Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Kīlauea Military Camp reminds everyone of its Christmas Day feast 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also to vote for its
best decorated holiday cottages. See more below. Photo from KMC

A NEW $21 MILLION FIELD STATION FOR HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY is approved after the successful advocacy of Sen. Mazie Hirono. The congressional funding comes in end of year spending for the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory for the new site within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.  The old site, including Jaggar Museum, was irreparable after the constant earthquakes during last year's Kilauea eruption.
     A statement from Hirono says, "The field station is instrumental for HVO to monitor changes and trends at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa – both of which are classified as very-high-threat volcanoes under the National Volcano Early Warning System."
     Said the senator, "Scientists at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are at the front lines of monitoring, responding to, and protecting us from volcanic activity. Our state saw this first hand last year as HVO scientists worked around the clock to provide constant information about the Kīlauea eruption. This significant federal investment will support ongoing HVO monitoring at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, and I will continue to advocate for federal resources to support their crucial mission."

Sen. Mazie Hirono and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge

 Tina Neal at the Emergency Operations Center in Hilo in May 2018.

 Photo from Hirono

     Hirono is a consistent champion of HVO, its mission, and its presence on Hawaiʻi Island. In May, she secured $72.3 million in funding for HVO to rebuild its headquarters and support staff operating in temporary facilities following their displacement from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
     During his confirmation hearing in March, Hirono urged then-Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to incorporate feedback from Hawaiʻi Island residents and Hawaiʻi's Congressional Delegation before deciding whether to move the Observatory to Oʻahu. Following a meeting in May with Director of the USGS Director John Reilly, Hirono announced that HVO would remain anchored on Hawaiʻi Island.

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Kaʻū Voices joined rallies around the island today on what is called 

Impeachment Eve. Photo from Kaʻū Voices

KAʻŪ VOICES JOINED THE NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW IMPEACHMENT EVE RALLIES that were held around the country today. Laruie Boyle, a spokesperson for Kaʻū Voices, said there were small rallies at South Point Road and Hwy 11 and in Nāʻālehu and elsewhere around the island and the nation. "Today we rose up to tell members of Congress that they made an oath to uphold the Rule of Law--not the Party favors to the President. We must protect the future of our Democracy and our three co-equal branches of govt."

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 CANDLE IN A WINDOW LED TO TOTAL LOSS OF A HOʻOKENA HOME. Hawaiʻi Fire Department reported yesterday that Sunday's fire jumped from a candle to a window screen.

    All residents safely left the building before it became entirely engulfed. Fire Capt. Dave Stimac reported that the house was a significant distance down a narrow unpaved driveway. "Unfortunately, it was a total loss due to its proximity to the nearest Fire Station."

     Hawaiʻi Police Department and Red Cross came to the scene to help the victims.

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SUPPORT FOR A LAWSUIT AGAINST GUT AND REPLACE practices in the state legislature was filed in an amicus by The Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi. Originally filed by the League of Women Voters of Honolulu and Common Cause, the lawsuit was rejected in Circuit Court earlier this year, but the two public interest groups have now applied to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court to hear the case.
     A statement from The Grassroot Institute defines gut and replace: "When the Legislature takes a bill already approved in one chamber and, without public notice, guts its content and replaces it with completely different language, leaving only its title as bearing any relationship to the originally introduced version."
     Keliʻi Akina, Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi president, said, "This makes a mockery of the democratic process and undermines the people's faith in open, accountable government."

     The Grassroot Institute's filing of the amicus brief comes on the heels of a lawsuit initiated by attorney and former University of Hawaiʻi regent Jeff Portnoy. He alleges that "the passage of a law that changed the composition of the UH Board of Regents was unconstitutional because its contents didn't receive three readings in the House and Senate as required under the Hawaiʻi Constitution. The law as introduced was about distance-learning programs, but the language was gutted and replaced," says the statement from The Grassroot Institute.
     The amicus brief in support of the League of Women Voters and Common Cause lawsuit was filed by Grassroot Scholar Robert Thomas, a director with the law firm Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, and managing attorney of the Pacific Legal Foundation's Hawaiʻi Center. It makes three main points:
     "First, we provide the context for the legal analysis — how 'We, the People of Hawaiʻi,' appear to have lost faith in our government, in part because of things like gut-and-replace.
     "Second, how two Hawaiʻi Supreme Court decisions set out the burden of proof and provide the roadmap the circuit court should have followed here.
     "Finally, how and why the plaintiffs should be allowed to prove their case on remand [and thus] urges this court to vacate the judgment and remand the case."
     Akina noted that, "The Hawaiʻi Legislature could end 'gut and replace' on its own, by passing rules that prevent substantial changes to a bill that has passed in one house. It could also require more specific titles for bills and ensure that the public gets the opportunity to weigh in on the substance of every bill considered. 

