Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 20, 2012

Lava lake rises and falls rapidly at Halema`uma`u yesterday. Photo courtesy of USGS/HVO

`AINA KOA PONO plans to install the first module of its microwave depolymerization diesel refinery off Wood Valley Road above Pahala, independent of Public Utilities Commission approval. A statement released yesterday, entitled `Aina Koa Pono: An Update from the Source, says the one unit will be able to process 33 tons of biomass per day and one million gallons of biofuel per year and will be for transportation fuel only.

       “We expect it to be in place by the first quarter of 2014,” writes AKP managing partner Chris Eldridge, who has been hosting private meetings with community members to outline the plan. He writes that the first Micro Dee unit will give the community “an opportunity to see and understand the technology. The fuel it produces will be shipped by truck, likely one a week, to Hilo, and it is intended as transportation fuel.”
      When built out to capacity, the refinery “is to have about 24 to 30 of the 33-ton units, operating in modules of three, for an estimated 900-ton-a-day facility with 24 million gallons a year of biofuel output,” Eldridge writes. Most of the diesel would service a Hawai`i Electric Light Co. contract for 16 million gallons a year, now up for approval by the PUC. Another 8 million gallons would be sold for transportation fuel. The fuel for HELCO would be trucked up Hwy 11 to the power plant near Kona Airport.

`Aina Koa Pono plans to process biofuel for transportation, independent
of PUC approval to sell fuel to Hawai`i Electric Light Company.

      Eldridge notes that AKP has a 20-year agreement to deliver the 16 million gallons of biofuel a year to Keahole power plant. “The fuel must be able to replace imported fossil fuel with no plant modification and meet all the specifications of HELCO.” Eldridge acknowledges that the agreement with HELCO “is subject to review and approval by the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission, and the PUC has posted a year-long schedule for the process.” 

      Mayor Billy Kenoi stated that the county will oppose the AKP contract with HELCO if it raises electric rates and is sending in the county lawyers to participate in the arguments. Life of the Land has intervened in the case, saying the plan would be unfair to ratepayers, given less expensive alternatives likely on the horizon. The Big Island Community Coalition formed to reduce electric rates has also declared opposition to the `Aina Koa Plan, based soley on the proposed hike in electric bills. Last year the PUC turned down a similar `Aina Koa Pono proposal.
      While the proposal before the PUC asks for surcharges that would increase electric bills on O`ahu and the Big Island, Eldridge contends that “this development is being done at AKP’s expense. We have no government funding, and the electric ratepayer pays none of these development costs. Only after PUC approval, plant construction and delivery of fuel that meets all of HELCO’s specifications, will the utility, and therefore the ratepayer, bear any of the costs.”
      He states that the cost of the diesel to be manufactured near Pahala “will be higher at the outset than what HELCO pays for imported fossil fuel, but the world’s oil prices are expected to climb well past our cost. HELCO estimates that over the life of the contract, its customers will save a half billion dollars by using locally produced fuel. That is an average of about $1,300 per electric customer.”

