Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 7, 2024

HAWAIʻI COUNTY ANNOUNCES MEETING ON BUILDING CODE UPDATES. On OCT. 29 and 30, Depart. of Public Works Building Division will hold two informational meetings on upcoming International Building Code (IBC) changes.

    The sessions will occur at the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area (Mauna Kea Park) on October 29 and 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be a 50-seat limit per session. Use the provided QR code to sign up for a session.
    These meetings will cover the current 2018 IBC and IRC codes and highlight the changes that will take effect with the implementation of the 2021 IBC and IRC codes.
Those with questions, please contact Sherise Kanaʻe-Kāne at 808-961-8499 or sherise.kanae-kane@hawaiicounty.gov.

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A REMINDER TO GIVE COMMENTS ON NEW NĀ’ĀLEHU WASTEWATER PLANS came from County of Hawai'i on Monday. The public meeting takes place this Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Community Center, and via Zoom.
    The aim is to gather public comments and input regarding the Nā'ālehu Draft Environmental Information Document.
    The Nā'ālehu Draft Environmental Information Document (Draft EID) is available at the Nā'ālehu Public Library, and also at this website for County of Hawai'i's Department of Environmental Management projects: www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects
    Join via Zoom: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16031058165. Phone: (669) 254-5252 (Meeting ID: 160 3105 8165).

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IN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL, KAʻŪ HIGH BEAT KA UMEKE on
Monday. Coach Joshua Ortega  reports the Trojans winning in three sets, 25-8, 25-10 and 25-12.

    Leahi Kaupu slammed 13 Kills and achieved 3 Aces.  Zia Rae Wroblewski nailed 10 Kills  and came up with 2 Aces and 1 Block.

Kiara Ortega-Oliveira slammed 6 Kills  and scored with 2 Aces.

McKenzie Decoito pounded 5 Kills and managed 1 Ace. Jazmyn Navarro scored with 1 Kill and 5 Aces. CaLiyah Silva-Kamei  got 1 Kill and 2 Aces.

    The next game is at Hilo High School this Saturday 10/12 with JV at 10 a.m. and Varsity to follow.

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5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the street.

 

Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 6, 2024

Bark Ranger Sting and Human Ranger Dean Gallagher will lead a session with dog ranger enthusiasts with and without
their dogs next Saturday at Kahuku at 10 a.m. NPS photo

BARK RANGER STING AND HIS HUMAN DEAN Gallagher will come to the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park next Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon for a demonstration for the public and their canines. 

Dogs are allowed on leash in limited places
at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

    An announcement from HVNP says, "It's paw-ficial: the wildly pupular BARK RANGER Program....You and your furry besty can take the BARK Ranger pledge in Kaʻū: Bag your waste and remove it: Always on a leash; Respect wildlife: and Know where to go.
      "For our indogural event in Kahuku, you can print your online certificate and bring it with you, or fetch one at Kahuku. Sniff out the new Bark Ranger merch (Kahuku Bark Ranger banadana, Bark Ranger badge) at the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store if you really want to be a top dog."

     The event is free at Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Kahuku entrance is located in Kaʻū near the 70.5 mile marker ma uka off Highway 11.

5,000 in the mail, 2,500 on the street.

     Dogs and other pets are not allowed in many areas of the park for safety reasons, and for the protection of threatened and endangered native species. Bark Rangers and their humans know where they can go (always on a leash), including Mauna Loa Road and most paved parking areas and surrounding curbs, and some areas in Kahuku. 

     "Don’t end up in the dog house," says a park statement. "Visit the website for a complete list of pawsibilites." Check the Superintendent’s Compendium for exemptions regarding authorized service animals. All pets and service animals in the park must be leashed at all times.

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KAʻŪ RESIDENTS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE can still sign up. Mail-in ballots are expected to arrive to voters' postal addresses by Oct. 18, ahead of the Nov. 5 General Election and must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
    Those who haven't registered may register online at any time or in-person at a voter service center. See https://www.elections.hawaiicounty.gov/voter-registration. For an Absentee Ballot, deadline to request a ballot be sent to an alternate address is Oct. 29.
    Some winners have already been determined. County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen was reelected in the Primary for a four-year term. County Council member Michelle Galimba was reelected in the Primary for a two-year term. Kai Kahele won the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee seat for Hawai'i

Island in the Primary for a four-year term.
    General Election ballots for Kaʻū voters will show the following candidates:
    For Mayor, incumbent Mitch Roth is challenged by Kimo Alameda for the four-year term.
    For state Senate, incumbent Dru Kanuha is challenged by Republican Kurt Sullivan for the four-year term.
    For state House of Representatives, Kaʻū voters can choose between incumbent Democrat Jeanne Kapela, Republican Ashley Oyama and Libertarian Frederick Fogel.
    For Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees at large, incumbent Keli'i Akina is challenged by Lei Ahu Isa.
    For U.S. Senator representing Hawai'i, Democrat Mazie Hirono faces Republican Bob McDermott, Green Party's Emma Pohlman and We The People Party Shelby Pikachu Billionaire.
    For U.S. House representing rural Hawai'i, incumbent Jill Tokuda faces Republic Steve Bond, Libertarian Arron Toman and Nonpartisan Randall Kelly Meyer.
    For U.S. President, current Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, faces former President Donald Trump, a Republican, and other candidates for the four-year term.

