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Monday, July 31, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, July 31, 2017

Summertime activities are ending, like weeks of fishing at South Point, as students head back to school in Ka`u next week.
See stories below. One of the classic Ka`u photos by Peter Anderson
ITS FIRST ANNUAL FESTIVAL FOR KEIKI IN KA`U was announced today by Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi. The non-profit will host Mālama Nā Keiki Festival at Na'ālehu Park on Saturday, Aug. 26. The Mālama Nā Keiki Festival promotes prenatal, children’s, and family health by providing a festival of health education, community resources, and interactive keiki activities. The festival is free and open to the public, aiming to serve expecting and first-time mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ‘ohana from across the county.
     Hawai’i Island family health agencies will participate in the event to share about their services. Participants will have the chance to learn about local prenatal, postnatal, and keiki health services available to their families. Clinical health screenings will a be offered, including hearing screenings and vision tests, along with immunization information and prenatal education. It will be a family fun day with keiki activities and local healthy food available to all participants.
     The Mālama Nā Keiki Festival will launch an island-wide Healthy Hapai prenatal cohort program. Each prenatal cohort will meet monthly in their regional area with a Hui Mālama health educator, for hands-on learning about maternity health and wellness practices. Interested women can sign up for the cohorts at the festival.
     The festival is made possible through support of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "Hui Mālama strives to help participants develop a strong network of prenatal and postnatal support, and learn best practices to prevent potential health problems, raise healthy happy children, strengthen family, and fulfill OHA and Hui Mālama's shared goal of a strong and healthy Hawaiian nation," says a statement from the organization.

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Raina Whiting has been selected for the
Rural School Leadership Academy.
NA`ALEHU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN TEACHER Raina Whiting has been accepted to a national program to support emerging teacher leaders who teach in rural schools. The 2017-2018 Rural School Leadership Academy consists of 39 Teach For America alumni across the country who teach in or are leaders of rural schools.
     The goal of the program is to train emerging school leaders by preparing them to lead schools as a principals or vice principals or to participate in chartering new schools. The cohort of 39 spent this past week in New Mexico focusing on leadership skill building, relationship building and learning from current school leaders.
     Whiting will attend leadership summits in several rural locations over the next year. Whiting joins educators from Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, North Carolina, Louisiana, Hawai'i, Idaho, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia and other parts of the U.S. that are considered rural regions.

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KA`U SCHOOLS LAUNCH THE FALL SEMESTER next week, with the following schedule:
     Ka`u High & Elementary School will have a Back-to-School Kick Off this Friday, Aug. 4 from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the gym for families and students to meet the faculty, with a spaghetti dinner to follow.
     Ka`u Learning Academy Charter School starts classes on Monday, Aug. 7.
     Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences Charter School starts for new students on Monday, Aug. 7 and for continuing students on Tuesday Aug. 8.Na`alehu Elementary School starts classes on Tuesday, Aug. 8 for grades first through sixth and pre-kindergarten. Kindergarten starts on Aug. 9 and 10.
     Ka`u High & Elementary School starts the fall semester with a transition day Wednesday, Aug. 9 for orientation for Pre-K through sixth grade as well as seventh and ninth grade students. All students start school on Thursday, Aug. 10.

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KA'U HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DIRECTOR Kalei Namohala has announced the following opportunities for student athletes and prospective staff from the following coaches:
     Football with Coach Duwayne Ke: Started July 17 with Eight-Man Football practices Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Coach Tammy picks up students who are interested at Hele On Park and Ride at 1:15 p.m. in Ocean View and 1:30 p.m. at 76 Gas Station in Na`alehu until start of school.
     Girls Volleyball with Coach Joshua Ortega: Starts Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Ka'u District Gym, 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Coach Tammy picks up students who are interested at Hele On Park and Ride 1:15 p.m. in Ocean View and 1:30 p.m. at 76 Gas Station in Na`alehu until start of school.
Ka`u High School's Athletic Director
Kalei Namohala
     Bowling with Coach Hiilani Lapera: Starts Tuesday Aug. 22. Sign up with Athletic Director Kalei Namohala, once school starts, from Aug. 9 to Aug. 18.
     Cross Country with Coach Erin Cole: Starts Aug. 14. Sign up with Athletic Director Kalei Namohala, once school starts, from Aug. 9 to Aug. 18.
     Cheerleading with Coach Jessica Carroll: See Coach Carroll first day of school to sign up.
     In order to participate, all students 9th to 12th grade must have a current physical and participation on file with Athletic Trainer Moses Whitcomb. For more information or questions contact the Athletic Director.
     Coaching Position Openings: Ka'u High is seeking head coaches for varsity boys and girls Swimming, varsity Baseball, varsity Softball and varsity Tennis.
    Seeking Assistant Cross Country Coach - works under the supervision of the Head Varsity Boys / Girls Cross Country Coach Erin Cole.
     Positions will include staffing the varsity and junior varsity programs. Applicants for coaching must have prior high school or college coaching experience. College diploma is recommended and must clear D.O.E. background check. Email resumes with at least three references to Athletic Director Kalei_Namohala@notes.k12.hi.us or fill coaches application form in school office. 

