 |
| Ka`u women take off their slippers and dance with their hula sisters from Japan and O`ahu at Dole Park on Lana`i yesterday in preparation for today's performances. Photo by Malian Lahey |
SIGN A PETITION TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT is what U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono is urging. “We’ve already endured five days of the federal government shutdown, and out-of-control Republican leaders are still siding with tea party extremists, refusing to do their jobs and drop their irrational threats against the Affordable Care Act,” Ka`u’s senator said in statement to the public this morning.
“Well, Speaker John Boehner could end the shutdown, right now, if he did one simple thing: Bring the Senate-passed budget bill, with no partisan strings attached, up for a vote in the House, where it would pass with a bipartisan majority,” Hirono stated.
 |
| Sen. Mazie Hirono |
Hirono said she has hui’d up with Senate Democrats “to urge Speaker Boehner to do the right thing and end this devastating shutdown” by circulating a petition at endtheshutdown.org. Hirono said she would begin sharing powerful stories on the Senate floor about the damage done by the shutdown.
Hirono wrote about “Scott and his wife, whose ability to retire soon (and take care of his deteriorating health) depends on the tourism industry near the now-shuttered Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.” She writes about a woman named Steffany who has a husband, a federal worker whose job is to guard the public against food-borne illnesses and contamination. “As an essential employee, her husband still has to report to work, but is doing so without pay. Without a source of income, Steffany is struggling to pay bills, buy food and support her children – one of whom has special needs.” Hirono writes about “Josh, a Department of Defense worker who is the sole source of support for his two young daughters – and who now has no way to pay his bills or get health insurance.
“Milton, a biologist whose work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, had to abruptly halt his research and can’t even access his computer to review existing experiments,” writes Hirono.
Other senators urging constituents to sign the petition are Brian Schatz, Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Mary Landrieu, Patrick Leahy, Claire McCaskill, Patty Murray, Jack Reed and Mark Udall.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Hirono wrote about “Scott and his wife, whose ability to retire soon (and take care of his deteriorating health) depends on the tourism industry near the now-shuttered Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.” She writes about a woman named Steffany who has a husband, a federal worker whose job is to guard the public against food-borne illnesses and contamination. “As an essential employee, her husband still has to report to work, but is doing so without pay. Without a source of income, Steffany is struggling to pay bills, buy food and support her children – one of whom has special needs.” Hirono writes about “Josh, a Department of Defense worker who is the sole source of support for his two young daughters – and who now has no way to pay his bills or get health insurance.
“Milton, a biologist whose work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, had to abruptly halt his research and can’t even access his computer to review existing experiments,” writes Hirono.
Other senators urging constituents to sign the petition are Brian Schatz, Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Mary Landrieu, Patrick Leahy, Claire McCaskill, Patty Murray, Jack Reed and Mark Udall.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Sen. Brian Schatz |
HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS’ AND REPRESENTATIVES’ OFFICES are closed to the public, even though the elected officials are voting and lobbying to reopen the federal government. A recording on the Washington, D.C. phone of Sen. Brian Schatz at the Hart Senate Office Building says: “We are all very disappointed that a shutdown of the federal government has occurred. Please know that Sen. Schatz is still doing all he can to represent our interests and to reopen the government as quickly as possible. Regretfully, our office has being told by legal counsel that during the shutdown we are unable to continue many of our usual functions, including all constituent service work. Both our Honolulu and D.C. offices cannot answer the phones, and much of our staff has been furloughed.”
The message at the top of Sen. Mazie Hirono’s government website says: “My office is currently closed due to the government shutdown. Correspondence with my office may be delayed once the office resumes normal business operations. Casework and tours will be suspended until operations resume. You can still use this site to make a request, and you will receive a reply once operations return. Mahalo.” Her phone at the Hart Senate Office Building also says her office is closed.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard |
PAYING FURLOUGHED FEDERAL WORKERS, a bill co-sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, passed the U.S. House of Representatives today with a 407 to zero vote. The Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act (H.R. 3223) ensures federal employees will receive back pay, regardless of furlough status. The legislation now goes to the Senate for a vote. The Obama Administration yesterday announced its support for the bill.
“The House today voted to do the right thing and pay our furloughed federal workers,” Gabbard said. “These public servants have been unfairly caught in the midst of these partisan arguments. They and their families do not deserve to lose their paychecks because Congress is at an impasse. In Hawai`i, more than 17 percent of our workers are federal employees. That means more than 25,000 hard-working people have been furloughed during this government shutdown. Because the House passed the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act today, these workers and their families can look forward to some relief in the midst of this harmful shutdown.
