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| Kaʻū's Representative in the U.S, Congress will speak in the Democratic Party's virtual Grand Rally to premiere tomorrow on Nā Leo TV. Gabbard is not running for reelection, following her campaign for U.S President. Some 40 candidates for the Primary Election will give their speeches. The event was traditionally held at Hilo Bandstand above. See more below. Photo by Julia Neal |
DELAY THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS is the request today from the teachers union. Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association leader Corey Rosenlee said the union "has no confidence that our school buildings are ready to open for our students. HSTA is asking the Board of Education and the State of Hawaiʻi to delay the opening of school buildings to our students. Our schools need more time to be able to create a healthy environment for our students and our teachers. Opening our schools quickly is not something we should do during a pandemic. What is the rush?"
Rosenlee asks every teacher, student, and parent to send testimony to the Board of Education at testimony.doe@boe.hawaii.gov. "We need everyone in our community to take this very seriously."
He listed many questions for the administration to answer before schools open. They include the state Department of Health providing written guidance for reopening school buildings, as promised by the Board of Education in its recent Memorandum of Agreement with the teachers union.
He asked about options available to families seeking 100 percent distance learning. He said there is no guidance, in particular, for K-5 students.
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| Teachers union leader Corey Rosenlee asks for a delay of opening schools. Photo from HSTA |
Rosenlee said, "There are no clear protocols when it comes to face mask use. "What we've heard from teachers is that it runs the gamut across the state, that some schools are going to require it and that some schools are not going to discipline students for not having it on. HSTA believes that face masks must be worn and that must be enforced on our campuses."
What happens if a student, teacher, other school employee, or one of their household members tests positive for COVID-19? "Before we begin bringing students on campus, this is the question that must be answered and be clear to everyone, to understand: what are the procedures in case someone contracts this virus."
What practices and additional personal protective methods will be required of employees who need to work within six feet of others, especially for students who are medically fragile or very young?
How will schools determine that newly enrolled students followed 14-days of proper self-isolation upon arrival in Hawaiʻi?
When a school needs to shut down due to COVID-19 infection what are the procedures to move to 100 percent distance learning and when will teachers be trained? "Even before day one, there may be cases at a school," said Rosenlee.
He said the younger kids are exposed waiting for the bus, on the bus, playing around with friends when they get to school, in the school, in the bathroom, in the A Plus program, and then they go home to their family, and their families' weekend. "At the end of the day, they've been exposed to many people and then we are bringing this into the classroom."
Rosenlee said that the notion that the disease is more serious to older people, discounts teachers. "Our teachers have to be taken seriously and their health has to be taken seriously. To be discounted is something that is frustrating to all of our students."
He said with only two weeks left until school starts, opening schools should be delayed. "We need to take time and get things right." He also talked about a proposal to cut teachers' pay. See the video of his presentation on the HSTA website.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said DOH should finish the protocols soon to help with a safe reopening of public schools.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said DOH should finish the protocols soon to help with a safe reopening of public schools.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| Entry for the Monday-Wednesday-Saturday ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu requires masks, social distancing, and sanitized hands for all attendees and vendors. Photo by Julia Neal |
Gary Schauweker, also known as Cap'n Dough Hook "Da Pirate Baker," told The Kaʻū Calendar, "As a vendor, I was disappointed at their decision to close but have shifted to Nāʻālehu on Saturdays, as well as already being there on Wednesdays. ʻO Kaʻū Kākou is doing a great job and has a beautiful location that folks from Ocean View would enjoy, even though it requires a short drive."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week -- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday -- from 8 a.m. to noon . The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
OKK's Nāʻālehu Market offers a wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more, on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
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| Warren Lee asks the public to help save the biofuel plant on Hamakua Coast. Photo from Big Island Video News |
The PUC's rejection of the agreement means that Hū Honua must delay opening the $350
million plant with its 60 workers. It also means that the company, after constructing its facility, would have to reapply for its permit and compete, perhaps for years, with companies offering new proposals for renewable energy after building its bioenergy plant.
