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Sunday, June 21, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, June 21, 2020

Live from Volcano at the Skateboard Park
The indoor skateboard park at Cooper Center in Volcano reopened last week. Photo by Julia Neal

JOB TRAINING, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND SMALL BUSINESSES are the designated uses for the $635 million from the federal government to Hawaiʻi through the CARES ACT, as proposed by leaders of the state legislature. The plan is expected to be approved when the legislature reconvenes this week.
     State Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi, House Speaker Scott K. Saiki, Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz, and Rep. Sylvia Luke announced the plan yesterday, to provide "immediate relief to residents and small businesses who are suffering from the devastating economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The plan aims to support and reinforce the social safety net for our residents, rebuild and move our economy forward, and address the ongoing pandemic," said their joint statement.
    Luke, who chairs the state House of Representatives Finance Committee, said, "The Legislature is acutely aware of the daily challenges facing Hawaiʻi's working residents. The economic impacts of COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi has further exacerbated the need to support working families. The CARES Act funds will provide immediate relief for Hawaiʻi's families and local businesses."
     The plan sets aside $230 million to support unemployed residents until the end of the year. Dela Cruz, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said, "These critical funds will provide a new state unemployment insurance weekly benefit that replaces the weekly federal plus-up payments set to expire July 31. Beginning August 1, an estimated 117,000 unemployed individuals will receive the State's enhanced weekly unemployment benefit of $100."
     Over 34,000 households are expected to receive help from the plan's $100 million funded rental and housing assistance subsidies. The State's most financially vulnerable households will receive rental assistance in the form of a $500 monthly subsidy or 50 percent of rent, whichever is lesser, for up to five months from August 1 to December 31.
     Another $56 million will be used to bring back small businesses, support training and job programs connecting unemployed with local businesses in need of employees, and provide manufacturing grants to local companies that can create local supply chains for necessary cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment.
     The House Speaker said, "The push to diversify the State's economy has been a priority for years. The pandemic has exposed the urgency with which we need to provide workforce development and businesses with the tools to learn how to thrive beyond the tourism economy. We are proud to announce this plan that will address the immediate needs of residents and small businesses, and in the process will aide in stimulating our economy."
     Addressing the public health needs of the COVID-19 pandemic is another pillar to the comprehensive funding plan, said the joint statement. The Senate President said, "The Legislature's plan devotes $100 million to distribute ample sanitation and PPE supplies for essential workers beyond the health care community including child care facilities, elderly care homes, small businesses, schools, and non-profits that work with populations vulnerable to the coronavirus." 
     The Legislature's proposed plan builds upon the University of Hawaiʻi's Economic Research Organization's estimates that $618 million in spending will generate more than $1 billion in Gross Domestic Product over the coming year and help Hawaiʻi's households and businesses by supporting up to 6,500 jobs. The plan provides discretion to Gov. David Ige's Administration to spend the remaining CARES funds to pay for unanticipated and emerging needs. This discretionary amount could be used to bolster Hawaiʻi's unemployment insurance funds or support COVID-19 related programs.
     For video of legislators announcing plan, visit facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2759894364335751.

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Project Hawaiʻi, Inc. works with H. Hata & Co. Target and through a Hawaiʻi Community Foundation grant, to
help isolated keiki during the pandemic. Photo from Project Hawaiʻi, Inc.
PROJECT HAWAIʻI INC. is working with H. Hata & Co., Target Stores, and through a grant with Hawaiʻi Community Foundation through the Kuki‘o Community Fund, to provide hundreds of homeless children with meals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Project Hawai‘i Inc. is a volunteer-staffed nonprofit with public donations to serve homeless, unsheltered children around the island throughout the year. With stay-at-home orders instituted to tap down coronavirus spread in March, Project Hawaiʻi directed seven leaders to contact isolated families and those needing resources, in order to give them meals and hygiene supplies to help with the health of keiki.
     Project Hawaiʻi also reached out to help support education when the schools closed, delivering educational packets and fun activities to keep the children's minds engaged.
     Hawaiʻi Community Foundation provided a grant to help fund meals and food box delivery during the Summer. See more on Project Hawaiʻi at helpthehomelesskeiki.org.

