The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Friday, October 28, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Kaʻū Trojans came out onto their home field to play Pahoa last Saturday, leading with flags. Photo by Mark Peters

Under Coach Guy Enriques, of Punalu'u, Kamehameha School took first in
Division I Girls Volleyball for Hawai'i Island and played this week for the
state championship on O'ahu, coming in second behind Iolani. Photo from BIIF

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL, under Coach Guy Enriques, of Punalu'u, won the Division I island wide championship and came in second in the state championship match played Friday night against Iolani on O'ahu. It was the first time the Kamehameha Girls Volleyball from this island played in the state finals match.

Kamehameha also also took the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship in bowling and in Boys Air Riflery.

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Kani Lee Konman, with Trojan post-game
recognition last Saturday during Senior Night.
Photo by Mark Peters

THE PĀHALA FOOTBALL FIELD IS DARK THIS WEEKEND with the Kaʻū Trojans wrapping up their season last Saturday in a hard-fought loss to Pahoa. It was Senior Night and team member Kani Lee Konman received recognition. The Trojans came onto the field for the game with Hawaiian flags. Konman received many lei and gifts for the recognition.

Kaʻū Trojans scored far more points this season than last and won a game against Kohala 30-20. It is one of the smallest schools in the state that fields a football team and brings large local crowds to the campus for home events. The Trojans draw from students at Kaʻū High and Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences.

This year's roster consisted of: Adahdiyah Ellis Reyes, Jaestin Karasuda, Keaka McDonnell, Loea Kaupu, Gabriel Sesson Paaluhi-Young, Lois Emmanuele Badua, Jance Kajiwara-Ke, Josiah Manila-Louis, Eddie Wirtz, Roger Miguel, Jr., Kainalu Jr. Wanzer, Stephen Adler, Hezekiah Keohuloa-Aldaya, Toby Kekoa Burgos, Desmond Camba, Zayden Gallano, Vladimir V Fedoruk, Collin Hanshew, Chaz KajiwaraKe, Dylan Davis, Kaimana Kaupu-Manini, Joe Buyuan, Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia, Ocean Nihipali-Sesson, Rylan Peralta, Ed Zackary Badua, Dakota Seaver, Kani Lee Konman, Raedyn Louis, CyZeiah SilvaKamei, Triton Blanco, Jovan Javar, Dominic Nurial-Dacalio, Blake Self-Ah Yee, Kamaehu Guerpo-Craft, Hunter Pascubillo, Isaiah Manila-Louis, and Treyton Calantoc.

Head Coach was Greg Rush. Assistant Coaches were Garrett Greedy, Ted Blanco and Mark Peters. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb. Athletic Director is Tim Gould.

Kaʻū Trojans wrap up Fall Sports with two Cross Country team members off to Kaua'i this weekend for the statewide championships. Trojan Girls Volleyball ended strong, taking third in its division.

The Trojans also fielded teams and individuals in Air Riflery, Bowling and Cheerleading.

BIIF Winter Sports are coming up with Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball and Wrestling for the Trojans. Swimming and Diving, as well as Canoe Paddling will be left to other schools. The swimming pool at Pāhala is closed and will likely be closed until the 2023-2024 school year to repair, redesign and rebuild it.

THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING KAʻŪ CELEBRATED OCTOBER AS FILIPINO HERITAGE MONTH. Hawai'i's First and Second Congressional Districts have more Filipinos than any other congressional districts in the country. Both Rep. Kai Kahele, whose wife was born in the Philippines, and Rep. Ed Case, who submitted a resolution honoring Filipinos in Congress on Friday, pointed out the Fil-Am community in Hawai’i is more than 370,000 strong. Case said, “In total, fully a quarter of all Hawai’i residents are Filipino Americans, by far the largest percentage of any state or territory.”

Across the country, Filipino Americans number about 4.4 million, the third largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the U.S.

The SS Doric, which brought the first Sakada - Filipino
immigrants to Hawai'i in 1906.

Case wrote: "Many of the early Filipino immigrants were young men who came to the United States seeking a better life. Most found work in Hawai‘i, California, Washington and Alaska. This first generation of Filipino immigrants are commonly referred to as the Manong generation (Ilocano for first-born male). They worked mostly physically demanding jobs in tough conditions for very little pay. Over the years, they fought against discrimination, found a way forward and made a better future for themselves and their future generations. They became respected members of communities throughout our nation."

