Ka`ū News Briefs Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Image from prh.noaa.gov

TROPICAL STORM LANE IS ON TRACK TO ARRIVE IN HAWAI`I next week, according to information from the National Hurricane Center. Lane is traveling at 13 miles per hour, with winds at 50 mph, and was 1,885 miles west-southwest of South Point at 5 p.m. The storm is expected to keep traveling west for the next couple of days. A turn to the west-northwest is forecast to occur on Thursday. Forecasts expect Lane to strengthen into a hurricane by Thursday, and possibly turn into a major hurricane by Saturday.

     See Lane forecasts and discussions at nhc.noaa.gov until it reaches the Central Pacific. See the Central Pacific Hurricane center at prh.noaa.gov. See updates here at Ka`ū News Briefs, as the situation develops.

Coffee being dried for Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama where a geen
been auction brought a price of $601 a pound. Ka`ū Coffee Farmers
Cooperative is working on quality and entering a similar Hawai`i auction.
Photo from scap-panama.com

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SEEKING TO REAP SOME OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PRICES FOR COFFEE, Ka`ū Coffee Growers Cooperative held a Quality Control Workshop on Sunday, as part of a series of educational steps to become more competitive.

     The farmers are getting ready to participate in a green auction of Hawaiian coffees, sponsored by the Hawai`i Coffee Association, with standards set by Specialty Coffee Association of America, an organization that has held contests where Ka`ū Coffees have been rated as some of the top internationally and in their region. Lots of coffee as small as 50 lbs. will qualify to be auctioned, provided the cupping of the coffee meets the high standards of SCAA.

     Such an auction in 2017 for Panamanian Coffee drew prices as high as $601 a pound for a Hacienda La Esmeralda specialty coffee from Canas Verde farm in Boquete, Panama. The average price of Panamanian green coffee was $61.98 per pound during the auction of 51 microlots totaling 5,950 lbs., according to Roast Magazine. Most of the highest priced coffees were of the Geisha variety and sold to Asian buyers.

     During the workshop on Sunday, Dr. Shaun Steinman told farmers that they have much control over the quality of their coffee. While the altitude at which coffee is growing, many attributes of the farm, and the kind of coffee already growing are fixed, farmers can have great influence through soil and plant nutrition. The fine work of picking the coffee cherry at just the right moment -- not under ripe nor overripe -- improves the quality of the bean and affects the quality judged in the cupping. He said the farmers have much control over making sure coffee is pulped the same day that it's picked, and in controlling the fermenting and the drying process. He noted that some of the award winning farmers are experimenting with yeast in their fermenting processes. He also talked about the importance of shipping coffee in Grainpro bags to protect their quality.

Image from coffeaconsulting.com

     In addition to educational sessions with the farmers, Steinman is planning to visit Ka`ū Coffee farms and observe practices, and to meet with farmers individually. His contribution is one of the programs funded through a $173,000 USDA Socially Disadvantaged Group Grant to Ka`ū Coffee Growers Association.

     Steinman, of Coffea Consulting, holds a Masters Degree and Phd from University of Hawai`i at Mānoa in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. He is the author of the Hawai`i Coffee Book and has helped guide Ka`ū Coffee farmers for years with workshops, visits, talks, and professional advice. He is a longtime supporter of the Ka`ū Coffee Festival.

Hacienda La Esmeralda is owned by the Peterson family,
which strives for growing the highest price coffee
on the planet. Photo from scap-panama.com

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WIDESPREAD VULNERABILITY OF THE  U.S ELECTION SYSTEM is a concern of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. She released a statement yesterday "regarding disturbing reports" exposed at DefCon 26 Voting Village, an annual hacking conference held in Las Vegas on August 9 through 12. At the conference, approximately thirty children ages 8-16 were able to hack into imitation election websites mirroring U.S. election infrastructure across the country, some in under ten minutes, says a statement from Gabbard's office.

     Gabbard introduced the Securing America's Elections Act in March 2018. The bill aims to protect the country's elections infrastructure from cyber-hackers by requiring the use of paper ballots or voter-verified paper ballot backups in federal elections, and authorize emergency funding to empower every state to implement this policy that produces an auditable paper trail, beginning with the 2018 elections. The legislation would also address ongoing concerns with vulnerabilities in the software that is currently used in voting machines across the country.

