Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, September 3, 2019

ʻAlalā in the enclosure can get to know ʻAlalā that have already been released, before being released themselves. 
A third group of the endangered Hawaiian crows was recently released. Another group is scheduled for release 
this month. See story, below. Photo by Lainie Berry, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
A PEACEFUL WAY FORWARD for the Thirty Meter Telescope project and those who oppose it is the goal of Gov. David Ige, according to an interview in the governor's September Capitol Connection newsletter.
     Ige said that "recent polls" show that the "majority of people in the islands support" TMT " for the benefits it can provide the state and the world." He said ten years of "legal review and thousands of pages of documents and testimony from all sides" have determined the project "has the right to proceed, and as governor I’m obligated to enforce the law."
     Ige said TMT planners "listened to community, cultural, and environmental concerns and made changes where needed. This included relocating the telescope from the summit ridge and contributing to conservation of the area as well as STEM education."
     He said he wants to "work with protest leaders and others to come to a reasonable resolution that ensures safety and respects the law. We can achieve a better future for everyone when we work together."

Along the Kaʻū Coast, supporters of the Protectors of Maunakea make camp. Photo by Julia Neal
     Ige's major concern, he said, is that if activists say there's no compromise, then "it leaves the state with few options. We will enforce the law while making people aware of the facts that have been part of this decade-long legal process." He wrote that he is concerned over "misinformation" being circulated.
     Ige made a 10-point plan in 2015, which proposed "major improvements" for Maunakea stewardship. He said the plan includes "43 special conditions related to the environment, education, cultural practices, and jobs for the TMT to be implemented. The university has been listening to concerns and has committed to taking down several existing telescopes. The fact is, even with the TMT, there will be less development on Mauna Kea than currently exists."
     When asked for his response to Mayor Harry Kim's comment, that "For us to go forward, we have to understand the whole issue of discontent, dating back to 1893" (when Queen Lili‘uokalani abdicated the throne), Ige said. "I would be the first to say that we have much more work to do to right the wrongs of the past. But we shouldn't discount the progress we've made as a community – decisive, corrective action to improve the lives of Native Hawaiians – ranging from the public Hawaiian immersion programs to the creation of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and record-high funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
     "One of the protest leaders noted that I worked with Governor Waiheʻe to establish the first Hawaiian immersion programs on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i island in 1987. It was clear to me then that saving the language was fundamental to saving the culture. I thought, if our citizens could be fluent in Hawaiian and English, that would be the best of all worlds. Yes, some of those citizens are on the mauna now, but I still believe we can support both the Hawaiian culture and projects like the TMT."

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Sen. Brian Schatz is looking for high school students from all over the state, to be remote-connected interns.
Photo from Schatz's office
AN ONLINE HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM under Sen. Brian Schatz is open to applicants through 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. The program provides a hands-on learning opportunity with the U.S. Senate. It aencourages students to be leaders and advocates in their schools and communities. Each year's activities are adjusted to reflect the interests of selected students. Previous classes have conducted peer surveys and a student-focused town hall meeting with Schatz, tracked federal legislation's impacts on their communities, and taught interns to propose propose that the legislator take action on issues important to them.
     Interns are selected based on their involvement in their community – jobs, activities, and responsibilities – and diversity of interests and life experiences. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and have personal access to email.
     This is not an office position. The program uses online communication tools and methods, so students from all islands are encouraged to apply. Strong preference is given to students in their last year of high school. Apply at schatz.senate.gov/services/internships.

