Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, June 26, 2014

The state Board of Land & Natural Resources will consider the project to elevate Hwy 11 at Kawa during its meeting tomorrow.
Photo from Final Environmental Assessment

ELEVATING HWY 11 AT KAWA is on tomorrow’s meeting agenda of the state Board of Land & Natural Resources. The state Department of Transportation seeks a Conservation District Use Permit for its plan to raise the highway along some 3,000 feet of road to alleviate flooding risks. When Kawa floods, access is cut off to Ka`u Hospital in Pahala from Na`alehu. Emergency vehicles, school buses and around-the-island traffic are blocked along the coastal road and must take the old sugar cane haul road in the mountains.

Officials explained the Hwy 11 Kawa project at a public meeting
in Ka`u in Dec. 2011. Photo by Julia Neal

      For travel during construction of the raised road, a bypass would be built makai of Hwy 11, starting about 100 yards south of the main entrance into Kawa’s surfing beach. The secondary entrance to Kawa would also remain during and after construction.
      The Kawa Drainage Project Environmental Assessment, available at hawaii.gov/oeqc, explains that Hwy 11 would be raised some 10 feet above grade to 46 feet above sea level. An 84-foot-wide culvert, eight feet high, would be placed beneath the highway.
      During a public meeting held in Dec. 2011, planners said that the wetlands, springs and other features would not be disturbed at Kawa by the new flood project.
      The $3.8 million project is 80 percent funded by the Federal Highway Administration and 20 percent by the state of Hawai`i. The improvements would be along approximately 3,700 feet of Hwy 11.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SANJEEV “SONNY” BHAGOWALIA, Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s chief advisor for technology and cybersecurity, has received the 2014 Government Technology Research Alliance’s Government Innovator of the Year award. Bhagowalia received the award for facilitating Hawai`i’s business and technology transformation, launched in 2011 under the Abercrombie Administration.

Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia receives his Innovator of the Year award.

      “This prestigious award recognizes the finest leaders and innovators in government,” Abercrombie said. “Under Sonny’s innovative leadership, Hawai`i has developed an ambitious business and technology plan, established a stable technology foundation, launched key programs to transform delivery of online services and significantly improved transparency and accountability. Our state government is now being recognized as a leader in the nation for our steady and incremental transformation gains.”
      Bhagowalia received the honor amid a field of nominees from federal, state, local and tribal governments. Hawai`i was the sole state recipient in the Government Innovator of the Year category, beating out two federal finalists from the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
      The award was one of 24 handed out at this week’s GTRA GOVTek Executive Government Technology Awards Gala, which celebrates and recognizes government and industry information technology leaders whose vision, innovation and accomplishments have improved efficiency, the delivery of government services, citizen engagement, information sharing and national security.
      Bhagowalia was nominated for his accomplishments as the first leader of state Office of Information Management Technology and his achievements over the past year in transforming business and technology in the state through the innovative use of enterprise architectures, strategic planning, program management, transparency and personal transformation.

      After being appointed by Abercrombie as the state’s first chief information officer and serving in that capacity for three years, Bhagowalia was promoted to governor’s chief advisor for technology and cybersecurity in February 2014. The new executive leadership position was created to establish Hawai`i as a premier technology and cybersecurity hub in the Asia-Pacific region and to strengthen ties between Hawai`i and Washington, D.C. in support of the state’s business and technology transformation.
      Bhagowalia is working with the new state CIO, Keone Kali, and other stakeholders to publish a cybersecurity report on Hawai`i’s next steps to align with the National Cybersecurity Framework and establish itself as a world-class cybersecurity center of excellence for the emerging 21st Century Asia-Pacific region.
      “Hawai`i is on track and being recognized at the national level for making steady progress in modernizing and securing our technology infrastructure and reengineering the way government does business – online versus waiting in line,” Bhagowalia said. “A cybersecurity framework of cooperation and investment will be required by government, industry and academia with local, national and international representation to help Hawai`i realize its promise as a crossroads of the Pacific in the Information Age.”
      For more information on GTRA Awards, see june2014.gtra.org/awards.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sen. Mazie Hirono addresses the Veterans' Affairs
Conference Committee.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, A MEMBER of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee, gave an opening statement on Hawai`i veterans’ wait times for health care at VA facilities during the committee’s first meeting. The committee is working on a compromise version of the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, which was recently passed by the House and Senate. The meeting is the first Veterans’ Affairs conference committee since 1990.
      “This Conference Committee has an important task in the coming days and weeks,” Hirono said. “That is to finalize legislation that does three important things:

1. Directly address the emergency circumstances that have been uncovered at the Veterans’ Administration;
2. Ensure all of our veterans receive access to the care that they deserve; and
3. Begin the longer-term work of restoring veterans’ trust not only in the VA, but in Congress’s ability to effectively oversee the VA and provide the resources needed to care for our veterans.

