Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, March 7, 2020

Kokiʻo have almost vanished from dryland forests of Hawaiʻi Island. Learn about dryland forests and enjoy a classical concert to raise funding for dryland forest restoration on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House.See more below. Photo from Plant Extinction Prevention Program

THERE ARE NO CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19, on Hawaiʻi Island, but health officials are searching for those who interacted with people who disembarked in Hilo from the Grand Princess cruise ship for a day of touring last Saturday, Feb. 29. More than 3,500 of those passengers and crew are being held on Grand Princess in waters off San Francisco, unable to come ashore. They are all awaiting to be tested and possibly moved to quarantine quarters on land. Tests of those who showed symptoms came up with 19 crew members and two passengers with COVID-19, leading to the order to test all those on board the ship. Princess Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise Lines, has cancelled the ship's next trip to Hawaiʻi.
     One person from Oʻahu, who earlier sailed on Grand Princess between San Francisco and Mexico, flew home with the disease and remains in isolation and under observation.
     County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense issued an update this morning, announcing it opened a novel coronavirus Call Center to answer questions, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at 935-0031.

Air National Guard approaches  Grand Princess with COVID-19
test kits.The ship's passengers and crew members disembarked
in Hilofor a day of touring last Saturday. Health officials are
seeking those who interacted with them. Grand Princess is stranded
 in waters off San Francisco.  Photo from California National Guard

     Federal government travel warnings have been issued as COVID-19 spreads around the planet. A "Do Not Travel" advisory has been issued for China and Iran. Italy, Mongolia, and South Korea are under a "Reconsider Travel" advisory. Hong Kong, Japan, and Macau are under an "Exercise Increased Caution Travel" advisory. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommend no travel to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea. DOH and CDC recommend verifying travel and health advisories before finalizing travel plans, as conditions of the virus change rapidly.

     A Community Advisory on Keeping Hawaiʻi Safe from DOH states: "As a reminder, we all need to do our part to keep our island and ʻohana (family) safe. Follow good hygiene practices, and cover your cough and sneeze, and wash or sanitize hands often. If you are sick with cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home. Additionally, your help is needed to prevent rumors about Coronavirus. Make sure your information is up-to-date and comes from a credible source." See the DOH website, health.hawaii.gov; CDC website, cdc.gov; or call DOH at 974-6001 or after-hours at 211.

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2
(round, blue objects) emerging from the surface of cells cultured
in the lab.SARS-CoV-2, also known as 2019-nCoV, is the novel
 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The virus shown was
 isolated from a patient in the U.S. Image from NIAID-RML

     Since the beginning of January, the number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. has reached at least 400 people in at least 25 states, with at least 19 deaths. Worldwide, more than 105,500 people have been infected, at least 3,550 people have died, and at least 52,000 have recovered. By contrast, though caused by a different type of virus, the seasonal flu has infected at least 34 million people and killed at least 20,000 since October 1, 2019, in the U.S. alone. Prevention against both viruses is similar: cover coughs, wash/cleanse hands, don't touch face with unwashed hands, clean frequently touched surfaces, and stay home/away from others when ill.

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A LACK OF TESTING KITS IN THE U.S. for the novel coronavirus sparked response from Hawaiʻi's congressional delegation this week. The Trump administration announced on Thursday it wouldn't be able to meet its promised timeline of making a million COVID-19 tests available by yesterday.

     Sen. Brian Schatz said, "Still not enough tests… Trump is wearing his campaign hat at the headquarters for the Centers for Disease Control and that tells you a lot about where his head is at… Just a reminder that lots of other countries have been able to deploy and operationalize tests weeks ago."

COVID-19 testing kit. Photo from wpta21.com

     Rep. Tusli Gabbard said, "South Korea has the ability to test #coronavirus on-site with rapid accurate results. Why isn't the Trump/Pence Administration importing these tests now to ensure the health and safety of the American people? This is the question that the media has failed to ask. Lives will be unnecessarily lost because of the CDC/FDA's failure to protect the American people. #COVIDー19 #SXSW."

     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "After hearing from @VP and his team on #COVID_19, one thing is clear: this administration needs to be particularly precise, transparent, and accurate in how they communicate to the public given their self-inflicted credibility problem. This is not a time for empty reassurances."

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FEWER FLIGHTS TO JAPAN DUE TO LOWERED DEMAND: Hawaiian Airlines announced it will cancel five flights between Kona and Honolulu, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport, effective March 28 through April 29, due to slowing travel demand attributed to the COVID-19 virus. This will lower Hawaiian Air flights to Japan from 42 per week to 36; Hawaiian will launch an additional daily nonstop service between HNL and HND, as announced in November.
     Peter Ingram, president and CEO at Hawaiian Airlines, said, "The spread of COVID-19 beyond Asia has diminished near-term global travel demand, so we are balancing some of our Haneda capacity by suspending for about a month our hybrid service between Haneda, and Honolulu and Kona."
     Major airlines that service KOA – Hawaiian Air, Southwest, Alaska, United, American, Japan, and Delta – all have pages on their websites regarding steps taken to protect passengers, including increased cleaning and disinfecting of cabins and restrooms on the planes, and use and type of air filters. Airlines are waiving change fees, at least for a time, for those who have already booked travel but are concerned about the novel coronavirus. The fee waiver is standard practice for Southwest.

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Carlin Ma

CARLIN MA, pianist, is one of six internationally acclaimed musicians to be featured at Pāhala Plantation House tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. She is Artistic Program Director of the non-profit, and a Visual Artist. The concert will feature music to celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     Seeking means of discovery and expression, Ma has dedicated her life to music and the arts, including  solo piano, chamber music, photography, and multidisciplinary projects. As a pianist, she has performed at such venues as Kennedy Center, Ravinia Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Philharmonic Hall of St. Petersburg, and Tanglewood Music Festival. Her biography on the HIMF site states she finds it equally meaningful to initiate performances in local venues, including the inaugural Musicians@Google series in Seattle, outreach programs, and house concerts.

