Thursday, April 09, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, April 9, 2015

Ka`u residents line Hwy 11 at Na`alehu Park in opposition of the Thirty Meter Telescope planned to be built on the
summit of Mauna Kea. Photos by Ron Johnson
A`OLE TMT; ALOHA `AINA was the message sent by about 40 Ka`u residents who gathered along Hwy 11 at Na`alehu Park and waved signs in opposition of the Thirty Meter Telescope planned to be built at the summit of Mauna Kea. 
      “Enough is enough,” was the message of several sign-wavers, referring to the thirteen telescopes in operation on Mauna Kea.
Lehua Lopez
      “We have enough telescopes to find the truth of the cosmos up there,” said Lehua Lopez, “but cosmological truth is also contained in the mountain of Mauna Kea. Destroying portions of the mountain by building another telescope destroys portions of the culture.”
      Mel Davis said Mauna Kea is a temple sacred to the Hawaiian people. He said he hopes officials reconsider building the telescope and “hear people’s voices.” He suggested that funds allocated for construction of the facility instead be used for infrastructure on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary projects.
Ka`u residents used signs and flags to voice their opposition
to the Thirty Meter Telescope.
      Pu`u Davis said the project was like “the Tower of Babel coming out of Mauna Kea.”
      Ku`uipo Dacalio asked, “Why build telescopes to look into space? Use the money to fix what’s in front of our face.”
      Gov. David Ige yesterday put the project on a one-week time-out following a week of protests and 31 arrests on the mountain. “My active engagement at this point is understanding and having dialogue with many stakeholders and organizations that care about Mauna Kea from all perspectives,” he told Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
      Kaho`okahi Kanuha, one of those arrested, told Hurley, “I am not quite sure our people have seen a movement like this in their lifetime, and I think it’s a testament to the fact that our people have been ignited and are ready to move forward and resolidify ourselves throughout the world as a people and a country.”
      See staradvertiser.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A Na Hoku Hanohano finalist this year, Bolo performs
at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a Saturday, May 2.
HAWAIIAN MUSICIANS WHO teach and perform at Keoki Kahumoku's Hawaiian Music & Lifestyle workshops at Pahala Plantation House are finalists in the 38th annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards. 
      Albums by Bolo, Ledward Ka`apana, and Jeff Peterson are three of five finalists in the Instrumental Album of the Year category. Bolo was nominated for his album `ekahi, Ka`apana for Jus’ Cruzin’ and Peterson, along with Riley Lee and Kenny Endo, for Island Breeze
      Ka`apana is also a finalist Favorite Artist of the Year.
      George Kahumoku, Jr. is a finalist for Slack Key Album of the Year, with his Seeds of Aloha.
      Bolo returns to Ka`u to perform at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a Saturday, May 2.
      Na Hoku Hanohono awards are presented on Saturday, May 23.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u companies can apply for booth space at Japan's largest
international trade show. Photo from Hawai`i Food
Manufacturers' Association
KA`U COMPANIES INTERESTED IN MARKETING their Hawai`i-made products can apply for booth space in the Hawai`i Pavilion at the 80th Tokyo International Gift Show. The show Sept. 2 – 4 is the largest international trade show in Japan with over 2,500 companies marketing gifts, consumer goods and accessories to over 200,000 domestic and international buyers. 
      Exhibitor space, offered by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, is limited, and a participation fee will be charged. Final acceptance for participation is subject to DBEDT approval.
      The deadline to submit all required items is Thursday, April 30. See http://invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/80th-tokyo-international-gift-show/.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO AND DEPUTY SECRETARY of Agriculture Krysta Harden traveled to Hawai`i Island yesterday to visit with the agricultural community including floriculture, papaya and macadamia nut representatives and PBARC on the future of agriculture in Hawai`i. They also met in the Puna community to discuss the importance of infrastructure and the impact of invasive species. Hirono and Harden also received a briefing on the lava flow. 
      Tomorrow, Hirono and Harden return to Hawai`i Island to hear from Kona coffee producers and meet with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service at Kona International Airport.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

