Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, Dec. 4, 2015

Ka`u Learning Academy holds a fundraiser tomorrow at the charter school's location in Discovery Harbour. See more below.
Photo from KLA

OCEAN VIEW SHOULD HAVE IMPROVED cell phone service before 2017. Nancy Cook Lauer reported in West Hawai`i Today that Hawai`i County’s Windward Planning Commission yesterday approved Kaneohe-based Ali`i Wireless Specialists application to erect a 150-foot tower on two acres at the southeast corner of Palm Parkway and Reef Circle Mauka. The tower will contain 12 panel antennas and microwave dish antennas that will allow high-speed 4G cell service to the area.
      It will replace an old 100-foot tower that isn’t able to handle the new technology or the number of wireless carriers who want to serve the area.
      The tower is the only one serving area residents and travelers along that section of Mamalahoa Highway and into the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, William Keoni Fox, of Ali`i Wireless Specialists, said.
      Fox also said there would be not any disruption of service during the transition.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.
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Dr. Virginia Pressler

AT 130 CASES AS OF YESTERDAY, Hawai`i County’s dengue fever outbreak is the largest ever in the state. One hundred of the cases are adults, and 30 are under 18 years of age.
      Hawai`i Department of Health Director Virginia Pressler announced that the U.S. Navy is prepared to come to Hawai`i Island to help control mosquitoes.
      To date, DOH has performed more than 100 property assessments and is taking precautionary action by spraying at case residences and other areas that have been specifically identified by the investigation as potential areas of concern. More than 200 mosquito abatement sprayings have been conducted since the beginning of the outbreak.
      County Parks & Recreation and Public Works, as well as state highway crews, have supplemented DOH environmental staff. Additional state staff are being trained to further supplement those crews.
      Hawai`i County Civil Defense is taking complaints of possible mosquito habitats on public property or on neighboring property where contact cannot be made with property owners. Teams consisting of county, Community Emergency Response Teams and DOH personnel will investigate complaints and identify appropriate corrective action. To date, more than 50 complaints have been received and are being addressed.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE SEARCHING for a 34-year-old Ocean View woman who was reported missing. Shanera Echols was last seen in Ocean View at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.
      She is described as Caucasian, five-foot-five, 192 pounds with dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing black pants, a hooded camouflage khaki jacket and blue slippers. She has a medical condition that requires medication.
      Police ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective David Matsushima at 326-4646, extension 228, or david.matsushima@hawaiicounty.gov.
      Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.
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Jobie Masagatani

DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS could receive at least $28 million in general funds this coming fiscal year, after a First Circuit Court decision found the state violated its constitutional duty by continually failing to provide adequate funding to DHHL.

      “This is great news for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and especially the native Hawaiian beneficiaries we serve,” said Jobie Masagatani, Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair and DHHL Director. “With sufficient general funds paying for administrative and operating expenses, the Department can now direct its trust funds and other revenue generated on trust lands to programs and initiatives that directly impacts our beneficiaries.”
      In Friday’s court ruling, First Circuit Court Judge Jeanette Castagnetti noted, “DHHL suffers from a lack of funding and staffing, which adversely affects beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust.” The 40-page decision concluded, “The Legislature has failed to appropriate sufficient sums to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for its administrative and operating budget in violation of its constitutional duty to do so. This failure includes every fiscal year since at least 1992.”
      “This court ruling only validates what the DHHL has requested in recent years to cover department operating and administrative costs,” Masagatani said.
      For the last three years, the Legislature has appropriated $9.6 million in general funds to the DHHL, nearly one-third the amount requested by the department to “sufficiently sum” operations. Prior to that, the Legislature provided no general funds to the department, prompting six native Hawaiian beneficiaries to file suit against the state in 2007. The Hawai`i Supreme Court ruled in favor of plaintiffs in 2012, citing the state’s failure to sufficiently fund DHHL.
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An unattended citronella candle caused a house fire last night.

