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Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Kamilo Beach in Kaʻū came up in testimony to ban single use plastic bags. Kamilo catches plastics on its shores as
it drifts in from far off places. Volunteers pick it up through Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund.
Photo from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
THE STATEWIDE BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS AND STYROFOAM, SB522 SD2, which passed the state Senate last week, goes to a hearing with the House Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Economic Development & Business this Thursday, March 14, at 8:30 a.m. Read testimony and the bill at SB522 SD2. Submit testimony by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, March 13.
     Cosponsored by east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, the bill would prohibit "purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, and straws by state and county agencies after July 1, 2021, and by businesses selling food and beverages after July 1, 2022." It would ban "distribution or sale of plastic bags after July 1, 2023. It would appropriate funds and create a plastic source reduction working group to make recommendations for eliminating single-use plastic packaging.
     Ruderman spoke on the Senate floor last week, pointing out his food stores are "a business that's operated 20 years while being a leader in plastic elimination and it hasn't hurt us at all." He said he has helped with sponsorships of Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund cleanups at Kamilo in Kaʻū, one of the beaches in Hawaiʻi that receives the most plastics washing in from the ocean. He noted that the Fukishima, Japan earthquake and subsequent tidal wave in May, 2017, brought in a "big wave of trash... but every year new trash gets deposited there from around the world. It just happens to catch it." Sen. Lorraine Inouye noted that 60 Minutes covered the story.
     Sen. Mike Gabbard said, "Plastic is a huge problem in our oceans, our wildlife, and our environment as a whole. My colleagues from Hawaiʻi Island may take interest in this: Kamilo Point in rural Kaʻū on Hawaiʻi Island was highlighted in a May 1st, 2017, Huffington Post article as being one of the dirtiest places in the world because of plastics. Ocean Crusaders report that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic micro fibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea.
     "Shoppers worldwide are using approximately 500 billion single-use plastic bags every year, and this translates to about a million bags every minute across the globe or 150 bags a year for every person on earth. And the number is rising. We use 500 million plastic straws every single day in the U.S. A coastal care reports that 90 percent of seabirds have some plastic in their digestive tracts."
     Said Gabbard, "Now, for the good news: Walmart, the world's largest retailer, announced late last month that they will eliminate non recyclable plastic packaging in all it's private label brands by 2020, impacting over 30,000 products. Our counties have been taking the lead on reducing plastics for the last several years. As of July 2015, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Kauaʻi have all banned plastic checkout bags. At UH, a student-initiated ban on polystyrene food polystyrene food containers at all campus food establishments has been in place as policy since 2012. The Hawaiʻi Ocean Friendly Restaurant program launched in 2016 now includes more than 200 eateries that are certified as foam free. Maui County became the first county in Hawaiʻi to pass a ban on polystyrene foam containers in June of 2017. Hawaiʻi County banned polystyrene containers in October of 2017 and this will go into effect July 1, 2019." Ruderman's Island Naturals Deli is one of the participants in the program.
     Gabbard said SB522 SD2 would "move us forward in a very big way in reducing single-use plastic." He said zero waste plastic reduction plans are already established within the European Union, and many countries, such as Ethiopia and Costa Rica, and municipalities across the U.S.

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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD'S VIEWS ON GAY RIGHTS were questioned at the CNN Town Hall meeting in Austin on Sunday. Audience member Seth Tiven, a musician and software engineer, asked, "Can you convince me that your previous view on gay rights have truly changed? I am especially concerned about your previous support of conversion therapy, which I found really, really repulsive, and I'd like to understand what caused you to reevaluate your positions and change them."
     Gabbard replied, "I want to correct the record.... I personally never supported any kind of conversion therapy, I never advocated for conversion therapy, and frankly, I didn't even know what conversion therapy was" until running for Congress. She said she grew up in a very socially conservative home.
     "My father is Catholic. He was a leading voice against gay marriage in Hawaiʻi during that time. Again, I was very young but these were the values and beliefs I grew up around. My own personal journey, as I went out in different experiences in my life, especially going and deploying to the Middle East, where I saw first hand the negative impact of a government attempting to act as a moral arbiter for their people, dictating in the most personal ways how they must live their lives. And so it caused me to confront that contradiction where, as a shoulder standing for freedom for all people here in this country, but also how that contradicted some of the values and beliefs that I grew up with.
     "I also served with gay and lesbian and trans service members and we became very good friends and knew in the most deep and visceral way that I would give my life for any one of them; and I knew that they would do the same for me, in serving there overseas. Being in a place where race, or religion or orientation - these were things that didn't matter because we were focused on our mission of services. So these experiences caused me to go through some soul searching myself.
     "So I ask you to look to my record in Congress for over six years, where it is a reflection of what is in my heart and it is a refection of my commitment to fight for equality for all people. I have a 100 percent legislative rating from the human rights campaign that reflects on a whole variety of issues and pieces of legislation  - how I have carried through on that commitment, and which will continue as President and Commander in Chief."
     Gabbard announced today that she will be in the Bay Area this weekend for a Town Hall with Tulsi at University of San Francisco on Saturday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. and in Freemont at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

