Ka‘ū News Briefs Thursday, February 1, 2018

We Stand Tall and other original glassworks by Heather Mettler are available for viewing at  Volcano Art Center Gallery in 
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Parkuntil Sunday, Feb. 11. See event details below. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

PUBLIC IS INVITED TO KA‘Ū LEARNING ACADEMY Monday, Feb. 5, at 4 p.m., at the school. The KLA board meeting follows this week's Hawai‘i State Charter School Commission's public meeting in Discovery Harbour, concerning the possible revocation of the school's charter. KLA Executive Director Kathryn Tydlacka noted that few people were allowed to talk at the meeting on Monday, Jan. 29, attended by members of the Charter School Commission and its Executive Director, who flew in from O‘ahu.

KLA Executive Director Kathryn Tydlacka and
Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo invite the public to
Monday's board meeting. Photo from KLA

     In a text sent to school families and community members, Tydlacka said, "I can't express how sorry I am that everyone did not get an opportunity to speak at the meeting. It seemed to me that the commission had a very few people they intended to call up front to say negative things. It was obvious they did not want the truth to be told.

     "This is a meeting with our own KLA board, so this will be a friendly environment."

     Tydlacka and Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo said on Wednesday that they invite any community member who would like to voice an opinion on the situation to attend next Monday's meeting. Tydackla said that testimonies will be filmed and presented during a future public hearing on the school's status, and possibly a Board of Education appeals meeting. "Negative or positive - we want to hear from everyone," she said.

     "I know the commission provided a website, but I am afraid they will pick and choose which testimonies they will read into record. This has happened in the past. We have had KLA parents take their precious time and resources to fly over to O‘ahu to be heard, and the commission dragged out the time until the parents couldn't testify at all," said KLA's founder.

     Tydackla stated "we are running out of time," and asked that those who cannot attend the Feb. 5 meeting make a two-minute recording of themselves and email it to kaulearning@gmail.com.

     Tydlacka closed her message by saying "People on O‘ahu have got to see that we care about our school. Our children are devastated right now. They are afraid. Please come and hear the truth. We will answer any question. We have nothing to hide."

Kaʻū Learning Academy teaches about 95 students. Photo from KLA website.

     In its notice of possible revocation of the school's charter, the Commission noted accounting practices, which KLA administrators and auditors have claimed to be repairable, following the start-up period for the new school.

     The board meeting will be held at the school campus at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle in Discovery Harbour, in the old Discovery Golf Course Clubhouse.

     The Charter School Commission has provided a portal for community input. See documents regarding their concerns about KLA. View the wind-up of the Jan. 29 meeting. Read more on page 18 of January's Ka‘ū Calendar or Jan. 30 Kaʻū News Briefs.

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HAWAI‘I ISLAND POSTED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN VISITOR SPENDING, VISITOR ARRIVALS, AND VISITOR DAYS in 2017. The report this week from Hawai‘i Tourism Authority shows that visitors spent $2.4 billion on Hawai‘i Island alone, an increase of 14.7 percent. The number of airline seats increased 15.5 percent to Kona, and 7 percent to Hilo. The total number of visitor arrivals to Hawai‘i Island reached 1,762,914, a 13.7 percent increase, influenced by more direct air service from Japan and the mainland US, and more cruise ship arrivals. The average number of visitor days on Hawai‘i Island expanded by 11.2 percent.

     The state as a whole saw an increase for the sixth consecutive year in key areas: jobs, tax revenue, visitor spending, visitor arrivals, and airline seats serving the Islands, HTA reported.

Crowd gathered to view lava going into ocean at Kamokuna, as visitation to 
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and other natural treasures soars.

Photo from kilaueamilitarycamp.com

     The report stated that jobs increases were strong, with 204,000 direct (e.g. more hospitality employees hired), indirect (e.g. more drywall persons hired due to more lodging being built), and induced (e.g. a boat captain buys more groceries because their income has increased, so the market hires a new person) jobs being generated during the year - a 5.2 percent jump from 2016.

     Bringing the Islands $1.96 billion in tax revenue, visitors spent $16.78 billion in 2017, which is an increase of 6.2 percent over 2016. Visitor spending grew most on the four main islands, with Hawai‘i Island showing the largest increase, followed by 9.6 percent for Kaua‘i, Maui with 5.2 percent, and 3.9 percent for O‘ahu.

     Air and sea arrivals both increased statewide last year, with a 4.9 percent increase for air arrivals, and 12.2 percent increase in cruise ship arrivals - bringing cruise ship tourism to make up 126,225 of the year's visitors. This much larger increase was heavily influenced by 12 new tours from out-of-state cruises. Air travel increased by 1.8 percent, bringing the total out-of-state seat count to 12,235,608.

     In 2016, 8,934,277 visitors landed in the state. 2017 saw 9,382,986 visitors, an increase of 5 percent. The length each visitor stayed decreased 0.3 percent, but the end result is that there were 230,113 visitors on the Islands each day during 2017.

