Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Gov. David Ige visits with kupuna at the base of Maunakea today. Photo from Big Island Video News
A PEACEFUL PATH FORWARD is Gov. David Ige's request, made at Maunakea today during his surprise visit to talk with the Protectors of Maunakea who aim to stop construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Protectors welcomed and hugged the governor, danced hula and chanted. Said Ige, "We are committed to finding a way forward in a peaceful manner. I'm certainly looking forward to the dialogue and much conversation that will be required to move forward."
     Mayor Harry Kim also attended the meeting with Protectors. The governor asked the Hawai`i Island mayor to work with him to end the standoff, which has prevented commencement of construction of the telescope for nine days. He said that Kim is "closest to the situation and the impacts are greatest on the island he leads."
Dancing greeted Gov. David Ige at Mauna Kea where he met with
Protectors today. Photo from Big Island Video News
      Ige said he wants a resolution between the Kiaʻi, Protectors, of Maunakea and the Thirty Meter Telescope organization that is "peaceful and satisfactory to as many as possible in the community. I understand that the issues underlying what is taking place today are far deeper than TMT or Maunakea. They are about righting the wrongs done to the Hawaiian people going back more than a century.   The governor said "many hard decisions will need to be jointly supported by the state and county and we will be working together to determine next steps that are in the best interests of all the people of Hawai`i."
   Vision for Maunakea, which the mayor released March 1, notes the mayor's support for the telescope and also the mountain's designation as a sacred place. Kim said on facebook that he envisions Muanakea as  "a symbol of the Native Hawaiian culture: past, present and future." He said he supports "protection and preservation of the historical and cultural specialness of this land, the most precious and beautiful of place and people… the Native Hawaiian heritage and the inseparability of nature and culture."
    The governor referred to Kim's
     Kim said, "Hawaiians understood how the world was connected from the mountain to the sea. They explored the ocean and learned about the heavens to guide them. They believe that this majestic mountain is the earth's connecting point to the rest of the universe. This is about the mountain being part of their soul."
     Kim' said he sees bringing together a diverse group to "create a major cultural center" where "the painful wrongs done to the indigenous people of Hawaiʻi and the world" are "respectfully" depicted. He wants to "recognize and preserve" Maunakea's "cultural qualities" that make it a "premier place to expand knowledge of the universe.
Noenoe Wong-Wilson asked Gov. David Ige to address Protectors of Mauna Kea.
Photo form Big Island Video News
     Kim recommends to "establish an umbrella management authority" with a "broad and integrated vision," over all matters affecting Maunakea, "from the base of the access road to the summit." It would help to ensure "representation for Hawaiian affairs, science, culture, education, and a strong deference to the voices of the host island."
     Kim said he wants to establish an institute that "invites the sharing of knowledge across disciplines among all ages, educational levels, beliefs, and nationalities; make science accessible to nā keiki, the children, and nā kūpuna, the elders, by creating "exciting" science and cultural educational programs; bolster programs that "stimulate careers in science and humanities."
     Kim also expressed his hope that Maunakea can "be a model of how the people of the world can live together in harmony, to create a place for hoʻoponopono where people can come together to learn" and "be a leader in national and international efforts, to integrate culture and nature in heritage protection and interpretation, a status that establishes Maunakea as a monument of global significance."

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Kiaʻi, Protectors, of Maunakea, out front of Hilo Court House today. Photo from Big Island Video News
JUDGES RULED TODAY TO ALLOW ONE HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRACTITIONER to travel up Maunakea for cultural and religious practices during Gov. David Ige's Emergency Proclamation, which the state uses to keep people from traveling there. The permitted person is Kumu Hula Paul Kevin Neves, represented by Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. Neves filed a suit to gain access and with his success, numerous other suits are expected from those who want to go up the mountain.    
     TMT was also the subject of a suit heard in Hilo today, where plaintiffs sought a Temporary Restraining Order against those building the TMT Plaintiffs claimed the TMT organization has failed to post a sufficient security bond for the project, citing a 1977 rule. Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ruled against the TRO, pointing out the TMT has permits to build. 
   
