Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022

St. Jude's Shower Ministry has reopened to the public on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, with hot water, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and clean towels in Ocean View on Paradise Circle. There is also free food. See more below. Photo from St. Jude's

GROWING HEMP IN HAWAI'I IS FACING LEGISLATION in the state Senate and House of Representatives. Hawai'i Farmers Union United urges testimony by Tuesday morning.
    The Farmers Union supports SB 2986 and asks for amendments "to eliminate double inspections by the State which is a waste of State and taxpayers dollars and cost farmers money with new fees and wasted time." Farmers Union notes that "U.S. Department of Agriculture already regulates hemp farmers in Hawai'i and has the authority to inspect farms as needed. Required testing by USDA of every hemp crop and the state Department of Health for CBD products protects the public."
    Law enforcement in Hawai'i already has the authority to enter a farm if concerned, "so these double inspections do not improve public safety." Hawai'i hemp farmers "have been the most regulated hemp farmers in the country and these regulations have made them non-competitive," states the Farmers Union.

 See https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2986&year=2022&mc_cid=05c2350332&mc_eid=563999cc96  

    The Farmers Union states that it is also concerned that an "arbitrary change in the definition of hemp two years in the future" would make hemp illegal, "which is in conflict with the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill."  
    Farmers Union opposes another hemp regulating measure, SB 2973, contending that it would continue "the unnecessary double and costly regulation of Hawai'i farmers, who are the most regulated hemp farmers in the country," and "change the definition of hemp two years in the future, making hemp illegal."  See https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2973&year=2022&mc_cid=05c2350332&mc_eid=23faaa7019

  Those on Hawai'i Island listed as having licenses to grow hemp under the state Department of Agriculture's Industrial Hemp Pilot Program are: Kaʻū Hemp; Earth Matters; GoodbyeKitty LLC; Aloha Green LLC; Mauna Kea Agribusiness LLC; Aina Hawaiian Tropical Farms LLC; Kapu Kine Farms LLP; Mauna Kea Trading Company LLC; Mauna Loa Farms LLC; Island Hemp LLP, Aloha Hemp CBD LLP; Asante Gardens LLC; Martin M. Canning; Brittany Neal; Tropical Sunset Farms LLC; Lono Holdings; Thomas Pace; and Gail Babber. See more from the state on growing hemp in Hawai'i at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/hemp/

 
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ST. JUDE'S SHOWER MINISTRY has reopened to the public on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, with hot water, soap, shampoo, conditioner, and clean towels. Masks and social distancing are required before and after showering. The long standing public shower service, put on pause by Covid, is supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi's Commission on Mission Beyond Church and St. Jude's own outreach fund. Location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Members of the congregation built the facility.

FREE WIFI AND CHARGING OUTLETS ARE AVAILABLE at St. Jude's Episcopal Church for residents of Ocean View. A message from the church says, "St. Jude's has been affectionately named the 'Patron Saint of WiFi' for the community." WiFi is available from 6 a.m. till sundown. Location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle Drive. 

Free hot meals on Saturdays from 9 a.m. have resumed at St. Jude's. Photo from St. Judes

ST JUDE'S HOT MEALS have resumed and are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until they run out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View.

    ʻO KAʻŪ KĀKOU PANTRY FOOD DISTRIBUTION, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 10 a.m. - Pau. Located at Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket. 

    COOPER CENTER COMMUNITY PANTRY FOOD DISTRIBUTION, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 9:30 - 11 a.m. Located at 19- 4030 Wright Road in Volcano. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket. 

    SACRED HEART: LOAVES AND FISHES  FOOD DISTRIBUTION, Thursday, Feb. 24, 9 - 11 a.m. Located at 95-5558 Mamalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket. 

    KUPUNA FOOD BASKET, Thursday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Located at Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING on Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Disaster Recovery Project. Thursday, Feb. 24, 12 - 1 p.m. and 6 - 7 p.m. To join the 12 p.m. meeting: https://swca.zoom.us/j/91430664015. Those without internet access can join by phone: (888) 475-4499 US Toll-free; Meeting ID: 914 3066 4015. To join the 6 p.m. meeting: https://swca.zoom.us/j/97252271515. Those without internet access can join by phone: (888) 475-4499 US Toll-free; Meeting ID: 972 5227 1515.

COVID-19 PFIZER VACCINE/BOOSTER CLINIC at Ocean View Community Center. Saturday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Open to ages 5 and up. Home test kits will be available while supplies last. Walk-ins and uninsured are welcome. Bring ID. Contact (808) 932-4205 for any questions.

MILOLIʻI ʻOHANA FUNDRAISER at Park Halau in Miloliʻi. Saturday, Feb. 26 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Food, crafts, music, silent auction, and more. For more information, contact (808) 937-1310 or visit www.Kalanihale.com.