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Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Ka`u News Briefs July 4, 2012


Hawai`i Volcaones National Park led the annual Independence Day Parade in Na`alehu. Volcano Parade is today.
Photo by William Neal
HAWAI`I COULD BECOME A SOURCE OF BREADFRUIT TREES to grow in countries with hungry people, according to a story in latest ArcNews. The article entitled Will Breadfruit Solve the World Hunger Crisis? Includes results of recent global mapping showing suitable conditions to grow breadruit spanning the tropics and north to Hawai`i.
      Authors Matthew P. Lucas and Diane Ragone, of National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua`i, extol many qualities of breadfruit beyond providing food. Breadfruit are multipurpose trees that “improve soil conditions and protect watersheds while providing food, timber, and animal feed. All parts of the tree are used—even the male flowers, which are dried and burned to repel mosquitoes. Because of its simple uses and long, productive, low-maintenance life, breadfruit was spread throughout the tropical Pacific by intrepid voyagers.”
Breadfruit trees grown in Hawai`i  could be shipped for farms in poor countries.
Photo from Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden
      The article mentions Hawai`i as “…one of the many island chains where breadfruit, or ulu in Hawaiian, was cultivated as a major staple.”       PTBG promotes conservation and use of breadfruit for food and reforestation. Its Breadfruit Institute is the world’s largest repository of breadfruit with 120 varieties from throughout the Pacific. PTBG receives requests from foreign countries wanting varieties for their own tree-planting projects.
      The Breadfruit Institute is meeting increased demand through propagation methods, making it possible to produce and ship thousands, or even millions, of breadfruit plants anywhere in the world. According to the article, most of the world’s one billion hungry people live in the tropics, the ecological zone where breadfruit grows best.

A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN won unanimous approval from the state Board of Education yesterday. A statement from the BOE says that “it builds on key strengths and reform initiatives to ensure all students graduate ready to succeed in college or careers.”Statewide schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said, “Our plan sets bold and clear student-centered strategies and targets through 2018.”  She said the plan “sharpens our collective focus on implementing a rigorous curriculum, and providing educators the tools to identify and address students’ needs in real time until graduation.”The Strategic Plan aligns three main Department of Education goals with three BOE committees  - Student Achievement, Human Resources, and Finance and Infrastructure -  to increase accountability and efficiency, the statement says. Gov. Neil Abercrombie applauded the plan, saying,  “At various levels, our state government is working in unison to transform our educational system with the main goal of creating a better system that supports teachers and fosters student achievement.”

BLESSING FOR THE OCEAN VIEW WATER WELL and distribution system is set for tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Lehua Lane and Hwy 11. The long awaited potable water will save homeowners business operators and commercial water haulers from having to drive to Wai`ohinu or other water spigots to fill up their tanks and trucks. The effort to obtain potable water for Ocean Views started decades ago and its history includes a band of OV residents flying to Honolulu and holding signs in front of the state Capitol building.

SOUTHSIDE VOLLEYBALL 13 and Under boys took fourth today at the 33rd annual USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships in Dallas,Texas. This is Southside’s fifth year at the competition, under the direction of Coach Guy Enriques. The tournament brings top young players from across the country to different venue each year. The 15 and Under team was still playing today and has a chance at placing, Enriques said.

FUN ON THE FOURTH from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Na`alehu Park features hot dogs and games for keiki and bingo for seniors. It’s sponsored by O Ka`u Kakou.
ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by food, games, sales and entertainment at Cooper Center.
Horses and riders are on display at parades and this weekend's rodeo in
Na`alehu. Photo by William Neal
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP hosts a dinner at 5 p.m. and Hoedown and western dance at 7 p.m. at the Lava Lounge.
MANY KA`U DEMOCRATS       and candidates for office are headed for the eleventh annual Hawai`i County Democrats Picnic at 2:15 p.m. at Old Airport park in Kona and the annual Kona Fourth of July parade this evening on Ali`i Drive.

NA MEA HAWAI`I HULA KAHIKO will bring traditional hula, chant and cultural demonstrations to Volcano Art Center this Saturday, July 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Halau Na Pua ‘O Uluhaimalama will perform Hula Kahiko under the direction of kumu hula Emery Aceret. “Our halau carries on the tradition of the late kumu hula Rae Kahikilaulani Fonseca, descending from the lineage of Merrie Monarch co-founder Uncle George Naope to perpetuate the legacy of Her Majesty Queen Liliuokalani through performances of hula.” states Aceret.
      Volcano Art Center has been inviting hula from all over Hawai`i to perform at the stone hula platform, which is reserved exclusively for the perpetuation of traditional hula and chant.  Audience is encouraged to bring mats for sitting on the grass and be prepared for variable weather conditions. Hawaiian arts and craft demonstrations will also be held on the front porch of the Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Demonstrations include hands-on displays and lessons where all ages are invited to meet, learn from and talk story with friendly and knowledgeable locals.
       Na Mea Hawai`i Hula Kahiko is a free community event presented in cooperation with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and supported in part by the County of Hawai`i's Department of Research and Development and the Hawai`i Tourism Authority. As park entrance fees apply and parking is limited, carpooling is strongly recommended. For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org or contact Julie at 967-8222 or julie@volcanoartcenter.org.

THE 34th ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY RODEO will be held all day this Saturday and Sunday at Na`alehu Rodeo Arena. Slack roping starts at 8 a.m., with the show kicking off at noon. The Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association is spicing up this local tradition with new events, including chute dogging - wrestling a steer, charging out of a chute, to the ground - and rescue race - paniolo race across the arena to their partner, lift them up onto the back of their horse and race back.
      Other events include Open Dally, Team 90’s (both partners’ cumulative age must be 90 and above), Double Mugging, Ranch Mugging and Wahine Mugging. Entry to the rodeo is $6 before the event and $7 at the gate.

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