Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Improving Early Education is a promise from Gov. David Ige in his State of the State address yesterday.
See story below. Photo from Hawaiʻi Department of Education

REOPEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT says the bi-partisan legislation that won a 234 to 180 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today. Kaʻū's Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted for the measure that would immediately re-open the government and pay federal employees. The package is based on legislation previously negotiated between House and Senate Republicans and Democrats prior to the government shutdown and includes $1.6 billion for key border security initiatives. The measure goes to the Senate.

NPS would receive $3.22 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     After the House vote, Gabbard said: "For 33 days, the federal government has failed its citizens. Over 800,000 federal employees have been furloughed or are working without pay. I heard from one federal employee who held a garage sale last weekend, selling as much as she could, so she could raise money to pay her rent. Another who serves in the Army Reserves told me that if the government doesn't open by February, he'd be forced to volunteer to deploy to Afghanistan, to make sure he'd get a paycheck to care for his wife and kids.

BLM would receive $1.31 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     "This shutdown is causing irreparable consequences for the futures of our people and our country. Using the American people as pawns in a partisan game must stop. The shutdown must end now."

     H.R. 648 goes to the U.S. Senate. It includes provisions related to:

     Department of the Interior: Includes $3.22 billion for the National Park Service; $1.58 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $1.31 billion for the Bureau of Land Management; and $3.08 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education;

WIC would receive $6.075 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     Food and Nutrition Programs: Includes fully funding SNAP through 2019, $6.075 billion in discretionary funding for Women, Infants, and Children; $23.141 billion in mandatory funding for child nutrition programs; $1.716 billion for the Food for Peace program; and $210.255 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program;

     Food Safety and Inspection Service: Includes $1.049 billion for FSIS;

EPA would receive $8.8 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     Department of Transportation: Includes $900 million for National Infrastructure Investments (TIGER or BUILD); $17.5 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration; and $49.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration, facilitating highway and bridge rehabilitation, and construction and railway crossing improvements;

FWS would receive $1.58 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     New Housing and Public Infrastructure: Includes $31 billion for Public and Indian Housing, including Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (Section 8), which is adequate to renew all existing housing vouchers; $7.7 billion for Community Planning and Development; and $12.7 billion for Housing Programs;

     Agricultural Research: Includes $31.16 billion to support agricultural research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture;

     Natural Resources Conservation Service: Includes $819 million for conservation operations to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners conserve and protect their land;

SNAP would be fully funded
through the end of the year
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     Farm Service Agency: Includes $1.71 billion for business operations and for FSA's farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs that benefit farmers and rural communities;

     Rural Development: Includes $3.64 billion for Rural Development, including $625 million in funding dedicated for infrastructure investments in Rural America;

FAA would receive $17.5 billion
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     Office of National Drug Control Policy: Includes $417 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Drug-Free Communities programs;

     Environmental Protection Agency: Includes $8.8 billion for the EPA;

     Indian Health Service: Includes $5.8 billion for Indian Health Service;

     President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: Includes $5.7 billion for PEPFAR for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria;

NRCS would receive $819 million
if H.R. 648 passes the Senate.

     Border Security: Includes $1.6 billion for border security related measures, including accelerating the recruitment and hiring of additional immigration judges to address the backlog in processing immigration cases; improvements in ports of entry to meet the latest security requirements, improve border security, and increase capacity for vehicular traffic; and assistance to Central America, a critical investment in improving the lives of those living in Central American countries.

     Gabbard voted numerous times to re-open the federal government after the shutdown Dec. 22. She announced that she will donate her salary during the government shutdown to U.S. Vets, a private non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to veterans in Hawai‘i and across the country, including housing and employment assistance, counseling, veterans benefits, and treatment for mental, physical health problems, and substance abuse, and more.

     Last week, the congresswoman spoke on the House floor, calling for an end to the government shutdown. She also rallied and marched from the AFL-CIO headquarters to the White House in solidarity with federal employees from dozens of unions, who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay.

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.

AHEAD OF TOMORROW'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THE U.S. SENATE TO VOTE TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT, Sen. Mazie Hirono issued this statement: "We are now in day 33 of President Trump's hostage taking of hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors, and now he is trying to take Dreamers hostage too. Over the weekend, he proposed temporary protection for DACA-recipients in exchange for funding for his vanity border wall.

