Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, October 11, 2018

Eddie Andrade, left, points to a possible burial site near or on the land chosen for wastewater treatment. Hawaiʻi County Environmental Management Director Bill Kucharski, right, looks on. Photo by Julia Neal

CLOSING DOWN GANG CESSPOOLS IN PĀHALA IN TIME TO AVOID HUGE EPA FINES, and finalizing the site for the new Pāhala wastewater treatment system drew many points of view during a public meeting last night. The discussion on the Environmental Assessment for the planned location next to the Norfolk tree lane, along Maile Street coming into Pāhala town, elicited comments from people who said they want sewage treated below Hwy 11.

     Eddie Andrade, who took care of the sewage treatment system when it was owned by C. Brewer, said he worried about the site above the highway being subject to flooding and possibly spilling onto Hwy 11, the main road around the island. Putting it below the highway would prevent Hwy 11 from being blocked or flooded, should there be an event that would lead to the treatment facility lagoons breaking their banks, he said. His view was mirrored by Sophia Hanoa, who also contended that construction costs would be the same below the highway.

Earl Matsukawa, right, answers questions about writing the 

Environmental Assessment. Photo by Julia Neal

     Engineers for the project said the facility would be designed with berms high enough and strong enough to deal with any possible flooding and that the history of where and how much flooding has taken place at the site is being studied to determine the engineering of the facility.

     Representatives of the county presented an audiovisual description of the EA and the preliminary site plan. They said that sitting below the highway would cost more, mentioning the requirement to pipe the sewage under the highway, to build an access road and utility lines from Hwy 11 to the treatment site, and the uncertainty of whether the land would be suitable if it were an old dumping ground for the old sugar plantation. Another EA would be required. They said they plan to build the treatment facility, hook up the old sewer line to it and shut down the old large capacity gang cesspools in 2021 to avoid Environmental Protection Agency fines of more than $32,000 a day. After the large cesspools are closed, the new sewer lines would be installed in the streets and those on the old sewer lines and those newly accessible would hook up in 2022, they said.

     The final treatment center site, whether above or below Hwy 11, would require containment of all liquids from the treatment system to prevent any leakage of sewage into the environment, they said.

     Andrade pointed to a tunnel under Hwy 11 that was built for the purpose of sending mill waste away from the town, makai of Hwy 11. He also cautioned that there could be a burial cave on or near the proposed site. Writers of the EA said they want to learn more and called for any information on historical, cultural and spiritual value of the proposed site to the community.

Engineers said they'd planned the site to shield the lagoons from public view by planting native trees and other plants to absorb water. They said the site could attract wildlife. Photo by Julia Neal

     Terri Napeahi, a member of the State of Hawaiʻi Burial Council and Vice President of Pele Defense Fund, came to the meeting from Hilo. She and Hanoa, along with Sandra Demoruelle, of Nāʻālehu, talked about the process and public involvement in choosing the place for sewage treatment. They asked whether there should be an Environmental Impact Statement rather than the EA to evaluate the site. Demoruelle said there should have been a hard copy of the EA at the meeting and Hanoa said there should have been more copies of the EA available in the town to the public. She also said the comment time is short and asked if it could be extended. Representatives from the county said they could ask for it.

     Hanoa called the entrance to Pāhala town "historic" and said no one wants the sewer system to welcome people to Pāhala. Engineers showed their plan to leave the Norfolk Pines in place and to plant other native trees and plants to treat and absorb the treated effluent and to screen the lagoons and other areas of the treatment facility from the public. The area will also be fenced and locked, they said.

     Kupuna Jessie Ke, who led the pule to open the meeting, suggested a gathering of kupuna to talk about the history of the site and also to discuss the impact of the site on people in the town. Earl Matsuaki, of Wilson Okamoto Corp., who worked on the EA, said letters went out to numerous community groups and agencies asking for any knowledge of possible impacts on wildlife, and knowledge of any archaeological and historic sites. He and other county consultants said they received no comments of concern and pointed out that the site is currently planted in macadamia trees.

Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan facilitated all three public 

meetings in Pāhala this week. Photo by Julia Neal

     Jessie Marques, of Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, asked about funding and the cost of waiting any longer to build the treatment system. Who would pay for the cost of the extended time, given the EPA threats of fines?

     Several engineers working on the project explained that sewage in the old plantation system is untreated and currently puts groundwater and the ocean at risk for contamination.

     William Kucharski, Director of the county Environmental Management Agency, said that new wastewater facilities are paid for countywide, with state, federal and county funding. Sewer fees for Pāhala would not go up with higher costs. Everyone hooked up to a sewer pays the same rate per month throughout the county.

     Some people talked about the impact on the pocketbooks of those people unserved by the old sewer lines who would have to pay to hook up to the new ones. Jadelynn Kaʻapana-Moses mentioned the strain of putting children and grandchildren through college and said she didn't have another $20,000 or more to hook up to the sewer system. Hooking up is a requirement wherever a sewer line goes by a house on Hawaiʻi Island. Those currently on the old sewer system will be funded by the county under an agreement with the defunct C. Brewer sugar company. Those with cesspools or septic tanks will have to pay to hook up. Representatives of the county said they would look into loan and funding programs to help out. The noted state law that requires all cesspools, including those for individual houses, be closed by the year 2050.

     Meeting facilitator Berna Cabacungan encouraged speakers to provide their questions and their comments on the EA for the proposed site. Comments are due by Oct. 23. The draft Environmental Assessment is available at Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Libraries and at oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2018-09-23-TEN.pdf.

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HAWAIʻI HAS MORE RESIDENTS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE than any other state, with the exception of Massachusetts, reports WalletHub today. WalletHub says the national uninsured rate is back on the rise, growing 4.6 percent since December 2016.

