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| Boys & Girls Club CEO Chad Cabral came to Nāʻālehu Elementary on Friday to meet with school leadership and the Department of Education's Homeless Concerns Liaisons. Photo from Boys & Girls Club |
HELP FOR STUDENTS THROUGH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB during the upcoming academic school year is offered. Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island's Chairman of the Board Doug Adams and CEO Chad Cabral, and team, are considering the uncertainty that surrounds the opening of schools on Hawaiʻi Island. Adams said they hope to assist with flexibility and adaptability "to help our kids wherever they may be studying -- at a club or at home."
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| Boys & Girls Club Big Island has plans to help keep supporting those in need during the pandemic with mobile educational assistance. BGCBI photo |
Cabral said, "If schools do open Aug. 4, it is highly likely they will only have kids physically on campus for two days and with shorter half-day daily schedules. The rest of the time children will be expected to complete academic lessons on their own while at home. With the rates of COVID going up, Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island may also not be able to host after-school, on-campus programming where we actually service kids physically on our site locations.
"This is where I think an innovative mobile youth outreach program can be effective in the continuation of supporting struggling youth and families. The schools that I have physically met with to discuss the idea were very excited and wanted us to commit to their school."
Anyone who wants to help, has ideas for the program, or knowledge of funding opportunities or possible donations toward this effort, contact Cabral at 808-961-5536. Email chad@bgcbi.org.
Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island is also delivering food to isolated youth, kūpuna, and other hungry people in Kaʻū and other districts around the island, having served more than 62,000 meals during the pandemic.
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.
ATTEND THE KAʻŪ COVID-19 UPDATE MEETING IN-PERSON OR VIA ZOOM tomorrow, Monday, July 13 at Pāhala Community Center 5 p.m. The "talk story with health care leaders" is sponsored by Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association. Registration is at 4:30 p .m. and the meeting runs from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Speaking will be Gov. David Ige's healthcare liaison, Lt. Gov. Josh Green; Mayor Harry Kim; and Dr. Scott Moscowich, founder of Premier Medical Group, which sponsors COVID-19 testing around this island. Kaʻū Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris; Dan Brinkman, CEO of East Hawaiʻi for Hawaiʻi Health Services Corp, which manages Kaʻū Hospital; and Eric Honda, interim Director for the Department of Health Hawaiʻi Island District, will also be on hand. |
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 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 |
TWENTY-ONE NEW COVID-19 CASES ARE REPORTED IN HAWAIʻI today, bringing the total to 1,220. Hawaiʻi Island has one new case, making eight active cases on-island, all monitored by Department of Health. The new case is travel-related, according to DOH.
Oʻahu reported 18 new cases today while its overall case count dropped by one due to new information. Maui County
It has been more than 28 days since a case was recorded for a Kaʻū zip code. One zip code on the west side has between six and ten active cases. This island's other 93 confirmed COVID-19 victims recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died of COVID-19 here. There were four hospitalizations on-island; those patients have been released.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 923 cases, Kauaʻi 43, and Maui County 134. Nineteen victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Nineteen people died.
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Civil Defense Director |
In his daily message, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "You are reminded of the need for caution of travel. It is so very important that everyone continues to follow the preventive policies of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness. As a reminder, wearing of face coverings is mandatory on Hawaiʻi Island.
"In moving forward, know that the Coronavirus threat remains and we need to get better in following the prevention measures to keep Hawaiʻi safe. All of these policies have one purpose – to help stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Thank you for listening and thank you for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 3,304,942 cases have been confirmed – an increase of over 59,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 136,205.
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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Kamehame, northeast of Punaluʻu, where a search continues by the family of a lost fisherman. Photo by David Rayne |
"PLEASE HELP MY ʻOHANA" find husband, father, and grandfather Mark Lowery, pleads his son Alokoa Lowery. Mark Lowery, 47, vanished Friday, June 12 while fishing near Kamehame Beach, north of Punaluʻu, during a camping trip with friends. Hawaiʻi News Now reports the family "is not giving up."
According to the Coast Guard, his companions said that six of the campers went to sleep, but Lowery kept fishing at night. The companions noticed his backpack and several fishing rods missing from the campsite in the morning. A Coast Guard helicopter was seen flying along the Ka‘ū Coast the next day. The Coast Guard called off the search after days of searching.