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ALLOWING COUNTIES FLEXIBILITY IN SPENDING .25 PERCENT OF GENERAL EXCISE TAX revenues was approved in similar bills by the state Senate and House of Representatives. Both legislative bodies are considering a final version of Senate Bill 1428 SD 1 and House Bill 1394 HD 1. The House bill "authorizes any county with a population equal to or less than 500,000 that adopts a county surcharge on state tax ordinance to use the surcharges received from the State for infrastructure and public safety." Several legislators and Mayor Harry Kim said the county intends to continue with the implementation of the county's master transit plan.
     Hawaiʻi County receives .25 percent of the 4.25 percent sales tax charged here, its use limited to transportation expenses.
     HB 1394 HD 1, cosponsored by west Kaʻū Rep. Richard Creagan, has the support of Hawaiʻi County Mayor Harry Kim, who said flexibility in spending GET surcharge funds is a "top priority" this legislative session.
     Said Kim, "Please be assured that it is not our intent to downgrade transportation, which is the present beneficiary of GET funding. Rather, each County has expressed different unmet needs for which a funding source has yet to be identified; for example, 'public safety' for Hawai‘i County... Higher contributions to the Employees' Retirement System, and other post-employment benefits have had significant impacts on our ability to fund operations throughout the county. For Hawai‘i Island, dealing with multiple natural disasters, the cost of providing public safety during these events has taken its toll and depleted our funds."
     East Kaʻū's Rep. Richard Onishi voted for the bill, but spoke against it on the House floor last week, saying "The current mass transit system is very lacking, to the point where school children in my district are unable to sometimes participate in extra curricular activities because the school bus leaves right after school ends and there is no way to get back to their communities. Re-purposing this money at the county's discretion is bad policy and it doesn’t equally affect every county in the state."
     Puna's Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, said, "I understand why the neighbor islands want the flexibility, but until they fix our roads and until everyone gets proper access back to their roads and back to their farms, I need to be in opposition."
     Kona's Rep. Nicole Lowen said, "When the county passed its quarter percentage back when the eruption was ongoing, they then pulled their mass transit budget and just replaced it with the amount of revenue they would expect to receive from [the GET surcharge]. I don't have any confidence that if they are given this expanded uses that its going to further the purposes what they say it's for. The mass transit system on Hawaiʻi Island is the furthest behind in the state and in West Hawaiʻi we have basically nothing."
     San Buenaventura was the only dissenter on the third reading to vote against the bill; Creagan, Onishi, and Lowen voted aye with reservations.

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SUBSIDIZING VEHICLE DISPOSAL is offered by the county March 15 through April 30. While the county is unable to accept vehicles for disposal at any of its solid waste disposal locations, they can be driven or hauled to commercial recycler Big Island Scrap Metal in Kona or Hilo. For those who qualify, the county can assist with the $650 disposal fee charged by the scrap metal company.
     The county Department of Environmental Management Derelict or Abandoned Vehicle Section is offering the assistance to encourage disposal of unwanted vehicles.
Abandoned vehicles can draw fines but the county offers a program to
help owners with their disposal. Photo by Annie Bosted
     The program "aims to help registered vehicle owners legally and properly dispose of vehicles, in an effort to reduce the number of derelict and abandoned vehicles left on public roadways," says a statement from Mayor Harry Kim's office.
     A maximum of one vehicle per registered owner may be disposed of at no charge. The County will only pay the disposal fee directly to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor. The registered owner is responsible for arranging the vehicle to be towed to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor's facility and the towing fee to the designated County vehicle disposal contractor's facility.
     Applications will be accepted from March 15 to April 30. Registered vehicle owners are encouraged to submit their applications early, as there are limited disposal appointments available. This program may be extended if allocated funds are still available.
     Visit hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/automotive/ for the application, guidelines, and instructions. Questions? Contact the Derelict and Abandoned Vehicle Program at (808) 9618552 or VDAP@hawaiicounty.gov.

