Saturday, November 23, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 23, 2024

After a long wait over the years, a kupuna signs the document to receive a parcel of Hawaiian Home Lands on Saturday with
many more lots around the island promised. DHHL photo

NATIVE HAWAIIANS WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE 68 FARM LOTS on Saturday at Honomu north of Hilo and Maku'u in Puna. The event was laced with promises of offering additional lots in the near future. Kaʻū is one of the places with Hawaiian Home Lands but no awards are planned in near future due to lack of infrastructure.
    Saturday marked the largest agricultural lot offering by Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since the late-1980s. Homestead lots range in size from one to five acres. In Honomū, 16 one-acre subsistence agricultural lots were offered. In Makuʻu, 20 five-acre agricultural lots and 32 two-acre subsistence agricultural lots were offered.
    A DHHL statement says that nearly 200 beneficiaries and their 'ohana celebrated the occasion at Keaukaha Elementary School.
    "ʻOhana are built on the ʻāina and it is the department's commitment to keeping our families in Hawaiʻi

Generations gathered on Saturday to witness the transfer
of farm and subsistence-ag lots to Hawaiian families.
DHHL photo
and on the land," said DHHL Director Kali Watson. "It is DHHL's goal to offer diverse homesteading options and these agricultural lots serve as solutions to addressing the waitlist."
    Subsistence-ag lots are less than three acres in size and near existing infrastructure. This homestead model allows beneficiaries to live and grow food on their lots for home consumption or small-scale economic agricultural activity, says the DHHL statement.
    Beneficiaries who opt to grow produce and other crops commercially must create a farm plan, like a business plan, as part of their lease, and lessees must cultivate at least two-thirds of the land.
    With both lot types, beneficiaries have the option of constructing a single-family home or supplemental dwelling unit.
    "This momentous occasion marks an exciting milestone for DHHL beneficiaries, providing not only the opportunity to build homes but also to cultivate a future grounded in food sovereignty and self-sustainability," said Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke.
    In the near term, an additional 40 subsistence agricultural lots are slated for development in Honomū within the next two years. More than 1,600 lots are planned for various homesteads across Hawaiʻi Island including Laʻi ʻŌpua, Kaumana, Honokaʻa, Palamanui and Panaʻewa.
    Jeff Kekoa, President of Kaʻū Hawaiian Home Land Association, explained that when beneficiaries sign up for a DHHL agriculture award, they can specify which island. They can specify one district on that island, or islandwide. He said he signed up just to be awarded a lot in Kaʻū. However, there won't be any awards of ag in Kaʻū, Kekoa predicted. He said the ag lots do not have any infrastructure. The ag lots at Ka Lae and mauka Wai‘ōhinu do not have roads or water service. 
    He noted that the DHHL chair said last year during a commissioners' meeting in Hilo that he would rather spend elsewhere.

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Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball team started the season with a pre-season winning record on O'ahu this week.
Photo by Assistant Coach Precious Jara

KAʻŪ TROJAN GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM returned home victorious on Saturday, beating big schools, including Division I's McKinley High and also Kaimuki, but losing to the host team at Sacred Hearts Preseason Invitational Tournament on O'ahu.
    Under the guidance of Head Coach Troy Gacayan and Assistant Coaches Tyra Wong Yuen and Precious Jara, Trojan Girls
Victorious Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball team beat McKinley
 and Kaimuki on O'ahu at the Sacred Hearts Invitational
 Tournament. Photo from Coach Gacayan
team won its first game Thursday against Kaimuki 45-27. Trojans lost to the host team Sacred Hearts 24-43 on Friday night. Trojans beat McKinley 49-16 on Saturday afternoon.
    Gacayan noted that this is his first year coaching Trojan Girls Basketball after coaching Trojan Boys JV and Varsity for two seasons several years ago. "It is my simple way of giving back to the community," he said. "Thank you to all the parents, school administration, donors and residents for all your support in helping make this trip happen for these girls from the small country community of the District of Kaʻū." He said the team came home with a 2-1 record and "with a lot of opportunities to gain a lot of experience and lessons learned. Great job girls!"
    The Trojan Girls' first regular season game is Tuesday at Kea'au. It is followed by three home games, Monday, Dec. 2 hosting Honoka'a, Saturday, Dec. 7 hosting Konawaena and Monday, Dec. 9 hosting Kamehameha.
    Trojans go on the road Thursday, Dec. 12 to Waiakea and host Kealakehe at home Tuesday, Dec. 17. The team hits the road again on Saturday, Dec. 21 traveling to Kohala, and to Christian Liberty Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The play resumes in January.