     "However, if the Legislature won't take action, then it is up to us, 'the people,' to ask the courts to uphold transparency and protect the democratic process by putting an end to 'gut and replace.'"

     Click here to read the full amicus brief.

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WIND AND SURF ADVISORIES are in effect for east-facing portions of Kaʻū and the rest of the state through tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. The National Weather Service stated east winds 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 50 mph, are expected for lower elevations, with the summits of Mauna Loa and Maunakea experiencing east winds of 20 to 35 mph, with gusts to 55 mph. The highest winds on Hawaiʻi Island will occur through passes and over ridges in locations which include areas near South Point, Saddle Road, Upolu Point, and the summits.

     NWS states the winds "will make driving difficult," and that motorists "should exercise caution while driving." The winds contributed to the partial rollover of a fuel tractor trailer in Kawaihae today.

     The High Surf Advisory includes expected surf heights of 5 to 8 feet along east facing shores. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break, and strong longshore and rip currents "making swimming difficult and dangerous," states NWS. Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers "should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution." Boaters should expect recreational surfers and body boarders utilizing harbor channels to access surfing areas.

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.

Vote for the best decorated cottages at KMC through 

the first day of 2020. Photo from KMC

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AT KĪLAUEA MILITARY CAMP, with voting for the best decorated cottages, a buffet on Christmas Day, and a New Year's Eve toast:

     Vote for the best cottage at KMC through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The public is invited to stroll along the sidewalks around the KMC Cottages where the staff has entered a contest for best Christmas decorations. The outdoor displays are best seen at night. KMC is located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

     KMC hosts a Christmas Day dinner buffet, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 25 at Crater Rim Café. Main entrees will be Prime Rib, Roast Turkey, and Holiday Lamb Stew. $29.95/adult, $16.95/child for ages 6-11, five and under free. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

     The KMC New Year's Eve Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. at the Lava Lounge will have live music from Blue Tattoo. The $10 cover charge includes a champagne toast at midnight. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

     Call 967-8356 or see kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

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.

TROJANS GIRLS BASKETBALL yesterday saw Kaʻū host the Pāhoa Junior Varsity team, and the Christian Liberty Varsity team.

     The JV game finished with the Trojans at 12, the Daggers at 27. Riley Brown of Kaʻū scored 6, Alazaeh Abellera scored 5, and Hulali Baji scored 1.

     The Varsity game ended with closer scores, with the Trojans at 33, and the Canefires at 47. Kaohinani Grace scored 12 points for Kaʻū, Jayme Kaneshiro scored 7, Grace Smith and CeAndra Silva-Kamei each scored 5, and Melinda Eder and Marilou Manantan each scored 2.

     The soccer teams and the Boys Basketball team will host Keaau tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 18.

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.

See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.

2019-2020 Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball

Tue., Jan. 7 @Kohala

Fri., Jan. 10 host Honokaʻa

Boys Basketball

Wed., Dec. 18 host Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 @St. Joseph

Sat., Dec. 28 host Kohala

Fri., Jan. 3 host HPA

Sat., Jan. 4 host Pāhoa

Thu., Jan. 9 @Waiakea

Sat., Jan. 11, @Konawaena

Wrestling

Sat., Jan. 4 @Waiakea

Sat., Jan. 11 @Kealakehe

Soccer

Wed., Dec. 18, @Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 Boys host Christian Liberty, 3pm

Mon., Dec. 23 Boys host Kohala, 3pm

Sat., Jan. 4 Girls host Honokaʻa, 3pm

Mon., Jan. 6 @HPA

Wed., Jan. 8 host Kealakehe, 2pm

Sat., Jan. 11 @Honokaʻa

Swimming

Sat., Jan. 4 @Kamehameha

Sat., Jan. 11 @Kona Community Aquatic Center

UPCOMING

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18

Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-7p.m.,Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Cafeteria. Family reading time plus make and take activities; snacks provided.

THURSDAY, DEC. 19

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, Dec. 19, 4-6p.m., 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

Nāʻālehu School Family Reading Night, Thursday, Dec. 19, 6-7p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, and snacks provided. Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

Dances of Universal Peace, Friday, Dec. 20, 6-7:30p.m., Methodist Church hall, across from Nā‘ālehu Post Office. Fun, easy to learn dances from many traditions evoking peace. Donations welcome. No registration necessary. 939-9461, hualaniom2@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

Free Haircut Day, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Kady and Drew Foster. 12 slots available. Also, Free Shower Day and The Big Island Giving Tree hand out clothes and items like razors and toothbrushes. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Nature & Culture, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate hike, approx. 2 miles. nps.gov/havo

Zentangle - Inspired Art Pop-Up Exhibit & Reception, Saturday, Dec. 21, 10a.m., Volcano Art Center. Meet the artists and discover art created using the Zentangle method. Bring friends, art, and a light pupu to share. Make and take home a Zentangle Inspired ornament. Door prizes. No registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, DEC. 22

