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| Mayor Billy Kenoi said he wants to work with Ka`u's new Hawai`i County Council member Maile Medeiros David and her supporters, including Bobby and Phoebe Gomes, who attended the inauguration yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
MAILE MEDEIROS DAVID became Ka`u’s Hawai`i County Council member yesterday. She and eight other members took their oaths of office at Ah Fook Chinen Auditorium, where Mayor Billy Kenoi was keynote speaker. Kenoi encouraged the council members to work with his administration and told them his team is available whenever the council needs help.
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| Maile Medeiros David became Ka`u's new Hawai`i County Council member yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
Kenoi told The Ka`u Calendar that he wants his administration and the County Council to work together like at team in a “double-hulled canoe, with everybody paddling in the same direction.”
“We’re pursuing the great enthusiasm, the great joys of serving our beautiful Hawai`i Island, and at the end of the day, we’re going to agree, we’re going to disagree, but we no need be disagreeable. Our community deserves our very best, and no less,” Kenoi said.
Kona council member Dru Kanuha is chair, and Hamakua council member Valerie Poindexter is vice chair. Stewart Maeda continues as clerk.
Kona council member Dru Kanuha is chair, and Hamakua council member Valerie Poindexter is vice chair. Stewart Maeda continues as clerk.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
GOV. DAVID IGE INTRODUCED HIMSELF “and the path ahead filled with hopes and dreams—that are not new but go back generations” during his inauguration speech yesterday. “To truly understand why we stand at this point in history, and more importantly, to determine where it is we want to go, we must first remember where we came from,” he said.
Ige described his journey as extending from previous generations. “I stand here today — in the shadow of my parents’ and grandparents’ accomplishments — because of their willingness to sacrifice and look to my future,” he said. “And so I say to them, and to my mother who is watching us from the hospital today, with the greatest humility: ‘Okage sama de. All that I am, I am because of you.’
“We have an opportunity to chart a new tomorrow. We have an opportunity to fulfill longstanding hopes and dreams. We have an opportunity to make Hawai`i a place we are proud to call home because it is our home.
“We have an opportunity to chart a new tomorrow. We have an opportunity to fulfill longstanding hopes and dreams. We have an opportunity to make Hawai`i a place we are proud to call home because it is our home.
“But for now that’s all it is: an opportunity. Before us are the challenges that those opportunities present. We still have to do the hard work to reach our goals and realize our dreams. For government that means nurturing a sustainable economy that will allow us to put a roof over our heads, feed our families and take care of our basic necessities.”
Ige said issues such as the lack of affordable housing, homelessness and hunger are greatly diminished when the economy is healthy.
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| Gov. David Ige |
He mentioned other issues he will be working on, including looking at new ways to empower schools, improving health care, helping kupuna live independently and with dignity, stewarding the environment, increasing alternative energy, diversifying agriculture and increasing government’s transparency and accountability.
“What has always defined us is our aloha—for each other and for others,” Ige said. “That’s truly who we are. That is the ultimate gift from our host culture and one that we give to each other each and every day.
“Hawai`i has never been about ‘I.’ Rather, it has always been about ‘us’ — all of us.”
Ige said, “As leaders, our job is to engage people so that they will want to participate in this grand experience in self-governance. Our job is to help people take ownership of the process of electing their government. As leaders, our job is to inspire others and not discourage them.
“I will be asking every member of my administration, from clerk to department head, to keep this in mind as they meet with all who come to our door, and to always remember: This is not their house; this is not my house; and to, e komo mai, welcome home all who come.
“When people take ownership of their government, when they are engaged in governance, when they thoughtfully and honestly discuss issues — good things happen.
“As I prepare to take over the reigns of your government, I ask each of you to join me in the process of governing. I ask you to find your voice and use it to not only choose your elected officials but to shape the issues that will shape our lives.
“What has always defined us is our aloha—for each other and for others,” Ige said. “That’s truly who we are. That is the ultimate gift from our host culture and one that we give to each other each and every day.
“Hawai`i has never been about ‘I.’ Rather, it has always been about ‘us’ — all of us.”
Ige said, “As leaders, our job is to engage people so that they will want to participate in this grand experience in self-governance. Our job is to help people take ownership of the process of electing their government. As leaders, our job is to inspire others and not discourage them.
“I will be asking every member of my administration, from clerk to department head, to keep this in mind as they meet with all who come to our door, and to always remember: This is not their house; this is not my house; and to, e komo mai, welcome home all who come.
“When people take ownership of their government, when they are engaged in governance, when they thoughtfully and honestly discuss issues — good things happen.
“As I prepare to take over the reigns of your government, I ask each of you to join me in the process of governing. I ask you to find your voice and use it to not only choose your elected officials but to shape the issues that will shape our lives.
“I ask you to help me with the heavy lifting that I cannot do alone.
“Join me in dreaming the dreams, setting the path and doing the hard work necessary for the sake of all of us in Hawai`i.
“And so I say to you, my friends, I look forward to working with all of you—to make good things happen.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR KA`U HOSPITAL Charitable Foundation expresses heart-felt thanks for all the many ways the public has supported Ka`u Hospital in 2014.
