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| Marshallese students were leaders of a Teach for America tour of Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary School yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
TEACH FOR AMERICA brought more than 60 teachers to Ka`u yesterday to explore the community and Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School campus. The national nonprofit organization helps place young teachers into the hardest posts to fill in public school systems. Some of those teachers are now serving Ka`u schools for two-year stints.
Marshallese students at Ka`u Intermediate guided the visiting teachers through the campus, along with principal Sharon Beck, and talked about their dreams for higher education.
Marshallese students at Ka`u Intermediate guided the visiting teachers through the campus, along with principal Sharon Beck, and talked about their dreams for higher education.
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| Teach for America instructors gather at the Pahala campus cafeteria to learn about rural schools. Photo by Julia Neal |
The Ka`u Calendar newspaper editor Julia Neal gave a talk, stressing the importance of teachers in remote Hawai`i schools reminding students - for the students’ self-esteem and confidence - that they live in such special, desirable places, like Ka`u. She described such rural areas as rich in family, culture and environment, where people do not have to be wealthy to have horses, cattle and family farms. “There is no mall,” but families, have the opportunity to fish and hunt in uncrowded places, and enjoy each other’s company. In Ka `u, she said, there is time – time to spend with families on the longest uninhabited coast in Hawai`i, time for families to share music, hula and other cultural practices. She talked about the importance of young people being proud of their origins and going out to earn a higher education, experiencing the world beyond Ka`u and then coming home to work and help the community. She named examples of young professionals coming home.
One Teach for America instructor stationed at Na`alehu talked about the glow in the faces of her young students when they come back to the classroom after a weekend with their families, ranching, fishing and enjoying the other outdoor and cultural activities of Ka`u.
One Teach for America instructor stationed at Na`alehu talked about the glow in the faces of her young students when they come back to the classroom after a weekend with their families, ranching, fishing and enjoying the other outdoor and cultural activities of Ka`u.
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| Teach for America executive director Jill Baldemor grew up in Hawai`i. |
The teachers also took a walk to the Boys & Girls Club in Pahala and visited Pahala Plantation House and Ka`u Coffee Mill. Breakfast was provided by Shaka’s Restaurant of Na`alehu. Lunches were provided by Punalu`u Bake Shop, also of Na`alehu. After Ka`u, Teach for America instructors visited Kamehameha Schools in Kea`au.
Teach for America’s Hawai`i executive director Jill Baldemor accompanied the group. She grew up in Hawai`i, lived outside the state for a number of years for education and work, and came back to help Hawai`i’s youth.
The Teach for America website at www.teachforamerica.org/wher-we-work/Hawaii says:
“Now, more than ever, there is energy and urgency around transforming the educational landscape of our state. With tremendous community support, new leadership in the Board of Education and Department of Education, and Race to the Top reform efforts, momentum is building in Hawai`i. Our 2012 Teach For America corps—nearly twice the size of past corps groups—will work with more than 13,500 students in the coming school year. At this critical moment we are excited to be partnering with our communities to give all of Hawai`i’s children the opportunity to receive the education they deserve.”
Teach for America’s Hawai`i executive director Jill Baldemor accompanied the group. She grew up in Hawai`i, lived outside the state for a number of years for education and work, and came back to help Hawai`i’s youth.
The Teach for America website at www.teachforamerica.org/wher-we-work/Hawaii says:
“Now, more than ever, there is energy and urgency around transforming the educational landscape of our state. With tremendous community support, new leadership in the Board of Education and Department of Education, and Race to the Top reform efforts, momentum is building in Hawai`i. Our 2012 Teach For America corps—nearly twice the size of past corps groups—will work with more than 13,500 students in the coming school year. At this critical moment we are excited to be partnering with our communities to give all of Hawai`i’s children the opportunity to receive the education they deserve.”
U.S. MAIL DELIVERY IN KA`U AND VOLCANO would continue unchanged if home delivery is stopped on Saturdays around the country beginning in August. All mail in Ka`u and Volcano is delivered to post office boxes, which would continue to receive mail on Saturdays should the U.S. Postal Service stop Saturday home and business delivery. A few rural route boxes in west Ka`u would go without weekend mail. Also stopped would be Saturday delivery to mail boxes along Hwy 11 at Honomolino, Miloli`i and other communities on the way to Kona. The plan to stop mail delivery to homes and businesses on Saturday is projected to save USPS some $2 billion a year. Packages, however, would still be delivered on Saturdays. Technically, Congress must approve the plan.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
VOLCANO & KULANI ROADS and their drainage will be improved with $100,000 in state Capitol Improvement Project funding released last week by Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
The governor stated, “I understand how important these projects are to the people you serve in your district. I look forward to working together to see its completion. I hope that together we can work to decrease unemployment, jumpstart business activity and get our people back to work while strengthening our communities across Hawai`i.”
Sen. Russell Ruderman said, “The release of CIP funds for the Volcano Road intersection and drainage improvements is a welcome influx of needed funding to improve the infrastructure and safety for our community. I appreciate the governor’s New Day Work Projects initiative and thank him for his personal attention to this matter. Projects like this will help make our community safer while giving a much needed push toward reducing unemployment in our district.”
