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| Ka`u Red Hat Ladies and Ka Lae Quilters celebrated ten years of fundraising for Ka`u Hospital yesterday, with the latest effort providing $12,500 for the emergency room. Photo by Julia Neal |
KA`U COFFEE FARMERS BEWARE of another pest from Kona. The latest is the emaravirus that turned some Kona Coffee berries into raisins and made them unmarketable. In January, a coffee farmer in the Captain Cook area of South Kona sent Coffea arabica leaf samples to Dr. Scot Nelson, plant pathologist with UH-CTAHR.
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| Emaravirus on coffee leaves. Photo by Scot Nelson |
Andrea Kawabata, Hawai`i County agent, UH-CTAHR, and Dr. Michael Melzer, a plant pathologist, UH-CTAHR, visited the farm in February and learned that the grower first noticed that no cherries could be harvested from these plants and that leaves were covered with circular lesions about five millimeters in diameter. Berries had turned to “raisins,” but Melzer and Kawabata surmised that coffee pickers did not harvest the berries because the berries were small or deformed. The coffee farmer had two locations at the farm with affected plants, and Melzer and Kawabata could see some symptomatic plants across a fence at the neighboring coffee farm.
Emaraviruses are transmitted by eriophyid mites, which can disperse on wind currents. If this virus is the causal agent, it has the potential to move through a field rather quickly. A statement from Meltzer and Kawabata says, “We doubt the disease will kill any coffee trees, but if it makes the berries unmarketable, the tree essentially becomes an ornamental plant only.”
Citizen scientists are encouraged to help determine the geographic range of the symptoms. Contact Nelson at snelson@hawaii.edu. The farmer has destroyed the symptomatic trees at the reporting farm. Neem oil may be the most effective miticide registered for application to coffee in Hawai`i, according to CTAHR.
The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture has been contacted and expressed interest in survey, risk assessment and eradication of diseased plants, the CTAHR statement said.
Citizen scientists are encouraged to help determine the geographic range of the symptoms. Contact Nelson at snelson@hawaii.edu. The farmer has destroyed the symptomatic trees at the reporting farm. Neem oil may be the most effective miticide registered for application to coffee in Hawai`i, according to CTAHR.
The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture has been contacted and expressed interest in survey, risk assessment and eradication of diseased plants, the CTAHR statement said.
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| Dennis Kamakahi shares his music with a free concert each November as part of the annual Kahumoku workshop at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
DENNIS KAMAKAHI’S SPIRITUALITY and faith are front and center as he shares his journey through lung cancer treatment with the community on Facebook. Within two hours of Kamakahi giving this morning’s update on Facebook from his room in Queen’s Hospital, almost 300 people liked and sent him uplifting messages. Kamakahi is a Christian minister.
Kamakahi, the composer of more than 500 songs and master of slack key guitar, music composition and harmonica, spends a week each November in Pahala, where he teaches local youth on scholarships and adults from around the world and provides the community with a free concert with his friends George and Keoki Kahumoku, Sonny Lim, John and Hope Keawe and many more. He says each year when he is here that his long-term plan is to move to Ka`u, where his wife grew up, and that he plans to set up a recording studio.
Many of Kamakahi’s songs are standards of Hawaiian music. He composed Wahine `Ilikea, Pua Hone and Koke`e. He earns Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and brought home three Grammy awards. Formerly one of The Sons of Hawai`i, Kamakahi has a Hawai`i Music Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. Kamakahi is the first modern Hawaiian music composer with his six-string slack key guitar, albums, sheet music and personal photographs welcomed into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s permanent collection. His music is featured in films, including Lilo & Stitch 2 and the Oscar-nominated soundtrack from The Descendants.
Many of Kamakahi’s songs are standards of Hawaiian music. He composed Wahine `Ilikea, Pua Hone and Koke`e. He earns Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and brought home three Grammy awards. Formerly one of The Sons of Hawai`i, Kamakahi has a Hawai`i Music Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. Kamakahi is the first modern Hawaiian music composer with his six-string slack key guitar, albums, sheet music and personal photographs welcomed into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s permanent collection. His music is featured in films, including Lilo & Stitch 2 and the Oscar-nominated soundtrack from The Descendants.
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| After a teaching session at the Kahumoku workshop, Dennis Kamakahi shares his guitar signatures at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
Kamahaki’s son David said,
“Our dad is a man of tremendous faith. We continue to pray for his full recovery and ask others to do the same. We are daily witnesses to how the kindness and concern of friends, family and fans give him strength in his battle. We are humbled and endlessly grateful by the outpouring of support from fans around the world."
Kamakahi announced his diagnosis last week on Facebook. George Kahumoku, Jr. has organized a five-day prayer vigil and fast.
