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Santa steps off a fire truck in Ocean View, as hundreds of
keiki and their families shout a loud welcome. Kaida Houvener,
who manages
South Point U-Cart, is unrecognizable under the traditional Santa outfit. Read
about Saturday's event
and see more photos, below. Photo by Annie
Bosted
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NO THIRTY METER TELESCOPE PROJECT FOR MAUNAKEA "AT THIS
TIME," announced Gov. David Ige during a press conference this morning, on day 158 of protesters blocking access to the project site. He
said the state was informed that Hawaiʻi "remains the preferred site"
for TMT, but that construction would not proceed under current circumstances.
Several news sources reported today that state
law enforcement issued a deadline to protectors encamped at Maunakea Access
Road this morning: they must vacate their camp by Thursday, Dec. 26 or be
arrested. The Honolulu Star Advertiser reported that branch chief of the
Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resource Management,
Lino Kamakau, made the announcement to about 75 protectors. Honolulu Star
Advertiser reported that Noenoe Wong-Wilson, one of the kūpuna at the camp,
said that elders will discuss the deadline, but that she didn't think the kiaʻi
would voluntarily clear out after protesting since July 15.
Vice president of
external relations for the $1.4 billion telescope, Gordon Squires, said opening
Maunakea Access Road "should not be predicated on TMT's timing to start
construction. Over the last five months, we participated in frequent
discussions with the state on finding a peaceful, lawful, and non-violent way
forward on Maunakea. We don't want to put our workers, the people of Hawaiʻi,
and the protesters at risk.
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| Specifications of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Image from TMT |
"Unfortunately, the state and Hawaiʻi County have not demonstrated
that they are able to provide safe, sustained access to Maunakea for everyone.
For us, this dates all the way back to our groundbreaking in October 2014, and
subsequent attempts to begin construction in April and June 2015, and in July
2019."
Squires said
those involved with TMT "are sensitive to the ongoing struggles of
indigenous populations around the world, and we will continue to support
conversations around TMT and the larger issues for which it has become a
flashpoint. We are participating in private conversations with community
leaders, but these conversations will take time.
"The project
and our individual partners are committed to moving forward in a manner that
honors and supports our scientific goals, environmental stewardship, and the
traditions and culture of Hawaiʻi."
Said Ige,
"Today, the state reduced its personnel on Mauna Kea .
We made this decision after we were informed that TMT is not prepared to move
forward with construction on Mauna Kea at this time.
"State
personnel have been deployed to assist the Hawaiʻi County Police Department and
to help ensure public safety and safe access for Thirty Meter Telescope
equipment and personnel. State personnel and resources will continue to be
available upon request to support Hawaiʻi County's efforts to restore full
public access on Mauna Kea Access Road.
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| Kiaʻi, protectors, of Maunakea, have camped at Maunakea Access Road since July 15, 158 days as of today. Photo from Puʻu Honua o Puʻu Huluhulu |
"While I am
disappointed that TMT will not move forward at this time, I hope this will
allow for some respite during the holiday season. I also remain committed to
continuing the many conversations that are currently taking place. I know that
we can do great things when we work together, and I am hopeful that our
community will be stronger going forward.
"I want to
thank the officers of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, as well as our
state law enforcement officers at the Department of Land and Natural Resources,
Public Safety and the Attorney General's office."
See the press
conference here.
Big Island
Video News reported that Hawaiʻi County Police Chef Paul Ferreira said
Hawaiʻi County Police will continue regular traffic patrols on the Daniel K.
Inouye Highway, "but will no longer have officers specifically assigned to
the area of the Mauna Kea Access Road protests against Thirty Meter
Telescope."
University of Hawaiʻi
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Noenoe Wong-Wilson was one of about 30 kūpuna arrested two
days after
the protests began on July 15. Those still encamped at
Public image from amazonaws.com
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Lassner said UH "embrace(s) the
decommissioning of multiple telescopes on the mauna and the commitments to
stewardship, education, and culture embedded in the permit conditions for the
TMT and the resolutions of our Board of Regents."
