Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 13, 2012

Sustaining marine life for recreation, food and biological diversity is one of the goals of new federal funding.
Photo from J. Hara Store

HAWAI`I’S MARINE HABITATS AND FISHERIES will receive $1,146,085 to protect, conserve, restore, and monitor them, according to Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and Sen. Dan Inouye. The funding comes through five grants administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Young Ka`u fisherman with an ulua.
Photo from Hawai`i Fishing News

      Said Inouye, “Throughout our history, life in Hawai`i has been closely tied to the ocean. As an island archipelago situated in the middle of the Pacific, we must continually improve our understanding of the ocean. We are especially susceptible to rising tides, tsunami, fishery depletions and marine debris fields therefore we can never have enough data about how the ocean operates. To ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the ocean for recreation, and turn to it as a source of food, energy and natural resources, we must create a sustainable marine environment through protection and conservation. I would like to thank the Obama Administration for recognizing the oceans’ importance to our livelihood and future, and for investing in the management of sustainable fisheries and habitats.” 

      Hirono stated: “If we want a Hawai`i that is sustainable, it is our kuleana to be stewards of our marine environment. These waters have always had great cultural and economic significance, so it must be a priority to protect the ocean, coral reefs, estuaries, and fish to ensure they will continue to help sustain us. Mahalo to the Obama Administration for supporting restoration and conservation efforts and related research on our marine environments and fisheries.” said Congresswoman Hirono.

Aku Hauanio, a Hawaiian kau la`au fisehrman.
Photo from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

SEN. DAN AKAKA makes a last push for his Akaka Bill today in the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The measure is called the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act. 

      The new and shorter version presented today would leave to the state a requirement for a Native Hawaiian roll – a kind of registration – that is already underway by the state’s Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. Both U.S. Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and former Gov. Linda Lingle, who are vying to take Akaka’s seat in January, issued press releases.

      Lingle stated: "I am very pleased to learn that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has scheduled a 'markup' of the Akaka Bill in an effort to move this very important legislation forward. This would be a great testament to Sen. Dan Akaka's service to our state.

Kau Inoa has been the campaign to register
Native Hawaiians in a statewide effort. The
registration will be dropped from the Akaka Bill.
Image from hawaiimaoli.org

     "I have been consistent and unwavering in my support for federal recognition for native Hawaiians. I personally traveled to Washington, D.C. on several occasions to attract bipartisan Senatorial support by convincing key Senators to become co-sponsors of the Akaka Bill, and was successful in ensuring that Sen. John McCain (then‐Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs) scheduled committee hearings, where I offered testimony in support of the bill. These hearings helped the bill pass out of committee but unfortunately it did not have enough votes to pass the full Senate.

      "If elected as the next U.S. Senator from Hawai`i, I will devote myself to assuring native Hawaiian recognition by convincing my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and vote in favor of this important legislation. Our lack of a Republican Senator is one of the primary reasons the Akaka Bill has not passed."

      Hirono stated: "After the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act is marked up this Thursday, I hope the critical measure will be brought to the Senate floor for approval before the end of the year."
      "I have long supported the Akaka Bill, and since being elected to Congress, I have been a strong advocate of the bill in the U.S. House. In the current 112th Congress, I proudly introduced the House version of the bill. We must continue to fight for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians."

FEDERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE ENERGY FUTURE OF HAWAI`I begin today at Kealakehe High School in Kona at 5 p.m. and continue Friday at 5 p.m. at Hilo High School. The hearings are for a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative. According to a statement, the federal Department of Energy and the State of Hawai`i have established “a long term partnership to transform the way in which renewable energy and energy efficient resources are planned and used in the state.”
      The EIS covers energy efficiency, distributed renewables, utility-scale renewables, alternative transportation fuels and modes, and electrical transmission and distribution.

Wind generated energy is one of the current alternative
energies being produced in Ka`u.
Photo from btrplc on flickr.com

      The federal DOE “invited federal, state, and local government agencies, Native Hawaiian and other organizations and members of the public to submit comments and participate in the public meeting on the scope of the PEIS – that is, the proposed action, the range of reasonable alternatives, and the potential environmental impacts and other issues to be considered,” the statement says.
      The sessions include exhibits on potential clean energy approaches and the opportunity to ask questions and submit comments vocally and in writing. See more at hawaiicleanergypeis.com.
      According to the website, documents involving energy alternatives are available at the website and at public libraries in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and North Kohala, but not at libraries in Ka`u.

