Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Blood Moon over Kaʻū, as captured early Wednesday morning from a ranch in Ka Lae. The eclipse
happened during a Blue Moon, the second full moon of the month. Blue Moon turned red.
Photo by Richard Taylor

PROTECTING THE NATIONAL MARINE MONUMENTS in the Hawaiian Islands is the goal of Sen. Marzie Hirono and U.S. Senate colleagues. Hirono and New Mexico's Sen. Tom Udall introduced the ANTIQUITIES Act of 2018 this week. The legislation would enhance protections of national monuments, which, according to the Senators, are being threatened by the Trump administration.

     The America's Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act of 2018 bolsters the ANTIQUITIES Act of 1906, which states that only Congress may modify a national monument designation.

     "When the President and the Secretary of Interior abdicate their responsibility for protecting our public lands, it's up to Congress to act," said Hirono.

     One of the monuments Hirono is seeking to protect with this act is Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, some 582,578 square miles of protected islands, northwest of the main islands of Hawai‘i. The protected area is larger than all other national parks combined, and represents a wide diversity of land and sea animals, flora, and natural structures.

Photos from papahanaumokuakea.gov and NOAA.gov

     "Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and Honouliuli National Monument were established after years of review," said Hirono, "and the national monument designation assists efforts to combat climate change, preserves biodiversity, honors cultural traditions, and recognizes our nation's history."

     "President Trump's unprecedented attack on public lands is not just an affront to the overwhelming majority of Americans who cherish these precious places - it's also illegal," said Udall. "This legislation makes it crystal clear that monuments designated through the Antiquities Act of 1906 may not be altered by future presidents because only Congress has the authority to change a national monument designation."

     The 2018 ANTIQUITIES Act is being introduced as a response to an announcement made by Trump that he intends to remove the national monument status from an estimated two million acres in Utah's Bear's Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments - an act, says a statement made in a press release from Hirono, which would be the largest rollback in history of federally protected lands. It is also in direct opposition to the opinions of some 2.8 million Americans: The administration's public comment process saw a response where over 99 percent of the comments made spoke in favor of keeping the existing protections as they are. There have also been rallies to support the current protections.

Map from NOAA.org

     "Our national monuments enjoy broad support and provide unmatched economic, recreational, and cultural value to... the nation. The ANTIQUITIES Act builds upon these existing protections, ensuring that we keep our public lands in public hands and stop the president's politically motivated attempts to sell off our public lands to the highest-bidding special interests."

     Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region are host to many national monuments, including: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Honouliuli National Monument, the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, and Marianas Trench National Monument.

     The 2018 ANTIQUITIES Act is also cosponsored by 16 other Democratic Senators. See youtube.com/watch?v=afqU9Sjw4TU to watch the statement made by Trump.

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RESPONSE TO PRES. DONALD TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION address Tuesday evening, Jan. 30, came from Hawaiʻi's U.S. Senators and Representatives. Sen. Mazie Hirono wore her TimesUp and Breaking the Glass Ceiling pins to the speech, she said, "to represent our fight for equality and an end to sexual harassment." She tweeted: "If @realDonaldTrump truly cared about expanding health care access, he wouldn't have spend the past year trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act." She also wrote, "Teleprompter Trump lies and sows fear about immigrants. There is no such thing as chain migration. It's called family, reunification." She later tweeted, "For all his talk of unity, @realDonaldTrump is highlighting again and again and again policies that divide our country."

Pres. Donald Trump, during his first State of
the Union address. Photo from PBS.org

     Sen. Brian Schatz said, "Although there may be a chance for compromise on infrastructure and a solution for the Dreamers worked out in the Senate, much of the speech was disappointingly divisive."
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard had this to say: "What I hear from folks at home is that they want solutions. They want action and results. There are a number of bipartisan areas of agreement that we can and should be providing those solutions to the people of Hawaiʻi and this country." And from a fundraising email sent out after the address: "Real change doesn't start on the House floor or in the Oval Office. It starts in our own communities."
     Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's response was focused on immigration: "1.8 million are the Dreamers that he has a pathway to citizenship, but he's tied it four pillars. He's tied it to the wall, which we don’t know how much it's going to be. He's tied it to the reunification of families which he calls chain migration." Watch the entire State of the Union speech here: youtube.com/watchv=ATFwMO9CebA &t=10s.

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Phillis May, HRRMC President

PHILLIS MAY IS NOW PRESIDENT of the Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corporation, replacing Mats Fogelvik who was the Corporation's President for the past five years.
     May, a board member for the past five years, sees herself as a facilitator and counts herself lucky to be taking over from Fogelvik, whose organizational skills and accomplishments, according to her, have made the job "easy." The Road Maintenance Corporation is responsible for 45 miles of private roads. All the property owners in the Ranchos subdivision are automatically members. It is run by a Board of nine volunteers.
     "Judging by the overwhelming support the membership gave us in voting to pass the 2018 budget and work plan, re-electing three board members, and approving the board's proposed bylaw change, I would say that most members are satisfied," May told The Ka‘ū Calendar.
     "The corporation came in under budget on all items. Ranchos owners' annual road maintenance fee is very reasonable at $150 per year for three-acre parcel compared to our neighbors mauka of the highway, who pay $130.00 for one-acre parcels. I attribute this to the fact that we work efficiently, thus our community gets good value for their money. The roads are in good shape and the easements along the side of the road are regularly mowed.

