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Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Mayor Harry Kim, left, and Lt. Gov. Josh Green stand six feet apart before removing their masks outside Monday's
 Kaʻū COVID-19 Update meeting at Pāhala Community Center. See story below and yesterday's Kaʻū News Briefs.
Photo by Julia Neal
See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

LT. GOV. JOSH GREEN said he "came home" to Kaʻū on Monday to address the community about the COVID-19 pandemic. The 49-year-old physician lived at Punaluʻu and worked here when starting his career with Bay Clinic and Kaʻū Hospital after medical school. He also began his legislative career on this island as a member of the state House of Representatives and state Senate, before running for Lt. Governor and becoming the governor's liaison to help control and end COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.
     Kaʻū Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris says she remembers him then, with his companion, a giant dog. He now has two children and his wife, Jamie Ushiroda, who joined him on his trip to Pāhala.
     During the meeting at Pāhala Community Center, he emphasized the difficulty in balancing public and economic health. If the economy shrinks more, people could face food instability, which leads to illness. With less income, the economy and government would be less able to support schools, housing, health care, and other services. Green said he is working with the governor and the mayors to get the best testing and other measures, to open up the economy and keep the public safe.
     Regarding schools beginning to reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 4, he pointed to the planning for safety measures and acknowledged some risk to teachers in the classrooms and to families. However, children need school. "It's not going to be a perfect situation."
     Green and other health care officials talked about the possibility of people coming into the state, staying in hotels rather than homes and vacation rentals for the 14-day quarantine. One hotel in each county could cover it. There was also talk about isolating people who test positive in hotels, rather than their staying with families or friends.
Mayor Harry Kim and Lt. Gov. Josh Green address Monday's Kaʻū COVID-19 Update community meeting in Pāhala.
Photo by Julia Neal
     Eric Honda, the state's district health officer, said those who test positive and have no place to go can receive free housing and food from the state. He talked about his team of contact tracers, following every case and attempting to finding every person who interacted with the COVID-positive person.
     Green talked about the plan to get through 2020 safely and urged everyone to wear a mask and distance, pointing to his observations during weekends when "young people aren't listening." He urged safe practices so that 30 and 40 cases a day will not become the norm, and overwhelm the testing and tracing system in Hawaiʻi.
     A member of the public asked that Department of Land & Natural Resources and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands bring more enforcement to prevent large groups from gathering at South Point.
     Peter Serafin, of Volcano, asked that quarantine happen in hotels, rather than more remote places where it is easy to step out. When asked about the safety of interisland travel, public officials said that it will be monitored to see if the quarantine will have to resume.
     When asked about the expenditure on thermal scanning for temperatures of incoming people at the airports, Green said it can catch about 20 percent of those who are ill and is part of a layered approach needed to reduce the COVID-19,
     He said that with worldwide research in the scientific community there is progress and hope for a vaccine. "We are going to endure this year and next, and hope, as a planet, to beat it."
     See yesterday's Kaʻū News Briefs for more.