CITRONELLA CANDLES being used to keep away mosquitos to avoid dengue fever can lead to house fires when unattended. Last night, residents of a three-bedroom home escaped a fire that burned the bedroom section of a house on Ainako Street in Hilo. Everyone escaped, but the cause, according to the fire department, was an unattended citronella candle.
      Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters found flames exiting the northeasts corner of back bedroom windows of a single-family dwelling. All occupants made their way out of the residence and to a neighbor’s house. Firefighters made entry into the house and contained the flames.
      Mosquito repellent and netting are alternative to candles and coils while sleeping.

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO VOTED to support H.R. 22, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, legislation that will fund our nation’s highways and transportation infrastructure for the next five years. The FAST Act passed the Senate 83-16 and is headed to the President’s desk for his signature.
      From 2015 through 2020, Hawai`i will receive over $1.3 billion in federal transportation funds, with $261 million going toward public transit and nearly $1.1 billion allocated to improve infrastructure. The legislation also reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank, which has been in limbo since its charter expired in June.
      “The FAST Act is long overdue and will provide stability for transportation agencies as we continue to search for solutions to modernize and maintain our critical infrastructure needs,” Hirono said. “While not perfect, this bill supports bus and public transit programs that many Hawai`i commuters and visitors rely on every day. In addition, this legislation finally reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank, which has helped Hawai`i businesses make more than $6 million in the past five years. This highway bill is a five-year commitment to good-paying jobs and keeping our highways, buses, bridges and other transportation projects moving forward.”
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a member of Hawai`i
Air National Guard. 

FOLLOWING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Ash Carter’s landmark decision that all combat position in the U.S. military will be open to female service members, without exception, starting in 2016, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, one of the first two female combat veterans ever to serve in Congress, issued the following statement:
      “Over 280,000 women have deployed and served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. Many of these women have not only served effectively in combat, they have earned some of our nation’s most prestigious awards for their leadership, skill and bravery.

      “This change is long overdue and will increase opportunities for women who meet the required standard to serve our nation in any job in the military. It’s encouraging to see that the Department of Defense policy is finally catching up to the reality of the ways women have been contributing and serving our country.”

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A FUNDRAISER FOR KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY takes place tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gilligan’s Cafe in Discovery Harbour. Dinner features Greek food, hamburgers and red and white lasagna. Entertainment lineup is Lucky Lizards 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tiger 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Bottle of Blue 8 p.m. until closing.
     For more information, see kaulearning.com.

VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS PRESENTS its 21st annual Gift to the Community tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. Park entrance fees apply.
      For more information, contact Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

`OHI`A LEHUA IS A FREE PROGRAM Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit. Participants learn about the vital role of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `ohi`a lehua tree and its flower on this easy, one-mile walk.

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

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015

Volunteers join Hawai`i Wildlife Fund staff this Saturday for the nonprofit's last Ka`u Coast Cleanup of the year. Photo from HWF

HAWAI`I ISLAND’S DENGUE FEVER outbreak has made national news, with CNN reporting on an official from the Centers for Disease Control Prevention’s arrival on the island. Dr. Hal Margolis, director of CDC’s dengue branch, told CNN that Dr. Lyle Peterson, director of CDC’s division of vector-borne infectious diseases, and his team are here to “see where (the mosquitos) are located and review a situation where transmission is still going on and to get a pair of outside eyes and see if there might be something missing. It’s a guessing game, especially in these places that don’t routinely have dengue.”

