Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014

Ocean View community members and Habitat for Humanity representatives join Jeff Helfenbein during the blessing of his home. Photos from Habitat for Humanity

RADIATION MONITORING WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED as a pilot project by the state Department of Health if Senate Bill 3049, introduced by Ka‘u Senators Josh Green and Russell Ruderman and championed by Pahala resident Sara Witt, passes the 2014 state Legislature. The program would measure and monitor radiation levels in items such as food, dairy products, rainwater, aquifers and drainage ditches that may be susceptible to increased radiation levels due to the March 11, 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The Department of Health would post periodic reports on its website of those radiation levels and their significance to the state. The project would begin July 1 and end June 30, 2019. The bill passed first reading on Jan. 23 and was referred to several committees. Witt said she is hoping that a hearing will be held on the measure. 

      The companion House Bill 2600 was introduced by Reps. Richard Creagan and Faye Hanohano at the request of Witt.
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President Barack Obama gave his fifth
State of the Union address yesterday.

MEMBERS OF KA`U’S U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION have responded to President Barack Obama’s call to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers. During his State of the Union address yesterday, Obama said he wants an increase to $10.10 per hour. “The President took a positive step toward addressing the vast and growing trend of (income) inequality, and I welcome his proposals that will support job creation and encourage opportunities for growth and entrepreneurship,” said Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. 

      Sen. Brian Schatz said, “Tonight, we heard a real commitment from President Obama to reversing income inequality. Helping those who are stretched thin is even more important in Hawai‘i, where so many of our families struggle with the high cost of living. People who work hard and play by the rules should be able to get ahead.
      “I’ve been working with a group of my colleagues, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, to urge President Obama to use his authority to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for federal contract workers. I was glad he answered that call tonight. We need to do more on this issue and raise the minimum wage for all workers. That’s why I’m pushing legislation in the Senate to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for all workers.”  

     Regarding wages, Schatz added, “There is a real wage gap for too many workers. And in Hawai‘i, women still make 83 cents for every dollar a man makes. That’s unacceptable. We need to strengthen our laws to ensure equal pay for equal work.”
      Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “The executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers will help families in Hawai‘i, including those who wash dishes and serve food on our military bases. However, we must not stop there. Today, the real value of the minimum wage is roughly the same as what it was in the 1950s. This is particularly tough in states like Hawai`i, where the cost of living is high.”

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“GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE also responded to President Obama’s call for an increase in the minimum wage: “As I stated in last week’s State of the State address, a hard-working sector in Hawai`i has gone seven years without seeing their wages rise. I applaud the President’s proposal to increase the minimum wage for all federal employees.”

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A mortgage deed through sweat equity and help from Habitat for Humanity gives
Ocean View resident Jeff Helfenbein a home of his own.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WEST HAWAI‘I and veteran Jeff Helfenbein worked together to make home ownership for Helfenbein a reality in Ocean View. Habitat and Helfenbein recently held a blessing of his new home and completion of Habitat’s twentieth dwelling in West Hawai‘i. 

      Attending were volunteers who helped work on the house and provided food during the building, along with neighbors, family, friends and Habitat staff, including executive director Pat Hurney.
      Helfenbein has lived on the island for some 30 years and now has his own home. Deacon Sandy Honnold blessed the home, walking through each room with Helfenbein. The new homeowner worked alongside Habitat staff and volunteers on the construction of his home since May 2013. As part of the Habitat model, he fulfilled his required 500 sweat equity hours, highlighting the partnership.
      Habitat is preparing to build in Kona, Waikoloa and Na‘po‘opo‘o and completing repair work in Waimea in 2014. Many volunteers, food donations, and helping hands will be needed.
      The organization is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Its mission is to empower families and build community and hope through home ownership opportunities for low-income families. Serving the entire west side of the Big Island, Habitat works in partnership with families in need to build and repair decent, affordable housing. The houses are sold to partner families at no profit and with no interest charged.
      Granted affiliation with Habitat for Humanity International in 2002, Habitat West Hawai‘i is a volunteer-driven organization with seven full-time staff members. The home-building projects are undertaken by a committed group of local community volunteers who are provided leadership by site managers experienced in construction. The board of directors, comprised of 12 members, provides overall leadership to the affiliate. Funding comes from individual, foundation, agency and corporate donations, as well as from ReStore profits.
       To learn more or become involved in upcoming projects, contact Erin Stephens, Community Relations coordinator, at vista@habitatwesthawaii.org or 331-8010.
      See habitatwesthawaii.org or twitter.com/habitatwestHI.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS EAST HAWAIʻI RESOURCE CENTER will be conducting a one-stop-shop assistance in Kaʻu for students who want to pursue education beyond high school and families who want help with summer program applications and more information about resources. Center representatives will be available on Tuesdays, Feb. 11 and March 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Naʻalehu United Methodist Church, directly across from Naʻalehu Post Office. 

