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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013

The 2013 Volunteers of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park were honored at a luncheon this week.
NPS Photo by Jay Robinson
AT A LUNCHEON HONORING HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK volunteers Thursday, park superintendent Cindy Orlando praised the 1,193 people who worked 46,757 hours in fiscal year 2013 – which equals about $1,035,200.00 in donations. Varied duties for the volunteers included working in museum collections and archives, monitoring backcountry, visitor service, native forest restoration, trail maintenance, endangered species projects and much more. 
      “Volunteers not only enrich the visitor experience, but also the lives of our employees,” said Orlando. “They help us with every imaginable task, and we are indebted to their service.”
      Citizens interested in volunteering at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can see volunteer.gov or contact Kupono McDaniel at 985-6015 or kupono_mcdaniel@nps.gov.
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Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
KAU’S U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD HIGHLIGHTED Hawai`i’s unique role in supporting relief and recovery efforts in the Philippines in a speech to the House of Representatives. 
      “In the wake of such a horrible tragedy, the positive that we can find is the outpouring of compassion, support and – most importantly – aloha, from my state toward the people in the Philippines,” Gabbard said. “The Hawai`i Air National Guard is working with the U.S. Pacific Command as we speak, which is based in Hawai`i, as collectively they provide unparalleled air, maritime and ground support to the aid efforts of the Philippines authorities.
      “I continue to pray for all those who have lost homes, family and friends and encourage all who are able to contribute in any way possible in this recovery effort.”
      American Red Cross is accepting donations at redcross.org.
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INTRASTATE CARGO SHIPMENTS INCREASED 5.2 percent from July through September of 2013 when compared to the same period of 2012, announced Young Brothers, Limited. This increase follows a 4.4-percent rise in cargo during the second quarter.
      Young Brothers president Glenn Hong and his lieutenants held their annual corporate planning retreat earlier this year in Pahala.
      “We believe this is another indicator that the broader local economy is continuing to gain strength, and we’re hopeful it’s the beginning of a trend that will sustain itself,” Hong said. “We still have some ground to make up to get back to levels seen six and seven years ago.” When compared to the peak-volume year of 2007, Young Brothers’ 2013 volume is still down approximately 20 percent.
      During the third quarter of 2013, cargo shipments increased on Hawai`i Island. Hilo climbed 4.2 percent and Kawaihae, 6.0 percent.
      Most industry segments finished the quarter with positive comparisons. Increases occurred in shipments of construction materials; renewable energy, including biofuels; automobile rental fleets; beverages and the entertainment industry, which includes tourism-related shippers.
       According to the Young Brothers Quarterly Report, overall volume for the first nine months of the year is up 1.8 percent compared to the first nine months of 2012.
      On Hawai`i Island, Hilo’s increase in volume for the first nine months of the year was 1.7 percent. Volume at Kawaihae, down slightly for the year, fell 3.4 percent.
      In the third quarter of 2013, agricultural cargo volume statewide increased by 5.3 percent over the year-ago quarter, continuing a trend of positive quarterly comparisons. For the first nine months of 2013, agricultural volume rose 5.8 percent.
      Ag exports from Hawai`i Island during the third quarter 2013 were up 11.8 percent at Kawaihae and 7.2 percent at Hilo. During the first nine months, agricultural exports from Hilo rose 6.5 percent. Agricultural cargo from Kawaihae dropped 8.5 percent.
      Agricultural volume includes only cargo that qualifies for the company’s island product discount of 30 to 35 percent, which applies to locally grown agricultural products.
      For more information, visit youngbrothershawaii.com.
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THE KA`U SCENIC BYWAY MANAGEMENT PLAN is now available for public comment at Na`alehu and Pahala libraries and Ocean View Community Association office. “This is an opportunity for residents to read the Byway Committee’s ideas for making our highway a more interesting and pleasant drive,” said committee member Marge Ewell. 
      Space is available in the documents for comments and suggestions.
      For more information, call Elwell at 929-7236.
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HAWAI`I HEALTH CONNECTOR HAS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT of Tom Matsuda, current Affordable Care Act implementation manager with the governor’s office, as interim executive director. He begins his new role Dec. 9.
      Coral Andrews has resigned as the nonprofit’s executive director, effective Dec. 6.
      A search for a permanent executive director by the board of directors is now under way, and Andrews is assisting the board with the transition to the interim executive director.
Coral Andrews
      “I am honored to have been a part of implementing part of the Affordable Care Act for the people of Hawai`i,” Andrews said. “The Hawai`i Health Connector has some of the most dedicated people I have ever had the honor of working with. Hawai`i is in good hands with this talented group as they continue the mission of delivering access to health care for all Hawai`i residents.”


      “On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Coral for her service to the Hawai`i Health Connector during a critical time and against a very challenging backdrop,” said board chairwoman Sherry Menor-McNamara. “Coral played a key role in building the Hawai`i Health Connector, securing funding and building a network of public and private stakeholders throughout the state. During all that work, she never lost sight of our vision – the Hawai`i Health Connector is of Hawai`i and for Hawai`i.”
      Hawai`i Health Connector is the state’s online health insurance marketplace.
      For more information, see HawaiiHealthConnector.com.
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YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAMS FROM KA`U are invited to compete in the 33rd annual Winter Basketball Classic to be held Dec. 26 through Dec. 29 at Hilo-area gymnasiums.
       Each participating team must submit a completed registration packet by Friday, Dec. 6, to the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Recreation Office located at 799 Pi`ilani Street in Hilo. Registration packets are available at the office and online at hawaiicounty.gov/parks-and-recreation.
      Registration fees are $60 per team for those enrolling in the mixed-gender division for players up to 8 years old and $80 per team for the other age-group divisions. Make checks payable to Winter Basketball Classic.
      Co-sponsored by Hawai`i Police Department’s Hawai`i Police Activities League, or HI-PAL and Hawai`i County Department of Parks and Recreation, the basketball tournament is open to boys and girls 5 to 14 years old.
      The Kevin Kai`ea Pavel Skills Challenge and dinner banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Championship games will be played Sunday, Dec. 29, at the auditorium.
      For more information, call Officer Joseph Botelho, Jr. at 961-8121 or Darrell Yamamoto of the Department of Parks and Recreation at 961-8735.
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ST. JUDE’S CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW hosts an interfaith service of thanksgiving tomorrow at 2 p.m. with speakers from the Christian Science church, the Tibetan Buddhist Mission, Wood Valley and Shepherds from Ka`u. All are welcome to share in this nondenominational service and bring some food to share.

Karen Kaufman signed up new Volcano Art Center members at the
opening of Christmas in the Country yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TODAY AND TOMORROW at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
      Volcano Art Center has launched a campaign for membership and funding for new programs at its Ni`aulani Campus after suffering loss of income in the recent federal government shutdown. The goal is to top $100,000. Memberships are available at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and at the Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village or by calling 967-8222.
      All activities and demonstrations at Christmas in the Country are free of charge; park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-7565.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS on Mamalahoa Hwy in Na`alehu hosts a Creche Festival for the entire community a week from today on Saturday, Nov. 30 from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
      For more information, call 339-7402.

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.