 |
| Access to trails, camping, driving, shopping and staying in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will shut down unless Congress ends its stalemate over the federal budget. Photo from HVNP facebook page |
POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN OF THE FEDERAL government has Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, one of Ka`u's largest employers, planning to furlough 127 workers and close all recreational activities and facilities. Should Congress fail to pass a budget by midnight tomorrow, Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said, only 13 employees will remain to protect the property and take care of essential services. They will staff gates and the campground, take care of infrastructure and respond to emergencies.
Overnight guests at Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp will have to be out by Thursday and be unable to use the park from Tuesday until the National Park Service is funded. Volcano Art Center Gallery, Kilauea Military Camp restaurant and bar, stores inside the park, bowling alley all other facilities will lock up by Tuesday morning, she said. No camping, hiking, horse riding or other recreational permits will be allowed after Monday afternoon unless the stalemate in Congress is broken and a last-minute budget is passed for federal operations. The other federal agency with the most employees in Ka`u is the U.S. Geological Survey with its Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which is also expected to be affected by the shutdown.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Cy Tamura grabs an interception deep in Kamehameha's end zone during yesterday's game. Photo by Tim Wright, KHS '77 |
This week the Trojans take the plane to Maui and the ferry to Moloka`i to play the Moloka`i Farmers, who are members of the Maui County Eight-Man High School Football League. Trojans take on the Waveriders at Kealakehe on Friday, Oct. 25 and return for homecoming on Friday, Nov. 8, when Moloka`i comes to Ka`u.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE DIRECTORY, Ka`u business and community resource guide can be read online at
flipsnack.com/5B55ECEC5A8/fzpfg59c. The Directory will also be available at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday until 5 p.m during the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce's annual art show. The art show is also the place for the popular vote to choose The Directory 2014 cover. Entries into the art show are being accepted through Thursday. The are adult and keiki divisions and all forms of art from paintings to carvings, pottery, glass and photography are accepted. The theme is Ka`u.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
PLAINTIFFS CHALLENGING THE STATE Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to grant a permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope have filed their opening brief in Third Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs, who say they are seeking to force BLNR to uphold its responsibility to protect natural and cultural resources, are Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, Deborah J. Ward, E. Kalani-Flores, B. Pualani Case, Clarence Kukauakahi Ching and Paul Neves.
“The summit of Mauna Kea is wao akua, a place of Gods,” said KAHEA president Jonathan Osorio in a statement. “It is a sacred place because of the sensitivity of that environment and its influence over all of the environments below it: forests, uplands, streams — everything,” he said.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
VOLUNTEERS REMOVED 560 FOUNTAIN GRASS PLANTS from the Ocean View area yesterday. The event took place on National Public Lands Day and was spearheaded by Ocean View Community Association and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Gil Robinson, president of the Ocean View Community Association, told West Hawai`i Today reporter Carolyn Lucas-Zenk that the association arranged the unique partnership because the park has staff members who can help HOVE residents get rid of the problematic weeds and maintain areas better. They can also train volunteers, who can then guide others. Robinson said such service projects bring the community together and can cause a ripple effect that amplifies the effectiveness of the effort.
Park ecologist David Benitez told Lucas-Zenk that “the park has been very aggressive in keeping the numbers low in its Kahuku Unit (neighboring Ocean View). However, partnerships like this one in the HOVE community are equally as important.”
Fountain grass is an invasive species that displaces native plants and colonizes young lava flows, creating fire hazards.
See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ IS CO-SPONSORING a number of bills to unlock Hawai`i students’ full potential by expanding early education, providing more counseling and after school opportunities, fostering excellent educators and modernizing schools.
“In order to build a better future for Hawai`i, we must begin with our students,” Schatz said. “We know so much about how to help students achieve their full potential, and the federal government can do more to help states provide the conditions for students’ success. For example, we know that children who have access to early childhood education are much more likely to succeed in school and after they graduate. We also see real classroom results when we give our teachers relevant and timely training. These bills would give states more resources in the areas that really matter so that our kids have greater opportunities to succeed.”
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KOHALA ANIMAL RELOCATION AND EDUCATION SERVICE is coming to Ka`u in November and December. KARES offers free spay and neuter clinics for dogs Tuesday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle in Ocean View.
