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| Award winning Kaʻū Coffee Farms shared their brew and their knowledge at the Coffee Tea & Water Expo and concert at NāʻālehuPark last Saturday. Among them was Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba, (l), joined by Taiko Drumming enthusiasts Kayo Munnerlyn and Lucy Makuakane. Photos by Brenda Iokepa Moses |
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| Navarro Coffee Farm with its Hawaiian Monarch brand of Kaʻū Coffee. |
Kaehuaea, who emceed the show, said she was happy that she was able to host the event free to the public. In the press release, she said, "I feel that we could have had 10,000 more people to really bolster the entire community beyond the event itself. However, the smiles on people's faces; the dancing throughout the event by vendors and attendees; the surprise for many, even driving by seeing the Show System's 32-foot,
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| Will and Grace Tabios with Rising Sun Kaʻū Coffee. |
She also gave a report on the fundraising for charitable causes carried in the event promotions and through her Kaʻū Wish List Fund, with its QR Code. She said, “We wanted this event overall to benefit people on multiple levels. We felt that we pretty much accomplished that goal, however, in the end, it was the fundraising side that didn’t have as much momentum as we had planned. We feel very blessed to have been able to raise $376.52 from two cash boxes at the event
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| Pohaku Kaʻū Estate family members and coffee. |
Kaehuaea said, "The current event funds raised will be provided to Stacy Bello, Superintendent East Hawai'i DOE at 75% and Christopher Chang, UniServ Director for the Lahaina office of the Hawai'i Teacher’s Association at 25%. It has been decided to keep the Kaʻū Wish List Fund operational until the end of 2023 to enable local schools
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| Miles Mayne's Silver Cloud Farm Kaʻū Coffee crew. |
"Currently, post event, Stargazer Industries is seeking sponsors for a, 'Shared Mahalo' radio spots campaign to be airing on KWXX stations and KOA Country stations starting sometime next week. Expansion into additional media avenues to include shared digital and TV to highlight the businesses that choose to take part is under consideration."
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| Ralph Gaston and Lori Obra with Rusty's Hawaiian Kaʻū Coffee. |
She thanked Waiakea Water for two pallets of water it donated; and delivery by James Hirayama, V.P and Lead Electrician of Hirayama Bros. Electric of Hilo. She noted that Event Medics Hawai'i was "on staff, alongside some of the Na’alehu Police Department’s finest special detail officers, Officer Akiu and Officer Takata."
She said mahalo for sponsorships from KTA Superstores, Paradise Helicopters, Hawai'i MedSpa Kailua-Kona, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s WS Restaurant, Lion
Energy, HPM Building Supply, Home Depot of Kona, and Kai Loki’s Restaurant & Bar of Oceanview. She also said mahalo to Brandon Nakano and his team of sound engineers, the group from Show Systems Stages, Sunset Tent Rentals of HPP, Big Island Portables of Honoka’a, SunBelt Kona, "with musical performers providing the icing on the cake: Maka Gallinger, Kala’e & Kalena Parish, Taulia Lave and the local Ka’u groups, Shootz and Keaiwa."
Kaehuaea also said mahalo to "event troops on the ground, O’Ka’u Kakou, a local non-profit that kept the trash bins picked up and then was provided the ten trash cans, bags and some tarps along with a monetary donation. The 'day-of-event team' consisted of TJ James, Matt and Julie Ferguson, Gwen Lowe and Ron Chu working the event from 4:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. braving the eventual drizzle of rain. From Steve Pause, Director of Public Works, Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation, and Michael Une, Supervisor at the State Health Department Food & Sanitation Division, down the chain to County & State staff who were all extremely helpful in making sure this event took place successfully."
She said mahalo for sponsorships from KTA Superstores, Paradise Helicopters, Hawai'i MedSpa Kailua-Kona, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s WS Restaurant, Lion
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Ruanne Manuel, Jan Kaeza Penera and Nick Bottomley with Kaʻū Coffee Mill. |
Energy, HPM Building Supply, Home Depot of Kona, and Kai Loki’s Restaurant & Bar of Oceanview. She also said mahalo to Brandon Nakano and his team of sound engineers, the group from Show Systems Stages, Sunset Tent Rentals of HPP, Big Island Portables of Honoka’a, SunBelt Kona, "with musical performers providing the icing on the cake: Maka Gallinger, Kala’e & Kalena Parish, Taulia Lave and the local Ka’u groups, Shootz and Keaiwa."
Kaehuaea also said mahalo to "event troops on the ground, O’Ka’u Kakou, a local non-profit that kept the trash bins picked up and then was provided the ten trash cans, bags and some tarps along with a monetary donation. The 'day-of-event team' consisted of TJ James, Matt and Julie Ferguson, Gwen Lowe and Ron Chu working the event from 4:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. braving the eventual drizzle of rain. From Steve Pause, Director of Public Works, Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation, and Michael Une, Supervisor at the State Health Department Food & Sanitation Division, down the chain to County & State staff who were all extremely helpful in making sure this event took place successfully."
See more on Kaehuaea and the founding of Stargazer Industries and its companies at https://stargazerindustriesinc.com/about
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| Coffee, Tea & Water Essential Elements Expo event producer Christine Keahuaea. Photos by Brenda Iokepa Moses |
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.
HO'OKUPU HULA NO KAʻŪ CULTURAL FESTIVAL IS NEXT SATURDAY. The annual event has transitioned from Pāhala to the Ke Ola Pu'uhonua cultural grounds in Nāʻālehu this
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| Hula dancers from Mexico will perform at next Saturday's Ho'okupu Hula No Kaʻū Cultural Fest and will also take their talents to Hilo and Auntie Sally's to entertain kupuna. Photo from Kumu Debbie Ryder |
The halau from Mexico will also perform with Halau Hula O Leonalani at Auntie Sally's Lu'au Hale in Hilo on Thursday, Nov. 2 in a special presentation, organized by the county's Elderly Division Kupuna Program.
On Friday, the halau travel to Kīlauea Crater for a special protocol, chants and
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| Tahitian dancers from Mexico City will perform at the cultural festival next Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal |
Emcee for the day will be Alaka'i Paleka and Kaʻū's own Makana. Hula, mele, chant with Hawaiian, Tahitian and Island Reggae music begin at 10 a.m. From Maui, The Homestead Band and Wailau Ryder and Marsjae Atisiloma Duo will perform.
Hawaiian Practitioners will be on site with hands on demonstrations such as poi pounding, lauhala weaving, net making, traditional hale construction and more. There will be craft vendors, food booth, shave ice, Hawaiian food, prize drawings and more.
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.
See www.hawaiiwildfire.org/cwpp-resources and state Department of Land & Natural Resources website: dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/fire/community-risk-reduction/community-wildfire-protection-plans/.
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