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| Master lei maker and Ka`u resident Kilohana Domingo demonstrates the intricate art of feather work Wednesday. Photo from NPS |
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| Peter Hoffmann |
Hoffmann was on the Hawai`i County Council from 2004 to 2012, representing the Kohala District and serving as council chair for two of those years. From 1993 to 1996, he was director of mission support for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, a 55-nation diplomacy organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria. Prior to that, Hoffmann served in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps. Retiring in the rank of Colonel, assignments included 25 months in Vietnam, two years in Chiangmai, Thailand and four years in Hawai`i, where he finished his duty with the 25th Infantry Division. He also served three years in Munich, Germany with an Army Intelligence Group; two years on the U.S. Army staff in the Pentagon; commander of an intelligence battalion at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey; commander of a recruiting battalion in Boston, Massachusetts; commander of the POW/MIA team in Bangkok, Thailand; and three years as a military attaché in the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Hoffmann graduated from St. Peter’s College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and received a master’s degree in history from New York University. He and his wife Joan recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
“With backgrounds in law, health, the military and environmental sustainability, these appointees bring a diverse spectrum of leadership to the University of Hawai`i,” Abercrombie said. “They each have a proven record of success in their respective fields of expertise and will help guide the university to a new level of excellence.”
“With backgrounds in law, health, the military and environmental sustainability, these appointees bring a diverse spectrum of leadership to the University of Hawai`i,” Abercrombie said. “They each have a proven record of success in their respective fields of expertise and will help guide the university to a new level of excellence.”
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| VA Secretary Bob McDonald |
KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD has invited Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald to visit Hawai`i to “see first-hand the unique health care challenges still facing Hawai`’s veterans.”
Gabbard and McDonald spoke at length shortly after his confirmation as the new VA Secretary.
“When Secretary McDonald and I spoke, I wanted to ensure he understood the unique challenges our Hawai`i veterans face every single day just to access care,” Gabbard said. “Whether it is the geographic challenges to drive or fly to a VA health provider, or the longest-in-the-nation wait times for first-time primary care appointments, Hawai`i veterans continue to face challenges accessing the care they’re entitled to from the VA. Having held a listening tour across our islands in June to hear from veterans directly, I was able to relay their many immediate concerns to the secretary. I wrote him today to reiterate those questions and concerns, and to personally invite him to visit our Islands to see first-hand the unique health care challenges still facing Hawai‘i’s veterans.”
In response to the VA health crisis, Gabbard this summer introduced ACT Now for Veterans (H.R. 5131), bipartisan legislation to immediately allow eligible veterans to access non-VA healthcare with the assurance the VA will cover the bill. The final bipartisan VA reform bill signed into law by the President in August included the foundation of her bill.
The first bill she introduced after being elected, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, aimed to improve airport security for severely wounded veterans. It passed Congress unanimously and was signed into law by President Obama in August 2013.
In her letter to McDonald, Gabbard wrote, “I look forward to hosting you in Hawai`i so you can hear directly from our amazing veteran community, and to continue working together on our shared mission of serving and honoring our veterans.”
“When Secretary McDonald and I spoke, I wanted to ensure he understood the unique challenges our Hawai`i veterans face every single day just to access care,” Gabbard said. “Whether it is the geographic challenges to drive or fly to a VA health provider, or the longest-in-the-nation wait times for first-time primary care appointments, Hawai`i veterans continue to face challenges accessing the care they’re entitled to from the VA. Having held a listening tour across our islands in June to hear from veterans directly, I was able to relay their many immediate concerns to the secretary. I wrote him today to reiterate those questions and concerns, and to personally invite him to visit our Islands to see first-hand the unique health care challenges still facing Hawai‘i’s veterans.”
In response to the VA health crisis, Gabbard this summer introduced ACT Now for Veterans (H.R. 5131), bipartisan legislation to immediately allow eligible veterans to access non-VA healthcare with the assurance the VA will cover the bill. The final bipartisan VA reform bill signed into law by the President in August included the foundation of her bill.
The first bill she introduced after being elected, the Helping Heroes Fly Act, aimed to improve airport security for severely wounded veterans. It passed Congress unanimously and was signed into law by President Obama in August 2013.
In her letter to McDonald, Gabbard wrote, “I look forward to hosting you in Hawai`i so you can hear directly from our amazing veteran community, and to continue working together on our shared mission of serving and honoring our veterans.”
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| Ka`u residents can apply for The Kohala Center's Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program. Photo from The Kohala Center |
THE KOHALA CENTER’S BEGINNING FARMER-RANCHER Development Program is accepting applications for its next training class, which begins on Oct. 17. The 30-session course consists of classroom instruction, hands-on training at a demonstration farm and business planning assistance. Sessions are held in Honoka`a on Friday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Although no previous farming experience is required, preference is given to U.S. veterans and to applicants who have taken steps to become agricultural producers but would benefit from a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum. The course takes a comprehensive approach to agricultural production, covering topics such as soil management, irrigation, composting, cover cropping and pest management, as well as the business side of farming: marketing, accounting, budgeting and record-keeping. Students who successfully complete the course and create viable farm and business plans will be able to work with program staff to obtain leasable farmland, should they not already have land on which to farm or ranch.
