Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, May 2, 2019

Go stargazing tomorrow night under a new moon at Makanau above Pāhala and Nāʻālehu. Reservations required. 

Part of the Kaʻū Coffee Fest events. See story below. Photo by Andrew Richard Hara

A MAN WAS RESCUED AFTER HE FELL 70 FEET INTO KĪLAUEA CALDERA yesterday. At 6:50 p.m., visitors reported that ground gave away on the 300 foot-high Steaming Bluff. The earth collapsed beneath him after he climbed over a metal railing to an off-limits area at the lookout. Search and rescue began within minutes.

     At approximately 9 p.m., rescue personnel discovered the man alive but critically injured on a narrow ledge about 70 feet blow the lookout. Rescuers employed high angle extrication using ropes and a stokes stretcher. In critical condition, the man, a 32-year-old U.S. Army enlisted service member who was on island to train at Pōhakuloa, was airlifted by a military Blackhawk to Hilo Medical Center.

Steaming Bluffs, where a visitor climbed over the railing and fell
70 feet yesterday. NPS photo by Janice Wei

     Six rescue vehicles responded and 24 personnel saved the man. They came from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i County Fire Department, and Department of Defense.

     Park Chief Ranger John Broward said, "Visitors should never cross safety barriers, especially around dangerous and destabilized cliff edges. Crossing safety barriers and entering closed areas can result in serious injuries and death."

     The last fatality in the park from falling occurred on Oct. 29, 2017.

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GPS instrument that fell into
Puʻu ʻŌʻō yesterday.
USGS photo by I. Johanson

A FAITHFUL GPS INSTRUMENT DISAPPEARED IN A PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ small crater collapse Wednesday at 6:14 a.m. U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said it was an important source of information on the shallow magma system of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō during the 2018 Kīlauea 2018 eruption.
     HVO's last report from the instrument showed it moving rapidly to the southeast, consistent with motion into the crater. HVO scientists said the larger equipment installation near the solar panels (which power the instruments) was not affected by the collapse. Contingency plans are in place in case collapses of the crater edge continue, they said.
     The motion is interpreted by HVO scientists to be "sliding of the unstable edge of Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone, rather than having direct association with magmatic activity. Small collapses at Puʻu ʻŌʻō have occurred since the eruption due to local instability."
     Monitoring of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is now reported by additional GPS and tilt stations farther from the edge of the crater.

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A HOUSE BURNED DOWN ON LANIHULI ROAD IN VOLCANO late last night, reports Hawaiʻi Fire Department. The 1,200 square foot, two-story structure was engulfed in flames and partially collapsed when firefighters arrived at 11:28 p.m. All occupants and pets were outside and away from the fire, with no injuries reported.

     Firefighters spent over two hours extinguishing the fire that consumed the house and a vehicle, using 13 personnel attached to three engines, one medic unit, and two tankers. Tankers were required as the closest fire hydrant was miles away.

     HFD reports Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co. deactivated power lines and that Red Cross was informed of the occupants' status. HFD investigators are looking into the cause. Call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300 with information on this event.

     The loss is estimated at $180,000.

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The state House of Representative ended the 2019 session today.
The event is called sine die. The House passed 298 bills.
Photo from Hawaiʻi House of Representatives

VOTING BY MAIL WON APPROVAL OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, which ended its session - sine die - today in Honolulu. The House passed 298 bills in 2019. Once the Senate signs off on those measures it approves, the winners will go to the Governor for approval or veto.
     In addition to voting by mail, measures include changes to Medicaid eligibility, decriminalization of marijuana, charter school operations transparency, review of mosquito vector control, and more election reforms. More than 3,000 bills were introduced this legislative session.

     Some highlights:

     Medicaid

     SB330 SD1 HD1 SD1 CD1 would disregard the income earned by otherwise Medicaid-eligible individuals with disabilities between 16 and 64 years old when determining their eligibility for Medicaid.

     Bail/Prisons

     SB192 SD1 HD2 CD1 would authorize the court to release a defendant in custody on unsecured bail.

     Elections

     SB216 SD2 HD1 CD1 would require a recount in elections when margin of victory is equal to or less than one hundred or one-quarter of one per cent of the votes cast, whichever is greater.

     HB1248 HD1 SD2 CD1 would enact voting by mail across the state, starting in 2020.

