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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, August 31, 2019

Bill Gilmartin, of Volcano, a founder of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, checks out inventors running their machine that removes 
microplastics from beach sand. The French Canadian inventors did their first tests at Kamilo earlier this year 
and took the demonstration to Hilo last weekend. See story below. Photo from Big Island Video News
A DECEASED NIGHT DIVER, REPORTED AS "IN DISTRESS" LAST NIGHT, was recovered off the coast of Kamilo Point, east of South Point, this morning. Capt. Chad Sohriakoff of Hawaiʻi County Fire Department reported that difficult access to the remote, rocky, and jagged shoreline resulted in a two hour response time. Rescuers arrived in the area near midnight. In rough surf, they spotted the dive light 20 yards offshore and thought it could be attached to the distressed swimmer.
     Pāhala Engine Company 11 and Waiakea Rescue Company 2 searched by foot along the shoreline, while a U.S. Coast Guard chopper scoured the coastline by air. It was determined that the dive light was detached from the victim.
     With no success at night, a county helicopter began a search at first light. The body was located just before daybreak and was transported via Waiakea Rescue Chopper 1 to Nāʻālehu Police Station, where it was released to Hawaiʻi Police Department officers.
     HFD units cleared the Kamilo scene at 7:15 a.m. The identity of the deceased has not yet been revealed.

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TROPICAL STORM JULIETTE formed south of Mexico on Saturday and is expected to become a hurricane by Monday. The track takes it west, but the National Hurricane Center predicts it will head northwest, reach cooler waters, and weaken without reaching Hawaiʻi as a hurricane.

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French Canadian inventors demonstrated Hoʻōla One at Hilo Bayfront last weekend. Photo from Big Island Video News

REMOVING MICRO-PLASTICS FROM SAND, using the Hoʻōla One prototype machine first shown in action at Kamilo – see Kaʻū News Briefs from May 11 – worked along Hilo Bay last weekend, following a three-day cleanup along the Waiʻōhinu coastline in the Kaʻū Forest Reserve.
     Hoʻōla One is designed to separate small bits of plastic, known as micro-plastics, from sand. The machine was designed as a class project by 12 mechanical engineering students at University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada. They spent about $70,000 on the prototype.
     Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund raised $15,000 to ship the large and heavy machine to Kaʻū in April. Pāhala Plantation Cottages donated housing for the designers. They first tested Hoʻōla One at Kamilo, a shoreline area sometimes know as Plastics Beach for the currents that wash up excessive amounts of ocean debris.
A closeup of the machine sucking up debris in the sand
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Hoʻōla One means "giving life back to the sand."
     Hawaiʻi state Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a comment earlier this year: "It's hoped the giant vacuum cleaner will help keep this beach and others around the state, clean, and plastics free."
      Megan Lamson of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund wrote in an email that the Hilo Bayfront demonstration was accomplished "with cooperation of the County of Hawaiʻi," reports Big Island Video News. During the Hilo demonstration, Lamson told Big Island Video News that "previous samples from Kamilo and Ka‘alu‘alu revealed that the prototype works" and is over 99 percent effective at removing plastics over .04 millimeters in size.
     Marine and shoreline microplastics pollution is a threat to aquatic and shoreline wildlife. Ingestion can cause blockages and starvation. Invasive species and diseases can also cling to the plastic, and the wildlife that ingests it can be exposed.

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STEPPED-UP TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ALONG DANIEL K. INOUYE HIGHWAY, Saddle Road, began on Aug. 15. According to a press release from Hawaiʻi County Police Department, the higher enforcement level is due to police assigned "to be in place for the TMT protestor blockade and encampment on Mauna Kea access road." The blockade of the Maunakea Access Road by Protectors of Maunakea, protesting building of the Thirty Meter Telescope, has been ongoing since July 15.
Water, run through Hoʻōla One, helps cleanse the sand from 
microplastics. Photo from Big Island Video News
     The enhanced traffic enforcement efforts by HPD between Aug. 15 and 29 netted 1,240 citations and 16 arrests for 29 offenses. Police discovered a stolen vehicle and arrested two suspects for the offense. Police also found two illegal tow trucks and had them towed away by legal tow trucks.
     "The effort will continue for the duration of the ongoing protest situation to promote the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike," states HPD.
     The citations are: three for parking, 456 for speeding, five for excessive speeding, 92 for not wearing a seatbelt, 16 child restraint violations, 18 for use of cellular phone or electronic device, 20 for illegal window tinting, 34 for driving without a license, 48 for driving without insurance, 100 for unsafe vehicles, 46 for no license plates, 57 moving violations, and 345 for other regulatory violations.
     Police arrested 16 people for 29 total offenses: five for driving under the influence of intoxicants, 12 contempt warrants, one failure to provide identification, one resisting an order to stop motor vehicle, four driving without an operator license, one excessive speeding, three driving without insurance, and two vehicle theft.

