Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, March 7, 2020

Kokiʻo have almost vanished from dryland forests of Hawaiʻi Island. Learn about dryland forests and enjoy a classical concert to raise funding for dryland forest restoration on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House.See more below. Photo from Plant Extinction Prevention Program

THERE ARE NO CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19, on Hawaiʻi Island, but health officials are searching for those who interacted with people who disembarked in Hilo from the Grand Princess cruise ship for a day of touring last Saturday, Feb. 29. More than 3,500 of those passengers and crew are being held on Grand Princess in waters off San Francisco, unable to come ashore. They are all awaiting to be tested and possibly moved to quarantine quarters on land. Tests of those who showed symptoms came up with 19 crew members and two passengers with COVID-19, leading to the order to test all those on board the ship. Princess Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines, has cancelled the ship's next trip to Hawaiʻi.
     One person from Oʻahu, who earlier sailed on Grand Princess between San Francisco and Mexico, flew home with the disease and remains in isolation and under observation.
     County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense issued an update this morning, announcing it opened a novel coronavirus Call Center to answer questions, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at 935-0031.

Air National Guard approaches  Grand Princess with COVID-19
test kits.The ship's passengers and crew members disembarked
in Hilofor a day of touring last Saturday. Health officials are
seeking those who interacted with them. Grand Princess is stranded
 in waters off San Francisco.  Photo from California National Guard

     Federal government travel warnings have been issued as COVID-19 spreads around the planet. A "Do Not Travel" advisory has been issued for China and Iran. Italy, Mongolia, and South Korea are under a "Reconsider Travel" advisory. Hong Kong, Japan, and Macau are under an "Exercise Increased Caution Travel" advisory. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommend no travel to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea. DOH and CDC recommend verifying travel and health advisories before finalizing travel plans, as conditions of the virus change rapidly.

     A Community Advisory on Keeping Hawaiʻi Safe from DOH states: "As a reminder, we all need to do our part to keep our island and ʻohana (family) safe. Follow good hygiene practices, and cover your cough and sneeze, and wash or sanitize hands often. If you are sick with cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home. Additionally, your help is needed to prevent rumors about Coronavirus. Make sure your information is up-to-date and comes from a credible source." See the DOH website, health.hawaii.gov; CDC website, cdc.gov; or call DOH at 974-6001 or after-hours at 211.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2
(round, blue objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured
in the lab.SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the novel
 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was
 isolated from a patient in the U.S. Image from NIAID-RML

     Since the beginning of January, the number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. has reached at least 400 people in at least 25 states, with at least 19 deaths. Worldwide, more than 105,500 people have been infected, at least 3,550 people have died, and at least 52,000 have recovered. By contrast, though caused by a different type of virus, the seasonal flu has infected at least 34 million people and killed at least 20,000 since October 1, 2019, in the U.S. alone. Prevention against both viruses is similar: cover coughs, wash/cleanse hands, don't touch face with unwashed hands, clean frequently touched surfaces, and stay home/away from others when ill.

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A LACK OF TESTING KITS IN THE U.S. for the novel coronavirus sparked response from Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation this week. The Trump administration announced on Thursday it wouldn't be able to meet its promised timeline of making a million COVID-19 tests available by yesterday.

     Sen. Brian Schatz said, "Still not enough tests… Trump is wearing his campaign hat at the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and that tells you a lot about where his head is at… Just a reminder that lots of other countries have been able to deploy and operationalize tests weeks ago."

COVID-19 testing kit. Photo from wpta21.com

     Rep. Tusli Gabbard said, "South Korea has the ability to test #coronavirus on-site with rapid accurate results. Why isn't the Trump/Pence Administration importing these tests now to ensure the health and safety of the American people? This is the question that the media has failed to ask. Lives will be unnecessarily lost because of the CDC/FDA's failure to protect the American people. #COVIDー19 #SXSW."

