About The Kaʻū Calendar

Friday, March 08, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 8, 2019

John Replogle, Kaʻū's Planning Commissioner, moved that the Special Management Area permit for the water
bottling plant be denied. He noted public opposition to the project, holding up many pages of testimony.
Photo from Big Island Video News
KAʻŪ'S PLANNING COMMISSIONER JOHN REPLOGLE joined public opposition against a proposed water bottling plant in Hilo, adjacent to the Wailoa State Recreation Area. On Thursday, Replogle moved that the Windward Planning Commission kill the request for a Special Management Area permit for the Piʻilani Partners water bottling plant. Commissioners voted five to one to deny the SMA. The developers may appeal the decision.
     Replogle said, "Giving private business access to our water, so they can enrich themselves, is not reasonable or beneficial use to our natural resource or to our people. I see nothing in the application that is in the public trust or interest." Replogle contended that drilling into the aquifer would introduce risks to the water supply. He also noted that worldwide there is "a scrambling by corporate business and wealthy individuals to grab up and control all remaining natural resources at the expensive of people who live in the region." He pointed to opposition in the community.
     Twenty six people testified. All of those not representing the developers spoke against the water bottling plant. Most objected to the use of plastic bottles, and opposed extracting a water resource, held in trust by the state and county, in order to sell it as a commodity.
Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian said the water bottling plant was "about raping
and pillaging of one of the last virgin natural resources we have left."
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian asked the commission to "stop this project in its tracts immediately." She said Pi'ilani is "about raping and pillaging of one of the last virgin natural resources we have left." She called the proposal "outrageous." She said allowing such an enterprise is counter to the trend of banning various plastics in the state to save fresh and ocean water resources.
     She said Piʻilani would send out 1.2 million plastic bottles a day, "438 million plastic bottles per year originating right here in Hilo. That's what you are allowing when we want to ban this practice."
     Kalani Souza, a representative of Hawaiʻi to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Rising Voices Indigenous Knowledge, and Modern Science effort, opposed the bottling plant from a world resources perspective. He said partners in his international group include representatives of the United Kingdom and the U.S. government's National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, and FEMA.
     Souza said scientists in his group believe "we are entering the sixth great extinction moment on the planet. That's for the last 2.5 billion years - it's only the sixth time it's happening  - just to make sure that those of us who cut out of science to go surfing know what I'm talking about." He said that "less than two percent of water available in the world is fresh. Potable water, drinkable water, could be considered the most valuable necessity on the planet. I repeat, necessity. Water is not a commodity. You do not have an option. Whether you'll drink or resist drinking, time and tide, eventually you will need to drink."
Kalani Souza, of Rising Voices, called water "the most valuable necessity
 on the planet" and Mauna Kea aquifer a "treasure of the world."
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Souza said that the "untapped, untouched, hereto unviolated aquifer of Mauna Kea is "clearly one of the great treasures of the world." He called the aquifer "a living legacy we leave our children, our grandchildren, and the unborn future." He lamented that "This, our generation, has shown the propensity for greed, for indulgence, for self-consumption."
     Regarding the water bottling plant issue, Souza contended, "The act of sacrificing the potential survival of our future generations for a pittance of GE tax, in an attempt to create county based revenues, while sentencing our children to an uncertain future, by wresting from them the last great resource to feed our resorts, is the height of both political and civil irresponsibility by our elected officials and our appointed officials."
     Souza called approval of the project "reprehensible" and said it "would energize a movement to establish new leadership."
     Glen Gambla said he opposed a private entity "taking the water, benefiting. There is an outflow of water but I wouldn't see an inflow of money from a financial perspective that would directly benefit the county."
     Dwight Vicente said he represents the Hawaiian Kingdom. He said the water bottling plant site is on crown and government lands. He contended that water and other "resources belong to the Hawaiian Kingdom."
     Cory Harden, of the Sierra Club Moku Loa group, asked whether owners of the Piʻilani project are citizens of the state and pointed out that the water is held in trust for citizens of Hawaiʻi.
Cory Harden testified that the Supreme Court ruled
that water must remain in trust for the public.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Harden noted that Earth Justice, during a Kauaʻi Springs bottling plant case before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, said, "government agencies have duties under the public trust independent of permit requirements."
     She said Native Hawaiian leaders oppose Piʻilani. Harden pointed to a Public Access Shoreline Hawaiʻi decision by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, ruling that the Planning Commission "is obligated to preserve and protect Native Hawaiian rights to the extent feasible when doing SMA permits." The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court said, "No person or entity has automatic vested rights to water. Private, commercial use is not protected by the public trust. The agency must apply a presumption in favor of public use, access, enjoyment, and resource protection."
     Harden also said Earth Justice questioned Piʻilani's public benefits proposal that offers student financing to offset the taking of the water resource and other impacts.
     June Juncinto testified that the aquifer is a limited resource needed for future generations. She said "plastic pollution is at a crisis level worldwide... It's killing wildlife; it's killing us. Why contribute to the problem? Let's support more ecologically sound practices."
     Hanalei Fergestrom, representing Na Kapuna O Keawe organizations in all six districts of the island, said Na Kapuna opposes the project. He said the aquifer should be preserved for future generations and for a backup in the event of the Mauna Loa aquifer being compromised.

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.

Rep. Richard Creagan
A BILL TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA IN HAWAIʻI PASSED the state House of Representatives and a first reading in the Senate today. Cosponsored by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, House Bill 1383 would "Decriminalizes the possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana and establish that the possession is an infraction punishable by a monetary fine of $200. Provides for the dismissal of criminal charges, and expungement of criminal records, pertaining solely to the possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana. Establishes a marijuana evaluation task force to make recommendations on changing marijuana use penalties and outcomes in the State."

