Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 16, 2011

Fireweed is taking over good pasture in Ka`u. The invasive species can look like a beautiful daisy field.
Photo from hawaiianinvasivespecies.org

FIREWEED that looks like beautiful fields of daisies are taking over good pasture land in Ka`u, according to ranchers who attended Sen. Gil Kahele’s forum Friday in Ocean View. Fireweed started in Waimea and is spreading around the island, according to David Ka`awa. Volunteers who work on the fountain grass problem in Ocean View said that they could possibly help with fireweed control as well.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. turned on the power for the new Ocean View water distribution system last week, and water samples are being taken to send off to a lab and with results reported to the state Department of Health. Sen. Gil Kahele gave the update at his community forum Friday in Ocean View. He said it will take several months for the well water to be certified as potable and the new spigots to be turned on for residents and businesses.

AN ARREST WAS MADE in connection with last Wednesday’s house fire in Miloli`i. Canines were used to help determine that arson was involved. The damage to the unoccupied house is estimated at $480,000. The house location is on Kai Avenue in one of the northern Miloli`i subdivisions.

La Reunion representatives Alain Gerente, Marie Gerente, La Reunion film commissioner Edy Payet, vice president
Jean-Francois Sita, La Reunion President Robert Didier meet with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park chief of
interpretation Jim Gale, along with La Reunion public information officer Corrine Peyron-Beaulieu.
Photo from NPS/Stephen Geiger

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN LA RÉUNION island in the Indian Ocean and the Big Island were stressed by La Réunion Pres. Robert Didier last week during his visit to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
     Didier was accompanied by La Réunion’s vice president Jean-Francois Sita, film commissioner Edy Payet and public information officer Corinne Peyron-Beaulieu. They explored the park as part of a four-day mission to “build a bridge” between La Réunion and Hawai`i Island. They are promoting sister park status between Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Réunion National Park. Both national parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and both are home to active volcanoes.
     Both are located in the middle of vast oceans over volcanic hot spots. La Réunion’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise (“Peak of the Furnace”), like Kilauea, is listed among earth’s most active volcanoes and last erupted in 2010. It stands 8,632 feet above sea level, and is also a shield volcano. La Réunion’s national park comprises 40 percent of the 970-square-mile island. By comparison, the Island of Hawai`i is 4,028 square miles.
     The La Réunion president said, “Tourism is key to our economic success. We want to have tourism but also environmental respect. Our ecology, our biodiversity, is unique.” In 2010, approximately 400,000 tourists visited La Réunion. Didier said the goal is to increase the number of visitors to 600,000 by 2015.
     Other similarities between the two islands include a multicultural population. La Réunion has a mix of people from European, African, Malagasy, Indian and Chinese ancestry. Both islands have dense rainforests, a high level of endemism, and are home to white-tailed tropic birds – an important national symbol in La Réunion. La Réunion also has olivine creating green sand beaches.

     Part-time Volcano residents and La Réunion citizens Marie and Alain Gerente were instrumental in planning the La Réunion visit to Hawai`i, and accompanied the delegation as liaisons and translators.

KA`U SCHOOL OF THE ARTS is calling for local artists to participate in the Fall Fling Arts & Crafts Fair at Punalu`u Bake Shop on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. Booth fees are $25. Contact Robert Domingos at mingokau@gmail.com or Jym Duncan at 929-8694.

Live music on KAHU radio's Bobby Gomes' Friday show
was provided by Pahala school students under the
guidance of Trini Marques.  Photo by Julia Neal

KAHU RADIO plans more live music and participation by local students in broadcasting at 91.7 FM after it takes some days off from local direct broadcasting from Oct. 18 – 22 when it moves broadcasting equipment to a Crown Castle tower between Pahala and Na`alehu. During the downtime, KAHU will be available at KAHUFM.com. Ka`u school students led by Trini Marques sang on Bobby Gomes' live show on KAHU last Friday. 

THE KA`U COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE continues through Tuesday. Those needing food can stop by the Ka`u Family Center in Na`alehu with a photo I.D. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and receive emergency food for their family once a month. Normally the center gives a two-day supply, but lately, due to low rations, only a one-day supply is available.
     Food drive collection sites are Pahala Community Center, Monday and Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Na`alehu Island Market, today, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Ka`u Family Center, Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Discovery Harbour Community Association, Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and Kahuku Country Market, daily, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

SHORT FILMS BY LOCAL YOUTH will be debuted at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s third annual Digital Mountain youth film festival on Sat., Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. in Kilauea Visitor Center. This year’s theme is “It’s My Trail.” The public is encouraged to attend and to vote for their favorite film in advance. The public is also invited to participate in a potluck dinner preceding the festival at 5 p.m.

     Awards, including MacBook Pro laptops and Olympus digital cameras, will be presented at the event to winners selected by a weighted combination of judging by a variety of professionals and popular voting. See films and vote on YouTube: www.youtube.com/itsmytrail. People may vote once each day for their favorite film on YouTube, or by emailing itsmytrail@gmail.com. The Digital Mountain youth film festival is free. For more information, contact Laura Williams at 985-6304 or laura_williams@nps.gov.
 

A HOLIDAY BAZAAR AND PLANT SALE has been announced by St. Jude’s Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle in Ocean View. Plant and craft donation commitments are being taken now for the Nov. 19 fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be food including hot dogs and chips, homemade baked goods, cakes, pies, jams, jellies, and candies. In addition to plants, there will be crafts and gift items. From Highway 11, turn mauka on Donola Drive to Paradise Parkway.