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Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Wild turkeys live in the macadamia trees next to the proposed Pāhala sewage treatment site.
Photo by Julia Neal
INTEREST IN PROTECTING THE PINE TREE AND MACADAMIA ENTRANCE TO PĀHALA came up Wednesday morning and evening at talk story meetings on the proposed site and operation of the new Pāhala wastewater treatment facility. The tentative site, 42.5 acres owned by Kamehameha Schools, runs from the corner of Lower Moa‘ula Road and Maile Street, out to Hwy. 11 on the Hilo side of the Norfolk pine lane.
     The perimeter of the existing macadamia orchard and Norfolk Pines would screen the wastewater treatment site. The preliminary design calls for aerated lagoons and native tree plantings to filter and treat the effluent and protect the groundwater and ocean. The concept minimizes mechanical and repair costs and uses the environment to help filter and dispose of the effluent.
     Michelle Sorensen, a consulting engineer on the project, explained that the buffering by the Norfolk Pines and macadamia trees would be substantial with the current design.
Maile Street, the Norfolk pine tree lane to Pāhala from Hwy. 11.
Photo by Julia Neal
     The facility would process wastewater from homes along the old plantation sewer lines. The engineer said that the site could accommodate the entire community, by later expanding the treatment facility on the 42.5  acres. Additional macadamia would be removed and a new landscape design, preserving the Norfolk pines and adding other plantings to buffer the site, would occur should expansion be needed, possibly decades from now.  
     Several mentioned the beauty of the pine tree lane coming into town. Colleen Milligan noted that wild turkeys and pheasants live in the macadamia orchard. Kamakani Dancil, representing Kamehameha Schools, noted that locals hunt pigs in the macadamia orchards. He also said that taking down macadamia trees could mean reducing employment and income from the nuts. The engineer said that economic impacts will be studied.      
     Several Pāhala residents attending, including Les Iverson and Jean Hanoa, recommended that the county revisit site possibilities below Hwy. 11. Iverson said he didn't believe the selected property above Hwy. 11 is large enough to include the needs of the entire village and for future growth.
     The engineer said that the county has been looking at alternate sites and could possibly review them and others and explain in more detail why the targeted site was chosen. Kamehameha Schools owns other land below the highway, below macadamia orchards.
     Jan Kaleohana talked about growing up with old plantation treatment system in Portuguese Camp, without thinking about it until the sugar company that operated it closed in 1996. She asked that the community be involved in site selection and making sure the cost is not too much of a burden on local residents.
     Atta Kaleohana and Gilbert and Cecilia Ito also brought up the cost of hooking up to the system and the bills that will come from the county for the ongoing service. The consultants explained that the construction of the treatment system is being paid for in part by grants and county funding spread across the island and that the burden of cost will not be solely on Pāhala residents.
Preliminary site chosen for the Pāhala wastewater treatment facility would use aerated lagoons and
planting areas to use nature to help clean wastewater. 
        Alfred Ibarra, who is not on the old sewage system, asked if he will be required to hook up to the system when it goes by his house on Pikake Street. County regulations do require everyone to hook up when the line goes by their houses. Council member Maile David, who attended last night's meeting, said she would look for funding to help with the hookup costs.
      The preliminary cost estimate for the project is $20 to $21 million. The timeline is to acquire the property for the wastewater facility and finish environmental studies by the end of 2018, complete construction of the facility and the piping in the streets in the middle of 2021 and hook up the system by the end of 2021.
     Two more meetings will be held on Thursday, Dec. 14, the first from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Ka‘ū District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room, and the last from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
     The consultants explained again that the county is under order by the EPA to secure a site and begin construction or face fines for operating the old plantation system which takes the effluent into two large gang cesspools, where there is no treatment.
     For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com, Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339, or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300.
    
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A MUSICIAN AND A TEXTILE ARTIST will be the January 2018 Artists-in -Residence at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Musician Will Oldham – who performs under the name Bonnie Prince Billy – and his wife, textile artist Elsa Hansen Oldham were selected by the non-profit National Parks Arts Foundation, Hawai‘i Friends of Volcanoes National Park and Friends of Volcanoes National Park.
Elsa and Will Oldham will be Artists-in-Residents at Hawai‘i
Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Christian Hansen
     Singer/songwriter Oldham's music is described as an alternative blend of country, folk and punk. His wife's quilting and cross stitch work puts a folksy pop-art spin on history and modern culture.
     The pair will present a dual multimedia performance on Jan.  26  in the Kīlauea Visitor Center at 6 p.m. Will Oldham will sing and play music while Elsa Hansen Oldham stitches on stage as her handiwork is projected on the auditorium’s movie screen.  
     “As the park enters our fourth year of the Artist-in-Residence Program, we look forward to our second musician and first textile artist,” said Laura Carter Schuster, Chief of Cultural Resources at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. “Hawai‘i has such a long tradition of both music and quilting, this pair seems like a match for our location. And the park will inspire both the musician and the fabric artist alike,” she said.
       The couple lives in Louisville, KY, and will reside in the park for a month. Oldham has performed since 1998 as Bonnie Prince Billy, and prior to that as Palace Brothers and Palace Music. His songs have been performed by Johnny Cash, Marianne Faithful and others. His new record, Best Troubadour, is a collection of Merle Haggard songs. 
     Hansen Oldham’s textile art is displayed at the Dickinson Roundell Gallery in New York, and she was recently profiled in the New York Times.
     The project is supported by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and other benefactors. The NPAF is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the promotion of the national parks through creating dynamic opportunities for artwork based in the natural and historic heritage of America. All NPAF programs are made possible through the philanthropic support of donors. Visit nationalparksartsfoundation.org for details.

