RIMPAC, THE WAR GAMES, ARE DRAWING 25,000 MILITARY PARTICIPANTS FROM 29 COUNTRIES TO HAWAIIAN WATERS, starting Thursday. They will carry out their war games at such places at Pohakuloa Military Training Area and transport their vehicles and weaponry on some state, federal and Hawai'i County Roads.
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The facebook for Commander, U.S. Third Fleet posts: "The 29th biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific kicks off June 27th in and around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC, the world's premier multinational maritime exercise, is a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans."
A RIMPAC 2024 Teaser Trailer film shows ships, planes, helicopters, firing of missiles and more.
Several groups that oppose RIMPAC have called for it to stop. The national democracy group for the Philippines, Anakabyan Hawai'i, is one of them. One of its leaders, Misty Pegram, said,
"The coalition that is currently being built is kind of a continuation of the decades of work that has already been done by Kānaka Maoli activists, folks who stand in solidarity against the military occupation in Hawaiʻi."
Pegram said, "The goal in this campaign to cancel RIMPAC. We see it as a manifestation of the U.S. militaries who want to know this idea of constantly being ready for war, and where their idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific is not aligned with what a free and open Indo-Pacific actually is."
RIMPAC is scheduled to take place from June 27 to Aug.1.
U.S. Pacific Fleet made the RIMPAC announcement, saying, "Approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise series that began in 1971. As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC combines force capabilities in a dynamic maritime environment to demonstrate enduring interoperability across the full spectrum of military operations.Several groups that oppose RIMPAC have called for it to stop. The national democracy group for the Philippines, Anakabyan Hawai'i, is one of them. One of its leaders, Misty Pegram, said,
"The coalition that is currently being built is kind of a continuation of the decades of work that has already been done by Kānaka Maoli activists, folks who stand in solidarity against the military occupation in Hawaiʻi."
Pegram said, "The goal in this campaign to cancel RIMPAC. We see it as a manifestation of the U.S. militaries who want to know this idea of constantly being ready for war, and where their idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific is not aligned with what a free and open Indo-Pacific actually is."
RIMPAC is scheduled to take place from June 27 to Aug.1.
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” To promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, Exercise RIMPAC "is the premier joint and combined maritime exercise, utilizing and preserving a world class maritime training environment. With inclusivity at its core, RIMPAC fosters multi-national cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated, prepared, coalition partners."
RIMPAC 2024 welcomes forces from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as the Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. For the first time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will serve as vice commander. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of Canada, who will command the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise Desjardins of Australia, who will command the air component.
The statement says that during RIMPAC, "integrated and prepared partners train and operate together in order to strengthen our collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2024 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF KAʻŪ'S OCEAN SEASCAPES, ABOVE AND UNDERWATER, can be submitted to the 2024 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. Submissions are accepted until Sept. 2 and can be taken in Kaʻū and beyond. Qualifying photographs could include images of stewardship activities in Kaʻū and elsewhere.
Other categories largely focus on Marine Sanctuaries nationwide, including the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Here are the categories:
Sanctuary Views: Share photos of beautiful sunsets or scenic shots of a favorite national marine sanctuary.
Sanctuary Life: Send best photos of sanctuary inhabitants like fish, birds, marine mammals, and other amazing ocean creatures.![]()
Sanctuary Recreation: Enter best images of people responsibly enjoying national marine sanctuaries, whether they're boating, kayaking, diving, swimming, conducting research, or just hanging out on the beach.
Sanctuaries at Home: Illustrate connecting National Marine Sanctuary System from home. Submissions to this category must follow the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, but can also include photos of stewardship activities from home or neighborhood, or sanctuary-related artwork.
Sanctuaries Around the World: Ocean connection can happen anywhere, not just in the National Marine Sanctuary System. Following the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, show connections to the ocean by submitting photos from anywhere in the world, to the category Sanctuaries Around the World. Submissions can include photos taken in the United States, but outside of a national marine sanctuary, as well as photos taken outside of the United States.
Organizers of the contest said, "We recommend that these images consist of photos taken in the wild of marine life or bodies of water close to you. Submissions of photos from zoos, aquariums, or other indoor establishments are not encouraged."
