Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The coastlines of Waikapuna are an intricate network of native flora and fauna, to be protected in the new management plan.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

THE STEWARDSHIP PLAN FOR WAIKAPUNA drew Kaʻū citizens to an online meeting on Wednesday. Access to the place was a main topic in the discussion period. One speaker suggested that lineal descendants of the area come forward and make themselves known. She also suggested that those who own and steward the 2,317 Waikapuna acres along the Kaʻū Coast continue to seek out the descendants of those who lived on the land to welcome them into decisionmaking. The owner is Ala Kahakai Trail Association and an overseer with a conservation easement is County of Hawai'i.

     Gabrielle Sham, of Townscapes, Inc., who has been working on the draft management plan for Waikapuna, explained the plan to provide Kupuna Days, 'Ohana Days, and weekend overnight camping for one group at a time during three weekends per month. Volunteer Workdays would be held monthly on weekends with no overnight camping permitted. Volunteering would help individuals and groups earn higher priority for camping reservations.

Access to Waikapuna was a main topic in a 
zoom meeting about the draft management plan.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

     With high demand for overnight camping on weekends, and some folks reporting reservations a year in advance, the planners came up with an idea to make reservations more timely. Camping reservations would be made quarterly, opening up the first weekdays of the month before each quarter begins. Those who have volunteered at Waikapuna would be able to apply as early as the first Monday; those from Kaʻū as early as first Tuesday, and those from outside Kaʻū as early as first Wednesday of the month before the quarter begins.

     Kupuna Days and Ohana Days would be reserved as early as the first day of the week of the desired date. It would also be required that  least one person in the group has already gone to Waikapuna.

    For other day visits, those having already volunteered would receive priority and able make a booking on the first Monday of the month; Kaʻū residents second Monday; and non- Kaʻū residents third Monday. Sham said the intent is to incentivize volunteering for people to develop a role in stewardship at Waikapuna. Volunteering can  include maintaining roadways, removing invasives and cleaning up trash at the bay.

    She also said the Ala Kahakai Trail Association plans to seek funding and hire staff. Sham noted that the federal Ala Kakahai Trail, which runs through the property, is open to foot traffic, no permit required. It is the vehicular traffic and camping that require the reservations. The idea of an informal Community Makai Watch to discourage people from driving into Waikapuna without permits was discussed.

Ala Kahakai Trail is open to the public without permits. Vehicles
going to Waikapuna require permits and reservations. See
 http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

    Some speakers asked whether there could be a method for more flexible reservations, related to ocean and weather conditions. They said it is difficult for those fishing and gathering food to plan weeks in advance since the weather or sea state can change so quickly. It has been the tradition to call up the stewards of the land and ask them whether they could go down to the shore on that day, said fishermen commenting on the plan.

    Another participant in the zoom meeting suggested a live meeting in Nā'ālehu, noting tech connectivity difficulties for some folks in Kaʻū and recommending a face-to-face gathering. 

    Another asked about the definition of Kaʻū resident, someone who just moved here, or people with family ties? She noted that local people are being increasingly locked out of the places their families consider special in Kaʻū. A fisherman said that Waikapuna is important for feeding his family, with his children and grandchildren following the tradition. He said with new restrictions, it could be difficult. "Seems now we going to have to go to KTA, have to go to supermarket. No can bring the city to

Native shoreline plants at Waikapuna.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

the country and tell country guys how to live."

    Another speaker said up on a cliff at Waikapuna there are special outcroppings, a "bubbly rock area." She asked "how to protect those pohaku?" Sham said it is a matter of working with Ala Kahakai Trail Association and educating the community. She also noted that the county's conservation easement on the property requires and annual report from ATA and an annual county review of the stewardship. She also noted that anyone interested in being involved in a stewardship committee for Waikapuna can reach out to ATA.
    The entire meeting is recorded and will be posted online. See earlier meetings and more on Ala Kahakai Trail Association at  http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/

See the draft plan for Waikapuna at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121424/Waikapuna%20Resources%20Management%20Plan_Public%20Review%20Draft_February%202023.pdf. 

    A hard copy of the draft plan is available at the Nāʻālehu Public Library and Pahala Public Library. Comments on the draft plan may be submitted online or e-mailed to gabrielle@townscapeinc.com through April 22, 2023.

