Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Ka`u Red Hat Ladies and Ka Lae Quilters celebrated ten years of fundraising for Ka`u Hospital yesterday, with the latest effort providing $12,500 for the emergency room. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS BEWARE of another pest from Kona. The latest is the emaravirus that turned some Kona Coffee berries into raisins and made them unmarketable. In January, a coffee farmer in the Captain Cook area of South Kona sent Coffea arabica leaf samples to Dr. Scot Nelson, plant pathologist with UH-CTAHR.

Emaravirus on coffee leaves. Photo by Scot Nelson

      Andrea Kawabata, Hawai`i County agent, UH-CTAHR, and Dr. Michael Melzer, a plant pathologist, UH-CTAHR, visited the farm in February and learned that the grower first noticed that no cherries could be harvested from these plants and that leaves were covered with circular lesions about five millimeters in diameter. Berries had turned to “raisins,” but Melzer and Kawabata surmised that coffee pickers did not harvest the berries because the berries were small or deformed. The coffee farmer had two locations at the farm with affected plants, and Melzer and Kawabata could see some symptomatic plants across a fence at the neighboring coffee farm. 

      Emaraviruses are transmitted by eriophyid mites, which can disperse on wind currents. If this virus is the causal agent, it has the potential to move through a field rather quickly. A statement from Meltzer and Kawabata says, “We doubt the disease will kill any coffee trees, but if it makes the berries unmarketable, the tree essentially becomes an ornamental plant only.”
      Citizen scientists are encouraged to help determine the geographic range of the symptoms. Contact Nelson at snelson@hawaii.edu. The farmer has destroyed the symptomatic trees at the reporting farm. Neem oil may be the most effective miticide registered for application to coffee in Hawai`i, according to CTAHR.
      The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture has been contacted and expressed interest in survey, risk assessment and eradication of diseased plants, the CTAHR statement said.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Dennis Kamakahi shares his music with a free concert each November as part of the
annual Kahumoku workshop at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal

DENNIS KAMAKAHI’S SPIRITUALITY and faith are front and center as he shares his journey through lung cancer treatment with the community on Facebook. Within two hours of Kamakahi giving this morning’s update on Facebook from his room in Queen’s Hospital, almost 300 people liked and sent him uplifting messages. Kamakahi is a Christian minister. 

      Kamakahi, the composer of more than 500 songs and master of slack key guitar, music composition and harmonica, spends a week each November in Pahala, where he teaches local youth on scholarships and adults from around the world and provides the community with a free concert with his friends George and Keoki Kahumoku, Sonny Lim, John and Hope Keawe and many more. He says each year when he is here that his long-term plan is to move to Ka`u, where his wife grew up, and that he plans to set up a recording studio.
      Many of Kamakahi’s songs are standards of Hawaiian music. He composed Wahine `Ilikea, Pua Hone and Koke`e. He earns Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and brought home three Grammy awards. Formerly one of The Sons of Hawai`i, Kamakahi has a Hawai`i Music Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. Kamakahi is the first modern Hawaiian music composer with his six-string slack key guitar, albums, sheet music and personal photographs welcomed into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s permanent collection.

 His music is featured in films, including Lilo & Stitch 2 and the Oscar-nominated soundtrack from The Descendants.

After a teaching session at the Kahumoku workshop,
Dennis Kamakahi shares his guitar signatures at
Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal

    Friends and family will host a benefit concert, dinner and silent auction on the 60-year-old Kamakahi’s birthday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Willows Restaurant in Honolulu. Pakele Live! will stream the celebration at new.livestream.com/pakele. Admission to the event is free. Musicians will include Ledward Ka`apana and Mike Kaawa, Keawe Ohana, Herb Ohta, Jr., Danny Carvalho, Maunalua, Stephen Inglis, Waipuna, Na Hoa, Kupaoa, Raiatea Helm, Bryan Tolentino, Nathan Aweau and special guests. Ben Gutierrez, of Hawai`i News Now, will host. To donate, see teamdenniskamakahi.com.

