Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Nov. 20, 2015

A wide variety of art will be available at Volcano Artist Hui's 29th annual Tour and Sale opening a week from today on Friday, Nov. 27. See more below. Image from VAC

FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED in Hawai`i Island’s current dengue fever outbreak, Gov. David Ige said during a press conference yesterday. The governor said the state has weekly conversations with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has briefed the White House, as well. National Guard and Navy personnel are being deployed to support the county with additional resources as requested by Hawai`i County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira and Mayor Billy Kenoi. “We are applying the resources necessary to contain and manage the situation,” Ige said.

Aedes albopictus is one of two species of mosquitoes on Hawai`i Island
that can transmit dengue fever. Photo from DOH

The state is also transferring Department of Health personnel from other islands to Hawai`i Island, he said.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito, found only on Hawai`i Island in the state, has been found only on the west side so far, according to state Environmental Health Services Director Lynn Nakasone. Aedes albopictus, which also transmits dengue, is found on all islands.
This weekend, vector control crews plan to spray at 10 schools that are in hot spots, which DOH reported as Kona and Ka`u. The Ka`u Calendar was unable to contact DOH regarding possible spraying at Ka`u schools.
Director Virginia Pressler said DOH will be distributing free mosquito repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long pants in an effort to keep vulnerable people from being bitten.
Also, Hawai`i County Environment Management Department announced that all transfer stations will temporarily accept up to 10 tires (rims not accepted) per resident per day during business hours. Tires can be sources of standing water, where mosquitoes breed. If there is a community clean-up of tires, coordinate disposal with Solid Waste Division at 961-8270.
DOH added nine more confirmed cases of dengue fever today, bringing the total to 88. Seventy-five are Hawai`i Island residents, and 13 are visitors. Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 11 and Nov. 15.
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Luis P. Salaveria

HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, Economic Development project that Hawai`i`’s economy will continue stable growth in the next few years.
Labor market conditions continue to improve though the first three quarters with civilian labor force, employment and payroll jobs setting historical high levels during the first nine months of 2015.
DBEDT’s report indicates a shift in the visitor market. Reflecting the strong U.S. dollar and weakening Japanese yen, Japanese arrivals declined by one percent through September this year, and spending by Japanese visitors declined by 10.1 percent. However, visitor arrivals from the U.S. West market increased 7.5 percent, and visitor expenditures from this market increased by 6.9 percent.
“We are pleased that Virgin America started a new daily flight from San Francisco to Honolulu on Nov. 2 and will start a new daily flight from San Francisco to Kahului on Dec. 3 this year,” DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria said. “This will bring more West Coast visitors to our state and offset the decline in Japanese visitors. This news and the continued growth in our local job market are positive trends in our state’s economy.”
DBEDT revised the economic growth rate for 2015 to two percent from 1.9 percent projected last quarter and keeps the economic growth rate the same as projected in August at 2.3 to 2.4 percent until 2018. These rates are slightly lower than the U.S. economic growth rates of 2.4 percent for 2015 and 2.6 percent for 2016. Hawai`i’s economic growth has been below the U.S. since 2012, and DBEDT expects that the trend will continue for the next few years.
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Image from Office of the Senator

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO SPOKE on the Senate floor against anti-immigrant sentiment and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling against President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs.
“Together, the expanded DACA and DAPA programs will mean that around five million more individuals will be able to work legally, pay their taxes and care for their families,” Hirono said.
“Today, politicians – from Presidential candidates to sitting governors – appeal to our nation’s fears in arguing against any meaningful reform of our broken immigration system. Conjuring up shadowy images fuels these fears. Violent gang members from South America. Terrorists from the Middle East,” Hirono said, referring to some politicians calling for the U.S. to reject Syrian refugees in the wake of terrorist attacks last Friday in which they may have involved.
“In their divisive rhetoric and in their rush to build walls and close our borders, they neglect the faces of those they demonize. And they forget the facts,” Hirono said.
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

REP. TULSI GABBARD AND A COLLEAGUE, both members of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced a bipartisan bill to end U.S. efforts to overthrow the Syrian Arab Republic led by President Bashar al-Assad.   Gabbard, a twice-deployed combat veteran, said the intent of the bill is to “bring an immediate end to the illegal, counter-productive war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad. The U.S. is waging two wars in Syria. The first is the war against ISIS and other Islamic extremists, which Congress authorized after the terrorist attack on 9/11. The second war is the illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad.
“The war to overthrow Assad is counter-productive because it actually helps ISIS and other Islamic extremists achieve their goal of overthrowing the Syrian government of Assad and taking control of all of Syria – which will simply increase human suffering in the region, exacerbate the refugee crisis and pose a greater threat to the world. Also, the war to overthrow Assad is illegal because Congress never authorized it.
“To destroy ISIS will take international alliances. If we are serious about defeating ISIS and solving the refugee problem, we’ll work in partnership with Russia, France and anyone else who is serious about destroying ISIS and affiliated Islamic extremist organizations worldwide.
“The problem is, because the U.S. is trying to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad and Russia is supporting the government of Assad, it is impossible for us to have an effective, cooperative relationship with Russia in our mutual fight against ISIS. Our focus on overthrowing Assad is interfering with our ability to destroy ISIS.
“We must immediately end the illegal, counter-productive war to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad and ally ourselves with any countries willing to focus on destroying the Islamic extremists who pose a genuine threat to civilization,” Gabbard concluded.
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Harry McKee established a scholarship foundation
for Ka`u students. Photo from Harry McKee
Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors

THE HARRY MCKEE SCHOLARSHIP Foundation Board of Directors invites Ka`u’s college-bound high school seniors to apply for the 2016 McKee Foundation $1,000 scholarship.
To be eligible, students must be residents of Ka`u and plan to attend any accredited college, university, vocational school or training program. Students must enroll full-time as first-time freshmen in the fall of 2016. There is no specific major required, and selection is based on the comprehensive application.
McKee left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Ka`u. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education.
McKee was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman and an active civic leader. He was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate `ohana.
The McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors strives to carry on McKee’s work in Ka`u.
Applications are available online at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by Feb. 16,, 2016. For more information, see the foundation website.
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KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers free programs this weekend. Participants learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `oh`ia lehua tree and its flower tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
Palm Trail Hike on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail providing one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
See nps.gov/havo.

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Tour & Sale begins a week from today on Friday, Nov. 27 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Volcano Village. Meet artists in their studios throughout the village. Maps and more information are available at VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com, as well as at Volcano Village businesses.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S 13th annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit opens tomorrow and continues through Jan. 3 at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Artists working in a wide variety of media, materials and techniques present their highly creative concepts of “wreath.”
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free; park entrance fees may apply.
See volcanoartcenter.org.

KAHIKAHEALANI WIGHT SIGNS HER BOOK Rainforest Pu`uhonua Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of Volcano Art Center’s Christmas in the Country celebration. Rainforest Pu`uhonua tells the story of five years spent living in a Hawaiian rainforest in the 1980s.
The event at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is free; park entrance fees may apply.
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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.