Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, January 19, 2018

The U.S.G.S. scientist responsible for the latest maps of Mauna Loa, Frank Trusdell, explains a point to Ocean View

 residents Steve Lewis, Peter Bosted, and Don Coons. See story below. Photo by Ann Bosted

HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK made plans to largely close for visitors, during the federal government shutdown that went into effect after midnight on Friday, Washington D.C. time. The federal administration announced that many workers at national parks, the post offices, FAA, TSA, and the military will remain on the job, their facilities open. However, HVNP will be closed due to the volcanic hazards and management required to keep visitors safe.
     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "Nobody wants a shutdown. Except maybe the President, who seems to relish a government shut down as a way of shaking things up no matter who gets hurt."
     In the past, the shutting down of the federal government led to closure of the five federal parks on this island. This time, most public roads in and through parks will remain open, but some campgrounds and concessions could be closed. Culturally sensitive and back-country trails could be closed, according to statements from the Department of the Interior.
     The federal government shut down with a failure to fund it Friday night, as congress wrestled with paying for children's health care insurance, and solving the problem of deporting the DREAMer young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally when they were children but are now good citizens.

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is expected to remain open after the
federal government shut down after midnight, D.C. time on Friday. 
NPS photo

     The Senator released a statement late Friday, Hawai‘i time, saying, "Tonight, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Donald Trump turned things upside down. They've spent the past year working behind closed doors to take away health care from millions of people and pass huge tax cuts for the richest people and corporations in our country without input from Democrats or the public. At the same time, they've ignored reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program, funding Community Health Centers, protecting DREAMers, and providing parity between defense and non-defense programs. All of these issues have bipartisan support and should have gotten done months ago."

     Said Hirono, "Republicans are in charge of the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. They are in charge of setting the time table and the agenda, and now they're blaming the Democrats for their own misplaced priorities.

     "Congress is a separate branch of government. Instead of bowing to the unpredictable, mercurial, and unreliable positions of the President, we should do our jobs and send the President a government funding bill that addresses all of these priorities."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest

WHEN MAUNA LOA ERUPTS and sends its lava down its steep slopes, it will happen quickly, and the warnings may be very short. In the event of an eruption, U.S.G.S. will notify County of Hawai‘i Civil Defense, which will issue warnings and alerts by phone, siren, Twitter, and Facebook messages.

     These were some of the many messages delivered during the two-hour U.S.G.S. poster presentation Mauna Loa: Let's Talk Story. The event drew about 100 residents Wednesday evening to Ocean View Community Center.

Michael Zoeller, a GIS specialist from University of Hawai‘i, assigned

 to U.S.G.S., explains the newest maps to Francis Mitchell of Ocean 

View (at the back). In foreground is Tina Neal, Scientist-in-Charge

 of U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. These lava inundation maps

 attracted a lot of interest as they are able to predict where the

 lava would flow. Photo by Ann Bosted

     To mark January as Volcano Awareness Month, U.S.G.S. invited the public to bring questions, talk story, circulate among the posters and interview the many U.S.G.S. personnel standing ready with explanations on a variety of subjects related to the mountain that many call home.

     Talmadge Magno, County Civil Defense Administrator and former National Park Service Ranger, was also on hand to answer questions about emergency preparedness.
     Christina "Tina" Neal, Scientist-in-Charge of the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, circulated among residents to ensure that no questions went unanswered. Neal was impressed with the large turn out and the obvious interest that residents manifested in the future of the mountain on which they live. Mauna Loa is the largest mountain, by volume, on the planet.

     Neal also appeared enthusiastic about the latest maps from U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, showing which areas are likely to be inundated by lava, should either the southwest fissure or the northeast fissure erupt. The maps for various areas can be downloaded from this link: pubs.er.usgs.gov.
     Ingrid Johanson, a geophysicist at the U.S.G.S., fielded a lot of questions from the exhibit attendees. She was the one who emphasized that, while the exact location and time of an eruption on Mauna Loa cannot be predicted, it will happen quickly. Warnings may be much shorter for Mauna Loa eruptions than those at Kīlauea volcano. She gave the example of Pahoa, where the lava flow from Kīlauea slowly approached

Carolyn Parchetta compares Kīlauea and Mauna Loa eruptions 

for Lynn Gordon of Ocean View and Robert Thomas

 of Santa Barbara. Photo by Ann Bosted

the town over a period of a few months in 2014.
     Michael Zoeller, a GIS specialist who works for the University of Hawai‘i and helps U.S.G.S., said that he received a lot of questions from the public attendees who wanted to know what the inundation maps mean. As the co-author, with Frank Trusdell, of the Lava Inundation Zone Maps, he said he hopes that the public and the Civil Defense authorities will use the maps to plan their response to eruptions.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

CONCERNING COVERT SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS of non-U.S. persons, without warrants, Sen. Mazie Hirono, on Thursday, voted against S.139, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Reauthorization. The bill passed the Senate on a 65-34 vote, sending the legislation to the President.