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.

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL is a goal of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who calls it "a basic question of fairness and freedom of choice for the American people. A system that puts people in prison for marijuana use, while allowing corporations like Purdue Pharma that are responsible for thousands of opioid-related deaths to walk away scot-free with their coffers full, needs to change."
     Gabbard said it is "unacceptable" that marijuana is still a Schedule 1 drug in this country -- "the same as heroin and other deadly narcotics." She introduced two bills this week: Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act would take marijuana off of the federal controlled substances list, giving states the ability to set their own laws without federal interference. Marijuana Data Collection Act requires the federal government to generate one central study on the impact of state marijuana legalization policies to push back against myths and stigma that are being used as excuses to perpetuate federal prohibition.
     During a press conference this week to launch the bills, she said, "Our archaic marijuana policies — based on stigma and outdated myths — have been used to wage a failed War on Drugs. Families have been torn apart, communities left fractured, and over-criminalization and mass incarceration have become the norm. In 2017 alone, our country arrested 600,000 people just for possession of marijuana. Our bipartisan legislation takes a step toward ending the failed war on drugs, ending the federal prohibition on marijuana, and ensuring that our policies are guided by facts and the truth."
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, speaking at NORML, a group dedicated
the legalizing marijuana. Photo from Gabbard's Flickr
     Said Gabbard, in a letter to her supporters: "You deserve common sense, bipartisan legislation that actually has a chance to pass in a heavily divided Congress and make real, tangible impacts on our quality of life. We need leadership that will stay focused on getting things done for the American people, instead of playing political games.
     "I didn't suddenly wake up to this issue yesterday. The truth is, I don't smoke pot and never have. I'm not here trying to look cool. I'm here to get things done for the good of the American people. I'm here to stand up for every person's freedom to make their own choices.
     "Sixty percent of voters support marijuana legalization. If members of Congress and leaders in Washington listen to the voices of the vast majority of Americans, they will hear the calls for action that go beyond partisanship. We are long overdue to bring about this kind of change. We can't afford to keep kicking this can down the road given the devastating negative impact it is having on the people of this country."
     
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.

A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for most of Kaʻū until 6 a.m. Saturday, reports the National Weather Service. Sustained northeast winds could blow at 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 50 mph. Winds this strong can bring down small tree branches, cause localized power outages, and making driving difficult where crosswinds are encountered, the National Weather Service warned.
     Forecasters say: "A mid-level ridge will persist, keeping the inversion in place, and maintaining stable conditions. This stability will lead to an enhancement of the already sturdy trade winds, with an overnight ASCAT pass indicating sustained open- ocean winds of 25 mph or more near the islands. Interaction with island terrain and daytime mixing is expected to bring wind gusts to 50 mph and/or sustained 30 mph winds to parts of Maui county and the Big Island where terrain acceleration is maximized… Breezy trades will keep rough surf in place along east facing shores over the next couple of days, but surf should hold just below advisory levels through Saturday."

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.

VETERANS BENEFITS WORKSHOP, CLAIMS CLINIC, AND TOWN HALL MEETING happen in Kona at West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, tomorrow, Saturday, March 9, 9 a.m. to noon. Veterans, their families and survivors, and any members of organizations or individuals that work of behalf of veterans are encouraged to attend.
     The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to hear feedback from customers and to make the claims process visible to veterans. The information session is for non-medical benefit questions, such as VA compensation, and vocational rehabilitation and employment. VA Benefit Counselors will be on site to answer question and assist with the claims process.
     Call Aiko Shibuya at 433-0501 with questions.

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.

KAʻŪ HISTORY PROJECT has a display at Pāhala Library this month, showing 75 years of graduating classes from Kaʻū 
High School. See photos from graduating classes from 1943 to 2018 and some yearbooks. The Kaʻū History Project 
is funded by The Friends of Kaʻū Libraries. Photo from The Friends of Kaʻū Libraries
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:
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

JUST ANNOUNCED
KE ALIʻI MAKA ʻĀINANA -- The Prince of the People – celebrates Prince Kuhio on Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kuhuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Coffee Talk.
     What is Kūhiō Day and why is it a state holiday? Prince Kūhiō was the last prince of Hawai‘i and the first titled royal in the Congress of the United States. He is well known for his efforts to preserve and strengthen the Hawaiian people. The Territorial Legislature passed a resolution in 1949 establishing March 26, his birthday, as a territorial holiday in his honor. In Hawai ͑ i, Kūhiō Day is still celebrated on March 26 as a state holiday. In respect to his memory and his accomplishments, Auntie Jessie Ke, a revered kupuna of Ka ͑ ū, will talk about the Prince, his legacy, the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka ͑ ū.
     Monthly Coffee Talk at Kahuku is an opportunity to get to know the Park and its neighbors, and join an informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka`ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance located just south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy. 11.

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.

UPCOMING
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, 9 a.m.-4 p.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, 9 a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. For those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Fee. 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, 10 a.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, 10:30-11:30 a.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, 11 a.m.-1 p.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 – 9 a.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 – 3-5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

A Neighborhood Watch meeting for Pāhala will be Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House at the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets. Community Police Officer for Kaʻū, Shawn Ibarra, said he plans meetings monthly at either Pāhala Community Center or the activity room at Kaʻū District gym. The public is invited to Monday's event.

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.


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, 4-7 p.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, 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, 1-5 p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.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, 2:45-3:30 p.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, 3:30-5 p.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, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer

PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8-11 a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon-3 p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2-3 p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5-8 p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.