The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, January 14, 2021

YOUNG FARMERS GRANT APPLICATIONS

Applications are due Friday, Jan. 15. The National Young Farmers Coalition is offering 50 grant awards of $5,000 each to young farmers and ranchers, including five awards to projects starting in 2021. Young Farmer Grants provide flexible financial support to young farmers building long-term careers in agriculture. Applicants must be farmers and ranchers between 18 and 40 years of age as of April 1, 2021. Visit the program website for more information and to apply. Photos from Young Farmers Coalition

TWO HUNDRED HAWAIʻI NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS will be deployed to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of Joe Biden as President of the United States. Gov. David Ige made the announcement today, at the request of the National Guard Bureau. He said the mission will aid in and facilitate the peaceful transition of presidential power. The members will arrive prior to Inauguration Day

Wednesday, Jan. 20, where they are prepared to perform a multitude of missions in support of local law enforcement.
Ige said "The Hawaiʻi National Guard is prepared to support the effort in Washington, D.C., to ensure a peaceful transition of power and a smooth Inauguration Day following a free and fair election. I thank our Guard members for their dedication to protecting our democracy during these challenging times."

Maj. Gen. Kenneth S. Hara, adjutant general, Department of Defense for Hawaiʻi, said, "The Hawaiʻi National Guard received a request to provide Guardsmen in support of the January 20, 2021 Presidential Inauguration just yesterday and soldiers are reporting today. The Hawaiʻi National Guard continues to impress me with their ability to respond to the most difficult challenges. They definitely epitomize the National Guard's 'Always Ready, Always There.'"

Roughly 800 guardsmen are still activated for COVID-19 support and the deployment of these members will not impact the effort to support the State of Hawaiʻi. There are nearly 4,000 Guard members that will remain in the islands to assist with any local disasters,

local disasters, according to the governor's statement, which notes, "For security reasons, specifics about the deployment cannot be released at this time."

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VETERANS AND RESERVE MILITARY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS JOINED KAI KAHELE today to ask for prosecution and penalties for all participants in the storming of the U.S. Capitol last week connected to the military. Kahele, an Air National Guardsman and Congressman for Kaʻū and all of rural Hawaiʻi, cooperated with Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss, Democrats of Massachusetts; Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska; and Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat from California. They wrote a bipartisan letter to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Acting U.S. Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. It raises concerns over active duty and retired military service members and veterans under investigation, or who have been arrested, in connection with their participation in the Jan 6 insurrection at the Capitol.

Kahele and colleagues ask for timely responses to a list of questions that seek to discover administrative and legal tools that could prosecute those who participated in the insurrection; suspend security clearances; affect benefits earned during military service, military base access and installation privileges; and prohibit working for the federal government or any company that does federal government contracting work. Here is the letter they signed and sent to the Secretary of Defense and Acting Attorney General:
"We write with grave concerns over reports that multiple active duty and retired military service members and veterans are under investigation, or have been arrested, in connection with their participation in the riot and insurrection in the U.S. Capitol last week. As veterans and Members of Congress, who have taken the Oath of Office twice over, we have sworn to protect the Constitution and hold accountable our fellow Americans who have served in uniform to the Oaths they themselves have sworn to our country.

"As you know, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides that no person may hold civil or military office in the United States, who, having taken an Oath as an officer of the United States to support the Constitution, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States. This provision was enshrined in our Constitution in the Reconstruction Amendments which were adopted in the wake of the Civil War. Our leaders knew then that the security of our democracy requires that service members, veterans, and retirees of the U.S. military should be investigated, convicted, and found guilty if they committed insurrection or rebellion against our country.
"Recent news reports have identified retired or discharged service members as being present at the Capitol and taking part in the riot that occurred on January 6, 2021. Additional news reports and security briefings suggest that the threat of insurrection in all 50 states and in the nation's capital will continue through January 21, 2021. Given the 14th Amendment provision previously referenced, we are concerned about further participation in insurrection or rebellious activities by current or former service members that contravenes the oath we took to protect this country.

