Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 23, 2012

Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan calls for fencing 12,000 acres of forest. Photo by Rob Shallenberger

KA`U FOREST RESERVE is a target of the Pele Defense Fund, which filed a suit this week in state Third Circuit Court to challenge the proposed Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan. The suit objects to the state’s determination that the plan would have no significant environmental impacts and asks for an Environmental Impact Statement. A statement on Pele Defense Fund’s website at www.peledefensefund.org says “the decision not to prepare an EIS “required that the EIS issue must be decided by the Court."

Ka`u Forest Reserve shown in green.

Pele Defense Fund president
Palikapu Dedman

      Palikapu Dedman, president of Pele Defense Fund, listed a number of reasons for the suit.  He contended that: “Since the '70s until present, tons of galvanized and iron posts have been destroying miles of virgin forests, as well as tons of toxic rodent poisons placed between fences to eradicate rodents as well as pigs that eat them statewide, which is more damaging to watershed, negating conservation reasoning that pigs ruin the watershed. On this island alone Native Hawaiians as well as the general public, hunters, gatherers and recreational hikers has been ‘fenced out’ of nearly three million acres of their lands through 'Science and Conservation,' a clear case of taxation without representation.”

      Department of Forestry & Wildlife’s Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan proposes fencing 12,000 acres of forest, eradicating animals and possibly reintroducing the Hawaiian crow, with the possibility of more fence enclosures in the future. The suit refers to the plaintiff’s criticism of the cultural assessment, the interruption of hunting and gathering access and says there is a failure to measure results of prior, similar efforts.

     Pele Defense Fund says that it seeks “to preserve the Ka`u Forest Reserve for Native Hawaiian traditional and spiritual practices, and for education of future generations,” claiming the Environmental Assessment completed for the Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan overlooks “the risk of environmental impacts.”

Walkovers would allow access
for hunters.

       The Ka`u Forest Reserve Plan for the 61,641 acres calls for the fenced-in area to protect native plants and birds from ungulates to be at the high elevations, where hunting is less frequent. It also calls for walkovers, like stairways going over the fences to help give hunters continued access to their hunting grounds. The Hawaian crow, the `alala, would be re-introduced. It is believed to be extinct in the wild, and a breeding program takes place at San Diego Zoo and at Keauhou Bird Sanctuary in Volcano.

`Alala may be re-intro-
duced to the reserve.

See the Environmental Assessment at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/final-environmental-assessment-for-the-kau-forest-reserve-management-plan-1. 

THE DEA HAS LEFT HILO, according to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. “Federal cutbacks in the U.S. Department of Justice have caused the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to close its office and hangar that were located at Hilo International Airport,” reports writer Hunter Bishop. The story says the DEA hangar and office shut down Oct. 1 without notification to local police. The Tribune-Herald reports that “Hawai`i County Police Department Maj. Randy Apele in the vice section said he was aware that the DEA had been considering removing its air operations for some time, but he was unaware that the agency had left the island.” The aviation component of the DEA will be supported from Honolulu, the story says. See more at www.hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Graphs from County of Hawai`i draft Energy Sustainability Program
Five-Year Roadmap

HAWAI`I COUNTY IS SEEKING PUBLIC COMMENT on its draft Energy Sustainability Program Five-Year Roadmap. Comments are due Wednesday, Dec. 5. The roadmap provides recommendations to strengthen the county’s energy program and realize more than $3.9 million in taxpayer saving, while empowering county government to lead the transition to energy sustainability. The Roadmap is being developed by The Kohala Center under the direction of Hawai`i County Department of Research & Development. 

      The overall objectives of the roadmap are to describe the critical role of county government in the pursuit of the island’s sustainable energy future and to provide the county with a set of high-priority policies and programs in the areas of renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and transportation systems.
      It describes challenges, highlights opportunities and suggests highest priority actions the county can take to lead the island to energy sustainability.
      Guiding principles listed for the road to energy sustainability are:

• eliminate the island’s reliance on imported fossil-based energy and replace it with sustainable and secure energy sources;
• reduce the price paid for energy services on Hawai`i Island;
• maintain the reliability and safe operation of the island’s energy infrastructure; and 
•  encourage innovation, invest in healthy communities and respect the natural environment.