Ka‘ū Community Cleanup, Sunday, Dec. 22. Space available. BYO-4WD also welcome. R.S.V.P. in advance to 769-7629, mattieHWF@gmail.com, or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. wildhawaii.org

Palm Trail, Sunday, Dec. 22, 9:30-12:30p.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult hike - 2.6 mile loop. nps.gov/havo

MONDAY, DEC. 23

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment: Kapa Aloha ‘Āina, the fabric of Hawai‘i with Puakea Forester, Monday, Dec. 23, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Pre-registration required; class size limited. $10 per person supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

TUESDAY, DEC. 24

H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. Board Mtg., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 10a.m., H.O.V.E. RMC office, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean View. 929-9910, hoveroad.com

ONGOING

Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Vote for the Best Cottage Decorations at Kīlauea Military Camp through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The public is invited to stroll along the sidewalks around the KMC Cottages where the staff has entered a contest for best Christmas decorations. The outdoor displays are best seen at night. KMC is located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

     KMC hosts a Christmas Day dinner buffet, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Dec. 25 at Crater Rim Café. Main entrees of Prime Rib, Roast Turkey, and Holiday Lamb Stew. $29.95/adult, $16.95/child for ages 6-11, five and under free. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

     The KMC New Year's Eve Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. at the Lava Lounge will have live music from Blue Tattoo. The $10 cover charge includes a champagne toast at midnight. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

     Call 967-8356 or see kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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.

   

    

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, December 16, 2019

Waikapuna will be preserved for future generations. Photo from PONC 

WAIKAPUNA IS CONSERVED, with final documents recorded for the 2,317 acres in Kāhilipalinui and Kāhilipali‘iki ahupua‘a, Ka‘ū Moku. The sale and acquisition was announced today by the
Ala Kahakai Trail Association, which holds title; the state of Department of Land and Natural Resources' Legacy Land Conservation Program, which helped to fund the purchase; land owner Ka‘ū Mahi LLC; and The Trust Public Land, which negotiated the sale.
     County of Hawai‘i's Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation (PONC) Program granted $4 million; Legacy Land granted $2 million.
     While the land is owned by Ala Kahakai Trail Association, a perpetual conservation easement is owned by the County, restricting the land to agricultural and cultural preservation uses. This is the first conservation easement purchased by the County under the PONC program.

     Said Keoni Fox, Director, Ala Kahakai Trail Association, "This purchase conserves over 2.3 miles of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail or ala loa, the ancient fishing village of Waikapuna, and hundreds of intact pre-contact Native Hawaiian cultural sites. This land holds special meaning for Native Hawaiians as it is the place where noted Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui spent her summers as a child, and where she learned the traditions and knowledge that formed the basis of her book, The Polynesian Family System in Ka‘ū.
     As the new steward of the land, Ala Kahakai Trail Association can "preserve both our ancient history and the paniolo heritage of ranching in Ka‘ū. We look forward to working closely with Ka‘ū families to mālama this special ‘āina and cultural legacy for future generations."
     Landowner Kaʻū Mahi, LLC sold the property for $6 million, while donating approximately $1.3 million in value. "We want to thank the landowner Ka’ū Mahi, LLC, for being patient and working closely with us on this conservation purchase. We could not have conserved this agricultural and cultural treasure for the people of Hawai‘i without the landowner's generosity and flexibility," said Lea Hong, Hawaiian Islands State Director, The Trust for Public Land.

     Said Byron Levkulich, Board Member, Kaʻū Mahi, LLC, the seller of the land, "We are humbled to have been part of this community effort to conserve these special lands."

     Suzanne Case, Chair of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, said that, in addition to protecting important cultural sites and scenic portions of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, the property also includes sea cliffs and caves that are nesting areas for seabirds like the Noio, Hawaiian black noddy. "Waikapuna has it all – cultural significance and incredible coastal natural resources. We are pleased that the Legacy Land Conservation Program contributed to the preservation of this land. The Legacy Program has created a tremendous legacy for Hawai‘i in its nearly 15 years."

     The statement said, "The Kaʻū community has been working decades to protect their beloved 80 mile coast to honor their kūpuna and empower future generations to perpetuate their rural, subsistence lifestyle. The Waikapuna purchase is the first among five conservation projects to close, including Kawala (conservation easement only), Manakaʻa Fishing Village, Kiolaka‘a, and Kaunamano, which are pending. All five projects would conserve over 6,000 acres of coastline, cultural sites, and pasture land, and connect over 10 miles of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail."

     The County of Hawai‘i's Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Fund is used to acquire land or easements for public outdoor recreation and education, including mauka/makai access, historic or culturally important areas and sites, natural resource, significant habitat or eco-systems, forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty, agricultural lands, and watersheds. Learn more at hawaiicounty.gov/departments/finance/property-management.

