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| Cane haul truck is on display for Ka`u Plantation Days celebration at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
In the early morning of June 12, 2011, Hilo resident Quiocho, then 19, crashed his white Toyota truck into the lava field on the south side of Hwy 11 near the 35-mile marker. Quiocho and his passenger, 20-year-old Bryson Areola, both from Keaau, were ejected from the vehicle. Areola sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Hilo Medical Center.
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| An inscription at the site of a fatal accident on Hwy 11 memorializes Bryson Areola. Photo by Bobby Tucker |
“Both men were seen at a drag race at the park’s Ka`u boundary just before the incident,” said a statement from the National Park. Quiocho suffered critical head and spinal injuries and was transported by air ambulance to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where a blood test revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.13.
In June, Quiocho pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to negligent homicide, part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Song. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra handed down the jail time, plus three years of supervisory release, $7,000 restitution for funeral expenses and 300 hours of community service.
“Drivers need to recognize the consequences of their actions when they are in control of a motor vehicle. If their actions lead to death, injury and property damage, the courts will levy fines and impose confinement,” said Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno. “There is nothing good about this incident. A family is without a son, a child will grow up without a father, and a young man is going to prison.”
In June, Quiocho pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to negligent homicide, part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Song. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra handed down the jail time, plus three years of supervisory release, $7,000 restitution for funeral expenses and 300 hours of community service.
“Drivers need to recognize the consequences of their actions when they are in control of a motor vehicle. If their actions lead to death, injury and property damage, the courts will levy fines and impose confinement,” said Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno. “There is nothing good about this incident. A family is without a son, a child will grow up without a father, and a young man is going to prison.”
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| A "pontoon" washed ashore along the Ka`u Coast recently. |
MARINE AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS are concerned about the discovery of a large metal “pontoon” along the Ka`u Coast this week. With its 12-foot height, 20-foot width and likely heavy weight, it could have been scraping the nearshore sea floor before being deposited on the rocky coast. Some marine experts are concerned that such scraping along a reef could deposit endangered species, said Chris Woolaway, who has directed the annual Get The Drift and Bag It program and worked for Sea Grant for 23 years. With additional sightings of the “pontoon” or other debris washing up on the coast, contact kahakaicleanups@gmail.com, marinedebris@soesthawaii.edu, disasterdebris@noaa.gov, and dlnr@hawaii.gov.
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| The "pontoon," which has scrape marks, could have been hitting the nearshore sea floor. |
Both state and federal officials confirmed yesterday that a 16-foot Japanese skiff found in waters north of Hawai`i came from Iwate, one of the prefectures hit by the tsunami. The small boat was found by the crew of the fishing boat Zephyr, who brought it into port in Honolulu.
AT LUNCH WITH A RANGER tomorrow at 12 p.m. in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, rangers choose varied topics ranging from land management and conservation issues to environmental and cultural history and guide an open discussion with visitors over a bring-your-own-bag lunch. Check the Activities Boards at the Kahuku Visitor Greeting Area for the day’s Lunch With a Ranger topic and location.
NA`ALEHU HONGWANJI MISSION hosts an Interfaith Service tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Music, singing, hula, drums, chants and prayers celebrate the Oneness of Mankind. Potluck follows. For more, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
MAYORAL CANDIDATE HARRY KIM, whose campaign is known for its handmade signs and donations of no more than $10 per person, has launched a website at www.harrykimhawaii.org.
Its homepage has his slogan – Harry Kim, Applicant for mayor. He writes: “I was born and raised on Hawai`i Island, the most beautiful place on earth. I had the privilege of serving the people of this island for almost 40 years, and once again I am asking for your support in my campaign to become your Mayor.” There are video archives, including an interview about his health, and a statement about why he is running:
“When I first considered placing my name on the ballot, it was in part due to people asking me to just give them an additional choice in the election. A choice on a difference in management style, priorities, and just as important, how things are done.
“However, as time went on, some ‘home rule’ issues became more the focus and concerns of many. An issue was the status of the community development plan program, and the lack of support felt by especially those who contributed so much of their time on this issue.
“When I first considered placing my name on the ballot, it was in part due to people asking me to just give them an additional choice in the election. A choice on a difference in management style, priorities, and just as important, how things are done.
“However, as time went on, some ‘home rule’ issues became more the focus and concerns of many. An issue was the status of the community development plan program, and the lack of support felt by especially those who contributed so much of their time on this issue.