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PRESCHOOL TEACHING ASSISTANT POSITIONS for Tūtū & Me in Ka‘ū are open. "Do you love children and have experience working with young children and their families? Tūtū & Me is seeking an energetic, outgoing, and reliable individuals for full-time and on-call teaching assistant positions," stated the listing.
Debris removed from the sand by the Hoʻōla One machine, 
brought to Hawaiʻi with the help of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund. 
     Minimum qualifications are: high school diploma; Early Childhood Education or related course work and/or experience working with children preferred; access to vehicle, valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and at least $100K in bodily collision per person and $25K in property damage liability insurance coverage.
     The position requires: good oral and written communication skills; ability to interact with caregivers and keiki in a helpful and professional manner, maintain confidentiality, analyze and problem solve, multi-task and prioritize; lifting, loading, and carrying up to 40 pounds on a daily basis; ability to sit and work on floor, and kneel and bend.
     Successful applicants will: exhibit courteous and professional demeanor; possess strong interpersonal skills; work well with other team members and perform other duties as assigned, which may include using computer and other office equipment, cell phone, and hand truck.
     Tūtū & Me offers a competitive salary and outstanding benefits package including  medical, dental, drug, and vision: Flexible Spending Plan: 403b Retirement Plan: vacation and sick time; 14 paid holidays; and more.
     For more info visit pidfoundation.org/about/careers. E-mail resume and application with cover letter to HR@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

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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 September
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates

Football, Division II:
Sat., Sept. 7, 2 p.m., HPA hosts Kaʻū
Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Thu., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Pāhoa hosts Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Wed., Sept. 4, 6 p.m., Christian Liberty hosts Kaʻū
Fri., Sept. 6, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha
Tue., Sept. 10, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kealakeha
Fri., Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Honokaʻa hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Waiakea hosts Kaʻū
Thu., Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Keaʻau hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Makualani hosts Kaʻū
Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA

Cross Country:
Sat., Sept. 7, 10 a.m., @Kamehameha
Fri., Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m., @HPA
Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m., @Kealakehe
Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m., @Keaʻau

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UPCOMING
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
Kaʻū Skate Club Garage Sale Fundraiser continues Sunday, Sept. 1 at 92-1780 Aloha Blvd. in Ocean View. All proceeds go directly to Kaʻū Skate Club, which recently became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Ocean View, toward their goal of building a roller skating rink in OV. Contact Lzena Barrett, president of Kaʻū Skate Club, at (808)747-1147 or kauskateclub@gmail.com with questions or to help the skate club grow. kauskateclub.com

Pu‘u Lokuana, Sunday, Sept. 1, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, short, moderately difficult, 0.4 mile hike. nps.gov/havo

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Sept. 1 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, SEPT. 2
Empower Meeting, Monday, Sept. 2 and 16 – 1st and 2nd Monday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Empowering girls group. Registration required. Diana, 935-4805

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, Sept. 2, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, SEPT. 3
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Sept. 3 (Committees), Wednesday, Sept. 4 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 6-8p.m.Pāhala Community Center.

Wildlife Recovery and Restoration, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 7p.m.Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Park Botanist Sierra McDaniel discusses recovery and restoration efforts after the Keahou Fire which ignited near HVNP and burned nearly 4,000 acres in 2018. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammye Young, Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
Women's Expression Group, Thursday, Sept. 5 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Registration Open: Finger Puppet, Thursday, Sept. 5-10, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, Sept. 5, 6-7p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:30-8:30p.m.Aspen Centerokaukakou.org

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
Stewardship at the Summit, Sept. 6, 14, 20, and 28, 8:45a.m.-noonKīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
Child Passenger Safety Event, Saturday, Sept. 7, 10a.m.-1p.m at Nāʻāehu Community Center. Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will be there to demonstrate proper car seat installation, selection, and usage. Seat Belt Fit tests will also be done on-site to demonstrate proper usage of booster seats. kipchawaii.orgsafercar.gov/parents

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

The Business of Art with Ira Ono - Full-Day Workshop, Saturday, Sept. 7, 9a.m.-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Bring personal art samples. See Ono's work at iraono.com. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sounds at the Summit featuring Hawaiian Style Band, Saturday, Sept. 7, 5:30-7:30p.m.VolcanoArt Center. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band. Doors open 5 p.m. Tickets, $20/VAC member, $25/non-member, available for purchase online. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING
Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School of Arts & Sciences; last year's event sold out. This sixth festive evening of live music, food, wines and craft beers under the stars happens Sunday, Sept. 84-7p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards; and a huge raffle.

Exhibit - Nani Ka ‘Ikena by Volcano local photographer Jesse Tunison, daily through Sunday, Sept. 15, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Nani Ka ʻIkena, that which is seen is beautiful, features vibrant colors and crisp, wide vistas which highlight the character and drama of Hawaiʻi Island’s landscape. The collection of ten photographs were captured over the past decade by Tunison and also document the dynamic changes which have occurred in such a short period of time. "While the landscape has changed the beauty has endured." Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

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., Saturday, 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

Applications are Open for Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Nā‘ālehu and Wai‘ōhinu, at Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Limited space available. Pāhala and Miloli‘i Home Visits also available. Call 939-8573 for Nā‘ālehu, 929-8571 for Pāhala. pidfoundation.org

Tutoring for Kaʻū Hugh & Pāhala Elementary is Available to All Students of the school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Grades Kindergarten-2nd will be in room 3; grades 3-6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays; middle school students, will be in building Q; and high school students will be in room M-101 in the science building. Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.


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