Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017

Ka'u Concert Band, with Ben Houghton conducting, meets for weekly rehearsals. See story below.
Photo by Ann Bosted

THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION winter meeting is the destination of Gov. David Ige, who took off for Washington, D.C. Tuesday with First Lady Dawn Amano-Ige. The governor will join other governors from across the country to discuss a wide range of topics that are important to the future of the State of Hawai‘i. Ige said those topics include energy, early childhood education, transportation, homeland security, cybersecurity, public safety, health care reform, conservation management and species preservation.

      Ige and other governors plan to meet with members of President Trump's new administration to discuss energy, transportation, defense and homeland security. Hawai`i's First Lady is scheduled to participate in a National Governors Association discussion on the evolving role of governors' spouses in the 21st century.        
     The Hawai`i governor is also expected to attend a Governors' Lunch hosted by Vice President Mike Pence at his new offical home, operated by the U.S. Navy on Observatory Circle.
      Sessions at the conference include: Critical Infrastructure and National Resource Conservation and Public Lands; Governor's: Leading the Laboratory of Democracy; Ending Childhood Hunger: Improving Lives and Investing in America's Future; Early Childhood Education: A Foundation for Economic Success; National Infrastructure Bank; and Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge. One of the keynote speakers will be new Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao during a presentation on Infrastructure Spurring Innovation.
      Sunday night will be an Evening with the President and First Lady at the White House, hosted by Donald and Melania Trump.
     Hawai`i governor's office announced that Ige and Hawai`i's First Lady will be traveling with two staff members. The total cost of the trip is approximately $13,300. The return trip is Feb. 28.
      The National Governors Association is a bipartisan organization of the nation’s governors that promotes visionary state leadership, shares best practices and speaks with a collective voice on national policy.
     See more at www.nga.org.

Gov. David and First Lady Dawn Ige head for Washington, D.C
for the National Governors Association meeting and
a gala at the Trump White House.

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HAWAI`I AND OTHER STATES WILL FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING, according to the National Governors Association, which meets in Washington, D.C. this week, with Hawai`i's  Gov. David Ige attending. Its report released this month called, State and Local Fiscal Facts: 2017, outlines the fiscal condition of state and local governments.
      According to the report, "In particular, as states and Congress look to strengthen America’s infrastructure under the new Administration, municipal bonds remain a critical tool to financing the construction or improvement of schools, streets, highways, hospitals, bridges, water and sewer systems, ports, airports and other public works.
     "Between 2007 and 2016, states, counties and other localities invested $3.8 trillion in infrastructure through tax-exempt municipal bonds; the federal government provided nearly $1.5 trillion." National Governors Association Executive Director and CEO Scott Pattison said, “Now more than ever, it remains critically important that governors have as many tools available in the toolbox to maintain and repair America’s infrastructure. Governors look forward to working with the President to creating a 21st century infrastructure system that boosts the economy.”

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HAWAI`I WORKERS HAVE THE MOST MONEY TAKEN OUT OF PAYCHECKS, according to a study of all 50 states and the District of Columbia by GoBanking. Workers in Hawai`i earning $50,000 a year, have about $500 every two weeks taken out of their paychecks.  Those earning $100,000 a year, see a biweekly deduction of $1340.95 The sates where is the most is deducted are Hawai`i, followed by Oregon, Idaho, South Carolina and Minnesota. 

     The states where the least is deducted are all the states with no state income tax. They are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Still they take out $402.93 every two weeks for those earning $50,000 a year. For those earning $100,000, the deduction is $1032.83. See more at gobankingrates.com

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THE KA`U CONCERT BAND meets for weekly practices or rehearsals on Fridays from 4 p.m. to  6p.m. at St. Jude's Church in Ocean View. The band welcomes musicians, who can play woodwind, brass or percussion instruments, as members. The band performs several times a year at various venues in and around Ocean View.
     The Band has a number of instruments which can be loaned to musicians who need one. 

     The Band was known as the Ka'u Ohana Band, but changed its name in January. Ben Houghton is among the conductors.

