The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Monday, March 14, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, March 14, 2016

A proposed Hawai`i County Department of Agriculture would support diverse ag endeavors on the island. Photo from The Kohala Center

HAWAI`I COUNTY WOULD ESTABLISH a Department of Agriculture under a bill to be considered Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. by the County Council’s Committee on Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability. Kohala’s council member Margaret Wille introduced Bill 163, which states that the department would consist of a director, a commission and necessary staff.

Marget Wille proposes a
county Ag Department

According to the bill, “It is declared to be the policy of the county to support policies and practices that promote agricultural self-sufficiency, protect and preserve the indigenous heritage of agricultural resources and promote family farms and community cooperatives necessary to promote food security on Hawai`i island.”

The bill calls for the department director to have a minimum of three years of experience in the fields of both conventional and organic agriculture, a degree in agriculture and a minimum of three years in an
administrative capacity.
The Agriculture Commission would consist of nine members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council. Each council district would have one member. The commission would advise the department on issues related to functions of the department and exercise any other powers related to the functions of the department that may be delegated to it by ordinance.
Additional committee meetings on Wednesday are Planning, at 9 a.m.; Public Works and Parks & Recreation, 9:15 a.m.; and Finance, 10:15 a.m. The full council meets at 1 p.m.
Ka`u residents can participate in the meetings to be held at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Teleconferencing, whereby residents can provide testimony without traveling to Kona, is available at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meetings are also streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DURING ITS CENTENNIAL YEAR, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is showing sister park movies for free to raise awareness of the other national parks in Hawai`i and the Pacific Islands– which also marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Kalaupapa National Historic Park is the topic of a film
to be screened this week. NPS Photo by Tylor Tanaka

The Find Your Park on the Big Screen series kicks off this Friday, March 18 with The Soul of Kalaupapa: Voices of Exile, a 52-minute film by Fred E. Woods. Viewers discover what life was like for patients and residents of Kalaupapa, removed from their families because of the fear and stigma of leprosy, also know as Hansen’s disease.

Today, Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Moloka`i shares the history and culture of the people and places of Kalaupapa’s past.

On Friday, May 20, learn the significance of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, established in 1978 as a tribute to those who fought and died during the Pacific Theater of World War II. The 30-minute film, Liberating Guam: The U.S. Comes Back, reveals the aggressive Japanese expansion into the Pacific region during the war. Due to its graphic nature, the film may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Pu`uhonua o Honaunau is where ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers and defeated warriors once found sanctuary. Today, the park provides a sanctuary for Hawaiian culture. Hawai`i Volcanoes invites everyone to watch two films that highlight Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on Friday, June 17, the eve of the park’s festival: John Grabowska’s 16-minute film Pu`uhonua o Honaunau: Place of Refuge and Brad Watanabe’s 12-minute documentary HiStory: Hawai`i Island’s National Parks.
Maui’s Haleakala, and Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes on Hawai`i Island, were once the same park - Hawai`i National Park. Discover Haleakala National Park in the 51-minute film, Haleakala: House of the Sun. Meet the dedicated rangers who share their knowledge and respect for the park (established in 1961), its natural treasures, and the deep connection to Hawaiian culture perpetuated here. Screening is on Friday, Aug. 5.
All showings begin at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Park entrance fees may apply.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Chief Harry Kubojiri

KA`U RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED that an anonymous Community Satisfaction Survey for the Hawai`i Police Department is open during the month of March. The survey includes both multiple-choice questions and an opportunity to make individual comments. Chief Harry Kubojiri reads every individual comment and encourages individuals to make their feedback as specific as possible to help the department respond to community needs.

By comparing the results of this year’s survey with those of past surveys, the department can gauge where it has improved and where it needs further improvement.
The Internet survey will be open until 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at www.hawaiipolice.com. It takes about five minutes to complete and is limited to one survey per computer. The respondent’s IP address will not be stored in the survey results.
The responses will be collected and compiled by an outside source. After the survey period, results will be posted on the Police Department’s website.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u residents can help local health occupation students
compete in Nationals. Photo from Angie Miyashiro

KA`U HIGH & PAHALA ELEMENTARY School’s Health Occupations Students of America club members have set up a gofundme account, raising money to travel to Nashville, Tennessee and compete in Nationals. They competed with 32 schools at the state level on O`ahu last month, and members qualified for Nationals by taking second and third places.