     Ma holds a Master's Degree of piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Bachelor's and Performer's Degree from Indiana University. Her mentors include Menahem Pressler, Yoshi Nagai, Arnaldo Cohen, Evelyne Brancart, Emile Naoumoff, and Karen Taylor. She also had the privilege of working in masterclasses with Sergei Babayan, Karl-heinz Kämmerling, Robert Levin, Joseph Kalichstein, Jon Nakamatsu, and Angela Chang.

     As an Associate Instructor at Indiana University, Ma "found passion in pedagogy, empowering a world of creative possibility in others," states her bio. She later became a Primary Instructor at New Music School in San Francisco, and now resides in Seattle, where she has a private studio.

     In her continued quest for expression, states her bio, Ma "found that music and photography strike the same internal chord, merely on different instruments. To her, photography is like chamber music through light, rather than sound."

     As a professional photographer, Ma is the lead festival photographer for Music@Menlo and staff photographer for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She enjoys photographing individuals, couples, families, and for larger institutions such as Seattle Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, Indiana University, and Chinese American International School. Special merit recognitions include front page features in Symphony Magazine, first place Aspen Chamber of Commerce Photo Contest, and third place in Tiffen Pawtraits Contest.

     Her multidisciplinary talents have led to national invitations for artistic cross-pollination projects, including with Purdue Symphony Orchestra, Blueprint Ensemble, and Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, where she is the Artistic Program Director, photographer, and pianist.

     "Fostering perpetual awareness and learning for herself and others is her committed passion," states her bio.

     Learn more about Ma on her photography website and her music music website.

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Josh Nakazawa

JOSH NAKAZAWA, cellist, will be one of the six internationally acclaimed musicians to play at Pāhala Plantation House tomorrow, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. The intimate concert will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū, and feature music that celebrates native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     After his classical training at Manhattan School of Music, Nakazawa, a native of Boston, set on a musical path that continues to lead him around the globe. He has performed solo, chamber, and orchestral music at the Banff Music Festival in Canada, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the Spoletto Music Festival in South Carolina.

     After playing with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and in addition to his current full time position with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, he also plays with the Hawaiʻi Opera Theater and as a guest musician with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

     Nakazawa continues to collaborate with locally based artists Jake Shimubakuro, Ron Artis II, and Paula Fuga after debuting at Blue Note Hawaiʻi, and the Wakiki Shell in 2017 for Jack Johnson's Kakua festival.

     Nakazawa is a longtime supporter of community music outreach education, and is "always looking for fun and creative ways to tie culture, passion, people, and music together," states his bio.

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S.T.E.M. FAMILY NIGHT will be held at Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room on Wednesday, March 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Deadline to register at bit.ly/2Trk8N8 is Wednesday, March 18. For students in Kindergarten through 6th grade and their families, this event will allow exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math in an interactive and engaging environment. A light dinner and refreshments will be served. Contact Jen Makuakane at 808-313-4100 for more.

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OLD BOMBS FOUND ON MAUNA LOA are the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

     Old bombs found on Mauna Loa: The rest of the story (Part 1)

     In late February 2020, Hawaiʻi media reported on the recent discovery of two bombs on the north flank of Mauna Loa, but details were lacking. Today, we offer more info.

     The two bombs were part of a cluster dropped by U.S. Army Air Corp planes on the Humuʻula lava flow on December 27, 1935. According to a 1980 study by now-retired USGS HVO geologist Jack Lockwood and F.A. Torgerson (U.S. Air Force), 20 of them were 275 kg (600 lb) MK I demolition bombs, each loaded with 161 kg (355 lb) of TNT and armed with a 0.1 second time-delay fuse. The other 20 were "pointer bombs" (for aiming purposes) that contained only small black powder charges.

     The device featured in recent media reports is one of the pointer bombs. Dr. Thomas A. Jaggar, HVO's founder, first described this bomb during a 1939 post-eruption inspection of the area: "… a winged bomb had plunged through a thin crust into liquid lava and was intact, its nose exposed protruding down into a tunnel below." He also found one of the demolition bombs, unexploded with several hundred pounds of TNT exposed, which was safely detonated.

     The same pointer bomb was found and photographed in 1977 by Lockwood. His photo was published in his 1980 paper with the caption, "'Pointer bomb' that penetrated 1935 pahoehoe flow alongside channel."

An Army Air Corp biplane is prepared for a mission to drop bombs on a lava 

flow advancing toward Hilo during the 1935 Mauna Loa eruption. Below the 

plane is one of 20 demolition bombs (center) dropped in an attempt to disrupt 

and redirect the Humuʻula lava flow, and two of the 20 "pointer bombs" (left 

and right) that were used for aiming purposes. Photo by Kenichi Maehara

     What is the significance of the pointer bomb found in 1939, 1977, and again in 2020?

     Events leading up to bombs penetrating the thin pāhoehoe crust of the active 1935 Humuʻula lava flow are well known to volcanologists as the first test of using explosives to stall or divert a lava flow in Hawaiʻi.

     Destroying a lava conduit to redirect a flow is one of three basic diversion tactics. However, lava diversion is the subject of great debate in Hawaiʻi, with concerns about the success of influencing a lava flow's progress and whether humans should interfere with natural processes and Pele.

