Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, December 5, 2020

Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year spotlights on Pāhala Christmas Parade and  Lorilee Lorenzo representing Kaʻū
 in the Hilo Christmas Parade, accompanied by Ikaika Grace. See more below. Photo from the Lorenzo's

A plume of smoke from the brushfire Saturday between

 Kaʻū Police Station and Nāʻālehu. The photo was taken 

from Waiʻōhinu, near Haʻao Springs Road looking towards

 Honuʻapo. Photo by Bob Martin

A LARGE BRUSH FIRE CLOSED HIGHWAY 11 between Kaʻū Police Station and Nāʻālehu Village

on Saturday. Civil Defense issued a statement saying, "The Hawaiʻi Police Department reports that Highway 11 is closed in both directions in the Kaʻū District East of Nāʻālehu between the 62 and 63 mile markers due to a brush fire. The road was closed at approximately 2:30 this afternoon. Avoid the area if possible as there is no detour around the closure."

    The fire started on a ranch near town, apparently sparked by a mower. Firefighters kept the flames on the makai side of Hwy 11, though traffic was blocked and folks detoured onto the road that goes up into the mountains behind Nāʻālehu and over to Pāhala village. 

Hwy 11 shut down as smoke blew in. Photo by Julia Neal

    Helicopter water drops and on the ground firefighting kept the brushfire at bay. Smoke blew across farm and ranch lands between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu and makai toward South Point.

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A large brush fire between Nāʻālehu and Kaʻū Police Station this afternoon as seen from the old cane haul road between 
Nāʻālehu and Pāhala. Photo by Richard Taylor

THE KILAUEA RECOVERY & RESILIENCE PLAN is published and includes help for Puna, the Volcano community, and beyond. It covers neighborhoods, people and businesses affected by the 2018 eruption and Hurricane Lane. County of Hawaiʻi announced the release of the plan on Friday and called it "a strategic document that will continue to guide recovery." Also released are two supporting documents – an islandwide Volcanic Risk Assessment and an Economic Recovery Plan.

    A statement from the County says, "Together, these documents integrate broad-base community engagement and technical data in the development of recovery strategies and projects that will help the Puna District and the island as a whole become more resilient to natural hazards."
    Douglas Le, the County's Disaster Recovery Officer, said, "The 2018 eruption was a devastating event for many that changed our lives and our landscape. But every disaster creates opportunities to learn from the past and shape our future. With the assistance of state and federal disaster funding, the Kīlauea Recovery & Resilience Plan and its supporting documents will help residents secure housing, build a more resilient economy, prepare for future disasters, and protect our natural and cultural resources."

    The plan builds on ongoing recovery initiatives and identifies additional projects for support that fit within three strategies: Kīlauea Eruption Recovery, Disaster Readiness, and Community Resilience – Building Community Capacity, says the county statement.
    Recovery initiatives that have been supported by the County include spending about $6.4 million so far on restoring road access, and awarding $3.7 million through the Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program to support restoration of several farms, additional road investments, Kua O Ka Lā Public Charter School, affordable housing, and other initiatives.
    The County announced it will launch a new grant program to provide community organizations with funding and technical assistance to develop and implement programs to increase community resilience in Puna. Through partnerships with Neighborhood Place of Puna and the funding partners of the Kīlauea Hui, 119 households also have been assisted with more than $815,000 for home repairs, catchment systems, rental assistance, and living needs following the eruption.
    Other projects identified in the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan address additional eruption impacts related to infrastructure, providing housing solutions for displaced residents, crafting land-use policies to address natural hazards as part of the update to the County's General Plan. Also put forth are initiatives, community-led and County-supported, including a network of resilience hubs to support communities during and outside of disasters. Thirty-one projects are identified, with action steps and implementation structure to foster collaboration.
 

Planning for lava prone areas is an important component of the Kilauea Recovery & Resilience Plan. Photo from the Plan

     As a strategy document, Le noted the Kīlauea Recovery and Resilience Plan is intended to guide recovery initiatives, which will continue to evolve. "While the County is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Plan, community partnerships will be critical as part of this process, including the development of further recovery actions that fit within the strategies and uplift the Puna community.
    "Recovery is not just a County effort; it's a kākou thing," said Le. "The community has stepped up to the plate in many ways during and after the disaster, and the success of this plan will also require ongoing community empowerment and collaboration."
    As part of the implementation process, the County's Recovery Team proposes to collaborate with Working Groups consisting of public, private and community partners who are actively engaged in work related to recovery and resilience. "These groups would be built around Island Resilience Capabilities focused on embracing social and cultural resilience, building a more resilient economy, managing the resilience of the natural and built environments, and strengthening the governance of risk and resilience."
 

