Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, June 11, 2016

A lava flow on Kilauea's East Rift Zone continues to advance southeast toward the ocean
 and was 2.1 miles long yesterday. Photo from USGS/HVO

A LAVA FLOW IS HEADING toward the ocean once again. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Tim Orr told Tom Callis, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, that if a flow from Pu`u `O`o continues its southeasterly path, “It likely will reach the ocean eventually.” Orr said lava from the flow that began on May 24 is moving toward Puna’s Royal Gardens Subdivision, which is already covered in lava from the decades-long, continuing eruption.

The June 27 lava flow remains inactive, as well as a recent flow that was
heading northeast. Shown in red is the active flow moving toward
the ocean. Map from USGS/HVO

      Lava has stalled in the June 27 flow that threatened Pahoa. Another recent flow that was heading northwest is also inactive, HVO reported.

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com and hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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NEW FINDINGS SHOW PROMISING trends in Hawai`i student health behaviors. Hawai`i Department of Health, Department of Education and University of Hawai`i released high school data from the 2015 Hawai`i Youth Risk Behavior Survey for the state and each of the four counties. The YRBS is a bi-annual voluntary survey that regularly monitors the health risk behaviors of public, non-charter school students statewide. Over 12,000 Hawai`i students in grades six through 12 participated in the 2015 survey.
      Topics covered in the survey include unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. The survey also monitors the percentages of students affected by obesity and asthma.
      The 2015 YRBS results show trends toward less-risky behaviors in many important areas and highlight needed improvements in others.
      Physical fighting continues to decline, with 15 percent of high school students reporting that they were in a fight at least once during the 12 months before the survey. Bullying has stayed relatively steady, with one in five high school students reporting that they were bullied on school property during the same time period.

Kathryn Matayoshi

      Consistent with objectives outlined in the state’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan, many YRBS indicators suggest an increase in youth behaviors that support healthy lifestyles. Only 13 percent of high school students report drinking at least one can, bottle or glass of soda at least once per day, compared to 23 percent in 2007. The survey does not cover drinking other types of beverages with added sugar such as sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks (other than 100 percent fruit juice) or sweetened tea and coffee. The proportion of high school students meeting physical activity recommendations remains steady, with 20 percent achieving the national recommendation of at least 60 minutes per day on each of the seven days before the survey. However, sedentary time continues to increase, with two in five high school students spending three hours or more per day playing video games or using a computer for non-school purposes.
      Alcohol use has declined among Hawai`i’s youth, with one in four high school students reporting that they drank alcohol within the 30 days before the survey. Smoking continues a steady declines; 90 percent of Hawai`i’s high school students do not smoke cigarettes. However, many have tried using electronic smoking devices, with one in four reporting that they currently use electronic smoking devices.
      One area that remains a concern is adolescent mental health. In 2015, 29.5 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row at least once in their lifetime. Rates of attempted suicide over the past 12 months has steadily decreased since 1993, but remain unacceptably high at 11 percent.
      “The results reflect our recent initiatives to raise the bar at all levels in education,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “The downward trend of students engaging in risky behaviors and an increase in healthy choices is testament to the work done by our schools and the commitment of our students to strive higher.”
      For a comparison of Hawai`i’s data to national rates, see http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Default.aspx.
      For more information on the Hawai`i YRBS, see http://apps.hidoe.k12.hi.us/research/Pages/YRBS.aspx.
      The full survey report, including more detailed data reports by county, gender, grade and race/ethnicity, and the survey questionnaires are available at the www.hawaiihealthmatters.org.

Sen. Mazie Hirono joined Filipino WWII veterans, other senators
and advocates of a program to reunite the vets with family
members. Photo from Office of Sen. Hirono

A LONG-AWAITED PROGRAM to reunite aging Filipino World War II veterans with their children and families is being implemented. Under the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program, Filipino veterans whose service has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense, or their surviving spouses, may apply to bring children and certain other family members to the United States.

