Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, July 16, 2020

Attend the webinar Tuesday, July 28. See more below. Image from Matthew Desmond

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

PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS began arriving in the mail in Kaʻū today. County of Hawai‘i Elections Division sent them to registered voters around the island on Wednesday. Those not receiving ballots by Monday, July 27 are urged to contact 961-8277 or 323-4400. A postage stamp is not needed to mail a ballot back to the Elections Division.
     For those who prefer to vote in person or still need to register, two Voter Service Centers will be open for walk-in voting from Monday, July 27 through Saturday, Aug. 8 Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Hilo and Kona. Go to County of Hawai‘i Aupuni Center, Conference Room 101 Pauahi St., Suite 1, Hilo, HI 96720, or West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Community Room (Building G), 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Hwy., Kailua Kona, HI 96740.

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WORKERS NEED $38.76 AN HOUR to avoid paying more than 30 percent of income for housing, based on rental prices across the state. The National Low Income Housing Coalition published its annual report this week. Called Out of Reach, it reveals that, once again, Hawaiʻi has the highest housing wage in the country, but not the highest minimum wage.

     The Housing Coalition reviewed rent prices in all 50 states to calculate income needed to rent a two-bedroom unit at fair market value when spending up to 30 percent of income. It found that Hawaiʻi requires the most income of any state in the country. Calculating from another direction, the Coalition reported that minimum wage workers would need 153 hours a week for a two-bedroom apartment. The average cost of a two-bedroom across the state is about $2,015 a month.

     Nicole Woo, senior analyst with the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, told Pacific Business News, "This report comes out every year and we are consistently the state with the highest rent in the nation. One of the issues is that we have one of the lowest property taxes in the nation, which may contribute to the decision many make to buy a home here and leave it empty for most of the year. Making it more attractive for people to rent to longterm renters instead could make more homes available."

Nicole Woo thinks of strategies to make housing more affordable 
in Hawaiʻi. See the Out of Reach report here. Photo from 
Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice

     In its overview, the Housing Coalition reports statewide, there are 190,420 households renting places to live, about 42 percent of Hawaiʻi residents. Income for the average Hawaii renter is $17.17 an hour, less than half needed to afford a two-bedroom.

     Hawaiʻi's category with the most employees is comprised of more than 17,000 fast food and counter workers earning a median hourly wage of $12.18. Other employees comprising much of the workforce are 13,720 cashiers making about $12.72 an hour, 8,650 home health and personal care aides making about $13.22 an hour, and 24,900 food prep workers making about $13.95 an hour. See more workers and wages in Hawaiʻi here.

     Woo told PBN, "When we think about how we solve homelessness, one of the factors is making sure people make enough money to be able to afford rent. Right now, it just doesn't match up." The next highest housing wage is California, where the minimum wage is higher than Hawaiʻi's.

     Woo noted that Hawaiʻi's drop in tourism during the COVID-19 shutdown for tourism has led landlords to lower rents and offer more units to residents. However she told PBN she worries about the pandemic wearing on, with loss of unemployment benefits and other support that could lead to evictions.

     See the report on Hawaiʻi here. See the report on the rest of the country here.

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Matthew Desmond will lead the talk on How to Stop Evictions
in the COVID Crisis, sponsored by Hawaiʻi Community
Foundation. The virtual meeting with be held 
on Tuesday, July 28. Register here.

THE COMING COVID EVICTION CRISIS AND HOW TO STOP IT is a virtual meeting with participants invited to register and send in advance questions. It will be led by sociologist Matthew Desmond, of Princeton University, on Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m.
     Desmond won the Pulitzer Prize for his book Evicted: Poverty & Profit in the American City. He will be interviewed by Colin Moore, director of University of Hawaiʻi's Public Policy Center.
     Special guests include Philip Garboden, HCRC Professor in Affordable Housing, and Nalani Fujimori Kaina, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i.

     The announcement says, "Hawai‘i residents have long struggled with the elevated cost of housing and high rates of homelessness. Now the COVID-19 recession is pressing more households to the edge. Join us to explore the connections between poverty and housing policy and to find out what we can do to prevent a surge of evictions."

     Desmond is the author of four books, including Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, earning both the Pulitzer and National Book Critics Circle Award. An expert on housing, economic inequality, and public policy, he is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and is a MacArthur "Genius" fellow. Desmond directs The Eviction Lab, which is tracking housing and eviction patterns in cities across the country during the pandemic.

