Kaʻū News Briefs July 5, 2024

AN EPA RECYCLE, EDUCATION & OUTREACH SUMMER FELLOWSHIP presentation at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary on Friday is archived on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/aPi2rzMEkzk. The program featured ten students who showcased their continuing efforts to tackle food waste, the reduction of plastics, and encourage recycling in the community. They are all employed by Recycling Hawai'i and created their own company to take on challenges with Zero Waste and recycling.

THE RUNAWAYS REPORTED JULY 4 were mainly dogs and cats that were searching for safety from noises and vibrant firework displays, lighting up the Kaʻū night skies.
    Several local Facebook groups play a crucial role in reuniting these animals with their families. Big Island Lost, Found & Stolen Pets specializes, with almost 11,000 members. It is seeing an influx of posts

Tobyk is one of the July 4 runaways. The Kolosov family, of Nāʻālehu is searching. Photo by Matt Baker

as concerned pet owners and neighbors search for runaway pets during the extended celebration of Independence Day weekend.
    One of the Nāʻālehu runaways is Tobyk, a dog belonging to the Kolosov family. Tobyk departed July 4 and was still to be found on the evening of July 5. The Kolosov family issued a statement saying, "Starting from yesterday evening, as soon as we realized that Tobyk was missing, we walked the streets of Nāʻālehu with flashlights. Today we continued to make the rounds, looking into every house, looking through the bushes... crowded places, where there is the smell of food... in general, our efforts did not give a good result. We hope that Tobyk will end up in good hands, and people will see the tag on his neck, call and we will live with Tobyk again."
    As the holiday celebrations continue this weekend, fireworks may continue to scare pets. The Hawai'i Police Department, Hawai'i County Animal Control & Protection Agency, which maintains animal shelters; and Hawai'i Humane Society remind pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe. Ensuring they are indoors, or another secure environment, and providing comforting sounds can help reduce their anxiety.
    See Big Island Lost, Found & Stolen Pets at https://www.facebook.com/groups/32624781773963. Call Hawai'i County Animal Control and Protection Agency at 808-327-3558 or see https://www.hawaiipolice.com/services/animal-control-services to help locate a lost pet. Visit the website of the Hawai'i Island Humane Society at https://www.hihs.org.

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    Admission tickets are $8. Food will be sold on the rodeo grounds. A new rodeo queen will be named.

Members of Kaʻū Multicultural Society, which archives photos and implements of ranching and paniolo, plantation and other ethnic communities of Kaʻū, rode in the Nāʻālehu Independence Parade last weekend and helped with the horse riding  units that represented each island. Photo by Julia Neal