Democratic leaders urged the House to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the federal govenrnment so that workers could go back to work and be paid for working rather than staying at home.
Democratic leaders urged the House to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the federal govenrnment so that workers could go back to work and be paid for working rather than staying at home.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Demitrius Oliviera and Gene Beck back up Cyril Pahinui at Lana`i's cultural festival. Photo by Malian Lahey |
DANCING AT DOLE PARK ON LANA`I, hula sisters from Ka`u, Japan and O`ahu practiced yesterday to prepare for today’s cultural festival. With community fundraising, this is the first time the Pahala contingent from Halau Hula O Leionalani has traveled to Lana`i. Debbie Ryder and her halau have been coming to Ka`u Coffee Festival each year. Joining the halau were men from Ka`u who helped build a Hawaiian Village at the park, along with musicians Demetrius Oliveira and Gene Beck with their Keaiwa band and backing up Cyril Pahinui, who also plays each year at Ka`u Coffee Festival. Most of the group from Ka`u reached Lana`i by boat.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SIG ZANE, THE FAMED HAWAI`I ISLAND designer, has teamed up with Hawaiian Electric Co. to introduce a Native Hawaiian-themed logo for the utility company serving this county, Maui and O`ahu.
A statement from HECO says that “the new logo was developed by respected designer Sig Zane of Hilo and combines traditional Hawaiian design elements with a modern look. Zane worked on the design with his wife, cultural expert Nalani Kanakaole, and their son Kuhao. They drew upon Hawaiian Electric’s 122-year history for their inspiration.”
The statement quotes Sig Zane saying, “From the very beginning, when King Kalakaua pioneered electricity at Iolani Palace and chartered Hawaiian Electric, the company has played a key role in Hawai`i’s growth. We wanted to create a design that captures that history and reflects the way the company connects our communities.”
More information and a video on the development of the logo can be found at hawaiianelectric.com.
The statement quotes Sig Zane saying, “From the very beginning, when King Kalakaua pioneered electricity at Iolani Palace and chartered Hawaiian Electric, the company has played a key role in Hawai`i’s growth. We wanted to create a design that captures that history and reflects the way the company connects our communities.”
More information and a video on the development of the logo can be found at hawaiianelectric.com.
 |
| Lori Lei Shirakawa and her halau performed at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo last week. |
OCTOBER IS ENERGY ACTION & ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH, and Ka`u residents helped kick it off by performing at Prince Kuhio Plaza Energy Fair in Hilo last week. Lori Lei Shirakawa’s halau danced hula and offered music as those attending visited many displays on energy efficiency and new forms of alternative energy, sponsored by Hawai`i Electric Light Co. for Energy Awareness Month. This year’s federal outreach for Energy Action Month calls for empowering leadership, innovation and excellence “to move beyond business as usual and raise the bar for operational excellence and a secure energy future.”
See a home energy checklist at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/services/energy_aware_hec.html.
ART FOR THE COVER OF THE DIRECTORY 2014, the annual publication of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, is announced today. A reception with light refreshments takes place until 11 a.m. at CU Hawai`i credit union in Na`alehu to announce winners of the art show that has been on display all week.
Memberships and advertising are also being taken by the Chamber for The Directory 2014, which raises money for scholarships for Ka`u college students. Call 928-6471.
ART FOR THE COVER OF THE DIRECTORY 2014, the annual publication of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, is announced today. A reception with light refreshments takes place until 11 a.m. at CU Hawai`i credit union in Na`alehu to announce winners of the art show that has been on display all week.
Memberships and advertising are also being taken by the Chamber for The Directory 2014, which raises money for scholarships for Ka`u college students. Call 928-6471.
 |
| Ka`u Trojans practiced at Lahinaluna Field on Moloka`i yesterday for today's game against the Farmers. Photo from Ka`u Athletics |
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS IS A WEEK FROM TODAY. The event begins with a parade at 9 a.m. with pa`u horses and riders, cane trucks, classic vehicles, students and musical, cultural and agricultural groups. Following the parade are history and ethnic displays, music, dance, food and Ka`u coffee as well as Miss Hawaiian Islands at Pahala Plantation Manager’s House until 3 p.m. Sponsored by Ka`u Multicultural Society.
IN SPORTS, KA`U HIGH SCHOOL’S eight-man Trojan football team plays the Moloka`i Farmers today at 11 a.m. Air riflery is at Waiakea at 10 a.m., girls volleyball is at Honoka`a at 10 a.m., and cross country is at Kamehameha at 3 p.m.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
