Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, June 9, 2022

The lead image from Paradise Helicopters' website description of Hawai'i Island tours describes remote locations to be toured by air. One of its helicopters on Wednesday crashed between Ocean View and South Point Road. The five passengers and pilot survived.
Photo from Paradise Helicopters

THE SIX VICTIMS OF THE HELICOPTER CRASH WEDNESDAY EVENING between South Point and Ocean View Ranchos have survived. Four are discharged from Kona Community Hospital and two remain in another hospital where they were transferred for specialized treatment.
National Transportation Safety Board representatives are expected on the island after the remains of the Bell 407 helicopter have been retrieved from the remote site. Owners of Paradise Helicopters issued a statement saying that their Emergency Response Plan was activated at the time of the incident and that "full resources of the company are being mobilized to respond to the incident. Paradise Helicopters is cooperating with all authorities involved, and is also working to assist all those affected."
Calvin Dorn, founder of Paradise Helicopters, is well known in Kaʻū and Puna for his work with farmers, ranchers and volcano scientists. He has donated flight time during floods, lava flows and other emergencies over the years and has contracted with numerous agencies and businesses for work. In a statement on the company's website regarding the Kaʻū crash, he said, "The care of our passengers, crew members, and their families, is our highest priority."
Kaʻū is featured by Paradise Helicopters in several tours to remote places, including its Sunset Experience tour around the island, which includes seeing black and green sand beaches. See more at www.paradisehelicopters.com.

Lili Api Dacalio, candidate for Rodeo Queen,
is seeking community support.

Zira Wroblewski, candidate for Rodeo Queen,
is seeking community support.

LILI API DACALIO AND ZIRA WROBLEWSKI ARE COMPETING FOR RODEO QUEEN for the July 9 and 10 event at Nāʻālehu Rodeo Grounds. The deadline to offer support to help determine the winner is June 30. Both candidates will ride in the Independence Day Parade that begins at 11 a.m in Nāʻālehu along Highway 11 on Saturday, July 2.
Wroblewski, 10, will be in fifth grade at Pāhala Elementary in the upcoming school year. She is the daughter of Kamalani and Eddie Wroblewski, of Pāhala. Dacalio, 12, will attend eighth grade at Pāhala Intermediate. She is the daughter of Sierra and Kimo Dacalio, of Wood Valley.
The Rodeo Queen hopefuls are offering discounted rodeo tickets for $8 a day, ahead of the two-day event. At the gate, tickets will be $10 each day on Saturday and Sunday July 9 and 10 at Nāʻālehu Roping & Riding Rodeo Grounds. The rodeo starts with Slack Roping at 8 a.m. on both days, with the show beginning at noon.
Both contestants carry rodeo tickets with them through out the community are asking support through their purchase as they visit community events, travel through neighborhoods, and wave to the public on roadsides with their signs.
To support Dacalio through purchase of rodeo tickets, call or text Sierra Dacalio at 808-785-411 and leave a message. To support Wroblewski through purchase of rodeo tickets, call or text Mona Wroblewski at 808-938-2221 and leave a message. During the opening of the rodeo on July 9, Rodeo Queen contestants will be presented and the winner will be announced.

CONCERT AT THE CRATER AT KMC THEATER has been added to the Experience Volcano Festival lineup on July 30. The free, live music event at Kīlauea Theater, within Kīlauea Military Camp at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, will be hosted by two musical groups and Volcano Community Association. Park entrance fees may apply. Concert at the Crater features two local music groups. The opening is Hawaiian-fusion duo with singer and songwriters Patrice Ka'ohi and Jeffery O'Casey. Ka'ohi is known for soulful vocals and unique jazz and motown influences. Hailing from O'ahu, she has lived on Hawai'i Island for several years and will perform with O'Casey.
Headlining the event will be The Kilt Lifters, a four-piece ensemble performing eclectic folk-rock with Celtic and historic influences. The Kilt Lifters have performed throughout Hawai'i and the Mainland at festivals and special events, from Alaska to the small town pubs of rural Ireland. Members of the Kilt Lifters include Chris Carr on guitar, flute, piccolo and cow bell, and Jeffery O'Casey on bass and banjo.
A statement from the organizers of Concert on the Crater says, "The Kīlauea Theater, built in 1924, is an asset in our community. Seating over 300 people, the theater has the potential to bring the community together as a community cultural and entertainment resource. It is our hope to bring events to the theater regularly for the benefit of our residents and visitors to the area."
It is located at 99-252 Crater Rim Drive inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Enter the Park through the main gate, continue for about a mile, and take the first right after the steam vents. Look for the Theater sign and make the next right. KMC is open to the public and offers food and cocktails at Lava Lounge, open at 4 p.m. for service before the event.
A May 21st Concert at the Crater was postponed due to repairs at Kīlauea Theater, said organizers of the event.