     Homelessness

     HB257 HD2 SD1 CD1 would authorize use of private lands for the ʻOhana Zones Pilot Program.

Bolo performs at the Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday at
12:30 p.m.  See entertainment lineup below.
 Photo from Bolo

     SB471 SD2 HD1 CD1 would appropriate funds for core homelessness services, including the outreach program, rapid re-housing program, housing first program, family assessment centers, stored property and debris removal services, and the state rent supplemental program.

     Affordable Housing

     SB1223 SD2 HD1 CD1 would extend Act 141, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2009, which requires each county to issue affordable housing credits to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, until July 1, 2024. It would extend Act 98, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2012, which requires counties to issue affordable housing credits for each residential unit, or if allowed under the county's affordable housing program, vacant lot, developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, until July 1, 2024.

     Agriculture

     HB297 HD1 SD1 would require the Dept. of Ag to review importing modified mosquitoes for landscape-scale mosquito control.

     Cannabis

     HB1383 HD2 SD1 CD1 would allow expungement of criminal records for possession of three grams or less of marijuana. It would decriminalize the possession of three grams or less of marijuana, making possession a violation punishable by a $130 fine.

     HB290 HD1 SD2 CD1 would authorize qualifying patients to transport medical cannabis between islands for their personal medical use.

     Hemp Production

     SB1353 SD3 HD3 CD1 would require the Department of Agriculture to establish a permanent industrial hemp program, pursuant to federal law. It would establish monetary penalties for the unauthorized cultivation of hemp. It would also exclude hemp from statutory definitions of marijuana.

     Real Estate Investment Trusts

     SB301 SD1 HD1 CD1 Would disallow dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts for 2020 through 2023.

Lucky Lizards band performs at the Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday at
11:15 a.m. Photo from Lucky Lizards

     Education

     HB622 HD2 SD1 CD1 would require charter schools to provide full access to their fiscal and accounting books, documents, and files to authorizers, and submit to independent audits. It would prohibit individuals from serving as Charter School Commission members if the individual was affiliated with a charter school within one year preceding appointment.

     Tobacco

     SB1405 SD2 HD2 CD1 would require public school teachers and educators to confiscate electronic cigarettes from students under 21 years of age.

     Suicide Prevention

     SB383 SD2 HD1 CD1 would require the Department of Education to establish a mandatory youth suicide awareness and prevention training program and model risk referral protocol for all public schools.

     Click here for a list of all bills that passed final reading in the House of Representatives. See more on tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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Bula Akamu performs at the Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday at 115  p.m. 
Photo from Bula Akamu

KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL HOʻOLAULEʻA entertainment begins this Saturday, May 4, at 9 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
     Here is the lineup: Hands of Time plays at 9 a.m., followed by Foggy at 9:45 a.m. Hannah's Makana ʻOhana Hālau takes the stage at 10:30 a.m., followed by Lucky Lizards at 11:15 a.m.

     At noon, the 2019 Miss Kaʻū Coffee Court greets the crowd. Bolo follows the court at 12:45 p.m., with Bula Akamu at 1 p.m. Games come on at 2 p.m., with Braddah Ben & Kaniu at 2:30 p.m. Leka & Demetrius play at 3:15 p.m., with Backyahd Brahddahs closing the stage performers at 4 p.m.
     The Hoʻūolauleʻa also features coffee tasting, meeting the many farmers of Kaʻū Coffee, demonstrations, food, snacks, educational booths, and games. Free entry.

     Other Kaʻū Coffee Festival Events run through Sunday, May 5. All events are open to the public; some require reservations. Celebrate Kaʻū Coffee at:

     Kaʻū Coffee and Cattle Day, Friday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm. Includes farm tours, BBQ buffet, and hayride, with music by Miss Kaʻū Coffee Helena Nihipali Sesson and Chase Cabudol. Visit this historic Ka‘ū Coffee farm and ranch. $25, reservations required. Call 927-2252.

     Kaʻū Stargazing on Friday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., takes guests to the top of sacred Makanau during a new moon. Learn about the ancient Hawaiian temple and see the Hawaiian night sky and stars. Reservations required; $45 per person, includes refreshments. Call 938-0550.