Sen. Russell Ruderman said, “The release of CIP funds for the Volcano Road intersection and drainage improvements is a welcome influx of needed funding to improve the infrastructure and safety for our community. I appreciate the governor’s New Day Work Projects initiative and thank him for his personal attention to this matter. Projects like this will help make our community safer while giving a much needed push toward reducing unemployment in our district.”
KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE meets tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Events are being finalized for the week leading up to the May 5 H`olaulea. Volunteers are welcome to work on the committee and at the many festival activities.
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| A golf tournament at Volcano Golf & Country Club on Friday benefits Ka`u Hospital. Photos from volcanogolfshop.com |
RED HAT LADIES OF KA`U AND KA LAE QUILTERS have raised more than $5,000 so far in a series of local fundraisers this month. Red Hatters Queen Barbara Beatty said sales Friday and Saturday went well at Punalu`u Beach Park and included fresh baked goods that sold out both days, hot dogs, chili and rice and water. Crafts sold included two big quilts, which brought in $450, and a number of smaller quilts, table runners and tote bags.
A fundraiser held Feb. 1 at Ka`u Hospital brought in more than $1,200. Sales at the beach brought in over $4,000.
The more than $5,000 will be increased by the sixth annual golf tournament and outcry auction at Volcano Golf & Country Club next Friday, Feb. 15 and a spaghetti dinner with entertainment on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
Entry fee of $75 for the golf tournament includes golf cart and lunch. Auction and awards ceremony are held during lunch. Register with Ron Young at 929-8390 or youngron19582@yahoo.com.
Tickets at $9.99 for the spaghetti dinner can be purchased at the hospital business office, the Land Office in Na`alehu and from Red Hatters and Ka Lae Quilters. To become involved with the Red Hatters and Ka Lae Quilter projects, call Beatty at 929-9072 and quilter Diane Farrar at 939-8720 or email dianef94@aloha.com.
The more than $5,000 will be increased by the sixth annual golf tournament and outcry auction at Volcano Golf & Country Club next Friday, Feb. 15 and a spaghetti dinner with entertainment on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
Entry fee of $75 for the golf tournament includes golf cart and lunch. Auction and awards ceremony are held during lunch. Register with Ron Young at 929-8390 or youngron19582@yahoo.com.
Tickets at $9.99 for the spaghetti dinner can be purchased at the hospital business office, the Land Office in Na`alehu and from Red Hatters and Ka Lae Quilters. To become involved with the Red Hatters and Ka Lae Quilter projects, call Beatty at 929-9072 and quilter Diane Farrar at 939-8720 or email dianef94@aloha.com.
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| Erv Wilson's Octaval Spiral Image from thesonicsky.com |
VOLCANO ART CENTER’S Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village presents a free screening of Surfing the Sonic Sky tomorrow at 6 p.m. This 2012 REMI Award-winning film by Stephen James Taylor explores Transcendent Tonality, which Taylor calls a new kind of musical experience. Taylor will also present the musical realm and structures of Erv Wilson. To learn more, visit thesonicsky.com.
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK sponsor a forest restoration project Friday, Feb. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Volunteers plant native tree seedlings in the Kilauea section of the park. Register by tomorrow at 352-1402 or forest@fhvnp.org.
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK also host a winter fundraiser with wine tasting, pupus and artwork by Christina Skaggs at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s Wai`oli Lounge Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wine Tasting will include four specially selected wines with unlimited return visits to the wine bar. Another feature is an unlimited, open pupu buffet. The event includes live music, an optional raffle and silent auction as well as an art display and sale. Participants may choose wine tasting or pupu bar for $20 each or both for $40. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Friends group. Tickets are available at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org.
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK also host a winter fundraiser with wine tasting, pupus and artwork by Christina Skaggs at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel’s Wai`oli Lounge Wednesday, Feb. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wine Tasting will include four specially selected wines with unlimited return visits to the wine bar. Another feature is an unlimited, open pupu buffet. The event includes live music, an optional raffle and silent auction as well as an art display and sale. Participants may choose wine tasting or pupu bar for $20 each or both for $40. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Friends group. Tickets are available at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org.
FUNDRAISING FOR THE WRESTLING TEAM of Ka`u High School takes place today at Punalu`u Beach Park. The fundraising effort will help both the boys and girls high school wrestling team travel to state championships on O`ahu. Leah Mello-Waiwaiole and Shavon Mello-Waiwaiole are among the girls going to states. Among the boys are Kupono Leffew-Palakiko and Joe Oyama. Shave ice and hotdogs will be sold from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fundraising is led by Terry Shibuya. Donations can be arranged by calling Shibuya at 333-1895.
IN SPORTS THIS WEEK, Ka`u High’s boys basketball team plays in the first round of BIIF Division II games Wed. Semi-finals and finals are Friday and Saturday at Hilo Civic Auditorium.
JV softball has three games this week. They travel to Hilo High tomorrow and to Kea`au Saturday. A home game against Pahoa takes place Wednesday at 2 p.m.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
IN SPORTS THIS WEEK, Ka`u High’s boys basketball team plays in the first round of BIIF Division II games Wed. Semi-finals and finals are Friday and Saturday at Hilo Civic Auditorium.
JV softball has three games this week. They travel to Hilo High tomorrow and to Kea`au Saturday. A home game against Pahoa takes place Wednesday at 2 p.m.
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.