Case pointed to the arrival of the first Filipino immigrants in Hawai'i who came on the SS Doric in 1906 with 15 Sakada contract workers to for sugar plantations, "marking the first sustained immigration into our country and the humble beginnings of Fil-Ams in Hawai‘i. These first immigrants, those that followed and the subsequent generations eventually became trailblazers in politics and government, the military, business and entrepreneurship, journalism, popular culture, music and the arts and more."

Domingo Los Banos served in WW II
and became Hawai'i's first Filipino
American School Principal in 1954.
Photo from Fil Am Courier

Case named some of them:

Domingo Los Banos was Hawai'i's first Filipino American school principal and a loyal veteran of the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment that fought in the Philippines during World War II.

Carolina Dizon Wong broke a glass ceiling when she obtained an M.D. degree and became the first Filipino American to start a medical practice in Hawai‘i in 1952.

Peter Aduja became the first Fil-Am elected to public office in the United States when he was elected to the Hawai‘i Territorial House of Representatives in 1954.

Ines Cayaban was the first Filipino American graduate of the School of Public Health, Nursing and Social Work at the University of Hawai‘i. She received the prestigious Jefferson Award in 1986 for her service.

In 1994, Ben Cayetano was elected the Governor of Hawai‘i, becoming the first Filipino American governor of a state in the U.S.

In 2019, Roy Macaraeg became the first Fil-Am to become a general officer in the history of Hawai'i's citizen soldier ranks.

HAWAI'I EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY is speaking to the public about the increased seismicity at Mauna Loa Volcano. On Thursday, it released its first statement saying, "Mauna Loa’s continuing seismic activity is causing concern for some residents on Hawai‘i island...Both the Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency and the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency have increased monitoring of the volcano. The United States Geologic Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has been issuing daily reports on Mauna Loa’s activity since September but has indicated its scientists have seen no indications of an immediate threat.

Ken Hon, Chief Scientist at HVO, said, “Mauna Loa continues to be in a state of heightened unrest,” while noting, “the current increase in activity does not suggest that a progression to an eruption is certain.”
Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency has been posting daily snapshots via social media of Mauna Loa’s activity, based on data from HVO, including the current alert level, status, and a recap of activity over the previous 24 hours.
Civil Defense Agency Administrator Talmadge Magno said, “Under current conditions an eruption from Mauna Loa is not imminent. We’re reminding people to take this opportunity to register for county emergency alert messages and prepare or review their plans to be ready for any disaster.”
Emergency Management’s website includes links to sign up for emergency alerts in any Hawai‘i county. See https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/get-ready/
Magno and Hon met with residents last Saturday at Ocean View Community Center to discuss the latest readings and preparedness measures. They noted that because Mauna Loa covers 51 percent of the island’s area, it’s hard to predict which areas might be affected if an eruption occurs. If lava were to break out of the summit area, Magno said, the County would provide specific information about any necessary safety or evacuation measures, including details about routes and shelters. See story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_10_23_archive.html.

Another informational session with the local officials was held Thursday at Robert Herkes Gymnasium in Pāhala. See story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/10/kau-news-briefs-thursday-oct-27-2022.html.

“Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency continues to support our partners on Hawai‘i island with outreach and planning assistance as Mauna Loa’s activity evolves,” said agency Administrator Luke Meyers. “We encourage residents who are concerned about the seismic activity beneath the mountain to explore the ways they can improve their preparedness, including updating their emergency plans, reviewing their evacuation routes near where they live, work, and play, and checking the batteries in their emergency supplies.”

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Thursday, October 27, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022

Kaʻū's Disaster Shelter at the Robert H. Herkes gym served as a venue Thursday to update the community on seismic and likely lava flow activity. Photo by Julia Neal

HUNDREDS SWARMED AROUND VOLCANO AND EARTHQUAKE EXPERTS Thursday evening at Robert H. Herkes District Gym in Pāhala to learn about predictions, forecasts and safety in the face of the quakes in and around Pāhala and the looming Mauna Loa summit above with its own seismic activity and possible lava flow.

USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist in Charge Ken Hon explained that there is difference between the deeper swarms that have been going on for years in and around Pāhala and the recent Magnitude 5.0 and 4.6 quakes. The recent strong ones are shallower and could be from pressures of lava at Kilauea and the swelling of Mauna Loa.

