Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Author and former Mauna Kea telescope visitor center guide presented his historical view of Mauna Kea
management and opposed pending rules on the operation of the campus that hosts international telescopes.
Photo from Big Island Video News. See the video.

TOM PEEK, OF VOLCANO, OPPOSED RULES FOR MAUNA KEA developed by University of Hawaiʻi. Yesterday's public hearing in Hilo was on administrative rules for leases for some of the world's best telescopes on land many Hawaiians deem sacred. Peek, the author of Daughters of Fire, a writing teacher, and former Mauna Kea visitor center astronomy guide, said management of Mauna Kea had an "unsavory history." He reviewed his experience involving the state owned top of Mauna Kea, managed by the Department of Land & Natural Resources and leased out to University of Hawaiʻi, Office of Mauna Kea Management. The land is leased by UH to telescope operators. See the proposed rules. Peek presented the following written testimony:
     "I'm Tom Peek, long ago an astronomy guide for the observatories and an eyewitness to 30 years of UH and DLNR malfeasance — malfeasance driven by a combination of ethnocentric prejudice and unrelenting pressure from Hawai‘i's construction and tourism industries. Given that unsavory history, I challenge the legitimacy of these rules and the Office of Mauna Kea Management that created them.

Office of Mauna Kea Management held a hearing Tuesday in Hilo on its new rules.
See the propose rules. Photo from Office of Mauna Kea Management

     "The seeds of these rules were planted in a notorious time, when a blistering 1998 legislative audit finally exposed decades of UH and DLNR malfeasance (which by then some of us insiders already knew).
     "Ten years earlier (1988), when I was beefing up our fledgling Visitor Information Station program, restricting islanders' access was definitely not supported by the mountain's astronomy staff. We knew islanders had long feared that astronomy would take over the mountaintop, and we all understood that Mauna Kea belonged to them long before we showed up.

Some of the world's top scientific telescopes fall under the
Mauna Kea Management Plan. Photo from OMKM

     "That understanding was upturned by UH President Kenneth Mortimer and Institute for Astronomy Acting Director Bob McLaren in their defensive — even vindictive — response to the audit.
     "Mortimer and McLaren — and the Board of Land & Natural Resources Chair — denied most of the auditor's conclusions, blaming the public for whatever problems existed. And they proposed the first public access limits — similar to those in these 'administrative rules.'
     "Sierra Club's Nelson Ho called that 'scapegoating the public' rather than dealing with the 'industrialization and commercialization of the summit.'
     "But even more disturbing, UH proposed creating their own management agency — an entity they could control — OMKM. OMKM was never intended to restore balance on the mountain but instead to use sham planning and carefully contrived cultural consultation as political cover for building more telescopes and to begin limiting noncommercial access to the summit.
     "Sierra Club, Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, the Royal Order of Kamehameha, Ka Lahui Hawai‘i, and others opposed OMKM's creation because of its obvious conflict of interest — 'a fox guarding the henhouse.' Instead, they proposed a wholly new management agency in which statutory 'rightholders' of this ceded land would manage the mountain on behalf of the public and Native Hawaiians, rather than for astronomers, tour companies, and the construction industry.

A lele, place of spiritual offerings, at the summit of
Mauna Kea. Photo from OMKM

     "But 'old boy politics' prevailed.
     "These rules are part of that unsavory history of malfeasance — tools to completely take over the mountaintop, as Big Islanders feared in the 1980s, and to further empower an illegitimate OMKM.
     "If enacted, the rules will almost certainly end up in court — as they should. And you Regents will be tainted — as you should.
     "Instead, please reject this rulemaking charade and embrace Hawaiian proposals for a new management agency that has no conflict of interest — and distance yourselves from this OMKM mess."
     Read the proposed rules and see more testimony at bigislandvideonews.com. Peek's Daughters of Fire is a novel, enriched with Hawaiʻi Island history and the interaction of science and culture.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A pair of mated ʻAlalā. Photo from San Diego Zoo Global

ʻALALĀ COMPLETED A NEST in the forest where these endangered native Hawaiian crows were released, after growing up in captivity. The ʻAlalā Project recently posted to Facebook: "This nest is a species recovery milestone and a good indicator that the birds are establishing in this forest, regardless of the outcome of this particular nesting attempt. Since this is the first breeding attempt, they are learning and trialing many behaviors: how to build the nest platform, form and line a nest, incubate, and feed themselves and one another during the tireless process of nesting."

     The nest was built by Manaʻolana and Manaiakalani, two birds released in 2017. The monitoring crew noted signs that two other pairs released in 2017 – Kiaʻikūmokuhāliʻi and Ola, and Hoʻoikaika and Liliʻuwelo – are also nest building.

