Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 22, 2024

ELEVATING HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AND PLACE NAMES earned Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's Visual Information Specialist Michael Newman the Excellence in Interpretation Award, a top National Park Service honor that he recently received in Washington, D.C.  In addition to his use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) and Hawaiian place names, Newman produced several innovative digital products. 

     Newman said that "Native Hawaiians have named places throughout the islands for centuries, but  many Inoa Wahi (place names) were erased by western colonization."  He said the traditional names "reflect the rich cultural history and identity of native Hawaiians while preserving stories and land descriptions. As you share these names with other you begin to perceive that place through that native lens, fostering a deeper connection."

Michael Newman, Visual Information Specialist at Hawai'i Volcanoes
 National Park, receives an Excellence in Interpretation Award
 in Washington, D.C. for his work to educate the public in Hawaiian
 language and place names. NPS photo

    Newman's productions include:
    A story map of Hawaiian place names at Kīlauea summit, https://www.nps.gov/maps/stories/the-language-of-the-land.html;
    Hawaiian place names pronunciation web page for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes that also includes place names at other national parks in Hawai'i, https://www.nps.gov/locations/hawaii/pronunciation-of-place-names.htm;
    A Hawaiian language web page, https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/historyculture/olelo-hawaii.htm;
    Cultural videos. These products were produced under Newman's leadership in collaboration with other parks, employees, and in consultation with park kūpuna (elders) consultation group,
https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/historyculture/ike-hana-noeau-film.htm.
    A Park statement says, "Michael's work exemplifies the Hawaiian proverb Ma ka hana ka ʻike – knowledge is acquired by doing. Through hands-on dedication, he has made Hawaiian culture available to a wide audience with innovative digital projects."
    Newman said he extends a big mahalo to Bobby Camara, Noah Gomes, the Kūpuna Consultation Group, and park staff for their "incredible support throughout these projects."

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PATCH, PEOPLE ATTENTIVE TO CHILDREN will bring its help to the public and organizers of the Hawaiian Immersion School at the campus in Wai'ohinu on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Immersion school organizer Raylene Moses said "Patch Hawai’i will be coming to our kula. We are building our capacity to meet the needs of our keiki. Anyone interested are invited to attend with their keiki or mo’opuna."

     The venue is the grounds of the old Shirakawa Hotel in the former hula studio of Lorie Lei Shirakawa. This would be the first Hawaiian immersion school in modern times.

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Comet, Venus and the Milky Way as seen in Volcano on Sunday evening. NPS photo by Janice Wei

ATLAS COMET AND SHOOTING STARS ARE STILL VISIBLE FROM ORIONID METEOR SHOWER through this week. With the full moon over, the spectacle may be more visible in the Kaʻū night skies but increasingly require binoculars. By Oct. 26, a telescope could be required. This image was taken Sunday evening by Janice Wei, photographer at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at  the summit of Kīlauea. The photo also captures Venus setting and the Milky Way. ‘Ōhiʻa trees contribute their silhouette,
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park rangers report that "the comet is faint at first to the naked eye but be patient and let your eyes adjust. Look to the west, after sunset. If you find Venus, look above it."

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Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 21, 2024

Volcano Skatepark enthusiasts with County Council member Michelle Galimba, Mayor Mitch Roth and Parks & Recreation Director Maurice Messina at last Saturday's reopening at Cooper Center. Photo by Thatcher Moats

REOPENING OF VOLCANO SKATEPARK was celebrated by the community and County of Hawai'i Department of Parks & Recreation on Saturday, Oct. 19. It followed extensive repairs completed in collaboration with a contingent of dedicated volunteers from the Volcano and skateboarding communities.
    Skateboarders, roller skaters, and families joined County of Hawai'i officials and skatepark volunteers at the re-opening event, which featured speakers, a blessing, and a lei untying, marking the official reopening.
    "It's an honor to stand alongside the dedicated community volunteers who put in countless hours to help us make this important resource safe and accessible for everyone once again," said Mayor Mitch Roth. "We understand how valuable these skateparks are in providing our keiki with safe, fun spaces to develop their skills and stay on a positive path. This reopening is a testament to what we can achieve when the