      “Today is a victory for the thousands of Filipino World War II veterans and their families who will finally be able to be reunited in the United States,” Sen. Mazie Hirono said. “This announcement is only possible because of the hard work of so many, and we are only beginning our work to reunite these families. I will continue to plan outreach events and coordinate with USCIS and advocates to ensure that as many veterans and families take advantage of this program as possible.”
      Filipino World War II veteran Rudy Panaglima shared his family’s experience of waiting 20 years to be reunited with his sons and his hope that they will finally be able to come to the United States under the FWVP program.
      Filipino veterans were granted citizenship in recognition of their service to the United States during World War II. Many of their children, however, were not. Due to backlogs in the U.S. immigration system, it can take more than 20 years for immigration applications to be reviewed. Under the FWVP program, families, some of whom have been waiting decades, can finally be together in the United States while their applications are processed.

      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Bioblitz participants inventory park biodiversity,
including endemic koa bug juveniles.
NPS Photo by Sierra McDaniel

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the free Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Cultural Festival & BioBlitz, Saturday, Aug. 27.

      This year’s festival honors the park’s centennial anniversary and connects visitors and the community to the culture, biology and geology of the park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
      Themed E Ho`omau (to perpetuate; to continue in a way that causes good to be long-lasting), the 36th annual cultural festival invites people of all ages to engage in authentic Hawaiian cultural practices and learn how native Hawaiians lived closely to the land as its stewards. Enjoy hula and music, watch skilled practitioners demonstrate their art, and try Hawaiian crafts. Performers include Halau o Akaunu with Manaiakalani Kalua, Kenneth Makuakane, Kai Ho`‘opi`i and Diana Aki, plus many more.
      This year’s festival will again include a BioBlitz, a hands-on opportunity for families and individuals to observe and document the biodiversity that thrives in the lava flows and native rainforests of Kilauea volcano. In mid-July, participants will be able to sign up for any of the BioBlitz field inventories, which include Hiding in Plain Sight: the Insects and Spiders of the Park, a birding excursion called Feathers in the Forest, and Na Mea o Kanu o Ka Hula (The Plants of Hula), on the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park website. The field inventories are led by experts at the forefront of conservation, science and traditional Hawaiian culture.
      The BioBlitz runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the cultural festival is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entrance and all events are free.

Participants explore the Realms and Divisions of Kahuku
tomorrow. Photo from NPS

      2016 is the 100th anniversary for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. To find out what’s happening throughout 2016, see nps.gov/havo. It’s also the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and to learn about centennial events at other national parks, see FindYourPark.com.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

HIKERS ON PU`U KAHUKU TRAIL explore realms and divisions of the traditional Hawaiian classification system tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Kahuku Unit Of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL VOLCANO Pottery Sale continues today until 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, June 10, 2016

University of Hawai`i geology student Trista McKenzie works with a Hawai`i soil sample in her monitoring
of radiation levels. Photos from University of Hawai`i

CONTINUED MONITORING OF AIR, WATER AND SOIL for impacts from the March 11, 2011 nuclear power plant disaster following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan show a level of safety, according to a recent report from University of Hawai`i, published in Nuclear News and on the University of Hawai`i website for news.

Trista McKenzie gathers a soil
sample for testing.

     On Hawai`i Island and O`ahu, geology students Hannah Azouz and Trista McKenzie assessed the extent to which soils and locally purchased fish have been impacted by radioactivity from this event.

Tests showed that Hawai`i fish have
low levels of radiation.