     The ʻAlalā Project posted: "It is inspiring to see the progress these released birds have made as they navigate nesting and breeding in their new forest home. They are really beginning to thrive and we are hopeful that they will continue to progress in fulfilling their cultural and ecological roles!"

ʻAlalā, building a nest in the wild.
Photo from San Diego Zoo Global

      See the May 9, Kaʻū News Briefs report on two pairs of endangered Hawaiian Crow showing mating behavior and preparing nests in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. The Reserve is home to 21 ʻAlalā, who were released into the wild in several cohorts since 2017. This was the first mating and nesting behavior seen in the wild in almost 20 years.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN workshop comes to Hawaiʻi Island for the first time Friday, Sept. 6 through Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area, formerly Mauna Kea Park. The nationally acclaimed program "teaches women a wide variety of outdoor skills," says a release from Department of Land and Natural Resources. The DLNR Hunter Education Program and the Safari Club International-Hawai‘i Chapter will host the inaugural Hawaiʻi workshop.

     BOW is a non-profit, educational program offering hands-on outdoor skills workshops, which focus on introductory level hunting, fishing, and non-harvest activities for adult women. With Hawai‘i added, 39 states and six Canadian provinces offer workshops each year, attended by tens of thousands of women.

     Andrew Choy, the coordinator of hunter education through the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement said, "We want to promote a supportive environment conducive to learning, making friends, and having fun. No experience is necessary, and the program is designed for women of all fitness levels. BOW is for you if you've never tried these fun and educational activities or if you want to improve some of your existing outdoor skills."

     Participants can choose which activities they like for morning and afternoon sessions. This year's class options include: Firearms Safety and Handling, Fishing, Backpacking Basics and Outdoor Survival, Outdoor Photography, Archery, Knife Making, Outdoor First Aid, Kayaking, Beginning, Rifle and Handgun, Hiking in Hawaiʻi, Horseback Riding and ATV, Beginner Shotgun and Sporting Clays, and Native Plants and Lei Making.

     The three-day workshop begins in the afternoon on Friday and ends early afternoon on  Sunday. Many of the daytime activities will occur off-site at various locations on the island. Lodging, meals, and nighttime activities will occur within the bunkhouse, dining room, and cabins at the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area.

     The $250 registration fee includes two nights lodging, all meals, transportation to activities, equipment, and materials. Shuttle service from and to Kona International Airport is available. There are only 45 spaces available for women, 18 years or older, so early registration is encouraged.
     Contact the Hunter Education Program at (808) 587-0200 or hawaiihuntered@hawaii.gov for more information and to request a registration packet.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

JUST ANNOUNCED

GIVING TREE at St. Jude's happens Saturday, July 20. On Saturday, May 18, reports St. Jude's, the Giving Tree set up tents and tables in the lower parking lot and "gave out lots of clothing and various other items like toothbrushes and razors. This time they had a lot of new clothing to give away, as well as some used. They also had some shoes and coats. Many of the people visiting them came on up to the church to have a bowl of soup and some took showers." The event brought in people normally not seen at the church outreach. St. Jude's offers: "Come on by to see what they have and while you are there, come on up to the church building to share a bowl of soup, take a free hot shower, and use our community computer lab."

     Free haircuts will also be on offer July 20, courtesy of Kady and Drew Foster. The service integrates with the Free Hot Shower and soup kitchen programs, offering a trim after a shower.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

Keiki Jiggle Bums, Thursday, June 6 and 20 – 1st and 3rd Thursday, monthly – 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. Discover the joy of early learning through song and musical instruments. For keiki 0-4 years. Nicola, 238-8544

Women's Expression Group, Thursday, June 6 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Friday, June 7. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Uplink All-Stars: Grades 6-8, Friday, June 7, to Friday, June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Stewardship at the Summit, Fridays, June 7, 15, 22, and 28, 8:45 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Baubles, Bevels and other Embellishments w/Claudia McCall, Saturday and Sunday, June 8, 9, 15 and 16, 9 a.m. to noon, Volcano Art Center. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee. Open to those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Advanced registration required. Limited to 6 adults. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, June 8, meet 9:30 a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. Bring a water bottle, lunch, closed toed shoes, long sleeved t-shirt, and pants. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments provided. nmok.org, facebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Zentangle Ulana, Appreciations of Weaving w/Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Volcano Art Center. All welcome, no prior experience necessary. Supplies provided. Students invited to bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest: Binti Bailey & Larry Seyer with the Jazztones, Saturday, June 8, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Tickets available online, $20/VAC Member, $25/non-Member. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