Chris Eldridge, AKP partner

      Eldridge also writes that because the diesel would be locally produced, “residents would benefit from nearly $200 million in general excise and payroll taxes over the contract life – 90 times more taxes than if we continue to import the same amount of fuel. Those taxes can be used to improve schools, build roads and protect the environment.”
      After harvesting existing brush and trees between Pahala and Na`alehu, AKP plans to grow crops to grind and dry into pellets to put through the microwave machines and send the gas up a cooling tower to make diesel. In the press release, Eldridge promises that “no genetically modified crops (GMOs) are in our plan. We are evaluating non-GMO crops that will offer us high yields per acre. These tests have begun; we are working with the Hawai`i Agricultural Research Center and consulting with the Hawai`i Islands Land Trust regarding acceptable, non-invasive crops.”
      Eldridge compares the planned AKP operation and its practices to the “good stewardship” of the defunct sugar operations that shut down in 1996. “Like the sugar plantation that once was the center of a thriving Ka`u community, we intend a planned agricultural operation and good stewardship, not clear cutting that causes erosion. Additionally, unlike sugar cane, we will use perennial crops that will be ratooned (cut instead of bulldozed), further eliminating risks of erosion.”
      The AKP statement says the hui has “a memorandum of understanding with the ILWU for operations and have or are working on project labor agreements with other worker groups. AKP’s Ka`u operation will require 400 construction workers—adding 13 percent to current sector jobs—and 200 permanent jobs,” writes Eldridge.
      “We intend to be good neighbors,” states the AKP partner. “Our principals and all but one of our investors are State of Hawai`i residents. The one makes Alaska home. We are good citizens and contribute to our communities. As a company, we have pledged a $250,000 benefits package geared to environmental and educational issues once we are operational at Ka`u.”
      Eldridge writes that “some complain that agricultural operation and biorefinery will impact tourism in the area, yet it is a place that once was a bustling agriculture and sugar mill area. Other long time residents welcome a return of local jobs.”
       Eldridge also brings up the public hearings on Monday, Oct. 29 at Hilo High School Cafeteria and Tuesday, Oct. 30 at Kealakehe High School in Kona, both at 6 p.m., where HELCO’s current rate hike proposal and `Aina Koa Pono’s request for a surcharge of about $1 per 500 kilowatt hours for its project in Ka`u will be the subject of testimony. Writes Eldridge: “The proposed 4.2 percent HELCO rate increase has nothing to do with our project, and it is unfortunate for us that the issue is being heard at the same time as ours.”

HVO scientist-in-charge Jim Kauahikaua

THE LAVA LAKE INSIDE HALEMA`UMA`U Crater at Kilauea is tantalizing visitors and park staff as it continues repetitive rising and falling, attracting many to the best vantage point: the overlook at Jaggar Museum. The lava lake rose to levels approximately 125 feet or less beneath the crater floor yesterday morning, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcams suggested the lake rose even higher before sinking again Friday afternoon.
      Dr. Jim Kauahikaua, HVO’s scientist-in-charge, says the lava lake will be visible from the overlook at Jaggar Museum if it comes within about 65 feet of the crater floor.
      All visitors who plan to come after dark are urged to bring flashlights, especially those who park at Kilauea Overlook, which affords panoramic views of the crater and Kilauea caldera. Earth cracks, rocks, and other hazards are not easily seen in the dark.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park urges motorists to
be cautious of nene when visiting Halema`uma`u.
Photo by Julia Neal

      In addition, several pairs of nene, the federally endangered Hawaiian goose, are beginning to nest near the Jaggar Museum parking lot and are sometimes spotted along roadsides and trails. Cars are the leading cause of nene fatalities, and drivers are cautioned to be alert and to drive the speed limit.
      “Safety is our number one priority,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We encourage everyone to visit during this fascinating episode, but to exercise caution. Staff will be assisting visitors with parking and interpretation of the current activities. If people come prepared and proceed as directed, they should have an unforgettable experience,” she said. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day.

THOSE INTERESTED IN FREE AGRITOURISM WORKSHOPS through the Hawai`i AgriTourism Association are urged to attend an organizational meeting today from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Information will be provided on scope and timing. Those with agritourism potential in Ka`u can sign up for the workshops, which are funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.
      “The intention of the trainings is to help build economic development for the Ka`u agricultural community and its partners,” said Hawai`i Agritourism Association executive director Lani Weigert. For more, visit hiagtourism.org.

AUDITIONS FOR THE AWAKENING OF EVERYONE take place today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The cast requires about 15 characters. Call 928-0007 for more information.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC are invited to a candidate forum sponsored by League of Women Voters of Hawai`i County, American Association of University Women Hilo Branch and Volcano Community Association Monday at Cooper Center in Volcano.
      Hawai`i County Council District 6 candidates Maile David and Brenda Ford discuss issues from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. At 7:15 p.m., Erica Johnson, AAUW co-president and moderator, presents an hour with state Senate District 2 candidates Russell Ruderman and Daryl Lee Smith.
      Candidate profiles and election information are available at vote411.org and lwv-hawaii.com.
      For more information about the forums, contact Margaret Drake at 967-7295.