Robin Gomes, son of musicians Phoebe and Bobby Gomes in Pahala, posted: “God gave us all talents and purpose, not for us to keep, but to share and help others. There’s a purpose in this journey you’ve been called upon. You are touching many lives. Continue to inspire us, Hawaiian.”
Kamakahi announced his diagnosis last week on Facebook. George Kahumoku, Jr. has organized a five-day prayer vigil and fast.
Robin Gomes, son of musicians Phoebe and Bobby Gomes in Pahala, posted: “God gave us all talents and purpose, not for us to keep, but to share and help others. There’s a purpose in this journey you’ve been called upon. You are touching many lives. Continue to inspire us, Hawaiian.”
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT met with approximately 30 Ka`u residents yesterday. Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira led the meeting, with Ka`u Captain Burt Shimabukuro, Ka`u police and other officers from Area II Operations Bureau on hand to answer questions from the public.
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| Ka`u Police Captain Burt Shimabukuro Photo by Ron Johnson |
Ferreira and other officers stressed the importance of community policing, acknowledging that “we need the community’s help.” He said he wants to prevent crime by working together as a group, being proactive and having officers out in the field.
See more on the meeting in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
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A $12,500 CHECK TO KA`U HOSPITAL came from the Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u and Ka Lae Quilters at a presentation yesterday to Ka`u Hospital. Over the past decade the two community groups have raised over $100,000 for the hospital, in particular for equipment for the emergency room. “Anyone looking at the technology in the ER can see the work of these volunteers,” said Ka`u Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris.
Queen Bee of the Hatters, Barbara Beatty, said the group plans to take a break from the fundraising after many years of work and invites new volunteers to help out with the work of supporting the local hospital. Her phone number is 929-9072.
Ron Ebert, of `O Ka`u Kakou, said that OKK is willing to take over for the Red Hats and Ka Lae Quilters. Also raising money for the ER is a group of golfers who presented a check for $1,400 and has raised over $50,000 in the last six years.
Ka`u Hospital medical director and ER physician Cliff Fields also thanked the volunteers.
Ron Ebert, of `O Ka`u Kakou, said that OKK is willing to take over for the Red Hats and Ka Lae Quilters. Also raising money for the ER is a group of golfers who presented a check for $1,400 and has raised over $50,000 in the last six years.
Ka`u Hospital medical director and ER physician Cliff Fields also thanked the volunteers.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U AG WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Orchards field office in Pahala. For information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.
SUMMER FUN FUNDRAISING DINNER pick-up is Friday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Dinners include teri-beef, rice, corn and bread for $7. Call 928-3102.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL STANDOUT Toni Beck has accepted a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Briar Cliff University. Beck signed a letter of intent and will join head coach Trevor Schirman’s Chargers in Iowa next fall, where she plans to pursue a nursing degree.
Pilipa`a 18 Club coach Chris Leonard was instrumental in helping Toni receive a scholarship. Leonard played with Schirman while at Punahou and coaches Beck with Pilipa`a 18.
“We congratulate Toni on her scholarship,” said Ka`u High athletic director Kalei Namohala. “We know she will be a valuable asset to her new team. She will become a Charger, but her roots will always be with our Ka`u Trojans. We wish her well with her future endeavors.”
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| Toni Beck, seated, with Ka`u High A.D. Kalei Namohala;Sharon, Jami and James Beck; and Pilipa`a coachChris Leonard. Photo from KHPES |
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| Curious Colt, by Christina Shirley, won a People's Choice award last year's Hawai`i Photo Expo. Photo from Hawai`i Photo Expo |
KA`U VARSITY WAHINE SOFTBALL fell to the Kohala Cowgirls yesterday at Pahala ball field. Score was 2-24. Next game for the Wahine Trojans is on Friday, Mar. 21 at Pahoa at 3:30 p.m.
DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is accepting items for a rummage sale to benefit its volunteer fire department today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The rummage sale takes place Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale also features hot dog lunches for $5 on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Proceeds go toward the purchase of supplies not provided by the county.
HAWAI`I ANT LAB PERSONNEL PROVIDE information about little fire ants and discuss methods of control during a community meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is accepting items for a rummage sale to benefit its volunteer fire department today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The rummage sale takes place Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale also features hot dog lunches for $5 on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Proceeds go toward the purchase of supplies not provided by the county.
HAWAI`I ANT LAB PERSONNEL PROVIDE information about little fire ants and discuss methods of control during a community meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
TOMORROW AT 9 A.M. IS THE DEADLINE TO ENTER the 2014 Hawai`i Photo Expo, the state’s premier photo contest, with categories for beginners, enthusiasts and masters. See hawaiiphotoexpo.com.
KA`U AG WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Orchards field office in Pahala. For information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.
SUMMER FUN FUNDRAISING DINNER pick-up is Friday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Dinners include teri-beef, rice, corn and bread for $7. Call 928-3102.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
