Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014

A Ka`u resident captured this image of October snow and skies following yesterday's stormy weather during a trip to Kona.
Photo by Richard Taylor

KA`U PLANTATION DAYS PARADE on Saturday featured pa`u riders and their horses representing Hawai`i’s islands and honoring ancestors. 

      Alison and Tyler Helbush represented Ni`ihau and honored Gilbert Searle, Alison Helbush’s great grand uncle and Tyler Helbush’s grand uncle.

Keana Kuluwaimaka and La`akea Ke represent Kaua`i
in Ka`u Plantation Days parade. Photo by Julia Neal

      Keana Kuluwaimaka and La`akea Ke represented Kaua`i and honored Melvin Kuluwaimaka, Kuluwaimaka’s grand uncle who worked on the plantation under Mr. Hamada in Na`alehu.
      Katie Helbush and Solomon Singer represented O`ahu and honored Eddie Searle, Helbush’s great, great grandfather.
      Raylyne Welker and Frank Lorenzo, Jr. represented Moloka`i and honored Joseph Martinez Gouveia, Walker’s ancestor who was a mechanic in Na`alehu.
      Teani Souza and her riding partner represented Lana`i.
      Lorilee Lorenzo and her cousin John Kalahiki represented Kaho`olawe and honored Thomas Kailiawa, Sr., their great grandfather who was a welder for the plantation.
      Kercia Hanoa-Derisan’s and her riding partner represented Maui and honored Kainoa Hanoa, Hanoa-Derisan’s great grandfather who was a cowboy.
      Jenny Castenada and Jesse Lorenzo represented Hawai`i and honored Stanley Lorenzo, Sr., Lorenzo’s grandfather who was raised as a paniolo, drove a sugar truck for the plantation and retired from county Parks & Recreation Department.

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Tropical Storm Ana is expected to be a hurricane when it
reaches Hawai`i. Map from CPHS

TROPICAL STORM ANA IS STRENGTHENING and expected to become a hurricane tomorrow. According to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, the storm will still have hurricane-strength winds when it gets to Hawai`i Island on Saturday. At 11 a.m. today, the center the storm was moving toward the west-northwest at a speed of near eight miles per hour, and this general motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days.

      Maximum sustained winds are near 65 miles per hour, with higher gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 60 miles from the center.
      See www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl/cphc.

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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY REPORTED that the flow front moving toward Pahoa has advanced downslope about 240 yards since Oct. 10, with an average advance rate of approximately 80 yards per day since Oct. 6.

Alison and Tyler Helbush represent Ni`ihau. Photo by Julia Neal

      Active breakouts were scattered along the leading 1.3 miles of the flow, midway along the length of the flow where lava first entered the crack system and along the flow between these two main areas of activity. This morning’s Civil Defense overflight observed that the flow has advanced 45 yards toward the northeast since yesterday. Vegetation in direct contact with the flow is burning. The next HVO over flight is scheduled for tomorrow.

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CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT THREE gave their views on Hawai`i’s public school system when they answered questions posed by Civil Beat. 

      “Hawai`i’s public school system has always been a work in progress; we are constantly striving for a better education system, and I believe that our public school system is always working towards accomplishing this goal,” said incumbent Democratic Rep. Richard Onishi. “My entire family (parents, brothers and sister, wife, children, nephews and niece) are products of our public school system, and I am proud of that. I support the Department of Education’s focus on STEM education, the computerization of the classrooms, and providing a computer to every student for use with their education. I believe that there must be a system to fairly assess the effectiveness of all employees, both in the public and private sector. It should provide a process for the recognition of successful performance and to identify areas where improvement is needed. This assessment system should also include help to identify areas of training and assistance that are needed and resources should be available to help the individual. All organizations can be run more effectively. It takes better communications and collaboration between all stakeholders in our education system including administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, volunteers, businesses, school and community organizations, higher education organizations, and our government, to accomplish better effectiveness.”

