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Sunday, October 06, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 6, 2024

Bark Ranger Sting and Human Ranger Dean Gallagher will lead a session with dog ranger enthusiasts with and without
their dogs next Saturday at Kahuku at 10 a.m. NPS photo
BARK RANGER STING AND HIS HUMAN DEAN Gallagher will come to the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park next Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon for a demonstration for the public and their canines. 
Dogs are allowed on leash in limited places
at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
    An announcement from HVNP says, "It's paw-ficial: the wildly pupular BARK RANGER Program....You and your furry besty can take the BARK Ranger pledge in Kaʻū: Bag your waste and remove it: Always on a leash; Respect wildlife: and Know where to go.
      "For our indogural event in Kahuku, you can print your online certificate and bring it with you, or fetch one at Kahuku. Sniff out the new Bark Ranger merch (Kahuku Bark Ranger banadana, Bark Ranger badge) at the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store if you really want to be a top dog."
     The event is free at Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Kahuku entrance is located in Kaʻū near the 70.5 mile marker ma uka off Highway 11.
5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
     Dogs and other pets are not allowed in many areas of the park for safety reasons, and for the protection of threatened and endangered native species. Bark Rangers and their humans know where they can go (always on a leash), including Mauna Loa Road and most paved parking areas and surrounding curbs, and some areas in Kahuku. 
     "Don’t end up in the dog house," says a park statement. "Visit the website for a complete list of pawsibilites." Check the Superintendent’s Compendium for exemptions regarding authorized service animals. All pets and service animals in the park must be leashed at all times.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.

KAʻŪ RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE can still sign up. Mail-in ballots are expected to arrive to voters' postal addresses by Oct. 18, ahead of the Nov. 5 General Election and must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
    Those who haven't registered may register online at any time or in-person at a voter service center. See https://www.elections.hawaiicounty.gov/voter-registration. For an Absentee Ballot, deadline to request a ballot be sent to an alternate address is Oct. 29.
    Some winners have already been determined. County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen was reelected in the Primary for a four-year term. County Council member Michelle Galimba was reelected in the Primary for a two-year term. Kai Kahele won the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee seat for Hawai'i
Island in the Primary for a four-year term.
    General Election ballots for Kaʻū voters will show the following candidates:
    For Mayor, incumbent Mitch Roth is challenged by Kimo Alameda for the four-year term.
    For state Senate, incumbent Dru Kanuha is challenged by Republican Kurt Sullivan for the four-year term.
    For state House of Representatives, Kaʻū voters can choose between incumbent Democrat Jeanne Kapela, Republican Ashley Oyama and Libertarian Frederick Fogel.
    For Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees at large, incumbent Keli'i Akina is challenged by Lei Ahu Isa.
    For U.S. Senator representing Hawai'i, Democrat Mazie Hirono faces Republican Bob McDermott, Green Party's Emma Pohlman and We The People Party Shelby Pikachu Billionaire.
    For U.S. House representing rural Hawai'i, incumbent Jill Tokuda faces Republic Steve Bond, Libertarian Arron Toman and Nonpartisan Randall Kelly Meyer.
    For U.S. President, current Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, faces former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and other candidates for the four-year term.
    For U.S. Vice-President, Tim Waltz, a Democrat, faces JD Vance, a Republican and other candidates.
    The other Parties on the ballot for U.S. President and VP are Green Party with Jill Stein for President and Rudolph Ware for VP, Libertarian with Chase Oliver for President and Mike ter Maztt for VP, Party for Socialism and Liberation with Claudia De La Cruz for President and Karina Garcia for VP, and Solidarity Party with Peter Sonski for President and Lauren Onak for VP.
    Two State of Hawai'i Constitutional Amendments are on the ballot. One, which seeks to protect same-sex marriage, asks: “Shall the state constitution be amended to repeal the legislature’s authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?” A second proposed constitutional amendment would make the selection process of district court judges the same as other judges.
    Three Hawai'i County Charter Amendments are on the ballot. One asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to provide that any vacancy on the County Council that occurs or exists after a person was duly elected to fill that seat for the upcoming Council term shall be filled by that duly elected successor for the remainder of the unexpired term?" The second asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to require the Mayor to appoint department heads within 30 days of the start of each mayoral term and within 60 days for any vacancy in office that occurs during the mayoral term?" The third asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to increase the term length for members of the Cost of Government Commission from 11 to 22 months and extend the deadline for the Commission to submit its report from 11 months after appointment to 20 months after appointment?"

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.