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| Don Elwing who makes art from local marine debris will come to Na`alehu School on Thursday to create a group art piece for the school with student help. Kamilo, Men in Black won Elwing first prize at the annual Trash Art Show in Hilo. It is made from marine debris from Kamilo beach in Ka`u. See story below. Photo from East Hawai`i Cultural Center |
THE ALOHA STATE WON ITS MOVE to stop Pres. Donald Trump's Executive Order travel ban that would have barred U.S. entry to visitors from six Muslim majority countries, starting Thursday. The ruling on Wednesday, which puts a temporary stop to the ban, marked the second time that a federal court has halted a ban enacted by the Trump administration. The ruling not only covers Hawai`i. It covers the entire nation.
Judge Derrick Kahala Watson, himself a Native Hawaiian, who serves the federal court in Honolulu, said that Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin and his legal team showed that "irreparable injury" would be likely with such an unconstitutional travel ban. Chin argued that the travel ban would hurt tourism on which the local economy depends. His team also argued that Muslim residents would suffer when their families were barred from visiting.
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| Hawai`i Attorney Doug Chin and Gov. David Ige after the federal judge ruled in favor of Hawai'i's opposition to the Trump travel ban. |
Chin said in a press conference after the ruling that the federal judge looked at the context of the ban, including comments by Trump and his surrogates regarding their attitude toward immigrants and Muslims during the Trump campaign and after Trump became president.
Trump, while riling up supporters at a Tennessee rally after the court decision, told the crowd: "We're talking about the safety and security of our people....This ruling makes us look weak, which, by the way, we no longer are, believe me... We are going to fight this terrible ruling. We're going to take our case as far as it needs to go, including all the way up to the Supreme Court and we're going to keep our citizens safe."
Gov. David Ige said that "Hawai`i has a proud history of welcoming legal immigrants into our community and really being able to celebrate diversity. We learned a long time ago that when people of diverse backgrounds can work together we can accomplish great things. We do believe that current laws provide a rigorous process of screening visitors to Hawai`i that ensures the safety and well being
of our community. We depend on access to Hawai`i from around the world.... We felt compelled to assure that we will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of national origin or religion because that truly goes against the very essence of what makes Hawai`i a very special place."
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| Sen. Mazie Hirono and federal Judge Derrick Kahala Watson, who stopped the Trump travel ban on Wednesday. The photo is from Watson's confirmation. |
Hawai`i was the first state to file a complaint after the second Trump travel ban was announced.
The judge is the only Hawaiian on the federal bench and the fourth in U.S. history. He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Harvard Law School.
Sen. Mazie Hirono released a statement: “Judge Watson's ruling is yet another blow to the President's unconstitutional Muslim Ban. President Trump during the campaign made clear his intention to impose a Muslim ban. He has done so and no amount of spinning can obfuscate his intent. Every time our country has targeted a minority group for discriminatory treatment, we have been very wrong, and this Administration's actions are no different. In finding this Executive Order to be unconstitutional, Judge Watson exemplifies the importance of an independent judiciary.”
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HOME BUSINESSES ON LAND DESIGNATED AGRICULTURE would be allowed without Special Permits, if the Planning Commissions and County Council approve Planning Director Michael Yee's proposal. He hopes to amend the county zoning law. The proposal states: "The purpose of the proposed amendments is to clarify that a Special Permit is not required for a home occupation in a single-family dwelling on lots existing prior to June 4, 1976, in the State Land Use Agricultural District." The measure comes before the Windward Planning Commission at its Thursday, April 6 meeting at the county's Ahupuni Conference Room in Hilo at 9 a.m.
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| Moa`ula where the Planned Unit Development procedure has been used to plan subdivision of the Ka`u Coffee farms. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
RULES REGARDING PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT, which allow lots to be smaller than, for example, 20 acres on property zoned Agriculture - 20, are up for approval by the county Planning Commission. Public input is being accepted by the county Planning Department.
A public hearing, review and action of proposed amendments will take place on April 10 at 10:30 a.m. during a joint meeting of the Leeward and Windward Planning Commissions. The PUD, Project Unit Development law, has been used to set up the subdivision of lands where the Ka`u Coffee farmers are growing their famous coffee at Moa`ula and Pear Tree farms.
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MATH AND SCIENCE NIGHT AT NA`ALEHU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL welcomes the community this Thursday, March 16 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the gym. Teachers, staff and students will have fun hands-on activities for 'ohana and will share student work. Join Local marine debris artist Don Elwing to create a group art piece for the school and check out a sampling of his many art pieces made from debris collected from Kamilo Beach. See a model volcanic eruption, make an anemometer to measure the wind, learn about electrical circuits, experiment with makey makey devices, check out sixth grade science fair projects and investigate star constellations and navigation. There will also be free food for all. For questions, contact 939-2413.
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Ka`u Rural Health Community Association's 19th Annual rural Health Conference is Friday, Mar 17, 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. 928-0101. Free to the community.
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Buffet, Fri, Mar 17, 5 – 8 p.m., Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Corned beef & cabbage, lamb stew, shepherd’s pie & more. $19 adults; $10 children 6 – 11 years. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356.
