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| Keiki perform at the Hawaiian Winter Concert at Kaʻū Historic Gym last night. Festive costumes and live music brightened up the night. See story and pictures, below. Photo by Julia Neal |
A statement from HELCO released Friday says the extra income is needed to help pay for repairing damages from the Kīlauea eruption this year and to increase operations at power plants to offset loss of electricity generated by the Puna Geothermal Ventures plant that was covered, in part, by lava. PGV officials said they hope to reopen their geothermal plant, which accounted for some 30 percent of the electricity used by HELCO customers.
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| Lava approaching Puna Geothermal Venture in May. While the facility escaped being entirely covered by lava, the facility remains closed. USGS photo |
HELCO stated, with the rate increase, it would upgrade the power grid to be able to receive more renewable energy, including more rooftop solar from the 12,000 customers that installed it.
Grid modernization would include installing fault indicators to pinpoint outages faster and detect problems ahead of service interruption. HELCO would also trim and remove more invasive albizia trees. The statement said that recent trimming led to a 50 percent reduction in outages caused by vegetation during the last five years.
HELCO also seeks to put the Waiau hydroelectric plant back online with repairs and upgrades that would double its capacity. The company would also upgrade, repair, and replace other equipment for more reliability, and would enhance its cybersecurity to keep the grid secure and customer information safe, according to the HELCO proposal.
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Ed Nesmith, one of three part-time employees on short hours due to the freezing of the bank accounts, drives the
tractor back to the office after trimming the grass of the sides of the Ranchos roads. Photo by Annie Bosted |
Without access to operating funds, the non-profit Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. reduced most of the hours and delayed pay for its three part-time employees, and temporarily shut the office. The security gate sat unrepaired until volunteers stepped up to do the job. Funds are inaccessible until the bank unfreezes the accounts.
According to Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. President, Phillis May, more than 85 property owners signed a petition to the bank, asking that the accounts be reopened to the signers that have been on record at the bank for terms ranging from one to five years.
Hawaiian Ranchos is a large subdivision makai of the highway in Ocean View with 1,227 properties. All property owners are automatically members of HRRMC, tasked with maintaining about 50 miles of private paved roads, a security gate, and easements. Members elect a board of volunteers annually to run the corporation. The board appoints officers with signing powers on bank accounts.
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| Phillis May, President of Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. |
Said May: "According to HRRMC's bylaws, a special meeting can be held if petitioned by 25 or more members in good standing. The board rejected as invalid the petition from this group for two reasons. Firstly, the petition did not meet the requirements of the bylaws, which are very clear. Secondly, by the reckoning of our secretary, Linda Sommers, the number of valid signatures did not amount to 25."
She said those demanding the board change proceeded on their own and on June 6 announced a special meeting through a mailing to members. They used Ocean View Community Association's mailing address as the return address, and as the address to mail ballots. OVCA officers issued a press release to deny involvement in the notice of the meeting, the ballot, and the meeting site. Any ballots sent to the OVCA would be returned marked as undeliverable, OVCA announced.
May said that the eight-page mailing, sent on June 6, anonymously asked HRRMC members to vote Yes or No on the question "Should the entire Hawaiian Ranchos Board of Directors be removed immediately?"
"The HRRMC bylaws and Hawaiian law prescribe that corporate meetings can only be called by the appointed officers and the elected board," said May. "The board is given the authority to designate the date, time, place and the agenda. Our bylaws are very clear on that."
The group seeking to replace the board met at a private home on July 21 without the approval of the elected board or a majority of the members of the organization, said May. May attended. "I told everyone there that the meeting was illegal. It was not apparent to me how the votes were received, or how they were handled or counted. They claim they got 114 votes to remove the board. I don't know how that number was arrived at."
She said that during the unsanctioned meeting, the "usurpers" declared six members to be the "new board." They mailed green postcards to HRRMC members demanding that the existing HRRMC board and officers hand over the keys, records, and other assets to the "new board."
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| The Ranchos security gate remained unrepaired until volunteers stepped up to fix it. Photo by Annie Bosted |
May said the board first discovered the problem when checks were returned unpaid. She contacted the bank to discover the cause of the bounced checks and said that the bank could not tell her the reason. After persistent questioning, a bank employee admitted that the accounts were frozen.
A month after the freeze was placed on the account, the bank sent a form letter addressed to four duly elected members of the board and the four who claimed to be the newly elected officers. All eight letters were mailed to HRRMC's mailing address. The letter informed the "individuals" that the bank account had been "frozen."
The letter stated: "Due to conflicting demands raised, we cannot determine which person(s) are authorized to handle the Account and funds in question. We also do not believe it is appropriate for us to reach any legal conclusions based on the documentation which is being presented."
