Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO TOOK to the Senate floor to oppose a Republican attempt to strip hundreds of cities and local jurisdictions across the country of key federal funding that would prevent local officials from protecting their communities.  

      “Hundreds of cities and local jurisdictions across our country have financial, constitutional and public safety concerns with using scarce local tax dollars to hold immigrants in jail when they otherwise would be entitled to release under the law,” Hirono said. “These cities and towns are being called ‘sanctuary cities’ because they have made a local and fact-based choice to keep their community safe rather than serve as an arm of immigration enforcement. 

      “This bill would create new criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants and make life even harder for them – most of whom are honest, hardworking people – not criminals.

      “The bill also takes severe steps to penalize these sanctuary cities by stripping them of critical community block grants and federal homeland security and law enforcement funding. 

      “While this bill purports to protect our communities, it is strongly opposed by law enforcement, victims’ advocates and local and state government leaders.
      “Instead of turning hardworking immigrants into bogeymen, we should be focusing on real solutions for violence in our communities.
      “If my colleagues who support this bill are serious about addressing violence in America, then they should come to the table to talk about how we can strengthen our laws to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.
      “And I have been saying this for over a year now: if my Republican colleagues want to discuss immigration reform, I welcome that debate. …
      “The current sanctuary cities debate is not the first time that some have tried to use myths about immigrants to scare Americans. This rhetoric couldn’t be further from truth, and I urge my colleagues to oppose these scare tactics.”

      The measure failed 54-45.  

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SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ last week spoke before members of Women in Renewable Energy about working with Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, to implement clean energy solutions. WiRE is a nonprofit organization for women working in the fields of energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency and transportation.

      Schatz highlighted the partnership between Hawai`i and the Air Force to research, develop and implement clean energy solutions. “The Air Force and other military services are not moving toward clean energy simply because they view it as their responsibility to be good stewards of the environment,” Schatz said. “It is because leaders like Secretary James understand that their efforts to transition to clean energy are good for the environment and for their war-fighting mission.” 

       According to Schatz, the Air Force has shown it is committed to making Hawai`i a test bed for energy innovation, including a new micro-grid demonstration project at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam that will strengthen energy resiliency for the 154th Wing of the Hawai`i Air National Guard.
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KA`U VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GROWERS are invited to a Wholesale Success Workshop 
sponsored by The Kohala Center and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Socially Disadvantaged Producer Grant. The two-day workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and Wednesday, Nov. 4 in will train new and seasoned fruit and vegetable growers to meet food safety standards and the needs of wholesale markets. 

      Consultants and trainers will be covering topics such as the business and marketing of wholesale distribution, food safety, cooperative models and working with institutions. A $50 registration fee includes lunch on both days, a half-day farm tour and a Meet & Greet pau hana on the first day. Day One runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Day Two runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
      Register at koha.la/wholesale. Walk-in registration may be available for $70 with lunch contingent on availability. Limited scholarships are available; contact scaban@kohalacenter.org to apply.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN LEARN about Social Security this week. Workshops take place this evening at Na`alehu Community Center, tomorrow at The Cooper Center in Volcano Village and Friday at Ocean View Community Center. All sessions are from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. See ad below for topics covered. Reserve at 327-5410.

KEANU YOUNG, OF THE STATE Legislature’s Public Access Room, will explain easy-to-use tools on the state Legislature’s website during We the Powerful workshops in Ka`u on Friday. At capitol.hawaii.gov, Ka`u residents can access information easily, keep track of it and deliver testimony efficiently. The dashboard allows the public to access everything the website offers from a single screen. Tracking lists help residents assess the status of numerous pieces of legislation and provide an easy format for downloading. 

      Friday’s workshops are at 11 a.m. at Ocean View Community Center and 2:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.
      See par@capitol.hawaii.gov or 974-4000 x7-0478 for more information.

KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED to hear Chicken Skin: Obake Stories Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Master storyteller, kumu and actor Lopaka Kapanui tells true ghost stories of Hawai`i. Tickets are $20 in advance at CD Wizard and Irie Hawai`i; $25 at the door. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests.

      Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8371 for more information.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE for Jazz in the Forest on Saturday. Keahi Conjugacion returns to perform with Volcano Art Center’s Jazz Ensemble.
      Two shows are offered, with a matinee at 4:30 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the matinee are $15 for VAC members ($20 non-members) and for the evening show are $20 for VAC members ($25 non-members).
      Tickets are available at VAC’s Administration Office in Volcano Village, VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and online at volcanoartcenter.org through Friday. After that, tickets will be sold at the door if not sold out.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.