Kaʻū News Briefs Sunday, July 1, 2018

Most Colorful Float award went to Nāʻālehu Methodist Church at the Independence Day Parade, sponsored
 by ʻO Kaʻū Kakou, on Saturday. See more photos below and in Monday's Kaʻū News Briefs. 
Photo by Richard Taylor

FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS will be in public aerial displays and neighborhoods, and the rules are important to follow, said Hawaiʻi County Fire Chief Darren Rosario. He noted the public aerial fireworks venues for July 4: Hilo Bay Barge display at 8 p.m.; Kona Bay Barge display at 8 p.m.; and Queens’ Marketplace in Waikoloa at 8 p.m.

The crew from Nāʻālehu Methodist Church who came up
with the Most Colorful float. Photo by Lee McIntosh

     Permits for home and neighborhood use of fireworks are available through this Wednesday, July 4, at 8 p.m. at: Phantom Fireworks Tents in Hilo, at Prince Kuhio Plaza parking lot off Ohuohu Street and Walmart; and at Kona Commons Shopping Center Parking lot.

     Permits are also available at the Fire Administration offices in the Hilo County Building, 25 Aupuni St., on Monday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the Fire Administration offices in Kona at West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Keohokalole Hwy, Building E, 2nd floor, Monday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     Each permit costs $25 and entitles the holder to purchase up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. Permits are for persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable, and non-refundable. Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers.

     Firecrackers, with a valid permit, and consumer fireworks are allowed to be set off

during the hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 4th only.

The Most Patriotic Float, entered by Thy Word Ministries.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

     The Fire Chief said that it is unlawful to buy, sell, possess, or set off any Aerial Luminary Device such as Sky Lanterns and Hawaiʻi Lanterns. Any person in possession of any Aerial Luminary Device, who would like to dispose of it with amnesty, can contact the

Fire Department at 932-2911.

     Rosario reminded the public that it is illegal for anyone to: Remove the powder or pyrotechnic contents from any firework; throw any firework from a vehicle; set off any firework at anytime not within the time period allowed; within 1,000 feet of any operating hospital, nursing home, home for the elderly or animal hospital; in or on any school building or property; on any highway, alley, street, sidewalk or other public way; in any park, or within 1,000 feet of a church during the periods when services are held.

     The fire chief also said that it is illegal for any person to offer for sale, sell, or give any firework to minors, and for any minor to possess, sell, set off, ignite, or otherwise cause to explode any firework, except under the immediate supervision of an adult.

The team from Thy Word Ministry who built the Most
Patriotic Float. Photo by Lee McIntosh

     To prevent injuries and fires, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department asks everyone to: Have a water hose connected to a water source or a fire extinguisher readily available. Wet down surrounding brush prior to setting off firework. Provide adult supervision for children playing with fireworks. "Even the smallest of firework can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries," said the fire chief.

     Fireworks should be set off in a safe area away from dry grass, buildings, vehicles, and flammable materials.

     The fire department urges that used fireworks be soaked in water prior to disposal.

     The Fire Department will conduct collection of un-used and unwanted firework following the 4th of July holiday. Anyone interested in disposing of fireworks can call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 932-2911 for pick-up and drop-off locations.

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Reishalyn Kekoa Jara and sister Miss
Peaberry Jacylin Kekoa Jara. Photo by Trini Marques

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MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE COURT brought its passion to the Independence Day parade Saturday in Nāʻālehu. Sister members of the court, Miss Kaʻū Coffee Reishalyn Keko Jara and Miss Peaberry Jacylin Kekoa Jara, wore their gowns and crowns.

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower Kysha 
Kaʻupu-Manini.
Photo by Trini Marques 

      Miss Kaʻū Coffee is representing the industry at events throughout the district and beyond. In addition to the parade, sponsored by ʻO Kaʻū Kākou, Miss Kaʻū Coffee reigned over the kickoff event for the Kaʻū Coffee Festival at Pāhala Plantation House, the Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest at Kaʻū Coffee Mill, and the Kaʻū Coffee Festival's annual Hoʻolaulea at Pāhala Community Center.

Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Cristina 
Kawewehi. Photo by Trini Marques 

Karlee Fukunaga Camba, a member
of the Miss Kaʻū Coffee court will run
for Miss Teen Hawaiʻi Island next
Saturday in Hilo. Photo by Julia Neal

     She will also represent Kaʻū Coffee in the July 4 parade in Volcano this week, and reign over the annual Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run in September. Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower and princesses often join Miss Kaʻū Coffee at community events.
     Another member of the Kaʻū Coffee Court, Karlee Fukunaga Camba, will represent Kaʻū at the annual Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA pageant in Hilo this Saturday, July 7, at 6 p.m., at the DoubleTree by Hilton Naniloa Hotel, in the Willie K. Crown Room. Tickets are available at R&G store in Pāhala.
     See more on the Independence Day Parade in the Monday Kaʻū News Briefs.

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THE ROLE OF SUPER DELEGATES in the Democratic Party is substantially scaled back after an effort by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has long opposed them. Super delegates are hundreds of Democratic Party officials who are allowed to vote for any presidential candidate in the Democratic nomination process, without directly representing any Democratic voters.

Bernie Sanders' loss of the Democratic Party nomination
in 2016, with backing from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, led to
scaling back super delegate powers.
Image from politifact.com

     The Democratic National Committee's Rules Committee voted 21 to 1 last week to prohibit officeholders, Democratic National Committee members, and other party officials from casting votes on the first ballot in nominating the Democratic presidential nominee.

     A letter from Gabbard, former Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia, and former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, said that the super delegate system "undermines representative democracy and means that the electorate is not necessarily decisive in determining who will be the Democratic nominees for president and vice president." The letter is also signed by liberal advocacy groups MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee as NDN think tank, and others.

     Gabbard opposed super delegates during the last presidential campaign, as did 2016 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, for whom she campaigned. Sanders said the new rules are a positive step in getting rid of super delegates. He and Gabbard said super delegates contributed to his loss of the Democratic Party nomination.

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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.

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.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4

4th of July Parade, Craft Fair, Wed, July 4, 9-1:30pm, Volcano Village. Free. Parade starts at Post Office, down Old Volcano Rd, ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd. Activities, food, and entertainment. Summer musical Oliver! cast, Da Boni and Doug Duo, Da Digital Menehunes, and Christy Lassiter will perform. Silent auction in main room. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. To be in parade, download entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors call Tara Holmes, 464-3625 (8-5pm) or email idoaloha@gmail.com. thecoopercenter.org

THURSDAY, JULY 5

Hula Voices w/Kumu Manaiakalani Kalua, Thu, July 5, 5-6pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Talk story session moderated by Desiree Moana Cruz. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, JULY 6

Spaghetti Dinner, Fri, July 6, 5:30pm, St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Single plate, $8, 2 for $15, family for $20. Tickets available at door. 939-7555, stjudeshawaii.org

Free Community Dance, Fri, July 6 and 13, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snacks provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, JULY 7

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Pā‘ula Cleanup Event w/Ala Kahakai Trails Association and friends, Sat, July 7. Contact in advance for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. Pending volcanic activity/air quality. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Roping & Riding Association’s 41st Annual 4th of July Buckle Rodeo, Sat & Sun, July 7 & 8, slack starts 8am, show starts noon, rodeo grounds behind Nā‘ālehu Park. Tickets available at gate, $8/person. Pre-sale tickets available $7/person around town from Rodeo Queen contestants. Ralph or Tammy, 929-8079

Palm Trail, Sat and Sun, July 7 and 29, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/HAVO

Art in the Everyday Community Quilt Project - Assembly Workshop, Sat, July 7, 10-4pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Visiting Artist Laura Phelps Rogers leads project, with more to come throughout year. A social engagement public work, in which Rogers hopes to construct monumental sculptural quilt built of round wood 5” pieces - each blank and designed by community participants. Pick up blank piece and packet at Volcano Art Center’s Administration Office or at Wailoa Art Center. $10 donation. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Two Day Oil Painting Workshop w/Vicki Penney-Rohner, Sat-Sun, July 7-8, 10-4pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Beginners and Intermediate students welcome. Learn to create form using values and light. Class also explores painting water. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member. See volcanoartcenter.org for list of supplies needed.

SUNDAY, JULY 8

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, July 8, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and many forms of ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower, on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

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 as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; http://www.kupuhawaii.org/conservation/. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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.

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

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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