Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, June 3, 2023

An earlier Kaukau 4 Keiki processing station at the Resilience Hub in Nā'ālehu Hongwanji, with fresh food grown
by local farmers. Sign up for Kaukau 4 Keki beginning Monday. Photo by Katie Graham

Kaukau 4 Keiki runs for six weeks this summer.
Photo from Vibrant Hawai'i

KAUKAU 4 KEIKI REGISTRATION OPENS ON MONDAY,  June 5. Vibrant Hawai'i and its Resilience Hubs in Volcano, Pāhala, Nā'ālehu, Ocean View and Miloli'i will provide breakfast and lunch items weekly to families with children who sign up in advance. The fresh and shelf-stable foods will be provided for six weeks beginning June 19 and ending July 28.
    Registered recipients will be able to pick up food at assigned times at Cooper Center in Volcano, located at 19-4030 Wright Road; Pāhala Hongwanji at 96-1123 Pa'a'au Place; Nā'ālehu Hongwanji at 96-5695 Highway 11; Ocean View at 92-1421 Princess Kaiulani Blvd; and Miloli'i Halau at 89-1825 Miloli'i Road.
    Registration for the Kaukau 4 Keiki program will officially open this Monday, June 5 at 8:30 a.m. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
    The program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture and partners, with 35 pickup locations around the island. To register, visit www.vibranthawaii.org/kaukau4keiki. 

Kaukau 4 Keiki summer food distribution program begins on June 19 for Volcano, Pāhala
Nā'ālehu, Ocean View and Miloli'i. Photo from Vibrant Hawai'i

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

THE KOHALA CENTER, which has helped  Kaʻū Coffee farmers buy their lands and held retreats and numerous educational sessions in  Kaʻū, has posted the following opportunities in agriculture:
     Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op is hiring an agricultural processor in Kona. The position is responsible for carrying out Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Co-op's Standard Operating Procedures, following co-op policies, and adhering to the instruction and guidance of processing supervisors and management in a food manufacturing environment. Please check out the HUC website for further information. Resumes can be sent to operations@eatbreadfruit.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
    Hawaiʻi Land Trust is hiring a director of land acquisition to lead related projects over lands with natural, cultural, agricultural,

or other value to Hawaiʻi and its communities. HILT protects the lands that sustain Hawaiʻi, and teaches future generations to do the same. The position will be involved in all parts of acquisitions, including working with communities and landowners, identifying and scoping opportunities, fundraising, negotiating, due diligence, and completing legal processes to close transactions. If the candidate is an attorney licensed in Hawaiʻi, the position may be expanded to also serve as in-house counsel. Further information on the position and how to apply can be found here.
    Feed The Hunger Fund is hiring a lending officer/business development officer who will be responsible for generating a strong pipeline of prospective borrowers while maintaining an active presence in the communities served by FTHF, and collecting required loan documentation, extracting relevant

information, analyzing financial and business documents. FTHF is a nonprofit, certified Community Development Financial Institution that aims to drive systemic change across the food system by providing loan funding and business technical assistance to farmers and food entrepreneurs, primarily among immigrants, women, and communities of color. Visit their website for further information about the position. For more, contact Kelly Teamey at kteamey@kohalacenter.org, See https://www.feed-hunger.com/.

THE DEADLINE IS SOON TO APPLY FOR MICRO-GRANTS from Hawai'i Department of Agriculture. Micro-grants for up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations will support small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations. This third year of the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program continues to focus on increasing the quantity and quality of local food in food-insecure communities. People who previously received this grant are not eligible. The deadline to apply is 12 noon on Thursday, June 15. Visit https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr23-09mgfsp/ to apply.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

SENIOR MEDICARE PATROL HAWAI'I is warning the public that Medicare loses about $70 billion a year to fraud, while trying to take care of the 10,000 Americans that turn 65 every day and become eligible to sign up for Medicare. "Fraudulent activities affect older adults, their families, and caregivers across the state and nation, often costing time, money, and well-being," says the warning.
    “Medicare fraud is devastating, but Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Hawaii, as part of a national

network, helps to preserve the Medicare program for years to come,” said Norma Kop, SMP Hawaii Director. “We teach people how to prevent fraud from happening by explaining how to detect and report medical billing errors.”
    Learn how to protect identity, assets, and legacy by joining SMP Hawaii and its partners for Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, June 5-11, 2023. Find out more about this special week of education and activities at www.smphawaii.org.
    SMP Hawai'i aims to help with questions, concerns and complaints about suspicious activities. Its trained volunteer counselors assist with non-health related fraud with referrals to appropriate agencies and resources. SMP offers free group educational presentations and community events. It also offers a copy of Hawai'i's Fraud Prevention and Resource Guide, 3rd edition.
    SMP Hawaii is seeking volunteers who are bi-lingual to assist people with limited English to learn about healthcare fraud prevention, scams, and ways to protect themselves.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

The Ka'u Calendar: 5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on stands.
Also see www.kaucalendar.com