Lee, who previously ran the county's Department of Public Works and served as President of Hawaiian Electric Co., said, "We are not going to accept a ruling from a state commission whose members, I believe, do not know or care about our island, our community or our people. They don't care that we are in the middle of a pandemic -- or maybe they do care, but they just don't show it. Right in the middle of this crisis, it doesn't bother them to pull the plug on our project when it's 99 percent complete, and take away jobs from 60-plus people we have on-site now." He said most of those employees are full-time, "trained without very much operating or power plant experience," and "they are ready to go."
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| Eucalyptus logs, with a tree farm behind them, above Pāhala. They are harvested to burn for electricity at the Hū Honua bioenergy plant on the Hamakua Coast. Company President Warren Lee asks the community to appeal to the PUC to reissue its permit so the operation can proceed. Photo by Julia Neal |
Watch a video of the presentation on Big Island Video News, with speeches from supporters, including KTA Super Stores Executive Vice President Derek Kurisu, Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce President Rhea Lee-Moku, and former Hawaiʻi State Representative Jerry Chang. Also in attendance were representatives from ILWU Local 142, IBEW 1186, and the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, reports Big Island Video News.
Hū Honua proposes to create up to 21.5 megawatts that could provide about 14.5 percent of the electrical needs for Hawaiʻi Island and displace some 250,000 barrels of imported oil per year. Its proposal proclaimed many benefits to the environment, including reduction of greenhouse gasses. Opponents objected to burning wood for energy and claimed possible pollution of the ocean.
The state Public Utilities Commission ruled on July 9 that, instead of accepting the existing Hawaiian Electric contract, it would require Hū Honua to compete with other proposed renewable energy projects.
A statement from
Honua Ola says the PUC's decision "results in imminent layoffs of 64
current Hū Honua employees and contractors, and the loss of an additional 145
positions to be filled, consisting of ancillary jobs in trucking, forestry, and
support services on Hawaiʻi Island."
The bioenergy
company's website says that a May, 2019, ruling of Hawaiʻi Supreme Court instructs
PUC to consider greenhouse gas emissions of the Hū Honua project and to hold an
evidentiary hearing. "Hū Honua has been waiting for more than a year to
demonstrate at the hearing that its plant operations will result in a
significant reduction of Green House Gases and bring numerous other benefits to Hawaiʻi
Island.
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| Hū Honua Bioenergy Plant. Photo by David Corrigan/ Big Island Video News |
Read more on the Thursday, July 9 Kaʻū News Briefs, including the case against Hū Honua brought to the state Supreme Court by Life of the Land with concern for greenhouse gas emissions by the power plant. Read the PUC's reasoning for rejecting the Power Purchase Agreement.
Hū Honua
Bioenergy encourages supporters to "spread the word and speak out against
the PUC's decision... by talking to
your family and friends; let them know how this decision hurts Hawaiʻi
born-and-raised employees." Options to support include signing a petition. Those who want to weigh in can also email Gov. David Ige, or call him at (808) 586-0034; email Mayor Harry Kim, or call him at (808) 961-8211. Hawaiʻi Senators and Representatives can be reached at Reps@capitol.hawaii.gov and Sens@capitol.hawaii.gov; PUC
Commissioners: James Griffin, Jennifer Potter, or Leodoloff Asuncion, at (808)
586-2020, (808) 974-4533, or puc@hawaii.gov.
Hū Honua also encourages following, liking, commenting, and sharing on social media:
Facebook, @honuaola;
Instagram, @honua.ola.
Email help@honuaola.com for more.
See honuaolabioenergy.com.
THE VIRTUAL GRAND RALLY OF CANDIDATES FOR THE AUG. 8 ELECTION will air tomorrow and daily on Nā Leo TV and its platforms. The premiere, delayed by technical difficulties last Saturday, features Democratic candidates and those serving in office. Hawaiʻi County Democrats sponsor it before every election, usually at the historic Hilo Bandstand. This is the first time it's gone virtual.
