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Monday, April 23, 2018

Ka‘ū News Brief Monday, April 23, 2018

Earth Day over the weekend saw volunteers tackle the Manukā coast from Humuhumu to Āwili Point.
See story below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
PUBLIC INPUT ON FUNDING $12M FOR NĀ‘ĀLEHU AND $5M FOR PĀHALA WASTEWATER TREATMENT IS DUE MAY 11. The state proposes providing low interest loans to Hawai‘i County to help fund both systems to replace Large Capacity Cesspools servicing old sugar camp housing. Public input is designed to help the Department of Health prioritize projects statewide. Nā‘ālehu is listed as top priority among more than 40 projects statewide. Pāhala is listed as number 19 on the priority list.
     Each year, the EPA provides a grant to the State of Hawai‘i to construct wastewater pollution control facilities. For fiscal year 2018, approximately $13.5 million is slated for Hawai‘i. The EPA requires that projects be prioritized and listed on the Project Priority List, along with estimated project start date and cost, for fiscal year 2019.
     Both the Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu projects would bring the county into compliance with EPA requirements to shut down Large Capacity Cesspools, which are outlawed by the federal government. County of Hawai‘i took over the operation of Large Capacity Cesspools at the old sugar camps in both towns in order to maintain them until legal wastewater systems are constructed. The state proposes to lend the county $12 million for the Nā‘ālehu project, and $5 million for the Pāhala project, through low interest loans.
Community members listened to community outreach consultant Berna Cabacungan at recent meetings where community 
members suggested moving the wastwater treatment plan away from the school. Photo by Julia Neal
     The county is at risk of being fined thousands of dollars a day by the EPA unless it moves toward a solution to the Large Capacity Cesspool situation, which was outlawed nationally in order to prevent untreated sewage from polluting water sources.
     In Nā‘ālehu, during recent public meetings, the location of the proposed treatment plant drew opposition from the principal, teachers, workers, and parents of students of Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, who recommended moving the project elsewhere, away from the campus. The preliminary design calls for a series of lagoons to treat the wastewater through absorption, using plants, trees, soil, and aeration.
     In Pāhala, the location next to the pine tree lane coming up Maile Street from Hwy 11 also met with opposition from some residents, who suggested placement below Hwy 11, farther from the town.
     Sandra Demoruelle, whose great grandson attends Nā‘ālehu School and whose family owns land suggested for the Nā‘ālehu site, objects to the location next to the school and submitted testimony. She is asking the county to install gang or individual septic tanks for the old camp housing to save the county money. She said that septic systems were chosen for the project many years ago and would be less expensive.
     Comments to the Department of Health can include asking for a public hearing. Comments can be mailed to O‘ahu Wastewater Branch, Department of Health, 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 207, Pearl City, HI, 96782. All comments must be in writing and must be postmarked by May 11.

Dr. Angie Miyashiro, Teacher of the Year for Kaʻū High and Pāhala
Elementary, and her husband, Stewart Miyashiro, Pāhoa High
Teacher of the year, met Gov. David Ige on Sunday.
Photo by David Berry
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KA‘Ū HIGH'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, DR. ANGIE MIYASHIRO, met Gov. David Ige on Sunday at Nani Mau Gardens in Kea‘au. Her husband, Stewart Miyashiro, is Teacher of the Year for Pāhoa High. Both received congratulations from the governor, who addressed the attendees at the 18th Annual Hilo Chapter of the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association meeting.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Volunteers on Earth Day cleaned 864 lbs of debris from
a single mile of shoreline. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
EARTH DAY WEEKEND SAW CARE FOR THE KAʻŪ COAST at Manukā on the north end of Kaʻū. On Saturday, April 21, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund volunteers cleaned the shore between Humuhumu amd Āwili Point within the Manukā NAR ahupuaʻa. Thirty-one participants covered a mile of shoreline to remove 864 lbs of debris, including 200 lbs of derelict-fishing nets, which will be shipped to Oʻahu to burn for electricity. Two supersacks of 3,000 lbs of debris will go to terracycle for recycling and the remaining 26 feed bags of miscellaneous debris, weighing 364 lbs., will go to a landfill.
On Earth Day, 200 volunteers cleaned at total of 6,300 lbs
of debris from shoreline areas, filling bags both small
and large. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
     With last weekend's cleanup, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, NARS workers, and 200 volunteers removed 6,300 lbs. of marine debris and shoreline user litter from the Manuka area during 10 collaborative cleanups. Organizer Megan Lamson thanked NARS for providing water bottles and shirts for volunteers and NOAA Marine Debris Program for partial funding of community cleanup efforts over the years.
     Upcoming Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund volunteer efforts are on: Friday, April 27th, at Waiʻōhinu pools for a debris workday. Rides are full but volunteers can bring their own 4WD; Friday, May 18th, a Kaʻū Estuary Restoration Workday, requiring a short hike to access the site; Sunday, May 20, a Waiʻōhinu Cleanup event with Island Naturals and friends - space is limited; Tuesday, June 5, a Wai'ōhinu Cleanup event with Hawaiʻi Outdoor Institute and friends - space is limited.
     To volunteer for any of these events, contact kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com

