The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Friday, March 24, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, March 24, 2023

After Dark in the Park on Tuesday features Food Security and Aquaculture. Photo from Blue Ocean Mariculture

FOOD SECURITY AND AQUACULTURE is the topic of next Tuesday's After Dark in the Park when CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture is the speaker at 7 p.m. in Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi has a long history of aquaculture. Loko iʻa, or fishponds, sustained Native Hawaiians when

wild fish and birds were not easily captured. Today, aquaculture plays a larger role in the local diet.

Learn how the growth of aquaculture, both on land and in the open ocean, will ensure a sustainable source of high-quality, safe, native fish. Dick Jones, CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture located off the Kona Coast and the only open-ocean finfish aquaculture company in the U.S., is the featured speaker.

Blue Ocean Mariculture grows kanpachi.
Photo from Blue Ocean Mariculture

Blue Ocean Mariculture grows some 800 tons of kanpachi (yellowfin) per year. Its website says, "Blue Ocean specializes in mariculture, not fish farming. We raise our Hawaiian Kanpachi in their natural environment, the open ocean, at depths and temperatures that are ideal for their natural biology to guarantee healthy and sustainable food for customers who can taste the difference Hawaiian waters make. Deep water submersible pens remove our stock from potential near-shore conflicts while making it easy to monitor and maintain water quality, preserve seafloor health, and limit wildlife interactions. Our fish are fed a premium diet of fish meal, fish oil, and non-GMO grain while spawning naturally under observation to ensure that population is controlled to prevent overwhelming the local ecosystem."

The talk this Tuesday is one of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park programs, sponsored by Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply.

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THE VITUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON THE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WAIKAPUNA is posted online, with the meeting slideshow, meeting video recording and the Draft Management Plan itself.

Comments on the Waikapuna Management Plan are due April 22.
Photo from Ala Kahakai Trail Association

Waikapuna is one of the large parcels of land preserved on the Ka'u Coast. It was slated for subdivision and sales on the open market, but public and private funds purchased it and transferred title to Ala Kahakai Trail Association with a conservation easement owned by County of Hawai'i which is obligated to oversee its stewardship. Part of the process is developing a Waikapuna Management Plan. Public comments on the Draft Management Plan are due April 22. They can be submitted through https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcQOPqii210k30nY_I3OqCB8pMj63b7VTx9VgnV1mAOC_9qg/viewform or emailed to Gabrielle Sham at gabrielle@townscapeinc.com.
See the slideshow that was presented at this week's meeting at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/122216/Waikapuna_Community%20Mtg_March%2022,%202023%20on%20the%20Draft%20Plan.pdf.
See the video recording of this week's public meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kePqGz5UXg.

See the Draft Management Pan for Waikapuna at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121424/Waikapuna%20Resources%20Management%20Plan_Public%20Review%20Draft_February%202023.pdf
A hard copy of the draft plan is also available at the Nāʻālehu Public Library and Pahala Public Library.

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A 270-FOOT LONG CUTTER WILL JOIN THE COAST GUARD FLEET IN HAWAI'I. Congressman Ed Case made the announcement on Friday. He said the Coast Guard plans to use the Medium Endurance Cutter Harriet Lane as an addition to a Hawai‘i-based fleet for responsibilities in Hawai‘i waters as well as an increasing Coast Guard presence throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The ship is especially suited for longer-range six-to-eight week joint operational and training patrols in the Pacific, taking pressure off shorter range Hawai‘i-based ships more suited to service closer to home port.

The Harriet Lane, a 270-foot-long Coast Guard cutter, will join the Hawai'i fleet next year.
Photo from U.S. Coast Guard

Case said, “The deployment of the Harriet Lane signals our country’s stepped-up interest in the Indo-Pacific, the most dynamic and consequential region in the world, to include two of the world’s largest economies (China and the United States), nine of the ten busiest seaports and 60 percent of global maritime trade.” Case is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard. He recently joined a Congressional delegation with his House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that visited Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. “Hawai‘i is at the center of the Indo-Pacific’s future, and the Coast Guard is a critical part of our country’s efforts in maritime security, humanitarian and other region-wide engagement.”

