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| Kahea Mai Ka ʻĀina keiki are all smiles after receiving certificates upon completing the Kaʻū Hawaiian cultural sustainability program sponsored and taught by Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū last November. The organization is putting on the Prince Kūhiō Ho'olaulea on Saturday, March 25. Photo by Kassie Ross |
The festival will feature music, hula, food, arts and crafts, Hawaiian cultural demos and activities, as well as informational booths and lucky number prizes. "Please come & experience a mini model of the Kaʻū Hawaiian Cultural Center right in the heart of Kaʻū as we continue to perpetuate the Hawaiian Culture and mālama our future keiki's generations to come," said Hana Laulima President Terry-Lee Shibuya.
Kaʻū Hawaiian Civic Club will share a look into Prince Kūhiō's life, the hoʻolaule'a's namesake. Gene Akamu & Friends kick off the entertainment lineup filled with Hawaiian music, hula and local favorites. Musicians also delighting the crowd will be Braddah Ben Mejia; the Green Sands Trio, comprised of Tui Masaniai, Sonny Ramos and Denny Barnes; and the Backyahd Braddahs, made up of Ti Chun, Sheldon Salmo and Cheydon Salmo. Visitors will enjoy hula performances by Lori Lei's Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu Hula Lori Lei Shirakawa, as well as by Hālau Hula O Leonalani, under the direction of Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder.
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Intended to promote economic growth and activity, the hoʻolauleʻa will feature local artisans, cooks and fundraising for sports teams and clubs. There will be an international spread of food booths including everything from Hawaiian plates of kalua pig and laulau, Filipino plate lunch favorites, Thai food, shoyu chicken, Korean chicken, char siu plates, shave ice, halo halo, boba drinks, taco salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, tons of baked goods and more. Vendors will sell jewelry, wood carvings, Kaʻū Coffee, T-shirts and more.
Event-goers can interact with Hawaiian cultural activities and demos and receive information about local programs and services from area nonprofits. Play Hawaiian games, watch a master weave with coconut fronds, learn to play ʻukulele and visit a waʻa (canoe) on site to learn about canoe-building and voyaging. There will also be opportunities to pick up a Native Hawaiian plants while supplies last,register for one of 100 free refrigerators with the Hawaiian Economic Opportunity Council, receive Native Hawaiian health information and restoration and conservation efforts in Hawaiʻi.
Major event sponsors include Nāʻālehu Shopping Center, Black Sand Beach LLC, County of Hawaiʻi P&R, Edmund C. Olson Trust, ʻO Kaʻū Kākou and Masazo's Pig Farm.
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Sponsors include USGS, The Nature Conservancy, National Parks Service, University of Hawai'i - Hilo, NOAA, Hawai'i Dept of Forestry & Wildlife and many more.
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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.
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, 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. 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 Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
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Kaʻū Hawaiian Civic Club will share a look into Prince Kūhiō's life, the hoʻolaule'a's namesake. Gene Akamu & Friends kick off the entertainment lineup filled with Hawaiian music, hula and local favorites. Musicians also delighting the crowd will be Braddah Ben Mejia; the Green Sands Trio, comprised of Tui Masaniai, Sonny Ramos and Denny Barnes; and the Backyahd Braddahs, made up of Ti Chun, Sheldon Salmo and Cheydon Salmo. Visitors will enjoy hula performances by Lori Lei's Hula Studio, under the direction of Kumu Hula Lori Lei Shirakawa, as well as by Hālau Hula O Leonalani, under the direction of Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder.
Event-goers can interact with Hawaiian cultural activities and demos and receive information about local programs and services from area nonprofits. Play Hawaiian games, watch a master weave with coconut fronds, learn to play ʻukulele and visit a waʻa (canoe) on site to learn about canoe-building and voyaging. There will also be opportunities to pick up a Native Hawaiian plants while supplies last,register for one of 100 free refrigerators with the Hawaiian Economic Opportunity Council, receive Native Hawaiian health information and restoration and conservation efforts in Hawaiʻi.
