Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, May 3, 2017

The Na`alehu sewage treatment plant would be located near Na`alehu School, makai of Hwy 11.
Image from County of Hawai`i

LARGE GANG CESSPOOLS IN NA`ALEHU AND PAHALA will be shut down. The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered County of Hawai`i to close them and invites the public to comment on the plan. The County has released a map of a selected site for the Pahala treatment plant, near the scenic Norfolk Pine entrance to the town at Maile Street and Highway 11. In Na`alehu, the plan is to site the sewage treatment plant near Na`alehu School, makai of Highway 11.

     Implementation of the plans are expected to take several years, according to the County's proposed timelines.

     Input is welcome through May 30 from Pahala and Na`alehu residents, and other interested parties. They can comment on the Administrative Order of Consent mandating that the County of Hawai`i close large capacity community cesspools in Pahala and Na`alehu. They can also comment on the County of Hawai`i's Workplans, which show how and when the County intends to close the seven large capacity cesspools "that are being allegedly operated in violation of a ban that went into effect in 2005," says a press release from the County.

Planned sewage treatment plant site, which would be purchased
from Kamehameha Schools. It is now a macadamia orchard next
to the scenic entrance to Pahala. Map from County of Hawai`i

     In Pahala, the EPA has ordered the County to close two large capacity cesspools serving approximately 109 private residences and two large capacity cesspools serving the Pahala Elderly Apartments. 

     The plans submitted to the EPA by the County, show that the County plans to use Kamehameha Schools' property makai of Maile Street where macadamia orchards are currently growing. The property is close to the scenic Norfolk pine entry to the village along Maile Street. The property would be condemned and acquired by the county.

     In a section that describes the benefits to Pahala, the report says, "The expected output and outcome is a design and construction project that will produce a new wastewater collection system that will replace C. Brewer’s Sugar Plantation Sewer System consisting of 60-year old sewer lines and LCCs that are in poor condition. The benefit is that Pāhala residents will no longer need to be concerned about the reliability of their sewer system from a health and welfare standpoint. Dependable sewer service will be available to 109 residential properties currently served by the existing sewer system in the Pāhala Community."  An additional 65 properties that are not currently being served by the existing sewer system will receive the new sewer service.

      In Na`alehu, the EPA has ordered the closure of three large capacity cesspools serving approximately 163 homes. The location of the sewage treatment plant would be on state property. The chosen site, makai of Highway 11, is farther from the historic makahiki lands between Na`alehu and Honu`apo,  than previously selected locations for the treatment plant. 

     In a section of the report describing benefits to Na`alehu, the County writes, "The expected output and outcome is a design and construction project that will produce a new wastewater treatment and collection system that will replace C. Brewer’s Sugar Plantation Sewer System consisting of 60-year old sewer lines and LCCs that are in poor condition. The benefit is to the Nā‘ālehu residents will no longer need to be concerned about the reliability of their sewer system from a health and welfare standpoint. Dependable sewer service will be available to 161 properties currently served by the existing sewer system in the Nā‘ālehu Community and to an additional 32 properties that are not currently being served by the existing sewer system."

Proposed sewage lines from the old sugar camp houses to Highway 11 where they would
cross over to the new sewage treatment plant that would be near Na`alehu School.
Image from County of Hawai`i

     Plans, maps and timelines for completing the projects in both Na`alehu and Pahala can be seen at:

https://www.epa.gov/uic/hawaii-cesspools-administrative-orders
https://www.epa.gov/uic/matter-county-hawaii-docket-no-sdwa-uic-09-2017-0002
https://www.epa.gov/uic/consent-agreement-and-final-order-proposed-matter-county-hawaii
     According to an EPA Public Notice, the public may provide comments on the matter through May 30, 2017. To submit comments to the EPA, the public is asked to provide with those comments the following information: Full name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, the Docket Number (SDWA-UIC-09-2017-0002), and a concise statement of the basis for and relevant facts supporting any comments.
     For more information and to send comments, contact EPA Region IX Enforcement Division
Jelani Shareem (shareem.jelani@epa.gov) or send mail to her at  Jelani Shareem, Enforcement Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX; 75 Hawthorne Street (ENF-3-3); San Francisco, CA 94105. Call (415) 972- 3095.

