Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Uēkahuna Bluff above Jaggar Museum at moonrise. See below the schedule of events remaining during Hawaiʻi
Volcanoes National Park's virtual Cultural Festival, which continues through Saturday. NPS photo/ Janice Wei

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

REGISTER TO VOTE BY THURSDAY AND SEE A SAMPLE BALLOT. Deadline to register for the Primary election is tomorrow, Thursday, July 9 at 4:30 p.m. Register or confirm mailing address and see a sample ballot of all choices at olvr.hawaii.gov. Paper registration applications can also be mailed in with postmark by the deadline. Same-day voter registration is available at Voter Service Centers in Kona and Hilo. Ballots can be expected for delivery around Tuesday, July 21, and must be postmarked by Aug. 3. Election Day for counting the votes is Saturday, Aug. 8. Those who believe their ballot will not make the deadline can take them to Nāʻālehu Police Station 24 hours a day, July 27 through Aug. 7, and on Election Day, Aug. 8, through 7 p.m. See elections.hawaii.gov.

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KAʻŪ HOSPITAL CLINIC STAFF TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19, results coming in this morning, says its administrator Merilyn Harris. Testing followed a new health care provider coming up positive on Monday after seeing patients for two days in Kaʻū Hospital Rural Health Clinic.
     Harris writes, "I'm happy to report that we tested all the clinic staff and all were negative. Clinic will re-open for patients tomorrow. I understand the concerns expressed by people who have been asking: 'How can this happen?'

A tent outside Kaʻū Hospital and Clinic screens incoming patients before
allowing entry. Photo by Lora Botanova

     "The state travel exemption for healthcare providers does not require a negative COVID-19 test. In this case, we recommended it, and unfortunately, it was not done. We are reviewing our protocols regarding new employees and pre-employment testing requirements, to make sure that in future anyone coming to work here starts with a negative COVID-19 test."

     The health care provider came from out of state and is isolated at accommodations away from the hospital campus. According to Harris masks were worn by all patients and the health care provider during their time at the clinic.

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A NEAR DROWNING OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY AT KĀWĀ is reported by the Hawaiʻi Fire Department. According to today's report, Company 11 from Pāhala Fire Station and Nāʻālehu responded to the scene with Hawaiʻi Police Department.
     Police and Fire employed an off-road vehicle to access the beach area from Highway 11. They found a pulseless and unresponsive five-year-old male on the beach with CPR being performed by a family member. HFD personnel took over resuscitation efforts and extricated the patient from Kāwā beach to the Medic unit using an off-road vehicle.
     Medics initiated advanced life support treatment and Transported the patient to Kaʻū Hospital by HFD Medic 11.
     The patient was stabilized and transported to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition.

     The fire department reported the location of the incident as a sandy, rocky beach area with surrounding, low-lying cliffs, with gated access off of Highway 11, a half a mile off road to beach area. At the beach they found rough surf with choppy conditions.

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DELAY REOPENING TRANSPACIFIC TRAVEL, says the doctor who has co-sponsored numerous drive through CIVOD-19 testing in Kaʻū and around this island. Dr. Scott Miscovich, President and founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaiʻi, told Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald writer John Burnett that he just visited Arizona. "I've just been to the future… and it's terrifying. You look at Arizona right now and Texas — it's just horrific what's going on there," Miscovich said.

Dr. Scott Miscovich, founder of Premier Medical Group,
which conducts drive up testing for COVID-19, warns
Hawaiʻi to hold back travelers from the mainland.

     "We are definitely going in the wrong direction as a state," Miscovich told the Tribune Herald in a story published today. "This is very, very concerning to me, at this point. The most concerning part is the randomness of the number of positives. We've gone from having definable clusters that we could track and understand where the positives came from and why they could be tracked down to just a few individuals scattered throughout. Now, we are seeing positives throughout, especially Oʻahu." Miscovich said that randomness makes it more difficult to conduct contact tracing and testing of contacts.