     "It is difficult to get big road contractors from Hilo or Kona to bid on the jobs we have for fogging or resurfacing. They say our projects are too small to make it worth the effort. The road committee assesses what road projects need to be done, and its report is put before the board, which then decides. In the last two years, we have chip sealed 45 intersections and four miles of road. Our goal this year is to chip seal two miles of road, given our budget.

Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. maintains 45 miles through the ranch like community on the makai side of Ocean View. Photo by Ann Bosted

     "Many board members regularly volunteer to do work that would otherwise be paid for, such as maintaining the office and road equipment, assessing conditions of roads, maintaining the corporate website, accounting and tax reporting. Our few hourly paid part-time employees are efficient and get their jobs done well, so we get the most for our funds," May said.
     She added that the board welcomes property owners to submit questions or problems with roads by calling the HRRMC office at 808-929-9608.
     When not volunteering for the HRRMC, May also volunteers for the Ocean View Senior Club, which supplements the County's nutrition program for seniors at St. Jude's Church. She says she retired to Hawai‘i in 2010 to escape the crowded San Francisco Bay Area, for "the laid back ambiance" in Ranchos and Ocean View, and the weather. Before that, she worked in Corporate Communication, Human Resources, and as an office manager.

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A LITTLE FIRE ANT PRESENTATION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED by Volcano Art Center for Thursday, Feb. 15, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at their Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Big Island Invasive Species Committee will inform the community about the most effective treatments and how to use them for the best results to control little fire ants.

Volcano Art Center offers a BIISC presentation on Little Fire Ants Thursday,  Feb. 15,
 will offer effective treatment instructions, and states that "Little Fire Ants have been 
found in Volcano." Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

     The event description on volcanoartcenter.org states, "You've heard the horror stories of infestation from neighbors and friends. You've seen how they've clouded the vision of others' beloved pets. Or perhaps you've experienced firsthand the perils of living with Little Fire Ants. Now Little Fire Ants have been found in Volcano."
     Learn how the behavior and biology of little fire ants affect treatment, and how to create a plan for the best long-term control and prevention. The description urges prospective attendees to "survey your property" before the event, and to "bring frozen ant samples to be identified."
     Attendees may also find out how to get a free demo day with pesticide application for their neighborhood. As part of VAC's Thursday Night at the Center program, this presentation is free, although a $5 donation to Volcano Art Center is suggested.
     Thursday Night at the Center was made possible through funding from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the Hawai‘i County Council, and the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council. It takes place once a month at the Volcano Art Center, with focus on art, Hawaiian culture, and the environment. The series is intended to inspire and enhance appreciation of art and life experience, while fostering community connections, says the event description.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January 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

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.

Wrestling: Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.

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HULA VOICES, WITH KUMU HULA STEPHANIE APOLO and Desiree Moana Cruz moderating, take place Thursday, Feb. 1, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The free, educational event occurs the first Thursday of each month - excluding April and December for 2018. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S SENIOR CITIZEN SURVEYs are due tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 1. Senior citizens over the age of 62, who are interested in the Nā‘ālehu Senior Housing Project, are asked to fill out a quick five-question survey to help OKK gather general data essential to the planning of the project. To get a survey or for more information, contact Raylene Moses at 365-3788, or Nadine Ebert at 938-5124 or ebertn004@hawaii.rr.com.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU MEETS Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Aspin Institute Building near Punalu‘u Black Sands Beach Park. For more, contact Secretary Nadine Ebert at okk-secretary@okaukaou.org.

A FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted at Almafatano's Italian Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, KDENte, offers a buffet dinner and music entertainment. Tickets are $20 at the door. Call KDEN for reservations, 928-7344.

FOOD FROM WOOD: GROWING EDIBLE & MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS ON LOGS, STUMPS, AND WOOD CHIPS Workshop takes place at Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. Zach Mermel teaches the basics of mushroom cultivation using locally sourced, undesirable exotic trees. The class fee, $50 per VAC member and $55 per non-member, includes one shiitake mushroom log kit and one King Stropharia mushroom kit. Pre-registration is required. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVER THE HAWAIIAN GODDESSES, HI‘IAKA & PELE, and the natural phenomena they represent on a free, moderate, one-mile walk in Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

LA‘AU LAPA‘AU, A BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, meets three times in Pāhala at Ka‘ū District Gym in February. The class is held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday - Feb. 3, 17 and 24. Po‘okela Ikaika Dombrigues of Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi leads and shares traditional health at this free class. To register or for more details, call 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team. Visit hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

