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Kaʻū High Alumnus Tim Wright saw the first Southwest Airlines interisland flight land at the moment of Kahu Daniel "Kaniela" Akaka, Jr. blessing the event. See more below. Photo by Tim Wright Ka'u '77 |
Good Health and Well-being, by providing access to quality, including mental and
behavioral health services; reducing youth vaping; and repurposing underutilized state facilities.
Quality Education, by improving teacher recruitment and retention, strengthening civic education programs, increasing revenue sources to support and enhance secondary education, and expanding career and technical education opportunities to develop a
21st century workforce.
Decent Work and Economic Growth, by promoting robust, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth; full and productive employment; and work for all by encouraging job creation and workforce development programs, embracing innovation, and developing sustainable business plans to invest in the future of Hawai’i.
growth for all by increasing the minimum wage, requiring paid family leave, and creating a retirement savings program.
Sustainable Cities and Communities, by increasing access to affordable and transitional housing, reducing homelessness, increasing local food production to promote food security, protecting agricultural lands, improving infrastructure, and investing in modern transportation.
Climate Action, by promoting carbon neutrality, ocean conservation, sustainable land use, and protection of watersheds.
Peace and Justice Strong Institutions, by promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, and access to justice for all; building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions by exploring effective options to restructure government; increasing Hawai‘i's participation on the international level; enhancing public safety; improving social services; expanding the Sister State Program; supporting the State Archives; and increasing civic education statewide.
Partnerships to achieve the Goals, by encouraging and promoting effective public, private, and civil society partnerships; building on the experience and resourcing strategies of existing partnerships; enhancing a coherent policy for sustainable development; and building on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement economic goals.
The other nine U.N. goals are: Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Life Below Water, and Life on Land.Kahele said he urges citizens to become involved in the legislative process. "I remain committed to investing in policies that balance environmental sustainability with economic stability, unlocking the potential of a green economy for future generations. Hawaiʻi is already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change as coastal erosion and sea level rise occur. Protecting our environment and natural resources continues to be a priority for me this legislative session.
Contact Kahele at (808) 586-6760 or senkkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov with any questions or concerns.
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BOTH KAʻŪ STATE SENATORS JOINED THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS, launched this month for the 2020 Hawaiʻi Legislature. Sen. Russell Ruderman and Sen. Dru Kanhua are part of this new group, formed "to encourage legislative action on pressing environmental issues." The inaugural meeting was Tuesday, Jan. 7. Members discussed legislative priorities for the 2020 session. The caucus is co-chaired by Representative Nicole Lowen, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, and Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment.
Among the many environmental issues discussed by caucus members, climate change adaptation to sea level rise, resilience to natural disasters, forest and coral reef protection, and reducing the use of fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sectors were identified as issues to prioritize for legislative action this session. The caucus also recognized the need to address issues related to invasive species, drinking water safety, solid waste management, cesspools, and inclusion of environmental justice concerns in policymaking.
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| Sen. Dru Kanuha, second from left, during discussion on the Environmental Caucus. Photo from Facebook |
Kanuha said, "Excited to start important discussions about issues such as sea level rise, coastal erosion and mitigating the detriments of climate change in the islands."
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HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC SOURCED 21 PERCENT OF ITS ELECTRICITY IN 2019 FROM RENEWABLES. The utility made the announcement it its year end report released Friday. Hawaiʻi's solar generation capacity increased by the largest single-year margin since Hawaiian Electric began tracking solar capacity in 2005. The state's solar capacity grew from 745 cumulative installed megawatts in 2018 to 902 megawatts at the end of 2019.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LAUNCHED FOUR DAILY FLIGHTS between Hilo and Honolulu today. The airline was blessed by Kahu Daniel "Kaniela" Akaka, Jr. just after landing at Hilo Airport Hilo today, and caught the moment of blessing the event.
Flights from Hilo to Honolulu and back start at $39 each way, with one free bag and a surfboard, or two free bags. There are no charges for changing flights. See southwest.com.
See more on the new flights on Friday's Kaʻū New Briefs.
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| Rooftop solar is increasing across the state. Photo by Julia Neal |
The increases in use of renewable energy support the state's goal of 30 percent renewable energy by the end of 2020. Reinstatement of Puna Geothermal Venture, if approved by the Public Utilities Commission, will add toward that goal. Hawaiian Electric's five-island system sports about 3.5 million solar panels. This includes the West Loch solar array on Oʻahu, which came online last year, producing 20 megawatts.
Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service, said, "The numbers show the adoption of residential rooftop solar remains strong, increasing year after year across all of our islands. Rooftop solar is a critical piece of the renewable mix, and our plans call for tripling the amount already installed to help move the state toward a clean energy future."
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A WARNING ABOUT A TELEPHONE SCAM circulating on Hawaiʻi Island is announced by Hawaiʻi Police Department.
