Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 28, 2024

The new Pāhala wastewater treatment plant is soon to be under construction, set back from the pine tree entrance to the village on Maile Street. Macadamia orchards will be irrigated with treated water. Image from County of Hawai'i

PĀHALA  SEWER PROJECT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION: The Implementation Plan for the new wastewater, sewage system for Pāhala was submitted to the EPA on Oct. 24 by County of Hawai‘i. The County also announced awarding the construction contract to Goodfellow Brothers, Inc., with work anticipated to be approximately 18 months, beginning in January. Read the Implementation Plan at https:// www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/home/ showpublisheddocument/308434. 

    The Implementation Plan describes the remaining planning, design, and construction schedule for the package wastewater treatment plant and new collection system, following EPA’s approval of the Final Environmental Information Document. 

    The County is overseeing the design and engineering, and the acquisition of necessary land and easements, for the collection system, treatment plant, and disposal system. Owners of homes in the affected area will have received via USPS a right-of-entry agreement for the construction of the new collection system. The County asks that owners sign the agreement and return it to the County in the enclosed envelope. 

   With questions, call the phone numbers listed in the letter. The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is January 22, 2027. Those cesspools are illegal nationally and are left over from the sugar plantation days.

Moses Kaho'okele Crabbe and his halau will  perform at Ho'okupu Hula No Kaʻū Cultural Festival on Saturday, Nov.2.

FIVE HALAU WILL GRACE HO'OKUPU HULA NO KA'U CULTURAL FESTIVAL this Saturday, along with musical performers and cultural practitioners. Kumu Debbie Ryder said she welcomes hālau from afar and near and headliner singer Ku‘uipo Kumukahi along with the musical group He Mea Hou, led by Victor Chock. 

   The free event begins at 9 a.m. at Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua grounds in Nā‘ālehu, with Pule and Ho‘okupu, with Ku‘uipo Kumukahi at 10 a.m. She is followed by: 

    Hālau O Kaleo A Keahialapalapa with Kumu Hula Naoho Kanahele along with musical performers and cultural practitioners. Kumu Debbie Ryder said she welcomes halau from afar and near and headliner singer Ku'uipo Kumukahi along with the musical group He Mea Hou, led by Victor Chock.

    The event begins at 9 a.m. with Pule and Ho'okupu. Ku'uipo Kumukahi at 10 a.m. She is followed by:

    Hālau O Kaleo A Keahialapalapa with Kumu Hula Naoho Kanahele, Kanakaole, great granddaughter of Aunty Edith Kanakaole;

    Hālau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama with Kumu Hula Emery Acerat, whose ʻūniki is from the Late Ray Fonseca;

    Hālau Hula ‘O Leionalani with Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder whose ʻūniki is from the late Loea George Lankilakeikiahiali‘i Naope; 

    Ho‘omaika‘i Hula Studio with Kumu Hula Shona LamHo, an O‘ahu Hula sister of Debbie Ryder; 

    Hālau Auolaokalani with Kumu Hula Moses Kaho‘okele Crabbe.

    Cultural practitioner demonstrations include: Net Making with Uncle Chucky Leslie of Nāpō‘opo‘o;

    Poi pounding and demonstrating with Bobbie Pahia from Maui and Kawehi Ryder of Pāhala; 

    Medicinal Awa (Kava) with Todd Reilly. 

    There will also be food and vendor booths. The Saturday festival is followed by a free Kulia I Ka Nu‘u Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday at the same location, sponsored by Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society. It includes La‘au lapa‘au, health screening, food demonstrations, resource provider demonstrations mele and hula.

Ku‘uipo Kumukahi headlines the  cutlural fest at Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua grounds in Nā‘ālehu this Saturday.

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