     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "After hearing from @VP and his team on #COVID_19, one thing is clear: this administration needs to be particularly precise, transparent, and accurate in how they communicate to the public given their self-inflicted credibility problem. This is not a time for empty reassurances."

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FEWER FLIGHTS TO JAPAN DUE TO LOWERED DEMAND: Hawaiian Airlines announced it will cancel five flights between Kona and Honolulu, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport, effective March 28 through April 29, due to slowing travel demand attributed to the COVID-19 virus. This will lower Hawaiian Air flights to Japan from 42 per week to 36; Hawaiian will launch an additional daily nonstop service between HNL and HND, as announced in November.
     Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines, said, "The spread of COVID-19 beyond Asia has diminished near-term global travel demand, so we are balancing some of our Haneda capacity by suspending for about a month our hybrid service between Haneda, and Honolulu and Kona."
     Major airlines that service KOA – Hawaiian Air, Southwest, Alaska, United, American, Japan, and Delta – all have pages on their websites regarding steps taken to protect passengers, including increased cleaning and disinfecting of cabins and restrooms on the planes, and use and type of air filters. Airlines are waiving change fees, at least for a time, for those who have already booked travel but are concerned about the novel coronavirus. The fee waiver is standard practice for Southwest.

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Carlin Ma

CARLIN MA, pianist, is one of six internationally acclaimed musicians to be featured at Pāhala Plantation House tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. She is Artistic Program Director of the non-profit, and a Visual Artist. The concert will feature music to celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     Seeking means of discovery and expression, Ma has dedicated her life to music and the arts, including  solo piano, chamber music, photography, and multidisciplinary projects. As a pianist, she has performed at such venues as Kennedy Center, Ravinia Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Philharmonic Hall of St. Petersburg, and Tanglewood Music Festival. Her biography on the HIMF site states she finds it equally meaningful to initiate performances in local venues, including the inaugural Musicians@Google series in Seattle, outreach programs, and house concerts.

     Ma holds a Master's Degree of piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Bachelor's and Performer's Degree from Indiana University. Her mentors include Menahem Pressler, Yoshi Nagai, Arnaldo Cohen, Evelyne Brancart, Emile Naoumoff, and Karen Taylor. She also had the privilege of working in masterclasses with Sergei Babayan, Karl-heinz Kämmerling, Robert Levin, Joseph Kalichstein, Jon Nakamatsu, and Angela Chang.

     As an Associate Instructor at Indiana University, Ma "found passion in pedagogy, empowering a world of creative possibility in others," states her bio. She later became a Primary Instructor at New Music School in San Francisco, and now resides in Seattle, where she has a private studio.

     In her continued quest for expression, states her bio, Ma "found that music and photography strike the same internal chord, merely on different instruments. To her, photography is like chamber music through light, rather than sound."

     As a professional photographer, Ma is the lead festival photographer for Music@Menlo and staff photographer for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She enjoys photographing individuals, couples, families, and for larger institutions such as Seattle Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, Indiana University, and Chinese American International School. Special merit recognitions include front page features in Symphony Magazine, first place Aspen Chamber of Commerce Photo Contest, and third place in Tiffen Pawtraits Contest.

     Her multidisciplinary talents have led to national invitations for artistic cross-pollination projects, including with Purdue Symphony Orchestra, Blueprint Ensemble, and Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, where she is the Artistic Program Director, photographer, and pianist.

     "Fostering perpetual awareness and learning for herself and others is her committed passion," states her bio.

     Learn more about Ma on her photography website and her music music website.

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Josh Nakazawa

JOSH NAKAZAWA, cellist, will be one of the six internationally acclaimed musicians to play at Pāhala Plantation House tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. The intimate concert will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū, and feature music that celebrates native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     After his classical training at Manhattan School of Music, Nakazawa, a native of Boston, set on a musical path that continues to lead him around the globe. He has performed solo, chamber, and orchestral music at the Banff Music Festival in Canada, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the Spoletto Music Festival in South Carolina.

