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Saturday, November 25, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023


 A classic from marine debris artist Don Elwing, called Peace at the Temple Bell, components collected from Kamilo Beach in Kaʻū. He will display more recent works at Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Christmas in Kahuku event Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art by Don Elwing
HOLIDAYS IN KAHUKU is next Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Hwy 11 at the 70.5 mile-marker. The free family event features food, a craft fair and music, along with Santa bringing 200 gifts for keiki.
    "It's Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's own festival to highlight the Kahuku Unit of the National Park and to thank the community for all of their support," said Friends CEO Elizabeth Fein.
     Emcee will be Makana Kamahele. Performers will be the Kipapa Sisters, Kumu Debbie Ryder and Halau Hula O Leionalani, South Hawai‘i Symphony with holiday music, The Jazz Gardeners and the rock band Hot Potaytahs. John Replogle will perform the skit Little Lei Puahi & The Wild Pua‘a.
  Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will present its new logo and first line of clothing, long and short sleeve shirt, for sale for the first time, with colors from a wild dark brown, to Kelly green to heather, white, royal blue and slate. Traditional wear with the retired logo on jackets, youth shirts and women's tees
will also be on sale. Buy a new logo shirt and receive a 2018 Hawai‘i Volcano National Park Cultural Festival Shirt for free. The 2018 shirts were made but the Cultural Festival was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic.
    Those selling gifts include makers of Christmas ornaments, clothing, art made from marine debris, park-inspired paintings, pottery, jewelry, and locally produced packaged foods like Kaʻū Coffee and honey.
    Food and drink will be available from The Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū, 4 Scoops of Aloha and Flyn' Hawaiian Coffee Truck.
    There will be free shave ice minis and free face painting for keiki donated by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
    Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park financially supports numerous activities and projects in the Hawai‘i Volcanoes, including the Park's own annual Cultural Festival. Friends also raises money to support the Tuesday night After Dark in the Park presentations and cultural practitioners in the Ikahana No‘eau and Naleomanu Concert Series at Kīlauea Visitors Center. It financially supports the Youth Rangers Program provides work training for young people and can lead to long term employment with the National Park Service. Friends helps fund the Hawksbill Turtle Project, nēnē conservation efforts, the Park's native plants nursery, and supports volunteers to collect seeds, outplant and help with forest restoration, including removal of endangered species.
    Friends financially supported remodeling of the ‘Ōhi‘a Wing at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the building of the grass hale next to Volcano Art Gallery.
    It also operates its own programs, including Hawai‘i Volcanoes Institute, with educational experience in the National Park for school, college, non-profit and private groups. It produces and funds the upcoming Holidays in Kahuku.
    Friends also financially supports the new Kahuku-Pōhue Bay unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
    Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has been featured in numerous media, including the upcoming hour-long Nick News Special on Nickelodeon, to be released in December. The show features Guardians of the Trails and Youth Rangers programs.
    The mission of Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is to support the National Park Service in the protection, preservation, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

 
Laurel Wilt has killed more than 140,000 commercial
avocado trees in Florida and U.H. warns it could come
to Hawai‘i. Photo from University of Florida
A THREAT TO AVOCADO TREES has been announced by University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources. It's the Laurel Wilt spread by redbay ambrosia beetles and movement of infected avocado wood products. 
    The beetle bores into avocado trees, leaving sawdust exit tubes hanging off the trunks. Green leaves wilt, and turn brown, stems and limbs die back and avocado trees die.
    The infestation was first detected in Savanah, Georgia and moved across southern states to Texas but is not yet detected in California, where there is fear it might arrive through importing firewood from infected states.
    U.H. warns that it could come here. In Florida, more than 140,000 commercial avocado trees have been lost, valued at about $46.2 million. 
    The U.H. statement says Laurel Wilt "is not yet found in Hawai‘i, but we must be aware of this problem and learn how to identify LW and its vector, prevent its introduction, and manage LW should it arrive in Hawai'i."
    U.H. asks avocado tree owners and commercial producers to participate in a survey "to provide feedback on objectives that are important to you" and to help shape the U.H. and University of Florida team effort for funding to control Laurel Wilt and its vector. Click here to download the survey.
Click here to learn more about Laurel Wilt. Questions and completed surveys can be sent to Dr. Jonathan Crane (jhcr@ufl.edu).

The redbay ambrosia beetle that kills avocado trees. U.H. says be aware. Photo from University of Florida

TROPICAL STORM RAMON, southeast of Hawai‘i Island, is forecast to become a remnant low within 60 hours. The storm held winds of 45 mph on Saturday and all forecasting predicts reduction and not much movement toward Hawai‘i, according to the National Weather Service.



7,500 printed, 5,000 in the mail


Directed by Kaʻū's own Farley Sangels and four other
musicians from Kaʻū.



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