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| Kupuna and Keiki: `O Ka`u Kakou founding member Jeanette Howard offers a teddy bear to a grateful recipient during Hana Hou Restaurant's Keiki Christmas Party last Wednesday. Photos by Lee McIntosh |
COFFEE STUMPS SHOULD DRAIN to cut down on water pooling where mosquitoes breed. On the public Hawai`i Dengue Fever Awareness Facebook page, Joachim Oster writes that “many older trees have developed holes where rain water accumulates. Like the one in this photo (from South Kona), even weeds find enough moisture to grow. There is no easy way to drain these trees of their water without damaging them permanently. But with the upcoming pruning sessions, farmers could cut/drill the wood carefully so these pockets can empty. Large enough to not get clogged with the next leaf dropping; small enough to not injure the tree too much.”
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| Pockets in coffee trees can hold water and become mosquito breeding grounds. Photo from Hawai`i Dengue Fever Awareness Facebook Page |
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I OLA NA `AINA MOMONA held an open house for the Ka`u community last night to present the organization’s missions and goals. President Malian Lahey listed food sustainability for Ka`u, land security for agriculture and free education for farmers. Presidents of Ka`u’s two coffee cooperatives attended. There was discussion on strategies for attempting to purchase Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffee lands through private, state legislative and county land preservation funds, as well as possibly with help from “compassionate investors.” An Iowa farmer, Grant Schultz, of Versa Land, shared that he faces a similar situation as a tenant farmer. He said that if purchased by the state, Ka`u coffee lands could be put into an ag easement to keep the land out of the real estate speculation cycle.
John Ah San, president of Palehua Cooperative for Ka`u Coffee farmers, said that Ka`u Coffee farmers are under a lot of stress with the purchase of their farms by a new company and that community support is needed to take some of the stress off their shoulders.
Rick Warshauer, a member of the state Legacy Land Commission, noted that an agricultural easement would preclude development on the property and help insure land security for the farmers.
Board members for I Ola Na `Aina Momona are Gail Kalani, Donna Masaniai, Michael Klungness and Malian Lahey. For more information, call Lahey at 808-280-2851.
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Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
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| Bicycles stand ready for keiki to them drive off the lot at Hana Hou. |
KA`U COFFEE FARMER LEASES: The Colorado company, Resource Land Holdings, LLC, buying Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffee lands above Pahala, represented by Brenda Iokepa Moses, meets with coffee farmers tonight to discuss its new lease proposal for the farmers. The coffee farmers earlier this month sent a letter to state Rep. Richard Onishi asking for help in raising money through the Legislature to purchase the coffee lands, should RHL be a willing seller, in order to establish an ag park where farmers would have long-term leases.
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GOV. DAVID IGE APPROVES of Hawaiian Electric Co.’s changes to its rooftop solar programs but still disapproves of its proposed merger with NextEra Energy.
Ige told Kathryn Mykleseth, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that he agreed with the decision to limit rooftop solar because too many systems can endanger the grid. “If rooftop solar is saturated and we don’t solve the storage challenge, then we will really start to get to instability in the grid,” Ige said.
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| Mr. and Mrs. Claus await keiki to join them for photos. |
HECO also replaced its net energy metering program with two programs that lower caps on amounts returned to customers who export excess power to the grid. Ige told Mykleseth that caps could change when energy storage becomes cheaper. “The key to 100 percent renewable is storage,” he emphasized.
Regarding the proposed merger of HECO with Florida-based NextEra, Ige told Mykleseth, “What we would like is a partner that is truly committed, not only to the goal of 100 percent. You have to realize and recognize that a utility that is 100 percent renewable is unlike any utility in the country. You want management and leadership that truly embraces that challenge.”
Regarding the proposed merger of HECO with Florida-based NextEra, Ige told Mykleseth, “What we would like is a partner that is truly committed, not only to the goal of 100 percent. You have to realize and recognize that a utility that is 100 percent renewable is unlike any utility in the country. You want management and leadership that truly embraces that challenge.”
“At least the leadership in HECO is here,” Ige said.
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THE 2015 UNITED NATIONS Climate Change Conference closed yesterday. Sen. Brian Schatz was one of 10 U.S. Democratic senators who participated in negotiations over the international climate change accord that took place in Paris.
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| Like Hana Hou's says: "... m m m m ... GOOD!" Everyone enjoyed a free meal. |
“It’s already a success,” Schatz said regarding the conference. “If you had told any knowledgeable observer that they were going to get 185 countries representing 97 percent of countries, 98 percent of emissions and 150 heads of state in the same place at the same time, if you had said that two years ago that would have sounded wildly optimistic. We are really making progress.”
According to Schatz, the agreement does not require Senate approval. “There have been more than 18,000 such agreements that our presidents in the past have entered into over time not requiring Senate approval,” he said.
