Monday, August 26, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, August 26, 2019

Leinaʻala Enos, who helped to craft the Kaʻū Community Development Plan, on the floor last night at the 
General Plan SpeakOut in Nāʻālehu. Photo by Julia Neal
CITIZENS OF KAʻŪ MET WITH COUNTY PLANNERS on Sunday to give their opinions and suggestions for the Hawaiʻi County General Plan. The Nāʻālehu Community Center was filled with stations designed to illustrate the many components of the plan and to encourage the public to participate in the SpeakOut.
     Economic development, land use, and natural resource were some of the topics on storyboards with planners on hand to take all comments.  Here are some of the public offerings of ideas and concerns about Natural Resources:
     Kaʻū District needs to be protected. Need to manage water resources - how are they deciding on who gets access to water? Improve water systems. County needs to ensure that existing (state) water lessees continue to receive water once their leases expire - or renegotiate the leases. Make sure water need projection matches capacity of sources.
Rep. Richard Creagan meets with County Planning Department staff 
during Sunday's SpeakOut. Photo by Julia Neal
     Protect the Kaʻū District shoreline. Plan for long-term maintenance of beaches.
     Create policies to eliminate use of fossil fuels by encouraging solar power and wind power. Create more large scale renewable energy projects - wind and solar. Require solar power in new construction. Add level two or three charging stations for electric vehicles. Look into creating fuel by converting plastic waste into gasoline.
     Make sure it is affordable to retrofit homes to be more energy efficient. Look into grants to help out. Make sure laws allow for creativity in sustainable design.
     Deal with abandoned vehicle problem and manmade pollutants. Better recycling.
     Improve public transportation.
     Protect more wahi pana, all heiau, and the ponds at Punaluʻu. Protect more local sacred sites, with consultation of local families connected to them. Make list of all sites, enforce protection.
     Restore native forest in such places as Kapāpala Ranch.
     Design restoration initiatives to bypass and reduce red tape. Employ the youth Civilian Conservation Corps for projects here.
Taking down community input to the draft Hawaiʻi 
County General Plan. Photo by Julia Neal
     Be thorough and aggressive with invasive species, which could limit agriculture production, bring in disease, and affect tourism - such as the Rhino beetle killing palm trees.
     Make sure tourism pays its fair share for cumulative impacts.
     Encourage agencies to coordinate to lessen overlap and counterproductive inefficiency. Solving problems of protecting natural resources at South Point were given as an example.
     Provide funding for preservation of historic buildings, such as those at Kapāpala Ranch. Support the construction or hardening of buildings damaged, shaken by Kīlauea eruption earthquakes, with funding.
     Enforce Endangered Species Act for "our few remaining Hawaiian hoary bats - homely but cute." Build more bat studios.
     Read more of the Kaʻū public recommendations in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs. See the Draft Hawaiʻi County General Plan at hiplanningdept.com/general-plan/general-plan-comprehensive-review. Additional comments are being accepted.

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THE STATUS OF MOUNTAIN HOUSE WATER SYSTEM was addressed at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands meeting last Thursday night at Pāhala Community Center. Representing Kuahiwi Ranch, Guy Galimba shared some facts about the overflow water system that supplies ranches and farms. Ranchers in the area are seeking long-term water leases from the state.  Hawaiian Home Lands is a beneficiary of 30 percent of the lease income.
     The system operates as a non-potable source for agricultural water and stems from overflow of a County of Hawaiʻi waterline which supplies Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Discovery Harbor, and Kalae. Regulated by the County and Department of Water Supply, Mountain House once provided non-potable water to the Honuʻapo park area. The overflow system now supplies Kuahiwi and other ranches through a short-term revocable permit. "Sometimes our supply is nothing, and other times we have plenty, up to 3 million gallons per month," said Galimba. Because of the variability in Kaʻū rainfall, water availability is sometimes scarce and unpredictable.
Ranchers depend on state owned water from the Mountain House
system for their cattle. Photo from Kuahiwi Ranch
     Each user of the system is largely responsible for its own waterlines, storage, and backup systems for drought periods. With the system in use since the 1970s, ranchers inherited its management in the 1990s, with the closure of the sugar plantation. Ranchers and farmers have used the water under the state's short-term revocable permits since the early 2000s. Like many other entities throughout Kaʻū, Kuahiwi has applied for a long-term water license as part of the Mountain House Agricultural Water Cooperative, which includes: Kuahiwi Ranch, MJ Andrade Ranch, Johansen Ranch, and Aikane coffee farm and ranch.
     See more on water in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

