Monday, April 23, 2018

Ka‘ū News Brief Monday, April 23, 2018

Earth Day over the weekend saw volunteers tackle the Manukā coast from Humuhumu to Āwili Point.
See story below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
PUBLIC INPUT ON FUNDING $12M FOR NĀ‘ĀLEHU AND $5M FOR PĀHALA WASTEWATER TREATMENT IS DUE MAY 11. The state proposes providing low interest loans to Hawai‘i County to help fund both systems to replace Large Capacity Cesspools servicing old sugar camp housing. Public input is designed to help the Department of Health prioritize projects statewide. Nā‘ālehu is listed as top priority among more than 40 projects statewide. Pāhala is listed as number 19 on the priority list.
     Each year, the EPA provides a grant to the State of Hawai‘i to construct wastewater pollution control facilities. For fiscal year 2018, approximately $13.5 million is slated for Hawai‘i. The EPA requires that projects be prioritized and listed on the Project Priority List, along with estimated project start date and cost, for fiscal year 2019.
     Both the Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu projects would bring the county into compliance with EPA requirements to shut down Large Capacity Cesspools, which are outlawed by the federal government. County of Hawai‘i took over the operation of Large Capacity Cesspools at the old sugar camps in both towns in order to maintain them until legal wastewater systems are constructed. The state proposes to lend the county $12 million for the Nā‘ālehu project, and $5 million for the Pāhala project, through low interest loans.
Community members listened to community outreach consultant Berna Cabacungan at recent meetings where community 
members suggested moving the wastwater treatment plan away from the school. Photo by Julia Neal
     The county is at risk of being fined thousands of dollars a day by the EPA unless it moves toward a solution to the Large Capacity Cesspool situation, which was outlawed nationally in order to prevent untreated sewage from polluting water sources.
     In Nā‘ālehu, during recent public meetings, the location of the proposed treatment plant drew opposition from the principal, teachers, workers, and parents of students of Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, who recommended moving the project elsewhere, away from the campus. The preliminary design calls for a series of lagoons to treat the wastewater through absorption, using plants, trees, soil, and aeration.
     In Pāhala, the location next to the pine tree lane coming up Maile Street from Hwy 11 also met with opposition from some residents, who suggested placement below Hwy 11, farther from the town.
     Sandra Demoruelle, whose great grandson attends Nā‘ālehu School and whose family owns land suggested for the Nā‘ālehu site, objects to the location next to the school and submitted testimony. She is asking the county to install gang or individual septic tanks for the old camp housing to save the county money. She said that septic systems were chosen for the project many years ago and would be less expensive.
     Comments to the Department of Health can include asking for a public hearing. Comments can be mailed to O‘ahu Wastewater Branch, Department of Health, 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 207, Pearl City, HI, 96782. All comments must be in writing and must be postmarked by May 11.

Dr. Angie Miyashiro, Teacher of the Year for Kaʻū High and Pāhala
Elementary, and her husband, Stewart Miyashiro, Pāhoa High
Teacher of the year, met Gov. David Ige on Sunday.
Photo by David Berry
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KA‘Ū HIGH'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, DR. ANGIE MIYASHIRO, met Gov. David Ige on Sunday at Nani Mau Gardens in Kea‘au. Her husband, Stewart Miyashiro, is Teacher of the Year for Pāhoa High. Both received congratulations from the governor, who addressed the attendees at the 18th Annual Hilo Chapter of the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association meeting.

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Volunteers on Earth Day cleaned 864 lbs of debris from
a single mile of shoreline. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
EARTH DAY WEEKEND SAW CARE FOR THE KAʻŪ COAST at Manukā on the north end of Kaʻū. On Saturday, April 21, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund volunteers cleaned the shore between Humuhumu amd Āwili Point within the Manukā NAR ahupuaʻa. Thirty-one participants covered a mile of shoreline to remove 864 lbs of debris, including 200 lbs of derelict-fishing nets, which will be shipped to Oʻahu to burn for electricity. Two supersacks of 3,000 lbs of debris will go to terracycle for recycling and the remaining 26 feed bags of miscellaneous debris, weighing 364 lbs., will go to a landfill.
On Earth Day, 200 volunteers cleaned at total of 6,300 lbs
of debris from shoreline areas, filling bags both small
and large. Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
     With last weekend's cleanup, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, NARS workers, and 200 volunteers removed 6,300 lbs. of marine debris and shoreline user litter from the Manuka area during 10 collaborative cleanups. Organizer Megan Lamson thanked NARS for providing water bottles and shirts for volunteers and NOAA Marine Debris Program for partial funding of community cleanup efforts over the years.
     Upcoming Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund volunteer efforts are on: Friday, April 27th, at Waiʻōhinu pools for a debris workday. Rides are full but volunteers can bring their own 4WD; Friday, May 18th, a Kaʻū Estuary Restoration Workday, requiring a short hike to access the site; Sunday, May 20, a Waiʻōhinu Cleanup event with Island Naturals and friends - space is limited; Tuesday, June 5, a Wai'ōhinu Cleanup event with Hawaiʻi Outdoor Institute and friends - space is limited.
     To volunteer for any of these events, contact kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com