     After playing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and in addition to his current full time position with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, he also plays with the Hawaiʻi Opera Theater and as a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

     Nakazawa continues to collaborate with locally based artists Jake Shimubakuro, Ron Artis II, and Paula Fuga after debuting at Blue Note Hawaiʻi, and the Wakiki Shell in 2017 for Jack Johnson's Kakua festival.

     Nakazawa is a longtime supporter of community music outreach education, and is "always looking for fun and creative ways to tie culture, passion, people, and music together," states his bio.

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S.T.E.M. FAMILY NIGHT will be held at Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room on Wednesday, March 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Deadline to register at bit.ly/2Trk8N8 is Wednesday, March 18. For students in Kindergarten through 6th grade and their families, this event will allow exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math in an interactive and engaging environment. A light dinner and refreshments will be served. Contact Jen Makuakane at 808-313-4100 for more.

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OLD BOMBS FOUND ON MAUNA LOA are the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

     Old bombs found on Mauna Loa: The rest of the story (Part 1)

     In late February 2020, Hawaiʻi media reported on the recent discovery of two bombs on the north flank of Mauna Loa, but details were lacking. Today, we offer more info.

     The two bombs were part of a cluster dropped by U.S. Army Air Corp planes on the Humuʻula lava flow on December 27, 1935. According to a 1980 study by now-retired USGS HVO geologist Jack Lockwood and F.A. Torgerson (U.S. Air Force), 20 of them were 275 kg (600 lb) MK I demolition bombs, each loaded with 161 kg (355 lb) of TNT and armed with a 0.1 second time-delay fuse. The other 20 were "pointer bombs" (for aiming purposes) that contained only small black powder charges.

     The device featured in recent media reports is one of the pointer bombs. Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, HVO's founder, first described this bomb during a 1939 post-eruption inspection of the area: "… a winged bomb had plunged through a thin crust into liquid lava and was intact, its nose exposed protruding down into a tunnel below." He also found one of the demolition bombs, unexploded with several hundred pounds of TNT exposed, which was safely detonated.

     The same pointer bomb was found and photographed in 1977 by Lockwood. His photo was published in his 1980 paper with the caption, "'Pointer bomb' that penetrated 1935 pahoehoe flow alongside channel."

An Army Air Corp biplane is prepared for a mission to drop bombs on a lava 

flow advancing toward Hilo during the 1935 Mauna Loa eruption. Below the 

plane is one of 20 demolition bombs (center) dropped in an attempt to disrupt 

and redirect the Humuʻula lava flow, and two of the 20 "pointer bombs" (left 

and right) that were used for aiming purposes. Photo by Kenichi Maehara

     What is the significance of the pointer bomb found in 1939, 1977, and again in 2020?

     Events leading up to bombs penetrating the thin pāhoehoe crust of the active 1935 Humuʻula lava flow are well known to volcanologists as the first test of using explosives to stall or divert a lava flow in Hawaiʻi.

     Destroying a lava conduit to redirect a flow is one of three basic diversion tactics. However, lava diversion is the subject of great debate in Hawaiʻi, with concerns about the success of influencing a lava flow's progress and whether humans should interfere with natural processes and Pele.

     The first known use of this strategy was by a group of concerned citizens from Catania, Sicily, in 1669, when a large lava flow from Mount Etna threatened their town. Protected from the heat by cowhides, they used common digging tools to break open the lava conduit that fed the threatening flow, releasing lava into a new path away from Catania.

     The effort was briefly successful until citizens of nearby Paterno realized that the diverted flow could reach their own city and chased off the Catanians. The hole in the conduit then sealed and the flow toward Catania resumed, ultimately reaching the city and the Ionian Sea.

     In Hawaiʻi, the use of dynamite to disrupt a lava flow was planned, but not tried, in 1881 when a Mauna Loa eruption threatened Hilo. The use of explosives was discussed again in 1929, when residents feared that an earthquake swarm on Hualālai might lead to an eruption of that volcano, but none occurred. The next opportunity came a few years later.

