Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014

The late Bob Herkes, wearing maile lei, was a champion of the Ocean View well and spigot site and attended the July 2012 blessing along with other elected officials and Ocean View residents. Photo by Charles Tobias

PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND OTHERS ARE ACKNOWLEDGING ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the late Bob Herkes during his years of service to his constituents on Hawai`i Island and sending condolences to his family. A Volcano resident, Herkes died Thursday after a brief illness.

Bob Herkes also spoke at the blessing of Ka`u Coffee
Mill. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      “A former state representative, state senator, Hawai`i County Council member and local businessman, Bob had a solid record of getting things done for the people of Hawai`i,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “His long career in public service brought about countless benefits for Hawai`i Island, including his integral role in incorporating the appropriation for the first FEMA-certified shelter in Ka`u, providing a drinking water system for Ocean View and establishing a mobile medical van to bring basic medical services to rural areas.
      “His fierce dedication to the people of the Big Island and our entire state will be remembered. Our thoughts and aloha are with his wife, Jo-Anna; sons, Bob, Ken and Doug; and the rest of the Herkes `ohana.”
      State House speaker Joseph Souki said, “Hawai`i has lost a dedicated and passionate public servant who championed protecting consumer rights during his 18 years in the state House of Representatives. Bob worked tirelessly to pass legislation that strengthened the rights of residents in mortgage foreclosures. He was an early and strong advocate of natural disaster preparedness and was one of the first to call attention to the health effects of vog. He was a good legislator, highly respected by his colleagues, and a great friend. I will miss him.”
      U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was a colleague of Herkes in the state House of Representatives. “My thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s wife Jo-Anna and their `ohana as they mourn his passing and celebrate his life and accomplishments,” Gabbard said. “I had the great privilege of serving alongside Bob in the Hawai`i State House from 2002 to 2004 and witnessed how he took great pride in being a public servant. Bob Herkes will be missed, but we will never forget his service and dedication to our community.”

      Volcano Art Center released a statement saying Herkes “was a great supporter of VAC and (wearing his legislator hat) worked hard for us in securing the legislative appropriation for $586,000 that helped us build the Administration Building at Niaulani.”

      Herkes was born in Iloilo City, Philippines and raised in Hilo.
      The governor intends to order flags to half-staff on the day of services yet to be announced by the family.

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

Map of state open data scores from Center for Data Innovation.

HAWAI`I IS RANKED AMONG THE TOP STATES for progress in open data in a new report published this week by the Center for Data Innovation, the leading think tank studying the intersection of data, technology and public policy. 

      “This national recognition shows that collaborative and determined efforts on the part of this administration and the Legislature, together with our private sector partners and the public, have made great strides since launching our state’s business and information transformation in 2011,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “We have developed a strong open government program that is rapidly improving transparency and accountability of state government.”
      Hawai`i was one of six states to receive a perfect score in the Center for Data Innovation’s report, which evaluated states based on the contents of their open data policies and open data portals. Points are awarded for the presence of an open data policy, quality of open data policy, presence of an open data portal and quality of an open data portal.
      “Open data that does not compromise security or privacy is becoming more readily available to the public through data.hawaii.gov, recognizing that it belongs to the people of Hawai`i,” said the governor’s Chief Advisor on Technology and Cybersecurity, Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, who launched Hawai`i’s Open Data Portal as Hawai`i’s first chief information officer. “This award demonstrates that Hawai`i can set a new national standard of excellence for open government.
      The report is available at datainnovation.org/2014/08/state-open-data-policies-and-portals.

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

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is calling for demilitarization of U.S. police forces.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD IS CALLING for demilitarizing of police across the nation. 

“The increasing use of military equipment, weapons and tactics against our own citizens is unacceptable and must stop,” said Gabbard, a veteran of two tours of duty in the Middle East and a captain in Hawai`i Army National Guard. “The military-style response of the Ferguson, Missouri police is but the latest of numerous such incidents across America. 

      “
This militarization of local police includes heavy equipment like armored personnel carriers and automatic weapons, as well as the now common practice of using heavily armed SWAT teams for even the most common law enforcement purposes. In 2005, the most recent year for which data has been collected, there were around 50,000 SWAT raids. The number has certainly increased since then.


      “It is alarming to see small towns of America encroached upon with assault weapons, militarized vehicles, tear gas and other military gear intended for use against enemy combatants, not against our own citizens,” Gabbard said. “Our local police forces are meant to be serving and protecting the people in our local communities – not treating them as the enemy. Historically, Americans have joined law enforcement because of their desire to serve and protect their communities – not play soldiers. However, this could change with the increased militarization of our police.



