Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 8, 2017

Na`alehu Independence Day Parade, sponsored by O Ka`u Kakou. See more photos in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.
Photo by Ron Johnson

O KA`U KAKOU'S PARADE TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY showed off Ka`u's equestrians, community groups, churches, the county band, police and fire squads and Ka`u businesses on Saturday under the monkeypod trees along Hwy 11.
       The parade was followed by the Fourth of July Rodeo at Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds. The rodeo continues all day Sunday. See more photos of the parade and its winners in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.

Hawaiian Islands were represented with special colors and flowers.
Photo by Ron Johnson

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THE COAST GUARD suspended its search on Friday for an Ocean View resident, Shane Romena, 48, who was fishing with his grandson when he fell into the ocean on Monday.
     A statement from the Coast Guard said, "Our sincerest condolences go out to Romena's family and friends during this difficult time. Suspending a case is never an easy thing to do and it's something that is handled with the utmost care and consideration. We want to thank our partners at the Hawai`i Fire Department for all their assistance during this search," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Brian Wear.

Paniolo of every age rode in the Na`alehu parade.
Photo by Ron Johnson

        Hawai`i Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hayashida said its search was extended for a full day Friday at the request of the Romena family.

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EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KA`U will be able to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students this Fall, under the federal meals program that could be in danger of being cut in the future under the next federal budget.
     For now, the service will also be expanded north to Ho`okena Elementary and Honaunau elementary, as well as several other Big Island schools.
       Na`alehu and Pahala schools meet the federal threshold of 40 percent of students living in families with incomes of $51,708 or less. Once the threshold is met, all students, no matter their family income, can dine for free on the two meals per school day.

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Merle Becker and family in the annual Independence Day Parade in Na`alehu.
Photo by Ron Johnson

THE HAWAI`I DEMOCRATIC PARTY brought together many community alliances from around the island on Fourth of July at its annual rally in Kona. Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, which cleans up the Ka`u Coast, was represented as well as the Kohala Center, which helps Ka`u Coffee farmers. Also on hand was  NOAA and many other advocacy groups for the ocean and social justice.
      Rally for Common Ground cofounder Maya Parish said that Fourth of July is "a reminder of occupation and degradation" of the earth and society. She said those who are forlorn about the current political situation can "Put your shadow, put your regrets in front of you because when they are in front of you, you can see them and then you won't stumble back into those same regrets. When we put our shadow and our regrets behind us, then we are not allowed to assimilate them and then that shadow festers and then we get what we're up with on the national level in our country, politically."        

Maya Parish, cofounder of Rally for Common Ground.
Photo by David Corrigan of Big Island Video News

      Parish recommended, "Allow ourselves to heal to speak about it and to assimilate that so we can move forward in an inclusive and a united society that the world is asking us for now.
     'As many people have said, these environmental issues are not partisan, they are for everyone. We all breathe this air. We all drink this water. We all eat this food that grows out of our ground and if we don't do a better job at taking care of it, it will not be here for our future."
      Rally for Common Ground cofounder Tonya Colture and Parish helped produce the Women's March in Kona, the Climate March, and the Defend the Sacred event.

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      They said they want to amplify the voice the  reach of groups and individuals and to build coalitions  to increase each other's power." Parish told Democrats, "The reason that we are both inspired to do that work is to bring this progressive agenda forward, to really be the change, make this back into the party of the people so we can be proud to call ourselves Democrats and we can work together for the sustainability, and for the stewardship and for justice on this island, in this state, in this country and in this world."
     See more on speeches at the annual July 4 Democratic Rally at www.bigislandvideonews.com

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What We Can Do Now to Data Recorded Way Back When, Tue, July 11, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist Paul Okubo describes a current look into seismograms from HVO’s first 100 years. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Lei Making Demo, Wed, July 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Local cultural practitioner Pua O’Mahoney teaches how to make traditional Hawaiian lei with natural materials that include leaves, flowers and more. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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