Hawaiʻi News Now reports the family kept searching and recovered a few of his belongings near Kamehame Beach
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| Mark Lowery, missing since June 12. Photo from the Lowery family |
Anyone willing to help in the search is urged to contact Alokoa Lowery at (808) 746-4472.
FUNDING FOR HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY, ALA KAHAKAI TRAIL, and other programs in Volcano, Kaʻū, and beyond passed the U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee on Friday. Committee member Rep. Ed Case announced passage of the Interior-Environment bill to fund Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, and related agencies.
The bill includes $36.76 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $771 million above the FY 2020 enacted level, and $5.11 billion over the President's 2021 request. It also includes $15 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for investments in critical infrastructure.
A statement from Case's office says, "The bill makes critical investments in environmental protection and land conservation, clean air and water to protect our communities' health, earthquake and volcano warning systems, protecting our public lands and endangered species, tribal communities, our territories, and climate change mitigation."
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| ʻIʻiwi and other endangered Hawaiian birds are supported by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service budget for State of the Birds Activities. Photo by Michael Walther American Bird Conservancy |
It includes $223.907 million for National Park Service construction, with $5.647 million for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and $16.03 million for Kalaupapa National Historical Park and $3.5 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State of the Birds Activities, a $250,000 increase. "These funds support efforts to recover our most endangered Hawaiian forest bird species."
The funding includes $1.25 million for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program, and $34 million in Department of Interior Compact Impact funds, which helps Hawai‘i and the Pacific territories offset the costs of Compact migration (such as Marshallese and other islanders moving here.) The bill would provide $3.155 million for the NPS Japanese American Confinement Sites program, which funds the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, the Honouliuli Internment Camp and Sand Island Detention Camp on O‘ahu; and $30.695 million, a $429,000 increase, for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program.
Language in the bill directs NPS to implement the National Air Tour Management Plan Act of 2000, which requires the NPS and Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate air tour management plans for the nation's most impacted National Parks, including Hawai‘i Volcanoes and Haleakalā National Parks. Language also directs the Bureau of Land Management to execute the survey requirements of the Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act and consult with Homestead Beneficiary Associations on confirmation of the specific lands classified as Hawaiian Home Lands.
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| Ala Kahakai National Trail funding is in the bill passed Friday in the U.S. House of Representatives Ways & Means Committee, advocated by Rep. Ed Case. Photo from Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail |
There is also $3.5 million for brown tree snake research and control.
STATE SEN. DRU KANUHA, who represents West Kaʻū into Kona, sent out an end-of-the 2020 Hawaiʻi Legislature message. He emphasized COVID-19 precautions, a pandemic silver lining in virtual neighbor island access to the Capitol, and a report on Kaʻū-relevant bills coming from his office this week.
Kanuha wrote the 2020 Legislative Session coming to an end brings on "a great sense of duty, integrity, and grace mixed with restlessness and urgency as the State of Hawai ʻi endures new challenges caused by the global health pandemic of COVID-19. This Session has been inspiring as well as humbling as I witnessed the Hawaiʻi State Senate transition overnight from in-person meetings and briefings at the Capitol to online Zoom briefings, meetings via Microsoft Teams, virtual town halls, and bi-weekly teleconferences to stay updated in assisting our constituents.
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| Sen. Dru Kanuha, right front, at the Capitol during the last week of sessions for the state legislature. Photo from Facebook |
Kanuha said his office will provide a legislative update this Wednesday, July 15, regarding bills and resolutions relevant to Kona and Kaʻū. "Although it goes without saying, there are never enough words to express my gratitude for you and your ʻohana's support, allowing me the opportunity to represent you, your ʻohana, and the values of our West Hawaiʻi community. Every day was a different challenge, a different weight to carry, but there was no deterring – I knew we could do it for there is no task too big when done together by all... a big mahalo to my staff on Oʻahu, Tonga Hopoi and Iokepa Command, for their dedication and commitment to you and your ʻohana in Senate District 3 – they are the staffers that every legislator wishes for and I am very thankful to have them."
Kanuha recommended his constituency "remember to maintain general physical precautions – wear a mask when in public, maintain a healthy, social distance and sanitize high-use surfaces daily. Stay safe, connected, and prepared."
Kanuha recommended his constituency "remember to maintain general physical precautions – wear a mask when in public, maintain a healthy, social distance and sanitize high-use surfaces daily. Stay safe, connected, and prepared."
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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| Coach Bob Fitzgerald Hawaiʻi County Mayoral Candidate |
COACH BOB FITZGERALD is running for Mayor of Hawaiʻi County under his motto One Island Alaska .
