Thursday, October 04, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, October 4, 2018

It will take some time for wildlife biologists to learn of the damage to monk seal populations and their habitat at  Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The seven researchers evacuated from French Frigate Shoals
yesterday ahead of Hurricane Walaka. Photo from NOAA
SEVEN RESEARCHERS EVACUATED FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS ahead of Hurricane Walaka plowing through Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument last night. They were picked up by a research vessel yesterday.
     The scientists studying and monitoring Hawaiian monk seals and Hawaiian green sea turtles were scheduled to depart mid-October, and won't return until next year. Kate Toniolo, acting superintendent of Papahānaumokuākea, said that in coming months, a crew scheduled to collect marine debris will likely be able check for damage to the wildlife habitat, and the quarters where researchers live.
     French Frigate Shoals is known for its heavy populations of monk seals, as the nesting site for 95 percent of endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles, and the home of numerous species of nesting seabirds, all vulnerable to the winds and the ocean washing over the atoll during a hurricane.
Large limpets studied by researchers on Gardner Pinnacle where
Hurricane Walaka passed last night. Photo from NOAA
     Hurricane Walaka reached a status of Category Five over the course of three days and traveled between French Frigate Shoals and Gardner Pinnacles last night as a Category Two. The hurricane lost strength today and reached 445 miles northwest of the French Frigate Shoals at 5 p.m., traveling at 18 miles per hour, with winds of 75 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
     Forecasters expect Walaka to travel northwest and weaken into a post-tropical low by Saturday. High surf from Walaka will continue at Papahānaumokuākea and the main Hawaiian Islands through tonight.
     Papahānaumokuākea is 582,578 square miles, an area larger than all other U.S. national parks combined. It is one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world, and is the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag. It is home to a wide range of rare and endangered species on land and in the ocean. Learn more at papahanaumokuakea.gov.

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A LAWSUIT TO REDUCE NOISE FROM HELICOPTER TRAFFIC on Hawaiʻi Island will be heard by the District of Columbia U.S. Court of Appeals on Nov. 1. The lawsuit, filed by Hawaiʻi Island Coalition Malama Pono against the Federal Aviation Administration, asks for an Air Tour Management Plan to be implemented over Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The plaintiffs stated that a plan for Volcanoes National Park will help reduce noise in surrounding neighborhoods.
     The suit points to legislation, enacted 18 years ago by Congress, that requires an air flight plan over U.S. National Parks.
     Bob Ernst, founding board member of HICoP, said that letters, editorials, and community meetings have so far failed to elicit local action on what HICoP calls "an emergency." In a letter directed to Gov. David Ige, Mayor Harry Kim, Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Colleen Hanabusa, Ernst wrote, "The tour copter noise pollution impacts continue unabated on Hawaiʻi Island. The tour copter cads do not fly neighborly, they do not fly with Aloha, they continue business as usual and your constituents on Hawaiʻi Island totally unnecessarily continue to live in suffering misery."
     A community meeting at Nani Mau in August revealed high emotion from residents, many of whom stated the noise is a health issue. Some spoke of thoughts of threatening actions towards the helicopters. This resulted in a response from the Hawaiʻi Helicopter Association, comprised of helicopter tour operators who said they were flying in the safest way possible and attempt to avoid flying over people's homes.
     However, HICoP contended -via email - that "Hawaiʻi Helicopter Association, Blue Hawaiian, Paradise, Safari, Sunshine, can all end this copter noise debacle NOW! Fly offshore, all complaints stop, serenity returns to Hawaiʻi Island free from tour copter noise nuisance pollution, the tour copter operators continue their businesses unhindered, and we all on Hawaiʻi Island live happily thereafter, with much Aloha.
     "HICoP is ready, willing, and able to meet with anyone at anytime to discuss meaningful actions that actually provide relief."
     The requirement for an Air Tour Management Plan became law in 2000. The law states its purpose is to "mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural and cultural resources, visitor experiences, and tribal lands."
     There is no Air Tour Management Plan, "despite widespread support among residents, the County Council, and many members of the state legislature," Ernst said.
     In another email, Ernst said, "No elected office holder or bureaucrat has taken any action that resulted in any meaningful relief."
     In another email, Ernst wrote, "Of the 21 elected office holders on Hawaiʻi Island, only four have decided not to represent their constituents, to write an advocacy letter to [the Congressional Delegation] for the offshore route, or provide any other meaning full solution to the copter noise debacle."
     HICoP has urged the FAA to do for Hawaiʻi Island what the FAA did for Long Island, NY. Ernst said that Long Island saw about a 300 percent decline in helicopter tours over populated areas after noise complaints.
      Ernst said, "HICoP met with Mayor Kim numerous times and pleaded with him for help. Instead, Mayor Kim advocated for the tour copters and provided an exception for them in the recent lava inundation zone no fly zone. See video at hicop.org, 47 seconds long. Mayor Kim refuses to provide an advocacy letter to CODEL requesting the FAA Island solution, the offshore copter route."
     Ernst stated that Hawaiʻi Volcanoes sees the most helicopter overflights out of all national parks in the country, with more than 16,000 reported in 2017. He said that with Volcanoes flights curbed, flights over residential areas will likely decrease dramatically.
     The FAA stated there are Air Tour Management Plans in process all over the U.S., with the most recent action being a Sept. 18 meeting of the National Parks Overflight Advisory Group. There are also two National Parks with drafts of commercial air tour voluntary agreements, which is an alternative to an Air Tour Management Plan.

