Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014

      Billy Barnett, of Volcano, won the Half Marathon with a time of 1:18:41. Kathleen O’Neil, of Honolulu, won the women’s division at 1:25:09.
      Jodie Schulten, of Na`alehu, placed 16th overall and first in her Half Marathon age division.
      Other local runners who completed the Half Marathon were Ocean View resident Christine Woods, Na`alehu residents Deen Tsukamoto and Eldrige Naboa, Pahala resident Denny Megan and Volcano residents Shawn Mishler, Megan Selvig, David Hoover, Rebecca Carvalho and Sheila Bruening.
      Hilo residents won the 10K. Stephen Hunter’s time was :38:57, and Carmen Garson-Shumway’s was :44:43. 

      Volcano residents Stewart Miyashiro and Genevieve McGough placed first in their 10K age divisions.
      Louie Ondo, of Kea`au, was first in the 5K with a time of :17:51. Women’s division winner was Eri MacDonald, of Kailua, at :19:34.
      Julia Williams, of Volcano, and former Ka`u resident Madalyn McWhite-Lamson placed first in their 5K age divisions.

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NINE `ALALA CHICKS HATCHED THIS BREEDING SEASON, reported San Diego Zoo Global’s Keauhou Bird Center in Volcano. The season began in April and concluded this month.
      `Alala, Hawaiian crows, are extinct in the wild. The last in their forest natural habitat were recorded in 2002, where habitat destruction, introduced predators and avian disease threatened them.
      The entire remaining population is managed in captivity through a collaborative effort by the Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program. Some of the chicks are fed and cared for by animal care staff, which the chicks never see to ensure they do not imprint on humans.
      “`Alala are very intelligent birds and are susceptible to imprinting,” said Bryce Masuda, program manager for San Diego Zoo Global. “We use puppets to hand-rear and feed the birds when they are young to keep them from imprinting onto us, so they will behave naturally as adults.”

      HEBCP has been working with the species in managed care since 1993, bringing the population from a low of only 20 individuals to 114 today.
      Planning and preparation efforts are currently underway to restore `alala back into its vital niche within the forest ecosystem on the Big Island of Hawai`i. It is hoped that the first reintroduction activities will begin in the near future.
      Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program is a field program of the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research in partnership with the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
      See sandiegozoo.org.

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“THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH IS ONE of the most exciting events that Ocean View Baptist Church puts on,” said Pastor Mike Landry. The church handed out over 400 bags of school supplies and that many slippers to children of Ka`u on Saturday, July 26 at Ocean View Community Center, where members meets for services every Sunday at 1 p.m.

      “We also had shave ice, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and two bounce houses to give a carnival atmosphere,’ Landry said. “It was a great send-off to a new school year.”
      Over 50 volunteers from the church worked hard to make the event happen. “This is a large undertaking for our church,” Landry said. “We would also like to say mahalo for the businesses and individuals that came on board to help us with prizes, monetary support and school supplies to make this a success for our community.
      “Of course, the children and families who attend are great with their patience, enjoyment and gratitude. As a church, it is an honor to serve our community and represent the love of God.
      “Mahalo, Ka`u,” Landry said.

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IT’S TIME AGAIN FOR KA`U FIFTH-GRADE GIRLS to register for GEMS – Girls Exploring Math & Science – workshops.
      On Thursday, Nov. 20, West Hawai`i’s fifth-grade girls are invited to the 2014 GEMS program at the Sheraton Kona Resort and Spa at Keauhou. Registration forms will be distributed to public and private schools on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and the deadline to register is Friday, Sept. 26.

      This event is sponsored by the American Association of University Women, Kona Branch, whose mission is to advance equity for women and girls though advocacy, education, and research. The annual day of discovery features hand-on workshops and exhibits led by local women volunteers who work in math and science careers and who show the girls how they use math, science and technology in their daily work. The program is designed to stimulate interest and bolster the confidence of girls in these fields, as well as provide positive role models, and may also stimulate a girl’s interest in a new career goal. Last year, over 300 girls from West Hawai`i attended the program, and as many as 30 girls from Ka`u have attended in previous years.
       Each girl receives a GEMS T-shirt and a healthy breakfast and views many exhibits prior to the workshops. Some of the workshops this year include marine science, coral reef conservation, Zumba, cosmetics and kitchen chemistry, veterinary science, archaeology, GPS satellites, how rainbows solve mysteries, robotics, chemistry, Roll with the Sharkbots, chiropractic care, How to Make Your Money Grow, creative computer programming and more. Exhibits are varied and include space rocks, Working for the Ocean, Stand Tall with a Chiropractor, origami, energy conservation, robots, technology and tidepools, hospital careers and also Zumba dance during lunchtime.
      Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and all fifth-grade girls residing in the West Hawai`i School complex and who are in public or private schools or who are home-schooled are welcome. The fee is $20 per girl, and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away for financial reason. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted.
      GEMS steering committee member Madalyn McWhite-Lamson encourages girls to register early to get their first choice of workshops. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl or to request a registration packet, contact Laurel Gregory at 969-8833 or lgregory@hawaii.edu.

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KA`U RESIDENTS WITH DAMAGE CAUSED by Tropical Storm Iselle can visit a Disaster Assistance and Recovery Center at Mountain View Gym today until 8 p.m. The center is a joint effort by Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (formerly State Civil Defense) and Hawai`i County.

      If possible, residents should bring photos of damage with them to the DARCs. Those who are unable to make it to the DARCs may call the Hilo office at 933-9975.

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KA`U HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS’ invite everyone to their 13th annual potluck reunion at Pahala Community Center today until 3 p.m.

EARTH MATTERS FARMS HOLD A COMMUNITY POTLUCK today until 3 p.m. at the corner of South Point and Kama`oa Roads. Guest speakers discuss Big Island agriculture. Call 939-7510 for more information.