About The Kaʻū Calendar

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Miloliʻi-Kaʻū Volleyball club at awards for Regional Juniors. See story, below. Photo from Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuya
MOVE BEYOND THIS DIVISIVE ISSUE, urged Rep. Tulsi Gabbard yesterday in a statement focusing on the completion of the investigation of Russian meddling in the U.S. election:
     "I strongly supported (Robert) Mueller being allowed to complete his investigation into allegations that President Trump colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 elections. Mueller was able to do so, has submitted his findings, and the American people should be allowed to see Mueller's report.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
Photo from Gabbard's Flickr
     "What we know is that Mueller reported that his investigation revealed no such collusion. Now we all need to put aside our partisan interests and recognize that finding the president of the United States not guilty of conspiring with a foreign power to interfere with our elections is a good thing for America.
     "If the president of the United States had been indicted for conspiring with Russia to interfere with and affect the outcome of our elections, it would have precipitated a terribly divisive crisis that could have even led to civil war.
     "Now we must stand together and move beyond this divisive issue that has taken up enough of the national conversation. I'm calling on Congress to protect the integrity of the 2020 elections—and all elections—by passing my Securing America's Elections Act, which empowers every state to use voter-verified paper ballots, making it impossible for Russia or anyone else to change our election results.
     "Americans all over the country are asking when our leaders, from every party, are going to put aside partisan politics and work to address the challenges that are threatening American lives and livelihoods. We have a lot of work to do—rebuilding our country's crumbling infrastructure, ending wasteful regime change wars, forging a clean energy future, ensuring healthcare for all, achieving immigration reform, and so much more."

Women's B division, second place. 
Photo from Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuya
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.

MILOLIʻI-KAʻŪ GIRLS VOLLEYBALL spent March 11 through 23 playing volleyball almost every day, early mornings to late nights at multiple gyms. Divisions 10u to 14u played the Moku o Keawe Girls Jr. Regionals at the Civic in Hilo from March 11 to 16. Then they played in the 62nd Hailis Volleyball Tournament from March 18 to 23 in Hilo at University of Hawaiʻi, the Armory, and the Civic.
10u took first in Regionals, second in Hailis. 
Photo from Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuya
     The Miloliʻi-Kaʻū 10u team took first in Regionals and second at Hailis. Team members are Lily Dacalio, Aliza Sullivan, Kilinahe Navarro, Waialeʻa Kainoa, Londyn Dacalio, Faʻa Mareko Ke, Halia Akamu, coached by Leʻa Hashimoto and Kaimi Kaupiko.
     The Miloliʻi-Kaʻū 12u team came in second place for Regionals and first in Hailis. Team members are Chloe Velez, Jazmyn Navarro, Halia Tayamen, Kaela Masters, Mckenzie Decoito, Cali Kamei, and Harlem Espejo, coached by Jerome Tayamen and Ipolani Reyes. These girls, ages 9 to 12, will join the 14u girls in travel to Anaheim for the Summer Soiree in June.
     Miloliʻi-Kaʻū 14u girls placed third at Regionals and second in Hailis. Team members are Tehani Navarro, Lehiwa Freitas-Moses, Jaydah Pilanca-Emmsley, Jessa Tamayo, CeLayna Kamei, Kaelyn Medeiros-Shibuya, Taijah Beck, Kyia Hashimoto, Precious Mareko-Ke, Leahi Kaupu, and Chelsea Velez, coached by Landa Kuahuia and Daryl Shibuya.
14u placed third in Regionals, and second in both Hailis and 
Women's B division. Photo from Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuy
     Coach Landa entered the 14u girls in the Women's B division, which Miloliʻi women's won last year. They made it to the championships and lost in a 3 set match against Panaʻewa, taking second place. For their efforts, Chelsea Velez and Precious Mareko-Ke got All Stars awards, and Kaelyn Medeiros-Shibuya got Most Valuable Player. 14u are in 6th to 8th grade, 11-13 yrs old, and most will be entering high school next year. They will travel to Oʻahu for the Aloha Summer Classic and to Anaheim for the Summer Soiree.
     Said Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuya, the girls "did amazing and had so much fun… We'd like to thank Coach Landa and Coach Daryl for all that they do for these girls."
12u placed in Regionals, first in Hailis. 
Photo from Gennifer Medeiros-Shibuya

     To become a sponsor or make a donation, contact, Gen Shibuya, (808) 209-7137, kikulaki@hotmail.com, P.O. Box 491 Nāʻālehu HI 96772.

