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| Bills to strengthen and improve hunting in the state are moving through the Legislature. Parts of Ka`u Forest Reserve are popular with hunters. Photo by Rob Shallenberger |
HAWAI`I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED four bills aimed at strengthening and improving hunting activities in the state. The Senate is now considering the measures.
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| Hunters compare their catches at tournaments in Ka`u. Photo by Julia Neal |
Hawai`i Island Representative Cindy Evans, who chairs the House Committee on Water and Land, said, “These measures will help us to manage and keep our forests healthy, not only for hunting but as a way to strengthen our conservation efforts.”
HB1902 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to make reasonable efforts to prevent and mitigate the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas. It would establish a hunting advisory commission and require DLNR to report to the Legislature regarding public hunting lands.
HB1901 HD2 would establish a task force in DLNR to make recommendations regarding participation in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
HB1907 HD1 would authorize DLNR to offer lifetime hunting licenses at a steeply discounted rate to qualified disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart.
HB1903 HD1 would designate June as Outdoor Heritage Month to celebrate Hawai`i’s natural environment and recreational activities. This bill has been assigned to Senate committees on Energy and Environment, Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, and Technology and the Arts.
HB1902 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to make reasonable efforts to prevent and mitigate the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas. It would establish a hunting advisory commission and require DLNR to report to the Legislature regarding public hunting lands.
HB1901 HD2 would establish a task force in DLNR to make recommendations regarding participation in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.
HB1907 HD1 would authorize DLNR to offer lifetime hunting licenses at a steeply discounted rate to qualified disabled veterans and recipients of the Purple Heart.
HB1903 HD1 would designate June as Outdoor Heritage Month to celebrate Hawai`i’s natural environment and recreational activities. This bill has been assigned to Senate committees on Energy and Environment, Economic Development, Government Operations and Housing, and Technology and the Arts.
Progress of these and other bills can be tracked at capitol.hawaii.gov.
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| Ocean View Community Development Corp. seeks more input into the Ka`u CDP. |
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee met last night with members of the public attending at Na`alehu Community Center. County Planner Ron Whitmore said that planners will meet with area stakeholders through summer. Stakeholders include the Steering Committee itself, community groups, landowners and representatives of government agencies.
Representatives of Ocean View Community Development Corp. met recently with Whitmore and Bobby Command, of the Planning Department, and Steering Committee members Loren Heck and Patti Barry on the OVCDC desire to have more input into the CDP and for the plan to treat each community more independently. Barry and Heck reported that the meeting went well and promised continued communication between planners, the Steering Committee and the community group.
Several advocates for the Hawaiian Kingdom expressed their desire for Native Hawaiian kuleana owners and others with deeds going back to Hawaiian Kingdom to be represented in the planning process. Some challenged the county's right to plan for land they claim to belong to the Hawaiian Kingdom. Shelly Mahi questioned the right of lessees of old sugar land and The Nature Conservancy to use the land. Abel Simeona Louis spoke his refrain, “Ka`u has never been conquered by man,” and described himself as houseless and homeless since his eviction from Kawa, which is now owned by the county with plans being made for a park. “God gave this land to Kamehameha and to the people,” Louis proclaimed, contending that one third of the land should go to the “maka`ainana,” the people who live here.
Regarding interviews with stakeholders, Steering Committee members Michelle Galimba and Barry, as well as OVCDC representative Paula Donovan and others, called for a synopsis written on each meeting with stakeholders. Whitmore said he would check with the Planning director.
Whitmore encouraged the public to read the wealth of information about Ka`u that is available at hawaiicountycdp.info/kau. History, geography, natural resource, population, current land use and planning tools are available for review and study along with maps and illustrations. Whitmore promised that the draft of the Ka`u Community Development Plan will be the subject of much public review.
The next meeting was set for July 8 at Ocean View Community Center at 5:30 p.m.
Several advocates for the Hawaiian Kingdom expressed their desire for Native Hawaiian kuleana owners and others with deeds going back to Hawaiian Kingdom to be represented in the planning process. Some challenged the county's right to plan for land they claim to belong to the Hawaiian Kingdom. Shelly Mahi questioned the right of lessees of old sugar land and The Nature Conservancy to use the land. Abel Simeona Louis spoke his refrain, “Ka`u has never been conquered by man,” and described himself as houseless and homeless since his eviction from Kawa, which is now owned by the county with plans being made for a park. “God gave this land to Kamehameha and to the people,” Louis proclaimed, contending that one third of the land should go to the “maka`ainana,” the people who live here.
Regarding interviews with stakeholders, Steering Committee members Michelle Galimba and Barry, as well as OVCDC representative Paula Donovan and others, called for a synopsis written on each meeting with stakeholders. Whitmore said he would check with the Planning director.
Whitmore encouraged the public to read the wealth of information about Ka`u that is available at hawaiicountycdp.info/kau. History, geography, natural resource, population, current land use and planning tools are available for review and study along with maps and illustrations. Whitmore promised that the draft of the Ka`u Community Development Plan will be the subject of much public review.
The next meeting was set for July 8 at Ocean View Community Center at 5:30 p.m.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u's Sen. Josh Green chairs the state Senate Health Committee. |
USE OF THE CHEMICAL HERBICIDE ROUNDUP by state, county and city departments and agencies is the subject of an informational briefing to be held by the state Senate Committee on Health this Friday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 229 of the state Capitol.
