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| Mainland Bound is the name of the airline in this image from Grassroot Institute cartoonist David Swan, who illustrates residents fleeing from Hawaiʻi where employment and affordable housing are hard to find. |
NĀ LEO TV, the nonprofit public access station and programing service, received a visit from the FBI today and canceled its live broadcast of two political forums for this evening. Assistant General Manager Micah Alameda sent out a press release saying, "We regret to inform you that we are postponing the Puna Candidates' Forum, for tonight, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. We are working with the Mainstreet Pāhoa Association to reschedule this broadcast." Also canceled for today was a forum for mayoral candidates Mitch Roth and Ikaika Marzo.
The press release said, "As you know, the FBI has executed a search warrant, and Nā Leo TV staff and management are fully cooperating. We have no further comment or information at this time." It noted that Na Leo TV is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. "We are Hawai‘i Island's hyperlocal, public access TV station
bringing diverse, original, and relevant programming to our island communities."
Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald identified White as a special agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Honolulu office. Earlier today, White told the Tribune-Herald that "Federal agents are in the process of executing a search warrant on the studios and offices of Nā Leo ‘O Hawai‘i public access cable television in Hilo."
MANDATING MASKS EVERYWHERE OUTSIDE THE HOME is the plan proposed today by Lt. Gov. Josh Greem, MD. During an interview with Hawaiʻi News Now, Green said, "Simply having everyone mask up outside their home makes the most sense… rules need to be the same for everyone across the board" as interisland and out-of-state travel reopen and Hawaiʻi returns to its more-crowded state. “If you can get to 90 percent, that's what many societies around the world have done. When they get to 90 percent they don't have to shut down anything. They don't have to shut down travel. They don't have to shut down business."
He also told HNN being caught without a mask should carry "a simple citation that carries a fine" instead of a misdemeanor.
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAIʻI PREDICTS MORE LOCALS LEAVING, WANTS TAX DECREASES. In an editorial released this week and entitled Great Lockdown Crash of 2020 is Wake-up Call for Hawaiʻi Lawmakers, the nonprofit group's leader Keliʻi Akina writes:
Warren Buffett once said, "You only learn who has been swimming naked when the tide goes out."
That includes states, and now that the tide has receded, it's easy to see that Hawaiʻi has been swimming naked for years. Without any savings to buffer it from the economic collapse brought on by the state's rash coronavirus lockdown policies, the Aloha State is exposed like the emperor without any clothes.
Hawaiʻi's leading industry, tourism, has virtually disappeared; unemployment is at historic highs; hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses have permanently closed; state and county tax revenues have evaporated; and budgetary finagling is rampant as Hawaiʻi officials seek loans and other forms of relief from the federal government to cover their short-term obligations.
Even before the Great Lockdown Crash of 2020, the state had been on a spending spree, repeatedly busting through its useless legal spending cap, steadily eating into its rainy day fund and allowing its numerous unfunded liabilities, such as for its public pension and health benefits programs, to balloon. It also was constantly adding new taxes and piling on new regulations.
The protectionist Jones Act also adds to Hawaiʻi's exceptionally high cost of living; groundbreaking research by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi released in July found that the 1920 federal maritime law costs Hawaiʻi about $1.2 billion a year, including about $1,800 per average family and 9,100 lost jobs.
But mostly Hawaiʻi's dire situation has been self-inflicted, with its various state and county lockdowns only making things worse.
Little surprise that thousands of residents have been fleeing for the mainland for years. In the wake of the COVID lockdown, that tempo is expected to increase: University of Hawaiʻi researchers estimated in June that up to 30,000 residents will be leaving over the next two years.
So what is to be done? Certainly not what Hawaiʻi officials have been doing so far.
Besides borrowing and moving funds around within the state budget, and despite starting at a $2.3 billion state budget hole brought on by the worst financial disaster in the state’s history, lawmakers approved $150 million in raises for state employees. Yes, while much of the private sector in Hawaiʻi is basically unemployed because of the state-imposed lockdown, state employees who have been getting paid all along were gifted a raise.
One good thing that came out of the latest state legislative session was the lack of any new tax increases. Which was amazing.
Looking ahead, Hawaiʻi lawmakers should be looking at tax decreases, regulatory rollbacks, and less state spending.
They also should be looking to revive tourism, the lifeblood of Hawaiʻi's airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour companies, dinner cruises, farmers, bars, and many other businesses. There has been a lot of talk about how to do this, and plans are still being hammered out.
To create construction jobs, lawmakers should consider land-use and zoning changes to allow for more housing. Only 5 percent of Hawaiʻi's land is available for housing. Expanding that by just 1 or 2 percentage points would be a 20 percent to 40 percent increase. On land already developed, zoning reform could facilitate more "infill" housing.
As outlined in the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi's new "Road map to prosperity," Hawaiʻi lawmakers also could exempt food, medicine, and healthcare from the state's general excise tax; temporarily suspend some occupational licensing requirements; remove restrictions on home-based businesses and cottage foods; reduce regulations on short-term rentals; enact tort reform to protect businesses during the reopening period from coronavirus-related lawsuits; and make permanent the emergency measures that expanded telehealth and allowed out-of-state doctors to practice in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers also could finally reform the state's public pension system, currently underfunded by $14 billion. And they definitely should reassess the Honolulu rail project, the price tag for which has ballooned from $3 billion in 2006 to over $9.2 billion, making it the most expensive in the world per capita.
