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Coffee rust leaf necrosis. The fungus can lead to devastation
at coffee farms. Read details, below. Photo from U.H. |
TRAVELERS FROM JAPAN WILL BYPASS 14-DAY QUARANTINE, when they arrive with negative pre-travel COVID-19 tests from Japan's trusted partners, certified by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. The Safe Travels Hawaiʻi program will accommodate flights from All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines. The three will start flying into Hawaiʻi as early as Nov. 6. Testing will be available in Japan through approved partners beginning Nov. 3. Japan is Hawaiʻi's top international travel market.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD, said, "Mahalo to our health partners in Japan for working with Hawaiʻi to implement this next phase of the Safe Travels Hawaiʻi program. The program is an extra layer of safety for the people of Hawaiʻi and our visitors, and it has restored hope for many people. We are anxious to welcome back our Japanese travelers and look forward to Japan and Hawaiʻi's continued relationship."
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| Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority chief John DeFries, a resident of Hawaiʻi Island, talks with Gov. David Ige about the return of Japanese visitors. Photo from State of Hawaiʻi |
Gov. David Ige made the announcement today, saying the required pre-travel test will be Nucleic Acid Amplification, taken within 72 hours before departure from Japan. The tests must be conducted by a laboratory authorized by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Twenty-one trusted testing partners in Japan can be found at hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners. Upon arrival to Hawaiʻi, anyone without proof of a negative COVID test will be required to quarantine until a negative test result is received. Whether there will be an arrival test will depend on where passengers disembark. Currently, Hawaiʻi County requires an additional quick test upon arrival.
The governor said tourism from Japan, while starting up slowly, is taking "important strides to revive our economy and get people back to work." The governor said he expects ten flights a day from Japan to land in this state during the month of November. Japanese visitors to Hawaiʻi will be required to quarantine when they return home.
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| Lt. Gov. Josh Green points out that Hawaiʻi has the lowest COVID positivity rate in the country, at 2.2 percent, as he welcomes the return of Hawaiian, JAL, and all Nippon flights from Japan beginning as early as Nov. 6. Photo from State of Hawaiʻi |
In March, when the 14-day mandatory quarantine was put in effect "I sent an apology to many Japanese travelers who were forced to cancel their trip to Hawaiʻi due to our safety measures. Today, I'm sending a new message: Please feel free to safely visit our islands. We are ready and delighted to welcome you back," said the governor.
Hawaiʻi is working on similar program with Canada, the second-largest travel market for these islands. Talks are ongoing with South Korea and Japan New Zealand, said the governor. Like Hawaiʻi, all three places have low COVID rates.
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.
MORE THAN 170 OUT-OF-STATE HEALTH CARE WORKERS are in Hawaiʻi, using $17 million in federal CARES Act money. Fifty new imported health workers joined an onboarding session with Gov. David Ige. The state paid the Ohio-based company ProLink to provide the workers.
Dept. of Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char said, "All arriving personnel have met rigorous health and safety standards in the fight against COVID-19. They are licensed, fully trained, and ready to work in Hawaiʻi's long-term care facilities." ProLink's supplemental personnel working in Hawaiʻi's acute care hospitals have already undergone orientation and are on the job across the state, including the Veterans and Life Care Center care homes in Hilo.
A statement from Gov. David Ige says, "The job roles were strategically selected to provide maximum value to the state. Individual staff may not remain at the same facility for the duration of their employment. Employees can be quickly mobilized into a strike team to assist specific nursing homes or hospitals, should a COVID-19 cluster emerge.
"Our local healthcare employees have been working diligently, around the clock, making many personal sacrifices to ensure that the facilities they work in and our communities are safe and the spread COVID-19 is prevented. These traveling medical professionals will support and bolster Hawaiʻi's healthcare workforce, should we experience a surge in cases."
Dept. of Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char said, "All arriving personnel have met rigorous health and safety standards in the fight against COVID-19. They are licensed, fully trained and ready to work in Hawaiʻi's long-term care facilities." ProLink's supplemental personnel working in Hawaiʻi's acute care hospitals have already undergone orientation and are on the job across the state.