According to Schatz, the agreement does not require Senate approval. “There have been more than 18,000 such agreements that our presidents in the past have entered into over time not requiring Senate approval,” he said.
Schatz also pointed out that the agreement is “not enough. If we want to hit the two-degree Celsius target, this only gets us about 40 percent there,” he said. “It is way more than expected and way more than ever before.”
Schatz anticipated being able to ratchet up the agreement every three to five years on an international basis. “Once you unleash the power of clean energy on the private sector, there’s no turning back,” he said.
Schatz anticipated being able to ratchet up the agreement every three to five years on an international basis. “Once you unleash the power of clean energy on the private sector, there’s no turning back,” he said.
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| Somebody can't wait to get on a new scooter. |
Schatz is confident about accountability and transparency mechanisms in the agreement. Negotiators developed a matrix to help countries keep their data accurate.
Schatz said international climate action is popular in the United States, noting that two-thirds of Americans, a bare majority of Republicans, a decisive majority of young Republicans and decisive majorities of Democrats and independents support it.
“There is no turning back, either legislatively, politically or in terms of the momentum that we have in the private sector,” Schatz said.
See https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IVccTygzvaI.
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Schatz said international climate action is popular in the United States, noting that two-thirds of Americans, a bare majority of Republicans, a decisive majority of young Republicans and decisive majorities of Democrats and independents support it.
“There is no turning back, either legislatively, politically or in terms of the momentum that we have in the private sector,” Schatz said.
See https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IVccTygzvaI.
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IN LIGHT OF RECENT TRAGEDIES on the mainland, Hawai`i Island police are reminding the public that individuals may call the Kuleana Hotline to report warning signs that could lead to possible harm against the community.
The Kuleana Hotline is not a substitute for 9-1-1 calls. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.
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| Uncle Ernie Kalani added to the festive atmosphere at Hana Hou. |
The Kuleana Hotline is designed to prevent tragic events in public places, including schools, restaurants and other locations where members of our community gather. Unlike Crime Stoppers, to which citizens may report information about a specific crime, the Kuleana Hotline is an avenue for reporting something that may not be criminal yet but has the potential to turn disastrous if not prevented.
According to Hawai`i Island police, warning signs have preceded many tragedies committed by individuals or organized groups. “We as a community are responsible for notifying the police if we see or hear anything that has the potential to turn into a malicious act,” police stated. “For example, if you read a post on a social networking site about a person interested in purchasing a firearm and the person signals intent to cause harm with that weapon, call the Kuleana Hotline.
“If you witness suspicious activity around public buildings, utility companies or bridges, call the Kuleana Hotline.
“If you see something or someone’s behavior that may seem innocuous but gives you a ‘funny feeling’ in your stomach that something is ‘just not right,’ call the Kuleana Hotline.
According to Hawai`i Island police, warning signs have preceded many tragedies committed by individuals or organized groups. “We as a community are responsible for notifying the police if we see or hear anything that has the potential to turn into a malicious act,” police stated. “For example, if you read a post on a social networking site about a person interested in purchasing a firearm and the person signals intent to cause harm with that weapon, call the Kuleana Hotline.
“If you witness suspicious activity around public buildings, utility companies or bridges, call the Kuleana Hotline.
“If you see something or someone’s behavior that may seem innocuous but gives you a ‘funny feeling’ in your stomach that something is ‘just not right,’ call the Kuleana Hotline.
“Your tip could help authorities intervene before those warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.”
The Kuleana Hotline is not manned around the clock but allows for callers to provide information by leaving voicemail messages. Callers who prefer not to leave callback information are asked to provide enough details to allow police to follow up on the lead. Calls are not recorded, and the line has no caller ID.
The number for the Kuleana Hotline is 961-2219.
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KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park presents People and Lands of Kahuku tomorrow. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history.
The Kuleana Hotline is not manned around the clock but allows for callers to provide information by leaving voicemail messages. Callers who prefer not to leave callback information are asked to provide enough details to allow police to follow up on the lead. Calls are not recorded, and the line has no caller ID.
The number for the Kuleana Hotline is 961-2219.
Read comments, add your own, and like The Ka`u Calendar News Briefs on Facebook.
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park presents People and Lands of Kahuku tomorrow. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history.
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| Frosty the Snowman is expected to join Pahala Christmas Parade again tomorrow. Photo by Julia Neal |
PAHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE is tomorrow at 1 p.m. with floats, walking groups, tractors and classic cars, choirs, public officials, schools and more. Participants wind their way through the village from the armory to the hospital and to Holy Rosary Church for refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
For more information, call 928-0808.
For more information, call 928-0808.
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park explore Kipukapuaulu and have picnic lunch with Executive Director Elizabeth Fien tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 1.2-mile loop trail reveals a story of struggle and survival for some of Hawai`i’s rarest plants. Free for Friends members; non-members can join in order to attend.
Register at 985-7373 or fhvnp.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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_December2015.pdf. |
