Saturday, September 26, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, September 26, 2020

Manu Yahna, this time last year, returned to Kaʻū from an international beekeeping conference. The Swarm Season film, 
featuring her as a young beekeeper, was making the film festival rounds in Europe and the U.S. See more below, in 
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last YearPhoto from Swarm Season

REACTION TO PRES. DONALD TRUMP'S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE came swiftly from Hawaiʻi Sen. Mazie Hirono today. She issued the following statement announcing her opposition to the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the United States Supreme Court: "I will not support the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the following reasons:
    "She will vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act after being rushed on the Supreme Court in time to hear the case on Nov. 10. Millions of Americans will lose their health care – catastrophic in the middle of a pandemic.
    "She has a long history of being anti-choice and an explicit willingness to reverse Supreme Court precedent – endangering the protections of Roe v. Wade. A woman's right to control her own body is at stake.
    "The president expects her to support any challenge he mounts to the election results.
Judge Amy Coney Barett, Pres. Donald 
Trump's Supreme Court nominee. 
Photo from Wikipedia
    
"Senate Republicans have gone back on their word about confirming a Supreme Court justice in an election year and disrespected the final, fervent wish of Justice Ginsburg to not be replaced until a new president is installed.
    "Judge Barrett has an ideological agenda she wo'’t acknowledge and an expressed willingness to overturn Supreme Court precedent. Her ideological agenda poses a direct threat to the health care of millions of Americans, a woman's right to control her body, the rights of LGBTQ Americans, and other individual and civil rights. I oppose her nomination and will fight to deny her a lifetime position on the United States Supreme Court, and in doing so, will tell the American people the danger she poses to hard-won rights."
    In 2017, Hirono opposed Barrett's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Wikipedia describes Barrett as follows:
    "Amy Coney Barrett (born Amy Vivian Coney; January 28, 1972) is an American lawyer, jurist, and academic who serves as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Barrett's scholarship focuses on originalism.
    "President Donald Trump nominated Barrett to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 8, 2017, and the Senate confirmed her on October 31, 2017. While serving on the federal bench, she was a professor of law at Notre Dame Law School, where she has taught civil procedure, constitutional law, and statutory interpretation. Eleven months after her confirmation to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Barrett was added to Trump's list of potential Supreme Court nominees.
    "On Sept. 26, 2020, Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States, eight days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg."

David and Jessica Pannell moved to Ocean View to open 
KaiLoki's where Mehe's used to be. Photo from David Pannell
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.

KAILOKI'S RESTAURANT & BAR is taking the place of Mehe's in Ocean View. KaiLoki's is expected to open between Oct. 15 and Halloween. David and Jessica Pannell – from Portland, OR – said they are working on interior revisions with local tradesmen and artists. "We may be able to open for breakfast prior to opening for lunch and dinner, but that is still a work in progress," said David Pannell. Karaoke on Friday nights is also in the plan for the future, according to the new KaiLoki's Facebook page.
    The Pannells said previous owners, Dale and Shannon Meheula, and the Harry McKee Foundation "have been very accommodating, working with us to enable us to open… Without their generosity and flexibility, we would not have been able to take this task on. A special Thank You to them is in order," said the couple in an email to The Kaʻū Calendar.
    "We are very fortunate and grateful to have most of the previous staff willing to come back and be part of our team, as well as add some positions." The Pannells said they plan to keep consistent hours of service and steady hours for employees to provide "their friendly, welcoming service."
    The new owners said they will keep much of Mehe's menu at KaiLoki's and will add new options. They plan to use locally sourced products "as they are available, cooking meals from scratch so they are as fresh as possible." Daily specials, a happy hour, and a new variety of drinks "are just part of our overall plans." They said they will offer NFL Sunday ticket for the remainder of 2020 "and hopefully into the future years as well.
The Pannells will open KaiLoki's in Ocean View at the former Mehe's.
 The restaurant is named after their dogs. Kai is the Siberian husky.
Loki is a rescue Shephard mix. Photo from David Pannell

    "Lastly, we'd like to thank many in the local community for all their help, expertise, and advice, and we are humbled by how we have been welcomed into the community! As time goes on, we will personally thank them via FB page @KaiLokis. We are excited for the new adventures here in Ocean View. We look forward to meeting everyone that visits KaiLoki's. Our goal is to serve the community with a smile on our faces!"
Besides opening KaiLoki's, Jessica is a physical trainer and does online training for her clients, and Davis remotely runs a flooring business in Portland.
    The name KaiLokis comes from the combination of their two dogs' names: "We just liked the way it rolled off the tongue!"

