Ka‘ū News Briefs Saturday, December 9, 2017

Eddie Andrade and his family and friends have produced the Pāhala Christmas Parade for 39 years. This year's event is
Sunday at 1 p.m. through the town to the hospital and on to the Holy Rosary Church on Pikake Street
for a community celebration. Photo by Julia Neal

THE NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND SELF DETERMINATION ACT was introduced for reauthorization in the U.S. House of Representatives this week and has also been introduced to the U.S. Senate.

The late Tommy Kaniho advocated for decades for
funding for water for Hawaiian Homesteaders at
South Point. Photo from Hawai‘i
Beef Industry Council

     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said the measure has empowered more than 1,400 Hawaiian families over the past two decades, along with native communities across the country. “Reauthorizing NAHASDA is critical to fulfill our nation’s trust responsibility to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Safe, secure, and affordable housing is essential to the wellbeing of our country’s native people which leads to better health, education, and economic outcomes that strengthen native communities," she said. 

     "In Hawaiʻi, almost 30 percent of the homeless population is comprised of Native Hawaiians—a statistic that is far too high in the most prosperous country in the world."
     NAHASDA was first established in 1996, consolidating separate assistance programs provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development into a single block grant program. In 2000, NAHASDA was amended to add Title VIII – Housing Assistance for Native Hawaiians. The amendment adds similar programs for Native Hawaiians who reside on Hawaiian Home Lands to the NAHASDA legislation. 
     In Hawaiʻi, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is the sole recipient of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant as provided for by the law. DHHL administers 203,000 acres of trust land; 99 percent of those lands are located in Hawai‘i’s Second Congressional District: from the southernmost tip of Hawai‘i Island to Kauaʻi and Niʻihau; it includes every Hawaiian Island, but excludes urban Honolulu.

     DHHL is working on a plan to manage its land in South Point, its houselots at Discovery Harbour and other land that could be used for homesteads above Punalu‘u and also in Wai‘ōhinu. DHHL is also planning to improve water delivery to homesteaders as proposed for many years by the late Tommy Kaniho, a native Hawaiian rancher. Read the DHHL Ka‘ū Regional Plan.

Hawaiian Home Lands in Ka‘ū are colored reddish in this map
from Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

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THE UNITY REFORM COMMISSION came up with Democratic Party reform proposals this weekend in Washington, D.C. They are aimed at helping revamp Democratic Party procedures for nominating candidates for President of the United States. The 21 member commission was set up last year at the Democratic National Convention. Commissioners were selected by Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez.
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said she supports the effort, following her own decision to quit the position of Vice President of the Democratic National Committee during last year's campaign.
     On Saturday, the commission voted to recommend that Democratic Party super delegates be cut by 400 - reducing their number of unpledged delegates by 60 percent. Super delegates are those delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are not required to vote for the candidates selected by the community they represent. Not only will the majority of them be eliminated, those remaining would be required to tie their votes to election results. Another suggestion is calling for automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration. The commission also wants caucus states to report raw votes.

      The recommendations go to the subcommittee of the Democratic National Committee on rules and bylaws. If approved, it would go to the 447-members voting at the Democratic National Convention late next year and require a vote of two-thirds for adoption.
     Gabbard has called for open primaries and caucuses, same-day registration, and elimination of all super delegates. She also called for "DNC leadership that is transparent, fair, and accountable."
      She supported Bernie Sander for President and issued a statement this week saying, "The grassroots energy and organizing that fueled Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign started a movement, bringing the American people together around ending our costly failed regime change wars overseas, implementing a $15 minimum wage and Medicare and College for All, protecting our water and environment, and investing in clean, sustainable energy.

     "The American people are also in agreement, across party lines and ideologies, that the backroom dealing and pay-to-play politics of our time are simply unacceptable. We must eliminate the undemocratic system of super delegates and commit to open or same-day registration for primaries and caucuses to put our democracy back in the hands of the people."

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ENROLLMENT  FOR THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PLAN ends on Friday, Dec. 15.  See healthcare.gov for 2018 plans and prices before renewing or signing up for the first time, says the federal government website.
       Under federal law, anyone who doesn’t have coverage through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Plan, or other qualifying coverage must pay a fee. Also called Obamacare, the coverage under the Affordable Health Act is designed to reduce the number of people without health insurance.

