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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Ka`u News Briefs Jan. 26, 2011

Today is the last day to sign up for the Miss Ka`u Coffee pageant.
Last year's contestants pose in the coffee fields.


`AINA KOA PONO, the company planning a biofuels refinery for Pahala and a biofuels farm for lands between Pahala and Na`alehu, will make a presentation to the community at the Monday, February 21 meeting of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce. `Aina Koa Pono had originally planned its factory site at the old sugar truck and equipment shed near the Pahala Methodist Church, preschool and homes. However, company engineer Alexander Causey said they are moving the site away from the village and hope to secure land near the Pahala trash transfer station. The company promises 100 full time farm and factory jobs, following more than 300 jobs in constructing the $320 million facility, which would take about two years.

`Aina Koa Pono is researching crops for biofuel.
`AINA KOA PONO representatives said they have decided to refrain from accepting any solid municipal waste to process in their factories. The new processing facility is cutting edge and involves a series of microwave reactors that vaporize whatever is placed inside of them. The vapor can be made into diesel to run power plants and more refined diesel for vehicles and even jet fuel. The microwave process is proposed for many sites around the country to process municipal solid waste. Causey said the best place to process municipal wastes would be at landfills and places where most of the municipal waste originates, which are Hilo and Kona. He said the feedstock in Pahala would only be from green sources.
     The public meeting about the project, sponsored by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, will be at Pahala Community Center, on Monday, February 21 at 6 p.m.

IN SPORTS, BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS KA`U VARSITY SOCCER beat St. Joseph’s yesterday in Pahala. In their last season game, the girls won 4-2. Sophomore Kaila Olson scored a hat trick (three goals), and classmate Marley Strand-Nicolaisen put in one. Brandy Eder served as goalie.
     The Boys won 3-0 with goalie, senior Derick Medeiros-Garo, combining with junior Tyler Atwood for the win. Medeiros Garo started the scoring in the 55th minute with a 35-yard blast into the upper right corner. Sophomore Jemy-Ray Palancia scored on a penalty kick for his second goal of the season, and junior Patrick Garcia found the net in the 75th minute on what Coach Bob Martin called “one of the top all-time goals scored for Ka`u.” Garcia kicked a 22-yard rocket off an assist from senior Moses Espaniola.

BOYS BASKETBALL played at home last night. JV lost to Hilo 59-41. High scorer was Honua Kauhi with 14 points. Hilo also defeated the Trojan Varsity 67-59. Holden Galigo scored the most points with 16. Callen Koi put away 14 and Dillon Ballo added 11.

IMPACT FEES charged by the county to people building homes will be explained at area meetings in February, as county council members assess how they can balance the cost of new homes to county infrastructure, including roads and parks with keeping homes affordable.
     Council member Pete Hoffman is initiating the meetings, which will also be attended by Ka`u council member Brittany Smart. Entitled How Impact Fees Affect Me, they are set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 10 at Cooper Center in Volcano; Thursday, February 17 at Pahala Community Center; and Wednesday, February 23 at Na`alehu Community Center.

Muriel Anderson perfoms tonight in a
free concert at Pahala Plantation House.




EVERYONE IS INVITED tonight to a free concert by Muriel Anderson and Tierra Negra. Anderson is one of the top guitarists in the world, famed for her finger picking. Tierra Negra presents New World Flamenco. They also performed at Ka`u High School today for the students. The community house concert is tonight at 7 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. It is free.









TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to sign up for the Miss Ka`u Coffee 2011, Miss Ka`u Peaberry and Little Miss Ka`u Coffee pageants. Prospective contestants can pick up applications at Kahuku Gift and Garden Shop in Ocean View, Grandma's Closet in Na`alehu, Pahala Community Center and R&G Store in Pahala. For Miss Ka`u Coffee, contestants must be ages 17 to 24; for Little Miss Ka`u Coffee ages 10 to12, and Miss Ka`u Peaberry ages 7 to 9. The age category is determined by the age of the contender on May 13, 2011. Each contestant’s main residence must be in the district of Ka`u. Call Gloria Camba at 928-8558, Nalani Parlin at 217-6893 or Nona Makuakane at 928-3102. Posters can be seen around the community.