     Presented by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Kamehameha Schools, Scholars Strategy Network, and the College of Social Sciences. Co-Sponsors are UH Economic Research Organization, Kanu Hawai‘i, William S. Richardson School of Law, Hawai‘i Appleseed, UH Public Policy Center, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Hawai‘i ACLU, and UH Alumni Relations.

     Register and submit advance questions here.

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WENDELL KAʻEHUʻAEʻA is running for Hawaiʻi County Mayor with an attitude of "First, Aloha. Mālama Pono." Born and raised in Honolulu, Kaʻehuʻaeʻa joined the Navy for four years, worked for Aloha Airlines, then moved to Hilo. He's worked for Suisan as a cost accountant and on a sales team. He built his first Commercial Radio Station, KAHU AM, on his 20-acre Hawaiian Homes Farm Land in Panaʻewa.

Wendell Kaʻehuʻaeʻa, Hawaiʻi County mayoral candidate.

     Kaʻehuʻaeʻa worked as a Field Supervisor for Puna Sugar. After the closure, he worked for Nā Leo TV, establishing and producing community programs on political and social viewpoints. He then planned and established community radio station KAHU 91.3 FM in Pāhala, which is now a Hawaiʻi Public Radio station.

     He graduated from University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo with a Bachelor in Communication and a Bachelor in Political Science with a minor in Economics. He has volunteered for Big Island Sports Hall of Fame, Hawaiʻi Island Food Bank, Palace Theatre, and YMCA and Y's Men and Women. He is co-founder of Hilo Veterans Day Parade.

     As Hawaiʻi County mayor, Kaʻehuʻaeʻa says his goals would include making sure all incoming business phone calls at Hawaiʻi County offices are answered by a "live" person. He would visit each district community. He would ask for an independent audit of all Hawaiʻi County departments, improve time management for county employees, plan a new county website, and strive to reduce county government cost. If elected, he wants to lower auto and property taxes, provide island-wide bus service, open more Summer jobs for students, support the tourism industry, and support small business, farming, ranching, and fishing industries. He has plans to build a Culture Center of Kaʻū historical past and present. "Most of all, service the residents and ʻohana of Hawaiʻi Island. First, Aloha. Mālama Pono."

     Watch the June 25 mayoral candidate debates at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE9Jby7yZA&feature=emb_logo for candidates Paul Bryant, Yumi Kawano, Lahi Verschuur, Mike Ruggles, Mikey Glendon, Ted Shaneyfelt, Robert Greenwell, and Wendell Ka‘ehu‘ae‘a, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqTWWn_kPZM&feature=emb_logo for candidates Stacy Higa, Neil Azevedo, Harry Kim, Ikaika Marzo, Tante Urban, Bob Fitzgerald, and Mitch Roth.

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PANDEMIC EBT IS AVAILABLE for Hawaiʻi families with children who are struggling to buy food, says an announcement from Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice. P-EBT is one of the only federal pandemic benefits available to non-citizen and not work-authorized families, says the announcement. "Hawaiʻi Appleseed has been working to make sure those households are aware of it. Using P-EBT will not affect their immigration status and a social security number is not required."
     Appleseed says that households with children in kindergarten through grade 12 with free or reduced-price school lunch during the school year are eligible for this extra assistance to buy food -- up to $360 per child.

    At the end of June, Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services began loading the extra benefits onto the Kokua EBT cards of eligible families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). Eligible families without SNAP should have received a letter about P-EBT in the mail.
     P-EBT cards are being sent out this week. Families can check their P-EBT status at pais pebt.dhs.hawaii.gov. Those who believe they are eligible but have not received benefits by July 20, or need other assistance, can visit humanservices.hawaii.gov, e-mailhi.pebt@dhs.hawaii.gov, or call 2-1-1. The 2-1-1 hotline is able to handle calls in the main non-English languages spoken in Hawaii. See facebook.com/Hawaii.Appleseed.

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BEWARE THE RECENT UPTICK IN PHONE PHISHING SCAMS, warns Hawaiʻi Police Department. The scams include unsolicited calls with requests for confidential personal information or money. These scammers most often target kūpuna (elderly). Caregivers are also reminded to be on the lookout for these scammers, says the HPD statement

     The primary advice given by the Federal Trade Commission on avoiding scams is to "hang up, even if it's not a scammer calling. If a company is calling you illegally, it's not a company you want to do business with. When you get a robocall, don't press any numbers. Instead of letting you speak to a live operator or remove you from their call list, it might lead to more robocalls."