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GOV. JOSH GREEN SIGNED BILLS INTO LAW FOR THE FIRST TIME on Wednesday.
   Senate Bill 1 (SB1) advances Hawai'i's long civil rights history. Hawai'i's first civil rights protections against discrimination date back to pre-statehood days, when territorial lawmakers at the Constitutional Convention of 1950 ratified what is now an article in the state Constitution: Article I § 5 of the Hawai'i State Constitution states that no person "shall be denied the enjoyment of the person's civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of race, religion, sex, or ancestry."

The 1950 Hawai'i Constitutional convention, which
set forth civil rights protections, long before statehood. On
Wednesday Gov. Josh Green signed a bill to protect 
reproductive health care services.

    Hawai'i was the first state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, to recognize a woman's right to choose, and to seriously address the issue of same-sex marriage.
   Senate Bill 1 expands access to reproductive health care services in numerous ways; clarifies that the state will not deny or interfere with a pregnant person's right to choose to terminate a pregnancy and protects Hawai'i health care providers from punitive legal action from within or outside of the state relating to the provision of legally provided reproductive health care services. Additional protections, prohibitions and requirements are included.
    The Governor said, "This is one of the most important issues of our time and as Hawai'i's physician-governor, I tell you absolutely that this goes beyond a complex social issue for political discussion. This is 100-percent about fundamental, practical health care for our people."
Abortion has risen to the forefront since the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Dobbs v. Jackson Woman's Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. "Roe" was a 1973 SCOTUS decision that decriminalized abortion and protected the right to access the procedure legally across the country.
    Upon Green's signature, SB1 became Act 2.
    Senate Bill 36 (SB36) amends state law to allow county prosecutors to initiate felony cases by complaints following preliminary hearings and prohibits multiple attempts to initiate a felony prosecution for an offense, except in certain circumstances.
    "The people of Hawai'i want to feel safe in their homes and communities and have every right to expect

government leaders to provide public safety. This legislation is a tool that will help our law enforcement officers and county prosecutors continue their work toward that goal," said Green. Upon his signature, SB36 became Act 1.
    The measure resolves an issue resulting from the Hawai'i Supreme Court decision in State v. Obrero, in which the court ruled that HRS 801-1 did not permit initiation of felony criminal charges via preliminary hearing. The ruling came despite active use of the process for some 40 years.
    A subsection of SB36 limits the prosecution to one attempt to charge a felony case via grand jury indictment or complaint following preliminary hearing unless certain conditions are met, including presentation of additional material evidence, there is evidence of misconduct by the grand jury or grand jury counsel, or if a court finds good cause to allow another attempt.

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SWEEPING CHANGES THAT ENABLE RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS TO LIVE AND PARTICIPATE FULLY in their communities, and to engage in meaningful employment, is promised for Hawai' by its Department of Health and Gov. Josh Green. As of March 17, all states must be compliant with the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services settings regulation. The changes are expected to impact more than one million people receiving Medicaid HCBS nationally, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

    “The regulations protect each person’s rights and uphold the value of person-centered processes that make sure people are making their own choices and control the decisions in their lives — a right most people take for granted,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, Director of Hawai‘i Department of Health. “This includes being treated with privacy, dignity and respect; freedom from coercion and restraint; deciding what and when to eat; having visitors, and having the protections of a lease or other legally enforceable residency agreement.”
   "DOH Developmental Disabilities Division, which operates Hawai‘i’s Medicaid waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has been preparing to meet this compliance deadline despite the challenges of the pandemic," says a DOH statement. "It marks the beginning of a new phase of implementation of the rule, requiring ongoing evaluation, monitoring, and public engagement."
   Mary Brogan, Administrator of DOH Developmental Disabilities Division since 2014 and President of the National Association of State Directors of Development Disabilities Services, said, “It is not

enough to simply be living in the community; we need to make sure participants in our program with intellectual and developmental disabilities are fully integrated into the fabric of our community. We need to take our transformation to the next level so everyone we serve has access to the life they choose, and we are committed to continuously improving our services. Our entire system, including staff, participants, families and providers have worked tirelessly through the transition period to make the changes needed, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone’s efforts.”
   About 3,500 participants benefit from the services provided through the DOH Developmental Disabilities Division.
    Debbie Kobayakawa, a parent of an adult child who receives services from DOH, said her son's services have been game changing. “Person-centered planning allows my son to live and work fully integrated into his community, which is the life he wants. The whole point of these services is to provide individuals with the life they want,” Kobayakawa said.
    The waiver program has positive impacts on Hawai‘i, both in supporting better outcomes for people with significant disabilities, and the economic effect in the community. The State has agreements with more than 50 agencies providing services such as personal assistance, employment supports, and adult day programs. These agencies employ thousands of people statewide.

