Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, June 17, 2019

The Hawaiʻi County Band is a regular at the Volcano July 4 Parade each year. See more on the parade, 

festival, and craft fair below. Photo by Ron Johnson

MORE FUNDING FOR THE PĀHALA AND NĀʻĀLEHU SEWER PROJECTS goes before the full County Council this Wednesday, after unanimously passing the Council Finance Committee earlier this month.
     The County Council meeting begins June 19 at 9 a.m. Bills 75 and 76 are up for first reading to authorize the Mayor to apply to qualify for bonding the projects, which would allow the county to borrow, at low interest, $10 million for the Nāʻāleju project, and $37 million for the Pāhala project.

     See more and some local testimony in the June 14 Kaʻū News Briefs.

     Kaʻū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building on Hwy 11 next to the post office. Testimony is accepted at the start of the meeting. Testimony can also be submitted by email to counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov, fax to 808-961-8912, or mail to Office of the County Clerk, 25 Aupuni St., Hilo, HI, 96720. Agendas are at hawaiicounty.gov.
     Testimonies to date have focused on the cost of the wastewater treatment facilities, locations, and archaeological and cultural sites. The county is obliged to replace old gang cesspools in both towns to comply with federal environmental standards.

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 COFFEE WILL BE CUPPED FOR BEST IN THE STATE and best in the Kaʻū Region during the 24th annual Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Conference July 25 - 27. The convention will be held on Oʻahu at Ala Moana Hotel and will include the 11th Annual Statewide Cupping Competition.

Kaʻū Coffee will be cupped against coffees from around the state
 during the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Conference July 25-27.
Photo from Miranda Farms

     Kaʻū Coffee growers already submitted their prized coffees to be roasted for the cupping contest. Kaʻū ranked high over the years. In 2017, Miranda Farms took first in the state Commercial Division. Aliʻi Hawaiian Hula Hands and Rusty's 100 Percent Hawaiian Coffee have taken the grand champion statewide awards, and many local coffee farmers have ranked in the top ten in numerous divisions.
     Hawaiʻi Coffee Association President Chris Manfredi, who resides in Kaʻū, said this year's program includes preliminary rounds for two national events: the 2020 Brewers Cup and the U.S. Barista Competition. The convention will include tours of the Ko Hana Rum Company and the Hawaiʻi Agriculture Research Center in Kunia.

     Manfredi said the conference will take advantage of Oʻahu's "urban setting to reach new businesses and consumers, and help bridge the gap between these communities and our members who produce some of the finest coffees grown anywhere. What's more, we're witnessing the emergence of the next generation of coffee industry leaders.

     "We're thrilled to be showcasing the best in Hawaiian coffee" at a venue on Oʻahu, "and the hard-working farmers and processors that produce it. More than ever, we will be highlighting those who market, brew, and serve Hawaiian coffee." He described the conference as "a must-attend event for all those with a connection to Hawaiian coffee."

     Ric Rhinehart, past executive director of the Specialty Coffee Association of America, will give the keynote address, The Future of Specialty Coffee. Rhinehart has been outspoken about the importance of sustainability work in the coffee sector, particularly regarding the millions of smallholder farmers on whom the coffee industry relies.

     Headlining the speaker lineup of educational presentations is Dr. Sarada Krishnan to discuss Adapting to Climate Change: Knowledge About Coffee Pest and Diseases, Specifically Coffee Leaf Rust. The Director of Horticulture and Center for Global Initiatives at Denver Botanic Gardens, Krishnan owns coffee plantations in Jamaica and was recently involved in developing the Global Strategy for the Conservation of Coffee Genetic Resources. Krishnan will introduce some of the major coffee pests and diseases while delving into coffee leaf rust.

     Zack Scott of Lallemand/Lalcafe will present The Microbiology of Coffee Processing, to explore the background of yeast and the basic microbial activity at the mill.

President of the Hawaiʻi Coffee
Association, Chris Manfredi.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Andrew Hetzel, of the Specialty Coffee Association, will host an "SCA Town Hall" to update attendees on the latest SCA news and take questions.

     Also of interest, a pair of speaker sessions will address the underlying technology and litigation surrounding the class action suit brought against alleged coffee counterfeiters.

     Other presentations include the launch of a coffee science program by Dr. William Ristenpart, director of the U.C. Davis Coffee Center; Creating a Social Media Marketing Plan by content creator Denise Laitinen, and Soil Health in Hawaiʻi by Jayme Barton, horticultural scientist at HARC.

