Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022

Staff of Nā’ālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary held a Job Fair on Friday,
reaching out to local people to fill positions at the schools. Photo from Nā’ālehu Elementary

Principals Sharon Beck and Wilma Roddy
with Project Homegrown Hires to attract new
employees. Photo from Nā’ālehu Elementary

AVAILABILITY OF EMPLOYMENT AT NĀ'ĀLEHU AND PĀHALA SCHOOLS is wide ranging, with a variety of skill sets needed and offerings of increased pay for jobs on the campuses. Project Homegrown Hires, and its Job Fair held Friday at Nā’ālehu, drew the school principals for both campuses. They along with numerous other hosts highlighted the dynamic opportunities, from jobs for teachers and teaching assistants, to counselors and school maintenance and cafeteria positions.

   Among job offerings at schools are those in food and beverage at school cafeterias. There are positions in maintenance - from cleaning to carpentry and repairs. Called Cafeteria Helper and Janitor II, both fulltime positions pay $3,691 per month, with part time positions less, according to the Department of Education website.
    Office jobs are also in the schools. An account clerk's pay ranges from $2,653 a month to $3,047, less for part time. Other opportunities include bus drivers hired by companies with contracts with the schools.
    Akita Enterprises was on hand at the Job Fair, expressing its need for more drivers, at a rate of $23 an hour for five hours, each weekday. See

Akita Enterprises offers $23
an hour to drive school buses.

https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/ConnectWithUs/Employment/JobOpportunities/Pages/home.aspx

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DEADLINE TO APPLY TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER on this island is this Tuesday, Aug. 30. Pay starts at $65,652 and includes such benefits as paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, military leave, health insurance, group life insurance, a uniforms and equipment stipend, automobile subsidy, and retirement. 

    To apply, see:  https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/countyhawaii/jobs/3430232/police-officer-i-recruit-po-05?keywords=police%20officer&pa
getype=jobOpportunitiesJob. Read story on requirements and more at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_08_17_archive.html.

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A CALL FOR HELP FROM REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AS COVID SPREADS has drawn help from Hawai'i, with United Airlines flying five pallets of medical supplies 2,500 miles to the islands this weekend at no charge. The Marshalls and its population of 60,000 were isolated during most of the pandemic, with few Covid cases, but community spread began in early August, as the islands started opening up to visitors and returning residents. It took less than three weeks for Covid to spread from the capital of Majuro to infect nine islands and more than 14,000 people.

     According to the Marshall Islands Journal, 12 of the first 14 victims who died of Covid in August were dead on arrival at the two hospitals there, having had no treatment for the virus.
    The Republic of the Marshall Islands asked for help from Hawai'i. It was organized by the Hospital Association of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Health Care Emergency Management. Also helping is the Marshall Islands Counsel General Isabela Silk, who is stationed in Honolulu; Romaldo Kabua of the Marshallese Community Organization of Hawai'i and state Sen. Glenn Wakai.
    To donate, contact Marshallese Community Organization of Hawai'i at 808-854-8744. It is organizing sending more supplies by ship.
    Also passing away from COVID in the Pacific Islands was the Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia after suffering from the virus for two weeks. Yosiwo George was a graduate of the East West Center at University of Hawai'i.

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MEMORIALIZING HISTORIC BRIDGES TAKEN DOWN FOR SAFETY AT NINOLE AND HILEA on Hwy. 11 will be the outreach subject at the O Kaʻū Kakou Naalehu Market on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., sponsored by Federal Highway Administration, state Department of Transportation and state Historic Preservation Office. The plan is to create a permanent display at Nā’ālehu and Pāhala Public Libraries.

Nīnole Stream Bridge, which was torn down to make a wider bridge
 on Hwy 11. Photo from Historic Hawai'i Foundation

  The agencies will display their Outline of Contents Materials regarding the proposed display on the two historic bridges and the history of the surrounding area.

   Kristen Nishimura will collect input from community members that visit the booth, including preferences for interpretive display content and any anecdotes or historical information that could help inform the contents of the display.
    The Federal Highway Administration signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the state Historic Preservation Office, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act "because the replacement bridges required demolition of the existing historic bridges," according to a community outreach message from FHWA.

