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| Papio are among the fish populations that could be restored, according to a new study, Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi. Read more, below. Photo by Alan Friedlander |
Hawaiʻi Department of Health says the other active case on-island, reported Saturday, is "very isolated and connected to a previous travel-related case and is being monitored." The other 81 COVID-19 victims on Hawaiʻi Island recovered. No one died here. There were two hospitalizations on this island.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu has reported 508 cases, Kauaʻi 21, and Maui County 120. Twelve victims are residents who were diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 744 people have been confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu has reported 508 cases, Kauaʻi 21, and Maui County 120. Twelve victims are residents who were diagnosed while visiting other places. Statewide, 744 people have been confirmed positive for the virus. Seventeen people died.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 28 days, by zip code. White is
zero cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange (not pictured)
is six to ten cases. Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases.
Red (not pictured) is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map
|
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CORAL REEF FISHERIES COULD BE RESTORED with a diverse, integrated system of marine management areas to boost their resilience in a changing climate. That's the message from a comprehensive study on Hawaiʻi's nearshore waters and the need for more effective management. It's called Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi.
University of Hawaiʻi fisheries researcher, Dr. Alan Friedlander, is lead author. He said that well-designed marine management areas are a proven tool that can restore coral reef fisheries, increase coastal protection and provide recreational, cultural, and economic opportunities.
The study found that while Hawaiʻi has many marine management areas, most are too small and allow some form of human use within their boundaries that can limit their ability to restore depleted fisheries. "We need to improve the marine management areas we already have and effectively manage additional areas if we are to protect and restore Hawaiʻi's unique and valuable marine environment," said Friedlander. "That includes setting aside some areas where fishing is prohibited, because we know that replenishes fish stocks. It also includes areas where the State co-manages resources with coastal communities that want to implement more sustainable traditional management practices."
The study provides data for the State's initiative to effectively manage 30 percent of Hawaiʻi's nearshore waters by 2030. Key in reaching this goal is to create an ecologically connected network of marine management areas that can rebuild and sustain productive nearshore fisheries. According to Friedlander, reef fish populations have declined dramatically in Hawaiʻi over the last century, with some important food fish populations reduced by more than 90 percent.
The study also shows that, overall, marine management areas in Hawaiʻi are too small and that the average marine management area size (1.1 km2) is minuscule compared with the geographic extent of the species they are designed to protect. Hawaiʻi's marine management areas vary in size and levels of governance, enforcement and effectiveness. They comprise only five percent of State waters, extending out to three nautical miles from the shore, limiting their ability to sustain fish abundance across the state. Of that five percent, fully and highly protected waters cover only 1.4 percent of nearshore areas, with Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve accounting for most of it. Less than 0.1 percent are within marine protected areas, which provide full protection for fish to grow large and reproduce.
Studies show that when fish can mature in protected waters, they grow much larger and can produce exponentially more eggs than smaller, younger fish. The larger fish and their larvae can spill over into neighboring areas that are open to fishing. "Many fishers already know this and engage in what's called 'fishing the line' between MPAs and open fishing areas," Friedlander said. "In general, fishers can get the greatest benefit by protecting the largest spawning fishes in larger no-fishing areas."
Established in 1983, the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation Districts on Oʻahu's North Shore expanded seven-fold in 2003 and saw a dramatic increase in food fish biomass. "I can't describe the feeling of seeing more and bigger fish in the Marine Life Conservation District after years of seeing no visible change," said Jenny Yagodich, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea Education Director and Makai
Watch coordinator helping to co-manage the Marine Life Conservation District with the state Department of Land & Natural Resources. "Fisherfolk have expressed that the areas next to the Marine Life Conservation District are now abundant with fish thanks to spillover, and fishing is better there now than it was prior to protection."
Recent surveys in the Molokini Reserve offshore of Maui found more fish and larger predators, a sign of a healthy ecosystem, returned in a few months after restriction of boat traffic due to COVID-19. Species include ulua, omilu, and reef sharks. According to Friedlander who joined the survey team, "While these increases are likely temporary and will probably disappear once visitors return to Molokini, our surveys show just how quickly our marine systems can rebound if given a chance."
