Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, June 5, 2014

Ka`u Hospital expects to maintain services and jobs amid a $48 million shortfall facing Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U HOSPITAL’S PARENT ORGANIZATION FACES a $48 million shortfall in the next fiscal year starting July 1. While sister hospital Hilo Medical Center will cut staff and delay improvements, such as installing solar electric systems, Ka`u Hospital is expected to continue managing costs very closely. Administrator Merilyn Harris said this morning that she does not expect any service cuts or job losses here. “Cuts at Hilo Medical Center impact us,” Harris said, “because the hospital supports us.” She gave an example of HMC formerly sending a physical therapist to help at Ka`u, but no longer, due to expenses. 

      Harris said the Ka`u facility is busier than ever and in good fiscal condition, with the hospital, emergency room and rural health clinic seeing record numbers of patients.
      Harris also said one of the reasons Ka`u Hospital is in better fiscal condition than other Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. facilities is that Ka`u has already implemented the mandated electronic medical records system, which was very expensive. Other facilities still have to face that expense.

Molly Stebbins is Hawai`i County's
new Corporation Counsel.

      Harris said the Ka`u staff is very committed to provided outstanding service to the community. She also stressed how important it is for residents to let their legislators know that Ka`u Hospital is vital to the community. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

   
HOT SPOTS IN THE SOUTH POINT FIRE burst back into flames today and volunteer and county fire fighters are on the job again battling high, driving winds. Earlier in the week, the fire covered more than 1,000 acres, much of the land in pasture. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL COMFIRMED Molly Stebbins as Corporation Councel yesterday. Stebbins was appointed by Mayor Billy Kenoi to replace Lincoln Ashida, who resigned after 13 years to join a private law firm. 

      Stebbins has been with the Office of Corporation Counsel since 2007, serving as the attorney for Police and Fire Departments.
      She received endorsements from the police and fire chiefs, director of the Human Resources Department and chair of the Police Commission, reports Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today.
      Stebbins graduated from University of Massachusetts at Amherst and University of Hawai`i’s William S. Richardson School of Law.
      During the confirmation hearing, Stebbins told Council members that “having the County of Hawai`i as our client means representing the entire county — the administration and the council — and always in the furtherance of the public interest.”
      Ka`u’s Council member Brenda Ford was the only member voting against Stebbins’ confirmation. According to Cook Lauer, Ford “wasn’t satisfied with Stebbins’ responses to questions she had in a private meeting.”
      Stebbins promoted Deputy Corporation Counsel Laureen Martin to Assistant Corporation Counsel. Martin, litigation section supervisor for the office, has been with the department since 2009.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.

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

Na`alehu School Garden educator and FoodCorps Service member Kalu Oyama,
at right, holds a $500 award for the garden's aquaponics project.
Photo from Tania Takashiba

NA`ALEHU SCHOOL GARDEN’S AQUAPONICS GARDEN UNIT was one five Big Island organizations’ projects awarded with 2014 Aloha Grown Malama Honua Awards. Each received $500 toward a specific project, program or initiative that embodies Aloha Grown’s philosophy to “Support Local, Sustain the `Aina & Share the Aloha.” 

      The Na`alehu School garden has been ongoing for the past six years and serves over three hundred and fifty students. Pre-school through fourth grade each have their own garden areas and currently participate in learning about organic methods to plant and grow food. The garden activities encourage learning about nutrition, culture, math, science, language arts, seed saving and creating gardens at home.
      Students will use the aquaponics unit to connect the Hawaiian culture with science by growing kalo. “This will offer students an opportunity to connect a familiar family practice, such as fishing, with growing a traditional staple food while utilizing a resourceful technology,” garden staff said in their award application. “At our school garden, we not only connect classroom curriculum to our garden projects, but we also teach that growing your own organic food contributes to health and the well being of a community. Traditional Hawaiian culture had sustainable methods of growing their own nutritional staple food such as kalo, which encouraged building community and sustainability. 

