Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023

Happy New Year from Midway. Volcano artist and author Caren Loebel-Fried is on Kuaihelani, Midway Atol, and sends middle photo of a moli, Laysan Albatross couple. The left photo of makalena, a short-tailed albatross, is by U.S. Fish & Wildlife volunteer Bob Toleno. The right photo by Jan Beck of manu-oku, the white tern, shows a chick waiting for food via sea delivery by parents.
See friendsofmidwayatol.org

Daryn Galigo grew up in Kaʻū and is back
 as new manager of 'Ohana Foods in Nā'alehu

'OHANA FOODS IN NĀ’ALEHU WILL EXPAND WIKIWIKI WORKFORCE, FOOD OFFERINGS. Wikiwiki Mart, open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily with its 76 gas station, is upgrading to become 'Ohana Foods with more take out meals, fresh produce and an expanded frozen foods section. Doubling the size of the kitchen staff is also in the plan, according to Carl Okuyama, President of 'Ohana Foods. There is also a new 'Ohana Foods Reward Card.

    Manager of the new 'Ohana Foods is Daryn Galigo, who was born and raised in Nā'alehu, graduated from Kaʻū High as senior class president in 2011, and has spent the last decade going to college plus working for Wikiwiki Mart in Hilo and Nā'alehu. In his Kaʻū High senior class address he said, “We have learned to endure and overcome whatever tribulations come our way. It is time to show the world what we are capable of..."

    Okuyama said Galigo worked with him as a start up assistant manager in Hilo, but "I needed him to come back to Kaʻū for 'Ohana Foods. We have built an awesome team. We are all here to serve the public the best we can."

Alyssa Navaro, of Pāhala, introduces 'Ohana Foods Rewards.

 Okuyama noted that he and the staff have run the place daily for more than ten years, the first to open and last to close among gas and food stores in all of Kaʻū. They recently secured another ten year lease on the property makai of Hwy 11, with option to renew an additional ten years. That means Okuyama and team can invest in 'Ohana Foods with new equipment, refreshing the store with air conditioning, furnishings, refrigeration and freezing, and expanding the kitchen.
    "There will be a large deli. The kitchen will be doubled in size, everything from bento breakfasts, to sandwiches, to burgers, salads and other healthful foods." Okuyama operates 'Ohana Foods in Hilo and recommends looking at its facebook for a peak at the kind of menu that will be coming to Nā'alehu at https://www.facebook.com/OhanaFoodsHilo/

    Okuyama said that "Food marketing has changed. There will be more foods to go, along with an increase in frozen seafood, poultry and meat and produce. The 'Ohana Foods perishable departments will increase their offerings as well."
    A second phase of the new 'Ohana Foods program will be expanding the building, said 'Okuyama.

    See 'Ohana Foods facebook in Hilo at https://www.facebook.com/OhanaFoodsHilo/

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KAʻŪ'S NEW REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, Jill Tokuda, who takes office Jan. 3 to represent all of rural Hawai'i from her home in Kaneohe, sent out a Happy New Year card Jan. 1 with the following message:

    "In just a few days, I will be officially sworn in as Hawaiʻi's newest member of Congress and we'll be opening offices in Washington DC and Hawaiʻi to help serve the constituents of Hawai'i's Second Congressional District.
    "From fighting to ensure greater access to healthcare and mental health services for our rural communities, advocating for increased funding for quality public education, and supporting laws to fight corruption and increase transparency in government, I am very excited about the work ahead."

    Tokuda will be transitioning into the U.S. House seat now held by Kai Kahele. Tokuda is no stranger to D.C., having graduated from George Washington University. She is already lined up as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and was recently reported in The Hill saying, “We’ve really got to start looking at the housing gaps and inequities that exist and … doing better with the programs that we have at our disposal at the federal level.” 
    Tokuda told The Hill that she wants to “turn the firehose on and just tackle everything,” but initial priorities are affordable housing, access to the “care economy” and campaign finance reform.

    As during her campaign, Tokuda told The Hill that her priorities are informed by being a mother. She said that access to the care economy — including child care, early learning and long-term care for seniors — “is where the greatest inequities and gaps exist … especially in my district, but I think it exists everywhere in our country.” She said she also plans to study tuition subsidies and loan forgiveness for workers in these jobs.

Gov. Josh Green and wife Jaime. Photo from Josh Green

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A HAPPY NEW YEAR POSTED BY GOV. JOSH GREEN says, "Jaime and I would like to wish you and your ‘ohana a Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year), We are one ‘ohana, and this year we will come together to create a better Hawai‘i for our keiki. We look forward to the work ahead and new beginnings. Let’s do this!"

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FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View.

   Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Masks and social distancing required.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day, according to OKK President Wayne Kawachi.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.

Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

'O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in the upper lot only. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.

Ocean View Swap Meet at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks required.

The Book Shack is open every Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Kauaha'ao Congregational Church grounds at 95-1642 Pinao St. in Wai'ōhinu.