Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday Feb.2, 2022

Growing kalo, like this taro growing in front of the former Kailiawa cabin in upper Moa'ula, could receive

financial support from the state, if  House Bill 2466 passes the Hawai'i Legislature. 

Photo by Julia Neal

The late Bull Kailiawa grew kalo, taro in
 Moa'ula. Photo by Julia Neal

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GROWING TARO is proposed in a bill before the Hawai'i Legislature West Kaʻū's member in the House of Representatives Jeanne Kapela is a co-sponsor of House Bill 2466. It would establish an exemption from state income tax for the first $100,000 of income derived from taro, taro products, and land used to produce taro if the total amount of land used to cultivate taro in Hawaii does not exceed thirty thousand acres at any point in the year.
    A public hearing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. through videoconferencing. Hawai'i Farmers Union United urges public testimony in support of the measure. Hawai'i Farmers Union United urges public testimony in support of the measure. Read the bill, follow the bill's progress and testify through https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2466&year=2022&mc_cid=2e13107dc3&mc_eid=563999cc96.

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A BILL TO SUPPORT COMPOST REIMBURSEMENT TO FARMERS, RANCHERS AND LANDSCAPERS is before the Hawai'i Legislature. Senate Bill 2288 establishes the reimbursement program within the state Department of Agriculture to provide reimbursements to farmers, ranchers, and landscapers when purchasing compost from a certified processor, dealer, retailer, or wholesaler licensed to do business in the State. It also establishes a compost reimbursement program manager position and appropriates funding. A public hearing is scheduled for this Friday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. through  Videoconferencing. Hawai'i Farmers Union United urges public testimony in support of the measure.  Read the bill, follow the bill's progress and 

Hawai'i Wildfire Management Organization's map shows numerous
historic outbreaks of fires in Ka'u and Volcano.

testify through https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2288&year=2022&mc_cid=2e13107dc3&mc_eid=563999cc96.

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WORLD WETLANDS DAY ON FEB. 2 DREW HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC TO ISSUE SEVEN GRANTS totaling

$77,000 to support programs that mitigate climate change impacts. Among recipients is Hawai'i Island -based Hawai'i Wildfire Management Organization. 

    Its program aims to mobilize three wildfire collaboratives, consisting of key partners, landowners and managers from high-risk wildfire regions with the goal of expanding educational outreach and sharing mitigation planning, preparedness and best practices. 

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Dogs can be trained to sniff out Covid, and Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences is chosen to conduct a COVID-19
Detector Dog Pilot Program. VSAS is seeking an animal handler for the mission. Photo from American Kennel Club

TRAINING DOGS FOR DETECTING COVID IS A NEW MISSION FOR VOLCANO SCHOOL of the Arts & Sciences. VSAS is one of five schools on this island chosen for the COVID-19 Detector Dog Pilot Program. On Friday, VSAS announced it is seeking a full-time animal handler to help launch the program. According to the job posting, " The COVID-19 Detector Dog Pilot Program is a Governor Ige GEER Innovation Grant initiative with additional funding support from participating schools." The position is a three-month assignment from February to May 2022, with a possible extension up to one year.

    Applicants must be able to provide the dog with safe and secure housing and daily care and training. Applicants are also expected to observe and record data and work under the guidance of canine trainers and project administrators. Position is open until filled. Send resume, letter of interest, and reference to apply@volcanoschool.net. Include name of position being applied for.

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DON'T THROW TRASH IN STREAMS OR DISTURB A STREAMS, urges Kaʻū Soil & Water Conservation District. A statement from the organization says it "would like to remind the

community to refrain from doing work or disposing of any trash in any stream. The stream may be a blue-line stream which is illegal to have work done in without a permit from the US Army Corp of Engineers."

    Kaʻū Soil & Water Conservation explains that the definition of a blue-line stream is "a body of flowing water in a natural low or natural channel on the land. This may be a creek, stream or other flowing water feature. Unlawful work done within this type of stream could cause the watercourse to change resulting in flooding throughout the community. This may also result in soil erosion and washing out of agricultural crops and infrastructure that are important to the farming and ranching community of Kaʻū."

      Those unsure of the identity of a blue-line stream can contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at 808-438-1091.

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HIRING CLASSROOM CLEANERS at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School is open to students. Three positions are available. Applicants must be 14 years or older and can pick up an application in the school's main office. For questions, email Jennifer Makuakane at jennifer.makuakane@k12.hi.us.

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FREE FOOD, TOILETRIES, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS will be distributed to those in need on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The distribution is sponsored by the Big Island Giving Tree, a non-profit organization focused on helping working families in need across Hawaiʻi Island. The organization asks for recipients to stay in their cars and wear masks during the distribution.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.  See February events and Kaʻū Calendar Sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html