Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022

The kukui nut trees, also the state tree of Hawai'i, originally brought to Hawai'i by canoe from the South Pacific, will be given out free by Bennett Nursery across from Ocean View Saturday Market on Nov. 5 for Arbor Day. 

ARBOR DAY IS FRIDAY WITH TREE GIVEAWAYS SATURDAY and other activities Nov. 5 in Kaʻū and beyond. 

    West Hawai'i Master Gardeners will give away trees and advice on growing them at Ocean View Saturday Market from 8 a.m. until noon. The address is 92-1297 Prince Kuhio Blvd. See more on West Hawai'i Master Gardeners at https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/uhmgprogram/HOME/West-Hawaii.

    Also on Saturday, across from the Ocean View Saturday Market, Bennett Nursery will give away kukui trees from 8 a.m. to noon. Ted Bennett, founder of the nursery, said that he chose to give away kukui trees because, "In its natural environment, the kukui nut tree enriches the soil and purifies the water, because the strong oils found in the leaves work their magic." It is also called candlenut and was used for light in old Hawai'i. See more on Bennett Nursery at www.bennettfarmandnursery.com.

Don Inouye, President of Outdoor
 Circle, gives away 750 fruit trees on
 Saturday for Arbor Day.

    In Hilo, Outdoor Circle's President Don Inouye said, "I believe we were put on this earth to always be able to enjoy our environment and as such we must also share the responsibility of being the guardian of the assets of our surroundings in the very best way we know how."

    The Outdoor Circle took advance reservations to give out 750 fruit trees for free, including orange, lemon, tangerine, lime, avocado, fig, plum, cherry, mountain apple, lychee, cinnamon, coffee and more. They were provided through grant funds from State Farm and the Arbor Day Foundation. The distribution is a drive through, with a limitation of two trees per person, with recipients having applied for time and tree types. Pickup is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 260 Manono Street. See more on the Outdoor Circle at www.easthawaiioutdoorcircle.com.

    Northwest of Kaʻū, Friends of Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden will host its annual meeting in honor of Arbor Day, on Saturday, Nov. 5 with a giveaway of 250 native plants and trees. There will be cultural demos, keiki activities and food. The time is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 82-6160 Mamalahoa Hwy in Captain Cook. See more on Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens at www.amygreenwell.garden.

    See more on Arbor Day, celebrating 50 years of tree planting at www.arborday.org.

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 Volunteer Firefighters, Skip Glaser and
 Doug Castro, of Discovery Harbour
Volunteer Fire Department.

$4K+ CAME TO DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT On Saturday, Oct. 29 when the community joined together to support and raise funds. There were 22 vendors, a bake sale, silent auction, rummage sale, food, music, and a golf tournament hosted by The Club at Discovery Harbour.
    "Great volunteers made this a successful event, raising over $4,000 to support the operations of the Volunteer Fire Department," said a statement from organizers.
    Recent fire events from South Point to Discovery Harbour emphasized the importance of the festival to raise money for fire prevention and firefighting. On the day of the festival, volunteers mobilized to extinguish a fire, reminding everyone that Chapter 11-C Fire Department, along with the other Ka'u VFD Chapters, "ensures that the community is safer. Volunteers are trained and serve without any monetary compensation, and without that monetary community support, the firefighting ability could not exist."
    The festival organizer at Discovery Harbour Community Association office, Suzanne Brady, expressed appreciation for all the vendors, festival volunteers, and generous donations from community businesses and individuals to the silent auction and rummage sale. "Without that community support the festival would not have been possible," she said.

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A THREE YEAR OLD BOY IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION and a 25-year old Ocean View man has been arrested, reports Hawai'i Island Police. Charged with abuse and assault offenses stemming from a domestic-related incident, Nainao Ellis-Noa was taken into custody on Tuesday. According to police, shortly before 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2, Ka‘ū patrol officers responded to a call to a residence in the 92-9000 block of Tiki Lane in Ocean View where an unresponsive male child was reported. Upon arrival, officers learned the child was being transported by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital and was listed in critical condition. The child was subsequently transported to Kapiolani Medical Center on Oahu, where he remains in critical condition.

