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| Nāʻālehu hosted the Kaʻū Little League Championships. See how teams from all over the state fared. Photo from Elizabeth Crook |
KAʻŪ LITTLE LEAGUE HOSTED THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NĀʻALEHU July 19-23. Teams from around the Hawaiian Islands and their fans flooded Kaʻū accommodations, restaurants, and stores. Kaʻū Little League Pres. Josh Crook said the tournament drew umpires from California, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. Among them is Jamie Perez, who will serve as an umpire in the Little League World Series, Aug. 15- 25 in Pennsylvania.
With all the action at the Nāʻālehu Ballpark, the team from Maui won, defeating the 2018 world champions from Honolulu. Maui will head to the Western Regional U.S. Championships in San Bernardino, CA, Aug. 4 though 10. Winners will play Aug. 15 through 25 at Little League Headquarters Complex in South Williamsport, PA, during the 73rd Little League World Series. Eight teams from the U.S. and eight from abroad, will compete for the title.
With all the action at the Nāʻālehu Ballpark, the team from Maui won, defeating the 2018 world champions from Honolulu. Maui will head to the Western Regional U.S. Championships in San Bernardino, CA, Aug. 4 though 10. Winners will play Aug. 15 through 25 at Little League Headquarters Complex in South Williamsport, PA, during the 73rd Little League World Series. Eight teams from the U.S. and eight from abroad, will compete for the title.
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| The championship's volunteer umpires. Photo from Elizabeth Crook |
Crook said the five days state championship brought great baseball to the downtown ballpark in Nāʻālehu. Ewa beach was eliminated first losing to Honolulu, then to Kauaʻi. Westside Big Island was next to go, losing to Honolulu and Kauaʻi. Kauaʻi suffered elimination by Honolulu.
The first of the final games saw Honolulu beating Maui to even it up. Maui took it to Honolulu in game two, defeating the defending world champions 8 to 5.
Kaʻū Little League President Josh Crook said, "Congratulations to Maui 2019 state champs. It was a great turn out all five days.
"It brought much joy to the players and staff and benefited the community. Kaʻū Little League desires for a growing interest and resurgence into the game of baseball both for the sake of players and for families and the community."
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| Central Maui, the regional winning team, travels to California for the Western Regional U.S. Championships. Photo from Elizabeth Crook |
Crook thanked Eugene Nairmatzu, Little League District Administrator, "and all the many volunteers who made it possible and gave their time and effort," including ʻO Kaʻū Kākou, Punaluʻu Bake Shop, Wikwiki Mart, Bee Boys, Andrade Contracting, Ed's Plumbing, Pāhala Pops, Kahuku Market, Kamakani Country Store, Lance Ako, and Randy Patton. He said there are many more who contributed, and "the gratitude is endless."
Crook said that "baseball in Kaʻū will not be possible in the future without community and family support. If we are going to revive baseball here we need coaches and players and family involvement. We look forward to the future of youth baseball in Kaʻū."
Contact Josh Crook, Kaʻū Little League President, to offer contributions, donations, and league involvement, at 345-0511.
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A MAN DIED TODAY after his vehicle rolled over near the 35 mile marker on Highway 11, in the Kaʻū Desert area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. At about 2:09 p.m., a park employee reported the accident. Park rangers found an unresponsive 57-year-old man pinned beneath an older model SUV, rolled on its side. Hawaiʻi County Fire Department medics extricated and transported the man to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The last fatal motor vehicle accident in the Park occurred on May 28, 2017, also on Hwy 11.
The incident is under investigation by Park rangers, with the assistance of Hawai‘i County Police Department. The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and further investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this accident is asked to call Park dispatch at 808-985-6170 or HPD Officer Jason Foxworthy at 808-326-4646, ext. 229.
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COMPLICATED AND NUANCED is the description of the Thirty Meter Telescope situation, voiced by Doug Simons, Executive Director of Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope on Maunakea. He commented to Big Island Video News on the hundreds, sometimes thousands of Protectors of Maunakea gathered at Maunakea Access Road to the summit campus of the telescopes.
Last week, directors of all the telescopes on Maunakea unanimously decided to remove staff after it became questionable as to whether maintenance crews and scientists could drive through the blockade aimed at blocking construction materials and crews to build TMT.
