Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, March 1, 2015

A state House of Representatives bill calls for HHSC facilities, including Ka`u Hospital, to return to centralized, rather that regional, control. Photo by Julia Neal

DAN BRINKMAN, INTERIM REGIONAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER for East Hawai`i Region of Hawai`i Health Systems Corp., which operates Ka`u Hospital, has submitted testimony to the state House of Representatives opposing a bill that would reconsolidate HHSC operational administration and oversight by eliminating regional system boards. In 1996, a task force recommended establishment of regional boards of directors, but, according to HB 1112, “the Legislature finds that the decentralization of personnel, purchasing and other administration functions to the four regions … caused inefficiencies that are detrimental to the financial stability of the system, operational effectiveness and employee morale.”

HHSC's East Hawai`i Regional Interim
CEO Dan Brinkman

      According to Brinkman, the East Hawai`i Region opposes elimination of regional system boards. “We believe that the intent of Act 290 (which created regional boards) has been realized in East Hawai`i,” he testified. “Our highly engaged regional board, composed of professional experts and community leaders, has driven substantive and positive changes in the delivery of our region’s healthcare. We have modernized our systems, including installing a highly efficient and cost effective electronic medical record system, increased our revenues, controlled our expenses and have greatly improved quality and the patient experience.

      “We also believe that each region is unique in its geography, demographics, business environment, types of operations (acute vs. long-term care) and the size of its business. While there is merit to the idea that decentralization has not been successful in all regions, recentralizing imposes a ‘one size fits all’ remedy and neglects the fact that some regions have greatly benefited from community control. Additionally, the primary cause of the public hospital system’s poor condition is not its organizational structure but due to the imposing outside forces of declining reimbursements, increased cost of healthcare (i.e. supplies, medicine, employment) and the unique challenges of providing ‘safety net’ care for communities that are geographically dispersed, socio-economically challenged and aging.
      “Our solution for East Hawai`i is one of service-oriented local partnerships with other healthcare providers, especially those on the Big Island. We are seeking predictable and sustainable funding of our safety net mission and coverage of collective bargaining costs. The stability that is offered by these measured steps will give the region’s board the resources to succeed in maintaining and improving the region's operations.
      “HD 1112 HD2 removes the Regional Boards and places all authority and decision making with the Corporate Board. While this is intended to produce improvements in efficiency and accountability, there are potentially adverse disruptive consequences that should be considered, most significantly the loss of community support, ‘ownership’ and direction. We respectfully request the opportunity for further discussion regarding East Hawai`i and HHSC’s function and governance, rather than a wholesale removal of the current structure.” 

Ka`u had a bumper crop of coffee this
season. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      House Committees on Health, vice-chaired by Ka`u’s Rep. Richard Creagan, and Labor & Public Employment passed the measure. Finance Committee hears it Tuesday at 11:05 a.m.
      More testimony and the opportunity to testify are available at capitol.hawaii.gov. Testimony is due by 11:05 tomorrow to be included in the hearing.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT and Ka`u resident Chris Manfredi credits this year’s bumper crop of Ka`u Coffee and increase in acreage planted to “the very solid foundation built in establishing Ka`u as a premium coffee growing origin,” reported Carolyn Lucas-Zenk in West Hawai`i Today. Lucas-Zenk listed the Ka`u Coffee Festival, international awards consistently won every year and increased familiarity with Ka`u Coffee as contributing to success of the regional products.
      In contrast to this year’s large harvest, a report from the Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service Pacific Regional Field Office claims that state coffee marketings are down four percent from last season. Manfredi told Lucas-Zenk the statistics are based on those reporting and may be inaccurate if not all farmers participated. Lucas-Zenk also said Manfredi has been trying to get officials to revalue crops using green been values instead of parchment, which, according to the story, would bring it into alignment “with the rest of the world.”
      According to Lucas-Zenk, Manfredi said one of the challenges that continues to exist for Ka`u Coffee farmers is “matching the absorption rate of coffee produced and developing markets.”

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

The second of three Sanctuary Ocean Counts of humpback whales
took place yesterday. Photo from wayfaring.info

MORE THAN 889 VOLUNTEERS GATHERED data from the shores of Hawai`i island, O`ahu and Kaua`i during the second event of the 20th Anniversary Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. 

       The count, conducted three times per year during peak whale season, is a shore-based census that provides snapshot data on humpback whales. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey.
      Volunteers collected data from 55 sites statewide. A total of 105 whales were seen during the 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count. 

