Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015

Ka`u residents can join other volunteers in removing invasive Himalayan ginger along Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails on Saturday. The park waives entry fees on National Public Lands Day, and volunteers receive a free entry pass to use in the future.
See story below. Photo from NPS

A SAFE HOUSE FOR GIRLS, to open Oct. 1 in Pahala, was presented to residents at a meeting at Pahala Plantation House last night. The location is on `Ohi`a Street between Pikake and Kamani Streets in the former home of Alice and Goichi Furusho, now owned by retired San Jose dentist David Nye.
      Nye, who studies Hawaiian music and culture and visits the Islands frequently, said he is happy to provide a place for education and well being for young people.

Kawehi Ryder

      The safe house will be operated by Uhane Pohaku Na Moku O Hawai`i. Up to six girls at a time, 13 to 17 years of age, will live there for up to about six months at a time. Executive director will be Roxanne Costa, of Hilo, who will leave after more than 25 years working with the Salvation Army, 10 of them operating a safe house in Honoka`a, which the Salvation Army is no longer able to fund, she said.
      Costa is assisted by Pauline Pavao, longtime islandwide executive director of the Salvation Army, who retired this year and is consulting on the project.
      Staff members will include Kawehi and Debbie Ryder, of Pahala, who are founders of Uhane and have worked with challenged youth here, on O`ahu, Maui and Lana`i. President of the Uhane board is retired warden of Kulani Prison, Glen Hasashima.
      Hasashima told those who attended the meeting that helping young people at the youngest age can help to keep them out of the judicial system and prison and headed for productive lives in their communities. Organizers and supporters attending the meeting said that Ka`u, with all of its cultural and community resources, is a perfect place to help these girls.
      Costa said that many of the girls have had no stable home. Some are from the streets. “They need a home and direction,” she said. They will come from the Big Island, some from other islands and will be referred to the program by the courts. Some are runaways, some convicted of petty crimes. They will not be a danger to the community, the organizers promised. There will be two adults at all times with the girls. Costa said that four jobs will be created to fill these positions, a fifth to be a coordinator.
      Kawehi and Debbie Ryder will operate the outdoor work-study and Hawaiian cultural components of the program, which Kawehi described as farming, and possibly the care and restoration of a fishpond at Punalu`u. Debbie Ryder is a Kumu Hula.
      Funding of $500,000 a year comes from the state Office of Youth Services, and oversight is through the state Department of Human Services. The county Planning Department required a public gathering, organizers said.
      According to Costa, home schooling will be provided with computers in the house, hooked up to the distance learning program of Kua O Ka La Public Charter School.
      For more information, call Debbie or Kawehi Ryder at 315-7032.

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Maui Memorial Medical Center in one of several facilities
in HHSC's Maui Region.

IN A MOVE THAT COULD be a precursor of the future of health care in Ka`u and other regions of Hawai`i, Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation’s Maui Regional System Board has selected Kaiser Permanente to proceed with negotiations with the governor for the management, operation and provision of healthcare services at its facilities. HHSC’s Maui Region facilities were authorized to transfer operations to a new entity through Act 103, signed by Gov. David Ige in June. Act 103 authorized Maui Region to transfer its facilities to a new entity as a way to mitigate future budget deficits. Current budget estimates anticipate that deficits will continue to grow exponentially and potentially threaten services and jobs in Maui County. 

      “Kaiser Permanente provided us with its vision and strategy for improved healthcare in the Maui Region. We felt Kaiser Permanente could best serve the needs of our community,” HHSC Maui Regional System Board Chair Avery Chumbley said.
      Wesley Lo, CEO of HHSC Maui Region, said, “We have a responsibility to meet the healthcare needs of our community, and we believe this transition provides us the greatest path forward to continue doing this.”
      Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said the selection raises many questions and concerns, not only with the process for the selection, but also actions to be taken going forward in negotiating an agreement.
      “From all accounts, Hawai`i Pacific Health had been working with stakeholders for months and expressed interest in ensuring that the needs of the Maui Regional System and the community it serves would be met,” Tsutsui said. “Kaiser Permanente, however, only more recently expressed interest in servicing the community. It remains to be seen whether Kaiser possesses the same level of commitment to the well being of the residents of Maui County.”
      Tsutsu said greater transparency should take place as negotiations continue, “and the best interest for the people of Maui and the people of Hawai`i should be held at the highest level. …
      “I believe it is incumbent upon the governor to keep the people’s best interest in mind and consider halting negotiations, if necessary, and commit to providing the emergency funds needed for the state to keep the hospitals running until a proper deal can be negotiated.
      “I ask that all those involved in the negotiations remain mindful of what’s important for the people of Maui.”