     The website, operated by the Department of Health and Human Services, offers easy calculators to see what kind of coverage in Hawai‘i is available at what cost and also whether Medicaid, CHIP or Medicare would be the appropriate coverage.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Escape from a California wildfire is detailed by a supporter of
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's OFF Fossil Fuel Act.
Photo from Food & Water Watch

THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES that have destroyed more than 800 structures and caused more than 200,000 residents to evacuate their homes have prompted the Hawai‘i congressional delegation to push the climate change agenda. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard tweeted: "Thinking of everyone affected by the #CaliforniaWildfires. We must move #OffFossilFuels with the OFF Act before climate change becomes any worse." She retweeted the experience of one of the OFF Act supporters who fled from his California home:

     Thomas Romales Rebecchi, who works with Food & Water Watch, wrote that he envisions that longer, more aggressive fire seasons, "fueled by climate change, will only worsen as we continue to burn fossil fuels. This is the new normal. This is how I experienced it firsthand:

Thomas Romales Rebecchi gives a blow by blow
account of his family's escape from wildfire and promises
to rededicate himself to climate change issues
with Food & Water Watch.

     "8 p.m. - After a long Ventura City Council meeting, where I was urging members to vote to join an important renewable energy program, I left to find that the winter super moon was eerily red. Friends told me a brush fire had started a few hours earlier in Santa Paula, a rural city 20 miles away.
     "8:15 p.m. - As I returned home, my wife and I became concerned that the smoke might affect our three-month-old daughter, but were still unaware of the imminent danger that lurked.
     "9 p.m. - After a long day, I headed to our local taco shop for a meal. Suddenly, the wind picked up to almost 40 miles per hour and it began to rain ash and smell like fire everywhere. I huddled in the tiny taco shop with five other patrons as the Santa Ana winds overturned tablecloths and umbrellas outside.
     "9:30 p.m. - My wife and I decided to head to a hotel to protect the baby from the smoke. Just then, the power went out. We quickly learned that nearby hotels in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara had also lost power.
     "9:50 p.m. - We got a hotel room in Solvang, about 70 miles north. As we gathered a few mementos and a day’s worth of clothing, we wondered if, as new parents, we were being overly cautious. Nearby friends were headed to bed. But we decided play it safe and go.
     "We could see flames destroying historical landmarks and parks, including the one where we hosted our baby shower just a few months earlier. Flames headed toward homes. Just then it hit us: Would we have a home to return to? Would our neighbors escape unharmed? I realized then that I had everything that was truly important to me in the car at that moment."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard ties increase in wildfire destruction to climate change
and promotes her OFF Fossil Fuels Act. Photo from Food & Water Watch

   "10:45 p.m. - As we were trying pack the car in the midst of heavy smoke and ash, a neighbor came by to check on us. He pointed towards the hillside which had suddenly ignited into a roaring fire coming towards our neighborhood. We left immediately, as the dark streets filled with stunned and frantic neighbors. I drove toward the freeway, as my wife began calling friends to alert them to the imminent danger. There were still no official alerts as we entered the freeway.

      While their house survived, Rebecchi wrote that he will "redouble efforts to support local and federal bills to transition the country to clean, renewable energy. The OFF Fossil Fuel Act, introduced by Hawai‘i Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, is at once visionary and more urgent than ever. It would halt all new oil and gas projects and set the country on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. Some claim those goals are unrealistic. I know that they are achievable —and desperately necessary—if we wish to prevent the loss of countless more homes and lives." See more at foodandwaterwatch.org.

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KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Girls Basketball: Monday, Dec. 11, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.
    Wednesday, Dec. 13, @ Kea‘au.
     Saturday, Dec. 16, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Tuesday, Dec. 12, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Saturday, Dec. 16, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Tuesday, Dec. 19, Hilo @ Ka‘ū.

Swimming: Saturday, Dec. 23, @ Hilo.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE starts at 1 p.m. at Pāhala Armory and ends at Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, Dec. 10. Contact Andrade family at 928-0808 to participate or for more details, no entry fees.

SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. All attendees must be current Friends Member, become a new member by registering online at fhvnp.org. For more, email admin@fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.

SUNDAY CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER is a new educational service provided at Ocean View Community Center. The federally funded activity is free from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday and is run by Rodney DuCossin.

Thomas A. Jaggar comes to life during A Walk in
the Past on Tuesday.

LEARN ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF ‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. The guided hike takes place Sunday, Dec. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/havo.