The premiere is set for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 22 on Nā Leo TV -- Spectrum Channel 54, naleo.tv/channel-54. It will be streamed on Facebook and repeated almost daily at different times through the Saturday, Aug. 8 Primary Election. The premiere will be streamed concurrently on Nā Leo's mobile app available in iOS and Google Play Marketplaces, and on Hawaiʻi County Democrats' Facebook page. It will be saved to YouTube for on-demand replay on both naleo.tv and www.HawaiiCountyDemocrats.org. Here is the schedule for the next several days: Thur., 7/23 @ 9:30 am – Channel 53; Fri., 7/24 @ 8:30 am – Channel. ;Sat., 7/25 @ 4 pm – Channel 54; Sun., 7/26 @ 1:30 pm – Channel 5. ; Mon., 7/27 @ 3:30 pm – Channel 54; Tues.,7/28 @ 10 am – Channel 53; Wed., 7/29 @ 2 pm – Channel 53.
A statement from the Democrats says additional airings will be announced on the Hawaiʻi County Democrats' website and Facebook page, and Nā Leo TV's website.
Featured on the virtual program will be many Democratic Party VIPs and candidates including Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Gov. David Ige, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, and Interim Party Chair Kate Stanley. Democrat candidates in all Primary races, who will appear on ballots around Hawaiʻi Island, will take center stage -- virtually.
With ballots in hand, voters islandwide are invited to hear from candidates for Congress, State Senate, State House, Hawaiʻi County Mayor, County Council, County Prosecutor, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Hawaiʻi County Democrats have hosted pre-election Grand Rallies every election year since 1954 -- usually in Hilo's historic Moʻoheau Bandstand. In transforming the popular event to virtual space due to the Covid pandemic, party leaders also decided to schedule it to premiere as close as possible to the arrival of Primary Election ballots in the mail, said Virtual Grand Rally Chair Gerri Kahili.
"We thank Nā Leo TV for helping make this possible and all of our elected leaders and candidates for their participation. We know that the Covid situation has made it extremely challenging for candidates to reach voters, and voters to meet candidates. We hope this Virtual Grand Rally helps with connecting candidates and voters," said Kahili.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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| Smiley Burrows, candidate for state Senate. |
A Hawaiʻi Resident since 1995, she is a mother of six children and "caretaker/owner of Kapoho Crater." Her campaign information says she works in and promotes diverse agriculture, including fishing, running a fruit market, and farming banana, ʻulu (breadfruit), kukui, coconut, sugar cane, kalo (taro), ʻuala (purple sweet potato), avocado, citrus, and more.
Burrows has hosted school groups at Kapoho Crater, "educating the keiki on sustainability and forest management best practices, along with the cultural significance of our Wahi Pana." Her campaign information says she hosted a community garden started after Hurricane Iselle and created Kumukahi Emergency Relief Center, supporting Kapoho residents in emergency disaster with the support of Civil Defense and "Bodacious Ladies of Puna."
Her community engagement includes hosting public events on invasive species, and Rat Lungworm Disease education and outreach. If elected, says her campaign information, she would focus on community connectivity; emergency preparedness; sustainable, organic farming and promoting the introduction of cannabis and hemp for restoration of agricultural lands; eruption recovery; agricultural parks for Puna; jobs related to environmental security; alternative energy solutions; supporting green waste programs in Puna, not only depending on government program funding, but creating entrepreneurial thinking and economics from Puna to Kaʻū; and affordable housing solutions and tiny home parks for homelessness that include education and human services for health and addiction.
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| Smiley Burrows, right. |
See smileyforsenate.com.
CHRISTOPHER BRIDGES is running for Hawaiʻi Island Prosecuting Attorney under the slogan We Can Be the Change. A criminal
lawyer with over 20 years experience as a Public Defender, a Prosecuting
Attorney, and a private Criminal Trial Lawyer, he says he has "tried over
60 jury trials and over 200 judge trials."
He works for
himself at Law Offices of Christopher R. Bridges. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
in Economics from University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa and a Juris Doctor from Pepperdine
University School of Law. He has worked as a Legal Extern for the Los Angeles
District Court, Deputy Public Defender in San Diego ,
First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney on Kauaʻi, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in
Hilo . His campaign information says
he is recognized by Hawaiʻi House of Representatives for his pro bono work. He's
been an instructor for Hawaiʻi County Police Recruit Class and California
Defense Investigators Association. He is associated with Hawaiʻi Penal Rules
Committee, Hawaiʻi Jury Instructions Committee, Statewide Wiretap Committee, and
Inter-County Criminal Intelligence Unit. He is current Vice Commodore of Na Hoa
Holomoku YC and a former AYSO coach in Puna. He was previously elected as First
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Kauaʻi.