Veteran Marine Corps Captain and Congressman
Seth Moulton and Rep. Kai Kahele, himself an Air
National guardsman, calls for penalties for those
connected to the military who were involved in
the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

"With this information in mind and as the investigations continue to reveal individuals with a
relationship to the military, we request your prompt answers to each of the following questions: 1. For active duty, National Guard and Reserve service members who are under law enforcement investigation for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, what are the administrative tools available and what are administrative requirements the military service must enact? 2. For retirees who are under law enforcement investigation for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 what are the administrative tools available and legal tools

Republican retired Air Force General
Don Bacon, a member of Congress from
Nebraska, joined Kai Kahele and three
colleagues with a letter today to the
Secretary of Defense and U.S.
Attorney General.

available to the military service to recall the retiree and administratively or legally prosecute the individual? 3. For federal contractors (to include those who are veterans and retirees) who are under law enforcement investigation for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 what are the administrative tools available and legal tools available to suspend security clearances or employment on contracts? 4. For veterans who no longer have a Military Service Obligation and are not retirees who are under law enforcement investigation and are convicted of a federal crime for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, are there any administrative tools available to the military services to adjust their military discharge that could affect benefits earned for military service?"

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THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OPPOSITION TO THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT drew two lawsuits today filed in the United States District Court of Hawaiʻi. A statement from Earthjustice, which represents the plaintiffs, says the suits respond "to the outgoing administration's most recent attacks on the Endangered Species Act, the law that serves as the last safety net for animals and plants facing extinction. Toward the end of last month, the Trump administration issued two new regulations that strip vital protections from federal lands and other areas that the best available science indicates are necessary for the conservation of threatened and endangered species."

The first lawsuit challenges the Trump administration's interpretation of "habitat." Trump's interpretation "reverses nearly half a century of protections for habitat that needs restoration to meet species' needs, as well as areas that species will need in the future as refuges to survive dramatic changes to the world's climate."
Lead Earthjustice Attorney Elena Bryant said, "The drafters of this rule were clearly more concerned with easing industry regulation than upholding the foundational purpose of the ESA--to ensure the protection, conservation and recovery of imperiled species. We are going to Court to restore protections for the habitat that is essential to pull species back from the brink of extinction."

The second case challenges Trumps effort that "strips vital protections from federal lands and other areas that the best available science indicates are necessary for the conservation of threatened and endangered species and prioritizes profits for polluting industries over the conservation needs of wildlife facing extinction," says the Earthjustice statement.

Lead Earthjustice Attorney Leināʻala L. Ley said, "Critical habitat is a bedrock protection afforded to imperiled species under the Act. By making it harder to designate critical habitat, this rule virtually guarantees that the loss of biodiversity and our natural heritage will only accelerate."

Endangered monk seal image by Caren Loebel-Fried, of Volcano,
who often works with Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi.
See carenloeblefried.com.

According to Earthjustice, the proposed changes "directly undermine the Act's purpose to prevent extinction and promote recovery. The lawsuits were filed in Hawaiʻi where the new rules could be especially damaging due in part to limited habitat for native species found nowhere else on earth."
Earthjustice filed both lawsuits on behalf of Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi, Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resource Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and WildEarth Guardians. American Bird Conservancy joined the critical habitat exclusion challenge and will also be represented by Earthjustice.
Moana Bjur, Executive Director of Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi, said, "Hawaiʻi is the endangered species capital of the world; our small island home has over 30% of the nation's listed plant and animal species. For us, protecting endangered species and ecosystems is necessary not only to ensure biodiversity and climate resiliency, but also to honor our history and cultural heritage as a place."

Steve Holmer, Vice President at American Bird Conservancy, said, "The new Regulation makes it easier for federal land to be excluded from critical habitat, a result that would be particularly harmful to listed bird species that depend heavily on federal lands. These listed bird populations are in decline and facing serious threats. We should be adding protections, not chipping away at the safety net of the ESA."

