Ka‘ū News Brief Monday, April 16, 2018

Wastewater engineer Michelle Sorensen (left) shows preliminary plans for the Nāʻālehu wastewater treatment plant to community members. 
Photo by Julia Neal

OPPOSITION TO LOCATING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT NEXT TO NĀ‘ĀLEHU SCHOOL was the message delivered last week during three community meetings sponsored by the County of Hawai‘i. Many local residents said they opposed the county purchasing land for the project, next to the school campus, and also objected to the county buying the property from Souza family members who said they do not want to sell it.
     The proposed location is makai of Highway 11 on the Hilo side of the school and involves Papa Souza Ranch, owned by the Souza family who keeps their horses and cattle there. It also involves adjacent acreage owned by the state.

     Those who spoke against the location, including some Nā‘ālehu school teachers and parents of school children, said they worried about the possible fumes and odors from the facility and said it could sicken children, especially those with asthma and other ailments, who are already compromised by vog.
      People talked about the wind that often comes from Volcano and blows through the town, possibly bringing any odors produced by the treatment plant with it. Odor control was discussed by the county representatives who said it will be a component of the design.

Souza family members have grown up practicing for rodeo on Papa Souza Ranch, which is 
tagged as a possible place for the Nāʻālehu waste treatment plant. Photo from Souza family

     Suggestions for other sites included lands makai of the town, which are all large parcels.

     After the meeting, at lease one person suggested abandoning the community sewage treatment plant idea and providing individual septic systems for each lot in the old sugar camp housing. At question is whether individual septic installation would be legal and whether the small lots, with houses and other outbuildings such as carports and dog kennels, could accommodate space needed for septic systems with leach fields. Also at question is whether everyone in the camp housing would agree to septic tank installation and want responsibility for maintaining individual septic systems. In 2004, residents of the old plantation system, voted to switch to a county-owned and maintained sewage treatment system.

     The sewage treatment plant is planned to take the camp housing off sewer lines going to Large Capacity Cesspools, which are illegal nationally. The county, which has taken over the plantation system, could face heavy fines by the Environmental Protection Agency if the old cesspools are kept online.

Aqua color house lots are served by Large Capacity Cesspools, which are now illegal. A sewage treatment plant - one of the proposed sites 
in red - would be constructed to meet EPA requirements and accommodated future growth of the town.

     Wastewater Engineer Michelle Sorensen, a member of the design team from consulting firm Brown & Caldwell, said that 28 sites have been considered for the facility since 2004. She said there is no perfect site. Locations above town would require expensive pumping of wastewater uphill. One site formerly under consideration on the Hilo side of Nā‘ālehu was found to be rich in archaeological and cultural sites.

     The preliminary design calls for treating sewage through four lagoons with wetlands, using natural processes with aeration, microorganisms, plants, trees, and soil to absorb water and waste. Sorensen described the process as less mechanical and less labor and energy dependent than other wastewater treatment plant designs. She also predicted increased control over any odors.

     Several attendees suggested making the sewage treatment plant into a park, a place with gardens and useful to the public. Sorensen said the treatment plant would ideally be on land large enough to accommodate some future growth in the town, as recommended in the Ka‘ū Community Development Plan.

     Souza family members said they had initially thought of possibly selling the parcel to the county but the appraisal was lower than they expected and they changed their minds, hoping to keep the property for the children and grandchildren to use for paniolo activities after school and on weekends.

     People attending last Thursday's meeting came up with slogans, such as Stand by the Souza's, and said it would be a loss for a local family to lose their land to a sewage treatment plant. Many people talked about moving the location farther from town, with more focus on the direction of prevailing winds between the site and the town.

Many sites have been studied for the Nāʻālehu wastewater treatment center.

     In addition to the three meetings, the county sponsored interviews of family members, cultural leaders, school employees and business owners in Nā‘ālehu to ask for their suggestions. Berna Cabacungan Senelly, of E-Plan, which is working on the community outreach, said the county will come back to the community with responses to issues raised after processing all the information received.

    See tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs for comments and suggestions from community members.

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BRENDA FORD OPPOSED LOCATING THE SPINLAUNCH FACILITY IN KAʻŪ during the public meeting with company representatives last Saturday in Nāʻālehu. Ford is a candidate for state Senate and would represent the area that includes Pohuʻe Bay, which as been on the SpinLaunch list of possible locations to establish a facility to hurl small satellites into space.

Brenda Ford, who is running for Senate, said the SpinLaunch facility would
bring safety issues to Kaʻū. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Ford noted that she has served as County Council member for Kaʻū and is used to doing her homework. She noted that SpinLaunch would use not only electricity to launch the satellites but also rocket fuel. She said SpinLaunch would likely transport "highly explosive rocket fuel, from Kawaihae Harbor, down these crappy state roads - substandard; one accident - not only will people die, but you're going to incinerate our forests. You cannot do this."
     SpinLaunch representative Ryan Hampton said that the amount of rocket fuel used would be "less rocket fuel than what you would have in four of your houses, heating your hot water tanks," which generated some grumbling.
     Ford  also contended that placing a rocket launch facility on Kaʻū land with high risk of earthquakes would be dangerous. She referred to space launch proposals by other groups. "We have killed rocket launch facilities here at least three times, and you guys keep coming back. These people don't want this here; it's not safe."

