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Sunday, August 09, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, August 9, 2020

Keola Lindsey, of Kawaihae, will compete with Lanakila Manguail in the runoff to represent Hawaiʻi Island on the
on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Photo from Keola Lindsey
TWO CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS TRUSTEE FOR HAWAIʻI ISLAND will keep campaigning for their runoff in the Nov. 3 election. Keola Lindsey, of Kawaihae, and Lanakila Mangauil, of Hamakua. The pair topped the field of 11 and are well known in the Hawaiian political world. Lanakila Manguail is a frequent spokesperson for those opposing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and is known in Kaʻū for the annual Makahiki run through the district. Lindsey works for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as its Director of Advocacy. His uncle is
Lanakila Manguail is in a runoff with Keola Lindsey to represent
Hawaiʻi Island as an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee.
Photo from Lanakila Manguail
Robert Lindsey Jr., the trustee for Hawaiʻi Island who will retire from his position. With Lindsey taking 9.4 percent of votes cast and Manquail receiving 8.5 percent, neither took more than 50 percent in the crowded field. A candidate must earn more than half to win the primary outright.
     Another OHA runoff will see veteran OHA trustee and Chair Colette Machado fend off former Miss Hawaiʻi Luana Alapa to represent Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi. Alapa took 18.7 of the vote, Machado 17 percent. About 55 percent of the ballots registered no vote for either candidate, which is common in OHA elections. While all registered voters are allowed to vote in the OHA race, many non-Hawaiians choose to refrain from casting votes and defer to the Hawaiian community.
     The third OHA runoff will be between incumbent Keliʻi Akina and Keoni Souza. Akina won 18.9 percent of the vote, Souza 14.8 percent in a race of seven candidates.
     The candidate who won outright on Saturday was Dan Ahuna, representing Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
     OHA Board of Trustees is comprised of nine members, with five representing specific places and the other four at-large. The terms are four years, and a portion of the board goes up for reelection every two years.

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LT. GOV. JOSH GREEN URGES STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO WORK QUICKLY to ramp up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, as cases build and hospitals start to fill up, particularly on Oʻahu. He made the assertion in a Hawaiʻi News Now interview during election night on Saturday. Green said DOH may need an additional person to run the program. He praised state epidemiologist Sara Park, calling her "very sharp" for her expertise in her specialty, but said someone needs to take over the testing and tracing program to substantially expand the number of people working on the crisis.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said on Facebook today that Hawaiʻi is approaching
2,000 active cases, and predicted 220 hospitalizations and some deaths.
"We are going to have to be cautious beyond belief," he warned.
Photo from Lt. Gov. Josh Green's Facebook
     He also praised state Director of Health, Dr. Bruce Anderson, saying "A lot of good works come from Dr. Park and Dr. Anderson." He pointed to Hawaiʻi's success, posting the lowest COVID death rate in the county. However, he reminded people that he is a practicing physician and said the state needs a more clinical approach to the fight against COVI-19.
      Concerning the state opening up to trans-Pacific travel on Sept. 1 with testing for COVID ahead of the travelers coming here, Green talked about it happening at the same time as schools are opening up. "No one wants to take the physical risk nor the psychological risk." He said that the date may be pushed back but that it might not affect tourism as much as expected since people are afraid to travel with all the COVID across the country.
     On his Facebook page today, Green said, "Approaching 2,000 active cases, which means likely 220 hospitalizations in the next couple of weeks. We will see an increased load of cases at the ICU and tragically there will be fatalities. But if we do all that we can to prevent contact out in public, if we are very careful about gatherings and if we make sure we wear our masks, we can knock this virus down over the course of the next two to four weeks. Please everyone be very careful.
     "This is definitely a large surge and we are going to have to be cautious beyond belief in order to defeat COVID. Know that I'll do all that I can to make sure we have tracing and testing programs at hand, put in place. That's where a lot of our action has to be. We also have to support the Pacific Island Community where the large surge is occurring. Again please be very safe with your family and friends. Stay at home if you can. Definitely stay in your bubble and wear a mask."