The Coast Guard announced that Harriet Lane was selected as the new Indo-Pacific Support Cutter, and will relocate from Portsmouth, VA to the Pacific theater early in FY 2024. The Service intends to initially berth the Cutter in Hawai‘i for several years to ensure the asset meets the operational needs and has proper shoreside support. The Coast Guard will continue conducting thorough port assessments in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure the final permanent homeport has the necessary logistical foundations available and in place.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Case included language in the federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget supporting the Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific and requiring the Coast Guard to examine its assets in Oceania and its facilities on O‘ahu. The Coast Guard is utilizing that budget funding to operate the Harriet Lane in the Pacific and provide necessary supporting elements and personnel to maintain the vessel. (more) (3) In January of this year, Case discussed his support for increased Coast Guard presence in the Indo-Pacific during meetings in Honolulu with Rear Admiral Michael Day, Commander of the 14th Coast Guard District which has jurisdiction from the Hawaiian Islands and across most of the Central and Western Pacific, as well as with Captain Aja Kirksey, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, which covers 200 nautical miles surrounding the islands and atolls of the State of Hawai‘i.

Over the last three years, Case has repeatedly called for increased Coast Guard presence in the Indo-Pacific. As a founding member of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, Case gained approval in the FY 2021 federal budget of an overall funding level of $12.8 billion for the Coast Guard, including language advocating for an increased operational role for the Coast Guard in the nation's Indo-Pacific Strategy and requiring a new strategic intent report to reflect the Coast Guard’s evolving and growing role in the region.

Speaking at a conference this Wednesday, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Policy Rear Adm. Michael Ryan said that Western Pacific deployments would increase threefold in coming years. Case said: “I welcome the Coast Guard’s expanded role in the Indo-Pacific, as it has been one of our country’s best ambassadors to this critical region. And this expansion will heighten Hawaii’s own role as a center of our country’s efforts in the Indo-Pacific as well as ensuring that our own home waters are fully protected.”

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In the mail and on stands.

FREE FOOD

St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day.

OUTDOOR MARKETS

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students

Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.

Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music. Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.

O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.

Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, March 23, 2023

Going Home Hawai'i, which works to reintegrate people in justice system into the community
with housing and services, will receive a grant from Hawai'i County aimed at tackling homelessness.

SIXTEEN PROJECTS FOR GRANTS SERVING THE HOMELESS passed the County Council this week after being selected by the county's Office of Housing & Community Development. "The funding of over $7.5 million is unprecedented local County investments toward addressing homelessness on Hawai‘i Island," says a statement from County of Hawai'i.

The funding goes to Bridge House, Inc.; CFS Real Property Inc for Hale 'Ohana; Going Home Hawai'i; Habitat for Humanity Hawai'i Island, Inc.; Hawai'i Community Lending, Inc.; Hawai'i Island Home for Recovery, Inc.; HOPE Services Hawai'i, Inc.; Lokahi Treatment Centers; Mental Health Kokua; Neighborhood Place of Puna; Project Vision Hawai'i; and Hawai'i Island Community Health Center.

Image from Bridge House, which will receive
a grant to help those at risk of homelessness.

In November, OHCD issued a Request for Proposals seeking applications to carry out priorities outlined in the Strategic Roadmap for Homelessness and Housing released in September. OHCD received 31 proposals from 21 different community organizations requesting over $25 million, far exceeding the available amount to potentially award in this first of an expected five fiscal years of appropriations. A five-member evaluation committee performed an extensive review process to rank the proposals, and the top sixteen were selected for grants.
“This first year was an opportunity for us to see the capacity of our service providers on the ground as we continue making inroads on homelessness,” said Housing Administrator Susan Kunz. “As we know, communities nationwide are confronting the homelessness crisis. This is one step towards supporting the most vulnerable in our community.”
Selected initiatives range from permanent supportive housing projects to substance abuse and mental health treatment programs to professional development systems that help build the capacity of the front-line homeless service provider workforce. “Partnerships are the only way that we will be able to provide the diverse spectrum of services needed to adequately address the homelessness issue on our island,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Forging a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed for generations means creating a place where every individual is provided the services necessary to succeed regardless of the adversities they face.”
Kunz also expressed appreciation for the organizations and County support. “We are very grateful to our partners for the work they are about to embark on with these projects. While the number of proposals

