Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, through the help of Trust for Public Land, now protects 16,451 acres at the
Kahuku-Pōhue parcel. A public planning meeting will be Saturday, Dec. 10.  NPS Photo

A PUBLIC MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF KAHUKU-PŌHUE has been set for Saturday, Dec. 10 from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park invites the community to participate in a public meeting regarding protection and potential future use of the remote 16,451-acre Kahuku-Pōhue parcel the park acquired earlier this year. The in-person meeting will be held at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, at 95-5695 Mamalahoa Hwy. 

    Park managers are seeking feedback

Pōhue holds a network of culturally and historically
 significant trails. NPS photo/J. Ferracane

from the community about natural and cultural resources of the area, and said they wish to explore suggestions for public use that are compatible with resource protection.
    Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Trust for Public Land and Hawaiʻi Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development will participate in the meeting. Information stations will be set up at the meeting where local community members and stakeholders can talk story with park staff, TPL and HACBED.
    The Park statement says, "Before the land transfer, the park met with community members in partnership with TPL and HACBED to better understand the land's cultural, historical and ecological significance. Community engagement will continue over the next few months. Until Pōhue interim operating procedures can be worked out, and safe access protective of cultural and natural resources can be ensured, public access to the Kahuku-Pōhue parcel is temporarily restricted. There are no restroom facilities or capacity for trash removal, and emergency response is very limited. Portions of the current jeep trail and pedestrian routes to the coastline pass through private lands not managed by the park."

    The Park is calling the new section the Kahuku-Pōhue parcel in reference to the Hawaiian place name, Kahuku. Kahuku is the mauka-to-makai (inland to ocean) ahupuaʻa (historic land division), in which Pōhue is located. In addition, many Kaʻū locals refer to the bay as Pōhue Bay and its adjacent beach as Kahuku Beach. The park welcomes additional information about other ʻinoa ʻāina (Native Hawaiian or indigenous) place names for Kahuku-Pōhue.
    See the Park website at https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/historyculture/kahuku-pohue.htm.

The name Kahuku-Pōhue describes the mountain to the sea conserved lands.
NPS photo/ J. Ferracane

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.

Jumping for joy with Holidays at Kahuku coming
up this Saturday. Photo from Friends of HVNP

HOLIDAYS IN KAHUKU will be a free event to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park this Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

    It features hula by Hālau Ulumamo o Palikū at 10:30 a.m., and music by The Kipapa Sisters at 11 a.m., Shootz at noon, The Jazz Gardeners at 1 p.m. and Dem Guys at 2 p.m. 

    There will be local crafts, food vendors, free shave ice, face painting for keiki. Located between South Point Road and Ocean View.

JAZZ IN THE FOREST SATURDAY, DEC. 3 at 5:30 p.m. will be at Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. The evening features Jean Pierre Thoma and the Jazztones in Holiday Spirits, What A wonderful World. The band is Thoma on woodwinds, Alex Czerny on keyboards, Brian McCree on bass, Russell Lundgren rhythms and Leelu Mitchell vocals. Tickets are $25 for VAC members ($30 non-members) at the door, if not sold out.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP invites the public for Christmas Cottage Lighting, Concert & Dinner
Kilauea Military Camp continues its holidays lighting and decorating tradition for its historic rows of stone and wooden cottages. The public is invited to stroll past them day or night until the New Year.
Employees of KMC vie for best cottage decorations each year. The cottages are located behind the KMC parade grounds within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Note that park admission fees may apply.

Cottage decorating has begun at KMC, along
with planning for Christmas Dinner.
Photo from KMC

    

    In addition, KMC will be the host for this year's Holiday Concert put on by Volcano Festival Chorus and Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network. It's the return of the annual A Gift for Our Community Holiday Concert. The musical performance is on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. Due to ongoing remodeling of Kīlauea Theater, the concert will be located in the Lehua Room of the Kīlauea Military Camp. For additional information, contact KDEN at 808-982-7344.
   In addition, KMC is offering a special Christmas dinner with reservations required. See more in upcoming www.kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com

COOPER CENTER CHRISTMAS EVENTS on Wright Road in Volcano include a Toy Drive through Dec. 18, collecting unwrapped gifts. Toys can be dropped off Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monetary donations are also accepted during same hours. Those who want to order toys online can have them sent to Cooper Center Community Pantry, P.O. Box 1000. Volcano, HI 96785
   A Jingle Bell Swap Meet will be held Saturday, Dec. 10 from 8 a.m to noon at Cooper Center, with new and classic items, furniture, handmade arts, crafts, jewelry, antiques, wreaths clothing, foods, plants and much more. There will be music and prizes, says organizer Auntie Francis Roberts Bennett.
    Volcano Thursday Market Christmas Fair will be Thursday, Dec. 23 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m with crafts, food, produce, live music and entertainment for kids.
    Cooper Center is located at 19-430 Wright Rd. in Volcano Village.

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.