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.

THE CENSUS 2020 DEADLINE IS OCT. 31 through a federal judge ruling. On Friday, Judge Lucy H. Koh, of  U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, barred the Trump administration from ending the 2020 Census on Sept. 30, a month before the deadline. She also ordered officials to deliver completed population data to the White House in April 2021, instead of Dec. 31.
    Evidence filed in the case included officials in the Census Bureau stating the early deadline would endanger accuracy of the Census and create  "fatal data flaws that are unacceptable for a constitutionally mandated national activity."
    Koh wrote that the Trump Administration's explanation for shortening the Census deadline by 31 days was a two-page press release saying the December deadline must be met "by law," but not why.
    Read more in the Sept. 19 Kaʻū News Briefs.

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.

WATCH THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES starting next week. The first Presidential Debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. The single Vice Presidential Debate will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida. The final Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee.
    Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.

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.

HOW COVID-19 ECONOMICALLY IMPACTS HAWAIʻI is the focus of a briefing on Monday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. The state House Select Committee will hear reports from the Economic, Communications, & CARES Funds Subcommittee. Speakers include UHERO Executive Director Carl Bonham, Strategy and Communications Subcommittee member Ray Vara, and CARES Fund Subcommittee members Lauren Nahme and Jill Tokuda. The briefing will be televised live on ‘Olelo channel 49 or live stream it here.

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.

GIVE INPUT ON EFFECT OF PANDEMIC ON SMALL BUSINESSES to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. It takes about ten minutes to complete and is open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, and about to launch. The questions asked are about business conditions, financing needs, and the effects of the pandemic on businesses. The survey closes on Oct. 31. All responses are confidential. Click here to complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org.

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.

FREE COURSES AND CERTIFICATIONS through Coursera are offered by state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Hawai‘i residents can access the online learning platform, picking from more than 3,000 courses and certifications from top universities and organizations, ranging from technology to business, and personal development offerings. Registration open until Oct. 31.
    The educational resources are meant to equip Hawai‘i's workforce, especially unemployed workers, with technology skills and reposition for new career opportunities. Those currently employed or furloughed can leverage Coursera's offerings to improve their professional skill-sets and take on more advanced technology projects. A list of recommended courses for those interested in picking up technology skills can be found at https://www.htdc.org/covid-19/learning-tech/. To view more, see https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-25/.

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.

FOUR DEATHS FROM COVID-19 reports Hawaiʻi today, all on Oʻahu. This brings the state's official death toll to 131. Department of Health states some deaths are still being verified before being counted. Total 28 deaths are reported on Hawaiʻi Island, 26 of them residents at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.
    The state reports 127 new cases today. Hawaiʻi Island reports two, Kauaʻi one, and Oʻahu124.
    Since the pandemic began, there have been 12,018 COVID cases in the state. Department of Health reports 10,126 people of those infected have completed isolation. About 5,000 were added to this count today due to updated information. There are about 1,890 active cases in isolation. There are 16 people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
    Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 10,848 cases, Hawaiʻi Island 693, Maui County 388, and Kauaʻi 59. Thirty victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 802 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.

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

areas have zero or few residential addresses. White is zero cases.

Yellow is one to 20 cases. Pale orange is 21 to 50 cases. Medium

orange is 51 to 70 cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 71 to 110 

cases. Bright red is 111 to 170 cases. Dark red (not pictured)