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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 Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Sat., March 16, 1 p.m., host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m., host Honokaʻa
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
Softball:
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m., host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m., host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Fri., April 5, 3 p.m., @Kealakehe
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m., @Kealakehe
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala, Varsity
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Wed., April 3, 6 p.m., host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, 6 p.m., @Christian Liberty, Varsity
Track:
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m., @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Sat., March 30, 3 p.m., @Keaʻau

JUST ANNOUNCED
KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM RECREATION ROOM-FITNESS STATION IS OPEN TO THOSE 15 YEARS OLD AND OVER, Monday through Thursday, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., through Mar. 29. Bring personal towel and drinking water. Open registration.
     For more, contact Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation for hours of operation.

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
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Wednesday, March 13, Council, Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit; Dental, Wednesday, March 13, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Medical, Thursday, March 28, 1-5p.m. Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. 333-3600 for appt. thecoopercenter.org

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Michelle Wall-O'Connor demonstrates the spiritual components of lomilomi, massage that incorporates Hawaiian concept of aloha to promote personal harmony. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Spring Flower Collage, Wednesday, March 13, 2:45 p.m. to 3:30p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For keiki ages 6-12. Register March 4-8. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Arts and Crafts Activity: St. Patrick's Day Rainbow, Wednesday, March 13, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 4-13. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 14
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thursday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Free; includes craft activity. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, March 14, 6:30p.m., United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Final Day to Apply to Kamehameha Schools Summer Kilohana Program, Friday, March 15. Innovative four- and five-week Hawaiian culture-based math and literacy programs. Grade and residency requirements vary by program. ksbe.edu/summer

PATCH Class #110: Understanding Social and Emotional Development of Infants/Toddlers, Friday, March 15, 8 a.m. to 11a.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Forest Restoration Project - Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Friday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP by Monday, March 11. Volunteers age 13+. Patty Kupchak, 352-1402, forest@fhvnp.org, fhvnp.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, March 15, 9 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033

PATCH Class #619: Temperament and Secure Relationships, Friday, March 15, noon to 3p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Sponsored by Tūtū and Me. No childcare provided. Register: 238-3472, rhall@patch-hi.org

Arts and Crafts Activity: Charades, Friday, March 15, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Register keiki ages 6-12 March 11-15. Free. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

St. Patrick's Day Buffet, Friday, March 15, 5 p.m. to 8p.m., Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp. Corned beef and cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, and all the fixings. $19.95/adult, $10.95/child, ages 6-11. Irish ale available for purchase from Lava Lounge. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Community Cleanup, Saturday, March 16, contact in advance for meet-up details. Space may be available; BYO-4WD welcome. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.

Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2p.m., corner of Hwy 11, Kama‘oa Rd., and Pinao St., Wai‘ōhinu. Vendor application – no hot food or plate lunch – with $10 fee due by Sunday, March 10. Debbie, 928-8039, for application. Church members sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, roast chicken w/gravy bowls, baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. to 3p.m., Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Intimate Acoustic Concert with Rebecca Folsom, Saturday, March 16, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Fee tba. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 18
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

TUESDAY, MARCH 19
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Tuesday, March 19, RSVP in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station Community Mtg., Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. Discussion will focus on closing the station one additional day per week, bringing open days to three. See more on recycling and solid waste at hawaiizerowaste.org and hawaiicounty.gov/dem-solidwaste-division.

ONGOING
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces will be on the church lawn Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from August 1, 2019 through July 15, 2020, at Pāhala Elementary School. $22,000 living stipend paid bi-weekly; $6,095 AmeriCorps Segal education award upon successful completion of service; student loan deferral or forbearance, if eligible; partial childcare reimbursement, if eligible; health insurance; ongoing training; mentorship; and professional development. Apply at foodcorps.org/apply. See the service member position description for more details. Visit foodcorps.orgFacebook page, or contact seri.niimi-burch@foodcorps.org for more information.

Niuhi-Shark Fine Art Exhibit is open daily through Sunday, March 24 at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The public is invited to hear different perspectives on the life of Kamehameha the Great and experience a visual experience of important events in Kamehameha's life from the perspective of two styles of art. The exhibit and supporting events promise paint, prose, protocol, and conversations providing cultural, historical, and educational experiences, with original paintings by Carl F. K. Pao, paired with selections from the book Kamehameha–The Rise of a King by David Kāwika Eyre, with illustrations by Brook Parker. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more information.

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 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.

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