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Sunday, May 21, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, May 21, 2017

Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower Evalynn Ornelas shows off entries for the annual Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest.
Photo by Julia Neal
KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST drew a wide variety of creations on Sunday at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Hungry observers enjoyed them, including Ka`u Coffee Festival Emcee Makana Kamahele, Junior Miss Ka`u Coffee Calaysa Koi, who served as a student judge for both adult and student divisions; Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry Jayzmynn Navarro; and Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower Evalynn Ornelas.
Infused Ka`u Coffee Fried Wontons won the Student Entree
category, the creation by Tiare Wong Yuen.
Photo by Julia Neal
    In the Student Division, Tiare Wong Yuen won first in the Pupu category for her Infused Ka`u Coffee Fried Wontons. She also won first in Desserts with her Ka`u Coffee Latte Cake. Melia Okimoto won first place for the student Entree dish, with her Ka`u Coffee Chicken.
    In the adult division, Peggy Kilkenny won first place in the Dessert category with her Ka`u Coffee Latte Cheesecake and also first in the Entree category with her Ka`u Coffee Enchiladas. First in the Pupu category was a Ka`u Coffee Marlin Dip
    All of the first place winners received a $100 prize from the Edmund C. Olson Trust II.
    See the complete list of winners in the Tuesday Ka`u News Briefs and also in the The Ka`u Calendar print newspaper for June.

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Miss Ka`u Coffee Peaberry Jazmynn Navarro displays
dessert entries for the Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest.
Photo by Julia Neal
STARGAZING AT MAKANAU is Monday's Ka`u Coffee Festival Event. Reservations can be made at Ka`u Coffee Mill or by calling 928-0550. The event involves not only an introduction to Ka`u's stars, but a visit to the Makanau historic site and a discussion on its history. The heiau area is stewarded by the Demetrius Oliveira family of Pahala.

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THE DIRECTORY 2017 FOR KA`U is now onlineThe Directory is a partnership between Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and The Ka`u Calendar Newspaper.  It serves as a business and resource guide for the Ka`u District and includes maps of the communities and photos by such celebrated photographers as Peter Anderson. 
The Directory is online for Ka`u
     The Directory raises funds for scholarships for Ka`u students in higher education. It also helps to fund other Chamber activities, such as the annual Beauty of Ka`u Art Show. 
     The Directory is distributed annually through 7,500 print copies at no cost to residents and local businesses. 
     The 2017 cover for The Directory is a quilt which won the popular vote at the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Art Show last fall.
     The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce scholarship application deadline is June 1 and higher education students and those beginning higher education can apply. See www.kauchamber.org.
     To read The Directory online, click on the top or bottom of each page on the website.

