About The Kaʻū Calendar

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Sister School sisters from Nakaminato Senior High in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan have fun with a Kaʻū High student
yesterday during a gathering of students, administrators, and sponsors. See more below.  Photo by Julia Neal










COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE SENT OUT TEXTS AND ROBO CALLS TODAY regarding the new coronavirus that has many people quarantined across the globe. The message confirmed, once again, no cases in Hawaiʻi and said the Centers for Disease Control "does not currently recommend use of facemasks among the the general public."
     A coronavirus informational pamphlet is expected to be distributed starting Friday to schools, senior centers, libraries, and county offices.
     "An inaccurate claim of an infected person at Hilo Medical Center was posted on social media on Tuesday," states the Civil Defense message. "Help us prevent the spread of misinformation."
     Phone numbers listed to confirm information are Civil Defense at 935-0031, state Department of Health at 974-6001, and Department of Health After-hours line at 211.
     International news services report that in China, the death toll from coronavirus passed 560, with the number of infections reaching more than 28,018 victims. Outside of China, coronavirus reached 260 victims in 31 countries, with two deaths.

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NAKAMINATO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS received a warm welcome at sister Kaʻū High School on Tuesday, with lei, gifts, and words of friendship. Organizer Myra Jean Sumida, a Kaʻū High alumnus, said that students from Nakaminato are staying in Kaʻū family homes for three nights, with another three nights at condominiums at Sea Mountain at Punaluʻu.
     The visitors come from a three-year high school about 80 miles north of Tokyo in the coastal community of Ibaraki Prefecture. Their school has 50 teachers and an enrollment of 500 students. Their visit is designed as a Hawaiʻi Island cultural and educational tour. 
Calligraphy is a cultural exchange with Nakaminato High.
Photo by Julia Neal
     In exchange, 15 Kaʻū High students will visit Japan from May 30 to June 9, to be hosted by the students from Nakaminato High. Kaʻū High students, led by teacher Aina Akamu, will travel by plane, train, and bus. It is the third year of student exchange with Nakaminato.
     The exchange has grown from Nakaminato students staying one night to six nights in Kaʻū.
     Wayne Kawachi, President of ʻO Kaʻū Kākou, one of the sponsoring organizations, said he too traveled to the sister school.
     Kaʻū students have been raising money for their trip to Japan through culinary activities, selling food at community events, and seeking donations.
     The Sister Schools Agreement says that "Kaʻū High School and Pāhala Elementary School in the United States of America and Nakaminato School in Japan make agreements for becoming sister schools in order to build friendship between both schools.
     "We hope that this agreement strengthens the ties of our friendship more than before, and that it does much to promote a better mutual understanding between the United States of America and Japan.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou President Wayne Kawachi helped to organize the student
exchange between Kaʻū and Japan. A student trip to Japan will be
led by Kaʻū High teacher Aina Akaum (left).
Photo by Julia Neal   
     "Both schools will make efforts to contribute to friendly relationships between the United State of America and Japan. ... will continue to exchange materials such as letters, works of students, and photographs or anything that promotes mutual understanding. Both schools will continue to communicate with each other and make further efforts to bring about the development and happiness of both schools. Both schools will make efforts to strengthen the ties of friendship  through mutual visiting of teachers, students, and parents, if they have a chance to do so."
     Students who traveled here from Nakaminato Senior High School are: Miho Kawasaki, Miku Murata, Tomonoshin Shiba, Rune Nakazawa, Ai Tsururta, Nonoka Sueyasu, Riara Sugiyama, and Konoka Hagiya. Faculty from Nakaminao traveling with the students are Vice Principal Kazuhiro Shoji, business teachers Masato Naritomi and Naoyuki Toyama, and English teacher Maiko Suzuki.
     To donate, contact Wayne Kawachi of ʻO Kaʻū Kākou at 808-937-4773.