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

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

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 19, 2012

Big Bird from Sesame Street is presented to the candidates for U.S. Senate by PBS moderator Day Boylan. Photo from PBS Hawai`i

BIG BIRD from Sesame Street became a symbol of the latest debate between the U.S. Senate candidates who want to represent Ka`u, Volcano and the rest of the state. Last night during the debate broadcast statewide on PBS, moderator Dan Boylan presented the two candidates with a Big Bird doll and asked about presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s plan to cut funding to Sesame Street. It was the second of three debates leading up to early voting next week and the Nov. 6 election day.

Mazie Hirono

Linda Lingle

      Democrat Mazie Hirono and Republican Linda Lingle both said they back Big Bird. While Lingle suggested during an earlier debate that cutting funding to PBS should be considered, last night she claimed friendship with management of the national Corporation for Public Broadcasting and said she supports the nonprofit.
      During last night’s debate, Hirono accused Lingle of changing her mind about PBS, and Lingle responded by saying she was talking about PBS in the broader context of government spending across “the spectrum of how we spend our money and set some priorities.” However, she confirmed stating that she was “not sure that Big Bird is essential to the defense of America.”
      The free-ranging discussion included an exchange about the so-called “fiscal cliff,” with Lingle accusing Hirono of being party to its creation and to a pending annual cut of $50 billion a year in the military’s budget, should Congress be unable to come to an agreement on spending and taxes by the end of this year. Lingle argued that the military is too important to the economy to be jeopardized by the “fiscal cliff.”
      Hirono said Congress should compromise to avoid the cuts and blamed Republicans for failing to come to an agreement, charging that they want to avoid a hike for the wealthiest taxpayers. Hirono said Congress is “fine sending our country over the economic cliff." She said she doesn’t favor weakening the country’s security and military. She and Lingle both warned against the U.S. becoming more isolated in its diplomatic relations with other countries.
      The next and final debate between the U.S. Senate candidates is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday. It will be telecast on KFVE Channel 5, KGMB Channel 7 and KHNL Channel 8.

Interactive map at hawaii.gov shows ag statistics for Ka`u.

THE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY BASELINE STUDY for the Big Island has earned the 2012 Planning Award from the American Planning Association, Hawai`i Chapter.
      Produced by Jeff Melrose of Island Planning, the county Department of Research & Development and University of Hawai`i Geography Department, the study earned the award Innovations for Sustaining Places.
      The study was undertaken as the result of the Hawai`i County Agricultural Development Plan adopted in 2010. It provides a summary of the current state of local food production and import data for Hawai`i County. It includes detailed maps of existing agricultural activity on the island as a way to measure current farm activity, and to distinguish the unique circumstances that drive farming in each region around the island.
      The report provides a list of 100 Things to Do to Increase Food Self-Sufficiency, emphasizing the need for everyone from consumers and government to farmers and retailers to be involved in the process for increasing food self-reliance.
      The judges noted “the creation of a self-sufficiency scorecard and maps depicting agricultural activity throughout the County,” staying that “information on area-specific food production is particularly useful. The development of key metrics related to production and consumption is particularly useful, and many of the concepts, tools, and findings are transferable to other communities. The study provides a good foundation for future action affecting agriculture in Hawai`i.”

Farmers markets in Ka`u offer locally
grown produce. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      Department of Research & Development director Randy Kurohara said “the baseline study is an important tool for improving the quality of conversation we have about the future of Hawai`i Island’s food self-reliance, and it makes some very useful suggestions about the role that everyone has to play in this process.”
      Dr. Tim Richards, of Kahua Ranch and Hawai`i Cattlemen’s Association, said that the “Baseline Study is a defining piece on agriculture on Hawai`i Island and is the envy of others around the state.”
      The study and many of its maps and graphics can be viewed under the Announcement section at hawaiicounty.gov.