     She contended the facility could add air pollution to the vog. "We have vog - you're just going to add to the vog. And we're going to have an accident - maybe at the launch pad - you're going to be shooting shrapnel 3,500 miles an hour all over Ka‘ū. This is not safe - you need to go elsewhere."
     SpinLaunch representative Hampton said that there would be barriers to contain any accidents and emphasized that launches to test the technology will be done outside of the U.S. before going to any more permanent space launch facility, in Hawaiʻi or elsewhere.

SpinLaunch representatives Ryan Hampton and Raphael Feldman, as well as Sen. Glenn Wakai, answered questions about the proposed space launch facility. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Ford also spoke to Sen. Glenn Wakai, who proposed a $25 million Special Purpose Revenue Bond at the Hawaiʻi Legisalture to help fund SpinLaunch. She noted that the bill contained language indicating that its purpose "'is for the public health, safety, and general welfare.' Nothing could be further from the truth, sir, and you need to amend that bill - take out language that is not true - before you try to put this on some other island. We don't want it here. We do not want it here. And I will not support it," she concluded, to thunderous applause.

     A man in a red shirt, echoing Ford's sentiment, asked "Who came up with this idea?" to a tittering from attendees, referring to the fact that Pohu‘e Bay is in a Zone 2 lava danger area. "It's crazy - why would you want to invest millions of dollars in (this type of) area?"

     Richard Abbett, who is running for County Council, said that Wakai, who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism & Technology should learn about the needs of Kaʻū residents. "We need economic development. We are farmers. We could grow hemp, we already grow weed," he said.
      He pointed to the unique population of people who live here. "The Hawaiians that lived here have lived here forever; the rest of us came here for a reason, and it's not to be like the rest of you. This is the last place in the United States that we have this freedom."

Richard Abbett, running for Council for Kaʻū, also spoke
up at the meeting, saying the economy would be fine if
left to farm in peace. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Abbett said tax dollars in Kaʻū should go to "medical, for schools - for even bus stops. We are the poorest district in the poorest county in the poorest state." He told the Senator, "you could do a lot - and do a lot in your position as Chair, (of Economic Development in the Senate) after you have visited here and you take this experience and you educate your committee members."
     He suggested that Wakai name whomever wins the Senate race to represent Kaʻū onto his Economic Development Committee. "You listen to them - or you make them Chair."
     Wakai said that SpinLaunch is not only about Kaʻū, as there are other places being considered. He said that he was willing to change the language in the bill for the Special Purpose Revenue Bond that already passed the Senate and has moved to the House of Representatives. "How about I say 'Someplace in Hawai‘i, except Ka‘ū'?" which caused the attendees to voice some shouts for excluding Kaʻū and others for excluding the entire state.

     A woman then stood to say, "What you seem to lack is the ability to know the needs for each... community that was struck with the closing of the plantations. We need better schools, we need a satellite office here - of state and county." She said needs of the community are about "health and welfare - not aerospace. Hawai‘i is not your experimental ground."

A woman of the community spoke against the proposed space launch 
facility, saying the state should be focused on serving the people
 of the land, not industry. Photo from Big Island Video News

     "We are unique. We are pristine," she said, contending that the space launch "economy does not fit the model of Hawai‘i Island's aloha spirit, peace network, farmers... You think you can bring all the military here, all of the space industry here, astronomy here, and you think nothing about its people. You think nothing about its history... Trees that grow nowhere else in the world, insect(s) that grows nowhere else in the world, and every introduced, alien species kills what thrived here for millions of years."
     She said people involved in the proposal, such as Wakai, were "not thinking ground level - people level....This is not people; this is industry that does not belong in Hawai‘i... We fish, we hunt, and we grow. The state is supposed to look after its people, not after industries," she said, as many in attendance applauded.
     See more on the SpinLaunch presentation, community questions, answers, and community and political leaders' statements of opposition and other proclamations in yesterday - Sunday's and future Kaʻū News Briefs. Watch and listen to more than an hour of the meeting presented by Big Island Video News.

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Kick off National Park Week with a fee-free day on Saturday, April 21.
Photo by Janice Wei, National Park Service

PARKS STARS, THEME OF THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL PARK WEEK, brings a variety of events to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The week kicks off with a fee free day - entrance fees are waived for all entering fee-charging national parks in the U.S. - on Saturday, April 21.
     Four free programs are featured on the fee free day Saturday, April 21:
     A Guided Hike to the Ka‘ū Desert Footprints is offered at 11 a.m., with participants meeting Park Ranger Jay Robinson at the Ka‘ū Desert Trailhead on Hwy. 11, about nine miles south of the park entrance. During the hike, see footprints left by Hawaiian families who were caught in volcanic ash fallout during the 1700s. Learn how the latest research has changed historians understanding about the footprints, and hear about the epic battles that raged between Hawaiian kingdoms on the flanks of Mauna Loa. Check out the new interpretive exhibit at the Footprints Shelter. This easy, three-mile (4.8 km) round-trip hike takes about two-and-a-half hours. Bring two quarts (two liters) of water, sun protection, snacks and ranger.

     Be a Superstar on Volunteer Day (April 21 is also National Volunteer Day) is offered from 8:45 a.m. to noon, with volunteers meeting project leaders Paul and Jane Field at the Kīlauea Visitor Center. Join a superstar corps of National Park Service volunteers and help native plants survive by removing invasive, non-native plant species in the park. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Learn more about volunteering for public lands by visiting volunteer.gov.