     The Legacy Land Conservation Program provides grants to community organizations and government agencies that strive to purchase and protect land that shelters exceptional, unique, threatened, and endangered resources. Learn more at dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/llcp.

     The Ala Kahakai Trail Association helps to connect the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail to the community and ensures that Hawaiian values and principles are acknowledged and practiced. See alakahakaitrail.org.
     The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. See tpl.org/hawaii.

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.

Hikers at Kahuku Unit. Photo from NPS

KAHUAKU UNIT WILL STAY OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK, according to an announcement from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's. The current schedule, open Wednesday through Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., was announced to change, starting in January, to Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., last week. The Park gave no reason for not keeping to the change.

     The schedule, increased from three days a week, was established to serve visitors during the Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse of 2018, which closed the main part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for 134 days. Entrance to Kahuku will remain free. Post-eruption recovery in the Park's Kīlauea section continues as more trails and features are repaired and reopen to the public. Ranger-led hikes, special programs, trail descriptions, and a map of Kahuku are featured on the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku.htm.

     The Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5. Kahuku is located in beautiful Ka‘ū, and is about a 50-minute drive south of the Park's main entrance. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection, and a snack are recommended for all hikes.

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.

Little fire ants. NPS photo

LITTLE FIRE ANTS TREATMENT at Steam Vents parking lot in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park means the parking lot will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon. Only the Steam Vents parking lot and the trail from the parking lot to Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) will be closed; Wahinekapu and Crater Rim Trail will remain open. If it rains, a backup date is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 19 at the same time.

     LFA detections have decreased by at least 99 percent at Steam Vents since the Park began treating the area in February. In 2018, LFA were abundant and readily observed on vegetation and along the edge of the parking lot. In September, park pest control workers found LFA on just .1 percent of bait stations. 

     Pest control workers will treat Steam Vents every four to six weeks and the park will announce the temporary closures in news releases, on the park website, nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes, and via social media. The goal is to completely exterminate the ants from the area. Visitors can help by checking their gear and vehicles for LFA before coming to the park.

     This will be the eighth treatment cycle at Steam Vents. For more information on LFA, how to control them and how to prevent spreading them, visit littlefireants.com. 

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 WIND ADVISORY is set for Kaʻū and most of Hawaiʻi Island through tomorrow night at 8 p.m., state forecasts. Moderate to breezy trade winds are expected return to more moderate speeds on Wednesday and Thursday. Cool and windy weather conditions are forecast from Thursday night into next weekend. Trade wind showers are expected to run through Saturday, favoring windward and mountain slopes in the overnight to early morning time periods.

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.

See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.

2019-2020 Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball

Tue., Jan. 7 @Kohala

Boys Basketball

Wed., Dec. 18 host Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 @St. Joseph

Sat., Dec. 28 host Kohala

Fri., Jan. 3 host HPA

Sat., Jan. 4 host Pāhoa

Wrestling

Sat., Jan. 4 @Waiakea

Soccer

Wed., Dec. 18, @Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 Boys host Christian Liberty, 3pm

Mon., Dec. 23 Boys host Kohala, 3pm

Sat., Jan. 4 Girls host Honokaʻa, 3pm

Mon., Jan. 6 @HPA

Swimming

Sat., Jan. 4 @Kamehameha

UPCOMING

TUESDAY, DEC. 17

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Dec. 17 (Committees), Wednesday, Dec. 18, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment: Ti Leaf Lei Making with Jelena Clay, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Pre-registration required; class size limited. $10 per person supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

After Dark in the Park: Holiday Concert, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7-8p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Acclaimed Hawai‘i musician and recording artist Randy Lorenzo and upcoming vocalist Jennie Kaneshiro. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18

Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-7p.m.,Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Cafeteria. Family reading time plus make and take activities; snacks provided.

THURSDAY, DEC. 19

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, Dec. 19, 4-6p.m., 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

Nāʻālehu School Family Reading Night, Thursday, Dec. 19, 6-7p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, and snacks provided. Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

Dances of Universal Peace, Friday, Dec. 20, 6-7:30p.m., Methodist Church hall, across from Nā‘ālehu Post Office. Fun, easy to learn dances from many traditions evoking peace. Donations welcome. No registration necessary. 939-9461, hualaniom2@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

Free Haircut Day, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Kady and Drew Foster. 12 slots available. Also, Free Shower Day and The Big Island Giving Tree hand out clothes and items like razors and toothbrushes. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Nature & Culture, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate hike, approx. 2 miles. nps.gov/havo

Zentangle - Inspired Art Pop-Up Exhibit & Reception, Saturday, Dec. 21, 10a.m., Volcano Art Center. Meet the artists and discover art created using the Zentangle method. Bring friends, art, and a light pupu to share. Make and take home a Zentangle Inspired ornament. Door prizes. No registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, DEC. 22