      “As the children continue to learn and take pride in organic sustainable methods of growing food, their own awareness of food, health, economy and the community grows. As a result, they are each more likely to go out and become self-empowered innovators who understand the connection between food, culture, health, community and the `aina.”
      “We were extremely pleased to once again see such a great response to our Aloha Grown Malama Honua Fund program,” said Aloha Grown Store manager Tyler Owens. “We received a number of applications and essays from well-deserving organizations.”
      Aloha Grown is committed to supporting sustainability efforts in Hawai`i. Two percent of every sale at the Aloha Grown store in downtown Hilo goes to the Malama Honua Fund, which then awards local nonprofits, schools, organizations and initiatives with similar sustainability missions.
      For more information on Aloha Grown and to view essays submitted by all 2014 Malama Honua Award recipients, see alohagrown.com.

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

Gil Robinson, at left, has stepped down as president of Ocean View Community
Association. His wife Judy, not shown, also has left her position as editor of
the association's newsletter. Photo by Mo Clements

GIL AND JUDY ROBINSON HAVE RELINQUISHED their positions with Ocean View Community Association. Judy Robinson said, “it's time to take it a bit easier and relieve some of the stress.” She was editor of OVCA’s newsletter for four years. 

      During Gil Robinson’s many years as president of the association, he and others oversaw many improvements. They reduced OVCA’s electricity bill by 50 percent and lowered the annual phone bill by $500. Gil Robinson repaired the community center’s leaking roof and also constructed large reader boards that announce events and activities at the center.
      Judy Robinson said her husband “was able to convince the Veterans Administration to establish a twice-weekly clinic at the community center and made it possible for Tropic Care to hold a free 10-day medical clinic there, as well. In his interaction with local politicians, Ocean View is now on the map, so that County Council was convinced to make the center one of their few off-site locations for meetings.
      “We love Ocean View and always saw the community center as its heart. We are passing the torch to a new group of people, and we can only hope they will love it as much as we have.” For questions about the newsletter, contact Jo O’Donnell at 939-7033 or lava@aloha.net.

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

HAWAI`I METH PROJECT IS RECEIVING $400,000 in state operating grant funds. Identified by the state Legislature, these funds will be used to educate Hawai`i’s young people about the risks and dangers of methamphetamine through online and direct outreach in schools and community events. 

      “We must empower our keiki to be wise and responsible with their lives,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “The Hawai`i Meth Project provides them with the education they need in our fight against meth.”
      Established in 2009, the Hawai`i Meth Project is a 501(c)(3) organization modeled after the national Meth Project prototype implemented in Montana in 2005. The project’s statewide prevention program goal is to reduce methamphetamine use among teens and young adults in Hawai`i. The organization is affiliated with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, a national nonprofit working to help families solve the problem of teen substance abuse.

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

U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ IS COSPONSORING the Ensuring Veterans Access to Care Act of 2014, legislation that would make the Department of Veterans Affairs more accountable, make way for a major new VA medical facility on O`ahu, cut wait times and improve access to health care for veterans. The Senate is likely to consider the new legislation on the floor next week.


      “Our veterans and their families have made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation, and we have a responsibility to make sure they get the health care and benefits they have earned,” Schatz said. “Veterans facing long wait times to see a doctor and access health care is inexcusable. Our bill will make VA executives more accountable, cut wait times and establish a major new VA medical facility on O`ahu that would double VA clinical services on the island, helping make sure Hawai`i veterans get the timely care they deserve.”

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

Learn Zentangle this Saturday.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT TAKES PLACE tomorrow and every Friday this month, June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from park trails from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

      No advance registration is required. Park entrance fees apply.