      Services include help with admission applications for summer programs, financial aid and scholarship services, Hoʻoulu Hawaiian Data Center forms and general information about Kamehameha Schools programs and resources.
      For more information, call Nikki or Noelani at 935-0116.

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MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT APPLICATIONS are due Friday, Feb. 7. All candidates must live in the district of Ka`u. As of May 4, Miss Ka`u Coffee candidates must be 16 to 24 years old, and Miss Ka`u Peaberry candidates must be 7 – 9 years old. 

      Pick up and return applications at R&G Store in Pahala, Will & Grace Store in Na`alehu or Coffee Grinds in Ocean View.
      A mandatory meeting for all candidates is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. at Punalu`u Bake Shop pavilion.
      For more information, call Gloria Camba at 928-8558 or Nalani Parlin at 217-6893.

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Ecstatic Dance teacher Jo Caron
Photo from VAC

VOLUNTEERS MEET AT KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Saturday to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from park trails between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Stewardships at the Summit program is ongoing, with more scheduled each Friday in February. Park entrance fees apply. 

JO CARON INVITES KA`U RESIDENTS TO ECSTATIC DANCE Saturday at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Participants explore the Five Rhythms – Flowing-Staccato-Chaos-Lyrical-Stillness – during a two-hour practice guided by music that ignites creativity, connection, personal awareness and healing. Fees are $25 or $10 VAC members. 

      For more, call Caron at 443-6993. 

KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline is this Friday, Jan. 31.

SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For a page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014

A bill being considered at the state Legislature would follow up on the GMO ban in Hawai`i County by prohibiting the planting of GMO engineered seeds or plant parts in open fields statewide. Photo by Julia Neal

GMO FOOD LABELING COULD BE THE WAY to reduce polarization in the debate over genetically modified organisms, according to west Ka`u state Rep. Richard Creagan. 

           Creagan, who studied agriculture at University of Hawai`i following a career as a physician, said yesterday that labeling could go a long way toward making peace. “Most of the people feel that labeling is important. Most of the people want to know what they eat.” He said that all foods, including milk from cows fed with GMO grains and grasses, should be labeled. “It is important to honor people’s concerns about what they want to eat.”

Rep. Richard Creagan

           Several bills have been introduced in the state Legislature that would require labeling. Senate Bill 3084 would require all GMO food retailed in Hawai`i to be labeled starting July 1, 2015. “The label shall indicate that the genetically modified food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified organisms or ingredients,” the bill states. It would require the state to adopt standards for labeling GMOs, with misdemeanor penalties for violations. It would also establish a subsidy program to help with GMO labeling, which would be funded by fees related to using pesticides.
           A separate piece of legislation, SB2926, would require non-GMO packaged food to be labeled.
           Another GMO-related measure, Senate Bill 2955, introduced by west Ka`u Sen. Josh Green, would require mandatory disclosure of pesticides and GMOs by commercial agricultural entities that purchased or used in excess of five pounds or 15 gallons of any single restricted use pesticide. It would require all commercial entities with any GMO to submit annual reports to the state. It would create pesticide buffer zones and require an environmental and public health impact study to address concerns related to large-scale commercial ag entities using pesticides and GMOs.
           Senate Bill 2738 would follow up on the GMO ban in Hawai`i County by prohibiting the planting of GMO engineered seeds or plant parts in open fields statewide. The bill states that “growth in genetically engineered agricultural production has been swift and pervasive throughout the nation. The quick acceptance of the new technology by American farmers may, however, pose serious consequences for conventional agriculture – consequences that scientists do not yet fully understand. Those consequences have created doubt within the farming community and Congress about the wisdom of growing genetically engineered agricultural products.”
            House Bill 2187 would provide a non-GMO tax credit for qualified agricultural costs.
            To weigh in on any of these bills and to follow the Legislature, see capitol.hawaii.gov.

