Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, March 11, 2023

  Hawaiian place names are explained in a new National Park website. See more below. NPS photo

RONALD KAHIHIKOLO, OF OCEAN VIEW, on the run from police since Tuesday, has been arrested. Hawai‘i Island police apprehended the 44-year old Kahihikolo on Saturday morning. He was wanted for attempted murder, stemming from a domestic incident in Ocean View, and numerous outstanding bench warrants. He was located in the Hamakua district near Highway 19 at the 39.5 mile marker in Kalopa at 10:57 a.m. "There is no threat to community at this time," said the HPD statement.
    "This is still an ongoing and active investigation. Hawai‘i Island police thank the public for their assistance in this matter."

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HAWAIIAN PLACE NAMES ARE THE FOCUS OF A NEW NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WEBSITE. A post from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park says, "This new webpage teaches you how to correctly pronounce Hawaiian place names: https://go.nps.gov/inoa. Not only is it just plain fun, but it is also an excellent resource for anyone who wants to show respect for the Hawaiian culture and language. Hawaiian

place names often carry significant meanings and reflect the stories and traditions of the people who lived on the land for centuries. Language is a vital part of cultural identity. By using indigenous place names correctly, we can help keep the language alive."
   The post quotes the late Mary Abigail Kawenaʻulaokalaniahiʻiakaikapoliopelekawahineʻaihonuaināleilehuaapele Wiggin Pukui, the composer, dancer and Hawiaian language and cultural expert from Kaʻū:  "Ola ka inoa - The name lives." from ʻŌlelo Noʻeau.
    The new website notes that "Hawaiian place names have been around longer than any others and are an invaluable resource for learning and understanding indigenous culture. Even before the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, western colonization had already erased many indigenous place names. This stifled Native Hawaiian peoples’ access, practice, and connection with the place names. Restoring place names is no easy task, even among indigenous people.        Traditionally, these names were passed down in most cases through oral tradition. Today, advocates of this process link indigenous names to early maps, books, deeds and legal descriptions. Through these efforts indigenous place names can be restored to maps and the modern lexicon, a process that aids in the preservation and protection of cultural heritage."
    Learn about Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's program to restore Native Hawaiian place names in the park: https://go.nps.gov/bm7ip8.

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MAUNA LOA FOREST RESERVE reopened this week. It was closed for months following the eruption of Mauna Loa. Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Forestry & Wildlife also reopened  Unit A of Mauna Kea Forest Reserve & Game Management Area. south of Daniel K. Inouye Highway across from the Gil Kahele Recreation Area, also known as the “slice.” DOFAW asks that people stay off the 2022 lava flow to protect themselves from hazardous conditions. These include, but are not limited to, hot spots with high temperatures, unstable footing, and sharp lava rocks.

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THE STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM FROM HAWAI'I POLICE DEPARTMENT is expanding efforts, as "part of Hawaiʻi County's dedication to protecting keiki and the community," says a statement from County of Hawai'i. SROs are part of the Department's Community Policing program, comprised of 39 officers islandwide, including eight School Resource Officers explicitly assigned to schools. In Ka'u where the schools are small, the SRO roll is handled by Community Policing.
    "Protecting our keiki and ensuring that they can feel safe and secure in their home, at school, and on our island is of the utmost importance to our administration," said Mayor Mitch Roth. He gave the example of Hilo Intermediate where parents recently reported increased violence and HPD's new chief Benjamin Moskowitz responded by assigning a full time SRO to the school to speed up replacing the SRO who retired. "We commend the parents who had the courage to bring this to our attention and Chief Moskowitz for his willingness to work quickly to address some of the issues. We will continue to search for ways to improve safety as a whole throughout our community, and mahalo those who continue to choose aloha."

    The County's statement said: "Community Policing Officers maintain constant communication with community and neighborhood organizations and business leaders to address criminal, traffic, and safety issues. Community Policing Officers and SROs constantly work to bring together government and private agencies with community and business groups to pursue the mission of safe schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Additionally, SROs guide students on ethical issues, mentor students and act as a resource for delinquency prevention."

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In the mail and on stands.

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.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

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

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 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.