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THE GALIMBA'S, A KAʻŪ RANCHING FAMILY, will host the livestock tent at the 23rd Taste of the Hawaiian Range event in the Old Kahilu Town Hall (Mana Christian ʻOhana) and YMCA Minuke Ole Park in Waimea on Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Macadamia from Kaʻū will also be represented.
     The island's largest agricultural showcase offers family-friendly daytime activities, including fun and educational presentations at the YMCA Minuke Ole Park behind Parker Ranch Center. The ticketed evening Taste gala is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
     The Taste Agriculture Festival, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., offers livestock displays, an interactive Keiki Farm Hands Tent sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, educational exhibits and scheduled presentations, hands-on agricultural-themed activities and games, local product sampling and sales, food trucks, and beverages.
     Agricultural and culinary-themed presentations start at 10:30 a.m. Topics include mushroom cultivation, tree grafting, home food preservation, and hydroponics.
     The 2019 installment of Cooking Pasture-Raised Beef 101 is 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the classrooms behind the Old Kahilu Town Hall, adjacent to Minuke Ole Park. This year's Cooking 101 is presented by Chef Jacqueline Lau, culinary specialist for HFM FoodService, a Sysco Company. Lau, who grew up on a ranch in Northern California, will demonstrate how to prepare beef tongue, lengua in Spanish.
     The evening Taste Gala offers culinary stations preparing pasture-raised meats and local produce, inside and out of the Old Kahilu Town Hall. Culinary participants include Annie's Island Fresh Burgers, Daylight Mind Coffee Company, Fairmont Orchid's Brown's Beach House, Four Season Resort's Hualalai Grille, Ippy's Hawaiian BBQ, Laulima Food Patch, Mai Grille, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Merriman's, Red Water Café, Royal Kona Resort, Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill, Sam Choy's Kai Lanai, Village Burger/Noodle Club, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, plus Hawaiʻi Community College of both Hilo and Palamanui. Gala tickets are $50 online, at Parker Ranch Store, and during the Taste Ag Fest; they will sell for $60 at the door if available as attendance is limited to 500.
     Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agriculture Festival provides a venue for sustainable agricultural education, plus encouragement and support of locally produced ag products. The quality and growth of this event are rooted in business participation, sponsorship, and in-kind donations. This year's supporters include: Kaʻū's Kuahiwi Ranch, Ace Hardware and Crafts in Waimea, Adaptations, Ahualoa Hog Farm, Asagi Hatchery, Double D Ranch Hawaiʻi, HFM FoodService, a Sysco Company; Hawaiian Hogs, Hawaiʻi Beef Producers, Hawaiʻi Cattlemen's Association, Hawaiʻi Cattlemen's Council, Hawaiʻi Community College Agriculture Program, HCC Culinary Programs of East and West Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi County 4-H Livestock Association, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Farm & Food Magazine, Hawaiʻi Ulu Copperative, Hirabara Farms, Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA, KK Ranch, Kamehameha Schools Land Assets Division, Palani Ranch, Paniolo Cattle Company, Parker Ranch Center, PepsiCo, Ponoholo Ranch, and University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at Mānoa.
     For tickets, more info, and the full list of activities and presentations, visit tasteofthehawaiianrange.com or phone 808-969-8258. Stay connected via Facebook at TasteoftheHawaiianRange and at @TasteHI on Twitter and Instagram.

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THE ʻALALĀ PROJECT RELEASED A THIRD COHORT of the endangered Hawaiian crows into the wild in late August. The ongoing reintroduction efforts of ʻAlalā are further supported by another release, scheduled for early September. The birds are released into Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve.
     Milestones for the project include the survival of most of the released birds, and the formation of breeding pairs and construction of the first wild nests in almost 20 years.
ʻAlalā in the wild. Photo from San Diego Zoo Global
     The ʻAlalā Project field team has processed some "difficult challenges during their reintroduction efforts. Mele, a male from the 2017 cohort, was recently found dead, with wounds suggesting he was depredated by an ʻIo. Another 2017 cohort male, Kalokomaikaʻi, has been receiving care at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center after having some minor injuries in the wild. He is scheduled to be re-released later this month, along with the 2019 cohort. A 2017 cohort female, ʻAwa, has not been located for the past month, after her transmitter stopped emitting a signal.
     States the group's Facebook page: "While these recent events can be challenging, the potential for loss in reintroductions is a reality, and the reasons for loss are often part of the ecosystem as well. We appreciate all of the support that our followers have shown throughout the reintroduction efforts. We are all working together to strengthen the community and provide ʻAlalā with the resources they need to thrive again in their forest homes... It is important to learn as much information from these situations for use in guiding ongoing and future release efforts to make them more successful. The road to species recovery is challenging and it can take many years for the species to establish."
     The ʻAlalā Project site states that the crows "are considered a keystone species." This is a species on which other species in an ecosystem depend on for things such as food, shelter, or help spreading their seeds. "If these types of species are removed, the ecosystem would change drastically. Another important keystone species in Hawaiʻi is ʻōhiʻa lehua, Metrosideros polymorpha. ʻŌhiʻa is often considered one of the most important native Hawaiian trees. These trees can be found from sea level up to 9,000 feet in elevation and are often one of the first plants to grow on fresh lava substrate. ʻŌhiʻa forests make up part of the natural habitat for the ʻAlalā. They help to provide shelter from predators as well as a food source for the birds."