Join Park Ranger Jay Robinson for a Guided Hike to the Ka‘ū Desert Footprints on
Saturday, April 21. Event details above.
Photo by J. Ferracane, National Park Service

     Guided Hike in Kahuku: Realms & Divisions is offered, 9:30 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit - a 50 minute drive south of the park’s main entrance, located on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Participants meet near the parking area. Experience the intersection of nature and culture on this moderately difficult two-mile, two-hour guided hike on Pu‘u Kahuku Trail. Explore the realms and divisions of the traditional Hawaiian classification system at Kahuku. Sturdy footwear, water, raingear, sun protection and a snack are recommended.

     Dark Night Skies at Kīlauea is offered at 7:30 p.m., at Kīlauea Overlook. April 21 is also the last day of International Dark Night Sky Week. Join Dark Skies Ranger Pascal Nelson for an evening of stargazing. Learn about the Hawaiian cultural connection to an endangered resource protected by the park: dark night skies. Journey through time and explore nearby planets and deep space celestial wonders above the glowing lava within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Pascal will answer questions and guide visitors through the night sky with and without a telescope. Subject to weather conditions.
     For more details, visit 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.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Volleyball: Friday, Apr 20, Parker @ Ka‘ū

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.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17

Hawai‘i County Council Finance Committee Special Meetings, Tue, Wed, & Thu, Apr 17, 18, & 19, Hilo, beginning at 9 a.m. Departmental Budget & Program Reviews. Ka’ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Pāhala Community Center Offers Clothespin Plane and Car, an Arts & Crafts activity for keiki, grades K through 8, on Wed, April 18, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register until Tue, April 17. For more, contact Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, Apr 18, noon - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

300 Meter Races for Keiki Ages 6 to 12 take place at Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, on Fri, April 20, from 2 to 3 p.m., hosted by Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation. Registration open through Wed, April 18. Athletic shoes required. For more, contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

Keiki, Ages 6 to 12, Welcomed to Paint a Rainbow. Register by Wed, April 18. Free Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Arts & Crafts program, Tue, April 24, Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

THURSDAY, APRIL 19
Veteran's Center & VA Medical Services, Thu, Apr 19, 8:30 a.m. - noon, Ocean View Community Center. No appointment needed to visit w/ VA counselor & benefit specialist. Matthew, 329-0574, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, Apr 19, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, Apr 19, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Family Reading, Thu, Apr 19, 6 - 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, Apr 19, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, APRIL 20
‘Ohe Kapala, Hawaiian Bamboo Stamping, Fri, Apr 20, 10 a.m. - noon, Kahuku Unit, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

SATURDAY, APRIL 21
Fee-Free Day at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Sat, Apr 21. Park entrance fees waived in celebration of National Park week. nps.gov/HAVO

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Apr 21, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit’s newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring a snack.

Gold Leaf and Illumination w/Rose Adare, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Students learn how to use gold, copper or silver leaf. Includes metallic pigments and paints. Class fee $60/VAC member, $65/non-member, plus $15 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Art Express, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Instructions on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums; old or new projects. Monthly class size limited to 25. Meliha Corcoran 319-8989, himeliha@yahoo.com, discoveryharbour.net/art-express

Bunco & Potluck, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Tickets, $10 donation. Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant Director Trinidad Marques, 928-0606, TrinidadMarques@yahoo.com, or Facebook Trinidad Marques. kaucoffeefestival.com

Ka‘ū High School Students Compete on It's Academic - Hawai‘i, re-air, Sat, Apr 21, 6:30 p.m., Channel 5 (KFVE). Watch live stream on KFVE.com. More info.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, Apr 22, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

MONDAY, APRIL 23
Fishery Council Monthly Meeting, Monday, April 23; new membership encouraged - especially recreational, commercial and regional fishers - to provide feedback for the council on a regular basis, passed on to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Visit westhawaiifisherycou.ipower.com

ONGOING

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. Nominations will be accepted from April 2 through April 16 at 3 p.m. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee.

     The campaign for the positions starts April 16. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Ho’oku’i I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest registration open through Friday, April 20, limit one entry per category, per contestant. Recipes will be judged Sunday, April 29, 11 a.m., at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Youth and adult submissions judged separately. Categories are pūpū, entrée, and dessert; all recipes must be made with (any) Ka‘ū Coffee. Entry info at kaucoffeemill.com or kaucoffeefestival.com, or call 808-928-0550. Entry forms can also be found at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill or Mizuno Market; forms below. Email for info/with questions sales@kaucoffeemill.com

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 Brief Sunday, April 15, 2018

Valerie Gali urges residents to Hoʻolohe - Listen, then ask questions about SpinLaunch. She receives a round of applause 
in the middle of residents who were overwhelmingly against locating a space launch facility in Kaʻū. 
Photo from Big Island Video News

SPINLAUNCH WOULD CHOOSE KAʻŪ ONLY WITH COMMUNITY BACKING: The company's representatives made the promise to more than 100 people who attended the public meeting Saturday concerning the proposed space launch facility. Hawaiian cultural practitioner Nohea Kaʻawa's request for a show of hands resulted in about 99 going up in opposition to space launches from Kaʻū, with one in support. Veteran opponents of other space launch proposals and development along the Kaʻū Coast joined the opposition.

