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Friday, March 10, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 10, 2023

Aerial photo showing the location of the building that formerly housed the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Photo taken on July 13, 2018, during the Kīlauea summit collapse sequence. An open house regarding the new headquarters to be built will be held Wednesday, March 15 in Hilo. See more below. USGS photo.

OCEAN VIEW FUGITIVE RONALD PATRICK KEAHONUI KAHIHIKOLO remained on the run from police on Friday night as Hawai‘i Island police detectives investigated an officer-involved shooting tragedy in Kona.
    The shooting and the chase followed a Tuesday morning incident when Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a report of a 42-year-old woman who had been shot during a domestic dispute in the 92-2000 block of Outrigger Drive in Ocean View. The woman sought medical attention for the gunshot wound at the Ocean View Fire Station and was taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment, where she remains in stable condition. Detectives with the Area II Juvenile Aid Section identified the suspect as 44-year-old Kahihikolo. He is wanted for attempted murder in connection with this incident and for outstanding bench warrants.
Ronald Patrick Keahonui Kahihikolo, of Ocean
View, remained on the run Friday night.
Photo from Hawai'i Police Department
 Continuing their investigation Friday morning, plainclothes Area II vice detectives received information that Kahihikolo was in the Kona area, and in the company of several individuals who were in possession of two stolen vehicles, a silver Chevy Malibu and a white Dodge sedan.
    The police report says: "As vice detectives began canvassing the area, officers observed the Chevy Malibu traveling southbound on Kamakaeha Avenue. As the Malibu came to a stop at the intersection of Kamakaeha Avenue and Palani Road, detectives attempted to contact the vehicle’s occupants. Ignoring the officers’ lawful commands to show them his hands, the male driver began reaching for an object. Fearing for their safety, two detectives discharged their duty weapons, striking the driver.
    "The driver then drove the vehicle across all lanes of Palani Road and down an embankment before coming to a stop. Detectives followed the vehicle down the embankment. When detectives arrived at the vehicle they observed that the driver had injuries and immediately started life-saving measures, unfortunately he died at the scene. Investigators later recovered multiple firearms from within the vehicle."
    The identity of the driver is being withheld, pending notification of next of kin. A passenger in the vehicle, 26-year-old Jacqueline Keanaaina, of Kailua-Kona, suffered minor injuries in the traffic crash and was treated at the scene by Hawaii Fire Department medics. She was then arrested for an outstanding warrant and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station.
     One detective sustained minor injuries and was provided with first aid at the scene.
     Police report that as these events were unfolding, the white Dodge sedan believed to be driven by Kahihikolo was seen traveling northbound towards Waimea. Police pursued Kahihikolo through the Waimea area and he exited Highway 19 near the 40-mile marker, in lower Kalopa in Hāmākua. Kahihikolo was last seen on foot wearing a plaid shirt and jeans in the area of Highway 19 near the 40 mile marker in a secluded area near a gulch.
    He is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 215 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes and has a distinctive tattoo on his right cheek near his eye that reads “greed”.
    This afternoon police reported they were still searching for Kahihikolo, who is considered armed and dangerous. "Please avoid the area while police search for him and report any suspicious activity in the area by calling 911. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation."
     Regarding the shooting, the Office of Professional Standards has initiated an internal administrative investigation. The involved detectives are 25-year and 13-year veterans, respectively, and will be placed on administrative leave pending an internal review of this incident. "This investigation remains continuing and updates will be provided as they become available."
    Police ask anyone with information to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Area II Criminal Investigation Section Detective Jason Foxworthy, via email at Jason.Foxworthy@hawaiicounty.gov or at (808) 326-4646 ext. 281.
    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn't record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