MONDAY, JUNE 10
Summer Algebra Camp: Grades 6-8, Monday, June 10, to Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Supplies provided, free. Registration required, 313-4913, dexsilyn.navarro@k12.hi.us

Early College: High School Students, Monday-Thursday, June 12-July 11, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, June 10, 1p.m., contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
Kapa Kuiki w/Cultural Practitioner Cyndy Martinez, Wednesday, June 12, 10a.m.-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Hawaiian traditional quilting methods demonstration and discussion. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays, June 7 through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

Summer Programs for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary registrations are open.
     Uplink All-Stars runs Friday, June 7 through Friday, June 28 for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     Algebra camp is also open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 from Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     Early College, for high school students, runs from Wednesday, June 12 through Thursday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

     All three programs require registration by calling 313-4100. No classes Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4.

Purchase Tickets for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, Sunday, June 15 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, from Teen USA candidate Kailee "Kamalani" Kuhaulua-Stacy. Tickets are $25; contact Kamalani at 808-315-4252 through Saturday, June 14 to purchase. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes both competition for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA, for contenders 14 to 18 years of age, and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, for contestants 18 to 28.

     Supporters can vote for the candidate called Kamalani, contestant #7, for the People's Choice award, by liking her photos on the pageant Facebook. Deadline to vote by liking the contestant photo is this Sunday, June 9 at 7 p.m.

     See misshawaiiisland.com.

Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.
     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Dead ʻōhiʻa in the Kapāpala Forest Reserve between Pāhala and Volcano. Scientists, land managers,
and cultural experts met last week for a conference on Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, which devastates the
native forests. Photo from University of Hawaiʻi Spatial Data Analysis & Visualization Lab

RENEWABLE ENERGY PLUS STORAGE FACILITIES bring Hawaiʻi to the "leading edge" of leaving fossil fuel behind, according to Sen. Mazie Hirono. She touted Hawaiʻi's progress during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on energy storage today.
     She talked about projects that could be replicated around the state, including the Lawai Solar Energy Plus Storage Facility on Kauaʻi. She said it is the largest solar generation plus storage project in the world, generates 11 percent of Kauaʻi's power, and can serve as much as 40 percent of Kauaʻi's evening peak power demand.
     Hirono said, "Hawaiʻi is on the leading edge of incorporating renewable power and energy storage. Of course, Hawaiʻi is not connected to any other state's grid, we're kind of on our own."
     The Senator noted that "Hawaiian Electric... recently received approval for six new solar and storage projects to provide 247 megawatts of solar energy with almost 800 megawatt hours of storage – enough to power 105,000 homes per year while eliminating the use of more than 48 million gallons of imported fossil fuel. Hawaiʻi was the most imported fossil fuel dependent state in the country, and we had probably the highest electricity rates in the country, possibly with the exception of Alaska.

Sheep graze at the largest solar with storage facility in the world. It's on Kauaʻi and more are planned for
the rest of Hawaiʻi. Photo from Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative

     "The company is preparing a second round of bids for even more solar and storage to replace fossil fuel plants. There will be even more innovation in the future to meet Hawaiʻi's goal of 100 percent renewable power by 2045."
     Hirono is a co-sponsor of S. 1593, the Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019, to research, develop, and deploy energy storage systems, including assistance to local organizations identify and design energy storage systems. She is also a co-sponsor of S. 1142, the Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2019, which would provide a 30 percent credit for the purchase of energy storage systems. In May, Hirono joined her colleagues in introducing S.1288, the Clean Energy for America Act, which would reform the federal tax code as part of a plan to support a low-carbon economy by consolidating the current 44 energy incentives into three technology-neutral provisions that encourage clean electricity, clean transportation, and energy efficiency while repealing tax incentives for fossil fuel companies.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Supporters of immigration reform toward paths to green cards and
citizenship for immigrants. Photo from Voice of America

THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PROMISE ACT received the support of Rep. Tuslsi Gabbard as the measure passed the U.S. House of Representatives 237-187 today. It would provide a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and individuals with temporary protected status or deferred enforcement departure. Gabbard is an original cosponsor of the bill.
     "More than 2.5 million DREAMers in Hawaiʻi and across the country have faced uncertainty and fear of deportation for far too long. Their lives and futures hang in the balance as they dread the possibility that at any moment they could be deported from the only home many have ever known, and sent to a foreign land. This legislation finally provides a pathway to certainty and citizenship that will allow them to come out from the shadows and pursue their goals and dreams," said Gabbard.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A BILL REQUIRING APPLIANCES sold or installed in Hawaiʻi to meet minimum energy efficiency standards is before Gov. David Ige. House Bill 556 would follow standards similar to those adopted by the federal government.
     The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy study found that Hawaiʻi households could save more than $215 annually per household. The bill states HB556 would "provide consumer protection," so that appliance manufacturers could not "unload less efficient appliances in Hawaiʻi that they cannot sell in other states with heightened standards." The bill states that, without these standards, "Hawaiʻi residents risk losing as much as $1 million in unnecessary energy waste due to inefficient appliances."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAWAIʻI HAS THE HIGHEST GASOLINE PRICES IN THE COUNTRY, according to a report just released by the U.S Energy Information Administration. Following Hawaiʻi were the West Coast and Alaska. The combined average price of the western states is $3.60 per gallon of regular gasoline.

     The survey taken May 27 showed the lowest prices on the Gulf Coast, averaging $2.42 per gallon. The national average retail price for regular gasoline was $2.82 per gallon.
     Twenty years ago the average price of regular gasoline in the western states, including Hawaiʻi averaged $1.38 per gallon.

The price of gasoline is highest in Hawaiʻi and the other westernmost states.
Map from the U.S. Energy Information Administration

THE FIGHT AGAINST RAPID ʻŌHIʻA DEATH was the focus of a symposium last week at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i on the University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo campus. More than 90 top researchers and land managers "engaged in the fight against ROD shared knowledge, their latest research findings, and discussed next steps in battling the fungal disease that has killed millions of ʻōhiʻa trees, primarily on Hawai‘i Island, but also on a much more limited scale on Kaua‘i," reports Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Two days of scientific presentations were followed by a half-day workshop, with the "goal of identifying the next research questions to hopefully and ultimately identify treatments for the two strains of the disease. So far extensive aerial and ground surveys have not shown it spreading beyond Kaua‘i or Hawai‘i Island," reports DLNR.

Map from University of Hawaiʻi shows progress of ROD since 2013.

     Intensive research into exactly how Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death spreads and potential treatments has been underway, nearly since the fungus was first detected as a previously un-described disease in 2014.

     Scientists have determined that the fungus enters ʻōhiʻa trees and interrupts their vascular systems, which means water can't move from the roots and into higher reaches of the trees. The disease enters individual trees through wounds that can be caused by wind or hurricane events, by animals, weed-eaters, heavy equipment, pruning, and trimming.

   What's less clear – and is the subject of continuing research – is how the fungus spreads from tree to tree, and what are the best methods for treating infected trees? states DLNR.

     While scientific research being conducted by numerous federal agencies and academic institutions, coupled with management protocols established by state and county agencies, has led to "an enormous body of knowledge about these emerging diseases, Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death continues to be shrouded in mystery," reports DLNR. The release about the symposium poses questions: Where did it first come from? Why does it infect some trees and not others? Does the wind carry fungal spores – and if so, why did it skip over Maui Nui and O‘ahu before being first detected on Kaua‘i a year ago?

Dead ʻōhiʻa trees in the native forest. Photo from University of Hawaiʻi

     The group also looked at the efficacy of current methods to try and stem the spread of ROD: Do boot cleaning stations at trailheads work? Does felling, tarping, and fungicide application to dead trees stop the fungus? Are additional quarantine measures needed to strengthen those already in place? What additional outreach and education needs to happen to best inform everyone about ROD, and how it is devastating hundreds of thousands of acres of ʻōhiʻa forest? DLNR reports that ʻōhiʻa is considered Hawaiʻi's "most important native tree species because of its watershed protecting abilities and cultural significance."

 Kekuhi Keali’ikanaka’olelohaililani
of Hālau ʻŌhiʻa. DLNR photo

     DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, in a keynote speech, "Thank you all for the incredibly hard work you've been doing these last few years on all fronts; from identifying the causes of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, to mapping its distribution and learning about how it spreads. Experimenting with ways to contain it and all the outreach and education so everyone in Hawai‘i can know how not to spread it further. Your work is necessarily innovative and often ingenious because we’ve never encountered these pathogens, nor their effect on our beloved ʻōhiʻa forest."