      In Ka`u, volunteers at Ka Lae reported 10 whales during this time period, with more sightings throughout the count. Whale sightings at Punalu`u began at 10:30 a.m. and continued through 12:15 p.m.
      Weather conditions were highly variable. Several sites were canceled due to heavy rains, whereas other sites enjoyed sunshine and calm seas.
      “For 20 years, the Sanctuary Ocean Count has proven to be a fun volunteer activity for residents and visitors,” said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. “It also provides important population and distribution information on humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands that we use to better understand and protect this important species.”

Ka`u's County Council member
Maile Medeiros David

       Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at http://www.sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources/.
      The final Sanctuary Ocean Count for 2015 is scheduled for March 28. Interested volunteers may register online at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org.
      Additional information is available at http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov, or volunteers may call 808-725-5917. Volunteers are required to register prior to participating. Registration closes one week prior to the event date.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL, meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m., hears the final reading of a bill that would require Planned Unit Development applications to be reviewed and acted on by either the Leeward or Windward Planning Commission, depending on properties’ locations. Currently, only the Planning director has to approve PUDs, and public notice follows the decisions. Decisions can be overturned by the Board of Appeals and the Third Circuit Court.
      Council committees meet Tuesday, with Planning at 9 a.m.; Finance, 9:45 a.m.; Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability, 10:30 a.m.; and Environmental Management, 1:30 p.m.
      All meetings, held at Council Chambers in Hilo, are live-streamed at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings on left side of page.
      Ka`u residents can also participate via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.
      Agendas for all meetings are available at hawaiicounty.gov.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Project Vision returns to Ka`u this week with free screenings.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Participants meet at Kilauea Visitor Center Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and take a short walk to Whitney Vault, where Jaggar conducted research. Free; park entrance fees apply. 

PROJECT VISION RETURNS TO KA`U this week with free vision screenings, Wednesday at Na`alehu Community Center and Thursday at Pahala Community Center. Hours both days are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for keiki and adults.
      Call 929-8571 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf or
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015

The search is on for the next Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Peaberry, with the pageant scheduled for Sunday, April 26. Miss Ka`u Coffee 2014 Amery Silva (back center) and Miss Peaberry Madison Okimoto (front center) join other pageant participants who received education scholarships last year. Photo by Julia Neal

MAYOR BILLY KENOI HAS SUBMITTED HIS BUDGET to the County Council, which has until June 30 to pass it or have it automatically go into effect July 1.

Mayor Billy Kenoi

      “This proposed budget represents our departments’ best efforts to meet the needs of our growing community in a timely and fiscally responsible fashion,” Kenoi said. “Our economy is in a state of gradual recovery. We believe our investments in infrastructure, renewable energy and parks and recreation are critical to the future of Hawai`i Island.”
      The budget keeps taxes and fees at current levels while allotting funds for federal and state mandates. A $1 million increase goes to federal mandates for transportation services for the disable, and a 1.2 million increase funds medical benefits for retired county union members.
      Most of the $17.8 million total increase goes to employee contracts negotiated at by the state. The raises are implemented throughout the system, including over $4 million for police and over $6 million for the Fire Department.
      Estimated income reported in the budget includes $7.4 million in property taxes, $3.1 million from federal and state grants, $1.2 million from charges for services and $3.6 in carryover from the current year.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION will not respond to Hawaiian Electric Company’s request for approval of a lower buy-back rate from customers with rooftop solar systems. Under HECO’s current net energy metering program, customers can use their solar systems to lower their electric bills by selling energy back to the utility.

PUC Chair Randy Iwase
Image from KITV4

      The decision is part of an agreement regarding HECO’s delays in approving applications for grid-connected rooftop systems. HECO claimed in the past that connections had to be stopped based on safety issues. Last month, HECO said it had found that increasing capacity by as much as 250 percent would still be safe.

      PUC Chair Randy Iwase told Brenton Awa, of KITV4 News, that the commission “‘has its hands on HECO’ and reminded the energy giant that it needs to keep its customers ‘best interest’ in mind.” 

      Life of the Land Executive Director Henry Curtis told Awa that the PUC “stepped in and did the right thing.”
      Leslie Cole-Brooks, of Hawai‘i Solar Energy Association, told Awa, “It’s really good news. We should see improvement. These customers that have invested money in our green energy infrastructure should get to move forward.”