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Color photograph of scientists installing experiment in downwind of a volcano
Scientists with USGS and GNS Science install coupons at DESD seismic station on Dec. 9, 2022.
Photo by Carol Stewart of Massey University
QUANTIFYING CORROSION DOWNWIND OF KILAUEA is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This week's article is by scientists from Aotearoa, New Zealand. The authors are Carol Stewart of Massey University, Zhengwei Li and Anna de Raadt of BRANZ Ltd., and Graham Leonard of GNS Science:
    In December 2022, a team of scientists from Aotearoa New Zealand teamed up with scientists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to carry out a small pilot study of atmospheric corrosion rates on the Island of Hawai'i. The purpose was to expand our knowledge base of how metal corrodes in different environments—specifically metal that is often used as building and roofing material.
    In New Zealand we have carried out studies in extreme coastal environments (exposed to high rates of marine aerosol deposition) and in geothermal environments (exposed to hydrogen sulfide and minor amounts of sulfur dioxide), but we do not have access to sites exposed to moderate to high concentrations of sulfur dioxide. This is of particular interest for future volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, such as an eruption in the Auckland Volcanic Field, which is overlain by the city of Auckland. Study findings will also have applicability to other parts of the world, including in Hawaii, downwind of volcanic eruptions.
    With permission from the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and landowners, we mounted specially prepared rectangular metal samples (150 by 100 mm; just under 6 by 4 inches), called coupons, of mild steel, copper, zinc, and hot-dip galvanized (HDG) zinc coating, at three locations downwind and one upwind of Kaluapele, Kīlauea's summit crater. Mild steel is the base material for many steel structures and its corrosion rate is fundamental to estimating the service life of such structures. Copper is widely used in power distribution systems and HDG is used to protect steel structures, claddings, and fastenings.
    A year later, the coupons were retrieved and returned to the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ)'s corrosion laboratory for analysis. Corrosion products were removed and then the cleaned coupons weighed to determine their mass losses over the year they were exposed. These results were used to calculate first-year corrosion rates. These can be used to assess the resistance of these materials to atmospheric corrosion under the influence of volcanic emissions. We also classified the corrosivity of each site according to the accepted international classification scheme (ISO 9223).
Color photograph of metal rectangles with varying amounts of corrosion
Progression of corrosion after approximately six months' deployment time. Coupons of copper (on left), mild steel (center) and zinc (right) on 21 June 2023. Photo by Carol Stewart of Massey University

.   Our results indicate that all sites are classified as 'Medium' over the study period. This is similar to inland coastal regions of New Zealand with moderate exposure to wind-driven marine aerosol and geothermal regions not immediately adjacent to geothermal features such as hot springs and fumaroles. We note that our study period coincided with a period of mostly low SO2 emissions from Kīlauea and thus we likely underestimate corrosivity at other times with higher emissions.
    We were particularly interested in the relatively high corrosion rates of copper and zinc at Site 1, which was the closest to Kīlauea's summit vent but upwind relative to the prevailing trade wind field. Our previous work in the Rotorua geothermal field has suggested that copper, in particular, is highly susceptible to relatively low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Potential explanations include the presence of hydrogen sulfide at Site 1, and the influence of other environmental factors such as the higher rainfall at this site.
    We thank HVO and the landowners who hosted the corrosion test rigs as well as everyone who has been supportive of and interested in this study. We will continue to share new findings and insights, and we welcome expressions of interest from any parties interested in progressing this work. This could include areas such as understanding the variability of atmospheric corrosivity across the island of Hawai'i, assessing corrosivity rates during heightened activity from Kīlauea, and assessing the durability of materials that are commonly used for buildings and construction on the island.

Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY. Over the week ending on Thursday, earthquake rates beneath Kīlauea summit and upper-to-middle East Rift Zone were about double that of the previous week. About 10 earthquakes were located beneath the summit, and about 70 were located in the upper-to-middle East Rift Zone. Ground deformation rates continue to show slow inflation at the summit and near the September 15-20 middle East Rift Zone eruption site. Future intrusive episodes and eruptions could occur with continued magma supply.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the week ending Thursday: a M1.7 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) ENE of Honaunau-Napoopoo at 9 km (6 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 9:26 p.m. HST, a M4.1 earthquake 19 km (11 mi) SE of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on Nov. 14 at 12:42 p.m. HST, and a M3.2 earthquake 0 km (0 mi) N of Volcano at 28 km (17 mi) depth on Nov. 14 at 6:09 a.m. HST.
The HVO report says the team continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.

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Friday, November 22, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 22, 2024

May be an image of 2 people and text
Dr. Kimo Alameda, who worked in the late Mayor Billy Kenoi's administration, and has drawn numerous comparisons of their styles of interacting with people, celebrated Keno'i's birthday on Tuesday. Alameda also has announced numerous members to his cabinet as he prepares to take office Dec. 2.  Photo from Mayor-elect Kimo Alameda

KEY CABINET MEMBERS FOR MAYOR-ELECT KIMO ALAMEDA are announced, ahead of the new Mayor and his staff members taking their posts at noon on Monday, Dec. 2. “I could not be more proud of
Jeffrey Darrow
 our team and those who have stepped forward to serve,” Alameda said. “I am confident that each of these individuals will bring a tremendous work ethic to their departments and roles, will lead with aloha, and will work in partnership with our communities to help uplift Hawai‘i Island.” 
     Selected directors and deputy directors require County Council confirmation. Here are their descriptions from Alameda:   
    Planning Director Jeffrey Darrow is an accomplished administrator and planner who has held multiple leadership positions within the County’s Planning Department, where he currently serves as Deputy Director. During his 26-year career with the department, he has also served as Planning Program Manager, Planner, and Zoning Inspector.
Michelle Ahn
    Planning Deputy Director Michelle Ahn is an attorney who has served the Planning Department as a Deputy Corporation Counsel since 2023. In this role, she has represented the department in hearings before the state Land Use Commission, prosecuted code enforcement actions, and provided legal training for department staff. She lives in Kona and has previously practiced law in the states of California and Hawai‘i.
Clayton Honma
    Parks & Recreation Director Clayton Honma returns to the post 
 he held from 2012-2016. He was Deputy Director from 2009-2012. Honma is currently a Program Planner for the County’s Office of Aging where he oversees all contracts for services. Honma is a youth recreation advocate and leader in the community, and has served as Co-Founder and Coach for Flygirlz Basketball Organization, Assistant Coach for the Waiakea High School Girls Junior Varsity Basketball Team, and Coordinator for the Jimmy Yagi Basketball Camp.
   
Melissa Samura
Parks & Recreation Deputy Director Melissa Samura
is an active community leader and youth coach with more than 20 years of experience in educational counseling, recreation management, customer service, and program coordination. She lives in Waimea and previously worked for the department as a Recreation Director where she managed facility use and recreational programs, coordinated events, and designed community programs across the County.
    Finance Director Diane Nakagawa has served as Finance Director since January
Dianne Nakagawa
2024 after serving as the Deputy Finance Director since 2022 and Purchasing Agent since 2019. Prior to joining the County, she spent 16 years at the City of Phoenix, primarily specializing in economic development and budget administration. Born and raised in Kona, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs. Nakagawa served as Deputy Director of Economic Development for the City of Phoenix prior to returning home.
Malia Kekai
    Finance Deputy Director Malia Kekai is an attorney who has served as the County’s Public Works Deputy Director since 2022. At Public Works, she assists with the administration of department divisions and staff, enforcement of the construction code, and supervision of County buildings. Kekai previously served as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the County where she provided legal advice to departments, defended the County in litigation, and reviewed legal documents, including financial instruments.     
    Alameda’s executive assistants do not require Council confirmation. Here are his descriptions of their backgrounds and areas of responsibility: 
Tom Callis
     Communications Director Tom Callis brings about 17 years of experience in journalism and public relations to the Mayor’s Office. From 2012-2019, he covered County government, the Hawai'i Legislature, and major local events as a reporter for Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald. He later worked as a Communications Specialist for the County and an Exhibit and Digital Media Education Specialist for the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. Callis has served on the board of the Big Island Press Club and Taishoji Soto Mission.     
Tracey Niimi
    Social Media and Electronic Communications Executive Assistant Tracey Niimi is an award-winning photographer and videographer. He is Co-Founder of Abstract Collab, and operates TN Photography/Tracey Niimi & Co. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and has served on the boards of Friends of the Big Island Drug Court and East Hawai‘i Kiwanis.
Erin Samura
    Health, Equity & Human Services Executive Assistant Erin Samura is a Clinical Pharmacist for Hawai‘i Island Community Health Center and volunteer for the Hawai‘i Island Fentanyl Task Force. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Colorado.
Clifford Victorine
    Public Safety, Complaints, and Events Executive Assistant Clifford Victorine III has served as a Claims Investigator/Adjustor for the County’s Office of the Corporation Counsel since 2013. He is a former County police officer, security officer, and Army Reservist.
    