     Workshops will cover coffee roasting, processing, harvesting and brewing. Presenters from several Hawaiʻi research facilities will provide project updates and answer questions.

     The HCA conference offers a trade show and all activities are open to industry professionals and the media. Visit hawaiicoffeeassociation.org to sign up; registered attendees can receive a special HCA accommodations rate at the Ala Moana Hotel. Also available online are links for cupping contest entry, sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

     The Hawaiʻi Coffee Association's mission is to represent all sectors of the Hawaiʻi coffee industry, including growers, millers, wholesalers, roasters, and retailers. The HCA's primary objective is to increase awareness and consumption of Hawaiian coffees. A major component of HCA's work is the continuing education of members and consumers. Its annual conference has continued to grow, gaining international attention. Learn more about the HCA at hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. Learn more about the Hawaiʻi coffee industry at hawaiicoffeeindustry.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.

Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks march during the 2018 Volcano Community Association July 4 parade. The group runs the 

commercial enterprise to support Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Visitor Center. Photo by Janice Wei

VOLCANO VILLAGE 4TH OF JULY PARADE, FESTIVAL, AND CRAFT FAIR happens Wednesday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The parade starts at the Volcano Post Office, travels down Old Volcano Road, and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Road. Free entry to activities, food, and entertainment. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and more. To be in the parade, download the entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors, download applications at thecoopercenter.org and email to idoaloha@gmail.com, or call Tara Holmes, 464-3625, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park sported costumes of endangered species, including Hawaiian butterflies 

and bats, at the annual 4th of July Volcano Village parade. Photo by Janice Wei

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.

THE FIRST-EVER REPARATIONS BILL introduced into the U.S. Senate was submitted last week by Sen. Mazie Hirono and 12 of her Democrat U.S. Senate colleagues. S. 1083, the H.R. 40 Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, focuses on descendants of slavery and policies of systematic racism.

     Said Hirono, "The enslavement of Africans in America has had significant and long-lasting economic and social impacts on their descendants, who continue to face racial discrimination. It is time for a commission to study and suggest reparations proposals as part of a larger effort to ameliorate the systemic racism in American society. I hope we will see a report and recommendation from this commission before long."

     A message from Hirono states that S. 1083 is the "only reparations bill ever introduced in the U.S. Senate in the post-Reconstruction era. Approximately 4 million Africans and their descendants were enslaved over the two and a half centuries during which slavery thrived in the United States. Even after the abolition of slavery, the institution and its legacy were transformed into policies and practices that systemically exploited African Americans. African-American families have an average of less than one-sixth of the wealth of white families, and the unemployment rate for African Americans is more than twice the current white unemployment rate. According to U.S. Census data, on average, black women were paid 61 percent of what non-Hispanic white men were paid in 2017."

Image from Dilemma X

     Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, which has 57 cosponsors, including Rep. Tusli Gabbard.

     The full text of the bill is available here.

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.

FIREWORKS PERMITS will be issued Saturday, June 29 through Thursday, July 4 at 8 p.m., announced Fire Chief Darren Rosario. Public firework displays will be at Hilo Bay, Kona Bay, and at Queens' Marketplace in Waikoloa, at 8 p.m. on July 4.
     Permits to set off fireworks may be purchased at:

     - Phantom Fireworks Tent Hilo, Walmart Center Hilo

     - Phantom Fireworks Tent Kona, Kona Commons Shopping Center Parking Lot

     - Fire Administration Hilo, County Building, 25 Aupuni St. Monday, July 1 thru Wednesday, July 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

     - Fire Administration Kona, West Hawai‘i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Building E, 2nd floor, Monday, July 1 thru Wednesday, July 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

      Each permit costs $25 and will entitle the holder to purchase up to 5,000 individual firecrackers. Permits will be issued to persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable, and non-refundable. Permits are not required for novelties and paperless firecrackers. Firecrackers, with a valid permit, and consumer fireworks are allowed to be set off during the approved hours of 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 4th only.  

Fireworks permit are available starting Saturday, June 29.
Photo by Julia Neal

     It is unlawful to buy, sell, possess, or set off any Aerial Luminary Device such as Sky Lanterns and Hawai‘i Lanterns. Any person in possession of any Aerial Luminary Device, who would like to dispose of it with amnesty, can contact the Fire Department at 932-2911.  