The study concludes that larger marine management areas protect a diverse range of habitats and help maintain the health and function of marine ecosystems. They provide protection for a wider range of species and serve as a buffer against environmental fluctuations and disturbances. With climate change and increased coral bleaching already occurring in the islands, establishing more and larger management areas will help protect the state's nearshore resources into the future, the study says. "Fortunately, the size and boundaries of current marine management areas can be designed as effective components of a larger network," say the authors in a statement.
Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi was published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Co-authors with Friedlander are Mary Donovan and Whitney Goodell who worked with University of Hawaiʻi, and Haruko Koike and Paul Murakawa, who worked with state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.
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The study found that while Hawaiʻi has many marine management areas, most are too small and allow some form of human use within their boundaries that can limit their ability to restore depleted fisheries. "We need to improve the marine management areas we already have and effectively manage additional areas if we are to protect and restore Hawaiʻi's unique and valuable marine environment," said Friedlander. "That includes setting aside some areas where fishing is prohibited, because we know that replenishes fish stocks. It also includes areas where the State co-manages resources with coastal communities that want to implement more sustainable traditional management practices."
The study provides data for the State's initiative to effectively manage 30 percent of Hawaiʻi's nearshore waters by 2030. Key in reaching this goal is to create an ecologically connected network of marine management areas that can rebuild and sustain productive nearshore fisheries. According to Friedlander, reef fish populations have declined dramatically in Hawaiʻi over the last century, with some important food fish populations reduced by more than 90 percent.
 |
| Food fish on Hawaiian reefs could substantially grow if nearby reefs were protected, according to the new study. See Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi. Photo by Jim Petruzzi |
Studies show that when fish can mature in protected waters, they grow much larger and can produce exponentially more eggs than smaller, younger fish. The larger fish and their larvae can spill over into neighboring areas that are open to fishing. "Many fishers already know this and engage in what's called 'fishing the line' between MPAs and open fishing areas," Friedlander said. "In general, fishers can get the greatest benefit by protecting the largest spawning fishes in larger no-fishing areas."
Established in 1983, the Pūpūkea Marine Life Conservation Districts on Oʻahu's North Shore expanded seven-fold in 2003 and saw a dramatic increase in food fish biomass. "I can't describe the feeling of seeing more and bigger fish in the Marine Life Conservation District after years of seeing no visible change," said Jenny Yagodich, Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea Education Director and Makai
 |
| Ulua return to no-fishing areas, the study says. See Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi. Photo by Alan Friedlander |
The study concludes that larger marine management areas protect a diverse range of habitats and help maintain the health and function of marine ecosystems. They provide protection for a wider range of species and serve as a buffer against environmental fluctuations and disturbances. With climate change and increased coral bleaching already occurring in the islands, establishing more and larger management areas will help protect the state's nearshore resources into the future, the study says. "Fortunately, the size and boundaries of current marine management areas can be designed as effective components of a larger network," say the authors in a statement.
Characteristics of Effective Marine Protected Areas in Hawaiʻi was published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Co-authors with Friedlander are Mary Donovan and Whitney Goodell who worked with University of Hawaiʻi, and Haruko Koike and Paul Murakawa, who worked with state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.
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| Michael Newman, who worked with Kupu at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Photo from Kupu |
THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT PASSED THE U.S. SENATE today and moves on to the House of Representatives where it is expected to pass. Sen. Mazie Hirono co-sponsored and supported the bill as a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bipartisan legislation is crafted to address the National Park Service's nearly $12 billion in deferred maintenance; permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund; and fund deferred maintenance needs in other agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education schools.
Hirono also introduced an amendment to the Great American Outdoors Act to clarify that deferred maintenance projects using public-private partnerships include organizations with qualified youth and conservation corps, like Kupu in Hawaiʻi. While the amendment was not adopted, Hirono said she will continue to advocate for employing conservation corps in completing maintenance projects. Last month, Hirono announced Hawaiʻi would receive more than $4 million in AmeriCorps funding, of which Kupu would receive approximately $2.29 million, serving more than 250 AmeriCorps members.
After passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, Hirono noted that the deferred maintenance backlog for Hawaiʻi National Park Service projects totaled more than $165 million as of 2018. "The Land and Water Conservation Fund has invested more than $260 million in conserving some of the most critical assets in Hawaiʻi over the last five decades and permanent, full funding is needed to continue that important work for our future generations. We must also maintain our beloved places like Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge. The support that this bill provides for Hawaiʻi's natural resources is critically needed and long overdue."
Simon M. Bussiere, President of Hawaiʻi Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, said, "Residents of Hawaiʻi and millions of people from all over the world visit the Hawaiian islands every year to enjoy our national, state, and local parks. These landscapes are incredibly important to our local culture and sense of place. Landscape architects take great pride in the work we do to design, maintain, and protect these spaces. But too often, these parks fall into disrepair due to lack of funding.
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| Lava tree molds, and the occasional rainbow, can be seen in various areas of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. NPS photo |
"The Great American Outdoors Act will go a long way to fixing these problems by permanently and fully funding LWCF and providing critical funds for park infrastructure. American Society of Landscape Architects is proud to support this bill. We thank Senator Hirono for sponsoring it and for her years of leadership on the conservation and protection of public lands."
Lea Hong, Hawaiian Islands State Director of Trust for Public Land, said, "Land & Water Conservation Fund is an integral part of creating parks and protecting land for people in Hawaiʻi and across the country. Thanks to this funding source, we've been able to protect some of our state's most special places, such as Waimea Native Forest on Oahu’s North Shore, Kīlauea National Wildlife Refuge on Kauaʻi, Haleakala National Park on Maui, and the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on Hawaiʻi Island. Senator Hirono has been a koa for LWCF and we are incredibly thankful for her support of permanently and fully funding the Land & Water Conservation Fund."
Hirono has repeatedly called for addressing the deferred maintenance backlog and providing full funding to LWCF as a member of the Energy & Natural Resource Committee, including at a 2018 ENR hearing on the Fiscal Year 2019 Department of the Interior budget and a 2018 ENR hearing on the deferred maintenance and operational needs of the National Park Service. The Senator also highlighted Land & Water Conservation Fund's critical protection of Hawaiʻi's natural resources during a speech on the Senate floor in February 2019. She supported full funding of these programs as legislation passed out of Energy & Natural Resources last year. She has supported efforts to protect natural lands throughout her service in government, and signs onto letters to appropriators each year requesting robust funding for Land & Water Conservation Fund. The Senator also received 100 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters on its 2019 environmental scorecard.
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James
Koshiba, co-founder of Hui Aloha, gave a report for the Housing and
Homelessness Subcommittee. Koshiba said that as federal loans and unemployment
subsidies end, more people that rent homes are expected to become homeless. He
said thousands of families that rent homes will then lose income, but their
rents will remain the same.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
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ROADWORK ON HIGHWAY 11 NEAR HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK MAIN GATE, between mile markers 28 and 32, began yesterday. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and be prepared to stop. Flaggers will direct traffic through alternate lane closures, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, as Hawai‘i Department of Transportation contract workers repair and resurface the section of highway damaged by seismic and subsidence activity during the summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano in 2018.
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HAWAIʻI RANKS FIRST IN RACIAL EQUALITY IN EMPLOYMENT in
terms of having the most equal median annual income, poverty rate gap,
labor-force participation rate, share of unsheltered homeless, and homelessness
rate, according to a recent WalletHub article. WalletHub
compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia,
looking at the difference between white and black Americans in areas such as
annual income, unemployment rate, and homeownership rate.
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APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN at U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency through Friday, June 19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FSA is hiring full-time temporary Program Technicians. Duty locations are to be determined upon selection and may include telework. Duties include general activities supporting FSA programs administered at the field level. Successful applicants must be reliable, have a professional attitude, and enjoy working with the public. Send specific questions regarding the position, or apply by e-mailing a resume, to fsajobs@usda.gov.
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HAWAIʻI FARMERS UNION UNITED offers an update on the Navigating COVID Relief for Farmers guide (PDF Download). Also, see the Farm Aid's press release has hit the wire! (PDF Download).
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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
ONGOING
The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. The ʻOhana Food Drop program is being phased out. Nāʻālehu's final date is tentatively Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24 or July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Go to Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. until pau. There will be no July date.
Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Make Reservations for Father's Day at Crater Rim Café in Kīlauea Military Camp for Sunday, June 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seating limited due to social distancing. Dinner also available to go. The main course is Prime Rib and Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake, with side dishes and dessert, for $27.95 per person. Call 967-8356 for dine-in reservations, to-go orders, and current event information. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.
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| Ala Kahakai Trail. Photo from Trust for Public Lands |
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HAWAIʻI ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY TO END ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES, focus on preventing cruelty to animals, eliminating pet overpopulation, and enhancing the bond between humans and animals. HIHS's Board of Directors will not respond to County of Hawaiʻi's Request for Proposals for Animal Control Services for Hawaiʻi Island. The present contract expires on June 30.
HIHS Board Chair Adam Atwood said the organization will focus instead on "compassionate care for animals… Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society will work with Hawaiʻi County Police Department on a smooth transition to a new entity."
HIHS Board Chair Adam Atwood said the organization will focus instead on "compassionate care for animals… Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society will work with Hawaiʻi County Police Department on a smooth transition to a new entity."
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| Hawaiʻ Island Humane Society plans to focus on preventing cruelty to animals, eliminating pet overpopulation, and enhancing the bond between humans and animals. HIHS photo |
Atwood said HIHS has provided animal control services in Keaʻau, Waimea, and Kona "for many years and the decision to not bid on the County contract did not come easily. With the opening of our new Animal Community Center in Kona and with plans underway to renovate our Keaʻau facility to help more animals in need, we felt it was time to turn our attention from Animal Control to increasing community outreach programs and services. We will continue to promote humane education in schools, to share our dog parks for people and pets to enjoy and we will continue to work with dedicated volunteers, fosters, and donors to improve the lives of pets around the island."
The 55-year old non-profit agency will continue to provide service island-wide as an independent animal welfare organization, providing compassionate care for animals at its three shelter locations in Keaau, Waimea and the soon-to-be-opened Animal Community Center in Kona.
CEO Dr. Beth Jose said, "Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society is looking forward to expanding volunteer opportunities at all three shelters, providing programs to meet the needs of shelter animals, increasing community outreach and growing the organization's successful spay and neuter program." She said HIHS performs between 4,500 and 5,500 spay and neuter surgeries annually at the Keaʻau and Kona locations. "Expanding outreach into Hawaiʻi Island's rural communities with the mobile Spay & Neuter 'Waggin will grow the numbers and help our island alleviate pet overpopulation."
CEO Dr. Beth Jose said, "Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society is looking forward to expanding volunteer opportunities at all three shelters, providing programs to meet the needs of shelter animals, increasing community outreach and growing the organization's successful spay and neuter program." She said HIHS performs between 4,500 and 5,500 spay and neuter surgeries annually at the Keaʻau and Kona locations. "Expanding outreach into Hawaiʻi Island's rural communities with the mobile Spay & Neuter 'Waggin will grow the numbers and help our island alleviate pet overpopulation."
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| The mobile Spay and Neuter 'Waggin, operated by Hawaiʻ Island Humane Society, travels into Kaʻū, Volcano, and other rural areas of the island to help keep down pet overpopulation. HIHS photo |
The first phase of the Animal Community Center in Keauhou Mauka, Kona opened last year, with the Central Bark Dog Parks for both small and large dogs. Phase two will open next month, with a Welcome Center, Education Amphitheatre, Administration Building, Cat Barn, Doggie Dorms, and an Adoption Square. An Education Center is under construction and will be completed later this year. The next phase includes a state-of-the-art Veterinary Center that will allow the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society added capacity to grow the spay and neuter program. Construction on the Vet Center begins later this year.
Dr. Jose said, "We're moving completely out of the present site adjacent to the Police Station in Kona in July. We now have the infrastructure in place to grow our mission. We've doubled our capacity for dogs and tripled our capacity for cats at the new Animal Community Center. We are excited to begin work expanding and improving our Keaʻau and Waimea facilities. We obviously have a lot in the works but I'm excited about what the future holds for the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society."
