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Monday, January 21, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, January 21, 2019

Preventing a wall of plastics from growing along the Kaʻū Coast, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund spent the
holiday weekend cleaning up ocean debris. See more below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
THE MOST SPOKEN MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. QUOTES during this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend perhaps come from his 1964 visit to the Berlin Wall. Speaking at a church nearby, King called the Berlin Wall, "a symbol of the divisions of men on the face of the earth. For here on either side of the wall are God's children and no man-made barrier can obliterate that fact. Regardless of the barriers of race, creed, ideology, or nationality, there is an inescapable destiny which binds us together. There is a common humanity which makes us sensitive to the sufferings of one another."
     Standing near the Berlin Wall that was three years old back in 1964, King said, "America is proving to be the testing ground of races living together in spite of their differences....wherever reconciliation is taking place, wherever men are breaking down the dividing walls of hostility, which separate them from their brothers, there Christ continues to perform his ministry of reconciliation."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Berlin Wall in 1964. His assessment
is much quoted on Martin Luther King Day, today.
     MLK's daughter, Dr. Bernice King, talked about the current political climate and repeated many times during her sermon this morning, "We are in a state of emergency." During services, celebrating MLK's 90th birthday at Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was pastor, his daughter said, "We are in a state of emergency because of our humanitarian crises, and it's not at our southern border." She also proclaimed, "The concern for human welfare is being threatened. When prejudice and bigotry are emboldened, when schools continue to be unsafe spaces because of impotent gun control laws; this is a humanitarian crisis and we are in a state of emergency."

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REP. TULSI GABBARD SENT OUT THIS MESSAGE ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY:
"Responding to white religious leaders from the confines of his Birmingham jail cell, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote, 'We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.'"
     Said Gabbard, "We reflect on his legacy of love, courage, and nonviolence as we face the trials of our time. Our people, our country, and our planet are in turmoil brought upon by greedy self-serving politicians intent on dividing us in their pursuit of power and profit.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking during Civil Rights Week at University of Hawaiʻi in 1964.
Photo from University of Hawaiʻi News
     "Dr. King recognized that it was a loss for humanity as a whole when we fail to see each other as brothers and sisters. We must commit to putting service before self, in a spirit of aloha – love and respect – to lift each other up and reach his vision of a world where we are 'judged not by the color of our skin, but by the contents of our character.'"
     According to Gabbard, "When I look around today, despite tremendous progress, it's clear that we are fighting the same forces that he organized against. The same political establishment that led our country into the Vietnam War and has now led us into Libya, Iraq, Syria, and begun the drum beats for Iran; the same corporate oligarchy that exploits workers without a living wage or adequate health care; the same forces of white supremacist ideology spread by people like David Duke, Richard Spencer, and Steve King, continues to give rise to institutional racism and racial violence.
     "It's only when we march together as one movement – as Dr. King showed that we must – that we can reach the mountaintop of freedom and equality for all.
     "When we put service before self out of love for our country and planet, we can build a bright future with freedom, justice, peace, and prosperity for all. A future worthy of Dr. King's dream."
     Gabbard asked for readers to contribute their messages of aloha in honor of Dr. King
for a space to feature "these words of love and service in remembrance of this great American leader."

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U.S. SEN. KAMALA HARRIS IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, making her announcement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and bringing the number of Democrats seeking their party's nomination to eight. They are: Kaʻū's congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren; Julian Castro, who served as mayor of San Antonio and as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services; New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand; businessman and former Maryland Congressman John Delaney; former West Virginia state senator and veteran Richard Ojeda; and universal basic income supporter and former tech executive Andrew Yang, of New York.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard faces seven competitors, so far, in the
race for the Democratic nomination for president.
Kamala Harris, left, announced today.
     In a social media message broadcast today, Harris, the U.S. senator and former attorney general of California, said, "Decency. Justice. Truth. Equality. Freedom. Democracy. These aren't just words: they're the values we, as Americans, cherish. Right now, they're all on the line. We face the greatest crisis of leadership we've seen in our lifetimes, and powerful voices are filling the void, sowing hate and division among us.
     "We've witnessed an Administration that aligns itself with dictators and refers to white supremacists as 'very fine people.' They've torn babies from their mothers' arms and put children in cages. They've slashed taxes for corporations and the wealthiest among us – placing the burden on the middle class. They've actively fought against efforts to combat climate change. Time and again, they've sabotaged our country's health care. And they've attacked our free and independent press at every turn. We know America is better than this – but it's on us to build it. We're going to have to fight for it."