Koa Finch and O‘u Birds, original watercolor on silk 
by Gwendolyn O'Connor. 
Image taken from gwendolynoconnor.com

A PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOP is hosted at Volcano Art Center, from 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, Feb. 3. Class fee is $35 per VAC member and $40 per non-member. Artist Gwendolyn O'Connor shows how to professionally prepare art for galleries and competitions. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT PROGRAM on Saturday, Feb. 3, and help native plants grow by removing non-native plant species from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.  Meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO. This event will be offered again on Feb. 9, 17, and 19.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, BY FEB. 6, FOR A "YEAR OF THE DOG" WALL HANGING arts and crafts class that takes place Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center. Free. Call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for more.

SOUTH POINT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AND AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE sponsor a Ham Radio Potluck Picnic on Sunday, Feb. 4, from noon to 2 p.m., at Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. For more, call Rick Ward at 938-3058, or visit sites.google.com/site/southpointartc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home.

A SUPER BOWL EVENT, WITH QUARTERLY PRIZES, IS OFFERED AT Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Feb. 4. Doors open at 11 a.m. and kick-off is at 1:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Call 967-8365 after 4:00 p.m. for more details. Open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

LEARN ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS THAT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE in a free, moderate, guided hike along the Palm Trail - approx. 2 miles - on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, takes place in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS on Monday, Feb. 5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

AN ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY ROAD CLEAN-UP, between mile markers 78 and 79 on Highway 11 in Ocean View, is hosted by Ocean View Community Center on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Bags, water, and vests (volunteers shirt sizes should be emailed to address below) are provided. Volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m., and are advised to wear work gloves and sun protection. Confirm meet-up location by emailing Pat at mcmathorama@gmail.com. Ocean View Community Association can be reached at 939-7033 or by visiting ovcahi.org.

KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

A LEARNING TOGETHER WORKSHOP AT THE OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER, sponsored by Nāʻālehu School, is offered Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

Join Archeologist MaryAnne Maigret as she gives a presentation about the 
Preservation of Stone Architecture and Landscape at Pu‘uhonua O Hōnauau 

National Historic Park on Feb. 6 at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 
Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

PRESERVATION OF STONE ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE: Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historic Park, is presented Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Archeologist MaryAnne Maigret gives an historical overview of early and mid-20th century restorations of Hōnaunau, and a behind-the-scenes look at 50-plus years of preservation at the park. Free; park entrance fees apply. Suggested donation of $2 to support park programs. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEES MEETS TUESDAY, FEB. 6, with a full Council meeting taking place the following day on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Both meetings occur in Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. The Council will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 20 (committees), and Wednesday, Feb. 21 (Council), in Kona. Agendas can be found at hawaiicounty.gov.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Free cat spay and neuter services are available in Ka‘ū on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Ocean View Community Center by AdvoCATS, Inc. 
On advocatshawaii.org the clinic states, "All cats deserve nine lives not nine litters." 

THE KAʻŪ LEARNING ACADEMY PUBLIC MEETING WAS SHUT DOWN by Hawaiʻi State Charter Schools Commission Executive Director Sione Thompson on Monday, Jan. 29, before most people could be heard. The well-attended gathering at Discovery Harbour Community Association Assembly Hall, regarding the commission's threat to pull the charter from Ka‘ū Learning Academy, drew retirees, parents, school staff, families, and concerned community members. Only three persons were allowed to speak before everyone was asked to leave.

Community residents raised their hands to give over their two minutes
to Kaʻū Learning Academy's Executive Director Kathryn Tydlacka.

     The meeting was called by the Commission after it issued a notice of possible charter revocation, which could lead to KLA shutting down. The commission quoted an independent audit that pointed to accounting practices. Ahead of the meeting, KLA administrators and auditors said the practices employed when starting up the school could be repaired. The reason for the audit was to identify problems and fix them, said school representatives.

     The public meeting devolved into verbal chaos shortly after the state Charter School Executive Director's presentation on how charter schools work. When Thompson began the public input period, he said attendees could ask questions, but he could not answer them. He said he would hear objections to removal of the charter and closure of KLA. He then stated each speaker would have two minutes, saying there was quite a bit of time for public input.

Tommy Akin said Discovery Harbour, where KLA is located, is a retirement community.

  Tommy Akin was chosen by Thompson to speak first, over objections that KLA representatives wanted to lead off the public input. Akin said children deserve a good education, and the charter school is a good idea, but doesn't belong in Discovery Harbour. He pointed out that the goal of KLA's board and administrators is to eventually build a school in Ocean View.
  Akin claimed the school was only supposed to be in Discovery Harbour a year or two. He described Discovery Harbour as mainly a retirement community, a characterization met with dessention from several of the attendees. He complained of noise and traffic, said there is no school signage, claimed sex offenders live within one mile of the school, and that there was drug use and sale at the school - to which one man spoke up to say there was no proof of that.