     Said Gabbard, "Kids being able to hack into our election infrastructure in mere minutes highlights the severe vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure that threaten our American democracy. These vulnerabilities erode voter confidence and expose our election outcomes to manipulation. With the 2018 general election quickly approaching, Congress must act now to pass my Securing America's Elections Act, and work with the states to safeguard our electoral infrastructure, ensuring that each and every American vote is counted faithfully and accurately."

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EXTENDED HOURS FOR KAHUKU UNIT of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park started today. The fee-free park section will now stay open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays; the park is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Photo of Kahuku visitor "jumping for joy" in 

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

NPS photo by Janice Wei

     A release from the park says: "Located on the slopes of Mauna Loa in the Ka`ū District, Kahuku offers visitors five hiking trails, and a 4.5-mile scenic drive -- nine miles roundtrip -- on an unpaved road to the trailhead of the new Pali o Kaeo trail; high-clearance vehicles are recommended. The 1868 lava flow, historic pasturelands, and a thriving forest ecosystem of native koa and `ōhi`a await visitors eager for an off-the-beaten path experience."

     August's Artist-in-Residence is Hasan Elahi, a world-renowned installation artist whose artwork explores issues of surveillance, and sousveillance: using technology for documenting one's own life. The release says: "Elahi's life changed after Sept. 11, 2001 when he was pulled aside at a Detroit airport and interrogated for hours following an erroneous tip. After months of grueling investigation by the FBI, he transformed the experience to forge his powerful and proactive artistic expression, and opened up nearly every aspect of his personal life to the public through his art." Come see how the park inspires Elahi in a presentation on Fri, August 24 at 10 a.m. Learn more by watching his TED Talk at youtube.com/watch?v=wAdwurHhv-I.

Firefighters take readings in
affected areas. NPS photo

     See more on daily offerings at Kahuku Unit below, in the Ongoing Events section.

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KEAUHOU FIRE IS 86 PERCENT CONTAINED today as of 3:30 p.m. 86 fire fighting personnel continue fighting the blaze, which is stable at 3,739 acres affected.
     See more at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6114.

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TROJAN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL HOME OPENER Tuesday night brought Waiakea to the new Ka`ū Gym.

     The team from the big school took the win in Varsity and JV with the following scores: Varsity Ka`ū with 14, 25, 10, and11. Waiakea with 25, 20, 25, and 25. JV Ka`ū with 10 and 5, Waiakea with 25 and 25.

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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.

KA`Ū TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE

Football:

   Fri, Aug 17, 10am, Scrimmage @ Kea`au
   Sat, Aug 25, 10am, Scrimmage @ Waiakea
   Thu, Sept 6, 6pm, @ Pāhoa
   Sat, Sept 15, 1pm, @ Kohala
   Sat, Sept 22, 3:30pm, host Lana`i @ Kea`au
Girls Volleyball:
   Tue, Aug 14, 6pm, host Waiakea
   Fri, Aug 24, 6pm, @ Mauna Lani
   Wed, Aug 29, 6pm, @ Hilo
   Fri, Aug 31, Kamehameha Tourney
   Sat, Sept 1, Kamehameha Tourney
   Wed, Sept 5, 6pm, host Pāhoa
   Wed, Sept 12, 6pm, @ Christian Liberty
   Fri, Sept 14, @ Kamehameha
   Mon, Sept 17, 6pm, host Lapahoehoe
   Wed, Sept 19, 6pm, host Kohala
   Thu, Sept 20, 6pm, @ Honoka`a
   Tue, Sept 25, 6pm, @ HPA
   Fri, Sept 28, 6pm, host Kona
Cross Country:
   Sat, Aug 25, @ CLA (preseason)
   Sat, Sept 1, 10am, @ HPA
   Sat, Sept 8, 10am, @ Kamehameha
   Sat, Sept 15, 10am, Kea`au
   Sat, Sept 22, 9am, @ HPA

