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| Local band Hands of Time wrapped up the Ka`u Coffee Festival as coffee farmers packed up to go home. Photos by Julia Neal |
KA`U COFFEE FARMER SUCCESS reached a new high yesterday, as farmers celebrated the demand for Ka`u Coffee that has grown to nearly outstrip supply. The farmers sold almost all the coffee on hand at the fourth annual Ka`u Coffee Festival in Pahala attended by hundreds of local residents, visitors and coffee enthusiasts. Many took tours of Ka`u Coffee farms and Ka`u Coffee Mill. They also enjoyed the Ka`u Coffee Experience, where baristas, including national champion Pete Licata, used their skills to make the best Ka`u Coffee possible.
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| Willie Tabios, 2012 U.S. winner at SCAA, enjoys the Ka`u Coffee Experience with U.S. barista champion Pete Licata serving. |
Willie Tabios, who took first place for the United States in the recent international Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Coffees of the Year competition, said that his success is for all the coffee farmers. Tabios is known for sharing his planting, harvesting and processing practices with all the farmers, which has helped lead to a regional excellence. Coffee farmers working on farms within a mile of each other have been winning top ten in the world SCAA awards year after year.
The day featured an unusual and culturally rich free concert by such legendary musicians as Cyril Pahinui, Moses and Keoki Kahumoku, Bruddah Waltah, hula dancer Sammi Fo and kumu hula Debbie Ryder. Demetrius Oliveira brought his band Keaiwa to the stage along with many more musicians. Miss Peaberry Court, under the direction of Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative president Gloria Camba, performed the Bamboo & Water Dances. Music lasted all day and even accompanied the farmers as they packed up and went home and emcee Skylark stayed until the end with all of the local knowledge and aloha.
The day featured an unusual and culturally rich free concert by such legendary musicians as Cyril Pahinui, Moses and Keoki Kahumoku, Bruddah Waltah, hula dancer Sammi Fo and kumu hula Debbie Ryder. Demetrius Oliveira brought his band Keaiwa to the stage along with many more musicians. Miss Peaberry Court, under the direction of Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative president Gloria Camba, performed the Bamboo & Water Dances. Music lasted all day and even accompanied the farmers as they packed up and went home and emcee Skylark stayed until the end with all of the local knowledge and aloha.
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| Pahala members of Halau Hula O Leionalani Photos by Julia Neal |
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| Miss Ka`u Peaberry 2010 Karlee Fukunaga-Camba and Jennifer Abalos |
Debbie Ryder, of Halau Hula O Leionalani, said organizers of the Ka`u Coffee Festival have helped create a new attachment between the remote communities of Lana`i and Ka`u. In 2009, Bull Kailiawa, himself an award-winning Ka`u Coffee grower, joined Dane Galiza in traveling to Lana`i to help with Ho`okupu Hula No Lana`i Cultural Festival and to look at coffee-growing possibilities on the small island. They invited Ryder and her halau to the Ka`u Coffee Festival in 2011. With Ryder bringing her halau to the Ka`u Coffee Festival, travel between Pahala and Lana`i has increased. Local dancers performing at the Ka`u Coffee Festival yesterday already plan fundraisers to go to the next Lana`i Festival. Ryder said she will teach in Pahala more often, as her halau has expanded to include native Hawaiian dancers from such local families as Kailiawa, Kaleohano, Ka`apana-Wroblewsky, Kailiawa-George, Keohuloa-Initan and Ho`opi`i-Kailiawa.
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| Debbie Ryder, of Lana`i, has expanded her halau to Pahala and is leading a cultural exchange between the two remote communities. |
Today, coffee farmers are going to school at Pahala Community Center with presentations by representatives of Starbucks and other coffee experts.
DEADLINE IS TOMORROW to sign up for Kahuku Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park include `oli, GPS, compass, pacing, mo`olelo of Ka`u and the string game hei. Open to children of all ages and their `ohana. Call 985-6019.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
ESTHER KIA`AINA, candidate for Hawai`i’s second U.S. Congressional District seat, visited Ka`u recently. In Pahala, she discussed her candidacy with The Ka`u Calendar.
Kia`aina has nearly 20 years of Congressional experience working with both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Among her appointments were chief of staff for Hawai`i Congressman Ed Case, chief of staff and legislative director for Guam Congressman Robert Underwood, legislative assistant for Senator Daniel Akaka and Intern for Senator Daniel Inouye.
Kia`aina said she considers recognition for native Hawaiians an issue “of utmost importance.” She said she is an “impactful voice” who will continue to work for passage of the Akaka Bill. She was involved in adoption of the Apology Resolution during the Clinton presidency. She said the Akaka Bill requires continuing work on the legislation as well as looking for administrative options. If elected, she said she would designate someone to meet with state officials and residents regarding the bill.
Kia`aina has nearly 20 years of Congressional experience working with both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Among her appointments were chief of staff for Hawai`i Congressman Ed Case, chief of staff and legislative director for Guam Congressman Robert Underwood, legislative assistant for Senator Daniel Akaka and Intern for Senator Daniel Inouye.
Kia`aina said she considers recognition for native Hawaiians an issue “of utmost importance.” She said she is an “impactful voice” who will continue to work for passage of the Akaka Bill. She was involved in adoption of the Apology Resolution during the Clinton presidency. She said the Akaka Bill requires continuing work on the legislation as well as looking for administrative options. If elected, she said she would designate someone to meet with state officials and residents regarding the bill.
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| Esther Kia`aina |
Another issue Kia`aina discussed was higher education. She said she wants to tap into federal funds to make college affordable with programs including Stafford Loans, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Opportunity grants and College tax credits.
She said she is concerned about the condition of rural health care, noting the large turnover of doctors throughout the state. She said she wants to seek solutions to reduce the cost of health care for underserved populations and seniors.
Regarding preservation of Ka`u lands, Kia`aina suggested working collaboratively with University of Hawai`i on a feasibility study. She mentioned successes she has had in other projects including the Hawaiian Homelands Recovery Act and getting funding for the Kalaupapa Memorial.
Kia`aina said she wants to “look at ways to move things forward.” She said she knows how to get the wide-based support that is needed for local issues. “I want to fight for what’s right,” she said. She said her strengths are collaboration and knowing how to re-adjust to accomplish goals.
Kia`aina also held talk stories in Miloli`i during her visit.
She said she is concerned about the condition of rural health care, noting the large turnover of doctors throughout the state. She said she wants to seek solutions to reduce the cost of health care for underserved populations and seniors.
Regarding preservation of Ka`u lands, Kia`aina suggested working collaboratively with University of Hawai`i on a feasibility study. She mentioned successes she has had in other projects including the Hawaiian Homelands Recovery Act and getting funding for the Kalaupapa Memorial.
Kia`aina said she wants to “look at ways to move things forward.” She said she knows how to get the wide-based support that is needed for local issues. “I want to fight for what’s right,” she said. She said her strengths are collaboration and knowing how to re-adjust to accomplish goals.
Kia`aina also held talk stories in Miloli`i during her visit.
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| Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu ma Kilauea Photo by J. Robinson |
HALAU HULA Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu ma Kilauea, under the direction of kumu hula Ab Kawainohoikala`i Valencia, presents an Evening of Hula and Hawaiian Music Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. This Na Leo Manu, or Heavenly Voices, presentation is free, and park entrance fees apply.
DEADLINE IS TOMORROW to sign up for Kahuku Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park include `oli, GPS, compass, pacing, mo`olelo of Ka`u and the string game hei. Open to children of all ages and their `ohana. Call 985-6019.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
