Ka'ū News Briefs Friday, September 22, 2017

DA BUX supports local agriculture and encourages SNAP-EBT cardholders to eat healthy.
See story below. Photo from The Food Basket

BRENDA FORD WILL RUN FOR THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES representing west Ka‘ū and Kona. The District 5 seat, now held by Dr. Richard Creagan, serves the citizenry from Honu‘apo, through Nā‘ālehu, Discovery Harbor, Green Sands, Mark Twain, South Point, Ocean View and up through Miloli‘i and into Kona to Holualoa. In the 2018 election race, Creagan will run for the state Senate seat held by Dr. Josh Green, who is running for Lt. Governor.
    Ford made the announcement yesterday and said this morning that she is eager to work again on Ka‘ū issues. She served as a County Council member for four two-year terms, the maximum. During the last term, her territory included all of Ka‘ū, after the district lines were changed with reapportionment.
      Ford said that she is interested in working once again on infrastructure issues, including the construction of a second well for Ocean View. She said she would attempt to hold onto funding for the well that was approved during Rep. Richard Creagan's tenure in the House. Should the county move forward, she said that the National Guard may be able to volunteer to build it.

Brenda Ford said she supports truth in labeling
for Ka‘ū and Kona Coffee.

   While many water issues are solved at the local level, Ford said the Hawai‘i Legislature can often help with some of the funding. When she served on the County Council, she lobbied for additional water infrastructure for homes, farms and to fight fires. She advocated for more firefighting equipment and water stations for range fires at South Point and for water lines to extend from Hwy. 11 down to beach and residential communities. She lobbied for a waterline extension from Ho‘okena to Miloli‘i and for a new well around Miloli‘i and Papa Bay Road.
     She mentioned needed improvements to situations where spaghetti lines are running alongside roads to housing areas. She said water hydrants are needed. A million gallon water tank on the makai side of Hwy. 11 near the Ka‘alu‘alu Road intersection was one of her ideas when she served on the council.
    Ford also advocated for the new permanent transfer, reuse, recycling and mulch center for Ocean View. As a councilwoman she aimed to improve the Ocean View Police Station and to keep in place the Ka‘ū interactive communication site for giving testimony and witnessing County Council and other public meetings.

     In terms of state legislation, she said she supports allowing one extra dwelling on each farm, for long-term rental income, workers or family, but opposes using farms for vacation rentals. She said the extra housing on farms could be under the same roof as the house,  or a separate ‘ohana dwelling. She said that elder farmers often need workers and extra income.

    Ford said she also advocates for truth in labeling for Ka‘ū and Kona Coffee and other local produce.

    She and her husband Larry live on a small farm in South Kona where they are retired from growing coffee but still manage their fruit trees, she said.

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Ka‘ū coastal brushfire continues to burn as fire crews battle strong
trade winds and limited ground access to the scene.
Photo by Ka‘ū resident and Volunteer Firefighter Lizzy Stabo

COUNTY AND VOLUNTEER FIRE CREWS CONTINUE TO FIGHT A LARGE BRUSHFIRE that started yesterday in a “remote area of Ka‘ū coastline near Waikapuna Bay,” states a Hawai‘i Fire Department press release.
     The release states that an alarm was raised at 5:17 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, with "multiple units dispatched to reported fire." However, "due to [the] location of the fire" and "limited 4x4 access roads," when the first units were eventually able to arrive at the scene, almost two hours later, "approximately 5 acres of grass and brush [was] actively burning." The release also said that "strong trade winds" caused the fire to continue spreading "throughout [the] day. Dozers were utilized to establish fire breaks and choppers carried out water drops. Much of [the] area [was unaccessible] to ground vehicles." As of 6 p.m. Thursday, 840 acres had burned. Spreading of the fire "slowed down throughout nighttime hours", though "much of [the] area [was] still actively burning" today, said the release.
     As of 4:30 p.m. today, Sept. 22, Hawai‘i Fire Department dispatch reported that firefighters were still battling the flames. Read yesterday’s Ka‘ū News Briefs for more.