JULIE EVANS AND LOIS AND EARL STOKES offer an Introduction to Zentangle Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Call 967-8222

AN EVENING OF SOUTHERN GOSPEL AND HULA is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Evangelical Community Church. This fundraiser for Mission to Uganda 2014 features the Southern Cross Singers, OVECC Hula, Marshallese Choir, a Uganda slideshow and more.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
Click at bottom right to turn pages.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The South Point brushfire that darkened the sky with black smoke Sunday is "contained and under control," according to Hawai`i County Fire Department personnel. Photo by Isaac Davis

YESTERDAY WAS THE DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES to file papers to run for public office at the primary election on Saturday, Aug. 9. Ka`u residents can register to vote in the primary through July 10.

Ka`u's state Rep. Richard Creagan
faces four challengers.

Ka`u's state Rep. Richard Onishi
faces two challengers.

      In Ka`u’s state Senate District Three race, Na`alehu resident Michael Last, a Libertarian, is challenging incumbent Democrat Josh Green, a former Ka`u resident now living in Kailua-Kona.
      In the state House of Representatives, incumbent Democrat Richard Onishi, of Hilo, faces Republican Bill Dickson, of Mountain View, and Libertarian Frederick Fogel, of Volcano, in District Three.
      In District Five, Democrat Richard Creagan, of Na`alehu, who Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed to the state House of Representatives after Denny Coffman resigned, is challenged by Republican Dave Bateman, of Holualoa, Libertarian Jon Lalanne, of Ocean View, Democrat Gene Leslie, of Holualoa and nonpartisan Randy Ruis, of Ocean View.
      Hawai`i County Council District Six will have new representation, with Brenda Ford having reached her term limit and unable to run for re-election. Candidates in the race are Richard Abbett, of Ocean View, Maile David, of Captain Cook and Jim Wilson, of Volcano.
      Also on Ka`u’s ballot are governor, lieutenant governor, Office of Hawaiian Affairs at-large, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
      Former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona, former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and state Sen. David Ige are three of eleven candidates seeking to replace Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
      Incumbent Democrat Shan Tsutsui is one of nine candidates who filed to run for lieutenant governor, including state Sen. Clayton Hee.
      The ballot will have 16 names of candidates for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at-large office.
      Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is running for re-election in District Two, faces three challengers.
      Nine candidates are seeking to replace U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed after the death of Sen. Daniel Inouye. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is one of his challengers.
      For more information, see hawaii.gov/elections.

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

Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members elected officers yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE re-elected Gloria Camba last night to continue as President of the organization during the monthly meeting at Pahala Community Center. Vice President is Willie Tabios. Secretary is Anne Fontes. Treasurer is Ricardo Sambajon. Board members are Leo Norberte, Lorie Obra, Curt Hall, Amelia Biason, Louis Daniele, Leonardo Castaneda, and Edwin Jara. Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Membership is $75 and open to Ka`u Coffee farmers. Camba can be reached at 928-8155.

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

MAC FARMS OF HAWAI`I, WHICH HIRES MOST of its workers from Ka`u, will have to pay $1.6 million to settle a claim that stems from using labor contractor Global Horizons to supply Thai workers years ago. Mac Farms is one of six Hawai`i agricultural entities that a federal judge ruled are liable for harassing, discriminating against and retaliating against Thai workers. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said they were joint employers with the labor contractor and also liable for acts committed by Global Horizons.
      EEOC acting Los Angeles District director Rosa Viramontes said, “We are proud to announce that the four farms settling our lawsuit today have taken a stand against human trafficking.”

Mac Farms of Hawai`i hires most of its workers from Ka`u.

      Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, reports that the settlements require the farms to make their workers aware of policies and procedures prohibiting discrimination. The farms must also conduct audits to ensure compliance with labor law and to designate compliance officers to make sure managers, supervisors and employees are aware of their obligations under the law.
      “We have a responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable workers are not denied basic human dignity,” said Anna Park, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Los Angeles District. “Farms and farm labor contractors — and the supervisors that represent them — must ensure workers’ civil rights remain intact, no matter their race or the country they come from.”
      Most Ka`u Coffee farmers, some of them having used Global Horizons labor in the past, are now employing local coffee pickers, including a large percentage of workers from the Micronesian community.  