May asserts some blame on the bank, saying that since it locked the account with no proof of a change in rightful access, its protocols are faulty.
"The bank acted without due consideration and prematurely," commented May. "The bank has a signature card on file, and it never asked us to present 'documentation.' We were told it was decided by the Honolulu legal department, but we were given no way to contact anyone in Honolulu.
"We have had to open another account at a second bank, where we were told that the bank would never have frozen an account under those circumstances. The bank said that they would have checked our listing at the Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
"We entrusted the bank with our funds five years ago, and it has let us down. The bank is now forcing us to go to court and this could be expensive and time consuming," explained May, adding, "By causing us the cost of a court order, the bank is not recognizing the obvious fact that we are a democratically elected board. We got 94 percent of the vote in the October 2017 annual members' meeting. Only 12 votes were cast against the incumbents, the proposed budget and other board proposed measures."
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| Volunteers work on Ranchos gate, as money for the work is frozen. Photo by Matts Fokelvik |
Ranchos resident Annie Bosted told The Kaʻū Calendar that she, and other HRRMC members, were concerned that by requiring a court order, the bank was submitting the volunteer board to unnecessary stress and the organization to unnecessary expense.
"We held an informal meeting of HRRMC members," explained Bosted. "We decided to directly request the bank to unfreeze the accounts with a petition stating the names of the duly elected officers that have signing powers. The petition was e-mailed to seven senior managers of the bank. They have refused to discuss the case, but at least we found out the names of those behind the decision, which the board was unable to do.
"The bank's attitude is playing right into the hands of the would be usurpers," continued Bosted. "Per our bylaws and Hawaiʻi law, a duly elected board has control over a non-profit corporation's funds. We live in a democracy, but our bank is using its position as keeper of the funds to bully us into getting a court order, which is sure to be a stressful, drawn-out process for our volunteer board. We have liability insurance, but that won't cover this situation because the board has not been sued. The board has not been sued because it has done nothing wrong. So members pay.
"Why is democracy not good enough? Banks should be on the side of law and order, not hell raisers," she added.
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To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK WILL BE UNDER A NEW SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. Ryan Zinke resigned yesterday. Sen. Mazie Hirono sent out this message: "During his tenure as Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke continuously demonstrated blatant disregard for science, conservation, and the federal workforce—all critical components of the Department. Like too many members of President Trump's cabinet who have faced numerous ethics scandals, I welcome Mr. Zinke's long-overdue resignation.
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| When Rep. Colleen Hanabusa asked Zinke about funding for historic preservation of Japanese American internment sites from WWII, he replied, "Oh, Konichiwa." Photo from Resonate |
"I'm not holding my breath, but it is my hope that the President's nominee to replace Mr. Zinke will recognize the importance of protecting and conserving our public lands and act immediately to mitigate climate change for the benefit of the country instead of benefiting industry by extracting as much fossil fuel as possible."
Zinke was also known for answering questions about preserving historical World War II Japanese internment sites. When Hawaiʻi's U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, of Japanese heritage, asked whether funding would continue to preserve the sites, he answered, "Oh, Konichiwa," (Good morning). The remark was considered an attempt to separate Hanabusa from other Americans. Hanabusa fired back: "Ohayo gozaimasu," (the polite form of Good morning) and Hirono called the Zinke remark "flippant and juvenile."
VETERANS WILL TRAVEL THROUGH HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK TO KMC AT NO COST. Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald published a story last Sunday, reporting on veterans' concerns about new requirements to purchase passes to go through the park to Kīlauea Military Camp facilities. A story in this morning's Tribune Herald says the policy is rescinded and vets can reach KMC without park permits.
JANUARY 2019 MARKS THE 10TH ANNUAL VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Read
Launched in 2010 and held every year since, Volcano Awareness Month is one way that the USGS HVO promotes the importance of understanding the volcanoes on which we live. This past summer's volcanic activity on Kīlauea —collapses within the summit caldera and a destructive lava flow on the lower East Rift Zone—certainly underscore the need for that understanding.
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Kīlauea Volcano's 2018 summit collapse, shown here on July 28 (left), and the lower East Rift Zone fissure 8 lava flow,
shown here on July 2 (right), will be the focus of Volcano Awareness Month talks offered in January 2019. USGS photos |
Neither Kīlauea nor Mauna Loa is currently erupting, but we must not become complacent during periods of relative quiet. Both are active volcanoes, and both will erupt again—although exactly when and where are unknowns at this point.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa and will inform emergency managers and the public if any significant change is detected.
HVO also encourages island residents to do their part by learning all they can about the volcanoes in their "backyards" and staying informed about each volcano's status through HVO's website, volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo. There, you can find weekly updates, monitoring data, and geologic histories for Kīlauea and Mauna Loa , as well as photos, frequently asked questions, and more.
