Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, November 5, 2017

Kūpuna and Keiki share in the pounding of poi at the cultural booth at Ho‘okupu Hula
 No Ka‘ū Cultural Festival in Pāhala on Saturday, organized by Uhane Pohaku Na Moku O Hawai‘i and
supported by O Ka‘u Kākou, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and Punalu‘u Bake Shop.
 See more photos below. Photo by Julia Neal

FINISHING RENOVATIONS OF SENIOR HOUSING IN PĀHALA is high on state Rep. Richard Onishi's agenda, he told the County Council last week. Onishi, who represents east Ka‘ū into Hilo, also mentioned a senior housing facility in Kea‘au and said, "Both sadly are in tremendous need of repair and upgrade so I've been working with Hawai‘i Housing to move those projects forward." He said he recently was assured that "hopefully, Pāhala will be done next year. No guarantees though because I've been working on it for the past five years."

      Concerning the state Department of Education schools, Onishi said, "Every year I participate with the DOE’s walk through of all of the schools within my district, and that process is basically to look at the prioritization of repair and maintenance projects and that will then be folded into the DOE’s request for repair and maintenance funds to the legislature." He said any important school projects that are not high on the DOE's list in his district could possibly be funded through separate Capital Improvement Program funding at the legislature.

Native Hawaiian weaving arts were taught during Uhane's
cultural festival weekend, led by Kawehi and Debbie Ryder.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Onishi said he is also working on establishing a “residential community farm on land that belongs to the Public Safety Department. Some of you may know its called ‘Field 33’. It’s almost 500 acres, I believe, and its currently not used. It used to be used for their ag program where they did their cattle and pig farming and training,” he said, advocating to its revival for farm work and education for inmates. 

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EDUCATION IN AGRICULTURE at the public schools through weaving it into the Science Technology Engineering Math Component is a goal of state Rep. Richard Creagan who represents west Ka‘ū.
    Not only in the schools, but agricultural training could be inportant to those who have been incarcerated, said Creagan, applauding Rep. Richard Onishi’s work with the Department of Public Safety to establish a residential community farm to help incarcerated people reintegrate in

Mamaki, a native tea that grows wild around Ka‘ū, and attracts the
endangered King Kamehameha Butterfly, was on display and
to taste at the cultural festival. Photo by Julia Neal

to society. Creagan said, “Agriculture is a way they can return and be successful, but they need to have both the training while they’re in prison and then some follow up afterwards. So, I think what he’s proposing is great.”

       Creagan also said that "It is time to do something about the growth of cannabis, either in the form of marijuana or hemp.” He said he supports a controlled legalization.
       He also said he will continue to advocate for the protection of the Islands from invasive species.
Creagan said “the Invasive Species Council should become the Invasive Species Authority. He said that during the 2017 Hawai‘i Legislature, the idea made traction but died in conference committee due to "no clearance for financing." He said he will push for it again. On this island, he named a few invasive species. "Little fire ant is a really dangerous thing, rat lung disease is terrible, coqui frog is a major nuisance."

Big guy from the sate Department of Land & Natural Resources talks
to a little guy about enforcement of laws that protect honu and
other sea creatures, during he cultural fest in Pāhala Saturday.
Photo by Julia Neal

     The House member, who lives on a farm, mentioned that he is working on ag theft bills. “Ag theft is critical. Most of our farmers are small farmers, a little loss is a big loss, right? Even someone who
has a few fruit trees in their front yard… If someone comes in and steals all their breadfruit or lychees or their mangoes, thats devastating to that family, right? I mean, they depend on that for themselves, or their family and neighbors and they come home and their tree is stripped bare after waiting for months… people are very upset."
     Also concerning farming, Creagan said he will join Sen. Russell Ruderman in pushing again for rat lungworm research funding. The disease, which is carried by small snails on fresh produce, has made some people afraid to buy vegetables from local farmers, even though washing them thoroughly prevents people from eating the snails. Creagan called it “insulting” to Ruderman and his district to have the funding denied during the last legislature in a conference committee for “very bad reasons” and “backroom politics.”
      Concerning disease spread from animals to people, Creagan said he thinks its important for a state public health veterinarian to be stationed in the health department, not jus the state Department of Agriculture, and pointed to other states who have both. He said it would help combat “zoonosis - a disease that goes from animals to people - and those are very devastating diseases often, brucellosis certainly can be, leptospirosis can kill you, rat lung disease can kill you, or severely impair you.” He asked the Hawai‘i County Council for support. He mentioned that David Sasaki, a world expert on leptospirosis, had formerly been the state public health veterinarian but that since his departure, the state has “let that position lapse.”

