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| King Kamehameha, who united the Hawaiian Islands. |
THIS IS KAMEHAMEHA DAY, a public holiday. June 11 celebrates the life of the king who unified all the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Ni`ihau in the decades just before the arrival of missionaries. Kamehameha I formally established the Hawaiian Kingdom as an internationally recognized government in 1810. During King Kamehameha’s reign from 1795 to 1818, fur traders and merchants, picking up local sandalwood on their way to markets in China, stopped in Hawai`i on their sailing ships. Pineapple and coffee crops were introduced.
Kamehameha’s great-grandson Kamehameha V established the holiday in 1871, and Kamehameha Day quickly grew to include such events as carnivals, horse and foot races, parades featuring pa`u riders – the flower-bedecked horseback contingents representing each island – hula competitions and ho`olaule`a. The holiday continued as Hawai`i became a part of the U.S. It was one of the first holidays to be written into law when Hawai`i became a state in 1959.
There are four statues of Kamehameha, one in Hilo, another in Kapa`au, a third in Honolulu and a fourth in the new U.S. Capitol visitor center in Washington, D.C. All are the sites of lei ceremonies each year on Kamehameha Day.
FREE MEALS FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN are being provided all summer long at both the Pahala and Na`alehu Public School campuses. The Hawai`i state Department of Education’s School Food Services branch is providing meals at 49 public schools without charge this summer – Monday through Friday except for today, June 11, 22, 29 and July 4 – to all children 18 years old and younger. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An eligible school must have 50 percent or more of its regularly enrolled students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches and some type of summer program on campus, but meal recipients do not have to be enrolled in those programs.
For more information, for Pahala, call 928-2088, and for Na`alehu, call 929-3413.
FREE HALF-DAY SUMMER COURSES are being given to Ka`u public school students, funded through the $75 million Race to the Top federal grant. The program began June 2 and runs through June 28 with classes from 8 a.m. to noon. The classes are designed to enrich youth learning and to help some students catch up to their grade level. Students receive free transportation. The summer program supplements the regular school year, which has longer instructional days.
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| King Kamehameha statue in the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Julia Neal |
FREE MEALS FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN are being provided all summer long at both the Pahala and Na`alehu Public School campuses. The Hawai`i state Department of Education’s School Food Services branch is providing meals at 49 public schools without charge this summer – Monday through Friday except for today, June 11, 22, 29 and July 4 – to all children 18 years old and younger. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An eligible school must have 50 percent or more of its regularly enrolled students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches and some type of summer program on campus, but meal recipients do not have to be enrolled in those programs.
For more information, for Pahala, call 928-2088, and for Na`alehu, call 929-3413.
FREE HALF-DAY SUMMER COURSES are being given to Ka`u public school students, funded through the $75 million Race to the Top federal grant. The program began June 2 and runs through June 28 with classes from 8 a.m. to noon. The classes are designed to enrich youth learning and to help some students catch up to their grade level. Students receive free transportation. The summer program supplements the regular school year, which has longer instructional days.
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| Brenda Ford |
BRENDA FORD, A KA`U COUNTY COUNCIL candidate and sitting Kona Council member, is objecting to comments from Bradley Westervelt, who is running against her in the race for District 6 County Council on Aug. 11. Westervelt accused her last week of costing taxpayers money by supporting the addition of another charter amendment on the election ballot in November. Said Ford, “It costs nothing to add another charter amendment or initiative to the ballot. The ballot is the size it always has been, and it can hold many more amendments and initiatives than the few that will be on the ballot in November.” She gave examples of the number of charter amendments on the ballot in previous general elections. In 1990, there were 18; in 2000, there were 16; and in 2010, there were 19. The proposed charter amendment, which would have asked voters to decide whether to elect the county attorney, failed at County Council on Friday and will not be on the ballot.
Westervelt accused Ford last week of “political posturing” for supporting the charter amendment. She said she believes there could be less political jockeying if the county attorney were publicly elected rather than appointed by the Council and mayor. She said she also wants to make it clear that the measure was initiated by County Council chairman Dominic Yagong. “I supported that bill. However, I did make amendments to the bill to create qualifications for that office. The bill still belongs to Mr. Yagong.” She said she also wanted to make it clear that she did not serve on the Charter Commission.
