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| A new pest, infecting avocado trees, has been confirmed on Hawaiʻi Island. Photo from CTAHR |
AVOCADO LACE BUG PEST IS ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND according to state Department of Agriculture entomologists. The discovery was made with the help of the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – Cooperative Extension Service, according to an announcement from DOA.
The pest, Pseudacysta perseae, was first detected inPearl City , Oʻahu, in December 2019 and on seedlings in retail outlets on Maui . According to Ken Love, President of Hawaiʻi Tropical Fruit Growers, it has reached the east side of Hawaiʻi Island and he expects it to spread to Kona. The pest was one of the topics at last weekend's Tropical Fruit Growers annual meeting.
Avocado trees and seedlings with the pest are either treated or destroyed, depending on their health and chance of recovery, and whether they could spread the infestation to other avocado trees.
The pest, Pseudacysta perseae, was first detected in
Avocado trees and seedlings with the pest are either treated or destroyed, depending on their health and chance of recovery, and whether they could spread the infestation to other avocado trees.
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Adult and nymph stages of avocado lace bugs. |
Avocado lace bugs feed on the leaves of avocado trees and extract nutrients from foliage, causing gradual destruction of the leaves. The lace bug does not feed on the fruit itself but causes green to yellowish blotches on the leaves. Heavily damaged leaves become dry, may curl or drop prematurely, and may cause reduction in fruit yields. The bug is also known to feed on red bay and camphor on the U.S. Mainland.
Adult lace bugs are about 2 millimeters long with black heads and mostly black bodies, with a black stripe across the width of their lacy wings. Immature avocado lace bugs can range in color from reddish to dark brown to black, depending on life stage. The eggs are black and look like specks of excrement, and may be found in clusters on the undersides of the leaves.
CTAHR-CES extension agents are currently working to determine effective treatment plans for various levels of infestations in Hawaiʻi.
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The pest was described in Florida in the early 1900s and has spread through the southeastern U.S. and into California . It is also found in the Caribbean , Central and South America , and Portugal . It has not been determined how the lace bug was introduced in Hawaiʻi.
FOUR NOMINEES FOR THE JUDICIAL VACANCY in the Circuit Court of the Third Circuit for Hawaiʻi Island have been selected by the Judicial Selection Commission. The commission has investigated the backgrounds and qualifications of the applicants and submitted the list of nominees to Gov. David Ige on Friday, Feb. 14. The position has been vacant since the retirement of Circuit Judge Greg K. Nakamura in November.
Jeffrey A. Hawk currently serves as an attorney and per diem judge of Family Court, Third Circuit. He earned his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law,University of Hawaiʻi University of California Berkeley .
Jeffrey A. Hawk currently serves as an attorney and per diem judge of Family Court, Third Circuit. He earned his law degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law,
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| Top of infected leaf. Photo from CTAHR |
Peter K. Kubota is an attorney in private practice with his own firm – Peter K. Kubota, Attorney at Law. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law, UH-Mānoa. He also attended the University of Oregon
Jeffrey W.S. Ng is a senior trial deputy public defender with the state of Hawaiʻi. He has a Juris Doctor degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law, UH-Mānoa. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan
The governor will interview each nominee and is seeking public comment on the governor's website at governor.hawaii.gov. Ige has 30 calendar days, or until Mar. 15, to make his appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation.
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THE COAST GUARD CALLED OFF THE SEARCH today for the two fishers presumed swept off the
Cmdr. Benjamin Gates, Deputy Sector Commander, Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, said "Pending any further developments, we've suspended the active search for these men. Suspending a search without a positive resolution is never easy. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of James and Jay."
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Anyone with information about the missing fishers that may assist in finding the fishers is asked to call the Sector Honolulu command center at 808-842-2600.
Responders conducted 28 separate searches and covered nearly 1,000 square nautical miles in their combined effort to find the two men.
Involved in the search were: Hawaiʻi County Fire "Chopper 1" helicopter crew; Hawaiʻi County Fire ground teams; Hawaiʻi County Police; Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew; two Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews; four U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific UH-1 Huey and Cobra helicopter crews; crew of the Joseph Gerczak.
