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Friday, March 04, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, March 4, 2022

Keiki at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center Discovery Forest, which is recipient of funding 
through Hawai'i Forest Institute from Hawai'i Life Charitable Foundation. Photo from KBCC

KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER DISCOVERY FOREST is a recipient of funding through the Hawai'i Forest Institute, which is receiving $10,000 for its projects from the Hawai'i Life Charitable Foundation. Located near Volcano Village, the Discovery Forest offers service-learning for volunteers and habitat and food for native birds.
    Keauhou Bird Conservation Center also cares for endangered birds and operates breeding and release programs. Among the birds are Alalā, Palila, ‘Akeke‘e, and ‘Akikiki. Another one of its programs is replanting such natives as ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, which is being devastated on Hawai‘i Island by Rapid Ohia Death.
    Hawai'i Forest Institute lists Ulumauahi Kealiʻikanakaʻole as Caretaker and Outreach Coordinator at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography with a minor in Anthropology from UH Hilo and a Forestry Team Certificate from Hawai'i Community College. His experience includes Field Monitoring Technician for the ʻAlalā at KBCC, Intern for Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science, Field Technician for Edith Kanakaʻole Foundation, Educational Assistant and Tutor at Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo and Cultural Educator at Hālau o Kekuhi.

Keiki outplanting programs at Keauhou Bird 
Conservation Center near Volcano. 
Photo from KBCC

    The Discovery Forest 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan includes clearing 40 acres, four acres per year dependent on available funds, and replanting for reforestation. Volunteers outplant Acacia koa, Māmane, Maile, ‘Ōhi‘a, Pa‘iniu, Ōhelo, Kawa‘u, Kōlea, Ōlapa, ‘Ohāwai, ‘Uki’uki, Popolo ku mai, and Pilo.

    Discovery Forest is located in the 170-acre Keauhou Ranch near Volcano in Kaʻū. It has an endemic forest canopy with Acacia koa and ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua as the pioneer species.
    Hawai'i Forest Industry Association is a nonprofit formed in 1989, to “promote healthier forests, increased business in Hawai'i’s forest industry, and more jobs within the sector.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html. 

HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTICES are shared in a new video series produced, created and hosted by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park rangers, available to individuals, homes and classrooms anywhere.
    The short documentary films are both "talk story" and tutorial and enable a friendly connection to traditional Hawaiian lifestyle practices. Viewers are introduced to three skilled local practitioners who delve into the rituals of kuʻi kalo (making poi), weave lei lāʻī (ti leaf lei), and create an ipu heke ʻole (single gourd drums) in beautiful settings on the island of Hawaiʻi.
    The video series, titled ʻIke Hana Noʻeau (Experience the Skillful Work), evolved from the in-person
cultural demonstrations hosted by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center. The in-person programs are on hold, but the park's mission to share authentic Hawaiian culture is stronger than ever. The video host, Park Ranger Sean Miday, is a kānaka (native Hawaiian) who kicks off his boots and rolls up his sleeves to learn important traditions along with the viewer.
    The premiere video, Kui Kalo, debuted March 2 and features Kamehameha Schools senior Hayden Konanui-Tucker who demonstrates how to ku'i kalo (pound poi) in sacred Waipiʻo Valley. Poi is described as the staple food of the Hawaiian people, the film showing kuʻi kalo, the process of pounding cooked kalo corms to make poi. For many Native Hawaiians, this process is a way to connect with their older brother Hāloanakalaukapalili who in a cosmology story fed Hawaiians and continues to provide food today. 
    In the second episode slated to debut in early April, Ranger Sean visits Keokea Beach in Kohala and learns to weave lei lāʻī hula adornments with Cheryl Cabrera. And in May, gourd master Kalim Smith shows Sean how to grow and shape ʻipu heke ʻole, a single gourd drum instrument vital to hula.
    All three videos will be shared for free on the park website, go.nps.gov/ike and YouTube page. Big Island Television, which airs in more than 6,000 hotel rooms on the island of Hawaiʻi and on Spectrum channel 130, will also broadcast the ʻIke Hana Noʻeau videos to a wide audience starting March 5 with Kuʻi Kalo.
    "The target audience for the ʻIke Hana Noʻeau videos is a mix of visitors and kānaka maoli wanting to learn or reconnect to their culture, local residents, educators and students. The park is excited to reach this broad audience by collaborating with the tourism industry, local broadcasters and other partners," said Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh. "We hope everyone will watch, learn and treasure these videos as much as we do," Loh said.
    The videos were produced by the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park 'Ike Hana Noʻeau team which consists of Park Rangers Keoni Kaholoʻaʻā, Sean Miday, Daniel Anekelea Hübner, and Lanihuli Kanahele. The hui (team) members are kānaka maoli (native Hawaiians) who are passionate about the perpetuation and sharing of their culture through the use of media, says a statement from the park. Each video is around 20 minutes in duration, and all are accessible with audio description, closed captions and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi translation.
    The park's non-profit partners, the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, helped support and fund the ʻIke Hana Noʻeau video project.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Mayor Mitch Roth released this visual explanation
of Covid rules that are gone and rules that remain.
ALL STATE FACILITIES ACROSS HAWAI'I WILL REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC starting Monday, March 7. The announcement was made Friday by the Department of Accounting and General Services, as new COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations continue to decline across the state. However, entering the facilities will still require photo ID cards and proof of vaccination or documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result received within 72 hours of entering.
    State comptroller Curt Otaguro said, "State operations continued throughout the pandemic, and departments and agencies serviced the public by appointment or through a managed process. Starting Monday, individuals may enter state facilities to conduct their business, after showing required documentation."
    At the Hawai'i State Capitol in Honolulu, visitors will be able to enter from one of two entry points -- the basement rotunda entrance and the first-floor rotunda, street level. Security guards will operate a new screening process at each entry point, where visitors will be asked for their photo ID cards and proof of vaccination or documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result received within 72 hours of entering the Capitol. Visitors who meet the requirements will receive a daily sticker that must be worn at all times while at the State Capitol. Face masks are also required at this time.
    Gov. David Ige said, "We're very pleased to be able to welcome the public back to the State Capitol, and to hold in-person meetings again. We appreciate the public's cooperation and patience over the past two years. The state remained vigilant in its fight against COVID-19, and I am proud to say that our collective efforts in maintaining health and safety protocols resulted in one of the lowest hospitalization and death rates in the country."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.


              SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KA'U AND VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at 
www.kaucalendar.com



Thursday, March 03, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, March 3, 2022

The sky blue and the wheat field gold of the flag of Ukraine. Though Ukraine is some 8,000 miles from Hawai'i, these islands will be impacted by the war, warns state Rep. Patrick Piahana Branco. There are also stories in Fortune, Reuters and Wall Street Journal that point to Hawai'i's dependence on Russian oil, which is being cut off by Hawai'i's only refinery.

WHAT HAPPENS IN UKRAINE IS IMPORTANT HERE, says Hawaiʻi State Rep. Patrick Pihana Branco, a former diplomat. He issued a warning today about possible effects of the crisis in Europe on the rest of the world, including Hawai'i. He wrote: “Prior to serving in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, I worked to defend American values across the world as a Diplomat in the U.S. State Department, and served in some of the most volatile regions of the world. But no matter where I served, there was always one particularly pervasive factor working against our diplomatic efforts: Russia.
    “I experienced Russia’s hostile influence directly, when we received information in the Office of the
Hawai'i State Representative and former diplomat Patrick Pihana Branco
 issued a statement on the Ukraine war's risk to Hawai'i, even though
8,000 miles away. Photo from Patrick Branco 
Special Representative for Afghanistan, that Russia was paying bounties to the Taliban for the killing of American soldiers, and again while stationed in Venezuela and saw Russia’s financial and military aide thwart a popular uprising that just barely failed to oust the brutal dictator Nicolas Maduro from power.
    “Now the world is witnessing a new Russian-made crisis. Last night, we watched in horror as on the ground updates came from Ukraine during Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified deadly assault. In the span of just a few hours, Russia fired more than 100 missiles into Ukrainian territory, targeting Ukraine’s government and military capabilities, and causing the deaths of dozens of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians. Russian President Vladimir Putin now intends to attempt to seize key population centers, decapitate Ukraine’s government, and install his own hand-picked regime in its place.
    “Putin is attempting to upend the post-Cold War order, and has plunged Europe into its gravest security crisis since WWII. We’re now witnessing a war in Europe on a scale that we had hoped would be left to the ash heap of history.
    “For those of us living in Hawaiʻi, it may be tempting to think “Why should I care about a conflict happening almost 8,000 miles away—halfway around the world?” But I’m telling you, it’s imperative that you do.
    “Ukraine is fighting to enjoy the same basic rights that Americans are promised at birth: free speech, security in a democratic society, and equal protection under the law. Ukraine’s courage to defend its democracy threatens despots like Putin, and if the United States did not respond vigorously to Russia’s attack, it would only embolden our other adversaries around the world to challenge the delicate global security order. Given Hawai'i’s strategic position in the Pacific, this would put our state at particular risk to the provocations of an emboldened China or The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
    “President Biden is right to move forward on a devastating package of sanctions and other economic measures to hold Russia accountable. He is spelling out clearly to Putin and his gang of oligarchs that there is a dire cost to needless bloodshed, and efforts to destabilize America’s allies and its alliances.
    “This crisis is still developing, and the situation on the ground is going to change quickly over the coming days and weeks. Russia’s disinformation campaigns will go into overdrive, and it’s more important than ever to only trust information on this crisis that is verified and reported by trusted news sources.
    “While no one knows how this crisis will ultimately be resolved, it’s more important than ever that we put our political differences aside, and come together as Americans to stand for our values and our ally’s struggle for freedom. The peace, safety, and livelihoods of millions depend on it.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