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A COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS IN THE WORKS FOR MAUI, according to its County Council member Shane Sincenci. The measure is aimed at diversifying the Maui economy to be less dependent on tourism, which has given it one of the highest unemployment rates in the country – 37 percent – during the COVID-19 pandemic.
     The proposed Charter Amendment would go on the ballot this November. The group supporting a county Department of Agriculture released a statement saying that it would be a critical step to empower the residents of the county "to revitalize an industry that has been in decline for decades. Without this initiative, our agricultural sector will remain that same as it has for decades – and possibly worse. We must fight now so that our community has a chance to thrive and be self-sufficient. There will be people that have been benefiting from the current system who will come out and speak against this measure. It is up to us to remind them that this decision doesn't belong to a select few to decide. It is a decision for our community to vote on." The idea goes before a Maui County Council committee on Tuesday.
Maui County Councilman Shane Sincenci proposes 
a County Department of Agriculture.
     The group developed a list of "vast opportunities and careers with Agriculture" as the driver: Arable farming for food; animal husbandry – including for food, fabrics, nutrient cycling, soil regeneration, and carbon sequestration; aquaculture – including the cultivation of fish, shellfish, bi-valves, and plants/algae, whether within nearshore waters, natural ponds, or holding tanks; forestry – for both harvesting and conservation, including hardwoods or bamboo used for building materials, fruiting trees, or native fauna; horticulture – encompasses crops and gardens for food, flowers, medicinal plants, and herbs for fibers, landscaping for ornamentals, and forestry; biofuels – including horticulture (i.e. sunflowers), aquaculture (i.e. algae), and animal husbandry (i.e. off-gassing capture enclosures); animal processing facilities – establish an affordable, larger capacity, public processing facility; nutrient recycling – composting management for different climates and materials, both green and human waste streams; seed banking – continuous growing for seeds, establish a dry down/climate-controlled bank to ensure seed longevity; markets – direct sales such as farmers markets or CSA boxes, and indirect sales through grocery stores, restaurants, added-value product makers; and added-value products – including foods, beauty products, and household cleaning products, providing data on the types of ingredients being sought/requested and connecting farmers to product makers.
     The County Department of Agriculture would also be tasked with tracking imports – collecting data on agriculture streams coming into the county, and exports – supporting/creating industries that aid farmers in expanding growth potential off-island. It would help with curbing invasive species – establish/increase inspection protocols for incoming agriculture products (i.e. potted plants). It would conduct and support research and development – new and emerging industry research, integrated pest management, farming technologies, processing and distribution technologies, soil remediation, and effects of climate change on the local agricultural sectors. It would support and advocate for farmers and producers. It would assist with workforce development; agricultural engineering, developing alternative plant-based plastics and packaging, and maintain records of growth and development in ag-sector; and oversee the county ag budget items "in a responsible and accountable process," according to their statement.
St. John's Church in Washington D.C., where
Pres. Trump held up a bible after ordering force
to push out peaceful protestors.
Photo bv Julia Neal

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INVESTIGATE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL PROTESTERS, demands Sen. Mazie Hirono and 20 of her colleagues. The Senators wrote Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz, asking him to open an investigation into the conduct of Attorney General William Barr and the Department of Justice in directing the use of force against peaceful protestors around Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020. The President ordered the protestors removed in advance of his standing in front of St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square, across from the White House for a photo opportunity. The church clergy objected.
The interior of St. John's Church.
Photo by Julia Neal
     The Senators also called on the Inspector General to probe the deployment of federal law enforcement "to suppress protests and intimidate protestors" across the country, and the temporary expansion of the Drug Enforcement Agency's authority to "conduct covert surveillance" on Americans participating in protests.
     The  Attorney General was not only on the scene less than an hour before the use of force to clear peaceful protesters, but he also participated in President Trump's photo op, posing for pictures in front of St. John's Church.
     The Senators wrote, "We write to request an immediate investigation into Attorney General William Barr's and the Department of Justice's roles in directing the use of force – including the use of teargas or a similar gas, rubber bullets, pepper balls, and batons – to suppress peaceful protesters around Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., on June 1, 2020. This misuse of force is all the more alarming given that the Attorney General appears to have issued this order to allow President Trump to walk across the street from the White House for a political photo-op in front of St. John's Church.
Presidents John Kennedy, Lydon Johnson and Richard Nixon all attended
 St. John's Church, which welcomes all religions. Photo by Julia Neal
     "We believe that the concerning actions we have identified warrant immediate investigation by your office, as they raise serious questions about misconduct, abuse of power, and waste by the Justice Department. Moreover, there appears to be no question about your office's jurisdiction in this matter.
     "Therefore, as detailed above, we urge your office to investigate the roles of Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice in directing the use of force, including tear gas and rubber bullets, against peaceful protesters near Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020; deploying federal agents to suppress protests and intimidate peaceful protesters; and expanding the authority of DEA to conduct covert surveillance of protesters." Read the letter here.