     Kumu Kekuhi Keali’ikanaka’olelohaililani of Hālau ʻŌhiʻa implored the scientists, managers, and everyone who cares for Hawaiʻi, to "embrace the ʻōhiʻa lehua as a vital component of our natural landscape and cultural heritage."  She told the group, "You've done your job to create this collaborative, this collective movement. Ritual practices taught me that your imaginings are the experimentation, is the meetings, is the movement, the working together and the innovative approaches."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A NEW SURCHARGE for parking violations on state highways is on Gov. David Ige's desk for review. House Bill 333 would establish the state Highway Enforcement Program, which "adds a surcharge for illegal parking to existing penalties for violations of the statewide traffic code that involve stopping, standing, or parking on state highways." Half of the surcharge would be deposited into the state highway fund. The other half would be distributed to the respective police departments where the violation was made, and used to further enforce laws about illegal parking on state highways.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

JUST ANNOUNCED

MOBILE SPAY AND NEUTER WAGGIN', from the Hawaiian Humane Society, is next at St. Jude's on Tuesday, June 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Humane Society offers spay and neuter services. Low-income pet parents and those with limited transportation qualify for their free spay and neuter service.

     The Waggin' also provides nail trim for an additional $5 per animal with spay/neuter surgery, microchiping for an additional $10 per animal with spay/neuter surgery, Hawaiʻi County dog licensing for an additional $10 per animal with spay/neuter surgery.

     Surgery is by appointment only. Go to hihs.org or call 808-796-0107.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

Early Head Start, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 10 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Social get together for keiki and parents; open to public. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Master Gardeners: Plant Propagation, Wednesday, June 5, 2 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Sharing techniques to propagate plants. Free seeds and starts give away. 939-2442

All About Buddhism in the Jodo Shinshu Tradition, Wednesday, June 5 and every following Wednesday, 5 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Book study/talk story. Materials and light refreshments provided. Temple president Robert Kobzi, robertkobzi@aol.com

Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammi Fo, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Keiki Jiggle Bums, Thursday, June 6 and 20 – 1st and 3rd Thursday, monthly – 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. Discover the joy of early learning through song and musical instruments. For keiki 0-4 years. Nicola, 238-8544

Women's Expression Group, Thursday, June 6 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Friday, June 7. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Uplink All-Stars: Grades 6-8, Friday, June 7, to Friday, June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Stewardship at the Summit, Fridays, June 7, 15, 22, and 28, 8:45 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Baubles, Bevels and other Embellishments w/Claudia McCall, Saturday and Sunday, June 8, 9, 15 and 16, 9 a.m. to noon, Volcano Art Center. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee. Open to those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Advanced registration required. Limited to 6 adults. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, June 8, meet 9:30 a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. Bring a water bottle, lunch, closed toed shoes, long sleeved t-shirt, and pants. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments provided. nmok.org, facebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Zentangle Ulana, Appreciations of Weaving w/Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Volcano Art Center. All welcome, no prior experience necessary. Supplies provided. Students invited to bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest: Binti Bailey & Larry Seyer with the Jazztones, Saturday, June 8, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Tickets available online, $20/VAC Member, $25/non-Member. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

MONDAY, JUNE 10
Summer Algebra Camp: Grades 6-8, Monday, June 10, to Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Supplies provided, free. Registration required, 313-4913, dexsilyn.navarro@k12.hi.us

Early College: High School Students, Monday-Thursday, June 12-July 11, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, June 10, 1p.m., contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays, June 7 through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

Summer Programs for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary registrations are open.
     Uplink All-Stars runs Friday, June 7 through Friday, June 28 for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     Algebra camp is also open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 from Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     Early College, for high school students, runs from Wednesday, June 12 through Thursday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

     All three programs require registration by calling 313-4100. No classes Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4.

Purchase Tickets for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, Sunday, June 15 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, from Teen USA candidate Kailee "Kamalani" Kuhaulua-Stacy. Tickets are $25; contact Kamalani at 808-315-4252 through Saturday, June 14 to purchase. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes both competition for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA, for contenders 14 to 18 years of age, and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, for contestants 18 to 28.

     Supporters can vote for the candidate called Kamalani, contestant #7, for the People's Choice award, by liking her photos on the pageant Facebook. Deadline to vote by liking the contestant photo is this Sunday, June 9 at 7 p.m.

     See misshawaiiisland.com.

Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou's Annual Nāʻālehu 4th of July Parade and Summer Fun Fest happens Saturday, June 29. The Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission. The parade features floats, Paʻu riders, Kaʻū Coffee Court members, and more.
     The Fest, which begins after the parade, features water slides and bounce castles, hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice, plus Senior Bingo and lunch at the community center for seniors. The free event is open to the public, no registration required.
     To participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate, contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 by Thursday, June 20. okaukakou.org

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, June 3, 2019

Kaʻū's Kailee "Kamalani" Kuhaulua-Stacy, who graduated from Kamehameha Schools in May, is running for Miss Hawaiʻi
Island Teen USA, which would qualify her for the statewide contest that leads to nationals. Supporters can vote for
her, contestant #7, in the Peoples Choice award, by liking her photos on Facebook. Deadline to vote by liking the
contestant photo is June 9 at 7 p.m. See story below. Photos from Miss Teen USA Hawaiʻi

FREE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN are offered weekdays during summer break, Friday, June 7 through Friday, July 11 at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary Schools. They are among 21 schools on Hawaiʻi Island with summer programs where 50 percent of regular enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. Both breakfasts and lunches are free for all people under age 18, no matter their family income.

