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Thursday, January 25, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Thursday, January 25, 2018

Students gather at Kāwā for a workday mentored by Nā Mamo o Kāwā, the local-based non-profit that partners with the County of Hawai‘i in stewarding 7.5 acres of 775 Kāwā acres preserved along the Ka‘ū Coast. See story below.
Photo by Nalani Parlin
A MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF KA‘Ū LEARNING ACADEMY has been called for next Monday, Jan. 29, by the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission. The commission announced Wednesday that it invites Ka‘ū Learning Academy families and community members to the  community meeting Monday at Discovery Harbour Community Association Assembly Hall at 94-1604 Makaliʻi Street in Discovery Harbour. 
     The meeting will take place from from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Commission will be on hand to "talk with the community about the Commission, its oversight duties of all public charter schools, including KLA, and to explain the Commission's recent action in issuing the Notice of Prospect of Revocation, the first step of a multi-step process. The Commission will provide information and also receive feedback from the KLA and Kaʻū community," said the statement from the Charter School Commission.
     KLA requested a public hearing after the Commission suggested withdrawing its charter. See the story on Dec. 8 Kaʻū News Briefs and on Page 18 of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper, January edition, at kaucalendar.com. The meeting scheduled for Monday is unrelated to the KLA request and is not a public hearing. However, KLA Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo said that the school administration and board are encouraging attenance by community members "who want a better future for Ka‘ū children."

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Sen. Brian Schatz urged missile alerts be carried out through
federal channels, via many ways that people communicate.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL: AN EXAMINATION OF THE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM is the title of a hearing held Thursday by the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet. Hawaiʻi Sen. Brian Schatz is the lead Democrat on the committee, and promises a field hearing in Hawaiʻi later this year to review the false missile alert that terrified many people throughout the state earlier this month.
     Schatz proposes that such missile alerts be carried out by federal rather than state governments, and has introduced legislation to prevent states from giving out such alerts. During the hearing, Schatz brought up the many ways people communicate, from radio in rural places to television and social media and said alerts need to reach "cord cutters" and other people not watching TV, listening to radio, or using telephones in traditional ways. See and listen to the hearing.