Micah Alameda
Boards & Commissions, Volunteers & Inter-Faith Relations Executive Assistant Micah Alameda
is a local consultant who focuses on public and government relations and social sector programs. He previously served as a nonprofit executive and legislative aide at the State and County levels. He recently served as a Board Member with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, which he was appointed to by Gov. David Ige in 2018 and confirmed by the Hawaiʻi State Senate.
Malia Louis
    Sister City Coordinator, and West Hawai'i and Legislative Affairs Executive 
Assistant Malia Louis of Kailua-Kona brings more than 25 years of experience in leadership, operations, and community engagement, and is committed to advancing the well-being of the Hawaiian community and the people of Hawai‘i. From 2014-2024, she was the Hawaiʻi Stations Operations Manager for Mokulele Airlines, where she spearheaded the launch of five new stations.
Amy Toafili
    West Hawaiʻi Administrative Support Executive Assistant Amy Toafili of Kona is an experienced office and administrative manager. She is currently the Office Manager for JC Tax Solutions and previously worked for Hawaiʻi CDL & Safety Programs, and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance. Toafili is a graduate of Konawaena High School.
Pualililehua
 Carriaga
   Executive Secretary to the Mayor Pualililehua Carriaga is currently the Mohala Family Center Director for the Big Island Substance Abuse Council. She previously was an administrative assistant for the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force and Executive Assistant for Bay Clinic.
Emarie
Carvalho
    Executive Secretary to the Managing Director Emarie Carvalho is a Paralegal at The Law Offices of Robert Marx focusing on civil litigation. She started at the County’s Office of the Corporation Counsel in 2007 as a Legal Clerk and worked her way up to her current position as Division Head of the Clerical Staff: Supervising Legal Technician. She has 17 years of dedicated County Service.
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INAUGURATION OF THE MAYOR, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY AND THE NINE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS will be conducted on Monday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at Kaleiopapa Convention Center on the grounds of Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa in Keauhou.
Michelle Galimba
    Incoming Mayor is Dr. Kimo Alameda. Prosecuting Attorney is Kelden Waltjen. Kaʻū's County Council member is Michelle Galimba. 
    The public is invited and encouraged to attend the occasion, which honors those who have been elected and the people of Hawa'i Island who are the foundation of its County government. 
    For those unable to attend, the inaugural ceremony will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/live/Uq7WuBFP8yo.

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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 21, 2024

