Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Oct. 12, 2015

Fossilized lava trees in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park are part of Hawai`i's fossil history, the topic of tomorrow's After Dark in the Park program. See details below. NPS Photo by Janice Wei

HOW MUCH SHOULD THE STATE PROVIDE to Department of Hawaiian Homelands for their administrative and operational costs? That’s the subject of a story by Sophie Cocke in Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Cocke reports that, according to Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Shin, the amount is $5 million per year. She said Shin based his figure on estimates provided by state Constitutional Convention delegates in 1978, adjusted for inflation.

Doug Chin

      DHHL, however, asked for $28 million per year. According to Cocke, the agency said $5 million doesn’t even cover staffing, and DHHL’s needs have increase since the convention.
      DHHL Director Jobie Masagatani said, “We, as a state, not just DHHL, we as a state accepted this responsibility to administer this program in the best interest of beneficiaries.”
      In Ka`u, DHHL administers lands at Punalu`u mauka, Wai`ohinu and Ka Lae, as well as more than 40 lots in Discovery Harbour. The department is also working on water for South Point residents and ranchers, management of Ka Lae’s archaeological and historic sites as well as recreational areas and environmentally sensitive coastal areas.
      There are currently more than 27,000 Native Hawaiians waiting for homestead plots that include residential, agricultural and pastoral parcels, according to DHHL.
      See staradvertiser.com.
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KA`U’S STATE REP. RICHARD ONISHI, vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee, is one of two lawmakers who rejected Hawai`i Center for Food Safety’s request for correspondence between them and biotech companies or groups representing their interests, Anita Hofschneider reported in Civil Beat.

Rep. Richard Onishi

      According to Hofschneider, Onishi and Ag Committee Chair Clift Tsuji both said they didn’t release the files in part because the “documents are part of legislator’s personal files and/or predecisional in nature.”
      The story says three other lawmakers have supplied such requested communications to the nonprofit, but did not name them.
      See civilbeat.com.
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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientists review earthquakes and earthquake safety in the current issue of Volcano Watch. Thursday, Oct. 15 marks the ninth anniversary of Hawai`i’s two most recent damaging earthquakes. That day also is the third annual Great Hawaii ShakeOut.

      “On Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006 at 7:07 a.m., Hawaiian Standard Time,” the article states, “a magnitude-6.7 earthquake, centered deep beneath Kiholo Bay off the northwest coast of the Island of Hawai`i, shook many residents awake. It was followed minutes later by a magnitude-6.0 earthquake centered nine kilometers (5.6 mi) off the island’s North Kohala coast.
      “Damage from these earthquakes was heaviest in the North Kona and Kohala Districts on Hawai`i Island, but impacts were felt across the state, notably with an extended power outage on O`ahu.
      “Fortunately, no lives were lost as a result of these earthquakes. Had the earthquakes occurred on a different day of the week, when many people would have been on their way to —or already at — work or school, the outcome might have been much different.
      “From a financial viewpoint, estimated damages from post-earthquake assessments amounted to at least $200 million. Though the October 2006 earthquakes were not the largest ever experienced in Hawai`i, they resulted in the greatest earthquake-related financial losses in Hawai`i’s history by far. With continued development and population growth, we can expect future earthquake losses to escalate.
      “As we learned in 2006, moderately large earthquakes can be very costly and seriously impact much, if not all, of the state.

An HVO staff member demonstrates earthquake safety. Photo from USGS

      “At a societal level, we brace against damaging earthquakes with zoning, building codes and building practices. We use experiences and observations from historical events, combined with the best available technical tools and capabilities, to avoid catastrophic structural failures resulting from earthquakes. Over the years, building codes in the United States have been modernized and upgraded to the point that the likelihood of structural collapse is now considered quite low.
      “The collective experiences from 2006 highlighted the particular vulnerability of the post-and-pier type construction that is quite common in Hawai`i’s communities. Inspections that were conducted to determine if homes were safe to reoccupy after the earthquakes led to a series of projects that focused on the seismic performance of post-and-pier construction.

      “After an inventory was compiled, a structural engineering team developed retrofit strategies and specifications for strengthening post-and-pier homes. With this engineering information, a software team created a “Retrofit Expert System” (hilo.hawaii.edu/~nathazexpert/expertsystem/flash_path_fix.php) for homeowners to develop appropriate retrofit designs and procure materials and hardware for their home seismic retrofits.