     "Congress authorizes covert intelligence programs under FISA for a limited duration so that these programs can be reviewed, debated, and reformed to balance our national security needs with the constitutional rights of the American people," said Hirono. "The bill we voted on today failed to meet this basic standard. This legislation needed more open debate and a process where we could have offered amendments. The fact that it will likely not be revisited by Congress for six years goes against our country's core principles."

     Section 702 of FISA establishes procedures that allow the U.S. government to conduct surveillance on non-U.S. persons who are in foreign countries. The provision also gives the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence the authority to jointly authorize the targeting of non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. for up to one year at a time, without a formal court warrant. However, under these authorities, the government collects massive amounts of data that has included communications of Americans in the U.S.

     Despite calls for reform of these data collection procedures by civil liberties advocates, S. 139 renews 702 authorities for six years and fails to prevent controversial information gathering that sweeps up Americans’ information, nor does it provide stronger safeguards for Americans if their information is collected, said Hirono.

     Hirono is a co-sponsor of S. 1997, the bipartisan USA RIGHTS Act. This bill would reform FISA 702 programs by: preventing controversial information collection practices; requiring explicit warrants in instances where communications by Americans are necessary to collect foreign intelligence; prohibiting the use of information collected under 702 from being used against Americans unless they are implicated in crimes related to national security such as terrorism; and strengthening oversight of the 702 program, among other provisions. This legislation has been endorsed by civil liberties advocates such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

KA‘Ū  LEARNING ACADEMY has announced a fundraiser dinner at the campus this Saturday, Jan. 20. Billed as Gilligan's, the name of the restaurant that raised money to start the Charter School, the event, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., will help sponsor students going to Washington, D.C. Live music and food are on the menu.

HOLY ROSARY CHURCH in Pāhala has announced a Thrift Sale for Saturday, Jan. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. The church is located on Pikake Street in Pāhala.

A LA‘AU LAPA‘AU BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, shared by Po‘okela Ikaika Dombrigues, has been announced by Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi to take place at Ka‘ū District Gym (across from Ka‘ū High School) in Pāhala in February. The class, free and open to the public, will be held on three separate Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon - Feb. 3, 17, and Feb. 24.
     To sign up or for more details, call (808) 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team. Visit hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kumu Hula Stephanie Apolo.
Photo from Volcano Art Center

HULA VOICES RETURNS THURSDAY, FEB. 1, with Kumu Hula Stephanie Apolo, announces Volcano Art Center. Desiree Moana Cruz will moderate the event with Apolo.

     "Hula Voices presents an engaging, intimate ‘talk story’ session with Hawaii Island's hula practitioners who eat, sleep and live lives centered on the practice of hula and its associated arts. Hear from kumu hula, long time haumana (students) and artisans whose lives are centered around the practice of hula and its associated arts. Join us for an engaging, informative, and fun hour as they share their hula genealogy, including the traditions, protocols, experiences, inspirations for songs, chants and Hawaiian choreography based in antiquity," says the event description.

     From the age of four, Apolo practiced hula with Hula Master George Lanakilakeikiahi-ali‘i Naope, and danced with him until he retired. After Naope retired, she danced for other Kumu, including Iwalani Kalima, Etua Lopez, Ray Fonseca, Francis Henry Pohukaina "Kaina" Keana‘aina, Raylene Ha‘alelea Lancaster, and Hulali Solomon Covington.
     The free, educational event will occur regularly on the first Thursday of each month (excluding April and Dec. 2018), from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hula Voices is supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Park entrance fees apply. See more at volcanoartcenter.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

BUNCO & POTLUCK takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring a dish to share. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discoveryharbour.net.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE FEATURES NA KUMU PELEHONUAMEA HARMON AND KEKOA HARMON with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the kahua hula (hula platform) in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.
     A Nā Mea Hula demonstration follows, on the Volcano Art Center Gallery lānai with Native Hawaiian Practitioner Ka‘iulani Carvalho from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For her Nā Mea Hula debut, Carvalho will present a workshop on the art of ‘Ohe Kāpala, bamboo stamping. For more, see volcanoartcenter.org.

