Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015

After leading the Ka`u Plantation Days parade, the cane truck parked on the side of Maile Street so that field workers riding on front could view pa`u riders and marching community organizations. Photos by Ron Johnson

THE SKIES CLEARED as the cane truck traveled down Maile Street to begin Ka`u Plantation Days this morning. Eli Vierra drove an ATV for Ka`u Multicultural Society, which organizes the event.

Ka`u Pa`u Queen Lorilee Lorenzo led pa`u riders through Pahala
to begin Ka`u Plantation Days.

      Pa`u riders representing the Hawaiian Islands followed, with Pa`u Queen Lorilee Lorenzo and her mother Mahina, father Frank and brothers Frank, Jr. and Jesse leading others.
      Ua and Gavin Galimba represented Ni`ihau; Kehau and Mana Ke, Kaua`i; Merle Becker and John Wacker, Oa`hu; Keana Kuluwaimaka and La`a Ke, Moloka`i; Mikela and Donnell Akana, Lana`i; Teani Souza, Kaho`olawe; Alexa Wacker and Kailee Kahalua-Stacy, Maui; and Samantha Wacker and Kealia Galimba, Hawai`i.
      Others joining the parade were Friends of the Ka`u Libraries, Boys & Girls Club, Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda, Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, and Hunny Ke cleaning up after the horses.
      Ka`u Coffee growers also set up displays about the history of the industry that is flourishing almost 20 years after the sugar plantation closed down.
      Residents also are shared stories about camps where they lived and played.
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The Lorenzo family joined Queen Lorilee as her court.

TROPICAL STORM OLAF will be a major hurricane when it crosses into the Central Pacific Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Once Olaf gains enough northern latitude, a drier environment with an increase in southerly or south-southwesterly shear should result in weakening.
      Olaf follows thunderstorms from remnants of Tropical Depression Nora that battered Ka`u last night. Many residents reported lightning and thunder that appeared to be directly overhead. Lightning struck a transformer in Pahala, causing power outages to several residents.
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GOV. DAVID IGE SIGNED an emergency proclamation that enables the state to quickly funnel money toward the facilitation of rapid construction of a temporary shelter for homeless families, the immediate extension of existing contracts for homeless services and an immediate increase in funding for programs that promote immediate housing.

Friends of the Ka`u Libraries marched in the parade before manning
their booth to raise funds to support their cause.

      State funds of more than $1.3 million were identified this month, paving the way for the emergency proclamation. The monies will serve an additional 1,000 homeless individuals between now and July 31, 2016, providing increased funding for homeless services and programs that promote permanent housing for families and the chronically homeless.
      The emergency proclamation will also facilitate construction of a transitional housing facility for homeless families. The facility will be temporary and have a clear sunset date.
      State, city, federal governments and various service providers have worked together to place 158 individuals and 25 families from Kaka`ako on O`ahu into shelters since the effort began in early August. That’s 54 percent of homeless individuals surveyed in Kaka`ako in early August and more than 80 percent of the families surveyed.
      “The lesson learned is that great things can be accomplished when we all work together,” Ige said. “Despite the recent success of enforcement efforts in the Kaka`ako Makai area, homelessness remains a serious issue in every county throughout the state. We plan to replicate the Kaka`ako model as we work to address homelessness in communities across the state.”

Pa`u riders honored their ancestors.

      “There’s still much work to do,” said Scott Morishige, Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness. “Hawai`i has the highest rate of homelessness per capita among the 50 states, with an estimated 465 homeless individuals per 100,000. The alarming increase in unsheltered individuals and families over the past two years is particularly significant on O`ahu. This proclamation will expedite the state’s plans to help these individuals and families to more quickly transition to permanent housing.”
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PAUL GIBSON, OF OCEAN VIEW, is spending five years in prison, John Burnett reported in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. Gibson was charged with second-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening as the result of an altercation on May 10, 2014. David Coombes was stabbed 12 times, and Hilo Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura yesterday ordered Gibson to also reimburse Coombes for his medical expenses.
      “We’re looking at a mutual affray gone wrong … and Mr. Gibson has responsibility in his role in that,” Gibson’s attorney Michael Zola told the judge. “And what happened after that is that Mr. Coombes, who is a trained fighter at BJ Penn’s gym and is a much heavier guy, got the better of him and he got him on the ground. … The underlying premise here is that Mr. Gibson was being choked out and decided, whether rightly or wrongly, that he needed to pull out his pocketknife and stop (Coombes) from killing him.”
      Burnett said Gibson’s lawyer asked the judge to consider probation and intermittent jail stays or to delay Gibson’s imprisonment so he could finish contracted work “and provide for his family,” but Nakamura ordered immediate incarceration, noting “the seriousness of the offenses.”

Keiki rode in the cane truck with driver Derrick Andrade.

      “You do have a prior criminal history,” Nakamura said. “The court believes that prison terms are appropriate for the purpose of punishment and the deterrence of others. And I think these considerations would override any concerns that one would have for provision for your family.”
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KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION continues pre-registration for its fifth annual Floating Lantern Celebration. The deadline is Sunday, Nov. 15 for the event on Saturday, Nov. 28. The celebration at Punalu`u Black Sand Beach Park’s Medicine Pond from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. honors and remembers love ones, friends, families and caregivers.
      For more information, call 928-0101 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See krhcai.com for photos of past celebrations.

PEOPLE AND LANDS OF KAHUKU, tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., is a moderate two-mile, three-hour guided hike that loops through varied landscapes to explore the human history of Kahuku. Emerging native forest, pastures, lava fields and other sites hold clues about ways people have lived and worked on the vast Kahuku lands – from the earliest Hawaiians, through generations of ranching families, to the current staff and volunteers of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn about the powerful natural forces at work here and how people have adapted to, shaped and restored this land.
      Call 985-6011 for more information.

Pa`u riders and their lei-bedecked horses ride down Maile Street in Pahala. 

SOCIAL SECURITY WORKSHOPS COME to Ka`u and Volcano next week: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Na`alehu Community Center; Thursday, Oct. 22 at Cooper Center in Volcano Village; and Friday, Oct. 23 at Ocean View Community Center. Times for all workshops are 6:30 p.m. 8 p.m.

      Topics include what baby boomers need to know, how divorce affects benefits, how spousal benefits are calculated, how benefits are taxed, effects of employment income, how disability benefits work, how retirement benefits are calculated and more.
      See ad below for more topics. Reserve at 327-5410.

THE ART EXPRESS is scheduled for a week from today on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. At the painting workshop, participants can learn something new or work on forgotten projects. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic or watercolor.
      Sign up with and receive instructions from Meliha at himeliha@yahoo.com.

Ka`u Multicultural Society organizes the annual
Ka`u Plantation Days.

HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY’S Arbor Day Tree Giveaway will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at its office at 1200 Kilauea Ave. in Hilo. Trees will be distributed from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or while supplies last.
      Trees to be given away this year include ko`oko`olau, kokio keokeo, kou, kukui, mamaki, milo and niu.
      The annual event is a partnership with Kua O Ka La Public Charter School, Ho`oulu Lahui, Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program and HELCO. To help perpetuate native species, a variety of organizations across the state routinely organize educational events to distribute native trees and shrubs to the community.
      Information on how to properly plant, site and care for the tree also is distributed. Students and instructors will be available to educate the public on how to care for their trees and explain the cultural significance of the native plants.

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

For Affordable Computer Help, call John Derry at 936-1872.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.