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Hawaiʻi County mayoral candidate Stacy Higa will helm a
meeting in Punaluʻu Saturday to discuss plans for Kaʻū
with residents. Photo from Higa
MAYORAL CANDIDATE STACY HIGA announced today that he wants to meet with Ka‘ū residents this Saturday at the Dahlberg beach house at Punalu‘u from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. He also released his ideas for Ka‘ū:
   "My County-sponsored Agricultural Co-op could be beneficial in providing marketing and distribution logistics for farmers in the Kaʻū region. My County-sponsored Agricultural grant program would provide education and seed money for farmers to begin their ventures. The County would use partnerships with the University of Hawaiʻi College of Agriculture, the USDA, and Farm Loan programs."
     Higa proposed large landowner incentives through property tax breaks "if they provided acreage that can be used as part of our County Agricultural Program. I am interested in supporting a processing plant for beef, pork, chicken, and other livestock to provide a sustainable economy for our ranchers. These opportunities could offer a marketing boom for 'the Southernmost Beef in the United States,' grass-fed and raised in Kaʻū."
     "We would be accomplishing multiple objectives by providing industrial jobs and careers while creating a sustainable industry on our island. The Co-op could also help with Mac Nut and Coffee, which have already been proven to be cash crops for Kaʻū. I also envision re-establishing cultural sites that are important to all communities on our island."
     Higa said he wants to be the Mayor who will work with each community to identify and establish critical historical sites. Each community would determine what sites will be available for public interaction, and which should be kept strictly for religious and cultural traditions. "This will be done through a Kūpuna Council that I would like to create for each district.
One process mayoral candidate for Hawaiʻi County
Stacy Higa would like to "kick start," if elected, is
the Kaʻū Community Development Plan.
     "Once we can have this dialog and create a process for homegrown decision making, it will empower our communities into a call to action. Allowing our communities to decide what is best for them will hopefully kick start the Community Development Plan process again. Communities should decide what kind of tourism they might want to see in their respective areas -- modeled after Napa Valley, Fresno, Modesto, or Gilroy (Garlic capital of the world) Agricultural based tourism. Or maybe not, but the County will be there to facilitate what the community wants.
     "What differentiates and sets me apart from other candidates is how I can articulate and explain precisely how I intend to get things done," said Higa. "I have business, non-profit, and government experience that allows me to negotiate and make things happen. My experience will bring communities to the table where they will have a voice and a willing administration to walk the walk to make sure we achieve our intended goals. Past administrations all meant well in starting the process, but my leadership style actually will be a part and help lead the process." Higa said that his campaign mantra One Island, One Future, "is a very realistic vision that my administration will dedicate our entire term. It is not a dream, but a promise!"
    Higa's said he invites everyone to his talk story to "to get more details about how I intend to empower your community to decide your future. July 18 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Jim Dahlberg's beach house, blacksandsbeach.com across from the lei stand in Punaluʻu."

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HAWAIʻI COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES ARE TWICE AS MUCH as Maui County, says Ikaika Marzo, 2020 Mayoral candidate for Hawaiʻi County. In a statement Monday, he said he is alarmed with affordability issues. Hawaiʻi County's Real Property Tax Rate for Homeowners is $6.15 -- 198 percent higher than in Maui County. Residential Rate is $6.15 -- 212 percent higher than in Maui County. The Maui Homeowner Rate is $2.90 in Maui. The Residential rate is $5.60 in Maui, said Marzo.
Ikaika Marzo, Hawaiʻi County mayoral candidate,
shares his discovery that Hawaiʻi County
homeowners pay twice as much in property taxes
as Maui County. Photo from ikaikamazro.org
     Both counties have similar rural population levels, two major urban centers, and operate under the same state requirements, "making Maui a good reference for what Hawaiʻi County is doing," said the statement. Marzo said homeowners pay an average of $1,697 annually in Hawaiʻi County versus $1,070 in Maui, an increase of 159 percent, based on median home values.
     Marzo pointed out the people earn less money in Hawaiʻi County than in Maui County. "The affordability issue becomes clear when you see that Hawaiʻi County residents have median income that is 22 percent less than Maui." He said the last Hawaiʻi County survey on Housing Burden shows "an exceedingly high" 56 percent of residents pay in excess of 30 percent of their gross income to just have a home for their family. According to mauicounty.gov, 51 percent of Maui residents pay more than 30 percent of their gross income to have a home.
     Marzo said learning of this disparity "was shocking. Our residents have to get by with significantly less income than those in Maui yet they pay more in property taxes which is not fair. I would expect Hawaiʻi County to do much more to increase affordability with the surging revenues being collected. I am concerned how the 33,000 plus residents who have filed for unemployment benefits on our island will be able to afford to pay for their home."
     He said poverty disparity is also a factor, with people living in poverty in Hawaiʻi County at 17.4 percent versus Maui at 9.98 percent --174 percent higher.
     Marzo's statement said, "The overall impact appears to make paying property taxes unsustainable for the average resident, whether in a pandemic or not. Urgent action is needed by the county to provide a path to affordability for all residents."
     Read more here.