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Nohea Kaʻawa, Keone Kalawe, and Christian Giardina 
discuss a map of Kāwā. Photo by Nalani Parl
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO KĀWĀ to join Kaʻū-based, non-profit Nā Mamo o Kāwā, in a weekend work day on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 9:30 a.m. Open to people of all ages, the workday continues stewardship efforts at Kāwā, the county-owned land between Punaluʻu and Honuʻapo, which has long been a site popular for surfing, walking, fishing, and recognition of significant archaeological sites.
     Nā Mamo o Kāwā - translated as the descendants of Kāwā - is working in concert with the county, Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, and Honoliʻi Paka, to build community capacity in conservation efforts, and intends to host monthly workdays at Kāwā.
     In mid-January, more than 80 people converged at Kāwā for a work day led by Nā Mamo o Kāwā executive director James Akau. The entire Volcano School of Arts and Sciences middle school, and Kaʻū High and Middle school students, worked alongside field experts from county, state, federal, and private entities. Akau said the event was meant to "start off the new year on the right foot, celebrate mālama ‘āina and all the people that have been a part of work, as well as provide recognition to all of our collaborators."
Nā Mamo o Kāwā executive director James Akau shows 
VSAS students, from Pāhala, how to mark newly planted 
naupaka grown by the students from cuttings, with 
stones and coral to prevent them from being trampled. 
Photo by Nalani Parlin
     Supporters of Nā Mamo's stewardship efforts include County of Hawaiʻi Parks and Recreation Department, County Department of Finance, Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, U.S. Forest Service, County Fire Department, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Honoliʻi Paka, and many community members.
     Several work groups were formed and given tasks, with students working alongside experts in their respective fields. One group used tools to control invasive species, wililaiki and haole koa, encroaching on remnant existing populations of native alaheʻe and cultural features. Another group removed trash and debris along the coast, and raked and cleaned around recreational areas. Others watered and collected native seeds of plants on site, such as milo, kou, kūkui, and ‘aʻaliʻi, and transplanted keiki milo into pots. Students also set out bait to test for Little Fire Ants, outplanted naupaka they grew from cuttings, and harvested more cuttings for future outplanting activities. Another group reinforced rock walls around the springs and other areas to control sand inundation, and removed sand from clogging springs.
     Archaeologist Matthew Clark, who compiled an archaeological report for Kāwā, led students on hikes to identify cultural sites. Another highlight included Keone Kalawe, a kuhikuhi pu‘u one (Plain Table mapper) and apprentice Britni Kuali’i, sharing how to create a detailed map of components of a heiau at Kāwā.
     Nā Mamo o Kāwā, formed in 2012 and founded by Pueo Kai McGuire-Turcotte, of Waiʻōhinu, has been working hard for several years to forward their mission, which is "to curate and steward the natural and cultural resources of Kāwā to honor the past, provide for the present and preserve for future generations." Board members include McGuire-Turcotte who serves as chair; Ryan Kanakaʻole, from Waiʻōhinu, and his wife Kaipo; and Koa Morris, of Kahuku. Longtime volunteer and worker on the project is Native Hawaiian lineal descendent of Kāwā families, Kauʻi Kaupu Felder.
Native lineal descendent of Kāwā families, Kauʻi Kaupu Felder,
left, welcomes County Dept. of Finance Business Manager
Reid Sewake and Dept. of Parks and 
Recreation
Deputy Director Maurice Messina, 
and experts in
archaeology and other fields, to help lead area
students in stewarding the land. Photo by Nalani Parlin
     Nā Mamo o Kāwā is contracted by the county as area stewards, and is funded by the County Department of Finance PONC Grant and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. The County also provides support with two portable bathrooms housed on site. The group services and cares for about 15 acres of the some 775 Kāwā acreage acquired by the county.
     County Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Maurice Messina, who visited Kāwā during the workday with Department of Finance Business Manager Reed Sewake, said "It is amazing what is happening here. Coming out here and seeing the partnership that has developed, not only with Parks and Recreation, but also with the schools, we are going to throw our support behind Nā Mamo o Kāwā 100 percent."
     Over the past few years, Nā Mamo o Kāwā has helped several hundreds of students, of all ages, to engage in place-based learning and mālama ʻāina at Kāwā. In addition to students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, and Kaʻū High and Middle School, Nā Mamo o Kāwā has hosted and helped many learners from Youth Challenge, University of Hawaiʻi PIPES interns, UH STEM Manowaiohanakahi and Maʻa, Kua o Ka Lā Charter School site at Miloliʻi, the Hipuʻu, and Queen Lili'uokalani Childrens Trust programs to engage in learning about and caring for Kāwā.
VSAS educational assistant, Hal Tredinnick, leads a student working 
group to clean up the coastline, picking up trash and driftwood. 
Photo by Nalani Parlin
     Akau said the organization seeks to form more partnerships with other area schools and programs, including Nāʻālehu Elementary. Akau is also helping schools start native plant nurseries for eventual outplanting at Kāwā, and provides educational assistance through classroom visits. Another future Nā Mamo o Kāwā initiative will be to "outfit community members with grow back materials, so they can be involved with Kāwā stewardship efforts from their own homes," added Akau.
     For the students of Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, who visit weekly, teacher Tamara Morrison said she has already seen the positive impact. She shared that students who may have met with challenges in a traditional classroom setting have flourished since coming to Kāwā. She added that as these students get to showcase their talents in the outdoor classroom, their self-confidence has increased and so have their scores in other content areas, such as reading. Volcano School has taken advantage of the opportunity to work with Nā Mamo and anchor student learning around the place of Kāwā to create cross-content lessons which include language arts, science, social studies and math knowledge and skills, and continue on back at their Volcano campus.
VSAS middle-schooler Elisha Viernes-Navarro
Photo by Nalani Parlin
     Akau pointed to what he feels is one of the most important lessons that students can gain from visits to Kāwā. He said, "Students need to create their own relationships with the space. Go enjoy yourself and love this place."
     For more information about the Feb. 10 workday or to engage with Nā Mamo o Kāwā, contact James Akau at namamookawa@gmail.com or call 430-3058.

