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Thursday, February 28, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, February 28, 2019

Southwest Airlines will start booking flights from California airports to Kona soon. Image from southwest.com
SOUTHWEST EARNED THE OK TO FLY TO HAWAIʻI on Feb. 27. A series of test flights earlier this month monitored by the Federal Aviation Administration showed the airline is ready for long-haul over ocean flights from the West Coast, including direct flights to Kona. Southwest also plans interisland flights.
     Southwest's chief operating officer Mike Van de Ven announced the news to employees on Wednesday: "The FAA today officially authorized Southwest to operate ETOPS or Extended Operations flights... We have teams now finalizing our plans to offer service to Hawaiʻi, and we'll publicly announce our timing for inaugural flights and other service when we publish our schedule in the coming days."
The first Southwest flight to Hawaiʻi was met on Oʻahu by smiling
faces and an airplane-sized lei. Photo from southwest.com
     Kona, Honolulu, Kahului, and Lihuʻe will be connected to San Diego, Oakland, Sacramento, San and San Jose, all California airports.
     Says the Southwest website: "We also intend to provide interisland service, so you can fly between the Hawaiian Islands with us, too. For more information on the islands we intend to serve, visit the Southwest Community."

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A NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR NĀʻĀLEHU drew questions at Tuesday's meeting regarding paying to hook up, a requirement to abandon existing septic systems for the county sewer pipe, and the reason to build a sewage treatment plant rather than septic tank.
     Iwao Yonemitsu of Nāʻālehu Hongwanji said the church paid for its own septic system. Should the sewer line go by and the church be ordered to hook up, could the Hongwanji receive reimbursement for its septic system? County representatives said county code requires all buildings to hook up to county sewer lines that go by their properties.
     In Nāʻālehu the new sewer line is planned to travel along Hwy 11 from the school and old mill camp to just shy of the hongwanji. The school, gym, community center, post office, library, churches, Bay Clinic, 76 gas station, Punaluʻu Bakeshop, Hana Hou, Ace Hardware, CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union, Shaka's, the shopping center, and other buildings along the Hwy 11 strip would be required to hook up at their own expense. Their septic systems would be retired, building owners relieved of pumping their tanks and other maintenance, as well as having to put in additional capacity should the use of their facilities grow.
Iwao Yonemitsu points to Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, which 
installed its own septic system. Photo by Julia Neal
     County representatives told Yonemitsu there is no rebate for having put in a septic system prior to the sewer line going in. Some homeowners wondered if there could be assistance in the cost of hooking up to the sewer system, saying they heard prices as high as $20,000. Bill Kucharski, Director of the Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management, said he and his staff are looking into grants and loans to help with the expense for those who are unable to afford hooking up. All of those served by the old sewer line put in by the old sugar company would be hooked up at no charge. Those on cesspools and septic along the way would pay for their hookups.
     The proposed site for the wastewater treatment is makai of Nāʻālehu, 2.5 miles from the ocean.
The proposed site has been moved twice, once from land near the police station, after it was determined to be a rich archaeological site, and the other next to Nāʻālehu School.
     Some residents said the price for the wastewater treatment facility, at over $40 million, is too expensive, even though the cost will be shared county wide. They asked that a septic system be used to satisfy EPA requirements to abandon three large capacity gang cesspools that serve the old sugar camp of 163 houses.
      County representatives said that newer wastewater technology with disposal of  treated effluent in forested groves, rather than tanks requiring pumping and shipping waste to the landfill, is the preferred technology and follows the Kaʻū Community Development Plan that forecasts some growth in the town.
     An Environmental Assessment is expected in late May or June for review by the public before the county continues to purchase the treatment site and start the construction.
     Several advocates of the septic tank solution said they are suing the county and other agencies to stop the wastewater plant.
     See yesterday's Kaʻū News Briefs for more.
   
