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Friday, October 10, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Oct. 10, 2014

If Ka`u High Trojans beat the Kohala Cowboys tomorrow during the final regular-season game, they will be BIIF eight-man football team champions. They opened the season with a home-game win playing Cowboys Aug. 30.
Photo by Cheyenne Dacalio, Ka`u High Journalism Intern
WHILE HAWAI`I NEWS NOW REPORTED this morning that U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said the National Park Service has agreed to have the Kalapana-to-Ka`u route, Chain of Craters Road, rebuilt as a two-lane road, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Public Affairs Specialist Jessica Ferracane told The Ka`u Calendar that officials continue to work on details of the project. “A lot has to happen for the 28-foot road to happen; right now we have approval for an 18-foot road,” which would accommodate only one lane, she said.
      According to Hawai`i News Now, Gabbard said officials told her this morning that “due to new information related to design, construction and anticipated use, they were re-evaluating the road layout and dimensions. Gabbard reports they said they understood the purpose of the road had changed from short-term evacuation to longer-term recurring use and access for a fewer numbers of vehicles than previously anticipated.
Officials continue to work out details on reopening Chain of Craters Road.
Photo from NPS
      “Gabbard says as a result, NPS agreed to complete a new environmental analysis to reestablish the Chain of Craters Road to its original alignment width of 22 feet with a gravel surface. According to Gabbard, park officials feel their revised proposal and purpose will still qualify under the Emergency Action criteria that cleared the way for the road to re-open.
      Officials say the updated design will be consistent with the width of the existing park roadway segment, and will accommodate two-way traffic along its entire length.”
      Ferracane said park Superintendent Cindy Orlando is meeting with Sen. Brian Schatz this morning and Sen. Mazie Hirono this afternoon to discuss the project. During a community meeting with Puna residents yesterday, Schatz and Gabbard said a two-lane road is necessary.
      See hawaiinewsnow.com.
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FOUR NATIVE HAWAIIAN SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN selected as 2014-2015 Mellon-Hawai`i Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellows to pursue original research and advance their academic careers. Mellon fellows gather at Pahala Plantation House annually to share their research.
      The Mellon-Hawai`i Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, now in its seventh year, recognizes and supports the work of Native Hawaiian academics early in their careers and others who are committed to the advancement of knowledge about the Hawaiian natural and cultural environment, Hawaiian history, politics and society.
      The program provides a stipend and mentoring to enable doctoral fellows to complete their dissertations before accepting their first academic posts and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to publish original research early in their academic careers.
      Doctoral Fellow Noelani Puniwai, Ph.D. candidate in the Natural Resources and Environmental Management program at University of Hawai`i at Manoa, evaluates how and why different ocean user groups socially construct and delineate marine space just as coastal areas are ecologically delineated through definitions of functional space.
      Doctoral Fellow Liza Keanuenueokalani Williams, Ph.D. candidate in the American Studies Department at New York University, focuses on ways that tourism, the military and the prison industrial complex shape cultural politics for Kanaka Maoli both historically and in the contemporary moment.
Matthew Hamabata Photo from
The Kohala Center
      Postdoctoral Fellow Noa Kekuewa Lincoln, Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Environmental Research, Stanford University, examines combining traditional and modern knowledge of land management to evaluate corporate and policy decisions from a social utility, rather than an economic, basis.
      Postdoctoral Fellow Rebecca Ilima Luning, Ph.D., Cultural and Educational Specialist in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa and the Project Coordinator of the Mohala Na Pua Program at the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence, researches Hawaiian ethnotheory of learning through analyzing Hawaiian cultural practitioners’ and classroom educators’ teaching philosophies, cultural goals, values, and purposes of learning in a modern Hawaiian context.
      “Over the years we have been impressed by the thoughtfulness and relevance of the topics that the Mellon-Hawai`i Fellows have chosen to engage in their advanced studies and academic publishing,” said Dr. Matthew M. Hamabata, president and chief executive office of The Kohala Center. “The seventh cohort is certainly no exception. In covering issues such as contemporary Hawaiian pedagogy, land and natural resource management and the commodification of Native Hawaiian culture, land and people, this year’s fellows are addressing some of the most critical topics in Hawai`i today. They, and the fellows before them, are Hawai`i’s emerging intellectual leaders who will help chart a course for our islands’ future.”
      Applications are now being accepted for the 2015-2016 Mellon-Hawai`i Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Application materials and more information about the program are available online at www.MellonHawaii.org or by calling The Kohala Center at 887-6411.
      The deadline to apply is Feb. 27, 2015.
      See www.kohalacenter.org.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I WILL RECEIVE OVER $3.5 million in grant awards for the UH Sea Grant College Program and for Asia-Pacific research and scholarships. The UH Sea Grant College Program has received more than $1.6 million in federal support from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for research and programming to understand the effects of climate change on coral reefs and oceans, groundwater and other impacts on the Hawaiian Islands. The U.S. Department of Education has awarded nearly $1.9 million for UH research on activity throughout the Asia-Pacific region and to support language study and travel grants. 
      “Investments in the University of Hawai`i’s research and programming are integral to giving students more opportunities, gaining valuable insights into the challenges facing our communities and fostering better engagement in the broader world,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “It is important that we maintain healthy coral reefs and water sources and gain as much insight as possible into the effects of climate change. With the U.S. government’s ongoing rebalance to the Pacific, it is important that American students, diplomats and policy makers have a working understanding of Asia-Pacific countries and cultures. The awards announced today will help the University of Hawai`i conduct research and provide programming to achieve these important goals.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