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

HAWAI`I’S ECONOMY WILL CONTINUE its stable growth in 2015 and beyond, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism’s first quarter 2015 Statistical and Economic Report.

Luis P. Salaveria

      “We are happy to see that our labor market has fully recovered from the 2009 recession, and in 2014 we had an historical high level of civilian labor force, civilian employment and payroll job count. Our unemployment rate was the sixth lowest in the nation,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “2014 was a record year for visitor arrivals as well. With the strong growth in the U.S. economy, we expect our visitor industry to continue to grow in 2015, especially in the U.S. markets.”
      In 2015, the U.S. economy is expected to grow by 3.2 percent, a rate which has not been seen since 2005. This growth will likely encourage more Hawai`i visitation by U.S. visitors, the report states.
      As a result of lower price levels due to slow growth of inflation, consumers are expected to have more purchasing power in 2015, which can be translated into an increase in real income if income as measured by nominal dollars remains unchanged. According to the report, lower inflation is resulting in lower prices for gasoline, apparel, household furnishings and supplies.
      Real personal income is expected to grow by 2.8 percent, and real gross domestic product is expected to grow by 3.1 percent in 2015. This economic growth rate for Hawai`i is similar to the economic growth rate projected for the nation in 2015.
      DBEDT expects healthy economic growth to continue into the future, projected to be at 3.0 percent in 2016 and 2.9 percent in 2017.
      See dbedt.hawaii.gov.

Anjulie Larson, with Chair Lee McIntosh,
won a Chamber scholarship last year.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS for Ken Wicks Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Scholarships is Friday, May 1. High school seniors and adults seeking to re-enter the educational system are encouraged to apply. Applicants are asked to write an essay about how their educational experience will benefit Ka`u. Preference will be given to those who intend to remain in or return to Ka`u and live here. 

      Scholarship money can be used for all college and vocational training and will range from $250 to $1,000. Visit kauchamber.org to download the application form. Call Lee McIntosh at 929-9872 with any questions.

THE SEARCH HAS BEGUN for the New Miss Ka`u Coffee. On Sunday, April 26, Miss Ka`u Coffee & Miss Peaberry Pageant will be held at Pahala Community Center. To sign up for the Miss Ka`u Coffee competition, contestants must be 17 to 24 years of age. For Miss Peaberry, contestants must be seven to nine years of age.
      Contenders will display their talents, intelligence and grace in four categories: Talent, Public Speaking, Gown and Sportswear. The pageant involves training in dance, stage performance, fashion, poise and knowledge to celebrate the Ka`u Coffee industry.
      Practices begin a week from tomorrow on Sunday, March 8 at the Old Pahala Clubhouse.
      The Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant also raises scholarship money for the young women and girls.
      To enter, contact chair Gloria Camba at 928-8558 or director Nalani Parlin at 217-6893. Applications are available at www.kaucoffeefest.com.
      To donate to the scholarship fund, contact Julia Neal at 928-9811.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

`O Ka`u Kakou Treasurer June Domondon, President Wayne Kawachi and Ka`u
High Athletic Director Kalei Namohala congratulate St. Joseph's Manato Fukuda
and Ka`u High's Buddy Flores on winning the half-court basket challenge
during Homecoming. Photo from Nalani Parlin

KA`U HIGH’S BUDDY FLORES and St. Joseph’s Manato Fukuda both made challenging half-court shots on Homecoming night held Feb. 13. Since last year, OKK has sponsored a half-court basket contest during basketball season to support Ka`u High’s athletic department. Interested contestants put in their names at select basketball games, and participants are drawn to compete. For each shot made, OKK donates $500 to Ka`u High Athletic Boosters Club to be used to support expenses for any Trojan sporting team. Both winners also won $20 Wal-Mart gift certificates. 

      Principal Sharon Beck was also put to the half-court test but did not make the shot. However, as she exited the court, she threw an over-hand shot and made the basket much to the surprise of the crowd.
      June Domondon said the coincidence was so great that OKK decided to donate an extra $1,000 for Beck’s unexpected basket. This brings the total half-court donations this year to $2,000. Last year, contestants earned the Booster Club $3,000 with a total of six baskets.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U RESIDENT TONY BOY ANDRADE is an enthusiastic member of the Hawai`i Drag Racing League. Andrade started racing back in 2012 when he and his father built his 1968 Chevy Nova in their family shop South Side Repair Services from the ground up and named it It's About Time. The Hawai`i Drag Racing League has monthly races at the Hilo Drag Strip. The races are held by veteran racer Mr. Keith Aguiar, his family and many friends.