HOSA is a nationwide organization that includes secondary as well as post-secondary education students. It provides students with opportunities to promote health, deliver quality care and to learn about elements that are essential for health career professionals. HOSA also provides students with the chance to compete in various health subjects individually or as a team. Club Advisor Angie Miyashiro said the advantage of HOSA is that it allows students to engage even more in critical thinking beyond the classroom as well as enhance their problem solving skills.
This is the first time that Ka`u High and Pahala had such an event. As the first year for the CTE Health career and technical program offering, there was the opportunity to create a health club. To date, the club has 24 students, with nine that chose to compete this year.

The students had their first District competition at University of Hawai`i-Hilo. Ka`u entered pathophysiology, Community Awareness and with the topic of dengue fever and a public service announcement on promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles. “Ka`u club worked hard after school and on weekends,” Miyashiro said. “We were stunned but excited that we received first in all of our categories.”

The HOSA Health Club then went to O`ahu Feb. 24-26 and competed at the state level. There were 32 schools, and Ka`u qualified for Nationals by receiving second and third places. Nationals is June 20-26 in Nashville, Tennessee. The club needs to raise $20,000 to attend and represent Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary.
“Please help us if you can by any donations and creative ways that you might be able to do so,” Miyashiro said. “We need to raise the money soon, as reservations need to be made.” Checks can be made out to HOSA Health Club Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary.
“We are very proud to represent Ka`u and what the future holds,” Miyashiro said.

To donate, see gofundme.com/cysq9wuk?utm.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kai Ho`opi`i performs Wednesday.
Photo from NPS

KEIKI AND ADULTS CAN HAVE their eyes checked tomorrow at Pahala Community Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Project Vision, in association with Tutu & Me Traveling Preschool, will offer free sunglasses to keiki and free reading glasses to adults if needed.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KAI HO`OPI`I PERFORMS Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ho`opi`i, a winner of Aloha Festivals’ Hawaiian falsetto contest, shares music of his `ohana. Free; park entrance fees apply.

SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETS Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School. Residents are invited to express concerns, learn about successes and hear academic and financial plans. For more information, email Angela_Miyashiro/KAUH/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us.

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

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_March_2016.pdf.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, March 13, 2016

A bill approved by the state House of Representatives and now being considered by the Senate would prevent large solar installations from being built in residential subdivisions. Photo from Peter and Ann Bosted

A BILL THAT WOULD BAN LARGE solar installations from being built in residential subdivisions on the island of Hawai`i has passed the state House of Representatives and is being considered by the Senate.

House Bill 2636, introduced by Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan, is designed to amend an existing state law that allows huge solar farms to be built on any land that is zoned agriculture. The intention, at the time, was to keep solar installations away from rural and urban areas where people live. However, the legislators failed to take into account the fact that many non-conforming, or old, subdivisions on the island are zoned agriculture. Thus, in those cases, a law that allows industrial-scale solar installations only on agricultural land fails to protect residential neighborhoods from being industrialized.

State Rep. Richard Creagan

In a letter to the Public Utilities Commission, Creagan wrote: “I have introduced legislation in the House, and Sen. Josh Green has introduced a similar bill in the Senate, to stop this kind of project in the future, and also to prevent this project from being expanded. When HR 205-2 was passed, the idea was that farmers and ranchers and owners of poor agricultural land could profit from generating much-needed renewable energy. Power generation was permitted only on agricultural lands, which implies, not rural or residential or towns.

“This bill, when it was introduced, looked like a very sensible plan. The state would benefit from the renewable power (solar, wind, etc.), and the struggling owners of Hawaiian land would also benefit from entering the Feed-In-Tariff program, which would help them become developers by smoothing the way for them.
“However, as shown by the Ocean View situation, the well-intentioned law had unforeseen consequences. The law was so broad and unrestricted, it was unfortunate. The devil was in the details, and we didn’t put in the details.
“It is easy for lawmakers in Honolulu to forget that there are many non-conforming subdivisions on the island of Hawai`i that are zoned agricultural in spite of their growing rural and semi-urban populations. Indeed, when my bill was before the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection on Feb. 4, Daniel E. Orodenker, Executive Officer of the Land Use Commission testified, ‘Residential subdivisions are not allowed in the state Agricultural District under Chapter 205, HRS.’
“Thus, inadvertently, loopholes in the law were created. Ocean View and other towns are located on agricultural land. Thus, the intentions of the law – to keep industrial-scale power generation installations away from homes – were confounded. It saddens me that the administrators of the FIT program were unwilling to enforce the spirit of the law and persuade the applicants to go elsewhere. At the time that the permits for this project were placed on the FIT’s Active Queue, the developers were still in escrow with the housing lots that they intended to buy in order to qualify for the permits. At that time, December of 2011, they could have changed locations with minimal loss of time and essentially no loss of funds. Ninety-five percent of the island of Hawai`i is zoned Agriculture, so they could have moved almost anywhere else.”
The Senate leadership will assign it to committee hearings, and members of the public can submit testimony to those committees.