     Hawaiʻi's overall uninsured ranking is second lowest in the country, at 3.85 percent. Honolulu has the lowest uninsured rate in the U.S., for cities of 300,000 or more residents; this includes residents of the city proper, only, not surrounding areas.

     The state uninsured rate went down by 4.04 percent between 2010 – before ACA was in place – and last year. As of 2017, Hawaiʻi is has the lowest uninsured rate in the union for low income households at 4.05 percent and the second lowest insured rate for high-income households at 1.6 percent.

     Blacks and Hispanics in Hawaiʻi have the lowest uninsured rates in the U.S., at 4.5 percent for Hispanics – 17.8 percent is the national average – and 1.4 percent for Blacks – 10 percent is the national average. Whites rank 11th, at 4.1 percent, with 5.9 percent the national average.

     Uninsured adults in Hawaiʻi rank second at 4.35 percent – national average, 9.93 percent – and children rank fourth lowest at 2.2 percent – the national average is 5 percent.
     For this study, WalletHub measured the post-Obamacare uninsured rates in each of the 50 states. WalletHub also compared the rates for 547 U.S. cities, in addition to a breakdown by age, race/ethnicity, and income level.

     WalletHub says, "Having health insurance is vital to the well-being of your family and your wallet. It not only ensures that you have access to the care you need, but it also can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses, the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S.

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act — dubbed 'Obamacare' — the uninsured rate for all adult Americans dipped to a historic low of 10.9% in the last quarter of 2016, according to Gallup. But the uninsured rate is back on the rise and was 12.2% in the fourth quarter of 2017. According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, it now sits at 15.5%."

     See more at wallethub.com/edu/uninsured-rates-by-state/4800 and wallethub.com/edu/uninsured-rates-by-city/25030.

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VACANCIES ARE OPEN on various Boards and Commissions for county of Hawaiʻi. Members of most of these Boards and Commissions serve for staggered terms of five years, on a voluntary basis. The following vacancies need to be filled for Kaʻū: Fire Commission, Council District 6, and Ka‘ū Community Development Plan Action Committee, 9 positions.

     Other positions available for the entire county include: Board of Appeals, 1 position; Board of Ethics, 1 position; Cultural Resource Commission, 2 positions; Fire Board of Appeals, 5 positions from any Council District; Liquor Adjudication Board, 1 position; and Merit Appeals Board, 2 positions.

     For all Boards and Commission, travel expenses to and from meetings are reimbursed.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, residents of the State of Hawaiʻi, and may not hold any other public office. The Mayor's Office will fill vacancies on Boards and Commissions from a list of applicants. Application forms are available at hawaiicounty.gov/office-of-the-mayor . For further information, contact Rose Bautista, Executive Assistant to the Mayor, at 961-8211 or at rose.bautista@hawaiicounty.gov.

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HAWAIʻI PHOTO SHOOT CONTEST is open to entries through Monday, Oct. 15. This year's contest is the first open to all Hawaiʻi residents. Shown at Wailoa Center Jan. 4 through 24, 2019, the show is sponsored by the Hilo Photography Club. The subject matter is open; however, nudity and political themes are not allowed. There are two sections, adults and junior. Those under 18 on Oct. 15 may enter in the junior section.

     The entry fee is $10 per entry for adults, $5 per entry for juniors, with no limit on the number of entries per person. Cash awards are given to the best entry in each section. Additional cash awards will be given to the overall best entries in Black & White and Nature Photography. Cash award amounts to be determined based on final number of entries.

     Send digital entries in jpeg format not exceeding 2000 pixels on the longer side to vijaykarai1953@gmail.com . Send appropriate amount by check payable to Hilo Photography Club, PO Box 100, Kurtistown, HI 96760-0100.

     After notification of acceptance of the digital entry on Nov. 15, entrants should send a framed print of the accepted image, ready to hang – no saw tooth hangers – to Wailoa Center, Piopio St., Hilo, HI 96720. Framed prints will be accepted through Dec. 28. Include return labels and postage. Additional pick up locations will be announced later. Prints can be marked for sale. 20% of the sale price will be deducted by the selling agency. If not for sale, mark NFS. A liability waiver will need to be signed for all prints exhibited. Print size needs to be at least 8x10. Larger prints are preferred. There is no upper limit on size. Print pick up is Jan. 25.

     Judging will occur on Jan. 3. The opening reception is Friday, Jan. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit will be judged by Laurent Martres, an award winning author of guide books for photographing the American west. Martres also serves as a juror for several mainland art festivals. His website is martres.com.

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Stewardship volunteers show off their tools they help remove
invasive species in the Park. NPS photo

STEWARDSHIP A THE SUMMIT SEEKS VOLUNTEERS to help restore Hawaiian rainforest at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. October through December, Stewardship at the Summit begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. The dates are Saturday, Oct. 20; Friday, Oct. 26; Friday, Nov. 2; Saturday, Nov. 17; Saturday, Nov. 24; Wednesday, Nov. 28; Monday, Dec 7; Tuesday, Dec. 15; and Tuesday, Dec. 22. No advance registration is required. No cost to participate, but park entrance fees apply.

     During these events, volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. on any of the above dates. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, raingear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Visit the park website for additional planning details: nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

Removing invasive species gives endemic
plants a chance to thrive. NPS photo

     Countless Himalayan ginger, faya, Australian tree fern, strawberry guava, and other invasive, non-native plants that threaten the native understory near the summit of Kīlauea volcano have been removed. In their place, once-shaded ‘ōhi‘a trees, ‘ama‘u and hāpu‘u tree ferns have re-emerged, and pa‘iniu, kāwa‘u, and other important native plants are returning to the stewardship plots.

     Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park provides numerous ways for visitors to connect with and appreciate Hawaiian culture, active volcanoes, and native plants and animals. The park provides refuge for more than 50 threatened and endangered species which include honu‘ea (hawksbill turtle), nēnē (Hawaiian goose), ‘ua‘u (Hawaiian petrel), ‘io (Hawaiian hawk), and the Ka‘ū silversword. The Park was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1987 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980.

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KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL SLAMMED PARKER in all five sets played last night at the Waimea school. Junior Varsity scored 25 in both games, with Parker at 22 and 17. Varsity scored 25 in their three games, with Parker at 18, 12, and 13.

     Kaʻū Athletics says tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 12, is Senior Night, PINK OUT. The Trojans will host St. Joseph at 6 p.m.

     See the remainder of the Fall sports schedule, below.

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE

Football:

   Sat, Oct 13, 12pm, BIIF Semi-Finals at Kamehameha, Kohala vs. Pāhoa
   Sat, Oct 20, 1 pm, BIIF Finals at Pāhala Ball Park - Higher vs. Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball:
   Fri, Oct 12, 6pm, host St. Joseph

   Mon, Oct 15, BIIF DII Qtr - Higher

   Wed, Oct 17, BIIF DII Semi-Finals @ Kona
   Thu, Oct 18, BIIF DII Finals @ Kona

Cross Country:
   Sat, Oct 13, BYE

   Sat, Oct 20, 9am, BIIF @ HPA

   Sat, Oct 27, 8:30am, HHSAA

NEW and UPCOMING

KAʻ Ū PLANTATION DAYS event has open vendor spaces and is looking for entertainers. The event, held at Kaʻū District Gym, happens Saturday, Oct. 20. The final planning meeting happens Friday, Oct. 12, at Pāhala Community Center. Those interested in a vendor booth, contact Liz K. at 339-0289. Others, inquire with Darlyne V, at 640-8740.

TIKI MAMA'S on Road to the Sea Halloween party will feature the Night Stalkers. Doors open a 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct, 27, at 92-9122 Mamalahoa Hwy, Ocean View. Suggested donation is $10 plus a can of food. Tiki Mama's events support Hawaiʻi Food Bank.

FREE HIP HOP DANCE CLASS with Crystal and Spider of Lulu Dance Foundation dance studio, Van Nuys, CA. The free class begins at 3:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29, at Kaʻū District Gym's multipurpose room. Call Nona at 928-3102 to register or for more info.

TRUNK-OR-TREAT at Kaʻū Octoberfest is looking for community members to offer treats and/or candy to keiki attending the event. The event will be held Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., organized by Department of Parks and Recreation, Kaʻū District Gym, and Pāhala High & Elementary School. There will also be a vehicle decorating contest. Call 928-3102 for more.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Free Community Dance, Fri., Oct. 12, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
First Annual Super Saturday Five-on-Five Tournament, Sat., Oct. 13, Ka‘ū District Gym. Event hosted by Hokulele Basketball Club – youth from 5 years old to high school, sponsored by families and players. Free admission to watch. For more or to join, text or call President Ravel Kaupu, 319-0687.

CANCELLED: Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Oct. 13. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Sat., Oct. 13, 9-12:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Held outdoors, weather permitting - otherwise, indoors with reference photo. Students complete one 9"x12" project. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222.

Realms & Divisions of Kahuku, Sat., Oct. 13, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on a new Kahuku Unit trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Zentangle: Ghosting Workshop with Lydia Meneses, Sat, Oct. 13, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Adds haunting aspects and mystical-whisper feelings to artwork using light touch of mini graphite pencil. All materials supplied or available for borrowing. Open to all levels, no Zentangle or art experience necessary. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hula Kahiko - Liana Aveiro with Hālau Malanai, Sat., Oct. 13, 10:30-11:30am, hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula w/Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe, Halauolaokalani, Sat., Oct. 13, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Oktoberfest, Sat., Oct. 13, 3-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. German foods: bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, stew, spätzle, schnitzel; local beer, wine, cider for the keiki; and games and prizes. Entertainment provided. Volunteers welcome. Sponsored by Cooper Center Council. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

Palm Trail, Sat., Oct. 14, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon., Oct. 15, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
‘Ai Pono with Aunty Edna Baldado - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau (Experience the Skillful Work), Wed., Oct. 17, 10-2pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Discuss eating and living healthier with native Hawaiian foods like kalo (taro), ‘uala (sweet potato), and ulu (breadfruit). Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed., Oct. 17, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries Annual Meeting, Thu., Oct. 18, from 6pm, at the Pāhala Plantation House. Election of officers for the 2019 term beginning January 1; short business meeting followed by entertainment, food, and door prizes. Everyone encouraged to attend and share ideas on how to improve local libraries. Sandra Demoruelle, 929-9244, naalehutheatre@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
Volunteer Forest Restoration Project: Faya Tree Removal, Fri., Oct. 19, 8:30-1pm, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, contact for meet-up location. Hosted by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age and able to hike at least one mile over rough, uneven terrain. Release forms required. Co-signatures of adult required for volunteers under 18. Contact Patty Kupchak at forest@fhvnp.org or 352-1402 by Mon., Oct. 15. fhvnp.org

ONGOING

Tūtū and Me tuition-free traveling preschool, for keiki birth to five years old and their caregivers, is temporarily moving their Pāhala site program for Oct. 23, 25, and 30, and Nov. 1, to the River of Life Assembly of God church. The group still meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. They will be back at Pāhala Community Center on Nov. 6. The Nāʻālehu location remains at Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Open Enrollment for Harmony Educational Services lasts through Oct. 15. Partnered with four local public charter schools, the program offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can contact Ranya Williams, rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798. harmonyed.com/hawaii