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DA BUX, A HAWAI‘I FOOD BASKET PARTNERSHIP with KTA, farmers markets and other food sellers, rolled out its new promotion this week to help hungry people eat healthily. KTA promoted local foods, such as Rainbow Papayas for $1.39 a lb., bananas for $1.29 a lb. and red leaf lettuce for $1.19 a lb. for needy families who qualify and use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Local papayas promoted at KTA to low-income families
through Da Bux. Photo from Hawai‘i Food Basket

SNAP-EBT cards. 

     The program, subsidized by the USDA, started Wednesday at the Hilo downtown and Punainako KTAs. During the third week of each month through the end of 2017 SNAP-EBT customers will receive 50 percent of their total purchase (up to $20) back on their purchase of Hawai‘i Island produce. "It helps low income families and local farmers," says the post on Hawai‘i Food Basket's Facebook.
    Volcano Farmers' Market will implement the DA BUX incentive on the third Sunday of the month: Oct. 15, Nov. 19, and Dec. 17 with support from County Councilwoman Maile David.

     See more in the Sept. 20 Ka‘ū News Briefs.

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THE 4TH ANNUAL KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN with races starting and ending at the Ka‘ū Coffee Mill will take place tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23. Staggered gun starts begin at 7 a.m. Runners will receive a race goodie bag, including a T-shirt and more. Each registered participant will also be entered into a door prize drawing valued at $700.

Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run is Saturday morning at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.
Photo by Vernon Harvey

     Trail terrains vary between races: the 5K is a family-friendly, run/walk trail through macadamia nut groves and coffee fields; the 10K is a moderate run through macadamia nut groves and coffee fields; and the Half Marathon follows the 5K & 10K course, then continues up to an elevation of 3,100 feet, traverses onto a 4-wheel drive access road, marked trails undulating through grazing pastures. 

      Free music and entertainment and post-race massages will also be available for $1.00/Minute at the event.
      Race day registration ends at 6:30 a.m. For more details about the event visit okaukakou.org/kau-coffee-trail-run/. 

KA‘Ū TROJANS beat Pāhoa, 18-12 in Eight-Man Football, Thursday on Pāhoa's home turf. The Trojan wining touchdowns all came in the fourth quarter. Trojan Z. Kai ran a 31-yard touchdown to tie the game at 12-12. The final score came when I. Pilanca-Emmsley intercepted the ball and ran for 95-yard across the goal line.
     The second and third quarters were scoreless and halftime saw Pāhoa ahead 12-6, after the home team scored two touchdowns in the first quarter. Ka‘ū also scored in the first quarter when Pilanca-Emmsley passed to J. Badua.

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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

UPCOMING FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball 

Wednesday, Sept. 27, Ka'ū vs. Ehunui, home.
Friday, Sept. 29, Ka'ū vs. Pahoa, away.

Eight-Man Football
Saturday, Oct. 7, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, home.
Saturday, Oct. 21, Ka'ū vs. Pāhoa, home.

Cross Country
 Saturday, Sept. 23, Ka'ū vs. Hawai'i Prep, away.
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away.

Bowling
 Saturday, Sept. 23, Ka'ū vs. Kealakehe at Kona Bowl.
Saturday, Sept. 30, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha at Kona Bowl.

Cheerleading
Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Konawaena.
Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Kamehameha.

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HOSTS A VOLUNTEER DAY TOMORROW, Saturday, Sept. 23, at its Kona Hema Preserve in South Kona from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Space is limited so those wanting to volunteer must contact Schubert in advance to reserve a spot on one of the trucks. For more, read the Ka'ū News Briefs from September 8. To contact Schubert, email lschubert@tnc.org or call 443-5401.

For more details, see the Ka'ū News Briefs from Aug. 30, 2017.