Ka‘ū Community Cleanup, Sunday, Dec. 22. Space available. BYO-4WD also welcome. R.S.V.P. in advance to 769-7629, mattieHWF@gmail.com, or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. wildhawaii.org

Palm Trail, Sunday, Dec. 22, 9:30-12:30p.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult hike - 2.6 mile loop. nps.gov/havo

MONDAY, DEC. 23

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment: Kapa Aloha ‘Āina, the fabric of Hawai‘i with Puakea Forester, Monday, Dec. 23, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Pre-registration required; class size limited. $10 per person supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

ONGOING

Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, December 15, 2019

Sonya and Judah Crane, of Waiʻōhinu, with Santa and the Missus, Lance and Pam Ako, after the Christmas Lighting Parade, Saturday in Nāʻālehu. See more photos below from the parade and from Holidays at Kahuku.
Photo by Julia Neal

WALLS OF PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ ARE COLLAPSING and are expected to take Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory equipment with them into the crater. Perched on the north rim, a communications hub and web cam "will very likely fall into the crater as the north rim continues to collapse," states the HVO website. HVO already implemented an alternate communication hub for geophysical data acquisition, "so there was no gap when the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō hub started tipping precariously." All the webcams at the crater's edge went offline on Monday, states HVO. A helicopter flight on Friday confirmed the hub has not fallen in yet, "which means either the antenna signal is blocked from the hub or that the solar panels are no longer able to recharge the batteries powering the antenna," states the site.

Webcams and transmission hub at the edge of Puʻu ʻŌʻō are expected to fall

 into the crater as the rim continues to collapse. USGS photo by C. Parcheta

     When a crack near an existing data-telemetry hub on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō was observed to be growing over several weeks, HVO prepared a contingency hub that could be rapidly installed if/when necessary. On Nov. 15, after a portion of the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater rim collapsed, further threatening the existing telemetry hub, HVO field engineers deployed the contingency hub nearby. Telemetry hubs transmit important data from monitoring instruments on the volcano to HVO scientists, providing them information they need to track changes on Kīlauea.
     A time-lapse camera was installed on the south rim of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō to document the continuing collapse of the north rim. On Friday the crater was too steamy to see the north rim, but the camera will capture the sequence of events when visibility is improved. This camera is not telemetered in real-time.

Justine Dennis spins yarn from locally grown Alpaca wool in front of the 

 Knitwits booth. Creations of the Ocean View womens' group sell to

 benefit Kaʻū Food Pantry. Photo by Annie Bosted

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MUSIC, CRAFTS, AND FOOD drew a large crowd of Kaʻū residents and tourists to the second annual Holdays at Kahuku in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Saturday.

     Crowd-pleasing tunes were the constant entertainment at the community event. Classically-trained opera singer D'Andrea Pelletier, from Volcano, opened the show with her powerful and emotional rendition of popular classics. She was followed by two bands, Blue Tattoo and Shootz, in a musical
line-up that gave the event a festive boost.

Shootz entertains the crowds with  Rock & Roll and Motown. 

 Photo by Annie Bosted

     The popular event was sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Elizabeth Fein, President and CEO, told The Kaʻū Calendar that, while the event could have been a fund raiser, it was really a community event intended to bring people together for a day at Kahuku where they could enjoy not only the music, but also food and the benefits of buying directly from crafters in Kaʻū.

     Said Fein, "We want to remind the community that the park is here. We are the Park's official philanthropic partner." Friends sponsors the popular After Dark at the Park lecture series, the Youth Ranger program, and other projects. The organization kept the Park open during the 35-day government shut down a year ago.

     Volcano House sold plate lunches, the Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū sold hot dogs, and the Friends of HVNP had drinks, chips, and shave ice for sale.

Thomas King demonstrates his workmanship of a box created from Koa 

wood to Karen and Jay Shannon of Ocean View. Photo by Annie Bosted

     Twenty-four vendors signed up for the event, offering crafts in mediums as diverse as feathers, glass, photography, paper, pottery, wood, wool, and preserved fruit.

     Justine Dennis, who brought her spinning wheel to the event and wove yarn from a bin of locally grown Alpaca wool, proved to be a popular draw. The Alpaca are raised within a few miles of the crafts fair, and are owned by an employee of the Park. The yarn produced by Dennis was a top-selling item at the Knitwits booth.

Rourk Reagan offers a taste of one of his locally sourced jams.
Photo by Annie Bosted

     Robyn Stratton, a founding member of Knitwits, told The Kaʻū Calendar that the informal group of women fabric artists in Ocean View has raised more than twice as much money from selling crafts this year, than they did in 2018.
     All the money from the sales goes directly to the Kaʻū Food Pantry. The Pantry is a non-profit organization that helps about 130 needy families in Ocean View. Knitwits meets each Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The size of the group can vary from two to 14 women. Members enjoy building warm friendships with other like-minded women, said Stratton, while creating saleable items, which, in turn, help the under-privileged. They welcome new members. 