is 171 to 330 cases. Department of Health map

    
In the last 28 days, active cases have been reported in zip codes 96704 with Miloliʻi; 96737 with Ocean View; 96772 with Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, Green Sands, Mark Twain, Discovery Harbour, and South Point; 96777 with Pāhala, Punaluʻu, and Wood Valley; and 96785 with Volcano Village. Zip code 96718, shaded gray on the map, is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, which has few residents and no cases to date. Other areas shaded gray have no or very little population and no cases.
    Visitation at Hilo Medical Center has been paused, with the exception of one visitor for OB, pediatrics, and end-of-life patients. The hospital's long-term care ward is closed to new patients for now.
    All beach and shoreline parks on Hawaiʻi Island are closed through Sept. 30. The activities of exercising, fishing, food gathering, use of restroom, shower facilities, and access to the ocean will continue to be allowed. Use of pavilions, barbecues, tents, or other shade devices, tables, hibachis, coolers, picnicking, camping, and commercial operations are all prohibited.
    Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies of face coverings, distancing, and gatherings. Civil Defense says, "Know that these policies are mandated and will be enforced. While on patrol, police officers will provide face coverings to people they encounter who do not have one. Mahalo for your help."
    Civil Defense says the number of new cases of coronavirus on this Island "reflects the need and importance of continuing testing throughout the Island as the virus remains a threat. With all accepting kuleana, we can stop the spread of the virus to keep your family, friends, and neighbors safe. With the community's involvement, we can keep Hawaiʻi Safe."
    See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage at coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Request travel exemptions for critical infrastructure and medical travel at survey123.arcgis.com/share/e2f4ce19aa854964a8fd60bec7fbe78c. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311.
    COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 7,078,088 – about 22 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 204,491 – about 21 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 32.84 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 994,146.

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.

Allison Yahna, this time last year, celebrated the revival of bees on this island. Photo from Yahna
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
LAST YEAR THIS TIME, THE RECOVERY OF WILD BEES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND was celebrated, after a loss of about 99 percent of them over about eight years. Kaʻū resident and bee expert Allison Yahna said she was inspired by growth in bee populations on this island and around the world. She said people are becoming aware of the importance of bees in nature and for the survival of food for humans. She said there are many new beekeepers on this island.
Allison Yanha with honeybees on a removable comb.
Photo from Swarm Season
    Last year, Yahna, who founded Artemis Smiles Honey Bee Sanctuary in Kaʻū more than 20 years ago, took her daughter, Volcano School of Arts & Sciences student Manu Yahna, to Montreal for Apimondia 2019, the world's largest conference on bees. They found that people from many countries are dedicated to reviving bee populations.
    Yahna said she was most inspired by the number of folks interested in supporting local bees, adapted to their locale and evolving with genetic diversity to help fight off onslaught of disease. She said that Hawaiʻi Island, in its isolation from the mainland, is like a laboratory with very little risk to bees until the last decade. "We were able to see, with the sudden onslaught of imported mites, beetles, and disease, that only the strong bees evolved and survived." Even though 99 percent of wild bees and 90 percent of commercial bees perished, "evolution worked," she said. "The weak died off. The strong had traits that allowed them to survive." 
    Both Yahna beekeeping women are featured in the Sarah Christman film Swarm Season, which won awards and was featured in many film festivals in 2019 and 2020, from Barcelona and Nuremberg to Lincoln Center and Santa Fe, with showings continuing into March as the pandemic began.

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
EVENTS
Attend How to Start a Parent Pod webinar Monday, Sept. 28. Partnership with Community First and Vibrant Hawaiʻi Parents learn How to create a Parent Pod; Pod Pitfalls and Communication Crises to Avoid; COVID-19 Health and Safety Pod Guidelines; and "Answers to your questions, so you can get started with confidence and peace of mind!" Register here.

Produce Safety WebinarOct. 5 through 7, Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Hosted by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension and Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture. Training open to commercial fruit and vegetable farmers subject to the Food Safety Modernization Act's Produce Safety Rule. Covers Introduction to Produce Safety; Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training; Soil Amendments; Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use; Agricultural Water; Postharvest Handling and Sanitation; and How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan. Attendees must have stable internet connections, video capability, and participate in all three meetings in order to be eligible to receive their certificate of completion. Register no later than Monday, Sept. 28. Seats are very limited. Those who are unable to attend this training can email kylielw@hawaii.edu to be added to the waiting list. 

