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| Early registration with the lowest entry fees is still available for August's Rain Forest Runs. Last year, the event set a record with 590 crossing the finish line to raise money for Volcano Art Center. Photo from VAC |
HAWAI`I COUNTY POLICE ARE ON THE ALERT to help prevent tragedy on our roads this Memorial Day weekend. Officers are conducting DUI checkpoints and roving patrols through Monday. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign called “Drunk Driving: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
Driving under the influence of alcohol presents a potential danger to every motorist, passenger and pedestrian the driver encounters. Already this year, Big Island police have made more than 500 DUI arrests, and 13 people have died in traffic fatalities. The police ask the public to always remember to have a designated, sober and licensed driver before starting to drink. “If you don’t find one, don’t take a chance – take a taxi.”
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| Michelle Galimba joined a panel discussion of food security on Insights. Image from pbshawaii.org |
KA`U RANCHER MICHELLE GALIMBA talked about food security on Thursday’s PBS Insights television show. Her family has 2,500 Kuahiwi Ranch cattle on some 10,000 acres of mostly leased land. She talked about the need to promote farming as a challenging and rewarding job and said local farmers should be paid more for the food they produce. “It has to be a value thing for us, to say this is the kind of culture and society we want and invest in farmers,” she said.
Galimba said farming has been denigrated for generations, with families telling children that “it is a low thing to do, when actually it is one of the most challenging and rewarding.”
Galimba talked about land being available here, saying, “I am in Ka`u, a kingdom that is far, far away.” She said there is a lot of interest in buying food that is grown locally. She said, however, that “we need to pay local farmers more. We need to make a choice. We need to have a healthy society” in which agriculture is valued.
Galimba said land is a very complicated issue, and, “I think we don’t use land very intelligently in our society” though “we are getting better recently. She said that the concept of highest and best use has to do with environmental factors, food and shelter, not just who pays the most for land.
Regarding the life of a rancher, Galimba said, “I am actually creating a world, this beautiful world. I just love every minute of it, even when you are exhausted and covered with unmentionable substances.”
Galimba talked about land being available here, saying, “I am in Ka`u, a kingdom that is far, far away.” She said there is a lot of interest in buying food that is grown locally. She said, however, that “we need to pay local farmers more. We need to make a choice. We need to have a healthy society” in which agriculture is valued.
Galimba said land is a very complicated issue, and, “I think we don’t use land very intelligently in our society” though “we are getting better recently. She said that the concept of highest and best use has to do with environmental factors, food and shelter, not just who pays the most for land.
Regarding the life of a rancher, Galimba said, “I am actually creating a world, this beautiful world. I just love every minute of it, even when you are exhausted and covered with unmentionable substances.”
The program can be viewed at pbshawaii.org.
PAHALA PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY has a busy summer of activities lined up. Manager Debbie Wong Yuen invites readers of all ages to participate in the 2013 Summer Reading Program, which runs from June 3 to July 5. This is an annual program of Hawai`i State Public Library System, which is celebrating its 100th year.
Themes are: for children (infants to 6th grade this fall), “Dig Into Reading;” teens (students entering 7th grade and including the 2013 graduating class), “Beneath The Surface;” and adults (ages 18+), “Groundbreaking Reads.”
Participants read at least one book a week to receive a weekly reading incentive, while supplies last. There are also special drawings to enter for children (Gardening Fun Gift Basket), teens (notebook and other prizes) and adults (an e-reader).
Mondays at Pahala Public & School Library are activity/craft days, and Thursdays are gaming days from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. On Fridays, the library presents a movie matinee at 2:15 p.m. featuring a free family movie and a bag of popcorn.
There are also be two special programs scheduled. On Monday, June 17 at 1 p.m., Graywolf, a Native American, presents “Cultures of the World,” a 45-minute program featuring authentic, handcrafted weapons, antiques and period costumes. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawai`i, Atherton Family Foundation, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Aloha United Way and many others. It is a production of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa Statewide Cultural Extension Program.
Then on Monday, July 1, Joe Iacuzzo presents “Secrets of the Dinosaur Mummy” at 1 p.m. This program is being sponsored by Friends of the Ka`u Libraries. Iacuzzo will also have the book he published for sale at this program. For more information, visit dinosaurmummy.org.
