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Thursday, August 26, 2021

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021

Kilauea volcano has been shaking recently but settled down without an eruption. See more below.
USGS photo by M. Zoeller

IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO DIED IN AFGHANISTAN TODAY, and at the direction of the President of the United States, Gov. David Ige has ordered that the United States flag and the Hawaiʻi state flag will
be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol and upon all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawaiʻi National Guard in the State of Hawaiʻi, until sunset Aug. 30, 2021.
    "This action is taken as a mark of respect for the U.S. service members and other victims who were killed today in the terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan," said Ige. As of this evening, some 13 U.S. military personnel and at least 60 Afghanis perished from suicide bombings at a Kabul airport gate and a nearby hotel. Evacuation flights continue to lift Americans and others who worked in Afghanistan for the U.S. and allies during the last two decades, with the country taken over by the Taliban. President Joe Biden said the U.S. will continue the airlifts despite the tragedy and the threat, as the U.S. pulls out after 20 years in Afghanistan.
Flags will be flown half-staff until sunset,
Monday, Aug. 30.

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CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE RESPONDED TO THE LOSS OF U.S. MILITARY LIVES IN KABUL TODAY: "As a son of a United States Marine, one who has also raised his right hand and swore an oath to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, I understand that oath means you are willing to sacrifice your life. I am deeply saddened to learn of the servicemembers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to this senseless act of violence today.
    "What we can do right now, is offer our support and respect to all the mothers, fathers, spouses and children around the world who anxiously wonder whether or not their loved ones serving in Afghanistan are safe.
    "Today's heinous attack at HKIA further accelerates the urgency of our mission to remove U.S. troops, American citizens and our Afghan allies from Afghanistan."

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SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO STATEMENT ON THE AFGHAN SITUATION TODAY: "My thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed in Afghanistan today, including the brave U.S. servicemembers who died defending the ongoing evacuation." 

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LEADERS FROM LAHUI COVID-19 held a press conference in front of the Queen Liliuokalani statue in Honolulu today, asking for more cooperation from community members in helping to push back on COVID-19. More than a fifth of the cases fall on Native Hawaiians.
    The opening remarks of the presentation included, "We cannot continue to allow Hawaiians to be the group with the low vaccination rates and the high case counts, with severe illness, with preventable deaths and trauma in our lahui. We have kuliana to protect our 'ohana to keep them safe from harm. There are multiple tools we can turn to and it is up to us to choose to use them: masks, distancing, stying home, testing, vaccines."
    Urging safe practices and vaccinations were teachers, aloha 'aina, doctors, kupuna, kahu, elected officials and representatives of the ali'i trusts. Speakers included Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, Dr. Jerard Akaka from The Queen’s Medical Center, Kalehua Krug, and King Lunalilo Trust and Home Chief Executive Officer Dr. Diane Paloma.
      Congressman Kai Kahele encouraged everyone to be vaccinated.

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THE POSITIVITY RATE FOR COVID ON HAWAI'I ISLAND HAS REACHED 8.6 PERCENT. The number of new cases reported today on Hawai'i Island was 176. The 14-day average is 136. Sixty-nine people are hospitalized.

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KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY Hilo Medical Center issued a statement through its spokesperson Elena Cabatu today: "On Wednesday, we hit an all-time high of 36 COVID patients in our hospital. After downgrading a patient to post-COVID or non-contagious long hauler and discharging others, we are at 32 COVID patients today with six in the ICU/5 on vents, and 26 in the COVID Unit.
    "We continue to care for four post-COVID patients. Our staff is feeling the strain and stress of this delta surge. Fortunately, we are pulling together and we carrying out our plan to manage this surge. Elective surgeries have been cancelled through Friday. We continue to closely assess hospital capacity to restart elective procedures. We are opening a 16-bed Medical Unit Overflow in the Extended Care Facility on Friday. Our COVID Unit has been expanded to 34 beds. Our dedicated staff has been working tirelessly to care for our community. Mahalo to all who have gotten vaccinated. We’re starting to see an increase in COVID vaccinations rates. Please consider getting the vaccination if you haven’t gotten it yet."

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THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN by the National Weather Service for wildfire danger. National Weather Service predicted: Moderate to breezy trade winds will continue through Saturday, with winds expected to become fairly light Sunday through the middle of next week. While the trade winds are blowing, low clouds and showers will favor windward areas, especially during nights and mornings. With the lighter winds, some afternoon clouds, and a few showers, are expected over leeward areas.

Bright yellow sulfur deposits, a stark contrast to darker
 gray basalt rocks, are evidence of ongoing gas emissions at 
Kilauea Volcano. USGS photo by K. Mulliken 
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THE NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKES AT KILAUEA VOLCANO HAS DIMINISHED. The Alert Level has been lowered from Watch to Advisory and the Aviation Color Code is reduced from Orange to Yellow. 
    The announcement from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory came today. "Kīlauea volcano is not erupting. Over the past 24 hours, earthquake activity and ground deformation levels have decreased in the area beneath the southern part of Kīlauea’s summit caldera within the closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. These observations indicate that the immediate potential for an eruption is diminished at this time."
    In the meantime, scientists are studying on going gas emissions. On the north margin of the south sulfur bank, which was exposed during the Kīlauea summit collapse events in 2018, light-colored deposits are evidence of the ongoing alteration from volcanic gas emissions.
 
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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 https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hawaiian-volcano-observatory 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.