     The Fire Chief reminds the public that it is illegal for anyone to remove the powder or pyrotechnic contents from any firework or throw firework from a vehicle. It is illegal to set off any firework at any time not within the time period allowed; within 1,000 feet of any operating hospital, nursing home, home for the elderly, or animal hospital; in or on any school building or property; on any highway, alley, street, sidewalk, or other public way; in any park; or within 1,000 feet of a church during the periods when services are held. This includes the Hilo Bayfront and Liliuokalani Park areas. It is also illegal for any person to offer for sale, sell, or give any firework to minors, and for any minor to possess, sell, set off, ignite, or otherwise cause to explode any firework, except under the immediate supervision of an adult.

Aerial fireworks are not permitted for use or possession by
the public. Photo by Julia Neal

     Hawai‘i Fire Department also asks everyone to do their part to prevent fires and injuries caused by fireworks by having a water hose connected to a water source or a fire extinguisher readily available and wetting down surrounding brush prior to setting off firework if need be. HFD reminds the public that children playing with firework must be under adult supervision at all times as "even the smallest of firework can cause serious and sometimes fatal injuries." Fireworks should be set off in a safe area away from dry grass, buildings, vehicles, and flammable materials. Dispose of used firework properly by soaking in water prior to disposal.

     HFD will conduct a collection of un-used and unwanted fireworks following the 4th of July holiday. Anyone interested in disposing of fireworks should call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 932-2911. Fireworks are not accepted for drop-off  at local fire stations.

     For more information on the purchasing of firework permits, disposal of fireworks, or tips on the safe use of fireworks, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at 932-2911."

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.

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, June 18 (Committees), Wednesday, June 19, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

After Dark in the Park - Surviving Against the Odds: The Story of the Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi, Tuesday, June 18, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Gabrielle Names, UC Davis PhD student, studying the mystery of how this unique little bird appears to be beating avian malaria, a deadly disease, on Hawaiʻi Island. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

AdvoCATS, Tuesday, June 19, 7a.m.-4:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, June 19, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hilinaʻi  Initiavtive Community Meeting happens Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m., at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani campus, second floor at 19-4024 Haunani Rd., in Volcano Village. Facilitated by Bob Agres and Keiko Mercado County of Hawaiʻi Kīlauea Recovery Initiative Community Engagement Team, the goal is to move toward a "comprehensive community resilience plan for upper Puna and Kaʻū." Hilinaʻi Kaʻū, kālele iā Puna; Hilinaʻi Puna, kālele iā Kaʻū: Kaʻū is independent, supported by Puna; Puna is independent, supported by Kaʻū, is the slogan on the announcement.

     Dinner is provided, and attendees are welcome to bring a local, healthy dish to share, if can. To get involved, email resilience@volcanoschol.net.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20
SIGN UP for Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade, open until Thursday, June 20. Parade and Keiki Fun Day held June 29, 10a.m.-1:30p.m. - see separate event listing. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872. okaukakou.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Dementia Caregiver Boot Camp, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-4p.m., Kaʻū Rural Community Health Assoc. in Pāhala. RSVP by June 17. Free. Three workshops, movie, and lunch. Attend one or all segments. Learn more and RSVP at alz.org/Hawaii or 800-272-3900.

A-Mazing Triangles, Bookbinding Workshop with Charlene Asato, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. $32/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Abstract Collaging Workshop with Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 22, 10a.m.-2:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Limited to 10 adults. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily, June 22 through Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Opening Reception, Saturday, June 22, 2-4p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, JUNE 24
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Monday, June 24. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays through July 11; no meal Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.

     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

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 bags 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.

Experience Volcano Festival is still looking for vendors. Booths for the event are $25 per day for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. The event is coordinated with the new ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash on the 27th. Apply at experiencevolcano.com/vendor-application.
     Experience Volcano is a group of businesses and residents helping to rebuild the economy of Volcano, following last year's volcanic disaster that shut down Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and drastically reduced the visitor county which is now recovering.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash happens Saturday, July 27 in Volcano Village, It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register at ohialehuahalf.com.

