Ka`u News Briefs Jan. 18, 2011

Pahala community leader Ana Cariaga spoke at Governor Neil Abercrombie's
confirmation ceremony at Pahala Plantation House in December.

WATER FOR KA`U FARMERS and ranchers is on the priority list for Rep. Bob Herkes. With the legislature opening tomorrow, he plans to work on the release of funding to help repair tunnels from the old plantation water system above the farmlands between Pahala and Na`alehu. Some of the tunnels are partially collapsed, and flumes and pipes are broken. An association of farmers and ranchers has been working on restoring small sections for several years to bring irrigation down the mountains. Herkes will attempt to put $1.5 million into the project. He said former governor Linda Lingle was unable to release money, but the new administration should be supportive.

AN 11,000-ACRE wilderness area from Manuka north toward Miloli`i is another legislative project that both Herkes and new Ka`u Senator Gil Kahele plan to work on together. Kahele and Herkes worked on establishing the South Kona Wilderness Area in the legislature in 2003, but it was never fully completed. They also worked together on the South Kona – Ka`u Coastal Conservation Task Force.

KAHELE was a founder of the Miloli`i community group called Pa`a Pono Miloli`i in 1980, in an attempt to conserve the shoreline and Hawaiian customs. Pa`a Pono means stand firm for what is right. He also organized Miloli`i families to gain permission to build self-help housing on land at Miloli`i. The next project was the wilderness area to protect the coastline. Pa`a Pono asked for preservation from the shore to 6,000 feet inland to protect coastal land for the local community and the entire state. Kahele also worked to establish a program to protect opelu for fishing.
     Pahala community organizer Ana Cariaga, who served with Kahele on the police commission and other groups, described Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s appointment of Kahele as a “balanced choice, a good choice.”

NEW FACILITIES for Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences is another project expected to be introduced by Herkes and supported by local legislators. The charter school, located on the Ka`u border in Volcano Village, is on an old state Department of Education campus and is comprised of temporary buildings.

HERKES also plans to establish a permanent interagency vog task force, which would accept testimony from residents continually. He appeared recently on PBS in Honolulu appealing for more study of vog’s effects on health and protection for Ka`u residents during vog events.
     Herkes retains his position in the House of Representatives as chair of its Consumer Protection and Commerce committee.

Community groups can raise up to $400 by replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs
through a program sponsored by The Kohala Center and Blue Planet Foundation.

LOOKING FOR A FUNDRAISER? The Kohala Center and the Blue Planet Foundation are looking for 20 school or community groups to help with exchanging incandescent light bulbs for compact, energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs. Blue Planet will pay the nonprofit 40 cents for each light bulb exchanged – up to 1,000 bulbs – allowing each community group to raise up to $400. Blue Planet and The Kohala Center will also make a presentation to the nonprofit to educate them about clean energy and climate change. There is no cost to residents to change their bulbs. Replacing eight 60-watt incandescent bulbs with 13-watt CFLs could save $140 a year. Replacing 1,000 60-watt bulbs can save 750 barrels of oil. To participate, email bulbexchange@kohalacenter.org for the application. 

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY geologist Tim Orr reviews highlights of Kilauea’s ongoing 28-year eruption and discusses the latest developments tonight at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

THE HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT will hold a meeting at Pahala Community Center from noon to 2 p.m. tomorrow. Scheduled to be on hand is the police department’s command staff as well as Deputy Chief Paul Ferreira, Area II Assitant Chief Henry Tavares, Area II Maj. Randy Apela, Ka`u Capt. Andres Burian and Ka`u Community Police Officer Dane Shibuya. The police department asks that participation be limited to Ka`u residents. Residents are also invited to call 939-2520 or email Officer Burian at aburian@co.hi.us.