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| Youth Ranger trainees for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park graduated yesterday in a ceremony held at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus. The spring program prepares high school students for summer and future employment. Photo by Jesse Tunison |
FORTY-THREE GRADUATED FROM the Youth Ranger Internship training at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park yesterday. The ceremony took place at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus.
The program began five years ago with Ka`u High School students and expanded to Kea`au, Pahoa, and Hawai`i Academy of Arts & Sciences high schools, as well as home-schoolers.
Twenty-two students this year came from Ka`u, all juniors and seniors. Fourteen from Ka`u will work at the park this summer in jobs ranging from administration, interpretation and assets management to law enforcement. Kupono McDaniel, Youth and Programs Volunteer Coordinator for the park, said, “It is so wonderful to see our local kids learning that they can do anything. They are not limited by their minds or their geography.” Almost all of the interns go on to college or trade schools, and a number of them have said they would like to seek careers in conservation, possibly lending their skills to communities in Ka`u.
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Twenty-two Ka`u High students passed the rangers training program this spring. Photo by Elizabeth Fien |
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando encouraged the youth to seek their dreams. The program is co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i Pacific Park Association, the Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, KTA, Nui Pohaku Adventure Tours, Edmund C. Olson Trust, Safeway, Target and Volcano Art Center.
Creating the program began six years ago when Joan Rubin, Julia Neal and Ka`u High School Principal Sharon Beck joined together to write the first grant. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u Coffee farmers Kili Matsui, Trini Marques, Merle Becker and Berta Miranda receive a commendation and declaration of Ka`u Coffee Week from Gov. Neil Abercrombie through Ka`u Coffee Festival Chair Chris Manfredi and Abercrombie's East Hawai`i liaison Wendy Cortez-Botelho, on stage. Photo by Julia Neal |
During the Ho`olaule`a on May 10, a proclamation declaring Ka`u Coffee Week, May 5 – 10, was read on behalf of Gov. Neil Abercrombie by his East Hawai`i liaison Wendy Cortez-Botelho. It says: “The Ka`u Coffee Festival acknowledges the beginning strifes that occurred to succeed in the coffee industries but became renowned with the introduction of Ka`u Farm and Ranch Co. manager Chris Manfredi, who presented Ka`u coffee for the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Annual competition.”
It states, “The Ka`u Coffee Festival showcases internationally recognized Thomas ‘Bull’ Kailiawa and Jamie Kailiawa’s coffee, which has been judged Number One in the United States and Top Ten in the World at the 2011 International Coffees of the Year Competition at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Competition.”
It states, “The Ka`u Coffee Festival showcases internationally recognized Thomas ‘Bull’ Kailiawa and Jamie Kailiawa’s coffee, which has been judged Number One in the United States and Top Ten in the World at the 2011 International Coffees of the Year Competition at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Competition.”
It notes many of the events leading up to the Ho`olaule`a: the Pa`ina kick-off sponsored by The Ka`u Calendar newspaper, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and Pahala Plantation House; the Kalaekilohana Ka`u Farmers’ Table Event; Triple C recipe contest at Ka`u Coffee Mill; the Ka`u Mountain Water Systems Hike, sponsored by Olson Trst; and Coffee & Cattle Day at Aikane Plantation Coffee farm. It also recognizes the Ho`olaule`a and Ka`u Coffee College.
The proclamation recognizes “the introduction of coffee in Hawai`i in 1893 by Spanish physician and royal interpreter, Don Francisco de Paula y Marin and cultivated locally by J.C. Seare in 1894,” who planted the first Ka`u Coffee. Descendants now operate Aikane Plantation.
The proclamation recognizes “the introduction of coffee in Hawai`i in 1893 by Spanish physician and royal interpreter, Don Francisco de Paula y Marin and cultivated locally by J.C. Seare in 1894,” who planted the first Ka`u Coffee. Descendants now operate Aikane Plantation.
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| Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba and farmer Maile Abellera work the Buy Local It Matters tagle at Ka`u Coffee Festival. Photo by Julia Neal |
Gloria Camba, President of Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, also weighed in for mahalos. She said that she wanted to thank all of the Ka`u Coffee farmers who have worked hard for nearly two decades to build their industry and for their work in putting on the festival, including the Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Peaberry pageants, participation in the Merrie Monarch Parade, setting up the Ho`olaule`a and putting their coffee on display for all to see and taste. She thanked pageant directors and many more for scholarships for winners. See those who helped with the Miss Ka`u Coffee pageant at kaucalendar.com/Coffee-Pageant_Program_2014_WEB.pdf.
NA`ALEHU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TIED FOR FIRST PLACE in the elementary division of the seventh annual E Ola Pono Campaign. The campaign promotes youth groups to make a positive difference for people and place. An upper elementary enrichment group at Na`alehu School led a Kindness Campaign featuring Kindness Bug Jars and schoolwide field days. As a result of the program, “our whole school benefits from a kinder and more positive campus,” said teacher Maury Shimizu.