REGISTERING FOR MOLD CERAMICS, for grades 4 through 8, must be completed by the end of today. The classes, held at Pahala Community Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., start Thursday, Sept. 20, and end Thursday, Oct. 25. There is a fee for supplies. For more, call Nona at 928-3102.

THE NEXT KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meeting is scheduled for today at 4 p.m. at the ML Mac Nut Field Office. Each region between Kapapala and Ha`ao Springs is expected to send a representative. The organization is restoring agricultural water from the old plantation system. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

Image from Red Cross

A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER MEETING is hosted tonight, 7 p.m., in Ocean View at the H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. office. The meeting is geared towards current volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.

TOMMOROW IS THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY on proposed rules to govern the new Public Land Development Corp., which would allow more private sector economic development on state owned lands. Comments can be emailed to joy.y.kimura@hawaii.gov and randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov. The PLDC has oversight from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND hosts a beach clean up at Kamilo Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

KA`U FARM BUREAU hosts a lender fair this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pahala Community Center. Attendees will hear a brief presentation and meet with representatives from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Services. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Manfredi at 929-9550.

Recyclables are collected at Na`alehu School Saturday.
Image from hawaiizerowaste.org

RECYCLING AT NA`ALEHU SCHOOL gym will be accepted Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sort by type and receive 5 cents per HI-5 container and an additional 20 cents per pound on all aluminum will be redeemed to the school, courtesy of Atlas Recycling. For more call 929-2413, extension 230.

A GUIDED PALM TRAIL HIKE, within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, will be held this Saturday and again on Sept. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This relatively easy 2.6-mile loop crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. For more call 985-6011.

NA MEA HAWAI`I HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, with Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali `Ala O Puna under the direction of kumu hula Ehulani Stephany. Hands-on cultural demonstrations will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at VAC Gallery. The events are free, however, park entrance fees apply.

SOCIETY OF CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, a medieval recreation group, meets, talks, plans events, does handicraft and more on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HOSTS A BBQ Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p. m. at the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 937-7033.

Na`ohulelua Historical Church

A GARDEN TALK STORY & PLANT & SEED EXCHANGE is hosted at Na`ohulelua Historical Church Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Call 929-8164 for more.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS holds a community meeting at Pahala Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17. The meeting involves the regional plan for Ka`u and organizers ask for input for the community. Hawaiian Home Lands staff and all the commissioners from around the islands are expected to attend.
     The Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands association urges everyone to attend. The Ka`u Regional Plan can be read at hawaiianhomelands.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM.AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 12, 2012

`O Ka`u Kakou received a $5,000 Monty Richard Hawai`i Community Award from Bank of Hawai`i last week.
Photo from Bank of Hawai`i

A VOTER FRAUD INVESTIGATION has been launched by the Hawai`i Police Department focusing on the 2010 General election. In a statement, HPD said “no other details will be released as it is an active investigation.” The investigation is being handled by Detectives of the Area 1 Criminal Investigation Section. Voter Fraud, under section 19.3.5 of the Hawai`i Revised Statutes, is a class C felony. According to HPD, the investigation was launched based on information provided by the Hawai`i County Office of Elections. 

      The Office of Elections has drawn statewide news coverage involving County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi shutting down the office before the Primary Election to conduct an audit. There have also been suits filed by employees who were fired.

John Christopher Stevens.

FLAGS ARE FLYING HALF MAST today at post offices in Ka`u, Kilauea Military Camp, schools and other public buildings in honor of those who died in a fire set at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya yesterday on the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. One victim was University of California, Berkeley graduate and Arabic speaker John Christopher Stevens, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer in North Africa and a career diplomat, helping with the liberation of Libya from the dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other diplomats described Stevens as a hero among Libyans and urged strength and continued determination to help Libya with its transition from dictatorial regimes.