HAWAI’I SEED FEST: LOCAL SEEDS FOR LOCAL NEEDS, sponsored by The Kohala Center and Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network, is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to noon in Pāhoa and Honalō.
     "Check out variety trials in progress, learn how to conduct successful trials in your garden, enjoy refreshments and tastings of crops being grown from local seed, talk story with a local seed grower, and meet others in your community interested in improving local food security," says an announcement from The Kohala Center. Attendance is free but space is limited. Reserve online at localseeds.eventbrite.com or call The Kohala Center at 808-887-6411. Visit Hawai'i Seed Growers Network.

NATURE & CULTURE: AN UNSEVERABLE RELATIONSHIP, a moderate hike approximately 2 miles takes place tomorrow, Saturday, September 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Palm Trail hikers visit a place where catastrophic change (hulihia) and subsequent restoration (kulia) can be observed as the land transitions from the 1868 lava flow with its pioneer plants to deeper soil with more diverse and older flora. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PLAYERS, DRUMMERS, SINGERS AND DANCERS ARE WELCOMED for Kanikapila tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church Hall. For more, call Desmond at 937-6305.

THE KOHALA CENTER’S DEMONSTRATION FARM HOSTS A FIELD DAY TOMORROW, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (45-434 Lehua St, Honoka’a).
     The Kohala Center’s event description offers "a farm tour, hands-on training, and planting of an agroforestry system designed to diversify crops, control weeds naturally, and improve soil health."
    This event is open to the public, with high school students and teachers encouraged to learn about the upcoming fall High School Sustainable Agriculture Program.
      Contact Dave Sansone at sansone@kohalacenter.org or 808-887-6411 for more information.

JOIN A GUIDED HIKE ALONG THE PALM TRAIL on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Free. Visit nps.gov/havo for more.

kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

ART ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON MONDAY, SEPT. 25 for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce's Annual Art Show. The art show will be open for public viewing from Tuesday, Sept. 26, to Friday, Sept. 29, in the CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union Annex Building (behind CU) in Nā‘ālehu, during normal credit union business hours.
   An Artist Reception for distribution of prizes and art pickup will be the morning of Saturday, Sept. 30.
     Categories include: painting, graphics, photography, craft, lei, weaving, jewelry, quilting, sculpture, and woodworking. There will also be categories for Youth and Keiki entries, for which the entry fee is $1 per artwork - CU Hawai‘i has offered to sponsor any and all keiki who ask.
     The winning popular vote piece will be displayed on the cover of The Directory 2018, according to new Chamber co-chairs Alan Stafford and Allen Humble who describe the annual art show as a fundraiser for the Ka‘ū Chamber of Commerce scholarship program. For more details, visit the Chamber website at kauchamber.org or call 936-5288.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8 FOR ART: For Metal Stamped Bracelets, register until Sept. 26. The art class will take place at Pāhala Community Center on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more, call 928-3102.

A VOLLEYBALL CLINIC for five to 14 year-old youth, co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Police Department, will be held at Ka'ū District Gym from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday Sept. 25. The instructor will be Ka'ū High School girls volleyball coach Joshua Ortega and coaching staff, assisted by the Ka'ū High School Girls Volleyball team. Gym or court shoes required. Participants must turn in a signed registration waiver form. For more information, and to register, call Ka'ū District Gym at 928-3102.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS meet Tuesday, Sept. 26, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church. For more, call 929-9910.

KA'Ū FOOD PANTRY OFFERS FREE FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

LEARN ABOUT KA‘Ū DESERT’S FOOTPRINTS IN THE ASH with Park Ranger Jay Robinson during Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.
     Hawaiians once traversed Kīlauea on foot to travel between Puna and Ka‘ū, and during the 18th century, explosions from the volcano rained volcanic ash down on the people, preserving their footprints in the sands of “Keonehelelei.” Robinson will discuss new interpretive displays in the Ka‘ū Desert and explain what is known today about the impact of these explosive eruptions on native society. The event is free, park entrance fees apply.