.png) |
| A post office placed in the Captain Cook Coffee Co. building led to the naming of the entire community, which had been known as Ka'awaloa. A resolution that passed the state House of Representatives would ask the U.S. Census Bureau to officially return the original name. Photo from Kona Historical Society |
RENAMING THE CAPTAIN COOK COMMUNITY KA'AWALOA is the aim of resolution co-introduced by state Rep. Jeanne Kapella who serves Kaʻū into Kona. It passed the state House of Representatives this week and goes to the Senate. The resolution targets the census-designated area in South Kona between Kealakekua to the north and Hōnaunau-Napo‘opo‘o to the south.
The resolution points out that Captain Cook, unlike its neighboring communities, received its name
simply from its post office being located in the facility of the Captain Cook Coffee Co. in the early 1900's, even though it had been a "thriving Hawaiian village and royal residence known as Ka‘awaloa." It states "Ka‘awaloa was the residence of choice for many Kona chiefs, including King Kamehameha" and that "Despite the decline in the Native Hawaiian population through the late 1800s, the area was still known as Ka‘awaloa by the local populace and visitors." As late as the 1900s, the area continued to be known as Ka‘awaloa "as evidenced by a passage in Charmian London’s memoir recalling a horseback ride to Ka‘awaloa to view the Captain Cook monument."
According to the resolution, "re-designating the area as Ka‘awaloa is vital to recognizing and honoring the rich and storied history of Hawai'i." It asks the United States Census "to re-designate the census-designated place known as Captain Cook on the island of Hawai'i as Ka‘awaloa" and for Hawai'i County to remove all references to Captain Cook as a place name on the island of Hawai'i." The state Senate will decide whether to go forward with the name change.
 |
| Early visitor guides to the Captain Cook Monument referred to the surrounding community as Ka'awaloa instead of Captain Cook. Photo from Trip Advisor |
According to the resolution, "re-designating the area as Ka‘awaloa is vital to recognizing and honoring the rich and storied history of Hawai'i." It asks the United States Census "to re-designate the census-designated place known as Captain Cook on the island of Hawai'i as Ka‘awaloa" and for Hawai'i County to remove all references to Captain Cook as a place name on the island of Hawai'i." The state Senate will decide whether to go forward with the name change.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
JEANNE KAPELA SAYS SHE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION to represent all of Kaʻū in the state House of Representatives. The Democrat said:
"Our district faces many challenges. Our schools are among the hardest hit by Hawai'i's teacher shortage. Working families on Hawai'i Island lack a living wage and paid family and sick leave. Our housing costs continue to soar.
"As your representative, I am committed to a vision for our community that provides hope to those who need it most. That's why, over the past two years, I have put forward a legislative agenda that protects people and our planet.
"My office has sponsored proposals to create a living wage, build truly affordable housing, and establish affordable medical care. We've championed sustainable agriculture and commercial protections for our island's coffee farmers.
"To address the looming threat of climate change, we've supported investments in clean energy and the creation of good-paying green jobs. We've sought to defend our 'āina from being desecrated by unbridled tourism.
"As the pandemic left families in financial turmoil, we introduced proposals to ease the tax burden faced by workers, while asking our state's wealthiest residents to pay their fair share to help our most vulnerable neighbors.
"I believe that we can no longer maintain business as usual. It is time to replace the status quo with a renewed dedication to prosperity and justice for all. That has been my goal from my very first day in office.
"This election, I look forward to building on the momentum we've gained in our pursuit of the public interest.
"It's our time. As I walk the halls of the State Capitol each day, I promise to keep fighting to give our community what it deserves: leadership with aloha."
"Our district faces many challenges. Our schools are among the hardest hit by Hawai'i's teacher shortage. Working families on Hawai'i Island lack a living wage and paid family and sick leave. Our housing costs continue to soar.
 |
| State Rep. Jeanne Kapela |
"My office has sponsored proposals to create a living wage, build truly affordable housing, and establish affordable medical care. We've championed sustainable agriculture and commercial protections for our island's coffee farmers.
