Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Queen Lili‘uokalani, in 1916, after the overthrow of her government. She is seated at Washington Place, now official
residence of the Governor of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu. Wednesday marks the 125th anniversary of the overthrow of the
 Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. It is also opening day for the 2018 Hawaiʻi State Legislature. Photo by James Watson Moser
THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OVERTHROW OF THE KINGDOM OF HAWAIʻI is Wednesday, Jan 17. Gov. David Ige released a statement saying, "This is a special day in the history of Hawaiʻi. A few months ago, we remembered Queen Liliʻuokalani, who put her people first, before money or power. She chose the common good for a better collective existence. I believe we must follow her example as we move forward together as one people." It was during Liliʻuokalani's reign that the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown.
     Read about the life of Liliʻuokalani, the first female monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Read about her commitment and her gift to the children of Hawai‘i at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Trust website, history.com, and biography.com. She is also the composer of the song Aloha ʻOe.

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THE HAWAIʻI LEGISLATURE OPENED ITS 2018 SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, Jan. 17. Representing Ka‘ū are: Sen. Josh Green, M.D., serving Honuʻapo through Nāʻālehu, Discovery Harbor, Ka Lae, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kona; Sen. Russell Ruderman, serving Honuʻapo through Pāhala, Volcano and into Puna; Rep. Richard Creagan, M.D., serving Honuʻapo through Nāʻālehu, Discovery Harbor, Ka Lae, Nāʻālehu, Ocean View into Kona; and Rep. Richard Onishi, serving Honuʻapo through Pāhala, Volcano into Puna and into Hilo.
Saint Damien, the priest who cared for the Hansen's disease patients on the island of Molokaʻi, is a watchful symbol in
 front of Hawaiʻi Capitol as the State Legislature opens its 2018 session on Wednesday.
Photo from Hawaiʻi House of Representatives
     To find out what kind of legislation is proposed and who is sponsoring it, see capitol.hawaii.gov, where bills can be followed by number, by subject, by key words, and by who is sponsoring them. Testimony is invited. Learn how to do research, submit bills, and interact with elected officials at Hawaiʻi Public Access Room.
     See Sen. Josh Green's agenda below and Rep. Richard Creagan's agenda from the Dec. 27 Ka‘ū News Briefs. Read future briefs for Sen. Russell Ruderman's and Rep. Richard Onishi's agendas.

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STATE SENATOR JOSH GREEN, M.D., who represents west Ka‘ū and Kona, announced his legislative agenda for 2018 during opening day of the Hawaiʻi Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 17. He said his package of bills aims at "strengthening and supporting Hawaiʻi families, with special attention to the needs of working families, women, and children."
     Said Green, "This package of bills addresses the real needs of Hawaiʻi's working families. It includes proposals that will make a real difference in people's lives, like raising the minimum wage, creating more affordable housing, plans for debt-free college and universal healthcare, and new solutions to the homeless crisis."
Senators Nicole Lowen and Josh Green, with Rep. Richard Creagan.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Regarding women's issues, Green's legislation provides for equal pay, paid family leave, affordable child care, and grants greater protections against gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sex trafficking. "We need more specific laws that protect the rights of women," Green said. "When women are stronger, Hawaiʻi is stronger."
     The package also includes environmental legislation to restrict use of certain pesticides, lower carbon emissions, and transition state vehicles and facilities to renewable energy. "We must do more to protect and preserve our environment," Green said. "It's something I strongly believe in and will continue working on."
     As Chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services, Green said he continues to work on the challenges of the opioid epidemic and the homeless crisis, including legislation introduced in 2017 that would make homelessness a medical condition that could be diagnosed by a physician and treated with prescribed housing. "Hawai‘i is one ‘Ohana," Green said. "We should never turn our backs on anyone, or leave anyone behind." Green, an Emergency Room physician, practices medicine on the Big Island. He announced late last year that he will run for Lt. Governor in 2018. For more information, contact the Senator at (808) 937-0991.

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Sen. Mazie Hirono talked with Secretary of Defense
Jamis Mattis on Wednesday, urging a peaceful resolution
of the situation with North Korea.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO SPOKE WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES MATTIS on Wednesday, Jan. 17. She said she emphasized the importance of strong diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions with North Korea.
     "Earlier today, I called Secretary of Defense Mattis to emphasize the urgency of resolving the situation with North Korea peacefully," Hirono said. "Hawaiʻi families immediately assumed that the alert meant an attack from North Korea. This speaks to the broad concern about the threat North Korea poses to our state and the rest of the country."
     Hirono's call with the Secretary of Defense is part of her ongoing efforts to address Saturday's false emergency threat alert. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Hirono questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen - see Jan. 16 Ka‘ū News Briefs. She also spoke to Governor David Ige, Admiral Harry Harris, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency Director Vern Miyagi, and Hawai‘i Adjutant General Joe Logan.