`O KA`U KAKOU RECEIVED A BANK OF HAWAI`I MONTY RICHARD HAWAI`I COMMUNITY AWARD last week. The $5,000 will be used to purchase two jet skis for the local fire department, restore and maintain local cemeteries and restore the Pahala Hongwanji School and dojo building for community use. The organization’s tag line is “We are Ka`u,” and the group, led by Wayne Kawachi and founded with Guy Enriques, supports and promotes, “a healthy community through education and economical development opportunities that improve the quality of life in rural Ka`u. One important focus is helping kupuna in the community by installing safety equipment (like handrails and grab bars) in homes, and doing yard work. The organization is also involved in several restoration projects,” says the statement from Bank of Hawai`i Foundation.
      Other organizations receiving $5,000 each are West Hawai`i Community Health Center, North Kohala Community Resource Center and the Arc of Hilo. The presentation was made on Sept. 8 at Kahua Ranch in Kohala.
      Applications for next year’s awards will be available through Bank of Hawai`i branches in May, with a deadline in July.

LIFE OF THE LAND has proposed a Distributed Generation plan for the state of Hawai`i in its submission to the U.S. Department of Energy which is holding public hearings on the future of energy tomorrow at Kealakehe High School in Kona and Friday at Hilo High School. Both meetings are at 5 p.m. Life of the Land testimony says that Distributed Generation is an alternative that would eliminate the need for “an expensive interisland cable.”
      The Life of the Land testimony predicts the emergence of a decentralized grid and the idea of “cascading natural deregulation.” As the cost of renewable systems trends downward and electric rates go up, those who can leave the grid, will leave the grid. The fixed costs associated with energy production, transmission and distribution will then have to be absorbed by the remaining (smaller) rate base still on the grid.
      Those who remain on the grid will then see their rates go up even more, which in turn provides even stronger incentives for more people to opt out of a centralized grid, driving ever higher the rates for the diminishing ratepayers who remain, Life of the Land testifies.

Community members meet tomorrow in Pahala to discuss the Ka`u
Agricultural Water Cooperative. Photo by Shalan Crysdale

REGISTERING FOR MOLD CERAMICS, for grades 4 through 8, must be completed before tomorrow for those who want to attend. The classes, held at Pahala Community Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., start Thursday, Sept. 20, and end Thursday, Oct. 25. There is a fee for supplies. For more, call Nona at 928-3102.

THE NEXT KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the ML Mac Nut Field Office. Each region between Kapapala and Ha`ao Springs is expected to send a representative. The organization is restoring agricultural water from the old plantation system. Meetings are open to the public. For more information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER MEETING is hosted tomorrow night, 7 p.m., in Ocean View at the H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. office. The meeting is geared towards current volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY on proposed rules to govern the new Public Land Development Corp., which would allow more private sector economic development on state owned lands, is this Friday. Comments can be emailed to joy.y.kimura@hawaii.gov and randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov. The PLDC has oversight from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND hosts a beach clean up at Kamilo Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All volunteers will meet at Wai`ohinu Park on Hwy 11 near mile marker 65 at 7:45 a.m. and are asked to bring sturdy shoes, bag lunch, sun and wind protection, plenty of drinks and four-wheel-drive vehicles if possible. HWF will supply cleanup materials. Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

KA`U FARM BUREAU hosts a lender fair this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pahala Community Center. Attendees will hear a brief presentation and meet with representatives from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Services. Ka`u Farm Bureau President Chris Manfredi says, "Our hope is that by accessing resources made available by these agencies, producers may find ways to maximize their profits." Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Manfredi at 929-9550.

RECYCLING AT NA`ALEHU SCHOOL gym will be accepted Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sort by type and receive 5 cents per HI-5 container and an additional 20 cents per pound on all aluminum will be redeemed to the school, courtesy of Atlas Recycling. For more call 929-2413, extension 230.

A GUIDED PALM TRAIL HIKE, within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, will be held this Saturday and again on Sept. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This relatively easy 2.6-mile loop crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. For more call 985-6011.

NA MEA HAWAI`I HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, with Halau Hula Ka Makani Hali `Ala O Puna under the direction of kumu hula Ehulani Stephany. Hands-on cultural demonstrations will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at VAC Gallery. The events are free, however, park entrance fees apply.

Society of Creative Anachronism meets Saturday.
Photo from scademo.com

SOCIETY OF CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, a medieval recreation group, meets, talks, plans events, does handicraft and more on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Call 895-8013.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HOSTS A BBQ Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p. m. at the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 937-7033.