     Signs at Nāʻālehu Community Center and on Hwy 11 carried such slogans as "No to SpinLaunch" and  "Defend the Hawksbill." They referred to the Pohuʻe Bay hawksbill turtle nesting area at the bottom of the 16,455 acre Kaʻū property. The property, for sale for $18 million, is one of six considered for the SpinLaunch project site proposed for the Hawaiian Islands.

Maile David, who represents Kaʻū on the County Council, thanked
 SpinLaunch and Sen. Glen Wakai, as she introduced them at the
community meeting on the space launch facility.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     One opponent suggested a SpinLaunch location at Loʻihi Seamount, just offshore of Kaʻū, as the active underwater volcano will likely rise from the ocean to become an island some tens of thousands of years from now.

     Kaʻū County Council member Maile David opened the meeting, thanking the SpinLaunch representatives and Sen. Glenn Wakai, who supports the technology, for making the presentations tot the community. The council member said the meeting was "necessary today." She looked forward to people leaving the meeting, with "some sense of either closure or I don't know what," she said, raising her arms, inviting the community to listen to the SpinLaunch presentation and decide.

     SpinLaunch representatives and the state Senator from Oʻahu, who proposed a $25 million Special Revenue Bond at the Hawaiʻi Legislature to help finance SpinLaunch, answered questions. They shared SpinLaunch history, including the tract above Pohuʻe Bay becoming a possible location for new technology that would catapult small satellites into space at a lower cost than solid fuel rockets.

     In reference to Pohuʻe as a possible site, Wakai said he came to the public meeting to apologize for "causing lots of trepidation in this community," which led the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to the state Department of Land & Natural Resources to call for the public meeting. 

Ryan Hampton of SpinLaunch promised that the space launch facility 

would not come to Kaʻū without the community's backing.

Photo from Big Island Video News

     Wakai explained that he met SpinLaunch representatives last year on Oʻahu, as chair of the state Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism & Technology. When they talked about how they would use electricity to spin and catapult satellites into space at an affordable cost, Wakai said, he was skeptical and visited them at their headquarters last October in Sunnyvale, CA. Wakai said he saw a prototype in a vacuum chamber and the SpinLaunch team "launch, through centripetal force, a projectile into a wall."

     After seeing that the plan was serious and not just make believe or something on paper, or diagrams on a website, Wakai said, he proceeded to find out more. He said he was interested in opening up aerospace economic opportunities for Hawaiʻi. "I like innovation. I like making life better. More and more of our life is dependent on this," he said, pointing to his cell phone. "We are going to need more satellites," he said.

     To connect with the community, Wakai said, he talked to the Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy in Honolulu. "That was where my discussion with the community ended and that's where I was wrong in not coming here months ago to tell you about this proposal. Whether you agree with it or not - you are due that - and I apologize I was not here pre-January." the Honolulu Senator also emphasized to the Kaʻū crowd that Pohuʻe was only one of a number of possible Hawaiʻi locations.

     Wakai said that Sen. Josh Green, who represents west Kaʻū and voted along with all other South Hawaiʻi state Senators against the SpinLaunch bond, let him know there was resistance here. Wakai said he quickly realized that Pohuʻe Bay could be inappropriate.

Nohea Kaʻawa called for a hands up on who opposed
SpinLaunch and who approved. About 99 persons
of 100 raised their hands against the project.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Wakai also said that he wanted to make sure people understand that the Special Purpose Revenue Bond is not money coming out of state tax coffers, but a mechanism to raise funding for the project through bond markets, the money coming from private investors. He said that after passing the Senate, the Special Purpose Revenue Bond is at a critical stage in its possible approval by the 2018 Hawaiʻi Legislature.

     Representing SpinLaunch at the meeting were Raphael Feldman, a project manager, and Ryan Hampton, in charge of location and facilities. Hampton explained that SpinLaunch was interested in using a portion of the Pohuʻe property for launch site and buffer, while possibly turning over the rest of the property, including the Pohuʻe Bay area, to a conservancy or other entity acceptable to the community. He said he could envision Kaʻū residents having increased access to the shore around Pohuʻe Bay, which is currently limited with the existing owners blocking public access by road. However, if the community does not want to work with SpinLaunch toward mutual goals, Hampton insisted, the company will not attempt to come here.

Signs and speakers of opposition Saturday, as SpinLaunch and
an Oʻahu Senator make a presentation on the space launch possibility.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Hampton gave the history of SpinLaunch technology, saying the concept - to send up satellites affordably to make for better internet and other technological advances - faced "complete opposition in the aerospace community," before its initial testing. However, "We pulled it off," he said, describing the hands-on construction of the first testing site for the prototype.

     He emphasized that the SpinLaunch team has "limited resources. We’re not Boeing, We’re not Raytheon. We're not part of the big six," he said, referring to large technology and aerospace companies. He said SpinLaunch is a very small company, with trusted friends, family, and experts helping. "We're privately funded. There was a point when we dipped down near zero before pulling back through with financing. To be able to get to a point that we can even stand in front of you guys right now is absolutely baffling to me that we made it this far," he told Kaʻū residents.

     He again insisted that, "We would not and are not going to come to Kaʻū without community support. We don't have the resources to do it or the manpower. This is a group of guys and girls that have an amazing product to help propel space forward. But we need a community to get behind us or we can't even start."

     When some community members interrupted the SpinLaunch presentation, proclaiming they don't want the space launches here, Darlyne Vierra, of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, stepped in and asked for the public to allow SpinLaunch to make the presentation and then ask questions.