FIFTEEN NATIVE BIG ISLAND SPECIES are up for protection through the Endangered Species Act, according to a statement from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Public and scientific input will be accepted through Dec. 17.
      The two animals nominated for the Endangered Species List are an anchialine pool shrimp and a picture-wing fly. The plants and animals live in a range of ecological niches on the Big Island including anchialine pools, coastal, lowland dry, lowland mesic, lowland wet, montane dry, montane mesic, montane wet, dry cliff and wet cliff.

Bidens micrantha, or ko`oko`olau

      The Service first identified seven of the 15 species as candidates for ESA protection from 1996 to 1999, due to threats throughout their ranges, including habitat destruction and modification caused by invasive, non-native plants, feral pigs, sheep and goats, and agricultural and urban development.
      Other threats include consumption of rare species by non-native feral pigs, sheep and goats, and other introduced species such as rats and non-native invertebrates.
      “Native habitat is also threatened by the effects of climate change, which may intensify existing natural threats such as fire, hurricanes, landslides and flooding. In addition, existing regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to protect the species,” the U.S. Fish & Wildlife statement says.
      Biologists have identified habitat essential to conservation of one of the 15 proposed plant and animal species – Bidens micrantha ssp. ctenophylla (ko`oko`olau) – and of two previously listed plant species – Mezoneuron kavaiense (uhiuhi) and Isodendrion pyrifolium (wahine noho kula). These are currently without designated critical habitat on the island of Hawai`i. They live in the same lowland dry ecosystem and share physical or biological features such as elevation, annual rainfall, substrate and associated native plants as well as threats from development, fire and non-native ungulates and plants, the statement says.

Mezoneuron kavaiense, or uhiuhi

      Proposed critical habitat totals 18,766 acres on both occupied and unoccupied habitat. Approximately 55 percent of proposed critical habitat is designated critical habitat for 42 plants and the Blackburn’s sphinx moth. Sixty-four percent is on state lands, two percent on federal lands, less than one percent on county lands, and 34 percent on private lands.
       “The Hawai`i Island listing and critical habitat designation, if finalized, will allow us to better address and manage Hawai`i’s endangered species and the unique ecosystems on which these species depend,” said Loyal Mehrhoff, field supervisor for the Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office.
      The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received by Dec. 17. Requests for a public hearing must be received in writing by Dec. 3. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:
      For more, contact Loyal Mehrhoff, Field Supervisor, Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850; call 808-792-9400 or fax 808-792-9581.

KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE sponsors a Police and Fire Department Child Safety presentation tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Police and fire personnel will teach children how to stay safe during Halloween. Keiki will also have an opportunity to have photos taken with fire and police staff and vehicles. Keiki ID will be handed out, along with refreshments. For more information, call 939-8449.

AUDITIONS FOR THE AWAKENING OF EVERYONE take place tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The play is a modern revival of the 15th century Greek morality play The Summons of Everyman. It will be performed locally in early December.
      The cast requires about 15 characters. Rehearsals will be held for about two hours, three times a week, until production. Not all cast members will be required to attend all rehearsals. Call 928-0007 for more information.

BRING YOUR SILLIEST STORIES, funniest jokes and wackiest skits to Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village to audition for the upcoming comedy cabaret Ho, Ho, Ho! Ha, Ha, Ha! - Comedy at Kilauea Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This open audition call invites seasoned and novice comedy talent of all ages to present three minutes of material. Holiday themes are appreciated, but not mandatory. For more information, visit volcanoartcenter.org or contact Tanya Aynessazian or Julie Callahan at 967-8222 or info@volcanoartcenter.org.