A MĀLAMA MARKET TOWN HALL MEETING is Monday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

SIGN-UP KEIKI BY MONDAY, DEC. 11, for a guided hike exploring wind patterns and a Hawaiian kite workshop at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's Kahuku ‘Ohana Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. The event is geared towards kids 17 years old and under and their families. To participate or for more details, call 808-929-8075 or email Ranger Leilani at leilani_rodrigues@nps.gov. Bring water, lunch, sunscreen, ball cap, long pants, and shoes. Kahuku is located between the 70 and 71 mil markers. The program is co-sponsored by Hawaii‘i Pacific Parks Association. There is no charge to participate.

A WALK IN THE PAST on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. begins at Kīlauea  Visitor Center. It features a living history presenter, dressed in period costume and bringing back to life Thomas A. Jaggar, founder of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and a prominent figure in the history of volcanology, the study of volcanoes.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR/NĀ‘ĀLEHU COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. The public is invited to come see what C.E.R.T. is about as well as participate in training scenarios. For more, contact Dina Shisler by emailing dinashisler24@yahoo.com or calling 410-935-8087.

Dr. Peter Vitousek talks about agriculture in pre-contact Hawai‘i and
Pacific Societies at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday.

PACIFIC ISLANDS AS MODELS FOR CULTURE, AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY is the After Dark in the Park talk this Tuesday, Dec. 12,  at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
     Dr. Peter Peter Vitousek explains how innovative agricultural systems of pre-contact Hawai‘i connect to Pacific societies in the past, present and future and how Hawai‘i and other Polynesian islands are used as models for living more sustainably. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, Dec. 12, for a Hanging Santa Craft Class that takes place Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

PĀHALA SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT PUBLIC MEETINGS will be held by the Department of Environmental Management on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 12, 13 and 14. The county and its consultants are expected to discuss the proposed site, the type of sewage treatment plant, costs to the community and a timeline. The meetings are set for:

     Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka‘ū District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
     Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
     Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
     Thursday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Ka‘ū District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
     Thursday, Dec. 14, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
     For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com, Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339, or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300.
     The consultants sent out stamped return post cards to those homeowners currently on the old Brewer sewage system in order for them to R.S.V.P. Separate meetings will be planned for the Nā‘ālehu Wastewater Treatment Plant plan.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

REGISTER KEIKI, AGES 6-12, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for a Holiday Collage Wreath Class that takes place Friday, Dec. 15, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park (H.O.V.E.). For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

Ka‘ohu Monfort will share Lā‘au Lapa‘au at Kīlauea Visitor Center.
NPS photo by Steinkamp

THE DENTAL VAN COMES TO ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH to serve the community on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Call 939-7000 or visit St. Jude's at 92-8606 Paradise Circle, Ocean View.

HAWAIIAN HERBAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER KA‘OHU MONFORT demonstrates the power of local plants to nourish and heal on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program, Lā‘au Lapa‘au, takes place on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See and touch a variety of traditional medicinal plants. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more visit nps.gov/HAVO.

JOIN AUNTIE LINDA OF TŪTŪ & ME FOR STORY TIME at Nā‘ālehu Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For more details, call 929-857.

THE MEDICAL VAN SERVES THE COMMUNITY at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 939-7000 or visit St. Jude's at 92-8606 Paradise Circle, Ocean View.

"A GILBERT & SULLIVAN CHRISTMAS CAROL," a Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network musical production, is presented Thursday, Dec. 14, through Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 per senior/student, and $12 per child. For more information call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Park entrance fees apply.

HULA & OLI WITH KAHO‘OKELE CRABBE is the feature of Aloha Friday on Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Learn the basics of hula, Hawaiian language and chant. For more visit volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-7565.

‘IKE HANA NO‘EAU (Experience the Skillful Work), a free Hawaiian cultural demonstration is offered Friday, Dec. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, December 8, 2017

HO‘ŌPŪLOA VILLAGE next to Miloli‘i was wiped out by a Mauna Loa lava flow in 1926. This shows the
village April 16, one day before it was covered. The 'a'ā flow advancing to Ho'ōpūloa is a reminder of why
 Island of Hawaiʻi residents should be aware of hazards posed by the volcanoes. This flow was fed by eruptive
vents that opened high on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zonethree days earlier. It was 1,500 feet wide and about 
30 feet high in this aerial photo but the 'a'ā flow continued to widen and thicken as it pushed through the village 
to the ocean on the morning of April 18. See story below. Photo courtesy of Army Air Corps, 11th Photo Section

RAPID ‘ŌHI‘A DEATH is one of the main topics of the latest Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Foundation newsletter. The disease is decimating the primary species of trees in the native forests of the islands. The newsletter reports:

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, a natural resource important to

native species and maintaing freshwater sources.

