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| Hawai`i Wildlife Fund regularly hosts Ka`u Coast Cleanups such as the one at Kamilo Point last Saturday. See more below. Photos from Megan Lamson/HWF |
Whiting, a Na`alehu teacher and President of the Democratic Party in Ocean View, is running against incumbent Maile David in the Aug. 13 primary election.
The well is the only source of water in the town of 7,000 residents, who, when the well is closed for repairs, must travel to either Na`alehu or Ho`okena for water. Last night, many residents complained that for those who walk to the well with water jugs, this is not an option.
Suggested solutions included hiring trucks to bring water from Na`alehu to the storage tank, banning water trucks from getting water from the well until repairs are complete, shortening the time for repairs, and not closing the well until all needed machinery is available and repairs are ready to begin.
Whiting said she had called and emailed Daryl Ikeda, Chief of Operations for the county Department of Water Supply, in order to get more information, but her calls were not returned. She wanted to find out about the repairs and determine what plans the department has for keeping residents supplied with water for household uses.
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| Hawai`i County Council candidate Raina Whiting held a talk story at Ocean View Community Center yesterday. Photo by Peter Bosted |
Unless the department comes up with an alternate solution, Ocean View’s spigots will be closed from Sunday, July 24 until approximately Sept. 30, a minimum of ten weeks. Residents at the meeting all agreed that the county needs to do whatever it takes to keep water in the storage tank that feeds the spigots, supplying essential household water.
Ocean View’s looming water crisis was one of many concerns facing the town that Whiting and residents discussed. Issues included the controversial solar farm project that threatens to industrialize the rural town and the long-awaited Community Development Plan that, according to residents at the meeting, has been languishing on the Planning Director’s desk instead of being approved by the County Council.
Ocean View resident Karen Pucci raised the issue of inadequate and ineffective policing and lack of facilities for criminals that are apprehended. “We need a holding cell with about four to six beds,” she said.
James Weisend, a former law enforcement professional in Alaska, told the meeting that the police set-up in Ocean View was abysmal, and other residents complained that “the police pick on victims.”
“There is talk of vigilantism,” another resident said. “We need real officers who won’t make us wait an hour for a response.”
Whiting agreed that the community needs to be active in holding the authorities accountable for the poor standards of police services.
“I am a grass roots organizer at heart,” she said. “If this is not working, we need to speak out. We need to be the ‘squeaky wheel.’ We need plans for our future growth, as well as the services we need already.”
State Rep. Dr. Richard Creagan, said that “a good, solid showing at the polls” is needed.
“You all have a vote,” he said. You need to vote. Communities who do not vote are ignored. State politicians care enormously where the votes are coming from and cater to communities that can, and do, deliver the votes. It’s not enough to have 7,000 residents if only a few hundred vote. You all need to register and vote and encourage your friends to register and vote on Aug. 13,” urged Creagan.
Ocean View’s looming water crisis was one of many concerns facing the town that Whiting and residents discussed. Issues included the controversial solar farm project that threatens to industrialize the rural town and the long-awaited Community Development Plan that, according to residents at the meeting, has been languishing on the Planning Director’s desk instead of being approved by the County Council.
Ocean View resident Karen Pucci raised the issue of inadequate and ineffective policing and lack of facilities for criminals that are apprehended. “We need a holding cell with about four to six beds,” she said.
James Weisend, a former law enforcement professional in Alaska, told the meeting that the police set-up in Ocean View was abysmal, and other residents complained that “the police pick on victims.”
“There is talk of vigilantism,” another resident said. “We need real officers who won’t make us wait an hour for a response.”
Whiting agreed that the community needs to be active in holding the authorities accountable for the poor standards of police services.
“I am a grass roots organizer at heart,” she said. “If this is not working, we need to speak out. We need to be the ‘squeaky wheel.’ We need plans for our future growth, as well as the services we need already.”
State Rep. Dr. Richard Creagan, said that “a good, solid showing at the polls” is needed.
“You all have a vote,” he said. You need to vote. Communities who do not vote are ignored. State politicians care enormously where the votes are coming from and cater to communities that can, and do, deliver the votes. It’s not enough to have 7,000 residents if only a few hundred vote. You all need to register and vote and encourage your friends to register and vote on Aug. 13,” urged Creagan.
Thursday is the last day to register to vote in the August election. Wikiwiki applications are available at Na`alehu Police Station and Pahala Library and online at elections.hawaii.gov. For more information, call 961-8277.
Whiting announced that sign wavings would take place tomorrow in South Kona and outside Na`alehu Post Office from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday in Ocean View on Hwy 11 above Malama Market from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Also on Friday, Whiting and current Council member Maile David will hold a forum at Ocean View Community Center beginning at 6 p.m.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
Whiting announced that sign wavings would take place tomorrow in South Kona and outside Na`alehu Post Office from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday in Ocean View on Hwy 11 above Malama Market from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Also on Friday, Whiting and current Council member Maile David will hold a forum at Ocean View Community Center beginning at 6 p.m.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Piles of trash are ready to be hauled away from Kamilo. |
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND and 41 community volunteers helped remove nearly 1,485 pounds of marine debris from the shoreline at Kamilo Point last Saturday. The litter included more than 200 pounds of derelict fishing nets, 150 pounds of large loose debris, 45 pounds of Method recyclables, 80 pounds of microplastics, 890 pounds of miscellaneous debris and dozens of toys, bottle caps, five cigarette lighters, six plastic crates, two large plastic pallets and a plastic teddy bear coin bank.
