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Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Project Vision Hawaiʻi will roll into the third Mālama Nā Keiki festival at Pāhala Community Center this Saturday,
June 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services include near and far vision screening for keiki and adults. Photo by Julia Neal
TULSI 2020, THE CAMPAIGN TO ELECT KAʻŪ'S CONGRESSWOMAN TO THE PRESIDENCY, today released a summary of her platform, leading up to her participation in Wednesday's debate among 20 candidates vying to become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. In her words:
     On being a soldier president: "You deserve a President who will put your interests ahead of the rich and powerful. As your President, I will bring this soldier's heart—that spirit of service above self—to the White House, putting people ahead of profits. Putting your interests as the American people above all else."
     On caring for the sick: "I'll crack down on Big Pharma and Big Insurance who extort the sick, putting their profits above the health of our people, work with you to pass Medicare For All and make sure every sick American in this country gets the care that they need."
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, speaking to democratic constituents in Hilo
before the mid-term elections in 2018. Photo from Nā Leo TV
     On educating the next generation: "As your President, I'll make education the priority it deserves by investing in our children and listening to our teachers about how we can empower them to do what they do best."
     On reforming our broken criminal justice system: "As your President, I'll end the failed War on Drugs that's ruined so many people's lives, overcrowded prisons, and torn families apart. Reform our criminal justice system, end the Marijuana Prohibition, end cash bail, and ban private prisons."
     On surveillance and civil liberties: "Crack down on the overreaching intelligence agencies and Big Tech monopolies who are taking away our civil liberties in the name of national security and corporate greed. I'll protect our constitutional right to privacy and free speech."
     On addressing climate change: "I'll tackle climate change by ushering in a green century. Ending taxpayer subsidies to big fossil fuel giants and national agribusiness, ban offshore drilling, protect our environment, and harness innovation to create jobs and renewable energy. Provide better opportunities to our farmers to make a good living. And make sure every American has clean air to breathe and clean water to drink."
     On funding above programs and ending regime change wars: "We will not have the resources to invest in our people if we do not deal with one central issue: the cost of war... I'll end our long standing regime change war policy that has cost so many lives, that has cost us trillions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars and have made the American people less safe. I'll work to end this new Cold War, this nuclear arms race and lead us away from this abyss of nuclear war."