      See staradvertiser.com.

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

THIRD CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE RONALD IBARRA has rejected a motion by Bobby Jean Leithead Todd’s attorney, Robert Kim, to dismiss a case brought by Ka`u’s Council member Brenda Ford, reports Nancy Cook Lauer in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. The lawsuit claims Leithead Todd does not meet the qualifications to be director of Hawai`i County’s Department of Environmental Management.
      Voters in 2010 approved a charter amendment that requires the Environmental Management director to have “an engineering degree or a degree in a related field.” Leithead Todd’s bachelor’s degree is in English. She is also an attorney, former county Planning Director and former County Council member.

      Mayor Billy Kenoi appointed Leithead Todd to the position last summer. She had previously held the position before the amendment was approved.
      County Council confirmed the appointment in July. Ford, along with Karen Eoff, of North Kona, and Margaret Wille, of Kohala voted against the appointment.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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

Leocardia Gascon, 101 years of age, surrounded by friends at Ka`u Hospital, including, left to right, clerk Tithing Chun, LPN Yolanda Barrios, Nurse Nancy Gruenler, Gascon's daughter Rosalina Rosario, RN Kristen Ishikawa and CNA Maria Aurelio. Photo by Elijah Navarro

LEOCARDIA GASCON RECEIVED CONGRATULATIONS from Pres. Barack Obama in a letter and from the staff at Ka`u Hospital, where she resides in long-term care. Nurse Nancy Gruenler organized the event and the President’s greeting, which says: “We extend our belated best wishes for a wonderful birthday, and we hope you had a chance to spend the day with loved ones. Your generation helped guide America through extraordinary and uncertain times, leaving an indelible mark on our Nation. As you celebrate 101 years, we trust you reflect with great pride on your achievements and on contributions made over the course of your life. 

     “Please know you have our warmest wishes for the year ahead. Sincerely, Barack Obama, The White House.”
      Gascon was born Dec. 10, 1912.

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

SUNDAY’S FIRE THAT BEGAN NEAR KA`ALU`ALU BAY on the Ka`u Coast is “contained and under control” according to Battalion Chief Warren Sumida. Fueled by brisk tradewinds, the fire spread toward South Point Road on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands properties leased out to several area ranchers and damaged over 1,000 acres.
      Sumida said crews are still on the scene to douse hotspots and that they will remain in place through tonight and tomorrow morning.

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

COVERAGE OF THE SOUTH POINT FIRE continues to be a topic of comments at facebook.com/kaucalendar.

      Jashia N. Makoa Moses sent a “big mahalo” to Wally Andrade and his crew who used bulldozers to cut firebreaks, “also all the four-wheeler riders” who have land at South Point “for driving around and killing small fires. Well done, you guys.” 

      Sepulcher Danslard wrote, “Give a heartfelt mahalo to your local firefighters. True heroes are they. Year after year, Ka`u’s hero.”
      Volunteers on four-wheelers have also been applauded on The Ka`u Calendar's facebook page. Some response has included a warning to those untrained in fire fighting to be extremely careful or volunteer for one of the local volunteer fire departments to receive free training that includes safety.

CLASSES ON ORIGAMI BASICS are scheduled tomorrow and every Thursday this month from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at Pahala Senior Center. Seniors aged 60 and up are welcome to join the free, informal, hands-on classes.
      For more information, call Julie Pasquale at 928-3101.

HA`AO SPRINGS & MOUNTAIN HOUSE AG WATER CO-OP meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. See haaosprings.org for information about the co-op.

Ka`u's County Council member Brenda Ford participated in Volcano Village's
Fourth of July parade last year. Photo by David Howard Donald

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT TAKES PLACE every Friday this month, June 6, 13, 20 and 27. Volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from park trails from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

      No advance registration is required. Park entrance fees apply.

