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Sunday, November 21, 2021

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021

A National Marine Sanctuary is proposed for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, with 
public comment accepted through Jan. 31. Photos from NOAA

NOAA PROPOSES A NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOR HAWAIIAN WATERS, focusing on the northwestern islands and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration is accepting public comment on the proposal through Jan. 31.
    The proposed location of the new marine sanctuary is already one of the largest stretches of protected ocean in the world. However, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Administrator Rick Spinrad said, “Papahānaumokuākea’s ecosystems areincreasingly under pressure from threats such as marine debris,invasive species, and climate change. Designation of the monument’s waters as a national marine sanctuary would complement the efforts of the four co-trustees to safeguard the monument’s natural, cultural, and historic values.” Those co-trustees are Office of Hawaiian Affairs, state of Hawai'i, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and NOAA.
    In addition to overseeing an area larger than all of the other U.S. national parks combined, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument operates Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in the historic, century old Koehnen Building in Hilo. It is open to the public. Seehttps://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/education/center.htm
    NOAA announced that the new sanctuary "designation would build on existing management in the marine portions of the monument by adding the conservation benefits and enhanced long-term protection
of a national marine sanctuary." The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, & Related Agencies' Report for Fiscal Year 2021 directed NOAA to initiate the process to designate the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is already larger than all of the U.S. National
Parks combined and would become a marine sanctuary for further protection and management.
Map from NOAA

sanctuary to supplement and complement, rather than supplant, existing authorities. Stakeholders and partners, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve Advisory Council and the State of Hawai’i, support the current sanctuary designation process.
    Since the designation of the site as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve
by President Clinton in 2000, the designation as a marine national monument by President Bush in 2006, and the expansion of the monument by President Obama in 2016, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has been a key partner in management of Papahānaumokuākea, and that hallmark co-management structure will continue.
     Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest contiguous fully-protected conservation area under the U.S. flag, encompassing an area of 582,578 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. Home to the highly endangered Hawaiian monk seal, threatened green turtles, extensive coral reef habitat, and many species found nowhere else on earth, "the complex and highly productive marine ecosystems of the monument are significant contributors to the biological diversity of the ocean, says a statement from NOAA."
    NOAA says, "Papahānaumokuākea is also of great importance to Native Hawaiians. Throughout the expanse of the monument, there are many wahi pana (places of great cultural significance and practice) where Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners of today reconnect with their ancestors and gods. The monument is also home to a variety of post-Western-contact historic resources, such as those associated with the Battle of Midway and 19th century commercial whaling.
     "Many of the monument’s extensive education, outreach, and research accomplishments have been executed under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Sanctuary designation would enhance the benefits and expertise offered by the National Marine Sanctuary
System and NOAA staff.
    "Designation would also allow NOAA to apply additional regulatory and non-regulatory tools to augment and strengthen existing protections for Papahānaumokuākea ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural and maritime heritage resources. The sanctuary designation would not include any terrestrial areas or change the monument designation."
    To comment, see the Federal Register notice and learn more at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/

A school of galapagos sharks/manō at Maro Reef in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. NOAA photo

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WITH THE COVID DEATH TOLL TOPPING 1,000 FOR HAWAI'I over the weekend, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD posted his view. He called the numbers "heartbreaking" but noted progress. "We have so much immunity and very few people are getting sick." He said he sees the people of Hawai'i returning to normalcy. He pointed to the environment being "very safe outside." He noted that the positivity rate in Hawai'i is 1.41 percent while the national rate is 6.06 percent. There are 41 people hospitalized statewide, the lowest since last June.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green, Md. 
    
    However, Green cautioned people to be careful going toward Thanksgiving and said the population is still susceptible, particularly if unvaccinated or when efficacy of vaccines is waning. The Lt. Governor said that 89.5 percent of people ages five an up have received at least one COVID shot and ten percent of the population has had boosters.
    State officials are also urging caution, as some places in Europe that dropped COVID restrictions earlier are experiencing their highest COVID cases since the pandemic began. Attempts to bring back COVID regulations and lockdowns are spurning some civil unrest.

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UNEMPLOYMENT ON THIS ISLAND WAS 5.7% of the population in October, according to the state Department of Labor. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted rate registered at 6.3% last month, following 6.6% in September. During the depths of the pandemic, the state jobless rate reached 23.8% in April of
2020.
    The state reported for October that 605,950 people statewide, with 40,850 unemployed. Across the country, October's seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 4.6%, dropping from 4.8%
    Before the pandemic, Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 2.1% for March 2020. Non-agricultural jobs are 78,300 fewer - 12%, compared with the pre-pandemic number, reports the state.

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Lolo Haha leads Making Peace with Conflict:
Self Discovery & Community Building
MAKING PEACE WITH CONFLICT: SELF DISCOVERY & COMMUNITY BUILDING is the free workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 1 1 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. online via Zoom. Lolo Haha is the presenter of the interactive two-hour workshop. It aims to teach participants to view conflict as an opportunity, identify tools to approach conflict from this new perspective, and process personal barriers to approaching conflict.
    "How might our world change if we could lean into conflict more boldly and see conflict as an opportunity for self-discovery and community-building?" asks Haha, counselor, equity consultant, conflict mediator, and social justice theatre director based in Oregon. "Let's be honest: few of us actually like conflict. Most of us avoid it, instead opting for private frustration or complaints to a friend."
    He said, "This is not a 'sit-back-and-listen' webinar. Come curious and ready to expand your perspectives toward interpersonal conflict and what it can offer us and our world!"
    In honor of a belated International Conflict Resolution Day, the event begins with an Overview of Rotary's Peace Initiatives introduction by Rotarian Tim Hansen.
    This free event is the sixth in the Kakou: Let's Work It Out! workshop series, co-hosted by the County of Hawai'i Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Ku'ikahi Mediation Center, Rotary Club of Hilo, Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, Rotary Club of South Hilo, Rotary Club of Volcano, UH-Hilo Political Science & Administration of Justice Department, and UH-Hilo International Student Services & Intercultural Education Office.
    Visit https://kakou2021.eventbrite.com to register for this free online workshop and receive the Zoom link. Or RSVP to Ku'ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org.
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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 x.

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. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com..

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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. "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 Main Street, is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., grounds of The Old Shirakawa Estate in Waiʻohinu. It features: Made in Hawai'i Products, Organic Produce, Creative Crafts, ARt, Flower and Plants, Food, Ka`u Coffee, Gluen Free Low Carb Goodies, Wellness Services and Products, Clothing, Hand Crafted Treats, Music and more. Vendor and customer 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.