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GOV. DAVID IGE'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS this week took up education; Kūpuna care; environmental responsibility and sustainability; growing food; and diversifying the economy.
     Regarding education, Ige said, "It is one thing to say our children matter; it is quite another to do something about it. We have invested more widely in classrooms than in previous years." He mentioned the 1,200-and-counting classrooms that now have cooling, and the more than 3,000 community members who came together to create "a new Blueprint for Education. This blueprint for change is now in the hands of new DOE leadership." Said the governor, "I also recognized that it is not enough just to say to our teachers, 'We respect how hard you work.' That's why we have given our educators the pay raises they have long deserved."
     Ige brought up care of the elderly: "I am proud that together we were able to pass Kūpuna Caregiver legislation that provides assistance for full-time family caregivers who also have full-time jobs. This is a win for Hawaiʻi's families."
Gov. David Ige brought up the importance of protecting thousands of acres of watershed,
with one of the most important on state land. It's called the Kaʻū Forest Preserve.
   On taxes, Ige stated, "Together we have made tremendous strides in this task – rebuilding our Rainy Day fund to $310 million. We have gone after the tax cheats and collected millions from those who were not paying their fair share. And we are working to modernize our tax collection system to make it easier and fairer for the people of Hawaiʻi. We made needed changes to improve the system so we can collect the tax revenues we rely on for state services. I believe we're on the right track to accomplish this major task."
     Ige spoke about environmental responsibility and sustainability: "We're also making great strides in protecting our ʻāina and ocean resources. To date, we have protected over 40,000 acres of watershed forests on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi islands... We helped preserve and protect Turtle Bay lands (on O`ahu) from development. A joint agreement with the US Navy is helping us reach our renewable energy goals. And together, we've established guidelines to use recycled water on food crops."
     "Hawai‘i is a leader in solving the issues of our time... Hawai‘i is home to many talented individuals breaking new ground every day." He talked more about diversifying the economy. "I hope you'll leave today knowing that we have laid important groundwork and that Hawai‘i is on the edge of something exciting. Imagine a future economy for Hawai‘i that isn't reliant solely on tourism and the military. Imagine a future where local entrepreneurs are inventing useful products and services that are sold across the globe.
     "Imagine that we use our temperate weather and four growing seasons to develop new high-tech agricultural tools that increase yields for farmers from Hawai‘i to India. Imagine that we farm our nearshore ocean waters, too, feeding our own communities and the growing global demand for seafood. And with these new businesses, there's new demand for scientists, technicians and marketing professionals.
Learn the art of playing the ‘ukulele with Wes Awana in Volcano on Feb. 2. 
Photo from Volcano Art Center
     "And what does this mean for the people of Hawai‘i?" he asked. "It means a healthier economy with quality jobs that enable us to improve our schools, take care of our kūpuna, and provide more affordable housing. This future Hawai‘i isn't as far off as it seems."
     Read the governor's entire speech here: 2018-Gov-Ige-STATE-OF-THE-STATE.pdf.

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VOLCANO ART CENTER HAS ANNOUNCED ‘UKULELE WITH WES AWANA as next weeks' Aloha Friday cultural demonstration on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volcano area musician Awana shares his love of ‘ukulele and Hawaiian music by giving family-friendly lessons on Friday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     The free cultural event is supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. National Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

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A FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted by Almafatano's Italian Restaurant, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 2, in Hilo. The event, KDENte, offers musical entertainment by Karl Halemano, and a buffet including pasta, lasagna, and salad.
     KDEN is a non-profit community theater organization founded by experienced community theater organizers and performing artists. KDEN's mission is "to provide and promote top quality community theater in East Hawai‘i, seeking to enrich and unite our community through participation in the performing arts."
     KDEN produces a summer musical, winter production, and sponsors the Living History program in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Volcano Festival Chorus. Proceeds will go towards KDEN's next production, Alan Ayckbourn's comedy, How The Other Half Loves, which plays in March at Kīlauea Miltary Camp's Kīlauea Theater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     Tickets for the fundraiser are $20 per person, available at the door. Reservations may be made by calling KDEN at 982-7344.

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

Swimming: Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.
     Monday, Jan. 29, @ Parker.
     Wednesday, Jan. 31, Kealakehe @ Ka‘ū.
     Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.
     Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.

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.

MUSICIAN AND TEXTILE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE GIVE A DUAL PERFORMANCE in Friday, Jan. 26, starting at 6 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Will Oldham (performs as Bonnie "Prince" Billy) will sing and play music, and his wife, fiber/textile artist Elsa Hansen Oldham, stitches on stage as her handiwork is projected on a movie screen. Oldham is an acclaimed singer/songwriter whose music has been described as an alternative blend of country-folk and punk; Hansen-Oldham's quilting and cross-stitch work puts a folksy pop-art spin on history and modern culture. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 26, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

KA‘Ū RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION offers a free informational and educational presentation, Crystal Meth Addiction in Communities, as part of their Call to Action Prevention Campaign. Certified Prevention Specialist Gary Shimabukuro will give the presentation on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Ka‘ū Gym & Disaster Shelter's multi-purpose room. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Ka‘ū Resource & Distance Learning Center at 928-0101.

