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| Ka`u residents can sign up this week for Hawai`i Wildlife Fund's first 2016 Ka`u Coast Cleanup set for Sunday, Feb. 7. Photo from HWF |
KA`U’S `IMAKAKALOA HEIAU, dedicated to hula, is under the guardianship of The Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation. The foundation, which describes `Imakakaloa as the only known hula heiau on this island, will host an informational meeting on Saturday, March 19 at 12 p.m. at Pahala Community Center to discuss ways the community can get involved.
According to Olson Trust land manager John Cross, John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, asked about the location of the heiau years ago after Olson purchased the property and as ranchers planned to use more land around it for cattle. The presence of the heiau was familiar to Cross through the archaeological survey Heiau of the Island of Hawai`i by John F.G. Stokes, published by Bishop Museum in 1991 and now out of print.
He said he agrees with DOH’s proposal to convert cesspools in critical zones near shorelines, as long as the department defines those zones in a scientifically supportable way.
According to Olson Trust land manager John Cross, John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, asked about the location of the heiau years ago after Olson purchased the property and as ranchers planned to use more land around it for cattle. The presence of the heiau was familiar to Cross through the archaeological survey Heiau of the Island of Hawai`i by John F.G. Stokes, published by Bishop Museum in 1991 and now out of print.
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| `Imakakaloa Heiau Image from John Stokes |
In his book, Stokes described the heiau as “a series of enclosures with walls sometimes broadened into platforms. The ground declines to the southeast, but the earth floors of the enclosure have been approximately leveled as though by cutting and filling. The large enclosure on the southeast is said to have been for the chiefs and kahuna, the stone pavement shown being the kuahu. Outside and adjoining the wall of this enclosure on the west is a platform one foot high. To the north of the latter is another platform 4.5 feet high, an extension of the walls. This last is said to have been the hale o Papa. The second largest enclosure is said to have been for the hale hula. There was no information regarding the smallest enclosure.”
Pele Hanoa, long involved in historic, cultural and land preservation efforts in Ka`u, also informed Olson Trust about the general location of the heiau, and several crews tried unsuccessfully to find it. It was cattleman Al Galimba who bumped into a heiau rock wall as he was clearing land for pastures and paddocks. He contacted Cross, and they identified the heiau, buried deep in a tangle of Christmasberry, cat’s claw and a large monkeypod tree makai of Ka`alaiki Road between Pahala and Na`alehu. Galimba withdrew cattle from the area and helped clear brush away from the heiau, followed by an Olson Trust team using small equipment to clear and protect it, fencing off about 1.5 acres around the site.
Olson Trust established an agreement with the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation to steward the heiau.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
A BILL RESTRICTING SOLAR ENERGY facilities in residential housing areas of agricultural districts will be heard Thursday. Hawai`i House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection meets at 8 a.m.
Pele Hanoa, long involved in historic, cultural and land preservation efforts in Ka`u, also informed Olson Trust about the general location of the heiau, and several crews tried unsuccessfully to find it. It was cattleman Al Galimba who bumped into a heiau rock wall as he was clearing land for pastures and paddocks. He contacted Cross, and they identified the heiau, buried deep in a tangle of Christmasberry, cat’s claw and a large monkeypod tree makai of Ka`alaiki Road between Pahala and Na`alehu. Galimba withdrew cattle from the area and helped clear brush away from the heiau, followed by an Olson Trust team using small equipment to clear and protect it, fencing off about 1.5 acres around the site.
Olson Trust established an agreement with the Edith Kanaka`ole Foundation to steward the heiau.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| One of 26 lots proposed for a commercial solar project. Photo by Sandra Sheldon |
Rep. Richard Creagan introduced the bill, and it passed first reading last Wednesday. It would limit solar production to 25 kilowatts per facility. Creagan’s bill is in response to a proposal to build commercial solar facilities containing 30,000 panels on 26 lots in the Ocean View Ranchos neighborhood.
Testimony must be received by tomorrow at 8 a.m. to be included in the hearing. Testify on HB2636 at capitol.hawaii.gov.
Testimony must be received by tomorrow at 8 a.m. to be included in the hearing. Testify on HB2636 at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR KA`U’S STATE Rep. Richard Creagan include allowing cesspools in appropriate areas and capital improvement projects at schools. Creagan said he considers proposed Health Department rule changes that would ban cesspools to be “eco-zealotry, or EZ. They are proposing EZ solutions to complex problems,” he said. “It is clear to me that they do not understand the science of how and why cesspools have for the most part been a very successful and cost-effective waste management tool for a very rural environment on the Big Island and on Maui, where there is no opportunity for sewers, and there is a compelling need for low-cost housing solutions.”
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| Rep. Richard Creagan will ask Gov. Ige not to sign proposed cesspool rules. |
Creagan also questions DOH’s claim that the federal Environmental Protection Agency mandated conversions. “The EPA does not have jurisdiction over individual waste management systems, so the claim that the EPA was mandating these conversions was a lie,” he said. “According to Rep. Angus McKelvey, they admitted to him that this statement was not true, and they have not repeated it to me.”
