Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022

A portion of the old Punalu'u restaurant and museum area next to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, where owners and planners
fenced off and propose to clean up and repurpose the remains shown in a photo earlier this year. A public workshop on the plan
will be held by Black Sand Beach, LLC on  Saturday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Robert E. Herkes Gym multipurpose room. 
Photo by Bob Martin

WITH PUNALU'U BEING KAʻŪ'S ONLY BEACH WITH A LIFEGUARD and becoming more crowded, the distance to other beaches with lifeguards becomes part of the conversation.
    According to google map's distance and time from Punalu'u to other beaches with lifeguards, the closest are in Hilo with Onekahakaha at 59.1-mile, one hour, 17 minutes; Carlsmith 59.6 miles, one hour and 17 minutes; followed by Richardson, 60.7 miles, one hour and 19 minutes; and Honoli'i, 60.5 miles, one hour and 20 minutes.
    Going west, the nearest beach park with lifeguards from Punalu'u is Kahalu'u, 62.1 miles, one hour and 20 minutes; followed by White Sands, 63.3 miles, one hour and 30 minutes; followed by Hapuna, 98.3 miles, two hours and 20 minutes; and Spencers, 100.7 miles, two hours and 22 minutes. The driving times
assume little traffic.
    A community workshop on the future of Punalu'u and the lands adjacent to the beach is being held by Black Sand Beach, LLC on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the multipurpose room next to the Robert E. Herkes Gym in Pahala. Black Sand Beach representatives said they hope for more community input before submitting their proposal for renovating the abandoned resort and recreation facilities and building new condos, cottages and retail on the 434 acres makai of Hwy. 11.

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Punalu'u Black Sand Beach, the only beach with a lifeguard in Kaʻū. Other beaches with lifeguards are more than an hour away. Photo by Julia Neal

A COVID HOSPITALIZATION REPORT FROM KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY Hilo Medical 
Center was issued Thursday. Spokesperson Elena Cabatu said Hilo Medical Center is caring for 18
COVID patients. Two of them are in ICU. Nine of them were vaccinated for the virus. She said that nine of them - five who are vaccinated and four unvaccinated were admitted specifically for COVID, while nine - four of the vaccinated and five unvaccinated were admitted for other reasons and tested positive for COViD.

National Guard members assist with vaccines at 
Hilo Medical Center. Photo from HMC

    Cabatu said, the "omicron variant is different from the previous two variants. We’re admitting patients with the primary complaint of COVID and we’re catching incidental COVID in patients admitted for non-COVID related issues. The sheer numbers of cases should be of note and concern to everyone because even a small percentage of these total cases could put additional stress our already taxed healthcare system."
    She said that COVID patient trends in this surge include an older population and about half are vaccinated. Hilo Medical Center's Emergency Department is seeing about 130-150 patients per day, including 25-35 COVID positive patients per day who tested positive before coming to the ER. She said the "come to us mainly for antibody monoclonal treatment. Very few patients are admitted out of these visits."

    Cabatu noted many sectors in the community and in healthcare impacted by COVID positives and exposures, with staffing at clinics and facilities affected. "We are managing according to the CDC healthcare workers guidelines and have high census protocols ready for activation." She recommended a Dan & Friends Town Hall with an Omicron update at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7zkS9i-CXc

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VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH features regular online presentations, including two already posted on the USGS site, one from geologist Carolyn Parcheta entitled Kilauea erupts after more than two years of quiet - twice! and another from geologist Kendra J. Lynn, entitled The Olivine Time Capsule.   

See archives of The Ka`u Calendar at
www.kaucalendar.com and find the
monthly print copy in mailboxes from 
Volcano through Ocean View.

    The one to be posted next Tuesday, Jan. 11 is 2021: A year of earthquake activity on the Island of Hawai'i, from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist Ninfa Bennington . The USGS message on the presentation explains:

    "The last year has been a busy one for seismologists at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Earthquake activity at Kīlauea summit has varied over the past year, with upticks in a variety of seismic signals providing clues to the start of the December 2020 and September 2021 Kīlauea summit eruptions. Currently observed seismic signals at Kilauea are related to ongoing eruptive activity at the summit.
    "In the Pāhala region, swarms of deep (30–40 km or 19–25 mi) earthquakes continue to occur with high frequency and, at times, higher magnitudes.
    Springtime yielded an increase in the frequency of earthquakes immediately west of Mauna Loa’s summit and along the volcano’s Southwest Rift Zone. However, since that time, earthquake activity at Mauna Loa has decreased."

