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Thank you to the Ke’olu Gardens crew. To learn more, go to Talk Tuesdays, last week!
Laptops Needed for WHEA Students Because of Distance Learning:
West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA) is Hawaii’s first start-up charter high school, officially opening in 2000. It’s located just south of the Kona airport within the acreage of the Natural Energy Lab. It has full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC, 2002).
WHEA-PCS is a nationally recognized laboratory school serving as a “magnet” for science-focused, outdoor, hands-on education. It features large-scale, long-term, projects that meet or exceed performance demands of traditional “standards based” education. The program works best for students seeking to challenge themselves in a self-directed, science-focused learning environment. The curriculum is writing intensive and college preparatory, but “Can-Do” attitude almost always outshines innate ability. While WHEA’s pedagogy has been developed in the context of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, it is actually designed to be transferable to nearly all academic subjects. The WHEA Robotics Project has become one of the most popular projects at the school.
This is such a trying time for the school as the COVID situation continues to change. Following the DOE, WHEA has switched to all- distance learning for now. Many high school aged children of Hualalai employees and vendors attend WHEA and received assistance in purchasing laptops through our Hualalai Ohana Foundation. However, many other WHEA students do not have a computer at home. WHEA has been loaning laptops, but the demand is too high, and the school has fallen short.
If you wish to assist in providing WHEA high school students with a laptop, please contact:
Kaia Anderson
WHEA Governing Vice Chair and Secretary 808-896-5585
 
Hi, friends and neighbors,
Your dedicated editor is going to take a short hiatus, but before I do, I wanted to answer a question a lot of people are asking: how is Hualalai doing during CoVid-19? I’d say we’re doing well, but all of a sudden, our island has taken a hit. You can read about it:
https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/08/hawaii-and-maui-counties-may-be-reaching-a-virus-tipping-point/
Sunday night: safely distanced tables and a delicious Chinese feast.
Monday morning: a golfer’s pot of gold.
Chantal Prunier has spent the last few days exploring the trails around Hualalai. She came upon a full goat skeleton. “I don’t think many bones are missing other than a few, which may have scattered to the winds,” Chantal said.
 
The walkway between Palm Grove and Beach Tree was damaged by strong surf during recent high tides. It will be closed through August.
 
