Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 29, 2024

Hōkūle‘a and Maui Voyaging Canoes stopped off in Miloli‘i as part of Polynesian Voyaging Society’s outreach to communities
for late October and early November. Photo by Eric Edwards

MILOLI'I IS A SHELTERING BAY FOR Polynesian Voyaging Society's Hōkūleʻa and Maui’s voyaging canoe Moʻokiha O Piʻilani of Hui O Waʻa Kaulua. They sailed into Miloli‘i in late October for five days of public engagement. The voyage follows a visit to Kahoʻolawe where the crew was welcomed at Honokanaiʻa by the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana’s Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission.
    Polynesian Voyaging Society describes the “brief but emotional over night stop at Kahoʻolawe” which included “a visit to the island’s sacred navigation platform and the sharing of stories from the last 50 years of work to reclaim, restore, and heal this special place. In the 1970’s, the stopping of the bombing of Kahoʻolawe and the birth of Hōkūleʻa to revive ancient Hawaiian voyaging were simultaneously part of the movement of what would become the Native Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance.”

Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hokule‘a shelters at Miloli‘i as the crew opens up for
 public and student outreach into Ka‘ū and South Kona. Photo by Eric Edwards

    At 6 a.m. Oct. 26, Hōkūleʻa departed Kahoʻolawe and arrived in Miloliʻi at 5:30 p.m. Originally, the crew planned to sail to southwest Maui’s Keoneʻōʻio Bay, also known as La Perouse, which voyagers call “the gate” to one of the most dangerous channels in the world, the Alenuihāhā channel between Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. However, due to weather, the crew sailed directly to Miloliʻi. The two-week engagement included Miloliʻi and Hōnaunau (Oct. 28 to Nov. 1), Keauhou (Nov. 1-8) and Kawaihae (Nov. 8-15). A public engagement schedule will be announced soon.

    Polynesian Voyaging Society describes this Pae ʻĀina sail as “part of Hōkūleʻa’s larger mission to sail around the Hawaiian Islands, engaging communities in cultural and educational experiences and exchanges focused on mālama honua (caring for our island Earth). Each stop allows students and the general public alike to connect with the legacy of exploration, environmental stewardship, and aloha ʻāina that Hōkūleʻa embodies.”
For more on Polynesian Voyaging Society, a map and more info on the sail, see www.hokulea.com.

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Four of the five Trojan wrestlers last year qualified for state. They were La‘akea Kajiwara-Ke, Ocean Nihipali-Sesson, Rain Nihipali-Sesson, Alazae Forcum, Stephen Adler II, and Eli Crook. Coaches left to right were Head Coach Ray Mazyck, Assistant Coach Joe DeYoung, and Assistant coach Connor Norton. Photo by Elizabeth Crook

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PRE-SEASONING CONDITIONING FOR WRESTLING began in late October for the Ka‘ū Trojans BIIF team, which sent four out of five of its members to states last year.
    Head Coach Ray Mazyck said he is looking forward to another winning season. “This season is really promising. We have a large turn-out and have generated a lot of interest. I expect the boys and girls to really put the work in this season and become a dominant force on the island.”
    Assisting the Head Coach are Head Assistant Coach Connor Norton, Assistant Coach Tim Drafahl, and Women’s Coach Chantel Bender.
    Big Island Interscholastic Federation is also heating up for winter, with coaches meetings, student weigh-ins and preseason tournaments. Girls Weight Classes, at scratch weight are:100,105,110,115,120,125,1 30,135,140,145,155,170,190 and 235 lbs. Boys Weight Classes, at scratch weight are: 106,113,120,126,132,138, 144,150,157,165,175,190,215 and 285 lbs. The testing date for all schools weight certification will be Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. at Honoka‘a High School and on Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. at Kea‘au High School.
    A JV Wrestling Invitational will be held at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy on Dec. 7 at 10. a.m and on Dec. 14 at Pāhoa High School. There will be a wrestling tournament on Dec. 21 at Kealakehe and on Dec. 27 at Punahou. Dec. 21. Regular Season Schedule will be every Saturday in January.

Rain Nihipali-Sesson, a Junior at Kaʻū High in 2023, works for pin against a Hilo girl. A senior at Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences this year, she will wrestle for Ka‘ū again. Photo by Coach Ray Mayzik

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THE FREE HEALTH FAIR IN NĀ’ĀLEHU ON SUNDAY, Nov. 3 is called Kūlia I Ka Nu‘u and will from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua grounds behind Punalu‘u Bakeshop. It is sponsored by Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society.
    It includes Lā‘au Lapa‘au, health screenings, food demonstrations, resource provider demonstrations, mele and hula.
    The first 200 people to attend will receive fresh fish plates cooked by the new owners of Hana Hou Restaurant. Among the presenters are Mother’s Milk from Waimea, Ka‘ū Hospital & Rural Health Clinic, Ed Rau food and medicinal plant expert, Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi, Women’s Recovery, Geneology with Babs Brooks & ‘Ohana, Ka‘ū Women’s Health Collective Midwives and Jonathan Whites with his honey water. Most will give short stage presentations and be available at their booths.

