we marked the 35th anniversary of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. For the past three and a half decades, lava has erupted almost continuously from the middle East Rift Zone. Minor pauses in surface activity mostly occurred between the fountaining episodes in 1983 through 1986, and subsequently during a few episodes marked by subsidiary fissures, intrusions, or partial crater floor collapses.

Given the longevity of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption, we'd grown accustomed to the luxury of having nearly-uninterrupted access to lava. The lure of reliable lava viewing beckoned to millions of tourists around the globe.

But, I say 'nearly-uninterrupted' because there have been over one hundred brief pauses in surface activity throughout the 35-year-long event, most lasting hours to a couple days. The six longest pauses during the Puʻu ʻŌʻō activity were each 1 to 2 months long, and all occurred between fountaining episodes in the first two years.

Specifically, long pauses between fountains occurred spanning episodes 3 and 4 (65 days), episodes 32 and 33 (52 days), episodes 12 and 13 (50 days), episodes 39 and 40 (49 days), episodes 25 and 26 (43 days), and episodes 31 and 32 (38 days).

After the fountaining episodes, there were several Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption pauses lasting between one week and one month.

Watch the 2011 collapse of Puʻu ʻŌʻō's crater floor. Video from USGS

Specifically, there was a 10 day pause in February of 1992 after the Kupaianaha vent shut down, ending episode 48. A year later there was an eight day pause in February of 1993 after an uprift intrusion caused Puʻu ʻŌʻō’s crater floor to collapse. A nine day pause in February of 1996 occurred after an observed surge in effusion rate.

The longest eruption hiatus after the fountaining phase lasted 24 days following the episode 54 fissure in Nāpau Crater in February of 1997. In September 1999, there was an 11-day pause during episode 55 after a partial collapse of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor.

Most recently, there were two pauses in 2011: an 18-day-long pause after the March Kamoamoa fissure, and a six day long pause after the episode 60 west flank break out in August.

However, on April 30, 2018, everything changed. The catastrophic collapse of Puʻu ʻŌʻō has left the iconic eruption site and surrounding lava flow fields devoid of lava through the rest of 2018. December 30th marked the seven month anniversary of no surface activity at Puʻu ʻŌʻō and is effectively a concluding milestone for this long-lived event.

As a refresher from our previous article, the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program https://volcano.si.edu/ classifies the end of continuous volcanic activity based on an absence of eruptive activity over a 90 day (three month) period.

Puʻu ʻŌʻō on May 3, 2018, as viewed from a helicopter overflight. The crater
floor is collapsed, and a thin plume escapes from the gaping crater. The west
flank cracked on April 30 around 2:30 p.m. Minor amounts of lava oozed
out of the crack (line of steaming features) just before the plumbing
system catastrophically failed. USGS photo

Statistically, after a 210 day (seven month) gap in activity, it is extremely unlikely that lava will resume activity within Puʻu ʻŌʻō. Based on historical knowledge of rift zone eruptions, pauses lasting more than 3½ months have ended their respective eruption.

Given the GVP criterion, no signs of imminent unrest, and that December 30, 2018, marks seven months of no lava, then the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption could be considered over. The 36th anniversary of continuous eruption, on January 3, 2019, did not come to pass.

This does not mean Kīlauea Volcano is dead. New eruptions have previously begun elsewhere on Kīlauea after months to decades of quiet. Magma is being supplied to the volcano, and deformation data shows evidence for movement of molten rock through the magmatic system, refilling the middle ERZ. It's important to note that Kīlaueais still an active volcano that will erupt in the future, and associated hazards have not changed. When a new eruption does occur, ground cracking, gas emissions, seismicity, and deformation can increase rapidly.
USGS HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea Volcano through ground-based observations, helicopter overflights, and geophysical instrument networks. Significant changes will be noted in HVO's weekly updates.