    A number of states including Hawai‘i, are investing resources to address the direct-care workforce crisis, essential to ensuring people have access to the services they need, especially on the neighbor islands. For example, because low wages make it very hard to recruit and retain the professionals who provide critical services, during the pandemic, many states increased payment rates and targeted those increases to apply to wages for direct-support professionals.
   “Our goal is to ensure the timely provision of quality services that truly make a difference in people’s lives,” said the DOH Director. “The support from the Governor and Legislature has been instrumental toward this shared goal.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students

Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.

          

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 21, 2023

A multistory home on Bamboo Lane in Ocean View burned Tuesday, valued at $525,000. See more below. Photo from HFD

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHELLE GALIMBA'S FIRST 100 DAYS SERVING KAʻŪ, VOLCANO AND SOUTH KONA is subject of her report issued Tuesday. It focuses on animal control, agriculture. the county waste system and its facilities, distribution of her contingency relief funds to organizations and projects in her district, and a mahalo to long time council staff member Dawn Manago who is retiring. Galimba wrote:

    Aloha! First of all, thank you again for putting your trust in me to represent you on the County Council. To be honest, my first 100 days have been about drinking from a fire-hose, climbing the steep learning curve and figuring out how to dog-paddle in the deep end! It has been exciting and challenging and I have

Michelle Galimba reports on 100 days in office
as a member of the County Council

had the opportunity to meet many wonderful, thoughtful people in our District 6 (Volcano, Kaʻū, and South Kona). Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me - I truly appreciate your input and thoughts, even if I cannot always act on all of them.
    Going in to this job my top three priorities were to learn about and work on addressing: animal control, agriculture, and our waste system/facilities.
    ANIMAL CONTROL: To provide some context for the animal control issue, for many, many years the animal control activities and humane services called for in Chapter 4 of the County Code were handled by the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society (HIHS) under an annual contract with the County of Hawai’i. In 2020, HIHS declined to bid on the contract. The contract was awarded briefly to Hawaiʻi Rainbow Rangers, before being taken back into the County under the auspices of the Police Department as a one year pilot project. In the ensuing year, an internal task force of the County, including Council-member Heather Kimball, former Council-member Tim Richards, and Council-member Cindy Evans were working on standing up a new agency in the County for the purpose of providing animal control - the County of Hawaiʻi Animal Control and Protection Agency. The Council recently completed the process of voting this agency into existence and providing for the necessary staffing and funding to BEGIN to address our animal control and humane services issues in this county.
        I have been specifically advocating for animal control services and an animal control facility in Kaʻū, which we have not been provided with for a very long time, if ever. This will be a small facility to hold animals temporarily to find their owners and/or transfer to the larger County facilities in Keaʻau or Kona, or on to partner non-profit animal shelters. The Council will continue to work on this issue, including updating Chapter 4 to reflect a more modern approach to animal control and humane services, and I will continue to remain engaged with this effort.

    AGRICULTURE: As many of you may know, agriculture is both my livelihood but also a passion.

County Council member Michelle
Galimba wants tax breaks on residential
property where people farm at home.

Being able to produce our own food has many benefits - from diversifying our economy, providing resilience in times of emergency such as the pandemic, creating jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities, and helping with climate change by decreasing the transportation of food using fossil fuels. It is also a rewarding way to make a living and maintains open space on our beautiful island. It is, to be sure, not the easiest way to make a living and it takes many years to get a farm to be profitable. However, I strongly believe that we can make it easier for our farmers and ranchers to be successful by providing strong public support for the public good that farmers and ranchers provide for all of us. I am beginning to reach out both within the County and to other stakeholders to begin to work on ways to help support agriculture in our County. In the near term, my colleague Council-member Holeka Inaba has a bill before the Council that will help our farmers by allowing them to get a home-owners exemption on their home if they also practice agriculture on the same parcel.
Council-member Heather Kimball and I are also introducing a bill that will create a real property tax program for sustainable agriculture production and focus the benefits of our existing real property tax program on farmers and ranchers producing for our communities.