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KAʻŪ HIGH TROJANS FOOTBALL traveled to Waimea on Saturday to take on Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Ka Makani. The HPA home team won, 42-20. Kaʻū's next game is at home next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Kamehameha School. Trojan head coach is Greg Rush. Assistant coaches are Grant Greedy, Mark Peters and Ted Blanco. Trainer is Moses Whitcomb.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Kaʻū High, Sept. 1 - for students.

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022

Youth volunteers from Hawaii Academy of Arts & Sciences (HAAS) and park volunteers Paul and Jane Field (center) prepare to enter the forest to remove invasive ginger in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Photo courtesy of HAAS

George Jensen, in the distance, volunteered to help install the
Footprints Trail exhibition. He has earned the NPS Regional
Enduring Service Award for his more than 18,000
volunteers at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
NPS photo by Jay Robinson

A TOP NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AWARD has gone to a youth group volunteering at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Young adults enrolled with Hawaiʻi Academy of Arts & Sciences Workplace Readiness Program received the 2021 George and Virginia Hartzog Award. It honors outstanding volunteer service for work performed in a national park that 
goes above and beyond normal duty.
    A statement from HVNP says, "The youth, who cope with developmental disabilities, have made a tremendous impact at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for over a decade by removing invasive Himalayan ginger from park forests. The youth volunteer program is overseen by the park's Stewardship at the Summit volunteers, Paul and Jane Field. Many of the areas cleared by the HAAS youth and the Fields are now repopulated with native Hawaiian plants. Through this work, the youth participants have developed a sense of ownership for their public lands and take pride in making a positive difference in the world."
    In addition, longtime Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park volunteer George Jensen earned the NPS Regional Enduring Service Award, another Hartzog Award category for the Department of the Interior Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12. The Park statement says, "Jensen, who has more than 18,000 volunteer hours in
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, provides much-needed kōkua (help) on park interpretive media. He has constructed visitor center exhibits, installed, maintained and relocated wayside exhibits, repaired electronic equipment from the inside-out, diagnosed complex audio-visual issues, and faithfully restocks park publications every week." 

    Hawai'i Volcanoes Volunteer Coordinator Kūpono McDaniel said, "All the volunteers at Hawai'i Volcanoes perform necessary tasks that enable  

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams (center) stands
 with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park volunteer coordinator
 Kūpono McDaniel (right) and Hawai'i Academy of Arts and
 Sciences principal Steve Hirakami at the Hartzog Awards
 ceremony. NPS Photo by K.Graczyk

the park to fulfill our mission of protecting the natural and cultural resources for future generations. George Jensen, the Fields, and the HAAS Workplace Readiness Development youth have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty. We are indebted to their contributions and delighted to celebrate in their successes." Earlier this week, McDaniel and HAAS Principal Steve Hirakami traveled to Washington D.C. and attended the National Park Service ceremony to celebrate America's national parks and the dedication of those who serve. 

    Many of the agency's top awards were presented at the event sponsored by NPS and its philanthropic partner, the National Park Foundation.

    Interested in volunteer opportunities at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park? Visit the park website: https://www.nps.gov/havo/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.    

    More information and a complete list of NPS award winners is available on the NPS website: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/08-25-2022-nps-awards.htm.
   
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A NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS was approved on Thursday by the Hawaiian Homes Commission. The commissioners unanimously voted to approve a Preliminary Strategic Approach to Implement Act 279, which provides $600 million to help put Hawaiians on DHHL land and into homes. Thousands of DHHL acres are located in Kaʻū, at Ka Lae - South Point, above Ninole - Punalu'u and in Wai'ohinu.

        Hawaiian Homes Commission Chair William J. Ailā, Jr., established an Act 279 Permitted  

Hawaiian Home Lands in Ka'u are outlined in red.

Interaction Group to work with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to receive guidance from counsel on topics related to Act 279 and deliberate on elements to be included in a final Strategic Plan for using the funding.

