Ka`u News Briefs Friday, April 21, 2017

The Miss Ka`u Coffee court for 2016 and contenders for the 2017 titles for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Jr. Miss Ka`u
Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Ka`u Coffee flower will once again represent Ka`u Coffee in the Royal Merrie
Monarch Parade, Saturday in Hilo. The pageant, under the direction of Trini Marques, is May 13 at
Ka`u Coffee Mill.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE WINNER IS DARLENE JAVAR, PRINCIPAL OF NA`ALEHU SCHOOL. The Pahala resident earned $15,000 for a school project and $10,000 cash when she was named Thursday night as the recipient of the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. The statewide honor is given each year by the Island Insurance Foundation and always to a public school principal. The selection is based on the principal's qualities as "visionary, community-minded." The principal must also have an "entrepreneurial spirit," says a statement from the foundation.  

Darlene Javar, principal of Na`alehu School, is known for her inspiring
teaching methods. On Thursday night she received the Masayuki
Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. The title comes with
$25,000 and part of it will be used for the school's garden program.

     Javar said she will use the school project funding to bring back and expand the school garden program, which in the past has won awards.        
     Alison Yahna, Parent Community Network Coordinator at the school, and herself a beekeeper, said, "Academic scores improve because education becomes exciting, relevant and applied. Students get to solve real-world problems and invent real-world solutions to the challenges our community faces as they interact with local farmers and entrepreneurs."
       Tyler Tokioka, President of Island Insurance Foundation, said that "Principal Javar exemplifies the type of leadership that can transform our public schools into model learning institutions." He credited Javar for establishing an institute to help new teachers orient to the local community and provide additional financial support as they settle in here before the school year begins.

Darlene Javar receives the Excellence in School Leadership
Award, chosen from nominees from around the state.
Photo from Island Insurance Foundation

       Christina Juan, Vice Principal of Na`alehu School, which has a high number of Marshallese and other immigrant children, said, "The beauty of the surrounding environment often masks the very unique struggle of our families and communities. With the many challenges faced throughout the year, Principal Javar has made it her mission to provide her students with a safe, happy nurturing learning environment that they need in order to thrive."
     Island Insurance, founded in 1940 by Masayuki Tokioka, sports its motto, "Always Here to Help," and states that the company "was created to provide the underserved people of Hawai`i with better insurance options."

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Hawai`i Wildlife Fund is celebrating Earth Day and raising money with
Ocean Air, Love the Sea, Sea Cleaners, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai`i and
The Surfrider Foundation. Photo from HWF

SATURDAY IS EARTH DAY and local organizations are educating and celebrating

     Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, which locally cleans up the Ka`u Coast is partnering with Love the Sea, Sea Cleaners, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i and Surfrider Foundation to discourage plastic pollution and to celebrate the ocean. They are raising money to help Hawai`i Wildlife Fund to continue to implement coastal ecosystem appreciation and marine debris prevention curriculum in local schools. 

     One fundraiser will be on O`ahu where the Ocean Aid event will employ "the global language of music to inform, inspire and enact change on the issue of ocean trash through the power of a community-based worldwide festival," says a Hawai`i Wildlife Fund statement. Ka`u supporters of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund will fly to Honolulu for the celebration at the Waikiki Shell on Saturday, April 30. See www.hawaiiwildlifefund.org

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RECYCLE HAWAI`I will prepare its presentation for the Ka`u Unity Celebration, which comes up next Saturday, April 29 at the Ka`u District Gym in Pahala. "Mahalo for taking action to reduce, reuse and recycle! It takes each of us to make smart choices and practice habits that sustain healthy air, land and water for all beings on our planet- today and for generations to come," says a Recycle Hawai`i statement from Marsha Hee, its education director, who is based in Volcano. See more on ways to protect the Earth at www.recyclehawaii.org.

     Recycle Hawai`i is also calling for Keeping it Green nominations. The award recognizes organizations, businesses, schools and government agencies for demonstrating ongoing commitment and activities that address natural resource conservation, green practices and preserving the environmental quality of life in Hawai`i.
      Winners will be acknowledged for work in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Zero Waste; Climate Change; Energy, Water & Natural Resources; Green Building and Sustainable Design; Native Cultural Gathering Rights and Practices; Native Species; Open Space, Trails and Greenways and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Literacy. The deadline to make nominations is May 1. See www.recyclehawaii.org.