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.
PHOTOGRAPHING TRAFFIC AT RED LIGHTS could be a reality in Hawaiʻi. The House Judiciary Committee yesterday voted to approve HB1676 HD1, which would establish a three-year photo red light imaging pilot program. The bill now goes to the House Finance Committee for further consideration. The bill authorizes any impacted county to administer the photo red light imaging detector system pilot program. It also establishes a pilot program account as a special account within the general fund. The bill requires proceeds of fines to be expended in the county from which they were collected for operation of the photo red light imaging system program. The pilot program would sunset on June 30, 2023 .
The committee found that the prevalence of motorists who violate Hawaiʻi's traffic laws, particularly those who fail to stop at red lights, has greatly increased. These violations endanger the lives of motorists, pedestrians, and other highway users and compound the already hazardous conditions on Hawaiʻi's roads and highways.
A DRIVER'S EDUCATION CLASS for 15 to 18-year-olds will be held at Ocean View Community Center
RSVP FOR THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF KAUAHAʻAO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Henry ‘Opukahaʻia Memorial Chapel, Hokuloa Church, in Punaluʻu. Celebration begins at 10 a.m., followed by pot-luck fellowship at 11:30 a.m. in the large pavilion at Punaluʻu Black Sands Beach Park. For more information and to RSVP With the number of people attending, contact Debbie Wong Yuen, Kahu at Kauahaʻao Church, at 808-928-8039.
GOV. DAVID IGE TRAVELED TO JAPAN TO PROMOTE EXPANDED TRAVEL TO HAWAIʻI today. He will attend a series of meetings, including on how to make access easier through pre-clearance flights from Japan to Hawai‘i and the U.S. He will also meet with key stakeholders of the Thirty Meter Telescope to provide updates on the project.
Approximately 1.5 million visitors come to Hawai‘i annually, spending about $2.5 billion a year.
Lt. Gov. Joshua Green will serve as acting governor until Gov. Ige returns on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
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.
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MONDAY, FEB. 17 – President's Day
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WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19
THURSDAY, FEB. 20
2020 U.S. Census Workshop, Thursday, Feb. 20,5 p.m. to 6 p.m. , Pāhala Gym Multipurpose room. Dinner and light refreshments will be provided. Census takers pay is $20/hour. Gas is reimbursable. Eligible applicants will be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security Number, and pass a criminal and background check. Those with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will have their Census income counted as exempt. See 2020census.gov/en/jobs.html for more and to apply.
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SATURDAY, FEB. 22
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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 Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com |
See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.
Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Wrestling
Fri., Feb. 21 HHSAA
Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule
Girls Softball
Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. , @Waiakea
Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m. , @Konawaena
Boys Baseball
Wednesday, March 4, 3 p.m. , host HPA
Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m. . @Waiakea
Boys Volleyball
Friday, Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m. , Preseason at Christian Liberty
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m. , host Christian Liberty
Judo
Saturday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m. , @Kealakehe
Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. . @Kealakehe
Track
Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. , @Waiakea
Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m. , @Konawaena
UPCOMING
SUNDAY, FEB. 16
RSVP for the Bicentennial celebration of Kauahaʻao Congregational Church, Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Henry ‘Opukahaʻia Memorial Chapel, Hokuloa Church 10 a.m. ; pot-luck fellowship at 11:30 a.m. in large pavilion at Punaluʻu Black Sands Beach Park. For more information and to RSVP with the number of people attending, contact Debbie Wong Yuen, Kahu at Kauahaʻao Church, at 808-928-8039.
AdvoCATS, Monday, Feb. 17, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
TUESDAY, FEB. 18
Keiki O Palehua ʻOhana Meeting on Childcare and Education for Keiki of Kaʻū Coffee Pickers, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 4 p.m., at Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room at 96-1219 Kamani St. in Pāhala. Organizer Laura Diaz said special guests aiming to help with the project will be Glenn Sako of county Department of Research & Development and Daniel Goya, of Partners in Development Foundation. Diaz said, "We need your input, ideas, and support to move forward with this program ; we're ready to open doors but need everyone's cooperation to do it." Keiki O Palehua ʻOhana is designed to help the Marshallese community care for young children while working on Kaʻū Coffee farms.
