Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014

Democratic candidates and new Ka`u County Council member Maile David (second from left) rallied supporters at Mo`oheau
 Bandstand in Hilo last night in advance of today's General Election. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR OFFICE and those already elected, including incoming Ka`u Council member Maile David, Sen. Russell Ruderman and Mayor Billy Kenoi, converged on the Mo`oheau Bandstand in Hilo last night. It was the traditional election eve rally that has drawn candidates and sitting elected officials since 1954. They gave speeches under a banner, “Moving Forward Together Because People Matter Most.”

Sen. David Ige, candidate for govermor.
Photo by Julia Neal

Rep. Richard Onishi
Photo by Julia Neal

      Hawai`i County's mayor, not up for election this year, said he would never miss the iconic, historic event at the bandstand. Kenoi said he was first brought there as a child by his father. Several speakers mentioned that this was the first bandstand rally without the late Sen. Dan Inouye. His successor, Sen. Brian Schatz, gave a Democratic rallying speech along with Sen. Mazie Hirono.
      The rally honored the late Piggy Kaleohano, who was the regular sound man for the rally for years and also supported many events in Ka`u.
     Ikaika Mahoe, Chair of Hawai`i Island Young Democrats, said the bandstand is a place where hope has been defended for 60 years. “Hope is when a mother goes to work hoping to be paid the same as her male counterpart. Hope is what a U.S. senator has when he stays up all night trying to convince fellow congressmen that climate change is real. Hope is when Mayor Billy says ‘No can? Always can!’”
      Hirono called Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency chief Darryl Oliveira “man of the hour” for his work on the Puna lava flow. She praised gubernatorial candidate David Ige: “He is going to make our economy strong (and) take care of our kupuna. ... We are going to elect David Ige. ... Going to govern collaboratively. ... College affordability will be at the forefront.”
      East Ka`u Rep. Richard Onishi and other Democrats described the Democratic Party as a group who cares about other people. West Ka`u Rep. Richard Creagan, who was described by Hawai`i Island Democratic Chair David Tarnas as being in a tight race, answered his own question of why he is running: “I want to have a good life, and a big part of that for me is helping others to have a good life. That is what I tried to do as a Peace Corps volunteer, doctor and teacher, and that is what I am trying to do as a state representative.”
     He also said the most important race is for governor. Creagan said Ige “is a good man who wants his fellow citizens to have a good life. We need to elect a Democratic team led by David Ige.”

Sen. Russell Ruderman
Photo by Julia Neal

Rep. Richard Creagan
Photo by Julia Neal

      East Ka`u and Puna Sen. Russell Ruderman played guitar with his band to start off the evening. He later talked about the lava threat. “We’re going to be asking for your kokua; we’re going to need the help of our statewide partners and our federal partners. When this lava flow is no longer in the news and there’s no longer hurricanes in the news, we’re still going to need serious help. We’re going to ask you folks to be good Democrats, good human beings, and help us out, and in return, I know that we’re going to learn lessons that will help other neighborhoods when they’re hit with disasters. We’re going to learn some lessons about how to pull together and support each other.”

      Missing was Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, whose representative said she had been called up as a Hawai`i Army National Guard police captain to be deployed to Puna ahead of the lava flow. She will join about 80 soldiers and airmen already on the ground. During this time, her offices in Hawai`i and Washington, D.C. will remain open and serving her constituents. The duration of her duty is yet to be determined.

      Sample ballots for today’s General Election are available at hawaii.gov/elections. Local polling places at Cooper Center in Volcano, Ka`u High School cafeteria, Na`alehu School cafeteria, Ocean View Community Center and Miloli`i Halau are open until 6 p.m.

Hawai`i Army National Guard member walks with other disaster workers toward lava
that recently covered Apa`a Street in Puna. Photo from Big Island Video News

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA YESTERDAY SIGNED a Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance in response to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s Oct. 24 request for federal aid to supplement local emergency protective measures in response to the June 27 lava flow that continues to threaten Pahoa. The declaration allows for emergency protective measures under the Public Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to assist Hawai`i County.