Eight visiting Japanese students and their mentors received lei and gifts from Kaʻū students. Photo by Julia Neal
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Tūtū and keiki plant a seedling in an egg shell.
Photo by Barbara Sabrin
AN ORGANIZATION, CALLED SOMETHING GOOD IN THE WORLD, AND TŪTŪ & ME are are brining garden-based workshops to preschoolers in Nāʻālehu.
     On Jan. 27, Auntie Barbara Sarbin, Educational Program Director of Something Good, led a workshop with children and caregivers, to bring alive the theme of Kokua, by showing how eggshells and calcium help the soil to make healthy vegetables. Each child planted a seedling in an eggshell, and decorated the eggshell with a face. Every family got to take home the seedling to transplant, within the eggshell, into the soil at home.
     Sarbin told The Kaʻū Calendar, "By eating healthy herbs and veggies that have absorbed calcium through their roots, the children can also grow healthier, as calcium helps them to build stronger bones and teeth. To demonstrate how strong eggshells are, students piled heavy books on top of eggshells and created their own 'eggsperiment,' estimating how many books it would take to turn the shells into a mosaic."
    Sarbin said she is looking forward to February's collaboration on Monday the 10th, when she will bring "the wonder of honeybee products" to share with Tūtū & Me keiki and caregivers. Sign up with Tūtū & Me to participate.
Tūtū & Me participants learn how to plant a seedling.
Photo by Barbara Sabrin
     Something Good in the World is a nonprofit, charitable, children's educational organization. Something Good's mission is to provide a safe and enhancing environment wherein children may be promoted to achieve their highest potential in learning and development, and to prepare them toward becoming responsible human beings ready to take on the challenges of life. Something Good's funding comes primarily from family foundations and individual contributions, as well as national garden grants. Grants for its work in Hawai'i allow the group to offer periodic farm and garden-based workshops for children, teachers, and families free of charge. Tūtū & Me, Pāhala Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Elementary School, and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences are all examples of places that have welcomed Something Good's workshops in the past few years. The group has also led workshops for the homeschooling co-op that is based at Ocean View Community Center. See somethinggoodintheworld.org.
A father and his keiki plant a seedling in an egg
shell as part of January's Tūtū & Me collab with
Something Good in the World.
Photo by Barbara Sabrin
     Tūtū & Me is a free service to Kaʻū families with keiki, birth to five years old, through Partners in Development, a non-profit focused on using traditional Hawaiian values in contemporary settings in underserved communities to help meet developmental needs of pre-school-aged children and support grandparents and other care-givers in that task. See more in Ongoing Events about local program offered by Tūtū & Me. See pidf.org.

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THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEKEND, with the first of two Junior Varsity Softball Jamborees at Konawaena.
     Girls Softball, Boys Baseball, and Boys Volleyball run through May and have a mix of "home" and "away" games. Judo and Track run through April, and have only "away" events.
     See the full schedule:

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule
Girls Softball
Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena
Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m., JV Jamboree at Konawaena
Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m., @Waiakea
Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m., @Konawaena
Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., host Kealakehe
Tuesday, March 17, 3 p.m., host Pāhoa
Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m., @Keaʻau
Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m., host Hilo
Wednesday, April 8, 3 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m., host Kamehameha
Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m., host Kohala
Wednesday, April 22, 3 p.m., host HPA
Wednesday, April 29, 3 p.m., BIIF Div II Semi Finals
Saturday, May 2, BIIF DIV II Finals
Wednesday-Saturday, May 13-16, HHSAA

Boys Baseball
Wednesday, March 4, 3 p.m., host HPA
Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.. @Waiakea
Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., @Konawaena
Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m., host Kealakehe
Wednesday, March 18, 3 p.m., @Pāhoa
Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m., @Keaʻau
Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m., host Hilo
Tuesday. April 7, 3 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Saturday, April 11, 1 p.m., host Kamehameha
Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m., host Kohala
Friday, May, 2 p.m., BIIF DIV II Semi Finals
Saturday, May 2, 2 p.m., BIIF DIV II Finals
Wednesday-Saturday, May 13-16, HHSAA

Boys Volleyball
Friday, Feb. 21, 4:30 p.m., Preseason at Christian Liberty
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m., host Christian Liberty
Wednesday, March, 6 p.m., @Hilo
Tuesday, March 10, 6 p.m., host Makualani
Friday, March 13, 6 p.m., host Konawaena
Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m., host Kamehameha
Tuesday, March 31, 6 p.m., @Kohala
Thursday, April 2, 6 p.m., host Keaʻau
Tuesday, April 7, 6 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Friday, April 10, 6 p.m., @Ehunui
Friday, April 17, 6 p.m., host Kealakehe
Wednesday, April 22, 6 p.m., @Waiakea
Friday, April 24, 6 p.m., host HPA
Monday, April 27, 6 p.m., BIIF Div II First Round
Tuesday, April 28, 2:30 p.m., BIIF Div II Semi Finals
Wednesday, April 29, 5 p.m., BIIF Div II Finals
Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9, HHSAA on Oʻahu

Judo
Saturday, Feb. 29, 10:30 a.m., @Kealakehe
Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m.. @Kealakehe
Saturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., @Hilo
Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., @Konawaena
Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m., @Waiakea
Saturday, April 4, 10:30 a.m., @Keaʻau
Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m., BIIF at Kona
Saturday, April 18, 10:30 a.m., BIIF at Hilo

Track
Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m., @HPA
Saturday, April 11, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau
Saturday, April 25, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 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, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

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

Boys Basketball
Wed., Feb. 5 BIIF at Kealakehe
Thu. thru Sat., Feb. 13-15 HHSAA on Oʻahu