     Miscovich told the Tribune Herald, "I was on the phone this morning calling five positives, and every one of them was different. Every one of them was random… in that, they really didn't know where they got it. That's problematic. There's about 40 percent asymptomatic positives, and those people will be spreading."
     He told the reporter that another alarming trend is the rate of infections in younger people, ages 20-35. "That is the largest demographic in the entire United States that's expanding. It's also the largest group that's showing a burst of hospitalizations, as well as deaths… You see these group gatherings in bars and restaurants and… half of them don't have masks on. And indoor gatherings that are so large that, even though they might be spread out, that closed environment is where this respiratory virus spreads.
     "The biggest takeaway is individual people must take personal responsibility for stopping this crisis. Governments can only do so much. It has to come down to every one of us understanding that social distancing is important, as well as wearing your masks." See more at Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald.

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WITH JALPAK DELAYING BOOKING VISITORS FROM JAPAN, the travel industry is taking another blow this week, as Hawaiʻi plans to open up Aug. 1 to U.S. visitors with a negative COVID test so they can avoid a 14-day quarantine.
     Ideas of a travel bubble between low-COVID Hawaiʻi and other low-COVD-19 populations like Japan, Korea, New Zealand are out of the conversation.

     With visitors coming from the mainland, with  one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 in the world, travelers from places with little COVID-19 are hesitant to book a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Many countries, including those in the European Union, have banned travel from the U.S.
     JALPAK, a division of Japan Airlines, is one of the largest booking agencies for Japanese travelers' flights and accommodations for Hawaiʻi. The company announced that it will see how the August influx of visitors to Hawaiʻi affects the COVID-19 count before determining when to book visitors from Japan to Hawaiʻi again. Japan visitors have accounted for a steady and large segment of tourism in Hawaiʻi for more than half a century.

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KAʻŪ OFFERS TWO COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS:

     Bay Clinic at 95-5583 Mamālahoa Highway in Nāʻālehu is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Appointment required. No drive-thru; stay in vehicle. Patients are seen regardless of ability to pay. There is a fee for the COVID-19 test. Call 808-333-3600.

Bay Clinic in Nāʻālehu is open for COVID-19 testing 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
Tuesday through Friday.

     Kaʻū Hospital at 1 Kamani Street in Pāhala is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring ID and insurance card. Pre-operative and Emergency Room patients only. Screening conducted outside, in a tent. There is a fee for the COVID-19 test. Call 808-932-4200.

     Free screening and testing is offered in Kona at Aliʻi Health Center, 808-747-8321, or Aloha Kona Urgent Care, 808-365-2297 or 808-854-3566; and in various locations around the island through Premier Medical Group, 808-213-6444.

     Other island locations that offer testing are Kona Community Hospital, 808-322-9311; North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital in Kohala, 808-885-4444; Hale Hoʻola Hamakua, 808-932-4116; Clinical Labs of Hawaiʻi in Hilo, 808-935-4814; Hilo Urgent Care, 808-969-3051; Keaʻau Urgent Care, 808-966-7942; Puna Community Medical Center, 808-930-6001; and Bay Clinic locations in Hilo, Keaʻau, and Puna – call 808-333-3600.

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THE U.S. REACHED A GRIM MILESTONE OF OVER THREE MILLION CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES today. The United States confirmed cases increased by more than 124,000 in about 24 hours – more than double yesterday's increase. The death toll is over 132,195.

     Hawaiʻi reports 23 news cases today. Oʻahu reported 20 new cases, Maui two, Hawaiʻi one. The state's new case total is 458 in 33 days.

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 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

     There are nine active cases on-island, reports Department of Health. One zip code on the west side has between six and ten active cases. All active patients are being monitored by DOH. Eight cases are travel-related, says a statement from DOH. Details of the ninth case have not yet been released. This island's other 87 confirmed COVID-19 victims recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were three hospitalizations on-island; those patients have been released.

     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 808 cases, Kauaʻi 42, and Maui County 130. Eighteen victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 1,094 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Nineteen people died.

     The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "The United States continues to see a large increase of infected people occurring. Hawaiʻi State has also recorded the highest single-day increase in the past day. The Department of Health reports that 38 of this increase occurred on Oahu. DOH indicates that the major cause of the increases, especially over the past week, is due to people not following policies of face coverings and distancing. Do be reminded that it is mandatory to wear a face covering on Hawaiʻi Island.

     "Hawaiʻi County remains in a good place, but know how important it is to continue, and even get better, in following the preventive policies of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness. Thank you for doing your part to keep your loved ones and the community safe. Thank you for listening and take care of yourself. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."

