Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016

Hawai`i Board of Agriculture approved a permanent quarantine of `ohi`a on Hawai`i Island to prevent
the spread of rapid `ohi`a death to other islands. See more below. Photo from UH-CTAHR

HAWAI`I COUNTY’S CHILDREN HAVE THE HIGHEST PREVALENCE OF TOOTH DECAY in the United States, according to the state Department of Health. Also, the burden of oral disease is significantly greater in certain segments of the population. For example, tooth decay is disproportionately experienced statewide by low-income children, defined as those who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program. About 31 percent of children eligible for NSLP have untreated tooth decay compared to 13 percent for those not eligible. The disparities gap is even more pronounced when looking at urgent dental needs due to pain and/or infection. The need for urgent dental care is more than five times higher in low-income children compared to their higher-income peers (13 percent vs. two percent respectively).

Hawai`i County's children have the highest prevalence of tooth decay
in the state, as well as in the nation. Graph from Hawai`i DOH

      In its report Hawai`i Smiles, DOH takes its first in-depth look at the oral health status of a representative sample of third-grade children throughout the state. During the 2014-2015 school year, a total of 3,184 third-grade children in 67 public elementary schools on six islands received dental screenings. Third-grade children were screened because third grade is the target elementary school population for the National Oral Health Surveillance System. The findings support the need for culturally appropriate, community-based prevention programs, screening and referral services, and restorative dental care to improve the oral health of Hawai`i’s children

      According to the report, more than seven out of 10 third-graders (71 percent) statewide are affected by tooth decay; substantially higher than the national average of 52 percent. Almost one out of four third-graders (22 percent) in Hawai`i has untreated tooth decay, demonstrating that many children are not getting the dental care they need. About seven percent of Hawai`i’s third-grade children are in need of urgent dental care because of pain or infection. If applied to all children in kindergarten to sixth grade, more than 6,600 children in Hawai`i’s public elementary schools experience pain or infection due to dental disease on any given day. More than 60 percent of children in Hawai`i do not have protective dental sealants, a safe, simple, cost-effective clinical intervention to prevent tooth decay in molars.

      There are significant oral health disparities by income, as well as by race/ethnicity, among third-graders in Hawai`i. Third-graders living in Kaua`i, Hawai`i, and Maui Counties are more likely to have experienced tooth decay than children living in Honolulu County.

Hawai`i DOH offers advise on preventing tooth decay.
Photo from Hawai`i DOH

      DOH urges preventing tooth decay. Medical, dental and public health professionals must focus dental disease prevention efforts on families with children less than two years of age, because two is too late. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatricians all recommend preventive dental care and parent education by age one.

      Evidence-based strategies for preventing tooth decay in children include applying a fluoride varnish twice a year to the teeth of all infants and children starting when the first tooth comes into the mouth at about six months of age. Fluoride varnish can be applied at medical and dental clinics and in community settings such as preschools and WIC programs.

      Parents should brush children’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day as soon as teeth appear in the mouth.
      Community water fluoridation has been shown to prevent tooth decay in both children and adults.
      Daily fluoride supplementation starting at six months of age is recommended for children whose water supply does not contain fluoride. Limiting food and beverages with added sugars will prevent dental decay and other health issues.
      All children should be referred to a dentist as early as six months of age to establish a dental home. Following that initial visit, most children should have a dental examination at least once a year; some high risk children may need more frequent examinations.
      Dental sealants are placed to protect the chewing surface of the permanent molars soon after they come into the mouth around six and 12 years of age.
      According to DOH, decreasing dental disease among a child’s caregivers benefits the oral health of the child. It also suggests that early education regarding infant oral health can be shared with pregnant mothers and caregivers through routine oral health care.

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Rapid `ohi`a death continues to ravage Hawai`i Island's
native forests. Photo from Hawai`i DLNR

A PERMANENT QUARANTINE OF `OHI`A ON HAWAI`I ISLAND will go into effect if approved by the lieutenant governor. Ivy Ashe reported in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald that the state Board of Agriculture approved the measure on Tuesday.