Auction fundraiser to establish the first Hawaiian immersion school in Ka'u begins Friday at 8 a.m. and runs through Monday at 8 p.m. See nakmfoundation.com. It was preceded by a generous donation from the family of the late Uncle Willie Meinecke, whose roots are deep in the community. Photo from Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū
THE HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCHOOL FUNDRAISING AUCTION goes live at 8 a.m. on Friday and continues until 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25. See nakmfoundation.com.
    Ahead of the event, reports organizer Raylene Auli'i Fujikawa Moses, a generous donation has arrived for development of the school called Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū. The gift comes from descendants of the late Kaʻū historian and Waiʻōhinu resident Uncle Willie Meinecke who lived from 1888 to 1995. His grandnephews are brothers Fred Lalani Meinecke and Kaipo Kurt Meinecke who "have stepped forth to join in the growing effort to support the revitalization of the Hawaiian language in Ka'u," She said the brothers live in O'ahu but "have long treasured their Kaʻū roots."
    The Meinecke presence in Kaʻū dates back to their great-grandfather, Carl Conrad Wilhelm Hermann (1845-1915) from Hannover, Germany and a Civil War Union veteran. He settled in Kaʻū in 1877 and was appointed by King David Kalākaua to serve as Kaʻūʻs first Supervisor of Education during the late 1800ʻs.
  Kalani and Kaipo Meinecke also trace their Kaʻū roots to great-grandmother Kamaka Kamanuwai (1854-1922)of Kamāʻoa and Waiʻōhinu who was a prominent community presence in Kaʻū in her time, (shown in lower photo).

  Moses pointed out that "Throughout Hawaiʻiʻs prehistory, Kaʻū was a uniqueand determinant location. And due to its isolation, Kaʻū was the last Hawaiian district to be Christianized, post-1840. Today, with Indigenous peoples throughout the U.S. and Canada, a growing movement of recovery of heritage and  
language is manifesting in the establishment of language immersion programs for pre-schoolers as well as for youth and adult learners. 
   "While the initial intent is to revitalize endangered indigenous languages, language specialists
also endorse the cognitive benefits of bilingual education such as an increased aptitude for learning as well as long-lasting cognitive benefits in later life," said Moses. She said that it is with these many positive outcomes that the committed organizers of Ke Kula Nā ʻĀʻaliʻi Kū Makani O Kaʻū hope toward a successful drive to ensure the launching of Kaʻūʻs first Hawaiian language immersion program. Please consider joining the Meinecke brothers and other generous donors toward assuring the success of this
educational opportunity for Kaʻūʻs future! Mahalo Nui!"

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Trojan Girls Win First Game of Preseason
Trojan Girls Basketball team flew away today to O'ahu to participate in the Sacred Hearts Academy 
Invitational Tournament for high school teams from around the state. Coach Troy Gacayan announced:
"Great job girls! First game as a team." Trojans beat Kaimuki 45-27 and plays Sacred Hearts on Friday. Photo from Trojans Girls Basketball

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AT SAINT JUDES EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW this Saturday, church members will provide a Thanksgiving dinner for 150 homeless people. On Wednesdays, St. Judes offers free showers (averaging 35 showers) and a bag lunch. Each Saturday the shower totals average 45-50 and the church 
also prepares a meal for up to 125 people.
    The church offers a public access computer lab on Saturdays. The rest of the week the church is home to Senior meals, AA, a children’s choir, hula and more. The location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle. Call (808) 939-7000. See http://www.stjudeshawaii.org/about-us.html.

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Kai the Honu Who Made a New Friend

KAI, THE HONU WHO MADE A NEW FRIEND: Esther Szegedy will sign copies of the new children's book that she illustrated, Kai, The Honu Who Made a New Friend. Ths signing will be Saturday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Written by Mora Ebie, the book highlights the importance of kindness and friendship. Book signing will be held at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. 
    Free; park entrance fees apply.
    The author also published Kai The Honu Who Didn't Know He Was Brave with artist Mike Tackett.
    For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org, or contact the VAC Gallery at (808) 967-7565. Volcano Art Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created in 1974 whose mission is to promote, develop and perpetuate the artistic, cultural and environmental heritage of Hawaiʻi's people through arts and education. Visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 20, 2024



THE 25TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY starts Friday, Nov. 29. Sponsored by Volcano Art Center at its gallery in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and on its Niaualani campus in Volcano Village, it features the Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit through Dec. 31, "This year's Christmas in the Country promises an abundance of creativity to welcome the holiday season," says the statement from VAC.
    The Friday after Thanksgiving, the merry scene of art and aloha will come to the 1877 Volcano Art
Center historic building. In addition to artwork showcased year-round, will be holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments and decorations made by Hawai'i Island artists.
    The concurrent Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional. This year's theme Sunrise To Sunset reflects Volcano Art Center's 50 year commitment "to creativity in our community! Those looking for truly original wreaths as well as one-of- a-kind, handmade gift items will not be disappointed by the selection created by the local artistic community," says the VAC statement.
    Holiday festivities this year spill beyond the park into Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village and to the Annual Volcano Village Artists Hui Tour on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1. See volcanovillageartistshui.com.            Community tree lighting from 5:30 p.m. -7 p.m. will be at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus on Friday, Nov. 29.