     Rourk Reagan, owner of Pukana La Farms in Waiʻōhinu, produces jams and jellies from locally grown fruit. He told The Kaʻū Calendar that he uses surplus fresh fruit when it is in season. He creates a wide range of preserves, including persimmon from a tree in upper Hawaiian Ocean View Estates.

Lynn Clarke, of Ocean View, shows fused 
glass creations. Photo by Annie Bosted

     A long-time creator of fused glass art, Lynn Clarke, of Ocean View, combines pieces of glass and bakes them in her studio kiln until they fuse.

     Award-winning wood craftsman, Thomas King, established Woods of Hawaiʻi in 1990 in Kaʻū. He demonstrated his workmanship – all created from Koa  – with boxes, frames, jewelry, and more.

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PROTECTING PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLINE is the goal of legislation reintroduced by Sen. Brian Schatz and 15 other senators. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users' data.

     A statement from Schatz – the top Democrat on the Senate Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet Subcommittee – states that online companies hold personal and sensitive information about the people they serve, but are not required to protect consumers' data, as doctors, lawyers, and bankers must. "This leaves users in a vulnerable position: they are expected to understand the information they give to providers and how it is being used – an unreasonable expectation for even the most tech-savvy consumer. By establishing an explicit duty for online providers, Americans can trust that their online data is protected and used in a responsible way."

A logistics organizer of the Nāʻālehu Christmas Lighting
Parade on Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

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JANUARY IS VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH, announced U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates in this week's Volcano Watch:

     Neither Kīlauea nor Mauna Loa erupted in 2019, but this period of relative quiet must not lead to complacency about Hawaiʻi's two most active volcanoes. Both will eventually erupt again.

Santa hat singers of season joy. Photo by Julia Neal

     Given this fact, Hawaiʻi residents should stay informed and be prepared for the hazards posed by a restless or erupting volcano. As we all learned from Kīlauea's 2018 eruption, the possible impacts—lava flows, ground cracks, poor air quality, evacuations, road closures, and others—can be far-reaching and life-changing.

      Volcano Awareness Month, held every January since 2010, is one way that residents can learn more about the volcanoes that both inspire and concern us all. In January 2020, informative and engaging talks and hikes on Hawaiian volcanoes will be offered by USGS HVO in cooperation with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense. All are free and open to the public; Park entrance fees may apply.

     The complete schedule of Volcano Awareness Month programs, including dates, times, locations, and brief descriptions for the talks and hikes offered in January, is posted on HVO's website, volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/ under "HVO News" in the lower left corner of the homepage, at volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/file_mngr/file-236/2020%20VAM%20Schedule_Talks%20and%20Hikes.pdf, and in future Kaʻū News Briefs.

     For now, here's a brief overview of the January 2020 schedule:

Carols fill the air in Nāʻālehu. Photo by Julia Neal

     HVO scientists will present After Dark in the Park programs every Tuesday evening throughout the month in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Topics addressed in these talks include a recap of HVO's current situation since relocating to Hilo and what its future may hold, as well as updates on Kīlauea and Mauna Loa on Jan. 7; what's happening at Kīlauea Volcano's summit and the crater lake within Halema‘uma‘u on Jan. 14; insight from ongoing research and monitoring on Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone on Jan. 21; and the unprecedented level of seismicity that occurred in 2018 on Jan. 28. Each program starts at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.
     UH-Hilo main campus in the University Classroom Building (UCB) Room 100 will host two talks. At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 9, is a repeat of the January 7 After Dark in the Park program on HVO's status and volcano updates. The second program on Thursday, Jan. 16 will describe how lava samples collected from erupting fissures in 2018 have revealed the complex story of magma that fed the eruption.

Sacred Heart Church of Nāʻālehu draws youth members to participate. Photo by Julia Neal

     On the Kona side of the island, a presentation about damaging earthquakes in Hawaiʻi, including the dramatic seismicity in 2018, and how to prepare for the next "big one" will be offered twice on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The talk will be first presented at the Kona Public Library at 3:30 p.m. and then repeated at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center at 6 p.m.

Kaʻū Auto Parts truck draped in lights. Photo by Julia Neal

     Programs about Mauna Loa, Earth's largest active volcano, will be offered in two locations. On Wednesday, Jan. 29, an HVO scientist will talk about the current status and eruptive history of the volcano at the Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park amphitheater at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Jan. 30, an HVO will team with Civil Defense to provide information about Mauna Loa—its current status, potential hazards, how to prepare for the next eruption, and more—in the Ocean View Community Center at 6 p.m.

     The 2020 line-up also includes a number of hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park guided by HVO scientists and Park rangers. These hikes include treks through Kīlauea Iki, walks through Kīlauea Volcano's summit history, a look at the 1868 Mauna Loa lava flow on a trail in the Park's Kahuku Unit, and a venture back to the 1969-74 Mauna Ulu eruption.

