Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, June 26, 2018

See dramatic changes to Halemaʻumaʻu crater and Kīlauea caldera in a USGS flyover video from June 24.
See story below on possible benefits to air quality due to the absence of the lava lake. Photo from USGS

REACTION TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDING THE TRUMP TRAVEL BAN was swift this afternoon, coming from Hawaiʻi's governor and congressional delegation.
     Gov. David Ige said, “Many of Hawaiʻi’s families vividly remember experiencing unjust discrimination on the basis of race and national origin. Our state will continue to be a check on this president’s irrational fear of travelers from predominantly Muslim countries. Sadly, the Supreme Court’s decision does not reflect the American values of inclusion, freedom, and opportunity. And it does not reflect the Aloha Spirit that Hawaiʻi exemplifies.”
     Sen. Mazie Hirono wrote, “Today is a dark day for our country. Every time our country has singled out a minority group for discriminatory treatment, we have been proven very, very wrong. The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Hawaii will be no different. By ignoring the President’s clear intent to discriminate against Muslims, the Court handed the President unfettered power to continue to target minorities.”
     The Supreme Court ruling today was five to four, with the majority stating that the President of the United States has the constitutional right to protect the U.S. citizenry by banning certain people from entering the country. Hawaiʻi was one of the states that sent its Attorney General to U.S. federal court to lift the ban, claiming discrimination against Muslims. Hawaiʻi won, but the Trump administration took the case to the Supreme Court to uphold its ban.

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Recent explosive events haven't produced significant ash plumes from the Kīlauea summit, but downwind, some
ashfall can be experienced when previously erupted ash is remobilized, according to USGS scientists.
On authorized permission from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's
 Unmanned Aircraft Systems crew is conducting gas measurements and snapped this photograph from
Chain of Craters Road. It shows a plume of remobilized ash on he horizon, rising from the Ka‘ū Desert
 and blowing to the southwest. USGS photo

AIR QUALITY IN KAʻŪ MAY BE HEADED FOR IMPROVEMENT if recent trends continue. Halemaʻumaʻu, with its lava lake gone, is emitting lower amounts of S02 than before the current eruption. Its collapsive events - when its crater walls fall in - are throwing up less ash than eruptions in May, and the ash travels shorter distances, impacting fewer communities. No major ash falls have been reported in Kaʻū in recent weeks. However, ash is blowing into the region when the winds blow strong and pick it up from the Kaʻū Desert.
     Before the current volcanic activity, Kīlauea summit was releasing 3,000 to 6,000 tons of S02 per day when Halemaʻuma‘u's lava lake was filled. Recently, emissions have been half the levels of those before the recent volcanic activity began.
     With the ash plumes that earlier rose to tens of thousands of feet now only reaching lower altitudes, HVO lowered the aviation alert level to orange, though the volcano is still at a warning level.
     Like Halemaʻumaʻu, Puʻu ʻŌʻō's lava retreated into the volcano, dramatically reducing emissions. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō was releasing 200 to 300 tons of SO2 per day before the current event.
     In lower Puna, East Rift Zone amounts of SO2 have been declining since the Fissure 8 emissions peaked around 25,000 tons per day last week, according to Mike Zoeller of the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo. The S02 had reached a “very high number” of 15,000 tons per day as of May 22, reported Wendy Stovall of USGS.

Timelapse of the lower East Rift Zone flows, May 16 to June 25, created
from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's map updates. Map from USGS

     Air Quality Index at 2 p.m. had Pāhala at 35 (green), 65 at Ocean View (yellow), and 54 at Kona (yellow). SO2 levels at 2:30 p.m. were good (green) in Ocean View, and Kona. Pāhala hadn’t reported since 12:45 p.m., at which time it was moderate (yellow). The EPA site showed good (blue) at Nāʻālehu, Pāhala, Ocean View, and Kona, with a few locations in and around Kīlauea's summit showing caution (orange).

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LAVA CONTINUES TO ADD LAND TO THE COAST of lower Puna, moving south of Kapoho Bay and Vacationland toward Ahala Nui Beach Park. The lava is entering the ocean along a 2 mile stretch and has covered 6,145 acres, according to Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense. Fissure 8 is creating land at about 15m per day, and is about one kilometer north of Ahala Nui Beach Park. Mike Zoeller of the Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo said Fissure 8 continues to spew lava, which then travels about 14km to the ocean. No significant overflows are threatening any communities at this time, reports Civil Defense.