    See the presentations and more at https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/volcano-awareness-month-2022-program.

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KAʻŪ HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM plays Kamehameha on Friday at the Robert E. Herkes Gym in Pāhala at 6 p.m. No spectators are allowed, under new COVID rules. Coaching the Trojans are Douglas Porter and Assistant Coach and JV Coach Troy Gacayan.
    Trojan team members are: Jezekial Jara, Ivan Ramos, Kaimana Manini Kaupu, Bulla Mukini, Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu, Micah Espejo, Cyrus Eder, Jonah Beck, Marky Tamayo, Keenan Toriano, Emman Badua and Jensen Villa;
    Collin Hanshew, Owan Nihipali-Sesson, Kaleem Libunao-Martinez, Patrick Riehle, Brayden Andrade, Jaeston Karasuda, Jeston Penera, TJ Faafia, Vladimir Fedoruk, Triton Blanco, Keaka McDonnel and Roger Miguel.

Kaʻū High's JV Boys Basketball team at practice on Thursday.
Photo from Ka'u High Athletics

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Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022

Ka`u High & Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences' swim team continues competition
around the island into February. Like all sports, no fans are allowed due to Covid 
concerns, as of Jan. 4.  Photo by Kayla Nishimura

KAʻŪ TROJANS ARE HOSTING AND TRAVELING to Swim, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball winter sports events, but without spectators to cheer on the high school teams.
    Kaʻū Trojans Girls Basketball, with Coach Jacob Davenport and Assistant Coach Chrysa Dacalio, was scheduled at Hilo on Wednesday, Jan. 5 and Tuesday, Jan. 11 at Kea'au at 6 p.m. Kaʻū hosts Kohala on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. and travels to Honoka'a on Friday, Jan. 28 for a game at 6 p.m. Kaʻū hosts Pāhoa on Saturday, Jan 29. and Christian Liberty on Tuesday, Feb. 1, both at 6 p.m. Kaʻū travels to Honoka'a on Friday, Feb. 4 for a 6 p.m. game.
    Boys Basketball, with Coach Douglas Porter and Assistant Coach Troy Gacayan, was set for Kamehameha coming to Kaʻū on Friday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū travels to Waiakea on Jan. 12 for game at 6

p.m. Kaʻū hosts Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū hosts Hilo on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m.; Kaʻū travels to Honoka'a for a game on Friday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū hosts Kohala on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū travels to Pāhoa for a game on Friday, Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū hosts Kea'au at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
   The swimming coach is Doreen Fisher with upcoming meets on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 18 at Kamehameha at 10 a.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25 at HPA at 10 a.m. The preliminaries and finals are at Kamehameha on Friday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. The team is comprised of Ka`u High and Volcano School of the Arte & Sciences swimmers.
    Big Island Interscholastic Federation announced in early January that "procedures have been developed, and now modified again, to adjust to the new and continued rise in COVID case numbers due to the new Omicron

variant." Among them is the banning of all spectators at BIIF indoor and outdoor sporting events, until further notice. In addition, all BIIF member schools, and any school who travels to the Big Island to participate in a BIIF athletic event, shall require mask wearing except when student-athletes, coaches and officials are participating in the athletic event. Masks are required when sitting on the bench, going to the restroom, and when on premises before and after the game.
    No concession will be available at any BIIF sanctioned event. No outside food or beverages will be allowed at any BIIF sanctioned event. BIIF Schools who utilize County of Hawai'i facilities, such as the ballpark and Robert E. Herkes Gym in Pāhala may be subject to supplemental County of Hawai'i guidelines that may override BIIF guidelines. Schools using County of Hawai'i facilities must communicate the details of superseding guidelines to the BIIF, visiting teams and fans.