      With rapid `ohi`a death ravaging the island’s native forests, an emergency quarantine went into effect last August to prevent its spread.
      “We’ve had good leadership at the DOA,” J.B. Friday, of University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, told Ashe. “They said ‘No, we’re going to do this.’ It (rapid `ohi`a death) was pretty fast-moving, but there was a window to do something about it.”
      While not banning all shipments of `ohi`a, the quarantine required testing shipments for Ceratocystis fimbriata, the fungus that causes the disease.
      The permanent quarantine requires any product being transported to be tested and properly permitted.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. IS OFFERING an optional time-of-use rate program that will charge customers less for power used during the day – when solar energy production is highest – and more at night.

      Developed under the direction of the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission, these rates encourage customers to use electricity when solar power is abundant and enable cost-effective integration of renewable energy.

      This program will provide customers with an opportunity to save money if they shift their energy use to daytime hours. For example, customers who do laundry, cook or heat water during the day may be able to save. Customers who charge electric vehicles or energy storage systems in the day may also benefit. The amount of any savings will depend on how much a customer changes their usage. As a result, this program may not fit the needs of all customers.
      As directed by the PUC, this program will run for two years and is only for residential customers. Participation will be voluntary and limited to the first 5,000 Hawaiian Electric Co. customers throughout the state who enroll.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sends a staff member
to Ka`u tomorrow.

      Participating customers will receive information on their bills that compares their costs under this program and the normal residential rate for electricity. Customers may opt out of the program at any time if they feel it isn’t the right fit for them.

      On Hawai`i Island, the current all-day residential rate is 29.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. With time-of-use, the rate would be 9.7 cents/kwh from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 49.2 cents/kwh from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 34.3 cents/kwh from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.

      To enroll or for more information, call Hawai`i Electric Light Co. at 969-6999 in Hilo or 329-3584 in Kona.
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KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO MEET with a staff member from U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more information.

Learn about coffee production Saturday.

INTERESTED IN KA`U COFFEE PRODUCTION? A workshop on Saturday focuses on the latest processing equipment, coffee berry borer control, crop nutrition, subsidy programs and legislative updates.

      Topics include Latest Tendencies in the Processing of Specialty Coffee, Benefits of Using Cal-Carbonate to Correct Low pH Soils, Herding Predatory Flat Bark Beetles, Impact of Ka`u Soil Type/Qualities on Crop Nutrition Decisions, and several discussions related to coffee berry borer control.

      The workshop takes place at Pahala Community Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break at 11:30 a.m.
      RSVP to Laura Diaz at laura@ldomarket.com, 928-8188 or 408-306-5596.

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

See kaucalendar.com.

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

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016

At Ocean View's temporary transfer station, a concrete slab marks where, on Saturdays, two collection bins are parked
for residents to drop off their bagged garbage from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The brown shipping container is the beverage
container redemption center. On the right, playing fields stretch away to a picnic area, basketball court,
baseball field and playground at Kahuku Park. Drone Photo by John Fretz, of Ranchos

HAWAI`I COUNTY’S RECENT DECISION TO CREATE a second temporary transfer station in Ocean View is the latest of back-and-forth moves since the town was promised a “state of the art” transfer station in 2007. County officials announced the plans during a meeting at Ocean View Community Center last week.

      For decades before that promise, Ocean View had been grappling with a proliferation of illegal garbage dumps. County officials became convinced that the cause was the lack of a convenient site for waste collection. The closest facility was Wai`ohinu, a 12-mile drive each way. In 2006, a task force of 11 volunteers began looking for a suitable site.

      The county analyzed options and determined that the 21-acre parcel, currently owned by the county, was the most suitable. It is part of an undeveloped makai subdivision on the west end of town, fronting the highway near Iolani. This site was presented to the town at a public meeting on April 16, 2007 and was eventually adopted. Plans were drawn up, and an Environmental Impact Statement was completed in April 2008. At that time, the estimated cost was $4.4 million. It was estimated that construction would begin in 2008, and the facility would be operational in 2009.
      Meanwhile, a temporary transfer station was built in 2010 to curb illegal dumping. It was located on land zoned “recreational,” and bordering the town’s park. The temporary transfer station was operated each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and accepted only bagged household garbage. Last year, HI5 recyclables were also accepted during those hours, and recently the hours were extended.
      In 2011, $3 million was appropriated by the county for a permanent transfer station in Ocean View. In 2012, the 21-acre lot was acquired from a local hui by the county.

