Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023

Eric Silberger, on violin, returns to Pāhala Plantation House this Sunday, Jan. 8, with a concert to honor Kaʻū Coffee farmers.
 See more below. See www.himusicfestival.com.  Photo by Carlin Ma

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO THE KA'Ū RESILIENCE FAIR on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nāʻālehu Hongawanji where more than 20 community organizations will share information, entertainment and resources. It is sponsored by Vibrant Hawai'i and Miloliʻi Kalanihale, Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub, Oceanview Marshallese Hub, Pāhala Resilience Food Hub, and Root & Rise. A statement from the Resilience Hubs says they extend a heartfelt mahalo to Kaʻū's former Council Member Maile David and HPM Building Supply for their generous support.

    Kaʻū Resilience Fair will feature performances and storytelling about the history and cultural practices of the Marshall Islands. Performances by Kaʻū youth will highlight resilience and sense of place.
    Kupa Aloha Awards will be presented to honor exemplary community contributors. There will be free keiki activities including, roping, face-painting, and art.
    The Kaʻū Resilience Fair will host more than 15 booths sharing a variety of emergency resources and opportunities. While supplies last, those who visit at least ten booths receive a free five-gallon bucket. Presenters include Hawaiʻi Community Lending, Parents Inc., Kumukahi Care Van, Hawaiian Electric, the County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing & Community Development, Hawaiʻi Animal Kuleana Alliance, and KTA Pharmacy.
    There will be a Flu Shot Clinic sponsored by KTA Pharmacy. Free COVID Home Test Kits will be given out while supplies last.
    Since 2020, Kaʻū Resilience Hubs have collaborated to distribute hot meals, fresh farm produce and other foods, access to technology to support keiki during school closures, surgical masks and COVID test kits. Hubs have also provided programming, and invested in training and certification to build disaster response readiness.
    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.
    Vibrant Hawaiʻi is a non-profit organization on Hawaiʻi Island with a mission to dismantle silos and increase collaborative partnerships. "Our network of over 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," says a statement from Vibrant Hawai'i.
    To learn more about Resilience Hubs, visit www.vibranthawaii.org/hubs.

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See www.himusicfestival.com

AN EVENING OF OPERA AND SONG is coming up this Sunday at Pāhala Plantation House at 7 p.m.

    The community concert is preceded by this week's workshops led by Amy Shoremount Obra, of the Rusty Obra Ka'u Coffee family. Shoremount Obra is a soprano with the New York Metropolitan Opera and has brought classical music and opera to Pāhala since 2009.

    She brings to Pāhala many top musicians on violin,  piano and other instruments. 

    Obra, internationally acclaimed violinist Eric Shilberger and Carlin Ma, Creative Director and Festival Photographer/Videographer, founded Hawai'i International Music Festival in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The aim is "celebrating music and Hawai'i by bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to the communities of Hawai'i through innovative, interdisciplinary concerts and educational outreach opportunities. Through these unique activities, HIMF builds artistic and educational partnerships to help strengthen the classical music landscape throughout Hawai'i" says its mission statement. "HIMF re-imagines the normal classical music concert into a community-driven, holistic arts experience."

    See www.himusicfestival.com.

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Josh Ortega, named BIIF Division II Coach of the Year,
 encourages his team. Photo by Julia Neal

GUY ENRIQUES AND JOSH ORTEGA ARE BIIF COACHES OF THE YEAR. Enriques, of Punalu'u, is named Division I Coach of the Year for Big Island Interscholastic Federation Girls Volleyball, in his position leading the Hawai'i Island Kamehameha School team to the finals for the state championship. 

    Joshua Ortega, of Pāhala, is named Division II Coach of the Year for his role in leading Kaʻū High School Girls Volleyball. Ortrega, in addition to coaching girls volleyball, teaches physical education at Pāhala Elementary. He is a long time worker and volunteer for many duties at the school campus.

  Kaʻū players honored by Big Island Interscholastic Players Federation are: Kyla Hashimoto, Leahi Kaupu, Jazmyn Navarro, and Hayden Quihano.

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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. Masks and social distancing required.

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.

Ocean View Swap Meet 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.

The Book Shack is open every Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Kauaha'ao Congregational Church grounds at 95-1642 Pinao St. in Wai'ōhinu.