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Wednesday, November 08, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park posted this photo of a hiker navigating a rocky, dry trail with the Pacific Ocean on the horizon,
 as the Park opens and closes roads, trails and campgrounds with the rise and fall of threat levels for wildfires. 
Photo by M. Szoenyi/NPS
HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK HAS REOPENED Hilina Pali Road to vehicles at the Chain of Craters Road intersection but it remains closed to cars past the Mauna Iki Trailhead due to severe wildfire risk. Kulanaokuaiki Campground has reopened but fire restrictions remain in effect. Mauna Loa Road remains closed to vehicles past the intersection at Kīpukapuaulu. Hikers, bikers, and backcountry overnight users with a permit are allowed in both closures.
AS DROUGHT CONTINUES, MAYOR MITCH ROTH issued a statement at the end of the recent Wildfire Red Flag Warning period from the National Weather Service.
    The Red Flag led to an emergency proclamation banning outdoor flames and fires and other cautionary measures including a ban on parking on dry grass after travel. The restrictions ran from Kaʻū up the west side of the island.         
    The Mayor said, “We extend our gratitude to the community for their steadfast vigilance and preparedness during this warning period. It is humbling to live in a place where our community continues to go above and beyond to keep each other safe. Although the warning period is over, we are counting on our residents to continue doing what is in the best interest of us all.
    “While the specific mandated rules attached to the emergency proclamation will no longer be mandatory, the County would like to emphasize that residents remain urged to exercise caution and remain vigilant to ensure everyone’s safety."


CONSERVATION COUNCIL FOR HAWAI'I IS URGING THE PUBLIC TO TESTIFY FOR THE BAN
ON AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTION and to send in opinions to the state Board of Land & Natural Resources before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
  Kalanihale, the community organization from Miloli'i led by Ka‘imi Kaupiko, along with KUPA, Friends of Ho‘okena Beach Parks, Moana ‘Ohana’s, Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Clubs, and For the Fishes, petition the BLNR to initiate rulemaking to "Prohibit the Take of Marine Life for Commercial Aquarium Purposes." 
  A statement from Conservation Council says, "This is a critical time for all of us to come together for our culture, our environment, our home waters across the pae ‘āina, to mālama ‘āina, and restore 'āina momona (abundance). A‘ole AQ!!!!.... let's all do this together for our fish for future generations."
     The Board of Land & Natural Resources staff has recommended denying the proposal to initiate the aquarium fish ban rules due to procedural problems, including lack of time to create and review new rules and lack of time to conduct public scoping on the matter before the public hearing portion of Wednesday's meeting.
    The petition from the community organizations states, "Petitioners are comprised of native Hawaiian organizations and cultural practitioners, and nonprofit environmental and marine protection organizations. Petitioners are among the 1.4 million Hawai‘i residents whose way of life depends upon Hawai‘i’s coral
reefs, which provide economic, structural/protective, educational, social, recreational, cultural, spiritual, physical, biological, and ecological benefits.
    "Petitioners include those who are descended from the aboriginal people that inhabited the Hawaiian Islands in 1778 and who engage in traditional and customary practices that are inextricably linked to coral reefs and their marine life, which are both a natural and a cultural
resource. Commercial aquarium collection activities harm these Petitioners’ ability to conduct these traditional and customary practices.
   "All Petitioners are beneficiaries of public trust resources, which government agencies and
officials, including members of the Board, are obligated to protect. Moreover, Petitioners are among the 83% of Hawai‘i residents polled in 2017 who want to see an end to the destructive commercial take of marine life for aquarium purposes due to its negative environmental impacts and conflicts with cultural and local values.
    "Petitioners thus have significant interests in preserving and increasing the abundance of coral reef marine life for subsistence fishing, food security, native Hawaiian traditional and cultural practices, recreational use, and aesthetic value."
      See the complete petition and the BLNR Department of Aquatic Resources' response at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/F-3.pdf. Monitor the BLNR meeting at 9:15 a.m. at https://www.youtube.com/@boardoflandandnaturalresou1484/streams.


HULIAU - A TIME OF CHANGE is theme of the statewide Hawaiʻi Island Early Childhood Conference, to be hosted by Hawai‘i County on Dec. 1 and 2. The conference is dedicated to Early Childhood practitioners and will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott-King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel.
    "We invite all dedicated early childhood education practitioners to join us as we embrace a period of significant change together," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "The future of our keiki depends on a high-quality education that opens doors to better lifelong opportunities. Our commitment, as an administration, is to enable our keiki to raise their keiki here in Hawaiʻi, and early childhood education is instrumental in
building a strong foundation for this goal."
    The conference begins with a dinner at the hotel's Honu's restaurant on Friday evening, featuring a keynote address by Susan Gale Perry, a renowned expert in early childhood education and childcare trends. Perry, CEO of Child Care Aware of America, will provide insights on making a positive impact on childcare.
    On Saturday, Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke will update participants on the state's Ready Keiki initiative. The day starts at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and includes workshops on advocacy, local initiatives, and early literacy development. The event concludes at 3:30 p.m.
    Angela Thomas, Hawaiʻi County Early Childhood Resource Coordinator, expressed her enthusiasm for the conference, saying, "This conference offers the latest information to practitioners and explores early literacy teaching strategies. The theme, Huliau - A Time of Change, reflects the opportunities to enhance Early Childhood Education."
    Registration options include Friday night's dinner and keynote for $30, Saturday's workshops for $40, or a two-day experience for $60. Special hotel rates are available for attendees.
    To register for this event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hawaii-island-early-childhood-conference-2023-tickets-739723973317?aff=oddtdtcreator.



A VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. OKK President and veteran Wayne Kawachi said there will be music with Sonny Ramos, a free lunch and drinks as well as door prizes.






 












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