A GARDEN TALK STORY & PLANT & SEED EXCHANGE is hosted at Na`ohulelua Historical Church Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Call 929-8164 for more.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS will hold a community meeting at Pahala Community Center at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17. The meeting involves the regional plan for Ka`u and organizers ask for input for the community. Hawaiian Home Lands staff and all the commissioners from around the islands are expected to attend.
     The Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands association urges everyone to attend. The commissioners for the island of Hawai`i are Leimana Dematte and Ian Leiloy. The President of the Ka`u Hawaiian Home Lands Association is Jeff Kekoa. Vice President is Liz Kuluwaimaka, Secretary is Darlyne Vierra and Treasurer is Stephanie Tabada. The Ka`u Regional Plan can be read at hawaiianhomelands.org.

  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM.AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 11, 2012

Iginition Interlock devices to prevent drunken driving could come standard in all vehicles in about a decade, says candidate for county prosecutor Mitch Roth. Photo from insurance.org

OCEAN VIEW COMMUITY ASSOCIATION hosted a talk story with County Prosecuting Attorney candidate Mitch Roth and County Council District 6 candidate Brenda Ford last night. Concerned citizens of Ocean View talked about policing, drunken driving, roads, trash and water. Roth noted that crime plunged in Ocean View after police busted a drug house. The court forced the occupants to leave the property, banned them from within two blocks of the house and sent many of them to jail for drug dealing. He talked about the importance of the community working with police, particularly since only two officers are on duty at any one time in Ka`u, which is larger than the entire island of O`ahu.

      Roth and Ford said they have worked together on numerous public safety initiatives and want to do more. Among topics brought up by community members were the possibility of requiring repeat drunken drivers to allow antabuse – a drug that makes people violently ill if they drink alcohol – to be implanted under their skin. Some people said a court-ordered implant could be consider an invasion of personal freedom and others said that it would be a choice as an offender does not have to drive at all. A woman who said she drives to Kona five days a week and comes home to Ka`u from work at 10 p.m. presented the idea of the antabuse implant and says she comes across many drunken drivers.
     

 Roth praised the interlock system that is placed in the cars of DUI offenders, requiring them to use a breathalyzer and said that it has prevented drunken drivers from operating vehicles 11,000 times in Hawai`i. Roth said that he thinks that auto manufacturers, in about a decade, will make the interlock system standard in cars.    He noted that the state of Hawai`i has the highest alcohol fatality rate in the nation and that the Big Island and Kaua`i have the highest in the state. Roth said he would like offenders to pay more for their crimes in ways that hurt their pocketbooks and their habits: “Take away cars and money and toys and it is more upsetting to drug dealers than going to jail. They are used to going to jail,” said Roth. 

      Another initiative, brought up by Don Nitsche of Ocean View, is the roving safe house. He said it has previously helped battered families. The safe house moved around so that the abuser couldn’t find it. He indicated he would like the program to be reinstated. Nitsche also urged that cars being towed and people arrested and taken to jail whenever a drunken driver is encountered. Roth explained that the police officer could not wait hours for a tow truck when there is other important policing at hand.

Photo from breathalyzer.net

  Roth, who said that he is the only one running for prosecutor who now works in the prosecutor’s office, said he also wants to help get cases through the justice system more quickly. He said that cases are often bogged down because investigators and prosecutors want to have every piece of evidence on hand before filing charges and this can take years. He said he would like to beef up the work done by the investigators working for the prosecutors, who are separate from the investigators working for the police department. He noted that the state of Hawai`i has the highest alcohol fatality rate in the nation and that the Big Island and Kaua`i have the highest in the state. Roth said he would like offenders to pay more for their crimes in ways that hurt their pocketbooks and their habits: “Take away cars and money and toys and it is more upsetting to drug dealers than going to jail. They are used to going to jail,” said Roth.

      Another initiative, brought up by Don Nitsche of Ocean View, is the roving safe house. He said it has previously helped battered families. The safe house moved around so that the abuser couldn’t find it. He indicated he would like the program to be reinstated. Nitsche also urged that cars being towed and people arrested and taken to jail whenever a drunken driver is encountered. Roth explained that the police officer could not wait hours for a tow truck when there is other important policing at hand.
      Roth, who said that he is the only one running for prosecutor who now works in the prosecutor’s office, said he also wants to help get cases through the justice system more quickly. He said that cases are often bogged down because investigators and prosecutors want to have every piece of evidence on hand before filing charges and this can take years. He said he would like to beef up the work done by the investigators working for the prosecutors, who are separate from the investigators working for the police department.

