Saturday, November 15, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014

Landmarks threatened by lava in Pahoa are clear in this photo from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL CONSIDERS two resolutions relating to Ka`u at its meeting on Wednesday beginning at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Council member Brenda Ford introduced both of them.
      Resolution 566-14 urges the county Department of Parks and Recreation to create a plaque for the new gymnasium and shelters honoring Rep. Bob Herkes and Principal Laurence Capellas, Sr.
Laurence Capellas, Sr.
Bob Herkes
     More than 20 Ka`u residents and former residents attended a meeting of the Council’s Committee on Public Works & Parks and Recreation on Thursday, Nov. 6 to support naming the facility after the two community leaders. Herkes worked on many issues, including public health, safety and welfare of the people of Ka`u. Capellas promoted education and sports activities for the children of Ka`u.
      Resolution 590-14 would provide a grant to `O Ka`u Kakou for installation of a kiosk at Na`alehu Park developed by the Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee. The resolution calls for transferring $4,300 out and from the Clerk-Council Services Contingency Relief account for District Six and crediting the same to the Department of Parks & Recreation, Parks and Recreation Administration.
      The kiosk will provide information to travelers about services available in the area including businesses, churches and recreation as well as history about Na`alehu Park.
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KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in next week’s county government meetings at West Hawai`i Civic Center via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center. Committees meet Tuesday. Governmental Relations & Economic Development meets at 9 a.m.; Public Works & Parks and Recreation, 10:30 a.m.; Finance, 10:45 a.m.; Human Services & Social Services, 11:45 a.m.: and Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability, 1:45 p.m.
      The Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability Committee considers Bill 318, which would establish provisions for protection of marine life that is harvested with the intent to sell for aquarium use. Protections include prohibiting withholding food from aquarium life for more than 24 hours, requiring ample water supply when transporting aquarium life and prohibiting transport of aquarium life in a manner that is likely to cause injury or death.
      Any person violating these provisions would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both.
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Wilbert Holck, second from left, is new executive director of HSTA.
WILBERT HOLCK HAS REJOINED Hawai`i State Teachers Association as its new executive director. Holck will be in charge of overseeing HSTA’s operations to ensure the organization is executing and fulfilling the mandates and direction of the HSTA board of directors. 
      “We are pleased to welcome Wilbert back to the HSTA,” said Wil Okabe, HSTA president. “His extensive union experience, political partnerships, community involvement and teaching background makes him a perfect fit as executive director. And we know he will represent our members well.”
      Holck returns to the union from the Hawai`i Government Employees Association, where he served as the deputy executive director of field services. Prior to joining HGEA, Holck was deputy executive director and previously a UniServ director for HSTA, where he gained 24 years of union experience. Holck was also a teacher at Kaiser High School previous to working at HSTA.
      “Wilbert has proven that he is the best candidate for this job,” said Al Nagasako, current HSTA executive director. “Having worked with him as my deputy executive director, I am confident that he will succeed in supporting our teachers and enhancing public school education for our students.”
      Nagasako will remain with the HSTA through Jan. 5, 2015 during a transition period.
      “I am honored to be back at the HSTA, where I called home for nearly 25 years,” said Holck. “Starting out as a teacher, it is nice to come full circle and be able to serve fellow members and advocate for quality education in Hawai`i.”
      Holck’s appointment was approved by the HSTA board of directors on Oct. 25. His first day as executive director was Nov. 12, 2014.
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Most of the earthquakes near Ka`u during the last two weeks have been small.
WHILE MOST OF THE EARTHQUAKES in the Ka`u area over the last two weeks have been small, a 3.5 magnitude earthquake struck south of Volcano yesterday at 9:06 p.m. The most recent one, with a magnitude of 2.3, occurred at 10:55 this morning near Ho`okena in South Kona.
      For more information and to report feeling an earthquake, see hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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BREAKOUT ACTIVITY CONTINUES IN AREAS upslope of the leading edge of the lava flow in Pahoa, report county Civil Defense and scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The closest active lava to Pahoa Village Road is approximately 0.4 miles upslope of Pahoa Village Road, near the Pahoa cemetery.
      While the flow margin that covered some pavement at the transfer station remains stalled, two tiny surface flows are active near the fence. Another lobe of the lava farther upslope of the transfer station remains active and is approximately 200 yards above Apa`a Street. This lobe has widened over the past two days. In addition, scattered breakouts persist up to 1.7 miles upslope of Cemetery Road/Apa`a Street.
      HVO geologists also observed an active breakout roughly three miles downslope from Pu`u `O`o that was burning a small area of vegetation yesterday.
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Malie Ibarra, next to her Angel Fish at Wailoa Center in Hilo,
 won first place in the Youth Kahakai of Hawai`i Nei.
Photo from Tanya Ibarra
PAHALA RESIDENT MALIE IBARRA won first place in the Youth Kahakai division of the current Hawai`i Nei art exhibit at Wailoa Center in Hilo. Her Angel Fish is on display through Dec. 18. 
      Tanya Ibarra, of Pahala, has two pieces in the show, Naupaka Dreams and Baby Honu. Volcano artists include Lanaya Deily, Ira Ono, Mary Goodrich, Caren Loebel-Fried, Charlene Asato, Emily Herb, Elizabeth Miller, Margaret Barnaby and Lisa Louise Adams. Barnaby won first place in the Professional 2D division, Miller took first in Professional 3D, and Caren Loebel-Fried placed first in `Akiapola`au Professional.
      Hawai`i Nei is an annual juried art exhibition featuring native species. This community-geared event is open to all residents of the Island of Hawai`i. Children and adults are encouraged to submit works of art featuring the plants and animals native to the island. The event seeks to raise awareness of Hawai`iʻs unique environment and increase participation in the arts. A portion of the proceeds generated by art sales during the exhibition go toward funding native species protection and management as well as environmental education programs.
      Hawai`i Nei is a collaboration of several organization. Three Mountain Alliance is a watershed coalition working across private, state and federal lands to sustainably manage over one million acres for natural and cultural resources. The Natural Area Reserves System and the `Alala Project are both programs within the state Department of Land & Natural Resources working to protect the best of Hawai`i’s native ecosystems and species like the rare Hawaiian raven, the `alala. The Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center serves East Hawai‘i as a center of culture, arts, and information.
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THIS MONTH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY of the International Space Station first manned in 1998, reports astronomer Lew Cook in his current article in The Ka`u Calendar. “It has been occupied continuously ever since,” Cook says. “As I mentioned last month, you can get lists of the visible passes from NASA. If interested, see http://spotthestation.nasa.gov, click on Sightings, then follow the prompts to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. You can also sign up for email notices of ISS passes over your area.”

Ka`u residents can learn about Pu`u o Lokuana at Kahuku tomorrow.
Photo from NPS
A FREE HAWAIIAN CONCERT for the community, sponsored by the Center for Hawaiian Music Studies, continues today until 4 p.m. with Keoki Kahumoku, Sonny Lim, James Hill, Ben Ka`ili, Peter deAquino, Brad Bordessa, Abrigo `Ohana, Katy Rexford, Rion Schmidt, Andy Andrews, Debbie Ryder and more. Donations accepted. 

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK offers a free hike tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. The moderately difficult, one-hour, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana features its formation and various uses over time, plus a breathtaking view of lower Ka`u.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY BEGINS next Saturday at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Handmade ornaments, wreaths and other pieces spark visitors’ “inner elves.” A members-only party and reception takes place Friday, Nov. 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
      The gallery is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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