    Committee members include Ailā, Commissioners Pauline Namuo, Russell Kaupu and Dennis Neves, along with key DHHL staff. The Committee met five times.
    At the July 2022 HHC Regular Meeting, the Committee presented its draft Strategic Approach and comments from the whole Commission were incorporated into the Strategic Approach presented this month.
    "The Strategic Approach is an important first step toward effectively utilizing this historic allocation of funding," said Ailā. "What is important is that the Commission has agreed on the overall approach while allowing DHHL the flexibility to seek potential land acquisitions and innovative solutions to meet the needs of native Hawaiians on the Waiting List."
    HHC also approved the Act 279 Implementation Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and authorized the Chairman to make adjustments as appropriate. The Strategic Approach is the working document that will ultimately apprise the final Strategic Plan to the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. The final plan is due on December 10 , as required by Act 279.
    The Strategic Approach and budget, identified as agenda items C-5 and C-6, can be reviewed on the Department's website by visiting, dhhl.hawaii.gov/hhc/2022-hawaiian-homes-commission-meeting-schedule.

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Ka'u Varsity girls beat Kea'au 
 Friday at the home event that packed the gym.
Photo by Julia Neal

TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL played at home on Friday evening against Kea'au, with set scores of 13-25, 25-20 and 25-20. The gym was packed with local residents cheering for the Trojans, the largest crowd since pre-Covid. Coach is Josh Ortega. Assistant coach is Kamalani Fujikawa.
    Principal Sharon Beck, who attended the event, said she is pleased with the strong community that has always made volleyball an outstanding sport in Kaʻū.

KAʻŪ HIGH TROJANS FOOTBALL heads to Waimea on Saturday to play Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Ka Makani. The game begins at 2 p.m. Head Coach is Greg Rush. Assistant coaches are Grant Greedy, Mark Peters and Ted Blanco. Trainer is Moses Whitcomb.

CROSS COUNTRY FOR THE KAʻŪ TROJANS starts on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. at Kea'au with coach David Wells.

AIR RIFLE COMPETITION FOR THE TROJANS begins on Saturday, Aug. 27 in a virtual competition. Kaʻū competitors will fire at targets on the Pāhala campus and send the target results, virtually, to be scored. Coach is Tiani Castaneda-Naboa. No fans invited.

BOWLING COACH IS JACOB DAVENPORT. Competitive high school bowling starts Sept. 10 in Kona at KB Extreme. Practices for the Trojans are at Kilauea Military Camp.

ʻĀina Akamu, Joyce Iwasihta and Kelson Gallano at the book launch on May 5

  at Kaʻū High with the image of Pu'u Makanauby Gallano gracing the cover. 

Gallano and Iwashita will present the book again at Basically Books

 in Hilo on Saturday, Aug. 27. Photo from Hawai'i Executive Collaborative

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW, the new book by Kaʻū High School 2022 graduate and artist Kelson Gallano and educator and Kaʻū alumna Joyce Iwashita, will be featured at a Petroglyph Press event at Basically Books in Hilo, with talk story and book signing this Saturday, Aug. 27, 1 p.m.
    Subtitle of the book is A Guide for Helping Kids Make Good Choices. See the story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_05_05_archive.html. Proceeds of the book sales benefit art education and literacy at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School.

Kaʻū High, Sept. 1 - for students.

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022

Nīnole Bridge, above, which was torn down, will be memorialized along with Hīlea Bridge, also torn down, the two replaced
 with safer bridges. The fed and state ask for public input on educational displays to be created for the old bridges and surrounding areas at Pāhala and Nā’ālehu Libraries. Photo from state Department of Transportation

THE HISTORIC BRIDGES TAKEN DOWN FOR SAFETY AT NINOLE AND HILEA on Hwy. 11 will be memorialized in a display at Nā’ālehu and Pāhala Public Libraries. The Federal Highway Administration, state Department of Transportation and state Historic Preservation Office are seeking public input. The Federal Highway Administration signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the state Historic Preservation Office, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act "because the replacement bridges required demolition of the existing historic bridges," according to a community outreach message from FHWA.