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THE GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES bill, introduced by east Ka`u Sen. Russell Ruderman, is up for a public hearing today at the state Capitol. Also introduced into the House of Representatives, both bills state that “Hawai`i’s farms and farmers reflect the heritage and diversity of many cultures and people. They are the cornerstones of the state’s goals for food security, sustainability and self-sufficiency and are essential for producing local food for local consumption.

Sen. Russell Ruderman

     “The number of small farms in Hawai`i has grown substantially during the last ten years, reflecting agricultural landscape and model shifting from plantations to smaller farms with diverse cropping and marketing systems that create new local food sources and increased employment. There is also a renewed interest in planting school gardens and enabling children to eat and enjoy food grown on campus. This contributes to their school cafeteria system and teaches economic, science, and cultural lessons through an agriculture-based curriculum.”
     The bills also refer to Good Agricultural Practices regulations and programs in other countries, including Thailand, Canada and Kenya and programs of the U.S. federal government.
     According to Ruderman, Good Agricultural Practices would reduce potential for on-farm food-borne illness and include considerations and methodologies for farm sizes, practices, techniques, materials and crops.
     The idea is to keep food on organic and other small farms safe without the oversight so expensive that farms are driven out of business.
      The measure would launch training for Hawai`i farmers to learn and implement Good Agricultural Practices in a cost-effective and efficient manner, the bill states.
      Included would be voluntary verification of on-farm implementation of Good Agricultural Practices, state certification and a consumer program to teach home practices for treatment and handling of fresh and processed agricultural food products.
     Those wanting to testify on the measure from Ka`u can log into capitol.hawaii.gov and click Submit Testimony. Bill number is SB2762.
      To find legislation of issue, see capitol.hawaii.gov and type in keywords to find various proposed bills in the House and Senate.

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Mayor Billy Kenoi

DIRECT INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS to Hawai`i Island from Japan and other locales may not resume soon, according to county officials who are working on federal approvals. The direct flight from Japan ended at Kona airport in 2010 when Japan Airlines cancelled its route. Since then, the customs processing facility at the airport has been largely unmanned, and tighter security requirements by the federal government are required to reopen. According to a story by Nancy Cook Lauer in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald, “state and county officials are working with the federal government to get a five-year exemption from meeting security standards at Kona International Airport in order to reopen an international inspection facility. ...” 

      “U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently has limited staff, screening general aviation and cruise ship arrivals and some cargo shipments to the area,” the Tribune-Herald story states. “At issue is the airport’s design, featuring iconic tiki-hut style outdoor passenger holding areas that convey a Hawaiian atmosphere, but do little to address Customs’ security concerns at the airport,” Cook Lauer writes. “The airport does not meet Customs’ airport technical design standards for passenger processing facilities, said Brian Humphrey, director of field operations for Customs San Francisco office in a Dec. 24 letter to Hawai`i County Mayor Billy Kenoi. ‘Unfortunately, I cannot approve the request for a five-year exemption,’ Humphrey said in the letter, adding he’s referred the matter to Customs headquarters.”
      According to the story, Mayor Bill Kenoi “remains optimistic. He told Stephens Media Hawai`i on Monday that he met briefly last week with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who assigned the topic to an assistant secretary. He also discussed it with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat representing Hawai`i’s 2nd District, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, and other members of the congressional delegation. Kenoi was in Washington for the United States Conference of Mayors winter meeting.” The mayor also gave credit to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for working on the issue.
      See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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Geochemists gather gas samples at Halema`ma`u.
Photo from USGS/HVO

WATER HAULERS AND OCEAN VIEW RESIDENTS plan to meet at Ocean View Community center this Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss proposed fees on water trucks serving the community. 

      The fees are proposed by Ocean View Road Maintenance Corp. to help take care of the Ocean View roads where the water trucks travel to service home water storage tanks. The idea is that a $1,200-per-year fee would offset wear and tear on the roads. Some Ocean View residents argue that adding the fee would make the cost of water go up and that they already pay substantial fees to take care of the roads as landowners. The Ocean View Community Association takes a neutral stand on the issue and is hosting the meeting for better understanding of the costs of maintaining the roads and the cost of water hauling, which is necessary for many Ocean View households.

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KA`U HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS hosted Pahoa yesterday. Junior Varsity won 64 – 48, with Jovan Padrigo scoring 20 points.
      Varsity lost 56 – 66. Chance Emmsley-Ah Yee scored 15 points.
      Ka`u hosts Kealakehe Thursday for the Trojans’ last home game of the season.