Pahala Public & School Library is open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Wong Yuen at 928-2015.
PAHALA BAPTIST CHURCH, formerly called Pahala Baptist Bible Mission, became a constituted church on May 5.
The church holds a youth camp at vacation Bible school Monday – Friday, June 3 – 7. The event, to be held at Hilo Baptist Church grounds, is open to preschool through grade 12. Fee is $30.
The church is also planning a joint worship and fellowship with Ocean View Baptist Church on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach.
For more information, contact Pastor Mar Ramones at 928-8240 or marjoramones@yahoo.com.
Then on Monday, July 1, Joe Iacuzzo presents “Secrets of the Dinosaur Mummy” at 1 p.m. This program is being sponsored by Friends of the Ka`u Libraries. Iacuzzo will also have the book he published for sale at this program. For more information, visit dinosaurmummy.org.
Pahala Public & School Library is open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Wong Yuen at 928-2015.
PAHALA BAPTIST CHURCH, formerly called Pahala Baptist Bible Mission, became a constituted church on May 5.
The church holds a youth camp at vacation Bible school Monday – Friday, June 3 – 7. The event, to be held at Hilo Baptist Church grounds, is open to preschool through grade 12. Fee is $30.
The church is also planning a joint worship and fellowship with Ocean View Baptist Church on Sunday, June 30 at 3 p.m. at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach.
For more information, contact Pastor Mar Ramones at 928-8240 or marjoramones@yahoo.com.
EARLY REGISTRATION WITH THE LOWEST ENTRY FEES is still available for Volcano Art Center’s fourth annual Rain Forest Runs set for Saturday, Aug. 17. The half marathon, 10K run and 5K run/walk are held in Volcano Village. This event traverses the native rain forest in Volcano Village and the ranches near Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. All distances are open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.
Entry fees before June 1 are $65 for the half marathon, $40 for the 10K run and $25 for the 5K run/walk. Fees increase on June 1.
Volcano Art Center presents art awards donated by local artists to the top three male and female winners of the half marathon, to the overall winners for the 10K and 5K and to the top two male and female winners in each ten-year age division for all race events. In addition, medals are presented to half marathon finishers and to the top male and female winners of the military division for each race.
More information and registration forms are available at volcanoartcenter.org/rain-forest-runs.
A RELATIVELY EASY, GUIDED, 2.6-MILE HIKE takes place tomorrow at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The Palm Trail is a loop crossing scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with panoramic views of the park and beyond. The three-hour hike begins at 9:30 a.m. Call 985-6011 for more information.
Volcano Art Center presents art awards donated by local artists to the top three male and female winners of the half marathon, to the overall winners for the 10K and 5K and to the top two male and female winners in each ten-year age division for all race events. In addition, medals are presented to half marathon finishers and to the top male and female winners of the military division for each race.
More information and registration forms are available at volcanoartcenter.org/rain-forest-runs.
A RELATIVELY EASY, GUIDED, 2.6-MILE HIKE takes place tomorrow at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The Palm Trail is a loop crossing scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with panoramic views of the park and beyond. The three-hour hike begins at 9:30 a.m. Call 985-6011 for more information.
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| Last year's Memorial Day ceremony at Kilauea Military Camp honored vets of the 442nd, including Iwao Yonemitsu and Toku Nakano, of Ka`u. Photo by Julia Neal |
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S MEMORIAL DAY ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Monday. Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is keynote speaker, and guest speaker is Captain Justin L. Montgomery, commander of the 871st Engineer Co. at Hilo. The public is invited, and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park waives entry fees for those who enter the park between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and inform park attendants that they are going to the ceremony. The event takes place on the front lawn, and in case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the Koa Room inside KMC’s lobby. For more information, call 967-8371.
A BUFFET IS AVAILABLE at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café after KMC’s Memorial Day ceremony. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., diners can choose from kalua pork and cabbage, chicken long rice, stuffed ono, huli huli chicken, rice, baked potato, candied sweet potatoes, salad bar, haupia, ice cream bar and beverage. Prices are $14.25 for adults and $8 for children 6 to 11 years old. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.