Ka`u News Briefs June 9, 2011

Learning to throw net is one of the activities wrapping up today at Miloli`i for the Pa`a Pono Miloli`i Camp.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

AT NA`ALEHU COMMUNITY CENTER tonight at 7 p.m., Council member Brittany Smart discusses her proposed resolution to delay Council action on any rezoning or general plan amendments in Ka`u until the Ka`u Community Development Plan is completed and in place, or until December 31, 2012, whichever comes first. For more information, call 961-8536.

KA`U COFFEE FARMS brought in over $2,200 for the Grounds for Health during the international coffee auction held over the last two days. Ka`u Coffee green beans went for high prices, with Kailiawa Coffee selling at $45 a pound and Rusty’s Hawaiian selling for $30.20 a pound. Other Ka`u Coffees selling for good green bean prices were JN Coffee; Paradise Meadows; Rising Sun; R&G Farms; Pumehana Fernendez; Kehau Coffee; Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative and Ka`u Forest. The money all goes to health care in medically underserved coffee growing regions around the world.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND has released statistics from cleaning up the shore at Manuka Natural Area Reserve and Kamilo Point. “Many hands indeed make light work!” said organizer Megan Lamson. The volunteers collected and removed over 5,404 pounds of marine debris. At Manuka, 35 participants combed a half mile of coastline and picked up 700 pounds of non-net marine debris. Of the 15,225 pieces, 75 percent was comprised of plastics, 17 percent metal, seven percent cloth, three percent glass, two percent rubber and one percent wood. Finds included a night heron carcass, dead eel, loads of Department of Land and Natural Resources metal tags, a wetsuit, swimsuit and sarong. Most of the plastic collected was super brittle. Also found were piles of degrading aluminum cans, used batteries and busted glass left by campers.
     At Kamilo, 45 participants combed a half mile of coastline, picking up 3,705 pounds of non-net marine debris and 1,000 pounds of derelict fishing nets. About 95 percent of the debris was plastic, and there was much microplastic – like confetti – sorted from the beach sand. Among the finds were a five-gallon bucket lid with barnacles, old Japanese liquor bottles, a three-legged rhino toy, various army men toys, and several fishing vessel tags. Dr. Drew Kapp brought students from the university and college in Hilo, and Lindsay Englund brought students from Waiakea High School to one of the cleanups.

     During the past few years, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund has found a number of boat tags, including two that said 503, which indicates Portland, Oregon; the number 360 from Seattle, Washington; 650 from the San Francisco Bay area; and 707 from Northern California. The next Ka`u beach cleanup will be on Saturday, Sept. 17. Stay tuned for more locations.

VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND this Sunday to load more than seven tons of derelict fishing nets into a Matson container. The nets came from Ka`u Coast Cleanups and are stored at Wai`ohinu Transfer Station until shipment to O`ahu for processing in a nets-to-energy program. Call 769-7629 or email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com to register. 

Looking for opelu via glass bottom box at the Miloli`i camp sponsored by Conservation International.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

KAPUA BAY was the destination of a hike and canoe ride for students at Pa`a Pono Miloli`i’s annual Lawai`a `Ohana Camp yesterday at Miloli`i. The hike was led by Sen. Gil Kahele, who told the history of the fishing settlements along the coast. Students saw the aftermath of the Japan tsunami that hit the coast south of Miloli`i in March, destroying one house and throwing others off their foundations at Honomalino, Kapua and Okoe. Students also saw the remains of thousands of fish along the trail which were thrown onshore by the tsunami. The day was completed by paddling canoe back to Miloli`i and a lu`au. Students presented music videos on their camp experience and enjoyed a live performance by Miloli`i native and renowned Hawaiian singer Diana Aki. The camp wraps up today. It is sponsored by Conservation International and its Hawai`i Fish Trust program.

Sen. Gil Kahele leads youth along the coast between Miloli`i and Kapua Bay, sharing the history of the Hawaiian fishing settlements. 

RAY BROWN, JR., SON OF ELLA FITZGERALD, PERFORMS tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani campus in Volcano Village. His vocals range from jazz and pop to rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 at the door. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org to purchase tickets.

FAMILY FUN FEST IS this Saturday. `O Ka`u Kakou sponsors a fundraiser for Bay Clinic’s building fund. All donations up to $15,000 will be matched by the Edmund C. Olson Trust II. A half marathon, 10K and 5K races begin at 7 a.m. in Na`alehu Park. Other events beginning at 9 a.m. are a hunters’ obstacle course and tournaments in archery, Jan Ken Po, Portuguese horseshoes and basketball. Registration and fee schedules are at race360.com/15811. Throughout the day enjoy information and food booths, a live auction, a jumping castle, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing and a dunking booth. Entertainers include the Hawai`i County Band, Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis and David Kamakahi, the Lava Boys and One Journey. For more information, call 265-8251 or email kaufamilyfunfest@gmail.com.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT begins airing today at 3 p.m. on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television on channel 54. It will air again on Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m.; Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m.; Sunday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m.; and Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE by Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola, under the direction of Keala Ching, takes place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, along with Hawaiian cultural demonstrations at Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts the third annual Volcano Pottery Sale at its Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight Big Island potters showcase a large assortment of pottery and ceramic sculpture at the sale.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP hosts a Summer Jam Disco Saturday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. DJ Erik Strom requests fancy dress with the theme of Beach and Ocean. The cover charge is $3 for dressed-up contestants and $5 for everyone else. Park entrance fees apply.