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LEGISLATION ON JUSTICE IN POLICING AND CONDEMNING POLICE BRUTALITY was cosponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard last week. She backed both the Justice in Policing Act and a resolution condemning police brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive and militarized force throughout the country.
     Gabbard said, "Our nation is facing great heartbreak and trauma in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in broad daylight. Accountability and justice for Mr. Floyd and his family must occur, but that is not enough. As a nation, we must address the many systemic problems that have brought us to this point by enacting significant reforms. This legislation takes the first steps in being able to do that. These problems are complex, will not be solved overnight, and will require us to come together as Americans, in the spirit of aloha – respect and love for others – taking a stand for justice and equality for all." 

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Puʻuhonua o Honaunau's 59th Cultural Festival and Anniversary Celebration is canceled this year. Photo by Kawai Domingo
CANCELED IS THE 59TH HAWAIIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL and Anniversary Celebration at Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. The event would have taken place on June 27 and 28. Following the guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state and local public health authorities, says the announcement, "This difficult decision was made to protect the health and safety of the community as well as our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners. While this year's event has been canceled, you can still witness the wonder of previous Hawaiian Cultural Festivals virtually." A video to commemorate previous Hawaiian Cultural Festivals will be released on Saturday, June 27 at facebook.com/PuuhonuaoHonaunauNPS. Take a virtual park tour: nps.gov/puho.
Large crowds gathered in previous years at the cultural festival. Photo from mosaicsinscience.org
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A SMALLER BIN FOR GLASS RECYCLING at Volcano Recycling & Transfer Station is in place, due to "recurring vandalism concerns," says a statement from the County Solid Waste Division. The non-HI-5 glass recycling roll-off at the station is replaced with a smaller mobile bin.
     Two-Bin Recycling – corrugated cardboard, brown paper bags and non-HI-5 glass – at Volcano Recycling and Transfer Station is available on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public is asked to not leave non-HI-5 glass containers at the site when the mobile bin is not present.
     "We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding as we tackle the challenges of vandalism at this site," says a statement from the county Solid Waste Division.
     Visit hawaiizerowaste.org for locations and more information.

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REGISTER FOR HEALTHY FARM SOILS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP Soil Health Principles—Application and Results of Investing in Your Soils on Tuesday, June 23 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Presented by the National Center for Appropriate Technology and suggested by The Kohala Center, farmers can learn how to apply the five principles of healthy soil management and hear from experienced farmers who have benefited from these practices. Free; advanced registration required at register.gotowebinar.com/register/6393299882850606607.

Cold wax painting by Darcy Gray who will teach a Cold Wax Painting
Class at Volcano Art Center. See more.
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REGISTER FOR A COLD WAX PAINTING CLASS by Darcy Gray on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. The $65/$60 VAC member class is three hours long and will be limited to six people. Advanced registration required: volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222. Students must wear a CDC recommended face covering during class and are required to use the provided cleaning supplies after class. Artists of all levels will be introduced to various methods of working in oil and cold wax medium through an intuitive process utilizing various non-traditional mark-making tools. Students will receive four sheets of 9"x12" Arches Oil Paper and a 4-ounce jar of cold wax medium. "Bring an apron and any oil paints you may have, and a snack if you wish."
     Instructor Darcy Gray holds a B.A. in 3-dimensional design from the City of Birmingham University in England. Her work has been featured in multiple exhibitions throughout Hawai‘i and California, in both solo and group shows. In 2016, she received awards from the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Island Art Alliance, and Honorable Mention in the 2018 Wailoa Center show, Jan Ken Po. For more information on Darcy and her work, visit www.darcygrayfineart.com.

Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is 
zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) 
is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. 
Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map
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TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, including at least one in Kealakekua 96750 zip code, are reported today, with nine more on Oʻahu.
     There are three active cases on this island: Ocean View, Puna, and Kealakekua. The patients are being monitored by DOH.
       The 11 new cases in the islands bring the state's new case total to 176 in 16 days.
     Hawaiʻi Island recorded its three active cases in the last week. All other  82 confirmed COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two hospitalizations on-island; both patients have been released.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 566 cases, Kauaʻi 29, and Maui County 122. Twelve victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 814 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
     The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "Unfortunately, the Islands of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu are now experiencing an increase of positive cases. This emphasizes the importance of understanding that the virus threat remains and we must continue to follow the policies of prevention to protect our community. All of these policies have one purpose, to stop the spread of the virus. Thank you for listening and thank you for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. A Happy Father's Day to all the Papas; stay safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
     In the United States, more than 2,275,319 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 119,949. Worldwide, more than 8,914,528 have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is more than 466,527.