was promising, it presented a challenging selection process. It’s unfortunate not all could be funded in this round. We will look for ways to work with all stakeholders. We’re thankful for the County investment.”
In March 2022, the Council passed, and Mayor Roth signed, Ordinance 22-26, which appropriated funds to address the pressing issues of homelessness and housing. Sixty-two percent of the total budget for projects receiving the County grants will be funded by other sources, including from Federal, State, and private entities, optimizing the leverage of local tax dollars to affect a more significant impact. As part of the conditions outlined in the RFP, awarded organizations must submit monthly, quarterly, and final reports on outcomes.
The Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions Committee of the County Council considered a resolution identifying the selected grants on March 7 and forwarded it to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. The Council approved the funding on Thursday.

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THE SEVENTH PRINCE KUHIO HO'OLAULEA entertainment lineup and more are announced for this Saturday. Enjoy hula, music, food, Hawaiian cultural demos and more on March 25 at Nāʻālehu Ball Park located along Māmalahoa Hwy. This drug- and alcohol-free event, organized by local non-profit Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū, will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Kaʻū keiki will open the day with an oli, followed by the brief history of Prince Kūhiō given by the

Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū.
Musicians Gene Akamu & Friends will start off the entertainment followed by Lori Lei's Hula Studio, led by Kumu Hula Lori Lei Shirakawa. Next up will be Kumu Hula Debbie Ryder's Hālau Hula O Leionalani taking the stage. The Green Sands Trio will serenade the crowd during the lunch hour. Miss Kalaoa's Outstanding Teen Hawaiʻi 2023, Karly-Rose Kawaahau-Aiona will perform followed by Bruddah Ben Mejia as he shares fond memories of Kaʻū and songs. Closing out the event will be the lively music of the Backyahd Bruddahs.

Get a lucky number ticket from the Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū information booth as prizes will be given out between the music and hula acts throughout the day.

State House Representative for Kaʻū Jeanne Kapela, Department of Hawaiian Homelands Interim Chair Ikaika Anderson, as well as representatives from the Hawaiʻi County Mayor's office and the OHA's Hawaiʻi Island Trustee Mililani Trask are slated to attend.
Hotdogs, chili and rice, shave ice, furikake chicken, smoked meat, Korean chicken, char siu, roast pork plate, lechon, spring rolls, french fries, potato balls, taco salad and more will delight hungry event-goers. For sweet treats there will be a variety of offerings including desserts, mini donuts, boba teas, baked goods, coffee milkshakes and smoothies for sale.
Buy a hoʻolauleʻa T-shirt, fresh Kaʻū coffee to take home or gifts for someone special.
Visit Hawaiian cultural demos such as coconut weaving, waʻa (canoe), kuʻi kalo (poi pounding), ʻukulele and lei making. Play Hawaiian Makahiki games with the Hawaiian Civic Club and konane with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reps. Pick up a native Hawaiian plant while supplies last at the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and Ka ʻOhana O Honuʻapo booth. Learn about safe and pono fishing practices from a Department of Land & Natural Resources officer.
Behind the tennis courts in the back building will be a special museum exhibit focusing on Hawaiian 'ohana and cultural artifacts curated by the Kaʻū Multicultural Society.
Swing by the Hawaiian Economic Opportunity Council booth to qualify for a free refrigerator. Bring Hawaiian Electric Account information.