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Overlook crater vent, Sunday, April 22 at 8:14 p.m. Image from research camera mounted in the observation tower at HVO1.2 miles from the crater. Photo from volcanoes.usgs.gov
LAVA OVERFLOWED THE RIM OF HALEMA‘UMA‘U LAVA LAKE five times since Saturday. Onlookers and scientists observed lava bubbling over the rim of the summit lava lake at Kīlauea.
     The largest overflow occurred during the fifth pulse, which started at 6:30 a.m. today, April 23, and continued for about three hours, covering about a third of the crater floor with shiny black lava. Multiple spattering sites were active around the margin of the summit lava lake this afternoon, and the lake surface had dropped to a few meters below the vent rim, reflecting the switch from inflation to deflation at the summit of Kīlauea.
     There has been no increase in seismicity, but the area around Halema‘uma‘u remains closed to the public due to ongoing volcanic hazards, including high sulfur dioxide gas emissions and unexpected rockfalls and explosions.
Helicopter overflight this afternoon, April 23, of Halema‘uma‘u crater
shows the largest overflow (silver gray), which happened from
6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. this morning. The overflow covered much of
the April/May 2015 and October 2016 overflows, but a section of
the 2015 overflow is still visible on the south (upper edge,
dark arc) of the crater floor. Photo from volcanoes.usgs.gov
     Inflation is still increasing for Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone. Puʻu ʻŌʻō has shown no new lava flow in the crater during the past day. Episode 61g lava flow is active above Pulama pali, but the flow does not pose a threat to nearby communities at this time. There is currently no active lava on the pali, the coastal plain, or entering the ocean.

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PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL BEING REVIEWED by lawmakers on O‘ahu this week. Senate Bill 2990 would give all employees in Hawai‘i access to leave benefits when they need to provide care for a family member: the birth or adoption of a child, or a spouse or parent with a serious health condition. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act already provides for 12 weeks of unpaid leave under these circumstances, for companies with 50 or more employees, with Hawai‘i adding a four-week extension for those who work at companies with 100 or more employees. The measure is supported by Gov. Ige, Lt. Gov. Chin, and several unions and nonprofits.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

BILL TO CHANGE HOW VACATION RENTALS are treated in the state is being reviewed by legislators this week. House Bill 2605 would make agencies like AirBnB jointly responsible for collecting Transient Accommodations Taxes - if one party failed to pay taxes correctly, both rental company and owner would be liable. It would give counties access to information that normally requires at least a subpoena, including 1099 information. The bill would require owners to provide proof of compliance with all zoning, land use, and tax laws - violations would result in a $25,000 fine if not responded to within seven days. The bill would also provide for seizure of the property and all income earned from operating a vacation rental with violations, and allow counties to change the zoning to declare a property to be ineligible for vacation rentals, then seize the property if the owner were to continue using it for vacation rentals. The bill is opposed by Rental by Owner Awareness Association.

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Abandoned vehicle law may soon change.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Public Radio
THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TEN DAYS TO REMOVE ABANDONED VEHICLES from roadsides if House Bill 2442 passes the House and Senate conferences this week. The bill would change how owners are notified: currently, registered owners of abandoned vehicles are sent a letter by their county. Under the new law, owners would only be notified if the vehicle was reported as stolen. The definition of an abandoned vehicle would change to include a vehicle owner not transferring title to their name within 30 days of notice to the county of purchase, and any vehicle not registered for more than a year would also be considered abandoned. William Kucharski, Hawai‘i County's Environmental Management director, is opposed to the bill, saying the changes would burden Hawai‘i County due to manpower and budget constraints.

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Kaʻū Trojans Boys Volleyball Varsity and JV teams. Photos from khpes.org 
TROJANS CLEAN UP IN FINAL BOYS VOLLEYBALL game of the Spring. With Ka‘ū hosting Parker, the game was Varsity only. Scoring 12, 19, and 22, Parker struggled to catch the Trojans, but they remained Ka‘ū strong.
     Girls Volleyball, Eight-man Football, Cross Country, Cheerleading, and Bowling will begin in the Fall.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, Apr 24, 10 a.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, last Tue of each month, Apr 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View, at Paradise Circle-Mauka. Food is often gone before 1 p.m. We ask all participants to respect the grounds where this is held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on that Tuesday. For more info or emergency food, call Dave Breskin at 319-8333. We are expanding our services to include - based on availability - free clothing provided by nonprofit Big Island Giving Tree, and pet food provided by the Hawai'i Humane Society.