     The FTC says these are the ways to recognize a phone scam: There is no prize. The caller might say you were "selected" for an offer or that you've won a lottery. But if you have to pay to get the prize, it's not a prize.

     You won't be arrested. Scammers might pretend to be law enforcement or a federal agency. They might say you'll be arrested, fined, or deported if you don't pay taxes or some other debt right away. The goal is to scare you into paying. But real law enforcement and federal agencies won't call and threaten you.

     You don't need to decide now. Most legitimate businesses will give you time to think their offer over and get written information about it before asking you to commit. Take your time. Don't get pressured into making a decision on the spot.

     There's never a good reason to send cash or pay with a gift card. Scammers will often ask you to pay in a way that makes it hard for you to get your money back -- by wiring money' putting money on a gift card, prepaid card, or cash reload card; or using a money transfer app. Anyone who asks you to pay that way is a scammer.

     Government agencies aren't calling to confirm your sensitive information. It's never a good idea to give out sensitive information like your Social Security number to someone who calls you unexpectedly, even if they say they're with the Social Security Administration or IRS.

     For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission website at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0208-phone-scams.

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USGS HVO geologists study the channel wall in the braided channel region of the flow from Fissure 8. The channel 

wall here is about 6 m (20 feet) high, and the channel just upstream of this position is about 75 m (250 feet) wide. 

Note the small ferns growing on the upper channel wall. Learn more about why scientists 
are studying the aftermath of Fissure 8. USGS /M. Patrick photo

MEASURING AND OBSERVING THE FISSURE 8 LAVA FLOW was the mission of geologists last week, according to U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory website. HVO scientists visited the 2018 flow area to make "continued measurements and observations, to better understand and reconstruct the dynamics of the Fissure 8 lava flow."

     The Fissure 8 channel is about 200 feet (60 m) to 250 ft (75 m) wide where the geologists took photographs. The channel walls, lightly festooned with new ferns, are about 20 ft (6 m). The scientists write that the large scale of the channel "is a testament to the unusually high rates of flow, which exceeded 100 cubic yards (meters) per second."

     The geologists also took a look at a road cut-through on Highway 132, which exposes a portion of the Fissure 8 flow that was ‘a‘ā. "When ‘a‘ā flows are active, the core of the flow is fluid and moves downslope, with the rubbly clinker on the top surface carried along like a conveyor belt."

     In July of 2018, the Kīlauea eruption at the summit was explosive, while the fissures in lower Puna were creating new land via a 3.7-mile-wide flow channel; to the sea, after having covered up Kapoho.
     See updates on the HVO website.

Rubbly clinker atop what was the dense, fluid core of ʻaʻa flow from Fissure 8. USGS /M. Patrick photo

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KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL HAS LAUNCHED A KAʻŪ COFFEE CLUB SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. The mill and coffee farm on Wood Valley Road above Pahala offers four subscription roast plans, available at  kaucoffeemill.com/coffee-club: Kaʻū Select Roast, Kaʻū Specialty Roast, Kaʻū Peaberry Roast or Kaʻū Flavored Roast. Each plan features a variety of Kaʻū coffees, shipped monthly to the Kaʻū Coffee Club member. Subscribers are billed quarterly, biannually, or annually.
     A message from Kaʻū Coffee Mill says the service will "definitely be a game-changer for existing customers as well as new customers when it comes to saving money on their favorite Kaʻū coffees… and not have to worry about the hassle of reordering or running out of coffee."

     Learn more and subscribe at kaucoffeemill.com/coffee-club.

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VIRTUALLY ATTEND THE 81ST MEETING OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL, Tuesday, July 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend. The council will discuss previous action items, receive sanctuary updates, 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/8466893051952339472. 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. See hawaiihumpbackwahle.noaa.gov.

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FORTY PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED IN THE STATE with seven in ICU and none on ventilators. Nineteen new cases are reported statewide today, all on Oʻahu. Hawaiʻi Island reports no new case but one victim remains hospitalized. All nine active cases on this island are monitored by state Department of Health. There were no cases reported on other Neighbor Islands but Oʻahu reported 16, topping 1,000 cases since the pandemic began. The origin of three cases reported today are not yet released. The state's case count has risen by 181 in the last seven days.

