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| Ua Alencastre-Galimba, Valedictorian of Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Island Class of 2019, drew tears, smiles, and laughter from her classmates as she thanked mom for helping her to become ready for her future. Ua attended Volcano School of Arts & Sciences and will attend Harvard University this fall. Image from Kamehameha commencement film |
Throughout her upbringing, Ua was often a partner in Michelle's business and community life, from attending public meetings to cattle roundups, branding, and sales. She studied at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, followed by Kamehameha, both located more than an hour away from the family home. Her next school is an ocean and a continent away at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ua thanked the Kamehameha faculty, staff, and administrators "for having the passion to teach my class and I the lessons that helped us to grow as learners and as people. You all have helped to instill the drive in my class that will allow us to go far in life." She said mahalo to family and friends for being "a guiding force during this time of great change for all of us."
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A younger Ua with her mother Michelle Galimba, representing the ranching community at Kaʻū Plantation Days at Pāhala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
Ua told classmates, "I am so proud of each and every one of you. We made it. In just a few moments we become alumni. Gone are the days of fried rice for breakfast on Wednesdays. Gone are the days of getting to school, moments after the bell," a cup of coffee "in hand and just making it to morning oli. But most importantly, gone are the days of seeing friends that have become family."
Ua urged her fellow graduating seniors to "Let it sink in that this is the end of something important in your life. Whether you look fondly on your experience with school, this is still a significant part of your life that you should be proud of." She said her class was often described as a class that "does not sweat the small stuff, a class that that goes with the flow... We don't respond to being pressured by deadlines or to the idea that we should take something seriously, just because we are told it is important. We are very stubborn in that way, you see. But here's the thing about us, Kamakaokaniuhi, when we decide to do something, when we decide to give something our all, we do so because we believe it is important to us, because we want to. We do not allow anyone to tell us how to think or feel, which I think makes us pretty special. Now my hope is that, as we go out into the world, we do not allow this part of us to fade."
She said senior year has been filled with a series of lasts - "last Founders Day... last Aloha Wear Day, the list goes on and on..." But now "it's time for us to begin a new journey that will be filled with a series of firsts: First time living on your own, first time being the new kids at school, and many other amazing and new experiences. But, you know, don't sweat it. Instead, be excited. This is this time for you to make your mark. If you want to make your millions, do it. If you want to cure cancer, do it; or if you want to make a career of spending every single day at the beach, do that too. Whatever it is, as long as you are determined enough, I believe you can make it happen."
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| Ua Alencastre-Galimba addresses her Kamehameha School Hawaiʻi Island, Class of 2019. Photo from commencement video |
Other Kamehameha Hawaiʻi Island 2019 graduates from Kaʻū are: Ua's ranching family cousin Gavin Galimba, Kailee Kamalani Kuhaulua-Stacy, and Melia Okimoto.
See the Kamehameha commencement ceremony on YouTube.
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| 105 feet of tower holds millions of dollars of high-tech sensing equipment. DLNR photo |
A 105-FOOT-HIGH METEOROLOGICAL TOWER IN PUʻU MAKAʻALA Natural Area Reserve, above Volcano Village
Funded by the National Science Foundation and operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, NEON is a system of 81 field sites, spread across the entire country, with the final one in Hawai‘i just recently completed and online, reports the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Each site collects standardized data from automated sensors, airborne remote sensing surveys, and on-the-ground observational sampling by field scientists. The terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric data and samples collected at these sites are available to scientists and anyone else interested, through a single, openly accessible data portal. NEON is expected to generate data for ecological research over the next 30 years.
NEON's Field Operations Manager for Hawaiʻi, Michael Long, said, "The idea of NEON is to create a giant data clearinghouse, where anyone can go to the web and access data from Alaska , Hawai‘i, Puerto Rico , and every state, and see continental-scale changes for the next three decades. It's available to researchers, students, to anybody, and we hope it will get people excited about science as they see the types of measurements and the types of data that we can collect and how it connects to the environmental changes we see around us."
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| The top platform of the NEON tower sits above the tree tops. DLNR photo |
Senior Field Ecologist for NEON in Hawai‘i, Robert Hamnett, said data collection instrumentation on the observatory includes net radiometer, photoactive radiation sensors, rain samplers, CO2 gas systems, carbon flux sensors, tipping buckets, and more. "A huge benefit of NEON is there are guaranteed, standardized protocols to measure everything here in Hawai‘i, exactly the same way it's being measured across the nation. There's never been anything like it."
Automated sensors on the tower in Pu‘u Maka‘ala collect weather and climate data from above the tree canopy and down to the ground. Additional sensors in the ground collect soil health data. NEON field scientists also collect routine observations of birds, insects, soils, and plants to monitor changes in traits and populations dynamics.
A Senior Ecologist with the NEON project, Shea Uehana, said, "Our field scientists conduct dozens of observational sampling protocols that make up the terrestrial observational system, meaning that the data from the ground can be used to validate and correlate with data you get from the tower. For instance, we look at plant phenology, which is the timing of flowering and leaf bud on native species like the ʻŌhiʻa."
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| Automatic sensors record things like sunlight and rainfall, among many other things. DNLR photo |
The rich data emanating from NEON will be a boon for land managers and researchers working in the Reserve, reports Steve Bergfeld, Hawai‘i Island Branch Manager for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. "Pu‘u Maka‘ala is one of the most intact native forests in the entire state. It supports a wide variety of rare and endangered plants and animals. It would be impossible for us to collect environmental data with the scope and sophistication that NEON provides, with the enormous added benefit of being able to detect ecological changes over many decades. The information collected by NEON will help us make better and more informed decisions on behalf of the forest life that we're charged with protecting and preserving. Information is definitely power in this case."