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Book Signing at Na`alehu Library, Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m.  will feature Emily Rodavich, author of Mystical Interludes: An Ordinary Person's Extraordinary Experiences. The event is free to the public.

Weave a Tī Leaf Lei, Wed, Feb 22, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park rangers and staff from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association instruct and provide materials. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, Feb 24, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

Japanese Internment on Hawai`i Island is the subject of the first  Coffee Talk at Kahuku. It will be held this Friday, Feb. 24 at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Dr. Jade Moniz-Nakamua will talk about the experience of Japanese Issei and Nisei at Kilauea Military Camp during World War II. Free.

Sanctuary Ocean Count, Sat, Feb 25, 8 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., various coastal locations, several in Ka`u. Participants count humpback whales and record their behaviors. Registration required. hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or 725-5923.

Ka`u Hospital invites the public to give input to its board this Saturday.
Photo by Julia Neal

Ka`u Hospital Community Input Meeting, Sat, Feb 25, 1:30 p.m. at the hospital. Kurt Corbin, Chair of the East Hawai`i Regional Board of the Hawai`i Hospital System Corp, which oversees the hospital and clinic operations, said that "Personal conversations and dialogue with our community stakeholders are absolutely essential in helping guide the decisions that the Regional Board must make."
Board members and administrators will be on hand and a financial overview and future outlook will be presented. For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Secretary at 932-3103.

Soil and Composting class at Ka`u Farm School on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Earth Matters Farm on the corner of South Point Road and Kama`oa Road, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Special guests include Rep. Richard Creagan, Chair of the Agriculture Committee of the state House of Representatives and Melanie Willich, Director of the Young Farmers Program at Kohala Center. Free, sponsored by Kohala Center and Hawai`i Farmers Union United. Donations accepted. RSVP to kaufarmschool@gmail.com or call 808-721-6977.

Love the Arts: Singin’ in the Rainforest, Sat, Feb 25, 5 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The annual fundraiser features one-of-a-kind umbrellas painted by Hawai‘i Island artists. Fine wine, a luxurious gourmet buffet, spirited Hawaiian music and live and silent auctions. 967-8222

Palm Trail Hike, Sun, Feb 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit. This free, moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, Feb 28, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, Feb 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

www.kaucalendar.com

    

     

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Feb. 20, 2017

Most of the debris picked up off the Ka`u Coast by such volunteers as these from University of Hawai`i and Hilo Community
College, is made of plastic. Now Hawai`i Wildlife Fund is asking Ka`u residents to support a bill in the
County Council to reduce styrofoam on the island. Photo by Dr. Drew Kapp

FOR PRESIDENTS' DAY, Feb. 20, President Donald Trump released the following tweet: "Happy Presidents' Day - Make America Great Again!"
     Hawai`i Gov. David Ige released the following statement:
     "Today we celebrate the birth of some of our country's most influential leaders: Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both men stood tall during pivotal times in American history and helped shape this country into the land of opportunity it is today.

Image courtesgy of Gov. David Ige

    "Washington and Lincoln served their country with distinction during times of incredible strife and division. They chose to walk paths fraught with peril, but which were ultimately in the best interests of our great nation.
     "It was Washington who commanded the Continental Army against the tyranny of the British and won the Revolutionary War. Lincoln freed the slaves with his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, reinforcing the notion that all citizens deserve equal treatment under the law.

    "

     "Each of these acts took a man with strong moral character and the will to see the changes necessary to make this country great. These two pillars of American leadership are the standard to which all elected leaders should hold themselves, which is why we recognize these men today.
     "Despite the incredible freedoms and rights that\ Washington and Lincoln worked to secure, we know that many citizens still struggle to find shelter and provide for their families here in our state.
   "On President's Day, let's honor these great men in words, but also in action. As your governor, I vow to continue fighting for the citizens of Hawai'i so that we may all fulfill the freedom of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which these men considered to be self-evident."

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THE PRESIDENT'S DAY TWEET FROM REP. TULSI GABBARD is, "I hope you have a safe and restful Presidents' Day Today," followed by: "In Hawai`i veterans have gone a year with no permanent VA Director for health services," and "I introduced legislation - leaders need to be held accountable."

