Ka`u News Briefs Monday, May 5, 2014

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2014 Amery Silva (back center), Miss Ka`u Peaberry Madison Okimoto (front center) join other pageant participants who received educational scholarships. Photo by Julia Neal

MISS KA`U COFFEE 2014 is Amery Silva. Miss Ka`u Peaberry is Madison Okimoto. The pageant, chaired by Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative president Gloria Camba and directed by Nalani Parlin, joins young women with keiki in performance, fashion, poise and knowledge to celebrate the Ka`u Coffee industry. It also raises scholarship money for the young women and girls. It drew a full house to the Ka`u Coffee Mill Drying Room last night.

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2014, Amery Silva, in her backpack and coffee bag work
clothes, with the first and second princesses also honoring the hard work
of the Ka`u Coffee farmers. Photo by Julia Neal

Silva danced hula. For her sportswear presentation, she wore overhaul shorts made of Ka`u Coffee Mill bags and donned the kind of backpack worn by farmers to spray their crops. Silva is the daughter of Mike Silva and Wendylee Napoleon, of Pahala. She is a member of Halau Hula O Leionalani and works as a retail associate at Ka`u Coffee Mill. She received a $1,000 scholarship from Edmund C. Olson.
Winner of the Miss Ka`u Coffee Scholar Category was Shyann Flores-Carvalho, who earned a $750 scholarship from Hawai`i Coffee Co. and Ka`u Chamber of Commerce. Daughter of Helena Carvalho and Glenn Hashimoto, she was also named First Princess, taking home a $500 scholarship from Miss Bobby Tucker and Halau Hula O Leionalani. Her talent was hula.
Second Miss Ka`u Coffee Princess is Gloria Ornelas, of Wai`ohinu, whose talent was painting, live on stage, a depiction of a Ka`u Coffee cup with the wording “Aloha to the World.” Daughter of Osamea Ornelas and granddaughter of Memmy and Mario Ornelas, she took home a $400 scholarship from CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union and Miranda Farms.
Miss Ka`u Peaberry is Madison Okimoto, daughter of Malcolm and Sheilah Okimoto, of Wai`ohinu. Her talent was dance. She aspires to be a doctor or geologist. She received a $500 scholarship from the Ka`u Coffee Festival Committee. She also became Miss Peaberry Scholar, taking home a $400 scholarship from Hawai`i Coffee Co. and retired Na`alehu School Principal Peter Volpe and wife Fran.

First Miss Peaberry Princess is Chazlynn Pua-Queja, daughter of Jerilynn Pua and Chad Queja, of Pahala. Her talent was hula. She won a $350 scholarship from Hawai`i Coffee Co.

Second Miss Peaberry Princess is Shanialee Silva, daughter of Wendylee Napoleon and Michael Silva, of Pahala. Her talent was interpretive dance. She won a $250 scholarship from Punalu`u Bake Shop.

Miss Ka`u Peaberry Madison Okimoto in the gown
competition. Photo by Julia Neal

Third Miss Peaberry Princess is Christina-Nicole Kawewehi, daughter of Angelica Kawewehi and Bill Lorenzo, of Pahala. Her talent was Zumba. She won a $150 scholarship from Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Onishi.

Fourth Miss Peaberry Princess is Calaysa Koi, daughter of Cory and Connie Koi, of Pahala. Her talent was singing. She won a $125 scholarship from Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan.

See more on all the winners and the pageant in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.

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Keana Kuluwaimaka took first among students
with Ka`u Coffee Chocolate Cake.

THE TRIPLE C RECIPE CONTEST drew tasty Ka`u Coffee recipes to the Ka`u Coffee Festival event yesterday at Ka`u Coffee Mill. For Coffees, Candies & Cakes, in the adult division, Cathy Haber, of Na`alehu, won $500 with her first-place Flourless Mocha Cake. Second and $250 went to Joyce Foley, of Hilo, with her Chocolate Mascarpone Torta. Third and $150 went to Leona Lorenzo, of Pahala, with her Coffee Mocha-Mochi.

In the student division, first place and $300 went to Keana Kuluwaimaka, of Pahala, with her Ka`u Coffee Chocolate Cake. Second and $150 went to Sara Beth Passarelli, of Na`alehu, with her Chocolate-Dipped Espresso Cookies, and third and $100 went to Lorie Lee Lorenzo, of Pahala, with her Ka`u Coco Brownies.
Judges were Miguel Meza, who works with Rusty’s Hawaiian 100 Percent Island Coffees, Olson Trust Land Manager John Cross and Miss Ka`u Coffee 2013 Tiare-Lee Shibuya.

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John Cross, Miguel Meza and Tiare-Lee Shibuya were judges at the Triple C Recipe Contest. Photos by Julia Neal

Sara Beth Passarelli took second among
students with Chocolate-Dipped
Espresso Cookies.

PRESERVATION OF KAUNAMANO PROPERTIES along the Ka`u Coast has received unanimous approval from Hawai`i County Council’s nine members. Res. 351-14 authorizes the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations for acquisition of the more than 1,200 acres. The 2012 Annual Report of the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission lists the properties as a key priority for purchase. Reasons given in the nomination papers for Kaunamano were cultural, archaeological and natural resources, along with education, recreation and preserving scenic vistas.

