Thursday, March 31, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, March 31, 2022

Nāʻālehu Elementary School's fourth graders, led by Kumu Maile Tavares,  took part in a simultaneous statewide dance,
Liliu E, the Queen's Hula, on Thursday, joining other schools virtually to celebrate the 175th anniversary
of Washington Place, the home of Queen Lili'uokalani, and now the Hawai'i Governors Mansion.

DANCING HULA, NĀ'ĀLEHU AND PĀHALA FOURTH GRADERS CELEBRATED 175 YEARS IN HISTORY  OF QUEEN LILI'UOKALANI'S HOME. On Thursday the students joined in a simultaneous performance with other fourth graders from around the state, numbering in the thousands, from some 38 schools. While students danced on the grounds of the historic home in Honolulu, Nāʻālehu and many other students performed in their own venues, sharing their hula kahiko online. It was Liliu E, the Queen's Hula, to the chant composed by Hula Master Antone Ka'oko in honor of Lili'uokalani.
    The Nāʻālehu performance was led by Kumu Hula Maile Tavares. Parent Maile Jean Makuakane said, "I'm so blessed to have my fourth grader attending Nāʻālehu Elementary to have been able to participate in this beautiful performance along with 2,500 fellow fourth graders.. I'm sooooooo extremely touched  my heart is so happy!"
    Also performing were fourth graders from Pāhala Elementary. See the performances and the entire celebration at https://www.facebook.com/GovernorDavidIge/videos/696457218366671.

Queen Lili'uokalani on the grounds of Washington Place.
Photo from Hawai'i State Archives
    Queen Lili'uokalani's home in Honolulu is known as Washington Place, built by the family of Capt. John Dominis, whose son became husband to Lili'uokalani. King Kamehameha decreed that the home forever be called Washington Place in honor of the first President of the United States. It serves as the Hawai'i Governors Mansion. 
    The event on Thursday was the kickoff of the 175th Anniversary of this National Historic Landmark. It included a proclamation signing by Gov. David Ige and the performance of musical compositions by Lili'uokalani. First Lady Dawn Imano-Ige chairs the celebration, which is ongoing through May 14. In attendance were representatives of  Hawaiian Civic Clubs and many other local organizations and agencies.

Hula Master Antone Ka'oko, who wrote Liliu E.
    On Friday, Washington Place opens a new exhibit on the life of Queen Lili'uokalani, followed by tours on Saturday with a concert on the grounds by the Royal Hawaiian Band. Public tours are available by reservation through May 14.
    Virtual opportunities are available online. See a tour of Washington Place through excerpts from Liliʻuokalani: Reflections on Our Queen, directed by Edgy Lee at https://washingtonplace.hawaii.gov/news-and-events/in-the-news/.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.  

 Pāhala fourth graders joined in the statewide celebration of Queen Lili'uokalani's home.
HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KAʻŪ has announced applications are open for its scholarships for higher education. 
Royal Coat of Arms of Hawai'i is the 
Hawaiian Civic Club logo.
    Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka'ū has been providing scholarships for higher education since its founding in 1969. The first scholarship was awarded to Paulette Kaihilani Ke in 1970, who now serves as the Vice-President of the Civic Club and is also a kupuna at Ke Kula Nawahīokalaniopu'u.
    Civic Club President Berkeley Yoshida was also a recipient of the club's scholarship in 1983. Most recently, scholarships were awarded to Mālie Ibarra and Dacy Davis in 2018 and to Ryan AhYee and Josiah Barrios in 2019, all of whom are graduates of Ka'ū High School.
    Last year's scholarship was awarded to Elyssa Abellera, a 2021 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Hawai'i. She is pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Portland majoring in Biology, and minoring in Psychology and Neuroscience.
    Abellera shared the following about her college plans. "I hope to graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Biology in 2025. Following my graduation in 2025, I will then attend medical school. With my hopes of attending medical school, I aspire to become a Surgeon. Specifically, I plan to pursue the speciality of Pediatric Surgery or Cardiothoracic Surgery." A statement from Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka'ū said, the organization "is extremely proud of Elyssa and and all of our scholarship recipients, and we look forward to awarding a scholarship again this year."
    The scholarship amount is currently $600. Application deadline is Friday, April 29. Applications must be downloaded from the Civic Club website at the web address below. Applications may be submitted by Email, US Postal Mail, or in-person. Further details are found on the scholarship application, which can be viewed on the website.
    Email any scholarship questions to hawaiiancivicclubkau@gmail.com and share this information with any students graduating this year. To make a donation to the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka'ū Scholarship Fund, send a check to P.O. Box 6108, Ocean View, HI 96737.
    The scholarship application may be downloaded from https://sites.google.com/view/hawaiiancivicclubkau/scholarship.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Coach Pitch game in action during Ka'u Little League Tournament, sponsored by Hawai'i
Police Activities League last Saturday. Photo by Katie Graham

KAʻŪ LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Police Activities League (HI-PAL), was held last Saturday, Mach 26 at Nāʻālehu Ballpark. Dane Shibuya, Sr., the community liaison officer at the Kaʻū Police Department, attended the tournament with his granddaughter, Keulu and provided snacks and refreshments to players and attendees.

