Sunday, January 24, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016


Keiki and their families lined the Ka`u Coast at Punalu`u yesterday for `O Ka`u Kakou's eighth annual Keiki Fishing Tournament.
Photo by Peter Anderson
RESULTS OF YESTERDAY’S KEIKI Fishing Tournament are in. Ka`u keiki and their families lined the coast at Punalu`u Beach Park for `O Ka`u Kakou’s eighth annual tournament.
Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda presented award and prizes
to Keenan Toriano, Rylan Equsa and Daystan Resurreccion,
as well as other winners. Photo from Lee McIntosh
      Loea Kaupu won for Most Fish Overall. Zachary Blano-Louis took second place, and Joe Buyuan placed third.
      Largest Po`opa`a was caught by Chelsea Velez. Noa Cambe caught the second largest, and X’avier Alani caught the third largest.
      In the Kupipi category, Keenana Toriano placed first, Rylan Equsa second and Daystan Resurreccion third.
      Lexi Manila-Louis caught the largest Hinale`a, Jyzeiah Garcia hooked the second largest, and Rylan Peralta caught the third largest.
      First place in the Largest Aholehole category went to Harlem Reyes Espejo. Jance Ke took second, and Gabriel Sesson Paaluhi-Young, third.
Ocean View resident Vernon Harvey posted his aerial footage
of the Keiki Fishing Tournament on YouTube.
       After fishing, participants enjoyed free lunch and shaved ice.
       Aerial footage taken by Vernon Harvey, of Ocean View, can be viewed at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Xx6CVCPu9Q
.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

EAST HAWAI`I REGIONAL BOARD of Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation has appointed Marcella Stroh to its 12-member board. The Regional Board is responsible for governing Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho`ola Hamakua, Ka`u Hospital and the region’s 10 general and specialty clinics.
Marcella Stroh and Wayne Kanemoto Photo from HHSC
      “Our community is indeed fortunate to have the services of Marcella, a talented and experienced leader,” said Kurt Corbin, East Hawai`i Regional Board Chair. “She joins a Board comprised of dedicated physicians, business executives, educators and professionals who are committed to the ideals of providing exceptional health care regardless of ability to pay.”
      “These are very exciting and important times in the healthcare industry in our community, therefore, it is an honor and privilege for me to be nominated to the East Hawai`i Regional Board,” Stroh said. “I look forward to sharing my expertise and long history of collaboration in the business/financial world for the benefit of our community’s healthcare that is very much needed in these crucial times.”
Waiting for a nibble. Photo by Peter Anderson
      Stroh is the Senior Vice President and Commercial Banking Senior Manager for Hawai`i Island at Central Pacific Bank. She is actively involved in the American Heart Association, the Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council, the County of Hawai`i’s Salary Commission, the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, the Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce and the Japanese Community Association. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Accounting and Secretarial Science from Hawai`i Community College. She also attended ABA School of Bank Management and Marketing in Boulder, Colorado and AIB School of Executive Management in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born and raised on Hawai`i Island where she raised her two daughters, Kimberly and Kasey. She enjoys spending time with her grandsons, Austin and Asher, and doing outdoor activities.
Chelsea Velez, Noa Cambe and X'avier Alani won in the
Largest Po`opa`a category. Photo from Lee McIntosh