NEW and UPCOMING

A FREE FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATION CLASS ON SAFE FOOD HANDLING PROCESSES is offered by Hawai`i Health Department of Health and Sanitation's Food Safety Program on Tuesday, September 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. The certificate earned will meet the 2017 requirement, 11-50-20(c) Food Protection Certification, of the Hawai`i Administrative Rules, Chapter 11-50 Food Safety Code. "The class also helps you understand and implement the sanitary requirements for proper food preparation, handling and storage," says the description on eventbrite.com/e/free-state-of-hi-dept-of-health-food-handler-certificate-class-oceanview-tickets-48044165392.
     The law above requires "The person-in-charge [of the food handling in question] shall demonstrate knowledge of basic food safety by successfully completing a food safety course that is part of a department food safety program or other program approved by the department," states the event description.

     Class limited to 50 participants: first come, first served. Sponsored & presented by Hawai`i Dept of Health & Sanitation. Call 939-7033 for more details and to sign up. See ovcahi.org.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, Aug 16, 10:30-noon, Nā`ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawai`i Disability Legal Services, Thu, Aug 16, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`ū, Thu, Aug 16, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nā`ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17

Hawai`i Wildlife Fund Kamilo Beach Clean-up and Debris Survey, Fri, Aug 17, 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

Pāhala Meeting on the Future of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Friday, Aug. 17, at 5 p.m., at Pāhala Plantation House. The community is invited to share ideas and to discuss what the visitor experience might be like during a series of informal meetings slated for Pāhoa, Volcano, Pāhala, and Kahuku.

     Anyone who is interested in the future of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is invited to attend. Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando and other park managers will share the latest news about what’s going on in the park.
     Other meetings will be held at Tin Shack Bakery in Pāhoa, Thurs., Aug. 16, at 3 p.m.; Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Tues., Aug. 21, at 1 p.m.; and Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Thurs., Aug. 23, at 10 a.m.

     A statement from the park says "Most of the park has been closed since May 11, after elevated activity at Kīlauea Volcano created hazardous conditions for staff and visitors. Park management will share their plans for recovery."

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

Volcano Forest Runs Race Day, Sat, Aug 18; 7 am - 1/2 Marathon, 7:45 am - 5k, 8 am - 10k, 10 am - Keiki Runs. Volcano Village, start and finish at Cooper Center on Wright Road. See pre-registration fees online. No race day registration for 1/2 Marathon. Race Director Sharron Faff, 967-8240. volcanorainforestruns.com

Volcano Rain Forest Runs this weekend.
Last day to sign up for 1/2 Marathon is Friday.
Photo from VRFR

Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat, Aug 18, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org.

Paths and Trails, Sat, Aug 18, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately-difficult, 2-mile hike with some of the most spectacular overlooks in Kahuku. Discover the ways people, animals, and plants got to Kahuku and the paths they followed. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Hands-On Fermented Foods Workshop: Pickled Veggies & Yogurt with Jasmine Silverstein, HeartBeet Foods, Sat, Aug 18, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center. $50/VAC Members, $55/non-Member. Pre-registration required. Supplies and organic ingredients provided. No cooking skills necessary. heartbeetfoods.com. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat, Aug 18, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Kumu Hula Iwalani Kalima with Hālau Kou Lima Nani E, Sat, Aug 18, 10:30-11:30am, hula platform near Volcano Art Center Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hula performance. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula - Kumu Hula Kaho`okele Crabbe and Halauolaokalani, Sat, Aug 18, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hands on cultural demonstration. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Bunco & Potluck, Sat, Aug 18, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

People & Land of Kahuku, Sun, Aug 19, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

MONDAY, AUGUST 20

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, Aug 20, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

After Dark Near The Park: Saving Rare Plants from the Brink of Extinction in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Tue, Aug 21, 7-8pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Botanist Sierra McDaniel discusses rare plant management at the park. Free; $2 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org. Event co-sponsored by Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, 985-6011.

ONGOING

Free Arts and Crafts Activities at Pāhala Comunity Center happen on Wednesdays (excluding Aug 29), from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through the end of Sept, for keiki in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
   - Aug 22: Silhoutte Art. Register Aug 16 through 21.
   - Sept 5: In observance of Grandparents Day, Craft Stick Puzzle Hanging. Register Aug 30 - Sept 4.
   - Sept 12: Dove Foldable For Peace. Register Sept 4 through 11.
   - Sept 19: Handprint Tree Art. Register Sept 13 through 18.
   - Sept 26: Beaded Wind Chime. Register Sept 19 through 25.

