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Friday, March 18, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, March 18, 2016

Hawai`i House of Representives' budget included funding for walkway safety lighting at Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School and more projects at other schools. Photo by Julia Neal
PROJECTS IN KA`U ARE INCLUDED in the state House of Representative’s proposed budget that was recently passed. The projects are included in more than $389.3 million in capital improvement project funding for various projects across the island.
      The budget allocates $290,000 for repairs and maintenance at Na`alehu Elementary School, $285,000 for a certified commercial kitchen for Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences and $150,000 for walkway safety lighting at Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School.
      Ka`u bridges would undergo rehabilitation or replacement with $8 million for Ninole Bridge and $101,000 for Hilea Stream Bridge.
      Across the island, the proposed budget includes funding for various airport and highway improvements, Hawai`i Community Correctional Center, facilities for Hawai`i Army National Guard, monies for other schools and Hawai`i Community College, and regional community centers.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

NO NEW CONFIRMED CASES of dengue fever have been reported since Thursday, March 10, according to Hawai`i County Civil Defense. The total number of confirmed cases reported since onset of the outbreak remains at 261. These cases include 236 residents and 25 visitors. Hawai`i Department of Health has said the outbreak would not be considered over until no new cases have been confirmed for one month.
      “Although the number and frequency of new cases appears to be on the decline, the outbreak is not expected to be considered over anytime in the near future, and we are asking for everyone’s help to continue to fight the bite,” Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira said.
      Civil Defense suggests that residents and visitors wear clothing that minimizes exposed skin, use mosquito repellent on skin that cannot be covered and avoid areas of high mosquito concentration during the early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest. Help to reduce potential mosquito breeding areas around homes and businesses by removing standing water.
      Surveying and spraying is being conducted at the residences of all suspect and confirmed cases, in addition to proactive spraying at nearby public facilities.
      More information on dengue fever and mosquito control is available at health.hawaii.gov.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DEPARTMENT OF LAND & NATURAL RESOURCES’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement has received grant funding to pilot an innovative Resources Enforcement Educating Fishers project starting this spring. Funding is provided by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.
      Across the islands, the most common coastal interaction for DOCARE is with fishermen. Often this interaction is a punitive measure like a citation.
      The goal of the REEF project is to provide opportunities for officers and fishers to engage in activities together, such as site visits to walk shorelines and clarify state rules and regulations.
      Studies have shown that when an officer takes the time to participate in something that is important to a certain segment of the community, this shows that they really care about people, not just about writing citations.
      “Many fishers have asked for trainings to understand the ‘western science’ behind rules and regulation,” said Luna Kekoa, Makai Watch coordinator for DOCARE, “but fishers feel a lot of current training lacks cultural sensitivity.”
      To address this concern, a component of the REEF project will include a newly developed `Ike Kai curriculum that incorporates relevant cultural knowledge and sensitivities, while covering rules and regulations from the Division of Aquatic Resources and the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
      “Education is a critical component to help people understand why it is important to comply with the rules and regulations our officers enforce,” DOCARE Chief Tommy Friel said. “Building this relationship is the means by which education is best achieved.”
      For more information on the `Ike Kai curriculum, see dlnr.hawaii.gov/makaiwatch.
       APRIL WILL BE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION Month. Ka`u Hospital will show its gratitude to volunteers who have donated so much of their time and labor over the past year. “From Alvin Kailiawa, who for at least the past dozen years has been coming every Monday to keep the grounds looking nice; to Margaret Drake, a retired occupational therapist, who continues to work with our long-term care residents; to Audrey Meyer, who applies her considerable administrative skills to help our clinic; to Jessica Garret, who works with our residents; to Jenny Mauricio, a student who has been a wonderful help in our clinic; to all the members of our Foundation and `O Ka`u Kakou, who have raised funds for us; we send a heartfelt mahalo,” Adminstrator Merilyn Harris said. 
      The hospital hopes to expand its volunteer program in the coming year. There are opportunities to work in most areas of the hospital from working with patients to office support. By law, hospital volunteers must undergo a criminal background check and TB clearance, both of which are going to be provided in Ka`u. Depending on the nature of the work, some additional immunizations may be required.
      For more information, call Ka`u Hospital Imaging Department at 932 4392.
      To read comments, add your own and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda guides 2016 contestants
through the paces. Photo by Trinidad Marques
MISS KA`U COFFEE MARIA MIRANDA is working with Miss Peaberry, Junior Miss and Miss Ka`u Coffee candidates at Pahala Community Center as they begin practicing for the May 14 pageant at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Deadline for young ladies of all ages to sign up to compete in the three categories is March 31. 
      Contact Trinidad Marques at aliihhhcoffee@yahoo.com or 936-0015 to enter. Donate to the pageant scholarship fund with Julia Neal at 928-6471 or mahalo@aloha.net.


KA`U HIGH SCHOOL seniors can apply for scholarships from Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i Foundation. Applicants must be Hawai`i residents, high school seniors graduating in 2016 with a cumulative high school grade-point averages of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and accepted to a four-year college or university. Students must complete the application and provide all required documents by April 4.
      For more information, call Lynne Gutierrez at 808-728-1700 or Sam Acosta at 808-306-1428.

SPLASH BASH IS TOMORROW from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Park. The drug- and alcohol-free event sponsored by Big Island Substance Abuse Council features music, a photo booth, water slides and games. Cotton candy, shave ice, hot dogs and water will be available for $1.
      Bus transportation is available during the event. The first pick-up is at 9:30 a.m. from Pahala Community Center and the Park-&-Ride gravel lot across from Ocean View Shopping Center. The last drop-off to both locations leaves Na`alehu at 2:15 p.m.
      Call 969-9994 for more information.

Kumu Hula Pele Kaio Photo from VAC
KUMU HULA PELE KAIO and students of Unulau and Papa Hu`elepo perform hula kahiko at Volcano Art Center Gallery hula platform in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.
      Kumu hula Ab Valencia and members of Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu present Na Mea Hula at 11 a.m. on the gallery porch.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

IRA ONO DEMONSTRATES Japanese paste paper collage tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers Mongolian BBQ tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. $.85 per ounce includes protein, veggies, noodles and a beverage. Call 967-8356 for more information.
      KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Call 967-8371 for more information.
      Park entrance fees apply.

SPEND AN EVENING with Rebecca Folsom tomorrow from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The award-winning singer offers an intimate acoustic concert. Cost is $20 for VAC members and $25 non-members.
      Folsom teaches The Art of Vocal Freedom Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the center. Participants learn how to merge art, singing and writing prose. Fee is $50. 
      Call 967-8222 or see volcanoartcenter.org.

Ka`u residents may participate in restoration
of Imakakoloa Heiau. Image from Heiau of
the Island of Hawai`i, by John Stokes
`IMAKAKOLOA HEIAU RESTORATION is the topic of a meeting tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation provides information and ways for residents to help. 
      For more information, email kalahoohie@gmail.com, or call 936-0213.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend.
      Participants learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, its many forms and flower on an easy, one-mile walk tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
      People & Lands of Kahuku on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain, focusing on the area’s human history.

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






See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_March_2016.pdf.