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Learn the names of those arrested last Tuesday - including long-time activist Walter Ritte, fist raised - for protesting the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Maunakea. Photo from Puʻuhonua O Puʻuhuluhulu Maunakea Facebook
THE NAMES OF THE 38 KŪPUNA ARRESTED LAST WEEK are released. The elders, who were arrested for blocking Mauankea Access Road last Tuesday, July 16, are: James Albertini, Sharol Awai, Tomas Belsky, Marie Alohalani Brown, Gene Burke, Daycia-Dee Chun, Richard L. Deleon, Alika Desha, William K. Freitas, Patricia Green, Desmond Haumea, Flora Hoʻokano, Keliʻi Ioane, Maxine Kahauelio, Ana Kahoʻopiʻi, Mahea Kalima, Kaliko Lehua Kanaele, Pualani Kanahele, Deborah Lee, Donna Leong, Daniel Li, Carmen Lindsey, Linda Leilani Lindsey-Kaʻapuni, Abel Lui, Liko-O-Kalani Martin, James Naniole, Luana Neff, Deena Oana-Hurwitz, Edleen Peleiholani, Renee Price, Haloley Reese, Loretta Ritte, Walter Ritte, Raynette Robinson, Damian Trask, Mililani Trask, John Turalde, and Noe Noe Wong-Wilson.

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West's eye shadow palette colors have some names some
find culturally insensitive. Photo from kkwbeauty.com
HAWAIIAN CULTURAL APPROPRIATION hit a new low this week, with reality TV personality Kim Kardashian West naming colors in a new eyeshadow palette "Pele's Curse" and "Kīlauea" – without the kahakō. Social media has taken up the cause of attempting to educate West, with some using #AoleTMT.

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THE TWO PERCENT LAND FUND STEWARDSHIP REGULATIONS are the subject of a proposed amendment to the County Charter. The amendment is proposed by Kaʻū's County Council member Maile David and Kona and Waikaloa's council member Karen Eoff. It would allow compensation for specific duties such as labor, educational workshops, and maintenance work be paid to an officer, board member, or employee, if those duties have been specifically identified and officially approved in the detailed business plan submitted as part of the stewardship proposal.
 aaron.chung@hawaiicounty.gov, valerie.poindexter@hawaiicounty.gov, ashley.kierkiewicz@hawaiicounty.gov,
Waikapuna, one of stretches of Ka`u Coast being preserved and to be
stewarded with the Two Percent Land Fund.
Photo by Andrew Richard Hara. Hawai`i Legacy Land Fund
   Debbie Hecht, who leads the Two Percent Fund community effort, encourages testimony to the County Council, in person at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Kona, remotely at the old Kaʻū Courthouse in Nāʻālehu, or by emailing the council members:
sue.leeloy@hawaiicounty.gov, karen.eoff@hawaiicounty.gov, matt.kanealii-kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov, maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov>, tim.richards@hawaiicounty.gov, rebecca.villegas@hawaiicounty.gov and Jon.Henricks@hawaiicounty.gov.

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THE VETERANS SMALL BUSINESS EXPORT PROMOTION ACT was reintroduced on Thursday by Sen. Mazie Hirono and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), both members of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. The bill would amend the Small Business Act to waive up-front guarantee fees for veterans and their spouses participating in the Small Business Administration's export promotion loan programs.
     Said Hirono, "Veteran-owned businesses are vital to Hawaiʻi's economy. However, a number of our veterans, including those transitioning to civilian life, face barriers to accessing the capital needed to start and grow a business. Our legislation would provide long-term relief on SBA loans that support entrepreneurship and job creation. I look forward to continuing to work together to make opportunities like these available for our veterans."
     SBA has previously waived up-front guarantee fees for veterans applying for its Export Express, Export Working Capital and International Trade loan programs, which provide access to capital for veterans and their spouses so that they can start and grow their businesses, and expand into new markets abroad. The Veterans Small Business Export Promotion Act would make this policy permanent to provide certainty for those veterans.
     The Veterans Small Business Export Promotion Act is also supported by the National Small Business Association and the Small Business Exporters Association.
     Read the full text of the legislation here.