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KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SCHOLARSHIP deadline is June 1. The Chamber encourages

Ka`u youth and adult students to apply for the annual Ken Wicks Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. Preference is to those who intend to remain in or return to Ka`u after completing higher education. Scholarship money can be used for all college and vocational training and ranges from $250 to $1,000 per year. Students who remain in school, in good standing, are eligible to receive the scholarship annually. For an application, see www.kauchamber.org. Call Lee McIntosh at 929-9872 with questions. 

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REGISTER FOR SUMMER FUN AT KA`U DISTRICT GYM on Wednesday, May 4 from 3:30 p.m.to 5:30 p.m. and Monday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. and Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., until enrollment is filled.

 

Summer Fun will be held for the first time this year at Ka`u District
Gym. Registration is Wednesday afternoon and until enrollment
is met. Photo by Julia Neal

    A spectrum of arts and crafts projects, indoor and outdoor games, sports, music, dance, nature exploration, swimming, special events and excursions will highlight Summer Fun from June 7 – July 21 at Ka‘ū District Gym, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

      Council member Maile David is funding more than half the cost for each child through her council member budget. With the subsidy, the cost per keiki for the entire summer break will be $40.
     Children must have completed Kindergarten and are eligible through sixth grade. The enrollment limit is 40 youngsters. Participants must bring their own lunches daily. Snacks are optional. For more information, call Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See program guides at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

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Volcano Chamber Players are, from left, Susan McGovern, 

viola; Meg Saunders, cello; Mark Caudill, violin; 

Glenda Johnson, violin. Photo from VAC

A MOTHER'S DAY CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT at Ni‘aulani Sculpture Garden is planned. What do a classically trained violinist, a Harvard-educated math teacher, a former park ranger, and a local Hilo realtor all have in common? They are members of the Volcano Chamber Players, a string quartet that will be performing classical chamber music on Sunday, May 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
     The afternoon of fine chamber music and pupu for Mother’s Day includes a tour of Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Sculpture Garden. The Great Room provides the setting for an intimate afternoon of music in the forest, steps away from the garden.
     Volcano Chamber Players will perform favorite classical works by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Purcell and Puccini, as well as popular romantic music such as Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera) by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sunrise, Sunset (from Fiddler on the Roof), and Blue Tango by Leroy Anderson.
     Tickets for the concert are $20/$15 for VAC members. To purchase, call 967-8222 or see volcanoartcenter.org.
     Funds raised will support the Ni‘aulani Sculpture Garden and ongoing programs at VAC.

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Ocean View Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thu, May 4, 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-2442 & 928-2015 An Evening of Hawaiian Language.

An Evening of Hawaiian Language, Thu, May 4, 7 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center. UH-Hilo instructor ʻĀlika Guerrero gives an overview of a series of classes beginning in July at VAC. Free; donations accepted. 967-8222 

Ocean View Cinco de Mayo Party, Fri, May 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church. Enchiladas, refried beans, said, beverage & dessert. $8 per person, $15 for two, $20 for family at the door. 939-7555 

Paint Your Own Silk Scarf, Sat, May 6, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Patti Pease Johnson helps students open up their creativity and challenge themselves. $50/$45 VAC members. 967-8222 

Stewardship at the Summit, Sat, May 6, 12, 20, 26; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers clear ginger from park trails. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo Realms & Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, May 6, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Pu‘u Kahuku Trail explores the traditional Hawaiian land classification system. Free. nps.gov/havo 

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Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, May 3, 2017

One of the many maps, along with much data and description, in the Ka`u Community Development Plan,
which goes to public hearing on Wednesday, May 10, 5:30 p.m., Na`alehu Community Center.
See the plan at www.kaucdp.info and see story below.