“Birth control for your dog can save many animal lives by preventing an excess of animals from being born in the first place,” said KARES vice president Elaine Anderson. “Our community does have a pet overpopulation problem, which means there are more dogs than the community can care for or can find homes for.
“The most important thing you can do as a pet owner to save more lives is to spay/neuter pets that belong to all your family and friends.”
Contact KARES to make an appointment at 328-8455 or pets@kohalaanimal.org.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
LARGE EARTHQUAKES IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS is the title of Tuesday's After Dark in the Park program. Weston Thelen, a seismologist with USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, presents an overview of damaging earthquakes in Hawai`i, including current theories on why they occur and what to know about future large earthquakes. He also talks about Hawai`i’s first Great ShakeOut, an earthquake drill on Thursday, Oct. 17, how to join the global effort to increase awareness of earthquake hazards and how to minimize their risks.
The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, unless the park is closed due to a government shutdown. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.
IN KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, Ka`u varsity girls volleyball team won at home against Kohala 25-17, 25-20 and 25-15, while JV Trojans lost 25-22 and 25-23. Ka`u hosts Waiakea Wednesday at 6 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.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| This week, Ka`u residents can vote for art to grace the cover of The Directory 2014. |
flipsnack.com/5B55ECEC5A8/fzpfg59c. The Directory will also be available at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday until 5 p.m during the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce's annual art show. The art show is also the place for the popular vote to choose The Directory 2014 cover. Entries into the art show are being accepted through Thursday. The are adult and keiki divisions and all forms of art from paintings to carvings, pottery, glass and photography are accepted. The theme is Ka`u.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
PLAINTIFFS CHALLENGING THE STATE Board of Land and Natural Resources’ decision to grant a permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope have filed their opening brief in Third Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs, who say they are seeking to force BLNR to uphold its responsibility to protect natural and cultural resources, are Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, Deborah J. Ward, E. Kalani-Flores, B. Pualani Case, Clarence Kukauakahi Ching and Paul Neves.
“The summit of Mauna Kea is wao akua, a place of Gods,” said KAHEA president Jonathan Osorio in a statement. “It is a sacred place because of the sensitivity of that environment and its influence over all of the environments below it: forests, uplands, streams — everything,” he said.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Fountain grass colonizes young lava flows and creates fire hazards. Photo from NPS |
Gil Robinson, president of the Ocean View Community Association, told West Hawai`i Today reporter Carolyn Lucas-Zenk that the association arranged the unique partnership because the park has staff members who can help HOVE residents get rid of the problematic weeds and maintain areas better. They can also train volunteers, who can then guide others. Robinson said such service projects bring the community together and can cause a ripple effect that amplifies the effectiveness of the effort.
Park ecologist David Benitez told Lucas-Zenk that “the park has been very aggressive in keeping the numbers low in its Kahuku Unit (neighboring Ocean View). However, partnerships like this one in the HOVE community are equally as important.”
Fountain grass is an invasive species that displaces native plants and colonizes young lava flows, creating fire hazards.
See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ IS CO-SPONSORING a number of bills to unlock Hawai`i students’ full potential by expanding early education, providing more counseling and after school opportunities, fostering excellent educators and modernizing schools.
“In order to build a better future for Hawai`i, we must begin with our students,” Schatz said. “We know so much about how to help students achieve their full potential, and the federal government can do more to help states provide the conditions for students’ success. For example, we know that children who have access to early childhood education are much more likely to succeed in school and after they graduate. We also see real classroom results when we give our teachers relevant and timely training. These bills would give states more resources in the areas that really matter so that our kids have greater opportunities to succeed.”
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Free spay and neuter clinics are coming to Ka`u. |
“Birth control for your dog can save many animal lives by preventing an excess of animals from being born in the first place,” said KARES vice president Elaine Anderson. “Our community does have a pet overpopulation problem, which means there are more dogs than the community can care for or can find homes for.
“The most important thing you can do as a pet owner to save more lives is to spay/neuter pets that belong to all your family and friends.”
Contact KARES to make an appointment at 328-8455 or pets@kohalaanimal.org.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
 |
| Wes Thelen Photo from USGS/HVO |
The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, unless the park is closed due to a government shutdown. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.
IN KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, Ka`u varsity girls volleyball team won at home against Kohala 25-17, 25-20 and 25-15, while JV Trojans lost 25-22 and 25-23. Ka`u hosts Waiakea Wednesday at 6 p.m.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES