Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, December 15, 2017

The second $20 million capital improvement investment in Pāhala, following the recent completion
of the Ka‘ū District Gym, will be the town's wastewater treatment facility. Five small gatherings
for talk story sessions on the design and location were held this week in the village.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE LAST PRELIMINARY PĀHALA SEWAGE TREATMENT MEETING wrapped up Thursday night, Dec. 14, drawing the most people of any of the five talks story sessions this week. The $20 to $21 million project, more costly than the new Ka‘ū District Gym, could be completed by the end of 2021. It will be the most expensive capital improvement in Pāhala's history.

     Sophia Hanoa said that wastewater affects all of the Ka‘ū District and the ahupua‘a from the mountain to the ocean and urged the entire community to become involved in the decision making on protecting the water resources. She said the project will affect generations to come and also suggested that the ideas be taken to the students at Ka‘ū High School, which is one of the places that will hook up to the sewer. She thanked the outreach consultant and wastewater engineer for coming to the community on behalf of the county. In the past, she said, the community has experienced that sometimes people with plans for the area come to Ka‘ū with some arrogance.

Berna Cabacungan collected input from Pāhala residents.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Engineer Michelle Sorensen said that the county wanted to come in early to receive local knowledge and questions from the community.
     When asked by consultant Berna Cabacungan what people like about Pāhala, Keoni Grace said everyone knows each other, from the folks at work to neighbors, friends and family.

     Gay Polido said that people care about each other here. She also said she appreciates the open attitude of the consultants in getting to know the community.

      Residents like Leonard Villa talked about the quiet nature of Pāhala, friendliness and the close knit families.
      When asked about challenges, people talked about keeping the rural lifestyle and balancing economic opportunity with the easygoing life in a town without a stoplight.
      Concerning the proposed sewage treatment plant, Liz Polido said she would like to see printed preliminary plans and explanations about the treatment plant in order to take them home and study them.

      Mary Ibarra asked whether those who live next to the planned sewer line be required to hook up, even if they have already paid for their own cesspool. Could they be compensated?

Mary Ibarra asked whether homeowners who already
paid for cesspools will have to pay to change over
to the new sewer system. Photo by Julia Neal

    A man named Alan asked whether the proposed system that uses aerated lagoons and growing trees to clean the water will be able to handle metals. The engineer said that there are very few metals in residential wastewater and most metal pieces ending up in the sewage, would be largely removed by a filtering system.

     May Galacio and Francis Delos Santos said they were concerned about the cost to homeowners. Lois Camba asked what responsibilities will fall on the homeowner?

     The consultants said they will attempt to bring some preliminary cost estimates for hooking up and the regular sewer bill cost to the community during a second round of meetings early next year. The consultants then noted that the design is in its beginning stages and land for the project must be acquired.
      They reiterated that the cost of construction will not be born solely by Pāhala residents and that government officials have vowed to look for funding to help hook up. The regular sewer bills are the same around the island so that no one on a county system pays a higher rate than others on a county system.
     More meetings will take place and information exchanged as the project moves along. Its estimated completion date is December of 2021. The federal government has ordered the construction of a sewage treatment system so that old large capacity cesspools that have no treatment ability can be abandoned. They were made illegal in the year 2000 to protect drinking water and other natural resources and for public health.

     For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com or the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339. 

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This week applications opened up to be paid for
taking care of kupuna.

THE KUPUNA CAREGIVERS PROGRAM began this week statewide and applications are open. Full-time caregivers of kūpuna are eligible for financial assistance of up to $70 per day to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for senior citizens. When Gov. David Ige signed the bill, AARP Hawai‘i called it "a major win." 

    "Full-time caregivers often have additional full-time jobs, and this recent triumph allows them to provide care for their loved ones while being gainfully employed, said a statement from Team David Ige. "From the beginning, the people of Hawai‘i are taught to treat our kūpuna with the utmost respect, and part of the respect we show is taking accountability and responsibility for their care. Governor Ige has fought for shared responsibility when advocating for our kūpuna.
     "Our kūpuna caregivers deserve our full support so Hawai‘i can continue to honor the wishes of our seniors, improve their health outcomes, and help ease the cost of long-term care for both family caregivers and the state," said the Team David Ige Statement.

     It noted that the number of kūpuna is growing more rapidly in Hawai‘i than across the nation and that longevity is longer here. To enroll to be paid to take care of kūpuna, see care4kupuna.com.

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See public Ka‘ū events, meetings entertainment at 
 kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decemberevents.html. 
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decembercommunity.html.
December print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls Basketball: Saturday, Dec. 16, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Dec. 16, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Tuesday, Dec. 19, Hilo @ Ka‘ū.