“Mahalo to Norwex, Kona Surf Film Festival, and Hoffman Leung for the financial support to host this cleanup,” said coordinator Megan Lamson. “And a special thanks goes to Hawai`i Kombucha for the delicious hibiscus kombucha tea keg to keep our volunteers happily hydrated. Our heartfelt gratitude also goes out to all the individuals and groups that joined us, including Nurdle in the Rough Jewelry, Hawai`i Outdoors Institute, Pulama Lanai, Surfrider Foundation Big Island Hawai`i Chapter - Kona Kai Ea, local artists Kathleen Crabill, Don Elwing and Laurel Schultz, and many other amazing individuals and family members!”
HWF’s next Ka`u Coast Cleanup takes place on Saturday, Sept. 24. Email kahakai.cleanup@gmail.com for more information and to register.To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Agatha, Blas, Celia and Darby are named storms in the Pacific so far the year. Another is forming behind Darby. Map from University of Hawai`i |
STORMS ARE LINING UP IN THE PACIFIC. Tropical Storm Blas is sending squalls and swells toward Hawai`i Island. The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Celia is moving northwest and weakening as it hits cooler waters. Celia’s impacts could affect the state early next week. Further east is Tropical Storm Darby, which continues to strengthen but is also expected to weaken when it reaches cooler waters.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
MAULI OLA FESTIVAL IS SET for Sept. 21-24 at Wood Valley Farm. According to founder Malian Lahey, the festival will bring together a global tribe to celebrate, learn and generate new conversations about coffee, human rights and earth-friendly practices.
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| Malian Lahey, wearing lei, presents Mauli Ola Festival in September. Photo from Lahey |
“Conversations like these are powerful force multipliers that can create real shifts in how the world works,” Lahey said. “When it comes to coffee, agriculture and our relationship with the earth, it’s easy to become disconnected. It’s easy to not remember the people who farm that coffee, to not worry about whether they are treated well or paid fairly. It’s easy to forget that our actions – and our inaction – have an impact on the earth and our communities.
“The Mauli Ola Festival is about reconnecting with those values. We will bring together a global tribe to celebrate, teach and start new dialogues about many aspects of the world around us.”
Sunalini Menon, of CoffeeLab; Sarah Allen, of Barista Magazine; Sarah Grant, of USC Fullerton, and more will share their work in the nuts and bolts of women’s empowerment, economic empowerment and other aspects of human rights in coffee.
Using framework developed by Monica Sharma, a senior staffer at the United Nations, to develop Leadership for Community Transformation, participants will relate the conversation at the event with their own projects and passions at home and create the seed of their own legacy.
Land-based skill workshops include permaculture, natural building, Leave No Trace ethics, fermented foods, biodiesel and more.
Musicians include Malian, Grammy-nominated Senegalese West African Kora player Youssoupha Sidibe, Hawaiian music from Jeff Peterson, a Brazilian zouk workshop and a performance by Marie Alonzo Snyder.
Food and award-winning ethical coffee will be available from local vendors.
See www.mauliolafestival.com for more information.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
Sunalini Menon, of CoffeeLab; Sarah Allen, of Barista Magazine; Sarah Grant, of USC Fullerton, and more will share their work in the nuts and bolts of women’s empowerment, economic empowerment and other aspects of human rights in coffee.
Using framework developed by Monica Sharma, a senior staffer at the United Nations, to develop Leadership for Community Transformation, participants will relate the conversation at the event with their own projects and passions at home and create the seed of their own legacy.
Land-based skill workshops include permaculture, natural building, Leave No Trace ethics, fermented foods, biodiesel and more.
Musicians include Malian, Grammy-nominated Senegalese West African Kora player Youssoupha Sidibe, Hawaiian music from Jeff Peterson, a Brazilian zouk workshop and a performance by Marie Alonzo Snyder.
Food and award-winning ethical coffee will be available from local vendors.
See www.mauliolafestival.com for more information.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Utamaro: Deeply Concealed Love Image by Glenn Yamanoha from Volcano Art Center |
AN INTRODUCTION TO MOKUHANGA: Traditional Japanese Woodblock Printmaking takes place at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village starting on July 14. Sensei Glenn Yamanoha Five teaches five sessions on consecutive Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking is a relief printing technique that uses Japanese tools and natural materials. Attendees will learn fundamental techniques of Mokuhanga such as cutting with chisels, preparing blocks and paper, registration and printing with a baren (printing pad.)
Mokuhanga differs from western woodblock in that it is water-based printing with sumi ink, watercolor and nori (rice paste), so no toxic solvents are used; it is printed with a hand-held baren rather than a press; and it employs the accurate kento registration method, cut directly into the block. By utilizing non-toxic, green materials, it readily combines traditional processes with new printing technologies.
Yamanoha studied woodblock printing in Kyoto, Japan on a Monbusho (Japan Government) scholarship between 1988-90. He lives in Volcano Village and runs Volcano Gravel.
Course fee is $80/$72 for VAC Members plus a $25 supply fee. No experience is necessary for this workshop.
Mokuhanga differs from western woodblock in that it is water-based printing with sumi ink, watercolor and nori (rice paste), so no toxic solvents are used; it is printed with a hand-held baren rather than a press; and it employs the accurate kento registration method, cut directly into the block. By utilizing non-toxic, green materials, it readily combines traditional processes with new printing technologies.
Yamanoha studied woodblock printing in Kyoto, Japan on a Monbusho (Japan Government) scholarship between 1988-90. He lives in Volcano Village and runs Volcano Gravel.
Course fee is $80/$72 for VAC Members plus a $25 supply fee. No experience is necessary for this workshop.
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/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July_2016.pdf. |
