Sunday, May 24, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, May 24, 2015

Ka`u Roping & Riding Association has announced plans for its 38th annual Fourth of July weekend rodeo. Photo by Julia Neal

EARTH MATTERS FARM HOSTED more than 50 people yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Ka`u chapter of Hawai`i Farmers Union United. The farm, owned by Greg Smith, president of the Ka`u chapter, is near the corner of South Point and Kama`oa Roads and produces organic vegetables for a community-assisted agriculture program.
The Kohala Center encourages Ka`u farmers to participate in the Farm
to School movement.
      Anna Lisa Okoye, of The Kohala Center, talked about building relationships between farms and schools and how farmers can sell to distributors to place their produce in the state Department of Education schools. Charter schools have more flexibility in buying directly from farmers. Some charter schools choose to buy as local as they can. She gave the example of a school on the Hamakua Coast that attempts to buy the most food it can from producers located within 40 miles of the school itself.
      Okoye encouraged farmers to be a part of the Farm to School movement that teaches youth where food comes from and how to eat a healthy diet. She said that part of the problem is that menus in public schools can be dictated for the entire state school system, limiting the opportunity to include food grown near or on the campus.
      A Farm to School connection event will be held on Tuesday, June 30 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Hawai`i Academy of Arts and Science at 15-1397 Homestead Road in Pahoa. Farmers can bring samples of produce or locally produced value-added products and meet school food buyers who want to buy for school food programs, including the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. Those without crops ready for harvest can bring photos of produce and farms.
      Farmers can reserve tables to exhibit produce and information about farms and businesses. Registration deadline is June 25 at koha.la/f2smixer or by calling 887-6411.
      Gabriel Howearth talked about the importance of keeping a local seed bank for food crops that grow well here.
      Bob Shaffer, a soil consultant, talked about soil kept healthy with cover crops, microorganisms, compost and mulch, along with tillage and mineral management.
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Ledward Ka`apana
LEDWARD KA`APANA’S JUS’ CRUZIN’ won in the Instrumental Album category at last night’s Na Hoku Hanohano awards. The Big Island native and master of `ukulele and slack key guitar has taught visitors and local students during past Hawaiian Music & Lifestyle workshops in Pahala sponsored by the Center for Hawaiian Music Studies. 
      Other nominations in the same category included more Pahala workshop teachers, Bolo, with his ‘ekahi, and Jeff Peterson with Island Breeze.
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HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS OPPOSE trade promotion authority legislation, also known as “fast track” authority, which was passed by the U.S. Senate 62-37.
      Fast track bills give the President authority to negotiate trade deals on the condition that Congress will vote to accept or reject the deal without making changes, as long as the deal meets the objectives set by Congress.
      “That’s a lot of authority to grant without knowing what a final agreement will look like,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “For example, the Administration has been negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would represent 40 percent of the world’s economy, and very few people, including members of Congress and the public, know what is in the agreement. Past fast track bills have not put strong enough standards in place and we’ve seen whole communities and industries hurt as a result.
      “Trade deals should help, not hurt, middle class families and workers. I voted against this bill because it does not go far enough to ensure future trade deals will include fair wages, a decent standard of living and a clean environment for all.”
      Sen. Brian Schatz said, “I oppose the procedures contained in this bill, and I am seriously concerned about using fast-track to pass trade agreements that do not reflect the best interests of the American people and undermine the prerogatives of the Congress. Corporate interests should not be the driving force for public policy decisions on public health, consumer safety and the environment.”
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HI`ILEI ALOHA LLC, A NONPROFIT SUBSIDIARY of Office of Hawaiian Affairs, holds a grant-writing workshop and leadership development on Wednesday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at Ka`u Rural Health Community Center in Pahala. This free workshop will help nonprofit organizations, leaders and individuals interested in improving their communities by teaching them how to write a grant application. 
      Participants will learn basic techniques and strategies of grant writing and become familiar with key parts of grant applications and terms such as needs assessment, budgets and work plans. The class will also teach the difference between government, foundation and corporate grants. Participants will also continue to receive notification of upcoming grant opportunities.
      The class will also be held in Hilo on Wednesday, July 15 and in Kona on Friday, July 17.
      To register or for information, contact Jennifer at 596-8990 ext.1013 or jenniferc@hiilei.org.
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Paniolo wrangles a cow during a KRRA rodeo at Na`alehu Arena.
Photo by Julia Neal
THE PANIOLO TRADITION OF RANCHERS and other rodeo riders gathering together with families will fill the Na`alehu Arena grounds over the July 4 weekend with events designed for keiki, wahine and kane. The 38th Annual Fourth of July Rodeo is sponsored by Ka`u Roping & Riding Association on Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5. 
      Slack Roping begins Saturday at 8 a.m. Cowboy Church is on Sunday at 10 a.m. with Thy Word Ministries-Ka`u Pastor Bob Tominaga. Rodeo Shows start at 12 p.m. both days.
      Rodeo Queen contestants are Ku`ukamali`i Bishop of Na`alehu, Arena Jospeh of Kea`au and Chrissy Perez of Honoka`a. Residents can support the young ladies by buying rodeo tickets for $6. Tickets are $7 at the gate.
      All spectators, guests and contestants can buy $1 raffle tickets and win prizes. Prizes will be advertised at the rodeo. All proceeds from the raffle drawing will be donated to American Cancer Society’s Hilo Relay for Life by KRRA.
      Special guests are Miss Rodeo Hawai`i 2015 and Nebraska Queen, who will be signing autographs.
      Events scheduled at the rodeo include Open Team Roping, Kane/Wahine Dally Team Roping, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Kane/Wahine Ribbon Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Tie Down Roping, Wahine Break Away, Po‘o Wai U and Bull Riding.
      Dummy Roping, Goat Undecorating, Calf Riding and Youth Barrel Racing events are set for youngsters.
      For more information, call Tammy Kaapana at 929-8079.
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KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Memorial Day Ceremony is tomorrow at 3 p.m. on KMC’s Front Lawn in Hawai‘`i Volcanoes National Park. Keynote speaker is Rod Sueoka, of the Office of Veterans’ Services.
      Memorial Day Buffet follows the ceremony from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at KMC’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes Hawaiian kalua pork sandwich, local-style fried chicken, chili con carne, biscuits and honey, buttered corn, steamed rice, dessert and a beverage. Adult $18; child $9.
Economic development is the topic of a Ka`u CDP discussion Tuesday.
      Call 967-8356 for more information. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8371 for additional information.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THE TOPIC of a Ka`u Community Development Plan focused discussion Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Participants’ questions, comments and suggestions will be documented. As appropriate, the CDP Planning Team will use outputs of the discussion to do additional analysis, refine the CDP rationale and/or recommend CDP revisions.
      Public input on the draft Ka`u CDP is due a week from tomorrow on Monday, June 1. The CDP is available at local libraries and community centers and online at kaucdp.info.

MONDAY, JUNE 1 – ONE WEEK from tomorrow – is the deadline to sign up to be in this year’s annual Fourth of July parade in Na`alehu. Contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 to register floats or parade walkers.

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



See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.