Monday, November 23, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, Nov. 23, 2015

Pahala Community Center holds its annual Rubberband Turkey Shoot Wednesday. See more below.
A TRAVEL ALERT FOR THE THE UNITED STATES was issued today by the State Department, saying, “U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings, and avoid large crowds or crowded places. Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events.” The alert comes after 130 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13. The U.S. alert follows the city of Brussells announcing today another week of highest level of alert, as terrorists believed to be responsible for the Paris attacks are sought in Belgium. The U.S. has received numerous threats of terrorism coming here in the near future.
Susan Condie Jennings' Ka`u Landing won first
in Sculpture at Ka`u Chamber of Commerce's
annual art show. Photos by Peter Anderson
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FOUR MORE CASES OF DENGUE FEVER have been confirmed on Hawai`i Island, Hawai`i state Department of Health reported. The count today is 92, up four from Friday. Of the total, 79 are residents, and 13 are visitors. Onset of illness has ranged from Sept. 11 to Nov. 17.
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HAWAI`I STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH will deploy a web-based system that will provide 24/7 access to real-time data on medical marijuana inventory, sales and other tracking information required of dispensary licensees statewide, according to Keith Ridley, Chief of the Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance.
      The Office of Health Care Assurance performs all state licensing activities on healthcare facilities, agencies and organizations in Hawai`i and is tasked with implementing Act 241, which was signed into law by Gov. David Ige in July and became section 329D, HRS. Under the new program, a dispensary licensee may begin dispensing medical marijuana and manufactured marijuana products to qualifying patients or primary caregivers no earlier than July 15, 2016, with the department’s approval.
      A Request for Proposals was issued on Nov. 19. The notice of award of contract for the computer software tracking system is expected to be made by Dec. 23.
      “This is another major step forward to implement the medical marijuana program to ensure access for Hawai`i patients and caregivers,” Ridley said. “After researching various options, the department determined a web-based software system would be the most effective and user-friendly way for licensees and state officials to collect and report seed-to-sale tracking information to ensure public safety and patient safety, and licensees will be required to utilize a tracking system. We are also exploring how other entities such as law enforcement officers or laboratories can also securely access the information.”
Jewels of the Beach, by Ann Snow, placed
first in the Jewelry Division.
      The system will collect detailed inventory and sales information such as the total amount of marijuana at each dispensary, in the form of seeds or plants, including all plants that are derived from cuttings or cloning, until the marijuana, marijuana plants or manufactured marijuana products are sold or destroyed; the total amount of manufactured marijuana product inventory, including the equivalent physical weight of marijuana that is used to manufacture marijuana products or purchased by a qualifying patient and primary caregiver from all retail dispensing locations in any 15-day day period; the amount of unused plant material produced by each plant at harvest; and the transport of marijuana and manufactured marijuana products between production centers and retail dispensing locations, including tracking identification issued by the tracking system, identity of the person transporting the marijuana or manufactured marijuana products and how the products are transported.
      Under the new law, a total of eight licenses may be awarded, including two dispensary licenses for Hawai`i County. Each dispensary licensee will be allowed to operate up to two production centers and two retail stations for a total of 16 production centers and 16 retail dispensaries statewide. Each production center may have up to 3,000 marijuana plants.
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KA`U ARTISTS DISPLAYED THEIR TALENTS at Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s annual Art Show earlier this month. Along with Peter Anderson’s Red Caldera, which won People’s Choice and will grace the cover of The Directory 2016, the chamber’s community and business index, a panel of judges chose Best of Show and first- through third-place winners as well as honorable mentions. Anderson donated his $100 winnings to the chamber’s scholarship program. Other winners follow.
      Best of Show: Suzanne Dix Kaliko, Aunty Shows Her Quilt.
Anela Angel, by Jeannette Howard, placed
first in Weaving.
      Photography: First Place Peter Anderson, Red Caldera; Second Place Ed Bruneau, Throw Net Fishing; Third Place Lee McIntosh, Pink Petaled Path.