A "JOB-KILLING PILAU BILL" is what Sen. Kai Kahele called a proposed hike in the Transient Accommodations Tax, when he testified today on the state Senate floor. The tax would have raised the TAT from 9.25 percent to 12 percent for a decade to help pay for the mass transit rail project on O`ahu.
     "I am against this proposal for many reasons," said Kahele. "This bill was concocted in the eleventh hour by a privileged few with the complete absence of transparency and collaboration and accountability. The subject matter chairs are circumvented. The industry was sidestepped, the counties were a mere afterthought, and the public, of all people, were not given the opportunity to be heard.

See Sen. Kahele's speech on www.bigislandvideonews.com

     "The mechanism of using the Transient Accommodations Tax is one thing and one thing only. It is a job killer in the state of Hawai`i. And make no mistake, this bill would hurt our state's number one industry, which is tourism. The potentially disastrous consequences of passing this bill and adding to the unfortunate reputation as one of the most expensive places to visit in these states, putting us at a competitive disadvantage that could lead to fewer visitors and less visitor spending and cause a ripple effect that may negatively impact small businesses in our community. The economic impact of this bill on our Neighbor Island communities and local families will be devastating.
    "For my my home on Hawai`i Island, the ramifications of the proposed change to 12 percent TAT would result in an immediate loss of  $4  million dollars to the economy of the County of Hawai`i. It would put at risk core services for residents and visitors, including ocean safety officers,  park and trail maintenance, police protection, fire protection, bus services infrastructure repair and maintenance."
    At the end of the day, the TAT was left at the current 9.25 percent. Kahele said that he supports the rail, in its original plan, connecting the new city of Kapolei with downtown Honolulu and University of Hawai`i at Manoa.

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A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN will be held a on Wednesday, May 10, the county Planning Department reminds the Ka`u citizenry. The hearing before the Windward Planning Commission begins at 5:30pm, at the Nā'ālehu Community Center, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Hwy, Nā'ālehu. For those wanting planning commissioners to consider their comments before the meeting, the deadline to send them in is Thursday, May 4. "Comment submitted electronically will be quickly forwarded to Commissioners," says a statement from the Planning Department.

     "The purpose of this public hearing is to afford all interested persons reasonable opportunity to comment on the Kaʻū CDP and for the Commission to review the CDP and consider its recommendation to the County Council." A link to the May 10 Planning Commission meeting and hearing and related materials is available at the CDP project web site: www.kaucdp.info.
   "The version of the Kaʻū CDP being recommended for adoption is very similar to the version recommended by the CDP Steering Committee in October 2015. Only non-substantive refinements are being recommended by the Planning Director," says the statement from the Planning Department.
     All Planning Commission meetings and public hearings are open to the public, and public comment is welcome. Public comment is accepted before and during Planning Commission meetings. If written comment is provided, ten copies should be submitted, states the Planning Department notice.

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Residents questioned the plans for Discovery Harbour at the recent
Steering Committee meeting for the Ka`u Community Development
Plan, which can be seen at www.kaucdp.info.

CONFUSION, ABOUT LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AT DISCOVERY HARBOUR, is the word from the Hawa`i County Planning Department. According to the Planning Department statement reminding citizens that on May 10, Ka`u Community Development Plan goes to public hearing, "There appears to still be a great deal of confusion about the land use designations recommended in the CDP for Discovery Harbour. 

      The Planning Department statement explains, "The 'gateway' parcels are in the State Land Use Agriculture district, are zoned Open, and are designated Rural in the General Plan. They do not have any Village Commercial land use designation; however, the CC&Rs allow for Single-family residential or Village commercial or multi-family residential. The CDP has no impact on the CC&Rs.
    "The CDP recommends that these parcels be designated Low Density Urban in the General Plan to allow for higher-density residential and neighborhood and convenience-type commercial uses that current land use designations don't otherwise allow.
     "People interested in that issue should refer to the Background Report and Planning Director's Recommendations: http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/background-report-and-planning-directors-recommendations-to-the-windward-planning-commission/view, specifically:
The definitions of "Low Density Urban" and "Rural" in the CDP glossary," suggests the Planning Department
     Maps are on pages 18-19 of Exhibit 2: Strategy Rationale (to see current General Plan designations) See pages 4-5 of Exhibit 3: CDP PROJECT TEAM'S DETAILED COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS related to agency comment.