Wrestling
Sat., Feb. 8 BIIF @Konawaena
Fri., Feb. 21 HHSAA

Swimming
Fri. and Sat., Feb. 14 and 15 on Maui

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

FRIDAY, FEB. 7
Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū - Community Mtg. and Membership Drive, Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. at the Nāʻālehu Community Center. Topics include revival of annual Prince Kūhio Day Hoʻolauleʻa, to be held Saturday, March 28 at Nāʻālehu Park, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature music and hula, food, arts and crafts, and Hawaiian cultural activities. Anyone wanting to be a vendor, host a booth, and become a member should also come to the meeting. The annual membership dues are $10 per person or organization. Contact Terry-Lee Shibuya at terrylshibuya@gmail.com or treasurer Kehau Ke at hunneygurl15@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 8
16th Annual Love the Arts Volcano Arts Center Fundraiser Gala, Saturday, Feb. 8, p.m. to 9 p.m. Theme is The Roaring 2020s, highlighted by unique decorations, decadent food, fine wines and beer, and dancing. Features appearances by members of Harmony on Tap and opera singer D'Andrea Pelletier. Live and silent auctions: bid on artwork, jewelry, hotel stays, restaurants, local products, services, and gift certificates to businesses and attractions.
     Tickets $70, $65 VAC Members. Purchase at VAC's Niʻaulani Campus in the village or Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, online at volcanoartcenter.org/classes-and-workshops/purchase-tickets-to-vac-events, or (808) 967-8222. Gala tickets provide free admission to LTA Valentine's Day Dance on Saturday, Feb. 15. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, FEB. 9
Kaʻū Clean-Up with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, Sunday, Feb. 9, and Saturday, March 21. Volunteer spaces limited. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 11
Music in the American Wild, Tuesday, Feb. 11; seating begins at 6:30 p.m., concert starts at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. The American Wild Ensemble was formed to celebrate and tour America's national parks. They've performed in unconventional venues, from caves to mountaintops, commissioning new works and performing them in site-inspired and site-specific locations.
     Attend an evening concert with ensemble directors Emlyn Johnson (flute) and Daniel Ketter (cello) as they present a contemporary classical program featuring new works by Hawai‘i resident and Hawai‘i-born composers. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12
Ki‘i Carving Demonstration, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 10 a.m. to noon at Kīlauea Visitor Center lanai. Hawaiians carved ki‘i (statues) to represent forces of nature, gods, guardians and the spirit world. Acclaimed artist James Kanani Kaulukukui, Jr. will share his expertise and the essential role these ki‘i played in Hawaiian society. With a carrot, you'll learn how to make your own ki‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, workshops. Free; Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING
Beginning Improv for Adults, Thursday, through Feb. 13, p.m. to 3 p.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

RSVP for the Bicentennial celebration of Kauahaʻao Congregational Church, Sunday, Feb. 16 at the Henry ‘Opukahaʻia Memorial Chapel, Hokuloa Church, Punaluʻu. Celebration begins at 10 a.m.; pot-luck fellowship at 11:30 a.m. in large pavilion at Punaluʻu Black Sands Beach Park. For more information and to RSVP with the number of people attending, contact Debbie Wong Yuen, Kahu at Kauahaʻao Church, at 808-928-8039.

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. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Aloha Kidney in Kaʻū, Thursday afternoons, p.m. to 3:30 p.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.

Register for a Free CERT Basic Training Course, four Saturdays starting Feb. 22 through March 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team encourages community participation and provides support to emergency response organizations when the need arises. Four consecutive classes are a 27-hour FEMA certification course. Sign up by emailing hawaiicert@gmail.com. Bill Hanson, 808-937-2181, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/hawai-i-county-cert.

Register for ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's 12th Annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive through Wednesday, Feb. 19 at noon. Event takes place Saturday, Feb. 22, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Poles, gear, and bait, and lunch for all, provided. Each child receives a prize, chosen during registration, in the order they register; register early. Keiki one to 14 years old register online at okaukakou.org, or pick up form at Nāʻālehu Elementary School, Nāʻālehu Ace Hardware, PāhalaElementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nāʻālehu, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Bring one can per person for food drive. For more information, contact Guy Enriques at 808-217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 808-937-4773. okaukakou.org

Clay – High Fire!, Sunday, through Feb. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.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 at Professor at Universityof Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Jonathan Korth, Hawaiʻi based Pianist and Professor at UH-Mānoa; and Joshua Nakazawa, Cellist from Hawaiʻi Symphony. They will be joined by the three HIMF co-founders: Amy Shoremount-Obra, Internationally Acclaimed Metropolitan Opera Soprano; Eric Silberger, Internationally Acclaimed Prize-Winning Virutuoso Violinist; and Carlin Ma, Multi-Media Artist and Pianist.
     Tickets are $30 and are available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

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 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.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.

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