Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015

Recycle Hawai`i is raising funds to continue its islandwide outreach and education programs. Photo from Recycle Hawai`i

RECYCLE HAWAI`I IS FUNDRAISING to reach $60,000 by April 25 to continue its Outreach and Education Programs. The funds will be allocated as follows: $10,000 for Zero Waste School Presentations to students and teachers K – 12; $10,000 to hold the 10th Annual Art of Recycling School Competition, an islandwide exhibit of art made from recycled materials by K – 12 students; $25,000 to continue Composting is Recycling, Too! education workshops offered monthly throughout Hawai`i Island; $15,000 for Recycling InfoLines, a 24/7 answering service for the east and west sides of Hawai`i Island where callers can get answers to their recycling questions; Hawai`i Island Recycling Guide, a complete listing of local recycling services, updated regularly, widely distributed and available on the organization’s website; Recycle Hawai`i website upgrade, to better provide recycling and educational resources, news, articles and notice of events; and Zero Waste community event support and training.

The above list is ordered by priority, and funding below the goal will be allocated accordingly. Extra funds will be used to continue programs into the next fiscal year. All funds raised can also serve as matching funds to garner grants.
No donation is too small, and all amounts are greatly appreciated. The organization is also open to help from professionals familiar with website development and fundraising activities other than online crowdsourcing.
Contribution are accepted at indiegogo.com/projects/zero-waste-for-recycle-hawai-i#home, recyclehawaii.org/memberdonate.html and Recycle Hawai`i, PO Box 4847, Hilo, HI 96720. Make checks payable to Recycle Hawai`i.
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Ka`u Mountain Water System Hike is one event in this year's
Ka`u Coffee Festival. Photo by Jesse Tunison

KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL HAS STARTED statewide and national promotion of the annual event. Public Relations expert Fern Gavelek, who promotes many events on the Big Island, sent out the first press release today entitled Ka`u Coffee Festival Perks with 10 Days of Activities and subtitled Java-Jumping Fun April 24-May 3, 2015.

“Ka`u, Hawai`i Island – The seventh Ka`u Coffee Festival celebrates its award-winning brew and rural regional heritage with a host of events to satisfy the coffee lover in you. Java-jumpin’ fun starts percolating April 24 and culminates the weekend of May 2-3 with a sprawling ho`olaule`a on Saturday and the laid back informative “Ka`u Coffee College” on Sunday.

“Serving as an economic stimulus for the heritage Ka`u region, the festival is supported by the County of Hawai`i Department of Research & Development, Hawai`i Tourism Authority and Hawai`i Department of Agriculture. Some events are free, while others require a nominal fee and reservations. All activities feature the exceptional flavor and aroma of Ka`u coffee and the people and place that produces it:

“On Friday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Pa`ina & Open House at historic Pahala Plantation House featuring music, hula, food and house tours. Corner of Maile and Pikake in Pahala. Hosted by Pahala Plantation Cottages, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and The Ka`u Calendar newspaper. Free, donations accepted for Miss Ka`u Coffee Scholarship Fund. www.kaucoffeefest.com, www.pahalaplantationcottages.com. 808-928-9811.

“On Saturday, April 25, the annual Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant showcases the crowning of Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Peaberry 2015. Visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com as details become available.

This year the Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest categories are
pupu, entree and dessert. Photo by Julia Neal

“On Saturday, April 25, 2 p.m. The free Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest hosts a cooking competition at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Entries are accepted in pupu, entree and dessert categories. All recipes are made with Ka`u coffee. Free coffee tasting. Find contest entry info at www.kaucoffeemill.com or call Lisa at 808-928-0550.

“During the week visit Ka`u coffee farms. Enjoy the scenic and historic beauty of Ka`u, Punalu`u Black Sand Beach, Honu`apo fishponds, the cliffs of Ka Lae – the southernmost place in the U.S., and the nearby Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Stay in one of the many accommodations in Ka`u. Visit www.kaucoffeefest.com for participating coffee farms and accommodations.

