Friday, January 05, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, January 5, 2018

Long road through ‘Ōhi‘a Forest, across the Ka‘ū Desert to Pāhala into Nā‘ālehu, marked the final day, Friday,
for the 100-mile walk by Wayne Kawachi, 72, to raise money for senior Housing in Nā‘ālehu.
Photo by Doug Castro
‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S WALK FOR SENIOR HOUSING REACHED NĀ‘ĀLEHU on Friday, its final destination, with a welcoming party for the organization's president Wayne Kawachi. He trekked for 100 miles in his rubber slippers to raise $250,000 toward the purchase of 1.9 acres in Nā‘ālehu for future senior housing. Make a donation to support his quest at okaukakou.org. See more details about his walk online, including maps, photos and videos, at okaukakou.org/track-wayne-100-mile-walk.
     For more, call Kawachi at 937-4773.

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HAWAIIAN SPRINGS, LLC, a company involved in the planning for a water bottling plant in Pāhala at the old sugar mill site, has filed for bankruptcy, according to a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser this week.
Hawaiian Springs, involved in the proposal to build a water bottling
plant in Pāhala, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to reorganize.
Photo from Hawaiian Springs
     The Chapter 11 filing is for reorganization. The story says that Hawaiian Springs was formerly the official water of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese baseball league. The company listed assets and liabilities between $1 million and $10 million, with creditors claiming about $4 million. The Dodgers sued Hawaiian Springs over marketing agreements, with a trial set for June 25 in California.
     Hawaiian Springs, with a bottling plant in Kea‘au, distributes on the mainland, in Hawai‘i, and in Asia. It formerly advertised that it gave a percentage of its income to The Nature Conservancy.
     The company was purchased in 2015 by Laulima International.
     A foreclosure auction on the 60-acre site of the former sugar mill in Pāhala was cancelled in December, with the court-appointed attorney saying that the debt on the property had been settled. It is unclear whether Hawaiian Springs and the partners in the property plan to attempt to go ahead with the water bottling plant and commercial center in Pāhala.

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TWO 8-WEEK HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, PAPA ‘ŌLELO HAWAI‘I, BEGIN Thursday, Jan. 11, at Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
     Both classes, Part One and Part Four, focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure, and will be taught by University of Hawai’i - Hilo instructor ʻĀlika Guerrero. Some Hawaiian Language experience is preferred for Part Four; however, no experience is necessary for Part One. 
Hawaiian Language instructor ‘Ālika Guerrero.
Photo from Volcano Art Center
     Guerrero holds a B.A. in Hawaiian Studies, History, and Anthropology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and is currently pursuing his M.A. in Hawaiian Language and Literature. He has been teaching community Hawaiian language courses for 3 years.
     Volcano Art Center asks, "Have you always wanted to learn Hawaiian but haven’t had the time? Just visiting the islands and want to immerse yourself in the culture? Or, are you new to the islands and unsure of how to pronounce street and place names? There are ever-increasing numbers of fluent Hawaiian speakers and now you can begin to learn this rich and vibrant language."
     Both classes are held every Thursday, beginning Jan. 11, with Part One scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Part Four following from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
     Fee for the class, Part One/Four, is $80 for Volcano Art Center members and $90 for non-members. The required workbook for the class is Nā Kai ʻEwalu and it is available at the U.H. - Hilo bookstore. It is also recommended for students to have a Hawaiian language dictionary. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

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A RECENTLY RELEASED 24-MINUTE U.S.G.S. DOCUMENTARY, which focuses on Kīlauea Volcano’s ongoing summit eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu, will be introduced by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Janet Babb, who co-produced and co-wrote the video, at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Halema‘uma‘u lava lake on March 6, 2017.
Photo by P. Bieschke Jr., National Park Service
     The story recounts the formation and growth of the summit vent, describes the fluctuating lava lake within it, and features U.S.G.S. scientists sharing their insights on various aspects of the eruption. Following the screening, U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick, one of the featured scientists in it, provides an update on what is happening at Halemaʻumaʻu today, and answers questions about the summit eruption.
     The free After Dark in the Park presentation, entitled Kīlauea Summit Eruption: Story of the Halemaʻumaʻu Lava Lake, starts at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Park entrance fees may apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

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KA‘Ū HIGH HOSTED KONAWAENA in girls basketball on Friday night. Top scorer for the Trojans was Kainie Mederios Dancel, with three points. Ka‘ū lost, with a score of 98 for Kona and 3 for Ka‘ū.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 
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, Jan. 6, Laupahoehoe @ Ka‘ū.
     Monday, Jan. 8, @ Honoka‘a.
     Wednesday, Jan. 10, @ St. Joseph.
     Monday, Jan. 15, Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 6, Konawaena @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 9, Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 6, @ Kamehameha.
     Saturday, Jan. 13, @ HPA.