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PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD is returning to the campaign trail Wednesday,  after training in Indonesia. The congresswoman, who represents Kaʻū, needs two more qualifying polls to take the stage in the third debate for Democratic candidates for president on Thursday, Sept. 12.
     So far, with the release of the Monmouth University poll today, ten candidates qualify. The deadline, for Gabbard and the other candidates to qualify in more polls, arrives this Wednesday, Aug. 28.
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, who has been
deployed to Indonesia, comes back to the deadline
to show at least 2 percent support in two more polls.
Photo from Facebook
     The ten qualified for the Democratic National Committee debate by drawing at least 2 percent support in at least four DNC sanctioned polls over the last two months and receiving donations from at least 130,000 donors from at least 20 states. They are: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Joe Biden, with 14 polls qualifying them; Cory Booker with 11; Beto O'Rourke with nine; Amy Kllobuchar with six; and Julián Castro and Andrew Yang with five. Just off the stage, so far, is Tom Steyer, with three; Gabbard with two; and Marianne Williamson and Kirsten Gillibrand with one. Those candidates with no qualifying polls are Michael Bennet, Steve Bullock, Bill de Blasio, John Delaney, Tim Ryan, and Joe Sestack.
     ABC News and Univision, which will host the debate, announced that should ten candidates qualify, they will broadcast a one-night debate. If more qualify, the debates will be held over two nights, with a random drawing this Thursday to determine the lineup.
     FiveThirtyEight  reported today that some candidates, "like Gabbard, are displeased with the qualification rules. Gabbard's campaign has claimed that she's received at least 2 percent support in more than 20 polls released since the second debate, but only two of those surveys are from pollsters sanctioned by the DNC. Among her campaign's complaints are that the DNC's rules about which polls will be counted aren't very consistent: Some highly-rated polling organizations were left off the DNC's list, and some surveys were excluded despite being sponsored by notable media organizations. For example, state-level polls conducted by online pollster YouGov on behalf of CBS News have been counted — which is approved by the DNC — while national YouGov polls sponsored by The Economist have not."

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Macadamia nut growers can learn how to deal with
macadamia felted coccid at a pest workshop in
September at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Photo from CTAHR
MACADAMIA NUT PEST WORKSHOP SERIES happens Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Kaʻū Coffee Mill, 96-2694 Wood Valley Road in Pāhala. The free workshop is presented by Hawaiʻi Macadamia Nut Association and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), with funding from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
     Dr. Alyssa Cho of CTAHR will teach growers to manage orchard pests, with a focus on macadamia felted coccid. Growers will learn integrated pest management strategies, monitoring protocols, and best practices for chemical control.
     Advance registration required at online. Call 808-430-1876 or bigislandmacnut@gmail.com with questions.

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KAʻŪ SKATE CLUB IS ASKING FOR DONATIONS FOR ITS FIRST FUNDRAISER, a garage sale on Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 92-1780 Aloha Blvd. in Ocean View. All proceeds go directly to Kaʻū Skate Club, which recently became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Ocean View, toward their goal of building a roller skating rink in OV.
     Lzena Barrett, president of Kaʻū Skate Club, said, "We started as a group of friends with a passion for Roller Skating. We invited the community to participate in skate nights with us at Kahuku park, and it was a great success.
     "This made us realize that there is a need for a larger place for the community to gather and have a good, healthy, and safe spot to go. This is how the idea of a Roller Skating Rink in the Kaʻū district was born. We realized the desperate need for something here in Ocean View for our kids to go to and our families to have celebrations, family gatherings, and cultural events."
     Barrett said the skate club has "worked hard" with Kaʻū's County Council member Maile David, and with the Department of Parks and Recreation. The county has allotted the club land in OV for the rink. "We will be solely raising all funds to get this built. We are planning on a 10,000 sq ft., covered, pavilion-style skate rink. We will also work on laying down a walking path around the rink with workout stations on the way. We are always looking to the community for continued support and help."
     Contact Barrett at (808)747-1147 or kauskateclub@gmail.com with questions or to help the skate club grow. kauskateclub.com

