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Thursday, January 10, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, January 10, 2019

The community is invited to join in the stewardship of Kāwā this Saturday, Jan. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
See event listing, below. Kāwā is in public hands through its purchase with money collected through county
property taxes, and state and federal funding. County funding for such projects is threatened by a
proposal to reduce the amount of property taxes set aside. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā
TESTIMONY ON PROPOSED REDUCTION IN FUNDS FOR PUBLIC LANDS WILL BE HEARD Friday, Jan. 25, in Kona and Friday, Feb. 8, in Hilo at the county Charter Commission meeting. Kaʻū's Charter Commission member Michelle Galimba recently voted against the measure that would reduce the funding from 2 percent to less than 1 percent of property taxes received on this island for purchase of precious lands.
     Debbie Hecht – a manager of the campaign that succeeded in securing 2 percent of property taxes for land conservation through an amendment to the County Charter – urges the public to attend the Charter Commission meetings to testify against proposed Charter Amendment 7 and support Charter Amendment 9. She also encourages email testimony be sent to charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov.
Students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences collect seeds in Kāwā
during an August field trip. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā
     Charter Amendment 7, says Hecht, "Guts the 2 percent land fund by reducing the fund to .75 percent of property taxes ($1.5 million which will not be enough money to purchase anything) and takes the Maintenance Fund from the Charter to the County Code where it can be changed each year to adjust the budget. Remember we decided that we needed a Charter Amendment when Mayor Kenoi stopped deposits to the fund for 2 years. Charter Amendments can only be changed by a vote of the people." Lands are chosen by the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Commission, which makes recommendations to the County Council.
    Hecht says Charter Amendment 9, which Commissioner Michelle Galimba brought to the commission, "Uses 2 percent land fund monies to pay for a full time staff person working for the Department of Finance who is dedicated to only administering the 2 percent land fund program, acquiring property, obtaining matching funds, helping the public with suggestion forms, and the stewardship applications and administration of the Maintenance Fund.
     "The Department of Finance will have one less salary to pay. The changes will provide for building toilet facilities, paths, trails, and roads, and allowing board members and staff to be paid. The changes are to empower the non-profits to expand their good work to care for the 2% lands."
    During the Charter Commission meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 11, attendants can answer questions if any are asked, explained Hecht.
     Read more on Dec. 17, Nov. 11, and Oct. 16 Kaʻū News Briefs.

Students from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences water seedlings
of indigenous Hawaiian plants at Kāwā. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā
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HAWAIʻI ISLAND HOME SALES DECLINED BY SEVEN PERCENT in 2018, according to an article by Real Estate Editor Janis L. Magin of Pacific Business News. She reports the eruption of Kīlauea failed to stop prices from rising, as the inventory shrunk with the loss of at least 750 homes. According to statistics from Hawaiʻi Information Service:
     Single-family home sales declined to 11.22 percent in December, to 182 homes sold, down from 205 homes sold in December 2017. The median price was $399,500, which was a 17.5 percent increase, from $340,000, in Dec. 2017. The median price for all of 2018 for a single-family home was $358,750, a 2.5 percent increase from $350,000 in 2017. Sales of single-family homes, however, declined by 6.69 percent to 2,330 houses sold, from 2,497 houses sold in 2017.
Community work day at Kāwā, where the public is invited to help steward 
the land. Photo from Nā Mamo O Kāwā.
     Condominium median sales price last month was $384,000, which was a 36.41 percent increase from $281,500 in Dec. 2017. Numbers of condos sold in December increased to 78 units sold, a 14.71 percent increase from 67 units sold during Dec. 2017. Condo sales for all of 2018 declined by 2.57 percent to 833 units sold, from 855 units sold in 2017. The median price for a Big Island condo in 2018 was $350,000, a 12.9 percent increase from $310,000 in 2017.
     In Puna – where the eruption of Kīlauea destroyed some 700 homes between May and July – sales of single-family homes in Puna declined by 6.76 percent in 2018 to 855 homes sold, from 917 homes sold in 2017. The median price of those homes rose 1.33 percent to $228,000, from $225,000 in 2017. Vacant land sales in Puna – much of the land destroyed by Kīlauea were undeveloped parcels – dropped 25.14 percent to 1,036 lots sold, from 1,384 lots sold in 2017. The median price of vacant land sales, however, rose to $22,000, a 10 percent increase from $20,000.

