Monday, March 23, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, March 23, 2020

Keiki receives a free Grab & Go lunch from the Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School kitchen today. The drive-up, walk-up free breakfasts and lunches are given out weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. and noon.
See more below. Photo by Julia Neal
THE ENTIRE STATE WILL SHUT DOWN for six weeks, beginning this Wednesday, March 25 at 12:01 a.m. Gov. David Ige gave the order today for everyone to stay at home until April 30 to stem the number of cases of COVID-19. Exempt are workers in essential services, such as in utilities, fueling, farming, sales and distribution of food - including take out, medical clinics, hospitals and pharmacies, maintenance and construction, the hotel industry, banks, credit unions, schools, and police and fire departments.
     Members of the public can go shopping; get food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, and other essentials; bank; go to the post office; pick up educational materials for students; and take care of the elderly and disabled. Also allowed is exercise, to include surfing, swimming, walking, and running, as well as strolling with a pet on a leash - all at a safe distance from other people.
     The fine for disobeying the stay-at-home order is up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
     Ige also extended the deadline to file personal and business state taxes from April 20 to July 20. The national deadline for federal taxes is changed from April 15 to July 15.

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Cy Lopez picks up three meals for keiki at the Pāhala school cafeteria, hand
delivered to his truck by Principal Sharon Beck. Photo by Julia Neal
FIRST DAY OF FREE GRAB & GO FOOD FOR ANYONE 18 and under drew 25 for breakfast and 45 for lunch at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary today. The drive through, walk-up process featured cafeteria manager Suezette Louis and crew, along with Principal Sharon Beck and her clerical assistant Shai Lopez. Children can receive the packaged hot meals directly, and caregivers can pick them up for those children they bring with them. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to noon.
     Other schools on island providing the free nutrition service while the schools are closed for novel coronavirus concerns are Pāhoa High & Intermediate, Konawaena High, Waiakea High, and Kohala High. Statewide, such remote schools as Kapaʻa High on Kauaʻi are also providing free food. Almost all of Kaʻū students qualify for free breakfasts and lunches, under a U.S. Department of Agriculture and state Department of Education cooperative program.
     The school principal said she is thinking about ways to serve the Ocean View community of school students staying home during this shutdown period.

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Justie Wroblewski at Kaʻū Hospital, a staff member in the activities department, checks in patients in front
of the hospital with assistance from Security Attendant Ernest Oleyte. Photo from Kaʻū Hospital
 A NO-VISITOR POLICY AT KAʻŪ HOSPITAL AND SCREENING AT THE CLINIC are instated. A message today says, "Like other health care facilities that provide long-term care services on the island, Kaʻū Hospital has implemented a 'no visitor' policy. We know the emotional toll that takes on our residents and families but that is the only proven way to minimize the chances of the COVID-19 virus entering our building and infecting our kūpuna. Our staff members are working hard to keep families informed of their loved ones' progress and to find creative ways to keep them connected by phone, Facetime, Skype, and other methods.
     "Our most important mission is to keep our kūpuna safe. To that end, we are also checking everyone who comes into the building. Anyone with cough or fever will not be admitted unless they are here for medical care for themselves.
     "Our clinic is calling everyone who has a previously scheduled appointment to determine the urgency of their health concern. In most cases, the original appointment time will be kept, but the visit will be conducted over the phone by Dr. Deborah Brackett or our newest Nurse Practitioner, Melissa Cockrell. Not only does that prevent potential spread of the virus into the hospital, but it helps to ensure that people, particularly the elderly, stay at home as much as possible, and away from others who may be carrying the virus and not yet know it."
     After passing through the outdoor check-in station, patients who go to Kaʻū Hospital for outpatient services like laboratory, x-ray, and clinic will need to wait outside the building rather than congregate in waiting areas where it is not possible to practice social distancing. A staff member will serve as an escort into the building. The Emergency Department is operating as usual.

