The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016

Jami Beck, a graduate of Kaʻū High School and Youth Ranger, teaches keiki about the rainforest at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Park. The scholar athlete is also a candidate for Miss Teen Hawaiʻi in Honolulu on Dec. 17. An on-line
vote for for Miss Photogenic takes place through Dec. 12. See story below.

CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD is planning to join hundreds to thousands of veterans, many of them Native Americans, this Sunday, Dec. 4 at Standing Rock, North Dakota to protect clean water and historic sites from the Dakota Access Pipeline. The 1,172 mile-long pipeline would transport about half the fracked oil produced at Bakken, North Dakota, taking it past Sioux tribal lands and their freshwater sources, under the Missouri River into South Dakota and Missouri to Illinois, hooking up with other pipelines to refineries.

     Gabbard is scheduled to join the water protectors on the day before the deadline that Army Corp of Engineers set for everyone to leave the pipeline construction area. Calling themselves “Native Water Protectors” rather than protesters, the large group that is camped near the Missouri River grew from about three dozen in April to 5,000 on Labor Day. Comprised of some 300 tribes, including Native Hawaiians, the protectors and their supporters have held their ground for more than six months in hot to frigid weather. Some have been arrested. Their slogan in the Sioux language is “Mni Waconi.” In English, it is “Water is Life.”
      Once completed, the pipeline would carry daily as much as 570,000 barrels of fracked crude oil  past the Sioux lands. Standing Rock Sioux tribal leaders contend that they could lose clean water security, saying the pipeline operator is known for many oil spills. They also claim that construction of the pipeline desecrates sacred burial sites.
     A statement from Gabbard's staff says, “Next weekend, the congresswoman will be joining thousands of veterans from across the country to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux in North Dakota who are protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through their tribal lands, with grave concerns about the contamination of their major water source.”
     A GoFundMe has raised more than $500,000 to support the cost of veterans traveling to Standing Rock.

Sone 300 tribes, including Native Hawaiian groups,
have supported the Standing Rock Sioux.
Photo by Tony Webster

     In an online petition soliciting names to oppose the pipeline, Gabbard writes, “We cannot remain silent while so many of our brothers and sisters continue to stand up against a greedy oil company and an Army Corp of Engineers that have failed to properly follow the law or actually address the important issues of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and neighboring communities.”
     In September, Gabbard and 18 Democrats in the Native American Caucus of the U.S House of Representatives wrote to Pres. Barack Obama saying “The federal government has a moral and legal trust responsibility to ensure that federally permitted projects do not threaten historically or culturally significant tribal places, the trust lands of tribal nations, or the waters that run through them. We stand with tribal leaders in asking you to uphold our federal trust responsibility and protect tribal interests in this and future permitting decisions by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.”

A segment of the Dakota Access Pipeline already constructed in
North Dakota. Photo by Tony Webster

     The lawmakers also wrote. “In the instance of the Dakota Access Pipeline, despite its location within a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, the United States Army Corps of Engineers failed in its responsibility to engage in meaningful consultation and collaboration with potentially impacted tribal nations. The lack of proper consultation on the Dakota Access Pipeline has been detrimental to the interests of all stakeholders in this issue, from the tribal governments whose heritage and lands are at risk to the workers hired to construct this pipeline who now face uncertain conditions.”
     On its website the pipeline company states the following: “The pipeline will translate into millions in state and local revenues during the construction phase and an estimated $156 million in sales and income taxes. The Dakota Access Pipeline Project is a $3.7 billion investment into the United States directly impacting the local and national labor force by creating 8,000–12,000 construction jobs and up to 40 permanent operating jobs. The committed volume rates of the pipeline project have already created historically high shipment ratios, with the pipeline projected to carry half of the Bakken’s current daily crude oil production. The pipeline will meet or exceed state and federal safety requirements and at a minimum will be designed in accordance with 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 195.”
     President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly an investor in the stock of the pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners and was provided with campaign funding by its CEO Kelcy Warren. See more from the company at www.dakotaaccessfacts.com
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Jami Beck is up for public voting for
Miss Photogenic Teen Hawaiʻi 

KAʻŪ FOOD PANTRY will be open to distribute food today, Tuesday, Nov. 29 at St. Jude’s Church in Ocean View from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

DONATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE FRIEND-RAISER, Nāʻālehu School’s Winter Fest on Saturday. Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Anyone wishing to donate prize items or make a monetary donation should contact Nāʻālehu Elementary vice-principal Christina Juan or student council adviser Amberly Keohuloa at 323-4000.

   “Make New Friends,” declares the poster, which also reports on opportunities to enjoy shave ice, drinks, hot dogs – all for $1. Games are 50 cents. Also featured is a bounce house, raffle, bake sale, splash booth, jail, face painting and information vendors. Winter Fest is sponsored by the Nāʻālehu School Council. 

WINTER CRAFTS FOR KEIKI will be offered this Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m at Pāhala Community Center, for grades K-8. 928-3102.

