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| Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death has killed over a million of these native trees. The effort to fight ROD is the subject of proposed $55 million in funding by Sen. Mazie Hirono. See more below. Photo from DLNR |
STOLEN ARE SIGNAGE FOR KA'U NĒNĒ CROSSINGS, TSUNAMI EVACUATION ROUTES and other features, according to Hawai’i Island Police. HPD issued a statement on Wednesday, announcing it is investigating the theft of numerous road signs in the Kaʻū District:
Police ask that anyone with information regarding these thefts to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or email Officer Paul Wright III at Paul.Wright@hawaiicounty.gov
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ROD HAS KILLED MORE THAN A MILLION 'OHIA TREES IN HAWAI'I and Sen. Mazie Hirono on Wednesday, introduced legislation to combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. The Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2022 authorizes $55 million in federal funding over the next 11 years to support ongoing efforts by federal agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, working in partnership with state agencies, to help combat ʻŌhiʻa tree death in Hawai'i.
"ʻŌhiʻa trees are Hawai'i's most abundant native tree, making up nearly eighty percent of our native forests," said Hirono. "But over the last decade, Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death has decimated Hawaii's ʻŌhiʻa population, presenting an existential threat to our environment and the species' future. As a key component of our watersheds, ʻŌhiʻa play an important role in protecting our native ecosystems and preventing erosion and flooding. Federal agencies have played an important role in helping support Hawai'i's research, education, and land management efforts to combat Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and the Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2022 will help ensure that strong partnership continues. I'll keep fighting for the federal funding and support necessary to prevent further ʻŌhiʻa death and preserve Hawai'i's biodiversity for generations to come."
ROD is a fungus, Ceratocystis, that was first found in Hawai'i in 2014 and has since killed over a million
native ʻŌhiʻa trees. Over the past eight years ROD has been detected on Hawai'i Island, Kaua'i, Maui, and O'ahu. In that time, the USFS has partnered with the State of Hawai'i and U.S. Department of the Interior in efforts to detect and respond to the spread of ROD. Specifically, the Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2022 would support these ongoing efforts by:
Directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to continue providing resources for the purposes of researching ROD vectors and transmission;
Requiring the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to work with the State of Hawai'i and other local stakeholders on ungulate management in control areas on federal, state, and private land;
ALOHA MEDICAL MISSION & PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT come to Kaʻū and South Kona this weekend. Aloha Medical Mission will offer dental screening, fluoride treatment, and oral health education for the entire family, along with distribution of oral hygiene kits. Saturday the team will be at Pahala Baptist Church at 8:30 a.m. The team will travel to Ocean View's Diamond Hope church at 10 a.m. (There is a sign on Hwy 11). At 5 p.m. the team will be at Miloli'i Community Center.
Also coming to all three venues are representatives of Partners in Development, which operates Tutu &
Me and other keiki programs in Kaʻū and throughout the state. PID will give out covid test kids and educate the community about its services.
On Monday, Aloha Medical Mission and Partners in Development will travel to Pāhala Elementary, Nāʻālehu Elementary, and Ho'okena Elementary, followed by Tuesday at Honauna.
ROD is a fungus, Ceratocystis, that was first found in Hawai'i in 2014 and has since killed over a million
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| ʻŌhiʻa is Hawai'i's most abundant tree but threatened by Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, a fungus that is spreading through Hawai'i's forests. Photo from DLNR |
native ʻŌhiʻa trees. Over the past eight years ROD has been detected on Hawai'i Island, Kaua'i, Maui, and O'ahu. In that time, the USFS has partnered with the State of Hawai'i and U.S. Department of the Interior in efforts to detect and respond to the spread of ROD. Specifically, the Continued Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death Response Act of 2022 would support these ongoing efforts by:
Directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to continue providing resources for the purposes of researching ROD vectors and transmission;
Requiring the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to work with the State of Hawai'i and other local stakeholders on ungulate management in control areas on federal, state, and private land;
Requiring the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, to continue providing resources to prevent the spread of ROD and restore the native forests in Hawai'i, and to also continue to provide financial and staff resources to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, located in Hilo, to continue research on ROD; and authorizing $50 million in appropriations over the next ten years for both the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to carry out these actions.
Suzanne Case, Chair of the Hawai'i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources said, "ʻŌhiʻa Lehua is the most important native tree in Hawai'i for protection of our life-giving forest watersheds. Funding for research to find a treatment for this fungal infection is of critical importance. Nothing is more important than protecting our ʻŌhiʻa forests for future generations, by securing our islands' only source of clean drinking water and preventing the extinction of Hawai'i's unique species of plants and animals."
Suzanne Case, Chair of the Hawai'i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources said, "ʻŌhiʻa Lehua is the most important native tree in Hawai'i for protection of our life-giving forest watersheds. Funding for research to find a treatment for this fungal infection is of critical importance. Nothing is more important than protecting our ʻŌhiʻa forests for future generations, by securing our islands' only source of clean drinking water and preventing the extinction of Hawai'i's unique species of plants and animals."
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.
Also coming to all three venues are representatives of Partners in Development, which operates Tutu &
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.
ANOTHER WIN FOR KA'Ū TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL graced the JV and Varsity teams on Wednesday in games against the Lionesses from Makua Lani Christian Academy. Trojan JV won in two straight sets 25-6 and 25-9. Varsity won in three straight sets, 25-9, 25-8 and 25-8.
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| Girls volleyball continued its winning streak on Wednesday, taking down Makua Lani Lionesses in both JV and Varsity play. Photo by Julia Neal |
Leahi Kaupu pounded ten Kills and 6 Aces. Jazmyn Navarro slammed 5 Kills and 3 Aces. Kya Hashimoto came up wit 5 kills. Jaydah pilanca-Emmsley achieved 4 Kills and 3 Aces and Kamalyn Jara posted 1 Kill.
The winning streak has the opportunity to continue on the road against Hawai'i Preparatory Academy's Ka Makani in Waimea, this Friday, Sept. 23 with the JV game at 5 p.m. and Varsity at 6 p.m.
This Saturday, the Trojans Football Team will host Hawai'i Preparatory Academy at home on the Pāhala campus, beginning at 1 p.m.
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.
KA'Ū'S HOKULELE BASKETBALL CLUB WILL SEND PLAYERS TO KAUA'I in November and is raising funding for the plane tickets and other expenses. The event is the Kaua'i Veterans Day Weekend
Basketball Tournament and Hokulele will include Kaʻū players and at least one from outside of Kaʻū from this island. Hokulele recently held its own statewide tournament and hosted 27 teams.
Basketball Tournament and Hokulele will include Kaʻū players and at least one from outside of Kaʻū from this island. Hokulele recently held its own statewide tournament and hosted 27 teams.
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| Kaʻū District Gym is the home court for Hokulele Basketball Club which is sending players to a statewide event on Kaua'i in November. Photo by Julia Neal |
Anyone wanting to donate toward the Kaua'i trip and other Hokulele Basketball expenses, can contact Hokulele President & Head Coach Ravel Kaupu, Jr., Vice President Jan Kaez Penera, and Coach Chrysa Dacalio. There are 75 members of the club. Hokulele provides clinics, coaching practice, and tournaments for youth six to 17 years of age.
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.
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| See September issue of The Kaʻū Calendar at www.kaucalendar.com, and in the mail - Volcano, Kaʻū to South Kona. |