      “The increased militarization of police action around the country is all the more troublesome when coupled with recent revelations exposing the National Security Agency’s use of massive, invasive surveillance programs on innocent Americans. I will work to pass legislation to stop the use of military force against our citizens.”

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

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park waives entry fees Monday to celebrate
National Park Service's 98th birthday. Exploring the Summit is one of
several programs visitors can enjoy. NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE’S 98TH BIRTHDAY is Monday. To celebrate, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park waives entry fees.
      Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park was also established 98 years ago, on Aug. 1, 1916. Called Hawai`i National Park then, the park also comprised Haleakala National Park on Maui. In 1961, Haleakala became its own national park – and Hawai`i Volcanoes has since grown to more than 333,000 acres, roughly the size of O‘ahu.
      Today, with more than 150 miles of hiking trails and 520 square miles that stretch from sea level to the 13,677-foot summit of Mauna Loa, there are endless opportunities to enjoy Hawai`i’s natural and native splendor in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      “We invite everyone to come and help us celebrate another milestone as we approach our 100th anniversary in 2016,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We can all be proud of our legacy in being the first country in the world to protect and set aside so many special places so that they can be enjoyed by all.”
      A schedule of free ranger-led programs and guided hikes is posted daily outside Kilauea Visitor Center and the Jaggar Museum by 9:30 a.m. Visitors can enjoy programs including Explore the Summit – a one-hour walk from the Kilauea Visitor Center to the edge of Kilauea caldera, and Life on the Edge, a 20-minute talk about the current eruption from Halema`uma`u Crater given daily at Jaggar Museum overlook.
      Visitors can enjoy more free-entry days in 2014: Saturday, Sept. 27 is National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States; and Tuesday, Nov. 11 honors Veterans Day.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK invite members to the annual meeting to be held two weeks from today on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Pahala Plantation House. This event is the annual celebration of the organization as members come together in fellowship and reaffirm their partnership with the National Park Service at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The membership will vote on a new slate of board directors, including those seeking re-election and present board members. They will also say a fond aloha to outgoing board president Patrick W. Naughton. 

      Check-in begins at 10:45 a.m. The meeting begins at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. The menu will feature fresh foods from Ka`u.
      The program will feature speakers from the Youth Ranger Internship Program, who were part of the summer’s successful youth-work program in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      After lunch, members can enjoy historical stories of Pahala and its past as a sugar plantation town.
      RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 3 by phone at 985-7373 or email at admin@fhvnp.org or fhvnp@icloud.com.

HAWAI`I ISLAND MOBILE SLAUGHTER UNIT Task Group holds a meeting for local meat producers to learn more about the proposed mobile slaughter unit, how it’s part of an integrated meat-packing solution for Hawai`i island’s small producers and how it can benefit ranchers. 

      The meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8 at Aupuni Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
      For more information, contact Jackie at 327-3680 or jacqueline.muller@hisbdc.org.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.

 

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Aug. 22, 2014

Bob Herkes, accompanied by his wife Jo-Anna, often carried his stuffed nene, the state bird, in parades through Volcano and Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

BOB HERKES, 83, a champion for Ka`u, died yesterday after a brief illness at his home in Volcano. Herkes successfully advocated for providing potable water for Ocean View, development of Ka`u irrigation water systems using former sugar plantation sources, the regional gym and shelter now being built in Pahala and scientific analysis of disaster risks in this district of earthquakes, slides, tsunamis, fires, floods and vog. He championed HMSA’s mobile medical van for Ka`u’s remote communities and the state task force that brought great attention to preservation of the Ka`u Coast. He went after Bank of America, declaring that people were unfairly being foreclosed on by its mortgage division. He helped make Hawai`i’s foreclosure laws some of the strictest in the country, favoring homeowners over bankers.

Rep. Bob Herkes, center, at the Ka`u Gym & Shelter groundbreaking
Oct. 3, 2012, with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Billy Kenoi and
other dignitaries. Herkes advocated for Ka`u to have its own regional
disaster shelter. An activities room off the gym will help serve that
function when the complex is completed. Photo by Julia Neal

      In his early years, Herkes worked for InterIsland Resorts, which owned the Kona Surf, Kaua`i Surf and other hotels and resort destinations in the state.

