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'Aina Akamu was recently named the Complex Area Teacher of the Year by Complex Area Superintendent Chad Farias (R). Akamu has spearheaded creation of the new Global Learning Lab, to bring project-based learning to Kaʻū High School. Read more about the Global Learning Lab at https://sites.google.com/k12.hi.us/khpesgll/home. See community volunteer day poster for July 31 below. |
WITH TOURISM REVIVED TO PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS across the state, and accommodations 84 percent occupied on Hawai'i island, visitor support organizations are speaking out on the quality of tourism. Mufi Hanneman, President of the Hawai'i Tourism & Lodging Association, told Hawai'i News Now this morning that a war should be declared on illegal vacation rentals that don't pay the required Transient Accommodations Tax and also on those illegal accommodations that displace affordable housing. He also called for the implementation of user fees for publicly owned visitor destinations and impact fees for the use of public facilities. He said planning for tourism should be about all about quality, not quantity.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority announced today its pivot to become a more
effective destination management organization and the promotions of two key executives "who will help
guide the initiatives outlined in HTA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan."
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| Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā , new HTA chief brand officer. Photo from Hawai'i Tourism Authority |
HTA announced that it has "comprehensively reorganized its structure and operations to support the goal of Mālama Ku‘u
Home (caring for my beloved home) through the principles of regenerative tourism. HTA is committed to
empowering the community to have a greater voice in tourism’s future, with an emphasis on restoring
the environment, perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, recognizing Hawai‘i’s multiethnic cultures, and
supporting responsible economic outcomes."
John De Fries, HTA President and CEO, said, “Hawaiʻi, the visitor industry, and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority are all in a time of huliau, or
transformative change, in which an accelerated shift toward destination management is necessary in
order for tourism to properly support the revitalization of our communities and economy in a more
meaningful and reciprocal way. Our heightened focus on
destination management allows us to be more nimble, able to quickly adapt to changing market
conditions, and more effectively address tourism’s impacts in key areas across the state.”
In restructuring HTA, Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā has been promoted to chief brand officer and Caroline
Anderson has been promoted to director of planning. "Both are newly created positions instrumental to
HTA’s focus on supporting four integrated pillars for the Hawaiian Islands – Natural Resources,
Hawaiian Culture, Community and Brand Marketing," said the HTA statement.
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| Caroline Anderson, HTA Director of Planning. Photo from Hawai'i Tourism Authority |
Born and raised in Kailua on O‘ahu and fluent in ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian language, Ka‘anā‘anā is
involved in a multitude of community activities. He is one of the 14 collaborative Native Hawaiian
authors of the ‘Āina Aloha Economic Futures declaration and is an active member of the Kailua
Hawaiian Civic Club and 2019 Omidyar Fellow. His ‘ohana comes from Ka‘aihe‘e, Kailua, O‘ahu. An
alumnus of Kailua High School, Ka‘anā‘anā graduated with distinction from the University of Hawai‘i at
Mānoa, earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies.
As director of planning, Anderson oversees development and monitoring of HTA’s 2020-2025
Strategic Plan and 2021-2023 Destination Management Action Plans for each county, including
program evaluation and addressing identified hotspot issues in key areas across the state. In her
previous HTA position as director of community enrichment, she managed the Community Enrichment
program, which fosters community-based tourism projects that improve and enrich Hawai‘i’s product
offerings and visitor experiences, and the Workforce Development program. Since joining HTA in 2000,
she has held various roles in brand management and tourism planning.
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IN RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF MISMANAGEMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LAND FUNDS from the legislature, Hawaiian Homelands Commission Chair William Ailā, Jr. has issued a statement. In pushing back on on the opinion of state Sen. Kurt Fevella, Ailā announced today,
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| Hawaiian Homelands Commission Chair William Ailā, Jr. |
Ailā said that in 1995, DHHL started using "Act 14's financial settlement to develop over 4,000 new homestead lots and now has over a half a billion dollars in private lending contingent liability that it is responsible for. It is our fiduciary kuleana to be sure the trust has enough money in its reserve to mitigate this risk against the State. This Commission, as well as previous Commissions, has acted prudently in its fiduciary responsibility of this trust to ensure that homestead lots are developed in perpetuity."
At the close of the 2021 legislative session, DHHL was allocated $78 million for Capital Improvement Projects. While short of the $460 million requested, "the allocation represents the largest legislative budget for Capital Improvement in the history of the program," noted Ailā.
Kawela held a press conference recently, questioning the use of funding. He also opposed Ailā's endorsement of allowing a casino on Hawaiian Home Lands on O'ahu to raise money for affordable housing.
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| HSTA announced that it could favor requiring vaccinations to participate in school sports. Image from HSTA |
teachers and staff should not be required to be vaccinated if students are exempt. However, HSTA does agree with mandating vaccinations for participants in sports.