VOLCANO VILLAGE’S ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY celebration takes place a month from today on Friday, July 4. The parade from the post office down Old Volcano Road turns left onto Wright Road and ends at Cooper Center, where the party continues. Volunteers, crafters, food vendors and entertainers can sign up to participate with Cooper Center Council President Linda Ugalde at kilaueatutu@gmail.com.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
Click at bottom right to turn pages.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Dark smoke from Sunday's brushfire at South Point rises into white, sunlit clouds. Photo by Isaac Davis

FIRE CREWS CONTINUE MOP-UP OPERATIONS after a brushfire consumed more than 1,000 acres at South Point Sunday. Rain throughout Sunday night and Monday morning helped firefighters gain control of the fire, which began Sunday afternoon near Ka`alu`alu Bay and quickly spread as brisk trade winds fanned the flames.

      Tissy Kaniho, whose family ranches on Department of Home Lands property at South Point, said, “Because Wally Andrade knows what he’s doing,” losses to their ranch were kept to 300 to 400 acres.

Kaniala Young used a bulldozer to create
firebreaks. Photo by Tissy Kaniho

      Mahalos came from several Ka`u News Briefs readers on Facebook. In response to Wally and Les Andrade and Kaniala Young using bulldozers to create firebreaks, Cheryl Wahn Vos wrote, “Mahalo Wally & Team,” and Carol Anthony wrote, “Thank you, guys!”
      Ginger Cook wrote, “Thanks to all the fire crews one of whom is my Pops, a volunteer Fire Captain in Discovery Harbor for putting your lives on the line and enduring God-awful circumstances. Scares me to death but makes me one very proud daughter.”
      Rick Ward wrote, “Mahalo to Hawai`i County Firefighters – job well done!”
      Cindy Boltz Eilerman wrote, “I could see the glow from our house in Discovery Harbour. Good job, firefighters!”
      Jason Fox wrote, “This is bad for the land after because the soil will wash away. Planting the fireproof grass vetiver after would preserve it.”
      Crews are still working in the area, with fire suppression equipment along South Point Road. The Fire Department asks drivers to exercise caution.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ELECTRIC RATES ARE GOING UP ON HAWAI`I ISLAND. The state Public Utilities Commission has approved rate increases requested by Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries, including Hawai`i Electric Light Co.
      For a Hawai`i Island household using 500 kilowatts of electricity per month, each bill would increase by $3.92, according to the PUC.
      The PUC refers to the increases as sales decoupling tariffs. The sales decoupling mechanism is comprised of two tariffs, which serve different purposes. The Revenue Balancing Account tariff is designed to decouple or break the link between sales and total electric revenues, removing the utilities’ disincentives to increase energy efficiency and integrate customer-sited generation, such as rooftop photovoltaic systems. The Rate Adjustment Mechanism is a formula-driven mechanism intended to compensate the HECO Companies for changes in utility costs and infrastructure investment between rate cases and thereby reduces the frequency of rate cases.
      These increases, the PUC said, are largely due to increased capital expenditures by the utility and declines in sales over the past year.
      This is the third consecutive annual filing for HELCO.

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

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS RELEASED NEW RULES under the Clean Air Act governing what existing power plants must do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The rules provide states flexibility to utilize energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as outlined in the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, as compliance measures.

      The rules requiring carbon dioxide emissions reductions from power plants were issued pursuant to Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. During the extensive process to hear from stakeholders throughout the nation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached out to Hawai`i. The state submitted a set of consolidated comments developed by the Hawai`i Department of Health, Hawai`i State Public Utilities Commission and DBEDT regarding state plans to meet federal carbon emission reduction targets for existing electricity generation units.
      The new EPA rules allow states to employ a range of measures to meet carbon emission targets, including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. In Hawai`i, numerous such 

initiatives are underway in the power generation sector under the umbrella of the HCEI. 