      “Investing in the VA is an essential step towards building back the trust of our veterans.

 I recognize that expanding access to non-VA providers is needed to immediately address this emergency. 

With this expansion, we must ensure every veteran in our country, whether rural or urban, can easily get the care they need if the VA is not available.

 For Hawai`i veterans, that should include being able to get care from community health centers, Department of Defense facilities or from the Native Hawaiian Health Care System.

 But that doesn’t mean that getting care outside of the system is the long-term solution.
      “I do not support an approach that will lead to atrophy of the VA.

 I do not support voucherizing VA. 

I do support Congressional leadership and action that addresses the current emergency, ensures our veterans’ can access the care that they deserve and lays the groundwork so that the VA can effectively address long-term needs.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard speaking to a Hawai`i Island veteran.

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD encourages veterans to contact her if they need assistance with the Veterans’ Affairs or Pacific Islands Health Care System. “My team and I can help local veterans who feel they have been treated unfairly by the VA or who have not received a timely response for care or benefits.” See gabbard.house.gov or call 808-541-1986.
      Gabbard has called for Pres. Barack Obama to use his executive power to alleviate the crisis of long wait times for veterans to receive health care. She also wants new leadership in Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System, saying Director Wayne Pfeffer should be fired, following reports that veterans in Hawai`i have the nation’s longest wait times. She also wants “a thorough review of the cause for the excessive 145-day wait times.”

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

Na`alehu's Independence Day Celebration
is two days away. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I COUNTY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL continues its help with electric bills through the end of the month. The Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program is available at Ocean View Community Center today, tomorrow and Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Low-income families can sign up in Pahala today and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
     For information for Pahala, call 936-8396. For Ocean View, call 936-9296. Na`alehu and other Ka`u residents can go to either location.

VOLUNTEERS MEET AT KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply.

STORYTELLING WITH DOODIE DOWNS takes place tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Aloha Friday programs are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai`i Department of Research and Development and Hawai`i Tourism Authority. Free; park entrance fees apply.

NA`ALEHU INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. To participate, volunteer or donate, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 or see okaukakou.org/4th-of-july-parade and click on the volunteer button.
     After the parade, `O Ka`u Kakou provides fun times at Na`alehu Park for all ages with free shaved ice, hot dogs, games for keiki and Bingo for seniors.

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 25, 2014

Researchers arrive off the Ka`u Coast today to map and study the base of Loihi Seamount. Image from Schmidt Ocean Institute 

COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE RICHARD ABBETT, who presented his views at last weekend’s League of Women Voters forum, has been talking to people daily at gathering places in Ka`u and has been attending and participating in County Council meetings remotely from Ocean View Community Center since last October.

      He told The Ka`u Calendar that one of his most important issues is the Transient Accommodations Tax, the tax levied on hotel rooms, bed and breakfast establishments and vacation rentals by the state. The county receives only a portion back from the state, and the counties lobby each year to receive a greater share to take care of county roads, parks, police, fire, lifeguards, visitor information centers, public transportation and other services and infrastructure funded by the county. Abbett said the income is needed not only to pay for direct impact of visitors and services provided for tourism, but to also help pay for county workers in terms of their union wages and benefits, as well as retirement. The counties lost a lot of TAT income during the recent financial crisis when the state decided to hold onto more of the transient tax revenue to pay for its services and overhead. Abbett said Hawai`i County is producing the highest per day spending by visitors and could put an increased share of the TAT to good use.

Richard Abbett, candidate for Hawai`i County Council District Six

      Abbett said that, “if elected, I’d be willing to take a lead role on Finance, Environmental Management and/or Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability Committees.”
       He said he is also interested in more transparency and accountability of public officials to the citizenry. He said he would support a County Charter resolution to make the county clerk a four-year elected term. He said he disagrees with a current County Charter proposal to make the County Clerk a six-year political appointment and said he plans to testify against it at a County Council meeting. He said the county clerk, the chief elections officer who serves the administration, and legislative auditor, who serves the County Council, should both be elected by the public rather than be political appointments of the mayor and the County Council, which has put them add odds with one another.  

