Ka`u News Briefs Friday, April 21, 2017

The Miss Ka`u Coffee court for 2016 and contenders for the 2017 titles for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Jr. Miss Ka`u
Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Ka`u Coffee flower will once again represent Ka`u Coffee in the Royal Merrie
Monarch Parade, Saturday in Hilo. The pageant, under the direction of Trini Marques, is May 13 at
Ka`u Coffee Mill.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE WINNER IS DARLENE JAVAR, PRINCIPAL OF NA`ALEHU SCHOOL. The Pahala resident earned $15,000 for a school project and $10,000 cash when she was named Thursday night as the recipient of the Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. The statewide honor is given each year by the Island Insurance Foundation and always to a public school principal. The selection is based on the principal's qualities as "visionary, community-minded." The principal must also have an "entrepreneurial spirit," says a statement from the foundation.  

Darlene Javar, principal of Na`alehu School, is known for her inspiring
teaching methods. On Thursday night she received the Masayuki
Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award. The title comes with
$25,000 and part of it will be used for the school's garden program.

     Javar said she will use the school project funding to bring back and expand the school garden program, which in the past has won awards.        
     Alison Yahna, Parent Community Network Coordinator at the school, and herself a beekeeper, said, "Academic scores improve because education becomes exciting, relevant and applied. Students get to solve real-world problems and invent real-world solutions to the challenges our community faces as they interact with local farmers and entrepreneurs."
       Tyler Tokioka, President of Island Insurance Foundation, said that "Principal Javar exemplifies the type of leadership that can transform our public schools into model learning institutions." He credited Javar for establishing an institute to help new teachers orient to the local community and provide additional financial support as they settle in here before the school year begins.

Darlene Javar receives the Excellence in School Leadership
Award, chosen from nominees from around the state.
Photo from Island Insurance Foundation

       Christina Juan, Vice Principal of Na`alehu School, which has a high number of Marshallese and other immigrant children, said, "The beauty of the surrounding environment often masks the very unique struggle of our families and communities. With the many challenges faced throughout the year, Principal Javar has made it her mission to provide her students with a safe, happy nurturing learning environment that they need in order to thrive."
     Island Insurance, founded in 1940 by Masayuki Tokioka, sports its motto, "Always Here to Help," and states that the company "was created to provide the underserved people of Hawai`i with better insurance options."

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Hawai`i Wildlife Fund is celebrating Earth Day and raising money with
Ocean Air, Love the Sea, Sea Cleaners, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai`i and
The Surfrider Foundation. Photo from HWF

SATURDAY IS EARTH DAY and local organizations are educating and celebrating

     Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, which locally cleans up the Ka`u Coast is partnering with Love the Sea, Sea Cleaners, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i and Surfrider Foundation to discourage plastic pollution and to celebrate the ocean. They are raising money to help Hawai`i Wildlife Fund to continue to implement coastal ecosystem appreciation and marine debris prevention curriculum in local schools. 

     One fundraiser will be on O`ahu where the Ocean Aid event will employ "the global language of music to inform, inspire and enact change on the issue of ocean trash through the power of a community-based worldwide festival," says a Hawai`i Wildlife Fund statement. Ka`u supporters of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund will fly to Honolulu for the celebration at the Waikiki Shell on Saturday, April 30. See www.hawaiiwildlifefund.org

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RECYCLE HAWAI`I will prepare its presentation for the Ka`u Unity Celebration, which comes up next Saturday, April 29 at the Ka`u District Gym in Pahala. "Mahalo for taking action to reduce, reuse and recycle! It takes each of us to make smart choices and practice habits that sustain healthy air, land and water for all beings on our planet- today and for generations to come," says a Recycle Hawai`i statement from Marsha Hee, its education director, who is based in Volcano. See more on ways to protect the Earth at www.recyclehawaii.org.