      “Home retrofits are an example of what can be done at an individual level, well in advance of an earthquake, to protect our families during strong earthquakes. It is also important to know exactly what to do when the shaking starts.
      “Emergency managers, planners and researchers now largely agree that ‘Drop! Cover! Hold On!’ is the appropriate strategy to reduce injury, or prevent death, during large, damaging earthquakes. This was borne out in 2006 by the extent of nonstructural damage, like fallen ceiling panels and fixtures and toppled cabinets and shelves, noted in the post-Kiholo Bay earthquake damage surveys.

      “Because we cannot know how strong an earthquake will be at its onset, DROP to the ground any time you feel shaking. COVER your head and neck, and take shelter under a sturdy object, like a desk or table. Then HOLD ON to your shelter until the shaking stops. If there is no nearby sturdy shelter, drop to the floor and protect your head and neck. If possible, crawl to an inside corner of the room and be ready to move, if necessary.
      “ShakeOut, first conducted in California in 2008, is now a global earthquake awareness and preparedness exercise. As of this week, almost 40 million participants are registered in worldwide events.
      “There’s still time to join the more than 240,000 Hawai`i residents now registered for the Great Hawai`i ShakeOut that takes place at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. In your home and workplace, identify sturdy objects that you can shelter under and then practice Drop! Cover! and Hold on! This will speed up your reaction time when the need to protect yourself during an earthquake is real.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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After turning north, Nora is forecast to again head west and remain
south of Hawai`i Island. Map from NOAA

TROPICAL STORM NORA is zigzagging its way across the Central Pacific. At 11 a.m., it was 735 miles southeast of South Point. While this morning’s forecast shows a turn toward the south of Hawai`i by Friday morning, it also predicts that the storm will continue to lose strength before arriving in the vicinity of Hawai`i.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

BONE UP ON THE FASCINATING fossil history of Hawai`i for National Fossil Day. Although Hawai`i didn’t have dinosaurs, the fossils of Hawai`i are protected in its national parks and include human footprints in volcanic ash, extinct birds and trees entombed by lava flows. Fossil expert Joe Iacuzzo, of the Ka`u Learning Academy, and anthropologist Mark Sledziewski share their expertise on the fossils of Hawai`i and other incredible fossil discoveries from around the world – including dinosaurs. Bring the keiki.
      The free program, part of Hawai`i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park series begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
      Park entrance fees apply. Call 985-6011 for more information.

The final day of sugar in Ka`u is the subject of a film to be screened
at Pahala Plantation Days. Image fro `ulu`ulu

KA`U SUGAR: A TOWN REMEMBERS is one of several films to be screened during Ka`u Plantation Days this Saturday at Pahala Plantation House. The film, which aired on PBS Hawai`i after the mill closed on March 27, 1996, chronicles the last day of work in Pahala. It features interviews with former sugar workers Eddie Andrade, Iwao Yonemitsu and many, many others.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN TAKE A Walk into the Past tomorrow and every other Tuesday. Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The programs begin at Kilauea Visitor Center and travel to Whitney Vault near Volcano House in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 985-6011.

KA`U PLANTATION DAYS final organizing meeting is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
      For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.

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

For Affordable Computer Help, call John Derry at 936-1872.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directo4\ry2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015

Tropical Storm Nora, southeast of Hawai`i Island, will turn north before becoming a hurricane, forecasters say. Map from NOAA

HAWAI`I HEALTH CARE professionals disagree about recently announced insurance rate increases for 2016 Affordable Care Act individuals and small groups. Some rates are going up by as much as 34 percent.

      “It’s a mistake. It’s very shortsighted to raise premiums excessively right now," Jeff Kissel, executive director of the Hawai`i Health Connector, told Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Kristen Consillio. “It’s really targeted at the working class. It’s a huge burden on them, and I don’t think it’s fair.”

Information about health insurance plans is available at healthcare.gov.

      According to Consillio, individuals not covered by an employer and those whose incomes are too high to qualify for Affordable Care Act subsidies or Medicaid are the most affected. Early retirees who are not yet 65 are also affected because they are not eligible for Medicare.
      “The average worker is suffering the rate increase a lot more than the person who is receiving subsidized health care,” Kissel told Consillio. “For the 39 percent who don’t (qualify for subsidies), they’re paying the full amount of the increase, and they don’t get a tax deduction. When you look at normal people who aren’t able to have employer-paid insurance and aren’t eligible for subsidies, it’s going to be more of a challenge for normal middle-class people to afford it.”
      A Health and Human Services spokesman who asked not to be further identified told Consillio that Affordable Care Act plans have more benefits and the program has helped many more people have insurance.
      “Prior to the Affordable Care Act, we lived in a world where double-digit premium increases were the norm, and that was often for inferior policies and policies that charged a higher premium or denied coverage to consumers entirely due to a pre-existing condition,” the HHS spokesman said. “The Affordable Care Act overhauled the way insurance companies treat consumers by requiring insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions, ending discrimination based on gender and allowing only limited variation in premiums based on age.