   Kamahaki’s son David said, 

“Our dad is a man of tremendous faith. We continue to pray for his full recovery and ask others to do the same. We are daily witnesses to how the kindness and concern of friends, family and fans give him strength in his battle. We are humbled and endlessly grateful by the outpouring of support from fans around the world."
      Kamakahi announced his diagnosis last week on Facebook. George Kahumoku, Jr. has organized a five-day prayer vigil and fast.
      Robin Gomes, son of musicians Phoebe and Bobby Gomes in Pahala, posted: “God gave us all talents and purpose, not for us to keep, but to share and help others. There’s a purpose in this journey you’ve been called upon. You are touching many lives. Continue to inspire us, Hawaiian.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT met with approximately 30 Ka`u residents yesterday. Deputy Police Chief Paul Ferreira led the meeting, with Ka`u Captain Burt Shimabukuro, Ka`u police and other officers from Area II Operations Bureau on hand to answer questions from the public. 

Ka`u Police Captain Burt Shimabukuro
Photo by Ron Johnson

      Many residents thanked the small Ka`u Police Department staff for the good work they do. “They are always there when I ask for help,” said one resident.
      Ferreira and other officers stressed the importance of community policing, acknowledging that “we need the community’s help.” He said he wants to prevent crime by working together as a group, being proactive and having officers out in the field.
      See more on the meeting in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar. 

A $12,500 CHECK TO KA`U HOSPITAL came from the Red Hat Ladies of Ka`u and Ka Lae Quilters at a presentation yesterday to Ka`u Hospital. Over the past decade the two community groups have raised over $100,000 for the hospital, in particular for equipment for the emergency room. “Anyone looking at the technology in the ER can see the work of these volunteers,” said Ka`u Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris. 

      Queen Bee of the Hatters, Barbara Beatty, said the group plans to take a break from the fundraising after many years of work and invites new volunteers to help out with the work of supporting the local hospital. Her phone number is 929-9072.
      Ron Ebert, of `O Ka`u Kakou, said that OKK is willing to take over for the Red Hats and Ka Lae Quilters. Also raising money for the ER is a group of golfers who presented a check for $1,400 and has raised over $50,000 in the last six years.
      Ka`u Hospital medical director and ER physician Cliff Fields also thanked the volunteers.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL STANDOUT Toni Beck has accepted a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Briar Cliff University. Beck signed a letter of intent and will join head coach Trevor Schirman’s Chargers in Iowa next fall, where she plans to pursue a nursing degree. 

      Pilipa`a 18 Club coach Chris Leonard was instrumental in helping Toni receive a scholarship. Leonard played with Schirman while at Punahou and coaches Beck with Pilipa`a 18.

Toni Beck, seated, with Ka`u High A.D. Kalei
Namohala;Sharon, Jami and James Beck; and
Pilipa`a coachChris Leonard. Photo from KHPES

      “We congratulate Toni on her scholarship,” said Ka`u High athletic director Kalei Namohala. “We know she will be a valuable asset to her new team. She will become a Charger, but her roots will always be with our Ka`u Trojans. We wish her well with her future endeavors.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

Curious Colt, by Christina Shirley, won a People's
Choice award last year's Hawai`i Photo Expo.
Photo from Hawai`i Photo Expo

KA`U VARSITY WAHINE SOFTBALL fell to the Kohala Cowgirls yesterday at Pahala ball field. Score was 2-24. Next game for the Wahine Trojans is on Friday, Mar. 21 at Pahoa at 3:30 p.m.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is accepting items for a rummage sale to benefit its volunteer fire department today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
      The rummage sale takes place Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale also features hot dog lunches for $5 on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
      Proceeds go toward the purchase of supplies not provided by the county.

HAWAI`I ANT LAB PERSONNEL PROVIDE information about little fire ants and discuss methods of control during a community meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

TOMORROW AT 9 A.M. IS THE DEADLINE TO ENTER the 2014 Hawai`i Photo Expo, the state’s premier photo contest, with categories for beginners, enthusiasts and masters. See hawaiiphotoexpo.com. 