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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 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., 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., 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
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammye Young, Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
Women's Expression Group, Thursday, Sept. 5 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Registration Open: Finger Puppet, Thursday, Sept. 5-10, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, Sept. 5, 6-7p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:30-8:30p.m.Aspen Centerokaukakou.org

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
Stewardship at the Summit, Sept. 6, 14, 20, and 28, 8:45a.m.-noonKīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
Child Passenger Safety Event, Saturday, Sept. 7, 10a.m.-1p.m at Nāʻāehu Community Center. Certified Child Passenger Safety technicians will be there to demonstrate proper car seat installation, selection, and usage. Seat Belt Fit tests will also be done on-site to demonstrate proper usage of booster seats. kipchawaii.orgsafercar.gov/parents

Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m.-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com

The Business of Art with Ira Ono - Full-Day Workshop, Saturday, Sept. 7, 9a.m.-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. $50/VAC member, $55/non-member. Bring personal art samples. See Ono's work at iraono.com. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sounds at the Summit featuring Hawaiian Style Band, Saturday, Sept. 7, 5:30-7:30p.m.VolcanoArt Center. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning band. Doors open 5 p.m. Tickets, $20/VAC member, $25/non-member, available for purchase online. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
‘Ohi‘a Lehua, Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo

8-Ball Tournament at Kīlauea Military Camp, Sunday, Sept. 8, tournament starts at 1p.m., check-in starts at noon, KMC's Recreation Lodge, HVNP. $10 in advance. Pre-registration required, forms at lodge or 10-Pin Grill. Open to all patrons, with Terms of Service. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com 

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, Sept. 8 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m.Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527, volcanoartcenter.org

Volcano Winery's 6th Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival, Sunday, Sept. 8, 4-7p.m. Vineyard and winery tours, live local music, souvenir glasses, heavy pūpū. Tickets available online - $50/person 21+ (includes two glasses wine/beer), $25/person under 21. Proceeds benefit VolcanoSchool of Arts & Sciences. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

MONDAY, SEPT. 9
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Net Recovery Patrol, Saturday, Sept. 9. Free; donations appreciated. Limited space available; B.Y.O.-4WD okay. R.S.V.P. required, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. 769-7629, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, Sept. 9 and 23, 1p.m., field trips - contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10
Public Access Room in Ocean View, Tuesday, Sept. 10, noon to 1 p.m.Ocean View Community Center. Free session helps residents understand the legislative process, deadlines, and power dynamics at the Capitol. Residents can also learn how to effectively navigate the legislature's website to find pertinent information. See lrbhawaii.org/parpar@capitol.hawaii.gov; or toll free, 808-974-4000, ext. 7-0478.

Free Flu Shot Clinic, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 6:30-8p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Sponsored by Long's Drugs Pāhala.

Hawaiian Cultural Artifacts in the 21st Century, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7p.m.Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Guests welcome to see and touch artifacts during presentation by Keoni Kaholo‘a‘ā and Rick LaMontange. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6101, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING
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. 84-7p.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.

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.

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 and Miloli‘i Home Visits also available. Call 939-8573 for Nā‘ālehu, 929-8571 for Pāhala. pidfoundation.org
     Tūtū & Me is also hiring full and part-time preschool teaching assistants in Ka‘ū. Minimum qualifications are: high school diploma; Early Childhood Education or related course work and/or experience working with children preferred; access to vehicle, valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and at least $100K in bodily collision per person and $25K in property damage liability insurance coverage.
     The position requires: good oral and written communication skills; ability to interact with caregivers and keiki in a helpful and professional manner, maintain confidentiality, analyze and problem solve, multi-task and prioritize; lifting, loading, and carrying up to 40 pounds on a daily basis; ability to sit and work on floor, and kneel and bend.
     Successful applicants will: exhibit courteous and professional demeanor; possess strong interpersonal skills; work well with other team members and perform other duties as assigned, which may include using computer and other office equipment, cell phone, and hand truck.

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