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A BILL TO BAN POLYSTYRENE FOAM will be heard by the County Council's Committee on Environmental Management on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The Hawai`i Wildlife Fund is urging supportive testimony for Bill 13 to be provided before or during the meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the Kona Council Chambers at West Hawai`i Civic Center or by videoconference from Ka`u at the old courthouse in Na`alehu. Testimony can also be submitted electronically by emailing counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov.   
     The bill is the resurrection by Puna County Council member Eileen O'Hara of an old polystyrene foam measure, Bill 140,
     "Do you cringe each time you see lunch being served on a foam clamshell? We do too!" says a statement from Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, referring to what is commonly called styrofoam, the substance targeted in the legislation.
      The organization also reports that other statewide initiatives in 2017 include Senate Bill 1109 and House Bill 1545 in the Hawai`i Legislature and Agenda Item 16-204 for Maui County Council.
      Hawai`i Wildlife Fund suggests a template for testimony: "I support the initiative proposed by Councilwoman O'Hara to reduce the amount of polystyrene foam food containers and food service ware on Hawai'i Island starting on July 1st, 2018. It is important for us to make decisions that promote the health and wellness of our island communities and native wildlife. Bill 13 is one of such crucial steps in the right direction, and will lead us on a pathway towards a zero-waste and sustainability for our island home."
      Hawai`i Wildlife Fund also recommends supporting foam free businesses and has compiled a list of 135 restaurants on Hawai`i Island, including Volcano House, Cafe Ono and Tuk Tuk Thai Food Truck in Volcano and Coffee Grinds and Kalae Coffee in Ka`u. For the complete list, see goo.gl/tia7Rd

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A BOOK SIGNING AT NA`ALEU LIBRARY ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22 AT 2:30 p.m. will feature Emily Rodavich, author of Mystical Interludes: An Ordinary Person's Extraordinary Experiences. The event is free to the public.

Weave a Tī Leaf Lei, Wed, Feb 22, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park rangers and staff from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association instruct and provide materials. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, Feb 24, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

Sanctuary Ocean Count, Sat, Feb 25, 8 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., various coastal locations, several in Ka`u. Participants count humpback whales and record their behaviors. Registration required. hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or 725-5923.

SOIL AND COMPOSTING is the topic at the next Ka`u Farm School session to be held on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Earth Matters Farm on the corner of South Point Road and Kama`oa Road. Time is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Special guests will include Rep. Richard Creagan, Chair of the Agriculture Committee of the state House of Representatives and Melanie Willich, Director of the Young Farmers Program at Kohala Center. The class is free, sponsored by Kohala Center and Hawai`i Farmers Union United. Donations accepted. RSVP to kaufarmschool@gmail.com or call 808-721-6977.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Ka`u Hospital Community Input Meeting, Sat, Feb 25, 1:30 p.m. at the hospital. Kurt Corbin, Chair of the East Hawai`i Regional Board of the Hawai`i Hospital System Corp, which oversees the hospital and clinic operations, said that "Personal conversations and dialogue with our community stakeholders are absolutely essential in helping guide the decisions that the Regional Board must make."
     Board members and administrators will be on hand and a financial overview and future outlook will be presented. For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Secretary at 932-3103.

Love the Arts: Singin’ in the Rainforest, Sat, Feb 25, 5 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The annual fundraiser features one-of-a-kind umbrellas painted by Hawai‘i Island artists. Fine wine, a luxurious gourmet buffet, spirited Hawaiian music and live and silent auctions. 967-8222