    WASTE ON THE ISLAND: We have many daunting issues in relation to waste on our island; some of them include mandated cesspool conversions state-wide beginning in high-priority coastal areas; aging wastewater systems in Hilo and Kona; recycling and mulching programs; illegal dumping and abandoned vehicles, and not least the EPA-mandated closure of the plantation-era gang cesspools in Nāʻālehu and Pāhala. None of these issues can be resolved quickly but I will continue to work with the Department of Environmental Management, whose Deputy Director, Brenda Iokepa-Moses, is another Kaʻū girl and dear friend. One small but concrete accomplishment that Brenda and I worked on was ensuring that the HI-5 location at the Waiʻohinu transfer station is properly funded to provide refunds for our recycled cans and bottles. 

    I would also like to thank my colleague Council-member Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder for recently introducing the necessary legislation to set up a program addressing our abandoned vehicle problem with funding that had been available but un-usable the necessary legislation to direct the funds.

  CONTINGENCY FUNDS: In other notes, my office has had the pleasure and privilege to be able to supply contingency relief funds to the following non-profit organizations:
    Lions Club of Kona for repair and maintenance of Higashihara Park;
    Grass Roots Community Development Group for a skatepark at the Olaʻa County Park;

  Root & Rise for nature-based mental health and art programs;
    O Kaʻū Kakou for continued operation of the Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub;
    O Kaʻū Kakou for its Fun Fest and for Fourth of July celebrations;
    Vibrant Hawai’i for District 6 non-profit technical assistance;
    County of Hawaiʻi Parks & Recreation for renovation of the Volcano Statepark;
    County of Hawaiʻi Parks & Recreation for the proposed Ocean View Skatepark;
    Domestic Violence Hurts Families & Pets for educational activities;
    County of Hawaiʻi R&D to help farmers & gardeners fight coqui frog infestation.
    Finally, I would like to note that Dawn Manago, who has served as Legislative Assistant to Maile David for many years, and for a short but crucial period for myself, will be retiring on April 1. I want to thank Dawn for all she has done for our District. She will be sorely missed and if you have been helped by Dawn in the past, I hope you will reach out to her to wish her a happy retirement at dawn.manago@hawaiicounty.gov

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

Sixteen volunteer and county firefighters stopped the
fire that destroyed this house on Tuesday. Photo from HFC

AN OCEAN VIEW HOME VALUED AT $525,000 WAS LOST TO FIRE on Tuesday. Hawai'i Fire Department Captain Jason Robello reported that the 3,000 sq. ft. multi-level house with two detached carports was found engulfed in flames at 92-9107 Bamboo Lane. Eleven county and six volunteer firefighters responded and put out the fire just before 1 p.m. Residents escaped without injury. No injuries were reported among firefighters. Two county fire engines, two tankers and Medic 20 worked the scene, assisted with volunteer fire equipment.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

WAIKAPUNA MANAGEMENT PLAN PRESENTATION WITH FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY will take place through a zoom meeting, this Wednesday, March 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Log on at: www.zoom.com. Meeting ID: 894 9322 7063. Passcode: kau. Dial-in: (253) 215-8782 (Audio only). Meeting ID: 894 9322 7063. Passcode: 545091
    The 60-page Draft Plan, prepared for County of Hawai'i and Ala Kahakai Trail Association, which owns the 2,317 acres is available for review. See https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121424/Waikapuna%20Resources%20Management%20Plan_Public%20Review%20Draft_February%202023.pdf. The draft plan is prepared by Townscape, Inc., an Environmental Community Planning consultancy.

Waikapuna is owned by Ala Kakahai Trail Association,
with county oversight of its stewardship. 
Photo from Ala Kahakai Trail Association

    A hard copy of the draft plan is available at the Nāʻālehu Public Library and Pāhala Public Library. Comments on the draft plan may be submitted online or e-mailed to gabrielle@townscapeinc.com. Comments will be accepted until April 22.
    Gabrielle Sham, who is works with Townscape on the plan said, "Mahalo to everyone who provided manaʻo for the Waikapuna management plan for your time and effort."

    The Executive Summary describes the place, history and effort:

    Situated in the ahupua'a of Kahilipali'iki-Kahaea and Kahilipalinui in the district of Kaʻū on the island of Hawai'i is a treasured wahi pana (storied/legendary place) and wai kupuna (ancestral places) referred to as Waikapuna. It stretches for more than two miles makai of Nāʻālehu  town through challenging terrain to a remote coastline where one can immerse themselves in the natural beauty and elements. In the past, Waikapuna was a thriving fishing community until the devastating natural disasters of 1868.