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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

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

Football, Division II:
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

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UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
Kāhili Demonstration, Wednesday, July 24, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Create a small kāhili pa‘a lima, a handheld feather standard. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JULY 25
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, July 25, 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

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, July 25, 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, JULY 26
Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, July 26, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Free. nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, JULY 27
Volcano's ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua Half Marathon, 7 a.m., 5K, 7:15 a.m., and Keiki Dash, 10 a.m.. Races begin and end at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Campus on Haunani Road. Half Marathon, along road - $75/person until July 25; $85 July 26-27. 5K, along road - $40/person until July 25; $45/person July 26-27. Keiki Dash, grassy field, $10/child - ages 6 and under run 300 meters; ages 7-10 years old run 600 meters. No T-shirts given for Keiki Dash. Register at webscorer.com/register?raceid=175619. ohialehuahalf.com

Experience Volcano Festival, Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28, multiple locations in Volcano. Features art, food, music, and performances. More details at experiencevolcano.com.

Bingo, Saturday, July 27, 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Prize donations needed. stjudeshawaii.org

Arts & Tea Culture Workshop Series #3, Saturday, July 27, 1-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. Requires minimum of 6 participants to be held. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Grand Slam performance, Saturday, July 27, 7-10p.m., Kīlauea Military Theater. Cover charge taken at door. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

SUNDAY, JULY 28
Experience Volcano Festival continues Sunday, July 28, multiple locations in Volcano. Features art, food, music, and performances. More details at experiencevolcano.com.

A Meeting to Establish Child Care for Kaʻū Coffee Farm Workers happens Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at the Kaʻū District Gym Activity Room. Farmers and other supporters of the effort met July 13.
     With the increasing employment of members of Kaʻū's Marshallese community to pick Kaʻū Coffee, organizers in the coffee producing community, led by Laura Diaz, have established a nonprofit organization called Keiki OʻPalehua ʻOhana Program. The group has completed renovations of a room in the Pāhala Hongwanji Schoolhouse, with educational supplies for up to 15 keiki.
     Diaz said the program is looking for an electrician to hang two ceiling fans at the childcare center, for some kind of food service for the keiki, and other donations. A grand opening is planned for Aug. 10.
     Call Diaz at 928-8188 or 408-306-5596.

TUESDAY, JULY 30
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, July 30, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333

ONGOING
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash Registration open through Saturday, July 27, the day of the races. It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. Register before Thursday, July 25 for lower entry fees. See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's Summer Musical: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through July 28 at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater. Tickets are available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, The Most Irresistible Shop, and at door. $20/general admission, $15/student or over 60, $12/age 12 and under. Park entrance fees may apply. 982-7344, kden73@aol.com, kden.org

Enroll at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences for the 2019-2020 school year, which starts Aug. 5; orientation for new students is Aug. 2. Spaces are available in 1st through 8th grades of the expanding Kula ‘Amakihi Community-Based Education (CBE) Program; the school may also have space or short wait lists for certain grades in the regular on-campus programs. Contact 808-985-9800 or email enrollment@volcanoschool.net to enroll.

Talk Action, Take Action: surveys available through Aug. 4recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite. The surveys focus on different areas of recovery after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption: households, businesses, and community.

Exhibit -The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily through Sunday, Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Enroll in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Orientation for enrolled families begins Aug. 5 & 6, with programs continuing following week in Nā‘ālehu on Monday & Wednesday, 8:45-10:45am, and Pāhala, Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30-10:30am. Space is limited. pidfoundation.org

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., Saturday, 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

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