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Sen. Mazie Hirono
"WE CAN DO BETTER," SAID HAWAIʻI SEN. MAZIE HIRONO TODAY, as she spoke on the U.S. Senate floor. Hirono expressed disappointment in the FBI's investigation of accusations that Judge Brett Kavanaugh, nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, sexually assaulted Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and other alleged victims.
     The U.S. Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote at 10:30 a.m. EST tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 5, on whether to advance Kavanaugh's confirmation as Supreme Court Justice. The final vote is scheduled for Saturday by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
     Said Hirono, "It is simply impossible after seeing the results of the FBI's supplemental work – I hesitate to call it an investigation – that anybody could think it was in any way, shape or form, the 'comprehensive' work the President promised. This so-called investigation is a sham." Hirono stated the FBI "was only allowed to do the bare minimum."
     Hirono pointed to leads of "dozens of people with relevant information, some of whom say they have corroborating evidence" of misconduct. She said she expected the FBI to investigate whether Kavanaugh "had a pattern of drinking that resulted in aggression and belligerence toward women."
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp
     She contended that Kavanaugh is "under the burden to show us that he has, not only the credentials for the job, but the temperament and the character necessary for this lifetime appointment" to the U.S. Supreme Court.
     Hirono said she had concluded "before these reports came forward, that he would not be fair and objective." She called his reaction to Blasey Ford's accusations "angry and combative." She also said she has "deep" concerns about his "expansive views on Executive power," and his stance on "reproductive rights, Native rights, and legal protections for workers, consumers, and the environment."
     Senators spent hours today going over the FBI's additional investigative work of the last week. The investigation was launched after the Senate Judiciary Committee interviewed Kavanaugh and Ford regarding her allegations of his assault while they were in high school. Other women, including Deborah Ramirez, have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct by Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh denies all accusations.
     This evening, Republican senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Democratic senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), who are considered key to the Kavanaugh confirmation, were waiting to announce how they will vote. Hirono posted to her Twitter a letter from Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), the fifth undecided vote. Heitkamp stated that she will not confirm Kavanaugh as the newest Supreme Court judge due to his lack of impartiality and truthfulness, and his temperament.
The U.S. Supreme Court. In the front row, second from left, Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who is retiring. 
Judge Brett Kavanaugh is the current nominee to replace him. 
Photo by Franz Jantzen, from the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
     Hirono also took to Twitter to voice her displeasure at Pres. Donald Trump's remarks about Ford at a rally this week, which many elected officials and news reports described as mocking a sexual assault survivor. Hirono said, "This is what he does. We can always count on the President to go down to the lowest common denominator, mock people, call people names, attack them."
     See Hirono's speech here: twitter.com/maziehirono/
status/1048025852720635905.

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ROAD CLOSURES IN VOLCANO through Oct. 12 are planned along Hwy 11 by the state Department of Transportation. Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense announced that crews will begin repairs in multiple locations. "Please be patient and drive carefully when road crews are working." 
     During this weekend of Oct. 6-7, road repairs will be ongoing 24 hours, with alternating lanes, both directions, near mile marker 30, in the vicinity of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
     From  Oct. 8-12, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., road repairs will create alternating lane closures on Hwy 11 in both directions in the vicinity of mile marker 29, south of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park entrance. During the same times there will alternating closures in both directions, in the vicinity of mile marker 32 near Namakani Paio Campground in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

