THE EXPERIENCE VOLCANO HAWAI'I EVENT THIS WEEKEND has received approval from County of Hawai'i to proceed. Along with the companion ‘Ōhi’a Lehua Half Marathon and 5K, also this Saturday, Experience Volcano has "officially been granted an exemption for this single day event on Aug. 14th from 10am - 4pm. This approval is the result of a lot of hard work and communication between our community organization and the County of Hawai’i. All locations are taking additional measures to ensure that everyone can have a safe and enjoyable event experience during this festival," says a statement released to day by Experience Volcano Hawai'i Festival Manager Jesse K. Tunison.
He noted that all visitors, vendors and staff must follow CDC guidelines and the specifications that the State of Hawa’i has outlined as of Aug 10. At any of the Festival venues there will be no more than 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Bars, restaurants and other social establishments involved in the Festival must reduce capacity by 50%. Patrons must remain seated, with 6 feet of distance maintained between parties, and cannot mingle. Masks are required at all times, except when eating or drinking.
Tunison explained that the 2nd Annual Experience Volcano Festival is a professionally sponsored event that submitted safety plans to the Big Island Mayor’s Office for the approval.
"All attendees are asked to comply with EVH festival officials who are tasked to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable but safe festival experience. These individuals will be wearing a neon green EVH tee-shirt and will have festival ADMIN badges. Other local officials may include police officers and credentialed County of Hawaii representatives. Your safety is our goal! Mahalo for your interest and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!"
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A NEW HAWAIIAN MUSIC RADIO SHOW has been launched by Hawai'i Public Radio, broadcast on HPR1 on Sundays at 6 pm and available online. Paige Okamura hosts Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi. The HPR feed for Kaʻū comes from a tower in Kulani to the old community radio station building on Maile Street in Pahala. It can be heard in parts of Kaʻū at 89.1 FM and on the HPR website anytime. HPR 2 is available on the radio in Kaʻū at 91.3 FM.
Tunison explained that the 2nd Annual Experience Volcano Festival is a professionally sponsored event that submitted safety plans to the Big Island Mayor’s Office for the approval.
"All attendees are asked to comply with EVH festival officials who are tasked to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable but safe festival experience. These individuals will be wearing a neon green EVH tee-shirt and will have festival ADMIN badges. Other local officials may include police officers and credentialed County of Hawaii representatives. Your safety is our goal! Mahalo for your interest and we look forward to seeing you this weekend!"
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
A NEW HAWAIIAN MUSIC RADIO SHOW has been launched by Hawai'i Public Radio, broadcast on HPR1 on Sundays at 6 pm and available online. Paige Okamura hosts Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi. The HPR feed for Kaʻū comes from a tower in Kulani to the old community radio station building on Maile Street in Pahala. It can be heard in parts of Kaʻū at 89.1 FM and on the HPR website anytime. HPR 2 is available on the radio in Kaʻū at 91.3 FM.
Paige Okamura hosts Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi at 89.1 FM. and on the HPR website. |
Okamura explained the meaning of her show's name, Hawaiʻi Kulāiwi. She said, "Kulāiwi carries a lot of weight in Hawaiian. It most closely translates to homeland or native land in English, but has some literal allusions to the land where the bones of your ancestors are. Our songs about love between people use metaphors and references to relationships found in nature and the land, because for Hawaiians, the way we love our land can be reflective of the love we feel for our people and our loved ones." She said she wants to help listeners explore the love for the places they come from.
Okamura is working on an advanced degree in 'ōlelo Hawai'i. She said that for her, "Hawaiian words were an everyday thing growing up in a Hawaiian household. Then I took 'ōlelo Hawai'i in high school and the passion I already had for my culture helped drive my language learning. Now, I have a degree in Hawaiian, and I teach others. I feel I have a duty to engage as many people as possible. I don't want people to feel left out if they don't speak Hawaiian, but I also want them to hear the language; once they open their minds to learning the language they will see Hawaiʻi through a much different lens."
She said her Hawaiian language fluency helps her as a radio host since "There are so many layers to pull apart in Hawaiian music lyrics. Direct translations can be helpful, but can also be problematic in that they're too limiting. Radio doesn't come with liner notes like a CD does, and I feel like my job as a host is to be the liner notes for my listeners." She gave examples of layers of meaning in a song. "Take Ka Lae o Kaʻena medley sung by Papa ʻAilā, which I played on my August 1st show. The lyrics mention nani nā hono o ka wai kumu ʻole, which basically translates to beautiful are the bays of the source-less water. In English you might not think much about it, but in an arid area like Kaʻena, finding fresh water is essential to survival. Knowing how to access it really determines whether you are truly rooted in a place."
