Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, June 13, 2019

Volcano House has chosen OLS Hotels & Resorts for marketing and management. Photo from Volcano House

VOLCANO HOUSE WELCOMED A NEW MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT PARTNER this week: OLS Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts.
     OLS operates the historic Harbor Court on the Embarcadero waterfront in San Francisco, Jackson Hole Lodge and Sedona Rouge, as well as Ainamalu at Waikoloa Beach Resort; Plantation Hale Suites and Banyan Harbor on Kauaʻi: and two locations on Oʻahu. OLS is responsible for 24 properties around the country. 

     On June 10, OLS replaced Aqua Resorts to manage Volcano House, with its hotel, shops, restaurants and bar, and its cabins and campsites, within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The concessionaire for Volcano House remains Ortega National Parks, LLC. The Ortega family company signed a 15 year lease with the National Parks Service in 2012 and completed massive renovations in cooperation with the Park.

Volcano House bar in the historic hotel overlooking Halemaʻumaʻu
Crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Photo from Volcano House

     Volcano House manager Orin McCann said, the partnership with OLS "is a significant part of our hotel's rebirth following the recent eruption of Kīlauea Volcano, and we're ecstatic to have the OLS team on board to assist in creating memorable stays for our guests who seek once-in-a-lifetime experiences while discovering the wonder of Volcanoes National Park."
     According to a statement from OLS, the company will provide sales, marketing, and revenue optimization services to Volcano House. Chief Executive Officer Ben Rafter said OLS is "proud to add the iconic Volcano House to our expanding portfolio of Hawaiʻi properties, as the hotel is truly a one-of-a-kind asset with deep historical and cultural importance to residents and visitors of the Islands. With our outstanding sales, marketing, and revenue management capabilities, along with our commitment to enhancing Hawaiʻi tourism from a local's perspective, we look forward to working with Volcano House to provide guests with a renewed look at the celebrated hotel."
     See hawaiivolcanohouse.com.

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A SMALL NUCLEAR CONFLICT WOULD CREATE WORLDWIDE NUCLEAR WINTER, declares a campaign announcement from Kaʻū's fourth-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, who is running for U.S. President. "While Trump stokes tensions with Russia, China, and North Korea, Tulsi is the only Presidential candidate calling attention to this existential threat," says the email blast.
     The message sent to prospective supporters calls for "advocating for our people and our planet." It predicts that when Gabbard "gets on the debate stage in a few weeks, she's going to talk about an issue that no other candidate wants to touch: the very real possibility of nuclear war.
     "The stakes really are this high. Military and political leaders who have carried the heavy responsibility of the nuclear football are outspoken about how immediate the threat of nuclear war really is. And every day, President Trump, national security advisor John Bolton, and the State Department push us close to a war with other nuclear powers like Russia, China, or North Korea, that would have catastrophic consequences."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Photo from Gabbard's Twitter

     The message calls Gabbard "the lone voice of clarity, reason, and urgency about this immediate and existential threat not only to our country, but to all of humanity and our planet." It asks for donors of three dollars or more to take her past the first televised debate of 2020 candidates for U.S. President, for which she has qualified. It airs on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on MSNBC, NBC, and Telemundo. The second debate on Wednesday, July 30 and Thursday, July 31 will be on CNN, CNN International, and CNN Espanol, with times to be announced. The rules for the second debate require that each candidate registers at least 1 percent in three Democratic National Committee Polls or raise money from at least 65,000 unique donors with a minimum of 200 contributors from each of a minimum of 20 states.
     In a Washington Post interview today, Gabbard spoke out against Pres. Donald Trump's statement this week that he would "consider accepting foreign opposition research" during his presidential campaign. His statement to ABC News also drew criticism from numerous Republicans and Democrats who said it is illegal to take information from foreign operatives as a campaign contribution. Most said they would have reported it to the FBI and gave examples of past candidates reporting to the FBI when foreign agents attempted to provide information on their opponents.
     This week, The Hill also ran an analysis of the Gabbard campaign.

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GOV. DAVID IGE WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO MEET PRES. DONALD TRUMP today, along with seven delegates from the Western Governors Association. They dined in the White House and discussed workforce development with Trump and Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta. Ige said the conversation focused on how states can prepare communities for emerging requirements of jobs of the future, including partnering with states on occupation licensing reform, child care, paid family leave, and vocational skills training.

Gov. David Ige, second from left, sits two persons from Pres. Donald Trump at a White House luncheon and
meeting on preparing states for jobs of the future and other issues of the Western Governors Association
meeting held this week in Colorado. Photo from the White House

     "For the first time in our country, we have more job vacancies than we have qualified people to fill them. Hawai‘i is among the states that are working to prepare the workforce for those jobs – expanding paid internships and apprenticeship programs in construction, cybersecurity, IT, healthcare," said the governor.
     The bi-partisan group included Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona, Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee and Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming.
     The governor also met with Rear Admiral Doug Fears on hurricane disaster preparedness and resiliency. Fears serves as a deputy assistant to the president and is Homeland Security and Counterterrorism advisor on the National Security Council staff. Ige updated Fears on Hawai‘i's recovery progress in the wake of Hurricane Lane and other natural disasters of 2018.
     Earlier in the day, the governor attended a Pentagon meeting with Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, Chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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FLOWER DRUM SONG comes to Volcano July 12 through 28. Shows in the Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

     Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network presents their 18th summer musical, based on a novel by C.Y. Lee with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields. Songs include A Hundred Million Miracles, I Enjoy Being a Girl, Love Look Away, and Chop Suey.