Future land-use decisions should be informed by risk exposures, according to the Kīlauea Recovery & Resilience Plan. 
Photo from the Plan 

     In addition to community input, Kīlauea Recovery & Resilience Plan is supported by technical data and analysis conducted as part of the islandwide Volcanic Risk Assessment. That assessment identifies high hazard areas across Hawaiʻi Island and recommends the County applies a hazard overlay to inform future land-use decisions based on risk exposure. Those issues will be considered as part of the update to the County's General Plan, which requires consultation with the community and adoption by the County Council.

    The Economic Recovery Plan also looks at economic impacts of the eruption and Hurricane Lane, which affected the island the same year, identifies strengths and weaknesses in the local economy, and provides recommendations. It includes initiatives brought forth by business and community stakeholders to strengthen the foundation of the economy, both locally for Puna and island-wide, in ways that can ensure the community thrives after downturns and shock events.

    To view the documents, visit https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/planning/recovery-plans-strategies.

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TŪTŪ & ME TRAVELING PRESCHOOL is accepting more families to participate in its programs, including home visits. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Tūtū & Me offers zoom sessions. From 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. is an online experience for infants and toddlers. The program from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. is for preschoolers.
    Teachers Assistant Melody Espejo said she and the team are excited to expand the number of families Served by Tūtū & Me, which provides learning for families with infants, toddlers and preschoolers to prepare them for the next level of education. Family members attending the sessions can be parents, aunties, uncles, grandparents, or other designated caregivers.

    Site Manager is Deborah Fukushima. Lead teacher is Stacy Davis. Assessment Specialist is Jennifer Doi. 

    Tūtū & Me's local service area is called Hawaiʻi South, and includes Miloliʻi through all of Kaʻū and into Volcano. 
    Tūtū & Me is operated by the non-profit Partners In Development. Anyone interested in signing up for Tutu & Me can call Fukushima at 929-8571 or email her at dfukushima@pidfoundation.org.

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A SURVEY OF WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE is due Dec. 11. Dr. Jeannette Gurong, Executive Director of Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture & Natural Resource Management, said the survey is for this island. It consists of 14 questions, which can be found at https://forms.gle/yfZrjDJuQWiKxGfA6..

    Gurong said, "We are contacting women farmers in this county to learn more about their situation and needs. This is being done in part to provide additional data to the Hawaiʻi Island Agriculture & Food Systems Study being conducted by the Hamakua Institute." She said responses are needed by Dec. 11 to meet the deadline for the Study.  "But if you are not able to do so within that time frame, please do anyhow send it in later, as we will be gathering this information on an ongoing basis." 

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KUAKINI MEDIATION CENTER SESSIONS ARE ON ZOOM with a series called Finding Solutions, Growing Peace. They are on the third Thursday of the month from noon to 1 p.m. On Dec. 17 the talk is called Understanding the ‘Double Bind’ & Range of ‘Respectable’ Behavior. Presenter Kimberly Dark explains the title with the example of the "gender double bind. If a woman is too assertive, she's seen as bossy and controlling. If she's too quiet, her input is lost. While this gender research can show how we

Kimberly Dark will lead a session on the Double Bind &
Range of Respectable Behavior.

manage our range of 'respectable' behavior, it's not just about gender." The talk aims to help learn how subtle power dynamics can influence communication and conflict in the workplace and everyday life.
    Dark has consulted in conflict resolution and facilitation for over 20 years. She is an "award-winning writer and storyteller who wants you to reclaim your power as a social creator to make the world a better place," says the statement from Kuakini Mediation Center. "Her ability to make the personal political is grounded in her training as a sociologist, who teaches at Cal State Marcos and Writing/Arts at Cal State Summer Arts." Dark lives on Hawai‘i Island.
    For the Zoom link, 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. Funding comes from County of Hawai‘i and Hawai‘i Island United Way.

