The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Dec.14, 2024

The ground crew who expanded and streamlined the second annual Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade
on Saturday, with Mr. & Mrs. Santa and Parade President Shai Lopez-Castaneda. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

The late Ed Olson helped fund the parade for
years and is honored with continuation of support
and a place on his Pāhala Coffee Mill float.
Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

PĀHALA TOWN LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE, in its second year on Saturday, drew bigger crowds, much local participation and the honoring of community, enterprise, faith, athletics, education, service and those who passed during
the last year.
The late Kaʻū Coffee Mill founder, the late Edmund C. Olson, whose trust and foundation continue to support the parade, was honored on the company float. Friends and families built floats to honor the late Kaʻū Coffee farmer Milton DaCalio; the late longtime steward of county parks Angie Nohealani Avenue, and the late longtime sugar worker and athletic coach at Kaʻū High, Bobby Barba.
Grand Marshall of the Parade was longtime President of 'O Ka'ū Kākou community service organization, Wayne Kawachi.

Attending events over the weekend were Judy and Eddie Andrade, who started the annual Christmas Parade in Pāhala more than 40 years ago.
Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade Committee, comprised of the new generation of events organizers, ensured that living kūpuna leaders and those leaders who passed were recognized, and carried with the community into the joy, the fun of their Christmas Tree lighting and Christmas parade.

A float in Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade honoring the late longtime steward of county parks and Hawaiian
family music entertainer Angie Nohealani Avenue. Photo by Julia Neal

A float in Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade honoring the late Kaʻū High coach and longtine sugar worker
Bobby Barba. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

A float in Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade honoring the late Kaʻū Coffee farmer Milton Dacalio.
Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

Mr. & Mrs. Santa and Parade President Shai Lopez-Castaneda with manmade snow falling

on the Christmas procession on Saturday. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

Snowman in the manmade snow falling in Pāhala at Saturday's Town Lighted Christmas Parade.
Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

PĀHALA TOWN LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE GOERS REVELED IN THE SNOW, produced by a machine along the route and drawing keiki to leap and catch it, courtesy of Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade Committee.

See more parade and other weekend event photos in Sunday's Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs.

Everyone revels in the manmade snow that came down on the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade route on Saturday.
Photo by Julia Neal

This Sunday: Kīlauea Military Camp on Crater Rim Drive in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
offers two seatings for Brunch with Santa.

Volcano Art Center Gallery inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Friday, December 13, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Dec.13, 2024

Candles glow as the community anticipates the lighting of the Christmas tree on Friday in Pāhala. Photo by Julia Neal

Mayor Kimo Alameda with keiki in
Pāhala during the Christmas Tree
Lighting. Photo by Staycin Sakuma

A PĀHALA TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY on Friday evening brought out the community into the streets and lawns to light candles, listen to music and inspirational talk of emcee Ti Chun, enjoy hula by halau Kaleo a Keahilapalapa, and gather around the Norfolk Pine.

The ceremony preceded the first Kaʻū Taro Festival coming up at noon on Saturday at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Complex. It also preceded the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade on the streets of the village at 6 p.m. on Saturday, ending up at Pāhala Community Center where keiki meet Santa and enjoy gifts, with food for the family.

The Tree Lighting ceremony was produced by the Parade Committee, the Norfolk Pine provided by Kaʻū Farms Management. Venue is Pāhala Plantation Cottages on Kamani Street, which was partially closed off during the event.

Honored attendees included Mayor Kimo Alameda; County Council member and local rancher Michelle Galimba; founder of Pāhala Plantation Cottages and The Ka'u Calendar newspaper Julia Neal; O Kaʻū Kākou President Wayne Kawachi; Eddie and Judy Andrade who conducted the Pāhala Christmas Parade for some 40 years, and Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade leaders, including Committee President Shai Lopez-Castaneda, Staycin Sakuma and Jennifer Makuakane.

Several of the organizers and sponsors of the Tree Lighting
Ceremony in Pāhala Friday. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

THE FIRST KAʻŪ TARO FESTIVAL, THIS SATURDAY, Dec. 14, will be held at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym Complex in Pāhala. The event is free and open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. Its major organizing sponsor is ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou.

It will be followed by the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. All money raised from the Taro Festival by ‘O Kaʻū Kākou will fund its 2025 Scholarships for Kaʻū residents.

Pāhala Kupuna will conduct the opening protocol. An Ali‘i Court of Kaʻū youth will be coronated to oversee the event. Pāhala Youth Taiko Drummers will present their premiere performance, followed by Pāhala Adult Taiko Drummers.