    For U.S. Vice-President, Tim Waltz, a Democrat, faces JD Vance, a Republican and other candidates.
    The other Parties on the ballot for U.S. President and VP are Green Party with Jill Stein for President and Rudolph Ware for VP, Libertarian with Chase Oliver for President and Mike ter Maztt for VP, Party for Socialism and Liberation with Claudia De La Cruz for President and Karina Garcia for VP, and Solidarity Party with Peter Sonski for President and Lauren Onak for VP.
    Two State of Hawai'i Constitutional Amendments are on the ballot. One, which seeks to protect same-sex marriage, asks: “Shall the state constitution be amended to repeal the legislature’s authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?” A second proposed constitutional amendment would make the selection process of district court judges the same as other judges.

    Three Hawai'i County Charter Amendments are on the ballot. One asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to provide that any vacancy on the County Council that occurs or exists after a person was duly elected to fill that seat for the upcoming Council term shall be filled by that duly elected successor for the remainder of the unexpired term?" The second asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to require the Mayor to appoint department heads within 30 days of the start of each mayoral term and within 60 days for any vacancy in office that occurs during the mayoral term?" The third asks, "Shall the Hawai'i County Charter be amended to increase the term length for members of the Cost of Government Commission from 11 to 22 months and extend the deadline for the Commission to submit its report from 11 months after appointment to 20 months after appointment?"

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Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 5, 2024

Michah A. Kāne, President and CEO of Hawai'i Community Foundation, which has launched the Stronger Hawai'i Initiative
to respond to disasters. Photo from Hawai'i Community Foundation

THE STRONGER HAWAI'I INITIATIVE has been launched and Kaʻū residents are encouraged to explore its purpose, particularly in helping with disaster relief and mitigation. A project of the Hawai'i Community Foundation, it was born through helping victims of hurricanes, floods, lava and wildfires, as well as the pandemic. "As Hawai'i comes together to rebuild and heal, our commitment to long-term support and resilience remains steadfast," reports Hawai'i Community Foundation. "Stronger Hawaiʻi 

initiative is designed to provide vital information and resources to our communities in times of disaster. This initiative is a unique response to the specific needs of our islands."
    Hawai'i Community Foundation states that the Stronger Hawaiʻi initiative will serve as a central hub for resources from many community organizations, as well as provide critical information from County, State, and Federal agencies. The Stronger Hawaiʻi initiative is structured to respond to disasters that occur across the state.
    Stronger Hawaiʻi is designed to act as a bridge, linking resources and information for all disaster stakeholders.
    Hawai'i Community Foundation President and CEO Micah A. Kāne said, "Our commitment to a four-phase approach to disaster relief allows us to address both immediate needs and longer-term recovery strategies, ensuring we are as responsive as possible to evolving community needs. I encourage you to explore the resources available at the Stronger Hawaiʻi website: www.strongerhawaii.org. This site not only provides essential updates but also serves as a permanent tool for disaster preparedness and response." The site is growing from serving the Maui community after the wildfires to serving the entire state.

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A HAWAI'I INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS RESEARCH SPECIALIST is needed. The Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems is accepting applications for the job that deals with the transition from the post-plantation agricultural landscape to food growing for local consumption. See https://globalfutures.asu.edu/food/swette-center-in-hawai%ca%bbi/.

     The position is designed to build and strengthen partnerships with Native Hawaiian food system organizations and stakeholders, conduct outreach to

Carly Wyman and Katie Crowe work on the transition from the post-plantation
 agricultural landscape of Hawai'i Island to food growing for local consumption.
Photo from Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems

indigenous communities, and support food systems-related research priorities.
     Grounded in the belief that no future can be sustainable if it does not respect and draw from the culture and traditions of native peoples, the Swette Center’s work in Hawaiʻi is centered around meaningful engagement and development of strategic multi-sectoral partnerships with key stakeholders in the Hawaiian community, says a statement from Swette Center, "We view our efforts in Hawai‘i as a long-term process of relationship building and learning from Indigenous communities. All of this reflects the Swette Center’s commitment to creating a more economically robust, sustainable, equitable and resilient food system for Hawaiʻi and the

world." More information about the position can be found on their website, or by contacting Carly Wyman at carly.wyman@asu.edu.

     Swette Center is based at Arizona State University, which has a long history with the community of Miloli'i in conservation of marine food resources and protection of reefs.

    Swette Center lead researchers and community outreach representatives on this island are Carly Wyman and Katie Crowe.

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THE TROJANS HOSTED KOHALA on Saturday at Kaʻū High School's home field for the homecoming
game. Kohala took home the win with 42 points to Kaʻū's 29. See more on the game and homecoming in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

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