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COVID-19 IMMUNITY NOT GUARANTEED by contracting the disease says Center for Disease Control & Prevention. Increasing numbers of people are possibly becoming reinfected. CDC asks suspected repeat victims be tested, with samples sent to a lab equipped for genetic sequencing to determine if the sources of reinfection is possibly from a mutated strain of COVID. 

Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, by zip code. Gray

areas have populations less than 1,000. White is zero cases.

Yellow is one to 10 cases. Light orange is 11-50 cases. Dark

orange is 51-200 cases. Department of Health map

HAWAIʻI ISLAND REPORTS TWELVE NEW COVID case today, five travel-related, according to Civil Defense. There are two people hospitalized with the virus on Hawaiʻi Island. The average daily case rate for Hawaiʻi Island is six over the last two weeks.
    New cases reported statewide today total 133, with 82 on Oʻahu, 15 on Maui, one on Molokaʻi, and 22 residents diagnosed out-of-state. The average daily case rate for the state is 85 over the last two weeks.
    Since the pandemic began, 49 deaths have been reported on Hawaiʻi Island – none in the last three weeks. At least 256 people have died in the state.
    Since the pandemic began, there have been 18,423 total COVID cases in the state. Oʻahu has reported 15,695 total cases, Hawaiʻi 1,636, Maui 594, Lanaʻi 106, Molokaʻi 19, and Kauaʻi 119. Residents diagnosed while out-of-state, 254. Statewide, 1,326 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
    No new cases have been reported in the last 14 days for Volcano zip code 96718 and Kaʻū zip codes 96777 and 96772.
    In the last 14 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96704, which includes Miloliʻi; zip code 96737, which includes Ocean View; and Volcano zip code 96785.
    In the last 14 days, 22 cases have been reported in Hilo zip code 96720, 31 in Kona zip code 96740.
    See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage, coronavirus-response-county-of-hawaii-hawaiicountygis.hub.arcgis.com. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
    COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 14,575,623. The death toll is more than 281,134. Worldwide, there are more than 66.47 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,527,972.

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WHEN ROCKS FLY BY  is the title of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's 

Tephra layers preserved at the summit of Kīlauea from at

 least three different eruptions. Deposits below the top 

of the scale are predominantly juvenile and deposits above

 it containing many lithics. Notice the larger size of the 

yellow pumice clasts compared to the much denser and finer

 grey lapilli and ash surrounding them from 7 to 18 on the

 scale. The scale is in cm. Photo by Jo Schmith/USGS

Volcano Watch column for this week. It is written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel from the depths of Kīlauea and be hurled into the air as a tiny grain of volcanic ash? How high would you go and how far would you fly? Let's take a look at the theory of airborne rocks to find out!

    Tephra is the Greek word for ash, and it is the label we use for rocks that come flying out of the volcano during an eruption. Every feature of every single tephra grain has something significant to say about the volcanic process that created the grain and the transport journey it took afterwards. Our task as tephra volcanologists is to do the detective work and find as many clues in the grains as possible to help us understand the dynamics of past explosive eruptions. Today, we focus on features that influence transport by air.
    There are two ways to begin this journey. One starts from the hot molten magma itself, and the other begins in the wall of the volcanic conduit.
    Tephra that starts as fluid hot magma is classified as juvenile. It is a diverse group here at Kīlauea that includes smooth-skinned droplets (Pele's tears), frothy foams, almond-shaped projectiles, denser grains with small isolated bubbles, tiny shards of dark glass, and thin strands of glass (Pele's hair). Different abundance and size of bubbles cause a wide range of density among various types of juvenile grains. We subdivide them into shards, scoria, pumice and reticulite, in the order of increasing bubble content and decreasing density.

Tephra, including rock fragments, tiny spheres, and shards of
 volcanic glass, that erupted from Halema‘uma‘u Crater,
Kīlauea. USGS photo

    Grains from the wall rock are called lithic clasts. They are created when an explosion destroys part of the conduit wall or picks up talus blocks from a crater floor. At Kīlauea, they consist of shattered basalt and are mostly dense and blocky.
    After the juvenile or lithic tephra has been expelled from Kīlauea, the journey of a single grain is determined by its aerodynamic properties. There are two basic ways to fly.
    One is a simple throw from the volcano that will follow a ballistic curve in the air. This is reserved for the big and dense tephra grains that we refer to as juvenile bombs or lithic blocks. The height and length of the journey as a ballistic depends on the force of the explosion that sent it flying as well as its size and density, but it ends with a big thud within 1-2 km (0.6-1.2 miles) from the vent.
    The other mode of flying includes the forces of air and is seen as a plume rising from the vent and spreading laterally across the sky. Tephra travelers in a plume will find that they are lifted much higher than the ballistics and can cover many more miles of distance. However, they literally have to go where the wind blows them. 

