Monday, February 20, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023

Streams continued to overflow their banks on Monday, intermittently preventing vehicles from driving through rushing waters
in  Wood Valley. The Wood Valley ford was blocked several times by police and other public officials. Hwy 11 opened and
closed during the day with flooding at Kawā Flats. Photo by Rodrigo Medina

HIGHWAY 11 CLOSED AT KAWĀ FLATS AGAIN on Monday afternoon and evening. According to the County of Hawai'i Civil Defense announcement at 7 p.m. the flooding was between mile 59 and 60. This comes after the National Weather Service Flood Advisory was cancelled. "Some heavy showers are still occurring and motorists are asked to drive with caution," warns Civil Defense. The other closure on the island is in North Hilo where Hwy 19 is closed at mile 13 due to a landslide.
    The HPD statement said Highway crews are working at both sites and anticipate opening later tonight. Due to the closure in Kau, shelters will be opened at the Pāhala Gym and the Nā'ālehu Community Center for those unable to make their destination. "You will be informed of any conditions that may affect your safety."
    Wood Valley crossing was also closed intermittently today with intermittent flooding.

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KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE will hold a non-zoom, live meeting this Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Community Center. The agenda includes committee members' reports on the recently held community meeting on updating the county building and zoning codes. It also includes reports from subcommittees on:
    Punalu'u Coastline Access and Resources Investigation; Green Sands Coastline Access and Resources Investigation; Pōhue Bay Coastline Access and Resources Investigation; Kupuna Housing Investigation; Development in Kaʻū Investigation.
    Also up for discussion is restoration of Nā'ālehu Theatre. See more on all of the topics in the meeting packet available at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121637/2023-02-22%20Ka%CA%BB%C5%AB%20CDP%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf

Miloli'i-Kaʻū Girls take first in 16s Girls at the islandwide tournament in Pāhala over the weekend. Photo by Kaimi Kaupiko





MILOLI'I KAʻŪ GIRLS TOOK FIRST PLACE IN AN ISLANDWIDE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT in two categories last weekend. The fifth annual Miloli'i-Kaʻū Volleyball Tournament at Robert Herkes Kaʻū Gym in Pāhala, was sponsored by Miloli'i-Kaʻū volleyball Club, organized by Kaimi Kaupiko. 
Keiki in the mix at Miloli'i-Kaʻū Volleyball
 Tournament, Thomas Amu Prieto-Enaena winning
Most Valuable Player. Photo by Kaimi Kaupiko
     Kaupiko said the event helps to fundraise for Miloli'i-Kaʻū 16s Girls to travel to O'ahu, and to the Southern California Volleyball Association Summer Soiree in Anaheim. It also raises money for the 10s, 14s Girls and 14s Boys to travel to the annual Haili Tournament and to O'ahu for the Aloha Summer Classic. 
    During the season, Kaupiko and the Miloli'i youth travel to the Pāhala gym twice a week to practice.
    At last weekend's tournament, Miloli'i-Kaʻū took first in the 16s Girls. Second went to Mau Loa and third to Parker School. In the 14s Boys, Keaukaha won, followed by Pilipa'a taking second, and third won by Miloli'i-Kaʻū. 
    In 14s Girls, first went to Miloli'i-Kaʻū Girls Coed, second was Mau Loa and third was Hi Intensity. 
    In the 12s, first place went to Mau Loa Girls, second to Hi Intensity and third to Miloli'i-Kaʻū Girls. 
    In the 10s, Keaukaha won, followed by Miloli'i-Kaʻū and Mau Loa.
    Most Valuable Player awards went to Precious Mareko Ke, of Miloli-Kaʻū for 16 Girls; Thomas Amu Prieto-Enaena, of Keaukaha for 14 Boys; Kira Kubo, of Mau Loa for 14s Girls, Alessandra Roldan, of Mau Loa for 12s and Siaki Faleta, of Keaukaha for 10s.
    Kaupiko said, "Mahalo to our 29 teams that traveled, our 'Ohana and our community."
    The two days of volleyball were open to keiki and youth from six to 16 years of age. Many of the Miloli'i team members could not make it to the gym until the second day as Hwy 11 was blocked by flooding at Kawā Flats. The volleyball clubs also raised money with food concessions.

A game for all ages, from six to 16 at last weekend's Miloli'i-Kaʻū Volleyball Tournament, drawing
teams from as far away as Waimea. Photo by Kaimi Kaupiko

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Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries invites the public to its annual
meeting on Tuesday, March 14. Photo by Julia Neal
FRIENDS OF THE KAʻŪ LIBRARIES will hold its annual business meeting, with election of officers for the 2023 term on Tuesday, March 14, starting at 4 p.m. at Pāhala Public & School Library, 96-3150 Pikake St.
    A statement from the non-profit says, "Everyone is encouraged to attend and support our Kaʻū libraries. The whole community benefits from having great libraries, so we welcome everyone who wants to support our local libraries and help promote our motto: Want to Succeed? Read!"

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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.

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.

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships-for-local-students
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.

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 Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.