Ka‘ū News Briefs Monday, December 4, 2017

National Marine Monuments like Papahānaumokuākea serve as nurseries and breeding waters for
fish sought for home use and for commercial fishing. Pres Donald Trump plans to open commercial
fishing in several National Marine Monuments.  See story below.
Photo from Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Monument

HAWAI`I OCEAN VIEW ESTATES DEEPWELL REMAINS INOPERABLE. Ocean View residents are urged to conserve their catchment and any water stored through early January. The county Department of Water Supply issued an update Monday afternoon, stating that emergency repair work continues.
     "At this time, the Contractor has completed extraction of both pump and motor from well and has confirmed that the motor is inoperable. A spare motor is being transported to the site. Pump has been sent to the manufacturers for refurbishing and is expected to be back on site by early January 2018,

with installation to occur shortly thereafter. Anticipated completion of this emergency repair is in January 2018."
     Due to this breakdown, the following remain in effect:
     Drinking water spigots remain open for community access. However, users are asked to limit consumption to potable needs only in order to extend water availability in the reservoir.
    The standpipe facility for water haulers is closed until repairs can be completed.
    The Department of Water statement says that updated information will be forthcoming as it becomes available. "The Department requests your cooperation and thanks you for your patience and understanding during this emergency." For additional information, contact 961- 8790.

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A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF CHILDCARE is the conclusion of new research from University of Hawai`i and Hawai`i Children's Action Network. The study shows that Ka‘ū and Puna are the least served regions in the state with only one licensed childcare space for every 74 infant-toddlers and only one licensed childcare center space for every six children ages three to five.

See the report online.

      The findings, which describe available childcare as high quality but in short supply, are no surprise to the staff of Children's Action Network. The statewide assessment of the learning environment for infants to age-five, find that only one in four have available services. 

     The services surveyed include family-child interaction learning programs like Tutu & Me, which serves Ka‘ū. It includes family childcare homes, where a licensed family hosts children outside of their own family members. It includes childcare centers and preschools. Statewide, it finds that there is room for only one in every 37 children under age three in a licensed infant-toddler center.

      Cost is a deterrent for the opening of new childcare centers and a family's ability to pay for them. “Hawai`i is the most unaffordable state for childcare and preschool. The average cost of childcare for a three-to-four-year-old is $9,000 a year,” said Deborah Zysman, executive director for Hawai`i Children's Network, speaking to Pacific Business News. Affordable childcare for all children in a family, as defined by the federal government, is 7 percent of median family income. In Hawai`i, for only one child, the cost is 13 percent of median family income.

     “It’s concerning,” Zysman told Pacific Business News reporter Anna Hrushka. “So many Hawai`i families are in this gap group, living paycheck to paycheck, working, and childcare is very expensive. It’s a significant part of a family’s budget.”
     The study calls for workforce development to increase the number of childcare service jobs, as well as providing more childcare subsidized by government and employers.

Ka‘ū and Puna have the fewest opportunities for families needing childcare in the state, according
to a new study from University of Hawai`i and Hawai`i Children's Action Network.
Image from Hawai`i Early Leaning Needs Assessment

     Zysman said that Hawai`i “should not have to rely on philanthropy” for childcare. She named Kamehameha Schools, Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation and Mary Castle Foundation for "making philanthropic investments," according to the PBN story.

     See the summary report Hawai`i Early Learning Needs Assessment.

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PROTECTION OF MARINE NATIONAL MONUMENTS at Papahānaumokuākea and in waters of American Samoa made national news on Sunday and Monday. Former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell explained in television interviews and newspaper editorials how fishing bans in preserves

Pres. Theodore Roosevelt was the first to take action

to preserve what is now known as Papahānaumokuākea.

In 1902 he outlawed seabird poaching.