Nainoa Ellis-Noa has been arrested
and his three year old son is in 
critical condition. Photo from HPD

    

    Ka‘ū patrol officers arrested Ellis-Noa, the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother, and he was subsequently transported to the Kealakehe Police Station pending further investigation by detectives with the Area II Criminal Investigation and Juvenile Aid Sections. A female infant residing in the same household was taken into protective custody for her immediate welfare.
    On Friday at 1:05 p.m., Ellis-Noa was charged with one count each of abuse of a family or household member, assault in the first degree, and assault in the second degree. His bail was set at $17,000.
    Ellis-Noa remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance at Kona District Court on Monday, Nov. 7.
    Police ask anyone with information about this case to contact Detective Len Hamakado at (808) 326-4646 ext. 224, or via email at len.hamakado@hawaiicounty.gov.
    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

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KAʻŪ HOSPITAL'S SISTER FACILITY HILO MEDICAL CENTER has increased MRI, CT and ultrasound imaging with the temporary closure of Hawai'i Radiologic Associates in Hilo and Kona. Hawai'i Radiological has been unable to offer its services since Oct. 20 and revealed on Saturday that its computer and communications systems are victims of a cyberattack. As of Saturday evening its website www.hirad.com remained offline.

     Imaging appointments at Hilo Medical Center are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, according to Elena Cabatu, the hospital's spokesperson. Kona Community Hospital has also increased appointments for MRIs, CTs and ultrasounds.

     A statement from Hawai'i Radiological Associates says, “We regret that this has resulted in closure of our outpatient imaging centers until this problem is resolved. For our patients and referring health care providers who have been affected, please accept our sincere apologies. Our company has had the privilege of caring for our local community for almost 50 years, and we deeply regret the impact of this event on our patients.”

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The Club at Discovery Harbour

In the mail and on stands from Volcano through Kaʻū.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022

Hawai'i Chocolate & Cacao Association invites farmers and the public to its conference Nov. 11-13.
Photo from HCCA

HAWAI'I CHOCOLATE & CACAO ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE is Friday, Nov. 11-13 with workshops, demonstrations, dynamic speakers, farm tours, and of lots of chocolate. To view a full list of event locations, speakers, and itinerary, visit the conference website. Among the speakers are Charley Wheelock, who with his wife Jessica in Portland, Oregon created Wookblock Chocolate, and Giffe Laube, who owns a cacao and vanilla farm in Nicaragua. 

     The locations for the conference include Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, 76 Kamehameha Ave in Hilo, Kai Ikena Orchards, Hamakua Chocolate Farm and Kulaimanu Community Center in Pepeekeo. Featured Farms include Kai Ikena, Mauna Kea Cacao and Deep Dirt Farm. See the conference website at www.hawaiichocolate.org. The President and Secretary of Hawai'i Chocolate & Cacao Association is Will Lydgate. Vice President is Maria Carl.

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FINANCING OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS will be the workshop

in Wood Valley at the Hawai'i Farmers United Hawai'i Kaʻū Chapter meeting on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. The event is free and membership is not required. The location is 96-1034 Center Rd, above Pāhala.

    The workshop includes a Q&A and an introduction to services provided by Feed the Hunger Fund and The Kohala Center. RSVP to kau@hfuu.org.

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VIDEOS FOR SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND HOME GARDENERS ARE available at plantpono.org, sponsored by Big Island Invasive Species Committee, which released this statement:
    Sharing cuttings and seedlings is a beloved and longstanding practice amongst backyard gardeners and small-scale farmers, but sharing comes with risk. What begins as a pleasant exchange can become a long-term headache, as ants, scale insects, slug eggs, fungi, and many other pests can stealthily hitchhike into well cared-for gardens.
    The University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources recently joined forces

See the BIISC films at https://plantpono.org/planting-guides/

with the Big Island Invasive Species Committee to create a set of short videos aimed at supporting resident growers. The educational videos offer practical, step-by-step instructions for creating home garden quarantine stations and best practices to avoid spreading pests, disease, and invasive species when exchanging plants and seeds. Topics covered include proper methods for sharing sweet potato, recognizing banana bunchy top virus, and disposal of different kinds of contaminated plant materials.
    Molly Murphy, a specialist with the Plant Pono program, advised that all residents who engage in plant sharing take the time to learn about home biosecurity, saying “We know that the number one pathway for pests coming into the islands is live plants and plant materials. The same is true for our backyards – as home gardeners, we should all be doing our best to stop pests from moving through our communities.” She notes that both BIISC and CTAHR provide resources for controlling pests when they are detected.
    Local growers are featured, including Sean Jennings, founder of the popular Homesteadin’ Hawai'i Facebook Group, Zoe Kosmas and Brayden Jadulang with Mālaʻai, and Kaʻiana Runnels of The Kohala Center. The videos, plus other resources for avoiding invasive species through good practices and choosing plant species to grow, can be found on PlantPono.org, which is managed by BIISC. See the films at https://plantpono.org/planting-guides/.
    Funding for this project was provided by the County of Hawai‘i Department of Research & Development.