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MEDICAL GRADE MASKS ARE "DESPERATELY" NEEDED by Hilo Medical Center. An announcement from the hospital states the masks are needed "to protect our healthcare workers and patients as the COVID-19 crisis escalates. Please consider making a donation if at all possible: any amount will make a difference."
     N95 and surgical masks in original, unopened packaging will be accepted at Hilo Medical Center's Human Resources Office at Rainbow Drive and Waianuenue Avenue, below the hospital, weekdays, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The hospital requests handmade/sewn masks not be donated, but used by "friends and family." Questions? Call 932-3150.

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COVID-19 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IN HAWAIʻI SHOULD GO MUCH FURTHER, according to Sen. Kai Kahele who is running for U.S. Congress to represent Kaʻū and all of rural Hawaiʻi. He released the following statement regarding the self-quarantine of everyone coming to Hawaiʻi starting this Thursday, March 26. Kahele, a pilot, a member of the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, who has piloted internationally for Hawaiian Airlines, gets into the details of people arriving in airplanes, including private jets.
     "I am writing to express my deep concern over the determinations, designations, and proclamations set forth in the Second Supplementary Proclamation, relating to the COVID-19 emergency, issued on March 21, 2020. I am gravely alarmed by the section of the order that invokes a mandatory self-quarantine of all individuals entering the State of Hawai‘i set to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 26, 2020. Specifically, the following concerns should be urgently addressed by your administration and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency:
     "There are hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers arriving in the State of Hawai‘i both on U.S. domestic routes and international routes between the signing of the proclamation on March 21, 2020 and the time when the proclamation will go into effect on March 26, 2020. Are any of these passengers being screened at the point of departure and/or the point of arrival? Are we screening these passengers at our airports with temporal scanners and/or requiring them to fill out forms that identify whether they have flu-like symptoms, have been directly exposed to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, and what their travel plans will be while in the islands? Are we capturing their names, addresses, and phone numbers in case they need to be contacted by a health professional? Do you have a 100 percent accountability for all commercial aircraft arriving in the State of Hawai‘i with passengers between now and 12:01 a.m. on March 26, 2020?
State Sen. Kai Kahele, right, has a lot to say about people arriving to Hawaiʻi by plane. He is a pilot
 in the Air National Guard and has worked as a pilot for international flights for Hawaiian Air.
Photo from Kai Kahele
     "It was indicated that the procedure for incoming passengers will be to fill out the State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Declaration Form as a means for tracking and accounting for individuals entering the State of Hawai‘i when the quarantine goes into effect. What is the procedure for international arrivals? International flights do not require the State of Hawai‘i Agriculture Form for international passengers or crew members when inbound to Hawai‘i. What form will be provided to them? Additionally, a Hawaiʻi Business Magazine article from 2015 references Jim Dannemiller, president of SMS Research, the firm contracted to scan and process the forms, admitting that 'the completion rate is less than half.' What enforcement procedures do you plan to institute to ensure incoming passengers are completing the forms accurately and honestly?
     "What is the procedure for private and corporate jets should they choose to fly to the State of Hawai‘i both from the U.S. mainland or international locations? Many of these aircraft have already begun arriving on every island, including Lana‘i, where there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Will they also require self-quarantine? How are we communicating with these private owners? Are we coordinating with the FAA to ensure when a flight plan is filed to Hawai‘i by a private jet owner or company that the flight plan information is provided to the state so officials can meet the aircraft upon arrival, process paperwork, and ensure the quarantine procedures are known and complied with by incoming passengers? Are those passengers being screened by a health professional when they arrive in the State of Hawai‘i?
Sen. Kai Kahele asks for more oversight of health of those who arrive in private and corporate jets.
Image of planned Kona Jet Center from AV8 Partners
     "What are the specific enforcement procedures to ensure that the individuals in a mandatory self-quarantine actually comply with the order? It was stated at the press conference that enforcement would be handled by the individual counties. Can you please explain exactly what that means? What resources or state law enforcement officers will be provided to supplement local law enforcement to enforce this order throughout the individuals quarantine period on the various islands?
     "The order specifically identifies 'all persons entering the State of Hawai‘i' and its primary focus is air travel - but have you identified boats, vessels and yachts that are in transit to the State of Hawai‘i? Will the quarantine apply to those passengers as well? How will that be executed by your administration? Just over the past few days, several U.S. vessels have attempted to enter Manele Small Boat Harbor on Lana‘i from Oregon, Washington, and the other Hawaiian Islands. What is your administration doing to immediately address this issue?
     "Like many other states and governors that have issued similar orders, you stated this order does not apply to pilots or flight crews. What is the State and your administration doing working with the airline industry to ensure that flight crews are provided the minimum personal protective equipment (PPE's) while they fly and perform their duties in confined spaces throughout the aircraft. What are their procedures during their layovers especially those flying to locations with major outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus?
     "It is my hope the information I provided in this letter will be immediately discussed and addressed by your administration and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. Just today, Sunday, March 22, 2020, nearly a hundred flights and hundreds of passengers have come into the State of Hawai‘i, many from locations with COVID-19 outbreaks. To not remediate this situation until 12:01 am on March 26, 2020 is to further put the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the State of Hawai‘i at grave risk. Unfortunately for us all, this imminent threat requires immediate draconian measures. There is no avoiding the reality that further delay in definitive action will cost lives in the near future.
     "For the safety of all our families and residents, I implore you to take action immediately."

