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| Live from Volcano at the Skateboard Park The indoor skateboard park at Cooper Center in Volcano reopened last week. Photo by Julia Neal |
JOB TRAINING, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND SMALL BUSINESSES are the designated uses for the $635 million from the federal government to Hawaiʻi through the CARES ACT, as proposed by leaders of the state legislature. The plan is expected to be approved when the legislature reconvenes this week.
State Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, House Speaker Scott K. Saiki, Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, and Rep. Sylvia Luke announced the plan yesterday, to provide "immediate relief to residents and small businesses who are suffering from the devastating economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The plan aims to support and reinforce the social safety net for our residents, rebuild and move our economy forward, and address the ongoing pandemic," said their joint statement.
Luke, who chairs the state House of Representatives Finance Committee, said, "The Legislature is acutely aware of the daily challenges facing Hawaiʻi's working residents. The economic impacts of COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi has further exacerbated the need to support working families. The CARES Act funds will provide immediate relief for Hawaiʻi's families and local businesses."
The plan sets aside $230 million to support unemployed residents until the end of the year. Dela Cruz, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said, "These critical funds will provide a new state unemployment insurance weekly benefit that replaces the weekly federal plus-up payments set to expire July 31. Beginning August 1, an estimated 117,000 unemployed individuals will receive the State's enhanced weekly unemployment benefit of $100."
Over 34,000 households are expected to receive help from the plan's $100 million funded rental and housing assistance subsidies. The State's most financially vulnerable households will receive rental assistance in the form of a $500 monthly subsidy or 50 percent of rent, whichever is lesser, for up to five months from August 1 to December 31. Another $56 million will be used to bring back small businesses, support training and job programs connecting unemployed with local businesses in need of employees, and provide manufacturing grants to local companies that can create local supply chains for necessary cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment.
The House Speaker said, "The push to diversify the State's economy has been a priority for years. The pandemic has exposed the urgency with which we need to provide workforce development and businesses with the tools to learn how to thrive beyond the tourism economy. We are proud to announce this plan that will address the immediate needs of residents and small businesses, and in the process will aide in stimulating our economy." Addressing the public health needs of the COVID-19 pandemic is another pillar to the comprehensive funding plan, said the joint statement. The Senate President said, "The Legislature's plan devotes $100 million to distribute ample sanitation and PPE supplies for essential workers beyond the health care community including child care facilities, elderly care homes, small businesses, schools, and non-profits that work with populations vulnerable to the coronavirus."
For video of legislators announcing plan, visit facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2759894364335751.
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| Project Hawaiʻi, Inc. works with H. Hata & Co. Target and through a Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant, to help isolated keiki during the pandemic. Photo from Project Hawaiʻi, Inc. |
Project Hawai‘i Inc. is a volunteer-staffed nonprofit with public donations to serve homeless, unsheltered children around the island throughout the year. With stay-at-home orders instituted to tap down coronavirus spread in March, Project Hawaiʻi directed seven leaders to contact isolated families and those needing resources, in order to give them meals and hygiene supplies to help with the health of keiki.
Project Hawaiʻi also reached out to help support education when the schools closed, delivering educational packets and fun activities to keep the children's minds engaged.
Hawaiʻi Community Foundation provided a grant to help fund meals and food box delivery during the Summer. See more on Project Hawaiʻi at helpthehomelesskeiki.org.A COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS IN THE WORKS FOR MAUI, according to its County Council member Shane Sincenci. The measure is aimed at diversifying the Maui economy to be less dependent on tourism, which has given it one of the highest unemployment rates in the country – 37 percent – during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed Charter Amendment would go on the ballot this November. The group supporting a county Department of Agriculture released a statement saying that it would be a critical step to empower the residents of the county "to revitalize an industry that has been in decline for decades. Without this initiative, our agricultural sector will remain that same as it has for decades – and possibly worse. We must fight now so that our community has a chance to thrive and be self-sufficient. There will be people that have been benefiting from the current system who will come out and speak against this measure. It is up to us to remind them that this decision doesn't belong to a select few to decide. It is a decision for our community to vote on." The idea goes before a Maui County Council committee on Tuesday.
