 |
| Aerial photo of the two-acre brush fire in Volcano, along Hwy 11, that started yesterday and was put out today. Read details, below. NPS photo |
STATE OF HAWAIʻI SCHOOL BOARD on Thursday evening approved the delay of students returning to studies, setting the date for Monday, Aug. 17. Teachers and staff already returned to campuses to create safe teaching, dining and recreational areas, and protocols. The school board's 7 to 1 vote followed more than four hours of public testimony from dozens of teachers, parents, and community leaders. View the full meeting agenda here with extensive discussion among school board members.
See a story in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs, featuring the three public school principals from Kaʻū and Volcano who gave a public presentation in Pāhala Thursday night.
During the state school board meeting, Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee noted that the teachers' request for the delay drew support from administrators and school staff who belong to the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and United Public Workers unions.
Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said the nine additional days will focus on "quality in-service training and professional development." Four days will be dedicated to mandatory training, including seven distance-learning modules. Five days will be administrator-directed professional development for staff. Substitute teachers will receive a full paid day to complete the distance learning modules to "guarantee that all of our substitutes get that quality training and can work hand-in-hand with the teacher that he or she is substituting for," she noted.
 |
Meetings last night in Read about the plan from Nāʻālehu Elementary Principal Darlene Javar, and the other two Kaʻū and Volcano principals, in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs. Photo by Julia Neal |
"I think it responds to a lot of the comments made by our employees, our leadership team, and at the last board meeting. We know that we're going to need to continue to keep track of additional clarity. We'll need to provide, throughout the year, additional problem-solving and additional work that will have to be done, and this is really going to require a week-by-week assessment of how implementation is going," said Kishimoto. "These are going to be very, very difficult decisions, but I appreciate everyone continuing to share their perspectives, their best thinking at the table as we continue to make decisions, and to continue to provide that voice of confidence and hope for our students and our families who we know are struggling with making this design work, because
ultimately, we're not doing a full, in-person opening."
While he does not hold a voting position, student school board representative Hunter Harris shared the Hawaiʻi State Student Council's perspective on the reopening of schools. "Students are comfortable with returning to school as long as our teachers are," Harris said. "Hearing that the HSTA, the UPW, and the HGEA have come together with the department to come to this date of Aug. 17 is very reassuring."
Kishimoto noted that approximately 160, or 1.2 percent, of roughly 13,000 public school teachers did not report on Wednesday, July 29, for their first day back at school. |
| Firefighters and volunteers, medics, fire engines, water trucks, and a helicopter were needed to put out a fire that started yesterday along Hwy 11 in Volcano. NPS photo |
 |
| Waikea Rescue Chopper 1, with a bucket of water to help douse the fire. NPS photo |
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes says motorists can help firefighters and other first responders "keep everyone safe by slowing down and heeding traffic control devices during fires and other emergencies, and by pulling over when emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens approach them. Did you know 99 percent of wildfires in Hawai‘i are started by people? Learn how to be fire safe by visiting hawaiiwildfire.org/lookout/."
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY MARKET is set to open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. , starting tomorrow, Aug. 1. The location is on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, said David Joslin in a post on the Ocean View Community page on Facebook. Joslin and his wife Natkrita operate their Thai Grindz food truck on the property. He said the owner of the lot "gave the go-ahead to try and make it work" for 90 days.
Joslin said he and Mark Cocucci, a vendor at the recently closed Ocean View Swap Meet, will manage the operation. "Cocucci is willing to put the time in to make this all work out. Cocucci is the go-to guy" and vendors can bring any issues to him. At this time, there is no one to contact directly except by going to the Market.
In his post, Joslin said masks are mandatory and a sign will be posted at the entrance to the parking area. "If you are seen in the swap meet without a mask, I'm sure someone will have a problem with it. I have talked to Civil Defense and we are required to post a sign and tell anyone we see without a mask that masks are required. It is not our job to escort you off the property or force you to wear a mask… If you want to prove a point by not wearing a mask, please do it somewhere else."
 |
| Natkritta Joslin, with her Thai Grindz food truck in Ocean View, on the property where an open market plans to open this Saturday, to fill in for Ocean View Swap Meet, which recently closed. Photo from Thai Grindz |
Joslin said Cocucci will be at the lot Saturday morning for the first day and to unlock the gate for vendors at 5:30 a.m. Vendors can show up without a reservation for now, with $15 dollars. He said Cocucci will "be open to suggestions but he will not tolerate bad behavior or drama. If he gives you a warning about your actions or behavior, consider yourself lucky… We are working on many things in order to open this Saturday and it won't be perfect. Please be patient and try to understand that Mark is not only the market coordinator, he is also trying to be a fellow vendor."
Parking is in the upper lot; parking on the side of the road is prohibited. A bathroom may not be at the location this weekend, so attendees and vendors are advised to "plan on taking a trip to the nearest restroom you know of."
Joslin said, "We are in a hurry to get this going due to the great need for the vendors who depend on the swap meet for making a living. I will try to answer any questions I can but Mark will be the guy you will be working with. Please be patient and this will be a one of a kind swap meet." He said if issues of overcrowding and not enough parking do come up, they may look for an additional location so there's "enough space for all vendors."
