Ka‘ū News Briefs Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Miloliʻi is the first stop this Sunday, when Hōkūleʻa returns to Hawaiʻi Island, following three years of sailing around
the world. Above, the women chant, sailing into Miloliʻi in 2013. Photo from Polynesian Voyaging Society

MILOLI‘I WELCOMES HŌKŪLE‘A AS SHE RETURNS TO HAWAI‘I ISLAND this Sunday, March 25, on the first leg of her Hawaiʻi Mahalo Sail. The 43-year-old, 62-foot-long double-hull Polynesian sailing canoe last visited Hawaiʻi Island in May of 2014, before sailing out of Hilo on her three year Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage.

Hōkūleʻa, leaving Miloliʻi in July of 2013.
Photo by Peter Anderson

     Starting Sunday in Miloliʻi, Hawaiʻi Island residents will see and engage with Hōkūleʻa and her crew. During her March into May visit, isle residents can expect crew presentations and talk story sessions, open house canoe tours, volunteer stewardship opportunities, and other family-friendly events, all free to the public.

     Polynesian Voyaging Society will welcome thousands of public and private school students with canoe visits, and hands-on educational activities custom tailored to every age, that highlight wayfinding and voyaging through the lenses of math, science, conservation, and culture.

     Hōkūleʻa is set to sail from Polynesian Voyaging Society headquarters on Sand Island on Oʻahu as early as Thursday, March 22, depending on weather conditions. She will arrive at Miloliʻi, overnight, and sail to Kona the next day, where she will be moored through the end of March. Through April, the canoe will be in Hilo, and finally in Kawaihae through the first week in May, before Hōkūleʻa and crew return to Oʻahu.

Miloli‘i children and crew of the Hōkūleʻa before her three-year
voyage around the world. Photo from Polynesian Voyaging Society

     Events and dates will be released by Polynesian Voyaging Society when details are confirmed. The Hawaiʻi Island visit is an official stop on Hōkūleʻa's Mahalo, Hawaiʻi Sail, which is in gratitude of the efforts and generosity of Hawaiʻi's people, for supporting the round-the-world trip.

     Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, and a Pwo navigator said, "When we set out to accomplish the impossible in 2014 by sailing around this island Earth, our Hawaiʻi Island communities supported us completely so that we could succeed. To go back and say thank you by sharing and inspiring island youth – our next generation of voyagers – that is the best mahalo and investment in our future that I can think of."

     Hōkūleʻa, launched on March 8 of 1975, is 62 feet long, 20 feet wide, and has sailed more than 140,000 nautical miles. Her name is the Hawaiian name for the star Arcturus, the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. She is modeled after the Polynesian ships of old, similar as possible to the large Polynesian sailing canoes, used originally to sail to and settle in the Hawaiian Islands.
     Read more at www.hokulea.com.

Map of the three-year worldwide journey of the Hōkūleʻa. Image from Polynesian Voyaging Society

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LIMITING ACCESS TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN HAWAI‘I made a major impact in recent years, with 73,000 people quitting or never becoming smokers, states a release from Gov. David Ige's team. Hawai'i is "a leading example for the nation to stand up against Big Tobacco companies and protect the health of our people," says the 

Gov. David Ige, proponent for anti-tobacco
laws in Hawaiʻi. Photo from Ige

statement. It points out that during Ige's years as governor, Hawai‘i has raised the minimum tobacco use age to 21 - the first US state to do so - "which has caused a savings of more than $1 billion in healthcare costs." 

    State legislators connected to Ka`u are making the push against tobacco, submitting and pushing anti-tobacco bills through committees. They include:

   ● SB3004, and its companion bill HB2735, cosponsored by Sen. Kai Kahele, which "Prohibits tobacco use and smoking, including the use of electronic smoking devices, by any person on the premises of University of Hawai`i."

   ● SB2304, and its companion bill HB2158, cosponsored by Rep. Richard Creagan and Sen. Josh Green, which "Prohibits the issuance and renewal beyond 11/30/2019, of retail tobacco permits for businesses that are located within 500 feet of a preschool, school, or certain public playgrounds. Beginning on 12/1/2019, prohibits the sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices by businesses that are located within 500 feet of a preschool, school, or certain public playgrounds. Deems persons and entities in violation to have knowingly and recklessly failed to obtain a valid permit."

   ● SB2654, and its companion bills HB2737 and HB2492, cosponsored by Sen. Russell Ruderman, which "Prohibits the shipment of tobacco products, and the transport of tobacco products ordered or purchased through a remote sale, to anyone other than a licensee. Makes all provisions of the cigarette tax and tobacco tax law that relate to tobacco products applicable to e-liquid. Increases the license fee for wholesalers or dealers and the retail tobacco permit fee. Amends the taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products. Increases the excise tax for each cigarette or little cigar sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer. Increases the excise tax on the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products, other than large cigars, sold by the wholesaler or dealer."

