Thursday, January 03, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, January 3, 2019

Sen. Mazie Hirono was sworn in today to start her second term as Kaʻū and rural Hawaiʻi's U.S. Senator.
Photo from Sen. Hirono's Facebook.
NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF HAWAIʻI'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION took their oaths today as the 2019 U.S. Congress began its work. The House of Representatives voted to fund the government and end the partial shutdown, but faces opposition from Pres. Donald Trump who wants money to build a wall across the southern mainland border of the U.S.
     Hirono tweeted: "Honored to be sworn into my second term in the U.S. Senate with @PattyMurray at my side. The fight continues." Patty Murray is a Senator from Washington state who often works on issues with Hirono.
    Sen. Brian Schatz is in the middle of his term, and not required to take the oath again.
New diversity and more women in Congress took office today, as shown 
by this Vanity Fair photo tweeted this morning by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
    Rep. Tulsi Gabbard retweeted a photo from newly elected Rep. Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez, an image from Vanity Fair magazine showing the diversity of women in Congress. Gabbard tweeted, "Aloha! I look forward to working with you all and want to welcome you to Washington."
     Gabbard also posted to Facebook "It was a privilege to be back at Honolulu Hale, where I had the honor of serving on the City Council, to deliver a Message of Aloha at the council's inauguration. As we begin this new year, may we find inspiration, strength, compassion, and courage in the spirit of aloha which lies within each of our hearts, and share that aloha with others. #LiveAloha"
    Rep. Ed Case is formerly the U.S. Representative for Kaʻū and rural Hawaiʻi and was known for visiting often and helping to save the Kaʻū Coast. Last November, he won the urban Hawaiʻi seat and took the oath of office today in Washington, D.C. A staff member said he will "serve all of Hawaiʻi."

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Clare Connors
CLARE CONNORS IS THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE FOR HAWAIʻI. Gov. David Ige made announcement today. Her confirmation is subject to senate approval.
     Connors is an experienced criminal and civil litigator who is leaving the law firm of Davis Levin Livingston, where she has represented clients since October 2011. She began her legal career in Hawaiʻi as a law clerk for federal District Judge David Ezra and was an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Hawaiʻi from 2004 to March 2011. She served in the Attorney General's Honors program with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and worked as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice Tax Division. Connors holds two B.A. degrees from Yale College, one in ethics, politics, and economics, and the other in international studies. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
     Said the Governor, "Clare is an accomplished attorney who has experience with both criminal and civil litigation. She has the skills to defend the state in legal proceedings, provide outstanding legal advice and counsel, and manage the largest law firm in the state. She will be a tremendous asset as the chief legal officer and chief law enforcement officer of the State of Hawaiʻi."
     Said Connors, "I am humbled by Gov. Ige's nomination and honored to serve the people of the State of Hawai`i. I look forward to joining the Deputy Attorney Generals and professional staff and to contributing to the important work of the office."

