Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, June 4, 2017

Mosquitoes reflect the changing world as they move territory as climate warms. After Dark in the Park
on Tuesday at Kilaeua Visitor Center presents a USGS research biologist with predictions for Hawai`i.
See story below. Photo from USGS

FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S TERROR ATTACK IN LONDON,  Hawai`i Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who represents Ka`u, released the following statement:

     "Today we woke up to news of another terror attack in Britain. It caps a week of tragedy around the world. A suicide bombing in Baghdad claimed the lives of at least 13 people who were breaking their fast for Ramadan. There were several bombings in Afghanistan this past week, the largest killing at least 90 people. Around the world, terror attacks are increasing, but (Pres. Donald) Trump’s response is the wrong one: launching an illegal missile attack against Syria, deploying more U.S. troops into the Middle East with ambiguous objectives, and signing a massive arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with Hawai`i's new VA Director, Jennifer
Gutowski, last week, and said she will work with her to increase
services to Veterans of war. Photo from Tulsi Gabbard

   "For the past 15 years, we’ve spent trillions of dollars overthrowing governments we don’t like and trying to rebuild those countries in our own image. It's all been done in the guise of 'helping people,' but it hasn't helped anyone. Our policies have killed or wounded tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers, caused millions of refugees, and squandered trillions of U.S. taxpayer dollars -- money that could have been used to rebuild our country's infrastructure and establish a health care system for all Americans. This disastrous foreign policy must end.
    "These wars have made the military-industrial complex much richer through increased defense spending, while making every day Americans poorer.
    "Political campaigns have become a multi-million dollar business for the PAC and political class in Washington who think they are the powerbrokers. But they underestimate and discount the power of our voices to make real change - the voices of real people in communities all across this country who are working hard every day, and who care deeply about our country and our democracy. This movement for peace that is fueled by aloha starts with us."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter

CONGRESSWOMAN COLLEEN HANABUSA, who represents urban Hawai`i in the U.S. House of Representatives, came out with a statement today on global warming:

     "Last week it became even clearer that our environment is under serious threat. Since the beginning of his term, we've seen President (Donald) Trump's administration roll back essential environmental protections and funding for our National Park Service, openly deny climate change, and threaten our vital ecosystems. And now, President Trump has pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, leaving the U.S. out of the fight to combat global warming with other countries around the world.

      As a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Hanabusa wrote, "I have made environmental protection a top issue. I know how our beautiful environment provides a livelihood for people across our great state. I’ve fought to protect treasures such as Haleakala National Park and our abundant coral reefs, as well as supported preparedness efforts to prevent the devastation of tsunamis. The bottom line is that global warming will affect us all - and like the many foreign leaders and business executives who support the Paris Climate Accord, I am disgusted by this administration's move to pull out of the agreement."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, June 5, 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033.

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, June 6, 6 – 8 p.m., Ka`u Regional Gym activity room.

I, Mosquito: Our Changing World, Tue, June 6, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Research Biologist Dennis LaPointe, Ph.D. explains the life cycle of one of the planet’s most maligned insects. While sharing information from recent wildlife studies here in Hawai‘i and sobering projections of the future, LaPointe offers practical advice and innovative adaptive strategies for coping with a changing world. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Open Mic Night, Wed, June 7, 6 – 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees apply.

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, June 3, 2017

More than 4,500 attended the ninth annual Ka`u Coffee Festival, according to organizers who are
wrapping up the three weeks of activities. Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Fest

KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS have come up with some results of their three weeks of celebrating and promoting the local industry. The ninth annual Ka‘ū Coffee Festival drew some 4,500 people to its Ho‘olaule‘a May 27, at Pahala Community Center, making it the best year to date.                 The day saw a wide range of activities, from coffee tasting to hula to music, a $1,000 award going to Pahala resident Dennis Salmo for the Buy Local, It Matters program, and a live goat going to Reggie Hashimoto, of BEI chemicals and fertilizers. He turned the goat over to coffee farmers who killed and ate it the next day.
     Throughout the Ho`olaulea day Miss Ka`u Coffee Jami Beck and her court met with visitors and local residents to talk about Ka`u Coffee.