Angel wings with lights performed at the
tree lighting. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

Keoki Sereno will sing and play ‘ukulele. Na ‘A‘ali‘i will dance hula. Pāhala Seniors will play ‘ukulele. South Hawai‘i Symphony will play.

Alan Moores will present his kalo paintings. Anaokalani’s will present kalo crocks, jewelry and apparel. Paradise Preserved will offer kalo hummus, freeze dried pa‘i‘ai. Wong Yuen Hui will have kalo mochi and kulolo. Fused Fragments will sell kalo sun catchers and nightlights.

Kaʻū Hospital Charitable Foundation will offer salad greens with taro chips. Sugar Sweet will present its freeze dried poi. Flyin Hawaiian Coffee will create peanut butter banana taro smoothies. Taylor’s Bears will be featuring kalo themed stuffed teddy bears.

Hana Hou Restaurant will offer poi ahi poke bowls. Kaʻū Civic Club will sell chicken laulau stew. Lacy’s Food Trailer will sell laulau. Lynda Nolte Watercolors will show her kalo watercolor images. Tools for Quantum Living will sell taro popsicles and laulau seasoning. Ku‘u Ihi Flowers will offer kalo boba drinks and poi balls. Pohaku Coffee will offer taro smoothies.

Eddie and Judy Andrade enjoy Tree Lighting
after 40 years of organizing the Pāhala
Christmas Parade. Photo by Stacyn Sakuma

Pua‘ala LLC will sell its kalo bags, towels, clothes and coasters. Sel’s Lunch Wagon will prepare laing (kalo with coconut milk, meat and seafood. Ka‘ū Creations Boutique will offer kalo key fobs, pouches and bags. ‘Ohia Creations will sell its kalo tiki lights and magnets carved in wood.

Looking Glass Art will feature kalo stained glassworks. Woods of Hawai‘i will present kalo wood carvings and boxes. The Artist Vei will sell kalo cards, portraits and images.

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou will be selling festival t-shirts and live taro plants. ‘Āina University will have an informational booth. In addition to the taro-related products listed above, vendors will offer a wide variety of other non-taro items.

Organizers ask the public to note that many vendors aren’t

equipped to accept electronic payment.

Lucky number drawing prizes will occur throughout the festival and include a round of golf at Volcano Golf Course, gift cards from HPM Building Supply, Don’s Grill Hilo, KTA Superstores, Ono Café Volcano, Ocean View Pizza, Locovore Store Hilo, Flyin’ Hawaiian Coffee, Polished Pina Nail Salon, Wyatt’s Place Hawai‘i and A Unique Boutique. Other prizes include gift bags from Elizabeth Crook doTerra, gift baskets from Aikane Coffee and a keiki taro patch tool kit from Tractor Supply Hilo.

Games will include Corn Hole Toss by ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, a Taro Patch challenge game by Hawaiian Telecom and a Taro Spin the Wheel game by CU Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i Police Dept. Community Police Officers will offer Free Keiki IDs at their festival booth.

‘Ōpala management will be handled by Kaʻū High’s Mālama ‘Āina Compostables and PA system is courtesy of Netcom Enterprises.

Sponsors include: OKK, Kaʻū Coffee Mill, Olson Trust, ‘Ohana Foods Hilo and Nā‘ālehu, Mizuno Superette, CU Hawai'i Federal Credit Union, Luana Hospitality Group with Huggo’s On the Rocks, Lava Lava Beach Club and Kai Eats + Drinks, Kaʻū Auto Repair, Punalu‘u Bake Shop, Mālama Kaʻū Foundation, Gone Fishing, Inc., Backyard Monkey LLC Tree & Yard Service and The Club at Discovery Harbour.

For more, see http://www.okaukakou.org/kau-taro-festival or call Tim DeLozier at 808-582-2342.

Christmas Hula on Kamani Street leads up to the Christmas Lighting ceremony in Pāhala on Friday, the evening before the Taro Festival at noon on Saturday and Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

For Coloring Contest for keiki 4 to 7 years of age, see https://www.cuhawaii.com/_/kcms-doc/1582/89204/

Christmas-Coloring-Page-4-7.pdf. For 8 to 14, see

https://www.cuhawaii.com/_/kcms-doc/1582/89205/Christmas-Coloring-Page-8-14.pdf

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Dec.12, 2024

Kūpuna Jessie Ke gives the blessing for the expansion of Kaʻū Hospital & East Hawai'i Health Clinic this past Monday. Below
the staff celebrates the future in the expansion area under the building. Photos from Hilo Benioff Medical Center

KAʻŪ HOSPITAL & ITS EAST HAWAI'I HEALTH CLINIC CELEBRATED ITS UPCOMING $9 MILLION EXPANSION with a blessing on Monday. On hand were state Sen. Dru Kanuha and Rep. Jeanne Kapela, who helped with the state funding, as well as hospital and clinic administrators and staff, representatives of Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association and Kaʻū Hospital Charitable Foundation.

