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| Chen Suwei said he found Punalu'u to be a place for restoration after swimming Ka'iwi Channel Photo by David Suwei |
Now at 54, Suwei has completed crossing the English Channel and the swim from Catalina Island to mainland California, as well as a swim around Manhattan in New York. His Moloka'i Channel swim was covered by China Daily and other news outlets cross that country and in Hawai'i. His time was 14 hours and 16 minutes. His goal had been 15 hours.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Christmas Lights & Icons Show brightens up the corner of Lehua and Palm in Ranchos at Ocean View every evening. Santa will be there on Christmas Eve to give 300 gifts, with a drawing for bikes to be given on Christmas Day. See story at kaucalendar.com.
Holiday Lighting and Decor are dressing up the cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp for the public to see. See story at kaucalendar.com.
Christmas in the Country is ongoing until the New Year at Volcano Art Center Gallery and VAC's Ni’aulani Campus. See story at kaucalendar.com.
The Hiking Incentive Program at Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park wraps up at the end of year. For the Kūkini Challenge, hikers, and walkers can turn in miles, recording them at the Visitor Contact Station for a chance to win a silver water flask and accolades for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Register as a Candidate for Discovery Harbour’s Community Association Board by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the Community Association office. Candidates may submit their biography and have their name appear on the 2023 DHCA ballot. Two of the seven Board seats are up for election. See discoveryharbour.net.
Walk into the Past with Thomas A Jaggar to 1939. Talk with the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, at the edge of Kīlauea volcano on Friday, Dec. 23, at 10 a.m. and noon. Dressed in period costume, actor Dick Hershberger brings the renowned geologist to life. Space is limited; pick up free tickets at the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai the day of the program. Supported by Kīlauea Drama Entertainment Network.
Volcano Thursday Market Christmas Fair will be Friday, Dec. 23 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with crafts, food, produce, live music, and entertainment for kids at Cooper Center in Volcano, Wright Road.
Showers, soup, haircuts, and decorating of St. Jude's Church in Ocean View on Christmas Eve from 9 a.m to 1 p.m., with carols at 3 p.m. and Christmas Eve Service at 4 p.m, followed by Aloha Hour.
FREE FOOD
St. Jude’s Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View.
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.
He said he came to Punalu'u in Ka'ū to recover and has found the cool underwater springs restorative. He and his wife and son also said they appreciated the history of Chinese workers who came to this island to work in the sugar industry. Suwei and his family visited Lyman Museum and he said he is willing to be a messenger of nature conservation and cultural exchange with the local community here.
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KUPUNA PANTRY IS OPERATING THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS IN KA'Ū AND VOLCANO. The free monthly food box program for seniors includes a variety of foods, such as nonfat dry and ultra-high-temperature fluid milk, juice, farina, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, dry beans, canned meat, poulty or fish, and canned fruits and vegetables.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Kupuna Pantry is funded by the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program and works to improve the health of low-income elderly persons of at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA foods. For more details and to download an application, visit hawaiifoodbasket.org/kupuna-pantry-csfp. Contact the warehouse to speak with a representative. For east Ka'ū, call 808-933-6030. For west Ka'ū, call 808-322-1418.
It also offers the PAR website to help citizens introduce and follow bills during the session. It provides a legislative calendar with deadlines for submissions of bills and testimonies. The 2023 Hawai'i Legislature's Regular Session opens Wednesday, Jan 18 at 10 a.m.
Representing Senate District 3, which includes Volcano, Ka'ū and Kona, is Dru Mamo Kanuha. He is the Senate Majority Leader and will serve on the 2023 Legislature's Housing Committee, Education Committee, and Ways & Means Committee. See Kanuha's member webpage at capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/memberpage. See his Facebook at facebook.com/SenatorKanuha. Kanuha's mailing address is Hawai'i State Capitol, Room 206, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813. His phone is 808-586-9385. His fax is 808-586-9391. Kanuha's email is senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Representing House District 5, which includes parts of Kea'au through Volcano, Ka'ū, and Miloli'i into Ho'okena, is Jeanné Kapela. She serves on the Committee on Higher Education & Technology, the Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs, the Committee on Education, and the Committee on Labor & Government Operations. See her member webpage at capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/memberpage. Her mailing address is Room 310, Hawai'i State Capitol. 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Her phone is 808-586-9605. Her fax is 808-586-9608. Kapela's email is repkapela@capitol.hawaii.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
GET ACTIVE AT THE HAWAI'I LEGISLATURE. That's the recommendation of its Public Access Room, with trainings, lessons in advocacy, and its website to help citizens keep up with their legislators.