THE NEW HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEBSITE is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by HVO scientists:
     In 1998, a U.S. first-class postage stamp cost 32 cents and a gallon of gas in Hawai`i set you back about $1.50. Apple unveiled the iMac, Google was founded, and Pokémon was released in the U.S. for Nintendo® Game Boy.
    Fast forward to 2017. Email and paying bills online have all but replaced the need to mail a letter for 49 cents. The price of gas has doubled, but it's now possible to opt for an electric car and never go to the pump. And amazingly, many people carry a pocket-sized computer (a smartphone) with the capability to search the Internet for whatever they want, any time of the day—or to just play Pokémon GO.
    Why compare 1998 to 2017? It’s related to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website, which was initially launched in March 1998. Not much changed over the course of 19 years—until last week, when an extensive makeover of the website was rolled out.
    The changes to HVO’s website are much more than "skin" deep—its “bones” are completely different. 
     What you now see on your computer or mobile device is supported by a powerful database that houses both informational content and nearly all volcano monitoring data that stream into HVO from hundreds of instruments throughout Hawai`i. This new structure allows for a more efficient and consistent website, with simplified maintenance that leads to fewer broken links.
    Written sections were added and expanded to explain the eruption history of many Hawaiian volcanoes. But the real stars of the new website are the interactive maps that display earthquake and monitoring data.
A comparison of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory homepage in 1998 (left), the year the website was originally launched, and in 2017 (right), following an extensive makeover to make the website more interactive, mobile-friendly, and easier to maintain. Check out HVO’s new website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/.
    On HVO’s old site, you could only see data from seismometers and a few deformation instruments on Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. The new map interface allows access to more data types, and you can view near-real-time data streams across all our monitored volcanoes by clicking on the instrument symbols. The maps can be reached via “Earthquakes” in the website menu bars, or via the "Monitoring" tab in sub-menus on the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcano pages.
     Sharing results of monitoring and scientific study is a primary goal of HVO scientists. Kīlauea Volcano's Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption was in its 15th year when HVO’s first website was launched and the Internet made it easier to share information about it.
     With the advent of the HVO website came detailed daily updates of Kīlauea eruptive activity. Field photographs were regularly posted (and even back-dated to 1997) on the website, and in 2000, scientists began posting maps of the East Rift Zone lava flows. Through HVO’s website, the eruption of Kīlauea reached a growing and devoted worldwide audience.
     Advances in technology and volcano monitoring capability led to more enhancements to the website.
       In 2003, HVO scientists built a powerful volcano-monitoring data analysis and visualization tool called "VALVE." By 2006, deformation data (tilt and GPS) that record the up-and-down movement (inflation and deflation) of Kīlauea's summit and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater were made available on the HVO website. Webcam images were then added steadily—Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō in 2004, Mauna Loa in 2005, Halemaʻumaʻu in 2008—with a dedicated webcams page created in 2009.
    In 2011, the hard-coded HTML pages for images, videos, and Volcano Watch articles were transitioned into a database. Although what you saw on your computer didn't change dramatically, the database made it much easier to post, manage, and archive information. In the same year, HVO launched its first interactive map (VolcWeb) to display earthquake monitoring data for Hawaiian volcanoes. The 2017 website map improves and enhances the information that is available, especially for mobile devices.
     Conceptualization for the redesign of HVO’s website began six years ago. The longstanding history and large audience for HVO's online presence were carefully considered in the development of the new website. Its architecture allows for continual and easier improvements, which are ongoing and will take into account how users interact with the website.
    "Change is rarely easy, and it takes time to adapt to something new," explain the Volcano Watch scientist. "We hope that once you explore HVO’s new website and learn the pathways to your favorite content, you’ll find gems along the way and enjoy learning more about Hawaiian volcanoes. Feedback about the website is welcome at askHVO@usgs.gov."

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www.kaucalendar.com




























Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, May 20, 2017

Ka`u High School held its first graduation in the new Ka`u District Gym on Friday night. Photo by Pam Taylor
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL, WITH 39 GRADUATES, held the ceremonies Friday night for the first time in the new Ka`u District Gym.
     Co-Valedictorians Chole Gan and Jenny Mauricio Henriques encouraged the class to reach for their goals and dreams. Na`alehu School Principal Darlene Javar gave the Commencement Address with inspiration for a successful and happy future.
Valedictorian Janny Mauricio Henriques, Student Body President Pete 
Dacalio and Co-Valedictorian Chloe Gan. Photo by Pam Taylor
     Ka`u High School Principal Sharon Beck named scholarship winners:
     Destiny Beck and Tristan Davis received Harry McKee honors. Charisma Felipe received Na Wahi Pana O Ka`u and Foodland Shop for Higher Education Scholarships.
     Chloe Gan received scholarships from American Association of University Women, Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship, F. Keohnen Ltd. Scholarship, Harry McKee Scholarship, Mamoru and Aiko Takitani Foundation Outstanding Student Award, UH Hilo-Hawai`i Scholars Award and University of Portland President's Scholarship.
     Alkysha Gustafson-Savella received a Shoreline Community College Scholarship and Jenny Mauricio Henriquez received a UH Hilo-Hawai`i Scholars Award and University of Virginia Award.
Na`alehu School Principal Darlene
Javar gave the Commencement
Address. Photo by Pam Taylor
     Travis Taylor received a UH- Hilo Hawai`i Scholars Award and Trevor Taylor received a Citizen Scholar Award from Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association, Department of Education and the Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper.     
     The Class of 2017 Award Recipients are: Pete Dacalio for Athletics, Chloe Gan for Scholastics, Jenny Mauricio Henriquez for Leadership, Jacob Maygra for Literacy & Artistic Performance and and Travis Taylor for Information Technology.
     The Principal, vice Principal Deisha Davis and Athletic Director Kalae Namohala presented the diplomas. Graduates are:
     Sheanale Agpaoa, Dayse Andrade, Titan Ault, Joanne Baruelo, Destiny Beck, Benly Bolaoen, Jamal Buyuan, Jessica Coss, Pete Dacalio, Jr., Tristan Davis, Cedrick Felipe, Charisma Felipe, Jacob Flores, Jr., Cedrick Freitas, Sheri Lynn Freitas, Chloe Gan, Daniel Garo, Benjamin Gouveia, Alysha Gustafson-Savella, Ismarjan Guzman, Layna Haina, Julia Ka`awa, Jameson LeMaire, Javier Lobos Paz, Janny Maruicio Henriquez, Jacob Maygra, Yokko Nagel, Joven Padrigo, Chadwick Pajimola; Kathryne Patara, Brittney Perry, Ka`ala Petrill-Abrojina, Arjhell Salmo-Grace, Lomon Silk, Taylor Silva, Richard Souza III, Travis Taylor, Trevor Taylor and Kalamakoa Waiwai`ole.