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David Yamamoto, the new County Public Works Director.
Photo from Big Island Video News
NEW COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IS DAVID YAMAMOTO. The County Council confirmed his nomination by Mayor Harry Kim yesterday during its Hilo meeting. Yamamoto is promoted from serving more than six years as Building Chief in the Building Division. A registered Professional Engineer, he worked in engineering and management for more than 26 years.
     Yamamoto replaces Allan Simeon, who announced in December that he planned to leave the post. Simeon will go back to working as a county engineer when Yamamoto takes over the department on Feb. 1.
     Yamamoto, a United States Air Force veteran, joined the County of Hawai‘i in 1995 as a Civil Engineer III, and prior to that, he worked at the state Department of Health from 1992.
     Kim, who was on hand for Wednesday’s council meeting to introduce his nominee, said, "We are really pleased that David agreed to take on this challenging job. David has done great work for the County for many years and has vast experience which will help us greatly."

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AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS offers a new meeting at Discovery Harbour Community Center at 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays. For more information, text (808) 990-7248.
     Al-Anon is a group for those affected by other people's alcoholism. Holding meetings since 1952, Al-Anon is also open to Alcoholics Anonymous members who feel their lives are also affected by another person's drinking. "Al-Anon members are people, just like you, who are worried about someone with a drinking problem," says al-anon.org. "The alcoholic has three choices: institutions, recovery, or death. I have the same options. I choose recovery," is one message on the site.
     As with other Anonymous groups, members are asked to not discuss membership in other Anonymous Fellowships. Anonymous Fellowships – which include Al-Anon, A.A., Narcotics Anonymous, and more – are fee-free groups that rely on donations, where only first names are used. The groups are "a spiritual fellowship," guided by a 12 Step Program similar to A.A. 12 Steps:
     1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
     2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
     3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
     4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
     5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
     6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
     7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
     8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
     9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
     10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
     11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
     12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
     Learn more at al-anon.org.

Kaʻū's Kianie Medeiros-Dancel looks for a shot 
while guarded by Kamehameha's Juliana Pakele 
during Tuesday night's game, hosted by 
the Lady Warriors. Photo by Tim Wright
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KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS BASKETBALL went to Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi for a hard-fought game against the Lady Warriors on Tuesday night, Jan. 8.
     In the first quarter, Kaʻū scored 7, while Kamehameha scored 12. At Halftime, the score was 16 Kaʻū, 27 Kamehameha. The game ended with Kaʻū at 30, Kamehameha at 51.
     See below for upcoming home and away games, and come root for the home team.

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Kaʻū's Reishalyn Jara goes up for an 
uncontested shot during Tuesday night's 
game against Kamehameha. 
Photo by Tim Wright
BIIF 8-MAN FOOTBALL IS OUT, 11-MAN FOOTBALL IS IN. All 11 Big Island Interscholastic Federation teams will play 11-man football for the 2019 season.
     League coordinator and Kaʻū Athletics Director Kalei Namohala, who helped create 8-Man football in 2013 for the smaller schools, confirmed the change yesterday. She said the decision was made after Pāhoa's move from 8 back to the traditional team size of 11 players. The change was announced at Tuesday's islandwide monthly athletic directors meeting.
     Kohala will also return from 8-man to 11 man.
     Namohala said the Division in which Kaʻū will play and the schedule are yet to be worked out. Smaller schools, like Kaʻū, can choose to move up to Division I, where larger schools like Konawaena and Waiakea must play.
     For the coming season BIIF will have the second-largest number of 11-man teams of the five high school leagues in the state.