Ka`u's Tony Boy Andrade races his 1968 Nova, named It's About Time.
Photo from the Andrade family

      Andrade said his dragster is the “quickest true stock chassis 1968 Nova on the Big Island.” His fastest time is 11.1 seconds in a quarter mile. “Racing is a good stress release. It’s an expensive sport, but something worth getting into.” He said this sport needs to be in a safe environment, on racing tracks that are supervised and cared for.

      Andrade encourages Ka`u residents to make the drive to Hilo to support his sport. An event takes place next weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DR. CLAIRE HORWELL CONTINUES here vog survey a week from today on Saturday, March 7 at Ocean View Swap Meet. She is researching how residents protect themselves and how those methods relate to official advice. Surveys take 10 – 15 minutes. Ka`u residents can also share their vog stories at https://www.facebook.com/groups/421925067973152/.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

The vent at Halema`uma`u opened during Jim Kauahikaua's tenure as USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's Scientist-in-Charge. Kauahikaua is stepping down to focus on research at the observatory. Photo from USGS/HVO

JIM KAUAHIKAUA, SCIENTIST-IN-CHARGE at USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, is stepping down on March 8 but will stay on to conduct research. HVO announced his decision in the current issue of Volcano Watch. 

      Kauahikaua joined HVO as a geophysicist in 1988 to study magnetic, gravity and electrical resistivity of Hawaiian volcanoes and techniques to assess lava flow hazards and quantifying lava flow emplacement. He became HVO’s 19th Scientist-in-Charge on Oct. 3, 2004, the first of Hawaiian ancestry.

      “Since 2004, Jim has overseen substantial changes in HVO’s volcano and earthquake monitoring technologies and capabilities,” the article states. “A notable challenge successfully managed by Jim was HVO’s use of $3.1 million provided by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Many improvements were accomplished through that one-time boost in funding, but most importantly, HVO’s monitoring networks were expanded and made completely digital. Redundant telemetry paths were also added to ensure consistent and near-real-time connectivity between HVO and the more than 100 field-based monitoring instruments on Hawai`i’s active volcanoes... .”

Jim Kauahikaua Photo from HVO

       The article describes Kauahikaua’s duties and accomplishments during the past 10 years. “Jim coordinated HVO’s response to a number of significant volcanic and seismic events on the Island of Hawai`i. These include the 2004 – 2005 Mauna Loa unrest, the 2006 destructive Kiholo Bay earthquake and, on Kilauea, the 2008 explosive opening of the summit vent within Halema`uma`u Crater and the 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption, in addition to the ongoing East Rift Zone (Pu`u `O`o) eruption. Jim’s expertise on lava flow emplacement and hazards served HVO well when Kilauea lava re-entered Kalapana in 2010 – 2011, as well as when lava flowed northeast from Pu`u `O`O toward Puna communities – first in 2007, then in 2013 – 2014 (Kahauale`a flows) and again with today’s still-active June 27th flow.
      “Responding to natural hazards is often a multi-agency effort, and Jim strengthened existing relationships and forged new ones between HVO and other federal, state and county agencies. As Scientist-in-Charge, he worked closely with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency, Hawai`i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai`i County Civil Defense and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to support interagency cooperation and collaboration.
      “A notable milestone of Jim’s tenure as Scientist-in-Charge was HVO’s centennial celebration in 2012. He guided plans for an HVO open house, attended by more than 1,400 Hawai`i residents and visitors, and supported HVO staff involved in organizing an international gathering of volcanologists focused on the study of Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes. Jim also co-authored The Story of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory – A Remarkable First 100 Years of Tracking Eruptions and Earthquakes to commemorate HVO’s history.
      “Jim champions HVO’s outreach and communication efforts, often leading the charge to increase public awareness of Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes. He participates in community outreach events, writes numerous Volcano Watch articles each year, presents countless public talks and personally answers many of the askHVO emails.”