     For more, call 928-3102 or visit the community center during business hours: Mon-Thu and Sat, from noon to 8 p.m., or Fri, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Activities at Kahuku Park -- within Hawaiian Ocean View Estates -- over the next two months, include two physical activities, three arts and crafts activities, and a Park Beautification Day.

     For ages 6 to 12:
   - Kickball: Tuesdays and Fridays 2 to 3 p.m., August 21 through September 21. Registration open through August 20.

   - Jump Rope Challenge: Monday, August 27, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open August 20 through 25.

   - Paper Lanterns: Wednesday, August 22, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open through August 20.
   - Sand Art: Wednesday, September 5, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open August 27 through 31.
     For all ages:
   - Friendship Bracelets: Wednesday, September 19, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open September 10 through 14.

   - Park Beautification Day: Friday, September 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Registration open September 19 through 26.
      All activities are free to attend. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit the park during business hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Cross County Assistant Coach Needed for Ka`ū Trojans, says Coach Erin Cole. The Boys & Girls team starts running Aug 25. Contact Cole for more, or if interested in applying, at erinlcole@hotmail.com.

5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival tickets on sale for event on Sun, Sept 9 -- going fast! Benefit for Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. Music, food, wine, and raffle. $40/adult (21+), $20 under 21. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

5th Annual Ka`ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, Fees: 5K, $35/person; 10K, $45/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $55/person. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka`ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: `O Ka`ū Kākou, okaukakou.org.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool's Temporary Nā`ālehu Site Location is Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ōhinu. Meeting days and times remain the same: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to those with keiki zero to five years old, to aid with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Free. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.

     To enroll in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 464-9634. Questions: Clark at 929-8571 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Harmony Educational Services, Home Based Educational Programs - Open Enrollment through Oct 15; harmonyed.com/hawaii. Partnered with four local public charter schools, Harmony offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can also contact Rayna Williams at rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.

Disaster Recovery Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Kea`au High School Gym. See information applicants need to bring, or register online, at DisasterAssistance.gov. Salvation Army distribution center at Pāhoa Community Center on Tue, Thu, and Sat, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To donate, contact 756-0306.

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for Sat community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

Ocean View Vet Center Visits Suspended until further notice. Veterans, call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, to kama`aina and tourist alike. Experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo, while the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues.

     Free of charge, with no entry fees, rangers offer new and familiar programs at Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit

     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

     Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

     Guided Hikes on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Can't make a guided hike but want to get to know Kahuku better? The Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will tailor a customized trek just for you. Contact Friends through their website. Proceeds support Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

     Coffee Talk, held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station. Dr. Frank Bonaccorsoreveals "A Day in the Life of `Ōpe`ape`a – the Hawaiian Hoary Bat," and shares a 24-hour cycle of the only land mammal native to Hawai`i on Fri., Aug. 31.

     Ranger Talks introduce the natural, cultural and historic attributes of Kahuku on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.

     `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at the Visitor Contact Station. Pū`ohe Workshop: Learn to make a bamboo trumpet, Sat, Aug 18, 12:30 p.m. Hawaiian Paper: Make your own paper from the wauke plant, Sun, Aug 19, 12:30 p.m. Wauke supplies are limited, please RSVP to wendy_scott-vance@nps.gov.

     Picnic in the Park: Join Kahuku for Hawaiian music and hula. Bring a picnic lunch or opt to buy lunch from food trucks on this family-friendly day. Supported by the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Sun., Sept. 16, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus

     Find Park Rangers in Volcano Village daily, at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. Rangers are there 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.

     After Dark …near the park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

     Find Park Rangers in downtown Hilo, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., they give a talk about all five of Hawai`i Island's volcanoes, including Kīlauea. Get NPS Passport Books stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.

Prince Kūhio Plaza

     Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partner, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

     Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo on Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rangers provide eruption updates at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The park film that is normally available to visitors at Kīlauea Visitor Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, is shown every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

     Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at `Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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