Peacekeepers Darlyne Vierra, left, and Valerie Gali, along with Sen.
Glenn Wakai, the Oʻahu legislator who proposed the SpinLaunch bonds.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     When interruptions continued, Valerie Gali stepped forward and said, "We're not going to get anywhere if everybody keeps interrupting. Hui - Hoʻolohe - first, listen, then ask the questions," she said to a big round of applause. "Enough already. We want solutions and the only way we going get solutions is if we listen." She told the crowd, "Got to let them talk, then we can share our manaʻo. Why we love Pohuʻe, why we love Kaʻū, why we don't want them here. Why we want it for us too. We got to hear 'em from their mouths. I don't want to hear second-hand message. I want to hear it directly from the people who putting them out. That's why I’m here. I want to know what is it the truth. Then I can ask my question and everybody can do the same. But if we keep interrupting, we're not going to hear, we're not going to have our chance and the meeting's going to be forever like every other meeting. I don’t want our meeting to be forever. I want it to be concise. I want my questions answered. So enough already. Come on. Let's listen!" Most people again applauded.
     See more on the SpinLaunch presentation, community questions, answers, and community and political leaders' statements of opposition and other proclamations in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

     Watch and listen to more than an hour of the meeting presented by Big Island Video News.

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 SECTOR MAPPING TOOL to assist incoming students with making a better decision on their career path was presented last month by Peter Quigley, University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges' Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, to a delegation hosted by Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele. The tool provides an avenue for the business sector and UH to identify and address future workforce needs.

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.

Mini-Bazaar Fundraiser event at Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church on 
Saturday, April 14. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

MINI-BAZAAR FUNDRAISER AT KAUAHA‘AO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Wai‘ōhinu on Saturday, April 14, brought vendors of jewelry, original artwork, baked goods, chocolate, fruit and vegetables, filipino food, henna tattoos, solar lights, and second-hand items such as clothes, toys, and trinkets. O Ka‘ū Kakou sold shaved ice. The church sold canned beverages, baked goods - such as brownies and banana bread - and two plate lunch choices: smoked meat and rice with onion or roast chicken and rice. The Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church hosts is main Bazaar fundraiser annually in November.

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.

ROSE ADARE OFFERS A GOLD LEAF AND ILLUMINATION WORKSHOP on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Arts Center. The class is open to all levels of painters.

Learn about Gold Leaf and Illumination at a workshop in 
Volcano. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

     Students learn how to lay out and prepare their materials to implement gold, copper, or silver leaf in the most effective way possible. Tutorials include how to incorporate leaf with under-paintings and over-paintings, how to work highlights and shadows into their paintings, the distinction between warm and cool light, and how to seal leaf properly. Other topics include metallic pigments and metal paints.
     Adare is a graduate of the San Francisco Academy of Art University, and trained under the esteemed living master David Hardy. Adare began her Fine Art career at The Muse Studio, founding the annual Muse Showcase: A Celebration in Art and Music, in Berkeley, California. Struck by a municipal train in 2005, Adare spent the following years in physical rehabilitation and retaught herself how to paint, returning to the art scene in 2009. Adare's portrait series Restraint & Revolution was featured as part of a three-woman concurrent solo show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, and went on tour throughout the states with 21 evocative oil paintings.
     Students are asked to bring painting supplies (oils or acrylics, brushes, solvents, mediums if the artist chooses to use them, and cleaning supplies), including three different photos to work with and two small canvases, no bigger than 11"x14". The class fee is $60 per Volcano Art Center Member and $65 per non-Member, plus a $15 supply fee. The supply fee will be waived for those who bring their own gold leaf sizing and sealant. For more, visit 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.

KA‘Ū TROJANS GIRLS SOFTBALL LAST SPRING GAME yesterday, April 14, was a loss at 5 to 18 against Kea‘au, but a good effort from the team. Lead Pitcher CeAndra Silva-Kamei scored 3 strike-outs during the game.

     Analei Emmsley, Rebekah Polido-Kalili, Shanastie Hu Blanco, and Shaylani Viera each hit 1 Single, Tiare Wong Yuen hit 2 Singles, and Chaunalisa Velez hit a Double.

     The last two Spring season games, boys volleyball, are this coming week. See full schedule, below.

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.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Volleyball: Monday, Apr 16, @ Hilo

   Friday, Apr 20, Parker @ Ka‘ū

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.

MONDAY, APRIL 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, Apr 16, 5 - 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17
Hawai‘i County Council Finance Committee Special Meetings, Tue, Wed, & Thu, Apr 17, 18, & 19, Hilo, beginning at 9 a.m. Departmental Budget & Program Reviews. Ka’ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Pāhala Community Center Offers Clothespin Plane and Car, an Arts & Crafts activity for keiki, grades K through 8, on Wed, April 18, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register until Tue, April 17. For more, contact Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, Apr 18, noon - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

300 Meter Races for Keiki Ages 6 to 12 take place at Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, on Fri, April 20, from 2 to 3 p.m., hosted by Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation. Registration open through Wed, April 18. Athletic shoes required. For more, contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

Keiki, Ages 6 to 12, Welcomed to Paint a Rainbow. Register by Wed, April 18. Free Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Arts & Crafts program, Tue, April 24, Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

THURSDAY, APRIL 19
Veteran's Center & VA Medical Services, Thu, Apr 19, 8:30 a.m. - noon, Ocean View Community Center. No appointment needed to visit w/ VA counselor & benefit specialist. Matthew, 329-0574, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, Apr 19, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, Apr 19, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Family Reading, Thu, Apr 19, 6 - 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, Apr 19, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, APRIL 20
‘Ohe Kapala, Hawaiian Bamboo Stamping, Fri, Apr 20, 10 a.m. - noon, Kahuku Unit, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

SATURDAY, APRIL 21
Fee-Free Day at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Sat, Apr 21. Park entrance fees waived in celebration of National Park week. nps.gov/HAVO

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Apr 21, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit’s newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring a snack.