       Abbett also talked about the state of Hawai`i ranking lowest in the nation for voter turnout and about lack of public participation in government. Abbett attends council meetings usually at the Ocean View Community Center, where residents can watch the meetings and participate, giving testimony through an audio-visual feed. He said he also talks story with people around Ka`u each morning at different cafes and other locales, speaking with business owners and the general public. He said he is forming his platform and policies based on these direct interactions with people and through attending the council meetings to keep up to date on the issues.
       He said that when people say, “Why bother?” he encourages them “to not give up and to vote and participate.” He said there was some improvement in citizen participation for a while. However, he contends that after the public will was made into a law to restrict GMOs and to reduce police effort in charging people with cannabis use, the new laws have not been carried out. “It was like throwing cold water in our face - disagreeing with the will of the people.”
      He also mentioned that he has received endorsement from the statewide Sierra Club.
      Abbett can be reached on email at reabbett@gmail.com or on the Richard Abbett for County Council Facebook page.

      See more about candidates on local ballots at the primary election on Saturday, Aug. 9 in future Ka`u News Briefs.

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

RESEARCHERS ARRIVE OFF THE KA`U COAST today to explore Loihi Seamount. Brian Glazer, an oceanographer at University of Hawai`i-Manoa, leads the expedition, along with colleagues from University of Minnesota, IFREMER Centre de Brest and Woods Hole Oceanographic. They will map the seamount’s base using Woods Hole Oceanographic’s Sentry autonomous underwater vehicle and collect water samples to better understand the processes impacting delivery and dispersion of hydrothermal fluids from Loihi to the Pacific Ocean.
      Called The Iron Eaters of Loihi Seamount, the expedition will study bacteria that are oxidizing iron from hydrothermal fluids and seafloor rocks. Results could contribute to understanding the ocean’s iron and carbon cycling, a critical driver in ocean balance. They could also answer questions about how reddish geological formations on land and on the seafloor, called umbers, are formed and whether they formed biologically or geologically and chemically.
      The research also has implications regarding extraterrestrial life. “If, for example, researchers can identify a definitive chemical signature for geological features formed by microbes like those around Loihi, it could ultimately allow scientists to decipher whether similar geological features on places like Mars were biologically produced — a potentially simpler task than finding living cells with limited exploration,” said Mark Schrope, of Schmidt Ocean Institute.
      For more information and to follow the expedition that continues through Monday, July 7, see schmidtocean.org/story/show/2225.

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

Hawai`i County Council joined New York City in banning sales of tobacco products to those under 21 years of age. The law goes into effect Tuesday, July 1. Image from tobaccofreekids.org

NO BUYING CIGARETTES IF UNDER 21 years of age. The new law going into effect Tuesday, July 1, will make Hawai`i the first county in the state and one of the few communities in the nation to enact the law. New York City is one of the other leaders. The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids notes on its website that tobacco companies have long been well aware that if kids are hooked early they have a good chance of acquiring lifelong customers. The campaign website at tobaccofreekids.org quotes them: 

      “Raising the legal minimum age for cigarette purchasers to 21 could gut our key young adult market (17-20) . …” 
 – Philip Morris report, Jan. 21, 1986.
      “If a man has never smoked by age 18, the odds are three-to-one he never will. By age 21, the odds are twenty-to-one.”
— RJ Reynolds, Sept. 10, 1982.
       The campaign literature says, “Nearly all smokers start as kids or young adults, and these age groups are heavily targeted by the tobacco industry. Increasing the sale age to 21 will help to prevent young people from ever starting to smoke and to reduce the deaths, disease and health care costs caused by tobacco use.
      “Increasing the sale age will complement other strategies to reduce tobacco use, including higher tobacco taxes, strong smoke-free laws that apply to all workplaces and public places and well funded, sustained tobacco prevention and cessation programs.

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

Prof. Gilles-Eric Seralini's study finding major problems with GMOs and
glyphosate has been republished.