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union's Nāʻālehu Branch is taking applications for a Member Service Representative.
     The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html

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Kaʻū News Briefs Wednesday, October 10, 2018

The 2018 Hawaiʻi Woodshow featured artists from Hawaiʻi and around the world, showcasing the art of woodworking and the positive role of forests in Hawaiian culture, economy, and ecology. This piece, Crown Flower by Scotts Hare, won the Masters Award of Distinction. See story, below. Photo by Brad Goda

COUNTY LAW REQUIRES HOMES THAT WILL BE NEWLY ACCESSIBLE TO SEWER LINES be hooked up. Last night, representatives of the county Office of Environmental Management explained the unusual situation in Pāhala. C. Brewer, the defunct sugar plantation owner, paid the county some funding toward building a new wastewater system in order to close now-illegal gang cesspools. While the county agreement with Brewer alleviates homeowners on the old plantation sewer system from having to pay to hook up to the new one, those with homes along the new sewer line route that are not hooked up to the old sugar plantation sewer lines will have to pay.

     Several members of the public objected, saying that old folks and those putting family members through college won't be able to afford it. Jadelyn Kaapana-Moses said it is overwhelming to think that she could have an expense added to her household that would cost $8,000, $10,000, or perhaps much more. Alfred Ibarra said he already put in a septic system and should not have to abandon it and pay for a sewer hookup. Gary Tomondong, whose hookup costs will be covered by the county, said he felt for the others who would have to pay.

     Sophia Hanoa said she hopes the county can help find the money to pay for it and pointed to elder people on fixed incomes, saying that many would find it hard to afford the hookup.

William Kucharski and Berna Cabacungan lead a meeting on the proposed sewage treatment plan for Pāhala. 

Photo by Julia Neal

     County Director of Environmental Management William Kucharski said he is working with the mayor, congressional representatives, and others, to secure a loan or funding program to help out. Dora Beck, county Wastewater Division chief, said that people in Honokaʻa formed a hui and entertained bids from contractors to come into the town and hook up numerous locations in order to discount the cost.

     Also mentioned was the proposed location of the sewage treatment facility along the pine tree lane coming in to Pāhala. Eddie Andrade and Sophia Hanoa suggested putting it below Hwy 11. While engineer Michelle Sorensen said the facility is designed to withstand hurricanes and other causes of flooding, Andrade, who previously maintained the old Brewer system, said after the meeting that he thought the location could flood during a catastrophe, sending overflow onto Hwy 11, which could block traffic.

     The proposed location and its draft Environmental Assessment, which is open for comment through Oct. 23, oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2018-09-23-TEN.pdf, will be discussed at a public open house tonight beginning at 5:30 p.m., with a presentation on the EA from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Kaʻū Gyms's Multi-purpose conference room next to Pāhala High and Elementary School. Meetings are led by facilitator Berna Cabacungan.

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HAWAIʻI ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY will formally include community outreach as part of plans to open seven new major solar-plus-storage projects – two on Hawaiʻi Island. While developers include outreach as part of their plans and engage with the community, Hawaiian Electric Companies "have now specifically made community outreach a formal part of the procurement process and require all of those who seek to build a project to engage early on with residents in the communities where their projects will be sited," says a release from the utilities.

     Developers collaborating with the utilities will begin community outreach activities in coming weeks. Community members will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed projects and Hawaiian Electric will file the comments with the Public Utilities Commission as part of the regulatory approval process.

     The planned projects aim to make a "record increase" in renewable energy in the state, "representing the largest infusion of renewable energy in state history." The projects are in contract negotiations between developers and the Hawaiian Electric Companies and, according to the utility, are expected to produce long-term contracts for approximately 260 megawatts of solar energy on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi islands. "Each solar project will be connected to a storage system that will capture up to four hours of electricity that can further reduce fossil fuel use in the evening or other times when the sun isn't shining."

     Shelee Kimura, Hawaiian Electric senior vice president of business development and strategic planning, said, "These large-scale solar and battery projects will accelerate our renewable energy drive at some of the lowest prices we've seen to date. With support from our communities, these projects will reduce our reliance on fossil fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions while benefiting all with low-cost renewable energy."

Solar panels on homes augment Hawaiʻi's renewable energy
sources. Image from HELCo

     Hawaiʻi Electric Light, Hawaiian Electric, and Maui Electric already have more than 500 MW combined of renewable energy under contract, in addition to nearly 80,000 private rooftop systems in operation. "The cost of renewable energy continues to drop, aided by tax credits available to developers," the press release stated.

     "These projects, if approved by the PUC, will help displace another 1.2 million barrels of fossil fuel per year." 

     The seven projects "result from an ambitious, expedited procurement effort, that began in February, "to expand their renewable energy portfolios." Working with the PUC, the companies increased their original procurement scope for Hawaiʻi Island "from the equivalent 20 MW to 60 MW, expedited project selection, and increased the total number of projects anticipated in this phase of the procurement across all three islands."

     The seven projects include two projects on Hawaiʻi Island, totaling approximately 60 megawatts and 240 megawatt-hours of storage. On Oʻahu, there are three projects planned, totaling approximately 120 megawatts and 515 megawatt-hours of storage. On Maui, two projects are planned, totaling approximately 75 megawatts and 300 megawatt-hours of storage.

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.

