Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Hannah's Makana ʻOhana Hālau performed at Kauahaʻao Congregational Church's annual fundraiser bazaar on Saturday. See more photos of the festivities below. Photo by Debbie Wong Yuen

A PERMANENT FEDERAL LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND is the goal of Bill S. 1081 backed by Sen. Mazie Hirono. The new Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which, over the last 50 years, provided nearly $250 million to protect and conserve lands in Hawaiʻi. It funded $12 million to expand Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park through the Island Forests at Risk program in fiscal years 2016 through 2018.

Elizabeth Fien, CEO of Friends of
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

     Hirono said the Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped protect "some of our most cherished public spaces – including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge, and the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail." She said the legislation takes a "meaningful step toward ensuring that public lands in Hawaiʻi are protected and maintained for future generations."
     Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park CEO Elizabeth Fien said, "Our national parks and public lands generate billions of dollars for local economies in tourism dollars, jobs, and tax revenue. However, without funding, our national treasures, like anything else, will eventually fall apart. The infrastructure of our National Parks is in great need of repair, and philanthropic dollars are necessary to fund programs and park projects, not maintaining sewers, gas lines, bridges, etc."     

Ulalia Woodside, Executive
 Director of The Nature
 Conservancy, Hawaiʻi.

       Fien also pointed to the proposal for the Restore Our Parks Act, Senate Bill 500, to address the estimated $165 million deferred maintenance backlog in Hawaiʻi's National Parks. Both bills cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and can now be considered by the full Senate. Fein said it is "a smart investment, as it will not only fund the maintenance needs of our parks but also create additional infrastructure-related jobs, as well as preserve visitor access and resources."

     Ulalia Woodside, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi, said, "Despite the many benefits that the Land and Water Conservation Fund has provided in protecting some of Hawaiʻi's most sensitive lands over the past 54 years, it has suffered from chronic underfunding. At a time when our public lands are facing a myriad of threats, including land use and climate change, S. 1081 is necessary to ensure that the full capabilities of the LWCF are provided to addressing the urgent needs of these lands and waters.

Lea Hong, Hawaiian
 Islands State Director for
the Trust for Public Land.

      Lea Hong, Hawaiian Islands State Director for the Trust for Public Land, said, "LWCF is integral to preserving, protecting, and creating exceptional parks and open space. Without funding from LWCF we would not have been able to protect some of Hawaiʻi's most special places." She said she looks forward to working with Hirono and her team "on ensuring everyone in Hawaiʻi can enjoy our beloved ʻāina."
   

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HAWAIʻI INMATES SENT TO THE MAINLAND to prison need a halfway house to recover and assimilate when they return to Hawaiʻi, according to a plan to reopen a Residential Reentry Center. Sen. Mazie Hirono secured a commitment from Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to provide regular updates about the status of efforts to reopen a federal Residential Reentry Center in Hawaiʻi. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sawyer affirmed that BOP's timeline to reopen a Residential Recovery Center is within the next several months.

     The state's only RRC, Mahoney Hale, closed on Sept. 30, after providing transitional services and programs for nearly three decades. Those services and programs included employment counseling, case management, and skills training to help men and women successfully reenter the community after serving federal prison sentences. Mahoney Hale's closure had a significant impact, not only on those reentering the community who will no longer receive these critical transitional services in Hawaiʻi, but also on other community members, said Hirono. The nonprofit Touch A Heart, for example, has frequently worked with Mahoney Hale to recruit interns for its culinary vocational program.

Gene Akamu played for the crowd on Saturday

at the annual Kauahaʻao Congregational

Church fundraiser bazaar.

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Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries at the bazaar
offered a huge selection of items, to raise 
money for Pāhala Public and School 
Library, and the Nāʻālehu 
Public Library.

KAUAHAʻAO CHURCH'S annual Fundraising Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 16th "was a great day, with many people attending until the rain came and shut all the vendors and entertainment down quickly," said Kahu Debbie Wong Yuen. More than four dozen vendors participated. Entertainment came from Hannah's Makana ʻOhana Hālau, Thy Word Ministry Praise Team, and Gene Akamu.

Thy Word Ministry Praise Team entertained the crowd
on Saturday.

Vendors included Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries, who offered a huge mostly-books sale, with a large selection of art books, cookbooks, vintage books, antique books, Hawaiiana, novels, non-fiction, a collection of World War II books, a collection on fighter planes, a collection on wines of the world, audio books, records, DVDs, plants, household items, and clothes. All proceeds go to the Pāhala Public and School Library, and the Nāʻālehu Public Library.
      The Waiʻōhinu church's grounds hosted at total of 24 vendors offering food, crafts, and more.

Before the rains came, the church bazaar had a good start with 24 vendors, music, and dance.
Photos by Debbie Wong Yuen

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FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR MANY AREAS OF KAʻŪ until 11 p.m., warns the National Weather Service. Highway 11 is closed at Kāwā Flats as of 7:45 p.m. Forecasters predict that Nāʻālehu, Pāhala, Wood Valley, Kāwā Flats, Punaluʻu Beach, Discovery Harbour, and Waiʻōhinu may all expect flash flooding, with two to three inches of heavy rain per hour. The public is warned to expect flooding in drainages, streams, rivers, roads, properties, and other low-lying areas. Public road closures are possible in some areas. Landslides are possible in steep terrain.

     The entire island of Hawaiʻi is currently under a Flash Flood Watch until tomorrow.

     See more at forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=19.20196500000003&lon=-155.47727999999998#.XdTc1FdKiMo.

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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

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20

Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, Nov. 20, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Nāʻālehu School Family Reading Night, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 6-7p.m., Nāʻālehu School Cafeteria. Family reading, make & take activities, and snacks provided. Free.

THURSDAY, NOV. 21

Ka‘ū Food Basket, Thursday, Nov. 21, 11a.m.-noon, Pāhala Community Center. 928-3102

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, Nov. 21, 4-6p.m., 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

Nāʻālehu School Family Reading Night, Thursday, Nov. 21, 6-7p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, and snacks provided. Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, NOV. 22

Forest Restoration Project, Friday, Nov. 22, 8:30a.m.-3p.m., HVNP. 12+; under 18 require adult co-signature. Pre-registration required - include first and last names, email address, and phone number of each participant. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Cultural Understanding through Art and the Environment: Guided Cultural Tour of the Ni‘aulani Forest, Friday, Nov. 22, 9:30-11a.m., Volcano Art Center. Kumu Hula Ryan McCormack leads. Tour focuses on Hawaiian protocol, traditional chants, history, and lifeways, as they relate to the native forest ecosystem. Free; open to public. Spaced is limited, reservations suggested. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, Nov. 22 through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Dances of Universal Peace, Friday, Nov. 22, 6-7:30p.m., Methodist Church hall, across from Nā‘ālehu Post Office. Fun, easy to learn dances from many traditions, evoking peace. Donations welcome. No registration necessary. 939-9461, hualaniom2@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, NOV. 23

Realms and Divisions, Saturday, Nov. 23, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult, two-mile, hike. Bring snack. nps.gov/havo/

Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Friend-Raiser, Saturday, Nov. 23, 10a.m.-2p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Friendship building activities with food, games – including bounce house, splash booth, and face painting – prizes, and more.

Saturday Thanksgiving Dinner, Saturday, Nov. 23, 10a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org 

Blue Tattoo Band, Saturday, Nov. 23, 7-10p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Free; park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

SUNDAY, NOV. 24

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

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

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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