Sen. Mazie Hirono with a group of Dreamers.
Photo from office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

     "Trump is using Dreamers to make a deal, but the truth is that the courts have already reinstated the DACA program after Trump tried terminating it. And just yesterday, the Supreme Court announced it would not take up the president's case against DACA during its current term, leaving the program in place until at least 2020.

     "That means the nearly 700,000 people brought to this country as children will continue to be eligible for protections under DACA, throwing a wrench into Trump's bogus attempt at a 'deal.'
     "Trump is trying and failing to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip, and it's a waste of time. The longer he and Mitch McConnell continue to push this bogus deal and refuse to end the shutdown, the harder it gets for countless families to pay their rent or mortgage, put food on the table, and pay their bills.
     "The United States Senate voted at the end of 2018 on an agreement to fund the federal government and the President reneged. Now, McConnell continues to kowtow to Trump by bringing up Trump's dishonest, hostage taking proposal for a vote tomorrow."

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.

Early education helps to prepare children for a lifetime of learning. Photo from Hawaiʻi DOE

EARLY EDUCATION WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS FROM GOV. DAVID IGE YESTERDAY. Said the governor, "Our public school system begins with kindergarten, but early education specialists tell us how important it is to prepare young children for a lifetime of learning. Research also tells us that early childhood education, such as preschool programs, are critical for brain development... children's early years set the stage for how well they learn for the rest of their lives."
     Ige said that early education has been left "to others and only for families who can afford private preschool tuition. It doesn't have to be that way. First and foremost, we must create a universal, statewide, high-quality public preschool system that will give every child in Hawaiʻi a head-start on learning. Ultimately, we will need more than 300 public pre-K classrooms." He called it a long-term goal, starting now using existing space. He said he wants to do much more than add pre-kindergarten
classes. "I am proposing to the Department of Education that we look at our elementary schools in a whole different light," reinventing elementary education "by making early learning an integral part of our children's overall elementary curriculum. That's what good beginnings are all about."

The governor promises best practices and well qualified teachers for
preschools throughout the public school system. Photo from DOE

     He proposes switching schools with Kindergarten through grade 6 to pre-K through grade 5. Grade six in those schools would move to middle schools, where the added classes could be more easily and financially accommodated. The governor pointed out that about half of public elementary schools include sixth-grade classes — most on neighbor islands, where preschools, both private and public, are lacking.
     He plans to "kick start this effort, initially in communities where they are most needed. In addition, the phasing in of our public preschools will give us the time to ensure that we have well qualified preschool teachers to staff these classes." He also proposes to apply "best practices" learned from Hawaiʻi's Public Pre-Kindergarten Program and from other states that have added preschools to their public education system. "Of all the initiatives upon which we've embarked, I believe this one will make the greatest difference in preparing our children for the future and in creating a 21st century workforce."
     He said that spearheading the initiative are Lauren Moriguchi, Director of the Executive Office on Early Learning, and DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto.
     The governor also talked about Early College and Hawaiʻi Promise programs through partnerships with DOE, and UH and its community colleges. Ige also vowed "to expand our pool of teachers in some of our most difficult-to-staff schools. And we're doing so in partnership with UH, HSTA, and the DOE."
     See more on the Sate of the State of Hawaiʻi in yesterday's and tomorrow's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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.

EXPERIENCING THE LATEST VOLCANO ERUPTION was the talk at the recent Waimea Ocean Film Festival when volcanologist Dr. Rick Hazlett made his presentation. He entertained an audience by recounting his experiences that included ground shakings, flying over flowing lava, and studying the event scientifically.

     Hazlett is an associate researcher for the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and faculty member at University of Hawaiʻi-Hilo. He told his audience that, from his perspective, the three-month-eruption was not only an opportunity, but an odyssey that is now a study in progress. He readily admitted that although scientists have been studying volcanoes in Hawaiʻi for over a century, the volcanoes really need to be observed for about a thousand years in order to be more fully understood.

Dr. Rick Hazlett sharing eruption stories at Waimea Ocean Film Fesitval.
Photo by Annie Bosted

     He has authored books entitled Roadside Geology of Hawaiʻi and Explore the Geology of Kīlauea Volcano. With Jack Lockwood, he co-authored the text book, Volcanoes: Global Perspectives.

     During the eruption, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was closed to the public for safety. Hazlett, who was allowed to venture into the park, experienced the severe shaking at the summit as the caldera floor collapsed in steps during 62 explosions. "We could barely stand," he told his audience. "If the public had been in the park, there would have been a panic.