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ENERGY PROJECT PROGRAMS, GRANTS AND LOAN GUARANTEES will be presented by Hawai'i Farm Bureau on Monday, Nov. 14 from 5 p.m. –7 p.m. at Kea'au Community Center, 16-186 Pili Mua St. Speakers from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Business-Cooperative Service will share the information with agricultural producers. Light refreshments will be served. There is no cost to attend and registration is not required in advance.

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The Club at Discovery Harbour

In the mail and on stands from Volcano through Kaʻū.

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022

Humpback Whale Season Begins

The first whales have been seen in Kaʻū waters, with reports including them breaching off Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. The whales come from the north to give birth, nurse their calves and breed before returning to waters off Alaska and western Canada. The season lasts into Spring, with Punalu'u and South Point being two of the best viewing points in Kaʻū.

 Photo from NOAA

HAWAI'I TOURISM AUTHORITY IS WEIGHING IN ON CONCERN ABOUT A POSSIBLE

ERUPTION from Mauna Loa on this island. A message this week from HTA says that "Hawai‘i is a dynamic place with ever-changing landscapes and natural environments. On Hawai‘i Island, we are continuing to monitor the recent seismic activity occurring at Maunaloa.
    “Maunaloa volcano is not erupting at this time, and recent news of the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring Maunaloa is no reason for travelers to alter their travel plans to Hawaiʻi Island or any of the Hawaiian Islands at this time.” 

    In the meantime, Hawai'i Civil Defense and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory plan a meeting in Kealakekua this Saturday for the public, much like the ones just held in Pāhala and Ocean View, focusing on recent seismic activity and preparedness. It's at Konawaena Elementary at noon.

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PILI GRASS IS THE FEATURED PLANT FOR NOVEMBER in the The Kaʻū Calendar's monthly newspaper column Lāʻau Letters: Native Plants of Kaʻū, written by Jodie Rosam with art by Joan Yoshioka. Read about pili's moʻolelo (stories), uses, preferred habitats, and opportunities to adopt for stewardship. This column seeks to encourage making new plant friends and reuniting with others.

Pili Grass, a native of Ka'u.
Art by Joan Yoshioka

    Description: Pili (Heteropogon contortus) is the column's first featured grass. Pili is in the family Poaceae, and is indigenous to Hawaiʻi. Pili is a perennial (lives more than two years) grass that grows in clumps approximately 10” in diameter and up to 3’ tall, and has thick blue-green leaf blades that smell sweet when crushed. The flowers form distinct seeds which develop a dark awn (bristle) at one end and a sharp spike at the other. Pili means to cling, stick, or adhere. As the seeds form, the tips of the blades bend at an angle, and the seeds stick to one another in a dense cluster (and will also stick to your socks or your pet’s fur). Fun fact: the latin name contortus refers to how the seeds contort when wet to help them burrow into the soil. The next time you see some pili seeds, pick them and place them into a shallow bowl of water and watch them do the pili dance!
    Uses: Pili was (and can still be) used for thatching houses, and is favored because it adds a sweet smell to the hale pili (house of pili). To thatch, pili is harvested by the bundle and the roots and flower spikes are removed, then the leaf blades are fastened together in bundles using twine or fiber from ʻahuʻawa (a native coastal

Pili Inflorescence.
Art by Joan Yoshioka

sedge), ʻukiʻuki (a native forest lily), or ʻieʻie (a native vine). Thatching begins from the bottom of the hale (house) and moves upwards with the roof to be the last section completed. Pili can also be used on hula kuahu (altars) to invoke knowledge that sticks to the mind and be retained. Additionally, a black dye can be made from the charcoaled leaf blades. Ecologically, pili was (and still is) an important habitat for native land snails.
    Habitat: Pili grasslands likely covered the leeward coastal lowlands and hillsides of all of the main Hawaiian islands, though it has been increasingly displaced by invasive grasses (such as fountain grass). It is most commonly found at elevations below 3,000 feet, receiving 0-50” of rainfall annually. Throughout Kaʻū, pili can be found happily growing in kīpuka that have not been infiltrated by invasive grasses.
    Growing and Purchasing: Pili is best grown from seed. Harvest seed heads in clumps when they turn dark and have the noticeable awn and spike, and place them onto a damp soil mix. Germination may take some time, so have patience. Keep pili seedlings watered until they become established. While pili can essentially tolerate drought and xeric (dry) conditions, they tend to look fuller and more colorful when given water. They can handle just about any harsh climate you throw at them, and thrive in full sun. Pili can also be used to combat erosion or as a focus plant in your garden. Remember to share the pili dance with your friends, and then share the seeds!