According to the presentation, the major effect of coffee rust is defoliation. Infected leaves drop prematurely, greatly reducing the coffee tree's photosynthetic capacity. Vegetative and berry growth are reduced correlating with intensity of rust in the current year. Long-term effects of rust can have a stronger impact by causing dieback, which reduces the number of productive nodes on branches. This progression of the coffee rust fungus disease can have a significant impact on the following year's yield, with some researchers estimating losses between 30 percent and 80 percent.
One of the key factors to any pest management is good sanitation practices, say the extension agents. Regular pruning and training of the coffee tree helps to prevent over-cropping and to maintain a healthy field. These practices help improve air circulation and also open up the canopy to allow proper spray coverage. Good weed control is an important factor as it keeps competition for vital nutrients low, reducing susceptibility to rust.
Kaʻū Coffee Farmers Cooperative President Gloria Camba said today that she urges all farmers to keep an eye out for coffee leaf rust.
See Monday's Kaʻū News Briefs for the announcement on discovery of coffee rust in Hawaiʻi, from state Department of Agriculture. See Kawabata's website for more. "If you suspect coffee leaf rust on any island, you can call HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch at (808) 973-9525," said Kawabata. With questions about rust, contact her at andreak@hawaii.edu. Text her at (415) 604-1511.
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.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES MUST RETAIN MINIMUM FLIGHTS TO LANAʻI AND MOLOKAʻI, through its ʻOhana by Hawaiian service, according to the federal Department of Transportation. Hawaiian announced late Monday that the airline is required to keep the two islands connected to Honolulu by air travel, saying, "the U.S. Department of Transportation has indicated to Hawaiian that, in spite of the contractual restrictions (with its union), the communities of Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi remain covered under its Essential Air Service program and flights must be maintained at a minimum for the 90-day notice period required under that program,
Hawaiian Airlines will retain some flights until at least mid-January of 2021. Hawaiian had previously planned to suspend all cargo and passenger operations of ʻOhana by Hawaiian starting Nov. 1, due to a labor provision in Hawaiian's pilot contract that was triggered by low travel demand amid Covid-19.
Yesterday, Hawaiian stated that it will explore "long-term solutions to preserve critical connectivity for both islands."
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.
State of Hawaiʻi will receive $79,000 for its technical assistance for its Neighbor Island Innovation Initiative (N13) program. The program provides business mentoring to startup and small companies, to achieve their next level of growth. An additional grant goes to County of Kauaʻi.
A statement from Rural Development says the business programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community-based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.
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.
KEIKI CAN ENJOY HALLOWEEN FUN at ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's Nāʻālehu Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will feature Truck-or-Treat, pumpkin painting, Halloween COVID masks, and face or arm painting, with plexiglass safety shield.
Dept. of Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char said, "All arriving personnel have met rigorous health and safety standards in the fight against COVID-19. They are licensed, fully trained, and ready to work in Hawaiʻi's long-term care facilities." ProLink's supplemental personnel working in Hawaiʻi's acute care hospitals have already undergone orientation and are on the job across the state, including the Veterans and Life Care Center care homes in Hilo.
A statement from Gov. David Ige says, "The job roles were strategically selected to provide maximum value to the state. Individual staff may not remain at the same facility for the duration of their employment. Employees can be quickly mobilized into a strike team to assist specific nursing homes or hospitals, should a COVID-19 cluster emerge.
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Gov. David Ige, welcoming out-of-state health care workers, funded with $17 million in federal CARES Act money. Photo from St. Francis Health Care System |
Dept. of Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Char said, "All arriving personnel have met rigorous health and safety standards in the fight against COVID-19. They are licensed, fully trained and ready to work in Hawaiʻi's long-term care facilities." ProLink's supplemental personnel working in Hawaiʻi's acute care hospitals have already undergone orientation and are on the job across the state.
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.
POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR CARLWIN DAVID IN CONNECTION WITH AN ATTEMPTED MURDER in Ocean View. Hawaiʻi Police Department describes him as a Pacific Islander, 33 years of age, five-feet-five inches tall, weighing 120 lbs, with thin build, black hair, and brown eyes. David is also wanted for an outstanding warrant of arrest.
Police caution the public against approaching David, as he may be considered armed and dangerous. Instead, call police at (808) 935-3311 to report his location. Police want to question him in connection with an early morning shooting that took place on Oct. 26.