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Ka`u Learning Academy students, with teacher Audra Zook at their
 Peaceful Garden site. Photo from Good for All News

KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY'S CHILDREN'S PEACEFUL GARDEN is a collaboration with an organization called Something Good in the World. The organization created a Children's Peaceful Garden design as presented at the most recent United Nations International Day of Peace. In the recent issue of Jane Goodall's Good for All News, writer Barbara Sarbin wrote:

     "Recently, Something Good in the World has been collaborating with a small charter school in Hawai`i." The article states that the Ka`u is rural and that in "situations where people don’t have access to healthy food, there can be a lack of knowledge about the origins of foods and how to make healthy choices, which contributes to poor health and nutrition.

     "Something Good in the World is dedicated to offering free farm-based education programs to children who live in these 'food deserts.' Access to fresh food is difficult in these places and schools provide many of the students’ meals for free. Despite what you might imagine on an island with trees dripping with avocados, mangoes, papayas, and bananas, the district of Ka’u is in fact a certified food desert.

Making worm cakes to help the soil to grow food at
Ka`u Learning Academy. Photo from Good for All News

     "The first step in helping set up their garden was to encourage their teacher, Audra Zook, to apply for a Roots & Shoots mini-grant. She took up the suggestion and named her project, 'Where’s the Food?'
    The article states, "In Ka’u, you can forage fruits and catch fish, if you know how. But what if you want to buy some veggies?  There are only two tiny grocery stores in the town of Na’alehu where the school is located, and you have to own a car to get to more affordable stores. In terms of fresh vegetables, there are farmer’s markets, but these are pricey and many people are on food stamps, which aren’t accepted at local markets. Most affordable foods are processed, which is less healthy and can lead to obesity and diabetes.

     "At one time in history, the district of Ka’u sustained 100,000 people on locally grown foods. Today, 85% of the food is imported. One goal of the school garden initiative is to encourage children and their families to supplement their tables with homegrown, fresh veggies and herbs.

Meeting with Audra’s garden class was a total pleasure. We made 'worm cake' (compost for worms), designed their Children’s Peaceful Garden, and collected lava rocks to delineate the spaces for growing herbs, cactus, and pineapples!  The children had great fun naming their worms for the worm bin, and visiting them each day to feed them and give them a misting of water. They collected lava rocks to create an oval for planting the pineapple garden and learned all about how pineapples grow.

Watering the Peaceful Garden in teams.
Photo from Good for All News

   "We found solutions to many of the obstacles Audra faced. Instead of planting veggies from seeds in the hard and dry ground, they’d have better success getting seedlings from a local organic farm. Rather than planting cash crops, like coffee or sugar cane that required a lot of water, it is better to go with native plants that need less water. We looked at a roof on their outdoor classroom that sloped down to the garden and was perfect for a rain barrel and drip irrigation system.

      "By the end of the week, a new Children’s Peaceful Garden was born. The garden is dedicated to peaceful play and integrated with the school curriculum. It teaches children the origins of their food and how to make healthy choices while supplementing their table at home. I received an email from Audra, telling me she had consulted with a local teacher who translated the name of the garden into Hawaiian so the children could connect with their language. The sign at the entrance reads “Ka Mala Maluhia” = The Garden Peaceful," wrote the writer for the Jane Goodall publication.

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Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, May 3 & 16/17, 9 a.m.; Thu, May 18. The county has shut down the Na`alehu site for participating via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and live-streamed and archived meetings.

Open Mic Night, Wed, May 3, 6 – 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thu, May 4, 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-2442 & 928-2015 An Evening of Hawaiian Language.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, May 1, 2017

Tiny Houses, according to proponents of the bill at the legislature, would provide affordable abodes for
farmers to stay close to their crops and livestock and also make farm worker housing more affordable.
Photo from Hawai`i Farmers Union United

THE TINY HOUSE INITIATIVE in the Hawai`i Legislature faces a final vote on Tuesday. Hawai`i Farmers Union United is asking for support from citizens, announcing "The tiny House Bill has made it through the House, through four committee votes, and through a joint Senate/House Conference!" The organization calls the bill "a real step towards food security." Farmers Union statewide Presidetn Vince Mina urges all supporter to write and call their state Senators to "let them know you support the HB@ Tiny House bill to help our farmers live on their farms and grow more local food."
     The Hawai`i State Legislature's description of the bill says it "Authorizes Authorizes tiny homes of less than 500 square feet for farm workers in agricultural districts in a county with a population of more than 180,000 but less than 250,000 (making it only applicable to Hawai`i County.)  County council may adopt ordinances for the oversight of tiny homes, as defined in this act. (HB2 CD1)."