Palm Trail Hike, Sun, Feb 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit. This free, moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, Feb 28, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, Feb 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

www.kaucalendar.com

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017

THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS 75 years ago during World War II was recalled Sunday across the country on the Day of Remembrance.
    Sen. Mazie Hirono, herself a Japanese immigrant, called the special poor treatment of Japanese Americans, which started with the President's Executive Order 9066 in 1946, “a dark period in our nation’s history. Whenever our country has targeted a particular ethnicity, race, national origin, or religion for discriminatory treatment, we have been very deeply wrong."
     Hirono promised: “I will continue to fight these actions, and will reintroduce a resolution in the Senate recognizing the significance of Executive Order 9066, and affirming that we must stand up for the civil rights of all. #DayofRemembrance #EO9066,” said Hirono.
    The internment of the Japanese during WWII followed an Executive Order by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Feb. 19, 1942 when he authorized the relocation of Japanese Americans from their homes, farms and businesses to camps. One detention center was located at Kilauea Military Camp in Ka`u.
     The rationale at the time was fear, and the thinking that Japanese Americans would support Japan during WWII. While America was also at war with Hitler of Germany and Mussolini of Italy, Americans of German and Italian backgrounds were not rounded up in the manner that affected the Japanese American communities.

Dwight Eisenhower visited Kilauea
Military Camp during WWII.

     The ten mainland camps and Hawai`i camps were used mostly to house Japanese American extracted from their American communities. While WWII raged, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Executive Order by the President to round up Japanese Americans.
    The last camp closed in March 1946 and with many Japanese Americans having fought for the U.S. during WWII in Europe as part of the famed “Go for Broke” 442nd Regiment, the U.S.  government became confused about how to reconcile the tragedy of internment.
    It wasn’t until more than 40 years after the War, in 1988, that the Civil Liberties Act was signed by Pres. Ronald Reagan, stating that the internment was “a grave injustice.” Succeeding presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, sent apology letters to camp survivors and their descendants. In February of 2015, Barack Obama established a national monument at the internment camp on O`ahu.

Japanese American U.S. war heroes from Ka`u,
Iwao Yonemitsu and the late Toku Nagano.
Photo by Julia Neal

     In contrast, said, Hirono, “today, we are seeing the same discriminatory treatment with President Trump’s targeting of refugees, immigrants, and the Muslim community."

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REP. CULSI GABBARD said, "The incarceration of over 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during World War II and the in internment of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II is a dark and shameful mark on our nation’s past. In remembrance of the men, women, and children held captive on our free soil, we must commit to standing up against intolerance, bigotry, divisiveness, and hatred. We must honor the brave Nisei, who in spite of these atrocities, volunteered to serve, forming the Nisei-only "Go For Broke" 442nd Infantry Regiment. We must embrace the diversity found at the heart of our American spirit, and promise to never return to the darkness of our past."  
      Gabbard is an original cosponsor of H.Res.143 recognizing the ideals of the Day of Remembrance, and to remember the restrictions, exclusion, and incarceration of Americans of Japanese, German, and Italian descent during World War II.

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Weave a Tī Leaf Lei, Wed, Feb 22, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park rangers and staff from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association instruct and provide materials. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, Feb 24, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

Sanctuary Ocean Count, Sat, Feb 25, 8 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., various coastal locations, several in Ka`u. Participants count humpback whales and record their behaviors. Registration required. hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or 725-5923.

Count humpback whales at the Sanctuary Ocean Count on the Ka`u Coast this Saturday.
Photo from NOAA

Ka`u Hospital Community Input Meeting, Sat, Feb 25,  1:30 p.m. at the hospital. Kurt Corbin, Chair of the East Hawai`i Regional Board of the Hawai`i Hospital System Corp, which oversees the hospital and clinic operations, said that "Personal conversations and dialogue with our community stakeholders are absolutely essential in helping guide the decisions that the Regional Board must make."
Board members and administrators will be on hand and a financial overview and future outlook will be presented. For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Secretary at 932-3103.

Love the Arts: Singin’ in the Rainforest, Sat, Feb 25, 5 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The annual fundraiser features one-of-a-kind umbrellas painted by Hawai‘i Island artists. Fine wine, a luxurious gourmet buffet, spirited Hawaiian music and live and silent auctions. 967-8222

Palm Trail Hike, Sun, Feb 26, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit. This free, moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, Feb 28, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, Feb 28, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

www.kaucalendar.com