Wednesday, August 07, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 7, 2024

Still time to cast ballots, register to vote, online in person
PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT NĀ'ĀLEHU POLICE STATION
24/7 UNTIL 7 P.M. AUG. 10, which is Election Day. Nāʻālehu Police Station is at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 11. See voter guides in English, 'Ōlelo Hawaiian, Ilokano, Tagalog and Chinese at https://elections.hawaii.gov/.../2024-primary-election.../

DACTHAL  HERBICIDE ALSO KNOWN AS DCPA, WAS BANNED NATIONWIDE on Tuesday by the EPA, the first time the EPA has used its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide in more than 40 years. The banned ingredient is dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate. It is used on athletic fields, golf courses and for growing vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.
    State of Hawai'i's Department of Agriculture's pesticide branch launched its notification to licensed retailers to stop selling it. The agency reported on Wednesday that "Preliminary responses from retailers are that there have not been sales of the product in Hawai‘i for several years."

Hawai'i Department of Agricultural sent out notification that Dacthal, DCPA,
is no longer legal nationally.

    The risk includes exposure to pregnant women leading to thyroid damage in their babies. All pesticide products sold in the state must be licensed with the Pesticides Branch and one pesticide product containing DCPA as the active ingredient, DACTHAL FLOWABLE HERBICIDE (EPA Reg. No. 5481-487), was licensed in Hawai‘i, but no longer.
    “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.
    “It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems. That’s why for the first time in almost 40 years, EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide.”
    According to the EPA, DCPA is a pesticide registered to control weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings
    In May 2023, EPA released its assessment on the risks of occupational and residential exposure to products containing DCPA. The assessment found health risks associated with DCPA use and application, even when personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used. The most serious risks are to the unborn babies of pregnant individuals. EPA estimates that some pregnant individuals handling DCPA products could be subjected to exposures four to 20 times greater than what EPA has estimated is safe for unborn babies.
    "This emergency order, while rare, underscores the importance of proper disposal of all pesticides," says the EPA statement.
    Questions regarding DCPA products and the proper disposal of pesticides in Hawai‘i may be addressed to the Pesticides Branch at 808-973-9402 or hdoa.pested@hawaii.gov.

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More pelagic false killer whales are being taken by Hawai'i's longline fishing fleet, leading to notifications from Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Center for Biological Diversityand other groups. Photo from Environment Hawai'i
THE HAWAI'I LONGLINE FISHING FLEET is unintentionally killing or injuring more pelagic false killer whales, according to conservation groups that have contacted National Marine Fisheries Service about their concerns. National Marine Fisheries scientists documented the cases of injury and death as part of their oversight of the industry.
    Scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service have documented a rise in the number of pelagic false killer whales that are killed or seriously injured as a result of interactions with the Hawaiʻi-based longline fishing fleet.
    In July, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Natural Resources Defense Council notified NMFS, contending that its failure to issue a rule to amend the Take Reduction Plan for false killer whales violates the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
    The issue is basis for one of the stories in this month's Environment Hawai'i. See https://www.environment-hawaii.org/

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.

Keoki Sereno will teach intermediate finger style 'ukulele based on the interpretations of James Hill. Classes start at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church for three weeks. Photo by Julia Neal

Pastor Woodley White announced
'ukulele and music theory classes
at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church.
Photo by Julia Neal
LUTHIER, GUITARIST AND 'UKULELE INSTRUCTOR WOODLEY WHITE, who is also minister of Nāʻālehu Methodist Church, announces 'ukulele and music theory classes.
    A free intermediate level finger style 'ukulele class on Wednesdays begins Aug. 14 at the church at 95-5668 Mamaloha Hwy. Classes are at 3:30 p.m. and will continue for eight weeks. Keoki Sereno will teach from Jumpin' Jim's Ukulele Masters / Duets for One by James Hill. For those with resources, White recommends a copy of this book for personal reference. See James Hill play 'ukulele hip hop and techno at Pahala Plantation House at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1jGz2UkmI0.
    Beginning Sept. 4, additional weekly classes at 1:30 p.m. will be music theory and at 2:30 p.m. beginning 'ukulele for children and adults taught by Linda Flow.
Tenor 'ukulele that students may borrow are available for the duration of the classes.

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Melanie Oldfather will direct Volcano Festival
Chorus. She is shown here with jazz artist
 JP Thoma. Photo from Volcano Art Center
archive at 
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VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS will be gathering to review the music for the upcoming holiday season, starting Thursday, Sep. 5 at the New Hope Church in Volcano at 7 pm. The church is located at 11-3019A Volcano Road. This year the chorus will be led by Melanie Oldfather.
    The chorus meets each Thursday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., yjr concert tentatively set for Dec.
 7. Music will be provided free of charge so there is no financial burden on anyone. All singers interested in joining the choir are encouraged. "There no auditions, just come join us. We are a friendly group of people that enjoy singing, sounding good is a bonus," says a statement from the group.
    For more information call 808 982-7344. The Chorus is sponsored by the Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network.

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The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers 
on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.