Getting a Handle on Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, Tue, Apr 24, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. J.B. Friday, extension forester with University of Hawai’i, shares current understanding, management, and how to avoid spreading the disease. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNEDAY, APRIL 25
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Apr 25, 9 - 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors, 60 years & older, encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i; referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Kāhili Demonstration, Wed, Apr 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn to make a small hand-held feather standard - an example of Hawaiian art. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Apr 26, noon - 1 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Vendor Application Deadline for Ho‘olaule‘a, Fri, Apr 27. To become a vendor, contact Brenda Iokepa-Moses at biokepamoses@gmail.com or 731-5409

Coffee Talk, Fri, Apr 27, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in an informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Pa‘ina & Open House, Fri, Apr 27, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. Free; donations accepted for Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Scholarship Fund. Julia Neal, 928-9811, mahalo@aloha.net. kaucoffeefestival.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Apr 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Unity Celebration, Sat, Apr 28, 10 - 4 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Hosted by The Collective. Free.

Hawai‘i Democratic County Convention, Sat, Apr 28, Sangha Hall, Hilo. hawaiidemocrats.org

Flameworking - an Introductory Class, Sat - Sun, Apr 28 - 29, 1 - 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Glasswork using a torch or lamp to melt glass. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee per person. Advanced registration required. Workshop limited to 4 adults. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

SUNDAY, APRIL 29
Pu‘u Lokuana, Sun, Apr 29, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest, Sun, Apr 29, 11 a.m., Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Free coffee and recipe tastings. 928-0550,  kaucoffeemill.com

ONGOING
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: through May 6. See all events at kaucoffeefestival.com.

Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events - nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities - at nps.gov/HAVO.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Hoʻokuʻi I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

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NEW & UPCOMING
BRING IN MEDICATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY, Saturday, April 28, urges the Hawaiʻi Police Department, Hawaiʻi Attorney General, County Dept. of Environmental Management, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The event legally accepts controlled substances like opioid pain medications. However, no illicit drugs nor needles will be accepted. "With the rise of prescription drug abuse, this is one effort to combat that problem. Spring Clean your Medicine Cabinet," says a statement from Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist, with the county.
     The Take-Back locations to receive the drugs will be in Kona at Hawaiʻi Police Department, 74-0611 Hale Makai Place, and in Hilo at Ka Waena Lapaʻau Medical Complex, upper parrking lot at the corner of Ponahawai and Komohana Streets, 670 Ponahawai St.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

5TH ANNUAL KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 1, with the 2018 race taking place Saturday, September 22.
     Organized by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run offers three moderate to highly challenging races - 5K, 10K, and 1/2 marathon - through macadamia nut and coffee fields, along the slopes of Mauna Loa in Wood Valley.
     All races start 7 a.m. at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, 96-2696 Wood Valley Road, above Pāhala Town.
     Those interested are encouraged to register online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, before Monday, July 9, for the highest discount possible - 5K/$25, 10K/$35, HM/$45, per person. After July 9, ticket price increases $5 per person, per race type, and again on August 13. Participants can register online until September 20.
     To learn more about the event organizers, visit okaukakou.org/kau-coffee-trail-run or webscorer.com/kau-coffee-trail-run. For more details about the start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, visit kaucoffeemill.com.
     The event is sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou and Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, with additional support from Edmund C. Olson Trust II, BioAstin, and County of Hawai‘i.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.



Sunday, April 22, 2018

Ka‘ū News Brief Sunday, April 22, 2018

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant lit up the Kaʻū District Gym for the first time on Saturday evening with Reishalyn Kekoa Jara taking the 2018 Crown in the glow of Volcano Stage Lighting. The pageant was directed by Kaʻū Coffee farmer Trini Marques. See story below. Photo by Julia Neal
SEA MOUNTAIN AT PUNALUʻU GOLF COURSE SHUT DOWN. Golfers from the other side of the island, who said they called to make reservations a month ago, arrived Saturday morning and found the place shuttered. A sign on the outside of the office at the tennis courts where golfers check in says, "Closed Indefinitely."
SeaMoutain at Punaluʻu Golf Course is closed indefinitely,
according to a sign at the check-in office.
Photo from swingbyswing.com
     The public course is owned by the Robert Iwamoto group, which also owns the undeveloped commercial, resort, and residential properties at Punaluʻu, and boat ramp near the more than 70 privately held condominiums near the famed Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach.
     Sea Mountain Golf Course, with its 18 holes and driving range, was constructed by the old sugar plantation company, C. Brewer, was designed by Jack Synder, and opened in 1971. It has a slope rating of 129 and course rating of 7.1-USGA. Golfers showing up to find it closed are making their way up to the nearby 18-hole course at Volcano Country Club.
     Recent green fees at Punaluʻu were $46.50 on weekdays and $49.50 on weekends.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