Exciting Updates from Hawaii Island Humane Society
Media Release – August 4, 2020
HAWAII ISLAND HUMANE SOCIETY CONTINUES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AT SHELTERS IN KEAAU, WAIMEA AND KONA
Hawaii Island Humane Society (HIHS) has relinquished control of the County owned Kona Shelter and has relocated its Kona operations to its state-of-the-art Animal Community Center in Keauhou Mauka. The Hawaii Island Humane Society will continue to provide service island-wide as an independent non-profit animal welfare organization providing compassionate care for animals at its three shelter locations in Keaau, Waimea and the new Animal Community Center in Keauhou Mauka Kona. The Hawaii Island Humane Society owns its shelters in Keaau and Kona with a long-term lease for the Waimea Shelter.
“Hawaii Island Humane Society’s programs and services provide compassionate care for animals through national best practices and industry standards that elevate the level of care for Hawaii Island’s animals in need. Hawaii Island Humane Society is refocusing resources to preserve families by providing education and guidance to pet owners and pet families. All of this is made possible through community support, donors and grant funding and for this, we are indeed grateful,” said Hawaii Island Humane Society Chief Executive Officer Beth Jose, DVM.
What’s New?
HIHS has moved its Kona operations.
Effective Saturday, August 1, Hawaii Island Humane Society is no longer operating out of the Kona Shelter facility adjacent to the Kona police station. Animals under our care have been relocated to the new Animal Community Center. The 12-acre Animal Community Center site includes a Welcome Center, Education Amphitheatre, Administration Building, Cat Barn, Doggie Dorms, Adoption Square and Central Bark Dog Parks for both small and large dogs. An Education Center and a full service Veterinary Clinic are both under construction and will be completed later this year. The expansive Animal Community Center can accommodate more pets and we look forward to assisting the community in finding loving homes for animals. Animal Community Center’s new operating hours are Friday through Tuesday 10 am to 3 pm and closed on Wednesday and Thursday and holidays. A grand opening celebration is slated for the Labor Day weekend. All programs and services, at all 3 shelter locations, are offered by appointment only until further notice.
Renovations Planned for Keaau and Waimea Shelters
With the Animal Community Center opening in September, Hawaii Island Humane Society is working on plans for upgrades to the Keaau and Waimea Shelters.
Keaau’s new operating hours are Friday through Tuesday 10 am to 3 pm and closed on Wednesday and Thursday and holidays.
Waimea Shelter’s operating hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm closed on Sunday, Monday and holidays.
A grand re-opening celebration is slated for Keaau and Waimea over the Labor Day weekend.
Essential Pet Services By Appointment
During the month of August, Hawaii Island Humane Society will continue to provide essential services by appointment only. These services include rehoming services for owners who can no longer keep their pet, adoption, foster-to-adopt, foster, community spay and neuter and Community Pet Pantry, and owner-requested euthanasia services. Field Trips for Shelter Dogs and volunteer opportunities will resume in the coming weeks. All three shelters have pets available for adoption. For more information about adopting your new best friend, visit hihs.org.
New Programs and Services
Pet Support
Keeping pets in their loving homes with their families is one of Hawaii Island Humane Society’s primary goals. The newly formed Pet Support Department is working with community members and their pets to provide education, guidance and resources. The Community Pet Pantry was created as a response to the COVID-19 crisis to help pet families in need. Go to HIHS.org/item/pet-pantry for more information.
Spay & Neuter Services
Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Spay & Neuter program will be on the east and west sides of the island once a week beginning August 23. Sign up on the waiting list at HIHS.org.
Live in a rural community on Hawaii Island and need spay and neuter services for your pet? The Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Mobile Spay & Neuter Waggin’ will be traveling to areas in need as wait lists fill.
Hawaii Island Humane Society performs between 4,500 and 5,500 spay and neuter surgeries annually at its Keaau and Kona locations.
Medical Care Team
Hawaii Island Humane Society’s highly trained and skilled medical care team will continue to advance what we can do for the animals in our care. Our three on staff veterinarians and assistants provide the utmost care for those pets that are sick or injured. The Second Chance Fund allows us to save and improve the lives of animals in need by providing advanced medical care and procedures.
Lifesaving Programs
Hawaii Island Humane Society works to find the best match between shelter pets and adoptive families for their forever homes. Our expanding foster program helps to expand the capacity of our shelters and enhances adoption opportunities for animals in need. We even feature Field Trips for Shelter Dogs that help to socialize and acclimate dogs for adoption.
“Volunteers are vital to our ability to enhance what the Hawaii Island Humane Society can offer to our animals and our community. We are excited to welcome back our veteran volunteers back to our shelters in September following the Grand Opening and re-openings of our shelters to the public. We invite you to join us as a volunteer at all three locations and become a part of the Hawaii Island Humane Society ohana,” said Community Programs Director Lauren Nickerson.
To adopt or foster a pet, volunteer or donate to the Hawaii Island Humane Society log on to hihs.org for more information. Follow us on social media for the latest information.
Please Support Hawaii Island Humane Society and our Animals in Need
Click below to donate much needed funds to support our lifesaving programs and community outreach services
Click below to provide our shelters with essential supplies to help care for every animal at every shelter, every day!
Click below to help us with our Weekly Wish goal! This week’s wish: slip leads to help dogs get out of their kennels and off having fun!
Hawaii Island Humane Society
78-6767 Mamalahoa Hwy
Holualoa, HI 96725
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Join Jim Markham on Thursday, July 30 at 2:00 PM, HST. as he discusses his memoir.
Comet watchers have enjoying the newly-discovered NEOWISE comet since it was first spotted in March 2020. … WISE was an infrared survey mission, but in 2013 it was re-christened as NEOWISE, which stands for Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. NEOWISE was given a new job: detecting asteroids and comets.
Really out-of-this world photos of the comet, courtesy of Paul Locklin. The photographer was Sunny Takeishi.
    
Hualalai lies in a protected area and we barely felt the effects of Douglas as he roared by away from us. Here are a few shots from the 24 hours. The first is from the night before. The next three are from the morning of July 26.
   
In the afternoon it began raining. It was steady, but mostly gentle, which should be good for the new golf course.
photo by Eve Bernstein
 
Finally, even with the rain, the sunset at the end of the day.
photo by Eve Bernstein
Hard to believe Hurricane Douglas is “roaring” towards us!
 
The trees were severely cut back at the end of April. Now look at them!
The excellent progress on the golf course is representative of the professional renovations taking place all over the resort.
A protective Nene shooed Tracy Abrams away.
| The foster-to-adopt program has shown to be very successful so far,” said Lauren Nickerson, community programs director for the HIHS.Nickerson said that about 90% of animals in the foster-to-adopt program get adopted at the end of the trial run.Since the program began in March, 527 pets have been adopted, with 83 currently residing in foster-to-adopt homes.
“Many of our foster parents don’t even wait a whole week before deciding to adopt,” Nickerson said.
Individuals and families interested in adoption or fostering can browse through pictures of dogs, cats and other animals on the humane society’s website and apply for the program.
“We are dedicated to getting animals into homes, but with a lack of volunteers working here, it can take up to 72 hours to get back to some people,” Nickerson said.
Although there is a demand for adopting animals everyday, the humane society is encouraging people to consider getting an adult dog or cat. |
| All three shelters will continue to accept new, unopened bags of dry cat, dog, kitten and puppy food during business hours.
Anyone interested in adoption can find more information on the foster-to-adopt program at https://hihs.org/item/adoption-during-covid-20. |
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We’re in high summer now, but Hualalai looks very different than it has in summers past.Thankfully, nature remains constant even while the pandemic has made for changes. (Just got the news that the 14 day quarantine has been extended through August.)
   
Four Seasons Hualalai has been hard at work renovating the place, inside and out. But it makes for empty places, empty spaces.
  
Resident’s Beach House is open for lunch (as is the Canoe Club) and dinner. Ke’olu is open for dinner on the weekend, masks and temperature bracelets, required.
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