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.

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, 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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