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Thursday, March 07, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 7, 2019

Invasive Fire Trees, Morela faya, were surveyed by helicopter today in the upper region of the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. See the schedule, below, for more air activity in the park. Photo from Forest and Kim Starr
LEAD AND CHLORDANE are contained and removed from soil at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, according to the state Department of Education. Lead has also been removed and contained at Nāʻālehu Elementary.
     Highly contaminated areas at each school were addressed with containment measures, ranging from removal of affected soil and either replacement with clean soil, ground cover, or pavers, to restricting access to affected areas.
Chlordane was banned in 1988 but has
lasted in some soils on the school campus in
Pāhala where it was recently removed and
contained, along with lead. Those who
stored it after it was banned are urged to 
dispose it to prevent future contamination.
     DOE and the state Department of Health completed soil studies at 23 east Hawaiʻi schools. Lead, chlordane, and/or arsenic were discovered in the soils of 18 schools. DOE states the information is being shared "out of an abundance of caution," that exposure to these contaminants is preventable, and that contamination of this kind can "persist around any older home or building."
     Banned chemicals, like arsenic-containing pesticides and chlordane termite treatment, stored in garages and other buildings in the community, can be disposed at the Kailua-Kona Transfer Station at 74-611 Hale Makai Pl. from 7:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1 and at Hilo Transfer Station on Saturday, June 15 at 1471 Hoʻolaulima St. from, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
     An information sheet from DOH about the contamination on school grounds states the chemicals found were mostly in narrow three- to four-foot-wide strips around buildings. Lead contamination is thought to be due to use of lead paints prior to 1978, arsenic due to pesticide use in the 1910s through the 1940s, and chlordane due to termite control measure in the 1940s through the 1980s.
     The sheet explains ways to limit effects of possible exposure to contaminants include washing hands after outdoor activities, washing soil-grown food well, and cleaning up tracked-in dirt.
    Parents concerned about exposure are encouraged to contact the 24-7 Hawaiʻi Poison Control Hotline at 800-222-1222 or their child's physician. Questions or concerns about a specific school can be directed to the school's administration staff.

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A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETING FOR PĀHALA, the first in many years, will be held next Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House. The new Community Police Officer for Kaʻū, Shawn Ibarra, said he hopes the community will join in the effort. He plans meetings monthly at either Pāhala Community Center or the activity room at Kaʻū District gym.

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FLIGHT PLANS FOR HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK are set for March: In addition, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation. The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors, says a statement from Hawai`i Volcanoes. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather. Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.
   • Today, March 7, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., a helicopter departed from the rainshed at Kīlauea summit for invasive faya tree surveys in upper Kahuku mauka and east units, above 5,000-ft. elevation. 
   • March 12 and 13, between 7 a.m. and noon, to fly supplies and crews for petrel monitoring between Mauna Loa at about 9,000-ft. elevation and the rainshed at Kīlauea summit. The faya, also called the Fire Tree 
   • March 19, between 7 a.m. and noon, for fountain grass survey and control in the Ka‘ū desert between sea level and 3,000-ft. elevation.  
   • March 19, between noon and 1 p.m., to transport fence material to Kapāpala boundary nēnē pen.
   • March 20, between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., to transport fence material to the Ka‘ū desert boundary between sea level and 3,000-ft. elevation.  

