Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, December 3, 2018

Lt. Gov Josh Green, who started out in Hawaiʻi as a young physician at Kaʻū Hospital, took the oath of
Lt. Governor of Hawaiʻi today after serving 14 years in the Hawaiʻi Legislature and 18 years as a doctor on this island.
Hawaiʻi's Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald swore him in. Green's wife Jamie held The Bible.
Photo from Hawai'i News Now. See the entire inauguration.

JOSH GREEN BECAME HAWAIʻI'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TODAY, promising to make it his mission to solve problems with homelessness, addiction, untreated mental illness, education and a livable wage for Hawaiʻi's working families. Green, who started his career as a physician at Kaʻū Hospital 18 years ago and served 14 years in the Hawaiʻi Legislature, representing west Kaʻū and Kona in the House of Representatives and Senate, said Gov. David Ige, also sworn in today, "made incredible progress" on these issues during his first term.

     Green said that people in Hawaiʻi are blessed to live in a multicultural society. He talked about the lack of racial, age, gender, and cultural discrimination here. "We aspire to treat each other with compassion and aloha....We don't turn our backs on anyone, no matter how hard they have fallen.

     "I will be out in our community, on our streets, directly engaging with homeless to bring them back into our ʻohana. This will be my mission," Green pledged. He introduced a woman named Twinkle, a leader in carrying for homeless people in Waianae on Oʻahu.

Moving Foward Together was the sign below the Seal of the State of Hawaiʻi, as a color guard moved past
Lt. Gov. Josh Green and family to the right and Gov. David Ige to the left.
Photo from Hawaiʻi News Now. See the entire inauguration.

     Green proclaimed, "No child should ever be homeless. No family should face addiction alone." He vowed: "We will start free clinics across our state... to give them a hand up out of despair." He pointed to the high cost to government and medical institutions in treating the homeless, who would be healthier and less of a burden to others if they lived in homes and could use health and social services.

Lt. Gov Josh Green's son Sam and daughter Maia led the
Pledge of Allegiance during today's inauguration of Green
and Gov. David Ige.
Photo from Hawaiʻi News Now. See the entire inauguration.

     He said he looks to a Hawaiʻi where everyone can afford to buy a home, educate children, and care for aging parents. He promised more support for teachers and education in public schools.

     "We will show the nation and the world, that by putting our values in action - compassion, caring for others, tolerance - we can rise together as one Hawaiʻi."

     Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Justice Mark Rectenwald led the swearing in ceremony, with Green's wife Jaime holding The Bible. Green's children, Maia and Sam, led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
     See the entire inauguration. 

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STARTING HIS SECOND TERM IN OFFICE, GOV. DAVID IGE said today, "This inauguration is about my children's generation." He noted that his own three children live on the mainland, employed there, after finishing college. As with earlier generations, he said, it is a goal to develop opportunities here for the next generation.

Gov. David Ige said isolation is no longer a limiting
factor in Hawaiʻi achieving its goals.
Photo from Hawai'i News Now. See the entire inauguration.

   "It has always been about the children. Our parents' vision of a better Hawaiʻi was all about a place where their children would be able to prosper with their dreams."

     The governor noted that a little more than 50 years ago, "with an exhausted farm-based economy," Hawaiʻi government decided that the visitor industry would be the future. It worked, but now Hawaiʻi is in the same situation, "where leaders need to nurture economic growth that does not strain resources, damage the environment, or lower quality of life," he said.

     According to Ige, innovation, enabled by technology, will transition the economy. "We already see it happening today." He said technology is already leading to new industry and infusing new life into food production and other enterprise.

     In the past, said the governor, geographic isolation was the greatest limitation to growth. Isolation is no longer a deal breaker. Success belongs to those who can act boldly and successfully innovate, he said. "How we meet the challenges of the 21st century and how well we prepare our children" for the tech driven future will be very important, he said.

Gov. David Ige takes the oath today for his second term. Photo from Hawaiʻi News Now. See the entire inauguration.

     He talked about the challenge of meeting housing needs of a new workforce and putting the state on a sound path of self-sufficiency and sustainability. The future will rest on "how well we will be able to work collectively and collaboratively," said Ige. "We can do great things."

     Ige praised previous generations who created a statewide Department of Education - the first and still the only one in the nation - to make sure all children have an equal education and equal funding for it. Today, however, there are new challenges for giving students knowledge and skills to prepare them for success, he said. "We need a more than one-size-fits-all model for schools."