At the federal level, Congress could reform the U.S.-build requirement of the Jones Act, since U.S.-built vessels cost four to five times more than ships on the world market. That reform alone would save Hawaiʻi $532 million a year, according to the Grassroot Institute's study.
These are just a few of the things our policymakers could do to help Hawaiʻi get back to work. Hawaiʻi's residents need greater flexibility and more opportunities to cope with the state's radically changed economic landscape. But if our lawmakers stick to their old habits, Hawaiʻi will continue to flail naked in the shallows.
See more at grassrootinstitute.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresqh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
MASS COVID TESTING HAS BEGUN IN PRISONS ACROSS THE STATE. The state Department of Public Safety Health Care Division is working with state Department of Health, Hawaiʻi National Guard, and community partners, to conduct mass testing for COVID-19 at all correctional facilities statewide. Test results for 13 Halawa were negative. Maui Community Correctional Center began their staff testing with help of Hawaiʻi National Guard. Of the 70 Oʻahu Community Correctional Center inmate results received, six were positive and 64 were negative. There are no inmates hospitalized. The total number of inmates who have recovered is at 338. The number of PSD staff who have recovered and returned to work increased to 94. To view more on PSD's planning and response efforts to COVID-19: http://dps.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/03/17/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-resources/.
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.
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.
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.
ATTEND THE 2020 VIRTUAL SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT on Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon to 5 p.m. The announcement says, "These are unprecedented times for our local Hawaiʻi small business community. Join the Small Business Administration Hawaiʻi District Office and Resource Partners for the 2020 Virtual Small Business Summit. Participate in online workshops from finance, marketing, strategies for a changing environment, to business counseling to help you with your business."
Honolulu Star-Advertiser sent out a headline saying "FBI raids Big Isle public access TV station offices." The story says, "FBI spokesman Jason White said the FBI executed a search warrant, but the agency would not release any further information." White informed the Star-Advertiser by email that "The investigation is ongoing."
The president and CEO of Nā Leo is Stacy Higa, who ran for mayor in the August primary election, lost, and began producing forums with the remaining candidates leading up to the general election. Higa is a former county councilman.
Tribune-Herald reported that it asked the FBI agent "if the search had anything to do with federal funding
or if anyone was arrested. White said it's 'just a search' of Nā Leo's location
at 91 Mohouli St. and
declined to say what agents are searching for," reported the newspaper.
Big Island Now reported the search happening this morning and extending beyond 1 p.m. The news service also said the FBI agent declined to say whether a search warrant would be executed on Nā Leo's Kona station. Big Island Now reported that Hawai‘i County Police Chief Paul Ferreira said local law enforcement is not involved with the FBI operation.
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.
He also told HNN being caught without a mask should carry "a simple citation that carries a fine" instead of a misdemeanor.
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.
GRASSROOT INSTITUTE OF HAWAIʻI PREDICTS MORE LOCALS LEAVING, WANTS TAX DECREASES. In an editorial released this week and entitled Great Lockdown Crash of 2020 is Wake-up Call for Hawaiʻi Lawmakers, the nonprofit group's leader Keliʻi Akina writes:
Warren Buffett once said, "You only learn who has been swimming naked when the tide goes out."
That includes states, and now that the tide has receded, it's easy to see that Hawaiʻi has been swimming naked for years. Without any savings to buffer it from the economic collapse brought on by the state's rash coronavirus lockdown policies, the Aloha State is exposed like the emperor without any clothes.
 |
| Keliʻi Akina of Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi |
Even before the Great Lockdown Crash of 2020, the state had been on a spending spree, repeatedly busting through its useless legal spending cap, steadily eating into its rainy day fund and allowing its numerous unfunded liabilities, such as for its public pension and health benefits programs, to balloon. It also was constantly adding new taxes and piling on new regulations.
The protectionist Jones Act also adds to Hawaiʻi's exceptionally high cost of living; groundbreaking research by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi released in July found that the 1920 federal maritime law costs Hawaiʻi about $1.2 billion a year, including about $1,800 per average family and 9,100 lost jobs.
But mostly Hawaiʻi's dire situation has been self-inflicted, with its various state and county lockdowns only making things worse.
Little surprise that thousands of residents have been fleeing for the mainland for years. In the wake of the COVID lockdown, that tempo is expected to increase: University of Hawaiʻi researchers estimated in June that up to 30,000 residents will be leaving over the next two years.
So what is to be done? Certainly not what Hawaiʻi officials have been doing so far.
Besides borrowing and moving funds around within the state budget, and despite starting at a $2.3 billion state budget hole brought on by the worst financial disaster in the state’s history, lawmakers approved $150 million in raises for state employees. Yes, while much of the private sector in Hawaiʻi is basically unemployed because of the state-imposed lockdown, state employees who have been getting paid all along were gifted a raise.
 |
| Great Lockdown Crash of 2020 is an editorial from Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi, decrying government overspending and residents fleeing to find jobs and affordable housing. Image from Grassroot Institute |
Looking ahead, Hawaiʻi lawmakers should be looking at tax decreases, regulatory rollbacks, and less state spending.
They also should be looking to revive tourism, the lifeblood of Hawaiʻi's airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour companies, dinner cruises, farmers, bars, and many other businesses. There has been a lot of talk about how to do this, and plans are still being hammered out.