As of yesterday, Hawai`i County's count of confirmed dengue fever cases
climbed to 122. Map from Hawai`i DOH

      Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green and state Rep. Richard Creagan, both medical doctors, have been lobbying for the state Department of Health to involve CDC on the ground.
      DOH reported yesterday that 122 confirmed cases of dengue now exist on Hawai`i Island. Sixteen are visitors, and 106 are residents.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

A 63-YEAR OLD KA`U MAN DIED after an all-terrain vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon at in the Green Sands Beach area. Hawai`i County Police identified him as Keith J. Leonatti, of Na`alehu.
      Leonatti had been operating his ATV on a private four-wheel-drive gravel road near Green Sands Beach sometime after 12 p.m. when he failed to return to meet with family members at the beach. At 12:41 p.m., family members found him unresponsive and trapped beneath the ATV.
      Leonatti was officially pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 8:09 p.m.
      Police have classified this case as a coroner’s inquest. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
      Police ask anyone with any information about the crash to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, extension 229.
      Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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Hawai`i Supreme Court Justice Mark Recktenwald

HAWAI`I BOARD OF LAND & Natural Resources “put the cart before the horse” when it approved Thirty Meter Telescope’s permit before a contested case hearing was held, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald said in his decision revoking the permit for the project planned for the summit of Mauna Kea. 

      “Once the permit was granted, appellants were denied the most basic element of procedural due process – an opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. Our Constitution demands more,” Recktenwald said.
      After the permit was issued, appellants called for a contested case hearing, an agency hearing that is required by law and determines the rights, duties or privileges of specific parties.
      Recktenwald said, “The right to exercise Native Hawaiian customs and traditions is explicitly protected by Article XII, Section 7 of the Hawai`i Constitution: ‘The state reaffirms and shall protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural and religious purposes and possessed by ahupua`a tenants who are descendants of native Hawaiians who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1778, subject to the right of the state to regulate such rights.’
      “Given the substantial interests of Native Hawaiians in pursuing their cultural practices on Mauna Kea, the risk of an erroneous deprivation absent the protections provided by a contested case hearing, and the lack of undue burden on the government in affording appellants a contested case hearing, a contested case hearing was ‘required by law’ regardless of whether BLNR had voted to approve one on its own motion. …
      “BLNR’s decision to vote on the permit prior to the contested case hearing denied appellants a meaningful opportunity to be heard in both reality and appearance.”
      The Supreme Court ordered the lower Circuit Court that previously upheld the permit to remand to BLNR for proceedings consistent with the opinion, so that a contested case hearing can be conducted before the board or a new hearing officer.
      “We thank the Hawai`i Supreme Court for the timely ruling, and we respect their decision. TMT will follow the process set forth by the state, as we always have,” said Henry Yang, Chair of TMT International Observatory Board of Directors. “We are assessing our next steps on the way forward. We appreciate and thank the people of Hawai`i and our supporters from these last eight-plus years.”
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AT THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT Barack Obama, the United States flag and the Hawai`i state flag will be flown at half-staff until sunset at the State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai`i National Guard until sunset on Dec. 7. This action is a mark of respect for the victims of gun violence in San Bernardino, where yesterday, at last count, 14 people were killed and at least 21 were injured.
      “Our hearts are heavy with grief for the victims of this senseless act of violence, and our thoughts are with their families, colleagues and friends. We mourn along with the San Bernardino community,” Gov. David Ige said.
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MASS KILLING IN SAN BERNADINO, CA: “‘Just Another Day in The United States of America,’ is the BBC reaction to yesterday’s mass shooting murder in California,” reported gun control activist Ross Rammelmeyer, of Volcano. “Mass gun violence murders in the U.S. are now almost daily,” he said.
      Rammelmeyer wrote this morning: “If I hear another ‘Our thoughts and prayers’ platitude from a politician, I think I’ll throw up.
      “It’s time the over 300 million of us in the U.S. who are the targets of the gun violence demanded the politicians do something about legally curtailing the unrestricted sale of deadly weapons in the U.S., which is brutalizing our society.
      “The NRA has already done something! They are pushing more unrestricted deadly weapons sales in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. The gun industry collects the profits. We pay the price in corpses.” 

      Rammelmeyer can be reached at rossrammelmeyer@hawaiiantel.net.

 Ka`u's state Sen. Josh Green

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FOLLOWING THE MASS SHOOTING in California, Sen. Josh Green is calling for his constituents to share their ideas on how to solve the problem. 

