Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, November 23, 2019

Eva Lee, of Volcano, at the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Convention on Maui this month. She gave the keynote speech. The  Peoples Choice award went for Hawaiian Grown Black Tea,  from Volcano Tea Garden in Volcano Village, won by grower, processor, owner Mike Riley,of Volcano.  See more on
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United

TEN MORE 40-FOOT BUSES FOR THE HELE ON BUS FLEET for Hawaiʻi County will come from millions of dollars in funding announced Friday by the Federal Transit Administration. Shortages in buses and drivers have led to time changes and cancellations of some bus trips from Kaʻū to the rest of the island. Buses take workers from Kaʻū to Kona and Kohala resorts, as well as to work in Hilo. The Hele On also serves to take some students to and from schools, community college, and University of Hawaiʻi classes in both Hilo and Kona.

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HAWAIʻI FARMERS UNITED KAʻŪ CHAPTER will hold a meeting on Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. at Pāhala Plantation House. Pres. Matt Drayer, a farmer and chef in Wood Valley, said that plans are being made for 2020, including agriculture education, events, and reviewing legislation and issues before the county, state, and federal policymakers that affect Kaʻū.     Rep. Richard Creagan, Chair of the state House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, will attend and present his agenda for the 2020 legislature. All persons working or interested in agriculture are invited. A potluck lunch will be served.

Eva Lee, of Volcano, gave the keynote at Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United 
Convention in Maui this month. Photo from Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United

     Drayer recently returned from the state Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United annual convention. He said it was an enriching experience, with many dedicated farmers. "I would like that to be more available for us, here in Kaʻū."

     During the convention, Eva Lee, of Volcano, gave the keynote on growing tea. The Peoples Choice award went for Hawaiian Grown Black Tea, won by grower, processor, owner Mike Riley, of Volcano. The tea is grown at Volcano Tea Garden in Volcano Village at the 3,600 ft. elevation. She held a tasting of her Camellia sinensis tea, differently processed into white, green, and black. It is shade grown under a canopy of ʻŌhiʻa and Hapuʻu tree fern forest, on the farm in Volcano, run by Eva and her husband Chiu Leong.

     For more information on Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, call Drayer at 808-339-8737. For more on Eva Lee and Tea Hawaiʻi, see teahawaii.com

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A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF FEDERAL SCIENTISTS came from Sen. Mazie Hirono this week.

     She wrote that "In these times of uncertainty and instability, I want to thank you for your commitment to providing the American people with facts backed by sound science.

     "The public benefits every hour of every day from the information you produce as a direct result of your pursuit of scientific progress and discovery. The scientific contributions you make at your respective agencies have a positive impact on each of us on a daily basis and, too often recently, we have seen many examples of your work being taken for granted or going unappreciated.

     "At the Environmental Protection Agency, science is under constant attack. There are rumors of red teams and blue teams being assembled as an effort to sow distrust in the fact that our climate is changing at an unprecedented rate and humans are to blame. Attacks on science are going so far as to put children's health at risk. The EPA has taken actions to undermine the Office of Children's Health Protection and its core mission of assessing the unique vulnerabilities of children to environmental hazards like pesticides and lead. OCHP was left entirely off of an EPA organizational chart in 2018 and the Director of OCHP was abruptly put on leave shortly thereafter. More recently, officials decided EPA would no longer participate in the Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Program.

Mauna Loa Observatory is the location of data collected to understand climate change, including the increase of
C02 in the atmosphere. Photo from Mauna Loa Observatory

     "At the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reports on the impacts of climate change on crops are being buried rather than publicized. The department is hastily moving ahead with plans to relocate two agencies out of Washington, D.C., leading to nearly 80 percent of the relocated positions being vacated. The impacts of this move – the loss of issue expertise and institutional knowledge – will be felt within USDA for many years. And the reasons used to justify the move don't hold water, especially considering those impacts.

     "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has yet to publish a report on the potential impacts of pesticides currently in use on endangered species – despite the report allegedly being ready for release almost two years ago.