     The first known use of this strategy was by a group of concerned citizens from Catania, Sicily, in 1669, when a large lava flow from Mount Etna threatened their town. Protected from the heat by cowhides, they used common digging tools to break open the lava conduit that fed the threatening flow, releasing lava into a new path away from Catania.

     The effort was briefly successful until citizens of nearby Paterno realized that the diverted flow could reach their own city and chased off the Catanians. The hole in the conduit then sealed and the flow toward Catania resumed, ultimately reaching the city and the Ionian Sea.

     In Hawaiʻi, the use of dynamite to disrupt a lava flow was planned, but not tried, in 1881 when a Mauna Loa eruption threatened Hilo. The use of explosives was discussed again in 1929, when residents feared that an earthquake swarm on Hualālai might lead to an eruption of that volcano, but none occurred. The next opportunity came a few years later.

     Following a Mauna Loa summit eruption in 1933, Jaggar predicted that a flank eruption would occur on the volcano within two years and might threaten Hilo. His prediction came true: Mauna Loa erupted in late November 1935.

     During the first week, the flow moved from the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone down its north flank and turned west, away from Hilo. But on Nov. 27, a new vent opened lower on the north flank and erupted a lava flow that went north to the base of Mauna Kea, where it ponded.

     A month after the 1935 eruption began, the lava pond at the base of Mauna Kea breached, sending a flow toward Hilo. This lava flow advanced at an alarming rate of 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) per day.

This "pointer bomb," dropped on the 1935 Mauna Loa Humuʻula lava flow, 

was found and photographed in 1939 during Thomas Jaggar's post-eruption 

inspection of the flow, and again in 1977 by now-retired USGS HVO 

geologist Jack Lockwood. This same bomb was recently rediscovered and 

featured in Hawaiʻi media reports. USGS photo by J. Lockwood, 1977

     For the previous two years, Jaggar had talked about using explosives to disrupt a lava flow that might threaten Hilo. He envisioned a land expedition carrying TNT to near the vent. But Jaggar's friend, sugar chemist Guido Giacometti, suggested that Army planes might be able to drop explosive bombs more quickly and accurately.

     So, Jaggar requested Army Air Corp assistance, which was quickly granted. On Dec. 27, 1935, ten Keystone B-3 and B-4 biplane bombers delivered 40 bombs to two target areas on the Humuʻula lava flow, both within 2 km (1.2 mi) of the Mauna Loa vent.

     Did these efforts work? Next week's Volcano Watch will lay out evidence for their success or failure.

     Volcano Activity Updates

     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL. Kīlauea monitoring data over the past month showed no significant changes in seismicity, sulfur dioxide emission rates, or deformation. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continued to slowly expand and deepen.

     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain.

     This past week, about 70 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa; the strongest was a M3.7 quake on Feb. 28. A flurry of small earthquakes occurred south of the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone, where known fault structures commonly produce shallow seismicity. Monitoring data showed that slow summit inflation continued and fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.

     One earthquake was reported felt in Hawaiʻi this past week: a magnitude-3.7 quake 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Hawaiian Ocean View at -1 km (-1 mi) depth on Feb. 28 at 1:01 a.m.

     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.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.

See Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule

Girls Softball

Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., host Kealakehe

Tuesday, March 17, 3 p.m., host Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m., @Keaʻau

Saturday, March 28, 11 a.m., host Hilo

Boys Baseball

Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m., host Kealakehe

Wednesday, March 18, 3 p.m., @Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m., @Keaʻau

Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m., host Hilo

Boys Volleyball

Tuesday, March 10, 6 p.m., host Makualani

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m., host Konawaena

Tuesday, March 24, 6 p.m., host Kamehameha

Tuesday, March 31, 6 p.m., @Kohala

Judo

Saturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., @Hilo

Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m., @Waiakea

Track

Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

UPCOMING

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me.
himusicfestival.com

Toby Walker Concert, Sunday, March 8, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's ʻŌhiʻa Room, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Walker blends blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, old-time jazz, and rock. Tickets $25 by calling (808) 896-4845 or online bluesbearhawaii.com. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

MONDAY, MARCH 9

OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

Hour-Long Lomilomi Massage, Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23, 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi offers sliding-fee payment scale sessions with experienced Licensed Massage Therapist and lomilomi practitioner Lehua Hobbs. "Improve circulation, alleviate muscle pain, and improve your overall well-being." Call for appointment, 808-969-9220.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Paper Plate Rainbow Craft Registration Deadline, Tuesday, March 10. Program Wednesday, March 11, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kaʻū District Gym. Ages 5 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 928-3102

Legacy of Magic in Hawai‘i, Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Some of the world's most famous touring magicians traveled the world by steamship and performed in Hawai‘i. Some made Hawai‘i their home, and their legacy lives on today in local talented magicians, slight-of-hand artist,s and other performers. Join local award-winning magicians Bruce and Jennifer Meyers for an evening of history, mystery, and magic. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

Spring Flower Wreath Craft Registration, open Wednesday, March 11 to 18. Program Friday, March 20, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kahuku Park in HOVE. Ages 6 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 929-9113

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Lomilomi is a style of massage that incorporates the Hawaiian concept of aloha, which means to love, unify and breathe. Michelle Wall-O'Conner demonstrates the important spiritual components of lomilomi to promote personal harmony. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. nps.gov/havo

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nāʻālehu School Cafeteria. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

Caring for Hawai‘i: How to Make Wise Plant Choices, Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. Presentation by Jaya Dupuis teaches distinctions between native, Polynesian-introduced, and invasive plant species. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 13
CANCELLED: Community Dance, Friday, March 13, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

Deadline to Enter the 2020 Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest, held by Dept. of Water Supply, is Friday, March 13. "Conserve to Preserve" is the theme contest, open to all Hawaiʻi Island schoolchildren enrolled in kindergarten through the fifth grade. Free entry. Submit original artwork by keiki on flat, 11 by 17 inch paper. No computer graphics or photographs; any medium may be used, except three-dimensional renderings, chalk, charcoal, and oil-based crayon. Each submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form available online at hawaiidws.org, via email by contacting dws@hawaiidws.org, or by calling DWS at 961-8050. Entries may be mailed to or dropped off at DWS offices in Kaʻū, at 95-6041 Māmalahoa Hwy in Waiʻōhinu, and in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea. Additional contest rules are listed on the entry form and the DWS website. DWS 2020 Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest flyer/entry form.

