Sunday, April 26, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, April 26, 2015

The lava lake at Halema`uma`u continues to thrill spectators watching from Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Dave Berry
KILAUEA’S SUMMIT CONTINUED TO INFLATE over the past day. This trend has been mirrored by the summit lava lake, which rose about 26 feet since yesterday morning and came within about 13 feet of spilling over the crater rim onto the floor of Halema`uma`u overnight, reported Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
      The lava level was about 20 feet below the crater rim at 7 a.m. this morning, having fallen slightly with an increase in spattering. Seismic activity beneath Kilauea’s summit and upper East and Southwest Rift Zones remains elevated. 
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Masako Sakata won first in Adult Pupu
category. Photos by Jesse Tunison
KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST, one of several events during the ten-day Ka`u Coffee Festival, was held at Ka`u Coffee Mill yesterday. Miss Holly K, of Native-FM, was DJ.
      Masako Sakata took first place in the Adult Pupu category with Ka`u Coffee Beans. Melia Taganas came in second place with Tortilla & Coffee Dip, and Peggy Kilkenny, third place with Ka`u Coffee South of the Border Enchilada Sauce.
      Adult Entrée first-, second- and third-place winners were Peggy Kilkenny with “Pig Pickin” in Paradise; Melia Taganas, Teri-Coffee; and Austin Kilkenny, Ka`u Coffee Rubbed Short Rib Spicy Noodle Trifle.
      In the Adult Dessert category, Cathy Haber won first place with her Ka`u Coffee Macnut Tart. Tianna Hauanio came in second with Ka`u French Macaroons. Sunerene Quevedo’s Ka`u Coffee Panna Cotta and Melia Taganas’ Kahlua Coffee Cheese Cake tied for third.
      Student winners were Melia Okimoto with her OMG! It’s Mocha-Tastic in the Dessert category and Lorilee Lorenzo with Ka`u Coffee Pulehu Steak in the Pupu category.
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Peggy Kilkenny receives one of her two prizes
from Miss Ka`u Coffee Amery Silva.
HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPLAUDED Gov. Ige, members of the Legislature and partners statewide for passing and signing Act 19 (HB 940), which restricts use of electronic smoking devices, or e-cigarettes, in all locations where smoking is illegal.
      Act 19 upholds protections created by Hawai`i’s Smoke-Free Workplace and Public Places Law enacted in 2006. The signing of this legislation makes Hawai`i the fourth U.S. state to have passed such a bill, after North Dakota, New Jersey and Utah. 
      According to DOH, use of e-cigarettes in existing smoke-free locations has had the potential to expose non-smokers and vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women, to aerosolized nicotine and other toxic substances, which could be dangerous to one’s health. Studies have found that there is enormous variability among e-cigarette devices in terms of their design, operation, contents and emissions of carcinogens, other toxicants and nicotine.
      “These products currently are not regulated, and many of the hazardous components in cigarettes are also found in e-cigarette emissions,” said Director of Health Dr. Virginia Pressler. “Just as we found that smoking was dangerous after many years of unrestricted use, we could be unintentionally harming people as a result of not including e-cigarettes as part of our smoke-free laws.”
      In a report issued this month on workplace tobacco policies, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health warns about the secondhand exposure to nicotine from e-cigarettes. Nicotine is addictive and toxic, and harmful even at low doses. It is an acute irritant and capable of causing headache and nausea. For pregnant women, nicotine can transfer to and harm the developing fetus.
      For more information about tobacco prevention and control in Hawai`i, see http://health.hawaii.gov/tobacco/.
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Miss Ka`u Coffee Amery Silva and Miss Holly K present the prize
for first place in Adult Dessert category to Cathy Haber.
AT THE INVITATION OF THE PRESIDENT and First Lady of the United States, Gov. and Mrs. Ige will represent Hawai`i at a White House State Dinner honoring the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. 
      President Obama and Prime Minister Abe will recognize the strong global partnership that the United States and Japan have developed during the 70 years since the end of World War II and underscore the common values and principles that have made the bilateral relationship so enduring.
      As the closest U.S. state to Japan, Hawai`i shares a rich history with Japan. “It is an honor for us to be invited to represent our state and reinforce Hawai`i’s strong cultural and economic ties with our Japanese neighbors,” Ige said.
      President and Mrs. Obama have hosted very few State Dinners during the President’s two terms. This event will be the eighth of the Obama Presidency.
      Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui will be Acting Governor during Ige’s absence tomorrow through Wednesday.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY’S PUBLIC ACCESS, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission is accepting suggestions from the public through June 30 on which properties it should include in its next report.
      The commission considers properties with the following characteristics: public outdoor recreation and education, including public access to beaches and mountains; preservation of historic and culturally important areas and sites; protection of natural resources, including buffer zones; preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands; and protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.
      Suggestion forms are available at http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/Weblink8/Browse.aspx?startid=13770&dbid=1 or from the county Property Management Division, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Suite 1101.
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Lorilee Lorenzo won first place in the Student Pupu category
with Ka`u Coffee Pulehu Steak.
SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ HAS CO-INTRODUCED the Inspiring New STEM Professionals by Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces Act of 2015. The INSPIRES Act would provide school districts, community colleges and other education institutions funding for modernizing, renovating, or repairing STEM and career and technical education facilities. 
      “Over the past decade, we have seen STEM job growth outpace all others, but because of a lack of resources, our schools have not kept up with the demand,” Schatz said. “The federal government can do more to help states provide better learning environments to help students achieve their full potential. The INSPIRES Act would give educators more resources to modernize their facilities and expand access to STEM education so that our students have greater opportunities to succeed.”
      With the STEM job market expected to continue its rapid growth, the INSPIRES Act aims to improve the quality and availability of STEM and CTE instruction by providing grants to local educational agencies and community colleges for improvements to much-needed facilities. It would also require at least 25 percent of the funds available be directed to high-need LEAs or to community colleges that serve a significant number of rural students.
      “Our nation’s schools and community colleges must provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the 21st century. Sadly, too many of our educational facilities are inadequate for supporting effective STEM and technical learning opportunities,” said Rachel Gutter, Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. “We applaud Sen. Schatz’s leadership to modernize school facilities so that we may best prepare our future leaders for their careers.”
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OMG! It's Mocha-Tastic was Melia Okimoto's first-prize winning entry
in the Student Dessert category.
FOLLOWING FRIDAY’S PA`INA at Pahala Plantation House and yesterdays Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest, Ka`u Coffee Festival events continue this week. 

MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT is today at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, with four candidates vying for the honor of representing the Ka`u Coffee industry at various events during the next 12 months. Tickets are $10.
      Call Pageant Chair Gloria Camba at 928- 8558.

A SECOND KA`U MOUNTAIN WATER SYSTEM HIKE has been scheduled for next Thursday after Wednesday’s hike almost filled up. The hikes begin at 9 a.m. at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Reservations are required. See kaucoffemill.com or call 928-0550.

DURING COFFEE & CATTLE DAY Friday at 10 a.m., participants find out how descendants of Ka`u’s first coffee farmer integrate coffee with other agriculture at Aikane Plantation. $25 includes all-you-can-eat buffet. Sign up at aikaneplantation.com or 808-927-2252.

FOR KA`U STAR GAZING, also on Friday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., participants travel to the summit of Makanau to observe the heavens  Ka`u’s dark skies. $35 includes refreshments and shuttle transportation. 
      Reserve at kaucoffeemill.com or 928-0550.

AT KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL HO`OLAULE`A on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., festival-goers enjoy a free, full day of music, hula, Ka`u Coffee Experience, educational displays and demonstrations, farm tours, vendors and meet the farmers.

KA`U COFFEE COLLEGE is a week from today at 9 a.m. at Pahala Community Center. The educational series features coffee researchers and industry professionals. Free. Call Chris Manfredi at 929-9550.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.


See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_April2015.pdf.