      The roadmap reports that the island is reliant on imported petroleum fuels for 95 percent of its energy needs. “Rising, volatile energy prices impose a burden on many sectors of the island’s economy, and the high cost of energy disproportionately impacts low-income households. This equity issue could become more acute over time. Overcoming this dependence will require aggressive and sustained efforts from many stakeholders throughout the island for many years,” the report states.

      The greatest challenge, according to the report, is transportation, “because this sector constitutes more than half of energy demand, and the market development of sustainable transportation solutions has been slow.”
      Regarding electricity, “Renewable electricity generation costs less than the current petroleum-based electricity generation on the island,” says the report. “These technologies are commercially available today and should be widely deployed alongside a modernized power grid. Regulatory policy may need to change to facilitate rapid deployment.”
      The report calls for the county to “promote appropriate energy development and use, develop innovative and proactive policy and lead by example in county operations.”
      The roadmap is available at hawaiienergyplan.com. Public comments are accepted at energy@hawaiienergyplan.com or 887-6411.

Hawai`i's Largest Game Birds. Illustration by H. Douglas Pratt.
See www.hdouglaspratt.com

LEHUA COURT OWNERS OF PROPERTY along Hwy 11 near the corner of Lehua Lane in Ocean View are hosting a community meeting on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Both owners, Bill Stockton and Steve Sahines, will both be on hand. Sahines said they will give an overview of their plans to put in a professional and retail plaza and are seeking input on the needs of the community.

      “We will be open for questions and want to hear ideas for business that would be appropriate for Lehua Court.” More than 30 people have contacted the owners over the last few years with ideas ranging from a quilt shop to a restaurant, pharmacy and a doctors’ office, he said. For more, call Stockton at 960-7251 or Sahines at 443-9982. Also contact lehuacourt@aol.com.

KA`U HUNTERS are invited to go up Saddle Road for shotgun bird hunting in Pohakuloa Training Areas One, Two, Three and Four tomorrow and Sunday. Hunting begins at 5 a.m. and concludes at 7:30 p.m. Check-in stations are at Kilohana between Mile Markers 43 and 44 and at Huluhulu, where Saddle Road intersects with Mauna Kea Access Road close to Mile Marker 28. Hunters must be licensed and follow bag limits. Other regulations include no smoking, alcoholic beverages, building of fires, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes or other recreational vehicles. 

      State Department of Land & Natural Resources biologists predict a lower than average season of bird hunting, with lingering drought impacts on many parts of the state.
      Kapapala Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area is open for game bird hunting Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays for the entire game bird season, which began Nov. 3 and ends Jan. 16.

The life of Chaz Moses will be honored by the
Mauka Legend Hunting Tournament Dec.8.

      Other Game Management Areas where bird hunting is allowed during the same hours on this island are Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, Pu`uwa`a`a, Pu`uanuahulu, Kaohe Lease Cooperative and Kipuka Ainahou. Kahua is closed because of drought conditions.
      For more, call Hunter’s Hotline at 969-3474.

DEADLINE IS TOMORROW to register for the Mauka Legend Hunting Tournament. Scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 8, the tournament is a memorial for Ceasare “Chaz” D.K. Moses, who passed away June 4 in a fishing accident at South Point. 

      The event takes place at Old Pahala Clubhouse. Weigh-ins will be held from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in three categories: Biggest Boar, Biggest Sow, and Longest Tusk. Entry fee is $40 per team.
      For entry forms and sponsorships, contact organizer Ty Chun at 985-9056, 557-8594 or tikeytai@aol.com.

KA`U COFFEE MILL HAS OPENED DAILY for its first Christmas season with a new line of Christmas Roasts and Christmas packaging to encourage Ka`u residents to buy local for the holidays. The visitor center is offering mailing, shipping and gift wrapping from its location on Wood Valley Road above Pahala.

