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| Candidates for Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Peaberry learned about growing and picking coffee at Lorie Obra's farm in Moa`ula. Photo by Nalani Parlin |
In Nov. 2013, Abercrombie was one of 26 members appointed to the President’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. Members have been asked to develop recommendations in the areas of Disaster Management, Built Systems (water, transportation, energy, facilities and coastal infrastructure), Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Community Development & Health.
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| Gov. Abercrombie, right, in Washington as a member of the President's climate change task force. |
“This is a tremendous opportunity to share Hawai`i’s unique needs, challenges and innovative solutions, while advising federal officials on what kind of support is needed and what would be most effective here in the islands,” Abercrombie said. “Members of the President’s task force from every part of the country agree this is the challenge of our time and we must work together to prepare for and mitigate impacts.”
Another opportunity to share recommendations and discuss next steps for addressing climate change in Hawai`i will be the governor’s second Resilient Hawai`i Forum, a free and open session being held during the Pacific Risk Management `Ohana conference on March 12 at 6 p.m. at Hawai`i Convention Center. The governor is convening the forums this year to engage stakeholders – Native Hawaiian organizations, natural resource managers, the military, tourism officials, agricultural representatives, researchers and government at all levels – to create a climate change roadmap for Hawai`i. For more information on the PRiMO conference, see http://collaborate.csc.noaa.gov/PRiMO/
Pages/index.aspx.
Navigating Change, Hawai`i’s Approach to Adaptation, a report presented by Abercrombie at the first meeting of the President’s Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience in Dec. 2013, is available at http://governor.hawaii.gov/blog/navigating-climate-change/.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Mondays and Fridays in March, between 8 a.m. and noon, March 3, 7, 17, 21, 24 and 28. Park staff will transport fencing material from the summit of Kilauea to an area near the top of Mauna Loa Road.
Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources and to maintain backcountry facilities.
“The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather,” says a statement from park officials.
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OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. meets tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
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Navigating Change, Hawai`i’s Approach to Adaptation, a report presented by Abercrombie at the first meeting of the President’s Task Force for Climate Preparedness and Resilience in Dec. 2013, is available at http://governor.hawaii.gov/blog/navigating-climate-change/.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Wiliwili tree decline and recovery will be studied by unmanned drones. Photo from nativehawaiiangarden.org |
RESEARCHERS AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I-HILO plan to use of an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, to study wiliwili trees on Hawai`i Island.
Hawai`i Tribune-Herald reports that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted a Certificate of Authorization for the project, allowing researchers to assist the state Department of Land and Natural Resources collect and analyze data. Ray Bédard, specialist faculty at UH-Hilo, told reporter Megan Moseley the approval is “a step forward for the university that’s looking to expand UAV-related research for the purpose of data analysis.
Bédard said a COA is granted to a specific machine, for a specific time, airspace, and for specific people. According to the story, UH-Hilo is the first in the state to receive a COA.
Hawai`i was recently named to participate in testing of UAVs for the purpose of creating safety regulations for their use in airspace. See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN reviewed his efforts to pass bills this week at a Pahala meeting open to the public. The east Ka`u and Pahala state senator listed his legislative priorities for the 2014 Hawai`i Legislature involving food security and local foods.
Ruderman sponsored a bill that would allow people to make value added agricultural products at home. He also sponsored a bill to make it easier for people to buy raw milk. Another would increase agriculture education in the schools. A bill would support more ag innovation and another would encourage on-farm mentoring. See more on his meeting in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Thursday, Feb. 27, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. over the Great Crack in the southwest rift zone of Kilauea to the coast near Keauhou within the national park. Park biologists will survey and control invasive fountain grass populations below the 2,000-foot elevation within a half-mile of Hilina Pali Road. Bédard said a COA is granted to a specific machine, for a specific time, airspace, and for specific people. According to the story, UH-Hilo is the first in the state to receive a COA.
Hawai`i was recently named to participate in testing of UAVs for the purpose of creating safety regulations for their use in airspace. See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN reviewed his efforts to pass bills this week at a Pahala meeting open to the public. The east Ka`u and Pahala state senator listed his legislative priorities for the 2014 Hawai`i Legislature involving food security and local foods.
Ruderman sponsored a bill that would allow people to make value added agricultural products at home. He also sponsored a bill to make it easier for people to buy raw milk. Another would increase agriculture education in the schools. A bill would support more ag innovation and another would encourage on-farm mentoring. See more on his meeting in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Humpback whales breed, calve and nurse in Hawai`i. Photo from NOAA |
WHALE COUNT NUMBERS are in from last week’s volunteer event when approximately 900 people gathered data from Hawai`i’s shores from Ka`u to Hanalei. The annual Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count is a shore-based census that provides snapshot data on humpback whales. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey.
Volunteers collected data from 58 sites statewide. A total of 297 whales were seen during the 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day.
In Ka`u, volunteers gathered at Ka Lae and Punalu`u. They also met at Ka`ena Point in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. At Ka Lae, volunteers saw 17 adults and two calves between 12 p.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources.
One more Sanctuary Ocean Count is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 29. For information on becoming a volunteer, see hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or sanctuaryoceancount.org, or call 808-268-3087.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Volunteers collected data from 58 sites statewide. A total of 297 whales were seen during the 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day.