      All fish tested were significantly below intervention limits, and the highest cesium concentration in examined species was in ahi tuna. “These data are informative to the community, and they reassure me about the safety of the food we consume,” Azouz said. “The activities of the radionuclides were gratefully low. A person consuming the annual average amount of fish would receive the same dose of radioactivity as if they consumed one banana.”
      For soils, McKenzie found cesium inventories were not high compared to those found in forest soils found near Fukushima Power Plant, where levels were nearly 200 times higher.
      Their mentor Henrietta Dulai told Max Dible, of West Hawai`i Today, that “the conclusion is pretty much that all is safe. Tests are still ongoing, but we do not expect any significant levels at all.”
      See westhawaiitoday.com.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

King Kamehameha I
Image from Wikipedia

KAMEHAMEHA DAY IS TOMORROW. State and county government offices are closed today in observance of the state holiday.
      Established by royal decree on Dec. 22, 1871 by King Kamehameha V as a national holiday, Kamehameha Day honors the memory of Kamehameha, the king’s great grandfather, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawai`i’s first king.
      The day was first observed on June 11, 1872 and was one of the first holidays proclaimed by the state Legislature after Hawai`i became a U.S. state in 1959.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

EB-5 PROJECTS, through which foreign investors obtain Green Cards to live in the U.S., with the possibility of eventual citizenship, are coming to the Big Island in a big way. According to a story by Duane Shimogawa published by Pacific Business News this morning, a series of developments called the Villages of Aina Lea, to be built on more than 1,000 acres on the Kohala Coast, is funded through Chinese investors. It is an EB-5 project under Golden Pacific Ventures regional center, approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, PBN reports.
      According to PBN, Aina Lea, Inc. representatives “said during the next eight to 10 years it expects to work with luxury home builders to build and sell over $3 billion of homes. The Villages of Aina Lea is zoned for 1,945 luxury homes, 384 affordable townhomes, a golf course, walking trails and parks, as well as medical and commercial centers.”

      One $51 million project planned for the land is a 48-unit luxury condominium-hotel to be managed by a Hong Kong company called Mission Hills, which oversees hotels, condominiums, residential houses and golf courses worldwide.
      PBN reports that “Byron Burley, vice president of development and strategic sales for Juwai.com, an international real estate website for Chinese buyers” said, “Chinese investors will continue to invest in Hawai`i properties. ‘I think you’ve only seen a trickle of what will be coming,’ he said.”

      See bizjournals.com/pacific.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

BAY CLINIC’S TOBACCO CESSATION Program received $225,000 from Hawai`i Community Foundation’s Hawai`i Tobacco and Control Trust Fund.
      “The program is a great support system for people who want to start living a smoke-free lifestyle,” Bay Clinic CEO Harold Wallace said.
      Participants get comprehensive support through individual and group counseling sessions, pharmacotherapy options and other services to help them succeed.

      Bay Clinic urges its patients to discuss the program with their health care provider and those who are not patients to ask their provider for a referral.
      For more information, call coordinator Mealani Rahmer at 313-2765.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

BEGINNING ON JULY 1, all vessel registration transfers in the state of Hawai`i will require a notarized bill of sale to be presented to registering agency the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. 

      Presently, DOBOR needs to match a vessel owner’s signature on record with the signature on a bill of sale in order to approve a vessel registration transfer. This method can be inaccurate since an individual’s official signature may change over time. It also puts a burden on the buyer if DOBOR staff cannot authenticate a signature on a bill of sale. If that should happen, the transfer request would be denied, and the buyer would have to go through the process of securing a notarized bill of sale.

Hawai`i boating administrator Ed Underwood
Photo from DLNR

      Often, the seller of a vessel will have changed residence or may have left the state and cannot be contacted, causing a lengthy delay in the transfer process.

      “This new requirement will help DLNR provide better customer service to boaters. It helps us promise for the vast majority of our customers that transfers won’t be declined or delayed,” DLNR Director Suzanne Case said.
      On average, between 2,200 and 2,600 transactions per year are registered annually in the state. Notarized bills of sale will not only reduce work for the vessel owners and DOBOR, but also allow for more secure vessel registration transfers.
      State boating administrator Ed Underwood said, “We are also concerned about preventing vessel theft through fraudulent bills of sale. It is rare for DOBOR to encounter forged signatures, but it has happened several times over the last few years.”
      A standardized bill of sale form is already available that includes a section for a notary’s signature. That form can be accessed at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/forms/.
      Even if a bill of sale is not executed using the official DOBOR form, it will still be accepted at the time of transfer, so long as the signature of the seller on the bill of sale is notarized.
      For further information, boaters may contact DOBOR Vessel Registration at 808-587-1970.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Emily Herb is one of several potters participating
in Volcano Pottery Sale. Photo by Fred Dean
from `Apapane Pottery

