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| Kawa during a surf meet. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I is starting to make its plan for the stewardship of its Kawa shoreline park. County representatives visited the beach yesterday. Surfers went to court in the 1970s to open up right of ways to the shoreline and won their case. Over the last decade, the community appealed to the state, county and federal government for funding to purchase and preserve the area, which was threatened by development.
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| Camping at Kawa, a popular place for surfers and fishermen from around the island. Photo by Julia Neal |
With money in place, the county agreed to purchase the land to keep the area open for everyone in perpetuity and to protect its estuaries, springs, wildlife and access to surfers, fishermen and the public. Abel Simiona Lui claims the land belongs to him and was handed down through his family. However, the county says it has clear title and that ownership now rests with the public. The county has gone to court to settle the matter.
The preservation of Kawa is part of an effort to save the Ka`u coast, including nearby Honu`apo, which has already been preserved and is being managed by a community group and Hawai`i County.
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| Black Sand Beach at the end of Road to the Sea may be preserved through acquisition by the county. |
PURCHASE OF 3,000 ACRES in Kahuku was approved by the Hawai`i County Finance Committee yesterday. The parcel, reached by the Road to the Sea, includes one mile of coastline along with many cultural and historical sites. The measure now goes to the full County Council.
RAISING THE EXCISE TAX FROM FOUR TO FIVE PERCENT is alive at the Senate Ways and Means Committee over at the Legislature. Also on the table is the possibility of ending holidays for Hawaiian Airlines and some other businesses that receive this tax benefit. The proposal is up for a hearing today in Honolulu.
FRIENDS OF VOLCANO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES has launched a $97,000 ‘Phase One’ Building Fund drive to refurbish, update and bring the almost century-old historic school building at the old Keakealani site up to present day standards. This will allow three grades of the school to relocate to the facility and will lay the foundation for the school to end its commitment to the almost $32,000 per year present lease rent and tax costs at the present temporary tent-centered site. The ‘Phase One’ drive will last throughout the spring and summer, involving pleas for cash donations, bake sales, a ‘Food for Thought’ business owner discount program to encourage healthy eating for students and contributors alike, a golf tournament, farm fair, a wine and food event, and a walkathon.
ACE HARDWARE IN NA`ALEHU is supporting relief to Japan tsunami victims this Saturday at its Kokua Sale-abration. ACE is offering 20 percent off many items, and a portion of that day's sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. You can also donate with a check to the Japanese Red Cross Society. The fundraiser and sale will also take place in Hilo and Kona Ace and Ben Franklin Craft stores. These Ace Hardware Hawai`i and Ben Franklin Craft stores are locally owned and nationally recognized since 1951.
BREADFRUIT WAS COMMON IN YARDS, on farms and in the wild from Ka`u to Kona many years ago, and a new program called Ho`oulu ka Ulu is bent on restoring the breadfuit belt. The effort encourages people to grow, cook and eat ulu, which is a traditional food brought here by early Polynesian voyagers. See more at hawaiihomegrown.net.
TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY to sign up for the free Kahuku Junior Ranger Day this Saturday, April 9. The program is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and lunch will be provided. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and the Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center invite keiki to bring their families to explore Kahuku and learn about ancient traditions of navigation and modern-day global positioning systems. To register, call 985-6019.
The Kahuku Unit is now open to the public on most weekends.
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| Brandy Eder |
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| Jaeneise Cuison |
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| Alina Jerilong |
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| Brandy Shibuya |
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| Kayla Nishimura |
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| Kathline Pataray |
TICKETS ARE NEARLY SOLD OUT for the third annual Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant which is scheduled for Saturday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Ka`u High School gym. Miss Ka`u Coffee, Ulu Makuakane, will hand over her crown to the winner. Will the new Miss Ka`u Coffee be Jaeneise Cuison, Brandy Eder, Alina Jerilong, Kayla Nishimura, Kathline Pataray or Brandy Shibuya? Tickets are available from contestants and their families.