Photo from Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance

     ▪ There are confirmed cases of ROD in the following locations: east from Kalapana to Hilo, between Hilo and Volcano, south from Volcano to Nāʻālehu and Nāʻālehu to Kona, as far north as Kaloko Mauka.
     ▪ Humans are thought to be a main vector because we move infected wood, contaminated tools, gear and vehicles from one location to another.
     ▪ Other potential vectors include feral ungulates and beetles. Recent research has identified a particular species of non-native ambrosia beetle that is especially attracted to infected dead and dying ʻōhiʻa trees.
     ▪ The primary path for Ceratocystis to enter ʻōhiʻa plants is through a wound.
     ▪ About 75,000 acres of ʻōhiʻa forest currently show symptoms of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death disease on Hawaiʻi Island.

     See more at hawaiiconservtionalliance.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAWAI‘I YOUTH SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE applications are now open to students from grades six through twelve. They can apply for funding to support innovative and grassroots environmental initiatives that will create new and sustainable solutions for their schools and communities. Applications are available online. The deadline to apply is Friday, Dec. 15.

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AWARENESS OF LIVING ON ONE OF THE TWO MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES on the planet is the purpose of Volcano Awareness Month, coming up in January, with a presentation on Jan. 17 at Ocean View Community Center. This week's Volcano Watch by USGS scientists tells the story:
     With the hustle and bustle of the holidays upon us, Island of Hawaiʻi residents are likely giving little thought to the volcanic terrain beneath their feet. And that's alright—for now. But with two of the world's most active volcanoes—one erupting nearly non-stop for more than three decades (Kīlauea) and the other stirring for over two years (Mauna Loa)—volcano awareness should never be far from our minds. So, as you ring in the New Year, we hope you'll add "learn more about my volcanic home" to your list of resolutions.

 A huge wall of ‘a‘ā crashes into the ocean at Ho‘ōpūloa in 1926.

    You can begin fulfilling that resolution in January 2018—Hawaiʻi Island's 9th annual Volcano Awareness Month.
    Just as we have since 2010, when Volcano Awareness Month was established by mayoral proclamation, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists will offer a series of programs in January to help keep residents and visitors informed about Hawaiian volcanoes. All programs are open to the public, and no reservations are required.
     Four talks will be presented in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, with weekly After Dark in the Park programs held at 7:00 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium. The first talk, on January 9, provides a brief review of the early history of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing East Rift Zone eruption followed by an in-depth look at lava flow activity during the past year.
    The next After Dark in the Park program, on January 16, features a presentation on Kīlauea Volcano's current summit eruption, including a recently released USGS video that recounts the formation and growth of the summit vent and lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu. The following two programs address the surprising discoveries gleaned from the collection of volcanic ash produced by Kīlauea's summit lava lake and the volcanic geology along Hawaiʻi Island's Saddle Road, on January 23 and January 30, respectively.

1955 lava flow, from film taken by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

     Hilo's Lyman Museum will also promote volcano awareness in January. On the evening of January 8, and again on the afternoon of January 9, the museum will host an HVO talk about Kīlauea Volcano's 1955 East Rift Zone eruption. During this 88-day-long eruption, lava from at least 24 different vents buried sections of every public road in the lower Puna district, impacting communities from Kalapana to Kapoho—reminders of why island residents need to understand how Hawaiian volcanoes work and the hazards associated with them.
     Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth, will also be the topic of conversation during three Volcano Awareness Month programs. But instead of a single speaker talking to a seated audience, the format of these events will be community "open houses."
    Promoted as Mauna Loa: Let's Talk Story, these open houses are a collaborative effort of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Staff from each of these agencies will set up informative displays that answer frequently asked questions about Mauna Loa and will be on hand to answer any additional questions from the public.

A cinder cone on Mauna Loa. Photo by Brocken Inaglory

     Island residents and visitors are invited to stop by the open houses to learn more about Mauna Loa and 'talk story' with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. The events will be held on the UH-Hilo campus on January 13 (12:00 – 3 p.m.), in the Ocean View Community Center on January 17 (6:00 p.m.), and in the Konawa‘ena Elementary School cafeteria on January 27 (12:00 – 3 p.m.).
     Details, including the dates, times, location maps, and descriptions of all 2018 Volcano Awareness Month programs are posted on HVO's website (volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/). You can also email askHVO@usgs.gov or call (808) 967-8844 for more information.
   Whether you're a long-time resident or a recent arrival on the Island of Hawaiʻi, January will be a good time to enhance your knowledge of Hawaiian volcanoes. Understanding the eruptive histories, current status, and associated hazards of our island's active volcanoes, and knowing how to stay safe during an eruption are essential to living in harmony with our volcanic environment.
    Please join us in January to learn more about Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, and to meet some of the HVO scientists who monitor and study them, as well as our partner agency colleagues. Until then, we wish you safe and happy holidays!