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A MULTI-STATE CYBERSECURITY COMPACT was signed by Gov. David Ige today, as Hawai‘i joins 3 other states to enhance state cybersecurity and develop the cyber workforce. The Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity is part of the National Governors Association’s Meet the Threat: States Confront the Cyber Challenge initiative. The compact makes recommendations to better secure states’ cyber infrastructure by building cybersecurity governance, preparing and defending the state from cybersecurity events, and growing the nation’s cybersecurity workforce, said a statement from the governor.
A reminder image from the state Office of Enterprise Technology Services.
   “The top priority of any governor is the public’s welfare and safety, which now includes protecting citizens from cyber threats,” Ige said. “I am proud to join my fellow governors in signing this compact and committing to its recommendations.”
      The compact specifically recognizes that a “competent and plentiful workforce” is critical to successful cybersecurity policy.
      “Hawai`i has already taken proactive steps toward the compacts goals,” said state Chief Information Officer Todd Nacapuy, who leads the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, the agency responsible for securing state government information resources and infrastructure. “These include establishing a state chief information security officer, reclassifying IT security positions to align with modern industry best practices, offering cyber internship opportunities, and supporting programs such as SANS Institute’s CyberStart program that encourages high school and college students to explore careers in cybersecurity.”
      Read the full Compact to Improve State Cybersecurity here:
https://ci.nga.org/files/live/sites/ci/files/1617/docs/1707CybersecurityCompact.pdf

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Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Association Meeting, Tue, Aug 1, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Blue Zones Project Gardening Demo, Wed, Aug 2, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Pāhala Community Center. RSVP at jadeiokepa@healthways.com

Open Mic Night, Wed, Aug 2, 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 and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371







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Sunday, July 30, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, July 30, 2017

Hawai`i Police Department officers converged on the late Officer Bobby Gomes' home base, Ka`u Police Station, on
Saturday for a "Last Call Bobby Gomes." Photo by Alan Moorse

True community policing officer
Bobby Gomes.
Photo by William Neal
BOBBY GOMES SEEMED TO BE EVERYWHERE, helping out during his entire life in Ka‘ū. He was a true community police officer every day, a peacekeeper, patient, kind and understanding to all who met him no matter their race, creed, faith or culture. He made time for everyone. 
     Gomes emceed the groundbreaking of the new Ka‘ū District Gym & Shelter with the Rev. Martin Mwashibula and was there for the ribbon cutting with Mwashibula when it opened last year. Gomes and wife Phoebe, for whom he always showed a public endearment, emceed the Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Pageant at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, and the couple served as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for keiki at Hana Hou Restaurant’s Christmas party.
       At KAHU, Ka‘ū’s community radio station, he hosted a show with live music from keiki, interviews and call-ins. It was one of the most listened-to programs until the station shut down, its license sold to Hawai‘i Public Radio, which now sends its signal from the same building. Gomes was an occasional photographer for The Ka`u Calendar.
     After his retirement from a 53-year career in the Hawai‘i Police Department, Officer Gomes directed traffic and people for many local events, including the Independence Day Parade in Nā‘ālehu. Last year, he served as its Grand Marshal.
Pahala Volunteer Fire Department salutes Bobby Gomes
during Saturday's procession. Photo by Alan Moores
         Gomes treasured democracy and campaigned to involve the community in local elections, offering support to many candidates, including close friend and current County Council member Maile Medeiros David. Serious about the future of Ka‘ū, Gomes testified during public meetings on the controversial biofuels factory that was proposed for Wood Valley. He sought preservation of history and historic buildings and took part in Ka`u Plantation Days. 
Phoebe and Bobby Gomes and family with County Council
member Maile David at last year's council swearing in
ceremony. Photo by Ann Bosted
     Immersed in local culture, he danced hula, played guitar and sang, accompanying his lifelong partner Phoebe at many events in Ka`u, including the Ka`u Coffee Festival, the opening of the Punalu`u Bake Shop Cookie Factory, and the annual Ka‘ū Christmas Parade where he rode, sang and played guitar with his Holy Rosary Church members.
     His funeral at the overflowing Holy Rosary Church in Pāhala on July 29 showed that his influence spread enormously beyond Ka‘ū. Police cars came from around the island and proceeded to Ka‘ū Police Station in Nā‘ālehu. Along the way, the public, police and firefighters stood in reverence with a salute of respect. At Nā‘ālehu, a Last Call sounded over the communications system: “Last Call Bobby Gomes.”
     Last year the County Council honored Gomes for his public service and community advocacy. Gomes launched his career with Hawai‘i County Police Department in 1962.
Bobby Gomes dances hula at the opening of Punalu`u Bake Shop
Cookie Factory. Photo by Julia Neal
Said Ka‘ū’s council member Maile David, “You nurtured several generations of children in Ka‘ū through tough love and constant reminders about the importance of ‘ohana, of helping your community and of treating everyone with honesty and respect.
     “As we all know, a man’s greatness is attributed to those closest to him. Your soul mate, guiding star, voice of reason for the past 59 years, is Aunty Phoebe. The kupuna dynamic duo that you are would help anyone in need without question or hesitation and always with aloha and compassion. You are an icon at parades and community events, an avid hula dancer and love playing the role of Santa because it brings joy to the faces of children who you love so dearly.
Bobby Gomes, fourth from left, during Plantation Days in Pahala.
Photo by Julia Neal
     “Leading by example, and always with humility and respect for others, you have shown us what it means to truly ‘live aloha.’” Bobby Gomes was 81, March 5, 1936- July 1, 2017.