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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. 14, Mon., host Kealakehe, 6pm
Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Boys Basketball:
Jan. 11, Fri., host Konawaena, 6pm
Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm
Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm
Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo6pm
Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity
Wrestling:
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha
Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau
Soccer:
Jan. 12, Sat., host Honokaʻa
Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani
Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona
Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host Pāhoa
Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala
Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals
Swimming:
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am
Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

NEW and UPCOMING
HAWAI‘I WILDLIFE FUND HOSTS A COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER CLEAN-UP AT KAMILO - located along the Ka‘ū Coast below Green Sands Subdivision in Nā‘ālehu - on Saturday, Jan. 19.
     Volunteers, contact Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund to get details. Space may be available in HWF vehicles, BYO 4-wheel-drive encouraged. Free; donations are appreciated. Call 769-7629 or email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 11
PATCH Class #701, Creating Supportive Environments I, Fri., Jan. 11, 8-11am, back pavilion, Punalu‘u Bakery, Nā‘ālehu. Making connection between the environment, social-emotional development, and challenging behaviors - specifically relating to pre-school, home day care, etc. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

PATCH Class #219, Building Relationships, Fri., Jan. 11, noon-3pm, back pavilion, Punalu‘u Bakery, Nā‘ālehu. Making connection between social and emotional development and challenging behaviors - specifically relating to pre-school, home day care, etc. No childcare provided. 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Free Artist in Residence Lecture and Concert w/Celebrated Composer Glenn McClure, Fri., Jan. 11, 6pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center. McClure is a composer, educator, and data scientist. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

Free Community Dance, Fri., Jan. 11, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12
Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Jan. 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Fan Lamp Project, Sat. & Sun., Jan. 12, 13, 19 and 20, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Claudia McCall provides patterns to create a finished lamp or light catcher at end of 4-session workshop. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee/person. Additional $20 supply fee for lamp base and bulb. Limited space, pre-registration required. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Sat., Jan. 12, meet 9:30am, Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. nmok.org, facebook.com/namamo.kawa

Introduction to Zentangle w/Ellen O'Dunn, Sat., Jan. 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Supplies included, no experience necessary. Bring light refreshment to share. $30, plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Hawai‘i Health Systems Corp.'s East Hawai‘i Region Annual Public Mtg. and Forum, Sat., Jan. 12, 1:30-2:30pm, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, 1 Kamani Street, Pāhala. Terry Larson, Regional Board Executive Assistant, 315-7558

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13

A Celebration of Life and Art: Honoring the Legacy of Dietrich Varez, Sun., Jan. 13, 1-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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


TUESDAY, JANUARY 15
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue., Jan. 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - New Insights from Kīlauea's 2018 Lower East Rift Zone Eruption, Tue., Jan. 15, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS HVO geologist Matt Patrick presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Jan. 17, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

Hui ‘Ohana Parenting Education and Skills for Life Class, Thu., Jan. 17, 10-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Meets every Thursday. Free. Register w/ Lindsey Miller, 333-3460.

Family Reading Night, Thu., Jan. 17, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i's White Terns - Manu-o-Ku - an Urban Seabird by Susan Scott, Book Release and Presentation, Thu., Jan. 17, 6:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Lamb of God Baptist Church Revival, Thu, Fri., & Sat., Jan. 17-19, 7-9pm, Ocean View Community Association. All welcome. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

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.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before 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.

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

Overflow 2019: Uleashing Your Untapped Potential, seven days of prayer and fasting hosted by Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God's Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin T. Brown and Pastor Rick Eilerman, takes place daily at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 13, with a special presentation on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 9:45 a.m., at Nā‘ālehu Assembly of God, 95-5678 Māmalahoa Highway.
     The event features five guest speakers: Pastor Mat Torres of Zion's House of Praise, Pastor Mark Parra of The House Hilo, Pastor Troy Gacayan of River of Life Assembly of God in Pāhala, and Rev. Ken Gaub of Ken Gaub Ministries.
     Ola Shaw of Kona and special guest musician Ricky "RNB" Brown of San Jose, CA, provide music for the event.
     For more, call 929-7278 or see naalehuag.org.

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.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes in January include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays, from Jan. 16 through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

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