Tuesday, May 08, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Protecting the elections across the country with back up paper ballots is a measure by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard that who support from Common Cause.
See story below.  Photo by Julia Neal
REACTION TO PRES. DONALD TRUMP SCRAPPING IN THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL came quickly today from Sen. Mazie Hirono. She issued the following statement after Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from and "violate the Iran Nuclear Deal."
     "Today, Donald Trump jeopardized our national security by unilaterally violating an international agreement whose compliance by all parties until now has effectively deterred the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
     "The President's decision makes it less likely we will be able to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed power, and less likely that we will be successful in confronting, in conjunction with our allies, Iran's other malign activities – such as its support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program.
Pres. Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran Nuclear Deal today.
France, Germany, and Great Britain objected. Image form WNDU
     "I am also deeply concerned that the President's violation of the Iran Nuclear Deal raises serious questions about whether the United States can be trusted to uphold any agreements or negotiations it enters into, and that this uncertainty will weaken our position in any negotiations with North Korea."
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also responded: "President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal dangerously increases the likelihood of war and undermines approaching talks with Kim Jong-un to denuclearize North Korea. While the Iran deal is far from perfect, Iran is in compliance and the deal is working by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and preventing an all-out war. The concerns regarding other issues like Iran's missile program should be addressed outside of the existing nuclear deal.
    "Breaking this commitment that the U.S. made to Iran and our allies will likely push Iran to restart its nuclear weapons program, increase the potential of war, and undermine critical negotiations to denuclearize North Korea - a country that already has nuclear weapons that threaten Hawai'i and the United States. Due to President Trump's actions today, there is no reason for North Korea's Kim Jong-un to believe that the United States will abide by any agreement made with them to denuclearize North Korea. This short-sighted decision ruins already damaged U.S. global credibility, proving that the U.S. cannot be trusted to keep its promises." 
     Other signers onto the agreement, Germany, France and Great Britain, said they will stick with the agreement and that they objected to the U.S. withdrawal.
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Rep. Tuslsi Gabbard pushes for paper ballots to help secure
American election results. Photo from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
COMMON CAUSE HAS THROWN ITS SUPPORT BEHIND THE SECURE AMERICA'S ELECTION ACT. The measure from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard drew the endorsement from the national non-partisan, grassroots organization, Common Cause, which states that it is committed to upholding American democratic values. The Gabbard legislation would protect the country’s election infrastructure from cyber-hackers by requiring the use of voter-verified paper ballots or a paper ballot backup in federal elections, beginning with the 2018 elections.
     The Securing America’s Elections Act will be included as part of Common Cause’s 2018 Democracy Scorecard that tracks Members of Congress’ records on democracy reform bills, which includes legislation such as the Voter Empowerment Act, Government by the People Act, Voting Rights Advancement Act, and more.
     The Securing America’s Elections Act would authorize emergency funding to empower every state to use voter-verified paper ballots that produce an auditable paper trail ahead of the 2018 elections. It would also incentivize use of safe and secure software in voting machines. It would expand on progress made i in Hawai‘i and 14 other states that currently produce voter-verified paper ballots to provide the American people with an auditable, independent record of their votes.
     Said Gabbard, “Ensuring the integrity and security of our nation’s election systems is critical to protecting our democracy from hacking by adversaries. With federal elections quickly approaching, the cyber vulnerabilities that exist within many election systems must be addressed now. I urge my colleagues to make sure that every vote will be accurately counted and pass the Securing America’s Elections Act to protect our elections from malicious hackers.”
     Aaron Scherb, Director of Legislative Affairs with Common Cause, said, “Common Cause appreciates Congresswoman Gabbard’s efforts, as well as the efforts of other Members of Congress, to secure our elections against malicious attacks. The Securing America’s Elections Act would help protect our elections by requiring the use of a voter-verified paper ballot, which would help prevent foreign entities from trying to undermine our democracy.”
     Corie Tanida, Executive Director of Common Cause Hawai‘i, said, “Securing America's Elections Act is an important step in improving our elections, but there is still a lot of work to be done. We look forward to working with Congresswoman Gabbard, and other members of Congress, as well as our state and local lawmakers and elections officials to ensure that our elections are secure, accessible, and efficient."