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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
COVID-19 CASES IN THE UNITED STATES TOPPED FIVE MILLION TODAY, with 162,919 deaths. The state recorded 152 new cases. Hawaiʻi Island reported three. Oʻahu reported 147 new cases. Maui and Kauaʻi each reported one. The state's new case total is 3,498 since the pandemic began. The state death toll is 31.
     Department of Health reports the 31st death. The victim is an O‘ahu man, older than 60, who passed away Friday. A previously reported death, of an elderly O‘ahu female on Aug. 5, has been removed from the COVID tally. DOH reports her attending physician assessed she likely died from an underlying condition.
     Health Director Bruce Anderson again extended the sympathies of everyone in Hawai‘i to the family and friends of the man. "Unfortunately, with the dramatic surge in cases, we can expect more deaths in the coming weeks," said Anderson. "Hospitals throughout O‘ahu are transferring patients and opening up new specialized COVID units to handle the surge in patients that is expected over the next couple of weeks. Actions taken by [Oʻahu] County to limit large, uncontrolled gatherings in public places and prohibit high-risk activities should help prevent some of the spread of COVID, but that will not be enough. It is up to all of us to take responsibility for curtailing the spread of this deadly virus. That can only be done if we all avoid close contact with others, crowded places, and wear masks when physical distancing cannot be reliably accomplished. This weekend and next weekend would really be a good time to simply stay at home."
     Hawaiʻi Island's case count to date is 131, with twelve active, none hospitalized. It has been more than 28 days since a case was recorded for a Kaʻū zip code. Volcano, zip code 96785, recorded at least one new case this week. Since the pandemic began, no one died on this island. The Kona 96740 zip code recorded between six and ten cases during the last 28 days.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 3,111 cases, Maui County 185, and Kauaʻi 48. Twenty-three victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Thirty-one people in the state died from COVID-19.
Civil Defense Director 
Talmadge Magno.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     In the daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, Director Talmadge Magno said, "The Island of Oʻahu has seen a large increase in the number of positive cases in the past two weeks. Much of this increase has been identified as related to large group gatherings and not wearing face masks. This huge increase caused City and County of Honolulu to establish policies of closures to all parks and limiting all indoor and outdoor gatherings, and the closure of some businesses. 
     "The Island of Hawaiʻi remains in a good place and policy changes affecting this island have not been required. We need your help in taking special care when socializing and gathering. Everyone must do their part by following the preventive measures of face coverings, cleanliness, keeping yourself healthy, of staying at home when sick, and distancing. Thank you for taking the effort to keep our neighbors, friends, family, and community safe. As a reminder, do know the wearing of face masks is mandatory on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Thank you for listening and have a safe day. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
     The worldwide COVID-19 case count is more than 19.77 million. The death toll is more than 729,692.

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ALL ACADEMIC SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS WILL BE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School for the 2020-2021 year. An announcement from the school said students are responsible for bringing their water bottle, wearing school uniforms, and using face masks. Supply distribution for elementary students will be the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 17, by their teachers. For middle and high school, supplies will be distributed during the Advisory Period. For distance learning students, supplies will be provided during their scheduled conferences. Call 313-4100, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with questions.

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Nāʻālehu Elementary is looking for a crossing guard.
NĀʻĀLEHU ELEMENTARY IS LOOKING FOR A CROSSING GUARD to help keiki cross Hwy 11 safely before and after school. Apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.
com/careers/countyhawaii or contact Officer Torey Keltner of the Traffic Services Division at 961-2305 for more information.

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HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS is the subject of an annual online gathering, Oct. 6 and 7 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehQpyRGOghZrDuyEjn0XNBd9_I0v2w-UU1JQ52iTVbSoaSEQ/viewform. Presented by The Food Trust, PolicyLink, and Reinvestment Fund, the two days will feature online workshops, panel discussions, networking, and advocacy opportunities. More details to follow. Complete a questionnaire to share areas of interest with the organizers as they prepare the conference agenda.