First responders and Civil Defense officials attended the
volcano update meeting. Photo by Julia Neal

Residents asked if Civil Defense has an evacuation plan in case lava starts coming down the slopes of Mauna Loa. Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said, "What you see is what you get." He said Civil Defense hopes that there will be enough lead time for people to evacuate. He and Hon noted that the actual lava inundation zones are usually small. Though Mauna Loa makes up more than 51 percent of the island, the lava tends to come from the top in fairly narrow streams and people can drive away or even walk away if traffic is blocked.

What if two flows were to run over Hwy 11and trap people in between them? Hon said that would be extremely unlikely.

One resident asked about lava finding its way into lava tubes. Would that transport it faster? Hon said that lava tubes tend to cool and make lava flow less quickly. It's not like the lava jumps into a tube, like a subway, and makes its way quickly to pop up in another place, Hon said.

They also talked about the difference between likely lava flows headed to Ocean View and headed to Pāhala. Ocean View could have lava flowing down a path through it within hours. It could take days and weeks to reach Pāhala.

Someone asked whether the swarm of quakes under Pāhala could create a crater like in Kilauea. Another asked whether Pāhala area could separate and become a new island through volcanic activity. Both ideas received responses calling them very unlikely.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's Scientist in
Charge Ken Hon. Photo by Julia Neal

A member of the public asked whether strong earthquakes here could liquify land and make mudflows. While that happened in the 8 Magnitude quake in 1868 on the steep slope in Wood Valley, wiping out the village and creating an area called "the slide," the kind of soil and rocks here make liquification unlikely in the areas that don't have steep slopes. A coffee farmer asked if growers working on slopes could experience a slide. The experts said to look out during a big quake.

Should houses on posts be retrofitted? Hon said the old plantation houses with posts that float on concrete peers or stones should be attached to their foundations and also recommended concrete corner walls or metal strapping. He suggested seeing an architect.

Janice Ikeda, Executive Director of Vibrant Hawai'i, which helped support Kaʻū communities with food bought from local farmers during the pandemic, suggested residents support their neighborhood Hubs for increased disaster preparedness. She said Vibrant Hawai'i works closely with the Hubs and Civil Defense.

See more on preparedness in the story on the Ocean View presentation by Civil Defense and the USGS at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_10_23_archive.html

HAWAI'I'S GRADE IN DIGITAL COMPETENCY climbed from a B to an A- in the national ratings provided by Center for Digital Government's 2022 Digital States Survey. An "A" grade reflects a state government that has demonstrated "very strong innovation, high performing solutions, and...excellent practices in all aspects of their operations, governance, and

administration," according to the Center for Digital Government. Hawaiʻi's A- grade this year is up from a B in 2020, and this is the first year Hawaiʻi has ranked among the top performing states.
"We have made tremendous progress modernizing State IT systems, including our tax and payroll systems," said Gov. David Ige. "I'd like to thank our employees for their commitment and dedication to making our State more efficient and effective in order to better serve our citizens."
The survey is available here.
In addition, the Center for Digital Government presented the State of Hawaiʻi Office of Enterprise Technology Services with the Future Ready Award for outstanding work on developing the Safe Travels Digital Platform. The Future Ready Awards are presented to jurisdictions that are laying the foundation for the disruptive and converging forces that are shaping an uncertain future -- through technology or process changes; innovation; engagement with partners; and by harnessing emerging technologies to solve problems.
"I am proud of the Enterprise Technology Services team and what they accomplished with the Safe Travels system," said Doug Murdock, chief information officer. "The team developed and

implemented the Safe Travels system in a very short timeframe. It allowed the State to reopen our travel industry during the pandemic while safeguarding our citizens. More than 12 million arrivals were recorded in the digital platform, and more than 270-thousand people took advantage of the digital SMART Health Card program."
Hawaiʻi was also one of six states named finalists for the Government Experience Award. The overall Government Experience Award recognizes states who have redesigned websites with enhanced languages and accessibility features, developed apps to streamline the flow of funds to those with the greatest need, and used mobile apps, social media, e-newsletters and digital service analytics to improve constituent experience and customer service delivery.
The Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government, conducts the Digital States Survey biennially to evaluate the information technology practices of all 50 states. The Center evaluates use of technology to support their state priorities and policies, to improve

operations or services, to achieve hard- and soft-dollar savings/benefits, to deliver innovative and citizen-centric services, and to assess the effective collaboration and progress since the last survey. States receiving high grades demonstrate strong results across all the criteria. Hawaii is among 18 states that received an A grade.
The Office of Enterprise Services provides governance for executive branch IT projects and seeks to identify, prioritize, and advance innovative initiatives with the greatest potential to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve transparency and accountability in state government. The office also supports the management and operation of all state agencies by providing effective, efficient, coordinated and cost-beneficial computer and telecommunication services.