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WHY LAVA FLOW THICKNESS MATTERS is one subject of today's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     How is lava flow thickness measured and why does it matter?
     Eruption rate (how much lava comes out of the ground per unit time) is probably the best measure of volcanic activity, and the first step in that calculation is to measure lava flow thickness and area.
Lava flowing down streets in Leilani Estates during 2018's eruption.
USGS photo
     During the first few years of Kīlauea Volcano's Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption, episodic high lava fountains produced multiple lava flows. After each event, HVO scientists measured thicknesses using hand levels at multiple locations along the edges of each lava flow.
     The flow volume was then calculated as the product of the flow area multiplied by the average flow thickness. The eruption rate equaled this volume divided by the duration of the eruption in seconds.
     For the first year of Puʻu ʻŌʻō activity, calculated eruption rates were 15-65 cubic meters (4,000-17,000 gallons) per second.
     But this method didn’t capture all the variations of lava flow thicknesses across flows. For example, many ʻaʻā flows, like Kīlauea's fissure 8 lava flow in 2018, host an empty lava channel. If we assumed that the flow was uniformly as thick as the height of its edges, we would overestimate the lava flow volume as well as the eruption rate.
     It gets better.
     In 1993, scientists used an airborne radar flown over Kīlauea at an altitude of just under 8 km (26,000 ft). The radar could image a lava flow with accuracies of 1-2 m (1-2 yds) and determine thousands of surface elevations for each lava flow, not just a few thicknesses along its edge. Flow volumes calculated this way (pre-eruption elevations of the ground surface subtracted from the 1993 elevations of a lava flow) were slightly higher than those calculated with the simpler method of measuring thicknesses along flow edges.
     The eruption rates calculated for the continuous lava eruption after 1986 were much lower than for the episodic high fountaining phase -- 3-5 cubic meters (800-1,300 gallons) per second.
 A river of lava flowing from fissures during 2018's eruption. USGS photo
     The next improvement in measuring flow thickness was the development and use of Light Detection and Ranging (lidar). Specialized equipment was flown over an area by airplane or helicopter, from which billions of laser pulses showered down to the ground. This produced details on lava flow surface elevations accurate to a few centimeters (an inch or less).
     Over the last few years, similar results have been obtained by geologists in helicopters snapping overlapping digital photos of the ground, each tagged with the camera's GPS coordinates. Computer software, using the "Surface-from-Motion" (SfM) technique, can automatically identify common locations in adjacent photos and assemble a 3-dimensional image of ground elevations from hundreds of photos. A bonus is that the photos can be stitched together to produce a single, high-resolution, photo mosaic map of the area.
     During Kīlauea's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption, cameras on Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) did the photography. Using about 2,800 aerial photographs, the SfM software calculated 1.5 billion common points that were connected to create a centimeter-scale digital elevation model of the Puna lava flow. A pre-eruption lidar digital elevation model was subtracted from the drone SfM digital elevation model of the erupted flows to produce a lava flow thickness map. A preliminary version of this map was posted on the HVO website on February 19.
This preliminary thickness map of Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone lava flows was calculated by 
subtracting pre-eruption ground surface elevations from post-eruption ground surface elevations mapped with 
USGS Unmanned Aerial System (drone) flights. The drones acquired 2,800 aerial photos from which 1.5 billion 
common points were automatically selected by Surface-from-Motion software. It is still preliminary because 
additional ground control points are needed to finalize the map. USGS map
     The posted map is preliminary for two reasons: 1) It is missing coverage of some earlier lava flows to the south, and 2) we need more carefully surveyed ground control points to match the areas unaffected by the 2018 lava flows in the pre- and post-eruption elevation models.
     Using the preliminary map, we can calculate a rough estimate of the total volume of lava erupted and added to the land surface -- about 0.8 cubic kilometers (over a million cubic yards). When corrected for voids in the lava and divided by the duration of the eruption, this yields a minimum eruption rate of about 50-200 cubic meters (13,000-53,000 gallons) per second. This eruption rate is significantly larger than most, if not all, known Kīlauea eruption rates.
     Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption was a truly remarkable, but very destructive, event that has prompted much discussion and rethinking in various fields, from volcanology to emergency management and land use planning. HVO scientists will be working to better understand the eruption and its significance for years to come.
     One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred in Kaʻū during the past week: a magnitude-2.6 quake 11 km (7 mi) southeast of Leilani Estates at 6 km (4 mi) depth on March 3 at 8:50 a.m.

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TALES OF FORGIVENESS – THE THREE MONKS will be told at Volcano Art Center on Thursday, April 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. $10 VAC Members, $15 general. Jeff Gere opens with a long local tale of Forgiveness (a true supernatural tale): a Hawaiian Family begs a stone to forgive them. Then Gere performs the Tale of the Three Monks as "live narrative amid a unique video of collage illustrations and musical bed. A discussion ends the evening." This is not a show for children, states the event description, as it contains sexual references, violence, Buddhist thought, and supernatural events.
     Says Gere on the Tale of the Three Monks: "This 'new show' is thrilling, scaring & daring me to create something wonderful: I'm putting myself into a movie - I've created supporting images & sound - and live, in the middle of it, I tell three sad tragic love stories, The Three Monks.
     "Three monks meet on a forlorn mountain trail. One face shows the refinements of court life. Another wears battle scars. The third face is round and soft. Their tragic tales reveal that each man's fate is entwined with the others. Their thrilling adventures, worldly wisdom, and exquisitely sad beauty has inspired tears.
Watch Jeff Gere, storyteller, April 11 at Volcano Art Center.
Photo from Jeff Gere
     "I read this Japanese tale in college 40 years ago, a collection authored by Donald Keene. It did not include the 3rd monk's tale. Then, in Thailand in 2015, a Vietnamese teller remarked how his traditional tales are so sad! Right then, the 3rd tale fell into place: a Vietnamese folktale I read as a picture book years ago. I don't question these things. I told them with masks at Honolulu's Spalding House Museum in 2016. People wept. Oh, my fascination with the powerful emotional effects of tragic tales increased. I've been collecting images & plotting this theatrical storytelling show since.
     "I told these tales at the Hawaiʻi Book & Music Fest in 2017, as the second half of a solo show for Hawaiʻi Public Radio in June 2018, and this audio/video version premiered at the Oʻahu Fringe in January. How exciting & scary to be so consumed with a tale!... or three -- with composed & coordinated visual & audio technology! I'm still not sure why such tragic tales of love 'work' on me & my audiences. But they do."

