Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015

      The donation will go toward several community food drops that will include a wide variety of perishable and non-perishable items, including foods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seasonal produce and a selection of non-perishable items from The Food Basket’s inventory.
      “The Food Basket is really trying to expand our offerings, and it is donations like this that will make sure that we can develop and maintain our high quality of service to the community,” Young said.
      While the specific dates and location have not been finalized, The Food Basket expects food drops will happen on Saturdays in early October.
      For more information, see www.hawaiifoodbasket.org or call 808-933-6030.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY FINANCE COMMITTEE on Tuesday moved forward bills regarding ethics and use of county purchasing cards.
      Changes to Hawai`i County’s Code of Ethics received a positive recommendation in a 5-4 vote. Ka`u’s council member Maile David voted in favor of the bill introduced by Kohala council member Margaret Wille.
      Bill 37 adds campaign purposes to the Code of Ethic’s prohibited uses of county property. The bill also adds a provision that places a $50,000 limit on any county contract for goods and services with a county officer or employee or a business where an immediate family member of a county officer or employee has a controlling interest in the business.
      The bill also revises provisions for the ability of county officers and employees to represent private interests in legal actions and proceedings against the county or appear on behalf of private interests before any agency of the county.
      Bill 78 places stricter controls on use of county-issued purchasing cards. The bill would require written requests for authorization to use the cards and as well as documentation as to the requests’ public purposes.
      The action follows Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of his card at bars in Honolulu and to buy personal items.
      The bills now go to the full council for consideration.
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OCTOBER 1 IS THE DEADLINE for Ka`u residents to share their knowledge about Ninole and Hilea for a cultural impact assessment. Cultural Surveys Hawai`i, Inc. seeks information in connection with the Ninole Stream Bridge and Hilea Stream Bridge replacement project, which would improve safety and reliability of the timber bridge through rehabilitation or replacement, addressing bridge width, load capacity, railing and transitions.
      Information gathered will be used to assess potential impacts to the cultural resources, cultural practices and beliefs identified as a result of the planned project. CSA seeks information on general history and present and past land use of the project area, knowledge of cultural sites, knowledge of past and ongoing traditional gathering practices in the project area, cultural associations of the project area, referrals of kupuna or elders and kama`aina who might be willing to share their cultural knowledge of the project area and the surrounding ahupua`a lands, and any other cultural concerns the community might have related to Hawaiian cultural practices within or in the vicinity of the project area.
      Respondents’ feedback will be summarized for a cultural impact assessment and added to the appendix. In addition, respondents must understand and agree that their `ike (knowledge) and mana`o (thought) will be available to the public.
      Call 808-262-9972 or e-mail mliborio@culturalsurveys.com.
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KA`U RESIDENTS CAN APPLY for two vacancies on the Legacy Land Conservation Commission, a nine-member commission appointed by the governor to advise the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife on grants from the Legacy Land Conservation Program. 

The commission consists of nine members, with at least one member from each of the counties, and it meets about six times per year.

The TOTUS Awards are coming up in November. Photo from TOTUS

KA`U TEA PRODUCERS are invited to enter TOTUS, the first national tea competition specifically for USA-grown tea. The Tea of the United States Awards are open to all tea farms, researchers and beginning growers whose tea-crop origin is cultivated in U.S. soil. Producing states can gain global recognition by participating in this national competitive program juried by an international industry panel. TOTUS promotes origin pride and identifies tea production making significant contributions in domestic agriculture and innovative trade.
      The TOTUS Awards will be held Nov. 4 on Hawai`i Island and hosted by Hawai`i Tea Society in partnership with Volcano Art Center, The Kohala Center, Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council and Hawai`i Farmers Union United.
      “We hope that the TOTUS Awards 2015 will encourage those who have pioneered U.S. tea farming to gain national recognition for their uniquely crafted teas and further educate consumers supporting domestic tea agriculture,” said TOTUS Executive Director Eva Lee. “Those of us in Hawai`i who are propagating, growing, farming and processing tea will continue to expand production contributing to our local economies raising support from county, state and federal agencies.”

      Categories are White, Green, Oolong and Black Tea. Commercially producing winners receive cash awards, and other winners receive certificates.
      For more information about deadlines, rules, entry fees, and how to apply, see totus1awards.com.
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THE THIRD ANNUAL VOLCANO WINERY Harvest Festival will be held at Volcano Winery on Pi`i Mauna Drive on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participants enjoy an evening of fun for a good cause. Admission includes two glasses of Volcano Winery wine, a souvenir wine glass, vineyard tours, dancing and food offerings from local vendors.
      Live music by the Mahilani House Band & Friends will get toes tapping with up-tempo Hawaiian and world-roots tunes. Heavy pupus will be provided by a variety of Big Island restaurants including The Rim Restaurant at Volcano House, Café Ono, Ka`u Coffee Mill, Kilauea Lodge, Lava Rock Café, Café `Ohi`a, Papa`a Palaoa Bakery, Rusty’s 100 Percent Hawaiian Ka`u Coffee, Thai Thai Restaurant, Tuk-Tuk Thai and others.
      All proceeds benefit Volcano School of Arts & Sciences’ STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs.
      Tickets are limited and always sell out. Advanced purchase is required; $40 for adults (21+) and $20 for keiki (2-21). Tickets are available in Volcano Winery Tasting Room, by phone at 967-7772, online at www.volcanowinery.com or at the Volcano Farmers Market.