When not behind the microphone and aside from studying and teaching, Okamura said she can be found "gathering salt with my family, flipping my fins in the ocean, snuggling/pestering my puppy, or perfecting my kimchi recipe. I also crochet a lot, and work on my lei hulu (feather lei) from time to time. Oftentimes my mind is scattered because I'm always working on ten things at one time so the crafty things I do help me focus. I cook a lot so I'm always trying new recipes or upping my Instant Pot game. My braised short ribs are 'chef's kiss' magnificent," she said.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN GOT THE YES VOTE FROM Sen. Mazie K. Hirono today. A statement from her office said she voted to begin work to pass the legislation that "will support America’sworking families and small businesses while creating jobs, addressing the climate crisis, reducing child poverty, and investing in our education system. This legislation follows key investments Democrats made in the American Rescue Plan and its success at delivering relief to the American people earlier this year." Hirono said, “This vote sets the stage to provide transformational support for families and communities in Hawaii and across the country. The American Families Plan will lower costs for families and create jobs, provide paid family and medical leave, address the housing crisis, expand Medicare, make permanent the expanded Child Tax Credit, focus resources on mitigating the climate crisis, fix our broken immigration system, provide universal pre-K, and make child care more affordable and accessible, among other priorities. These longstanding needs, exacerbated during the pandemic, require us to act.”
Okamura is working on an advanced degree in 'ōlelo Hawai'i. She said that for her, "Hawaiian words were an everyday thing growing up in a Hawaiian household. Then I took 'ōlelo Hawai'i in high school and the passion I already had for my culture helped drive my language learning. Now, I have a degree in Hawaiian, and I teach others. I feel I have a duty to engage as many people as possible. I don't want people to feel left out if they don't speak Hawaiian, but I also want them to hear the language; once they open their minds to learning the language they will see Hawaiʻi through a much different lens."
She said her Hawaiian language fluency helps her as a radio host since "There are so many layers to pull apart in Hawaiian music lyrics. Direct translations can be helpful, but can also be problematic in that they're too limiting. Radio doesn't come with liner notes like a CD does, and I feel like my job as a host is to be the liner notes for my listeners." She gave examples of layers of meaning in a song. "Take Ka Lae o Kaʻena medley sung by Papa ʻAilā, which I played on my August 1st show. The lyrics mention nani nā hono o ka wai kumu ʻole, which basically translates to beautiful are the bays of the source-less water. In English you might not think much about it, but in an arid area like Kaʻena, finding fresh water is essential to survival. Knowing how to access it really determines whether you are truly rooted in a place."
When not behind the microphone and aside from studying and teaching, Okamura said she can be found "gathering salt with my family, flipping my fins in the ocean, snuggling/pestering my puppy, or perfecting my kimchi recipe. I also crochet a lot, and work on my lei hulu (feather lei) from time to time. Oftentimes my mind is scattered because I'm always working on ten things at one time so the crafty things I do help me focus. I cook a lot so I'm always trying new recipes or upping my Instant Pot game. My braised short ribs are 'chef's kiss' magnificent," she said.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN GOT THE YES VOTE FROM Sen. Mazie K. Hirono today. A statement from her office said she voted to begin work to pass the legislation that "will support America’sworking families and small businesses while creating jobs, addressing the climate crisis, reducing child poverty, and investing in our education system. This legislation follows key investments Democrats made in the American Rescue Plan and its success at delivering relief to the American people earlier this year." Hirono said, “This vote sets the stage to provide transformational support for families and communities in Hawaii and across the country. The American Families Plan will lower costs for families and create jobs, provide paid family and medical leave, address the housing crisis, expand Medicare, make permanent the expanded Child Tax Credit, focus resources on mitigating the climate crisis, fix our broken immigration system, provide universal pre-K, and make child care more affordable and accessible, among other priorities. These longstanding needs, exacerbated during the pandemic, require us to act.”
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Dr. Renee Joy Dufault is offering a food safety fellowship to a Ka`u High student. |
The student will spend from five to seven hours on the program per week and earn a stipend of $450.00 upon completion of an online Healthy Diet Tutorial; $225.00 upon completion of a project; and $225 after passing the Food Ingredient Safety Specialist certification exam – adding up to a total stipend award of $900.00.
Student applicants must be enrolled at Kaʻū High, be interested in nutrition and food safety, have the ability to read at 7th grade level, and ability to work hard and learn new material.
To apply, email a typed or written response to each of the following questions: 1) What do you know about food ingredient safety? 2) What does diet have to do with disease prevention? Email your application to rdufault@foodingredient.info. Provide name and email.
Regarding the Healthy Diet Tutorial – It is free and located at the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute website at www.foodingredient.info . Click on the link to see a module of instruction Healthy Diet Tutorial Module One Textbook. The textbook will be provided at no charge. See the webpage to learn more about the Food Ingredient Safety Specialist occupation.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
Student applicants must be enrolled at Kaʻū High, be interested in nutrition and food safety, have the ability to read at 7th grade level, and ability to work hard and learn new material.
To apply, email a typed or written response to each of the following questions: 1) What do you know about food ingredient safety? 2) What does diet have to do with disease prevention? Email your application to rdufault@foodingredient.info. Provide name and email.
Regarding the Healthy Diet Tutorial – It is free and located at the Food Ingredient and Health Research Institute website at www.foodingredient.info . Click on the link to see a module of instruction Healthy Diet Tutorial Module One Textbook. The textbook will be provided at no charge. See the webpage to learn more about the Food Ingredient Safety Specialist occupation.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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.
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.
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
ENROLL CHILDREN, from first through eighth grade, in Kula ʻAmakihi, a program from Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. It started Aug. 3. Call 808-985- 9800 or visit www.volcanoschool.net.
SIGN UP FOR EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL, which happens on Saturday, Aug. 14. See more on Page 14 of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper's August 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 August 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 panoramiocean 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, 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.