Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, April 20, 2017

Visitors totaled nearly 1.9 million and spent nearly $160 million in communities close to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
in 2016. These visitors observe Kilauea summit lava lake from Jagaar Museum Observation Deck.
See story below. NPS photo

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN goes to a public Steering Committee meeting this coming Tuesday, April 25, at Na`alehu Community Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Windward Planning commission will hold a Ka`u CDP public hearing on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at the County of Hawai`i Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo.
     Following the Windward Planning Commission making recommendations, the County Council will hold Ka`u CDP public hearings and take action. With approval, Mayor Harry Kim will sign the Ka`u CDP into law and an Action Committee will be appointed to guide the Ka`u CDP implementation.

      The Draft Ka`u CDP and the Planning Director's "non-substantive revisions" are available at the site: www.kaucdep.info.
      A draft Ka`u Community Development Plan was completed in October 2015, with final recommendations from the Ka`u CDP Steering Committee following public review and comment. In early 2016, public agencies were invited to make a final review. "The April 2017 Ka`u Community Development Plan reflects those recommendations," says a statement from the County Planning Department.
      The public Steering Committee meeting next Tuesday is set to review agency comment and the Planning Director's recommendations.  The agenda and all meeting materials can be found at: http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/april-25-2017-steering-committee-meeting.  Steering Committee meetings are open to the public, and public comment on agenda items is welcome.

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VISITORS TO HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, totaling 1,887,580 in 2016, spent $159,195,500 in communities near the park, according to a report released today by the National Park Service. "That spending supported 1,917 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $199,923,400." NPS reported.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando has
seen an active volcano and visitor expenditures increase substantially
in the surrounding communities since she took the post in 2004.
Photo by Julia Neal

     “It's exciting to see the steady increase in both visitation to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, and the consistent economic benefit park visitors provide to our Hawai‘i Island community in the way of jobs, and their spending,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We noticed the increase in visitation from the start of 2016, which marked the 100th anniversary of both the National Park Service and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     "When lava from Kīlauea reached the ocean last summer, coupled with the ease of steady viewing of the summit lava lake, visitation continued to climb. We’ve seen consecutive increases in both spending and visitation at Hawai‘i Volcanoes since from 2009,” said Orlando.  

     The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the NPS. The nationwide report shows $18.4 billion of direct spending by 331 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 318,000 jobs nationally; 271,544 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $ 34.9 billion.

Visitor counts to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park have soared,
as have expenditures in nearby communities.
NPS photo by Sami Steinkamp

  According to the 2016 report, most park visitor spending was for lodging (31.2 percent) followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent), and camping fees (2.5%).

    Report authors this year produced an interactive tool. Users can explore current year visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for national, state, and local economies. Users can also view year-by-year trend data. The interactive tool and report are available at the NPS Social Science Program webpage: go.nps.gov/vse.

     The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state. To learn more about national parks in Hawai‘i and how the National Park Service works with communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide outdoor recreation, go to www.nps.gov/Hawaii.

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FEDERAL JUDGE DERRIC KAHALA WATSON received a comment from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions today, referring to Watson's recent ruling against President Donald Trump's travel ban on refugees and visitors from six Muslim minority countries. Sessions, who earlier voted in the U.S. Senate to confirm Watson to the federal bench, said today on a radio show,  “I really am amazed that a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific can issue an order that stops the President of the United States from what appears to be clearly his statutory and Constitutional power."

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions

   Hawai`i Sen. Mazie Hirono responded, "The suggestion that being from Hawai`i somehow disqualifies Judge Watson from performing his Constitutional duty is dangerous, ignorant, and prejudiced. I am frankly dumbfounded that our nation's top lawyer would attack our independent judiciary. But we shouldn't be surprised. This is just the latest in the Trump Administration's attacks against the very tenets of our Constitution and democracy." She also pointed out that Hawai`i has been a state for 58 years and tweeted, "We won't succumb to your dog whistle politics."