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A new vent opened today near Pohoiki Road. One more
house was destroyed.  Photo from HVO

TWO VOLCANIC VENTS OPENED IN LOWER PUNA TODAY, forcing County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense to warn Lanipuna residents again to get out. At 2:30 p.m., Civil Defense posted "All Lanipuna residents must evacuate now. Evacuate towards the ocean Isaac Hale Beach Park. Vent number 13 has opened near the intersection of Leilani Avenue and Kahukai Road and Vent number 14 near Kaupili St. and Leilani Avenue. Both are actively erupting. Hazardous fumes continue to be released."
      The first dozen vents are still emitting smoke but no lava in the last day. Thirty-six structures total, 27 of them homes, have been destroyed. Lava from a new fissure burned a house today.

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The airnow map shows moderate particulate pollution of
the air today in Pāhala, Ocean View, and Kona.
PARTICLES FROM BURNING FORESTS AND HOMES, as well as chemicals from the lava, continue to pollute the air which reaches Kaʻū and Kona when the winds blow from the direction of the volcano. This afternoon, moderate particulate pollution was recorded in Pāhala, Ocean View, and Kona, with the highest levels in Ocean View.  See more at airnow.
     The S02 reading, posted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, showed the air in all Kaʻū as healthy through 6:45 p.m. this evening. However, updates for Pāhala stopped at 12:45 p.m. Also in the green is the air at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at both Jaggar Museum and the Visitor's Center. 

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Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
MAJOR SPONSORS OF THE KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL last Saturday brought their farm produce to show and taste.
     Kaʻū Coffee Mill, with new manager Louis Daniele, offered up Kaʻū Coffee and Kaʻū Coffee dessert treats. It also presented products from its sister company Hamakua Macadamia, with its many offerings of flavored and unflavored macadamia nuts.
     On hand was Kaʻū Coffee Mill founder Edmund C. Olson. Each year, Olson Trust sponsors the entertainment for the Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa, the Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest, Kaʻū Stargazing, and Kaʻū Mountain Water Hike. Olson is also the major sponsor for the Miss Kaʻū Coffee scholarship and
Kaʻū Valley Farm. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
funding for Miss Kaʻū Coffee appearances throughout the year. Kaʻū Coffee Mill has also served as a venue for the pageant.
     Kaʻū Valley Farms is also a major sponsor of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival itself and the Miss Kaʻū Coffee pageant. The farm, with its manager Lee Segawa, land manager John Cross, and crop consultant Richard Loero, presented coffee, tea, and vegetables grown outside and in greenhouses above Nāʻālehu.
      Kaʻū Valley Farms initiated a new Kaʻū Coffee Festival tour this year, taking visitors to its farm, greenhouses and water tunnel.
     See more on the Kaʻū Coffee Festival all week on Kaʻū News Briefs.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment
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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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, May 9 (Council), Kona; Mon/Wed, May 21 (Committees)/23 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

THURSDAY, MAY 10
Disability Legal Services, Thu, May 10, 9:30-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Provided by Paula Boyer of Big Island Disability. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Ka‘ū Scenic Byway Dedication Ceremony, Thursday, May 10, at 2:00 p.m.Manuka State Wayside. Light refreshments will be served.

Papa ‘Olelo Hawai‘i: Beginning Hawaiian Language Classes, Thu, May 10, Part II, 5-6:30pm, Part V, 6:30-8pm, Volcano Art Center. 8 week courses. Hawaiian language experience preferred (basic for part II). $80/VAC Member, $90/non-Member. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222

Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Middle School Theater Night Spring Show, Thu, May 10, 6pm, Kīlauea Military Camp, Kīlauea Theater. VSAS 6th, 7th and 8th graders each perform a one-act play. Free admission; donations accepted.

FRIDAY, MAY 11
Mother's Day Card - Arts & Crafts, Fri, May 11, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 6 to 12. Register May 7-11. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat, May 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, MAY 12
Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants w/ Zach Mermel, Sat, May 12, 9-noon, Volcano Arts Center. Hands-on workshop. Class fee $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member. Register online volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222

Mother's Day Saturday Walk in the Park, May 12, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Board Member, Linda Pratt, for this month's 4-mile hike exploring Kilauea Iki Crater. The walk is free for members; non-members are welcome to join the Friends group to attend. Registration required, www.fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, May 12, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. nps.gov/HAVO

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, May 12, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com or 430-3058.

Maker Fair Spring Spree, Sat, May 12, 10-4pm, The Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Mother's Day weekend. All-handcrafted artisan shopping market from local makers. Free shopping tote to first 50 adult shoppers. Free make-and-take project booths. Keiki scavenger hunt. Free professional Mother's Day photo taken by Spark Productions. Details and artisan applications online, makerfair.org. Sara Krosch, contactmakerfair@gmail.com, 520-389-0620, facebook.com/MakerFair. Free to attend.