Presidential Debates Schedule: The first Presidential Debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. The single Vice Presidential Debate will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida. The final Presidential Debate will be held Thursday, Oct. 22 in Nashville, Tennessee. 
    Each debate will air from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on. Each debate will be broadcast live on C-SPAN, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, Fox News, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC, among others. All the major news networks will offer a free live stream, as will YouTube and Twitter. Listen to the Hawaiʻi Public Radio broadcast at 89.1, or stream the audio here, on the HPR mobile app, or on a smart speaker.

Design the 2021 Ocean Count T-Shirt
 for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary by Sept. 30. Designs highlighting humpback whales in Hawaiian waters must be entirely the artist's own creation. To ensure the design looks its best when printed, submit as a high definition PDF, AI, EPS, or PNG with a quality of at least 1500 pixels by 1500 pixels and 300 DPI (dots per inch) with dimensions no greater than 11.5 inches by 14 inches. Top finalists' designs will appear on oceancount.org, the winner's design on the back of the shirt. The winner will also receive $500. Email the design and completed registration form to oceancount@marinesancutary.org.

Register to Vote online, olvr.hawaii.gov, or by U.S. Mail. Print a registration form. Forms must be postmarked no later than Monday, Oct. 5. As during the Primary, all ballots will be mailed, but voters can still vote in-person and may register the same day. Locations are in Hilo at 101 Pauahi Street, #1, and Kona, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Ballots should start to arrive around Oct. 16. Secure ballot dropbox located in Nāʻālehu Police Station at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy from Oct. 14, 24 hours a day until 7 p.m. Nov. 3. See other locations here. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. See tips on helping others to register to vote at nationalvoterregistrationday.org. Find more information at elections.hawaii.gov. Check voter registration status here.

Attend Hawaiʻi Children and Youth Summit on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a watch party on Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For ages 24 and younger. Register here. The annual event brings together youth from across the islands to discuss key issues that they believe the Hawaiʻi State Legislature needs to address to make Hawaiʻi a better place to live and work. Priorities that come out of the Summit are used by legislators to create bills and resolutions in the following year. Some of the things that have come out of the Summit are things like expanding afterschool programs, lowering the age of consent for Mental Health Services, and planting over one million trees.

Take Free Courses and Certifications for Hawaiʻi Residents through Coursera are offered by state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. More than 3,000 options. Registration open until Oct. 31. Recommended courses for picking up technology skills, see https://www.htdc.org/covid-19/learning-tech/. To view more: https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-25/.

Give Input of Pandemic on Small Businesses to Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Partnering with the Federal Reserve Bank system, the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey provides vital information to policymakers and lenders who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. Ten-minute-long survey open to businesses currently in operation, recently closed, or about to launch. Survey closes Oct. 31. Responses are confidential. Click here to complete the survey. Questions? Contact SFFedSmallBusiness@sf.frb.org. 

Artists and Vendors, sign up for the Annual Art & Craft Fair at Ocean View Community Center on Nov. 7. The event, held outside from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will help raise funds for the Center, as well as benefit local artists and crafters. Booths are $8 for a 10' x 10' space, tents not provided. Face masks required. Free admission for attendees. Contact organizer Helen McCullough at 808-209-9204 or hmccullough.1@gmail.com.

ONGOING
Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline offered by We Are Oceania. Receive answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment, and other related questions, for those Micronesians who do not speak English. COVID-19 questions can be asked 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily. Other questions about health insurance, housing, or unemployment, helpline available weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. WAO helpline: (808) 913-1364. Watch the video here.

Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.

The State of Hawai'i requires a Letter of Exemption for Farm Workers. Requests should be submitted to 
covidexemption@hawaii.gov 5 days prior to arrival. For a sample request letter visit: https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov
Student Athletes of Kaʻū High interested in participating in athletics during the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to call Athletic Director Kalei Namohala at 313-4161 to sign up for the Student Athlete Google Classroom.

