About The Kaʻū Calendar

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Employing reindeer for transportation is a project of Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa who lives in Hawaiian Ocean View Kona Gardens
and Alaska. His permafrost science projects are installed around the planet. Photo from Kenji Yoshikawa
A REINDEER FARM IS THE PROJECT of new Ocean View Kona Gardens resident Dr. Kenji Yoshikawa. The professor at University of Alaska Fairbanks' Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, is not only one of the world's permafrost experts, he studied reindeer husbandry and training in Lapland and Russia.    
    Yoshikawa's reindeer farm is in Alaska and his goal is to train reindeer to pull sleighs, just like Santa. He said that reindeer in Alaska are used for meat, while in Russia they are also trained for pulling sleighs, with two of them side by side, directed by the driver. In Siberia, and Lapland, one reindeer will pull a sleigh.
At home in Ocean View Kona Gardens, Yoshikawa appreciates the stars
and the sunsets. Photo from Kenji Yoshikawa
    Yoshikawa said that reindeer have completely different personalities than horses. "They can't learn the names you give them. They don't desire to please people, like a dog or a horse who likes to hang out with humans." Training them is quite a feat, said Yoshikawa, but he's succeeded on trails behind his home outside of Fairbanks. He said he hopes reindeer will be used for travel in Alaska's outback. In that cold country, he travels from village to village on a snowmobile to teach the value of studying permafrost and to check on his experimental stations cared for by local residents.
    In the meantime, he plans to spend part of his time here in Kaʻū with a home close to the ocean in Kona Gardens, where stars are bright and exploration activities abound. His study of permafrost takes him all over the world, including the Andes, Mauna Kea and Japan, to document the geological and climate history of the planet. In the past, he has traveled across Antarctica and the Sahara Desert by foot, and from Japan to Alaska on the Arctic Ocean by sailboat.
    He said his new Kona Gardens home provides "the beautiful stars and great sun setting every day. I wake early because Southern Cross rising in the morning." He said that "recent vog makes a little down the number of stars - but better than Alaskan wildfires."

Kona Gardens  resident Kenji Yoshikawa's reindeer farm near Fairbanks Alaska. Photo from Kenji Yoshikawa

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State Department of Health air monitoring
map. See it here.
AIR QUALITY IN KAʻŪ, VOLCANO and beyond is of renewed interest to local residents, with the new lava lake growing in Kīlauea caldera and the vog reaching as far as Kona and Waikoloa. The state Department of Health's air quality index shows good air in green, moderate quality air in yellow, followed by orange for hazardous for sensitive people, red for hazardous for everyone, and purple for dangerous. The map shows levels of S02 and particulates. 
    Locally, state monitoring stations are in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu and Ocean View. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has its own monitoring stations around the caldera and at public places, including the campground. Another is located in Kaʻū at the Kahuku unit of the Park.
    Since the lava lake started growing on Sunday night, air quality has varied from good to fair to hazardous for sensitive people. 

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VOLCANIC AIR POLLUTION, VOG IS ONE OF THE SERIOUS HAZARDS "associated with the recent summit eruption of Kīlauea volcano," said a statement from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park this evening. "Earlier today, areas around the summit of Kīlauea were blanketed in high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulates that reached levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous for all individuals."
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has its own website with air quality for the Kahuku Unit
near Ocean View and the area around Halemaʻumaʻu Crater and down to the coast.

    The air quality index can be viewed on the Park's online air quality alert system, www.HawaiiSO2Network.com. Today, Park staff immediately put up signs warning visitors of the deteriorating conditions, and issued alerts on its social media sites. "Visitors are urged to plan their visit and check the air quality website before coming to the Park. Even low levels of volcanic gas are a threat to those with heart or respiratory issues, infants, young children and pregnant women. Wednesday's conditions were hazardous for everyone," said the Park's statement.
    "This current eruption is more challenging than eruptions in the past because we have the added threat of COVID-19," said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh. "When air quality is poor, visitors should get in their vehicles, turn on the air conditioner, and go to another area not impacted by volcanic gas. There are no safe options for visitors to seek shelter indoors in the Park due to the pandemic," Loh said.
    Typically, the prevailing tradewinds from the northeast carry the plume of volcanic gas, water vapor and particulates being released by the eruption to the southwest and away from the summit. According to the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, SO2 emissions remain high at around 30,000 tonnes a day.
    For more information about current volcanic hazards and how to plan a safe trip to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, visit the park website, https://go.nps.gov/vxn5lh.