Major event sponsors include Nāʻālehu Shopping Center, Black Sand Beach LLC, County of Hawaiʻi P&R, Edmund C. Olson Trust, ʻO Kaʻū Kākou and Masazo's Pig Farm.
Anyone interested in having a hoʻolauleʻa booth, volunteering or becoming an event sponsor, call or text Terry-Lee Shibuya at (808) 928-863, or email hanalaulimalahuiokau@gmail.com as soon as possible. Vendor forms are due March 8.
Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū's mission is to support the development of a new economic base for the district of Kaʻū that will enhance economic growth, and advance a secure economic future for the community and the children of Kaʻū, while preserving the people of Kaʻū's cultural heritage and respect for the ʻāina (land). The non-profit has been hosting Kahea Mai Ka ʻĀina, a Hawaiian cultural and sustainability programs for keiki of all ages for decades. Its most recent program concluded last November with Kaʻū students learning how to make an imu and cook kalua pig for their 'ohana, coconut-weaving, lei-making, as well as oli, mele and Hawaiian language. Students went home with huli, or kalo to plant at home, fertilizer they bagged and mixed themselves, as well as T-shirts, booklets and a strengthened connection to their Kaʻū Hawaiian cultural roots.
Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū's mission is to support the development of a new economic base for the district of Kaʻū that will enhance economic growth, and advance a secure economic future for the community and the children of Kaʻū, while preserving the people of Kaʻū's cultural heritage and respect for the ʻāina (land). The non-profit has been hosting Kahea Mai Ka ʻĀina, a Hawaiian cultural and sustainability programs for keiki of all ages for decades. Its most recent program concluded last November with Kaʻū students learning how to make an imu and cook kalua pig for their 'ohana, coconut-weaving, lei-making, as well as oli, mele and Hawaiian language. Students went home with huli, or kalo to plant at home, fertilizer they bagged and mixed themselves, as well as T-shirts, booklets and a strengthened connection to their Kaʻū Hawaiian cultural roots.
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.
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PĀHALA PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY celebration will be held Thursday, March 2.
On the agenda is entertainment, a Tiny Art Contest and snacks.
Performing will be Halau Hula Leonalani at 3 p.m.
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.
ANNUAL FRIENDS OF KA'U LIBRARIES BUSINESS MEETING will be held on Tuesday, March 14 at 4 p.m. at Pāhala Public & School Library, 96-3150 Pikake St. Election of officers is on the agenda.
A statement from the non-profit says, "Everyone is encouraged to attend and support our Kaʻū libraries. The whole community benefits from having great libraries, so we welcome everyone who wants to support our local libraries and help promote our motto: Want to Succeed? Read!"
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.
THE HAWAI'I CONSERVATION ALLIANCE has extended the deadline for its 2023 Conference submission of abstracts to present papers on conservation studies and issues to Monday, Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Hawai'i Conservation Conference is held in Honolulu at Hawai'i Convention Center June 27 - 29 and sees many organizations and academics involved with Kaʻū attending and sharing their research and stories.
The theme for this year's conference is Aia i hiʻikua, i hiʻialo – Reflecting on our Past; Dreaming on our Future. A statement from the organizers says, "As we return to an in-person Conference, our community will share cutting-edge science research from the field as well as innovative tools and approaches for addressing critical island conservation issues with a special focus on research and management presentations that affect the natural resources upon which Hawaiʻi depends. We ask all abstract authors to have their abstracts relate back to the Conference theme or at least one Conference Track. The Conference Tracks are: Managing Conservation Reliant Species and Habitats into the Future; Understanding and Addressing Longstanding Problems and Needs; Opportunities for Conservation Collaboration Across Sectors; Advancement in Conservation Research and Management; Growing the Workforce of the Future through Education and Capacity Building; and Collaborative Community-Based and Culturally Grounded Management.
Register to give a paper and to attend at https://www.hawaiiconservation.org/conference/2023-conservation-conference/
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.
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.
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
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| https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships -for-local-students |
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. 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 Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.
