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| Miss Ka`u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya dances hula at the regular Friday night fundraiser dinner at Gilligan's Cafe in Discovery Harbour to raise money for a charter school in Ka`u. She is accompanied by Bradley Llanes. Photo by Julia Neal |
GATHERINGS AT KA LAE with music and food are being defended by organizers. Tom Anthony, of Manu O Ku based in Hilo, said he works with the group Na Hoku O Ka`u, which, he said, is comprised of some of the Native Hawaiian ranchers and other Hawaiians who are eligible for Hawaiian Home Lands. He said the group of volunteers is helping to keep Ka Lae clean as well as educate people about the archaeology and Hawaiian history of the area. Anthony described pau hana gatherings as “anything but raves.” He was responding to reports of raves at Ka Lae during a police department meeting with the public last week. Anthony described two recent gatherings as mahalos for volunteers and an effort to get young people interested in learning and caring about Ka Lae. He said the effort is not just for Native Hawaiians, but for young people traveling through the area and volunteering, much like woofers volunteer on farms. He said it is good for young local people to work side by side and get to know traveling young people from all over the world and that some of these young wanderers are very enthusiastic to volunteer at Ka Lae and to learn about Hawaiian culture.
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| Tom Anthony Image from Big Island Video News |
Anthony pointed out that Ka Lae and Green Sands Beach are becoming more and more popular with visitors, now that a paved road has been completed to the boat ramp area. He said latrines and other facilities are needed to reduce liability and improve sanitation and that the cottage industry of Hawaiians acting as guides for the visitors could be somehow supported to help develop this entrepreneurship.
He said that Na Hoku O Ka`u helped to clean up an old military site at Ka Lae after a group of native Hawaiians were evicted from there years ago and that the group maintains the grounds, including mowing, and provides a composting latrine on site for the public. He called the group an “unincorporated action alliance.” He said volunteers in the cleanup include members of the John Kalua`u and Kuahiwinui familes.
Anthony said that the liability and sanitation concerns are pre-exisiting to the volunteer group sponsoring gatherings at Ka Lae. “Hotels and the state encourage people to visit Ka Lae and Green Sand Beach. Visitors to the area, whether from Hawai`i or afar, “are defecating all over the place. Toilet paper competes with the pa`u o hi`iaka and the `ilima and other native plants,” he contended.
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| Eunice Longakit and Moses Espaniola, Jr. performed at Gilligan's Cafe. Photo by Julia Neal |
He said there is increased erosion on the unpaved road to Green Sand Beach with more visitors going there. The beginning of the trail has no latrine. He said the growing popularity of Ka Lae and Green Sand Beach is an opportunity for Hawaiians and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work together to solve the problem. He said he could envision an impact fee charged to visitors that would help provide funding to take care of the place.
Anthony said his group will visit with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands representatives soon and that DHHL staff members have come to lunch with the Hoku O Ka`u group at Ka Lae. “They know who we are. This rave stuff; this is not us.” He also said that the group is not affiliated with the “Rainbow gathering” promoters who have held camping and music events on other lands near Ka Lae.
Anthony said Na Hoku O Ka`u is not aiming to be exclusive and invites people of all ethnicities, and from all places, including visitors, to volunteer. He said a major goal is to protect the archaeological sites of the area and to solve the sanitation problem.
Anthony can be reached 494-9699. John Kalua`u, of Na Hoku O Ka`u, one of the volunteers who is also a rancher on Hawaiian Home Lands there, can be reached at 854-3057.
Anthony said his group will visit with Department of Hawaiian Home Lands representatives soon and that DHHL staff members have come to lunch with the Hoku O Ka`u group at Ka Lae. “They know who we are. This rave stuff; this is not us.” He also said that the group is not affiliated with the “Rainbow gathering” promoters who have held camping and music events on other lands near Ka Lae.
Anthony said Na Hoku O Ka`u is not aiming to be exclusive and invites people of all ethnicities, and from all places, including visitors, to volunteer. He said a major goal is to protect the archaeological sites of the area and to solve the sanitation problem.
Anthony can be reached 494-9699. John Kalua`u, of Na Hoku O Ka`u, one of the volunteers who is also a rancher on Hawaiian Home Lands there, can be reached at 854-3057.