VOLCANO WATCH FOCUSES ON THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY and invites the public to a gathering. This week's article by USGS scientists and affiliates notes the informal open house on Wednesday, March 15 about the proposed new building in Hilo and draft Environmental Assessment. The event will be hosted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory offices in the Iron Works building at 1266 Kamehameha Avenue-Suite C in Hilo.
    Members of the public are invited to come learn about this project and the proposed new building.
Many locals and visitors remember visiting Jaggar Museum on the rim of Kīlauea caldera (Kaluapele) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Prior to 2018, HVO operated from buildings next to the museum. Visitors could sometimes see HVO scientists doing their work to monitor volcanoes and earthquakes in order to reduce their impacts on communities in Hawai’i.
    The HVO buildings in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park were damaged beyond repair in 2018 as Kīlauea summit partially collapsed during the lower East Rift Zone eruption. HVO has moved to multiple temporary homes since then.
    Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park houses another USGS group—the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC). PIERC focuses on the study of biological resources in Hawai‘i and other locations in the Pacific, promoting management and conservation.
Aerial photo showing the location of the building that formerly housed the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Photo taken on July 19, 2022, after eruptions had partially filled in the collapsed area. An open
house regarding the new buildings will be held Wednesday, March 15 in Hilo. USGS Photo

    HVO and PIERC have different but related missions. While HVO falls under the Natural Hazards Mission Area of the USGS, PIERC is in the Ecosystems Mission Area. Under the umbrella of USGS, both groups strive to better understand the complex natural world in the context of the policy and hazards posed. Geologists at HVO study the volcanoes that make up the Hawaiian Islands and biologists at PIERC study the ecosystems on them.
    A new building for both HVO and PIERC has been proposed to be located on 6.8 acres of State-owned land on Nowelo Street in Hilo. The proposed location is near the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo (UHH) campus and other science-oriented organizations, such as the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center. This will allow for more interactive work between scientists and will more opportunities for UHH faculty and students to collaborate with both HVO and PIERC.
Proposed new Hawaiian Volcano Observatory building in Hilo on state land at
 University of Hawai'i. Photo from Draft Environmental Assessment
    Because the project involves the use of State of Hawai‘i lands, an Environmental Assessment and Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impacts has been prepared for the project in accordance with Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 and Chapter 11-200.1 Hawai‘i Administrative Rules. Environmental Assessments evaluate the potential impacts of a project to the surrounding environment.
    The Environmental Assessment also meets the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Information on how to review the draft environmental assessment for the new USGS building, and provide feedback, is available here: https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/public-input-sought-environmental-assessment-proposed-usgs-facility-hilo.
    During the open house on March 15, we’ll have informative displays and USGS Project Team members will be present to answer your questions about the project. USGS scientists from both HVO and PIERC will also be present to answer questions about these organizations and the work they do.
    Island of Hawai‘i residents live in a dynamic environment, with active volcanoes and a changing climate impacting our diverse ecosystems. The new USGS facility in Hilo will provide a cutting-edge space for HVO and PIERC scientists to do their work on these fundamental aspects of Hawaii nei. The USGS looks forward to hosting the open house on March 15 and we appreciate feedback from the community. Questions about the draft environmental assessment can be sent to jsizemore@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.


PANIOLO LIFE INCLUDING MUSIC OF KUPA LANDING near Ho'okena where cowboys swam cattle out to boats to be shipped to other islands, were center stage at the 103rd annual Kamehameha Schools Song Contest on Friday night. The theme is Nā Mele Paniolo, Songs of the Hawaiian Cowboy. The presentation includes music, hula, history. It also features memories of renowned Hawai'i Island and Parker Ranch veterinarian, Dr. Billy Bergin, who has written about paniolo life in Kaʻū and the Hawaiian cultural traditions of raising cattle at Kapāpala Ranch, Ka Lae and all across Kaʻū.
     See the program this  Saturday March 18 at 2 p.m. on KHNL and Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. on KGMB. See more at https://www.ksbe.edu/songcontest.


 
In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.