JEFF SUTTON AND TAMAR ELIAS, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemists, offer an update about volcanic gases, especially those related to the 2008‐2013 activity at Halema`uma`u Crater, and talk about vog – how it forms and what they’ve learned about its effects on our island environment. An optional “gas-tasting” party follows the talk that begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline is this Friday, Jan. 31.

SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For an online, page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
      For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Jan. 27, 2014

Hezekiah Baji, Aleavah Abellera and Janslae Badua won in the Largest Aholehole division at Saturday's Keiki Fishing Tournment sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou at Punalu`u. Photo by Nalani Parlin

HAWAI`I’S LONGLINE FISHING BOATS haul in nearly 90 percent of the U.S. bigeye tuna longline catch, but that will drop ten percent under the new agreement among the 27 country members of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. The reduction in the tuna quota comes with overfishing by some member countries.

      The U.S. quota will shrink along with quotas for other member countries, even though the U.S. offers one of the best examples of enforcement of regulations to maintain the fishery and protect other marine life, government and industry officials said.

      The reduction in the quota begins next year and lasts until 2018 and will result in a minimum $10 million in lost income to the U.S. fleet, the fishing boat owners predicted.

Joe Buyuan caught the most fish at Saturday's Keiki Fishing Tournament. He also
won last year, taking over the legacy of his brother Jamal, who won many times.
Photo by June Domondon

      According to a Gary Kubota story in this morning’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Longline boats will be forced to try to make up for their reduced quota by traveling to the eastern Pacific on trips that take one to three days longer and are more costly.” Kubota also reports that Hawai`i Longline Association president Sean Martin, who was part of the U.S. delegation at Cairns where the decision was made in December, “said he was disappointed with the commission’s decision.”
      Martin told Kubota that while the commission set a limit of 204 purse seine vessels for the Western Pacific in 2008, there are now more than 300, even though the U.S. has kept its fleet to the 40 in the agreement.
      “In addition, Hawai`i’s longline fleet fish is thousands of miles away from where 90 percent of the bigeye fishing mortality occurs, which also makes us unique in terms of our impact on the stock,” Martin said.

      Brian Holman, chief executive officer of the American Tuna Boat Association based in San Diego, told Kubota that the commission’s decision supports small island nations without reducing the regional tuna catch.
      “It’s an economic decision,” Holman said. “It wasn’t based on conservation reasons.” The U.S. purse seine fishing fleet around American Samoa will also take a loss – 800 to 1,000 fewer fishing days and about $50 million annually, according to Holman’s report to Kubota.
      China agreed to a 25 percent reduction to make up for earlier promised cutbacks. Other major developed countries took a 10 percent reduction in their bigeye catch, the story reported.
      See more at www.staradvertiser.com.

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Aiz-n Gouveia and Anna Greeson placed in the Largest Hinale`a category.
Photo by Nalani Parlin

KEIKI FISHING TOURNAMENT RESULTS from Saturday's event at Punalu`u Beach Park are in. `O Ka`u Kakou sponsors the popular event each January as an opportunity to bring families and the community together. Largest Aholehole: 1)Janslae Badua 2) Aleavah Abellera 3)Hezekiah Baji; Largest Hinale`a: 1) Teani Keanu-Grace 2) Anna Greeson 3) Aiz-n Gouveia; Largest Kupipi: 1) Kahaku (TJ) Enriques 2) Chazlyn Mukini 3) Kaohinani Grace; Largest Po`opa`a: 1) Kaitlyn Alaoan 2) Lily Dacalio 3) Unknown; Largest Other: 1) Rylan Egusa (Panunui Fish) 2) Kaimana Kawaauhau-Young (Angel Fish) 3) Tenielle Jade Blanco (Hinale`a); Most Fish: Joe Buyuan (15 fish), Zachary Blanco-Louis (13 fish) and Kalino Judalina (13 fish).

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AN INCREASE IN CHINESE VISITORS to Ka`u is likely in the near future with Ka`u Coffee Mill owner Ed Olson and one of his partners in the Naniloa Hotel, Chinese entrepreneur Helen Koo, promoting the area. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is also seeing a rise in Chinese visitors and expects more as Hawai`i Island is the Chinese visitors’ second most visited island after O`ahu, according to Hawai`i Tourism Authority statistics.

