Sunday, January 20, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, January 20, 2019

The historic Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo is familiar to state Sen. Kai Kahele. His late father Sen. Gil Kahele (above)
 spoke there many times. Kai Kehele is expected to announce his candidacy Monday at the Bandstand, vying for
 the U.S. House of Representatives seat now held by Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard announced her candidacy for
U.S. president last week. Photo by William Neal
STATE SEN. KAI KAHELE WILL ANNOUNCE HIS RUN FOR REP. TULSI GABBARD'S SEAT IN CONGRESS, reports The Hill, a Washington, D.C. newspaper. The Hill refers to a story on Saturday from the Honolulu Star Advertiser, which reported that its sources confirmed the move.
     See last Tuesday's Kaʻū News Briefs, which stated that Kahele would possibly announce his bid for Gabbard's seat tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 21, at 10:30 a.m., at Moʻoheau Bandstand in Hilo.
     According to The Hill, "Niether Kahele's nor Gabbard's offices immediately responded to requests for comment," regarding Kahele running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
     Gabbard, in her fourth term in Congress, announced last week that she will run for president in 2020.
     Kahele's announcement will be carried live on Nā Leo TV beginning at 11:00 a.m., on Spectrum Channel 53, online at naleo.tv, and streaming via mobile app.

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MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS OF PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN is leading to increased issues for the approximate 800,000 federal workers that aren't being paid – about half of whom will not get paid at all, when the shutdown ends. Today, millions of Americans with SNAP (food stamp) benefits received their February food money early. However, if the shutdown continues, the allocation for March is not certain.
     Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's support group Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park received more than $100,000 in donations last week to keep the park open, and they expect more generous gifts. It is unsure, however, how long the visitors center and those trails and roads that are open can remain accessible without the normal funding stream.
     Tens of thousands of federal workers, such as scientists at the National Weather Service, are forced to work or lose their jobs, while paying expenses with no paycheck in sight. More federal employees are simply out of work, with no idea when they will be able to go back to providing for themselves and their families.
     Kaʻū's U.S. Senators and Representative continue to make their opinion known:
     "Open the government," Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted this weekend, "and we will be happy to talk about whatever proposals the executive may have. But risking health and safety, hurting the economy, and delivering pain to families can never be the start of a fruitful negotiation. So, open the government, and let's talk… But if we reward this behavior it will never end, and the pain and chaos will be worse in the future. Let this be the last shutdown. They always backfire."
     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "Instead of succumbing to @realDonaldTrump's strategy of negotiating through hostage taking, @senatemajldr should bring the House passed bills to the floor of the Senate for a vote and end the #TrumpShutdown." She also praised "staff and volunteers at @hawaiifoodbank for your efforts to support our federal workers and contractors during the government shutdown. Your work this morning demonstrated once again how Hawaiʻi comes together to help those in need."
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called the shutdown "reckless," saying Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump "must pass the House's bipartisan legislation and re-open the government now," not "continue to put politics before their responsibilities to serve the American people, leaving our working people unable to pay medical bills, afford their rent and mortgage, and put food on the table for their children." She also praised "everyday Americans," who "haven't hesitated to take this charge, share their aloha, and care for each other."

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Kaʻū Coffee First Princess Helena Sesson, performing at the 2018 kick off party for the Kaʻū Coffee Festival. This year's event will be on Friday, April 26. See the ten day schedule of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival, below. Photo by Julia Neal
KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL DATES ARE SET FOR 2019. The Festival begins with a free Paʻina & Open House on Friday, April 26, at Pāhala Plantation House beginning at 6 p.m. Meet the Miss Kaʻū Coffee Court on the evening before their pageant. Enjoy live entertainment and refreshments.
     Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant will be held Saturday, April 27, at the Kaʻū District Gym.
     Kaʻū Coffee Recipe Contest invites everyone to join in on Sunday, April 28, at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. 
     Kaʻū Mountain Hike will be held Wednesday, May 1, starting at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Visit the old waterways of the sugar plantation and hike through the rain forest. 
     Kaʻū Valley Farms tour will be on Thursday, May 2.
     Kaʻū Coffee & Cattle Day will be held on Friday, May 3, at Aikane Plantation Coffee Farm on Kalaiki Road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu.
     Kaʻū Stargazing on Friday, May 3, will take guests to the top of Makanau with a dark, new-moon sky for excellent viewing.
     Kaʻū Coffee Festival Hoʻolauleʻa will be on Saturday, May 4, on the grounds and within Pāhala Community Center.
     Kaʻū Coffee College will be held on Sunday, May 5, with education for coffee farmers and Kaʻū Coffee enthusiasts.
     See updates in future stories about the events. Also see kaucoffeefestival.com

