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Tuesday, December 08, 2015

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015

In honor of the late Drake Fujimoto, who sponsored numerous community events and programs, Hana Hou Restaurant and `O Ka`u Kakou continue his Keiki Christmas event tomorrow in Na`alehu. Fujimoto enjoyed last year's keiki gift giving and feasting. See more below. Photo by Julia Neal
WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU? Why should I trust NextEra?” Those were the first questions Hawai`i Public Utilities Chair Randy Iwase asked NextEra Energy Hawai`i President Eric Gleason yesterday. It was Gleason’s third day of answering questions during the ongoing evidentiary hearing regarding the proposed $4.3 billion merger of NextEra and Hawaiian Electric Co.
PUC Chair Randy Iwase
      “From the kingdom to the territory to the state, we have heard many promises (from) big companies coming in, taking over companies in Hawai`i,” Iwase said. “And so I have to deal with that, judge it through that prism.”
      Cory Lum, of Civil Beat, reported that Gleason replied, “We understand that if you come from outside, you have a hurdle to overcome. … We expect that we aren’t going to totally get over that hurdle before this merger closes. We hope it does close.”
      Gleason also said, “We hope we’ll get far enough over the hurdle that you’ll say, ‘We trust these guys.’”
      While NextEra and Florida Power & Light’s lack experience with rooftop solar, Gleason said that the company’s experience in installing and managing modern grids and widespread smart metering would be valuable to Hawai`i.
      When Iwase asked what guarantee Gleason could offer that NextEra would fulfill its list of 85 commitments to the state, Gleason said that “it is in your power to deliver consequences ” if that occurs.
      See civilbeat.com.
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FOOD POLICY ACTION CHOSE U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as a top advocate of improving the nation’s food system. The release of their Congressional Progress Report gave the congresswoman a perfect score on Food Policy Action’s 2015 National Food Policy Scorecard. The scorecard considers lawmakers votes on a variety of issues relevant to food policy in the U.S., including domestic and international hunger, food safety, food access, farm subsidies, animal welfare, food and farm labor, nutrition, food additives, food transparency, local and regional food production, organic farming and effects of food production on the environment.
Tom Colicchio Photo from FPA
      “Securing sensible, transparent food policy and supporting local and domestic agriculture have been among my key priorities in Congress,” Gabbard said. “I’ve continued to push for legislation that would increase food and production transparency and fight for making basic labeling available to consumers across the country. In addition, I remain committed to fighting against harmful legislation like the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act that rolls back years of progress in food labeling made in 30 states, including Hawai`i. Food security is a critical issue for the American people, and especially the people of Hawai`i, and I’m humbled to be recognized as an advocate for them and their families.”
      “Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been a strong advocate in Congress for food safety, access, production, and transparency,” said Chef Tom Colicchio, Food Policy Action Co-Founder and good food advocate. “We are grateful for her leadership and continued support of sustainable food policy in both Hawai`i and across the United States.”
      Food Policy Action was established in 2012 through a collaboration of national food policy leaders in order to hold legislators accountable on votes that have an effect on food and farming. The National Food Policy 2015 Scorecard reflects the consensus of top food policy experts who select key food policy votes each year.
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HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED that, so far this year, there have been 1,007 DUI arrests compared with 1,078 during the same period last year, a decrease of 6.6 percent.
      There have been 1,425 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,451 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.8 percent.
      There were 17 traffic fatalities on Hawai`i Island compared with 11 during the same period last year, an increase of 54.5 percent. Eleven fatalities were related to drugs (six), alcohol (zero), or a combination of both (five).
      DUI roadblocks and patrols continue islandwide as the holidays approach.
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Leahi Kaupu is on her way to San Diego again.
Photo from Riena Kaupu
LEAHI KAUPU DID IT AGAIN! For the second year in a row, she advances to the next round in the NFL Punt Pass & Kick Competition at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 20 during the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins game. 
      Kaupu’s supporters are raising funds for the trip with a pre-sale Steak Fry plate, which includes steak, rice, corn, bread and kimchee for $10 and Vierra’s Sweetbread, regular $8 and cinnamon $8.50. Pick-up is on Friday, Dec. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. above the gas station in Pahala.
      Call Riena at 217-5990 to place orders.
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VOLCANO IN SLO-MO: WHAT HIGH-SPEED Cameras Tell Us about Lava Lakes and Explosions is the topic at After Dark in the Park this evening. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT STAMPING (kapala) with plants tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo.

HANA HOU RESTAURANT IN NA`ALEHU holds its annual Keiki Christmas Party tomorrow at 5 p.m. with food, gifts, music and a visit from Santa.
      Music led by Uncle Ernie Kalani and Santa will greet the crowd. Santa will pose for photos with the keiki, who will also receive gifts. Police will offer families photo IDs for keiki. Everyone can enjoy a free meal.

A three-day stained glass workshop takes students'
skills to new levels. Image from VAC
CLAUDIA MCCALL TAKES STUDENTS’ stained glass skills to new levels in a three-day workshop beginning on Thursday. The workshop is for students with a minimum of one completed copper foil project. The emphasis is on pattern design and other practical aspects of making stained glass patterns. Along with pattern development, this workshop will also cover topics of interest to students. 
      Students need to bring one or more patterns, photos or rough sketches for class project. For novices, it is advised not to use portraits. There are many free patterns available online. Pattern making will be relatively low-tech, but students familiar with drawing programs may bring them. Glass Eye 2000 is an example. Any pattern should be no larger than 8.5×11 and no more than 20 pieces.
      Classes are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Fees are $150/$135 VAC members.
      Call 967-8222 to register.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES presents three one-act theatrical performances to celebrate the winter holiday season on Thursday at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Eighth-grade students perform the wacky Dave Brandl play, Too Wrapped Up for Christmas, which tells of an eighth-grade holiday fundraiser. In a desolate corner of Prince Kuhio Plaza, the class is trying to raise money for the county’s homeless shelter. They have set up a gift-wrapping service to generate donations, but their worthy efforts are not fruitful. It seems that everyone is too wrapped up in the holiday hustle and bustle to remember the true meaning of the holiday. Just when it seems that little will be collected this year, a kind and understanding Mr. Nicholas pays a visit to the booth.
      Seventh-graders perform Tracy Krauss’ Ebenezer’s Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge finds himself on a journey of discovery and growth via three Spirits who have attitudes that spice things up with lots of humor. Even Ebenezer surprises us with his cryptic sense of humor, and Tiny Tim’s propensity to annoy could be a bigger problem than his crippled leg.
      Sixth-grade students present When Christmas Left Rattler Canyon, by Dean Belanger. It’s a sad day in Rattler Canyon when the mayor gambles away the town to Big Bad Ben, the meanest guy in the west. What’s worse is that Big Bad Ben hates Christmas, so he cancels it. It looks like Diamond Dan could be the town’s only hope, but he’s lost his gumption ever since a run-in with the purely evil Ringo sisters – Isabella and Rexella. When Johnny, the owner of the saloon, asks for a sign from the good Lord to show that they should fight to get Christmas back, a young couple walks in.
      Curtain is promptly at 6 p.m. Admission is free; park entrance fees apply.

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



See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.