     See video https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/multimedia_uploads/multimediaFile-2319.mp4 of the lava maps from May 15 through June 25.

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A GE tax increase of .25 percent, which would go straight to
Hawaiʻi County, would help bolster public transportation
on the island. Photo from Hele On

THE FAILED HIKE IN THE GE TAX COULD BE RECONSIDERED. A request will be taken up this Friday, July 29, at a special County Council meeting. Bill 159 would levy an additional .25 percent on the 4 percent General Excise tax for goods and services purchased in Hawaiʻi County. The 4 percent goes to the state and the .25 percent would go directly to Hawaiʻi County for transportation improvements. The tax would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, and be repealed Dec. 31, 2020, unless extended by ordinance. It would permanently sunset no later than 2031. The council voted against the tax hike during its last meeting, with some council members saying they wanted a .5 percent hike and others testifying against any tax hike. Mayor Harry Kim proposed the hike in the wake of the extra burden on the county budget during the lava disaster in Puna and beyond.

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Michelle Galimba, Kaʻū’s new County Charter 

Commissioner. Photo from Agricultural 
Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi

RANCHER MICHELLE GALIMBA has been nominated by Mayor Harry Kim to represent Kaʻū on the County Charter Commission. Galimba served on the Kaʻū Community Development Plan advisory board, and is a member of the the state Board of Agriculture. She has volunteered for numerous community initiatives and assists with 4-H and her family's Kuahiwi Ranch in Kaʻū.

     Others nominated from their districts are Douglass Shipman Adams (Hilo); William Carthage Bergin (Kohala); Paul K. Hamano (Hilo); Kevin D. Hopkins (Hilo); Bobby Jean Akane Leithead Todd (Hilo); Sarah H. Rice (Kona); Christopher John Imiloa Roehrig (Hamakua); Marcia A. K. Saquing (Hilo); Donna Mae Springer (Puna); and Jennifer Leilani Zelko- Schlueter (Hilo). The nominations will be taken up by the County Council for confirmation this Friday.

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THE ACTION FOR DENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT was introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Monday. It would reauthorize initiatives that increase access to oral health treatment and prevention services, particularly for underserved communities.

     A statement from Hirono's office says that “Children in Hawaiʻi have the highest prevalence of tooth decay in the nation, and many Hawaiʻi residents seek care at hospital emergency departments for untreated and preventable dental conditions. A 2015 report by the Hawaiʻi state Department of Health showed significant oral health disparities in Hawaiʻi’s residents relating to income, education, ethnicity, and geographic location.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono is part of a new oral health bill,
submitted yesterday, June 25.

     Said Hirono, “Children and families in

Hawaiʻi continue to face barriers in accessing necessary dental care – particularly in rural and underserved communities. This bill would increase resources for communities across Hawaiʻi to establish regular dental care and increase the number of dental providers. Oral health is an essential component of overall health and it's critically important for all people in Hawaii to have access to oral health services.”

     Dr. Robert Baysa, President of the Hawaii Dental Association, weighed in: “Oral health is an essential component of overall health and it’s critically important for all people in Hawaiʻi to have access to oral health services.” Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Tim Scott (R-SC) also cosponsored the Action for Dental Health Act.

Tooth brushing is part of good oral
health, according to the ADA.
Photo by Cate Brooks

     The legislation would: Reauthorize oral health promotion and disease prevention activities at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, such as school-based dental sealant programs and support for recruiting dental providers; establish an Action for Dental Health Program to improve oral health education and reduce barriers to oral health care; and reauthorize and expand a grant program through the Health Resources and Services Administration that helps states increase their oral health workforce and provide needed dental care, particularly in underserved communities.

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEAM FOR KAʻŪ IS ORGANIZING and the Lawrence J. Capellas Ballfield  in Pāhala could be the location of winter season Bocce Ball games.  They start mid-August, with practice beginning early July, says Lupo Paupore, of Pāhala. Paupore says that, at the moment, the majority of those who have shown interest in becoming involved, both volunteers and athletes alike, are located closer to Pāhala than Nāʻālehu or Waiʻōhinu, but she would be willing to change the practice/tournament location if more volunteers or athletes from West Kaʻū joined.