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| Christopher Bridges, Hawaiʻi County Prosecutor candidate. |
His campaign
information says, if elected, he will focus on "meaningful criminal
justice reform" by eliminating cash bail for non-violent offenders and
changing the penal system "to one based on rehabilitation rather than
punishment. I want to expand the restorative justice program and work with
community organizations to create diversion and rehabilitation programs for the
homeless, the mentally ill, and drug addicts.
His campaign information
says the "poor and disenfranchised" have the "choice of pleading
out or languishing in jail due to their inability to post pre-trial bail unfair,"
while "the wealthy and the well connected able to free themselves and
mount a vigorous defense."
His campaign information
says "mass incarceration of non-violent offenders is a failure. Locking
people up and branding them as Felons does not change behaviors nor does it
deter crime… Imprisonment is appropriate for some people (those who engage in
predatory behaviors against other citizens, especially vulnerable populations),
but most people placed in America ’s
jails since 1971 are there because they are drug addicts, or homeless, or
mentally ill. We should treat drug addiction as a Public Health Issue rather
than a purely criminal one. We should strive to divert funding from jails to
rehabilitation programs and prevention education."
His campaign information
says law enforcement need to be better trained on dealing with those suffering
from mental health issues, and "consider non-penal diversion programs for
the Mentally Ill. We would not lock up our Grandmother because she got cancer.
Why should we imprison our cousin because he is Bipolar?"
His campaign information
says the release of inmates to mitigate COVID-19 virus spread was done hastily
and that "precluded a proper vetting of who should have been released and
who shouldn't have." He says it was good that some who should have never
been locked up in the first place got released, that some of those are still
incarcerated, and that some who should have remained locked up got released. "We
need to prosecute smarter so that there is room for violent offenders and so
that our jail cells are not overcrowded."
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| Christopher Bridges and supporters. |
His campaign
information says to combat crime on Hawaiʻi Island, "We need more juvenile
intervention. We need more empathy in our courts. We need to focus our system
on rehabilitation rather than pure punishment. We need to make sure that
programs and opportunities are available to ensure that when prisoners are
reintegrated into society that they can be successful, contributing members to
society and thus reduce recidivism. Most crime is driven by poverty. Education
and job opportunities are essential to breaking the cycle. We need to eliminate
systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Native Hawaiians represent approximately
10 percent of our state's population but 39 percent of its prisoners. This
needs to end. NOW. Equal Justice for ALL people.
"As human
beings, we are at a sea change in history. In 2020, we have seen the
devastation of our economy and riots in major US
cities from coast to coast. We have seen a clambering for CHANGE. We have the
unique opportunity Right Now and Right Here to do something amazing. We can Be
the Change. We can choose to stay the course with failed systems that disfavor
the poor and racial minorities… or we can try a new approach. A humanitarian
approach that is focused on families and peace and prosperity. We can try to be
better. We CAN be better. You have taken the first step. You are here finding
out about your local candidates. Now spread the word. Let's pick our
representatives not by popularity contests or with the battle of who has the
most plastic signs. Let's choose based on ideas. Spread the word. VOTE."
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code.
White
is zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not
pictured) is six to ten cases. Dark
orange is 11 to 20
cases. Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map
|
TWENTY-FIVE NEW COVID-19 CASES IN HAWAIʻI are reported
today, with no new cases on Hawaiʻi Island. There are seven active cases
on-island, with one hospitalization. The newest case is identified as
travel-related. The patients are being monitored by Department of Health.
Oʻahu reported 21 new cases today, Maui
four. The state's new case total is 1,418 since the pandemic began.
One case is reported in Volcano, zip
code 96785, in the last 28 days. It has been more than 28 days since a case was
recorded for a Kaʻū zip code. One zip code on the west side has between 11 and 19
active cases in the last 28 days. This island's other 107 confirmed
COVID-19 victims recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. Of the
five hospitalized, four have been released.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported
1,100 cases, Kauaʻi 43, and Maui County 139. Twenty-two victims are residents
diagnosed while visiting other places. Twenty-four people in the state died
from COVID-19.