     Flower Drum Song is set in San Francisco's
 Chinatown in the 1958 The plot revolves around contract marriages, immigration, unrequited love, a night club and the changing times. Sammy Fong's family has ordered him a picture bride from China in hopes he will settle down and forget about the dancer Linda Low. The shy Mei Li arrives and it is clear that she is the wrong girl for Sammy. But, she might be suitable for Sammy's pal, Wang Ta, whose father is fighting a losing battle against the trappings of modern American life-style. In the end, the dilemma of matching the young people while holding on to traditions is resolved.

     Playing the innocent picture bride, Mei Li, is KDEN newcomer Olivia Halemano. Stephen Bond is Sammy Fong, the nightclub owner. Samantha Shea is Linda Low, the entertainer at Sammy's nightclub. Wang Chi-Yang is played by Karl Halemano, with Murphy Bierman as his son Wang Ta. Roni Koscik is Madame Liang, with D'Andrea Pelletier as Helen Chao. Others in the ensemble are Arlene Araki, Mia Boyer, Debbie Campbell, Bill Chikasuye, Rayanna Fafiani, Selah Fisher, Lichen Forster, Susie Halemano, Sam Hall, Ariana Kelley, Joel Kelley, Jessica Lawrence, Judy leary, Sean MacDonald, Travis Wood, and Dawn, Eva, Keoni, and Drew Pelletier. The show is directed by Suzi Bond, with Melanie Oldfather as the music director and Armando Mendoza as the conductor. Susie Halemano, who has appeared in a number of KDEN shows, makes her debut as the choreographer

     Tickets go on sale July 1 and are available at Kīlauea General Store, Keaʻau Natural Foods, Basically Books, The Most Irresistible Shop, and at the door. Ticket are $20 general, $15 for seniors 60 plus and students, and $12 children 12 and under. For more information and to make reservations, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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UPCOMING

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

Register by June 14 - Basic Hunter Education Certification Program - see separate listing, June 28 and 29, for details. Space is limited. Call 887-6050, code KAU

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Friday, June 14. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, June 14, 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Free disability legal services provided by Hawai‘i Legal Aid. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Arts and Crafts Activity: Father's Day Card, Friday, June 14, 1:30-2:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12, June 10-13. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Community Dance, Friday, June 14, 7-10p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, June 15, 10a.m.-1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Kumu Hula Lorna Lim w/Hālau Kawehileimamoikawekiu‘okohala, Saturday, June 15, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula w/Kumu Moses Kaho‘okele Crabbe, Saturday, June 15, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Drawing Mandalas as Meditation w/Lisa Maria Martin, Saturday, June 15, 11a.m.-2p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. All supplies provided. Open to all levels. No art or meditation experience needed. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, June 15, 2-3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Opera Concert w/D'Andrea Pelletier, Saturday, June 15, 5:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Tickets are $20/VAC member, $25/non-member. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Clean-Up, Sunday, June 16. Free; donations appreciated. Space available and BYO-4WD ok. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Father's Day Buffet, Sunday, June 16, 5-8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Main entrees: Prime Rib, Lemon Butter Fish and Vegetable Stir Fry w/Tofu. $29.95/Adults, $14.95/Child (ages 6-11). No reservations required, 967-8356. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 18
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, June 18 (Committees), Wednesday, June 19, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

After Dark in the Park - Surviving Against the Odds: The Story of the Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi, Tuesday, June 18, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Gabrielle Names, UC Davis PhD student, studying the mystery of how this unique little bird appears to be beating avian malaria, a deadly disease, on Hawaiʻi Island. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

AdvoCATS, Tuesday, June 19, 7a.m.-4:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, June 19, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 20
SIGN UP for Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade, open until Thursday, June 20. Parade and Keiki Fun Day held June 29, 10a.m.-1:30p.m. - see separate event listing. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872. okaukakou.org

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

Purchase Tickets for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, Sunday, June 16 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, from Teen USA candidate Kailee "Kamalani" Kuhaulua-Stacy. Tickets are $25; contact Kamalani at 808-315-4252 through Saturday, June 15 to purchase. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes both competition for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA, for contenders 14 to 18 years of age, and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, for contestants 18 to 28.

     See misshawaiiisland.com.

Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.
     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bags and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

Experience Volcano Festival is still looking for vendors. Booths for the event are $25 per day for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. The event is coordinated with the new ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash on the 27th. Apply at experiencevolcano.com/vendor-application.
     Experience Volcano is a group of businesses and residents helping to rebuild the economy of Volcano, following last year's volcanic disaster that shut down Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and drastically reduced the visitor county which is now recovering.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash happens Saturday, July 27 in Volcano Village, It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register at ohialehuahalf.com.

6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com

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