Photo from www.theodoreroosevelt.com

allow marine species to thrive and populate fishing waters outside the monuments. Pres. Donald Trump proposes opening up fishing in protected waters. Jewell also advocated for protection of Utah's National Monuments, which Trump reduced on Monday through executive order. He is yet to announce final plans for National Marine Monuments.
     Jewell tweeted on Monday, "Pres. Trump’s expected actions today will make him the most anti-conservation, president in our history. He will be challenged by tribes and thoughtful citizens that recognize that some places are too special to develop."
     The largest marine preserve on the planet is at Papahānaumokuākea, including Hawaiian waters and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. For more than a century, Republican and Democrat Presidents have participated in its establishment. Parts of it were first protected in 1903 by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt who forbade seabird poachers. In 1909 he established the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation. In 1940 Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt protected all of its wildlife by establishing the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In 1967 Pres. Lydon B. Johnson added protections. In 1988 Pres. Ronald Reagan created Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. In 1996 Pres. Bill Clinton transferred Midway from the Navy to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and created the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosytem Reserve. In 2006, Pres. George W, Bush created the Marine National Monument. Pres. Barrack Obama expanded it.
      The Vision for Papahānaumokuākea, as stated on the Department of Interior website, is: "To forever protect and perpetuate ecosystem health and diversity and Native Hawaiian cultural significance of Papahānaumokuākea."
     The Mission for Papahānaumokuākea, as stated on the Department of Interior website, is:

Protecting seabirds was the first preservation effort at
Papahānaumokuākea. Photo by Kaleomanuiwa Wong

"To carry out seamless integrated management to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwest Hawaiian Islands ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future
generations."
    The Nature Conservancy gave a presentation to the Hawai`i Legislature earlier this year on the value of protecting marine resources. According to the report, almost 50 percent of Hawai`i's coral reefs suffered bleaching between 2014 and 2015. Fisheries have suffered a 90 percent decline in overall catch during the last 100 years, in part from overfishing.
     The marine monuments are considered a nursery for the fish that local residents catch for home use and for the commercial fishery.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

THE LATEST TRAVEL BAN from the Trump administration will be allowed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Monday as legal challenges proceed. Venezuela, Chad, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iran and North Korea are on a list that makes it almost impossible for refugees from these countries to enter the U.S.

Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin
opposes Travel Ban. Photo from HPR

       Since the Trump administration has been fighting to install its travel bans for some 319 days, refugees in the U.S. have been responsible for zero attacks and deaths, while Americans have been responsible for 56,863 shootings leading to 14,335 deaths, 326 mass shootings, and zero gun bans, claims refugee advocate Qasim Rashid, posting on the twitter feeds of news outlets.

     The State of Hawai`i has taken on the Travel Bans by filing suits in federal court, proclaiming discrimination. State Attorney General Doug Chin argued on Nov. 28 that the ban causes "prolonged separation of families, the impairment of the State's university and the damage to the public as a whole inflicted by a radical departure form the status quo that had existed for decades."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A HOLIDAY COLLAGE WREATH CLASS for keiki ages 6-12 has been announced for Friday, Dec. 15, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park (H.O.V.E.). Register until Dec. 13. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

MAKING A HANGING SANTA CRAFT will be the activity on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from  3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. Register keiki, grades K-8, until Dec. 12. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 20. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. The cooperative's Christmas party is Saturday, Dec. 30 at Pāhala Plantation House.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Dec.  5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

CASCADE VOLCANOES BENEATH A SOLAR ECLIPSE is the After Dark in the Park talk that has been announced for Tuesday, Dec. 5, starting at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the volcanoes of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon - how often they erupt and why they can be more dangerous that volcanoes in Hawai’i. Park rangers share their stories of their adventures while visiting these majestic mountains during the total solar eclipse. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, DEC. 5, for a Mason Jar Lover Wreath Craft class planned for Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. For more call Nona Makuakane or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

OPEN MIC NIGHT is Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com for more details.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-703.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES FALL EDITION OF THEATER NIGHT takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

FIVE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT events in which volunteers help remove invasive non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park take place this December. The first event is Thursday, Dec. 7, with remaining events taking place Dec. 15, 23, and 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Ocean View Community Center Pancake Breakfast
will be Dec. 9 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

ALOHA FRIDAY: LEI MAKING WITH RANDY LEE is Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Volcano Art Center Gallery Porch in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Make lei from a variety of natural materials from the forest. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, call 939-7033.

SOFT PASTEL STILL LIFE WITH PATTI PEASE JOHNSON is the class at Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. Instruction and materials provided. Beginners to intermediate artists welcome. $50 per non-member, $45 per VAC member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

EXPLORE THE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF KAHUKU on a easy-to-moderate guided hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, displaying different volcano features and formations in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, titled Birth of Kahuku, also offers hikers the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. It will also take place on Dec. 30.

ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW ANNOUNCES A KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their lower parking lot. Each child receives two books at Rudolph’s Reading Room, a stocking from Santa, and a cookie and punch from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. All are welcome. For more, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.

DISCOVERY HARBOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT will host its Holiday Event t Saturday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576, or visit discoveryharbour.net.

THE PRE CHRISTMAS JAZZ IN THE FOREST FEATURES holiday songs in many musical styles, including Latin, Swing, Bossa, Gospel and Salsa. It stars Jeannine Guillory and The Jazztones with Jean Pierre Thoma, Loren Wilken and Matt Spencer  at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center campus in Volcano village. Pupus from Ohelo cafe, Beer and Wine available for purchase. See www.volcanoartcenter.org.

SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i fhvnp.org. For more, email admin@fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.
Volcanoes National Park. All attendees must be current Friends Member, become a new member by registering online at

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Soccer: Tues, Dec. 5, Ka`u @Konawa`ena
Saturday, Dec. 9, Makua Lani @ Ka`u

Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament

Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 at Konawaena

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram andTwitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

LEARN ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF ‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. The guided hike takes place Sunday, Dec. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/havo.

ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE starts at 1 p.m. at Pāhala Armory and ends at Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, Dec. 10. Contact Andrade family at 928-0808 to participate or for more details, no entry fees.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, BY Wednesday, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
     The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, December 3, 2017

Writers of the draft plan for Pohakuloa Training Area, KMC and other Army Garrison sites in Hawai`i
 are accepting comments through Dec. 7. See story below. Photo from U.S. Defense Department

THE LATEST CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN for 132,268 acres at Pohakuloa Training Area, 72 acres at Kīlauea Military Camp, 11 acres at Kawaihae Military Reservation, and other U.S. Army Garrison posts in the state, declares no significant impact. With this finding, the Army is not required to hold public hearings on its future plans for these places.
     However, public comments on the draft management plan are being accepted until next Thursday, Dec. 7. Several environmental, peace and cultural organizations held their own "people's public hearing" last week in Hilo and Kona said they plan to submit testimony, particularly concerning Pohakuloa where war games with live fire, tanks, helicopters and planes are conducted.
     Projects planned for Pohakuloa through 2021 include construction of Keamuku Range Roads - Garrison MSR-Troop Construction; an Access Control Point and MP Station; an Aviation Gunnery Range; and a qualification Training Range and road paving.
     The plan can be read online. It says that that Army provides the expertise of qualified architectural historians toward the management of approximately 400 buildings at Pohakuloa and nearly 100 buildings and structures "contributing to the character of the Kīlauea Military Camp." It also says that a cultural resource specialist with the National Park Service provides professional expertise and is the point-of-contact to the management of Pohakuloa.
     Concerning archaeological sites, the Army maintains a staff to protect and interpret them, a small curation facility for artifacts at the Pohakuloa Training Area and a larger one at Schofield Barracks on O`ahu.

   According to the plan, the mission for USAG-Pōhakuloa, a military warfare training area, is to “provide support for single service, Joint, and Combined training to afford warfighters the most realistic and flexible training environment available in the Pacific.”
     "PTA is the primary tactical training area that provides the United States Pacific Command Commander with joint/multinational training capabilities to support home-station training, joint training, and enables theater regional engagements," says the plan. "As a remote location, PTA is ideally suited for emergency deployment readiness exercises, regional Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration training, and multinational exercises in support of Theater Security Cooperation Programs and Shaping Operations."
     The Army Garrsison supports Pōhakuloa staff with technical oversight, as well as continued administrative and logistical support "as USAG-Pōhakuloa grows its capabilities. USAG-Pōhakuloa also has oversight of KMC and Kawaihae Military Reservation and provides cultural resources support for both. The USAG-Pōhakuloa actively supports USAG-HI tenant activities, organizations, and units when they deploy to PTA for training. Tenants are required to notify the CRM of any potential changes to historic properties and to coordinate National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 processes through the USAG-Pōhakuloa Cultural Resources Section," says the plan.
    Despite the promise to protect the environment and cultural resources, the plan drew opposition at the "people's public hearings." With a banner saying, "Protect Pohakuloa, Stop the Bombing, "and a sign saying, "Cancel PTA Lease" behind them, citizens testified for hours.