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Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
TO PRESERVE, SUSTAIN, AND RESTORE CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS via a prize competition was the goal of legislation introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ed Case this time last year.
     The Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2019 addressed threats to U.S. coral reef ecosystems by directing the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force to use existing funding to carry out a coral health prize competition. The legislation would allow federal agencies to work with private entities to both fund and administer the prize competition.
Coral reefs support clouds of reef fish. DLNR photo
     Said Hirono, "The waters surrounding Hawaiʻi are home to more than 620 square miles of coral reef and a quarter of the world's marine life, including thousands of native species found nowhere else in the world. Hawaiʻi's coral reefs generate nearly $800 million in economic activity each year for our state. We cannot afford to sit by as the health of our oceans continues to decline. This bill encourages federal agencies as well as the private sector to come together to find innovative solutions to help our declining reefs. Collaborative partnerships such as these are desperately needed to ensure that our marine environments and the numerous services they provide will be around for future generations."
     Said Case, "This no-cost bill amends the proven Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000... Prize competitions that encourage public-private partnerships, such as the one that this bill proposes, have an established record of spurring innovation that can be integrated into a next-generation federal ocean management strategy. This small 
Coral bleaching and other forms of coral death lead to a lack of reef fish.
DLNR photo
step could generate huge leaps forward in the preservation and protection of one of the most critical and endangered corners of our natural world."
     A peer-reviewed study commissioned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates the total economic value of coral reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands alone to be nearly $34 billion. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism and provide shoreline protection during severe weather events by mitigating damaging wave action. Threats to coral reefs include climate change, bleaching, disease, overfishing, pollution, and more.
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard cosponsored the bill. Read the full text here. A one-page summary and fact sheet about the bill is available here. The bill is still supported by Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation.

directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is 
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout 
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at 
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your 
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.

EVENTS
Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND, FSAU.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0522, WashingtonDC 20250-0522. Reference Docket ID: FSA-2020-0004.
     Questions? Contact William L. Beam, (202) 720-3175 or email Bill.Beam@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
     "One well-supported comment is often more influential than a thousand form letters," says UH-CTAHR's Andrea Kawabata. See Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.

Attend a Wildfire Risk for Farms Webinar Wednesday, June 24 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hawaiʻi Farm Fire Management Webinar, presented by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension, offers "Assessing and reducing wildfire risk on your farm! Dry season is here and wildfire risk is ramping up. Are you prepared? Join us for an online webinar about how to assess and reduce wildfire risk on your farm." Clay Trauernicht, UH Extension Specialist in Wildfire Science and Management, will speak on planning for fire preparedness, identifying fire-related hazards on the land, and methods to manage vegetation to reduce fire risk. Q&A facilitated by Josh Silva, Extension Agent in Edible Crops. RSVP at eventbrite.com/e/hawaii-farm-fire-management-webinar-tickets-109038286450.


Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.

Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.

Enter the RevʻULUtion Student Art Contest by Tuesday, June 30. Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative invites all students residing in Hawaiʻi in PreK through 12th grades to create and submit original artwork that will be featured in an upcoming traveling art exhibit, a 13-month calendar, and across the internet on the cooperative's partners websites and social media. The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of ʻulu as a "resilient cultural and agricultural resource" that is a "viable option for increasing food security and self-sufficiency across the Hawaiian Islands.
     Each student may submit as many pieces as they wish on 8.5 by 11 paper, in the landscape (horizontal) orientation. Any art medium, except computer graphics and photographs, may be used as long as the artwork is flat and can be scanned. Each entry must be accompanied by a short – 75 words or less – explanation of ʻUlu's Place in Hawaiʻi: Past, Present, and Future, and an entry form.
     Visit eatbreadfruit.com/pages/artcontest for more information and to submit an entry.

Apply for Energy Assistance through June 30 for help to pay energy bills. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program assists eligible people with a one-time payment towards their electric or gas bill. See humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap.

Cold Wax Painting Class by Darcy Gray, Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. $65/$60 VAC member. Must wear CDC-recommended face covering, required to use provided cleaning supplies after class. Artists of all levels welcome. Limited to six people, advanced registration required: volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222.

ONGOING

Avocado Growers Survey Open: Help identify opportunities for expanding the local avocado industry, to assist local farmers, buyers, and agencies develop strategies to bolster Hawaiʻi's avocado industry, says Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United. Farmers and farm names will be kept anonymous. Results will be shared publicly. Survey completion gives option to register to win a $200 gift certificate to Home Depot. For a hard copy of the survey, email: info@growfruithawaii.com. Take the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/Hawaiiavosurvey2020.

Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at VolcanoArt Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano ArtCenter Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222

Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
     The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
     A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.
     To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
     For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
     A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.

Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. The ʻOhana Food Drop program is being phased out. Nāʻālehu's final date is tentatively Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24 or July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Go to Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. until pau. There will be no July date.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
     Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
     The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
     See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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Saturday, June 20, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, June 20, 2020

Tina Neal returned to a post in Alaska this week after five years of keeping up with Kīlauea Volcano and many other 
matters at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Here, she talks with Secretary of the Interior David Berhardt and Acting 
Superintendent of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Rhonda Loh about the future of HVO headquarters following the 
2018 eruption and earthquakes that made it unusable. Bernhardt committed to rebuilding and keeping HVO near Kīlauea. 
Photo by DOI/Tami A. Heilemann
See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

SAY ALOHA TO TINA NEAL, Scientist-in-Charge at U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. As s she returns to Alaska, the focus of this week's Volcano Watch is Tina Neal herself, written by USGS HVO scientists and affiliates:  "Extraordinary tenure ends for leader of USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory," says Volcano Watch, with the following story:
Tina Neal, HVO Scientist-in-Charge from 2015–2020, 
ended her tenure on June 19, 2020USGS photo
     The extraordinary leadership of Tina Neal as Scientist-in-Charge of USGS HVO comes to an end this week. She  returns to a post Alaska Volcano Observatory after fulfilling her five-year commitment to HVO. David Phillips, HVO's Deputy SIC, will take the helm until Tina's successor arrives.
     By her own admission, nimbleness became a central theme of Tina's leadership. She continually strived to move HVO forward as a responsive and innovative team during periods of rapid and remarkable changes on Kīlauea Volcano, within the observatory, and around the world.
     Tina began her HVO leadership role in March 2015 just as Kīlauea's "June 27th" lava-flow threat to Pāhoa ended. In May 2016, a new vent erupted on the flank of Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and by late July, the resulting lava flow entered the ocean at Kamokuna in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The lava entry quickly drew thousands of visitors on land and in boats to witness up close lava building new land.
     Tina spurred HVO geologists to take a fresh and detailed look at hazards associated with the growth and collapse of active lava deltas as described in science publications and internal reports. Their analyses resulted in the designation of a high-hazard area extending a minimum distance of 300 m (984 ft) around the lava-entry zone. The National Park used this revised distance to establish a safe viewing area, which ultimately helped Park personnel to avert injuries or loss of life during a large lava delta collapse on New Year's Eve in 2016.
     On April 30, 2018, a large intrusion of magma into the lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea began, prompting HVO to issue a Volcano Activity Notice describing the activity and indicating that an eruption was possible downrift (east) of Puʻu ʻŌʻō. On May 3, the first of many fissures erupted downrift of Puʻu ʻŌʻō in the Leilani Estates subdivision and nearby areas. Soon after, Kīlauea's summit began collapsing as magma from the summit reservoir steadily moved into the lower East Rift Zone.
Tina Neal, responding to Kīlauea's Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption, in November of 1983. At that time, USGS personal
protective equipment standards differed. USGS photo
     Tina was at the center of HVO's response to this remarkable eruption and summit collapse. Earthquakes and ground settling at the summit soon damaged HVO's main building, which forced the immediate and unprecedented move of the observatory’s center of operations from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to temporary offices in Hilo, the first of three moves in less than a year.
     During the 2018 events, HVO sustained 24/7 operations with support from nearly 100 scientists and volunteers chiefly from the USGS and University of Hawaiʻi. Tina was constantly on the move to bolster HVO's response in order to provide up-to-date scientific information and warnings for the public, as well as Federal, State, and County incident command teams, and to research and document the eruption for real-time and future analyses of extensive data sets.
     After the eruption ceased, Tina began the long process of planning for a new USGS office building and field station, which will house both HVO and the Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center. Numerous meetings regarding location, type of facilities, construction requirements and costs have resulted in preliminary plans that will guide the process forward.
Tina Neal gave many public presentations
during the 2018 eruption. USGS photo
     During her tenure, Tina persistently worked to embrace expanded volcano-monitoring capabilities, including the use of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems; anticipate changing hazardous conditions on Kīlauea; prepare HVO staff and Hawaiʻi residents and officials for a future eruption of Mauna Loa; and ensure employee safety and well-being. She also supported the dissemination of authoritative USGS information through news and social media, public briefings, and written reports and publications.
     Tina's most lasting legacy, however, will undoubtedly be the unprecedented numbers of new HVO staff hired to fill permanent USGS positions added to improve the observatory's science and operational capabilities and to replace retirements and transfers. She also oversaw the addition of several temporary positions through a long-standing cooperative agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.
     In a final challenge, Tina ends her leadership role amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced HVO staff to work remotely and embrace innovative ways of interacting. All the while, she kept employees safe, engaged, and ready to face future changes on Hawaiian volcanoes.
     We offer Tina a profound "mahalo" for her leadership, compassion, inspiration, and nimbleness over the past five years and wish her well in her future endeavors in Alaska.