The bill has been referred to committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental & Military Affairs and Transportation & Energy. If the bill is approved by the committees, the Senate will vote on it.

Gov. Ige has told Creagan that he will sign the bill into law if both houses approve it.

The public can track progress of this and other bills and submit testimony at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Gov. David Ige

A BAN ON NEW CESSPOOLS statewide goes into effect in a couple of weeks, following Gov. David Ige signing new state health department rules. The rules leave the 50,000 existing cesspools on the Big Island grandfathered in, though cesspool owners are required to switch over to sewage lines should they be installed near their houses.

Ka`u state Rep. Richard Creagan was one of 11 legislators who urged the governor to hold back on the ban, saying the cost of septic systems hurts low-income people, pointing to a $2,000 to $3,000 cost per cesspool and up to $30,000 for a septic system. Hookups to new public sewage lines are expected to cost over $1,000 each.
However, legislation from 2015 allows for tax credits of up to $10,000 to build a septic system or switch to a county sewage system as long as it is within 200 feet of the shoreline, a stream or wetland, or near a well or drinking water reservoir.
Plans for new sewage lines and sewage treatment plants are being developed for Na`alehu and Pahala, where many homes remain on old plantation gang cesspools, which are illegal under federal law.
A story in yesterday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser by Sophie Cocke described cesspools: “Essentially holes in the ground that discharge untreated sewage, cesspools can contaminate groundwater, drinking water, streams and the ocean, according to the state Department of Health.”
“Officials say the raw sewage can degrade coral reefs, harm aquatic ecosystems and make people sick. Sewage carries pathogens that cause leptospirosis, a sometimes painful and dangerous gastrointestinal illness; hepatitis A; conjunctivitis; and salmonellosis and gastroenteritis,” the article stated.
Keith Kawaoka, state Department of Health deputy director on environmental health, said the “action protects public health and is a good first step toward eliminating water pollution from cesspools.”

See staradvertiser.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT UPCOMING programs in Ka`u are on Hawai`i County Council’s agenda this week. Ka`u’s Council member Maile David introduced the resolutions.

Ocean View Community Association seeks county
support for TropiCare, returning to Ka`u this year.
Photo from U.S. Army

Res. 430-16 calls for $5,500 to support TropiCare 2016 at Ocean View Community Center from May 30 to June 4. The innovative training program by the U.S. Department of Defense brings military reservists to Ka`u to provide free medical care to the public. The program is an exercise of the Innovative Readiness Training Program, which challenges reservists to plan and implement rapid mobilizations to distant and unfamiliar areas.

Other resolutions seek funding for Summer Fun programs in Pahala, Na`alehu and Ocean View. Each location would receive $2,000 for the programs that keep keiki busy when school is out of session.
Also on the agenda is Res. 423-16, calling for $5,000 to repair the Ocean View Fire Station.
The council meets at Wednesday at 1 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building between Shaka’s Restaurant and the post office. Other options are to email testimony to maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov or call her office at 323-4277.

The meeting is streamed live, and agenda is available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

New Ka`u High National Honor Society members were inducted on Friday. Photo by Julia Neal

THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY at Ka`u High School inducted new members and honored current members Friday night with a candlelight service at the campus. Vice Principal Wilma Roddy complimented the students and their families for their efforts to help develop young men and women with character, community service, leadership and academic success. English teacher Brenda Neidigk talked about honor students often being the quiet ones and said the Honor Society gives high potential students the opportunity to interact with “others of like minds.” She noted Honor Society members' humble service to the community, from painting buildings to cleaning up trash and volunteering at senior centers and Ka`u Hospital.