     Kaʻū Coffee College closes out the Kaʻū Coffee Festival. It is held at Pāhala Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 5. Coffee College will feature a host of educational opportunities for island coffee farmers, where coffee farmers and enthusiasts can learn, share, and network. Coffee's leading professionals from around the globe and industry experts come to Kaʻū Coffee College to interface with local growers and make valuable connections.

     See KauCoffeeFestival.com.

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Helena Nihipali Sesson stakes her name to a coffee tree she planted at Kaʻū Valley Farms today. Join
her tomorrow at Coffee & Cattle Day, where she will play ʻukulele during the hayrides. Also performing is Chase
Cabudol. The event features a barbecue lunch. See contact info above. Photo by Lloyd Nakano

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule

Baseball:

Wed.-Sat., May 8-11, HHSAA

Softball:

Wed., May 1-4, HHSAA

Boys Volleyball:

Thu.-Sat., May 2-4, HHSAA

Track:

Fri.-Sat., May 3-4, HHSAA

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.

ALSO UPCOMING

FRIDAY, MAY 3
Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser, Friday, May 3, doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner served 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Enchiladas, Tamales, Charro Borracho Beans (Mexican Cowboy Drunken Beans), Drinks and Dessert. $8/person, $15 for two, $20/family. stjudeshawaii.org

KDENte Fundraising Dinner for Kilauea Drama Entertainment Network, Friday, May 3, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Amalfatano's Italian Restaurant, Hilo. Italian food buffet, $20 cash or check at door. 984-7344

The Great Kīlauea Eruption of 2018 and What May Soon Follow, Friday, May 3, 6:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. Presented by Geologist Dr. Richard "Rick" Hazlett, Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, MAY 4
Stewardship at the Summit, May 4, 9, 17, 25, and 31, 8:45 a.m. – noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

Parenting Class & Saturday School, May 4 and 18, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center, Downstairs. Sponsored by Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Abstract Painting Workshop with Darcy Gray, Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Basic painting backgroup suggested. Tools provided, can bring own supplies. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Limited to 8 adults. 967-8222,
 volcanoartcenter.org

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, May 4 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11 a.m. – noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

Fiesta in the Forest, May 4, bar opens 4 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Food, margaritas, beer, wine and live music. Bring Cooper Center mug for $1 off beer – purchase one for $10 – can be used at all Cooper Center events. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SUNDAY, MAY 5
Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, May 5 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon – 2 p.m., Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY-THURSDAY, MAY 6-9
Summer Fun Registration, Monday-Thursday, May 6-9, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., at Nā‘ālehu Community Center and at Ka‘ū District Gym, Pāhala. Program, for keiki completing grade K-6, runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., June 12-July 19. $40 fee. $50 portion of registration fee funded by Councilwoman Maile David. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

MONDAY, MAY 6

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, May 6, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, MAY 7
Family Engagement Night, Tuesday, May 7, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, May 7, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, May 7 (Committees), Wednesday, May 8 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit. Dental, Wednesday, May 8, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, May 30, 1 – 5 p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Kākou, Wednesday, May 8, 10 a.m. – noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Author and ethnographer, P.F. "Ski" Kwiatkowski, speaks about Hawaiian kākau – tattoos – their origins and counterparts in other aspects of Hawaiian crafts. Displaying collection of tattoo needles and the materials that are used in creating the needles, the ink and the tattoos themselves. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Mother's Day Keepsake, Wednesday, May 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym, Pāhala. Register keiki grades K-6, May 2-7. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MAY 9
Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, May 9, 6:30 p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

After Dark in the Park – The Road to Recovery: A Year Later, Thursday, May 9, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Park managers will present a community update about the challenges and successes of 2018, and how staff is working hard to open more areas. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.
     Two fundraisers for the program are also ongoing; see flyers on this page.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

Exhibit: On Sacred Ground by Dino Morrow is open daily through Sunday, May 5 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to see documentary and protrait photography of Hula Arts at the Kīlauea Program. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade happens Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. The parade route begins at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nāʻālehu Hongwanji Mission. To participate, call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Enjoy a farm tour, take a hayride, and eat some BBQ during Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day at Aikane 

Plantation Coffee Farm on Friday. See about a reservation below. Photo from Kaʻū Coffee Fest

SHOULD ALL TOUR HELICOPTERS BE PROHIBITED FROM FLYING OVER RESIDENTIAL AREAS? This is the question that Congressman Ed Case asked the FAA in a letter. The request follows a tour helicopter crash killing three on Oʻahu yesterday but would apply to the entire state and perhaps beyond. State Rep. Cynthia Thielen asked that all helicopters statewide be grounded until the cause of yesterday's crash is determined.