      Libertarian candidate Fred Fogel said, “Despite our investment in education, the performance of students in Hawai`i`’s public schools remain near the bottom nationally. Some things we could do to improve the effectiveness of Hawai`i’s schools are:

Maile David, incoming County Council member for Ka`u (center), with Ka`u
Plantation Days and Ka`u Multicultural Society organizer Darlyne Vierra (right),
Winslow Vierra, of paniolo fame, andLiz Kuluwaimaka, co-event and Multi-
cultural Society organizer along with one of Viera's 15 grandchildren. They
presented a photographic history of ranch and dairy life during last weekend's
Ka`u Plantation Days at Pahala Plantation House, the old manager's house
for the sugar plantation. Photo by Julia Neal

1. Pay the good teachers more. Help underperforming ones find a different profession. 
2. Implement a ‘360-degree’ teacher evaluation system that embraces feedback from their bosses, cohorts, parents and students. 
3. Implement a common student evaluation system and publish the results. 
4. Establish different educational pipelines for college, trades and special needs. Provide more trade training. 
5. Issue school vouchers and allow parents to send kids to schools outside their district if space available. Hawai`i spends a little over $10,000 on each student. This money should go to the student, no matter what school they choose — public, private or charter. 
6. Empower principals to spend their voucher money any way they see fit. Let the principals establish priorities depending on their specific needs. 
7. Dissolve the state school board (Hawai`i is the only state with a state-wide school board) and create county boards compromised of principals (public and private).” 

      See civilbeat.com.

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Raylyne Welker and Frank Lorenzo represent Moloka`i. Photo by Julia Neal

HALAU HULA KALEHUAKI`EKI`EIKA`IU MA KILAUEA, under the direction of kumu hula Ab Kawainohoikala`i Valencia, presents a free hula performance tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. 

      Park entrance fees apply.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WILL PRACTICE how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday during Great ShakeOut earthquake drills. Ka`u residents can join them by registering for the 2014 Great Hawai`i ShakeOut. Participants practice how to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes wherever they live, work, or travel.
      Shakeout.org/hawaii suggests that between now and Thursday, residents consider what may happen when an earthquake shakes your area. Plan what you will do now to prepare, so that when it happens you will be able to protect yourself and then recover quickly.

      Audio and video “Drill Broadcast” recordings that have been created to provide instructions during drills can be downloaded.
      Talk to other people or organizations about what they have done, and encourage them to get more prepared. Display posters and flyers available on the website around communities, classrooms or office spaces.
      On Thursday at 10:16 a.m., Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening. Stay down for at least 60 seconds. Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes.
      While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
      Finally, practice what your community will do after the shaking stops.
      For more information, see shakeout.org/hawaii.

KA`U LEGAL CLINIC REGISTRATION DEADLINE is Friday. Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. in Pahala hosts the free clinic for low-income residents Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
      Call 313-8210 to qualify and reserve a spot.

THE HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER an active shooter presentation during an afternoon meeting in Na`alehu a week from today, on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The presentation will take place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
      It is designed to help individuals increase their survivability should they encounter an active shooter or other type of active violent incident.
      Police will provide information on previous incidents of mass violence, recent events, best practices for those caught in such situations, law enforcement’s response and how to work together as a community toward prevention. They will also provide additional resources for participants so they can continue their education on this topic, followed by a question-and answer segment.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

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Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Oct. 13, 2014

Iwao Yonemitsu, a retired sugar agronomist and John Cross, of Olson Land Trust, shared photos, maps and drawings
 during Ka`u Plantation Days. Photo by Julia Neal

A MAGNITUDE-4.0 EARTHQUAKE STRUCK seven miles north of Na`alehu at 6:43 p.m. yesterday. According to Wes Thelen, HVO’s Seismic Network Manager, this earthquake was at a depth of 3.4 miles. A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/.