Free sandalwood trees were given out on Saturday as part of the
Ho‘okupu Hula No Ka‘ū Cultural Festival in Pāhala.
Photo by Julia Neal

        On Creagan's hit list for 2018, is banning Chlorpyrifos, which he called "a very potent dangerous pesticide/insecticide that is related to sarin gas. I mean they act just the same way, they came from the same research... It’s a little safer than sarin gas as far as acute toxicity, but it works the same way." He said that Chlorpyrifos causes injuries in the fetus - "severe injuries, and that's called a teratogenic effect." He said the EPA actually banned the pesticide for indoor use in 2001.” According to Creagan, the EPA was supposed to ban Chlorpyrifos entirely in the U.S. but the appointment of Scott Pruitt as head of the agency, prevented the ban. “There are safer things, there are replacement things" for Chlorpyrifos, he said, and promised to reintroduce a bill in 2018 to ban it. "because the EPA didn’t do it."
      Concerning raising the minimum wage to $15, which is strongly supported by Sen. Russell Ruderman, who represents east Ka‘ū, Creagan said, “minimum wage, I think, is controversial but, you know, again, the benefits outweigh the negatives.”
    A physician, Creagan has long supported the the Physician Assisted Suicide bill, also called Death with Dignity, which is legal in five other states for people with incurable illnesses. He predicted it will pass the 2018 Hawai‘i Legislature.

Kanaka Ma‘oli: OHA teaches about taro/kalo on the
grounds of Pāhala Community Center. Photo by Julia Neal

     Concerning tax hikes, particularly those to offset loss of revenue for the County of Hawai‘i, in order to fund the rail system on O‘ahu, Creagan said he will revisit the issue in the 2018 legislature. He said the Transient Accommodations Tax, levied on hotels, vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts, was raised during a special session of the legislature. "I think that's pretty egregious," he said, concluding that property taxes rose here, because the Transient Accommodations Tax, which is used to help fund county government has been capped, to help rail.
    Creagan applauded Hawai‘i County Council for inviting the state legislators for a discussion on plans for 2018, and he emphasized the benefit of continuing to be a team, supporting both state and 

county initiatives.

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Puna Taiko Drummers performed in Pāhala on Saturday and announced their classes at Pāhala Hongwanji
on Mondays and Wednesdays. Photo by Julia Neal

THREE EVENTS CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY ARE PLANNED IN VOLCANO the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 11, and Sunday, Nov. 12. And in addition, entrance fees will be waived for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park both Saturday and Sunday.
     The Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, on the front lawn of Kīlauea Military Camp in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. All veterans in attendance will be invited to the Veteran’s Day Prime Rib Buffet as Kīlauea Military Camp's guests. The event is free and open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. For more details, call 967-8371 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.
     The Veteran’s Day Buffet will be held that same day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Crate Rim Café. The buffet will offer Prime Rib, Baked Ono and Spinach & Mushroom Alfredo. Fees are $27.95 per adult and $14.50 per child aged 6-11. The event is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. For more details, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.
     On Sunday, Nov. 12, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. a "Let's Give Thanks" Chamber Music Concert will be held at Ni‘aulani, Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Volcano Chambers Players, a string quartet, will play a classical chamber music concert to kick off the holiday season and celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. Tickets are $25 per non-member and $20 Volcano Art Center members. For more, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

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KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS MEET TUESDAY, Nov. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.