     Volcano Activity Updates
     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly.
     Kīlauea monitoring data for the past month show variable but typical rates of seismicity and ground deformation, low rates of sulfur dioxide emissions, and only minor geologic changes since the end of eruptive activity in September 2018. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information on the lake, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html.
Tina Neal speaking in front of a recent lava flow during activity in 2016. USGS photo
     Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
     This past week, about 75 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (~5 miles). Global Positioning System measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
     No felt earthquakes were reported in the Hawaiian islands during the past week. 
     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
     Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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FOURTEEN NEW CASES WERE ADDED TO THE STATE'S COVID-19 count today with seven on Kauaʻi, six on Oʻahu, and one on Maui. No new cases on Hawaiʻi Island were reported.
     Most of the cases were discovered by contact tracing – testing those associated with a person with COVID on Kauaʻi and testing others on Oʻahu associated with other victims.
     State Director of Health Bruce Anderson issued a statement today explaining the importance of tracing and testing to prevent further spread. He and other health officials concluded the people are relaxing their guard against COVID by abandoning wearing of masks and distancing from other people. They also urged people to maintain frequent hand-washing practices.
     Friday's COVID-19 case surge was the largest since April 2. The Department of Health reported that the majority of new cases are associated with "community clusters in large households with crowded conditions, adult care and long-term nursing facilities, and with a faith-based group gathering at a home." All of Friday's new cases are Hawaiʻi residents: 22 adults, five children. None of them are on this island.
     Hawaiʻi State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park, commented, "These clusters really emphasize our call for the continuation of safe practices, including physical distancing, using face coverings, frequent hand washing, and staying home and away from others when sick. Virtually all of the newly reported cases of COVID-19 are due to community-spread, often from a group setting." She said there is no evidence the spike in cases is due to recent protests. "Nonetheless, we continue to strongly encourage physical distancing and the use of face masks when people are engaged in practicing their First Amendment rights, or while in any other large gatherings, with people who don't live in the same household."
     A faith community on Oʻahu, having gatherings in a home, prompted health authorities to reiterate safe practices for people being together in crowded conditions, reports DOH. As many as 35 of the new cases are linked to the meetings. Guidance based on best practices from sources such as DOH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and from research institutions and municipalities across the country is available online: oneoahu.org/house-of-worship-guidance.
Image from Oregon governor's office.
     The Health Director said, "Despite our recent spike in cases, all of our testing and contact tracing procedures are working exactly as intended. Additional cases are being identified and added to the case count as a result of aggressive investigations, contact tracing and testing of household contacts."
     This week at the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness meeting, Alan Oshima, the Governor's Recovery and Resiliency Navigator said he sees members of the public failing to observe contamination protocols such as wearing masks and physical distancing in public. He said with recent low contamination numbers, people may have a false sense of security about catching the disease. "We all have a personal responsibility to help maintain public health for our families and the entire community," said Oshima.
     See the Hawaiʻi Department of Health COVID-19 site and the Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative COVID-19 Tracking site for many details on tracking and analyzing the impact of COVID. Also look for a new tool for the public, to safely help guide reopening efforts, at recoverynavigator.hawaii.gov.
Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is 
zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured) 
is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. 
Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map
     State Sen. Dru Kanhua, who represents the western part of Kaʻū into Kona, urged yesterday for continued vigilance against the virus: "Although many of us have slowly regressed into our normal routine, today's spike is a reminder that COVID-19 is not a thing of the past. This new normal will require just a little more attention, vigilance, and commitment for the health, safety, and well-being of our West Hawai‘i community. Therefore, let us continue to incorporate general physical precautions into our daily routines – wear a mask when in public, remain at home unless to retrieve essentials or exercise, wash hands frequently, and practice social distancing."
     On Hawaiʻi Island, no new cases are reported today. There are two active cases here, one in Ocean View, one in Puna. Both cases are identified as travel-related and state Department of Health asks the public to "emphasize the importance of caution while traveling." Both cases are monitored by DOH.
     The 14 new cases today on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and in Maui County, bring the state's new case total to 165 in 15 days.
     Hawaiʻi Island recorded its two new cases in the last three weeks. The other 81 COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. Since the pandemic began, no one died here. There were two hospitalizations on-island; both patients have been released.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu reported 557 cases, Kauaʻi 29, and Maui County 122. Twelve victims are residents diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 803 people were confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
     The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "The Island of Hawaiʻi is doing well in minimizing the spread and impact of this virus. During the weekend when we gather and enjoy the lifestyle of Hawaiʻi, please continue practicing the policies of distancing, gatherings, cleanliness, face coverings, and keeping yourself physically and emotionally healthy. All of these policies have one purpose; to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Thank you for listening. Stay safe on this special day of World Peace and the First Day of Summer. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
     In the United States, more than 2,255,119 cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 119,719. Worldwide, more than 8,791,794 have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is more than 464,465.