     State Board of Agriculture Chair Scott Enright wrote that his department is concerned that "these 'tiny homes' do not become de facto residential dwellings if the County is unable to adequately monitor and enforce the farm worker/family occupancy requirement for these 'tiny homes.'”

     Testimony can be submitted at www.capitol.gov. See HB1.

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A GROWING NATIVE HAWAIIAN, PACIFIC ISLANDER AND ASIAN AMERICAN POPULATION should be recorded and analyzed by the federal office of Management and Budget, according to Sen. Mazie K. Hirono. She, Sen. Brian Schatz and nine other U.S. Senate Democrats urged OMB to update its standards for the collection of racial and ethnic data, not been updated since 1997.

     Hirono made the announcement today, the first day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

      “A lack of disaggregated data on the AAPI community has led to the ‘model minority’ myth that—based on the current federal data—virtually all Asian American, Pacific Islanders are self-sufficient, well-educated, and upwardly mobile. However, in reality these metrics differ widely among different AAPI subcategories," wrote the Senators. “Better data collection will more accurately reflect the AAPI community’s realities and needs such as educational challenges, language access, poverty, and disability. Without access to better data, these disparities would remain concealed behind the model minority myth leaving our communities invisible to policymakers and our needs unmet.” 

   The letter also requests OMB to require all federal departments and agencies to follow disaggregated classifications noted in a recently-released U.S. Census Bureau report titled 2015 National Content Test: Race and Ethnicity Analysis Report.

      The letter was also signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ben Cardin (D- Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D- Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

     The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center support the letter.

     Kathy Ko Chin, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, said, “Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders – communities that are incredibly diverse and trace their heritage to more than 50 different countries and speak more than 100 different languages – are acutely aware of the importance and need for strong federal data collection standards. These standards impact many aspects of health access, coverage and quality and produce data that the federal government and our communities rely upon.”  

 John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said,

“The Asian American and Pacific Islander community represents more than 100 countries and 56 languages, but that rich heritage is essentially invisible without disaggregated data. Such data is critical to our ability to get the proper level of services and representation. Our community delivered a strong message to OMB that we demand to be counted.”

     Christopher Kang, national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, said, "It is imperative for federal agencies to collect detailed data on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders so the government is able to determine the best ways to allocate resources that account for our community's economic, health and educational disparities, as well was our cultural and linguistic diversity. We are encouraged to have strong support from Members of Congress, hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals on the need to change federal data collection standards so that our communities are not misrepresented or left behind."

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Island youth listen as Ranger Noah explains how

 shards of volcanic glass, called Pele's Hair, are formed. 

NPS Photo/Janice Wei

FREE SUMMER JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMS begin June 6 and June 13 at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Deadline to register is noon, Wednesday, May 17. Keiki from ages seven to 13 years old are invited to become Next Generation Stewards.

     A fun-filled, three-day program for keiki ages seven to 10 is June 6-8, and a program for youngsters ages 11 to 13 is June 13-15.

       Each age group begins Tuesday and ends on Thursday. For the first two days, Next Generation Stewards begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. On the last day (Thursday), the program begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. The programs will start and end at the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai.

The summer junior ranger program is designed to encourage a child’s enthusiasm for conservation by connecting the child with park resources and staff, and to inspire his or her appreciation of what is uniquely Hawaiian by exploring the natural and cultural heritage of Hawai‘i.