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A TOTAL LUNAR "BLOOD MOON" ECLIPSE began before moonrise at 5:58 p.m., ending at 9:48 p.m. Maximum coverage happens at 7:12 p.m. Full coverage ran from 6:41 p.m. through 7:43 p.m. The start of the eclipse was hard to see in Hawaiʻi, as the eclipse began before moonrise. Kaʻū may or may not have visibility due to cloud cover. The next full lunar eclipse visible in Hawaiʻi happens in May of 2021. See more details at timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/hilo.
Phases of a full lunar eclipse. Images from space.com
     The Ka‘ū Calendar's astronomy writer Lew Cook offers an explanation:
     When the moon rises on the 20th, it will be nearing the total eclipse phase of this evening's eclipse. The total part of the eclipse will begin about 40 minutes after moonrise. 1 hour 2 minutes later, the total phase ends. Hold on – all isn't over then. The moon will move out of the shadow of the earth gradually until it leaves the edge of the darkest part of the shadow. Still, all is not over until the moon exits the penumbra, the gradual shading of the shadow where the earth covers part – but not all – of the sun's disk. This happens at 9:48 p.m., but isn't really that noticeable.
     The eclipsed moon is often called the "blood moon" because the dust in our atmosphere causes the light that is scattered through the earth's atmosphere to be reddish, like a sunset. How red and dark will it get? If it is clear, check it out.
     See Lew Cook's monthly column in The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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STEWARDSHIP MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT PROJECT, organized by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is the "first intensive effort in Hawaiʻi to take stock of the diverse community of groups that care of our many special places, mauka to makai," says dlnr.hawaii.gov. Groups who care for Hawaiʻi ʻāina (land) and kai (ocean) can fill out a survey, get recognition for their hard work, then be added to a map and database; a resource that "will promote collaboration across communities, landscapes, and topics."
     The project collects survey data to create a public online stewardship database and map of community, civic, and other organizations that mālama ʻāina and kai.
     Groups that already received a survey are encouraged by DLNR to fill it out "today." If not, go to StewMapHawaii.net to learn more and sign up to receive a survey. While the first portion of the map will focus on Oʻahu, more regions and outlying islands are planned for mapping.
     The project aims to answer the questions: Who takes care of this region? Where are there gaps and concentrations of care? Where are groups working, on what issues, and who is working in your community or topic?
     Groups of at least two people may benefit by: Being part of stewardship maps and diagrams of neighborhood, Ahupuaʻa, and Moku. Getting students engaged with places that participate in ʻāina based learning. Identifying ways to share information, ideas, and other resources with groups, non-profits, and agencies.
     Environmental educators, gardeners, canoe club or hālau hula members, researchers, community organizers, and those that care for a loʻi or clean up the beach are encouraged to get on the map.

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ALL RECYCLING AND TRANSFER STATIONS ARE CLOSED tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Says Hawaiʻi County: "We respectfully ask for your kōkua. Please do not litter or illegally dump any solid waste at the closed Recycling and Transfer Stations. Mahalo for your cooperation and helping to keep our island a clean and beautiful paradise for everyone."
     Contact the Solid Waste Administrative Office at (808) 961-8270 or (808) 961-8339 with questions.

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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. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals
Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA
Boys Basketball:
Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo, 6pm
Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity
Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity
Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals
Wrestling:
Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA
Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo
Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau
Soccer:
Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala
Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals
Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals
Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA
Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA
Swimming:
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm
Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA
Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING
GROUP ART PROJECT for keiki ages 5 to 12 on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the multi-purpose room at Ka‘ū District Gym, on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. Registration open through Tuesday, Jan. 22. Free.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

SPECIAL MOVIE NIGHT EVENT OPEN TO ALL AGES, on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym, on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. Registration open through Wednesday, Jan. 23.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

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MONDAY, JANUARY 21
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Mon., Jan. 21, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tue., Jan. 22 (Committees), Wed., Jan. 23, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tue., Jan. 22, 10am, HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

The Wonderful World of Wine and Watercolor, Tue., Jan. 22, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques. Participants enjoy a sampling of several wines from Grapes store in Hilo. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $17 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
The following event is cancelled due to partial government shutdown: After Dark in the Park: Volcano Awareness Month - What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea in 2018?, Tue., Jan. 22, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. USGS geophysicist Kyle Anderson presents. Free; donations accepted. Park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting 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 Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

ONGOING
Applications for the first annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."
     Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.
     The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."
     The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
     Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.
     To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.
     The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.
     The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

     The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana."  See more about the foundation at
mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com

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

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.

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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