LEGO Robots Migrant Education Program, March 16 through 20, 8 a.m. to noon, for keiki in grades 3 through 8, at Pāhala Elementary. Registration deadline is Friday, March 13. The program is free. Held during Spring Break, the Lego Education WeDo 2.0 program offers to "engage and motivate elementary school students' interest in learning science- and engineering-related subjects." The program used motorized LEGO models and simple programming. Register online at bit.ly/2VaaPUi or khpes.org. Pick up a registration form in the school's main office. Call 808-313-4100 for more.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14
Stewardship at the Summit, March 14, Saturday, and Friday, March 20 and 27, 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Additional planning details at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

Kaʻū Plantation Days, Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nāʻālehu Community Center. Organized by Kaʻū Multicultural Society. Marlene Hapai, 808-557-4540

Pastel On-Site Landscape Painting Workshop with Patti Pease Johnson, Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Zentangle: Enso Circle Techniques with Lois & Earl Stokes, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Second Saturday in Volcano Village, Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monthly event showcases business throughout the village. Volcano Garden Arts will hold self guided "Secret Garden" tours of its famous gardens, with 10% off in the art gallery, which showcases the works of many local artists. Special menu selections will be featured at Café ʻOno, serving lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Mondays. experiencevolcano.com, volcanogardenarts.com, cafeono.net, 808-985-8979

Miranda's Grand Opening of New Kaʻū Coffee Store, Saturday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the mauka side of Hwy 11 between South Point Road and the Kahuku Section of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The event will feature music and hula, ribbon cutting, tacos, tamales, Miranda Kaʻū Coffee, and cake. mirandasfarms.com

ONGOING

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840

Sign Up to Be a Vendor at the Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar by Wednesday, March 18. The annual event will be held Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located on the corner of Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamaoa Road, and Pinao Street, just above the Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu.

     Individuals, schools, clubs, and sports/athletic groups are invited to be vendors at the "flea market" that will be located on the church lawn. The charge for a 10' X 10' space is $10. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own tent, table and chairs, and if power is needed, generator. Vendors can sell anything except hot foods or plate lunches.  

     Vendors must fill out and submit a Vendor Application with the $10 fee by Wednesday, March 18. Call Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-8039 for the application.

     The Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and smoked meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

     For more information, call 928-8039.

Sign Up Keiki for the Second Annual Kaʻū Children's Business Fair, to be held Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to noon at Pāhala Community Center. Open to young entrepreneurs ages seven and 18 to share their talents by selling handmade items and services. One application may be submitted for each business. Children can sign up for booth space at no charge. Children working as a group submit one application that includes each child's information; no more than three children per business.

     Kaʻū Children's Business Fair guidelines are designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. Parents of younger children (under eight years old) may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales. Parents may aid a child, but the child runs the business.

    Learn more about participating at childrensbusinessfair.org/pahala. Visit Kaʻū Children's Business Fair's Facebook event page facebook.com/KAUCBF/. RSVP to the event at facebook.com/events/925342784527676/. Text KAUKIDSFAIR to 31996 for updates and information (message and data fees may apply).

Check Out Nāʻālehu Elementary Student Artwork from the 32nd Annual Young At Art Juried Exhibit through Friday, March 27 at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in downtown Hilo. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Register for Ocean View Classic Car & Bike Show, Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owners of classic cars and bikes are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.

     This second annual event, a fundraiser for Ocean View Community Association, will also feature food and live music, and prizes for the most impressive cars and bikes.
     Contact organizers Dennis Custard at 831-234-7143 or Ron Gall at 808-217-7982 to register or for more info.

Prince Kuhio Hoʻolauleʻa will be held Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nāʻālehu County Park. Reborn after a 20-year hiatus through the efforts of local non-profit Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū, the event will feature Hawaiian music and cultural demos, hula, crafts, food, and more. The drug- and alcohol-free event will offer entertainment with live entertainment from Gene Akamu and G2G, Uncle Sonny & Bro Tui, Braddah Ben, Lori Lei's Hula Studio, and more. Local personality Kurt Dela Cruz will emcee, and several lucky number prizes will be announced throughout the day.

     Hawaiian culture demos and activities, showcasing cultural knowledge of Kaʻū people and those tied to the area, include lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, waʻa kaulua (double-hull canoe) tours, kākau (tattoo) artistry, ʻohe kāpala (bamboo stamps), traditional Hawaiian games, and more.

     Travel through time by walking through a photo exhibit showcasing the history of Kaʻū, set-up within the Nāʻālehu Community Center. Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū representatives said they intend this to be like a visit to a mini version of their proposed Kaʻū Hawaiian Cultural Center, which has been their goal for the last 20 years. Visit Hana Laulima's booth at the hoʻolauleʻa to learn more about the revival of the Cultural Center project and membership.

     Choose from a variety of ono food including shave ice, korean chicken, roast pork plates, chili bowls, Kaʻū coffee, Big Island Candies Crunch Bars, and more. Local entrepreneurs will have pop-up shops displaying wares such as Hawaiian arts and crafts, jewelry, shirts, and hats.