Kiran Ahuja

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PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ADVISORY COMMISSION on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is in Hawai`i on a mission to better understand issues facing the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. 

      “We are excited about this historic visit,” said Kiran Ahuja, executive director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs. “Our goal is really to listen to the unique stories from local AAPI communities in Hawai`i, especially Native Hawaiians and Micronesian migrants, and to highlight issues that are often not seen in the national spotlight.”
      The initiative seeks to highlight both the unmet needs in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities as well as the dynamic community assets that can be leveraged to meet many of those needs. The initiative focuses on crosscutting priority areas that may reach across all issue areas and agencies, including, for example, advancing research, data collection, analysis and dissemination for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and ensuring access, especially linguistic access and cultural competence, for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and encouraging Asian American and Pacific Islander involvement in public service and civic engagement opportunities.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono

PRESIDENT OBAMA PLANS TO FAST-TRACK immigrant visas for the children of Filipino World War II veterans, allowing aging veterans, hundreds of whom live in Hawai`i, to be reunited and cared for by their families who can now legally immigrate.
      “I have worked with our past and current Hawai`i delegation to push for this exemption, and we thank President Obama for making this compassionate decision on behalf of Filipino veterans and their families,” Sen. Mazie Hirono said. “Many of these Filipino veterans have been waiting for decades – some nearly half a century – to see this dream come true. The visa system, particularly for immigrants from the Philippines, still faces huge backlogs, forcing many of these families to wait as many as 20 years to be reunited.
      “Think about that: 20 years of waiting. Our veterans and their families deserve better.
       “I’m so glad that President Obama took this action to help our Filipino World War II veterans and their families. The President has shown that he is willing to do the right thing despite our broken immigration system, and together we will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform in Congress.”
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Proposed land uses for Ka`u communities are on today's
Ka`u CDP Steering Committee meeting agenda.
Map from CDP background info

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets today at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Topics are shoreline setback policy, land use policy maps and “easy fixes” to the Draft CDP. The meeting is open to the community, and public testimony is welcome. 

      Background information prepared to inform and guide the meeting is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/september-22-2015-steering-committee-meeting-1.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK invites everyone to volunteer and help protect the native Hawaiian rainforest on National Public Lands Day this Saturday. Everyone gets in for free, and volunteers receive a free pass to use on another day of their choosing.
      National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States. HVNP is offering the Stewardship at the Summit program from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants meet volunteers Paul and Jane Field at Kilauea Visitor Center, then head into the forest to remove Himalayan ginger from the summit of Kilauea.

KMC holds an open house on Saturday, National Public Lands Day.
Photo from wikipedia

      For more information, see nps.gov/havo or call 985-6011.

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY on Saturday, Kilauea Military Camp in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers an open house. Park visitors can experience how KMC supports America’s troops by using its facilities and services.
      For more information, call 967-8371.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_September2015.pdf.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015

It's currently unclear if a tropical disturbance southeast of Hawai`i will strengthen or impact the islands. See story below.
Maps from Weather Underground

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: HOW MANY KA`U COFFEE FARMERS WILL KEEP THEIR FARMS? This is the subject of a public meeting this Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Called A Public Meeting for the Future of Coffee Growers, its purpose is to explain the 20-year history of the farmers who planted coffee for a new economic future when the sugar plantation shut down in 1996. The farmers said they also plan to talk about risks to their future land security, as the land is in escrow to be sold to a new owner.
      “In the past 20 years, small groups of farmers turned failed sugarcane plantations above Pahala into coffee farms – and revived the local economy with award-winning beans,” their flyer states.
      “Now it is unclear how many of these Ka‘u farmers can continue to tend to their fields.
      “A Colorado Company, Resource Land Holdings, has formed Ka‘u Mahi, LLC. It’s about to buy the land with these coffee farms – and our growers will face new challenge. Among other terms, Resource Land Holdings has proposed to:

• Raise rental rates, possibly to a price at which some farmers could be unable to continue; 
• Possibly take ownership of the coffee trees, which the farmers planted, many of them two decades ago.

      “The farmers ask the community: ‘If you care about Ka‘u coffee and its role in our community, please join us to discuss an economic analysis of these changes on our farmers, as well as recommendations for moving forward.’”

Many Ka`u Coffee growers face an uncertain future, with land where they planted trees in currently in escrow.

