Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Lava still creeps into Puna from Pu`u 'O'o, with breakouts photographed yesterday northeast of Pu`u 'O`o. Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

A STATE SENATE SHAKEUP is causing east Ka`u's  Sen. Russell Ruderman to lose his chairmanship of the Agriculture committee and west Ka`u Sen. Josh Green his chairmanship of the Health committee, according to a report in this morning's Honolulu Star Advertiser. According to the story, Ruderman and Green did not take part in the initial organization of the coup that led to the ousting of Senate president Donna Mercado Kim, yesterday in a 19-6 vote. She is replaced by career legislator from Kaua`i, Ron Kouchi, who served 22 years on the County Council and was appointed to the state Senate in 2010 by then-governor Linda Lingle. After the change of the Senate leadership, Green released a statement: "I have been asked to serve as part of President Kouchi's leadership team." He said he will continue on the health committee as vice chair and will work under Kouchi as Senate floor leader.
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HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED is circulating a message this morning urging members to call the White House today at 888-793-4597 and to "urge President Obama to stand up for my right to know where my food comes from by protecting country of origin labels." The Farmers Union states that the White House tracks every call on each issue, so volume of calls matters. Strong truth in labeling proposals at  the Hawai`i state legislature, including coffee and food origin labels, failed to pass during this year's session.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK will host more than 160 scientists and traditional cultural practitioners from Hawai‘i and around the country May 15 and 16 to lead students and the general public in a two-day race to count as many species of plants and animals as possible and better appreciate the dynamic culture of the park.
     The natural events leading up to this month's BioBlitz are extremely active with lava intermittently spilling from a vent onto the floor of Halema`uma`u crater and Pu`u 'O`o continuing to pump out lava into Puna.
     According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the lake in Halema`uma`u overflowed slightly several times yesterday and the lava has heightened the rim by 12 feet.

35th Annual Cultural Festival will coincide with BioBlitz  at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from National Geographic

     According to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, visitors are crowding onto the terrace of Jaggar Museum and rangers are encouraging them to stay quiet in order to hear the crackling and explosions in the lava lake.
     More than 850 students from local schools will visit Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Friday, May 15, as part of this ultimate field trip provided by National Geographic, the National Park Service and event supporters. National Park Service and National Geographic leadership, Native FM radio's  Jaz Kaiwiko‘o Yglesias and award-winning recording artist Keoki Kahumoku will help kick off the festivities a week from this Friday.
    Themed I ka nānā no a ‘ike - By observing, one learns -  Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park BioBlitz is part scientific endeavor, part outdoor classroom excursion and part celebration of biodiversity and culture. Online registration is now open to join scientist-led inventory teams. No experience is required, just a desire to explore, work side-by-side with a scientist, document findings and learn more about this diverse national park. Inventory teams are best for ages 8 and up; minors (under 18) must be accompanied by an adult.

The dark lava of the overflow onto the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater can be seen, the overflow area covering about 28 acres.  Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

     In order to coincide with the BioBlitz, the park moved its 35th annual Cultural Festival from July to May this year and expanded it to include biodiversity. Embodying I ka nānā no a ‘ike principles, the Biodiversity & Cultural Festival will offer hands-on science and cultural exhibits, food, art, family-friendly activities and entertainment, says a statement from the park.
     Both BioBlitz and the Biodiversity & Cultural Festival are free and open to the public a week from this Friday and Saturday. BioBlitz “base camp” and the festival will be located at the Kahua Hula overlooking Halema‘uma‘u Crater near Kīlauea Visitor Center. Public parking will be available at Kīlauea Military Camp. Participants will receive free entrance to the park, free parking and free shuttle bus service to and from KMC. Online registration is required to guarantee a spot on an inventory team.
     No registration is required for the festival. To learn more about BioBlitz and the festival, visit nationalgeographic.com/bioblitz. For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/havo.
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EARTHQUAKE RELIEF DONATIONS are sought by the Nepal Foundation, following the April 25 devastation in the Himalayas. The Nepal Foundation is based in Philadelphia and Na`alehu and headed by Mary Carroll who has hosted numerous Nepali academics, artists and journalists as part of a cultural exchange with Ka`u, in addition to carrying out many health and educational projects in Nepal.

The Nepal Foundation seeks funds to help restore homes damaged by the earthquake. Photo from the Nepal Foundation

      In Nepal, the foundation has worked with BasaKhali Secondary School, which educated 400 students a day on its campus before the quake. Yadav Rai, Nepal Foundation manager, taught sanitation and good health at the school, part of a community wide program funded by the Nepal Foundation. The school was severely damaged during the quake. So were many of what Carroll describes as “Lovely little houses that dot the landscape, all of them built by family members. Many had vegetable gardens grown with the help of Nepal Foundation Agriculture technician’s training.”
    Another supporter of Nepal Foundation is Dr, Shirshak, a volunteer who walked six days into Basa, Nepal two years ago to operate a free medical camp. Since the quake, he has collected more than $50 from 30 friends to purchase food, supplies and water which he is distributing for disaster relief, but needs additional financial help.
     Carroll pointed out that much was not destroyed by the earthquake: “Nepali resourcefulness and ability to get things done despite all obstacles; Nepali hospitality and kindness and gratitude for even the smallest things done for them; Nepalis who are trained with the help of a variety of non-profit organizations like the Nepal Foundation; resiliency of the Nepal people who never give up; and patience of Nepalis everywhere to accept what life gives.”

Marry Carroll at BasKhali Secondary School in 2014. The earthquake took it down.  Photo from Nepal Foundation

The Nepal Foundation brought sanitation to Nepali villagers, including  construction of  this latrine. Photo from the Nepal Foundation

     Carroll said that the Nepal Foundation plans to: Help rebuild the BasaKhali Secondary School; create an interest free loan program to help Nepalis who want to rebuild their homes but have no funds; fund training programs that will continue Nepal Foundation’s work to empower the people so they can acquire the skills to do for themselves and reconstruct the devastation around them; support special medical relief led by Nepalis like Dr. Shirshak; help to rebuild 16 water systems for healthy drinking water and irrigation for nutritious gardens; and support worthy projects that are inadequately funded such as living expenses in Basa for trained relief workers and college student volunteers.
  See www.thenepalfoundation.org. Contributions can be sent through Paypal. Checks can be made out to the Nepal Foundation and mailed to Mary C. Carroll, Chair, Nepal Foundation,  P.O. Box 654, Na`alehu, HI 96772, Carroll is also an honorary counsel for Nepal.
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SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND LEHUA COURT PLAZA will offer a seminar entitled How to Start a Business in Hawai'i. It will take place Thursday, May 28, with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the workshop from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Lehua Court partner Steve Sahines said that “Many times we have an idea for a business, but just don't know how to develop it.” He noted that Hazel Beck, of the Small Business Development Center, “knows all the ins and outs of how to develop a business plan, cash flow projections - all that is necessary and critical to obtain funding, secure a good lease, and to be sure your business will succeed!”
     Lehua Court Plaza, a commercial center planned for Ocean View, will cosponsor the event, partially underwriting its cost. Instead of $20, participants will pay $10 each, “a very small price to pay for the valuable information and literature you will receive,” Sahines pointed out. “We at Lehua Court have been working closely with the SBDC in formulating our plans. We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and get going on your business and that you will become some of the first ones in the Lehua Court Plaza.”
    Anyone with questions may call Sahines at 808-443-9982 or Jackie Muller at SBDC 808-327-3680. To register ahead, visit www.hisbdc.org.

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

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