“We have been receiving reports from around the state from people disturbed by the use of Roundup or glyphosate by local and state road crews,” said Ka`u’s Sen. Josh Green, who chairs the committee. “People are expressing concern that this chemical is being used in an excessive and unnecessary way, and may be hazardous to human health and to the environment. The goal of this informational briefing is to determine if the use of Roundup by state and local agencies is safe and necessary, and if everything possible is being done to reduce potentially harmful exposure to our land, water and people.”
Roundup is one of the trade names for the chemical herbicide glyphosate, developed by Monsanto and manufactured and sold under various names by Monsanto and other agrochemical companies.
The purposes of the informational briefing are to:
SEE THE MARCH ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.
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Roundup is one of the trade names for the chemical herbicide glyphosate, developed by Monsanto and manufactured and sold under various names by Monsanto and other agrochemical companies.
The purposes of the informational briefing are to:
- Receive a full and comprehensive report on all use of Roundup/glyphosate statewide by state, county and city departments and agencies to determine whether all appropriate regulations, codes, safety measures and guidelines are being fully observed in its use;
- Receive information from environmental and health experts on any potential hazardous effects of Roundup/glyphosate use on the environment and human health; and
- Explore possible alternatives to the use of chemical herbicides such as Roundup/glyphosate by state, county and city departments and agencies.
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| Scott Enright, center, who was recently confirmed by the state Senate as chair of the Department of Agriculture, will speak at Ka`u Farm Bureau's annual meeting Friday. Photo from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture |
FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND THE PUBLIC with interest in Ka`u’s agricultural future are invited to attend the annual meeting of Ka`u Farm Bureau on Friday, March 14 at Pahala Community Center, 6 p.m. Membership in the Farm Bureau is not required. The meeting is a potluck event.
Scott Enright, newly confirmed by the state Senate as Agriculture Department chief, and county Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth will speak at the event.
The meeting will also include election of officers for the rest of the 2014 term, which ends on Aug. 31. Those eligible to vote for Ka`u Farm Bureau officers and board members must have been in good standing as members of the Ka`u Farm Bureau as of Sept. 1, 2013. Those who want to join the Ka`u Farm Bureau in March can pay prorated dues of $50 to cover membership through August. Full membership for Sept. 1, 2014 through Aug. 31, 2015 is $95. A Friend of Farmers membership is available for an annual $65 rate.
For more information, call current Ka`u Farm Bureau president Chris Manfredi at 929-9550.
The meeting will also include election of officers for the rest of the 2014 term, which ends on Aug. 31. Those eligible to vote for Ka`u Farm Bureau officers and board members must have been in good standing as members of the Ka`u Farm Bureau as of Sept. 1, 2013. Those who want to join the Ka`u Farm Bureau in March can pay prorated dues of $50 to cover membership through August. Full membership for Sept. 1, 2014 through Aug. 31, 2015 is $95. A Friend of Farmers membership is available for an annual $65 rate.
For more information, call current Ka`u Farm Bureau president Chris Manfredi at 929-9550.
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| Cloud Pond, by Faye Soli, was one of two People's Choice winners at Hawai`i Photo Expo 2013. |
DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS FOR HAWAI`I PHOTO EXPO 2014 are due this Sunday, March 16. The goal of Hawai`i Photo Expo, Inc. is to promote interest in the art of photography by offering Big Island photographers a venue to share their work with the community and by sponsoring educational programs to help photographers refine their craft. The expo takes place at Wailoa Center in Hilo from June 7 to June 25.
Categories are:
- Master: For photographers or other visual artists who work with images in their professions; photographers who have been published regionally or nationally; photographers who have won previous awards; or photographers who feel comfortable competing at this level;
- Enthusiast: For photographers who love photography or pursue it as a serious hobby and have not yet won an award. Photographers who have exhibited before in any juried show must enter in this category unless otherwise required to enter in the Masters division;
- Beginner: For students up to high school and adults who have never before submitted to Hawai`i Photo Expo or other juried show.
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HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD a community meeting at noon on Tuesday, March 18, at Na`alehu Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public to meet the Police Department’s command staff and to discuss concerns with the police chief and commanders who oversee police operations in Ka`u.
The event continues the district community meetings, which are rotated throughout the eight police districts on Hawai`i Island.
Those interested in participating but unable to attend may call Captain Burt Shimabukuro at 939-2520, stop by the Ka`u Police Station in Na`alehu or e-mail their concerns or comments to copsysop@hawaiipolice.com.
HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD a community meeting at noon on Tuesday, March 18, at Na`alehu Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the public to meet the Police Department’s command staff and to discuss concerns with the police chief and commanders who oversee police operations in Ka`u.
The event continues the district community meetings, which are rotated throughout the eight police districts on Hawai`i Island.
Those interested in participating but unable to attend may call Captain Burt Shimabukuro at 939-2520, stop by the Ka`u Police Station in Na`alehu or e-mail their concerns or comments to copsysop@hawaiipolice.com.
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| A community meeting about little fire ants takes place a week from today in Na`alehu. Photo from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture |
LITTLE FIRE ANTS ARE THE SUBJECT of a community meeting a week from today on Wednesday, March 19. Hawai`i Ant Lab recently confirmed an LFA infestation in Na`alehu. Lab personnel will provide information about the ants, which are considered to be a major threat to agriculture, and discuss methods of control. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
SEE THE MARCH ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