Keulu presents the players with medals.
Photo by Elizabeth Crook

    Shibuya noted that this was the first HI-PAL tournament held in three years and expressed his excitement to finally have kids back playing ball.
    Both Coach Pitch and T-Ball participated in the tournament. Coach Pitch is made up of mostly 7 and 8 year olds, while T-Ball is made up of 5 & 6 year olds. The MVPs for Coach Pitch were Isaiah Castle and Stefan Tepei, while Izzy Young and Ashten Jaedtke took home the awards in T-Ball.
    Opening day festivities for Hawaiʻi Island Little League teams will be held at Old Kona Airport Park this Friday, April 1 at 6 p.m. The next scheduled home games for Kaʻū Little League will be a double-header on Saturday, April 9 at Nāʻālehu Park with

Community Police Officer Dayne Shibuya, Sr.
with granddaughter Keulu, representing HI-PAL.
Photo by Katie Graham
Coach Pitch playing at 9 a.m. and T-B all playing at 11 a.m.
    Contact Ka'u Little League President Josh Crook to offer contributions, donations and Little League involvement at 808-345-0511.

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POLICE ARRESTED A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FOR BRINGING A WEAPON TO SCHOOL. Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged the 17-year-old male after he brought a weapon to the Kamehameha Schools campus in Kea‘au on Tuesday. Around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Puna patrol responded to a report of a student possibly in possession of a revolver at the high school campus. Arriving officers learned that school security already detained the juvenile suspect and had retrieved a revolver from the student.
    Police contacted Kamehameha Schools administrators who reported that there was a social media post with a photograph of the juvenile suspect with the revolver which was viewed by other students on campus. After seeing the social media post, school administrators said they became concerned for the safety of the students and faculty, and campus security contacted the juvenile and the revolver was found in his waistband. 
    Police report that the juvenile did not brandish the firearm at anyone and Kamehameha School was not locked down during the incident. The student was arrested for disorderly conduct and terroristic threatening in the first-degree and transported to the Pahoa police station. Upon examining the pistol, it was determined to be a “starter” gun that cannot fire projectiles due to the barrel being obstructed by a piece of welded metal inside the barrel. However, the weapon resembled an authentic gun.
    After conferring with the County Prosecutors Office, the juvenile was charged for terroristic threatening in the first-degree and disorderly conduct. He was released to his guardian.
   “Though this firearm was not loaded or operational, we treat these types of threats to our schools seriously and will aggressively prosecute these types of incidents,” said Puna District Captain Scott Amaral.
    “Working in cooperation with Kamehameha Schools, this incident was resolved quickly and peacefully with minimal interruption to school functions. Our children deserve to be able to learn and grow in a safe environment and not be afraid of gun violence.”
    A statement from police encourages students "to immediately report to an adult if someone they know has brought a weapon on campus."
    Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Officer Robert Kamau of Puna Patrol at (808) 965-2716 or email him at Robert.Kamau@hawaiicounty.gov.

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HAWAI'I COFFEE ASSOCIATION REMINDS GROWERS that its 13th annual Statewide Coffee Cupping Competition is open for submissions between April 1 -29. Winners will be announced May 20 at the 2022 Annual HCA Conference Cupping Competition Awards Ceremony at 3:30 p.m. and include a sampling of the top scoring coffee from each growing region.
    The cupping competition is part of the Hawai'i Coffee Association's in-person 27th annual Conference and Trade Show to be held at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa in Keauhou, May 19-21.
  According to HCA's Executive Director and past President Chris Manfredi, competition coffees will be blindly cupped using the Specialty Coffee Association's scoring system. Pacific Coffee Research will oversee the competition. Complete rules and entry forms may be found on the HCA's website.
    New live events for the Conference will include local baristas vying to win the the first Café Collective SigBev Competition at 6:30 p.m. on May 20 at HiCO in Kona. A panel of judges will score beverages featuring local coffees and attendees will have an opportunity to taste them. This event is open to the public; admission is free.
    Also new to the conference is the Seed-to-Brew Roundtable. The interactive panel brings together stakeholders representing four major elements of the local coffee chain: producers, processors, roasters and baristas. These industry experts will discuss their roles and answer questions prompted by a moderator. The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A.
Last year, Jose and Berta Miranda took
 first in Kaʻū and tied for first statewide
in the HCA Cupping Contest.
Photo from Miranda's Farm
    Jennifer "Vern" Long will give the conference keynote on Collaborative Coffee R&D—Working Together to Secure the Future of Coffee in Hawai'i. The CEO of World Coffee Research, "Long brings 25 years of experience in international agricultural research with a focus on smallholders," says the HCA statement. "Long has experience convening industry, government, scientists and farmers to formulate a shared crop research agenda for improving small farm productivity." 
   "This year's conference features a full lineup of educational opportunities, fellowship and fun," says Manfredi. "We've planned interactive workshops on cupping, roasting and field-grafting; plus talks on soil health, coffee origin traceability, on-farm technology and updates on the latest industry research and legislative issues. Attendees will also enjoy a trade show, silent auction and plenty of networking opportunities."
    For Kaʻū coffee growers and enthusiasts interested in going the convention, the cost is $300 per person for Full Registration with meals; $135 for a two-day pass with Friday lunch, $235 for a three-day pass with Saturday lunch and dinner; $50 for a Friday tour and $100 for only attending the Saturday dinner.

    To register and learn more about the HCA, go to  http://www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/. 