Concerning his stint leading Parks & Rec, he said, "I have had the experience in cutting a budget but not losing services, or employees." Fitzgerald graduated fromLoyola High School Los Angeles , class 1970. He attended Colorado State San Diego State Los Angeles . Fitzgerald said he is happily married to Michaela Larson, and has two daughters, one son, and four grandchildren.
Concerning his stint leading Parks & Rec, he said, "I have had the experience in cutting a budget but not losing services, or employees." Fitzgerald graduated from
Fitzgerald has been president of West Hawaiʻi Youth Council for 20 years. He said he also advocates for seniors, and is a Board Member of West Hawaiʻi Park Athletic Corporation, a non-profit dedicated to expanding youth, senior, and family recreation in West Hawaiʻi. He said he's also had a Hawaiʻi Real Estate License since 1982, and is currently in "Active Status."
Fitzgerald told The Kaʻū Calendar his motivation is to "coach this Island with a winning system. Our local government is this large slow-moving defensive system usually saying 'no.' I want to bring in some offense and add special teams to say 'yes' and get the job done now. My motto – One Island
"We are in uncharted waters – we need leadership to think outside the box in all areas of government. This will take a leader to work with our community's leaders, our experts in our private sector, and a leader that can motivate our entire county government staff. As I said I'm coach – a master of getting the most of my players. I make a promise of getting this job done."
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| Bob Fitzgerald, left, resident of Hawaiʻi Island since 1977, is running for mayor of Hawaiʻi County. Photo from Fitzgerald |
He said his focuses, if elected, would be to revamp the building permit process; revamp the bus and transportation system; let the local Island Hopper come back; work with committed absentee owners to come back to their second homes; diversify Hawaiʻi's farmers with exports and maximizing what can be produced locally; and work with University of Hawaiʻi and other universities as partners in future employment necessities like nursing, medical tech, clean sciences, and oceanography;
He also vowed to work with all sides of the Thirty Meter Telescope situation and be present at every meeting. Fitzgerald promised to give a voice to the voiceless by empowering communities in prioritizing which roads, parks, public housing projects, and other infrastructure or programs should receive taxpayer money; reinforce communities, deliver food to kūpuna, and identify additional hospital locations during the COVID-19 pandemic, using "leadership that prioritizes our safety over dollars" to "again make our island home a great place to live, work, and play in."
The candidate said he would tackle crime and drug use by providing additional resources for education, job growth, and treatment options; expanding recreational opportunities; expanding the health and wellness industry for Hawaiʻi's aging population; be creative about affordable housing, being creative by considering more condos, apartments, and townhouses; addressing recycling and creating a waste-to-energy solution.
He also vowed to work with all sides of the Thirty Meter Telescope situation and be present at every meeting. Fitzgerald promised to give a voice to the voiceless by empowering communities in prioritizing which roads, parks, public housing projects, and other infrastructure or programs should receive taxpayer money; reinforce communities, deliver food to kūpuna, and identify additional hospital locations during the COVID-19 pandemic, using "leadership that prioritizes our safety over dollars" to "again make our island home a great place to live, work, and play in."
The candidate said he would tackle crime and drug use by providing additional resources for education, job growth, and treatment options; expanding recreational opportunities; expanding the health and wellness industry for Hawaiʻi's aging population; be creative about affordable housing, being creative by considering more condos, apartments, and townhouses; addressing recycling and creating a waste-to-energy solution.
Fitzgerlad said, "My mission is to bridge the gaps around our Island , and have many community forums in every area. Listen, assign my crossover departments to an A-Team for jobs that we can get done in two days to six months; a B-Team to get those jobs done during my administration term; and a C-Team of crossover departments that will leave issues and plans better for the next Mayor."
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.
NAME AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS in a survey due next Wednesday, July 15 at https://tinyurl.com/y9zm63mw. The Kohala Center
A statement from Ag Response & Recovery says, "We are using a framework that enables us to partner with other sectors, including the conservation sector, which created a similar sector-wide proposal/project list, and potentially the green development sector. Note that this information may be made available to relevant stakeholders and policymakers." Learn more here. With questions and comments, contact Christine Brammer, Executive and Program Director of Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi at director@agleaderhi.org.