A CANDIDATE FORUM featuring state Senate candidates Russell Ruderman and Daryl Lee Smith and County Council District 6 candidates Maile David and Brenda Ford takes place at Cooper Center in Volcano Village on Monday at 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by League of Women Voters. For more, visit lwv.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALALANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 18, 2012

Vog plume from Halemaumau Crater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Alan Cressler 

FEW PEOPLE ARE PROVIDING INPUT to the Interagency Task Force on Vog which was created last year by the state legislature through the effort of Rep. Bob Herkes to bring in testimony on the impact of vog on people who live in the path of Kilauea volcano emissions. 

Click to enlarge. Chart from hiso2index.info

      A Tom Calis story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald quoted Herkes saying: “Absent public participation, it made no sense.” The 15-member committee owes a report to the 2013 State Legislature when it convenes in January. According to the story, the Pahala meeting last March drew about a dozen people. A Hilo meeting drew a few. A meeting in Pahoa in June drew no one. “When we went there, we entertained ourselves,” Hawai`i County Civil Defense Director and chair of the committee Ben Fuata told the Tribune Herald.
      The next public input meeting is being organized for November but no date has been set. “Even without the public input, the committee has collected data on volcano pollution,” Fuata told the Tribune Herald. “I think it’s been successful in that we kind of have an idea … a better grasp on what the concerns of the public are.” See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

`AINA KOA PONO’S PROPOSAL, which promises to help solve energy dependency problems by using biofuel produced from trees, brush and grasses that would be harvested in Ka`u, is compared to the costs of geothermal in a statement this week by Big Island Coalition and state Department of Agriculture board member Richard Ha.

Puna Geothermal Venture. Photo from Ormat

      “What if we substituted geothermal electricity for `Aina Koa Pono's biofuels proposal, in order to replace the 80MW that the Keahole liquid fuel-fired plant produces?” Ha estimates that “`Aina Koa Pono’s proposed plan would cost rate payers the equivalent of $200/barrel of oil. The ‘barrel of oil equivalent’ for geothermal-produced electricity is $57/barrel, and this price will be stable for 500,000 to a million years,” claims Ha. He writes that “geothermal is competitive with – though cheaper than – natural gas, which is $5.16 per million BTUs and breaks even with oil at $57/barrel; and nuclear power, which breaks even at $6.26 and $69.”
      Ha concludes: “At today’s oil prices, there is an 11 cent difference between oil- and geothermal-produced electricity. Geothermal is cheaper by far.” He does some arithmetic: “The Keahole plant’s capacity (where the `Aina Koa Pono fuel would be trucked from Wood Valley up Hwy 11) is 80MW, which is 80,000 kilowatts per hour. Using geothermal would save $8,800/hour, $211,200/day, and $6,336,000/month. In a year, the savings would be $76 million,” Ha states.
      Ha suggests saving money by using geothermal to lower ratepayers bills, and the other half to retire debt. “The electric utility should not be punished for trying to achieve its renewable energy goals. But we have to realize there may be alternatives that better prepare us for the future. Let's not lock ourselves out of these opportunities by signing a 20-year contract just because of an arbitrary time schedule.

Image from biofuels-solutions.com

      “In the end, with geothermal we would pay the oil equivalent of $57/barrel on our electric bills. If we go `Aina Koa Pono’s route, we pay the equivalent of $200/barrel. Am I missing something?” Ha asks.
      Ha and the Big Island Community Coalition are urging citizens to testify at the Public Utilities Commission hearings on the contract for `Aina Koa Pono to sell biofuel to Hawai`i Electric Light Co. with a fixed-price, 20-year contract.
      Big Island hearings, which also include an additional 4.2 percent rate hike for HELCO separate from the `Aina Koa Pono proposal, are Monday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m., Hilo High School cafeteria and Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m., Kealakehe High School cafeteria in Kona. Another hearing will be scheduled for O`ahu.
      For the `Aina Koa Pono hearing, HELCO asks the PUC to allow increases through a surcharge for all electric ratepayers on the Big Island and O`ahu – to average $1 per 500 to 600 kilowatt-hours used.