HPD's Kaʻū Patrol officers responded to the 92-8000 block of King Kamehameha Boulevard in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision and located a 41-year-old-male from Ocean View with a gunshot wound to the chest. The man was treated on-scene by medics and subsequently transported to the Kona Community Hospital for further treatment. The man remains at the hospital in stable condition.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Mike Santos at (808) 326-4646, ext. 224, or email michael.santos@hawaiicounty.gov or to call the Police Department's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR CARLWIN DAVID IN CONNECTION WITH AN ATTEMPTED MURDER in Ocean View. Hawaiʻi Police Department describes him as a Pacific Islander, 33 years of age, five-feet-five inches tall, weighing 120 lbs, with thin build, black hair, and brown eyes. David is also wanted for an outstanding warrant of arrest.
Police caution the public against approaching David, as he may be considered armed and dangerous. Instead, call police at (808) 935-3311 to report his location. Police want to question him in connection with an early morning shooting that took place on Oct. 26.
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Carlwin David is wanted in connection with an attempted murder. |
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Mike Santos at (808) 326-4646, ext. 224, or email michael.santos@hawaiicounty.gov or to call the Police Department's non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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.
WITH THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY LAST MONTH and eight months into the pandemic, the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations extended unemployment benefits to 52 weeks. The agency announced on Monday the second extension for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
State Department of Labor Director Anne Eustaquio said, "The Extended Benefits program provides a much-needed safety net for Hawaiʻi claimants who have exhausted their current benefits and are still dealing with the long-term effects of unemployment due to COVID-1."
The program keeps the weekly benefit amount the same as regular state unemployment insurance benefit based on prior employment. See more at labor.hawaii.gov.
WITH THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY LAST MONTH and eight months into the pandemic, the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations extended unemployment benefits to 52 weeks. The agency announced on Monday the second extension for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
The program keeps the weekly benefit amount the same as regular state unemployment insurance benefit based on prior employment. See more at labor.hawaii.gov.
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.
CONTACT STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH ANY SIGNS OF COFFEE LEAF RUST in Kaʻū's farmed and wild coffee. University of Hawaiʻi agricultural assistant extension agent Andrea Kawabata issued a message about the fungus, saying, "Growers, please scout your farms for any symptoms of coffee leaf rust." She recommends learning about the disease, which devastates farms around the world and was recently found in wild and farmed coffee on Maui.
In a poster made for farmers, Kawabata and her extension agent colleague Ryan Tsutsui describe coffee rust, Hemileia vastatrix, as "the most economically important coffee disease in the world." It was first discovered on cultivated coffee in Sri Lanka in 1869. Within ten years, production was completely destroyed. Coffee rust spread to Southeast Asia, Africa, the Western hemisphere, South and Central American countries, and many other main coffee growing regions, devastating farms along the way. Hawaiʻi has long been lauded as one of the last remaining coffee growing regions in the world without coffee rust.
To prevent introduction of rust, the extension agency recommends planting only locally grown coffee seedlings and plants. Follow all quarantine requirements for imported coffee products, plants, and plant parts. Even if rust is not visible, spores could be present.
Kawabata and Tsutsui warn coffee farmers of illegal and unsafe practices: "Do not smuggle coffee plants, seeds, leaves, or cherry to Hawaiʻi. Discard or bag and immediately wash all clothing and footwear before and upon returning from a trip to coffee-producing farms outside of Hawaiʻi."
The presentation says coffee rust spores require the presence of water, including rain, heavy dew, or overhead irrigation, to germinate. Spores germinate in two to four hours. Within 24 to 48 hours, the infection process is complete. Inoculation, infection, and colonization are highly dependent on plant susceptibility, high relative humidity, moisture, and a temperature range of 59°F to 82°F. Loss of moisture after germination inhibits infection. Disease outbreaks typically occur during the rainy season.
The ag extension presentation says the first observable symptoms are chlorotic, yellow-orange rust spots, approximately two to three millimeters in diameter, appearing on the upper surface of leaves. On the underside, rust spots correspond with blotches of infectious spores or urediniospores, resembling a patch of yellow to dark orange-colored powder. The young lesions steadily increase in size with the center of the lesion turning necrotic and brown. Early spotting tends to occur around the margins or tips of leaves where dew and raindrops collect, creating the ideal environment for spore germination. Lower leaves are typically the first to show signs of rust, with the infection eventually progressing up the tree. Occasionally, coffee rust can be seen infecting young stems and berries.
