The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022

MāmakiTea at Wood Valley Māmaki Farm, which sells most of its harvest to Shaka Tea.
Photo by Julia Neal

MAMAKI TEA FROM WOOD VALLEY MADE A BIG SPLASH in a Honolulu Civil Beat story on Sunday. Agricultural writer Thomas Heaton notes that, "māmaki is only grown in Hawai'i and was first used by early Polynesian settlers. Now you can find it in 7-Eleven, Costco and soon, Whole Foods." He writes, "Given the strong market for herbal teas, worth $401 million last year worldwide, māmaki provides farmers with a promising crop for a well-established market." Read the entire article about the soaring business of māmaki and learn about its connection to native Hawaiian culture
at https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/02/this-ancient-hawaiian-plants-popularity-has-soared-not-everyone-is-
pleased/

Shaka tea got its start with māmaki from Wood
Valley, its biggest supplier of the native leaf.
Photo from Shaka Tea

The Kaʻū part of the story involves the Wood Valley māmaki farm managed by Matt and Andy Drayer with its 8,000 māmaki trees on 25 acres. The Civil Beat story says it is "the largest mamaki farm in Hawai'i" and largest supplier to Shaka Tea in Hilo, which takes almost all of the Drayers' harvest to make its bottled mamaki drinks that are sold nationwide. Shaka Tea recently sold to King's Hawaiian on the mainland, reports Civil Beat.
Heaton writes about the farm in Wood Valley, saying, "māmaki is naturally a companion plant, so grows well with others. Drayer’s māmaki is interspersed with nitrogen-fixing plants such as perennial peanut, nasturtium, marigold and teosante, the forbearer of corn. More nitrogen collected from the atmosphere means healthier soil."
Heaton writes, "Drayer, who hails from California and is also president of the Hawai'i Farmers Union United’s Kaʻū chapter, values the land and its integrity and wants his future children to have security and healthy food at their fingertips.
"Over the course of his time working closely with māmaki, Drayer has also found other potential uses for the plant, including a sap-like residue that he thinks could be used like pectin or a thickening agent." Drayer is quoted as saying, "The fact that māmaki is getting popular is great. But for someone like me, it’s important to keep it from going extinct.”
The story also points to māmaki being a favorite food of the state insect, the increasingly rare Kamehameha butterfly. Heaton also writes about māmaki's role in Hawaiian culture.
See the Civil Beat story at https://www.civilbeat.org/2022/02/this-ancient-hawaiian-plants-popularity-has-soared-not-everyone-is-pleased/
See The Ka'u Calendar stories on Shaka Tea, with its start in Wood Valley at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/search?q=Shaka+Tea and its mention in a Hawai'i governor's State of the State address at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2017_01_23_archive.html.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.

A TRUTH-IN-LABELING BILL FOR KA'U AND OTHER HAWAIIAN COFFEES is before the Hawai'i Legislature and Hawai'i Farmers Union United urges support.
HB15 17 would require coffee blend labels to disclose geographic and regional origins and percent by weight of the blended coffees. The measure would prohibit using geographic origins of coffee in labeling or advertising for roasted or instant coffee that contains less than a certain percentage of coffee by weight from that geographic origin. The regulation would be phased in to requires a minimum of 51 percent after July 1, 2024.

A bill in the Hawai'i Legislature would prevent blends of less than 51
percent local coffee from using the regional name.

The bill would also prohibit use of the term "All Hawaiian" in labeling or advertising for roasted or instant coffee not produced entirely from green coffee beans grown in Hawai'i. It would appropriate money to purchase equipment to test coffee content or the percentage of coffee from green coffee beans grown in Hawai'i.

A statement from Hawai'i Farmers Union says that "the way in which Hawai'i's current law allows a 10% coffee blend to be labeled "Kona," (or "Kaʻū," "Hamakua," "Maui," or "Kauai") is 'misleading.' The Legislature's 2007 Concurrent Resolution called it 'consumer fraud.' Hawai'i County's 2014 Resolution called it 'inherently deceptive and misleading.'"

Farmers Union states "It is also economically harmful to Origin coffee farmers." It points to a 2018 United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization conclusion that Hawai'i Origin brands do "not enjoy any strong protection" of their names, and that "downstream stakeholders, rather than farmers, reap the economic benefits of the fame" of the coffee using the origin in its branding of blends of 10 percent Hawai'i Origin coffees.

Hawai'i Farmers Union United requests testimony to be submitted at HB15 17 before 2 p.m. Thursday Feb, 10. A public hearing will take place on Friday, Feb. 11.