IF KA`U HIGH WINS THEIR EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL GAME in Kohala tomorrow, Trojans will win the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship, Athletic Director Kalei Namohala said. At their previous game against Kohala this season on Aug. 30, the Trojans won 34-12.
      The Trojans’ record so far this year is five wins and one loss. Other winning scores were 58-22 against Pahoa Oct. 4, 32-24 against Kamehameha Sept. 26, 62-0 against Pahoa Sept. 12 and 34-12 against Kohala Aug. 30.
      The Trojans’ only loss was 40-61 at Seabury Hall on Maui Sept. 5.
      Tomorrow’s game in Kohala begins at 2 p.m.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

IN OTHER KA`U HIGH SPORTS, girls varsity volleyball won their match playing Laupahoehoe Wednesday. Scores were 25-5, 25-11 and 25-10. They play Pahoa for the final game of their regular season at home today at 6 p.m. BIIF Division II championship first round is Tuesday.
      Boys and girls cross-country runners go to Kamehameha for the final meet of the regular season tomorrow at 10 a.m. The state tournament is Friday, Oct. 31.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ipu art by Susan Jennings, winner of The Directory 2014
Art Show, will be on display during Ka`u
Plantation Days. Photo by Ron Johnson
TOMORROW IS KA`U PLANTATION DAYS. Festivities begin with a Pa`u Parade featuring lei-wearing horses and riders, cane trucks, classic vehicles, students and musical, cultural and agricultural groups starting at 9 a.m. at the Old Pahala Clubhouse. The parade turns left on Pikake, right on Huapala, right on Maile, left on Old Mill Road and right on the old cane road to head back to the clubhouse.
      Pahala Plantation House grounds feature ethnic history, displays, music, dance and food, with entertainment until 3 p.m.

KUMU HULA PELEHONUAMEA AND KEKOA HARMAN with Halau I ka Leo Ola o Na Mamo perform hula kahiko tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. on the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Loke Kamanu and ‘ohana present Na Mea Hula on the gallery porch from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

KA`U LEGAL CLINIC REGISTRATION DEADLINE is a week from today on Friday, Oct 17. Ka`u Rural Health Association in Pāhala hosts the free clinic for low-income residents Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call 313-8210 to qualify and reserve a spot.

ALSO NEXT FRIDAY, KA`U CHAPTER of Hawai`i Farmers Union United hosts guest speaker Tane Datta, of Adaptations, Inc., who will discuss how to bring produce to market. Datta runs a farm in South Kona that distributes produce through a Community Supported Agriculture model. He grows kale, watermelon, radishes, Swiss chard, fennel, asparagus, spearmint, opal basil, edible flowers and more. He also distributes produce from other farmers to 70 hotels and restaurants statewide.
      The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

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








See kaucalendar.com/Directory.swf.