CONTACT STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WITH ANY SIGNS OF COFFEE LEAF RUST in Kaʻū's farmed and wild coffee. University of Hawaiʻi agricultural assistant extension agent Andrea Kawabata issued a message about the fungus, saying, "Growers, please scout your farms for any symptoms of coffee leaf rust." She recommends learning about the disease, which devastates farms around the world and was recently found in wild and farmed coffee on Maui.
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Underleaf lesion from coffee rust, which has been discovered |
To prevent introduction of rust, the extension agency recommends planting only locally grown coffee seedlings and plants. Follow all quarantine requirements for imported coffee products, plants, and plant parts. Even if rust is not visible, spores could be present.
Kawabata and Tsutsui warn coffee farmers of illegal and unsafe practices: "Do not smuggle coffee plants, seeds, leaves, or cherry to Hawaiʻi. Discard or bag and immediately wash all clothing and footwear before and upon returning from a trip to coffee-producing farms outside of Hawaiʻi."
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| U.H. agricultural assistant extension agent Andrea Kawabata, examining coffee tree leaves. Photo from U.H. |
The ag extension presentation says the first observable symptoms are chlorotic, yellow-orange rust spots, approximately two to three millimeters in diameter, appearing on the upper surface of leaves. On the underside, rust spots correspond with blotches of infectious spores or urediniospores, resembling a patch of yellow to dark orange-colored powder. The young lesions steadily increase in size with the center of the lesion turning necrotic and brown. Early spotting tends to occur around the margins or tips of leaves where dew and raindrops collect, creating the ideal environment for spore germination. Lower leaves are typically the first to show signs of rust, with the infection eventually progressing up the tree. Occasionally, coffee rust can be seen infecting young stems and berries.
According to the presentation, the major effect of coffee rust is defoliation. Infected leaves drop prematurely, greatly reducing the coffee tree's photosynthetic capacity. Vegetative and berry growth are reduced correlating with intensity of rust in the current year. Long-term effects of rust can have a stronger impact by causing dieback, which reduces the number of productive nodes on branches. This progression of the coffee rust fungus disease can have a significant impact on the following year's yield, with some researchers estimating losses between 30 percent and 80 percent. One of the key factors to any pest management is good sanitation practices, say the extension agents. Regular pruning and training of the coffee tree helps to prevent over-cropping and to maintain a healthy field. These practices help improve air circulation and also open up the canopy to allow proper spray coverage. Good weed control is an important factor as it keeps competition for vital nutrients low, reducing susceptibility to rust.
Kaʻū Coffee Farmers Cooperative President Gloria Camba said today that she urges all farmers to keep an eye out for coffee leaf rust.
See Monday's Kaʻū News Briefs for the announcement on discovery of coffee rust in Hawaiʻi, from state Department of Agriculture. See Kawabata's website for more. "If you suspect coffee leaf rust on any island, you can call HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch at (808) 973-9525," said Kawabata. With questions about rust, contact her at andreak@hawaii.edu. Text her at (415) 604-1511.
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| Air travel via Hawaiian Airline's ʻOhana service to Lanaʻi and Molokaʻi will continue for at least 90 days. |
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES MUST RETAIN MINIMUM FLIGHTS TO LANAʻI AND MOLOKAʻI, through its ʻOhana by Hawaiian service, according to the federal Department of Transportation. Hawaiian announced late Monday that the airline is required to keep the two islands connected to Honolulu by air travel, saying, "the U.S. Department of Transportation has indicated to Hawaiian that, in spite of the contractual restrictions (with its union), the communities of Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi remain covered under its Essential Air Service program and flights must be maintained at a minimum for the 90-day notice period required under that program,
Hawaiian Airlines will retain some flights until at least mid-January of 2021. Hawaiian had previously planned to suspend all cargo and passenger operations of ʻOhana by Hawaiian starting Nov. 1, due to a labor provision in Hawaiian's pilot contract that was triggered by low travel demand amid Covid-19.
Yesterday, Hawaiian stated that it will explore "long-term solutions to preserve critical connectivity for both islands."
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| Hawaiʻi/Western Pacific State Director for USDA Rural Development Brenda Iokepa-Moses |
USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT WILL INVEST $966,540 for Kohala Center, Kauaʻi, and State of Hawaiʻi through Rural Business Development Grants.