   Hawai`i Sen. Brian Schatz also responded to Sessions. "Mr. Attorney General, I have a message for you: You voted for that judge. That island is called O`ahu, and it's my home. Have some respect."

     Shatz predicted, "There is no doubt Trump’s supporters and Republicans from across the country will come after me for taking him and his Attorney General on, but Hawai`i is my home, and defending what’s right is always my number one priority."

Hawai`i Federal Judge
Derrick Kahala Watson

         Ain Prior, spokesperson for the Justice Department, said that "Sessions was questioning one judge's ability to block the President's executive order for the travel ban." Referring to O`ahu, Trump's Justice Department spokesperson said, "Hawai`i is, in fact, an island in the Pacific - a beautiful one where the Attorney General's granddaughter was

Hawai`i Attorney General
Doug Chin

born. The point, however, is that there is a problem when a flawed opinion by a single judge can block the President's exercise of authority to keep the entire country safe."
      Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin, who successfully brought the case against the travel ban to federal court, released a statement saying, “President Trump previously called a federal judge in California a so-called judge. Now U.S. Attorney General Sessions appears to dismiss a federal judge in Hawai`i as just a judge sitting on an island in the Pacific. Our Constitution created a separation of powers in the United States for a reason. Our federal courts, established under article III of the Constitution, are co-equal partners with Congress and the President. It is disappointing AG Sessions does not acknowledge that.”

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Soft Pastel Still Life Workshop, Sat, April 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Patti Pease Johnson offers guidance & inspiration with some handy tips. $50/$45 VAC members plus $10 supply fee. 967-8222

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, April 22, 9:30 – 11 a.m, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants explore the area’s rich geologic history. Free. nps.gov/havo

National Park Rx Day, Sun, April 23, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A growing movement prescribes parks and nature for the improvement of health. Presentations & activities include a yoga session with Danielle Makaike, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.; lomilomi and kalo, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Walk with a Doc, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply.

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, April 25, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, April 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

SEE MORE ON REP. TULSI GABBARD'S AND SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ'S RECENT TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN UPCOMING KA`U NEWS BRIEFS.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Grace Lee on Hawai`i News Now's Sunrise, On the Road program featured Ka`u Coffee and the
upcoming Ka`u Coffee Festival, with organizer Chris Manfredi, who is also President of the
Hawai`i Coffee Association. Photo from Hawai`i News Now

KA`U COFFEE AND THE UPCOMING FESTIVAL GOT A BOOST FROM HAWAI`I NEWS NOW's Grace Lee on Wednesday in its On the Road segment. Chris Manfredi, of Discovery Harbour, and President of the Hawai`i Coffee Association, talked about coffee being a major agricultural product in Hawai`i, bringing in $62 million a year. He said coffee is between the "number two and number three highest value crop in the state." 

Kopelani, a Starbucks Ka`u blend,shown off by Chris
Manfredi on Hawai`i News Now on Wednesday.
Image from Hawai`i News Now

     Concerning Ka`u Coffee, Manfredi said, "Our demand is up, our pricing is up, and our production is up - our yields are up so we have a perfect storm of success; keeps us poised and in good position to keep growing the industry."

     Ka`u Coffee, he recalled, started winning Specialty Coffee Association of America awards in 2007, ten years ago. Manfredi is attending the SCAA convention again this weekend, this time in Seattle. A number of the Ka`u farmers attended SCAA convention years ago and won numerous international awards, which helped to catapult the brand to success.

Ka`u Coffee Mill owner, and Naniloa partner Ed
Olson and friends at a Ka`u Coffee Festival.
Photo from Hawai`i News Now

     On Hawai`i News Now, Manfredi, who brokers Ka`u Coffee to Starbucks, showed off the Starbuck's Kopelani blend coffee which is part-Ka`u Coffee. He also noted that Ka`u Coffee is included in Starbuck's reserve program - Starbuck's ultra premium coffee. "Starbuck's is a great partner to work with," he said.   