    Once in the plume, these little pieces of rock known as lapilli and ash start their final journey toward the ground. The larger lapilli grains fall faster and end up closer to the volcano, whereas the fine ash grains can stay in the air longer and are the most adventurous. Lithic grains are usually denser and fall faster than juvenile grains, and therefore the lithic ride is shorter compared to a juvenile of the same size. Pumice has a lower density than scoria of similar size and can stay in the air longer. That way both the size and grain type that meets the ground changes with distance as we move downwind from the vent. 

Volcanic ash from Halema‘uma‘u Crater within 

Kīlauea Volcano, USGS Photo 

    Finally, when all the grains have settled there is a layer of tephra on the ground that reflects every single journey of each tephra grain and shows a nice outline of the plume. Wind and water can erode the tephra, but often a tephra layer can stay on the ground for hundreds or thousands of years, faithfully preserving the events of the eruption and waiting for a volcanologist to come along and measure grain size and density of the tephra grains to unfold how they got there.
    Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly. Kīlauea monitoring data for the month of November show variable but typical rates of seismicity and ground deformation, low rates of sulfur dioxide emissions, and only minor geologic changes since the end of eruptive activity in September 2018. The water lake at the bottom of Halemaʻumaʻu continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information on the lake, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/k-lauea-summit-water-resources.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
    This past week, about 110 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (about 5 miles). Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
    HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

Eddie Andrade and his helpers at last year's Pāhala Christmas Parade, put on pause this year during the pandemic.
Photo by Julia Neal

Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year

     This time last year, many public Christmas events were on the agenda for Kaʻū residents, including participating on horseback in the Hilo Christmas Parade. See the photo above of Lorilee Lorenzo and Ikaika Grace. With the county not issuing parade permits this year, the Pāhala Christmas Parade paused.

Holy Rosary Church members sang in the parade and hosted
 the end of the parade gathering at the church last year.
Photo by Julia Neal

    Last year, this time, Santa Eddie Andrade prepared his sleigh for his Pāhala Christmas Parade with more than four decades under his belt, not missing a year. 

    Holy Rosary Church, which co-sponsors the parade, prepared to greet walkers and riders for refreshments in its breezeway and practiced music for its own float.

    Ed Olson, owner of Kaʻū Coffee Mill, also co-sponsored the event, as did many members and friends of the Andrade family with their volunteer efforts.

    Among those participating were Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative, Pāhala Filipino Community Association, Pāhala Preschool, Miss Kaʻū Coffee members of the court, Aliʻi Hula Hands Coffee, Tūtū & Me, the Jesus Loves You Church, and the Andrade family's cast of characters. 

Pāhala Filipino Community Association is a regular
 in the Pāhala Christmas Parade. Photo by Julia Neal

    A stop was made at Kaʻū Hospital to greet the staff and long-term patients. As with the annual tradition, the parade wound through the town and people watched from their yards and the street corners as Santa and his helpers threw candy and broadcast Merry Christmas wishes to all.

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.

Kaʻū Coffee Mill's owner Ed Olson has sponsored Eddie Andrade's Pāhala Christmas Parade for many years.
Photo by Julia Neal

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.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

Ocean View Drive-In shows movies each Friday and Saturday. Gates open at 4 p.m. Once the car park area is full, gates will be closed. Gates will also be closed once the movie starts, at sunset. There will be refreshments on sale, such as Thai Grindz, popcorn, and candy. No entry fee; donations accepted. For details, see the Ocean View Community Market and Outdoor Theater Facebook page. 

Volcano Garden Arts will celebrate Second Saturday on Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., volcanogardenarts.com. Café Ono, cafeono.net, will be serving special plate lunches. Jewelry designer Suzie Cousins will be showcasing her collections of wearable art and demonstrating some of her techniques. See shopVGA.net to purchase products online. 

