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| Hibiscus, the State Flower, is under threat from new disease. See more below. Photo from University of Hawai'i |
GOV. JOSH GREEN AND FIRST LADY JAIME GREEN LEFT FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. on Monday evening. The governor's trip includes attending Pres. Joseph Biden's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, which will be livestreamed and broadcast at 4 p.m. Hawai'i time.
The governor, a physician who first worked in Hawai'i in Kaʻū, is set to meet with members of Hawai'i's Congressional
Delegation and to participate in the National Governors Association Winter Meeting. He is set to return Sunday, Feb. 12.
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PUBLIC COMMENTING ON REVISING THE ZONING AND BUILDING CODES for Hawai'i County closes on Sunday, Feb. 12. The county Department of Planning sent out an invitation on Monday for the
public to weigh in through its Online Open house, noting that it "provides an opportunity to learn, fill our surveys, and add comments directly to the open house boards. Please know the open house will accept comments through Sunday, February 12. Use the link below to visit the Code Update project website and mahalo for your participation!" Visit the Open House at https://cohzoningupdate.konveio.com/![]()
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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.
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Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday 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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| First Lady Jaime Green heads out to her first official trip to Washington, D.C. Photo from Washington Place |
The governor's office sent out a statement saying he is scheduled for meetings with cabinet secretaries for the U.S. Departments of Housing & Urban Development, Transportation & Health and Human Services, as well as Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. A highlight of the trip will be a state dinner with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Ph.D.
The governor and First Lady are traveling with Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson and her Special Assistant, Cameron Deptula.
Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke will serve as acting governor while Green is out-of-state.
The journey out of state is the Hawai'i First Lady's first official trip to Washington, D.C. in her new position. Jaime Green recently posted on the governor's facebook that she will be very involved as First Lady:
The governor and First Lady are traveling with Chief of Staff Brooke Wilson and her Special Assistant, Cameron Deptula.
Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke will serve as acting governor while Green is out-of-state.
The journey out of state is the Hawai'i First Lady's first official trip to Washington, D.C. in her new position. Jaime Green recently posted on the governor's facebook that she will be very involved as First Lady:
"Aloha kākou! It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as First Lady of Hawai‘i. As First Lady, I’m excited to continue my advocacy work for Hawai‘i’s children and families. Whether it is spreading awareness, supporting food banks, or advancing childhood literacy, I am ready to serve. I am also looking forward to assisting in the development of a Native Hawaiian Cultural Center to provide a gathering space for educational opportunities and support traditional Hawaiian culture and arts. I look forward to connecting with the community of Hawai‘i both in person and through my social media accounts. Mahalo nui loa!"
public to weigh in through its Online Open house, noting that it "provides an opportunity to learn, fill our surveys, and add comments directly to the open house boards. Please know the open house will accept comments through Sunday, February 12. Use the link below to visit the Code Update project website and mahalo for your participation!" Visit the Open House at https://cohzoningupdate.konveio.com/
The County of Hawai'i has undertaken the review to update its zoning and subdivision codes (Chapters 25 and 23 of the 1983 Hawai'i County Code). "The intent of the code updates are to increase consistency and predictability, incorporate best practices in land use and zoning, promote desirable and equitable development, and meet the needs of the Hawai'i Island community," says the statement from the Planning Department.
HIBISCUS, THE STATE FLOWER, is threatened by disease, according to University of Hawai'i, which reports:
Some of the suggestions and notes listed in the What We Heard presentation in the Virtual Open House include:
Non-agriculture activities consistently encroach on agricultural activities; create a new rural residential zoning code; rezone land to residential from agriculture when there is residential use; allow 'ohana dwellings; and find a way to align Community Development Plans with the zoning and subdivision code.
Incorporate ahupua'a concepts into zoning and subdivision code. Private subdivisions conflict with the idea of incorporating public trails. Need to address how guest homes are defined and implemented. Need more roadway creativity and less major roads for rural subdivisions. These are some of the many other ideas and comments presented.
