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Sunday, August 26, 2018

Ka`ū News Briefs Sunday, August 26, 2018

Pastoral life returns after Lane leaves needed rainfall in Kaʻū. Photo by Julia Neal
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS, PARKS, BANKS, CREDIT UNIONS, POST OFFICES, and other public facilities in Ka‘ū is expected Monday, as Hurricane Lane was downgraded from a Tropical Storm to a Tropical Depression.
     Waters receded quickly, some stream beds and gulches in Ka‘ū almost looking dry again. Roadways that flooded, like Kāwā Flats, Hwy 11 east of Pāhala, and Wood Valley crossings, were easy to travel. County Civil Defense urged caution, however, when driving on streets, roads, and highways eroded by the storm. The state Department of Transportation released a photo of such erosion at Mile Marker 50 of Hwy 11, next to macadamia orchards outside of Pāhala.
DOT released this photo today showing Hwy 11 damage next to macadamia
orchards near Pāhala, urging cautious driving. Photo from DOT
     The county also announced at 4 p.m. today that South Point Road was still closed to all but local traffic from Kamaʻoa Road to South Point.
     The U.S. Postal Service announced that post offices will open an hour earlier on Monday to handle the expected extra traffic.
     The state Department of Land & Natural Resources announced that while state parks will be open, all reserves and outdoor recreation areas will be closed for assessment.
     The Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park will be open.
     CERT teams around the island are helping the Red Cross and county Department of Public Works with damage assessments. Report flood damage to 808-643-5555.

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A HAWAIʻI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD COMBAT TEAM AND A CALVARY REGIMENT began their deployment today to Kosovo and Egypt with ceremonies held on Oʻahu. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, herself veteran of war and a major in the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard, attended.
Hawaiʻi Army National Guard men and women are deploying to
Egypt and Kosovo. Photo from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
     The ceremony honored the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team HQ Company heading to Kosovo to support the Multinational Battle Group East Kosovo Forces. The mission is to contribute to a safe and secure environment, support the international humanitarian effort and the development of a stable, democratic, multi-ethnic, and peaceful Kosovo, and support the development of the Kosovo Security Force.
     Also honored was the Squadron 299th Cavalry Regiment, deploying in support of the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt. The MFO is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
     Family and friends of the national guardsmen and women gathered to say aloha and share their love and gratitude for their service.
     Gov. David Ige also attended. He said, "As a father and husband, it is with much gratitude that I acknowledge your service to make the world a better place, a safer place for all families, here and abroad – and especially in Egypt and Kosovo." He pledged that the state will provide local resources to the families of the soldiers serving on deployment.

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Humpback whales come to Hawaiʻi to give birth and raise calves
in the winter. Photo from NOAA
HUMPBACK WHALES WHO WINTER IN HAWAIIAN WATERS may have a problem with their food supply in Alaska, where they spend each summer. Francis Mitchell, of Hawaiian Ranchos, who also goes back and forth to Alaska, sent in a story from KTOO Public Media in Alaska. It reports that some scientists believe humpbacks are not returning to Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska because of food shortages.
     In 2014, says the article, Chris Gabriele of Glacier Bay, who counts whales for the park during the summer, noticed a sharp decline in whale populations. "It took me aback when so many whales that previously had come to Glacier Bay year after year after year - and we're talking like 20, 30, even 40 years - all of a sudden disappeared," she said.
     Overall, says the article, the number of whales in Glacier Bay declined by nearly half between 2013 and 2017, and some whales that did come back were "abnormally skinny." Glacier Bay is the only place in Southeast Alaska where humpback whale numbers are monitored year after year, and anecdotal reports throughout Southeast tell a similar story: Humpback numbers have been down, says the article.
     Gabriele says that "the blob" might be responsible. The blob was a marine heatwave that swept across the North Pacific beginning in late 2013 and disrupted the entire food chain. The article explains why:
The three "blobs" of warm water can be seen off the North American coast, ranging from Alaska to Mexico,
seen in this graphic dated September 1, 2014. Image from NOAA
     "Normally the zooplankton in the North Pacific are rich in lipids and nutrients. But after the blob warmed up the ocean, the zooplankton didn't grow as fat or plentiful. That meant less food for fish and krill, and malnutrition spread all the way up the food chain.
     "The whales returned to this food desert after fasting all winter in Hawaiʻi. For animals that need as much food as whales do, there just wasn't enough."
     However, the article says, that didn't mean the whales were not coming back because they were dead from starvation. From Suzie Teerlink, a marine mammal specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: "We're not seeing carcasses. We're not seeing an increased number of dead whales." She said it's more likely the whales just went where there's more food.
A variety of zooplankton. Photo from NOAA
     "Humpback whales will follow the prey and they are very resourceful and adaptive," she said. "The prey is not always reliable and it can be different from year to year, and humpback whales are really good at adapting and finding the prey that they need."
     To find the whales, says the article, look to the Bering Sea and offshore in the Gulf of Alaska, where more humpbacks than normal have been reported. But there's no way to know for sure where all the whales went, says the article: "They may be big, but the ocean is much much bigger."

