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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Kircia Derasin is the winner of an O Kaʻū Kākou scholarship for her first year in college this fall.
The Kamehameha School senior enjoys rodeo and wants to become a pediatrician. 
 
O KAʻŪ KĀKOU HAS NAMED TWO SCHOLARS FROM KAʻŪ TO RECEIVE FUNDING to further their education. The nonprofit service organization gives out scholarships annually.
    Kircia Derasin is a graduating senior at Kamehameha Schools. She has been on the Principal's List and Headmaster's List for the last two years and maintains a 3.733 GPA. She has participated in the Hawai'i High School Rodeo, Kaʻū High School All Stars Program, Girls' Cross Country and Koa Club. 
    Derasin plans to attend University of Hawai'i Hilo to pursue her life-long desire to become a Pediatrician. She said she loves "the idea of taking care of the youth, and being able to guide them through both their health and mentality," She said she believes that "kids are a big part of the future, so we need to take them into consideration." Her $1,000 scholarship fro 'O Kaʻū Kākou is for the 2023-2024 school year.
Leinaia Andrade receives an OKK scholarship
 and studies to become a dental hygienist. She is
a Kamehameha School graduate.
    Lenaia Andrade graduated Kamehameha Schools and attends Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA, as an undergraduate student with a 3.83 GPA. She will graduate this spring and receive her AA in Arts and Sciences.  
    Andrade was recently been accepted into the Dental Hygiene Program at Columbia Basin College and will spend the next two years pursuing her Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.  
    She said she feels that "giving back to my community is important," Andrade has volunteered with the National Honor Society and participated in food drives, clean-up campaigns, speak-outs, family nights and sports activities for schools. 
    "My volunteer experience helped drive my want and need to help people. When I see the happiness and joy that I'm able to bring to people, it makes me feel good inside and encourages me to believe that I can really make a difference among my community."
    Upon earning her degree, Andrade plans to return to Hawai'i so she can "help people feel healthy and confident in their smiles because a smile is such a big and beautiful feature that we have".  
   Her  $2,000 scholarship from 'O Kaʻū Kākou is for the 2023-2024 school year.
   See more on OKK's history, ongoing projects and events at www.okaukakou.org/


Youth Ranger Interns graduate from training in preparation for becoming Youth Rangers this
summer. Photo by Lynette Smith/ Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

THE YOUTH RANGER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, with sponsorship by Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, trained 37 young people from Kaʻū and Puna this Spring. They graduated on April 14 and plan to work this summer as Youth Rangers. The Youth Ranger Internship Program provides career preparation to youth in rural East Hawai'i.
    See more on Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, its staff, programs, events and Youth Ranger Internship at https://www.fhvnp.org/


A SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINING IN GRANT WRITING FOR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT is available from Ulupono Initiative and the Hawai'i Good Food Alliance. The funding is for the Grantsmanship Center's professional grant writing program for those working in Hawai'i local food system development with the goal of increasing available funding to food system enterprises and services.
See https://www.tgci.com/training/grantsmanship-training-program-5-day
       Tuition for an individual's five-day training is $1,195 (with a $100 early-bird discount). Ten scholarships of $1,095 will be awarded with the understanding that the recipient or his/her/their organization will cover the tuition balance of $100 and provide the time for seminar attendance virtually or in person.
     Awardees will be selected by HGFA and Ulupono staff with consideration of the applicant's prior experience in the field, organizational need, and commitment to continued grant writing efforts. The participant or her/his organization would cover the cost of the tuition upfront and then be reimbursed once proof of program completion is submitted to HGFA.
    Recipients are required to complete the Grantsmanship training by Nov. 30. Direct completed applications and any questions about this opportunity to Betsy Cole, cole@kohalacenter.org. Deadline for submission is May 15.

A FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM is sought by the state Department of Agriculture. The agency will
administer a competitive request for proposal process to award general funds for proposals that support the establishment and growth of food hubs on a scale that meets demand by state institutions such as schools, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Visit Hawai'i Awards and Notices Data System HANDS at https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/ for more information.