Christmas packaging by Ka`u Coffee Mill. Design by Tanya Ibarra.
The visitor center and store are open on Wood Valley Road
daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

      Amery Silva said that “Growing up here in Pahala, it is wonderful to be part of a new business that can provide the community with a place to buy Christmas gifts. You don’t always have to go to Kona or Hilo and can support Ka`u through buying local – especially our Ka`u Coffees that are grown right here.” The Christmas Roasts to be offered on site beginning next Tuesday are Natural Medium and Washed Medium. Vanilla Macadamia and Macadamia will be offered later in the week.
      In addition to award-winning coffee with Christmas packaging, Ka`u Coffee Mill visitor center store offers a wide variety of macadamia nuts. From its original Kathleen Kam murals and paintings on the walls of the visitor center are wildlife and farm-life artist prints, giclees and note cards. Also offered are Ka`u Coffee Mill logo shirts, long-sleeve hoodies, hats, purses, bags and Ka`u Coffee mugs and tumblers. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Gifts are also available online at www.kaucoffeemill.com and through gift certificates that allow online buying. Call 928-0550.

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Art Studio Tour & Sale begins today and goes through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet artists in their studios and see pottery, raku masks, hand-blown art glass, wood and metal sculpture, hand-tooled metal, fiber art, photographs, paintings, drawings and block prints. A special drawing for pieces contributed by the artists will be held on the last day. Maps are available at local businesses and VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY takes place today through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Special holiday celebrations include art demonstrations and print and book signings by gallery artists, plus a selection of handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season. Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

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

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

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 22, 2012

Dcumentary film takes a naturalist into unexpected interactions with wildlife as a member of a flock of wild turkeys. Photo from Nature

TODAY IS THANKSGIVING and the Big Island is home to a Thanksgiving symbol, the wild turkey. Turkeys are native to the southern U.S. and Mexico but were brought to Hawai`i from many far off places, by explorers and trading vessels sailing in with livestock as early as 1788 from China and in 1815 from Chile. In 1961, Rio Grand wild turkeys were imported to Pu`uwa`awa`a Ranch on the west side of this island and these hardy Texan dry land turkeys proved to have the best survival rate. 

Wild turkeys on the outskirts of Pahala, roaming through a macadamiu orchard.
 Photo by Julia Neal

      According to a Wild Turkey publication by Bishop Museum, turkeys were the first bird species (possibly along with rock pigeons) to be introduced to post-contact Hawai`i, when a number of birds were brought in from China. By the 1920’s as many as two to three thousand wild turkeys were taken by hunters each year on the Big Island. Wild Turkey describes the birds as “naturalized, long-established residents” of Hawai`i. 

      Turkeys don’t like the beach too much, but are plentiful in the uplands of Ka`u, roaming in flocks through macadamia orchards, forest and pasturelands. The lives of wild turkeys and what these animals can teach humans is the subject of an Emmy winning film called My Life as a Turkey. Based on a naturalist spending more than a year alone with wild turkeys, from egg to adulthood, the film can be seen, no charge, at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/my-life-as-a-turkey/full-episode/7378/

THE FALSE KILLER WHALE, which is really a large dolphin, has received increased protection from the federal government. The ban on long-line fishing near the Hawaiian Islands will be geographically extended. Circular hooks will be required of longline fishermen to help prevent false killer whales from being accidentally caught when fishing for swordfish and other commercial catch. 

      A statement earlier this year from the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice and Turtle Island Restoration Network said that the federal Fish & Wildlife Service’s “own data have shown for over a decade that Hawai`i-based longline fishing kills false killer whales in Hawaiian waters at unsustainable rates. The latest data, which the agency released in August 2012, reveal that each year longline fishing kills an average of more than 13 false killer whales from the 'Hawai`i Pelagic Stock' (animals found more than 22 nautical miles from the main Hawaiian Islands), nearly 50 percent more than what the agency has said that population can sustain.
   