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Testing for COVID-19. Image from ucdavis.edu
LOSS OF SENSE OF SMELL AND TASTE may be a symptom of COVID-19. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery writes that loss of smell – Anosmia – in particular, "has been seen in patients ultimately testing positive for the coronavirus with no other symptoms. We propose that these symptoms be added to the list of screening tools for possible COVID-19 infection." Anosmia, hyposmia (a decrease in the sense of smell), and dysgeusia (the distortion of the sense of taste) in the absence of other respiratory disease such as allergic rhinitis, acute rhinosinusitis, or chronic rhinosinusitis "should alert physicians to the possibility of COVID-19 infection and warrant serious consideration for self-isolation and testing of these individuals."
     Learn more at entnet.org/content/aao-hns-anosmia-hyposmia-and-dysgeusia-symptoms-coronavirus-disease.

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DEFENDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT on the the tenth anniversary of its enactment, Sen. Mazie Hirono and 19 colleagues sent a letter, asking the Trump Administration to abandon efforts to repeal the law. Hirono said the President's "attacks on the ACA are especially dangerous during the COVID-19 pandemic and further jeopardize the health and economic security of workers, families, and the most vulnerable in our communities."
     Last week, the senators wrote: "The American people should never have to worry that their President will pull their health insurance out from under them, but they especially shouldn't have that fear during a pandemic. The Affordable Care Act gives millions of Americans the peace of mind and the financial means to access health care, ensuring personal health and promoting public health. It's cruel to continue asking the courts to invalidate the ACA and pursuing your various other approaches to take away health care protections in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak."
     Read the whole letter here.
     Earlier this month, Hirono called on the Trump Administration to re-open the ACA enrollment window to provide Americans who are uninsured or at-risk of COVID-19 an opportunity to purchase health insurance during this global pandemic.

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POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS of events in Kaʻū are stretching into April:
     Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee is closed at least through mid-April.
     Kaʻū Unity Fair Showcase Wellness Fair & Egg Hunt is cancelled. Scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at the Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room, the fair was to feature food, an egg hunt, a fun run-walk, story time from The Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries, and vendors and exhibits from organizations such as Blue Zones Project, Children's Community Council, Kaʻū Rural Health and Community Association, Project Aware - Your Mental Health First Aid, Bay Clinic, Project Vision, Tūtū & Me; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, Public Health Nurse, Kaʻū Hospital, Alzheimer's Association, Abundant Health Acupuncture, Kaʻū Childrens' Business Fair, Kaʻū Gardening, and Keiki ID.
A keiki fan of Youth Rangers at last year's Kaʻū Unity Fair.
Photo by Julia Neal
     Mark Twain, a special free showing of the video of the 2007 one-man performance by Jerry Tracy, former artistic director of Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, is cancelled for April 17. Tracy performed several times in Kaʻū at the Nāʻālehu Theater, Hana Hou restaurant, the United Methodist Church, and HOVE community center. Recorded at the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates community center, the performance also features the Myers Camp Trio. The performance tells the story of Mark Twain's journey from Kona to Waiʻōhinu, the planting of the Mark Twain monkeypod tree, and Twain's trek to Kīlauea. Presented by the Kaʻū History Project and the Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries, there is no rescheduled date.
     All events in April at Kīlauea Military Camp are cancelled: Grand Slam Band on Saturday, April 4 in the Lava Lounge; Soul Town Band on Saturday, April 11 in the Lava Lounge; KMC Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 12 in Crater Rim Café; KMC Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 12 in the ʻŌhia Room; Pupule Papales Band on Saturday, April 18 in the Lava Lounge; Gone Country Band on Wednesday, April 22 in the Lava Lounge; and Girls Night Out on Saturday, April 25 in the Lava Lounge.
     The Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, a shorter race than the big race in October, was scheduled for May 30. With a course along the Kohala Coast, it is postponed until August 15. All registered athletes of the triathlon will receive an email with further information. See ironman.com/im703-hawaii.