Sign Up for ‘Imiloa's Hālau Lamakū Place- and Culture-based Fall Enrichment Program at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. Held for seven weeks, Oct. 19 through Dec.4, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., except holidays. 
    The program offers "fun, engaging and educational activities, crafts, games, outdoor exploration, and observations grounded in Hawaiian culture, science, math, and art. Explorations from deep ocean to deep space, and everything in between – all from ‘Imiloa's facilities and outdoor gardens. 
    Enrollment limited to seven pods for K-5th grade students with one instructor, one assistant, and up to eight participants, who will remain together for all seven weeks. Participant's required synchronous and asynchronous school distance learning needs will be addressed. Students will bring their own lunch, two snacks, and two bottled water each day. 
    Cost per member child is $695; registration starts Friday, Sept. 25 at 8 a.m. Non-member cost per child is $995; registration starts Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 a.m. Enrollment open through Oct. 7, first-come, first-served. Scholarship applications are open; proof of financial need required. See imiloahawaii.org/halau-lamaku to register, apply for a scholarship, become a member, and find out more.

Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.

Attend Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES website for Live WebEx link.

Pre-Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach Program in Ocean View here. Completing the form does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families, to complete the registration process. Questions? Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org.

Free Tutors for Keiki in Pāhala, for grades one through six, available from Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island. Subjects are Homework Help, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, Math, Spelling, Test Taking Strategies, Organizational Skills, and more. Contact Boys & Girls Club at info@bgcbi.org or 961-5536.

Free Wifi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
     In Pāhala, access is limited to ten students at a time at the school gym on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Support is provided by Joshua Ortega.
     In Nāʻālehu, access is limited to 12 students at a time at Nāʻālehu Assembly of God on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind.
     In Ocean View, access is limited to five students at a time at Ocean View Community Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind and Mrs. Marcia Masters. No restrooms available at this location.
     Kaʻū Mobile Learning Hub at St. Jude's lower parking lot is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Instruction and support are provided by Carla Lind, Mrs. VanNewkirk, Mrs. Heather Naboa, Mrs. Marcia Masters, and Mrs. Ebanez.
     All students and staff must wear a mask at all times and follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Each student must bring their device, school materials, and a water bottle. Questions? Call 313-4100.

Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here. Receive notice via phone or email of site closures, availability of services, hours of operation, special conditions affecting solid waste service (such as road closures, flooding, fires), or special events, such as household hazardous waste collections.

Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 10 a.m., with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coveri required when usher comes to vehicle to pass out worship bulletin and other materials, and at the same time, collect any offering or gifts the individual(s) would like to give, or when leaving vehicles for the restroom. Church provides paper fans to stay cool. Bring water. Catch the live-streamed service at 10:10 a.m. and Praise Jam, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Service is emailed Sunday afternoon to anyone on the email list. Sign up by emailing atdwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church services and worship are posted online at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays, here, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended.

One-Time Emergency Food for people is available through Big Island Giving Tree. Emergency food for pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.

Food Basket Distribution last Tuesday of the month, Sept. 29, provides food at St. Jude's to those in need. Another distribution will be held Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Volcano Village's Cooper Center, from 10 a.m. until pau. See hawaiifoodbasket.org.

Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.

Volcano Art Center, Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual Shopping Appointments offered via Skype or FaceTime. Book at volcanoartcenter.org/shop for $5. Shop online gallery 24/7. Orders shipped or free local pickup available. See the VAC Virtual Classroom, which features over 90 videos. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna808b-fit.com, contains videos for kūpuna to play and move along with. There are videos for stretching, tai chi, yoga, dancing, dance fitness, bon dance, hula, chair dancing, and chair yoga.

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

Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Ocean View Swap Meet reopens Sept. 5 at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.

Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Cocucci. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers, 25 vendor booths, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket

Choose Aloha for Home is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up here.

ʻOhana Help Desk
 offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads here. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ocean View Mobile Learning Lab, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Jude's lower parking lot. Open to students of Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, to connect to internet for distance learning. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries,
 open for wifi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. Wifi available to anyone with a library card from each library parking lot. librarieshawaii.org

Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.

Sign Up for Two Women's Health Programs from Kaʻū Women's Collective. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Meetings held Sundays on Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.

Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issuesthrough Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Complete webform here or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.

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.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.

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

Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. Coffee included; see funding updates and resources hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.

Local Ag Producers can Sign Up for a Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, in partnership with County of Hawai‘i and non-profit entities, has developed a program to purchase product from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. The Food Basket and other channels will distribute the products. Learn more.

Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website for more information and to register.

Receive Free Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19 from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class. 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.

Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, from two free modules of a virtual training program by the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education Program, and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.


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