Minidoka: An American ConcentrationCamp Short 7 p.m. , Kīlauea Visitor Center Volcanoes National Park December 7, 1941 , attack on Pearl Harbor . For more information on Japanese American confinement during World War II, visit nps.gov/subjects/internment/index.htm.
TUESDAY, FEB. 18
Keiki O Palehua ʻOhana Meeting on Childcare and Education for Keiki of Kaʻū Coffee Pickers, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 4 p.m., at Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room at 96-1219 Kamani St. in Pāhala. Organizer Laura Diaz said special guests aiming to help with the project will be Glenn Sako of county Department of Research & Development and Daniel Goya, of Partners in Development Foundation. Diaz said, "We need your input, ideas, and support to move forward with this program ; we're ready to open doors but need everyone's cooperation to do it." Keiki O Palehua ʻOhana is designed to help the Marshallese community care for young children while working on Kaʻū Coffee farms.
Minidoka: An American Concentration
Concert with Christy Lassiter & Friends, Wednesday, Feb. 19; seating begins at 6:30 p.m. , concert starts at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. This talented trio plays traditional Hawaiian music and have performed together for several years. They are devoted to the perpetuation of the old Hawaiian songs they grew up hearing in their homes. The use of guitar, ‘ukulele, bass and three-part harmonies create a memorable and enjoyable musical experience. Part of the Nā Leo Manu (Heavenly Voices) Hawaiian music concert program. Free; Park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo
THURSDAY, FEB. 20
2020 U.S. Census Workshop, Thursday, Feb. 20,
FRIDAY, FEB. 21
Mardi Gras Dinner Fundraiser for St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Friday, Feb. 21, Paradise Circle-Mauka. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dinner includes Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Cornbread, Drink, and Dessert. Tickets at the door, $8 per person, $15 for two, and $20 for family.
Free CERT Basic Training, four Saturdays starting Feb. 22 through March 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's 12th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive, Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration open through Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon . Poles, gear, and bait, and lunch for all, provided. Each child receives a prize, chosen during registration, in the order they register; register early. Keiki one to 14 years old register online at okaukakou.org, or pick up form at Nāʻālehu Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, Pāhala Elementary School
Sharp Turns – The Creative Art of Woodturning, Volcano Art Center Gallery exhibit, featuring the works of Aaron Hammer and Mark and Karen Stebbins, continues daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , through Feb. 16. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
Aloha Kidney in Kaʻū, Thursday afternoons, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. , through Feb 20, Kaʻū Resource Center, 96-3126 Puahala St. in Pāhala. The free class series on Chronic Kidney Disease lead by retired kidney doctor Ramona Wong. Bring a pen and whomever cares/cooks/shops for the person(s) with CKD. See alohakidney.com. Call (808) 585-8404 to enroll.
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Register for ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's 12th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive through Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon . Event takes place Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Poles, gear, and bait, and lunch for all, provided. Each child receives a prize, chosen during registration, in the order they register; register early. Keiki one to 14 years old register online at okaukakou.org, or pick up form at Nāʻālehu Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, Pāhala Elementary School
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
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Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday March 8, 6:30 p.m. , Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū.
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Ocean View Classic Car & Bike Show, Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owners of classic cars and bikes are encouraged to register early, as space is limited. This second annual event, a fundraiser for Ocean View Community Association, will also feature food and live music, and prizes for the most impressive cars and bikes. Contact organizers Dennis Custard at 831-234-7143 or Ron Gall at 808-217-7982 to register or for more info.8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.
Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org
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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 p.m. to 4:30 pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.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
Register for a Free CERT Basic Training Course, four Saturdays starting Feb. 22 through March 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
Performers will include: Maya Hoover , Hawaiʻi based Mezzo-Soprano at Professor at University of Hawaiʻi
Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org
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.
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.
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