FIRES LIT UP BEACH TRASH FRIDAY at Kamilo. Hawai‘i Fire Department reported "intention fire of flotsam on the beach." The report said, "Upon arrival, two fires of ocean flotsam were found burning. Fire #1 was 3 X10 feet and fire #2 was 15 by 20 feet. Both fires were on the beach below mean high tide line."
     The trash included ropes, nets, and other ocean debris. A helicopter crew extinguished the fire using a Bambi Bucket and ocean water. High tide helped out as it enveloped the fire's location.
     Multiple calls of black smoke rising came from Kamilo beachgoers, with the first call coming in at 12:46 p.m. on Friday. The fire was out by 2:10 p.m., with one fire engine, one tanker, one medic unit, and the helicopter responding. Eight county crew and two volunteer fire fighters responded to the fire call, according to the Hawai‘i Fire Department report. There were no reported injuries.
     Kamilo is one of the Kaʻū Coast sites where Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund sponsors volunteer cleanup days to haul away the ropes, nets, and plastics that wash in from the ocean.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

 Reishalyn Kekoa Jara, Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2018, received her crown Saturday night, along with a scholarship from major founder Edmund C. Olson, who will also sponsor her appearances on behalf of the Kaʻū Coffee industry during her reign. Photo by Julia Neal
REISHALYN KEKOA JARA IS MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE 2018, crowned Saturday evening by 2017 Miss Kaʻū Coffee Jami Beck, in the pageant directed by Trini Marques. The new queen is a 16-year old Kaʻū High School Junior who loves sports and family. She won with Tahitian dance in Talent, and also took first in Gown and Photogenic categories. She is the daughter of Regulo Jara and Brenda Kekoa, of Nāʻālehu, and sister
to Jadelyn, Chaycen, Blaycen, Kamalyn, Jacelyn, and Regulo.
First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Helena Nihiplai-Sesson and her fisherman dad Guy Sesson. 
The 16-year old Kaʻū High student sang and played ʻukulele. Photo by Julia Neal
     First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Helena K. Nihipali-Sesson, who loves singing, playing ʻukulele, and dancing hula. She took first in Career-Interview, second in Talent and Photogenic, and third in Swimsuit and Gown. She is daughter of Guy Sesson and Sherraine Nihipali-Sesson, of Pāhala. Her adopted parents are Bradford and Jadelyn Moses, of Pāhala. She is sister to Asia, Ocean, and Rain.
     Second Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Karlee Kaliya Kealaikamaile Fukunaga-Camba. She is 16 and loves dancing. She took second in Swimsuit, and third in Career-Interview and Gown. Her parents are Keala and Justine Camba, of Pāhala. She is sister to Tyren Fukunaga-Camba.
Second Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess
 is Karlee Fukunaga-Camba.
Photo by Julia Neal
     Third Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Sheri Lynn Freitas. She is 18 and a student at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo and excels in sports and business. She took third in Talent and Photogenic. She is daughter of Rodney and Marlene Freitas, of Pahala. She is sister to Jessica, Michaela, Shaelia, and Ikaika. She is a graduate of Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School.
     Miss Kaʻū Coffee will represent the Kaʻū Coffee industry throughout the year at events in the community and beyond, her appearances sponsored by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, II. The Miss Kaʻū Coffee Court will meet the public this Friday at Pāhala Plantation House at 6 p.m. for the kickoff open house for the tenth annual Kaʻū Coffee Festival. See all the events at kaucoffeefestival.com.

CRISTINA NICOLE AKIKO LOKELANI KAWEWEHI IS JR. MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE. She  is 12 years of age took first in Career-Interview, Evening Gown, and Photogenic. She is the daughter of Angelica Kawewehi and Bill Lorenzo, of Pahala. She is sister to Kapono, Mia, Keana, and Zachary Kuluwaimaka. She attends Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elemrntary School.
Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Cristina Kawewehi
and Miss Peaberry Jacelyn Jara.
Photo by Pam Taylor
     First Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee Princess is Jacie Umemoto. The 12-year old is daughter of Michael and Valerie Pakale, of Pāhala, She is sister to Moki. She attends Volcano School of Arts & Sciences.

