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Wednesday, October 05, 2011

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 5, 2011


Axis deer have grown into huge herds on Maui and have been seen in Ka`u.  Photo by Eric Nishibayashi
AXIS DEER are the subject of a proposed official ban by the County Council. The council’s Environmental Management Committee took up a bill proposed by County Council member Dominic Yagong, which would make importation of the deer a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 and up to a year in jail.
     Yagong said he had hoped to make the fine $50,000 but was limited by the council’s inability to establish laws that result in felony convictions. He said, however, he wants the proposed legislation to also prohibit the harboring or storing of the deer as well as transporting them.
     The Nature Conservancy’s John Replogle testified, calling for the penalty to be a Class C felony with a $200,000 fine. He pointed to the failure in controlling coqui frogs and said there should be “good teeth in this legislation.” He also said that whoever brought the axis deer to this island did so “for selfish reasons.”
     The problem to farmers, cattlemen and conservationists on Maui was discussed in length, including the extra cost of building fences much higher than needed for keeping out goats and pigs.

Teresa Tico
MISS SOUTH PACIFIC: BEAUTY & THE SEA is the name of a new award-winning film produced by part-time Pahala resident Teresa Tico. The film will be introduced tomorrow evening by actor Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Brosnan at the Malibu Film Festival, followed by more screenings in California, Florida and Grand Bahama. It will be shown at the 2011 Hawai`i International Film Festival on Oct. 19 in Honolulu. The film has already won eight awards in LA, New York, Massachusetts and Colorado. 
     The film explores the worry and the mission of intelligent and beautiful young women from Miss Tonga to Miss Fiji who are seeing sea levels rise and their islands sinking into the Pacific as the result of the melting of polar ice, carbon emissions and global warming. “One day you are playing in your playground and the next day it’s gone,” said Miss Tonga Paea Williams.
     “Our failure to act aggressively on climate change generates within me a fear for the security of my island home and the island homes of my Pacific brothers and sisters,” said Miss Fiji Merewalesi Nailatikau.

THE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT will be testing the sewage lines along Pikake Street in Palala from today through mid-November. Wastewater maintenance crews will lower cameras into the sewage lines to look for problems. They will also install cleanouts wherever they can in preparation for any emergencies. The work area will be between Huapala and Pakalana Streets.
     The county took over management of the lines several years ago from former sugar plantation owner C. Brewer Corp., which sold the houses along the line to former employees and other buyers. The county plans to replace the gang cesspool on Maile Street with a new sewage treatment plant and eventually install new sewage lines in the public right of way. Residents along the sewage lines are being charged a monthly fee for maintenance by the county.

Peter Anderson's Sunset at Punalu`u
PETER ANDERSON, OF NA`ALEHU, won second place at the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s Directory 2012 cover contest with his photo on canvas entitled Sunset at Punalu`u. The art show and contest took place last week at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union, where 211 people voted for their favorite of 21 artworks that included photography, painting, pen-and-ink drawing, hand-made paper, mirror etching, gourd decoration and wood carving. 
     The deadline to submit changes or new listings and ads for The Directory 2012 is Monday, Oct. 31.

HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE Corporation holds its annual meeting Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Ocean View Community Center.

A NEW TRAIL AT THE KAHUKU UNIT of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park opens Saturday. The Palm Trail crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with panoramic views. A celebration takes place at the trailhead at 10 a.m., followed by a guided hike. Another guided hike begins at 11 a.m. The Kahuku Unit is open weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except for the first Saturday of each month.

Pili Kailiawa and Kaila Olson
block Kealakehe's offense.
KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS emerged victorious over Kealakehe in the Ka`u High gym last night. JV lost the first set, but battled back to win best two out of three. Set scores were 21-15, 35-18, and 15-9. The Varsity ladies beat the Waveriders in just three sets. The Waveriders took the lead several times, but Ka`u battled back with juniors Kaila Olson and Marley Strand-Nicolaisen leading in kills. Olson made six kills and Strand-Nicolaisen added five. Seniors Brooke Medeiros-Shibuya and Joyce Ibasan successfully blocked Kealakehe to finish the third set and win the game. Set scores were 25-19, 25-19 and 25-17.

THE ACOUSTIC HAWAIIAN JAM at Honu`apo happens Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo and Keoki Kahumoku invite everyone to bring their acoustic instruments to this free family event to celebrate another year of Ka `Ohana’s stewardship of the park.