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Saturday, November 14, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015

Tropical cyclones swirled around the Hawaiian Islands, but none made direct hits so far this hurricane season, which officially ends on Nov. 30. Image from Central Pacific Hurricane Center
MAKAHIKI PULE `AINA HOLO traveled through Ka`u on Friday. The ceremonial run takes Lono around the island in three days. Lono is carried and handed from one runner or walker to the other around the entire island. From Miloli`i to Honaunau, it goes by wa`a (canoe).
Ka`u keiki pass Lono one to the other during Makahiki Pule `Aina Holo.
Photos from Nohea Ka`awa 
      It left Honoka`a and traveled clockwise around the island to Hilo, upper Puna, Ka`u and continues into Kona and Kohala, over the mountain road to Waimea and down to Waipi`io Lookout, ending in Honoka`a tomorrow.
      According to Lanakila Manquail’s Facebook page, the run follows the practice of the Ali`i procession that went around the island in the days of Hawaiian ancestors. “With deep humbleness and respect to the traditions of our kupuna, this walk or run is to give our time, energy, sweat, body, and ha (breath) to feed the pule and consciousness of all to heal and malama our `ohana, our lahui (nation) and our `aina,” Manquail said.
      Manquail’s intent is to bring this tradition into the 21st century. He was inspired by the revival of traditions observed with the Pitt River Nation of Northern California, where the idea of a ceremonial run was born. Manquail has participated a few times in their run.
      Last year, some Pitt River Native Americans flew in to participate in the Hawai`i run. “Where we don’t have people to run, they will run,” Manquail said of last year’s event. “We are in the season of Makahiki, therefore the runners will carry the Lono staff around the island.” 
      Verna Ka`awa and `Ohana, Jesse Ke and `Ohana, James McCabe, Lehua Lopez, Allison Yahna, her friend Laura and Jaime Kawauchi provided food, paper goods and drink donations for the runners and supporters during the Ka`u portion of the run.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE SEARCHING for a man who frequents the Ka`u area for questioning in an abuse case. Daniel Lemaire, 34 years old, is described as five-foot-10-inches tall, 185 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.
Lono passed through Ka`u Friday on the way around the island.
      Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
      Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers calls are kept confidential.
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THE NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island has risen to 38 as of yesterday, Hawai`i Department of Health reported. Thirty are residents, and eight are visitors. Thirty-two cases are adults, and six are under 18 years of age.
      Melissa Fletcher, of Volcano, told Leila Fujimore, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that mosquitoes may have transmitted dengue from her to a friend and her friend’s three-year-old daughter. Fletcher is still waiting for test results to confirm dengue.
      State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park told Fujimori that even healthy people can get severe dengue fever, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. “Some first-time dengue patients can get severe dengue,” she said. “They can die within several days. People have trouble clotting blood, losing blood into their tissues. Blood pressure drops. They need aggressive support in the ICU.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
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THE U.S. NAVY PLANS TO PREPARE a new environmental impact statement for training and testing exercises in the Pacific Ocean from December 2018 onward, including the use of sonar and explosives that threaten widespread harm to whales, dolphins, other marine mammals and imperiled sea turtles. The move follows a March 31 federal court ruling that the Navy illegally failed to consider restricting military exercises in biologically important areas within the Hawai`i-Southern California Training and Testing Study Area to reduce harm to marine mammals.
A Ka`u resident carries Lono through Wai`ohinu.
      “We urge the public to get involved and tell the Navy its new study needs to examine ways to keep destructive training out of vital marine mammal habitat,” said Marjorie Ziegler, executive director of Conservation Council for Hawai`i.
      The public comment period on the new environmental impact statement ends Jan. 12, 2016. Submit comments online at http://www.hstteis.com.
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WITH A RECORD 15 TROPICAL CYCLONES in the Central Pacific this year, “We were extremely lucky this season,” Bob Ballard, science and operations officer at Central Pacific Hurricane Center, told Craig Gima, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser
      Hurricane season officially ends Nov. 30, but Ballard warned that because of El Nino conditions, there is a higher-than-normal chance of storms developing in the Central Pacific beyond the season. El Nino reduces wind shear, the difference in wind speed and/or direction with height, Dr. Phil Klotzbach said on The Weather Channel. Wind shear often weakens storms.
      Klotzbach also said there have been more days with multiple hurricanes in the central Pacific basin this season than all other years combined since 1970.
      The tropical cyclones also disrupted Hawai`i’s usual trade wind flow. That, coupled with the warm ocean surface warming the air, create hotter than usual conditions in the state.
      While Hawai`i has been lucky, Ballard said, “We’re a small target in a big ocean, but it’s just a matter of time. There’s no particular reason why hurricanes can’t reach the islands if conditions are right.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
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SIERRA CLUB, BLUE PLANET FOUNDATION and other groups want the state Public Utilities Commission to post transcripts of the evidentiary hearing on the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Industries and NextEra Energy, according to Nathan Eagle, of Civil Beat. The 12-day hearing begins on Monday, Nov. 30 at Blaisdell Center on O`ahu.
Makahiki Pule `Aina Holo participants gathered at Wai`ohinu Park.
      The PUC last week announced that any party in the case that wants transcripts must make arrangements directly with the court reporter.
      “Making the hearing transcript publicly accessible (including a rough daily transcript) will: (i) promote transparency and accessibility for the public at large, including neighbor island residents and parties; and (ii) help avoid “repetitive, or cumulative cross-examination,” Blue Planet Foudation’s Program Director Richard Wallsgrove said. 
      Other groups said not issuing transcripts puts small nonprofits that can’t afford to fly from the neighbor islands to attend the hearing at a disadvantage.
      See civilbeat.com.
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“COULD IT BE PELE’S REVENGE?” asks a story in Honolulu Star-Advertiser regarding Rapid `Ohi`a Death, which is threatening native forests as it spreads on Hawai`i Island. The story says that “according to Hawaiian legend, the goddess turned `Ohi`a, a warrior, into a tree after he rebuffed her marriage proposal. The gods took pity on `Ohi`a’s real love, Lehua, and turned her into a flower on the `ohi`a tree so they could be joined forever.”
      The story suggests that `ohi`a lehua may be in short supply for hula adornments during next year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
      See staradvertiser.com.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO WILL HOST a federal grants webinar in partnership with National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities and Institute of Museum and Library Services. Individuals and nonprofit organizations interested in learning about federal funding opportunities for their respective arts, culture or linguistics programs are invited to join the free webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
      “I have long been and continue to be a proud supporter of the arts,” Hirono said. Whether it’s music, literature, visual arts or other performing arts, these endeavors enrich our lives and fill our spirit. I strongly urge art-focused organizations or anyone who has a passion for the arts and culture to participate in this federal grants webinar.”
      “Arts and cultural organizations are the lifeblood of the Hawai`i community,” said volunteer arts advocate Melissa Pavlicek. “Helping arts and cultural organizations connect with governmental grant funders will strengthen the local community.”
      The webinar will feature presentations that include examples of how grants are implemented in other communities; upcoming grant opportunities; tips for applying for grants; eligibility, application criteria and the review process; and how to connect with these federal agencies.
      Interested organizations can register at http://bit.ly/1kg9jL8.
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Participants learn about the People & Land of Kahuku tomorrow.
NPS Photo by Julia Espaniola
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers a free, guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain tomorrow. People & Land of Kahuku, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., focuses on the area’s human history.

MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Forest Restoration Project. Volunteers plant native seedlings in the Mauna Loa section of the park on Friday, Nov. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Register at forest@fhvnp.org or 352-1402.

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