Attendees separate seedlings in a native plant propagation workshop. Image courtesy of Volcano Art Center

(Media release) — Would you like to learn how to grow native plants? Botanist Tim Tunison instructs a “Native Plant Propagation” workshop in Volcano Village from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at Volcano Art Center’s (VAC) Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

The class tours three different residential parcels in Volcano Village that are in different phases of restoration. From this experience students gain an understanding of the principles that create a truly restored versus a replacement community. Dealing with weeds can perhaps be the most problematic and time consuming phase. The residential examples simplify the daunting task of weed removal and control. Read the rest of this entry »

Image courtesy of HubbleSite

(Media release) — ‘Imiloa’s first overnight event, “Take Me to the Moon,” is set for  6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 to 9 a.m., Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. Spend the night exploring the wondrous exhibit hall, watching a spectacular 3D planetarium show and tour of the Solar System, listening to presentations about the LCROSS mission by NASA experts, and enjoying an array of activities. Just bring your sleeping bag and toothbrush. The cost is $40 for adults, $35 for children. Children must be 11 years or older, and must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration and payment is required. Please call (808) 969-9720, email cmitchell@imiloahawaii.org  or visit www.imiloahawaii.org.

Tonight after having dinner at LuQuin’s I stopped by the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility to listen to Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida’s Sunshine Law presentation.  Ashida was the guest speaker for the Puna Wahine Family Community Education program.  When I showed up around 7 p.m., there were 17 people in attendance, including some familiar faces, such as Barbara Lively, who coordinated the event, Diane Gentry, Fred Blas, Karolyn Lundkvist, Joyce Folena and Gregory Smith.  Some interesting points that Ashida made while I was there are that the Sunshine Law is “self-regulating,” it really is up to the County Council, board, or commission member to police himself or herself on the law ensuring the public’s right to know.  On the list of permitted interactions, well, two members of the County Council, board or commission can meet and discuss board business.  They cannot turn around and go meet with two other members to discuss that board business.   Read the rest of this entry »

(Media release) — LiveHawaiianMusic.com is excited to be bringing you a live broadcast from the legendary Pahinui Waimanalo Homestead at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, featuring Cyril Pahinui and Don Kaulia. This kanikapila and workshop is put on monthly by Cyril Pahinui, son of Hawaiian Music legend Gabby Pahinui.

During the 80′s the Waimanalo Homestead became legendary for the Kanikapila Jam Sessions that took place there. Now Cyril continues the tradition, by putting on these monthly workshop and jam sessions. Started in August 2008, these gatherings were reestablished to perpetuate and preserve the uniqueness of Hawaii’s music. Read the rest of this entry »

(Media release) — Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa announced today that it will begin rewarding Hawaii’s top student achievers.

Families are invited to book the oceanfront resort’s special A+ Package, show a report card at check-in with straight A’s (anytime within a six month period of arrival) and ─  let the rewards begin. 

Each A+ Package family will receive complimentary self-parking, complimentary early check-in and late check-out based on availability on arrival and departure days and a complimentary room upgrade, also based on availability on arrival. Additionally, the student will receive a personalized certificate of congratulations from Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa’s ōhana, and a free pizza and in-room movie during their stay.

“With all that is going on with teacher furloughs and the state’s budget woes right now, we wanted to come up with a way to reach out to students and let them know that their efforts to achieve good grades do not go unnoticed,” said Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort General Manager Tetsuji Yamasaki. “The A+ Package is a way for our entire staff to show their appreciation to families who work hard and support their children each and every day.” Read the rest of this entry »

"Family Harmony" image courtesy of Angelic Squirrel Art

“We remember those who have died due to domestic violence, celebrate those who have survived and empower the community to end violence in our town. — Family Peace Walk And Vigil organizers

The Annual Family Peace Walk And Vigil commemorating Domestic Violence Awareness Month is set for 4:45 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, 2009 in Kona.  Meet at Hale Halawai on Alii Drive at 4:30 p.m.  Following the walk, between 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m., there will be a vigil and program.  The event is being coordinated by the Child and Family Service’s West Hawaii Domestic Abuse Shelter.  For more information, contact Kelly Shaw at (808) 322-7233 or (808) 322-2799. Community participation is strongly encouraged.

Image courtesy of Anura Srinath

(Media release) — Mayor Billy Kenoi today announced the County is developing a new service modeled on the popular Summer Fun program to provide supervised activities for school-age children during the 17 days that public schools will be closed because of teacher furloughs.

“We understand the teacher furloughs triggered by the state’s budget problems present a severe hardship for working parents, and our Parks & Recreation staff has been at work all week developing a child care alternative,” Kenoi said. “We will provide parents with safe places where they can leave their children during the work day, and parents will know their kids will be engaged in fun, supervised activities.”

“Our working families are already under stress during these difficult times, and scrambling to find safe child care on furlough days will only add to the worry,” the mayor said. “This low-cost, island-wide program will be good for our youth, and will offer relief to their parents.” Read the rest of this entry »

(Media release) — The Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island will expand their hours on teacher furlough days at all of their six clubs around the island.  The hours of operation will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 pm with an academic based program in the morning to early afternoon followed by their normal after school programming for children grades kindergarten to eighth gradde.

Along with their national campaign BE GREAT, the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island has added BE SMART to their shout out to the youth of the Big Island. Each participant will be required to complete and submit a registration packet and become a member for a $10 annual fee for those who are not current paid members.  Registration packets will be available by Monday, Oct. 5, 2009  at all locations.  Registration will be limited in each location, so organizers urge parents to get their registration packets in as soon as possible.  Everyone will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Read the rest of this entry »

The top 1,800 triathletes from around the world (50 countries and all 50 states) will converge on Kona for the Ford Ironman World Championship to commence Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, featuring a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike course and a 26.2-mile run. Call (808) 329-0063 or visit www.ironmanlive.com for more information. To view maps of the course, click here.