     Teerlink said, "It's hard to say if humpback whales will come back, but given that we don't think that humpback whale numbers are decreasing and that they're actually more likely to be shifting their distribution, it seems intuitive that there might be a shift back if the prey became available." See the entire story at KTOO.

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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
KA`Ū TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE
Football:
   Thu, Sept 6, 6pm, @ Pāhoa
   Sat, Sept 15, 1pm, @ Kohala
   Sat, Sept 22, 3:30pm, host Lanai @ Kea`au
Girls Volleyball:
   Wed, Aug 29, 6pm, @ Hilo
   Fri, Aug 31, Kamehameha Tourney
   Sat, Sept 1, Kamehameha Tourney
   Wed, Sept 5, 6pm, host Pāhoa
   Wed, Sept 12, 6pm, @ Christian Liberty
   Fri, Sept 14, @ Kamehameha
   Mon, Sept 17, 6pm, host Lapahoehoe
   Wed, Sept 19, 6pm, host Kohala
   Thu, Sept 20, 6pm, @ Honoka`a
   Tue, Sept 25, 6pm, @ HPA
Cross Country:
   Sat, Sept 1, 10am, @ HPA
   Sat, Sept 8, 10am, @ Kamehameha
   Sat, Sept 15, 10am, Kea`au
   Sat, Sept 22, 9am, @ HPA

NEW and UPCOMING
PARENTS, INC. TO OFFER REGULAR KA`Ū PROGRAMS TO KEIKI and their caregivers. All of which are free to attend and held at PARENTS, Inc. office in Nā`ālehu unless otherwise specified.
     On Friday, August 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., PARENTS, Inc. Case Manager Lindsey Miller leads a Craft Class in which keiki ages 2 to 12 years old are welcome to come along with a parent or caregiver to paint a pet rock. The Craft Class is offered again on Friday, September 28, with keiki guided to make pasta necklaces.
     On Monday, September 3, Miller offers a Story Time program at Nā`ālehu Public Library, 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
     Miller offers a Family Yoga Class on Wednesday, September 5, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., at PARENTS, Inc., in Nā`ālehu, for keiki, ages 3 to 12, and their parents and/or caregivers. All levels are welcome, and participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes, and bring a mat, if can, as supplies are limited.
     In addition to a special Art of Positive Parenting Class - free and open to all parents and caregivers - at Ocean View Community Center on Wednesday, September 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the organization also offers regular 9-Week Confident Parenting Classes that all parents and caregivers are welcome to join at the beginning of each course. These regular classes are hosted in Nā`ālehu at PARENTS, Inc. on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and are $45/person. Call ahead to join - 333-3460, or email lindsey@hawaiiparents.org.
     For more about PARENTS, Inc., or the above programs, call Miller at 333-3460 or email her at lindsey@hawaiiparents.org. See hawaiiparents.org.

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.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28
HOVE Road Maintenance Corp. Meeting, Tue, Aug 28, 10am, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean Viewhoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, Aug 28, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Aug 29, 9-11am, 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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
Ka`ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Aug 30, 12:30-1:30pm, Punalu`u Bake Shop. Monthly 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, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit, Thu, Aug 30, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Medical services offered last Thursday of every month. Dental to be announced. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center June newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu, Aug 30, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
Coffee Talk, Fri, Aug 31, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Law Enforcement Rangers talk story about Mitigating Disaster in National Parks. Ka`ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Miloli`i Classic -- Classic Fishing Tournament Series, information meeting 5:30pm, Fri, Aug 31, Kalanihale pavilion, Miloli`i. Fishing tourney Saturday and Sunday, Sep 1 and 2. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli`i. $200 entry fee, 4 per boat; $25 additional. Cash prizes for Flag Fish: Marlin, Ahi, Mahimahi, Ono, Aku. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Hawai`i Wildlife Fund Kamilo Beach Mini-Clean-up with visiting Debris Poet Allison Cobb, Sat, Sep 1, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai`ōhinu Park. Limited space available in HWF rides. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Stained Glass Basics w/Lois Pollock, Sat and Sun, Sep 1, 2, 8, and 9. 9-noon at Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Students complete the 4-session workshop with finished light-catcher and basic skills to continue working with stained glass. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, $15 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Class size limited. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Sep 1, 9:30-11:30am, 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, and 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. nps.gov/HAVO

