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Thursday, August 17, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017

Volcano Rain Forest Runners get ready with packet pick-up and late registration Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
at Cooper Center. The races take place on Saturday. See below. Photo from Sharon Faff
IN VIOLATION OF FIRST AMENDMENT privacy protections afforded under the Constitution is how Rep. Tulsi Gabbard characterized the Department of Justice's recent request for a search warrant for IP addresses and personal information stored on the server of a private company who helped organize protests during President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The search warrant, filed by the federal government in the D.C. Superior Court, is trying to force DreamHost to provide the DOJ with the user information for anyone who visited their site in an effort to identify anyone involved in Inauguration Day protests. 
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and the Fourth Amendment
Caucus. Photo from Tulsi Gabbard
      Said Gabbard, in a statement released tonight, “The Justice Department’s politically motivated probe to collect personal information on its own citizens exercising their legal right to express dissenting political views is nothing short of a constitutional violation and is wholly un-American. It reeks of actions that Presidents Nixon and Johnson took against Americans protesting the war in Vietnam. Our country was founded on the rule of law which protects our right to free speech and prohibits the government from violating our personal privacy with baseless warrants. These fundamental rights and protections separate our democracy from dictators around the world who seek to silence and intimidate their political opponents to maintain power. The Justice Department’s witch hunt serves as a reminder that we must take a stand to defend our constitutional rights and ensure our government is not allowed to violate our constitutional rights and civil liberties." 
     Gabbard has advocated for reforms that address the government's responsibility to protect civil liberties. She is a founding member of the Fourth Amendment Caucus and has been a champion for strengthening privacy and civil liberties protections in the digital age. She has introduced legislation to strengthen the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board  and cosponsored legislation like the Electronic Communications Privacy Amendments Act and Email Privacy Act to modernize electronic privacy laws.

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MUMPS INFECTIONS have been confirmed among students at Na`alehu School. According to a release from the state Department of Health, there is an increasing number of cases of mumps statewide. The disease has been confirmed in children and adults both vaccinated and unvaccinated.   Approximately half the cases have been in adults aged 18 years and older. Since the beginning of the year, 257 cases have been confirmed in Hawai`i, with five on the Big Island, one on Maui, 22 on Kaua`i and 229 on O`ahu.
     The Department of Health recommends the following to help prevent the spread of mumps in the community:
     Ensure family members are fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine. According to DOH, all children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine which protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. The first dose is given at age 12–15 months and the second dose routinely at four to six years of age. However, due to the continued circulation of mumps in Hawai`i, DOH recommends that children between one and four years of age should receive their second dose a minimum of four weeks after the first dose.
        For adults, the health department recom-mends that all born in or after 1957, without evidence of immunity to mumps, who cannot verify previous MMR vac-cination, should receive one MMR dose. "Indi-viduals with only one documented MMR dose, are strongly encouraged to consider receiving a second MMR vaccine dose," says a DOH statement. "In general, although it is not ideal, receiving extra doses of vaccine poses no medical problem. Patients suspected or diagnosed with mumps should self-isolate and avoid going out and exposing others for nine days after onset of parotitis (swelling of the salivary glands).
     "People who have been exposed to mumps and are not vaccinated should not attend school, work or travel from day 12 through day 25 after exposure." says the DOH statement.
     Symptoms include: fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides.

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KUPU INTERNS WORKING WITH AMERICORPS gain a meaningful service opportunity and education that "benefits our `aina and Hawai`i's native plants and animals," said Sen. Mazie Hirono on Thursday when she met with KUPU interns and leaders. She encouraged them to "continue their good work, serving their communities through conservation."
        KUPU, an AmeriCorps program, provides young people with service learning and educational opportunities through maintaining and preserving Hawai`i’s natural resources.
        “I continue to advocate for AmeriCorps funding that supports programs like KUPU that help train Hawai`i’s workforce and provide career pathways for young conservationists,” Hirono said.
      “For the past decade, KUPU has helped develop the next generation of Hawai'i's environmental leaders,” said John Leon, Chief Executive Officer of KUPU. “AmeriCorps funding ensures that Hawai'i's youth can pursue careers in conservation and sustainability, allowing them to play a vital role in protecting Hawai'i's fragile environment. I'm honored to join with Senator Hirono and the rest of the Hawai‘i congressional delegation to support programs that help Hawai‘i's youth discover their strengths and allows them to give back to a cause greater than themselves while pursuing career pathways to propel them forward in life.” 
      Suzanne Case, chair of the state Department of Land & Natural Resource, said that “Building a bridge for Hawai`i’s future conservation workforce, the KUPU internship program trains our youth to become environmental stewards and connects them to future job opportunities at DLNR and across the state.”
Logo and t-shirt art for Volcano Rain Forest Runs is
by local artist Dietrich Varez.
      In June, Senator Hirono announced that Hawaii had received $4.2 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service programs. Earlier this year, Senator Hirono cosponsored S.Res.86, a bipartisan resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni and the significant impact their efforts have on our lands and natural resources The Senate passed this resolution on March 9, 2017, during national AmeriCorps Week.

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KA`U HIGH BEAT KEA`AU on Wednesday
night in girls volleyball at Ka`u District Gym, under Coach Josh Ortega. Ka`u JV's won with 26-24 and 25-20. Ka`u Trojans also took the varsity win with 26-24, 16-25, 25-19 and 25-20.

Volcano Rain Forest Runs Packet Pick-up & Late Registration, Fri, Aug 18, 1 – 5 p.m., Cooper Center in Volcano.

Eighth Annual Volcano Rain Forest Runs, Sat, Aug 19, 7 a.m., Cooper Center in Volcano. Staggered starts for Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Zero-mile event, keiki runs, entertainment, food & crafts follow. Register at volcanorainforestruns.com.
Pick up the August edition of The Ka`u Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka`u, from Miloli`i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at www.kaucalendar.com
Recycling at Nā‘ālehu School, Sat, Aug 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Nā‘ālehu School Gym. Redeem your HI-5 sorted by type; receive 5 cents per container and additional 20 cents per pound on all aluminum. Atlas Recycling donates 20 cents per pound on all aluminum redeemed to the school. 939-2413, ext. 230

Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sat, Aug 19, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about formation and various uses of this grassy cinder cone and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū on this free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top.

Kahuku ‘Ohana Day: Lei MakingSat, Aug 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Cultural practitioner and teacher Aolani Ka‘ilihou teaches the traditional art of Hawaiian lei making. Ascend Pu‘u o Lokuana and learn about the history of the Ka‘ū lands seen from the top. Kids 17 and under and their families sign up by Fri, Aug 11 at 985-6019.

Hula Performance, Sat, Aug 19, 10:30 a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Nā Kumu hula Liana Aveiro & Keikilani Curnan with Hālau Waiau. Nā Mea Hula with Loke Kamanu & ‘ohana, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., gallery porch.

Ka‘ū High School Potluck Reunion, Sat, Aug 19, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pāhala Community Center. Everyone is invited.