To create construction jobs, lawmakers should consider land-use and zoning changes to allow for more housing. Only 5 percent of Hawaiʻi's land is available for housing. Expanding that by just 1 or 2 percentage points would be a 20 percent to 40 percent increase. On land already developed, zoning reform could facilitate more "infill" housing.
As outlined in the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi's new "Road map to prosperity," Hawaiʻi lawmakers also could exempt food, medicine, and healthcare from the state's general excise tax; temporarily suspend some occupational licensing requirements; remove restrictions on home-based businesses and cottage foods; reduce regulations on short-term rentals; enact tort reform to protect businesses during the reopening period from coronavirus-related lawsuits; and make permanent the emergency measures that expanded telehealth and allowed out-of-state doctors to practice in Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi lawmakers also could finally reform the state's public pension system, currently underfunded by $14 billion. And they definitely should reassess the Honolulu rail project, the price tag for which has ballooned from $3 billion in 2006 to over $9.2 billion, making it the most expensive in the world per capita.
These are just a few of the things our policymakers could do to help Hawaiʻi get back to work. Hawaiʻi's residents need greater flexibility and more opportunities to cope with the state's radically changed economic landscape. But if our lawmakers stick to their old habits, Hawaiʻi will continue to flail naked in the shallows.
See more at grassrootinstitute.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresqh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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.
ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES is the purpose of legislation introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono and colleagues. According to Hirono, the Health Equity and Accountability Act would address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. "HEAA is a blueprint of bold policy solutions that uniquely target a wide spectrum of health equity concerns." A statement from Hirono says the legislation would:
Expand access to health care for immigrant and rural communities. It would restore Medicaid eligibility for Compacts of Free Association citizens; improve care for underserved communities through enhanced language access services, provider training on cultural competency, and investments in diversifying the health workforce. It would dismantle barriers and fund programs to support mental, infant, maternal, sexual, and reproductive health for marginalized and underserved individuals and communities. It would increase federal resources to address diseases that disproportionately impact minority communities, and engage the entire federal government in building and funding strategies to address social determinants of health.
Hirono said that in Hawaiʻi, HEAA would help local communities combat diseases like viral hepatitis, which disproportionately affects Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. She said it would help to better understand health disparities through disaggregated data collection.
The bill would invest in cultural competency education and expanded language access services to assist the over 12 percent of Hawaiʻi residents and about eight percent of people nationwide who have limited English proficiency.
HEAA would permanently reauthorize the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act to continue to provide comprehensive health care to Native Hawaiians.
Hirono said, "The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare health disparities in communities across the country, particularly in communities of color. Even before the pandemic, Pacific Islanders – including COFA citizens and Native Hawaiians – experienced poorer health outcomes, often due to systemic barriers in our health care system and society at large. HEAA dismantles these barriers to accessing information, health education, health services, and coverage so that all communities in Hawai'i and across the country can thrive."
Hirono also introduced HEAA in 2018. This Congress, HEAA was introduced in the House by Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-Ill.) with support from the Congressional Tri-Caucus. HEAA has been introduced in every Congress since 2007. HEAA is endorsed by nearly 200 organizations, including UnidosUS, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Families USA, Community Catalyst, National Health Law Program, National Urban League, and AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families. The full list of endorsing organizations can be found here. Bill text can be found here.
Mary Oneha, CEO of Waimanalo Health Center, said, "Serving the community has always been an honor built on the principle that accessing quality health care should never be reserved for those of privilege. As COVID-19 continues to tighten its grasp on our communities, it's a somber illustration of the critical need for comprehensive legislation that addresses health inequity. Now more than ever, HEAA is essential to healthy and thriving families and communities."
Sheri Daniels, Executive Director of Papa Ola Lokahi, said the group "supports the vision and lay-out… in comprehensively addressing health disparities and ensuring access to quality health care for everyone in our country, especially Native Hawaiian communities. This bold policy builds upon the coverage gained under the ACA and provides immediate targeted relief to those communities hardest hit by COVID-19."
Thaddeus Pham, Co-Director of Hep Free Hawaiʻi, said the legislation would "enhance the health care infrastructure for Hawaiʻi and all other jurisdictions, to provide necessary care for viral hepatitis and many other devastating diseases affecting underserved communities. The passage of this bill would have real implications to improve health outcomes and increase systems responses to health inequities made starkly clear by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
Diana Shaw, Executive Director of Lanai Community Health Center, said the legislation "is long overdue! For many years, lip service has been played in regard to health disparities… but there has not been any action since the ACA was passed. Now is the time to not just talk, but to actually do something!... HEAA provides a path of bold, policy solutions that builds upon the ACA, and, at the same time, provides targeted, immediate relief to our community. Our country has been traveling down a dark path in the last three-plus years. We need to turn that around and take action."
Hirono said, "The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare health disparities in communities across the country, particularly in communities of color. Even before the pandemic, Pacific Islanders – including COFA citizens and Native Hawaiians – experienced poorer health outcomes, often due to systemic barriers in our health care system and society at large. HEAA dismantles these barriers to accessing information, health education, health services, and coverage so that all communities in Hawai'i and across the country can thrive."