          

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Thursday, March 09, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 9, 2023

The public is invited to a meeting about Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area on Saturday, April 1
at Robert Herkes Ka'ū District Gym Multi-Purpose Room from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Pāhala. Photo from DLNR

KAPĀPALA KOA CANOE MANAGEMENT AREA will be subject of a public gathering, a status update and informational event, on Saturday, April 1 in Pāhala at Ka'ū District Gym Multi-Purpose Room from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with coffee and refreshments.
    State Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Forestry & Wildlife is developing a Management Plan for Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area. A statement from the organizers of the

meeting says, "The Plan is part of an effort to provide a sustainable, long-term supply of koa for the traditional and cultural use of constructing koa canoes, while minimizing impacts on the natural and cultural resources in the area. This parcel is the only state land in Hawaiʻi specifically zoned for the purpose of producing koa canoe resources.
    "Other management objectives include native forest protection, protection of watershed resources, protection of forest bird habitat, increased regeneration and restoration of koa trees and forest habitat, collaboration with educational groups and community groups, access for recreational activities, and integration of traditional Hawaiian stewardship models with western conservation practices."
    A Cultural Impact Assessment has been completed by ASM Affiliates and an Environmental Assessment is being prepared by Geometrician Associates, LLC.
    Forest Solutions, Inc., which specializes in land stewardship and commercial forestry, will sponsor the event.
    According to DLNR's website, "The Kapāpala Canoe Forest is a 1,257 acre remnant koa forest located in Kaʻū Forest Reserve on the southeastern slopes of Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaiʻi. In 1989, the Department of Land and Natural Resources set aside this unique native forest in response to a significant decline in koa trees due to past commercial harvesting and ranching activities. The primary purpose of the Kapāpala Canoe Forest is a source for koa canoe logs in perpetuity, on a sustainable and self-sustaining basis. The canoe forest also serves as a learning center and community gathering place for traditional Hawaiian practices, and an example of balancing forest use and regeneration.
    "At an elevation ranging from 3,640 to 5,100 feet above sea level, the Kapāpala Canoe Forest is located in what the Hawaiian culture considers as the wao akua or 'forest of the gods.' Today, the Kapāpala Canoe Forest is stewarded by multiple partners and the local community, utilizing ancient Hawaiian land management practices to sustainably manage one of the best remaining koa forests in Hawai'i."
See https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/frs/timber-management-areas/kapapala-canoe-forest/

Kapāpala Canoe Forest is 1,257 acres, outlined in red and is subject to a Kapāpala Koa Canoe Management Area plan 
and a public meeting April 1 in Pāhala. Map from DLNR














To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

AN ECOSYSTEM MONITORING INTERNSHIP IS OFFERED BY FOREST SOLUTIONS, INC. this summer for high school and college students. It is full time for seven to eight weeks and focuses on vegetation monitoring from June to August.
    Participants will contribute to a long-term forest ecosystem study, working in teams led by foresters with expertise in native Hawaiian forests. Interns will gain hands-on field experience in ecology, biology, science methodology and leadership. The main activities will include hiking, plant identification, and vegetation measurements, with the opportunity for additional conservation activities such as planting and weed assessments. The experience culminates in an independent project, which interns will present to Kamehameha Schools on the final day of the program. Field sites are located across the island, with a focus in West Hawaiʻi this year.

    Applicants must be comfortable working outdoors in remote forest sites in all weather conditions. Capable of hiking over rough terrain for long distances. Able to camp three to four nights per week, if necessary. Participants should be interested in or pursuing a career in Natural Resources or Conservation or just have an enthusiasm for learning about the environment.
    Previous experience in the following areas is desirable, but not required, as they will be developed during the internship: Hawaiian native and non-native species identification; vegetation sampling methodology; basic orienteering skills; familiarity with Global Positioning Systems (GPS); competence with Microsoft Office (word, excel & access); basic knowledge of and respect for Hawaiian culture and practices.
    Contact Aviva Gottesman's cell at 808-640-7118. See more at www.forestsolutionsinc.com. Instagram: @forest_solutionshawaii. To apply, send an email with resume to aviva_gotteman@forestsolutionsinc.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