Masks Jeff Gere uses as part of his performances.
Photo from Jeff Gere
     Gere blends talents as painter, puppeteer, and mime into performances which have electrified audiences in Hawaiʻi for 25 years. Gere's physical energy, morphing elastic face, and voice characterizations make his shows events; he becomes his stories. Born on Halloween, Gere performs constantly. He produced the Talk Story Festival, Hawaiʻi's biggest storytelling celebration, 26 years; Story TV, monthly, 23 years; Talk Story Radio, 2 years, weekly shows; story camps; and conferences. He taught Storytelling at UH Manoa in the Spring of 2017. He performed at the National Storytelling Festival in 2010, with a Residency in 2013, and in Spain, Hong Kong, Turkey, Vancouver, and the Yukon. Gere retired from Oʻahu Parks Departmentin 2014, and began international tours to Thailand, China, Japan, Australia, and twice to India, Romania, and Taiwan, with Kenya planned for June. Find him at jeffgere.com and on YouTube.

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SPIN ON DOWN THE ROAD, the 33rd annual Special Parent Information Network Conference, geared toward parents and families of, and professionals who work with, children with disabilities, happens April 13 at UH-Mānoa campus on Oʻahu. The conference offers opportunities for learning about supports and evidence-based practices and networking with other parents and professionals across the state.
     SPIN is co-sponsored by the Department of Education and the Disability Communication Access Board. The mission is to provide parents of children with disabilities, and the professionals who serve them, with timely and useful information about the special education process, parenting a child with special needs, specific disabilities, special events, and community resources.
     Last year's SPIN Conference workshops drew over 150 professionals in the field of disabilities in addition to families from across the state. Over sixty agency tables, offering valuable information on a wide range of resources for keiki birth to young adulthood, are expected to be on hand this year.
     See spinhawaii.org, call 808-586-8126, or email spin@doh.hawaii.gov for more.

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KAʻŪ TROJANS HOSTED KONAWAENA for a softball game Tuesday, March 5. Final score was Kaʻū 1, Kona 18, with the home team up against a much larger school. See more Spring sports events scheduled, below.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 9, 1 p.m., host Kohala
Sat., March 16, 1 p.m., host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 1 p.m., @Konawaena
Softball:
Sat., March 9, 11 a.m., host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m., host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m., host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, 6 p.m., @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 9, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, 3 p.m., @Keaʻau

NEW and UPCOMING
PARKS AND RECREATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS FOR KEIKI, 14 years old and younger, are underway at Nā‘ālehu Community Center courts, through Mar. 27. Registration is ongoing.
     For keiki ages 10 and under, the program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For keiki ages 14 and under, the program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Richard Karasuda at 939-2510. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours and address.

PARKS AND RECREATION VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS FOR KEIKI, 14 years old and younger, are underway at Nā‘ālehu Community Center courts, through Mar. 27. Registration is ongoing.
     For keiki ages 10 and under, the program meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For keiki ages 14 and under, the program meets Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Richard Karasuda at 939-2510. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours and address.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner, Friday, March 8, doors open at 5:30p.m., dinner served 6-8p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. $8/single meal, $15/couple, $20/family. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Community Dance, Friday, March 8, 7-10p.m.Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, March 9, 8-11a.m.Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

The Business of Art, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-4p.m.Volcano Art Center. Intensive training for artists who want to grow their business, led by Ira Ono. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, March 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.orgfacebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Saturday, March 9, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Saturday, March 9, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

La Réunion: Our Sister Park in the Indian Ocean, a special After Dark in the Park presentation, happens Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Réunion National Park and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites and became sister parks in 2015. The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats. Meet students and educators from La Réunion, who traveled to Hawai‘i Island and are staying in Pāhala and Kīlauea Military Camp.

TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

 Next Tuesday's After Dark in the Park offers a virtual visit to Pahu manamana o ʻUmi, an ancient Hawaiian  stellar instrument on Mauna Loa. The event is at  7  p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center. Photo by Kalie Nuʻuhiwa
After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9-2 pm, just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit is open daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 6, 2019

La Réunion National Park in the Indian Ocean is a sister park to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Students and educators
 from Réunion will make a presentation to the community next Monday at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center.
Photo from La Réunion National Park
THE ISLAND OF LA RÉUNION, REPRESENTED BY STUDENTS -- who flew 27 hours to reach their sister, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park this week -- will offer a presentation on Monday, March 11 at a special 7 p.m. After Dark in the Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center.
     Réunion National Park comprises 40 percent of volcanic La Réunion Island in the Southern Hemisphere,north of Madagascar and east of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Réunion, a department (region) of France, and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are World Heritage Sites. They became sister parks in 2015.
Students from La Réunion Island and their mentors, hosted by Pāhala
 Plantation Cottages and Kīlauea Military Camp. They will give a
 presentation on Monday at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Photo by Julia Neal
     "The parks are oceans apart, but share many similarities: active shield volcanoes, endangered species, fascinating biodiversity, and environmental threats," said a statement from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. La Réunion has only been settled by humans for some 300 years. The ethnicity of its people is largely French, African, Indian, and Chinese.

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OCEAN VIEW HAD A BLAST as the start of work on the first stage of the long-awaited transfer station began Monday. Dynamite exploded as a prelude to big earth-moving operations that will result in the widening of the highway, part of the first stage of preparing for the transfer station.
     Greg Goodale, the head of the County's Solid Waste Division, told The Kaʻū Calendar that James W. Glover, Ltd. won the contract to widen the highway and install an extra lane, termed an "acceleration/deceleration lane," or "pocket lane," to enable motorists to get out of traffic while waiting to turn into the transfer station.
     Glover will pave the exit from the highway, but the driving surface on the site will be gravel. A temporary transfer station, covering about an acre and designed to be used once a week, will also be built as part of Phase One of the project, according to Goodale. The temporary transfer station will include a large concrete pad for parking the garbage dumpsters and trucks, similar to the pad at the present temporary transfer station.
     Phase Two calls for the permanent transfer station built to a new design. Goodale said the original design drawn up in 2008 will not be used as allocated funds will no longer cover it. In 2011, $3 million was appropriated by the county for the construction of a permanent transfer station in Ocean View. The county plans to build a facility similar to the ones at Volcano and Glenwood, which include the collection of mixed waste, and green waste disposal.
How many trucks does it take to collect garbage in Ocean View? The scen
e at the temporary transfer station, in operation since 2010, shows a 
green van on right waiting for trash to be moved from the dumpster mounted
 on the truck to the left to the larger bin on the left by a 
claw mounted on the middle truck. Photo by Annie Bosted
     Said Goodale, "The contract with Glover is just over $2 million. We are looking at having just over $1 million for Phase Two."
     A permanent transfer station was first promised to Ocean View in 2007 after an 11-member task force selected a 21-acre lot for the site. The site, makai of the highway and opposite the Iolani Blvd. junction, was presented to the community at a public meeting on April 6, 2007, and was adopted. Plans were drawn up and an Environmental Impact Statement was completed in April 2008.
A surveyor employed by Glover, marks out a 
chalk line showing to where the highway 
embankment will be cut back. The new edge 
of the embankment will be ten feet from the 
existing white line marking the edge of the 
highway's shoulder. Photo by Annie Bosted
     At that time is was estimated the facility would be operational in 2009. However, in 2010, the county took over a lot on Paradise Circle that was allocated by planners for recreational use, as the site for a temporary transfer station.
     In 2015, Goodale wrote to Kaʻū County Council member Maile David to say that plans to build a permanent transfer station on the 21-acre site were to be scrapped and the site of the temporary transfer station would become Ocean View's permanent transfer station. Residents were dismayed when David broke this news in response to a question at a community meeting.  
     Residents called another meeting in October, 2016, to hash out this issue with David, Goodale, and Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, who, at that time, was the Environmental Management Director in Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration. Goodale floated the idea of building a permanent transfer station on the Paradise Circle site. It was volubly rejected due to extra wear and tear on the private roads, and because the site borders the county's Kahuku Park where playing fields, a pavilion, and a keiki playground are established.
     Leithead-Todd promised residents that within a year, the temporary transfer station would be moved from its present location to the 21-acre lot, where it would take up one acre. It would be open on Saturdays until the permanent transfer station could be built on nine of the acres. The permanent facility would be open for three days a week. The remainder of the 21-acre lot would be used as a buffer around the facility. Residents at the meeting were also told that the Waiʻōhinu transfer station had been damaged by a fire and that it would need urgent repairs. To date, the repairs have not been made.
Views from where Iolani Blvd intersects the highway, showing earth-moving 
machines clearing an area of ʻōhiʻa trees. The county owns a 21-acre lot; one 
acre is being developed for a temporary transfer station. Photo by Annie Bosted
     In February, 2018, a storm further damaged the dumping area, causing more problems for the county and slowing down the garbage collection process in Ocean View. The weakened platform at Waiʻōhinu meant that dumpsters loaded with trash collected in Ocean View could not be driven onto the platform, so trash could not be tipped into the larger bins for hauling to the dump. Instead, the county sent a vehicle with a large claw on a crane to the temporary transfer station in Ocean View. They also sent a large garbage truck and a larger bin. The solution was to use the claw to move garbage from the smaller bin to the larger bin. The extra staff and equipment needed increased the County's weekly cost of collecting garbage in Ocean View.  
     Recently, employees at Ocean View's temporary transfer station noted  that simultaneous dumping and transferring of bagged trash is "dangerous" and instituted a "one at a time" rule. Residents can dump for a short time, but then must wait in lines while that garbage is slowly transferred from the small bin to a larger bin. Then, the expensive equipment and claw operator sit idle while the residents dump their bagged garbage in the smaller bin before the 10-minute cycle is repeated.
A five-man volunteer clean-up crew poses behind some illegally dumped 
trash they recovered from a puka in Ocean View last month; see Feb. 22 
Kaʻū News Briefs. A comparable pile was also created between the two white 
trucks in the photo. From left: Peter Bosted, Steve Lewis, Tomislav Gracanin, 
Ric Elhard, and Berson Jitiam. Photo by Annie Bosted
     At times 20 cars and trucks are held up while the cumbersome equipment is in operation. Often, the bins are full before the scheduled closing time, so residents wanting to drop off their trash after 2:30 p.m. are turned away. The accumulated down time and shorter hours have meant less efficient collecting of bagged garbage in a town with a growing waste disposal need.  
     Goodale told The Kaʻū Calendar that the current time-consuming method of garbage collection would continue at the new temporary transfer station until the facility in Waiʻōhinu is repaired. He expects that work on that to begin in late April or early May.