     Learn more about Junior Rangers, and natural resource management, with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park rangers; ways to help free the coast of marine debris with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund; staying healthy with state Dept. of Health; native Hawaiian healthcare with Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi; ʻōpeʻapeʻa monitoring with Friends of the Kaʻū Bats; and more.

     The organization's new logo, symbolizing its rejuvenation, was created by Kaʻū High graduate and local artist Kaweni Ibarra, who is also a Hana Laulima board member. Newly elected board members also include Lisa Derasin, Kupuna Jessie Ke, president Terry-Lee Shibuya, vice-president Elizabeth Naholowaʻa Murph, secretary Nālani Parlin, and treasurer Kehaulani Ke. Membership is $10 per year. For more information about the hoʻolauleʻa, contact Terry Shibuya at 938-3681 or terrylshibuya@gmail.com; Trini Marques at 928-0606 or trinimarques@yahoo.com; or Kupuna Ke.

     Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū promises that the Prince Kuhio Day Hoʻolauleʻa will continue as an annual event.

Mixed Flock Volcano Art Center Exhibit, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 29. Features prints by Margaret Barnaby and pottery by Emily Herb. Glazing techniques demo Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

AdvoCATS, Saturday, April 25, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. Reserve spot in advance. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Sign Up to Vend at the New ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Nāʻālehu Farmers Market, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.

     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, March 6, 2020

Grand Princess passengers and some crew disembarked in Hilo Feb. 19 and state health officials are looking 
for those who may have come in contact with them. The passengers are quarantined on the ship offshore of San Francisco with 19 crew and two passengers testing positive for the new coronavirus. All on board the Princess will be tested for COVID-19. Photo from Princess Cruises

THE FIRST CONFIRMED NOVEL CORONAVIRUS VICTIM in Hawaiʻi apparently caught the disease on the Grand Princess cruise ship, as he sailed from San Francisco to Mexico, where he disembarked. The ship – with 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew, representing more than 50 countries – took its next sail to Hawaiʻi from San Francisco. Upon its return, it was stopped offshore, banned from the San Francisco port pending the screening of victims of illness on board. Today, the federal government reported test results of 46 people on the Princess. Nineteen crew and two passengers tested positive for COVID-19.

     In wake of the results, all untested people onboard will be checked for the virus. Passengers are expect to be quarantined on U.S. military bases and other locales while the crew will be restricted to the ship. The next scheduled visit by the Grand Princess to the port of Hilo was March 12, followed by April 10 and April 17.

The Grand Princess regularly sails between San
Francisco, Hilo, and Ensenada.

     State of Hawaiʻi health officials are asking for help finding people in Hawaiʻi who may have come in contact with passengers and crew when they disembarked for day tours in Hilo and other ports of call. Grand Princess docked in Hilo on Saturday, Feb. 29.

     Through its website and onboard presentation, the Grand Princess offers tours that include a walk through Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a stop at a black sand beach, and visits to botanical and orchid gardens, as well as a macadamia nut factory and winery. Also offered are helicopter rides.

     Hawaiʻi County issued a Civil Defense video message today, saying "authorities are reviewing itineraries of the passengers while they were in Hilo. It is not known at this time to what degree, if any, this may affect Hawaiʻi's people. We will provide you with updates as soon as they are available. In the meantime, you are advised to continue to practice good hygiene by remembering to practice cough and sneeze etiquette by maintaining distance and covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands often with soap and water or with hand sanitizer. If you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with other people. Have a safe Aloha Friday."

     Regarding the Hawaiʻi resident who contracted the virus on the ship, the state Department of Health released a statement today saying, "There is no evidence of community spread at this time, but the Hawaiʻi Department of Health is working to determine if the patient had any close contact with anyone while they were ill. Initial investigations indicate that there were no such contacts."

     There have been 17 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S. as of today. More than 330 cases across at least 25 states are confirmed. The worldwide totals since the beginning of January are more than 100,000 cases, with at least 3,400 deaths and 52,000 recoveries.

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TULSI GABBARD IS EXCLUDED FROM THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. The announcement was made by the Democratic National Committee today, which changed the rules to require the candidates to have acquired 20 percent of available delegates. That puts only Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders on the debate stage.

     Gabbard reached out to Biden and Sanders on twitter, saying: "@JoeBiden @BernieSanders, I'm sure you would agree that our Democratic nominee should be a person who will stand up for what is right. So I ask that you have the courage to do that now in the face of the DNC's effort to keep me from participating in the debates. #LetTulsiDebate."

     She also tweeted: "To keep me off the stage, the DNC again arbitrarily changed the debate qualifications. Previously they changed the qualifications in the OPPOSITE direction so Bloomberg could debate. I ask that you stand w/ me against the DNC's transparent effort to exclude me from the debates."

     Andrew Yang, who recently dropped out of the presidential race, tweeted: "Someone asked me what the qualifications for the next debate would be. I responded 'whatever Tulsi has, plus one.'"

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An enraptured audience at Pāhala Plantation House, as violinist

Eric Silberger plays. This years' Hawaiʻi International Music Festival

will be Sunday, March 8. Photo by Carlin Ma

ERIC SILBERGER, virtuoso violinist, is one of six internationally acclaimed musicians to be featured at Pāhala Plantation House this Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. Silberger is a co-founder and director of the non-profit. The concert will feature music that celebrates native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     Silberger is a prize winner of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition in 2011. His performances have been described by critics as "spine-tingling… astonishing" (The Guardian), "dazzling virtuoso playing" (The Washington Post), "impeccable level of playing, a wonderful musician" (Heather Kurzbauer, The Strad), and " …he has got everything in his favour; technique, composure, and personality. We are on the eve of a great soloist." (El Pais, Spain).