      “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, all Americans can shop around for the best deal on the marketplace regardless of their medical history.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
      Information about health insurance plans is available at healthcare.gov.

      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

CAMPING ON MAUNA KEA CONTINUES to be prohibited. As a follow-up to Friday’s court decision invalidating the emergency rule prohibiting overnight presence along the upper Mauna Kea road corridor, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources reminds people that camping in forest reserves and public hunting areas without a permit remains illegal under Hawai`i Administrative Rules. 

      Additional rules pertaining to activities in all state forest reserves and public hunting areas include using motor vehicles without due caution for the rights or safety of others or in a manner that endangers any person or property; camping or residing or any construction, improvement or occupancy or use of any structure within a forest reserve without a written permit from the State Board of Land and Natural Resources; damage or disturbance of any property of improvement; and disorderly conduct that creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which is not performed under any authorized license or permit.
      In Natural Area Reserves on Mauna Kea and elsewhere, Hawai`i Administrative Rules prohibit the removal, damage or disturbance of any geological or paleontologic features or substances.
      DLNR stated that it will continue to enforce these regulations.
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TROPICAL STORM NORA was 930 miles east-southeast of South Point and moving west as of 11 a.m. Although it continues to strengthen and is forecast to become a hurricane late today, forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center expect Nora to turn north, then northeast, with Hawai`i several hundred miles away from its path.

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ASTRONOMER LEW COOK DESCRIBES stars and constellations visible this month in Stars Over Ka`u, his monthly contribution to The Ka`u Calendar.

      “Venus is a morning star and can easily be seen before sunrise, after it rises just after 3 a.m. on Oct. 15,” Cook wrote. “Mars is in Leo, too, but is far from the Earth in the constellation Leo. Jupiter also is in Leo and won’t make its face seen before 3:30 a.m. On the morning of Oct.15, Jupiter and Mars form a cute little triangle with Chi Leo, a fourth-magnitude star, and continues on the mornings of Oct. 18 and 19. But you must get up early to see them, between 4 a.m. and morning twilight.
      “All three of these planets get together near each other near the end of the month (but not as close together as Mars and Jupiter on Oct. 18) Then they will be about six degrees apart, while on Oct. 18 Mars and Jupiter are about half a degree apart. Saturn is up in the west as it gets dark but sets around 8 p.m.
      “Some of the constellations may be new to some of you; for example, Camelopardalis, a faint tracing of stars in the northeast. This is a giraffe, possibly watching out for Leo, the lion. Leo won’t rise for hours and is probably distracted by the antics of Mars, Venus and Jupiter around its feet. There’s also a ram (Aries), a bull (Taurus), a whale (Cetus), two fish on a stringer (Pisces), one fish swimming freely (Pisces Australis) and an old goat (Capricorn). The flying critters are busy flapping or soaring across the sky. There’s Cygnus the swan that has been gliding, or soaring, across the sky since summer, along with the eagle, Aquila.
      “There’s also the crane, Grus, taking off upwards. Meanwhile, the toucan sits blithely by watching from his perch while the phoenix rises from its ashes. Meanwhile, the flying horse, named Pegasus, flies overhead.
      “There are people, too. Remember Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus? Their daughter Andromeda was to be sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus, but Perseus had other plans. In Greek mythology, there was a monster, Medusa. Just looking at Medusa’s head would turn any mortal being to stone. Averting his gaze, Perseus used his golden sword to slice off Medusa’s head. Keeping his gaze from the severed head, which retained its power, he showed it to Cetus, turning the monster to stone. Then, he rescued Andromeda, who married him.
      “There are other people shown in the sky, too. There is the Sculptor who may be looking for his lost triangle; it is north of Aries, the Charioteer Auriga, the departing hero Hercules and old dependable Aquarius, the water carrier. Is the river Eridanus the source of his water, or is what he spills its source?
      “Taurus is rising in the east, and the Pleiades are easily visible. Take a look with your telescopes or binoculars. Don’t the Pleiades look spectacular? Do remember to take a look at the Great Nebula in Andromeda, M31.”
      See kaucalendar.com.

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KA`U CROSS COUNTRY runner Chloe Gan bested more than half of the 60 female competitors at yesterday’s cross country high school meet at Kea`au. The Trojan earned a time of 24 minutes and 48.86 seconds.

        Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL TROJANS’ eight-man football team kept the score close in the first half last night, but Kohala revved up in the second half to close out 27-6. Ikaika Salmo-Grace intercepted the ball and scored Ka`u’s one touchdown in the second quarter.
      Kohala takes this years eight-man football title for Hawai`i Island high schools. Last year, Ka`u won the title.
    Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

THE 28TH ANNUAL TRASH ART SHOW, Hawai`i Artists Recycle! is currently on display at the Hawai`i Museum of Contemporary Art at 141 Kalakaua Street in Hilo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Ira Ono, at right, hosts the Trash Art Show.
Photo from Volcano Garden Arts

      The Trash Art Show brings a heightened awareness of responsibility to protect and honor the Earth through recycling. 

      The museum is free and open to the public (donations are gladly accepted) and is sponsored by the East Hawai`i Cultural Council and Recycle Hawai`i.

       “I would like to personally invite you to view the show,” said host Ira Ono, who is considered the father of recycled art in the state and juror to many of the recycled art shows throughout Hawai`i. Ono is proprietor of Volcano Garden Arts in Volcano Village.

SENIOR ID CARDS ARE AVAILABLE tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. Jude Church in Ocean View. Call 928-3100 for more information.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life this and every other Tuesday. A Walk into the Past programs at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. begin at Kilauea Visitor Center and travel to Whitney Vault near Volcano House in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 985-6011.

KA`U PLANTATION DAYS final organizing meeting is Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House, which is the venue for the event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

      For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740

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

For Affordable Computer Help, call John Derry at 936-1872.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015

Volcanic features from 1868 eruptive fissures are some of the highlights of a guided hike tomorrow at Kahuku. See details below.
NPS Photo by David Boyle

MAKAI PASTURE LANDS BEING PURCHASED at Waikapuna by Colorado-based Resource Land Holdings should be subdivided for ranching, according to Jim McCully, who is described as a partner with RLH and is in the profession of subdividing land.

Buyers are considering subdividing portions of Waikapuna
into 50- to 200-acre ranching parcels.

      McCully told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, that the land could support ranches from 50 to 200 acres in size. He also suggested that a feed lot could be built there “to finish and add value to beef,” Yager reported.
      According to Joel LaPinta, the local representative of Kennedy Wilson, which is marketing the parcels owned by Lehman Brothers, local ranchers have expressed interest in the property.
      Yager also reported that McCully said portions of Waikapuna on the Ka`u Coast contain sensitive archaeological areas “that should be protected under Nature Conservancy easements.”

      See westhawaiitoday.com.

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Danger of falling trees has closed Namakanipaio Campground.
Photo from hawaiivolcanohouse.com

NAMAKANIPAIO CAMPGROUND and cabins in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park are closed until further notice due to several large and hazardous eucalyptus trees that recently fell. Recent heavy rain and strong winds contributed to the downing of the trees. 

      The park and Hawai`i Volcanoes Lodge Company, LLC, which manages the campground and cabins, are completing an assessment and will determine when the campground can safely reopen.
       Kulanaokuaiki Campground remains open on a first-come, first-served basis and is currently free of charge. Reservations are not required for Kulanaokuaiki. The backcountry campgrounds along the coast, at Napau Crater Overlook, Pepeiao and on Mauna Loa remain open, and backpackers can obtain backcountry permits at the Visitor Emergency Operations Center up to 24 hours in advance. The backcountry office is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
       “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause for park visitors and the community who enjoy Namakanipaio,” Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said. “Safety is our number one priority in the park, and we do not want anyone to get hurt.”

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Keola Awong

KEOLA AWONG IS THE NEW SITE MANAGER for the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. She will oversee staff and visitor programs in the 116,000-acre unit, which is open to the public on weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

      Awong has served as the park’s cultural anthropologist since 2005 and will continue to serve as the park’s liaison to the native Hawaiian community. She holds a Master of Arts degree in American Studies and graduate certificates in Museum Studies and Historic Preservation from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a minor in Hawaiian studies from UH-Hilo. She began her career in the national park as a fee collector in 1999. 

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HEALTH INSURANCE RATES ARE INCREASING for 2016 Affordable Care Act individuals and small groups.
      Rate changes approved by Hawai`i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Insurance Division for 2016 vary by plan type. The rates are expected to affect approximately 34,000 individuals currently purchasing health insurance on their own through the ACA marketplace. Small group rates apply to plans for businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
      “We were extremely concerned by the requested increases by insurers for 2016 ACA individual plans,” Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito said. “Nobody likes to see prices go up for the individual consumer. However, upon close review of the carriers’ expenses, benefits paid and other considerations, our rate analysts and actuaries found premium increases were necessary for the carriers to cover their costs, enabling them to continue to pay their customers’ claims.”