     Following a Mauna Loa summit eruption in 1933, Jaggar predicted that a flank eruption would occur on the volcano within two years and might threaten Hilo. His prediction came true: Mauna Loa erupted in late November 1935.

     During the first week, the flow moved from the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone down its north flank and turned west, away from Hilo. But on Nov. 27, a new vent opened lower on the north flank and erupted a lava flow that went north to the base of Mauna Kea, where it ponded.

     A month after the 1935 eruption began, the lava pond at the base of Mauna Kea breached, sending a flow toward Hilo. This lava flow advanced at an alarming rate of 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) per day.

This "pointer bomb," dropped on the 1935 Mauna Loa Humuʻula lava flow, 

was found and photographed in 1939 during Thomas Jaggar's post-eruption 

inspection of the flow, and again in 1977 by now-retired USGS HVO 

geologist Jack Lockwood. This same bomb was recently rediscovered and 

featured in Hawaiʻi media reports. USGS photo by J. Lockwood, 1977

     For the previous two years, Jaggar had talked about using explosives to disrupt a lava flow that might threaten Hilo. He envisioned a land expedition carrying TNT to near the vent. But Jaggar's friend, sugar chemist Guido Giacometti, suggested that Army planes might be able to drop explosive bombs more quickly and accurately.

     So, Jaggar requested Army Air Corp assistance, which was quickly granted. On Dec. 27, 1935, ten Keystone B-3 and B-4 biplane bombers delivered 40 bombs to two target areas on the Humuʻula lava flow, both within 2 km (1.2 mi) of the Mauna Loa vent.

     Did these efforts work? Next week's Volcano Watch will lay out evidence for their success or failure.

     Volcano Activity Updates

     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL. Kīlauea monitoring data over the past month showed no significant changes in seismicity, sulfur dioxide emission rates, or deformation. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continued to slowly expand and deepen.

     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain.

     This past week, about 70 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa; the strongest was a M3.7 quake on Feb. 28. A flurry of small earthquakes occurred south of the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone, where known fault structures commonly produce shallow seismicity. Monitoring data showed that slow summit inflation continued and fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.

     One earthquake was reported felt in Hawaiʻi this past week: a magnitude-3.7 quake 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Hawaiian Ocean View at -1 km (-1 mi) depth on Feb. 28 at 1:01 a.m.

     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule

Girls Softball

Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., host Kealakehe

Tuesday, March 17, 3 p.m., host Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m., @Keaʻau

Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m., host Hilo

Boys Baseball

Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m., host Kealakehe

Wednesday, March 18, 3 p.m., @Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m., @Keaʻau

Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m., host Hilo

Boys Volleyball

Tuesday, March 10, 6 p.m., host Makualani

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m., host Konawaena

Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m., host Kamehameha

Tuesday, March 31, 6 p.m., @Kohala

Judo

Saturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., @Hilo

Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m., @Waiakea

Track

Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

UPCOMING

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me.
himusicfestival.com

Toby Walker Concert, Sunday, March 8, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's ʻŌhiʻa Room, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Walker blends blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, old-time jazz, and rock. Tickets $25 by calling (808) 896-4845 or online bluesbearhawaii.com. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

MONDAY, MARCH 9

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

Hour-Long Lomilomi Massage, Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23, 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi offers sliding-fee payment scale sessions with experienced Licensed Massage Therapist and lomilomi practitioner Lehua Hobbs. "Improve circulation, alleviate muscle pain, and improve your overall well-being." Call for appointment, 808-969-9220.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Paper Plate Rainbow Craft Registration Deadline, Tuesday, March 10. Program Wednesday, March 11, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kaʻū District Gym. Ages 5 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 928-3102

Legacy of Magic in Hawai‘i, Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Some of the world's most famous touring magicians traveled the world by steamship and performed in Hawai‘i. Some made Hawai‘i their home, and their legacy lives on today in local talented magicians, slight-of-hand artist,s and other performers. Join local award-winning magicians Bruce and Jennifer Meyers for an evening of history, mystery, and magic. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

