About The Kaʻū Calendar

Monday, June 24, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, June 24, 2019

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and its Scientist in Charge Tina Neal are in the top four finalists for the
People's Choice Award for federal service. Voting continues daily through July 8. The photo shows their work during
last year's volcanic eruption. While on a mapping mission on Aug. 10, 2018, the USGS notes that a section
of road fell into Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. See story below. USGS photo
NO MORE PRESIDENTIAL WARS is a resolution Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced into the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Presidential candidate said today that she aims to prohibit the President from starting a war without Congressional authorization. The resolution defines Presidential wars not declared by Congress under Article I, section 8, clause 11 (Declare War Clause) as impeachable "high crimes and misdemeanors."
     Said Gabbard, "The Trump Administration continues to escalate tensions with Iran, pushing us closer to the brink of war. This includes U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement, increasing crippling sanctions, designating Iran’s military as a terrorist organization, and sending more U.S. troops to the region. Congress bears the Constitutionally-mandated authority to declare war. Trump launching an attack against Iran without Congressional authorization would be illegal, unconstitutional, and kick off a war so devastating and costly, it would make the Iraq war look like a picnic.
    "My No More Presidential Wars resolution will exact a clear consequence to any President that skirts the war powers authority of Congress and my NDAA amendments will make certain that nothing in this bill may be used to take America into yet another wasteful, counterproductive regime change war."
     Gabbard also announced that with ongoing threats by the Trump Administration to use military force against Iran, she secured two separate provisions in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by the House Armed Services Committee, ensuring that no measure in the bill may be used as an authorization for the use of military force against either Iran or Venezuela.
     A candidate for U.S. President, Gabbard will appear on the first day of debates for the nomination for President by the Democratic Party. The debate begins this Wednesday, June 26 at 3 p.m. Hawaiian time on NBC, NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, the NBC News app, and Telemundo's digital platforms.

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.

A VACATION RENTAL TAX BILL WILL BE VETOED BY GOV. DAVID IGE. He announced today that he plans to veto SB1292, which passed both the state Senate and House of Representatives in the 2019 Hawaiʻi Legislature. It would require booking platforms like AirBnB, Expedia, and Booking.com to collect Transient Accommodations Taxes and General Excise Taxes, and provide both to the state, instead of the state relying on owners of the properties to report and pay these taxes on their businesses.
     The governor pointed to efforts of the counties to require licensing and regulate all vacation rentals. The state accepting tax money from the online platform companies that sell accommodations could mean accepting tax money for unlicensed accommodations. The governor said accepting the taxes could be viewed as legitimizing unregistered short-term vacation rentals.

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.

COMMERCIALLY GROWING INDUSTRIAL HEMP IN HAWAIʻI IS UNLIKELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. Gov. David Ige announced today that he will veto SB1353, which would make hemp legal to cultivate, possess, and sell. It would also create an industrial hemp licensing program through the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of of Agriculture.
Industrial hemp may not be on its way from a pilot program  to commercial
farms, with the announcement of a veto by the governor.
Image from  the state Department of Agriculture
     The governor said the bill creates a licensing structure that cannot be enforced, will not meet USDA requirements for an approved industrial hemp program, and creates practical problems in the enforcement of existing medical cannabis.
     The University of Hawaiʻi and state Department of Agriculture operate pilot programs growing industrial hemp in locations around the state.

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 governor said he will veto a law that would allow
medical marijuana patients to travel with cannabis
between islands. Image from Marijuana Moment
LEGALLY TRANSPORTING MEDICAL CANNABIS FROM ONE ISLAND TO ANOTHER IS UNLIKELY TO SOON BECOME LEGAL. Gov. David Ige said today he plans to veto the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. HB290 would authorize qualifying in-state patients and out-of-state
patients to transport medical cannabis between islands for their personal medical use.
     Ige's rationale to veto: Federal law still lists cannabis, for medical or recreational use, as illegal. Both the airspace above Hawaiʻi and certain areas of ocean around the Islands are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government. This bill may lead travelers, acting in reliance on this provision, to erroneously believe they are immune from federal prosecution. He also lists operational concerns for the state Departments of Transportation and of Public Safety, said the governor.

SEE MORE ON THE 20 BILLS GOV. DAVID IGE PLANS TO VETO in tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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.

