Saturday, September 3, 2011

The `alala, Hawaiian crow, is extinct in the wild and being cared for at the refuge in Volcano. 
Photo by Donna Cooper/Audobon Society

THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY is holding an event today until 4 p.m. at Kahuku County Park in Ocean View with non-profit organization representatives arriving to hear about their many needs while living on this island. Among the Ka`u-based Marshallese, most of them living in Ocean View, are families with histories of being displaced from their homes generations ago when nuclear testing by the United States left some of their islands uninhabitable. The U.S. government promised and has helped them to move into safe communities and pay for their children’s education and other needs. A number of Marshallese who have been somewhat nomadic since the nuclear tests have moved here and their children and grandchildren attend elementary and high school in Ka`u.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA said this morning in his weekly address that he is worried that federal funding for highways and roads, on which this island so dearly depends, could be cut off, if congress allows the federal fuel taxes that pay for them expire. Congress must act by Sept. 30 or money flowing into states for road and bridge projects would be stalled. "There's no reason to cut off funding for transportation projects at a time when so many of our roads are congested, so many of our bridges are in need of repair and so many businesses are feeling the cost of delays,” said Obama. "This isn't a Democratic or a Republican issue — it's an American issue," the President said, urging congress to pass the measure.

Delta begins flights from Fukuoka on Dec. 28.

MORE VISITOR TRAFFIC FROM JAPAN could be in the pipeline with Delta Airlines and Sun Plus adding flights to Hawai`i this winter. Sun Plus, based in Tokyo, will send 21 direct charter flights to Hawai`i from Nov.13 to Jan. 3. The flights will open up new direct service from Hiroshima, Sendai and Kumamoto. Delta will link Fukuoka on Kyushu Island to the Hawaiian Islands with flights starting Dec. 28. This will be the only direct scheduled flight from Fukuoka, which is on Kyushu Island. The flights are a sign of pent-up demand for travel to Hawai`i, particularly from cities that have never had the direct flights, said Hawai`i Tourism Authority president Mike McCartney.

BRING ALL OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE to Wai`ohinu Transfer Station today until 3:30 p.m., as this opportunity is somewhat rare. Here is what is accepted: Automotive fluids (including antifreeze and used motor oil); corrosives (acids & bases); all types of batteries; unbroken fluorescent lights (tubes & CFLs) and chemical ballasts; mercury thermometers; unused or outdated prescription medications (no controlled substances or sharps & needles); toxic aerosol canisters; compressed gas cylinders (empty cylinders can go to Scrap Metal); oil-based paint & stains. liquid lead-based paints; toxic garden supplies (herbicides & pesticides); poisons; miscellaneous hazardous or toxic household products. Latex paint and base can be brought to trade for other paint or be left for other people to pick up . However, if the paint is junk/rusty solidify it by letting it completely dry out and dispose in regular trash.)

Bring household hazardous waste
to Wai`oahinu today.

     Here is what is not accepted: electronic waste (computers, TVs, printers & etc.); fertilizers; used cooking oil (solidify or absorb and dispose with trash; explosives or ammunition; pyrophorics; flares and water reactive materials; biological or infectious waste; controlled substances (e.g. illegal drugs or highly controlled/restricted medications); radioactive & shock sensitive materials;fire extinguishers & smoke detectors; detergents; tires; and non-hazardous material.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED PAYAYAS, the rainbow variety being grown on the Big Island, will have a new market with shipments beginning in about three months to Japan, according to the state Department of Agriculture. About 80 percent of all papayas grown here are GMO. The genetic modification was accomplished to save the industry from the devastating ringspot virus which almost put papaya farmers out of business. Some environmental and health organizations consider GMO’s a health risk to plant life diversity planet-wide. Japan just approved the acceptence of the Hawai`i grown rainbow papaya.

Nene, the Hawai`i State Bird. Photo by Julia Neal

THE KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER at Volcano has announced a public event on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. The Center s one of two operated by The Zoological Society of San Diego for the Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program. It helps establish self-sustaining populations of birds in the wild using captive propagation and reintroduction management tools.    
     During the open house, Jack Jeffrey and KBCC will introduce visitors to some of the last remaining `alala, the Hawaiian Crow, which is critically endangered and extinct in the wild; the Maui Parrotbill, an insectivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper; palila, a finch-billed honeycreeper only found on the slopes of Mauna Kea; nene, the Hawaiian goose; and puaiohi or Small Kaua`i Thrush. In the afternoon, after lunch at Kipuka Puaulu, drive 10 miles to the top of Mauna Loa Road and hike one mile round trip to see some native bird species in the wild such as i‘iwi, amakihi, and elepaio. Also see the endangered Mauna Loa Silverswords, and the view from the start of the historic Mauna Loa Trail. For registration, visit www.kohalacenter.org/TKCMemberEvents11/kbcc.html

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U’S Steak Fry and Laulau Fundraiser will be held on Monday, September 5th (Labor Day) in the Ocean View Market parking lot from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.