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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015

Volcano Art Center's 16th annual Christmas in the County celebration begins with a members-only preview party Friday evening.
Photo from VAC
KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN yesterday hosted Department of Health epidemiologist Sarah Park on Health Care in Hawai`i, his weekly program on Think Tech Hawai`i. They, along with Lynn Nakasone and Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan, discussed Hawai`i Island’s current  dengue fever outbreak. Green and Creagan, both doctors, previously called for DOH to step up its actions to stem the outbreak. As of this morning, confirmed cases number 72, with 62 being residents and 10 visitors.
Sen. Josh Green, Dr. Sarah Park, Lynn Nakasone and Rep. Richard Creagan
discuss dengue fever. Image from Think Tech Hawai`i
      “We are working with the county very, very closely,” Park told Green. “Actually, we’re letting them take the lead because they know their island best. We’re letting them tell us where the areas are and how we can support them best in reaching those areas.”
      Park said that all health care providers she has reached out to assured her that all persons who enter their facilities would receive appropriate care regardless of their ability to pay. 
      “Public health’s role is really to facilitate access to health care, and this outbreak has really served to shine a beacon light on the bigger root cause issue in Hawai`i as a whole, which is the health care crisis. Especially on the Big Island, we have a shortage of primary care physicians and nurses and physician assistants, so this is a definite concern on the part of our director, on the part of the governor, and we’re working together. Our solution right now is in the future to try to reach out to all our partners to try to address this issue.”  
      Green said, “There are these real fundamental impediments that we’ve been working on for years.”
      A link to the archived program is available at facebook.com/SenatorJoshGreen.
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Henry Yang, of TMT
HAWAI`I SUPREME COURT HAS GRANTED a stay on the Conservation District Use Permit for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. The stay is effective until Wednesday, Dec. 2 or until further order of the Court. 
      TMT opponents on Tuesday filed a motion asking the court to prevent TMT crews from accessing the summit. Their request followed a Nov. 10 announcement by Henry Yang, chair of the TMT International Observatory Board of Governors, that a small crew of local workers will conduct site preparation activities at the site this month, starting with equipment maintenance and repairs. On Monday, Hawai`i News Now reported that work crews were expected to ascend the mountain this morning.
      Opponents’ motion for a stay reads in part, “This Honorable Court has not yet entered its decision, and TMT is doing anything but being respectful to this Honorable Court with its decision at this point to go forward with construction when a decision has not yet been rendered. Further, TMT has no respect, nor conscience to the Conservation District and Mauna Kea, and, of tremendous significance, no respect, nor conscience to the public safety of the large number of protectors, who will undoubtedly be responding to the TMT announcement, law enforcement personnel and others, in a potential faceoff on Wednesday, because of TMT’s blatant disregard for the legal process and the major decision that is still pending before this Honorable Court. It is because of this blatant disregard and disrespect of the legal process by TMT, and this Court’s decision that is still pending following the oral argument that was held on Aug. 27, 2015, that this Emergency Motion for a stay is being brought.”
      Gov. David Ige said, “The maintenance and equipment repair work TMT plans to undertake will protect the environment and enhance public safety as we head into the winter season. This is not the start of construction of the telescope.
      “As governor, I am committed to upholding the law and providing safe access for those who need to get to the summit of Mauna Kea, and that includes those involved with the TMT project. Our primary concern is for the safety of all.
      “If this work is stopped, it is not a victory. It will harm the environment. If there is violence, as some have suggested, that is not a victory. We are one community, and we must continue to search for a resolution that will keep this community together.”
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KA`U LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM begins in January. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands brings the program to build leadership skills that may be used in community service, participants’ jobs and personal life. There is no cost to participants for the program that has a value of up to $2,000 per person. 
      The program consists of a series of four two-day sessions and one orientation in 2016: Jan. 9, Jan. 23–24, Feb. 27–28, March 19–20 and April 23–24. Participants must commit to attend all class sessions. In addition, participants are expected to volunteer for a total of 20 to 40 hours to complete a class project within six to nine months after the last class session.
      Classes are held at Pahala Community Center.
      Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries and other residents of Hawai`i Island are eligible. Eligible participants include high school students, kupuna, emerging beginner to experienced leaders, community/nonprofit members, private sector individuals, government workers, people in farming/agriculture, arts/culture, education, environment, health and human services and faith-based environments. Maximum class size is 30.
      Topics include the practice of leadership, interpersonal communication, marketing, stakeholders, resource development and development of class projects.
      For an application form, contact Gigi Cairel at 808-620-9461 or Gigi.O.Cairel@hawaii.gov.
      DHHL expects the class to include diverse participants of all ages and levels of experience.
      The sessions incorporate activities that apply to real projects. The format is a facilitated learning style that draws from the experiences in the group.
      Participants gain skills that can be used in professional and personal settings. Skills learned are include how to run effective meetings, how to work with different personality types and public speaking.
      They network with a diverse group of people in the community – making connections for potential collaborations and also have the opportunity to make a difference and give back to the community.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, A MEMBER of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted against two resolutions to overturn standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to reduce pollution that harms public health and contributes to climate change. President Obama announced his intention to veto both resolutions.
       “President Obama has taken important steps to clean our air and help reduce the harmful effects of climate change,” Hirono said. “The Clean Power Plan will save thousands of lives nationwide annually. Instead of fighting Presidential actions that will have a huge benefit in the lives of so many, Congress should support efforts to address the environmental and national security consequences of continued dependence on fossil fuels and move forward with cleaner energy.”
       The Clean Power Plan would reduce emissions from existing power plants. The EPA has deferred setting standards under the Clean Power Plan for Hawai`i, Alaska, and the U.S. territories until the agency is able to gather additional information. The President's Climate Action Plan also sets nationwide performance standards for new or modified power plants.
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THE ART EXPRESS COMES to Discovery Harbour Community Hall Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. 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.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY BEGINS with a Volcano Art Center members-only preview party at VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. On Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., VAC members are invited to be the first to view the full collection of unique wreaths and handcrafted decorations and gifts offered. Enjoy complimentary gourmet pupus, mulled cider and champagne, prize drawings and membership discount.
      Joining is easy and secure at volcanoartcenter.org, or purchase a one-day membership upon arrival for $15.
      Park entrance fees apply.
      For more information, call 967-8222.

LA KU`OKOA, HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY, will be celebrated with potluck and music at Kahuku Park in Ocean View on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 12 noon until pau.
      Call 896-9201 for more information.

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




See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.