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Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 29, 2022

 
Land on the Hilo side of Nīnole Loop, near the long-abandoned restaurant, shops and museum at
Punalu'u, is being cleaned. Machines are clearing overgrowth, picking up rubbish, bringing in fill
to smooth out the landscape. Photo by Bob Martin
THE CLEANUP HAS BEGUN along Nīnole Loop, the road to Punalu'u beach and pond, and the adjacent parking lot. Machines are clearing overgrowth and trees, pulling stumps, picking up rubbish and bringing in materials by dump truck to spread and smooth out the land along the roadside adjacent to the old Punalu'u Restaurant and museum area. The old parking lot has been cleared and the roadside along Nīnole Loop looks like it could become a walking path from the parking lot toward the beach.  
     The abandoned buildings and grounds at Punalu'u have long been considered hazardous for visitors and locals who for decades have explored them. The official clearing comes after Black Sands Beach, LLC. received a County of Hawai'i exemption from Special Management Area permits for the cleanup.
      Also being cleaned out is the parking lot makai of the old Punalu'u Golf Course and the grounds of the old tennis center with its courts and building. The building is to be repaired under a Minor SMA permit.
    Also to be cleaned up and repaired under an SMA Minor permit are the buildings that  formerly housed the Aspen Institute.
Repairs and cleanup of Punalu'u's water and
sewer system are exempt from SMA permits.
Photo by Bob Martin
    To be cleaned up and repaired under an exemption from SMA permitting are the sewer, water and road systems at Punalu'u, says the permitting approval document.
    The permitting document from county Planning Director Zendo Kern says the exemptions and conditions of the minor permits do not create waivers from building and other county, state and federal permits, where required.
     It also requires the work to keep distance from Punalu'u Pond and the shoreline.

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THE CONDO ASSOCIATION AT PUNALU'U IS LOOKING FOWARD TO THE CLEANUP AND IMPROVEMENT to roads, the sewer and water system, fire hydrants and dilapidated buildings. Vern Hughes, President of the Board of Colony One Association of Apartment Owners, said he welcomes the approvals from the county to do the repairs and cleanup. He noted that the deferred maintenance has been an issue for many years, going back to the time before the property was purchased by Black Sand Beach, LLC and Eva Liu. Hughes said, "Eva's got good people in place to get the jobs done now."
Clean up and reconstruction of the tennis center
and former golf check-in have begun at Punalu'u
 with praise from the President of the condo
association there. Photo by Bob Martin
     There are 76 units at the condos, with the Vacation Internationale timeshare company having 29 of them, the rest privately owned. Hughes said he looks forward to visitors and the community to be able to use the tennis courts, planned pickleball courts and eventually the golf course, which has been closed for about three years.
      Hughes said, "The trees, shrubs and undergrowth - they have really been working very hard to clean it up and it is really showing a lot of difference. They have been hauling away truckloads. It's amazing to have someone come in here, spend money and fix the place up, after all the years of neglect."

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COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE MICHELLE GALIMBA issued a statement in late March inviting community members to apply to serve on the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee to help steward the future of Kaʻū.
     "I had the privilege of serving on the Kaʻū Community Development Plan Steering Committee, which worked with County of Hawaiʻi Planning Department staff and
consultants to bring the Kaʻū Community Development Plan to fruition," said Galimba.
    "The Kaʻū CDP was based on the highest level of community input and engagement of any CDP in Hawaiʻi County. This input from small group meetings, surveys and speak-outs was then synthesized into our communityʻs values and vision statement, which then led to a set of policies, objectives and proposed actions. 
     "The Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) was passed into law by the Planning Commission and the County Council in 2017. As land values and development pressure increase, the CDP is an important tool educate newcomers and to help our community shape a future that is an expression of our values and our love for this ʻaina." Galimba said there are "many proposed actions in the CDP that need engaged citizens (that means you!) to shepherd them forward into reality."
   The County of Hawaiʻi is seeking applicants to serve on the Kaʻū CDP Action Committee. Galimba said, "This is an opportunity to see that the values and vision that we expressed in the Kaʻū CDP are honored and that we create a thriving, sustainable community that is rooted in our districtʻs unique natural and cultural heritage." 
    Find out more about the Kaʻū CDP and the Action Committee at https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov/general-plan-community-planning/cdp/kau.
    Galimba also offered this option: "Get in touch with me at https://votegalimba.com to find out more about the CDP and what it was like to serve on the Kaʻū CDP Steering Committee."

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THE VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES LIFTED ITS INDOOR MASK MANDATE on Monday, March 28 for faculty, staff, and students. The change was anticipated after outdoor masking became optional at VSAS in early March and the state mask mandate was lifted on March 26. Safety precautions, however, are still in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, with weekly testing available for all students and staff and quarantine requirements for those who are in close contact with someone with COVID-19.
Cobra will join the staff of The Volcano School
of the Arts & Sciences to sniff out COVID-19.
Photo from Volcano School
   
    On Tuesday, March 29, Principal Kalima Kinney announced to faculty and students that the school will welcome a new member to its community– Cobra, a dog trained to detect the presence of COVID-19. Cobra is a seven-year-old female Belgian Malinois, who is part of a COVID-19 dog detection pilot program being run in five public schools on Hawai'i Island.      
    Cobra was previously trained to detect the scent of a fungus that causes Rapid 'Ō'hia Death and had highly accurate results. When the pandemic began, Cobra began putting her nose to work to detect coronavirus after researchers were able to isolate the odor of the body's response to the virus. 
    Beginning the week of April 4, students and staff at Volcano School can begin signing up for Cobra's weekly "sniffer tests" to keep Volcano School coronavirus free.

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Kaʻū Trojans Boys Volleyball team, left to right, is comprised of Iverson Salmo, Kelso Gallano, Triton Blanco,
Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu, Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia, Syrus Baniaga, Roger Migueland Mardani Sugai.
Not shown are Dmitriy Fedroruk, Michal Espejo and Patrick Riehle. Photo by Harry McIntosh



























BOYS VOLLEYBALL IS WELL INTO THE SEASON with Kaʻū High hosting Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, April 2, the encounter beginning at 10 a.m. The Trojans head out to Christian Liberty Academy on Wednesday, April 6 for a start time of 6 p.m. Kaʻū heads out to Kohala on Saturday April 9, starting time at 10 a.m. Playoffs games will be announced later in the month.