Spring Flower Wreath Craft Registration, open Wednesday, March 11 to 18. Program Friday, March 20, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kahuku Park in HOVE. Ages 6 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 929-9113

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Lomilomi is a style of massage that incorporates the Hawaiian concept of aloha, which means to love, unify and breathe. Michelle Wall-O'Conner demonstrates the important spiritual components of lomilomi to promote personal harmony. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. nps.gov/havo

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nāʻālehu School Cafeteria. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

Caring for Hawai‘i: How to Make Wise Plant Choices, Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. Presentation by Jaya Dupuis teaches distinctions between native, Polynesian-introduced, and invasive plant species. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 13
CANCELLED: Community Dance, Friday, March 13, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

Deadline to Enter the 2020 Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest, held by Dept. of Water Supply, is Friday, March 13. "Conserve to Preserve" is the theme contest, open to all Hawaiʻi Island schoolchildren enrolled in kindergarten through the fifth grade. Free entry. Submit original artwork by keiki on flat, 11 by 17 inch paper. No computer graphics or photographs; any medium may be used, except three-dimensional renderings, chalk, charcoal, and oil-based crayon. Each submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form available online at hawaiidws.org, via email by contacting dws@hawaiidws.org, or by calling DWS at 961-8050. Entries may be mailed to or dropped off at DWS offices in Kaʻū, at 95-6041 Māmalahoa Hwy in Waiʻōhinu, and in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea. Additional contest rules are listed on the entry form and the DWS website. DWS 2020 Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest flyer/entry form.

LEGO Robots Migrant Education Program, March 16 through 20, 8 a.m. to noon, for keiki in grades 3 through 8, at Pāhala Elementary. Registration deadline is Friday, March 13. The program is free. Held during Spring Break, the Lego Education WeDo 2.0 program offers to "engage and motivate elementary school students' interest in learning science- and engineering-related subjects." The program used motorized LEGO models and simple programming. Register online at bit.ly/2VaaPUi or khpes.org. Pick up a registration form in the school's main office. Call 808-313-4100 for more.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14
Stewardship at the Summit, March 14, Saturday, and Friday, March 20 and 27, 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Additional planning details at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

Kaʻū Plantation Days, Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nāʻālehu Community Center. Organized by Kaʻū Multicultural Society. Marlene Hapai, 808-557-4540

Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Zentangle: Enso Circle Techniques with Lois & Earl Stokes, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Second Saturday in Volcano Village, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monthly event showcases business throughout the village. Volcano Garden Arts will hold self guided "Secret Garden" tours of its famous gardens, with 10% off in the art gallery, which showcases the works of many local artists. Special menu selections will be featured at Café ʻOno, serving lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Mondays. experiencevolcano.com, volcanogardenarts.com, cafeono.net, 808-985-8979

Miranda's Grand Opening of New Kaʻū Coffee Store, Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the mauka side of Hwy 11 between South Point Road and the Kahuku Section of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The event will feature music and hula, ribbon cutting, tacos, tamales, Miranda Kaʻū Coffee, and cake. mirandasfarms.com

ONGOING

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

Sign Up to Be a Vendor at the Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar by Wednesday, March 18. The annual event will be held Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located on the corner of Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamaoa Road, and Pinao Street, just above the Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu.

     Individuals, schools, clubs, and sports/athletic groups are invited to be vendors at the "flea market" that will be located on the church lawn. The charge for a 10' X 10' space is $10. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own tent, table and chairs, and if power is needed, generator. Vendors can sell anything except hot foods or plate lunches.  

     Vendors must fill out and submit a Vendor Application with the $10 fee by Wednesday, March 18. Call Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-8039 for the application.

     The Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and smoked meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

     For more information, call 928-8039.