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Scientists continue to monitor the ongoing eruption in Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera, Island of Hawai‘i. 
This photo, from the south rim of Halema‘uma‘u crater and looking north, shows the volcanic gas plume heading west. 
USGS photo by M. Patrick 

THE LAVA LAKE GROWS at Kīlauea summit. USGS Hawaiian Observatory reported today the lava lake surface at 1,522 ft. below the crater rim observation site, indicating that the lake has filled 515 feet of the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u crater. This compares to a measurement just before 5 a.m. on Dec. 22, when the lake surface was 1,598 feet below the crater rim observation site, indicating that the lake rose 75 feet in just over 24 hours. The current depth is more than triple the depth of the water lake that was in the crater until the evening of Dec. 20, when it was vaporized. Fountaining continues at two locations, more vigorously at eastern vent, and both vents continue to feed the growing lava lake.

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A MAJOR VICTORY IN HELPING PACIFIC ISLANDERS who live here has been announced by the Hawaiʻi County Democratic Party: Medicaid for citizens of Palau, the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia living in the U.S. will be restored as part of the latest stimulus package. "This has been a goal of our Hawaiʻi delegation for over 20 years, and is a step toward fulfilling the many promises the U.S. made to the people of Micronesia after nuclear weapons testing during the Cold War," says the statement from the Democrats. 
    They credit Senators Brian Shatz and Mazie Hirono "for their work on this key issue. The 24,755 Pacific neighbors from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau who live and work in Hawaiʻi are a welcomed part of the fabric of our local community, and we as Democrats have been fighting to make sure that everyone in our community - regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or preexisting conditions - have access to quality healthcare."

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Counting humpback whales along the coast this January through March will be through trained teams of one
to two people, instead of volunteers getting together for the annual event. Photo from NOAA























COUNTING HUMPBACK WHALES ALONG THE VOLCANO AND KAʻŪ COAST TO MILOLIʻI WILL BE MODIFIED to accommodate COVID distancing requirements. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary announced today that, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the sanctuary is running a modified program statewide without the normal participation of volunteers. Instead, each site will be monitored by trained site leaders working individually or as a couple. The 2021 Ocean Counts are scheduled for Saturdays: Jan. 30, Feb.  27, and March 27.
    "Although we will miss all our enthusiastic volunteers helping us out with the counts we hope to return to our normal Ocean Count program in 2022." said Allen Tom, sanctuary superintendent.
    For more information on the Ocean Count project and how to support, visit https://oceancount.org/. Contact Cindy Among-Serrao via e-mail cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov with further questions.
    During the modified Ocean Count in 2021, the public is able to participate in Sanctuary Whale
Watchers, a separate whale-sighting project to help the sanctuary locate the whales this season. It allows anyone to submit a humpback whale sighting in Hawaiian waters, whenever and/or wherever they see one. This program is separate from Ocean Count. To learn more about this opportunity, access the flyer online.
    Ocean Count promotes public awareness about humpback whales, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and shore-based whale watching opportunities. Site leaders tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey, which provides a snapshot of humpback whales activity from the shorelines of Oʻahu, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi islands. Ocean Count is supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
    Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, administered by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, protects humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiian waters where they migrate each winter to mate, calve and nurse their young.
    The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports national marine sanctuaries by protecting species, conserving ecosystems and preserving America's maritime heritage through on-the-water conservation projects, public education and outreach programs and scientific research and exploration. See http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

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Support the virtual Kaʻū Coffee Festival and enter to win eight ounces of
Hawaiian Monarch coffee. Photo from Hawaiian Monarch
HAWAIʻI MONARCH 100% Kaʻū Coffee is one of the farms donating to help celebrate the virtual Kaʻū Coffee Festival, which is ongoing this week and next. Enter the drawing to receive a free 8 oz bag from Monarch's Delvin Navarro by liking the Kaʻū Coffee Festival Facebook page, sharing the post, and tagging a friend. The winner will be announced Dec. 31. Enter here.      For more of the virtual Kaʻū Coffee Festival, see www.kaucoffeefestival.com.

