Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, July 7, 2023

Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani members who are in Japan for cultural exchange and
 performances are Arabella Ortega, Alexi Navarro, Khloe Moses, Leahi Kawaa,
 Jezarie Dacalio,Zaylee Dacalio, Kristie Darmeg, Mia Manatan, Zendaiyah Kobzi
 and Florida Ortega. Photo by Jack Moses

HĀLAU HULA O LEIONALANI SENT MEMBERS TO JAPAN THIS WEEK. Based in Pāhala, Kumu Debbie Ryder and halau members left Kaʻū before dawn on Thursday to fly to Tokyo. By Friday they were visiting Japanese temples and standing before a sitting Buddha.

    They will perform at a concert hall in Kawasaki about 30 miles from Tokyo. The Pāhala halau is joined by sister halau from Japan, Okinawa, Mexico and Virginia, all under the tutelage of Kumu Ryder. 

    In addition to performing, Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani planned to visit the biggest fish market in the world called Tsukigi, located in Tokyo, as well as ancient Japanese castles. They will also immerse themselves into a cultural exchange with Japanese students and study calligraphy and other practices.

    Accompanying halau members are musicians Demetrius Oliveira and Gene Beck. Chelsea-Lynn Rosario Kobzi, Jamie Kailiawa and Mona Wroblewski, three ladies of the halau, are traveling with the kumu and younger dancers. Some family members of keiki in the halau also traveled to Japan.

Jack Moses, a medic and firefighter for County
 of Hawai'i, accompanies his daughter
 Chloe and her halau to Japan this week.

     Hula as a practice remains very popular in Japan, with more halau than in Hawai'i. It is a tradition for kumu hula from Hawai'i to travel to Japan to teach. After Japan lifted its covid travel restrictions, kumu from Hawai'i have been going back, said Ryder.

    The fundraising for the journey has been going on for more than eight months. Last November, a Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani fundraiser lu'au was  held at Pāhala Hongwanji in the style of the early 60s and 50s in which people were served their Hawaiian meal at the table, rather than standing in line for food. Members of the halau were the servers. Said Ryder, "I want our halau members to take this tradition home with with them to practice in the future. Serve those whom you invite for food."

    Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani danced in recent Merrie Monarch festivities in Hilo, performed for residents and staff at Kaʻū Hospital and Otsuka Veterans Home in Hilo and regularly performs at Keola Pu'u Honua Cultural Gardens on the grounds of Punalu'u Bakeshop in Nā'ālehu.

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ADVISORS FOR HAWAI'I ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ARE SOUGHT. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is seeking to fill 16 primary and 15 alternate seats on its advisory council.
    The sanctuary is accepting applications for the following seats: Business/Commerce (primary); Commercial Shipping (primary & alternate); Conservation (primary & alternate); Education (primary & alternate); Fishing (primary & alternate);Hawai'i Island Representative (primary & alternate); Kauaʻi Island Representative (primary & alternate); Lāna'i Island Representative (primary & alternate);
Maui Island Representative (primary); Moloka'i Island (primary & alternate); Native Hawaiian (primary & 2 alternates); O'ahu Island (alternate); Ocean Recreation (primary & alternate); Research (primary); Tourism (primary & alternate); Whale Watching (primary & alternate); and Youth (primary & alternate).
 

Hawaiian Humpback Whale Sanctuary seeks new advisory council members.
Photo from NOAA

  The council ensures public participation in sanctuary matters and provides advice to sanctuary management.
    Sanctuary Superintendent Kim Hum said, "The members of our sanctuary advisory council are essential to ensuring community input and engagement in our sanctuary management. We rely on their local knowledge, experience, and expertise to assist us in making informed and timely decisions on how best to protect and conserve humpback whales and their habitat as well as important cultural and other natural resources." 
   Candidates are selected based on their expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, community and professional affiliations, and views regarding the protection and management of marine resources. Applicants who are chosen as primary or alternate members should expect to serve a three-year term and regularly attend quarterly meetings.
   Applications are due by 5 p.m. HST on Sept 1. To receive an application kit or for further information, please contact Sara Wood via email at sara.wood@noaa.gov or visit the sanctuary website at https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/management/advisory/recruitment.html

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TWO DAYS OF RODEO BEGIN SATURDAY MORNING at Nāʻālehu Rodeo Grounds to honor Independence Day. Tickets are $10 at the gate. The sponsor, Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association, is a non-profit 501C3. To support the organization, there are sponsorships for belt buckles and arena advertising, as well as opportunities for direct contributions. The

Roping is a required skill on Ka'u ranches. Photo by Julia Neal

group is raising money to purchase land to expand the rodeo grounds to include more parking. Call or text Tammy Kaapana at 808-854-7917

    The annual rodeo starts with Slack Roping at 8 a.m. both days, July 8 and 9, with competition beginning at noon. Paniolo will vie for the titles of All Around Cowgirl and All Around Cowboy. Working and recreational paniolo from keiki to kupuna compete. Events include: Open Dally, Kane-Wahine Dally, Century Team Roping, Ranch Mugging, Double Mugging, Rescue Race and Po'o Wai U, Tie Down, Wahine Breakaway and Youth Barrels. Events for keiki include: Goat undecorating and dummy roping.
    Kaʻū Roping & Riding is considered the organization that puts on one of the most traditional family style rodeo experiences in all of Hawai'i.

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CALLING ON ALL KAʻŪ HIGH & VOLCANO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES FOOTBALL PLAYERS. The coaching staff reports that practice begins on Monday, July 24 at Kaʻū High in Pāhala. The coaches will present a preseason potluck at Punalu'u Beach Park on Sunday, July 23 from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. With questions and to RSVP, call or text Mark Peters at 510-387-5669.