Steve Hirakami, Principal of the HAAS Charter School, said he is
inspired by students who visited the former military bombing site of
 Kaho`olawe and are taking up the issue of military bombing at
 Pohakuloa on this island. Photo from Big Island Video News.  

     Hawai`i Kingdom activist Pua`ena Ahn called Pohakuloa a Hawaiian place and claimed the military is bombing sacred land, grave sites and heiau. One man said the military endangers the people who are employed at Pohakuloa and claimed one of the risks is depleted uranium left there by the military. He said "the military expects respect" and that "we expect the military to respect the land."
     He claimed that the military is using a strategy of fear on the population to include the new, monthly nuclear attack warning sirens that began on Dec. 1, as well as the sound of each bomb that is dropped at Pohakuloa.
     Donna Grabo urged the military to act as a peacekeeping body with "no more violence" rather than perpetuating war.
     Jim Albertini, of Malu `Aina, said the plan is oriented toward dealing with impacts of cultural resources on the military mission rather than the military impact on cultural resources. He claimed that less than one third of the 130,000 acres at Pohakuloa have been surveyed in the 70 years of bombing. He said 1,200 cultural sites have been identified on less than one third of Pohakuloa and estimated that if all was surveyed, thousands of sites would be discovered.
     He also claimed that leaving depleted uranium at Pohakuloa violates the state constitution. The Nuclear Regulatory Agency announced last month that it will look into a Kona citizen and scientists' concern about the situation.

HAAS student Christopher Bizenbauer presented a petition asking for
demilitarization of Pohakuloa. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Steve Hirakami, principal of the Hawai`i Academy of Arts & Science, acccompanied students to the hearing and he testified. He said ten HAAS students recently traveled to Kaho`olawe, the former military target island, and were so inspired that they have taken up the issue of military bombing at Pohakuloa.
     Fifteen year old Christopher Bizenbauer, of the HAAS school, presented a petition calling for the demilitarization of Pohakuloa. He said the school visit to Kaho`olawe showed him how difficult is is for land to recover from bombing and military war games. He said he saw destruction and craters, almost no plants and lots of erosion. He pointed to a military environmental assessment written during the time of the Kaho`olawe bombing, which contended that bombing was beneficial through pulverizing the island's soil to make it amenable to the growth of vegetation. The EA claimed that accumulation of rain runoff in bomb craters was also beneficial. He said that with that kind of thinking, he couldn't trust the military to have Pohakuloa's best interest in mind.
       He noted that "Pohakuloa is many times the size of Kaho`olawe. "Kaho`olawe has zero residents and we live here and they are blowing up our island," said the HAAS student.
      He presented a petition addressed to Gov. David Ige, Mayor Harry Kim, the County Council, state legislators and courts asking them to revoke the military lease for Pohakuloa.
      Bombing of Kaho`olawe ended in 1990 after decades of public opposition and legal action.
      See films of both the Hilo and Kona People's Hearings at www.bigislandvideonews.com.  See the military plan online.

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PĀHALA  SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FLYERS AND MAILERS are circulating in the village. "An Invitation for Pāhala Residents" from the county Department of Environmental Management invites them to come to one of five meetings set for Dec. 12, 13 and 14, "to talk story about a proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pāhala. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that the two County-operated Large Capacity Cesspools that receive wastewater from Pāhala properties previously served by the C. Brewer system must be closed due to environmental concerns," says the flyer.
     The county is considering purchasing more than 40 acres at the corner of Hwy 11 and Maile Street, next to the Norfolk pine tree entrance to Pāhala, from Kamehameha Schools for the project.

This location for the new sewage treatment plant would be near

the entrance to Pāhala in what is now a macadamia orchard and 

next to the scenic Maile Street pine tree lane.

It currently is home to a macadamia orchard. The purchase is on the County Council agenda for consideration this Monday.
     Also possibly up for sale is the nearby 60-acre former Ka`u Sugar Mill site, which goes to a foreclosure auction on Dec. 20 with no upset price. It is listed as No. 10 on the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission for acquisition by the county.
      The county flyer says that "throughout the planning and design process for the new Pāhala Wastewater Treatment Plant, our consultant Brown and Caldwell will be reaching out to the community."
      The first round of Pāhala informal talk story sessions will be held in mid-December. "We will talk about the Pāhala project and ask you to share your thoughts and ideas," says the flyer. The five identical sessions are set for:
    Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
    Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
    Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
    Thursday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
    Thursday, Dec. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka`u District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room.
    The county and consultants are asking for RSVP's, but not requiring them for the public to attend. For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com or Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339 or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300. The consultants also sent out stamped return post cards to those homeowners currently on the old Brewer sewage system in order for them to RSVP.
      Separate meetings will be planned for the Na`alehu Wastewater Treatment Plant plan.  

