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| Uhu, the parrot fish, are herbivores who graze on coral and help maintain the health of the coral reefs. Read below about a new study on herbivores and their role in restoring coral. Photo from TNC |
Susan Kunz, Executive Director of Big Island Housing Foundation, said one example of housing for the site would include 20 units, each 500 square feet, and cost $7 million to $8 million to build. Estimated rent would be $1,000 a month, targeting low income people. Some would receive subsidies to help pay for it.
Foundation representatives said that financing to build the $8 million project could come through the federal Housing and Urban Development agency, and investors who would receive tax credits for participating. The investors would come up with about two-thirds of the budget to build the facility and receive ten years in tax credits.
An important element for moving forward, said Kunz, is a marketing study that would show the need for the senior housing and ability for seniors to pay full rent, or some rent plus a subsidy. The project would need about 20 people who would be ready to move in and another 40 that would be expected to move in later during the next 15 years.
Some people asked whether the senior housing would be for local people, which is a goal of ʻO Kaʻū Kākou President Wayne Kawachi, who has helped to raise over $75,000 for the project. Representatives of Big Island Housing Foundation said they can not exclude seniors from the mainland from applying for the housing. Use of federal money used to build the facility prohibits discrimination.
Some seniors at the meeting discussed among themselves whether they could gift their own homes and other assets to their children to become qualified as lower income, so they wouldn't have to come up with $1,000 a month. They described themselves as owning a home but having little retirement income from the defunct sugar plantation.
Big Island Housing Foundation operates Kamana Elderly Housing, Waimea Elderly Housing, E Komo Mai Apartments, Papa ʻAloa Elderly Housing, Keaʻau Elderly Housing, and Riverside Apartments. See photos and descriptions of these communities at bigislandhousing.com.
To donate to the cause and for more information, call Kawachi at 937-4773.
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| Big Island Housing Foundation operates 40 units at Waimea Elderly Housing. It is working with OKK for a 20 unit complex in Nāʻālehu. Photo from Big Island Housing Foundation |
Some seniors at the meeting discussed among themselves whether they could gift their own homes and other assets to their children to become qualified as lower income, so they wouldn't have to come up with $1,000 a month. They described themselves as owning a home but having little retirement income from the defunct sugar plantation.
Big Island Housing Foundation operates Kamana Elderly Housing, Waimea Elderly Housing, E Komo Mai Apartments, Papa ʻAloa Elderly Housing, Keaʻau Elderly Housing, and Riverside Apartments. See photos and descriptions of these communities at bigislandhousing.com.
To donate to the cause and for more information, call Kawachi at 937-4773.
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.
Another key factor in the success of herbivore management areas is community engagement and support, says the TNC statement. "Fishing is an important part of our island culture, so this work was born out of a practical need to protect our reefs while still allowing fishing to occur," Chung said. "Herbivore management areas would not prevent fishing for other kinds of fish, such as ulua, omilu, weke and ‘u‘u."
The paper, Building Coral Reef Resilience Through Spatial Herbivore Management, was published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Authors include Dr. Anne Chung, University of Hawai‘i; Dr. Alan M. Friedlander, Chief Scientist with National Geographic's Pristine Seas program and the University of Hawai‘i; Dr. Alison L. Green of The Nature Conservancy; Dr. Lisa M. Wedding of Stanford University and the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Grace Goldberg of the University of Calfornia at Santa Barbara; and Amber Meadows and Dr. Mark A. Hixon of the University of Hawaiʻi.
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| Manini, convict tangs. Photo from NOAA |
RESTORING CORAL REEF HEALTH in Hawaiʻi could be assisted by better managing herbivores, the fish that graze on algae, reports The Nature Conservancy. A study, released today, says, "Without herbivores—such as uhu, manini, palani, kole and kala—algae can outcompete corals, overgrowing the habitat corals need to reproduce, smothering and degrading reefs, and reducing the health of the entire ecosystem. And because reefs with healthy herbivore populations are themselves healthier, they are more resilient to stressors like runoff from land and unsustainable fishing, and better able to resist or recover from the impacts of climate change, like coral bleaching and storm damage."