NEON's Hawaiʻi field site offers 13 different data sets for download. That number is "expected to grow exponentially over time. Hawai‘i's NEON site will be the only one here. Other states, like California , have multiple field sites, some of which are relocatable," reports DLNR.
The NEON Data Portal is online here.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY for Kaʻū shorelines through tomorrow, reports National Weather Service. Strong breaking waves and strong currents making swimming dangerous are expected.
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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 |
MONDAY, MAY 27
Memorial Day Ceremony, Monday, May 27, 3 p.m., Front Lawn, Kīlauea Military Camp. Keynote speaker: Lt. Col. Loreto Borce, Jr., Commander of Pohakuloa Training Area. Open to public. In case of rain ceremony will be moved indoors. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com
Memorial Day Buffet, Monday, May 27, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. BBQ Pork Ribs, Local Styles Fried Chicken, Smoked Vegetable Kabobs, salads and more. $20.95/Adults, $11.95/Child (ages 6-11). No reservations required. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com
TUESDAY, MAY 28
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, May 28, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, May 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333
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After Dark in the Park – Hawai‘i's Landfill Crisis: From Hopeless to Hopeful, Tuesday, May 28, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Special guest speakers Lori Kahikina, P.E. Director, Department of Environmental Services and Jim Howe, Emergency Services Director present sobering look at Hawaiʻi’s future and a call to action that provides hope while separating myth from reality. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, May 29 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org
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THURSDAY, MAY 30
Summer Keiki Learn-to-Swim Registration, Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Pāhala Swimming Pool, Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School Campus. $15 per session; cash or check accepted. Payable to County Director of Finance. 928-8177, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-aquatics
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, May 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., 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
FRIDAY, MAY 31
Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Roosevelt's Tree Army: Civilian Conservation Corps in Hawai‘i, Friday, May 31, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with Dr. Jadelyn Moniz Nakamura. "Bring your own cuppa." Free. nps.gov/havo
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SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Summer Reading Program: A Universe of Stories, June 1-July 13, all Hawai‘i Public Libraries including Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala. Starting June 1, sign in and register at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org for free reading rewards, activities, and programs for all ages, and a chance to win a round trip for Four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
Edible Wild Plants: A Hands-On Foray for Foragers and Foodies with Zach Mermel of Ola Design Group, Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $40/non-member, plus $15 transportation fee. Class size limited. Register early. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Memorial Day Buffet, Monday, May 27, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. BBQ Pork Ribs, Local Styles Fried Chicken, Smoked Vegetable Kabobs, salads and more. $20.95/Adults, $11.95/Child (ages 6-11). No reservations required. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com
TUESDAY, MAY 28
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, May 28, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, May 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, May 29 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org
Summer Keiki Learn-to-Swim Registration, Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Pāhala Swimming Pool, Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary School Campus. $15 per session; cash or check accepted. Payable to County Director of Finance. 928-8177, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-aquatics
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, May 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., 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
FRIDAY, MAY 31
Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Roosevelt's Tree Army: Civilian Conservation Corps in Hawai‘i, Friday, May 31, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with Dr. Jadelyn Moniz Nakamura. "Bring your own cuppa." Free. nps.gov/havo
Summer Reading Program: A Universe of Stories, June 1-July 13, all Hawai‘i Public Libraries including Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala. Starting June 1, sign in and register at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org for free reading rewards, activities, and programs for all ages, and a chance to win a round trip for Four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
Edible Wild Plants: A Hands-On Foray for Foragers and Foodies with Zach Mermel of Ola Design Group, Saturday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $40/non-member, plus $15 transportation fee. Class size limited. Register early. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Lā‘au Lapa‘āu Workshop, Saturday, June 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kaʻū District Gym. Free workshop open to the public from Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi Traditional Health team. 969-9220, hmono.org
Andy McKee Plays in Volcano at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater, Saturday, June 1. Show begins at 7:45 p.m. A Park entrance fee may apply if arriving before 7:30 p.m. McKee is an acoustic guitar "virtuoso, a master practitioner" of folk, blues, bluegrass, and other musical genres. Information or purchase tickets, $48, at (808) 896-4845, kilaueamilitarycamp.com, or bluesbearhawaii.com.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2
Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, June 2 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park. 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
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Monday, June 3 (Committees), Tuesday, June 4 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.
LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program Applications, Monday, June 3, 10, 17, or 24, Tuesday, June 4, 11, 18 or 25, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Green Room, Ocean View Community Center. See hceoc.net/programs/energy for full list of requirements and to download forms.
Mr. Kneel Public Speaker and Professional Beatboxer, Monday, June 3, 2:30 p.m., Pāhala Public and School Library. Features math, reading, Dr. Seuss, and family friendly humor. 928-2015
ONGOING
Summer Programs for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary registrations are open.
Uplink All-Stars runs Friday, June 7 through Friday, June 28 for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
Algebra camp is also open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 from Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 21.
Uplink All-Stars runs Friday, June 7 through Friday, June 28 for students in grades 6, 7, and 8.
Algebra camp is also open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 from Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 21.
All three programs require registration by calling 313-4100.
Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast from 
Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.
Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.
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