Keiki Science Class, Sat, Sep 1, 11-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide, including Nā`ālehu, 929-9030, and Ocean View, 929-7315). Free. First Sat every month. acehardware.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Pu`u o Lokuana, Sun, Sep 2, 9:30-11am, 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 o Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka`ū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, Sep 2, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

ONGOING
Cross County Assistant Coach Needed for Ka`ū Trojans, says Coach Erin Cole. The Boys & Girls team starts running Aug 25. Contact Cole for more, or if interested in applying, at erinlcole@hotmail.com.

5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival tickets on sale for event on Sun, Sept 9, and selling fast! Benefit for Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. Music, food, wine, and raffle. $40/adult (21+), $20 under 21. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

5th Annual Ka`ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, Fees: 5K, $35/person; 10K, $45/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $55/person through Sept 20. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka`ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: `O Ka`ū Kākou, okaukakou.org.

Activities at Kahuku Park -- within Hawaiian Ocean View Estates -- over the next two months, include two physical activities, three arts and crafts activities, and a Park Beautification Day.
     For ages 6 to 12:
     - Sand Art: Wed, Sept 5, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open Aug 27 through 31.
     For all ages:
     - Friendship Bracelets: Wed, Sept 19, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open Sept 10 through 14.
     - Park Beautification Day: Fri, Sept 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Registration open Sept 19 through 26.
     All activities are free to attend. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit the park during business hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Free Arts and Crafts Activities at Pāhala Comunity Center happen on Wednesdays in September, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through the end of Sept, for keiki in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
     - Sept 5: In observance of Grandparents Day, Craft Stick Puzzle Hanging. Register Aug 30 through Sept 4.
     - Sept 12: Dove Foldable For Peace. Register Sept 4 through 11.
     - Sept 19: Handprint Tree Art. Register Sept 13 through 18.
     - Sept 26: Beaded Wind Chime. Register Sept 19 through 25.
     For more, call 928-3102 or visit the community center during business hours: Mon-Thu and Sat, from noon to 8 p.m., or Fri, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool's Temporary Nā`ālehu Location is Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ōhinu. Meeting days and times remain the same: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to those with keiki zero to five years old, to aid with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Free. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 464-9634. Questions: Clark at 929-8571 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for Sat community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.



Ocean View Vet Center Visits Suspended until further notice. Veterans, call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Harmony Educational Services, Home Based Educational Programs - Open Enrollment through Oct 15; harmonyed.com/hawaii. Partnered with four local public charter schools, Harmony offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can also contact Rayna Williams at rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.

Disaster Recovery Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Pāhoa Neighborhood Center at 15-3022 K
auhale St. See information applicants need to bring, or register online, at fema.gov/disaster/4366. If you are a survivor who has left the area, call 800-621-3362. Salvation Army distribution center at Pāhoa Community Center on Tue, Thu, and Sat, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To donate, contact 756-0306.



Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, to kama`aina and tourist alike. Experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo, while the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues.
     Free of charge, with no entry fees, rangers offer new and familiar programs at Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.
Kahuku Unit
     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
     Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
     Guided Hikes on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Can't make a guided hike but want to get to know Kahuku better? The Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will tailor a customized trek just for you. Contact Friends through their website. Proceeds support Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
     Coffee Talk, held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station. Dr. Frank Bonaccorsoreveals "A Day in the Life of `Ōpe`ape`a - the Hawaiian Hoary Bat," and shares a 24-hour cycle of the only land mammal native to Hawai`i on Fri., Aug. 31.
     Ranger Talks introduce the natural, cultural and historic attributes of Kahuku on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
     `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
     Picnic in the Park: Join Kahuku for Hawaiian music and hula. Bring a picnic lunch or opt to buy lunch from food trucks on this family-friendly day. Supported by the Friends of Hawai`i VolcanoesNational Park. Sun., Sept. 16, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus
     Find Park Rangers in Volcano Village daily, at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. Rangers are there 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.
     After Dark Near the Park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
     Find Park Rangers in downtown Hilo, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., they give a talk about all five of Hawai`i Island's volcanoes, including Kīlauea. Get NPS Passport Books stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.
Prince Kūhio Plaza
     Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partner, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel
     Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo on Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rangers provide eruption updates at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The park film that is normally available to visitors at Kīlauea Visitor Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, is shown every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
     Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at `Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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