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Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, February 7, 2018

West Hawaiʻi Fishery Council invites those interested in ocean resource management to a meeting at Pukaʻana Church Hall,
 across from Fujihara Store on Hwy 11, on Thursday, Feb. 15. Photo from West Hawaiʻi Fishery Council
WEST HAWAI‘I FISHERY COUNCIL, WITH MANAGEMENT AREAS DOWN TO MILOLI‘I AND INTO KA‘Ū, invites the public to a meeting. Venue is Puka‘ana Church Hall near Capt. Cook - across from Fujihara store - on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.           

The Miloli‘i FMA area - which runs 18.6 miles
 down the South Kona/Ka‘ucoastline - starts in
 waters just south of the National Historical Park
 at Hōnaunau, at the edge of the Ki‘ilaeahupua‘a
 boundary with Keokea ahupua‘a, and ends 
at the border of the Kapua ahupua‘a boundary
 with Kaulanamauna ahupua‘a.
      Learn about managing the near-shore environment. Share opinions and concerns. Ask questions. Main focus will be rules for marine mammal interactions; what they are, why they exist, and who enforces them. On-hand will be representatives from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
     The Fishery Council encourages new membership - especially recreational, commercial and regional fishers, who can provide feedback for the council on a regular basis. The West Hawaiʻi Fishery Council is an advisory group on resource replenishment, reef health, user conflicts, and more, to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
     From its website: "Despite the impression that West Hawai‘i has a lot of space where fishing isn't allowed, this is actually not true. Almost the entire coastline is open to some kind of fishing. Fishery Management Areas, like other types of Marine Managed Areas, usually restrict only one or two types of fishing, often prohibiting certain gear types or palu (bait). Each one has different rules, so be sure to check each one."
Pukaʻana Church Hall will be the venue for the public
Fishery Council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15.
     In the Miloli‘i Fishery Management Area, to "fish for or take ‘opelu with fish or animal bait, except with hook and line," is prohibited. This is the only rule listed that is specific to the area.
     Fishery Council meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Visit West Hawai‘i Fishery Council website.

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A MEETING ON KA‘Ū LEARNING ACADEMY'S FUTURE will be held on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The school is taking input to provide to the Hawai‘i State Charter School Commission and possibly the Board of Education. A meeting at Discovery Harbour was shut down last week by the Commission's Executive Director, after supporters of the school wanted to give their two minutes of talking time over to the founder of the school, who said she wanted to go over the startup of the school and measures it is taking to come into compliance with Commission requirements.
     A warning to shut down the school was issued by the Charter Commission to the school, listing accounting practices, which the school has promised to remedy with corrective actions approved by a CPA and the school auditor.
     The school serves 95 students and ranks higher than the statewide public school average in annual testing of students, according to its administrators.

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A PUSH FOR TRUTH IN LABELING OF KA‘Ū AND KONA COFFEE, and other ag products, has been introduced to the Hawai‘i Legislature by east Ka‘ū Rep. Richard Creagan. It is supported by the Kona Coffee Farmers Association in two bills before the House of Representatives - HB1757 and HB256.
     HB1757 concerns ready-to-drink coffee; labeling laws do not require manufacturers to disclose the source or what percentage of any regional coffee is used to make the product - if any. The Ka‘ū, Kona, Maui, or other origin name can be used for any pre-made coffee drink, without oversight. This bill would "require the same label disclosure of the percentage as is currently required for roasted and instant coffee," says the language of the bill.
Kona Red and other Ready-to-Drink coffee products would be required
to be comprised of at least 51 percent of the origin coffee named, such 
as Kaʻū Coffee and Kona Coffee. Photo from konared.com
     Chief of the state Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Scott Enright testified, "Many ready-to-drink coffee beverages sold at retail are manufactured and packaged outside of Hawai‘i, in which the Department has no enforcement jurisdiction." Per a recent article by Max Dible, Bruce Corker - board member and former president of Kona Coffee Farmers Association - said, "The original legislation didn't include RTDs because they weren't pervasive at the time it was passed." The HDOA's notion that its hands are tied when it comes to regulating out-of-state manufacturers is "nonsense," said Enright. He put forth examples like the Idaho Potato Commission, which protects farmers by "issuing cease and desist orders and filing litigation in instances of trademark infringement, both within Idaho's borders and without." He also quoted Corker as saying, "While said companies claiming associations with Kona coffee aren't in direct competition with any local farmers as far as RTD market share is concerned, the lack of labeling regulations still creates a negative and meaningful economic impact felt across Hawai‘i Island and the state."
     Eighteen other Representatives co-sponsored the bill. Testimonies are being accepted. Read and track the progress here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1757&year=2018
Truth in labeling is back at the legislature, with 
two bills supporting it for the coffee industry.
Photo by Julia Neal
     HB256 would require origin-labeled coffee to be made up of no less than 51% coffee from the place of origin named, in order to use the origin name - a substantial increase from the current 10% rule. Introduced last session - also by Creagan - the bill was given a hearing, and passed by the House Ag Committee, but the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee did not schedule a hearing, so it was continued into this session.
     The bill's language gives the Kona example, saying, "Existing labeling requirements for Kona coffee causes consumer fraud and degrades the 'Kona coffee' name" and "Confusion as to the difference between Kona coffee and Kona coffee blends caused Consumer Reports magazine to rate Kona coffee as 'second rate.'" The language continues in this vein, stating the current labeling is "inherently deceptive" unless "at least the majority of the coffee is from that region."
     If passed, this bill would affect roasted and instant coffee. If HB1757 is passed, it would also affect RTD coffee.
     Ten other members of the House of Representatives co-sponsored this bill. Testimonies will be accepted once a hearing is scheduled. Read and track the progress here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=256