Also sharing information will be Queen Liliʻuokalani Trust, Alu Like, Hui Mālama Ola Nā ʻŌiwi, Kaʻū Rural Health Association, Black Sand Beach LLC
Hana Laulima Lāhui O Kaʻū's mission is to support the development of a new economic base for the district of Kaʻū that will enhance economic growth, and advance a secure economic future for the community and the children of Kaʻū, while preserving the people of Kaʻū's cultural heritage and respect for the ʻāina (land).

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FRIDAY IS WORLD TUBERCULOSIS DAY and the state Department of Health encourages Hawai'i's high risk residents to get tested for early TB diagnosis. “Approximately 1.5 million people die from tuberculosis worldwide every year,” said Dr. Genevieve S. Ley, chief of the DOH TB Control Branch. However, active TB disease (the contagious form of TB) can be cured with medications. People with latent TB infection (the non-contagious form of TB) can also be treated to prevent progression to active TB disease.
In 2022, Hawai‘i had 102 cases of active TB disease. Symptoms of active TB include a prolonged cough

of three weeks or longer, unexplained weight loss, fever, sweating at night, and feeling weak or tired. People with latent TB will not have any current symptoms, but the illness can progress to active TB if not treated. DOH estimates that as many as 70,000 to 100,000 Hawai‘i residents could be infected with latent TB.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the following non-healthcare workers are considered at increased risk for TB infection and should be tested:

People who have spent time with someone who has TB disease;
People from a country where TB disease is common (e.g. Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands);
People who live or work in high-risk settings (e.g. facilities and homeless shelters); and
Infants, children and adolescents exposed to adults who are at increased risk for latent tuberculosis infection or TB disease.
DOH recommends that healthcare providers ensure that their patients who are diagnosed with latent TB complete a course of treatment.
Many employers require TB clearance for workers. Testing for TB clearance is available at 17 locations statewide through DOH. Click here to learn more.
The DOH TB Control Program is part of the Communicable Disease and Public Health Nursing Division. Its mission is to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in the state by providing effective prevention, detection, treatment, and educational services. Examinations and treatment are available free of charge.
DOH has resources available to help individuals and clinicians diagnose and treat tuberculosis. For more information on tuberculosis or the program’s services and activities, call (808) 832-5731 or visit health.hawaii.gov/tb

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CELEBRATE MICRONESIA HEALTH FAIR WILL BE IN OCEAN VIEW on Saturday, April l at Kahuku County Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A statement from the organizers calls it a "perfect opportunity to learn more about Micronesian culture while discovering local health resources." It will also include cultural music and dance performances.

The Celebrate Micronesia Health Fair is open to everyone. It will feature agencies such as Kumukahi Health and Wellness, Kokua Services Partnerships, YMCA, Goodwill, Hawaii Island Community Health Center, Hawai'i Community Foundation, Kalanihale, and MedQUEST Division. These agencies will provide information about various health insurance options, COFA passport apps, and assistance.
Also available will be help with passports for travel to and from the Compact of Free Association Migrants who hail from Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau. They have a unique relationship with the U.S.
In exchange for permitting the U.S. exclusive use and military strategic positioning in the Pacific, the U.S. provides grants to fund education, health care, and infrastructure in these jurisdiction. The Compacts allow COFA citizens to freely travel, live and work in the country without a visa and with no time restraints. Many COFA migrants live in Kaʻū with children and grandchildren going to school here and adults working in the coffee and other industries.
During Celebrate Micronesia Health fair, resources, the first 100 attendees will receive a free bento and produce bag, and all keiki can enjoy a free ice shave. Throughout the day, also enjoy cultural music and dance performances, making it a perfect family-friendly event for all.

The Kahuku Park venue is at 92-8598 Paradise Makai Circle, Ocean View.