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 NEW HAWAI‘I AIR QUALITY ADVISORY WEBSITE provides near real-time data. Developed by the state Department of Health, data for the website comes from air quality monitoring stations at strategic locations throughout the state, the majority on Hawai‘i Island. It includes an interactive air quality map.

Interactive map shows air quality monitoring stations in Kaʻū.
Image from health.hawaii.gov/cab/hawaii-ambient-air-quality-data

     Last summer's Kīlauea eruption pointed to the need for useful, accessible, and reliable data for residents affected by the resulting vog and other effects of the volcano, says a release from DOH. The agency secured more than $1.5 million in federal and state funds to expand and upgrade the state's air quality monitoring system. This includes six new long-term stations, located in Nā‘ālehu, Pāhoa, Kea‘au, Honaunau, Kona, and Waikoloa. Now there are 18 air quality monitoring stations statewide.
     The expanded air quality monitoring system came online to coincide with National Air Quality Awareness Week, April 29 through May 3. It is a collaborative, intradepartmental initiative between the health department's Clean Air Branch and State Laboratories Division.
     Bruce Anderson, DOH health director and a Hawai‘i Island resident, said, "Kīlauea provided valuable lessons for our state. Residents in communities on the Big Island were severely impacted by Kīlauea, especially those with respiratory conditions. There were numerous days during the eruption when the air quality was unhealthy and health effects were a concern. We listened to the concerns of residents, took action to improve our air quality monitoring system, and created a one-stop, user-friendly website. We're much more volcano-ready than we have ever been."

     Marianne Rossio, manager of the Clean Air Branch, whose team oversaw the development of the website, said the online source combines ambient air quality concentrations and advises residents and visitors on potential health impacts using a national standard, six-tiered, color-coded system. The system indicates whether the air quality is good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous, and provides recommended actions for public health based on air quality.
     DOH manages all of the state and local air monitoring stations (SLAMS), special purpose monitoring stations (SPMS), and the national core multi-pollutant monitoring station (NCore). Data from these sources ensures compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), for timely reporting of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI), to track and characterize air quality trends, evaluate emission control strategies, and support health studies. Visit health.hawaii.gov/cab/hawaii-ambient-air-quality-data.

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"YOU SHOULD RESIGN," SEN. MAZIE HIRONO TOLD THE U.S ATTORNEY GENERAL today during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. She also accused Barr of lying, which drew a response from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Judiciary Committee. Graham told Hirono, "You just slandered this man."
     Hirono said that instead of defending the rule of law, AG William Barr behaves like Pres. Donald "Trump's personal defense attorney." She compared Barr to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, Trump's counselor Kellyanne Conway, and "any of the other people who sacrificed their once-decent reputation for the grifter and liar who sits in the Oval Office."

Sen. Mazie Hirono asked U.S. Attorney General William Barr to resign today. She is a member of the
U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee. Image from Big Island Video News

     Hirono noted that Barr "once turned down a job offer from Donald Trump to represent him as his private attorney. At your confirmation hearing you told Senator Feinstein that 'the job of Attorney General... is not the same as representing' the President. So, you know the difference, but you've chosen to be the President's lawyer and side with him over the American people."
     Hirono said Barr "mishandled" the Mueller Report - which sought to find out if Russia influenced the 2016 U.S. Presidential election - "every step of the way." She said Barr's four-page "so-called summary" of the nearly two-year investigation that resulted in the Report, and the "political stunt of a press conference" that claimed Trump did not obstruct justice, is "an abuse" of his power.
     "To start with, you should never have been involved in supervising Robert Mueller's investigation. You wrote a 19-page, unsolicited memo, which you admit was not based on any facts, attacking the premise of half of the investigation. And you also should have insisted that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein recuse himself. He wasn't just a witness to some of the President's obstructive behavior. We now know he was in frequent personal contact with the President – a subject of the investigation. You should have left it to career officials.
     "Then, once the report was delivered by the Special Counsel, you delayed its release for more than two weeks. You let the President's personal lawyers look at it before you even deigned to let Congress or the public see it. During that time, you substituted your own political judgment for the Special Counsel's legal conclusions in a 4-page letter to Congress. And now we know, thanks to a free press, that Mr. Mueller wrote you a letter objecting to your so-called summary.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr was asked by several Senators to resign today. Image from Big Island Video News