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A FUNDRAISING BAZAAR AT KAUAHAʻAO Congregational Church in Waiʻōhinu will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the church campus on the corner of Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamaoa Road, and Pinao Street – just above the Wong Yuen Store.
     "Come spend the day with us and enjoy the entertainment provided by our talented community groups," says the announcement.
     Individuals, schools, clubs, and sports/athletic groups are invited to be a vendor at the "flea market." Interested vendors must submit a Vendor Application by Friday, Nov. 2. The booth fee for a 10' X 10' space is a $10 suggested donation. Vendors can sell anything except hot food and plate lunch. The Church will be selling Kalua Pig plate lunch, container of Kalua Pig, and Smoked Meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.
     For an application or for more information, email the church at dwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com, or call Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-8039.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE
Football:
   Sat, Oct 6, 12pm, host Kohala
   Sat, Oct 13, BIIF Semi-Finals at Kamehameha
   Sat, Oct 20, BIIF Finals - Higher
Girls Volleyball:
   Fri, Oct 5, 6pm, host Keaʻau
   Wed, Oct 10, 6pm, @ Parker
   Fri, Oct 12, 6pm, host St. Joseph
   Mon, Oct 15, BIIF DII Qtr - Higher
   Wed, Oct 17, BIIF DII Semi-Finals @ Kona
   Thu, Oct 18, BIIF DII Finals @ Kona
Cross Country:
   Sat, Oct 6, 2pm, @ Kealakehe
   Sat, Oct 13, BYE
   Sat, Oct 20, 9am, BIIF @ HPA
   Sat, Oct 27, 8:30am, HHSAA

NEW and UPCOMING
PAPA ‘OLELO HAWAI‘I, BEGINNING HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE CLASSES, CONTINUE at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village on Thursday nights with new courses, Part IV and VII, beginning Oct. 11. Both courses are taught by Kaliko Trapp, focusing on expanding simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Some Hawaiian language experience is preferred for either course (basic for Part IV).
     The eight week courses continue through Dec. 13; no class held Oct. 18 and Nov. 22 for either course. Part IV runs from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with part Part VII following from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus hosts beginning
Hawaiian language courses. Photo from Volcano Art Center
     Fees for Part IV and Part VII are the same, $80 for Volcano Art Center members, or $90 for non-members, each. The required workbook for the class, Nā Kai ʻEwalu, is available at the University of Hawai‘i - Hilo bookstore. It is also recommended for students to have a Hawaiian language dictionary. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5
Annual Oktoberfest Dinner, Fri., Oct. 5, 5pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Tickets: Singles $8, doubles $15, family $20. stjudeshawaii.org, 939-7000

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Meeting, Fri., Oct. 5, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
Hi‘iaka & Pele, Sat., Oct. 6, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Discover Hawaiian goddesses and the natural phenomena they represent on this free, moderate, one-mile walk. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Kāwā Community Workday, Sat., Oct. 6, Meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. Sign-up w/James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, namamookawa@gmail.com, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org

The Art Express, Sat., Oct. 6, 10-3pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Classes held once monthly. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size limited to 25. Meliha Corcoran, 319-8989, himeliha@yahoo.com, discoveryharbour.net/art-express

Keiki Science Class, Sat., Oct. 6, 11-noon, Ace Hardware Stores Islandwide, including Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030, and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. First Sat every month. acehardware.com

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Kamilo Point Clean-Up with Hilo Bay Café, Sun., Oct. 7, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. BYO-4WD vehicle only. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, mattie.hwf@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sun., Oct. 7, 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. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time. Enjoy breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū. Free. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Volcano Village Health and Safety Fair at the Cooper Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7. Healthy food demonstrations and free food tastings, how to make a "go bucket," info on advance directives, free flu vaccinations (conditions apply), free testing for HepC and HIV, and more. Free event, open to the public. Sponsored by the Volcano Community Association.Contact Sher Glass at 967-8553, vcainfo@yahoo.com.

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun., Oct. 7, 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

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon., Oct. 8 and 22, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Call to confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue., Oct. 9, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, and participate in training scenarios. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

CANCELLED: After Dark in the Park, Ōpe‘ape‘a: The Hawaiian Bat, Tue., Oct. 9. 985-6011, nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

VOTE: Voter Registration Deadline for 2018 General Election, Tue., Oct. 9. elections.hawaii.gov

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10
AdvoCATS, Wed., Oct. 10, 7am-5pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283. advocatshawaii.org

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visits: Dental, Wed., Oct. 10, 8-5pm; Medical, Thu., Oct. 25, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center August newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Pāhala Sewage System - County Dept. of Environmental Management, Wed., Oct. 10, Open House: 5:30pm, Meeting: 6-7:30pm, Ka‘ū Gym Multi-Purpose Conference Room, Pāhala. Mary Fuji, 962-8038

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Oct. 11, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Oct. 11, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

ONGOING
CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union's Nāʻālehu Branch is taking applications for a Member Service Representative.
     The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html

One Lucid Dream: A Retrospective of Art Works by Ken Charon. Exhibit open through Saturday, Oct. 6, 10-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Original paintings, drawings, and other objects. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "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.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool's Temporary Nāʻālehu Location is Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu. 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.

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

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