Kaʻū News Briefs Dec. 9, 2024

Seventy-four year old Wisdom and her mate take care of their egg at Kuaihelani, Midway Atoll.
Photo by Dan Rapp/Friends of Midway Atoll

ONE OF THE OLDEST MOMS STILL GIVING BIRTH IN THE WORLD IS NAMED WISDOM. She spends time in the northern Hawaiian Islands on Kuaihelani, Midway Atoll, where she recently laid her latest egg and takes care of it with her mate. Wisdom is a 74-years-old Mōlī, a Laysan albatross, and was seen at Kuaihelani within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

     Friends of Midway Atoll reports that "It was very apparent she had found a mate on the atoll and then laid her egg later that day. He is currently taking his first incubation shift while Wisdom is out at sea feeding and recuperating, as she very well deserves time off as one of the most remarkable grandest of great grandmas in the bird kingdom." She could be gone from her mate and egg for a couple of weeks.
    The report says, "Wisdom has once again mystified biologists. Being able to reproduce and develop an egg, much less survive at sea and rear at least 30 chicks during her 74+ years defies logic and is truly remarkable. She is more than a symbol of hope and resilience, she also helps scientists better understand how to fully support such long lived and majestic seabirds."

    Seabird biologist and photographer Dan Rapp is documenting the life of Wisdom and the other birds on Kuaihelani. See more at https://friendsofmidway.org/

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Frank Lorenzo, Sr. and Ikaika Grace cut and
 set up the Norfolk Pine for the Pāhala Town
 Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday and the
Christmas Parade on Saturday evening, 
Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ FARMS MANAGEMENT, led by Frank Lorenzo, Sr., cut and and placed a Norfolk Pine for Pāhala Town Tree Lighting and Lighted Christmas Parade, with the help of Ikaika Grace. The Tree Lighting is this Friday evening.

    Parade Committee President Shai Lopez-Castaneda reminds the community that this Friday Dec, 13 the tree lighting starts at 6 p.m. at the lawn of Pāhala Plantation Cottages above the gas station. He recommends bringing chairs and mats to watch the event and to check in at the information booth.

     There will be hula performances, food trucks and vendors on site during the tree lighting. On Saturday, Dec. 14 the Pāhala Town Lighted Christmas Parade starts at 6 p.m. Food trucks and vendors will be on site.

    Public parking for both days will be at the Pāhala Community Center. Friday night, a portion of Kamani street will be closed from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday night Pikake and Kamani Streets will be closed 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
    At Pāhala Community Center after the parade on Saturday, the parade committee will serve free chili bowls, hotdogs and refreshments to the community. Children are invited to visit Santa and take photos. 

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THE NEW GIRLS TROJANS SOCCER TEAM IS GETTING ITS FOOTING by playing big high schools. On Monday, Waiākea visited and took home the win 9-0. On Saturday, Trojans traveled to Konawaena and lost 19-0 to the Wildcats.

    The next home soccer game is this Saturday, Dec. 14 against Hawai'i Preparatory Academy. Hilo visits on Jan. 4. Honoka'a comes to Kaʻū on Jan. 6. Kaʻū travels to Kamehameha Jan. 7. Kaʻū travels to Honoka'a on Jan. 11. The soccer season continues into February. 

    Head Coach is Jason Masters and Assistant Coach is Jamie Kaluau.

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Kaʻū News Briefs Dec. 8, 2024

View from the music and food venue of the Makahiki last weekend at Punalu'u. Photo by Ulisses Feres

THE TRADITIONAL MAKAHIKI TIME OF THE HARVEST, a thanksgiving and coming together with food, ceremony and music, came to Punalu'u over the weekend, with double-hull canoe in the bay and feasting and music at the park pavilion.

Keiki learn to sail in a double hull canoe at Punalu'u during Makahiki over the weekend. Photo by Ulisses Feres

The musical group Huliau at the Makahiki at Punalu'u over the weekend. Photo by Ulisses Feres

Guy Sesson and friends with music for the Makahiki on Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Ulisses Feres

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The Thrift Store to support Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū opened on Saturday. Photo by Miki Moses

A STORE TO SUPPORT THE FIRST HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCHOOL IN KAʻŪ opened on

Ti Chun and Pōkiʻi Seto shared their
music at the immersion school event.
Photo by Miki Moses