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL VOLCANO Pottery Sale takes place at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village today from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Artists include T.R. Andrews, Tim Freeman, Claire Seastone, Zoe Johnson, Marion Nipper, Peri Enkin, Shannon Hickey, Birgitta Frazier, Emily Herb, Chiu Leong, Laura Roberts, Lisa Louise Adams, Robert Troost and Suzanne Wang.

      There will be wheel-throwing demonstrations tomorrow.
      Bentos and sushi from Volcano Hanabi will be available today, and Thai food from Aunty Pon’s Café will be available tomorrow.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER holds a Stew Day Fundraiser tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
      Call 939-7033 for more information.

MONGOLIAN BBQ IS FEATURED tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers free programs this weekend.
      Tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., participants discover the Hawaiian goddesses Hi`iaka and Pele and the natural phenomena they represent on a moderate, one-mile walk.
      On Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., hikers on Pu`u Kahuku Trail explore realms and divisions of the traditional Hawaiian classification system.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, June 9, 2016

A high school principal suggests methods rural schools such as Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary can try
to fight chronic absenteeism. Photo by Julia Neal

JOSEPH MANKO, A HIGH SCHOOL principal who serves as Principal Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education, said inadequate housing, transportation, work schedules and improper health care are often reasons for chronic absenteeism in rural communities such as Ka`u. His conclusions were carried this morning on the U.S. Department of Education website.
     Chronic absenteeism is higher in Ka`u-Kea`au-Pahoa Complex Area schools than state and national averages. Kirsten Johnson, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reported this morning that about 32 percent of the more than 7,100 students missed at least 15 days of school during the 2013-2014 school year. 

      Manko wrote that solving the problem requires “diligent, consistent and sometimes tedious work.” He suggested ways communities could combat chronic absenteeism:

Principal Joseph Manko fights chronic absenteeism.
Photo from Joseph Manko

      Make School a Desirable Place To Be. “You can’t underestimate the power of making school a positive place,” Manko said. “Schools that have strong, engaging teachers; that are connected to the community; and that offer a litany of before, after and during school activities often have higher attendance rates.”

      Create a Unified Front. “Attendance is a team sport,” he said. “It can’t just be delegated to the attendance monitor. As a principal, I need to know the daily attendance and to collaborate with teachers who are the first line of connection, to communicate with families.”
       Tend the Big Data Clean-Up. “Improving attendance depends on having good tracking systems and reviewing them at multiple points throughout the day,” he said. “Often, kids marked as absent are really in attendance – they came late and the teacher forgot to change it.”
      Do Old-Fashioned Home Visits. “Tracking data often means tracking down kids who are missing over the span of several days, Manko said. “When many phone numbers don’t work, old-fashioned home visits often provide the best strategy for contacting kids and families and building relationships to solve the problem.”
      Determine Root Causes. “There is a story behind every issue of chronic absenteeism – serious health issues, a broken car, a foreclosed home,” he said. “While schools cannot solve these problems alone, there are often agencies or support organizations that can help to mitigate them. Each situation requires lots of empathy, a Rolodex of resources, and sense of the possible to improve difficult situations.”
      Create a Community Schools Approach. “Schools that can provide some kind of wrap-around services for students and families or which partner with community organizations are simply in a better position to address the health, housing, and transportation that challenge our families.
      “Chronic absenteeism is the symptom of larger, deeper problems that can often only be addressed by addressing the larger, non-academic needs surrounding our students and their families. The fact of the matter is that if we want our schools to move students academically, we all have to commit to the hard, first-order work of getting them in the door,” Manko said. See more on Chronic Absenteeism:The First-Order Challenge Facing Our Nation's Schools at http://blog.ed.gov/2016/06/chronic-absenteeism-first-order-challenge-facing-nations-schools/
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz

US. SENATE LEADERS NAMED Sen. Brian Schatz to the House-Senate conference committee that will negotiate funding to fight the Zika virus. Schatz’s selection ensures that Hawai`i’s unique public health concerns will be voiced during negotiations. 

