About Town | 11-23-13

PTA areas open to bird hunters today, Sunday

Army officials are opening the Keaumoku Training Area at Pohakuloa Training Area for bird hunting from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Sunday.

The area will be open to shotgun bird hunting only, according to PTA. The use of shotgun slugs in not permitted. Hunting is subject to state hunting rules and bag limits.

All hunters must check in and out at one of the following hunter’s check-in stations: Kilohana, located on Saddle Road between mile markers 43 and 44, or Puuanahulu, located on Mamalahoa Highway, near mile marker 15. Check-out is no later than 7:30 p.m. each day.

Hunting passes will be provided at the check-in stations. These passes must be signed and placed on the vehicle’s dashboard. Hunters who do not have a signed hunting pass on their dashboard will be barred from hunting for 30 days.

Hunter access to the Keaumoku Training Area is permitted through the following areas:

c Via old Saddle Road: Gate 2, located near mile marker 45, and gate 7, located near mile marker 51.

c Via Highway 190 on the new Daniel K. Inouye Highway: Gate 11, located near mile marker 7, and gate 14, located near mile marker 12.

Firearms, alcoholic beverages, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and recreational vehicles are not allowed in the training and hunting areas.

For more information, call PTA hunter’s hotline at 969-3474 or visit garrison.hawaii.army.mil/pta and click on the “Hunting” tab.

Tree trimming to close areas of Kaloko Honokohau NHP

Coconut tree trimming will require the closure of a road and picnic areas on Monday at Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park in North Kona.

The Kaloko gravel road, Ala Nui Kaloko, located between mile markers 96 and 97 on Queen Kaahumanu Highway and access to the Kaloko Pond Coastal Picnic area will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. The picnic area will also be closed for safety reasons.

For more information, contact the Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park visitor center at 329-9057.

Game committee meeting Monday

A Game Management Advisory Commission for the purpose of advising county, state and federal agencies on matters related to the preservation of subsistence hunting and fishing, as well as protecting traditional and cultural gathering rights, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday in Building A at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

‘Design thinking’ the topic of monthly tech talk

Justin Brown, career and technical coordinator for Kealakehe High School and head coach of the school’s robotics and Model United Nations team, will discuss design thinking concepts and how they can be applied to the daily work of anyone creating things from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Energy Center.

Brown holds bachelor’s degrees in political science, music, and psychology from Texas Christian University and a master’s in education from Chaminade University. He is also a Stanford Design Thinking Coach.

Time for questions, answers and networking opportunities is scheduled before and after the presentation. The program, part of a monthly pau hana for people interested in technology, is open to the public. Bring a beverage and pupu to share at a potluck, as well as reusable plates and cups.

For more information, contact Rod Hinman at rod@auroraresearch.com or 989-0977.

PTA staff help forest preserve

The Natural Resources Office at Pohakuloa Training Area teamed up with the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative recently to expand their understanding of forest conservation and to provide service in the 275-acre Waikoloa forest preserve.

The crew is normally responsible for endangered species management and conservation at Pohakuloa.

The Waikoloa Dry Forest preserve is home to many of the remaining ancient wiliwili trees near Waikoloa Village. The preserve is also the site of a forest restoration project that aims to repopulate a variety of native plant species.

Forest restoration in Waikoloa involves controlling and removing invasive plant and animal species, protecting the natural resources from fire, planting of native trees, shrubs and grasses, community outreach and dry forest education. Much of the work is done by volunteers.

Nonprofit seeks help in providing food to seniors

Auntie’s Angels Big Island, a new nonprofit, aims to decrease the food deficiency of seniors living at Hualalai Elderly Housing.

The organization is partnering with Keauhou Farmers Market to receive donations from their vendors. Farmers and property owners may also drop off produce at the market for the seniors. Also, Auntie’s Angels Soup Kitchen will open in late November, offering cans of soup to seniors.

The kitchen needs cans of good quality, healthy soup. Also, a Celebrate Seniors Christmas Luncheon is planned for Dec. 8. The organization is accepting gift certificates that can be given to seniors at the event.

For more information, contact Jan Benlein, director, at 329-7897.

Thanksgiving craft class offered

Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation will hold a free Thanksgiving craft class for youth ages 6 to 14 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Monday, at Kekuaokalani Gym. Participants will paint decorative ceramic turkeys. Registration is limited.

For more information and to register, call Marshall Tohara at 327-3565.

County offers free movie

Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, Elderly Recreation Services will present a free screening of “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney, at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The movie will kick off free monthly film showings at West Hawaii Civic Center in the County Council Chambers in Building A. No reservations are needed. For information call Kelly Hudik at 323-4340.