Yesterday's 4.0-magnitude earthquake was between Na`alehu
and Pahala. Map from USGS/HVO

      The earthquake was felt on the south part of the island. The USGS “Did you feel it?” website at earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi received around 20 felt reports, mostly from the Na`alehu area, within an hour of the earthquake. Only weak shaking (Intensity III) has been reported around the epicenter. At these shaking intensities, damage to buildings or structures is not expected.
      No aftershocks had been recorded as of 9:30 p.m. last night.
      Over the past 50 years, the area north of Na`alehu has experienced eight earthquakes, including yesterday’s event, with magnitudes greater than 4.0 and at depths of zero to 6.2 miles.
       The earthquake caused no detectable changes in Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruption or on Mauna Loa and other active volcanoes on the island.
       This event is a reminder for Hawai`i residents to be prepared for earthquakes. The second annual Great Hawai`i Shakeout, scheduled for 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, is an opportunity for people throughout the state to practice “Drop! Cover! Hold On!” — actions that are proven to reduce injury in an earthquake. For details, see shakeout.org/hawaii.
      For information on recent earthquakes in Hawai`i and eruption updates, see hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

The Puna lava flow is now almost one-half mile from Pahoa's transfer station.
Photo from USGS/HVO

LAVA IS JUST OVER ONE-HALF MILE from the Pahoa transfer station as of this morning. Hawai`i County Civil Defense reports that the flow front continues to be active and has advanced approximately 75 yards since yesterday, moving northeast. 

      All burning activity is limited to vegetation that is in direct contact with the flow, and there is no brush fire threat at this time. Smoke conditions were moderate to heavy this morning in the Ka`ohe Homesteads area due to a light northeast wind.
      The public is reminded that the flow is not visible and cannot be accessed from any public areas. Access to Ka`ohe Homesteads subdivision remains restricted to area residents only.

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CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT THREE gave their views on labeling of genetically engineered food and pesticide regulation when they answered questions posed by Civil Beat. Are these public safety issues, or are the dangers exaggerated?

Walter Wong Yuen, Jr. shares history, culture and traditions of Chinese in Ka`u.
Photo by Julia Neal

      “I believe that these issues are for the federal government to decide upon based on reliably verified scientific research on the affects on human health and the environment,” said incumbent Democratic Rep. Richard Onishi. “The federal government has the systems and resources in place to evaluate the volumes of information, require the cooperation and participation of the private and public sectors and to mandate regulations and rules that apply to all government agencies and states. Neither the state nor the counties have these systems in place or the resources necessary to fully evaluate the scientific research in this area to make the determination on these issues. The state of Hawai`i is one of the smaller state economies in relation to the consumption of food and the use of pesticides, and it would be difficult to mandate the private sector to comply with regulations and rules that would only apply in Hawai`i. Stricter regulations may cause these private companies to decide to just not do business in Hawai`i instead of having to meet more rigorous and potentially more costly regulations which would be specifically mandated only in Hawai`i. Also, these decisions need to be evaluated on what the effects would be on our farmers, on our ability to produce food in Hawai`i, on the cost of food and on our ability to become more food sustainable.”

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u had Hawaiian games and crafts.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Libertarian candidate Fred Fogel said, “An easy and effective start would be labeling all produce to give people an informed choice at the point of purchase. Growers know if their produce is GMO. However, requiring the manufacturers of processed foods to label GMO foods should happen at the federal level. (Unfortunately, given today’s political climate and the relatively long time it took years ago to standardize the present food info labels, I don’t see that happening anytime soon.) If the state requires such labeling, we might find ourselves with a reduced selection of processed foods. Of course ‘every cloud has a silver lining,’ and the unavailability of processed foods might steer people toward more ‘real food,’ in turn supporting local agriculture. Eventually, all food products should be labeled for GMO, thereby giving the consumer a complete choice at the point of purchase.
      “As far as the ‘public safety issue,’ present laws regarding GMO and the use of pesticides are adequate. However, I believe the counties should have more say than the state or the federal government on all issues, not just pesticides and GMO. The present philosophy of federal law ‘trumping’ state law and state law trumping county law is exactly opposite of what our founding fathers envisioned. If the people (and associated government) in a specific county want to regulate, ban or legalize something, they should be able to trump higher-level governments. Of course this philosophy would apply to everything and include things like education, health care, transportation, alternative energy, gambling, prostitution and cannabis. If people have ‘home rules’ in the areas of pesticides and GMO, they should have home rule for everything.”
      See civilbeat.com.

