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| Youth volunteers from Hawaii Academy of Arts & Sciences (HAAS) and park volunteers Paul and Jane Field (center) prepare to enter the forest to remove invasive ginger in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Photo courtesy of HAAS |
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| George Jensen, in the distance, volunteered to help install the Footprints Trail exhibition. He has earned the NPS Regional Enduring Service Award for his more than 18,000 volunteers at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. NPS photo by Jay Robinson |
goes above and beyond normal duty.
A statement from HVNP says, "The youth, who cope with developmental disabilities, have made a tremendous impact at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for over a decade by removing invasive Himalayan ginger from park forests. The youth volunteer program is overseen by the park's Stewardship at the Summit volunteers, Paul and Jane Field. Many of the areas cleared by the HAAS youth and the Fields are now repopulated with native Hawaiian plants. Through this work, the youth participants have developed a sense of ownership for their public lands and take pride in making a positive difference in the world."
In addition, longtime Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park volunteer George Jensen earned the NPS Regional Enduring Service Award, another Hartzog Award category for the Department of the Interior Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12. The Park statement says, "Jensen, who has more than 18,000 volunteer hours in
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, provides much-needed kōkua (help) on park interpretive media. He has constructed visitor center exhibits, installed, maintained and relocated wayside exhibits, repaired electronic equipment from the inside-out, diagnosed complex audio-visual issues, and faithfully restocks park publications every week." Hawai'i Volcanoes Volunteer Coordinator Kūpono McDaniel said.
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| National Park Service Director Chuck Sams (center) stands with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park volunteer coordinator Kūpono McDaniel (right) and Hawai'i Academy of Arts and Sciences principal Steve Hirakami at the Hartzog Awards ceremony. NPS Photo by K.Graczyk |
Many of the agency's top awards were presented at the event sponsored by NPS and its philanthropic partner, the National Park Foundation.
Interested in volunteer opportunities at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park? Visit the park website: https://www.nps.gov/havo/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.
More information and a complete list of NPS award winners is available on the NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/08-25-2022-nps-awards.htm.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.A NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS was approved on Thursday by the Hawaiian Homes Commission. The commissioners unanimously voted to approve a Preliminary Strategic Approach to Implement Act 279, which provides $600 million to help put Hawaiians on DHHL land and into homes. Thousands of DHHL acres are located in Kaʻū, at Ka Lae - South Point, above Ninole - Punalu'u and in Wai'ohinu.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.A NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS was approved on Thursday by the Hawaiian Homes Commission. The commissioners unanimously voted to approve a Preliminary Strategic Approach to Implement Act 279, which provides $600 million to help put Hawaiians on DHHL land and into homes. Thousands of DHHL acres are located in Kaʻū, at Ka Lae - South Point, above Ninole - Punalu'u and in Wai'ohinu.
Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Ailā, Jr., established an Act 279 Permitted
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| Hawaiian Home Lands in Ka'u are outlined in red. |
Committee members include Ailā, Commissioners Pauline Namuo, Russell Kaupu and Dennis Neves, along with key DHHL staff. The Committee met five times.
At the July 2022 HHC Regular Meeting, the Committee presented its draft Strategic Approach and comments from the whole Commission were incorporated into the Strategic Approach presented this month.
"The Strategic Approach is an important first step toward effectively utilizing this historic allocation of funding," said Ailā. "What is important is that the Commission has agreed on the overall approach while allowing DHHL the flexibility to seek potential land acquisitions and innovative solutions to meet the needs of native Hawaiians on the Waiting List."
HHC also approved the Act 279 Implementation Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and authorized the Chairman to make adjustments as appropriate. The Strategic Approach is the working document that will ultimately apprise the final Strategic Plan to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. The final plan is due on December 10 , as required by Act 279.
The Strategic Approach and budget, identified as agenda items C-5 and C-6, can be reviewed on the Department's website by visiting, dhhl.hawaii.gov/hhc/2022-hawaiian-homes-commission-meeting-schedule.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.
TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL played at home on Friday evening against Kea'au, the varsity team winning all three sets, 25 - 16, 25-20 and 25-20. The gym was packed with local residents cheering for the Trojans, the largest crowd since pre-Covid. Coach is Josh Ortega. Assistant coach is Kamalani Fujikawa.