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"Light" to "weak" intensity is how felt reports of today's
M3.6 earthquake ENE of Pāhala are recorded. USGS map
A 3.6-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE shook the island about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east northeast of Pāhala this afternoon at 3:49 p.m. Felt reports came in from all over Hawaiʻi Island, at light to weak intensities. No damage is reported. The quake was not strong enough to generate a tsunami.

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KONA RECEIVED 114 NEW AIR ARRIVALS ON THURSDAY, according to hawaiitourismauthority.org. Air travel is slowly increasing since the lifting of the 14-day interisland quarantine. Of the arrivals, 49 were visitors, 48 returning residents, and seven were relocating to Hawaiʻi Island. The remainder were nine crewpersons and one person in-transit.
     The state welcomed 1,767 people on Thursday. Of those, 575 were visitors and 519 were returning residents.

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DADS IN HAWAIʻI ARE THE THIRD HEALTHIEST IN THE NATION, according to a WalletHUb report leading into Fathers Day. The health ranking was partly based on life expectancy for men, where Hawaiʻi came in third, tied with Connecticut, Colorado, and New York. The list ranking in metrics used for health includes insured rate. Hawaiʻi ranks second in the nation, just behind Massachusetts, and ahead of Vermont, D.C., and Minnesota.
    The Aloha state ranks 12th in the work-life balance metric, 33rd in child care, and 44th in economic and social well-being. Hawaiʻi ranks 32nd overall for working dads.
     WalletHub reports that, in 1960, 75 percent of American families relied on a single income, "that of the dad, who spent much of his week at work while mom stayed home with the kids. Today, two-thirds of family households depend on two incomes. Plus, the contemporary dad no longer fits neatly into the standard of the married breadwinner and disciplinarian. That's especially true this year, as many fathers are working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and face a unique opportunity to spend more time face-to-face with their children and help teach them while schools are closed.
     "Regardless of the changing identity and priorities of the modern dad, fatherhood remains an undisputedly tough job, and a father's ability to provide for his family is central to his role. In fact, over 93 percent of dads with kids younger than 18 were employed in 2019, and while millions of men have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are being laid off less often than women. However, not all working dads are in the same situation; those who live in states with greater economic opportunity and quality of life have it better than others."

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TRY OUT A NEW TOOL TO SHOW THE STATE HOW TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, urges Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi. Available at grassrootinstitute.org/budget, the tool allows Hawaiʻi's taxpayers to "show lawmakers how to balance the budget," says Keliʻi Akina, president and CEO of Grassroot Institute. " It's time to work together to navigate Hawaiʻi's financially uncertain future."
The public is encourged to play with the numbers
to help balance the state's budget. This is the beginning
distribution, with the largest portion representing
fixed costs. Go to grassrootinstitute.org/budget/.
     Akina says, "With the click of a button, Hawaiʻi residents can balance the state budget and understand where their tax money goes. This tool makes it easy to see that modest cuts can balance the budget without any need to increase taxes or debt. If our lawmakers had not increased spending so much since 2018, there would be no need to cut at all."
     The institute's new budget tool accounts for the recent actions by the Legislature to balance the budget, such as its $740 million in cuts to Gov. David Ige's budget and replenishing the state's rainy day fund with $735 million from special funds and other sources, according to a Grassroot report from earlier this year. However, finding other ways to reduce the debt "will not be as easy," since $4,254,697,897 – or 63 percent of the state's projected revenues of $6,700,712,000 – of the general fund goes toward "fixed costs," such as the state retirement fund, the state health benefits fund, debt, and Medicaid, says the group.
     Akina urges lawmakers to refrain from using the entire $1.1 billion rainy day fund to balance this year's budget. "Some of the money could be used now," he said, "but the rest should be pocketed for later, in case it is needed for the uncertain times ahead. More than half of every dollar spent by the state goes toward benefits and debt. If our lawmakers can't find ways to reduce those costs, then all other options will need to be put on the table as the state enters a period of enormous financial uncertainty."
     Akina said that Hawaiʻi's projected $1.4 billion general fund deficit in fiscal year 2021 could be balanced by using $700 million from the rainy day fund, making 15 percent cuts across the board, and delaying salary increases, says a statement from the group. That would still save $431 million in the rainy day fund and bring general fund spending to $7.7 billion, which is just below FY 2018 levels of $7.8 billion, according to a 2019 Grassroot report.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN through June 30 to those who have lost income during the pandemic. Those needing help to pay their energy bill may be eligible for Department of Human Services' Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Energy Credit Assistance Program. LIHEAP provides heating and/or cooling assistance to Hawaiʻi households in need, by assisting with a one-time payment towards their utility bill, electric or gas. To see qualifying circumstances and to apply, go to humanservices.hawaii.gov/bessd/liheap/.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