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TROJANS VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL THRASHED THEIR OPPONENTS TONIGHT. Kaʻū hosted St. Joseph, which trailed behind in every quarter: 6 points to the Trojans' 10 in the first, 9 to 11 in the second, 8 to 17 in the third, and 12 to 13 in the fourth, ending with Kaʻū in triumph at 51 over St. Joseph's 35. The boys next face off at the BIIF Division II Semi-Finals on Tuesday, Feb. 5. See the remainder of the Winter sports schedule, below.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,000 mailboxes throughout
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi to Ocean View, Na`alehu, Pahala and

Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district.
Read online at kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS SECOND CHANCE PROM, for adults 21 and older, on Saturday, Mar. 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 per single, $50 per couple, includes heavy pupus and a photo.
For more info, or to volunteer, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala.

WOMEN'S WAVE meets the 2nd Sunday of the month, 2 p.m., at Punaluʻu bakery. Feb. 10 topic is expected to be comparing Women's Walk stories.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Abstract Painting Workshop w/Darcy Gray, Sat., Feb. 2, 10-2pm, Volcano Art Center. For those with basic painting background. Supplies provided. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee for 5 sheets 300 lb. 18"x24" watercolor paper, pre-gessoed. Advance registration required. Limited to 8 adults. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Art Express, Sat., Feb. 2, 10-3pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 1st Saturday monthly. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size limited to 25. Meliha Corcoran 319-8989, himeliha@yahoo.com, discoveryharbour.net/art-express

Keiki Science Class, Sat., Feb. 2, 11-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. 1st Saturday, monthly. acehardware.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Super Bowl Sunday Party, Sun., Feb. 3, doors open 11am, kick-off 1:30pm, Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Food and beverages available for purchase. 967-8365 after 4pm for more. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees may apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun., Feb. 3, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. 1st Sunday, monthly. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc
or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Mon., Feb. 4 (Committees), Kona and Tue., Feb. 5, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon., Feb. 4, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Mon., Feb. 4, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
AdvoCATS, Tue., Feb. 5, 7-5pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283. advocatshawaii.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tue., Feb. 5, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Arts & Crafts Activity: Mardi Gras, Wed., Feb. 6, 3:30-5pm, multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 through Feb. 5. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Hula Voices, Wed., Feb. 6, 5:30-6:30pm, 1st Wed. monthly, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free, 967-7565

Open Mic Night, Wed., Feb. 6, 6-10pm, Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Call 967-8365 after 4pm to sign-up and for more details. Park entrance fees may apply. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests, 21+. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Women's Support Group, Thu., Feb. 7 and 21, 3-4:30pm, 1st and 3rd Thursday monthly. PARENTS Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in anytime. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org.

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thu., Feb. 7, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thu., Feb. 7, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Free Community Dance, Fri., Feb. 8, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pupus welcome. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

ONGOING

A Lifeguard Training Course is offered at Pāhala Pool Feb. 4 through 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the county Department of Parks and Recreation, Aquatics Section, and the American Red Cross, the course fee is $75.

Participants are required to pass a prerequisite test at Pāhala Pool, scheduled by contacting 928-8177. The course fee and registration forms, available at Pāhala Pool, are due immediately following completion of the test. The test includes: 300-yard continuous swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both; two minutes treading water, without using hands; and completion of a timed event in 1 minute 40 seconds. The timed event is: Starting in the water, swim 20 yards, retrieve a 10-pound brick from the deep end, return the brick to the starting point, and exit the water.

Participants are responsible for providing their own supplies, including CPR mask, swim suit, goggles, towel, American Red Cross Lifeguard Manual, etc. The manual can be downloaded for free at redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding/lifeguard-preparation/lifeguard-manual.
For more information about becoming a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard, contact the nearest county swimming pool, or the Parks and Recreation Aquatics Specialist at 961-8694.

Money is Needed to Travel to State Championships for Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball Team. To donate, call Kaʻū High Athletic Director Kalei Namohala at 808-313-4100 or send a check to Kaʻū High School at

96-3150 Pikake St, Pāhala, HI, 96777

, with the notation "Girls Basketball."