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PACIFIC ISLAND OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM will receive $4,260,603 in federal funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to deploy buoys to forecast severe weather events, announced Sen. Brian Schatz on Monday. The System is a department of University of Hawai‘i, which will use the funds to deploy more ocean sensors to observe and monitor sea levels, tides, currents, waves, and temperatures in Hawai‘i and the U.S. Insular Pacific over the next five years.
Map of Hawai‘i and the U.S. Insular Pacific regions, where UH's Pacific Island Ocean Observing System will be used to
improve forecasts of severe weather events. NOAA map
     The data collected "will improve forecasts of severe weather events -- like king tides and hurricanes -- so that families, businesses, and communities can make resilience plans to stay safe and protect their livelihoods in the face of the changing climate," says a statement from his office. The data collected is freely available to all -- including elected officials, university researchers, and the private sector. By providing this data, UH's Pacific Island Ocean Observing System aims to support science-based decision-making to ensure a safe, clean, and productive ocean and resilient coastal zone for the U.S. Pacific Islands. As part of that effort, a portion of the federal funds will be used for public education and outreach.
     Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said, "As an island state, we're already fighting rapid sea-level rise. By improving our ability to track sea levels and forecast extreme weather events, we can better protect our coastal communities from these climate change impacts."

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One of Ocean View sculptor Gina Hartig Williams' three pieces displayed
in Hilo this week, Strain "was created with the intent to illustrate how
nature is forced to be the filter of the discards of our society, forever
living exquisitely entangled with the history of 
our disregard."Photo by Annie Bosted
GINA HARTIG WILLIAMS, a longtime Ocean View sculptor, was among the ten solo artists exhibiting their work at the Wailoa  Center in Hilo this week. Hartig Williams' work has been displayed extensively on Hawaiʻi Island during the past ten years, showed three pieces in a trendy "pop-up" exhibition. Hartig Williams explained to The Kaʻū Calendar why pop-up exhibitions are becoming increasingly popular:
     "Pop-up galleries are a new phenomenon," she said. "They can be created in a store or pretty much anywhere. It's a sign that artists are taking their art into their own hands. We can exhibit our work and show what we do and how we do it. Our pieces are priced, but there is no middle man -- the buyers can talk directly to the artists, one on one. This is great for contemporary artists like myself who don't 'fit' a commercial venue. My sculptures are whimsical. They are comparable with, say, poetry, which is also hard to sell. My sculptures are ideas, not a commodity for trading."
Ocean View sculptor Gina Hartig Williams' mixed media
sculpture Runoff, created partly with marine debris,
was inspired "by the need to care for
our oceans." Photo from the artist
     Each of the ten artists exhibiting at the Wailoa Center in Hilo was inspired by the unique experience of living and creating on Hawaiʻi Island. The artists were on-site at Wailoa Center for the duration of their exhibitions, giving tours of their work and presenting live demonstrations of their processes.
     Hartig Williams is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has been a professional artist for most of her life, embracing part-time teaching at the age of 40. She says her whimsical sculpture "conveys a sense of impossibly buoyant energy poised at the brink of collapse. Pointing to the fragility and intrinsic resilience of nature," Hartig Williams invites viewers "to experience both impact and entropy with a sense of wonder, hope, and a lightness of being." She is known for her mixed media assemblages "that embody time, chance, change, balance, and flow."

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JOIN A FACEBOOK LIVE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL hosted by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday, July 15 at 4 p.m., to update Hawaiʻi residents about COVID-19. This will be the 16th coronavirus-related virtual town hall event that Rep. Gabbard has hosted since the first COVID-19 cases appeared in Hawaiʻi. A Facebook account is not required to watch the event. Watch and participate on Gabbard's Facebook Page.

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LAHI MARLIN VERSCHUUR is running for Hawaiʻi County mayor with an eye toward "a world of liberty; a world in which individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the sake of others."
Lahi Marlin Verschuur, Hawaiʻi County mayoral candidate. 
Photo from Verschuur
     Verschuur holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in psychology from the University of Phoenix. Her campaign information says she intends to earn a doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology from Sofia University and is "interested in writing a dissertation on how holotropic breathwork can cure illnesses such as bipolar and schizophrenia." She said her documentary film, Kihoʻalu Masters, won a regional Emmy in 1999 and that she formed production company ʻIkena Hoʻoulu Productions in 2001.
     Born in 1968 in Denver, Colorado, Verschuur campaign information says she moved to Honolulu in 1991 and served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, with West-Pac deployment to the Persian Gulf in 1993 for Desert Shield, then to support the Somalia conflict. She says she is "an advocate for the HawaiianKingdom and would like to find solutions for both sides to move forward."
     Verschuur's campaign information says she believes "respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized. Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from any government or any authoritarian power."
Hawaiʻi County mayoral candidate Lahi
Marlin Verschuur says she is "an advocate
for the 
Hawaiian Kingdom and would like
to find solutions for both sides to move 