      The Arts & Craft of UPCycling Project is also calling for entries. The contest is open to individuals and groups of all ages to reuse, recreate, repurpose and reclaim unwanted materials and items to upcycle into art, craft, functional or inventive products. Selected entries will appear in the virtual gallery on Recycle Hawai'i's Facebook page. See more at www.recyclehawaii.org

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EARTH DAY, for those headed to Kona this Saturday, April 22, along with Ka`u's County Council member Maile David. includes a festival and public education at Hawai`i Community College - Palamanui Campus. There will be displays, a trash sculpture contest, a koa tree giveaway for those who help remove invasive fountain grass and opportunities to see the campus.          
     The Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui campus is launching a new Associate of Science in Natural Science degree in Fall 2017. Faculty will be at the event to talk about the new program and provide tours of the new science labs.

A new Natutral Science degree will be offered starting
this Fall at the Hawai`i Community College campus
in Kona. Abover are students in Environmental Science.
Photo from HCC

      Earth Day speakers will include: County Council members Maile David and Karen Eoff on The Ahupua‘a System: Protecting Our Public Trust Resources; Kyle Datta, of the Ulupono Initiative on Food Sustainability; Bruce Andersen, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, on Coral Reef Bleaching Recovery Plan; and Anthony Carrasco, Hawai`i Water Service Co., on Waikoloa Resort Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Well Management for Makalei Golf Club/Huehue Ranch/Kukio Resort. Also giving a presentation will be a Kanaloa Octopus Farm representative.
     Dr. Richard Stevens will  lead an excursion to plant koa trees at the Maka‘ula O’oma Tract of the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve. Those interested should meet at the head of the Makahi Trail at the end of Makahi Street at 9:30 a.m. with a small digging tool and an extra bottle of water for their tree.                     

     For more information about Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui, contact Christina Hoffman at quinlan@hawaii.edu or see https://www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/node/871

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Miss Ka`u Coffee contenders have invited the public to the
Ka`u Coffee Festival for years, as they participate in the
Royal Merrie Monarch Parade. Photo by Julia Neal

THE ROYAL MERRIE MONARCH PARADE in Hilo this Saturday will feature the Miss Ka`u Coffee contingent with current princesses and contenders for the 2017 titles for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Coffee Flower. The pageant will be held on Saturday, May 13 at Ka`u Coffee Mill, under the direction of Ka`u Coffee farmer Trini Marques.

Soft Pastel Still Life Workshop, Sat, April 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Patti Pease Johnson offers guidance & inspiration with some handy tips. $50/$45 VAC members plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, April 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants explore the area’s rich geologic history. Free. nps.gov/havo

National Park Rx Day, Sun, April 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A growing movement prescribes parks and nature for the improvement of health. Presentations & activities include a yoga session with Danielle Makaike, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.; lomilomi and kalo, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Walk with a Doc, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, April 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN goes to a public Steering Committee meeting this coming Tuesday, April 25, at Na`alehu Community Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Windward Planning commission will hold a Ka`u CDP public hearing on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at the County of Hawai`i Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Following the Windward Planning Commission making recommendations, the County Council will hold Ka`u CDP public hearings and take action. With approval, Mayor Harry Kim will sign the Ka`u CDP into law and an Action Committee will be appointed to guide the Ka`u CDP implementation. The Draft Ka`u CDP and the Planning Director's "non-substantive revisions" are available at the site: www.kaucdep.info.

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, April 20, 2017

Visitors totaled nearly 1.9 million and spent nearly $160 million in communities close to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
in 2016. These visitors observe Kilauea summit lava lake from Jagaar Museum Observation Deck.
See story below. NPS photo

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN goes to a public Steering Committee meeting this coming Tuesday, April 25, at Na`alehu Community Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Windward Planning commission will hold a Ka`u CDP public hearing on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at the County of Hawai`i Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo.
     Following the Windward Planning Commission making recommendations, the County Council will hold Ka`u CDP public hearings and take action. With approval, Mayor Harry Kim will sign the Ka`u CDP into law and an Action Committee will be appointed to guide the Ka`u CDP implementation.