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KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Soccer: Saturday, Dec. 9, Makua Lani @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Dec. 9, Maui Tournament.

Swimming: Saturday, Dec. 9 @ Konawaena.

Girls Basketball: Monday, Dec. 11, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A PRE-CHRISTMAS JAZZ IN THE FOREST has been announced. It will come to Volcano Art Center campus on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. New arrangements of traditional carols will be presented in Latin, Swing, Bossa, Gospel, Salsa, along with romantic and operatic versions by Jeannine and The Jazztones. The group consists of Jeannine Guillory, Jean Pierre Thoma on saxes and flute, Loren Wilken on piano, Matt Spencer on bass and Steve Bader on drums.
     The dance floor will be open to move and swing. Food and drink will be available.

DISCOVERY HARBOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has announced a Holiday Event to take place Saturday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576, or visit discoveryharbour.net.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE ANNUAL MEETING IS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Association. For more, call 929-9910.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, call 939-7033.

ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW HOSTS ITS KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their lower parking lot. Each child receives two books at Rudolph’s Reading Room, a stocking from Santa, and a cookie and punch from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. All are welcome. For more, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.

SOFT PASTEL STILL LIFE WITH PATTI PEASE JOHNSON class is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. Instruction and materials provided. Beginners to intermediate artists welcome. $50 per non-member, $45 per VAC member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

EXPLORE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF KAHUKU on a easy-to-moderate guided hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, displaying volcano features and formations in Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, titled Birth of Kahuku, also offers hikers the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. It will also take place on Dec. 30.

AIKIDO IS OFFERED AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER again Saturday, Dec. 9. Classes are every Saturday at 10 a.m. Sensei Alan Moores launched the Ocean View classes, accompanied by members of Pāhala Dojo. For more information call 808-925-9677.

ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE starts at 1 p.m. at Pāhala Armory and ends at Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, Dec. 10. Contact Andrade family at 928-0808 to participate or for more details, no entry fees.

SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. All attendees must be current Friends Member, become a new member by registering online at fhvnp.org. For more, email admin@fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.

SUNDAY CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER is a new educational service provided at Ocean View Community Center. The federally funded activity is free from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday and is run by Rodney DuCossin.

LEARN ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF ‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. The guided hike takes place Sunday, Dec. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/havo.

A MĀLAMA MARKET TOWN HALL MEETING is Monday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

PACIFIC ISLANDS AS MODELS FOR CULTURE, AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY is the After Dark in the Park talk that has been announced for Tuesday, Dec. 12, starting at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn how the innovative agricultural systems of pre-contact Hawai‘i connect to Pacific societies in the past, present and future and how Hawai‘i and other Polynesian islands are used as models for living more sustainably. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

Holy Rosary Church participates and hosts the refreshments
after the Pāhala Christmas Parade this Saturday.
Photo by Julia Neal

DISCOVERY HARBOUR/
NĀ‘ĀLEHU COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. The public is invited to come see what C.E.R.T. is about as well as participate in training scenarios. For more, contact Dina Shisler by emailing dinashisler24@yahoo.com or calling 410-935-8087.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, Dec. 12, for a Hanging Santa Craft Class that takes place Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

PĀHALA SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT PUBLIC MEETINGS will be held by the Department of Environmental Management on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 12, 13 and 14. The county and its consultants are expected to discuss the proposed site, the type of sewage treatment plant, costs to the community and a timeline. The meetings are set for:

     Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ka‘ū District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
     Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
     Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center;
     Thursday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Ka‘ū District Gym Multipurpose Conference Room;
     Thursday, Dec. 14, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center.
     For more information, contact Berna Cabacungan of Earthplan at eplan1@aol.com, Department of Environmental Management at 961-8339, or Iris Cober at the Brown and Caldwell Maui office at 808-442-3300.
     The consultants sent out stamped return post cards to those homeowners currently on the old Brewer sewage system in order for them to R.S.V.P. Separate meetings will be planned for the Nā‘ālehu Wastewater Treatment Plant plan.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

REGISTER KEIKI, AGES 6-12, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for a Holiday Collage Wreath Class that takes place Friday, Dec. 15, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park (H.O.V.E.). For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

THE DENTAL VAN COMES TO ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH to serve the community on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Call 939-7000 or visit St. Jude's at 92-8606 Paradise Circle, Ocean View.