Mats Fogelvik's piece, Vortex Series #2, winner 

of the Marian Yasuda Award for First Place 

Furniture, sold for $4,900. Photo by Brad Goda

PROFESSIONAL WOODWORKER MATS FOGELVIK, of Ocean View, won the Marian Yasuda Award for First Place Furniture in the furniture category at the 2018 Hawaiʻi’s Woodshow, held at Honolulu Museum of Art School. Fogelvik's won for his piece entitled Vortex Series #2, a 32-inch round table made from curly Koa and Holly. The piece retailed at $4,900, and has already sold. Other pieces from the show are available for purchase online at shop.hawaiiforest.org.

     The annual show is sponsored by the Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association "to celebrate the art of woodworking and the positive role of forests in Hawaiian culture, economy, and ecology," says the release announcing the winners. Jurors Sean Browne, Irving Jenkins, and Alan Wilkinson determined the awards based on "Inspiration of Design" and "Excellence of Implementation."

     Best of Show was awarded to Paul Schürch, of Santa Barbara, for his Koa Cocktail Dress, a contemporary use of koa veneer he has been creating for over six years. The dress has veneer laminated onto cloth, creating a wood surface that is supple and soft to the touch, yet strong enough not to crack or buckle with body movement. The dress stretches with a wooden hinging system and is comfortable to wear or sit down in and can be easily cleaned with a removable slip.

Scotts Hare's piece Yang, retailing for $1,200, 

won an Honorable Mention. Photo by Brad Goda 

     Woodshow winners this year also include three other Hawaiʻi Island residents:

     Scotts Hare, of Kurtistown, won the Masters Award of Distinction for his piece Crown Flower.

     Robert Woodward, of Kailua-Kona, won an Honorable Mention for his piece Yang.

     Cliff Johns, of Kailua-Kona, won the Masters Award of Merit with his artist's collection. Johns is a co-founder of Hawaiʻi Artist Collaboration!, a non profit "dedicated to the power of cooperation and collaboration amongst artists, arts organizations, and educators with the goal of creatively facing the challenges of the future," says the website. Their Annual COLLAB! Gathering, "a gathering place where kupuna and master artists can recharge and reinvigorate their work through a sharing of knowledge and skills," happens at Holualoa Inn, 76-5932 Mamalahoa Highway, over four days, from Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. An auction on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., immediately follows the event. Early Bird auction tickets, $35, will be available until midnight HST on Friday, Nov. 2nd. Tickets will be available at the door for $45.

Cliff Johns won the Masters Award of Merit for his 

collection of pieces. King's Feast retails 

for $7,600. Photo from cliffjohns.com

     Hawaiʻi's Woodshow was created to promote an appreciation for the remarkable variety of Hawai‘i-grown woods and attracts talented woodworkers throughout the state and abroad who submit entries showcasing the versatility and beauty of Hawai‘i woods across design mediums including furniture, woodturning, sculpture, and musical instruments. This year's exhibition includes 72 pieces of art submitted by 39 of Hawaiʻi's best artists.

     Other sponsors of the show include: C. Barton Potter, Co., J.P. Damon, Department of Land and Natural Resources - Division of Forestry & Wildlife, Ferraro Choi and Associates, Ltd., Forest Solutions, Inc., Shaun Fleming-Wooden Touches LLC, Hawai‘i Forest Institute, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Wood Utilization Team, Steven Hill, Honua Ola Bioenergy, Kamehameha Schools, Ron & Myra Kent, Paniolo Tonewoods, Peter Simmons-In the Woods, Scheurenbrand Guitars, Craig Swedberg of Craig's Creative Style Tantalus Studio, Thomas Loudat, Tusher Architectural Group, Kawena Wise, WhiteSpace Architects, Inc., Jorma Winkler of Winkler Woods, Woodcraft Supply, LLC, and Hawaiʻi Yasuda Designs.

     Established in 1989, the Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association is a nonprofit corporation founded by and for people committed to managing healthy and productive forests. As Hawaiʻi's recognized forest industry trade association, HFIA – through education, planning, information exchange and advocacy – encourages the responsible growth of Hawaiʻi's forest industry. HFIA programs promote healthier forests, increased business and more jobs within the forestry sector.

     HFIA has a diverse membership of over 250 individuals, and public and private corporations including woodworkers, landowners, sawyers, foresters, growers, environmentalists, government officials, and others interested in the organization's goals and mission. HFIA promotes a balance of forest land uses ranging from protecting and restoring native forests to managing commercial use tree farms.

     HFIA formed the Hawai‘i Forest Institute, a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit organization, in 2003. With their roots firmly planted in promoting healthy and productive forests in Hawai‘i, other HFIA and HFI projects include the Honolulu Zoo Children's Discovery Forest; Pana‘ewa Zoo Discovery Forest; Keauhou Bird Conservation Center Discovery Forest; the ‘Āina Mauna Christmas Tree Demonstration Project; and native forest restoration at three dryland forest sites in North Kona.

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE

Football:

   Sat, Oct 13, 12pm, BIIF Semi-Finals at Kamehameha, Kohala vs. Pāhoa
   Sat, Oct 20, 1 pm, BIIF Finals at Pāhala Ball Park - Higher vs. Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball:
   Fri, Oct 12, 6pm, host St. Joseph

   Mon, Oct 15, BIIF DII Qtr - Higher

   Wed, Oct 17, BIIF DII Semi-Finals @ Kona
   Thu, Oct 18, BIIF DII Finals @ Kona

Cross Country:
   Sat, Oct 13, BYE

   Sat, Oct 20, 9am, BIIF @ HPA

   Sat, Oct 27, 8:30am, HHSAA

NEW and UPCOMING

BEE BOYS HONEY SHOP HOSTS A MONTHLY NĀ‘ĀLEHU POETRY NIGHT, using Halloween as an inspiration for their Haunted theme this month, featuring spooky stories. The event takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the breezeway in front of their shop located at 95-5627 Mamalahoa Hwy, Nā‘ālehu; doors open at 6 p.m. Nā‘ālehu Poetry Night offers an open mic and plant-based potluck. For more, call 333-6895, email info@beeboys.org, or visit @beeboys on Facebook or @bee.boys on Instagram. See beeboys.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.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Oct. 11, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Oct. 11, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Free Community Dance, Fri., Oct. 12, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
First Annual Super Saturday Five-on-Five Tournament, Sat., Oct. 13, Ka‘ū District Gym. Event hosted by Hokulele Basketball Club – youth from 5 years old to high school, sponsored by families and players. Free admission to watch. For more or to join, text or call President Ravel Kaupu, 319-0687.