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| Harry Kim Photo from harrykimhawaii.org |
“Other ‘home rule’ issues are raised by Act 55 (established the Public Land Development Corporation), 2012’s Act 97 (eliminated geothermal resource permit authority of the Hawai`i County Planning Commission, eliminated geothermal subzones and makes geothermal activity permissible in any land use category), and the attempt by County and State officials to exempt geothermal exploratory drilling from any EA or EIS requirements. It is emphasized that I do support geothermal development, but it must be done right to ensure the protection of people and the environment,” Kim states.
He writes that “It became very clear that the issues were not just how geothermal or other projects were developed, but more importantly, the taking away of the people’s opportunity for input, the role of the local County government, and the determination of the kinds of development that affected their lifestyle and their home. These issues are at the very heart of what we believed to be the role and relationship of the people and their government.
This was important enough to me to put my name on the ballot.”
He writes that “It became very clear that the issues were not just how geothermal or other projects were developed, but more importantly, the taking away of the people’s opportunity for input, the role of the local County government, and the determination of the kinds of development that affected their lifestyle and their home. These issues are at the very heart of what we believed to be the role and relationship of the people and their government.
This was important enough to me to put my name on the ballot.”
JIM GALE, ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED and revered park rangers, hung up his hat for the last time yesterday. Gale served the National Park Service for 32 years, starting at Yellowstone and reaching the pinnacle of his career at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park as Chief of Interpretation. His work took him to some of the nation’s most treasured public lands: Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska, Indiana Dunes National Seashore, Blue Ridge National Park in Virginia and Grand Canyon National Park. At Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gale helped design two major visitor centers following the cataclysmic eruption of 1980.
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| Jim Gale Photo from NPS |
Entranced by active volcanoes and dedicated to a career in conservation, Gale moved to Hawai`i with his wife Lora and son Forest and spent the last 12 years at Hawai`i Volcanoes, where his countless accomplishments continued. He led the design team for the new Kilauea Visitor Center, collaborated with kupuna on key cultural decisions and led a team charged with interpreting major events like the 2008 eruption at Halema`uma`u crater. His leadership can be seen throughout the park in colorful, wayside exhibits and has touched untold millions of visitors around the world.
“Jim is who other park rangers aspire to become. He’s extremely positive and consistently supportive and empowering to his staff. He embraces the destination of Hawai`i and understands how important Hawai`i Volcanoes is to both the conservation efforts and the economy of our state. He has been an incredible ambassador for us,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We are truly going to miss him.”
In addition to achieving a master’s degree in botany from the University of Georgia, Gale earned a prestigious suite of awards during his career, including the highest professional recognition in his field, the Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation. He’s the recipient of the U.S. Forest Service Gifford Pinchot Interpreter of the Year Award for Excellence in Interpretation and the winner of the Freeman Tilden Award for Excellence in Interpretation from the Pacific West Region.
Gale will leave Hawai`i for Utah, where his wife Lora works in planning for the Bureau of Land Management. He plans on hiking the west rim of Zion National Park, camping and enjoying the fall weather from behind the lens of his camera.
“Jim is who other park rangers aspire to become. He’s extremely positive and consistently supportive and empowering to his staff. He embraces the destination of Hawai`i and understands how important Hawai`i Volcanoes is to both the conservation efforts and the economy of our state. He has been an incredible ambassador for us,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We are truly going to miss him.”
In addition to achieving a master’s degree in botany from the University of Georgia, Gale earned a prestigious suite of awards during his career, including the highest professional recognition in his field, the Fellow Award from the National Association for Interpretation. He’s the recipient of the U.S. Forest Service Gifford Pinchot Interpreter of the Year Award for Excellence in Interpretation and the winner of the Freeman Tilden Award for Excellence in Interpretation from the Pacific West Region.
Gale will leave Hawai`i for Utah, where his wife Lora works in planning for the Bureau of Land Management. He plans on hiking the west rim of Zion National Park, camping and enjoying the fall weather from behind the lens of his camera.
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| Walter Wong Yuen shares history of Chinese in Ka`u at today's Plantation Days celebration at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
PLANTATION DAYS IS ON SCHEDULE today until 3 p.m. at Pahala plantation manager’s house, with cane haul trucks and pa`u riders traveling down Pikake Street to the manager’s house where displays, photos, storytelling, food and dance take place.
AT LUNCH WITH A RANGER tomorrow at 12 p.m. in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, rangers choose varied topics ranging from land management and conservation issues to environmental and cultural history and guide an open discussion with visitors over a bring-your-own-bag lunch. Check the Activities Boards at the Kahuku Visitor Greeting Area for the day’s Lunch With a Ranger topic and location.
NA`ALEHU HONGWANJI MISSION hosts an Interfaith Service tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Music, singing, hula, drums, chants and prayers celebrate the Oneness of Mankind. Potluck follows. For more, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