RETURN TO THE WILD: AN UPDATE ON THE ‘ALALĀ RELEASE is the Tuesday, Nov. 7, After Dark in the Park topic in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, at 7 p.m. ‘Alalā Project staff Jackie Gaudiso-Levita and Rachel Kingsley present and update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of ‘alalā, the endangered Hawaiian crow. Paul Banko (USGS) and Donna Ball (USFWS) will share past experiences. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Pick up the November edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar, 

free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 

through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout

the district. See it online now at kaucalendar.com 

REGISTER KEIKI GRADE K-8 FOR PAPER FALL FLOWER CRAFT by Tuesday, Nov. 7, for the class which takes place Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pāhala Community Center. For more, call 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

DISCOVER THE SKILL OF WEAVING LAU HALA with ‘Aha Pūhala o Puna on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The event is free, though park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HEALTH INSURANCE SIGN-UPS are offered at Ocean View Community Center on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will occur again on Tuesday, Nov. 14. For more, call 939-7033.

THE PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM AT THE STATE CAPITOL is offering citizens training to help them interact with government, especially leading up to the 2018 Hawai‘i Legislature.

     Several opportunities to learn learn about the legislative process and how to participate will be provided at the Your Voice workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i training room near the Kona Airport, and on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hawai‘i Community College Manoa Campus Building 379, Room 1 in Hilo. Both events are free to attend.

     The workshop is designed to be helpful to newcomers and seasoned advocates alike.

     For additional information, contact the Public Access Room (PAR):
phone (808)587-0478, email par@capitol.hawaii.gov, or visit LRBhawaii.org/PAR. Read the Ka‘ū News Briefs for Thursday, Oct. 26 for more.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LEGAL AID will be provided on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The event offers free social security, veterans information and legal advice. For more call 939-7033

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP REMOVE INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANTS that prevent native plans from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This Stewardship at the Summit event is Saturday, Nov. 11, at 8:45 a.m.
     To join the effort, meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers should wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants and bring a hat, rain-gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools will be provided. No advance registration is required, and there is no cost to participate, park entrance fees waived in observance of Veteran's Day. Visit the park website for additional planning details: nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm. More events are planned for Nov. 18 and 25.

A JUMBLE & PLANT SALE is offered at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All you can eat pancakes will be available for $3 per person. For more details, call 939-7000 or email StJudeHawaii@bak.rr.com.

A PAINT YOUR OWN SILK SCARF Class will be hosted Saturday, Nov. 11,  from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center. Big Island artist Patti Pease Johnson teaches color theory and silk scarf painting techniques using three colors of each artists choosing. Beginners and intermediate artists welcome. Fees are $50 per non-member and $45 per Volcano Art Center member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST at the Ocean View Community Center is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more details, call 939-7033.

REALMS AND DIVISIONS OF KAHUKU, a moderately difficult two-mile, guided hike at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, takes place Saturday, Nov. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Hike Kahuku Unit’s newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, and explore the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring a snack for the talk story segment of this hike.

JAZZ IN THE FOREST, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., is Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Volcano Art Center. A special evening of “Tin Pan Alley” featuring Leslie Harlib Hal Glatzer, Jp Thoma and the Jazztones. Tickets are $20 per non-member and $18 per Volcano Art Center member (available online until Nov 10). Wine, beer, soft drinks and pupu will be available for purchase. For more call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

RIDE SO THEY CAN WALK, THE ROTARY CLUB POLIO PLUS FUNDRAISER, begins Saturday, Nov. 11, and continues through Nov. 18. Participants ride bikes on their own schedule, desired distance and place to raise funds to help end Polio worldwide.
     To sign up for Ride So They Can Walk, make the $20 registration check to Charlene Meyers, with Polio Plus Chair on the notation line. Make out contribution checks of $100 or more to Rotary D5000 - Polio Ride. Send both to: Charlene Meyers, Polio Plus Chair, P.O. Box 59, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718.
     For more information or to sign-up contact Rotary Club Polio Plus Chair and Volcano resident, Charlene Meyers, by emailing  charlene.rotary@gmail.com or calling 985-8800.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION IS OFFERING EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
     The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

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