Christmas joy on wheels in Nāʻālehu. Photo by Julia Neal

     HVO spearheads Volcano Awareness Month each January because we realize the importance of understanding the spectacular volcanoes on which we live and of being prepared for the next eruption. We hope our 2020 programs will be just the start of your quest to learn more about our volcanic island home.
    If you're unable to attend the Volcano Awareness Month talks and hikes, you can learn and stay informed about Hawaiian volcanoes through HVO's website. There, you will find volcano updates, monitoring data, geologic histories for

     Volcano Activity Update

     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting and its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL. Monitoring data showed no significant changes in activity over the past month. Seismicity was relatively consistent with some episodic increased rates at the summit coincident with inflation. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are low at the summit and below detection limits at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the lower East Rift Zone. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen.

First Peaberry Princess, Kendall Haddock. 
Photo by Julia Neal

     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain.

     This past week, about 90 small-magnitude earthquakes – all less than M2.0 – were detected beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa. Deformation measurements show continued summit inflation. Fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.

     One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred on Hawaiʻi Island this past week: a magnitude-2.4 quake 27 km (17 mi) east of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo at -2 km (-1 mi) depth on Dec. 11 at 11:10 a.m.

     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

Hot truck wears Christmas stockings. Photo by Julia Neal

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PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS is the theme of Sakada Day 2019, a celebration held Saturday, Dec. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Pāhoa Commuity Center. A group from the Kaʻū Filipino community is expected to attend. Sakada Day was held in Pāhala in 2017.

     Cornelia Anguay, one of the planners of the Sakada Day event, says, "As the few remaining Sakadas leave this Earth, we call on the next generation to recover and connect to the sakada history, as we create our path towards the future. We invite young people and descendants of the sakadas to come and connect to this heritage."
     Organizers ask anoyone who knows a sakada to call 808-987-8284.

Miss Peaberry, Lilianna Marques. 
Photo by Julia Neal

     The celebration, organized by the Sakada Committee, honors the first Filipino economic migrants who came to Hawaiʻi to work at the sugarcane plantations. The Sakadas were instrumental in establishing a vibrant Filipino community in Hawaiʻi and in fighting for workers rights, dignity, and unionized plantation labor.  During the event, sakadas will be honored and recognized with traditional songs, dances, food, certificates, and congratulatory messages.

     A total of 126,000 Filipino workers worked in Hawaiʻi’s sugarcane plantations. The first 15 Sakadas arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1906 and the last 6,000 workers arrived in 1946. From 1906 to 1946, the estimated number of Sakadas in Hawaiʻi was around 126,000.

     On the Sakada Day website, sakadahawaii.wordpress.com, Belinda A. Aquino, PhD Former Director, Center for Philippine Studies, states that "Filipinos have come here since 1906. During the plantation era and until now. They come in big numbers. To the point that the latest census will show you that the Filipinos are now the biggest Asian group in Hawaiʻi."

     Kaʻū boasts two living Sakadas: Leovegildo "Hildo" Mercado and Prudencio Tayamen. Both men, now in their 90s, came to Hawai‘i in 1946. They are among the many Filipino immigrants who helped build Hawaiʻi agriculture, from pineapple and sugar to Ka‘ū Coffee.

Second Peaberry Princess, Helen Miranda.
Photo by Julia Neal

     Mercado sailed from Salomague Port in Cabugao, Illocos Sur, Philippines, sister city to Hawaiʻi County. He worked with pineapple on Lana‘i before transferring to Ka‘ū, where he started in the fire room, then became a fuel driver, and later a cane drier. Retired, he "can be seen driving around Pāhala, frequenting cock fights, hunting, and growing vegetables, which he generously shares with his neighbors" notes the event program from last year's Pāhala Sakada Day.

     Tayamen came from Laoag, Illocos Norte, Philippines. He worked at Halakalu Plantation, north of Hilo, then moved to O‘ahu to become a stevedore. In Ka‘ū, he was a seedcutter at Hutchinson and Ka‘ū Sugar until he retired. He has four sons, four daughters, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
     Sakada Day 2019 Celebration paves a way in tracing the history of Filipinos in Hawaiʻi, acknowledging the hard work and sacrifices of the Sakadas, and educating the young Filipino generations in Hawaiʻi about their past. For more information about the event, contact Francis Dumanig at fdumanig@hawaii.edu and Jeanne Batallones at jbatallo@hawaii.edu.

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STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY to the U.S. Department of Agriculture AgDiscovery program. Youths in grades 9, 10 , and 11 are eligible. Hosted by USDA at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, AgDiscovery is a free, two-week summer program in which students learn about careers in agriculture, agribusiness, and animal and plant science. The deadline to apply is March 20, 2020. Refer to the program flyer for more information and visit www.aphis.usda.gov/agdiscovery to apply. Contact Erin Foley at erin.k.foley@usda.gov with questions.