Large dolphins with the name of False Killer Whales are down to about 150 animals and received increased protection this month.
Photo from Center for Biological Diversity

     “False killer whales in the 'Hawaii Insular Stock' (animals found within 76 nautical miles of the main Hawaiian Islands) are being killed in Hawai`i-based longlines at nearly twice the sustainable rate, contributing to a 9 percent decline in the population each year since 1989. Only about 150 of these animals remain, and the Fisheries Service has proposed to list them as 'endangered' under the Endangered Species Act.” 

      Todd Steiner, biologist and executive director of the Turtle Island Restoration Network, was quoted in Civil Beat yesterday, indicating that the environmental groups want more: “While these new measures will hopefully help reduce the severe impact the Hawai‘i longline fishery has been having on these magnificent dolphins, we are disappointed that some of the recommended measures have been weakened. We will be monitoring the fishery closely for effectiveness and compliance and won’t hesitate to take additional actions if problems persist.”
      Earthjustice represented the environmental groups in taking longline fishing industry regulations to court, resulting in the recent settlement and new rules. See more at www.civilbeat.com.

PREVENTING INJURIES AND GOOD MENTAL HEALTH can reduce the number of accidental deaths, according to the state Department of Health. Its new epidemiology study shows that falling down led to almost twice the number of deaths as vehicle crashes. Among other causes of death that could be mitigated are: drowning, poisoning, pedestrian injuries, motorcycle injuries, interpersonal violence and suicide. 

   After falls the second most prevalent cause of unintentional death is poisoning, through prescription drugs – taking the wrong medicine or the wrong dosage. The third most common cause of unintentional death is driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The fourth cause of unintentional death is drowning. 

      The study, taken from statistics gathered from  2007 – 2011, pinpoints Hawai`i County as having the state’s highest rate for death by pedestrian crash, drowning, and suicides. The Department of Health has posted its Hawai`i Injury Prevention Plan , 2012 – 2017 and the statistical study Injuries in Hawai`i, 2007 – 2011 on its website at http://hawaii.gov/health. The website has numerous links to studies, workshops, and helpful hints for better public health.

STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN says he will be the one to introduce a bill into the 2013 Hawai`i State Legislature to require lawmakers to adhere to the same restrictions as other state employees in regards to using their positions to benefit themselves and others.
   Green wrote a letter to the City & County of Honolulu urging settlement of an unpaid bill from a company that enables physicians to fill prescriptions for their own patients within their doctors’ offices. He said the intent of the letter was to promote faster payments to health providers so they can continue to treat workers compensation and other patients. However, the letter was used in a Honolulu Star Advertiser story as an example of a loophole for legislators to have influence denied to other state workers. Green said that the company owed the money was incidentally one of many contributors to his recent successful campaign for reelection. He said he gave the campaign donation to a hospital foundation and Aloha Medical Mission, according to the story in Civil Beat. The Nathan Eagle story also reports Green saying he plans to meet with the executive director of the state Ethics Commission, Les Kondo, to help craft a stricter law for legislators and “gain some guidance for himself and others to better understand where the line is drawn.”

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S CRATER RIM CAFÉ in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park hosts a Thanksgiving Day buffet Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Price for adults is $18.95 and $9.50 for children ages 6 to 11, and park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-8371.

THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL is the most recent image created by woodblock print artist Caren Loebel-Fried. She signs books and prints Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ho`ailona, Hawaiian Monk Seal, is a hand-pulled, hand-colored, limited-edition block print created for Conservation Council for Hawai`i’s annual wildlife poster. Loebel-Fried will demonstrate her process and will provide original and giclee images for purchase. Park entrance fees apply. See volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

Volcano Artist Hui opens studios and workshops Friday through Sunday.

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Art Studio Tour & Sale begins Friday and goes through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meet artists in their studios and see pottery, raku masks, hand-blown art glass, wood and metal sculpture, hand-tooled metal, fiber art, photographs, paintings, drawings and block prints. A special drawing for pieces contributed by the artists will
be held on the last day. Maps are available at local businesses and VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com.