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KA`U VOICES STAND UP FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE: Placard waving members of Ka‘ū Voices lined up along the road near the swap meet in Ocean View on Saturday to voice their support of the Affordable Care Act. Commonly called Obamacare, it has been threatened with repeal by the legislature in Washington, DC.
Holding signs for passing motorists to read were, from the left, 
Tim Houle, Linda Morgan, Sterling Robbins, Claire Underwood
and Edna Montague of Ka‘ū Voices. Photo by Ann Bosted
     Last week, three Republican U.S. senators voted with 48 Democrats to stop the repeal – an historic vote, which Sen. Brian Schatz said was prompted by the call of the people. Schatz wrote, “Thank you for all of your calls, your petitions, your tweets and for making your voices heard. Your activism made this victory possible.”
     An organization of activists, Ka‘ū Voices participated in the Women’s March after the inauguration of Pres. Trump. Its members meet monthly, and the next scheduled meeting is Sunday, Aug. 13, from 2 p.m – 3 p.m. at Punalu’u Bakeshop in Na’alehu.

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Working for more CERT certified volunteers are (front row) President of
Discovery Harbour Community Association Irene Eklund and
Volcano CERT Team Leader Nancy Lakin. Back Row: Civil Defense
official Barry Periatt, Volcano Fireman Paul Lakin, Discovery Harbour
board member Doug Flaherty, Orchidland Team Leaders Sharon
and Dennis McCartin, Civil Defense official Patti Pinto, and Discovery
Harbour board member Doug Castro. Photo by Alan Stafford

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TRAIN. Ka‘ū residents received training this summer for Community Emergency Response Teams. The course held at Discovery Harbour Community Hall over four Saturdays included instruction from county Civil Defense, the trainers specializing in various skills, including firefighting, triage for injuries, first aid and search and rescue. The classes wound up with a graduation and practice disaster activation on June 24. Graduates joined the Discovery Harbour/Na`alehu and Ocean View CERT teams.
     The graduates in the Discovery Harbour/ Nā‘ālehu CERT Team are: Jeanne Taylor, Richard Taylor, Diane Porter, Mary Henderson and Connie Hand. Ocean View received one new CERT member, Marty Marsh. Three other Ocean View residents recertified.
     Dina Shisler, Team Leader for the Discovery Harbour/ Nā‘ālehu CERT Team, said CERT teams are trained to serve in their own communities during emergencies and disaster response. “We hope to see more Ka‘ū residents take the CERT training and for there to be more teams formed to serve our communities.” She said she hopes to help build a separate team for Nā‘ālehu. Ocean View has a separate CERT team. The leader is Rick Ward.
     Monthly CERT meetings are held at Discovery Harbour Community Hall, the second Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Planned for Aug. 15 is a mock search and rescue at night. Call Shisler at 410-935-8087.