HPD stated a victim received a telephone recorded message call which stated the victim's Apple account had been hacked. The recording suggested staying on the line for further assistance. A male individual then told the victim "your Apple account has been hacked" and requested the victim's assistance in catching the hackers by purchasing gift cards, after which the cost would be immediately refunded back to the victim. The victim made the gift card purchases and provided the gift cards' security codes to the caller. The victim then received several emails, purportedly from Apple Care, telling the victim the gift card purchases had been refunded. The telephone call and the subsequent emails were deemed to be fraudulent, stated HPD. Police advise the public to verify that telephone calls are legitimate, especially those calls in which recorded messages are played upon answering. The Federal Trade Commission recommends hanging up on robocalls (automated phone calls that deliver a recorded message), then report the call to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products being offered are bogus, stated HPD. "Don't press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list as this could lead to more calls."
More tips can be found at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0060-10-things-you-can-do-avoid-fraud. Scams, such as this one, can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov, and additional information about recently reported scams can also be found at consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts.
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Kaʻū Voices members Edna Montague, Tyler Schaeffer, and Laura Stern, during today's march. Photo by Laurie Boyle |
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Kaʻū Voices: Candy Casper, Laura Stern, Edna Montague, Laurie Boyle, Missi Wheeler, Ed Giant, and Tyler Schaeffer. Photo from |
The theme of Hilo's 4th annual Women's March, according to hawaiipublicradio.org, was Hawaiʻi Counts! and the event focused on the importance of voting and engagement in this "critical election year."
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VARSITY TROJANS BASKETBALL atHilo yesterday was a hard one for the Kaʻū Girls team, with Hilo taking the game, 72 to 7.
VARSITY TROJANS BASKETBALL at
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Girls Basketball
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UPCOMING
THURSDAY, JAN. 23
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
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Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, Jan. 23, 3-4 p.m., Classroom 35, Building F, Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for community members. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP to Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584 or domingoc1975@yahoo.com.
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Sounds at the Summit Hilo 5:30-7:30p.m. Hawaiʻi Island musician and composer Trever Veilleux, director. Annual concert tends to sell out. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
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ONGOING
Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.
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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 |
See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.
Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball
Wed., Jan. 22 @HPA
Tue. and Wed., Jan. 28 and 29 BIIF @Civic
Wed. thru Sat., Feb. 5-8 HHSAA on Oʻahu
Boys Basketball
Mon., Jan. 20 @Honokaʻa
Mon., Jan. 27 @Kamehameha
Tue. and Wed., Feb. 4 and 5 BIIF @ Kealakehe
Soccer
Wed., Jan. 22 and Sat., Jan. 25 Girls BIIF
Wed. thru Sat., Feb. 5-8 Girls HHSAA on Oʻahu
Sat., Feb. 1 and 8 Boys BIIF
Wrestling
Sat., Jan. 25 @Kamehameha
Sat., Feb. 1 @Hilo
Sat., Feb. 8 BIIF @Konawaena
Swimming
Sat., Jan. 25 @Kona Community Aquatic Center
Fri., Jan. 31 and Sat., Feb. 1 BIIF @Kamehameha
MONDAY, JAN. 20
Fee Free Day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Monday, Jan. 20, midnight-11:59p.m. Park entrance fees waived for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo
AdvoCATS, Monday, Jan. 20, 7a.m.-4:30p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
TUESDAY, JAN. 21
Cultural Understanding through Art & the Environment: Ti Leaf Lei Making with Jelena Clay, Tuesday, Jan. 21 – third Tuesday, Monthly – 11a.m.-1p.m. , Volcano Art Center
After Dark in the Park – Kīlauea Lower East Rift Zone 2019: Quiet But Insightful, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 7-8p.m. , Kīlauea Visitor Center
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22
Kuʻi Kalo: Pound Poi, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10a.m. -noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
THURSDAY, JAN. 23
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
FRIDAY, JAN. 24
Old Style Pau 4-5:30p.m. , Volcano Art Center
SATURDAY, JAN. 25
Palm Trail, Saturday, Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30p.m. , Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, relatively difficult, 2.6-mile, hike. Bring snack and water. nps.gov/havo
Blue Tattoo Band, Saturday, Jan. 25, 7-10p.m. , Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. $5 cover charge, free to in-house guests. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com
ONGOINGApply for Mosaics of Science by Monday, Feb. 3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's 12-week paid summer internship position is designed to engage university students and recent graduates with on-the-ground work experience in the National Park Service. A $4,800 stipend, and all travel costs are covered, including a week-long career workshop in Washington , D.C.
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T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511
The internship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents ages 18-30, and to military veterans up to age 35. Funding is provided under a cooperative agreement for youth conservation activities as part of the Public Lands Corps program, which mandates that these age ranges are followed.
The selected intern will assist with the development of education curriculum for Kīpukapuaulu and Pu‘u Loa trails in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
For more information, contact Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Education Specialist Jody Anastasio by email at jody_anastasio@nps.gov. To apply go to go.nps.gov/mosaics or mosaicsinscience.org.
For more information, contact Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Education Specialist Jody Anastasio by email at jody_anastasio@nps.gov. To apply go to go.nps.gov/mosaics or mosaicsinscience.org.
T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.
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.