Find The Ka`u Calendar soon in your mailbox, stands
and online at www.kaucalendar.com

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS  SPORTS SCHEDULE

Soccer: Tues, Dec. 5, Ka`u @Konawa`ena

Saturday, Dec. 9, Makua Lani @ Ka`u

Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament

Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 at Konawaena

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com. 

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS MONDAY, Dec. 4, for committee meetings and Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 20, for Council meetings. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Monday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Dec.  5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

Mason Jar wreaths will be made in a 

class at Pahala Community Center.

CASCADE VOLCANOES BENEATH A SOLAR ECLIPSE is the After Dark in the Park talk that has been announced for Tuesday, Dec. 5, starting at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the volcanoes of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon - how often they erupt and why they can be more dangerous that volcanoes in Hawai’i. Park rangers share their stories of their adventures while visiting these majestic mountains during the total solar eclipse. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, DEC. 5, for a Mason Jar Lover Wreath Craft class planned for Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. For more call Nona Makuakane or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

OPEN MIC NIGHT is Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com for more details.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-703.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES FALL EDITION OF THEATER NIGHT takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

FIVE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT events in which volunteers help remove invasive non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park take place this December. The first event is Thursday, Dec. 7, with remaining events taking place Dec. 15, 23, and 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

ALOHA FRIDAY: LEI MAKING WITH RANDY LEE is Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Volcano Art Center Gallery Porch in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Make lei from a variety of natural materials from the forest. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT will host its Holiday Event to take place Saturday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576, or visit discoveryharbour.net.

Soft pastel class with Patti Pease Johnson is
this Saturday at Volcano Art Center.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE ANNUAL MEETING IS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Association. For more, call 929-9910.

ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW ANNOUNCES A KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their lower parking lot. Each child receives two books at Rudolph’s Reading Room, a stocking from Santa, and a cookie and punch from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. All are welcome. For more, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, call 939-7033.

SOFT PASTEL STILL LIFE WITH PATTI PEASE JOHNSON class, Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at Volcano Art Center. Instruction and materials provided. Beginners to intermediate artists welcome. $50 per non-member, $45 per VAC member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.com.

EXPLORE THE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF KAHUKU on a easy-to-moderate guided hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, displaying different volcano features and formations in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, titled Birth of Kahuku, also offers hikers the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. It will also take place on Dec. 30.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, BY Wednesday, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

Trucks are welcome in the Pāhala  Christmas Parade next Sunday.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE is open for participants next Sunday, Dec. 10. The parade travels the streets of Pāhala and winds up at the Holy Rosary Church on Pikake Street for treats and more entertainment.      Produced by Eddie Andrade and family along with Mary Jane Balio for 39 years, the parade features Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus greeting parade goers with a Ho Ho Ho and throwing candies to the keiki. It features community groups, musicians, churches, businesses and schools, along with the Miss Ka‘ū Coffee court, walking and riding on floats, trucks and classic vehicles.
     The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the old Pāhala Armory and stops at houses throughout the village, making a stop for the staff and long-term care residents at Ka‘ū Hospital before arriving at the Catholic Church. Participants start lining up by 12:30 p.m. To be involved - there are no entry fees - call the Andrades at 928-0808.
   
CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
     The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Saturday, December 2, 2017

Kilauea Military Camp lights up for Christmas with public voting for the best decorations. Kīlauea Military Camp
lights up for Christmas holidays. Photo by David Berry