JAMI BECK, MISS TEEN KAʻŪ 2017, is in the running for the state Miss Teen Hawaiʻi title at the pageant on Sunday, Dec. 17 in Honolulu at the Neil Blasdell Center’s Pikake Room at 5 p.m. In the meantime, anyone can vote for Jami Beck for Miss Photogenic through Dec. 12 with online voting.

   Beck, a graduate of  Kaʻū High School, won the swimsuit competition and tied for first in talent in the 2016 Miss Kaʻū Coffee pageant. Vote at Facebook.com.

UPCOMING MEETINGS, EVENTS, COMMENT DEADLINES:

ULUPOLU INITIATIVE invites community members, including food producers, to listening sessions in Kamuela on Friday, Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kohala Center, and in Hilo at the Hawaiʻi Innovation Center, at 117 Keawe St., on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. Ulupono Initiative will host the gatherings at agricultural “hot spots” within each county “to listen, learn and brainstorm solutions to Hawaiʻi’s many challenging food issues.”

Formerly grazed land is replenished by silvaculture,
growing koa on proposed Safe Harbor lands.
Photo from Kamehameha Schools

DEADLINE IS DEC. 22 FOR SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM FOR KEAUHOU AND KĪLAEUA LAND GIVEN BY PRINCESS RUTH KEʻELIKŌLANI to Kamehameha Schools in 1883. The endangered species protection plan was presented at a state Department of Land & Natural Resources public hearing in Volcano in November. The 32,800 acres near Volcano border Kapapala Forest Reserve, Hawaʻi Volcanoes National Park, Puʻu Makaʻala Nautral Area Reserve, Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and Kipuka Ainahou Nene Sanctuary. The land would become the largest Safe Harbor for endangered species in the United States, if approved by DLNR and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, which would help Kamehameha Schools with the conservation management.
See more of the plan at hawaii.gov. Comments can be sent to katherine.cullison@hawaii.gov by Dec. 22.

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Marley Strand-Nicholaisan
at her last Vulcan game.
She will be at the
Kaʻū Gym Thursday.

REGISTER FOR UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I VULCAN VOLLEYBALL CLINIC to be held this Thursday, Dec. 1 at the new Kaʻū District Gym. The clinic, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. is for youth five to 14 years of age. The clinic is expected to feature Vulcan and Trojan volleyball star Marley Strand-Nicholaisen and other Vulcan players who just finished their season. All participants must have a parent sign the Dept. of Parks & Recreation release of claims form and the HI-PAL permission Release Form. Court shoes or rubber sole shoes are required. To register, call Pāhala Community Center at 928-3102 or 854-7316. Community police Officer Blaine Morishita is also helping through the Hawaiʻi Isle Police Activities League and can be reached at 936-7192.

DEADLINE FOR THE ALYSHA & PETE 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL WINTER JAM is this Friday, Dec. 2. The tournament will be held at the new Kaʻū District Gym, Dec. 9-11 with opportunities for adults and youth of all ages. Age groups are ten and under, 12 and under, 14 and under, boys, girls and co-ed. Men and women are also invited to compete. Cost is $10 per person with five players maximum per team. The tournament raises money to help fund Trojan Senior basketball players Pete Dacalio and Alysha Gustafson to travel to the mainland with coach Jen Makuakane to look at colleges who may provide them with sports scholarships. To sign up or donate, call Summer Dacalio at 498-7336, Pete Dacalio at 498-3518 or Alysha Gustafson at 339-0858.

Holy Rosary Church sponsors a float and welcomes parade goers
at the end of the annual Pahala Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 11.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE 38TH ANNUAL PĀHALA’S CHRISTMAS PARADE invites community groups, churches, sports teams coffee farmers, classic vehicle drivers and more to travel through the village on Sunday, Dec. 11. The parade, in its 38th year, travels through the streets of Pāhala, with Santa and his helpers handing out candy to kids. A traditional stop is Kaʻū Hospital where long term patients come outdoors to see the decorated trucks cars and floats, marching groups and costumed characters. Participants begin gathering at the old Pāhala Armory at noon and the parade starts at 1 p.m. The parade ends at the Catholic Church on Pikake Street for refreshments. Organizer for almost four decades is Eddie Andrade. For more information, call Andrade at 928-0808.

The Key to the World is the
name of this art to be included
in The Directory 2017

Caren Loebel-Fried’s
Kīlauea Lighthouse
at Christmas in the Country,
Volcano Art Center

DEADLINE FOR THE DIRECTORY, to sign up for listings and advertising for businesses, community groups, churches and agencies is Dec. 15. The annual business and community resource guide is sponsored by Kaʻū Chamber of Commerce and produced by The Kaʻū Calendar. It includes photography and art by Kaʻū residents, a calendar of events, listings and feature stories including winners of the recent Beauty of Kaʻū art show, sponsored by the Chamber.
     The Directory raises scholarship money for students from Kaʻū throughout their higher education in trades, college and university studies. Printed each January, 7,500 copies of The Directory are distributed throughout Kaʻū and Volcano. To sign up, contact geneveve.fyvie@gmail.com.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY holiday exhibit daily through Jan. 2 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Featured at Christmas in the Country is the 17th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, with prizes awarded for the best wreaths. To participate, contact Emily Weiss at 967-8222 or gallery@volcanoartcenter.org. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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