All vendors must provide their own sanitizer. All food vendors must have the permits required for the items that you are selling. Vendors and attendees are encouraged to carpool.
Said Joslin, "Bear with us while we work out these bugs. Please work with us to improve our market so we can keep it open. It is really nice, seeing all the people in this community who are supporting us in getting this off the ground. With any luck, we will have a swap meet again."
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.
 |
An early 2020 photo of some of the many volunteers at Hawai‘i |
VOLUNTEERS IN PARKS PROGRAM TURNS 50 this week. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park announced, "We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NPS Volunteers in Parks program this year with the latest, greatest group shot featuring many of our fantastic volunteers who work to protect. We have said it many times: we couldn't fulfill our mission without the selfless dedication and spirit of aloha from our corps of VIPs."
The Park says, last year, 651 park volunteers contributed 27,568 hours of their time. They worked in museum collections and archives, led hikes and answered countless visitor questions, monitored the backcountry, restored native forest, maintained trails, helped save native animals like honu‘ea (hawksbill turtles) and other endangered species, and more. The Park say their "invaluable effort" is equal to 13.25 full-time equivalent employees working 40 hours a week, or $701,000.
In the announcement, the Park also sent mahalos to the Park's non-profit partners, the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association and the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
"Mahalo nui loa to ALL of our volunteers, past, present and future, and to our partners for all your kōkua (care)!"
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.
 |
| Incumbent Rep. Richard Onishi. Photo from Onishi's Facebook |
Onishi is also a member of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness, working with other legislators and officials working toward recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-July, he and the Kaʻū Farm Bureau helped to organize a gift of Kaʻū's Aikane Plantation Coffee to first responders. Onishi has been a speaker at Farm Bureau meetings and has been honored by the organization for his work for the agricultural community.
During the 2020 session, despite the interruptions from the pandemic, he was a primary sponsor of 24 bills, including developing a plan to "recognize, honor, and memorialize" the legacy of Kaʻū-born Mary Kawena Pukuʻi in perpetuating Hawaiian culture.
He supports the annual Miss Kaʻū Coffee competition with donations of scholarships. His efforts to help build a larger kitchen for Volcano School of Arts & Sciences and his continuing support helped lead to the VSAS Keakealani Campus that broke ground last weekend.During the 2020 session, despite the interruptions from the pandemic, he was a primary sponsor of 24 bills, including developing a plan to "recognize, honor, and memorialize" the legacy of Kaʻū-born Mary Kawena Pukuʻi in perpetuating Hawaiian culture.
Onishi was born, raised, and lives in
Before his election on
 |
| Rep. Richard Onishi with supporters pre-COVID-19 at Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi. Photo from Onishi's Facebook |
Onishi belongs to the Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association and American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. His past affiliations include Big Island Computer Users Group and Hawaiʻi System 38 Computer Users Group. His community organizations include the Democratic Party, Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaiʻi Board, Hawaiʻi Island Adult Care Board, Hawaiʻi County Employees Federal Credit Union Board, Hilo High School Foundation Board, Hilo High School Class of '72 Reunion Committee.
Onishi's campaign information says he pledges to "address issues and concerns and find solutions to better our communities and our future generations." His website says he promises to listen to, stay in touch, work tirelessly, and work together with constituents. His campaign information says his vision "is for our communities to be safe, healthy, economically viable, and sustainable. I will ensure our communities are a safe place to live, play, work and do business; our children receive high-quality education; our seniors (kūpuna) are cared for; our economy supports local businesses and products; our individual rights are protected; our environment is preserved; and our people have access to first-rate medical services."
Onishi's campaign information says he pledges to "address issues and concerns and find solutions to better our communities and our future generations." His website says he promises to listen to, stay in touch, work tirelessly, and work together with constituents. His campaign information says his vision "is for our communities to be safe, healthy, economically viable, and sustainable. I will ensure our communities are a safe place to live, play, work and do business; our children receive high-quality education; our seniors (kūpuna) are cared for; our economy supports local businesses and products; our individual rights are protected; our environment is preserved; and our people have access to first-rate medical services."
 |
Rep. Richard Onishi and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau sponsored gifts of Kaʻū's Aikane Coffee to Hawaiʻi County Police and Fire Departments, and Hawaiʻi |
Onishi has promised throughout his campaigns to increase revenues and to "assist our communities to become safer, healthier, economically viable, and sustainable. To achieve these goals I will identify, develop, and support programs that will increase revenue; and I will work with the members of our communities to identify issues and problems dealing with the safety, health, economy, and sustainability of their community and work with them to find solutions. I support legislation to increase research and development of alternative energy programs, the research and development of sustainable agriculture, the development of small and entrepreneurial businesses, and programs for affordable housing development and ownership."
 |
| Keiki can become Junior Rangers virtually this Summer. See go.nps.gov/volcanojuniorranger. NPS photo/Janice Wei |
The announcement says, "Are the kids missing summer road trips, visiting parks, and becoming a Junior Ranger? Many national parks have online programs for kids, including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes!"