JACELYN KALEIPUA KEKOA JARA IS MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE PEABERRY. The ten-year old is daughter of Brenda Kekoa and Regulo Jara, of Nāʻālehu, and granddaughter of William "Brada" Kekoa and Lani Kekoa of Kamaoa, Kaʻū . She is sister to Jadelyn, Blaycen, Reishalyn, Kamalyn, Chaycen, and Regulo. She attends Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
       First Miss Kaʻū Coffee Peaberry Princess is Tenielle Jade Ducosin Blanco. The eight-year old is the daughter of Ted and Donielle Blanco, of Nāʻālehu. She is sister to Triton and Teagan-Elis.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower
Telia Espejo-Navarro
Photo by Julia Neal 

TELIA ALIYANA KAULIAKAU`I ESPEJO-NAVARRO IS MISS KA`U COFFEE FLOWER. She is daughter of Elias and Alyssa Navarro, of Nāʻālehu. She is sister to Tehani-Mae, Kilinahe, Kanaʻi, and Koaliʻi. The six year old attends kindergarten at Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
    Kysha Kainanimalieonalani Ka`upu-Manini is First Flower. She is daughter of Sasha Kaupu and Kai Manini, of Pāhala. The three year old attends Nāʻālehu Elementary School.
    Second Flower is Lilianna Marques. She is daughter of Shawn Marques and Kuulei Marques. She is sister to John Michael and attends kindergarten at Pāhala Elementary School.
     Major scholarship funders for this year's pageant were Edmund C. Olson, Kaʻū Mahi, Kaʻū Valley Farms, CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union, Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Pacific Quest, Kaʻū Local Products, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Josh Green, Rep. Richard Creagan, and County Council member Maile David.
     Olson Trust also funds appearances by Miss Kaʻū Coffee throughout the year.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 23
Fishery Council Monthly Meeting, Monday, April 23; new membership encouraged - especially recreational, commercial and regional fishers - to provide feedback for the council on a regular basis, passed on to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Visit westhawaiifisherycou.ipower.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 24
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, Apr 24, 10 a.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, last Tue of each month, Apr 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View, at Paradise Circle-Mauka. Food is often gone before 1 p.m. We ask all participants to respect the grounds where this is held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on that Tuesday. For more info or emergency food, call Dave Breskin at 319-8333. We are expanding our services to include - based on availability - free clothing provided by nonprofit Big Island Giving Tree, and pet food provided by the Hawai'i Humane Society.

Getting a Handle on Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, Tue, Apr 24, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. J.B. Friday, extension forester with University of Hawai’i, shares current understanding, management, and how to avoid spreading the disease. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNEDAY, APRIL 25
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Apr 25, 9 - 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors, 60 years & older, encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i; referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Kāhili Demonstration, Wed, Apr 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn to make a small hand-held feather standard - an example of Hawaiian art. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Apr 26, noon - 1 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Vendor Application Deadline for Ho‘olaule‘a, Fri, Apr 27. To become a vendor, contact Brenda Iokepa-Moses at biokepamoses@gmail.com or 731-5409

Coffee Talk, Fri, Apr 27, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in an informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Pa‘ina & Open House, Fri, Apr 27, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. Meet Miss Ka`u Coffee and her Court. Listen to piano jazz, Hawaiian music and the band Shootz. Meet the coffee farmers.
       Free; donations accepted for Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Scholarship Fund. Julia Neal, 928-9811, mahalo@aloha.net. kaucoffeefestival.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Apr 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Unity Celebration, Sat, Apr 28, 10 - 4 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Hosted by The Collective. Free.

Hawai‘i Democratic County Convention, Sat, Apr 28, Sangha Hall, Hilo. hawaiidemocrats.org

Flameworking - an Introductory Class, Sat - Sun, Apr 28 - 29, 1 - 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Glasswork using a torch or lamp to melt glass. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee per person. Advanced registration required. Workshop limited to 4 adults. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

SUNDAY, APRIL 29
Pu‘u Lokuana, Sun, Apr 29, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest, Sun, Apr 29, 11 a.m., Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Free coffee and recipe tastings. 928-0550,  kaucoffeemill.com

ONGOING
Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events - nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities - at nps.gov/HAVO.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Hoʻokuʻi I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

JUST ANNOUNCED & UPCOMING
RETURN TO THE WILD: ‘ALALĀ REINTRODUCTION EFFORTS is the topic of this Friday's Coffee Talk in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The April 27 event takes place from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
     ‘Alalā, the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow, are extinct in the wild. Rachel Kingsley, education and outreach associate for The ʻAlalā Project, will talk about the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of ʻalalā to Hawai‘i Island.
     The update includes information on what changes to the reintroduction plan have influenced the 2017 release, the status of the birds released in 2017, and the plan for future reintroductions. Attendees can learn more about the recovery of the ʻAlalā, a highly intelligent and unique crow species, integral to Hawaiian ecosystems and culture.
     Held on the final Friday of every month, Coffee Talk is an opportunity to get to know the Park and neighbors, and join an informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Entrance located south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy. 11.
     Visit nps.gov/HAVO for more about the park and its programs. 

