The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015

Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend. NPS Photo by Julia Espaniola

“COVER YOUR WATER TANK” was Hawai`i County Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira’s message at a dengue fever meeting in Na`alehu recorded by Big Island Video News. Oliveira urged Ka`u residents to cover water catchment tanks to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. At the meeting, officials distributed information about eliminating standing water in breeding places such as birdbaths, pool covers, leaky faucets, tires, wheelbarrows and other items. The meetings are being held around the island to educate the public in hopes of reducing the spread of dengue fever.

      During the meeting’s question-and-answer session, Ka`u residents brought up the subject of water catchment systems.

Hawai`i Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira urges Ka`u residents to cover
their water tanks. Video still from Big Island Video News

      One resident said she had in the past added a larvicide to her tank but hasn’t been able to find it in stores. Oliveira said the product is no longer made and that his department is researching other larvicides that may be added to potable water sources.
      According to University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, mosquitoes have been a problem with stored water in Hawai`i since their introduction in the late 1800s, and they are a particular problem when tanks are covered with sagging mesh. A very hazardous old-time method to eliminate mosquitoes was to cover the water surface with a film of kerosene, assuming that it would kill the larvae and then evaporate. Kerosene is toxic to humans and should never be used in a water catchment system. Mineral oil has also been used in the same fashion to kill mosquito larvae, but the oil residue left on the tank will support the growth of undesirable microorganisms.
      The best way to avoid mosquitoes “is to eliminate any opening large enough to admit them, filter the intake and eliminate exposed, ponded or standing water anywhere in the catchment system,” UH-CTAHR reported.

      See bigislandvideonews.com.

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Ranchos is the site of proposed solar arrays on several
three-acre lots. Photo from Preserve Hawai`i's
Rural Communities

HAWAIIAN RANCHOS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION has sent ballots to its voting members asking them to approve a measure that would limit the amount of solar power that could be produced on any three-acre lots to 25 kilowatt-hours. This would allow rooftop solar, but not 250-kwh installations currently planned for the subdivision. 

      SPI Solar, a Chinese company, has permits in the names of about 18 limited-liability companies to build 16 installations in Ranchos. If built, they will have the capacity to generate 6,750 kwh. Hawaiian Electric Light Co. would also need to build a substation and overhead high voltage line for the project, subject to state Public Utilities Commission approval.
       HRCA previously polled all property owners and received 374 responses against the solar installations, Ranchos resident Ann Bosted said. In addition, a petition against the installations, offered for signing in some Ocean View businesses, has received about 500 signatures.
      Bosted said that, in general, Ranchos property owners are not against rooftop solar but prefer that the industrial installations, which would include six-foot high security fences and bright lights, be located on true agricultural land rather than neighborhoods that are on ag-zoned land.
      According to Bosted, SPI’s property leasing partners have not yet signed a contract with HELCO.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD shared her Veterans Day thoughts with The Ka`u Calendar.
      “Today, we honor the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, because it is their sacrifices that have secured the freedoms and security that we cherish,” Gabbard said. “Freedom is not free. I’ve seen first-hand the true cost of war and how that cost continues long after our veterans come home. Our troops and veterans, and their families, pay the price, and it takes a toll on the toughest among them. Coming home should offer them peace and a chance to heal.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a major in Hawai`i's Army National Guard.
Photo from Office of the Representative

      “But the reality is that our veterans often come home bearing the scars of war, dealing with wounds that are both visible and invisible, and face great difficulty in gaining access to the care and benefits they need and have earned.
      “Our country must honor our troops’ service and their willingness to sacrifice for our nation, by not sending them on missions with no clear objective, or to fight in wars that are unnecessary and counterproductive to our nation’s security. 

      “We must honor our veterans’ service by caring for them when they come home and empowering them to continue serving our community and our country.
      “The Veterans Administration must begin to rebuild veterans’ trust by holding leaders accountable for their malpractice and focusing on its mission of serving veterans. …
      “After serving and sacrificing for all of us, every single veteran should come home knowing that we are there for them and that we have their back.”
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Gov. David Ige speaking on Veterans Day.
Image from Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE MARKED Veterans Day with a recorded message on his Facebook page: “On this Veterans Day, let us pay tribute to the honorable men and women of our nation’s armed services, who have forsaken their own safety to ensure the safety and freedoms of all Americans. Let us always remember the ultimate sacrifices made by our service men and women and also the sacrifices made by countless military families. Our nation honors you, on this day and always.” 