KAʻŪ TROJANS BOYS BASEBALL team travels to Hilo to play Hawai'i Preparatory Academy in a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, April 2 . Kaʻū goes to Kamehameha Schoool on Monday, April 4 for a 3 p.m. game. The Trojans head to Kealakehe High School to play Konawaena for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday, April 16. Playoff dates will be announced later in the month.

GIRLS SOFTBALL TAKES THE TROJAN TEAM to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy in Waimea on Saturday, April 2 for a 10 a.m. game. Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha Schools on Thursday, April 7 at 3 p.m. and Kaʻū travels to Konawaena on Saturday, April 16 for a 1 p.m. game. The playoffs follow.

BIIF TRACK is taking Trojans around the island. They will compete on the tracks of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, April 2 with a 9 a.m. start, Kea'au High on Saturday, April 9 with a start time of 2 p.m., at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, April 16 with start time of 9 a.m., at Kea'au, on Saturday, April 23 with start time of 2 p.m. The Freshman & Sophomore Invitational will be on Saturday, April 30 at Konawaena, 2 p.m. Championship Trials will be on Friday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at Konawaena, which will also host Championship Finals on Saturday, May 7 at 3 p.m. 

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SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at

Monday, March 28, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, March 28, 2022

Jodie Rosam, a new member of PONC, examining a wiliwili tree. Photo by Nohea Ka'awa

JODIE ROSAM IS A NEW COMMISSIONER FOR PONC. As a member of of Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Commission, the Kaʻū resident represents the County Council district that includes Volcano through Kaʻū into Kona. The eight-member PONC is tasked with studying, reviewing and recommending special properties to be conserved through purchase, using county property tax money. Funding also goes to stewarding the properties.
    Rosam said, “I am truly humbled to serve on the PONC Commission. I see this as an opportunity to make real-time contributions to protecting the land, water, ecosystem, and

Jodie Rosam
cultural resources that we cherish, while also granting the stewards who have invested their love and commitment the peace of mind that these places will be protected in perpetuity. I look forward to representing Kaʻū and seeing what else our community can accomplish together.”
    Rosam earned a Master’s of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science from University of Hawai'i-Hilo and has a background in ecosystem restoration and natural and cultural resource conservation. In addition to PONC, she serves as board member of The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo, Three Mountain Alliance Foundation, and The Book Shack. She is the Plant Program Coordinator for Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and the owner of Pūlama Mau Environmental Consulting. She is the author of the monthly Kaʻū Calendar newspaper column Lā‘au Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū.
She said she thrives on sparking a love for nature in her children, making new friends in the plant kingdom, and sharing her passion with others. Her work in stewardship of the land spans more than 20 years on Hawai'i Island.

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THE DATE HAS CHANGED FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNS. Originally scheduled for July 3, the event day is rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17, starting and ending at Ka'u Coffee Mill.
    Registration is open for the annual event to be held on Saturday, Sept. 17. Organized by Hawai'i Island Racers, the 50K begins at 6 a.m., Half Marathon at 7 a.m. and 5K at 7:15 a.m., all starting from Kaʻū Coffee Mill at 96-2696 Wood Valley Road in Pahala. The 50K cutoff time is nine hours. RFID Chip Timing will come up with the results after the races take off with a gun start.

Ka'u Coffee Trail Runs have been moved to Saturday, Sept. 17.
Photo by Julia Neal
    Proceeds go to support O Kaʻū Kakou, the Kaʻū nonprofit to fund local scholarships, land for a proposed senior housing project, purchase of life-saving equipment for Kaʻū Hospital, restoration and maintenance of three historical cemeteries, sponsorship of a free Veterans Day celebration, and Fourth of July Parades and fun day.
    Registration deadline for the lowest fees is May 1, with 50K at $100, Half Marathon $80, and 5K $40. From May 1 to Sept. 9, registration fees are 50K $110, Half Marathon $90, and 5K $50. Registration fees Sept. 1 to Sept. 14 are 50K $120, Half Marathon $100, and 5K $60. Registration closes on June Sept. 14. There will be no race day registrations.
      After the race, hydration and light snacks will be provided to participants. Local vendors from the Kaʻū community will sell chili and rice bowls, Portuguese beach soup, nachos and other foods as well as beverages. Kaʻū Coffee Mill's shop will open at 8 a.m.
    The website says, "From Keiki to Kupuna, the Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run is a challenging course that meanders over Pahala’s unpaved trails. It is the perfect race venue, through coffee fields and macadamia nut groves. The Kaʻū Coffee Mill’s 1,900 acres features courses from 50K, Half Marathon and 5k distances. Please join us for the southern most race in the U.S. The run is done entirely on private property." See last year's results from the late September event, photos and much more at https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/

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Mauna Kea research. Photo from Center for Maunakea Stewardship

