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| Miloli`i Halau will be one of two gathering places when the new Community Enrichment & Historical Center is built. Photo by Kai`ali`i Kahele |
THE FUTURE OF KAWA, which has been purchased by the county, is drawing interest from some County Council members in regards to Abel Simeona Lui and the other people who live there. According to a Stephens Media article by Nancy Cook Lauer yesterday, County Council chair Dominic Yagong has written a letter to Mayor Billy Kenoi, saying that “members of the public have asked me to question you as to what action you will be taking” regarding a recent court order that would allow eviction of people living at Kawa.
Kenoi addressed the public in Na`alehu last Monday, asking for patience, and said that when the mayor was growing up and seeing people evicted from Sand Island and other places around the state, he always hoped he would never be in a position to wield power to carry out evictions.
During his talk story meeting, Kenoi listened to Hawaiians with ties to Kawa who said they are afraid to go there and feel intimidated by the people living there. Kenoi said he wants to settle the situation “one time,” with a community-based management plan run by Ka`u families. He said he could carry out evictions, but that could lead to $25 fines and people returning to live at Kawa time after time. Several residents said that Kawa should be managed by the public now, and the mayor promised it will be settled soon.
Opinions of Council members Brittany Smart and Brenda Ford were quoted in the Stephens Media story, with Ford referring to the court decision that would allow the county to evict Lui and other Kawa dwellers: “The county has legally acquired the property, and we hold clear title. It’s the mayor’s responsibility to enforce the ruling of the court.”
The story quotes Smart staffer Nelson Ho saying that Smart understands the Ka`u community is deeply divided over what should be done at Kawa and that any management plan must be publicly transparent and set timelines for actions.
KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL has expanded to include two weekends of events in May. The main event, the Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center, will be on Saturday, May 12 with a full day of The Coffee Experience inside Pahala Community Center and entertainment with headliners including Cyril Pahinui. Also playing will be Keoki and Moses Kahumoku, Keaiwa, Bruddah Waltah and Sammi Fo. Hula halau will entertain. On the grounds will be educational and vendor booths with Ka`u Coffee, foods and crafts for sale.
LEAD-UP EVENTS to the Ka`u Coffee Festival begin on Saturday, May 5 at 5 p.m. with the Ka`u Farmers’ Table: A Feast for the Senses hosted by Kalaekilohana Bed and Breakfast on South Point Road. The event features an evening of music with Robert Cazimero and a paired five-course gourmet meal from executive chef Morgan Starr of Mi’s Italian Bistro. A Ka`u Coffee dessert bar complements the feast. Tickets are $100 in advance. The event is sponsored by Mi’s Wine and Cheese Shop, Hana Hou Restaurant and Kalaekilohana. For information and tickets, contact Kalaekilohana at 939-8052.
THE FINAL WHALE COUNT for 2012 is next Saturday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Volunteers count and record whale behavior on the Ka`u Coast and inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Register at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org. See http://hawaiihumpackwhale.noaa.gov. T-shirts for the 2012 Sanctuary Ocean Count are also available.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
During his talk story meeting, Kenoi listened to Hawaiians with ties to Kawa who said they are afraid to go there and feel intimidated by the people living there. Kenoi said he wants to settle the situation “one time,” with a community-based management plan run by Ka`u families. He said he could carry out evictions, but that could lead to $25 fines and people returning to live at Kawa time after time. Several residents said that Kawa should be managed by the public now, and the mayor promised it will be settled soon.
Opinions of Council members Brittany Smart and Brenda Ford were quoted in the Stephens Media story, with Ford referring to the court decision that would allow the county to evict Lui and other Kawa dwellers: “The county has legally acquired the property, and we hold clear title. It’s the mayor’s responsibility to enforce the ruling of the court.”
The story quotes Smart staffer Nelson Ho saying that Smart understands the Ka`u community is deeply divided over what should be done at Kawa and that any management plan must be publicly transparent and set timelines for actions.