     Another man spoke next, asking for clarity on whether the Charter School Commission was having this meeting due primarily to the accounting issues. Thompson responded that the minutes of the meeting where the Commission decided to threaten to revoke the school's charter were available on the Hawai‘i State Charter School Commission's website.

Monique Wilson said she was there for
her daughter, a student at the school.
Film clips from KLA

     Kathryn Tydlacka, founder and Executive Director Kaʻū Learning Academy, was allowed to speak. She said she was concerned about baseless allegations of drug use and abuse, and stated the community was not a retirement community. She did say there were errors made in the formation and running of the young school, which were described in the audit, but that there was no misappropriation, no embezzlement, and that the auditing firm had stated it was a clean audit with clean findings. The clerical errors, she said, were being corrected, with the help of a CPA.

     Tydlacka said she sent several emails to Thompson, which explained the clerical errors that were found in the audit. She said it is difficult to communicate with the commission and that the KLA is required to travel to Oʻahu once a month, but is only allowed to talk for two minutes, which are timed by the Charter School Commission.

     The statewide Charter School Executive Director interrupted her, saying that she reminded him of the two minute limit. He told her to stop talking. A man spoke up, saying hers was the other side of the story, and that the Hawaiʻi Attorney General pointed out that the Commission presented a one-sided narrative when deciding to threaten to revoke the school's charter. Attendees spoke up, saying they wanted to hear Tydlack, with some volunteering their minutes so she could speak.

     It was at this time, with attendees asking to hear Tydlacka speak, that Thompson tried to shut the meeting down. Monique Wilson spoke up, saying she was there for her daughter, not for the politics of the situation. She attempted to continue, saying she did not like what was going on. Thompson cut her off and tried to shut the meeting down again.

     One more man spoke up, asking why the audit process was done during the school year instead of in summer when there is more time to review. He was answered by Thompson, who stated that the Commission did not do the audit, that it was done by a third party.

     The mother of the student again objected to stopping the meeting, saying the Commission did not understand the situation of the community, that KLA was helping people. Thompson shut the meeting down for a third and final time, ten minutes after the public input period began.

     KLA has requested a more formal public hearing in its effort to defend its charter.

     See video posted by the school at youtube.com/watch?v=yCobDUaAy2Y. View most of the meeting at facebook.com/krwhit/videos/884834285027859/ - however, volume is an issue.
     See the Commission's site, with the minutes of the above-referenced meeting, at chartercommission.hawaii.gov/kau-info.

     Read more on page 18 of the January edition of the Ka‘ū Calendar.

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Senator Mazie Hirono

A NATIONWIDE BAN ON ABORTIONS OF FETUSES 20 WEEKS AND OLDER is proposed by Pres. Donald Trump's administration. Currently, abortions are legal nationally but are restricted in various ways by individual states. Kaʻū's U.S. Senator, Mazie Hirono, spoke on the Senate floor on Monday, Jan. 29, on what she called "the latest attack on reproductive rights by the Trump administration: a 20-week abortion ban."
     "Nearly 50 years ago," said Hirono, "I wrote my first letter to Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation in support of legalizing abortion. Choices about our bodies are ours to make, but now the Trump administration wants to undermine that freedom." She said, "I always speak out and fight for a woman's right to choose what's best for her and her family." She also asked for her constituents in Kaʻū and around the state to share how they feel about the proposal, by responding through this link.

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A FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE IS TUESDAY NIGHT, Jan. 30, and The Ka‘ū Calendar's astronomy writer Lew Cook offers an explanation:

     Did you know that the Earth - the entire Earth we live on - casts a shadow into space? We are in that shadow every 24 hours. When this happens, we call it "NIGHT." This shadow continues out into space, well past the moon. Sometimes it actually hits the moon - or rather, the moon passes through our shadow. This is an eclipse.

Here's a NASA diagram of the eclipse: the red
 circle shows where no light directly from the sun shines
 in, only that which is scattered through our atmosphere.

     You can witness the passage of the moon through this shadow - our earth's shadow - on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, Jan. 30/31. This is the second full moon of January 2018, and is called by some the "Blue moon." This "Blue moon" will turn RED in color. How red? Anywhere from orange through as red as the reddest sunset you've ever seen - or almost as dark as an unlit piece of charcoal.

     If you look at the full moon in the very early hours of Wednesday, Jan. 31, it will begin to look strange at about a quarter before 2 a.m. (Tuesday night/Wednesday morning). As the night goes on, the full moon will appear as if a demon is eating it like a cookie - but you can still see the part of it that has been eaten; the whole, full moon will be visible throughout the eclipse.