Hawai`i DCCA has approved health insurance rate increases.
Chart from DCCA

      The Insurance Division found several reasons for the 2016 rate increases. These factors were “pent up demand” for services sought by previously uninsured individuals, transitional plans and previously low penalties for ignoring ACA’s individual mandate keeping healthy populations out of the marketplace, high cost specialty drugs and ACA taxes and fees.
      A 2015 report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services showed average Hawai`i health premiums for individual ACA plans are among the lowest nationwide. At an average cost of $289.64, before marketplace tax credits or subsidies, Hawai`i was the 45th state in terms of average monthly premiums. By contrast, average monthly premiums in the most expensive state to purchase health insurance in were $522.73.
      Individuals and small businesses are encouraged to review and understand the offered ACA plans and to check their eligibility for premium tax credits prior to the open enrollment for individuals on Nov. 1, 2015.

A hale at right, erected by Thirty Meter Telescope opponents,
still stands near Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station.
Photo from MKVIS

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HAWAI`I’S THIRD CIRCUIT COURT invalidated the Mauna Kea emergency rule that restricted access from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The state Department of Land & Natural Resources adopted the rule, and Gov. David Ige signed it, in July. The action followed blockades on the summit access road by people and rocks placed to restrict access by crews attempting to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Fourteen people have been arrested for violating the rule since its implementation.

      “The state acknowledges the court’s decision and will abide by it,” Attorney General Douglas Chin and DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said in a statement. “We remind people traveling to Mauna Kea that even in light of today’s ruling, existing laws and rules remain. It is always illegal to block the road. This includes standing in the road or placing obstructions in the road. These laws will continue to be enforced.”
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

Tropical Storm Nora, heading west, is forecast to turn north
before reaching Hawai`i. Map from NOAA

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER in Miami, Florida is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Nora, located about 1,310 miles east-southeast of Hilo at 8 a.m. Nora is expected to cross the 140 west longitude into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s area of responsibility this evening. Nora is expected to turn north and northeast, well east of the Hawaiian Islands.
      Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ALERT the public about apparent lottery scams that have resurfaced.
      A Hilo resident received a letter from the “International Lotto Commission,” which purported to originate from Madrid, Spain. It claimed the recipient had won more than $4.5 million in a lottery held by the “The World Lottery.”
      The letter and variations of it request that in order for the winner to receive payment, either a processing fee must be sent to a “security company” in Spain or the winner should contact the lottery agent and provide financial account information so the funds can be deposited.
      Similar scams proliferate via the Internet, through emails and on social networking sites and have become a more effective attempt by criminals in victimizing unwary individuals because of their far-reaching impact.
      “While people are becoming more aware of these scams and are more vigilant in prevention from becoming a victim, there are those unsuspecting individuals who still fall prey to these scams,” said Lieutenant Gregory Esteban, from the Police Department’s Area I Criminal Investigations Section. “If anyone receives an unsolicited letter or email that promises them a financial award in exchange for disclosing personal financial information, do not send any money or respond.” Instead, intended victims should call the Police Department non-emergency line at 935-3311.

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Support Friends of the Ka`u Libraries by purchasing tote
bags, books, T-shirts and baked goods next Saturday.
Photo from FKL

FRIEND OF THE KA`U LIBRARIES are planning their booth at Ka`u Plantation Days to be held a week from today on Saturday, Oct. 17. They will be selling books, baked goods, FKL T-shirts and tote bags. “We welcome donations of baked goods and volunteers to help that day,” President Ann Fontes said. Drop off baked items Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. to ready when the parade ends around 9:15 a.m. 

      Members are needed to march in the parade, which starts at Pahala Community Center. Members should wear their Friends T-shirt. They can call Doris Davis at 928-0919 to purchase one. Meet at Pahala Community Center at 8:30 a.m.
      Volunteers are also needed the day of the sale for set-up from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.; sales shifts, 9 – 10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 12 – 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. on; and take down, including sorting and packing unsold books.
      Baked goods must be packaged, with nuts and fruits listed for individuals who may have food allergies.
      For additional information, call Fontes at 987-7448.

A GUIDED HIKE OF PALM TRAIL takes place tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The trail is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views that the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has to offer. Highlights include relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures.

      Free. Call 985-6011 for more information.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park take their monthly Sunday Walk in the Park tomorrow from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Nick Shema guides this walk exploring the park’s summit. Free for Friends members; non-members can join in order to participate. Registration is required at admin@fhvnp.org or 985-7373.

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

For Affordable Computer Help, call John Derry at 936-1872.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_October2015.pdf.