He said UH still supports TMT "as part of a positive future for modern world-class astronomy on Maunakea… a place of inspiration, awe, and spirituality for many, where modern astronomy can and should coexist synergistically with traditional knowledge and culture to advance all the people of Hawaiʻi and the world."
He said UH still supports TMT "as part of a positive future for modern world-class astronomy on Maunakea… a place of inspiration, awe, and spirituality for many, where modern astronomy can and should coexist synergistically with traditional knowledge and culture to advance all the people of Hawaiʻi and the world."
Thousands of
Hawaiians and others have raised voices in opposition, said Lassner, "and I
am sorry for the pain that UH's support of TMT and astronomy on Maunakea has
caused. At the same time, some Hawaiians and others have shared that they
consider the study of astrophysics, the beginnings of the universe and the
origins of mankind, to be the most spiritual of endeavors. Some consider the
fact that Maunakea is the best site in the world for astronomical observation
to be a gift to the people who were the best naked eye astronomers of their day
– the Polynesians who first settled here after navigating to these most
isolated of islands using their knowledge of the stars along with the ocean and
winds, the clouds and the birds.”
Lassner said he is inspired by collaborations, such as Hawaiian-speaking students creating new Hawaiian names for the celestial bodies discovered in Hawaiʻi, saying "they are examples of collaborations that take place nowhere else on earth." He committed UH to strengthening the stewardship of Maunakea. He also said the sole root causes of the "deep turmoil that Hawaiʻi has faced over these last months, including the reawakening of many to the need for justice," are not just about TMT but "the historic wrongs against Native Hawaiians."
Lassner said he is inspired by collaborations, such as Hawaiian-speaking students creating new Hawaiian names for the celestial bodies discovered in Hawaiʻi, saying "they are examples of collaborations that take place nowhere else on earth." He committed UH to strengthening the stewardship of Maunakea. He also said the sole root causes of the "deep turmoil that Hawaiʻi has faced over these last months, including the reawakening of many to the need for justice," are not just about TMT but "the historic wrongs against Native Hawaiians."
Read his whole
statement here.
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Persephone Riegel, a year and a half old little Bat Girl, has her
photo taken with Santa. Photo by Annie Bosted
|
KEIKI O KAʻŪ BROUGHT SANTA TO KAHUKU COUNTY PARK in Ocean View on Saturday. Stepping off a fire truck, Santa was greeted with shouts of welcome from about 200 keiki and their families. Seated on a throne beside a Christmas tree, Santa posed for photos with each child and handed each child a gift.
Steve Stigall of Keiki O Kaʻū, who is supporting the effort to raise funds for a skate park in Ocean View, told The Kaʻū Calendar that every business in Ocean View donated something towards the event - either food or gifts for the children. Among those that contributed food were Liʻi and Corinthia Samoa, Kanaka Grinds, Rosie Pauler, and Kunlei and Kona Smith. Face painting was provided by Joyce Santiago. Kaida Houvener, who manages South Point U-Cart, played Santa for the keiki. Santa's local elves, Sierrarose Houvener and Kawai Smith, made sure that Santa had an age-appropriate gift for each child who sat on his knee.
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Behind Santa's throne – and out of site of the attendees –
is
a pile of wrapped gifts, sorted according to the age of
the keiki for whom they
are most appropriate. Santa's
helpers, Sierrarose Houvener and Kawai Smith,
made
sure that Santa had a gift for each child on
his knee. Photo by Annie
Bosted
|
The new PAR site
combines the most popular resources from the old address with some new
features: information sheets – calendar, lists, directories – on the Current
Legislature page; guides to setting up an account, offering testimony, and
bill tracking under the Engage tab on the Engagement 101
page; how the legislative process works and how a bill becomes a law can be
found under the Learn tab on the Overview of the Legislative Process page; and a keiki page to
help younger folks learn about how things work in the legislative process.
A statement
from PAR reads: "We'll continue to try to improve the site and our
services to best meet your needs. Please don't hesitate to provide feedback and
suggestions – we'd love to hear from you. (Reply to this email or use our
new Contact page.)"
The 2020
legislative session will open on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Friday, Jan. 17 is the
last day to submit non-administration packages and requests for grants or subsidies.
