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Thursday, July 26, 2012

Ka`u News Briefs July 26, 2012

Jamae Kawauchi grew up in Ka`u and is seen here with her parents David and Jamie when she was sworn in as County Clerk.
Photo by Julia Neal
NEW AND UPDATED ELECTION PRECINCT cards will be mailed to some voters on the Big Island ahead of the Aug. 11 election. County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi said the second mailing is needed for some of the yellow cards since there are some errors following the reassignment of some voters to different polling places in connection with redistricting following the 2010 census. 
      Kawauchi said, “Our goal is 100 percent inclusion in this process.” She said voting “is a very profound thing and a great way to show support for the island. The numbers show how strong we are in our community.” She said the registered voter total reached 101,000 in mid July out of 184,158 people residing permanently on the island.
      The County Clerk said she encourages voting by mail to help foster more participation. The Permanent Absentee Voting by mail applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, Aug. 4 for the Aug. 11 Primary Election. Precinct locations can be found on the county elections website at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-clerk-elections/. Call 961-8277 or 323-4400.

THE AFTERSCHOOL ALL-STARS program is coming to Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School and looking to hire energetic and dynamic program leader team members. After-School All-Stars Hawai‘i provides “free structured after-school programming targeting middle school youth – three hours of programming Monday through Friday, which includes academics, enrichment and health/fitness activities,” as explained by Dawn Dunbar.
      Program initiatives include “service learning, sports-based youth development, career exploration and high school transition into the after-school curriculum. Our goal is provide at-risk youth with the opportunities to participate in educational, sports, cultural and community enrichment programs; to build confidence and self-esteem; and to encourage youth to say 'no' to gangs, drugs and violence and 'yes' to hope, learning and life,” Dunbar added.
      From July 30 on, seventh and eighth graders can enroll in the free All-Star program, which, starting Aug. 13, meets at the end of each school day until 5:30 p.m. Registration forms, which must be filled out in order for any child to attend the program, were sent with school registration packets, but parents can also contact All-Star Ka`u Site Coordinator Thu-Tam Doan. Contact Doan at 557-7414 or tdoan@asashawaii.org to register or apply as a part-time team leader.

Hauling garbage to the westside may be less expensive than
H-Power or expanding landfills.
Hilo landfill photo from Geometrician Associates
HAULING TRASH TO THE WESTSIDE is much less expensive than building a new Hilo landfill or an incinerator that would produce electricity, according to a report presented yesterday to the county’s Environmental Management Commission. A story by Nancy Cook Lauer in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today says that Solid Waste Director Greg Goodale plans to present the study to the County Council and mayor before taking it to public meetings. Cook Lauer reports the “the study showed it would cost an average of $52 to $72 per ton to haul all the county’s garbage to the West Hawai`i landfill at Pu`uanahulu. In comparison, a new Hilo landfill would cost $92 to $110 a ton and a waste-to-energy plant would go anywhere from $80 to $210 a ton… Goodale said there have been discussions about expanding the Pu`uanahulu landfill, which still has an estimated 30 years left — if it doesn’t take on any more east-side garbage than it does now. He said the state owns land mauka of the landfill that could be used for expansion and there has also been talk of lowering the sub grade land to allow for greater capacity,” Cook Lauer reported.

Bradley Westervelt hosts Ka`u events on Saturday.
Photo by David Howard Donald
BRADLEY WESTERVELT, County Council candidate for District 6, has announced two meet-the-candidate talk story events this Saturday. One will be at Wai`ohinu Park, noon until 2 p.m. with a family picnic featuring Flyin’ Hawaiian Coffee, pupus and sandwiches. Families are invited to use the playground, join in a field day and enjoy demonstrations of boomerangs, kites, frisbees and electric motor bikes, weather permitting. A Question and Answer session may continue beyond 2 p.m., as needed, he said. The second event is at Discovery Harbour Community Center, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with beverages and desserts. Q&A begins at 7 p.m. No donations will be accepted at either event. Events paid for by B4 Council. Debra Cannoles and Lori Lei Shiriakawa are organizing them. Learn more about Westervelt’s campaign through his website at bradwestervelt.com.

MAILE DAVID, County Council candidate for District 6, will host a talk story session today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. All are welcome to attend. Community members are invited to meet David and learn more about how she can serve Ka`u if elected to County Council. Supporters Bobby and Phoebe Gomes are organizing the event for David, who is running to take the council seat of Brittany Smart. Smart is running for state House of Representative rather than for re-election in the County Council. Learn more about David’s campaign through her website at mailedavid.com.

Inside Kipuka`akihi. Photo from nps.gov
HA`AO SPRINGS/MOUNTAIN HOUSE AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE meets today at 2:30 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Everyone interested in seeing an ag. water system for the area is invited to attend.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. meets tonight, 5:30 p.m., in the Community Center.

KIPUKA`AKIHI HIKE is offered this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants explore an isolated refuge of rare plants in a remnant old-growth forest. Pre-registration required, call 985-6011.

INSPIRED BY LIGHT, a Volcano Arts Center workshop taught by Robert Frutos on creating photo images in the surroundings of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, takes place Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participants are asked to bring camera, hat, tripod, jacket and water bottle. The class, including a picnic dinner, costs $150 for visitors and $125 for VAC members and kama`aina. Call 967-8222 for more.