ADDICTION TO OPIODS IS THE TARGET of a state plan released by Gov. David Ige's office on Friday. The Hawai`i Opioid Initiative action plan notes that drug overdose deaths are higher per year in Hawai`i than deaths from vehicle accidents.The number of active prescriptions of opioids in Hawai`i, about 490,000, would cover about a third of the population.
      Nationally with 259 million prescriptions, according to 2012 statistics, enough opioid prescriptions are written to give a bottle to each person in the country.
     The state Department of Health plans to standardize notice from doctors to patients about the risk of using opioids and combining them with use of other substances. The plan calls for closer reporting of opioid prescriptions by physicians. It also calls for screening hospital and clinic patients for opioid addiction.
     The governors said: “Fortunately, Hawai`i has not yet experienced the magnitude of the opioid crisis seen in other parts of the country. While emerging issues and concerns in the state are on the rise, we have been given a relatively unique opportunity to proactively respond, prepare and prevent the crisis from reaching the same magnitude.”
    "The plan is designed to sustain a system wide coordinated and proactive response to not only opioids, but also methamphetamine and other prevalent drugs," says a DOH statement.
     The collaborative effort is led by the Department of Health, together with the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division, Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division and a wide range of community groups.
     The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy in Hilo was also involved in developing the plan.
    Read the plan at http://health.hawaii.gov/substance-abuse/survey/.

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DID AERIAL BOMBING STOP THE 1935 MAUNA LOA LAVA FLOW? That's the question posed in this week's Volcano Watch by USGS scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
    A widely-held belief is that Thomas Jaggar, founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, was able to stop a Mauna Loa lava flow in 1935. But is it true?
     The eruption in question began on November 21, 1935. Six days later, an unusual breakout at an elevation of 8500 feet on the north flank of Mauna Loa sent ʻaʻā lava to the north. Pāhoehoe lava ponded at the base of Mauna Kea for two weeks before advancing toward Hilo at a rate of about 1.6 km/day (1 mile/day).

Thomas Jaggar 

     On Dec. 23, fearing that the flow would reach the headwaters of the Wailuku River, which supplied water for the town of Hilo, Jaggar called on the Army Air Service, based on Oʻahu, to bomb the lava flow source. His hope was that the lava tubes or channels could be destroyed, thereby robbing the advancing flow while feeding another flow that would re-cover the same area. The flow was bombed on December 27, and lava stopped flowing during the night or early morning of January 2, 1936.
     Jaggar publicly praised the Army for its responsiveness and technical accuracy in delivering the bombs to his selected targets. In turn, Jaggar was praised for his successful experiment and saving Hilo.
    What is not widely known is that a USGS geologist, Harold Stearns, was on board the last plane to deliver bombs to Jaggar's targeted areas. Stearns had been mapping the geology and water resources of Maui volcanoes. But when he heard about the plan to bomb the lava flow on Mauna Loa, he traveled to Hilo to see if he could fly with the Army.
     Stearns got his chance. At 12:40 p.m. on December 27, his plane dropped two 600-pound bombs (each with 300 pounds of TNT), but they hit a few hundred feet from their target. Jaggar himself watched the bombing through a telescope from the base of Mauna Kea.

Bombing to stop the lava threatening Hilo in 1935. USGS Photo

     Assessing Jaggar's bombing goals, Stearns said, "The tube walls look 25 to 50 feet high and deep in the flow so that I think there would be no change of breaking the walls. The lava liquid is low. The damming possibility looks effective but the target is too small."
     Following up with a letter to Jaggar in January 1936, Stearns questioned the effectiveness of the bombing.
     Jaggar wrote back that later examination of the flow's source showed that "This channel was broken up by the bombing and fresh streams poured over the side of the heap.... I have no question that this robbing of the source tunnel slowed down the movement of the front.... The average actual motion of the extreme front ... for the five days after the bombing was approximately 1000 feet per day. For the seven days preceding the bombing the rate was one mile per day."
     Jaggar then asked the rhetorical question, "How long would the flow have lasted without bombing it?" He used the 1919-1920 Kīlauea eruption, which sent lava into the Kaʻū Desert to form Mauna Iki, as an analogue. "If we had bombed Mauna Iki in February 1920, the pahoehoe tunnel system would never have reached the lower Kaʻū desert...."