THE MAUNAKEA STANDOFF TOOK SEVERAL TWISTS TODAY. Mayor Harry Kim said he wants to clear the Maunakea Access Road and Daniel K. Inouye Hwy, Saddle Road, and reopen the access road to the public and employees. Maunakea observatories provide jobs for some 500 people. About 50 to 75 of them are at the summit each day, according to telescope officials.
Protectors of Maunakea said they will stand firm in their encampment until TMT promises to go elsewhere. The board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs voted to support the Protectors of Maunakea in opposition to TMT and agreed to help with funding the encampment.
Honolulu and Hilo pro and con protesters waived flags and carried signs on Thursday, touting their views, as TMT spokespersons said TMT has no plans to abandon their plan to build the largest telescope on the planet at the summit of Maunakea.
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Telescopes atop Maunakea. Read support for, and objection to, adding another - the largest in the world.
Photo from Big Island Video News |
Last week, directors of all the telescopes on Maunakea unanimously decided to remove staff after it became questionable as to whether maintenance crews and scientists could drive through the blockade aimed at blocking construction materials and crews to build TMT.
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Doug Simons, Executive Director of the
Canada-France-Hawaiʻi Telescope.Photo from Big Island Video News |
Simons said a letter penned by the observatories and co-signed by him was intended "to offer our perspective. The situation here is way more complicated, nuanced – layer upon layer. Anybody who's lived in Hawaiʻi a long time understands that." The letter was also meant to clear up any confusion, said Simons.
He noted that another letter last week with several hundred signature opposes TMT. Simons said he believes "most of the signatories are in fact graduate students. It's a little frustrating because sometimes, in the general media, it's referred to as astronomers being opposed to TMT. Maybe I'm old-fashioned but if you're still a student, you don't have that title just yet. Their opinions are, obviously, very important, but the reality is that letter, we thought, was in some ways a misrepresentation of what was occurring here."
Simons mentioned astronomy and Hawaiian cultural programs working together. He pointed to the A Hua He Inoa program, to associate Hawaiian names with discoveries made through Hawaiʻi based telescopes. Simons and Larry Kimura, a professor of Hawaiian language and studies at University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in the Ka Haka ‘Ula O
Ke‘elikōlani, College of Hawaiian Language, gave a presentation tonight
called The Physics of Pō. Simons
said it is a joint perspective on Kimura's unpublished prelude to the Kumulipo, "the very famous Hawaiian creation
chant, that I was amazed by when Larry first shared it with me. It has so many interesting and deep connections to modern astrophysics
when I read it. Larry and I immediately connected over it, and in particular
the concept of Pō, which appears over a hundred times in the first 500 lines or
so of the Kumulipo. It is interesting and how it can map into what we call
vacuum energy, or dark energy, and ultimately lead to phenomena like the Big
Bang.
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| Members of the A Hua He Inoa program. Photo from Big Island Video News |
"I feel very
honored to be able to share [Kimura's] interpretation of that wonderful,
ancient chant through the lens of a scientist who is eager to see… how the
native and ancient Hawaiians saw the universe, in the hope that I can learn
something from that process, that my so-called modern mind is incapable of. That's
ultimately what I'm trying to do. And that's the beauty of this sort of
marriage between Hawaiian culture and science. It gives you a completely new
perspective, and one that really enriches you in the process."
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BOTH SIDES OF THE MAUNAKEA ISSUE are seen by east Kaʻū's state
Sen. Russell Ruderman. Via a statement on Facebook, he said has friends pro and con. "Some of my friends
and longtime political colleagues are among the Protectors on the Mauna. And I
also have friends among the police force and within the astronomy community. Even
among Native Hawaiian families I know, there are people on both sides.
Ruderman
remarked, "This Mauna Kea Protectors action has successfully embraced the
highest principles of non-violence, expressed on the Mauna as 'Kapu Aloha.'