 Saturday with music, food and ceremony. Located on the grounds of the old Shirakawa Hotel in Wai'ohinu, the store is next to the planned school on the campus.
    Organizers of the school Ke Kula Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani o Kaʻū also took enrollment for the Kū hāweo program where families come together to teach children as the school progresses toward certification.
    Donations of furnishings, arts, household goods and other items are welcomed. The opening follows a successful auction of items and a monetary donation from a family supporting the school. Winners of auction items came by to pick them up. 
    One of the school's founders, Raylene Auli'i Fujikawa Moses, said, "Mahalo nui to all the winners of our online auction who came yesterday to pick up their winnings and to everyone who supported the opening of our thrift store! We were blessed to have and enjoy the musical talents of Pōkiʻi Seto, Ti Chun, Kaukaohu Wahilani and Nakana Evans! Your generosity and kōkua play a vital role in uplifting the first Hawaiian Immersion kula here in Kaʻū. Together, we are nurturing the future of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi and perpetuating our culture. Aloha nui loa!"

Kakaohu Wahilani played guitar and sang for the auction celebration and store opening. Photo by Miki Moses

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SOUTHERN-MOST ALASKA PICNIC: This is an annual event and organizers said they want to get the word out early. It is sponsored by folks who go back and forth between Alaska and Hawai'i Island to live, usually wintering here and spending summer in Alaska. This island is popular with Alaskans because of the similarity of places, with big mountains and vast open landscapes, small towns and a largely wilderness coast.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. TROJAN BOYS BASKETBALL was highly competitive in play against big schools in the Kealakehe High School Boys Basketball Tournament over the weekend. Kaʻū beat Waiakea 63-62 on Thursday. Trojans came up short with Kealakehe winning 63-62 on Friday. Kaʻū was competitive against Hilo High Saturday evening for the first three quarters. Trojans lost 65-40 to Hilo.     Trojan Boys Basketball team plays Hilo again on Tuesday at Herkes Kaʻū District Gym, with 5:30 p.m. start for JV, Varsity to follow.

Kaʻū News Briefs Dec. 7, 2024

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh presents Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Chair & CEO
Elizabeth Fien a wooden plaque for the non-profit's 15 years of service supporting the Youth Ranger Program.
FHVNP Photo by Sydney Hartley

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Ranger Wendy Vance, who

manages the visitor center for  Kahuku Unit, spends some time

 with Santa on Saturday at Holidays in Kahuku.

FHVNP Photo by Sydney Hartley

THE FIFTH ANNUAL HOLIDAYS IN KAHUKU saw Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Rhonda Loh present Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park Chair & CEO Elizabeth Fien with a plaque honoring 15 years of the non-profit providing support for the Youth Ranger Program.    

    After the event, Fein said, "We love the community of Kaʻū. A huge mahalo to all that made this festival magical. The Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is a very special place indeed. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!"                                  Holidays in Kahuku featured Santa, hula, music, food, crafts and hiking at the Kahuku Unit.

    Also on hand was Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association, which also recently received a plaque from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park for its 15 years of supporting the Hawai'i Island Youth Ranger Internship Program.

See more on Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at https://www.fhvnp.org/

Kumu Meleana Manuel of Hālau Ke 'Olu Makani O Mauna Loa shares music during the annual Holidays in Kahuku. 

FHVNP Photo by Sydney Hartley

 

Hālau Ke 'Olu Maakani O Mauna Loa performed at Holidays in Kahuku on Saturday. FHVNP Photo by Elizabeth Fien

Santa came to Holidays at Kahuku on Saturday, an event sponsored by Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. FHVNP Photo by Sydney Hartley

Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association joined the Holidays in Kahuku festival on Saturday at the Kahuku Unit of 

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Photo by Julia Neal

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Darlyne and Winslow Vierra flew flags in Pāhala in memory of the fallen in Pearl Harbor. Photo by Julia Neal DARLYNE VIERRA AND HER KAʻŪ MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY FLEW MANY FLAGS on Saturday to honor those who died at Pearl Harbor. The presentation began at Pāhala and moved to Ocean View, then Nāʻālehu.  Kaʻū Multicultural Society's flags honored the fallen at Pearl Harbor on Saturday at the Nāʻālehu Memorial. Photo by Darlyne Vierra To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. TROJAN BOYS BASKETBALL was hard at play against big schools in the Kealakehe High School Boys Basketball Tournament this week. Trojans beat Waiakea 63-62 on Thursday. Trojans came up short with Kealakehe winning 63-62 on Friday. Kaʻū was set to play Hilo High Saturday evening. To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com.