Ka`u News Briefs Monday, July 7, 2014

Bottoms up. This bull throw's his `okole in the air and the rider onto the ground at yesterday's Fourth of July Rodeo final in Na`alehu.
Photo by Julia Neal

A PLAN TO CREATE THE WORLD’S LARGEST MARINE SANCTUARY in the Central Pacific is getting criticism from fishing industry interests. President Barack Obama is proposing to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, south and west of Hawai`i, from its current 86,888 square miles to 782,000 square miles.

      Gary Kubota, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reports that members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council say expanding the sanctuary would not protect fish and could jeopardize U.S. fishing industries.

      According to Kubota, council members said the areas proposed for expansion are critical to U.S. fisheries, including waters surrounding Palmyra, where Hawai`i fishers catch 12 percent to 15 percent of their fish, including bigeye tuna.

      Kubota also reported that the catch brought in to American Samoa’s fish processing plants could be reduced, forcing U.S. fishing ships to pay foreign governments for fishing rights elsewhere.

      “Further closures make no sense,” said Ed Ebisui, the council’s vice chairman. “It does not serve our national interest."

      Council Chair Arnold Palacios, who also serves as natural resources secretary for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, told Kubota the United States has failed to live up to promises of supporting enforcement of fishing laws enacted when President George W. Bush first established the monument. Palacios said his government already struggles to enforce protection of the current fishing areas.

Pres. Barack Obama proposes expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Map from NOAA

      Council member Ruth Matagi Tofiga, American Samoa marine resource director, said expansion of the no-fishing zone would place a burden on her government. “It’s disheartening,” she said. “Our ocean is our livelihood.”

      Pres. Bush originally established the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in January 2009 under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906. On June 17 of this year, Pres. Obama used his executive powers to propose expanding the marine protected area.       The monument boundaries currently extend 50 nautical miles from the mean low water lines of Howland, Baker, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra Atolls; and Kingman Reef. Under Obama’s plan, the boundaries would expand to the 200-nautical-mile extent of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. The monument is managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior. The remote refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single country’s jurisdiction. 

     They protect many endemic species including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere. Hawai`i conservationists have welcomed Obama’s proposal, calling it a significant step toward protecting diverse habitats, stepping up sustainable fishing practices and preventing large-scale overfishing. The monument includes endemic trees, grasses and birds adapted to life at the Equator; the rare sea turtles and whales and Hawaiian monk seals that visit Johnston Atoll; and high-quality coral reefs. U.S. federal law prohibits resource destruction or extraction, waste dumping and commercial fishing in the monument areas. Research, free passage, and recreation are allowed. See staradvertiser.com.To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Out of the gate, the bull starts to buck as the black-vested paniolo holds on. Photo by Julia Neal 

RODEO IS A FAMILY DAY FOR MANY Hawaiians in Ka`u and those who come from beyond. With many sponsors of the prized belt buckles for winners of the annual Fourth of July event at Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds on Saturday and Sunday, the rodeo drew a big field of competitors and fans.

Rodeo Queen Caliya Silva Kamei
Photo by Julia Neal

     Caliya Silva Kamei was Rodeo Queen for the event. She is the daughter of Cavelle Silva and Clifford Kamei, Jr. who were married on Fourth of July. She is niece to Miss Ka`u Coffee Amery Silva.

     Taking the All-Around Champion title, with buckle sponsored by Hirayama Bros. Electric, Inc., was Keola Loando. Top Bull Rider, with buckle sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Medeiros, was Rey Javar. First in Open Dally Team Roping, with buckle sponsored by Edmund C. Olson Trust II, were Keoni Balucan and Mat Loando.