HAWAIIAN HERBAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER KA‘OHU MONFORT demonstrates the power of local plants to nourish and heal on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program, Lā‘au Lapa‘au, takes place on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See and touch a variety of traditional medicinal plants. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more visit nps.gov/HAVO.

JOIN AUNTIE LINDA OF TŪTŪ & ME FOR STORY TIME at Nā‘ālehu Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. For more details, call 929-857.

THE MEDICAL VAN SERVES THE COMMUNITY at St. Jude's Episcopal Church on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers are needed. Call 939-7000 or visit St. Jude's at 92-8606 Paradise Circle, Ocean View.

A GILBERT & SULLIVAN CHRISTMAS CAROL, a Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network musical production, is presented Thursday, Dec. 14, through Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 per senior/student, and $12 per child. For more information call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Park entrance fees apply.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs Thursday, December 7, 2017

Tickets are still available for A Gilbert & Sullivan's Christmas Carol, Dec. 14 - 17 at
KMC's Kīlauea Theater. Cast members joined the Hilo Christmas Parade last weekend.
Photo from KDEN

       

FLAGS ARE  HALF STAFF ON THURSDAY, DEC. 7, for National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Both the United States flag and the Hawai‘i state flag are flown half-staff at the State Capitol and at all state offices and agencies as well as the Hawai‘i National Guard throughout the Hawaiian Islands until sunset.

After Pearl Harbor, Iwao Yonemitsu and
Toku Nakano signed up.
Photo by Julia Neal

       During the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on O`ahu, 20 Navy Vessels, more than 300 planes and more than 2,400 lives were lost. In Ka‘ū, young men, such as Iwao Yonemitsu and the late Toku Nakano decided to join the U.S. military to show their patriotism as Japanese Americans. Two others signing up from Hawai`i, Daniel Inouye and Dan Akaka, later became U.S. Senators.
     Japanese American women also stepped up in community responsibilities when Japanese American men were either interred by the U.S. government or joined the U.S. military. Shigeo Kikuchi, wife of the Rev. Chikyoku Kikuchi, became responsible for the Buddhist Temple in Na`alehu when he was interred. "She often interacted with military authorities and worked to protect the community from harassment. In the absence of a priest, she organized farewell services for Nisei soldiers," reports the book Asian American Religious Cultures. She distributed Nenju (prayer beads) and told the young Japanese Americans going off to fight for the U.S.: "When you are lonely or when you're in trouble, repeat "Nama Amida Butsu.'" She later wrote Memoirs of a Buddhist Woman Missionary in Hawai`i.
     In Volcano, Kīlauea Military Camp  became an internment camp for Japanese Americans and was the site of a recent dedication of a Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park interpretive display and program acknowledging this dark time in history.

    On Thursday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard issued the following statement about Dec. 7: “My heart is in Hawai‘i today as we commemorate the 76th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, a day that forever changed Hawai‘i and our country. We remember those who paid the ultimate price on that fateful day, and the millions of Americans who answered the call to serve in the months and years that followed, including two of our former U.S. Senators, Inouye and Akaka.

     “We remember the famed “Go for Broke” 442nd Infantry Regiment and other Nisei-only units, made up of young men, who despite seeing their friends and family members being sent off into internment camps, still stood up and volunteered to serve -- putting their lives on the line for this country. They served bravely, sacrificed greatly, and became the most highly decorated unit in all of the U.S. Army's history. We must never forget what happened at Pearl Harbor, the lessons learned, and the sacrifices of those who served. There is no question that the stories of the greatest generation will live on forever in the hearts of a grateful nation.”

       On Dec. 7, Sen. Mazie Hirono introduced the Admiral Lloyd R. “Joe” Vasey Pacific War Commemorative Display Establishment Act, which would create a memorial at Pearl Harbor honoring the service of World War II veterans who served in the Pacific Theater. The bill is the Senate companion to legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep.Colleen Hanabusa.