INVITATIONAL WREATH EXHIBIT continues today and through the holidays at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Gallery. Artists, working in a wide variety of media, materials and techniques, present their concepts of “wreath,” from the whimsical to the traditional through Sunday, Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565. 

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY continues Friday through Sunday,  9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Special holiday celebrations include art demonstrations and print and book signings by gallery artists, plus a selection of handcrafted decorations and gifts offered only during the holiday season. 

     Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

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

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

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

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 21, 2012

NOAA map shows debris reported as possibly resulting from the Japanese tsunami in March 2011.

PUBLIC LAND DEVELOPMENT CORP’S major supporter in the state Senate said yesterday that he would consider repealing the law. Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the implementation of the law, the way it is written, could be inconsistent. According to the report by Star-Advertiser reporter Derrick DePledge, “Dela Cruz said that the PLDC, the development arm of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, has not done anything definitive in the year since it was created to establish itself as an entity poised to develop significant projects. He said that he and other lawmakers had to help craft a strategic plan and a public information strategy for the PLDC.”

Donovan Dela Cruz

      Ka`u’s incoming state Senators Josh Green and Russell Ruderman both told The Ka`u Calendar that they would seriously consider repealing the law. Ka`u member to the state House of Representatives Denny Coffman says he opposes the PLDC law and has apologized for supporting in last year. New state Rep. Richard Onishi said he has not yet made up his mind. 

      According to the Star-Advertiser story, Dela Cruz “has also urged the PLDC’s five-member board to develop criteria to annually evaluate the performance of Lloyd Haraguchi, its executive director.” The story quotes Dela Cruz saying: “We’re not talking about projects; we’re talking about organization. So the fact that the Public Land Development Corp. has not been able to organize, has not been able to develop an operational strategy, is disturbing.”
      “Asked whether he would call for a repeal, the senator said, ‘I think at this point, until they can prove that this idea can be properly implemented, then maybe that has to be put on the table,’” reports DePledge.
      The Star-Advertiser also reports that Department of Land & Natural Resources director William Aila “said the Abercrombie administration and the PLDC would like the opportunity to work with all parties to try to resolve concerns. ‘I don’t think that a repeal is necessary at this point.’”
      See more at www.staradvertiser.com.

Only 15 of more than 1,000 reported items have been
confirmed asJapanese tsunami marine debris.
Map from NOAA

SINCE THE JAPANESE TSUNAMI in March 2011, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has received over 1,000 reports of debris from the general public and partners at sea and on shore. While many of these objects may fit the profile of tsunami debris, only a few can be traced back to the disaster with 100 percent certainty based on a clear fingerprint, such as a government registration or personal information. The latest report shows only 15 items confirmed as Japanese tsunami marine debris.
      The only confirmed sighting in Hawai`i is a small plastic box found on O`ahu used to store seafood. A large yellow cylinder that washed up along the Ka`u Coast is unconfirmed as being from Japan, and DLNR is soliciting bids for its removal.

      Sightings of marine debris can be reported at disasterdebris@noaa.gov. More information is available at marinedebris.noaa.gov.

The large yellow cylinder on the Ka`u Coast is unconfirmed as being
from Japan. DLNR is soliciting bids for its removal.

      County Civil Defense is working with other agencies to keep track of tsunami debris and to plan for  its removal, according to the mayor’s office.

A RECENT CHANGE IN HAWAI`I COUNTY’S ELECTRICAL CODE removes the requirement for an architect or structural engineer’s seal on building plans and specs for residential photovoltaic installations. The change, signed into law by Mayor Billy Kenoi, became effective November 8.
      With this change in the electrical code, homeowners and installers can get photovoltaic systems on homes more quickly. “Residential photovoltaic systems are an important part of reducing our island’s dependence on imported fuels and easing the burden of high electricity prices on our Hawai‘i Island families,” said Kenoi.

