Ka`u News Briefs May 31, 2011

Rep. Clift Tsuji (l), LTC Rolland Niles, emcee Frank Box, Col. Randy Hart and Rep. Jerry Chang took part in
Kilauea Military Camp's Memorial Day Ceremony yesterday.  Photo by David Donald

MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE attended Kilauea Military Camp’s Memorial Day Ceremony yesterday. Lt. Col. Rolland Niles, Commander of Pohakuloa Training Area, gave the keynote address, and Rep. Clift Tsuji also spoke. Tsuji talked about the Hawai`i Medal of Honor, which is presented to the loved ones of military members with Hawai`i ties who died in service to their country. Since 2006, a special joint House and Senate presentation ceremony has been held each year at the State Capitol. “On this Memorial Day, I honor not only the five Big Island recipients of the Hawai`i Medal of Honor, but all veterans. I pray that very soon our Hawai`i State Legislature shall not have to convene annually in joint session to honor any more fallen heroes,” Tsuji said. 

An artist's rendering of the Wall of Faces at the education
center to be built near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in Washington, D.C.

PHOTOS OF KA`U MILITARY PERSONNEL who died or went missing in action in the Vietnam War are being collected to display at a new $85 million underground educational center to be built near The Wall in Washington D.C. The photos will be mounted on a Wall of Faces on their birthdays. More than 58,000 American service members were killed in Vietnam, with Hawai`i losing a higher percentage of residents than most other states. Retired Gen. Colin Powell is honorary chairman of the project, which has already raised $31 million. See vvmf.org/hawaii_cfp, or call 703-927-8150. 

THE CHALLENGE TO RAISE $15,000 for the Bay Clinic’s construction fund is still ongoing. To date, $10,500 has been raised. An anonymous donor will match donations up to $15,000 made by June 11, the date of the Ka`u Family Fun Fest. Donations can be made at all offices of the Ka`u Federal Credit Union or online at okaukakou.com.

THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS will provide $4.3 million to organizations that include some programs here in Ka`u. The money is directed toward education, health and income of Native Hawaiians, and OHA said that about 13,000 Native Hawaiians will directly benefit. The purpose is to help troubled teens, increase access to early childhood education and provide financial advice on money management, wealth building and credit counseling. Recipients include the Partners in Development Foundation, Mana Maoli, Koa Ike, Hawaiian Community Assets, Pacific American Foundation, Hui Malama I Ke Kai Foundation, Family Nurturing Center of Hawai`i, Inc. and Hale Kipa, Inc. 

Ocean View had Ka`u's lowest-priced
gas this morning.

GASOLINE PRICES across Hawai`i are 50 cents a gallon lower than a month ago but still 57.2 cents higher than a year ago, according to HawaiiGasPrices.com. Retail gasoline prices have fallen 13.3 cents per gallon during the last week, with the average price at $4.04 per gallon. Nationally, gas fell 3.2 cents during the past week to $3.77 per gallon. In Ocean View this morning, prices were $4.23 at Kahuku Country Market, $4.28 at Kahala Gas and $4.29 at Ocean View Market. At the 76 Station in Na`alehu, gas was going for $4.29 a gallon, and at Ka`u Gas in Pahala, it was $4.36 per gallon.

A FIELD DEMONSTRATION about coffee berry borers takes place tomorrow morning. Participants meet at Pahala Community Center at 8 a.m. before going to a local coffee farm. Dr. Elsie Burbano, a researcher at UH-Manoa, and Pat Conant, an entomologist with the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, show how to identify, monitor, trap and perform sanitation to manage the borers. Kyle Onuma, of the Ag Department’s Plant Pest Control Branch, shows how to spray to control the pests. Burbano urges timely action to minimize economic losses and distribution of the borers.

THE FIRST WEEKLY GREEN MARKET at Ocean View Community Center is this Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Some of the items for sale include fresh produce, herbs, flowers, plants and honey. Call 939-7033 for more information.

ALSO IN OCEAN VIEW, A DINNER at Kahuku Park on Paradise Circle in Ocean View on Saturday, June 4 will raise funds to support the Summer Fun program. Dinner is served at 5 p.m. and includes Chef John Repogle’s BBQ pork along with rice, corn and watermelon all for just $5. Beverages are $1, with desserts and other baked good also on sale. Activities before dinner include a slip and slide, face painting and games. Karaoke is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pre-sale dinner tickets are available. Call Robin at 939-8491 or Genny at 217-5593.