     Volcano, 96785 zip code, has one active case. In Kaʻū, since the pandemic began, there was one case reported in Ocean View and one in Nāʻālehu, but none in the last 28 days. Since the pandemic began, Hawaiʻi Island reported 107 cases, with 98 victims recovered. No one died of COVID-19 here. Of the five hospitalized, four have been released.

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

     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 1,002 cases, Kauaʻi 43, and Maui County 135. Twenty-one victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Twenty-two people in the state died from COVID-19. The state has reported 1,311 cases since the pandemic began.

     In his daily message, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "There are three active cases associated with the Kona Community Hospital and all are isolated at home and monitored by the Department of Health." He said Premier Medical Group and the County Task Force headed by Hawaiʻi Fire Department tested all employees and a construction crew at the Kona Community Hospital today.

     Magno said, "The majority of states continue to see an increase of people being infected by the Coronavirus. Hawaiʻi State numbers are still low, but know how important it is for everyone to continue to follow the preventive measures of face coverings, distancing, gatherings, and cleanliness. As a reminder, wearing of face coverings is mandatory on Hawaiʻi Island. Thank you for listening, thank you for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
     In the United States, more than 3,576,157 cases have been confirmed -- an increase of about 85,000 in about 24 hours. The death toll is over 138,358

     The worldwide COVID-19 case count is more than 13.8 million. The death toll is more than 589,211.

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

Attend Miloliʻi Lawaiʻa ʻOhana Camp In-Person or Virtually. The tenth annual event runs through Monday, July 20, feature in-person classes for a limited number of students, and offering classes via Zoom. Receive the knowledge of kūpuna. Sponsors include Kalanihale, Paʻa Pono Miloliʻi, Kua O Ka Lā, Conservation International, Alu Like Inc, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, and Hawaiʻi Marine Education and ResearchCenter. See facebook.com/kalanihaleMilolii for more. Register for virtual classes here. Register for in-person attendance here. Contact organizer Kaimi Kaupiko at 937-1310 or kkaupiko@gmail.com with questions.

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 21, Teaching Tales. Wednesdays: Folktales. July 22, several Adventurous Tales. Thursdays: "Spooky Hawaiʻi" Tales. 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."

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

Register and Submit Advance Questions for Webinar The Coming Covid Eviction Crisis and How to Stop It, with Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist Matthew Desmond on Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. Desmond will be interviewed by Colin Moore, director of University of Hawaiʻi's Public Policy Center. Special guests include Philip Garboden, HCRC Professor in Affordable Housing, and Nalani Fujimori Kaina, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i. Register and submit advance questions here.

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.

Nursery, Greenhouse, and Cut-Flower Growers are invited to participate in COVID-19 impact survey by Cornell Cooperative Extension. The survey may help them qualify for USDA CFAP financial assistance. Complete the survey online.
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.

Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Access these remote services by completing the web form at hawaiifirstfcu.com/community-resource-center or by calling 808-933-6600 to sign up. The Financial Navigator will then send a short service agreement and call the client to begin their personal session. Organizations across the County can also refer clients directly to a Financial Navigator. For more information, contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019.

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.

Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers Urged to Use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. U.S. Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs is developing a list of Native Hawaiian farmers willing to sell direct to consumers through the On-Farm Market Directory. On-farm markets are managed by a single farm operator that sells products on their farm, or on a property next to their farm. Some on-farm markets may also deliver or ship their goods directly to consumers. Visit the program website for more information and to register.

Receive Free Marketing Assistance for Small Businesses affected by COVID-19 can receive free marketing assistance from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. Helen Tien, College of Business and Economics, and her senior retail and distribution management course is offering 1-hour sessions dedicated to helping small business marketing needs. They offer help with moving a business online, finding out more about the businesses' customers, analyzing marketing effectiveness, and providing customer service or website feedback. Visit https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.

Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature to help find information that applies to the searcher. To search for statewide grants, hover over "Grants & Loans" and select "For Farmers & Ranchers." Set the Grant/Loan Filter to "Grant" and the Region Filter to "Statewide." Ranney notes that narrowing the search to County will display opportunities specific to that county. Selecting Nationwide or Statewide will display other opportunities searchers may be eligible for and/or want to be aware of for future reference.

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

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.

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.

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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