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A BILL TO EXPAND BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THOSE PURCHASING GUNS passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. Backed by Hawaiʻi Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case, HR. 8,  would "utilize the current background checks process in the United States to ensure individuals prohibited from gun possession are not able to obtain firearms."
March for Our Lives, a group created after a school shooting in Parkland, FL, cost 17 lives, encourages the public
to contact legislators to vote for universal background checks for gun purchases. MFOL photo
     Gabbard remarked, "97% of Americans support universal background checks for gun purchases. The passage of this bipartisan common-sense legislation is long overdue to help save lives and make our communities more safe."
     Case tweeted yesterday, "Today, I joined many of my colleagues in passing H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a reasonable bill that would #UpdateBackgroundChecks to include private transactions, including purchases online and at gun sales. Background checks help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people without infringing on the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. "
     The companion bill, S. 42, Background Check Expansion Act, is co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, as well as 39 other Democratic senators and Independent Bernie Sanders.
     March for Our Lives, the campaign spearheaded by survivors of a school shooting in Florida last year that killed seven people, encourages the public to act:
     "Call your Senator at 1-844-436-2403 and fight to make universal background checks the law of the land.
     "NRA-backed senators have already spent decades doing nothing while tens of thousands of Americans die from gun violence every year. But if we work together, we can pass the first gun violence prevention bill in a generation. It's up to us to demand that they act."

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THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PORTFOLIO of Hawaiian Electric Companies reached 27 percent in 2018, even with the loss of Puna Geothermal Venture, with its plant partially covered by lava during the Kīlauea volcanic eruption. Use of renewables was up from 9 percent a decade ago, in producing electricity for Hawaiʻi, Honolulu and Maui counties.
     According to a statement from Hawaiʻi Electric Companies, they lost no ground in toward the goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy in 2045. The companies would have registered 29 percent renewables had PGV produced at the same level as 2017.
     Hawaiʻi Electric Light, Maui Electric, and Hawaiian Electric are on track to achieve the next mandated renewables milestone: 30 percent by 2020.The companies' annual use of fossil fuels has declined by 88 million gallons over the past 10 years – about 19 percent, says the statement from the utilities.
     Hawaiʻi Electric Light, with the mix of geothermal through May, 2018, and solar, wind, and hydroelectricity, recorded 44 percent use of renewables, down from 57 percent in 2017. HELCO would have reached 64 percent if PGV had stayed online for the full year. Maui Electric recorded 38 percent, up from 34 percent in 2017, and Oʻahu was at 22 percent, up from 21 percent the previous year.
Lava approaching Puna Geothermal Venture last year. USGS photo
     Peak renewable energy production for the year on Hawaiʻi Island was reached on April 14, 2018, when 79 percent of electricity demand was met by renewables. The peak was 80 percent on Maui on April 14, 2018, and 58 percent was achieved on May 19, 2018, on Oʻahu.
     Two projects – Kuia Solar and South Maui Renewable Resources – came online on Maui last year, the island's first grid-scale solar arrays. On Molokaʻi, regulators approved the island's first large-scale solar-plus-storage renewable project, Molokaʻi New Energy Partners.
     On Oʻahu, the 20-megawatt West Loch Solar facility in Ewa will come online this year, as will three Clearway Energy solar facilities totaling 110 MW. Power purchase agreements for seven solar-plus-storage facilities on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu, and Maui were filed in 2018 with regulators, laying the foundation for the largest surge in renewable energy in state history.
     By 2022, says the release, there will be more than 4.4 million solar panels delivering energy to the grid.

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A WARNING ABOUT MOMO CHALLENGE has been issued by the Department of Education. East Hawaiʻi Complex Area Superintendent, Chad Farias, sent a letter to parents today, saying The Momo Challenge is "the latest series of online challenges targeting youth and teens." The letter says while evidence of students using the game is limited, coverage in news and over social media is "extensive... It's important that parents talk to their children about it... It takes a collective community to be vigilant in ensuring student safety."
Commonly used image by media to represent "Momo," a
purported tool for online bullying.
Image from Cambridge News
     The letter states the Challenge is "played" over a digital social media platform, where contact is initiated by messaging a phone from a number found online. If the target engages, directions are given to "complete challenges that can include self-harm and even suicide," states the letter. "There have been reports that bullies have been posing as 'Momo' – a nightmarish character with bulging eyes and a chilling smile – on platforms to bully others into harming themselves."
     The superintendent encourages parents to "ask their child whether they have seen anything online that has upset or worried them, and explain there are often things that happen online that can be misleading or frightening, and that some things are solely designed to get a lot of attention."
     The superintendent also recommends parents "be proactive and foster an atmosphere of openness and transparency about their child's online activity," and review online safety and security features, especially since so many children have their own devices.