Pāhala resident Brenda Iokepa-Moses, who serves as Hawaiʻi/Western Pacific State Director for Rural Development, said, "Sometimes the biggest challenge for our applicants is getting through the application process. These technical assistance grants are vital in helping our rural community applicants package their application and get to the finish line."
Deputy USDA Under Secretary Bette Brand said, "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural businesses, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."
For the Kohala Center, Rural Development is providing $832,540 to provide technical assistance to 176 socially disadvantaged producers who are members of five rural cooperatives and six rural groups operating across the state of Hawaiʻi, and a group of 50 socially disadvantaged businesses operating in rural areas statewide. Technical assistance in the areas of business planning and capitalization, co-op leadership in project management, accounting/financial literacy, community food system development, co-op leadership in project management, community soil fertility practices, grant application coaching, website development, community engagement, agroecology and Pacific Island planting in commercial systems, co-op membership roles and responsibilities, and agricultural pest control.
Pāhala resident Brenda Iokepa-Moses, who serves as Hawaiʻi/Western Pacific State Director for Rural Development, said, "Sometimes the biggest challenge for our applicants is getting through the application process. These technical assistance grants are vital in helping our rural community applicants package their application and get to the finish line."
Deputy USDA Under Secretary Bette Brand said, "Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural businesses, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."
For the Kohala Center, Rural Development is providing $832,540 to provide technical assistance to 176 socially disadvantaged producers who are members of five rural cooperatives and six rural groups operating across the state of Hawaiʻi, and a group of 50 socially disadvantaged businesses operating in rural areas statewide. Technical assistance in the areas of business planning and capitalization, co-op leadership in project management, accounting/financial literacy, community food system development, co-op leadership in project management, community soil fertility practices, grant application coaching, website development, community engagement, agroecology and Pacific Island planting in commercial systems, co-op membership roles and responsibilities, and agricultural pest control.
State of Hawaiʻi will receive $79,000 for its technical assistance for its Neighbor Island Innovation Initiative (N13) program. The program provides business mentoring to startup and small companies, to achieve their next level of growth. An additional grant goes to County of Kauaʻi.A statement from Rural Development says the business programs provide financial backing and technical assistance to stimulate business creation and growth. The programs work through partnerships with public and private community-based organizations and financial institutions to provide financial assistance, business development, and technical assistance to rural businesses. These programs help to provide capital, equipment, space, job training, and entrepreneurial skills that can help to start and/or grow a business. Business Programs also support the creation and preservation of quality jobs in rural areas.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety. and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit rd.usda.gov.
KEIKI CAN ENJOY HALLOWEEN FUN at ʻO Kaʻū Kākou's Nāʻālehu Farmers Market on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will feature Truck-or-Treat, pumpkin painting, Halloween COVID masks, and face or arm painting, with plexiglass safety shield.
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.
SIGN UP TO VEND AT KAʻŪ ART GALLERY'S FIRST ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS SALE for Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building, Kaʻū Art Gallery offers free admission for attendees. Face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz.
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.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND REPORTS THREE NEW COVID-19 CASES today, the lowest one-day count since September. New cases reported statewide today total 66, with 49 on Oʻahu, eight on Lanaʻi, two on Maui, and two residents diagnosed while out-of-state.
Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 1,233 cases. There are at least four people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 46 deaths have been reported by Hilo Life Center (12), two new yesterday; Kona Community Hospital (one); Hilo Medical Center (six); and Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home (27). Hawaiʻi Island's death toll, as reported by the county, is 40 since the pandemic began. Some Hawaiʻi Island deaths are not officially reported by the state. At least 215 people have died in the state, according to state records, three new today.
There have been 14,773 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 11,523 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 3,035 active cases in isolation.
Oʻahu reports 12,913 cases, Maui 403, Lanaʻi 87, Molokaʻi 17, and Kauaʻi 62. Fifty-eight victims are residents diagnosed while out-of-state. Statewide, 1,073 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases have been reported in the last 28 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96772. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96777, and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi.
In the last 28 days, 19 active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737. In Hilo zip code 96720, 41 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 102 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Puako/Waikoloa zip code 96738, 25 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Pepeʻekeo zip code 96783, 28 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
The U.S. cumulative case count is more than 8,766,984 – about 20 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 226,563 – about 19.5 percent of worldwide deaths.