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JOSHUA IKAIKA VIERRA, OF VOLCANO, HAS BEEN CHARGED with kidnapping, impersonating a police officer, assault and a slew of firearms offenses. Hawai'i Island Police announced the arrest on Thursday, saying that an unnamed 17-year-old male juvenile was also taken into custody and charged.

The arrests stem from an incident in Volcano just after midnight on June 8. According to police, the two conspired to assault the juvenile’s 44-year-old biological father who resides on O'ahu. "Upon the father’s arrival at the residence, he was confronted by Vierra who identified himself as a federal agent and placed zip ties on the victim's wrist and ankles," says the statement from police. "Over the course of several hours, the two suspects assaulted the victim. However, during a break in their activity, the victim was able

Joshua Ikaika Vierra is charged with kidnapping,
impersonating a cop and many firearms offenses.
Photo from Hawai'i Island Police

to reach his cell phone and dial 911. Upon arrival, officers saw the victim bound and gagged and arrested Vierra and the juvenile without incident."

The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment. After being treated for his injuries, he was subsequently released to police custody and arrested for outstanding warrants.
In the course of the investigation, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered a silencer, two handguns, and a rifle, all with no serial numbers, which are known as “ghost guns.”
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s office, Vierra was charged with:kidnapping. two counts of assault in the second degree, impersonating a law enforcement officer, terroristic threatening in the first degree, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, three counts of permit to acquire, three counts of assembling a firearm having no serial numbers, possessing a rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, possessing a silencer devise capable of muffling the sound of a firearm discharge, six counts of possessing handgun magazines capable of holding a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition, possessing brass knuckles, and promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree.

Vierra’s bail is set at $270,765. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, June 13 in Hilo District Court.
The male juvenile, whose name will not be published due to his age, was charged with kidnapping and abuse family household member. He is being detained by the State in a juvenile detention facility on O'ahu.

For more information, or to contribute information, contact Lt. Robert E. Pauole, Juvenile Aid Section, Hawai'i Police Department at 808-961-2254.

GET READY TO JOIN THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE at The Cooper Center in Volcano from 8:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. The parade will start at the Post Office at 9 a.m. and will end at Cooper Center. There will be no parking at Cooper Center, except for handicapped permitted automobiles by reservation. Maps for parking can be found on their webpage at thecoopercenter.org. There will be crafters in the Carlson Covered Court, food vendors along the parking lot, an entertainment area, childrenʻs games, and a large silent auction from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

SPONSOR A BUCKLE, VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN ahead of the Saturday, July 9 Rodeo sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to be held on the rodeo grounds behind Nāʻālehu Park.

BECOME A VENDOR AT THE 3RD ANNUAL EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Last year, over 2,500 visitors attended and over 40 events were featured during the EVH festival. All vendor spaces are $50 for both days of the festival. Sign up as a vendor or a sponsor at experiencevolcano.com. If you have questions, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com.

SIGN UP FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNS with a change of date from July 3 to Sept. 17. Registration deadline for the annual event is Sept. 14. Organized by Hawaiʻi Island Racers, the 50K begins at 6 a.m., Half Marathon at 7 a.m., and 5K at 7:15 a.m., all starting from Kaʻū Coffee Mill at 96-2696 Wood Valley Road in Pāhala. Proceeds go to support ʻO Kaʻū Kakou. For more details on the event and registration fees, visit https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com