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STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE ANNOUNCED HE WILL RUN FOR U.S. CONGRESS. The seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, currently held by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, serves residents of Volcano, Kaʻū, and South Kona, along with the rest of the Neighbor Islands and rural Oʻahu.
     Kahele stood on Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo and proclaimed: "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired generations with the simple idea that one person can make a difference, one person can change the world. Dr. King once asked 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?'"
     He also said it was on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, three years ago, that he found his father, Sen. Gil Kahele, collapsed at home. The longtime member of Hawaiʻi's Democratic Party died nine days later. Kai Kahele said he felt a call to public service and a desire to follow in his father's footsteps.
     "Our family needed leadership. Our community needed leadership. There was work left undone and a legacy to carry on inspired by his dream – the dream of this gentle Hawaiian man from Miloilʻi, to build a better Hawaiʻi for all of us," Kai Kahele said.
Sen. Kai Kahele announced his run for Congress today for a district that serves Kaʻū.
Image from film of his speech today at Moʻoheau Bandstand
     Kahele said during his time serving in the State Senate, he has met with a host of residents. Their many concerns include the future for Hawaiʻi's children.
     "When I think of them, I think of my own daughters and your children and the Hawaiʻi of the future they will grow up in. And like every parent, we all want more for our children than we had for ourselves. We want the brightest future for them. We want them to have a secure job sustained by a strong and thriving economy. We want them to grow up in a safe community, and a clean environment. We want them to be able to attend outstanding public schools and have access to quality healthcare when they need it. We want them to be able to walk in our ʻōhiā forests, swim in our oceans rich with marine life, and see the Hawaiʻi that we have seen through our eyes."
     But in order to achieve this, Kahele said, "Hawaiʻi needs teamwork, focus, and dedicated leadership. We need passion and compassion. We need courage and collaboration. We need commitment and humility. We need elected leaders working together, leaders who put the common interests of Hawaiʻi's people ahead of their own."
     Kahele acknowledged some will ask, why now? He answered, "In Dr. King's now famous I Have a Dream speech, he talked about what he called 'The Fierce Urgency of Now.' That there is such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency, the time is now for vigorous and positive action. I am also reminded of President Obama who said, 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.'"
     Kahele is a combat pilot, a Major in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, a commercial pilot for Hawaiian Airlines, and a State Senator representing Hilo.  See and hear his speech. 

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Sen. Marzie Hirono to the right of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during an ILWU march today.
Photo from Mazie Hirono
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY, joined members of the ILWU in Hawaiʻi. Hirono said she marched "in solidarity with all those fighting for justice in Hawaiʻi and across the country." She quoted MLK who said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
     Hirono also asked supporters to sign a petition for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Hirono wrote: "Remember when the Trump administration cruelly separated thousands of children from their families at the border last summer, and then claimed they never instituted such a policy? Last week, we found out that not only did the Department of Homeland Security separate potentially thousands more children than originally reported, but they also premeditated this 'zero tolerance' border strategy in a December 2017 memo, directly contradicting DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's claims that no such policy or plan existed.
     "What happened at the border was no accident: the Trump administration crafted a step-by-step plan to 'Increase Prosecution of Family Units' and 'Separate Family Units.' They knew what they were doing when they targeted and separated families seeking asylum, and then lied about it when they got caught. Now, thousands of children and their families have been traumatized, many have yet to be reunited, and it's possible thousands more are still separated and experiencing life-altering harm at the hands of this president.
     "As an immigrant and an American, I am appalled by this administration's cruelty and lies. In June 2018, I called on DHS Secretary Nielsen to resign over the migrant family separation. As we continue to uncover more information we realize the situation gets worse and worse. Again, I call on Secretary Nielsen to be held accountable and resign.
     "Join me and sign your name to demand Secretary Nielsen resign after overseeing this inhumane family separation policy and then lying about it to the American people," urges Hirono.

 Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and volunteers battle marine debris so
Kamilo and other Kaʻū beaches don't stay looking like this.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
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FIVE KEIKI AND 22 ADULT VOLUNTEERS REMOVED MARINE DEBRIS totaling about 1,907 lbs. from Kamilo on the Kaʻū Coast over the weekend. They filled 61 bags and five trucks. Marine debris includes 1,000 lbs. of derelict fishing line and net bundles. Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and volunteers also conducted the 100 meter NOAA Accumulation Survey #22. Volunteers donated labor, and use of four-wheel drive vehicles and four-wheelers.
     With volunteers Hawaiʻi Wildlife fund hauled over 258.9 tons of marine debris from the shores of Hawaiʻi Island from 2003 - 2018.

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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 High Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball:
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals
Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA
Boys Basketball:
Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity
Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity
Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals
Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA
Wrestling:
Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA
Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo
Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau
Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA
Soccer:
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala
Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals
Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals
Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA
Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA
Swimming:
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm
Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA
Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING
FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted on Friday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m., at Amalfatano's Italian Restaurant - located in Waiakea Villa complex at 399 Hualani Street, Hilo.
     The all-you-can-eat buffet dinner includes: pizza, pasta dish, lasagna, and salad. Iced tea and water is provided. Guests are asked to provide their own beverage if they prefer a different option.
     Proceeds will help fund KDEN's upcoming productions, including the 2019 summer musical, Flower Drum Song. Tickets are $20 cash or check - available at the door. Reservations may be made by calling KDEN at 982-7344.

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The following event is cancelled due to partial government shutdown: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011


MONDAY, JANUARY 28
Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
     The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend the informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule. 
     "We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

ONGOING
Applications for the first annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."
     Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.
     The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."
     The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
     Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.
     To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.
     The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.
     The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.
     The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before 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.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.
     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.
     Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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