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I'S CENTER FOR MAUNAKEA STEWARDSHIP sent out an opinion piece on Monday regarding the future of astronomy on Mauna Kea, as the Hawai'i Legislature finalizes plans to change the structure of the management of the mauna. Here is the statement from Maunakea Stewardship:
    This is a turning point for the future of astronomy in Hawai'i, and the administration and faculty at the University of Hawai'i plainly recognize that. So do many other people in the islands who rightly fear that passage of House Bill 2024, even as amended by the Senate, would do permanent damage to the astronomy mission through a comprehensive restructuring of how the summit of the mountain is managed.
    The message it would send, if enacted: Hawai'i is not firmly committed to the pursuit of astronomy from the UH flagship telescope complex on Hawai;i island. That’s because it would shift control to a new entity with only token representation of astronomy as a scientific pursuit and an academic discipline.
    And that’s why the best outcome would be a simple rejection of HB 2024 by the Senate.
Center for Maunakea Stewardship operates programs for native plant preservation.
Photo from Center for Maunakea Stewardship
    On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Higher Education voted to pass the measure. It now heads to Ways and Means, the panel that will decide how much money to allot to the bill’s purpose, the establishment of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.
    This new group would assume oversight responsibility from UH, and would be the “sole authority for the management of state-managed lands on Mauna Kea under its jurisdiction.”
    The authority was conceived by a working group the Legislature authorized last year, in an effort to reconcile an emotional divide. The conflict has been building over decades, but it crystallized more recently, over the controversial proposal to build the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project as the latest state-of-the art facility. A passionate and widespread opposition arose largely from the Native Hawaiian community, which itself is divided on the issue.
    The construction timetable for TMT is uncertain, but in any case, this legislation is about more than any single project. Without a vote of confidence for the study of astronomy more broadly at Mauna Kea, the blow to the enterprise would be felt nationally and internationally.
    Of course, even in its original form the bill’s preamble acknowledges the summit both for its spiritual, cultural and environmental significance to Native Hawaiians and for astronomy’s “many significant discoveries that contribute to humanity’s study and understanding of the universe.”
    Further down in the legal language, though, the allegiance to continuing scientific advances grows dim. Under the "astronomy development" section, there’s a concerning statement about establishing "a plan to return the mauna above 9,200 feet elevation to its natural state."
Kupaoa, a rare native plant in the U.H. Maunakea
Stewardship area, abloom in March. Photo from U.H.
    The Senate version tries to soften this by adding the phrase, “at such time that ground-based observatories lose their academic or research value.” Better, perhaps, but it still assumes, without any basis, that space telescopes will drive ground-based telescopes into obsolescence.
    This view is far from settled. The counterargument is that land-based telescopes will have crucial advantages for the foreseeable future. Experts making this case point to their size, reliability and upgradability.
    What’s damaging is the stated plan to rid the mauna of telescopes, period. This would up-end the state’s longstanding policy of support for astronomy, and at a particularly sensitive time.
    Opponents to the bill who testified on Wednesday included Greg Chun, executive director of the Center for Maunakea Stewardship at UH-Hilo. In prepared testimony that also is signed by UH President David Lassner, he pointed to the termination of the current general lease on the land in 2033 as worrying, given the three-year timeline for getting the new entity up and running, and “the lack of a viable business plan” for the change.
     Worrying, to be sure.
     It’s significant that the Senate draft of the bill would add the UH Board of Regents chair or designee, and a representative from Mauna Kea Observatories to the authority board’s voting members, 11 in all. It also would require an audit after the seventh year, and if that study finds the authority falling short, the management would revert to the UH president and Board of Regents.
    Seven years is more than enough time to do serious damage to the mission. Besides: Why did the Senate feel the need to add an escape hatch? That can’t fill anyone with confidence in the stability of the new authority.
    Critics of UH management cite the admittedly poor stewardship by UH in the past but, as has been said repeatedly, that is the increasingly distant past. Since then, Chun said, successive audits have tracked progress toward decommissioning inactive telescopes and other management goals.
    Should the influence of Native Hawaiian values, and the voices of Native Hawaiian cultural advocates, be strengthened? Absolutely.
    But rather than create a new entity, this strengthening should happen within the UH framework, which combines a growing cultural awareness with the scientific expertise necessary to maintain one of the finest astronomy sites in the planet, for the benefit of Hawaii and the world.
    This is a turning point for the future of astronomy in Hawai'i, and the administration and faculty at the University of Hawai'i plainly recognize that.

SEE TESTIMONY SUPPORTING CHANGE IN MAUNA KEA MANAGEMENT AND THE BILL BEFORE THE HAWAI'I LEGISLATURE IN TUESDAY'S NEWS BRIEFS.

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SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, March 27, 2022

 Ocean View and communities across the globe will increasingly rely on rainwater harvesting to adapt to climate
 change and environmental pollution issues, says the founder of Uncle Tilo's who offers a Clean Water class
 at Ocean View Community Center April 9. Photo from Todd Lolla


UNCLE TILO'S TRAINS FOR SAFE RAINWATER HARVESTING IN KAʻŪ. “The quality of your water is a direct link to the quality of your health.” This is the mantra of Todd Lolla, who founded Uncle Tilo's Clean Water, LLC. He is bringing a free Clean Water class to Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, April 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lolla focuses on rainwater harvesting, "a technology that communities across the globe will increasingly rely upon to adapt to climate change and environmental pollution issues."
  In addition to hosting informational sessions, Lolla recruits Field Technicians to train and provide knowledge, services, and products "to further contribute to the wellbeing of our local rainwater harvesters." He offers Water Partnerships, along with training and support to those who would like to become certified technicians through the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association.
    "We support rainwater harvesters with peace of mind," said Lolla. "Uncle Tilo’s mission provides economically viable and environmentally friendly solutions for rainwater harvesters." He said, "Rainwater harvesting as a necessary component into the future."
    Lolla, who is known as Uncle Tilo, grew up in the Midwest and remembers harvesting rainwater on his family’s dairy farm through the mid 1970’s. He is a graduate of the South Dakota School of Mines, with a BS in Geological Engineering, A career in Arizona combined consulting and contractor skills.
    While working for a civil engineering firm in Phoenix, his projects involved groundwater studies and subsequent cleanup of fuel spills at gasoline stations. This led him to earn a license to be a well-driller in Arizona for ten years. He said his focus on groundwater issues moved him to specialize in storm water management. He worked with state environmental agencies during the 1990’s to set standards for the protection of groundwater across the desert Southwest.
    In 2009, he left the engineering world and moved to Hawai’i Island with a calling to "return to community.” He saw the large demand for rain catchment systems as a potable water source.
In 2017, Lolla founded Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water LLC to "fill the need for both education and service involving one of the most basic of human needs, clean water."
    Lolla pointed to World Population Review, showing the number of Hawai’i county residents recently increased to more than 200,000, with a large percentage dependent on rainwater catchment as a primary domestic water source.
   Lolla noted, "The Island of Hawai’i, the largest and most southerly island in the Hawaiian archipelago, is characterized by dynamic communities including rural and remote areas not served by municipal water. These communities rely on private or shared wells, water trucked from public spigots and rainwater catchment. Hawai’i Island's population has increased steadily in recent years, as the global demand for access to clean water grows."
Todd Lolla founded Uncle Tilo's to teach best
 practices for rainwater harvesting.
 