The paper’s lead author, Dr. Anne Chung, a recent graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa who works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said, "Establishing management areas that restrict herbivore harvest is a common recommendation for protecting coral reefs, but there is limited information on how to do that. Based on the latest science, our team developed design principles for establishing an herbivore management area network that builds reef resilience in Hawai‘i."
Some of the key recommendations include:
• Protecting ecologically important areas, particularly diverse reefs that provide nursery, shelter, feeding, and spawning habitats for herbivores;
• Building connectivity, so fish and their larvae can travel between areas to take advantage of critical food resources and habitat; and
• Protecting reefs that have shown resilience to disturbance in the past while avoiding degraded areas.
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Uhu, one of the most important reef dwellers for the health of coral. Photo by Pauline Fiene |
According to co-author Dr. Alan Friedlander, chief scientist with National Geographic's Pristine Seas program and a University of Hawai‘i researcher, "Less than five percent of the coastline in the Main Hawaiian Islands effectively protects reef fish through managed areas with high levels of protection, and there is only one area specifically designated for herbivore management—the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area offshore of Kāʻanapali on the island of Maui."
Within the Fisheries Management Area, parrot fish populations have recovered by 368 percent, algae have decreased, and coral habitat—which was once being smothered by native and non-native algae—is no longer declining, despite a mass coral bleaching event in 2015. In a 2018 survey led by TNC, that examined 22,000 coral colonies at 51 sites in south and west Maui, Kahekili was ranked as one of leeward Maui's five most resilient reefs.
Co-author Dr. Alison Green, of The Nature Conservancy, said "Herbivore management areas can help build reef resilience to climate change, but they should be used in conjunction with other management strategies, such as reducing sediments coming from land." Such is the case at Kahekili, where watershed management initiatives are reducing the amount of land-based sediment and nutrients that flow to the ocean.
Kim Hum, marine program director for The Nature Conservancy in Hawaiʻi, said, "Practical guidance like these design principles is helping to equip government agencies and community groups with the tools they need to meet the State's goal of effectively managing 30 percent of nearshore waters by 2030. Maintaining healthy coral reefs around the Hawaiian Islands is a tough job. Rising and warming seas make it even tougher. But together, we can build healthier reefs and more abundant fisheries to support local livelihoods and feed our families into the future."
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| Palani. Photo by Kydd Pollock/TNC |
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MEI LIN GALBAN KIN IN WILL SOON HEAD TO COLLEGE ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP. Known to her coaches and teammates as Skittles, she'll play forPierce College Puyallup , in Washington state. Her Kaʻū High School Trojans teammate, Kianie Medeiros-Dancel, will play for the same school. Galban Kin In is one of three of Head Coach Cy Lopez Jr.'s players to receive an athletic scholarship and "continue to play the game they love, while furthering their education and pursuing their dreams," said Trojans Girls Basketball Assistant Coach Jennifer Makuakane. Galban Kin In will be studying to become an electrical engineer.
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MEI LIN GALBAN KIN IN WILL SOON HEAD TO COLLEGE ON A BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP. Known to her coaches and teammates as Skittles, she'll play for
Galban Kin In has developed into an "incredibly skilled ball handler and shooter. Probably one of the best all around guards for Kaʻū Girls Basketball in the 8 years of Coach Cy's career," said Makuakane. "She didn't become the player she is over night. For five years, Skittles' self discipline to work endlessly set her apart from the rest. She has endured grueling hours of ball handling skills drills, shot hundreds of shots per day, five to six days a week, and watched hours worth of film – not because the coaches asked, because she wanted to."
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| Mei Lin Gablan Kin In, with her ‘ohana and coaches, as she signs with Pierce College in Washington state. Photo from Ka‘ū High School |
According to Lopez, "Skittles' remarkable dedication and commitment from day one will never be forgotten. I hope sharing her story with my future players will inspire them, because she is an amazing role model for others."