In his daily message, Hawaiʻi County
Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "For your information, the
July 16th test results for Kona Community
Hospital Kona Community
Hospital County Task
Force
"These
results are only possible because you take the responsibility to practice
preventive measures of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness
seriously. Thank you for doing your part. As a reminder, you should also
stay at home if you do not feel well to help keep your neighbors, friends, and
family safe. Thank you for listening, have a safe day. This is your
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
In theUnited States ,
more than 3,887,664 cases have been confirmed -- an increase of over 62,000 in
about 24 hours. The death toll is over 141,845.
In the
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar
directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.
|
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
/y9zm63mw. Information will be used to encourage investment in the sector and inform decision making around federal stimulus, state/county, private, philanthropic, and other funding sources. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Learn more here. See http://plantofarm.org
/wp]content/uploads/2020
/04/Agriculture-Response-and-Recovery-Plan-April-2-2020.pdf. Questions or comments, contact Christine Brammer, Executive and Program Director of Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi at director@agleaderhi.org.
Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa'sOutreach College 9:30 a.m. , csinfo@hawaii.edu will email the Zoom link to the email provided.
Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon . "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Virtual Meeting ofHawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Tuesday, July 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will discuss previous action items, receive sanctuary updates, and address questions from members and the public. Public comment begins about 10:30 a.m.
To provide comment, sign up in advance, email cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov, or type a comment into the Question box. Register in advance at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8466893051952339472. Learn more on Facebook; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, sanctuaries.noaa.gov; State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar. See hawaiihumpbackwahle.noaa.gov.
Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours,9 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village
Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through 6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."
ONGOING
The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28.
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 -- the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Nursery, Greenhouse, and Cut-Flower Growers are invited to participate in COVID-19 impact survey by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The survey may help them qualify for USDA CFAP financial assistance. Complete the survey online.
Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.
/y9zm63mw. Information will be used to encourage investment in the sector and inform decision making around federal stimulus, state/county, private, philanthropic, and other funding sources. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete. Learn more here. See http://plantofarm.org
/wp]content/uploads/2020
/04/Agriculture-Response-and-Recovery-Plan-April-2-2020.pdf. Questions or comments, contact Christine Brammer, Executive and Program Director of Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaiʻi at director@agleaderhi.org.
Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa's
Wednesdays: Folktales. July 22, several Adventurous Tales. Thursdays: "Spooky Hawaiʻi" Tales. July 23, Pele Tales, true stories of meeting Pele.
During performances, leave microphones off so everyone can enjoy the show. Share sign-up information with "as many listeners as you like" and watch "as many shows as you like." Tech questions should be directed to summer aides. All attendees will be asked to answer a host and technology questionnaire after each show. Zoom's WEBINAR format does not allow a view of the audience. "We won't be able to see your children. It is not an issue."
Register and Submit Advance Questions for Webinar The Coming Covid Eviction Crisis and How to Stop It, with Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist Matthew Desmond on Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. Desmond will be interviewed by Colin Moore, director of University of Hawaiʻi's Public Policy Center. Special guests include Philip Garboden, HCRC Professor in Affordable Housing, and Nalani Fujimori Kaina, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i. Register and submit advance questions here.
Family Farms Can Apply for $500 One-Time Emergency Relief Payment from Farm Aid. Funds are being administered by the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation and The Kohala Center. Applications are due no later than 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28. Bonafide family farms in Hawai'i who have suffered demonstrable economic loss as a result of COVID-19 may apply. Access to other federally-funded relief efforts (i.e., PPP, EIDL) and sustainable methods practiced on the farm will be considered when awarding relief payments.
Use of the funds is restricted to household expenses, such as groceries, home utilities, medical bills, or other household expenses not directly related to the commercial operation of the farm or ranch. Funds may not be used for any farm operations, business expenses, or investment. IRS guidelines regarding direct assistance to farm families prevents granting funds to support the farm and its business costs. Acceptance of this grant award signifies recipient's understanding and agreement to these use requirements.
To apply, email a signed copy of the grant application to Anny Bruch, vice president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation, at vicepresident@HFUF.org. Applicants will be contacted via email after July 31. For more information, email vicepresident@HFUF.org.