Mary Oneha, CEO of Waimanalo Health Center, said, "Serving the community has always been an honor built on the principle that accessing quality health care should never be reserved for those of privilege. As COVID-19 continues to tighten its grasp on our communities, it's a somber illustration of the critical need for comprehensive legislation that addresses health inequity. Now more than ever, HEAA is essential to healthy and thriving families and communities."
Thaddeus Pham, Co-Director of Hep Free Hawaiʻi, said the legislation would "enhance the health care infrastructure for Hawaiʻi and all other jurisdictions, to provide necessary care for viral hepatitis and many other devastating diseases affecting underserved communities. The passage of this bill would have real implications to improve health outcomes and increase systems responses to health inequities made starkly clear by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
Heather Lusk, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center, said, "Accessing appropriate medical care is challenging for sexual and gender minorities, immigrants, limited English proficient persons, indigenous peoples, and Pacific Islander communities. The Health Equity and Accountability Act will strengthen the federal government's ability to meet the urgent health needs of underserved communities, including those living with HIV, viral hepatitis, and other chronic health conditions."
Josie Howard, Program Director of We Are Oceania, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has proven again the inadequate health equity in our Pacific Islander population and the devastation of these health disparities for our Pacific Islander families. Losing a loved one unexpectedly and the separation of families during COVID has had dramatic impact on our community that will last for generations. To have a healthier economy and community, we must address the health disparities in our communities. We Are Oceania supports the Health Equity and Accountability Act because our community benefits when we directly address health inequities."
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| See Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno on COVID-19 Talk Story on Nā Leo TV. |
WATCH TALMADGE MAGNO ON COVID-19 TALK STORY ON NĀ LEO TV on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19. Broadcast this morning, the weekly series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Episode 3 features Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno, Eric Honda of State Department of Health, Executive Assistant to Mayor Kim Sharon Hirota, and Mary Ann Otake of Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Watch live Thursday at 10 a.m. on Spectrum Channel 53.
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.
ATTEND THE 2020 VIRTUAL SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT on Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon to 5 p.m. The announcement says, "These are unprecedented times for our local Hawaiʻi small business community. Join the Small Business Administration Hawaiʻi District Office and Resource Partners for the 2020 Virtual Small Business Summit. Participate in online workshops from finance, marketing, strategies for a changing environment, to business counseling to help you with your business."
Seats are limited. All workshops will be first come first serve on the day and time of the event. Register here.
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.
ATTEND FREE VIRTUAL HAWAIʻI BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL through Nov. 4 The 15th year of the festival takes off with a special set of in-depth presentations covering a variety of topics deeply impacting the local community. Featuring Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Burt Lum, host of Bytemarks Café, on several panels. More info & schedule.
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.
FOURTEEN NEW CASES OF COVID-19 are reported on Hawaiʻi Island today. The state reports 101 new cases today, with 86 on Oʻahu and one in Maui County.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 13,146 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 10,604 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 2,375 active cases in isolation. There are at least 16 people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
At least 164 people have died in the state, one new today. A total of 35 have reportedly died on Hawaiʻi Island, one new today. At least a dozen deaths are not officially reported by the state.
Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 866 cases, Oʻahu 11,702 cases, Maui County 397, and Kauaʻi 59. Thirty-six victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 900 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases reported in the last 28 days for three Kaʻū zip codes and one in Volcano. 96772 with Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Green Sands, Mark Twain, Discovery Harbour, and South Point; 96785 with Volcano Village; 96737, with Ocean View; and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi, have had no cases in the last 28 days. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96777, which includes Pāhala, Punaluʻu, and Wood Valley. Zip code 96718, shaded gray on the map, is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which has few residents and no cases to date.
In Hilo zip code 96720, 107 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 107 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Civil Defense says, "Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. While on patrol, police officers will provide face coverings to people they encounter who do not have one. Mahalo for your help."
Civil Defense says the number of new cases of coronavirus on this Island "reflects the need and importance of continuing testing throughout the Island as the virus remains a threat. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community's involvement, we can keep Hawaiʻi Safe."
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage at coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Request travel exemptions for critical infrastructure and medical travel at survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 7,598,280 – about 21 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 212,632 – about 20 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 36.39 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,059,616.
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.
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
West Hawaiʻi Community Center at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway in Kona on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join in Virtual NAMIWalks Your Way Saturday, Oct. 10, the National Day of Hope, during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Participants take their own walks, using a treadmill or going to their own backyards, neighborhood streets, and local parks. They will share the activity on social media. The focus is also to follow NAMI Hawaiʻi's program with mental health facts. Activities will go beyond walking and running. Hula-hoop and yoga, as well as other choices are on tap. The event normally takes place at Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo with a 5K walk. Some 70 NAMIWalks are held each year around the country, with hundreds of thousands of participants, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Visit namiwalks.org/bigisland. Any funds raise go to NAMI Big Island's free local mental health family education programs, family support groups, and other services.
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Events – with size limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations – are on Monday, Oct. 12, survey; Saturday, Oct. 17, cleanup; Sunday, Nov. 15, cleanup and survey; and Saturday, Dec. 19, cleanup. HWF says details are forthcoming but will be a blend of hiking, BYO-4wd, and limited HWF carpool options. Contact Megan Lamson-Leatherman at (808) 280-8124 or wild@aloha.net.
