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Thursday, February 10, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022

After announcing his run for Governor, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD. dines with his wife Jaime Kanani Ushiroda at Moku Kitchen
on O'ahu. He started his medical career in the National Health Service Corps, serving Kaʻū.  Photo from Josh Green

JOSH GREEN IS OFFICIALLY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. The 51 year old physician and current Lieutenant Governor of Hawai'i got his start in medicine in Kaʻū when he worked for the National Health Service Corps after completing his residency. Folks remember him driving a jeep and living in the A-Frame house at Punalu'u beach, along with his big dog. He continues to serve in rural healthcare on weekends at Kohala Hospital emergency room on the north end of this island.
    His political career carried Green to the state House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009 and to the state Senate from 2009 to 2018. As a senator, Green became majority floor leader and chaired the Health  and Human Services Committees. He said he is especially proud of his work to pass Luke’s Law to provide care for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and his effort to pass Tobacco and E-cigarette Regulations, which increased the legal age of sale to 21 for tobacco and e-cigarette products.
    Green was named Hawai'i Physician of the Year in 2009 and Hawai'i Legislator of the Year in 2013.
Concerning his tenure as Lt. Governor, Green's website says, "In 2018, Josh became Hawai'i’s Lt. Governor, and when he saw the need for real solutions on homelessness, he helped build Kauhale communities and the H4 clinic to provide housing and care for those in need. 
Lt. Gov. Josh Green made it official on Thursday. He is running
for Hawai'i governor. Photo from Josh Green
  "When a measles epidemic hit Samoa in 2019, Josh led a team of doctors and nurses from Hawai'i, and within 48 hours they vaccinated 37,000 people and protected Samoa’s children.
    "Just a few months later COVID hit Hawai'i, and as COVID liaison Josh led the largest healthcare response in state history, pulling Hawai'i together to vaccinate over a million people, protect our kupuna, and save thousands of lives."
    Green held fundraisers and fielded input on a run for governor for at least six months. He made the official announcement Thursday by email and in media interviews.
     On his website at www.joshgreenforhawaii.com, he wrote, "As governor, I will work to build more affordable housing across our state, take action on the out of control cost of living, and take on our homeless crisis. I'll stand up for working people and finally sign into law paid family leave and a true living wage."
   The website has statements by Green on the following issues: Affordable Housing, Cost of Living, Homelessness, Building a Stronger Fairer Economy, Investing in the People of Hawai'i, and Nurturing Children.  See www.joshgreenforhawaii.com.   
    Green was was born in Kingston, New York and grew up in Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor's degree from Swathmore College and his medical degree from Pennsylvania State, completing his residency at Pittsburgh. 
     Green is married to Jaime Kanani Ushiroda, from Kaneohe, and has two children, Maia and Sam. In a piece called Our Values and Vision for Hawai'i's Future, Green says, "As parents of two children growing up in Hawai'i, Jaime and I want to do everything we can to help build the future that we want them to live in. A more just, peaceful, prosperous, and tolerant future where every person has the educational and economic opportunities they need to pursue their goals and dreams, where we treat each other with respect and dignity as members of one 'Ohana, and we never turn our backs on anyone or leave anyone behind.
    "A future where we can all rise together."
    The latest campaign spending report filed with the state showed Green with more than $1.1  million in his war chest, having raised more than $774,00 in the last six months of 2021.    
    Concerning other candidates, Hawai'i Tribune Herald reported on Thursday that Congressman Kai Kahele is considered a potential gubernatorial candidate, with no money raised last year and more than $48,000 in his war chest. He is also up for reelection to his U.S. House seat.  
    Hawai'i News Now named developer Peter Savio, who once attempted to buy and condominiumize the coffee lands above Pahala, and UFC fighter BJ Penn, of Hilo, as possible Republican contenders for the governorship. 
     For the Republican Party, Hawai'i Island's Paul Morgan, a business consultant, announced he would run. So did Lynn Miriano, a military veteran with the U.S. lndo Pacific Command. Anti-vaxer Aloha Freedom Coalition chief Gary Cordero, who earlier protested outside Green’s condo in downtown Honolulu, also announced a run for governor.

