Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, September 6, 2019

Stewardship proposals for Kaʻū lands come up before PONC on Monday. Lands include Kāwā and nearby parcels.
See story below. Map from Hawaiʻi County

KAPELA SAYS SHE'LL RUN AGAINST CREAGAN. Jeanné Kapela, Miss Hawaiʻi 2015, says she is running again for the state House of Representatives District 5 seat held by Rep. Richard Creagan.

     Kapela, who turned 25 on Tuesday, lost to Creagan in a three-way primary election to represent the sprawling district, which runs from North and South Kona to West Ka‘ū. Raised on a small coffee farm in Captain Cook, she graduated from Konawaena High School in 2012.

     "Our community deserves leadership with aloha," Kapela said in a statement. "Two years ago, my campaign started a movement to bring hope to those who need it most. Today, faced with a soaring cost of living, crumbling schools, and climate change, that movement is more urgent than ever."

Rep. Richard Creagan

Jeanné Kapela

      Kapela serves as executive director of UNITE Hawaiʻi, operations coordinator for the Kona Historical Society, director of the Miss Kona Coffee scholarship pageant, and is a member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association Board of Directors.

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REAL IDS FOR MICRONESIANS, MARSHALESE, AND PALAUANS will be more accessible, according to Sen. Mazie Hirono's office. Efforts headed by Hirono and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) led to the Department of Homeland Security announcing it would "remove unnecessary barriers placed on citizens of the Freely Associated States seeking to secure REAL ID Act-compliant identification," according to a statement from the senators.

     Hirono's office states this announcement reverses guidance previously released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that required FAS citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau residing in the U.S. to present a visa or Employment Authorization Document in order to receive a REAL ID Act-compliant driver's license. Under decades-old treaties with the U.S. – known as the Compacts of Free Association – FAS citizens are able to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely as non-immigrants without having to obtain a visa or an EAD card. The requirement for FAS citizens to suddenly obtain an EAD to renew their driver's licenses put many at risk of losing their employment, given the delay and burden of applying for and receiving an EAD.

     FAS citizens residing in the U.S. were only able to receive temporary driver's licenses and state identification cards, forcing them to renew annually. This often meant that FAS citizens were excluded from employment, housing, transportation, schools, and other opportunities afforded to non-immigrants. Hirono, states the release, worked to advance the REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act of 2018 that unanimously passed the U.S. Senate and was signed into law. The intent of this legislation was to ensure that FAS citizens in the U.S. could receive full-term REAL ID Act-compliant identification documents without a visa or EAD.

     In October 2020, REAL ID Act-compliant identification or other acceptable forms of identification will be required for every person accessing federal facilities and traveling domestically on a commercial airline.

      Said Hirono, "Since the administration first announced the decision to require visas or EADs for FAS citizens, I've heard directly from employers, grassroots organizations, county and state agencies, and FAS citizens living and working in Hawaiʻi, about the significant and unnecessary financial hardships that this community faced in obtaining the identification they need and are legally entitled to possess. This announcement was welcome news for thousands of FAS citizens living in communities across our country, and I want to thank the bipartisan group of my colleagues for joining the effort to ensure we meet our special obligations under the Compacts of Free Association, which recognize the important national security partnership between the United States and the Freely Associated States.

     Said Young, "While FAS citizens lawfully reside and work in the United States, they have been subject to a host of barriers when trying to acquire a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card. I have been engaged in correcting this issue legislatively for some time, including passing my bill, the REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act, last Congress. I am pleased to see the Department of Homeland Security has agreed to allow FAS citizens to obtain REAL ID-compliant ID cards using the same requirements as citizens in the rest of the country – a U.S. passport and I-94 forms. I would like to thank Senator Mazie Hirono for partnering with me on this important national security issue. I will keep working in Congress to ensure REAL ID-compliant licenses are issued as efficiently and consistently as possible."