Worldwide, more than 43.82 million COVID-19 cases have been reported. The death toll is more than 1,164,755.
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.
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Annual Meeting, Sunday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. via Zoom, meeting code 450 691 6693. No password. Attend by phone at (669) 900-6833, code 450 691 6693#. Delegates elect HFUU president, and adopt policies and bylaw amendments. Nominations for president due by Friday, Oct. 30 or at meeting; send to Nominations Committee Chair, David S. Case, at casedavids@gmail.com. Review and comment on proposals from Friday, Oct. 30. Enjoy world-class educational and musical presentations Nov. 12, 13, and 14. See hfuuhi.org.
Visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Visitor Center Lānai on Halloween weekend, Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rangers will safely provide each keiki a free ecology gift bag and bingo card to help families explore the Park Halloween-style. Park entrance fees apply, but families with fourth graders enter free when they complete the paper voucher on everykidoutdoors.gov, and present it at the entrance station fee booth.
Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center through Oct. 31. 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. Responses confidential. Complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
Manu, the Boy Who Loved Birds Virtual Book Release with author Caren Loebel-Fried and special guests all day Thursday, Nov. 5. Option to order books with personalized inscriptions. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
AdvoCATS Free Spay and Neuter Clinic will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Ocean View Community Center. To make a reservation, to reserve traps, to volunteer, or with questions, e-mail Cindy Thurston at cindyt@hawaii.rr.com, or call or text (808) 895-9283. See advocatshawaii.org.
Veterans Day Ceremony and Dinner, Kīlauea Military Camp, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ceremony held live on KMC Facebook page at 3 p.m. Veterans Day Dinner at Crater Rim Café, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations required, limited number of complimentary meals available. Call 967-8371 for either Dine-In or Grab & Go. Menu: prime rib au jus, vegetable stir fry & black bean sauce, roasted red potatoes, cheesecake, and drink. Adults $26.95, $16.95 Vegetarian Option (w/o prime rib), children 6-11 years old, $14.95. Proof of eligibility (Military ID, DD214 with photo ID, 100% DAV, or Hawaiʻi Veterans driver license) required to receive complimentary meal. Face coverings and 6 feet distancing required in common areas. KMC open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Introduction to Beadweaving, new series of beading classes with Phyllis Cullen, begins Thursday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Kaʻū Art Gallery First Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaʻū Art Gallery (behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building). Free admission, face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz to vend.
Second Saturday Barbecue Fundraiser, Saturday, Nov. 14 in the parking lot of Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Come get barbecued turkey legs and more. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Basics of Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Veteran Farmers can register for virtual Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference: Veterans Farming through Adversity held Nov. 18 and 19, Wednesday and Thursday. Features education, workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. $45 ($35 for coalition members). Advance registration required.
Beadweaving in the Round with Phyllis Cullen, Thursday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition opens Saturday, Nov. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Holiday Open House at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Friday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy viewing of handmade wreaths, cider, music, door prizes, and gifts. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Hawaiian Islands Challenge Virtual Run through Dec. 31. Registration closes Nov. 30. Individuals or teams can register to traverse some or all of 808 kilometers on six different courses, one on each main island. Register here.
Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.
Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.
RMAP nonprofit partners are Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935-3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933-6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808-934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.
Free Monthly Online Breastfeeding Support Group MOMs to MOMs, fourth Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Presented and facilitated by Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi's Leila Ryusaki. Open to pregnant women and new breastfeeding moms with babies from birth to one year old. Sign up at HMONO.ORG/SERVICES.
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.
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs here. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families for keiki grades 1-6, 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 or info@bgcbi.org.
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 Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 10 a.m. , with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coverings 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 Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.
Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
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.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
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 Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. 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. See funding updates and resources for coffee growers, hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
SIGN UP TO VEND AT KAʻŪ ART GALLERY'S FIRST ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS SALE for Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building, Kaʻū Art Gallery offers free admission for attendees. Face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28
days, by zip code. Gray areas have populations less than 1,000. White is zero cases.
