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Thursday, January 30, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs,Thursday, January 30, 2020

Makahiki season in Kaʻū will be discussed at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park tomorrow
at 9:30 a.m. Photo by Nohea Kaʻawa
RISK OF THE 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IS LOW in Hawaiʻi, even thought the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency and the U.S. government recommended refraining from travel to China. The government also confirmed the first case of transmission of the virus from one person to another inside this country. The New York Times reported that Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "We understand that this may be concerning. But our assessment remains that the immediate risk to the American public is low."
     The office of Governor David Ige, issued a statement today, saying there are "no reported cases" of 2019-nCoV in Hawaiʻi. Hawai‘i Department of Health is working with state, county, and federal partners – including the medical community and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – to actively prepare for possible cases, reads the statement.
     2019-nCoV originated in Wuhan, China, and there are more than 6,000 cases with 132 confirmed dead in China. At least 17 countries have reported illness, with at least five reported cases in the U.S., among people who traveled to  China, says the governor's statement. 
     Yesterday, the CDC reported that active airport screening of all incoming passengers from Wuhan, China is being expanded from five major U.S. airports – SFO, LAX, JFK, ATL, and ORD – to all 20 U.S. airports with CDC quarantine stations. This includes Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, with its quarantine station managed by the CDC and Customs and Border Protection.
     The governor's office advises those who have become sick after travel to China, particularly Hubei Province, do the following:
     Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.
     Stay home. Except for seeking medical care, avoid contact with others.
     Do not travel while sick.
     Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
     Wash hands often with clean soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
     State Health Director Bruce Anderson said, "The Hawai‘i Department of Health is working closely with our emergency response network to put proactive measures in place to protect our residents and visitors. Because Hawai‘i is a major travel destination, planning and preparing for possible outbreaks is an ongoing activity. The emergence of the 2019 coronavirus in Wuhan and its potential to spread to areas outside of China poses an increased threat to travelers and Hawai‘i residents and we've ramped up our efforts.
     Anderson said DOH advises that people not travel to China "at this time. Various areas in China have been placed under quarantine by the Chinese government, and travel within the country is either completely prohibited or significantly curtailed to prevent the spread of this disease."
     Dr. Sarah Park, State Epidemiologist, said, "We investigate all reports of persons with potential 2019 novel coronavirus infection to quickly identify persons with likely infection as well as those who may have been exposed to them." She said testing is only available at CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.
     DOH also recommends that everyone get vaccinated for influenza to reduce the number of flu cases in Hawai‘i clinics and hospitals. "This will help reduce confusion as persons with influenza will have signs and symptoms like 2019-nCoV. DOH strongly recommends that residents six months and older protect themselves against flu by receiving the seasonal influenza vaccination," reads the statement.
     National Public Radio reported that, since October, more than 8,000 people in the U.S. have died from influenza viruses already recognized, and that the 2018-2019 flu season saw more than 34,000 deaths.
     For more information on public health preparedness activities in Hawai‘i visit health.hawaii.gov/prepare/about-us/office-of-public-health-preparedness/. For information on the 2019-nCoV outbreak, including information for clinicians and public health professionals, visit the following websites:

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Sen. Brian Schatz
"FRAUGHT WITH REAL PERIL" is how Sen. Brian Schatz described a statement from Pres. Donald Trump's attorney Alan Dershowitz during the impeachment hearings this week. Dershowitz said, "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment."
     Said Schatz, "It is sometimes difficult to separate the daily noise from the truly dangerous stuff. But this idea is fraught with real peril.
     "They are saying that abuses of power in order to get re-elected could be considered in the national interest and therefore not impeachable. If that doesn't worry you I just don't know what to say.
     "On the one side, the House Managers established that the President abused his power to coerce a foreign government to announce a fake investigation into his political opponent. The other side asserts that such an abuse of power is not impeachable. So, both sides!"

