Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, June 25, 2020

The Fourth of July Rodeo held each year by the Kaʻū Roping & Ricing Association at Nāʻālehu Rodeo Grounds is
canceled, along with the Fourth of July parade through the village, sponsored by ʻO Kaʻū Kākou.
See more below. Photo by Julia Neal

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

MORE REOPENING OF COUNTY RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS FACILITIES were announced today by Mayor Harry Kim. Camping at beach parks, including Punaluʻu and Whittington, begins Aug. 1. Most public swimming pools, including the one in Pāhala, can open July 13.
     Allowed immediately are organized outdoor sports practices, such as high school football, volleyball, baseball, soccer, and basketball. They can proceed with only outdoor practices that keep participants at least six feet apart. The practices are limited to 35 persons, including players, coaches, and other staff. Separate sports programs at the same outdoor venues shall stay at least 20 feet apart.

Football and other outdoor sports practices will be allowed
with distancing, starting immediately, with phased-in
timing for scrimmages and games.
Photo by Tim Wright, Kaʻū '77

     Phase II of sports opening up arrives on July 20, when sports may resume full regimen practices and scrimmages for training and competitive play. Competitive play will be limited to one team against another per venue and mingling outside of playing the sport is prohibited. Social distancing is required for coaches, scorekeepers, and all others involved with the event.
     Camping also comes with rules and responsibilities for the campers to disinfect and sanitize common contact surfaces such as grills, picnic tables, water faucets, restroom fixtures, and showers prior and immediately following each person's use. Campers must bring their own cleaning supplies. Those camping together must keep tents ten feet apart. Groups of campers must stay 20 feet apart.

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BARS CAN REOPEN starting tomorrow, according to an announcement from Mayor Harry Kim today. Rules include allowing a maximum of ten people per group, with each group prohibited from intermingling or being closer than six feet apart. The bar must provide physical barriers, such as ropes, or sitting groups at separate tables to keep them apart. Employees must wear face coverings and guests must wear them entering the bar but can take them off inside.

Mehe in Ocean View with distancing.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Nightclubs and both indoor and outdoor large venues for concerts, conventions, and races, like marathons, remain closed.
     Bars in Kaʻū and Volcano are located at Mehe in Ocean View, Shaka's in Nāʻālehu, and Volcano House, Thai Thai, and Lava Lounge in Volcano.

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INCREASING PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST IN COUNTY POLICE OFFICERS, is the stated aim of a conference committee at the Hawaiʻi Legislature. On Wednesday, it passed House Bill 285 HD1 SD2 CD1. According to a statement from the state House of Representatives, "The measure requires the disclosure of the identity of officers who are suspended or discharged for misconduct in a report to the Legislature, removes the exemption for police from disclosure under Hawaiʻi's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), and clarifies additional authorities and powers of the Law Enforcement Standards Board.
     Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson, Chair of the House Labor and Public Employment Committee, said, "Transparency is critical to maintaining the public trust when you're in charge of enforcing the law. The Legislature needed to take this step to help support and differentiate the many good officers who keep us safe from those who abuse their position of power."

Kaʻū police are known for their community work and as peace officers, such as officer Dane Shibuya watching over the

drive-through Kaʻū High School graduation this year. Photo by Julia Neal 

     The UIPA currently requires the names of all disciplined state and city government employees to be disclosed but exempts county police officers. Amending the UIPA code effectively holds police to the same standard as civil servants. The passage of this measure builds on several years of work by legislators for greater police transparency and reform.

     Rep. Chris Lee, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said, "The steps this bill takes will increase transparency, build trust in law enforcement, and make it easier for our good officers to do their difficult jobs with the help of a supportive community that trusts them."
     The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House and Senate during floor sessions next week. For more information visit capitol.hawaii.gov.

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY has named Toni Parras to join the executive team and lead marketing and communications for TNC in Hawaiʻi. Her work will involve TNC's operations on Hawaiʻi Island, led by Shalan Crysdale of Nāʻālehu. TNC's Hawaiʻi Island headquarters is located in Kaʻū, where it manages its preserves, including the Kamehame turtle nesting grounds and native forests.