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THE NOMINEE FOR U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION IS DR. MIGUEL CARDONA. A statement from President-Elect Joe Biden says that "a strong education system helps all of us. By educating the leaders of tomorrow, we give everyone a chance at living the American dream. Cardona, the first Latino to serve as Education Commissioner of Connecticut, is a former fourth-grade public school teacher who became the youngest principal in his state." Cardona learned English as a second language when he entered the U.S. school system.
Dr. Miguel Cardona learned English as a second language
 and is nominated to run the U.S.Department of Education.
 Photo from Diverseeducation.com
    According to Biden, "His leadership during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis helped make Connecticut the first state in the nation to ensure that every one of its public school students has a laptop and a high-speed internet connection to engage in remote learning. That makes all the difference in preventing lost school time and closing persistent equity and opportunity gaps."
    If confirmed, said Biden, "Cardona will help carry out my plan to ensure that every student in the nation can get a high-quality education from pre-K to post-high school. Having walked the walk as an educator, administrator, and public school parent, Dr. Cardona has a proven track record as an innovative leader who will fight for all students, and for a better, fairer, more successful education system. 
    "He'll lead the effort to invest in all students, support educators, and make reopening schools safely a national priority. As a lifelong champion of public education, he understands that our children are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft — and that everything that will be possible for our country tomorrow will be thanks to the investments we make and the care that our educators and our schools deliver today."
    Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, said, "Cardona will ensure that the federal government's role in education is to ensure access and opportunity for every student. He is someone who will defend our students' civil rights and focus on the success of all students. And he will work collaboratively to promote proven education models such as community schools and policies that provide whole student support."
   
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HAWAIʻI ISLAND REPORTS 13 NEW COVID CASES today. The average daily new case rate over the last two weeks for Hawaiʻi Island is 13. There have been no fatalities reported on-island for more than a month.
    New cases reported statewide today total 107, with 68 on Oʻahu, 14 on Maui, and ten residents diagnosed out-of-state. The average daily case rate for the state is 130 over the last two weeks.
    Since the pandemic began, 49 deaths have been reported on Hawaiʻi Island. At least 285 people have died in the state, threee reported today.

Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, by zip code. Gray

areas have populations less than 1,000. White is zero cases.

Yellow is one to 10 cases. Light orange is 11-50 cases. Dark

orange is 51-200 cases. Department of Health map

    Since the pandemic began, there have been 20,522 total COVID cases in the state. Oʻahu has reported 17,277 total cases, Hawaiʻi 1,835, Maui 806, Lanaʻi 106, Molokaʻi 22, and Kauaʻi 138. Residents diagnosed while out-of-state, 338. Statewide, 1,426 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
    In the last 14 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96704, which includes Miloliʻi; zip code 96737, which includes Ocean View; zip code 96772, which includes Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour; Kaʻū zip code 96777, which includes Pāhala; and Volcano zip codes 96718 and 96785. 
    In the last 14 days, 40 cases have been reported in Hilo zip code 96720, 51 in Kona zip code 96740.
    See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage, coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies. 
    Cumulative COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 18,465,880. The death toll is more than 326,217. Worldwide, more than 78.71 million total COVID-19 cases have been reported. The death toll is more than 1,730,766.

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directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is 
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout 
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at 
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your 
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

A CHRISTMAS EVE EVENT IN NĀʻĀLEHU, sponsored by ʻO Kaʻū Kakou, will feature free grab-and-go meals, Santa Claus for the keiki, music, decorated vehicles on parade, and selected gift vendors for last-minute purchases. It will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 24 at OKK's Nāʻālehu Market grounds. For more information and to join the decorated vehicle parade, contact Wayne Kawachi or Sue Barnett, 808-345-9374.

A CHRISTMAS EVE Walk-Through Living Nativity at Nāʻālehu United Methodist Church on Thursday, Dec. 24 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Across the street from the Post Office, visitors and friends wearing masks can enter in small groups and proceed between the three scenes in the Christmas story outside around the church. Everyone is welcome. Attendees may bring a can for the Foodbank, which will be collected to give to families in need in the community.