      The Draft Ka`u CDP and the Planning Director's "non-substantive revisions" are available at the site: www.kaucdep.info.
      A draft Ka`u Community Development Plan was completed in October 2015, with final recommendations from the Ka`u CDP Steering Committee following public review and comment. In early 2016, public agencies were invited to make a final review. "The April 2017 Ka`u Community Development Plan reflects those recommendations," says a statement from the County Planning Department.
      The public Steering Committee meeting next Tuesday is set to review agency comment and the Planning Director's recommendations.  The agenda and all meeting materials can be found at: http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/april-25-2017-steering-committee-meeting.  Steering Committee meetings are open to the public, and public comment on agenda items is welcome.

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VISITORS TO HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, totaling 1,887,580 in 2016, spent $159,195,500 in communities near the park, according to a report released today by the National Park Service. "That spending supported 1,917 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $199,923,400." NPS reported.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando has
seen an active volcano and visitor expenditures increase substantially
in the surrounding communities since she took the post in 2004.
Photo by Julia Neal

     “It's exciting to see the steady increase in both visitation to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and the consistent economic benefit park visitors provide to our Hawai‘i Island community in the way of jobs, and their spending,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We noticed the increase in visitation from the start of 2016, which marked the 100th anniversary of both the National Park Service and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     "When lava from Kīlauea reached the ocean last summer, coupled with the ease of steady viewing of the summit lava lake, visitation continued to climb. We’ve seen consecutive increases in both spending and visitation at Hawai‘i Volcanoes since from 2009,” said Orlando.  

     The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the NPS. The nationwide report shows $18.4 billion of direct spending by 331 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 318,000 jobs nationally; 271,544 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $ 34.9 billion.

Visitor counts to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park have soared,
as have expenditures in nearby communities.
NPS photo by Sami Steinkamp

  According to the 2016 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (31.2 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent), and camping fees (2.5%).

    Report authors this year produced an interactive tool. Users can explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage: go.nps.gov/vse.

     The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. To learn more about national parks in Hawai‘i and how the National Park Service works with communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Hawaii.

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FEDERAL JUDGE DERRIC KAHALA WATSON received a comment from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions today, referring to Watson's recent ruling against President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and visitors from six Muslim minority countries. Sessions, who earlier voted in the U.S. Senate to confirm Watson to the federal bench, said today on a radio show,  “I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the President of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and Constitutional power."

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions

   Hawai`i Sen. Mazie Hirono responded, "The suggestion that being from Hawai`i somehow disqualifies Judge Watson from performing his Constitutional duty is dangerous, ignorant, and prejudiced. I am frankly dumbfounded that our nation's top lawyer would attack our independent judiciary. But we shouldn't be surprised. This is just the latest in the Trump Administration's attacks against the very tenets of our Constitution and democracy." She also pointed out that Hawai`i has been a state for 58 years and tweeted, "We won't succumb to your dog whistle politics."

   Hawai`i Sen. Brian Schatz also responded to Sessions. "Mr. Attorney General, I have a message for you: You voted for that judge. That island is called O`ahu, and it's my home. Have some respect."

     Shatz predicted, "There is no doubt Trump’s supporters and Republicans from across the country will come after me for taking him and his Attorney General on, but Hawai`i is my home, and defending what’s right is always my number one priority."

Hawai`i Federal Judge
Derrick Kahala Watson

         Ain Prior, spokesperson for the Justice Department, said that "Sessions was questioning one judge's ability to block the President's executive order for the travel ban." Referring to O`ahu, Trump's Justice Department spokesperson said, "Hawai`i is, in fact, an island in the Pacific - a beautiful one where the Attorney General's granddaughter was

Hawai`i Attorney General
Doug Chin

born. The point, however, is that there is a problem when a flawed opinion by a single judge can block the President's exercise of authority to keep the entire country safe."
      Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin, who successfully brought the case against the travel ban to federal court, released a statement saying, “President Trump previously called a federal judge in California a so-called judge. Now U.S. Attorney General Sessions appears to dismiss a federal judge in Hawai`i as just a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific. Our Constitution created a separation of powers in the United States for a reason. Our federal courts, established under article III of the Constitution, are co-equal partners with Congress and the President. It is disappointing AG Sessions does not acknowledge that.”

