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| Na`alehu School teachers joined public school teachers around the state, waving signs for a "fair deal." The Na`alehu teachers stood along Hwy 11. Photo by Simeona Aina III |
A LINE OF NA`ALEHU SCHOOL TEACHERS stood along Hwy 11 yesterday with signs saying, “Fair Deal for Teachers & Students,” “Honk if You Love Teachers,” “Support to Teachers Equals Support to Students” and other slogans.
Na`alehu School counselor Deborah Lynn Dickerson proclaimed: “Na`alehu Elementary Faculty proudly joins over a 100 Hawai`i Public schools in sending a message to Governor Abercrombie. We ask that he begin to bargain in good faith and treat the teachers of this state fairly by giving us a contract that shows he values our worth in our communities.”
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| Jim Williams |
She said that faculty members have had meetings to discuss working to the rule, “which means only working during school hours instead of giving hundreds of extra hours to our children and our classroom we all do each and every year, and we are uniting with teachers across the state to ask for a fair contract every Thursday through sign waving.”
Department of Education Board member Jim Williams wrote to the union, the Hawai`i State Teachers Association, on Wednesday, asking why the HSTA has made no proposal or counter proposal to address the state’s proposal? He also asked why the union refuses to meet until Jan. 11, 2013. He said the state negotiators have offered to meet numerous times since late October but the union only agreed to meet on Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 and made no counter offer to the state’s proposal discussed during those meetings. Williams also said that union leader Wil Okabe did not stay for the duration of negotiations on Dec. 5 and 10.
Department of Education Board member Jim Williams wrote to the union, the Hawai`i State Teachers Association, on Wednesday, asking why the HSTA has made no proposal or counter proposal to address the state’s proposal? He also asked why the union refuses to meet until Jan. 11, 2013. He said the state negotiators have offered to meet numerous times since late October but the union only agreed to meet on Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 and made no counter offer to the state’s proposal discussed during those meetings. Williams also said that union leader Wil Okabe did not stay for the duration of negotiations on Dec. 5 and 10.
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| Wil Okabe |
Okabe responded today that he will be addressing the questions during a press conference. He said “it was unfortunate that this (the letter to him) was pushed through the press like we are in some sort of game. We will not be bullied and forced into hastily agreeing to a contract that directly affects the lives of Hawai`i’s teachers. Okabe also invites Gov. Neil Abercrombie to the bargaining tables. “In his A New Day in Hawai`i, the governor states that he would make education his personal responsibility,” Obake said.
See more at doe.k12.hi.us and contractforthefuture.org.
SURVEYING OF ROUTES FOR Ka`u Agriculture Water Cooperative District’s pipelines is scheduled for February, according to Scott Enright, deputy director of the state Department of Agriculture. Enright said the contract should be signed this week and that surveyors are “ready to be on the ground” in a few weeks. He also assured co-op members at yesterday’s KAWC meeting that delays that have occurred will not affect funding released for the project to revamp water sources and piping left over from the sugar cane era in the mountains between Kapapala Ranch and Wai`ohinu.
KAWCD also took Ha`ao Springs & Mountain House Ag Water Co-op’s application for membership under consideration and, barring unforeseen issues, will accept the co-op as the district’s newest member at next month’s meeting.
See more at doe.k12.hi.us and contractforthefuture.org.
SURVEYING OF ROUTES FOR Ka`u Agriculture Water Cooperative District’s pipelines is scheduled for February, according to Scott Enright, deputy director of the state Department of Agriculture. Enright said the contract should be signed this week and that surveyors are “ready to be on the ground” in a few weeks. He also assured co-op members at yesterday’s KAWC meeting that delays that have occurred will not affect funding released for the project to revamp water sources and piping left over from the sugar cane era in the mountains between Kapapala Ranch and Wai`ohinu.
KAWCD also took Ha`ao Springs & Mountain House Ag Water Co-op’s application for membership under consideration and, barring unforeseen issues, will accept the co-op as the district’s newest member at next month’s meeting.
Moa`ula Ag Water Co-op members plan to replace and relocate pipes along the Punalu`u side of Moa`ula Gulch from the tunnel area to the cane haul road, said Randy Cabral. They are also investigating adding other tunnels to the system. Chris Manfredi reported that he and other members hiked to tunnels and found Tunnel Number One to be viable and accessible since it is close to a water supply used by homesteaders in the area. He said Tunnel Number 17 seemed to be too far away.