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BE SAFE AND DON'T BREAK THE LAW WITH DRUNKEN DRIVING this Super Bowl weekend, is the message from Hawaiʻi Police Department:
     "When Super Bowl LIV kicks off, will you be prepared? The Hawaiʻi Police Department will be. Whether you're cheering for the San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs, every Super Bowl party must start with a game plan that prevents drunk driving.
Breathalyzers can help indicate if someone has had too much
alcohol to drive.
     Drunk driving kills. In 2019, there were 25 fatality crashes on Hawaiʻi Island, and impairment was a factor in twelve of them. You know that many Super Bowl parties will involve alcohol, so play it smart by having a winning game plan in place to not drink and drive.
     We will all win on Super Bowl Sunday if we follow these keys to the game:
     Know the Rules: It's illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. When it comes to drinking and driving, law enforcement doesn't throw a yellow flag; they throw the book at you. You'll get pulled over, arrested, and prosecuted. Your wallet takes a big hit, too: the average DUI court case costs approximately $10,000.
     Play It Safe: Defenses win championships; your best defense is to plan a safe ride. Have a sober friend or family member drive you home. Call a cab, ride a bus, or contact a rideshare program. Just be a winner and choose a safe ride and take it to the house.
     Be a Party MVP: Volunteer to be a designated driver. Let your team know that you’ll be there for them when the party's over with a safe, sober ride home. 
     If You've Been Drinking, You're Benched: There's no place on the road for anyone who has been drinking. If someone tries to drive after drinking, tell them to ride the bench until you help them find a sober ride home. If you're hosting the party, you're the head coach. Make the right call: take their keys before they drink and drive.
     We're all on the same team when it comes to preventing drunk driving. And, however you or your guests travel on Super Bowl Sunday, always buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense in any vehicle crash.
     We hope it's a great game and that you enjoy it — safely — with friends and family. Remember: Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk.

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KAʻŪ RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION will hold its 21st annual Health Conference and General Membership Meeting on Friday, Feb. 28 at Pāhala Community Center from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
     This year's theme is A Kaʻū High School Student Perspective on Resiliency. The keynote speaker will be Derick Kurisu, Vice President of KTA Stores Hawaiʻi. Kaʻū High School Youth will speak. Invited guests include Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, and Kaʻū's County Council Member Maile David.
     At the event, there will be student art exhibits, an auction, free health screenings, informational booths, and door prizes.
     Register in advance at Kaʻū Resource Center, 808-928-0101.

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MAUNA LOA VOLCANO is not erupting. The mauna's Alert Level is ADVISORY and Aviation Color Code is YELLOW. Rates of deformation and seismicity have not changed significantly over the past week and remain above long-term background levels.
     During the past week, HVO seismometers recorded 107 small magnitude earthquakes beneath the upper elevations of the volcano; the strongest was a magnitude-2.3 earthquake on January 23. Most earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of less than 5 km (~3 miles) beneath the volcano's surface.
     Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show continued slow summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations at the Sulphur Cone monitoring site on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit have not changed significantly.
     For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.

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MAKAHIKI: A CELEBRATED SEASON will be discussed at this month's Coffee Talk at the Visitor Center of Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Friday, Jan. 31, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
A Makahiki relay, to open the season, takes runners around
the island each year. Photo by Clarissa Pua
     Makahiki is recognized and observed by many as a time to revel in Hawaiian culture with games, competition, and ceremony, and has come to be regarded as a time of peace and rejuvenation, states the announcement from the Park. In addition, Makahiki held immense importance as a method of time keeping, and was a major influence on the practices of farming, fishing, the division of resources, and even the political workings of the ruling chiefs.
     Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft works at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park through their partner Hawaii Pacific Parks Association, providing cultural demonstrations for visitors to the Park's "royal grounds." He dedicates his work to perpetuating ‘ike Kupuna (ancestral practices) through the study of kālai kiʻi (sculpture), moʻokūʻauhau (genealogy), and moʻoʻōlelo (story-telling), as well as malama ‘iwi kupuna (care of traditional burial practices). Through his endeavors, Kahakaʻio seeks to empower others to connect to ancestral wisdom and become stewards of their place with the values of aloha ‘āina and mālama honua, states the announcement.
     Coffee Talk at Kahuku is an opportunity to get to know the Park and neighbors, and join an informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Bring coffe or purchase Kaʻū coffee from HPPA at the event. Entrance to Kahuku Unit is located on Hwy 11 near mile marker 70.5, on the mauka (mountain) side of the road.

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.

