Thursday, March 13, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, March 13, 2014

Members of the public interested in Ka`u's agricultural future are invited to Ka`u Farm Bureau's annual meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.

“WE SHOULD NOT REGULATE THE CONTENT OF SPEECH, but we may regulate the manner of speech,” is the guideline Hawai`i County clerk Stewart Maeda and corporation counsel Lincoln Ashida gave County Council members in a memo after vice chair Karen Eoff stopped two testifiers short of their allotted time during a council meeting last month. 
Karen Eoff
      Nancy Cook Lauer, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reports that when the testifiers mentioned specific council members, Eoff asked them to address their comments to her as council chair.
      “This is a reminder that the public has a right to criticize specific council member(s), so long as the public testimony is related to an agenda item,” the memo says.
      Cook Lauer reports that Eoff, who requested the advice, was bowing to pressure from other council members when she cut Jim Albertini off. Albertini was testifying in regards to genetically modified organisms and presented council member Dennis “Fresh” Onishi with a T-shirt saying, “M&M – Monsanto & Me.”
      After interrupting another testifier who mentioned specific council members, Eoff called for a recess, consulted with Ashida and then let the testifier continue.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THERE WERE NO FISHING OR HUNTING VIOLATIONS on state land, said Department of Land and Natural Resources spokeswoman Deborah Ward regarding American Jungle, a TV series that was partly shot in Ka`u and aired eight episodes filmed on Hawai`i Island.
American Jungle featured hunters on Hawai`i Island.
Photo from The History Channel
      Ward’s comments, reported in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, are based on a preliminary investigation conducted after DLNR issued a statement saying the show misrepresents 
hunting in Hawai`i. The statement said DLNR finds the series’ depiction of hunting activities “to be inaccurate, offensive, and in some cases, potentially illegal.” Activities such as night hunting depicted in the show, both on public and private land, are illegal. 
      Ward said she was still checking on allegations of hunting taking place at night.
      Gary T. Kubota reports Ward saying that no hunting was involved in capturing pigs used in the show because, according to American Jungle, the pigs were purchased.
      State Film Commissioner Donne Dawson told Kubota that if American Jungle continues filming more episodes, the state plans to have “productive conversations” with History Channel producers and that officials with the show and the History Channel “have been put on notice about playing by the rules and following protocols for filming in Hawai`i.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Hawai`i State Sen. Will Espero
THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY will be represented by state Sen. Will Espero at three Washington, D.C. events this week. Espero will be guest panelist in a Filipino Town Hall, attend a White House briefing on Asia Pacific issues and join other Filipino leaders at a reception in their honor. 
      “As a Filipino American, I am proud to be able to continue to represent my heritage and advocate for the Filipino community in Hawai`i. National events such as these ensure that we continue to address the needs of minority communities, including Filipino Americans, as they evolve,” said Espero.
      Invited by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the White House Office of Public Engagement, the senator and other Filipino American leaders will receive updates on Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts, immigration reform, implementation of the Affordable Care Act and small business resources, while discussing community plans of action, said a statement from his office.
      Filipino Americans for Progress will host Espero as a panelist at the Filipino American Nation Town Hall. He will also attend the Filipino American Community Reception in honor of Filipino American elected officials. He and other U.S. elected officials will be recognized for being champions for the needs of Filipino American, Asian American and minority communities. Espero will be honored for his leadership in the Hawai`i state Senate.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U SCENIC BYWAY COMMITTEE met Monday and announced that it supports the goals and missions of Ho`omalu Ka`u, which is planning to build the Heritage Center of Ka`u on a lot near Manuka State Reserve. “There are strong links with the Byway program,” said committee chair Dennis Elwell.
      The committee also decided to focus on placement of kiosks to provide information to travelers on their visits to Ka`u. Each kiosk would cost about $5,000, and the committee hopes to receive some funding through the County Council.
      An upcoming article in AAA Magazine on Hawai`i’s Byways will feature photos by Ka`u photographer Peter Anderson.
      Richard Morrow is taking over as chair of the committee, allowing Elwell to care for his ailing wife, Marge.
      The Byway Committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 7 at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church Hall.
      For information about Ka`u Scenic Byway, see hawaiiscenicbyways.org and click on Slopes of Mauna Loa.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u science teachers can learn from Dr. Marv Lang how to create fun with science.
Photo from Shaun Chillingworth
KA`U SCIENCE TEACHERS ARE INVITED to a hands-on chemical demonstration workshop at Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i campus in Kea`au, when two nationally recognized professors from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point show how teachers can create fun with science. 
      Dr. Marv Lang and Dr. Donald Showalter have both been awarded the American Chemical Society Helen M. Free award for public education. They have been featured on television programs like Newton’s Apple and the World of Chemistry.
      The workshop is a fun, engaging professional development opportunity and a chance for teachers to network with one another, said teacher Joel Truesdell. “Our goal is to create a larger network of science teachers here on Hawai`i island so that we can continue to collaborate and idea share throughout the year.”
      The workshop takes place Saturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Keawe Dining Hall. All attendees receive a handbook of demonstrations that are good for all ages.
      Interested teachers should email jotruesd@ksbe.edu or call 808-220-9539 to register. The workshop is limited to 30 participants.

State Ag Department chief
Scott Enright
FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND THE PUBLIC with interest in Ka`u’s agricultural future are invited to attend Ka`u Farm Bureau’s annual meeting tomorrow at Pahala Community Center at 6 p.m. Membership in the Farm Bureau is not required. The meeting is a potluck event. 
      State Agriculture Department chief Scott Enright and county Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth will speak at the event. 
      Election of officers for the rest of the 2014 term, which ends Aug. 31, will also take place.
      For more information, call current Ka`u Farm Bureau president Chris Manfredi at 929-9550.

AKAUNU HULA ENSEMBLE with Kumu Hula Manaiakalani Kalua presents a hula kahiko informance Saturday at 10:30 a.m. on the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Shadow Man, by Greg Ruhland, won first place in the Beginners'
Division at last year's Hawai`i Photo Expo.
DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS FOR HAWAI`I PHOTO EXPO 2014 are due this Sunday, March 16. The expo takes place at Wailoa Center in Hilo from June 7 to June 25. 
      See hawaiiphotoexpo.com for fees, prizes, rules and entry forms.

HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD a community meeting at noon on Tuesday, March 18, at Na`alehu Community Center. Ka`u residents are invited to meet the Police Department’s command staff and to discuss concerns with the police chief and commanders who oversee police operations in Ka`u.
      Those interested in participating but unable to attend may call Captain Burt Shimabukuro at 939-2520, stop by the Ka`u Police Station in Na`alehu or e-mail their concerns or comments to copsysop@hawaiipolice.com.

LITTLE FIRE ANTS ARE THE SUBJECT of a community meeting on Wednesday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Hawai`i Ant Lab personnel will provide information about the ants and discuss methods of control.

SEE THE MARCH ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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