     "When you called Mueller to discuss his letter, the reports are that he thought your summary was giving the press, Congress, and the public, a misleading impression of his work. He asked you to release the report's summaries to correct the misimpression you created, but you refused. When you finally did decide to release the report - over a Congressional recess and on the eve of two major religious holidays - you called a press conference to once again try to clear Donald Trump before anyone had a chance to read the Special Counsel's report and conclusions for themselves.
     "But when we read the report, we knew Robert Mueller's concerns were valid, and that your version of events was false.
     "You used every advantage of your office to create the impression that the President was cleared of misconduct. You selectively quoted fragments from the Special Counsel's Report, taking some of the most important statements out of context and ignoring the rest. You put the power and authority of the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice behind a public relations effort to help Donald Trump protect himself. Finally, you lied to Congress. You told Rep. Charlie Crist that you didn't know what objections Mueller's team might have to your March 24th so-called summary. You told Senator Chris Van Hollen that you didn't know if Bob Mueller supported your conclusion.
     "But you knew. You lied. And now we know. A lot of respected, non-partisan legal experts and elected officials were surprised by your efforts to protect the President. But I wasn't surprised. You did exactly what I thought you'd do. It's why I voted against your confirmation. I expected you would try to protect the President, and indeed you did."

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sen. Mazie Hirono slandered AG William Barr.
Image from Big Island Video News.

     Hirono pointed to Barr's past actions: "In 1989, when you refused to show Congress an OLC opinion that led to the arrest of Manuel Noriega; in 1992, when you recommended pardons for the subjects of the Iran-Contra scandal; and last year, when you wrote the 19-page memo telling Donald Trump that a president can't be guilty of obstruction of justice and then didn't recuse yourself from the matter. From the beginning, you were addressing an audience of one: Donald Trump.
     "That's why, before the bombshell news of yesterday evening, 11 of my Senate colleagues and I called on the Department of Justice Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the way you handled the Mueller Report. I wanted them to determine whether your actions complied with the Department's policies and practices, and whether you have demonstrated sufficient impartiality to continue to oversee the 14 other criminal matters that the Special Counsel referred to other parts of the Department of Justice.
     "But now we know more about your deep involvement in trying to cover up for Donald Trump. Being Attorney General of the United States is a sacred trust. You have betrayed that trust. America deserves better. You should resign."
     At the end of her testimony, Hirono asked Barr if the White House was "exerting any influence" on whether to allow Special Counsel Robert Mueller to testify in Congress and when. Barr said, "No." Several other Senators asked Barr to resign, including Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
     See the video of Hirono's testimony: bigislandvideonews.com/2019/05/01/video-hawaii-senator-hirono-blasts-ag-barr-during-mueller-report-hearing
     Hirono asks the public to demand Barr resign immediately by signing a petition.

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Hilo Medical Center advanced cardiology employees at the 
2019 Hilo Heart and Stroke Walk. Photo from HMC

FUNDING FOR IMPROVED CARDIAC CARE STALLED in the state House of Representatives last week. Senate Bill 911 would have funded a cath lab at Hilo Medical Center, where Ka‘ū cardiac patients often receive treatment. With improved cardiac care in Hilo, patients would avoid emergency flights  to O‘ahu for treatment, and outcomes would be better, said repreentatives of Hilo Medical Center.
      Introduced by Hilo Sen. Kai Kahele and co-sponsored by west Ka‘ū Sen. Dru Kanuha and east Ka‘ū Russell Ruderman, SB911passed the House but was not called to a conference committee, where Senate and House members resolve differences brought up by amendments to bills.
     A release from Hilo Medical Center thanked community supporters, and said the support will be needed again next legislative session."We realize the great responsibility we have in keeping this program going. Over the next year, we are committed to keeping the doors open on this lifesaving service to stop heart attacks in progress. Funding will come from the hospital and we are prepared to make tough decisions necessary to preserve our program. Our community is depending on us and state funding next year will be absolutely necessary to provide the level of cardiac care that the residents of the Big Island should expect for themselves and their loved ones. We would like to assure our community that our program is still on track."