Toni Parras

     Most recently, Parras was Director of Editorial and Media Relations at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and before that she was the Communications Manager for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in Hawaiʻi, for both Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
     Ulalia Woodside, Executive Director of TNC in Hawaiʻi, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Toni on board as Director of Marketing and Communications. Toni's extensive experience in conservation, strategic communications, and media will elevate our efforts to preserve Hawaiʻi's lands and waters, restore ʻāina momona (abundance), and strengthen the connection of island residents with our culture and traditional way of life."
     Parras started her career in film production, working on movies, TV shows, and wildlife documentaries for Animal Planet, Discovery, National Geographic, ABC, NBC, the BBC, and many others. She has also worked as a freelance writer and photographer, her works featured in multiple publications.
     Parras said, "I am honored and excited to be working with TNC. Living in balance with nature is our best hope for the future, and I look forward to sharing stories about how TNC is working toward that goal by collaborating with communities and partners to revitalize natural habitats across the islands."
     Parras holds a bachelor's degree in Communication from University of Miami, and a master's in Marine Affairs and Policy from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science in Miami, Florida.

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DEVELOPMENT OF A COVID-19 VACCINE NEEDS OVERSIGHT says Sen. Mazie Hirono. This week, she wrote to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Operation Warp Speed Chief Advisor Dr. Moncef Slaoui, and Army Material Command Commanding General Gustave Perna, urging them to provide briefings to Congress every two weeks on the status of the administration's initiative to develop, manufacture, and distribute 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by 2021.
     Hirono's letter acknowledges the importance of providing a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, but raises concerns about a lack of transparency and accountability around the project. The letter specifically highlights the limited information about the division of responsibilities of OWS, safeguards to protect Americans' health and safety, and contracting decisions. This letter follows the Senator's questioning during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, where she asked Perna if he would regularly brief Congress on OWS.

Operation Warp Speed, supported by the federal government and other efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine,
needs oversight according to Sen. Mazie Hirono. She wants a report to Congress every two weeks. The goal
is to develop a vaccine and inoculate three million people by 2021. Photo from Defense Systems Journal

     Hirono wrote, "A COVID-19 vaccine is of intense interest to Congress and the American public, and confidence in the process and results will only be possible with transparency. So far, there is limited information and clarity around the division of responsibilities, contracting decisions, and safeguards in place to ensure Americans' health and safety are the first priority.

     "At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on June 18, 2020, I asked General Perna if he would commit to brief Congress and the public every two weeks on OWS. He said he would report as directed. The importance of full and open transparency as OWS leadership make decisions of significant consequence in the weeks and months ahead cannot be overstated. I am asking again that a member of OWS leadership provide biweekly briefings to Congress on the project." The letter can be found here.

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Julie Mitchell, of Kuʻikahi Mediation Center, receives a $10,000
check from First Hawaiian Bank Foundation.
Photo from Kuʻikahi Mediation Center

FIRST HAWAIIAN BANK FOUNDATION recently provided $10,000 to Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center to support the free Rapid Response Landlord Tenant Mediation Program, a joint project with West Hawai‘i Mediation Center. Although state and federal eviction moratoriums have been extended, rent still accrues and is due unless there is a plan in place to work things out. To assist with difficult conversations, the island's two non-profit community mediation centers offer conflict resolution services free of charge to residential and commercial tenants and landlords in Hawaiʻi County impacted by COVID-19.ʻūā
     Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell said, "Encouraging frank and productive communication is critical now more than ever. Landlords cannot afford to lose good tenants, especially given that vacancies may be difficult to fill with so many local businesses and residents in dire financial circumstances. Tenants cannot afford to owe thousands of dollars in back rent, only to be faced 3, 6, or 9 months later with eviction proceedings, business closures, awards for damages and garnishment, ruined credit ratings, bankruptcy, and/or nowhere to live or work."
     Mediation looks for mutually satisfying solutions for both landlords and tenants, with the help of neutral third parties -- the mediators. To promote social distancing, mediation is available remotely via phone or video, as well as in-person in certain cases, with safety precautions. 