FORTUNE MAGAZINE POINTED TO HAWAI'I TODAY as the state that would likely see the highest gas price increases due to its dependence on Russian oil. "Hawaiians, more than residents of any other state will likely see higher gasoline and energy costs due to Russia's Ukraine war and the resulting soaring oil prices," according to Fortune writer Nicold Goodkind. She wrote today that the U.S. Energy Information Administration lists Hawai'i as the "most petroleum-dependent U.S. state." The story says
Hawai'i "is an anomaly among U.S, states. It imports several million barrels of Russian crude oil annually, accounting for 10 percent to 25 percent of Russian crude shipments to the U.S. depending on the year.
    Fortune reports that renewable energy projects face delays and setbacks in Hawai'i. Oil plants are part of the fallback plan to keep the lights on for O'ahu residents until those setbacks are sorted out. She quotes the
Jay Griffin, Chair of state
Public Utilities Commission
chair of Hawai'i Public Utilities Commission Jay Griffin, saying, "We have warned about leaving the cost of this transition up to world oil markets, and this week's events are another reminder of the price we pay for oil dependence."
    The story also points to the Jones Act that restricts transportation between U.S. ports to ships that are largely owned, staffed and manufactured by people in U.S. That leads to buying oil and other commodities and goods directly from overseas, to avoid the high cost of shipping from the mainland. The only refinery in Hawai'i announced today it is canceling orders from Russia.
    "Under Hawai'i's utility regulations, the cost of fuel is passed on to customers. That means Hawaiian could soon see a significant increase in their energy bills," reports Fortune. See www.fortune.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAI'I IS ASKING PRES. JOE BIDEN FOR A ONE YEAR EXEMPTION TO THE JONES ACT, "in response to the parent company of Par Hawai'i deciding to suspend Russian oil imports to Hawaii." Grassroot Institute Pres. Keli'i Akina pointed to the "vulnerability created by Hawai'i's excessive dependence on foreign oil sources. This dependence is largely a consequence of the U.S. maritime law known as the Jones Act."
     Akina notes that "The Jones Act requires all goods shipped between U.S. ports to be on ships that are U.S. flagged and built, and mostly owned and crewed by Americans. As a practical matter, this has made it more expensive to ship goods on Jones Act carriers than foreign vessels. Thus, Hawai'i has become almost wholly dependent of foreign-sourced oil, even though generally it would be cheaper to buy U.S. oil, if not for the Jones Act." 
    Par Hawai'i's parent company, Par Pacific Holdings "became the first U.S. refiner company to halt Russian oil imports in response to the conflict in Ukraine," reported Akina - quoting Reuters.  He also pointed out that on March 1, the Wall Street Journal noted that "Hawai'i annually imports several million barrels of Russian crude oil. Depending on the year, this accounts for roughly 10% to 25% of Russian crude shipments to the U.S." One reason, according to Wall Street Journal, ""is the 1920 Jones Act. As usual with protectionism, this is expensive, and it's especially hard on outlying areas like Hawai'i." See Grassrootinstitute.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