Zentangle: Fine Feather-Like Friends w/Lydia Meneses, Sat, May 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center. Create tiles with feather-like forms. Open to all levels, no experience necessary. Bring snack to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest Concert, Sat, May 12, 4:30pm & 7pm, Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Django Hot Club of Volcano and French Cafe Jazz. Tickets available online, $18/VAC Member, $20/non-Member. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, Daily, May 12-Jun 24, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Public opening reception on May 12, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, MAY 13
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, May 13 & 27, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and many forms of ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

Mother's Day Buffet, Sun, May 13, 5-8pm, Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Main entrees include Prime Rib, Lemon Butter Fish with Tropical Salsa and Vegetable Stir Fry with Tofu. $29/Adult, $14.50/Child (6-11 yrs). Open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Reservations required. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

TUESDAY, MAY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue, May 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

The Wonderful World of Wine & Watercolor, Tue, May 15, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center. Artist Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic painting techniques. Enjoy sampling of several wines. $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member, plus $17 supply fee/person.

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, May 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

NEW & UPCOMING
JAZZ IN THE FOREST FEATURES DJANGO REINHARDT HOT CLUB VOLCANO with Hal Glatzer, Greg Shirley, Brian McCree and Jean Pierre Thoma at two performances on Saturday, May 12, announces Volcano Art Center.
     The matinee performance runs from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the evening performance runs from at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
     Jean Pierre Thoma is a world traveled professional musician on flute, saxophone clarinet and piano, with experience throughout America, France, Japan, India, and Israel. He holds two masters degrees in music, and has been a public and private school teacher as well as member of numerous jazz and classical ensembles, such as the Maui and Marin Symphonies. Thoma is leader of The Jazztones and lives in Hilo. For more about Thoma, visit volcanoartcenter.org/event/jazz-in-the-forest-512-430pm/?instance_id=8321.
     Volcano Art Center’s Wine and Beer Room will be open for attendees to purchase Volcano Red Ale and Mauna Kea Pale Ale from Mehana Brewing Company and wine before and after the concert. An area has been set aside for dancing. Pupu by ʻŌhelo Café will also be available for purchase.
Jean Pierre Thoma.
Photo from Volcano Art Center
     Tickets for the matinee show are $18 for Volcano Art Center Members and $20 for non-Members.
     Purchase tickets online at volcanoartcenter.org, at VAC’s Administration Office in Volcano Village or at VAC Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The last day to purchase tickets online is Friday, May 11. After that, tickets will be sold at VAC Gallery & at the door if they are not sold out. Tickets will be held at Will Call on the day of the show, or can be picked up any day before the show at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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VOLCANO FOREST RUNS REGISTRATION OPEN through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Early registration ends May 14; price increase for half marathon from $80 to $85, 10K from $40 to $45, 5K stays at $30. Registration increases again August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.
     Kona Marathon has teamed up with Hilo Marathon and Volcano Rain Forest Runs to create the Big Island Triple Crown Half Marathon. Participate in all three Half Marathon events on the Big Island to achieve Triple Crown status. Triple Crown Half Marathon Hawaii requires its own separate registration form. Participants must have completed Hilo's Half Marathon on March 18, 2018, in order to be eligible for the 2018 Big Island Triple Crown Half Marathon Series. Celebrate with medals awarded at the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register for the Series no later than July 15.
     “What about the lava? Both the Kona Marathon Events on the Kona side of the island
and the Volcano Rain Forest Runs on top of the active Volcano, Kilauea, should not be affected by any lava activity,” states the event’s website.

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ONGOING
Summer Fun - Registration through May 10, Nā‘ālehu Community Center. For grades K-6. $40 per child. $50 portion of registration fee funded by Councilwoman Maile David. Program runs Mon-Fri, Jun 12-Jul 20, 8-2pm. Richard Karasuda, 939-2510. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Fundraiser runs through Wednesday, May 9. Support the Partners In Development Foundation programs in Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala, for keiki ages birth to 5 years, by purchasing tickets for a 15 oz. bag of Maebo Noodle Factory’s famous One-Ton chips for $12 each. Contact the Ka‘ū office, located in Nā‘ālehu, at 929-8571.

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

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 464-9634.

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.

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Mon, July 9: 5K, $25/person; 10K, $35/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From July 9 to Aug 11: $30/person, $40/person, and $45/person, respectively. From Aug 13 to Sept 20: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

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.

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