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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, April 17, 2014

Melia Taganas, of Pahala, performing at the Moku O Keawe International Festival at Waikoloa, will compete in the Miss Aloha Hula contest at Merrie Monarch, to be televised on KFVE. Miss Aloha Hula begins at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium in Hilo. Taganas will perform hula kahiko, hula `auana and oli (chanting). Photo from Moku O Keawe International Festival
THREE FINALISTS FOR A WASTE A TO ENERGY PLANT to serve Ka`u to Hilo and beyond could be announced by Hawai`i County as early as next month. Instead of being placed in the Hilo landfill, which is rapidly filling up, unrecycled waste would be processed to make electricity. A Nancy Cook Lauer story in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald this morning reports that possible bidders include Waste Management’s Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.; “Covanta Energy, builder of O`ahu’s HPower incinerator; Bodell Construction, builder of an expansion to the Puna geothermal power plant; and Anaergia Inc., the winning bidder for Maui County’s proposed anaerobic garbage digester facility.” Maui had 20 bidders and five finalists before choosing Anaegia.
Mayor Billy Kenoi
      The deadline for submitting bids for the Big Island plant was Tuesday, and a contract could be signed by April 2015. County officials recently provided a tour and orientation for interested companies.
     Hawai`i Tribune-Herald quoted Mayor Billy Kenoi saying yesterday that “we’re very excited that we got eight responses, and we’re looking forward to working with the finalists for our new facility.”
      Volcano resident Anne Lee, who chairs the county’s Environmental Management Commission and has been serving on the commission since 2011, previously told The Ka`u Calendar, “We definitely need a plan, and we need to solve the problem.”
      Lee said that the landfill problem on this island “is one of the most critical issues facing the County of Hawai`i. It’s one of the biggest projects the county and the council will have to take on and make a decision.”
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

A PHYSICIAN'S RESIDENCY PROGRAM that could help fund doctors to serve Ka`u patients through Hilo Medical Center is on the line today at the state Legislature. A conference committee meeting is scheduled today for 3:30 p.m. in an attempt to come up with a compromise between the last House and Senate versions of HB 1700, the state budget.
      HMC requested $2.8 million in state funding to run the program. The House of Representatives approved the funding, but the Senate cut it from the budget.
      The program received accreditation in October and accepted its first class of resident physicians last month.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono
YESTERDAY WAS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the introduction of the U.S. Senate’s immigration reform bill. 

“One year ago, my Senate colleagues and I came together to introduce a comprehensive bill to address our broken immigration system, which we passed with overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “Not only would our bill strengthen our economy and reduce the deficit, but it would also help real people by bringing millions of families out of the shadows, reunifying Filipino World War II veterans with their children and making DREAM Act students eligible for federal student aid. Each day House Republicans fail to act, families are suffering and are kept apart. It is past time for the House to take action on immigration reform.”