CANCELLED: Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Oct. 13. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Sat., Oct. 13, 9-12:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Held outdoors, weather permitting - otherwise, indoors with reference photo. Students complete one 9"x12" project. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222.

Realms & Divisions of Kahuku, Sat., Oct. 13, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on a new Kahuku Unit trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Zentangle: Ghosting Workshop with Lydia Meneses, Sat, Oct. 13, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Adds haunting aspects and mystical-whisper feelings to artwork using light touch of mini graphite pencil. All materials supplied or available for borrowing. Open to all levels, no Zentangle or art experience necessary. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hula Kahiko - Liana Aveiro with Hālau Malanai, Sat., Oct. 13, 10:30-11:30am, hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula w/Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe, Halauolaokalani, Sat., Oct. 13, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Oktoberfest, Sat., Oct. 13, 3-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. German foods: bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, stew, spätzle, schnitzel; local beer, wine, cider for the keiki; and games and prizes. Entertainment provided. Volunteers welcome. Sponsored by Cooper Center Council. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

Palm Trail, Sat., Oct. 14, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon., Oct. 15, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
‘Ai Pono with Aunty Edna Baldado - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau (Experience the Skillful Work), Wed., Oct. 17, 10-2pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Discuss eating and living healthier with native Hawaiian foods like kalo (taro), ‘uala (sweet potato), and ulu (breadfruit). Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed., Oct. 17, 12:30pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING

Tūtū and Me tuition-free traveling preschool, for keiki birth to five years old and their caregivers, is temporarily moving their Pāhala site program for Oct. 23, 25, and 30, and Nov. 1, to the River of Life Assembly of God church. The group still meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. They will be back at Pāhala Community Center on Nov. 6. The Nāʻālehu location remains at Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Open Enrollment for Harmony Educational Services lasts through Oct. 15. Partnered with four local public charter schools, the program offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can contact Ranya Williams, rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798. harmonyed.com/hawaii

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union's Nāʻālehu Branch is taking applications for a Member Service Representative.
     The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html

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.

Kaʻū News Briefs Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Sea Mountain Golf Course, the southernmost golf course in the U.S., may be closed permanently. 

See story below. Photo by Julia Neal

SEA MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE remains closed, and there is no indication that America's Southernmost Golf Course is planning to reopen.

Image from bigislandguide.com

     A sign in the window at the course check-in, posted back in mid-April, reads "Sea Mountain Golf Course will be closed through April 2018 due to unplayable conditions on the course and machine downs." The sign was amended at some point, with a hand-written "Indefinitely!!"

     Robert Iwamoto and partners, which owns the transportation company Roberts Hawaiʻi, owns the public course; the undeveloped commercial, resort; residential properties at Punaluʻu; and the boat ramp near the more than 70 privately held condominiums near the famed Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach.
     Sea Mountain Golf Course, designed by Jack Synder, was constructed by the old sugar plantation company, C. Brewer, and opened in 1971. It has a slope rating of 129 and course rating of 7.1-USGA. The course has 18 holes and a driving range.

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.

HOOKING UP TO THE NEW COUNTY SEWAGE SYSTEM will be free to Pāhala residents whose homes are located on the old sugar plantation sewer lines in the town, residents and homeowners who attended the county meeting learned last night .
     The county also reported that cameras will be used by the county to inspect the lateral pipes from homes to the street that were installed in recent years to accommodate the new system. Wherever repairs, adjustments, or new pipes would be needed, there would be no cost to the residents, engineers explained. The cost of installing any new pumps from the six homes that would need them to reach the new sewer line will also be assumed by the county. County representatives said they would strive to engineer the system to prevent as few households as possible from having to pump the effluent to the street pipes.
     County representatives also stressed that the county could be liable to pay more than $32,000 a day in fines if it doesn't close down the gang cesspools in Pāhala that are serving the old plantation homes.
      When asked whether there would be odor, with the land for the system half the size than previously planned, engineer Michelle Sorensen said that there will be no odor in the disposal groves and wetlands of trees and native plants. She said that odor treatment would occur when the sewage first arrives at the treatment plant, before the treated effluent goes into the disposal groves and wetlands.

     Conserving the gateway to Pāhala village by preserving the Norfolk Pines along Maile Street was confirmed by the county.

The proposed Pāhala wastewater treatment system. Photo by Julia Neal

     A meeting was held tonight beginning at 6 p.m. at the Kaʻū Gym activity room to explain the hook up for those whose homes are not on the old plantation system, but are located on the same streets as the future sewer lines. See coverage of the meeting in Wednesday's Ka`u News Briefs.

     Another public meeting and open house will be held tomorrow, Wednesday: 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the open house, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for the formal meeting. This meeting will be open to the public, and will cover both the Draft Environmental Assessment for the planned site, and the impact of the planned project on Native Hawaiian cultural and religious practices.
    The Draft Environmental Assessment of the proposed project area is available at oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2018-09-23-TEN.pdf, and public opinion is open through Oct. 23. It is also available at Pāhala Library at 96-3150 Pikake St., and Nāʻālehu Library at 95-5669 Mamalahoa Hwy. Both are open weekdays.