      He first entered politics in 1984 when he served on the Big Island’s County Council. He was Ka`u’s longtime member in the state House of Representatives from 1992 through 2012 and previously served as an appointee to a state Senate seat from 1988 until 1992.
      Herkes most recently served on the Board of Directors at Hawai`i Tourism Authority after the state Senate unanimously approved his nomination in April. He was also a board member of Volcano Art Center and a favorite legislator for Ocean View Community Association and Ocean View Community Development Corp. Over the years, he also served as a leader in numerous organizations, including Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawai`i Hotel Association and the Masons. He emceed the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament yearly, including the event at Kona Pier this July.
      Herkes advocated for small businesses with his history including operating and partnering in restaurants and local enterprise.
      Born on Jan. 24, 1931, Herkes is survived by his wife Jo-Anna and three children, Bobby, Doug and Kenny. Services are to be announced.

A LAWSUIT FILED YESTERDAY BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION of Hawai`i Foundation and Pahoa residents asks the state Supreme Court to allow any registered voter affected by Tropical Storm Iselle to cast a vote that will be included in the August 2014 primary results. 

      The lawsuit also asks the Court to find that the Legislature failed in its constitutional obligation to protect the fundamental right to vote by delegating all decisions relating to natural disasters to the Office of Elections.

      The lawsuit concerns the fundamental right to vote and what the ACLU referred to as the disenfranchisement of hundreds and potentially thousands of affected voters.

      The lawsuit does not challenge the results of any particular race or endorse any campaign.
      On Aug. 6, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation, in advance of two anticipated storms projected to impact Hawai`i: Hurricanes Iselle and Julio. The proclamation – valid Aug. 6-15 – included a statement that “the danger of disaster is of such magnitude to warrant preemptive and protective action in order to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the people.”
      Facing massive damage from Iselle on Aug. 8 and thousands of Hawai`i County residents dealing with historic flooding, power outages, property damage and road closures, the Chief Elections Officer, Scott Nago, determined that the primary would go on as scheduled on Aug. 9.
      Nago changed the rules of the election at least two more times over the course of three days. “This series of decisions led to the denial of the right to vote for many Hawai`i County residents. Indeed, Precinct 04-03 had among its lowest voter turnout ever,” according to the ACLU.
      Senior Staff Attorney Daniel Gluck said, “Although the votes in question may not change the outcome of any of the various races, the ACLU filed this suit because the right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. Every vote counts equally – this is about an individual exercising a fundamental right and not about the results of any single race. The government has a duty to respond to conditions on the ground to make sure people can vote. Here, the government failed to do that, and changes are needed now to preserve the integrity of future elections.”

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS SIGNED A REQUEST for a Presidential Disaster Declaration asking for federal assistance to help pay for damage caused by Tropical Storm Iselle, which impacted Hawai`i from Aug. 7 to 9.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie with state Emergency Management Administrator
Doug Mayne. Photo from State of Hawai`i

      The request seeks Individual Assistance for Hawai`i County. Individual Assistance would make additional funding, loans and services available to affected residents.
      For updates on Iselle recovery efforts, see Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency’s website at scd.hawaii.gov.

HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY HAS BEEN INFORMED of scams targeting Hawai`i Island customers in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle.
      Customers reported receiving telephone calls from someone claiming to be a Hawai`i Electric Light claims representative. The customers were asked to provide their Social Security numbers.
      Hawai`i Electric Light wants to remind customers that the utility will not contact customers to request personal information or direct customers to submit payments via options other than those listed on the back of the billing statement.
      For customers’ safety and protection, HELCO advises: 

• Never provide personal, confidential or financial information to an unidentified individual; 
• Ask questions, or ask for proper identification; Request the individual’s name, company name, and phone number; 
• Be cautious when responding to a caller from an unidentified phone number -- phone scammers want to remain anonymous; 
• Be aware that today’s technology can be used to mask the caller’s phone number, and caller ID could indicate the call is originating from Hawai`i Electric Light, even though it is not; 
• Report any suspicious activity to local police. 

      To obtain a claim form, visit one of HELCO's customer service locations in Hilo, Waimea or Kona or www.hawaiielectriclight.com.

Dates are set for Ka`u to choose art for the cover of
The Directory 2015. For this year's Directory,
see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.

KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S DIRECTORY 2015: Beauty of Ka`u Art Show & Contest at CU Hawai`i’s Na`alehu Branch is set for Monday, Sept. Sept. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 4.
      The public may vote Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      Adult categories are Graphic, Wood, Craft, Photo, Sculpture and Quilting.
      Keiki categories (no larger than 8.5 inches x 11 inches) are Graphic and Photo. Keiki division includes all entries from grades one through six.
      Artists may register on Friday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Artists may enter up to three pieces, with no more than one in any single category.
      Registration fee is $5 per piece for adults and $1 for keiki. All proceeds go to help defray costs of the show, and any surplus is used for the scholarship program.
      Public favorite wins the cover of The Directory 2015, $50 and an article inside The Directory.
      All first-place winning art will be featured in The Directory with the artist. Keiki entries are not eligible for The Directory cover. Keiki grand-prize winner will receive $10.
      First-, second- and third-place ribbons will be awarded in each category, and both the public winner and the judges’ choice will receive a Best in Show grand rosette.
      For more information, call Dallas Decker at 516-662-8789.

TOMORROW FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M., a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park focuses on the area’s human history. Call 985-6011 for more information.

TROJAN FOOTBALL FUNDRAISING RODEO takes place tomorrow at Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds. Ka`u paniolo raise funds for the team’s travels to Moloka`i and Maui this season.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S HULA KAHIKO SERIES continues tomorrow at the hula platform near VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 10:30 a.m. with performances by halau under the direction of Kumu hula Ab Valencia, Kumu hula Pohaikealoha Souza and Kumu hula Patrick Kapuawehi Choy.
      Cultural specialist Loke Kamanu and `ohana offer Na Mea Hula, All Things Hula, on the lanai of the gallery from 9:30 a.m. with 1:30 p.m.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

IN SPORTS TOMORROW AT 10 A.M., Ka`u High Girls Volleyball team travels to Parker, and Boys & Girls Cross-Country meets Kamehameha-Hawai`i in Kea`au.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014

Ka`u paniolo return to Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds Saturday to raise funds for Ka`u High Trojans' eight-man football team.
Photo by Julia Neal

WHILE MUCH OF THE FOCUS IN THE AFTERMATH of Tropical Storm Iselle has been on damage caused by hundreds of falling albizia trees that blocked roads and damaged homes and power lines, many of the downed trees in Wood Valley were elderly eucalyptus trees and silver oaks, along with the albizia.
      It also doesn’t take a storm for eucalyptus to come down. Days before Iselle, near the intersection of Wood Valley and Kapapala Ranch roads, a eucalyptus fell across the bed of Mona Chow’s truck as she was driving toward Pahala, throwing her into the steering wheel and totaling the vehicle.

Eucalyptus trees covered stretches of Wood Valley's roads following
Tropical Storm Iselle. Photo by Anne Celeste

      During Iselle, a large silver oak fell onto Clint Strong’s farm shed and nearly took out  his farm machinery and vehicle, said Wood Valley residents.
      According to an Associated Press story in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz met with state Sen. Russell Ruderman, county Director of Civil Defense Darryl Oliveira and other local officials Tuesday regarding formation of a hazard mitigation plan for albizia trees on Hawai`i Island.
      They agreed that all levels of government share responsibility for dealing with hazards the trees pose. The story states that the officials say the next step is to create a budget and figure out how to split the costs.
      Schatz said that because albizia wreaked havoc on power infrastructure and damaged private property, officials must work together to reduce the likelihood of it happening again.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

RICHARD ABBETT, RUNNER-UP to Maile Medeiros David in the August election to represent Ka`u on Hawai`i County Council, said this morning that he is more determined than ever to work on public issues on the island.
      Abbett said that one of his major concerns is industrialization of the Hawaiian Islands. “It is starting to happen and can be seen on every island. Efforts are being put forward that are ignoring the current residents’ economic and quality of life issue all in the name of progress,” he said.
      On Kaua`i, the County Council is considering enacting an excise tax, in addition to the state general excise tax, that would “continue  a regressive tax structure that could force people out of their homes and off the island,” said Abbett.
      On the Big Island, county government “continues to ignore the concerns of the people over the planned waste-to-energy project to handle the island’s garbage. Rather than creating economic opportunity by using the waste stream for new businesses such as recycling discarded wood and other materials, the plan would reduce the amount of recycling and upcycling,” he contended. “So much garbage would be needed to feed the incinerator to make electricity, it would incentivize more burning and less recycling and undermine our zero-waste policy.”

