About The Kaʻū Calendar

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013

Scholarships are available for Ka`u youth to attend next month's eighth annual Kahumoku `Ohana Hawaiian Music &
Lifestyle Workshop at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal
OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS HAS HIRED a new chief operating officer. Kawika Burgess starts his job Oct. 31, taking responsibility for running the day-to-day operations of the agency, which has about 170 employees.
Kawika Burgess Photo from Kanu Hawai`i
      OHA said Burgess brings to his second-in-command post a background in land management from positions held at Kamehameha Schools and the Trust for Public Land.
      He joins OHA at a time when the agency is focused on tackling challenges including improving its effectiveness as the state’s 13th-largest landowner, with more than 27,530 acres of land.
      “With this appointment, we have put in place an essential management and structural dimension for addressing the critical issues facing our organization,” said OHA CEO Kamanaopono Crabbe. “I am very excited about the prospects for our organization with the addition of Kawika to OHA’s executive team.”
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

U.S. SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO has sent “a heartfelt mahalo” to her constituents following the reopening of the partially shutdown federal government. “After 16 days of standing strong against an extreme faction of Republicans, we convinced enough people to finally end the misguided government shutdown and prevent a catastrophic default on our nation’s bills,” Hirono said. “Now that we’re on the other side of this manufactured crisis, I’m taking some time to reflect. It’s clear this never should have happened – and I’m disappointed about the turmoil and pain this has caused for so many families.
      “But I also am incredibly grateful for something: you. 
      “You helped end this shutdown. Almost 200,000 people signed our ‘End the Shutdown’ petition to John Boehner – an amazing number that got noticed on Capitol Hill.
      “And hundreds of supporters just like you shared stories with me: stories like Scott’s, whose ability to take care of his deteriorating health relies on the tourist economy surrounding Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park – a park and economy shuttered for 16 days because of the shutdown. Or the story of a worker at Pearl Harbor who worried not just about his ability to pay his mortgage, but the negative impact the shutdown could have on our Pacific Fleet’s ability to stay ready and defend our country.
      “I shared your stories on the Senate floor and with my colleagues to convince those supporting the shutdown just how devastating this crisis was for real families and communities.
      I truly think it helped make a difference, so from the bottom of my heart: Mahalo.
      “While there is absolutely no excuse for the kind of reckless politics the right wing of the Republican party has played, I find encouragement in your participation in the civic process. That’s what gives me great hope that we will continue to tackle tough challenges that lie ahead, like finally getting immigration reform through both chambers of Congress.”
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

False killer whales are listed as an endangered species. Photo from
NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
A NECROPSY OF A RARE DOLPHIN found dead at South Point on Oct. 5 revealed five fish hooks in its stomach. The hooks were floating along with partially digested remains of a large marlin, some tuna and several types of squid. The hooks weren’t embedded in the stomach lining, and there’s no evidence they caused the dolphin’s death, Kristi West, the Hawai`i Pacific University professor who led the necropsy, told reporter Audrey McAvoy. 
      The cause of death is yet to be determined.
      Last year, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed the dolphins, also called false killer whales, as endangered. There are just 150 to 200 of them remaining.
      According to the Associated Press story, the hooks were types used by commercial and recreational fishermen. Some looked new, and others appeared to be ingested a while ago. None were circle hooks recently adopted by Hawai`i longline fishermen under a rule issued last year by the NMFS to prevent accidental snagging of dolphins. Circle hooks are designed to hook fish on the mouth, which makes it less likely that dolphins will get caught when stealing fish.
      The dolphins like to eat ahi tuna, mahimahi and many other fish caught on fishing lines.
      The National Marine Fisheries Service considers hook ingestion a serious injury, said Robin Baird, a research biologist with Cascadia Research Collective. Marine mammals have died trying to regurgitate hooks.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Keoki Kahumoku hosts the eighth annual
Hawaiian Music & Lifestyles Workshop
next month.
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO KA`U YOUTH for the eighth annual Kahumoku `Ohana Hawaiian Music and Lifestyles Workshop taking place from Nov. 2 through Nov. 10 on the grounds of Pahala Plantation House. This week-long event offers opportunities to learn ki ho`alu (slack key guitar), `ukulele, steel guitar, songwriting, music theory and hula from some of today’s top masters. Other cultural activities include lei making, chant, Hawaiian Song and choir, lauhala and coconut palm weaving, food preparation and traditional crafts. Tuition for the event includes all music and cultural classes, private one-on-one lessons from all instructors, three meals a day prepared by Keoki Kahumoku and staff featuring local farmers and ranchers of Hawai`i Island, nightly kani ka pila, imu ceremony, food demonstrations, and more. 
      Instructors include Dennis David Kahekilimamaoikalanikeha Kamakahi, Led Kaapana, George Kahumoku Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, John Keawe, James Hill, Anne Janelle, Brittni Paiva, Jon Yamasato, Brad Bordessa, Peter deAquino, Konabob Stoffer, Darci Baker, Ka`iwi Perkins and Jesse Ke.
      Scholarships are given to students who show a specific interest in Hawaiian music, language, culture and lifestyle. Students are required to write an essay on a given topic and fill out a questionnaire in order to be considered. Forms are available at konaweb.com/keoki and are due this Friday, Oct. 25.
      For more information, contact Tiffany Crosson at tiffanyfreedom@gmail.com or 938-6582.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Feed the Hunger Foundation invites Ka`u entrepreneurs to apply
for loans to start or expand production of food for local
consumption. Photo from feed-hunger.com
FEED THE HUNGER FOUNDATION explains its program on Monday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. The organization invites Ka`u low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses aiming to expand or start producing food for local consumption to apply for loans from $2,000 to $100,000. With $1.5 million to award in Hawai`i micro-loans, the foundation “is dedicated to helping Hawai`i achieve economic 
resiliency through innovative and sustainable solutions,” said a statement about loan availability. 
      Past loan awardees in Hawai`i have included entrepreneurs who 
purchased equipment and supplies for a highly efficient aquaponic fish and 
vegetable system, opened a small café dedicated to using local ingredients, took
 courses to become a commercially licensed driver, and opened a business 
serving ethnic foods.
      For
 information about FTHF, visit feed-hunger.com. For further information and to apply for a 
loan, contact Denise Albano at denisealbano@feed-hunger.com.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Na`ohulelua Historical Church hosts a garden talk story and
plant and seed exchange tomorrow.
NA`OHULELUA HISTORICAL CHURCH hosts its monthly garden talk story and plant and seed exchange tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Call 929-8164 for more information. 

IN SPORTS, KA`U HIGH’S GIRLS VOLLEYBALL team plays Pahoa today at 4 p.m. in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation third-place match and final spot in Hawai`i High School Athletic Association’s Division II state tournament. The Trojans fell to HPA yesterday with scores of 25-15, 23-25, 25-15 and 27-25.

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.