Ka`u News Briefs Monday, May 12, 2014

The 1924 explosive eruption of Kilauea is the topic at tomorrow's After Dark in the Park program. Photo from NPS

KA`U COFFEE COLLEGE brought in coffee experts to Pahala yesterday. They encouraged farmers and marketers to continue building the Ka`u Coffee brand as distinguished from other regions and particularly from coffee that is blended with coffee from elsewhere.

Blake Hanacek

      Blake Hanacek, of Vancouver, Canada, said that Canada is a fast-growing consumer market for specialty coffee, with Vancouver being the center, quickly becoming the kind of specialty coffee hub that one sees in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. He said that people are looking for coffee from special places and that Ka`u is more of the kind of place they look for when they think of coffee origins. He talked about the qualities of the place, the longest uninhabited coastline in the state and the unexpected small coffee farms up dirt roads and along walking paths in the mountains. He talked about the farmers and the interest the public has in connecting the coffee they drink with the story of the farmer. He said that Ka`u is an attractive place for coffee origin tours.

      Hanacek also talked about the need to bring young people into the coffee business. He said that increasingly in Vancouver, it is the younger people who are opening up the specialty coffee shops and that many young people are attracted to careers where they can be entrepreneurial and also creative. The same could happen with running Ka`u Coffee farms. Gloria Camba, President of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative, said that the co-op is starting to attract younger members since the industry is starting to show that coffee farmers and marketers can make a good living with Ka`u Coffee.
      Hanacek is a roaster and cafe owner. He is also an expert in sustainable business, with a master’s degree in watershed management. He is a co-founder of Agricultural Growers Resource Organization Developing Economic Viability. He campaigns to improve environmental and social conditions in the coffee industry and voices support for the small farmer movement.
      See more on the Ka`u Coffee College in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
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Ka`u's state Rep. Richard Creagan, at right, joined Ka`u Learning Academy Founding
Board members Kathryn Tydlacka and Joe Iacuzzo at the meeting where the
Department of Education granted approval of the charter school. 

KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY HAS RECEIVED APPROVAL to open its charter school. On May 8, Hawai`i State Public Charter School Commission found it to be the only applicant for a charter that meets newly instituted standards set out in state law governing charter schools. At the meeting, Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Creagan expressed strong support for KLA and its goals. 

      Ka`u Learning Academy was established by Kathryn Tydlacka, who taught at Na`alehu Elementary School. Tydlacka is executive director and a member of the school’s Founding Board of Directors. During her nearly 20 years as an educator, she has specialized in working with children from lower socio-economic areas. 

      Ka`u Learning Academy will open in August 2015 and offer grades four through six during its first year. It will expand to grades kindergarten through eight over the following four years and anticipates campuses in Na`alehu and Ocean View. The exact location of the initial campus has not yet been formalized.
      Founding Board member Joe Iacuzzo said KLA will provide a strong academic curriculum along with arts and culture programs and that its goal is to prepare students for college and careers.
      As a public charter school, all students are welcome with no tuition. The curriculum will be “a rigorous academic schedule based on a ‘blended learning’ model that incorporates classroom and computer-based learning,” Iacuzzo said.
      For more information, see kaulearning.com.

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DR. TYRONE HAYES, A PROFESSOR at University of California at Berkeley, comes to Hawai`i Island to tell his findings from 15 years of research on atrazine and his struggle with Syngenta Corporation, maker of the herbicide. His story was recently featured in the New Yorker magazine. 

      Hayes is an advocate for the critical review and regulation of pesticides and chemicals that cause adverse health effects in communities. He says atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicide in America, is a disruptor of the endocrine system, emasculating male frogs and transforming them into fully functioning reproductive females. He has been published in peer-review journals since the 1990s. 