Family time for horses and paniolo enthusiasts to settle down
after the rodeo, including Ka`u's Christopher Llanes, at right.
  Photo by Julia Neal

     Winners of Kane/Wahine Dally Team Roping, with buckle sponsored by CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union, were Keola Loando and Macey Loando. Winners of Team 90s Dally Team Roping, with buckle sponsored by Waimea Hill Country & Tack, were Les Andrade and Andrew Kauai. First in Junior Dally Team Roping, with buckle sponsored by Pacific Quest, were Evan Manoha and Westin Joseph.
     Top in Double Mugging, with buckle sponsored by Ka`u Andrade Contracting, were Leyi Rita and Wyatt Rita. First in Wahine Mugging with, buckle sponsored by Boonie Medeiros and Rey Javar, were Tati Loando and Shannon Carmichael. Tops in Po`o Wai U, with buckle sponsored by Mark Loando MKL Trucking, was Keola Loando. First in Tie Down Roping, with buckle sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Justin Amaral, was Herman Holland. First in Open Breakaway Roping, with buckle sponsored by Ka`u Girls Softball, was Kahiau Onaka. First in Youth Barrels, with buckle sponsored by Day-Lum Rentals, was Kale Onaka.

Young paniolo Austin Lorenzo rounds up a couple of keiki wahine after the rodeo.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Winner of Dummy Roping – four years old and under, with buckle sponsored by Hana Hou Restaurant, was Blayne DeMattos. First in Dummy Roping – five to eight years of age, with buckle sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou, was Ayden Benevides. Winner of Goat Undercorating – ages four and under, with buckle sponsored by Pahala Pops, was Blayne Demattos. Tops in Goat Undecorating – ages five to eight, with buckle sponsored by Punalu`u Bake Shop, was Kalia Medeiros. Tops in Mutton Busting, with buckle sponsored by Wiki Wiki 76, was Hainoa Kahele.
     The next rodeo is Aug. 23 at Na`alehu, a fundraiser for the Ka`u High School's new eight man football team, which also held a food
fundraiser at last weekend's rodeo.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ROADWAY PAVEMENT RECONSTRUCTION continues on Hwy 11 in the vicinity of Kapapala Ranch to the Ka`u boundary of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Alternating single lane closures in both directions between mile markers 45.6 and 39.5 occur today through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A WALK INTO THE PAST features Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger as Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar. The living history program takes place tomorrow and every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger, back center with top hat, is a member of the cast
of KDEN's Ruddigore, which opens Friday. Photo from KDEN 

RUDDIGORE, OR THE WITCH’S CURSE, Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network’s summer production, also features Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger, as well as his wife, Arlene Araki. Hershberger portrays the 21st Baronet Roderic in the Gilbert & Sullivan operatta, and Araki is a member of the Chorus of Professional Bridesmaids.

      “As with all Gilbert and Sullivan, the plot revolves around duty and doing what is expected of you,” said director Suzi Bond. “This one has ancestors that come to life from paintings on the wall to torture the current Baronet of Ruddigore.”
      Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays from July 11 to 27 at Kilauea Military Camp Theater. Tickets are $15 general, $12 for students and seniors over 60 and $10 for children 12 and under and are available at Kilauea General Store in Volcano, The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo and Kea`au Natural Foods. Reservations can be made by calling 982-7344.
      For more information call this number, email kden73@aol.com, or visit KDEN’s Facebook page.

PEGGY STANTON TEACHES ACRYLIC PAINTING to all levels tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Free for VAC members; $20 for nonmembers.
      For more information, email peggystanton007@yahoo.com.

Richard Perea will talk about his natural farming fig farm at this weekend's
Ka`u Farmers Union United meeting. Photo from Richard Perea

HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED’S KA`U chapter holds its next meeting on Saturday, July 12 at Ka`u Coffeehouse & Guesthouse in Na`alehu at 5 p.m.
      Richard Perea, of Ka`u Natural Farming, presents photos and talks about his fig farm in Ocean View and how he uses natural farming.
      For more information, email Malian Lahey at malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

ULANA LAUHALA IS THE TOPIC Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn to weave a decorative star from leaves of the pandanus tree. Free; park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
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