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Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Ka'ū News Briefs Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Local avocados are in demand as the mainland market is insatiable and imports expensive. See
the list of fruits and vegetables that local wholesaler Suisan seeks to market for local farmers.
Photo from University of Hawai'i
SUPPORT FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL came from Sen. Mazie Hirono today. She released the following statement announcing that she backs Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All bill:
     “We are all one diagnosis away from a major illness. When that time comes, no one should have to worry about whether they can afford the care that might save their life.
Both national and state campaign for single-payer health care have
been launched. Image from Dennis Miller who started a
Hawai'i petition.
   “I support universal, affordable, accessible, quality health care as a right, not a privilege. A single payer, Medicare for All system is a strong articulation of this principle, which is why I support this bill.
     “There are other strong proposals that will put us on a path to a single payer system. I will support proposals that reaffirm the principle that universal health care is a right, not a privilege.”

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KEEPING GRANDPARENTS, AND COUSINS from joining their relatives under the Trump travel ban received a nod from the U.S. Supreme Court today. The decision will immediately block about 25,000 refugees from entering the country.
     The Administration filed a brief with the high court today, asking that a ban on grandparents and other close relatives remain until the court hears the broader travel ban case in October. Countering the Trump effort is Hawai'i Attorney General Doug Chin. On 9/11, he filed the State of Hawai'i's brief on the merits in Hawai'i v. Trump before the United States Supreme Court.
     The Trump administration went to the Supreme court today, after an appeals court last week ruled that the Trump travel ban cannot block entry to grandparents and cousins of those already in the U.S., if an agency to resettle them has already agreed to sponsor them. This June, the high court prohibited the Administration from banning entry to those with a “bona fide” relationship with people or entities in the United States.
     Trump's 90-day travel ban is directed at citizens coming here from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
     Hawai'i's brief to the Supreme Court states that "the President issued an executive order that exceeds his authority under the immigration laws and transgresses the boundaries of the Establishment Clause. In defending that order, the President claims authority 'parallel to Congress’s' to make 'federal law' with respect to immigration, insists that the courts owe him complete 'deference [as] the Executive,' and declares his decisions wholly 'immune from judicial control.' That breathtaking assertion of presidential power is irreconcilable with our constitutional framework. Our Framers crafted a Constitution predicated on the understanding that the 'accumulation of all powers legislative, executive and judiciary in the same hands, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny."

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Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli`i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

FARMERS AND SUPPLIERS OF LOCAL PRODUCE ARE SOUGHT AFTER by local food distributor Suisan Company. The Kohala Center's Rural and Cooperative Business Development Services reports that Suisan is looking connect for suppliers of: eggplant, soft and hard squash, peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, corn, beets, carrots, daikon, radish, carrots, avocados, 'ulu, taro, beans, mustard cabbage, arugula, pineapple, melons, citrus, liliko'i, mango, banana, and dragonfruit. Those interested can contact Suisan Produce at 808-329-3746 or producegroup@suisan.com.

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BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS ARE ENCOURAGED by The Kohala Center's Rural and Cooperative Business Development Services to apply for USDA Farm Service Agency microloans to “cultivate big dreams on a small scale.”
     The Kohala Center says that microloans have “reduced requirements and a simpler loan application [to help] small, niche, and beginning farmers and ranchers meet their goals. Apply for up to $35,000 to fund your farm or ranch operation." For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov/farmloans or the local FSA office.

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

                                     UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball: Wednesday, Sept. 13, Kamehameha vs. Ka'ū, home game.
Competitive Cheerleading: Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Hilo.
Eight-Man Football: Saturday, Sept. 16, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, away game.
Cross Country: Saturday, Sept. 16, Ka'ū vs. Kea'au, away game.
Bowling: Saturday, Sept. 16, Ka'ū vs. Hilo & Konawaena at Kona Bowl.

Friends of the Ka'ū Libraries host their annual meeting
on Wednesday at 6 p.m., Pāhala Palntation House.
FRIENDS OF THE KA'Ū LIBRARIES will hold its annual meeting at Pāhala Plantation House tomorrow, Sept. 13, at 96-3209 Maile Street beginning at 6 p.m. Interested persons are invited to attend.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LEGAL SERVICES will be available at Ocean View Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For more details, call 939-7033.

RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS MEET THURSDAY, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., in the HOVE Road maintenance Corp. office. The meeting is meant for volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.

REGISTER KEIKI FOR SUNFLOWER CRAFT until Sept. 15. The craft class, for keiki ages 6 to 14, will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at Kahuku Park from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 929-9113 for more.

Register online by Sept. 21.
For more details, see the Ka'ū News Briefs from Aug. 30, 2017.
REGISTER 5TH GRADE GIRLS FOR GEMS BY SEPT. 15. Ka‘ū fifth grade girls are invited to start registering for GEMS, Girls Exploring Math and Science. The annual all day event has been set for the Crown Marriot King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for Nov. 9.
     Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited. Registration fee is $20 and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away because of financial need.
     All fifth grade girls residing in the West Hawai‘i School complex in public, private, or home-schooled are welcome. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl, or to request a registration packet, contact Cindy Armer, GEMS chairperson at cbarmer@hotmail.com or 808-896-7180. Remember GEMS registration form must be postmarked by 9-15-17. See more details on Ka'ū News Briefs from August 15, 2017.

WOOD VALLEY WATER COOPERATIVE will hold its annual meeting at Pahala Plantation House, 96-3209 Maile St. on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

REDEEM HI-5 RECYCLABLES AT NĀ'ĀLEHU SCHOOL GYM on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and receive 5 cents per container (sorted by type) and an additional 20 cents per pound on all aluminum. Atlas Recycling donates 20 cents per pound on all aluminum redeemed to the school. For more details, call 939-2413, ext. 230.

DISCOVER THE HAWAIIAN GODDESSES HI'IAKA & PELE and the natural phenomena they represent on a free, moderate, one-mile walk this Saturday, Sept. 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/havo.

PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU is a free, guided, 2.5 mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain through the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park that focuses on the area’s human history from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8 FOR a Tissue Art class register until Sept. 19. The art class will take place at Pāhala Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 928-3102.