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| A fire in Pahala, makai of the transfer station and mauka of the highway, began before 11 a.m. today. Firefighters are currently battling the flames. Check tomorrow's news briefs for an update. Photo by Julia Neal |
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| Teresa Alderdyce (right), Ka`u Family Center's Coordinator, helped created care packages for children with duffel bags blankets and Teddy Bears last Thanksgiving. The center closes today. |
Like the judicial system, which shut down the courthouse in Na`alehu, Family Support Hawai`i continues to provide services from other sites in Kona, Waimea, and Hilo.
THE OLD NA`ALEHU COURTHOUSE will be unavailable for use as a County Council satellite office, according to County Council member Brittany Smart. Smart said yesterday that she was trying to secure the site to use for giving testimony and observing County Council and other public meetings held in Hilo and Kona. “We are back to square one,” Smart said. The old judiciary site in Na`alehu will be used for state child welfare services, according to the governor’s East Hawai`i representative, Wendy Boteho-Cortez.
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| Denny Coffman. Photo by William Neal |
FORMING AN AG WATER CO-OP for West Ka`u was a proposal made at yesterday’s meeting of a group forming a co-op that would restore water sources above Wai`ohinu and deliver water to ag users. Former Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative District steering committee member Richard Creagan presented the idea as an option to creating a co-op that would work with KAWCD. Creagan said he left the co-op because its main purpose was “to increase development.” One of the reasons for creating a separate entity, as stated in Creagan’s proposal, is that Western Ka`u (or ‘West Ka`u’) will have only two entities (Regional Water Systems) and will be easily outvoted by the six entities which lie in Eastern Ka`u (or ‘East Ka`u’).
With a show of hands, the vast majority of attendees at the meeting wished to continue to work with the Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative District. Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation are scheduled to be presented to the KAWCD next week.
State Representative Denny Coffman, who is running for election in District 5, which includes areas between Keauhou and Honu`apo attended the meeting. He said that, if elected, he would be able to work on funding for the project. After the meeting, he also said that, since an umbrella organization is working toward supplying ag water, it makes sense to work with that group. He said that he would be able to work on the project with representatives from House District 3, which includes Punalu`u and Pahala.
CONGRESSWOMAN MAZIE HIRONO has released her own poll of the electorate showing a lead of 11 percent over Republican Linda Lingle. The results show Hirono with 51 percent and Lingle with 40 percent. The poll by Beneson Strategy Group shows Hirono favored among women with 54 percent, a 19 percent lead over Lingle. Among men, Hirono leads over Lingle by three percent, the poll shows.
A NEW BUSINESS, B & E PROPANE, opened in Na`alehu on July 2 and is now serving the community daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family-run business is located on Melia Street, off Ka`alaiki Road across from Ka`u Auto Repair. Bill Derasin, owner, also runs a welding shop, 3D Welding & Fabrication, next door. Derasin and his family used to run the 76 station in Na`alehu that had a propane business in back. In celebration of their opening, B & E, which stands for Bill and his wife Ella, is offering a raffle with a drawing in the beginning of August. Anyone can sign up throughout the month - no purchase necessary. For the month of July, the Gas Company is offering a dollar off per gallon, so B & E has a special this month for $4.25 a gallon until July 31. Starting Aug. 1, Derasin will sell propane for $5.25 a gallon. He said people can pay cash, credit card, check or “any way you got to pay.”
Derasin said that in case of an emergency or for more information the community is welcome to call him at 896-0841 during daylight hours. He is eager to serve the community and says that if people aren’t able to come during business hours they can come earlier since he’ll be there from 7:30 a.m. As a message to the community, Derasin said “please come by, I can’t wait to see old faces again and would like to see new faces and make new friends.”
His daughter Charlene, who worked at the 76 station before, now manages the B & E operation. His other daughter Margret, who used to make bentos for 76, and her daughter Shawnette have started a lunch wagon, which can be found in front of Ace Hardware in Na`alehu Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. until pau. Derasin said that the food is cooked in a certified kitchen that he has in Na`alehu, which he called B & E Kitchen with “whatever get to cook” as the menu. The lunch wagon offers bento, musubi, coffee and plate lunches.
State Representative Denny Coffman, who is running for election in District 5, which includes areas between Keauhou and Honu`apo attended the meeting. He said that, if elected, he would be able to work on funding for the project. After the meeting, he also said that, since an umbrella organization is working toward supplying ag water, it makes sense to work with that group. He said that he would be able to work on the project with representatives from House District 3, which includes Punalu`u and Pahala.