A candlelight service welcomed new Honor Society
members. Photo by Julia Neal

The local chapter is called the Silver Oak, and its club advisor is teacher David Brooks He said the families of the Honor Society members deserve recognition and applause for their support of the new inductees and senior members.
During the gathering, honor students announced their future plans, which include studying biology and careers in nursing, marketing, the Air Force and U.S. Army. They talked about inspiration, quoting Woodrow Wilson, who said that if one thinks about what one can do for other people, character will take care of itself. John. F. Kennedy was quoted about leadership and learning being a never ending process. Another quote: “If you think you know it all, your learning has ceased.” Another: “Great leadership inspires others with confidence,” Henry David Thoreau said about following confidently in the direction of dreams. Also, Confucius say: “He who says he can, and he who says he can't, are both usually right.”
Current leaders of the Ka`u High Honor Society are President Sheilla Felipe, Maricar Manantan, J-r Abalos, Chloe Gan and Deisha Gascon. New members are Monica Lynn Covarrubio, Charlotte Faye Esquida, Aislinn Carroll, Rowlie John Flores, Hayden Hanshew, Zachary Ishii, Keosokin Kheng, Junially Manatan, Daryl Moreira, Revis Petitt, Ezra James Ramones and Daniel Savage.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U HIGH SOFTBALL TEAM hosted Kohala yesterday. The Trojans struck out, with a final score of 0-13. They travel to Waiakea for their next game on Thursday at 3 p.m.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

TUTU & ME BRINGS FREE vision screening to Ka`u next week. Keiki and adults can have their eyes checked tomorrow at Na`alehu Community Center and Tuesday at Pahala Community Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Project Vision will offer free sunglasses to keiki and free reading glasses to adults if needed.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SENIOR IDS ARE AVAILABLE tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pahala Senior Housing Center and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. For ages 60 and over.
For more information, call 928-3100.

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

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_March_2016.pdf.

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, March 12, 2016

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is upgrading Sulphur Banks Trail. See more below. Photo from NPS

THE NEW CHIEF FOR HAWAI`I Public Radio, which now runs KAHU 91.7 FM in Pahala, is Hispanic and moving from central Florida.

Hawai`i Public Radio announced Thursday that its Board of Directors selected José A. Fajardo, a Florida-based public media executive with more than 30 years of industry experience, as the organization’s new president and general manager. He will succeed Michael Titterton, the station’s longest-serving president and general manager, who will exit the post June 30. Fajardo will begin at HPR full-time on May 16 and make an earlier appearance during the station’s April on-air fund drive.

“It won’t be easy to follow the extraordinary tenure of Michael, but after a comprehensive search process, we are convinced that José has the right stuff to take Hawai`i’s public radio forward,” said Dr. Tyrie Jenkins, HPR Board chair. “José’s impressive experience in expanding audiences and membership, while navigating the impacts of digital listening habits, make him uniquely qualified to lead HPR into the future. His upbringing in Puerto Rico gives him a special affinity for island life, and we believe Hawai`i’s communities will embrace him.”

Jose A. Fajardo

“I am thrilled and honored to be selected as Hawai`i Public Radio’s new president and general manager,” Fajardo said. “HPR has a long, successful history of connecting communities, respected local programs and an extremely dedicated staff and board. It’s a privilege to be advancing the great work already started by Michael. I look forward to making Hawai`i my new home.”
Fajardo recently served as Executive Vice President for Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, a role he held since August 2013. Prior to his role at there, he served as President & CEO for WMFE-TV/FM, the member-supported public broadcasting stations for Central Florida. During his 16 years with WMFE, he led activations of WMFE-TV Digital Channel 24 and of 90.7 WMFE-FM’s HD Radio transmitter, which provided two full-time radio streams of programming and increased audiences for both stations. Additionally, Fajardo spearheaded two major changes at WMFE: the change of the radio programming format to an all-news format and the sale of WMFE-TV to the University of Central Florida.
Fajardo’s broadcast career started in Central Texas, where he worked for three years in commercial radio before joining KNCT-TV/FM, the public broadcasting stations in Killeen, Texas. He served at KNCT in several roles, concluding as its general manager.
In 2005, Fajardo was presented with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Don Quijote Professional of the Year Award. In 2009, Ahora Orlando magazine named Fajardo one of the 25 most influential local Hispanic community leaders.
Fajardo is a native of Puerto Rico. In May 2010, he received an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College.
“Our board is highly focused on taking HPR to the next level,” Titterton said. “They have selected a dynamic go-getter who has solid public radio experience in a community-licensed station in America’s other great tourist destination. José is as excited about coming to work with HPR as I am at the prospect of showing him around and introducing him to the extraordinary people who have made HPR what it is today. And I’m delighted that his first appearance here will be during our spring on-air fundraiser. Now, that’s going to be fun!”
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sulphur Banks Trail boardwalk leads hikers to an area where
volcanic gases fill the air. NPS Photo by David Boyle