This historic photo of Hīlea Bridge was submitted
to www.bridgehunters.com by Erick Castillo

     According to FHWA, "The interpretive materials for public display will include a summary of the character defining features including the engineering and design for the Hīlea and Nīnole Bridges and will  discuss the portion of Highway 11 that extend through the project area of potential effect that was constructed in the late 1930's and early 1940's, likely around the time of the construction of Hīlea and Nīnole Bridges. Also to be highlighted is the 1940 straightening of the Old Government Road that is northwest of the project Area of Potential Effect. The FHWA will prepare the interpretive materials and will consult with the SHPD and consulting parties during the development of such materials.

     The initial plan is for a two-panel, free-standing display at Pāhala and Nā’ālehu Libraries.

      The organizers of the display request suggestions by Sept. 15. For answers to questions and additional information, contact Lisa Hemesath at lisa.hemesath@dot.gov or at (720) 963-3473. Or contact FHWA’s environmental consultant Kristen Nishimura at Kristen.Nishimura@jacobs.com. 

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Gov. David Ige will visit the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawai'i during his trip to
Japan, which began on Thursday. Photo from the Museum 

The Atomic Bomb Dome at Hiroshima Peace Memorial survived the
nuclear blast that killed more than 140,000 people at the end of WWII.
 Gov. David Ige will lay a wreath there during his visit this week to Japan.
Photo from Wikipedia

GOV. DAVID IGE TRAVELED TO JAPAN ON THURSDAY for sister-state missions in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefecture. While in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the governor will meet with Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka, visit the Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaiʻi, and participate in a sister-state signing ceremony and reception.
    The governor is also scheduled to visit Matsuyama City and Ehime Prefecture, where he will meet with Gov. Tokihiro Nakamura. Gov. Ige is scheduled to stop in Uwajima City, and Uwajima Fisheries High
School, where he will pay respects at the memorial honoring the nine people killed in the 2001 collision between the fishery training ship Ehime Maru and the USS Greeneville nuclear submarine.
    While in Hiroshima Prefecture, the governor will meet with Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki and mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the sister-state agreement between Hiroshima and the State of Hawaiʻi. The governor will also visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
    Other engagements include a stop at Osakikamijima Island for a visit to the Carbon Neutral Facility.Lt. Gov. Josh Green serves as acting governor until Gov. Ige returns to Hawaiʻi on Sept. 3.

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THE BAND KAʻŪ TRAVELS TO KONA THIS SATURDAY. With Demetrius Oliviera and Leka Gravela in the lead, the band will perform at this year's Kona Summer Bash, Aug. 27. 
    Kaʻū will share the stage with Kapena, Ho Aikane, B.E.T. and the Opihi Pickers. Tickets for the day are $40 presale and $55 at the gate. The location is the KBXEXTREME parking lot in Kailua-Kona. The gates open at 3 p.m., with music beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available at www.Ekolumusic.com.

     The Band Kaʻū performed its first hit songs more than 20 years ago. Discography of The Band Kaʻū include Easy on the Eyes, Neon Moon, Shake You Down, Footprints in the Sand and Ka'u Boardwalk Angel.

    See historic photos of The Band Kaʻū, including former bass player Dane Sesson, and find links to recorded music and more at https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheBandKau/posts/

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NINETEEN MOTORISTS WERE ARRESTED FOR DUI during the week of Aug. 15 - 21. Hawai`i Island police arrested 19 for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Five of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Two of the drivers were under the age of 21.

    Through Aug. 21, there were 651 DUI arrests compared with 713 during the same period last year, a decrease of 8.7 percent. There were 517 major accidents this year compared with 512 during the same period last year. This is an increase of 1.0 percent.
   As of Aug. 21, there were 23 fatal crashes (one fatal crash reclassified on 5/30/22 due to a medical condition) resulting in 25 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths, and one of which was reclassified due to a medical condition), compared with 14 fatal crashes, resulting in 14 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents is an increase of 64.3 percent for fatal crashes, and 78.6 percent for fatalities.
    HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

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