     Mitchell said, "Mahalo to Chuck Erskine and the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation for supporting this coronavirus recovery program. In addition, we appreciate all of our public, private, and non-profit sector donors."

     Donors include the County of Hawai‘i, County of Hawai‘i Department of Research and Development, Hawai‘i Island REALTORS®, Hawai‘i Island Strong Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Hawai‘i Island United Way, Hawai‘i Island United Way, Richard Smart Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, Rotary Club of South Hilo Foundation, and West Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS®.
     In East Hawai‘i, call Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or visit hawaiimediation.org. In West Hawai‘i, call West Hawai‘i Mediation Center at (808) 885-5525 or visit whmediation.org.

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A rider falls off a bull as rodeo clowns and others try to distract the animal. Photo by Julia Neal

FOURTH OF JULY RODEO IN NĀʻĀLEHU IS POSTPONED. Organizer Tammy Kaʻapana said today that the Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association may hold the event in the Fall, depending on conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. A week from this Saturday, the competition for youth and adults would have marked the 43rd anniversary for the annual Fourth of July Rodeo in Nāʻālehu. It is famous for drawing paniolo from around the state to compete in traditional events such as Poʻo Wai U, children sheep riding, youth calf riding and adult bull riding, and many other roping and riding events. Rodeo clowns entertain the audience and keep participants safe. To donate or for more on Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association, call Kaʻapana at 808-854-7917.

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TROPICAL STORM BORIS is expected to cross over from the East to Central Pacific tomorrow afternoon. The depression became a tropical storm last night.
     The National Weather Service predicts that Borris will weaken back into a Tropical Depression while still far southeast of Hawaiʻi Island. NWS forecasts the storm will continue to move in a west-northwest to northwest motion during the next few days, as it dissipates. At 5 p.m., Boris had maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. It was about 1,800 miles from South Point, at latitude 11.4 North, longitude 137.9 West, moving west-northwest at 9 mph. NWS predicts the storm will drop back into a depression by tomorrow morning.
     Hurricane season is starting to see more activity with warming Pacific waters. Public officials urge residents to include face masks, gloves, sanitizers, and other pandemic supplies in their hurricane emergency kits.

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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is 

zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) 

is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. 

Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.

Hawaiʻi Department of Health map

NO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND are reported today. There are two active cases on this island. The patients are being monitored by Department of Health.
     Oʻahu reported 12 new cases today and Kauaʻi reported four new cases. The state's new case total is 213 in 20 days.

     Hawaiʻi Island recorded its two active cases over the last two weeks. All other 84 confirmed COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two hospitalizations on-island; both patients have been released.

     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 595 cases, Kauaʻi 33, and Maui County 122. Fourteen victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 850 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.

     The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "As the State and County of Hawaiʻi move forward, it is so important to continue following the preventive policies to keep Hawaiʻi safe. To those traveling, know the importance of awareness and caution as you travel out of state. Thank you for listening and doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."

     In the United States, more than 2,416,727 cases have been confirmed – an increase of over 45,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 122,550. Worldwide, more than 9.56 million have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is more than 486,101.

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.

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.

EVENTS
Cold Wax Painting Class by Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. $65/$60 VAC member. Must wear CDC-recommended face covering, required to use provided cleaning supplies after class. Artists of all levels welcome. Limited to six people, advanced registration required: volcanoartcenter.
org/events, 967-8222.

Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30: KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.

Sponsors Needed to Feed Keiki in low-income communities during the summer. Schools, public agencies, churches, and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program. Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to youth who are 18 years old and younger. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, June 30. Contact Daniel Sutcharitkul at 808-587-3600 or daniel.sutcharitkul@k12.hi.us with questions or to apply. Visit hcnp.hawaii.gov for more information.