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Rep. Richard Creagan supports truth in labeling of Kaʻū
and other regional coffees. Photo from Creagan's Facebook
THE BILL REQUIRING TRUTH IN LABELING FOR KAʻŪ  and other regional coffee brands in Hawaiʻi moved from the state Senate to the House of Representatives this week. House Bill 144, cosponsored by west Kaʻū's Rep. Richard Creagan, would require coffee labeled Kaʻū or other regional brands to be comprised of at least 51 percent of the coffee it claims to be. The current requirement is a minimum of ten percent.
     The rule would be administered by the state Department of Agriculture and require labeling all ingredients by weight and stating origin of all coffees in the blend. It would apply to Kaʻū, Kona, and other Hawaiʻi brands.
    Creagan chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, and was joined by  the Hawaiʻi Coffee Farmers Association to support tightening of labeling restrictions. He noted that local coffee has no strong protection of its brand name. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development noted the lack of protection in a recent study.
     For more than two decades, those who blend and call it local coffee have argued that pure local coffee is too expensive for many people buying from local outlets and from afar. State Rep. Bob McDermott voted against the bill to require 51 percent to call it Ka`u, Kona and other Hawai`i regional brands. He called the blending labeling argument a "turf war," and aid the law would be useless when coffee is sold out of state.
Labels like this will no longer
be acceptable if HB144 passes.
     Those who testified in favor of the bill include Hawaiʻi County Council member Rebecca Villegas, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, Kuaiwi Farm, Hala Tree Coffee, Kanalani ʻOhana Farm, Origin Coffee Roasters, Lokoea Farms, Sugai Kona Coffee, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Kona Coffee Farmers Association, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau Federation – Kona County Chapter, Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety, Hawaiʻi SEED, and numerous individuals.
     Vincent Mina of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United wrote: "The opponents of this legislation are those 'downstream stakeholders,' who the United Nations says 'reap the economic benefits' of 10% blended coffee. They have testified that 'no one can accurately predict' the economic effect of requiring Hawaiʻi's Origin coffee blends to contain 51% Kona, Kaʻū, Hamakua, Maui, or Kauaʻi coffee. We can predict however, that Hawaiʻi Origin coffee blends will no longer be deceptively marketed. We can also predict that 51% coffee blends will still be less expensive than 100%-- only now their cost will be linked to the fair value of Hawaiʻi's Origin coffees."
     Those who testified against the bill include Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association, Hawaiʻi Coffee Company, and the Kona Coffee Council.
     Eric Stoddard of Hawaiʻi Coffee Company wrote: "Hawaiʻi Coffee Company employs approximately 125 people in the state. Our business is coffee - Lion Coffee, Royal Kona Coffee, Koa Coffee, additional private label blends for local retailers and tea. There are other coffee companies of our size within the state as well. Enacting a 51% Kona Coffee blend requirement for Kona Blend coffees would in all likelihood put most, if not all, of HCC employees out of work as well as employees at the other similar size coffee manufacturing companies in the state. There's simply not enough Kona coffee to support."