6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.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.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, June 16, 2019

Fathers and father figures are saddling up for the Independence Day Rodeo in Nāʻālehu on Saturday and Sunday,
July 8 and 9. They often introduce keiki to the paniolo life at the Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association arena.
 See more on the rodeo, below. Photo by Julia Neal

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY comes from Gov. David Ige's Team Ige, recognizing "all the fathers, including Governor Ige and the father-figures in Hawaiʻi, on this holiday. This Father's Day, we express sincere gratitude for their love, commitment, and sacrifices they make for our families and for our community. "

     Team Ige states that the governor "was one of six siblings, and he has said that even though his family did not have much, he never knew it, because of his father's love and support. Since leading Hawaiʻi, he sees the impact that father figures have across the state, and even as a father of three children, he experiences firsthand how vital this role contributes to the community. So today, Team Ige wishes your families a happy Father's Day!"

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.

Kamehameha School volleyball players at home last

 week at Pāhala Plantation House, with coach Guy

 Enriques and host Julia Neal. The historic Kaʻū High

 Gym hosted the team's workout and strategy sessions

before the girls headed to national USA Volleyball

 play on the mainland. Photo by Yvette Slack

HEADED FOR THE MAINLAND, volleyball players entering seventh, eighth, and ninth grade at Kamehameha School Hawaiʻi Island will compete in Anaheim and Indianapolis after four days of practice at the historic Kaʻū High School Gym and in Kona.

     Coach Guy Enriques said these girls should become excellent high school players with their experience on the national stage. Many volleyball players are scouted during national play and receive college scholarships. Scouts will show up in Anaheim and Indianapolis where the girls will play in USA Volleyball tournaments.

     Team members include ninth grader Alisha Andrade, with Kaʻū roots in the Andrade, Kaapana, Emmsley, Eleneki, Freitas and Wroblewski families; and Kaiyana Troy with Kaʻū roots in the Evangelista, Breithaupt and McComber families. Pāhala Plantation House hosted the team for their preparation for their trip to the mainland.

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.

Telia Espejo-Navarro when she
won Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower
in 2018. Photo by Julia Neal

MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE FLOWER 2018, TELIA ESPEJO-NAVARRO, took her beauty, grace, and fans to the Mini Miss Tropical Island Beauty Pageant at the Grand Naniloa Hilo Hotel yesterday. She is daughter of Elias and Alyssa Navarro, of Nāʻālehu, and headed to second grade.

     Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant Director Trini Marques attended with Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2019 Helena Nihipali-Sesson, Miss Peaberry 2019 Lilianna Marques, and Junior Miss Kaʻū Coffee 2017 Calaysa Koi.
     Miss Teen Tropical Island Beauty is Ava Aiona. Little Miss tropical Island Beauty is Madison-Rose Marsh, and Mini Miss Tropical Island Beauty is Lilly-Marie Spalding-Carriaga.

     Mini Miss Tropical Island Beauty Pageant is one of three held simultaneously, for ages five through 13, to also name Jr. Teen Tropical Island Beauty and Little Miss Tropical Island Beauty.

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.

TAIKO DRUMMING WITH KENNY ENDO and his Ensemble comes to Pāhala Public & School Library Friday, July 19, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. The event is free.
     "Like all phenomena in this universe, taiko (Japanese drumming) is a result of forces interacting and affecting one another. Master taiko artist Endo has been inspired by space, the heavens, and universal energy in his original compositions," says a statement from the library.

Kenny Endo, master taiko artist, brings his ensemble to
Pāhala Public & School Library on Friday, July 19
at 1:30 p.m. Photo from festivalofsacredmusic.org

     The Taiko Ensemble will perform contemporary pieces such as Soaring, Jugoya (Crystal Clear Moon), Moonwind (Backside of the Moon), and Winds of Change.

     The 45-minute presentation is suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.

     Sponsored by Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i and the 2019 Summer Reading Sponsors, the program is a production of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Outreach College's Statewide Cultural Extension Program with funding and support provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and the UH-Mānoa.
      For a list of upcoming library events, visit librarieshawaii.org/branch/pahala-public-and-school-library or call 808-928-2015.

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.

THE FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL BUCKLE JULY 4 RODEO will kick up action and dirt at the Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association arena in Nāʻālehu on Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7.
     Last year, bulls won the bull riding competition, as no paniolo could stay on board. A collateral event invites folks to pray and praise at Cowboy Church on Sunday at the arena.