Hilo Benioff Medical Center, which oversees the facility, announced it will add five exam rooms to the existing four at Kaʻū Clinic. They are slated for primary care and behavioral care. Much of the expansion will be constructed under the hospital building.

Also on the agenda are updating the clinic interior, new flooring, paint and ceiling tiles; relocating administration and business offices to the lower level; relocating and updating the laboratory; and upgrading wastewater infrastructure. The project is expected to last 18-24 months, with an estimated completion in mid-2026.
Sen. Dru Kanuha issued a statement saying, “During my visits to Kaʻū Hospital it became clear just how vital this CIP project is to ensure quality access to medical services for the Kaʻū community. I’m excited that these funds will enable Hawai'i Health System Corp. to expand and modernize the hospital, and l look forward to working with HHSC to create opportunities for improved care for our local residents.”
Jessie Marques, founder of Kaʻū Rural Health Community Association, said,“As an advocate of the community, I think any services that can be expanded is an asset to our people. It was nice to see all of the elected officials and the staff and representatives of Hawai'i Health Systems Corporation come together to celebrate. It was a good day to fulfill our mission to continue networking and advocating for the people of Kaʻū.”

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kau new s.com.

Lexi Manilla-Louis

THE FIRST KAʻŪ TARO FESTIVAL ALI'I YOUTH COURT HAS BEEN

Arabella Ortega

NAMED. The court is comprised of Arabella Ortega, 13, from Pāhala, Ioane Naboa, 12, from Nāʻālehu, Alazae Forcum, 15, from Ocean View and Lexi Manilla-Louis, 18, from Pāhala. Manilla-Louis is a college student and recipient of an O Kaʻū

Kākou scholarship.
The Festival raises money for the OKK scholarship fund.
The Youth Court will reign over the Kaʻū Taro Festival this Saturday at the Herkes

Ioane Naboa

Kaʻū District Gym Complex from noon to 5 p.m. The court will also join the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. on Saturday, riding on a float. The Taro Festival is organized by O Kaʻū Kākou's Tim DeLozier, of Pāhala, and numerous volunteers.

Zae Forcum

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kau new s.com.

Teresa Fitzgerals with her Kaʻū Keiki Singers and Teresa's Music Studio students with their Christmas Concert.
Photo form Teersa's Music Studio

A FULL HOUSE FOR KAʻŪ KEIKI SINGERS AND TERESA'S MUSIC STUDIO filled Ocean View Community Center last Saturday. Seventeen 17 performers from Kaʻū Keiki Singers and eight students from Teresa's Music Studio took to the stage to create the concert. It featured a variety of holiday songs ranging from the 16th century to contemporary tunes, highlighting the dedication and passion of the young performers.

The choir is part of an innovative community outreach program aimed at providing local children with access to the transformative benefits of music education. "I believe every child, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to experience the joy of music," said Teresa Fitzgerald the choir's director. "Each of our performances is a celebration of that mission."
Seven young pianists and one vocal soloist also took center stage to perform beautiful solo pieces,

A soloist at the full house concert in Ocean View.
Photo from Teresa's Music Studio

impressing the audience with their skill and composure. Even with the obvious nerves the students' hard work was evident.
The audience responded with warm applause, showing their support not only for the performances but also for the broader goal of the program— to enrich the lives of young people through the arts.
The choir program has rapidly grown in popularity, with 36 students taking part over its three year existence. For many children, the program provides not just an introduction to music, but also a sense of belonging and achievement that extends far beyond the stage.

"It's amazing to see how music brings us together," said one parent in the audience. "This program has made such a difference in my child's life, and it's clear that the children love being part of it."
As the night ended, "the smiles on the young performers' faces spoke volumes. Thanks to the support of the community and the dedicated leadership of the choir program, these children are gaining more than just musical skills— they're building confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts," said Fitzgerald.

The choir will begin rehearsals on Thursday, Jan. 16 for the spring concert. For more information about the choir or Teresa's Music Studio, and to find out how to get involved, visit https://musicwithteresa.mymusicstaff.com.