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.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Mon., March 4, 3 p.m., host Konawaena
Wed., March 6, 3 p.m., @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 1 p.m., host Kohala
Sat., March 16, 1 p.m., host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Softball:
Tue., March 5, host Konawaena
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 11 a.m., host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m., host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m., host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m., host Honokaʻa
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 1, 6 p.m., host Pāhoa
Fri., March 8, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, 6 p.m., @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Track:
Sat., March 2, 9 a.m., @HPA
Sat., March 9, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

NEW and UPCOMING
JEJ JAMIN MELOKLOK – We Shall Not Forget – the First Anniversary of Commemorating the Nuclear Legacy of the Marshall Islands and 65th Anniversary of Castle Bravo Shot, happens Saturday, March 9, 10 a.m., at Old Airport Recreational Center, 75-5560 Kuakini Hwy, Kona.
     Says the release: "On behalf of all the Big Island Marshallese Community, the Coordinating Committee for 2019 Nuclear Victims & Survivors Remembrance Day cordially invites you."
     Sponsored by Marshall Islands National Nuclea Commission, Marshall Islans General Consulate Office in Hawaiʻi, and West Hawaiʻi Commnbity Health Center. Contact David Anitok, secretary@rmnuclearcommission.net.

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.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2
Exploring Tunnel Books - Bookbinding Workshop, Saturday, March 2, 9a.m.-noonVolcano ArtCenter. $32/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 materials fee. Prior experience not necessary. List of supplies online. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Paint Your Own Silk Scarf with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 2, 9a.m.-12:30p.m.Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Stewardship at the Summit, Saturday, March 2, 9, and 16, Friday, March 22 and 29, 8:45a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, March 2 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 3
Dispose of Hazardous Household Waste, Sunday, March 3, 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m., Pāhoa Recycling and Transfer Station. See complete list of acceptable or unacceptable household hazardous waste at hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/household-hazardous-waste. Contact Chris Chin-Chance at 961-8554 or recycle3@hawaiicounty.gov.

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, March 3 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or
sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, MARCH 4
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Monday, March 4. Register in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Monday, March 4, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu. All ages receive screening for near and far vision. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-282-2265.

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, March 4 and 18, 1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Monday, March 4, 4-6p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, MARCH 5
Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Tuesday, March 5, 9-11a.m.Pāhala Community Center. All ages receive screening for near and far vision. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-282-2265.

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, March 5, 6-8p.m.Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
Ash Wednesday Service, Wednesday, March 6, 3p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Arts and Crafts Activity: Tissue Paper Butterfly, Wednesday, March 6, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 through March 5. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons, Wednesday, March 6 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565

Open Mic Night, Wednesday, March 6, 6-10p.m., Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Call 967-8365 after 4p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees may apply. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests, 21+. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 7
Women's Support Group, Thursday, March 7 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

All Ages Game Nite, Thursday, March 7, 5:30-7:30p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Register through March 5. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, March 7, 6-7p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9-2 pm, just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit is open daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food.
     Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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.



Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, February 27, 2019

The endemic Hawaiian Hoary Bat depends on dryland forests for survival. Read about the upcoming 
Nahelehele Dryland Forest Symposium, below. Photo from drylandforest.org
THE PROPOSED NĀʻĀLEHU WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT drew a wide range of opinions this week when the engineer and community outreach person met with residents and held a public meeting. They explained that the proposed site has moved a third time, from the Makahiki Grounds where archaeological remains were discovered, and from land near the Nāʻālehu School, where teachers and surrounding residents objected to the location.
     The new site is in the mauka end of  Kahlilipalinui ahupuaʻa, 2.5 miles from the shoreline. It would be located within more than 2,000 acres in Kahilipalinui and Kahilipaliʻikii being purchased for conservation through the county Two Per Cent Land Fund and state Legacy Land Fund. Both county and state recently gave permission to remove the 30 acres from the conservation zone, in order to use it for the treatment facility, which would protect the Waikapuna shoreline from untreated sewage coming from the town. It would become the property of the county. The rest of the land would be owned and stewarded  by the Ala Kahakai Trail Association.
Wastewater treatment engineer Michelle Sorensen goes over the plan
 with a Nāʻālehu property owner. Photo by Julia Neal
     In terms of economic development, a new sewer line running along Hwy 11 would allow businesses like Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Hana Hou Restaurant, Nāʻālehu Shopping Center, and Shaka's Restaurant, along with Nāʻālehu School and Bay Clinic, to grow without digging up gardens and parking areas for additional septic system capacity.
     During Tuesday night's meeting, some people said they worried that the cost of the treatment plant, estimated at some $40 million, could be too much of a financial burden on residents of the town and give developers the opportunity to bring in too much growth at the expense of local people. Representatives of the county explained that the cost of the new sewer system is borne by the entire county, not the Nāʻālehu community alone. Loans pay for it and the county pays off the loans over time, keeping the sewage fees the same islandwide.
     While the sewage treatment plant would have the capacity to grow, growth of the town would be determined in the future with input from the townspeople, said county representatives. The obligation of the county is to retire  the town's large capacity gang cesspools which are illegal under federal law but serve 163 houses in the old sugar camp in Nāʻālehu. The EPA has promised fines of more than $30,000 per day per large capacity cesspool, should the county be unable to shut them down and provide a legal alternative in the near future.
Some 90 people attended last night's meeting on the proposed Nāʻālehu wastewater system. Photo by Julia Neal
     Several residents said they worried that the plan calls for a sewage outfall into the ocean. Would Waikapuna be affected? Engineer Michelle Sorensen explained that the 30-acre facility would be far from the ocean. Effluent treated without chemicals by oxygen and microbes would be absorbed by the soil in groves of trees.
     The treatment facility would help protect the ocean, groundwater and health from sewage that is now going into the ground untreated, noted the engineer. She showed on maps that the treatment plant would be miles from the coast and that no ocean outfall is in the planning.
     See more in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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View, this morning, into Halemaʻumaʻu, from the caldera rim. USGS photo
GAZE INTO HALEMAʻUMAʻU with a new, temporary monitoring camera, perched on the west rim of Kīlauea caldera. Operated by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the cam looks east, into recently enlarged Halema‘uma‘u crater. See it at volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/webcam.html?webcam=K3cam.
     Reports volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo, "Following the dramatic events of 2018, Kīlauea is now relatively quiet. But it remains an active volcano that will erupt again, so it is wise to stay informed about its status, along with other active Hawaiian volcanoes.
     "However, the deepest part of crater is not visible from this vantage point. Because this is a temporary installation, the view angle can slightly change whenever the camera is serviced."     
     Halemaʻumaʻu is approximately 1 km, or 0.6 miles, wide. USGS says the depth of the crater in the visible image from the rim is several hundred meters. HVO hopes to install a permanent webcam at this site in the coming months.