Promoted in Wikipedia with this photo, as one of the four green sand beaches on the planet, is the Green Sand Beach at
Papakolea, South Point. With the number of visitors increasing dramatically, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands 
is coming up with a management plan. Photo from Wikipedia

     Despite the positive economic news these numbers represent, concerns are being voiced by government officials, environmentalists, and the general public. Surveys across the years - going back as far as 1975 - have shown that the response to the question "Has tourism been 'mostly positive' for you and your family?" slipped from more than 70 percent saying yes in the 70s, to about 40 percent in 2015 (source: uhero.hawaii.edu/news/view/317).
     Under study are carrying capacities of popular beaches and such visitor destinations as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Haleakalā National Park on Maui is now taking reservations for those wanting to experience sunrise from the rim of the crater, and limiting the numbers who can go there.

     Papakolea Green Sand beach at South Point in Ka‘ū has so much traffic that Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which owns the property, and trails and dirt roads going there, is making a management plan.
     Read the HTA report. Plan your sunrise visit to Haleakalā.

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Opening day, 2018 Hawai‘i State Legislature. Photo from Wikimedia Commons

OPENING DAY OF HAWAI‘I STATE LEGISLATURE began Jan. 17. Non-administration bill packages - which are bills sorted by association with common interest groups - submission cut-off date was Jan. 24.
     February begins with triple referral and first lateral bill filings, on the 8th and 16th, respectively.
     As 2018 is the second year of the two-year legislative session, there are some bills - sometimes referred to as "zombie bills" - that are left over from the 2017 session, that may be addressed during this session.
     New bills introduced during this session will have numerical designations that indicate their submission date: Senate bills will begin with 1602 or higher, and House bills will begin with 2001 or higher. Each bill gets its own webpage, with information like: status, history, title, if there is a companion bill, who introduced the bill, hearing notices, reports, testimonies, and the ability to submit testimony if a hearing has been scheduled. Search for specific bills at capitol.hawaii.gov.
     Learn more at Hawai‘i Legislature's Public Access Room.

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Learn All You Ever Wanted to Know About Bonsai and How to Grow Them
at three classes in Volcano. Image from Volcano Garden Arts

VOLCANO GARDEN ARTS HAS ANNOUNCED AN All You Ever Wanted to Know About Bonsai and How to Grow Them workshop, with three classes taking place in February. The course will be taught by well-known Bonsai Sensei Bill Newton, who has over 30 years experience.
     The class is held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Garden Arts in Volcano Village (19-3834 Old Volcano Road) on Saturdays; Feb. 10, 17, and 24. A fee of $36 per person is charged per session. Those who sign up for all three classes will receive a complimentary meal at the award winning Cafe Ono. Space is limited. For more, call 985-8979 or visit volcanogardenarts.com.

Left: June Domondon with Carlo Manantan
Right: June Domondon and Makana Kamahele
with Kaikea Kaupu-Manini. Photo from Ka‘ū Athletics

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NĀ‘ĀLEHU PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS ANNOUNCED a new, free event to take place on Friday, Feb. 9. Make a Valentine for Your Valentine! begins at 2:30 p.m. For more details, call 939-2442.

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KA‘Ū HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL CONTINUES its busy schedule, with two Varsity wins out of three games in the last five days: Jan. 27, 29, and 31.

     Saturday, Jan. 27, saw Ka‘ū go up against HPA in a home game, with their opponents winning by 7 points, at 47 to 40.

     Jan. 29 was Ka‘ū at Parker, with a Varsity win of 49 points, scraping ahead by four points.

     Ka‘ū next hosted Kealakehe. Last night, JV saw some strong scoring from Kyson Toriano, with 16 of the 35 points scored; however, Kealakehe did secure the win.

     Ka‘ū Varsity closed Senior Night with another win, 51 to 44. Izaiah Pilanca-Emmsley lead the scoring with 15, followed by Andre Carvalho with 12, Madito Tamayo with 10, and five points scored each by Nainoa Ke, Mason Dacali, and Janslae Badua.

     The last scheduled game of the season happens this coming Saturday, Feb. 3, at Kamehameha.

DOUBLE-HEADER AT ‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU'S half court shot on Jan. 10. June Domondon of OKK and Makana Kamahele were on hand to present Kaikea Kaupu-Manini and Carlo Manantan $250 each. Keeping the tradition strong, both young men donated the entirety of their winnings to Ka‘ū Athletics.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/februaryevents.html. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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 OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER, sponsored by Nā’ālehu School, is offered Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

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

Wauke Navigation Cylinder by Heather Mettler.
See this and more at the Volcano Art Center Gallery.
Event details below. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

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.

ADVOCATS, INC., comes to Ocean View Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., to perform free cat spay and neuter services. For more, call 895-9283.

KĪLAUEA MILITARY CAMP'S LAVA LOUNGE HOSTS OPEN MIC NIGHT on Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. KMC is located inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Singers, Bands, Comedians, etc. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. For more, 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.

TŪTŪ AND ME IS HIRING two 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 minimum coverage. See pidfoundation.org/employment for more details. To apply, email resume to HR@pidfoundation.org or fax to 440-6619.

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