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Clinic for Cats will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Ocean View. For information and to register, call 808-990-3548 or email petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
2020 Virtual Small Business Summit, Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon to 5 p.m. The announcement says, "These are unprecedented times for our local Hawaiʻi small business community. Join the Small Business Administration Hawaiʻi District Office and Resource Partners for the 2020 Virtual Small Business Summit. Participate in online workshops from finance, marketing, strategies for a changing environment, to business counseling to help you with your business." Seats limited. All workshops will be first come first serve on the day and time of the event. Register here.
Attend Finding Solutions, Growing Peace free virtual talk Thursday, Oct. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. October's speaker is Lorenn Walker, on the topic Effective Approaches for Positive Adolescent Behavior: Alternatives to Grouping "At-Risk Youth." To get the Zoom link, register online. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Majidah Lebarre at 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org, or visit hawaiimediation.org.
Give Input on the Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan Update by the State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning from Oct. 13 through 28. The public is invited to participate in online sessions to learn about the strategic plan and contribute to the revision process. Free; advance registration required. Register online.
Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. Ten-minute-long survey open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, or about to launch. Survey closes Oct. 31. Responses are confidential. Complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
What has Happened at Hanauma Bay Without Direct Human Impact? webinar Monday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
Attend Free Virtual Hawaiʻi Book & Music Festival through Nov. 4 The 15th year of the festival takes off with a special set of in-depth presentations covering a variety of topics deeply impacting the local community. Featuring Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Burt Lum, host of Bytemarks Café, on several panels. More info & schedule.
Watch the Oct. 5 Debate between Mayoral Candidates Ikaika Marzo and Mitch Roth on Nā Leo TV, Spectrum Channel 54, online at naleo.tv/channel-54/, or via the free Nā Leo mobile app.
Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
COVID-19 Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. at 10 a.m. on Spectrun Channel 53, online at naleo.tv/channel-53/, and streaming via the Nā Leo's free mobile app. Watch all episodes on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.
The program offers "fun, engaging and educational activities, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and observations grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math, and art. Explorations from deep ocean to deep space, and everything in between – all from ‘Imiloa's facilities and outdoor gardens.
Enrollment limited to seven pods for K-5th grade students with one instructor, one assistant, and up to eight participants, who will remain together for all seven weeks. Participant's required synchronous and asynchronous school distance learning needs will be addressed. Students will bring their own lunch, two snacks, and two bottled water each day.
Cost per member child is $695; registration starts Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. Non-member cost per child is $995; registration starts Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. Enrollment open through Oct. 7, first-come, first-served. Scholarship applications are open; proof of financial need required. See imiloahawaii.org/halau-lamaku to register, apply for a scholarship, become a member, and find out more.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. For more info, contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.
Attend Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES website for Live WebEx link.
32nd Annual The Trash Show Hawaiʻi: Artists Recycle open through Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center, 141 Kalakaua St. in Hilo. Features The TrashFace Collection by Volcano Artist Ira Ono. To attend, all visitors are required to wear a face mask, maintain six-foot social distancing, no physical contact when greeting people, a maximum of ten people in the gallery, and encouraging anyone who feels ill to stay home. See more art from Ono at Volcano Garden Arts & Café Ono, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., www.volcanogardenarts.com, www.cafeono.net, 967-7261. For more information go to ehcc.org.
Humpback Whales 101 Virtual Class Presentation. To reserve a session, contact patty.miller@noaa.gov. Explore HIHWNMS video series here.
Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at10 a.m. , with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coveri required when usher comes to vehicle to pass out worship bulletin and other materials, and at the same time, collect any offering or gifts the individual(s) would like to give, or when leaving vehicles for the restroom. Church provides paper fans to stay cool. Bring water. Catch the live-streamed service at 10:10 a.m. and Praise Jam, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Service is emailed Sunday afternoon to anyone on the email list. Sign up by emailing atdwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.
St. Jude's Episcopal Church services and worship are posted online at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays, here, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended.
One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.
Food Basket Distribution last Tuesday of the month, Sept. 29, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. Another distribution will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Volcano Village's Cooper Center, from 10 a.m. until pau. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.
Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits of up to $10,000 to support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See the program website.
Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Using $10 million in federal CARES Act funds, Department of Business Economic Development & Tourism matches workers with companies in sectors such as conservation, renewable energy, agriculture, creative arts, aerospace, entrepreneurship, and STEM fields. The programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Eligible people are displaced workers, or recent high school or college graduates. There are two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. To learn more, go to https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The project will focus on repairing and/or replacement of critical infrastructure in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and U.S. Geological Survey-operated facilities and equipment. Comments received are being considered and used for refining a design concept and developing the National Park Service and USGS's proposed action. Once the proposed action is developed, the NPS and USGS will seek additional community input through public scoping prior to the environmental analysis process, tentatively planned for early 2021. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website for more information and to register.
Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System, and the role seed plays in human health and nutrition, is the focus of a recent blog post from Hawaiʻi Seed Growers Network. In It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. The site offers access to current research, industry news, educational events, and more about rangeland management in Hawaiʻi. The website is maintained by the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
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.
ATTEND FREE VIRTUAL HAWAIʻI BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL through Nov. 4 The 15th year of the festival takes off with a special set of in-depth presentations covering a variety of topics deeply impacting the local community. Featuring Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Burt Lum, host of Bytemarks Café, on several panels. More info & schedule.
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.