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Soft Pastel Still Life Workshop, Sat, April 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Patti Pease Johnson offers guidance & inspiration with some handy tips. $50/$45 VAC members plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, April 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants explore the area’s rich geologic history. Free. nps.gov/havo

National Park Rx Day, Sun, April 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A growing movement prescribes parks and nature for the improvement of health. Presentations & activities include a yoga session with Danielle Makaike, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.; lomilomi and kalo, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Walk with a Doc, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply.

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, April 25, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, April 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

SEE MORE ON REP. TULSI GABBARD'S AND SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ'S RECENT TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN UPCOMING KA`U NEWS BRIEFS.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Grace Lee on Hawai`i News Now's Sunrise, On the Road program featured Ka`u Coffee and the
upcoming Ka`u Coffee Festival, with organizer Chris Manfredi, who is also President of the
Hawai`i Coffee Association. Photo from Hawai`i News Now

KA`U COFFEE AND THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL GOT A BOOST FROM HAWAI`I NEWS NOW's Grace Lee on Wednesday in its On the Road segment. Chris Manfredi, of Discovery Harbour, and President of the Hawai`i Coffee Association, talked about coffee being a major agricultural product in Hawai`i, bringing in $62 million a year. He said coffee is between the "number two and number three highest value crop in the state." 

Kopelani, a Starbucks Ka`u blend,shown off by Chris
Manfredi on Hawai`i News Now on Wednesday.
Image from Hawai`i News Now

     Concerning Ka`u Coffee, Manfredi said, "Our demand is up, our pricing is up, and our production is up - our yields are up so we have a perfect storm of success; keeps us poised and in good position to keep growing the industry."

     Ka`u Coffee, he recalled, started winning Specialty Coffee Association of America awards in 2007, ten years ago. Manfredi is attending the SCAA convention again this weekend, this time in Seattle. A number of the Ka`u farmers attended SCAA convention years ago and won numerous international awards, which helped to catapult the brand to success.

Ka`u Coffee Mill owner, and Naniloa partner Ed
Olson and friends at a Ka`u Coffee Festival.
Photo from Hawai`i News Now

     On Hawai`i News Now, Manfredi, who brokers Ka`u Coffee to Starbucks, showed off the Starbuck's Kopelani blend coffee which is part-Ka`u Coffee. He also noted that Ka`u Coffee is included in Starbuck's reserve program - Starbuck's ultra premium coffee. "Starbuck's is a great partner to work with," he said.   

     Regarding the Ninth Ka`u Coffee Festival, Manfredi, one of the organizers, talked about the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant on Saturday, May 18, the Ho`olaulea on May 28 and the Coffee College on May 29. Hawai`i News Now showed still photos of recent festivals.

      The On the Road show filmed from the rebranded Hilton Doubletree Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo as part of its Merrie Monarch coverage. The hotel, which had been purchased by Ed Olson, owner of Ka`u Coffee Mill, was recently upgraded in a partnership including Olson.   

Activities for everyone are planned throughout the Ka`u Coffee Festival
Photo from Hawai`i News Now

    Miss Ka`u Coffee contestants and reigning Queen and princesses will be in the Royal Merrie Monarch Parade this Saturday. The pageant, produced and chaired by Ka`u Coffee farmer Trini Marques, will be on Saturday, May 13 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The annual Pa`ina and Open House to kick off the remaining events will be at Pahala Plantation House on Friday, May 19.    
     Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest will be Sunday, May 21 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Ka`u Star Gazing will be Monday, May 22 at Makanau. Ka`u Mountain Water Systems Hike will be on Wednesday, and Thursday, May 24 and 25  in Wood Valley. The Ho`olaule`a will be Saturday, May 27. See more at www.kaucoffeefest.com.

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Tulsi Gabbard's most attended Town Hall meeting throughout the state was held in Hilo on Wednesday.
Photo from Big Island Video News

NORTH KOREA WAS CONGRESSWOMAN TULSIS GABBARD'S LEAD SUBJECT at her Town Hall meeting on Wednesday in Hilo. The Town Hall drew the largest attendance to date at her meetings during the current congressional break.
     She said she wanted to bring North Korea "upfront." Gabbard serves on the U.S. House of Representative's Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committee and its Asia- Pacific Subcommittee and Middle East Subcommittee. She said she has focused on the threat of North Korea since she was first sworn into Congress in January of 2013. "Even then I had recognized the increasing threat and capabilities coming from North Korea and yes, the threat that poses to the United States overall, but more specifically the threat it poses to us here in Hawai`i, given that we are the most forward point for our country in the Pacific. We are the closest in proximity to North Korea."