      The article quotes Kauahikaua’s boss, Director of USGS Volcano Science Center Tom Murray: “HVO’s achievements under Jim’s leadership have been remarkable. Just responding daily to the eruption is a full-time task, but Jim has also accomplished many goals related to long-term improvements to HVO … and enhancing ties to the community. What’s best for the community, for HVO, and for the staff were his priorities. He’s been great to work with.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I’S ECONOMY IN 2015 WILL LOOK a lot like last year’s, according to a report by University of Hawai`i’s Economic Research Organization. It said tourism will see only marginal gains, but steady labor market improvement will continue, and there will be moderate income growth. While not all damage from the past recession has been repaired, by many measures, economic activity in the state is returning to normal. 

      According to the report, a major threat to Hawai`i’s economy is potential downsizing of military personnel in the state. “The potential cuts are large enough that they would take a measurable chunk out of the overall economy, not to mention much larger adverse impacts on local communities,” the report stated.
      The forecast is available at uhero.hawaii.edu.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sen. Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO IS HOLDING House Speaker John Boehner responsible to send a clean Department of Homeland Security bill to President Obama. Funding for DHS is set to expire today. The President has said he will veto any policy riders that undo his executive action on immigration. 

      “Despite the fact that the House has put us on the brink of shutting down the Department of Homeland Security, I’m hopeful after this morning’s vote (passed the Senate) that Congress will send the President a clean bill to fund DHS,” Hirono said. “But now, it is in Speaker Boehner’s hands. It is up to Speaker Boehner to end this manufactured crisis and pass this clean full-year funding bill through the House. Our national security is at stake. If the House fails to get a clean DHS funding bill to the President’s desk by midnight, most of the 200,000 DHS employees across the country, including nearly 2,000 based in Hawai`i, will be furloughed or forced to work without pay.

      “Furthermore, the many furloughs at DHS headquarters will mean that FEMA disaster assistance grants will not be processed for those affected by Hurricane Iselle and the lava flow on Hawai`i Island. It is reckless and irresponsible to shut down a federal agency charged with protecting all of us.
      “I urge Speaker Boehner to avoid pursuing a short-term continuing resolution that only passes the buck for a few more weeks. A short-term continuing resolution doesn’t fix this problem and only leads to continued uncertainty for our homeland security efforts. It’s time that the House join the Senate in passing a clean DHS funding bill and sending it to the President’s desk.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY’S EFFORTS to stop customers from installing rooftop solar are illegal, according to Robert Harris, of the Alliance for Solar Choice. TASC recently called on Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission to end the utility’s efforts. According to Harris, HECO’s utilities on Hawai`i Island and Maui recently started issuing letters to customers stating they cannot interconnect to the grid with rooftop solar systems unless the Public Utilities Commission agrees to eliminate net energy metering. 

      “This is a classic abuse of monopoly power,” Harris said. “Utilities can’t deny service to customers in order to force policy changes that benefit themselves.”

Benjamin Acasio

      Harris called net energy metering, which allows utility customers to offset part their power bill but not earn money, “the bedrock principle of solar power in the United States.”
      “HECO can’t compete with rooftop solar,” he said, “so they’re trying to force changes to preserve an outdated business model. This is why the PUC exists; to protect consumers from the unlawful and monopolistic tendencies of utilities.” 

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

THE MOST RECENT EDITION of Hawai`i Island’s Most Wanted, Crime Stoppers’ television program, highlights a 38-year-old Ka`u man wanted for abuse. 

      The program asks for help in locating Benjamin Acasio, of Na`alehu, who is wanted for abuse. He is described as six-feet-two-inches tall, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a red Acura two-door sedan with white rims.
      Police ask that anyone with information call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Crime Stoppers does not tape record phone calls or subscribe to caller ID.
      Hawai`i Island’s Most Wanted is a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo, Inc., a partnership of the business community, the media and the police. It was inspired by the national TV show, America’s Most Wanted. The program airs on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television Channel 54 on Sundays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. It also airs intermittently on Channel 53.
      The new episode begins airing today.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Fishhooks from Wai`ahukini Photo from Bishop Museum

HO`OMAKA HOU RESEARCH initiative, a collections-based research program by Dr. Mara Mulronney, archaeologist with The Bishop Museum, offers a free presentation today at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
      Fishhooks from the Pu`u Ali`i and Wai`ahukini Rockshelter sites, which were excavated by Bishop Museum archaeologists from 1953 to 1959, will be on display.

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park presents hula kahiko tomorrow. Na Mea Hula with Kumu Hula Ab Valencia and members of Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu perform at 9:30 a.m. Kumu hula Manaiakalani Kalua with Akaunu begin at 10:30 a.m. The hula platform is a short walk from the gallery.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_February2015.pdf.