A DOCUMENTARY POETRY WORKSHOP is offered with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches - poets and non-poets alike - the techniques of documentary poetry; a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events, as well as expresses political, social, or cultural issues. The class is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

Aerial photo of the Discovery Harbour Community.
Photo from discoveryharbour.net

THE ART EXRESS, a monthly class, is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.

PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU, a free, guided hike, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike takes participants over rugged terrain, and focuses on the area's human history. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL committees meet Tuesday, Jan. 23, with a full council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Both meeting days take place in Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This is an illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI BY THURSDAY, JAN. 24, FOR ‘O KA‘Ū KAKOU'S 10TH ANNUAL Keiki Fishing Tournament, held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Punalu‘u Beach Park Pavilions. The event is open to keiki from one to 14 years old, with pick-up & drop-off locations for registration forms at: Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, Nā‘ālehu Ace Hardware, Pāhala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Pāhala Gas Station, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nā‘ālehu, Ka‘ū Learning Academy, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Pre-registration ends at 5 p.m. on Jan. 24. Register at event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fishing until noon, then lunch and prizes. Every participant gets a prize. Grand and mini-grand prize drawing - including personal tablets. For more, call Guy Enriques at 217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773, or visit okaukakou.org.

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Lifecycle of Coffee Berry Borer. Image from CTAHR

U.H. COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES Kona Cooperative Extension Service has put out a save the date announcement for two Coffee Berry Borer 101 Workshops for New and Beginning Coffee Farmers.
     The free two-hour class teaches the basics of coffee berry borer identification, biology, and management. It is planned for Thursday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 27, and will take place in the Kona Cooperative Extension Service office at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. Representatives of the Extension Service office ask everyone to "Please let new coffee farmers know about this upcoming workshop. A flyer will be distributed and available soon."
     For more details, visit hawaiicoffeeed.com.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Thursday, January 18, 2018

Orchid lovers - from those with a budding addiction, to hobbyists - are invited to register for a upcoming workshop
at Volcano Art Center in which participants learn the art of building mini orchid displays. See story below.
Photo from hiloorchidsociety.org

HAWAI‘I STATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, LED BY HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER DRU KANUHA, took its wish list to the opening of the Hawai‘i Legislature this week, hosting a briefing for legislators statewide.
     Kanuha, who chairs the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties and is running for the State Senate from west Ka‘ū through Kona, said funding for affordable housing is sought through setting aside a small percentage of the state conveyance tax revenue. The money would go to each county's affordable housing fund to increase the supply of affordable housing units. The conveyance tax is levied when real estate is sold from one entity to another.

Dru Kanuha, Chair of the Hawai‘i State

Association of Counties, took its agenda

to the Hawai‘i Legislature this week.

     HSAC will also continue to advocate for a fairer share of the transient accommodations tax, also known as hotel tax, or TAT. The TAT was raised on Jan. 1, 2018, by a full percentage point, with all of the additional income earmarked for the rail system on O‘ahu. HSAC’s bill mirrors recommendations made by the State-County Functions Working Group to the Legislature to provide a 55-45 percent split of TAT revenue between state and counties.
     Kanuha said the HSAC also urges legislators to restore legal immunity for county lifeguards, which was taken away during the last legislative session. The counties seek to ensure civil liability protection for county lifeguards against frivolous lawsuits - a benefit provided to state lifeguards.

     Additional funding for ambulance service for Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i Counties is also on the HSAC agenda for the legislators. All the counties agree to support the ambulance funding for this island and Kaua‘i.

     Another initiative would incentivize the installation of fire suppression systems in one and two-unit housing, not just condominium and apartment buildings.

    

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ALLOWING BANKS TO ACCEPT MONEY FROM MARIJUANA BUSINESSES, in states where they are legal, is the goal of Hawai‘i Attorney General Doug Chin. He and 18 other state attorneys general wrote to Congress this week. Chin co-chairs the bi-partisan National Association of Attorneys General Marijuana Working Group. He and Alaska Attorney General Jahna Lindemuth lead the hui of states, like Hawai‘i, with legal medical cannabis, and states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Chin has also announced that he will run for Congress.