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RAPID OHIA DEATH RESPONSE GOT ANOTHER PUSH in Washington, D.C. this week from Hawai'i's Congressional Delegation. The effort to destroy the fungal pathogen that has killed more than a million native ʻōhiʻa trees in Hawaii since its discovery in 2014 came from U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz and U.S. House of Representatives members Jill Tokuda and Ed Case. They introduced The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023, to authorize $55 million in federal funding over the next 11 years to support ongoing efforts by federal agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey,

Eleven years of federal funding would be used to fight Rapid Ohia Death.
Photo from CTAHR

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, working in partnership with state agencies, to help combat Ohia tree death in Hawai'i.”
The legislation would:
Direct the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to continue providing resources for the purposes of researching ROD vectors and transmission;
Require the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to work with the State of Hawai'i and other local stakeholders on on ungulate management in control areas on federal, state, and private land;
Require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, to continue providing resources to prevent the spread of ROD and restore the native forests in Hawai'i, and to also continue to provide financial and staff resources to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, located in Hilo, to continue research on ROD; and
Authorize $55 million in appropriations over the next eleven years for both the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to carry out these actions.
“Ohia Lehua are Hawai'i’s most abundant native tree, but ROD poses a serious threat to the species’ survival,” said Hirono. “As ROD continues to decimate Hawai'i’s Ohia population, federal support is crucial to combating ROD and protecting Ohia trees across Hawai'i. Ohia plays an important role in protecting our native ecosystems and I am proud to lead our delegation in advocating for the federal

The ohia lehua at left and the decimated blossom at right. Photo from CTHAR

resources Hawai'i needs to prevent further Ohia death and protect our state’s unique biodiversity.”
Tokuda, who represents Kaʻū and all of rural Hawai'i said, “I’m proud to join Senator Hirono in co-leading the introduction of the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act, which will unlock federal support to combat the spread of Rapid Ohia Death and restore Hawai'i’s ohia forests. Covering nearly one million acres throughout Hawai'i, Ohia lehua forms the basis of our watershed, preventing runoff and providing critical habitat for endangered birds like honeycreepers. In recent years, Rapid Ohia Death has devastated too many ohia forests, especially on the Big Island, and its spread throughout Hawai'i is deeply troubling. This bill is a step in the right direction to ensure this critical natural and cultural resource is there for the next generation.”
Schatz said. “In order to fight Rapid Ohia Death, we need more resources to research the disease and work to control its spread. Our bill will give us more tools to preserve our Ohia and restore our native forests and ecosystems."
Case said, “Rapid Ohia Death, first detected on Oʻahu just a few years ago, poses a major threat to these precious endemic trees. Our measure will help to combat this deadly fungus which left unchecked will devastate not only our most abundant native tree but with it our unique and endangered forest ecosystem.”

T o read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

In the mail and on stands.

https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The coastlines of Waikapuna are an intricate network of native flora and fauna, to be protected in the new management plan.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

THE STEWARDSHIP PLAN FOR WAIKAPUNA drew Kaʻū citizens to an online meeting on Wednesday. Access to the place was a main topic in the discussion period. One speaker suggested that lineal descendants of the area come forward and make themselves known. She also suggested that those who own and steward the 2,317 Waikapuna acres along the Kaʻū Coast continue to seek out the descendants of those who lived on the land to welcome them into decisionmaking. The owner is Ala Kahakai Trail Association and an overseer with a conservation easement is County of Hawai'i.

Gabrielle Sham, of Townscapes, Inc., who has been working on the draft management plan for Waikapuna, explained the plan to provide Kupuna Days, 'Ohana Days, and weekend overnight camping for one group at a time during three weekends per month. Volunteer Workdays would be held monthly on weekends with no overnight camping permitted. Volunteering would help individuals and groups earn higher priority for camping reservations.

Access to Waikapuna was a main topic in a
zoom meeting about the draft management plan.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

With high demand for overnight camping on weekends, and some folks reporting reservations a year in advance, the planners came up with an idea to make reservations more timely. Camping reservations would be made quarterly, opening up the first weekdays of the month before each quarter begins. Those who have volunteered at Waikapuna would be able to apply as early as the first Monday; those from Kaʻū as early as first Tuesday, and those from outside Kaʻū as early as first Wednesday of the month before the quarter begins.