Anyone interested in helping to organize a Special Olympics team 

for Kaʻū can contact Lupo Paupore at 928-6153. 
Photo by Lupo Paupore

     The tournament season would only last about eight weeks altogether, says Paupore. She says that since this is the beginning of a new delegation, with there currently only being two other delegations on island - Kona and Hilo - she is looking for anyone interested in participating, from athletes, to volunteers who directly assist the athletes in games to those who are willing to pass out water or cheer the team on from the sidelines. Anyone interested in being a volunteer assistant coach is also welcome to join the group. To participate as an athlete in the Special Olympics, individuals must have an intellectual disability and must be older than 8 years of age.

     Participation is free, though if the group grows large, some fundraising maybe be necessary eventually, says Paupore. She added that being a part of this group will be a “marvelous way to get to know their community,” particularly for those who feel isolated from others by their intellectual disability. Paupore says that through helping her own daughter in the spring season Special Olympic games earlier this year, she was amazed at the changes she saw in her. From being shy and quiet around strangers to sharing that “I won a gold medal” with an airline attendant on the way home from the state games on Oʻahu. “Volunteering to help people with intellectual disabilities is manna for the soul,” says Paupore.

     To join or find out more, contact Paupore at 928-6153 or email her at lpaupore@outlook.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com 
and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Jun 27, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 28

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Jun 28, 12:30-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum 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. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu, Jun 28, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

Coffee Talk, Fri, Jun 29, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Mystery Bag Game, Fri, Jun 29, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For ages 6-12 years. Register Jun 25-29. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade, Sat, Jun 30, Hwy 11, Nā‘ālehu. Sign-ups open. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Birds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: The Hawaiʻi Nei Invitational Exhibition, Daily, Jun 30-Aug 12, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. Special opening reception with 8 participating artists held Sat, Jun 30, 5-7pm, Free. volcanoartcenter.org

Soft Pastel Still Life w/Patti Pease Johnson, Sat, Jun 30, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. $45/VAC Member, $50/non-Member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Grow Me the Money: Record-Keeping Principles and Best Practices for farmers and food producers, Sat, Jun 30, 3-6pm, Kaʻū District Gym. Free; registration required. Contact Megan Blazak, 887-6411, or koha.la/growmoney

Imua Puna, Sat, June 30, 3-10pm, 16-111 Opukahala St, Keaʻau. $5 suggested donation; evacuees enter and eat free. Food and drink to ourchase. Live entertainment. “Share your manaʻo at a multi-band music-dance concert to malama and kokua those displaced by Tutu Pele's journey to the ocean.” See facebook.com/kevin.carpenter84/videos/10212545972867861/

SUNDAY, JULY 1

Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sun, July 1, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u o Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, July 1, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, every Sat and Sun in July: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29; 12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities. Free. Check nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/cultural-programs.htm for details.

MONDAY, JULY 2

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Estuary Restoration Workday, Mon, July 2, contact in advance for meet up time. Requires a short hike to access site. Pending volcanic activity/air quality. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, July 2, 16, and 30, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, July 2, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JULY 3

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, July 3, 4-6pm, July 17, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, July 3, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

NEW and UPCOMING

THE 34TH ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE AND FESTIVAL has been announced by event sponsors Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, toting “family fun, keiki games, food, crafts, entertainment.”
     This particular Independence Day event is always held on July 4, with this year being no different. The parade starts at 9 a.m. at Volcano Post Office, continues through the village along Old Volcano Road and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Road. In addition to being family friendly, this event is open to dogs - being that they are friendly, picked-up after and remain on a leash while in attendance.
     During the Craft Fair portion of the event at Cooper Center, the summer musical cast for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network’s Oliver will perform, as will Da Boni and Doug Duo with Da Digital Menehunes, and Christy Lassiter.
     Attendance is free and no registration is required. Those hoping to be a part of the parade, must visit volcanocommunity.org to download an entry form, which must then be filled out and emailed to vcainfo@yahoo.com; for more about the parade, contact Meghan Jerolaman of Volcano Community Association at 333-7588. Those seeking to be vendors at the Craft Fair portion of the event, must reserve their place by contacting Tara Holmes of Cooper Center at 464-3625 (from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or idoaloha@gmail.com. Visit thecoopercenter.org for application forms.