       Farmers are inviting government and non-government organization leaders and anyone interested in helping this industry that has brought economic success to Ka‘u Coffee-growing families and the Ka‘u community at large. For more information, contact Ka‘u Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba at 928-8558.

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Computer models show a tropical disturbance turning before reaching Hawai`i.

TROPICAL DISTURBANCE 96-C, which was located about 800 miles southeast of Hilo as of 8 a.m., is moving very slowly to the north-northwest. 

      The track and potential impacts of TD 96-C are extremely uncertain at this time, but National Weather Service reports show heavy thunderstorm activity with favorable conditions for organization of the system to take place sometime during the next one to four days. Probability of it become a tropical storm is 70 percent, according to NWS. While it is currently tracking in the direction of Hawai‘i, most computer models show it changing direction before reaching the islands.
      “We are working in tandem with NWS to keep a close watch on TD 96-C and are coordinating closely with local emergency management and civil defense agencies to ensure they are prepared for any potential impacts the storm may bring to our state,” Administrator of Emergency Management Vern Miyagi said. “The public should monitor media channels for the latest updates on storm development over the next several days.”
      NWS models indicate timing of any impacts affecting the state to arrive sometime early next week. Due to the close proximity to the state and high degree of uncertainty associated with TD 96-C, NWS will be tracking the storm very closely to provide the most up-to-date information to local emergency managers.
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Kathryn Matayoshi

HAWAI‘I DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION and Health are issuing detailed guidance to parents, schools and health aides in an effort to prevent heat illness as the state continues to face record high temperatures. 

      Letters will be sent home to parents providing recommendations to help students prepare for hot days. Schools will also receive guidance to identify heat illness-related symptoms and action steps should a student or staff member become ill.
      “It was important to collaborate with public health professionals to offer sound advice to schools on how to better deal with the extreme heat teachers and students have been experiencing in classrooms,” Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said.
      Dr. Virginia Pressler said, “The Department of Health is happy to have been able to provide expertise and assistance on developing this important guidance for teachers and students. We believe working together to better inform parents and school personnel will help prevent heat illness cases.”
      In addition to parent letters, posters that identify symptoms and treatments will be posted in every classroom, health room and school office.
      Since August, HIDOE has been working on emergency measures to help cool schools experiencing high temperatures due to the unusually hot weather. These measures include installation of portable air conditioners and electrical fans. Last week, HIDOE announced a partnership with Hawai‘i 3R’s to raise funds toward cooling schools. That effort is ongoing. Learn more at http://hawaii3rs.com/uncategorized/cool-schools-2015/.

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO TOOK to the Senate floor this week to speak in opposition to legislation that would restrict women’s health care. The Republican measure failed 54-42.

Sen. Mazie Hirono defended women's health care on the U.S. Senate floor.
Photo from Office of Sen. Hirono

      “Women should not be subjected to medically unnecessary, financially taxing, and just plain cruel treatment at the behest of Republican lawmakers,” Hirono said. “If my colleagues truly wanted to improve women’s health care, they would fund Title X programs, bolster the Maternal and Child Health Block grant and support the Affordable Care Act.
      “We have no business attempting to legislate a private, constitutionally protected right using unsubstantiated science and hyperbole. In fact, numerous courts have found similar laws by states to be unconstitutional.
       “We need to move on from these votes for show and get back to the real work of the Senate.
       “I am calling this bill what it is – an unnecessary, unwarranted, and likely unconstitutional intrusion into women’s private health care decisions.
      “Meanwhile, time is running out to reach an agreement to keep our government open, and we can’t afford another shutdown. We need to pass a clean Continuing Resolution.
       “I ask my colleagues to join me in focusing on legislation to improve the lives of every single American. “We need legislation that increases access to education, promotes job growth, strengthens our national security and keeps America vibrant.”

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The Enduring Wiliwili continues through Sunday, Oct. 4.

THE ENDURING WILIWILI continues at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The exhibit features artwork of Andrea Pro, Margaret Barnaby, Lisa Louise Adams, Kathy Molina and John McCaskill, who together make up the Pacific Island Printmakers. Wiliwili is one of Hawai`i’s threatened species, a flowering tree that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
      The Enduring Wiliwili is on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Oct. 4. Free; park entrance fees apply.
      For more information, call 967-7565.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO Uhane Pohaku Na Moku O Hawai‘i’s presentation of its vision for its work in Ka`u today at 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
     Debbie and Kawehi Ryder, of Pahala, are the Ka`u leaders of the nonprofit organization. Uhane Pohaku works with at-risk youth around the state, including growing and processing mamaki tea from Wood Valley.