In Ka`u, volunteers gathered at Ka Lae and Punalu`u. They also met at Ka`ena Point in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. At Ka Lae, volunteers saw 17 adults and two calves between 12 p.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources.
One more Sanctuary Ocean Count is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 29. For information on becoming a volunteer, see hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or sanctuaryoceancount.org, or call 808-268-3087.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Shyann Flores-Carvalho |
MISS KA`U COFFEE & MISS KA`U PEABERRY Pageant princesses and their details have been announced. The Pageant takes place Sunday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. A mahalo reception will be held at 6 p.m. for the service of reigning Miss Kaʻū Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya and Miss Kaʻū Peaberry Rebecca Kailiawa. The two queens will accept flowers, gifts and thanks before the show begins. Pageant candidates are selling pageant tickets for $10.
Four candidates will compete for the title of Miss Kaʻū Coffee.
Four candidates will compete for the title of Miss Kaʻū Coffee.
Shyann “Makamae” Flores-Carvalho, age 16, is daughter of Helena Carvalho and Glen Hashimoto, and sister to Buddy Flores and Andre Carvalho. She lives in Pāhala and is a junior at Kaʻū High School. “I like playing basketball, riding horses and spending time with my family and friends,” said Flores-Carvalho. After she graduates from high school, she plans to study nursing. Her talent is Tahitian dance.
Gloria Ornelas, age 16, is daughter of Osamea Ornelas and granddaughter of Memmy and Mario Ornelas. She has one brother, Carlos. She lives in Waiʻōhinu and is a sophomore at Kaʻū High. “I play volleyball for Kaʻū High. I love coaching T-ball, and I love to spend time with family," she said. Ornelas aspires to be a nurse or lawyer. Her talent is hula.
Rachel Ornelas, age 20, is daughter of Osamea Ornelas and granddaughter to Memmy and Mario Ornelas and hails from Greensands in Waiʻōhinu. She works as a teacher with Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū and attends University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in hopes of eventually becoming a registered nurse. “I want to represent my community and make a difference” by entering the pageant, she said.
Gloria Ornelas, age 16, is daughter of Osamea Ornelas and granddaughter of Memmy and Mario Ornelas. She has one brother, Carlos. She lives in Waiʻōhinu and is a sophomore at Kaʻū High. “I play volleyball for Kaʻū High. I love coaching T-ball, and I love to spend time with family," she said. Ornelas aspires to be a nurse or lawyer. Her talent is hula.
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| Gloria Ornelas |
Amery Silva, age 21, is daughter of Michael Silva and Wendylee Napoleon. She lives in Pāhala, is a member of Huala Halau ‘O Leionalani and works as retail associate at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. “I want to attend college to study business management,” Silva said. Her siblings are Kavelle, Kevey, Savannah, Cameron, Chisum, Shanialee and Wrangler. She said she is enjoying running in the pageant with her little sister Shania, who is a Miss Peaberry candidate. Her talent is hula and singing.
Each contestant is also competing for Miss Popularity. To support candidates, Kaʻū residents can buy donation tickets for one dollar and become a friend of the pageant. Donations go to support of candidates and toward scholarships and sustaining future pageants.
Anyone wanting to support the candidates can contact them directly to provide sponsorship or donations. Anyone wanting to donate flowers for decorations, other supplies, time or help is asked to contact Pageant Director Nālani Parlin at 217-6893 or Pageant Chair Gloria Camba at 928-8558. Anyone wanting to donate scholarship money can contact Scholarship Chair Julia Neal at 928-9811.
Each contestant is also competing for Miss Popularity. To support candidates, Kaʻū residents can buy donation tickets for one dollar and become a friend of the pageant. Donations go to support of candidates and toward scholarships and sustaining future pageants.
Anyone wanting to support the candidates can contact them directly to provide sponsorship or donations. Anyone wanting to donate flowers for decorations, other supplies, time or help is asked to contact Pageant Director Nālani Parlin at 217-6893 or Pageant Chair Gloria Camba at 928-8558. Anyone wanting to donate scholarship money can contact Scholarship Chair Julia Neal at 928-9811.
The candidates recently started practice, which aims to instill confidence while learning poise and presentation skills with future application to work and school settings. The program also seeks to align itself with Hawaiʻi Department of Education Common Core speaking and listening standards and help students to become resourceful and self-directed learners.
The candidates also visited Lorie Obra’s coffee farm to experience picking coffee and learn more about the life cycle of the coffee tree, the life of a coffee farmer and the history of Kaʻū Coffee.
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| Amery Silva |
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| Rachel Ornelas |
For descriptions and photos of the Miss Peaberry candidates, see tomorrow's Ka`u News Briefs.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK has announced the following upcoming flight operations.
Mondays and Fridays in March, between 8 a.m. and noon, March 3, 7, 17, 21, 24 and 28. Park staff will transport fencing material from the summit of Kilauea to an area near the top of Mauna Loa Road.
Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources and to maintain backcountry facilities.
“The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather,” says a statement from park officials.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. meets tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.PANCAKE SUPPER is this Friday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m. at St. Jude's Church in Ocean View. Call 939-7000 for more information.
