Ka`u News Briefs May 28, 2013

“WHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY GREAT is our men and women who serve,” said U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard during her keynote address at Kilauea Military Camp’s Memorial Day ceremony yesterday. “I will never forget the first memorial service I attended in Iraq” with the playing of Kamalani on `ukulele for Army Sgt. Deyson Cariaga, the first Hawai`i citizen-soldier to die in combat since the Vietnam War.

      Gabbard also spoke of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Washington, D.C. as “such a meaningful moment” that brought “an understanding of the fragility of life.” To hear the rifles fired and the playing of Taps “keeps everything in perspective,” she said. 

      Captain Justin L. Montgomery, Commander of the 871st Engineer Co.-Hilo, also spoke. “For all of you, you have a reason to be thankful” and we would not have these reasons “if not for the veterans who fought and died for us. We are lucky that we have not paid the ultimate sacrifice.” He suggested that we pause daily to be thankful for what we have in life. 

      Father Mwanshibula Martin, of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Pahala, offered the Invocation and Benediction at the service. “We thank those who have dedicated their lives to serving this nation in defense of freedom, peace and justice,” he said. “We pray for those who have gone before us. We pray for those who are still serving in distant places and their families. We pray for those who have been injured and for their recovery and courage. We pray for ourselves, that we may continue on this mission of imparting freedom and peace.”

BEFORE HER KMC ADDRESS, GABBARD SPOKE AT A VETERANS CEMETERY in Hilo. She released the following statement in honor of Memorial Day. 

      “We honor those who gave their lives in service of our country. For generations, our brave men and women in uniform have sacrificed greatly and without expectation of glory. They are the everyday heroes who raise their hands to protect their fellow Americans and defend the freedoms we all hold dear. Their bravery and commitment to service is an inspiring example.
      “We must remember the tens of thousands of American service members who remain in harm’s way today. I will keep working to bring our troops home and ensure that each veteran has the support to ease the transition back to civilian life and is empowered to continue their service in our communities.
      “Today and every day, my thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones in war, and those who continue to serve.”

PARTICIPANTS CLEARED ABOUT A MILE of rocky shoreline during Hawai`i Wildlife Fund’s fourth annual Manuka Natural Area Reserve cleanup on Saturday. Twenty-nine volunteers removed 15 bags worth of miscellaneous marine debris weighting 215 pounds and another 25 pounds of derelict fishing nets. Interesting marine debris finds, according to coordinator Megan Lamson, included a glass float (roller shaped), a plastic manhole-like boat part, and other land-based camping rubbish including a diaper, hundreds of old aluminum/tin cans and batteries. 

      Ka`u volunteers will malama South Kohala, help with research, promotion and restoration of Ka`u Coast and anchaline ponds, and promote the cause this summer at HWF events:

• Tuesday, June 4 - Wednesday, June 5: Anchialine pool/plant workdays; 
• Saturday, June 15: South Kohala shoreline cleanup event for National Trails Day® (Kanekanaka Pt - Hapuna Pt) – HWF and Keep Puako Beautiful collaboration; 
• Tuesday, June 25: Megan Lamson presents HWF’s Wai`ohinu restoration work at After Dark in the Park in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 7 p.m.; 
• Saturday, June 29: HWF sponsors a marine debris float in the Na`alehu Fourth of July Parade at 11 a.m.; 
• Saturday, July 13: Ka'ū coastal cleanup event (location to be announced); 
• Monday, July 29 - Tuesday, July 30: Anchialine pool/plant workdays; 
• Monday, Aug. 26 - Tuesday, Aug. 27: Anchialine pool workdays. 

HWF colleague Cat Spina is looking for volunteers to help her with day trips to Kamilo Point for her research on marine debris accumulation throughout the year. “If you are fit, hard-working and willing to help during one or more weekdays,” said Spina, contact her at cat.spina@gmail.com for more details and dates.
      Lamson noted that HWF is a very small non-profit and would be unable to continue restoration projects without continued volunteering, donations, advice and four-wheel drive vehicles to reach remote locations.
      Email her at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com for more information.

AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS RECENTLY CELEBRATED their first year here on the Big Island during a Public Launch Event with student performances at Kea`au Middle School on Tuesday, May 7. The three schools represented were Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary, Kea`au Middle and Pahoa Intermediate.
      At Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School, After-School All-Stars have merged with UPLINK, the existing after-school program for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders who have already been operating at KHPES for the past four years. This merged program is known as the UPLINK All-Stars After-School Program.
      For more information on the UPLINK All-Stars After-School program, contact UPLINK program coordinator Liza Saplan at 928-2006 or After-School All-Stars site coordinator Thu-Tam Doan at 557-7414.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL to consider the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year takes place Thursday at 8 a.m. at Council chambers in Hilo. An item on the agenda is Ka`u Council member Brenda Ford’s amendment requesting funding to continue teleconferencing of county government meetings at Ocean View Community Center. Ford encourages Ka`u residents to make use of the facility, which is threatened with closure due to lack of participation. 

      Another request from Ford is $5,000 for a children’s playground at Na`alehu Park.
      Council committee meetings are scheduled tomorrow at Council chambers in Hilo. At 9 a.m., the Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee considers and amendment to Hawai`i County Code that would prohibit the propagation, cultivation, raising, growing, sale or distribution of transgenic organisms, or GMOs.
      Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability Committee meets at 10:30 a.m., and Finance Committee meets at 1:45 p.m.
      Ka`u residents can participate in the meetings via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.
      Agendas are available at hawaiicounty.gov.

A CONCERT BENEFITING VOLCANO ART CENTER takes place Sunday at 2 p.m. at VAC’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Hawaiian musicians Keola Beamer and Jeff Peterson and dancer Moanalani Beamer offer Hawaiian slack key guitar music accompanied by hula, chant and traditional instrumentation.
      Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at volcanoartcenter.org or by phone at 967-8222.

TROPIC CARE 2013 BEGINS A WEEK FROM TODAY. Two clinics, at Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School and Ocean View Community Center, bring 75 military reservists to Ka`u Tuesday, June 4 to Wednesday, June 12 to provide free medical care in clinics open to the public. Clinics are held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closing early at 12 p.m. on the final day, June 12. 

      Health care services provided free of charge include physical exams, dentistry, optometry (exams and glasses), medication review and provision of some medication, and nutrition education. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis and advised that there may be long wait times.
      Tropic Care 2013 is an exercise of the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program, which challenges reservists to plan and implement rapid mobilizations to distant and unfamiliar areas.
     “This innovative program will benefit everyone involved and will further our goal of keeping our community safe and healthy,” said Karen Teshima, executive assistant to Mayor Billy Kenoi.
      For more information or to request special assistance or an auxiliary aid, call (808) 974-6035 or email Martha Yamada of the Public Health Nursing Section at martha.yamada@doh.hawaii.gov.

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.