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WITH WARMEST WINTER WISHES and happiest holiday greetings, Volcano Art Center welcomes Ka`u residents to the 16th annual Christmas in the Country celebration starting Saturday, Nov. 21. Featuring the annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit that continues through Jan. 3, this year’s Christmas in the Country promises an abundance of art and aloha to kickstart the holiday season. 

      VAC Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. In addition to the artwork Volcano Art Center has become known for showcasing year-round, visitors find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, crafts, ornaments and decorations made by Hawai`i Island artists, including some that are VAC exclusives.

      The concurrent annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional. “You’ll be amazed at what some artists choose to include in their highly creative concepts of ‘wreath’,” Gallery Manager Emily Catey said. “Those looking for truly original wreaths will want to be among the first to see and choose from the exhibit.”

Volcano Art Center Gallery will be decorated for
Christmas in the Country. Photo from VAC

      Christmas in the Country begins with an exclusive members-only preview party and features artists hosting special events throughout each weekend.
      At the preview on Friday, Nov. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., VAC members are invited to be the first to view the full collection of unique wreaths and handcrafted decorations and gifts offered. Enjoy complimentary gourmet pupus, mulled cider and champagne, prize drawings and membership discount.
      Joining is easy and secure at volcanoartcenter.org, or purchase a one-day membership upon arrival for $15.
      Park entrance fees may apply.
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THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this evening features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her new book Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

KA`U INSPIRED IS SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Proceeds from this show/fair featuring Ka`u artists benefit OVCA.
      There will be a silent auction of artworks donated by participating artists.
      For more information, email suzanne@dixstudios.com, or call 929-7113.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I Volcanoes National Park offers free programs this weekend.
      Participants learn about the formation and various uses of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A breathtaking view of lower Ka`u is visible on this moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top.
      People & Land of Kahuku is a guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain. The program on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. focuses on the area’s human history.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015

On this Veterans Day, Ka`u veteran Peter Anderson shared memories of his service in Korea.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Veterans Day Ceremony begins at 3 p.m. today. Keynote speaker is retired Col. Debra Lewis, and guest speaker is William Tehero. The event is open to the public.  Call 967-8371 for more information. A Veterans Day Buffet begins at 4 p.m. today at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, baked ono and spinach and mushroom Alfredo. $26.95 adults; $13.50 children six to 11 years old. Call 967-8371 for more information.

HAWAI`I’S U.S. SENATORS released statements in honor of Veterans Day.  “On Veterans Day, Americans remember and give thanks to veterans past and present,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Every gesture matters today, whether it is laying a wreath at Punchbowl Cemetery, marching in the Waianae Veterans Day Parade or simply saying ‘thank you for your service.’ But our commitment to the more than 120,000 veterans who call Hawai`i home requires more than a gesture. These veterans and their families have real needs, and we have a moral, social and financial obligation to be there for them – an obligation we must honor today and every day.”
      Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “Today, we take the time to express our appreciation to the men, women and families who have so honorably served our nation. Every time our country considers military engagement around the world, we must be prepared to keep our promise to these service members by providing them with the care that they need and the benefits that they have earned when they return home as veterans.” See more on protecting communities from dengue fever at http://health.hawaii.gov/docd.

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Dr. Christian Whelen

AS THE NUMBER OF DENGUE FEVER CASES climbs to 33 recently confirmed on the Big Island as of yesterday and the state Department of Health conducts its Don't Get It, Don't Spread It  and Fight the Bite campaigns, a volcano resident awaits results of tests. Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Melissa Fletcher said she was “eaten alive” on Monday, Oct. 26 by mosquitoes at a Honaunau property and at a roadside fruit stand in Ho`okena. The areas of South Kona are hot spots for dengue fever exposure. Fletcher told reporter Leila Fujimori that she developed a high fever, rash and back pain after visiting South Kona.

      According to Fujimori, Fletcher had blood drawn at a hospital on Thursday, and results take two or three business days. State Department of Health Laboratory director Dr. Christian Whelen told Fujimori cases are expedited if the specimen is from an early-onset case and the person might still be infectious.

      See staradvertiser.com.

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TMT sanctioned a survey 93 Hawai`i Island residents and 613 statewide for their
thoughts about the project. Image from TMT

FIFTY-NINE PERCENT OF 93 HAWAI`I Island residents support the Thirty Meter Telescope project on Mauna Kea, according to a survey sanctioned by TMT International Observatory.  Thirty-nine percent oppose the project, and two percent don’t know or did not provide and answer.