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Maui County Councilman Shane Sincenci proposes a County Department of Agriculture. |
The group developed a list of "vast opportunities and careers with Agriculture" as the driver: Arable farming for food; animal husbandry – including for food, fabrics, nutrient cycling, soil regeneration, and carbon sequestration; aquaculture – including the cultivation of fish, shellfish, bi-valves, and plants/algae, whether within nearshore waters, natural ponds, or holding tanks; forestry – for both harvesting and conservation, including hardwoods or bamboo used for building materials, fruiting trees, or native fauna; horticulture – encompasses crops and gardens for food, flowers, medicinal plants, and herbs for fibers, landscaping for ornamentals, and forestry; biofuels – including horticulture (i.e. sunflowers), aquaculture (i.e. algae), and animal husbandry (i.e. off-gassing capture enclosures); animal processing facilities – establish an affordable, larger capacity, public processing facility; nutrient recycling – composting management for different climates and materials, both green and human waste streams; seed banking – continuous growing for seeds, establish a dry down/climate-controlled bank to ensure seed longevity; markets – direct sales such as farmers markets or CSA boxes, and indirect sales through grocery stores, restaurants, added-value product makers; and added-value products – including foods, beauty products, and household cleaning products, providing data on the types of ingredients being sought/requested and connecting farmers to product makers.
The County Department of Agriculture would also be tasked with tracking imports – collecting data on agriculture streams coming into the county, and exports – supporting/creating industries that aid farmers in expanding growth potential off-island. It would help with curbing invasive species – establish/increase inspection protocols for incoming agriculture products (i.e. potted plants). It would conduct and support research and development – new and emerging industry research, integrated pest management, farming technologies, processing and distribution technologies, soil remediation, and effects of climate change on the local agricultural sectors. It would support and advocate for farmers and producers. It would assist with workforce development; agricultural engineering, developing alternative plant-based plastics and packaging, and maintain records of growth and development in ag-sector; and oversee the county ag budget items "in a responsible and accountable process," according to their statement.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
The Senators also called on the Inspector General to probe the deployment of federal law enforcement "to suppress protests and intimidate protestors" across the country, and the temporary expansion of the Drug Enforcement Agency's authority to "conduct covert surveillance" on Americans participating in protests.
"We believe that the concerning actions we have identified warrant immediate investigation by your office, as they raise serious questions about misconduct, abuse of power, and waste by the Justice Department. Moreover, there appears to be no question about your office's jurisdiction in this matter.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| St. John's Church in Washington D.C., where Pres. Trump held up a bible after ordering force to push out peaceful protestors. Photo bv Julia Neal |
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
INVESTIGATE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, demands Sen. Mazie Hirono and 20 of her colleagues. The Senators wrote Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz, asking him to open an investigation into the conduct of Attorney General William Barr and the Department of Justice in directing the use of force against peaceful protestors around Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020 . The President ordered the protestors removed in advance of his standing in front of St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square, across from the White House for a photo opportunity. The church clergy objected.
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| The interior of St. John's Church. Photo by Julia Neal |
The Attorney General was not only on the scene less than an hour before the use of force to clear peaceful protesters, but he also participated in President Trump's photo op, posing for pictures in front of St. John's Church.
The Senators wrote, "We write to request an immediate investigation into Attorney General William Barr's and the Department of Justice's roles in directing the use of force – including the use of teargas or a similar gas, rubber bullets, pepper balls, and batons – to suppress peaceful protesters around Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., on June 1, 2020. This misuse of force is all the more alarming given that the Attorney General appears to have issued this order to allow President Trump to walk across the street from the White House for a political photo-op in front of St. John's Church.
The Senators wrote, "We write to request an immediate investigation into Attorney General William Barr's and the Department of Justice's roles in directing the use of force – including the use of teargas or a similar gas, rubber bullets, pepper balls, and batons – to suppress peaceful protesters around Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., on June 1, 2020. This misuse of force is all the more alarming given that the Attorney General appears to have issued this order to allow President Trump to walk across the street from the White House for a political photo-op in front of St. John's Church.