Admiral Joe Vasey has pushed for decades to establish
the memorial for WWII soldiers who served in the Pacific. He
turned 100 years of age this year.  Photo from Stars & Stripes

     Wrote Hirono, “As we mark the 76^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we honor the brave veterans who defended our country on December 7, 1941 and all who served in World War II. Establishing a memorial to their dedicated service at Pearl Harbor is a fitting tribute to their sacrifice, and I thank Representative Hanabusa for her leadership on this issue.”

      The Admiral Lloyd R. “Joe” Vasey Pacific War Commemorative Display Establishment Act directs the National Park Service and the non-profit Pacific Historic Parks to create the memorial. For many years, the memorial has been a campaign of Admiral Vasey, a World War II veteran who served in the Pacific Theater and reached his 100th birthday in January. Sen. Brian Schatz is a cosponsor of the Senate bill.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A LAST PUSH TO SAVE NET NEUTRALITY came from Sen. Mazie Hirono on Thursday, as she and 27 other Senators urged Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to delay the vote to roll back the nation’s net neutrality rules. In a letter, the Senators expressed concerns over reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking process, and called for an investigation into the state of the record.

    “A free and open Internet is vital to ensuring a level playing field online, and we believe that your proposed action may be based on an incomplete understanding of the public record in this proceeding,” the Senators wrote. “In fact, there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed.”

     “Without additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record, the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public’s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017,” the Senators continued.

     “The FCC must invest its time and resources into obtaining a more accurate picture of the record as understanding that record is essential to reaching a defensible resolution to this proceeding,” the Senators concluded.

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Plants are grown, seeds collected, to fit each environment.

HAWAI`I SEED GROWERS NETWORK, a statewide group of seed producers organized and supported by The Kohala Center’s Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative program, officially launched its online store this week. Customers can pre-order 2018 seed varieties at hawaiiseedgrowersnetwork.
com/shop.  

      With orders shipping in late December. HSGN currently offers locally adapted, selectively bred seeds including beans, flowers, fruits, greens, herbs, and peppers. HSGN is comprised of artisanal farmers that have worked together for more than five years to grow, develop, and provide high-quality local seeds to Hawai‘i’s gardeners and market farmers. Members commit to growing seed crops on a small scale to maintain close connections with their products, carefully observing, selecting, and harvesting from only the hardiest plants. Their goal is to contribute to resilient local food systems by offering seeds selectively bred and produced in Hawai‘i for the islands’ diverse soils and microclimates.

     “Restarting a local seed industry in Hawai’i is a slow and ongoing process,” said Lyn Howe, director of The Kohala Center’s Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative. “It takes many generations of growing and selecting varieties to produce quality seed with consistent, desired agricultural and culinary traits. But when you’re 2,300 miles from the nearest seed source, we think it’s a wise idea and worth the effort.”

     Prior to the launch of HSGN’s online seed marketplace, the University of Hawai‘i at

The Public Seed Initiative grows seeds adapted for
of the micro climates and conditions on the island.
Photo from Hawai`i Public Seed Initiative

Mānoa’s Seed Lab was the only local seed producer. Hawai‘i’s gardeners have relied heavily on seeds imported from the continental United States, despite the fact that many are not properly adapted to Hawai‘i’s tropical and sub-tropical conditions, soil composition, pests, and plant diseases.

    The Kohala Center, a nonprofit organization based on Hawai‘i Island, started the Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative in 2009 as part of its goal to reduce Hawai‘i’s dependence on imported food. Participants in the Initiative began to grow and share plant varieties that thrived in their own gardens and fields. By saving and sharing the best seeds and re-growing them in other local microclimates, producers were able to evaluate seed performance under various environmental conditions.

    The Center secured funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, and Ceres Trust to help train and support HSGN producers, conduct seed trials, selectively breed and produce seeds, and develop the online marketplace. The Hawai‘i Island Seed Bank, the only facility in the Hawaiian Islands that stores native, conservation, and agricultural seeds, provides storage services for seeds sold through the marketplace. Additional seed varieties will be offered in 2018.

     See Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative: kohalacenter.org/hpsi and Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network: hawaiiseedgrowersnetwork.com

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FLIGHTS TO MANAGE NATURAL RESOURCES in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park are announced for December:
     December 12, between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., supplies and crews will be flown for petrel monitoring from the Kīlauea helipad at 4,000’ elevation to Mauna Loa at 9,000 feet and back.
     December 14, between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., flights will will be for invasive fountain grass surveys and control, from Kīlauea helipad to the southwest boundary and to Keauhou below 2,500’ elevation.
     December 19 and 20, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. both days, flights will transport crew from Kīlauea helipad to upper Kahuku Unit at the 8,000-ft. elevation for an anthropological study.