“This is a good deal,” said Ka`u’s County Council Member Brenda Ford. She said that the owner is willing to sell and that the Trust for Public Lands is willing to help. Although acquisition of other Open Space properties is currently taking place, she hopes that the Kaunamano deal gets done “sooner than later.”

An archaeological survey of the property in 2004 reported 444 sites with more than 3,900 features, including enclosures, mounds, platforms, walls, salt pans, walled terraces, trails, petroglyphs, papamu, heiau, a refuge cave and other lava tubes, ceremonial sites and burial sites.

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Third-place student winner Lorie Lee Lorenzo
for her Ka`u Coco Brownies with Triple C
Recipe Contest coordinator Brenda
Iokepa-Moses.

HAWAI`I COUNTY’S DRUNK DRIVING STATISTICS are improving, according to a story in Honolulu Star-Advertiser. So far this year, the number of traffic fatalities on Hawai`i island stands at five, compared to 12 last year. According to police, one was due to alcohol, one due to drugs and one to a combination of both.
From 2008 to 2012, 72 percent of Big Island traffic fatalities involved alcohol- or drug-related driving. Of those, 54 percent were alcohol-related and 44 percent were drug-related.
Hawai`i County showed improvement last year, 52 percent of 25 traffic fatalities, or 13 of them, involved impaired drivers
In her story, Leila Fujimori compares Hawai`i Island statistics with those of O`ahu. Last year, O`ahu had 58 fatalities, with six of them by impaired drivers, for a rate of 10 percent.

Cathy Harber took first in yesterday's Triple C Recipe Contest
with a Flourless Mocha Cake.

Of O`ahu’s 57 fatal accidents in 2012, 19 percent, or 11 of them, involved impaired drivers. That same year, 73 percent of Hawai`i County’s 38 fatalities, or 28 of them, involved impaired drivers.

So far this year in Hawai`i County, there have been 422 DUI arrests compared with 432 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.3 percent.

While the number of fatalities has decreased, the number of major accidents has increased. There have been 525 major accidents so far this year compared with 438 during the same period last year, an increase of 19.9 percent.

“As an ER doc on the Big Island, drunk and drug impaired driving is one of my greatest concerns,” Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green, chair of the Senate Health Committee, told Fujimori. “I’ve seen many avoidable tragedies. We offer too little treatment for addiction on the Big Island. Also, treatment should always be covered by insurance. Too often it’s not. Long commutes and exhaustion also make the problem much worse. The police do what they can, but they need more resources to bust impaired drivers.”

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Leona Lorenzo took third in the Triple C
Recipe Contest with a Coffee Mocha-Mochi.

SUMMER FUN REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE today through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pahala and Na`alehu Community Centers. The programs take place June 9 to July 18, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 928-3102 in Pahala or 939-2510 in Na`alehu.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S CRATER RIM CAFÉ in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers a Cinco de Mayo Buffet today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Menu includes Mexican chicken casserole, stuff-your-own-burrito bar, short ribs fajitas, Spanish rice, ice cream sundae bar and a beverage for $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 6-11. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Call 967-8356 for more information.

JOE LACEBY DEMONSTRATES HIS CYANOTYPE techniques tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, in conjunction with National Parks Arts Foundation, launches its first artist-in-residence program at tomorrow’s After Dark in the Park.
Rick Makanaaloha Kia`imeaokekanaka San Nicolas provides a public exhibit and lecture about his feather work, his inspiration from Hawai`i’s sacred volcanoes, and the history and culture of Hawai`i. The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Park entrance fees apply. $2 donations support After Dark programs.

HAWAI`I NEWS NOW CARRIED A SEGMENT on the Ka`u Coffee Festival this morning. Business reporter Howard Dicus, interviewing festival Chair Chris Manfredi, suggested the destination as a last-minute getaway. They also talked about the continuing success of Ka`u Coffee growers, displaying several local brands on air.

Joyce Foley took second in the Triple C Recipe Contest
with her Chocolate Mascarpone Torta.

Ka`u Coffee Festival events continue this week and through Sunday. On Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. will be the Ka`u Mountain Water System Hike at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Fee of $40 includes lunch. Call 928-0550.

On Friday at 10 a.m. will be Coffee & Cattle Day with an all-you-can-eat buffet for $25 at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm. Call 927-2252.

Also on Friday will be Ka`u Star Gazing from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., starting at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Participants enjoy Ka`u’s vast open landscapes and night skies unmarred by city lights. Fee of $35 includes refreshments. Call 928-0550.
The annual Ho`olaule`a takes place on Saturday at Pahala Community Center, with entertainment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ka`u Coffee farmers show off their world-class beans with tasting and sales at their booths. Tours of Ka`u Coffee farms and Ka`u Coffee Mill are scheduled throughout the day. The Ka`u Coffee Experience presents the taste and aroma of select Ka`u Coffees, prepared by trained baristas, in a program organized by Ka`u Farm Bureau President Ralph Gaston, Joan Obra and Miguel Meza.

Ka`u Coffee College closes the festival on Sunday, when visiting coffee experts offer educational talks from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.

See more on the events at kaucoffeefest.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.