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDRAISING continues Friday and Saturday nights at Gilligan’s Cafe in the Discovery Harbour golf course clubhouse from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant and bar opened to raise money for the Ka`u Learning Academy and is providing a stage for young local talent with Miss Ka`u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya, Bradley Llanes, Moses Espaniola, Jr. and Eunice Longakit performing last night. The menu includes Ka`u Coffee, beer and wine, pizza, lasagna, pasta dishes and desserts. The sponsors said they hope to soon start a Sunday brunch service and that they have been working hard on a state-approved charter for their school.
See bigislandgilligans.com and kaulearning.com.
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| Ka`u's U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard supports funding to fight the coffee berry borer. Photo by Peggy Greb/USDA Ag Research Service |
DAVE CHUN, REP. TULSI GABBARD’S LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT, is asking Ka`u coffee growers for information that would be used to support funding at the Office of Management and Budget level for coffee berry borer research and development of an Integrated Pest Management plan. “If successful, annual funding challenges could drastically be decreased,” Chun said.
Chun asks: How has the CBB changed your bottom line? Percent change from 2010 to present would be helpful. Have you had to curtail your workforce, and if so, by what percentage? How many workers? How much in extra funds have you had to use to address CBB related impacts? Have your purchases of supplies from local vendors decreased/increased because of the CBB? If so, what percent and dollar amount? What percentage and dollar amount per acre per month are you expensing for CBB control? Have exports been reduced? Have you experienced reduced value (lower-grade coffee)?
Chun asks growers to add other data/information/thoughts that they may feel comfortable in providing.
For more information and to provide answers, contact Chun at 202-225-4906 or dave.chun@mail.house.gov.
Chun asks growers to add other data/information/thoughts that they may feel comfortable in providing.
For more information and to provide answers, contact Chun at 202-225-4906 or dave.chun@mail.house.gov.
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| Dr. Doede Donaugh, left, Charleen Roddy and Cindy Cohen open Mango Medical this Monday. Photo by Ron Johnson |
DELAYED ONE WEEK, MANGO MEDICAL opens its Ocean View clinic Monday. Dr. Doede Donaugh, APRN Cindy Cohen and case coordinator Charleen Roddy held a public reception yesterday amid last-minute construction work. The clinic features a mango-colored wall in the reception area, and even the staff’s electronic notebooks are mango. The website, mangomed.org, asks and answers the question, “Can a mango a day keep the doctor away?”
Ocean View resident Laura Riblett said, “This is the best medical staff there is.” She said that, while at Bay Clinic, Donaugh helped her family more than any other doctor she’s known, and she knows many people who are waiting for the doctor to open her new office."
The clinic is next to Solar Works at 92-8691 Lotus Blossom Lane, #6. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 939-8100 for appointments.
The clinic is next to Solar Works at 92-8691 Lotus Blossom Lane, #6. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 939-8100 for appointments.
NA`ALEHU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is receiving $50,000 through a grant to Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council. Gov. Neil Abercrombie approved allotment of funds for planning, design and construction for emergency repairs and access improvements, as identified by members of the state Legislature.
“This money will be used to improve accessibility for our kupuna and the disabled, particularly those living in remote communities,” Abercrombie said. “These funds represent an investment in community and nonprofit efforts that will have significant impacts in the lives of local individuals and families they serve.”
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| Noel Eberz prepared hot dog lunches at Discovery Harbour rummage sale. Photo by Ron Johnson |
Repairs will facilitate outreach and services (transportation, energy and education programs) to disadvantaged residents. A popular program is the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which subsidizes electricity or gas bills of qualified disadvantaged households.
Each June, HCEOC provides outreach for the energy assistance program administered by the state Department of Human Services and local utility companies.
Each June, HCEOC provides outreach for the energy assistance program administered by the state Department of Human Services and local utility companies.
DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S rummage sale to benefit its volunteer fire department goes until 4 p.m. today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot dog lunches are available today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds go toward the purchase of supplies not provided by the county.
DURING A FREE PROGRAM AT THE KAHUKU UNIT of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow, participants learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `ohi`a lehua tree and its flower. The one-hour long program begins at 9:30 a.m.
THE FINAL SANCTUARY WHALE COUNT for this year takes place a week from today, on Saturday, March 29. Volunteers gather at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach, Ka Lae and also at Ka`ena Point in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey. To sign up, see sanctuaryoceancount.org or call 808-268-3087.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