An image urging Congress to legalize banking for businesses in states

that have legalized marijuana.

Image from Doug Chin's congressional campaign - Facebook

     The attorneys general letter states:

     "We are a bipartisan group of state attorneys general who recognize that the states and federal government share a strong interest in protecting public safety and bringing grey market activities into the regulated banking sector. To address these goals, we urge Congress to advance legislation that would allow states that have legalized medical or recreational use of marijuana to bring that commerce into the banking system.

     "Twenty-nine states and several U.S. territories have legalized the medical use of marijuana. Among those, eight states and the District of Columbia, also allow recreational use by adults over 21 years of age. However, because the federal government classifies marijuana as an illegal substance, banks providing services to state-licensed cannabis businesses could find themselves subject to criminal and civil liability under the Controlled Substances Act and certain federal banking statutes. This risk has significantly inhibited the willingness of financial institutions to provide services to these businesses.

     "Despite the contradictions between federal and state law, the marijuana industry continues to grow rapidly. Industry analysts report that sales grew by 30% to $6.7 billion in 2016 and expect those totals to exceed $20 billion by 2021. Yet those revenues often exist outside of the regulated banking space. Businesses are forced to operate on a cash basis. The grey market makes it more difficult to track revenues for taxation purposes, contributes to a public safety threat as cash intensive businesses are often targets for criminal activity, and prevents proper tracking of large swaths of finances across the nation.

AG Doug Chin supports banking for the marijuana industry

and is running for Congress.

     "To address these challenges, we are requesting legislation that would provide a safe harbor for depository institutions that provide a financial product or service to a covered business in a state that has implemented laws and regulations that ensure accountability in the marijuana industry such as the SAFE Banking Act (S. 1152 and H.R. 2215) or similar legislation. This would bring billions of dollars into the banking sector, and give law enforcement the ability to monitor these transactions. Moreover, compliance with tax requirements would be simpler and easier to enforce with a better-defined tracking of funds. This would, in turn, result in higher tax revenue.

     "Prior Department of Justice guidance outlined how financial institutions could provide services to state-licensed marijuana businesses consistent with their obligations under federal law and created some space for the banking industry to work with those businesses, though challenges remained in many areas. The recent rescission of that guidance has made the need for Congressional action to get the cash generated by this industry into a regulated banking sector even more urgent.

     "Our banking system must be flexible enough to address the needs of businesses in the various states, with state input, while protecting the interests of the federal government. This includes a banking system for marijuana-related businesses that is both responsive and effective in meeting the demands of our economy. We look forward to working with you as you move forward in this process and lending our voice and expertise as you develop legislation."

Hawaiian Electric reports a surge of rooftop solar across the state.
Photo from HECO

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A SURGE IN SOLAR INSTALLED ACROSS THE ISLANDS IN 2017 was announced by Hawaiian Electric Co. on Thursday. More than 100 megawatts of solar were installed across the Hawaiian Electric Companies' service territories in 2017, a 19 percent jump from the previous year, "helping to move the state closer to a clean energy future," says a HECO statement.

     At the end of 2017, Hawai‘i Electric Light Co., which serves the Big Island; Hawaiian Electric, which serves O‘ahu; and Maui Electric, which serves Maui, Lana‘i and Moloka‘i, recorded 695 megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed solar, up 109 MW from 2016. The megawatts of solar added last year produce power equivalent to that used by about 32,000 homes.
     The solar total includes 82,000 private rooftop solar systems connected or approved, up 3.6 percent from 2016. It also includes the addition of the 27.6-MW Waiʻanae solar facility on O‘ahu, which provides some of the state's lowest-priced renewable energy.
     Private rooftop solar installations and approvals as a percentage of total customers rose in 2017. By year's end, 19 percent of residential customers at both Hawaiian Electric and Maui Electric have rooftop solar installed or approved for installation, up from 16 percent at both companies in 2016. Hawaiʻi Electric Light residential customers held steady with 16 percent solar installed or approved, in both 2016 and 2017.