     He said the state will implement a new blue print and invest in leaders who can transform how they teach their students. "We can do transformative things."

     Regarding the housing shortage, Ige said the state might not ever be able to meet the need "no matter how many houses we build." He said, however, that the state will tackle the housing crisis with programs to build more homes quickly, taking into consideration transportation in the planning. He called the planning "transit oriented" and talked about more investment in infrastructure.

Bishop Eric Matsumoto advised that people
 learn to understand one another to bring peace
 and prosperity. Photo from Hawaiʻi News Now.
See the entire inauguration.

     He noted that sustainable growth is the mantra of the 21st Century. Ige talked about self-sufficiency, and mentioned that Hawaiʻi already has the most aggressive energy goals in the nation and that 2020 objectives will be exceeded. He also called for protecting the environment.

     Ige said that challenges in any one area can be overwhelming and invited everyone to "Leave personal agendas outside the door and yield to a commitment to work together... Real leadership emanates from many hands joining together."

     He called these "challenging and dangerous times for Hawaiʻi and our nation, and the principles upon which our country was founded." Without mentioning any names, he rejected divisiveness and hostility toward immigrants. He said a "broad and diverse people is the source of what Makes America Great... We are a nation of immigrants and Hawaiʻi is one of the brightest examples of what can happen when we celebrate our diversity."

     He said that decisions coming from Washington, D.C. "threaten the very core of our values. When did it become okay to tear gas women and children for wanting a better future for themselves?"

     The governor said, "Our differences are not greater than what we hold in common. Our differences will help us to reach our goals. Our differences are our greatest strength."

     Ending the inaugural ceremony was a talk by Honpa Hongwanji of Hawaiʻi's Bishop, Eric Matsumoto, who grew up on Hawaiʻi Island. Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Hongwanjis are among the churches he serves. He advised people to become aware of their interdependence. He said that when people lack understanding of their neighbors, there is conflict, less can be accomplished, and people become weak. When people "treat everyone with uniform kindness," there is more peace and prosperity. "The goal is for all people to know each other and trust each other," he said.

     See the entire inauguration.

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COUNTY COUNCILWOMAN Maile David was sworn in today in Hilo for her third term in office. See story and photos in Tuesday's Kaʻū News Briefs.

Feral pigs in Manuka and other state parks around the island
 are causing issues. Photo by Jack Jeffrey

MANUKA STATE PARK, on the Kona side of Ocean View, is one of the state parks where feral pigs are causing concern from the public and state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Dean Takebayashi, Hawaiʻi Island superintendent of the DLNR Division of State Parks, told John Burnett of HawaiʻiTribune Herald that officials are aware of a feral pig problem at Big Island state parks. He said the department has been working with its Division of Forestry and Wildlife, surrounding land owners, and other agencies "to come up with solutions."

     Reports from the public include pigs, unafraid, being fed by people. The Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald article this morning mentions that pigs can become protective of their piglets and aggressive toward humans. Takebayashi said, "Although we have not had any reports of injury related to aggressive feral pigs in our parks, it would be most prudent to retreat from where the pigs are." See more at Hawaiʻi Tribune Tribune.

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NO MONTHLY SIREN TEST was heard today across the island and around the state. It was suspended for Dec. 3 and will resume the first Monday in January. "The monthly siren tests are being suspended to avoid interfering with various inaugural events scheduled around the state at that time," said a statement from Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency.

     Ceremonies included the inauguration of Kaʻū's County Council member Maile David, to her third term, and inauguration of Gov. David Ige and west Kaʻū Senator Josh Green, who became Lt. Governor.

     The outdoor warning sirens are one part of a three-component emergency notification system. A simultaneous test of the Emergency Alert System is conducted with the siren system, in cooperation with Hawaiʻi's broadcast industry. In the event of a real emergency, warning sirens and Emergency Alert Broadcasts would be joined by alerts via the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which delivers sound-and-text warnings to mobile telephones and compatible devices.

     Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located at the front section of telephone directories in all counties. The public may contact emergency management and county civil defense agencies to report siren operation issues at (808) 935-0031.