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Electric vehicle chargers are slowly cropping up all over Hawaiʻi 

Island. Punaluʻu Bakeshop in Nāʻālehu got a new Electric Vehicle 

fast charger in March. Photo from Hawaiʻi Electric Light

CLEAN TRANSPORTATION BILLS are expected to pass in the state House of Representatives tomorrow. All five bills would then need to be passed by the state Senate before going to Gov. David Ige for consideration.

     Rep. Nicole Lowen - who represents Kona, is Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environment, and authored of two of the bills - said the time has come for Hawaiʻi to transition away from fossil-fuel powered vehicles, and that these measures help democratize the use of electric vehicles. She explained that building infrastructure makes EVs more affordable, accessible, and convenient for low- and middle-income working people.
     "In order to meet our emissions reduction goals, we must address the transportation sector, which accounts for two-thirds of Hawaiʻi's imported oil, and is not included in the 100 percent RPS requirement, which applies only to electric power generation. Increasing the number and availability of charging stations is the most important thing we can do right now to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles."

A DC fast charger for electric vehicles, like the 

one installed at Punaluʻu Bake Shop in Nāʻālehu. 

Photo from Hawaiʻi Electric Light

     Lowen said EVs "are expected to cost about the same as gasoline fueled vehicles" within the next five years, but that won't be enough without infrastructure to make "EVs affordable, accessible, and convenient for everyone."
     HB1585 HD1 SD2 CD1 would create a rebate program for installation or upgrade of electric vehicle charging stations in publicly accessible commercial areas, workplaces, and multi-unit dwellings. The rebate is not for single-family residences or parking stalls reserved for individual use.
     HB401 HD1 SD2 CD1 would allow state and county agencies to enter into performance contracts for electric vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure.
     HB 852 HD1 SD1 CD1 would clarify and strengthen the role of the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office in developing policies and programs to support the adoption of clean transportation.
     SB661 SD1 HD1 CD1 would make fuel cell electric vehicles a priority for state and county vehicle purchases.
     Making EVs less affordable, SB409 SD2 HD1 CD1 would establish an annual vehicle registration surcharge fee for electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles. Funds would be deposited into the State Highway Fund.

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Miss Kaʻū Coffee Helena Nihipali Sesson with Kaʻū Coffee Mill crew and hikers who headed into the rainforest today. 
She will also be on tour and will entertain tomorrow with the Kaʻū Valley Farm tour and luncheon.
Learn how to sign up below. Photo by Vickie Paʻalui

KAʻŪ COFFEE FEST

Kaʻū Coffee Festival Events run through Sunday, May 5. All events are open to the public; some require reservations. Celebrate Kaʻū Coffee at:

     Kaʻū Valley Farms Tour and Lunch, Thursday, May 2, 9 a.m. to noon. Above Nāʻālehu, visit a plant nursery, food farm, coffee and tea plantings, native forest, and hidden valley. $40 per person, reservations required. Call 987-4229 or 731-5409.

     Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day, Friday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm. Includes farm tours, BBQ buffet, and hayride. Visit this historic Ka‘ū Coffee farm and ranch. $25, reservations required. Call 927-2252.

Meet owners Merle and Phil Becker at Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day 

at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm on Friday. Details, left. 

Photo from Aikane Plantation

     Kaʻū Stargazing on Friday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., takes guests to the top of sacred Makanau during a new-moon. Learn about the ancient Hawaiian temple and see the Hawaiian night sky and stars. Reservations required; $45 per person, includes refreshments. Call 938-0550.
     Kaʻū Coffee Festival Hoʻolauleʻa, Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. Full day of music, dance, coffee tasting, demonstrations, food, snacks, educational booths, and games. Free entry.

     Kaʻū Coffee College closes out the Kaʻū Coffee Festival. It is held at Pāhala Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 5. Get served education and see demonstrations for coffee farmers and Kaʻū Coffee enthusiasts.

     See KauCoffeeFestival.com.