Visit a Volcano Artist Hui studio by appointment during the holiday season. See VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com or Instagram: @VolcanoArtHui for updates and individual artists' contact information.

Go to Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition through Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Walk the distanced paths through Volcano Art Gallery Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Park entrance fees apply. See volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222. 

Drive or stroll past the Christmas decorated cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and vote for the Holiday Challenge Winner. The annual event is a friendly decorating competition between KMC employees. It ends New Years Day.

Hike one of the many open trails, drive to the overlooks in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at Volcano and Kahuku units. See nps.gov/havo.

Take a Guided Nature Walkthrough 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. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222 

Big Island Giving Tree will give Christmas packages to the public, outdoors, at St. Jude's in Ocean View on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Available to those in need will be free clothing, linens, shoes, household items, cleaning products, and hygiene products.

Homestead Mushroom Cultivation workshop with Zach Mermel, Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus. Register at volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Saturday, Dec. 19. Group size limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations. Contact Megan Lamson-Leatherman at (808) 280-8124 or wild@aloha.net.

Christmas Day Dinner and New Year's Day Brunch are offered at Kīlauea Military Camp. Both dine-in and grab-and-go require reservations; call 808-967-8356. Christmas Day Dinner reservations for to-go orders deadline is Monday, Dec. 14. New Year's Day brunch is tentatively scheduled. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call (808) 936-5831 or see rb.gy/jakyac.

KaiLoki's, at the old Mehe's location in Ocean View, offers live music and karaoke on a to-be-determined schedule, along with a locally-sourced menu and bar. See facebook.com/KaiLokis.

Free Lifetime Entry for Veterans and Gold Star Families to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks. Details at rb.gy/k3evh6.

BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON

Order Culinary and Craft Gifts Made By Kaʻū High Entrepreneurs by email through Friday, Dec. 11. See the story on page 1. Email questions and orders to aina.akamu@k12.hi.us.

Purchase The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Fundraising calendars, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. review the calendar at rb.gy/tmxzva. Order the Calendar using this form: rb.gy/ytekoz. Send payment or donations to VSAS PayPal, paypal.com/paypalme/VolcanoSchool. VSAS is also selling school t-shirts and sweatshirts. Order from here: rb.gy/2a4cim. Send in order forms and payment to the main office: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785. For a printed copy of the order form to be mailed, contact Kaye at 985-9800, knagamine@volcanoschool.net. Contact Kanani at kwylie@volcanoschool.net for more information and assistance with ordering.

Volcano Art Center online, in person. Shop at Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, 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. See volcanoartcenter.org/events, call 967-8222. 

Kaʻū Coffee Mill & Visitor Center. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 pm.

Punaluʻu Bake Shop online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Aliʻi  Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.

Aikane Coffee Plantation. Order online at aikaneplantationcoffee.com. Call 808-927-2252

Miranda's Farms Coffee. Order online at mirandasfarms.com or, in person at 73-7136 Mamalahoa Hwy, Nāʻālehu.

Kuahiwi Ranch Store, in person. Shop weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 11 am to 3 p.m. at 95-5520 Hwy 11. Locally processed grass fed beef, live meat chickens, and feed for cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, horses, dogs, and pigs. Call 929-7333 of 938-1625, email kaohi@kuahiwiranch.com. 

Kaʻū Art Gallery, in person in Nāʻālehu, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Gallery is in the process of showcasing everything in the gallery online at kauartgallery.com. If interested in purchasing, contact Kaʻu Art Gallery at kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz.

Stay Home, Cook Rice – A Pandemic Limited Edition cookbook by Hawaiian Electric employees and retirees, and their families and friends costs $14 and includes more than 160 recipes. Benefits Hawaiʻi Island's United Way chapter partners, which includes Boys & Girls Club Big Island. Find order form at hawaiianelectric.com/unitedwaycookbook, call 543-4601 on weekdays from 8 a.m to 3 p.m., or email karen.garcia@hawaiianelectric.com. Cookbooks can only be mailed within the U.S. at USPS Priority Mail rate. Delays may be due to the pandemic. 

CHURCH SERVICES

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 coverings 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, at rb.gy/3jfbzd, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Check the webpage for Christmas services.