VOLCANO VILLAGE IS MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, but "no one has ever told its whole story - until now," says a statement from The Volcano Community Foundation. The non-profit organization has launched a history project to document the people, places and events that have made the village a special place to live and work. "We're looking for photos, memorabilia and stories from people who are interested in contributing to the project."

Volcano Community Foundation says its members are especially interested in hearing from long-time residents who have seen changes over the years, but we also want to hear from current and former business owners, entrepreneurs, artists, folks involved in agriculture, ranching, eduction and more.
"Ultimately, we plan to share some of these stories on our website that is under construction and social media and, eventually, publish them in book form. If you have old photos, family stories or even just an opinion about the village that you want to share, please contact us by email or phone."

Email volcanocommunity@gmail.com, or call Lorna Larsen-Jeyte at 808-937-2079 or Kathy English at 808-895-1011. "We will make arrangements to receive your input."

ZONTA IS OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS FOR WOMEN ISLANDWIDE. Called Hilo Zonta Club, the organization serves all of Hawai'i Island and reaches out to women to provide support for education.

"Zonta is pleased to offer a total of $15,000 in cash assistance on Hawai'i Island in 2022," said Nina Buchanan, Scholarship Chair. "We encourage women to apply for financial support for brighter futures in their chosen fields, and look forward to reading applications from a diverse pool of applicants."
The Young Women in Public Affairs Awards encourage more young women to participate in public affairs by recognizing a commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievements, and a dedication to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.

It is open to to women who will be between the ages of 16 and 19 on April 1. Deadline to apply is March 1.
Women's Nursing Degree Scholarships are for women who demonstrate interest in continuing their nursing studies toward an advanced degree or leadership track. Open to women of any age, students must be currently enrolled full-time in the first year of a nursing degree program at University of Hawai'i - Hilo or Hawai'i Community College HH with an above-average record in scholastic standing (3.0 or better GPA) and who show a financial need. Deadline is April 15.
The Barbra Ann Pleadwell Scholarships are for female Hawai'i Island or O'ahu residents who are currently enrolled as full-time students in college/university or high school seniors. Preference is given to Women's Studies and/or Communications majors who demonstrate financial need. This is the first year this scholarship is offered, thanks to donations made in memory of Pleadwell. Deadline is May 1.

The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarships are awarded to women undertaking business studies who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field. Open to women of any age, students must be enrolled in at least the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master's program at the time the application is submitted. Deadline is May 1.
Top winners of the YWPA Award and JMK Scholarship will be advanced from the club level to compete for additional awards and scholarships at the district and international levels of Zonta. To apply, see www.zontahilo.org/scholarships-grants/.
Zonta Club of Hilo is member of Zonta International, whose mission is to empower women through service and advocacy. Applications are available at www.zontahilo.org/scholarships-grants/.

SEE FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS & SPONSORS

http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html

See the February Print Edition of The Kaʻū Calendar at

www.kaucalendar.com

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday Feb. 8, 2022

Healthier Organizations for Everyone is named HOE (Hoy) to reflect the Hawaiian meaning "to paddle," when every person
garners a critical role and is responsible for pulling their weight. Photo from Community First

HEALTHIER ORGANIZATIONS FOR EVERYONE, a Covid testing program for businesses, was announced by Mayor Mitch Roth on Tuesday. Healthier Organizations for Everyone, HOE - pronounced Hoy in Hawaiian, will be administered by County of Hawaiʻi in partnership with Community First through its Our Kuleana Pledge Partners to help prevent workplace spread through travel-related testing.

Participating organizations are encouraged to provide a rapid test to all employees, vaccinated and unvaccinated, before traveling off-island and collect rapid test results 24-hours before the employee's anticipated return to the workplace. The statement from the county says, "Employees who receive a positive or inconclusive test result should inform their employer before returning to the workplace. Employees who receive a negative rapid test result may return to the workplace without additional testing."

The Mayor said, "At the heart of a healthy economy is a healthy and vibrant workplace. We have reached a point in the pandemic where we must continue to march forward as a community. Through partnerships with our on-island businesses to test employees who travel off-island, we believe that we can prevent a majority of workplace spread and ultimately reduce community spread islandwide. That said, we are incredibly grateful for all of the businesses who jumped at the opportunity to join us in this effort and continue to welcome all Hawaiʻi Island businesses to sign up if they haven't already.

"Our Kuleana Pledge Partners continue to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in our community through their safe workplace practices. The HOE Program allows businesses to take their effort to another level, for their organization, their family, and their community through this opportunity for testing employees who travel offisland."