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.

CONCERN, TRAINING FOR WILDFIRES FOCUSES ON KAʻŪ, as Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization reports that 2019 is shaping up to be a busy wildfire year: "With a weak El Niño starting to kick in, experts predict wildfire activity will increase due to worsening drought conditions and the enormous vegetative growth from a rainy past several of months."
     A statement from HWMO says, "Wildfires are a growing health and safety concern in Kaʻū and throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and have impacts to our communities, businesses, infrastructure, watersheds, and cultural and nearshore resources. Recently, two large workshops were held on Hawaiʻi Island to identify key target areas for vegetation management activities to reduce wildfire risk. A significant portion of the participants, who represented various agencies, non-profits, businesses, and community groups highlighted Kaʻū as a top priority district for future wildfire management activities."
     On Saturday, May 4, people from across the U.S. will participate in Community Wildfire Preparedness Day, a day to take action to increase wildfire safety in the community. As part of the festivities the following week, May 10 and 11, Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization and Nā Mamo O Kāwā, two non-profit organizations, are teaming-up for a weekend of fun, learning, and action-taking.
     HWMO is a Waimea-based non-profit dedicated to protecting communities and natural resources across the Hawaiian Islands. Nā Mamo O Kāwā is a Hawaiian non-profit that facilitates the care for the precious cultural and natural resources of Kāwā through community-based, self-determined stewardship efforts. See story below and learn more at hawaiiwildfire.org and nmok.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.

WILDFIRE  PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP sessions begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10 at Pāhala Plantation House, with a free and family-friendly educational ReadySetGo! Wildfire Preparedness Workshop. Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization and Nā Mamo O Kāwā invite Kaʻū residents to learn to protect homes and communities from the increasing risk of wildfires.
     Participants will learn how to use proper landscaping techniques and home structure modifications to protect family and property from wildfire, and to work as a community toward the common goal of fire protection.
     Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization will share information on how to develop a clear, achievable family emergency plan, what actions to take during a wildfire, and proper evacuation procedures. Each attendee will also receive a free copy of the ReadySetGo! Hawaiʻi Wildland Fire Action Guide, which can be used as a step-by-step tool for carrying out the recommended actions.
     The next day, Saturday, May 11, participants are invited to use new wildfire preparedness knowledge to join a volunteer work day to reduce wildfire hazards and restore the native habitat of Kāwā. The work day will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Volunteers will meet at the Northern entrance for Kāwā for sign-in, safety briefing, and opening protocol. Bring a water bottle, lunch, closed toed shoes, long sleeved t-shirt, and pants. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments provided.
     To sign up for both sessions, contact Pablo Akira Meimler at pablo@hawaiiwildfire.org, hawaiiwildfire.org, or 808-885-0900.

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.

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
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 1 p.m., @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, 3 p.m., @HPA
Thu., April 4, 3 p.m., host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 1 p.m., host Kamehameha
Fri., April 19, BIIF Semi-Finals
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, 11 a.m., @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Fri., April 19, BIIF Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Tue., April 2, 6 p.m., host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, 6 p.m., @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, 6 p.m., @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, 6 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, 6 p.m., @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 9 a.m., @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
Open Mic Night, Wednesday, April 3, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees may apply. Open to KMC patrons and sponsored guests, 21+. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

Women's Support Group, Thursday, April 4, 1st Thursday monthly, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.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.

UPCOMING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620

My Hawaiʻi Story Project 2019 submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 29. The creative writing contest is open to all Hawaiʻi sixth to eighth grade students. They are invited to submit their best story or poem that addresses the theme He ‘a‘ali‘i kū makani au: Resilience in the Face of Change, which aligns with the theme of the 2019 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, which will be held in July in Honolulu. Only one entry per student will be accepted. All entries must be submitted electronically. Contact myhawaiistory@gmail.com with questions.