      The organization also presents Ho`okupu Hula No Ka`u the annual cultural festival that attracts halau and Hawaiian musicians from around the state and Japan. This year it is on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, with a Mark Yamanaka performance and fundraiser Thursday, Oct. 1.

      For more information, call 315-7032.

One topic at tomorrow's Ka'u CDP Steering Committee meeting
is proposed land use policy maps. Map from Ka'u CDP

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Topics are shoreline setback policy, the land use policy map and “easy fixes” to the Draft CDP. The meeting is open to the community, and public testimony is welcome. 

      Background information prepared to inform and guide the meeting is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/september-22-2015-steering-committee-meeting-1.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_September2015.pdf.

Buy tote bags at Ka`u libraries.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015

Visitors admire the newly restored Herb Kane mural, A Pantheon of Volcano Spirits, in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's Jaggar Museum. See story below. NPS Photo by Stephen Geiger

REGENERATIVE AND DIVERSE AGRICULTURE in Hawai`i received the attention of all four U.S. legislators from Hawai`i when Hawai`i Farmers Union United recently went to Washington, D.C. The organization’s president Vince Mina reported that elected officials are excited about the “quality and quantity of nutrient rich food being available” for the Hawai`i community.

Vince Mina and his daughter Kahaulani
Photo by Julia Neal

      While in D.C., Mina chaired the National Regenerative Agriculture Local Food Committee meeting, hosting USDA and National Resources Conservation Services senior advisors to the director of agriculture. He also met with Elanor Starmer, USDA’s “Know Your Food, Know Your Farmer” initiative coordinator. Bianca Moebius Clune, of the newly formed Soil Health Division of NRCS, “gave inspired and enlightening reports on this growing trend in agriculture that has captured the imagination of millennials who are choosing agriculture as a career choice while also supporting us elder agriculturists with honing our skills in advocating for what will serve the best and highest interest of our farms and community,” Mina reported.

      Mina said, “Hawai`i is taking the lead in raising the awareness on a national level for future support of programs on a local level in alignment to our mission and goals.”
      HFUU presents its first annual Natural Farming Syposium Oct. 1 – 3 at UH-Manoa’s Komohana Research & Extension Center in Hilo.
      Email easthawaii@hfuuhi.org to register.
      For more on the local chapter of Hawai`i Farmers Union United, call Pres. Greg Smith, of Earth Matters Farm, at 939-7510. See the statewide website at http://hfuuhi.org.

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A COLORFUL WALL MURAL of Hawaiian deities painted by Herb Kawainui Kane has been restored at Jaggar Museum in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Thanks to an $8,000 grant by Tourism Cares, a $1,600 donation and 32 hours of service by the nonprofit Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, the artwork titled A Pantheon of Volcano Spirits is once again bright and colorful. The mural depicts volcano goddess Pelehonuamea, her brother and shark god Kamohoali`i, rival demigod Kamapua`a and other Hawaiian deities affiliated with volcanoes.
      The mural captivates millions of park visitors who visit Jaggar Museum.
      The mission of Tourism Cares is to preserve and enhance the travel experience for future generations. FHVNP’s mission is to support the park in the protection, preservation and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

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A grant will provide solar power and a potable water system
for Native Hawaiian residents of Miloli`i.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

NATIVE HAWAIIAN RESIDENTS of Miloli`i will soon have solar power for electricity, refrigeration and cooking and a solar distillation kit to procure safe drinking water. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week awarded one of nine High Energy Cost grants to help reduce energy costs for residents in remote rural areas where the cost of producing electricity is extremely high. 

      The nonprofit Heritage Ranch, Inc. received $896,450 to provide equipment and technical assistance for a solar energy network that will serve 255 native Hawaiians in Miloli`i. The community has no utility-provided electricity and no potable water. Residents pay high rates to have fuel and water delivered.
      “The High Energy Cost Grant Program is one more approach USDA is taking to deliver cleaner, more cost-effective energy sources across the country,” Vilsack said. “Energy conservation programs like this help improve the environment by reducing carbon emissions and the use of fossil fuels. In addition, when businesses and families spend less on fuel and electricity, they have more money to invest in local businesses. The grants we are announcing today will help create jobs and benefit entire rural communities.”