Ka`u High School sold T-shirts to raise funds. Photo by Julia Neal

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CENTRAL PACIFIC HURRICANE CENTER is monitoring tropical storm Ana east-southeast of South Point. The system is expected to become a hurricane and could reach the Big Island this weekend.
      Information is available at prh.noaa.gov/cphc.

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THE ARC OF KONA HAS JOBS AVAILABLE to support individuals with disabilities and is hiring in Ocean View, Na`alehu, and Pahala. Contact Yvonne at 323-2626.

BOOTHS AT KA`U PLANTATION DAYS celebration on Saturday at Pahala Plantation House offered everything from history to health, from food and drinks to fun and games and from crafts to fundraisers. Many community organizations raised money for their causes and their programs, from Ka`u High to Friends of Ka`u Libraries.

Ka`u CDP Steering Committee meets tomorrow to discuss the document's
first comprehensive draft.

THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE DRAFT of the Ka`u Community Development Plan will be presented to the CDP Steering Committee tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. The public is invited to the meeting, which will include presentations, questions from members and short activities to assess committee members’ understanding of the draft. 

      Working draft CDP materials will be available at the conclusion of the meeting. They will also be available at kaucdp.info, community centers and libraries by Wednesday.
      For more information, contact Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

AT TOMORROW’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK program, Dr. Patrick V. Kirch, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus at University of California, Berkeley, reviews the history and presents current evidence for the history of human settlement throughout the Pacific.
      The free program takes place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Park entrance fees apply.

Francine Weller displays her crochet work. Photo by Julia Neal

AUDITIONS FOR GIAN CARLO MENOTTI’S classic tale Amahl and the Night Visitors take place next week on Monday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 22. The auditions will be held at Kilauea Militiary Camp’s Kilauea Theater at 6:30 p.m. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 26, 27 and 28 and Jan. 2, 3 and 4. The show is directed by Suzi Bond, with Christopher Tomich as musical director and Pam James as choreographer. Armando Mendoza will conduct the orchestra. The show was the debut production of Hallmark Hall of Fame in Dec. 1951.
      Parts available for the show are Amahl, a crippled boy of about 12, his mother, the Three Kings Kaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, a page and a chorus of shepherds and dancers.
      Amahl, a shepherd, tries to tell his mother about an enormous star with a long tail. His mother grows angrier when Amahl tells her that a knock at the door is three kings come to visit them. The kings enter and tell them that they have come to find a king. Amahl’s mother tries to steal some of the kings’ gold to use to help her child. She is caught, and when the kings offer to let her keep the gold, explaining that the king they seek will need nothing but love to rule his kingdom, she returns it. Amahl offers his staff as an additional gift, and suddenly finds that he can walk. He leaves with the kings to pay homage to the child who has healed him.
      For more information about the auditions, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

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Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014

Ka`u High Trojans are BIIF inaugural eight-man football champions following their win in Kohala yesterday. Photo from Facebook

KA`U HIGH TROJANS ARE INAUGURAL CHAMPIONS in Big Island Interscholastic Federation eight-man football after their win in Kohala yesterday. With a final score of 62-36, the team finished the season with six wins and one pre-season loss.

Kupuna who studied under the late Edna Aguil continue their hula tradition
at Ka`u Plantation Days yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal

      Trojans dominated every quarter yesterday. Three touchdowns and two extra points brought the first-quarter score to 20-14. Cy Tamura scored two of the touchdowns with runs of three and 43 yards.
      Kupono Palakiko-Leffew took the ball one yard into the end zone for the first touchdown of the second quarter. Two minutes later, Anthony Emmsley-Ah Yee carried the ball into the end zone for another six points, followed by a two-point conversion by Tamura. With a minute left in the first half, Palakiko-Leffew ran 18 yards for a touchdown, and Tamura scored another two points. Halftime score was 42-22.
      In the third quarter, Tamura made a 43-yard touchdown pass to Emmsley-Ah Yee. Kainalu Ke made an interception and returned 27 yards for another touchdown. Two extra points by Kaimanu Medeiros-Dancel brought the third-quarter score to 56-22.