     Regarding the Ninth Ka`u Coffee Festival, Manfredi, one of the organizers, talked about the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant on Saturday, May 18, the Ho`olaulea on May 28 and the Coffee College on May 29. Hawai`i News Now showed still photos of recent festivals.

      The On the Road show filmed from the rebranded Hilton Doubletree Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo as part of its Merrie Monarch coverage. The hotel, which had been purchased by Ed Olson, owner of Ka`u Coffee Mill, was recently upgraded in a partnership including Olson.   

Activities for everyone are planned throughout the Ka`u Coffee Festival
Photo from Hawai`i News Now

    Miss Ka`u Coffee contestants and reigning Queen and princesses will be in the Royal Merrie Monarch Parade this Saturday. The pageant, produced and chaired by Ka`u Coffee farmer Trini Marques, will be on Saturday, May 13 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The annual Pa`ina and Open House to kick off the remaining events will be at Pahala Plantation House on Friday, May 19.    
     Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest will be Sunday, May 21 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Ka`u Star Gazing will be Monday, May 22 at Makanau. Ka`u Mountain Water Systems Hike will be on Wednesday, and Thursday, May 24 and 25  in Wood Valley. The Ho`olaule`a will be Saturday, May 27. See more at www.kaucoffeefest.com.

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Tulsi Gabbard's most attended Town Hall meeting throughout the state was held in Hilo on Wednesday.
Photo from Big Island Video News

NORTH KOREA WAS CONGRESSWOMAN TULSIS GABBARD'S LEAD SUBJECT at her Town Hall meeting on Wednesday in Hilo. The Town Hall drew the largest attendance to date at her meetings during the current congressional break.
     She said she wanted to bring North Korea "upfront." Gabbard serves on the U.S. House of Representative's Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committee and its Asia- Pacific Subcommittee and Middle East Subcommittee. She said she has focused on the threat of North Korea since she was first sworn into Congress in January of 2013. "Even then I had recognized the increasing threat and capabilities coming from North Korea and yes, the threat that poses to the United States overall, but more specifically the threat it poses to us here in Hawai`i, given that we are the most forward point for our country in the Pacific. We are the closest in proximity to North Korea."

    She said when she took a trip to Asia with member of Congress, she found it astounding how few members of Congress were aware of the vast size of the Pacific Ocean and Hawai`i's isolation. She said that some senior members of Congress were also unaware that North Korea was nuclear armed and "has developed over the years intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities that put Hawai`i directly within range of those capabilities. And that those threats have directly been made." 

The danger of North Korea to Hawai`i and the need for more protection
was the lead subject in Tulsi Gabbard's Town Hall on Wednesday.
Photo from Big Island Video News

     Gabbard said she is focused on raising the level of awareness and pushing for defense of Hawai`i.      "Given North Korea's most recent actions, most recent escalation, I'm urging my colleagues, our Hawai`i delegation, our leadership here in the state of Hawai`i and urging all of you to help raise voices as we try to get urgent action to make sure the appropriate capabilities are in place for the defense and protection of Hawai`i, in particular. This is something that we can't afford to take lightly."

    One attendee asked, "Why did you go see President Trump and what did you speak about?" She said she was invited to meet with the President-elect at Trump Tower before he took office, "to talk about Syria, ending the counterproductive regime change war that Congress and you the American people have not authorized or declared." She asked, "What are the costs to our country, to our military, to our taxpayer dollars, of something called a no-fly zone or safe zone?" She asked the crowd at her Town Hall meeting to think about "the consequences of these actions, both intended and unintended."

     Gabbard said that her goal in meeting with Trump "was to try to provide some influence and some insight on my strong views on these issues and why they're so important for us here at home, in the hopes of basically trying to get to him before the neocon war hawks who were beating their war drums were able to exercise their influence over him. Unfortunately, as we've seen over the last ten days or so, I think they were successful. I've been very outspoken in criticizing and calling out his missile strike against Syria as being reckless and careless and an escalation of this regime change war in Syria and one that Congress has not authorized."