      Sculpture: First Place Susan Condie Jennings, Ka`u Landing, Ni`ihau-technique gourd; Second Place Scott Manley, Navigational Fishhook, hand-engraved slate; Third Place Dave Golston, Honus and Manta, Koa wood.
      Woodworking: First Place Thomas King, Milo Loveseat; Second Place Dave Golston, Whales on Koa.
      Quilting: First Place Teri Jensen Phillips, The Reef; Second Place Nadine Ebert, Ron’s Seascape; Third Place Alice Hosticka, Proof of Concept.
      Jewelry: First Place Ann Snow, Jewels of the Beach; Second Place Toni Santana, Nene and Shells; Third Place Kathie Griffeth, Beauty and the Beans.
      Lei: First Place Elizabeth Kuluwaimaka, Liko Lehua.
      Graphics: First Place Dave Golston, Honu with Honu, image on wood; Second Place Nancy Lake, untitled block print; Third Place Marla McCasland, untitled block print.
      Painting: First Place Suzanne Dix Kaliko, Aunty Shows Her Quilt; Second Place Lynn Van Leeuwen, Punalu`u Palms; Third Place Tanya Ibarra, Girls of Kawa.
      Weaving: Jeannette Howard, Anela Angel.
      Youth: First Place Grace Smith, Ku Kae Kolea, lei: Second Place Lorilee Lorenzo, Ka`u Kountry Keiki, photograph.
      Keiki: First Place Audrey Meyer, Fin the Gecko, drawing; Second Place Kamali Compehos, untitled drawing; Third Place Nalu Compehos, untitled drawing.
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`OLELO COMMUNITY TELEVISION PLANS to televise Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission’s evidentiary hearings on the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy. The meetings are scheduled Monday through Friday from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
      Proceedings begin with witnesses from the two companies. Intervenors and other parties begin their testimony on Dec. 10.
      See olelo.org.
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Grace Smith won first place in Youth Division with Ku Kae Kolea
BRIAN SCHATZ CO-INTRODUCED LEGISLATION to help prevent youth homelessness, improve support services and housing for youth and families, and help ensure children are raised in supportive, stable households. The Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act would improve supportive housing – programs that integrate housing with social services – and policies for children and families at risk of homelessness, keeping families together who might otherwise enter the child welfare system. It would also increase access to social services for youth aging out of the foster care system as they transition to adulthood.
      “It is our moral obligation to make sure the most vulnerable in our communities, especially children, have the resources and services they need to lead productive lives,” Schatz said. “The sensible changes in this bill will make the Family Unification Program work better for families on the verge of homelessness, as well as young people in Hawai`i who are aging out of the foster care system and need some help to secure safe, affordable housing.”
      Studies have shown that housing instability is linked to poor outcomes for children. Unsafe housing conditions and homelessness can threaten the safety of a child and can lead to an investigation by the local child welfare agency, out-of-home placement or a delay in family reunification. Homelessness may also lead families to voluntarily place their children in foster care while searching for housing, and families may be separated because of policies that exclude teenagers, especially boys, from shelters.
      Children aging out of the foster care system are particularly vulnerable to homelessness because they must make the transition to adulthood without support, financial or otherwise, from parents or other trusted guardians.
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Audrey Meyer placed first in Keiki division
with Fin the Gecko.
AFTER DARK IN THE PARK EXAMINES amazing birds and megafauna in Botswana tomorrow. Park Ranger Jay Robinson and Biologist Jack Jeffrey offer a fun-filled photo safari through the national parks and World Heritage Site, ending at Victoria Falls in nearby Zimbabwe.
      The vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert is punctured at its heart by the Okavango River, forming the largest inland delta in the world. These waterways and wetlands support one the most amazing collection of birds, bugs and brawling beasts on our planet.
      The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

LEARN TO PLAY `OHE HANO IHU Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants learn about traditional uses of `ohe (bamboo), including its use in creating musical instruments like the Hawaiian nose flute.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

ANNUAL RUBBERBAND TURKEY SHOOT takes place Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. All ages can register by tomorrow. Call 928-3102.

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




See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2105.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.