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| A green sea turtle basks on the shore at what appears to be an abandoned hawksbill turtle nest at Kamehame, managed by The Nature Conservancy. TNC Hawai`i Director Suzanne Case, who oversaw acquisition of this and other sites for preservation in Ka`u, is Gov. David Ige's nominee to head the Department of Land & Natural Resources. Photo by Will Olsen/Hawksbill Recovery Project |
SUZANNE CASE, DIRECTOR OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY for the state of Hawai`i, is Gov. David Ige’s new nominee to head the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.
A 28-year veteran of The Nature Conservancy, Case has served as its Executive Director in Hawai‘i since 2001. She oversees a program of 76 staff, 16 preserves totaling 53,000 acres and an annual operating budget of $11 million, working in native forest, coastal and marine conservation, directly and through partnerships, on six main Hawaiian Islands.
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| Suzanne Case |
Case is a seasoned negotiator with the old sugar plantations and more recent land investors in TNC’s efforts to preserve pristine forests and other natural environments. In Ka`u, she oversaw acquisition of the 116,000-acre Kahuku Ranch addition to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and TNC’s purchase of some of the most pristine native forests in Hawai`i. Purchasing Kamehame, the hawkbill turtle nexting site below Pahala, is another one of Case’s accomplishments. She also located TNC’s Hawai`i Island offices in Ka`u.
During her years at The Nature Conservancy, Case has overseen acquisition of eight Hawai`i preserves, Palmyra Atoll, new national wildlife refuges at Hakalau on the slopes of Mauna Kea and at O`ahu Forest, as well as creation of watershed partnerships for forest management throughout the state, growth of networks of local communities working to restore their near-shore marine resources and implementation of large-scale projects to remove invasive algae from reefs and coastal areas.
Case co-created Ke Ho`olono Nei, a Hawaiian song about loss and stewardship of native Hawaiian forest birds, and Maoli No, a free educational DVD of Hawaiian songs, chants and stories developed by The Nature Conservancy in 2003 for the Year of the Hawaiian Forest on the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Hawai`i forest reserve system.
From 1987 to 2002, Case served as TNC Legal Counsel for the Conservancy’s Hawai`i Program, the western United States and internationally in the Asia/Pacific Region.
Case was born in Hilo and grew up in Hilo and Honolulu. She attended Wai`akea-Kai Elementary School, Keaukaha Elementary School and Punahou School, where she was the first female student body president. She attended Williams College and Stanford University, graduating with honors. She received her law degree from Hastings College of the Law, University of California, San Francisco, where she was a member of the Hastings Law Journal. She practiced real estate transactions law at the law firm of Pettit & Martin in San Francisco from 1983 to 1987.
Case in the sister of Ka`u’s former U.S. Rep. Ed Case and cousin of Steve Case, founder of AOL.
Ige’s announcement follows his withdrawal of Carleton Ching, Vice President of Community and Government Relations for developer Castle & Cooke Hawai`i, as his first nominee for the position. The withdrawal came just prior to the Senate vote when polling indicated that the Senate would have rejected the nomination.
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During her years at The Nature Conservancy, Case has overseen acquisition of eight Hawai`i preserves, Palmyra Atoll, new national wildlife refuges at Hakalau on the slopes of Mauna Kea and at O`ahu Forest, as well as creation of watershed partnerships for forest management throughout the state, growth of networks of local communities working to restore their near-shore marine resources and implementation of large-scale projects to remove invasive algae from reefs and coastal areas.
Case co-created Ke Ho`olono Nei, a Hawaiian song about loss and stewardship of native Hawaiian forest birds, and Maoli No, a free educational DVD of Hawaiian songs, chants and stories developed by The Nature Conservancy in 2003 for the Year of the Hawaiian Forest on the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Hawai`i forest reserve system.
From 1987 to 2002, Case served as TNC Legal Counsel for the Conservancy’s Hawai`i Program, the western United States and internationally in the Asia/Pacific Region.