     "In a matter of minutes, the caldera floor dropped six feet. The base of the Halemaʻumaʻu vent is now about half way between the summit and sea level. That's a huge drop."

     Hazlett formed part of the team of USGS volcanologists called in from all over the country when Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption began May 3, to assist current HVO and National Park Service staff in monitoring and understanding the eruption.

     "Flying over the lava flow was amazing," said Hazlett. "The lava covered large areas, but left other pockets of land, or kipuka, uncovered. From the air it looked like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle – some pieces were in place, but huge sections were missing. It was very surreal.

     "Drones were used as scientific tools for the first time, and they worked remarkably well. We could set up a good geographic grid for them to fly, so the results were consistent."

     Asked about the danger of Mauna Loa erupting, Hazlett replied: "Mauna Loa has been a good neighbor," but added, "I am very concerned about the southwest rift zone, and the town of Ocean View. It is smack in the path of where lava could travel in an eruption that we'll likely be around to see.

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

RELAY RACES AT KAHUKU PARK, for keiki ages 6 to 12 years old, are held on Friday, Jan. 25, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Athletic shoes are required. Registration takes place through tomorrow, Thursday, Jan. 24.

     For more, contact Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113. Kahuku Park is located at 92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours.

READ TO ME, a performing arts program in Ka‘ū District Gym's multi-purpose room on Tuesdays, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., is open for keiki ages 5 to 12. Register with Recreation Director Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Ka‘ū District Gym is located on the Ka‘ū High School campus on Kamani Street in Pāhala. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/ for hours of operation.

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.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

MONDAY, JANUARY 28
Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
     The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend the informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule.
     "We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Jan. 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed., Jan. 30, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Monthly. Seniors 60 years & older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required, 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Free Car Seat Inspections happen in Waiʻōhinu on Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program is sponsored by Partners for Safe Keiki, Tūtū and Me, and Hawaiʻi County Fire Department, a coalition of Partners of Keiki, and Safe Grant Hawaiʻi.
     "Three of four car seats are not installed correctly," say the sponsors. "Feel free to post, share and circulate to help us to reach as many Kaʻū residents as possible. There is no eligibility requirement for these inspections. Just come with your vehicle, keiki and car seat(s)!" To make an appointment, call 896-1336.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31
Craft Class, Thu., Jan. 31, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Jan. 31, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

ONGOING
Applications for the First Annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."
     Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.
     The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."

     The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
     Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.
     To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

     The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.
     The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.
     The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.
     Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, January 22, 2019

On a patch of rolling hills near Kauaʻi's southern coast, solar panels and batteries work to offset fossil fuel usage. 

Read about the difference in solar project setup in Ocean View, below. Photo from AES Corporation

THE STATE OF THE STATE OF HAWAIʻI "IS SOUND," Gov. David Ige reported today, noting that Hawaiʻi is the healthiest state, with health care coverage among the broadest and most enduring in the nation. Hawaiʻi has one of the lowest unemployment rates. Its visitor industry is moving toward another record setting year. Both individual personal income and the state's gross domestic product have been steadily growing. "For four years, we have worked hard have been building our reserves and paying down unfunded liabilities, including those to our employee pension and health benefits system." He noted that Hawaiʻi has earned the highest bond rating in the state's history, resulting in lower interest rates when the state needs to borrow money.

Gov. David Ige gave the annual state of the state of Hawaiʻi address today.
Photo from Ige's Flickr

     The governor told state legislators during his State of the State address today that his administration proposes "a prudent budget that does not project to spend all that comes in."

     Ige said the future in Hawaiʻi has a name – "the name of your son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter." He said the future is "personal, because it is about our home." He spoke of moving forward to a better, more secure, more nurturing Hawaiʻi and: "We do so at a time when the state is strong."

     Talking about the future, the governor said, "I am mindful that the world around us has changed since we began this journey four years ago. We are no longer limited by our geographic isolation, freed by the wonders of its technology; but that's also a double edged sword. The very thing that makes us more connected with the rest of the world also makes us more vulnerable to its slings and arrows, including what happens in our nation's capitol. More than ever, we need to take control and shape our own destiny through education and innovation and we need to protect those things that mean the most to us -  our natural resources, our way of life, our values, and our children's future."