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 County
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.
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
TODAY, THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN TOPPED 2,000 IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. A near-record single-day high of 123 new cases includes 18 pediatric (18-years-old and younger). Almost a quarter of the 124 cases reported yesterday were pediatric. Public health authorities, says DOH, "continue to remind everyone to be kind and to act with care, as not only do we need to protect our kūpuna, but everyone we love and cherish, including our keiki. Please, each of us must act as if we have the virus and take responsibility for preventing its spread by physically distancing, wearing masks, and washing our hands frequently."
 |
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 |
This is the ninth day in a row of no new cases for Hawaiʻi Island, with 115 cases, none active, none hospitalized. One case is reported in Volcano, zip code 96785, in the last 28 days. It has been more than 28 days since a case was recorded for a Kaʻū zip code. Since the pandemic began, no one died here.
In the daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, Director Talmadge Magno said, "Do understand that many states are continuing to experience increased numbers of Coronavirus cases and the threat is still out there. Hawaiʻi County continues to do well. This is a result of you following the preventive measures of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, cleanliness, and keeping yourself healthy and of staying at home when sick. Thank you for making the effort to keep our neighbors, friends, family, and community safe. We must all continue to get better to keep us safe. The County Task Force Island of Hawaiʻi. Thank you for listening and have a safe day. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In the United States , more than 4,558,994 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 153,311. The worldwide COVID-19 case count is more than 17.5 million. The death toll is more than 677,279.
 |
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
Ocean View Community Center Reopens for Events, Monday, Aug. 3. To schedule an event, contact Christopher Garske at chrisgarske@gmail.com or 650-996-2790.
![]()
Eco-Tour at Shaka Forest Volcano Village 10am . Interact firsthand with an innovative rainforest farming operation, agroforestry. Pre-registration required.
![]()
Apply for Grants, through 6 p.m. on Aug. 10 at grants.gov, to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America
![]()
The Food Basket, last Tuesday of the month, Aug. 25, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.
![]()
Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues, through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi
![]()
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. U.S. Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs is developing a list of Native Hawaiian farmers willing to sell direct to consumers through the On-Farm Market Directory. On-farm markets are managed by a single farm operator that sells products on their farm, or on a property next to their farm. Some on-farm markets may also deliver or ship their goods directly to consumers. Visit the program website for more information and to register: ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/onfarm.
Volcano Art Center 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
![]()
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Food from Wood: Growing Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, & Wood Chips, Saturday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p .m., course fees $55/$50 VAC member plus $15 fee, inclusive of supplies. Pre-registration required. Each participant will depart with a shiitake mushroom log kit, and a King Stropharia mushroom kit. Participants meet at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village for a slideshow lecture, then drive to Shaka Forest Farms on Wright Road in Volcano Village for the hands-on segment of the workshop. Lunch break, noon to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Ocean View Community Center Reopens for Events, Monday, Aug. 3. To schedule an event, contact Christopher Garske at chrisgarske@gmail.com or 650-996-2790.
Submit Grants, by 6 p.m. HST Monday, Aug. 3 to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America
Ocean View Community Center Library, open Friday mornings beginning Aug. 7.
From Plant to Pigment Workshop with Puakea Forester, Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn how to create colorfast dyes, inks, and paints from common and invasive locally sourced plants. This workshop is good for painters and kapa enthusiasts alike who are interested in expanding their knowledge about natural dyes.
Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb, 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
Exhibition Hawaiʻi Nei Invitational: Nā ʻAumākua, Saturday, Aug. 8 through Saturday, Sept. 12. 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 is a group exhibition will present works focusing on the theme of Nā ʻAumākua, family gods. VAC will not hold an opening reception on August 8th.
AdvoCATS, at OV Community Center all day Tuesday, Aug. 11 – see advocatshawaii.org.
Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection Workshop with author Tom Peek, Saturday, Aug. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Have you ever wondered how the place you come from influenced who you are? Or what memories you carry from your ancestors? Or how your personal history impacts your view of the world? Take a day out of your busy life to explore your deeper self and ponder the life you’ve lived so far."
ONGOING
ONGOING
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen, open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. , with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services and worship are posted online 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.
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, last Thursday of the month, Aug. 27, Cooper Center
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry, Cooper Center 8 a.m. to noon . Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for pick-up services. 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, 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 kept anonymous, results 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 Minority 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
Receive Free Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19. Owners can receive free marketing assistance from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. They offer help with moving a business online, finding out more about the businesses' customers, analyzing marketing effectiveness, and providing customer service or website feedback. Visit https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature to help find information that applies to the searcher.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. See https://kohalacenter.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=54bdd67c601f0c0d3ea430053&id=9e1691c22d&e=0e3fe20c1f
Apply for Internships with Sen. Brian Schatz's office. Internships for undergrad, graduate, and law students are offered in the Honolulu Washington D.C.
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center Volcano Village 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. , with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday,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. 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.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday,
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.