     These bills are all progressing in the Senate and House.

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO IS TAKING A POLL ON SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS. Said Hirono, "Our kids, our keiki, need us to do our job and hold Betsy DeVos accountable in Washington, and I need 3,500 folks to let me know."

Current Secretary of Education Betsy
DeVos. Photo from npr.org

     In order to accomplish this goal, she has asked that residents take a brief survey, which asks questions about DeVos' actions.

     Hirono gives a bit of history on why this is so important to her: "When I was only seven years old, my mother made the courageous decision to move our family to the United States. Speaking no English, I could not have succeeded in this country without Hawaii's public schools." Hirono was raised until the age of eight in Fukushima, Japan.

     "I know I'm not alone. Public schools have opened doors for generations of our nation's students. Now Betsy DeVos wants to slash school funding and - tragically - she just doesn't seem to understand the disastrous consequences her actions would have," states Hirono.

     Take the survey here.

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HAWAI‘I IS ONE OF THE LEAST GUN INDUSTRY-DEPENDENT STATES, reports WalletHub. At 45th overall, Hawai‘i has one of the lowest scores, doing extremely well on independence from the gun industry in every field but one, ranking 27th highest in Gun-Control Contributions to Congressional Members per Capita.

     In other fields, Hawai‘i ranks as lowest (50th) in Total Firearms-Industry Output per Capita and NICS Background Checks per Capita; 49th lowest in Firearms-Industry Jobs per Capita; 46th lowest in Total Taxes Paid by Firearms Industry per Capita; 45th lowest in Gun-Rights Contributions to Congressional Members per Capita; and 43rd lowest in Average Firearms-Industry Wages and Benefits.

     The recent announcement of the study begins: "With gun sales still in decline since President Donald Trump took office and with the recent Parkland school shooting prompting more debates on the gun industry, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018's States Most Dependent on the Gun Industry."

     States most heavily dependent on the arms and ammunitions industry - directly for jobs and political contributions, and indirectly through firearm ownership - were compared across 16 "key metrics," states WalletHub. The data set ranges from firearms industry jobs per capita, to gun sales per 1,000 residents, to gun ownership rate.

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Learn how Pacific Tsunami Warning Center operates, sending warnings within minutes after an earthquake, at a free presentation in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See story below. Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

HOW THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WORKS is the subject of After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Nearly 72 years ago, on April 1, 1946, a tsunami broke 
over Pier 1 in Hilo. The man to the left became one of
the 159 deaths from the event. The Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center seeks to make sure tragedies
like that don't happen in future. Photo from NOAA

     The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center provides tsunami warnings for Hawai‘i, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, plus threat advice for countries throughout the Pacific and Caribbean. For local warnings, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center does this within minutes after an earthquake. For distant tsunamis, information is issued within seven minutes. How? Dr. Nathan Becker, Senior Oceanographer, describes Pacific Tsunami Warning Center operations during the free presentation in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Suggested $2 donation helps support park programs.
     Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

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RESCHEDULED KA‘Ū TROJANS GIRLS SOFTBALL game from March 19, moved to March 20, saw Ka‘ū play KHS, with a final score of 17 to Ka‘ū's 1.

     More games ahead this week for both Spring sports: Girls Softball tomorrow, March 22, away at Hilo, and Boys Volleyball, Friday, March 23, hosting Pāhoa. See full schedule, below.

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/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

Girls Softball: Thursday, Mar 22, @ Hilo

   Saturday, Mar 24 @ Kealakehe

   Saturday, Mar 31 @ Honoka‘a

   Monday, Apr 2, @ Kohala

   Saturday, Apr 7, Hawai‘i Prep @ Ka‘ū

   Monday, Apr 9, @ Pāhoa

   Wednesday, Apr 11 @ KSH

   Saturday, Apr 14, Kea‘au @ Ka‘ū

Boys Volleyball: Friday, Mar 23 Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū

   Tuesday, Apr 3, @ Waiakea

   Wednesday, Apr 11, Kea‘au @ Ka‘ū

   Friday, Apr 13, Honoka‘a @ Ka‘ū

   Monday, Apr 16, @ Hilo

   Friday, Apr 20, Parker @ Ka‘ū

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.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

OVCA BOARD MEETING, Wed, Mar 21, 12 - 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SENIOR BINGO DAY, Wed, Mar 21, free lunch 11 a.m., free bingo 1 - 2:30 p.m., Pāhala Community Center. Prizes for all. ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, okaukakou.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

STEWARDSHIP OF KῙPUKAPUAULU takes place every Thursday in March: 22 and 29. Participants meet at Kīpukapuaulu parking lot, Mauna Loa Road, off Highway 11, at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers should bring clippers or pruners, sturdy gloves, a hat and water; wear closed-toe shoes. Clothing may be permanently stained by morning glory sap. New volunteers, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com.