    Said Rep. Ed Case, formerly a state representative of Kaʻū, said, "Our Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands are of key importance to all of our countries. The Compacts permit COFA citizens to live and work in our country with a valid passport and documentation of entry under the Compacts. They should not have been required to comply with onerous additional requirements to obtain a driver's license and access other basics of everyday life, and I appreciate the administration reversing course on a matter critical to COFA citizens."

     Said Esther Kia‘aina, Executive Director of the Pacific Basin Development Council, "I applaud the responsiveness of Senator Hirono and other Congressional allies and the Department of Homeland Security on this matter. I look forward to working with them on addressing long-term community issues that also adversely impact the quality of life for citizens from the Freely Associated States, living in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere in the United States."

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National Parks Foundation applied for a grant to steward Kahua Olohu. Map from Hawaiʻi County

PROPOSALS TO STEWARD PRESERVED LANDS IN KAʻŪ come up before the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission next Monday, Sept. 9. The PONC meeting takes place at 10 a.m. at Hilo Council Chambers, 25 Aupuni Street.

     Two organizations are being considered in Kaʻū for stewardship grants. Nā Mamo O Kāwā proposed programs for Kāwā, Hilea Iki, Hilea Nui and Kaʻalaʻiki. Property information is available at records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/74009/Kawa%20(9-5-1606,%2025;%209-5-1705,%2007).pdf.

     National Parks Arts Foundation – the group that supports the Artist in Residence program at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park – proposed programs for Kahua Olohu in Kahuku. Property information is available at records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/89136/Kahua%20Olohu%20(9-5-1205).pdf.

     County of Hawai‘i, Department of Parks and Recreation, provides grants-in-aid for "public safety maintenance and preservation of lands" acquired by the 2 Percent Land Fund. Only 501(c)3 non-profits or organizations that operate under the umbrella of a 501(c)3 non-profit should apply. Applicants must submit a detailed business plan for the project and file a written report within one year after receipt of funds on what was accomplished and how the money was spent.

     To testify in person, register at least ten minutes before the meeting begins. To testify in writing, bring 12 copies, and submit separate testimony for each agenda item.

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The yellow "x" represents Akoni, The red swirl represents Juliette. Neither storm is forecast to affect Hawaiʻi. NOAA image

TROPICAL STORM AKONI is no more. The first named Central Pacific-generated storm of the season has dissipated.

     Tropical Storm Juliette is also forecast to dissipate far from the islands, becoming a tropical depression by Sunday, and dissipating totally by mid-week.

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READ ABOUT A NATIONAL HONOR FOR USGS IN THIS WEEK'S VOLCANO WATCH:

     Volcano Watch, weekly articles written primarily by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory staff, and occasionally by USGS partners and university affiliates, was recently honored by the National Association of Government Communicators. In its annual Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award program, NAGC recognizes excellence in government communication products with awards in over 40 categories. During a reception in Arlington, Virginia, on June 26, Volcano Watch was awarded First Place in the Electronic Publication category.

     Volcano Watch dates back to November 1991, when Dave Clague, HVO's Scientist-in-Charge at the time, began writing weekly articles as a way to keep Island of Hawaiʻi residents informed about Hawaiian eruptions and earthquakes. At the time, the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption was in its ninth year, and lava flows had already buried much of Kalapana and the Royal Gardens subdivision on Kīlauea's southeast flank. During the remainder of the 35-year-long eruption, Volcano Watch continued to be a means of disseminating information about the lava flows and related topics.

     Initially, Volcano Watch articles were only printed in local newspapers. But starting in the late 90s, the articles were posted online in addition to being printed in newspapers. Today, articles from 1991 to the present are archived on HVO's Volcano Watch webpage,  volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html). Volcano Watch is also shared via USGS social media – Facebook and Twitter – as well as by Internet news outlets.