Manfredi, who is president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, also said that, “as in years past, Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation is lobbying for funding” from various sources for the Ka`u irrigation projects.
KAWCD’s January meeting date will be announced on Ka`u News Briefs when it is determined.
THE SECOND ESCAPEE from Hawai`i Community Correctional Center has been arrested. A Task Force found Ryan Jeffries-Hamar at a residence in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of Puna. He had been at large since Wednesday, Dec. 5, when he and Jarvis Higa overpowered and assaulted a corrections officer and took off in the jail librarian’s car. Higa was arrested two days later in Ocean View.
CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA features holiday music, food and gifts today at 5:30 p.m. around the Christmas tree at Pahala Plantation Cottages at the corner of Kamani and Ohia Streets. Many donors from the Ka`u community include `O Ka`u Kakou, Olson Trust, Punalu`u Bake Shop and contractor Mike Munnerlyn.
THY WORD MINISTRIES HOSTS Christmas in Ka`u tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji Hall with a craft fair, live entertainment by various church groups and free lunch while supplies last.
KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Ocean View Community Center takes place tomorrow at 11 a.m. with food, face painting, storytelling, games and prizes. Each child receives a photo with Santa and a gift.
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Holiday Challenge continues through the end of the month, with the front row of cabins decorated by employees. The public is invited to vote for their choice of best decorated cabin.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Manfredi, who is president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, also said that, “as in years past, Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation is lobbying for funding” from various sources for the Ka`u irrigation projects.
KAWCD’s January meeting date will be announced on Ka`u News Briefs when it is determined.
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| Sen. Daniel Inouye |
HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS will have important leadership positions in 2013. Sen. Daniel Inouye will remain Senate president pro tempore with the responsibility of being third in line to become U.S President, should President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden be unable to serve. Inouye is the highest ranking Asian American public officeholder in U.S. history. He will also keep the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The newly elected senator for suburban and rural Hawai`i, Mazie Hirono, has been named to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, as well as committees for veterans affairs and the judiciary.
THE SECOND ESCAPEE from Hawai`i Community Correctional Center has been arrested. A Task Force found Ryan Jeffries-Hamar at a residence in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of Puna. He had been at large since Wednesday, Dec. 5, when he and Jarvis Higa overpowered and assaulted a corrections officer and took off in the jail librarian’s car. Higa was arrested two days later in Ocean View.
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| A 3.3 earthquake struck north of Ka`ena Point yesterday. |
AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A MAGNITUDE of 3.3 shook Hawai`i island yesterday at 4:24 p.m. about 10 miles southeast of Volcano on Kilauea’s south flank faults. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that seismic activity is low, and this was one of five earthquakes strong enough to be located beneath Kilauea yesterday.
CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA features holiday music, food and gifts today at 5:30 p.m. around the Christmas tree at Pahala Plantation Cottages at the corner of Kamani and Ohia Streets. Many donors from the Ka`u community include `O Ka`u Kakou, Olson Trust, Punalu`u Bake Shop and contractor Mike Munnerlyn.
THY WORD MINISTRIES HOSTS Christmas in Ka`u tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji Hall with a craft fair, live entertainment by various church groups and free lunch while supplies last.
KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Ocean View Community Center takes place tomorrow at 11 a.m. with food, face painting, storytelling, games and prizes. Each child receives a photo with Santa and a gift.
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| Flag-flying snowman welcomes visitors to Kilauea Military Camp for holiday activities. Photo by Julia Neal |
VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY presents a hula kahiko performance with Kahula `O Nawahine Noho Pu`ukapu, under the direction of kumu hula Ana Nawahine Kahoopii, tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. on the hula platform in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Hands-on cultural demonstrations take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the gallery porch. Donations are welcome, and park entrance fees apply.
HO, HO, HO! VOLCANO COMEDY SHOW! is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. The shows are expected to sell out. Tickets are $12, or $10 for Volcano Art Center members, and can be purchased in person or by calling 967-8222.
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Holiday Challenge continues through the end of the month, with the front row of cabins decorated by employees. The public is invited to vote for their choice of best decorated cabin.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
FIND MORE OF OUR DECEMBER 2012 EVENT PHOTOS ON OUR FLICKR ACCOUNT.
FIND MORE OF OUR DECEMBER 2012 EVENT PHOTOS ON OUR FLICKR ACCOUNT.