     Recycle Hawai`i is also calling for Keeping it Green nominations. The award recognizes organizations, businesses, schools and government agencies for demonstrating ongoing commitment and activities that address natural resource conservation, green practices and preserving the environmental quality of life in Hawai`i.
      Winners will be acknowledged for work in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Zero Waste; Climate Change; Energy, Water & Natural Resources; Green Building and Sustainable Design; Native Cultural Gathering Rights and Practices; Native Species; Open Space, Trails and Greenways and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Literacy. The deadline to make nominations is May 1. See www.recyclehawaii.org.

      The Arts & Craft of UPCycling Project is also calling for entries. The contest is open to individuals and groups of all ages to reuse, recreate, repurpose and reclaim unwanted materials and items to upcycle into art, craft, functional or inventive products. Selected entries will appear in the virtual gallery on Recycle Hawai'i's Facebook page. See more at www.recyclehawaii.org

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EARTH DAY, for those headed to Kona this Saturday, April 22, along with Ka`u's County Council member Maile David. includes a festival and public education at Hawai`i Community College - Palamanui Campus. There will be displays, a trash sculpture contest, a koa tree giveaway for those who help remove invasive fountain grass and opportunities to see the campus.          
     The Hawai‘i CC – Pālamanui campus is launching a new Associate of Science in Natural Science degree in Fall 2017. Faculty will be at the event to talk about the new program and provide tours of the new science labs.

A new Natutral Science degree will be offered starting
this Fall at the Hawai`i Community College campus
in Kona. Abover are students in Environmental Science.
Photo from HCC

      Earth Day speakers will include: County Council members Maile David and Karen Eoff on The Ahupua‘a System: Protecting Our Public Trust Resources; Kyle Datta, of the Ulupono Initiative on Food Sustainability; Bruce Andersen, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, on Coral Reef Bleaching Recovery Plan; and Anthony Carrasco, Hawai`i Water Service Co., on Waikoloa Resort Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Well Management for Makalei Golf Club/Huehue Ranch/Kukio Resort. Also giving a presentation will be a Kanaloa Octopus Farm representative.
     Dr. Richard Stevens will  lead an excursion to plant koa trees at the Maka‘ula O’oma Tract of the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve. Those interested should meet at the head of the Makahi Trail at the end of Makahi Street at 9:30 a.m. with a small digging tool and an extra bottle of water for their tree.                     

     For more information about Earth Day Fair at Pālamanui, contact Christina Hoffman at quinlan@hawaii.edu or see https://www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/node/871

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Miss Ka`u Coffee contenders have invited the public to the
Ka`u Coffee Festival for years, as they participate in the
Royal Merrie Monarch Parade. Photo by Julia Neal

THE ROYAL MERRIE MONARCH PARADE in Hilo this Saturday will feature the Miss Ka`u Coffee contingent with current princesses and contenders for the 2017 titles for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Jr. Miss Ka`u Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Coffee Flower. The pageant will be held on Saturday, May 13 at Ka`u Coffee Mill, under the direction of Ka`u Coffee farmer Trini Marques.

Soft Pastel Still Life Workshop, Sat, April 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Patti Pease Johnson offers guidance & inspiration with some handy tips. $50/$45 VAC members plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, April 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants explore the area’s rich geologic history. Free. nps.gov/havo

National Park Rx Day, Sun, April 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A growing movement prescribes parks and nature for the improvement of health. Presentations & activities include a yoga session with Danielle Makaike, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.; lomilomi and kalo, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Walk with a Doc, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, April 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN goes to a public Steering Committee meeting this coming Tuesday, April 25, at Na`alehu Community Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Windward Planning commission will hold a Ka`u CDP public hearing on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at the County of Hawai`i Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Following the Windward Planning Commission making recommendations, the County Council will hold Ka`u CDP public hearings and take action. With approval, Mayor Harry Kim will sign the Ka`u CDP into law and an Action Committee will be appointed to guide the Ka`u CDP implementation. The Draft Ka`u CDP and the Planning Director's "non-substantive revisions" are available at the site: www.kaucdep.info.