FOURTEEN NEW CASES OF COVID-19 are reported on Hawaiʻi Island today. The state reports 101 new cases today, with 86 on Oʻahu and one in Maui County.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 13,146 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 10,604 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 2,375 active cases in isolation. There are at least 16 people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
At least 164 people have died in the state, one new today. A total of 35 have reportedly died on Hawaiʻi Island, one new today. At least a dozen deaths are not officially reported by the state.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28
days, by zip code. Gray areas have zero residential
addresses. White is zero cases. Yellow is one to 10 cases. Pale
orange is 11-30 cases. Medium orange is 31-50 cases. Dark orange is 51-90 cases. Bright
red is 91-110 cases. Dark red is
111-270 cases. Department of Health map |
No new cases reported in the last 28 days for three Kaʻū zip codes and one in Volcano. 96772 with Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Green Sands, Mark Twain, Discovery Harbour, and South Point; 96785 with Volcano Village; 96737, with Ocean View; and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi, have had no cases in the last 28 days. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96777, which includes Pāhala, Punaluʻu, and Wood Valley. Zip code 96718, shaded gray on the map, is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which has few residents and no cases to date.
In Hilo zip code 96720, 107 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 107 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Civil Defense says, "Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. While on patrol, police officers will provide face coverings to people they encounter who do not have one. Mahalo for your help."
Civil Defense says the number of new cases of coronavirus on this Island "reflects the need and importance of continuing testing throughout the Island as the virus remains a threat. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community's involvement, we can keep Hawaiʻi Safe."
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage at coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Request travel exemptions for critical infrastructure and medical travel at survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 7,598,280 – about 21 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 212,632 – about 20 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 36.39 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,059,616.
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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
Free Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing at locations around the island. No insurance is necessary to be tested, but bring insurance card if have. No co-pay for the individuals being tested. Be sure to wear a face-covering at all times and observe social distancing. For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031. Free testing locations:
Keauhou Shopping Center on Friday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon.West Hawaiʻi Community Center at 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway in Kona on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join in Virtual NAMIWalks Your Way Saturday, Oct. 10, the National Day of Hope, during Mental Illness Awareness Week. Participants take their own walks, using a treadmill or going to their own backyards, neighborhood streets, and local parks. They will share the activity on social media. The focus is also to follow NAMI Hawaiʻi's program with mental health facts. Activities will go beyond walking and running. Hula-hoop and yoga, as well as other choices are on tap. The event normally takes place at Liliʻuokalani Gardens in Hilo with a 5K walk. Some 70 NAMIWalks are held each year around the country, with hundreds of thousands of participants, sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Visit namiwalks.org/bigisland. Any funds raise go to NAMI Big Island's free local mental health family education programs, family support groups, and other services.
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Events – with size limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations – are on Monday, Oct. 12, survey; Saturday, Oct. 17, cleanup; Sunday, Nov. 15, cleanup and survey; and Saturday, Dec. 19, cleanup. HWF says details are forthcoming but will be a blend of hiking, BYO-4wd, and limited HWF carpool options. Contact Megan Lamson-Leatherman at (808) 280-8124 or wild@aloha.net.
Attend College from Home Virtual Workshop, Tuesday, Oct. 13, noon to 1 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Zoom Connection Link: go.hawaii.edu/A9z, Meeting ID: 950 5113 4914 Password: palamanui. The announcement asks, "Want to come back to college but not leave home – or know someone who does? If so, you are invited to the UH Online and Hybrid Degrees workshop presented by the University Center West Hawaiʻi. Come learn about the 60+ UH two year, Bachelors, Graduate, and Certificate programs that you can access here on Hawai'i Island. Online Learning with Local Support. Stay Here… Go FORWARD!" For more information, email Carrie at carriekp@hawaii.edu.
PETFIX Spay and Neuter Clinic for Cats will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14 in Ocean View. For information and to register, call 808-990-3548 or email petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
2020 Virtual Small Business Summit, Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon to 5 p.m. The announcement says, "These are unprecedented times for our local Hawaiʻi small business community. Join the Small Business Administration Hawaiʻi District Office and Resource Partners for the 2020 Virtual Small Business Summit. Participate in online workshops from finance, marketing, strategies for a changing environment, to business counseling to help you with your business." Seats limited. All workshops will be first come first serve on the day and time of the event. Register here.
Presidential Debates Schedule: The first Presidential Debate was held Sept. 29. The single Vice Presidential Debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 7. The second Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida. The final Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on. Each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.Attend a Free Conflict Resolution Workshop, Kū I Ke Aloha: Stand Up & Speak Out on Friday, Oct. 16 from 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. The interactive session explores examples of individual and community advocacy that resulted in positive change in Hawaiʻi and beyond. Take away some communication skills for the real world – no matter the media – to use with aloha. Register here or RSVP to Majidah at Kuʻikahi Mediation Center, (808) 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org.
Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi Annual Meeting online at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17. A statement from the nonprofit says, "Over the past seven decades, CCH has been able to protect our native plants, animals and ecosystems across the Hawaiian Islands because of your support, we are extremely grateful and as we navigate our path forward we rely on your support even more than ever." Register here.
Give Input on the Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan Update by the State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning from Oct. 13 through 28. The public is invited to participate in online sessions to learn about the strategic plan and contribute to the revision process. Free; advance registration required. Register online.
Take Free Courses and Certifications for Hawaiʻi Residents through Coursera are offered by state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. More than 3,000 options. Registration open until Oct. 31. Recommended courses for picking up technology skills. View more.
Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. Ten-minute-long survey open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, or about to launch. Survey closes Oct. 31. Responses are confidential. Complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
What has Happened at Hanauma Bay Without Direct Human Impact? webinar Monday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
Vote and Register In-Person same day. Locations are in Hilo at 101 Pauahi Street, #1, and Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Ballots for registered voters should start to arrive around Oct. 16. Secure ballot drop box located in Nāʻālehu Police Station at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy from Oct. 14, 24 hours a day, until 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, Election Day. See other locations here. is Tuesday, Nov. 3. See tips on helping others to register to vote at nationalvoterregistrationday.org. Find more information at elections.hawaii.gov. Check voter registration status here.
Attend Free Virtual Hawaiʻi Book & Music Festival through Nov. 4 The 15th year of the festival takes off with a special set of in-depth presentations covering a variety of topics deeply impacting the local community. Featuring Hawaiʻi Public Radio's Burt Lum, host of Bytemarks Café, on several panels. More info & schedule.
The Occurrence of Humpback Whales across the Hawaiian Archipelago Revealed through Acoustics webinar, Friday, Nov. 6, noon - 1 p.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
Ocean Users Workshop webinar, Friday, Nov. 6, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
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The State of covidexemption@hawaii.gov 5 days prior to arrival. For a sample request letter visit: https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov |
Artists and Vendors, sign up for the Annual Art & Craft Fair at Ocean View Community Center on Nov. 7. The event, held outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will help raise funds for the Center, as well as benefit local artists and crafters. Booths are $8 for a 10' x 10' space, tents not provided. Face masks required. Free admission for attendees. Contact organizer Helen McCullough at 808-209-9204 or hmccullough.1@gmail.com.
Research & Resource Protection for Upcoming Whale Season featuring Dr. Marc Lammers & Ed Lyman webinar Friday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
83rd Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting webinar, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
Virtual Screening & Live Q&A: Changing Seas: Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song webinar, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Learn more here.
Veteran Farmers are invited to register for the virtual Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference: Veterans Farming through Adversity held Nov. 18 and 19, Wednesday and Thursday. Presented by Farmer Veteran Coalition, the sixth annual conference will feature education, workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. The cost to attend is $45 ($35 for coalition members). Advance registration required. Register online.
83rd Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting webinar, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
Virtual Screening & Live Q&A: Changing Seas: Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song webinar, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Learn more here.
Veteran Farmers are invited to register for the virtual Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference: Veterans Farming through Adversity held Nov. 18 and 19, Wednesday and Thursday. Presented by Farmer Veteran Coalition, the sixth annual conference will feature education, workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. The cost to attend is $45 ($35 for coalition members). Advance registration required. Register online.
Sizes, Strategies, and Steroid Hormones: Insights into the Humpback Whale Mating System webinar, Monday, Nov. 23, 11 a.m. - noon. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
The Cultural Significance of Humpback Whales in Hawaiʻi, Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
The Cultural Significance of Humpback Whales in Hawaiʻi, Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Hosted by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Register here.
ONGOING
Presidential Debates Schedule: The first Presidential Debate was held Tuesday, Sept. 29. The single Vice Presidential Debate was held Wednesday, Oct. 7. The second Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida. The final Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.Watch the Oct. 5 Debate between Mayoral Candidates Ikaika Marzo and Mitch Roth on Nā Leo TV, Spectrum Channel 54, online at naleo.tv/channel-54/, or via the free Nā Leo mobile app.
Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. RMAP partners encourage Hawaiʻi Island residents who are at least 18 years old and lost income or work hours due to COVID-19 may be eligible for up to $2,000 per month for rent, lease, or mortgage payments. The previous grant limit was $1,000 per month. RMAP applicants must also have a current annual household income at or below 140 percent of area median income for the number of members in their household – $81,760/yr. for one person, $126,000 for five.
Payments are made directly to landlords, property managers, or mortgage lenders. Approved applicants also have access to financial counseling services.
Hawai‘i Community Lending and Hawai‘i County have modified RMAP to address barriers for applicants, application processing, and how to encourage more residents to apply. Other changes include reimbursement for payments made with personal resources, such as savings, credit cards, personal loans, or assistance from family or friends. In addition, households who entered into a forbearance or payment agreement with their mortgage lender or landlord for payments that were due between March and December 2020 may now be eligible. Residents who previously applied to RMAP and were rejected are encouraged to reapply.
RMAP nonprofit partners are: Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, www.HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, www.hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935-3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, www.hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933-6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, www.neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, www.hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808-934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, www.habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.
Coffee Growers are urged to take a survey on how the pandemic is affecting them by Hawaiʻi Coffee Association. Take the survey here.
Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline offered by We Are Oceania. Receive answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment, and other related questions, for those Micronesians who do not speak English. COVID-19 questions can be asked 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Other questions about health insurance, housing, or unemployment, helpline available weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WAO helpline: (808) 913-1364. Watch the video here.
Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. In partnership with Hawai‘i Department of Health, the program seeks to "remind the community that now more than ever, it's important to be gentle with yourself. Be present, limit the amount of news and media, listen to your body, and most importantly, ask for help if you need it. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges, please reach out to friends and family for support, and seek professional help for serious or persistent symptoms."
For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
Student Athletes of Kaʻū High interested in participating in athletics during the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to call Athletic Director Kalei Namohala at 313-4161 to sign up for the Student Athlete Google Classroom.