Ward Research, Inc., an independent research firm based in Honolulu, conducted the survey in October. 

      Statewide, 88 percent of 613 respondents agreed with the survey statement, “There should be a way for sciene and Hawaiian culture both to exist on Mauna Kea.”
      The poll quota sampled for key demographic characteristics such as age, ethnicity, gender and island of residence. The demographics of the sample match the demographics of Hawai`i based on Census data.
      According to the survey, 74 percent of state residents agree that TMT will help create good paying jobs and economic benefits for those living on Hawai`i Island.
      Sixty-two percent of state residents support moving ahead with construction.
      Support for TMT’s construction is split among Hawaiians/part Hawaiians, with 49 percent of those polled opposing the project and 44 percent supporting the project.

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Mina Morita

FORMER PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAIR Mina Morita discussed her views of rooftop solar on her Energy Dynamics blog. 

      “The ongoing electric utility versus solar debate puts forth a false argument and a premise that one must choose sides,” Morita wrote. “Renewable energy advocates have been very successful in promoting and gathering support for and addressing mainly one side of the electric system equation, the supply side.
      “Buzzwords like ‘100 percent renewable’ and aspirational concepts like ‘energy democracy’ may prompt near-term savings for some individuals but often lack detail to achieve an advanced electric system that is accessible and affordable for all electricity users. Even with Hawai`i’s high penetration of rooftop solar installations, over 80 percent of electric customers still lack access or funding, or have no desire to install a distributed generation system and must rely on the electric utility while shouldering more of the fixed-cost burden of the electric system with incorrect pricing signals like net energy metering.
      “We have finite island grids which have been filled with low capacity, high priced solar which may limit our future options making the Public Utilities Commission’s Phase Two investigation on distributed energy resources even more important to make the necessary market corrections.
      “While economists and others who study game theory may understand the strategic and methodical decision-making process that Hawai`i must employ to achieve optimal results in the design of an advanced electric system, the significance of this transformation and paradigm shift has not been adequately explained to the electricity customer, who must, inevitably, pay for all costs.
      “I fear that if rooftop solar continues to dominate the course of our energy decisions, Hawai`i will be focused on two superpowers duking it out, monolithic vertically integrated electric utilities versus monolithic vertically integrated solar companies vying for market share using political power to affect regulatory authority. I don’t foresee a promising future in that scenario.
      “Too much money, time and energy will be spent on politically charged decisions with nothing but uncertainty and unknown outcomes just to address what I call the tangible balancing act, issues that are more familiar to us in this discussion.”  

      See minamoritaenergydynamics.com.

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Pahala Dojo members participated in the Kona Tournament of Champions. Left to right, first row: Cheydon, Kaiden and Kailen Kaluahine-Salmo, Alajshae Barrios and Emerald Aurelio. Second row: Josiah Barrios, Ethan Biason, Maria Aurelio, Nishioka Shihan, Cheska Aurelio, Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy, Maiki Cofer and Jake Villa. Third row: Jack Minassian, Cliff Field, Susan Field, John Poetzel and Franciso Villa. Photo from Cliff Field

PAHALA KARATE DOJO PARTICIPATED in the 11th annual Kona Tournament of Champions held at Kekuaokalani Gym on Saturday, Nov. 7. Everyone in the dojo attended the tournament and either participated or helped with judging and refereeing.
      Pahala Dojo is part of the International Karate League and is one of 28 dojos in the organizations. The tournament included dojos from Hawai`i Island, O`ahu and California, with 15 dojos represented and over 120 participants. The founder of IKL, Walter Nishioka, was present at the tournament and afterwards came to Pahala to conduct training with Pahala Dojo.
      Pahala Dojo placed third in the Most Outstanding Dojo category, which is determined by a point system based on the number of wins dojo participants attain.
      Jake Francisco (junior black belt) placed second in junior black belt division and second in junior advanced kobudo (weapons) division.
      Kailee Kuhaulua-Stacy (junior brown belt) placed first in advanced junior kumite (sparring) and third in intermediate junior kata.
      Maiki Cofer (blue belt) placed first in Kata open blue belt, second in kobudo open colored belt and third in women’s kumite colored belt.
      Josiah Barrios (junior blue belt) placed second in junior kubudo intermediate.
      Cheydon Kaluahine-Salmo (junior green belt) placed first in junior kumite novice and first in junior beginner kata.
      Etan Biason (junior green belt) placed second in junior beginner kata.