Hope DIA-mend Ministries holds outdoor services Sundays at 9:45 a.m. at 92-898 Ginger Blossom Lane in Ocean View. Masks and distancing required. For help and/or to donate, call or text Pam and Lance Ako at 808-937-6355, or call the Ministry at 808-920-8137. See them on Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.

SIGN UP SOON

Register for 2021 Sanctuary Ocean Count starting Tuesday, Dec. 15. The annual count is held the last Saturday of three months: Jan. 30, Feb. 27, and March 27, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The Ocean Count promotes public awareness about humpback whales, the sanctuary, and shore-based whale watching opportunities in the Hawaiian Islands. Contact Cindy Among-Serrao, cindy.among-serrao@noaa.gov. Register at oceancount.org.

Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development at rb.gy/fsrkwg. Find help for small businesses at rb.gy/sxzjt0.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays. 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Kaʻū Coffee. Cooper Center's EBT Machine, used at the Farmer's Market, is out of service until further notice. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

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 Council. 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 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. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Swap Meet 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 required.

HELP FOR HEALTH & COVID TESTING

Kaʻū Hospital offers COVID testing referral from the ER, a physician or a Kaʻū Clinic health provider.

Free Drive-Thru COVID Testing, Saturdays at Kea‘au High School in Puna, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesdays at Konawaena High School from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Civic Auditorium in Hilo from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (enter from Kuawa Street entrance). No co-pay, no insurance necessary, but bring insurance card if have. People do not have to have symptoms in order to be tested. Social distancing must be observed and face coverings must be worn at all times. For more, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Get help to sign up for Med-Quest Health Insurance through Dec. 15. Contact Kalanihale nonprofit's Kaʻimi Kaupilo, of Miloliʻi at 808-937-1310 and Donna Kekoa, of Pāhala, at 808-769-1334. The state's MedQuest provides eligible low-income adults and children access to health and medical coverage through managed care plans.

Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline is supported by We Are Oceania, weareoceania.org, to help with identifying COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment. Call (808) 913-1364. Watch the video at facebook.com/watch/?v=989579144844697.

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.

Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group at facebook.com/bhhsurg.

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. Meeting held Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.

Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub at health.hawaii.gov/camhd/lgbtq-safe-spaces.

Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Spectrum Channel 53, streaming on Nā Leo's free mobile app, and on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.

Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna, 808b-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.

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 at chooselovemovement.org/choose-love-home.

FOOD RELIEF

Pick up food weekdays in the parking lot of ACE Hardware in Ocean View from Hope DIA-mend Ministries TLC at 4:45 p.m. About 300 meals available each day, coordinated by pastors Pam and Lance Ako. For help or to donate, call or text Ako at 808-937-6355, or call 808-920-8137. See them on Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.

Bulk School Meal Service for those 18 and under will be held at Volcano and Pāhala on alternating weeks. Friday, Dec. 11, pick up food at The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani Campus located at 19-4024 Haunani Road in Volcano. Friday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up food at Kaʻū District Gym. No service on Friday, Dec. 25. Food items include eggs, cereal, dry pasta, rice, beans, tortillas, milk, and canned vegetables and fruit. Each distribution provides enough food for every person 18 years and under to eat breakfast and lunch. No income requirements. Youth do not need to be present to receive bags but be prepared to give their names and birthdates. See volcanoschool.net or call 808-985-9901.

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

Vibrant Hawaiʻi Food Distribution in Pāhala takes local food packages to homes in Pāhala through Dec. 31.

Free food for keiki offered at Resilience Hub, Nāʻālehu Hongwanji on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, noon to 4 p.m. The Hub also features drop-in WiFi and laptop access. Location is 95-5695 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927, for more.

EDUCATION

Virtual presentation, Sea Turtles in Hawaiʻi, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Register at rb.gy/rkd2fd. 

Free WiFi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary. Read details on Page 7. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.

Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927. See story on Page 7.

Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs at rb.gy/o1o2hy. For keiki grades 1-6. 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 or info@bgcbi.org.

ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides for Chromebooks and iPads at rb.gy/8er9wm. ʻOhana Help Desk also available by phone, weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.

Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, 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.org for Live WebEx link.

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., limited entry into library with Wiki Visits. 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. See 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.

Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 offers on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21 and edahawaii.org/participants.

Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report at rb.gy/awu65k. 

Watch Hawaiʻi's 28th Annual Filipino Fiesta and 8th Flores de Mayo virtual celebration at rb.gy/b53jgn.

Learn About Hawaiʻi's History & Culture through Papakilo Database, papakilodatabase.com.

Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.

ECONOMIC RELIEF

Online Directory at shopbigisland.com, co-sponsored by County of Hawai‘i, has a signup sheet for local businesses to fill in the blanks. The only requirement is a physical address on this island.

Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.

Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19, from University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and the senior class at bit.ly/2YvFxsl. 

Farmers can apply for SNAP at Markets Grant through Sunday, Dec. 20. Launched by Hawaiʻi Farmers Market Association, the program will work through implementation and promotion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Visit the program website, rb.gy/nem1ec, for more information and to apply.

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

Homeowners, apply for Affordable Rental Housing Tax Reduction through Dec. 31. Application, requirements and benefits are at hawaiipropertytax.com/misc.html or call the county Real Property Tax office at 961-8201 or 323-4880.

Apply for Utility Assistance to pay for electricity, non-government water, or gas. Applicants must be a Hawaiʻi Island resident, at least 18 years old, lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, and not previously received assistance from other COVID-19 federal or state-funded programs. Funded by CARES Act and distributed by Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, required documents for application are government-issued identification, income verification documents for all household members, utility statement with address of services, lease/rental agreement or mortgage document, and proof of hardship. Hardship may include, but not limited to, pay stubs documenting pre-COVID-19 income, unemployment approval letter, or layoff letter. Apply at HCEOC.net or call 808-961-2681.

Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. Contact RMAP partners: Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935- 3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933- 6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808- 934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.

Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits, up to $10,000, support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See rb.gy/v2x2vy. 

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. Complete webform at hawaiifirstfcu.com/community-resource-center or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.

Apply or Donate to Full Calabash Fund to support vulnerable Hawaiʻi families and food producers impacted by the pandemic through Dec. 31 by contacting Nicole Milne, The Kohala Center's vice president of food and agriculture initiatives, at (808) 987-9210 or nmilne@kohalacenter.org. Nonprofit organizations and meal preparation services can apply for grants through Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. online at koha.la/calabash or by calling 808-887-6411.

AGRICULTURE

Contact AskUSDA at (833) ONE-USDA with representatives available 4 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. The website, ask.usda.gov is available 24/7 and includes live chat agents available 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. Inquiries can also be sent via email at any time to askusda@usda.gov.

Women Farmers can Register with Hawaiʻi Women Farmers Directory, a statewide online directory of women-operated farms, ranches, and agribusinesses. Visit the program website to register, rb.gy/87fn9d.

Coffee Growers are urged to take a survey on how the pandemic is affecting them by Hawaiʻi Coffee Association. Take the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/638VWS6.

Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more at rb.gy/exzuk1. 

Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website, ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/onfarm.

Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begin and Ends with Seed, where Education by Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog at rb.gy/ijai3y.

Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature. Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii.

Learn Basics of Organic Farming, via free modules at rb.gy/4wio2y.

PETS & WILDLIFE

One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.

Report Humpback Whales in Trouble at NOAA Fisheries 24 hour hotline, 1-888- 256-984. Also report distressed sea turtles, monk seals and dolphins.

Apply for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council Members by Thursday, Jan. 14. Contact Cindy Among-Serrao via email at Cindy.Among-Serrao@noaa.gov or visit the sanctuary website, hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

For free Veterinary Care, Spay & Neuter, visit hihs.org, Services Tab, Spay and Neuter or Community Vet Care, or email petsupport@hihs.org. Call 808-217- 0154. All appointments must be scheduled in advance and are open to healthy dogs and cats. Two pets per family will be accommodated, each pet with own appointment. Unavailable to animals other than dogs and cats. Unavailable to strays and those with contagious illnesses.

COMMUNITY

Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station is open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recycling services available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "White goods" appliance collection services will accept one appliance per resident per day. Customers need to check in with the facility attendant before dropping an appliance off at the facility. No unattended drop-offs allowed. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org or call 961-8270. 

Ocean View Transfer Station is open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will continue as usual on Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org or call 961-8270. 

Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts at rb.gy/iemgrc for site closures, service hours, and more.