Blessing of the refurbished Volcano Skatepark. Photo by Thatcher Moats

community comes together and works with us to get things done."
    The skatepark, one of eight county skateparks across the island and the only one of wood construction and situated indoors, was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic after the surface of the wooden skating structure deteriorated to the point that it posed considerable safety risks to users.
    As Parks & Recreation explored options to address the skatepark, a group within the Volcano community advocated for rehabilitating the wooden structure and stepped up to support the effort. The Volcano Skatepark Organization established a Friends of the Park agreement with Parks & Recreation and provided expertise and labor, while Parks & Recreation supplied the building materials and general oversight of the restoration project.
    "Working with the Volcano Skatepark Organization was vital to the success of this project," said Maurice Messina, Director of Parks & Recreation. "The volunteers' passion for the sport of skateboarding, combined with their knowledge of skate park construction, allowed us to join together and restore this important community asset. We extend a big 'mahalo' to the Volcano Skatepark Group and all those who supported this endeavor."
    Parks & Recreation plans to continue making improvements to the structure that surrounds the skatepark and hopes that the partnership with the Volcano Skatepark Organization will provide ongoing and timely maintenance of the skatepark to ensure the continued use and enjoyment for skaters.
    The skatepark is at Volcano Park, 19-4030 Wright Road in Volcano. The county park site also includes the Cooper Center facility, a playground, restrooms and other amenities.

Hawai'i County reopened the wooden, indoor Volcano Skatepark at Cooper
Center on Saturday. Photo by Thatcher Moats

A MURDER INVESTIGATION IS ON AT OCEAN VIEW by Hawai‘i Island police. Hawai'i Police Department initiated a second-degree murder investigation after a man with fatal injuries was found inside a residence in the 92-9000 block of Tiki Lane in Hawaii Ocean View Estates on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18.
    Around 1:10 p.m., Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a residence on Tiki Lane for a report of a deceased man. Upon arrival, police discovered a body of a Caucasian man believed to be in his 50s who had sustained a fatal injury.
    Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene. After conducting a preliminary investigation, "it was believed that the injuries were suspicious in nature and not accidental," says the HPD statement.
    Efforts are being made to identify the victim who has not yet been positively identified.
Anyone with information relative to this investigation is encouraged to call the department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311. They may also contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 960-3118; or email donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov.
     Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID. 

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THIS IS NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK, as announced by the state Department of Health. Lead is a toxic metal that is dangerous to health at all ages and there is no safe level of lead in the blood for children. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week'd theme this year is Bright Futures Begin Lead-Free, with the aim for the public to learn protection from exposure to lead and its serious health effects.
    Lead is often present in the paint of older buildings constructed prior to 1978 and can be found in soil, house dust, old toys, jewelry, antiques, souvenirs, fishing tackle, keys, dishes, food, spices, tobacco products and water. Certain work or hobbies can expose people to lead, which can be brought home on clothes, shoes, hair and other items.
    Department of Health states that public water systems in Hawaiʻi do not historically have lead contamination; however, it is possible for lead to contaminate drinking water through fixtures and piping in older buildings. A collaborative project funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Hawaiʻi Departments of Health, Education and Human Services tested drinking water taps for lead in schools and childcare centers and are continuing work to ensure lead is no longer present in taps that showed five parts per billion lead or higher.

    "Keiki are especially susceptible to the effects of lead exposure because they are still in the developmental stages, which can impact both mental and physical development," said Dr. Ruben Frescas, chief of the DOH Children with Special Health Needs Branch. "They can be exposed to sources of lead in their everyday environment at home and anywhere they play or receive care. With young children who like to play on the ground and put their hands or other objects in their mouths, lead exposure can place these younger keiki at an even higher risk for swallowing lead."

    In children, lead can cause learning and behavior problems that can result in long-term negative effects throughout adulthood like increased delinquency, lower educational attainment and lower income. In pregnant people, lead can damage a developing baby's nervous system and has the potential to cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Children tend to show signs of severe lead toxicity at lower exposure levels than adults. However, most children with lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms.
    In adults, exposure to high levels of lead may cause serious health problems like anemia, kidney and brain damage, infertility in men and women, cancer, nerve and hearing damage, and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is two to five times higher among people with higher blood lead levels, which is comparable to the increased risk from smoking, high cholesterol and hypertension.
    The DOH Hawaiʻi Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program receives funding from the CDC to help the community prevent children from being exposed to lead; to identify children already exposed to lead so the source can be removed; and to link families to recommended services like Early Intervention and in-home residential investigations.

Soil, water and paint samples for lead testing can to be sent to a laboratory. The state Department of Health recommends a
  National Lead Laboratory Accredited Laboratory for paint and soil and a Hawaii State Department of Health Certified Lab
 for drinking water. Call the lab ahead of time for collection methods, mailing guidelines, and documentation.