CONGRESSWOMAN MAZIE HIRONO has released her own poll of the electorate showing a lead of 11 percent over Republican Linda Lingle. The results show Hirono with 51 percent and Lingle with 40 percent. The poll by Beneson Strategy Group shows Hirono favored among women with 54 percent, a 19 percent lead over Lingle. Among men, Hirono leads over Lingle by three percent, the poll shows.
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| Bill Derasin invites the community to fill their propane tanks in Na`alehu across from Ka`u Auto Repair. Photo from hoffmanspowerequipment.com |
Derasin said that in case of an emergency or for more information the community is welcome to call him at 896-0841 during daylight hours. He is eager to serve the community and says that if people aren’t able to come during business hours they can come earlier since he’ll be there from 7:30 a.m. As a message to the community, Derasin said “please come by, I can’t wait to see old faces again and would like to see new faces and make new friends.”
His daughter Charlene, who worked at the 76 station before, now manages the B & E operation. His other daughter Margret, who used to make bentos for 76, and her daughter Shawnette have started a lunch wagon, which can be found in front of Ace Hardware in Na`alehu Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. until pau. Derasin said that the food is cooked in a certified kitchen that he has in Na`alehu, which he called B & E Kitchen with “whatever get to cook” as the menu. The lunch wagon offers bento, musubi, coffee and plate lunches.
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| Dr. Cliff Field of Ka`u Hospital leads dojo at Pahala Community Center. Photo by Julia Neal |
EIGHTEEN STUDENTS ARE REPRESENTING PAHALA DOJO at the annual International Karate League tournament on O`ahu this Saturday at Manoa Gymnasium. The tournament is rotated each year to regions including California, Minnesota, Idaho and Utah and Hawai`i.
Throughout the past year, students held numerous fundraisers to help offset expenses. Pahala Dojo Sensei Cliff Field and his wife, Senpei Susan Field, Pahala Filipino Community Association and Edmund C. Olson Trust II made major contributions. Hana Hou Restaurant, Big Island Candies, KTA and Mizuno Superette also contributed. “The fundraiser events received great support from the communities and involvement of the students and their parents,” said Field.
This year’s event is combined with a celebration of founder Walter Nishioka’s 80th birthday and a training seminar on Sunday. Nishioka still teaches karate and visited Pahala Dojo in May. He is credited by many to be one of the primary individuals who introduced and perpetuated the study of Karate in Hawai`i from where it spread to the mainland.
The International Karate League has 26 dojos and over 500 students internationally. It is operated as a not-for-profit organization where all Sensei donate their time and experience to preserve the art.
Throughout the past year, students held numerous fundraisers to help offset expenses. Pahala Dojo Sensei Cliff Field and his wife, Senpei Susan Field, Pahala Filipino Community Association and Edmund C. Olson Trust II made major contributions. Hana Hou Restaurant, Big Island Candies, KTA and Mizuno Superette also contributed. “The fundraiser events received great support from the communities and involvement of the students and their parents,” said Field.
This year’s event is combined with a celebration of founder Walter Nishioka’s 80th birthday and a training seminar on Sunday. Nishioka still teaches karate and visited Pahala Dojo in May. He is credited by many to be one of the primary individuals who introduced and perpetuated the study of Karate in Hawai`i from where it spread to the mainland.
The International Karate League has 26 dojos and over 500 students internationally. It is operated as a not-for-profit organization where all Sensei donate their time and experience to preserve the art.
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| Image from rnh.com |
KDEN PRESENTS Rodgers’ & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. starting tonight through July 29 at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Matinees are on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, $12 for students and seniors and $10 for children. Tickets available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Paradise
Plants and the Most Irresistible Shop in Downtown Hilo. Call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND is still accepting volunteers for tomorrow’s Ka`u beach cleanup. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Sign up with Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.
Plants and the Most Irresistible Shop in Downtown Hilo. Call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND is still accepting volunteers for tomorrow’s Ka`u beach cleanup. Meet at 7:45 a.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Sign up with Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.
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| Diana Aki performs at Cultural Festival. Photo by Jay Robinson/NPS |
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK hosts its 32nd annual Cultural Festival tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kumu hula and members of several halau hula share their knowledge of hula kahiko, including chants, costumes, implements and adornments. The festival is free, and entrance fees are waived for the day. For more information, call 985-6011.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Kahuku Unit hosts a 2.5-mile moderately difficult hike Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Called People and Land of Kahuku, the three-hour hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history. The gate between miles 70 and 71 on Hwy 11 opens at 9 a.m.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Kahuku Unit hosts a 2.5-mile moderately difficult hike Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Called People and Land of Kahuku, the three-hour hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history. The gate between miles 70 and 71 on Hwy 11 opens at 9 a.m.