     The moon will be fully immersed in the shadow beginning at 2:52 a.m. Expect the bottom portion of the moon to be brighter than the rest of the moon at maximum eclipse, which occurs at 3:30 a.m. Then, the northern part comes very close to the center of the shadow, so that part should be darkest. The total eclipse ends at 4:08 a.m., but the moon won't return to its full brightness until an hour later. However, like during the first hour, you won't notice it much.
     See Lew Cook's monthly column in The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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THREE, FREE, ARTS AND CRAFTS ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR COUNTY PARKS IN KA‘Ū this Valentine's Day on Wednesday, Feb. 14.

     In Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, Valentine's Day Card takes place from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park. The program is open to keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Feb. 7 through 13. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113.
     In Nā‘ālehu, Valentine's Day Card Making takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Nā‘ālehu Community Center. The program is open to keiki ages 5 to 12 years. Register Feb. 1 through 9. For more, call Richard Karasuda at 939-2510.
     In Pāhala, Valentine's Day Flower & Bear Craft takes place from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. The programs is open to keiki in grades K to 8. Register Feb. 5 through 13. For more, call Nona Makuakane or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102.
     For more about these programs and others at the county parks, visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCES IT WILL HOST ITS FIRST VOLUNTEER WORKDAY of 2018 at on Friday, Feb. 9, at their Kaʻū Preserve, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     The focus of the day will be to clear vegetation from the TNC's preserve fenceline. Tools, gloves, and "spectacular views' will be provided, states the event flyer.
     Space is limited. For more details or to reserve a spot, contact Linda Schubert at 443-5401 or lschubert@tnc.org. The following Volunteer Day will take place on Friday, Mar. 23, at TNC's Kona Hema Preserve.

Kalei Namohala, Clifton Johnson
and June Domondon with the
OKK Half Court Shot.

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TŪTŪ AND ME IS HIRING two "very special" people. Due to the growth of both Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu, there are now two openings - one full-time, one part-time on-call - for teachers to join the team. The minimum qualifications include: High school diploma; ECE or related course work and/or experience working with children; vehicle with extended coverage. See pidfoundation.org/emploment for more details. To apply, email resumé to HR@pidfoundation.org or fax to 440-6619.

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FREE CAT SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES IN KA‘Ū HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED by AdvoCATS, Inc., available at Ocean View Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 7 a.m. 5 p.m. For more, call 895-9283.

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CLIFTON JOHNSON OF LPCS, THE JAN. 6 WINNER OF ‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S Half Court Shot - the first one this year - received the prize from June Domondon, of OKK, and Trojans Athletic Director Kalei Namohala. Following tradition, Johnson donated the entire $250 of his winnings to Ka‘ū Athletics, which supports Trojan sports.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January 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

Boys Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 31, Kealakehe @ Ka‘ū.
     Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.

Wrestling: Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HULA VOICES, WITH KUMU HULA STEPHANIE APOLO and Desiree Moana Cruz moderating, takes place Thursday, Feb. 1, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The free, educational event occurs the first Thursday of each month - excluding April and December for 2018. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S SENIOR CITIZEN SURVEYs are due Thursday, Feb. 1. Senior citizens over the age of 62, who are interested in the Nā‘ālehu Senior Housing Project, are asked to fill out a quick five-question survey to help OKK gather general data essential to the planning of the project. To get a survey or for more information, contact Raylene Moses at 365-3788, or Nadine Ebert at 938-5124 or ebertn004@hawaii.rr.com.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU MEETS Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Aspin Institute Building near Punalu‘u Black Sands Beach Park. For more, contact Secretary Nadine Ebert at okk-secretary@okaukaou.org.

A FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted at Almafatano's Italian Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, KDENte, offers a buffet dinner and music entertainment. Tickets are $20 at the door. Call KDEN for reservations, 928-7344.

FOOD FROM WOOD:GROWING EDIBLE & MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS ON LOGS, STUMPS, AND WOOD CHIPS Workshop takes place at Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. Zach Mermel teaches the basics of mushroom cultivation using locally sourced, undesirable exotic trees. The class fee, $50 per VAC member and $55 per non-member, includes one shiitake mushroom log kit and one King Stropharia mushroom kit. Pre-registration is required. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVER THE HAWAIIAN GODDESSES, HI‘IAKA & PELE, and the natural phenomena they represent on a free, moderate, one-mile walk in Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

LA‘AU LAPA‘AU, A BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, meets three times in Pāhala at Ka‘ū District Gym in February. The class is held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday - Feb. 3, 17 and 24. Po‘okela Ikaika Dombrigues of Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi leads and shares traditional health at this free class. To register or for more details, call 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team. Visit hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

Palila from an original watercolor on silk by Gwendolyn O‘Connor. Learn how
to professionally document art for galleries and competitions on Feb. 3.
Event details at left. Image taken from gwendolynoconnor.com

A PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOP is hosted at Volcano Art Center, from 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, Feb. 3. Class fee is $35 per VAC member and $40 per non-member. Artist Gwendolyn O'Connor shows how to professionally prepare art for galleries and competitions. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT PROGRAM on Saturday, Feb. 3, and help native plants grow by removing non-native plant species from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO. This event will be offered again on Feb. 9, 17 and 19.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, BY FEB. 6, FOR A "YEAR OF THE DOG" WALL HANGING arts and crafts class that takes place Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center. Free. Call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, for more.