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
See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditationand more at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball
Wed. thru Sat., Feb. 5-8 HHSAA on Oʻahu

Boys Basketball
Tue. and Wed., Feb. 4 and 5 BIIF @ Kealakehe
Thu. thru Sat., Feb. 13-15 HHSAA on Oʻahu

Soccer
Wed. thru Sat., Feb. 5-8 Girls HHSAA on Oʻahu
Sat., Feb. 1 and 8 Boys BIIF
Thu. thru Sat., Feb. 13-15 Boys HHSAA on Oʻahu

Wrestling
Sat., Feb. 1 @Hilo
Sat., Feb. 8 BIIF @Konawaena
Fri. and Sat., Feb. 21 and 22 HHSAA

Swimming
Fri., Jan. 31 and Sat., Feb. 1 BIIF @Kamehameha
Fri. and Sat., Feb. 14 and 15 on Maui

UPCOMING
FRIDAY, JAN. 31
Kahuku Coffee Talk – Makahiki: A Celebrated Season, Friday, Jan. 31 – last Friday, monthly – 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Free. nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, FEB. 1
Stewardship at the Summit, Saturday, Feb. 1 and 15 and Friday, Feb. 7, 21, and 28. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45a.m. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Free; Park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Indigo Fundamentals Workshop, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 12:30p.m. Indigo dyeing with Wai‘ala Ahn and Justin Tripp. volcanoartcenter.org

Forest Work Day and Plant Identification Training with Tim Tunison, Saturday, Feb. 1, 1-3p.m. Learn some native plants, help restore a beautiful rainforest, and get some exercise. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 2
Super Bowl Party, Sunday, Feb. 2, Lava Lounge at Kīlauea Military Camp. Doors open at 11a.m. with kick-off at 1:30p.m., 'til pau. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information call 967-8365 after 4 p.m.


TUESDAY, FEB. 4
Spotlight on Artist Diana Miller, Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. This program will highlight the works of local artist and part-time park ranger, Diana Miller. From her early days as an art major, to her career with the U.S. Air Force painting nose-art on aircraft, to her works celebrating native Hawai‘i, learn what inspires this local artist. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5
OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Wednesdays beginning Feb. 5, 8a.m.-2p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

THURSDAY, FEB. 6
Hula Voices, Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30-7p.m. Presents an engaging, intimate talk story session with Hawai‘i Island kumu hula and features Volcano musician Joe Camacho. volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING
Apply for Mosaics of Science by Monday, Feb. 3. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's 12-week paid summer internship position is designed to engage university students and recent graduates with on-the-ground work experience in the National Park Service. A $4,800 stipend, and all travel costs are covered, including a week-long career workshop in WashingtonD.C. to meet with NPS managers.
     The internship is open to U.S. citizens and permanent legal residents ages 18-30, and to military veterans up to age 35. Funding is provided under a cooperative agreement for youth conservation activities as part of the Public Lands Corps program, which mandates that these age ranges are followed. 
     The selected intern will assist with the development of education curriculum for Kīpukapuaulu and Pu‘u Loa trails in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     For more information, contact Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Education Specialist Jody Anastasio by email at jody_anastasio@nps.gov. To apply go to go.nps.gov/mosaics or mosaicsinscience.org.

Beginning Improv for Adults, Thursday, through Feb. 13, 1-3p.m. "Learn to live more in the moment, think on your feet, let go of self-judgment, bring more joy in your life, and recapture your playful spirit in the 6-week workshop series with improv legend Keli Semelsberger." Attendance to all 6 classes is not required – classes may be attended individually. No prior experience is necessary. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sharp Turns – The Creative Art of Woodturning, Volcano Art Center Gallery exhibit, featuring the works of Aaron Hammer and Mark and Karen Stebbins, continues daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 16. A live woodturning demonstration at VAC will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Aloha Kidney in Kaʻū, Thursday afternoons, 1-3:30p.m., through Feb 20, Kaʻū Resource Center, 96-3126 Puahala St. in Pāhala. The free class series on Chronic Kidney Disease lead by retired kidney doctor Ramona Wong. Bring a pen and whomever cares/cooks/shops for the person(s) with CKD. See alohakidney.com. Call (808) 585-8404 to enroll.

Clay – High Fire!, Sunday, through Feb. 23, 11:30a.m.-2:30p.m. or 2:45-5:45p.m. 8-week morning or afternoon pottery series with Erik Wold. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

PETFIX Spay and Neuter Free Clinic for Cats and Dogs, Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, Ocean View Ranchos. Registration: contact Bridget at (808)990-3548 or petfixbigisland@gmail.com.

Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Performers will include: Maya Hoover, Hawaiʻi based Mezzo-Soprano from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty; Jonathan Korth, Hawaiʻi based pianist from UH-Mānoa; Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist from Hawaiʻi Symphony. They will be joined by the three HIMF co-founders: Amy Shoremount-Obra, Soprano with the Metropolitan Opera; Virutuoso Violinist Eric Silberger; and Carlin Ma, Pianist. Tickets will be available soon and information on tickets will soon be found on the HIMF website: himusicfestival.com.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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.