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A WIND ADVISORY is in place for Kaʻū through 6 p.m. tomorrow. The National Weather Service advises northeast winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with localized gusts over 45 mph, are expected. Strongest winds will be near mountains and gaps where winds blow downslope from higher terrain. NWS stated: "Winds this strong are capable of blowing around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down, and cause sporadic power outages." Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense advises residents to tie down loose objects or move them indoors.

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A HIGH SURF ADVISORY is in place for south and east facing shores of Hawaii Island for Kaʻū through Wednesday. The National Weather Service states surf will be higher than normal, and that shore break and dangerous currents could cause injury or death. Property owners that may be impacted by high surf are advised to take the time now to secure property. Reminder: All beach parks are closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation.

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VOLCANO GREENWASTE, SCRAP METAL, AND WHITE GOODS disposal will be closed until Thursday, March 26.

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DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE:
     The state Department of Health reports four cases of the virus on Hawaiʻi Island; at least two are locals who caught the virus elsewhere, and a fifth person with the virus returned to the mainland. Throughout the state, there are 77 cases – 21 reported in the last 24 hours – with four requiring hospitalization. There have been no deaths from COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.
     Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports that private clinical labs have tested more than 3,300 for novel coronavirus in Hawai‘i. Department of Health State Laboratories Division has tested 103 Persons Under Investigation and 263 sentinel surveillance samples taken from every county from people with flu-like symptoms who tested negative for influenza. All tested negative.
     Private laboratories are receiving steadily increasing numbers of test samples, delaying results, according to Civil Defense. Results take about a week. Civil Defense cautions health care providers and patients that results may take longer as demand increases.
     According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. has recorded 31,573 cases, including 16,354 reported today. There are 402 deaths, half of them reported today. Worldwide, more than 332,930 people have become victims of COVID-19, with 40,788 reported today. The death toll is 14,510, with 1,727 reported today.

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Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

All Kaʻū High School and other public school sporting events are canceled until further notice, including:
Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule
Girls Softball Cancelled
Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m., host Hilo
Wednesday, April 8, 3 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Boys Baseball Cancelled
Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m., host Hilo
Tuesday. April 7, 3 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Boys Volleyball Cancelled
Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m., host Kamehameha
Tuesday, March 31, 6 p.m., @Kohala
Thursday, April 2, 6 p.m., host Keaʻau
Tuesday, April 7, 6 p.m., @Honokaʻa
Judo Cancelled
Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m., @Waiakea
Saturday, April 4, 10:30 a.m., @Keaʻau
Track Cancelled
Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Saturday, April 4, 9 a.m., @HPA

Spring Break for Public Schools is extended through Monday, April 6 for COVID-19 spread mitigation.

UPCOMING
FRIDAY, MARCH 20
CANCELLED: Stewardship at the Summit, Friday, March 20 and 27, 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Additional planning details at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21
CANCELLED: Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Kaʻū Clean-Up, Saturday, March 21. Volunteer spaces are limited; RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

CANCELLED: Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Mamālahoa Hwy, Kamaʻoa Road, and Pinao Street, just above the Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and smoked meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Other vendors will offer more items. For more information, call 928-8039.