SOUTH POINT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AND AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE sponsor a Ham Radio Potluck Picnic on Sunday, Feb. 4, from noon to 2 p.m., at Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. For more, call Rick Ward at 938-3058, or visit sites.google.com/site/southpointartc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home.

LEARN ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS THAT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE in a free, moderate, guided hike along the Palm Trail - approx. 2 miles - on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, takes place in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Learn about growing mushrooms in Hawai‘i using locally sourced, undesirable exotic trees on
Feb. 3, and take home two mushroom kits. See event details above. Photo from wikipedia.com

A SUPER BOWL EVENT, WITH QUARTERLY PRIZES, IS OFFERED AT Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Feb. 4. Doors open at 11 a.m. and kick-off is at 1:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Call 967-8365 after 4:00 p.m. for more details. Open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS on Monday, Feb. 5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Monday, January 29, 2018

Outgoing Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui noted his work on the Farm-to-School and Farm-to-Cafeteria Initiatives, and 
praised the Kohala Center for its help in linking farmers to feeding students and helping students to grow food. 
Photo from Kohala Center

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHAN S. TSUTSUI IS RESIGNING, he announced on Monday. His resignation, after 15 years in public service, will be effective Jan. 31. In a public statement, Tsutsui said he will return to Maui, to join Strategies 360 - a public affairs, strategic communications and research firm with offices in Hawai'i, 11 other Western states, and Washington D.C - as a Senior Vice President.

     In his announcement, Tsutsui quoted Pres. Barack Obama's remarks commemorating the 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary: "We cannot choose the history that we inherit. But we can choose what lessons to draw from it, and use those lessons to chart our own futures."

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui steps down
at the end of January

     Said Tsusui, "Accordingly, it's my hope that we will continue to acknowledge the rich history of our State, and remain grateful for the contributions and sacrifices of generations past; that we will explore new ways to invest in our residents, businesses, and communities to make them more sustainable, competitive, and economically robust. And as I leave public service, I look forward to continuing to be a part of Hawai‘i's future and helping to forge a new path that honors our shared beliefs and my continued commitment to improving the lives of the people of Hawai‘i."

     Tsutsui noted that he served first as a State Senator from Maui, then Senate President, before becoming Lt. Governor. He noted multiple accomplishments. One of them, called REACH - Resources for Enrichment, Athletics, Culture, and Health - supports after-school programs in Ka‘ū and elsewhere, for middle and intermediate public school students. At Ka‘ū High and its intermediate school, REACH helps to fund Boys and Girls Basketball, Volleyball, and Soccer. "As a father, I was especially concerned with ensuring that middle school students engage in positive activities and relationships during hours when many are left unsupervised because their parents are working," said Tsutsui.

     Since 2013, REACH has invested approximately $2.75M in more than 40 public middle and intermediate schools - including charter schools - statewide, reaching thousands of students. Funds have helped to provide robotics programs; ‘ukulele and other music lessons; hula and other dance lessons; basketball, soccer, wrestling, and other sports; cooking, fishing, art, and hydroponics; and many other clubs and programs. "Participating students have shown improved attendance, attitude, behavior and even grades," said the outgoing Lt. Governor.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui's REACH initiative helped build Ka‘ū High's
soccer program. Photo by David Berry

     Tsutsui took the reigns of the Farm-to-School Initiative, which developed into the ‘Aina Pono: Hawai‘i's Farm-to-Cafeteria Initiative, to increase the purchase and consumption of local food in school cafeterias. "With an enthusiastic team of advisors and 'doers', along with support from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, private partners such as The Kohala Center, and many other generous donors, a burgeoning pilot project was launched to infuse local foods and flavors into our school menus, while providing healthier options for our keiki. As the project continues to grow and expand throughout the State, the effects will have a lasting impact on our keiki, the agriculture industry, and the state's procurement processes," said Tsutsui.

     The Lt. Governor praised "businesses and farms using innovative and entrepreneurial ideas to revitalize family businesses. You have all inspired me and helped to make me a better person and leader. I will cherish these experiences and lessons and carry them with me throughout my life. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Hawai‘i for the opportunity to have served you all these years." He thanked Gov. David Ige for the privilege of serving in his Administration, and also the former Governor, Neil Abercrombie.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SPI's ground-mounted solar arrays, which the company plans to install on lots
makai of Hwy 11 in Ocean View. See the company's website, spisolar.com.

