About The Kaʻū Calendar

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, June 18, 2022

Bring keiki to Kahuku to hike the Storybook Trail and for other adventures at this unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
 near Ocean View, says a new message from Program Coordinator Wendy Scott Vance. This photo is from the People and
 Land of Kahuku Hike. See more below. Photo by Dave Boyle

IMPROVING KEIKI HEARING AND VISION through early screening and diagnosis is the aim of two bills signed by the governor on Friday. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health joined child health advocates as Gov. David Y. Ige signed HB 986 and HB 987.
    Deputy Director of Health Resources Administration Danette Wong Tomiyasu said, "We know that early childhood development establishes the foundation for our keiki to succeed in school and in life. Early diagnosis and intervention will ensure these keiki reach learning milestones and have every
opportunity to succeed. Mahalo to the advocates for their persistence in fighting for these changes, and Governor Ige and our legislators for prioritizing the health of our keiki."
    HB 986 mandates reporting to DOH of the results of diagnostic hearing tests for infants failing newborn hearing screening or who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing up to age 3 years. Earlier diagnosis is important for better outcomes. This measure will ensure that infants who fail their newborn hearing screening will receive diagnostic testing. Keiki who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing will be referred for early intervention, which includes speech, language, and hearing services.
    HB 987 will set statewide standards for the keiki hearing and vision screenings conducted in schools. This will increase the early identification of hearing and vision loss in children to support the development of language and communication skills needed for learning. It will also set standards for follow-up and screener training and certification.

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/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

COVID VACCINATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON FOR TINY KEIKI. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention approved vaccinations for children under five years of age on Saturday, following the Food & Drug Administration's approval on Friday.
    The state Department of Health issued a notice Saturday saying, "Today @CDCgov recommended use of the vaccines for children under the age of five from both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. DOH is authorizing enrolled COVID-19 vaccination providers to administer the vaccines as soon as they become available."
     The Pfizer vaccine is for keiki six months to four years of age and requires three shots, each a tenth of the volume of the doses given to adults.
    The Moderna vaccine is for keiki six month to five years of age and requires two shots, with a quarter of the volume of doses give to adults. Vulnerable keiki can receive a third dose.
    While COVID vaccinations are not required, other vaccinations are mandates at Hawaiʻi public schools before entering seventh grade.

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/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS IS A MISSION OF HAWAIʻI'S PUBLIC NURSES and state Department of Health. “We want our residents to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies before they occur, including how they will manage their health conditions during and after a disaster,” said Joan Takamori, RN, Chief of the Public Health Nursing Branch.
    Judy Kern, Chief of the Office of Public Health Preparedness, said, “Families are encouraged to have a plan and maintain an emergency kit to last for at least two weeks. Caregivers and individuals with special needs should take care to also include need-specific items in their kits.”
    Scott Sutton, Region Director of Longs Drugs, said Longs will host nurses in Keaʻau, Hilo and Kona to help families make their kits and their plans on June 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said, “Whether we’re ensuring our stores are stocked with emergency items, such as water, batteries and first aid supplies, or proactively contacting pharmacy patients to remind them to refill or pick up prescriptions in advance of potential storms, our teams at Longs Drugs are ready to help residents prepare as hurricane season approaches.”
    Public Health Nurses encourage families to study the Take 10 guide for putting together an emergency kit. See it at https://health.hawaii.gov/prepare/files/2018/06/Take_10_brochure.pdf. They also encourage reading the Plan To Be Ready booklet to help families plan for emergencies. Read it at
https://health.hawaii.gov/prepare/files/2018/06/Plan_
To_Be_Ready.pdf. Both booklets will be available at Longs.
    A children’s activity book that explains emergency preparedness to keiki will also be available at Longs and online. See it at https://health.hawaii.gov/prepare/
     Hurricane season started June 1 in Hawaiʻi and runs through Nov. 30.

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/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK has sent out a reminder about Kahuku's Storybook Trail. "While the kids are out of school bring them to Kahuku! The trail is a great way to get kids who groan when you suggest hiking to get out and read a magical tale about Kaʻū and take a walk as well!"
   There is also the opportunity to rack up miles in the Kūkini Challenge logbook. The end of June is the
Storybook Trail at Kahuku. NPS photo

end of the second quarter and and a hiker will win Hawaiʻi Pacific Park Associationʻs prize of a water flask. "E komo mai, e hele wāwae mamao (come in and hike)!" says the message from Wendy Scott Vance, Kahuku Program Coordinator.
    The Sunday hike at Kahuku is called Hi‘iaka & Pele and is two hours, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Discover two fascinating Hawaiian goddesses, sisters Pelehonuamea (Pele) and Hi‘iaka, and the natural phenomena they represent. Experience the sisters coming alive through the epic stories depicted in the natural landscape of Kahuku on this easy 1.7-mile guided walk on the main road in Kahuku.
Attendees should be prepared for sun, rain, hot & cold conditions. Wear sturdy footwear and bring water. Enter the Kahuku unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the mauka side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, and meet near the parking area.

Lady Liberty marches with the Hawaiʻi County Band in the Volcano July 4 parade.
Photo by Julia Neal

VOLCANO VILLAGE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE welcomes walking and riding groups and individuals. It is sponsored by Volcano Community Association in Volcano Village from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Monday, July 4 parade starts at the Post Office at 9 a.m. and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd., followed by Cooper Center’s Independence Day celebration packed with live entertainment, craft and food vendors, keiki games and a large silent auction from 9 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. Parking maps can be found at www.thecoopercenter.org. (No parking at Cooper Center except handicap permitted vehicles with prior reservation.)

SPONSOR A BUCKLE, VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN ahead of the Saturday, July 9 Rodeo sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to be held on the rodeo grounds behind Nāʻālehu Park. Call 808-854-7917.



BECOME A VENDOR AT THE 3RD ANNUAL EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Last year, over 2,500 visitors attended and over 40 events were featured during the EVH festival. All vendor spaces are $50 for both days of the festival. Sign up as a vendor or a sponsor at experiencevolcano.com. If you have questions, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com.

SIGN UP FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNS with a change of date from July 3 to Sept. 17. Registration deadline for the annual event is Sept. 14. Organized by Hawaiʻi 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 Pāhala. Proceeds go to support ʻO Kaʻū Kakou. For more details on the event and registration fees, visit https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/.




See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at www.kaucalendar.com,
on newsstands and in the mail.


SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO
at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html