Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, August 25, 2023

Corals and reef building in this island's nearshore waters along the west coast from South Point north is the topic of a youtube live event led by Nathan Hayes, of the state Division of Aquatic resources on Thursday Aug. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
See more below. Photo from Malama Kai Foundation

FORMER HAWAI'I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE AND FIRE CHIEF DARRYL OLIVEIRA has been named interim Director of the Maui Emergency Management Agency and will take the post on Aug. 28. With his experience with volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, fires and other disasters, said Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, "Chief Oliveira's history of emergency management and community leadership will be an asset for us as we deal with a wildfire disaster and its aftermath." The Maui Mayor said, "As Maui deals with this unprecedented disaster, our response and recovery efforts will need strong leadership."

Oliveira, 62, worked for Hawai'i County Fire Department for 31 years, including nine as Fire Chief,

Former Hawai'i County Fire Chief and Civil Defense Director Darryl
Oliveira is new Director of Maui Emergency Management Agency.

followed by three years as head of Civil Defense on this island. He is a lecturer at Hawai'i Community College and operates his consulting firm, Community Safety Innovations, LLC.

During a press conference on Maui on Friday, Oliveira praised the Maui communities that have pulled together to support one another. "I think that's the strength we have in the islands with people coming together."

Oliveira replaces Herman Andaya, who resigned after the firestorm destroyed Lahaina, taking hundreds of lives. He resigned after defending the decision to withhold using sirens to warn people, saying they might have thought it was a tsunami and could have run the wrong way.

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MORE DETAILS ON THIS SUNDAY'S DISCOVERY HARBOUR FUNDRAISER FOR LĀHAINĀ AND OTHER MAUI FIRE VICTIMS have been released. Community members are invited to bring lawn chairs to The Club at Discovery Harbour for outdoor seating to listen to music, and to donate to Kako'o Maui by buying at the silent auction. Attendees can also buy snacks and drinks ($1 for each alcoholic drink goes to Maui).

Silent auction items include many original local works of art and prints, gift baskets from such places as Paradise Meadows and Volcano Winery, handmade large bags sewn by local quilters, prints on antique slate roofing shingles, vacation rental nights locally and in Washington state, a koa wood clock, koa jewelry boxes, and one Japanese cedar jewelry box. A sculpture made from black coral and another made of soap stone will also be auctioned. There are hundreds of items and organizer Jeff Jones says he is very grateful for the many donations to the silent auction, saying it is a great way to buy presents for the upcoming holidays.

Money raised through the event will go to the Council of Native Hawaiian Advancement's Kako‘o Maui Fund and will be matched by donors for up to $1.5 million. Jones said he is also grateful that the DaBOMB BBQ prime rib dinner for the event sold out in three days.

Doors open with silent auction viewing and music beginning at 3 p.m. The event is expected to wrap up around 7 p.m. or til pau.

Call The Club for more at 808-731-5122.

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THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND PARTNERS HAVE CHOSEN HAWAI'I COUNTY FOR THE CITIES FORWARD PROGRAM. Hawai'i County is one of 12 U.S. municipalities chosen to foster urban sustainability on a global scale. The program is a collaborative endeavor involving U.S. Department of State, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and Institute of the Americas.

Hawai'i County has been paired with Fortaleza, Brasil.
The Cities Forward program is designed to empower communities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean in their journey toward crafting resilient, inclusive, and sustainable futures. Participating municipalities are assisted in tackling pressing challenges head-on through project consultation, co-design, and the exchange of knowledge.
Mayor Mitch Roth said, "Our administration continues to build partnerships to help ensure the sustainability of our island home, which, to us, means forging an island that allows our keiki every

opportunity to live and thrive here for generations. That's why we're thrilled to have received the honor of this partnership and look forward to collaborating with states and nations across the globe who share similar goals. A thriving community cannot be achieved alone, as a rising tide lifts all ships. We look forward to embarking on this journey with Fortaleza and collectively shaping a brighter, more resilient future for our communities together."

The statement from Hawai'i County says the partnership promises to enrich local insight and leverage the wealth of global resources available through ICLEI's international network of agencies.

"This collaboration ensures the creation of innovative, comprehensive sustainability solutions tailored to the unique needs of both regions."
Hawai'i County secured this opportunity as one of a dozen chosen from a competitive pool of 129 applications from municipalities across the Americas.
"Through Hawaiʻi County's participation, we aim not only to celebrate the wisdom of our indigenous practices but also to bring back the most cutting-edge solutions the global community has to offer regarding social, economic, and environmental resiliency," says the County's statement.
For more info on Cities Forward program, visit https://icleiusa.org/cities-forward/.

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DURING A RECENT WARRANT SWEEP, Hawai'i Island Police arrested 42-year old Marlene Hamilton, of Pāhala, who is charged with: Violations of Conditions of

Release on Bail, Recognizance, or Supervised Release. The sweep resulted in numerous arrests in East Hawai'i.

The statement from Hawai'i Police Department says, "During the past week, the Hawai’i Police Department, in conjunction with the United States Marshals Service Hawai’i Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division, the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE), and investigators from the Hawai’i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, held a joint operation primarily in East Hawai’i that led to the arrest of numerous wanted individuals."

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SETTLEMENT DYNAMICS OF REEF BUILDING CORALS ON HAWAI'I ISLAND'S WEST COAST is the topic of a youtube live event led by Nathan Hayes, of the state Division of Aquatic resources on Thursday Aug. 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.