On behalf of the HVO, Carolyn Donlin, Chief of the USGS Menlo Park Publishing
Service Center, accepted the National Association of Government Communicators 

award, recognizing HVO's weekly Volcano Watch articles as excellent
communication products. Photo from NAGC

     During the 2018 Kīlauea volcanic events, Volcano Watch was an important means of conveying information about volcanic and seismic activity that had tremendous impacts on Hawaiʻi residents. The articles, especially those written between April and September 2018, were aimed at keeping island residents and visitors, County and State emergency managers, scientific colleagues, media (local, national, and international), as well as "volcanophiles" around the globe informed about hazards associated with Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone lava flows and summit caldera collapses. The weekly Volcano Watch articles complemented HVO's more formal Daily Updates posted online and released via the USGS Volcano Notification System, volcanoes.usgs.gov/vns2, a free service that sends email notices about volcanic activity to recipients who sign up for them. 

     In May 2018, when Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption began, "hits" to the Volcano Watch webpage jumped significantly – from a monthly average of about 3,000 to almost 36,000. Monthly visitation remained more than twice the average until early September, when the eruption ended – evidence that people looked to Volcano Watch as an accurate source of information.

     Products entered in the 2019 Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award competition had to be produced by or for a government organization between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018 – a notable period for HVO, with three-plus months of unprecedented volcanic activity on Kīlauea starting in April 2018. Entries were judged on writing, content, purpose or goal, dissemination, target audience, overall impression, and other criteria.

     Cost effectiveness was one of the other criteria by which communication products were judged in the NAGC award program. The cost of Volcano Watch includes HVO staff hours required to write, edit, revise, and select or create imagery for the weekly articles. The annual cost in 2018 was estimated to be around $15,000, which amounts to about 18 cents per webpage view. That cost decreases dramatically when thousands of newspaper readers and social media followers are also considered in the calculation.

     Producing a weekly article can be difficult under the best of circumstances. The summer of 2018 presented many additional challenges, with HVO staff essentially working around the clock to monitor Kīlauea. Still, weekly Volcano Watch articles continued to be issued to help people stay informed about the activity and hazards associated with Kīlauea's largest lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse in at least 200 years.

     The 2019 award for Volcano Watch is the second HVO product to be recognized by the NAGC. In 2018, the USGS video, Kīlauea Summit Eruption—Lava Returns to Halema‘uma‘u, pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/gip182, received Second Place in the Documentary category of the Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards.

       To learn more about the history of Volcano Watch, visit HVO's September 30, 2010, Volcano Watch article: volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html?vwid=39.

Volcano Activity Updates

     The water level at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly rise. HVO is monitoring the pond closely, and under the current conditions, its presence in the crater has not increased the risk to public safety.

     One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred in Hawaii this past week: a magnitude-2.8 quake 3 km (2 mi) south of Leilani Estates at 11 km (7 mi) depth on Aug. 31 at 2:01 p.m.

      HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. Neither volcano is erupting.

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

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GET YOUR CAR SEAT INSTALLATION OR FIT OF YOUR BOOSTER CHECKED at a free Child Passenger Safety Event Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Nāʻālehu Community Center. Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will be there to demonstrate proper car seat installation, selection, and usage. Seat Belt Fit tests will also be done on-site, to demonstrate proper usage of booster seats. 

     The event kicks off Child Passenger Safety Week. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, together with all four county police departments, and child passenger safety advocates, will participate in National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 15 through 21. This campaign is dedicated to "helping parents and caregivers make sure their children ride as safely as possible – every trip, every time."

     According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most parents are confident that they have correctly installed their child's car seat, but in most cases – 59 percent – the seat has not been installed correctly. However, if installed correctly in passenger cars, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers one to four years old. For infants and toddlers in light trucks, the corresponding reductions were 58 percent and 59 percent, respectively.

     According to NHTSA data, in 2015, about 25.8 percent of children 4 to 7 years old were prematurely moved to seat belts, when they should have been riding in booster seats.

     To keep all children safe, states NHTSA, parents and caregivers should use a child safety seat that best fits their child and vehicle. Complimentary public educational events will be held statewide, starting with one in Nāʻālehu.

     In Hawaiʻi, children under 4 years old are required to ride in a child safety seat; children 4 through 7 years old must ride in a child passenger restraint or booster seat. Violators are required to appear in court, and if convicted, must attend a four-hour class. They may also be assessed a penalty of up to $500.