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

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule

Baseball:

Wed.-Sat., May 8-11, HHSAA

Softball:

Wed., through May 4, HHSAA

Boys Volleyball:

Thu.-Sat., May 2-4, HHSAA

Track:

Fri.-Sat., May 3-4, HHSAA

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

THURSDAY, MAY 2
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Thursday, May 2. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Valley Farms Tour, Thursday, May 2, 9 a.m. – noon, Ka‘alaiki Rd., Nā‘ālehu. $40; includes lunch and transportation from meeting site. Reservations required. 987-4229/731-5409, kauvalley.com, kaucoffeefestival.com

Keiki Jiggle Bums, Thursday, May 2 and 16 – 1st and 3rd Thursday, monthly – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 17 – 3rd Friday monthly – 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. Discover the joy of early learning through song and musical instruments. For keiki 0-4 years. Nicola, 238-8544

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, May 2, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Women's Expression Group, Thursday, May 2 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, May 2, 6:30 p.m., Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, MAY 3
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Coffee & Cattle Day, Friday, May 3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Aikane Plantation Coffee Company. $25; includes BBQ buffet and hayrides. Reservations required. 927-2252, aikaneplantation.com,
 kaucoffeefestival.com

Cinco de Mayo Fundraiser, Friday, May 3, doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner served 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Enchiladas, Tamales, Charro Borracho Beans (Mexican Cowboy Drunken Beans), Drinks and Dessert. $8/person, $15 for two, $20/family. stjudeshawaii.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Star Gazing, Friday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., Makanau summit. $45, includes refreshments and shuttle ride. Reservation required. 928-0550, kaucoffeemill.com, kaucoffeefestival.com

KDENte Fundraising Dinner for Kilauea Drama Entertainment Network, Friday, May 3, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Amalfatano's Italian Restaurant, Hilo. Italian food buffet, $20 cash or check at door. 984-7344

The Great Kīlauea Eruption of 2018 and What May Soon Follow, Friday, May 3, 6:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. Presented by Geologist Dr. Richard "Rick" Hazlett, Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, MAY 4
Parenting Class & Saturday School, May 4 and 18, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center, Downstairs. Sponsored by Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stewardship at the Summit, May 4, 9, 17, 25, and 31, 8:45 a.m. – noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ho‘olaule‘a, Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Pāhala Community Center. Music and hula, coffee tastings (Ka‘ū Coffee Experience, 9:30 a.m. – noon, 1 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., free). Talk story with coffee growers and industry professionals. Food, craft and information booths. Free entry. Coffee farm and mill tours, $20, offered 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. kaucoffeefestival.com

Abstract Painting Workshop with Darcy Gray, Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Basic painting backgroup suggested. Tools provided, can bring own supplies. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Limited to 8 adults. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, May 4 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11 a.m. – noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

Fiesta in the Forest, May 4, bar opens 4 p.m., dinner 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Food, margaritas, beer, wine and live music. Bring Cooper Center mug for $1 off beer – purchase one for $10 – can be used at all Cooper Center events. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SUNDAY, MAY 5
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Coffee College, Sunday, May 5, 9 a.m. – noon, Pāhala Community Center. Coffee industry professionals come to Ka‘ū to share their knowledge with coffee growers and enthusiasts. Free; donations welcome. kaucoffeefestival.com

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, May 5 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon – 2 p.m., Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc
 or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY-THURSDAY, MAY 6-9
Summer Fun Registration, Monday-Thursday, May 6-9, 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., at Nā‘ālehu Community Center and at Ka‘ū District Gym, Pāhala. Program, for keiki completing grade K-6, runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., June 12-July 19. $40 fee. $50 portion of registration fee funded by Councilwoman Maile David. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

MONDAY, MAY 6

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, May 6, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, MAY 7
Family Engagement Night, Tuesday, May 7, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, May 7, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, May 7 (Committees), Wednesday, May 8 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit. Dental, Wednesday, May 8, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, May 30, 1 – 5 p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Kākou, Wednesday, May 8, 10 a.m. – noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Author and ethnographer, P.F. "Ski" Kwiatkowski, speaks about Hawaiian kākau – tattoos – their origins and counterparts in other aspects of Hawaiian crafts. Displaying collection of tattoo needles and the materials that are used in creating the needles, the ink and the tattoos themselves. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Mother's Day Keepsake, Wednesday, May 8, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym, Pāhala. Register keiki grades K-6, May 2-7. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

ONGOING

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

Exhibit: On Sacred Ground by Dino Morrow is open daily through Sunday, May 5 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to see documentary and protrait photography of Hula Arts at the Kīlauea Program. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade happens Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. The parade route begins at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nāʻālehu Hongwanji Mission. To participate, call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872.

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.