Dr. Jose said, "We're moving completely out of the present site adjacent to the Police Station in Kona in July. We now have the infrastructure in place to grow our mission. We've doubled our capacity for dogs and tripled our capacity for cats at the new Animal Community Center. We are excited to begin work expanding and improving our Keaʻau and Waimea facilities. We obviously have a lot in the works but I'm excited about what the future holds for the Hawaiʻi Island Humane Society."
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THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DASHBOARD created by the House
Select Committee on COVID-19 Economic and Financial Preparedness is expected to
be released this week. During this week's committee meeting, Hawaiʻi Medical
Service Association President & CEO Dr. Mark Mugiishi said the dashboard provides a clear way to communicate disease
activity, health care capacity, and current risk levels, with business and
operations allowed at each level.
Mugiishi said despite recent small increases
in the number of COVID-19 cases, the dashboard matrix shows the severity and
prevalence of the disease activity is very low and our healthcare capacity
remains high. He said because our contact tracing and testing are robust, the
state quickly identified a recent cluster of infections to limit the spread.
House Speaker
Scott Saiki reminded the committee that communicating the risk factors and
response levels clearly and simply with the public is critical for safely
reopening Hawaiʻi's economy. Alan Oshima, the Governor's Recovery and
Resiliency Navigator, agreed that the dashboard is a vital informational tool
and his team is working to get it posted this week. It will be placed on the
State's Navigator web
site.
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| The State's Navigator website. |
Oshima said he
has been seeing members of the public not observing contamination protocols
such as wearing masks and physical distancing in public. He said with recent
low contamination numbers, people may have a false sense of security about
catching the disease but he said, "we all have a personal responsibility
to help maintain public health for our families and the entire community."
Carl Bonham,
Executive Director of University of Hawaiʻi
Economic Research Organization
Results from
Hawaiʻi Green Growth Network's recovery survey were presented to the committee
by the group's Executive Director Celeste Connors and its Director of
Operations and Partnerships Breanna Rose. Conducted in partnership with the
Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiʻi Alliance of
Non-profit Organizations, and other partners, its purpose is to compile
stakeholder input on green growth projects and recovery strategies that could
help stimulate the economy, create jobs, and advance resilience objectives.
The
presentation detailed their Aloha+
Challenge Dashboard and "ready to go" green grown projects
in clean energy, food production, natural resource management, and solid waste
reduction. They also shared information about smart sustainable communities, a
green workforce and green education.
James
Koshiba, co-founder of Hui Aloha, gave a report for the Housing and
Homelessness Subcommittee. Koshiba said that as federal loans and unemployment
subsidies end, more people that rent homes are expected to become homeless. He
said thousands of families that rent homes will then lose income, but their
rents will remain the same.
The
Subcommittee is working on ideas to help support renters through the economic
decline including funding additional outreach positions to help people access
and make the most out of federal benefits, helping to renegotiate leases and
repayment plans, offering incentives for reduced rent, and providing low
interest loans and grants.
Chris Tatum,
President and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, gave a presentation for the
Tourism Subcommittee. Tatum said the members support the State's virus
mitigation efforts, agree on creating a safety protocol for communication and
training, and support developing an airport screening process. He said about
70,000 people are now unemployed that had worked in the tourism industry and
their health benefits are at risk. The subcommittee expects tourism will
recover slowly because over a third of American travelers say they don't expect
to take a commercial trip until sometime in 2021 at the earliest.
To rebuild
tourism, HTA wants to create a collaboration between the community, visitor
industry, the state and counties. There also must be opportunities for
residents to engage in tourism development, establish better destination
management, and create new tourism products and offerings. Tatum said it is
important to identify the appropriate balance between the economic benefits of
tourism and the impact on local services, natural and cultural resources, and
residents' quality of life.
The
committee will meet again on Monday, June 29.
For more
information about the committee and to see related documents go to capitol.hawaii.gov/specialcommittee.aspx?comm=cov&year=2020.