A drummer joins Keoki Kahumoku & the `Ukulele Kids. Photo by Julia Neal

      In the fourth quarter, quarterback Jordan DeRamos ran the ball 13 yards for the final Trojan touchdown of the game and the season.
      Before their game, the champs attended Ka`u girls varsity volleyball team’s final match of the regular season at Parker, where the Trojans won in three straight sets. Scores were 25-7, 25-11 and 25-16.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED by Hawai`i County Council Wednesday urges the Board of Water Supply to authorize acquisition of land required for development of Ocean View Well Number Two, a reservoir, support facilities and water main to connect with Ocean View Well Number One in its five-year plan. It also authorizes the Department of Water Supply to engineer and construct a second well and all accessory facilities.

Kupuna of Hannah's Makana `Ohana perform at Ka`u Plantation Days.
Photo by Julia Neal

      The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.

      Agenda is available at hawaiicounty.gov.

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REP. RICHARD ONISHI, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE for state House District Three, gave his views on issues and answered questions posed by Civil Beat.
      The first question was, “Why are you running for the Hawai`i Legislature?”
      “I am running for re-election to a second term to represent the House of Representatives Third District because I believe that there is still more that I can do to fulfill the vision for our Third District communities that I pledged to support in my initial campaign in 2012,” Onishi replied. “That vision was for our communities to be safe, healthy, economically viable and sustainable. I feel that I have worked hard to accomplish this vision through my record of legislation introduced, issues supported, and the securing of funds for projects within the Third District. However, there are still more issues to address and projects that require funding. I believe that I can make it happen as the Third District’s state representative.”

Organizer Darlyne Vierra, at right, with supporters.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Onishi answered questions regarding the state’s unfunded liabilities, homelessness, genetically modified food and pesticides, Hawai`i’s cost of living, energy, public records, the public school system, the economy, environmental resources and health care.
      Regarding health care, Onishi said Hawai`i Health System Corporation, the state’s medical services safety net in rural communities, faces financial and administrative issues at the corporate level and in all five regions. “State support for the system is critical to the continuation of medical care, but the question of what level of care the system is required to provide has not been fully established and has to be determined by all of the stakeholders of the system.
      “The lack of primary care family physicians is at a critical point in Hawai`i as well as across the U.S. The development of the Hilo Medical Center’s Rural Primary Care Physician Training Program is very crucial throughout the state, especially in our rural communities. This program must have continued state support to solidify and establish itself. Once the program is established, it will then be able to receive federal physician training funds.
      See civilbeat.com.

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INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN LOW-INCOME neighborhoods in Hawai`i experience higher barriers to the adoption of healthier behaviors, according to research by Dr. Vanessa Buchthal, of University of Hawai`i-Manoa’s Office of Public Health.
      Also, patterns of change in obesity-related behaviors suggest that disparities may be increasing between low-income and moderate/high-income Hawai`i residents.

Members of Pahala Dojo share their karate skills. Photo by Julia Neal

      “In 2001, the percentage of Hawai`i residents consuming the recommended two fruits and three vegetables per day was 12.8 percent among middle/upper income Hawai`i residents, 12.2 percent among low-income Hawai`i residents and 10.9 percent among those in poverty,” Buchthal reported in the October issue of Hawai`i Journal of Medicine & Public Health. “By 2009, consumption of the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables increased modestly among moderate/upper-income individuals (15.3 percent) while remaining nearly flat among low-income individuals (12.7 percent). Those living in poverty (13.7 percent) surpassed the low-income group, but still lagged several percentage points behind moderate/high income Hawai`i residents.