Albatross is one of the species which could
risk more danger by erosion of the
Endangered Species Act. For the
artist, see carenloeblefried.com.

Noah Greenwald, Endangered Species Director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said that "By requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to listen to industry rather than science when designating critical habitat, the Trump administration's new rule is an absolute disaster for endangered species and the places they live. The Endangered Species Act was enacted to stop extinction, not facilitate it, and we expect the Court to strike down this industry giveaway."
Bart Melton, Wildlife Program Director for the National Parks Conservation Association, said "Threatened and endangered national park species require more than just parklands for their survival and recovery. These regulations make it harder to protect vital areas outside of parks for wildlife and prioritize short-term profit over America's conservation future. In the midst of the climate crisis we should be working to uphold the core tenants of the Endangered Species Act, instead these regulations critically damage the intent of the Act. NPCA is hopeful these regulations will be reversed."
Lucas Rhoads, Attorney at Natural Resources Defense Council, said, "Critical habitat is a central pillar of the ESA's protections for listed species, and an essential part of what has made the Act a huge success for the past 50 years. These rules tie the Services' hands and make it more difficult to protect the areas that listed species need if they are to survive and flourish. To stem the biodiversity crisis we now face, we need the Services to use all the tools available to them—not sell out to industry special interests at the expense of these precious species."

The endangered Hawaiian crow, the ʻAlalā,
by Volcano artist Caren Loebel-Fried
See carenloeblefried.com

Bonnie Rice, Sierra Club Endangered Species Campaign Representative, said, "In the midst of the first-ever human-caused extinction crisis, one of the worst things you could do is impose restrictions on protection of areas essential to imperiled species' recovery and prioritize corporate profits over preserving the Earth's biodiversity. Yet that is exactly what the Trump Administration has done. Their relentless decimation of vital protections of the Endangered Species Act will be fought at every turn."
Jason Rylander, Defenders of Wildlife senior counsel, said, "Lack of habitat is the main reason why so many species are imperiled. For wildlife to have a fighting chance, they need a place to live. If we hope to save the most vulnerable wildlife from extinction, we will need to prioritize habitat restoration in their recovery."
Lindsay Larris, wildlife program director at WildEarth Guardians, said, "Designation of critical habitat is a crucial piece of the recovery process for species who have received ESA listing status. This new rule shrinks the areas even eligible to be designated as critical habitat for numerous species, making an endangered or threatened species' struggle to truly recover and thrive all the more precarious in our ever-changing and developing world."

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ABOUT 50 SMALL MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKES ON MAUNA LOA's summit and upper flanks during the past week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s weekly update. The majority of these 2.5 or smaller earthquakes occurred at shallow depths of less than five miles below sea level. The largest recorded earthquake was a M3.2 beneath the volcano's upper Southwest Rift Zone on Jan. 8 at 4:23 p.m.
The earthquake activity on Mauna Loa's northwest flank, which began on Dec. 4, 2020, subsided to average long-term trends.
Global Positioning System measurements recorded contraction across the summit caldera since mid-October with extension (summit inflation) resuming in the past few weeks, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at both the summit and Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.

The summit of Mauna Loa. Photo by Frans Lanting of Mint Images/Photo Science Library

Webcam views have revealed no changes to the landscape over the past week. Mauna Loa Volcano is not erupting. Rates of deformation and seismicity have not changed significantly over the past week and remain above long-term background levels. The ongoing eruption at Kīlauea Volcano is not affecting Mauna Loa. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.