Hawai`i County Council District Six runner-up Richard Abbett, at left,
wants to work on the island's public issues. Photo by Julia Neal

      Abbett said that the waste-to-energy contract, as proposed, could increase the tax burden to citizens for decades. He said the county won’t have enough waste to feed the generator and would have to truck in recyclables and reusables or pay the incinerator company for not having enough garbage. “In Honolulu, the contractual obligations to feed their waste-to-energy incinerator cannot be met,” he contended.
      Abbett said there is a huge increase in infrastructure investments on all the islands. This relies on local tax revenue, and increased taxes lead to local people becoming more impoverished and less able to keep their homes here.
      He also pointed to housing costs. On O`ahu, for example, $400,000 and $500,000 condos and townhomes are marketed as affordable for local people, when, in fact their income cannot support these expensive homes, he said. This will lead to more out-of-state people moving here and displacing the local residents, he predicted.
      He said one approach to reduce the local tax burden is to increase the counties’ share of the transient accommodations (hotel) tax to mitigate the impact and support services necessary for the visitor industries. Last legislative session, he said, some of the transient accommodations tax revenue was diverted to O`ahu to pay for the Turtle Bay preservation project. While in support of protecting that coastal area on O`ahu, Abbett said more money still needed to come to the Neighbor Island counties. This prompted Neighbor Island counties to consider levying an additional excise tax on all the citizenry, which would hurt the local people, he said.
      Abbett said he also worries about the citizens of Ka`u and other County Council districts having their voices heard. He said he testified yesterday in support of Ka`u County Council member Brenda Ford’s resolution to ensure that each County Council district’s representative is allowed to speak before close of debate on any issue before the council. He said that the tactic of stopping debate has been used in the waste-to-energy incinerator discussion, with debate cut off before council members were allowed to present their constituents’ concerns.
      Abbett recommended that counties refrain from committing to expensive capital improvement projects that are not sustainable through current revenues. Even with increases in property taxes as the values of homes and lands increase, there will not be enough money to fund many of these CIPs, he predicted. “This threatens all of our other policy initiatives to maintain the quality of life for our current residents,” he said. “This is particularly harmful to the Native Hawaiian population.
      “These economic policies are where the rubber hits the road. We can’t support our social policy initiatives with such unsustainable capital investment expenditures and continuation of a regressive tax structure.”
      Abbett said he is networking with other people who have been running for office to continue the public discussion and build a movement around these issues.
      To contact him, call 333-6241.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe discusses results
with Board of Education's Human Resources Committee. Photo from DOE

AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE STATE’S more than 11,000 teachers are effective and highly effective educators, according to Educator Effectiveness System results from school year 2013-14 released by the state Department of Education. The 2013-14 school year was the first year of statewide implementation, with no negative consequences for tenured teachers.
      EES results indicate that a vast majority of teachers are performing at the highest levels:

• 16.0 percent of teachers are rated highly effective, meaning they demonstrate excellence in teacher practice and positive student outcomes;
• 81.7 percent of teachers are rated effective, which means they demonstrate effective teacher practice and positive student outcomes;
• 2.1 percent of teachers were rated marginal, meaning improvements are needed to demonstrate effective teacher practice and positive student outcomes; and
• 0.2 percent of teachers were rated unsatisfactory, which means teachers do not show evidence of effective teacher practice, positive student outcomes.

      EES gives equal weight to two major categories – Student Growth and Learning Measures, and Teacher Practice Measures. Educators are evaluated on several areas, including classroom observations, student survey, core professionalism, student learning objectives and the Hawai`i Growth Model. A working portfolio is used to evaluate non-classroom teachers.
      “Overall, the results reflect more or less what we what we expected: most teachers are effective, with very few teachers rated as marginal, and even fewer rated as unsatisfactory,” Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe said. “More importantly, EES is designed to help teachers and their administrators have high-quality conversations throughout the year about how to improve teaching and learning.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

There's still time to sign up for tomorrow's Healthy Soils workshop.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN STILL SIGN UP for the Healthy Soils workshop at Pahala Community Center tomorrow from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and to sign up, call Jennifer at 933-8350.

KA`U HIGH CLASS OF 1979 HOLDS ITS REUNION tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Contact Margo Lu Takata or Holli Wade on facebook for information.

ON SATURDAY FROM 9:30 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M., a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park focuses on the area’s human history. Call 985-6011 for more information.

TROJAN FOOTBALL FUNDRAISING RODEO takes place Saturday at Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds. Ka`u paniolo raise funds for the team’s travels to Moloka`i and Maui this season.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S HULA KAHIKO SERIES continues on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with performances by Kumu hula Ab Valencia and Halau Hula Kalehuak`ieki`eika`iu, Kumu hula Pohaikealoha Souza with Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua and Kumu hula Patrick Kapuawehi Choy with Halau Hula Kalehua`apapaneoka`au.
      Cultural specialist Loke Kamanu and `ohana offer Na Mea Hula, All Things Hula, on the lanai of Volcano Art Gallery from 9:30 a.m. with 1:30 p.m. for.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.