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| Presidents John Kennedy, Lydon Johnson and Richard Nixon all attended St. John's Church, which welcomes all religions. Photo by Julia Neal |
"Therefore, as detailed above, we urge your office to investigate the roles of Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice in directing the use of force, including tear gas and rubber bullets, against peaceful protesters near Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020; deploying federal agents to suppress protests and intimidate peaceful protesters; and expanding the authority of DEA to conduct covert surveillance of protesters." Read the letter here.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
LEGISLATION ON JUSTICE IN POLICING AND CONDEMNING POLICE BRUTALITY was cosponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard last week. She backed both the Justice in Policing Act and a resolution condemning police brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive and militarized force throughout the country.
Gabbard said, "Our nation is facing great heartbreak and trauma in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in broad daylight. Accountability and justice for Mr. Floyd and his family must occur, but that is not enough. As a nation, we must address the many systemic problems that have brought us to this point by enacting significant reforms. This legislation takes the first steps in being able to do that. These problems are complex, will not be solved overnight, and will require us to come together as Americans, in the spirit of aloha – respect and love for others – taking a stand for justice and equality for all."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| Puʻuhonua o Honaunau's 59th Cultural Festival and Anniversary Celebration is canceled this year. Photo by Kawai Domingo |
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| Large crowds gathered in previous years at the cultural festival. Photo from mosaicsinscience.org |
A SMALLER BIN FOR GLASS RECYCLING at Volcano Recycling & Transfer Station is in place, due to "recurring vandalism concerns," says a statement from the County Solid Waste Division. The non-HI-5 glass recycling roll-off at the station is replaced with a smaller mobile bin.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com. Two-Bin Recycling – corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags and non-HI-5 glass – at Volcano Recycling and Transfer Station is available on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public is asked to not leave non-HI-5 glass containers at the site when the mobile bin is not present.
"We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we tackle the challenges of vandalism at this site," says a statement from the county Solid Waste Division.
"We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we tackle the challenges of vandalism at this site," says a statement from the county Solid Waste Division.
Visit hawaiizerowaste.orgfor locations and more information.
REGISTER FOR HEALTHY FARM SOILS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP Soil Health Principles—Application and Results of Investing in Your Soils on Tuesday, June 23 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Presented by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and suggested by The Kohala Center, farmers can learn how to apply the five principles of healthy soil management and hear from experienced farmers who have benefited from these practices. Free; advanced registration required at register.gotowebinar.com/register/6393299882850606607.
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| Cold wax painting by Darcy Gray who will teach a Cold Wax Painting Class at Volcano Art Center. See more. |
REGISTER FOR A COLD WAX PAINTING CLASS by Darcy Gray on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Instructor Darcy Gray holds a B.A. in 3-dimensional design from the City of Birmingham University in England . Her work has been featured in multiple exhibitions throughout Hawai‘i and California , in both solo and group shows. In 2016, she received awards from the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Island Art Alliance, and Honorable Mention in the 2018 Wailoa Center
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases. Hawaiʻi Department of Health map |
TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, including at least one in Kealakekua 96750 zip code, are reported today, with nine more on Oʻahu.
There are three active cases on this island: Ocean View, Puna, and Kealakekua. The patients are being monitored by DOH.
The 11 new cases in the islands bring the state's new case total to 176 in 16 days.
There are three active cases on this island: Ocean View, Puna, and Kealakekua. The patients are being monitored by DOH.
The 11 new cases in the islands bring the state's new case total to 176 in 16 days.
Hawaiʻi Island recorded its three active cases in the last week. All other 82 confirmed COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two hospitalizations on-island; both patients have been released.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 566 cases, Kauaʻi 29, and Maui County 122. Twelve victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 814 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "Unfortunately, the Islands of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu are now experiencing an increase of positive cases. This emphasizes the importance of understanding that the virus threat remains and we must continue to follow the policies of prevention to protect our community. All of these policies have one purpose, to stop the spread of the virus. Thank you for listening and thank you for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. A Happy Father's Day to all the Papas; stay safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 2,275,319 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 119,949. Worldwide, more than 8,914,528 have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is more than 466,527.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
TO PRESERVE, SUSTAIN, AND RESTORE CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS via a prize competition was the goal of legislation introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ed Case this time last year.
The Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019 addressed threats to U.S. coral reef ecosystems by directing the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to use existing funding to carry out a coral health prize competition. The legislation would allow federal agencies to work with private entities to both fund and administer the prize competition.
Said Hirono, "The waters surrounding Hawaiʻi are home to more than 620 square miles of coral reef and a quarter of the world's marine life, including thousands of native species found nowhere else in the world. Hawaiʻi's coral reefs generate nearly $800 million in economic activity each year for our state. We cannot afford to sit by as the health of our oceans continues to decline. This bill encourages federal agencies as well as the private sector to come together to find innovative solutions to help our declining reefs. Collaborative partnerships such as these are desperately needed to ensure that our marine environments and the numerous services they provide will be around for future generations."
Said Case, "This no-cost bill amends the proven Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000... Prize competitions that encourage public-private partnerships, such as the one that this bill proposes, have an established record of spurring innovation that can be integrated into a next-generation federal ocean management strategy. This small
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| Coral reefs support clouds of reef fish. DLNR photo |
Said Case, "This no-cost bill amends the proven Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000... Prize competitions that encourage public-private partnerships, such as the one that this bill proposes, have an established record of spurring innovation that can be integrated into a next-generation federal ocean management strategy. This small
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Coral bleaching and other forms of coral death lead to a lack of reef fish. DLNR photo |
step could generate huge leaps forward in the preservation and protection of one of the most critical and endangered corners of our natural world."
A peer-reviewed study commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the total economic value of coral reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands alone to be nearly $34 billion. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism and provide shoreline protection during severe weather events by mitigating damaging wave action. Threats to coral reefs include climate change, bleaching, disease, overfishing, pollution, and more.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard cosponsored the bill. Read the full text here. A one-page summary and fact sheet about the bill is available here. The bill is still supported by Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation.
A peer-reviewed study commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the total economic value of coral reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands alone to be nearly $34 billion. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism and provide shoreline protection during severe weather events by mitigating damaging wave action. Threats to coral reefs include climate change, bleaching, disease, overfishing, pollution, and more.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard cosponsored the bill. Read the full text here. A one-page summary and fact sheet about the bill is available here. The bill is still supported by Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation.
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com. |
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND, FSA , U.S. 1400 Independence Avenue SW , Stop 0522, Washington , DC 20250-0522
Questions? Contact William L. Beam, (202) 720-3175 or email Bill.Beam@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center
"One well-supported comment is often more influential than a thousand form letters," says UH-CTAHR's Andrea Kawabata. See Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.
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Attend a Wildfire Risk for Farms Webinar Wednesday, June 24 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hawaiʻi Farm Fire Management Webinar, presented by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension
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Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.
Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30 : KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.
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Enter the RevʻULUtion Student Art Contest by Tuesday, June 30. Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative invites all students residing in Hawaiʻi in PreK through 12th grades to create and submit original artwork that will be featured in an upcoming traveling art exhibit, a 13-month calendar, and across the internet on the cooperative's partners websites and social media. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of ʻulu as a "resilient cultural and agricultural resource" that is a "viable option for increasing food security and self-sufficiency across the Hawaiian Islands .
Enter the RevʻULUtion Student Art Contest by Tuesday, June 30. Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative invites all students residing in Hawaiʻi in PreK through 12th grades to create and submit original artwork that will be featured in an upcoming traveling art exhibit, a 13-month calendar, and across the internet on the cooperative's partners websites and social media. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of ʻulu as a "resilient cultural and agricultural resource" that is a "viable option for increasing food security and self-sufficiency across the Each student may submit as many pieces as they wish on 8.5 by 11 paper, in the landscape (horizontal) orientation. Any art medium, except computer graphics and photographs, may be used as long as the artwork is flat and can be scanned. Each entry must be accompanied by a short – 75 words or less – explanation of ʻUlu's Place in Hawaiʻi: Past, Present, and Future, and an entry form.
Visit eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.
Visit eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.
Apply for Energy Assistance through June 30 for help to pay energy bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program assists eligible people with a one-time payment towards their electric or gas bill. See humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap.
Cold Wax Painting Class by Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
ONGOING
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail &
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.
To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is opeEnroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
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The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.
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