      About a year ago, Eric Goodale, the county’s Solid Waste director, wrote to Maile David, Ka`u’s council member, stating that plans to build a permanent transfer station on the 21-acre site were to be scrapped, and the temporary transfer station would become Ocean View’s permanent transfer station at the park site.

County vehicles share space with residents' at Ocean View's
temporary transfer station. Photo by Peter & Ann Bosted

      Many residents did not welcome this news. They felt that the existing park and a trash site were incompatible uses for contiguous sites. Further, they objected to added traffic in the heart of a residential neighborhood. Heavy vehicles were causing excessive wear on the privately maintained neighborhood roads, and at times traffic was congested.

      On June 28, a community meeting was called by HOVE resident Mike du Bois to meet the county’s waste management planners. It was chaired by Maile David. At that meeting, residents were able to convince the county’s Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd and Goodale to pursue plans for a permanent transfer station on the 21-acre site, as originally planned, and to keep the “temporary” one temporary.
      Also at that meeting, Ocean View resident Maria Schenkeir pointed out that dumped appliances, tires and large items, which are difficult to dispose of under current county rules, are lining the driveway on the 21-acre parcel that was purchased for the permanent facility.
      “This is just the same as your old-fashioned dump that was open 24/7,” she said. “Why are we spending money on the temporary transfer station when we could be building a permanent one?”
      Ocean View resident Loren Heck also pointed out that the circle where the temporary site is located is zoned “recreational.”
      “Read the deed,” he advised, “It’s for recreation. The transfer station could be shut down any day.”
      At the community meeting last week, Leithead-Todd and Goodale assured residents that the permanent transfer station was again an objective, and the “temporary” transfer station would be moved from the circle and temporarily sited on one acre of the 21-acre parcel. It will be used until the long-promised “state-of-the-art” transfer station can be built on nine acres.
      If built as envisioned in 2007, the permanent transfer station will consist of trash chutes, recycling bins, a hazardous waste collection area, a container redemption center, service roads and a visual buffer. It may also include scrap metal collection bins and a reuse area.
      To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Sen. Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO YESTERDAY CONVENED state and local leaders to examine how federal partnerships protect and sustain Hawai`i’s freshwater resources. Hirono, Gov. David Ige, state elected officials and watershed resource experts outlined what Hawai`i groups are currently doing to improve water security and how the federal government can support these efforts.

      “Hawai`i’s native forested watersheds feed our state’s water supply, and it is vital that we protect these precious resources,” Hirono said. “The federal government will continue to play a critical role in supporting innovative strategies that protect our forested watersheds. We must continue to work with all stakeholders to improve conservation and ensure that our water resources are protected for generations to come.”
      “During the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu last month, I made an ambitious commitment to the global community to protect 30 percent of Hawai`i’s priority watershed forests by 2030,” Ige said. “Only 15 percent of priority watershed forests are protected. We can only reach this goal and exceed it through public-private partnerships between landowners and managers who recognize this is the best way to protect our forested watersheds and our freshwater source.”
      Hirono voted to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. She also worked to get Hawai`i’s collaborative landscape proposal, “Island Forests at Risk,” in the President’s budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. This proposal, which includes 13 public and private partners, provides funding to purchase and protect endangered species’ habitats, culturally significant areas and ecologically important lands in the state.
      Hirono yesterday heard from a number of witnesses who shared federal, local and cultural perspectives on how to improve Hawai`i’s water security, including state Sen. Mike Gabbard, chair of the Committee on Water, Land and Agriculture; state Rep. Ryan Yamane, chair of the Committee on Water and Land; Steve Anthony, director of U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Islands Water Science Center; Randy Moore, Regional Forester for U.S. Department of Agriculture Pacific Southwest Region Forest Service; David Smith, Administrator of Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife; Dr. Sam Gon, Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor for The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i; Matthew Gonser, Extension Faculty at University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College Program; and Trae Menard, chair of Hawai`i Association of Watershed Partnerships.
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Emily Herb's pottery will be on display during Volcano Village
Artists Hui's Show & Sale next month.
Photo from Emily Herb

VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI MEMBERS are preparing for their annual Studio Tour and Sale. Thirty years ago, a small group of Volcano Village artists had an informal studio sale of their artworks on Thanksgiving weekend. What started out as a small venture has expanded into one of the most exciting art events of the year. Folks come from all over to get a head start on Christmas shopping, have lunch at local Volcano restaurants and enjoy the festive atmosphere that always accompanies this Village event.

      There are classic pieces and new works inspired by our island, all reasonably priced. If you think you can’t afford to have that new piece of art on your wall or find a beautiful pottery bowl for a special gift, think again.
      Today, the hui has 14 artists and craftspeople with six open studios and galleries. Meet the artists in their studios, and see artwork in a wide variety of media including handblown art glass, wood and metal sculpture, pottery, jewelry and fiber art as well as paintings, wood cut prints, photography and more.
      Hours for the Thanksgiving weekend Studio Tour are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      A special drawing for pieces contributed by each of the artists will be held on the final day of the tour.
      For more information, call 987-3472 or 985-7487. Maps to the artists’ studios will be available at local businesses and galleries in Volcano and at volcanovillageartistshui.com.
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A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD’S office meets with Ka`u residents Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. 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.

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

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016

Twelve students and mentors hiked from Punalu`u to Ka Lae last week during fall break.
Photos from Nohea Ka`awa

A FIVE-DAY, FOUR-NIGHT KA`U HIKE challenged a dozen high school students over the 2016 fall break from Oct. 10 – 14 through `Imi Pono no ka `Aina, with Emily Leucht and Amelie Sterling. Support came from the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife with Nohea Ka`awa; The Nature Conservancy with John Replogle, Shalan Crysdale and Linda Schubert; Ala Kahakai Trail system with Keoni Fox; and Three Mountain Alliance with Colleen Cole, Kellen Galban, Nick Martin and Chiko Mihara.

The group camped at Honu`apo and other locations
along the Ka`u Coast.

      During the 30-mile hike starting at Punalu`u, students camped at Honu`apo, Waikapuna and Ka`alu`alu. After reaching Ka Lae, they were taken up to Kiolaka`a Cabin to spend their last night.

      Students from Ka`u, Kea`au, Waiakea, Hilo, Pana`ewa and Keaukaha were Meilin Galban- Kinin, Bryana Grace, Ke`alohilani Grace, Keilana Hunter, Keahiloa Kanahele, Kelly Kaneko, Faith Kraus, Keali`i Lovell, Preston Pua-Queja, Pohu Puniwai and Makana Uribe-Bounos.
      `Imi Pono no ka `Aina “means seeking excellence for the land,” noted Nohea Ka`awa. Its mission is to provide conservation-themed programs for students, teachers and community members to strengthen environmental and cultural consciousness and to instill in participants a sense of kuleana so that they will become advocates of the land.
      For more information, see threemountainalliance.org.
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A FORMER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL is the newest member of Hawai`i Board of Education. Gov. David Ige appointed Darrel Galera yesterday.

Gov. Ige swears in Darrel Galera to the state Board of Education.
Photo from Office of Gov. Ige

      Galera has a rich background in public education in Hawai`i. He is the School Leadership Consultant and Coach for the Hawai`i Center for Instructional Leadership and is currently serving as chair of the governor’s Every Student Succeeds Act team.