THE STATE OF HAWAI'I OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY SENT OUT A PUBLIC MESSAGE TODAY, in wake of continued geopolitical tensions and related cybersecurity attacks affecting Ukraine and other countries in the region. State Homeland Security "has been working hand-in-hand with our partners to identify and rapidly share information about cybersecurity threats that could threaten the operations of critical infrastructure in Hawai‘i. Our state, local, and private sector partners in the state, and our long-time local and nationally-based Federal partners are all working together to help organizations reduce their cyber risk," says the statement.
    The Office of Homeland Security request any incidents or abnormal activity related to this message be reported through the Hawai‘i State Fusion Center at hsfc@hawaii.gov
in addition to reporting to Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) at us-cert.cisa.gov, Central@cisa.dhs.gov, or 888-282-0870 and/or to the FBI via local FBI field office, or FBI’s 24/7 CyWatch at 855-292-3937 or CyWatch@fbi.gov. "The Hawai‘i State Fusion Center develops, produces, and shares intelligence and other actionable information central to preventing cybersecurity incidents, as well as responding to those that do occur," the message says.
    “While there is no specific, credible threat to Hawai‘i at this time, we encourage all organizations—regardless of size—to heed the Department of Homeland Security’s recommendations and adopt a heightened posture when it comes to cybersecurity and protecting their most critical assets,” said Frank Pace, Administrator, Hawai‘i Office of Homeland Security. 
    Pace recommended:
    Reduce the likelihood of a damaging cyber intrusion by keeping networks secure, ensuring software is up to date by prioritizing updates that address known exploited vulnerabilities identified by CISA, and confirming with IT that all non-essential ports and protocols have been disabled. If your organization uses cloud services, confirm that IT personnel have reviewed and implemented strong controls outlined in CISA’s guidance. Make sure to also sign up for CISA’s free cyber hygiene services.
    Take steps to quickly detect a potential intrusion by ensuring that cybersecurity/IT personnel are focused on identifying and assessing unusual behavior and confirming that your entire network is protected by antivirus/antimalware software with updated signatures.
    Ensure that the organization is prepared to respond if an intrusion occurs by designating a crisis-response team, assuring that key personnel will be available in response to an incident, and conducting a tabletop exercise to ensure that all crisis-response personnel understand their roles.
    Maximize the organization’s resilience to a destructive cyber incident by testing backup procedures to ensure that critical data can be rapidly restored, ensuring that backups are isolated from network connections, and conducting tests of manual controls to ensure that critical functions remain operable if the network is unavailable or untrusted.
    CISA urges cybersecurity/IT personnel at every organization to review Understanding and Mitigating Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure. CISA also recommends
organizations visit StopRansomware.gov, a centralized, whole-of-government webpage providing ransomware resources and alerts.    “The Hawai‘i Office of Homeland Security continues to share information with our public and private sector partners and encourage them to report any suspicious activity,” said Pace. “We ask that organizations continue to secure their systems to minimize the impacts of an incident should one occur. We are committed to building trust, growing partnerships, and collaboration at all levels of government, across civil society, and within our communities to combat all forms of cybersecurity attacks.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. 

     SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KA'U AND VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at 
www.kaucalendar.com


Wednesday, March 02, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 2, 2022

WAR & FOOD SECURITY IS HAWAI'I-PHILIPPINES BUSINESS ECONOMIC COUNCIL'S event on Friday, March 4.  Implications for Hawai'i and the Philippines is the topic, as the speakers look at the effect of the war in Ukraine on global economics and food distribution. The zoom meeting is at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Philippines time). It will also be live streamed on facebook. Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtf-ispzMuEt2OG_c52czD2fulbei7j6ay Speakers are:
     Dr. Susan Mercado, Director, Food Systems and Resiliency at the Hawai'i Public Health Institute where she has been part of a multi-stakeholder initiative called, Transforming Hawai'i's Food System Together. Mercado has more than 25 years of experience in public health, working 15 years with World Health Organization and three years with Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Asia Pacific Region. In the Philippines, she served under four Presidents and on the Board of the Philippine Health Insurance Corpo. In 2018, she was designated an honorary position as Special Envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives and the position of Co-Chair of the National Panel of Technical Experts, Climate Change Commission Philippines. She has a medical and a masters’ degree in public health from the University of the Philippines.