The Ag Response & Recovery Working Group is a broad coalition of agricultural stakeholders and the state that has been convening since early April in response to the destabilization of the coronavirus pandemic, and to forge deeper connections between local agriculture, emergency food distribution, and long-term economic planning. Together, the group "has a plan to keep farmers and ranchers afloat, mobilize local food production to address immediate community feeding needs, contribute to Hawaiʻi's economic recovery, and build lasting food system capacity to grow a more resilient Hawaiʻi. This work to strengthen our food system is critical now, will ensure our readiness for future disasters, and fortify us for challenges posed by climate change. See the attached documents for more details about our efforts."
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
While the pandemic caused many people to leave the area and astronomers and crew are back to work on Maunakea, the Puʻuhonua o Puʻuhuluhulu Maunakea Facebook says the movement is still going strong, in virtual mode.
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ONGOING
The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28.
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Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 – the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.
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.
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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.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
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Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , closed Saturday and Sunday. The Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Virtual Shopping Appointments are offered at Volcano Art Center locations. Via Skype or FaceTime, a VAC associate helps customers browse the selection of artwork up close, and gives personalized tips and recommendations to help customers "find that perfect piece of locally made artwork, wherever you are in the world!" Book an appointment online for $5 and VAC staff will help schedule a date and time at volcanoartcenter.org/shop. Shop the online gallery 24/7. Orders are shipped as regularly scheduled. Free local pickup is available.VAC now offers a Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.
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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.
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.
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Enroll 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.
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.
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| A year ago, the blockade of Maunakea Access Road began to stop the Thirty Meter Telescope. The protest led to an encampment, then a gathering place. Photo by Kaweni Māsaniai-Ibarra |
This time last year, some Kaʻū residents headed up Maunakea for a peaceful vigil and nonviolent ceremony at Puʻu Huluhulu, near the intersection of Mauna Kea Access Road and Daniel K. Inouye Highway - the Saddle Road.
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| Protesters submit peacefully to arrest. Photo from Puʻu Honua o Puʻu Huluhulu Maunakea Facebook |
Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope set up a place of refuge, a puʻuhonua. They aimed to occupy the place, block the access road, and stop construction of the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope near the summit of Maunakea. They called the summit sacred, mistreated, and deserving of protection from construction of the largest telescope on the planet.
Work on TMT was to begin Monday, July 15, 2019, with movement of equipment and supplies up the access road. The Thirty Meter Telescope investors, managers, astronomers, and academic institutions aimed to launch a decade of construction.
Work on TMT was to begin Monday, July 15, 2019, with movement of equipment and supplies up the access road. The Thirty Meter Telescope investors, managers, astronomers, and academic institutions aimed to launch a decade of construction.
Many elders in the Maunakea Kiaʻi, Protectors of Maunakea, organization peacefully and successfully blocked the access road. On the third day of their protest, 33 Kiaʻi kūpuna submitted themselves to arrests. Some stood with canes. Some sat in wheelchairs. Some prostrated themselves on Maunakea Access Road.
During the arrests, Pua Case, an opposition leader, urged some 1,000 people gathered along Daniel K. Inouye Highway and the access road to remain quiet during the non-violent protests and arrests. Some chanted and some sang as those taken into custody were given misdemeanor citations and released.
One of those arrested, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Hulu Lindsey, of Waimea, called Mauna Kea her family's piko, belly button or place where life begins. "I love this mauna," she said. Also arrested were cultural practitioners Pua Kanakaole Kanahele and Noe Noe Wong Wilson.
OHA trustee Dan Ahuna commented on the situation: "Our kūpuna are being arrested. Fellow OHA Trustee Hulu Lindsey was taken into custody. Our voices are being ignored. I implore the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to immediately file an injunction to halt any further efforts by the State of Hawaiʻi, UH, and the Thirty Meter Telescope until the matters in our lawsuit are resolved," he said.
On Oʻahu, a group of Hawaiians, led by Kumu Hula Vickie Takamine Holt, visited the office of Suzanne Case, Chair of the state Board of Land & Natural Resources. Activists held ceremonies with chant and hula at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and outside Gov. David Ige's office.
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| The encampment at Maunakea offered outdoor classes to anyone who journeyed there. Photo by Julia Neal |
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| International students from island nations traveled to Maunakea to join in the protests to protect the mauna. Photo by Julia Neal |
One of those arrested, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Hulu Lindsey, of Waimea, called Mauna Kea her family's piko, belly button or place where life begins. "I love this mauna," she said. Also arrested were cultural practitioners Pua Kanakaole Kanahele and Noe Noe Wong Wilson.