Artist Nash Adams-Pruitt offers Flameworking, An
Introductory Class
, at Volcano Art Center on
Saturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

AN INTRODUCTORY CLASS TO FLAMEWORKING, also known as lampworking or torchworking, is offered Saturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., announces Volcano Art Center.
     Flameworking is a type of glasswork whereby the artist utilizes a torch or lamp to melt the glass. Once in a molten state, the glass is blown and shaped with tools and hand movements, forming beads, figurines, or other similar miniature artwork.
     Flameworking, An Introductory Class, under the guidance of instructor and artist Nash Adams-Pruitt, is designed for the student who has never touched a torch. Adams-Pruitt teaches the regions of the flame and heat base for a solid foundation from which to build flamework skills. Participants will learn to create sphere forms and pendants.
     Students complete the workshop with their own finished design, and knowledge and experience of basic skills involved to continue flameworking.
Examples of flamework art.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org
    Adams-Pruitt specializes in functional glass art. He has been working borosilicate glass at the torch for four years.
     Class fee is $155 per Volcano Art Center Member, $160 per non-Member, plus a $40 supply fee per person. Attendees are asked to wear covered shoes. Advance registration is required; workshop limited to 4 adults. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KDENte! ITALIAN FOOD FUNDRAISER, Fri, May 4, 6:00 p.m., at Almafatano's Italian Restaurant. Buffet of delicious food includes a pasta dish, lasagna, and a salad. Karl Halemano will provide musical entertainment. Tickets are $20, available at the door. Reservations by calling KDEN at 982-7344.
     KDEN is a non-profit community theater organization founded by experienced Community Theater organizers and performing artists. KDEN's mission is to provide and promote top quality community theater in East Hawai‘i, seeking to enrich and unite our community through participation in the performing arts. KDEN produces a summer musical, a winter production, and sponsors a Living History program in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and the Volcano Festival Chorus. Proceeds will help with KDEN's summer musical, Lionel Bart's Oliver, playing in July at KMC's Kilauea Theater.




Saturday, April 21, 2018

Ka‘ū News Brief Saturday, April 21, 2018

Overflows from the perched lava pond within west pit, a small crater adjacent to the main Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone, 
continue to build up the levees around the pond. The rising level of the perched lava pond during the past month is a sign of the increasing
 pressure within the magma system beneath Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. This overflow, captured by a USGS-Hawaiian Volcano Observatory time-lapse 
camera, occurred on April 17. Read this week's Volcano Watch, below. Photo from USGS
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AUDIO FROM TRUMP V HAWAI‘I will be available immediately after arguments conclude, next Wednesday, April 25, as urged by Sen. Mazie Hirono. The case addresses the State of Hawai‘i's objections to Pres. Donald Trump's proclamations on barring visitors, immigrants, and refugees from entry into the U.S. The Hawai‘i Attorney General contends that the Office of the President lacks authority to make such rules. According to a statement from the Court, the recording and transcript for oral arguments will be available by 2 p.m. on the 25th on the Supreme Court website.
Sen. Mazie Hirono requested the Supreme Court
immediately release recordings and transcriptions
once the Trump v. Hawaiʻi case has concluded.
     "I thank the Supreme Court for agreeing to our request to release same day audio for Trump v. Hawaiʻi oral arguments," Hirono said. "In high interest cases like this one, same day audio provides valuable insight into oral arguments, and increases access to primary sources of information on the case."
    Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, agreed: "The Court has opened up the judicial process regarding this case to the American public. I believe that the people of the United States will take this opportunity to recognize the care with which the Court considers the issues that matter to them, and hope to see this become a standard practice by the Court."
     The Senators wrote to Chief Justice John Roberts last month, saying: "Releasing same-day audio has proven to be a valuable resource for individuals who are interested in listening to the arguments, as demonstrated in cases such as Obergefell v. Hodges and D.C. v. Heller. Giving the public access to a primary source of information as soon as possible allows more citizens to participate in our democratic system and illustrates the care with which the Court considers the issues that matter to the people of the United States." Read the full letter here. Read the case 17-965.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

NO PRIVATIZING THE VA is the main takeaway from Sen. Mazie Hirono's meeting with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Nominee, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson. She met with the longtime White House doctor this week, to clarify his intentions. Jackson's Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee confirmation is scheduled for this coming Wednesday, April 25.
Sen. Hirono speaks with Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson.
Photo from Hirono's office
     "I welcome Admiral Jackson's commitment that he will not privatize the VA and I will hold him to it," Hirono said. "We also discussed the unique needs of veterans in Hawai‘i, including a shared commitment to improving access to health care services for veterans in rural communities through telehealth services. I look forward to hearing more from Admiral Jackson at his confirmation hearing."
     As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Hirono recently worked with the VA to continue providing nursing home care services for Maui veterans. Last month, she visited the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo to highlight her recently enacted legislation with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) to increase reimbursements for adult day health care services for severely disabled veterans. In January, the Senate unanimously passed Senators Hirono and Joni Ernst's (R-IA) VETS Act to expand VA telehealth services.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