Kumu hula Debbie Ryder dances in from of spectators and members of her halau.
Photo by Julia Neal

      “Similar results can be seen for physical activity. In 2001 there was no appreciable difference in the percentage meeting physical activity recommendations among moderate/upper income (52.9 percent) and low-income (51.6 percent) Hawai`i residents. Those in poverty (45.2 percent) had the lowest percentage of individuals meeting physical activity recommendations. Between 2001-2009, the moderate/upper income group showed steady improvement over time (55.1 percent), while the percentage meeting recommendations among the low-income group (51.5 percent) remained unchanged. Those in poverty (49.7 percent) caught up to the low-income group, but lagged substantially behind the middle/ upper-income group.

Ka`u Plantation Days emcee Clyde Silva Photo by Julia Neal

      “We cannot assume that campaigns, programs, and policy/environmental interventions aimed at improving obesity outcomes in the general population are benefitting low-income households, unless these interventions include components that address the specific needs and barriers within low-income communities. The additional barriers and needs of low-income households should not be relegated to a subset of ‘low-income’ projects, but rather need to be integrated into the planning of physical activity and nutrition campaigns overall. The first element, however, is awareness – recognition of poverty as not just a demographic variable, but as a driving force in health disparities, and awareness of the potential for an emerging gap in physical activity and nutrition outcomes between lower-income Hawai`i residents and the rest of our state. We cannot progress, either as a state or as a nation, towards reaching the Healthy People 2020 goals if our obesity-prevention efforts are not reaching those most at-risk for lifestyle-related chronic disease, disability and death,” Buchthal concluded
      See hjmph.org.

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KA`U PLANTATION DAYS in Pahala yesterday featured a lineup of entertainment from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. While the sun was shining all day, performers and spectators were protected by the shade of massive banyan trees at Pahala Plantation House.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO TUESDAY'S MEETING of the Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee at 8:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Committee members will discuss the first comprehensive draft of the CDP, which was developed by the CDP Planning Team, including consultants and county planners. It has not yet been reviewed by the Ka`u CDP Steering Committee or other community stakeholders. It is presented as an initial working draft for discussion and improvement.
      When the Steering Committee thinks the CDP is ready for full community review, then the broader community and stakeholders will have a thorough opportunity for review and recommendations. Only after the Steering Committee is satisfied that the CDP truly reflects community preferences will it recommend that the CDP be adopted by the County Council.
      The meeting will include presentations, questions from members and short activities to assess members' understanding of the draft. Planner Ron Whitmore anticipates that this meeting will recess in the late afternoon and continue on Oct. 28, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13.
      Working draft CDP materials will be available at the conclusion of the Oct. 14 portion of the meeting. They will also be available at kaucdp.info, community centers and libraries by Wednesday.
      For more information, contact Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PACIFIC AND HAWAIIAN ORIGINS: A Perspective from Archaeology is the title of Tuesday’s After Dark in the Park program. When Captain James Cook and other European explorers entered the Pacific in the 18th century, they were astounded to find that virtually every single island was already populated by indigenous island cultures. Where had the ancestors of these island people come from, and how did they manage to discover and settle even the most remote islands, including Hawai`i? Over the past century, archaeologists have sought the answers to these questions. Dr. Patrick V. Kirch, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, reviews the history and presents current evidence for the history of human settlement throughout the Pacific.

South Side Serenaders, from left, are Ti Chun, Elijah Navarro and Terrie Louis.
Photo by Julia Neal

      The free program takes place Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Park entrance fees apply.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK commemorates Hawaiian Archaeology Week with ranger-guided hikes to Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs. Participants visit the largest ki`i pohaku (petroglyph) field in Hawai`i and ponder the meaning behind the tens of thousands of carvings that Hawaiians etched into lava there. The hike is 0.7 miles one way and takes about 1.5 hours roundtrip.
      Meet the park ranger at 2 p.m. at the Pu`u Loa Petroglyph parking area on Chain of Craters Road, a 45-minute drive from the park entrance, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 16, 17 and 18.
      The hikes are free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.