Case was born in Hilo and grew up in Hilo and Honolulu. She attended Wai`akea-Kai Elementary School, Keaukaha Elementary School and Punahou School, where she was the first female student body president. She attended Williams College and Stanford University, graduating with honors. She received her law degree from Hastings College of the Law, University of California, San Francisco, where she was a member of the Hastings Law Journal. She practiced real estate transactions law at the law firm of Pettit & Martin in San Francisco from 1983 to 1987.
Case in the sister of Ka`u’s former U.S. Rep. Ed Case and cousin of Steve Case, founder of AOL.
Ige’s announcement follows his withdrawal of Carleton Ching, Vice President of Community and Government Relations for developer Castle & Cooke Hawai`i, as his first nominee for the position. The withdrawal came just prior to the Senate vote when polling indicated that the Senate would have rejected the nomination.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| The draft Ka`u Community Development Plan prioritizes flood prevention and safety improvements along district roadways. Photo by Julia Neal |
ENHANCING KA`U’S ROADWAY NETWORK is one of the topics considered in the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan, now available for public review.
The draft CDP discusses road connectivity, prioritizes flood prevention and safety improvements along Wood Valley Road and Mamalahoa Highway and guides road improvements in Mark Twain and Green Sands subdivisions.
The CDP addresses the Community Objective to establish a rural transportation network, including roadway alternatives to Hwy
11, a regional trail system and an interconnected transit system.
It calls for all subdivision in the Ka`u CDP planning area, including condominium property regimes and planned unit developments, to conform to connectivity standards of the Hawai`i County Code.
It instructs the county to install culverts and construct drainage channels and other related improvements as necessary to prevent flooding of roadways and other areas; improve safety on Wood Valley Road, possibly including posted speed limits, lane markers and stop signs; make intersection improvements at Pikake, Koali and Wood Valley Roads; continue to maintain roads-in-limbo in coordination with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and shoreline public access plans; and remove the Na`alehu bypass from the General Plan transportation map.
The draft asks the state Department of Transportation to continue improving Mamalahoa Highway, realigning where necessary and prioritizing shoulder safety, particularly for bicyclists, including on the stretch of highway between Honu`apo and the Ka`u Police Station. It asks DOT to address community concerns about preservation of trees and stone walls along the highway when implementing the Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan in Na`alehu.
Ka`u residents have four opportunities this month to view displays about parts of the CDP they are interested in, discuss CDP strategies with people familiar with the plan and provide feedback. Two this Saturday, April 11 are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
On Sunday, April 19, residents can attend speak-outs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Center.
Residents can also submit feedback online or in writing by email, fax or mail.
Copies of the draft Ka`u CDP are available at local libraries and community centers and at kaucdp.info.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
The CDP addresses the Community Objective to establish a rural transportation network, including roadway alternatives to Hwy
11, a regional trail system and an interconnected transit system.
It calls for all subdivision in the Ka`u CDP planning area, including condominium property regimes and planned unit developments, to conform to connectivity standards of the Hawai`i County Code.
It instructs the county to install culverts and construct drainage channels and other related improvements as necessary to prevent flooding of roadways and other areas; improve safety on Wood Valley Road, possibly including posted speed limits, lane markers and stop signs; make intersection improvements at Pikake, Koali and Wood Valley Roads; continue to maintain roads-in-limbo in coordination with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands and shoreline public access plans; and remove the Na`alehu bypass from the General Plan transportation map.
The draft asks the state Department of Transportation to continue improving Mamalahoa Highway, realigning where necessary and prioritizing shoulder safety, particularly for bicyclists, including on the stretch of highway between Honu`apo and the Ka`u Police Station. It asks DOT to address community concerns about preservation of trees and stone walls along the highway when implementing the Statewide Pedestrian Master Plan in Na`alehu.