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KAʻŪ HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES EVENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, A NEW
WEBSITE, and other programs as well as its leadership team. It was founded in 2006 as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, dedicated to support Kaʻū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic. Over the years, the Foundation has raised money to improve the facility with medical equipment and volunteer work.
    The Foundation provides college/career enhancement scholarships for local area residents and helps to improve the lives of hospital staff and in-patient residents. 
     The Board of Directors are: President Tim DeLozier, Vice-President Wayne Kawachi, Secretary/Interim Treasurer Jean Kailiawa, and board members Patrick Getchius, Mark Peters, Myra  Sumida, Lori Obra, Anthony Adams, Ron Ebert and John Desfor.
    Erika Polido, Kaʻū Hospital Asst. Administrator in-training serves as a Kaʻū Hospital liaison for the Foundation.
    Among the upcoming events are providing turkeys for the hospital Thanksgiving turkey raffle and hosting a bento luncheon for hospital staff on Dec. 13 in celebration of the Kaʻū Hospital Employee Appreciation Week.
    The Hospital Charitable Foundation also announces scholarships for 2024:

Jane Ancheta, mother of four, pursues a degree in
nursing with a scholarship from Kaʻū Hospital
Charitable Foundation.
    Jane Ancheta received her scholarship in July. The Foundation describes her: "Jane is a proud mother of four and works at Kaʻū Hospital as a nurse's aide. She is attending Hawai'i Community College pursuing her degree in Nursing. Her passion for nursing has been ignited by her first-hand experiences as a nurse's aid contributing to patients' well-being."
    Ancheta states: "I'm determined to use my education to inspire others, proving that it's never too late and age should never hold you back from achieving your goals." She feels that earning her nursing degree represents a profound commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in her community."  
   Angelica Felipe received her scholarship in November. "Angelica is a sophomore at the University of Hawai'i Hilo. She is studying kinesiology and exercise science. Her career goals are to become a physical therapist. Angelica has volunteered at Hilo Life Care Center and was able to assist and shadow nurses and physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries. She believes that community service is a way to give back to others and make a difference in her community," says the Foundation statement.

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FUNDING FOR LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS AND FORESTERS is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has asked this publication to spread the word. The support is for Hawai'i and the rest of the Pacific Islands Area and applications for fiscal year 2025 assistance programs have a deadline of Jan. 31. The funding is for technical and financial assistance through NRCS' Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Agricultural Management Assistance program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
    While NRCS accepts applications year-round, applications submitted after the program ranking will automatically be considered during future funding cycles. Applications and more information are available at local USDA Service Centers and online at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/get-started-with-nrcs.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Agricultural Conservation Easement Programs is one of the USDA's National Resource Conservation Service inititives. \
See www.nrcs.usda.gov.

    Funding is available from both the Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act, which provides additional resources to help producers expand conservation efforts that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase storage of carbon in their soil and trees. In many cases, applications for eligible practices meeting or exceeding state-determined minimum ranking thresholds will automatically be considered for priority funding when applying for EQIP and CSP because of additional flexibilities.

Conservation Innovation Grants
Conservation Innovation Grants are available for Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands Area. See www.nrcs.usda.gov.
    Act Now: In 2025, NRCS-Pacific Islands Area will utilize Act Now minimum ranking thresholds to expedite contract obligation. States determine their respective Act Now minimum ranking thresholds, fund pools and eligible practices. The process enables states to pre-approve a ranked application in a ranking pool designated for Act Now when an application meets or exceeds a state's pre-determined minimum threshold ranking score. The state minimum thresholds for ACT Now will be published on the NRCS PIA website soon.
    Producers do not need to apply separately to Act Now and will be considered for priority funding when applying to an eligible practice through EQIP and CSP. Applications are processed in the order they are received, and applications that rank at or above the state-established threshold ranking score will be preapproved, as long as funds are available. When the available Act Now funding limit has been reached, remaining applications may be considered in other relevant ranking pools or rolled over to the next funding cycle.
    Once a producer's application is pre-approved, they must still meet eligibility requirements including establishing a farm tract number with USDA's Farm Service Agency if they have not previously utilized USDA programs. After establishing eligibility, producers must complete the planning process and receive notice of approval from NRCS prior to beginning work. Projects started before final contract approval are ineligible for cost-share assistance unless the producer has been granted an early start waiver.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Agricultural Management Assistance is available in Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands Area. See www.nrcs.usda.gov.

