Kaʻū News Briefs May 31, 2024

Bolo will play at the Kaʻū Coffee Festival Opening Party on Saturday, June 1, Bolo co-wrote the song about the place in
Kaʻū named Kaiholena during an earlier Kaʻū Coffee Festival. The event is 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House.
Photo from the 'ekahi album cover.

IN SUPPORT OF KAʻŪ COFFEE AND ITS FESTIVAL, June 1-8, 'Ohana Foods has announced that it will establish a special section, long term in its Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, for the No Mark Up sales and promotion of Kaʻū Coffee. 'Ohana Foods founder Carl Okuyama said the Mizuno Coffee Program will 

refrain from marking up from the wholesale price of Kaʻū Coffee as a way to make it more affordable to local residents and to visitors. 

    Okuyama also operates 'Ohana Foods adjacent to the '76 in Na'alahu, and 'Ohana Foods in Hilo. 

     Okuyama said he wants to support the Kaʻū Coffee community of small farmers and give them additional opportunities to spread their brand names in the community and beyond. 

    He will be available to talk to farmers and the public at the Kaʻū Coffee Festival Opening Party on Saturday. June 1 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House on the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets.

     Also attending and available to meet the public will be County Council member Michelle Galimba, state Rep. Jeanne Kapela and members of the Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative with its President Gloria Camba. In addition, Connie Koi, CFO of Punalu'u Bake Shop will attend and guests will be able to sample the new Voyager, Espresso Energy Bar, made at Punalu'u Bakeshop with local ingredients including Kaʻū Coffee. Another local enterprise at the event will be Volcano Winery with wine tasting. 

     Founder of Kaʻū Coffee Mill, and major supporter of Kaʻū Coffee Festival for many years, Edmund C. Olson, will be a special guest. Chris Manfredi, an organizer of past Ka'u Coffee Festivals and a lobbyist for coffee legislation and broker in the Kaʻū Coffee business, is also expected. The event will host many sponsors of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival and provide them the opportunity to meet the farmers.

     Entertainment will be by keiki of Debbie Ryder's Halau Hula O Leionalani, The Jazz Gardeners, Bolo and the Mexican dance ensemble Ballet Folklorico La Negra. 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS BY HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK are announced for June:
    June 4 and 7 between 6:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. for ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel) monitoring on Mauna Loa, between 4,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation.
    June 6 between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., for vegetation surveys in the Kahuku Unit between 5,000- and 7,000-ft. elevation.
    June 24 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. for survey and control of banana poka on Mauna Loa between 3,800- and 6,800-ft. elevation.

'Ua'a fish at sea and nest in the mountains.
HVNP photo

    

    June 27 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. for invasive guinea grass control work in the coastal backcountry from sea level to 2,400-ft. elevation.
    USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
   An announcement from the Park says it regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
   "Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities."