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| Residents, visitors and tourists joined KRHCAI's fifth annual Floating Lantern Ceremony at Punalu`u on Saturday. Photo from KRHCAI |
The celebration opened with blessing by Pastor Bob Tominaga of Thy Word Ministries Ka`u, followed by Hui Okinawa Kubodo Taiko drummers, Qigong, Makua Lani Ho`onui Hula Ministry dancers, Uluwehi Makuakane’s Hulawrek Exercise group, a Memory Photo powerpoint presentation by Insight Hawai`i, music by Southside Serenaders, community potluck, lantern making and a sunset launching by family and friends.
Donna Kekoa, President of KRHCAI, thanked everyone for attending and making the event a success. The next Floating Lantern Celebration will be on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.
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| George Szigeti |
FOR EIGHT CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, visitor arrivals to the state have exceeded the previous monthly record, reaching 7.2 million visitors from January through October, an increase of 4.2 percent over the same period last year, reported George D. Szigeti, President and CEO of Hawai`i Tourism Authority.
Hawai`i Island saw an increase of 8.1 percent in visitor spending of $156.4 million, compared to a dropped on O`ahu of 9.3 percent to $554.9 million.
Year-to-date, visitor spending on Hawai`i Island is up 0.9 percent to $1.6 billion.
“As we look ahead, we are monitoring issues that could impact our industry, including the U.S. State Department's worldwide travel alert and global economic conditions,” Szigeti said. “We are also working with our international marketing partners to monitor issues in their respective regions.”
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A RECENT POLL FOUND HAWAI`I residents are two-to-one in opposition to the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric and NextEra, according to Robert Harris, of The Alliance for Solar Choice. A majority, 51 percent, opposed the takeover, and 22 percent expressed support. Support for NextEra has not changed since an identical question was asked in May, despite millions of dollars spent on advertisements and community outreach by NextEra.
Year-to-date, visitor spending on Hawai`i Island is up 0.9 percent to $1.6 billion.
“As we look ahead, we are monitoring issues that could impact our industry, including the U.S. State Department's worldwide travel alert and global economic conditions,” Szigeti said. “We are also working with our international marketing partners to monitor issues in their respective regions.”
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A RECENT POLL FOUND HAWAI`I residents are two-to-one in opposition to the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric and NextEra, according to Robert Harris, of The Alliance for Solar Choice. A majority, 51 percent, opposed the takeover, and 22 percent expressed support. Support for NextEra has not changed since an identical question was asked in May, despite millions of dollars spent on advertisements and community outreach by NextEra.
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| Robert Harris |
When asked about the importance of local control and support for rooftop solar installations, opposition to the merger grew. Sixty-four percent of Hawai`i residents would oppose the merger if the new company was not locally controlled, and 84 percent would oppose the merger if the new company discouraged installation of rooftop solar systems.
“An overwhelming majority of Hawai`i residents believe the takeover of Hawaiian Electric is not in their interests,” said Robert Harris, Director of Public Policy for Sunrun. “Hawai`i wants a locally controlled utility that is responsive to customer needs and encourages the installation of rooftop solar systems.”
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“An overwhelming majority of Hawai`i residents believe the takeover of Hawaiian Electric is not in their interests,” said Robert Harris, Director of Public Policy for Sunrun. “Hawai`i wants a locally controlled utility that is responsive to customer needs and encourages the installation of rooftop solar systems.”
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BETWEEN JANUARY 2008 AND SEPTEMBER 2015, a total of 139,998 homes were sold in Hawai`i, representing an average of 18,064 homes sold per year, or 1,505 per month, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s first report on Hawai`i home buyers. The report is based on data compiled by Title Guaranty, which is based on records from Hawai`i Bureau of Conveyances. The data includes both resales of existing homes and new developments, and both single-family homes and condominium homes, sales through real estate agent as well as sales by owners.
Of homes sold statewide, 72.5 percent were sold to Hawai`i residents, 23.5 percent sold to U.S. mainlanders, and four percent sold to foreigners.
About 47 percent of the neighbor island homes were sold to out-of-state residents, while only 15 percent of O`ahu homes were sold to out-of-state residents.
The department’s Research and Economic Analysis Division created the report. The full report is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/reports_studies/residential-home-sales-in-hawaii-trends-and-characteristics/.
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IN ADVANCE OF SATURDAY’S KA`U COAST Cleanup, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund joins World Ocean Collective in presenting the 2015 Hilo Symposium on Marine Debris & Tsunami Driftage. A free public event takes place at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Mokupapapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Participants learn more about local marine debris, the status of Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris and what they can do to prevent marine debris. The evening includes a keynote speech by Dr. Walter Dudley and various presentations by cleanup coordinators from around Hawai`i and afar. Light pupus and beverages will be available while supplies last (BYO-Bottle). See wildhawaii.org for more information.
For more information, call Megan Lamson at 217-5777, or email meg.HWF@gmail.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Of homes sold statewide, 72.5 percent were sold to Hawai`i residents, 23.5 percent sold to U.S. mainlanders, and four percent sold to foreigners.
About 47 percent of the neighbor island homes were sold to out-of-state residents, while only 15 percent of O`ahu homes were sold to out-of-state residents.