      After a three-year term on the East Hawai`i Regional Board, Wayne Kanemoto has been appointed by Gov. David Ige to HHSC’s Corporate Board to represent the interests of the East Hawai`i Region. He is currently with Kanalani Enterprise, LLC. Previously, Kanemoto served for over 30 years in the United States Army and Army Reserve. His 33-year career in education began as a teacher in Biology Sciences on O`ahu and concluded as principal on Hawai`i Island for 18 years at Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School and the Hilo Community School for Adults. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in Zoology, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Hawai`i in Curriculum, Administration and was a Colonel, U.S. Army in Infantry & Civil Affairs. He has been a member of Hawai`i County Workforce Investment Board, Hawai`i Family Literacy Consortium, Hawai`i Community School Consortium, Hawai`i Government Employees Association (Unit 6) and Summer Youth Academy.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Largest Aholehole category winners were Harlem Reyes Espejo,
Jance Ke and Gabriel Sesson Paaluhi-Young.
Photo from Lee McIntosh
A BILL TO FUND RESEARCH and mitigation efforts relating to rapid `ohi`a death passed its first reading in the state House of Representatives last week. According to HB 1597, “the `ohi`a makes up about fifty percent of the state's native forest and is a keystone species in native watershed areas.”
      Hawai`i Department of Agriculture will submit a report detailing the nature of rapid `ohi`a death, including its cause, vectors, transmission and prospects for preventing the disease; status of developing and implementing plans and strategies to eliminate, control or prevent the disease in the state; and necessary funds and appropriate legislation to eliminate, control or prevent it in the state.
A success story at yesterday's Keiki Fishing Tournament.
Photo by Peter Anderson
      “We’re continuing to do new things, like fungicide testing, U.S. DOA researcher Lisa Keith told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune Herald. “We’ve got six new potential chemicals we’re looking at, and we understand more about the genetics and biology now. But we’re just scratching the surface. (The appropriation) will allow us to do real detailed studies. I think we’ll make more progress in a lot of areas, producing more knowledge and information to lead to better management and control.”
      University of Hawai`i Extension Agent Forester J.B. Friday told Stewart, “Our task now is to keep the momentum going. … We have funds and are in the process of hiring scientists to look at the disease itself, the molecular biology of the disease, insects that may carry the disease, and technicians and outreach staff. Much of the funding we have is only for the year 2016, though, so we really appreciate the legislators introducing a bill to fund ongoing efforts to understand and manage this disease that affects our forests and all of us.”
Loea Kaupu, Zachary Blanco-Louis and Joe Buyuan placed
first, second and third in Most Overall Fish.
Photo from Lee McIntosh
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THIRTY METER TELESCOPE OFFICIALS are waiting for the state to tell them how to proceed with plans for the $1.4 billion project planned for the summit of Mauna Kea, Lorin Eleni Gill reported in Pacific Business News.       In December, the Hawai`i Supreme Court invalidated TMT’s conservation use permit, saying the state Board of Land & Natural Resources did not hold a contested case hearing prior to its authorization.
      “We spent eight years now getting the permit, and on Dec. 2 it was invalidated,” TMT International Observatory Executive Director Ed Stone told Gill. “We went through the process, did everything we were asked to do, and it turned out that that was evidently not the right process, so now we’re waiting on what the process needs to be.”
Lexi Manila-Louis, Jyzeiah Garcia and Rylan Peralta caught
the three largest hinale`a. Photo from Lee McIntosh
      Stone said the Land Board has to tell them what they need to do. “It’s their process that had a problem for the court, so the court will instruct them, and they’ll decide what they need to do this time that they didn’t last time. That’s what we need to know before we know we have a way forward,” Stone said.
      “I think all of the partners are concerned because we don’t have a plan right now and we don’t know what it will take to do this job. Only if we have a plan we’ll feel we’re on the right track.”
      See bizjournals.com/pacific.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE nonprofit organizations may apply to be U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program sponsors.
`O Ka`u Kakou volunteers organized the eighth annual Keiki
Fishing Tournament at Punalu`u. Photo by Peter Anderson
      Children in low-income communities are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. However, the programs end when school lets out for the summer. The SFSP helps fill the hunger gap.
      During the summer months, SFSP provides nutritious meals that help children to learn, play, and grow.
      Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to children and teenagers (18 years and younger). Sponsors are encouraged to provide educational or recreational activities.
      For more information about SFSP, contact Jennifer Dang, of Hawai`i Child Nutrition Programs, at 587-3600.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Mauna Loa's 1881 eruption is visible in this drawing
by Joseph Nawahi. Image from USGS/HVO
THE LAVA FLOW THAT CAME TO HILO is the topic at After Dark in the Park Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Within the last 160 years, five eruptions sent lava flows to within 10 miles of Hilo Bay. The 1880-1881 Mauna Loa eruption came the closest, with a flow that posed an immediate threat to Hilo and its bay. During the eruption, Princess Regent Lili`uokalani and Princess Ruth Ke`elikolani led efforts to save Hilo town. As residents offered both Christian prayers and appeals to Pele, preparations were also made to dig ditches, construct rock barriers and blast dynamite in attempts to divert advancing lava streams. After more than nine months, the lava flow stopped, but less than a mile from the bayfront.
      USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist Jim Kauahikaua and HVO volunteer Ben Gaddis present the story of this Mauna Loa eruption using maps, art and photographs of the lava flow that came to Hilo.

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See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.
See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_January2016.pdf.