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| Ka'ū's state Rep. Jeanne Kapela |
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| Ka'ū's state Sen. Dru Mamo Kanuha |
Representing Senate District 3, which includes Volcano, Ka'ū and Kona, is Dru Mamo Kanuha. He is the Senate Majority Leader and will serve on the 2023 Legislature's Housing Committee, Education Committee, and Ways & Means Committee. See Kanuha's member webpage at capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/memberpage. See his Facebook at facebook.com/SenatorKanuha. Kanuha's mailing address is Hawai'i State Capitol, Room 206, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813. His phone is 808-586-9385. His fax is 808-586-9391. Kanuha's email is senkanuha@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Representing House District 5, which includes parts of Kea'au through Volcano, Ka'ū, and Miloli'i into Ho'okena, is Jeanné Kapela. She serves on the Committee on Higher Education & Technology, the Committee on Culture, Arts & International Affairs, the Committee on Education, and the Committee on Labor & Government Operations. See her member webpage at capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/memberpage. Her mailing address is Room 310, Hawai'i State Capitol. 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Her phone is 808-586-9605. Her fax is 808-586-9608. Kapela's email is repkapela@capitol.hawaii.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Ahead of the opening, the public can register for one of the Public Access Room’s free online training sessions and learn more about advocacy, the Legislature’s website, and the session calendar and its deadlines. The PAR programs are designed to make sessions more manageable. PAR advocates that members of the public "Learn How to Use Your Voice at the Legislature."
The free Your Voice training focuses on how to advocate. According to PAR, "We’ll cover everything from an idea for a new law to testifying and following bills through the process, and we’ll highlight a couple of websites that can help you.We offer this Zoom training at three different dates/times. Plan on an hour (with time for questions) and get yourself prepped for session!" Here are the dates for Your Voice training: For Tuesday, Jan. 3, 12p.m. noon, register here. For Thursday, Jan. 12, 6 p.m., register here. For Thursday, Jan. 19, 3 p.m., register here.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| See The Ka'ū Calendar in the mail and in stands from Volcano through Miloli'i. Also see stories daily on Facebook and at www.kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com. |
Christmas Lights & Icons Show brightens up the corner of Lehua and Palm in Ranchos at Ocean View every evening. Santa will be there on Christmas Eve to give 300 gifts, with a drawing for bikes to be given on Christmas Day. See story at kaucalendar.com.
Holiday Lighting and Decor are dressing up the cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp for the public to see. See story at kaucalendar.com.
Christmas in the Country is ongoing until the New Year at Volcano Art Center Gallery and VAC's Ni’aulani Campus. See story at kaucalendar.com.
The Hiking Incentive Program at Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park wraps up at the end of year. For the Kūkini Challenge, hikers, and walkers can turn in miles, recording them at the Visitor Contact Station for a chance to win a silver water flask and accolades for the fourth quarter of 2022.
Register as a Candidate for Discovery Harbour’s Community Association Board by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the Community Association office. Candidates may submit their biography and have their name appear on the 2023 DHCA ballot. Two of the seven Board seats are up for election. See discoveryharbour.net.
Walk into the Past with Thomas A Jaggar to 1939. Talk with the founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, at the edge of Kīlauea volcano on Friday, Dec. 23, at 10 a.m. and noon. Dressed in period costume, actor Dick Hershberger brings the renowned geologist to life. Space is limited; pick up free tickets at the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai the day of the program. Supported by Kīlauea Drama Entertainment Network.
Volcano Thursday Market Christmas Fair will be Friday, Dec. 23 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with crafts, food, produce, live music, and entertainment for kids at Cooper Center in Volcano, Wright Road.
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| Pictures with Santa at Ocean View Community Center on Christmas Eve from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. |
FREE FOOD
St. Jude’s Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View.
Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Masks and social distancing required.
Sacred Heart: Loaves and Fishes Food Distribution, Thursday, Dec. 22, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at 95-5558 Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.
Ka’ū Food Pantry Distribution, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 9:30 a.m. until pau at St. Jude's Episcopal Church above Kahuku Park in Ocean View. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.
ʻO Ka’ū Kākou Pantry Food Distribution, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 10 a.m. until pau at Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.
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Cooper Center Community Pantry Food Distribution, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 9:30 a.m - 11 a.m. at 19- 4030 Wright Road in Volcano. Sponsored by Hawaiʻi Island Food Basket.
Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day, according to OKK President Wayne Kawachi.
Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day, according to OKK President Wayne Kawachi.
OUTDOOR MARKETS
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.
Volcano Swap Meet, 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.
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Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Kaʻū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
'O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nāʻālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in the upper lot only. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
Ocean View Swap Meet at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.
The Book Shack is open every Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Kauahaʻao Congregational Church grounds at 95-1642 Pinao St. in Waiʻōhinu.
'O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nāʻālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in the upper lot only. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
Ocean View Swap Meet at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.
The Book Shack is open every Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Kauahaʻao Congregational Church grounds at 95-1642 Pinao St. in Waiʻōhinu.