forward." Photo from Verschuur
     Her campaign website platform focuses include enhancing personal property rights and moving regulations to voluntary, mutual agreements which government only enforces. She says the proper role of government is protection of rights from force and fraud. "Government should not become the forceful aggressor against these rights. Hawaiʻi's over-aggressive use of regulatory and zoning rules has increased the cost of living, lead to a serious homelessness problem, protected the wealthy at the expense of the poor, and done little to achieve community goals… I oppose government action that grants monopoly privileges to favored persons and commercial activities at the expense of freedom of competition in the marketplace."
     Verschuur says she also wants to focus on taxation: "As much as possible, essential government services should be provided by user fees and other voluntary payments;" education: "We wish to move education away from the costly and inefficient system created with the support of involuntary taxation to one governed by voluntary decisions of parents, students, and funders;" transportation: "The government should not create protective monopolies or subsidies. The free market not the government should operate transportation systems;" justice: "People should be free to make their own decisions regarding sex, drugs, gambling, and other activities, that do not infringe on the rights of others... People grow by taking full responsibility for their own actions;" and labor and employment: "People should be allowed to contract with each other for services at prices and conditions that are mutually acceptable, without the forceful intervention of governmental authorities."
     See lahimarlin.com.
     Watch the June 25 mayoral candidate debates at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE9Jby7yZA&feature=emb_logo for candidates Paul Bryant, Yumi Kawano, Lahi Verschuur, Mike Ruggles, Mikey Glendon, Ted Shaneyfelt, Robert Greenwell, and Wendell Ka‘ehu‘ae‘a, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqTWWn_kPZM&feature=emb_logo for candidates Stacy Higa, Neil Azevedo, Harry Kim, Ikaika Marzo, Tante Urban, Bob Fitzgerald, and Mitch Roth.

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Visit Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park, which reopens its Visitor Center and other amenities on 
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. NPS photo
HEADING NORTH FROM KAʻŪ OFFERS A DAY TRIP TO PUʻUHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, says a statement from National Park Service. Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, the Park is using a phased approach to reopening.
     On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the entrance station, including fee collections, is open. The Visitor Center parking lot is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors services at the Visitor Center are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Top of the South Wall at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.
NPS photo
     Open seven days a week are hiking trails, beach and shoreline areas for hiking, ocean recreation and fishing (following state regulations), with the exception of Keoneʻele cove at Hōnaunau which is closed to protect natural and cultural resources, restroom facilities at the Visitor Center, and Royal Grounds and Puʻuhonua.
     Closed areas and suspended services include Picnic Area, all ranger-led programs, and commercial use.
     While visiting, let wildlife be wild, and stay at least 20 feet away from any honu, turtles, on the beach.
     Visitors are urged to recreate responsibly by planning their visit in advance and acting with care while at the Puʻuhonua by social distancing – maintain at least six feet of distance between you and others; wear a face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained; wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer; cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching eyes, nose, and mouth; if feeling sick, visiting another day.
     NPS is working with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. A statement from NPS says, "The health and safety of park users, employees, volunteers, and partners continue to be paramount. While these areas are accessible for the public to enjoy, a return to full operations will continue to be phased and services are limited. Park users should follow local area health orders from the Governor of Hawai‘i, practice Leave No Trace principles, and avoid crowding, and other high-risk outdoor activities.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau invites visitors to see historic Native Hawaiian
structures, enjoy hiking, and more, seven days a week. NPS photo
      "The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Park staff will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and will take any additional steps necessary to protect everyone's health."
     Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP Acting Superintendent John Broward said, "Services are limited, and visitors should bring everything they might need for a safe visit including water, meals, and hand sanitizer.  Above all, visitors should be prepared for sudden changes with very little warning should public health concerns require a reversal in our plans."
     Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on the park website, nps.gov/puho, and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on nps.gov/coronavirus.
     More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at nps.gov, and on FacebookInstagramTwitter, and YouTube.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park. NPS photo

