Ka`u News Briefs Friday, May 19, 2017

Visitors from coffee growing regions from Puerto Rico to India, Colombia and Papua New Guinea celebrated
with Ka`u Coffee farmers, their families and the band El Leo at the kick off party Friday for the
 2017 Ka`u Coffee Festival. Photo by Julia Neal

2017 MISS KA`U COFFEE COURT began making appearances on Friday night with the kick off party for the ninth annual Ka`u Coffee Festival at Pahala Plantation House.
     The event was attended by coffee farmers, local families and visitors from places around the world including China, Canada, Russia and famous coffee growing regions, Colombia, Puerto Rico, India and Papua New Guinea. Puerto Rico and Hawai`i are the only two coffee growing regions in the U.S.

Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017 Jami Beck along with Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee 

Calaysa Koi, Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry Jazmynn Navarro, 

Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower Evalynn Ornelas and First

Ka`u Coffee Flower Lilianna Marques. Photo by Julia Neal

    Entertaining was the Puerto Rican band El Leo, which includes state Senator Russell Ruderman whose territory includes most of the coffee farms in Ka`u. Also performing was Da Backyahd Braddahs with Ti Chun, Makana Kamahele and Sheldon Salmo.
   Miss Ka`u Coffee attendees included Pageant Director Trini Marques and Miss Ka`u Coffee 2017 Jami Beck along with Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee Calaysa Koi, Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry Jazmynn Navarro,  Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower Evalynn Ornelas and First Ka`u Coffee Flower Lilianna Marques. Also attending were 2015 Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda and 2016 Miss Ka`u Coffee Rochelle Koi.
       Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative President Gloria Camba invited everyone to attend the events this week, including the Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest on Sunday, Ka`u Star Gazing at Makanau on Monday, Ka`u Mountain Water System Hike On Wednesday and Thursday, the all day Ho`olaulea with music, coffee tasting and buying, food and much more on Saturday and Ka`u Coffee College next Sunday.
     Miss Ka`u Coffee and her court will appear at numerous events throughout the week and the coming year, including parades and visits to schools, farms and community gatherings.
    See www.kaucoffeefest.com for more on events all this week.

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Ka`u Coffee Festival volunteer Helena Sesson and
Miss Ka`u Coffee 2015 Maria Miranda.
Photo by Asia Sesson

KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST on Sunday is open for entries in the pupu, entre and dessert categories with adult and student divisions. First prizes are $100 each. All recipes must include Ka`u Coffee and must be brought to Ka`u Coffee mill by 10 a.m. They will be judged on creativity, taste and presentation.
    Each contestant is limited to one entry per category. See www.kaucoffeefestival.com and www.kaucoffeemill.com.
     The public is invited to view the judging of the creations and to taste them. Emcee of the event is Makana Kamahele. Prizes are provided by the Edmund C. Olson Trust.

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REJECTING ALL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE DONATIONS is what Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard promised on Friday. Concerning her campaign donations, she released a statement saying: "From the day I was elected to Congress, I promised myself I’d never allow money to influence the decisions I make on behalf of the people who elected me to serve them. Furthermore, I’ve refused to accept contributions from industries like Wall Street banks, Big Pharma, Tobacco, Liquor, and, more recently, Defense. However, from here on out, I've made the decision not to accept money from any political action committees.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard promises to take no PAC money.

     "Here’s the bottom line: we cannot allow the future of our nation and our politics to be driven and shaped by special interests. Citizens United has exposed a major problem for the future of our country—there is far too much dark money influencing our politics. Our policies and our future must be driven by the American people and their interests.
     "I believe in the power of the people and our ability to take action toward a brighter future. When we are informed, involved, and working together toward a common goal, we are more powerful than any special interest group. This is why we need to get corporate money and lobbyists out of politics and elevate the voices of the people of our country," stated Gabbard.

New exhibit includes Iwa Leads the Way. Image from VAC

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WORLDWIDE VOYAGE, HAWA`I SHARES ITS CULTURE WITH THE WORLD, is a new exhibit that opens Saturday, May 20 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. It presents the navigational story of the Hokulea Malama Honua 

worldwide Vooyage, told through photographs, cultural items and art inspiref by the voyage.

     The exhibit continues through July 2 and consists of r a colleciton of mounted photographs, cultural items and art curated by Gary Eoff. The Polynesian Voyaging Scociety shares the exhibit with Volcano Art Center.