Thursday, April 25, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs April 25, 2024

The drying of māmaki leaves for Shaka Tea, which had its start with māmaki from Wood Valley. See www.shakatea.com
 Photo from Shaka Tea Hawai‘i
See www.shakatea.com,
SHAKA TEA HAWAI‘I, WITH ITS ROOTS IN WOOD VALLEY'S MĀMAKI Native Hawaiian tea farms, has made it into another chain store with national distribution and also into this weekend's Mana Up event in New York. 
    Shaka Tea Hawai‘i sent out an announcement on Thursday, saying its tea is "brewed with sustainably grown māmaki leaves from Hawai‘i, bringing you island vibes with zero sugar, calories or carbs!" It is newly available at Target stores across the country, following its launch years ago in 7-11 convenience stores.
    Shaka Tea Hawai‘i will be on tap at Mana Up Hawai‘i's first shopping event in New York City on Friday through Sunday at Shopify Spaces in SoHo for The Aloha Market celebration of lei day. 
   Aloha Market will have many additional Hawai‘i products, interactive events and workshops led by Hawaiian entrepreneurs. There will be lei making, Hawaiian food tastings, live cooking demos, keiki activities and other special events. It will start at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
    Shaka Tea, with its factory base in Hilo, is described on its website as "brewed with one of the rarest herbal teas in the world, only found in the Hawaiian Islands: māmaki. Shaka Tea practices direct trade, sourcing māmaki leaves from local farmers that are sustainably grown in volcanic, mineral-rich soil. Our teas are infused with premium botanicals in refreshing, tropical flavors to share with the world and provide herbal hydration to support your wellness journey."
    It notes that "Planting māmaki is an act of conservation providing critical habitat for the native, pollinator butterfly of Hawai‘i — pulelehua," the endangered Kamehameha butterfly.

Māmaki, the native Hawaiian tea and favorite food of the endangered Kamehameha butterfly is now 
in Target stores and this weekend at Mana Up in New York through Shaka Tea Hawai‘i.
 See www.shakatea.com. Photo from Shaka Tea Hawai‘i

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.

A NEW SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP TIES HAWAI‘I ISLAND TO HATSUKAICHI, JAPAN. Mayor Mitch Roth made the announcement on Thursday. A statement from his office says the "partnership marks a significant step in strengthening cultural and economic ties between our communities, building on the deep historical connections many of our local Japanese families have with this region of Japan."
    The relationship was affirmed by a signing ceremony with Roth, Hatsukaichi Mayor Tarō Matsumoto, members of Hawaiʻi County Council, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaiʻi, Honorary Consul of Japan in Hilo, Art Taniguchi, and members of government from Hatsukaichi. 
Mayor Mitch Roth with new Sister City reps from 
Hatsukaichi, Japan.
    Roth said,  "Many of our residents have family roots that trace back to Hiroshima, making this partnership not just a formal relationship but a rekindling of familial bonds and history,. Through this sister city connection, we hope to honor and deepen the rich cultural heritage that many of our Japanese-American families bring to Hawaiʻi."
    Hatsukaichi, known for its picturesque Itsukushima Shrine and vibrant history, shares many cultural and environmental similarities with Hawaiʻi County. This relationship will foster exchanges in tourism, culture, education, and business, enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation, says the statement from the Mayor's office.
    Hawaiʻi County and Hatsukaichi representatives said they plan to collaborate on student exchanges, business delegations, and cultural festivals, to promote global friendship and understanding.
    Hiroshima and Hawai‘i state libraries signed a sisters relationship in October of 2022. The Hiroshima Sister State relationship with Hawai‘i is more than a quarter century old.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.

THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FUND WILL disperse $62 million for solar
systems, the funding provided by the federal Environmental Protection Agency for homes in this state.
    The federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, is providing the money from a $27 billion federal investment top cut the cost of electric bills and carbon emissions nationwide.
    The funding will finance residential rooftop solar, storage systems, and community-owned solar systems for low-income households.
    "For years, the benefits of household solar — such as the significant savings on energy bills — have been out of reach for too many in Hawaiʻi,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “With this new EPA investment of over $62 million, residents across Hawaiʻi, including those in our disadvantaged communities, will now be able to adopt solar and reap the advantages of this climate change-fighting technology.”

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.

A DECOMPOSED BODY IN OCEAN VIEW has led to a Hawai‘i Police Department investigation.
On Tuesday, April 23, shortly before 12:40 p.m., detectives assigned to the Area II Criminal Investigations Section responded to a property located on the 92-8700 block of Lotus Blossom Lane for a report of a decomposed body on the property. Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of a male which had injuries that were suspicious in nature. Due to the body being in advanced stages of decomposition, the identity of the male and the exact cause of death could not be determined.
    An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.
    Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the Hawai’i Police Department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They may also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.

A 60-YEAR OLD TRUCK DRIVER FROM NĀ‘ĀLEHU WAS ARRESTED AFTER HIS DUMP TRUCK OVERTURNED with a load of asphalt near Kawaihae. According to the police report, Jefferey Anderson was arrested for DUI and released pending further investigation. A statement from HPD says that Hawai‘i Island police are investigating this traffic crash that led to the closure of Akoni Pule Highway for three hours near Kawaihae Harbor on Wednesday, April 24.
    Responding to a 2:30 p.m. call, police determined that a 2001 Peterbilt dump truck was traveling west on Akoni Pule Highway near the 3-mile marker, when the driver lost control of the truck, veered off of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned, spilling its load of asphalt.
    The driver of the dump truck was able to extricate himself from the truck. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released at the North Hawai‘i Community Hospital.
    The incident closed Akoni Pule Highway until crews arrived to remove the vehicle and debris from the roadway.
   Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Officer Richard Nery at 808-887-3080 or via email at richard.nery@hawaiicounty.gov.
  
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.