DO RECENT CHANGES HERALD OPENING OF NEW PU‘U ‘Ō‘Ō VENT?  That's the question in this week's  Volcano Watch by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     In recent years, scientists have made significant improvements in developing sophisticated models of how volcanoes work. The ultimate goal is to develop models that allow scientists to forecast new activity. Despite these advances, operational volcano monitoring still relies primarily on "pattern recognition." In other words, scientists look at current monitoring data and compare it to past patterns and similar eruptions to anticipate when and how a volcano may erupt in the future.
A brief break in the rain allowed for some clear views of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on
Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone on April 18. Since mid-March, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
tiltmeters have been recording inflation, and uplift of the crater floor is
visible in HVO webcams. The lava pond within the west pit (foreground)
has also risen several meters (yards) and has overflowed onto the
floor of the west pit numerous times. Photo from USGS
     A clear pattern of activity has recently developed at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the current vent on Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone.
     Since mid-March, tiltmeters and GPS instruments have indicated rapid inflation at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Small lava flows have also erupted on the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor. Most striking, however, are webcam images showing that the main Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor is slowly uplifting like a piston - pushed up at least several meters (yards) in recent weeks, and again in recent days. 
     Additionally, the lava pond level in west pit, a small crater west of the main Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater, has risen at least 7 m (23 ft) since March 27. The pond is now "perched" above the floor of west pit, where overflows have incrementally built up the pond rim. This is reminiscent of past Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava pond activity.
     These changes indicate building pressure in the magma chamber beneath Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. While inflation and uplift of the crater floor are unusual compared to recent activity at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, it is not unprecedented. This pattern occurred two other times in the past five years - in June 2014 and May 2016 - as well as in earlier years of the eruption, most notably in 2011.
     In each of the two most recent cases, the building pressure culminated in the opening of a new vent on the flank of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone. The June 27, 2014, vent marked the beginning of the "June 27th flow," and the May 24, 2016, vent marked the beginning of the ongoing episode 61g lava flow.
An HVO geologist observes the perched lava pond
within the west pit of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Photo from USGS
     Assuming that the current changes result in a new vent opening on or around Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, the main question is, "where exactly will the vent appear?" Unfortunately, scientists are not able to determine with certainty where a new vent might open. But, it's an important question, because the accompanying hazard will largely depend on the location and duration of the vent.
     With the June 27th flow, the vent opened on the northeast flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and sent lava flows down the north side of the East Rift Zone. Over the course of many months, these lava flows advanced toward the community of Pāhoa, eventually posing a threat to residential areas.
     The 61g vent opened about 400 m (440 yds) east of the June 27th vent, sending lava flows to the south of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, often within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. These ongoing flows have not posed a threat to nearby communities.
     On September 21, 2011, a fissure on the upper east flank of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone drained the lava lake within the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater. This vent fed lava flows that advanced to the southeast, mostly through Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
     When lava bursts through the flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, areas immediately around the cone are extremely dangerous. On August 3, 2011, the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater floor collapsed and lava breached the flank of the cone, sending a fast-moving lava flow to the southwest. The initial breach sent a broad flood of lava traveling at speeds faster than a person can run.
Surface flows on the 61g flow field remain active. Most breakouts are within
2 km (1.2 miles) of the 61g vent on the flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, but a few small
surface flows are active on the upper flow field (above the pali)
roughly 6 km (3.7 miles) from the vent. Photo from USGS
     The August 2011 event is a reminder of why areas on and around Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō remain closed to the public. The volcanic hazards associated with Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, especially with the recent changes in activity, should not be taken lightly.
     While current circumstances indicate an increased likelihood of changes at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in the coming weeks, there is no guarantee that the current buildup in pressure within Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō will lead to the opening of a new vent. It is possible that the current inflationary trend could end with no result.
     However, because Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō appears to be at a critical juncture, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are closely monitoring it and will provide updates if and when conditions change.
     Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlaueadaily eruption updates, Mauna Loaweekly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Join NPS Master Volunteer Charlene Meyers for a Guided Hike to 
Keanakāko‘i Crater on Park Rx Day, Sunday, April 29. Event 
details, below. Photo by J. Ferracane, National Park Service 
NATIONAL PARK WEEK KICKS OFF TODAY, Saturday, April 21, with free entrance fees today and a variety of events at Volcano and Kahuku units of  Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
    Tomorrow, Sunday is the ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua event, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO.
     Next weekend offers two free programs on Sunday, April 29, the last day of National Park Week:
A Prescription for Fun in Kahuku on Sunday, April 29, is "perfect 
for families with young children." Event details, below. 
Photo by Janice Wei, National Park Service
     Guided Hike to Keanakāko‘i Crater takes place at 2 p.m. next Sunday and is expected to take about 2 hours. Participants are asked to meet Master Volunteer Meyers Devastation Trail parking lot. This moderate two-mile hike (3.2 km) traverses the Kīlauea lava flow from 1974 and reveals a "forest" of magnificent tree molds and lava tree formations. Look for tephra in the form of Pele’s tears from the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption, and long glassy filaments from the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, called Pele’s hair. Hike to the edge of Keanakāko‘i, and peer into this ancient crater, once used by Hawaiian craftsmen who carved its dense basalt into stone tools. Bring water, a rain jacket, sun protection, and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Park entrance fees apply.
     A Prescription for Fun in Kahuku is offered  next Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. with participants meeting near the main parking area of Kahuku Unit. See above for directions. Join a guided 0.4-mile walk up to the top of Pu‘u o Lokuana, a grassy cinder cone in Kahuku. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū. Perfect for families with young children, states the release.
     For more details, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Jami Beck's final walk as Miss Ka`u Coffee
is tonight at Ka`u District Gym.
Photo by Pam Taylor
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT IS TONIGHT, SATURDAY at Ka`u District Gym, 6 p.m. Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017, Jami Beck, a University of Hawai`i -Hilo student and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park ranger,  will pass the torch to the 2018 queen.
     Tickets are available at the door.
     Judging the pageant this year is 2010 Miss Ka‘ū  Coffee Ulu Makuakane, a kumu hula, Ka‘ū Hawaiian Homes Association member, and employee of Punalu`u Bake Shop.
     Also a judge is 2016 Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Rochelle Koi, a University of Hawai`i-Hilo student working on a degree in Early Childhood Education, and a ranger at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
    Also judging is Shara Ahia Kalanikuamaieiwilanie Keawe-Ako Dancel, a mental health therapist, director of a Tahitian dance studio and great-granddaughter of famed Hawaiian singer Genoa Keawa. She has deep family roots and is a graduate of schools here.
     The fourth judge is MacKenzie Franklin, a singer and Special Education teacher at Ka‘ū High & Pahala Elementary School. Pageant Director is Trini Marques.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 23
Fishery Council Monthly Meeting, Monday, April 23; new membership encouraged - especially recreational, commercial and regional fishers - to provide feedback for the council on a regular basis, passed on to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Visit westhawaiifisherycou.ipower.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 24
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, Apr 24, 10 a.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, last Tue of each month, Apr 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View, at Paradise Circle-Mauka. Food is often gone before 1 p.m. We ask all participants to respect the grounds where this is held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on that Tuesday. For more info or emergency food, call Dave Breskin at 319-8333. We are expanding our services to include - based on availability - free clothing provided by nonprofit Big Island Giving Tree, and pet food provided by the Hawai'i Humane Society.