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HYDROGEN POWERED HELE ON BUSES are likely in the future of public transportation in Kaʻū. A story in Big Island Video News today updates the program to transfer county buses from fossil fuel to hydrogen and electric. There are two electric fueling stations in Kaʻū: one at the county gym in Pāhala, the other at Punaluʻu Bake Shop, making electric an option. While there is no hydrogen fueling station in Kaʻū, a new one in Kona at Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority could service buses for driving 200 miles without refueling, making a round trip to Kaʻū possible. County officials are currently identifying a location at the Hilo Baseyard for a second hydrogen station.
Hydrogen fuel buses may soon service Kaʻū. Photo from BIVN
      Big Island Video News reported on a presentation from the county Department of Research and Development to the Hawaiʻi County Council Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit regarding electric and hydrogen buses.
     Riley Saito, the Energy Specialist for the Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development, said the longer range and ease of refilling make hydrogen buses ideal for Hawaiʻi Island and the varied topography.
     Battery Electric Buses were studied under a pilot project, said Saito. He said it was determined they should be deployed on shorter routes because charge time must be overnight and the life of the battery is greatly affected by topography. He showed how effort and cost for operating a fleet of Battery Electric Buses increases as fleet size grows. In comparison, he showed decreases in costs for a fleet of hydrogen buses. Hawaiʻi County is scheduled to acquire three Battery Electric Buses in early 2021.
     Saito said Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute has provided a federal grant for one hydrogen bus. He said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park plans to redirect two hydrogen buses to the County. There is also the potential, he said, to convert Hele-On gas buses to hydrogen.
     Mitch Ewan, Hydrogen Systems Program Manager for the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, said the hydrogen fuel station project began almost ten years ago. He said, "We're maybe weeks away from our hydrogen station actually coming online. Our first bus is over on Oʻahu, just going through its final commissioning. It's a 29 passenger, fuel-cell hybrid bus. Brand new. Looks awesome. So, as soon as my hydrogen station is up and running, we'll bring the bus over here and then we'll do final commissioning with some of our contractors, just making sure all our software and communications equipment is working. So, we're basically ready to go."
Hydrogen fuel station at NELHA. Photo from BIVN
     Hydrogen facts and safety considerations on the Hawaiʻi County Research & Development website state that hydrogen gas (H2) is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is non-toxic but can displace oxygen, acting as an asphyxiant if confined.
     The only product of hydrogen combustion is water so there is no smoke or soot.
     Hydrogen leaks present a risk of fire when mixed with air. However, hydrogen is 14 times lighter than air. It rises twice as fast as helium and 6 times faster than natural gas, at a speed of almost 45 mph (65.6 ft./s). Unless it is contained, hydrogen will not linger near a leak or people using hydrogen-fueled equipment.
     Hydrogen flames burn at a high temperature, but have a low radiant heat. Hydrogen flames are nearly invisible in daylight, but can be indirectly visible by way of emanating "heat ripples." Hydrogen has a wide range of flammability concentrations between four percent and 74 percent. It ignites more easily than any other common gas and a high-pressure leak can ignite spontaneously. The best way to extinguish a hydrogen fire is by stopping the flow of gas. Hydrogen has the highest combustion energy per unit weight of any combustible fuel. Hydrogen can be combusted or used in a fuel cell to produce energy, but fuel cells are more efficient. 1 kg of hydrogen has the energy content of approximately 39 kWh of electricity.
     For more on hydrogen used as energy, visit hydrogen.energy.gov.

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FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH IN HAWAIʻI will be bolstered by a $200,000 grant to Nalu Scientific from U.S. Department of Energy. The funding assists making "High Energy Density and Inertial Fusion research more accessible for DOE and individual research projects for development of more affordable energy. The development of clean and plentiful fusion energy depends on monitoring condition of plasma, a very dense state of matter," explains Nalu Scientific founder and CEO Isar Mostafanezhad, who is also the principal investigator on the project based at the Mānoa Innovation Center. The grant will be used to invent an Ultrafast Pixel Array Camera. See naluscientific.com.

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Electronic smoking device examples. Image from Centers for Disease Control
EDUCATORS WILL NOT LIKELY BE REQUIRED TO CONFISCATE ELECTRONIC SMOKING PRODUCTS from public school students if Gov. David Ige vetos SB1405 as planned. Ige said the bill has unknown costs and methods of enforcement. The bill fails to define an "electronic cigarette." The bill would also create a safe harbor disposal program and raise violator fines from $10 to $100. In Hawaiʻi, electronic smoking products are illegal for those under age 21.

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A BILL TO CREATE MORE LEARNING TIME FOR STUDENTS AND MORE PREP TIME FOR TEACHERS is on Gov. David Ige's chopping block. HB1276 would set up an education best practices working group. The governor said he opposes the bill's "one-size-fits-all" approach to schools. He said more teacher planning and more student learning time are best left to specific schools to address, considering the distinct needs of a particular school and the unique needs of the student. He also said the Board of Education should take up these matters, not legislators.

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DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH will become law, but Gov. David Ige will not sign measure HB655. He said he will designate September of 2019 as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month by executive order, then work with the legislature to make fixes in the legislation next session.

SEE MORE ON THE 20 BILLS GOV. DAVID IGE PLANS TO VETO AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HAWAIʻI LEGISLATURE OVERRIDING HIS VETOS on tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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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
2019 Kaʻū High School Athletics Schedule through August
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates; Bowling TBA.