A full rotunda listened as Gov. David Ige proclaimed the state of
the state of Hawaiʻi as "sound." Photo from Ige's Flickr

     Ige praised Hawaiʻi in leading the country in several policy areas: "In 2015, we were the first state to set a 100 percent renewable energy standard, the most aggressive clean energy goal in the country. In 2016, we were the first in the nation to enroll fire arms owners in a centralized information system. In 2017, we were the first state to enact legislation that aligns with portions of The Paris Accord. In 2018, we were the first state to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos to protect our children's health and the first in the world to ban certain sunscreens to protect our environment."

     See more from the govenor's State of the State in Wednesday's Kaʻū News Briefs.

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.

OCEAN VIEW AND KAUAʻI SOLAR PROJECTS SHOW A STARK CONTRAST in design and price of electricity. Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is purchasing power from AES Corp., which built a new 28-megawatt Lāwaʻi Solar and Energy Storage Project on Kauaʻi to deliver power when needed, at a cost of 11 cents per kilowatt hour. The price of electricity from the proposed 6.5 megawatt Ocean View project by SPI Energy would be 23 cents per kW hour.

Black lots are approved for solar installations. Green lots

are where homes or other improvements are built. Pink lots

are where businesses are built. Yellow lots are undeveloped.

     The Kauaʻi project is reported to be the largest operational solar and storage system in the world. It began operating early this month and is a first-of-its-kind design that transfers power from the sun to batteries and onto the power grid more efficiently than other existing storage systems, said AES Chief Executive Officer Andrés Gluski.

     The Kauaʻi project is referred to as a "PV peaker plant" because it can supply solar energy after the sun has set and when demand is at its peak. The lithium-ion battery system is capable of storing 100 megawatt-hours. It can crank a full output of 20 megawatts for five hours. With 100 megawatt-hours of stored energy, the battery can also operate more like a baseload plant, delivering a lower amount of power for more hours through the night until the sun comes back up. AES expects to offset 3.7 million gallons of diesel each year by dispatching more cost-effectively than the fossil-fueled incumbents.

     Solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity that must be converted into alternating current (AC) before it's sent over the grid. The AES design uses a more efficient conversion process that makes it faster and cheaper than other designs, said Woody Rubin, president of AES Distributed Energy. "You really are combining speed and flexibility there," Rubin said. "The plant ramps to provide true capacity faster than any thermal ramping resource on the island."

     Unlike the Kauaʻi solar farm, the solar project planned for Ocean View is unable to efficiently deliver power when most needed. It is planned for empty scattered lots within neighborhoods – mostly in Hawaiian Ranchos – and is limited by its fragmented configuration.

Example of a fenced solar farm.

     Each of the Ocean View project's 26 solar panel sites would need its own meter to measure power being supplied to the grid. Since batteries are installed "behind the meter," each three-acre solar installation would need its own battery if power from this project is to be available after sunset. This would mean 26 smaller batteries – batteries incapable of benefiting from the economies of scale enjoyed by the Lāwaʻi Project on Kauaʻi.

     The Ocean View solar project would operate through a Feed In Tariff program, with Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co. paying the higher 23 cents per kW hour under a 20 year contract.

     At a lower cost, the Kauaʻi solar farm will supply about 11 percent of Kauaʻi's electricity, making the island more than 50 percent powered by renewables, according to a statement from Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative.

     "The big problem with solar is that it peaks when demand does not peak," said Gluski. With batteries, "that energy is much more useful for the grid and for consumers."

     The island of Kauaʻi now gets at least 40 percent of its power for on-peak demand from renewable energy sources, thanks to the completion of the Lāwaʻi Project.
     The Ocean View Solar Project is on hold pending the resolution of a formal complaint by Ranchos residents to the PUC.

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.

THE FUTURE OF VOLCANO VILLAGE and its extended community is the topic of a forum at Cooper Center, Thursday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. The public, and county, state, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park officials, are invited to attend and answer resident's questions, says a statement from Experience Volcano Hawaiʻi.

     The group formed last May to face challenges of recovering from the 2018 volcanic eruption, "its accompanying earthquakes and its devastating effects on the local tourism industry. We're very proud of the low-impact model that we've evolved as a gateway community, serving thousands of national park visitors annually by integrating restaurants, galleries, and lodging into the community and its upland rainforest environment."

     Experience Volcano points out that Volcano is different than the visitor industry "resort node" model. "The community needs to keep that model and build on it, but faces upcoming hurdles as the park rebuilds its infrastructure."