BILLS TO STOP LARGE INDUSTRIAL SOLAR INSTALLATIONS from being built in residential subdivisions without special use permits have been introduced at the Hawai‘i Legislature by Rep. Richard Creagan and Sen. Josh Green, who represent west Ka‘ū into Kona.
     County Council Member Maile David, who represents all of Ka‘ū into Kona and Volcano, said she supports both the bills and intends to propose a Council Resolution on the matter.
     If passed, Senate Bill 3076 and House Bill 2665 would protect many thousands of residents and property owners who live in about 20 non-conforming subdivisions on the Big Island. While most of the sprawling subdivisions are in Puna, the community of Ocean View in Ka‘ū is made up of seven subdivisions.
     These neighborhoods are called non-conforming subdivisions because they do not meet current subdivision standards. Most were created in the 1960s and 70s, and many were created in the Agricultural land use district where residential subdivisions are prohibited on Ag land. The bills would help eliminate loopholes related to the differing standards.

Residents met last April and told Chinese solar company  representative
Rick White that the industrial solar installations would erode property
 values, and destroy the ranch-like ambiance of Ranchos and other
affected neighborhoods. Photo by Ann Bosted

     The bills were largely inspired by the industrial solar farms planned by a large Chinese corporation, SPI Solar, which proposes to build 26 separate solar installations that would cover 26 residential lots in the Ocean View Ranchos, Kula Kai, and Kona South Subdivisions, taking out native trees and forests between existing homes, substantially changing the landscape of the neighborhoods. The Kona South subdivision is an undeveloped 500-acre virgin ‘ohi‘a forest with no developed road access.
     "The proposed bills are not anti-solar," explained the County Council member. "They simply protect the health and safety of residential communities in rural area subdivisions from proposals to develop industrialized solar farms with a capacity of 15 kW or more, without first obtaining a special use permit. This provision would allow communities that may be impacted by such a facility an opportunity to provide input," she said. Most households need a solar system of less than five kilowatts.
     "It is a very fair law", continued David. "If a resident wants to run a B&B in his or her home, that resident must get a special use permit. Why not require big solar corporations to do the same? This bill does not affect solar developers who want to build large installations on real farm land."

Ranchos residents said they oppose leveling of the landscape for 
industrial solar farms. Photo by Ann Bosted

     The council member assisted with the drafting and filing of a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission in 2016 regarding the proposed Ocean View Solar project. The complaint, which is yet to be decided, asserts that HELCO and HECO, the utilities that would by the electricity from the solar farm, erroneously applied provisions of the Feed In Tariff program to the Ocean View project. The Ocean View solar project is on hold while the PUC considers the complaint. "Ocean View has a population of about 7,000 people, and the population has doubled each decade according to the census. Present and future residents of Ocean  View and the large subdivisions in Puna deserve protection from incompatible uses of their neighborhoods," added David.
     The Feed In Tariff program provides for the speedy introduction of renewable energy to Hawai‘i, but in Ocean View the program would appear to have been used to circumvent the bidding process that is required for projects over five megawatts. According to the FIT permit application, the installations should have been built in 18 months. Although the stated completion date was September 2012, the project is still in the Interconnection Requirements Study phase, and no site work has been done.
     Said David, "I hope that the PUC will rule in favor of the citizens of Ka‘ū, and I also trust that the legislature will support the twin bills introduced by Sen. Green and Rep. Creagan. Both measures will provide our citizens with a process that allows the people an opportunity to provide input and prevent this type of situation from happening again."
     In addition to Rep. Cregan, who proposed it, HD 2665 is also sponsored by State Representatives Tom Brower, Romy Cachola, Cindy Evans, Angus McKelvey, Takashi Ohno, Cynthia Thielen, Ken Ito, Lei Learmont, Bob McDermott, Nadine Nakamura, Richard Onishi, Joy San Buenaventura, Calvin Say, and Gregg Takayama.
    To provide testimony, log into the state legislature website to the actual bills at SB 3076 and HB 2665.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S SENIOR CITIZEN SURVEYs are due this Thursday, Feb. 1. Senior citizens over the age of 62, who are interested in the Nā‘ālehu Senior Housing Project, are asked to fill out a quick five-question survey to help OKK gather general data essential to the planning of the project. To get a survey or for more information, contact Raylene Moses at 365-3788, or Nadine Ebert at 938-5124 or ebertn004@hawaii.rr.com.

A FUNDRAISING PERFORMANCE OF NORA & DELIA EPHRON'S LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE is offered to support Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. It takes place at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     The play is based on a best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, and is comprised of monologues and ensemble pieces about women, clothes, and memory. Five brilliant women from O‘ahu comprise the cast of the show, their stories revolving around the main character Gingy, played by Victoria Gail-White, and supported by world-class ensemble Lisa Barnes, Lauren Murata, Bree Kale’a Peters, and Stacy Ray. They make sure to cover all the important subjects: from mothers to prom dresses, buying bras, hating purses, and why we only wear black. The monologues focus on relationships and how a woman's wardrobe can be used as a time capsule to tell the stories of her life.
     "The cast has performed this production together at a variety of venues across the islands and says that they are thrilled to bring this funny, touching, and relatable production to the Volcano," says a press release issued by KDEN.
     Tickets, $20 per person, are available at Kīlauea Military Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, The Most Irresistible Shop, and at the door of the performance. For reservations or more information call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January 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

Boys Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 31, Kealakehe @ Ka‘ū.
     Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.