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| Farmers are urged to attend a wildfire preparedness webinar. Photo from UH Cooperative Extension |
ATTEND A WEBINAR ON WILDFIRE RISK Wednesday, June 24 from 7 p.m. to 8:30
p.m. Hawaiʻi Farm Fire Management Webinar, presented by University
of Hawaiʻi Cooperative Extension,
offers "Assessing and reducing wildfire risk on your farm! Dry season is
here and wildfire risk is ramping up. Are you prepared? Join us for an online
webinar about how to assess and reduce wildfire risk on your farm." Clay
Trauernicht, UH Extension Specialist in Wildfire Science and Management, will
speak on planning for fire preparedness, identifying fire-related hazards on
the land, and methods to manage vegetation to reduce fire risk. Q&A facilitated
by Josh Silva, Extension Agent in Edible Crops. RSVP at eventbrite.com/e/hawaii-farm-fire-management-webinar-tickets-109038286450.
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| Road damage, like this from the 2018 eruption, will be repaired on Hwy 11 near the Park entrance over the next several months. USGS photo |
ROADWORK ON HIGHWAY 11 NEAR HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK MAIN GATE, between mile markers 28 and 32, began yesterday. Motorists are advised to drive with caution and be prepared to stop. Flaggers will direct traffic through alternate lane closures, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, as Hawai‘i Department of Transportation contract workers repair and resurface the section of highway damaged by seismic and subsidence activity during the summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano in 2018.
The work is
projected to take about 100 days, expecting to end sometime in November. It is
funded by federal disaster relief monies.
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Ranking fourth
overall in equality, Hawaiʻi trails New Mexico,
Alaska, and Arizona,
and ranks just above Texas. The
least-equal place is Washington D.C.,
with an overall score of 16.00. The next least-equal places are Wisconsin
– with a score of 44.30 – Illinois,
Minnesota, and Iowa.
Read the report: wallethub.com/edu/state-economies-with-most-racial-equality/75810/.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN at U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency through Friday, June 19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, FSA is hiring full-time temporary Program Technicians. Duty locations are to be determined upon selection and may include telework. Duties include general activities supporting FSA programs administered at the field level. Successful applicants must be reliable, have a professional attitude, and enjoy working with the public. Send specific questions regarding the position, or apply by e-mailing a resume, to fsajobs@usda.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
HAWAIʻI FARMERS UNION UNITED offers an update on the Navigating COVID Relief for Farmers guide (PDF Download). Also, see the Farm Aid's press release has hit the wire! (PDF Download).
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar
directory for farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is
free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout
Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at
kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your
business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.
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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
Advocate for Hawaiʻi Crops to be Included in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Listing by submitting comments by June 22. The CFAP helps agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Crops not included are coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, and more. Comments can be submitted online, or by mail by, June 22. Go to regulations.gov/document?D=FSA-2020-0004-0003 or mail to: Director, SND, FSA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0522, Washington, DC 20250-0522. Reference Docket ID: FSA-2020-0004.
Questions? Contact William L. Beam, (202) 720-3175 or email Bill.Beam@usda.gov. Persons with disabilities or who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
"One well-supported comment is often more influential than a thousand form letters," says UH-CTAHR's Andrea Kawabata. See Tips for Submitting Effective Comments.
Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.
Register for Hawaiʻi Coffee Association Webinar Series. The virtual event will be held Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Each session is designed to provide important updates on the effects of the pandemic on the Hawaiʻi coffee industry and on the coffee industry at large, as well as addressing other useful topics to inform coffee professionals of changing trends and regulations. Each session must be registered for individually – go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/page-1771697. The sessions will be recorded and later published on the HCA website. To become a sponsor for the webinar, click here.
Feedback from Parents and Guardians of Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary School Students is requested by Principal Sharon Beck: "As we plan for the opening of the 2020-21 school year, we would like to gather feedback from our parents/guardians about what that might look like for our students." Deadline is June 30: KHPES Parent Survey: Planning for the 2020-21 School Year.
ONGOING
Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is July 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.
To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.
Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers and the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.
The Food Basket provides food to those in need. See hawaiifoodbasket.org to verify dates and times. The ʻOhana Food Drop program is being phased out. Nāʻālehu's final date is tentatively Wednesday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at Nāʻālehu Shopping Center. Ocean View residents can go to The Food Basket's pantry at St. Jude's the last Tuesday of the month, July 28. Go to Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24 or July 22, 10 a.m. until pau. Go to Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m. until pau. There will be no July date.
On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.
Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.
Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.
See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.
Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.
Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.
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.