Football, Division II:
Mon., July 15, first day Conditioning, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Mon., July 22, first day Full Pads, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 24, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Mon., July 29, 3 to 5 p.m., first day practice
Tue., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Hilo
Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts St. Joseph
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala

Cross Country:
Mon., Aug. 5, 2:30 to 4 p.m., first day practice
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty

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.

UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, June 26 – 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: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Lei Tī, Wednesday, June 26, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Hands-on demonstration with rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff making tī-leaf lei. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, June 27, 3-4p.m., Classroom 35, Building F, Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 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, JUNE 27
Food Basket at Pāhala Community Center Multipurpose Room, Thursday, June 27, 11 a.m.-noon.

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, June 27, 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

FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Coffee Talk at Kahuku: Planting Pono, Friday, June 28, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Learn how to identify plants at home that don't need removal and how to integrate natives and non-invasive plants into the landscape. Free. nps.gov/havo

The Sky is Full of Stories with James McCarthy, Friday, June 28, 1:30-2:15p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. McCarthy, a trained actor, storyteller and musician will captivate audience with wide variety of sky stories from myths and science, using tales and songs. Suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. Free. 939-2442

SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Mālama Nā Keiki Festival happens Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. This third annual free event, presented by Health Resources and Services Administration, offers health screenings, education, and activities. Expectant and first-time mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ʻohana from across the county are especially invited to attend. Prizes, entertainment, free food, and keiki activities are offered. Health screenings include hearing, vision, height, weight, and blood pressure. Health education includes prenatal information and breastfeeding education with lactations specialists. Health activities include Grow Your Own Plant and Makahiki games.
     For more, call 808-969-9220, or see hmono.orgfacebook.com/hmono.org, or hui_malama on Instagram.

Paint Your Own Silk Scarf with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, June 29, 9a.m.-12:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade Celebration & Keiki Fun Day, Saturday, June 29, 10a.m.-130p.m., from Nā‘ālehu Elementary School to Nā‘ālehu Community Center Ballpark, along Hwy 11. Parade followed by food, bounces houses, and inflatable water slides for kids. Afternoon of bingo and separate luncheon for seniors. Free. Sign-up for the parade before June 20 by calling Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Arts & Tea Culture Workshop Series #2, Saturday, June 29, 1-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. Learn tea propagation techniques with Eva Lee. Pre-event for A Taste of Tea Pottery Fundraiser - August 25. Workshops designed to be attended as a series - #3 set for July 27. No experience necessary. $60/VAC member, $75/non-member for series. Individual workshop $25 each. Requires minimum of 6 participants to be held. Registration limited. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, JULY 1
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, July 1, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JULY
Flameworking - An Introductory Class w/Nash Adams-Pruitt, Tuesday, July 2, 5-8p.m., Volcano Art Center. $75/VAC member, $80/non-member, plus $40 supply fee. Class size limited. Register early. Advanced registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, July 2, 6-8p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

After Dark in the Park -Kīlauea 2018 Volcanic Pollution: from Source to Exposed Communities, Tuesday, July 2, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Volcanologist Dr. Evgenia Ilyinskaya presents new information about what volcanic pollution really contains and its potential implications for environmental impacts. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

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 meal 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.

‘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. okaukakou.org

Volcano Village 4th of July Parade, Festival, and Craft Fair happens Thursday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The parade starts at the Volcano Post Office, travels down Old Volcano Road, and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Road. Free entry to activities, food, and entertainment. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and more. To be in the parade, download the entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors, download applications at thecoopercenter.org and email to idoaloha@gmail.com, or call Tara Holmes, 464-3625, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Head Coaches for Coed Judo, Coed Swimming, and Boys Basketball are wanted by Kaʻū High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Applications, due Monday, July 8, can be picked up at the school office weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coaches hired by Hawaiʻi Department of Education are required to pass a criminal background check. Contact Kaʻū High Athletic Director Kalei Namohala 313-4161 with questions.

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.orgkaucoffeemill.com

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