Kau News Briefs Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Science Camp of America students explored Kula Kai Caverns in Ocean View. Photo from Science Camps of America

SCIENCE CAMPS OF AMERICA this week wraps up its 18 days with Ka`u as base for teen programs called Land & Sea and Air & Space. The non-profit organization's founder Mike Richards, of O`ahu, said he chose the Big Island because it is "nature's greatest laboratory." He said he chose Ka`u because of its access to natural and manned laboratories for studying science, from the Ka Lae Coast where the students witnessed the onslaught of plastic garbage from the ocean and helped clean up the shoreline just east of the South Point boat ramp, to the NOAA weather station on Mauna Loa where John Barnes arranged a meeting with a visiting scientist.

  

Science Campers explored Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park with a talk by
Janet Babb. Photo from Science Camps of America

     Shalan Crysdale, of The Nature Conservancy, gave a talk on water resources. Gary Gura, Ric Elhard and Victor Manongdo, of Kulakai Caverns, guided the students through the caves at Ocean View. Dr. Janet Babb, of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, gave a talk on the research at the Jaggar Museum.
     Science Camp arranged for students to engage with U.H. Hilo Marine Science Department chair Jason Adolph and graduate students Ron Kittle and Derek Watts to sample nearshore
waters. At Imiloa, students, led by Puawai Rice, observed data sets for turtles tracked by radio tag, plotted on a global map. At Keck Observatory headquarters, Al Honey arranged a Skype visit to the Houston control center for the International Space Station.
     With help from Mary Brewer, Science Camp students participated in the Fourth of July Parade in Volcano. At Gilligan's Cafe in Discovery Harbour, they studied fossils collected by Joe Iacuzzo, co-founder of Ka`u Learning Center with Kathryn Tydlacka.

Aaron De Los Santos holds a pele's tear up to his cheek. He won
a scholarship to Science Camps of America.
Photo from Science Camps of America

     Science Camp was based at Pahala Plantation Cottages and received scholarships from the Olson Trust for two of its Big Island students. Participating students came from Na`alehu, Kohala, Puna, Maui, Kaua`i, O`ahu, Alaska, New York, California and Vermont. The camp cook, Debbi Lahav, came from Tel Aviv, Israel. Counselors came from O`ahu and California. Camp nurse came from O`ahu.
    Richards said the team will be back next year at its Ka`u base at Pahala Plantation Cottages. For scholarship and contact information and more on the program, see http://sciencampsamerica.com. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I OUTDOORS INSTITUTE chose Ka`u as one of its laboratories for its teen camp this summer. Students joined the Ka`u Coast cleanup last weekend under the direction of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and Megan Lamson, during its 24-day Ahupua`a Environmental Science Camp. Its Ka`u base was Pahala Palntation Cottages.

Ahupua`a Environmental Science Camp chose Ka`u for
sessions for teens this summer.
Image from Hawai`i Outdoors Institute

   Earlier in the summer, Hawai`i Outdoors Institute sponsored a Wind & Water camp. Hawai`i Outdoors Institute describes itself as "a non-profit experiential education program for teens. Located on the Big Island of Hawai`i, our mission is to foster a love of the outdoors in young people which inspires environmental stewardship and future leaders." One focus is the biodiversity of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. One of its slogans, by Albert Einstein, is: "Look deeper into nature, and then you will understand everything better."
     The Ahupua`a course synopsis says: "Ancient Hawaiians lived by the ahupuaʻa system; dividing the islands into territories stretching from the mountains to the sea. Those living at high elevations harvested hardwoods used for tools and canoes. Those at mid elevations farmed and raised livestock. Those on the coast fished. Extended families shared with each other, and all their needs were met sustainably.
     "Today, the Big Island is a living classroom with 11 out of 13 climate zones at our fingertips. It’s a laboratory of experimentation with wind and solar energy. Efficiently populated, there is ample room for sustainable agriculture. There is simply no place better to study the interconnectedness of life on this planet and how humans can make a difference."
     The course included topics: Earth Systems & Resources, The Living World, Population, Land & Water Use, Energy Resources & Consumption, Pollution and Global Change. See more at http://hawaiioutdoors.org. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A TRAVELING SLAUGHTERHOUSE is in the planning by the Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, the Kohala Center and rancher Mike Amado who held a meeting at Na`alehu Community Center last Thursday.  Among those who attended were Ka Lae cattle ranchers Tissy and Dean Kaniho; Barney Frazier of Waiohinu, who raises lambs and sheep; Ka`u Farmers Union United treasurer and County Council candidate Richard Abbett; Hawai`i Farmers Union United Big Island President Steve Sakala; and Earth Matters farmer Greg Smith who grows food in Ka Lae.

      A mobile slaughterhouse would move from ranch to ranch and families could use the facility to process cattle they have grown or purchased on the hoof for beef. Booking a stationary commercial slaughterhouse for processing meat can often mean a long wait and a long drive for ranchers. The organizers are hoping to put together funding for two mobile slaughterhouse units on this island. Examples were given of one in use in Pudget Sound and another in Kansas.

A mobile slaughterhouse would move from ranch to ranch.
Photo from the USDA

 The organizers have been working on a feasibility study and surveying ranchers. Melanie Bondera of the Kohala Center, Hazel Beck of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, and rancher Amado made the presentation. Proposals to fund the mobile slaughterhouse included forming a cooperative to accept investments, grants and loans.
     The group plans another meeting in Ka`u in the future. For more information, call Beck at 327-3680.  To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

LIMITING THE NUMBER OF MOORINGS according to marine traffic and nearshore carrying capacity of bays in Hawai`i is a good example of natural resource management, said Rep. Richard Creagan, following the governor putting a halt to additional moorings at Keauhou Bay. Creagan said that Abercrombie "cut to the chase and said, 'I get it,'" when the small community at Keahou asked the governor to stop the addition of moorings at Keauhou Bay, which is used by commercial operations like Fairwinds boating tours. It is also a favorite bay of canoe paddlers, fishermen, surfers, swimmers and divers who had been asking for a moratorium on new moorings for some time. Abercrombie sent a letter to more than 1,000 people yesterday, announcing his decision. Many of them were petitioners opposing the additional moorings.  The governor's letter said that "I want to assure you that additional moorings are not and will not be given consideration in any improvement plans for Keauhou Bay. The State will conduct an Environmental Assessment that will allow ample public input to determine what improvements are desired ....Hawai'i's environment is precious, and we will take care to hear everyone's view to ensure that we achieve balance."  To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE is on the agenda this Saturday for public input as Ka`u Hospital hosts an annual public meeting of East Hawai`i Regional Board of Directors for Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. at 2 p.m. Topics discussed will be specific to Ka`u and its surrounding community. There will be an overview of services offered at Ka`u Hospital and its rural health clinic. The floor will be opened for comments and suggestions on providing healthcare for residents of East Hawai`i. For more, call Terry Larson, Administration Secretary at 932-3103.