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Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Ka`u News Briefs Dec. 8, 2010

Pahala Plantation House, where Governor Neil Abercrombie
will meet area residents this Sunday at 10 a.m.

PROTOCOL FOR THE VISIT OF GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE to Ka`u this Sunday has been set from 10 a.m. to noon at Pahala Plantation House. The emcee is Miloli`i community leader Gil Kahele, and musical accompaniment will be by Demetrius Oliveira and Denise Peralta. Both the governor and Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz will give remarks. There will be presentation of lei, an opening pule by Aunty Pele Hanoa, of Wai`ohinu, and an ‘Oli by Kilohana Domingo of Ka Lae.

A HO’OKIPA’EKE ceremony will present gifts from the communities of Volcano, Pahala, Na`alehu and Ocean View along with special gifts from the Keiki of Ka`u and an ‘oli by Rory Kahakuloa Kailiawa Akau.

MISS KA`U COFFEE, Ulu Makuakane, of Na`alehu, will dance hula to Aloha Hawai`i Ku`u One Hanau, sung by Hulali Ku`ilipuli. Everyone who attends will be invited to stand up and sing and dance hula to Uncle George Na`ope’s Ka Nani A`o Ka`u.
     The governor, lieutenant governor and first lady will talk to people in a reception line and they will be welcomed to sample a taste of Hawai`i.
     The governor is asking for three cans of food or cash donations for the Food Banks here in Ka`u. Again, the governor’s visit is from 10 a.m. to noon this Sunday, right before the Pahala Christmas Parade. 

The new County Council was sworn in this week. Ka`u's council member,
Brittany Smart, has leadership positions on the Environmental,
Governmental Affairs and Transportation and Parks committees.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL has finalized its appointments of committee chairs and vice chairs: Our local council member Brittany Smart will chair Environmental Management and vice-chair Governmental Relations as well as Economic Development and Mass Transit. Angel Pilago will Chair Governmental Relations; Brenda Ford and Pilago will chair and vice chair Planning; Fred Blas and Ford will chair and vice chair Public Works and Parks and Recreation; Ford and Council Chair Dominic Yagong will chair and vice chair Finance; Pilago and J Yoshimoto will chair and Vice Chair Human Services, Social Services and Public Safety; Fresh Onishi will chair Economic Development and Mass Transit; and Yoshimoto and Pete Hoffman will chair and vice chair Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability.

A FREE ALL DAY WORKHOP invites Ka`u residents to learn how to address poverty, build wealth and expand opportunities. It will be held tomorrow and Friday, December 9 and 10 at Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and is called Springboard to Prosperity. The county is sponsoring the free program, stating that on the Big Island 25 percent of households live in asset poverty, 25 percent receive food stamps, 54 percent have sub-prime credit scores and 49 percent of homeowners pay more than 30 percent of income toward keeping their homes. Hawai`i has one of the lowest wages and highest cost of living in the U.S.

THE ANNUAL HANA HOU KEIKI Christmas Party will be held today at 5 p.m. at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu. There will be a free buffet dinner and free photo taking with Santa and the kids. Each child will receive a grab bag of candy, and lucky numbers will be given out for bicycles and other gifts. Bobby Gomes will be Santa this year. Phoebe Gomes will assist him.

CONTRIBUTORS TO THE MEDICAL FUNDRAISER for KAHU community radio station manager Demetrius Oliveira helped put the challenge over the top, matching $5,000 offered by the Edmund C. Olson Trust. The fundraising continues to pay for critical surgery to restore Big D’s health. Donations can be dropped off at the radio station on Maile Street in Pahala or at Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu, Pahala and Ocean View. Checks can be made out to the Demetrius Oliveira Medical Fund.