Thursday Nights at the Center features a new
book by a local artist. Image from VAC

      Pahala Dojo trains every Tuesday and Friday at Pahala Community Center beginning at 5 p.m. There is a Keiki karate conditioning class for new students between the ages of five and 10, a beginner’s class and advanced class. The class is open year-round to new students.

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HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK recognizes Veterans Day by waiving entry fees today.

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this month features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The book is Wight’s memoir of her awakening in the 1980s when she bought a cottage near the erupting summit of Kilauea and lived there for five years. She found pu`uhonua – sanctuary, refuge – in the endangered Hawaiian rainforest ecosystem, and she shares the feeling of being in a landscape alive with ancestral voices singing through mist and fire, native birds and insects, plants and ferns.
      The event on Nov. 12 begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

KA`U INSPIRED IS SATURDAY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Proceeds from this show/fair featuring Ka`u artists benefit OVCA.
      There will be a silent auction of artworks donated by participating artists.
      For more information, email suzanne@dixstudios.com, or call 929-7113.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_November2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Director2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015

Eight persons with dengue fever have visited Ka`u. as of Friday, Nov. 6. Officials hold a meeting about the disease today at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Map from Hawai`i Department of Health

AREAS OF NA`ALEHU ARE BEING sprayed or treated today by Hawai`i Department of Health’s Vector Control division, reducing the mosquito population in an attempt to limit the spread of dengue fever. Mosquitoes pass the disease from person to person through bites.

Click to enlarge information about the state's
Fight the Bite campaign.

      As of Friday, Nov. 6, eight of 23 people with confirmed cases of dengue fever on Hawai`i Island visited Ka`u, from north of Na`alehu to Kahuku. Of 33 cases confirmed on the island as of today, 25 are Hawai`i residents, and eight are visitors.
 Twenty-nine cases have been in adults; four have been pediatric. Onset of illness has ranged between Sept. 15 to Nov. 2.
      Hawai`i Department of Health continues to routinely monitor for cases of imported dengue infection on all islands and will continue to have Vector Control perform mosquito site assessments and abatement as needed. Since the beginning of DOH’s current investigation on Hawai`i island, one imported dengue fever case has been confirmed on O`ahu. This case is not associated with the Hawai`i Island investigation.
      Hawai`i County and state officials hold a public meeting about the outbreak today at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

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A SMALL CREW OF LOCAL WORKERS will conduct site preparation activities at the Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea this month, starting with equipment maintenance and repairs, according to Henry Yang, chair of the TMT International Observatory Board of Governors. An exact date has not been announced.
      “We would like to thank our many supporters in the community,” Yang said. “Each of our partners remains committed to building the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawai`i. In California, Canada, China, Japan and India, work is being conducted to develop and build various components for the observatory, and we look forward to the day when it will come together.
      “We are deeply committed to respectful stewardship of the mountain and to the vision that integrates science and culture in Hawai`i and enriches the educational opportunities and local economy. We will continue to follow the state’s laws, procedures and processes, as we have done for more than eight years, while respectfully awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision.”
      While workers associated with TMT begin maintenance and repair activities, hunting and other recreational activities and research also continue on the mountain.

      “Mauna Kea is very much a multiple-use area for a wide array of cultural, recreational and research activities,” said Suzanne Case, Chair of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. “Our goal is to ensure that people on the mountain conduct themselves responsibly and with respect for other users. As local workers prepare to begin work at the TMT site, we want to remind people of other simultaneous activities that may be occurring on the mountain.”
      DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife will conduct animal control activities specifically for trapping mouflon/feral sheep hybirds, as well as staff hunting and/or aerial shooting from helicopters for feral goats, sheep, mouflon and mouflon/sheep hybrids on Nov. 16-17 and Dec. 14-15. These activities will occur within critical palila habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K) and the Ka`ohe Game Management Area (Unit G). Aerial shooting is required by federal court order to improve and maintain critical habitat for the palila, a bird endemic to Hawai`i. See 
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2015/09/28/nr15-149/
      Also, the 2015-2016 game bird hunting season continues through Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 on private and public lands. This includes multiple game management units, forest reserves and other public lands on Mauna Kea. For specific information on game bird hunting rules and specific hunting areas, see http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/announcements/nr15-160f/.
      “We want everyone conducting customary and traditional practices, enjoying recreational activities, or exercising their free speech rights on Mauna Kea to understand that they are sharing the mountain with many others, and we want an atmosphere where kama`aina and visitors can all enjoy their activities, safely,” Case said.