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| Classes in Hawaiian fishing traditions are planned. Photo by Kai`ali`i Kahele |
A MILOLI`I COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT & HISTORICAL CENTER is planned for property near the ocean. The Draft Environmental Assessment has been posted on the website of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. The EA describes the multi-purpose community center as three structures totaling 4,800 square feet to be built on state land. “The project purpose is to address the community’s long-recognized need for a covered community center and gathering space for public meetings, activities and educational and recreation programs,” the EA states. The center will be funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Plans call for a historical center/library, kitchen, classroom and 2,000-square-foot covered lana`i. It will be managed by Pa`a Pono O Miloli`i, which has been hosting such programs as creation of a marine managed area, community-based marine management and fishing education programs, Miloli`i Makai watch, the Opelu Project and the Miloli`i Lawai`a `Ohana Fishing Camp at Ho`opuloa Beach.
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| Ka`u Hospital administrator Merilyn Harris, Ka`u Hospital Charitable Foundation member Naomi Yoshida, Red Hat Ladies president Barbara Beatty and Foundation president Bradley Westervelt. |
GOLFERS, QUILTERS & THE RED HAT LADIES have come up with more than $18,000 for Ka`u Hospital in recent fundraising events. Checks were presented yesterday at the hospital for money raised from a golf tournament, spaghetti dinner, a silent auction and dinner, bake and craft sale at Punalu`u, and a weekend rummage sale.
KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL has expanded to include two weekends of events in May. The main event, the Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center, will be on Saturday, May 12 with a full day of The Coffee Experience inside Pahala Community Center and entertainment with headliners including Cyril Pahinui. Also playing will be Keoki and Moses Kahumoku, Keaiwa, Bruddah Waltah and Sammi Fo. Hula halau will entertain. On the grounds will be educational and vendor booths with Ka`u Coffee, foods and crafts for sale.
LEAD-UP EVENTS to the Ka`u Coffee Festival begin on Saturday, May 5 at 5 p.m. with the Ka`u Farmers’ Table: A Feast for the Senses hosted by Kalaekilohana Bed and Breakfast on South Point Road. The event features an evening of music with Robert Cazimero and a paired five-course gourmet meal from executive chef Morgan Starr of Mi’s Italian Bistro. A Ka`u Coffee dessert bar complements the feast. Tickets are $100 in advance. The event is sponsored by Mi’s Wine and Cheese Shop, Hana Hou Restaurant and Kalaekilohana. For information and tickets, contact Kalaekilohana at 939-8052.
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| Brandy Shibuya won Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawai`i and heads for Miss Hawai`i where the Miss America contestant will be chosen. Photo from Miss Hawai`i |
A KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST for cookies, candies and crackers will be held Sunday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Chef Brad Hirata and other culinary experts will blind judge the professional, amateur and student entries. Grand prize is $500, and entrants earn a chance for their recipes to become a signature food of Ka`u Coffee Mill. The public is invited to visit the new mill and visitor center and for Ka`u Coffee tasting. The event is co-sponsored by Pahala Plantation Cottages, OK Farms and Edmund C. Olson Trust. Rules for the competition will soon be available at www.kaucoffeefest.com and www.kaucoffeemill.com. Call 928-0550 or 928-9811.
BRANDY SHIBUYA, who won the Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawai`i titles, recently assisted Sam Choy with the annual poke contest at the Sheraton Keauhou Beach Hotel. Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa took first in traditional, spice and cooked categories. Kevin Lanning, of Island Thyme Gourmet, won the soy sauce category. Shibuya will compete in the Miss Hawai`i pageant in Honolulu.
THE HURRICANE TAKES PLACE today at 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Attendees to the murder mystery play are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check made out to Hawai`i Island Food Basket, with a notation in the top left corner stating Ocean View Pantry 551, for the same amount. For more information, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.
THE FINAL WHALE COUNT for 2012 is next Saturday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Volunteers count and record whale behavior on the Ka`u Coast and inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Register at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org. See http://hawaiihumpackwhale.noaa.gov. T-shirts for the 2012 Sanctuary Ocean Count are also available.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.