      The free event at UH-Hilo’s Science & Technology Building, Room 108 on Monday, May 19 begins at 6 p.m. with refreshments and an opportunity to meet Hayes. A question-and-answer period follows his presentation.
      Also, Paul Towers, from Pesticide Action Network, presents an overview of pesticide use nationally and internationally and the significant role Hawai`i plays in open-air pesticide experimentation.
      Hayes also speaks on Tuesday, May 20 at Kona Island Naturals’ upstairs meeting room from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
      See the New Yorker article at newyorker.com/reporting/2014/02/10/140210fa_fact_aviv?currentPage=all.
      For more information, email gmofreehawaiiisland@gmail.com.

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

“IT’S TIME TO PUT YOUR FEET TO THE FLOOR and start training for the Volcano Rain Forest Runs,” said race director Sharron Faff. “Whether you’re running or walking in the Half Marathon, 10K or 5K, it’s time to give those legs a shake and start exercising.”
      Volcano Rain Forest Runs are set for Saturday, Aug. 16. The Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m., 10K at 7:45 a.m., 5K at 8 a.m. and the kids’ runs at 10 a.m.

Volcano Rain Forest Runs director Sharron Faff.

      Keiki can register in the free 100- or 200-yard dash (1-4 year olds for the 100-yard dash; 5-7 for the 200-yard dash), sponsored by Kilauea Lodge. Start/Finish for all events is at Cooper Center in Volcano Village on Wright Road.
      Awards go to the first, second and third place male and female winners in all three races, plus top two male and female for 10-year age divisions in all races.
      Entertainment, face painting, animal balloons, health and fitness booths, food booths and a silent auction await at Cooper Center finish line. The Hiccup Circus will amaze and thrill the audience. “Be one of the participants in the races or part of the cheering crowd welcoming the athletes across the finish line,” Faff said.
      The Dine & Dash Pasta Party on Friday night, Aug, 15 is open to the public as well as race participants, raising money for the Friends Feeding Friends program at Cooper Center.
      To register or volunteer, see volcanorainforestruns.com or call Faff at 967-8240.

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

POSTERS CREATED BY PAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL students are on display at Pahala Public & School Library through May 18 during the 59th annual Big Island Children’s Book Week sponsored by Hawai`i State Public Library System. The students entered state library system’s Book Week poster contest, doing artwork based on a book that they have read.
     Winners are as follows:
Kindergarten – First place: Isaiah Manila-Louis. Honorable Mentions: Kaden Libunao-Martinez, Krystal Keka-Velenzuela Eder and Chassis Kaleohano.

• First grade – First Place: Kalino Judalena. Honorable Mentions: Cheska Aurelio, Raymond Perry and Jestin Penera. 
• Second Grade – First Place: Erianne Abibilla. Honorable Mentions: Ocean Nihipali-Sesson, Korina Kailiawa-Escobar and Leeroy Koi. 
• Third Grade – First Place: Emman Badua. Honorable Mentions: Marcky Tamayo, Ciara Ortega and Shanialee Silva. 
• Fourth Grade – First Place: Micah Espejo. Honorable Mentions: David Ramos, Zechariah Leialoha-Puentes and Cherrisse Althea Calumpit. 
• Fifth Grade – First Place: Arniel Libuanao, Jr. Honorable Mentions: Rebecca Kailiawa-Escobar, Clarence Travis Cabrera and Elysa Abellera. 
• Sixth Grade – First Place: Sarah Kailiawa-Escobar. Honorable Mentions: Kiara Kailiawa and Alohi Kaupu-Grace.

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

Ti leaf kupe`e is worn as an adornment by hula dancers. Photo from NPS

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY GEOLOGIST Don Swanson and volunteer Ben Gaddis discuss the 1924 explosive eruption of Kilauea and how it stacks up against much larger eruptions of the past and, probably, the future at After Dark in the Park. The free program tomorrow begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply, and $2 donations support After Dark programs. 

TEANA KAHOOHANOHANO SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE and love of native hula adornments during a ti leaf kupe`e demonstration Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD’S office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. For more information, call 987-5698.

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