KA`U AG WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Orchards field office in Pahala. For information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

SUMMER FUN FUNDRAISING DINNER pick-up is Friday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Dinners include teri-beef, rice, corn and bread for $7. Call 928-3102.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Nape Above Silver, by Bradley Westervelt, won third place in the enthusiast division at last year's Hawai`i Photo Expo. The deadline to enter this year's expo is Thursday, March 20. Photo from Hawai`i Photo Expo

STOLEN AND FALSELY LABELED coffee that comes from Ka`u damages the industry, said County of Hawai`i Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth. He told the public attending the Ka`u Farm Bureau annual meeting last Friday that “every coffee that gets sold but not as Ka`u coffee takes away” from the Ka`u economy and the building of the coffee’s reputation. Regarding ag programs and policing to defend and grow Ka`u coffee, Roth said, “We are unique. We need to be funded. We have only one product left that we compete with internationally at the top level. We have the top-tasting coffee in the world. We used to have sugar and pineapple,” he recalled.

Mitch Roth

      When only five people in the state House say they are affected by agriculture, “Ask them, ‘Do your kids drink milk? How many eat salad? How many people drink coffee?’” 

      “Why do state schools not use lettuce or other food grown here?” Roth asked. 

      Roth said the state needs to provide more funding to fight coffee counterfeiting, since some Ka`u coffee is being sold under other names and some other coffees may be sold as Ka`u, illegally. Coffee counterfeiting is a felony, Roth said. The county prosecutor would like to have an investigator for ag theft. The police department wants to help more, he said. The state Department of Agriculture is underfunded to police coffee, he noted.
     He said such improvements need voices of support. At the state Legislature, “If everybody in this room sent in support, the bill would move,” said Roth.
     Community policing can also help, he noted, telling the story of rambutan farmers reporting stolen rambutan at a farmers market. “How did the farmers know? Because the rambutan was being sold at a price lower than cost of production,” said Roth. 

     He reminded farmers that the law requires those selling produce to document where it comes from.
     He also talked about the overall need for more police officers. On O`ahu, there are 2,000 police officers for a territory the same size as Ka`u. On any one shift, Ka`u has two police officers.
     Coffee farmer Trinidad Marques said, “It is the root of the problem that causes all the theft.” Roth talked about the need for more youth and family support programs to bring people out of poverty and abuse.

KA`U POLICE CAPTAIN Capt. Shimabukuro told Ka`u Farm Bureau members that he grew up on farm. “I would hate to see you work so hard and have crops stolen,” he said.m He encouraged the farmers to report crimes, saying “We need witnesses.” 

      Brenda Iokepa-Moses, the new vice president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, said that communication between police and the community is not good. She said that documenting farm theft, knowing the identity of thieves and reporting, even with video, have put her at risk. She said the thieves “laugh at me.” She encouraged the police force to talk to suspects and let them know they are being watched and that one day they will be caught with the evidence that will put them away.
      Rancher Lani Petrie asked for a workshop “so we who work the land can learn how to gather evidence.” Shimabukuro said he would work on it.

Crews cleared lava rock and debris created by a landslide on Chain of Craters Road.
NPS Photo by Jessica Ferracane

County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth said police officers are a lot better in this arena than they were a few years ago.
      Statewide Hawai`i Farm Bureau president Chris Manfredi asked, “How do you prevent fear of people reporting and fear of retribution?” Shimabukuro said, “We have to work together.”
      Famed coffee grower Willie Tabios, of Rising Sun Coffee, said he has been a victim. Ka`u Royal Coffee farmer Gloria Camba said she has been a victim. She said she heard that stolen Ka`u Coffee was sold in Ocean View.
      Miles Mayne, the new owner of McCall’s Flower Farm and now coffee farm in Wood Valley, asked, “Who is buying from these people?”
      John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, said that camera technology has improved with night vision cameras that are used by hunters. He said they are affordable and can send images to the owner and perhaps even to police.

A LANDSLIDE CLOSED A SECTION of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park below Kealakomo on Sunday. Road crews used a backhoe and dump truck to clear large boulders and slabs of lava. Heavy equipment operator Herbert Botelho removed approximately 100 cubic yards of lava rock and debris from the roadway, and the road reopened at 3 p.m. Monday.
      No one was hurt in the incident.

