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| The fingers do the talking with the art of ancient Hawaiian string figures illustrating the history of the islands at the opening of Merrie Monarch. Photo from Unukupukupu/Hawai`i Community College |
MERRIE MONARCH WEEK kicked off yesterday with Lori Lei Shirakawa and her Wai`ohinu Hula Studio representing Ka`u at the opening celebration. Merrie Monarch, the world’s most prestigious hula event, continues all week with cultural displays and hula competition in Hilo. Lori Lei’s keiki and kupuna performed Kona Kai`opua, Holoholo Ka`a, Noho Nani Mai, Lil`u e, Hiliawe and Sophisticated Hula. After their final song, Majesty, they offered blessings and aloha to the audience by giving out leis. Lori Lei’s students perform every year at Merrie Monarch.
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| Kupuna and keiki from Lori Lei's Wai`ohinu Hula Studio open up the Merrie Monarch Festival yesterday. |
The Hawai`i Community College halau, Unukupukupu, led by Kekuhi Kanahele, Taupouri Tangaroa and Manalakalani Kalua, opened the celebration. The group chanted, moving their hands and fingers to create string figures to illustrate creation of the islands and Kanaloa, the god of the ocean. After opening rituals they shared hula, including Ka Uluwehi O Kei Kai, by the late Edith Kanaka`ole. The dancers distributed salt and awa to the audience. The group from HCC comes to Pahala several times a year to retreat and prepare for their outreach. Halau from Japan will stay in Pahala during Merrie Monarch Week.
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| Kupuna from Ka`u ready to perform. Photos by Johnny Waller |
MERRIE MONARCH CONTINUES today with performances at noon at Hawai`i Naniloa Volcanoes Resort and at 1 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The Arts and Crafts Fair opens Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium and features numerous Ka`u artists and crafters Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 4 p.m. Wednesday is the free Ho`ike at Edith Kanaka`ole beginning at 6 p.m., an international event with hula. The competitive events are sold out but televised each evening on KFVE television and live-streamed on www.kfve.com.
Thursday is Miss Aloha, Friday is the Group Hula Kahiko for ancient dance and Saturday is the Group Hula `Auana for modern dance, followed by awards ceremonies.
From Ka`u, Thy Word Ministries and the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, along with KAHU Radio, will participate with floats and marching groups in the annual Merrie Monarch parade this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Hilo.
Thursday is Miss Aloha, Friday is the Group Hula Kahiko for ancient dance and Saturday is the Group Hula `Auana for modern dance, followed by awards ceremonies.
From Ka`u, Thy Word Ministries and the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, along with KAHU Radio, will participate with floats and marching groups in the annual Merrie Monarch parade this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Hilo.
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| Lori Lei keiki yesterday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. |
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER PAUL DOLAN will run for Hawai`i County prosecuting attorney in the primary election in August. Dolan is an Ocean View resident, with decades of experience as a defense trial lawyer in Hawai`i. After serving as a public defender in Los Angeles County, he passed the Hawai`i Bar exam and moved to Maui in 1984. He also lived and practiced law in Honolulu.
Dolan said he wants to serve as prosecuting attorney to bring justice to the court system. He said he is the best candidate because of his vast experience in court, as opposed to candidates that may have spent most of their careers in more administrative matters. As county prosecuting attorney it would be his duty to make sure the agency and prosecutors act within the values of “beyond a reasonable doubt” and “presumption of innocence.” He said the courts are clogged with too many cases where people are assumed guilty before trial. He also called for more preventive work by prosecutors and police.
However, he said he has no tolerance for drug pushers and would want them sentenced to permanent ban from this island for the rest of their lives, in and out of jail. Dolan, himself, lost a daughter to the Hollywood club and drug scene that exploits innocent young women, he said.
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| Paul Dolan |
However, he said he has no tolerance for drug pushers and would want them sentenced to permanent ban from this island for the rest of their lives, in and out of jail. Dolan, himself, lost a daughter to the Hollywood club and drug scene that exploits innocent young women, he said.
Dolan is married to Kahea Aipia, of the Mokuhali`i family, with roots as traditional canoe builders in Ka`u. They have six children who all attend school in Ka`u. Kahea is an announcer at KAHU Radio. Both Kaeha and Paul Dolan work on the community campaign for public access to Pohue Bay.
Before becoming an attorney, Dolan earned a degree in criminal justice administration, which, he said, makes him most qualified to run the prosecuting attorney’s office. He said he would lobby the state to reopen the courthouse in Na`alehu. It is poor planning to make people drive all the way to Kona from Ka`u when modern technology allows interactive courtrooms, said Dolan.
Dolan is running against Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth, who both work at the county prosecutor’s office.
Before becoming an attorney, Dolan earned a degree in criminal justice administration, which, he said, makes him most qualified to run the prosecuting attorney’s office. He said he would lobby the state to reopen the courthouse in Na`alehu. It is poor planning to make people drive all the way to Kona from Ka`u when modern technology allows interactive courtrooms, said Dolan.
Dolan is running against Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth, who both work at the county prosecutor’s office.
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| Volunteers celebrate the cleaning of invasive plants from the pond at Punalu`u. Photo by Katherine Okamura |
MORE THAN 80 NON-NATIVE SPECIES, previously unrecorded, have been identified by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, which traveled along 3,000 miles of Hawai`i Island roadways, collecting samples. A report in West Hawai`i Today quotes botanist Jimmy Parker as saying, “The invasive plants, which push out native species, have long been considered a detriment to the state’s ecosystem.” About a dozen of the newly discovered non-natives have been identified as invasive, he said. After gathering data for four years, the committee plans to target those plants considered most potentially damaging to the island. Program manager Jan Schipper told West Hawai`i Today reporter Tom Callis, “We need every property owner on board.” Permission is needed from owners to allow the removal of invasive species.
SIXTY VOLUNTEERS AT PUNALU`U on Saturday helped clean
invasive species from the pond at Black Sand Beach. `O Ka`u Kakou, Pacific Quest
and Southside Volleyball joined in to corral the floating plants and drag them
on to shore for removal. About half of the pond was cleared.
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Planner Ron Whitmore gives a project update. Contact him at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.
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| Rupert Tripp, Jr. |
TOMORROW’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK topic is Eruption Cycles at Kilauea. Geologist Don Swanson explains how Kilauea’s eruptive cycles were recently recognized, what they mean in terms of how the volcano works and hazards implied by long explosive periods. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
`IKE HANA NO`EAU cultural programs are scheduled Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center. Sam and Edna Baldado discuss the cultural uses of the kalo, the taro plant. Ka`ohu Monfort teaches how plants and Hawaiian culture are used to heal and nourish. Ranger Adrian Boone and volunteer Ed Shiinoki demonstrate and make traditional three-holed bamboo nose flutes, and praise and worship leader Rupert Tripp, Jr. shares his love for music. The programs are free, and park entrance fees apply.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM
AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.