Ongoing PUC dockets include those relating to energy efficiency portfolio standards, requests for proposals for renewable energy production and interconnection matters. In addition, the PUC and DBEDT are working with the Hawaiian Electric Companies to better align the utility’s business model with consumer interests and the state’s public policy’s goals.
      Gov. Neil Abercrombie applauded the new rules, stating, “Hawai`i is at the forefront of responding to climate change through our Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, which serves as a substantial economic driver while reducing our dependence on imported oil. By building such flexibility into the rules, President Obama is encouraging the rest of the country to follow Hawai`i’s lead in pursuing clean energy.”

      New financial tools are under development by DBEDT to increase deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures and to empower the state’s energy consumers to contribute to greenhouse gas reductions through use of renewable energy like rooftop solar. 
“Hawai`i’s Green Energy Market Securitization financing tool, or GEMS, will expand low-cost 

financing to clean energy solutions while helping the state gain credit for reducing carbon 
through lesser use of petroleum products to generate electricity,” said DBEDT Director Richard Lim. 

 Proposed by the governor in his 2013 State of the State address and signed into law later that year, GEMS is a financing program designed to make clean energy improvements affordable and accessible to Hawai`i consumers, especially underserved markets such as low- and moderate-income homeowners, renters and nonprofits.

      Abercrombie added, “Hawai`i is working with the Obama Administration to align our state’s commitment to go beyond 40 percent renewable energy in the electrical power sector by 2030 and our federal and state policies to reduce our carbon footprint. As a leading test bed for clean energy, Hawai`i can demonstrate to the world how to stimulate our economy while improving the environment for future generations.”

Ka`u's U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has served two tours of duty in the Middle East.
Photo from Office of Rep. Gabbard

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

 

“MANY OF OUR VETERANS URGENTLY NEED MEDICAL CARE, and they should not have to go another day without it,” said Ka`u’s U.S. Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard has sent a letter to President Obama urging him to use his executive power to allow veterans to immediately access private medical care outside of the Veterans Affairs system.
 “I have seen the wounds, both visible and invisible, of veterans I served with. To make any veteran wait for medical care is not only an emergency, it is a travesty.

      “President Obama and Congress have the power to ensure that our veterans do not wait another week for care,” said Gabbard, a veteran who has served two tours of duty in the Middle East. “They can’t afford to wait for a new head of the VA or for the systemic problems of the VA to be fixed. Nor should they. We must take action immediately.
      “Furthermore, I plan to introduce legislation that will give our veterans the right to obtain private medical care using their VA cards over the next 12 months, at which point we can re-evaluate whether the VA problems have sufficiently been fixed.
”

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

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK is seeking donations for its annual Fourth of July Silent Auction at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. “We want it to be more successful and more fun than ever!” said FHVNP spokesman Ab Valencia. “We are passionate for our park, and our members have always been generous in their time and talents. We are asking again this year for donations to fill Cooper Center with fabulous items that may be “someone’s must-have treasure!”

Seniors can learn origami every Thursday this month.

      In past years, donations to the Silent Auction have included artwork, photography and jewelry; backpacks, bicycles, and telescopes; fishing gear, lounge chairs, and lamps; golf packages and gift baskets; hotel and B&B stays; land, sea, and air adventure tours; retail store and restaurant gift certificates; tools and wheelbarrows and much more.
      To donate or volunteer, call 985-7373 or email admin@fhvnp.org or fhvnp@icloud.com.
      More information is available at fhvnp.org.

CLASSES ON ORIGAMI BASICS are scheduled every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. this month at Pahala Senior Center. Seniors aged 60 and up are welcome to join the free, informal, hands-on classes. 

      For more information, call Julie Pasquale at 928-3101.

HA`AO SPRINGS & MOUNTAIN HOUSE AG WATER CO- OP meets Thursday at 4 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. See haaosprings.org for information about the co-op.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.
Click at bottom right to turn pages.