TINA NEAL AND THE  HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES OBSERVATORY TEAM ARE AMONG TOP FOUR FINALISTS for the federal government's People's Choice Award for 2019. The public is invited to vote to choose the winner. Neal is Scientist in Charge for the U.S. Geological Survey at HVO.
     The People's Choice Award honors the federal employee or team who made the most significant contribution to the American people in the last year. HVO is one of 26 nominees for this government services "Oscar."
USGS HVO Scientist in Charge Tina Neal. 
     The public can vote once every 24 hours through Monday, July 8.
     The competition is organized by the Partnership for Public Service. The winner will be announced at a Partnership for Public Service event on July 18.
     The organization also looked at federal employees and teams at more than 20 federal agencies to also present the 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, the Sammies. Sammie winners will be announced Oct. 16 during a gala in WashingtonD.C.  Neal and HVO are nominated.
     Service to America Medal site states that Neal and the HVO team "carefully monitored a large and sustained eruption of Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaiʻi and provided vital updates," 24 hours a day, "to protect residents, tourists, and property from ash, lava, and toxic fumes" in 2018. Neal and the HVO team are among five finalists in the Science and Environment category of the Sammies.
     On the Meet the Finalists post on servicetoamericamedals.org, Neal and the HVO team are credited with the fact that the 2018 volcanic events suffered no fatalities, due to "close coordination with the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency" on earthquakes, lava eruptions, and associated hazards. They are also credited with keeping the media informed, so the public could stay informed; using technology creatively for better monitoring of volcanic activity, and better communication and data sharing with other scientists and emergency managers. They are also credited with using a drone to help rescue a resident "in danger of being surrounded by lava, leading him to safety on foot."
     Neal is praised on the site for leading the way during the more than 100 days of the eruption.
USGS HVO personnel monitoring the 2018 eruption in the field, frequently in potentially unsafe conditions.
USGS photo
     Dee Williams, the USGS Alaska regional deputy director, said, "Christina Neal turned science into actionable decisions about how to minimize damage and save lives. She was the authority on understanding how to interpret the data that was coming in and what it meant regarding the emergency response. Neal and her team worked under exhausting conditions through a dangerous situation to prevent really disastrous results."
     Mayor Harry Kim said, "Good, timely information is critical to help people remain in any crisis. The whole island depended on this one operation run by Tina. She was in command and personable."
     Ryan Brown of FEMA said Neal was "super calm, very professional, and was always there to answer questions. She always anticipated issues and got out in front of them. Without her leadership, it could have been a very different scenario."
     Said Neal, the Kīlauea eruption "really highlighted the value of our science and the impact of what we do. I was the leader, but our scientists have a lot of independence and they all just did what needed to be done."
     See more on the Partnership for Public Service awards.

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.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's July Artist in Residence
Alice Leese. Photo from Alice Leese
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK'S JULY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE IS ALICE LEESE. She offers a special workshop, Postcards from the Edge, where artists of all abilities can join her to paint on the edge of Kīlauea Caldera, on Sunday, July 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. The $75 fee includes lunch at Volcano House. Limited to 12 people. Participants receive a blank, postcard-sized canvas, but must bring their own paints and a travel-sized easel. Register at the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park website, fhvnp.org.
     The West Texas rancher and painter will then "unveil her evocative, colorful paintings, inspired by the Park's volcanic landscapes," says an announcement from the Park, at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, July 16 at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
     Leese is also a cattle rancher on her family's 100-year-old ranch. She "shares her western landscape in bold, moody oil paintings rich with dramatic strokes of color. Wildfire, a penetrating bovine stare, the night sky and other subjects convey what it is like to be fully present in an area. It’s a source of pride for Leese," says the announcement.
West Texas Starry Night by Alice Leese.
     Last year, Leese completed a residency at Fort Union National Monument in New Mexico, painting the grass prairie, the Santa Fe Trail, and the territorial-style adobe remnants of the largest 19th century military fort in the region. These paintings and her other artwork can be seen at aliceleese.com
      Said Leese, "Presenting the plants and animals accurately in paintings helps the viewer get an idea of what is possible to see on a visit to a region. Many of my paintings have readily apparent animals and plants in the landscape and some have hidden animals that viewers like to discover, sort of like they discover animals in the wild by taking the time to stop, listen and look." For instance, says the announcement, the flames in her painting Frying Pan Fire may appear to be tentacles of a large octopus, or perhaps lava, to some viewers.
     The Artist in Residence program is sponsored by the National Parks Arts Foundation. The National Parks Arts Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the promotion of the National Parks of the U.S. through creating dynamic opportunities for artworks that are based in our natural and historic heritage. All NPAF programs are made possible through the philanthropic support of donors ranging from corporate sponsors, small business, art patrons and citizen supporters of the parks.

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.

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
2019 Kaʻū High School Athletics Schedule through August
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates; Bowling TBA.

