Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, May 5, 2023

History of koa canoe making is included in the Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area Draft Plan at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dd8ec10467c94ae6b2dd7763789091f2/. DLNR seeks
 public comments on the plan.  Image from the Plan

KAPĀPALA KOA CANOE MANAGEMENT AREA Plan draft Environmental Assessment is online and public comments are due by June 7. The more than 1,257 acres at elevations of 3,640-5,100ft, with rain falling 60 to 80 inches a year, are managed by state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Forest Reserve System.
    Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area is covered entirely by a predominantly native forest. Surrounding lands are mostly covered in native forest, including Kaʻū Forest Reserve to the south and west, Kapāpala Forest Reserve to the north and west, and Kapāpala Ranch & Game Management Area with mixture of pastureland and forest lands, to the south and east.
See the Draft Plan and DLNR storymap on the place at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/dd8ec10467c94ae6b2dd7763789091f2/.
    The DLNR website notes that koa and other trees grow to massive size in the area. "The major focus of this plan is to implement a sustainable, long-term harvest operation to supply koa for the purposes of carving traditional koa canoes, while also protecting other natural and cultural resources, such as watershed values, native ecosystems, and threatened and endangered species."
    Comments can be sent to Andy Cullison, Hawaiʻi Island Forestry Planner Department of Land & Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street #131 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813; or by email to james.a.cullison@hawaii.gov. Copies of the comments may be sent to the consultant: Ron Terry Geometrician Associates 10 Hina Street Hilo HI 96720 Or by email to rterry@hawaii.rr.com.

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MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park issued a statement encouraging everyone to seek a deeper understanding of Native Hawaiian culture and its importance. Hawai'i Volcanoes is offered as a resource, in person and virtually.
    For virtual visitation during Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month, the Park 
offers the following:
    The Language of the Land. This new storymap reveals the meaning behind cherished place names across the summit region of Kīlauea. For example, Wahinekapu, "sacred woman," is where steam billows from the earth. The volcanic steam is considered sacred especially to wāhine (women) who engage in steam ritual.

The steaming pali at Wahinekapu is seen in the distance behind the face of a kānaka maoli, Native Hawaiian man.
NPS Photo art

Cultural Resource Preservation. This new webpage offers a wealth of Hawaiian cultural stewardship, stories, and videos.
    ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Join the revitalization of the Hawaiian language. Learn common greetings and vowel pronunciation and pronunciation of Hawaiian place names.
    ʻIke Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work). Watch a new season of this park-produced video series that shares authentic Hawaiian cultural practices.
    Moʻolelo. Learn about 10 ten moʻolelo. Some of these stories may be familar; others are lesser-known tales like that of Punaʻaikoaʻe, a chief of Oʻahu whose kinolau (supernatural body form) is represented in the koaʻe keʻa (white-tailed tropicbirds) that soar above Kīlauea caldera.
For in-person visitation during Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month, the Park offers the following:

    Let's Play Hū. Learn this game on Wednesday, May 10 from 10 a.m, to noon at the Ohia Wing across from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center. In the days of early Hawaiians, Hū, or top-spinning, was an absorbing activity for children but making hū with a kukui nut was equally engaging. The activity is one of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's ongoing 'Ike Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work) Hawaiian cultural programs, co-sponsored by Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association and Friends of Ha
wai'i Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply.
   

Alya-Joy Kanehailua

The Battle of the Bitter Rain. It was a time of feathered capes, shark-toothed clubs, and long spears. A time when warring chiefs battled for control of the islands. One fierce battle took place partially within what is today Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Join retired park ranger Jay
Robinson as he transports attendees back to a time when control of the island of Hawai'i teetered on the brink at a place and time known as the Battle of the Bitter Rain. Part of Hawai'i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park programs and sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m.  in Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium   
    Living History at Kahuku: Nani O Kahuku. Re-live a day on the Kamehameha Schoolsʻ historic Kahuku Ranch on Saturday, May 27 for performances at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The one-woman living history play is performed by Alya-Joy Kanehailua. The in-situ performance is based on a journal written by Hannah Piʻilani Jones, hapa-haole daughter of George Jones, who owned Kahuku Ranch from 1871 to 1887. Free, reservations are required. Email Wendy Vance, wendy_scott-vance@nps.gov to reserve a seat and for detailed directions.

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MILOLI'I -KAʻŪ  VOLLEYBALL CLUB HOSTS A TOURNAMENT ON SATURDAY, May 6, with some 16 teams from around the island and O'ahu. Organizer Kaimi Kaupiko says the gym will be open for free seating for the public. The one day event at the Robert Herkes Kaʻū District Gym in Pāhala runs from 8 a.m. into the evening. Food will be available for sale as a fundraiser.

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OCEAN VIEW SKATEPARK IS MOVING FORWARD with a public meeting coming up on Tuesday, May 23 at Kahuku County Park pavilion. County Department of Parks & Recreation says it's in the process of selecting a contractor for the Environmental Assessment. According to County Council member Michelle Galimba, "10,000 is going into Parks & Rec CIP fund, to be held for the skatepark."

    The May 23rd meeting will be attended by Parks & Rec Director Murice Messina to give updates and answer questions. A statement from Parks & Rec says, ""We have some good news to pass along! Our projects team completed the Scope of Work yesterday and have started the contract selection process for the Oceanview Skate Park EA – if all goes well, we'll have the contractor selected this week. Mayor Roth already funded the project, so we're full speed ahead on the EA."

    A statement from Ocean View Skatepark Association says, "We would like to see the community come out for this meeting and get involved! Ocean View Skatepark Association is seeking volunteers for community outreach, fundraising, marketing, website, and grant writing.

    "We would like to see how we can incorporate some other things into this project like a bike/walking path into the project as well as a community garden/food forest.
      Contact Laura Roberts at 406-249-3351 to help in any area, and to share ideas and connections for assisting in developing the Ocean View Skatepark.

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JAMES KUNANE TOKIOKA IS NEW HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM for the State of Hawai'i. Gov. Josh Green made the announcement Friday. Tokioka is a former member of Kaua'i County Council and state House of Representatives. He worked his way through the hotel industry in Hawai'i and on the mainland.
    Green said, "Director Tokioka is stepping up to help move forward important priorities for the state. He will immediately hit the ground running and foster collaboration amongst the various attached agencies at DBEDT."
    Tokioka is previous Director of state Airports Division. His nomination is subject to Advice and         

James Kunane Tokioka and Mary Alice Evans
 join Green cabinet. Photo from the Governor

Consent of the   Department of Transportation is expected to announce Tokioka's replacement at the Airports Division in the coming days.
    Outgoing nominee for DBEDT, Chris Sadayasu, will return to the Department of the Attorney General. His nomination was rejected by the Hawai'i Legislature. 
     A statement from the Governor's office said, "The search for the next Director of the Office of Planning  Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, May 4, 2023 Sustainable Development will continue in the coming weeks. Governor Green is committed to finding another qualified candidate who exemplifies the commitment to public service and the duties of the office, including land use, transit-oriented development, coastal zone management, climate adaptation, and other planning requirements for Hawaiʻi. In the meantime, current administrator Mary Alice Evans will serve as Acting Director of OPSD.
      Scott Glenn, whose nomination by Green was rejected by the Legislature, will take some time off to spend with family and will return to help the administration work on climate and environmental solutions, said the Governor's statement.

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