As we have each year since 2010, HVO scientists and our colleagues at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo will help the learning process by offering a series of informative and engaging volcano presentations during the month of January. The complete Volcano Awareness Month schedule, including the date, time, location, and brief description for each talk, is posted on HVO's website in the "HVO News" corner of the homepage.
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USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist monitors Kīlauea
Volcano's Lower East Rift Zone lava flow on June 25. USGS Photo
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The month begins with an After Dark in the Park program in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Tuesday, January 8. That evening, an HVO geologist will recount the progression of Kīlauea Volcano's dramatic lower East Rift Zone eruption this summer.
Additional After Dark in the Park programs will be offered by USGS scientists the following two weeks: on Tuesday, January 15, a discussion of new insights gained from Kīlauea's 2018 eruption, and on Tuesday, January 22, a description of the collapse events within Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera. Each of these Park programs starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center
Given Kīlauea 's unprecedented activity in May‒August 2018, HVO scientists will also present overviews of what happened this summer, both on the lower East Rift Zone and at the summit of the volcano. These presentations, each covering the same information, will be offered on three different dates at various locations around the island.
On Thursday, January 10, the first overview will be held on the UH-Hilo main campus in the University Classroom Building Room 100 at 7:00 p.m. The next will be on Wednesday, January 16 in the Gates Performing Arts Center on the Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy campus in Waimea, starting at 6:30 p.m. The third overview will be held on Thursday, January 17, in the Kealakehe High School Cafeteria in Kailua-Kona, also at 6:30 p.m. Details about these three overviews are provided in the information posted on HVO's website.
The final 2019 Volcano Awareness Month presentation will be held on Thursday, January 31, in UCB Room 100 on the UH-Hilo main campus at 7 p.m. The director of UH-Hilo's Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Laboratory will describe the use of unmanned aerial systems (drones) to monitor Kīlauea 's lower East Rift Zone lava flow and will share imagery that his team collected this summer.
With two of the world's most active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi
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Aerial view of
visible on the caldera rim in foreground. Will be used with the What Happened at the Summit of Kīlauea, for Volcano Awareness Month. USGS Photo |
Volcano Activity Updates
Hazardous conditions still exist at both the lower ERZ and summit. Residents in the lower Puna District and Kīlauea summit areas on the Island of Hawaiʻi should stay informed and heed Hawai‘i County Civil Defense closures, warnings, and messages.
The USGS Volcano Alert level forMauna Loa remains at NORMAL .
The USGS Volcano Alert level for
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| Kumu Debbie Ryder, Emcee Makana Kamahele, Demetrius Oliviera, and Gene Beck back up the keiki Christmas entertainment. Photo by Julia Neal |
KAʻŪ HIGH AND PĀHALA ELEMENTARY'S HAWAIIAN WINTER CONCERT last
night welcomed ʻohana to enjoy performances by keiki dressed in costumes both
merry and bright. Emcee Makana Kamahele guided the evening's entertainment at Kaʻū Historic Gym. Kumu Debbie Ryder, Demetrius Oliviera, and Gene Beck backed up the keiki with
live music.
A CHRISTMAS LIGHTING PARADE in Nā‘ālehu takes place this evening, sponsored by Kaʻū Roping and Riding, starting at 6 p.m. The nighttime parade, with marching units, floats, trucks and ATVs, begins at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, travels along Highway 11, and ends at Nā‘ālehu Community Ball Park where chili and rice will be offered for free to all. Parade line-up starts at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in participating in the parade are asked to sign a waiver and meet at the school by 5 p.m. For more info or to sign-up, contact Tammy Ka‘apana at 929-8079.
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.
Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
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Kaʻū High Winter Sports
Schedule
Girls Basketball:
Dec. 17, Mon., host PA, 6pm
Dec. 19,
Wed., host Kohala, 6pm
Dec. 22, Sat., host JV Christian Liberty, 2pm
Jan. 4, Fri., host Hilo 6pm
Jan. 7, Mon., @Honokaʻa, 6pm
Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm
Jan. 14, Mon., host
Kealakehe, 6pm
Jan. 17, Thu., host Keaʻau
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Div. II
Semi-Finals
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Div. II
Finals
Feb. 6-9, Wed.-Sat., HHSAA
Boys Basketball:
Dec. 18, Tue., @Keaʻau
Dec. 22, Sat, host Parker
Dec. 27., Thu., @Kealakehe
Jan. 3, Thu., host Honokaʻa, 6pm
Jan. 5, Sat., @HPA, 6pm
Jan. 8, Tue., host
Kamehameha, 6pm
Jan. 11, host Konawaena, 6pm
Jan. 16, Wed., host Waiakea, 6pm
Jan. 18, Fri., @Kohala, 6pm
Jan. 21, Mon., @Hilo 6pm
Jan. 23, Wed., @Laupāhoehoe, 6pm , Varisty
Jan. 28, Mon. host Kanu, 6pm , Varsity
Feb. 5, Tue., BIIF Div. II
Semi-Finals
Feb. 6, Wed., BIIF Div. II
Finals
Feb. 21-23, Thu.-Sat., HHSAA
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| Three little Santas at last night's Hawaiian Winter Concert. Photo by Julia Neal |
Wrestling:
Dec. 22, Sat., @Oʻahu
Jan. 5, Sat., @Waiakea
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kealakeha
Jan. 19, Sat., @Keaʻau
Jan. 26, Sat., @HPA
Feb. 2, Sat., @Hilo
Feb. 5, Sat., @BIIF @Keaʻau
Feb. 20-21, Thu.-Fri., HHSAA
Soccer:
Dec. 19, Wed., host HPA
Dec. 22, Sat., host Waiakea
Dec. 29, Sat., @Kona
Jan. 3, Thu., Girls @HPA
Jan. 5, Sat., Boys host
Kealakehe
Jan. 7, Mon., @Hilo
Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau
Jan. 12, host Honokaʻa
Jan. 14, Mon., @Makualani
Jan. 16, Wed., Boys host Kona
Jan. 18, Fri., Boys host
Pāhoa
Jan. 21, Mon., Girls BIIF
Div. II Semi-Finals
Jan. 22, Tue., Boys @Kohala
Jan. 23, Wed., Girls BIIF
Div. II Finals
Jan. 28, Mon., Boys BIIF Div.
II Semi-Finals
Jan. 30, Wed., Boys BIIF Div.
II Finals
Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Wed.-Sat.,
Girls HHSAA
Feb. 7-9, Thu.-Sat., Boys
HHSAA
Swimming:
Dec. 29, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am
Jan. 5, Sat., @KCAC, 10am
Jan. 12, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am
Jan. 19, Sat., @KCAC, 10am
Jan. 25, Fri., BIIF Trials
@KCAC, 3:30pm
Jan. 26, Sat., BIIF Finals
@KCAC, 1pm
Feb. 8-9, Sat.-Sun., HHSAA
Feb. 9, Sat., Oʻahu
NEW and UPCOMING
VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS NEW STAINED GLASS OPEN STUDIO SESSIONS on Monday evenings, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at their Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Studio drop-ins are available for artists with some experience in Copper Foil Stained Glass who wish to use the equipment, hand tools and facilities independently. There will be a resource person for project help and questions. Fees are $10 per session or $40 for four sessions which includes a grinder bit. All other materials and supplies are not included in the fee.
If special project help is required, notify Volcano Art Center prior to Open Studio. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
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| New Stained Glass Open Studio Sessions on Monday evenings available at Volcano Art Center. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org |
If special project help is required, notify Volcano Art Center prior to Open Studio. Pre-registration is required. To register, call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
Holidays @ Kahuku, Sun., Dec.16,12-3pm , Kahuku Unit, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Volcanoes National Park
Holidays @ Kahuku, Sun., Dec.16,
Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue., Dec. 18, 11:30-1pm , St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed., Dec. 19, (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘
Ocean View Community Association Special Membership Meeting, Wed., Dec. 19,
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu., Dec. 20, 9-noon, Ocean View Community Center
Family Reading Night, Thu., Dec. 20,
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Clean-Up w/Hawai‘i Academy of Arts & Sciences, Fri., Dec. 21, Contact for meet up details. No seats available; BYO-4WD welcome to all current HWF volunteers. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629 for more.
Youth Group, Fri., Dec. 21,
Stewardship at the Summit, Sat., Dec. 22. Meet Paul and Jane Field at 8:45am in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plants species that prevent native plants from growing. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves and tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required. Free; however, park entrance fees apply. No advance registration required. nps.gov/havo
Birth of Kahuku, Sat., Dec. 22,
Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.
Christmas in the Country and 19th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibition are open at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘iVolcanoes National Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Christmas in the Country runs thro ugh Wednesday, Dec. 26. Enjoy an abundance of art and aloha as VAC creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. In addition to artwork, find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments, and decorations made by Hawai‘i Island artists, including VAC exclusives.
The Wreath Exhibition is available through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The exhibition presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques, and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional, with this year's theme of Home for the Holidays - inspired by the four month closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Admission is free; Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
Christmas in the Country and 19th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibition are open at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i
The Wreath Exhibition is availabl
Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
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