Makuakane reported that "while visiting her dad and family in Kona, she would have her dad drive her daily from Kona to Kaʻū so she wouldn't miss practice. If for any reason she was unable to make it back, her dad would take her to the nearest basketball court so she could get her training in for the day. That was the type of player Mei Lin was.
"Mei Lin didn't only focus on herself when it came to basketball. Being a selfless, kind hearted individual, she volunteered her time mentoring and coaching middle school students. Over the years, her love for the sport grew and she didn't realize how much she'd miss it until her final basketball season came to an end."
Galban Kin In's "quiet, shy, and reserved demeanor" didn't stop her coaches from believing she had the capability to play college ball. They were anticipating her signing with a college, any college, said Makuakane. Just hours before her high school commencement ceremony, Gablan Kin In signed her letter of intent surrounded by proud family members, coaches, Athletic Director Kalei Namohala, and Principal Sharon Beck.
Said Makuakane, "We've been blessed to coach over 80 players in the past eight years. A player like Skittles doesn't come around often. Someone who is passionate, dedicated, selfless, genuine, and with a pure soul, is like finding a diamond in the rough. As hard as it is to let her go, sharing someone this special is an honor. Skittles will undoubtedly give all that she has to her new coach and team, as she has done for us.
"It's hard to explain how proud we are of Skittles and the rest of our girls. Our hearts are full and we can't wait to continue this journey alongside of them. These young women will continue to represent Kaʻū well and prove what a special place we come from."
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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 |
PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON MAUNA KEA ADMINISTRATION is sought by University of Hawaiʻi 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Waiākea Elementary School 180 W. Puainako Street , Hilo 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School, 68-1730 Hoʻoko Street , Waikoloa.
UH is asking for comments on the latest draft of the proposed administrative rules to govern public and commercial activities on UH-managed lands on Mauna Kea .
The university has received hundreds of written and oral comments and suggestions during the formal and informal processes to date, and this input "significantly shaped" the latest draft. The public is strongly encouraged to continue to participate in the process.See hawaii.edu/offices/bor/adminrules/proposed.html, select Proposed for the rules.
Submit data, views, or arguments, orally or in writing by mail to UH System of Government Relations Office, UH_Mānoa, 2442 Campus Rd., Admin. Svcs. Bldg. 1, Rm. 101, Honolulu, HI, 96822; online to uhhar@hawaii.edu; or at a public hearing, dates and times above.
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.
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
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
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Keiki Science Class, Saturday, June 1 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m. to noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com
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
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MONDAY, JUNE 3
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
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Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, June 3 and July 1, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
TUESDAY, JUNE 4
Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Early Head Start, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 10 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Social get together for keiki and parents; open to public. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
Master Gardeners: Plant Propagation, Wednesday, June 5, 2 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Sharing techniques to propagate plants. Free seeds and starts give away. 939-2442
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All About Buddhism in the Jodo Shinshu Tradition, Wednesday, June 5 and every following Wednesday, 5 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Book study/talk story. Materials and light refreshments provided. Temple president Robert Kobzi, robertkobzi@aol.com
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammi Fo, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
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
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
TUESDAY, JUNE 4
Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Early Head Start, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 10 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Social get together for keiki and parents; open to public. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
Master Gardeners: Plant Propagation, Wednesday, June 5, 2 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Sharing techniques to propagate plants. Free seeds and starts give away. 939-2442
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammi Fo, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
ONGOING
Summer Programs for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary registrations are open.
Early College, ![]()
Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., and free lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., on weekdays , June 7 through July 11, except June 11 and July 4, in the school cafeteria.
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.
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.
Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade Sign-Up Open until Thursday, June 20. Parade happens Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. The parade route begins at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nāʻālehu Hongwanji Mission. To participate, call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872.
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.