Kupuna Days and Ohana Days would be reserved as early as the first day of the week of the desired date. It would also be required that least one person in the group has already gone to Waikapuna.

For other day visits, those having already volunteered would receive priority and able make a booking on the first Monday of the month; Kaʻū residents second Monday; and non- Kaʻū residents third Monday. Sham said the intent is to incentivize volunteering for people to develop a role in stewardship at Waikapuna. Volunteering can include maintaining roadways, removing invasives and cleaning up trash at the bay.

She also said the Ala Kahakai Trail Association plans to seek funding and hire staff. Sham noted that the federal Ala Kakahai Trail, which runs through the property, is open to foot traffic, no permit required. It is the vehicular traffic and camping that require the reservations. The idea of an informal Community Makai Watch to discourage people from driving into Waikapuna without permits was discussed.

Ala Kahakai Trail is open to the public without permits. Vehicles
going to Waikapuna require permits and reservations. See
http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

Some speakers asked whether there could be a method for more flexible reservations, related to ocean and weather conditions. They said it is difficult for those fishing and gathering food to plan weeks in advance since the weather or sea state can change so quickly. It has been the tradition to call up the stewards of the land and ask them whether they could go down to the shore on that day, said fishermen commenting on the plan.

Another participant in the zoom meeting suggested a live meeting in Nā'ālehu, noting tech connectivity difficulties for some folks in Kaʻū and recommending a face-to-face gathering.

Another asked about the definition of Kaʻū resident, someone who just moved here, or people with family ties? She noted that local people are being increasingly locked out of the places their families consider special in Kaʻū. A fisherman said that Waikapuna is important for feeding his family, with his children and grandchildren following the tradition. He said with new restrictions, it could be difficult. "Seems now we going to have to go to KTA, have to go to supermarket. No can bring the city to

Native shoreline plants at Waikapuna.
See http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/ Photo from ATA

the country and tell country guys how to live."

Another speaker said up on a cliff at Waikapuna there are special outcroppings, a "bubbly rock area." She asked "how to protect those pohaku?" Sham said it is a matter of working with Ala Kahakai Trail Association and educating the community. She also noted that the county's conservation easement on the property requires and annual report from ATA and an annual county review of the stewardship. She also noted that anyone interested in being involved in a stewardship committee for Waikapuna can reach out to ATA.
The entire meeting is recorded and will be posted online. See earlier meetings and more on Ala Kahakai Trail Association at http://www.alakahakaitrail.org/

See the draft plan for Waikapuna at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/121424/Waikapuna%20Resources%20Management%20Plan_Public%20Review%20Draft_February%202023.pdf.

A hard copy of the draft plan is available at the Nāʻālehu Public Library and Pahala Public Library. Comments on the draft plan may be submitted online or e-mailed to gabrielle@townscapeinc.com through April 22, 2023.

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GOV. JOSH GREEN SIGNED BILLS INTO LAW FOR THE FIRST TIME on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 1 (SB1) advances Hawai'i's long civil rights history. Hawai'i's first civil rights protections against discrimination date back to pre-statehood days, when territorial lawmakers at the Constitutional Convention of 1950 ratified what is now an article in the state Constitution: Article I § 5 of the Hawai'i State Constitution states that no person "shall be denied the enjoyment of the person's civil rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of race, religion, sex, or ancestry."

The 1950 Hawai'i Constitutional convention, which
set forth civil rights protections, long before statehood. On
Wednesday Gov. Josh Green signed a bill to protect
reproductive health care services.