The board announces a new way to support the Hospital as it starts to build a new in- and out-patient Physical Therapy Program. By making purchases through Smile.Amazon.com, 0.5 percent of every purchase will go toward this program.
Set up an Amazon account and note your password; proceed to smile.amazon.com and there will be a prompt to list your charity of choice, which must be fully typed in: Kau Hospital Charitable Foundation.
KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER is Thursday at Gilligan’s Restaurant in Discovery Harbour at 6 p.m. Dinner is $15 a person for pizza or spaghetti, salad and dessert. Beverages include beer, wine or soda. Money will be collected at the door.
Memberships with a listing in The Directory 2015 are $35 and will be accepted at the meeting.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
“Join me in dreaming the dreams, setting the path and doing the hard work necessary for the sake of all of us in Hawai`i.
“And so I say to you, my friends, I look forward to working with all of you—to make good things happen.
“Thank you for this wonderful opportunity and my sincerest aloha to all,” Ige concluded.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
LAVA THAT CONTINUES TO FLOW IN PUNA was 2.7 miles from the intersection of Pahoa Village Road and Hwy 130 this morning. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s overflight yesterday mapped a narrow finger of lava that has broken away from the western edge of the flow field and that is moving to the north at rates of several hundred meters per day. Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported that the flow had advanced 400 yards since yesterday.
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| A new flow front in Puna is reaching an area it could take one of two paths, or both, according to HVO scientists. Map from Hawai`i County Civil Defense |
The flow is nearing a point where several lines of steepest descent nearly converge. According to HVO scientists, it is not clear which path it will eventually follow until the flow reaches this area.
Pahoa Marketplace, with Malama Market, Lex Brodie’s Tire Co., Ace Hardware and several other businesses and services are in one of the possible paths. Another path takes it toward the housing subdivision of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Pahoa Marketplace, with Malama Market, Lex Brodie’s Tire Co., Ace Hardware and several other businesses and services are in one of the possible paths. Another path takes it toward the housing subdivision of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR KA`U HOSPITAL Charitable Foundation expresses heart-felt thanks for all the many ways the public has supported Ka`u Hospital in 2014.
The board announces a new way to support the Hospital as it starts to build a new in- and out-patient Physical Therapy Program. By making purchases through Smile.Amazon.com, 0.5 percent of every purchase will go toward this program.
Set up an Amazon account and note your password; proceed to smile.amazon.com and there will be a prompt to list your charity of choice, which must be fully typed in: Kau Hospital Charitable Foundation.
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| Ka`u residents can help Ka`u Hospital by shopping at smile.amazon.com. |
You will receive a confirmation that all purchases you make with Amazon will now be made through smile.amazon.com. Bookmark this site per their instructions on your browser.
Shoppers will always see smile.amazon when using Amazon. Checks will be sent directly to Ka`u Hospital.
For their support this year, KHCF sends special thanks to Edmund C. Olson Trust II, Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u, Ka Lae Quilters, Ka`u Golf Group, Bank of Hawai`i Foundation, Monty Richards Hawai`i Island Community Award, community members who have purchased cookbooks, T-shirts and have made donations and gifts to hospital staff and residents.
For more information, email KauHCF@gmail.com.
Shoppers will always see smile.amazon when using Amazon. Checks will be sent directly to Ka`u Hospital.
For their support this year, KHCF sends special thanks to Edmund C. Olson Trust II, Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u, Ka Lae Quilters, Ka`u Golf Group, Bank of Hawai`i Foundation, Monty Richards Hawai`i Island Community Award, community members who have purchased cookbooks, T-shirts and have made donations and gifts to hospital staff and residents.
For more information, email KauHCF@gmail.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER is Thursday at Gilligan’s Restaurant in Discovery Harbour at 6 p.m. Dinner is $15 a person for pizza or spaghetti, salad and dessert. Beverages include beer, wine or soda. Money will be collected at the door.
Memberships with a listing in The Directory 2015 are $35 and will be accepted at the meeting.
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| A slide presentation about the Nepal Foundation takes place Sunday. Photo from Mary Carroll |
MARY C. CARROLL, KA`U RESIDENT and Honorary Consul of Nepal, presents a free program about the Nepal Foundation on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church. A question-and-answer session and light refreshments follows.
Those who make a tax deductible donation of $50 per person or more to the Nepal Foundation are invited to attend a Christmas reception immediately following the program at 95-4667 Hawai`i Belt Road between milepost 59 and 60. Make checks payable to the Nepal Foundation and send to Mary C. Carroll, PO Box 654, Na`alehu, HI 96772 by Dec. 4.
HANA HOU RESTAURANT’S KEIKI CHRISTMAS party is Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 5 p.m. in Na`alehu. Previous announcements in Ka`u News Briefs of it being this Thursday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. are incorrect.
The annual event, sponsored by Drake and Patty Fujimoto with volunteers from `O Ka`u Kakou and donations from many businesses and community members, features a visit with Santa, a feast for all and gifts for keiki.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