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ANCIENT MAYAN TECHNIQUE FOR PREVENTING MALADIES IN FRUIT TREES was the focus of a workshop led by Tony Vera of Mayan World Farm on Thursday. It was sponsored by Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Kaʻū Chapter and hosted by Matt and Andrea Drayer at Wood Valley Ranch.
    Vera showed participants how to make a Healing Wash solution to paint on the bark of trees. He said it deters harmful insects and pigs and protects the tree from pathogens and weathering. Vera said the solution also increases the pH of the soil and provides calcium, which can regulate nutrient absorption into the plants.
Tony Vera with his Healing Wash for fruit trees.
Photo by Katie Graham
     
    Vera said the rise of invasive insects and diseases threaten the health of fruit trees on this island. "We're getting introduced to a lot of pests here in Hawaiʻi that I feel are destroying a lot of our plants." He said the pests often come with imports to the island.
   Vera encouraged farmers to "look back in history at what we've been using," combining the ancestral ways of farming with the technology of the present. According to Vera, for those facing issues with the longhorn beetle, avocado lace bug, coffee berry borer, and more, the solution could help heal their trees and be used as a preventative measure.
    Vera said he developed his solution through studies in tropical agronomy and soil, experience as a farmer in Hawaiʻi, and knowledge gained from his father and local elders from his village in Belize. Ingredients include neem oil, castille soap, turmeric powder, chili peppers, hydrated lime, salt, and achiote oil. However, he emphasizes, "use the stuff that you have on hand."
    Vera is known for holding the Hawaiʻi state record in giant butternut squash, cabbage, and pepper. Having grown a 500 pound pumpkin in the past, Vera said he has plans to grow a 1,000 pound pumpkin this year. Vera contended that there are few limits to what can be grown on this island. He claimed success with wheat, peaches, grapes, and apples on his property in Orchidland, which is located at 800 feet elevation. "I try to push the boundaries of what we can grow here," Vera said.
     Vera sells a number of his products online and on Wednesdays at the Farmers Market at HI Vibration Hale in Orchidland. His products for sale include the Healing Wash solution, achiote oil, turmeric oil, farm-fresh eggs and produce, and lilikoi curd. To learn more and order online, visit Mayan World Farm on Facebook at facebook.com/MayanWorldFarm or on Instagram at @mayanworldfarmhi.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

Senior Night on Thursday for graduating Trojan basketball players who received lei. Left to right are: 40 Jocyiah Mukini,
24 Cyrus Eder33 Jonah Beck, 12 Keenan Toriano, 20 Micah Espejo and 31 Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu. 
Photo by Josh Ortega

THE TROJANS NAILED THE KEA'AU COUGARS IN JV AND VARSITY competition on Thursday evening. In the JV game, Trojans scored the most points in all four quarters with 15 - 8, 18-4, 13-6 and 12-10. The final score was 58-28.
    Scoring for the Trojans were: Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia - 24, Jaestin Karasuda - 12, Roger Miguel - 6, Patrick Riehle - 5, Ocean Nihipali-Sesson - 5, Keaka McDonnel - 3, Collen Hanshew - 2 and Jestin Penera - 1.
    In Varsity play, Trojans held on to beat the Cougars 45-41. Kea'au took the first quarter 10-7. Kaʻū scored more than Kea'au in the second and third with 12-2 and 13-2. Kea'au rallied in the fourth with 17-13 but Kaʻū came out on top. Scoring for Kaʻū were: Kaimana Manini-Kaupu - 19, Jensen Villa - 8, Cyrus Eder - 4, Jocyiah Mukini - 3, Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu - 3, Emman Badua - 3, Micah Espejo - 3 and Keenan Toriano - 2.
    It was senior night and all of the graduating basketball players received lei.

JV Trojans beat Kea'au Thursday evening. Players in the back row are 43 Triton Blanco, 20 Patrick Riehle, 33 Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia, 24 Collin Hanshew, and 21 Ocean Nihipali-Sesson. In the front row are: Head Coach Troy Gacayan, 3 Jaestin Karasuda, 4 Keaka McDonnel, 5 Jestin Penera, 10 Roger Miguel, 13 Kalem Libunao-Martinez ad 22 Vladimir Fedoruk.
Photo by Harry McIntosh
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

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