"To address the looming threat of climate change, we've supported investments in clean energy and the creation of good-paying green jobs. We've sought to defend our 'āina from being desecrated by unbridled tourism.
"As the pandemic left families in financial turmoil, we introduced proposals to ease the tax burden faced by workers, while asking our state's wealthiest residents to pay their fair share to help our most vulnerable neighbors.
"I believe that we can no longer maintain business as usual. It is time to replace the status quo with a renewed dedication to prosperity and justice for all. That has been my goal from my very first day in office.
"This election, I look forward to building on the momentum we've gained in our pursuit of the public interest.
"It's our time. As I walk the halls of the State Capitol each day, I promise to keep fighting to give our community what it deserves: leadership with aloha."
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
HAWAI'I TAXPAYERS DESERVE A HUGE REBATE, according to Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i. Its CEO and President Keli'i Akina released the following opinion this week: Imagine your brother was facing a bad financial situation. Things looked bleak for a while, and the family came together to help him out. Eventually, he got through it, thanks in part to generosity from his siblings. Now, not only is he out of trouble, but he has money to burn. What would you tell him to do with his extra funds? Chances are you would tell him to pay down his debts, put some away for a rainy day and give some back to the family that helped him out.
The last thing you would suggest is that he go shopping or spend it on a few shiny new toys.
It's basic economic common sense, and it applies just as much to our state government as it would to the hypothetical brother. Just over a year ago, things looked bleak for Hawai'i's finances. The coronavirus lockdowns had devastated our lives and economy. Lawmakers were expecting drastically lower revenues and preparing for major budget cuts. In the panic, they seized the counties' share of the transient accommodations tax and hoped that federal relief funds would help bail the state out of its financial crisis.
At the time, my colleagues and I at the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i repeatedly advised lawmakers to focus on policies that would grow the economy. Under the circumstances, even a slight bump in the economy would have led to a dramatic increase in revenues. And that's just what happened when the state finally did start opening up the economy. Tax revenues started pouring in, and now the state is sitting on a surplus of $4 billion.
Simply allowing the market to operate helped create a windfall in state revenues, though there were other contributing factors, such as the funds from the TAT, the $750 million the state borrowed and added to the budget as "revenues," and $1 billion in federal relief funds.
There also is the current inflation rate of 7.5%, which is boosting tax revenues due to businesses increasing their prices and thus paying more in taxes.
What is going to happen to that surplus? Will it be used responsibly or will it be spent on our ever-expanding state budget? As the legislative session draws to a close, this has become the $4 billion question. At the beginning of the year, Gov. David Ige called for a tax refund of approximately $100 per taxpayer. The Grassroot Institute applauded the idea, but suggested that the refund be substantially increased so that approximately $1 billion of the windfall be returned to the people.
After considering and rejecting a different refund bill, the Legislature has returned to the issue in SB514. But the amount of the refund remains undecided.
On Thursday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser quoted the institute's testimony on the bill, in which we reiterated our support for a higher refund:
"'The governor hoped to add about $110 million to the economy via a refund of $100 per taxpayer and dependent,' said Joe Kent, the organization's executive vice president. 'However, we suggest that, given the amount of its budget surplus, the state return at least one-third of the windfall, or about $1 billion, to the taxpayers. That would equal approximately $1,361 for each of Hawai'i's 734,673 taxpayers. As we noted, the state can afford to do far more than a mere $100 each for Hawai'i taxpayers, who have gone through so much in the past two years.'"
In addition to giving money back to taxpayers, the state should also pay down some of its unfunded liabilities. After all, $750 million of that windfall is borrowed, and paying it off earlier will save us money in the long run.
Some of the money could also be used to pay down the state's unfunded pension and health-benefits debts. Think of it as investing in the future. This way, our children and grandchildren won't be stuck with a higher bill.
Then there's the rainy day fund. If we have learned anything from the lockdowns, it is the importance of having a healthy rainy day fund.
Some legislators claim that the refund has to be small, due to federal rules about how coronavirus recovery funds are spent. Those rules restrict the states from using the funds to offset a reduction in taxes.