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| Ka'u Coffee has drawn much international acclaim for its quality, including this photo shoot and interview by Japan Airlines magazine at Delvin Navarro's farm. Photo by Julia Neal |
PROTECTING KAʻŪ COFFEE AND OTHER HAWAI'I COFFEE from sellers labeling with Hawaiian names but mixing in a majority of foreign coffee is the aim of state Senate Bill 746. The measure goes to public hearing on Wednesday. Hawai'i Farmers Union United is asking for supporters of the bill to send in testimony by 1 p.m. on Tuesday. All testimony must be submitted 24 hours before the hearing.
SB746 would require label disclosure of the percentage of foreign grown coffee in Hawai'i coffee blends. It would expand the coffee labeling and advertising requirements to include ready-to-drink coffee beverages and inner packages and inner wrapping labels. It would require disclosure on the label of coffee blends of the respective geographic and regional origins and per cent by weight of the blended coffees. The bill would prohibit use of the term "All Hawaiian" in labeling or advertising for roasted coffee or instant coffee not produced entirely from green coffee beans grown and processed in Hawaiʻi.
Submit testimony at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billnumber=746&billtype=SB&year=2023&mc_cid=68f2062d39&mc_eid=23faaa7019.
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Two new viruses are infecting hibiscus plants in Hawaiʻi and could pose a threat to the state flower, according to researchers in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Their findings were published in Viruses.
"Do these viruses pose a threat to the survival of hibiscus?" asked John Hu, a plant pathologist with the UH Mānoa Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. "That's exactly the question we want to answer. Our early findings indicate it could, however we don't know the final answer yet. We plan to do more virus surveys including testing the mother plants at the propagation (the breeding of specimens) site."
"Do these viruses pose a threat to the survival of hibiscus?" asked John Hu, a plant pathologist with the UH Mānoa Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. "That's exactly the question we want to answer. Our early findings indicate it could, however we don't know the final answer yet. We plan to do more virus surveys including testing the mother plants at the propagation (the breeding of specimens) site."
The pair of viruses are called hibiscus betacarmovirus and hibiscus soymovirus. Infected hibiscus plants show mosaic, ringspot and chlorotic (yellowing of healthy green leaves due to lack of chlorophyll) spots on their leaves. They were discovered through analyzing 54 hibiscus samples collected in Honolulu—34 from 18 locations on the UH Mānoa campus, and the remaining 20 were collected from a variety of sites from Diamond Head to downtown.
Twelve of the 54 samples (22%) were positive for at least one of the viruses. One sample tested positive for hibiscus betacarmovirus, nine samples tested positive for hibiscus soymovirus and two samples tested positive for both viruses.
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| Symptomatic hibiscus leaves (left and middle) and a healthy leaf (right) were collected by University of Hawai'i. Photo from the Journal Viruses |
Similar viruses called hibiscus latent Fort Pierce virus and hibiscus latent Hawaiʻi virus have previously been discovered infecting hibiscus plants in Hawaiʻi by the same group of CTAHR researchers. The team is led by Hu and Michael Melzer, associate researcher with the UH Mānoa Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences. Hu and Melzer have been conducting research on hibiscus viruses for more than ten years.
"The main concern is whether these viruses infect and impact our native hibiscus, some of which are threatened and endangered," Melzer said. "Cleaning tools when pruning hedges will help to prevent the spread of the mechanically-spread viruses."
"The main concern is whether these viruses infect and impact our native hibiscus, some of which are threatened and endangered," Melzer said. "Cleaning tools when pruning hedges will help to prevent the spread of the mechanically-spread viruses."
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THE POLYNESIAN VOYAGING DISPLAY at Mokupapapa Discovery Center in Hilo was a favorite stop recently for Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences Pre-k class and families. Teacher Michelle Buck said they celebrated a Pilina Day with students having "a wonderful time exploring the center, playing with the robots, and spending time together. Many thanks to all the families who joined us and to Mokupapapa Center for a wonderful day of learning and exploring together."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.
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.
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 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.
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.![]()