    According to the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, children should have a risk assessment for lead exposure at well-child visits and children at increased risk should get a simple blood test for lead. Testing children at 1 and 2 years of age or later if never tested before is required and free with Med-QUEST, the Hawaiʻi Medicaid program. It is okay to test at other times if families or child's doctor are concerned about lead exposure.

    "Lead poisoning is completely preventable and the best way to protect children is to keep them away from lead in the environment and get screened," Frescas said. "Taking a few simple steps today can make a big difference tomorrow and we are here to help our families take those steps."

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Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 20, 2024

  

A new development plan for hotel, condos and retail at Discovery Harbour may be activated early next year following a ruling
favoring investors in Third Circuit Court. Discovery Harbour Community Association says it will appeal.
Image from South Point Investors is from the May 19, 2015 article in The Ka'u Calendar News Briefs.

AN APPEAL TO HAWAI'I'S INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS TO REVERSE A RULING FAVORING A DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR DISCOVERY HARBOUR is expected to be filed by Discovery Harbour Community Association, according to a Hawai'i Tribune-Herald article in Sunday's edition. John Burnett reported that DCHA plans to appeal Hilo Circuit Court Judge Henry Nakamoto's summary judgement issued early this month. The judge's ruling favors South Point Investment Group's contention that the Association cannot restrict use of its land to constructing only residences, nor prevent commercial development there.

     The article refers to a story in The Ka'u Calendar's May 2015 edition, in which South Point Investment's Gary McMickle described a plan for a small hotel, condominiums and shopping center, along with renovation of the Discovery Harbour Golf Course. The investment group owns the 174-acre golf course, 11.7 acres zoned conservation, and 18.23 acres zoned agriculture and describes the two smaller properties as "the commercial lots," says the Tribune-Herald story.       .

   The Tribune-Herald reports that a brief filed with South Point Investment's lawsuit against DCHA  "claimed that aggressive opposition to SPIG’s plans by the DHCA caused the Ka‘u Community Development Plan steering committee to recommend 'low density urban' zoning for the development instead of its preferred designation as a 'retreat resort' area. 

     “The DHCA’s interference in the Kaʻū CDP process has delayed development of the commercial lots and repair of the golf course lots, has cost SPIG a favorable land use designation, and has caused it to incur significant other monetary damages.” 

    In addition to issuing a summary judgement in favor of the developer, Nakamoto ordered the Community Association to come up with $5,385.42 toward the developer's legal expenses. The developer earlier asked the judge for $260,570.73 for attorney fees and costs.

Discovery Harbour Golf Course would be renovated, along with construction of a small hotel, condominiums and retail, according to South Point Investment Group. Photo by Cort Gariepy

 
    Discovery Harbour Community Association website says that after filing the appeal and completion of briefing, a three-judge panel from Intermediate Court of Appeals "will be assigned to decide the case. Our attorneys expect that it may take two to four years for the ICA to issue a ruling.”

     In the meantime, according to the Tribune-Herald story, the developer said he may begin pursuing a plan in early 2025. McMickle told journalist Burnett: “We’re looking at mid-density zoning, about 500 units, and the hotel would probably be between 50 and 75 units.”

     See the entire Hawai'i Tribune-Herald story by John Burnett at https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/10/20/hawaii-news/were-open-to-what-the-community-wants-judge-rules-in-favor-of-kau-resort-developer/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=daily_news.

     See the May 19, 2015 story in The Ka'u Calendar Newsbriefs at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2015_05_19_archive.html

     Board members of Discovery Harbour Community Association are Sue Bartlow, Nels Eklund, Karen Morrow, Rich Morrow, Erik Ott and Dave Tate.

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A BILL TO ALLOW VENDING ON COUNTY ROADSIDES IS UP FOR SIGNATURE BY MAYOR MITCH ROTH, following its passage by the County Council last week. Council member Michelle Galimba, who represents all of Kaʻū into Volcano and South Kona, voted for the measure.

     With approval of the Mayor, the Director of the Department of Public Works would grant $50 annual special activity permits to business licensees along county roads. Applicants would have to show capacity to handle any waste management and other concerns put forth by the County Council, Public Works, Hawai'i Police Department and other agencies. The Council would determine the roads where vending would be allowed.

    County roadside vendors without the required permit kept on site for inspection could be fined $250.00.
Exempt from the permitting would be fundraisers by non profit and educational groups raising money for their programs.
      Grassroots Institute of Hawai'i issued a statement saying that allowing more roadside vending would support local families and entrepreneurs, giving them a chance to benefit not only from sales to locals but to tourists.
   The only council member opposing the bill was Rebecca Villegas from Kona, advocating for safer vending places than the roadsides.

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