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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High December Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:
Dec. 5, Wed., @Waiakea, 6pm
Dec. 15, Sat., JV host
     Laupāhoehoe, 2pm
Dec. 17, Mon., host HPA, 6pm
Dec. 19, Wed., host Kohala, 6pm
Dec. 22, Sat., host JV
     Christian Liberty, 2pm

Boys Basketball:
Dec. 15, Sat., host Pāhoa
Dec. 18, Tue., @Keaʻau
Dec. 22, Sat, host Parker
Dec. 27, Thu., @Kealakehe

Wrestling:
Dec. 8, Sat., @Waiakea
Dec. 15, Sat., @Oʻahu
Dec. 22, Sat., @Oʻahu

Soccer:
Dec. 5, Wed., host Pāhoa
Dec. 8, Sat., Boys host Kohala
Dec., 11, Tue., @Kamehameha
Dec., 13, Thu., Girls host Makualani
Dec. 19, Wed., host HPA

Dec. 22, Sat., host Waiakea
Dec. 29, Sat., @Konawaena

Swimming:
Dec. 8, Sat., @HPA, 10am
Dec. 29, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

NEW and UPCOMING

LAMB OF GOD BAPTIST CHRUCH SPONSORS A YOUTH GROUP program at Ocean View Community Center on Friday's, Dec. 7 and 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

TWO PATCH CLASSES OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY ARE SPONSORED BY TŪTŪ & ME TRAVELING PRESCHOOL on Friday, Dec. 8, to take place at PARENTS, Inc.'s Nā‘ālehu Office.
     From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Class #425 More Than Counting: Math in Preschool is offered. The class imparts teaching strategies that support the development of mathematical concepts in preschool-age children.
     From noon to 3 p.m., Class #309 Together in Care is offered. The class focuses on creating close caregiver/child relationships within a group.
     No childcare provided for either class. For more or to sign-up, call 238-3472, or email rhall@patch-hi.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, DECEMBER 4
Health Insurance Sign-up, Tue., Dec. 4, 9-4pm, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Family Yoga Class, Tue., Dec. 4, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 3-12 years old and caregivers. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable clothes. Bring mat, if can, as supplies are limited. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

A Walk into the Past w/ Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, Tue, Dec. 4, 11, and 18, 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m., meet at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Tour Jaggar's tiny lab located below the Volcano House to see original seismograph equipment and other early instruments with Dick Hershberger as "Dr. Jaggar." Supported by the KDEN. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Ocean View Tee Ball - Sign-Ups, Tue., Dec. 4, 3-4pm, Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Ages 5 and 6 practice every following Tue. & Thu., 3-4pm. Fees TBA. Josh/Elizabeth, 345-0511

Ocean View Coach Pitch Baseball - Sign-Ups, Tue., Dec. 4, 4-5pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 7 and 8 practice every following Tue. & Thu., 4-5pm. Fees TBA. Josh/Elizabeth, 345-0511

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue., Dec. 4, 4-6pm, Dec. 18, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue., Dec. 4, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

After Dark in the Park, All About Anchialine Pools, Tue., Dec. 4, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hawai‘i State Parks Dena Sedar presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5

Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Wed., Dec. 5 and 12, 9:30-10:30am, Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Designed for all ages; geared toward those needing to maintain or increase mobility, and those wanting a gentle stretch. Call 969-9220 to sign-up. Free; donations accepted.

Arts & Craft Activity: Paper Tree Table Top, Wed., Dec. 5, 3:30-5pm, Ka‘ū District Gym multi-purpose room. Register through Dec. 5; open to keiki Grades K-8. 928-3102

Open Mic Night, Wed., Dec. 5, 6-10pm, Kīlauea Military Camp inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4pm to sign-up and for more details. Park entrance fees apply. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests 21+. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Thu., Dec. 6 and 13, 9:30-10:30am, Pāhala Senior Center. Designed for all ages; geared toward those needing to maintain or increase mobility, and those wanting a gentle stretch. Call 969-9220 to sign-up. Free; donations accepted.