An owners' representative reports that the Nani Kahuku `Aina project is on hold. 

THE NANI KAHUKU AINA DEVELOPMENT on 16,000 acres along the coast west of South Point is on hold but not withdrawn, according to a statement from the owners’ representative Michael Reyes. He responded to an email request from The Ka`u Calendar on whether there is any news on conservation efforts to preserve the Ka`u Coast land. 

      “There really isn’t anything material to report ever since the Draft EIS was filed with the county a couple of years ago,” Reyes wrote. “While we have not taken any affirmative steps to move this forward, we have not officially withdrawn the application, either. There are also no pending discussions with any federal or local government agency regarding the disposition of the property at this time. So basically, we are in a holding pattern and are treating the asset as a longer-term investment.” 

      Reyes was referred to the newspaper by Tom Schnell, AICP, senior associate with PBR Hawai`i, the planning firm in Honolulu that handled the Environmental Impact Statement for Nani Kahuku `Aina. 

      Apparently, some of the ownership has changed since the EIS was written. The plan was for hotels, golf courses and condominiums along the shoreline.

PROPOSED SUBDIVISION DETAILS would be confirmed by the county Planning director or representative if a bill passes the County Council requiring visitation to each proposed subdivision site. Bill 182 would require “a site visit of property (ies) affected by a proposed subdivision action to verify accuracy of information shown on the preliminary plat map or any omissions required by the Subdivision Code, and the site conditions that could result in deleterious effects to general welfare and health of the community,” states the agenda for the Leeward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, April 3 at 9 a.m. at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. The measure is proposed by the County Council.

Halau Leionalani's participation in last year's Lana`i cultural festival is airing
on Channel 54 this month.

HULA HALAU O LEIONALANI FROM KA`U is featured in a film about a cultural festival on Lana`i, which will air starting today on Channel 54. The film Lana`i will likely also be seen on Kaua`i, Lana`i and Maui, said the film’s producer and editor Wendell Kaehuaea. Since the festival, Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder and her husband Kawehi have moved to Pahala, where their family has purchased a home.

      Air dates and times are Tuesday, March 18, 3 p.m.; Friday, March 21, 1 p.m.; Saturday, March 22, 8 p.m.; Monday, March 24, 9 p.m.; Friday, March 28, 10 p.m.; and Saturday, March 29, 10:30 p.m.
      The halau meets on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Old Pahala Clubhouse on Maile Street.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

VOLCANO ART CENTER IS OFFERING free Spring Break Art classes for keiki in grades 2 – 5 this week at its Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Sessions take place from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today through Thursday. The program is made possible through a grant from the Hawai`i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
      For more information, call 967-8222.

Items are being accepted tomorrow and Thursday for a rummage sale benefiting
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department. Photo from DHCA

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is accepting items for a rummage sale to support its volunteer fire department tomorrow and Thursday, March 19 and 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

      The rummage sale takes place Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sale also features hot dog lunches for $5 on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

      Proceeds go toward the purchase of supplies not provided by the county. 

HAWAI`I ANT LAB PERSONNEL PROVIDE information about little fire ants and discuss methods of control during a community meeting tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

HAWAIIAN MUSICIAN BEN KA`ILI offers a free concert tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

THURSDAY IS THE DEADLINE TO ENTER the 2014 Hawai`i Photo Expo, the state's premier photo contest, with categories for beginners, enthusiasts and masters. For more information, see hawaiiphotoexpo.com.

SEE THE MARCH ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, March 17, 2014

Brenda Iokepa-Moses and Lou Daniele represented Ka`u Coffee Mill at the grand opening of Big Island Trading Co. in Hilo.
Photo by Tammy Spaar

THE STATE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES Agriculture Committee is today holding a hearing on several bills that have passed in the Senate. Ka`u’s Rep. Richard Onishi is vice chair of the committee.

      SB2913 SD1 specifies false labeling restrictions for the offense of false labeling of Hawai`i-grown coffee. It also applies the labeling of natural, roasted and instant coffees to the offense and defines natural coffee, roasted coffee and instant coffee.
      SB2920 SD2 would establish a little fire ant pilot project in Hawai`i County to research solutions for addressing threats from the invasive species in the state.