Last year, the bulls won, as no rider could keep their seat at the 

41st Annual Buckle July 4 Rodeo. Photo by Richard Taylor

     Competitions are: Open Dally, Kane-Wahine Dally, Century Roping – where ages of the team members add up to 100 years or more, Ranch Mugging, Kane-Wahine Ribbon Mugging, Double Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Rescue Race, Poʻowaiʻu, Tie Down, Wahine Breakaway, Youth Barrels for children under 12, Dummy Roping for children four and under, Dummy Roping for children five to eight, Goat Undercorating for children four and under, Goat Undercorating for children five to eight, Calf Riding for children five to 12, and Bull Riding.     

     Slack starts at 8 a.m., show starts at noon, at the rodeo grounds behind Nā‘ālehu Park. Tickets are available at the gate for $8 per person. Pre-sale tickets are available for $7 person around town from Rodeo Queen contestants. Contact Ralph or Tammy Kaʻapana, 929-8079.

     Entry blanks available at docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/09756f_1bbb3c630e8f499195b81a919c07db24.pdf, due by June 23, postmarked by June 19. Entries for most events are between $8 and $25 per person; bull riding is $50. Waivers available at docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/09756f_faf8e6653d064af9ac3327064b81e9f0.pdf.

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.

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

MONDAY, JUNE 17

Help Keiki Learn About Alzheimers with Aunty Leona and Aunty Roxane, with Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, Monday, June 17, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Story Time and Activity Hour at Pāhala Public & School Library. Book by Hawaiʻi Island native Frances Kakugawa. Keiki are introduced to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things – but "that doesn't mean they aren't still a part of the family nor do they love us any less than they did before." Visit librarieshawaii.org/branch/pahala-public-and-school-library or call 808-928-2015.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, June 18 (Committees), Wednesday, June 19, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

After Dark in the Park - Surviving Against the Odds: The Story of the Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi, Tuesday, June 18, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Gabrielle Names, UC Davis PhD student, studying the mystery of how this unique little bird appears to be beating avian malaria, a deadly disease, on Hawaiʻi Island. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

AdvoCATS, Tuesday, June 19, 7a.m.-4:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, June 19, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hilinaʻi  Initiavtive Community Meeting happens Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m., at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani campus, second floor at 19-4024 Haunani Rd., in Volcano Village. Facilitated by Bob Agres and Keiko Mercado County of Hawaiʻi Kīlauea Recovery Initiative Community Engagement Team, the goal is to move toward a "comprehensive community resilience plan for upper Puna and Kaʻū." Hilinaʻi Kaʻū, kālele iā Puna; Hilinaʻi Puna, kālele iā Kaʻū: Kaʻū is independent, supported by Puna; Puna is independent, supported by Kaʻū, is the slogan on the announcement.

     Dinner is provided, and attendees are welcome to bring a local, healthy dish to share, if can. To get involved, email resilience@volcanoschol.net.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20
SIGN UP for Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade, open until Thursday, June 20. Parade and Keiki Fun Day held June 29, 10a.m.-1:30p.m. - see separate event listing. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872. okaukakou.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Dementia Caregiver Boot Camp, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-4p.m., Kaʻū Rural Community Health Assoc. in Pāhala. RSVP by June 17. Free. Three workshops, movie, and lunch. Attend one or all segments. Learn more and RSVP at alz.org/Hawaii or 800-272-3900.

A-Mazing Triangles, Bookbinding Workshop with Charlene Asato, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. $32/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Abstract Collaging Workshop with Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 22, 10a.m.-2:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Limited to 10 adults. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily, June 22 through Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Opening Reception, Saturday, June 22, 2-4p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.
     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

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 bags 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.

Experience Volcano Festival is still looking for vendors. Booths for the event are $25 per day for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. The event is coordinated with the new ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash on the 27th. Apply at experiencevolcano.com/vendor-application.
     Experience Volcano is a group of businesses and residents helping to rebuild the economy of Volcano, following last year's volcanic disaster that shut down Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and drastically reduced the visitor county which is now recovering.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash happens Saturday, July 27 in Volcano Village, It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register at ohialehuahalf.com.

6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.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.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, June 15, 2019

Mokumanamana, Necker Island, is the destination for Edith Kanakaole Foundation and Na Kalai Wakaʻa in the
Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument. The voyagers plan to meet on the summer solstice,

 next Friday, June 21. Photo from NOAA

PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA is the destination of voyagers numbering 13 from the Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation and 14 from Na Kalai Waʻa. Members of the Edith Kanakaole Foundation set off yesterday on the 96-foot research and education vessel the Searcher. The team includes Native Hawaiian researchers Dr. Pua Kanakaʻole Kanahele and Kalei Nuʻuhiwa. The two have studied traditions and cultural sites of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument for more than a decade, focusing on Mokumanamana and Nīhoa, the two most easterly Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

     The Nā Kalai Waʻa crew launched from Kawaihae and passed Mahukona on the northwest side of Hawaiʻi Island on a 30 day journey aboard the traditional Polynesian Voyaging Society canoe Makaliʻi. The two voyaging groups will meet to conduct cultural training, research, and protocol in the Marine Monument.