Aerial view of 1935 lava flow that threatened Hilo.
Photo from Naval Air Service

     Stearns remained unconvinced. In his 1983 autobiography, he wrote about bombing the Mauna Loa flow: "I am sure it was a coincidence...."
     Jaggar's boss at the time, Hawai`i National Park Superintendent E.G. Wingate, was also skeptical.
     The day after the bombing, Wingate wrote to the Army commanders, "Though we are as yet unable to determine what effect the airplane bombardment achieved ... I feel very doubtful that it will succeed in diverting the flow. Therefore, I am ... reconnoitering the flow region and will try to locate a feasible spot on the ground where a land expedition might successfully attack the flow channel by dynamiting or other methods."
     In Wingate's December 1935 report, he summarized the effort: "Just what part the bombardment had in stopping the lava flow the superintendent is not qualified to say. Certainly the facts are most interesting and Dr. Jaggar believes the experiment to have played a definite part."
     Modern thinking mostly supports Stearns' conclusion. Whether or not the bombing stopped the 1935 Mauna Loa lava flow remains a controversial topic today.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ONE LANE CLOSURES ALONG HWY 11 between Mile Marker 53 and Mile Maker 57 between Pāhala and Volcano are scheduled from Monday, Dec. 4 - Friday, Dec. 8 from 8:30 a.m. t o 3 p.m. The state Department of Transportation will work on pavement reconstruction.

KA‘Ū TROJANS PLAYED KEA`AU IN SOCCER ON SATURDAY. In boys division, Kea`au scored 9, Ka`u 0. In girls, Kea`au scored 6, Ka`u 0.

Find The Ka`u Calendar soon in your mailbox, stands
and online at www.kaucalendar.com

KA‘Ū TROJANS  SPORTS SCHEDULE

Soccer: Tues, Dec. 5, Ka`u @Konawa`ena

Saturday, Dec. 9, Kakualani @ Ka`u

Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament

Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 at Konawaena

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

TWO EIGHT WEEK SUNDAY CLAY - HIGH FIRE! SESSIONS with Erik Wold at Volcano Art Center start Sunday, Dec. 3, and continue through Feb. 4. The morning session takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the afternoon session from 2:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. No class will be held Dec. 24 or 31. The cost per Volcano Art Center member is $185, or $200 for each non-member, plus a $15 materials fee. The course includes six pounds of clay, including glazing and firing, with additional clay available for purchase. For more details, visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAM RADIO OPERATORS POTLUCK PICNIC is Sunday, Dec. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Manukā Park. All American Radio Emergency Service members, anyone interested in learning how to operate a ham radio and families are invited to attend. For more, call Dennis Smith at 989-3028.

JOIN A GUIDED HIKE ALONG THE PALM TRAIL in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The hike will also be offered on Dec. 23. Palm Trail is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Highlights include relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and amazing volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS MONDAY, Dec. 4, for committee meetings and Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Dec. 20, for Council meetings. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Monday, Dec. 4, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

KA‘Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Dec. 5, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.

A vintage Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department Truck.
The organization meets Tuesday.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Dec.  5, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

CASCADE VOLCANOES BENEATH A SOLAR ECLIPSE is the After Dark in the Park talk that has been announced for Tuesday, Dec. 5, starting at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the volcanoes of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon - how often they erupt and why they can be more dangerous that volcanoes in Hawai’i. Park rangers share their stories of their adventures while visiting these majestic mountains during the total solar eclipse. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, DEC. 5, for a Mason Jar Lover Wreath Craft class planned for Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center. For more call Nona Makuakane or Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

OPEN MIC NIGHT is Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. Visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com for more details.

New Neighborhood Watch signs were put up earlier this year in
Ocean View. The group meets on Thursday.

HULA VOICES takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the event, with Kumu hula Iwalani Kalima of Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani E presenting her hula experiences. Free; park entrance fees apply.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Dec. 7, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-703.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES FALL EDITION OF THEATER NIGHT takes place Thursday, Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

FIVE STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT events in which volunteers help remove invasive non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park take place this December. The first event is Thursday, Dec. 7, with remaining events taking place Dec. 15, 23, and 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Paul and Jane Field lead Stewardship at the Summit.
Photo from HVNP

ALOHA FRIDAY: LEI MAKING WITH RANDY LEE is Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Volcano Art Center Gallery Porch in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Make lei from a variety of natural materials from the forest. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, BY Wednesday, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

THE ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE is accepting entries. It is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. with participants touring the streets of Pāhala and winding up at the Holy Rosary Church on Pikake Street for treats and more entertainment.
     Parade participants start lining up by 12:30 p.m. To be involved - there are no entry fees - call the Andrades at 928-0808.
     Sponsors of the parade also include the Edmund C. Olson Trust II.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.
     The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.