Ke Aliʻi Maka ʻĀinana – The Prince of the People – celebrates Prince Kūhiō on Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kuhuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Coffee Talk. Find out: What is Kūhiō Day and why is it a state holiday? In respect to his memory and his accomplishments, Auntie Jessie Ke, a revered kupuna of Ka ͑ ū, will talk about the Prince, his legacy, the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka ͑ ū. Kaʻū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance located just south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11. Free. nps.gov/havo

PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.

Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982

Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, APRIL 1
Scholarship Application Deadlines for American Association of University Women-Kona, Three $2,000 awards for college-bound high school students: Monday, April 1. Application packets at kona-hi.aauw.net. sharonnind@aol.com

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, April 1, 15 and 29, 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, April 1, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 2
Vacation Rental Regulation Hearing, Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m., Hilo County Council Chambers. Testimony accepted.

AdvoCATS, Tuesday, April 2, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Finger Puppetry, Tuesday, April 2, 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to keiki grades K-6. Free. Register through April 1. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

ONGOING
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

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.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, March 25, 2019

Free vision screenings will be offered at Nāʻālehu Elementary, Tuesday, April 9, and Volcano School of the Arts &
Sciences on Thursday, April 11. Above, free eye exams and reading and sunglasses drew Tūtū & Me
participants in Pāhala in March on the campus of River of Life Church. Students on the Pāhala
school campus also received free exams. Photo by Julia Neal
FREE EYE EXAMS, GLASSES ARE HEADED FOR NĀʻĀLEHU AND VOLCANO SCHOOLS. Project Vision Hawaiʻi and Vision to Learn will partner to offer free eye exams and glasses on Tuesday, April 9 at Nāʻālehu Elementary and on Thursday, April 11 at Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences.
     Two hundred thirty-five students at Pāhala Elementary, Intermediate, and Kaʻū High School received free eye screenings on March 11 and 12. Sixty-seven received referral letters sent home recommending eye care. Vision to Learn plans to return to the campus when a minimum of 25 consent-to-examine forms are returned by parents or guardians.
     With parental consent, students will receive a free comprehensive eye exam and, if given a prescription, will receive free eyeglasses, with choice of frames. Vision to Learn will send the eyeglasses to the school, along with an optician who will fit the glasses for each student. Vision to Learn guarantees the glasses for a year and will replace broken glasses for free.
     Project Vision Hawaiʻi is a nonprofit organization that aims to achieve better access to healthcare for Hawaiʻi's people, with a focus on vision health. One of its three mobile units traveled to Kaʻū March 4 and 5 to offer free vision screenings at the Kauhaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu and River of Life Church in Pāhala. Families involved with Tūtū & Me program for early education took advantage of the screenings, as did adult members of the community. The team photographed the eyes of individuals, with retinal images passed onto an eye doctor who will evaluate each person and create a report to be sent in early April.
     Screenings include near and far vision assessments. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. The mission is co-sponsored by Tūtū & Me, pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me, and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-430-0388.
     Project Vision Hawaiʻi and Vision to Learn plan to return to area schools every other year.

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.

HAWAIʻI IS THE FIFTH BEST PLACE FOR HEALTH CARE but offers some of the lowest pay for physicians in the country, according WalletHub studies. The physician pay study, released today, says that among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi ranks 48th in annual wage for physicians, adjusted for cost of living. It ranks dead last for the average monthly starting salary for physicians, adjusted for the cost of living. Hawaiʻi is 22nd in hospitals per capita. Concerning medical insurance and settlements, Hawaiʻi is 42nd – one of the states with the lowest malpractice award payout amounts per capita.
     According to WalletHub, the best states to practice medicine are Montana, Wisconsin, Idaho, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. The worst states to practice medicine are all on the east coast, except for Hawaiʻi, according to Wallet Hub, which lists New York as the worst, with District of Columbia just behind it. See the study at WalletHub.

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.