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Ope`ape`a migrated from North America to Hawai`i.
Photo from Forest and Kim Starr

BATS MIGRATED TO HAWAI`I from North America at least twice in the last 10,000 years. While isolated in the archipelago, the flying mammal became the Hawaiian hoary bat, the ope`ape`a. These are among the findings that researchers Kristina Montoya-Aiona and Corinna Pinzari are presenting on the endangered species and newly anointed official land mammal for the state. 

      The presentation takes place at 7 p.m. at Lyman Museum in Hilo next Monday.
      According to the researchers, recent studies in bat genetics are opening the doors to better understand the Hawaiian bat.
      Montoya-Aiona will introduce the basics of bat biology, ecology and behavior across the islands. Pinzari will share the latest findings. Both work with the Hawai`i Cooperative Studies Unit/USGS Kilauea Field Station.
      Lyman Museum is at 276 Haili St. and open 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday. For information, call 935-5021 or see www.lymanmuseum.org.

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THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS has awarded $2,118,174 in two grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program to help curb veterans’ homelessness in Hawai`i. 

      “Today, far too many veterans are living on the streets while struggling to find affordable housing,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Our commitment to those brave men and women in uniform does not end when they separate from the military. We have to continue to fight on their behalf so that when they come home, they come home to a roof over their heads. These funds will help those homeless veterans find a path toward stable housing.”
       Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “As we address the serious issue of homelessness, it is imperative that we keep our commitment to helping our service members and families in need. Partnerships between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, including the SSVF grant program, are critical to addressing the challenges that veterans and their families face in finding a stable home. SSVF is one of our greatest tools in the effort to end veteran homelessness.”
       The grants are awarded under the SSVF program, which supports outreach, case management and other flexible assistance to prevent Veteran homelessness or rapidly re-house Veterans who become homeless. The grants awarded to Hawai`i were a part of a $300 million renewal of crucial services throughout the country.

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TODAY IS NATIONAL VOTER Registration Day. Ka`u residents can register online at https://olvr.hawaii.gov, by mailing a completed Wikiwiki Voter Registration to the County Clerk’s office or in person at the County Clerk’s office. 

      “Voter participation in Hawai`i has been declining since 1959, and in the last few elections, our voter participation rates have been among the lowest in the country, with just half of registered voters actually turning out to vote,” U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said. “Our nation is founded on the principles of an active, engaged democracy, and we are at our best when the diverse voices of our nation are heard through our citizens exercising their right to vote.
      

“As President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, ‘Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves, and the only way they could do this is by not voting.’”
       For more information on registering and voting in Hawai`i, see www.hawaii.gov/elections or call the Voter Hotline at 1-800-442-VOTE (8683).

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WE THE POWERFUL WORKSHOPS are coming to Ka`u next month. On Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center and from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, Keanu Young, assistant coordinator of Hawai`i State Legislature’s Public Access Room, explains how to influence state laws. PAR is the Legislature’s non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau. 

      Topics covered include tips and techniques on effective lobbying, testimony and communicating with legislators. Young explains the legislative process, deadlines and power dynamics. He also describes easy to use tools available on the Legislature’s website, capitol.hawaii.gov.
      For more information and to register (helpful but not required) call 974-4000, ext. 7-0478 or email par@capitol.hawaii.gov.

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`Ohe kapala demostrations take place tomorrow.
Photo from NPS

RANGERS SHARE THE TRADITIONAL ART of `ohe kapala, bamboo stamping, tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply. 

      For more information, call 985-6011.

UHANE POHAKU NA MOKU O HAWAI`I will hold a community meeting on its vision for its work in Ka`u. The meeting is tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.

      The Ka`u leaders of the nonprofit organization are Debbie and Kawehi Ryder, of Pahala. Among the organization’s activities in Ka`u are an annual cultural festival, Ho`okupu Hula No Ka`u, which attracts halau and Hawaiian musicians from around the state and Japan. This year it will be on Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3, with a Mark Yamanaka performance and fundraiser Thursday, Oct. 1 to start off the festival.

      Uhane also works with at-risk youth around the state, including growing and processing mamaki tea from Wood Valley.

      For more information, call 315-7032.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meeting will be held this Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Topics will be shoreline setback policy, the land use policy map and “easy fixes” to the Draft CDP. The meeting is open to the community, and public testimony is welcome.
      Background information prepared to inform and guide the meeting is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/september-22-2015-steering-committee-meeting-1.
      A meeting originally scheduled for today at Na`alehu Community Center to make final recommendations for CDP revisions and adoption has been moved to Tuesday, Oct. 27.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_September2015.pdf

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