Gabbard urged Haai`i people to care about what happens in the
Middle East and how the expense impacts funding for
education and many other services.
Photo from Big Island Video News

    She said she has been asked why people in Hawai`i should care about wars, like those in Syria. She said Iraq, Libya and now Syria cost trillions of dollars and have a direct connection locally to lack of funding for education, infrastructure, protecting the environment, improving health care and caring for the homeless. "You can not separate these two issues."
     She pointed to regime change wars, "wars that have cost hundreds of thousands of people their lives, wars that have created millions of refugees, and wars that have ultimately resulted in strengthening terrorist groups like Alqaeda and Isis."

     "It's critical for each of us to understand the connection, to understand that we cannot afford to be the world's police. That even with the best of intentions.... our actions have resulted in more human suffering, not less. Our actions have resulted in more destruction, not less. And this is why it is important for us to stand up now especially at a time in both political parties, and when people in the media are applauding this President for launching this illegal attack against Syria. This is when our voices are critical to stand up and say, 'No.' This is where the power base lies in your voices, and I ask you to stand with me making sure that we don't turn a blind eye to this illegal escalation."

     See more on Gabbard's Town Hall in the Thursday Ka`u News Briefs.

Youth Conservation Corps for Pu`unonua O Honaunau
sing-ups are open. Photo from NPS

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YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS sign-ups are open for Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historic Park. YCC provides gainful employment and an educational experience in the conservation of natural and historical heritage. YCC workers will participate in conservation and preservation related projects park-wide and work with all park divisions.
     This year’s YCC program will run for seven weeks from June 5 – July 21. Applicants for YCC crew member positions must be between the ages of 15 and 18. During the term of employment from June 5 – July 21, applicants must be at least 15 years of age and not reached the age of 19. Enrollees work 40 hours per week and earn $9.25/hr. Applications must be submitted by May 19and may be obtained at the park. For information call Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau at 328-2326. Felipe Galieto 808-328-2326 Ext 1314

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Special Merrie Monarch Festival Event, Thu, April 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Practitioners share lei making, haku hulu, ‘ohe kāpala and kuku kapa. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning composer, singer and musician Kenneth Makuakāne performs. Free; park entrance fees apply.

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Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, April 18, 2017

New solar systems , like this one in Ranchos, can once again generate income to homeowners who will be 
able to sell extra power to HELCO, but applications will be closed once the system reaches capacity again.
See story below.  Photo by Ann Bosted

TWENTY ONE IN JANUARY, ELEVEN IN FEBRUARY, THREE IN MARCH – that is the police record for the number of burglaries reported in Ocean View. The precipitous drop is directly attributable to the mid-February crack-down on crime in Ocean View.

Ka`u's Community Policing Officer Aron Tomota
Photo by Ann Bosted

     Ocean View’s recently appointed Community Policing Officer, Aron Tomota, explained to The Ka’u Calendar how the alarming increase in crime in Ocean View was dramatically halted.
     “Twenty-one burglaries in Ocean View in January spelled out “C-R-I-S-I-S” in Ka’u,” he said. “We were looking at a third of the burglaries for the whole island happening in one town of about 6,500 people. It was off the scale! We decided a crack-down was needed, and soon.

     “On February 10, with a lot of assistance, a task force was formed focusing on the area. Kona Police officers came to Ka’u to help with the crack down, including help from community policing, traffic enforcement, criminal intelligence and some vice officers. Detective Pernell Hanoa was particularly helpful. Major Robert Wagner oversaw the operations and was instrumental in developing the action plan. 

     “I made a list of 25 ‘people of interest,’ who, we felt, could have been responsible for much of the crime wave, or perhaps associated with known criminals. We talked to people in the community and found out with whom these people were associating, where they liked to go and more about their MO (modus operandi). We found trends and could link suspects to burglaries by how the illegal entry was made, what was taken and background information.”
     Tomota explained why the task force was effective. “Our main objective was to show a strong police presence. Of the 25 'people of interest,'  I estimate that we contacted about 75 percent. We would stop anybody that was walking suspiciously, hanging out or driving. A contact could include being cited, arrested for cause, questioned or pulled over, according to the circumstances of the contact. We call it ‘pro-active’ patrolling, as opposed to ‘reactive’ where we wait for the crime and then react”, he explained. “We also stopped and talked to residents, who were more than willing to share their information with us.” 