Getting a Handle on Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, Tue, Apr 24, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. J.B. Friday, extension forester with University of Hawai’i, shares current understanding, management, and how to avoid spreading the disease. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Apr 25, 9 - 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors, 60 years & older, encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i; referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Kāhili Demonstration, Wed, Apr 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn to make a small hand-held feather standard - an example of Hawaiian art. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Apr 26, noon - 1 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Vendor Application Deadline for Ho‘olaule‘a, Fri, Apr 27. To become a vendor, contact Brenda Iokepa-Moses at biokepamoses@gmail.com or 731-5409

Coffee Talk, Fri, Apr 27, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in an informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Pa‘ina & Open House, Fri, Apr 27, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. Free; donations accepted for Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Scholarship Fund. Julia Neal, 928-9811, mahalo@aloha.net. kaucoffeefestival.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Apr 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Unity Celebration, Sat, Apr 28, 10 - 4 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Hosted by The Collective. Free.

Hawai‘i Democratic County Convention, Sat, Apr 28, Sangha Hall, Hilo. hawaiidemocrats.org

Flameworking - an Introductory Class, Sat - Sun, Apr 28 - 29, 1 - 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Glasswork using a torch or lamp to melt glass. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee per person. Advanced registration required. Workshop limited to 4 adults. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. Call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. Park Stars themed events - nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities - at nps.gov/HAVO.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Hoʻokuʻi I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

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UPCOMING & JUST ANNOUNCED 
PAPER CUP FISH CRAFT AT PĀHALA COMMUNITY CENTER, a free Arts & Crafts activity, for keiki in grades K-8, Wednesday, May 2, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register from Monday, April 23, to Monday, May 1. For more, call Nona Makuakane at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.