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Map from drylandforest.org
NAHELEHELE DRYLAND FOREST SYMPOSIUM will highlight dryland forest ecology and restoration efforts in Hawai‘i. The symposium will be held on Wednesday, March 27 at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center on Nowelo Street in Hilo, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     The symposium is open to the public. Early registration is available for $75 per person until March 15; after March 15 registration is $90 per person. The Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, Mary Begier Realty and the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife are sponsoring discounts for students with valid ID. Student registration is $40 before March 15 or $55 after. Registration fees include lunch. More information and registration are available online at eventbrite.com/e/2019-nahelehele-dryland-forest-symposium-tickets-55807951084 or by contacting Ron Terry at symposium@drylandforest.org or (808) 969-7090.
Dryland forest native ʻŌkaʻi caterpillar depends
on dryland forests for survival.
Photo by Yvonne Yarber Carter
     A limited-participant field trip to the recent burn area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is offered on Tuesday, March 26; $40, lunch provided.
     Says the release about the symposium: "The dryland forests of Hawai‘i are fragile habitats that are home to many of the rarest plants in the world. Dryland forests were once considered to be the most diverse forest ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands but have suffered decades of deforestation and degradation. Only remnant patches of these habitats of highly diverse communities of plants and animals remain today. The Dryland Forest Symposium provides a forum to discuss recent developments in dryland forest conservation and restoration, and an opportunity to interact with others interested in dryland forest ecology.
     "At this year's symposium we are honored to have Hālau ‘Ōhi‘a open the event with a kīpaepae to help establish and strengthen our specific intentions as we engage in this symposium meant to help conserve a resource with profound biocultural significance. Keynote speaker Dr. Jennifer Powers from the University of Minnesota has been an avid researcher of tropical dry forests in Costa Rica since 1994. She investigates the relationships among ecological processes, the patterns they generate, and the effects of anthropogenic environmental changes across a range of spatial and temporal scales.
Invasive Fireweed negatively affects dryland forest.
Photo from drylandforest.org
     "Other presenters include Dr. Natalie Kurashima of Kamehameha Schools, Jen Lawson of the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative, Dr. Patrick Hart of UH-Hilo, Pablo Beimler and Elizabeth Pickett of the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization, the team of botany and traditional ecology expert Bobby Camara and horticulturalist Kathy Kawakami, Dr. Christian Giardina of the USDA's Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Philipp Lahaela-Walter of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Dr. Chris Balzotti."
     Nahelehele Dryland Forest Symposium is a project of Ka‘ahahui ‘O Ka Nahelehele, drylandforest.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to dry forest advocacy and partnerships. Symposium sponsors include the Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, Mary Begier Realty, and the State of Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Organizations and individuals interested in sponsoring the symposium or contributing to student scholarships may contact Ron Terry at symposium@drylandforest.org or (808) 969-7090.

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CHILD CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES was reintroduced to the U.S. Senate this week by Mazie Hirono and 32 colleagues. Parents and child care educators and advocates support the bill, which "seeks to expand access to high-quality, affordable early childhood programs for working and middle class families" states a release from Hirono's office. 98 U.S. House representatives introduced a companion bill.
Sen. Mazie Hirono. Photo from Hirono's office
     Said Hirono, "Child care is foundational for future academic and social success, yet remains unaffordable and unavailable for many working and middle class families in Hawaiʻi – who face the highest cost of living in the country. At nearly $700 per month, child care is the second highest household expense after housing for most families – surpassing the amount they spend on food, utilities, transportation, or health care. The Child Care for Working Families Act represents a long-term investment in our keiki to ensure that every family can access high-quality, affordable early learning and child care programs."
     Bobby Scott, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, said, "The high cost of child care is a heavy burden that falls on children, families, and our economy as a whole. Children are too often denied the foundation they need to reach their potential, parents are forced to choose between child care and work, and these challenges have both short- and long-term consequences for our economy. The Child Care for Working Families Act addresses this national crisis by ensuring that all families can afford to send their children to a quality child care program that will support them through a critical stage in their lives."
     For families in Hawaiʻi, says Hirono, child care expenses have increased, on average, by 24 percent over the last decade, with many families expected to pay over $8,000 for child care every year. According to a 2018 report by Child Care Aware of America, nearly half of Hawaiʻi's children under the age of six lack access to child care, resulting in a shortage of 30,000 certified child care slots in the state. The Child Care for Working Families Act represents a long-term investment in child care to ensure that no family making 150 percent of state median income or less has to contribute more than seven percent of their income toward child care, regardless of the number of children they have.
    The bill also increases funding for Head Start in order to promote universal access to high-quality preschool programs, and improves compensation and training for child care workers to give teachers and caregivers full and fair compensation, as well as the support they need to ensure that the children they are caring for can thrive.
     According to the Center for American Progress, investing in the Child Care for Working Families Act would generate 2.3 million new jobs as a result of parents joining the workforce, as well as the expansion of child care and early education sector jobs. As a result of an investment in child care and early education, the report stated it expects the Child Care for Working Families Act would lift one million families out of poverty, which would substantially improve a child’s social and academic development.
     Legislative text of the Child Care for Working Families Act can be found here. A fact sheet on the Child Care for Working Families Act can be found here.