     Silberger has performed as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and around the world, including solo performances with the St. Petersburg Philharmonia, Chamber Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, London Philharmonia, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, among others. In 2015, he performed Brahms Violin Concerto on a tour to Spain with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin under Dimitri Kitajenko, a performance highly acclaimed by the audience and press.

     He has appeared at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Louvre in Paris, the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia, The Moscow International House of Music in Russia, Shanghai Grand Theatre in China, Royal Festival Hall in London, the National Arts Centre in Canada, and more. Among numerous television and radio appearances in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, he was featured on Radio France, STV in China, KBS in Korea, and WQXR, WFYI, FOX 59, WISH-TV, and NPR among others.

Eric Silberger

     As an avid chamber musician, Eric frequently performs chamber music at The Castleton Festival, internationally, and has a special collaboration with bandoneonist and composer JP Jofre.

    Silberger received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University, and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School. His former teachers have included Glenn Dicterow, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Mann, and Dorothy Delay. He was also mentored by Lorin Maazel.

     Silberger is CEO of Jukubox LLC, a company dedicated to connecting the world through online music lessons. He was awarded the Tarisio Trust Young Artist Grant in 2015 to support Jukubox. He plays on a rare J.B. Guadagnini violin from 1757 on generous loan from the Sau-Wing Lam collection.

     Learn more at his music website, his Facebook, and about his company at Jukubox.com.

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MAYA HOOVER, Mezzo-Soprano, is praised for her outstanding artistry, "vocal beauty of high technical caliber," "vocal flare and flamenco abandon," and "gifted storytell[ing]." She will be one of the six internationally acclaimed musicians to play at Pāhala Plantation House this Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., at the annual Hawaiʻi International Music Festival. The intimate concert will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū, and feature music that celebrates native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. See himusicfestival.com for more.

     Hoover has appeared on stages throughout the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and China. Her recent engagements include concerts with renowned soprano Sumi Jo and the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra; Fauré Requiem (Morris Choral Society, New Jersey); Brahms Alto Rhapsody (Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado); Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (GPO, HSO, and Bellingham Festival of Music); Verdi Requiem (Tuscia Operafestival, Italy); Mozart Requiem (Orquesta Sinfónico de Trujillo, Perú; Honolulu and Kona, Hawai‘i); Handel Messiah (Maui Chamber Orchestra); Falla El sombrero de tres picos (HSO); The Magic Flute (Second Lady) and Il Trovatore (Inez) with Hawai‘i Opera Theatre; Madama Butterfly (Suzuki) with Opera Ft. Collins; Carmen (Mercédès) at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center (NJ); and Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire (Chamber Music Hawai‘i) in a production staged by Henry Akina.

Maya Hoover

     In 2018, she was the featured artist for the Art Song Preservation Society of New York's summer festival at the Manhattan School of Music in a program of all Latin American art songs with her musical partner of more than twenty years, pianist José Meléndez. She has also appeared in many festivals all over the world. As a recitalist, she has performed regularly Meléndez in innovative programs frequently highlighting Latin American, Spanish, and other outstanding lesser-known works.

     Hoover is an alumna of Binghamton University, Westminster Choir College, and Indiana University. She is the author/editor of Guide to the Latin American Art Song Repertoire: An Annotated Catalog of Twentieth-Century Art Songs for Voice and Piano (Indiana University Press) and is Professor of Music at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is a roster artist with Wade Artist Management, and a student of Andrea DelGiudice.

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CHECK OUT NĀʻĀLEHU ELEMENTARY STUDENT ARTWORK from the 32nd Annual Young At Art juried exhibit Saturday, March 7 through Friday, March 27, at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in downtown Hilo. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 7, at 10 a.m. on the EHCC front lanai.

     Works of art were created during the ʻIke Hawaiʻi Specials classes, a collaborative program between Kamehameha Schools Kealapono kumu and Nāʻālehu Elementary specials teachers. Second graders submitted a group piece entitled Nā Leo O Puʻu Kaiholena, which won a Special Recognition Award. This collaborative tinfoil relief piece artistically represented the plants and animals they observed during their field trip to Kaiholena with The Nature Conservancy and Kealapono in November.

     Third-grader Lia Wilkey won a Juror's Choice Award for her piece entitled Saving the Monk Seal. She created this piece as part of her learning about marine debris in ʻIke Hawaiʻi Specials class, following an informative class field trip to Mokupāpapa Discovery Center with Kealapono and third-grade teachers.

     Other ʻIke Hawaiʻi artists whose works were accepted into the show and will be on display at EHCC are fourth-graders Deijah Cabanilla-Nogales and Caton Blanco; third-graders Koko Davis, Lokahi Kaupu, Melissa Saldana, and Kahinialiʻi Tayamen; and another second-grade group art piece.

     See photos of the artwork in future Kaʻū News Briefs.

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IT'S FIX A LEAK WEEK MARCH 16-22. The county Department of Water Supply base in Waiʻōhinu, 95-6041 Māmalahoa Hwy, and other isle locations will give out free leak detection tablets, limit one package per customer. Using the dye tablets is an easy and effective way to identify leaky toilets, a common source of water loss in households, states DWS.

     "On average, a U.S. household can leak 11,000 gallons of water per year," states the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense. "Household water leaks rob homeowners of 12 percent of their water bills through problems such as worn-out toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking valves." Water customers can check for leaks by observing their water meter after turning off all faucets, spigots, and water-consuming household appliances like clothes washers. If the meter continues moving, a leak may be occurring. Customers should also review their water bill, looking for usage spikes that may signify a leak.

     Additional detection and water conservation tips are available at epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week and hawaiidws.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.