      “Zika is a public health emergency,” said Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education. “While I am glad both chambers passed critical funding to address Zika, there are real differences we need to resolve. I look forward to working with my colleagues to secure the highest possible funding to stop the spread of Zika and keep our communities safe and healthy.”
      The conference committee will work to resolve differences between House and Senate Zika funding bills. The Senate moved forward with $1.1 billion in a wide-ranging appropriations bill that funds transportation, housing, military construction and veterans affairs, while the House included its package in similar appropriations legislation and passed $622 million in emergency funding, far below the $1.9 billion requested by public health experts.
      In April, Schatz visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters and met with top officials to discuss the CDC’s response to outbreaks of dengue and Zika. During the meetings, he called for stronger vector-control programs to fight the spread of mosquito-borne viruses. He also led eight senators in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to increase funding for vector-control programs at the CDC.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, welcomed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S Capitol. As part of a select committee of lawmakers that welcomed and escorted the Prime Minister to the House Floor, Gabbard thanked the Prime Minister for his commitment to strengthening the U.S.-India friendship, which will help grow economies, strengthen security partnership in the fight against terrorism and pursue other areas of common ground.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard greets India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

      “Prime Minister Modi began his visit to the United States by meeting with President Obama, where they recommitted themselves to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership,” Gabbard said. “President Obama said in 2014 that our friendship with India is the defining partnership of the 21st century. The Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the United States in just two years signifies just how important the burgeoning relationship between our countries is as we continue to address the many challenges that face our nations today – strengthening our economies, promoting renewable clean energy, protecting our planet, improving cyber security and combating terrorism.

      “As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India have long shared many mutual goals of peace, stability and economic growth. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the progress our countries have made by partnering in business, national security and renewable energy. U.S. bilateral trade with India has grown to nearly $100 billion over 15 years – a nearly five-fold increase – and India trades more with the U.S. today than with any other country. Similarly, India remains one of our strongest partners in the region in the fight against terrorism. India conducts more security-related exercises with the U.S. than any other country.
      “As we look to the potential that lies ahead, the commitment of our countries to grow and strengthen our ties is critical as we work together towards furthering our shared values and interests."
      Yesterday, Gabbard joined members of Congress, U.S. Government Officials, members of the Indian Government and top U.S. and Indian business leaders to welcome Prime Minister Modi at the U.S. India Business Council’s 41st Annual Leadership Summit.
      In December 2014, Gabbard visited India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi to promote U.S. and Hawai`i interests. During her visit, she traveled to seven major Indian cities and met with the Prime Minister and other government and defense officials and business leaders, among others. During her visit, she also advocated for development of a sister-state partnership between Goa and Hawai`i, which the Hawai`i State Legislature adopted in April 2016.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Activities at Volcano Art Center include a film and a pottery sale.

VOLCANO ART CENTER in Volcano Village presents the documentary Rivers & Tides today at 7 p.m. An open discussion about artist Andy Goldsworthy, moderated by Liz Miller, follows. 

      Call 967-8222 for more information.

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL VOLCANO Pottery Sale takes place tomorrow afternoon and Saturday. The sale is held at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
      There will be wheel-throwing demonstrations on Saturday.
      Bentos and sushi from Volcano Hanabi will be available on Friday, and Thai food from Aunty Pon’s Café will be available on Saturday.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER holds a Stew Day Fundraiser Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

      Call 939-7033 for more information.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June_2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.