     One of the challenges, says the statement, are new "state and country regulations such as County Council Bill 108." The bill passed the County Council and the county Planning Department is finalizing regulations to regulate vacation rentals. The statement says the bill threatens "vacation rentals on which Volcano has built its success. Many folks in our community may be confused about how these changes may affect all of us."

     Experience Volcano is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization of Volcano-area businesses and community members "dedicated to sharing the Village's special brand of aloha with the world. The group's mission includes promoting the Volcano area in a sustainable way through social media platforms, print media, and media tours."

     Since launching last May, Experience Volcano has printed and distributed 5,000 brochures promoting the area as a destination and has "helped Volcano businesses to develop a unified voice and to pursue common goals. Forums such as this one give the Volcano community a change to refine its vision and mission."

     Cooper Center is on Wright Road in Volcano. For more information, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com. See experiencevolcano.com and Facebook.

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.

PELE'S ISLAND PLANTS IN OCEAN VIEW will go on the road with Phoenicia and Bob Zeller's hard-to-find orchid varieties, assorted cactus, and succulents - including all sizes of agaves and aloes. For the collector and hobbyist, the Zellers will be in the Plant People Road Show, where Big Island growers will explain what plant varieties thrive best in locations around the island. The show will take place at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9. Talk story with 12 growers from the island's different regions during the sale. In addition, growers will offer cut blooming flower stems and plant selections geared for Valentine gift-giving. Admission is free.

Orchids, like the one above, anthuriums, air plants, bamboo, water lilies,

exotic fruit trees and vines, and cactus and other succulents, will be

for sale, with expert advice on what grows where on this island.

Photo from Plant People Road Show

     Here are the other presenters:

     Chitose and Tsuyoshi Tsumura of C & T Products in Keaʻau offer many different varieties and colors of anthuriums – the heart-shaped blooms come in a variety of hues.

     Peter and Kay DeMello of DeMello Air Plants in Kona sell over 50 varieties of easy-care air plants.

     Jennifer Snyder and Bob Harris of Orchid People in Waimea have created warm-tolerant varieties of Cymbidium orchids that flower mauka to makai. Cymbidiums are prized for their multiple flowers on tall spikes.

     Susan Ruskin and Peter Berg of Quindembo Bamboo in Kapaʻau market 25 species of fast-growing, non-invasive, clumping varieties of bamboo. Create a fast privacy hedge in your choice of standout black, blue, and red varieties.

     Sean Spellicy and Iris Viacrusis of Royal Palm Enterprises in Kuristown sell fruit trees, ornamentals, and water garden plants. 

     In its seventh year, the Plant People Road Show offers two sales annually, around Valentine's Day and Halloween. The direct, nursery-customer setting enables growers to meet the public and get feedback while providing expert growing guidance. For info, call 808-987-3231.

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.

See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Kaʻū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com

and facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA

Boys Basketball:

Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm, Varsity

Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm, Varsity

Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II Finals

Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA

Wrestling:

Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA

Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo

Feb. 9, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau

Feb. 20-21, Wed.-Thu., HHSAA

Soccer:

Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div. II Semi-Finals

Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div. II Finals

Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat., Girls HHSAA

Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys HHSAA

Swimming:

Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials @KCAC, 3:30pm

Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals @KCAC, 1pm

Feb. 8-9, Fri.-Sat., HHSAA

Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu

NEW and UPCOMING

NOVA Profiles the 2018 Eruption in a new PBS documentary — Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire — premiering tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. It will also stream on NOVA's website. The documentary includes interviews of Volcano residents Tom Peeks and Catherine Robbins. Peeks said, "While the documentary, like other NOVA programs, will focus on the scientific aspects of the eruption, it will also likely include discussion of its human impact and cultural and socio-political aspects, topics we discussed on camera as Volcano residents and former eruption rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi On Fire is the PBS NOVA documentary, profiling the 2018 eruption. 
It airs tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m. Image from NOVA/PBS

     "We have not seen the film yet, but based on the questions we were asked by the filmmakers during the early stages of the eruption, we are hopeful that its rendering of this life-changing Big Island event will be probing and respectful. We'll see on Wednesday," Peeks said.

     Peeks, author of Daughters of Fire and other works, will host a workshop, Writing for Inner Exploration and Life Reflection, Saturday, March 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus. To register, call 808-967-8222.