    Agricultural Management Assistance Program: NRCS helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices. Producers eligible for AMA can apply for financial and technical assistance to voluntarily address resource issues such as water management, water quality and erosion control by 
incorporating conservation into their farming operations.
    Agricultural Conservation Easement Program: NRCS can offer to purchase an easement on land with two options – as an Agricultural Land Easement or a Wetland Reserve Easement. Agricultural Land Easements, or ACEP-ALE, offer easement opportunities for agricultural lands that are under threat of conversion to non-agricultural uses, protects cultural resources, and preserves unique and productive soils. To be considered for ACEP-ALE, agricultural operations must work with an approved land stewardship partner in order to apply. Approved land stewardship partners include the Hawaiian Island Land Trust and Moku O Keawe Land Conservancy.
    Wetland Reserve Easements, or ACEP-WRE, help private landowners protect, restore and enhance farmed or converted wetlands which have been previously degraded due to agricultural uses. NRCS administers ACEP-WRE through purchase agreements with eligible landowners in a similar application process as other NRCS programs and prioritizes applications based on the easement's potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.
   

Taro patch in front, rows of banana trees, and mountain in the background.
Conservation Stewardship Programs  are available in Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands Area. See www.nrcs.usda.gov.
.      Conservation Stewardship Program: NRCS offers rewards to producers for maintaining high stewardship standards and incentivizes them to take their efforts even further. The CSP program is a five-year program that requires producers to meet a minimum number of resource concerns while improving the resource concerns over the course of the contract. CSP offers the same conservation practices as EQIP but pays producers annually for both maintaining their existing benchmark conservation and implementing new activities.
   Environmental Quality Incentives Program: NRCS provides agricultural producers with one-on-one help and financial assistance to plan and implement conservation practices to address a variety of issues such as water quality degradation, soil erosion, soil quality degradation and inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife.
Special initiatives include: National Water Quality Initiative – open to producers and land operators in Hilo and Kawaihae watersheds wishing to address water quality concerns in nationally-identified impaired watersheds.
    Regional Conservation Partnership Program: A partner-driven approach to conservation. NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. On this island management projects include:
Caloosahatchee River Tributary
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention are available in Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands Area.  See www.nrcs.usda.gov.

Ainapreneur Rural Farmer Conservation Collective Biochar Initiative - Lead partner Changemakers Hawaiʻi works with producers on the Big Island to increase the adoption and application of biochar and other soil health related conservation practices. Interested participants should contact their local NRCS Service Center or Changemakers Hawaiʻi.
    Conservation Incentive Contracts: Conservation Incentive Contracts, an option available through EQIP, offer producers financial assistance to adopt conservation management practices on working landscapes. Producers may use incentive contracts as a "stepping stone" for correcting resource issues on specific land units through EQIP to achieving sustainable stewardship on their entire operation. Conservation Incentive Contracts are available nationwide and help producers address priority resource concerns, like sequestering carbon and improving water quality in high-priority areas.

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AT SAINT JUDES EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW this Saturday, church members will provide a Thanksgiving dinner for 150 homeless people. On Wednesdays, St. Judes offers free showers (averaging 35 showers) and a bag lunch. Each Saturday the shower totals average 45-50 and the church also prepares a meal for up to 125 people. 
     The church offers a public access computer lab on Saturdays. The rest of the week the church is home to Senior meals, AA, a children’s choir, hula and more. The location is 92-8606 Paradise Circle. Call (808) 939-7000. See http://www.stjudeshawaii.org/about-us.html.