COUNTY COUNCIL CONTENDER BRENDA FORD told participants at last night’s community talk story in Ocean View that, should she be elected to represent District 6, she would be only one of three veteran council members. Six of the incoming nine county council members will be new to the job. She said it is up to the veterans – the next would be her fourth term – to help the freshmen learn the process. She said her most important lesson is being fiscally prudent. She said, “I am not fiscally conservative. I am fiscally prudent.”

     She gave an example of being “willing to bond” for the Ocean View and Volcano transfer stations, if that is what it takes to get them built. “I will introduce legislation to get bonds to get them done.” She also said she supports a second back up well for Ocean View and possibly a well for Miloli`i. She said Miloli`i needs gunnite water tanks to help fight fires so that the fire department does not have to haul water tankers full of water down the long Miloli`i road.

      Ford also said she supports a special fund that will allow the fire chief to buy vehicles. “The chief begs and borrows all over the country,” getting them from other fire departments that are retiring their fleet for new equipment.
      Roth and Ford talked about agricultural theft and newly passed legislation that requires vendors to document the source of their agricultural products, from vegetables to coffee. They said that documentation not only helps prevent a health crisis when there is a problem with disease stemming from a particular farm or poor handling by processors, but also reduces theft and fraud.
      Ford said she also wants stronger “truth in labeling” for Hawai`i agriculture. “People are using the Hawai`i name and putting next to nothing in the package that says Hawai`i.” 

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY on proposed rules to govern the new Public Land Development Corp., which would allow more private sector economic development on state owned lands, is this Friday. Comments can be emailed to joy.y.kimura@hawaii.gov and randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov. The PLDC has oversight from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Edmund C. Olson at his Ka`u Coffee Mill says the old C. Brewer Wainaku Executive Center in Hilo will have a Ka`u
Coffee Shop. Photo from Richard Ha

KA`U COFFEE will enjoy a new promotional venue in Hilo soon with the opening of the Ka`u Coffee Shop, according to Edmund C. Olson who closed on the purchase of the old C. Brewer Wainaku Executive Center yesterday. Olson said his plan includes the Ka`u Coffee shop, along with restaurants, a boutique hotel and art galleries to make the waterfront property a popular local and visitor destination. The 11,800 square acre venue is the renovation of an old sugar building by the late Doc Buyers who was president of C. Brewer. Buyers moved his offices from Honolulu to Hilo as C. Brewer was scaling down its business. Buyer’s family more recently leased the property to the University of Hawai`i College of Pharmacy and ML Macadamia. The college has already moved its offices and ML will move as renovations take place.
      Olson said he purchased the building for $7.7 million. It includes 12 acres, and a walking overpass above Hwy 11 to a 1.5 acre parking lot. It includes 3,000 feet of shoreline, spectacular views of Hilo Bay and a waterfall on a small black sand beach. Weddings and other events are in Olson’s plans for the property.

KA`U FARM BUREAU announced today it is hosting a lender fair this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Pahala Community Center. Attendees will hear a brief presentation and meet with representatives from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture and Farm Credit Services. Ka`u Farm Bureau President Chris Manfredi says, "Our hope is that by accessing resources made available by these agencies, producers may find ways to maximize their profits." Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Manfredi at 929-9550.

REGISTERING FOR MOLD CERAMICS, for grades 4 through 8, must be completed before this Thursday for those who want to attend. The classes, held at Pahala Community Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., start Thursday, Sept. 20, and end Thursday, Oct. 25. There is a fee for supplies. For more, call Nona at 928-3102.

A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER MEETING is hosted Thursday, 7 p.m., in Ocean View at the H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. office. The meeting is geared towards current volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND hosts a beach clean up at Kamilo a week from today, Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All volunteers will meet at Wai`ohinu Park on Hwy 11 near mile marker 65 at 7:45 a.m. and are asked to bring sturdy shoes, bag lunch, sun and wind protection, plenty of drinks and four-wheel-drive vehicles if possible. HWF will supply cleanup materials. Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

  SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM.AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.