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.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
Lei - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau - Experience the Skillful Work, Wed., Jan. 23, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Thursday Night at the Center: Stories from the Summit, Thu., Jan. 24, 6:30-8:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. An evening of personal accounts by Volcano residents from the 90 consecutive days of earthquakes this past summer. Hosted by Volcano novelist Tom Peek. Includes tales from USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal and others living and working at Kīlauea's summit. Free, $5 donation suggested. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25
Human Trafficking Workshop, Fri., Jan. 25, 9:30-12:30pm, PARENTS, Inc. Office, Nā‘ālehu. Conducted by Melody Stone. Open to interested educators and community leaders: non-profit organizations, police dept., etc. Pre-registration appreciated. 430-5710

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. Drinks and snacks provided. Last Saturday, monthly. Sponsored by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc. - Team Ahā, Crisis Counseling Program. 329-4817

Kula Kai View Estates Annual Mtg., Sat., Jan. 26, 10-11am, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org

Mixed Media Encaustic w/Mary Milelzcik, Sat. Jan. 26, 10-2:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee/person. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Mo‘olelo - Stories - of Volcano, Sat., Jan. 26, 11-2pm, Volcano Garden Arts, 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano Village. Hawaiian historian and storyteller Kepa Maly shares traditions and history of Kīlauea and the lands upon which Pele dances in the Pu‘ulena wind. $35/person, lunch included. Limited space. Register w/Volcano Community Foundation, volcanocommunity@gmail.com, 885-1011

MONDAY, JANUARY 28

Public Meeting on Future of Pāhala Transfer Station, where people take their recyclables and other trash, happens Monday, Jan. 28, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Pāhala Community Center.

     The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Solid Waste Division invites the Pāhala community and users of the Pāhala Transfer Station to attend the informational meeting. The Solid Waste Division will join community members to discuss operating days and the possibility of modifying the current schedule. 

     "We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility," said a statement from the county.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Jan. 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

ONGOING
Applications for the first annual Acton Children's Business Fair in Pāhala are open through Friday, Jan. 25. The fair, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., aims to inspire children to "discover their inner entrepreneur," states childrensbusinessfair.org. "The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses."

     Planned for keiki ages 7 to 18 from all over the island, the event is hosted at River of Life Assembly of God, 96-2345 Paʻauau St., Pāhala.

     The flyer for the event says, "Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across the country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities. We want to encourage our youth to reach whatever goals they may have in owning their own businesses. This event gives them the experience at doing so."

     The application asks kids to think through elements of their business: What product or service do you plan to sell? What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you? How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back? How will you advertise/market your business before the fair? At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
     Up to 15 businesses will be accepted to show their business at the fair. Up to three children are allowed per business. A donation of $5 per business is required. Booths will not have electricity. Parents are not allowed to sell or promote a child's product or service, though parents of younger children may sit in the booth so long as the child is responsible for set up, customer interactions, and sales. Parents may help their child fill out the application; however, the child should do as much as possible by themselves.

     To submit an application, visit childrensbuisnessfair.org/pahala. For more details, contact Regina Walker at 400-4722 or email pahalacbf@gmail.com.

     The Pāhala event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Wiki Wiki Mart, KRW Enterprises, and individual donors and volunteers. "We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation," states the website.

Harry McKee Foundation Scholarships for Kaʻū Students are open through Feb. 15. Harry McKee Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors invites college bound high school seniors and current college students to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must be residents of Kaʻū District and plan to attend any accredited college, university, technical institute, or vocational school, anywhere in the U.S. Students must enroll full time in the fall of 2019.

     The application and more information are at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com. Applications must be mailed to the foundation office in Ocean View by February 15.

     The website says that Harry McKee "left a legacy of commitment to the youth of Kaʻū. His foundation exists to give students an opportunity for higher education. Harry was a musician, a gardener, a WWII decorated veteran, an outdoorsman, and an active civic leader. Harry was well known for reaching out to local youth to support their education goals, and to encourage young people to share aloha and celebrate ʻohana." See more about the foundation at mckeescholarshipfoundation.weebly.com.

Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi classes include Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) in Ka‘ū on Wednesdays through Feb. 19. See more at hmono.org.

Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.

Applications for a Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are being accepted. The year-long, full-time position is in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona.

     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience.

     Applicants must be at least 17 years old, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also have their own housing and transportation, a driver's license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.

     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

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.