Hezykiah Fernanez from the Kaʻū Livestock 4-H Club won grand champion in the last
islandwide competition for her market steer. It was her first year in 4-H. Photo from Kaʻū 4-H

KA'U LIFESTOCK 4H-CLUB is up and running with programs for Cloverbuds, ages five to eight, and junior and senior 4-H members, ages nine to 18. There are monthly meetings and club leaders are Raisha Karratti at 808-318-9112 and Nikki Fernandez at 808-938-0287.

The 4H members from Kaʻū have long participated in annual livestock shows, bringing home awards and experiencing the life of raising livestock and selling them off at auction.

Kaʻū rancher Al Galimba is one of the long-time financial supporter of 4-H his family long offering guidance for young ranchers.

Clover Buds are ages 5 - 8 and members of the newly relaunched Kaʻū 4-H. Photo from Ka'u 4-H

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Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022

Spooktacular Experiences for Halloween
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary, and community, school and business
venues offer a series of Halloween options through Halloween night. Costumes like this Hawaiian bat attire, are welcome. At Kīlauea Visitor Center on Saturday, Oct, 29 and at Kahuku Unit on Sunday, Oct. 30 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., pick up a Halloween scavenger hunt bingo card. Explore trails with the family, and if making bingo, return to the visitor center for a treat bag provided by the park's non-profit partner, Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. Fourth graders can get a free park entrance pass. Complete the online activity on www.everykidoutdoors.gov and print the paper voucher to bring to the park in exchange for a fourth grade pass. Everyone in the car gets in for free, and the pass is valid until the end of August 2023. See more Halloween options in the posters below. NPS Photo

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A NEW STATE COMPTROLLER. SHE IS AUDREY HIDANO. She

Audry Hidano is appointed
to be state comptroller.

took to the helm at Department of Accounting & General Services on Oct. 21 after serving as deputy director since April 2015. Prior to joining DAGS, she served as deputy director at state departments of Transportation and Labor & Industrial Relations. Hidano is co-founder of Hidano Construction, Inc., was a co-owner of Rim-Pac, Inc., and served as a public affairs analyst at Hawaiian Telcom (formerly Verizon and GTE Hawaiian Tel).

"Audrey is well positioned to facilitate the management and supervision of the wide range of programs and activities handled by the department," said Gov. Ige who made the appointment. Hidano replaces Curt Otaguro, who moves to the state Department of Education to be deputy superintendent of operations.

Meoh-Leng Silliman is
appointed to be Deputy
state comptroller.

Ige also chose Meoh-Leng Silliman to fill the deputy position at Department of Accounting & General Services. She has been the business management officer at DAGS since 2017. She previously held other managerial positions in the state, serving as a Branch Chief in the Department of Budget and Finance and the Business Management Officer at the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Prior to relocating to Hawaiʻi, Silliman held a series of progressively more responsible managerial positions during a ten-year tenure at the New York District Attorney's Office, including the positions of Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs and Deputy Director of Operations. She earned a B.A. from Hamilton College in New York and a M.B.A. from George Washington University in D.C.
"Meoh-Leng has a deep understanding of the department's operations, and I know she will be successful as the new deputy," said the governor.
Both terms will end on Dec. 5, 2022, unless reappointed by whomever is elected governor. Both are subject to Senate confirmation.

Jennie Potter, who is
leaving the PUC.

ANOTHER NEW PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER IS SOUGHT. Gov. David Ige announced that PUC commissioner Jennifer "Jennie" Potter will resign Oct. 31. The term expires on June 30, 2024, and the governor said he seeks "a candidate for this key position" and that he will make an appointment to fill the seat as quickly as possible. The PUC oversees such
industries and the electric, water and gas utilities, along with transportation and shipping.
The governor praised the work of Potters, saying "For the past four years, Jennie has participated in decisions that set the standard for advanced and groundbreaking regulation. Together, we have made tremendous progress toward achieving the state's renewable energy goals, and I thank her for her service."
Potter said that Hawai'i's PUC Commission "is considered a national leader because of its innovation, regulatory muscle, and outstanding decision making, and it has been invaluable to be a part of it."

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About The Kaʻū Calendar

Friday, October 28, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022