    She said when she took a trip to Asia with member of Congress, she found it astounding how few members of Congress were aware of the vast size of the Pacific Ocean and Hawai`i's isolation. She said that some senior members of Congress were also unaware that North Korea was nuclear armed and "has developed over the years intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities that put Hawai`i directly within range of those capabilities. And that those threats have directly been made." 

The danger of North Korea to Hawai`i and the need for more protection
was the lead subject in Tulsi Gabbard's Town Hall on Wednesday.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Gabbard said she is focused on raising the level of awareness and pushing for defense of Hawai`i.      "Given North Korea's most recent actions, most recent escalation, I'm urging my colleagues, our Hawai`i delegation, our leadership here in the state of Hawai`i and urging all of you to help raise voices as we try to get urgent action to make sure the appropriate capabilities are in place for the defense and protection of Hawai`i, in particular. This is something that we can't afford to take lightly."

    One attendee asked, "Why did you go see President Trump and what did you speak about?" She said she was invited to meet with the President-elect at Trump Tower before he took office, "to talk about Syria, ending the counterproductive regime change war that Congress and you the American people have not authorized or declared." She asked, "What are the costs to our country, to our military, to our taxpayer dollars, of something called a no-fly zone or safe zone?" She asked the crowd at her Town Hall meeting to think about "the consequences of these actions, both intended and unintended."

     Gabbard said that her goal in meeting with Trump "was to try to provide some influence and some insight on my strong views on these issues and why they're so important for us here at home, in the hopes of basically trying to get to him before the neocon war hawks who were beating their war drums were able to exercise their influence over him. Unfortunately, as we've seen over the last ten days or so, I think they were successful. I've been very outspoken in criticizing and calling out his missile strike against Syria as being reckless and careless and an escalation of this regime change war in Syria and one that Congress has not authorized."

Gabbard urged Haai`i people to care about what happens in the
Middle East and how the expense impacts funding for
education and many other services.
Photo from Big Island Video News

    She said she has been asked why people in Hawai`i should care about wars, like those in Syria. She said Iraq, Libya and now Syria cost trillions of dollars and have a direct connection locally to lack of funding for education, infrastructure, protecting the environment, improving health care and caring for the homeless. "You can not separate these two issues."
     She pointed to regime change wars, "wars that have cost hundreds of thousands of people their lives, wars that have created millions of refugees, and wars that have ultimately resulted in strengthening terrorist groups like Alqaeda and Isis."

     "It's critical for each of us to understand the connection, to understand that we cannot afford to be the world's police. That even with the best of intentions.... our actions have resulted in more human suffering, not less. Our actions have resulted in more destruction, not less. And this is why it is important for us to stand up now especially at a time in both political parties, and when people in the media are applauding this President for launching this illegal attack against Syria. This is when our voices are critical to stand up and say, 'No.' This is where the power base lies in your voices, and I ask you to stand with me making sure that we don't turn a blind eye to this illegal escalation."

     See more on Gabbard's Town Hall in the Thursday Ka`u News Briefs.

Youth Conservation Corps for Pu`unonua O Honaunau
sing-ups are open. Photo from NPS

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YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS sign-ups are open for Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park. YCC provides gainful employment and an educational experience in the conservation of natural and historical heritage. YCC workers will participate in conservation and preservation related projects park-wide and work with all park divisions.
     This year’s YCC program will run for seven weeks from June 5 – July 21. Applicants for YCC crew member positions must be between the ages of 15 and 18. During the term of employment from June 5 – July 21, applicants must be at least 15 years of age and not reached the age of 19. Enrollees work 40 hours per week and earn $9.25/hr. Applications must be submitted by May 19and may be obtained at the park. For information call Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau at 328-2326. Felipe Galieto 808-328-2326 Ext 1314

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Special Merrie Monarch Festival Event, Thu, April 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Practitioners share lei making, haku hulu, ‘ohe kāpala and kuku kapa. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning composer, singer and musician Kenneth Makuakāne performs. Free; park entrance fees apply.

www.kaucalaendar.com