The Buy Local, It Matters drawing netted Pahala resident Dennis
Salmo $1,000. Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Fest

     Chief organizer Chris Manfredi said, “The 2017 Ka‘ū Coffee Festival enjoyed the highest attendance in our nine-year history with more than 4,500 attendees plus 70 vendors – an increase of more than 500 attendees and 15 vendors over 2016. He said that the Ka‘ū Coffee College, held last Sunday, “was particularly successful, with more than 50 attendees, another high water mark. There were educational discussions focused on increasing efficiencies and improving quality, and the growers really drank it up!
     “There was a discussion on breeding flat bark beetles as a biocontrol to combat coffee berry borer and another on the science behind fermentation. At the conclusion of the classroom sessions we travelled to a local farm for a live demonstration of wet-milling on Penagos wet milling equipment.”
     That farm is in Wood Valley and owned by Miles Mayne, who welcomed farmers to see its transition from McCall’s Flower Farm to Ka‘ū Coffee.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Jami Beck at the Ho`olaulea.
Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Fest

        Said Manfredi, “I am thrilled by the remarkable level of engagement and the large number of participants. And if that wasn’t enough, the Penagos representative conducted a second classroom session to demonstrate detailed set-up and maintenance of their wet mills, and three days more of visits to area farms for individual meetings to fine-tune the machines already in use in Ka‘ū.”
     Manfredi, who sells Ka‘ū Coffee to Starbucks and has been introducing Starbucks representatives to Ka`u farmers, said, “The festival has evolved to include not only a celebration of the outstanding quality of Ka‘ū coffee and the remarkable people and special place that produces it, but an open forum for learning and sharing of information. This education will have the net effect of widening the profit margins for growers, putting more money in their pockets and providing more resources for their families. We’re also seeing an increase in the number of young people getting involved, not only in the festival, but in the broader industry. This bodes very well for the sustainability and resiliency of the Ka‘ū coffee industry. I could not be more happy with the results of this festival."

Chief  Coffee Fest organizer Chris Manfredi. See his
interview at www.bigislandvideonews.com

     Brenda Iokepa Moses, of Ka‘ū Mahi, the company that owns the land where most of the Ka‘ū Coffee farmers grow their crop, organized the vendors. “What a great turnout this year to honor and celebrate our coffee farmers,” she said. “Lots of hours in preparation and volunteer work but always well worth it when you see the community come together and enjoy the day with their families.
     Ka`u Coffee Festival also provided an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to raise funds by selling food and refreshments. It was a place where artists, entertainers and crafters could extend their reach.
     Julia Neal, who organizes the entertainment with support from Olson Trust, said, “It’s amazing each year how many talented people want to support the Ka‘ū Coffee Festival by sharing their music and their dance and bringing their friends and families to the event. In the early years, they performed for an hour. Now there are so many that each group fits into only about a half hour. The entertainment begs for a second stage or a longer day to accommodate all who support the Ka‘ū Coffee farmers.”
     See more at www.kaucoffeefest.com with photos and stories and links to social media.
     Ka`u Coffee farmers meet this Tuesday to plan for next year's tenth annual Ka`u Coffee Festival.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter

DD Davis with Gov. David Ige.
Photo from County Office of Aging

DORIS "DD" Davis, 85, of Pahala, flew to Honolulu and met with Gov. David Ige on Friday for the state luncheon for Outstanding Older Americans. The luncheon also celebrates the Older Americans Month of May.  The governor said he was "honored to be at such an event with outstanding Kupuna who have given so much to their communities." 

        According to the Hawai`i County Director of the Office of Aging, Kimo Alameda,  Davis accepted  her award with pride and humor, "saying that she has never won anything in her life except for dinner tickets at a restaurant which ended up closing before she could and redeem it."

     Davis has held offices with various community groups in Ka`u and is an artist and author. 

     She lives with her daughter Kerry Pitcher, son-in-law Alan Morse and grandson Kyle Pitcher in Pahala.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter

Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, June 5, 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033.

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, June 6, 6 – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

I, Mosquito: Our Changing World, Tue, June 6, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Research Biologist Dennis LaPointe, Ph.D. explains the life cycle of one of the planet’s most maligned insects. While sharing information from recent wildlife studies here in Hawai‘i and sobering projections of the future, LaPointe offers practical advice and innovative adaptive strategies for coping with our changing world. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Open Mic Night, Wed, June 7, 6 – 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees apply.