CHILDREN OF FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS would enjoy speedier visa processing for coming to the U.S. under the  Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act. The legislation has been introduced into Congress numerous times and was reintroduced on Tuesday by Hawai'i U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Hawai'i Congressman Ed Case, along with colleagues from other states.
    Hirono said, “Filipino soldiers served our country with honor and bravery during World War II. But for too long, they’ve been denied many of the rights and benefits they deserve, including the ability to reunify with their families in the U.S. I’m proud to reintroduce the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act to reunite these veterans with their loved ones. I will continue working to support Filipino veterans, their families, and all veterans in Hawaii and across our country.”
A visa backlog has made some children of Filipino WWII vets wait nearly 20 years
 for their visa applications to be considered. Only about 1000 of these vets remain alive.
    
    Case said, “More than 250,000 Filipino service members who fought valiantly alongside us in World War Two were promised the opportunity to immigrate to our country and did, becoming proud and productive American citizens. But our visa caps and backlog have delayed their families joining them for decades, at a time when our Filipino WWII veterans have needed them the most. I’m honored to reintroduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill to do the right thing and allow those few remaining veterans to be reunited with their families in their country.

    More than 260,000 Filipino soldiers followed America’s call to fight under the American flag in World War II, but there are only a few thousand of these veterans still alive.
    Despite their heroic service, Congress passed the Rescission Acts of 1946 which made Filipinos ineligible for benefits granted to other World War II veterans. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush granted U.S. citizenship to about 26,000 Filipino nationals in recognition of their service to the United States during World War II. However, the 1990 law did not confer citizenship or residency to the veterans’ children, who remained separated from their parents. Due to a visa backlog, some Filipino applicants must wait nearly 20 years before their applications are considered.
    In 2016, after years of advocacy by Hirono, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services began implementation of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program to reunite veterans and their surviving spouses with adult children and certain other relatives. However, the program is limited and provides no guarantee that these veterans can reunite with their loved ones.
    In 2019, the Trump Administration announced its intention to terminate FWVP and in December 2020, published final steps to end this program in the Federal Register.
    Case led a bicameral, bipartisan letter signed by Hirono and 30 of their House and Senate colleagues to President Biden in February 2021, urging the new administration to rescind the termination efforts and renew FWVP, and DHS has since reversed its 2019 announcement.

Filipino WWII veterans years ago, waiting for legislation
that would allow their children to more easily come to U.S.
     The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act would provide a permanent solution by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt from global limits the sons and daughters of Filipino World War II veterans who were naturalized under the 1990 law or other specified laws.
    The bill is endorsed by Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Church World Service, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, National Immigration Forum, and National Federation of Filipino American Associations.
    Since 2013, Hirono has led the introduction of the bipartisan Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act. Following years of advocacy from Hirono and the Hawaii Congressional Delegation, in October 2017, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to the Filipino Veterans of World War II. Hirono also leads the introduction of the Filipino American History Month Resolution, which recognizes October as Filipino American History month and celebrates the history and culture of Filipino Americans.

Dylan Alcain 
Leilani Alcain
THE COUPLE WHO FLED FROM KONA THROUGH KAʻŪ TO VOLCANO WHERE THEY WERE ARRESTED last Thursday, after an alleged crime spree, pleaded not guilty to a slew of offenses on Monday.
    Twenty-seven year old Dyland Alcain was charged with attempted murder after shots were fired from their vehicle and hit police cars as they escaped. He was also charged with robbery, terroristic threatening, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on public highways and other offenses. His bail is set at $700,00.
    Thirty-five year old Leilani Alcain, formerly Leilani Parent, was charged with robbery, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on public highways and other charges. Her bail is set at $145,000.  See http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2023_04_20_archive.html


FINDING JUSTINA ALVES OF OCEAN VIEW is a quest of Hawai‘i Island police, with a renewed request for the public’s assistance. The 33-year-old is wanted for an outstanding bench warrant and for questioning in other criminal investigations. She is known to frequent the South Kona and Ocean View areas.
   Alves is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 125 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She has a tattoo on her left neck area that reads “Ronald”.
HPD asks for the public's
help in finding Justina Alverez.
    A previous media release requesting assistance in locating Alves also included two other Ocean View residents, 42-year-old Ronald Patrick Keahonui Kahihikolo, and 38-year old Hubert Kekahuna-Kekona. Both men have since been located.
    Hawai‘i Police Department would like to remind the public that harboring or concealing a wanted person could result in criminal charges being filed against the person who harbors or conceals the wanted person.
    Anyone with information on Alves’ whereabouts is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118, or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
    Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to caller ID.


OUTDOOR MARKETS

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

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.












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