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Friday, September 16, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022

Locals looking to see the fire of Kīlauea Crater might choose late night to dawn to avoid tourist crowds. See more from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on good viewing sites below.  NPS Photo by Janice Wei

LAST CALL FOR COMMENTS ON THE KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN'S
ACTION ENGAGEMENT: County of Hawai'i sent out a "gentle reminder" on Friday concerning this Sunday, Sept. 18 deadline to fill out its Action Committee Engagement Survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzs8IWvzRasSPfTh0yonvFZ3IiHdOIB3FaLWyzIPK8kgWSYw/viewform
    The reminder from the Community Development Plan staff states that in connection to the General Plan
Comprehensive Review, "our team is exploring improvements to our community engagement program. It is our hope to continue learning from our past experiences as we move forward by clarifying the role and guidelines for both staff and Action Committees. Our goal is to better align our process to create a meaningful and engaging way for community to partner with the County and implement the CDPs.
    "The results of this survey will directly inform our direction moving forward; therefore, your participation is extremely important. It should only take about 10 minutes of your time. The deadline for responses is Sunday, September 18th. Please share this link with your network. Please be on the lookout for more information and opportunities for you to contribute to this effort as we seek to improve our community engagement practices. Mahalo for your participation!"
    The Kaʻū Community Development Pan is available to read at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzs8IWvzRasSPfTh0yonvFZ3IiHdOIB3FaLWyzIPK8kgWSYw/viewform.
     The Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee is comprised of Kaʻū citizens tasked with helping move forward the Kaʻū CDP, in partnership with the Hawai'i County Planing Department and other community stakeholders. However, all public meetings sponsored by the county with the Action Committee were recently canceled by the county, siting staff changes and an effort to better plan community engagement.
    Kaʻū's Action Committee members are: Leina'ala Enos, Babette Morrow, Catherine Williams, Kaohinani Mokuali'i, Pernell Hanoa, Jason Masters, Kaweni Ibarra and Jessie Ke. See story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_08_22_archive.html

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

PEACE WEEK STARTS SUNDAY and Hawaiʻi County invites members of the Kaʻū community to travel to Hilo to help kick it off with a peace pole dedication, making paper cranes, and a walk with the Mayor and taiko drummers this Sunday, Sept. 18. The event will go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's cosponsored by Blue Zones Project, Rotary International, and Hilo Bayfront Trails. 
    Food trucks will be on-site from 10 a.m., and entertainment and activities begin at 11 a.m. The peace pole dedication will be hosted by Rotary International at noon, followed by the one-mile walk with Mayor Mitch Roth and the Puna Taiko Group. The walk will begin and end at the Moʻoheau Bandstand, following along the Hilo Bayfront Trails pathway.
    "We're asking our community to join us in solidarity as we promote peace and unity," said Roth. "This great family-friendly event will give us the opportunity to enjoy some ʻono local food and entertainment while enjoying all the Hilo Bayfront Trails have to offer. At a time of so much anger and animosity around the world, this is our chance to be a beacon of hope and aloha."
    Patrons will also have the opportunity to make their own paper crane with a personal message of peace that will be displayed at the County Building.
     Peace Week coincides with the United Nations International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, the day of the vernal equinox, which is observed around the world. The UN General Assembly declared it a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.
    A U.N. statement says that "achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated equally, regardless of their race." U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”
    The U.N. statement says, "As conflicts continue to erupt across the globe, causing people to flee, we have seen race-based discrimination at borders. As COVID-19 keeps attacking our communities, we have seen how certain racial groups have been hit much harder than others. As economies suffer, we have seen hate speech and violence directed at racial minorities.
   "We all have a role to play in fostering peace. And tackling racism is a crucial way to contribute. We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech – both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

LATE NIGHT TO PRE-DAWN AT KILAUEA CRATER is the least crowded time for looking at the bright lava. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park posted guidance on Friday concerning the best views at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. "This will, of course, depend on your definition of the best view. Do you want a secluded overlook? Views with a stunning background? View off by steam vents? There are many options when it comes to witnessing an eruption.
Late night and predawn are the least crowded viewing times
 at Kīlauea Crater.  NPS Photo by Janice Wei

    "But, if you insist on getting advice from a ranger – overlooks along Crater Rim Trail between Volcano House and Kūpinaʻi Pali is where it is at! Visitors have been enjoying views of the vigorous lava lake in this area. According to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists, lava has risen 469 feet (143 meters) from the start of the eruption and is continuing to rise.
    "Overlooks are very crowded during peak hours which are between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The park is open 24 hours a day, and viewing is exemplary before sunrise and after 9 p.m., weather permitting.
Download the NPS app for a list of the possible eruption viewing overlooks: https://go.nps.gov/appdownload. Also follow Hawai'i volcanoes facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hawaiivolcanoesnps.

TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL HOSTS KOHALA Saturday at 10 a.m. at Kaʻū District Gym. Girls and Boys Cross Country heads to Kealakehe for an islandwide meet at 9 a.m. Air Riflery takes on other East Hawai'i Schools at 9a.m. Trojan Girls Bowling takes on Kealakehe at KB Extreme in Kona, followed by Boys Bowling against Kamehameha at 12:30 p.m. Trojans Boys Varsity Football heads to Kea'au to play Pahoa at 2 p.m.

WITHOUT THE OKK SATURDAY OUTDOOR MARKET IN NĀ'ALEHU, sponsor ʻO Kaʻū Kākou reminds the community that market days are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., both days. 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.




 



See September issue of The Kaʻū Calendar
at www.kaucalendar.com, and in the
mail - Volcano, Kaʻū to South Kona.