     Parents and caregivers can check the following to determine when a child can be moved from a child safety seat to a booster seat: the shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, and not cross the neck or face; the lap belt must lie snugly across the child's upper thighs, not the stomach; the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat when his or her back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back; the child can stay seated properly during the entire trip.

     NHTSA recommends registering all car seats and booster seats with the manufacturer for a notification in the event of a recall. For more information on car seat safety and to locate a certified child passenger safety technician, visit nhtsa.gov/carseat.

     Hawaiʻi has more than 300 certified child passenger safety technicians, including firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and parents. All technicians have been trained to provide instruction on choosing the right car seat, installing it, and using it correctly.

     Nationwide child passenger safety statistics from NHTSA states that:

     A child under 13 years old was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 32 seconds in 2017. From 2013 to 2017, there were 3,313 children under 13 killed while riding in passenger vehicles. Fatalities decreased in 2017 from 2016, the first decrease since 2014.

     On average, nearly two children under 13 were killed every day in 2017 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans. In 2017, over one-third (35 percent) of children under 13 killed in passenger vehicles were not restrained in car seats, booster seats or seat belts.

     In 2017, among children under 5, car seats saved an estimated 312 lives. A total of 371 children could have survived if they had been buckled up 100-percent of the time.

NHTSA's latest research shows that nearly two out of three car seats are misused.

     Child Passenger Safety Week is sponsored by NHTSA. For more on child safety, as well as a list of child restraint inspection stations and community car seat checks, visit kipchawaii.org or safercar.gov/parents.

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.

2019 Kaʻū High School Athletics Schedule through September

See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates

Football, Division II:

Sat., Sept. 7, 3 p.m., HPA hosts Kaʻū

Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala

Thu., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Pāhoa hosts Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:

Tue., Sept. 10, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kealakeha

Fri., Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Honokaʻa hosts Kaʻū

Tue., Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Waiakea hosts Kaʻū

Thu., Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Keaʻau hosts Kaʻū

Tue., Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Makualani hosts Kaʻū

Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA

Cross Country:

Sat., Sept. 7, 10 a.m., @Kamehameha

Fri., Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m., @HPA

Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m., @Kealakehe

Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m., @Keaʻau

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UPCOMING

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

Child Passenger Safety Event, Saturday, Sept. 7, 10a.m.-1p.m at Nāʻāehu Community Center. Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will be there to demonstrate proper car seat installation, selection, and usage. Seat Belt Fit tests will also be done on-site to demonstrate proper usage of booster seats. kipchawaii.org, safercar.gov/parents

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

The Business of Art with Ira Ono - Full-Day Workshop, Saturday, Sept. 7, 9a.m.-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Bring personal art samples. See Ono's work at iraono.com. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sounds at the Summit featuring Hawaiian Style Band, Saturday, Sept. 7, 5:30-7:30p.m., VolcanoArt Center. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band. Doors open 5 p.m. Tickets, $20/VAC member, $25/non-member, available for purchase online. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

‘Ohi‘a Lehua, Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo

8-Ball Tournament at Kīlauea Military Camp, Sunday, Sept. 8, tournament starts at 1p.m., check-in starts at noon, KMC's Recreation Lodge, HVNP. $10 in advance. Pre-registration required, forms at lodge or 10-Pin Grill. Open to all patrons, with Terms of Service. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com 

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, Sept. 8 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527, volcanoartcenter.org

Volcano Winery's 6th Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. Vineyard and winery tours, live local music, souvenir glasses, heavy pūpū. Tickets available online - $50/person 21+ (includes two glasses wine/beer), $25/person under 21. Proceeds benefit VolcanoSchool of Arts & Sciences. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

MONDAY, SEPT. 9

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Net Recovery Patrol, Monday, Sept. 9. Free; donations appreciated. Limited space available; B.Y.O.-4WD okay. R.S.V.P. required, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. 769-7629, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, Sept. 9 and 23, 1p.m., field trips - contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10

Public Access Room in Ocean View, Tuesday, Sept. 10, noon to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free session helps residents understand the legislative process, deadlines, and power dynamics at the Capitol. Residents can also learn how to effectively navigate the legislature's website to find pertinent information. See lrbhawaii.org/par; par@capitol.hawaii.gov; or toll free, 808-974-4000, ext. 7-0478.