        The Seamless Summer Option program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A statement from the state Department of Education says that summer "is typically a period of time when our most vulnerable students do not have access to services that they normally would during school year." Dann Carlson, assistant superintendent of the Office of School Facilities and Support Services, said, "Our hope is that more students will enjoy a free meal, simply by stopping by one of our participating schools."

     Students do not have to be enrolled in a summer program at the school to receive the free food. There will be no food service on the June 11 King Kamehameha Day and July 4 holidays.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

PALMYRA ATOLL, 997 miles south-southwest of Ka Lae - South Point, is the location of the new Climate Adaptation & Resilience Laboratory, operated by The Nature Conservancy. A statement released today from TNC says the program will "focus on advancing an ambitious science agenda with the potential to benefit conservation on a global scale."

Palmyra Atoll is the new Climate Adaptation & Resilience Laboratory
operated by The Nature Conservancy. Photo from the-scientist.com

     Located in the equatorial Pacific, Palmyra is co-owned and managed as an international research laboratory and national wildlife refuge by TNC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is also part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which, at 13 million acres, is one the world's largest marine protected areas.
     Chad Wiggins, former Hawaiʻi Island marine program director for TNC, who worked on fish recovery programs in Miloliʻi and beyond, is the new program director for Palmyra Atoll. He will work in tandem with exiting program director Alex Wegmann, who intentionally transitioned to director of science for Palmyra in January.
     Ulalia Woodside, executive director of TNC's Hawaiʻi Program, said, "Wiggins has served the Hawaiʻi Island team superbly and is well positioned to lead the Palmyra team, work with Alex to implement globally-important island-based conservation science, and redevelop the Atoll's infrastructure and facilities."

Chad Wiggins worked on Miloliʻi and
other Hawaiʻi Island fish conservation
projects. Photo from TNC

     Wiggins said he is "eager to share how the lessons we can learn from resilient atoll ecosystems like Palmyra will benefit Hawaiʻi, other island people and places, and the rest of the planet. I'm starting by listening to the smartest voice of all—the voice of Palmyra."
     Wiggins started working with TNC Hawai‘i in 2008 as the lone marine staff on Hawai‘i Island. He grew the program through a focus on community-based marine management and diverse conservation partnerships. Under his leadership, TNC has supported site-based coastal conservation initiatives spanning the west coast of Hawai‘i Island, from Kohala to Miloli‘i, including helping the Ka‘ūpūlehu Marine Life Advisory Committee establish their 10-year Try Wait rest area along 3.6 miles of coastline. Recent surveys there showed that after just two years, fish populations inside the preserve are recovering, with 60 percent more wrasses, 30 percent more parrot fish, and 46 percent more kole - surgeon fish. There is also evidence of spillover, or fish populations increasing, just outside the rest area.
     Other projects have included establishing the Conservancy's loko i‘a - fish pond, Kīholo, or Kīholo Preserve; communicating sea level rise impacts on coastal ecosystems; hosting invasive fish removal events; and expanding community networks focused on caring for fishponds and estuaries, anchialine pools, and nearshore marine resources. Today, the west Hawaiʻi coastal zone is one of NOAA's Ten Habitat Blueprint Focus Areas, selected to highlight ways to address the growing challenge of coastal and marine habitat loss and degradation.

Palmyra is 997 miles from South Point and will host a new laboratory to study resilience and climate adaptation under
management of The Nature Conservancy. USGS map

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAWAIʻI RANKS 26TH NATIONWIDE in annual medium household income. However, other rankings by WalletHub, to determine the Best & Worst State Economies, placed  Hawaiʻi as the fourth worst economy in the country. Among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Hawaiʻi ranked 51st in exports per capita; 50th in jobs in-tech industries; 44th in Gross Domestic Product growth; 44th in change in nonfarm payrolls and, 41st in startup activity.

     The top economy is Washington, followed by Utah, Massachusetts, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. The worst, according to WalletHub, is Alaska, followed by Louisiana, Mississippi, Hawaiʻi and West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Wyoming, Rhode Island, and Maine.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

OVERFLIGHTS OF KAʻŪ AND SURROUNDING AREAS were announced for June today by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park:

     June 4, between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., to transport fence material and field equipment and supplies to the Ka‘ū desert boundary between sea level and 1,500-ft. elevation.  

