Ka‘ū News Briefs Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Berta Miranda waits anxiously to find out if her prize winning Ka‘ū Coffee farm was destroyed, during the 2012
wildfires that burned around Pāhala, threatening the entire village and damaging macadamia orchards, eucalyptus
farms, and coffee trees. Miranda's farm was spared. See story on the upcoming Wildfire Summit below.
Photo by William Neal

HAWAI‘I IS THE MOST INTEGRATED STATE, with the most racial progress for its diverse population, according to WalletHub, which released the study in advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, Jan. 15. Categories ranked for integration include: Employment and Wealth; Education; Social and Civic Engagement; and Health.
     Hawai‘i ranks first in Employment and Wealth, followed by Delaware. Hawai‘i ranks first in Social and Civic Engagement, followed by New Mexico. Hawai‘i ranks seventh in integration for Education. Wyoming ranks first, New Mexico second, West Virginia third, Idaho fourth, Arizona fifth, and Kentucky sixth.

Hawai‘i is ranked number one in the country for racial progress,
according to the WalletHub report ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Image from WalletHub

     For Health, despite Hawai‘i having long overall longevity, it ranks 29th. The number one health care integration state is South Dakota, followed by Kentucky, California and Nevada.
     Other Hawai‘i rankings include first in Lowest Poverty Rate Gap, Lowest Business Ownership Rate Gap, and Lowest Median Annual Income Gap, and second in Lowest Labor-Force Participation Rate Gap. Find out the good and the bad of Hawai‘i rankings and the way they were calculated at wallethub.com.

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THE FIRST EVER HAWAI‘I WILDFIRE SUMMIT is open for attendance by Ka‘ū and Volcano volunteer  firefighters, ranchers, farmers, resource managers, and homeowners concerned about fire risk. The event will draw concerned persons from around the island from May 2 - 4 to Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows. On hand will be fire professionals, resource managers, community members, and more for wildfire-focused workshops and trainings.

     Who should attend the Hawai‘i Wildfire Summit? "Anyone who lives or works in a wildfire-prone environment," says the invitation from Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization.
     Presentations, workshops, and trainings will follow tracts related to wildfire hazard reduction in and around communities, as well as toward natural and cultural resource protection from summit to sea. The Hawai‘i Wildfire Summit is designed to bring together a diverse audience to become apprised of best practices and innovations in wildfire protection, discuss lessons learned, and to provide a space that invites collaboration and coordination toward the next steps in Hawai‘i and the Pacific.

Pastures scorched next to Ann Fontes' farm outside Pāhala
 in 2012. Firefighters saved the homes of Fontes, and Jimmy
and Lisa Dacalio, as well as their farms and
roadside coffee establishment.

     According to the statement, "Over the years, Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization has come to understand that wildfire-related challenges are faced by a wide array of professionals and citizens, including more than just those focused on emergency response. While the summit program is informative and highly valuable for fire professionals, the offerings are also targeted toward other
efforts and people that deal with wildfire, such as riparian and marine conservation, cultural resource protection, the visitor industry, planning professionals, and community groups."
     An additional event will be held Monday, Apr. 30, and Tuesday, May 1. Called the N.F.P.A. Assessing Structure Ignition Potential From Wildfire Training, the course is limited to 40 participants. Registration is first come, first served.

     Register for all the classes at Hawai‘i Wildfire Summit. Some scholarships are available. Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization is looking for volunteers to assist with the event in exchange for partial or full registration.

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A WINTER READING CHALLENGE, sponsored by the Hawai‘i State Public Library System, continues through Jan. 31.

     Mark Cuban, of Shark Tank, Beanstack and professional sports teams ownership, challenged 100 communities to collectively read one million minutes during the inaugural Winter Reading Challenge. If the challenge is met, Cuban will donate $25,000 to First Book (a non-profit dedicated to building literacy skills among children). Cuban also promises $10,000 to the top performing libraries to use for their community programs or donate to non-profits in the area.
     In addition to helping Hawai‘i State Public Library System meet Cuban’s challenge, those who register qualify for a prize drawing in one of three categories: Child - between birth and 5th grade; Teen - between 6th and 12th grade; or Adult - 18 years and older. The three Lucky Prize Drawing statewide winners will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card (one Child and one Teen reader) or a $300 Hawaiian Airlines Gift Card (one Adult reader).

     Each reader will receive a virtual online badge for registering and for every 100 minutes of reading logged online - up to 1,000 minutes read. For every badge earned, readers will receive an automatic entry in the Lucky Prize Drawing - winners will be notified by email and/or phone number provided at registration by Friday, Feb. 16.