Rep. Richard Onishi

      SB2343 would appropriate funds to the Hawai`i Invasive Species Council for invasive species prevention, control, outreach, research and planning.
      SB 2293 SD1 would appropriate funds to reimburse qualified producers for a percentage of each farm’s feed expenses. It would also provide moneys for the administrative costs of the livestock revitalization program. 

      SB2775 SD1 would permit solar energy facilities on class A agricultural lands if the solar energy facilities are located on a paved or unpaved road that is established by December 31, 2013, and the road allows for vehicular traffic.
      SB2296 SD2 would authorize the Department of Agriculture to select qualified applicants as back-up lessees when disposing of certain agricultural or non-agricultural park lands through the sealed bidding process. It also would authorize the department to negotiate with a back-up lessee if the highest offering bidder or lessee fails to
finalize a lease with the department for any reason. It conforms eligibility criteria for lessees of agricultural parks lands with that of lessees of non-agricultural park lands.

      These and other bills an be tracked at capitol.hawaii.gov.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Richard Ha

HAWAI`I STATE SENATE is considering the gubernatorial nomination of Richard Ha to the Board of Agriculture for a term to expire June 30, 2018. 

      Ha is owner of Hamakua Springs County Farms. He supports food and energy self-sufficiency on Hawai`i Island, advocating for geothermal energy to reduce the cost of electricity and the use of genetically modified organisms as a valuable tool for farmers.

      Public testimony is welcomed at capitol.hawaii.gov.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

NEW KA`U FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT Ralph Gaston, who has helped bring Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee to the international market, said last night that he is “honored to be chosen as president of the Ka`u Farm Bureau by my fellow members. For the past five years, the Ka`u Farm Bureau has grown into a strong voice for agriculture in the Ka`u District, and I plan to do my part to carry on that tradition. I look forward to working with the board members, directors, and all members to help support and grow the agricultural community here in Ka`u.”

      Gaston was born in Syracuse, NY and received a master’s in journalism from University of California. He began a career in TV sports broadcasting, starting in Clarksburg, WV and moving to Fresno, CA where he worked at the NBC affiliate for almost seven year. In late 2010, he and his wife Joan decided to make their career change, moving to the Big Island in March 2011 to assist their mother, Lorie Obra, with operations at Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee. They teamed up with Miguel Meza to form a new company, Island Custom Coffees, which has been in operation for nearly three years. Gaston handles finance and logistics for Island Custom Coffees and helps with shipping, logistics and processing for Rusty’s Hawaiian. Gaston can be reached at 928-0236.

Brenda Iokepa-Moses

     The new vice president for Ka`u Farm Bureau is Brenda Iokepa-Moses. Iokepa-Moses grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas. She started her career in land management with C. Brewer as the Ka`u sugar company shut down in 1996. Along with John Cross, she helped to organize the Brewer long-term leases for displaced sugar workers who were to become the Ka`u Coffee farmers. She later worked for the management company for the new owners of the coffee lands, under Chris Manfredi, and transferred to the Olson Trust to work again with John Cross for Ka`u Farms Management. Her work includes helping to lease Olson lands to small coffee and diversified farmers. Iokepa-Moses said she also works in the back house of Ka`u Coffee Mill with the international sales of green beans. She has lived in Pahala for more than 20 years and retired from the U.S. Army Reserves “with 21 years of honorable service to my country,” she said.

    A volunteer for many ag-related organizations over the years, she is chair of the Ka`u Soil & Water Conservation District, president of the Hawai`i Association of Conservation Districts and serves on the Water Board for County of Hawai`i, District 6, which covers the south end of the island from Volcano through Pahala, Na`alehu, Ocean View and Miloli`i, north past Kona Hospital, Keopuka Kai and Hokulia Golf Course. Iokepa-Moses also helps to raise money for local youth volleyball competition and has volunteered for the Ka`u Coffee Festival since its inception. Iokepa-Moses can be reached at 928-0550.