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RESTORING NET NEUTRALITY is the focus of Sen. Mazie Hirono in a letter to her supporters today: "You may remember in 2017 when the Trump Administration rolled back net neutrality protections that prevented internet service providers from blocking content or charging more for faster internet speeds. Today, I'm joining a bipartisan group of Senators cosponsoring a resolution to restore net neutrality in an effort to maintain a free and open internet for every American."
     Said Hirono, "Restoring net neutrality protections is about more than just what shows you can watch on Netflix and Hulu. Our society and economy depend on the internet in countless ways, and people depend on it for accessing important information in times of need. Last year, residents throughout Hawaiʻi relied on the internet to access lifesaving information and communicate with loved ones during a series of devastating natural disasters.
Image from theracquet.com
     "Under Trump's FCC, the undoing of net neutrality protections has allowed large corporations focused on maximizing profits to control what information we can access and how quickly we can access it -- plus, it opens the door for them to charge consumers more for 'fast lanes.' That's not right.

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NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAIʻI FROM 6.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE this morning, with an epicenter south of the Kermadic Islands in the South Pacific, about 500 miles northeast of New Zealand.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 9, 1 p.m., host Kohala
Sat., March 16, 1 p.m., host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala
Softball:
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 11 a.m., host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m., host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m., host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, 6 p.m., @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Track:
Sat., March 9, 2 p.m., @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

NEW and UPCOMING
KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS A ST. PATRICK'S DAY RAINBOW ARTS AND CRAFT ACTIVITY, for keiki 5 to 12 years old, on Wednesday, Mar. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room. Registration began Monday, Mar. 4. Free.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM HOSTS 2ND CHANCE PROM, for adults, on Saturday, Mar. 23, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Register through Wednesday, Mar. 20. Attendance fee is $25 per person.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 7
Women's Support Group, Thursday, March 7 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

All Ages Game Nite, Thursday, March 7, 5:30-7:30p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Register through March 5. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, March 7, 6-7p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner, Friday, March 8, doors open at 5:30p.m., dinner served 6-8p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. $8/single meal, $15/couple, $20/family. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Community Dance, Friday, March 8, 7-10p.m.Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, March 9, 8-11a.m.Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

The Business of Art, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-4p.m.Volcano Art Center. Intensive training for artists who want to grow their business, led by Ira Ono. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, March 9, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, March 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.orgfacebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Saturday, March 9, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Saturday, March 9, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, MARCH 11
Free STD Testing, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Monday, monthly – 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. Call for appt. on different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent/guardian consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Monday, March 11 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, March 12 (Committees), Wednesday, March 13, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Spring Wreath Making - Adults, Tuesday, March 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 18+. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tuesday, March 12, 4-6p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team info and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tuesday, March 12, 4-7p.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee. Enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes, Hilo, during class. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

After Dark in the Park: Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi - Ancestral Brilliance, Tuesday, March 12, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Pualani Kanahele of the Edith Kanaka‘ole Foundation takes audience on a virtual visit to Pahu Manamana o ‘Umi, a stellar instrument positioned 7,752 feet up on the southwest slope of Mauna Loa. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8a.m.-5p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45-3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9-2 pm, just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit is open daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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