Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023

Hui Malama educators teach about the nutritional and medicinal value of Hawaiian plants at the
Vibrant Hawai'i Resilience Fair. Photo by Julia Neal

Vibrant Hawaiʻi Board Member Nicolas K.
 Los Baños, awardee Annie Momie Sobiona,

and Kaimi Kaupiko of Kalanihale in Miloli'i.

Photo by Cole Fuertes

VIBRANT HAWAI'I RECENTLY PRESENTED TWO KUPA ALOHA AWARDS TO KA'U VOLUNTEERS during its Resilience Fair in Nāʻālehu. Honorees were Annie Momie Sobiono, nominated by Miloli'i Kalanihale; and Wayne Kawachi, nominated by Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub. The Network of Resilience Hubs was also involved in the awards program. A statement from Vibrant says the honorees' "efforts and work exemplify living aloha, building strong ʻohana, and thriving community."

   Hundreds of people in more than 50 ʻohana attended the Kaʻū Resilience Fair on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Nāʻālehu Hongawanji. Many community organizations participated to share information and resources, including Kaʻū Multicultural Society, Hawaiʻi Community Lending, Parents Inc., Kumukahi Health, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center, Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi, Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance, and KTA Pharmacy, and Community First. 

    Families who visited at least ten of the organizations' presentations each took home a five-gallon bucket filled with essential emergency supplies and resources.

Wayne Kawachi wins a Kupa Aloha
Award, accompanied by Marsha
Masters of Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub.
Photo by Cole Fuertes

    Performances by Kaʻū youth highlighted resilience and sense of place. The Miloliʻi Kalanihale Resilience Hub demonstrated how ʻōpelu stocks are maintained according to traditional practices as part of their Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area, and the all girls 4H Club taught participants how to rope livestock.  

    The Kaʻū Resilience Fair is one of a series of community events planned by the Vibrant Hawai'i Resilience Hub network during the season of Makahiki to spotlight the work of over 40 Resilience Hubs across the island and increase community awareness and access to resources that build preparedness and resilience to both social vulnerabilities and natural disasters.

       "The Kaʻū Resilience Hubs: Miloliʻi Kalanihale, Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub, Oceanview Marshallese Hub, Pāhala Resilience Food Hub, and Root & Rise extend a heartfelt mahalo to Council Member Maile David and HPM Building Supply for their generous support," says the Vibrant statement.
    Vibrant Hawaiʻi is a non-profit organization on Hawaiʻi Island whose mission is to dismantle silos and increase collaborative partnerships. Vibrant says, "Our 40 Resilience Hubs are trusted, people-powered venues that support residents, adapt to the changing needs of the community, and activate in times of disaster to support emergency response and recovery efforts."
    To learn more about Resilience Hubs, visit www.vibranthawaii.

Darlyne Vierra at the Resilience Fair, with her display
of historic photos from paniolo life in Kaʻū
Photo by Julia Neal

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U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE is the new assignment for Jill Tokuda, new member of the U.S House of Representatives serving  and all of rural Hawai'i. Tokuda has been assigned to the House Agriculture Committee in the 118th Congress. "Agriculture impacts so much of our daily lives. Food programs and funding for our people, rural housing, land management and conservation, and combating invasive species. These are just a few areas we cover on the House Committee on Agriculture and, coupled with the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, provide enormous opportunities for Hawaii's Second Congressional District," said Tokuda.
    She is also assigned to the House Armed Services Committee. Tokuda said, "These two committees are critical in providing critical funding and resources to our state, and I am excited about the work ahead. Hawaii has long held a position of strategic importance for our national security. As headquarters of the

U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda giving her first floor speech in Congress. The
new U.S. Representative for rural Hawai'i has also been assigned to
 the House Agriculture Committee. Photo from Tokuda

U.S. Pacific Command and with all five services having a presence on the islands, the US Military is also one of the biggest economic drivers in our state. So many of our citizens and loved ones are proud active duty military and veterans, and I'm excited to be able to serve their interests on House Armed Services."
    In January, Tokuda was sworn in to the 118th Congress for Hawai'i's Second District and to its Asian Pacific American Caucus. She also gave her first floor speech in Congress.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono held the position of
U.S. Rep. for Kaʻū and all of rural Hawai'i years
ago. Tokuda assumed the position in January.
Photo from Tokuda

    Before becoming a member of Congress, Tokuda issued a survey for all of rural Hawai'i, asking constituents to identify their most important issues. Those listed were: Affordable Housing, Reproductive Health and Justice for Women; Campaign Finance Reform and Fighting Corruption; Paid Family and Medical Leave Programs; Diversifying Our Economy and Making Hawai'i A Renewable Energy Leader; quality Universal Childcare and Early Education Programs; Increasing Access to Quality Health and Mental Health Services; Community Safety and Gun Reform; Protecting The Environment and Fighting Climate Change; Reforming the U.S. Supreme Court; Supporting Our Veterans; Improving and Fully-funding K-12 Education and Other.
    Tokuda, a Kaneohe resident, who represents her area as well as Kaʻū and all of Hawai'i Island, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau, ended her survey with "What issues are important to you? And why?" She also asks, "What would you like Jill to know?"

   In her new position, Tokuda follows Rep. Kai Kahele, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Rep.Mazie Hirono (now Senator) and Rep. Ed Case. All four spent much time in Kaʻū during the last 20 years. Tokuda can be reached through the website http://tokuda.house.gov and by writing to her at 1005 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515.

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Kīlauea summit eruption will be the topic at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor
Center auditorium. NPS Photo by Janet Wei

VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH COMES TO AFTER DARK IN THE PARK on Tuesday, Jan. 31 

Kīlauea summit water lake.
NPS Photo by P. Christianson

from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium. It is one of the many events during Volcano Awareness Month. Title of the presentation is Changes at the Summit of Kīlauea After 2018.
     In 2018, the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater drained and the caldera floor dropped by more than 1,600 feet (500 m). There has been a variety of activity within Halemaʻumaʻu since then. The first-ever documented water lake filled the bottom of the crater starting in summer 2019. It reached approximately 160 feet (50 m) deep before Kīlauea erupted again in December 2020. This eruption continued until May 2021. Kilauea was again quiet for about three months before it burst to life in September 2021. That eruption continued until December 2022.
     USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Geologist Drew Downs recounts these events and how the scientists continue to monitor activity at Kīlauea.
       Volcano Awareness Month and the After Dark in the Park series are supported, in part,  by the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 

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FREE FOOD
St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day, according to OKK President Wayne Kawachi.

OUTDOOR MARKETS
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.

Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

'O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in the upper lot only. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.