DOH states that COVID-19 vaccines are a “core essential strategy,” and that social distancing is key to mitigation. DOH recommends universal mask wearing at schools at all indoor situations and outdoors, when in groups. While students or teachers will not be required to be vaccinated, more on-campus vaccination clinics will be held around the state, reported the DOH. For the full Guidance for Schools from the Department of Health, see https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/resources/school-guidance/
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COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE THE HIGHEST SINCE JANUARY statewide. There were
600 cases two weeks ago and 2,000 now, according to the state Department of Health. Unvaccinated and otherwise healthy young adults without underlying health problems are landing in the hospital.
New cases of COVID-19 for Hawai'i Island are 34 reported today, with 369 cases listed as active by county Civil Defense. Five victims are hospitalized.
According to to Civil Defense, Hawai'i Island suffers the highest positivity rate for COVID testing in the state, reaching 7 percent over the last 14 days, with an average of new casts at 36 per day. New cases per day in Kaʻū and Volcano remain ten or below. However in Hilo, today brought in reports of 87 cases; Kona 82; Kohala 57; Puna 27 and Puna makai 20.
Vaccinations will be offered free at community test clinics Tuesdays at Kona Aquatics in Kailua-Kona and Wednesdays at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Both are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mayor Mitch Roth said, “With the rise in COVID-19 positive cases on our island and prevalence of the Delta variant, it is of the utmost importance that we make vaccinations and testing readily available to all those who need them in our county. The vaccine is the number one stopping force against the virus and the only way that we will be able to protect our friends and family as we begin the return to school, sports, and overall normalcy. Unfortunately, we know that almost all state hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in unvaccinated individuals, and we would like to continue to encourage those who are unvaccinated to consider doing so for the health and safety of us all.”
Some 59.8% percent of the this state's population is fully vaccinated, while 66.3% received at least one vaccine dose.
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| Mayor Mitch Roth today called the vaccine "the number one stopping force." |
Vaccinations will be offered free at community test clinics Tuesdays at Kona Aquatics in Kailua-Kona and Wednesdays at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Both are 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Mayor Mitch Roth said, “With the rise in COVID-19 positive cases on our island and prevalence of the Delta variant, it is of the utmost importance that we make vaccinations and testing readily available to all those who need them in our county. The vaccine is the number one stopping force against the virus and the only way that we will be able to protect our friends and family as we begin the return to school, sports, and overall normalcy. Unfortunately, we know that almost all state hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in unvaccinated individuals, and we would like to continue to encourage those who are unvaccinated to consider doing so for the health and safety of us all.”
Some 59.8% percent of the this state's population is fully vaccinated, while 66.3% received at least one vaccine dose.
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THE DUI COUNT IN OUT for the week of July 19, 2021, through July 25. Hawai‘i Island police arrested 20 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Nine drivers were involved in a traffic accident. One was under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 659 DUI arrests compared with 504 during the same period last year, an increase of 30.8 percent. There have been 435 major accidents so far this year compared with 441 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.4 percent. To date, there were 13 fatal crashes, resulting in 13 fatalities, compared with 11 fatal crashes, resulting in 11 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 18.2 percent for fatal crashes, and 18.2 percent for fatalities. The Police Department promised that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.
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ENROLL CHILDREN, from first through eighth grade, in Kula ʻAmakihi, a program from Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. It starts Aug. 3. Call 808-985- 9800 or visit www.volcanoschool.net. See more on Page 6 of the The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's July edition.
SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KA‘Ū. See more on Page 5 of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's July edition.
VOLUNTEER AT KA‘Ū SCHOOL GARDEN on Saturday, July 31 at 9 a.m. as part of the Hawai`i Island Community Food Summit. See more on Page 5 of the July Kaʻū Calendar newspaper.
SIGN UP FOR EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL, which happens on Saturday, Aug. 14. See more on Page 15 of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's July edition.
REGISTER FOR VOLCANO’S OHIA LEHUA RUNS, which happen on Saturday, Aug. 14. See more on Page 5 of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's July edition.
REGISTER FOR THE KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN, which returns on Saturday, Sept. 18. See more on the OKK event at https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/
WALK THROUGH A GUIDED 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. www.volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222.
KAʻŪ ART GALLERY is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Nāʻālehu. It features and sells works by local artists and offers other gift items. Kaʻū Art Gallery's website has 24/7 access online and is frequently updated to show current inventory items. "We are always looking to collaborate with local artists in our community," said assistant Alexandra Kaupu. Artists with an interest in being featured at Kaʻū Art Gallery and Gift Shop, contact gallery owner and director Corrine Kaupu at kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.bi
GOLF & MEMBERSHIPS for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse: The Club offers Social Memberships, with future use of the clubhouse and current use of the pickleball courts as well as walking and running on specified areas of the golf course before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to enjoy the panoramic
ocean views. Golf memberships range from unlimited play for the avid golfer to casual play options. Membership is required to play and practice golf on the course. All golf memberships include Social Membership amenities. Membership fees are designed to help underwrite programs and improvements to the facilities.Call 808-731-5122 or stop by the Clubhouse during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle. Email clubatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com. See The Club at Discovery Harbour Facebook page.