“On Wednesday, April 29 explore flume systems of the sugarcane era and development of hydroelectric power on a Ka`u Mountain Water System Hike in the Wood Valley rainforest 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Limited to 30, $40 includes lunch. Visit www.kaucoffeemill.com or phone 808-928-0550.

“On Friday, May 1 enjoy Coffee & Cattle Day 10 a.m. at Aikane Plantation Coffee farm. Find out how descendants of Ka`u’s first coffee farmer integrate coffee with other agriculture. $25 fee includes an all-you can eat buffet. Visit www.aikaneplantation.com or phone 808-927-2252.

Aikane Plantation hosts Coffee & Cattle Day on Friday, May 1.
Photo from Aikane Plantation

“On Friday, May 1 observe the heavens from the summit of Makanau at Ka`u Star Gazing, 5:30 –10 p.m. $35 with refreshments and shuttle transportation. Sign up at www.kaucoffeemill.com or call 808-928-0550.

“On Saturday, May 2 tantalize your taste buds at the friendly Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a, with a full day of local music, hula, food booths, local crafts, keiki activities, educational displays, coffee tastings and farm/mill tours headquartered inside and out of the Pahala Community Center. Festival entry is free; Ka`u Coffee Experience offers guided coffee tastings 9:30 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Farm tours with shuttle transport are 9:30 and 11 a.m., plus 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m., $20. Call 808-929-9550 or visit www.KauCoffeeFest.com.

“On Sunday, May 3 learn about the coffee industry at the Ka`u Coffee College at Pahala Community Center. The Coffee College hosts educational seminars and a reverse trade mission. Free, donations appreciated. Call 808-929-9550 or www.KauCoffeeFest.com.

“Founded in coffee traditions hailing to the 1800s – plus the hard work of former sugar plantation workers – Ka`u coffee burst onto the specialty coffee scene by winning numerous coffee quality awards. These accolades highlight the unique combination of people and place that makes Ka`u coffee a favorite across the globe. The festival’s mission is to raise awareness of Ka`u as a world-class, coffee-growing origin.

“Ka`u Coffee Festival vendor and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information and festival updates, visit www.kaucoffeefest.com, follow Ka`u Coffee Festival on Facebook and @kaucoffeefest on Twitter, or call 808-929-9550.”

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Sen. Mazie Hirono

Sen. Brian Schatz

HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS yesterday commemorated the re-designation of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. The re-designation was included in the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act and signed into law by the President in December 2014.

“I was honored to serve in Congress with Sen. Inouye and was proud to call him a friend,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “His deep understanding of the strategic importance of Hawai`i and the Pacific region will live on through this important part of his legacy. Additionally, Sen. Inouye’s record of bettering Hawai`i and our nation and the importance he placed on forging and strengthening relationships over a lifetime in public service is something we work to continue. Naming the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies after Sen. Inouye is appropriate and honors him for exceptional service to our country.”
Sen. Brian Schatz said, “No one understood the strategic importance of Hawai`i to our national security better than Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. As an early and strong supporter of the Center, he knew that Hawai`i was key to our nation’s engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. This is a fitting tribute to Sen. Inouye’s legacy of service to Hawai`i and our country.”
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USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientist Mike Poland shares what he has discovered about Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes at After Dark in the Park today at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

Dr. Claire Horwell

RANGER NOAH GOMES SHARES THE TRADITIONAL skill of lei making tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Free; park entrance fees apply.

DR. CLAIRE HORWELL CONDUCTS 10- to 15-minute vog surveys at Ka`u Farmers Market tomorrow. She is studying ways people protect themselves from vog and how those methods relate to official advice.

ISLAND MARKET IN NA`ALEHU holds an auction Thursday at 10 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. Equipment in the store is being sold before the store’s official closure on Saturday.
For more information, see http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/for/4901673180.html.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.