Vanessa Carlson, Program Manager Community First, said that since the program's launch on Feb. 4, 18 partnerships have been created in agreement with the HOE testing program. In addition, the first 100 businesses to sign up for the program will receive 20 free rapid tests procured by Community First Hawaiʻi as part of an incentive to join the collective effort. Individual businesses are responsible for purchasing all other tests per the program.

To learn more about this program, visit: www.hawaiicounty.gov/healthyorg.

Hawaiʻi Community First is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit founded by the late Barry Taniguchi in 2014 to serve as a neutral forum for the community to come together and as a catalyst for solutions to improve health and lower medical costs on Hawaiʻi Island based on the community good.

The county statement says, "Through its programs, Community First hopes to shift the healthcare model from reactively treating disease to proactively caring for the health of every person on Hawaiʻi Island."

It also says that the word hoe, pronounced "hoy" in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, "translates to paddle. In a canoe or waʻa, every person garners a critical role and is responsible for pulling their weight. With each paddle stroke, the waʻa gets closer to its desired destination. However, if every paddle does not move in perfect harmony, the journey becomes much longer. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen every sector of our community paddling harmoniously, with one common goal – protecting each other and keeping each other safe. That is why we have been able to glide through the rough waters of this pandemic and are closer than ever to our destination. The word hoe can also mean to travel and is suiting since the purpose of the business testing is travel related."

NEWEST CANDIDATE ANNOUNCING FOR HAWAIʻI COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6 is Jordan J Anger of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. The district runs from north of Captain Cook through all of Kaʻū to include much of Volcano Village. Anger graduated from Konawaena in the class of '99 and has lived in Ocean View for eight years with his wife, Ayla, son, Gavin, and mother-in-law, Joy. Although Anger has no political background or affiliation, he says he has a strong background in business. "I've worked for a fortune 500 company, mom-and-pop businesses, and have helped with the creation and development of successful businesses on this island."

Jordon C. Anger, of Ocean View, has announced he
is running for County Council.

Anger said he looks forward to addressing issues impacting the Kaʻū community, stating: "I believe in this community and am concerned about the abandoned vehicles that have come to line our roadways, the ever-rising crime rates, and the fact that there are so few local jobs in District 6."
On Thursday, Feb. 3, Anger gave testimony before a state Senate Committee regarding SB3211. The bill was introduced by Sen. Dru Kanuha after his visit to Hawaiian Ocean View Estates in December 2021. The bill would appropriate funds to the County of Hawaiʻi for the plans, design, and construction of a police substation in HOVE. During his testimony, Anger said that since living in HOVE, "we have seen a dramatic increase in crime in the area... The need for a police substation in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates is felt by all in the community, those who have lived here for decades and those who are just moving to the area. Since moving here, we have witnessed abandoned cars being dumped, arson, stolen cars roaming around the area, cars without plates or windshields driving around with little consequence, drug usage, and we have read of countless burglaries, theft, and assaults." He concluded that, "it seems an awful unnecessary burden for the officers who work so hard in our community to have to travel all the way to the opposite end of Nāʻālehu to book and process. Our community in HOVE deserves the best response time our good officers can provide."

To learn more about Anger's stance, visit his campaign page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JordanJAnger/.

A post on Rep. Jeanne Kapelea's website,supporting working family legislation.

Photo from www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=Kapela

WORKING FAMILIES LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS has been launched in the state House of Representatives and Senate under leadership of Rep. Jeanne Kapela and a diverse collection of lawmakers in the 2022 Hawai'i Legislature.

Kapela represents the House of Representatives District from South Kona to Honu'apo.
According to a post on Kapele's website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov/memberpage.aspx?member=Kapela, the coalition has formed "to elevate legislative efforts aimed at improving economic conditions for
much of the local working class, including households with children."
Thirteen Democrats and the one Republican in the state House and Senate formed Working Families Caucus. They sponsored five bills, aiming to improve finances of lower-income residents through higher wage and benefits, plus changes in tax policy, says the post on Kapela's website.
Kapela, who represents Honu'apo into Captain Cook-Keauhou, led the formation of the caucus and serves as serves as chair. The post quotes her saying, “I think it’s about time that we push for, fight for and pass legislation that will uplift Hawaii’s working families.