Gold Leaf and Illumination w/Rose Adare, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Students learn how to use gold, copper or silver leaf. Includes metallic pigments and paints. Class fee $60/VAC member, $65/non-member, plus $15 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Art Express, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Instructions on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums; old or new projects. Monthly class size limited to 25. Meliha Corcoran 319-8989, himeliha@yahoo.com, discoveryharbour.net/art-express

Bunco & Potluck, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Tickets, $10 donation. Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant Director Trinidad Marques, 928-0606, TrinidadMarques@yahoo.com, or Facebook Trinidad Marques. kaucoffeefestival.com

Ka‘ū High School Students Compete on It's Academic - Hawai‘i, re-air, Sat, Apr 21, 6:30 p.m., Channel 5 (KFVE). Watch live stream on KFVE.com. More info.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, Apr 22, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

ONGOING

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. Nominations will be accepted from April 2 through April 16 at 3 p.m. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee.

     The campaign for the positions starts April 16. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Ho’oku’i I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest registration open through Friday, April 20, limit one entry per category, per contestant. Recipes will be judged Sunday, April 29, 11 a.m., at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Youth and adult submissions judged separately. Categories are pūpū, entrée, and dessert; all recipes must be made with (any) Ka‘ū Coffee. Entry info at kaucoffeemill.com or kaucoffeefestival.com, or call 808-928-0550. Entry forms can also be found at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill or Mizuno Market; forms below. Email for info/with questions sales@kaucoffeemill.com

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 Brief Saturday, April 14, 2018

Valerie Gali urges residents to Hoʻolohe - Listen, then ask questions about SpinLaunch. She receives a round of applause 
in the middle of residents who were overwhelmingly against locating a space launch facility in Kaʻū. 
Photo from Big Island Video News

SPINLAUNCH WOULD CHOOSE KAʻŪ ONLY WITH COMMUNITY BACKING: The company's representatives made the promise to more than 100 people who attended the public meeting Saturday concerning the proposed space launch facility. Hawaiian cultural practitioner Nohea Kaʻawa's request for a show of hands resulted in about 99 going up in opposition to space launches from Kaʻū, with one in support. Veteran opponents of other space launch proposals and development along the Kaʻū Coast joined the opposition.

     Signs at Nāʻālehu Community Center and on Hwy 11 carried such slogans as "No to SpinLaunch" and  "Defend the Hawksbill." They referred to the Pohuʻe Bay hawksbill turtle nesting area at the bottom of the 16,455 acre Kaʻū property. The property, for sale for $18 million, is one of six considered for the SpinLaunch project site proposed for the Hawaiian Islands.

Maile David, who represents Kaʻū on the County Council, thanked
 SpinLaunch and Sen. Glen Wakai, as she introduced them at the
community meeting on the space launch facility.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     One opponent suggested a SpinLaunch location at Loʻihi Seamount, just offshore of Kaʻū, as the active underwater volcano will likely rise from the ocean to become an island some tens of thousands of years from now.

     Kaʻū County Council member Maile David opened the meeting, thanking the SpinLaunch representatives and Sen. Glenn Wakai, who supports the technology, for making the presentations tot the community. The council member said the meeting was "necessary today." She looked forward to people leaving the meeting, with "some sense of either closure or I don't know what," she said, raising her arms, inviting the community to listen to the SpinLaunch presentation and decide.

     SpinLaunch representatives and the state Senator from Oʻahu, who proposed a $25 million Special Revenue Bond at the Hawaiʻi Legislature to help finance SpinLaunch, answered questions. They shared SpinLaunch history, including the tract above Pohuʻe Bay becoming a possible location for new technology that would catapult small satellites into space at a lower cost than solid fuel rockets.

     In reference to Pohuʻe as a possible site, Wakai said he came to the public meeting to apologize for "causing lots of trepidation in this community," which led the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to the state Department of Land & Natural Resources to call for the public meeting. 

Ryan Hampton of SpinLaunch promised that the space launch facility 

would not come to Kaʻū without the community's backing.

Photo from Big Island Video News

     Wakai explained that he met SpinLaunch representatives last year on Oʻahu, as chair of the state Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism & Technology. When they talked about how they would use electricity to spin and catapult satellites into space at an affordable cost, Wakai said, he was skeptical and visited them at their headquarters last October in Sunnyvale, CA. Wakai said he saw a prototype in a vacuum chamber and the SpinLaunch team "launch, through centripetal force, a projectile into a wall."

     After seeing that the plan was serious and not just make believe or something on paper, or diagrams on a website, Wakai said, he proceeded to find out more. He said he was interested in opening up aerospace economic opportunities for Hawaiʻi. "I like innovation. I like making life better. More and more of our life is dependent on this," he said, pointing to his cell phone. "We are going to need more satellites," he said.