      “Those of you who know me well know I am not one to demonize people of any specific political ideology, and I won’t start now,” Green said on his Facebook page. “Having said that, I need to say something loud and clear: Gun violence in America must stop now! 

      “Liberal friends, conservative friends, those who I have agreed with over the years and those who have fought me tooth and nail, I am asking you tonight, please share your best ideas with me on how we can come together as a country and protect any more innocents from being slaughtered in this way. Every life lost is the beautiful son or daughter of some heartbroken parent out there.
      “Please commit yourselves to protecting one another in your communities across the country. And please share with me what you believe can be done. I have some ideas of my own, but I think the time has come once and for all for a nationwide compromise on guns in America and an era where our children can be safe.
      “No idea will be ignored.”
      See facebook.com/SenatorJoshGreen.
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COUNTY OF HAWAI’I PRESENTS its annual holiday open house festivities in Hilo and Kona. 

      The fifth annual Magic Of The Season at Hawai`i County Building in Hilo runs weeknights Dec. 7 to 18. Festivities take place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. nightly with free entertainment, activities and refreshments hosted by county departments.
      Henry Kapono, Mark Yamanaka, Darlene Ahuna, Lehua Kalima, John Cruz, Brother Noland and Kuana Torres Kahele will be among Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning performers. Hula dancers, student musicians and Hawai`i County Band will take turns entertaining audiences.
      County volunteers have decorated dozens of trees and lit up Hawai`i County Building. Members of the public may view the decorations daily starting at 7:45 a.m.
      At West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona, families are invited to A Holiday Family Affair on Friday, Dec. 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring entertainment by Darlene Ahuna. Activities include a bounce castle, a climbing wall, face painting, make-and-take crafts, keiki ID cards and photos with Santa. Refreshments will be served.
      Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected at both events for the Hawai`i Island Food Basket. For more details, contact offices of Mayor Billy Kenoi in Hilo at 961-8211 or Kona at 323-4444.

Fred Koehnen discusses his memoir this evening.
Image from VAC

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER features local author Fred Koehnen discussing his new memoir at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Koehnen will be available to sign $20 books after the program.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND’S FINAL Ka`u Coast Cleanup for this year is Saturday at Kamilo Beach. Participants meet at 7:45 a.m. at Wai`ohinu Park to carpool. Register at kahakai.cleaups@gmail.com.

A FUNDRAISER FOR KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY will be held this Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gilligan’s in Discovery Harbour. It is sponsored by the Fournier Center for Empowerment, a fiscal partner and fundraising organization for the school, which holds classes at the same location. Dinner will feature Greek food, including lamb kabob, Greek salad, moussaka, hamburgers and red and white lasagna. Beer and wine will be served. Entertainment lineup is Lucky Lizards 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tiger 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Bottle of Blue 8 p.m. until closing.

      Ka`u Learning Academy is in its first year of operating as a state-licensed public charter school. For more information, see www.kaulearning.com.

VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS PRESENTS its 21st annual Gift to the Community Saturday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      The 20-member chorus delights the audience with holiday favorites including Ring Christmas Bells, Tell it on the Mountain, I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu, featuring soloists Rachel Edwards and Angie Jara.
      The chorus is directed by Roch Jones and accompanied by Walter Greenwood on piano. The audience will get to join in with a sing-along. The concert is sponsored annually by Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network to thank the community for its support. Admission is free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. Park entrance fees apply.
      For more information, contact Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

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

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015

Volcano Art Center seeks funding to keep its Hula Arts Program alive. See more below. Photo from VAC

MAILE DAVID, KA`U’S HAWAI`I County Council member, has concerns about how a proposed agricultural tourism bill would be enforced. Yesterday, the council’s Planning Committee discussed Kohala Council member Margaret Wille’s bill creating a “minor” ag classification that would allow fewer than 5,000 visitors annually and not more than 100 weekly. Such operations would have to register with the county but would not need plan approval unless building structures other than farm stands.