      Galera began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Moanalua High School, where he was named Teacher of the Year in 1984. He has also served as principal at Shafter Elementary, S.W. King Intermediate, `Aiea Elementary, Moanalua High and Castle High. Galera has been recognized as the Hawai`i National Distinguished High School Principal of the Year, Central O`ahu District Principal of the Year and the U.S. Presidential Scholar Program’s Distinguished Teacher, 1989.
      A graduate of Waipahu High School, Galera earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration and bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies at the University of Hawai`i.
      “Darrel has been instrumental in engaging the public all across the state to help build the blueprint for our public school system,” Ige said. “His service on the board will help bridge the work of the Board of Education and the ESSA team.”
      “It’s truly an honor and privilege to serve our students and schools,” Galera said. “I’m inspired by Gov. Ige’s vision and plan for public education in Hawai`i.”
      Galera replaces Jim Williams, who resigned from the board last month.
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DHHL beneficiaries and other Hawai`i Island residents can participate
in an upcoming Ka`u Leadership Training Program.

RECRUITMENT FOR KA`U LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM is now open. The fun, dynamic and highly interactive program builds skills that may be used in community service, jobs and personal lives. Hawaiian Home Lands Trust beneficiaries and other residents of Hawai`i Island are eligible. An ideal class will have a mix of participants: high school to kupuna, beginning to experienced leaders and representatives of community nonprofits, the public/private sector, government, farming/agriculture, arts/culture, education, environment, health and human services, and faith-based organizations. Maximum class size is 30.

      Participants learn how to run effective meetings and work with different personality types, as well as public speaking and project planning and management.

      Class sessions are one weekend per month from January through April 2017. All participants are expected to volunteer 20 to 40 hours to complete a class project within six to nine months after the last class session.
      Classes take place at the new county multi-purpose room at Ka`u High School.
      For more information and to apply, call 808-620-9461, or email Gigi.O.Cairel@hawaii.gov . Deadline is Dec. 16.

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Sen. Brian Schatz

U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ IS PROUD of Hawai`i’s progress regarding energy. He responded to Blue Planet Foundation’s grade of B- on its annual Energy Report Card, which evaluated the status of transportation, efficiency, renewables, smart grids and economics.

      “Here in Hawai`i, we are making incredible progress toward reaching our state’s goal of running on 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, but there is still much more work to be done,” Ige said. “Having been at the forefront of this effort since my time as lieutenant governor, I can say that this progress has taken creativity, collaboration and innovation every step of the way. I’m proud of our state for leading the country toward a clean energy future, and I look forward to working hard to get us there.”

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KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD AND A BIPARTISAN COALITION of lawmakers delivered a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper requesting answers on a report that Yahoo searched users’ private emails at the request of the federal government.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

      Joseph Mann reported in Technology News that Yahoo “last year secretly built a custom software program to search all of its customers' incoming emails for specific information provided by U.S. intelligence officials.”

      “As legislators, it is our responsibility to have accurate information about the intelligence activities conducted by the federal government,” the lawmakers wrote. “There is significant confusion regarding the existence and nature of Yahoo’s software program described by recent reports and the legal questions implicated by the accuracy of specific details. We request information and a briefing as soon as possible for all members of Congress to resolve the issues raised by these reports.”
      In July, Gabbard helped launch the bipartisan Fourth Amendment Caucus, composed of lawmakers committed to protecting the privacy and security of Americans in the digital age. She has introduced the Strengthening Privacy, Oversight and Transparency Act in both the 114th and 113th Congress to strengthen the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board and expand its authority to balance the government’s national security and counterterrorism activities with the need to protect the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans.
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Bert Naihe performs tomorrow.
Photo from NPS

HAWAIIAN MUSICIAN AND SINGER BERT NAIHE performs songs from his CD, You’re the One, and catchy versions of other favorite tunes tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Naihe, who was born and raised in Hilo, is also a musician for Halau o ka Ua Kanileua with Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho.

      Free; park entrance fees apply.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council committee meetings tomorrow via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.

      Human Services & Social Services Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 9:30 a.m.; Finance, 11 a.m.; Public Works & Parks and Recreation, 1 p.m.; and Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 2:30 p.m.
      All meetings take place at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.
      Agendas and live streaming of the meetings are available at hawaiicounty.gov.

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

See kaucalendar.com.

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