     To connect with the community, Wakai said, he talked to the Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy in Honolulu. "That was where my discussion with the community ended and that's where I was wrong in not coming here months ago to tell you about this proposal. Whether you agree with it or not - you are due that - and I apologize I was not here pre-January." the Honolulu Senator also emphasized to the Kaʻū crowd that Pohuʻe was only one of a number of possible Hawaiʻi locations.

     Wakai said that Sen. Josh Green, who represents west Kaʻū and voted along with all other South Hawaiʻi state Senators against the SpinLaunch bond, let him know there was resistance here. Wakai said he quickly realized that Pohuʻe Bay could be inappropriate.

Nohea Kaʻawa called for a hands up on who opposed
SpinLaunch and who approved. About 99 persons
of 100 raised their hands against the project.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Wakai also said that he wanted to make sure people understand that the Special Purpose Revenue Bond is not money coming out of state tax coffers, but a mechanism to raise funding for the project through bond markets, the money coming from private investors. He said that after passing the Senate, the Special Purpose Revenue Bond is at a critical stage in its possible approval by the 2018 Hawaiʻi Legislature.

     Representing SpinLaunch at the meeting were Raphael Feldman, a project manager, and Ryan Hampton, in charge of location and facilities. Hampton explained that SpinLaunch was interested in using a portion of the Pohuʻe property for launch site and buffer, while possibly turning over the rest of the property, including the Pohuʻe Bay area, to a conservancy or other entity acceptable to the community. He said he could envision Kaʻū residents having increased access to the shore around Pohuʻe Bay, which is currently limited with the existing owners blocking public access by road. However, if the community does not want to work with SpinLaunch toward mutual goals, Hampton insisted, the company will not attempt to come here.

Signs and speakers of opposition Saturday, as SpinLaunch and
an Oʻahu Senator make a presentation on the space launch possibility.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Hampton gave the history of SpinLaunch technology, saying the concept - to send up satellites affordably to make for better internet and other technological advances - faced "complete opposition in the aerospace community," before its initial testing. However, "We pulled it off," he said, describing the hands-on construction of the first testing site for the prototype.

     He emphasized that the SpinLaunch team has "limited resources. We’re not Boeing, We’re not Raytheon. We're not part of the big six," he said, referring to large technology and aerospace companies. He said SpinLaunch is a very small company, with trusted friends, family, and experts helping. "We're privately funded. There was a point when we dipped down near zero before pulling back through with financing. To be able to get to a point that we can even stand in front of you guys right now is absolutely baffling to me that we made it this far," he told Kaʻū residents.

     He again insisted that, "We would not and are not going to come to Kaʻū without community support. We don't have the resources to do it or the manpower. This is a group of guys and girls that have an amazing product to help propel space forward. But we need a community to get behind us or we can't even start."

     When some community members interrupted the SpinLaunch presentation, proclaiming they don't want the space launches here, Darlyne Vierra, of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee, stepped in and asked for the public to allow SpinLaunch to make the presentation and then ask questions.

Peacekeepers Darlyne Vierra, left, and Valerie Gali, along with Sen.
Glenn Wakai, the Oʻahu legislator who proposed the SpinLaunch bonds.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     When interruptions continued, Valerie Gali stepped forward and said, "We're not going to get anywhere if everybody keeps interrupting. Hui - Hoʻolohe - first, listen, then ask the questions," she said to a big round of applause. "Enough already. We want solutions and the only way we going get solutions is if we listen." She told the crowd, "Got to let them talk, then we can share our manaʻo. Why we love Pohuʻe, why we love Kaʻū, why we don't want them here. Why we want it for us too. We got to hear 'em from their mouths. I don't want to hear second-hand message. I want to hear it directly from the people who putting them out. That's why I’m here. I want to know what is it the truth. Then I can ask my question and everybody can do the same. But if we keep interrupting, we're not going to hear, we're not going to have our chance and the meeting's going to be forever like every other meeting. I don’t want our meeting to be forever. I want it to be concise. I want my questions answered. So enough already. Come on. Let's listen!" Most people again applauded.
     See more on the SpinLaunch presentation, community questions, answers, and community and political leaders' statements of opposition and other proclamations in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

     Watch and listen to more than an hour of the meeting presented by Big Island Video News.

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 SECTOR MAPPING TOOL to assist incoming students with making a better decision on their career path was presented last month by Peter Quigley, University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges' Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, to a delegation hosted by Sen. Kaiali‘i Kahele. The tool provides an avenue for the business sector and UH to identify and address future workforce needs.

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.

Mini-Bazaar Fundraiser event at Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church on 
Saturday, April 14. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

MINI-BAZAAR FUNDRAISER AT KAUAHA‘AO CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in Wai‘ōhinu on Saturday, April 14, brought vendors of jewelry, original artwork, baked goods, chocolate, fruit and vegetables, filipino food, henna tattoos, solar lights, and second-hand items such as clothes, toys, and trinkets. O Ka‘ū Kakou sold shaved ice. The church sold canned beverages, baked goods - such as brownies and banana bread - and two plate lunch choices: smoked meat and rice with onion or roast chicken and rice. The Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church hosts is main Bazaar fundraiser annually in November.

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.

ROSE ADARE OFFERS A GOLD LEAF AND ILLUMINATION WORKSHOP on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Arts Center. The class is open to all levels of painters.

