Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, March 24, 2019

A roller used by Loeffler Construction in the repaving of the Ocean View Town Center parking lot. Two phases are 

complete, and two more are planned. The roller is parked on the new paving, while the parking lot in the 

background needs to be asphalted. See story below. Photo by Annie Bosted

CONGRESS AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE "must hear directly" from U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said Mazie Hirono today. Mueller spent almost two years investigating the possible influence of Russia in the last presidential election, leading to numerous prosecutions and jail time for Trump associates who worked in his campaign and in the White House.
     Hirono issued a statement after today's release of the Attorney General's summary of the Mueller Report. Said Hirono, "Robert Mueller did not exonerate Donald Trump on obstruction of justice.

U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr

Instead, Attorney General Bill Barr made his own determination consistent with his unsolicited 19-page memo arguing that the President cannot be charged with obstruction of justice. Congress needs to see the full report to assess the underlying evidence. The Senate Judiciary Committee must hear directly from Attorney General Barr and Robert Mueller on this matter as soon as possible.
     "I often say that Donald Trump cares about two things: protecting himself and money," said Hirono. "The President has repeatedly demonstrated he will do or say anything to protect himself. He tried to get Michael Flynn (former Trump National Security Advisor) off the hook; he fired (FBI Director) James Comey; he tried to get the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan "unrecused;" he directed White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller; he dangled pardons; he repeatedly insulted and demonized the Special Counsel.
     "Now we must ensure that investigations into his questionable financial activities by the Southern District of New York, the Attorney General of the State of New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney, proceed unimpeded. The American people deserve all the facts."
     In contrast to Hirono's view, Trump said, "After a long look, after a long investigation, after so many people have been so badly hurt, after not looking at the other side where a lot of very bad things happened... it was just announced there was no collusion with Russia... It was a complete and total exoneration." He called the investigation "an illegal takedown."

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.

The completed dry well that was installed between Kaʻū 

Business Services and Salon 4 to prevent storm water 

from inundating the walkways besides the 

makai stores. Photo by Annie Bosted

OCEAN VIEW TOWN CENTER PARKING LOT, notorious for its many potholes, is in the midst of being paved with asphalt. Carolyn Loeffler, whose Loeffler Construction is contracted for the project, told The Kaʻū Calendar that a new drainage feature, a dry well, will be installed to keep rain water away from the strip of stores that overlook Hwy 11.
     Loeffler explained that a dry well involves regrading the surrounding area so that storm water flow is directed towards the well. A ten-foot-diameter pre-cast concrete ring has been installed in an excavated area near Studio Four Salon. The space around the ring was backfilled with drain rock before being covered with a grate set in concrete. The well is not connected to a drainage system or a pipe; instead the storm water will percolate into the rocky ground or evaporate.
     The asphalt paving is planned in four stages; two are completed. Each stage involves tearing up and removing the old chip-seal, laying down a layer of base course, and then covering that with hot asphalt that is trucked in. If any stage of the operation is delayed, the asphalt can prematurely cool and harden, becoming unusable. During this time, traffic will be diverted away from the work area.
     Jim Steenburg, a one-time part owner of Ace Hardware, told The Kaʻū Calendar the driveway was first chip-sealed in July or August of 1989. Prior to that time, the then-owners of Rancho True Value Hardware, Ken and Maggie Arbo, ran their hardware business from a store in Pohue Plaza, the shopping center makai of the present hardware store.

An excavator is parked outside Salon 4, where a large hole 

was dug for a dry well to stop rain water flooding the 

walkway outside the strip of stores. Photo by Annie Bosted

     According to Steenburg, the Arbo's built the shopping center, then known as Lotus Blossom Town Center, in stages. They constructed the hardware store where they relocated their business, opening it in November 1989. The Arbo's then built half the stores in the strip. Once those were rented out, they built the remainder of the stores, concluding the development with the stand-alone store that is now Kaʻū Business Services. At the time, the Arbo's hoped that the Post Office would rent that space, but the service chose to stay on in Pohue Plaza.

     It was about 1993 when the hardware store changed its name to Ace. The Shopping Center's name also changed to Ocean View Town Center. According to Steenburg, Maggie Arbo's daughters, Robyn and Gail, now own the Center.

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.

LANE CLOSURES ALONG HIGHWAY 11 in Kaʻū for Monday, March 25, through Friday, March 29, weather permitting, are:

     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 56 and 57, in the vicinity of Ninole Loop Road, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for paving and construction of temporary bridges.

     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 48 and 49 in Pāhala, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for tree trimming work.

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.

Image from gomidwife.com

A BILL TO REQUIRE LICENSES FOR MANY MIDWIVES, co-sponsored by west Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kanuha, gathered more than 2,200 pages of testimony in advance of a hearing in front of the House Committee on Health last week. Senate Bill 1033 SD2 HD1 passed the Health Committee, with amendments, and passed its second reading on Friday, March 22. The bill is referred to the House Committee on Finance.

     The bill would establish "licensure of midwives. Temporarily exempts birth attendants and exempts Native Hawaiian healers from licensure requirements. Establishes task force. Appropriates funds."

     Amendments to the bill from the House Committee on Health include adding a Certified Nurse Midwife to the Director's advisory committee; granting the Director the authority to modify the list of authorized non-controlled legend drugs and devices that may be used by midwives; clarifying that birth attendants may practice and advertise provided they do not claim to be licensed; excepting individuals from licensure requirements for providing care to immediate family members; expanding the authorized legend drugs or devices that a licensed midwife may use or administer; and establishing a task force within the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women to investigate issues relating to home births and direct entry midwives.

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.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou volunteers made a clean sweep on Saturday  to clear the proposed senior housing site in

Nāʻālehu. Photo from OKK

ʻO KAʻŪ KĀKOU 'S SATURDAY CLEANUP was a great success. Volunteers were asked to help pick up remnants from the demolition of buildings on the two acres of property along Hwy 11, where the old fruit stand in Nā‘ālehu once stood. The buildings were torn down to make way for a senior housing project championed by OKK. Remaining on the land were bits and chunks of pipes, cables, glass, and other things that can damage a mower.

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.

TROJANS FOUGHT DRAGONS this weekend, as Kaʻū Girls Softball hosted Honokaʻa Saturday, March 23. The Dragons took the game 16-2. See upcoming games, below.

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.

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 Trojans Spring Sports Schedule

Baseball:

Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala

Sat., March 30, 1 p.m., @Konawaena

Tue., April 2, 3 p.m., @HPA

Thu., April 4, 3 p.m., host Waiakea

Sat., April 13, 1 p.m., host Kamehameha

Softball:

Wed., March 27, @Kohala

Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena

Wed., April 3, host Waiakea

Sat., April 6, 11 a.m., @Kealakehe

Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals

Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals

Boys Volleyball:

Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala

Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA

Tue., April 2, 6 p.m., host Ehunui

Fri., April 5, 6 p.m., @Christian Liberty

Tue., April 9, 6 p.m., host Waiakea

Fri., April 12, 6 p.m., @Keaʻau

Mon., April 15, 6 p.m., host Honokaʻa

Wed., April 17, 6 p.m., @Kamehameha

Track:

Sat., April 6, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

Sat., April 13, 9 a.m., @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
FINGER PUPPETRY, Tuesday, April 2, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to keiki grades K-6. Free. Register March 25-April 1. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

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.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 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

‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. 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 Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., 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

Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620

Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with rangers and park visitors about a range of topics. Free. nps.gov/havo

PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.

Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5 p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982

Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.

     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208, Pāhala, HI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

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.