Football, Division II:
Mon., July 15, first day Conditioning, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Mon., July 22, first day Full Pads, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 24, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Mon., July 29, 3 to 5 p.m., first day practice
Tue., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Hilo
Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts St. Joseph
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala

Cross Country:
Mon., Aug. 5, 2:30 to 4 p.m., first day practice
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty

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
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Monday, June 24. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Mobile Spay & Neuter Waggin', Tuesday, June 25, 7:30a.m.-4p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Low income pet parents and those with limited transportation qualify for mobile spay/neuter service. Free. Surgery by phone appointment only. Hawai‘i Island Humane Society, hihs.org, 796-0107

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, June 25, 10a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Controlled Substances Act. Food Pantry, Tuesday, June 25, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333

Performing Arts Activity: Karaoke Sing Along, Tuesday, June 25, 2-3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6 & up, June 17-21. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, June 26 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9-11a.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

Lei Tī, Wednesday, June 26, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Hands-on demonstration with rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff making tī-leaf lei. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, June 27, 3-4p.m., Classroom 35, Building F, 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

THURSDAY, JUNE 27
Food Basket at Pāhala Community Center Multipurpose Room, Thursday, June 27, 11 a.m.-noon.

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, June 27, 4-6p.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

FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Coffee Talk at Kahuku: Planting Pono, Friday, June 28, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Learn how to identify plants at home that don't need removal and how to integrate natives and non-invasive plants into the landscape. Free. nps.gov/havo

The Sky is Full of Stories with James McCarthy, Friday, June 28, 1:30-2:15p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. McCarthy, a trained actor, storyteller and musician will captivate audience with wide variety of sky stories from myths and science, using tales and songs. Suitable for all ages. Young children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. Free. 939-2442

SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Mālama Nā Keiki Festival happens Saturday, June 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. This third annual free event, presented by Health Resources and Services Administration, offers health screenings, education, and activities. Expectant and first-time mothers, women considering pregnancy, young families, and supporting ʻohana from across the county are especially invited to attend. Prizes, entertainment, free food, and keiki activities are offered. Health screenings include hearing, vision, height, weight, and blood pressure. Health education includes prenatal information and breastfeeding education with lactations specialists. Health activities include Grow Your Own Plant and Makahiki games.
     For more, call 808-969-9220, or see hmono.orgfacebook.com/hmono.org, or hui_malama on Instagram.

Paint Your Own Silk Scarf with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, June 29, 9a.m.-12:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā‘ālehu July 4th Parade Celebration & Keiki Fun Day, Saturday, June 29, 10a.m.-130p.m., from Nā‘ālehu Elementary School to Nā‘ālehu Community Center Ballpark, along Hwy 11. Parade followed by food, bounces houses, and inflatable water slides for kids. Afternoon of bingo and separate luncheon for seniors. Free. Sign-up for the parade before June 20 by calling Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Arts & Tea Culture Workshop Series #2, Saturday, June 29, 1-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. Learn tea propagation techniques with Eva Lee. Pre-event for A Taste of Tea Pottery Fundraiser - August 25. Workshops designed to be attended as a series - #3 set for July 27. No experience necessary. $60/VAC member, $75/non-member for series. Individual workshop $25 each. Requires minimum of 6 participants to be held. Registration limited. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, JULY 1
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, July 1, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays through July 11; no meal Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.
     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required. okaukakou.org

Volcano Village 4th of July Parade, Festival, and Craft Fair happens Thursday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The parade will feature riders on horseback, organized by Merle Becker of Aikane Plantation. It starts at the Volcano Post Office, travels down Old Volcano Road, and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Road. Free entry to activities, food, and entertainment. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and more. To be in the parade, download the entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors, download applications at thecoopercenter.org and email to idoaloha@gmail.com, or call Tara Holmes, 464-3625, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Head Coaches for Coed Judo, Coed Swimming, and Boys Basketball are wanted by Kaʻū High School for the 2019-2020 school year. Applications, due Monday, July 8, can be picked up at the school office weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coaches hired by Hawaiʻi Department of Education are required to pass a criminal background check. Contact Kaʻū High Athletic Director Kalei Namohala 313-4161 with questions.

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.
     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bags and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

Experience Volcano Festival is still looking for vendors. Booths for the event are $25 per day for Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28. The event is coordinated with the new ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash on the 27th. Apply at experiencevolcano.com/vendor-application.
     Experience Volcano is a group of businesses and residents helping to rebuild the economy of Volcano, following last year's volcanic disaster that shut down Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and drastically reduced the visitor county which is now recovering.

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash happens Saturday, July 27 in Volcano Village, It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register at ohialehuahalf.com.

6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.orgkaucoffeemill.com

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.