About The Kaʻū Calendar

Monday, August 23, 2021

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou President Wayne Kawachi, volunteer Christine Alley and OKK VP Nadine Ebert check out fresh vegetables
from Ulu Kaʻū Farms, donated for free meal program at Na`alehu Resilience Hub. See more below. Photo by Marsha Masters

GOV. DAVID IGE TODAY ASKED VISITORS TO REDUCE TRAVEL TO THE ISLANDS until COVID counts go down. During a press conference, the governor also asked, "Is a lockdown on the table?" He replied to his own question, saying, " Yes, it would be if the number of cases continues to grow exponentially as it has in the last 10 weeks ." He said, "We will have to take action to limit and ensure that the hospitals aren’t overrun.”  He also encouraged the unvaccinated to take the COVID shots, to stay at home, if sick, wear masks and to refrain from gathering in large groups. The Pfizer vaccine received FDA final approval Monday, moving out of its emergency use status and leading to more employers requiring vaccines for their workforce.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

A MARSHALLESE CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW WILL HOST FREE COVID VACCINES THIS SATURDAY, Aug. 28 between 9 a.m. and noon. The location is the Kona-Kaʻū Marshallese Church, Jarin Rarik Dron, at 92-1429 Kaiulani Blvd.
     Kaʻū Rural Health Clinic will be on hand to administer Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Schedule an appointment by calling 808-934-4205. Walk-ins and Uninsured will be welcomed. Those with insurance cards are asked to bring them. While the focus is the Pacific Islander community, all are welcome.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com

FREE DRIVE THRU COVID TESTING AT THE COUNTY'S KAHUKU PARK IS THIS SATURDAY in Ocean View from 9 a.m. to noon. The address is 92-0607 Paradise Mauka Circle. The testing is provied by Queens North Hawai'i Community Hospital in Waimea. Bring ID and Medical Insurance Card. The uninsured will be welcomed. Kaʻū Rural Health Association and its leader Jessie Marques are helping to coordinate this event. 

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CVS/LONGS IS OFFERING WALK-IN COVID SHOTS from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at Pāhala, no appointments necessary.  

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A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING FOR ALL OF KAʻŪ AND VOLCANO is set for this Wednesday, Aug. 25 to discuss the COVID situation. It is sponsored by the Mayor's Office and Na Leo TV. It features Mayor Mitch Roth, County Council chair Maile David, and principals of Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, Nāʻālehu Elementary and Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. The session is from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The link is https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ubi7KS2KQVyrWFYpCauKZA.  Also invited are representatives of the state Department of Health, and Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic. To be discussed are community COVID-19 concerns, state and county mitigation efforts, vaccine and testing resources, state and county mandates, and public school safety measures and protocols. Those without ability to join the zoom meeting can call Jessie Marques, of Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association,  with questions to be submitted. Phone 928-0101.
                                                                           
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A COVID VACCINE MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES OF KAʻŪ HOSPITAL, HILO MEDICAL CENTER and sister facilities begins tomorrow, Aug. 24. Testing will start in early September for employees who opt out of the vaccination. Human Resources is reviewing employee vaccination records. A statement from the management says, "Fortunately, many of our employees have been vaccinated through our hospitals' efforts – currently, the East Hawaii Region has an 87% vaccination rate. Employees who received their vaccination at an alternate location have until early September to submit proof of vaccination to Human Resources. We, of course, will be honoring religious and healthcare exemptions."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ER staff at Hilo Medical Center takes a break with
a juice refreshment. Photo from HMC
KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING TODAY AT HILO MEDICAL CENTER and sent out a statement about staff and services during the pandemic. Spokesperson Elena Cabatu said, "A sincere mahalo to our staff who have been working hard to care for an all-time high in the pandemic of 29 patients. Elective surgeries have been cancelled for today and Tuesday. We continue to closely assess hospital capacity to restart elective procedures. Our COVID Unit has been expanded to care for the 23 COVID positive patients. Our Emergency Department, ICU, Progressive Care Unit, Medical Unit, and Surgical/Peds Unit have been running beyond capacity. Patients are now in overflow areas in our OB Unit and Short Stay Department. Our dedicated staff has been embodying team work to care for our community."
     To view the virtual town hall meeting with Infection Prevention Director Chad Shibuya and Dan Brinkman, president of the East Hawai'i Region of Hawai'i Heath Systems Corp., which manages Kaʻū Hospital, Hilo Medical Center and other facilities on this island, go to: https://youtube/nFJP13AJdqE.  Shibuya and Brinkman  give a COVID-19 management plan update and discuss a wide range of topics from precautions at the hospitals to vaccination mandates and statistics on the changing profile of COVID-19 patients.

