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Saturday, September 23, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

The ninth annual Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run took to the macadamia orchards and coffee fields surrounding
Kaʻū Coffee Mill on Saturday with competitors from around the world. Photo by Julia Neal
Hina Barcia, of Nāʻālehu, who works for Punalu'u
 Livestock, won the Female 5K. Photo by Julia Neal

THE NINTH KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUN results on Saturday featured the top female contender Chanelle Schmid taking the top overall time in the Half Marathon in 1 hour, 4 minutes and 34 seconds. She was followed by Daniel Hill in 1:47:23, Nicholas Civitano in 2:10:34, Jennifer Henricks in 2:11:48, and Morgan Gerdel in 2:17:20. 
     The Female 5K winner, in 29:19, was Hina Barcia, of Nāʻālehu who works with Nonie Soares at Punalu'u Livestock. The female 10K winner was Molly Rasmussen who moved with her family to this island this week to work for University of the Nations.
     The events drew people from around the world to run from farm to rainforest and back with start and finish at Kaʻū Coffee Mill. Money raised from the event goes to O Kaʻū Kakou community group. Overseeing the start and welcoming the finishers was high school student Kalia Andrade, of Nāʻālehu, and of rodeo circuit fame, a former Junior High State Rodeo Champion.
Kalia Andrade, of Nāʻālehu and rodeo fame, welcomed
 the finishers at the Trail Run. Photo by Julia Neal
    The toughest race was the 50K, won by Justin Young in 5 hours, 35 minutes and 11 seconds, followed by Sean Warner in 5:37:46, Lyman Perry in 5:56:17, Chiara Warner in 5:00:37 and Steve Schaffer in 6:07:26. 
    Overall times for the 10K were first place finisher Noah Hunt in 42 minutes and 26 seconds, followed by Trevor Quandt in 43:00, John Kolander in 45:07, Molly Jarvis in 48:36 and Tim Heaton in 48:58.
    Overall times for the 5K were first place finisher Collin Saxby in 23 minutes and 16 seconds, followed by Aaron Harness in 23:48, Cody Rasmussen in 24:03, Peaman Peaman in 24:17 and Matthew King in 24:33.
     See more results upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL TEAM REMAINS UNDEFEATED this season, with a win at home Saturday afternoon against Hawai'i Preparatory Academy from Waimea. Kaʻū won in four sets, 28-26, 18-25, 25-23, and 25-16. Junior Varsity lost in two sets, 17-25 and 15-25. 
    The next match is on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at home against Kanu O Ka 'Aina  at 5 p.m. at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym.

Hokulele will raise money for its sixth grade traveling basketball team
 when 22 teams from around the island come to Herkes Kaʻū District Gym
 for a tournament Oct. 7. Photo from Hokulele
TWENTY-TWO YOUTH BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAN TO COME TO KAʻŪ for the Hokulele Basketball Club tournament on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Herkes Kaʻū  District Gym. Players six to ten years of age will compete and funds raised will go to Hokulele's sixth grade travel team. 
    Hokulele is a Kaʻū based basketball training organization for youth. It is led by Hokulele Club & Organization President & Head Coach Ravel Kaupu Jr., Vice President Jan Kaeza Penera and Coaches Chrysa Dacalio and Jaron Garcia.
    To join the club, register for a tournament, volunteer, and sponsor, contact Kaeza Penera by email at kaeza.hokulele@gmail.com.

Skatepark advocate Travis Aucoin, County Parks & Rec
 Director Maurice Messina and Skatepark Project Treasurer
 Laura Roberts. Photo from Ocean View Skatepark Project
OCEAN VIEW SKATEPARK PLANS ARE MOVING ALONG, according to its community organizers.
    Following the community meeting in May with Hawai'i County Parks & Recreation Director Maurice Messina, Bow Engineering was hired for the Environmental Assessment. It is underway and archeological inspections were completed without issue, said the organizers.
      The EA is expected to be completed by end of the year. The group is working on funding for the actual construction of the skatepark, applying for grants and hosting fundraising. The organization is seeking those able to assist in land clearing and additional volunteers to fundraise. 
    A community meeting for input on details in the design of the skatepark is expected soon.  
   Once built, the skatepark will be available to BMX, rollerblades, rollerskates, scooters, wheelchairs and skateboards. Also in the planning are a bike/walking path, community garden, workout bars and mini Folf course for Frisbee Golf, also known as Disc Golf. For Folf, there are multiple "holes" set up that are usually on a tree,  rock or Folf course basket. It can be played with just a few people, alone, or with a group. A "hole" is scored with the hit of the tree or target. It is the same concept as golf, just with special frisbees.                  
    As with many of the plans, what's built is all dependent on the fundraising. 
   Donations can be made at oceanviewskatepark.org and folks can purchase tees, hats, stickers at Lisa's Kahuku Gift and Garden in Ocean View. To volunteer, donate, help plan or with questions, contact Laura Roberts at 406-249-3351 or oceanviewskatepark@gmail.com.

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Keoki Sereno will teach ‘ukulele in a nine-week
course starting Oct. 18 in Nāʻālehu. Photo by Julia Neal
FREE ‘UKULELE LESSONS for anyone of any age will be offered at Nāʻālehu Methodist Church, in preparation for Christmas. Beginning Oct. 18, two classes will be held concurrently each Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., one for beginners, one for intermediates.
    After the nine-weeks of classes, students will be able to play Mele Kalikimaka and dozens of favorite Christmas Songs. Teachers are Scott Taylor and Keoki Sereno.        
    The hosts sent out a statement saying, "All we ask is that you show up and give it your best and have funWhat could be better than strumming an uke and singing with your friends?"



SIXTEEN WERE ARRESTED FOR DUI the week of Sept. 11 through Sept. 17. Hawai‘i Island police arrested the motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. 
    Two were involved in a traffic collision. One driver arrested was under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 692 DUI arrests compared with 717 during the same period last year, a decrease of 3.5 percent.
    Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 593 major collisions so far this year compared with 585 during the same period last year, an increase of 1.4 percent.    
    To date, there have been 12 fatal crashes, resulting in 13 fatalities, (one of which had multiple deaths); compared with 23 fatal crashes, resulting in 25 fatalities (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition) for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 47.8 percent for fatal crashes, and 48 percent for fatalities.
    To date, the non-traffic fatality count (not on a public roadway) so far this year is one compared to zero for the same time last year.
    Police promise that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

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