Fountain grass creeps into the largest petroglyph field in Hawai`i
where visitors walk and also remote places where Hawai`i
 Volcanoes National Park will conduct flights this month.
NPS Photo by Jay Robinson

      In addition, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
     The statement from HVNP says, "The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather. Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities."

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SUNDAY CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER is a new educational service provided at Ocean View Community Center. The federally funded activity is free from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every Sunday and is run by Rodney DuCossin.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Soccer: Saturday, Dec. 9, Makua Lani @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Fri and Saturday, Dec. 8 and 9, Maui Tournament.

Swimming: Sat, Dec. 9 @ Konawaena.

Girls Basketball: Monday, Dec. 11, Kamehameha @ Ka‘ū.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ALOHA FRIDAY: LEI MAKING WITH RANDY LEE is Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Volcano Art Center Gallery Porch in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Make lei from a variety of natural materials from the forest. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has announced a Holiday Event to take place Saturday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576, or visit discoveryharbour.net.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE ANNUAL MEETING IS Saturday, Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Association. For more, call 929-9910.

ST. JUDE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW HOSTS ITS  KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in their lower parking lot. Each child receives two books at Rudolph’s Reading Room, a stocking from Santa, and a cookie and punch from Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. All are welcome. For more, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more, call 939-7033.

SOFT PASTEL STILL LIFE WITH PATTI PEASE JOHNSON class is the Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. Instruction and materials provided. Beginners to intermediate artists welcome. $50 per non-member, $45 per VAC member, plus $10 supply fee per person. For more, call 967-7565 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

EXPLORE THE RICH GEOLOGIC HISTORY OF KAHUKU on a easy-to-moderate guided hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, displaying different volcano features and formations in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The hike, titled Birth of Kahuku, also offers hikers the opportunity to learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. It will also take place on Dec. 30.

ANNUAL PĀHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE starts at 1 p.m. at Pāhala Armory and ends at Holy Rosary Church on Sunday, Dec. 10. Contact Andrade family at 928-0808 to participate or for more details, no entry fees.

SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. All attendees must be current Friends Member, become a new member by registering online at fhvnp.org. For more, email admin@fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.

LEARN ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF ‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. The guided hike takes place Sunday, Dec. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. For more, visit nps.gov/havo.

A MĀLAMA MARKET TOWN HALL MEETING is Monday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033.

PACIFIC ISLANDS AS MODELS FOR CULTURE, AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABILITY is the After Dark in the Park talk that has been announced for Tuesday, Dec. 12, starting at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn how the innovative agricultural systems of pre-contact Hawai‘i connect to Pacific societies in the past, present and future and how Hawai‘i and other Polynesian islands are used as models for living more sustainably. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR/NĀ‘ĀLEHU COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Tuesday, Dec. 12, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. The public is invited to come see what C.E.R.T. is about as well as participate in training scenarios. For more, contact Dina Shisler by emailing dinashisler24@yahoo.com or calling 410-935-8087.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-8, UNTIL TUESDAY, Dec. 12, for a Hanging Santa Craft Class that takes place Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

REGISTER KEIKI, GRADES K-5, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for the Annual Christmas Coloring Contest that takes place Thursday, Dec. 14, starting at 5 p.m., at Ka‘ū District Gym. For more or to register, call Nona Makuakane/Elijah Navarro at 928-3102 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

REGISTER KEIKI, AGES 6-12, UNTIL WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, for a Holiday Collage Wreath Class that takes place Friday, Dec. 15, from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., at Kahuku Park (H.O.V.E.). For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

HAWAIIAN HERBAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER KA‘OHU MONFORT demonstrates the power of local plants to nourish and heal on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program, Lā‘au Lapa‘au, takes place on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See and touch a variety of traditional medicinal plants. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more visit nps.gov/HAVO.

CU HAWAI‘I FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS EMPLOYMENT as a Member Service Representative in Nā‘ālehu. CU Hawai‘i seeks energetic individuals for full time positions who enjoy working with people and can provide professional, courteous and efficient service to valued members.The ideal candidate must be service oriented and possess good communication and computer skills. Cash handling and customer service experience is preferred. Must be able to work Saturdays. CU Hawai‘i offers medical, drug, dental, vision and retirement benefits.
     Email, mail or fax application to: Attn: Human Resources, 476 Hinano Street Hilo, HI 96720, Fax: (808) 935-7793. Applications can be found online at cuhawaii.com/careers.html.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.