The Trojans Girls basketball team will fly to Honolulu for the tournament, Feb. 6-9.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.
The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.
weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.
The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

Panaʻewa Stampede takes place this year just outside of Hilo, the weekend of Feb. 16-18, with rodeo competitors from Kaʻū and around the island joined by rodeo clowns and other entertainers. See HawaiiRodeoStampede.com.

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant will accept applicants through Feb. 28. The pageant will be held again at the Ka‘ū District Gym on Saturday, April 27, 6 p.m.

Miss Kaʻū Coffee and her court will represent the Kaʻū Coffee industry throughout the year at events in the community and beyond, her appearances sponsored by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, II. Pageant Director is Trinidad Marques. Scholarship Committee Directors are Julia Neal and Gloria Camba.

The community can support the pageant through purchasing tickets, volunteering, and providing scholarships. Last year, Leahi Volleyball team provided a food concession and the Miloli‘i Volleyball team helped with tickets and other tasks on pageant day.

Girls three to 24 years of age are encouraged to enter the pageant. Talents often include hula and singing. Competitive categories include Talent, Gown, Photogenic, Career-Interview, Characters Outfit, and Swimsuit for Miss Kaʻū Coffee. Pageant hopefuls contend for titles of Miss Ka‘ū Coffee, Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee, Miss Kaʻū Peaberry, and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower.

The current court is comprised of Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower Telia Navarro, Miss Peaberry Jacellyn Kekoa Jara, Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Christina Kawehiwehi and Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Reishalyn Kekoa Jara.
Email tmarques@yahoo.com.

Volunteer on Midway Atoll for Six Months. Sought by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Friends of Midway Atoll NWR, the volunteer will serve as a communication assistant out on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, according to Wayne Sentman, President of Friends of Midway Atoll. The position begins on or about March 12 through August. Applications are due by Feb. 28.

While USFWS is seeking a volunteer for six months, there is potential to be extended to a full year--at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. The mission is to upstart and sustain implementation of social media postings and website updates while assisting with development of internal refuge reporting.

For more information, and instructions on how to apply, visit fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_1/NWRS/Zone_1/Midway_Atoll/Sections/What_We_Do/Get_Involved/MANWR_Volunteer_COMMS_Announcment _12_11_2019.pdf. See Friends of Midway Atoll NWR for news from the Refuge, updates on projects, and photos that tell the story of life on Midway Atoll NWR. Follow on Instagram at @FriendsofMidwayNWR.

A Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū is available through FoodCorps. Applications are open through March 15 to work for a year at Pāhala Elementary School. The position is a full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020. Applicants must be 18 years or older by Aug. 1; hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent; be a legal, permanent resident of the United States.

In exchange for service, members receive: $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly over the 11.5-month term; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; Student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; Health insurance; Ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development.

To supplement their income, service members can hold part-time jobs outside of their service hours, or apply for SNAP benefits, which is usually around $340 per month.

Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.org, Facebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths to serve the public at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers.

Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. Campaign and other political displays are not invited. Fifty percent discounts are provided to bona fide non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee.

In addition to Kaʻū Coffee Festival fees, each vendor is responsible for a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each, to be displayed at each booth.

Vendor and display booths are the responsibility of sponsors who provide their own equipment, including tents – up to 10' x 10' square – tables, chairs, signs, and other equipment. Hot food must be served under metal roofs that Kaʻū Coffee Festival provides. There is no electricity available. Generators are allowed.

Set up before 8 a.m. on May 4, day of Hoʻolaule‘a, and be ready to serve the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No smoking, drugs, alcohol, propaganda, political speech, or activism allowed.

Kaʻū Coffee Festival is a Green Event. All vendors are encouraged to use biodegradable products whenever possible.
Deadline to apply is Friday, April 26. First come, first served. Find application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses,

P.O. Box 208, Pāhala, HI 96777

, email biokepamoses@gmail.com, or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.
Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.
Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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