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.

Most of the lava flow in dark black, produced by the April 1868 Mauna Loa eruption, can be seen in this aerial photo
on the west (left) side of the prominent fault scarp, known as the Kahuku pali. Today, windmills are located along
the pali. Kalae (South Point) is not visible. It is to the right of this photo.
Aerial photo by U.S. Geological Survey, 1954

THE RECORD SETTING 1868 EARTHQUAKE was the hot topic at a recent Coffee Talk by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists at the Kahuku Unit Of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Fredrick Schwartz Lyman, a Kaʻū
rancher prior to the 1868 earthquakes,
tsunami, and eruption. Janet Babb read
his writings at the recent Coffee Talk
at Kahuku. Photo from Mission
Houses Museum Archives

     Jim Kauahikaua, a research geophysicist, and geologist Janet Babb, held the audience spellbound as they showed slides and shared modern scientific findings from the largest recorded earthquake in the history of Hawaiʻi island.
     Known as the Great Kaʻū Earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9 magnitude on the Richter scale, it struck near Pāhala on April 2, and caused 72 deaths. It also precipitated an eruption five days later.
     "You are sitting on the flow now," Kauahikaua told the audience, adding, "the lava reached the ocean in a matter of hours. After four or five days, it stopped.
     "The earthquake was very powerful. You must remember that a magnitude eight earthquake is 33 times stronger than a magnitude seven," added Kauahikaua.
     He explained that the Kaʻū earthquake and eruption were part of a larger volcanic event that unfolded over 16 days. On March 27, an eruption quietly began in Mokuʻaweoweo, the caldera at the summit of Mauna Loa. Seismic activity increased through the day, and by the afternoon of March 28, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake occurred in Kaʻū, which caused extensive damage from violent shaking. This quake destroyed four or five stone churches and destroyed Captain Brown's stone house, which is thought to be located near mile marker 71 on Highway 11.
     During the following four days, nearly continuous ground shaking was reported in Kaʻū and South Kona. Earthquakes continued at rates of 50 to 300 per day, including a magnitude-6.0 each day, leading up to April 2, when the great Kaʻū earthquake occurred at 4 p.m.

A bronze plaque at mile marker 71 on Hwy 11 marks the loss of
Captain Brown's house. It was destroyed by the March 28, 1868,
 earthquake. The ruin was covered in lava on April 7.
Photo by Annie Bosted

     Babb read a number of accounts from diaries that were written at the time. Perhaps the best description of the earthquakes and the eruption were written by Frederick Lyman who had a ranch in Kaʻū. He wrote:

     "It was impossible to stand, we had to sit on the ground, bracing with hands and feet to keep from rolling over. In the midst of it we saw burst out... what we supposed to be an immense river of molten lava (which afterwards proved to be red earth), which rushed down its headlong course and across the plain below... swallowing up everything in its way, trees, houses, cattle, horses, goats and men. ...After the hard shaking had ceased, all along the sea-shore the sea was boiling and foaming furiously, all red, for about an eighth of a mile from the shore, and the shore was covered by the sea."
     The mudslide of red cinder described by Lyman was located in Wood Valley, north of Pāhala. It is now thought to have covered three miles in three minutes, burying a Hawaiian village and killing 31 people.

The striped pattern on this map of Hawaiʻi Island indicates areas of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea that moved during the Great Kaʻū Earthquake in 1968, according to scientists. Red lines depict rift zones on Mauna loa (left) and Kilauea (right). The approximate epicenter of the quake is shown as a yellow dot. Black arrows show direction of the slip.
Graphics modified from Max Wyss, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1988

     Kauahikaua explained that modern studies show that a very large part of the Island of Hawaiʻi moved during the 1868 event. "It shifted about 25 feet, or eight meters," he said. (see map of island, above)
     The destruction from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on April 2 was nearly total. Stone buildings and stone walls were destroyed - some as far away as Hilo. The partially destroyed church on Kamaoa Road is the only damage from 1868 that can still be seen.
     The tsunami, consisting of at least eight waves over several hours, was estimated to be more than 20 feet high in Kaʻū. The waves caused damage from South Point (Kalae) to Cape Kumukahi (Kapoho), destroying more than 100 structures, and taking 47 lives. The coastline was completely changed, according to eye witness accounts. Parts of the coast broke off, leaving cliffs; other parts were inundated with land slides, or subsided. Many of the coastal villages were wiped out and were never resettled.

Jim Kauahikaua, research Geophysicist, and geologist Janet Babb, both
scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, talked story about the 1868
earthquake at a recent Kahuku talk story. Photo by Annie Bosted

     The great Kaʻū earthquake unlocked Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone, and on April 7, 1868, an eruptive fissure opened low on the mountain, just above today's Highway 11 and east of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. According to accounts, the land was covered about five to fifteen feet deep in lava. Those still living in its path "ran for their lives," some escaping the fiery flow by as little as ten minutes.

     Eyewitness accounts from a passenger on a steamer ship describe fountaining about 500 to 1,000 feet high. One described the start of the eruption:
     "At six p.m. … a volume of flame shot up from the mountain Loa… It reached the sea… at nine and a half p.m., when an immense body of steam at once arose, through which flashes resembling lightning were constantly darting as long as we were in sight."
     The eruption started 10 miles from the coast, with flows advancing at the rate of about 2.7 miles per hour - almost brisk walking speed.
     Kauahikaua explained that after the eruption, King Kamehameha V and an entourage of ministers lead a relief effort from April 15 to 23. They landed by boat in Hilo and made stops in Puna and Kaʻū, where they gave food and clothing to about 800 destitute people.
     "It must have been cheering and gratifying to those who had endured the great Kaʻū earthquake to get comfort directly from their king," added Kauahikaua.