     "And who would have thought that the reliability of hurricane forecasts and the jobs of National

Instruments on Mauna Loa show scientists the increase
in C02, a predictor of climate change.

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists – not to mention the safety of communities across the country that need to be able to rely on accurate weather information – would be subject to today's politics?

     "The list goes on, and there are new instances of suppression and mistreatment of scientists being reported on a near-weekly basis. These actions discount the value and work of federal employees like yourself, as well as the value of science to the public interest. Even more concerning is the fact that our federal government's scientific expertise is already short-handed and under-resourced compared to wealthy corporate interests they are charged with regulating.

     "There should be no question that the public interest is served by gathering data, analyzing information, and presenting solutions to issues like solving lead contamination in water, how to sustain our food supply in the face of extreme weather, or myriad other issues that have historically had bipartisan support. The work you do matters because you are generating the data underlying everything from the policy actions my colleagues and I take, to the choices parents make about the safety of consumer products, to the decisions our farmers make about planting the crops that provide food for our nation’s families. Without solid scientific foundations for these decisions, we are relying on guesswork and conjecture—or corporate-funded research. Do we want to rely on health studies funded by Big Tobacco, or climate studies funded by Big Oil? I think not.

     "The exodus of scientists from federal agencies who have spoken out has helped to shine a light on the difficulty those of you who persevere in the name of public service face in conducting your jobs. My message to you is: Your jobs are important, your service is appreciated, and science matters. Thank you for your hard work and for your commitment.

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Roads marked in red are ones that surveyed residents said were "poor roads." Map from ConsumerAffairs.com

HAWAIʻI SPENDS THE MOST PER MILE ON ITS ROADS of all the states in the U.S., according to a recent report from ConsumerAffairs.com. While Hawaiʻi has the fewest miles of roads – at 4,476 total miles – each mile of road costs $172,000, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, $52,000 higher per mile of road than the next-closest state, New Jersey, states the report.

     Consumer Affairs asked 1,418 people across the U.S. about roads in their state. Hawaiʻi's surveyed residents reported that the state has the third highest number of "poor" roads. Residents stated Hawaiʻi roads are "congested, poorly marked, and not consistently maintained." The report states that "a combination of heavy rainfall and thin asphalt might be to blame" for the 42 percent of Hawaiʻi roads said to be in poor condition. Only 17 percent of Hawaiʻi roads were, according to the survey, in "good" condition.

Last year's Pāhala Christmas Parade, featuring Santa, other costumed 

characters, and one of the sponsors, Ed Olson, who owns 

Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Photo by Julia Neal

     See the report for all 50 states here: consumeraffairs.com/
automotive/us-road-conditions.html#top-10-worst-roads.

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PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO JOIN IN PĀHALA'S 41ST CHRISTMAS PARADE Sunday, Dec. 8. The hilly neighborhoods will fill with music, Christmas characters, classic cars, Kaʻū Coffee farmers, churches, and community groups. Along the parade route, Pāhala residents and visitors will gather in yards, on porches, and curbside to receive the well wishes of Santa and candy thrown with help from his elves.  Santa is Eddie Andrade, who with his his family and friends, organize the event each year with help from the Edmund C. Olson Trust II. It begins at the old Pahala Armory. For more information, call Andrade at 928-0808.

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CHRISTMAS LIGHTING PARADE will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m. along Nāʻālehu's Main Street. Refreshments will follow at Nāʻālehu Community Center. Sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association, the nighttime parade features marching units, floats, trucks, and ATVs. The route begins at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, travels along Highway 11, and ends at Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Parade line-up starts at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in participating in the parade are asked to sign a waiver and meet at the school by 5 p.m. 

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.

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.

See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING

SUNDAY, NOV. 24

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sunday, Nov. 24, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo/

A Gymkhana will be held by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association this Sunday at the rodeo grounds in Nāʻālehu. Admission is free and it begins at 9:30 a.m.