     June 11, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., for ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku Unit, between 4,000- and 6,500-ft. elevation.  

     June 25, between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., for invasive faya tree surveys on Mauna Loa between Nāmakanipaio and Kīpukapuaulu.

     June 26, between 8 a.m. and noon, for invasive Guinea grass surveys and control along Keauhou Trail, from the coast to 2,000-ft. elevation.

Mouflon sheep are ungulates targeted for removal from areas of the
Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. NPS photo

     USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation. HVO plans for a bright yellow helicopter fly over much of Kīlauea's summit and East Rift Zone at an altitude of 396 meters (1,300 feet) above ground level between Thursday, June 13 and Sunday, June 30. The aircraft will fly in a lawn-mowing pattern, back and forth in a northeast-southwest direction. A few smaller areas on Kīlauea, namely parts of the East Rift Zone – Leilani Estates, Ala ʻIli Roadd, and Puʻu ʻŌʻō – the upper Southwest Rift Zone, and the summit caldera, will be flown at a lower altitude of 152 m (500 ft) agl. The purpose is to use LIDAR to map the features and flows from last year's eruption. Learn more from last week's Volcano Watch on Saturday, June 1 Kaʻū News Briefs.

     "The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather," says a statement from the Park.

     "Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KAILEE "KAMALANI" KUHAULUA-STACY IS A CANDIDATE FOR MISS HAWAIʻI ISLAND TEEN USA. The pageant is June 15 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. Winning would qualify her for the statewide contest that leads to nationals.

Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy playing music
at a Kaʻū Coffee Fest event.
Photo by Julia Neal

     The Pāhala resident graduated last month from Kamehameha School-Hawaiʻi and plans to attend college in Salt Lake City, Utah. She recently served as a photographer and social media contributor for the Kaʻū Coffee Festival and played music for one of its events. She is contracted to work with the Kaʻū Coffee Growers Cooperative this summer to help individual farmers with direct sales of their Kaʻū Coffee on their own web sites. During high school, she served as a sports photographer for Kamehameha School and volunteered to photograph sporting events in her home town at Kaʻū High School.

     Supporters can vote for the candidate called Kamalani, contestant #7, for the People's Choice award, by liking her photos on the pageant Facebook. Deadline to vote by liking the contestant photo is this Sunday, June 9 at 7 p.m.

     Pageant tickets for Saturday, June 15 at The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo are $25 and sold by contestants. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. The evening will  include both competition for Miss Hawaiʻi Island Teen USA, for contenders 14 to 18 years of age, and Miss Hawaiʻi Island, for contestants 18 to 28.

     Contestants for Miss Teen are judged in the categories of Interview, Active Wear, and Evening Gown. Miss Hawaiʻi Island, USA includes a Swimsuit category.
     See misshawaiiisland.com.

Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy, at right, volunteering as a photographer at Kaʻū High School sports. She also served as a
photographer for sports at Kamehameha School, where she graduated in May. She competes for Miss Hawaiʻi
Island Teen USA on Saturday, June 15. Photo by Julia Neal

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

JUST ANNOUNCED

CULTURAL FESTIVAL at Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park happens July 13, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's festival theme is E Ho‘omau: To Continue. Last year's festival was canceled due to the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The event offers visitors to "Come learn about Hawaiian culture and enjoy the music of these islands. Experience traditional ‘oli (chant) and hula (dance) while learning a traditional craft. It will be a fun-filled, family-friendly day that shares the connection of Hawaiian people to this storied place on Mauna Loa volcano."

     Performers and crafts will be announced next month. The Volcano House will sell food and refreshments, or bring a picnic lunch. Visitors can learn more about conservation through fun, interactive exhibits sponsored by leading conservation organizations on the festival grounds, located on the southwestern slopes of Mauna Loa. 