Women's Support Group, Thu., Dec. 6 and 20, 3-4:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 1st and 3rd Thu. of every month thereafter. Women welcome to drop in anytime. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu., Dec. 6, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Middle School Theater Night, Thu., Dec. 6, 6pm, Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 6th, 7th, and 8th grade each perform a one-act play: The Invisible Man by Tim Kelly, Last Stop Till Christmas by Pat Cook, and The Quest: A Fairy Take with Attitude by Eddie McPherson. Free; donations gratefully accepted. Park entrance fees apply.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Meeting, Thu., Dec. 6, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

Hula Voices w/Kumu Hula Micah Kamohoali‘i, Thu., Dec. 6, 7-9pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Desiree Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. Final program for 2018. 967-7565

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
PATCH Class #425, More Than Counting: Math in Preschool, Fri., Dec. 7, 8-11am, PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Teaching strategies that support the development of mathematical concepts in preschool-age children. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

PATCH Class #309, Together in Care, Fri., Dec. 7, noon-3pm, PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Creating close caregiver/child relationships within a group. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Stewardship at the Summit, Fri., Dec. 7, Sat., Dec. 15 and 22. Meet Paul and Jane Field at 8:45am in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plants species that prevent native plants from growing. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves and tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required. Free; however, park entrance fees apply. No advance registration required. nps.gov/havo

Youth Group, Fri., Dec. 7 & 21, 6:30-8:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Lamb of God Baptist Church.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Dec. 8, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā.  RSVP with w/James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. Updates and notifications on upcoming ʻOhana Workdays, see nmok.org or facebook.com/namamoo.kawa.

Paths and Trails, Sat., Dec. 8, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately-difficult, 2-mile, hike. Free. nps.gov/havo

Zentangle: Pen in Henna, Sat., Dec. 8, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Art work guided by designs from Mehndi Henna style. Student kits provided. Open to all levels. Students invited to bring snacks to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

HOVE Road Maintenance Annual Meeting, Sat., Dec. 8, 11:30-12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Volunteer Fire Department Annual Dinner, Sat., Dec. 8, 3-8pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. discoveryharbour.net, 929-9576

Jazz in the Forest Christmas Special, Sat., Dec. 8, 5:30pm – doors open 5pm – Volcano Art Center Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Jean Pierre Thoma & The Jazztones with Jeannine Guillory, featuring Christmas favorites and original compositions. $20/VAC member, $25/non-member. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

A Gift of Love, Volcano Festival Chorus Annual Christmas Concert, Sat., Dec. 8, 7:30pm, Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. 25 member chorus under direction of Roch Jones, accompaniment by Laura Kahale, with Cheryl Shine on flute. Free; donations gratefully accepted. Park entrance fees apply.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Pāhala Christmas Parade, Sun., Dec. 9, 1pm, Pāhala Armory at Pakalana St. to Holy Rosary Church, Pikake St. Parade ends with food and entertainment. Parade participants line up at 11. Andrade, 928-0808

Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sun., Dec. 9, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike. Free. nps.gov/havo

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10
Free STD Testing, Mon., Dec. 10, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Hawai‘i Department of Health. 2nd Monday, monthly. Call for individual appointment for different day or time. Teenagers 14+ do not need parent consent. Always confidential. Free condoms and lube. 895-4927

ONGOING

Christmas in the Country and 19th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibition are open at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 
     Christmas in the Country runs through Wednesday, Dec. 26. Enjoy an abundance of art and aloha as VAC creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. In addition to artwork, find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments, and decorations made by Hawai‘i Island artists, including VAC exclusives.
     The Wreath Exhibition is available through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The exhibition presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques, and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional, with this year's theme of Home for the Holidays - inspired by the four month closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     Admission is free; Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

Kīlauea Military Camp's Holiday Challenge is open for viewing through Monday, Dec. 31. The event features a row of cottages along the front of the camp decorated in with various characters and Christmas decor - with Kīlauea Military Camp employees responsible and competing for a popularity vote. The public is invited to admire the decorations and vote for their favorite decorated cottage. Kīlauea Military Camp is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8371 for additional information. See kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

Basic Stretch and Strengthening Exercise Class, sponsored by Hui Mālama Ola Nū ʻŌiwi, happens Wednesdays at Nāʻālehu Community Center and Thursdays at Pāhala Senior Center; no classes between Dec. 14 and Jan. 8. The free classes – donations accepted – run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The class offers "basic stretches and muscular endurance exercises that will help improve your flexibility and strength. Designed for all ages; geared toward those needing to maintain or increase mobility, and those wanting a gentle stretch." Learn more at hmono.org, facebook.com/HMONO.org/, @hui_malama_ on Instagram, or call 808-969-9220.

Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.

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 tuition-free traveling preschool, for keiki birth to five years old and their caregivers, has twice a week meeting in Pāhala, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center. In Nāʻālehu, meetings are at Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.

     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

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