  Uncle Tilo's has hosted more than 50 free Clean Water classes, provided sponsorships, and social media marketing to focus attention on the issues surrounding rainwater harvesting. TilosCleanWater.com "is designed for empowerment through education," said Lolla.
      He said, "It is very important that those using water from a rainwater catchment system understand all the potential dangers and benefits. In Hawai’i, there are no government agencies overseeing the safety of private rainwater catchment systems. It is up to the owner or user of the system to know how to maintain this type of water source and use it in an appropriate manner. With proper design, maintenance, water treatment, and disinfection, a rainwater catchment system can provide water that is free of contamination; soft, clear, odorless, and suitable for drinking and other daily needs. However, improperly designed or maintained rainwater catchment systems may pose a health risk; for example, via the introduction of waterborne illness and exposure to heavy metals."
    Lolla said that waterborne and vector-borne illness may be transmitted to users from rainwater catchment systems that lack appropriate system elements, maintenance, or from insufficient treatment of stored water. For example, catchment tanks lacking covers or with damaged or poorly sealed covers can provide breeding opportunities for mosquitos known to be disease vectors. Lolla pointed out that the 2015-2016 dengue virus outbreak on Hawai’i Island sickened hundreds. The state Department of Health identified “uncovered catchment systems…” as a potential source of dengue virus infected mosquitos and suggested essential actions be taken to control mosquito breeding in rainwater harvest systems. Other vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitos, such as the globally emerging Zika virus, are of concern in areas where mosquitos may breed. The invasive semi-slug, with a propensity to climb up and into water tanks, is a known host of the parasitic nematode responsible for infecting humans with rat lungworm disease, Lolla noted.
Uncovered water catchment systems were a potential source of 
mosquitoes carrying dengue fever in the 2015-2016 outbreak
on this island. Photo from CDC
 He cautioned that when it comes to exposure to heavy metals, "the fact that all rainwater is corrosive is at the top of the list. Most rainwater is acidic, regardless of where you are on the planet. Here in Hawai’i, we also have volcanic emissions at this time that adds to this problem as was confirmed by testing one tank while hosting a class in Ocean View last month.      "The owners expressed they had never added any minerals in the tank, and it tested out with a pH of 4.5. Typical rainfall has a pH around 6, that means the rainwater we catch in the Kaʻū District is very corrosive."
    Lolla warned,"If your pipes, sinks, tubs, or toilet have stains, it’s because metals have leached into your water supply. If you are brushing your teeth, showering, drinking, or cooking with this untreated water you are being exposed to heavy metals. Corrosive water may leach metals from your plumbing system, such as lead, cadmium, zinc, iron or copper into your water supply. It also shortens the life expectancy of all plumbing fixtures and appliances."
    Uncle Tilo’s recommendation is to add minerals to neutralize rainwater to help mitigate ongoing events of the volcanic eruption that are carried along by vog, with its impact on air and rain. Lolla reported a recent increase in calls due to voggy conditions.
    He said Uncle' Tilo's principle is simple: "From the raindrop to your faucet the whole system affects the quality of the water you use, and ultimately affects the quality of your health."
Learn more at TilosCleanWater.com.

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HAWAI'I IS ONE OF THE SIX LEAST STRESSED STATES in the country, according to a study released Sunday by WalletHub. The research arm of the finance company reports that April will be Stress Awareness Month and that one in three Americans say that "stress from the pandemic sometimes prevents them from making basic decisions." 
   According to the study, Hawai'i has the highest job security and ranks as least stressed state related to health and safety. It ranks third in having the lowest percentage of adults in fair or poor health and the lowest number of people living in poverty. It is also third in having the lowest divorce rate. Hawai'i ranks tenth as the least stress related to family matters.  
     Its worst metric is being the state with the least affordable housing. It it also the state where people have the fewest average hours of sleep in the country. The states with the most sleep per night are all cold in winter - Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, Colorado and Montana.
Hawai'i is the sixth least stressed state, according
to a WalletHub study, ranking highest in job security,
health and safety and the state with third least
percentage of the population living in poverty.
    To determine the states with the highest stress levels, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 41 key metrics. The data set ranges from average hours worked per week to the personal bankruptcy rate to the share of adults getting adequate sleep.  The states ranked with least stressed are Utah, followed by Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Hawai'i. The most stressed state is Louisiana, followed by Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Mississippi and Arkansas.    
     For the least stressed states, Utah has the least hours worked per week. It also has the lowest separation and divorce rate, which is 1.7 times lower than in Nevada, the state with the highest number of divorces and separations at 26.07 percent. Minnesota has the lowest share of adults in fair or poor health - at 10 percent which is two times lower than West Virginia, the highest at 19.90 percent.
     The study pointed out that Louisiana, with the most stress, also has ten psychologists per 100,000 persons - the lowest in the county. 
    WalletHub also gave out some advice on managing stress from its pool of professors specializing in the subject of stress, including Dr. Lisa Sanetti, who wrote:  
  "Identify the situations, people, places, encounters that cause you to feel stress. Because these are the events that set the wheels of stress in motion, being aware of them will help you manage them. Make a list of the most common stressors in your life then review each one; can you change it or avoid it? 
    "Have trouble with office politics? Stay out of it. Worried about the state of global affairs and spending time doom scrolling? Delete apps and limit time with technology. 
    "Changing or avoiding stressors is a feasible approach for some situations, but it will only get you so far. What if you cannot change the situation? What if you cannot avoid the stressor? Although some stressors are beyond your control, your thoughts and beliefs about them are within your control. An effective, and free, approach to stress management is learning to recognize and change the sorts of thinking patterns that intensify your emotions and lead to poor coping."
     