Looking Down by Steve Irvine. Photo from Volcano Art Center
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TĪ AND SEAS, A NEW ART EXHIBIT announced by Volcano Art Center, features a new collection of oil paintings by Pāhoa resident Steve Irvine. The exhibit is scheduled to open to the public Saturday, Feb. 17, and be available daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Sunday, Mar. 25, at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
     Irvine shares his inspirations and techniques at an opening reception on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
     Born in Los Angeles, California, Irvine came to Hawaiʻi to attend college, and graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies specializing in Fine Arts from UH Hilo. Irvine has been "painting and surfing ever since," says the event description featured on volcanoartcenter.org. His work has appeared in the annual juried Spring and Fall Arts Exhibit at Wailoa Center and East Hawaii Cultural Center almost every year since 1986. Volcano Art Center also featured Irvine's work at two previous exhibits, in 2004 and 2009. To date, he has received twelve awards in recognition of his artistic merits.
by Steve Irvine. Photo from Volcano Art Center
     "Volcano Art Center is glad to feature Steve's work again in a solo exhibition," states Gallery Manager, Emily C. Weiss. "His work has always appealed to collectors for its distinctive high quality, use of bright primary colors and affordability. Stylistically, Irvine's paintings blend impressionistic principles into a unique form of expressionism. While focusing on the realistic representation of Polynesian Tī plants and the ever-changing ocean, Steve's primary focus for this exhibit is actually on the quality of light present in both subjects."
     "For his last exhibition at VAC, Where Lava Meets the Sea, Irvine hiked the Puna coastline searching for land-and-seascapes. Those same long views and high horizon lines are present in the new works, juxtaposed to a magnified focus on the light, shadows and color of the subjects. The subjects appear to contain a glow from within which Steve achieves by creating a unique orange undercoating as his first layer of paint," says the event description.
     Irvine hosts an oil painting workshop at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani campus in Volcano Village on Mar. 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Basic artistic concepts including color, composition, and contrast, in addition to Irvine's techniques, will be discussed before students embark on their own oil painting. Class fee is $60 for non-members and $55 for VAC members. Class supplies must be provided by the student; a full list will be provided upon registration. To register for the class, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at kaucalendar.com
/janfebmar/februaryevents.htmlSee 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.
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ABSTRACTS AND PROPOSALS ARE DUE FRIDAY, FEB. 9, for symposia, forums, workshops, trainings, and individual oral or poster presentations, for 2018 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference in July. For more, visit hawaiconservation.org.

MAKE A VALENTINE FOR YOUR VALENTINE! at Nā‘ālehu Public Library on Friday, Feb. 9, starting at 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free. For more details, call 939-2442.

JOIN PAUL AND JANE FIELD IN VOLUNTEERING FOR STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT on Friday, Feb. 9, and remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO. This event will also be held Feb. 17 and 19.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HOSTS A VOLUNTEER WORKDAY on Friday, Feb. 9, at its Ka‘ū Preserve (located between Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu), from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited. For more details or to reserve a spot, contact Linda Schubert at 443-5401 or lschubert@tnc.org. The following Volunteer Day will take place on Friday, Mar. 23, at TNC's Kona Hema Preserve.

SECOND ANNUAL MAULI OLA FESTIVAL at Wood Valley Farm will be a leave-no-trace event beginning Friday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., with activities scheduled 5 p.m. Friday until early morning Sunday. Campers will be allowed to stay until 2 p.m.
     Music, workshops, and other activities, including keiki-friendly activities. Eco-friendly toilets, showers/hand and dishwashing stations (bring only all natural, eco-friendly soap), and limited cooking space available. Spring water and various food options, including vendors offering "locally crafted organic, locally grown food and of course, award-winning ethical coffee", available. Camping alternatives include nearby bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals.
     Tickets for one day are $30, $60 for two days, and camping passes are $10, which includes hot showers. Organizers suggest bringing warm clothing for nighttime, layers for daytime. Vendor spaces are still open. Sponsors are welcome. Kids under 12 are free. Purchase tickets, see the schedule, and get more info at mauliolafestival.com.