Hawai'i was the first state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, to recognize a woman's right to choose, and to seriously address the issue of same-sex marriage.
Senate Bill 1 expands access to reproductive health care services in numerous ways; clarifies that the state will not deny or interfere with a pregnant person's right to choose to terminate a pregnancy and protects Hawai'i health care providers from punitive legal action from within or outside of the state relating to the provision of legally provided reproductive health care services. Additional protections, prohibitions and requirements are included.
The Governor said, "This is one of the most important issues of our time and as Hawai'i's physician-governor, I tell you absolutely that this goes beyond a complex social issue for political discussion. This is 100-percent about fundamental, practical health care for our people."
Abortion has risen to the forefront since the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Dobbs v. Jackson Woman's Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. "Roe" was a 1973 SCOTUS decision that decriminalized abortion and protected the right to access the procedure legally across the country.
Upon Green's signature, SB1 became Act 2.
Senate Bill 36 (SB36) amends state law to allow county prosecutors to initiate felony cases by complaints following preliminary hearings and prohibits multiple attempts to initiate a felony prosecution for an offense, except in certain circumstances.
"The people of Hawai'i want to feel safe in their homes and communities and have every right to expect

government leaders to provide public safety. This legislation is a tool that will help our law enforcement officers and county prosecutors continue their work toward that goal," said Green. Upon his signature, SB36 became Act 1.
The measure resolves an issue resulting from the Hawai'i Supreme Court decision in State v. Obrero, in which the court ruled that HRS 801-1 did not permit initiation of felony criminal charges via preliminary hearing. The ruling came despite active use of the process for some 40 years.
A subsection of SB36 limits the prosecution to one attempt to charge a felony case via grand jury indictment or complaint following preliminary hearing unless certain conditions are met, including presentation of additional material evidence, there is evidence of misconduct by the grand jury or grand jury counsel, or if a court finds good cause to allow another attempt.

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SWEEPING CHANGES THAT ENABLE RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS TO LIVE AND PARTICIPATE FULLY in their communities, and to engage in meaningful employment, is promised for Hawai' by its Department of Health and Gov. Josh Green. As of March 17, all states must be compliant with the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services settings regulation. The changes are expected to impact more than one million people receiving Medicaid HCBS nationally, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“The regulations protect each person’s rights and uphold the value of person-centered processes that make sure people are making their own choices and control the decisions in their lives — a right most people take for granted,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, Director of Hawai‘i Department of Health. “This includes being treated with privacy, dignity and respect; freedom from coercion and restraint; deciding what and when to eat; having visitors, and having the protections of a lease or other legally enforceable residency agreement.”
"DOH Developmental Disabilities Division, which operates Hawai‘i’s Medicaid waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, has been preparing to meet this compliance deadline despite the challenges of the pandemic," says a DOH statement. "It marks the beginning of a new phase of implementation of the rule, requiring ongoing evaluation, monitoring, and public engagement."
Mary Brogan, Administrator of DOH Developmental Disabilities Division since 2014 and President of the National Association of State Directors of Development Disabilities Services, said, “It is not

enough to simply be living in the community; we need to make sure participants in our program with intellectual and developmental disabilities are fully integrated into the fabric of our community. We need to take our transformation to the next level so everyone we serve has access to the life they choose, and we are committed to continuously improving our services. Our entire system, including staff, participants, families and providers have worked tirelessly through the transition period to make the changes needed, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone’s efforts.”
About 3,500 participants benefit from the services provided through the DOH Developmental Disabilities Division.
Debbie Kobayakawa, a parent of an adult child who receives services from DOH, said her son's services have been game changing. “Person-centered planning allows my son to live and work fully integrated into his community, which is the life he wants. The whole point of these services is to provide individuals with the life they want,” Kobayakawa said.
The waiver program has positive impacts on Hawai‘i, both in supporting better outcomes for people with significant disabilities, and the economic effect in the community. The State has agreements with more than 50 agencies providing services such as personal assistance, employment supports, and adult day programs. These agencies employ thousands of people statewide.

A number of states including Hawai‘i, are investing resources to address the direct-care workforce crisis, essential to ensuring people have access to the services they need, especially on the neighbor islands. For example, because low wages make it very hard to recruit and retain the professionals who provide critical services, during the pandemic, many states increased payment rates and targeted those increases to apply to wages for direct-support professionals.
“Our goal is to ensure the timely provision of quality services that truly make a difference in people’s lives,” said the DOH Director. “The support from the Governor and Legislature has been instrumental toward this shared goal.”

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