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SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at


Saturday, March 26, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, March 26, 2022

"Masks are still to be used here!" says the sign at Mizuno's in Pāhala on Saturday morning. It also says,
"Thanks for your understanding." Photo by Julia Neal

MOST BUSINESSES IN KAʻŪ AND VOLCANO HAVE ENDED INDOOR MASK WEARING REQUIREMENTS, according to a phone and drive-by survey taken on Saturday. The state ended its indoor mask-wearing mandate Friday at midnight. However, a few places are sticking with the protective policy to help prevent another rise in Covid cases.
    In Volcano, ʻŌhelo Café not only still requires the wearing of masks, diners must also show a vaccination certificate.
Kahuku Garden & Gift advertiser, "No Mask Needed."
Photo by Katie Graham
    In Pāhala, Mizuno's, a tightly packed food, liquor and general store, is keeping its mask requirement, the new sign on the front door saying, "Masks are still to be worn here. Thanks for your understanding." Down the sidewalk, Bank of Hawai'i, according to its website, requires the indoor wearing of masks until further notice.
    In Nāʻālehu, Will & Grace, which provides packaged and fresh food and Kaʻū Coffee, also kept its mask mandate. "Please wear your safety mask. Before Enter the Store," is the message from management on the sign. 
    In Ocean View, L&L Drive In requires mask wearing to pick up food indoors. Close by, Kahuku Gift & Garden Shop posted the sign, "No Mask Needed." Owner of the shop, Lisa Barsell, expressed her gratitude towards the community for wearing masks during the pandemic and keeping Kaʻū safe. Ace Hardware in Ocean View made it optional to wear a mask, with most employees wearing them. At Kahuku Country Market, mask wearing was mixed, with no requirements.
    People at several Ocean View businesses said some places hadn't imposed mask wearing during the pandemic.
     In Nāʻālehu, Punalu'u Bake Shop, South Side Shaka's and Hana Hou restaurants and Ace Hardware made mask wearing optional. Down the highway, the 76 station with gasoline, liquor, snacks and a mini box store for food and household supplies, lifted the indoor mask wearing requirement.
Kahuku Mini Mart welcomed customers
with and without masks on Saturday.
Photo by Katie Graham
   In Pāhala, Longs Drugs lifted its mask mandate, as did the R&J store, with a sign saying, "Wearing a mask at R&G is optional." The sign above it with an artist's depiction of a woman wearing a mask remains, saying, "Spread
 Aloha, Not Covid."
    In Volcano, Kīlauea Military Camp Bowling Alley, the adjacent game room and its Ten Pin Restaurant have posted for some time that patrons do not have to wear masks if they immunized. However, neither staff nor patrons are allowed to check to see if anyone is immunized. One worker said he wears a mask for his own protection. 
     At the KMC check-in desk for accommodations and at nearby Lava Lounge, Crater Rim Café and KMC's general store, masks aren't required for those who are vaccinated but vaccination cards are not checked.
    At Volcano House check-in desk and its Uncle George's Lounge and The Rim restaurant, the mask mandate has been lifted, but social distancing is still enforced by splitting up dining parties larger than four.
     Volcano Art Center Gallery and campus have new entry signs that say, "Masks are recommended indoors, however no longer required."
    In Volcano Village, Kīlauea Lodge lifted mask requirements for its restaurant, store and check in desk.
    Volcano Store and Kīlauea General Store with their adjacent Lava Rock Café also lifted mask requirements, as did Thai Rim Bistro & Bar, along with its adjacent visitor center and True Value Hardware Store. Volcano Winery also lifted its mask requirement.
    Chamber of Commerce Hawai'i reports its poll showing 29 percent of businesses plan to keep mask mandates for now.

"Masks are recommended indoors,
however no longer required," says
the sign at Volcano Art Center Gallery.
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS & TRANSPORTATION AND SOME FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE KEEPING THE INDOOR MASK WEARING POLICY for now, while the state ended indoor mask wearing requirements at midnight Friday. Outdoor mask wearing ended at public schools on March 9. 
    Kamehameha Schools will also keep the mask wearing policy for indoors.
    University of Hawai'i and its community colleges are keeping mask wearing for classrooms, labs and other confined teaching spaces but lifting for dining halls, libraries and student lounges and other public spaces.
   Masks are also required on school buses and all public transportation, as well as in hospitals, clinics and care homes.
    