Large solar farms are contributing to a "clean energy future," reports
Hawaiian Electric. Photo from HECO

     "We ended 2017 with the largest year-to-year increase of installed solar since 2013 and we anticipate even higher numbers by the end of this year," said Jim Alberts, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of customer service. "We're excited about new solar programs on the horizon such as Smart Export and CGS+, community-based renewable energy and new grid-scale projects underway on Oʻahu and Maui. And we continue to improve and streamline the rooftop solar application process for our customers."
     Since the launch of the online Customer Interconnection Tool last fall, customers have been able to submit online applications to install private rooftop solar under the Customer Self-Supply program. The online application tool is believed to be the first of its kind to provide a seamless process allowing customers to follow the status of their applications from start to finish.
     The companies anticipate continued growth in private rooftop solar and utility-scale projects. On Oʻahu and Maui, 135 MW produced by six separate projects will come online this year, including Hawaiian Electric's 20-MW solar facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. "That project will produce the lowest-priced grid-scale solar in the state for the benefit of all Hawaiian Electric customers," says the HECO statement.

Photo from Volcano Art Center

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SUPPORT FOR SENIOR HOUSING in Nā‘ālehu will be raised, in part, through a spaghetti dinner at St. Jude's Church Friday at 5 p.m. in Ocean View. The drive for senior housing is led by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou and its president Wayne Kawachi, who recently walked 100 miles to raise money. He said more than $55,000 has come in toward the $250,000 goal to purchase land for the senior housing at the site of the former Nā‘ālehu Fruit Stand on Hwy 11. See www.okaukakou.org for more.

HOW TO MAKE A MINI ORCHID DISPLAY is a new event announced by Volcano Art Center. The class takes place Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
     Orchid lovers - from hobbyists, to those with a budding addiction - are invited to join Hilo Orchid Society's Shelby Smith and Donna Barr for a Build Your Own Mini Orchid Display workshop. Smith and Barr will be on hand to answer questions and show tips, tricks and their orchid "know-how."
     The workshop involves education on orchids, as well as instruction in designing and building a mini orchid display. Different categories of mini orchid displays will be covered, including Garden, Flower Arrangement/Cut Flowers/Ikebana, and Keiki.
     Pre-registration is required. Volcano Art Center members pay $20 and non-members pay $25. The event description on volcanoartcenter.org says "Not only will you learn a thing or two, but also, thanks to the Hilo Orchid Society, you'll be able to take home an orchid."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at

kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at

kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.

January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is

free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i

through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout

the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls Basketball: Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITY takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is for keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 19, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

BUNCO & POTLUCK takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m. in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring a dish to share. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discovery harbour.net.

KĪLAUEA MILITARY CAMP'S CRATER RIM CAFÉ HOSTS A MONGOLIAN BBQ Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE FEATURES NA KUMU PELEHONUAMEA HARMON AND KEKOA HARMON with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the kahua hula (hula platform) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.
     A Nā Mea Hula demonstration follows, on the Volcano Art Center Gallery lānai, with Native Hawaiian Practitioner Ka‘iulani Carvalho, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For her Nā Mea Hula debut, Carvalho will present a workshop on the art of ‘Ohe Kāpala, bamboo stamping.
     For more, see volcanoartcenter.org.

Join park rangers on a free 2.5-mile hike over rugged terrain Sunday. 
See event below. Photo by Julia Espaniola, National Park Service 

POETS AND NON-POETS ALIKE ARE INVITED TO TAKE A DOCUMENTARY POETRY WORKSHOP with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches the techniques of documentary poetry - a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events, as well as expresses political, social or cultural issues. The class is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

THE ART EXRESS, a monthly class, is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.

A FREE, MODERATELY DIFFICULT, GUIDED HIKE, PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile hike takes participants over rugged terrain and focuses on the area's human history. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.

VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL committees meet Tuesday, Jan. 23, with a full council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Both meeting days take place in Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Queen Lili‘uokalani, in 1916, after the overthrow of her government. She is seated at Washington Place, now official
residence of the Governor of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu. Wednesday marks the 125th anniversary of the overthrow of the
 Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. It is also opening day for the 2018 Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Photo by James Watson Moser

THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OVERTHROW OF THE KINGDOM OF HAWAIʻI is Wednesday, Jan 17. Gov. David Ige released a statement saying, "This is a special day in the history of Hawaiʻi. A few months ago, we remembered Queen Liliʻuokalani, who put her people first, before money or power. She chose the common good for a better collective existence. I believe we must follow her example as we move forward together as one people." It was during Liliʻuokalani's reign that the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown.
     Read about the life of Liliʻuokalani, the first female monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Read about her commitment and her gift to the children of Hawai‘i at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust website, history.com, and biography.com. She is also the composer of the song Aloha ʻOe.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THE HAWAIʻI LEGISLATURE OPENED ITS 2018 SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17. Representing Ka‘ū are: Sen. Josh Green, M.D., serving Honuʻapo through Nāʻālehu, Discovery Harbor, Ka Lae, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kona; Sen. Russell Ruderman, serving Honuʻapo through Pāhala, Volcano and into Puna; Rep. Richard Creagan, M.D., serving Honuʻapo through Nāʻālehu, Discovery Harbor, Ka Lae, Nāʻālehu, Ocean View into Kona; and Rep. Richard Onishi, serving Honuʻapo through Pāhala, Volcano into Puna and into Hilo.

Saint Damien, the priest who cared for the Hansen's disease patients on the island of Molokaʻi, is a watchful symbol in
 front of Hawaiʻi Capitol as the State Legislature opens its 2018 session on Wednesday.
Photo from Hawaiʻi House of Representatives

     To find out what kind of legislation is proposed and who is sponsoring it, see capitol.hawaii.gov, where bills can be followed by number, by subject, by key words, and by who is sponsoring them. Testimony is invited. Learn how to do research, submit bills, and interact with elected officials at Hawaiʻi Public Access Room.
     See Sen. Josh Green's agenda below and Rep. Richard Creagan's agenda from the Dec. 27 Ka‘ū News Briefs. Read future briefs for Sen. Russell Ruderman's and Rep. Richard Onishi's agendas.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

STATE SENATOR JOSH GREEN, M.D., who represents west Ka‘ū and Kona, announced his legislative agenda for 2018 during opening day of the Hawaiʻi Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 17. He said his package of bills aims at "strengthening and supporting Hawaiʻi families, with special attention to the needs of working families, women, and children."
     Said Green, "This package of bills addresses the real needs of Hawaiʻi's working families. It includes proposals that will make a real difference in people's lives, like raising the minimum wage, creating more affordable housing, plans for debt-free college and universal healthcare, and new solutions to the homeless crisis."

Senators Nicole Lowen and Josh Green, with Rep. Richard Creagan.

Photo from Big Island Video News

     Regarding women's issues, Green's legislation provides for equal pay, paid family leave, affordable child care, and grants greater protections against gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sex trafficking. "We need more specific laws that protect the rights of women," Green said. "When women are stronger, Hawaiʻi is stronger."
     The package also includes environmental legislation to restrict use of certain pesticides, lower carbon emissions, and transition state vehicles and facilities to renewable energy. "We must do more to protect and preserve our environment," Green said. "It's something I strongly believe in and will continue working on."
     As Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Green said he continues to work on the challenges of the opioid epidemic and the homeless crisis, including legislation introduced in 2017 that would make homelessness a medical condition that could be diagnosed by a physician and treated with prescribed housing. "Hawai‘i is one ‘Ohana," Green said. "We should never turn our backs on anyone, or leave anyone behind." Green, an Emergency Room physician, practices medicine on the Big Island. He announced late last year that he will run for Lt. Governor in 2018. For more information, contact the Senator at (808) 937-0991.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Sen. Mazie Hirono talked with Secretary of Defense

Jamis Mattis on Wednesday, urging a peaceful resolution

of the situation with North Korea.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO SPOKE WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES MATTIS on Wednesday, Jan. 17. She said she emphasized the importance of strong diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions with North Korea.

     "Earlier today, I called Secretary of Defense Mattis to emphasize the urgency of resolving the situation with North Korea peacefully," Hirono said. "Hawaiʻi families immediately assumed that the alert meant an attack from North Korea. This speaks to the broad concern about the threat North Korea poses to our state and the rest of the country."