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Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 28, 2024

The new Pāhala wastewater treatment plant is soon to be under construction, set back from the pine tree entrance to the village on Maile Street. Macadamia orchards will be irrigated with treated water. Image from County of Hawai'i

PĀHALA  SEWER PROJECT TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION: The Implementation Plan for the new wastewater, sewage system for Pāhala was submitted to the EPA on Oct. 24 by County of Hawai‘i. The County also announced awarding the construction contract to Goodfellow Brothers, Inc., with work anticipated to be approximately 18 months, beginning in January. Read the Implementation Plan at https:// www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/home/ showpublisheddocument/308434. 

    The Implementation Plan describes the remaining planning, design, and construction schedule for the package wastewater treatment plant and new collection system, following EPA’s approval of the Final Environmental Information Document. 

    The County is overseeing the design and engineering, and the acquisition of necessary land and easements, for the collection system, treatment plant, and disposal system. Owners of homes in the affected area will have received via USPS a right-of-entry agreement for the construction of the new collection system. The County asks that owners sign the agreement and return it to the County in the enclosed envelope. 

   With questions, call the phone numbers listed in the letter. The final deadline for the County to close the large capacity cesspools is January 22, 2027. Those cesspools are illegal nationally and are left over from the sugar plantation days.

Moses Kaho'okele Crabbe and his halau will  perform at Ho'okupu Hula No Kaʻū Cultural Festival on Saturday, Nov.2.

FIVE HALAU WILL GRACE HO'OKUPU HULA NO KA'U CULTURAL FESTIVAL this Saturday, along with musical performers and cultural practitioners. Kumu Debbie Ryder said she welcomes hālau from afar and near and headliner singer Ku‘uipo Kumukahi along with the musical group He Mea Hou, led by Victor Chock. 

   The free event begins at 9 a.m. at Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua grounds in Nā‘ālehu, with Pule and Ho‘okupu, with Ku‘uipo Kumukahi at 10 a.m. She is followed by: 

    Hālau O Kaleo A Keahialapalapa with Kumu Hula Naoho Kanahele along with musical performers and cultural practitioners. Kumu Debbie Ryder said she welcomes halau from afar and near and headliner singer Ku'uipo Kumukahi along with the musical group He Mea Hou, led by Victor Chock.

    The event begins at 9 a.m. with Pule and Ho'okupu. Ku'uipo Kumukahi at 10 a.m. She is followed by:

    Hālau O Kaleo A Keahialapalapa with Kumu Hula Naoho Kanahele, Kanakaole, great granddaughter of Aunty Edith Kanakaole;

    Hālau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama with Kumu Hula Emery Acerat, whose ʻūniki is from the Late Ray Fonseca;

    Hālau Hula ‘O Leionalani with Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder whose ʻūniki is from the late Loea George Lankilakeikiahiali‘i Naope; 

    Ho‘omaika‘i Hula Studio with Kumu Hula Shona LamHo, an O‘ahu Hula sister of Debbie Ryder; 

    Hālau Auolaokalani with Kumu Hula Moses Kaho‘okele Crabbe.

    Cultural practitioner demonstrations include: Net Making with Uncle Chucky Leslie of Nāpō‘opo‘o;

    Poi pounding and demonstrating with Bobbie Pahia from Maui and Kawehi Ryder of Pāhala; 

    Medicinal Awa (Kava) with Todd Reilly. 

    There will also be food and vendor booths. The Saturday festival is followed by a free Kulia I Ka Nu‘u Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday at the same location, sponsored by Hawaiian Music Perpetuation Society. It includes La‘au lapa‘au, health screening, food demonstrations, resource provider demonstrations mele and hula.

Ku‘uipo Kumukahi headlines the  cutlural fest at Ke Ola Pu‘uhonua grounds in Nā‘ālehu this Saturday.

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Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 27, 2024

An artist's rendering of how two of the proposed solar farms would look from a drone if they were to be built as planned in Ranchos. 17 such projects, each covering three acres, are planned to be built among existing homes throughout the west side 

of the subdivision. The rendering is by John Fretz, a graphic artist who lives in Ranchos.

PUC STILL CONSIDERS APPROVING INDUSTRIAL SOLAR IN OV NEIGHBORHOODS. The eight-year-long fight over the proposed construction of an industrial-scale solar power generating facility in Ocean View took a new twist in October when a state Public Utilities Commission Hearings Officer released a draft of his report. It recommends that the solar project be allowed and that the PUC decide if the project is "in the public interest."    