CELL PHONE SCAMS involve sending people text messages regarding their accounts for their phones and other services, warns Hawaiʻi Police Department. The scammer sends out a text message pretending to be a telecommunications company, such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint. The text informs customers that their payment has been blocked and to call 1-888-312-6806. During the call, the scammer asks for personal information.
     HPD says to never provide personal information over the phone or on-line – to include date of birth, social security numbers, credit card information, bank account information, etc. – to anyone whose identity is unconfirmed.   
     Anyone contacted by a person involved in a scam, either by phone or via the internet, is asked to call HPD's non-emergency number, (808) 935-3311, to report the activity.

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ST. JUDE'S ONLINE WORSHIP is available at stjudeshawaii.org. People are invited to join the Zoom Aloha Hour, Sunday, June 21 at 11 a.m. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6843449828?pwd=YW94djVvU0szOGNKaFZ1V0pUL1owUT09, meeting ID: 684 344 9828, password: Aloha.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A new Hale built last year inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in honor of Kumu Hula Ab Valencia, with 
assistance from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and many others. 
Photo from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year

The late Kumu Hula Ab Valencia.
Photo by Dinno Morrow
THE HALE PROJECT, supported by Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Puʻuohonua O Honaunau, was in full swing this time last year, with the building of a traditional Hawaiian structure at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Friends reported that money raised, beginning in 2015, funded the construction.
     Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien said a promise was made to Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner and kumu hula Irenio "Ab" Kawainohoikalaʻi Valencia to rebuild the Hale. "He was the original FHVNP project manager, and we were devastated when he passed in 2017. Every time we pass the Hale, we can feel his presence and love.
     "The project started with the stripping of bark from ironwood logs (due to Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, we no longer are able to use the ʻōhiʻa trees), and collecting materials to rebuild. The pa hula is a very special and significant cultural area. The Hale allows for dancers to get ready before a performance."
     See more on Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at fhvnp.org.
The Hale under construction at pa hula in Volcano uses ironwood instead of ʻōhiʻa posts to prevent the 
spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Photo from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park


directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is 
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout 
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at 
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your 
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.

EVENTS
Make Reservations for Father's Day at Crater Rim Café in Kīlauea Military Camp for Sunday, June 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seating limited due to social distancing. Dinner also available to go. The main course is Prime Rib and Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake, with side dishes and dessert, for $27.95 per person. Call 967-8356 for dine-in reservations, to-go orders, and current event information. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND, FSAU.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0522, WashingtonDC 20250-0522. Reference Docket ID: FSA-2020-0004.
     Questions? Contact William L. Beam, (202) 720-3175 or email Bill.Beam@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
     "One well-supported comment is often more influential than a thousand form letters," says UH-CTAHR's Andrea Kawabata. See Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.

Attend a Wildfire Risk for Farms Webinar Wednesday, June 24 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Hawaiʻi Farm Fire Management Webinar, presented by University of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension, offers "Assessing and reducing wildfire risk on your farm! Dry season is here and wildfire risk is ramping up. Are you prepared? Join us for an online webinar about how to assess and reduce wildfire risk on your farm." Clay Trauernicht, UH Extension Specialist in Wildfire Science and Management, will speak on planning for fire preparedness, identifying fire-related hazards on the land, and methods to manage vegetation to reduce fire risk. Q&A facilitated by Josh Silva, Extension Agent in Edible Crops. RSVP at eventbrite.com/e/hawaii-farm-fire-management-webinar-tickets-109038286450.

Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.

Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.

ONGOING
Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
     The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
     A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.
     To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
     For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
     A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.

Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. The ʻOhana Food Drop program is being phased out. Nāʻālehu's final date is tentatively Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24 or July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Go to Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. until pau. There will be no July date.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
     Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
     The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
     See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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