More information and application materials are available at http://kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/application or by calling The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411.
THE FINAL KA`U PLANTATION DAYS planning meeting is today at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Residents finish planning for the event set for this Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.
MASTER LEI MAKER AND KA`U RESIDENT Kilohana Domingo presents the intricate art of feather work during a lei hulu demonstration Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN POSE QUESTIONS to Hawai`i’s gubernatorial candidates when they debate the issues tomorrow at 7 p.m. on KHON Channel Two. Email questions to debate@khon2.com.
More information and application materials are available at http://kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/application or by calling The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411.
THE FINAL KA`U PLANTATION DAYS planning meeting is today at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Residents finish planning for the event set for this Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.
MASTER LEI MAKER AND KA`U RESIDENT Kilohana Domingo presents the intricate art of feather work during a lei hulu demonstration Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN POSE QUESTIONS to Hawai`i’s gubernatorial candidates when they debate the issues tomorrow at 7 p.m. on KHON Channel Two. Email questions to debate@khon2.com.
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| Shoebox excavations are part of International Archaeology Day celebrations. Photo from NPS |
KA`U FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE International Archaeology Day with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park archaeologists and cultural practitioners who will share Hawaiian culture through its cultural treasures. Fun, hands-on, keiki-friendly activities include shoebox excavations (dig in and excavate your own archeological site with a friend), a stone tool-making demonstration with master stone-tool artist Tom Pico, pono petroglyph rubbings (without damaging real-life petroglyphs) and Lapita pottery impressions, where keiki can trace the Polynesian migration through pottery shards the ancients left behind and create their own ceramic tile to take home.
In addition, the short film Pacific Clues: Footprints in Lava, hosted by park archaeologist Dr. Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura, reveals the story of ancient footprints in the Ka`u Desert and will be shown in Kilauea Visitor Center throughout the day.
At the end of the day, attendees can visit the future home of the park’s new cultural museum at the 1932 Administration Building. At this final station, keiki can take the pledge and earn their Junior Archaeology Ranger patch. Each junior ranger will receive the new Archaeology in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park children’s booklet.
The events are on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 1932 Administration Building and lawn, also known as the `Ohi`a Wing, between Kilauea Visitor Center and Volcano House.
At the end of the day, attendees can visit the future home of the park’s new cultural museum at the 1932 Administration Building. At this final station, keiki can take the pledge and earn their Junior Archaeology Ranger patch. Each junior ranger will receive the new Archaeology in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park children’s booklet.
The events are on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 1932 Administration Building and lawn, also known as the `Ohi`a Wing, between Kilauea Visitor Center and Volcano House.
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| Tom Peek holds a writing workshop Saturday. |
RANGER-GUIDED HIKES TO PU`U LOA PETROGLYPHS take place this week and next. Participants visit the largest ki`i pohaku (petroglyph) field in Hawai`i and ponder the meaning behind the tens of thousands of carvings that Hawaiians etched into lava here. The hike is 0.7 miles one-way and takes about 1.5 hours roundtrip.
Dates are Oct. 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 17 and 18 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Meet the park ranger at 2 p.m. at the Pu`u Loa Petroglyph parking area on Chain of Craters Road, a 45-minute drive from the park entrance.
Meet the park ranger at 2 p.m. at the Pu`u Loa Petroglyph parking area on Chain of Craters Road, a 45-minute drive from the park entrance.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
WRITING FAMILY HISTORY AND PERSONAL MEMOIR with Tom Peek will be held Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Participants learn simple but powerful techniques to help overcome barriers that cause writer’s block, self-censorship and a lack of depth in their writing. Peek offers fun and provocative exercises to propel memoirs and family or community history projects, including some that use photographs and nostalgic objects to evoke memories.
Peek has taught his writing workshops since 1991. His work includes an award-winning novel, newspaper stories and commentaries, university publications, magazine articles, national park exhibits and video productions.
No previous writing experience is needed, and the workshop is open to all levels. Fee is $90 for members and $100 for non-members.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Participants learn simple but powerful techniques to help overcome barriers that cause writer’s block, self-censorship and a lack of depth in their writing. Peek offers fun and provocative exercises to propel memoirs and family or community history projects, including some that use photographs and nostalgic objects to evoke memories.
Peek has taught his writing workshops since 1991. His work includes an award-winning novel, newspaper stories and commentaries, university publications, magazine articles, national park exhibits and video productions.
No previous writing experience is needed, and the workshop is open to all levels. Fee is $90 for members and $100 for non-members.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
