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| HAPA is sold out tonight at the Volcano Art Center Concert at Kilauea Military Camp Theater. |
NUMEROUS NAMES are being submitted to the Democratic Party for the replacement of Senator Russell Kokubun, who represents Ka`u, Puna and South Hilo, as he is expected to leave his post to head the Department of Agriculture at the end of the month. The nominee must be a registered Democrat for at least six months. The process to select his replacement involves submission of resumes from those interested in becoming Senator, interviews and voting by the Democratic Party officers of each precinct in the senatorial district. The precinct officers’ votes will be tabulated, and the top three vote-getters’ names will go to Governor Neil Abercrombie, and he will select the next Senator from this district.
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| Senator Josh Green |
JOSH GREEN will be the chair of the Senate Health Committee in the 2011 state legislature. The physician has lived at Punalu`u and practiced medicine at the Ka`u Hospital Emergency Room. Green, who now serves Kona as its Senator, will become the longest serving senator from this island when Senator Russell Kokubun resigns to head the state Department of Agriculture, with Senator Dwight Takamine leaving his seat to head up the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Green was one of the candidates considered for director of the state Department of Health but has confirmed that he wants to stay on the legislative side of government. In a letter to his constituents, Green vows to fight for tougher DUI penalties to prevent drunk driving tragedies, keep doctors and nurses in Hawai`i by helping them to repay loans for their education and to strengthen Hawai`i’s hospital system and health care safety net.
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| Proceeds from whale art T-shirt sales support NOAA's whale count. See www.hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov. |
HUMPBACK WHALES ARE BACK to winter in Hawaiian waters, and official whale counts will be held the last Saturdays of January, February and March from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. With Ka`u having the longest uninhabited coast, people are needed to make the trip down the long roads to the shoreline around the south side of the island. About 12,000 humpback whales winter in Hawai`i, the first arriving in October and the last leaving in late spring. Over the winter they have their babies before making the long swim back to Alaska, where they feed all summer. To volunteer, you can register at sanctuaryoceancount.org or call 888-559-4253. See hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov, where you can purchase a whale art T-shirt to raise money for the whale count. NOAA reminds everyone to look out for the whales, as many of them weigh 45 tons and can be dangerous when they breach and slap their giant tails and flippers. Federal regulations prohibit people and their boats, kayaks, paddleboards and surfboards from approaching within 100 yards of whales. Aircraft are prohibited from flying within 1,000 feet of them. Again, see hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S Christmas Party will be held at 1 p.m. today at the community center. Santa arrives on a fire truck. Children receive gifts, and everyone enjoys music, food, games and lucky number drawings.
NA MEA HAWAI`I HULA KAHIKO brings hula and chant to the rim of Halema`uma`u Crater today at the hula platform inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 10:30 a.m. Cultural demonstrations will be held at Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO MORE DAYS to vote on the Kilauea Military Camp Cottages Christmas displays. Name your top three favorites on an entry blank available at the KMC Front Desk, Café, General Store and Recreation Center. Each person who votes will receive a Holiday Dollar that can be used at KMC – including the bowling lanes. The judging for the lights takes place through December 20.
THE HAPA CONCERT IS SOLD OUT tonight at Kilauea Military Camp Theater. If you can’t find a spare ticket outside before the 7 p.m. show time, you can retreat to the Open Mike Volcano Jam Session from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lava Lounge.
THERE ARE TICKETS available for the upcoming Volcano Art Center concert series at KMC Theater. Honolulu Jazz quartet and Junior Choy, with Moons Landing play Jan 15. Slack Key guitarist Jeff Peterson performs Feb. 5, and the Spring Wind Quartet on March 13. Call 927-8222 or see volcanoartcenter.org.
Ka`u High School Band will perform at Prince Kuhio Plaza on Monday, Dec 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. Come out and support our local youth!