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REGISTER KEIKI AGES 6-12 FOR A MYSTERY BAG GAME at Hawai’i County Department of Parks and Recreation’s Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates through Friday, June 29. The program takes place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 29. To register or for more information, call Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

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Register teens for Science Camps of America.
Photo from facebook.com/pg/ScienceCampsAmerica/

TWO SCIENCE CAMPS WILL BE HOSTED AT PĀHALA PLANTATION COTTAGES this summer, says Science Camps of America, a non-profit corporation. Both camps are available to teens, ages 13 to 17, going into grades 9 through 12. 

     Land & Sea Camp starts Friday, June 29, with the last day on Sunday, July 8. In this camp, teens engage with: geology, oceanography, biology and zoology. Students will learn about: structure of Earth, plate tectonics, volcanics, erosion, ocean structure, ocean currents and tides, beaches and near-shore environments, marine life, Hawaiian history and culture, and Polynesian voyaging while gaining or refining hiking and camping skills

     Air and Space Camp starts Monday, July 9, and continues through July 18. In this camp, teens learn about: solar system formation, the moon, the planets, space exploration, structure of the atmosphere, weather, carbon cycle, climate, Hawaiian history and culture, and Polynesian voyaging, while gaining or refining hiking and camping skills.
     The registration fee for each camp session is $2,395 and includes ground transportation for the six to seven field trip days, food, etc.; however, financial aid is available. For more details and to register, visit scicamp.org.

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ONGOING

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience.

     Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.

     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program by Saturday, June 30; http://www.kupuhawaii.org/conservation/. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Tropic Care 2018 - providing medical, dental, and eye care for any community member, free of charge, whether they have insurance or not - lasts through Thursday, June 28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Keaʻau High School gym. First come-first served. Bring any current prescriptions or eye glasses. Long waits are expected; bring water and snacks. Free breakfast and lunch provided to those aged 3 to 18, Monday thru Friday. Food carts may be on site for purchases throughout the event. Questions can be directed to the public health nurse at 808-974-6035, or Adria Maderios, Vice Principal of Keaʻau High School, at 313-3333.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will take sign-ups in Kaʻū, through Friday, June 29.
     In Nā’ālehu, it will take place at the Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263.
     In Ocean View, it will take place at Ocean View Community Center, Mon and Tue, 8-4:30pm.
     In Pāhala, it will take place at the Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue and Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See more for eligibility requirements and application.

Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held Saturday, June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

Disaster Recovery Center, jointly operated by Hawaiʻi County, the State of Hawaiʻi, and FEMA, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run from 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour. See the full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov. 

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through Saturday, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park invites kamaʻaina and tourist alike to visit the Kahuku Unit. There are no entry fees, and all programs are free of charge. In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, at 12:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. June 30, Hū: make a traditional Hawaiian spinning top with kukui nut, a favorite of nā keiki (children). July 1, ‘Ulana Niu; weave fun, whimsical items from coconut palm leaves.

     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

     Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Sunday, July 1, Pu‘u o Lokuana: This short 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone is ideal for families. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū.

     In the Visitor Contact Station, Coffee Talk, a monthly, casual get together, is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m. On June 29, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund will present Removing Trash, Restoring Habitat. On July 27, 

     See the Kahuku Unit Rangers, The Kahuku Cowgirls, in the Nā ͑ālehu 4th of July Parade Saturday, June 30, beginning at 10 a.m.
     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Park Rangers invite the public to downtown Hilo to learn about the volcanic activity, to get their NPS Passport Book stamped, and to experience the Hawaiian cultural connection to volcanoes. Rangers are providing programs at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center at 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Tuesday through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

     Two Park Rangers are stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 464-9634.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Mon, July 9: 5K, $25/person; 10K, $35/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From July 9 to Aug 11: $30/person, $40/person, and $45/person, respectively. From Aug 13 to Sept 20: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

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