     The worldwide COVID-19 case count is nearly 12 million. The death toll is more than 547,931.

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Jeanné Kapela campaigns to represent West Kaʻū in
the state House of Representatives.
Photo from Kapela's campaign

JEANNÉ KAPELA, MISS HAWAIʻI 2015, IS RUNNING FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for the second time. She would represent District 5 from Honuʻapo, though Nāʻālehu, Ocean View, and Miloliʻi, into Kona. According to a campaign statement sent to The Kaʻū Calendar, she is the Prevention Education Coordinator for IMUAlliance. The statement says the organization is "one of Hawaiʻi's largest victim service providers for survivors of sex trafficking."

     According to the statement, she also serves West Hawaiʻi as a member of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival Board of Directors and as Operations Coordinator for the Kona Historical Society. She is a Lions Club of Kona member, communications chair of Konawaena High School's 100th Anniversary Committee, and Director of the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Competition.

     She was previously on the board of Kona Coffee Farmers Association. The statement says she served as Executive Director of UNITE Hawaiʻi, an organization devoted to ending sexual exploitation through education. Kapela worked two sessions in the Hawaiʻi legislature, for Rep. Nadine Nakamura in 2017 and for Rep. Amy Perruso in 2019. Her statement says worked on increasing public education funding, banning use of pesticide glyphosate on public school campuses, and addressing the climate crisis.

     Kapela, 25, was born in Kona and raised on a small coffee farm in Captain Cook. She graduated from Konawaena High School in 2012. She wrote to The Kaʻū Calendar that she grew up in poverty, and "understands the importance of putting people before profit." Her campaign information says she is running "to protect our iconic agricultural and coffee industries, champion the needs of working families, deliver the schools our keiki deserve, and defend the environment from a worsening climate crisis. I am committed to advancing the common good for the community in which I was born and raised… I am dedicated to strengthening West Hawaiʻi through the spirit of public service.

     "It's time to guarantee that the workers who drive our economy are able to thrive financially, give our children a world-class education system, make the islands affordable for all who call Hawaiʻi home, and protect our ʻāina for generations to come.

Jeanné Kapela with the LEO-Lions Club support group.
Photo from Kapela's campaign

     "Our community deserves leadership with aloha. Two years ago, my campaign started a movement to bring hope to those who need it most. Today, faced with a soaring cost of living, crumbling schools, and climate change, that movement is more urgent than ever."

     Kapela's campaign promises to raise the minimum wage to at least $17/hour, establish statewide paid family leave and sick pay programs, raise teacher pay, eliminate the gender pay gap, defend women's rights to access reproductive care, advocate for additional resources for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, educate children about the dangers of sexual exploitation, and increase the availability of rehabilitative care for survivors of sex trafficking.

     Her statement says she would work to eliminate cash bail, which criminalizes economically disadvantaged people; sponsor restorative justice initiatives, including the legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana use; introduce legislation to ban private prisons in Hawaiʻi; and support police reform and accountability measures.

     Her platform includes measures to fully fund schools, reduce standardized testing, create community schools that provide "wraparound services for vulnerable children," create affordable housing, support a single-payer healthcare insurance program, and ensure access to protective equipment, testing capacity, bed space, and essential medicine.

     It also includes initiatives to fund research on eliminating agricultural infestations, increase funding for Hawaiʻi's conservation and sustainability programs, support measures for a managed retreat from Hawaiʻi's coastlines, advocate for a carbon tax, create a Green New Deal for the islands that "uplifts workers' prosperity and our ʻāina for generations to come."

Jeanné Kapela campaigns with supporters. Photo from Kapela's campaign

     The statement from her campaign says that, as a Native Hawaiian woman, she is committed to preserving Hawaiian culture and supporting legislation to increase Hawaiians' share of public land revenue. Kapela wrote that she will work to ensure Hawaiian families are given access to homestead lands, defend Hawaiʻi's land and water resources from commodification, and empower indigenous voices in political decision-making. 

     Kapela is endorsed by International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Hawaiʻi State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association, Pono Initiative Hawaiʻi, 350 Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Government Employees Association Local 152, Planned Parenthood, Patsy T. Mink PAC, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network, Our Revolution Hawaiʻi, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and Hawaiʻi Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996.