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Lt, Gov Josh Green in blue with his wife Jamie
and Hawaiian Homesteaders Saturday morning.
Photo from GreenforHawaii.com

THE PRINCE KUHIO HOLIDAY DREW LT. GOV JOSH GREEN TO HAWAIIAN HOMESTEADERS ON THIS ISLAND for a Saturday gathering. Green, who is also running for Governor, said he and his wife Jaime spent the morning with Hawaiian Homestead leaders "to honor the life and legacy of Prince Kūhiō, and to discuss issues important to the Native Hawaiian community across the state.”
    Green noted that, "Throughout his life, Prince Kūhiō was an advocate for the Hawaiian people and islands. Whether fighting for women's suffrage, or protecting the rights of Native Hawaiians to live on land they inhabited for centuries, Prince Kūhiō was committed to establishing justice in Hawai'i.
    "A century later, Native Hawaiians still face disparities in healthcare, education, housing, and more — and that needs to be addressed. In the years to come, it will be up to all of us to continue the legacy of Prince Kūhiō.
    "As governor, I will work to fulfill the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands commitments to Native Hawaiians, build more affordable housing across our state, work to reduce and eliminate disparities in healthcare, and take action on our homeless crisis," said Green.
Prince Johah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole
     The Prince Kūhiō state holiday was Friday, with the actual Prince Kūhiō Day on Saturday. Prince Kūhiō Day celebrations in Kaʻū were regular events more than 40 years ago. In recent years, Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū and Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū have sought to organize the rebirth of annual Prince Kūhiō Day events but were hindered by Covid restrictions.
    Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole, born on March 26, 1871, was Queen Liliuokalani’s cousin. As an heir to the throne, he was known as a prince. After an education in California and Royal Agricultural College in England, he returned to Hawai'i and in 1895 joined Royalists who opposed establishing a new republic. Though captured and convicted of treason, he was soon released and cooperated with the group that overthrew the monarchy. Kūhiō was elected to become Territory of Hawai'i's first (non-voting) member in the U.S. Congress. He is most noted for the enactment of the 1920 Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to provide homesteads for native Hawaiians. He also introduced a bill in 1919, requesting that Hawai'i become a state. Hawai'i became the 50th state in 1959, long after Prince Kūhiō died in 1922. Prince Kūhiō Day territorial holiday was established in 1949, later becoming a state holiday.

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After an intrusion on March 5, Pu‘u‘ō‘ō crater floor subsided for several hours. Hot incandescent crater walls were exposed as the floor dropped a total of 113 m (371 ft). Frequent rockfalls into the crater triggered red ash plumes. 
USGS photo by T. Orr on March 5, 2011, at 4:32 p.m.

A THIRTY-FIVE YEAR LONG ERUPTION IS THE FOCUS OF VOLCANO WATCH this week, written by U.S Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano scientists and affiliates:
    The Pu‘u‘ō‘ō eruption on the middle East Rift Zone of Kīlauea was a remarkable opportunity for scientists to improve volcano research and monitoring. For the 11th anniversary of the Kamoamoa eruption, this week’s Volcano Watch is a photo essay that highlights the episode and some of the data collection efforts.
    In the months leading up to the Kamoamoa eruption, lava filled Pu‘u‘ō‘ō crater. Steady inflation was recorded at Kīlauea’s summit and the middle East Rift Zone. As the system pressurized, seismicity increased in the upper East Rift Zone and the summit lava lake rose to the highest levels recorded before that time. On March 5, 2011, seismic tremor and increased earthquake activity, accompanied by rapid deflation at Pu‘u‘ō‘ō, began abruptly at 1:42 p.m. An intrusion uprift drew magma away from beneath Pu‘u‘ō‘ō. Shortly after, the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō crater floor began to subside and the summit lava lake level dropped. 

Aerial photo of the Kamoamoa eruption on March 7, 2011. The western fissure feeding a channelized ‘a‘ā flow is visible in the lower right, while the eastern end of the fissure system and Pu‘u‘ō‘ō crater are in the upper left. USGS photo by T. Orr

    The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), alerted by near real-time seismic alarms and deformation data, quickly conducted an overflight of the area and witnessed the start of the Kamoamoa eruption at 5:09 p.m. between Pu‘u‘ō‘ō and Nāpau craters. In the first few days, eruptive activity shifted around two fissure systems with vents repeatedly starting and stopping. Early on March 8, the eruption focused on the two opposite ends of the fissures. The activity waned in the afternoon of March 9, and around 10:30 p.m. the Kamoamoa eruptive episode was over.
    The dike and subsequent eruption acted as a pressure release valve of Kīlauea’s magma plumbing system that had been pressurizing for months. This led to a short-lived eruption hiatus on the East Rift Zone and low lava lake levels at the summit while the system recovered.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists map and measure ground cracks during the Kamoamoa eruption.
USGS photo by N. Richter on March 6, 2011

    During the eruption, to supplement the near real-time data from HVO monitoring stations, scientists also collected lava samples and gas measurements, mapped lava flows and ground cracks, took photos and detailed field notes, along with other tasks. These important data sets help us to better understand volcanic eruptions and their processes. Analyses of multiple lava samples taken throughout the eruption showed that the erupted lava was initially more evolved than the lava collected on the Pu‘u‘ō‘ō flow fields prior to the Kamoamoa eruption. This means that the dike which fed the eruption either pushed out, or mixed with, a body of cooler magma that had been stored in the rift. As the eruption continued, the lava compositions began to resemble those previously erupted at Pu‘u‘ō‘ō, as “fresher” lava flushed through the system—like what we saw in the beginning of the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption.
    Studying eruptive episodes on Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone using a multi-disciplinary approach has improved scientific understanding of the volcano. Recognizable precursory changes observed at the summit and Pu‘u‘ō‘ō have helped HVO anticipate new eruptions including Kamoamoa and the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption. For over a year, Kīlauea eruptions have been confined to the summit with no indications of magma migration into the East Rift Zone, providing scientists with additional opportunities to learn about the volcano.

Scientists collect volcanic gas data using a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR). During the Kamoamoa eruption, sulfur dioxide emission rates from Kīlauea’s East Rift Zone reached the highest levels since the episodes of high-fountaining at Pu‘u‘ō‘ō (1983–1986) with an average rate of 8,500 tonnes per day and a peak value of 11,000 tonnes per day. 
USGS photo by J. Sutton on March 6, 2011
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at