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A grandfather and his grandchild enjoy stamping a traditional headscarf at last year's Bon Dance celebration at Pāhala 
Hongwanji. A mother and her infant, in traditional garb, also enjoyed the festivities. Photo by Julia Neal
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
A Buddhist priest took up an ʻukulele at the service to kick off Pāhala 
Hongwanji Bon Dance last year. Photo by Julia Neal
     This time last year, bon dancing, thundering taiko drumming, and Japanese songs at Pāhala Hongwanji honored the agricultural harvest and celebrated a remembrance of ancestors. Participants of all ages, from as far away as Japan, donned kimono, hachimaki head bans and other traditional Japanese, attire, dancing in the round, beneath the yagura tower.
     To kick off the evening's celebration, a service in the Pāhala Hongwanji sanctuary, open to people of all faiths, offered opportunity to learn about Buddhist teachings and to join in singing. The priest took up an ʻukulele to add to the local flavor of the service. He sang, and talked about appreciation of the gift of life and pushing back from discrimination against others.
Five-month-old Milo, sporting a traditional Hachimaki
headband and baby kimono, participated in last year's 
Bon Dance celebrations. Photo by Julia Neal
     During the Bon Dance evening, everyone was invited to learn about the history of Japanese in Kaʻū and all of Hawaiʻi. Stamping of headscarves, traditionally worn during the dance, was open to young and old.
     Paul Sakamoto's Taiko Drummers played. The community organization ʻO Kaʻū Kākou and its President, Wayne Kawachi, organized the event, selling food and shave ice.
     The facilities at Pāhala Hongwanji include a Japanese schoolhouse, now used for aikido and other activities, including a future child care center for coffee workers; an assembly hall with a stage; a kitchen and dining room; and the Buddhist sanctuary and parsonage.
     The event marked the fourth Bon Dance since the revival of the tradition in 2016. The annual event drew together the many cultures of the town for generations during sugar plantation days. It ended in 1999, just three years after Kaʻū Sugar Co. closed its sugar fields and mill in Pāhala. The revival of the Bon Dance in Pāhala includes the broad community, but is postponed this year due to the pandemic.

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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.

EVENTS
Apply for Grants, through 6 p.m. on Aug. 10 at grants.gov, to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America, developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.

AdvoCATS, at OV Community Center all day Tuesday, Aug. 11 – see advocatshawaii.org.

Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection Workshop with author Tom Peek, Saturday, Aug. 159:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. "Have you ever wondered how the place you come from influenced who you are? Or what memories you carry from your ancestors? Or how your personal history impacts your view of the world? Take a day out of your busy life to explore your deeper self and ponder the life you’ve lived so far." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

ONGOING
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen, open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services and worship are posted online 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, last Tuesday of the month, Aug. 25, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.

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

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for pick-up services. 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, 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 kept anonymous, results 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.

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. Access these remote services by completing the webform at hawaiifirstfcu.com/community-resource-center or by calling 808-933-6600 to sign up. The Financial Navigator will then send a short service agreement and call the client to begin their personal session. Organizations across the County can also refer clients directly to a Financial Navigator. For more information, contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019.

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 Minority 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.


Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. U.S. Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs is developing a list of Native Hawaiian farmers willing to sell direct to consumers through the On-Farm Market Directory. On-farm markets are managed by a single farm operator that sells products on their farm, or on a property next to their farm. Some on-farm markets may also deliver or ship their goods directly to consumers. Visit the program website for more information and to register: ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/onfarm.

Receive Free Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19. Owners can receive free marketing assistance from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. 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.

Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature to help find information that applies to the searcher.

Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. See https://kohalacenter.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=54bdd67c601f0c0d3ea430053&id=9e1691c22d&e=0e3fe20c1f.

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. See schatz.senate.gov/services.

Exhibition Hawaiʻi Nei Invitational: Nā ʻAumākua, runs through Saturday, Sept. 12. 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 is a group exhibition will present works focusing on the theme of Nā ʻAumākua, family gods. VAC will not hold an opening reception on August 8th. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Volcano Art Center, Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, 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 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. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Guided Nature Walks through 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. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna808b-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

Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays (starting next Wednesday, Aug. 12), 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. New market location for vendors of the recently closed Ocean View Swap Meet. Managed by Mark Cocucci. Masks are mandatory. Limit of people is 100. Social distancing is required. Gate will be unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m. Vendors can show up without a reservation for now, with $15 dollars. Parking is in the upper lot; parking on the side of the road is prohibited. All vendors must provide their own sanitizer. All food vendors must have the permits required for the items that you are selling. Vendors and attendees are encouraged to carpool.

Volcano Farmers MarketCooper CenterVolcano Village, open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 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. 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.

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