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Overlook crater vent, Sunday, April 22 at 8:14 p.m. Image from research camera mounted in the observation tower at HVO1.2 miles from the crater. Photo from volcanoes.usgs.gov
LAVA OVERFLOWED THE RIM OF HALEMA‘UMA‘U LAVA LAKE five times since Saturday. Onlookers and scientists observed lava bubbling over the rim of the summit lava lake at Kīlauea.
     The largest overflow occurred during the fifth pulse, which started at 6:30 a.m. today, April 23, and continued for about three hours, covering about a third of the crater floor with shiny black lava. Multiple spattering sites were active around the margin of the summit lava lake this afternoon, and the lake surface had dropped to a few meters below the vent rim, reflecting the switch from inflation to deflation at the summit of Kīlauea.
     There has been no increase in seismicity, but the area around Halema‘uma‘u remains closed to the public due to ongoing volcanic hazards, including high sulfur dioxide gas emissions and unexpected rockfalls and explosions.
Helicopter overflight this afternoon, April 23, of Halema‘uma‘u crater
shows the largest overflow (silver gray), which happened from
6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. this morning. The overflow covered much of
the April/May 2015 and October 2016 overflows, but a section of
the 2015 overflow is still visible on the south (upper edge,
dark arc) of the crater floor. Photo from volcanoes.usgs.gov
     Inflation is still increasing for Puʻu ʻŌʻō cone. Puʻu ʻŌʻō has shown no new lava flow in the crater during the past day. Episode 61g lava flow is active above Pulama pali, but the flow does not pose a threat to nearby communities at this time. There is currently no active lava on the pali, the coastal plain, or entering the ocean.

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PAID FAMILY LEAVE BILL BEING REVIEWED by lawmakers on O‘ahu this week. Senate Bill 2990 would give all employees in Hawai‘i access to leave benefits when they need to provide care for a family member: the birth or adoption of a child, or a spouse or parent with a serious health condition. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act already provides for 12 weeks of unpaid leave under these circumstances, for companies with 50 or more employees, with Hawai‘i adding a four-week extension for those who work at companies with 100 or more employees. The measure is supported by Gov. Ige, Lt. Gov. Chin, and several unions and nonprofits.

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BILL TO CHANGE HOW VACATION RENTALS are treated in the state is being reviewed by legislators this week. House Bill 2605 would make agencies like AirBnB jointly responsible for collecting Transient Accommodations Taxes - if one party failed to pay taxes correctly, both rental company and owner would be liable. It would give counties access to information that normally requires at least a subpoena, including 1099 information. The bill would require owners to provide proof of compliance with all zoning, land use, and tax laws - violations would result in a $25,000 fine if not responded to within seven days. The bill would also provide for seizure of the property and all income earned from operating a vacation rental with violations, and allow counties to change the zoning to declare a property to be ineligible for vacation rentals, then seize the property if the owner were to continue using it for vacation rentals. The bill is opposed by Rental by Owner Awareness Association.

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Abandoned vehicle law may soon change.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Public Radio
THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TEN DAYS TO REMOVE ABANDONED VEHICLES from roadsides if House Bill 2442 passes the House and Senate conferences this week. The bill would change how owners are notified: currently, registered owners of abandoned vehicles are sent a letter by their county. Under the new law, owners would only be notified if the vehicle was reported as stolen. The definition of an abandoned vehicle would change to include a vehicle owner not transferring title to their name within 30 days of notice to the county of purchase, and any vehicle not registered for more than a year would also be considered abandoned. William Kucharski, Hawai‘i County's Environmental Management director, is opposed to the bill, saying the changes would burden Hawai‘i County due to manpower and budget constraints.

