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| Back to the 50s Trio will play at Hana Hou on New Year's Eve. |
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERKES is holding a fact finding hearing at the state capitol in Honolulu on Thursday, Jan. 6 regarding progress on Ocean View’s new water system. Herkes set up an investigative committee to review the timetable, costs and design of the water system that will provide spigots so that residents can fill water tanks to take to their houses. The project includes a 300,000-gallon reinforced concrete water tank for storage of water pumped from a new well, as well as distribution lines to the new spigots at a fill station. Herkes is planning to give a report to the state Legislature when it convenes on Jan. 19.
THE STATE’S REQUIREMENT that the electric companies in the Islands use more alternative energy has led to plans to farm large tracts of land to grow jatropha, sorghum and other plants to refine into oil. The state Department of Agriculture has released a report it will make to the 2011 Legislature detailing such plans. One finding is that meeting the electric companies’ needs for fuel would require 1.1 million acres of land, which is more than three times the acreage of cropland that exists in the Islands. On the other hand, growing algae and turning it into fuel would require only 14 percent of the state’s cropland.
Plans are being made to use some of the cropland in Ka`u and to build a refinery in Pahala to make fuel to truck to the electric plants in Kona and Hilo.
EVERYONE CONVICTED of drunken driving, beginning this Saturday, will be required to install a device in their car that requires a breath test before driving and locks down the car and prevents you from driving if it detects alcohol in your breath. The Ignition Interlock Law goes into effect on Jan. 1 and has been successful in 39 other states. First time DUI offenders have to use the device for a year, second time offenders for 18 months, third time offenders for two years. Four time DUI offenders will have to have the breath test every time they turn on their car for five years. The Ignition Interlock device costs up to $150 to install and needs regular monitoring and calibration, which can cost hundreds of dollars a year.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES is raising its rates for airline travel, following the lead of other carriers that swallowed huge expenses as bad weather caused many delays and thousands of cancelled flights on the mainland. The extent of the rate hikes is yet to be revealed.
WINNERS FOR THE 2010 Kilauea Military Camp Christmas decorating contest have been announced. First place went to the KMC Store and Gas Station employees. Second went to the KMC front office staff and third place went to the KMC Recreation and Bowling Center. The decorations and holiday lights will adorn the cottages at KMC through the holidays and into the first week in January.
NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS are planned throughout Ka`u and Volcano. Kilauea Military Camp has a New Year’s Eve fish luncheon from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., a New Year's Eve party, and a New Year's Day dinner buffet. Hana Hou in Na`alehu will feature Ernie Kalani and his Back to the 50s trio and a special meal on New Year's Eve. Shaka's in Na`alehu plans food and dance music to ring in the New Year.
THE HAWAI`I FIRE DEPARTMENT is reminding everyone that fireworks are legal only between 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve and 1 a.m. on New Year's Day. Stay 1,000 feet away from the hospital, senior housing and school grounds, as the law protects these places. Most fireworks are being banned on O`ahu, and the same could happen here if the rules are disregarded.
CHRISTMAS TREES without ornaments and flocking are being accepted for recycling daily at Wai`ohinu transfer station.