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CONDEMNING THE $460 BILLION ARMS DEAL WITH SAUDIA ARABIA was the Saturday statement from Rep. Tuslsi Gabbard, who represents Ka`u in Congress. The congresswoman said she opposes President Donald Trump Administration’s arms sale—$110 billion immediately and $350 billion over the next 10 years—because the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has "a devastating record of human rights violations at home and abroad, and a long history of providing support to
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard opposes the Arms deal with Saudi Arabia. See more
at www.bigislandvideonews.com.
terrorist organizations that threaten the American people." Gabbard contended that "Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest sponsor and propagator of the extremist Wahhabi Salafist ideology that fuels terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. Based on Saudi Arabia’s history and track record, there is a significant likelihood these weapons will be used against innocent civilians or end up in the hands of terrorist groups."
CIA Director Mike Pompeo gave the
Saudi Prince an award for excellence
in intelligence and contribution to
peace. 
     Gabbard declared that "Saudi Arabia has spent hundreds of billions of dollars spreading their extreme Wahhabi Salafist ideology around the world, creating fertile ground for terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda to recruit, while simultaneously providing direct support to terrorist groups who pose a direct threat to US interests and who are fighting to overthrow the Syrian government.
Gabbard asked Secretary of
Defense James Mattis to end
U.S. participation in Yemen war.
"The hypocrisy in the Trump administration’s actions toward Saudi Arabia began in February 2017 with the newly-appointed CIA Director Mike Pompeo presenting Saudi Crown Prince bin Nayef with the George Tenet Award in recognition of Prince bin Nayef’s ‘excellent intelligence performance, in the domain of counter-terrorism and his unbound contribution to realise world security and peace.’ This hypocrisy continues now as the Trump administration talks tough against ISIS and terrorism, while selling weapons to, supporting, and praising a country that beheads dissidents, oppresses women, persecutes religious minorities, atheists, and LGBT people, and is the greatest supporter of terror groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS in the world
     Gabbard pointed to her bill H.R. 608, the bipartisan Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars to provide weapons, cash, intelligence, or any support to armed militants who are allied with al-Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups. It would also prohibit the U.S. government from funneling money and weapons through other countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, which, she says, "are directly or indirectly supporting terrorists."
     Gabbard also sent a letter to Secretary Mattis urging an end to the United States’ military participation in Yemen’s civil war, "where 19 million people need emergency support and which has never been authorized by Congress." She called for a Congressional briefing on the White House’s strategy in Yemen.
Star Gazing from Makanau is Monday,
as part of the Ka`u CoffeeFestival.
Photo by Andres Richard Hara
today. This arms deal will enable Saudi Arabia to use U.S.-made weapons in their war crimes against Yemeni civilians in a brutal civil war, and continue perpetuating
human rights atrocities at home and abroad," Gabbard concluded.

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PEOPLE AND LAND OF KAHUKU - Sunday, 9:30 am. to noonat the Kahuku Unite of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free, guided 2.5  mile hike covers rugged terrain and human history of the area.

KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST - 11 a.m. Sunday at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Entries due by 10 a.m.
     Prizes in adult and student categories for recipes using Ka`u Coffee. Public welcome to the judging and tasting. Ka`u Coffee Mill on Wood Valley Road.

KA`U STAR GAZING at Makanau on Monday evening, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. An event of the Ka`u Coffee Festival. See www.kaucoffeefest.com. Call 928-5050.