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Kaʻū Trojans Boys Volleyball Varsity and JV teams. Photos from khpes.org 
TROJANS CLEAN UP IN FINAL BOYS VOLLEYBALL game of the Spring. With Ka‘ū hosting Parker, the game was Varsity only. Scoring 12, 19, and 22, Parker struggled to catch the Trojans, but they remained Ka‘ū strong.
     Girls Volleyball, Eight-man Football, Cross Country, Cheerleading, and Bowling will begin in the Fall.

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 24
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, Apr 24, 10 a.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, last Tue of each month, Apr 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View, at Paradise Circle-Mauka. Food is often gone before 1 p.m. We ask all participants to respect the grounds where this is held. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed, beginning at 8:30 a.m. on that Tuesday. For more info or emergency food, call Dave Breskin at 319-8333. We are expanding our services to include - based on availability - free clothing provided by nonprofit Big Island Giving Tree, and pet food provided by the Hawai'i Humane Society.

Getting a Handle on Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, Tue, Apr 24, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. J.B. Friday, extension forester with University of Hawai’i, shares current understanding, management, and how to avoid spreading the disease. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNEDAY, APRIL 25
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Apr 25, 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

Kāhili Demonstration, Wed, Apr 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn to make a small hand-held feather standard - an example of Hawaiian art. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Apr 26, 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, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Vendor Application Deadline for Ho‘olaule‘a, Fri, Apr 27. To become a vendor, contact Brenda Iokepa-Moses at biokepamoses@gmail.com or 731-5409

Coffee Talk, Fri, Apr 27, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in an informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Pa‘ina & Open House, Fri, Apr 27, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. Free; donations accepted for Miss Ka‘ū Coffee Scholarship Fund. Julia Neal, 928-9811, mahalo@aloha.net. kaucoffeefestival.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Apr 28, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Unity Celebration, Sat, Apr 28, 10 - 4 p.m., Ka‘ū District Gym. Hosted by The Collective. Free.

Hawai‘i Democratic County Convention, Sat, Apr 28, Sangha Hall, Hilo. hawaiidemocrats.org

Flameworking - an Introductory Class, Sat - Sun, Apr 28 - 29, 1 - 4 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Glasswork using a torch or lamp to melt glass. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee per person. Advanced registration required. Workshop limited to 4 adults. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

SUNDAY, APRIL 29
Pu‘u Lokuana, Sun, Apr 29, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest, Sun, Apr 29, 11 a.m., Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Free coffee and recipe tastings. 928-0550,  kaucoffeemill.com

ONGOING
Ka‘ū Coffee Festival: through May 6. See all events at kaucoffeefestival.com.

Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

National Park Week, Sat - Sun, Apr 21 - Apr 29, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park & Kahuku Unit. "Park Stars" themed events - nighttime star party, guided hikes, ranger-led adventures, volunteer opportunities - at nps.gov/HAVO.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

Volcano Art Center Gallery Presents Hoʻokuʻi I Nā Kiko, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

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.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

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NEW & UPCOMING
BRING IN MEDICATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY, Saturday, April 28, urges the Hawaiʻi Police Department, Hawaiʻi Attorney General, County Dept. of Environmental Management, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The event legally accepts controlled substances like opioid pain medications. However, no illicit drugs nor needles will be accepted. "With the rise of prescription drug abuse, this is one effort to combat that problem. Spring Clean your Medicine Cabinet," says a statement from Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist, with the county.
     The Take-Back locations to receive the drugs will be in Kona at Hawaiʻi Police Department, 74-0611 Hale Makai Place, and in Hilo at Ka Waena Lapaʻau Medical Complex, upper parrking lot at the corner of Ponahawai and Komohana Streets, 670 Ponahawai St.

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5TH ANNUAL KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 1, with the 2018 race taking place Saturday, September 22.
     Organized by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run offers three moderate to highly challenging races - 5K, 10K, and 1/2 marathon - through macadamia nut and coffee fields, along the slopes of Mauna Loa in Wood Valley.
     All races start 7 a.m. at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, 96-2696 Wood Valley Road, above Pāhala Town.
     Those interested are encouraged to register online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, before Monday, July 9, for the highest discount possible - 5K/$25, 10K/$35, HM/$45, per person. After July 9, ticket price increases $5 per person, per race type, and again on August 13. Participants can register online until September 20.
     To learn more about the event organizers, visit okaukakou.org/kau-coffee-trail-run or webscorer.com/kau-coffee-trail-run. For more details about the start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, visit kaucoffeemill.com.
     The event is sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou and Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, with additional support from Edmund C. Olson Trust II, BioAstin, and County of Hawai‘i.

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