MONDAY, NOV. 25

Santa's Workshop Event Registration, Nov. 25 - Dec. 11, Ka‘ū District Gym. Event takes place Thursday, Dec. 12, 6-7:30p.m. All ages. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Christmas Coloring Contest Registration, Nov. 25 - Dec. 11, Ka‘ū District Gym. Deadline for entries is Thursday, Dec. 12, 6p.m. Grades Pre-K to 6. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Cultural Understanding through Art and the Environment: Kapa Aloha ‘Āina, the fabric of Hawai‘i with Puakea Forester, Monday, Nov. 25, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Pre-registration required; class size limited. $10 per person supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

TUESDAY, NOV. 26

Birding at Kīpukapuaulu, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 8-10a.m., Kīpukapuaulu - Bird Park - parking lot, HVNP. Led by retired USGS Biologist Nic Sherma. 2 hour birding tour. $40/person. Register online. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 985-7373, admin@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. Board Mtg., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 10a.m., H.O.V.E. RMC office, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean View. 929-9910, hoveroad.com

Guided Hike on a 60 Year Old Lava Lake, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 10a.m.-2p.m., Kīlauea Iki Overlook parking lot, HVNP. Moderate to challenging 2.4 mile hike (one way). $80/person. Register online. Park entrance fees may apply. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 985-7373, admin@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Trail Less Traveled, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 10:30a.m.-12:30p.m., Devastation Trail parking lot, HVNP. Moderate, 2 mile, two hour roundtrip hike. $40/person. Register online. Family friendly. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 985-7373, admin@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27

Pom Pom Wreath Registration, Nov. 27 - Dec. 4, program takes place Tuesday, Dec. 10, 3-4p.m. Ages 6-14. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

‘Ulu Maika Demonstration, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Play ‘ulu maika – which resembles American bowling but uses two stakes and a disc-shaped tone instead of pins and a ball – to celebrate the annual makahiki season. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo/

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, Nov. 27 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626, for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: 329-3910 ext. 925. tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org. legalaidhawaii.org

THURSDAY, NOV. 28

Free Thanksgiving Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 28, noon-3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2-6p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Cafe. Traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixin's. $23.95/adult, $13.95/child (ages 6-11). Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

FRIDAY, NOV. 29

Holiday Challenge, Friday, Nov. 29, through beginning of Jan. 2020. Community invited to come out and vote for their favorite decorated cottage/activity. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

12th Annual Kamahalo Craft Fair, Friday, Nov. 29, 9a.m.-4p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 30, 9a.m.-3p.m., The Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Food vendors, homegrown products, and quality homemade crafts for sale. 936-9705, thecoopercenter.org

Kahuku Coffee Talk: Creatures that Have Evolved in the Dark, Friday, Nov. 29, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Join local experts to learn about lava tubes and some interesting animals that call them home. Free. nps.gov/havo

Volcano Village Artists Hui 33rd Annual Studio Tour & Sale, Friday, Nov. 29, Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, 10a.m.-4p.m., map available at volcanovillageartistshui.com. Meet artists and view wide variety of artwork on display and available for purchase.

Program Preview Exhibit, Friday, Nov. 29, and Saturday, Nov. 30, 10a.m.-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. See what programs, events, and exhibits VAC has lined up for 2020. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING

Vote for Izaiah "Bobby" Pilanca-Emmsley for the Wedemeyer Award - Two-Way Player of the Year, at khon2.com/uncategorized/vote-2019-cover2-hawaii-high-school-football-awards/. Voting remains open through Monday, Nov. 25. The winners will be announced on Thanksgiving by the L.A. Rams. Pilanca-Emmsley is the only candidate from Kaʻū. Fans can vote for six of the seven awards presented.

Vendor Booth Space is Available for the Kamahalo Craft Fair. The 12th annual event will be held Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cooper Center. Booths are open for crafters with quality homemade and homegrown products. Food vendors must prepare all food items in a certified kitchen and must have a Department of Health permit displayed prominently at their booth. Application online at thecoopercenter.org. Direct questions to 936-9705 or kilaueatutu@gmail.com.

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call Tata Compehos and Melody Espejo at 808-938-1088.

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