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SMALL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY COVID-19 can receive free marketing assistance from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. Helen Tien, College of Business and Economics, and her senior retail and distribution management course is offering 1-hour sessions dedicated to helping small business marketing needs. They offer help with moving a business online, finding out more about the businesses' customers, analyzing marketing effectiveness, and providing customer service or website feedback. Visit https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White 
is zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange is six 
to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 
cases. Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map
TWENTY-TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES IN HAWAIʻI are reported today. Hawaiʻi Island reports three new cases today, with one hospitalization. One new case is reported as interisland travel-related, and "again emphasizes the importance of care," says Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno. Details on the other two are not yet released. All active cases on-island are monitored by Department of Health.
     Oʻahu reported 19 new cases today while its overall case count dropped by one due to new information. The state's case count has risen by 193 in the last seven days. 
     On Hawaiʻi Island, Volcano, 96785 zip code, has one active case. Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 105 cases. This island's other 95 confirmed COVID-19 victims recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died of COVID-19 here. There were four other hospitalizations on-island; those patients have been released.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 960 cases, Kauaʻi 43, and Maui County 135. Twenty-one victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Twenty-two people in the state died from COVID-19. Hawaiʻi has reported a total of 1,264 cases since the pandemic began.
     In his daily message, Magno said, "A huge thank you to the Kaʻū Community for conducting an outstanding community informational meeting last night in Pāhala. Organizers followed all safety precautions which was very impressive. Mahalo.
     "In moving forward, know that the threat of the Coronavirus remains and we need to get better in following preventive policies of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness.  Do know that face coverings are mandatory on Hawaiʻi Island. Thank you for listening and be safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
     In the United States, more than 3,429,072 cases have been confirmed -- an increase of over 65,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 136,440.
     The tally of cases worldwide has jumped by more than one million in the last five days. The worldwide COVID-19 case count is more than 13.28 million. The death toll is more than 577,954.

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.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.

EVENTS
Survey on "Shovel-Read" Food and Ag Projects is due by Wednesday, July 15 at https://tinyurl.com/y9zm63mw. Information will be used to encourage investment in the sector and inform decision making around federal stimulus, state/county, private, philanthropic, and other funding sources. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Learn more here. See http://plantofarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Agriculture-Response-and-Recovery-Plan-April-2-2020.pdf. Questions or comments, contact Christine Brammer, Executive and Program Director of Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi at director@agleaderhi.org.

Attend Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp In-Person or Virtually. The tenth annual event runs through Monday, July 20, feature in-person classes for a limited number of students, and offering classes via Zoom. Receive the knowledge of kūpuna. Sponsors include Kalanihale, Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi, Kua O Ka Lā, Conservation International, Alu Like Inc, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Marine Education and ResearchCenter. See facebook.com/kalanihaleMilolii for more. Register for virtual classes here. Register for in-person attendance here. Contact organizer Kaimi Kaupiko at 937-1310 or kkaupiko@gmail.com with questions.

Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday for three weeks, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa's Outreach College Statewide Cultural Extension Program. To attend each show, email jeffgere1031@gmail.com and csinfo@hawaii.edu, with the subject SCEP : Jeff Gere. In the body of the email, copy & paste in the programs wanted to watch from the list below. An email confirming the reservation will confirm receipt. About 30 minutes before each show starts at 9:30 a.m., csinfo@hawaii.edu will email the Zoom link to the email provided.
     Tuesdays: Participation Tales. July 21, Teaching Tales. Wednesdays: Folktales. July 15Fooling the DevilKing & Goat HeadJuly 22, several Adventurous Tales. Thursdays: "Spooky Hawaiʻi" Tales. July 16Old Mililani GraveyardSensativeJuly 23Pele Tales, true stories of meeting Pele.
     During performances, leave microphones off so everyone can enjoy the show. Share sign-up information with "as many listeners as you like" and watch "as many shows as you like." Tech questions should be directed to summer aides. All attendees will be asked to answer a host and technology questionnaire after each show. Zoom's WEBINAR format does not allow a view of the audience. "We won't be able to see your children. It is not an issue."