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Microplastics on a Hawaiian beach are the target of an engineering
 project at Sherbrooke Universityin Quebec. See story, below.
Photo by Megan Lamson / Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund
MICROPLASTICS THAT WASH UP ON KAʻŪ BEACHES may be sucked away by a new machine under development. Twelve engineering students from University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, are working with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund to design and construct a prototype machine to remove small pieces of plastic. Their invention is called HoolaOne, and they are raising money to bring it to Kaʻū in late January and to test it in February.
     Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund and volunteers have cleaned the coastline near Kamilo Point for 15 years by hand, recently achieving a milestone of recovering 500,000 pounds of plastic, including bundles of nets and line. It is impossible to collect everything and plastic never goes away; it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces. Microplastic debris is the most difficult to collect and remove from the beach because it takes so much time.
     Bill Gilmartin, of Volcano, is Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund's Research Director. He said that two years ago, the engineering students "approached us and asked what they might do to help with our marine debris recovery work. I suggested they tackle the problem of removing small plastic pieces from beach sand and they took on the challenge as a class project."
     Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund sent the students pictures of the problem and shipped them boxes of plastic-laden beach sand, and they went to work. "We discussed as many of the potential problems as we could think of, like rocks and pieces of wood in the sand, access to cleanup sites, and the varied slopes of beaches," Gilmartin said. The students' invention, HoolaOne, is designed to separate very small microplastic pieces - up to two inches in diameter - from beach sand.
     For their work on recovering microplastics, the engineering students received awards from Canadian groups and were featured in numerous media events.
     Gilmartin reports: "We just heard from the students that the prototype is ready for shipping and field testing at Kamilo. And, ideally, some of the engineering students would come to Hawai‘i Island in February to work with HWF team members to field test the prototype and make any adjustments or modifications needed to fine tune and ensure the machine's highest performance."
     The students have raised over $70,000 in Canadian dollars to design and build HoolaOne. Now, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund plans to raise about $15,000 to bring the machine and students to Hawaiʻi. "We are seeking donations from individuals and local business throughout Hawai‘i to support this final push to bring this microplastics beach cleanup machine to Hawai‘i in January," said Gilmartin.
HoolaOne invention to clean up microplastics is the project of engineering students at Sherbrooke University 
in Canada. Photo from the HoolaOne team of Sherbrooke University
     He urges the public to make a tax-deductible contribution to Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund. "Let us know that you support these University of Sherbrooke students and you want to be part of the solution to recover plastics from our beaches to protect native wildlife."
     Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund issued a statement saying the team hopes "future models can be used to clean beaches around the world to reduce wildlife losses to plastic ingestion." 
     Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund also suggests helping by choosing to reduce the amount of single-use plastic items consumed and disposed of of daily.  More info a is available at wildhawaii.org.
     More information and a video of the Sherbrooke effort are available at hoolaone.ageg.ca
and facebook.com/ProjetHoolaOne.

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New land for The Nature Conservancy preserve lies between Hwy 11 and Kona Hema South Kona Forest Reserve,
and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Map from TNC
A DONATION OF 135 ACRES FOR PRESERVATION has been made to The Nature Conservancy north of Ocean View. The gift, announced today, comes from retired Hawaiian physician Charman J. Akina, who lives in Hilo and Honolulu.
     Located just below the Conservancy's 8,081-acre Kona Hema Preserve and the state's South Kona Forest Reserve, the new parcel provides habitat for rare native wildlife and plants.
Dr. Charman Akina donated land north of Ocean view to
The Nature Conservancy. Photo from TNC
     "The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i is grateful to work with wonderful supporters like Dr. Akina, who understand the vast majority of Hawai‘i's native species are found nowhere else in the world," said TNC Hawaiʽi Executive Director Ulalia Woodside. "This gift will provide a home and refuge for native plants and animals for future generations."
     The land is the second of two properties Akina has given to TNC. He donated a 37-acre neighboring parcel in 2014. He first became interested in the two South Kona parcels in the early 1970s when the land was being sub-divided for sale. "I went down there and found these properties that had beautiful trees on them along with young forest," he said. "When I found out they would be sold for development, I stepped in and bought them. I wanted to save them from the bulldozer."
     After TNC acquired 4,000 acres next door at Honomalino in 1999—the first of three adjoining parcels that make up its Kona Hema Preserve—Akina decided that one day he would donate the land to TNC.
     Flueggea neowawraea) was historically found on the parcel, which is also in the very limited habitat range for the tallest species of Hawaiian fan palm, or loulu (Pritchardia schattaueri). Both were likely found on the parcel prior to the 1926 lava flow. Surveys have also located native lacewings and Kamehameha butterflies on the property.
A native amakihi songbird, found in the forest donated by
a Hawaiian physician to The Nature Conservancy.
Photo from TNC
     The 135-acre parcel is a section of the 1926 Ho‘opuloa lava flow. Along the flow edges, it contains native plants such as māmane, ‘iliahi, pāwale, ferns and the rare mēhamehame tree.
     Native songbird species such as the ʻapapane, ʻiʻiwi, ʻelepaio, and ʻamakihi are found throughout this area as they pass through the protected corridor of South Kona properties. The area also provides much needed habitat for the endangered ‘io (Hawaiian hawk) and the ‘ōpe‘ape‘a (Hawaiian hoary bat), which likely utilizes the property for foraging. The National Audubon Society rates Kona forests as A-1 Globally Significant Important Bird Areas.
     Akina, 85, is a graduate of Punahou School and Stanford University. He worked for more than 30 years at the Honolulu Medical Group, specializing in internal medicine, before serving the native Hawaiian community for 12 years at the Waimanalo Health Center. He now divides his time between homes in Honolulu and the Hilo area of the Big Island.