Sign Up Keiki for the Second Annual Kaʻū Children's Business Fair, to be held Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to noon at Pāhala Community Center. Open to young entrepreneurs ages seven and 18 to share their talents by selling handmade items and services. One application may be submitted for each business. Children can sign up for booth space at no charge. Children working as a group submit one application that includes each child's information; no more than three children per business.

     Kaʻū Children's Business Fair guidelines are designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. Parents of younger children (under eight years old) may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales. Parents may aid a child, but the child runs the business.

    Learn more about participating at childrensbusinessfair.org/pahala. Visit Kaʻū Children's Business Fair's Facebook event page facebook.com/KAUCBF/. RSVP to the event at facebook.com/events/925342784527676/. Text KAUKIDSFAIR to 31996 for updates and information (message and data fees may apply).

Check Out Nāʻālehu Elementary Student Artwork from the 32nd Annual Young At Art Juried Exhibit through Friday, March 27 at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in downtown Hilo. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Register for Ocean View Classic Car & Bike Show, Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owners of classic cars and bikes are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.

     This second annual event, a fundraiser for Ocean View Community Association, will also feature food and live music, and prizes for the most impressive cars and bikes.
     Contact organizers Dennis Custard at 831-234-7143 or Ron Gall at 808-217-7982 to register or for more info.

Prince Kuhio Hoʻolauleʻa will be held Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nāʻālehu County Park. Reborn after a 20-year hiatus through the efforts of local non-profit Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū, the event will feature Hawaiian music and cultural demos, hula, crafts, food, and more. The drug- and alcohol-free event will offer entertainment with live entertainment from Gene Akamu and G2G, Uncle Sonny & Bro Tui, Braddah Ben, Lori Lei's Hula Studio, and more. Local personality Kurt Dela Cruz will emcee, and several lucky number prizes will be announced throughout the day.

     Hawaiian culture demos and activities, showcasing cultural knowledge of Kaʻū people and those tied to the area, include lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, waʻa kaulua (double-hull canoe) tours, kākau (tattoo) artistry, ʻohe kāpala (bamboo stamps), traditional Hawaiian games, and more.

     Travel through time by walking through a photo exhibit showcasing the history of Kaʻū, set-up within the Nāʻālehu Community Center. Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū representatives said they intend this to be like a visit to a mini version of their proposed Kaʻū Hawaiian Cultural Center, which has been their goal for the last 20 years. Visit Hana Laulima's booth at the hoʻolauleʻa to learn more about the revival of the Cultural Center project and membership.

     Choose from a variety of ono food including shave ice, korean chicken, roast pork plates, chili bowls, Kaʻū coffee, Big Island Candies Crunch Bars, and more. Local entrepreneurs will have pop-up shops displaying wares such as Hawaiian arts and crafts, jewelry, shirts, and hats.

     Learn more about Junior Rangers, and natural resource management, with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park rangers; ways to help free the coast of marine debris with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund; staying healthy with state Dept. of Health; native Hawaiian healthcare with Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi; ʻōpeʻapeʻa monitoring with Friends of the Kaʻū Bats; and more.

     The organization's new logo, symbolizing its rejuvenation, was created by Kaʻū High graduate and local artist Kaweni Ibarra, who is also a Hana Laulima board member. Newly elected board members also include Lisa Derasin, Kupuna Jessie Ke, president Terry-Lee Shibuya, vice-president Elizabeth Naholowaʻa Murph, secretary Nālani Parlin, and treasurer Kehaulani Ke. Membership is $10 per year. For more information about the hoʻolauleʻa, contact Terry Shibuya at 938-3681 or terrylshibuya@gmail.com; Trini Marques at 928-0606 or trinimarques@yahoo.com; or Kupuna Ke.

     Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū promises that the Prince Kuhio Day Hoʻolauleʻa will continue as an annual event.

Mixed Flock Volcano Art Center Exhibit, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 29. Features prints by Margaret Barnaby and pottery by Emily Herb. Glazing techniques demo Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

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

Sign Up to Vend at the New ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Nāʻālehu Farmers Market, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.

     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

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

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