Bid on a Cottage with a covered lanai through a closed auction by Habitat for Humanity through July 15 at 5 p.m. The 780 square foot cottage was dismantled and donated to Habitat for Humanity Hawaiʻi Island. Starting bid is $15,000 and it will be sold "as is" and with no warranty. Stored in a container in Waimea, it includes lanai, exterior walls, subfloor, windows (missing one), front door, roofing, front stairs, and conceptual plans created by Habitat. To place a bid, send an email to info@habitathawaiiisland.org with name, phone number, and bid amount. Bids accepted in increments of $500. Winner will be contacted July 16. In the case of a tie, the person that submitted the winning bid first will be the winner. To view the dismantled cottage, visit the Waimea ReStore at 65-1259 Kawaihae Road on Wednesday, July 8 between 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Email info@habitathawaiiisland.org with questions.

Free ZOOM Talk on Finding Solutions, Growing Peace, noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, July 16. Non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts its Brown Bag Lunch Series on the third Thursday of the month. July's speaker, Ilana Stout, M.S., will speak on From Anxiety to Action: Emotional Literacy to Deepen Education. In this talk, attendees can "learn how to support mental and emotional wellness that can serve as a foundation for community action," says the announcement. Register online at freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Majidah Lebarre at 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit hawaiimediation.org.

Grow Food From Wood: Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, separate workshops on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Apply for Grants to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America. USDA will make $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. USDA encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America. Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America, Developing the Rural Economy, Harnessing Technological Innovation, Supporting a Rural Workforce, and Improving Quality of Life. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, to provide technical assistance to individuals and rural businesses. Fiscal year 2019 award recipients who received a grant period extension due to a loss of operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are eligible to apply for fiscal year 2020 funding. Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 6 p.m. HST Aug. 3. Additional information is available on page 39870 of the July 2 Federal Register.


Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village "who find deep inspiration in Hawaiʻi's natural environment and specifically the native bird populations found within it." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222


Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through 6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."
     Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America, developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.
ONGOING
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services and worship are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays,
us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha.

The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28.

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 – the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.

Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.

Find Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub. Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources. Developed by the Sexual and Gender Minoroty Workgroup in partnership with the DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch. Resources: Understanding the Pacific's alternative genders; Pronoun guide; Book lists for children and teens; ʻOhana support; and DOH data. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov/harmreduction/sexual-gender-minority/sexual-and-gender-minorities-sgm-in-hawaii/.


Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center says database consists of "collections of data pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaiʻi's history. The purpose of this educational online repository is to increase the community's ability to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices." See papakilodatabase.com.

Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

Apply for Internships with Sen. Brian Schatz's office. Internships for undergrad, graduate, and law students are offered in the Honolulu and Washington D.C. offices. Applications are considered on a rolling basis year-round.
     Non-office internships are open for high school students to advocate in their communities. Applications due Sunday, Sept. 13.
     Schatz may also nominate exceptional students for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies. Applications due Friday, Oct. 23.

Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. The Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Virtual Shopping Appointments are offered at Volcano Art Center locations. Via Skype or FaceTime, a VAC associate helps customers browse the selection of artwork up close, and gives personalized tips and recommendations to help customers "find that perfect piece of locally made artwork, wherever you are in the world!" Book an appointment online for $5 and VAC staff will help schedule a date and time at volcanoartcenter.org/shop. Shop the online gallery 24/7. Orders are shipped as regularly scheduled. Free local pickup is available.VAC now offers a Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.

Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at VolcanoArt 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. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

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

Ocean View Swap Meet is 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 are required for all vendors and patrons.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday – replacing Friday with Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
     More food vendors are added on Mondays, including Bella's Mexican takeaway hot foods. 
     Lau Lau Man and Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee return to the Market on Wednesdays.
     Saturday will host vendors who have not been able to get space at the Wednesday market. The Saturday Market will feature familiar faces and plenty of new sellers. 
     OKK's Nāʻālehu Market offers a wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more, on various days. 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.

Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
     Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
     The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
     See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.

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