Principal Sharon Beck, who attended the event, said she is pleased with the strong community that has always made volleyball an outstanding sport in Kaʻū.
KAʻŪ HIGH TROJANS FOOTBALL heads to Waimea on Saturday to play Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Ka Makani. The game begins at 2 p.m. Head Coach is Greg Rush. Assistant coaches are Grant Greedy, Mark Peters and Ted Blanco. Trainer is Moses Whitcomb.
CROSS COUNTRY FOR THE KAʻŪ TROJANS starts on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. at Kea'au with coach David Wells.
AIR RIFLE COMPETITION FOR THE TROJANS begins on Saturday, Aug. 27 in a virtual competition. Kaʻū competitors will fire at targets on the Pāhala campus and send the target results, virtually, to be scored. Coach is Tiani Castaneda-Naboa. No fans invited.
BOWLING COACH IS JACOB DAVENPORT. Competitive high school bowling starts Sept. 10 in Kona at KB Extreme. Practices for the Trojans are at Kilauea Military Camp.
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW, the new book by Kaʻū High School 2022 graduate and artist Kelson Gallano and educator and Kaʻū alumna Joyce Iwashita, will be featured at a Petroglyph Press event at Basically Books in Hilo, with talk story and book signing this Saturday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m.
Subtitle of the book is A Guide for Helping Kids Make Good Choices. See the story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_05_05_archive.html. Proceeds of the book sales benefit art education and literacy at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School.
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At the July 2022 HHC Regular Meeting, the Committee presented its draft Strategic Approach and comments from the whole Commission were incorporated into the Strategic Approach presented this month.
"The Strategic Approach is an important first step toward effectively utilizing this historic allocation of funding," said Ailā. "What is important is that the Commission has agreed on the overall approach while allowing DHHL the flexibility to seek potential land acquisitions and innovative solutions to meet the needs of native Hawaiians on the Waiting List."
HHC also approved the Act 279 Implementation Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and authorized the Chairman to make adjustments as appropriate. The Strategic Approach is the working document that will ultimately apprise the final Strategic Plan to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. The final plan is due on December 10 , as required by Act 279.
The Strategic Approach and budget, identified as agenda items C-5 and C-6, can be reviewed on the Department's website by visiting, dhhl.hawaii.gov/hhc/2022-hawaiian-homes-commission-meeting-schedule.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.
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| Ka'u Varsity girls beat Kea'au in all three sets Friday at the home event that packed the gym. Photo by Julia Neal |
Principal Sharon Beck, who attended the event, said she is pleased with the strong community that has always made volleyball an outstanding sport in Kaʻū.
KAʻŪ HIGH TROJANS FOOTBALL heads to Waimea on Saturday to play Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Ka Makani. The game begins at 2 p.m. Head Coach is Greg Rush. Assistant coaches are Grant Greedy, Mark Peters and Ted Blanco. Trainer is Moses Whitcomb.
CROSS COUNTRY FOR THE KAʻŪ TROJANS starts on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. at Kea'au with coach David Wells.
AIR RIFLE COMPETITION FOR THE TROJANS begins on Saturday, Aug. 27 in a virtual competition. Kaʻū competitors will fire at targets on the Pāhala campus and send the target results, virtually, to be scored. Coach is Tiani Castaneda-Naboa. No fans invited.
BOWLING COACH IS JACOB DAVENPORT. Competitive high school bowling starts Sept. 10 in Kona at KB Extreme. Practices for the Trojans are at Kilauea Military Camp.
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ʻĀina Akamu, Joyce Iwasihta and Kelson Gallano at the book launch on May 5 at Kaʻū High with the image of Pu'u Makanauby Gallano gracing the cover. Gallano and Iwashita will present the book again at Basically Books in Hilo on Saturday, Aug. 27. Photo from Hawai'i Executive Collaborative |
Subtitle of the book is A Guide for Helping Kids Make Good Choices. See the story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_05_05_archive.html. Proceeds of the book sales benefit art education and literacy at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School.