Ka`u residents have four opportunities this month to view displays about parts of the CDP they are interested in, discuss CDP strategies with people familiar with the plan and provide feedback. Two this Saturday, April 11 are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
On Sunday, April 19, residents can attend speak-outs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Center.
Residents can also submit feedback online or in writing by email, fax or mail.
Copies of the draft Ka`u CDP are available at local libraries and community centers and at kaucdp.info.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Construction at the Thirty Meter Telescope site is on hold. Image from tmt.org |
GOV. DAVID IGE HAS CALLED A TIMEOUT on construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Honolulu Star-Advertiser staff reported that University of Hawai`i and Office of Hawaiian Affairs officials today agreed to stop work at the summit of Mauna Kea for about a week. “We agreed there would be value to have some further dialogue on Mauna Kea,” Ige said. “I do know it’s a significant project, and this will give us some time to engage in further conversations with the various stakeholders that have an interest in Mauna Kea.”
Protesters who consider the site sacred have been converging at the site since late last month, at times blocking vehicles that were trying to reach the summit to begin work on the telescope. Last Thursday, county and state officials arrested 31 of them. See staradvertiser.com.
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| Matt Patrick Photo from USGS/HVO |
THIS EVENING’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK program presents an update on Kilauea’s summit eruption. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick’s update includes an overview of volcanic processes occurring within the vent.
The free program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply. $2 donations support future programs.
TICKETS FOR SPICE UP YOUR SPRING, Ho`omalu Ka`u’s dinner dance Sunday, April 12 at Discovery Harbour Community Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., are available from Lehua Lopez at Na`alehu Farmers Market tomorrow. The organization is raising funds to build a Ka`u Heritage Center on property in Manuka.
Menu items include Asian, Mexican and American foods. Full Tilt provides dance music, and lucky numbers are drawn for door prizes. Tickets, $20 each, are also available by calling 929-8526.
KA`OHU MONFORT SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE and love of native plants used by Hawaiians to nourish and heal tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants see and touch a variety of medicinal plants.
TICKETS FOR SPICE UP YOUR SPRING, Ho`omalu Ka`u’s dinner dance Sunday, April 12 at Discovery Harbour Community Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., are available from Lehua Lopez at Na`alehu Farmers Market tomorrow. The organization is raising funds to build a Ka`u Heritage Center on property in Manuka.
Menu items include Asian, Mexican and American foods. Full Tilt provides dance music, and lucky numbers are drawn for door prizes. Tickets, $20 each, are also available by calling 929-8526.
KA`OHU MONFORT SHARES HER KNOWLEDGE and love of native plants used by Hawaiians to nourish and heal tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants see and touch a variety of medicinal plants.
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| Bamboo stamping demonstrations take place Thursday. Photo from NPS |
`OHE KAPALA DEMONSTRATIONS take place Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Staff from Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association share the traditional art of bamboo stamping. Free; park entrance fees apply.
KA`U SCENIC BYWAY COMMITTEE meets Thursday at 5 p.m.at Na`alehu Methodist Church. Agenda items include an update on the Na`alehu Park kiosk, communications from the state Scenic Byway Committee, location of proposed lava flow signs and concrete at overlook signs.
For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.
BOOTH SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE for Kauaha`ao Congregational Church’s fundraising bazaar on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The charge for a vendor booth is $10 for a 10’ x 10’ space. Vendors need to bring their own tables, chairs, tents and generators if power is needed. Vendors can sell anything except hot food/plate lunches.
For more information and to reserve a space, individuals and school and sports groups can call Walter Wong Yuen in the evening at 928-8039.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
BOOTH SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE for Kauaha`ao Congregational Church’s fundraising bazaar on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The charge for a vendor booth is $10 for a 10’ x 10’ space. Vendors need to bring their own tables, chairs, tents and generators if power is needed. Vendors can sell anything except hot food/plate lunches.
For more information and to reserve a space, individuals and school and sports groups can call Walter Wong Yuen in the evening at 928-8039.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_April2015.pdf. |