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THE WAIKAPUNA RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING has been redesigned, due to Covid concerns, to be on zoom with now in-person gathering. It is set for Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m..
    Waikapuna is 2,317 acres with miles of Kaʻū Coast, under a county conservation easement and held for stewardship by Ala Kahakai Trail Association.
    The purpose of the meeting is to provide background on the process and schedule for the Management Plan for the land; to gather input on cultural and natural resources to preserve and protect; to understand areas of concern relating to the resources; and to identify opportunities for stewardship.
    The property was purchased in 2019 with public funds to protect it from subdivision.
    Log on at www.zoom.com. Meeting ID is 83744678872. passcode is Kau. For audio only, call 346-248-7700. Meeting ID is 837 4467 9971. Passcode is 816026. The meeting will be recorded. For a link to the recording, contact Gabrielle Sham, Townscape, Inc. at gabrielle@townscape.com.

The Hawaiian, indigenous seabird Noio, Anous minutus melanogenys, nests in lava tubes and ledges along the cliffside of Waikapuna. Photo from Ala Kahakai Trail Association

    According to the website of Ala Kahakai Trail Association, "Waikapuna encompasses the entirety of Kahilipalinui and Kahilipaliiki Ahupua'a of Kaʻū Moku on Hawai'i Island. This purchase covers over 2.3 miles of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail - including what is traditionally known as the Ala Loa. An ancient fishing village of Waikapuna exists here and the acquisition of this wahi pana protects hundreds of intact pre-contact Native Hawaiian burial and non-burial cultural sites.
    "Rich in Native Hawaiian and paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) cultural heritage, the ancient fishing village of Waikapuna includes house sites, heiau, lava tube caves, and ancient trails. It is surrounded by large stands of native coastal vegetation, tidepool complex, and sea caves."
    Waikapuna features "a segment of the Alaloa footpath, large strands of native coastal plant species, and sea cliffs that provide habitat to endangered birds; and provides access to important nearshore resources that many local families still rely on for subsistence. The property also supports ranching, perpetuating Kaʻū's paniolo heritage and contributing to the region's agricultural economy."
    The stated purpose of the County of Hawai'i's conservation easement over Wiakapuna is to: "conserve, preserve, and protect in perpetuity the historic, cultural, agricultural, natural, marine, scenic, open space, fresh water, and native and endemic plant and animal habitat values of the Easement Property."
    Ala Kahakai Trail Association is required to establish a Land Management Plan, consistent with the conservation easement and also the state Legacy Land Conservation Program grant that helped to purchase the Waikapuna land. The County of Hawai'i hired Townscape Inc., an environmental community planning company, to work with the Kaʻū community to develop the Waikapuna Resource Management Plan to serve as a guide for future management and stewardship efforts.
    See more at www.alakahakaitrail.org/waikapuna

A year ago, Kai Kahele, taking
the oath for Congress

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A NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE FROM KAʻŪ'S CONGRESSMAN KAI KAHELE reads as follows:

    "Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou! One year ago this week, I took my oath of office. Although 2021 was a tumultuous year filled with both triumph and disaster for our communities, through it all we continued to move forward together to build a healthier and safer Hawaiʻi.
    "I am proud of the hard work Team Kahele has put in over the last year to deliver results for families, workers and small businesses. I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in Washington, DC and look forward to furthering our shared vision for Hawaiʻi in this new year.
    "Me ka haʻa haʻa (with humility), Kai."

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Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022

Kamehameha Schools has purchased the 665-acre Kahuku Ranch, makai of Hwy 11 near Ocean View.

Photo from Kamehameha Schools

 
KAHUKU RANCH, the 665- acre parcel formerly owned by the Damon Estate, has been purchased by Kamehameha Schools. The historic ranch with its koa home, office, high producing cattle pastures, and ranch quarters is known for its very thick grasslands and its paniolo and Native Hawaiian history. It is adjacent to other Kamehameha Schools lands at Wai'ahukini. The land is on the makai side of Hwy 11, between South Point Road and Ocean View, makai of the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
    A statement issued Jan. 4 from Kamehameha Schools says, the investment "consolidates ownership of area lands that include adjacent KS legacy lands and also provides for potential future agriculture or community education presence in the rural district along the southern tip of Hawai‘i island." The property