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TUTORING FOR KAʻŪ HIGH AND PĀHALA ELEMENTARY is available to all students of the school. Tutoring is from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
     For elementary students, grades Kindergarten through 2nd will be in room 3. Grades 3 through 6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays.
     For middle school students, tutoring is offered in building Q.
     High school students meet in room M-101 in the science building.
     Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.

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.

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 September
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates

Football, Division II:
Sat., Sept. 7, 2 p.m., HPA hosts Kaʻū
Sat., Sept. 14, 11 a.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Thu., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Pāhoa hosts Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Wed., Sept. 4, 6 p.m., Christian Liberty hosts Kaʻū
Fri., Sept. 6, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha
Tue., Sept. 10, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kealakeha
Fri., Sept. 13, 6 p.m., Honokaʻa hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Waiakea hosts Kaʻū
Thu., Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Keaʻau hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Makualani hosts Kaʻū
Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA

Cross Country:
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
Sat., Sept. 7, 10 a.m., @Kamehameha
Fri., Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m., @HPA
Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m., @Kealakehe
Sat., Sept. 28, 10 a.m., @Keaʻau

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
TUESDAY, AUG. 27
Registration Open: Door Knob Hangers, Tuesday, Aug. 27-Sept. 6, Kahuku Park, Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Program for ages 6-12 takes place Tuesday, Sept. 10, 12:45-3:30p.m. Free. 939-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation 

H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. Board Mtg., Tuesday, Aug. 27, 10a.m., H.O.V.E. RMC office, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean View. 929-9910, hoveroad.com

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28
Kōkua Kūpuna Project, Wednesday, Aug. 28 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Palai‘e Demonstration, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Make a traditional Hawaiian ball-and-loop game using natural materials. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

Private Guided Hike: Kīlauea Iki Crater, Thursday, Aug. 28, 10a.m.-2p.m.Kīlauea Iki Overlook, HVNP. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate to challenging, 2.4 mile (one way) hike. $80/person. Park entrance fees may apply. 985-7373, fhvnp.org

THURSDAY, AUG. 29
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, Aug. 29, 4-6p.m.Cooper CenterVolcano 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, AUG. 30
Coffee Talk at Kahuku: ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou - We Are All Ka‘ū, Friday, Aug. 30, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Learn about OKK and all their community projects. Free. nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, AUG. 31
Kaʻū Skate Club Garage Sale Fundraiser, which happens Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 92-1780 Aloha Blvd. in Ocean View. All proceeds go directly to Kaʻū Skate Club, which recently became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Ocean View, toward their goal of building a roller skating rink in OV. Contact Lzena Barrett, president of Kaʻū Skate Club, at (808)747-1147 or kauskateclub@gmail.com with questions or to help the skate club grow. kauskateclub.com

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Community Clean-up, Saturday, Aug. 31. Free; donations appreciated. Full – waitlist only; B.Y.O.-4WD okay. R.S.V.P. required. 769-7629, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com

Food from Wood: Growing Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, and Wood Chips with Zach Mermel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 9a.m.-2:30p.m., Volcano Art Center and Shaka Forest Farms. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member, includes take home shiitake and King Stropharia mushroom kits. Pre-registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Paths and Trails, Sat., Aug. 31, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult, 2-mile, hike. nps.gov/havo