Maile David

      David said she supports ag tourism and rules and regulations governing it but asked how the county would monitor programs. She said she is aware of minor ag tourism activities going on in her district without permits.
      “How do we know who’s doing things legally and who is not?” David asked. “In rural districts, you’re out of sight, out of mind.”
      The committee deferred the bill until its next meeting on Jan. 5.

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VOTE COUNTING IS ON HOLD until the Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals rules on a lawsuit challenging the election of Native Hawaiian residents running to become delegates at a constitutional convention for self-governance. The U.S. Supreme Court announced the decision today, Timothy Hurley reported in Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
      “The decision by the Supreme Court shows that a majority of the justices find our legal case compelling,” Grassroot Institute of Hawai`i President Keli`i Akina, of the, said in a statement. “This is a powerful step in holding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Native Hawaiian Role Commission accountable for their unconstitutional and un-Hawaiian attempts to divide people based on race.”
      Akina is one of six plaintiffs who claim that the state is running an illegal, race-based election.

      See staradvertiser.com.

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SURVEYING AND SPRAYING IS BEING conducted at residences of all suspect and confirmed cases of dengue fever, Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported. Proactive spraying is also taking place at nearby public facilities. 

      Confirmed cases as of yesterday stand at 117, the state Department of Health reported.
      Civil Defense encourages residents islandwide to Fight The Bite by reducing mosquito breeding grounds and protecting themselves from mosquito bites.
      Aedes albopictus, also called the Asian tiger mosquito, is one of two mosquito species found on Hawai`i Island that can transmit viruses that cause dengue fever. The female mosquito lays eggs in water holding containers around or further away from homes, tree holes and bamboo internodes. It bites people, pets and wild animals. This species can survive year round in tropical and subtropical climates.
      Aedes albopictus is a small, dark mosquito with a white dorsal stripe and banded legs. They are strongly attracted to bite humans but will feed on cats, dogs and other mammals, as well as birds. They will bite any exposed skin surface. They bite outdoors and indoors but are usually found outside.
      About four or five days after feeding on blood, the female mosquito lays her eggs just above the surface of the water. When rain covers the eggs with water, the larvae hatch. Generally, larvae feed upon small aquatic organisms, algae and particles of plant and animal material in water-filled containers.
      The entire immature or aquatic cycle (i.e., from egg to adult) can occur in as little as seven to nine days. The life span for adult mosquitoes is around three weeks.
      They have a short flight range, so egg production sites are likely to be close to where this mosquito is found.
      Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are active throughout the year in tropical and subtropical locations.

      Aedes albopictus is most well known for transmitting dengue and chikungunya viruses, but it has also been found infected in nature with West Nile, Eastern equine encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis. It can also transmit dog heartworm parasites.

      The Asian tiger mosquito lays its eggs on the inner sides of water-holding receptacles in urban, suburban and rural areas as well as in nearby edges of forested areas. It is closely associated with vegetated areas in and around homes. The immature forms (larvae and pupae) are found in artificial containers with water such as tires, flower pots, plates under potted plants, cemetery urns/vases, buckets, tin cans, clogged rain gutters, ornamental ponds, drums, water bowls for pets, birdbaths, etc. In some instances, this species has been found in catch basins. Larvae can also be found in natural habitats such as tree holes, rock holes, hollow bamboo stumps and leaf axils.
      Aedes albopictus is a very aggressive daytime biter. Its peak feeding times are during the early morning and late afternoon. This mosquito has a rapid bite that allows it to escape most attempts by people to swat it. It feeds mainly on mammals, including humans, dogs and cats in the domestic environment and on a variety of wild animals, including birds. Because these mosquitoes are produced in nearly any sort of water-filled container, they often become very common and bothersome, even in neighborhoods where there are normally few mosquitoes.
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Wai`ohinu Transfer Station is one of 22 countywide that accepts tires
through Dec. 31. Photo from Hawai`i Zero-Waste

HAWAI`I COUNTY’S TEMPORARY Dengue Residential Tire Amnesty Collection Program ends on Dec. 31. The county Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division implemented the program to help the community reduce mosquito breeding sites by recycling old tires. 