    The project would allow 17 three-acre houselots to be fenced in and covered with solar panels. They would be built on lots intended for housing. The energy produced would be sold to Hawaiian Electric at 25c per kWh - nearly triple the current market price. Homes could be adjacent to industrial solar lots stripped of trees and bulldozed.
    The complaint was filed with the Public Utilities Commission in August 2016 by Peter and Annie Bosted, who live in Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos, below Highwy 11. Many home and lot owners there

joined to launch an opposition, which is documented by a petition, public testimony at community meetings and numerous letters to the PUC. Opponents contend that the solar would come with a high price for the electricity sold to Hawaiian Electric, and with degradation of family neighborhoods that would be turned into a mix of housing and industrial.
    "I find it mind-boggling" is the recent comment by Ranchos resident Bob Werner. "I have been following this case since it began." He said the recent PUC report "is based on a truly shocking and disturbing misunderstanding of the complaint. Many important points have been ignored, twisted, or apparently misunderstood.
    "Over a year ago the Bosteds filed follow-up briefs, amounting to about 40 pages, which detailed the case complete with evidence, citations, rules of law and everything necessary for the commission to come to a well reasoned decision," said Werner. "Now, by law, the Bosteds have less than two weeks to file 'exceptions' and ask for them to be corrected; this after it has been in the hands of the Commission for over a year. For them it will be like picking up the pieces of Humpty Dumpty and gluing the case back together again with more documentation. The way it has been completely changed is staggering and responding to all the misinterpretations and faulty reasoning will be extremely difficult in such a short time."
    Werner, a retired elected county evaluator, also said, "The Hearings Officer complains that he was given a very narrow task and that many issues were outside his scope." The Hearings Officer is recommending that the Commission definitively determine whether such projects as the one proposed at Ocean View are in the public interest.
    Last year the Hawai'i Supreme Court addressed proposed solar projects conceived years ago that don't necessarily result in a lower price for electricity and are far behind the current approach to alternative energy. The Court stated that, with regard to energy projects conceived decades ago, "yesterday's good enough has become today's unacceptable" and named numerous factors not in the public interest. The Court added, "The PUC was under no obligation to evaluate an energy project conceived of in 2012 the same way in 2022. Indeed, doing so would have betrayed its constitutional duty."

    Solar projects now coming on line near Waikoloa sell electricity to HE for about 9c per kWh and they have backup batteries.  Since the Ocean View project will not have batteries, it will supply power only when the sun is shining and will be paid 25c per kWh.

 

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An Alumni Scholarship Endowment for Kaʻū High graduates is 
being created through University of Hawai'i Foundation.

A PĀHALA-KAʻŪ HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT AT UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT HILO is in the making. Gary Ota, a 1966 graduate of Kaʻū High School, assisted in making the arrangement with University of Hawaii Foundation. He reports that so far, $26,000 of $50,000 to start funding the endowment has been raised. Once the $50,000 goal is reached, scholarships will be made available to Kaʻū High School graduates for perpetuity.
    Ota notes that due to the relatively large Federal standard deduction amounts, and the increased Hawaii standard deduction amounts, donors may not receive any tax benefit by deducting contributions on tax returns. The threshold for states other than Hawai'i may vary.
    Donors older than 70 ½, with an IRA, may consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from the IRA. QCDs may not be made from other types of retirement accounts (e.g. 401k, 403b, TSP, etc.)

    Those younger than 70 ½ and those without an IRA, could receive the benefit of QCD by partnering. Ota said that for a minimum $150, he will make a $200 QCD from his IRA for the donor. Or, a 25% "discount" on any larger amount. If interested, contact Ota at 808-622-2900.
    For those 73 and older, and subject IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirements, a QCD can be applied toward the RMD.
    To avoid tax on capital gains, donors may also consider contributing stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds which have significantly appreciated in value since their purchase, said Ota who can be contacted for details.
    Checks for the scholarship endowment can be made out to University of Hawaii Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 11270, Honolulu HI 96828-0270

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Letters to Santa organizer for many years, Jana Kaniho, has passed the torch to Marlene Freitas, who
will host the gift giving program at her Ku'u Ihi Flowers & Gifts next to Pāhala Post Office.
Photo by Julia Neal

LETTERS TO SANTA KICKS OFF NOV. 1 IN PĀHALA. This years' Letters to Santa will be hosted and sponsored by Ku'u Ihi Flowers & Gifts next to Pāhala Post Office in the Pāhala Center. Co-sponsors are R & G Mini Mart and 'O Ka'ū Kākou. 

   Letters to Santa Pāhala, in which keiki ask Santa for gifts, will be accepted Nov. 1 through Dec. 1. 

Children or parents may pick up the letter templates from Ku'u Ihi Flowers & Gifts or R & G Mini Mart.       Completed letters can be dropped off in the Letters to Santa Mail Box located at Ku'u Ihi Flowers & Gifts located in the Pāhala Center.  

   "We will be seeking donations to help make this event a success," said organizer Marlene Freitas. For more information on how to make a donation or how donations will be used, contact Freitas at 808-987-2578. 

      Freitas also wished, "A huge Mahalo to Jana Kaniho for organizing the Letters To Santa event in the past years." 

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