Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Kona Honu Divers came to Ka Lae last weekend to clean up underwater rubbish by the sea cliffs.
See story below. Photo from Kona Honu Divers

FEDERAL NATIVE HAWAIIAN HOUSING PROGRAMS would be eliminated while leaving federal housing programs for other Native communities, as proposed by legislation pending in the U.S. Congress. Sen. Mazie Hirono spoke before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee today, opposing S.1275.  Native Hawaiian community advocates attended the hearing, but were not invited by the Indian Affairs Committee to testify, said a statement today from Hirono's office.

      Hirono joined Senator Brian Schatz, a member of the Indian Affairs Committee, in calling for the bill to include the renewal of Native Hawaiian housing programs.

       Hirono testified, “By omitting Native Hawaiian housing programs, the BUIILD Act strikes a blow not only to the 37,000 Native Hawaiians who would benefit from their inclusion, but also over 500,000 Native Hawaiians in our country.

      “But this is about much more than just stripping out Native Hawaiian housing programs from a bill. At a time when we see ‘us against them’ perspectives rising in our country, we cannot allow ‘divide and conquer’ tactics to undermine collaborative efforts to bring people together.

      “I understand that suggestions have been made to native tribes that supporting Native Hawaiian programs may jeopardize funding for their own programs. I strongly oppose those suggestions and believe that dividing native communities is, frankly, unconscionable.”

     Hirono also submitted written testimony on behalf of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation in opposition to S.1275.

Ocean bottom trash at Ka Lae.
Photo from Kona Honu Divers

     The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has been cooperating with the state Department of hawaiian Home Lands for many years to provide housing.

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Surfacing at South Point with garbage
from the bottom of the sea.
Photo from Kona Honu Divers

KONA HONU DIVERS and its volunteers conducted a dive site cleanup at Ka Lae on Sunday, June 11. Dive instrtuctor Sam Johnson said the dive company is going to dive sites at least once a month to clean them up. On Sunday, the team conducted three dives with six divers and came back with an estimated 700 lbs. of debris.
     Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, which sponsors regular Ka`u Coast cleanups,  has conducted dive cleanups on this island since June 15, 2015 with its first at Ka Lae. It has another one planned for Sunday, June 25th - this one at Kailua Pier in Kona.

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Civilization: Metal cans embedded in the coral reef.
Photo from Kona Honu Divers

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGNS ARE GOING UP IN OCEAN VIEW. Police officer Aron Tomota reported that he made the request on behalf of Hawai`i Ocean View Estates to the County of Hawai`i's Department of Public Works. Even though HOVE has private roads, the agency provided five new signs, posts and breakaways, free of cost.

The county donated Neighborhood Watch signs with help from police
officer Aron Tomota. Four of them went up today.
Photo by Aron Tomota

     Tomota drove to Kona and picked them up. During the Neighborhood Watch Meeting this month, the community voted to install them at Ginger Blossom Lane, just above Hwy 11; Aloha Blvd, just above Highway 11; Moana Drive and King Kamehameha Blvds; and at the Keaka Parkway and Paradise Circle intersection near the county's Kahuku Park.
     Four of the five signs were installed today by the HOVE road Maintenance crew with the help of Aaron Puou and Junior Aldaya, as well as Tomota.
     The fifth sign, as the community voted, will be installed at the entrance to Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos with a crew from that community, said Tomota.

Neighborhood Watch volunteers voted on where to place
the signs donated by the county. Photo by Aron Tomota

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Lei Hulu (Feather Lei Making) Demo, Wed, June 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kilohana Domingo demonstrates his mastery of this Hawaiian art form. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Hawai‘i Cordage Plants, Thu, June 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Linda Pratt discussed the botanical aspects, distribution and habitat of various species. Register at 967-8222. Free; register at 967-8222.

Family Reading Night, Thu, June 15, 5 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033

OVCA Board Meeting, Thu, June 15, 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033

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