Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, November 4, 2019

Hilo ranks as one of the top small cities in the country for quality of life, in part because of many of the free outdoor opportunities for education and recreation, including walking along ancient Hawaiian trails, as discussed last weekend at Hoʻokupu Hula No Kaʻū in
Pāhala by Na Ala Hele Trail & Access System representatives. See story on Hilo small city rankings below. Photo by Julia Neal 

INCREASING HAWAIIAN WOMEN'S AWARENESS THAT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THEIR NUMBER ONE KILLER is a goal of a recent study and program reported in the latest edition of Hawaiʻi Journal of Health & Social Welfare. In a story entitled Wahine Heart Wellness Program, the journal reports that Native Hawaiians die at younger ages than other ethnic groups. The rate of heart disease triples after menopause and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of cardiovascular disease had no previous symptoms.

     In 2010, Native Hawaiian female life expectancy at birth was 79.4 years as compared to the state average of 85.6 years. Native Hawaiians have higher rates of smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity. Obesity among Native Hawaiian is 43 percent versus 23.4 percent among those of other ethnicities living in Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiian medicine and nutritious food for heart health
were on display at Hoʻokupu Hula No Kaʻū
Cultural Celebration in Pāhala. Photo by Julia Neal

     According to the journal, women's awareness that cardiovascular disease is their leading cause of death has almost doubled since 1997, but minority women's awareness lags behind. Several studies show that increasing awareness of heart disease risk can lead to decreased cardiovascular risk. Awareness of risks leads to women taking preventative action.

     The study and program also involved Asian and other Pacific Island women. Participants completed a cardiovascular risk awareness questionnaire using the American Heart Association Multicultural Initiatives and Executive Leadership Team's Life's Simple 7 matrix. It identifies the seven most significant predictors of heart health and shows users a pathway for achieving ideal cardiovascular health.
     The program included education on nutrition, exercise, hands-only CPR, cardiovascular disease prevention, behavioral support about barriers to lifestyle changes, and problem-solving methods. It put forth evidenced-based diets to prevent cardiovascular disease: diets high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, such as the Mediterranean or DASH diet.
     Participants received the booklet Feel Better with Less Salt, created by the Department of Native Hawaiian Health at the Queen's Health Systems. It includes culturally-specific disease management information, including concepts like paʻakai - the salt traditions of Native Hawaiians. Read The Wahine Heart Wellness report.

    

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HILO RANKED HIGH IN QUALITY OF LIFE, 64th out of 1,268, in WalletHub's recent analysis of the best small U.S. cities to live in. Among the attributes of this closest city to Kaʻū are a high percentage of people with health insurance and the availability of free, outdoor recreational opportunities.

One of Hilo and Kaʻū's outdoor educational activities is sailing with
Kiko Johnson-Kitagawa, of Honuʻapo, who displayed his outrigger
canoe last Saturday at Hoʻokupu Hula No Kaʻū.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Hilo's overall ranking among the best places to live, however, is low - 889th of 1,268, mostly due to high cost of living and lower income than most other cities in the study. The median household income in Hilo is $57,151 - ranking 609th. The cost of living ranks 167th highest. Hilo ranks 637th in home ownership, with 61.03 percent of residents owning their own. Housing costs are 362nd highest. Hilo residents have a "severe housing cost burden," the report states.
     The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data showing. that across the country. suburban population growth outpaced city growth in 2018. To help Americans put down roots in places offering good quality of life and affordability, WalletHub compared cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000 across 42 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs to school-system quality to restaurants per capita.

     Hilo has a 2.74 percent annual population growth, income growth of 7.22 percent, and job growth of 3.66 percent. Nineteen percent of the population of Hilo is living in poverty. Hilo residents have a 51.18 percent rate of debt per median earnings. The median credit score is 714.

     Hilo residents have a 78.93 percent high school graduation rate. However, 92.08 percent of adults 25 and older in Hilo have a high school diploma or higher, a rank of 404th.

     In health, 95.7 percent of Hilo's people are insured. Annually, 7,308 people die prematurely and 15.25 percent of adults are in poor or fair health. About 24 percent of Hilo adults are obese and 19.5 percent are physically inactive.

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CONSTANT AS THE MOON performs at Volcano Arts Center Friday, Nov. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of the Volcano Art Center's Sounds at the Summit series.

     Tsun-Hui Hung was trained in traditional opera in Taiwan and holds a Ph.D. in cognitive ethnomusicology from Ohio State University. She traveled and performed throughout the world before settling in Hawaiʻi in 2016. Tsun-Hui's collaboration with Jeff Peterson and Greg Sardinha won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Instrumental Album of the Year in 2018.
     Wade Cambern, a native of Los Angeles, has made Hawaiʻi his home since the late 1970s. He is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning founding member of Hawaiian Style Band, writing and singing many of the group's enduring hits from the 1990s. He currently directs the Contemporary Service Music Ensemble at Central Union Church in Honolulu.