A village of seven homes at Kahuku Ranch,
recently acquired by Kamehameha Schools

provides "access to a large swath of KS’ Pākini ahupuaʻa. Additionally, this large property also has highway frontage and access to unique ma uka and ma kai cultural and natural landscapes."
    Jamee Miller, director of KS’ ‘Āina Ulu, which works with KS ʻāina tenants and partners on impactful outcomes that contribute to community resiliency, said the following: “Through responsible stewardship of ‘āina, we support vibrant, resilient communities where keiki learn and thrive. Through planning and collaboration with the community, there is an opportunity to link educational, economic and community resources while forging strong partner networks and relationships.” The ranch could also support agricultural and food systems activities such as securing a lessee to raise livestock or grow fruit trees, says the KS statement. "KS’ immediate focus is on properly securing and stewarding the ‘āina and facilities. While there are no set long-term plans, KS will be carefully assessing all options to create positive resilient community impact."

Punalu'u property managers are asking the public to beware of nene, the Hawaiian goose and state bird, which has taken to crossing the roads. Speed bumps and other improvements to protect the nene are planned at Punalu'u, according to property

managers and owner. A few of the nene have been killed in recent years on the Punalu'u roadway. Photo by Bob Martin

PUNALU'U MANAGERS URGE PROTECTION FOR NENE. "There are a lot of nene this winter at Punalu'u and we are very concerned about their safety," said Black Sand Beach, LLC Project Director Norman Quon who is working on the development plan for the 434-acre property below Hwy 11. He said the Punalu'u management team asks the public to drive slowly on the roads through Punalu'u, especially along the road bordering the golf course between Hwy 11 and SeaMountain condominiums.As many as ten nene have been seen recently on the property, said Quon. He vowed that the management team would work on signage and other nene safety protocol along the private road. "We are even considering perhaps 
building some of the stone walls higher along the golf course to help keep the nene off the road."
    Several nene have been killed along the road in recent years. O Ka'u Kakou President Wayne Kawachi said OKK is involved in setting up speed bumps to slow the traffic and will fill some gaps in the stone walls along the golf course where nene cross the road. He said OKK has reached out to Department of Land & Natural Resources wildlife biologist Raymond McGuire for guidance.

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The future of Punlu'u and the County of Hawai'i pavilions, which are leased from the owners

of Black Sand Beach, LLC, are up for discussion at a workshop on Jan. 15 about future development plans. 

Photo by Bob Martin

A FOURTH MEETING TO BE HELD ON THE FUTURE OF PUNALU'U will be a workshop on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the multipurpose room next to the Robert Herkes Gym adjacent to the Pahala School campus. Norman Quon, Project Director for Black Sand Beach, LLC's plan for the 432-acre oceanfront Punalu'u property, said the planning team wants more input from the community before turning in its proposal to the County of Hawai'i. "We are hoping to turn in a plan during the first 
quarter of this year," he said.
    The property includes the beach park, which is rented to the county; golf course, abandoned tennis center and abandoned commercial buildings, along with undeveloped resort, commercial and residential lands.
    Quon said he will help lead the workshop, along with Black Sand Beach, LLC's principal owner Eva Liu, Planning Consultant Daryn Arai and Project Assistant Jade Cardellos. "It's the next step, to take it to another level, to really get the community and involve the community specifically in the project," said Quon. He said the plans for development have not changed since the three community meetings held in December.

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HIGH INFECTION RATES OF COVID ON THIS ISLAND leading to staffing issues have prompted closing of the Ka`u Drivers Licensing Office on Wednesday, Jan. 5, with the expectation that it will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

    The Hilo office will also be closed and is expected to reopen on Thursday. Additionally, Waimea will be canceling all road tests scheduled for tomorrow and will also be closed for lunch between 12-1 pm. The Hilo Vehicle Registration Office will remain open tomorrow, pending staff availability.
    A statement from County of Hawaiʻi says thanks to "the community for their understanding as we all continue to battle the effects of the coronavirus locally and globally. The County remains committed to providing quality and timely service to all residents and will promptly notify the public of any further changes to regular schedules or services."

A 3.7 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE SHOOK WAI'OHINU AND OCEAN VIEW at 8 p.m. Tuesday. It was located 6 miles north of Waiohinu and 8 miles from Ocean View.

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