Healing Through Words creative writing workshop with Dr. Heather Rivera, Saturday, Aug. 31, 10-11:30a.m., Volcano Art Center. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Bon Dance Festival and Twilight Lantern Parade, Saturday, Aug. 31, 6-10p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Lantern Parade at 7:30 p.m. Taiko drums, Hachimaki headbands, saimin, teriyaki bowls, vegetable bowls, and fun for the whole family. First time the temple has held this event in over 10 years, a Celebration of Remembrance. All are welcome. Free. Temple President Robert Kobzi, robertkobzi@aol.com

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
Kaʻū Skate Club Garage Sale Fundraiser continues Sunday, Sept. 1 at 92-1780 Aloha Blvd. in Ocean View. All proceeds go directly to Kaʻū Skate Club, which recently became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Ocean View, toward their goal of building a roller skating rink in OV. Contact Lzena Barrett, president of Kaʻū Skate Club, at (808)747-1147 or kauskateclub@gmail.com with questions or to help the skate club grow. kauskateclub.com

Pu‘u Lokuana, Sunday, Sept. 1, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, short, moderately difficult, 0.4 mile hike. nps.gov/havo

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Sept. 1 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park. 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

MONDAY, SEPT. 2
Empower Meeting, Monday, Sept. 2 and 16 – 1st and 2nd Monday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Empowering girls group. Registration required. Diana, 935-4805

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, Sept. 2, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Donate and Attend the Kaʻū Skate Club Garage Sale Fundraiser, which happens Saturday, Aug. 31 and Sunday, Sept. 1 at 92-1780 Aloha Blvd. in Ocean View. All proceeds go directly to Kaʻū Skate Club, which recently became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization in Ocean View, toward their goal of building a roller skating rink in OV. Contact Lzena Barrett, president of Kaʻū Skate Club, at (808)747-1147 or kauskateclub@gmail.com with questions or to help the skate club grow. kauskateclub.com

Talk Action, Take Action Surveys Deadline is Saturday, Aug. 31. The surveys ask for information regarding 2018's Kīlauea eruption recovery. Hawaiʻi County residents are encouraged to take the surveys at recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite. Hard copies of the surveys can also be picked up at Council member offices, the Department of Research & Development, and the Planning Department. Unless one chooses to be contacted individually, the information from the surveys will be anonymous.

Applications for Grants to Steward PONC Protected Lands on Hawaiʻi Island are open through Friday, Aug. 31. In Kaʻū, areas of the Kahuku Coast, Kahua Olohu, and Kāwā Bay are eligible. Only 501(c)3 non-profits or organizations that operate under the umbrella of a 501(c)3 non-profit should apply.
     Applications are available at records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/95324/2018-19%20PONC%20Stewardship%20Grant%20Request.pdf. Information and applications are also available at the P&R office, Aupuni Center101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6Hilo. Completed applications must be submitted or postmarked by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2018. Questions? Contact Reid Sewake at 961-8311.

Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School of Arts & Sciences; last year's event sold out. This sixth festive evening of live music, food, wines and craft beers under the stars happens Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards and a huge raffle.

Applications are Open for Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Nā‘ālehu and Wai‘ōhinu, at Kauaha‘ao Congregational Church on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Limited space available. Pāhala Home Visits also available. Call 939-8573 for Nā‘ālehu,  929-8571 for Pāhala. pidfoundation.org

Exhibit - Nani Ka ‘Ikena by Volcano local photographer Jesse Tunison, daily through Sunday, Sept. 15, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Nani Ka ʻIkena, that which is seen is beautiful, features vibrant colors and crisp, wide vistas which highlight the character and drama of Hawaiʻi Island’s landscape. The collection of ten photographs were captured over the past decade by Tunison and also document the dynamic changes which have occurred in such a short period of time. "While the landscape has changed the beauty has endured." Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.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

Tutoring for Kaʻū Hugh & Pāhala Elementary is Available to All Students of the school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Grades Kindergarten-2nd will be in room 3; grades 3-6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays; middle school students, will be in building Q; and high school students will be in room M-101 in the science building. Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.

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.