One of 27 microwave depolymerization units, called
Micro Dee, that `Aina Koa Pono intends to bring to Ka`u.
Photo from biofuels-solutions.com

      The `Aina Koa Pono proposal involves clearing and growing crops on land between Pahala and Na`alehu and a refinery near Wood Valley Road that would provide 16 million gallons of biodiesel a year to sell to HELCO for use at the power plant near Kona Airport. Another eight million gallons would be sold to a Georgia-based fuel distributor, to be sold preferably in Hawai`i, according to `Aina Koa Pono.
      `Aina Koa Pono says its project would create 200 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs, The complex would be comprised of 27 microwave depolymerization units to create the refinery. There would be a cooling tower, a processor to turn biomass into pellets before putting them through the microwave process, parking lots for worker vehicles, trucks, loaders and other machinery, a mill yard to store the biomass brought to the property along with additives such as xeolite to be imported from off island, and diesel storage tanks to hold the biodiesel before trucking it out of Ka`u.
      At recent meetings held in small groups of invited people in Ka`u and Hilo, `Aina Koa Pono representatives said that they would start with one microwave unit before adding on the others, to make sure the operation is acceptable to the community before proceeding. Representatives also said that one truck of biofuel per week would be sent to Hilo to be used as transportation fuel.
      See ainakoapono.com, biofuels-solutions.com and puc.hawaii.gov where the proposals and testimony can be found.

Ag tourism regulations for the Big Island are being
discussed by the County Council. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

AG TOURISM REGULATIONS are making their way through the County Council with several amendments added yesterday. Most amendments on yesterday’s agenda were offered by council member Brenda Ford. Among them was a proposal to require a site visit and approval by the county Planning Department before ag tourism would be allowed. The measure passed. Another, which was turned down by the council, would have limited the size of structures where ag products would be sold and would have set a minimum for sales of ag products to prevent such places from becoming tourist trinket and tee shirt shops rather than predominantly ag product sales locations. She also unsuccessfully proposed limiting the number of visitors to such ag tourism operations to no more than 80 a day, which is nearly 30,000 visitors a year.
      Another amendment, which did pass on first reading came from Dominic Yagong, which would ban ag tourism in places served only by four-wheel drive roads. The amendment was designed specifically for Waipio Valley, where taro farmers are bothered by an overabundance of tourists. The amendments will go back to the full County Council for another vote.

SOUTH KONA POLICE STATION, another initiative of Brenda Ford, passed, authorizing $30 million in general obligation bonds, which includes $16.8 million for the station.

Lani Weigert. Photo from tedxmaui.com

THOSE INTERESTED IN FREE AGRITOURISM WORKSHOPS through the Hawai`i AgriTourism Association are urged to attend an organizational meeting this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Pahala Community Center. Information will be provided on scope and timing. Those with agritourism potential in Ka`u can sign up for the workshops, which are funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.
      “The intention of the trainings is to help build economic development for the Ka`u agricultural community and it’s partners,” says Hawai`i Agritourism Association Executive Director Lani Weigert. For more, visit hiagtourism.org. Those interested in attending can reserve a seat by emailing lani@hiagtourism.org or calling (808) 283-3777.

KICK ICE SIGN WAIVING takes place tomorrow in front of Na`alehu School gym from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

PIANO HINGE, UNHINGED, where Charlene Asato dispels the mysteries of the piano hinge structure as used in bookbinding, is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Volcano Art Center. Cost is $35 per person for general public and $31.50 for VAC members, plus $10 for supplies. Call 967-8222 to reserve space.

KIPUKA`AKIHI HIKE, within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, is Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants explore an isolated refuge of rare plants in a remnant old-growth forest. Pr-registration required. Call 985-6011.

AUDITIONS FOR THE AWAKENING OF EVERYONE will be held this Saturday, Oct. 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The play is a modern revival of the 15th century Greek morality play The Summons of Everyman by Anonymous. It will be performed locally in early December. 

      The cast requires about 15 characters. Rehearsals will be held for about two hours, three times a week until production. Not all cast members will be required to attend all rehearsals. Call 928-0007 for more information.

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

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