Free Flu Shot Clinic, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30-8p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Long's Drugs Pāhala.

Hawaiian Cultural Artifacts in the 21st Century, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Guests welcome to see and touch artifacts during presentation by Keoni Kaholo‘a‘ā and Rick LaMontange. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11

Ho‘oponopono Demonstration, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Aunty Mahealani Kuamo‘o-Henry and friends journey through the teachings of Ho‘opono Pono Ke Ala. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

Registration Open: Coffee Filter Art, Thursday, Sept. 12-17, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place Wednesday, Sept. 18, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, Sept. 12, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkeley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, Sept. 13, 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Free disability legal services provided by Hawai‘i Legal Aid. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Community Dance, Friday, Sept. 13, 7-10p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

ONGOING

Applications are Open for the Online High School Internship Program under Sen. Brian Schatz through 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. The program provides a hands-on learning opportunity about the U.S. Senate. It also encourages students to be leaders and advocates in their schools and communities. Interns are selected based on their involvement in their community – jobs, activities, and responsibilities – and diversity of interests and life experiences. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and have personal access to email.

     This is not an office position. The program uses online communication tools and methods, so students from all islands are encouraged to apply. Strong preference is given to students in their last year of high school. Apply at schatz.senate.gov/services/internships.

Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School of Arts & Sciences; last year's event sold out. This sixth festive evening of live music, food, wines and craft beers under the stars happens Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards; and a huge raffle.

Exhibit - Nani Ka ‘Ikena by Volcano local photographer Jesse Tunison, daily through Sunday, Sept. 15, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Nani Ka ʻIkena, that which is seen is beautiful, features vibrant colors and crisp, wide vistas which highlight the character and drama of Hawaiʻi Island’s landscape. The collection of ten photographs were captured over the past decade by Tunison and also document the dynamic changes which have occurred in such a short period of time. "While the landscape has changed the beauty has endured." Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

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., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com

Tutoring for Kaʻū Hugh & Pāhala Elementary is Available to All Students of the school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Grades Kindergarten-2nd will be in room 3; grades 3-6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays; middle school students, will be in building Q; and high school students will be in room M-101 in the science building. Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.

Nationwide 2019 Congressional App Challenge submissions from middle and high schoolers are open through Nov. 1. Submit to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, CongressionalAppChallenge.us, apps "designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science." All skill levels, all devices and platforms, and all programming languages, accepted. 

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, Thursday, September 5, 2019

Kaʻū Coffee farmers are seeking pickers for this season, saying the crop is expected to be "full blast," with
twice as much as last year. These candidates for Miss Kaʻū Coffee, years ago, tried out picking as they
learned details of the industry. Photo by Nalani Parlin

KAʻŪ COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE members are looking for people to work as pickers to help with a huge crop this Fall. Co-op President Gloria Camba said the farmers are expecting this year's crop to be "full blast," with "heavy, heavy picking." There may be twice as much coffee as last year, when the harvest followed a volcanic eruption. Camba said there has been much more rain this year and the crop is so abundant that farmers are looking for people to try out coffee picking. Some of the best coffee pickers are making three hundred dollars a day and more.
     To contact the Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative for picking jobs, call Camba at 928-8558. Also hiring pickers are Kaʻū Coffee Mill at 928-0550 and other individual farmers in Kaʻū.
     Last Saturday, Kaʻū Coffee Growers Co-op elected its board and officers. Camba continues as President. Vice President is Willie Tabios. Secretary is Deborah Dickerson. Treasurer is Karen Dusenbery. Directors are Myles Mayne, Leo Norberte, and Lorie Obra.
     The annual meeting was held at Punaluʻu Beach following the blessing of the installation of two water tanks for the farms at Cloud Rest and Pear Tree. The tanks were donated by coffee buyer Starbucks, coffee broker Kaʻū Local Products, and coffee farms land owner Kaʻū Mahi, said Camba. Entertainment was by Chase Cabudol and Friends.