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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 20 NEW COVID CASES in the past two days. The average daily new case rate over the last two weeks for Hawaiʻi Island is 12.
   New cases reported statewide over the last two days total 281, with 191 on Oʻahu, 46 on Maui, three on Kauaʻi, and 24 residents diagnosed out-of-state. The average daily case rate for the state is 167 over the last two weeks.
   Since the pandemic began, 49 deaths have been reported on Hawaiʻi Island. At least 318 people have died in the state, nine reported in the last two days.
   Since the pandemic began, there have been 23,908 total COVID cases in the state. Oʻahu has reported 19,580 total cases, Hawaiʻi 2,050, Maui 1,374, Lanaʻi 106, Molokaʻi 25, and Kauaʻi 170. Residents diagnosed while out-of-state, 603. Statewide, 1,561 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
   In the last 14 days, zero active cases have been reported in Volcano zip code 96785.
   In the last 14 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96737, which includes Ocean View; 96704, which includes Miloliʻi; zip code 96772, which includes Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour; Kaʻū zip code 96777, which includes Pāhala; and Volcano zip code 96718.
   In the last 14 days 57 cases have been reported in Kona zip codes 96740, 24 in Hilo zip code 96720, and 19 cases in 96743, which includes Waikaloa Village, Waimea, Kawaihae, Puakō, Waikui, and Akona.
   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.
   Cumulative COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 23,308,712. The death toll is more than 388,529. Worldwide, more than 93 million total COVID-19 cases have been reported. The death toll is more than 1,991,997.

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SIGN UP SOON

YOUNG FARMER GRANT APPLICATIONS are due Friday, Jan. 15. The National Young Farmers Coalition is offering 50 grant awards of $5,000 each to young farmers and ranchers, including five awards to projects starting in 2021. Young Farmer Grants provide flexible financial support to young farmers building long-term careers in agriculture. Applicants must be farmers and ranchers between 18 and 40 years of age as of April 1, 2021. Visit the program website for more information and to apply.

A JUNIOR MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM for ages 12 - 18 will be held beginning Saturday, Jan. 16 at Pāhala Plantation House on the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets. The sessions will be on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. They are sponsored by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension Office and its junior extension agent Marielle Hampton. The six workshops are based on the 4-H Junio Master Gardeners Program's Learn, Grow, Eat & Go curriculum.

Those interested can contact Katie Graham at katie.graham@foodcorps.org. Call 808-785-0012.

Read at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar

Directory f or farms, ranches, takeout. The Kaʻū Calendar is free,

7,500 distributed to stands and all postal addresses throughout Kaʻū,

from Miloliʻi through Volcano. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your

business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

VOLCANO ART CENTER is holding Zentangle workshops. They include Clay - High Fire with Erik Wold, an eight-class workshop. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org for full event details and more.

STRATEGIES TO JUMPSTART learning the craft of writing will be taught through Volcano Art Center on Jan. 23 by Jacquolyn McMurray and Kristen Wolfgang from 9 a.m. to noon. "How long has writing been on your bucket list? Are you ready to make 2021 the year you finally get started or restarted?" asks VAC in a statement on the session The Strategies to Jump-Start Your Writing livestream Zoom workshop "is perfect for beginning writers seeking new inspiration and strategies. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org for full event details and more.

A SERIES OF CHILDREN'S CLASSES is offered by Volcano Art Center in January and early February. East African Handbuilding for Keiki with Erik Wold presents six ceramics classes for children ages 8 – 15 on Tuesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through– Feb. 9. The Kids Drawing Class with Ken Charon is six drawing classes for children ages 8 – 14 on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 10. Beginning Bead Embroidery with Cabochons with Rona Smith is a series of six bead embroidery classes for children ages 10 – 14 on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 11. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org for full event details and 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 at rb.gy/fsrkwg. Find help for small businesses at rb.gy/sxzjt0.

IN-PERSON EVENTS

A BRUSH WITH LIGHT gives the public a chance to "immerse in Hawaiʻi Island’s magnificent landscapes and plants," says the statement from Volcano Art Center. Catherine Robbins’ "evocative oil paintings" are in the solo exhibition, A Brush with Light – Volcanic Island Reflections, at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The show runs through Feb. 14, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday.

GOLF & SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse. The new Club offers Social Memberships, with future use of the clubhouse and current use of the pickleball courts as well as walking and running on specified areas of the golf course before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m. to enjoy the panoramic ocean views. Golf memberships range from unlimited play for the avid golfer to casual play options. Membership is required to play and practice golf on the course. All golf memberships include Social Membership amenities. Membership fees are designed to help underwrite programs and improvements to the facilities. Call 808-731-5122 or stop by the Clubhouse during business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 94-1581 Kaulua Circle. Email clugatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com. See The Club at Discovery Harbour Facebook page.