Learn about Gold Leaf and Illumination at a workshop in 
Volcano. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

     Students learn how to lay out and prepare their materials to implement gold, copper, or silver leaf in the most effective way possible. Tutorials include how to incorporate leaf with under-paintings and over-paintings, how to work highlights and shadows into their paintings, the distinction between warm and cool light, and how to seal leaf properly. Other topics include metallic pigments and metal paints.
     Adare is a graduate of the San Francisco Academy of Art University, and trained under the esteemed living master David Hardy. Adare began her Fine Art career at The Muse Studio, founding the annual Muse Showcase: A Celebration in Art and Music, in Berkeley, California. Struck by a municipal train in 2005, Adare spent the following years in physical rehabilitation and retaught herself how to paint, returning to the art scene in 2009. Adare's portrait series Restraint & Revolution was featured as part of a three-woman concurrent solo show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, and went on tour throughout the states with 21 evocative oil paintings.
     Students are asked to bring painting supplies (oils or acrylics, brushes, solvents, mediums if the artist chooses to use them, and cleaning supplies), including three different photos to work with and two small canvases, no bigger than 11"x14". The class fee is $60 per Volcano Art Center Member and $65 per non-Member, plus a $15 supply fee. The supply fee will be waived for those who bring their own gold leaf sizing and sealant. For more, visit 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.

KA‘Ū TROJANS GIRLS SOFTBALL LAST SPRING GAME yesterday, April 14, was a loss at 5 to 18 against Kea‘au, but a good effort from the team. Lead Pitcher CeAndra Silva-Kamei scored 3 strike-outs during the game.

     Analei Emmsley, Rebekah Polido-Kalili, Shanastie Hu Blanco, and Shaylani Viera each hit 1 Single, Tiare Wong Yuen hit 2 Singles, and Chaunalisa Velez hit a Double.

     The last two Spring season games, boys volleyball, are this coming week. See full schedule, below.

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.

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Volleyball: Monday, Apr 16, @ Hilo

   Friday, Apr 20, Parker @ Ka‘ū

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.

MONDAY, APRIL 16

Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon, Apr 16, 5 - 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, APRIL 17
Hawai‘i County Council Finance Committee Special Meetings, Tue, Wed, & Thu, Apr 17, 18, & 19, Hilo, beginning at 9 a.m. Departmental Budget & Program Reviews. Ka’ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Pāhala Community Center Offers Clothespin Plane and Car, an Arts & Crafts activity for keiki, grades K through 8, on Wed, April 18, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register until Tue, April 17. For more, contact Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18
Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, Apr 18, noon - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

300 Meter Races for Keiki Ages 6 to 12 take place at Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, on Fri, April 20, from 2 to 3 p.m., hosted by Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation. Registration open through Wed, April 18. Athletic shoes required. For more, contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

Keiki, Ages 6 to 12, Welcomed to Paint a Rainbow. Register by Wed, April 18. Free Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Arts & Crafts program, Tue, April 24, Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. Contact Teresa Anderson at 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more county park programs.

THURSDAY, APRIL 19
Veteran's Center & VA Medical Services, Thu, Apr 19, 8:30 a.m. - noon, Ocean View Community Center. No appointment needed to visit w/ VA counselor & benefit specialist. Matthew, 329-0574, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, Apr 19, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, Apr 19, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Family Reading, Thu, Apr 19, 6 - 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, Apr 19, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, APRIL 20
‘Ohe Kapala, Hawaiian Bamboo Stamping, Fri, Apr 20, 10 a.m. - noon, Kahuku Unit, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

SATURDAY, APRIL 21
Fee-Free Day at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Sat, Apr 21. Park entrance fees waived in celebration of National Park week. nps.gov/HAVO

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Apr 21, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit’s newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring a snack.

Gold Leaf and Illumination w/Rose Adare, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Students learn how to use gold, copper or silver leaf. Includes metallic pigments and paints. Class fee $60/VAC member, $65/non-member, plus $15 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Art Express, Sat, Apr 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Instructions on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums; old or new projects. Monthly class size limited to 25. Meliha Corcoran 319-8989, himeliha@yahoo.com, discoveryharbour.net/art-express

Bunco & Potluck, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant, Sat, Apr 21, 6 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Tickets, $10 donation. Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant Director Trinidad Marques, 928-0606, TrinidadMarques@yahoo.com, or Facebook Trinidad Marques. kaucoffeefestival.com

Ka‘ū High School Students Compete on It's Academic - Hawai‘i, re-air, Sat, Apr 21, 6:30 p.m., Channel 5 (KFVE). Watch live stream on KFVE.com. More info.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, Apr 22, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

ONGOING

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events (nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities) to be announced. nps.gov/HAVO

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. Nominations will be accepted from April 2 through April 16 at 3 p.m. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee.

     The campaign for the positions starts April 16. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Ho’oku’i I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest registration open through Friday, April 20, limit one entry per category, per contestant. Recipes will be judged Sunday, April 29, 11 a.m., at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Youth and adult submissions judged separately. Categories are pūpū, entrée, and dessert; all recipes must be made with (any) Ka‘ū Coffee. Entry info at kaucoffeemill.com or kaucoffeefestival.com, or call 808-928-0550. Entry forms can also be found at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill or Mizuno Market; forms below. Email for info/with questions sales@kaucoffeemill.com

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