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GIRLS BASKETBALL SAW KA‘Ū AT KEA‘AU on Wednesday, Dec. 13. The final for Jayvee was Kea‘au 32, Ka‘ū 13. In Varsity play, Ka‘ū scored 34, with Kianie Mederios Dancel scoring 16 points. However, Kea‘au scored 69.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings entertainment at 
 kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decemberevents.html
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decembercommunity.html.
December print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls Basketball: Saturday, Dec. 16, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Dec. 16, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Tuesday, Dec. 19, Hilo @ Ka‘ū.

Swimming: Saturday, Dec. 23, @ Hilo.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

BRING YOUR KEIKI FOR A FREE STORYBOOK READING AND CRAFT ACTIVITY with Auntie Linda of Tūtū & Me on Thursday, Dec. 14, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For more details, call 929-857.

FREE MEDICAL SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY by The Medical Van at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Call 939-7000 or visit St. Jude's at 92-8606 Paradise Circle, Ocean View.

OPENING NIGHT IS THURSDAY, DEC. 14, for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's musical production A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol. The show is presented Thursday, Dec. 14, through Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 per senior/student, and $12 per child. For more information call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Park entrance fees apply.

HULA & OLI WITH KAHO‘OKELE CRABBE is the feature of Aloha Friday on Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Learn the basics of hula, Hawaiian language and chant. For more visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

EXPERIENCE THE SKILLFUL WORK, ‘IKE HANA NO‘EAU, a free Hawaiian cultural demonstration, is offered Friday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

HELP REMOVE INVASIVE NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at three remaining Stewardship at the Park events that take place this December. The upcoming event is Friday, Dec. 15, with the event also taking place Dec. 23 and 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

BRING A DISH TO SHARE AND PLAY A GAME CALLED BUNCO on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m., in the Discovery Harbour Community Hall for Bunco & Potluck. Bunco, also known as Bonko or Bunko, is a popular game played with nine dice. For more, call Margie Hack at 541-954-8297.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets at the Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more, call 939-7033.

JOIN VOLUNTEERS FOR A COMMUNITY BEACH CLEAN-UP AT KAMILO hosted by Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space is limited in HWF 4WD vehicles. To volunteer, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com in advance to reserve your spot. Meet at Wai‘ōhinu Park.

Hālau Hula Na Lei Hiwahiwa o Ku‘ualoha performs Hula Kahiko Dec. 16.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org
USE OF CLEAN TOWELS, SHAMPOO, SOAP AND A FREE PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWER WITH HOT WATER are offered at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a free hot meal.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KUMU HULA SAMMYE KU‘UALOHA YOUNG, Hālau Hula Na Lei Hiwahiwa o Ku’ualoha performs Hula Kahiko on the hula platform Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16.
     Following the performance until about 1 p.m., Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe with Halauolaokalani provides a hands on cultural demonstration, Nā Mea Hula. For more and to confirm date, contact Desiree by calling 987-7288 or emailing volcanohula@gmail.com.

MAKE AND TAKE HOME A ZENTAGLE INSPIRED ORNAMENT at the Volcano Art Center's Zentagle Inspired Art Exhibit & Reception from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Volcano Art Center says, “Bring your friends, your art and a light holiday pupu to share." The event is open to the public and offers door prizes, a slideshow and videos. Attendance is free, donations are welcome. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

MADE TO ORDER MONGOLIAN BBQ DISHES are offered during Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café's Mongolian BBQ event on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The café is located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The event is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

HONOR THE SAKADA'S WORK AND ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY IN HAWAI‘I and join community members in celebrating the Sakada legacy in the agricultural development of Ka‘ū on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. The Sakadas are the workers who came to Hawai‘i from the Philippines between 1906 and 1946, recruited by the Hawai‘i Sugar Planters Association.
     The event, including a Filipino lunch, is free and offers Filipino dance and music, displays of Filipino artifacts, tools, housewares, apparel and items from plantation days. A Filipino fashion show is also on the agenda, along with Filipino entertainment from around the island.
     Formal recognition will be given to Sakadas and their families from Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala at Sakada Day.

JOIN RANGERS ON A FREE MODERATELY DIFFICULT GUIDED HIKE, entitled People & Land of Kahuku, on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The 2.5 mile hike takes visitors over rugged terrain and focuses on the human history of Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Register keiki aged 5-6 for Tee Ball and aged 7-8 for Coach
Pitch Baseball in Nā‘ālehu and Ocean View until January.
See Dec. 11 Briefs for more details. Photo by Elizabeth Crook
REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8, FOR A MINI GINGERBREAD HOUSE craft class that has been announced for Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. Register until Tuesday, Dec. 19. For more, call Nona Makuakāne or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

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