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.

WALK THROUGH A GUIDED 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

VOLCANO GARDEN ART'S SECRET GARDEN WALK is on free trails to the public. Sponsor Ira Ona describes the “Historical garden with many native plants. We have just created a self-guided nature walk in my new secret garden which is carved out of an upland native Hawaiian forest. Open to walk throughout the week, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. www.volcanogardenarts.com, 985-8979, Located on Old Volcano Hwy in Volcano Village.

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.

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 Thursdays, 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.

O KA`U KAKOU MARKET, in Nāʻālehu, open Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Limit of 50 customers per hour, 20 vendor booths, with 20 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 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 required.

BUY LOCAL GIFTS ONLINE, IN-PERSON

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES CALENDARS, t-shirts, and sweatshirts sales raise money for the schoo. 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. To buy 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.

KA`U 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.

PUNALU`U BAKESHOP online at bakeshophawaii.com and in-person 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

ALI`I HAWAI`I HULA HANDS COFFEE. Order by calling 928-0608 or emailing alihhhcoffee@yahoo.com.

AIKANE PLANTATION COFFEE COMPANY. Order online at aikaneplantation.com. Call 808-927-2252

MIRANDA'S FARMS KA`U 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.

KA`U ART SHOW, 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.

CHURCH SERVICES

OCEAN VIEW EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY CHURCH holds services on Sundays beginning with Sing-Along on the Square at 10:15 a.m., followed by Sunday Morning Service at 11 a.m.. In person services following CDC Guidelines and Hawaii mandates by using hand sanitizer, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing.
Music and Sermons are posted to FaceBook.com/OVECC. Also see FaceBook.com/OVECC for more. The church campus for Ocean View Evangelical Community Church
is 92-8977 Leilani Circle. Call 808-939-9089

SUNDAY DRIVE-IN WORSHIP SERVICES ARE OPEN TO ALL 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 dwongyuen.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.

HELP FOR HEALTH & COVID TESTING

KA`U 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.

MICRONESIAN 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.

DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS, NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? 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 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.

KA`U WOMEN'S COLLECTIFE OFFIERS HEALTH PROGRAMS. 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. 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 FOR KUPUNA at 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 n 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 Kaʻū District Gym, Jan. 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up food in Volcano. 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 FOOD BOXES available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.

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. Register to watch 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.

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.

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.

AGRICULTURE

QUALIFY TO BECOME A BEGINNING FARMER OR RANCHER and receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture To qualify for status as a beginning farmer or rancher:

Applicants must be an individual. Business entities may receive benefits only if all of the substantial beneficial interest holders (ten percent or more) of the business entity qualify as beginning farmers or ranchers. For example, a son moves home to take over the family farm and incorporates with his spouse and neither have previous farming experience. Their corporation would qualify as a beginning farmer/rancher. However, if a son moves home and forms a corporation with his father, who has had an insurable interest in crops or livestock for more than five crop years, the corporation cannot receive beginning farmer and rancher benefits. Although the son qualifies as a beginning farmer or rancher, the father does not so the corporation cannot receive benefits; and

Applicants must not have actively operated and managed a farm or ranch anywhere, with an insurable interest in any crop or livestock for more than five crop years (ten years for Whole-Farm Revenue Protection). This includes an insurable interest as an individual or as a substantial beneficial interest holder (ten percent or more) in another person who has an insurable interest in any crop or livestock. Applicants may exclude a crop year's insurable interest if they were under the age of 18, enrolled in post-secondary studies (not to exceed five crop years) or on active duty in the U.S. military.

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.

CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM enrollment ends Feb. 12. Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program can sign up for the program until Friday, Feb. 12. The competitive program provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation. Refer to the press release for more information.

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

Volunteer in the community – find out how at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/participate.

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.