Ka‘ū News Briefs Monday, February 12, 2018

Learn about the human history of Kahuku on a 2.5-mile moderately-difficult hike over rugged terrain on Saturday. 
See event details below. Photo by Janice Wei of National Park Service

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON HIKING THE STATE SALES TAX TO 4.5 PERCENT WILL BE IN VOLCANO AND NĀʻĀLEHU THIS WEEK. The hearings are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in Nāʻālehu Community Hall and Friday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in Volcano Cooper Center. The half percent hike in general excise tax, now 4 percent, would generate funds to revamp the county's transportation system, including the Hele -On Bus fleet. The county predicts extra income of $25 million per year. The hike would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019 and sunset Dec. 31, 2030. The additional sales tax would be collected by the State of Hawaiʻi and turned over to the County of Hawaiʻi, to be used for transportation only.

Hele On Buses would be upgraded and repaired 
through a sales tax increase to support transportation.

     The Hawaiʻi Legislature passed an act allowing the counties to add onto the sales tax for their local expenditures, but gave a deadline of March 31 to approve the measure. Mayor Harry Kim, a supporter of expanding public transportation, is campaigning for it.

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NOMINATIONS FOR COUNTY ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY through the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission, are due Wednesday, Feb. 28, no later than 4:30 p.m. Applications for suggestions for new properties to be purchased by the County of Hawaiʻi can be found online and emailed to the Commission Secretary Maxine Cutler at maxine.cutler@hawaiicounty.gov.
     Suggestions can be made for properties to be acquired for preservation. The Commission prioritizes the suggestions and those that make the list are put before the County Council. Properties must have a willing seller and price can be no higher than determined by an independent valuation.
     Money to buy PONC properties is raised through 2 percent of collected county property taxes and funding from federal and private partners. See the application here.
     Stewardship grants are also available to help the county take care of PONC properties. See the application here.
     One such stewardship grant was recently provided to Mā Mamo o Kāwā for care of Kāwā, the local surf spot with many archaeological sites, an estuary, and a pond. See the county's Kāwā Resources Management Plan here. Volunteer to help care for Kāwā the second Saturday of each month. Contact James Akau at namamookawa@gmail.com or 430-3058.
     PONC welcomes a new Chair for 2018, Kekaulike Tomich, and Vice Chair, René Siracusa. All commissioners are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the County Council. They are: Timothy DeLozier, Kaʻena Bisha II, Dr. Wayne Frank, Rick Warshauer, Cynthia Nazara, and Susan Wells Fischer. The next meeting is on Monday, March 12, at 10 a.m., at 25 Aupuni St, Hilo Council Chambers, Suite 140.

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KA‘Ū COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S COUNCIL WELCOMES ALL INTERESTED to monthly meetings. The next is at Punalu‘u Bake Shop on Thursday, Feb. 22, from noon to 1 p.m.
     The local Council serves Ka‘ū High, Pāhala Elementary, Nā‘ālehu Elementary, and Volcano School of the Arts and Sciences. The parent co-chair is currently vacant; the Professional co-chair is Zoe Shih. Staff contact Chad Domingocan be reached at 305-0697 or chad_domingo@hawaiidoe.org.
     There are 17 Community Children's Councils statewide, with a mission to "provide local forums statewide for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families and communities." Working together with the State departments and service providers, the CCCs collaborate to improve system delivery at school and complex levels.
     An informational flyer states that the CCC's duties and responsibilities include: "the identification, recruitment and retention of broad-based group of community opportunities; to link with family support groups and parent training opportunities; to inform community members and parents about State policy and support community feedback on such policy; to identify specific needs, gaps in services and barriers that have not been met through the local system of care by providing data to the State policy makers; to develop strategies to assure quality of services; and to separate and support systemic concerns from individual concerns."