The department’s Research and Economic Analysis Division created the report. The full report is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/reports_studies/residential-home-sales-in-hawaii-trends-and-characteristics/.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Removal of an insecticide from the market may help bee populations recover. |
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY has ordered all pesticide products containing the active ingredient sulfoxaflor to be prohibited from sale. Sulfoxaflor is a systemic insecticide that acts as an insect neurotoxin and is a member a class of chemicals called sulfoximines, which act on the central nervous system of insects. According to wikipedia, application was only recommended when pollinators are not likely to be present in an area as sulfoxaflor is highly toxic to bees if they come into contact with spray droplets shortly after application; toxicity is reduced after the spray has dried.
On May 6, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency approved the first two commercial pesticide products that contain sulfoxaflor, marketed under brand names Transform and Closer, to Dow Chemical Corporation.
In September, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling overturning the EPA’s approval of sulfoxaflor, citing insufficient evidence from studies regarding bee health to justify how sulfoxaflor was approved. Beekeepers and environmental groups hailed the decision, say that it makes clear that the EPA must assess the health of entire hives, not just individual bees.
Some of these pesticides are sold and used in Hawai`i. Pesticides licenses for sulfoxaflor-containing products have been cancelled in the state of Hawai`i include Closer SC, Sequoia, Transform WG, Xxpire WG and Seeker.
Dealers, distributors and retailers with existing stocks of these products may not legally sell or give away product. Sulfoxaflor products may only be distributed to facilitate return to the manufacturer or for proper disposal or lawful export.
Growers with sulfoxaflor-containing product may continue to use products according label directions until stocks are exhausted.
The full EPA order may be viewed at http://www2.epa.gov/pe…/sulfoxaflor-final-cancellation-order.
For more information, contact Hawai`i Department of Agriculture Pesticides Branch Registration & Technical Review Unit at 808-973-9415 or hdoapestreg@hawaii.gov.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
In September, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling overturning the EPA’s approval of sulfoxaflor, citing insufficient evidence from studies regarding bee health to justify how sulfoxaflor was approved. Beekeepers and environmental groups hailed the decision, say that it makes clear that the EPA must assess the health of entire hives, not just individual bees.
Some of these pesticides are sold and used in Hawai`i. Pesticides licenses for sulfoxaflor-containing products have been cancelled in the state of Hawai`i include Closer SC, Sequoia, Transform WG, Xxpire WG and Seeker.
Dealers, distributors and retailers with existing stocks of these products may not legally sell or give away product. Sulfoxaflor products may only be distributed to facilitate return to the manufacturer or for proper disposal or lawful export.
Growers with sulfoxaflor-containing product may continue to use products according label directions until stocks are exhausted.
The full EPA order may be viewed at http://www2.epa.gov/pe…/sulfoxaflor-final-cancellation-order.
For more information, contact Hawai`i Department of Agriculture Pesticides Branch Registration & Technical Review Unit at 808-973-9415 or hdoapestreg@hawaii.gov.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Kolby Santiago, of UH-Hilo Financial Aid Office, offers information today at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. |
A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP and financial aid fair takes place today at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The event’s mission is to help Ka`u families and students learn more about available financial aid and college scholarships. Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u, `O Ka`u Kakou, The Harry McKee Foundation, Kamehameha Schools and more will be present with their applications and information needed to apply with them.
At 5:30 p.m., Kolby Santiago, of the University of Hawai`i at Hilo Financial Aid office and representative of the Pacific Financial Aid Association, presents information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. A light dinner, refreshments and snacks will be provided.
“This special night is for all students of all grade levels, their parents, families and guardians,” said Leina`ala Enos, of Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center and one of the event coordinators. She urged students and families to take advantage of the information that will be presented at the fair.
For more information, call Laura Walker at 313-4121.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings this week. The full council meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. and holds a special meeting about dengue fever at 1 p.m. Both meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo.
Videoconferencing is available at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
“This special night is for all students of all grade levels, their parents, families and guardians,” said Leina`ala Enos, of Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center and one of the event coordinators. She urged students and families to take advantage of the information that will be presented at the fair.
For more information, call Laura Walker at 313-4121.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in Hawai`i County Council meetings this week. The full council meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. and holds a special meeting about dengue fever at 1 p.m. Both meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo.
Videoconferencing is available at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live, and agendas are available, at hawaiicounty.gov.
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| Fred Koehnen discusses his memoir Thursday. |
LOCAL AUTHOR FRED KOEHNEN discusses his new memoir, Been There Done That Back to Hilo: A Nine Decade Odyssey, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Koehnen will be available to sign $20 books after the program.
Call 967-8222 for more information.
IN ADVANCE OF SATURDAY’S KA`U COAST Cleanup, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund joins World Ocean Collective in presenting the 2015 Hilo Symposium on Marine Debris & Tsunami Driftage. A free public event takes place at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Mokupapapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Participants learn more about local marine debris, the status of Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris and what they can do to prevent marine debris. The evening includes a keynote speech by Dr. Walter Dudley and various presentations by cleanup coordinators from around Hawai`i and afar. Light pupus and beverages will be available while supplies last (BYO-Bottle). See wildhawaii.org for more information.
For more information, call Megan Lamson at 217-5777, or email meg.HWF@gmail.com.
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/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