Na`alehu School shares first place with Kahului Elementary on Maui, where first-graders helped create a school garden and learned about science, sustainability and character.
The E Ola Pono Campaign is coordinated by UH Manoa’s Growing Pono Schools Project in partnership with the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission. For more information, see www.growingponoschools.com.
Na`alehu School shares first place with Kahului Elementary on Maui, where first-graders helped create a school garden and learned about science, sustainability and character.
The E Ola Pono Campaign is coordinated by UH Manoa’s Growing Pono Schools Project in partnership with the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission. For more information, see www.growingponoschools.com.
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| Image from NOAA shows Hawai`i in relation to tropical storms tracked from 2005 to 2010. |
2014 HURRICANE SEASON, which begins June 1, will be the last in Ka`u without a certified public shelter. The new gym and shelter adjacent to Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary School is expected to be completed this year. Yesterday, the Pacific Hurricane Center predicted more tropical disturbance possibilities than average for this season and noted that a growing El Nino could pump up hurricane possibilities. El Nino decreases vertical wind shear over the tropical central Pacific, favoring the development of more and stronger cyclones. The agency expects four to seven storms to develop this season, compared to an average of four to five.
“I encourage the public to become weather-ready by signing up for weather alerts, developing a family emergency plan and building an emergency kit before hurricane season begins,” said Tom Evans, acting director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “Now is the time to make sure that you and your family are ready and prepared for the 2014 hurricane season,” which runs through Nov. 30.
“I encourage the public to become weather-ready by signing up for weather alerts, developing a family emergency plan and building an emergency kit before hurricane season begins,” said Tom Evans, acting director of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “Now is the time to make sure that you and your family are ready and prepared for the 2014 hurricane season,” which runs through Nov. 30.
National Hurricane Center is already looking at the first tropical depression of the season that just formed off Mexico and is moving west-northwest in the eastern North Pacific region.
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VILLAGE COMMERCIAL ZONING IN OCEAN VIEW is the request before the Windward Planning Commission. The commission will consider the rezoning from agriculture on 4.142 acres on the mauka side of Hwy 11, west of Lehua Lane, during its meeting on Thursday, June 5 at 9 a.m. at Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Statements from the public will be taken. The applicant is Dr. William Foulk.
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KA`U RUBBISH DISPOSAL is asking for a Special Permit to allow a business office and baseyard for household rubbish pick-up on approximately 460 square feet of agriculturally classified land. The property in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates is 3.5 miles from Hwy 11 and 120 feet south of the intersection of Tradewind and Kailua Blvd. The request will be taken up as first item on the agenda of the Windward Planning Commission at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 5 at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Public testimony will be taken. The applicant is Dominique Maus.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| An exhibit of Joe Laceby's cyantype prints opens Saturday. Photo from VAC |
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION is tomorrow, Friday, May 23. Keynote speaker is Kupono McDaniel, of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Co-valedictorians are Kamrie Koi and Toni Beck. Attendance is by invitation for families and special guests at 4:30 p.m. Forty-seven Trojans will graduate in the Class of 2014, receiving their diplomas from Principal Sharon Beck.
The last day of school is May 29. For returning students, the first day of the 2014-2015 session is Tuesday, Aug. 5.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE meets tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Hawaiian Ranchos office. Usually held on the last Friday of each month, OVCDC changed this month’s date to accommodate schedules of those wanting to attend.
The last day of school is May 29. For returning students, the first day of the 2014-2015 session is Tuesday, Aug. 5.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE meets tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Hawaiian Ranchos office. Usually held on the last Friday of each month, OVCDC changed this month’s date to accommodate schedules of those wanting to attend.
AN EXHIBIT OF CYANOTYPE PRINTS by Joe Laceby opens at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Saturday. The technique is an old form of photography using the sun’s UV rays to create imagery. “The relationship of the sun prints to early western contact is a way to capture certain images from those earlier times with what I do now,” Laceby said. “The sun print itself creates that historical connection.”
Opening reception is on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
VAC Gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.
MEGA SPORTS CAMP IS COMING UP Monday through Wednesday, June 23 – 25 at Na`alehu Assembly of God Church. Children in grades one through six participate in sports, songs, stories and object lessons. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday. Registration fee is $15 before June 6 and $25 after. Lunch is provided each day.
For more information, call 929-7278.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Opening reception is on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
VAC Gallery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.
MEGA SPORTS CAMP IS COMING UP Monday through Wednesday, June 23 – 25 at Na`alehu Assembly of God Church. Children in grades one through six participate in sports, songs, stories and object lessons. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday. Registration fee is $15 before June 6 and $25 after. Lunch is provided each day.
For more information, call 929-7278.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