Tuesday, Jan. 21 is the last day to submit administration bill packages. The
State of the State address will be held Tuesday, Jan. 21. The last day for
bills to be introduced will be Thursday, Jan. 23.
The mandatory five-day
recess will be held from Thursday, Feb. 20 through Wednesday, Feb. 26, though committee
hearings do take place during this week.
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Santa waves to the crowd as he arrives at the
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Thursday, March 5
is the deadline for bills to pass to the other chamber.
Friday, March 6
is the deadline for resolutions – legislative measures which request action of
a government entity or state the legislature's position on an issue. They don't
have the force and effect of law, require only one reading in chamber, and
don't need to be signed by the governor.
The deadline for bills
to pass third reading in their non-originating chamber and cross back to the
originating chamber is Thursday, April 9. That is also the last day for the
originating chamber to disagree with any amendments.
Any bill that
proposes an amendment to the state constitution must be presented in its final
form to the governor at least ten days prior to passing final reading by a 2/3
vote in each chamber, a deadline of Friday, April 24. Once adopted by the legislature,
the proposed amendment is submitted to the voters, in the form of a "yes
or no" question on the ballot.
Non-fiscal bills
must be submitted for final reading by both chambers by Wednesday, April 29,
while fiscal bills' deadlines are Thursday, April 30.
The sessions is
adjourned Thursday, May 7, the 60th legislative day of a regular session. The legislature
then certifies bills which both chambers have agreed on, and transmit them to
the governor.
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Joyce Santiago paints a design on young
Arya Mayfield at
the Keiki Christmas party.
Photo by Annie Bosted
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HAWAIʻI ISLAND PLAYED HOST TO MORE THAN 64 MEDIA PRODUCTIONS in 2019, as of Wednesday, according to an article in Hawaiʻi
Tribune-Herald today. The tally counts productions which were permitted through
the county but not ones that obtained permits only through the Hawaiʻi Film
Office or productions filmed on private property, which do not require permits,
Hawaiʻi Island Film Commissioner Justin Finestone told the publication.
Finestone told
the Tribune that $7.2 million was spent on Hawaiʻi Island projects this year,
but that the actual number might be higher when combined with numbers from the
state, which Finestone did not yet have. The numbers are lower than 2018,
which showed $7.4 in spending from 73 media productions, despite the Kīlauea
eruption causing a "slowdown," according to Finestone. He told the
paper that he was happy to see spending top $7 million in 2019. "The year
started slowly, and (the county) kind of rebounded over the summer, and we got
busy again," he told the Tribune.
Hawaiʻi Island is
a frequent site for travel and reality shows, commercials, and "a lot of
Japanese productions come here as well," said Finestone to the paper. In
2019, Are You the One, an MTV reality dating show shot its eighth season,
its third filmed in West Hawaiʻi , at a home on Keauhou
Bay
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| Santa sits on his throne, waiting to greet each child, give them a gift, and pose for a photo. Photo by Annie Bosted |
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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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2019-2020 Kaʻū Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball
Tue., Jan. 7 @Kohala
Fri., Jan. 10 host Honokaʻa
Boys Basketball
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
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
Swimming
Sat., Jan. 4 @Kamehameha
Sat., Jan. 11 @Kona Community Aquatic Center
UPCOMING
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
Dances of Universal Peace, Friday, Dec. 20, 6-7:30p.m. , Methodist Church
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 mil
Zentangle - Inspired Art Pop-Up Exhibit & Reception, Saturday, Dec. 21, 10a.m. , Volcano Art Center
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 l
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
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. 929-9
Kōnane, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 10a.m. -noon , Kīlauea Visitor Center
Christmas Buffet, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 5-8p.m. , Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café, in HVNP. Main entrees of Prime Rib, Roast Turkey, and Holiday Lamb Stew. $29.95/adult, $16.95/child (ages 6-11). Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
THURSDAY, DEC. 26
Ka‘ū Food Basket, Thursday – last Thursday, monthly – Dec. 26, 11a.m. -noon , Pāhala Community Center
Christmas in the Country featuring 20th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit, daily, through Dec. 31, Volcano Art Center Gallery. Free; park entrance fees app
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.
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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