Yellow is one to 10 cases. Light
orange is 11-50 cases. Dark orange is 51-200 cases. Department of
Health map |
Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 1,233 cases. There are at least four people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
Since the pandemic began, 46 deaths have been reported by Hilo Life Center (12), two new yesterday; Kona Community Hospital (one); Hilo Medical Center (six); and Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home (27). Hawaiʻi Island's death toll, as reported by the county, is 40 since the pandemic began. Some Hawaiʻi Island deaths are not officially reported by the state. At least 215 people have died in the state, according to state records, three new today.
There have been 14,773 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 11,523 people of those infected have completed isolation. There are about 3,035 active cases in isolation.
Oʻahu reports 12,913 cases, Maui 403, Lanaʻi 87, Molokaʻi 17, and Kauaʻi 62. Fifty-eight victims are residents diagnosed while out-of-state. Statewide, 1,073 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases have been reported in the last 28 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96772. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96777, and 96704, which includes Miloliʻi.
In the last 28 days, 19 active cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737. In Hilo zip code 96720, 41 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Kona zip code 96740, 102 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Puako/Waikoloa zip code 96738, 25 cases have been reported in the last 28 days. In Pepeʻekeo zip code 96783, 28 cases have been reported in the last 28 days.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
The U.S. cumulative case count is more than 8,766,984 – about 20 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 226,563 – about 19.5 percent of worldwide deaths.
Worldwide, more than 43.82 million COVID-19 cases have been reported. The death toll is more than 1,164,755.
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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
Give Input on Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan Update by State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning through Oct. 28. Public invited to participate in online sessions to learn about plan and contribute to the revision process. Free; advance registration required. Register online.
Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Annual Meeting, Sunday, Nov. 15, 9 a.m. via Zoom, meeting code 450 691 6693. No password. Attend by phone at (669) 900-6833, code 450 691 6693#. Delegates elect HFUU president, and adopt policies and bylaw amendments. Nominations for president due by Friday, Oct. 30 or at meeting; send to Nominations Committee Chair, David S. Case, at casedavids@gmail.com. Review and comment on proposals from Friday, Oct. 30. Enjoy world-class educational and musical presentations Nov. 12, 13, and 14. See hfuuhi.org.
Free Drive-Thru Candy Giveaway at Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 31, Halloween Day, starting at 3 p.m. Each keiki will receive a bag and kids in costume "may get a little something extra," says the announcement, "as long as supplies last."
Visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Kīlauea Visitor Center Lānai on Halloween weekend, Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rangers will safely provide each keiki a free ecology gift bag and bingo card to help families explore the Park Halloween-style. Park entrance fees apply, but families with fourth graders enter free when they complete the paper voucher on everykidoutdoors.gov, and present it at the entrance station fee booth.
Ocean View Community Center Library New Hours as of Saturday, Oct. 31 are Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Free Courses and Certifications for Hawaiʻi Residents through Coursera 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 through Oct. 31. 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. Responses confidential. Complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.
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., volcanogardenarts.com, cafeono.net, 967-7261. For more information go to ehcc.org.
Vote and Register In-Person same day. Locations are in Hilo at 101 Pauahi Street, #1, and Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Secure ballot dropbox located in Nāʻālehu Police Station at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 24 hours a day, until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day. See other locations here. 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 15th year of the festival features 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.
Manu, the Boy Who Loved Birds Virtual Book Release with author Caren Loebel-Fried and special guests all day Thursday, Nov. 5. Option to order books with personalized inscriptions. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Artists and Vendors, Sign Up for the Annual Art & Craft Fair at Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 7. The event, held outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., helps raise funds for OVCC and benefit local artists and crafters. Booths $8 for a 10' x 10' space, tents not provided. Free admission for attendees. Face masks required for all. Contact organizer Helen McCullough at 808-209-9204 or hmccullough.1@gmail.com.
PETFIX and Hawaiʻi Rainbow Ranger Spay and Neuter Clinic for Dogs Saturday, Nov. 7 in Ocean View. Microchips available. For information and to register, call 808-990-3548 or email petfixbigisland@gmail.com.
AdvoCATS Free Spay and Neuter Clinic will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Ocean View Community Center. To make a reservation, to reserve traps, to volunteer, or with questions, e-mail Cindy Thurston at cindyt@hawaii.rr.com, or call or text (808) 895-9283. See advocatshawaii.org.