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Hawai'i Farmers Union United will
host its last meeting of 2022 on Nov. 12. 

KAʻŪ'S HAWAI'I FARMERS UNION UNITED invites food producers and agricultural enthusiasts for its last meeting of the year to learn about grant opportunities for 2023. It will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m.. The location is 96-1034 Center Road in Wood Valley, above Pāhala. 

    Attendees are invited to enjoy a potluck lunch. he speaker is Eric Bowman, who  has supported family farms and small businesses in the sectors of natural resources, commercial real estate, finance and retail. He is a loan officer with Feed the Hunger Fund and assists The Kohala Center in managing microlending activities on Kiva. He enjoys coaching owner-operators on developing and financing their operations. He also volunteers with Hawai'i First Federal Credit Union in Waimea.

     Hawai'i Farmers Union United of Kaʻū President Andy Dryer said members of the organization will discuss goals for 2023, "ways to grow membership with other passionate people and a community garden initiative."=

    The speaker is Eric Bowman, who  has supported family farms and small businesses in the sectors of natural resources, commercial real estate, finance and retail. He is a loan officer with Feed the Hunger Fund and assists The Kohala Center in managing microlending activities on Kiva. He enjoys coaching owner-operators on developing and financing their operations. He also volunteers with Hawai'i First Federal Credit Union in Waimea.
    Kaʻū Farmers Union United President Andy Dryer said members of the organization will discuss goals for 2023, "ways to grow membership with other passionate people and a community garden initiative."

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ACCESS TO 911 ON SOME VERIZON WIRELESS PHONES on Hawai'i Island was reported unavailable Wednesday by Hawai'i' Police Department. HPD asked those affected to "Please use non emergency number 808 935-3311. The Hawaii Police Department is aware that some Verizon Wireless customers have reported being unable to compete 911 calls using their cellular telephones. The non-emergency number appears to be working for Verizon customers at this time."

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THE STATE CLOSED ON $800 MILLION IN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS on Wednesday. the news was released by Gov. David Ige who said that proceeds will provide critical funding to support new and existing infrastructure projects in Hawai'i.
    "We are very pleased with the results of the bond sale," said the governor. "Despite challenging

conditions in the broader bond markets this year, Hawaiʻi was able to generate strong demand for its bonds. This demonstrates the market's continued confidence in the State's ability to prudently manage its long-term financial responsibilities."
    Before the sale, Ige and senior State administrators met with analysts from Moody's Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings to review the State's credit quality. Following these presentations, Moody's and S&P affirmed the State's bond ratings of Aa2 and AA+, respectively, with stable outlooks. Both agencies cited the State's robust economic performance coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthy financial position, and long track-record of careful fiscal management as key strengths that support the State's strong bond ratings.
    "The state has a long track record of conservative debt management practices," noted Moody's in its report. "Hawai'i's recent rebuilding of its rainy day fund, and steps taken to increase its pension and OPEB contributions also evidence prudent management."

    According to a statement from the governor, the State of Hawaiʻi has significantly increased its financial reserves and paid down its long-term liabilities, while simultaneously supporting critical investments in workforce housing, education, and infrastructure, along with other important priorities.
   Director of Finance Craig Hirai and the Department of Budget and Finance led an extensive marketing campaign in preparation for the bond sale that took place on October 19. Officials meet with local on-island investors and held a live virtual presentation to investors representing some of the largest institutions across the country that buy municipal bonds. The State also released an online presentation to further reach investors. As a result, local, national, and international investors collectively placed over $1.5 billion of orders for the bonds.
    Morgan Stanley served as the lead managing underwriter for the bond sale, with BofA Securities and Citigroup as co-senior managers, and Jefferies and RBC as co-managers. A Hawaii-based selling group was also utilized to further market the bonds to local retail investors.

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The Club at Discovery Harbour

In the mail and on stands from Volcano through Kaʻū.