      Emergency protective measures undertaken by Hawai`i County include repair, restoration and re-establishment of alternate routes in and out of affected communities. State efforts include measures to accommodate approximately 900 schoolchildren who will be displaced by the lava flow, and support to county requests for additional air quality monitoring.
      Kenneth K. Suiso has been named coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Suiso said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by results of further damage assessments.

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HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTS that the flow front remains active but has not advanced since yesterday. Activity has been limited to breakouts along the margins or sides of the flow as well as on the flow surface. Additional breakouts upslope of the flow front are being monitored, and those breakouts currently do not present an immediate threat to area residents.

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A VICTORY EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL banquet on Sunday celebrated Ka`u High School Trojans’ Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship. It is the first BIIF football title for the Trojans since 1962. 

Kainalu Ke shared a Samoan siva dance with his family after
 the awards ceremony. Photo by Tanya Ibarra

      Held at Na`alehu Community Center, the event recognized all team players. Kaimanu Medeiros-Dancel is Outstanding Senior. Trieson Pascubillo is Outstanding Junior. Kali`i Aipia-Dolan is Outstanding Sophomore. James Kuahiwinui-Kaimanu is Outsanding Freshman. Cy Tamura scored Most Touchdowns.

Kupono Palakiko-Leffew is
All-around player.
Photo by Tanya Ibarra

      Evan Manoha earned Best Defensive Player. Rodney Kuahiwinui, Jr. earned Best Offensive Player. Kainalu Ke showed Best Academic Improvement. Kupono Palakiko-Leffew is Best All-Around Player. Rigan Kaapana earned title of Hardest Worker. Kaweni Ibarra earned Coaches’ Choice Award.

  Each player received a certificate of recognition signed by each of the nine County Council members. The County Council invited the Trojans to a reception on Dec. 18 to honor their achievements and announce their victory.

      Among special guests on Sunday, Thane Milhoan from Sportz Viz spoke about college football opportunities.

Carlos Uribe-Bounces
shares his music.
Photo by Tanya Ibarra

    Also recognized on Sunday were members of past Trojan championship teams. Class of 2014 Trojans Jamal Buyuan and Rigan Kaapana received recognition along with their fathers from a previous JV winning team. Anthony Emmsley Ah-Yee received recognition, along with his grandfather, who played on the 1962 winning Trojan team. 

   Carlos Uribe-Bounces shared his musical skills with the crowd at the banquet honoring Ka`u High's football champions. Also recognized were Ka`u Lions Pop Warner coaches Sonny Breithaupt and Daniel Bivings for their team’s performance this year. High school coach Kainoa Ke said, “The Pop Warner League is where our players start now. It’s up to them to get ready for high school football there, then when they come up, they play.”

      This story was written by Ka`u High School journalism intern Kaweni Ibarra.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Dennis Kamakahi's son David will play at a memorial
 concert for his late father this Saturday in Pahala.

A CONCERT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE of the late Dennis Kamakahi takes place this Saturday, Nov. 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Sponsored by the Center for Hawaiian Music Studies, the concert and kani ka pila with `ohana features John Keawe, Diana Aki, Martin Pahinui, Ben Ka`iwi, Dennis’ son David Kamakahi, Keoki Kahumoku, Peter deAquino, Kai Ho`opi`i, the Abrigo `Ohana, Katy Rexford, Rion Schmidt and more. Donations will be accepted.

JELENA CLAY HOLDS HER EVER-POPULAR Holiday Wreath Workshop Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
      For over 15 years, Clay has been teaching workshops at Volcano Art Center on how to create one-of-a-kind wreaths with a variety of native and non-native foliage. This classic workshop demonstrates techniques to create beautiful holiday wreaths. Participants learn how to twist cordage and create roses out of natural materials. These are skills that can be used for many other things including gift wrapping and lei making. The workshop includes tips on plant gathering and how to dry wreaths so they will last.
      Students are encouraged to bring seed pods, liko, mossy branches, etc. Cost for the workshop is $30 for VAC Members and $35 for non-members, plus a $20 supply fee.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.