The 2014-2015 Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry Court and Miss Ka`u Coffee
Amery Silva (back center) will ride through Hilo in the Merrie
Monarch Parade Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal
MISS KA`U COFFEE CONTENDERS will ride in the Merrie Monarch Parade this Saturday throughout Hilo. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. The Miss Ka`u Coffee court will be carried in two coffee farmer trucks provided by Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee and Ka`u Royal Coffee. One will carry Miss Ka`u Coffee princesses along with reigning Ka`u Coffee Queen Amery Silva. The other will carry the reigning Miss Peaberry Madison Okimoto and princesses Calaysa Koi and Shanialee Silva. 
      Miss Ka`u Coffee pageant is Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, and the new Miss Ka`u Coffee will reign over a week of Ka`u Coffee Festival events and other community and Ka`u Coffee promotional programs throughout the year.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR DENISHA NAVARRO signed a letter of intent yesterday for an athletic scholarship to play basketball for Pierce College Raiders in Tacoma, WA.
      Serving as student body president, being a member of the National Honor Society and playing multiple sports, Navarro knows what hard work and dedication is. After nine years of training and practicing, she said she is thrilled to receive the scholarship.
Surrounded by supporters, Denisha Navarro, in Raider Basketball T-shirt, signs
her letter of intent for an athletic scholarship from Pierce College.
Photo from Jennifer Makuakane
      Immediately after her final basketball season, Head Coach Cy Lopez, Jr. received a phone call from Pierce’s recruiting coach asking about Navarro. He had many great things to share after coaching her at varsity level for the past three years. Days later, they reviewed a video of Navarro and requested a visit from her. This past spring break, Navarro went to the campus to show her skills, see if this is what she wants and where she wants to live for the next four years. At the end of her trip, the coaches decided they’d like to offer her a scholarship. Navarro said the hospitality of the coaches and players she met, the facility, the campus and the education the college had to offer helped with her decision.
      “I intended to move to Washington after high school with or without an athletic scholarship so I could make a better life for myself and to get a good education,” Navarro said. “Getting to play college ball at the same time is a privilege and bonus. On my trip, I loved the city life and how different it was compared to Hawai`i.”
      Navarro is planning on getting her associates degree in diagnostics and health. She plans on transferring to Seattle University to get her bachelor’s degree in athletic training.
      “My passion has always been sports, and I’ve been inspired by our school’s athletic director, Kalei Namohala. After shadowing and learning from her this past year, she has become one of my role models and someone I look up too.”
      Navarro also said that her basketball coaches, Cy Lopez, Jr., Jennifer Makuakane and April Jara, have made a big impact in her basketball career and life.
      “My coaches have helped me out a lot throughout the past three years, especially this year,” Navarro said. “Not only with basketball but helping me prepare for my future and life after high school. My cousin Staysha has also been a big inspiration in my life. She has helped motivate me to be a better player and is probably the toughest on me and keeps me going.”
      Navarro leaves for Washington in July to start her journey. She hopes to come back to Hawai`i and be an athletic trainer for one of the high schools in the state.
      Jennifer Makuakane contributed to this story.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Lei styles on display at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
NPS photo by Jay Robinson
LEI MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS take place tomorrow in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Master lei maker Randy Lee celebrates Merrie Monarch with lei making at Volcano Art Center Gallery from 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
      From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai, Patti Kaula demonstrates a variety of traditional techniques including haku, kui, hipu`u and hilo styles.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

TWO OF FOUR SPEAK-OUTS on the recently released Ka`u Community Development Plan take place Saturday. The events are organized as open houses where residents can find visual displays about parts of the CDP that interest them, discuss CDP strategies with people familiar with the plan and provide feedback. Listeners and recorders will be on hand to document comments. There will not be any presentations or formal testimony at the speak-outs. Keiki activities will be available so that parents are free to learn and talk story. 
      This Saturday’s events are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
      On Sunday, April 19, two more are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Center.
      A video at youtube.com/watch?v=AaPrTuIELD8&feature=youtu.be provides a short orientation about the draft CDP. Additional information is available at kaucdp.info.

A guided hike Saturday focuses on Kahuku's human history.
Photo from NPS
A GUIDED 2.5-MILE, MODERATELY DIFFICULT hike Saturday over rugged terrain at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit focuses on the area’s human history. People and Land of Kahuku takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park celebrates Merrie Monarch with book signings Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring Caren Loebel-Fried and David Kawika Eyre.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_April2015.pdf.

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