A CHRONIC TOXICITY STUDY ON THE GLYPHOSATE-BASED herbicide Roundup and a commercialized genetically modified corn has been republished, restoring it to the peer-reviewed literature so that it can be consulted and built upon by other scientists.
      Led by Prof. Gilles-Eric Seralini, the study found severe liver and kidney damage and hormonal disturbances in rats fed GM corn and low levels of Roundup that are below those permitted in drinking water in the European Union. Toxic effects were found from the GM corn tested alone, as well as from Roundup tested alone and together with the corn. Additional unexpected findings were higher rates of large tumors and mortality in most treatment groups.
      The study was first published in Food and Chemical Toxicology in Sept. 2012 but was retracted by the editor-in-chief in Nov. 2013 after what Seralini called “a sustained campaign of criticism and defamation by pro-GMO scientists.”
      Republished by Environmental Sciences Europe, the new version contains extra material addressing criticisms of the original publication. Raw data underlying the study’s findings are also published. According to Seralini, raw data for industry studies that underlie regulatory approvals of Roundup are kept secret. However, the new paper presents the same results as before, and the conclusions are unchanged.
      See gmoseralini.org.

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

Ka`u residents can sign up for help with electric bills at Old Pahala Clubhouse
tomorrow and Friday. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I COUNTY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL continues its help with electric bills through the end of the month. The Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program is available at Ocean View Community Center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 30. Low-income families can sign up in Pahala this Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

      Those wanting help with electric and gas bills must bring photo ID for all adults, Social Security cards for all house residents, citizenship verification, birth certificate or state ID or passport, HELCO or gas bill, income verification, pay stubs, affidavit, proof of physical residence, tax bill or other bill with street address. Applications are open to all, but applicants must qualify based on their income.
     For more information for Pahala, call 936-8396. For Ocean View, call 936-9296. Na`alehu and other Ka`u residents can go to either location.

 
NA`ALEHU INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. To participate, volunteer or donate, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 or see okaukakou.org/4th-of-july-parade and click on the volunteer button.
     After the parade, `O Ka`u Kakou provides fun times at Na`alehu Park for all ages with free shaved ice, hot dogs, games for keiki and Bingo for seniors.

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 24, 2014

State House of Representatives District Five candidate Dave Bateman wants to increase food production in Ka`u and other parts of his district. Photo by Julia Neal

DAVE BATEMAN, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE for state House District Five, presented his views at League of Women Voters’ forum Saturday. He later told The Ka`u Calendar that his campaign is about `ohana and improving quality of life. To do this in District Five, he said, “The first thing that we need is a government that is supportive, that helps and says ‘yes’ more than ‘no.’”
      He said he supports increasing agricultural production on “Hualalai, Mauna Loa and into Ka`u. We have some of the best growing area in the world right here, and we are not taking advantage of it. We import 85 percent of our food at a statewide cost of about $3 billion a year,” even when underestimating food costs per person as low as $10 day for a million Hawai`i residents.
      “Food comes in, money goes offshore to mainland U.S. interests and such places as Mexico,” Bateman said. “My plan calls for the money to stay here. Why are we importing this food when we can grow locally veggies, fruits, nuts, cattle, chicken, eggs?” asked the candidate, who is also a coffee farmer.

Candidate Dave Bateman grows coffee in Kona.

      Bateman said his plan is to “educate our keiki and high school graduates in agriculture. There would be two-year degrees in ag, ag business, farming and mahi`ai, Hawaiian traditional farming. Young people educated in ag would qualify for low-cost, long-term leases on farmland from the state, county, Kamehameha Schools and other private landowners to get their production going. They would also qualify for matching loans from the state at three percent interest for 30 years.” He said similar loans are already available from the state Department of Agriculture. However, these would be for newly qualified farmers.
      He said that about 15,000 acres would be needed to make a significant contribution to food production and employment. He suggested that the state employment retirement system use part of its $12 billion retirement fund to finance new agriculture. He said that even with a three percent return from the farm loans, the income would be better than Wall Street investments, which provided heavy losses to the retirement system when the economy crashed.
      He said it’s also important to continue growing export crops like coffee and macadamia nuts.
      Regarding the future of energy, Bateman pointed to local residents paying four times the cost of electricity on the mainland. He said he supports geothermal, wind and solar and wants to incentivize the electric company to upgrade transmission lines. He contended that changing electric current from alternating to direct for distribution along the power lines would save much of the line loss. The electricity would be reverted back to AC at different substations around the island.
      He said he would lobby to cut state income taxes by 20 percent. He would also reduce vehicle licensing costs and said many farmers have to pay a high rate that presents a burden to agriculture.
      Bateman wants to eliminate local taxes on food, medical care and medicine and reduce general excise taxes on “farm-direct sales.”
      He said he wants to raise `ohana out of poverty, saying that 17 percent of families of four earn less than $27,000 a year and that 40 percent of students need a free meal when they come to school.
      See more from other candidates who attended the forum in future Ka`u News Briefs.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Diagram depicts hydrogen fuel cell use in vehicles.