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A NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS PROGRAM at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is approved by the Secretary of the Navy, after years of advocacy by Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation. Sen. Mazie Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, and Sen. Brian Schatz, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, made the announcement.

     Hirono asked for a Naval ROTC program at UH in 2015 letters to then-Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson. The Senators continued their advocacy following the change in administrations, raising the issue with senior Navy leaders.

     Said Hirono, the program "underscores the Navy's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and represents a tangible step toward increasing the diversity of its officer corps. I want to thank Secretary Spencer for his support in approving this request, and will continue to work with leaders like him to deepen the Navy's commitment to Hawaiʻi and the Indo-Pacific region."

     Said Schatz, "This new ROTC program at UH will give more Hawaiʻi students a chance at earning scholarships and gaining an education, while helping the Navy strengthen its diversity to make sure its sailors and Marines better reflect the American public and our values in Hawaiʻi. I thank Secretary Spencer for his partnership and his recommitment to the Navy's longstanding relationship with Hawaiʻi."

     UH President David Lassner said, "We are grateful and proud that the Navy has selected UH Mānoa to host a new NROTC unit. We are already the home of exceptionally successful Army and Air Force ROTC units, and the establishment of a Navy ROTC unit will provide scholarship opportunities that enable more Hawaiʻi students to attend college affordably and serve their country. Our thanks to Senator Hirono, Senator Schatz, and our entire Congressional delegation for their sustained support."

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ASPEN INSTITUTE, which formerly operated a venue in Kaʻū, released a statement about last Monday's 125th annual Labor Day celebration as an official federal holiday, reviewing the accomplishments of labor movement forbearers:

     These working women and men of extraordinary determination and courage waged the battles that secured rights and working conditions we often take for granted today, such as an eight-hour workday, dramatic improvements in workplace safety, an end to child labor, retirement and other employment benefits, and, of course, weekends.

     More recently, however, participation in labor organizations and the labor movement has been on the decline. The upshot? Researchers at The Hamilton Project, a policy group at The Brookings Institution, conclude that the dramatic drop in US private-sector union density, which fell from 24.2 percent in 1973 to 6.4 percent today, reduced American workers' bargaining power and contributed to growing economic inequality.

     For most U.S. workers, working hard and playing by the rules has yielded limited and declining returns over the past several decades. According to research by Raj Chetty, the chances of a child earning more than their parents dropped from 90 percent in the post-World War II era to only 50 percent by the 1980s. And this troublesome trend of economic immobility continues. Millennials, despite being better educated than previous generations, have lower earnings and less wealth than their predecessors did at the same age.

     The U.S. unemployment rate is remarkably low, but today, roughly one in four working adults earns a wage that, even with full-time, year-round work, won't lift a small family out of poverty. There is too much month and not enough paycheck for millions of households. Working people struggle with basic costs – housing, healthcare, child care, transportation – leaving little to cover the ever-escalating cost of higher education for oneself or one's children.

     Limited opportunity and systemic bias continue to disproportionately burden women and people of color. The gender pay gap has slightly narrowed. But women still earn only 80 percent of what men earn, and the pay gap widens at higher education levels. Black unemployment is generally twice that of white unemployment – and that holds true even when accounting for education level – and the typical black family has just 10 percent of the wealth of the typical white family.

     Data suggest the trend of too few good jobs and too many poorly paying jobs may continue and possibly intensify. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on median occupational wages, combined with some information from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, show in the graphic below that by 2026, an estimated 39 percent of projected employment will be in jobs where median earnings are insufficient to support a small family.

     But this picture is just a projection based on current trends, which means that it can be changed. Work, after all, is a human endeavor, shaped by laws people choose to enact, business decisions people make, individual actions people choose to take, and values society shares.