      Sunscreen and a hat are recommended. Bring water, rain jacket, and ground mat or chair. A drug- and alcohol-free event. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association.
     Entrance into Kahuku and all events are free. Kahuku is on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5, a 50-minute drive south of the park's main entrance.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

UPCOMING

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Early Head Start, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 10 a.m. to noon, Ocean View Community Center. Social get together for keiki and parents; open to public. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Master Gardeners: Plant Propagation, Wednesday, June 5, 2 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Public Library. Sharing techniques to propagate plants. Free seeds and starts give away. 939-2442

All About Buddhism in the Jodo Shinshu Tradition, Wednesday, June 5 and every following Wednesday, 5 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Book study/talk story. Materials and light refreshments provided. Temple president Robert Kobzi, robertkobzi@aol.com

Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Sammi Fo, Wednesday, June 5 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Keiki Jiggle Bums, Thursday, June 6 and 20 – 1st and 3rd Thursday, monthly – 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. Discover the joy of early learning through song and musical instruments. For keiki 0-4 years. Nicola, 238-8544

Women's Expression Group, Thursday, June 6 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Mtg., Thursday, June 6, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Friday, June 7. Free; donations appreciated. Limited seating available. RSVP in advance. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629

Uplink All-Stars: Grades 6-8, Friday, June 7, to Friday, June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Stewardship at the Summit, Fridays, June 7, 15, 22, and 28, 8:45 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers remove invasive, non-native plants. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves/tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required for those under 18. Free; park entrance fees apply. Paul and Jane Field, field@hawaii.edu, nps.gov/havo

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Stained Glass Basics II: Baubles, Bevels and other Embellishments w/Claudia McCall, Saturday and Sunday, June 8, 9, 15 and 16, 9 a.m. to noon, Volcano Art Center. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, plus $30 supply fee. Open to those with prior copper foil stained glass experience. Advanced registration required. Limited to 6 adults. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mamo o Kāwā ʻOhana Work Day, Saturday, June 8, meet 9:30 a.m., Northern Gate, Kāwā. RSVP to James Akau, jakau@nmok.org, 561-9111. Bring a water bottle, lunch, closed toed shoes, long sleeved t-shirt, and pants. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments provided. nmok.org, facebook.com/NMOK.Hawaii

Zentangle Ulana, Appreciations of Weaving w/Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Volcano Art Center. All welcome, no prior experience necessary. Supplies provided. Students invited to bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest: Binti Bailey & Larry Seyer with the Jazztones, Saturday, June 8, 5:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Tickets available online, $20/VAC Member, $25/non-Member. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

SUNDAY, JUNE 9
Medicine for the Mind: Teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition, Sunday, June 9 – 2nd Sunday, monthly – 3-5p.m., Volcano Art Center. Free; calabash donations welcome. Dress warmly. Patty Johnson, 345-1527

MONDAY, JUNE 10
Summer Algebra Camp: Grades 6-8, Monday, June 10, to Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Supplies provided, free. Registration required, 313-4913, dexsilyn.navarro@k12.hi.us

Early College: High School Students, Monday-Thursday, June 12-July 11, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary. Registration required, 313-4100

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, June 10, 1p.m., contact for location. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

ONGOING

Seamless Summer Program, open to all people under age 18, no registration required, offers free breakfast at Nāʻālehu Elementary and Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary School cafeterias. Meals are available weekdays, June 7 through July 11; no meals Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4. Kaʻū High serves breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call (808) 939-2413 for Nāʻālehu Elementary mealtimes.

Summer Programs for Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary registrations are open.
     Uplink All-Stars runs Friday, June 7 through Friday, June 28 for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     Algebra camp is also open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8 from Monday, June 10 through Friday, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

     Early College, for high school students, runs from Wednesday, June 12 through Thursday, July 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

     All three programs require registration by calling 313-4100. No classes Tuesday, June 11 and Thursday, July 4.

Exhibit – Hulihia, A Complete Change: The Hawai‘i Nei Invitational Exhibition, runs through Sunday, June 16, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Multi-media exhibition of seven artists. Free; National Park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade Sign-Up Open until Thursday, June 20. Parade happens Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. The parade route begins at the Nāʻālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nāʻālehu Hongwanji Mission. To participate, call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872.

Full-Time Teaching Assistant Sought by Tūtū & Me to implement curriculum for caregivers and keiki in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool in Kaʻū. Competitive salary and benefits package, including medical, dental, drug, and vision; flexible spending plan; 403b retirement plan; vacation, sick days, and 14 paid days off; and more.

     Minimum requirement is a high school diploma. Early Childhood Education, related coursework, and/or experience working children preferred. For more, visit pidf.org/about/careers. Apply by emailing resume and cover letter to hr@pidfoundation.org or fax to 808-440-6619.

Hi-Employment Seeks Student Employees to work in a macadamia nut orchard on weekends and holidays. Duties include hand-harvesting macadamia nuts, filling and transporting nut bag and buckets, loading 25-plus pound bags into truck beds, and possible clearing of brush and branches. Applicants must be at least 15 years old, have a work permit, two forms of ID, and transportation to "Panaʻewa Stretch." Call for more details, 238-3741, hi-employment.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.