ANIMAL PATROL & PROTECTION AGENCY will become a new department at Hawai'i County,
generating 45 new opportunities for permanent employment. The County Council passed the legislation unanimously on Wednesday to set up the agency, replacing Hawai'i Police Department's responsibility to take care of animals and to do away with the previous practice of contracting out the work to such entities as Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors and Hawai'i Humane Society in the Animal Patrol and Protection Agency.
    County of Hawai'i plans to budget Animal Patrol and Protection with $2 million, which it previously provided to Hawai'i Police Department to do the job.
    The new agency will be mandated to provide biannual reports to the County Council. 
POLICE ARRESTED 30 FOR DUI, FEB. 27-MARCH 5. Hawai'i Island police arrested the motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Nine were involved in a traffic accident. None were under age 21. So far this year, there have been 194 DUI arrests compared with 209 during the same period last year, a decrease of 7.18% percent.
    After a review of all updated crashes, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section found 166 major crashes so far this year compared with 130 during the same period last year, an increase of 27.69 percent.
    To date, there have been four fatal crashes, resulting in five fatalities, (Rvsd. 02/07/23: one fatal crash reclassified—manner of death was due to natural causes) and (one fatal crash had multiple deaths); compared with six fatal crashes, resulting in eight fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths) for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 33.3 percent for fatal crashes and 37.5 percent for fatalities.
    Police promise DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THE DEATH REGISTRY IN HAWAI'I has led its keeper, state Department of Health, to send out notification letters to those listed in the system as surviving spouses and/or the person who reported the death to the mortuary.
    On Jan. 23, 2 Mandiant, a cybersecurity threat intelligence company, notified the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Office of Homeland Security and DOH that an external medical certifier account was compromised and the login credentials were placed for sale on the dark web (internet marketplace where cybercriminals can transact illegal products and services). Upon being notified, DOH immediately disabled the account and began an investigation.
   DOH completed its investigation Feb. 15 and found that the compromised account belonged to a medical certifier at a local hospital who had left employment in June 2021, but whose account had not been deactivated. An unauthorized individual used the account to access the EDRS on Jan. 20 and approximately 3,400 death records may have been viewed. The death records had a date of death ranging from 1998 to 2023, with 90 percent occurring in 2014 or earlier.
    The death records contain the decedent’s name, social security number, address, sex, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. Records that had been certified could not be altered, and 99 percent of the records had been certified. DOH reviewed the 1 percent of records that had not been certified, and none were certified by the unauthorized user.
    No death certificates were accessed, nor were any able to be generated. However, out of an abundance of caution, DOH encourages affected parties to remain vigilant about any remaining unsettled matters such as accounts, estate, life insurance claim or Social Security survivor benefits.
    In response to this incident, DOH reported that is implementing additional security measures and is also conducting a security review of external accounts for all of its systems.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

 
In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.


          

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Wednesday, March 08, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Windy Wednesday
 A windy Wednesday morning provided these cloud formations bringing comments of flying saucer, Elon Musk's new cloud car lifting off into space, and many more. What is this? A high wind warning was issued for all summits until 6 p.m. on Sunday. For Wednesday, northwest winds were expected between 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the evening. NOAA predicted 50 percent chance of rain on Wednesday. Photo by Jana Kaniho

Downed tree in Nā'ālehu about 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Photo by Bob Martin
WINDS KNOCKED DOWN BRANCHES AND TREES across  Ka'ū on Wednesday, tying up traffic in the early afternoon with a big fall onto Hwy 11 near Nā'ālehu Ballpark and Punalu'u Bakeshop. At Nā'ālehu Shopping Center, winds tore up the roofing and tenants at Will & Grace food store, Parents, Inc. and the Land Office real estate company left the area.
     Across the street, winds knocked over fencing at Hana Hou Restaurant and the sign at Ka'ū Realty.
    Hwy 11 was closed at Pāhala at around 6:30 p.m when power lines fell. Motorists drove through   PPāhalahala to pass by the roadblock.
Wind tore up roofing on top of Nā'ālehu Shopping Center with Will &
& Grace, Parents, Inc. and the Land Co. tenants  leaving the place
on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Bob Martin
    Gusts were clocked at 43 mph at South Point where hikers to Green Sands Beach felt intermittent sandblasting. Wind gusts reached 41 mph at Kapāpala Ranch. On Mauna Kea wind gusts reached 124 mph.
    Civil Defense reported that strong winds caused utility outages, downed trees, road closures, and malfunctioning of traffic signal lights across Hawaii Island, particularly, in Puna, Ka'ū, Kona, Kohala, and Hamakua Districts.
Residents were requested to stay off the roadways, limit travel to essential only, and shelter-in-place until conditions improved. When traveling they were asked to treat all non-functioning traffic signal lights as a 4-Way Stop. Stay away from any downed utility lines