John Masters won in the Most Patriotic category in last year's Na`alehu
Independence Day Parade. Sign-ups for this year have already begun.
Photo by Julia Neal

      See tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs covering comments by Hawai`i County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth and Ka`u Police Captain Burt Shimabukuro who both spoke at the Ka`u Farm Bureau annual meeting last Friday. Shimabukuro will meet the public at tomorrow’s Police Department community meeting at noon at Na`alehu Community Center.

THE NA`ALEHU INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE is organizing for Saturday, June 28 at 11 a.m. Under the sponsorship of `O Ka`u Kakou, organizer Debra McIntosh is calling for participants, volunteers and donations. She can be reached at 929-9872. Lee McIntosh, chair of the Parade Committee, said that prizes will be awarded for the most colorful entry and the most patriotic entry. For more information see okaukakou.org.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U COFFEE was featured at the grand opening of Big Island Trading Co. last weekend. The establishment near Ken’s House of Pancakes in Hilo drew several hundred people to the coffee house where pure, blended, hot and iced local coffee drinks are offered, and the store featuring coffee, macadamia and other local products.

Breaching Teaching won a prize at an Alaska ice-carving
contest. Photo from Larry and Janet Johnson

      Edmund C. Olson Trust opened the facility. Ed Olson said he looks forward to the community coming to Big Island Trading to meet friends and business associates and to enjoy Hilo and Ka`u coffee as well as to purchase gifts and local food products from Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co., which processes Ka`u macadamia; Olson & Keolanui – OK Farms; Ka`u Coffee Mill and others.

      Representing Ka`u Coffee Mill at the grand opening were Brenda Iokepa-Moses, Louis Danielle, Kalikoweo Keolanui-Daniele and John Cross.

      The location features wi-fi and covered outdoor seating. General manager is Kim Ciez. Hours for the coffee house are 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily. Hours for the store are 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A DIFFERENT TAKE ON WHALES is captured by part-time Ka`u residents Larry and Janet Johnson. They often volunteer to count whales along the Ka`u coast and recently returned to their other home in Alaska and came across these whales. Wrote Larry Johnson: “We may be hundreds of miles from the ocean, but we still have winter whales. Every year in late February and early March we have a world-renowned ice-carving festival where carvers from much of the world, including Thailand as well as Russia, China, Japan and Mongolia, come to do amazing things with our unusually thick and clear ice. This is one of the prize winners, called Breaching Teaching. Enjoy a taste of the Subarctic.” 

      The final humpback whale count for Ka`u this year, sponsored by National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, is on Saturday, March 29.
      Volunteers can sign up to participate at sanctuaryoceancount.org.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar. 

Controlling little fire ants is the topic of a meeting Wednesday.

KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. offers career programs tomorow at Ka`u Resource and Distance Learning Center, 96-3126 Puahala Street in Pahala. 

      An informational meeting about Individualized Career Achievement Network, called iCAN, begins at 9 a.m.
      Licensed Practical Nurse program prerequisites informational meeting takes place at 1 p.m. Those interested in applying for training must be at least 18 years of age.
     Call 928-0101 to register.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT’S community meeting at noon tomorrow at Na`alehu Community Center. Those interested in participating but unable to attend may call Captain Burt Shimabukuro at 939-2520, stop by the Ka`u Police Station in Na`alehu or e-mail their concerns or comments to copsysop@hawaiipolice.com.

HAWAI`I ANT LAB PERSONNEL PROVIDE information about little fire ants and discuss methods of control during a community meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

Ben Ka`ili performs Wednesday. NPS photo by Jay Robinson

HAWAIIAN MUSICIAN BEN KA`ILI performs Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.      

      Ka`ili has dedicated his life to playing and promoting Hawaiian music. He has shared Hawaiian music at festivals, including the park’s 33rd annual cultural festival last July, and through concerts and performances for more than 20 years. Born on the Island of Hawai`i, Ka`ili started playing Hawaiian music at eight years old with his `ohana, including his uncle, George Lanakilakeikiahiali`i Na`ope. This free concert is part of Hawai`i Volcanoes’ ongoing Na Leo Manu: Heavenly Voices presentations. Park entrance fees apply. 

SEE THE MARCH ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

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