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 6, @ Kea‘au.
     Saturday, Jan. 13, @ Konawaena.

Girls Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 10, Honoka‘a @ Ka‘ū.
     Friday, Jan. 12, @ Laupahoehoe.
     Monday, Jan. 15, @ HPA.

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LEARN PRO-ARTIST SAMANTHA DASILVA'S UNIQUE METHOD OF ACRYLIC PAINTING using rollers instead of brushes, tables instead of easels, lots of paint and water, canvas manipulation and plaster, sand, and wood shavings to create textured abstracts. The class, Fearless Abstract Painting, takes place Saturday, Jan. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. No experience necessary. Class fee is $85 for VAC members and $90 for non-members, plus $15 supply fee per person. Register online, at volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222.

Volunteer to help native plants grow in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
by removing invasive, non-native plants. Photo from National Park Service
VOLUNTEER TO REMOVE INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES that prevent native plant species from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The upcoming Stewardship at the Summit event is Saturday, Jan. 6. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 13, 19, and 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVER THE NATURAL PHENOMENA THE HAWAIIAN GODDESSES HI‘IAKA & PELE represent on a free, moderate, one-mile walk on Saturday, Jan. 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

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 on a free guided hike along the Palm Trail in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The hike, Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. The hike is approximately 2 miles long and moderately difficult. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

ANYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW TO OPERATE A HAM RADIO, families, and American Radio Emergency Service members are welcome to join a Ham Radio Operators Potluck Picnic on Sunday, Jan. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Manukā Park. For more, call Dennis Smith at 989-3028.

MARGARET "PEGGY" STANTON teaches an acrylic painting class entitled Painting with Peggy on Monday, Jan. 8, from noon to 3 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. It is part of an ongoing series of workshops for artists of all levels, headed by Stanton. The class is $15 for VAC members and $20 for non-members per session. The class will take place again on Jan. 15. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR/ NĀ‘ĀLEHU C.E.R.T. meets Tuesday, Jan. 9, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. The public is invited to come see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, as well as participate in training scenarios. For more, contact Dina Shisler at dinashisler24@yahoo.com or 410-935-8087.

U.S.G.S. HAWAI‘I VOLCANO OBSERVATORY GEOLOGIST CAROLYN PARCHETA briefly describes the early history of the East Rift Zone eruption that began 35 years ago, and provides an in-depth look at lava flow activity during the past year, at an After Dark in the Park talk on Tuesday, Jan. 9, starting at 7 p.m., in Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The event, entitled Kīlauea Volcano's East Rift Zone: 35 Years and Still Erupting, is free to attend; however, park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

U.S.G.S. Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory Geologist Carolyn
Parcheta gives an After Dark in the Park talk Tuesday.
Photo from researchgate.net
‘OHE KĀPALA DEMO: HAWAIIAN BAMBOO STAMPING takes place Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Learn to create beautiful designs using bamboo stamps (‘ohe kāpala), which were originally used to decorate clothing with deep symbolic meaning. The event is free to attend; however, park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HUI MĀLAMA OLA NĀ ‘ŌIWI hosts a free, new prenatal education program which is to be offered island-wide. The Healthy Hāpai classes currently scheduled are held in Hilo and Puna, with a new class being held in Waimea on Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31, and Feb. 14, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Kona classes are yet to be announced. The organization would "like to reach the Ka‘ū community and bring a class to the area if there are interested women."
     The free five-session program is offered island-wide, with an engaging and educational curriculum designed to help mothers throughout pregnancy and after birth. The course is facilitated by Leila Ryusaki, who started her career in the healthcare field 20 years ago. She says, "Pregnancy is not only about the birth of the baby. It’s also about the birth of the parents. We’re here to help with that transition."
     The Healthy Hāpai program is ideal for mothers in their first and second trimesters, and open to mothers in their third trimester as well. Both first-time and experienced mothers are encouraged to join and meet other pregnant moms. Participants are welcome to bring a partner, friend, or family member to class.
     To sign up or learn more, expectant mothers can call Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi at (808) 969-9220. For more information, visit hmono.org.

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