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Friday, November 01, 2013

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Nov. 1, 2013

Sen. Brian Schatz helped launch the Washington, D.C. chapter of After-School All-Stars, a sister program to one in Ka`u which works in association with the local UPLINK program. In May, local All-Stars participated in
Special Olympics at UH-Manoa. Photo by Thu-Tam Doan
PUBLIC TESTIMONY CONTINUES TO BE HEARD TODAY on the Marriage Equality Act of 2013. The state House of Representatives is in its second day of a public hearing where some 5,000 people signed up to speak before the Judicial & Finance Committees.
      West Ka`u’s state Rep. Denny Coffman is on the Judiciary Committee, and East Ka`u’s Rep. Richard Onishi is on the Finance Committee. Both are on record as planning to vote in favor of the bill.
Rep. Richard Onishi
Rep. Denny Coffman
    Other elected officials representing Ka`u who are listed as supporting the bill are U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and East Ka`u’s state Sen. Russell Ruderman.
      To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANT role after-school programs play in Hawai`i at the launch of the Washington, D.C. After-School All-Stars chapter, a sister chapter of Hawai`i’s and Ka`u’s After-School All-Stars programs.
      “I have seen first-hand the difference after-school programs make for our children and their families,” Schatz said. “After-school programs help kids do better in class and give them a place to go. After-School All-Stars and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers have helped thousands of children in Hawai`i, and I’ll keep fighting to protect these programs for our kids. That’s why I was glad to ... help launch the D.C. chapter of After-School All-Stars.”
      Schatz is a co-sponsor of the After School for America’s Children Act, which would extend and improve the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school program.
      Currently, more than 5,600 children in Hawai`i participate in after-school activities through 21st Century Learning Centers, more than 1,500 of which participate in the After-School All-Stars programs.
      The benefits of after-school programs are tangible, according to a statement from Schatz. Students in after-school programs not only do better in school but are 30 percent less likely to engage in criminal activity, 49 percent less likely to use drugs and 37 percent less likely to become teen parents.
      For more information on the UPLINK All-Stars after-school program, contact Ka`u’s After-School All-Stars site coordinator Thu-Tam Doan at 557-7414 or UPLINK program coordinator Liza Saplan at 333-4903 or 928-2006.
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THE FOLLOWING KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND JUNIORS have earned a place on the first quarter honor roll:
Grade 12
      Summa Cum laude (3.75-4.0): Kamrie Koi, Romina Ellaine Sembran, Toni Beck, Chazlyn Fuerte-Castaneda, Kyra Malepe, Cassidy Neece, Siena Okimoto, Deven Smithmyer, Lehre Vidal, Jennifer Tabios, Alexis Alejo, Jena Haalilio and Franklin Orcino.
      Magna Cum laude (3.5-3.74): Shaenese Tailon, Randall Watson, Andrew Garcia, William Mitchell III and Micah Supnad.
      Cum laude (3.0-3.49): Marileah Lalin, Kamalani Fujikawa, Jernest Breithaupt-Louis, Denisha Navarro, Bon Jhudiel Supnad, Carlos Uribe-Bounos, Joshua Zenn Cardenas and Cameron Enriques.
Grade 11
      Summa Cum laude: Anjanette Jara and Kehaulani Ke.
      Magna Cum laude: Lanni Ah Yee, Brian Gascon, Jeazelle Sebastian, Tia Rose Goldsmith, David Pillette, Rayncin Salmo-Grace and John Ancheta.
      Cum laude: Jessica Baruelo, Mike Tamayo, Makela Moses, Steeli Bartley, Glaiza Biason, Rodalynn Kuahiwinui, Kupono Palakiko Leffew, David Phillips, Bridget Pasion, Whitney Spencer-Johansen, Larry-Dan Al-Navarro, Kerrilynn Domondon, Tyren Fukunaga-Camba, Kaweni Ibarra and Joseph Oyama.
      More honor roll recipients from other grades will be announced in future Ka`u News Briefs.
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KA`U LIONS POP WARNER FOOTBALL drew community support for its second season in recent years, which wrapped up in October. Home field for the three teams, Mitey Mites (ages 7-9), Peewees (ages 9-12) and Midgets (ages 12-15), was Pahala.
      Glen Hashimoto, Jr. leads the organization as president. Barry Buyuan is vice president. Emely Salmo is treasurer, and Nona Makuakane is secretary. Head coach for Mitey Mites is Glen Hashimoto, Jr., assisted by Eugene Keohuloa, Jr. and Paul Makuakane. Head coach for the Peewees is Sonny Breithaupt, assisted by Barry Buyuan and Jonathan Roddy. Head coach for the Midgets is Daniel Bivings, assisted by Aaron Kalau, Ronnie B., Steven Nogales and Bill Burke.
      Also essential to the seasons success are field commissioner Kai Manini, concession coordinator Nani Fernandez, team medic Janie Gonsalves, parent coordinator Sasha Kaupu, scholastic coordinator Helena Carvalho, equipment manager Ronnie B., coaches coordinator Daniel Bivings and banquet coordinator Shellen Hashimoto.
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EFFECTIVE TODAY, KA`U PROPERTY OWNERS and tenants are able to negotiate their contracts to allow a household pet to reside on the premises. The intent of the provision is to allow more Hawai`i residents to adopt companion animals and bring them into their homes and also decrease the number of pets surrendered to shelters in the future due to housing issues. 
      Prior to the enactment of this legislation, property owners could not collect a pet deposit, and some landlords and building managers were reluctant to rent to tenants with pets because they were unable to add an additional deposit for any pet-related damage.
      The new provision allows property managers and tenants to negotiate a deposit, not to exceed one month’s rent, to allow a pet to reside in the rental unit.
      Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Senate Bill 328, sponsored by Sen. Clayton Hee, on July 26, which allowed a six-month period for rental contracts to be amended to allow for a pet.
      Inga Gibson, Hawai`i state director for The Humane Society of the United States, said, “We hope this new law will create access to more pet-friendly housing to keep pets and people together and to reduce the number of pets surrendered to shelters or abandoned due to housing issues. Furthermore, property managers and tenants can now agree on a single deposit, rather than charging more each month in rent to have a pet as some property managers have been doing instead.”
      Dale Bordner, president of Hawai`i Association of Realtors representing more than 8,000 realtors in real estate sales and property management, said, “This bill will allow for more pet-friendly opportunities, as Hawai`i property owners may be more inclined to allow renters to have pets.”
      According to The Hawai`i Humane Society, more than 60 percent of Hawai`i households have a pet, and housing issues, including lack of access to affordable pet-friendly rentals, are one of the leading reasons people surrender their pets to local shelters.
      Certified assistance animals providing a reasonable accommodation to a tenant are exempt from the deposit requirement per the federal Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities Act.
      See humanesociety.org.
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A FREE SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC FOR DOGS takes place this Tuesday, Nov. 5 at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle in Ocean View.
      The clinic is sponsored by Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service. To make an appointment, contact KARES at 328-8455 or pets@kohalaanimal.org.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK holds a volunteer project at the Kahuku unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park two weeks from today on Friday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “This is a great opportunity for Ka`u residents to visit the park and learn about the park’s forest restoration work at Kahuku,” said coordinator Patty Kupchak. “This will be a fun day outdoors enjoying a beautiful area before the busy holiday season.”
      Advance registration is required. Contact FHVNP at 985-7373 or forest@fhvnp.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

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