Wind knocked over fencing at Hana Hou's outdoor
dining area. Photo by Jana Kaniho
and report downed utility lines to authorities. Treat all downed lines as energized and dangerous.
    Utility repair personnel and road crews responded all day and continued to work through the evening to restore utility lines, clear debris, and reopen roads.
      National Weather Service extended the wind advisory islandwide until 12 a.m. Thursday morning, with a wind warning for the summits extended until Sunday. As winds calmed down Wednesday evening, National Weather Service predicted sunny skies into the weekend with some isolated showers late Thursday.

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA FOR RECREATIONAL USE , and allowing sales to be taxed by the state,
Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, of Puna, testified for
and voted for legalizing recreational marijuana sales.
Photo from www.bigislandvideonews.com 
goes to the state House of Representatives. The vote in the state Senate on Tuesday was 22 in support and three in opposition, including the one cast by Hilo state Sen. Lorraine Inouye.
    Sen. Joy San Buenaventura, the senator representing Puna, voted aye. Sen. Dru Kanuha, who represents Ka'ū in the Senate, voted aye.
    Ka'ū's state Rep. Jeanne Kapela is likely to vote yes in the House.
    Read Buenaventura's supportive testimony on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday provided by Big Island Video News at:
https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/.../video-hawaii.../
Sen. Lorraine Inouye, of Hilo, testified in opposition
and voted agains  legalizing recreational marijuana sales.
Photo from www.bigislandvideonews.com 