      The law did not change the requirement for an architect or structural engineer’s seal on building plans and specs for non-residential photovoltaic installations. Building and electrical permits are still required for residential and non-residential photovoltaic installations, as well as an electrical engineer’s stamp for electrical design drawings.
      Electrical and building applications may be completed and tracked online through the Papa Aukahi web portal at papaaukahi.hawaiicounty.gov. Public computers within the Hilo and Kona Building Division offices are available to create and track online permit applications.
      Front desk support for permit applications is available from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the exception of Wednesday in Hilo and Thursday in Kona, when the desk closes at noon. All other Public Works divisions remain available weekdays until 4:30 p.m. for code questions, consultation, and drop off and pick up for plans and permits.

Vickie Crosby holds her Hawai`i Nurse Practitioner of the Year award
received from (l) Angela Golden, president of AANP and Yvonne Geesey,
AANP Hawai`i state representative. Photo from Rick Crosby

VICKIE CROSBY, CERTIFIED FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER and founder of Ocean View Family Health Clinic, has been named Hawai`i Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. This honor is awarded annually during National Nurse Practitioner Week to one of Hawai`i’s outstanding nurse practitioners for leadership, innovation and service to his or her community. Crosby serves over 3,000 patients every year in the Ocean View area and is a clinical preceptor for nurse practitioner students from University of Hawai`i. She is also vice president of Ka`u Rural Health Association. 

      According to AANP, more and more people are choosing NPs as their primary, acute and/or specialty healthcare provider. In addition to being healthcare providers, NPs provide comprehensive, personalized health education and counseling and assist patients in making better lifestyle and health decisions.
      “By providing high-quality care and counseling, NPs can lower the cost of health care for patients,” said Ocean View Family Health Clinic manager Rick Crosby. “For example, patients who see NPs as their primary care provider often have fewer emergency room visits, shorter hospital stays and lower medication costs.”

A Land Worth Fighting For, by Kamrie Koi, is one of eleven short films
comprising the Digital Mountain Film Festival.

ELEVEN SHORT FILMS CREATED by island students for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Digital Mountain Film Festival are ready for viewing and voting on YouTube. Each film is approximately three minutes in length. 

      The last day to vote is Monday, Nov. 26. Send votes to Park Ranger Kupono McDaniel by email at kupono_mcdaniel@nps.gov.
      The fourth annual Digital Mountain Film Festival takes place at the park’s Kilauea Visitor Center, on Saturday, Dec. 1. A potluck celebration starts at 5:30 p.m., and the film festival gets underway at 6 p.m. Winners, who have a chance to win Mac laptop computers and digital cameras, will be announced at the festival.
      “It’s very inspirational and enlightening to see how our island youth perceive Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. They understand the park isn’t just for tourists but is their park, too. I hope everyone has a chance to vote for their favorite film and come and celebrate our talented youth at the film festival,” McDaniel said.

      See the films at http://www.youtube.com/user/DigitalMountain2012?feature=watch.
      For more information, contact McDaniel at 985-6015 or kupono_mcdaniel@nps.gov, and visit the festival’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DigitalMountainFilmFestival.

ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE in the annual Rubberband Turkey Shoot today from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Call 928-3102 for more information.

KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park hosts a concert by Kalapana `Awa Band this evening at 6:30 p.m. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

Caren Loebel-Fried illustrated Legend of the Gourd.

WOODBLOCK PRINT ARTIST CAREN LOEBEL-FRIED signs books and prints Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Her most recent image, Ho`ailona, Hawaiian Monk Seal, is a hand-pulled, hand-colored, limited-edition block print created for Conservation Council for Hawai`i’s annual wildlife poster. Loebel-Fried demonstrates her process and has both original and giclee images available for purchase. Park entrance fees apply. For more visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Art Studio Tour & Sale is Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors meet artists in their studios and see pottery, raku masks, hand-blown art glass, wood and metal sculpture, hand-tooled metal, fiber art, photographs, paintings, drawings and block prints. A special drawing for pieces contributed by the artists is held on the last day of the event. Maps are available at local businesses and VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com.

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

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

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