KEIKI WATER CONSERVATION POSTER CONTEST deadline is Friday, March 13. "Conserve to Preserve" is the theme of the county Department of Water Supply's free-to-enter 2020 contest, open to all Hawaiʻi Island schoolchildren enrolled in kindergarten through the fifth grade.

     The contest aims to highlight the importance of water conservation and why drinking water supplies must be protected and preserved. It challenges keiki to utilize artistic ways of conserving "our most precious resource" – safe drinking water. Conservation ideas, including the video "Save Water to Help the Earth," are posted online under the "Conservation" link at hawaiidws.org.

     Keiki may submit original artwork, illustrating the "Conserve to Preserve" theme, on flat, 11 by 17 inch paper. No computer graphics or photographs will be accepted. Any medium may be used, except for three-dimensional renderings, chalk, charcoal, and oil-based crayon. Each poster submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form available online at hawaiidws.org, via email by contacting dws@hawaiidws.org, or by calling DWS at 961-8050. Entries may be mailed to or dropped off at DWS offices in Kaʻū, at 95-6041 Māmalahoa Hwy in Waiʻōhinu, and in Hilo, Kona, and Waimea. Additional contest rules are listed on the entry form and the DWS website.

     Prizes will be awarded to the first and second place entrants from each grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade, for a total of 12 winners island-wide. Winning entries will be announced at a future Water Board meeting. Winners from the 2019 contest are showcased in the 2020 calendar available at DWS offices and online.

     Founded in 1949, the Department of Water Supply is a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Hawai‘i whose mission is to provide customers with an adequate and continuous supply of safe drinking water through the operation of its 23 separate water systems.

     DWS 2020 Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest flyer/entry form.

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FLIGHT PLANS FOR MARCH are announced by Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park:

     Moving trail material from the base of Byron's Ledge trail to Research Road from 3,500 ft. to 3,800 ft. elevation will be conducted on Wednesday, March 11, between 8 a.m. and noon.
     On Thursday, March 19, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., invasive banaka poka surveys and control will be conducted on Mauna Loa from 5,000 ft. to 6,000 ft. elevation.

Monitoring invasive banana poka is one reason Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
National Park will conduct an overflight in March. DLNR photo

     Ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku Unit, between 3,400 and 6,000 ft. elevation, will be conducted on Tuesday, March 24, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

     On Tuesday, March 31, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., petrel monitoring will be conduscted on Mauna Loa from Kīlauea to 9,000 ft. elevation, and between 8 a.m and noon, invasive Guinea grass survey and control will be conducted along Keauhou trail, from the coast to 2,000 ft. elevation.

     In addition, U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.

     The Park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather. Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.

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.

HIGH WIND ADVISORY is in effect for Kaʻū through Saturday. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour, with localized gusts over 50 mph, are expected. The National Weather Service recommends taking the following precautions: Secure outdoor items such as tents, rubbish cans, and lawn chairs before nightfall; Motorists, especially those in high profile vehicles, are urged to drive with caution; Be aware of downed trees, power disruptions, and that road closures may occur without notice; Stay clear of downed utility lines and report downed lines to authorities.

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 Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. See Kaʻū exercise,
meditation, daily, bi-weekly, and weekly recurring events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more at kaucalendar.com.

Kaʻū Spring Sports Schedule

Girls Softball

Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m., @Waiakea

Wednesday, March 11, 3 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m., host Kealakehe

Tuesday, March 17, 3 p.m., host Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m., @Keaʻau

Boys Baseball

Wednesday, March 4, 3 p.m., host HPA

Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.. @Waiakea

Tuesday, March 10, 1 p.m., @Konawaena

Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m., host Kealakehe

Wednesday, March 18, 3 p.m., @Pāhoa

Saturday, March 21, 1 p.m., @Keaʻau

Boys Volleyball

Wednesday, March, 6 p.m., @Hilo

Tuesday, March 10, 6 p.m., host Makualani

Friday, March 13, 6 p.m., host Konawaena

Judo

Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m.. @Kealakehe

Saturday, March 14, 10:30 a.m., @Hilo

Saturday, March 21, 10:30 a.m., @Konawaena

Track

Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m., @Waiakea

Saturday, March 21, 2 p.m., @Konawaena

UPCOMING

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

Stewardship at the Summit, March 7 and 14, Saturday, and Friday, March 20 and 27, 8:45 a.m. Meet project leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteer to help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring a hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks and water. Gloves and tools are provided. Under 18? Parental or guardian accompaniment or written consent is required. Additional planning details at nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/summit_stewardship.htm.

Mokuhanga: Japanese Woodblock Printing series with Glenn Yamanoha, four weeks starting Saturday, March 7 through 28, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mixed Flock Glazing Techniques Demo by Artist Emily Herb, Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Recognition Gala, Saturday, March 7, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilo Hawaiian, Moku Ola Ballroom. The late Barry Taniguchi, whose KTA stores sponsor much outreach into the Kaʻū community, and Gerald De Mello, will be recognized for community involvement, leadership, and significant contributions made towards the strengthening of Hawaiʻi Island communities. The evening will include dinner and drinks, entertainment, and light humor, along with recognition of outstanding youth, including the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year. Sponsorships, including the purchasing of sponsorship tables, donating silent and live Auction items, and individual ticket sales are available. To donate and buy tickets, call Kaʻū board member Julia Neal at 808-928-9811 or email mahalo@aloha.net. See more about the Boys & Girls Club at bgcbi.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8
Hawaiʻi International Music Festival, Sunday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., Pāhala Plantation House. The concert will feature music that will celebrate native plants of the Kaʻū Dryland Forest and will raise funds for Hoʻomalu Kaʻū. Tickets are $30, available at kauconcert.bpt.me. himusicfestival.com