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HIGH SURF ADVISORY for Hawaiʻi Island is extended by the National Weather Service to include almost all shores. A "reinforcing northwest swell," says NWS, will bring an increase in surf today, and stay elevated through this evening, gradually beginning to decrease late tonight.
     Elevated surf of 5 to 8 feet along east-facing shores, and 6 to 10 feet along exposed west facing shores, continues through the weekend. The high surf advisory will likely be extended, says NWS.
     A Gale Watch for the Alenuihaha Channel between Hawaiʻi Island and Maui is also in effect. NWS says east winds will be 25 to 35 knots, and seas will be 8 to 12 feet.

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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 High Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball:
Jan. 4, Fri., host Hilo6pm
Jan. 7, Mon., @Honokaʻa, 6pm
Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm
Jan. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm
Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau
Boys Basketball:
Jan. 5, Sat., @HPA, 6pm
Jan. 8, Tue., host Kamehameha, 6pm
Jan. 11, host Konawaena, 6pm
Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm
Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm
Wrestling:
Jan. 5, Sat., @Waiakea
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha
Soccer:
Jan. 5, Sat., Boys host Kealakehe
Jan. 7, Mon., @Hilo
Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau
Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa
Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani
Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona
Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa
Swimming:
Jan. 5, Sat., @KCAC, 10am
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am

NEW and UPCOMING
Aerial view of Kīlauea's summit on July 13, 2018. Photo from USGS
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SUMMIT OF KĪLAUEA IN 2018? is the subject of a third and final After Dark in the Park program to take place at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park during Volcano Awareness Month in January. The event takes place Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium.
     "In early May, 2018, as the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu dropped, concern grew that explosive eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea, like those in 1924, could occur. Some explosions did occur, sending plumes of ash high into the air. But what followed was even more dramatic: the largest summit collapse since at least 1800, accompanied by thousands of earthquakes that caused extensive damage to HVO’s building and National Park infrastructure," states the event description on nps.gov/HAVO.
     Along with colleagues, USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson closely monitored the summit activity as it unfolded, creating models to understand what was happening - and what might happen next. Anderson will recount the extraordinary events that took place at Kīlauea's summit this summer and how those events have helped scientists better understand Kīlauea and other volcanoes around the world.
     The event is free; however, park entrance fees apply. Donations helps support park programs.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4
Story Time with Lindsey Miller - PARENTS, Inc., Fri., Jan. 4, 2:30-3:15pm, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
Big Island Road Runners Hilo to Volcano 50 Kilometer Ultra Marathon and Team Relay, Sat., Jan. 5, 6am, Moku Ola (Coconut Island) parking area to Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Race Director David Cotter, 339-7210, bigislandroadrunners.org

EXHIBIT: From the Slopes Of Two Mountains, daily, Sat., Jan. 5 - Sun., Feb. 10, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Features glass works of Michael Mortara, Misato Mochizuki Mortara, W. Chris Lowry and Marianne J. Lowry. Opening reception with artists Jan. 5, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org

