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| Fireworks, with permits, are legal between 9 p.m. tonight and 2 a.m. tomorrow. |
NANI KAHUKU `AINA owners of 1,600 acres of land makai of Highway 11 between Ocean View and South Point Road plan to move forward on their hotel, golf course, condominium, townhome and single family residential proposal in early 2011. Spokesman Aaron Eberhardt said the hui plans to submit an Environmental Impact Statement to the state Office of Environmental Quality Control in January. He said the hotels will be low-rise, like Kona Village, and that there will be a 300-acre Heritage Village around Pohue Bay and its hawksbill turtle nesting sites. The hui also plans rodeo grounds along Hwy 11, a veterans center, civic center and retail commercial sites.
A DOZEN new cruise ships with names like Seven Seas Voyager, Europa and Century plan to dock in Hilo in 2011, increasing passenger landings by some 15 percent and adding nearly $2 million to the economy of the east side, according to the Big Island Visitors Bureau. These visitors often come to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and as far as Punalu`u.
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION is considering a hike in electric rates and also some incentives to drive the electric companies toward using more alternative energies. The approval also involves decoupling the rates from the amount of electricity sold, which allowed the utility to raise rates when it sold less electricity. HECO is also committed to a new goal of using 25 percent renewable energy by the year 2020 and 40 percent by the year 2030.
“This is an important step in helping carry out our state's energy policy," said Dick Rosenblum, Hawaiian Electric Company president and CEO. "Ensuring the right regulatory model is in place will help move Hawai`i toward a clean energy future that will benefit customers and our economy, protect the environment, increase our energy security and allow the utility to better provide the services and support we need to get there." Residential customers are expected to experience a $3.57 hike in electric bills starting in January, which is going toward an energy efficiency program.
WITH DROUGHT LIFTING AND THE RAINS COMING BACK TO KA`U, the state Department of Health is asking everyone to prevent stagnant water from standing in yards, parking lots and empty containers. Standing water not only promotes mosquito breeding, mosquitoes can carry dengue fever, and the Department of Health is trying to prevent the expansion of this viral illness throughout the islands.
THE GIANT SHADE TREES AT Pahala Community Center will be spared for now, according to the staff of County Council member Brittany Smart. Jen Knippling said the Department of Parks and Recreation has determined that the remaining shade trees are well trimmed and in good health. At least eight large shade trees were cut down last spring after a church complained of the trees dropping branches and leaves on their roof and walkways of a building they constructed near the county park property line.
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 with JoJo Akamu 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.