Wrestling: Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū FOOD PANTRY, INC., distributes Tuesday, Jan. 30, at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle-Mauka, Ocean View, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All participants are asked to respect the grounds where this will be held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the last Tuesday of each month.

A LEARNING TOGETHER WORKSHOP AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER, sponsored by Nā‘ālehu School, is offered Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

VOLCANIC GEOLOGY ALONG SADDLE ROAD is the topic of an After Dark in the Park presentation given by Rick Hazlett, affiliate geologist with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hazlett describes the "outdoor classroom" along Saddle Road, in which visitors can learn more about how the Islands aloha ‘āina (precious land) came to be. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

WITNESS THE LUNAR ECLIPSE WITH ASTRONOMER DEAN REGAS, co-host of PBS Star Gazers, as he guides event participants through the total lunar eclipse expected Tuesday, Jan. 30, atop Kīlauea Volcano. Meet Regas at 8:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Overlook (on Crater Rim Drive, before Jaggar Museum). Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's event description says "the park will provide an excellent vantage point to view the spectacle – weather permitting." Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HULA VOICES, WITH KUMU HULA STEPHANIE APOLO and Desiree Moana Cruz moderating, takes place Thursday, Feb. 1, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i  Volcanoes National Park. The free, educational event occurs the first Thursday of each month - excluding April and December for 2018. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S SENIOR CITIZEN SURVEYs are due Thursday, Feb. 1. Senior citizens over the age of 62, who are interested in the Nā‘ālehu Senior Housing Project, are asked to fill out a quick five-question survey to help OKK gather general data essential to the planning of the project. To get a survey or for more information, contact Raylene Moses at 365-3788, or Nadine Ebert at 938-5124 or ebertn004@hawaii.rr.com.

Ulili Navigation Cylinder by Heather Mettler.
See this and more at the Passage and Place Exhibit.
Event details below. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU MEETS Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Aspin Institute Building near Punalu‘u Black Sands Beach Park. For more, contact Secretary Nadine Ebert at okk-secretary@okaukaou.org.

A FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is hosted at Almafatano's Italian Restaurant on Friday, Feb. 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event, KDENte, offers a buffet dinner and music entertainment. Tickets are $20 at the door. Call KDEN for reservations, 928-7344.

FOOD FROM WOOD:GROWING EDIBLE & MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS ON LOGS, STUMPS, AND WOOD CHIPS Workshop takes place at Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. Zach Mermel teaches the basics of mushroom cultivation using locally sourced, undesirable exotic trees. The class fee, $50 per VAC member and $55 per non-member, includes one shiitake mushroom log kit and one King Stropharia mushroom kit. Pre-registration is required. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVER THE HAWAIIAN GODDESSES, HI‘IAKA & PELE, and the natural phenomena they represent on a free, moderate, one-mile walk in Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

LA‘AU LAPA‘AU, A BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, meets three times in Pāhala at Ka‘ū District Gym in February. The class is held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday - Feb. 3, 17 and 24. Po‘okela Ikaika Dombrigues of Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi leads and shares traditional health at this free class. To register or for more details, call 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team. Visit hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

Help remove invasive plant species in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Event details below. Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

A PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ARTISTS WORKSHOP is hosted at Volcano Art Center, from 9 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, Feb. 3. Class fee is $35 per VAC member and $40 per non-member. Artist Gwendolyn O'Connor shows how to professionally prepare art for galleries and competitions. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT PROGRAM on Saturday, Feb. 3, and help native plants grow by removing non-native plant species from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.  Meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO. This event will be offered again on Feb. 9, 17, and 19.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, BY FEB. 6, FOR A YEAR OF THE DOG WALL HANGING arts and crafts class that takes place Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center. Free. Call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, for more.

SOUTH POINT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AND AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE sponsor a Ham Radio Potluck Picnic on Sunday, Feb. 4, from noon to 2 p.m., at Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. For more, call Rick Ward at 938-3058, or visit sites.google.com/site/southpointartc or
sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home.

LEARN ABOUT NATIVE PLANTS THAT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE in a free, moderate, guided hike along the Palm Trail - approx. 2 miles - on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, takes place in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A SUPER BOWL EVENT, WITH QUARTERLY PRIZES, IS OFFERED AT Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Feb. 4. Doors open at 11 a.m. and kick-off is at 1:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Call 967-8365 after 4:00 p.m. for more details. Open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

A MARDI GRAS FUNDRAISER AT ST. JUDE'S will be held on Friday, Feb. 16. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served starting at 6 p.m. The menu will include jambalaya, shrimp (served on the side), red beans and rice, cornbread, a drink, and dessert. Prices are: $8 per person, $15 per couple, or $20 per family.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.