Veterans Day Ceremony and Dinner, Kīlauea Military Camp, Wednesday, Nov. 11. Ceremony held live on KMC Facebook page at 3 p.m. Veterans Day Dinner at Crater Rim Café, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations required, limited number of complimentary meals available. Call 967-8371 for either Dine-In or Grab & Go. Menu: prime rib au jus, vegetable stir fry & black bean sauce, roasted red potatoes, cheesecake, and drink. Adults $26.95, $16.95 Vegetarian Option (w/o prime rib), children 6-11 years old, $14.95. Proof of eligibility (Military ID, DD214 with photo ID, 100% DAV, or Hawaiʻi Veterans driver license) required to receive complimentary meal. Face coverings and 6 feet distancing required in common areas. KMC open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Introduction to Beadweaving, new series of beading classes with Phyllis Cullen, begins Thursday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Kaʻū Art Gallery First Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaʻū Art Gallery (behind Ace, across from Punaluʻu Bakery, in Nāʻālehu – the old Kamaʻaina Cuts building). Free admission, face masks required for all. Contact organizer Corrine Kaupu at 808-937-1840 or kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz to vend.
Second Saturday Barbecue Fundraiser, Saturday, Nov. 14 in the parking lot of Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Come get barbecued turkey legs and more. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Basics of Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Events Sunday, Nov. 15, cleanup and survey; and Saturday, Dec. 19, cleanup. Group sizes limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations. 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.
Kīlauea Military Camp Thanksgiving Dinner, Dine-In or Grab-and-Go, for Thursday, Nov. 26 – order by Monday, Nov. 16. Choice of turkey or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed poataoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, pumpkin squares. $19.95 adults, $12.95 6-11 yrs old for Dine-In. Turkey dinner to go, $59.95. Ham dinner to go, $69.95. Call 808-967-8356.
Kīlauea Military Camp Thanksgiving Dinner, Dine-In or Grab-and-Go, for Thursday, Nov. 26 – order by Monday, Nov. 16. Choice of turkey or ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed poataoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, salad, pumpkin squares. $19.95 adults, $12.95 6-11 yrs old for Dine-In. Turkey dinner to go, $59.95. Ham dinner to go, $69.95. Call 808-967-8356.
Veteran Farmers can register for virtual Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference: Veterans Farming through Adversity held Nov. 18 and 19, Wednesday and Thursday. Features education, workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and more. $45 ($35 for coalition members). Advance registration required.
Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition opens Saturday, Nov. 21 through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Paint Your Own Silk Scarf workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Small Businesses and Nonprofits can Apply for Reimbursement Grants through the Business Pivot Program to cover expenses up to $10,000 that they incurred implementing changes to their operations, products, and services. Grant application open until Nov. 23, as funds are available. Click here for eligibility requirements and to apply. Click here for frequently asked questions.
Hawaiian Islands Challenge Virtual Run through Dec. 31. Registration closes Nov. 30. Individuals or teams can register to traverse some or all of 808 kilometers on six different courses, one on each main island. Register here.
ONGOING
Halloween Safety Tips are promoted in a video shared by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. The video cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the holiday, warning against high-risk activities such as door-to-door trick-or-treating, and indoor gatherings or haunted houses. Watch the video at khpes.org.
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. Watch the mayoral forum on PBS at youtube.com/watch?v=uneuqwEPH7s.
Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.
Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.
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, including quitting or reduced hours to provide childcare, may be eligible for up to $2,000 per month for rent, lease, or mortgage payments. Payments made directly to landlords, property managers, or mortgage lenders. Approved applicants also have access to financial counseling services.
RMAP nonprofit partners are Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935-3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933-6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808-934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, 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: surveymonkey.com/r/638VWS6.
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. (808) 913-1364. Watch the video 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 |
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.
Free Monthly Online Breastfeeding Support Group MOMs to MOMs, fourth Wednesday, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Presented and facilitated by Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi's Leila Ryusaki. Open to pregnant women and new breastfeeding moms with babies from birth to one year old. Sign up at HMONO.ORG/SERVICES.
Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. 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.
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. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs here. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families for keiki grades 1-6, 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 or info@bgcbi.org.
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. on Spectrum Channel 53, online at naleo.tv/channel-53/, streaming on Nā Leo's free mobile app, and on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.
Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here for 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.
Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 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 Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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. 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. Programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. 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. See funding updates and resources for coffee growers, hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19, from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class at 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. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, via free modules.