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Fresh fruits and vegetables from Ulu Kaʻū Farms, grown with help from OKK, which operates the
Wednesday and Saturday market in Nāʻālehu. Photo from Ulu Kaʻū Farms

O KAʻŪ KĀKOU'S MARKET HAS ANNOUNCED NEW COVID PROTOCOL. Masking, hand sanitizing and distancing have been reinstated at its Nāʻālehu location. Temperature checks have been added. OKK's open market is Saturday and Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring local farm produce, artists, and crafters, hot food, Kaʻū Coffee, live music and more. "Future requirements may change as needed," says the OKK statement.
    An earlier announcement saying proof of COVID vaccination would be required was in error, according to OKK.

 To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Eva Liu and David Retsky show off fresh produce from Ulu Ka`u Farms, which is working with 
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou to donate 100 lbs a week of organic food for free meals at Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub.
Photo from Ulu Ka`u Farms

FREE MEALS WITH ORGANIC VEGETABLES are available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Nāʻālehu Resilience Hub from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The vegetables are grown in a partnership between ʻO Kaʻū Kākou and Eva Liu, owner of Ulu Kaʻū Farms, which is donating 100 lbs. a week. OKK is providing volunteer help at the farm. 
    Cooking of the meals is accomplished by volunteers, including OKK President Wayne Kawachi, Christine Alley, OKK VP Nadine Ebert and the Resilience Hub's Marsha Masters.
     Ebert said that others are welcome to donate food and labor, as well as cash to buy food to help round out the meals. Checks can be made to 'O Kaʻū Kakou, P.O. Box 365, Pāhala, HI 96777, with a notation that the donation is for the Resilience Hub. Donations can also be made through the OKK website at www.okaukakou.org.
    Liu said she is focused at Ulu Kaʻū Farms on and organic garden and food sustainability for Kaʻū residents, in partnership with farmer David Retsky.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.



Read the entire Kaʻū Calendar and back issues at 
www.kaucalendar.com. Find it in the. mail from Volcano
through Nāʻālehu, Ocean View to Miloli'i.
Pick it up from newsstands.

















KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL & VISITOR CENTER. Buy online at kaucoffeemill.com and in person at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road, daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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

ALIʻI HAWAIʻI 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 KAʻŪ COFFEE. Order online at mirandafarms.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.




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 808-937-6355, or call the Ministry at 808-920-8137. See Facebook and at hopedia-mendministries.com.

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

KAʻŪ WOMEN'S COLLECTIVE OFFERS 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.

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.

EDUCATION

Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, 12:30 to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access. Free meals. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.

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.

Public Libraries are 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.

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.

COMMUNITY
Food Assistance: 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

ENROLL CHILDREN, from first through eighth grade, in Kula ʻAmakihi, a program from Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. It started Aug. 3. Call 808-985- 9800 or visit www.volcanoschool.net.




REGISTER FOR THE KA‘Ū COFFEE TRAIL RUN, which returns on Saturday, Sept. 18. See more on the OKK event at https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/

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. www.volcanoartcenter.org. Call 967-8222.

KAʻŪ ART GALLERY is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Nāʻālehu. It features and sells works by local artists and offers other gift items. Vendor applications are being accepted for its Holiday Arts & Crafts Sale on Saturday, Nov. 13. Kaʻū Art Gallery's website has 24/7 access online and is frequently updated to show current inventory items. "We are always looking to collaborate with local artists in our community," said assistant Alexandra Kaupu. Artists with an interest in being featured at Kaʻū Art Gallery and Gift Shop, contact gallery owner and director Corrine Kaupu at kauartgallery@hawaiiantel.biz.

GOLF & MEMBERSHIPS for Discovery Harbour Golf Course and its Clubhouse: The 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 panoramiocean 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 clubatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com. See The Club at Discovery Harbour Facebook page.

ALOHA FRIDAY MARKETPLACE, hosted by Kaʻū Main Street, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., grounds of Kauahaʻao Congregational Church 95-1642 Pinao St. in Waiʻohinu, corner of Kamaoa and Hwy 11. Farmers Market, Arts & Crafts, Health Practitioners, Food, Music, Yoga, Keiki Fun & More. Inquiries: AlohaFridayMarket@gmail.com.

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 Hawai‘i 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 KAʻŪ KĀKOU 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 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.