    Dr. Fermin D. Adriano, Undersecretary of Policy, Planning and Research at the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines. He served as Information Director of the UP System, Vice-Chancellor of UP Los Banos, and was affiliated with the Manila Chronicle. He writes a weekly column for Manila Times and published books and articles on rural development, agriculture, and agrarian reform. He was policy adviser to successive administrations in agriculture matters. He serves as member of the Advisory Council of the Asian Development Bank Institute, Human Security Advocates, NEURON Comm group and Madre de Amor Hospice. He has an AB Journalism degree from UP, two masters’ degrees and a PhD.

Transforming Hawai'i's Food system is one of the efforts of Dr. Susan Mercado, Director, Food Systems and Resiliency at the Hawai'i Public Health Institute. She joins a zoom meeting this Friday on the effect of the Ukraine War on food distribution in Hawai'iand the Philippines. See https://transforminghawaiifoodsystem.org/about/

    Dexter Kishida, Food Security and Sustainability Program Manager, City & County of Honolulu. As Honolulu’s Food Security and Sustainability program manager in the Office of Economic Revitalization, his mission is to connect communities to high quality locally produced food that connects them to Hawai’i. For the past eight years he has worked for the Department of Education's School Food Services Branch most recently as farm to school coordinator. Seeing the economic, social and health benefits of eating closest to the source, much of his work includes supply chain development and increasing access to locally grown and raised food for Hawai’i communities.
    James Rarick, who is on Board of Directors of Moloka'i Community Health Center. He has worked for more than 30 years around the Pacific and in Asia as a public health nutritionist, and as program manager for variety of non-communicable disease prevention and control programs. He works as public health consultant with MonEval International and serves as a Co-Chair for the Hawai'i Opioid Initiative’s Work Group on Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral Treatment for Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance Use. He served for two years (2020 and 2021) as a Board Member for the Hawai'i Primary Care Association and is an avid backyard gardener.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. ml. 

U.S. CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE IS PRAISING 'ULU FARMERS on the island. On Monday, he visited the 'Ulu Cooperative processing center and sent out the message: "Mahalo Holokai Brown and our over 100 family farms who are building a more sustainable produce industry for Hawai'i. They are truly living up to their vision of "farmer owned, 'ainagrown - from our trees to your table."
    Visit the 'Ulu Cooperative facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hawaiiulucoop/ for a video on Kalehe's visit and also a list and explanation of seven bills before the Hawai'i Legislature supported by the 'Ulu Cooperative, with links to give testimony.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. 

HOW DOES HAWAI'I COMPARE WITH OTHER STATES IN NUMBER OF FARMS? The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service recently released statistics on Pacific Region Farms and Land in Farms. 
     The number of farms counted in 2021 in Hawai'i is 7,300. In Nevada it is 3,400. In California it is 69,000. Acreage in farms in Hawai is 1.1 million acres. In Nevada it is 6.1 million. In California it is 24.3 million acres. The average. size farm in Hawai'i is 151 acres. In Nevada it is 1,821 acres and in California it is 349 acres.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. 

KA'U RURAL COMMUNITIES WANTING BETTER INTERNET CONNECTIVITY can apply through USDA's ReConnect Program for funding. USDA has announced it has extended the deadline to March 9.
     U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small said the funding is to expand access to high-speed internet for millions of rural Americans nationwide. See the  ReConnect Program at ReConnect Program:

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. 

FIVE HAWAI'I ISLAND AGRICULTURAL ENTITIES RECEIVED GRANTS from USDA that were announced by Sen. Brian Schatz in February. They are. $200,000 for the Kohala Center. $49,999 for Mother Nature's Miracle; $250,000 for Hawai'i 'Ulu Producers Cooperative, $214,379 for Island Harvest, and $183,938 for Spicy Ninja Sauce. 
    The Kohala Center works with Kaʻū Coffee farmers on land security and with many other agriculturalists in education and economic development on this island. Mother Nature's Miracle is a certified organic vegetable farm in Pa'auilo established in 1996. Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative brings together farmers to grow, process and cell 'ulu, from breadfruit trees. Spicy Ninja Sauce is made from organic ingredients grown on Hawai'i Island, from pumpkins to starfruit and chili peppers. Island Harvest is an organic macadamia farm.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events  at https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8771374960502262788/6752152917357728426. 
See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at 
www.kaucalendar.com