     See Kapela's campaign website jeannekapela.com.

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SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND BY PHONE. Social Security Administration Public Affairs Specialist Jane Burigsay wrote to The Kaʻū Calendar, "Social Security remains committed to providing uninterrupted benefits and vital services the public relies on… Most business with SSA can be done online but we know that many people still rely on phone or in-person help. That's why we want people to know they can still count on us by phone."

     Speak with a representative at the Hilo office by calling 855-572-4860 (800-325-0778 for TTY), or call the national number at 800-772-1213.

     Social Security offices are not providing service for walk-in visitors. However, an appointment for limited, critical issues if help by phone isn't sufficient may be possible.

     Hawaiʻi residents are encouraged to call or take advantage of SSA's secure online services to apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits; see status of an application or appeal; request a replacement Social Security card, print a benefit verification letter; and more.

     Burigsay wrote, "We know that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic. We continue to extend deadlines wherever possible."

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KAʻŪ FOOD PRODUCERS can stay in touch with food manufacturers around the state much easier now with virtual meetings of Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association. Attend an "HFMA COVID-19 Crisis Meeting" held in conjunction with Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation and Innovate Hawaiʻi on Tuesday, July 14 at 2 p.m.

     The meeting will feature three Hawaiʻi Food Manufacturers Association members. They will share the top three concerns their companies have regarding the COVID-19 crisis: Paul Uyehara of Aloha Tofu, Ryan Sung of Honolulu Cookie Co., and Erin Uehara of Choco Lea. That will be followed by discussion and sharing from the audience.
     The goal, says the statement from HFMA, is to "come away with three topics, for three subsequent sessions, to help HFMA members through this pandemic."
     Join the virtual meeting through Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/

82116384790pwd=c3hndVhFTzEzOVBVa0xsTEtWdGZ1Zz09, Meeting ID: 821 1638 4790, Password: 071420.

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POLITICAL SIGNS ARE PROHIBITED in the County right of way along roads and all county facility properties, per County Code, says a statement from Hawaiʻi County officials. "Encroachments in County right of ways have the potential to impair vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian sight distances."

     Political signs are allowed on private property.

     Section 22-2.6 of the Hawaiʻi County Code reads: "no person shall construct, place, leave, deposit, erect, or install any privately owned signs, handbills, posters or other related advertising material on or above any County street. Private signs and other advertising materials are prohibited and shall be subject to immediate removal by the Department of Public Works."

      Crews from the Department of Public Works Highways Division will remove any non-compliant signs in County right of ways and/or at county facility properties and store them at district baseyards until Nov. 3 (Election Day). Removed signs can be reclaimed at the respective DPW Highways baseyard in the district where the signs were located. DPW Highways baseyards are open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Direct questions or concerns to Rana Rodillas, Highways Division Administration office, 961-8349.

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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.

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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.

EVENTS

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Virtual Cultural Festival runs through Saturday, July 11 on social media. Hawaiian culture is shared with a wide audience free of charge. Instead of gathering the community and visitors together in person, the Park will share short videos and other mana‘o (knowledge) about Hawaiian culture virtually. #FindYourVirtualPark. Go to facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps/.

     All virtual events are posted, as scheduled, the content available any time afterwards. See the Opening ‘Oli Komo, new Mo‘olelo and Places pages, Learn to Make a Tī Leaf Lei,  and  read comments from the Facebook Watch Party and watch the documentary, Saving ‘Ōhi‘a.
     Here is the schedule for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:
     Hawaiian Lua (Martial Arts) with Ranger Michael Newman and Olivia Crabtree on Thursday, July 9 at 8:08 a.m. Bone-breaking maneuvers and war clubs encircled with tiger-shark teeth are probably not the first things to come to mind when one pictures the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian fighting style of lua is a formidable art form that requires skill, specific movement, and a host of deadly weapons. The rangers demonstrate this traditional fighting style.

     Learn to Make a Pūlumi Nī‘au (Hawaiian Broom) with Ranger Dean Gallagher on Friday, July 10 at 8:08 a.m. Get swept up in gathering plant materials and learn to make a pūlumi nī‘au, or authentic Hawaiian broom.