RESOLUTIONS TO ASSESS A LIVING WAGE FOR AG WORKERS goes to public hearing before the state Senate Labor, Culture, & the Arts, and Senate Agriculture and Environment committees this Wednesday, March 27 at 2:15 p.m. Co-sponsored by Kaʻū's state Senators, Russell Ruderman and Dru Kanuha, the measures, SCR134 and SR103, ask the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations to collaborate with the state Department of Agriculture to create and submit a report to determine a living wage standard for agriculture workers living in Hawaiʻi.
     See the resolutions and testify through the online portal to the Hawaiʻi Legislature.
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 living wage for ag workers and more education about farming are the focus of two resolutions at the
Hawaiʻi Legislature.  Photo by Julia Neal
A STRATEGY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT MODERN FARMING is called for in state Senate Resolutions 73 and 51. They go before the Senate Agriculture and Environment, Senate Education, and Senate Higher Education committees during a joint hearing this Wednesday, March 27 at 3:15 p.m.
     The resolutions state: "local agriculture is critical to self-sufficiency and food security for the State. About 85 to 90 percent of Hawaiʻi's food is imported, which makes Hawaiʻi particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that disrupt shipping and other modes of transporting food. Hawaiʻi does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. A primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaʻūi during the past several decades is the decline of support for agriculture education from state government, resulting in an insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among youth."
     The resolutions, co-sponsored by Hilo state Sen. Kai Kahele and east Kaʻū Sen. Russell Ruderman, contend that "in order to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly" and that "agriculture education and interest are key to the development of future farmers and to a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being."
     See the resolutions and testify through the online portal to the Hawaiʻi Legislature.

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.

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD MOVIES are sought by Jean Pierre Thoma & The Jazztones – Jeannine Gillory-Kane, Loren Wilken, Matt Spencer, and Steve Bader – for their April 13 concert Jazz Goes to the Movies. They plan to show parts of the videos behind the live music on stage. The concert begins at 5:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Tickets are $20 for VAC members, $25 for non-members, at volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222.
Jean Pierre Thoma & The Jazztones
will play songs from classic
Hollywood films in April.
VAC photo
      Those willing to lend to the group, email JP at jpthomahi@gmail.com or Jesse Tunison at SirJesseTunison@gmail.com.
     The list of songs and films needing to be borrowed is:
     Yesterdays by Jerome Kern from Lovely to Look At (1933), with Katheryn Grayson and Red Skelton
     Smile from Modern Times (1936) with Charlie Chaplin
     Some Day My Prince Will Come from Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
     Somewhere Over the Rainbow, sung by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
     When You Wish Upon a Star from Disney's Pinocchio (1940)
     There Will Never Be Another You from Iceland (1942) with Sonja Henie and John Payne
     Bésame Mucho by Dale Evans from Cowboy & The Senorita (1944)
     It Might As Well Be Spring from State Fair (1945) with Vivian Blaine and Dick Haymes
     Green Dolphin Street from Green Dolphin Street (1947) with Lana Turner, Donna Reed, Van Heflin, and Richard Hart
     But Beautiful from That Road to Rio (1947) with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour
     Speak Low from One Touch of Venus (1948) with Ava Gardner and Robert Walker
     My Foolish Heart from My Foolish Heart (1949) with Susan Hayward
     Our Love is Here to Stay from An American in Paris (1951) with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron
     The Man That Got Away from A Star is Born (1954) with Judy Garland
     Morning of the Carnival from Black Orpheus – Orpheo Negro (1959) with Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello
     Summertime from Porgy & Bess (1959) with Dorothy Dandridge
     Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) with Audrey Hepburn
     The Days of Wine and Roses from The Days of Wine and Roses (1962) with Jack Lemon and Lee Remick
     The Shadow of Your Smile from The Sandpiper (1965) with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton
     It Had to be You from Annie Hall (1977) with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton 

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.

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
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 1 p.m., @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, 3 p.m., @HPA
Thu., April 4, 3 p.m., host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 1 p.m., host Kamehameha
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, 11 a.m., @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Tue., April 2, 6 p.m., host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, 6 p.m., @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, 6 p.m., @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, 6 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, 6 p.m., @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 9 a.m., @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
AdvoCATS, Tuesday, April 2, 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, April 2, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

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.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620

My Hawaiʻi Story Project 2019 submissions are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 29. The creative writing contest is open to all Hawaiʻi sixth to eighth grade students. They are invited to submit their best story or poem that addresses the theme He ‘a‘ali‘i kū makani au: Resilience in the Face of Change, which aligns with the theme of the 2019 Hawai‘i Conservation Conference, which will be held in July in Honolulu. Only one entry per student will be accepted. All entries must be submitted electronically. Contact myhawaiistory@gmail.com with questions.