Use of the funds is restricted to household expenses, such as groceries, home utilities, medical bills, or other household expenses not directly related to the commercial operation of the farm or ranch. Funds may not be used for any farm operations, business expenses, or investment. IRS guidelines regarding direct assistance to farm families prevents granting funds to support the farm and its business costs. Acceptance of this grant award signifies recipient's understanding and agreement to these use requirements.
To apply, email a signed copy of the grant application to Anny Bruch, vice president of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation, at vicepresident@HFUF.org. Applicants will be contacted via email after July 31. For more information, email vicepresident@HFUF.org.
Virtual Meeting of
Ocean View Community Center Reopens for events Monday, Aug. 3. The library will be open Friday mornings beginning Aug. 7. AdvoCATS, an all-volunteer non-profit organization "dedicated to the well-being of Hawaiʻi Islands's homeless cat population," which often offers spay and neutering services, will be at OV Community Center all day Tuesday, Aug. 11 -- see advocatshawaii.org. To schedule an event, contact Christopher Garske at chrisgarske@gmail.com or 650-996-2790.
Apply for Grants to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America . USDA will make $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. USDA encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America . Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America, Developing the Rural Economy, Harnessing Technological Innovation, Supporting a Rural Workforce, and Improving Quality of Life. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, to provide technical assistance to individuals and rural businesses. Fiscal year 2019 award recipients who received a grant period extension due to a loss of operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are eligible to apply for fiscal year 2020 funding. Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 6 p.m. HST Aug. 3. Additional information is available on page 39870 of the July 2 Federal Register.
Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours,
Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America , developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.
ONGOING
us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha.
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 -- the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Nursery, Greenhouse, and Cut-Flower Growers are invited to participate in COVID-19 impact survey by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The survey may help them qualify for USDA CFAP financial assistance. Complete the survey online.
Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi
Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. The Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Virtual Shopping Appointments are offered at Volcano Art Center locations. Via Skype or FaceTime, a VAC associate helps customers browse the selection of artwork up close, and gives personalized tips and recommendations to help customers "find that perfect piece of locally made artwork, wherever you are in the world!" Book an appointment online for $5 and VAC staff will help schedule a date and time at volcanoartcenter.org/shop. Shop the online gallery 24/7. Orders are shipped as regularly scheduled. Free local pickup is available.VAC now offers a Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Find Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub. Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources. Developed by the Sexual and Gender Minoroty Workgroup in partnership with the DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch. Resources: Understanding the Pacific's alternative genders; Pronoun guide; Book lists for children and teens; ʻOhana support; and DOH data. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov/harmreduction/sexual-gender-minority/sexual-and-gender-minorities-sgm-in-hawaii/.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature to help find information that applies to the searcher. To search for statewide grants, hover over "Grants & Loans" and select "For Farmers & Ranchers." Set the Grant/Loan Filter to "Grant" and the Region Filter to "Statewide." Ranney notes that narrowing the search to County will display opportunities specific to that county. Selecting Nationwide or Statewide will display other opportunities searchers may be eligible for and/or want to be aware of for future reference.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Rese
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers Urged to Use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. U.S. Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs is developing a list of Native Hawaiian farmers willing to sell direct to consumers through the On-Farm Market Directory. On-farm markets are managed by a single farm operator that sells products on their farm, or on a property next to their farm. Some on-farm markets may also deliver or ship their goods directly to consumers. Visit the program website for more information and to register.
Receive Free Marketing Assistance for Small Businesses affected by COVID-19 can receive free marketing assistance from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. Helen Tien, College of Business and Economics, and her senior retail and distribution management course is offering 1-hour sessions dedicated to helping small business marketing needs. They offer help with moving a business online, finding out more about the businesses' customers, analyzing marketing effectiveness, and providing customer service or website feedback. Visit https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Rese
Apply for Internships with Sen. Brian Schatz's office. Internships for undergrad, graduate, and law students are offered in the Honolulu and Washington D.C.
Non-office internships are open for high school students to advocate in their communities. Applications due Sunday, Sept. 13.
Schatz may also nominate exceptional students for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies. Applications due Friday, Oct. 23.
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week -- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday --, from 8 a.m. to noon . The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
OKK's Nāʻālehu Market offers a wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more, on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.
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