     The competition is open to all ages. Register online at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or visit Pāhala Public Library or Nā’ālehu Public Library. Follow the international challenge at #WinterRead2018.

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FREE DINNERS AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER will resume this Thursday, Jan. 10. The weekly free dinner is hosted from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more details, call 939-7033.

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A MAUNA LOA VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center (92-8924 Leilani Circle, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates). View informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers.

     Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's event flyer says "Bring your questions! Displays will address frequently asked questions about Mauna Loa - its current status, hazards, how to prepare for a future eruption - but all questions are welcome."

     The event, entitled Mauna Loa: Let’s Talk Story - 2018 Volcano Awareness Month, is free and open to the public. The program is a collaboration of the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawai’i County Civil Defense, U.H.-Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes, and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. For more, contact Ocean View Community Association at 939-7033 or ovcahi.org, or contact HVO at 967-8844 or email askHVO@usgs.gov.

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KA‘Ū RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION has announced an upcoming free informational and educational presentation, Crystal Meth Addiction in Communities, as part of the organizations Call to Action Prevention Campaign. Certified Prevention Specialist Gary Shimabukuro will give the presentation on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Ka‘ū District Gym's multi-purpose room in Pāhala. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Ka‘ū Resource & Distance Learning Center at 928-0101.

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THE KONA VA MEDICAL TEAM is now serving veterans at the Ocean View Community Center on the first and third Thursdays of the month, from 8:30 a.m. to noon (except Jan. 18). For more details, call 939-7033.

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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. 10, @ St. Joseph.
     Monday, Jan. 15, Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū.
     Wednesday, Jan. 17, @ Kohala.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Girls Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 10, Honoka‘a @ Ka‘ū.
     Friday, Jan. 12, @ Laupahoehoe.
     Monday, Jan. 15, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 13, @ HPA.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 13, @ Konawaena.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

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TELL STORIES ON A VARIETY OF MODERN MATERIALS WITH BAMBOO STAMPS, ‘OHE KĀPALA, in a demonstration that takes place Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. ‘Ohe kāpala 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.

BEGINNING HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES - two 8-week courses - start Thursday, Jan. 11, at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Both courses focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. No experience necessary. Part One is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays and requires no prior experience in Hawaiian Language. Part Four follows from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays - some experience with Hawaiian Language is preferred. The course fee for either class is $80 for Volcano Art Center members and $90 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

A PANCAKE BREAKFAST will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 18 and 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE is the theme of two Jazz in the Forest performances with Binti Bailey, Larry Seyer, and Jean Pierre Thoma and the Jazztones that are scheduled to take place Saturday, Jan. 13, with a matinee from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and an evening performance from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. On the agenda are love songs from around the world. Tickets are $18 for Volcano Art Center members and $20 for non-members. Purchase tickets online at volcanoartcenter.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 be open to the public from Saturday, Jan. 13, to 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.

BIRTH OF KAHUKU, a free, easy-to-moderate, guided hike traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations, on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku, and learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A SILK PAINTING WITH WAX RESIST WORKSHOP is led by Patti Pease Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The class combines batik methods with the art of Serti silk painting to create a representational piece of art, i.e. wall hanging. The workshop fee is $45 per Volcano Art Center member and $50 per non-member, plus a $10 supply fee per person. Beginner and intermediate artists are welcome. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

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.

A ZENTANGLE CLASS FEATURING THE ZENDALA - TWIRLING LEAVES takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The class blends inspiration from nature with traditional Zentangle patterns and is suitable for beginning or returning tanglers. The class fee is $30 for Volcano Art Center members and $35 for non-members, plus a $10 supply fee. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. The event will take place again on Jan. 19 and 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA is the title of an easy, one-mile, ranger-led walk scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower. The walk is free to attend. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE FUND NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP LOAD NETS, previously collected from the coast, into a container at Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station on Sunday, Jan. 14, starting at 9 a.m. Bring personal drinking water. To sign-up, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

An unusual salmon-colored lehua blossom found in the Kahuku Unit of
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See event above.
Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

A FEE-FREE DAY IS OFFERED AT HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - no entrance fees will be collected at any fee-charging National Parks on Monday, Jan. 15. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS on Monday, Jan. 15, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

PAINTING WITH PEGGY, an acrylic painting class with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton, is set for Monday, Jan. 15, 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. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

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.