Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, April 6, 2023

Kumu Meleana Manuel me na kupuna of Volcano will lead her halau Hula Ke 'Olu Makani O Mauna Loa this Sunday, Monday and Thursday at Merrie Monarch Week events in Hilo. Photo by Jesse Tunison

HALAU FROM VOLCANO & PĀHALA ARE HEADING TO THE 60th MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVITIES in Hilo this weekend. Kumu Meleana Manuel me na kupuna o Volcano and her Halau Hula Ke 'Olu Makani O Mauna Loa is set to perform on Merrie Monarch Week's first day, Easter Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hilo Civic Auditorium. On Monday, the halau performs with musician-singer Uncle Ben Kaili at noon at Naniloa Hotel. The halau performs again on Thursday, at Noon, at Naniloa Hotel. All events are free, no tickets needed.
    Halau member and Volcano resident Marsha Hee invites the public to attend the many festivities during Merrie Monarch Week, including the cultural, arts and artisan displays and sales. "E hele mai a kāko'o; please join us in showcasing and supporting halau hula and over 150 of Hawaiʻi's best artisans and crafters," said Hee.

Hano Grace, on second horse from the left, drew a large  Kaʻū contingent and served as Marshal of the Merrie Monarch Parade
last year. This year, parade is Saturday, April 15. Photo by Jovena Moses

    Kumu Debbie Ryder with her Halau Hula Leionalani, based in Pāhala, will perform on Sunday at the Civic at 2 p.m. and on Wednesday at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel at 1 p.m.
    Numerous Kaʻū- connected organizations, agencies and horse riding groups are expected to participate in the Merrie Monarch Parade in Hilo on Saturday, April 15.
    April 13-15 are the nights of competition, which will be shown live on KITV and also live-streamed online. See Merrie Monarch Festival (hawaiinewsnow.com).
Visit merriemonarch.com for updated event info and daily coverage during the festival. Also see Merrie Monarch Festival | Hilo HI | Facebook.

The young ladies of Pāhala's Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani performed at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel last year. They will perform again this year this Sunday at Hilo Civic and Wednesday at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Photo by Brenda Iokepa-Moses

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SUPPORTING FOOD HUBS TO PROVIDE LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TO SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS and other state institutions is the aim of the state of Hawai' Department of Agriculture's competitive request for proposals. 

    The call for proposals, says, "These awards are to be utilized by the Hawai'i State Department of Agriculture to support the establishment and growth of food hubs on a scale that meets demand by state institutions such as schools, hospitals and correctional facilities. For this solicitation, multiple awards will be made for projects that meet the terms of Act 313/SLH 2022 with budgets of a minimum $50,000 and a maximum of $250,000. 

    "Greater award amounts will be considered for proposals of extraordinary statewide benefit and with outcomes and measurable indicators that have statewide impact. Projects should be completed within 36 months and before March 31, 2027. 

     The Definition of a food hub for this solicitation adopts the United States Department of Agriculture’s working definition which means “a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products”. Locally produced food for this Request for Proposals means food grown, raised or sourced within the state of Hawai'i, according to the state Department of Agriculture's solicitation.

    See more, along with the application at https://www.msnbc.com/live

WESTERN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE RESEARCH & EDUCATION is calling for proposals involving agricultural producers, scientists and others who employ an interdisciplinary approaches to advance sustainable agriculture at local and regional levels. Projects must integrate rigorous research and education aiming to advance the three components of sustainable agriculture–environmental, economic, and social–and use innovative educational outreach to disseminate new knowledge to students, producers, and other agricultural stakeholders. Call for proposals closes May 23. Visit Western SARE website at https://western.sare.org/grants/research-and-education/for more information.

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THE COUNTY BUILDING DEPARTMENT WILL REQUIRE USE OF CLOUD + DELTA DRAFTING for any building permit changes starting April 17. A statement from county Department of Public Works on Thursday says, "All permit plan resubmittals and revisions shall consist of the entire plan set, which shall be formatted to identify changes made to the previous plan set by using a Cloud + Delta drafting convention.
    The Cloud + Delta format will replace the practice of those changing building permit to submit unmarked, “clean” plan sets. In addition, changing a building plan will require "a correction response letter, and all revisions shall include a revision narrative that describes changes that have been made.        

    The county advises, "Plan revisions and resubmittals that do not comply with the Cloud+Delta format and/or are not submitted with a corrections response letter or revision narrative shall be rejected at permit intake. Permit resubmittals and revisions received prior to April 17, 2023, will be processed without these requirements."

    Learn how to use the county's Electronic Processing & Information Center to submit building and other permit applications online at https://www.dpw.hawaiicounty.gov/divisions/electronic-processing-and-information-center-epic-system.

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TIEKO TOBIN OF OCEAN VIEW HAS BEEN CHARGED with burglary and criminal property damage, the offenses stemming from three incidents that occurred at several businesses in Ocean View, including a restaurant and food store, during the early morning hours of Wednesday morning. Tobin is 27 years of age.

Tieko Tobin is charged in connection with
predawn thefts at Ocean View businesses
on Wednesday. Photo from HPD 

    At 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a restaurant in the 92-8000 block of Hawai‘i Boulevard in Ocean View for a reported break-in alarm. Upon arrival, officers determined a large rock had been used to shatter the front door and items were stolen from within the eatery. While investigating this burglary, they contacted Tobin who was nearby, however at that point in the investigation he was not yet considered a suspect. Nearly an hour later at 2:34 a.m., Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a second alarm at a grocery store in the 92-8000 block of Māmalahoa Highway, less than a half-mile away from the original incident. Officers determined a large rock was used to shatter the front door of this business establishment as well. 

    While still investigating these incidents, Ka‘ū patrol officers were again dispatched back to the restaurant on Hawai’i Boulevard for another break-in at 5:00 a.m. While conducting area checks, officers observed movement from within a neighboring business and determined Tobin was hiding within the establishment. Following officers’ commands to exit the building, Tobin climbed out of the business via a window with items from within the business. He was then placed under arrest and taken into custody.

   In the course of their investigation, detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section identified Tobin as being responsible for all three incidents. On Wednesdqay, Tobin was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary and one count of fourth-degree criminal property damage. His bail was set at $4,500. Tobin remains in police custody at the Kealakehe Police Station pending his initial court appearance on Thursday, April 6, in Kona District Court.

     Police are asking anyone who may have information relative to these incidents to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

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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.

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.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

Volcano Thursday Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See Volcano Evening Market facebook.

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 Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.