A PROJECT TO IMPROVE AND REPAIR the popular Sulphur Banks Trail and boardwalk in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has begun. Visitors can expect partial trail closures as a park trail crew widens sections for better viewing of interpretive exhibits, improves accessibility for the disabled and replaces rotting boards, among other enhancements.

The work should be complete by the end of June. Partial closures will occur weekly Monday through Thursday, but the trail will be fully open Friday through Sunday. Although the work will prevent loop hikes along Sulphur Banks (Ha`akulamanu) Crater Rim trails, a portion of the trail will remain open either from Kilauea Visitor Center or Steam Vents access points.
Sulphur Banks is a scenic and easy trail that goes to an area where volcanic gases created colorful sulfur crystals, and other minerals paint the landscape. Due to sulfur fumes, people with heart or breathing problems, pregnant women and young children should avoid this trail.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I Sea Grant College Program will receive $1,317,745 in funding to protect vulnerable coasts, including $845,160 from the National Oceanic &Atmospheric Administration and $472,585 in matching funds. NOAA announced the grants as a portion of $4.5 million to help communities nationwide reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change.

“We know that climate change is taking place and having an impact on coastlines around the world,” said U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard. “As an island state, we know these threats all too well. These funds will help protect our coastal communities against the threat of climate change and natural disasters.”
The grant will fund a project to protect the state’s vulnerable coastlines against threats such as sea-level rise, flooding and erosion. The project is conducted in partnership with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, state Office of Planning, University of Hawai`i School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center and the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Jeff Peterson

JEFF PETERSON HELPS KA`U LIBRARIES celebrate National Library Week next month. Peterson is one of Hawai`i’s most versatile and respected musicians. He is at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene today. His passion for the guitar has allowed him to shine as a solo artist and has given him the opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of artists from Hawai`i, the mainland and abroad. His focus on slack key guitar, classical and jazz music has allowed him to develop a unique and transcendent voice while being deeply rooted in the traditions of his Hawaiian heritage.

Peterson was born on Maui and introduced to the rich heritage of Hawaiian music by his father, a paniolo on Haleakala Ranch. He is well known in Ka`u for teaching visitors and locals at workshops sponsored by the Center for Hawaiian Music Studies at Pahala Plantation Cottages. Many local youth received scholarships to learn from him and other Hawaiian music masters.
Programs are on Friday, April 8 at 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Public Library and Tuesday, April 12 at 5 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library. The 45-minute programs are suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.

For more information, call 939-2442 or 933-8888.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Rural Health Community Association’s 19th annual general membership meeting and conference on Friday, April 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The theme is Rural Health at Work in our Communities.

Attendees will hear presentations from representatives of Ka`u Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, USDA Rural Business & Development Grant Programs, Commission on the Status of Women, Alu Like Employment & Training Program, Community Health Workers Pilot Program, Ka`u Intermediate & High School Health Occupation Students of America and Hawai`i County Office of Aging/Aging & Disabilities Resource Center.

Free blood pressure and vision screenings will be available. Deadline to register is April 10. For more information, call 928-0101.
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The Birth of Kahuku explores Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone.
Photo from NPS

THE BIRTH OF KAHUKU is the topic of a free program tomorrow at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. From 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., participants explore the area’s rich geologic history, traversing the vast 1868 lava flow, seeing different volcanic features and formations, identifying many parts of the Southwest Rift Zone of Mauna Loa and learning about the Hawaiian hotspot.

TUTU & ME BRINGS FREE vision screening to Ka`u next week. Keiki and adults can have their eyes checked Monday at Na`alehu Community Center and Tuesday at Pahala Community Center. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Project Vision will offer free sunglasses to keiki and free reading glasses to adults if needed.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SENIOR IDS ARE AVAILABLE Monday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Pahala Senior Housing Center and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. For ages 60 and over.
For more information, call 928-3100.

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