      Households may bring in passenger vehicle, motorcycle or ATV tires with no rims to any of 22 Recycling & Transfer Stations during normal operating hours. Customers must locate the attendant on duty (wearing a fluorescent safety vests) and advise the attendant that they have acceptable tires for recycling. The attendant will instruct the customer where to properly place the tires. Tires dropped off before or after normal operating hours will be considered illegal dumping.
      There is a 10 (acceptable) tire limit per day per vehicle so that the department can fairly serve the public and ensure that one customer doesn’t overload the site and unnecessarily prevent other customers from participating in the temporary collection.
      Tires from businesses, commercial haulers, nonprofits or farms, as well as industrial tires (e.g. backhoe, tractor, forklift, etc.), are not accepted.
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West Hawai`i Civic Center is one of two sites with a Business Resource Center.
Photo from Hawai`i County

HAWAI`I COUNTY’S DEPARTMENT of Research and Development recently opened two Business Resource Centers in Hilo and in Kona in an effort to support local entrepreneurs forming small businesses. 

      Located in the department’s offices in the Hawai`i County Building in Hilo and West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona, the Business Resource Center serves as a one-stop-shop for small business information. Each location is equipped with a public-use computer, a collection of business registration forms and staff to help entrepreneurs get started.
      The Business Resource Center partners with Hawai`i Small Business Development Center Network, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, the state Departments of Commerce & Consumer Affairs and Taxation and other county agencies on this initiative.
      Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for state holidays. Anyone interested in this new resource is welcome to stop by or visit the department online at hawaiicounty.gov/research-and-development and download the Business Resource Center’s guide, How to Start a Business in Hawai`i County.
      For more information, contact Beth Dykstra at 961-8035 or email elizabeth.dykstra@hawaiicounty.gov.
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VOLCANO ART CENTER'S Hula Arts Program is seeking funds. The program has been funded by the state through grants, and available funds are nearly depleted.

      For many years, the Hula Arts Program has brought authentic, quality hula to visitors and kama`aina alike at Kilauea's summit, home of Pele, in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. It is an honor for hula practitioners to perform there, and it is a rich visual experience for locals and visitors alike. Donations will help keep this revered Hula Program thriving and afford viewers a better understanding of the importance of this ancient tradition.

      To contribute, see gofundme.com/HulaArtsProgram.

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HPR's Radio Flyer program helps patients and families
with transportation from Neighbor Islands to Kapi`olani.

A FUNDRAISER FOR KAPI`OLANI MEDICAL CENTER for Women & Children is a new campaign for KAHU radio in Pahala, a station of Hawai`i Public Radio. Kapi`olani, located on O`ahu, is often a medical service provider for Ka`u families, particularly for hospitalization for at-risk pregnancies, infants and children. 

      The Radio Flyer program provides air travel for Neighbor Island families in need. Through this unique arrangement, donors to HPR may elect to transfer Hawaiian Airlines miles to the center. The miles are administered by Kapi`olani and used to fly patients and their families to and from its Honolulu facilities. HPR’s goal for this nine-day campaign is to provide another 500,000 miles to the fund.
      HPR is accepting online donations from today through Dec. 10 to the Radio Flyers fund at hawaiipublicradio.org. Additionally, between Dec. 8 and 10, donors may call in their gifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. toll-free at 877-941-3689.
      A minimum contribution to HPR of $100 is required to participate in the campaign. However, during its regular year-end fundraising event, HPR gratefully accepts tax-deductible gifts of any amount.

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THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER tomorrow features local author Fred Koehnen discussing his new memoir, Been There Done That Back to Hilo: A Nine Decade Odyssey at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Koehnen will be available to sign $20 books after the program.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.

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