Kaʻū News Briefs June 12, 2024

Community volunteers, including OKK and Men of PA'A, worked the grounds at Pāhala Community Center on Saturday to make Kaʻū Coffee Festival a great success. Photo from Men of PA'A

OKK AND MEN OF PA'A TEAMED UP FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL last weekend, helping put up and take down stages, tents, booths, seating, security, parking and munch more. Logistics and Operations Director for the event, Brenda Iokepa Moses, has worked with O Kaʻū Kakou for many years at Pāhala Community Center to manage logistics, traffic and compliance with county rules and regs for Kaʻū Coffee Festival.

Men of PA'A leadership team returned to Kaʻū on Tuesday to explore other service opportunities in the community, meeting with Matt Baker and Vance Bjorn (in blue shirts) who also volunteered for Kaʻū Coffee Festival, providing lighting. Men of PA'A leader Iopa Maunakea is at right. Photo from Men of PA'A

   This year, the volunteer group Men of PA'A, fresh from helping with the Ironman Triathlon, joined in on the grounds of Pāhala Community Center to help OKK and other volunteers. The 15 men live in a group home in Puna designed for recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and to integrate men back into the community with purposeful work and interaction with people after spending time in prison. Their leader is Iopa Maunakea who has accomplished this work for some 20 years.
    Maunakea said, "Many people see Men of PA'A as a community-based organization known for our extensive service work. But it's important to understand the critical foundation of our mission: recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.  Without recovery, there is no service. Our core belief is that a man must first get good with himself. Only then can he positively impact his family, leading to a stronger, healthier community."
    Iokepa Moses and Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba said they are very grateful to OKK, Men of PA'A and many other volunteers for helping to make the event a great success.        In addition to Chief of Men of PA'A being Maunakea, Board President is Kaʻū resident James Akau. Housing for Men of Pa'a for their three days of assistance at Kaʻū Coffee Festival was provided by Pāhala Plantation Cottages.

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COVID IS SPREADING AT A HIGH RATE THROUGHOUT THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, with about 14 new cases a day on Hawai'i Island, according to the state Department of Health. Up to 50 cases are reported as active in Kaʻū with up to 200 in Hilo, the place with the most COVID cases on this island. The entire state has about 2,263 cases. DOH sent out a reminder on Wednesday to ask the public "to be vigilant due to high levels of COVID-19 activity in Hawai'i. The DOH Respiratory Disease Dashboard
(https://health.hawaii.gov/docd/disease-types/respiratory-viruses/) shows COVID-19 disease
activity level is in the red, or high activity level, indicating the virus is circulating at high levels compared
with historic trends. This high level means that recommended precautions are more important for reducing risk."
    DOH recommended the following: "Get your COVID-19 shot if you have not yet received the 2023-24

COVID-19 vaccine, or if you are eligible for an additional dose (adults 65 and over and those with immune compromise). Keeping up to date lowers your risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
    "If you are feeling sick, stay home and away from others. Return to usual activities only if fever-free for at least 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medicines, and symptoms are improving. After returning to usual activities, wear a mask when around people indoors for five additional days to avoid spreading germs to others. Consider testing when you will be around people at higher risk of severe disease.
    "Wearing a well-fitting mask indoors with other people can help protect yourself and those around you, especially if you are recovering from COVID-19 symptoms.
    "Staying outdoors or in well-ventilated areas is a simple action that can help reduce COVID transmission.
    "Practice good hygiene. Cover your coughs and sneezes, clean frequently touched surfaces, and wash your hands often.Take a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms and might need treatment. Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and influenza can prevent hospitalization and death. Treatments work best when taken as soon as possible after symptoms begin."

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SACHIKO MEYERS OF OCEAN VIEW WAS BEEN FOUND DEAD IN A CAR IN KONA. Hawai’i Island police have initiated an unattended death investigation after her partially decomposed body was discovered within a parked vehicle located in a neighborhood in Kailua-Kona. She was 21 years of age.
    On Thursday June 6, shortly before 7:30 a.m. patrol officers and detectives responded to Kealakaa Street just north of Manawalea Street for a report of a lifeless body within a parked vehicle. Upon their arrival, they discovered the deceased female within a white Volkswagen sedan.The victim has been positively identified as Sachiko Myers of Ocean View.
    On Wednesday, June 12, an autopsy was performed, and the pathologist ruled that Myer’s death was undetermined but did not rule out foul play. The cause and manner of death is pending standard toxicology testing.
    Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area of Kealakaa Street north of Manawalea Street between June 3 and June 6, 2024, is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov
    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 808=961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.