Emily Naeole

Wow, what a heavy week.  Yesterday was Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole’s birthday and the county Board of Ethics ruled 4-1 she violated the Ethics Code.  Her violation is for giving the thumbs-down gesture to a testifier during the June 16 County Council meeting in which the highly publicized reorganization occurred.  Also,  yesterday Curtis Narimatsu, a friend whose historical writings are regularly published here as Dispatches From Curt  guest columns, has been suspended from his law practice.

Curtis Narimatsu

According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) to suspend Narimatsu.  ODC petitioned the court that Narimatsu received 26 complaints in the last two years, with 14 complaints made this year. Narimatsu agreed to represent clients, accepted a reported $15,535, failed to deposit funds into a client trust account, and failed to communicate with the clients or complete the legal services for which he was hired, ODC reportedly told the court.  If Narimatsu wishes to comment on his suspension, he is welcome to submit a guest column here.  The same invitation is extended to Auntie Emily — if she would like to comment on the Board of Ethics ruling yesterday, or on any issue that she or the rest of the County Council is facing. Read the rest of this entry »

By Hugh Clark

The Big Island has lost an extraordinary volunteer — a dedicated science teacher and an unpaid leader of Friends of the (Panaewa) Zoo with the death earlier this month of Jean Allen Curtis in Honolulu.

Jean was the wife of retired UH physicist George Curtis, 62,  a volunteer adviser with Hawaii County Civil Defense and himself a super volunteer at Science Fairs and other events to stimulate learning by Big Island kids. They lived quietly in Honomu after coming here from Honolulu where she had worked at Chaminade and Hawaii Pacific Colleges and as a science teacher at Maryknoll High School.

During semi-retirement she taught at Hawaii Community College and at University of Hawaii-Hilo, specializing in marine science.

She took over leadership of the Zoo Friends some years ago after serving as a docent and with her innate love of animals carried out many programs the county’s staff could not or could not afford to do for more than 18 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Image courtesy of The History Cooperative

(Media release) — County of Hawai’i Mayor Billy Kenoi announced today that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $70 million contract to the Hawai’i-based Environet Inc., to remove unexploded artillery shells and other ordnance from the 100,000-acre former Waikoloa Maneuver Area on the Island of Hawai’i.

The contract will span more than five years, and will involve cleanup of Department of Hawaiian Homelands and Parker Ranch lands in West Hawai’i.

“I am extremely pleased to see this important work move ahead under this contract,” said Kenoi. “It’s represents a significant investment that will make our island safer for residents and visitors, and will provide good jobs for County of Hawai’i residents who will be employed on the project.” Read the rest of this entry »

Image courtesy of Texas Paint Horse Club

(Media release) — Hawaii Island Humane Society announced recently that the annual HIHS Hawaii Horse Expo 2009 raised more than $12,000 for the Society’s Horse Rescue Fund.  The funds are used by Hawaii Island Humane Society for feed, veterinarian care, and the improvement of equine holding facilities on Hawaii Island.

“We thank everyone who attended and supported this endeavor, especially our generous sponsors and vendors,” said event organizer Nancy Jones.  “Parker Ranch, Waimea Instant Printing, and Malama Lio deserve special recognition for their multiple contributions over the span of several months.”

Plans are already in the works for Hawaii Horse Expo 2010 and an exciting new line-up of clinicians. Read the rest of this entry »

Image courtesy of Reto Jeger

(Media release) —  This documentary film shows Rapa Nui, called Easter Island by the Dutch, from the points of view of the Polynesian people who live there.  It is more than a travelogue/visit film; you will see and hear about Easter Island today under Chilean governance and domination.  It is balanced, and features an array of fascinating folks speaking about themselves, their Polynesian heritage, and their island.  Specially interesting is their description of “why there are no trees on Easter Island…” It will be presented at the PALACE THEATRE in Hilo at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 and Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, and at 2:30 p.m., Oct. 4, 2009.

Print this message, bring it with you to the Palace and present the paper along with your ticket stub to receive a free poster of a  ”Map of the Pacific Islands”  ( valued at $7.00) or ”HGS Hawai’i Island Volcano”  (valued at $10). Additional copies of each item will be available as discounter “Palace Theatre Special prices” should you wish more than one.

(A version of this story appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009 edition of the Big Island Weekly.)

By Tiffany Edwards Hunt

Just about every controversial issue you can think of that involves Hawaii was taken up in one film or another depicted at the Ho’ike Film Festival at the Palace Theater last weekend.

Desecration, militarism, real estate, genetically modified crops and the Akaka Bill are taken up in Noho Hewa: The Wrongful Occupation of Hawaii.  The politics of the telescopes atop Mauna Kea are addressed in Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege. Surfing, paragliding, shark tours and a statement about Hawaii tourism are seen in Finding Aloha. Civilian casualties on Pearl Harbor Day in 1941 are recalled in Sunday Wind. Statehood in 1959 and unfulfilled promises of statehood are recalled in First Hawaiian Snowball Fight. Read the rest of this entry »

You, too, can make cute food. Visit Adventures In Bento Making for creative ideas for keiki bentos.

Listening to the radio news this morning, I turned to my husband, made my best newscaster impersonation, and mocked an announcement: “People  are going to have to teach their own children, pave their own roads, clean out their own shitholes, and police themselves.  Government is going to be shutting down next week.”

Boy, you wonder if that’s where we are headed with the announcement that teachers have agreed to an eight-percent pay cut and three-day weekends for the next two years.  From the No Child Left Behind Act to, well, pandemonium, I guess. Read the rest of this entry »