Swimming: Saturday, Dec. 23, @ Hilo.

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KEIKI CHRISTMAS AT KAHUKU PARK, a new event organized by Ocean View community members Ian and Kathie. The free event is scheduled to take place Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kahuku Park, which is located on Paradise Circle, four blocks mauka of hwy. 11 and Ocean View Town Center in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Food, activities, games and exhibits will be open to all and santa gifts and photos will be available to keiki, from newborn to age 14. An all day long gift raffle will be available to kūpuna. It is a drug and alcohol free event. For more information or to participate or make a donation, call Ian at 758-6351 or Kathie at 937-5865.

A GILBERT & SULLIVAN CHRISTMAS CAROL, continues daily through Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 per senior/student, and $12 per child. For more information call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Park entrance fees apply.

JOIN VOLUNTEERS FOR A COMMUNITY BEACH CLEAN-UP AT KAMILO hosted by Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Space is limited in HWF 4WD vehicles. To volunteer, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com in advance to reserve your spot. Meet at Wai‘ōhinu Park.

A FREE PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWER WITH HOT WATER, soap, shampoo and clean towels is offered at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a free hot meal.

JOIN DISCOVERY HARBOUR RESIDENTS FOR BUNCO & POTLUCK on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 6 p.m., in the Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco, also known as Bonko or Bunko, is a popular game played with nine dice. Bring a dish to share. For more, call Margie Hack at 541-954-8297.

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF KUMU HULA SAMMYE KU‘UALOHA YOUNG, Hālau Hula Na Lei Hiwahiwa o Ku’ualoha performs Hula Kahiko on the hula platform Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16.
     Following the performance until about 1 p.m., Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe with Halauolaokalani provides a hands on cultural demonstration, Nā Mea Hula. For more and to confirm date, contact Desiree by calling 987-7288 or emailing volcanohula@gmail.com.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets at the Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more, call 939-7033.

MAKE AND TAKE HOME A ZENTAGLE INSPIRED ORNAMENT at the Volcano Art Center's Zentagle Inspired Art Exhibit & Reception from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. Volcano Art Center says, “Bring your friends, your art and a light holiday pupu to share." The event is open to the public and offers door prizes, a slideshow and videos. Attendance is free, donations are welcome. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ takes place Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The event is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

FORMAL RECOGNITION WILL BE GIVEN TO SAKADAS and their families from Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala at Sakada Day on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. The Sakadas are the workers who came to Hawai‘i from the Philippines between 1906 and 1946, recruited by the Hawai‘i Sugar Planters Association.
      Sakada Day celebrates the Sakada legacy in the agricultural development of Ka‘ū and honors the Sakada's work, economic and cultural contributions to society in Hawai‘i. The event, including a Filipino lunch, is free and offers Filipino dance and music, displays of Filipino artifacts, tools, housewares, apparel and items from plantation days. A Filipino fashion show is also on the agenda, along with Filipino entertainment from around the island.

JOIN RANGERS ON A FREE MODERATELY DIFFICULT GUIDED HIKE, entitled People & Land of Kahuku, on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The 2.5 mile hike takes visitors over rugged terrain and focuses on the human history of Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF KONA, with performing residents of Ka‘ū, presents Holiday Favorites on Tuesday, Dec. 19, starting at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa.
     The orchestra, under the direction of Bernaldo Evangalista, will present Christmas at the Movies, Sleigh Ride, Carol of the Bells, Santa at the Symphony, Festive Sounds of Hanukah, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and many more. Ursula Vietze is the orchestras concert master. Among those performing are Susan McGovern from Volcano on viola and Ocean View residents Arlene Arai on trumpet, Steve Moon on trumpet, Michael Cripps on cello and Peter Bosted on oboe.
     Tickets are $10/$20. Free entry is given to those under 18 years old. Purchase tickets at the door starting at 6 p.m. or visit chamberorchestraofkona.com/concerts.html.
     Beer, wine and champagne are served before the concert and during the break. Validated parking on the Sheraton's grounds.

REGISTER KEIKI GRADES K-8, FOR A MINI GINGERBREAD HOUSE craft class that has been announced for Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. Register until Tuesday, Dec. 19. For more, call Nona Makuakāne or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Wednesday, Dec. 20, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS Wednesday, Dec. 20. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. See agendas and more at hawaiicounty.gov.

AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL ARTIST KEN MAKUAKĀNE PERFORMS Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Makuakāne has won 15 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award, and six Big Island Music Awards. Free, park entrance fees apply.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

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