Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021

Mayor Rich Roth and Noriko, with Terry Shibuya, President of Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū. Photo by Olani Lilly

    To herald in Christmas in Ka'u, 575 people attended Touched by An Angel at Nā'ālehu Shopping Center parking lot, which was filled with festive tents; blow-up candy canes and Santas; a Christmas tree; and lots of holiday cheer. The event was featured on the Hawai'i News Now television and online platforms.
    Volunteers passed out 500 bentos, along with bottled water, presents and supplies, as people drove through, staying Covid-safe in their vehicles. To make sure that every family was served, Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū, the local nonprofit organizing the festivities, bought and added 18 pizzas. "We had just enough for everyone! Mahalo ke akua!" said co-organizer Dane Shibuya.
    Among those assisting Hana Laulima Lāhui O Ka'ū in the community-giving were Jonathan Dale Miller Foundation, which helped to provide food and hundreds of toys, books and blankets to keiki. The Jonathan Dale Miller Foundation was founded 22 years ago in memory of its namesake.
    A foundation representative said that "Jonathan was a very special boy who developed a terminal illness when he was nine. He became an angel a year later. When Jonathan was asked if he had any special wishes, he said, 'I want to feed the hungry and give toys to children at Christmas who usually do not receive any.' That is what Jonathan's Foundation does. All the recipients were told if you want to give thanks, please thank Jonathan as he is the one who is responsible."

Twenty-pound bags of rice, sponsored by Catholic Charities, were among the food supplies provided to families at the Touched by an Angel event organized by Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū. Photo by Olani Lilly

    During the festivities, Hawaiʻi County Police Department gave out DARE backpacks. A Santa dressed in blue and an officer decked out in an Ironman suit represented all the policemen and women who work hard to keep the community safe.

Touched by an Angel Festival Booths. Photo by Olani Lilly

    Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi presented 20 pounds of bag rice and supplies to all.
A Just Serve representative from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave books to all the keiki who attended.
    Punalu'u Bake Shop assisted with providing bentos for all to enjoy and a dinners for the 'ohana.
    Nā'ālehu Assembly of God group sang Christmas songs to cheer all who attended.
    Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth, his wife Noriko, and state Rep. Sylvian Luke, candidate for    Lieutenant Governor greeted cars and helped volunteers pass out candy canes and Christmas

A volunteer gets bentos ready to hand out to hungry participants. Photo by Olani Lilly

cookies.

 

Ariane 5 rocket launched the James Webb telescope, which will orbit the sun and be stronger than the telescopes on Mauna Kea. NASA photo

    "The space telescope is destined to orbit a point in space known as Earth-sun Lagrange point 2 or L2, which is located nearly 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away from Earth on the opposite side as the sun. The spacecraft covered the first 10% of that journey within 12 hours of launching. Then, when the telescope was about 100,000 miles (160,000 km) away from Earth, the observatory executed a crucial burn to ensure it would safely reach its destination."
    The project is managed by NASA, the European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency. It is largely funded by the U.S. Congress. The cost is about $9.7 billion. Named after former NASA administrator James Webb, it is built to be the most powerful telescope to date and is expected to become the successor to the Hubble telescope.

The James Webb Observatory was launched Christmas morning  from French Guiana and is expected to compliment and outperform Mauna Kea telescopes as it orbits around the sun. NASA photo by Chris Gunn

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.