Future jobs projections. Chart from Aspen Institute

     To change our current trajectory, however, we need a range of ideas and actors to work together toward a common goal of good jobs. And there has been good news on this front recently. The Business Roundtable released an updated statement on the purpose of the corporation. Central to the group's new commitment is the recognition that businesses have multiple stakeholders to serve, including employees. Meanwhile, the CEO of insurance giant Allstate, writing recently in The New York Times, called on fellow corporate leaders to focus on creating good-paying jobs. This shift in business perspective is critical, as good jobs are hard to come by when companies don't recognize their employees as important and worthy stakeholders.

     But we can't rely on business alone. Policymakers at all levels should consider ways in which they could reduce the cost of living for working people, as well as how they could support working people with updated labor market regulations that protect workers' interests. The cost and quality of essential services such as healthcare, transportation, child care, housing, and education are greatly influenced by the decisions of policymakers. These are all major and often challenging expense items for working individuals and their families. Child care, for example, constitutes 19.8 percent of expenditures for a family in the calculation of a living wage in the model used in the graphic above. Reducing this cost or other expenses for working people lessens the need for businesses to rapidly raise wages, something that can be especially challenging for smaller businesses.

     Education institutions and civic organizations also play a critical role in helping people prepare for and connect to work. Worker advocacy and labor organizations can play a vital role both through collective bargaining and by providing a communication channel for workers to receive and share information with company leadership. Such a channel can provide workers the opportunity to offer insight into how to improve work processes and productivity and gain meaningful recognition for their contributions.

     The future of work is today’s hot topic. What will we do to ensure that the next 125 years of labor history gives more Americans a fighting chance at the economic mobility we all deserve?

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CONGRESS IS ASKING MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT APP DEVELOPERS to submit their work. The nationwide 2019 Congressional App Challenge requests applications "designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science." Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will accept entries for Hawaiʻi.

     Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, this nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an app for desktop computer, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi, or other devices. The Challenge accepts any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, or "block code."

     Students of all skill levels are encouraged to participate and learn how to create their own apps. Winners will be selected by panels of judges, drawn from the community in Hawaiʻi, and honored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Their apps are eligible to be featured on display in the U.S. Capitol building, on house.gov, and CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

     The Challenge's submission portal is open through Nov. 1. The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience.

     Said Gabbard, "The United States may be short as many as one million coders by 2020. The Congressional App Competition is an opportunity for Hawaiʻi's students to showcase their talents and creativity, while exploring opportunities for success in America's rapidly changing, technology-driven, 21st century economy."

Tropical Storm Akoni is forecast to miss the islands. NOAA image

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TROPICAL STORM AKONI, formerly Tropical Depression Twelve-E, is the first named storm to form in the Central Pacific this season - meaning it received a Hawaiian name.

     The storm is over 800 miles southeast of the islands. There are no weather advisories. The storm is expected to pass south of Hawaiʻi sometime next week. Winds are not forecast to have any effects on Kaʻū, but passing storms can cause storm surge even from hundreds of miles away.

     Hurricane Juliette is still over 2,000 miles southeast, and is expected to dwindle away before nearing Hawaiʻi enough to have effect.

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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.

2019 Kaʻū High School Athletics Schedule through September

See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates

Football, Division II:

Sat., Sept. 7, 2 p.m., HPA hosts Kaʻū

Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala

Thu., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Pāhoa hosts Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:

Fri., Sept. 6, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha

Tue., Sept. 10, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kealakeha

Fri., Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Honokaʻa hosts Kaʻū

Tue., Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Waiakea hosts Kaʻū

Thu., Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Keaʻau hosts Kaʻū

Tue., Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Makualani hosts Kaʻū

Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA

Cross Country:

Sat., Sept. 7, 10 a.m., @Kamehameha

Fri., Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m., @HPA

Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m., @Kealakehe

Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m., @Keaʻau

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

Stewardship at the Summit, Sept. 6, 14, 20, and 28, 8:45a.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