Art Express, Sat., Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, 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., Jan. 5, 11-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. First Saturday, monthly. acehardware.com

Spiritual Healing, Sat., Jan. 5, 3-4:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. Led by Debra Zager. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
Sunday Clay - High Fire (new sessions), Sun., Jan. 6-Mar. 3 (no class Jan. 20), morning session 11:30-2:30pm, afternoon session 2:45-5:45pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. 8 week session w/Erik Wold on potters wheel (7 slots open per session) or hand-building (2 slots open per session) techniques. Beginners and continuing students welcome. $180/VAC member, $200/non-member, plus $15 materials fee for 6 lbs clay, including glazes and firing for that material. Additional clay available for purchase. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun., Jan. 6, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Monthly. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

Overflow 2019: Unleashing Your Untapped Potential, Sun., Jan. 6, through Sat., Jan. 16, 6 p.m., and Sun., Jan. 13, 9:45 a.m., Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God. Seven days of prayer and fasting. Music by Ola Shaw. Special Guest Musician Ricky "RNB" Brown. Event features five guest speakers. 929-7278, naalehuag.org

MONDAY, JANUARY 7
Painting w/Peggy, Mon., Jan. 7, noon-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Three hour Acrylic Painting Session for artists of all levels with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton. No pervious experience needed. Students bring own supplies and easels - suggested material list at margaretstantonart.com. $15/VAC member, $20 per non-member. Register at volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222. Questions, email peggystanton007@yahoo.com

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon., Jan. 7 and 21, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon., Jan. 7, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue., Jan. 8 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 9, (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue., Jan. 8, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Community Emergency Response Team in and training scenarios. Public welcome. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

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

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 8, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Carolyn Parcheta presents. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8
Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visits: Dental, Wed., Jan. 9, 8-5pm; Medical, Thu., Jan. 31, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appointment. thecoopercenter.org

Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Wed., Jan. 9, 16, and 31, 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.

Lau Hala - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau (Experience the Skillful Work), Wed., Jan. 9, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

Compassionate Communication Group, Wed., Jan. 9 and 23, 2-3:30pm, PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. 2nd and last Wed., monthly. Free. Pre-registration required. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10
Basic Stretch & Strengthening Exercise Class, Thu., Jan. 10, 17, & 31, 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.

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

Papa ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i: Beginning Hawaiian Language Classes w/ Kaliko Trapp, Thu., Jan. 10, Part V, 5-6:30pm, Part VIII, 6:30-8pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. 8 week sessions focussing on expanding simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Some (basic for Part V) Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Required workbook for both sessions: Nā Kai ‘Ewalu, available at UH Hilo Bookstore. Hawaiian language dictionary suggested for Part V. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Jan. 10, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

STOKE Screening, Thu., Jan. 10, 7-9pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Film follows Jane, a struggling tourist, who hires two wannabe tour guides to take her to an active volcano. 90 min. narrative feature shot on Hawai‘i Island in 2017. Rated R for language and brief nudity. Directors in attendance for brief Q&A. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
The Public is Invited to Speak Up on Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, health needs, and health care planning for Kaʻū. Hawaiʻi Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawaiʻi Region annual public meeting and forum will take place Saturday, Jan. 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaʻū Hospital, 1 Kamani Street, in Pāhala.
     An overview of the operations and financial condition of all facilities, including Kaʻū and Hilo hospitals, as well as a view toward the future, will be presented. Ample time will be available for community members to share their perspectives and concerns regarding access to health care services, said a statement from Hawaiʻi Health Systems.
     Dr. Daniel Belcher, Chair of the East Hawaiʻi Regional Board of HHSC, said, "I would like to encourage everyone who has an interest in our hospitals and regional health system to bring your questions and concerns to this meeting."
     For more information, contact Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant at 315-7558.

Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

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.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.
     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.
     Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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