Ke Aliʻi Maka ʻĀinana – The Prince of the People – celebrates Prince Kūhiō on Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kuhuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Coffee Talk. Find out: What is Kūhiō Day and why is it a state holiday? In respect to his memory and his accomplishments, Auntie Jessie Ke, a revered kupuna of Ka ͑ ū, will talk about the Prince, his legacy, the Hawaiian Civic Club movement, and the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka ͑ ū. Kaʻū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. Entrance located just south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11. Free. nps.gov/havo

PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.

Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982

Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MONDAY, APRIL 1
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, April 1, 15 and 29, 1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, April 1, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

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.


Sunday, March 24, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, March 24, 2019

A roller used by Loeffler Construction in the repaving of the Ocean View Town Center parking lot. Two phases are 
complete, and two more are planned. The roller is parked on the new paving, while the parking lot in the 
background needs to be asphalted. See story below. Photo by Annie Bosted
CONGRESS AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE "must hear directly" from U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said Mazie Hirono today. Mueller spent almost two years investigating the possible influence of Russia in the last presidential election, leading to numerous prosecutions and jail time for Trump associates who worked in his campaign and in the White House.
     Hirono issued a statement after today's release of the Attorney General's summary of the Mueller Report. Said Hirono, "Robert Mueller did not exonerate Donald Trump on obstruction of justice.
U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr
Instead, Attorney General Bill Barr made his own determination consistent with his unsolicited 19-page memo arguing that the President cannot be charged with obstruction of justice. Congress needs to see the full report to assess the underlying evidence. The Senate Judiciary Committee must hear directly from Attorney General Barr and Robert Mueller on this matter as soon as possible.
     "I often say that Donald Trump cares about two things: protecting himself and money," said Hirono. "The President has repeatedly demonstrated he will do or say anything to protect himself. He tried to get Michael Flynn (former Trump National Security Advisor) off the hook; he fired (FBI Director) James Comey; he tried to get the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan "unrecused;" he directed White House Counsel Don McGahn to fire Robert Mueller; he dangled pardons; he repeatedly insulted and demonized the Special Counsel.
     "Now we must ensure that investigations into his questionable financial activities by the Southern District of New York, the Attorney General of the State of New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney, proceed unimpeded. The American people deserve all the facts."
     In contrast to Hirono's view, Trump said, "After a long look, after a long investigation, after so many people have been so badly hurt, after not looking at the other side where a lot of very bad things happened... it was just announced there was no collusion with Russia... It was a complete and total exoneration." He called the investigation "an illegal takedown."

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 completed dry well that was installed between Kaʻū 
Business Services and Salon 4 to prevent storm water 
from inundating the walkways besides the 
makai stores. Photo by Annie Bosted
OCEAN VIEW TOWN CENTER PARKING LOT, notorious for its many potholes, is in the midst of being paved with asphalt. Carolyn Loeffler, whose Loeffler Construction is contracted for the project, told The Kaʻū Calendar that a new drainage feature, a dry well, will be installed to keep rain water away from the strip of stores that overlook Hwy 11.
     Loeffler explained that a dry well involves regrading the surrounding area so that storm water flow is directed towards the well. A ten-foot-diameter pre-cast concrete ring has been installed in an excavated area near Studio Four Salon. The space around the ring was backfilled with drain rock before being covered with a grate set in concrete. The well is not connected to a drainage system or a pipe; instead the storm water will percolate into the rocky ground or evaporate.
     The asphalt paving is planned in four stages; two are completed. Each stage involves tearing up and removing the old chip-seal, laying down a layer of base course, and then covering that with hot asphalt that is trucked in. If any stage of the operation is delayed, the asphalt can prematurely cool and harden, becoming unusable. During this time, traffic will be diverted away from the work area.
     Jim Steenburg, a one-time part owner of Ace Hardware, told The Kaʻū Calendar the driveway was first chip-sealed in July or August of 1989. Prior to that time, the then-owners of Rancho True Value Hardware, Ken and Maggie Arbo, ran their hardware business from a store in Pohue Plaza, the shopping center makai of the present hardware store.
An excavator is parked outside Salon 4, where a large hole 
was dug for a dry well to stop rain water flooding the 
walkway outside the strip of stores. Photo by Annie Bosted
     According to Steenburg, the Arbo's built the shopping center, then known as Lotus Blossom Town Center, in stages. They constructed the hardware store where they relocated their business, opening it in November 1989. The Arbo's then built half the stores in the strip. Once those were rented out, they built the remainder of the stores, concluding the development with the stand-alone store that is now Kaʻū Business Services. At the time, the Arbo's hoped that the Post Office would rent that space, but the service chose to stay on in Pohue Plaza.
     It was about 1993 when the hardware store changed its name to Ace. The Shopping Center's name also changed to Ocean View Town Center. According to Steenburg, Maggie Arbo's daughters, Robyn and Gail, now own the Center.