HAWAI'I HOCHI, FOUNDED IN 1912 as a Japanese language newspaper, has opened a new print house on O'ahu. Hawai'i Hochi is the longtime printer for The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper and many other publications with independent voices. Hawai'i Hochi, LTD. held a blessing on Feb. 4 for its new 20,000 square foot facility.
Hawai'i Hochi's parent company, Shizuoka Shimbun, based in Japan, prints the only Japanese language newspaper in Hawai'i. Its 110 year history in Hawai'i has included printing publications in Japanese and other languages for the Filipino, Hawaiian and other ethnic communities and specialty publications focusing on everything from fishing to surfing to church and school.

Kinzaburo Makino, who lived in Na'alehu, when he first arrived
to the islands, founded Hawai'i Hochi in 1912. The company
prints The Ka'u Calendar newspaper and many other
publications. Photo from Hawai'i Hochi

Japanese newspapering in Hawai'i began in 1892, seven years after the first major wave of contract laborers, with the Nippon Shuho (Japanese Weekly).
Taro Yoshida, president of Hawai'i Hochi, LTD, said, "I am happy to say that Hawaii Hochi will continue its 110-year tradition of serving the Japanese community in Hawaii and strengthening the bridge between Hawaii and Japan through its publications — the Hawaii Hochi and the Hawaii Herald — while expanding our offerings of various types of printing services."

The Hawai'i Hochi was founded by Frederick Kinzaburo Makino as an independent newspaper in December of 1912. A journalism history from University of Hawai'i states that Makino "printed the first copies of what he hoped would become the voice of the Japanese community in Hawai'i."

Makino was the son of an English merchant in Yokohama, Japan and a Japanese mother Kin Makino. His father died when he was young and his elder brother Joe Makino moved to Nāʻālehu and operated a store in Makino Camp. Kinzaburo Makino moved to Nāʻālehu when he was 21 and worked in his brothers store, until he became a bookkeeper for a sugar plantation. He moved on to Honolulu where he opened a drug store at Hotel Street and Nu'uanu Avenue and became a legal consultant for Japanese immigrants.

He involved himself in the Higher Wage Association, becoming its President and lobbying the Hawai'i Sugar Planters Association for higher pay. He was imprisoned for "conspiring to hinder plantation operations,' but pardoned after four months. With all of the Japanese and English language newspaper siding with the plantation on labor issues, Makino decided to publish Hawai'i Hochi.

The University of Hawai'i report says that the Hawai'i Hochi (Hawai'i News) "became that brave -- and often lonely -- voice, supporting, as writer Wayne Muromoto said, 'the common people, women's rights, nonintervention ... restraint of American and Japanese Imperialism, the growth of labor unions and the preservation of ethnic cultures and languages ....' Makino's Hochi outlived three major competitors and numerous weekly and occasional publications to survive as Hawai'i's only remaining Japanese language daily newspaper."
The expansion of Hawai'i Hochi today makes it possible in the future to print all of the pages for The Kaʻū Calendar and other small community and specialty publication in color.

The late Brian DeLima

BRIAN DELIMA, A HILO ATTORNEY, WELL KNOWN IN KA'U, HAS DIED. U.S. Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele issued the following statement upon the passing of Brian J. De Lima:
"When it comes to Brian De Lima, many will remember him as a true servant leader. He lived to fight for his community, and provided a voice for those who felt they had none, in particular, as a champion and advocate of children with special needs. He served as a member of the Board of Education, Hawaiʻi County Council, and held leadership positions as part of the Democratic party of Hawaiʻi. Maria and I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, especially his wife Paige, and daughters, Blaise and Blaire. We are forever grateful for his significant contributions to Hawaiʻi. He will be dearly missed."

SEE FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS & SPONSORS

http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html

See the February Print Edition of The Kaʻū Calendar at

www.kaucalendar.com

Monday, February 07, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday Feb. 7, 2022

Farm Dog of the Year contest celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious
food for families and their pets. Enter at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty See more below. Photo from the Farm Bureau

HAWAI'I FARMERS UNION UNITED is encouraging folks to weigh in on agriculture related bills before the 2022 Hawai'i Legislature and is asking for people to send their approval for the ones listed below.

See www.capitol.hawaii.gov where citizens can search for any subject, any bill, and any sponsorsof legislation, as well as follow each Senate and House bill's progress. Click on the number of each House and Senate bill below to read them and give testimony. Farmers Union is asking for testimony by Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the following:

H B2028 - Relating to Raw Milk. Authorizes and decriminalizes the sale of raw milk and raw milk
products directly to consumers for human consumption, with certain restrictions. Requires the Board of Agriculture to adopt rules governing the direct sale of raw milk and raw milk products. Establishes labeling requirements.