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.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS has never been more true than during the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. On the ballot are two questions: "Shall there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?" and "Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?"

     The caveat in this question is that, if the voter leaves the questions blank – or marks both "yes" and "no" on their ballot – their vote is counted as a "no." Only a definitive "yes" vote counts toward a convention or toward the tax for education becoming a law.

     A 1997 Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decision is what requires definitive approval from voters for constitutional ballot questions. The reasoning is that ballot questions should only pass if the majority of voters are actively for the measures in question.

     The last time a ballot question asked for a Constitutional Convention, in 2008, ballots only presented a 35 percent affirmative vote.

     See more at elections.hawaii.gov.

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.

Maria Aurelio wears a lei as she becomes an LPN
and seeks higher education to become an RN.
Photo from Kaʻū Hospital Foundation

MARIA AURELIO, LPN, of Pāhala has successfully become a Licensed Practical Nurse and said she will seek to become a Registered Nurse. This summer she was also recognized during the graduation ceremony as the most outstanding LPN student. During her training, she assisted the medical staff at Kaʻū Hospital.
     The Kaʻū Hospital Foundation issued a statement: "We are so fortunate to have Maria and wish her well in pursuing her next level of training as a Registered Nurse. Congratulations!!"

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE

Football:

   Sat, Oct 13, 12pm, BIIF Semi-Finals at Kamehameha, Kohala vs. Pāhoa

   Sat, Oct 20, 1 pm, BIIF Finals at Pāhala Ball Park - Higher vs. Kaʻū

Girls Volleyball:
   Wed, Oct 10, 6pm, @ Parker

   Fri, Oct 12, 6pm, host St. Joseph

   Mon, Oct 15, BIIF DII Qtr - Higher

   Wed, Oct 17, BIIF DII Semi-Finals @ Kona
   Thu, Oct 18, BIIF DII Finals @ Kona

Cross Country:
   Sat, Oct 13, BYE

   Sat, Oct 20, 9am, BIIF @ HPA

   Sat, Oct 27, 8:30am, HHSAA

NEW and UPCOMING

DISCOVERY HARBOUR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HOSTS AN ARTS AND CRAFT BAZAAR on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Center. The event features homemade and handmade wares. There are limited tables available inside the community center, with options for outdoor sites, weather permitting. For more info or to reserve a space, call 929-9576.

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.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10
AdvoCATS, Wed., Oct. 10, 7am-5pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283. advocatshawaii.org

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visits: Dental, Wed., Oct. 10, 8-5pm; Medical, Thu., Oct. 25, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center August newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Pāhala Sewage System - County Dept. of Environmental Management, Wed., Oct. 10, Open House: 5:30pm, Meeting: 6-7:30pm, Ka‘ū Gym Multi-Purpose Conference Room, Pāhala. Mary Fuji, 962-8038

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu., Oct. 11, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu., Oct. 11, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church, Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Free Community Dance, Fri., Oct. 12, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
First Annual Super Saturday Five-on-Five Tournament, Sat., Oct. 13, Ka‘ū District Gym. Event hosted by Hokulele Basketball Club – youth from 5 years old to high school, sponsored by families and players. Free admission to watch. For more or to join, text or call President Ravel Kaupu, 319-0687.

CANCELLED: Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat., Oct. 13. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Sat., Oct. 13, 9-12:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Held outdoors, weather permitting - otherwise, indoors with reference photo. Students complete one 9"x12" project. $45/VAC member, $50/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222.

Realms & Divisions of Kahuku, Sat., Oct. 13, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on a new Kahuku Unit trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

Zentangle: Ghosting Workshop with Lydia Meneses, Sat, Oct. 13, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Adds haunting aspects and mystical-whisper feelings to artwork using light touch of mini graphite pencil. All materials supplied or available for borrowing. Open to all levels, no Zentangle or art experience necessary. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Hula Kahiko - Liana Aveiro with Hālau Malanai, Sat., Oct. 13, 10:30-11:30am, hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula w/Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe, Halauolaokalani, Sat., Oct. 13, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Oktoberfest, Sat., Oct. 13, 3-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. German foods: bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, stew, spätzle, schnitzel; local beer, wine, cider for the keiki; and games and prizes. Entertainment provided. Volunteers welcome. Sponsored by Cooper Center Council. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

Palm Trail, Sat., Oct. 14, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
Discovery Harbour Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Mon., Oct. 15, 5-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

ONGOING
Tūtū and Me tuition-free traveling preschool, for keiki birth to five years old and their caregivers, is temporarily moving their Pāhala site program for Oct. 23, 25, and 30, and Nov. 1, to the River of Life Assembly of God church. The group still meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. They will be back at Pāhala Community Center on Nov. 6. The Nāʻālehu location remains at Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to aid caregivers with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate, listening ear. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either free program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 929-8571, or Betty Clark at 464-9634 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Open Enrollment for Harmony Educational Services lasts through Oct. 15. Partnered with four local public charter schools, the program offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can contact Ranya Williams, rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798. harmonyed.com/hawaii

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

CU Hawaiʻi Federal Credit Union's Nāʻālehu Branch is taking applications for a Member Service Representative.

     The job description reads: Serve as a liaison between the member and the Credit Union. Provide a variety of financial services to members including savings, share drafts, and loan transactions, as well as sales of merchandise items: money orders, traveler's checks, postage stamps, etc., in accordance with Credit Union procedures and policies. CU Hawaiʻi offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Mail, hand-deliver, or fax application to: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street, Hilo, HI 96720, Fax (808) 935-7793. Applications can be downloaded online at cuhawaii.com/about-cu/career-opportunities.html

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