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| Many lei and many fans praised the 76 who graduated from the Class of 2023 at Kaʻū High on Friday. Photo by Julia Neal |
KAʻŪ HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIAN TAYLER RASMUSSEN plans to go to University of Hawai'i Hilo and its pharmacy school. In her speech to the 73 graduating seniors on Friday night, she encouraged her classmates to keep meeting challenges and accomplishing their dreams. "Over these past four and more years, we've dealt with a plethora of obstacles and mishaps. Whether it was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake, or making it to our advisory classes, we have stood by each other, similar to how we stand here at this moment."
To the class that chose its motto to be "Small Town, Big Dreams," and its song Legacy by High Watah, Rasmussen said, "There's no uncertainty that coming from Kaʻū presents unique challenges. As a rural
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| Kaʻū High valedictorian Tayler Rasmussen plans to go to U.H. pharmacy school in Hilo. Photo by Julia Neal |
Rasmussen advised her classmates, "I implore you to take that spirit, that compassion, and vitality, and use it to our advantage. Nothing comes easy, and that is especially true here. However, do not view it as a restriction. View it as a challenge. There is no definite or omnipotent passage somewhere hidden in the rocks that reads, 'You can not because you are from Kaʻū.'
"There is only me telling you right now that I know that all of you are entirely capable of anything you desire to do, but only if you contribute continuous time, perseverance, and raw devotion to your goal. What I said is much easier said than done, but it is necessary to your success, and the future success of our community.
"My dad whom some of you might know as your math teacher, once told me, 'You can't assume anything.' And while he was referring to my expectation that my physics teacher would grade my assignments before mid quarters, that phrase is applicable to any and all of you aspirations. Nothing is ever gained through passiveness, through waiting for that change that should have already been granted. It might be unfair, but your only choice of action that induces progress is to fight for what you want and more importantly what you deserve. Advocating for intentions is not only entirely possible but your responsibility."
In the opening and closing of her speech Rasmussen quoted from the poem by Dylan Thomas:
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| A Marshallese family with their graduate from Kaʻū High School on Friday. Photo by Julia Neal |
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
See more on the Kaʻū High School graduation in Saturday's Kaʻū News Briefs.
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.
FUNDING TO HELP FARMERS AND RANCHERS SHIP IN SUPPLIES was introduced to Congress on Friday by Hawai'i Democrats Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan. Hawaiian and Alaskan Senators often collaborate as their citizenry faces unique challenges, including transportation to and from the other 48 states. U.S. Pacific and Atlantic islands are also included in the funding.
The RTCP Revitalization Act is legislation to secure additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program. The program enables geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Hawai'i, Alaska, and other insular areas to receive reimbursements for costs incurred when transporting supplies such as feed, fertilizer, and equipment parts.
The RTCP Revitalization Act is legislation to secure additional funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program. The program enables geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Hawai'i, Alaska, and other insular areas to receive reimbursements for costs incurred when transporting supplies such as feed, fertilizer, and equipment parts.
Murray Clay, President of Ulupono Initiative, said, “We deeply appreciate the hard work put forth in this legislation to support our local farmers and ranchers. Along with increasing the number of agricultural producers who can participate in the RTCP program, this legislation also increases the amount of funding they can receive. This would help hundreds of Hawai'i food producers with cost savings on eligible transportation costs and, as a result, support their efforts to become more profitable and remain a valuable food source as our state continues to work towards our agricultural sustainability goals.”
Due to the increase in demand for the program and costs for producers, the RTCP Revitalization Act aims to secure additional funding for the program. The bill would:
Provide mandatory funding for RTCP, starting with $10 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024, increasing by $1 million each year to $15 million in FY 2029, and then provides $15 million each fiscal year thereafter;
Remove statutory language setting a $15 million payment cap for any given fiscal year; and
Provide language saying that the USDA Secretary may not impose a cap to individual producer payments for any fiscal year that program funds exceed demand.
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.
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| Of the 700 anchialine pools in Hawai'i, 650 are on this island. Photo from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park |
KAHUKU COFFEE TALK on Saturday features experts in anchialine pools. Venue for the talk is Kahuku Visitor Station in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Anchialine pondss are among the rarest ecosystems on Earth. Few people know they exist. Anchialine coastal pools in Kaʻū and beyond, provide critical habitat for ʻōpae ʻula (endemic shrimp) and other native species. Hawaiʻi Island is home to 650 of the 700 anchialine pools in the state.
This Saturday, Anne Farahi, lead aquatic biologist for the NPS Pacific Island Network Inventory & Monitoring division, joins anchialine enthusiast and park ranger Dean Gallagher on a virtual plunge into hidden Hawaiʻi.
The free presentation is part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes’ ongoing Kahuku Coffee Talk program, and is sponsored by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Free admission. Kaʻū Coffee will be available for sale.
Anchialine pondss are among the rarest ecosystems on Earth. Few people know they exist. Anchialine coastal pools in Kaʻū and beyond, provide critical habitat for ʻōpae ʻula (endemic shrimp) and other native species. Hawaiʻi Island is home to 650 of the 700 anchialine pools in the state.
This Saturday, Anne Farahi, lead aquatic biologist for the NPS Pacific Island Network Inventory & Monitoring division, joins anchialine enthusiast and park ranger Dean Gallagher on a virtual plunge into hidden Hawaiʻi.
The free presentation is part of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes’ ongoing Kahuku Coffee Talk program, and is sponsored by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. Free admission. Kaʻū Coffee will be available for sale.
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.
OCEAN VIEW WELL IS REPAIRED. "Normal water usage from the water spigots may resume. The HOVE standpipe facility for commercial water haulers will reopen Monday, May 22, 2023," reports the County of Hawai'i's Department of Water Supply.
The well shut down for repairs on Feb. 13 to fix a broken pump. The County hauled water to the water tank at the facility to keep the spigots available so that people could fill up their water containers for home use at no cost. The Cuonty asked the community to limit consumption. The commercial standpipes where customers pay for water have been unavailable since the breakdown and will reopen on Monday.
Call (808) 961-8790 for additional information or email dws@hawaiidws.org.
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.
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