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A PUBLIC HEARING FOR KA‘Ū LEARNING ACADEMY, the public charter school at the old Discovery Harbour Golf Clubhouse, will be scheduled. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, the school administrators asked for the public hearing following a notice from the state that its charter could be revoked. The state Charter School Commission announced that it will set a hearing for public discussion on the future of the school.

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Smoking is more costly to Hawaiʻi people than to smokers in almost every other state,
according to a new WalletHub report. Photo from WalletHub
CIGARETTES COST HAWAIʻI'S SMOKERS MORE THAN $2 MILLION over a lifetime and $40,542 a year in direct costs and loss of work, health, and other opportunities. A WalletHub analysis released Wednesday, Jan. 17, ranks Hawaiʻi as one of the states where residents pay the most for their tobacco addiction. The Out of Pocket Cost to a smoker in Hawaiʻi is $167,536 - ranking 47th. The state with the lowest cost for smoking is North Dakota. The highest is New York.
     The Lost Financial Opportunity for smokers in Hawaiʻi is $1,407,368 over a lifetime. The Health Care Cost for Hawaiʻi smokers is $185,243; the Income Loss per Smoker is $293,666.
     The WalletHub summary on smoking says: "Smoking doesn't just ruin your health. It can also burn a nasty hole through your wallet. Tobacco use accounts for nearly half a million deaths in the U.S. each year and is the leading cause of lung cancer, according to the American Lung Association. Even those around tobacco smokers aren't safe from its harmful effects. Since 1964, smoking-related illnesses have claimed 20 million lives in the U.S., 2.5 million of which belonged to nonsmokers who developed diseases merely from secondhand-smoke exposure.
     "However, the economic and societal costs of smoking are just as huge. Every year, Americans spend more than $300 billion, which includes both medical care and lost productivity. Unfortunately, some people will have to pay more depending on the state in which they live."
     See the entire report at WalletHub.

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KDEN JUST ANNOUNCED AUDITIONS FOR HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES, a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn. Auditions by Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. There are parts for three women and three men.
     The story line involves three couples, with the men all working for the same firm. One of the younger men is having an affair with the wife of the oldest, and when each returns home suspiciously late one night or early one morning they invent a story about having to spend some time smoothing domestic matters in the home of the third couple. The third couple shows up to dinner at each house, which only adds to the fun of this famous farce.
     The show will play March 9 through March 25 at Kīlaeua Theater. For more information, call 982-7344.

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FARMING THE ROCK IN KA‘Ū: THE AGRICULTURE FIELD SYSTEM OF KAHUKU is the topic of discussion announced for Coffee Talk on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (entrance located south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11).
     The event flyer quotes Mary Kawena Pukui's ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, "Ke kini mahi‘ai o Ka‘ū" and translates it to mean "the farming multitude of Ka‘ū." It states that "in pre-contact Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Island was the most populous of all the Islands and productive farming techniques were needed to support this population. While much is known about the Kona and Kohala field systems, we are only just learning about the one here in Ka‘ū." During Coffee Talk, University of Hawai‘i Professors Seth Quintus and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln discuss their work uncovering the Ka‘ū field system at Kahuku, as well as how this knowledge might serve Hawai‘i in the future.
     Coffee Talk is an opportunity to get to know the park and other community members, and join an informal conversation with a wide variety of topics, on the last Friday of every month. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

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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

Girls Basketball: Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

 Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

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

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

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

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HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME OFFERS STORY TIME on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.

Join Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park volunteers and remove invasive
plant species at two events this week. See events below. 
Photo from nps.gov/HAVO
AN ‘ALALĀ OUTREACH PRESENTATION IS OFFERED AT VOLCANO ART CENTER on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLUNTEER FOR STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU Thursday, Jan. 18, at 9:30 a.m. with participants 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. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI (6-12 YEARS OLD) FOR A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE arts & crafts activity that takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Register through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

REMOVE INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES AT STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT, which takes place Friday, Jan. 19, and help native plants in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

BRING A DISH TO SHARE AND PLAY BUNCO AT BUNCO & POTLUCK which takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discoveryharbour.net.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

LEARN THE ART OF DOCUMENTARY POETRY with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches - poets and non-poets alike - the techniques of documentary poetry; a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events as well as expresses political, social, or cultural issues. The Documentary Poetry Workshop is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW OR WORK ON A FORGOTTEN PROJECT AT THE ART EXRESS. A monthly class, it is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.

A FREE, GUIDED HIKE, PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU, takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike takes participants over rugged terrain and focuses on the area's human history. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.

VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

PASSAGE AND PLACE, a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit showcases Heather Mettler's handblown, chiseled, and etched glasswork, will continue to be available 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. See more at volcanoartcenter.org.

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