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| The twenty-fifth anniversary of Hurricane Iniki falls into this hurricane season. Image from NOAA |
This marks the first season in which the Ka`u Regional Gym will serve as the area's disaster shelter. The nearly $20 million complex was built, in part, with federal money to construct the gym to also serve as a certified regional shelter.
According to NOAA, the 2017 hurricane "outlook reflects the possible transition to a weak El Nino during the hurricane season, along with a prediction for near-or above-average ocean temperatures in the main hurricane formation region, and near-or weaker-than-average vertical wind shear in that same region," said Gerry Bell, PhD., NOAA;s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. He noted that "If El Nino develops, it may become strong enough to produce an above-normal season."
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| The new Ka`u Districty Gym is serving as a hurricane shelter for the first time this season, which begins June 1. Photo by Julia Neal |
El Nino decreases the vertical wind shear over the tropical Central Pacific, which favors the development of more and stronger tropical cyclones. El Nino also favors more westward-tracking storms from the Eastern Pacific into the Central Pacific.
According to NOAA, the Central Pacific basin may also be shifting toward a longer-term period of increased tropical cyclone activity, in response to changes in global sea surface temperatures patterns in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, which historically last anywhere from 25 to 40 years.
"The 2017 hurricane season marks the 25th anniversary of Hurricane Iniki, which brought life-changing impacts that have lasted more than a generation," said Chris Brenchely, director of NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "Considering the devastation we saw from Iniki, as well as the more recent impacts from Hurricane Iselle and Tropical Storm Darby, I remind everyone that now is the time to make sure you and your family are prepared for hurricane season. Become weather-ready by signing up for weather alerts, developing and practicing a family emergency plan and building an emergency kit before hurricane season begins.
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| Anna sent gulches raging up Wood Valley road in 2014. Photo by Julia Neal |
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STOP ARMING SAUDIA ARABIA is Ka`u' member in the U.S. House of Representative's statement to constituents today, taking on Pres. Donald Trump's arm deal with the kingdom. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, "The news the past few days has been tough. For so many in Manchester, what began as just another day, ended in a horrific tragedy as a terrorist set off a bomb killing innocent civilians at a concert hall. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Today, we are getting reports out of the Philippines that an ISIS-linked attack has taken the lives of 21 souls. This highlights yet again how critical it is for us to work together to defeat these terrorists, and the ideology fueling their terror."
Gabbard contends that "It's impossible to talk seriously about this issue without acknowledging that just a few days before this terrible attack, President Trump signed a $460 billion, ten year arms deal with Saudi Arabia—a brutal theocracy that oppresses its own people, and has spent billions of dollars exporting their extreme Wahhabi Salafist ideology around the world—the very same ideology fueling terror groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda."
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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard opposes arms deal between the Trump Administratio and Saudi Arabia's rulers. Photo from Wikipedia |
The Congresswoman also claimed that "Saudi Arabia, along with Qatar, Turkey, and other countries, are directly and indirectly supporting these terrorist groups with money, weapons, and intelligence. So our big weapons deal will make it so US weapons are likely to end up in the hands of terrorists, and to be used in war crimes against Yemeni civilians.
Gabbard charges that "Trump has condemned deals like this in the past. In 2011, Trump wrote about Saudi Arabia in his book, 'It's the world's biggest funder of terrorism. Saudi Arabia funnels our petrodollars, our very own money, to fund the terrorists that seek to destroy our people while the Saudis rely on us to protect them.'"
The U.S. House member states that "If the US is to supply Saudi Arabia with weapons we should, at the very least, demand that they: End their spread of radical Wahhabi Salafist exclusivist ideology through madrassas and mosques around the world, which is undermining moderate Muslims, from Pakistan to Indonesia, to Europe;
"End their brutal attack on the sovereign country of Yemen, which is resulting in the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of civilians;
"End its arming and support of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Syria and other parts of the world;
"Stop oppression and persecution of dissenters, women and the LGBT community;
"Allow Christians, Hindus, Muslims, atheists and other religious minorities to worship or not worship as they please in Saudi Arabia, without being arrested and punished."
Said Gabbard, "It is news like this that makes clear the need for a new movement for peace powered by the aloha spirit—the spirit of love and respect for all."
She points to her bill in the House of Representatives, HR 608, Stop Arming Terrorists Act, which would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to directly or indirectly support armed militants allied with terrorist groups like al Qaeda, and "would stop our practice of funneling money through countries like Saudi Arabia who support these terrorist groups,"
Gabbard asks constituents to sign on to co-sponsor to Stop Arming Terrorists Act "to require our government to abide by the same laws that apply to its citizens."
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| Sen. Mazie Hirono is back on the Senate floor, testifying on Wednesday in support of Navy shipyards. |
A STRONG NAVY FOR HAWAI`I is the substance of the message from Sen. Mazie Hirono today when she questioned shipbuilding industry witnesses today. in the U.S. Senate.
Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, which oversees Navy and Marine Corps programs, asked the shipbuilding industry witnesses today to detail the importance of readiness, prioritizing fleet maintenance, and workforce development when discussing increasing the number of ships in the Navy’s fleet. The Senator also pressed industry leaders on how procurement policies can be improved to ensure that the Navy remains fit to fight.
“In Hawai`i, we understand the threats our country faces and the Navy’s role in confronting them. This is particularly true at a time when four out of five of our country’s most pressing national security challenges are present in the Pacific Theater.
“Any plan to expand the size of our Navy must provide a simultaneous commitment to continuing shipyard modernization, funding maintenance availability, and developing a skilled workforce to maintain the fleet.”
Hirono has recently been opposing cutbacks in Navy shipyards in Honolulu and in the important maintenance provided by shipyard workers on O`ahu.
She pointed to the U.S.S Boise, a Navy submarine commissioned in 1992, which has lost its diving certification, and won't be overhauled for several years. It will have set idle for two years until maintenance begins - a $1 billion submarine tied up to a pier for lack of maintenance, she said. In March 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Boise launched a full load of Tomahawk missiles. Ship and crew received the Navy Unit Commendation.
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MORE THAN 70 VENDORS with Ka`u Coffee, local foods, arts, crafts and community outreach will be at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaulea this Saturday at Pahala Community Center.
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MORE THAN 70 VENDORS with Ka`u Coffee, local foods, arts, crafts and community outreach will be at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaulea this Saturday at Pahala Community Center.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with emcee Makana Kamahele and opening hula with Ab Valencia and Halau Hula Kalehuakiekaiu.
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| Halau Hula Leonalani with Kumu Debbie Ryder will perform this Saturday at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaulea. Photo by Julia Neal |
At 10 a.m., enjoy Harry Evangelista and Tui Masaniai. At 10:30 a.m., watch the Coffee Cherry Picking Competition and listen to Calvin Ponce and Hands of Time. At 11 a.m., Hannah's Makana `Ohana Halau performs, followed by Cuppa Joe. At noon, meet the Miss Ka`u Coffee Court, with Queen Jami Beck.
At 12:30 p.m., see Halau Hula O Leonalani with Kumu Debbie Ryer, followed by Demetrius Oliveira and the band Keaiwa. At 1:45 p.m., it's Back Yahd Braddahs, with Lary Dupio Band at 2:15 p.m., and Bolo at 2:45 p.m., Sammi Fo and Halau Kahokukauahiahionalani at 3:30 p.m. At 4:15 p.m., listen to Jean Pierre Thoma and the Jazztones, followed by Foggy.
Enjoy the Ka`u Coffee Experience inside Pahala Community Center all afternoon. Farm and mill tours will leave from the Community Center.
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