Winning photographs will be announced in October 2024.
Each photographer may submit up to 10 photos total (minimum of 1200 pixels on long edge). To clarify, this means 10 photos per person, not 10 photos per category. Photographers may submit photos to all categories, as long as their submissions do not exceed 10 photos total. Additional photos will be disqualified if photographer submits more than 10 images.
Fill out the entry forms at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html...
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'OIWI, AN EVENT PRODUCED BY WAI'OHINU'S OWN PUMEHANA WONG YUEN, is open for Ka’ū crafters to join in to sell their creations on Saturday, July 6 at the Pana'ewa Haili Tent from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wong Yuen said she invites the Ka’ū public to attend the 'Oiwi Pana'aewa event, which is designed to "showcase the handmade crafters." While completely organized and produced by Wong Yuen, it is sponsored by Big Island Delights and KWXX radio. It features the Uncle Boddy Durham Country Band and help is provided by Men of Pa'a.
Wong Yuen created 'Oiwi, which she says is a nonprofit that promotes locally made crafts. She is also owner of Pumehana Designs, which is popular at many venues. She specializes in lei makig and floral arrangements, and crafting Hawaiian jewelry, Kamani hair piks, magnets and mini throw nets.
See https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029007884708499/
Born and raised in Wai'ohinu, Wong Yuen is the daughter of the late Walter Wong Yuen, Sr. who was known for his volunteer service for many years at Kauaha'ao Congregational Church. Pumehana is daughter of the late Annie Wong Yuen, who was a pastor at the church.
To become a vendor at 'Oiwi, contact pumehanamomi@aol.com Text 808-990-7281.
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Other categories largely focus on Marine Sanctuaries nationwide, including the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Here are the categories:
Sanctuary Views: Share photos of beautiful sunsets or scenic shots of a favorite national marine sanctuary.
Sanctuary Life: Send best photos of sanctuary inhabitants like fish, birds, marine mammals, and other amazing ocean creatures.
Sanctuaries at Home: Illustrate connecting National Marine Sanctuary System from home. Submissions to this category must follow the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, but can also include photos of stewardship activities from home or neighborhood, or sanctuary-related artwork.
Sanctuaries Around the World: Ocean connection can happen anywhere, not just in the National Marine Sanctuary System. Following the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, show connections to the ocean by submitting photos from anywhere in the world, to the category Sanctuaries Around the World. Submissions can include photos taken in the United States, but outside of a national marine sanctuary, as well as photos taken outside of the United States.
Organizers of the contest said, "We recommend that these images consist of photos taken in the wild of marine life or bodies of water close to you. Submissions of photos from zoos, aquariums, or other indoor establishments are not encouraged."
Winning photographs will be announced in October 2024.
Each photographer may submit up to 10 photos total (minimum of 1200 pixels on long edge). To clarify, this means 10 photos per person, not 10 photos per category. Photographers may submit photos to all categories, as long as their submissions do not exceed 10 photos total. Additional photos will be disqualified if photographer submits more than 10 images.
Fill out the entry forms at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html...
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
Wong Yuen said she invites the Ka’ū public to attend the 'Oiwi Pana'aewa event, which is designed to "showcase the handmade crafters." While completely organized and produced by Wong Yuen, it is sponsored by Big Island Delights and KWXX radio. It features the Uncle Boddy Durham Country Band and help is provided by Men of Pa'a.
Wong Yuen created 'Oiwi, which she says is a nonprofit that promotes locally made crafts. She is also owner of Pumehana Designs, which is popular at many venues. She specializes in lei makig and floral arrangements, and crafting Hawaiian jewelry, Kamani hair piks, magnets and mini throw nets.
See https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029007884708499/
Born and raised in Wai'ohinu, Wong Yuen is the daughter of the late Walter Wong Yuen, Sr. who was known for his volunteer service for many years at Kauaha'ao Congregational Church. Pumehana is daughter of the late Annie Wong Yuen, who was a pastor at the church.
To become a vendor at 'Oiwi, contact pumehanamomi@aol.com Text 808-990-7281.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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