Upright wayfinding stones at a temple on Mokumanamana with
 frigate birds nesting. Photo from NOAA

     Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO/Ka Pouhana released a statement saying OHA is "proud to kōkua the efforts of Nā Kalai Waʻa and Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation in creating the next generation of Hawaiian wayfinders and furthering our cultural understanding and connections to Papahānaumokuākea. We wish the voyagers favorable weather, calm waters, and the best of luck. The ʻike they will return with will have a profound impact on the cultural foundation of our Lāhui moving forward."

      Mokumanamana (Necker Island) is a remote and rugged 46-acre island where the voyagers gain "insight into traditional concepts of time, space, the geological creation of the islands, and the way our kūpuna connected all the islands in Hawaiʻi together. The Nā Kalai Waʻa voyagers will lend their wayfinding expertise to assist Edith Kanakaole Foundation with better understanding the alignments of 33 cultural sites on Mokumanamana to stars and other celestial phenomenon during and around the Summer Solstice on June 21," says the OHA statement.

     The Nā Kalai Waʻa voyage, called Hanaunaola, is the capstone of a three-year grant from the Administration for Native Americans. The grant helped Nā Kalai Waʻa members grow and preserve their own food to provision all 14 voyagers for the full length of the journey. The sail is the first time in 200 years that the route from the heiau Koʻa Holomoana in Mahukona in Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island to Mokumanamana has been used to train new wayfinders and voyagers. This voyaging route was a traditional test for apprentice navigators, says the OHA statement.
         Ceremonial sites on Mokumanamana may represent the highest concentration of heiau in the Hawaiian archipelago, with 52 archaeological sites identified, including 33 basalt upright shrines. They are believed to be  celestially oriented, rising from stone alters and tied to Polynesian navigating by stars.

Dr. Pua Kanahele is on board the research ship headed
for Papahānaumokuākea. Photo from OHA

      Keola Linday, OHA'S Chief Advoctae said: "As a co-trustee of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with the specific kuleana of advocating for Native Hawaiian interests in the co-management of the area, OHA is honored to have a part in helping our beneficiaries with fiscal support as well as in working through the permitting and other requirements to enter the monument. Our goal is to assure that our people have the ability to access the area to conduct activities that perpetuate our cultural and traditional connections to these Kūpuna Islands."
     Established by presidential proclamation in 2006, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area in the United States, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. The OHA statement says that "the monument is cooperatively managed to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations."

     Four co-trustees – the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of the Interior, State of Hawai‘i and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs – are assigned to protect Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. It was inscribed as the first mixed (natural and cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States in July 2010.

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.

HELPING KEIKI LEARN ABOUT ALZHEIMERS is the subject of Story Time & Activity Hour, Monday, June 17, noon to 1:30 p.m. at Pāhala Public & School Library.

     Aunty Leona and Aunty Roxane present Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, a book by Hawaiʻi Island native Frances Kakugawa. They introduce keiki to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things – but "that doesn't mean they aren't still a part of the family nor do they love us any less than they did before."

    A special guest appearance of Wordsworth the Hawaiian Mouse will be featured. The program is free and suitable for all ages. All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.

     For auxiliary aid or service, or other accommodation due to a disability, please contact the library at least seven days prior to the program date. Every attempt is made to fulfill all requests for accommodations. All programs are subject to change. For a list of upcoming library events, visit librarieshawaii.org/branch/pahala-public-and-school-library or call 808-928-2015.

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.

SEEING THE EARTH SHAKE ON YOUR SCREEN is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

     The USGS HVO, along with its partners at NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) and the National Strong-Motion Project (NSMP), operates a network of seismic monitoring stations on the Island of Hawai‘i and throughout the state.

     HVO collects real-time data from these stations using computer processing software to detect, locate, and publish information about earthquakes that happen in Hawaiʻi. The data are used for cataloging of earthquakes and for assessment of earthquake, volcano, and tsunami hazards, as well as for engineering purposes, such as structural monitoring. 