H B2285 - Relating to Hemp. Repeals the 6/30/2022 sunset date of Act 14, SLH 2020, which established statutory provisions relating to hemp production and processing.

HB2431 - Relating to Sustainable Food Systems. Establishes the sustainable food systems working group within the office of planning and sustainable development.

Tony Vera is the speaker at the first workshop of the year for Ka'u chapter of Hawai'i
Farmers Union United this Thursaday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. at the Mamaki Farm in Wood
Valley. The subject is Natural & Ancestral Farming Techniques.

SB3004 - Relating to Composting. Establishes and appropriates funds for a compost reimbursement program within the department of agriculture and one full-time permanent compost reimbursement program manager position to oversee the program. Requires an annual progress report of the program to the legislature prior to each regular session.

HB2493 - Relating to Carbon Sequestration Incentives. Establishes the Hawaii farmland and forest soil health carbon smart incentive program (program) to incentivize carbon sequestration activities through incentives contracts that provide for compensation for eligible practices by program participants. Appropriates funds for positions and for administering the program.

A WORKSHOP ON NAURAL AND ANCESTRAL FARMING TECHNIQUES will be held this Thursday, Feb.10 at Wood Valley Mamaki Farm at 10 a.m. The speaker is Tony Vera, owner of Mayan World Farm. Cost is $10 for members and $25 for nonmembers. RSVP to kau@hfuu.org

FARM BUREAU FARM DOG OF THE YEAR for 2023 competition is open with the deadline to submit photos, stories and videos of top farm and ranch dogs on July 1. The Hawai'i Farm Bureau made the announcement of the nationwide call to select best farm dogs. Hawai'i falls into the western district of the competition, which includes farm and ranch dogs from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Ranchers and farmers can enter their dogs to the
Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest.
See https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty

The Farm Dog of the Year contest celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers in producing nutritious food for families and their pets across America. Farmers can can submit applications for the 2023 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, supported by Purina.
The grand prize winner – Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year – will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro-Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2023. Up to four regional runners-up will each win $1,000 in prize money.

The 2022 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year is Fit, who herds sheep on a Florida ranch.

In addition to the Farm Dog of the Year competition, beginning in October, members of the public are invited to vote online for their favorite dog in the People’s Choice Pup part of the overall competition. The People’s Choice Pup will win bragging rights and Purina products including one year’s worth of Purina Pro-Plan dry dog food. The winner of People’s Choice Pup, along with the Farm Dog of the Year and runners-up, will be announced in January at AFBF’s Convention.

Learn about 2022 Farm Dog of the Year named Fit and the upcoming
contest for 2023 at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty

A panel of judges selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation shall select the winners. Judging of the contest will be based on nomination materials submitted. Desired attributes in the Farm Dog of the Year are helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. See more at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty.

Learn about Fit, the 2022 Farm Dog of the Year at https://www.fb.org/land/fdoty.

A RECENT SURGE IN USE OF COUNTERFEIT BILLS ACROSS THE ISLAND has drawn Hawai‘i Police Department to warn the public.
The warning issued on Monday states that "Within the past three months, more than 14 separate investigations have been initiated islandwide involving the use of counterfeit bills ranging in denominations from $5 dollar to $100 bills. The counterfeit bills were presented to both private individuals and to retail employees in exchange for monetary goods or services.
"In many instances, the counterfeit bills have markings indicating that the bill is 'prop' money with writing such as 'for motion picture purposes,' and 'this note is for motion picture purposes, it is not legal tender,' also 'motion picture purposes,' and 'in props we trust' on either the front or the back of the bill.
The printing of counterfeit bills and the usage of counterfeit bills to obtain goods or services is prohibited under both state and federal law and are felony offenses punishable by up to ten years of incarceration and monetary fines.
Hawai‘i Police Department "encourages the public and retail employees to thoroughly inspect all U.S. currency and to notify police if they come across fraudulent bills in order to prevent the monetary loss of goods or services. Taking note of individual characteristics of the person presenting the counterfeit bill along with their behavior patterns may assist law enforcement in identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting suspects."

People can also protect themselves against falling susceptible to counterfeit bills by learning about the different security features of denominations of U.S. currency at The Seven Denominations | U.S. Currency Education Program (uscurrency.gov). I
Those who have fallen victim to counterfeit bills, please contact the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

SEE FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS & SPONSORS

http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html

See the February Print Edition of The Kaʻū Calendar at

www.kaucalendar.com

About The Kaʻū Calendar

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday Feb. 8, 2022

Monday, February 07, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday Feb. 7, 2022