     "From a chance meeting of these two Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artists at a moonlit musical gathering on the Waiʻanae coast of Oʻahu, grew a friendship and creative collaboration at once purposeful and spontaneous, unexpected and—as Constant as the Moon," states their Facebook page. "The evocative sound of the erhu, Chinese violin, blends with guitar and voice to blossom as contemporary music nourished by ancient roots."

     Tickets are $20 for VAC members, $25 non-members. Ticket holders will be able to purchase beer, wine, as well as pūpū. Tickets are available for sale at volcanoartcenter.org, at VAC's Administration Office in Volcano Village, and VAC Gallery in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. The last day to purchase tickets online is Friday, Nov. 8. After that, tickets will be sold at VAC Gallery and at the door, if they are not sold out. Tickets will be held at Will Call on the day of the show, pick them up any day before the show at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Humpbacks breaching. NOAA photo

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, 76 Kamehameha Ave., in Hilo. The meeting is open to the public; public comment will be taken at 2:30 p.m. 
     The Sanctuary has also announced the first Sanctuary Ocean Count for this whale watching season. It will be held with public volunteers along the Ka`u and other Hawaiian shorelines on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

     Next Tuesday, Advisory Councilmembers will meet for sanctuary updates, introduce new council members, mahalo members who will be departing, and tour the facilities. The Sanctuary Advisory Council is comprised Maui, Molokaʻi, and Oʻahu, in addition to local user groups, Native Hawaiian cultural advisors, fishing, business, conservation, science, education, and community representatives. Federal and state agency representatives also hold seats on the council.
of members representing the islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Lānaʻi,

     The sanctuary is administered by a partnership of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawaiʻi through the Division of Aquatic Resources. The sanctuary works to protect humpback whales through research, education, conservation, and stewardship. Join on Facebook.

     To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, contact Cindy Among-Serrao at 808-725-5923 or Cindy.Among-Serrao@noaa.gov. 
     Join the meeting virtually via Zoom, go to zoom.us/j/448117945, meeting ID: 448 117 945. Join One Tap Mobile to attend via phone: 1-669-900-6833, 448117945# US for calls from Hawaiʻi, or find a local number at zoom.us/u/actLU6Jx97.=

     See Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries sanctuaries.noaa.gov; and the state Division of Aquatic Resources dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/.

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WITH COSMIC SPACE FOR ETERNITY!, a sci-fi rock musical comedy, plays Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16, 7 p.m., at The Palace Theater. Novator Dada presents an original musical comedy, which follows four aliens on their space/time bending adventure after crash-landing on Earth. Come and enjoy an evening of high energy musical theater performance.
     Written by Ivan Slezak & Maj Balej with Peggy Stanton, with music by Maj Balej. The play features an all-Hawaiʻi Island cast, starring: Suzanne Davy, Sherri Thal, Ethel Mann, Ilana Moidel, Ray Mann, Robert Triptow, Seth Lux, Lace Carrillo, Don Boyd, Diana Webb, Michael Evans, Gary Kort, Anthony Grosso, and others. The live band features Steve Fundy, Brent Magstadt, Peggy Stanton, and Maj Balej.
     Tickets available: $15 General Admission, $25 Reserved. All tickets will be $5 more on day of show. Tickets available at the box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., call (808)934-7010, or visit hilopalace.com.

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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING

TUESDAY, NOV. 5

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Nov. 5 (Committees), Wednesday, Nov. 6 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Tuesdays, Nov. 5, 19, and Dec. 3, 9a.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Call to confirm location before attending. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Empower Meeting, Tuesdays, Nov. 5 and 19 – every other Tuesday, monthly – 1p.m., PARENTS, Inc. office, Nā‘ālehu. Empowering girls group. Registration required. Diana, 935-4805

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, Nov. 5, 6-8p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6

Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Pele Kaio, Wednesday, Nov. 6 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. No December program. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

THURSDAY, NOV. 7

Women's Expression Group, Thursday, Nov. 7 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

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

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30-8:30p.m., Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, NOV. 8

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, Nov. 8, 9a.m.-noon, Ocean View Community Center. Free disability legal services provided by Hawai‘i Legal Aid. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Community Dance, Friday, Nov. 8, 7-10p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. No alcohol. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, NOV. 9

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, Nov. 9, 8-11a.m., Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