     Meanwhile, Ocean View residents noticed the increase in police activity, and attendance at the Neighborhood Watch meetings increased.
     “Captain Quiocho was appointed head of the Ka’u District police, on March 1, and he made a huge difference at Neighborhood Watch meetings. We usually get about six people. At the last meeting we had 34 show up. Instead of reading off a long list of crimes, which was a bit boring, Captain Quiocho now has all that information posted to a web site on a weekly basis. This is controlled by Neighborhood Watch residents. They guardedly share it among themselves. They have to be careful that a potential criminal is not given the information.     

Most officers drive their own vehicles. This is a patrol car 

issued to the Ka`u District. Photo by Ann Bosted

     “Neighborhood Watch members should get a lot of credit for helping us reduce the town’s burglaries by actively helping police with important information,” said Tomota. “We could not have done the crack-down alone.”
     Tomota, who has been a Police Officer for eight years, is determined to not sit back. “We can still do better. We can reduce three burglaries a month to two or one or none. And when we get to none, we have to keep it there,” he added.
     Tomota lives in Kona with his wife and two daughters, aged five and two. He was born and raised in California, and moved to Hawai’i after graduating high school in 2005.
      Asked why he wanted to be a police officer, Tomota said that he always wanted to, adding: “I love every minute of it. I’m never bored. Every case is different. I like to feel out people so I know who I’m dealing with. I feel that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. I can say that since I have come to Ka’u, I see the patrol officers putting forth their best efforts. I urge the community to continue to work with us in making Ocean View even more crime-free.”
     Tomota said that the Hawai`i Police Department plans to extend community outreach efforts in Ka`u with a new social gathering called Coffee with a Cop in Na’alehu, though this is still in the planning stage. 

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SELLING POWER TO HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. is a possibility once again for new installers of solar power at their homes. More than two megawatts of space are now available on HELCO’s grid for new rooftop solar systems. This means that homeowners who want to be able to install solar and sell their excess power to HELCO can do so until that capacity is taken. The space was recently opened up for Customer Grid Supply systems because homeowners, who had been approved for rooftop solar more than 18 months ago, never followed through.

Selling back to HELCO through the solar grid will once again be
available in Pahala and other neighborhoods.
Photo by Julia Neal

Emily Ebert, General Manager of ProVision
Solar in Hilo, explains the new sell-back
program for solar.

      The move comes after the state Public Utilities Commission ruled in December 2016 that the solar industry could bring on more customers for the previously closed Customer Grid System program, which credits customers for the energy their solar systems export into the grid. In March, the PUC clarified the ruling, which opened up more capacity, or space on the grid for new solar customers. At that time, the PUC ruled that signing up for the Customer Grid program would end on Oct. 21, 2017.
     Prior to the PUC announcement, the only new solar program offered to homeowners by HELCO was the Customer Self Supply program, without the opportunity for the owner to sell excess power to HELCO’s grid. Typically, the Self Supply program involves an owner adding battery storage to hold excess energy generated by the solar panels.
     Emily Ebert, General Manager of ProVision Solar in Hilo, explained that 3.46 megawatts of capacity were transferred from the Net Energy Metering program to the Customer Grid program, but only two megawatts of capacity remains. This program allows Big Island households to reduce their monthly HELCO bill, without needing battery storage, because it credits homeowners for excess power sent to the grid.
     Ebert told The Ka’u Calendar the backstory. “In October of 2015 an order from the PUC ended the popular Net Energy Metering program which had been in place since 2001. Nearly 70,000 customers have installed Net Energy Metering systems in the state, more than 11,000 of them on the Big Island. The Net Energy Metering program allowed for full retail credit for energy exported to the grid. It was replaced with two substitute programs; Customer Grid System and Customer Self Supply.

