Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022

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LIFESAVING COLONOSCOPY WAS A CAUSE FOR CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE this week as he posted a video on his own procedure and pointed out that Native Hawaiian men have the highest death rates in the

Congressman Kai Kahele encourages everyone to get a colonoscopy and put his experience on YouTube.

state for colorectal cancer. "Colorectal Cancer is the third most common cancer in Hawaiʻi, leading to nearly 220 deaths in our state yearly. Native Hawaiian men (kāne) have the highest death rate from colon cancer among all ethnic groups. Data shows that more than 58 percent of kāne over age 50 have never been screened
    "Join me, as I take you along the ride for my first colonoscopy - and ask your doctor about getting a screening, it just might save your life." See the YouTube on Kaele's colonoscopy at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLsNvM0wjAM.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.

See the Merrie Christmas message from  Congressman Kai Kahele  in his Hilo office at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgKgbm-8TQ.

PRESIDING OVER THE FLOOR OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  for a final time this week before leaving office at the beginning of January, Rep. Kai Kahele released a message: "It was an honor to preside over the floor of the House for my final time in the 117th Congress. Since statehood in 1959, only 18 individuals have ever represented Hawai’i in Congress. From Miloli’i to Hilo to Washington D.C. it has truly been an experience of a lifetime."

He also pointed to a success for Hawaiian language. "As a parent to two daughters who have been raised in the ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi immersion education program since they were 15 months old, I was proud to cast my yes vote for S.989, a bill authored by my colleague Sen. Brian Schatz - The Native American Language Resource Center Act. As the act was headed to Pres. Joe Biden's desk, Kahele called it a "Big deal for for the indigenous language revitalization movement nationally and Senator Schatz made sure - Native Hawaiians were included in the bill."

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.

Santa Cy Lopez with grandchild Kala'i Sakuma

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 Day with a drawing for bikes to be given on Christmas Day. See story at www.kaucalendar.com.

Holiday Lighting and Decor are dressing up the cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp for the public to see. See story at www.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.

Keiki met Christmas characters at the Lopez event.

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.

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 Hawai'i Island Food Basket.

'O Ka'ū Kākou Pantry Food Distribution, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 10 a.m. until pau at Ka'ū District Gym in Pāhala. Sponsored by Hawai'i Island Food Basket.

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 Hawai'i Island Food Basket.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu 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.

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 Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

'O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, 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 Kauaha'ao Congregational Church grounds at 95-1642 Pinao St. in Wai'ōhinu.

See daily, weekly, and monthly events, and more, on page 8 and page 9 of the monthly print edition.