Read Inouye's opposition testimony on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday provided by Big Island Video News at:
https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/.../video-hawaii.../
Images taken from Senate livestream by www.bigislandvideonews.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT HEALTH OF NEARSHORE FISHERIES is shown in a poll commissioned by The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiʻi Trust for Public Land, and Resources Legacy Fund. Conducted by FM3 Research, the poll of people who vote, also showed high levels of support for improved fisheries and habitat management around the state. Ninety percent of respondents said they support restoring the health of nearshore areas, coral reefs, and fisheries; 88% support limiting fishing in
specific areas to allow fish populations to recover; 82% support giving local communities a clear role in helping to manage marine areas 81% agree that more effective fishing rules are needed in some places 78% support the State protecting 30% of nearshore waters around each Hawaiian island.
    "We are encouraged by such great support for community care of the fisheries and ecosystems that sustain us," said Kevin Chang, executive director of Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo, a local network and movement building nonprofit organization. "The observation of nearshore fishery decline and the impacts of human activity were observed early on by rural and Native Hawaiian subsistence fishers who made their voices heard in policy circles in the '90s. This new polling reaffirms place-based community mālama ʻāina efforts call for shared power and co-stewardship in the governance, management and restoration of their places. To do so, greater resources than our state currently provides are needed, including a state Department of Land and Natural Resources that is resourced to be the partner communities need."
    A statement from The Nature Conservancy said that it works with more than 50 community groups, leaders and other partners directly and through learning networks around Hawai'i to build capacity for community-led co-management of marine resources. "The results speak for themselves. For example, four years into the 10-year rest area at the Kaʻūpūlehu Marine Reserve on Hawai'i Island, the biomass (combined weight) of prime spawners—larger, mature fish that produce the most offspring—increased by 612% inside the reserve and 172% outside the reserve. The Kaʻūpūlehu community is working to develop a fisheries management plan to maintain healthy, sustainable fisheries once the Reserve is re-opened to fishing in 2026."
    Maile Shannon, Wailuku Community Managed Marine Area and Board Member, Maui Nui Makai Network, said, "I am grateful to hear, although not surprised, that those polled were concerned about their nearshore fisheries. This echoes the voices within the makai communities that have taken a stance as stakeholders to mālama their resources. Hawaiʻi as a whole needs to move towards the goal of 30% by 2030, and collectively strive to mirror the international goals. If the state continues to collaborate with our communities, the combined effort will be beneficial for all of Hawaiʻi Nei."
    The concern about coral reefs and fisheries shown by the poll parallel years of declining fishery populations and coral loss. Populations of Hawaiʻi's most important fish species have declined by 90% since the early 1900s. A 2012 report revealed that over the last several decades, some places in Hawai'i have lost up to 60% of their coral cover, which is essential for creating habitat for healthy fish populations. Adding further stress to these resources, the 2015 mass coral bleaching event caused a loss of 30% of coral cover statewide, said the TNC announcement.    "Our coral reefs and associated fisheries will continue to decline without effective management strategies to address impacts and provide solutions. It's encouraging to see polling results that indicate overwhelming support for fisheries management across the state and across a diverse demographic," said Dr. Ku'ulei Rodgers, Coral Reef Ecology Lab, Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i. "We need to address declining conditions caused by both global and local impacts. By reducing our carbon contributions, land-based pollution, and fishing pressure, we can restore health and abundance to fisheries and coral reefs. At this pivotal turning point in the history of coral reefs we must all learn to live sustainably and support strategic management to secure our future and protect our resources."
    Ulalia Woodside Lee, Executive Director for The Nature Conservancy, Hawai'i and Palmyra, said,
"People who love Hawai'i understand the inseparable and reciprocal link between our own and nature's well-being," says  "Hawai'i voters across the state in every demographic have stated their preference repeatedly in polls over the last several years: they want government and communities to take action now to protect our oceans, forests and watersheds."
      TNC reported the Polling Methods: From January 8-19, 2023, FM3 completed 864 online and telephone (landline and mobile) randomized interviews with Hawai'i voters across the state. The margin of sampling error for the study is +/-3.5% at the 95% confidence level. 

Improved fisheries and habitat management in nearshore waters to protect coral reefs and improve
fish populations are supported in a recent poll. Photo from U.H.


KEIKI WATER CONSERVATION POSTER CONTEST DEADLINE IS EXTENDED. Department of Water Supply, County of Hawai‘i, is granting extra time to Hawai‘i Island students seeking to enter its 5th Annual Keiki Water Conservation Poster Contest entitled Our Water, Our Future, Conserve It. 
    Friday, April 28, 2023, is the new deadline for keiki attending kindergarten through the sixth grade to submit an original poster and compete for prizes to be awarded to the top two entrants from each grade
level. 
Winning art by Kira Aguiar in the 2022 Water Conservation Poster Contest.

     Participants are asked to depict Our Water, Our Future, Conserve It on a flat, 11- by 17-inch paper. Any medium may be used, except for three-dimensional renderings, chalk, charcoal, and oil-based crayon. No computer graphics or photographs will be accepted. Make sure each poster lists the artist’s name and teacher in legible print. Each poster submission should be accompanied by a completed entry form available below, at www.hawaiidws.org, via email by contacting dws@hawaiidws.org or by calling DWS on regular working days at (808) 961-8050. 
    There is no charge to enter. Mail contest entries to DWS in Hilo or dropped off in designated bins at DWS’ offices in Hilo, Kona or Waimea by Friday, April 28. Address locations and additional contest rules are listed on the form. See www.hawaiidws.org. The free contest aims to highlight the importance of reducing water waste and protecting drinking water supplies. 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 under the Conservation link at www.hawaiidws.org. 
    Founded in 1949, Department of Water Supply is a semi-autonomous agency of the County of Hawai‘i. The Department’s mission is to provide customers with an adequate and continuous supply of safe drinking water through the operation of its 23 separate water systems that combined deliver about 25 million gallons of water each day to Hawai‘i Island communities.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

 


FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students
Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music.                                                                                                                                  Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.


          




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