5th Annual Lā ‘Ohana, Saturday, Nov. 9, 9a.m.-3p.m., Miloli‘i Park. Live local entertainment. Free event for health and Hawaiian culture "celebrating generational knowledge." UH-Hilo Pharmacy health screenings, open enrollment for health insurance with Big Island Kokua Services Partnerships, cultural demonstrations, Hawaiian medicine from Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi, informational booths from marine conservation organization, arts and crafts from community vendors. Baked goods, drinks, shaved ice, ono grinds, and more. Kaimi Kaupiko, 937-1310, kkaupiko@gmail.com

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, Nov. 9, meet 9:30a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. Bring a water bottle, lunch, closed toed shoes, long sleeved t-shirt, and pants. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments provided. nmok.org, facebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Birth of Kahuku, Saturday, Nov. 9, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, easy-to-moderate hike. nps.gov/havo

Zentangle Introduction to Bitty BookZ with Lois and Earl Stokes, Saturday, Nov. 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Art supplies provided (returning students encouraged to bring favorite supplies). Open to all levels. No experience required. Potluck, bring food to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $15 supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Sounds at the Summit featuring Constant as the Moon, Saturday, Nov. 9, 5:30-7:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. Doors open 5p.m. $20/VAC member, $25/non-member. Purchase tickets online, VAC Admin Office or VAC Gallery. Wine, beer, soft drinks, and snacks available for purchase. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Soul Town Band, Saturday, Nov. 9, 7-10p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge, in HVNP. $5 cover charge. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

SUNDAY, NOV. 10

Pu‘u Lokuana, Sunday, Nov. 10, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, short, moderately difficult, 0.4 mile hike. nps.gov/havo

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, Nov. 10 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527, volcanoartcenter.org

MONDAY, NOV. 11

P&R Coach Pitch Baseball League Registration, Nov. 11 - Jan. 6, Kahuku Park. Ages 7-8. Athletic shoes, glove, and uniform required. Program takes place Jan. 13 - Apr. 16, day and time TBA. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Free Entrance to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in honor of Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11, sunrise to sunset. nps.gov/havo

AdvoCATS, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 7a.m.-4:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Veteran's Day Celebration, Monday, Nov. 11, 9a.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Ball Park. Live entertainment. Free lunch for all. Informational booths. Free. All ages. Sponsored by ‘O Ka‘ū Kakou. 939-2510, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation, okaukakou.org

Veterans Day Ceremony, Monday, Nov. 11, 3p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Front Lawn. Keynote Speaker: Captain Dylan Nonaka, Commander of the 871st EN CO. All veterans that attend the ceremony invited as guests for free Prime Rib Buffet. Call 967-8371 to reserve voucher before Nov. 8, late registration can register on site. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

Veterans Day Buffet, Monday, Nov. 11, 4-7.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Cafe. All veterans that attend the ceremony at 3p.m. on the front lawn of KMC are invited as guests for free Prime Rib Buffet. Call 967-8371 to reserve voucher before Nov. 8, late registration can register on site. All others - $29.95/adult, $15.95/child (ages 6-11). Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

ONGOING

Paper Bag Pumpkin Activity Registration, through Tuesday, Nov. 5, Ka‘ū District Gym. Program takes place Wednesday, Nov. 6, 3:30-5p.m., multipurpose room. Grades K-6. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Read To Me Activity Registration, through Wednesday, Nov. 6, Ka‘ū District Gym. Program takes place Thursdays, Nov. 7-21, 3:30-5p.m., multipurpose room. Grades K-6. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

West Hawai‘i Master Gardeners Program Accepting Applications through Friday, Nov. 15, cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/whmgprogram/HOME/West-Hawaii. Classes take place Jan. 14 - April 17, 2020, every Tuesday, 9a.m.-noon. $200/person.

P&R Track & Field Practice Registration, through Wednesday, Nov. 20, Kahuku Park. Ages 6-14. Athletic shoes required. Program takes place Dec. 2 - Feb. 8, day and time TBA. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Vendor Booth Space is Available for the Kamahalo Craft Fair. The 12th annual event will be held Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cooper Center. Booths are open for crafters with quality homemade and homegrown products. Food vendors must prepare all food items in a certified kitchen and must have a Department of Health permit displayed prominently at their booth. Application online at thecoopercenter.org. Direct questions to 936-9705 or kilaueatutu@gmail.com.

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call Tata Compehos and Melody Espejo at 808-938-1088.

King Cab 2016 Nissan Frontier for Sale by Holy Rosary Church of Pāhala and the Sacred Heart Church of Nāʻālehu. The parishes are selling the truck to raise funds to benefit both churches. The truck is a great 6 cylinder, 2WD automobile. The churches are asking for $21K or best offer. Only cash or cashier's check will be accepted. Anyone interested should contact the parish secretary Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 928-8208.

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