 
      The U.S. Senate’s only immigrant, Hirono worked closely with colleagues to shape the bill in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor, attaching 11 amendments to the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate in June. Since the bill’s passage, Hirono has worked to support immigration reform by introducing legislation such as the Investing IN States To Achieve Tuition Equity (IN-STATE) for DREAMers Act, which would make the University of Hawai`i system eligible for federal funding as part of a new $750 million initiative to reward states like Hawai`i that offer in-state tuition and need-based financial aid to qualified students regardless of immigration status.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Jay Taganas with his daughters Melia, at right, and Mahea.
MELIA KAU`IKEONALANI CARMEN TAGANAS, of Pahala, will compete in the Miss Aloha Hula contest at Merrie Monarch. She is the daughter of Jay Taganas, of Pahala, who works at Ka`u Hospital. She is a graduate of Kamehameha School in Kea`au. 
      Taganas has represented Ka`u in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA. 
      “Within these next few weeks I will be completing a dream that I’ve had for as long as I can remember,” Taganas shared on Facebook. “I mahalo everyone who has helped, supported, challenged and changed me for the better. As we do before going into any ceremony, we leave all of our pilikia behind. I walk into the future cleansed with nothing but positive mana`o. I look forward to what the future holds and am so excited to find out. I appreciate and cherish this entire experience and journey.” 
      The Miss Aloha Hula contest at Merrie Monarch is to be televised on KFVE beginning at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, April 24 from Edith Kanaka`ole Stadium in Hilo. Taganas, a member of Halau Na Le Hiwahiwa `O Ku`ualoha under the direction of Kumu Hula Sammye Ann Ku`ualoha Young, will perform hula kahiko, hula `auana and oli (chanting).
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
THE FOLLOWING KA`U HIGH & MIDDLE SCHOOL students in grades 7 – 9 have earned a place on the third-quarter honor roll: 
Grade 9
      3.80 - 4.00: Chloe Gan, Jenny Mauricio-Henriquez, Augustina Sanchez, Travis Taylor
      3.50 - 3.79: Sheanale Agpaoa, Ashley Amaral, Jamal Buyuan, Monica Lynn Covarrubio, Brandi Louis, Isaiah Santiago, Mason Takaki-Garcia, Trevor Taylor
      3.0 - 3.49: Pete Dacalio, Tristan Davis, Cedrick Felipe, Charisma Felipe, Malika Maynard, Chadwick Pajimola Jr
Grade 8
      3.80 - 4.00: Rowlie John Flores, Sierra Yeager
      3.5 - 3.79: Junel Candaroma, Sheri Lynn Freitas, Zachary Ishii, Junialla Manantan, Junially Manantan, Zaylee Pascubillo, Revis Petitt, Ezra James Ramones, Alexia Tudela, Ammon Pomaikaihoaka Walters
      3.0 - 3.49: Shyanne Akiona, Analei Emmsley, Sheena Marie Flores, Daryl Moreira Jr
Grade 7
      3.80 - 4.00: Aaron Delos Santos, Scandy Echeilam, Jim Esquida, Ian Hargrove, Malie Ibarra, Kaiola Liu, Brennen Nishimura, Kaimi Pono Palakiko Leffew, Naython Perry, Jennifer Sanchez, Madito Tamayo, Junior Wajar
      3.5 - 3.79: Jennifer Abalos, Jordan Delenia-Tabbada, Noah Engichy, Monique Hughes, Zyrae-Jawn Kailiawa, Kayla Kainoa-Aukai, Randall Patton Jr, Justin Subica-Kawakami
      3.0 - 3.49 Ryan AhYee, Malia Nicole Corpuz, Seazon Gouveia-Makuakane, Daedrie Kai, Brynae Makuakane, Mories Moses, Melia Okimoto, Terree Oyama, Justine Rosario, Chaunalisa Velez, Jake Villa, Kalena Yeager.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

FRIENDS OF THE KA`U LIBRARIES’ book sale at Pahala Public & School Library continues today until 5 p.m. (closed 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m.).
      For more information, call 987-7448.

KA`U AG WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT’S meeting today at 4 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Orchards field office in Pahala has been cancelled.
      For more information, call Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

VOLUNTEERS HELP REMOVE invasive Himalayan ginger from park trails tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

CATHY AND TYSON BLACK demonstrate coconut leaf weaving tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the porch at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Tsuneo Taniuchi offers a paper sculpture workshop Saturday.
Photo from Volcano Art Center
A PAPER SCULPTURE WORKSHOP with Tsuneo Taniuchi takes place Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s 
Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Students should bring basic scissors, a glue stick, transparent tape and a stapler. $18 for VAC members; $20 for nonmembers. Register at 967-8222 or volcanoartcenter.org.

HAWAI`I FARMER’S UNION UNITED holds a meeting Saturday at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center for those interested in forming a Ka`u chapter. Speakers include Vincent Mina and Bob Shaffer. This meeting of is a potluck; farmers are encouraged to use their local ingredients.
      For more information, contact Malian Lahey at 503-575-9098 or malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.

AT A JUNGLE PARTY at Kilauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Saturday at 7 p.m., participants dress in jungle attire and dance to the tunes of DJ Tiki. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. for more information.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER HOSTS A Night of Improv Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Alohahas perform a series of improvisation games with audience suggestions and participation along with original comedy sketches written and performed by members. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Call 938-2091 or email thealohahas@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.