That is, people involved are committed to acting with aloha; it's not an
option. This feeling of aloha has empowered the Protectors and helped the
message spread and resonate far and wide. The same spirit of non-violence has
been successful in the past, and the protectors know it is a crucial element of
winning people's hearts.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
"I also
support Hawaiian rights, and recognize the many broken promises they've endured
in every arena, and the historic mismanagement of our beloved Mauna
Kea . I still believe an arrangement could be worked out to go
forward with TMT with the support of Hawaiian Kūpuna,
with some changes to the current plan. I will suggest those changes if the time
comes.
"In this
moment, it doesn't matter what I think should happen. Protectors have won this
round," said Ruderman. "The reality is a civil disobedience action has succeeded in stopping it
for now. We cannot arrest our way out of this.
"It has been said that when a
large number of people are willing to be arrested for something, their movement
is unstoppable. If the decision was made to arrest as many as needed to
overcome this effort by force, we must be prepared for hundreds of arrests, and
more the next day. To me this would be intolerable.
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| Kiaʻi, Protectors, of Maunakea, gathered at Puʻuhonua o Puʻuhuluhulu. Photo from Big Island Video News |
Ruderman suggests
that the confrontation must be defused, and that the emergency declaration and
National Guard should be removed. "These were serious mistakes,
unnecessary for a profoundly peaceful demonstration and counter productive,"
he said. He said acknowledging "the mistakes made and treat the people
protesting with the respect and aloha needed to heal the wounds," is
nessecary. He also said the decommissioned telescopes must be dismantled before
constructing the new one.
Said Ruderman,
"I believe if the Governor addressed the people directly, regardless of
the message delivered, he would be treated with aloha and respected for talking
directly to them. This alone would help tremendously. The people on the Mauna
are demonstrating love and aloha, and it must be acknowledged."
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| The amount of pedestrians and cars on and near Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Saddle Road, at and near the Maunakea Access Road, has been cause for concern from officials. Photo from Big Island Video News |
"People need
to know about the Kapu Aloha of this action, because some have spread
misinformation about it. I went to visit the protest Sunday, as a Caucasian TMT
supporter. I was treated with aloha and respect by everyone I met and those I
just saw. There is an undeniable spirit in the air. I didn't stop supporting
TMT but I now recognize the power of the Protector's movement: It cannot be
pushed aside.
"We must
work with them to succeed."
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.
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
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See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates; Bowling TBA.
Football, Division II:
Sat., Aug. 24, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha
Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Mon., July 29, 3 to 5 p.m., first day practice
Tue., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Hilo
Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts St. Joseph
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Cross Country:
Mon., Aug. 5, 2:30 to 4 p.m., first day practice
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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UPCOMING
FRIDAY, JULY 26
Coffee Talk at Kahuku, Friday, July 26, 9:30-11a.m., Kahuku Unit Visitor Contact Station. Free. nps.gov/havo
SATURDAY, JULY 27
Volcano's ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua Half Marathon, 7 a.m., 5K, 7:15 a.m., and Keiki Dash, 10 a.m.. Races begin and end at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Campus on Haunani Road. Half Marathon, along road - $75/person until July 25; $85 July 26-27. 5K, along road - $40/person until July 25; $45/person July 26-27. Keiki Dash, grassy field, $10/child - ages 6 and under run 300 meters; ages 7-10 years old run 600 meters. No T-shirts given for Keiki Dash. Register at webscorer.com/register?raceid=175619. ohialehuahalf.com
Bingo, Saturday, July 27, 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Prize donations needed. stjudeshawaii.org
Grand Slam performance, Saturday, July 27, 7-10p.m., Kīlauea Military Theater. Cover charge taken at door. Open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com
SUNDAY, JULY 28
Experience Volcano Festival continues Sunday, July 28, multiple locations in Volcano. Features art, food, music, and performances. More details at experiencevolcano.com.
A Meeting to Establish Child Care for Kaʻū Coffee Farm Workers happens Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at the Kaʻū District Gym Activity Room. Farmers and other supporters of the effort met July 13.
With the increasing employment of members of Kaʻū's Marshallese community to pick Kaʻū Coffee, organizers in the coffee producing community, led by Laura Diaz, have established a nonprofit organization called Keiki OʻPalehua ʻOhana Program. The group has completed renovations of a room in the Pāhala Hongwanji Schoolhouse, with educational supplies for up to 15 keiki.