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GINGER RIDGE FARMS IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, a certified organic diversified farm located in Mountain View, is seeking energetic and reliable part- and full-time workers to help with farm work, product manufacturing, and marketing at local farmers markets. Interested applicants should call Howard James at 808-968-7622 for more information.

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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.

See monthly and weekly Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, and Meditation at kaucalendar.com.

2019-2020 Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule

Girls Basketball

Mon., Dec. 16 host Pāhoa JV/Christian Liberty

Tue., Jan. 7 @Kohala

Boys Basketball

Wed., Dec. 18 host Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 @St. Joseph

Sat., Dec. 28 host Kohala

Fri., Jan. 3 host HPA

Sat., Jan. 4 host Pāhoa

Wrestling

Sat., Jan. 4 @Waiakea

Soccer

Mon., Dec. 16 Girls host HPA, 3pm

Wed., Dec. 18, @Keaʻau

Sat., Dec. 21 Boys host Christian Liberty, 3pm

Mon., Dec. 23 Boys host Kohala, 3pm

Sat., Jan. 4 Girls host Honokaʻa, 3pm

Mon., Jan. 6 @HPA

Swimming

Sat., Jan. 4 @Kamehameha

UPCOMING

TUESDAY, DEC. 17

Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Dec. 17 (Committees), Wednesday, Dec. 18, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

Cultural Understanding Through Art & the Environment: Ti Leaf Lei Making with Jelena Clay, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Pre-registration required; class size limited. $10 per person supply fee. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

After Dark in the Park: Holiday Concert, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 7-8p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Acclaimed Hawai‘i musician and recording artist Randy Lorenzo and upcoming vocalist Jennie Kaneshiro. Free; park entrance fees apply. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18

Ocean View Community Association Board of Directors Mtg., Wednesday, Dec. 18, 12:30-1:30p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Family Reading Night, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-7p.m.,Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Cafeteria. Family reading time plus make and take activities; snacks provided.

THURSDAY, DEC. 19

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thursday, Dec. 19, 4-6p.m., 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

Nāʻālehu School Family Reading Night, Thursday, Dec. 19, 6-7p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Family reading, make & take activities, and snacks provided. Free. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

Dances of Universal Peace, Friday, Dec. 20, 6-7:30p.m., Methodist Church hall, across from Nā‘ālehu Post Office. Fun, easy to learn dances from many traditions evoking peace. Donations welcome. No registration necessary. 939-9461, hualaniom2@yahoo.com

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

Free Haircut Day, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Kady and Drew Foster. 12 slots available. Also, Free Shower Day and The Big Island Giving Tree hand out clothes and items like razors and toothbrushes. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Nature & Culture, Saturday, Dec. 21, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate hike, approx. 2 miles. nps.gov/havo

Zentangle - Inspired Art Pop-Up Exhibit & Reception, Saturday, Dec. 21, 10a.m., Volcano Art Center. Meet the artists and discover art created using the Zentangle method. Bring friends, art, and a light pupu to share. Make and take home a Zentangle Inspired ornament. Door prizes. No registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, DEC. 22

Ka‘ū Community Cleanup, Sunday, Dec. 22. Space available. BYO-4WD also welcome. R.S.V.P. in advance to 769-7629, mattieHWF@gmail.com, or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. wildhawaii.org

Palm Trail, Sunday, Dec. 22, 9:30-12:30p.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult hike - 2.6 mile loop. nps.gov/havo

ONGOING

Holiday Ornament Registration, through Dec. 16, Kahuku Park. Program takes place Wednesday, Dec. 18, 3-4p.m. Ages 6-14. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation

Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

T-Ball and Coach Pitch Baseball League: Ocean View Team - Mondays and Wednesdays, Kahuku Park. Nā‘ālehu Team - Tuesdays and Thursdays, Nā‘ālehu Park. Pāhala Team (seeking coaches) - attend Nā‘ālehu practice. T-Ball, 3:30-4:30pm, ages 5-6. Coach Pitch, 4:30-6p.m., ages 7-8. Programs take place through April 16. Wear cleats or tennis shoes, bring a glove if possible. Extras gloves available for use. All skills and genders welcome. $35 per teammate. See Ka‘ū Youth Baseball on Facebook. Josh or Elizabeth Crook, 345-0511

Tūtū & Me Home Visiting Program is a free service to Pāhala families with keiki, birth to five years old. This caregiver support program offers those taking care of young keiki "a compassionate listening ear, helpful parenting tips and strategies, fun and exciting activities, and wonderful educational resources" from Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool. Home visits are one hour in length, two to four times per month, for 12 to 15 visits. Snacks are provided. See pidfoundation.org or call 808-938-1088.

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.