     Closing ‘Oli Mahalo will close the Virtual Cultural Festival on Saturday, July 11 at 8:08 a.m. Park staff and ‘ohana will blow the pū (conch shell) and chant the ‘Oli Mahalo together, requesting departure to close the festival. Gifted to the park by Kepā Maly, the ‘Oli Mahalo expresses gratitude. Ranger Kekoa Rosehill narrates.
     Many areas in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that provide outdoor experiences like hiking trails, overlooks, and roads, are now open to the public, but services are limited. Visit the Current Conditions page on the park website for a complete list of what's open, and how to prepare for a safe trip to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, at nps.gov.

Free Virtual Storytime Sessions with Jeff Gere, Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday for three weeks, 9:30 a.m. to 10:10 a.m., through July 23. Partnered with UH-Mānoa's Outreach College Statewide Cultural Extension Program. To attend each show, email jeffgere1031@gmail.com and csinfo@hawaii.edu, with the subject SCEP : Jeff Gere. In the body of the email, copy & paste in the programs wanted to watch from the list below. An email confirming the reservation will confirm receipt. About 30 minutes before each show starts at 9:30 a.m., csinfo@hawaii.edu will email the Zoom link to the email provided.

     Tuesdays: Participation Tales. July 14, Silly N' Spooky Tales. July 21, Teaching Tales. Wednesdays: Folktales. July 15, Fooling the Devil, King & Goat Head. July 22, several Adventurous Tales. Thursdays: "Spooky Hawaiʻi" Tales. July 9, Panui. July 16, Old Mililani Graveyard, Sensative. July 23, Pele Tales, true stories of meeting Pele.

     During performances, leave microphones off so everyone can enjoy the show. Share sign-up information with "as many listeners as you like" and watch "as many shows as you like." Tech questions should be directed to summer aides. All attendees will be asked to answer a host and technology questionnaire after each show. Zoom's WEBINAR format does not allow a view of the audience. "We won't be able to see your children. It is not an issue."

Talk Story on Living with Serious Illness, Friday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Virtual event, hosted by Hawaiʻi Care Choices, will feature personal insights on "why accessing healthcare early can boost the quality of life" from former Hawaiʻi County Mayor Billy Kenoi, and Rodney Powell, a licensed clinical social worker and service coordination manager with Hawaiian Helathcare. Host Lani Weigert, Community Manager of Hawaiʻi Care Choices will share how to get help, relief, and support for serious illness through Kupu Palliative Care, Hospice, and Bereavement Care. Register for this Zoom event before Friday, July 10 by emailing LFukushima@hawaiicarechoices.org. See hawaiicarechoices.org, call 808-969-1733, or email care@hawaiicarechoices.org for more.

After-School All-Stars Free Virtual Summer Program runs through Friday, July 17 - register before July 10. For students going into 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Classes offered are cooking, baking, fitness, arts & crafts, sports, gardening, and more. Every activity earns one entry in a prize drawing. All materials provided; pick up on Monday mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., in Volcano, Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, or Ocean View. Register at tinyurl.com/KauSummer2020. For more info, contact Chrysa Dacalio, kau@asashawaii.org, 808-561-3710.

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

Kaʻū Chapter of Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United meets this Sunday, July 12 at Wood Valley Ranch mamaki tea farm at 96-02232 South Road. It begins at 1 p.m. and includes a pot luck and tour of the mamaki farm, which is the new home of interim President Matt Dreyer. Among the Kaʻū Farmers Union initiatives are a food hub for Kaʻū, with CSA, and an online store platform to sell locally grown food.

Virtual 80th Meeting of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, Tuesday, July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will introduce new and returning members; have presentations on advisory council guidelines, sanctuary updates, and discussions on potential council action topics; and address questions from members and the public. Public comment begins about 10:30 a.m. To provide comment, sign up in advance, email cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov or type a comment into the Question box. Register in advance at attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5189333551313546256. Learn more on Facebook; Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov; NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, sanctuaries.noaa.gov; State of Hawaiʻi Division of Aquatic Resources, dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar.