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.

LANE CLOSURES ALONG HIGHWAY 11 in Kaʻū for Monday, March 25, through Friday, March 29, weather permitting, are:
     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 56 and 57, in the vicinity of Ninole Loop Road, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for paving and construction of temporary bridges.
     Alternating lane closure between mile markers 48 and 49 in Pāhala, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for tree trimming work.

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.

Image from gomidwife.com
A BILL TO REQUIRE LICENSES FOR MANY MIDWIVES, co-sponsored by west Kaʻū Sen. Dru Kanuha, gathered more than 2,200 pages of testimony in advance of a hearing in front of the House Committee on Health last week. Senate Bill 1033 SD2 HD1 passed the Health Committee, with amendments, and passed its second reading on Friday, March 22. The bill is referred to the House Committee on Finance.
     The bill would establish "licensure of midwives. Temporarily exempts birth attendants and exempts Native Hawaiian healers from licensure requirements. Establishes task force. Appropriates funds."
     Amendments to the bill from the House Committee on Health include adding a Certified Nurse Midwife to the Director's advisory committee; granting the Director the authority to modify the list of authorized non-controlled legend drugs and devices that may be used by midwives; clarifying that birth attendants may practice and advertise provided they do not claim to be licensed; excepting individuals from licensure requirements for providing care to immediate family members; expanding the authorized legend drugs or devices that a licensed midwife may use or administer; and establishing a task force within the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women to investigate issues relating to home births and direct entry midwives.

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.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou volunteers made a clean sweep on Saturday  to clear the proposed senior housing site in
Nāʻālehu. Photo from OKK
ʻO KAʻŪ KĀKOU 'S SATURDAY CLEANUP was a great success. Volunteers were asked to help pick up remnants from the demolition of buildings on the two acres of property along Hwy 11, where the old fruit stand in Nā‘ālehu once stood. The buildings were torn down to make way for a senior housing project championed by OKK. Remaining on the land were bits and chunks of pipes, cables, glass, and other things that can damage a mower.

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.

TROJANS FOUGHT DRAGONS this weekend, as Kaʻū Girls Softball hosted Honokaʻa Saturday, March 23. The Dragons took the game 16-2. See upcoming games, 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.

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
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Thu., March 28, 3 p.m., @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 1 p.m., @Konawaena
Tue., April 2, 3 p.m., @HPA
Thu., April 4, 3 p.m., host Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 1 p.m., host Kamehameha
Softball:
Wed., March 27, @Kohala
Sat., March 30, 11 a.m., @Konawaena
Wed., April 3, host Waiakea
Sat., April 6, 11 a.m., @Kealakehe
Fri., April 12, BIIF Semi-Finals
Sat., April 13, BIIF Semi-Finals
Boys Volleyball:
Wed., March 27, 6 p.m., host Kohala
Fri., March 29, 6 p.m., @HPA
Tue., April 2, 6 p.m., host Ehunui
Fri., April 5, 6 p.m., @Christian Liberty
Tue., April 9, 6 p.m., host Waiakea
Fri., April 12, 6 p.m., @Keaʻau
Mon., April 15, 6 p.m., host Honokaʻa
Wed., April 17, 6 p.m., @Kamehameha
Track:
Sat., April 6, 9 a.m., @Waiakea
Sat., April 13, 9 a.m., @HPA

JUST ANNOUNCED
FINGER PUPPETRY, Tuesday, April 2, 3:30-5p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Open to keiki grades K-6. Free. Register March 25-April 1. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

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.

