Kaʻū News Briefs Friday, Oct.20 , 2023

ON THE EVE OF THE COFFEE TEA & WATER ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS EXPO Saturday, its founder Christine Kaehuaea, of Stargazer Industries, said that she is focusing on donations from the community toward the causes connected with the event. She said during the event at Nāʻālehu Park, there will be bins

Stargazer Industries and Christine Kaehuaea offer this QR code to donate to the causes promoted through her Coffee, Tea & Water Essential Elements Expo with entertainment in Na'alehu on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

and QR codes at each of the two Stargazer Industries tents at the entries of the event.

    The parking is on site at the back of Nāʻālehu Park, across the street at OKK Nāʻālehu Market, and at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church. "Come enjoy and have fun!" said Kaehuaea.
    She said the donations will support a "Kaʻū Wish List Fund to help kids in Kaʻū and Lāhainā, Maui continue to soar."                  Kaehuaea said, “Not only is this event designed to 'Give Back' to the local community on a variety of levels, but with sponsors like KTA Superstores, Paradise Helicopters, Hawai‘i Med-Spa, the WS Restaurant at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and HPM Building supply, it has helped to pay for the some of the expenses for the event and fuel the media plan, however at this 11th hour, we are still reaching out to businesses hoping to find sponsors to help us cross the finish line.
        "The Kaʻū Wish List Fund will give 75% of donations to Kaʻū schools and educators via Stacey Bello, Superintendent East Hawai‘i DOE and 25% of donations go to the Hawai‘i Teacher’s Association of Lahaina, via Christopher Chang, UniServe Director," wrote Kaehuaea.

DANCERS FROM AULANI'S HULA HALAU, now based in Ocean View, will be guest artists at the Pu'u Honua in Nāʻālehu on Saturday, behind Punalu'u Bakeshop. The Kumu are Aulani Young and Kahi Young. The grounds open at 11 a.m. and Aulani's Hula Halau performs at 11:30 a.m. followed by Halau

Halau Hula O Leionalani will perform Saturday following Ocean View's Aulani Hula Halau. Photo by Julia Neal

Hula O Leionalani, with Kumu Debbie Ryder. The program is free and wraps up at 1 p.m.
    Ryder shared that the two Kumu who lead the Ocean View halau are family to her husband Kawehi Ryder and recently moved to Ocean View from Waikoloa where the halau was stationed for 30 years.
    Debbie Ryder said that she will be inviting other halau from around the island and beyond to share the stage with her Halau Hula O Leonalani at the regular presentations at the Pu'u Honua in the near future. 

    In addition, Halau Hula O Leionalani is sponsoring an international event at the same venue in Na'alehu on Saturday, Nov. 4. It features hula and other traditional dance from Japan, Mexico, Hawai'i and the mainland. It's called Hula No Kaʻū Ho'okupu Cultural Festival. 

HAWAI'I STATE FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN HALF-STAFF UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, as ordered by Gov. Josh Green. "Hawai'i state flag be flown at half-staff at the Hawai'i State Capitol and at all state offices and agencies, as well as at Hawai'i National Guard facilities in the State of Hawai'i, effective immediately, says the message from his office. "This observance is to honor the lives being lost in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East — and with the hope that peace can be achieved."  The Governor said, "We are praying that the conflict in Gaza ends quickly, that all of the hostages are returned safely to their families, and that no more civilians are hurt or killed." Other states have done the same, including New York, from Oct. 11 until determined, Vermont beginning Ot. 10 for four days and Minnesota, beginning Oct. 11 for four days.

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Holes in a palm tree bored by coconut rhinoceros beetles, which are particularly deadly to coconut trees. The beetles' grubs have been found on Hawai'i Island. Photo from state Department of Agriculture

COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE GRUBS, the larva of a dangerous pest for palm trees, have been found in Waikoloa. The state Department of Agriculture is asking the public to be on the lookout for the beetle and the grubs around this island.

Coconut rhinoceros beetle. Photo from state Dept. of Ag

     Coconut rhinoceros beetle is a large scarab beetle that was first detected on O‘ahu in 2013. The beetle has since been detected in many neighborhoods on O‘ahu, and was detected on Kaua‘i in May 2023 where collaborative eradication efforts continue. Last week, several agencies were involved in the pesticide treatment of palm trees via drones at a Kaua‘i golf course. More than 90 palm trees were treated and 40 adult CRBs were killed. Additional treatment efforts will continue on Kaua‘i. Last month, a dead adult CRB was found in a compost bag at a Maui big-box store. No other CRB have been detected on Maui.

Larva of coconut rhinoceros beetles. Photo from state Department of Agriculture

    CRB is a serious pest, primarily for coconut palms, as the adult beetles bore into the crowns of the palms to feed on the tree’s sap. New unopened fronds are damaged in this way and when fully opened, may break and fall unexpectedly. If CRB kill or damage the growing point of the palm, the tree may die.         Secondary fungal or bacterial pathogens may also attack the wounds caused by CRB, thereby killing the tree as well. Tree mortality after CRB attack has been reported to be anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent. Dead trees then become a safety hazard as they may fall unexpectedly after the trunk rots, potentially resulting in bodily injury or property damage.
    CRB is a major pest of palms in India, the Philippines, Palau, Fiji, Wallis, Nukunono, American and Western Samoa and Guam. It is still not known exactly how the beetles arrived in Hawai‘i.NATIONAL MOVE OVER DAY is this Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, and the Hawai‘i Police Department is reminding Hawai‘i Island drivers of their duty to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles on the side of the road. 'It’s not just public courtesy, it’s also the law," says the HPD statement. The Move
Over Law 291C-27 was put in effect to help protect first responders when they are performing their duties near or on a roadway."    

    HRS 291C-27 states in basic terms that when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights flashing, slow down to a safe and prudent speed. Motorists may even have to stop based on the circumstances of the situation. Move over to an adjacent lane or even further if safe and necessary to do so.
    Emergency vehicle means Police, Fire, EMS, Ocean Safety, Freeway Service Patrol, tow trucks and even some state and county vehicles while personnel are working.
    "Drivers who move over allow the dedicated workers performing these dangerous and very important emergency services more space to complete their duties. The simple actions of slowing down and moving over reduces the possibility of members of the community in Hawai’i County from being injured or killed," says the HPD message. "If officers from the Hawaii Police Department observe drivers failing to “move over” they will stop them and enforce the traffic laws appropriately. Please be mindful when you are driving and see emergency vehicles working in our community, we want everyone to get home safe."

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