    Today, Waikapuna remains a place known for its abundant marine resources. There are numerous intact cultural sites that provide a glimpse into what was once home to generations of Hawaiian

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
runs through Waikapuna. The land is
stewarded by the County and
Ala Kahakai Trail Association.

families, including one of three springs that remains there and the coastal Alloa (trail) which previously encircled the island. Native wiliwili trees rise up from Waikapuna Pali and the graceful noio can be found nesting among the tall sea cliffs. The coastal area provides food such as fish, limu, shellfish, and
salt for local families, as it did for those who lived in the village near the bay. The mauka areas are used by local ranchers, who have ranched the property for generations. Families trace their lineages to this place and enjoy spending time together here connecting with the 'aina and learning and perpetuating Hawaiian values and practices and local traditions important to the Kaʻū way of life."

    Waikapuna, similar to other large tracts of land on the  Kaʻū coastline, has been subjected to the threat of development over the years, which grew considerably after the closure of the sugar plantation in the late 1990s. In 2019 Ala Kahakai Trail Association, (ATA)," a non-profit organization, acquired the 2,317-acre parcel  (identified  as Tax Map Key 9-5-007:016) in fee-simple for conservation and places a conservation easement over the property to protect it from future development. ATA's interest in preserving these lands is to protect the ancient trail network including the surrounding cultural, historical and natural landscape by facilitating partnerships and creating community connections through stewardship and education.

     Funds raised from the Trust for Public Land; the State's Legacy Land Conservation Program, (LLCP); the County's Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund; and private donors were utilized to purchase the property.

    The County holds the  conservation easement over the property, which was acquired using funds from the County's Preservation Fund that is funded by two percent of the County's annual real property tax revenues. The conservation easement protects the property from future development.

    The purpose of this management plan is to guide stewardship actions and strategies to protect, preserve, and conserve the significant cultural, historical, and natural resources of Waikapuna for present and future generations. See the draft plan at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121424/Waikapuna%20Resources%20Management%20Plan_Public%20Review%20Draft_February%202023.pdf

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

U.S. PACIFIC REMOTE ISLANDS WATERS COULD BE NAMED A NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, under President Biden’s direction to the Secretary of Commerce to initiate their consideration. The action follows Hawai'i Congressman Ed Case’s calls since May 2022 in partnership with the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition and others, for maximum protection of U.S.-owned and

controlled waters surrounding the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands, including the Central Pacific atolls and reefs of Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Island; Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra Atoll; and Kingman Reef.                

    “These waters are among the last pristine marine environments on our Earth, and also the most fragile,” said Case, a member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife & Fisheries who, during his prior service in Congress (2002-2007), also advocated successfully for creation of today’s Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. “Our world’s oceans are at mortal risk, a breaking point precipitated by the unsustainable overfishing and other resource extraction, debris and landbased pollution, exacerbated and compounded by the devastating and pervasive marine effects of climate change.” 

    Case said: “The Pacific Remote Islands including their waters are not only a critical interlocking component of the broader Pacific marine ecosystem, but an integral part of the historical and cultural ties of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific as well as a key source of scientific knowledge on the preservation of a sustainable ocean environment. As a nation, we have a duty to ensure the long-term survival of the PRI’s ecological, scientific and cultural value. This process will do just that and will achieve the marine protection goals of President Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.” 

    Parts of U.S. Pacific Remote Islands waters were designated as a National Marine Monument by President Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Obama in 2014. Case, working with the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, has urged designation of all of the waters surrounding all of the PRIs to the full extent of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as a new Sanctuary, especially for the currently unprotected waters surrounding Howland and Baker Islands, Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef. The Coalition, which has been working toward expansion since 2014, says a Sanctuary designation would add some 265,000 square miles of highly protected waters, resulting in the creation of the world’s largest highly protected marine area (MPA) in national waters at some 777,000 square miles, an area larger than Alaska. 

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POLICE ARRESTED 19 FOR DUI FROM MARCH 13 - 19.Hawai'i Police Department made the arrests for
driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Five of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Two under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 230 DUI arrests compared with 249 during the same period last year, a decrease of 7.6 percent.
After a review of all updated crashes, HPD's Traffic Services Section found 204 major crashes so far this year compared to 157 during the same period last year, an increase of 29.9 percent.
To date, there have been four fatal crashes, resulting in five fatalities, (Rvsd. 02/07/23: one fatal crash reclassified—manner of death was due to natural causes) and (one fatal crash had multiple deaths); compared with eight fatal crashes, resulting in 10 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths) for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 50 percent for fatal crashes, and 50 percent for fatalities.
HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students

Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.