Helen Koo, who founded the largest Chinese
travel company in North America, is expected
to help bolster Chinese travel to Hilo,
Volcano and Ka`u.

      Olson said this morning that he sees Koo as key in Chinese visitation to Hilo, Ka`u Coffee mill and other destinations. “She will be a real asset,” he said.
      A story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald says that ‘in the coming years, as the gateway between China and Hawai`i continues to open up, tourism experts are expecting an enormous influx of visitors.” Writer Colin M. Stewart reports Big Island Visitors Bureau executive director Ross Birch saying, “Asian markets have all seen huge increases in the last two or three years. And I think we’re going to see 100-plus percent increases year over year for China over the next couple of years.” He noted, however, that mainland and Japan visitor numbers will still dominate.
      The story reports Hawai`i Tourism Authority statistics showing that “the state brought in more than $2.7 billion from Japanese visitor expenditures in 2012, up from $2.1 billion in 2011 and $1.9 billion in 2010. By comparison, Chinese visitors accounted for just $277 million in spending last year, $178 million in 2011 and $127 million in 2010.”
      Birch told the reporter that the rise in Chinese tourism is “going to start a lot like our Japanese tourism boom. It will start with group tours. There will need to be Chinese-speaking tour coordinators with them because it’s easier to package tours with them. It may be a few more years before we start to get a lot of independent Chinese travelers. … We may get up to 50 percent of the level of the Japanese market in a short period of time. … The timeline is going to be a much shorter timeline. Instead of 20 years, it’ll be only four or five years of getting the same saturation, once they’ve gotten the green light to go.”
      Olson’s partner Koo, who also owns Nani Mau Gardens, America Asia Travel Center, Inc. and Super Vacations, which bills itself as the largest Chinese travel company in North America, told the Tribune-Herald that she invested over $8 million in East Hawai`i and sees it as a growing market. “Ninety percent of our clients are people from China,” with about 100,000 visitors through her travel agency coming to the U.S. from China. 

      Koo told the Tribune-Herald that with all of the new direct flights from China to Honolulu, including Hawaiian Airlines’ new Beijing route, “These flights will have a huge impact for us. I’m expecting my business in Hawai`i to grow by 30 percent this year.”

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The Directory 2014 is now available online.

THE KA`U DIRECTORY 2014 is available online. The 80-page Business & Community Resource Guide, sponsored by Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, includes important government and community and church phone numbers, business and nonprofit group listings and phone numbers, photos from The Ka`u Calendar newspaper, Peter Anderson and other Ka`u photographers and feature stories. Among them is the essay for the most recent Ka`u Chamber scholarship top winner and a story about the winner for the cover art of The Directory. Another feature explains the Chamber’s Ka`u Scenic Byway program. The book includes a calendar of events for this year and a calendar of weekly and daily activities in Ka`u and Volcano. Print versions will soon be distributed throughout the district. Ka`u Chamber president Dallas Decker said that this year, area organizations and businesses can join the Chamber and The Directory all year long to be included in the online version, guaranteeing a spot in the 2015 print version. 

      To be included, call Elijah Navarro at 928-6471.
      For an online, page-turning version, see http://www.kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. For a pdf version, see http://www.kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE DEADLINE TO FILL OUT KA`U HOSPITAL’S community health needs survey is this Friday, Jan. 31. There are many ways to participate: via the Internet at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX or by completing a paper survey being distributed by members of the hospital’s community advisory board. Surveys are also available at the hospital’s rural health clinic.
      The purpose of this survey is to help the hospital understand the needs and expectations of the community with respect to health services so that it can direct efforts more effectively in planning for the future. “In particular, we want to know what additional services are needed that aren’t provided now at the hospital, what we do well, what we should be doing differently and what the barriers are to getting the care you need,” said administrator Merilyn Harris.
      Those who do not wish to complete a survey but who would like to provide a comment or suggestion can contact Harris at mharris@hhsc.org.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DECADES OF DEGASSING AT KILAUEA: Wake Up and Smell the Coughing! is the title of tomorrow’s After Dark in the Park program.
      Jeff Sutton and Tamar Elias, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geochemists, offer an update about volcanic gases, especially those related to the 2008‐2013 activity at Halema`uma`u Crater, and talk about vog – how it forms and what they’ve learned about its effects on our island environment. An optional “gas-tasting” party follow the talk that begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.