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KAʻŪ HIGH BASEBALL, coached by Greg Rush, started the season yesterday with a game that took them all the way north. Honokaʻa hosted the Trojans. Kaʻū got skunked as they lost 0 to 15.
     See, below, upcoming Spring sports dates, including Softball, coached by Donovan Emmsley; Track, coached Hiʻilani Lapera; and Boys Volleyball, coached by Joshua Ortega.

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MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE PAGEANT APPLICATION DEADLINE is tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 28. The pageant is held at Ka‘ū District Gym, Saturday, April 27, 6 p.m. Miss Kaʻū Coffee and her court will represent the Kaʻū Coffee industry throughout the year at events in the community and beyond. Girls three to 24 years of age are encouraged to enter the pageant. Competitive categories include Talent, Gown, Photogenic, Career-Interview, Characters Outfit, and Swimsuit for Miss Kaʻū Coffee. Pageant hopefuls contend for titles of Miss Ka‘ū Coffee, Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee, Miss Kaʻū Peaberry, and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower. Email tmarques@yahoo.com.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., Feb. 28, 3p.m., @HPA
Mon., March 4, 3p.m., host Konawaena
Wed., March 6, 3p.m., @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 1p.m., host Kohala
Sat., March 16, 1p.m., host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Softball:
Tue., March 5, host Konawaena
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 11 a.m., host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kemehameha
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m., host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m., host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m., host Honokaʻa
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 1, 6 p.m., host Pāhoa
Fri., March 8, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, 6 p.m., @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Track:
Sat., March 2, 9 a.m., @HPA
Sat., March 9, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

NEW and UPCOMING
PĀHALA RECYCLING & TRANSFER STATION'S FUTURE will be discussed at a community meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division will discuss the operating days and modifying the current schedule.
     A release about the meeting says, "We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility. Please join us for this public informational meeting!"

KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS A ST. PATRICK'S DAY RAINBOW ARTS AND CRAFT ACTIVITY, for keiki 5 to 12 years old, on Wednesday, Mar. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room. Registration begins Monday, Mar. 4. Free.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Craft Class, Thu., Feb. 28, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Feb. 28, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. 4th Thursday monthly. Provides local forum for community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Feb. 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, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 2
Exploring Tunnel Books - Bookbinding Workshop, Saturday, March 2, 9a.m.-noonVolcano ArtCenter. $32/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 materials fee. Prior experience not necessary. List of supplies online. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Paint Your Own Silk Scarf with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 2, 9a.m.-12:30p.m.Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Stewardship at the Summit, Saturday, March 2, 9, and 16, Friday, March 22 and 29, 8:45a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, March 2 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

SUNDAY, MARCH 3
Dispose of Hazardous Household Waste, Sunday, March 3, 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m., Pāhoa Recycling and Transfer Station. See complete list of acceptable or unacceptable household hazardous waste at hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/household-hazardous-waste. Contact Chris Chin-Chance at 961-8554 or recycle3@hawaiicounty.gov.

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, March 3 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, MARCH 4
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Monday, March 4. Register in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Monday, March 4, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu. All ages receive screening for near and far vision. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-282-2265.

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, March 4 and 18, 1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Monday, March 4, 4-6p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, MARCH 5
Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Tuesday, March 5, 9-11a.m.Pāhala Community Center. All ages receive screening for near and far vision. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-282-2265.

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, March 5, 6-8p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
Ash Wednesday Service, Wednesday, March 6, 3p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Arts and Crafts Activity: Tissue Paper Butterfly, Wednesday, March 6, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 through March 5. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons, Wednesday, March 6 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565

Open Mic Night, Wednesday, March 6, 6-10p.m., Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Call 967-8365 after 4p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees may apply. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests, 21+. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

ONGOING
Volunteer on Midway Atoll for Six Months. The volunteer will serve as a communication assistant out on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, on or about March 12 through August. Applications due by tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 28. Potential to be extended to a full year. Get more info and instructions on how to apply.

Nāʻālehu Celebrates Craft Month with open crafting for all ages, while supplies last. Crafting starts off at 3 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday in February. Free. Contact Sara Kamibayashi at (808) 939-2442 for more.

Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9-2 pm, just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit is open daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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