          

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, March 20, 2023

Red Hill Cabin has reopened along with the trail going there in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
NPS Photo

 RED HILL CABIN AND PART OF MAUNA LOA TRAIL ARE OPEN. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park made the announcement Monday about the reopening from the trailhead near Mauna Loa Lookout to Puʻuʻulaʻula (Red Hill).
    Mauna Loa Trail and the backcountry wilderness above Red Hill Cabin remain closed due to hazards from the eruption which started Nov. 27 and ended Dec. 10, 2022.
    Although USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory downgraded the status of Mauna Loa, the world's most massive volcano, to Green/Normal last week, serious hazards remain in closed areas particularly near recent flows and vents, including the following:
    Above Puʻuʻulaʻula, significant sections of trail and trail markers are covered in new lava, increasing the risk of getting lost.
    Thin layers of solidified lava can collapse if walked on causing lacerations or injury by falling into a cavity.
    Closed areas are in a remote, high-elevation location that often has poor weather and visibility, increasing the risk of getting lost and delayed response time by first responders
    Localized pockets of volcanic gas and particles may remain and present a danger to everyone. Face masks do not protect against gas or particles
    The Park reports: "The steep, 7.5-mile (12.1 km) hike from Mauna Lookout to Red Hill Cabin at the 10,035-ft (3,059 m) elevation "is not for everyone. Know your limits. Overnight use of Red Hill Cabin requires a backcountry permit. For more information, visit the park website."

Mauna Loa Trail to Red Hill Cabin has reopened. Photo from NPS

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A GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN FOR THE FAMILY OF THE LATE NELLIE SALMO DAVIS, of Nā'ālehu, who taught school in Kaʻū, danced hula, served her church and family with four children and her husband, is launched. See https://www.gofundme.com/f/nellie-salmo-davis Go und Me organizer Willma Roddy said that Nellie Salmo Davis, "gained her angel wings." She was in her early 40's, with three daughters, a son and her husband who runs his own plumbing business in Kaʻū. "In October, she found out that she had three brain tumors. In December, Nellie underwent brain surgery in Seattle with the full support of her family and friends but unfortunately, she suffered a stroke 

A Go Fund Me campaign is launched for the late Nellie Salmo Davis (center) for her four
children and husband. See https://www.gofundme.com/f/nellie-salmo-davis.

the next day. This amazing woman defied the odds and she continued to fight hard everyday, despite other complications that followed. Her fighting spirit and faith never wavered as she battled with every ounce of willpower and love till the end!
    "Nellie raised four beautiful children, ranging in ages 8-19 with her husband Kahula, along with countless other nephews and nieces who would also consider her a second mom. Her family poured our their love and generosity to so many people. She was the backbone for many of us and loved her family more than anything in this world!
    "For those of us who are blessed to have known Nellie, we truly are the lucky ones! She was an amazing teacher who inspired many students and staff with over 15 years of service to her community. "She gave her all to her students with unforgettable experiences like schools trips to Dolphin quest, Pacific Aviation Flight School, Fairbanks, Alaska, and more. She was active in church, taught religious education and also danced hula with Halau o Leionalani. Her goodness and compassion made her a beautiful person inside and out. Nellie welcomed everyone and had the most loving heart! Nellie and Kahula were always willing to help anyone in need without asking for anything in return.
    "We are sharing only a part of Nellie’s wonderful life story because she has touched so many lives. At this time, they now need our help. We humbly ask for and would appreciate any support that will go towards her medical bills and funeral costs. Nellie will be flown back home, reunited with her loved ones and be laid to rest in Nā'ālehu, Hawai’i.
    "We thank you for your support and prayers to comfort Nellie's family and friends during this difficult time. God bless!"Contribute at https://www.gofundme.com/f/nellie-salmo-davis

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HAWAI'I IS THE WORST STATE FOR DOCTORS TO PRACTICE MEDICINE according the WalletHub, which released its report on Monday. The study showed that the median physician's salary is

around $208,000 nationwide. Hawai'i ranked second lowest wage for physicians in the country when adjusted for housing. Washington, D.C. was worst.
    The top five places for Doctors to work are Montana, South Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The worst is Hawai'i, followed by Rhode Island, Alaska, New Jersey and District of Columbia. In a category called Opportunity & Competition, Hawai'i ranked dead last.
The data set ranges from the average annual wage of physicians to hospitals per capita to the quality of the public hospital system.
    See the complete list of rankings and more at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-doctors/11376.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students

Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.