Aloha Friday Marketplace every Friday from 9am to 2pm on the beautiful grounds of Kauaha'ao Congregational Church 95-1642 Pinao St., Wai'ohinu,
ALOHA FRIDAY MARKETPLACE, hosted by Kaʻū Main Street, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., grounds of Kauahaʻao Congregational Church 95-1642 Pinao St. in Waiʻohinu, corner of Kamaoa and Hwy 11. Farmers Market, Arts & Crafts, Health Practitioners, Food, Music, Yoga, Keiki Fun & More. Inquiries: AlohaFridayMarket@gmail.com.
VOLCANO FARMERS MARKET, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Hawai‘i Coffee. Cooper Center's EBT Machine, used at the Farmer's Market, is out of service until further notice. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY MARKET, open Saturdays and Thursdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Council. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.
O KAʻŪ KĀKOU MARKET, in Nāʻālehu, open Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers per hour, 20 vendor booths, with 20 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
OCEAN VIEW SWAP MEET 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 required.
BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON
VOLCANO ART CENTER ONLINE, in person. Shop at Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Shopping Appointments offered via Skype or FaceTime.
Book at volcanoartcenter.org/shop for $5. Shop online gallery 24/7. Orders shipped or free local pickup available. See the VAC Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. See volcanoartcenter.org/events, call 967-8222.
KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL & VISITOR CENTER. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PUNALUʻU BAKESHOP online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week in Nāʻālehu.
ALIʻI HAWAIʻI HULA HANDS COFFEE. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.
AIKANE PLANTATION COFFEE COMPANY. Order online at aikaneplantation.com. Call 808-927-2252
MIRANDA'S FARMS KAʻŪ COFFEE. Order online at mirandafarms.com or, in person at 73-7136 Mamalahoa Hwy, Nāʻālehu.
KUAHIWI RANCH STORE, in person. Shop weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 am to 3 p.m. at 95-5520 Hwy 11. Locally processed grass-fed beef, live meat chickens, and feed for cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, horses, dogs, and pigs. Call 929-7333 of 938-1625, email kaohi@kuahiwiranch.com.
CHURCH SERVICES
OCEAN VIEW EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY CHURCH holds services on Sundays beginning with Sing-Along on the Square at 10:15 a.m., followed by Sunday Morning Service at 11 a.m. In-person services following CDC Guidelines and Hawaii mandates by using hand sanitizer, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.
Music and Sermons are posted to FaceBook.com/OVECC. Also see FaceBook.com/OVECC for more. The church campus for Ocean View Evangelical Community Church is 92-8977 Leilani Circle. ovecchurch@gmail.com
ST. JUDES'S IS HOLDING SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, with COVID protocol in place, including wearing masks. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link is offered at
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85798655114?pwd=QW5YSmQwNFAyWVZud3QvSVBiNXJ0Zz09. Meeting ID is 857 9865 5114. Passcode is Aloha.
St. Jude's offers free food and showers, live church services and community outreach in Ocean View. St. Jude's Episcopal Mission is at Paradise Circle - mauka at Keaka. The Sunday service is also broadcast on Facebook through the St. Jude's web page at http://www.stjudeshawaii.org.
Free hot showers are open to anyone on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Last sign up is at 11:30 a.m. There are two private stalls. The church provides body wash, shampoo and a clean towel.
Attendants take the temperatures of the shower users and ask that all wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. The monitors sanitize the shower stalls after each use. However, St. Jude's assumes no liability in the transmission of any illness and posts the cautionary, "Use at Your Own Risk." On Saturdays, free lunches (take out only) are available between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
St. Jude's is also working with Kaʻū High & Pahala Elementary for educational outreach and better internet for the entire Ocean View Community.
HOPE DIA-MEND MINISTRIES holds outdoor services Sundays at 9:45 a.m. at 92-898 Ginger Blossom Lane in Ocean View. Masks and distancing required. For help and/or to donate, call or text 808-937-6355, or call the Ministry at 808-920-8137. See Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.
DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? Call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
LEARN SELF-CARE THROUGH Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group at facebook.com/bhhsurg
KAʻŪ WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE OFFERS HEALTH PROGRAMS. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
YOGA WITH EMILY Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222.
CHOOSE ALOHA FOR HOME is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up at chooselovemovement.org/choose-love-home.
EDUCATION
Free WiFi Access for Students is available in Kaʻū, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs at rb.gy/o1o2hy. For keiki grades 1-6. Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org or info@bgcbi.org.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads at rb.gy/8er9wm. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.
Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Ka'ū Elementary, Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES.org for Live WebEx link.
Public Libraries are open for WiFi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pahala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., limited entry into library with Wiki Visits. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. WiFi available to anyone with a library card, from each library parking lot. See librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.
View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report at rb.gy/awu65k.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, papakilodatabase.com.
Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.ECONOMIC RELIEF
Online Directory at shopbigisland.com, co-sponsored by County of Hawai‘i, has a signup sheet for local businesses to fill in the blanks. The only requirement is a physical address on this island.
COMMUNITY
Food Assistance: Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.