Enter the RevʻULUtion Student Art Contest by Tuesday, June 30. Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative invites all students residing in Hawaiʻi in PreK through 12th grades to create and submit original artwork that will be featured in an upcoming traveling art exhibit, a 13-month calendar, and across the internet on the cooperative's partners websites and social media. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of ʻulu as a "resilient cultural and agricultural resource" that is a "viable option for increasing food security and self-sufficiency across the Hawaiian Islands.

     Each student may submit as many pieces as they wish on 8.5 by 11 paper, in the landscape (horizontal) orientation. Any art medium, except computer graphics and photographs, may be used as long as the artwork is flat and can be scanned. Each entry must be accompanied by a short – 75 words or less – explanation of ʻUlu's Place in Hawaiʻi: Past, Present, and Future, and an entry form. Visit
eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.

Apply for Energy Assistance through June 30 for help to pay energy bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program assists eligible people with a one-time payment towards their electric or gas bill. See humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap.

Eco-Tour at Shaka Forest Farms, Friday, July 3 at 10 a.m. in Volcano Village. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Independence Day Community Barbecue, Saturday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or as long as supplies last at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Free grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, chicken and ribs plates available for purchase. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Celebrate 4th of July with OKK at its Market space in Nāʻālehu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. ʻO Kaʻū Kākou will offer shave ice, hot dogs, and watermelon, free to the public, either grab-and-go or during the event. Attendees must observe social distancing, sanitize hands at the entry, and wear face masks. OKK will thank Brawny for naming OKK Pres. Wayne Kawachi a Brawny Giant and donating $10,000 to the non-profit group.

Dine In or Grab-and-Go at Crater Rime Café in Kīlauea Military Camp on Saturday, July 4. Ready-to-Go Family BBQ Special will be served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes 8 BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, 16 pieces of Local Style Fried Chicken, 8 pieces of 6 oz. Corn on the Cob, 2 lbs. of Coleslaw, 2 lbs. of Steamed Rice, and 2 lbs. of Mashed Potatoes, all for $55.95. Individual To-Go Lunches will also be available for purchase at $12.95 per person. Reservations for dine-in and take-out are required, call 967-8356. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Apply for Small Grants to improve access to healthy foods in underserved areas, create and preserve quality jobs, and revitalize low-income communities through the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, urges The Kohala Center. Deadline to submit a letter of interest is Friday, July 10. Visit the program website or refer to this fact sheet for more information.

Zentangle with Lydia Meneses, Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Grow Food From Wood: Mushroom Cultivation with Zach Mermel, separate workshops on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristin Wolfgang, a virtual workshop via Zoom, will be held Saturday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2020 the year you finally get started or restarted? This class is perfect for all writers seeking new inspiration and strategies." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

ONGOING

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. Nāʻālehu's final ʻOhana Food Drop is Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.

Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.

Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center says database consists of "collections of data pertaining to historically and culturally significant places, events, and documents in Hawaiʻi's history. The purpose of this educational online repository is to increase the community's ability to preserve and perpetuate cultural and historical information and practices." See papakilodatabase.com.

Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming from two free modules of a virtual training program. Accessible online, additional modules will be added. The course is presented by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. The Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday and Tuesday. Virtual Shopping Appointments are offered at Volcano Art Center locations. Via Skype or FaceTime, a VAC associate helps customers browse the selection of artwork up close, and gives personalized tips and recommendations to help customers "find that perfect piece of locally made artwork, wherever you are in the world!" Book an appointment online for $5 and VAC staff will help schedule a date and time at volcanoartcenter.org/shop. Shop the online gallery 24/7. Orders are shipped as regularly scheduled. Free local pickup is available.VAC now offers a Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. Visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.

Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at VolcanoArt 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

Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Free. The exhibition features two prominent female artists from Volcano Village "who find deep inspiration in Hawaiʻi's natural environment and specifically the native bird populations found within it." volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Ocean View Swap Meet is open 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.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
     A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.

Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.

     Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.

     The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
     See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

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.