     In addition, it suggests that the benefits of the CCCs provide an: "opportunity to share information and learn about community resources; opportunity to represent the family and community perspective regarding services delivered in your community; and opportunity for parents to gain support from other parents." The flyer also states that the CCC's link with: schools through their Quality Assurance Meetings; family-based organizations; private child-serving agencies; and military networks and support services.
     The Ka‘ū council meets on the fourth Thursday of each month. The following meeting will take place on Mar. 22. For more, visit ccco.k12.hi.us.

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FORMER HAWAI‘I ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BENNETT is nominated to serve in the open Hawai‘i seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz support the nomination.

     Said Hirono, "Attorney General Bennett has extensive experience practicing law in the public and private sectors in Hawai‘i and at the federal level. Mark is a well-qualified nominee to serve on the Ninth Circuit."

Former Hawai‘i Attorney General Mark Bennett is
nominated to the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

     Said Schatz, "Mark Bennett has a long and distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant in Hawaii that makes him well-qualified to serve as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. With more than two decades of public service, Mark has a reputation as a highly competent, principled attorney – something I saw first-hand when he served as Attorney General. I am confident that he will be a fair, dispassionate jurist who will carefully follow the rule of law while reflecting Hawai‘i's values."

     Bennett has been a director at Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, where he has specialized in civil and appellate litigation, and government relations, since 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bennett served for nearly eight years as Hawai‘i's Attorney General under Republican Gov. Linda Lingle from 2003-2011.

     Prior to his service as Attorney General, Bennett was a partner at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, LLP, and an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Hawai‘i.

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TUESDAY, FEB. 13

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at kaucalendar.com
/janfebmar/februaryevents.html. See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, 
weekly events at kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/februarycommunity.html.

February 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.

REGISTER KEIKI, AGES 6-12 YEARS, BY FEB. 13, FOR A VALENTINE'S DAY CARD Arts & Crafts class Wed., Feb. 14, 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Free; Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, BY FEB. 13, FOR A VALENTINE'S DAY FLOWER & BEAR CRAFT Wed., Feb. 14, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pāhala Community Center. Free; Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DOG on a Mandarin-language, easy, guided, two-mile round trip, Chinese New Year hike, with Volunteer Janice Wei, through Ha‘akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) to the edge of Kīlauea Caldera at Akanikōlea (Steaming Bluff). The free hike is offered Tuesday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 16, and Sunday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to noon, starting at Kīlauea Visitor Center - nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR - NĀ‘ĀLEHU COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM Tues., Feb. 13, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what C.E.R.T. is about, and participate in training scenarios; Dina Shisler at dinashisler24@yahoo.com or 410-935-8087.

DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW GEOCHEMICAL TOOL TO PREDICT VOLCANIC UNREST AND EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY at After Dark in the Park Tues., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free, suggested donation $2; park entrance fees apply - nps.gov/HAVO.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

AUNTY EDNA BALDAD EXPLAINS ‘AI PONO, how to eat and live healthier with native Hawaiian foods like kalo (taro), ‘uala (sweet potato) and ulu (breadfruit). Free program offered Wed., Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai - nps.gov/HAVO.

VALENTINE'S DAY BUFFET, Wed., Feb. 14, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Crater Rim Café. $28.00/adult and $14.50/child (6-11 years old). KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests - kilaueamilitarycamp.com or 967-8356.

DENNIS & CHRISTY SOARES AT LAVA LOUNGE Wednesday, Feb, 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., free. Award-winning singer-songwriters perform contemporary Hawaiian music, folk, and slack-key, on Valentine's evening - kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS' SUMMER INNOVATIONS ACADEMY Hālau Kupukupu applications due by Thursday, Feb. 15, for summer program 2018, June 14 to July 12. Students can apply and find the course catalog online at www.ksbe.edu/admissions or call 982-0033 for more info.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU Thursdays, Feb. 15 and 22, at 9:30 a.m., at Kīpukapuaulu parking lot, Mauna Loa Road, off Highway 11. Remove invasives; bring clippers or pruners, sturdy gloves, a hat, water, closed-toe shoes - clothing could be permanently stained by morning glory sap. New volunteers, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com - nps.gov/HAVO for more.

STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME Thurs., Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library - 929-8571.

WEST HAWAI‘I FISHERY COUNCIL PUBLIC MEETING at Puka‘ana Church, Thurs., Feb. 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fishery Council meetings happen third Thursday of each month - West Hawai‘i Fishery Council website.

FAMILY READING is hosted at Ocean View Community Center on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. - 939-7033 or ovcahi.org.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu - Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

LITTLE FIRE ANT PRESENTATION WITH BIG ISLAND INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE at Volcano Art Center on Thurs., Feb. 15, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free, suggested donation $5 - volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

 

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

FREE LOMILOMI DEMONSTRATION AT KAHUKU from master practitioner, Fri., Feb. 16, 10 a.m. to noon. Entrance to the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, near mile marker 70.5 on Hwy 11 - nps.gov/HAVO.

HULA & OLI WITH KAHO‘OKELE CRABBE hosted on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery, Fri., Feb. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - volcanoartcenter.org.

MARDI GRAS AT ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH hosted Friday, Feb. 16; doors at 5:30 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets at the door: $8/person, $15/two, $20/family - 939-7555.

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, with Paul and Jane Field, Sat., Feb. 17 and Mon., Feb. 19, 8:45 a.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center. Free; park entrance fees apply - nps.gov/HAVO.

ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BONSAI AND HOW TO GROW THEM, with Sensei Bill Newton, Volcano Garden Arts, Saturdays, Feb. 17 and 24. Space is limited - 985-8979 or volcanogardenarts.com.

LA‘AU LAPA‘AU, BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, at Ka‘ū District Gym, 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, Feb. 17 and 24. Free; to register or for more details, call 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team - hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

TĪ AND SEAS, NEW ART EXHIBIT at Volcano Art Center Gallery featuring oil paintings by Pāhoa resident Steve Irvine, opens to the public Sat., Feb. 17 to Sun., Mar. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Irvine shares his inspirations and techniques at an opening reception on Sat., Feb. 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. - volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

CELEBRATIONS HONOR HENRY ‘OPUKAHA‘IA AT PUNALU‘U. Bell ringing ceremony and gathering at Hokuloa Chapel at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17.  A Remembrance Service will be Sunday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m., also at the tiny chapel above the sea. On Sunday, the service at Punalu‘u will replace the regular worship service in Wai‘ohinu. A commemoration service will be held Sunday, Feb. 18, at 9:30 a.m., at Kahikolu Congregational Church on Napo‘opo‘o Rd., where his body was reinterred in 1993.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Sat., Feb. 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

PANIOLO FROM KA‘Ū HEAD TO PANA‘EWA for annual Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 17, 18 and 19. Rodeo Grounds open at noon on Saturday, 11 a.m. on Sunday and Monday. Buster Barton is the announcer and Rodeo Clown JJ Harrison will protect the paniolo and entertain - www.HawaiiRodeoStampede.com.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ at Crater Rim Café, Sat., Feb. 17, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests; park entrance fees apply - 967-8356 or kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

BUNCO & POTLUCK, Sat., Feb. 17, 6 p.m. Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bring a dish to share - call Margie Hack at 541-954-8297.

SUNDAY, FEB. 18

PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU FREE, GUIDED HIKE, Sun., Feb. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 2.5-mile, moderately difficult, hike over rugged terrain, focusing on the area's human history - nps.gov/HAVO.

UPCOMING

SUPPORT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB locations at Pāhala and Ocean View by purchasing tickets and sponsoring persons to attend the annual Youth of the Year celebration, Friday, Mar. 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, in the Moku Ola Ballroom. For 66 years, its outreach to the Island has provided a safe and educational place for children after school.

    To purchase tickets, contact Ka‘ū Boardmember Julia Neal at 928-9811 or mahalo@aloha.net. To purchase an ad in the Gala program, become a Gala sponsor, make a financial donation, or to donate an auction item, contact Gail Hamasu at 961-5536 or gail@bgcbi.org.

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