Bid on a Cottage with a covered lanai through a closed auction by Habitat for Humanity through July 15 at 5 p.m. The 780 square foot cottage was dismantled and donated to Habitat for Humanity Hawaiʻi Island. Starting bid is $15,000 and it will be sold "as is" and with no warranty. Stored in a container in Waimea, it includes lanai, exterior walls, subfloor, windows (missing one), front door, roofing, front stairs, and conceptual plans created by Habitat. To place a bid, send an email to info@habitathawaiiisland.org with name, phone number, and bid amount. Bids accepted in increments of $500. Winner will be contacted July 16. In the case of a tie, the person that submitted the winning bid first will be the winner. To view the dismantled cottage, visit the Waimea ReStore at 65-1259 Kawaihae Road on Wednesday, July 8 between 1 p.m and 4 p.m. Email info@habitathawaiiisland.org with questions.

Free ZOOM Talk on Finding Solutions, Growing Peace, noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, July 16. Non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts its Brown Bag Lunch Series on the third Thursday of the month. July's speaker, Ilana Stout, M.S., will speak on From Anxiety to Action: Emotional Literacy to Deepen Education. In this talk, attendees can "learn how to support mental and emotional wellness that can serve as a foundation for community action," says the announcement. Register online at freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku‘ikahi Program Coordinator Majidah Lebarre at 935-7844 x 3 or majidah@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit hawaiimediation.org.

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

Apply for Grants to Start, Expand, or Improve Rural Cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses in rural America. USDA will make $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. USDA encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America. Key strategies include: Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America, Developing the Rural Economy, Harnessing Technological Innovation, Supporting a Rural Workforce, and Improving Quality of Life. Nonprofit corporations and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply, to provide technical assistance to individuals and rural businesses. Fiscal year 2019 award recipients who received a grant period extension due to a loss of operations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are eligible to apply for fiscal year 2020 funding. Electronic applications must be submitted to grants.gov by 6 p.m. HST Aug. 3. Additional information is available on page 39870 of the July 2 Federal Register.

Exhibition Mixed Flock: Prints by Margaret Barnaby and Pottery by Emily Herb has been held over through Aug. 8. Also available to view online, view the exhibition in person the Gallery in the Park during normal gallery hours, 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

Apply for Grants to Help Socially Disadvantaged Groups develop business and strategic plans in rural areas through USDA Rural Development through 6 p.m. HST on Aug. 10 at grants.gov. Eligible applicants include cooperatives, groups of cooperatives, and cooperative development centers. USDA defines a socially disadvantaged group as one "whose members have been subjected to racial, ethnic or gender prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities."

     Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation. Key strategies include e-connectivity for rural America, developing rural economies, harnessing technological innovation, supporting a rural workforce, and improving quality of life.

ONGOING

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 and worship are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays,
us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha.

The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. 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.

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Cooper Center 19-4030 Wright Rd. Served by Friends Feeding Friends Thursday, July 30 – the last Thursday of the month. Call 985-7140 to verify.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Eligible one time every three months. Call Kehau, 443-4130.

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

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

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.

Find Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub. Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources. Developed by the Sexual and Gender Minoroty Workgroup in partnership with the DOH Harm Reduction Services Branch. Resources: Understanding the Pacific's alternative genders; Pronoun guide; Book lists for children and teens; ʻOhana support; and DOH data. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov/harmreduction/sexual-gender-minority/sexual-and-gender-minorities-sgm-in-hawaii/.

Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through the Papakilo Database, a resource developed by The Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The Kahalo Center 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.

Apply for Internships with Sen. Brian Schatz's office. Internships for undergrad, graduate, and law students are offered in the Honolulu and Washington D.C. offices. Applications are considered on a rolling basis year-round.

     Non-office internships are open for high school students to advocate in their communities. Applications due Sunday, Sept. 13.

     Schatz may also nominate exceptional students for appointment to the U.S. Service Academies. Applications due Friday, Oct. 23.

     See schatz.senate.gov/services.

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

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 Saturday – replacing Friday with Saturday, from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.

     More food vendors are added on Mondays, including Bella's Mexican takeaway hot foods. 

     Lau Lau Man and Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee return to the Market on Wednesdays.

     Saturday will host vendors who have not been able to get space at the Wednesday market. The Saturday Market will feature familiar faces and plenty of new sellers. 

     OKK's Nāʻālehu Market offers a wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more, on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

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.

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