Participants must bring and be able to carry their own day pack with water, snacks, lunch, and raingear, and hike for age-appropriate distances over uneven terrain at a leisurely pace. All interested applicants must submit an application to register. Contact Education Specialist Gwen “Lanakila” Anderson at (808) 985-6020 or email gwen_anderson@nps.gov for information and an application.

Applications are due by noon on Wednesday, May 17, and selections will be made, and parents notified, on May 18.

      The summer Next Generation Stewards junior ranger program is co-sponsored by the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association and the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

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KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL is accepting applications for the National Youth Advisory Council 2017-2018. The National YAC consists of ten high school students (15-18 years old) from diverse

backgrounds across the nation to participate selected to participate in this service-learning and leadership development initiative. Participants will contribute to and inform KAB on End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify Communities Impact Goals while acting as ambassadors and leaders for youth service in their communities. The National Youth Advisory Council, thanks to the generous support of the Wrigley Co. Foundation, creates a framework for youth engagement at the national, state and local level.
To review the application and instructions to prepare the application, visit the KAB website. Applications accepted through May 5, 2017 5:00 pm HT. Application must be submitted on-line and is available by clicking here.

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Cyril Pahinui has taught many classes and performed
often in Ka`u. 

CYRIL PAHINUI AND LED KA`APANA, who have taught Hawaiian music in Ka`u and supported numerous concerts and programs here, are nominated for People's Choice Awards Favorite Entertainer of the Year by the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts for the 40th Annual Na Hoku Hanaohan Awards.

Led Ka`apana, with roots
in Ka`u.

     The other nominees are: Kupaoa Hoku Zuttermeister, Kawika Kahiapo, Eauhou, Josh Tatofi, Kalani Pe'a, Jeff Peterson, Amy Hananaiali`i and Ra`iatea Helm.
      Deadline to vote online is May 13 at

http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/favorite2017

     The Na Hoku Hanohano Awards ceremony will be held in Honolulu at the Hawai`i Convention Center on Friday, May 19 as part of a Music Festival with workshops. See www.nahokuhanohano.org for workshop and show tickets.  

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NOAA’S HAWAIIAN HUMPBACK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY is seeking to fill four primary and seven alternate seats on its advisory council. The council ensures public participation in sanctuary matters and provides advice to sanctuary management. 

     Ka`u residents may qualify to be selected for the following open seats: business/commerce (primary and alternate); conservation (alternate); Native Hawaiian (primary); ocean recreation (alternate); and tourism (primary).
     Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and views regarding the protection and management of marine resources. Applicants who are chosen as primary or alternate members should expect to serve a three-year term.
     “The members of our advisory council represent an extremely important element of our community,” said Malia Chow, sanctuary superintendent. “Their input, experience and expertise assist sanctuary managers in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect and conserve our important cultural and natural resources.”

     Applications are due by Wednesday, May 31. To receive an application kit or for further information, please contact Shannon Ruseborn via email at Shannon.Ruseborn@noaa.gov; by phone at 808-725-5905; or visit the sanctuary website at http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/council/council_app_accepting.html. Completed applications should be submitted to: Inouye Regional Center, ATTN: NOS/HIHWNMS/ Shannon Ruseborn, 1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

Ka`u residents with expertise in Hawaiian culture, conservation, business,
 tourism or outdoor recreation can apply to become an advisor to the
Hawaiian Humpback National Marine Sanctuary. Photo from NOAA 

     The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawai‘i through the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation and stewardship. Join us on Facebook.
     A statement from NOAA says its "mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources." See Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels.

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Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, May 1, 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, May 2/3 & 16/17, 9 a.m.; Thu, May 18. The county has shut down the  Na`alehu site for participating via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and live-streamed and archived meetings.

Dance Imagined, Tue, May 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Karen Masaki offers a five-session series that explores basic movement technique, building strength and flexibility. $50. 967-8222

Hula Pele, Tue, May 2, 4 – 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Kumu Ab Valencia offers a four-session series that pays homage to Pelehonuamea and her home at Kīlauea. $200. 967-8222

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, May 2, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Open Mic Night, Wed, May 3, 6 – 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thu, May 4, 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-2442 & 928-2015 An Evening of Hawaiian Languag