THE PAHALA FILIPINO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION recently awarded four scholarships worth $300 each to Ka`u students who graduated in May and are planning to attend Hawai`i Community College, University of Hawai`i and UH-Hilo this fall. The recipients met PFCA eligibility requirements as well as participated in extracurricular activities such as volunteering their services to the community.
The awardees are Tyler Blanco-Louis, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be attending Hawai`i Community College, studying automotive mechanics in hopes of pursuing further education in carpentry and welding; Sheryl Sebastian, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be majoring in accounting at Hawai`i Community College; Leslie Acre, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be majoring in liberal arts and advancing into the Professional Registered Nurse Program at UH-Hilo; and Tiare-Lee Shibuya, who graduated from Kamehameha High and will also be attending Hawai`i Community College, studying liberal arts and transferring to the nursing program at UH-Hilo, majoring and specializing in Oncology. She wishes to return to Ka`u as a registered nurse and eventually become a traveling nurse.
The PFCA has also supported community functions with monetary donations to Pahala Dojo Karate League and plans to assist other community groups, the Senior Citizen’s program and Ka`u Hospital maintenance program.
KA`U `OHANA BAND, a program by Ka`u School of the Arts, is looking for clarinet and flute players. No experience is necessary, and KSA provides instruments and instruction. The band rehearses every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call Cinnie at 930-4697.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S Green Market happens on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. whether rain, wind or shine. “The market is comfortably out of the elements when weather is challenging,” said OVCA member Madalyn McWhite-Lamson. “It is also a time to socialize with your friends and neighbors.” The market features fresh produce, food, gifts and craft items “from the land or by your hand.”
Local musicians and dancers have entertained at past markets, and there will be music when groups are available. Vendor fees are waived for now.
The Green Market also has a masseuse available. Sign up in advance by calling Dee at 430-1084. For more information about the market, call Elaine Meier at 561-6900 or OVCA at 939-7033.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
THE PAHALA FILIPINO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION recently awarded four scholarships worth $300 each to Ka`u students who graduated in May and are planning to attend Hawai`i Community College, University of Hawai`i and UH-Hilo this fall. The recipients met PFCA eligibility requirements as well as participated in extracurricular activities such as volunteering their services to the community.
The awardees are Tyler Blanco-Louis, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be attending Hawai`i Community College, studying automotive mechanics in hopes of pursuing further education in carpentry and welding; Sheryl Sebastian, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be majoring in accounting at Hawai`i Community College; Leslie Acre, who graduated from Ka`u High and will be majoring in liberal arts and advancing into the Professional Registered Nurse Program at UH-Hilo; and Tiare-Lee Shibuya, who graduated from Kamehameha High and will also be attending Hawai`i Community College, studying liberal arts and transferring to the nursing program at UH-Hilo, majoring and specializing in Oncology. She wishes to return to Ka`u as a registered nurse and eventually become a traveling nurse.
The PFCA has also supported community functions with monetary donations to Pahala Dojo Karate League and plans to assist other community groups, the Senior Citizen’s program and Ka`u Hospital maintenance program.
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| Suzshi Lang adds patina detail to an Uhu piece of copper. |
KA`U SCHOOL OF THE ARTS celebrates Kamehameha Day with its Summer Creations event for all ages today from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Alma Gorali, Jym Duncan, Terri Chapot, Bobbie Beebe, Suzshi Lang, Suzanne Dix Kaliko, Pops Hosoi, Kepi Davis, Kirsi Klein and others will guide participants in art activities in a safe, encouraging environment. Some activities may have a modest materials fee. Call 929-7544 for more information.
KA`U `OHANA BAND, a program by Ka`u School of the Arts, is looking for clarinet and flute players. No experience is necessary, and KSA provides instruments and instruction. The band rehearses every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call Cinnie at 930-4697.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S Green Market happens on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. whether rain, wind or shine. “The market is comfortably out of the elements when weather is challenging,” said OVCA member Madalyn McWhite-Lamson. “It is also a time to socialize with your friends and neighbors.” The market features fresh produce, food, gifts and craft items “from the land or by your hand.”
Local musicians and dancers have entertained at past markets, and there will be music when groups are available. Vendor fees are waived for now.
The Green Market also has a masseuse available. Sign up in advance by calling Dee at 430-1084. For more information about the market, call Elaine Meier at 561-6900 or OVCA at 939-7033.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.