OHA trustee Dan Ahuna commented on the situation: "Our kūpuna are being arrested. Fellow OHA Trustee Hulu Lindsey was taken into custody. Our voices are being ignored. I implore the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to immediately file an injunction to halt any further efforts by the State of Hawaiʻi, UH, and the Thirty Meter Telescope until the matters in our lawsuit are resolved," he said.
On Oʻahu, a group of Hawaiians, led by Kumu Hula Vickie Takamine Holt, visited the office of Suzanne Case, Chair of the state Board of Land & Natural Resources. Activists held ceremonies with chant and hula at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and outside Gov. David Ige's office.
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| State and county law enforcement costs mounted to more than $10 million, with the protest and encampment activities remaining peaceful. Photo by Kaweni Māsaniai-Ibarra |
After the arrests, the save Maunakea cause received support from cultural and environmental groups internationally. Celebrities and politicians traveled to the encampment to listen. Mayor Harry Kim, Gov. David Ige, and Lt. Gov. Josh Green were among them. Celebrities included The Rock and Jason Momoa.
Dancers and chanters from Pacific Islands came to the summit to share culture at the encampment.
Student protestors took University of Hawaiʻi classes virtually, from the mountain. Volunteers raised money and provided a food service for those who stayed there.
Dancers and chanters from Pacific Islands came to the summit to share culture at the encampment.
Student protestors took University of Hawaiʻi classes virtually, from the mountain. Volunteers raised money and provided a food service for those who stayed there.
During the protests, the governor issued emergency proclamations, giving the state broader authority to close roads, control crowds, and call in the National Guard, if necessary. Ige described the protests as illegal when they blocked access to scientists and technicians who work atop Maunakea on existing telescopes. State and county law enforcement officers directed traffic and helped to manage crowds of visitors and protestors who traveled to the encampment. Government costs mounted to more than $10 million.
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| While blocking the road to the construction site, kupuna shared stories, music and chant with visitors. Photo by Kaweni Māsaniai-Ibarra |
Today, a posting says, "Despite the clear message that our movement has sent that the TMT cannot and will not win, law enforcement leaders, the Attorney General, University of Hawaiʻi, Ige, the DLNR, and the TMT are still pushing for the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea. They are still working to prosecute our kūpuna and deter our movement to protect Maunakea. While we remember the transformational impact that the stand to protect Maunakea has had on our lāhui, this issue is not over... We will not stop until the TMT packs its bags for good."
During this anniversary week of blocking the Maunakea Access Road and setting up the encampment, the organizers plan #TMTshutdown activities. The schedule includes a daily talk at 4:30 p.m. on insights into the issues. At 6:30 p.m., in collaboration with filmmakers and a network of Hawaiian and aloha ʻāina platforms, films will be presented daily on the movement to protect the Mauna. See facebook.com/puuhuluhulu.
During this anniversary week of blocking the Maunakea Access Road and setting up the encampment, the organizers plan #TMTshutdown activities. The schedule includes a daily talk at 4:30 p.m. on insights into the issues. At 6:30 p.m., in collaboration with filmmakers and a network of Hawaiian and aloha ʻāina platforms, films will be presented daily on the movement to protect the Mauna. See facebook.com/puuhuluhulu.
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| Many people visited Maunakea to meet the protestors, take classes, and join in spiritual services. Photo from Puʻu Honua o Puʻu Huluhulu Maunakea Facebook |
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.
Maui asked the volcano goddess for some hot stones. Pele granted his request, and Maui tossed them into the pools. The water started to boil, scalding the moʻo and forcing Kuna to surface. Maui continued the battle, finally killing Kuna and letting his body continue down the river over Waiānuenue to rest in the pool below.
The same flow hosts several "potholes" in the Boiling Pots section of the park. For the last several years, the potholes have been blocked from view by growth of various invasive plant species. In early photographs of the Boiling Pots area, vegetation on the banks are low shrubs and grass but, in modern times, it is tall albezia trees on the north bank and many other types of trees on the south bank obscuring views of the river. But in the first few months of this year, the south bank was cleared near the park and, now, these pots can be seen again. At times when the river is high and fast, turbulent water forced through the pots appears to be "boiling" as water flows.
Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
LEARN ABOUT A LEGENDARY PART OF WAILUKU RIVER in this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. It is entitled, A Legendary Part of the Wailuku River
The "Hawaiian Supʻpa Man," demi-god Maui , had several adventures on the Wailuku River Rainbow Falls
Signs of the battle between Maui and Kuna are found higher on the Wailuku River Maui thrust his spear through rock to roust the moʻo, he left a hole near a waterfall named Pukamaui falls. But the moʻo escaped to another hiding place along the river only to be found and rousted by Maui over and over again.
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View of the recently cleared Boiling Pots on the diameter, are eroded into a 10,000-year-old not flow over some of the pot rims but it continues to flow through them. USGS photo |
Finally, Kuna found deep water and hid in a series of pools a short distance above Waiānuenue. Maui searched up and down the river and finally discovered the moʻo but couldn't reach him with his spear. But he had an idea.
These locations are now within the Wailuku River State Park Rainbow Falls
Both locations display the results of a lava flow from Mauna Loa that entered the Wailuku River
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Despite the name, the water is not normally hot. The only time in the modern history of the river that the water was heated was in 1855 and 1856 when a lava flow from Mauna Loa advanced across the Saddle between that volcano and Mauna Kea . Lava flowed into the Wailuku River
Even the cold water can be hazardous and swimmers have drowned in the Wailuku River
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly.
Kīlauea monitoring data for the past month show variable but typical rates of seismicity and ground deformation, low rates of sulfur dioxide emissions, and only minor geologic changes since the end of eruptive activity in September 2018. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information on the lake, see https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html.
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A view of Peʻepeʻe Falls upstream of Boiling Pots, on the right side of |
This past week, about 56 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa ; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (~5 miles). Global Positioning System measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
There were 4 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a magnitude-3.5 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) E of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on July 7 at 11:45 a.m., a magnitude-3.0 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) E of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on July 4 at 8:24 p.m., a magnitude-4.3 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) S of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on July 3 at 2:18 p.m., and a magnitude-4.6 earthquake 15 km (9 mi) S of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on July 2 at 11:20 p.m.
HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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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
Attend Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp In-Person or Virtually starting Monday, July 13. The tenth annual event runs through Monday, July 20, feature in-person classes for a limited number of students, and offering classes via Zoom. Receive the knowledge of kūpuna. Sponsors include Kalanihale, Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi, Kua O Ka Lā, Conservation International, Alu Like Inc, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Marine Education and Research Center. See facebook.com/kalanihaleMilolii for more. Register for virtual classes here. Register for in-person attendance here. Contact organizer Kaimi Kaupiko at 937-1310 or kkaupiko@gmail.com with questions.
Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday for three weeks, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa'sOutreach College 9:30 a.m. , csinfo@hawaii.edu will email the Zoom link to the email provided.
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Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon . "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours,9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village
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Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through 6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."
Kaʻū COVID-19 Update Meeting tomorrow, Monday, July 13 at Pāhala Community Center at 5 p.m. Informational and educational "talk story with health care leaders" event sponsored by Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association. Registration is at 4:30 p .m. and the meeting runs from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wearing of masks and social distancing will be required. Seating is limited, attendance is first-come, first served. Participation via Zoom is also available. Email krhcai@yahoo.com or call Kaʻū Resource & Distance Learning Center at 928-0101 for connectivity info.
Attend Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp In-Person or Virtually starting Monday, July 13. The tenth annual event runs through Monday, July 20, feature in-person classes for a limited number of students, and offering classes via Zoom. Receive the knowledge of kūpuna. Sponsors include Kalanihale, Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi, Kua O Ka Lā, Conservation International, Alu Like Inc, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Marine Education and Research Center. See facebook.com/kalanihaleMilolii for more. Register for virtual classes here. Register for in-person attendance here. Contact organizer Kaimi Kaupiko at 937-1310 or kkaupiko@gmail.com with questions.
Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday for three weeks, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa's
Tuesdays: Participation Tales. July 14, Silly N' Spooky Tales. July 21, Teaching Tales. Wednesdays: Folktales. July 15, Fooling the Devil, King & Goat Head. July 22, several Adventurous Tales. Thursdays: "Spooky Hawaiʻi" Tales. July 16, Old Mililani Graveyard, Sensative. July 23, Pele Tales, true stories of meeting Pele.
During performances, leave microphones off so everyone can enjoy the show. Share sign-up information with "as many listeners as you like" and watch "as many shows as you like." Tech questions should be directed to summer aides. All attendees will be asked to answer a host and technology questionnaire after each show. Zoom's WEBINAR format does not allow a view of the audience. "We won't be able to see your children. It is not an issue."
