Ka`u News Briefs Monday, April 3, 2017

Sen. Mazie Hirono spoke at a We Object rally over the weekend in opposition to the Trump Supreme Court 

appointment. Photo from Senator Hirono

KA`U'S U.S. SENATOR, MAZIE HIRONO, VOTED NO on the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, following her participation in a weekend We Object rally against the appointment. Before the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send the nomination to the full Senate, with 11 Republicans in support and 9 Democrats in opposition, Hirono gave testimony:
     "Over the past two months, Donald Trump has nominated a parade of extreme and unqualified people to important government positions. We have an Education Secretary who doesn't even believe in public education, a Treasury Secretary who profited from the 2008 mortgage crisis and an Environmental Protection Administration administrator who seems not to believe in environmental protection."
     She said that when Trump nominated Gorsuch, "you could almost hear an audible gasp of relief. President Trump didn't nominate a member of his family. He didn't nominate a television personality. He nominated a Columbia and Harvard educated lawyer with ten years of experience on the Circuit Court. But we can not and should not evaluate Judge Gorsuch on the basis of, I have to say, of the very low bar that President Trump has established for his nominees."

Sen. Mazie Hirono has been one of the more strident questioners
of  Judge Neil Gorsuch during his confirmation hearings.

     Hirono contended that "Paper credentials are not enough. This is for the highest court of the land, a lifetime appointment, a court that makes decisions that impacts all of our lives. ....We should not give Judge Gorsuch a pass just because he has these credentials. Judge Gorsuch's nomination is the product of a years-long campaign by extreme right wing organizations to continue to transform the Supreme Court in their image."
     She said that Trump "wanted someone who would overturn Roe V Wade (banning abortion), prioritize the religious freedom of a corporation over the rights of its employees and uphold an expansive view of the Second Amendment (objecting to gun control)." She said that "right wing groups" have spent over $10 million in the last six weeks to support the Gorsuch nomination.
     It is expected that Democrats will have enough votes to filibuster the nomination on the Senate floor, but that Republicans will change the rules to allow a simple majority vote instead of the traditional 60 votes to approve Gorsuch to Supreme Court, possibly by the end of this week.

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Miss Ka`u Coffee Candidates and Pageant Director Trini Marques O(center) in 2016.
Photo by Michael Worthington

YOUNG LADIES CAN ENTER THE MISS KA`U COFFEE SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANTS, ages three to 24, by April 10. The Miss Ka`u Coffee, the Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee, the Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry and the Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower pageants will be held on Saturday, May 13 at Ka`u Coffee Mill.

    Miss Ka`u Coffee contenders must be between 16 and 24 years of age and single. They will compete in the categories of Career Outfit, Talent, Evening Gown, Swimsuit and Interview.

    Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee contenders must be between 11 and 15 year of age and will compete in the categories of Hobby outfit, Talent, Evening Gown and Interview.

    Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry contenders must be between six and ten years of age and compete in categories of Character Outfit, Talent, Evening Gown and Interview.

    Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower contenders must be between 3 and 5 years of age and compete in categories of Character Outfit and Evening Gown.

     To enter the pageants by April 10, call Pageant Director Trinidad Marques at 928-0606.

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Ka`u Trojan boys have lost only once this season. Volleyball home games
are Thursday, April 13, and Saturday, April 15.
Photo by Pam Taylor

KA`U HIGH IS STANDING OUT IN BOYS VOLLEYBALL this season, with the varsity team experiencing only one loss.
       Ka‘ū traveled to Parker School in Waimea on March 24 to win 25-10, 25-19 and 25-12 with the varsity team. JV also beat Parker, 25-11 and 25-21.
    Trojans traveled to Honoka‘a on March 19 and won 25-18, 25-9 and 26-24.
     Ka‘ū High beat Ehunui 25-14, 25-14 and 25-11 on March 15.
     On March 8, Ka‘ū received Parker School at the Pāhala campus and beat the JV team 25-14 and 25-23. Trojans also beat Parker varsity 25-15, 25-14 and 25-8.
      When Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy traveled to Ka‘ū on March 4, Hawai‘i Prep won with the JV games 25-23, 11-15 and 15-10. Hawai‘i Prep also took home the varsity win, with 25-15-, 25-16 and 25-5.
     When Honoka‘a came to Ka‘ū on March 1, the Trojans stood their ground, winning the JV games 25-17 and 25-9. Trojan varsity won with 25-27, 25-22, 26-24 and 27-25.
    Upcoming home games are on Thursday, April 13 and Saturday, April 15.

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KA`U HIGH GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM  saw some tough play in March. On March 29, Trojan girls welcomed Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy to home turf. Lead pitcher Sheri Lynn Freitas accomplished three strikeouts. Analei Emmsley posted two runs batted in, two homeruns and two singles. Reishalynnn Jara hit a triple and a double. Lei Chun hit two singles. Chauna Lisa Valez hit two doubles and a single. Kanani Petrill-Abrojin hit a single and Alysha GustafsonSavella hit a single, double and triple. Hawai‘i Preparatory won the game 19- 15. In March, Ka‘ū also lost to Honoka‘a, 16-4, Konawaena 22-4, and Waiakea 17-7.

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Artist Don Elwing collaborated with
Na`alehu students on an artwork for
their school.

OCEAN VIEW MARINE ARTIST  Don Elwing is the featured solo artist at P.O.R.T.A.L. Gallery, specializing in environmental-themed art in Pāhoa, for the month of April. Elwing will also be live at Pāhoa's Second Saturday Art walk on April 8 on Main Street.
     At the end of March, Elwing set up a portable art gallery at Pāhoa Elementary with 30 pieces of what he termed "awareness art" for all grades to view and created 3 art pieces of an ‘alalā, an ‘ōhi‘a lehua and a volcano, with three 4th grade classes. Elwing also set up an art gallery of his work at Nā'ālehu Math and Science Night in March and guided attendees to collaborate on an art piece for the school. Using pieces of net and rope that washed up on the shore of Kamilo beach, sisters Rylan and Roxie Casteneda added the last pieces, turning rubbish into a ʻōhi‘a lehua work of art, which Elwing donated to the school.

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Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, April 4 and 5. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. See hawaiicounty.gov for agendas and live-streamed and archived meetings.

www.kaucalendar.com

Nature Conservancy Update, Tue, April 4 at 3 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. John Replogle informs the public. 939-2442

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, April 4, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

Endangered Marine Wildlife: Threats & Mitigation Measures, Tue, April 4, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Susannah Welch of the Marine Wildlife Program shares innovative ways to protect species, including promotion of barbless hooks and their usefulness in sustaining Hawai‘i’s fisheries. Free; park entrance fees apply.

An Evening with Claudia Bruhin, Tue, April 4, 7 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. La Meridiana Int’l School for Ceramic Arts administrator shows a photographic retrospective on the center’s evolution. Free; donations accepted. 967-8222