     Hirono's call with the Secretary of Defense is part of her ongoing efforts to address Saturday's false emergency threat alert. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Hirono questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen - see Jan. 16 Ka‘ū News Briefs. She also spoke to Governor David Ige, Admiral Harry Harris, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency Director Vern Miyagi, and Hawai‘i Adjutant General Joe Logan.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A PUBLIC HEARING FOR KA‘Ū LEARNING ACADEMY, the public charter school at the old Discovery Harbour Golf Clubhouse, will be scheduled. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the school administrators asked for the public hearing following a notice from the state that its charter could be revoked. The state Charter School Commission announced that it will set a hearing for public discussion on the future of the school.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Smoking is more costly to Hawaiʻi people than to smokers in almost every other state,
according to a new WalletHub report. Photo from WalletHub

CIGARETTES COST HAWAIʻI'S SMOKERS MORE THAN $2 MILLION over a lifetime and $40,542 a year in direct costs and loss of work, health, and other opportunities. A WalletHub analysis released Wednesday, Jan. 17, ranks Hawaiʻi as one of the states where residents pay the most for their tobacco addiction. The Out of Pocket Cost to a smoker in Hawaiʻi is $167,536 - ranking 47th. The state with the lowest cost for smoking is North Dakota. The highest is New York.
     The Lost Financial Opportunity for smokers in Hawaiʻi is $1,407,368 over a lifetime. The Health Care Cost for Hawaiʻi smokers is $185,243; the Income Loss per Smoker is $293,666.
     The WalletHub summary on smoking says: "Smoking doesn't just ruin your health. It can also burn a nasty hole through your wallet. Tobacco use accounts for nearly half a million deaths in the U.S. each year and is the leading cause of lung cancer, according to the American Lung Association. Even those around tobacco smokers aren't safe from its harmful effects. Since 1964, smoking-related illnesses have claimed 20 million lives in the U.S., 2.5 million of which belonged to nonsmokers who developed diseases merely from secondhand-smoke exposure.

     "However, the economic and societal costs of smoking are just as huge. Every year, Americans spend more than $300 billion, which includes both medical care and lost productivity. Unfortunately, some people will have to pay more depending on the state in which they live."
     See the entire report at WalletHub.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KDEN JUST ANNOUNCED AUDITIONS FOR HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Auditions by Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. There are parts for three women and three men.

     The story line involves three couples, with the men all working for the same firm. One of the younger men is having an affair with the wife of the oldest, and when each returns home suspiciously late one night or early one morning they invent a story about having to spend some time smoothing domestic matters in the home of the third couple. The third couple shows up to dinner at each house, which only adds to the fun of this famous farce.

     The show will play March 9 through March 25 at Kīlaeua Theater. For more information, call 982-7344.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

FARMING THE ROCK IN KA‘Ū: THE AGRICULTURE FIELD SYSTEM OF KAHUKU is the topic of discussion announced for Coffee Talk on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (entrance located south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11).
     The event flyer quotes Mary Kawena Pukui's ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, "Ke kini mahi‘ai o Ka‘ū" and translates it to mean "the farming multitude of Ka‘ū." It states that "in pre-contact Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Island was the most populous of all the Islands and productive farming techniques were needed to support this population. While much is known about the Kona and Kohala field systems, we are only just learning about the one here in Ka‘ū." During Coffee Talk, University of Hawai‘i Professors Seth Quintus and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln discuss their work uncovering the Ka‘ū field system at Kahuku, as well as how this knowledge might serve Hawai‘i in the future.

     Coffee Talk is an opportunity to get to know the park and other community members, and join an informal conversation with a wide variety of topics, on the last Friday of every month. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls Basketball: Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME OFFERS STORY TIME on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.

Join Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park volunteers and remove invasive

plant species at two events this week. See events below. 

Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

AN ‘ALALĀ OUTREACH PRESENTATION IS OFFERED AT VOLCANO ART CENTER on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEER FOR STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU Thursday, Jan. 18, at 9:30 a.m. with participants meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI (6-12 YEARS OLD) FOR A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE arts & crafts activity that takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

REMOVE INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES AT STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT, which takes place Friday, Jan. 19, and help native plants in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

BRING A DISH TO SHARE AND PLAY BUNCO AT BUNCO & POTLUCK which takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discoveryharbour.net.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

LEARN THE ART OF DOCUMENTARY POETRY with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches - poets and non-poets alike - the techniques of documentary poetry; a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events as well as expresses political, social, or cultural issues. The Documentary Poetry Workshop is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW OR WORK ON A FORGOTTEN PROJECT AT THE ART EXRESS. A monthly class, it is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.

A FREE, GUIDED HIKE, PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike takes participants over rugged terrain and focuses on the area's human history. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.

VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

PASSAGE AND PLACE, a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit showcases Heather Mettler's handblown, chiseled, and etched glasswork, will continue to be available until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply. See more at volcanoartcenter.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.