     “Customer Grid System was by far the more popular program as it allows homeowners to be compensated for energy sent to the grid,” said Ebert. This means that householders are charged about 30 cents per kWh for power supplied by HELCO, but are credited 15.14c per kWh for excess power from their solar systems.
     “Space for this program was limited to 5 MW on the HELCO grid,” elaborated Ebert. “This cap was reached in August of 2016 but HELCO continued to take applications. These applications, along with the ones that are currently being submitted, were allowed to begin to process due to the PUC orders in December of 2016 and March.
     “The PUC ordered that the capacity for Net Energy Metering systems that had been reserved but never installed, or were cancelled due to their deadline expiring, was to be transferred to the Customer Grid Supply program.”

     Ebert calls the applications that were approved for the desirable Net Energy Metering program and placed in a “queue,” but never installed “dead wood.”

     “This NEM dead wood will in the coming months all be cleared out of HELCO’s queue. So it is likely that a little more space will be transferred to CGS,” she added. Asked how Ka’u residents can benefit from this extra capacity, Ebert replied: “You must apply with HELCO to reserve your spot on the grid. Once the space fills up, it will be closed to new customers and CSS will be the only program left - unless the PUC announces another program in the meantime.”
     “One way or the other, the PUC has made clear that CGS will come to a close in October,” said Ebert. The two megawatts that have been made available on the Big Island means that the gates are once again open. The additional capacity is likely to fuel another spate of rooftop solar applications from householders and business owners who procrastinated in applying to go solar, and then missed the boat. 

     Asked about the future of the CSS program, Ebert replied that this option was less desirable as it required a battery to be installed and does not allow for the solar system to export energy to the grid.
“CSS is not a bad program by any means, it’s just different and a transition that will take some getting used to. A good solar contractor will do the due diligence necessary and listen to the customers to find out which available program is best for their situation. Adding a battery with the CGS program may be in the best interest of certain customers to further reduce their future utility bill, and to be able to have backup stored power for when the grid goes down.
     “People considering a solar electric system tied to the HELCO grid would be encouraged to talk to a solar professional soon to find out what their options are. New battery options are rolling out that make these systems more affordable. Solar remains one of the best investments that a homeowner or business owner can make,” said Ebert.
     Asked why space on the grid is alternately available and not available, Ebert explained:  “The utility companies have worked very hard to allow more and more solar to continue to tie into their grids. Over the past many years, certain areas would fill up and not allow more solar, and then the utility would engineer new ways to allow more solar capacity to come online. That being said, there are certainly limitations to a finite electric grid and some areas are just too saturated to accept more exported energy. 

     “Grid tied solar cannot continue to be connected at the pace it has been or in the way that it has been.
     “There will be more changes coming, and we continue to evolve as an industry. Our state is the first in the nation to see solar grid capacity like this and other states and utility companies will be watching Hawaii closely to see how we are able to address these issues,” added Ebert.

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KA`U REGIONAL GYM in Pahala hosts Ka`u Trojans Boys Volleyball Senior Night tonight, Tuesday at 6 p.m., with JV and varsity competition. First match starts at 6 p.m. Public is invited.

HULA CLASSES with  Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder are each Wednesday at Pahala Community Center. Class for keiki begins at 5:30 p.m., beginning adults at 6:30 p.m. and advanced adults at 7:30 p.m. All classes are free and under the auspices of Halau Hula O Leionalani.

Special Merrie Monarch Festival Event, Wed, April 19, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Practitioners share lei making, pala‘ie & kāpala mea ulu. The Young Brothers perform local melodies. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Kai Ho‘opi‘i in Concert, Wed, April 19, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The Aloha Festival Hawaiian falsetto contest winner shares traditions and music of his ‘ohana. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Special Merrie Monarch Festival Event, Thu, April 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Practitioners share lei making, haku hulu, ‘ohe kāpala and kuku kapa. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning composer, singer and musician Kenneth Makuakāne performs. Free; park entrance fees apply.

 

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