COVID-19 Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. at 10 a.m. on Spectrun Channel 53, online at naleo.tv/channel-53/, and streaming via the Nā Leo's free mobile app. Watch all episodes on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.
Sign Up for ‘Imiloa's Hālau Lamakū Place- and Culture-based Fall Enrichment Program at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Held for seven weeks, Oct. 19 through Dec.4, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., except holidays.
The program offers "fun, engaging and educational activities, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and observations grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math, and art. Explorations from deep ocean to deep space, and everything in between – all from ‘Imiloa's facilities and outdoor gardens. Enrollment limited to seven pods for K-5th grade students with one instructor, one assistant, and up to eight participants, who will remain together for all seven weeks. Participant's required synchronous and asynchronous school distance learning needs will be addressed. Students will bring their own lunch, two snacks, and two bottled water each day.
Cost per member child is $695; registration starts Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. Non-member cost per child is $995; registration starts Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. Enrollment open through Oct. 7, first-come, first-served. Scholarship applications are open; proof of financial need required. See imiloahawaii.org/halau-lamaku to register, apply for a scholarship, become a member, and find out more.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. For more info, contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.Pre-Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach Program in Ocean View here. Completing the form does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families, to complete the registration process. Questions? Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org.
Free Tutors for Keiki in Pāhala, for grades one through six, available from Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Reading , Writing, Math, Spelling, Test Taking Strategies, Organizational Skills, and more. Contact Boys & Girls Club at info@bgcbi.org or 961-5536.
Free Wifi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
In Pāhala, access is limited to ten students at a time at the school gym on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Support is provided by Joshua Ortega.
In Nāʻālehu, access is limited to 12 students at a time at Nāʻālehu Assembly of God on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind.
In Ocean View, access is limited to five students at a time at Ocean View Community Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind and Mrs. Marcia Masters. No restrooms available at this location.
Kaʻū Mobile Learning Hub at St. Jude's lower parking lot is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Instruction and support are provided by Carla Lind, Mrs. VanNewkirk, Mrs. Heather Naboa, Mrs. Marcia Masters, and Mrs. Ebanez.
All students and staff must wear a mask at all times and follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Each student must bring their device, school materials, and a water bottle. Questions? Call 313-4100.
32nd Annual The Trash Show Hawaiʻi: Artists Recycle open through Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center, 141 Kalakaua St. in Hilo. Features The TrashFace Collection by Volcano Artist Ira Ono. To attend, all visitors are required to wear a face mask, maintain six-foot social distancing, no physical contact when greeting people, a maximum of ten people in the gallery, and encouraging anyone who feels ill to stay home. See more art from Ono at Volcano Garden Arts & Café Ono, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., www.volcanogardenarts.com, www.cafeono.net, 967-7261. For more information go to ehcc.org. Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here. Receive notice via phone or email of site closures, availability of services, hours of operation, special conditions affecting solid waste service (such as road closures, flooding, fires), or special events, such as household hazardous waste collections.
Humpback Whales 101 Virtual Class Presentation. To reserve a session, contact patty.miller@noaa.gov. Explore HIHWNMS video series here.
Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at
One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.
Food Basket Distribution last Tuesday of the month, Sept. 29, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. Another distribution will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Volcano Village's Cooper Center, from 10 a.m. until pau. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.
Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna, 808b-fit.com, contains videos for kūpuna to play and move along with. There are videos for stretching, tai chi, yoga, dancing, dance fitness, bon dance, hula, chair dancing, and chair yoga.
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
Ocean View Swap Meet reopens Sept. 5 at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.
Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. , on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Cocucci. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon . Limit of 50 customers, 25 vendor booths, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket
Choose Aloha for Home is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up here.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
Ocean View Mobile Learning Lab, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Jude's lower parking lot. O
Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits of up to $10,000 to support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See the program website.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for wifi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. Wifi available to anyone with a library card from each library parking lot. librarieshawaii.org
Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.
Sign Up for Two Women's Health Programs from Kaʻū Women's Collective. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Meetings held Sundays on Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues, through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Complete webform here or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.
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.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.
Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Using $10 million in federal CARES Act funds, Department of Business Economic Development & Tourism matches workers with companies in sectors such as conservation, renewable energy, agriculture, creative arts, aerospace, entrepreneurship, and STEM fields. The programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Eligible people are displaced workers, or recent high school or college graduates. There are two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. To learn more, go to https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Consists of "collections of data pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaiʻi's history. The purpose of this educational online repository is to increase the community's ability to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices." See papakilodatabase.com.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The project will focus on repairing and/or replacement of critical infrastructure in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and U.S. Geological Survey-operated facilities and equipment. Comments received are being considered and used for refining a design concept and developing the National Park Service and USGS's proposed action. Once the proposed action is developed, the NPS and USGS will seek additional community input through public scoping prior to the environmental analysis process, tentatively planned for early 2021. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. Coffee included; see funding updates and resources hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Local Ag Producers can Sign Up for a Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.
Local Ag Producers can Sign Up for a Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website for more information and to register.
Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System, and the role seed plays in human health and nutrition, is the focus of a recent blog post from Hawaiʻi Seed Growers Network. In It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Receive Free Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19 from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. 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.
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. The site offers access to current research, industry news, educational events, and more about rangeland management in Hawaiʻi. The website is maintained by the University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo .
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