CANCELLED: Sign Up for and Attend Second Annual Kaʻū Children's Business Fair, Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to noon at Pāhala Community Center. Young entrepreneurs ages seven and 18 share their talents by selling handmade items and services. Learn more about participating at childrensbusinessfair.org/pahala. Visit Kaʻū Children's Business Fair's Facebook event page facebook.com/KAUCBF/. RSVP to the event at facebook.com/events/925342784527676/. Text KAUKIDSFAIR to 31996 for updates and information (message and data fees may apply).

RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 20: Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection Workshop with Tom Peek, Saturday, March 21, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

RESCHEDULED FOR MAY 16: Improv Comedy Show, Saturday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. Headlined by Keli Semelsberger and Matt Kaye. A Big Island Comedy Theater showcase. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 23
CANCELLED: OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

CANCELLED: Hour-Long Lomilomi Massage, Monday, March 23, 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi offers sliding-fee payment scale sessions with experienced Licensed Massage Therapist and lomilomi practitioner Lehua Hobbs. "Improve circulation, alleviate muscle pain, and improve your overall well-being." Call for appointment, 808-969-9220.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24
CANCELLED: Registration for Charades, open Monday-Friday, March 23-27, for program at Kahuku Park in HOVE on Tuesday, March 31, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free. Teresa Anderson, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 929-9113

CANCELLED: Paper Straw Tulip Craft Registration Deadline, Tuesday, March 24. Program Wednesday, March 25, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kaʻū District Gym. Ages 5 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 928-3102

CANCELLED: The Third Voyage of Captain James Cook, Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Captain James Cook once wrote that he intended to go not only "farther than any man has been before me, but as far as I think it is possible for a man to go." Join local guide and historian Rob Kitsell as he looks closer at the man who was Captain James Cook, and the fateful third voyage when Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay, February 14, 1779. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
CANCELLED: OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

CANCELLED: Pū‘ohe Demonstration, Wednesday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. The pū‘ohe is a Hawaiian bamboo trumpet with a deep sound somewhat like a conch shell. Like other native instruments, it takes the spirit breath to produce the proper sound. Join rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff as they share their knowledge and help you make your own pū‘ohe. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. nps.gov/havo

CANCELLED: Gone Country Band Live Country Music, Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Line dancers will accompany the performance. $5 cover charge. KMC open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com, 967-8365

FRIDAY, MARCH 27
CANCELLED: Stewardship at the Summit, Friday, March 27, 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Additional planning details at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

CANCELLED: The Lake at Halemaʻumaʻu Monthly Kahuku Coffee Talk, Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., HVNP Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Free. nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, MARCH 28
CANCELLED: Final 2020 Hawaiian Humpback Whale Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 28, 7:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., orientation included. Register at oceancount.org. Locations in Kaʻū are: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey, which provides a snapshot of humpback whale activity from the shoreline.

POSTPONED: Prince Kuhio Day Hoʻolauleʻa, Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Nāʻālehu County Park. Event features Hawaiian music and cultural demos, hula, crafts, food, and more. Drug- and alcohol-free. Live entertainment from Gene Akamu and G2G, Uncle Sonny & Bro Tui, Braddah Ben, Lori Lei's Hula Studio, and more. Local personality Kurt Dela Cruz will emcee and several lucky number prizes will be announced throughout the day. Organized by local non-profit Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū. Membership $10 per year. Contact Terry Shibuya at 938-3681 or terrylshibuya@gmail.com; Trini Marques at 928-0606 or trinimarques@yahoo.com; or Kupuna Ke.

CANCELLED: Ocean View Classic Car & Bike Show, Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owners of classic cars and bikes are encouraged to register early, as space is limited. This second annual event, a fundraiser for Ocean View Community Association, will also feature food and live music, and prizes for the most impressive cars and bikes. Contact organizers Dennis Custard at 831-234-7143 or Ron Gall at 808-217-7982 to register or for more info.


CANCELLED: Forest Work Day, Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Learn some native plants, help restore a beautiful rainforest, and get some exercise. Tim Tunison leads. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, MARCH 30
CANCELLED: OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

ONGOING
Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840

AdvoCATS, Saturday, April 25, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. Reserve spot in advance. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.
     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.
     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.
     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The visitor center is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. Park films, including Born of Fire, Born of the Sea, will not be shown. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will continue to be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the center reopens, and is available online for free download.

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