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

Child Passenger Safety Event, Saturday, Sept. 7, 10a.m.-1p.m at Nāʻāehu Community Center. Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will be there to demonstrate proper car seat installation, selection, and usage. Seat Belt Fit tests will also be done on-site to demonstrate proper usage of booster seats. kipchawaii.org, safercar.gov/parents

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

The Business of Art with Ira Ono - Full-Day Workshop, Saturday, Sept. 7, 9a.m.-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Bring personal art samples. See Ono's work at iraono.com. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sounds at the Summit featuring Hawaiian Style Band, Saturday, Sept. 7, 5:30-7:30p.m., VolcanoArt Center. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band. Doors open 5 p.m. Tickets, $20/VAC member, $25/non-member, available for purchase online. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

‘Ohi‘a Lehua, Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo

8-Ball Tournament at Kīlauea Military Camp, Sunday, Sept. 8, tournament starts at 1p.m., check-in starts at noon, KMC's Recreation Lodge, HVNP. $10 in advance. Pre-registration required, forms at lodge or 10-Pin Grill. Open to all patrons, with Terms of Service. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com 

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, Sept. 8 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527, volcanoartcenter.org

Volcano Winery's 6th Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. Vineyard and winery tours, live local music, souvenir glasses, heavy pūpū. Tickets available online - $50/person 21+ (includes two glasses wine/beer), $25/person under 21. Proceeds benefit VolcanoSchool of Arts & Sciences. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

MONDAY, SEPT. 9

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Net Recovery Patrol, Monday, Sept. 9. Free; donations appreciated. Limited space available; B.Y.O.-4WD okay. R.S.V.P. required, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. 769-7629, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, Sept. 9 and 23, 1p.m., field trips - contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10

Public Access Room in Ocean View, Tuesday, Sept. 10, noon to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free session helps residents understand the legislative process, deadlines, and power dynamics at the Capitol. Residents can also learn how to effectively navigate the legislature's website to find pertinent information. See lrbhawaii.org/par; par@capitol.hawaii.gov; or toll free, 808-974-4000, ext. 7-0478.

Free Flu Shot Clinic, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30-8p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Long's Drugs Pāhala.

Hawaiian Cultural Artifacts in the 21st Century, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Guests welcome to see and touch artifacts during presentation by Keoni Kaholo‘a‘ā and Rick LaMontange. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11

Ho‘oponopono Demonstration, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Aunty Mahealani Kuamo‘o-Henry and friends journey through the teachings of Ho‘opono Pono Ke Ala. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

Registration Open: Coffee Filter Art, Thursday, Sept. 12-17, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place Wednesday, Sept. 18, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, Sept. 12, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkeley Yoshida, 747-0197

ONGOING

Applications are Open for the Online High School Internship Program under Sen. Brian Schatz through 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. The program provides a hands-on learning opportunity about the U.S. Senate. It also encourages students to be leaders and advocates in their schools and communities. Interns are selected based on their involvement in their community – jobs, activities, and responsibilities – and diversity of interests and life experiences. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and have personal access to email.

     This is not an office position. The program uses online communication tools and methods, so students from all islands are encouraged to apply. Strong preference is given to students in their last year of high school. Apply at schatz.senate.gov/services/internships.

Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School of Arts & Sciences; last year's event sold out. This sixth festive evening of live music, food, wines and craft beers under the stars happens Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards; and a huge raffle.

Exhibit - Nani Ka ‘Ikena by Volcano local photographer Jesse Tunison, daily through Sunday, Sept. 15, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Nani Ka ʻIkena, that which is seen is beautiful, features vibrant colors and crisp, wide vistas which highlight the character and drama of Hawaiʻi Island’s landscape. The collection of ten photographs were captured over the past decade by Tunison and also document the dynamic changes which have occurred in such a short period of time. "While the landscape has changed the beauty has endured." Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

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., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com

Tutoring for Kaʻū Hugh & Pāhala Elementary is Available to All Students of the school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Grades Kindergarten-2nd will be in room 3; grades 3-6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays; middle school students, will be in building Q; and high school students will be in room M-101 in the science building. Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.

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