Ocean View Drive-In shows movies each Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. Once the car park area is full, gates will be closed. There will be refreshments on sale, such as Thai Grindz, popcorn, and candy. No entry or membership fee; donations accepted. Attendees must join Ocean View Theater Club on Facebook. For details, see the Ocean View Community Market and Outdoor Theater Facebook page.  

Visit a Volcano Artist Hui studio by appointment during the holiday season. See VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com or Instagram: @VolcanoArtHui for updates and individual artists' contact information.

Go to Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Walk the distanced paths through Volcano Art Gallery Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Park entrance fees apply. See volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222. 

Drive or stroll past the Christmas decorated cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and vote for the Holiday Challenge Winner. The annual event is a friendly decorating competition between KMC employees. It ends New Years Day.

Golf and Social Memberships for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse. The new Club offers Social Memberships, with future use of the clubhouse and current use of the pickleball courts as well as walking and running on specified areas of the golf course before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to enjoy the panoramic ocean views. Golf memberships range from unlimited play for the avid golfer to casual play options. Membership is required to play and practice golf on the course. All golf memberships include Social Membership amenities. Membership fees are designed to help underwrite programs and improvements to the facilities. Call 808-731-5122 or stop by the Clubhouse during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle. Email clugatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com. See The Club at Discovery Harbour Facebook page.

Hike one of the many open trails, drive to the overlooks in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at Volcano and Kahuku units. See nps.gov/havo.

Take a Guided Nature Walkthrough Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222 

Christmas Day Dinner and New Year's Day Brunch are offered at Kīlauea Military Camp. Both dine-in and grab-and-go require reservations; call 808-967-8356. Christmas Day Dinner reservations for to-go orders deadline was Dec. 14. New Year's Day brunch is tentatively scheduled. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call (808) 936-5831 or see rb.gy/jakyac.

KaiLoki's, at the old Mehe's location in Ocean View, offers live music and karaoke on a to-be-determined schedule, along with a locally-sourced menu and bar. See facebook.com/KaiLokis.

Free Lifetime Entry for Veterans and Gold Star Families to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks. Details at rb.gy/k3evh6.

BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON

Purchase The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Fundraising calendars, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. review the calendar at rb.gy/tmxzva. Order the Calendar using this form: rb.gy/ytekoz. Send payment or donations to VSAS PayPal, paypal.com/paypalme/VolcanoSchool. VSAS is also selling school t-shirts and sweatshirts. Order from here: rb.gy/2a4cim. Send in order forms and payment to the main office: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785. For a printed copy of the order form to be mailed, contact Kaye at 985-9800, knagamine@volcanoschool.net. Contact Kanani at kwylie@volcanoschool.net for more information and assistance with ordering.

Volcano Art Center online, in person. Shop at Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Shopping Appointments offered via Skype or FaceTime. Book at volcanoartcenter.org/shop for $5. Shop online gallery 24/7. Orders shipped or free local pickup available. See the VAC Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. See volcanoartcenter.org/events, call 967-8222. 

Kaʻū Coffee Mill & Visitor Center. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 pm.

Punaluʻu Bake Shop online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Aliʻi  Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.

Aikane Coffee Plantation. Order online at aikaneplantationcoffee.com. Call 808-927-2252

Miranda's Farms Coffee. Order online at mirandasfarms.com or, in person at 73-7136 Mamalahoa Hwy, Nāʻālehu.

Kuahiwi Ranch Store, in person. Shop weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 am to 3 p.m. at 95-5520 Hwy 11. Locally processed grass fed beef, live meat chickens, and feed for cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, horses, dogs, and pigs. Call 929-7333 of 938-1625, email kaohi@kuahiwiranch.com. 

Kaʻū Art Gallery, in person in Nāʻālehu, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Gallery is in the process of showcasing everything in the gallery online at kauartgallery.com. If interested in purchasing, contact Kaʻu Art Gallery at kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz.