KA‘Ū COMMUNITY CHILDREN'S COUNCIL, Thu, Mar 22, noon - 1 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities.
Chad Domingo, omingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

FRIDAY, MARCH 23
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HOSTS A VOLUNTEER WORKDAY on Friday, March 23, at its Kona Hema Preserve Honomolino (located across Hwy 11 from Miloli‘i), from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space is limited. Linda Schubert at 443-5401 or lschubert@tnc.org.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT Fri., March 23. Participants meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Volunteers should wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants, and bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves and tools provided. Parental or guardian accompaniment, or written consent, required for volunteers under 18. Visit park website for additional planning details: nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

ARTS & CRAFTS: SPRING FLOWER COLLAGE, Fri, Mar 23, 2:45 - 3:45 p.m., Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. For ages 6 - 12 years. Free. Register Mar 19 - 22. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

EDIBLE WILD PLANTS: A Hands-On Foray for Foragers and Foodies, Sat, Mar 24, 8 a.m. to noon, meet at Volcano Art Center. Hands-on immersion and discovery. $30 per VAC member and $40 per non-member, plus a $15 transportation fee. Pre-registration required; class size limited. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

KEIKI STAINED GLASS, Sat & Sun, Mar 24 & 25, 9 a.m. to noon, Volcano Art Center. Beginners workshop for keiki ages 11 & up - must be accompanied by an adult. Register in advance; class limited to 6 children. $50 per VAC member and $55 per non-member, plus $10 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONGOLIAN BBQ, Sat, Mar 24, 5 - 8 p.m. Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. $0.85/ounce - choice of 13 veggies, 4 meats, sauces, chow mein, and beverage. Park entrance fees apply. KMC is open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

WRITING FOR INNER EXPLORATION AND LIFE REFLECTION, Sat, Mar 24, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. No previous writing experience necessary. $65 per VAC member and $75 per non-member. Bring lunch and pictures of parent/parents. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

FINAL DAY OF TĪ AND SEAS ART EXHIBIT at Volcano Art Center Gallery featuring oil paintings by Pāhoa resident Steve Irvine, is open to the public through Sun., Mar. 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily - volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

Keiki Stained Glass, Sat & Sun, Mar 24 & 25, 9 - noon, Volcano Art Center. Beginners workshop for keiki ages 11 & up - must be accompanied by an adult. Register in advanced; class limited to 6 children. $50 per VAC member and $55 per non-member, plus $10 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222.

Palm Trail, Sun, Mar 25, 9:30 - 12:30 p.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/HAVO

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, Tue/Wed, Mar 27 (committees)/28 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

WALK INTO THE PAST WITH DR. THOMAS A. JAGGAR, Tue, Mar 27, at 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m., at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Each performance lasts about an hour. To find out more about this living history program, visit the park website: nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/walk_into_the_past.htm

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE MONTHLY MEETING, Tue, Mar 27, 10 a.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910.

KA‘Ū FOOD PANTRY, Tue, Mar 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

TRACKING LAVA LAKES WITH THE SOUNDS FROM BURSTING GAS BUBBLES, After Dark in the Park, Tuesday, Mar. 27, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Free; $2 donation is suggested to support park programs. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, Wed, Mar 28 (Council), in Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

KŌKUA KUPUNA PROJECT, Wed, Mar 28, 9 - 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors, 60 years & older, encouraged to attend, ask questions and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

HŪ (HAWAIIAN TOP) DEMONSTRATION, Wed, Mar 28, 10 a.m. - noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Make a Hū and learn the game. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau “Experience the Skillful Work” workshops. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

AVOCADO GRAFTING FOR COMMERCIAL GROWERS WORKSHOP Wednesday, March 28, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Komohana Research and Extension Center, 875 Komohana St, Room D-202, Hilo, HI 96720. Kona will hold two workshops, at 9 a.m. to noon or 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., on Thursday, March 29, at Kona Cooperative Extension Service, Conference Room, 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua, HI 96750. Class Fee is $25 per person, per workshop, registration required. RSVP online or by contacting Gina at 322-4892, at least two days prior to the workshop.

ONGOING

TĪ AND SEAS ART EXHIBIT at Volcano Art Center Gallery, featuring oil paintings by Pāhoa resident Steve Irvine, is open to the public through Sun, Mar 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily - volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

KDEN HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES - March 9 through 24. Performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m, Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network performance. KMC open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call KDEN for ticket info, 982-7344.

TŪTŪ AND ME OFFERS HOME VISITS 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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