UPCOMING
TUESDAY, MARCH 26
HOVE Road Maintenance Board Mtg., Tuesday, March 26, 10 a.m., HOVE Road Maintenance office. hoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

After Dark in the Park: Exploring the Unknown Depths, Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Justin Umholtz, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation education associate for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, shares his experiences aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus, mapping and diving unexplored seamounts via a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV). Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Wednesday, March 27 (Committees), Thursday, March 28, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i – referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

‘Ohe Kāpala Workshop, Wednesday, March 27, 10 a.m. to noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Learn to create beautiful designs from traditional patterns using ‘ohe kāpala, bamboo stamps. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/havo

Arts and Crafts Activity: Group Art Project, Wednesday, March 27, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 March 11-25. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

THURSDAY, MARCH 28
Hawai‘i County Council Mtg., Thursday, March 28, Council, Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thursday, March 28, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Elementary School. Provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, March 28, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

Hawaiian Language Classes with Kaliko Trapp, starting Thursday, March 28, Level 1: 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Level 2: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Level 3: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Volcano Art Center. 8-week sessions. Level 1 - focus on simple vocabulary, conversation, grammar, and sentence structure. Level 2 - expand these. Level 3 - Some Hawaiian language experience preferred. $80/VAC member, $90/non-member. Workbook required. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 29
Final Day to Apply for Preschool Opens Doors, Friday, March 29. For families seeking aid paying for preschool, for preschool participation July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. patchhawaii.org, 800-746-5620

Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, March 29, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Talk story with rangers and park visitors about a range of topics. Free. nps.gov/havo

PONC Fund Public Mtg., Friday, March 29, 6 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Center. Email Charter Commission your thoughts: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov. More about 2% fund at debbiehecht.com/2019/01/15/2-land-fund-program-at-the-charter-commission-as-of-january-142019/ or email Debbie Hecht, hecht.deb@gmail.com

SATURDAY, MARCH 30
Count Humpback Whales – Final 2019 Sanctuary Ocean Count, Saturday, March 30, 8 a.m. to noon, Ka‘ū locations: Kaʻena Point in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Miloli‘i Lookout, Ka Lae Park, and Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document animals' surface behavior during survey, providing valuable data to NOAA. Register at oceancount.org; registration closes one week prior to event. Free.

Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants with Zach Mermel, Saturday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Exhibit - Ancient Hula: Through the Lens of Dino Morrow, daily, March 30-May 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Reception on Saturday, March 30, 5 p.m. Morrow is a documentary and portrait photographer specializing in imagery of local cultures. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Classic Car and Bike Show, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Fun, food, music, and open house. Pre-registration of vehicles strongly recommended. Sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Show prizes provided by Dune Buggy Concessions and OVCA. Raffle prizes provided by local merchants and individuals. Dennis, 831-234-7143, or Ron, 217-7982

Beginner and Intermediate Mixed Media Encaustic with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Volcano Art Center. Hands-on workshop. Learn safe studio practices, encaustic painting basics, step-by-step. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

ONGOING
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Five Scholarships are available from American Association of University Women-Kona: Three $2000 scholarships will go to female college-bound Kaʻū High School and West Hawaiʻi high school students. Applications must be postmarked by Monday, April 1. Two $1,000 scholarships will go to any female high school graduate or older women attending a two-year vocational program leading to a marketable skill at Palamanui Campus. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 10.  Application packets available at kona-hi.aauw.net. Contact sharonnind@aol.com.

Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.

Kaʻū Coffee Fest invites non-profits, clubs, cooperatives, and businesses to sign up for booths at the 11th annual Kaʻū Coffee Fest Hoʻolauleʻa on Saturday, May 4 at Pāhala Community Center. The all-day event comes with music, hula, coffee tasting, and meeting the famous Kaʻū Coffee farmers. See KauCoffeeFestival.com.
     Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208PāhalaHI 96777; or call 808-731-5409.

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.