     All seismic data are freely available to the public. How can you view these ground motion data? There are several ways. Below, we walk you through two options.

     If you follow our volcano updates, chances are that you already frequent HVO's website. The earthquake page on this website, volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/earthquakes, by default, shows recent earthquake locations. To also see the monitoring stations, click on the tab labeled "0 Instruments Visible" on the right side of the webpage, and then click on "Seismometer" to show seismic stations. Many black triangle symbols will appear on the map, indicating the locations of seismic monitoring sites.

Screenshot of a seismic webicorder from the USGS HVO website showing 24 hours 

of data from a seismic station located on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano. 

In this plot, several earthquakes are visible, along with wind noise.

     Clicking on a particular station symbol on the map will reveal a pop-up window that shows four panels of seismic data plots, known as webicorders, for time spans of 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. You can click on each time span to enlarge the webicorder. You can also click on the "Open Image" link on the lower right corner of the pop-up window to access the image files for downloading or bookmarking. This same process applies to viewing other types of HVO monitoring data, such as that from GPS and tiltmeter instruments.

     The seismic webicorder plots available on the HVO website are digital versions of the paper seismic drum recorders used in past decades. Each line shows the seismic record for 15 minutes, starting from the upper left, with the latest time in the bottom right. Thus, you read a webicorder like a book, from left to right and top to bottom. The start time of each line is shown in local time (Hawai‘i Standard Time, or HST) on the left, and the end time of each line is shown in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on the right.

     Seismic data are shown in blue on webicorder plots, with each 15-minute span alternating between dark- and light-blue tones. The blue lines mimic ground motion under the seismic sensor: the line moves up if the ground shifts upwards, the line moves down if the ground moves downwards, and the line would be flat at "zero" if no ground motion is detected. The higher the amplitude of the ground motion, the taller the blue line will be. What is immediately apparent is that the ground is always moving up and down ever so slightly.

     Seismic instruments are very sensitive and record anything that shakes the ground. So, wiggles on webicorder plots could be a record of wind, thunder, lightning, ocean waves crashing against the island, as well as of localized shaking from rockfalls, quarry blasts, or other explosions.

     Earthquakes appear as blue smudges that often resemble a sideways tornado. Each has certain recognizable characteristics, 

including P- (primary) and S- (secondary or shear) waves, which may have a sharp onset and then decay to background level. Greater separation between P and S waves indicate increasing distance from the seismic station to the earthquake. Other types of earthquakes, for example those due to the movement of magma or gas, look different, generally with longer period energy that can persist over longer time frames.

     Another way to find seismic data online is through the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) website. IRIS is the world's repository for seismic data, including HVO's. IRIS offers many ways to find, view, and download data for various purposes. One of the easiest and most convenient methods is with the IRIS Station Monitor tool, iris.edu/app/station_monitor, which can be accessed in a website browser or in apps available for iOS and Android devices. 

Video on reading webicorders.

     For more tips on reading webicorders, check out this informative USGS video:
youtu.be/SkfR4GBEIp8.

Volcano Activity Updates

     Kῑlauea Volcano is not erupting and its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL. For definitions of USGS Volcano Alert Levels, see https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html.

     Rates of deformation, gas release, and seismicity on Kīlauea have not changed significantly over the past week. Since early March, GPS stations and tiltmeters at Kīlauea's summit have recorded deformation consistent with slow magma accumulation within the shallow portion of the summit magma system. However, gas measurements have not indicated shallowing of large volumes of magma. 

     On Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, GPS stations and tiltmeters continue to show motions consistent with refilling of the deep magmatic reservoir in the broad region between Puʻu ʻŌʻō and Highway 130. This trend has been observed since the end of the 2018 eruption, although there is an indication that this motion has been slowing down over recent weeks. Sulfur dioxide emission rates on Kīlauea's ERZ and summit remain low, but HVO continues to closely monitor gas emissions in both areas for any changes.

     One earthquake had three or more felt reports this past week: a magnitude-2.8 quake beneath Captain Cook at 11 kilometer (7 mile) depth on June 6 at 3:02 a.m.

    The USGS Volcano Alert level for Mauna Loa remains at NORMAL. A slight increase in detected earthquakes was noted over the past month. GPS instruments show slow inflation of the summit magma reservoir. Gas and temperature data showed no significant changes the past month.

     Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call 808-967-8862 for weekly Kīlauea updates. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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.

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Clean-Up, Sunday, June 16. Free; donations appreciated. Space available and BYO-4WD ok. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Father's Day Buffet, Sunday, June 16, 5-8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Main entrees: Prime Rib, Lemon Butter Fish and Vegetable Stir Fry w/Tofu. $29.95/Adults, $14.95/Child (ages 6-11). No reservations required, 967-8356. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

MONDAY, JUNE 17

Help Keiki Learn About Alzheimers with Aunty Leona and Aunty Roxane, with Wordsworth Dances the Waltz, Monday, June 17, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Story Time and Activity Hour at Pāhala Public & School Library. Book by Hawaiʻi Island native Frances Kakugawa. Keiki are introduced to the concept that as grandparents age, they may become different, and even forget important things – but "that doesn't mean they aren't still a part of the family nor do they love us any less than they did before." Visit librarieshawaii.org/branch/pahala-public-and-school-library or call 808-928-2015.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, June 18 (Committees), Wednesday, June 19, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

After Dark in the Park - Surviving Against the Odds: The Story of the Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi, Tuesday, June 18, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Gabrielle Names, UC Davis PhD student, studying the mystery of how this unique little bird appears to be beating avian malaria, a deadly disease, on Hawaiʻi Island. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

AdvoCATS, Tuesday, June 19, 7a.m.-4:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, June 19, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Taiko Drumming Presentation by Endo and his Taiko Ensemble happens Wednesday, June 19, 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., at Pāhala Public & School Library. This free event is in celebration of the Summer Reading Program. Hear contemporary pieces such as Soaring, Jugoya (Crystal Clear Moon), Moonwind (a.k.a. Backside of the Moon), and Winds of Change. Free 45-minute program is suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. Visit librarieshawaii.org/branch/pahala-public-and-school-library or call 808-928-2015.

Hilinaʻi  Initiavtive Community Meeting happens Wednesday, June 19, 6 p.m., at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani campus, second floor at 19-4024 Haunani Rd., in Volcano Village. Facilitated by Bob Agres and Keiko Mercado County of Hawaiʻi Kīlauea Recovery Initiative Community Engagement Team, the goal is to move toward a "comprehensive community resilience plan for upper Puna and Kaʻū." Hilinaʻi Kaʻū, kālele iā Puna; Hilinaʻi Puna, kālele iā Kaʻū: Kaʻū is independent, supported by Puna; Puna is independent, supported by Kaʻū, is the slogan on the announcement.

     Dinner is provided, and attendees are welcome to bring a local, healthy dish to share, if can. To get involved, email resilience@volcanoschol.net.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20
SIGN UP for Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade, open until Thursday, June 20. Parade and Keiki Fun Day held June 29, 10a.m.-1:30p.m. - see separate event listing. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872. okaukakou.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Dementia Caregiver Boot Camp, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-4p.m., Kaʻū Rural Community Health Assoc. in Pāhala. RSVP by June 17. Free. Three workshops, movie, and lunch. Attend one or all segments. Learn more and RSVP at alz.org/Hawaii or 800-272-3900.

A-Mazing Triangles, Bookbinding Workshop with Charlene Asato, Saturday, June 22, 9a.m.-noon, Volcano Art Center. $32/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Abstract Collaging Workshop with Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 22, 10a.m.-2:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $85/VAC member, $90/non-member, plus $20 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Limited to 10 adults. See supply list. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily, June 22 through Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Opening Reception, Saturday, June 22, 2-4p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING

Purchase Tickets for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, Sunday, June 16 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, from Teen USA candidate Kailee "Kamalani" Kuhaulua-Stacy. Tickets are $25; contact Kamalani at 808-315-4252 through Saturday, June 15 to purchase. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes both competition for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA, for contenders 14 to 18 years of age, and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, for contestants 18 to 28.

     See misshawaiiisland.com.

Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.

     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

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 bags 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.

Experience Volcano Festival is still looking for vendors. Booths for the event are $25 per day for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. The event is coordinated with the new ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash on the 27th. Apply at experiencevolcano.com/vendor-application.
     Experience Volcano is a group of businesses and residents helping to rebuild the economy of Volcano, following last year's volcanic disaster that shut down Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and drastically reduced the visitor county which is now recovering.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash happens Saturday, July 27 in Volcano Village, It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register at ohialehuahalf.com.

6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.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.