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Virtual 80th Meeting of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will introduce new and returning members; have presentations on advisory council guidelines, sanctuary updates, and discussions on potential council action topics; and address questions from members and the public. Public comment begins about 10:30 a.m. To provide comment, sign up in advance, email cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov or type a comment into the Question box. Register in advance at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5189333551313546256. Learn more on Facebook; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, sanctuaries.noaa.gov; State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar.
Bid on a Cottage with a covered lanai through a closed auction by Habitat for Humanity through July 15 at 5 p.m. The 780 square foot cottage was dismantled and donated to Habitat for Humanity Hawaiʻi Island. Starting bid is $15,000 and it will be sold "as is" and with no warranty. Stored in a container in Waimea, it includes lanai, exterior walls, subfloor, windows (missing one), front door, roofing, front stairs, and conceptual plans created by Habitat. To place a bid, send an email to info@habitathawaiiisland.org with name, phone number, and bid amount. Bids accepted in increments of $500. Winner will be contacted July 16. In the case of a tie, the person that submitted the winning bid first will be the winner. To view the dismantled cottage, visit the Waimea ReStore at 65-1259 Kawaihae Road on Wednesday, July 8 between 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Email info@habitathawaiiisland.org with questions.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village
Bid on a Cottage with a covered lanai through a closed auction by Habitat for Humanity through July 15 at 5 p.m. The 780 square foot cottage was dismantled and donated to Habitat for Humanity Hawaiʻi Island. Starting bid is $15,000 and it will be sold "as is" and with no warranty. Stored in a container in Waimea, it includes lanai, exterior walls, subfloor, windows (missing one), front door, roofing, front stairs, and conceptual plans created by Habitat. To place a bid, send an email to info@habitathawaiiisland.org with name, phone number, and bid amount. Bids accepted in increments of $500. Winner will be contacted July 16. In the case of a tie, the person that submitted the winning bid first will be the winner. To view the dismantled cottage, visit the Waimea ReStore at 65-1259 Kawaihae Road on Wednesday, July 8 between 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Email info@habitathawaiiisland.org with questions.
Free ZOOM Talk on Finding Solutions, Growing Peace, noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, July 16. Non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts its Brown Bag Lunch Series on the third Thursday of the month. July's speaker, Ilana Stout, M.S., will speak on From Anxiety to Action: Emotional Literacy to Deepen Education. In this talk, attendees can "learn how to support mental and emotional wellness that can serve as a foundation for community action," says the announcement. Register online at freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Majidah Lebarre at 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit hawaiimediation.org.
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Grow Food From Wood: Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, separate workshops on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 
Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from Apply for Grants to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America . USDA will make $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. USDA encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America . Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America, Developing the Rural Economy, Harnessing Technological Innovation, Supporting a Rural Workforce, and Improving Quality of Life. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, to provide technical assistance to individuals and rural businesses. Fiscal year 2019 award recipients who received a grant period extension due to a loss of operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are eligible to apply for fiscal year 2020 funding. Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 6 p.m. HST Aug. 3. Additional information is available on page 39870 of the July 2 Federal Register.
Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours,
Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America , developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.
ONGOINGSt. 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 and worship are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays,
us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha.
us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha.
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 – the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.
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.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
Find Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub. Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources. Developed by the Sexual and Gender Minoroty Workgroup in partnership with the DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch. Resources: Understanding the Pacific's alternative genders; Pronoun guide; Book lists for children and teens; ʻOhana support; and DOH data. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov/harmreduction/sexual-gender-minority/sexual-and-gender-minorities-sgm-in-hawaii/.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo .
Apply for Internships with Sen. Brian Schatz's office. Internships for undergrad, graduate, and law students are offered in the Honolulu and Washington D.C.
Non-office internships are open for high school students to advocate in their communities. Applications due Sunday, Sept. 13.
Schatz may also nominate exceptional students for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies. Applications due Friday, Oct. 23.
Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday – replacing Friday with Saturday, 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.
More food vendors are added on Mondays, including Bella's Mexican takeaway hot foods.
Lau Lau Man and Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee return to the Market on Wednesdays.
Saturday will host vendors who have not been able to get space at the Wednesday market. The Saturday Market will feature familiar faces and plenty of new sellers.
OKK's Nāʻālehu Market offers 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, on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
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.
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