However, two recent court cases — Ohio v. Yellen and West Virginia v. Yellen — have successfully challenged the mandate at the district court level as an unconstitutional overreach of federal power. The cases are now at the appellate stage, but the early wins suggest that Hawai'i lawmakers should not be shy about returning some of the windfall to the people.
Pay your debts, save for a rainy day and give back some of the excess. It's as true for the state's windfall as it would be for any of us.
Just because the state's budget goes into the billions of dollars doesn't mean our lawmakers should not be held to the same principles of responsible spending and saving as the average family — especially when the money they are spending comes from our pocketbooks in the first place.
The last thing you would suggest is that he go shopping or spend it on a few shiny new toys.
 |
| Keali'i Akina calls for tax rebate. |
At the time, my colleagues and I at the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i repeatedly advised lawmakers to focus on policies that would grow the economy. Under the circumstances, even a slight bump in the economy would have led to a dramatic increase in revenues. And that's just what happened when the state finally did start opening up the economy. Tax revenues started pouring in, and now the state is sitting on a surplus of $4 billion.
Simply allowing the market to operate helped create a windfall in state revenues, though there were other contributing factors, such as the funds from the TAT, the $750 million the state borrowed and added to the budget as "revenues," and $1 billion in federal relief funds.
There also is the current inflation rate of 7.5%, which is boosting tax revenues due to businesses increasing their prices and thus paying more in taxes.
What is going to happen to that surplus? Will it be used responsibly or will it be spent on our ever-expanding state budget? As the legislative session draws to a close, this has become the $4 billion question. At the beginning of the year, Gov. David Ige called for a tax refund of approximately $100 per taxpayer. The Grassroot Institute applauded the idea, but suggested that the refund be substantially increased so that approximately $1 billion of the windfall be returned to the people.
After considering and rejecting a different refund bill, the Legislature has returned to the issue in SB514. But the amount of the refund remains undecided.
On Thursday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser quoted the institute's testimony on the bill, in which we reiterated our support for a higher refund:
"'The governor hoped to add about $110 million to the economy via a refund of $100 per taxpayer and dependent,' said Joe Kent, the organization's executive vice president. 'However, we suggest that, given the amount of its budget surplus, the state return at least one-third of the windfall, or about $1 billion, to the taxpayers. That would equal approximately $1,361 for each of Hawai'i's 734,673 taxpayers. As we noted, the state can afford to do far more than a mere $100 each for Hawai'i taxpayers, who have gone through so much in the past two years.'"
In addition to giving money back to taxpayers, the state should also pay down some of its unfunded liabilities. After all, $750 million of that windfall is borrowed, and paying it off earlier will save us money in the long run.
Then there's the rainy day fund. If we have learned anything from the lockdowns, it is the importance of having a healthy rainy day fund.
Some legislators claim that the refund has to be small, due to federal rules about how coronavirus recovery funds are spent. Those rules restrict the states from using the funds to offset a reduction in taxes.
However, two recent court cases — Ohio v. Yellen and West Virginia v. Yellen — have successfully challenged the mandate at the district court level as an unconstitutional overreach of federal power. The cases are now at the appellate stage, but the early wins suggest that Hawai'i lawmakers should not be shy about returning some of the windfall to the people.
Pay your debts, save for a rainy day and give back some of the excess. It's as true for the state's windfall as it would be for any of us.
Just because the state's budget goes into the billions of dollars doesn't mean our lawmakers should not be held to the same principles of responsible spending and saving as the average family — especially when the money they are spending comes from our pocketbooks in the first place.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
A VOLCANO SWAP MEET has been established for Cooper Center on Wright Road, Volcano Village, on second and fourth Saturdays of the month. In May it will be the 14th and 28th, 8 a.m. to around noon. It will feature Ono Grinds, Art & Crafts, Jewelry, Local Produce, Plants Honey, and New & Gently Used Treasures. See Craigslist & Facebook under Volcano Center Swap Meet. For more info or to vend, call Auntie Frances 808-985-8646.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
 |
| See The Ka'u Calendar April edition at www.kaucalendar.com, on newsstands and in the mail. |
SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO
at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html
