Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013

KA`U’S COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRENDA FORD confirmed this morning that she will not be seeking the vacant District 5 state House of Representatives seat. She said she has had many calls and emails but has stood firm in her vow to stay on the Council. “I am not putting my hat in the ring,” she said. “My reason is that I have a commitment and an obligation." She also said, “I really and truly appreciate people's belief that I could help.”  To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Pahala Filipino Association president Hilaria Panglao. Photo by Julia Neal

PAHALA FILIPINO ASSOCIATION president Hilaria Panglao urged her community last night to remember the Sakadas, the hard working immigrants who came to Hawai`i between 1906 and 1946 to work in the sugar fields. She was speaking at the association's annual  Christmas party and said that many Filipino families here today are “an extension of the Sakadas.” She said that when she first arrived, she was able to interview many of them through research she was conducting with her university professor. A Filipino radio personality and emcee at the party reminded the party-goers that Pahala is one of the few communities left with a Filipino association. Panglao said the organization helps many with socialization and understanding of the U.S. government, in addition to helping the sick and elderly in the community. 

      To contact Pahala Filipino Association, call Panglao at 928-8261.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SAMPLES THAT COULD BE LITTLE FIRE ANTS were collected on Friday and have been submitted for identification to the Hawai`i Ant Lab in Hilo, according to Michelle Montgomery, of the UH-Pacific Cooperative Studies unit. She said yesterday that “a neighbor of Bay Clinic initially reported possible LFA, and further communications with other people in the area lead to reports of possible LFA on surrounding properties. The ant surveys were conducted and spanned the area of a vacant lot next to Bay Clinic (NE side) all the way to (and including) the park ball field. Samples were collected with locations recorded and are awaiting processing and ant identification.”
          Little fire ants, Wasmannia auropunctata, are the size of pin heads but can be destructive to agriculture and painful to people and pets. Anyone seeing little fire ants can call Hawai`i Ant Lab at 315-5656. See littlefireants.com for more on their identification, distribution and problems that come with their possible invasion of Ka`u.

THE U.S. SENATE HAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED the Native American Memorial Amendments Act of 2013 introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz and co-sponsored by Sen. Mazie Hirono and several others. Passage paves the way for a Native American Veterans Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. honoring Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan and American Indian veterans. The legislation has already passed the House of Representatives and now goes to President Obama for his signature.

      “In every conflict since the Revolutionary War, Native Americans have answered the call to serve and defend our country. It is long past time for our nation to honor the uncommon contributions of Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan, American Indian, and other native veterans,” Schatz said. “I introduced this bill so that our nation can recognize Native Americans’ service and patriotism with a fitting memorial. A memorial to native veterans will make sure future generations learn about the sacrifices Native Americans made in service to our nation, and it will commemorate their exceptional commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy.”
      A Native American Veterans Memorial was originally established more than 20 years ago, but has been languishing due to funding and logistical problems. Sen. Schatz’s legislation allows the National Museum of the American Indian to accept donations to privately fund the memorial, as well as enabling the museum to take on a more active role in planning and construction. Previously, the memorial would have had to be built inside the museum building, but Schatz’s bill allows for the memorial to be located on the National Mall.

Amy Javar, grand-dame of the Javar coffee farming clan, said she picks coffee every day, taking time out last night to distribute presents at Ka`u Coffee Farmers Co-op holiday party. Photo by Julia Neal

      As part of his speech, Schatz shared Hawai`i’s record of Native Hawaiian military service and spoke of Congressional Medal of Honoree, Army Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho`ohanohano, who posthumously received the award for his acts of bravery after being killed in the Korean War.
      “My home state of Hawai`i is second to none when it comes to patriotism, public service, and personal sacrifice,” said Schatz. “The heroic deeds of Anthony T. Kaho`ohanohano from Wailuku, Maui, prove just how true this is.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

“THE FINDINGS OF THE PRESIDENT’S REVIEW GROUP (on Intelligence and Communications Technology) are consistent with my call for the need to protect the personal privacy of innocent Americans, who have been unnecessarily targeted by the overreach of the National Security Agency,” said Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a co-sponsor of the USA FREEDOM Act. “This report acknowledges that surveillance reform is critical and urgent, and also builds on a U.S. district court ruling earlier this week that indicated that bulk collection of phone records is likely unconstitutional.”

Sen. Brian Schatz spoke of Anthony Kaho`ohanohano in his call for a Native American Veterans Memorial.

       The USA FREEDOM Act calls for improvements to privacy protections for Americans and limitations of the NSA’s domestic surveillance programs. The legislation primarily targets reforms to Section 215 of the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act, which has been widely blamed for the bulk collection of innocent Americans’ personal data.      “The NSA’s blatant violations of personal privacy and freedoms are extremely disturbing, and it is crucial that Congress take action on legislation like the USA FREEDOM Act to put an end to this abuse of the constitutional rights of the American people.”

      Permits are not required for purchasing novelties and paperless firecrackers. Setting off of fireworks for the New Year celebrations are allowed between the hours of 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Permits must be visibly displayed at the site of use during the time of the firing.
      Hawai`i Fire Department asks everyone to kokua in helping prevent fires and also to avoid the unnecessary injuries caused by fireworks each year.
      Regulations and recommendations regarding fireworks are available at hawaiicounty.gov.

Young Kira, of the Orcino coffee family, hands out one of the many presents at Ka`u Coffee Growers Co-op Christmas party, with lucky numbers drawn by co-op president Gloria Camba. Photo by Julia Neal

      For more information on purchasing fireworks permits, or use of fireworks, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 932-2912 (Hilo) or 323-4760 (Kona).

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

PAHALA PLANTATION HOUSE HOSTS a Christmas Concert by Ka`u School of the Arts today at 3 p.m. with performances by Ka`u Community Chorus, Hannah’s Makana `Ohana, David Matson and Ben Houghton. Call 854-1540.