LEARN MORE ABOUT AND DISCUSS THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM USED IN PRE-CONTACT HAWAI‘I during Coffee Talk on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (entrance located south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11).
Make lei with Kaipo AhChong in Volcano Friday.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org
     During the January event, Farming the Rock in Ka‘ū: The Agriculture Field System of Kahuku, University of Hawai‘i Professors Seth Quintus and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln discuss their work uncovering the Ka‘ū field system at Kahuku, as well as how this knowledge might serve Hawai‘i in the future. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

MAKE LEI WITH KAIPO AHCHONG AT VOLCANO ART CENTER'S ALOHA FRIDAY event on January 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the VAC Gallery porch.
     Tropical Agriculture farmer AhChong shares his expert lei-making skills. As a member of Halau Na Kamalei, his unique experience marries the science of agriculture with Hawaiian lei and hula traditions.
     Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week. These free cultural events are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. National Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

COUNT HUMPBACK WHALES FOR THE SANCTUARY OCEAN COUNT on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at one of four locations along the coast in/near Ka‘ū District: Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at Ka‘ena Point - end of Chain of Craters Road; Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park; Ka Lae Park - at the end of South Point Road; and Miloli‘i Lookout - from Hwy 11, continue makai towards Miloliʻi Beach Park, 1.9 miles down, turn left on Awapuhi and continue to dead end.
     Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey, which provides valuable data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bring sun protection, water, snacks, and a cushion to sit on. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time for orientation. Register at sanctuaryoceancount.org. Free; park entrance fees apply. Count will be held again on Feb. 24 and Mar. 31. Read more about locations at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

‘O KA‘Ū KAKOU'S 10TH ANNUAL Keiki Fishing Tournament is held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Punalu‘u Beach Park Pavilions. The event is open to keiki from one to 14 years old. Pre-registration has ended. Register at the event on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., with fishing until noon, then lunch and prizes. Every participant gets a prize. Grand and mini-grand prize drawing - including personal tablets. For more, call Guy Enriques at 217-2253, Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773, or visit okaukakou.org.

BUILD YOUR OWN MINI ORCHID DISPLAY workshop is offered by Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Pre-registration is required. Volcano Art Center members pay $20 and non-members pay $25.
     The event description on volcanoartcenter.org says, "Not only will you learn a thing or two, but also, thanks to the Hilo Orchid Society, you'll be able to take home an orchid."

Learn about Coffee Berry Borer with Andrea
Kawabata. Photo from cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu
U.H.-CTAHR EXTENSION AGENT ANDREA KAWABATA offers a Coffee Berry Borer Identification and Management Presentation at the Hamakua Harvest Farmers' Market on Sunday, Jan. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Learn about identifying CBB and how to manage this coffee pest. "This class will be fairly basic, but see me after the presentation if you have specific questions," says Kawabata. The market is located at the intersection of Mamane Street and Hwy 19. For more details, visit hawaiicoffeeed.com.

JOIN ASTRONOMER AND CO-HOST OF PBS STAR GAZERS, DEAN REGAS, as he hosts Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's first-ever Star Party at Kīlauea Overlook (on Crater Rim Drive, before Jaggar Museum) on Monday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. Explore nearby planets and deep-space celestial wonders above the glow of Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Dark Skies Rangers will answer questions. Powerful telescopes will be available at the Kīlauea Star Party event. Free, but subject to weather conditions; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A LEARNING TOGETHER WORKSHOP AT THE OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER, sponsored by Nā‘ālehu School, is offered Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

KA‘Ū FOOD PANTRY, INC., distributes Tuesday, Jan. 30, at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle-Mauka, Ocean View, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All participants are asked to respect the grounds where this will be held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the last Tuesday of each month.

VOLCANIC GEOLOGY ALONG SADDLE ROAD is the topic of an After Dark in the Park presentation given by Rick Hazlett, affiliate geologist with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hazlett describes the "outdoor classroom" along Saddle Road, in which visitors can learn more about how the Islands aloha ‘āina (precious land) came to be. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

WITNESS THE LUNAR ECLIPSE WITH ASTRONOMER DEAN REGAS, co-host of PBS Star Gazers, as he guides event participants through the total lunar eclipse expected Tuesday, Jan. 30, atop Kīlauea Volcano. Meet Regas at 8:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Overlook (on Crater Rim Drive, before Jaggar Museum). Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's event description says "the park will provide an excellent vantage point to view the spectacle – weather permitting." Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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.