Diaz said the program is looking for an electrician to hang two ceiling fans at the childcare center, for some kind of food service for the keiki, and other donations. A grand opening is planned for Aug. 10.
Call Diaz at 928-8188 or 408-306-5596.
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, July 30, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wednesday, July 31 – last Wednesday, monthly – 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years and 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
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
Women's Expression Group, Thursday, Aug. 1 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m. , PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
Registration Open: Shrink Art Keychain, through Tuesday, Aug. 6, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
ONGOING
Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's Summer Musical: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through Sunday, July 28 at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater. Tickets are available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, The Most Irresistible Shop, and at door. $20/general admission, $15/student or over 60, $12/age 12 and under. Park entrance fees may apply. 982-7344, kden73@aol.com, kden.org
Enroll at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences for the 2019-2020 school year, which starts Aug. 5; orientation for new students is Aug. 2. Spaces are available in 1st through 8th grades of the expanding Kula ‘Amakihi Community-Based Education (CBE) Program; the school may also have space or short wait lists for certain grades in the regular on-campus programs. Contact 808-985-9800 or email enrollment@volcanoschool.net to enroll.
Exhibit -The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily through Sunday, Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
Enroll in Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Orientation for enrolled families begins Aug. 5 & 6, with programs continuing following week in Nā‘ālehu on Monday & Wednesday, 8:45-10:45am, and Pāhala, Tuesday & Thursday, 8:30-10:30am. Space is limited. pidfoundation.org
Experience Volcano Festival, Saturday, July 27, and Sunday, July 28, multiple locations in Volcano. Features art, food, music, and performances. More details at experiencevolcano.com.
Bingo, Saturday, July 27, 9-11a.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Prize donations needed. stjudeshawaii.org
Arts & Tea Culture Workshop Series #3, Saturday, July 27, 1-4p.m., Volcano Art Center. Requires minimum of 6 participants to be held. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
SUNDAY, JULY 28
Experience Volcano Festival continues Sunday, July 28, multiple locations in Volcano. Features art, food, music, and performances. More details at experiencevolcano.com.
A Meeting to Establish Child Care for Kaʻū Coffee Farm Workers happens Sunday, July 28 at 3 p.m. at the Kaʻū District Gym Activity Room. Farmers and other supporters of the effort met July 13.
With the increasing employment of members of Kaʻū's Marshallese community to pick Kaʻū Coffee, organizers in the coffee producing community, led by Laura Diaz, have established a nonprofit organization called Keiki OʻPalehua ʻOhana Program. The group has completed renovations of a room in the Pāhala Hongwanji Schoolhouse, with educational supplies for up to 15 keiki.
Call Diaz at 928-8188 or 408-306-5596.
TUESDAY, JULY 30
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival tickets go on sale Aug. 1 at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit Volcano School 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The $50 per person tickets include live music entertainment by Young Brothers; delicious food and drink from local restaurants; award-winning wines and teas from the Volcano Winery; tours of the vineyards and a huge raffle.
Mayor Kim & Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Thursday, Aug. 1, 6-7p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
Registration Open: Sunflower Craft, through Monday, Aug. 5, Kahuku Park Hawaiian Ocean 12:45-3:30p.m. Free. 939-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
Stewardship at the Summit, Aug. 2, 10, 16, 24, and 28, 8:45a.m. -noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 5K, and Keiki Dash Registration open through Saturday, July 27, the day of the races. It replaces the Volcano Rain Forest Runs. See ohialehuahalf.com.
Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's Summer Musical: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through Sunday, July 28 at Kīlauea Military Camp's Kīlauea Theater. Tickets are available at Kīlauea General Store, Kea‘au Natural Foods, Basically Books, The Most Irresistible Shop, and at door. $20/general admission, $15/student or over 60, $12/age 12 and under. Park entrance fees may apply. 982-7344, kden73@aol.com, kden.org
Talk Action, Take Action: surveys available through Aug. 4, recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite. The surveys focus on different areas of recovery after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption: households, businesses, and community.
Exhibit -The Joy of the Brush: Paintings by Linda J. Varez, daily through Sunday, Aug. 4, 9a.m.-5p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees may apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com
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