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Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Association Meeting, Tue, Aug 1, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Blue Zones Project Gardening Demo, Wed, Aug 2, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Pāhala Community Center. RSVP at jadeiokepa@healthways.com

Open Mic Night, Wed, Aug 2, 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 and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371

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Saturday, July 29, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 29, 2017

Keauhou koa forest, further protected by the new Safe Harbor agreement between Kamehameha Schools,
the state Department of Land & Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Photo by Travis Idol/CTHAR
NEARLY THIRTY THREE THOUSAND ACRES, much of it mauka of Volcano Village, will be further conserved with the Safe Harbor agreement approved Friday between the state Board of Land & Natural Resources, Kamehameha Schools, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The 32,800 acres at Keauhou and Kīlauea, given by Princess Ruth Ke`elikolani to Kamehameha Schools, adjoins the state Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve where the Hawaiian Crow is being reintroduced into the wild.
     It also borders Kapapala Forest Reserve, Hawai`i Volcanoes National park, Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and Kipuka Ainahou Nene Sanctuary. The land becomes the largest Safe Harbor for endangered species in the United States.
‘Alalā, with help from San Diego Zoo, will be reintroduced into
adjacent state land with the Safe Harbor property becoming
 a potential habitat for the future. Photo from San Diego Zoo
     The Safe Harbor agreement is for 50 years and is aimed at supporting recovery of threatened and endangered species. The contract establishes a baseline for Hawai`i's only native mammal - the hoary bat, as well as seven species of native birds and 25 species of native plants.
     It is a landmark agreement for Kamehameha School, the first time it has signed such a contract with the state and federal government for conservation.
     DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “The vast acreage covered by this Safe Harbor Agreement is incredibly important to the recovery and perpetuation of these vital bird, bat, and plant species. We are extremely happy to have worked out this agreement with Kamehameha Schools and in the coming decades look forward to many great stories of native species success as a result.”                    
     Kamehameha's end of the bargain includes its promise to plant more than 20,000 plants every five years, 1,000 acres of koa in new forests on old pasture, assuring firefighting capabilities with infrastructure and getting ride of pasture fence with barbed wire that can harm the bats. Most of the property is already fenced and largely free of goats, sheep, wild cattle and pigs that compete for resources with native species.
A few of the many species of wildlife supported by the new Safe Harbor
agreement between Kamehameha Schools, the state Department of Land &
Natural Resources and U.S. Fish & Wildlife.
Photos from Kamehameha Schools 
     Jackie Gaudioso-Levita, the ‘Alalā Restoration Project Coordinator for the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife said, “The momentous finalization of this large-scale Safe Harbor agreement will particularly benefit imperiled species, such as the ‘Alalā, which will be reintroduced on State land adjacent to the Keauhou-Ka‘ū Kamehameha Schools parcel, thereby in-part, protecting and managing potential ‘Alalā habitat for decades to come.”
     Kamehameha Schools CEO Jack Wong commented, “This agreement strengthens Kamehameha Schools’ ability to steward these lands in a manner that fosters healthy habitats for species fighting to survive. As we work toward a thriving lāhui, the cultural connection to ‘āina that is healthy and
vibrant becomes much more important for Native Hawaiians and all the people of our State.”
    Kamehameha Schools Ecologist Nāmaka Whitehead said that Hawaiians are Hawaiians because of the ‘āina. “Healthy, functioning native ecosystems are the foundation of Hawaiian cultural identity and well-being. Stewarding our ʻāina to be more resilient ensures that future generations will continue to have a relationship with the native species and ecological processes that make us who we
are. I Hawaiʻi no nā Hawaiʻi i ka ʻāina. Our ʻāina, Hawaiʻi, is what makes us Hawaiian.”
     Across the state, Kamehameha Schools owns more than 365,000 acres with about 5,000 acres set aside for commercial and residential use. The non-profit is tasked with using income for education and operates school campuses and outreach programs throughout the islands.
The Safe Harbor near Volcano includes bare lava (in red), forest with closed
canopy (dark green), forest with open canopy (light green), scattered
 trees (mustard) and very scattered trees (yellow). Map from Kamehameha Schools
     See the plan at https://dlnr.
hawaii.gov/wildlife/files
/2013/10/ks-sha.pdf.