Creagan said he will ask Gov. David Ige not to sign the rules and to spend at least a year or two evaluating appropriate waste management strategies for the Hawai`i Island and Maui. “With our current homeless crisis, the need for affordable housing is paramount, and with a septic system costing 10 times what a cesspool would, we need to evaluate the cost-benefit and risk-benefit balance in areas away from the coast and at higher elevations,” he said.
Creagan’s capitol improvement requests include facility needs at schools. He supports funding at Na`alehu School for pathway covers, considering the project to be a health and safety issue.
Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting is also streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND HOLDS its first Ka`u Coast Cleanup of 2016 this Sunday at Kalaemano. Volunteers meet at Wai`ohinu Park at 7:45 a.m. Register at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Creagan said he will ask Gov. David Ige not to sign the rules and to spend at least a year or two evaluating appropriate waste management strategies for the Hawai`i Island and Maui. “With our current homeless crisis, the need for affordable housing is paramount, and with a septic system costing 10 times what a cesspool would, we need to evaluate the cost-benefit and risk-benefit balance in areas away from the coast and at higher elevations,” he said.
Creagan’s capitol improvement requests include facility needs at schools. He supports funding at Na`alehu School for pathway covers, considering the project to be a health and safety issue.
“There are a number of other schools that have projects that I will list for support,” he said.
A feasibility study for the proposed West Hawai`i University Hospital is also on Creagan’s agenda. The facility would be a teaching hospital with training for primary care including pediatricians, internists, family practice and psychiatry. The study would flesh out the concept and define some parameters in terms of location, cost, mission and funding.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U BUSINESSES CAN SIGN UP FOR Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s new Hawai`i State Trade and Export Promotion – Export Readiness Program, which will provide training programs to prepare Hawai`i companies to begin or expand their export market development. The program is a component of DBEDT’s HiSTEP program funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
KA`U BUSINESSES CAN SIGN UP FOR Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s new Hawai`i State Trade and Export Promotion – Export Readiness Program, which will provide training programs to prepare Hawai`i companies to begin or expand their export market development. The program is a component of DBEDT’s HiSTEP program funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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| DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria |
Export University is an introductory program open to all types of businesses considering exporting. Participants receive 16 hours of instruction over the course of several days. At the conclusion of the program, companies will have a go-to-market strategy and export plan. A program fee of $99 is due by the first session.
ExporTech is designed for companies that have some experience with exporting, but not as part of a proactive export market development plan. ExporTech is organized by the Federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership and focuses mostly, but not exclusively, on businesses involved in manufacturing. Participants meet for one day each month over a three-month period with assignments in between the one-day sessions. Program fee is payable by the first session is $295.
“The department continues to grow the foundation for exporting in Hawai`i,” DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria said. “These new programs enable Hawai`i companies to seek new markets to increase manufacturing and sales, which will result in the creation of more jobs.”
Success metrics for the HiSTEP program include, but are not limited to expanded exports and revenue from exports of Hawai`i produced goods and services, a larger overall number and a larger percentage of Hawai`i-based companies that are active in global markets, and penetration of new markets for Hawai`i-produced goods and services.
Application deadline is Monday, Feb.15. Interested parties may apply online at invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/histep/.
Success metrics for the HiSTEP program include, but are not limited to expanded exports and revenue from exports of Hawai`i produced goods and services, a larger overall number and a larger percentage of Hawai`i-based companies that are active in global markets, and penetration of new markets for Hawai`i-produced goods and services.
Application deadline is Monday, Feb.15. Interested parties may apply online at invest.hawaii.gov/exporting/histep/.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will monitor and control fountain grass in the area of the Great Crack. Photo from NASA |
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK announced the following flight plans for this month:
- Feb, 4, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., for faya tree surveys between 4,000- and 6,500-ft. elevation;
- Feb. 8 and 9 for fountain grass monitoring and control from Ka`aha to the Great Crack, between sea level and 3,000-ft. elevation;
- Feb. 9, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., to haul out fencing material and equipment from Kahuku-Kapāpala boundary between 7,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation;
- Feb. 16 and 17, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., for mullein surveys on Mauna Loa between 6,000- and 8,500-ft. elevation;
- Feb. 17, between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., short haul recertification flight training at Escape Road near the Mauna Ulu parking lot; and
- February 18, 19 and 29, between 7 a.m. and noon, to shuttle crew, camp supplies, fencing material and equipment to Mauna Loa at about 9,000-ft. elevation.
Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE meets today at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.
HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS tomorrow at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting is also streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND HOLDS its first Ka`u Coast Cleanup of 2016 this Sunday at Kalaemano. Volunteers meet at Wai`ohinu Park at 7:45 a.m. Register at kahakai.cleanups@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_February2016.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf. |