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THIS IS NATIONAL DROWSY Driving Prevention Week by the National Highway Safety Administration. Hawai`i Police Department reminds motorist to be adequately rested before traveling on roadways.
      Loss of sleep can disrupt an individual’s biological clock and impair performance. NHTSA data shows that fatigue degrades a driver’s reaction time, memory, communication, situational awareness, judgment, attention and mood by 20-50 percent. Drowsy drivers suffer from irritability, attention lapses and micro-naps. Operating a vehicle while drowsy delays your reaction to stopping and can have serious consequences.
      In 2013, Drowsy Driving accounted for 72,000 crashes, 800 fatalities and 44,000 injuries in the United States. A national poll indicated that 60 percent of drivers reported driving while drowsy, and 37 percent reported nodding off while driving. NHTSA estimates that each year drowsy driving crashes result in 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary loses. Drowsy Driving is very under-reported but can be prevented by taking measures to get enough sleep.
      National Sleep Foundation offers a few suggestions. Get a good night’s sleep before a long drive (seven to nine hours for adults and 8.5-9.5 hours for teens). If you notice any warning signs of fatigue, find a safe place to get off the road and take a 15-20 minute nap. Schedule proper breaks about every 100 miles. Drive with a friend who will stay awake and watch for signs of fatigue. Avoid alcohol. Always wear your seat belt.

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Sen. Brian Schatz

Sen. Mazie Hirono

TODAY, THE U.S. SENATE PASSED a revised 2016 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 91-3. The updated bill will authorize funding for programs important to Hawai`i’s economy and military community. Hawai`i’s senators voted in favor of the bill, as well as for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Approval of the acts was made possible after Congress reached a bipartisan compromise that lifted sequester caps on both military and domestic spending.
      The Military Construction and VA Appropriations Act includes $444 million for Hawai`i military construction projects, an increase in funding for veterans’ health care and a provision co-authored by Hirono to protect benefits for Filipino World War II veterans.
      “Hawai`i’s key role in the Asia-Pacific continues to be reflected in the NDAA and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act,” Hirono said. “The bills passed by the Senate today are the product of bipartisan compromise. The NDAA provides the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces the resources, equipment and training necessary to complete their missions.”
      Sen. Brian Schatz said, “The defense authorization bill includes many provisions that strengthen our national defense, reinforce the need to rebalance to the Asia Pacific – through which Hawai`i is central – and provide our service members with the equipment and training they need to protect America. Congress worked in a bipartisan manner to find a way to authorize funding for the military’s core operations and ensure that we can continue to provide for our service members and their families.”

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HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK recognizes Veterans Day by waiving entry fees tomorrow.

Col. Debra Lewis Photo from Women in the U.S. Army

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, Kilauea Military Camp’s Veterans Day Ceremony tomorrow begins at 3 p.m. Keynote speaker is retired Col. Debra Lewis, and guest speaker is William Tehero.

      Lewis’ career has been marked by many firsts, including being the first female captain of West Point’s highly successful intercollegiate equestrian team, the 1980 Academy Equestrian of the Year, and the first female soldier to command a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District in Iraq, where she was responsible for overseeing the rebuilding efforts in the region. In total, she has commanded three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts.

      Call 967-8371 for more information. 

VETERANS DAY BUFFET BEGINS at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café. Menu includes prime rib, baked ono and spinach and mushroom Alfredo. $26.95 adults; $13.50 children 6 – 11 years old. Call 967-8371 for more information.

RECYCLE HAWAI`I PRESENTS Hawai`i Recycles Day displays tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KTA Puainako store in Hilo.

      America Recycles Day on Sunday, Nov. 15 is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful. The nationally recognized day is dedicated to recycling across the United States.
      Recycle Hawai`i urges Ka`u residents to get involved. Take the “I Recycle Pledge,” view The Journey video, and celebrate with others at www.americarecyclesday.org.
      Call 969-2012 or visit www.recyclehawaii.org

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE CENTER this month features local author Kahikahealani Wight and her recent book Rainforest Pu`uhonua. The event on Nov. 12 begins at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village.

      Call 967-8222 for more information.

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

FOR AFFORDABLE COMPUTER HELP, call John Derry at 936-1872.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for Retail Sales Associate: Full-Time, Competitive Wages, Medical & Dental Plans. Apply at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Call 928-0550 for an appointment.