Toby Walker Concert, Sunday, March 8, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's ʻŌhiʻa Room, located in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Walker blends blues, ragtime, country, bluegrass, old-time jazz, and rock. Tickets $25 by calling (808) 896-4845 or online bluesbearhawaii.com. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

MONDAY, MARCH 9

OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

Hour-Long Lomilomi Massage, Mondays, March 9, 16, and 23, 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, 95-5635 Māmalahoa Hwy in Nāʻālehu. Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi offers sliding-fee payment scale sessions with experienced Licensed Massage Therapist and lomilomi practitioner Lehua Hobbs. "Improve circulation, alleviate muscle pain, and improve your overall well-being." Call for appointment, 808-969-9220.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Paper Plate Rainbow Craft Registration Deadline, Tuesday, March 10. Program Wednesday, March 11, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kaʻū District Gym. Ages 5 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 928-3102

Legacy of Magic in Hawai‘i, Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Some of the world's most famous touring magicians traveled the world by steamship and performed in Hawai‘i. Some made Hawai‘i their home, and their legacy lives on today in local talented magicians, slight-of-hand artist,s and other performers. Join local award-winning magicians Bruce and Jennifer Meyers for an evening of history, mystery, and magic. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ongoing After Dark in the Park series. nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
OKK Farmers Market in Nāʻālehu, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the future Nāʻālehu Senior Housing Site. Contact Sue Barnett for vending, 808-345-9374.

Spring Flower Wreath Craft Registration, open Wednesday, March 11 to 18. Program Friday, March 20, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kahuku Park in HOVE. Ages 6 to 12. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 929-9113

Lomilomi Demonstration, Wednesday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Lomilomi is a style of massage that incorporates the Hawaiian concept of aloha, which means to love, unify and breathe. Michelle Wall-O'Conner demonstrates the important spiritual components of lomilomi to promote personal harmony. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. nps.gov/havo

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nāʻālehu School Cafeteria. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12
Family Reading Night, Thursday, March 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, snacks provided. Free.

Caring for Hawai‘i: How to Make Wise Plant Choices, Thursday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. Presentation by Jaya Dupuis teaches distinctions between native, Polynesian-introduced, and invasive plant species. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, MARCH 13
CANCELLED: Community Dance, Friday, March 13, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Snacks provided; additional pūpū welcome. Free. thecoopercenter.org, 967-7800

LEGO Robots Migrant Education Program, March 16 through 20, 8 a.m. to noon, for keiki in grades 3 through 8, at Pāhala Elementary. Registration deadline is Friday, March 13. The program is free. Held during Spring Break, the Lego Education WeDo 2.0 program offers to "engage and motivate elementary school students' interest in learning science- and engineering-related subjects." The program used motorized LEGO models and simple programming. Register online at bit.ly/2VaaPUi or khpes.org. Pick up a registration form in the school's main office. Call 808-313-4100 for more.

ONGOING

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840

Mixed Flock Volcano Art Center Exhibit, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, March 29. Features prints by Margaret Barnaby and pottery by Emily Herb. Glazing techniques demo Saturday, March 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Sign Up to Be a Vendor at the Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar by Wednesday, March 18. The annual event will be held Saturday, March 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located on the corner of Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamaoa Road, and Pinao Street, just above the Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu.

     Individuals, schools, clubs, and sports/athletic groups are invited to be vendors at the "flea market" that will be located on the church lawn. The charge for a 10' X 10' space is $10. Vendors are responsible for bringing their own tent, table and chairs, and if power is needed, generator. Vendors can sell anything except hot foods or plate lunches.  

     Vendors must fill out and submit a Vendor Application with the $10 fee by Wednesday, March 18. Call Debbie Wong Yuen at 928-8039 for the application.

     The Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and smoked meat bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts.

     For more information, call 928-8039.

Sign Up Keiki for the Second Annual Kaʻū Children's Business Fair, to be held Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to noon at Pāhala Community Center. Open to young entrepreneurs ages seven and 18 to share their talents by selling handmade items and services. One application may be submitted for each business. Children can sign up for booth space at no charge. Children working as a group submit one application that includes each child's information; no more than three children per business.

     Kaʻū Children's Business Fair guidelines are designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. Parents of younger children (under eight years old) may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales. Parents may aid a child, but the child runs the business.

    Learn more about participating at childrensbusinessfair.org/pahala. Visit Kaʻū Children's Business Fair's Facebook event page facebook.com/KAUCBF/. RSVP to the event at facebook.com/events/925342784527676/. Text KAUKIDSFAIR to 31996 for updates and information (message and data fees may apply).

Register for Ocean View Classic Car & Bike Show, Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Owners of classic cars and bikes are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.
     This second annual event, a fundraiser for Ocean View Community Association, will also feature food and live music, and prizes for the most impressive cars and bikes. Contact organizers Dennis Custard at 831-234-7143 or Ron Gall at 808-217-7982 to register or for more info.

AdvoCATS, Saturday, April 25, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free spay/neuter for cats. Reserve spot in advance. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

Sign Up to Vend at the New ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Nāʻālehu Farmers Market, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the site of the old Fruit Stand, mauka of Hwy 11 in Nāʻālehu. Vending focuses on Kaʻū products, including mushrooms from the new farm in Nāʻālehu, fresh breads, vegetables, fruits, and other products. The market may offer music in the future, and there are plans to acquire picnic tables for market goers. Call Manager Sue Barnett at 345-9374 to sign up.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.

     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.

     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.

     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment, features classes on block printing, lauhala weaving, ti leaf lei making, and more. A free guided Cultural Forest Tour, and a Mele and Hula ‘Auana performance are also slated. Visit the website events calendar for the full lineup. volcanoartcenter.org

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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