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DANGER, HIGH VOLTAGE – KEEP OUT may become pervasive signs in Ocean View, alongside “For Sale” signs, if the industrial size solar project is allowed to proceed on neighborhood houselots.
    The project has been slowed by a complaint lodged by two Ocean View residents, with the state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates utility companies in Hawai`i. An application by HELCO, for an overhead transmission line to serve the project, was put on hold in September 2016 to allow the PUC time to considered the complaint. After an eight-month lull, the complaint case is once again active with an exchange of questions among the complainants, HELCO and the developer – an international corporation based in China, called SPI. 
      The project, which involves placing about 1,000 solar panels on 17 non-contiguous three-acre housing lots and eight 21-acre lots in Ocean View’s makai subdivisions, was announced by HELCO at a community meeting in June 2015. Since then opposition to the project has grown. A petition against the industrialization of Ocean View was signed by 640 residents, about 90 letters of protest were sent to the PUC, including letters from Ka`u’s elected representatives. 
      “I really object to their back door approach,” said Mats Fogelvik, President of the Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. “This project is supposed to be part of the Feed In Tariff Program, which was aimed at bringing renewable energy to Hawai`i when solar was still new. This should have been up and running in 2012 and saving the island from importing oil for the past five years.  
 
High Voltage signs and fencing are the likelihood, if industrial
scale solar farms are established in Ocean View neighborhoods.
Photo by Ann Bosted
    “It has not yet begun. Instead of spreading the 32 installations slated for this island on parcels of open land, HELCO allowed the developer to concentrate 26 installations in Ocean View on lots that are slated for homes. This is not what the FIT Program should be all about. We don’t want dangerous, high-voltage industrial installations, surrounded by six-foot security fences, in and among our homes. And we certainly do not want a new substation built on HRRMC land right next to the Kohala gate, which HELCO seems bound and determined to give us,” added Fogelvik. 
      This April, an SPI employee, Kevin White, who was vacationing in Hawai`i with his wife, hosted a community meeting in Ocean View, in an attempt to placate residents. 
      Residents loudly made statements to White, including the following: “Go away.” “We don’t want you here ruining our community.” “Have you heard of the Monkey Wrench Gang?” “Your panels will be good for target practice.” “This program was set up for agricultural people, not for you.” “You are scamming us for roads and poles.”
      One resident explained: “As soon as your project was made public, our land and home values went down.  This affects all of us. Everyone in Ocean View will take a hit.”
      Sandi Alexander, the former President of Ocean View Community Association, told The Ka’u Calendar, “I don’t believe they (SPI) have any clue who they are dealing with and how much opposition they will continuously have to deal with until this goes away. Why would anyone want to invest in technology that is already out of date?  We are going to be stuck with outdated, horrible, structures rusting away, and we are going to have to deal with them.  My first choice is no project at all and my second is project elsewhere."
A solar farm in Miloli`i of the type that could be constructed on
numerous lots in Ocean View. Photo by Ann Bosted
      “I object to the way they try to play the jobs card and convince us that this is what we want,” commented Sandra Shelton, Secretary of the Hawaiian Ranchos Community Association. “If the 16 lots in Ranchos could be used for homes, instead of solar installations, far more desirable and useful jobs could be created.  Home building requires carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, landscapers and many other skills that abound in Ocean View.  Solar panels don’t go shopping.  They don’t contribute to the community.  Any profits go to China. 
     “I am still getting e-mailed questions from concerned residents who are very much against the project,” she added. 
      SPI has stated publicly that it plans to sell the project as soon as it is completed, so generating profits from generating solar power is not a goal. Instead, a spokesman stated at a community meeting, SPI plans to claim generous federal and state tax credits, which will reimburse 65 percent of its investment.  If the project can then be sold for an estimated 75 percent of the cost, SPI will have received 150 percent of the cost of the project without producing power. 
      The exchange of questions among the parties to the PUC case (the complainants, HELCO and SPI’s lawyers) must be filed by Aug. 4.  The complainants must submit testimony by Sept. 1, other parties must submit testimony by Sept. 15, and the Complainants must submit rebuttal testimony by Sept. 28.  That will be followed by a prehearing conference, then a hearing, then post hearing briefs, then post-hearing reply briefs, and finally a decision by the PUC. 

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Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, Aug 1, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Blue Zones Project Gardening Demo, Wed, Aug 2, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Pāhala Community Center. RSVP at jadeiokepa@healthways.com

Open Mic Night, Wed, Aug 2, 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 and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371



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