“THIS NEW FUEL CELL ELECTRIC BUS IS THE FIRST tangible step in realizing our vision of transforming the County of Hawai`i public bus system into one that is powered by our island’s incredible renewable energy resources,” Mayor Billy Kenoi said regarding the county getting the state’s first hydrogen fuel cell and battery-powered bus. The 25-passenger bus should be ready early next year, according to manufacturer U.S. Hybrid.
      The bus uses a 30-kilowatt fuel cell fueled by a 20-kilogram hydrogen storage and delivery system. The fuel cell and 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery power the vehicle’s 200-kilowatt power train, air conditioning and auxiliary systems. Onboard batteries are recharged by regenerative braking.
      Funding comes from the state of Hawai`i and Office of Naval Research via the Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute. Hawai`i Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies Director Stan Osserman said the contract includes the vehicle, conversion from internal combustion to a hydrogen fuel cell, a limited warranty and support equipment.
      Kenoi said the bus is the first step in transforming Hawai`i County’s Hele-On bus system into one that “is powered by our island’s incredible renewable energy resources. Instead of exporting our citizen’s hard-earned dollars offshore, we will be able to keep this money in our local economy creating new jobs and protecting us from the swings of the fossil fuel markets,” he said.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Hawai`i Civil Defense is now Hawai`i Emergency
Management Agency.

HAWAI`I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY is the new name of state Civil Defense, following Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signing of House Bill 849 (Act 111). Hawai`i was the last state to retain the use of civil defense in reference to its emergency management agency. This change brings Hawai`i in line with modern best practices and updates language and references used in prior statutes. 

      Act 111 also establishes an Emergency Reserve Corps and authorizes the 24/7 State Warning Point, both critical increases in the state’s readiness to respond to hazards. It does not significantly change the governor’s emergency powers, but it does vest county mayors with emergency authorities independent of the state emergency management structure.
      The measure updates the state’s emergency management statutes, including clarification of the relationship between state and county emergency management agencies and the emergency management functions and powers of the governor and mayors.
      “This measure will ensure that the state is better prepared for all catastrophic events, both natural and manmade, in safeguarding the people of Hawai`i,” Abercrombie said. “In addition, this act will better integrate state and county disaster response planning and reorganizes the authorities and responsibilities of government leaders, providing the public with increased clarity during difficult and uncertain circumstances.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

AFTER REVIEWING 245 MEASURES PASSED by the 2014 Hawai`i State Legislature, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has notified legislators of his intent to veto 10 bills, in addition to the notification on June 9 of his intent to line-item veto House Bill 1700 relating to the state budget.
      “I commend legislators for passing many important and relevant measures this session that will benefit Hawai`i’s residents, like higher minimum wage and land preservation,” Abercrombie said. “However, there are a few bills I am considering vetoing because of input I have received from concerned individuals. Other bills, despite their good intentions, will not work as they are written.”
      The state of Hawai`i Constitution requires the governor to provide 10 working days’ notice for any measures that he may veto by July 8.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

      Abercrombie said most of the bills are potentially objectionable because of concerns raised by state department or agencies, reflected in testimonies provided during the hearing process. The purpose of the notice is to allow sufficient time for the governor to give additional consideration, have further discussions and inquiries and conduct deeper analysis before final decisions are made.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ONE BILL THAT IS NOT ON GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE’S veto list is House Bill 1671, which increases the amount of transient accommodation tax revenues available to the counties. The tax is collected on hotel rooms and rentals of less than 180 consecutive days. “All of the mayors and the county councils worked together this year to make a strong and compelling case for lifting the cap,” a spokesman for Mayor Billy Kenoi told Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today. “We appreciate the decision by the state Legislature and the governor to increase the counties’ share … and we look forward to continuing this discussion next year.”
      The county plans to apply the entire amount of the extra transient accommodations tax, $1.86 million, to the county’s account for future health benefits for retirees.

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

ORAL ABIHAI SHARES HIS PASSION for making `ukulele from discarded or naturally fallen pieces of wood tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

NA`ALEHU INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. To participate, volunteer or donate, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872 or see okaukakou.org/4th-of-july-parade and click on the volunteer button.
      After the parade, `O Ka`u Kakou provides fun times at Na`alehu Park for all ages with free shaved ice, hot dogs, games for keiki and Bingo for seniors.

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.