Stay Home, Cook Rice – A Pandemic Limited Edition cookbook by Hawaiian Electric employees and retirees, and their families and friends costs $14 and includes more than 160 recipes. Benefits Hawaiʻi Island's United Way chapter partners, which includes Boys & Girls Club Big Island. Find order form at hawaiianelectric.com/unitedwaycookbook, call 543-4601 on weekdays from 8 a.m to 3 p.m., or email karen.garcia@hawaiianelectric.com. Cookbooks can only be mailed within the U.S. at USPS Priority Mail rate. Delays may be due to the pandemic. 

CHURCH SERVICES

Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 10 a.m., with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coverings required when usher comes to vehicle to pass out worship bulletin and other materials, and at the same time, collect any offering or gifts the individual(s) would like to give, or when leaving vehicles for the restroom. Church provides paper fans to stay cool. Bring water. Catch the live-streamed service at 10:10 a.m. and Praise Jam, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Service is emailed Sunday afternoon to anyone on the email list. Sign up by emailing atdwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church services and worship are posted online at StJudesHawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays, at rb.gy/3jfbzd, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Check the webpage for Christmas services.

Hope DIA-mend Ministries holds outdoor services Sundays at 9:45 a.m. at 92-898 Ginger Blossom Lane in Ocean View. Masks and distancing required. For help and/or to donate, call or text Pam and Lance Ako at 808-937-6355, or call the Ministry at 808-920-8137. See them on Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.

SIGN UP SOON

Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development at rb.gy/fsrkwg. Find help for small businesses at rb.gy/sxzjt0.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Kaʻū Coffee. Cooper Center's EBT Machine, used at the Farmer's Market, is out of service until further notice. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Council. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers, 25 vendor booths, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Swap Meet open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.

HELP FOR HEALTH & COVID TESTING

Kaʻū Hospital offers COVID testing referral from the ER, a physician or a Kaʻū Clinic health provider.

Free Drive-Thru COVID Testing, Saturdays at Kea‘au High School in Puna, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays at Konawaena High School from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Civic Auditorium in Hilo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (enter from Kuawa Street entrance). No co-pay, no insurance necessary, but bring insurance card if have. People do not have to have symptoms in order to be tested. Social distancing must be observed and face coverings must be worn at all times. For more, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline is supported by We Are Oceania, weareoceania.org, to help with identifying COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment. Call (808) 913-1364. Watch the video at facebook.com/watch/?v=989579144844697.

Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.

Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group at facebook.com/bhhsurg.

Sign Up for Two Women's Health Programs from Kaʻū Women's Collective. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.

Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub at health.hawaii.gov/camhd/lgbtq-safe-spaces.

Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Spectrum Channel 53, streaming on Nā Leo's free mobile app, and on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.

Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna, 808b-fit.com, contains videos for kūpuna to play and move along with. There are videos for stretching, tai chi, yoga, dancing, dance fitness, bon dance, hula, chair dancing, and chair yoga.

Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222.

Choose Aloha for Home is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up at chooselovemovement.org/choose-love-home.

FOOD RELIEF

Pick up food weekdays in the parking lot of ACE Hardware in Ocean View from Hope DIA-mend Ministries TLC at 4:45 p.m. About 300 meals available each day, coordinated by pastors Pam and Lance Ako. For help or to donate, call or text Ako at 808-937-6355, or call 808-920-8137. See them on Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.

Bulk School Meal Service for those 18 and under will be held at Volcano and Pāhala on alternating weeks. Friday, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up food in Volcano, Jan. 8 at Kaʻū District Gym. No service on Friday, Dec. 25. Food items include eggs, cereal, dry pasta, rice, beans, tortillas, milk, and canned vegetables and fruit. Each distribution provides enough food for every person 18 years and under to eat breakfast and lunch. No income requirements. Youth do not need to be present to receive bags but be prepared to give their names and birthdates. See volcanoschool.net or call 808-985-9901.

Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800. 

Vibrant Hawaiʻi Food Distribution in Pāhala takes local food packages to homes in Pāhala through Dec. 31.

Free food for keiki offered at Resilience Hub, Nāʻālehu Hongwanji on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, noon to 4 p.m. The Hub also features drop-in WiFi and laptop access. Location is 95-5695 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927, for more.

EDUCATION

Virtual presentation, Sea Turtles in Hawaiʻi. Register to watch at rb.gy/rkd2fd. 

Free WiFi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. Read details on Page 7. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.

Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927. See story on Page 7.

Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs at rb.gy/o1o2hy. For keiki grades 1-6. Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org or info@bgcbi.org.

ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads at rb.gy/8er9wm. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.

Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES.org for Live WebEx link.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for WiFi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., limited entry into library with Wiki Visits. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. WiFi available to anyone with a library card, from each library parking lot. See librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.

Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report at rb.gy/awu65k. 

Watch Hawaiʻi's 28th Annual Filipino Fiesta and 8th Flores de Mayo virtual celebration at rb.gy/b53jgn.

Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, papakilodatabase.com.

Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.

ECONOMIC RELIEF

Online Directory at shopbigisland.com, co-sponsored by County of Hawai‘i, has a signup sheet for local businesses to fill in the blanks. The only requirement is a physical address on this island.

Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.

Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19, from University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and the senior class at bit.ly/2YvFxsl. 

Homeowners, apply for Affordable Rental Housing Tax Reduction through Dec. 31. Application, requirements and benefits are at hawaiipropertytax.com/misc.html or call the county Real Property Tax office at 961-8201 or 323-4880.

Apply for Utility Assistance to pay for electricity, non-government water, or gas. Applicants must be a Hawaiʻi Island resident, at least 18 years old, lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, and not previously received assistance from other COVID-19 federal or state-funded programs. Funded by CARES Act and distributed by Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, required documents for application are government-issued identification, income verification documents for all household members, utility statement with address of services, lease/rental agreement or mortgage document, and proof of hardship. Hardship may include, but not limited to, pay stubs documenting pre-COVID-19 income, unemployment approval letter, or layoff letter. Apply at HCEOC.net or call 808-961-2681.

Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. Contact RMAP partners: Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935- 3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933- 6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808- 934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.

Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits, up to $10,000, support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See rb.gy/v2x2vy. 

Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues, through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Complete webform at hawaiifirstfcu.com/community-resource-center or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.

Apply or Donate to Full Calabash Fund to support vulnerable Hawaiʻi families and food producers impacted by the pandemic through Dec. 31 by contacting Nicole Milne, The Kohala Center's vice president of food and agriculture initiatives, at (808) 987-9210 or nmilne@kohalacenter.org. 

AGRICULTURE

Contact AskUSDA at (833) ONE-USDA with representatives available 4 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. The website, ask.usda.gov is available 24/7 and includes live chat agents available 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. Inquiries can also be sent via email at any time to askusda@usda.gov.

Women Farmers can Register with Hawaiʻi Women Farmers Directory, a statewide online directory of women-operated farms, ranches, and agribusinesses. Visit the program website to register, rb.gy/87fn9d.

Coffee Growers are urged to take a survey on how the pandemic is affecting them by Hawaiʻi Coffee Association. Take the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/638VWS6.

Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more at rb.gy/exzuk1. 

Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website, ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/onfarm.

Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begin and Ends with Seed, where Education by Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog at rb.gy/ijai3y.

Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature. Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii.

Learn Basics of Organic Farming, via free modules at rb.gy/4wio2y.

PETS & WILDLIFE

One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.

Report Humpback Whales in Trouble at NOAA Fisheries 24 hour hotline, 1-888- 256-984. Also report distressed sea turtles, monk seals and dolphins.

Apply for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Members by Thursday, Jan. 14. Contact Cindy Among-Serrao via email at Cindy.Among-Serrao@noaa.gov or visit the sanctuary website, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

For free Veterinary Care, Spay & Neuter, visit hihs.org, Services Tab, Spay and Neuter or Community Vet Care, or email petsupport@hihs.org. Call 808-217- 0154. All appointments must be scheduled in advance and are open to healthy dogs and cats. Two pets per family will be accommodated, each pet with own appointment. Unavailable to animals other than dogs and cats. Unavailable to strays and those with contagious illnesses.


COMMUNITY

Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station is open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recycling services available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "White goods" appliance collection services will accept one appliance per resident per day. Customers need to check in with the facility attendant before dropping an appliance off at the facility. No unattended drop-offs allowed. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org or call 961-8270. 

Ocean View Transfer Station is open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will continue as usual on Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org or call 961-8270. 

Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts at rb.gy/iemgrc for site closures, service hours, and more.

   

 



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