Take a workshop to learn All You Ever Wanted to Know About Bonsai 
and How to Grow Them in Volcano this month, starting Saturday, Feb. 10. 
ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BONSAI AND HOW TO GROW THEM, a workshop taught by well-known Bonsai Sensei Bill Newton, is offered Saturday, Feb. 10, 17, and 24, at Volcano Garden Arts. Sign up for all three classes and receive a complimentary meal at award winning Café Ono. Space is limited. For more, call 985-8979 or visit volcanogardenarts.com.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HAWAIIAN HOSPOT AND CREATION OF KAHUKU on a hike, Birth of Kahuku, on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

KĀWĀ VOLUNTEER DAY, arranged by Mā Mamo o Kāwā, is hosted Saturday, Feb. 10, starting at 9:30 a.m. Sign up with James Akau by emailing namamookawa@gmail.com or calling 430-3058.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND A RAFFLE are offered by Ocean View Community Association at Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. To volunteer, call 939-7033. Visit ovcahi.org for more.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW OR WORK ON A FORGOTTEN PROJECT at The Art Express on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Classes held once monthly. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com. See discoveryharbour.net/art-express for future dates.

ZENTANGLE: THE ELEGANCE OF LIMITS, is offered Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Learn how to use tangles for boarders, and how to create elegant frames to hold Zentangle art with Lois and Earl Stokes. Zentagle Basics is recommended but not required. All art supplies provided. Class fees are $30 for VAC members and $35 for non-members, plus a $10 supply fee. Bring a light refreshment to share. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

FUEGO! WITH JEAN PIERRE THOMA AND THE JAZZTONES give two Jazz in the Forest performances on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Volcano Art Center. The matinee starts at 4:30 p.m. and the evening show at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18 per VAC member and $20 per non-member. The Wine and Beer Room will be open, and an area will be set aside for dancing. Tickets are available online until Friday, Feb. 9. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org for more details.

A PERFORMANCE OF NORA EPHRON'S LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE is offered Saturday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, to raise funds for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network. The play is based on a best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman. Tickets are $20 per person. For reservations or more info, call 982-7344.

THE VITAL ROLE OF ‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower, are presented on a free, easy, one-mile, guided walk on Sunday, Feb. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

JOIN VOLCANOLOGIST CHERYL GANSECKI for a Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Sunday Walk-in-the-Park event, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This moderate three-mile hike explores the Mauna Ulu area. Due to the fragile nature of this significant cultural area, space is limited to 15 people, and reservations are required. The hike is free for, but restricted to, members of Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. If you are not a member, you can join at fhvnp.org/become-a-member/join-or-renew/. Call 985-7373 or visit their website to reserve a spot.

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.

PAINTING WITH PEGGY, an acrylic painting class with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton, is offered on Monday, Feb. 12, from noon to 3 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. The class is part of an ongoing series of workshops for artists of all levels, and is offered again on Feb. 26. Class fess are $15 per VAC member and $20 per non-member per session. Email questions to peggystanton007@yahoo.com. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR/NĀ‘ĀLEHU COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public is invited to come see what C.E.R.T. is about, as well as participate in training scenarios. For more, contact Dina Shisler at dinashisler24@yahoo.com or 410-935-8087.

LEARN ABOUT A BRAND NEW MEANS OF SAMPLING IN THE FIELD for dissolved gasses in groundwater, that can sometimes precede volcanic unrest and earthquake activity, at an After Dark in the Park event on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The presentation, Development of a New Geochemical Tool to Predict Volcanic Unrest and Earthquake Activity, begins at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Dr. Gary McMurtry of SOEST, University of Hawai‘i, describes its use in detecting any rapid changes, in time for effective hazard response and planning. Free; park entrance fees apply. Suggested donation of $2 to support park programs. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K THROUGH 8, BY FEB. 13, FOR A VALENTINE'S DAY FLOWER & BEAR CRAFT class held on Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. Free. Call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

REGISTER KEIKI, AGES 6 TO 12 YEARS, BY FEB. 13, FOR A VALENTINE'S DAY CARD Arts & Crafts class that takes place Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Free. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

VOLUNTEER TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING vital and threatened native ecosystems by signing up for Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's February Forest Restoration Project event, held Friday, Feb. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the Mauna Loa strip. Enjoy hands-on learning about native plant restoration by planting native seedlings and about invasive weed control by clearing invasive weeds. Volunteers should be at least 12 years old, and be able to hike at least one mile over rough, uneven terrain - through brush - in an area with a moderate slope. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To volunteer, contact Linda Schubert at forest@fhvnp.org or 756-3694 by Monday, February 12, 2018. www.fhvnp.org

HFS FEDERAL CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS OPEN to Big Island High School Seniors seeking a two or four-year degree at a College, University, or Vocational-Technical school in the 2018-19 academic year. Qualifications include: HFS member (in good standing), minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, full-time school schedule, and financial need. Applications due Wed., Feb. 28, available at hfsfcu.org/news/2018Scholarship or at any branch location: Kea‘au, Hilo, and Kona.

TŪTŪ AND ME OFFERS HOME VISITS. Tūtū and Me provides caregiver support to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

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