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| Ka`u Gym & Shelter is one of the largest gyms connected with a public school in the state, with more than 22,000 square feet of hardwood playing floor and designed to withstand a category three hurricane. Photo by Julia Neal |
Specialists are installing some 22,000 feet of maple for the hardwood gymnasium floor, the roofing is nearing completion and the plastered exterior taking on its final beige coloring with green roof and trim. The facility, which will also serve as a disaster shelter, drawing $16.7 million in state and federal funding, has been hardened by filling all of the masonry blocks rather than leaving many of them hollow. It is designed to withstand a category three hurricane. While the new gym and activities rooms will be able to hold more than 1,900 people as a regional disaster shelter, two of the activities rooms, holding a maximum of 317 people will have vog filtration and one of them, holding 192 people will be air-conditioned, according to the plans for the facility.
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| Gold shovels broke ground on Oct. 3, 2012 for the Ka`u Gym & Shelter. Photo by Julia Neal |
Groundbreaking was held Oct. 3, 2012, with Gov. Neil Abercrombie and other state and county officials on hand, including the late Bob Herkes who served for many years representing Ka`u and Volcano in the Hawai`i State Legislature. The County Council and county administration are considering naming the shelter for Herkes, who lobbied for the gym and many health related initiatives in Ka`u. The gym is slated to be named for former principal Laurence Capellas, who was known for starting many of the athletic programs in Ka`u, from eight-man football to building the swimming pool.
Kamehameha School volleyball coach and former County Council member Guy Enriques, along with Principal Sharon Beck, lobbied for the new gym during his council term. He said yesterday that he looks forward to the gym’s completion and plans to help organize volleyball tournaments to draw athletes to Ka`u from around the island, state and beyond. A possible economic contributor to Ka`u’s economy, the gym will seat some 1,000 people and will be set up to be available for concerts, festivals and other activities. It will also expand and improve the ability for the school’s athletic department to host games on regulation size playing courts. Its size will accommodate multiple courts for basketball, volleyball and other sports, while the current gym, built in the 1930s will remain available for play.
Kamehameha School volleyball coach and former County Council member Guy Enriques, along with Principal Sharon Beck, lobbied for the new gym during his council term. He said yesterday that he looks forward to the gym’s completion and plans to help organize volleyball tournaments to draw athletes to Ka`u from around the island, state and beyond. A possible economic contributor to Ka`u’s economy, the gym will seat some 1,000 people and will be set up to be available for concerts, festivals and other activities. It will also expand and improve the ability for the school’s athletic department to host games on regulation size playing courts. Its size will accommodate multiple courts for basketball, volleyball and other sports, while the current gym, built in the 1930s will remain available for play.
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| Artist studios in Volcano Village are open today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Participating artists are: Eric Wold with high fired functional pottery, stoneware and porcelain jewelry; Pam Barton with fiber work; Zeke Israel with raku, jewelry and cards; Randy Sutton with raku; Norman Carby with jewelry, giclee prints and cards; Ira Ono with fine arts and gifts; Elizabeth Miller with metal repousse', prints, paintings and sculpture; Tim Freeman with pit-fired volcano landscape vessels; Margaret Barnaby with woodblock prints; Lisa Louise Adams with quilts, paintings, pottery and books; Mike and Misato Mortara with hand blown art glass; Nash Adams-Pruitt with lampworked glass and ceramics; Mary Goodrich with photographs; Cynee Gillette-Wenner with ethnic textiles clothing and accessories; Scott Mitchell with antique, ethnic and contemporary jewelry; Emily Herb with pottery and sculptural clay vessels and Debra Serrao with paintings, prints and cards.
COUNCIL WOMAN ELECT MAILE MEDEIROS DAVID will be sworn in to represent Ka`u, Volcano and South Kona on Monday at noon in Hilo at the Ah Fook Chinen Civic Auditorium. Mayor Billy Kenoi will be keynote speaker. The public is invited. David grew up in a South Kona coffee growing family and said she will visit with coffee farmers in Ka`u to discuss their future after she takes office next week. She has worked on land preservation along the coast in Kona, helping with the establishment of beach parks and protection of fishponds and other native Hawaiian cultural sites.
COUNCIL WOMAN ELECT MAILE MEDEIROS DAVID will be sworn in to represent Ka`u, Volcano and South Kona on Monday at noon in Hilo at the Ah Fook Chinen Civic Auditorium. Mayor Billy Kenoi will be keynote speaker. The public is invited. David grew up in a South Kona coffee growing family and said she will visit with coffee farmers in Ka`u to discuss their future after she takes office next week. She has worked on land preservation along the coast in Kona, helping with the establishment of beach parks and protection of fishponds and other native Hawaiian cultural sites.
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| The floating lantern ceremony takes place today at Punalu`u from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE FLOATING LANTERN CEREMONY to remember loved ones who have passed away is from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at Punalu`u Beach Park. The public is invited to decorate floating lanterns that are released into the waters of Punalu`u. Meet at the Punalu`u Beach Park pavilions. The ceremony has been sponsored by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. since 2011.
A CRECHE FESTIVAL with more than 100 nativity scenes from around the world, opens its doors for everyone today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also on Sunday at the Na`alehu Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. The Ka`u Ward hosts this second annual islandwide event at the Mormon Church at 95-5682 Mamalahoa Hwy. The crèche festival also offers live instrumental and choir music and activities for children. For more information, call 895-0491.
A CRECHE FESTIVAL with more than 100 nativity scenes from around the world, opens its doors for everyone today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also on Sunday at the Na`alehu Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. The Ka`u Ward hosts this second annual islandwide event at the Mormon Church at 95-5682 Mamalahoa Hwy. The crèche festival also offers live instrumental and choir music and activities for children. For more information, call 895-0491.
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| Hana Hou Christmas with a sitting with Santa is this Thursday in Na`alehu. Photo by Tamryn Fyvie |
THE ANNUAL HANA HOU KEIKI CHRISTMAS is Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Hana Hou restaurant in Na`alehu. The annual event, sponsored by Drake and Patty Fujimoto with volunteers from O Ka`u Kakou and donations from many businesses and community members, features a visit with Santa, a feast for all and gifts for the keiki. It begins at 4 p.m.
THE KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING & DINNER is next Thursday, Dec. 4 at Gilligan’s Restaurant in Discovery Harbour at 6 p.m. Dinner is $15 a person for pizza or spaghetti, salad and dessert. Beverages include beer, wine or soda. Money will be collected at the door. The public is invited to learn more abut The Chamber, which publishes The Directory for Ka‘u, provides scholarships for students from Ka‘u, hosts the annual art contest and selection for The Directory cover at CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in Na‘alehu, and assists in funding Ka‘u Food Pantry. Memberships with a listing in The Directory are $35 and will be accepted at the meeting.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY with unique holiday wreaths for sale at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues through Sunday, Jan. 4 . Handmade ornaments by local artists, artist demonstrations, book signings are features. See volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
