Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 30, 2024

Hawaiian Home Lands on Hawai'i Island in blue, some of it with geothermal resources, which the agency may consider for
alternative energy development. Map from DHHL

HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION is revisiting the idea of harvesting geothermal energy to produce electricity on Hawaiian Home Lands to create income for beneficiaries and renewable energy for the island. Hawaiian Home Lands in Kaʻū with potential geothermal resources are at Ka Lae. Other possible geothermal hotspots in Kaʻū that are not on Hawaiian Home Lands are in the Kaʻū Desert, according to a U.S. Department of Energy map, which also shows hotspots on Hualālai and other places around Kona and Kawaihae, and in Puna into the south end of Hilo.

     Hawaiian Homes Commissioner for East Hawai'i is Michael Kalekini, who has worked for Puna Geothermal Venture for 28 years. Commissioner for West Hawai'i is Makai Freitas, a labor leader with the ILWU who works as a longshoreman. Freitas was recently quoted in a story on geothermal by Hawai'i Public Radio, which said, "DHHL would have control over any geothermal found under land in its trust. Freitas thinks it could end up being a big economic opportunity for the department." 

    HPR quoted Freitas saying, "It can advance us. We don't have to go to the state Legislature every year asking for money like every other state department does. We can start basically an internal revenue stream that's constant for generations. We’re not relying on anybody else. That’d be huge for our people."
    Freitas gave the example of a Māori group in New Zealand owning geothermal energy resources and producing power and benefits for Māori communities.

Department of Energy map shows possible geothermal
sites in the striped areas in red, including Ka Lae, which
is on Hawaiian Home Lands.

    See and listen to the HPR story at https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2024-10-30/hawaiian-homesteads-geothermal-energy-beneficiaries.

    The discussion in Hawai'i comes during a time when the federal government is encouraging more geothermal development across the country, including the enhanced geothermal system "that produces energy by injecting water into hot subsurface rock formations and then extracting the heated water to generate electricity, rather than depending on naturally occurring underground hot water like traditional geothermal systems," according to a Department of the Interior statement issued on Oct. 17.
    For public lands it oversees on the mainland, the Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management is seeking to hasten the geothermal site investigatory  process by easing environmental requirements on exploratory sites of 20 acres or less. Exploration would include core drilling, creating temperature gradient wells, and/or resource wells to confirm the existence of a geothermal resource, to improve injection support, or to demonstrate connections between wells. Such Categorical Exclusions from some environmental studies have already been adopted by the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Navy.

    The proposal for a federal Categorical Exclusion for the test sites is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The BLM statement says the exemptions, "would help accelerate the discovery of new geothermal resources throughout the West."

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County Council member Michelle Galimba partnered to bring microchips to Kaʻū pets in Volcano in October and recommending upcoming similar. upcoming events that also include vaccines. Photo by Lina Kolosov

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UPCOMING FREE MICROCHIP AND VACCINE EVENTS, sponsored by Aloha Animals, are set for Nāʻālehu Community Center on Sunday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m., Pāhala Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon, and Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

     Offered are free DAPP canine and HCP feline vaccines, courtesy of Petco Love and free microchips. 

    Cats must in carriers, dogs on leash. 

    Text 805-774-0071. Email aloha@alohaanimals.org.

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COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHELLE GALIMBA and her staff are partnering with Goodwill Hawai'i's Immigrant Resource Center and state Department of Health to provide free assistance with filling out paperwork and applying to programs on Nov. 2 between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.

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MEET THE NEW OWNERS OF HANA HOU: Hana Hou Restaurant in Nā‘ālehu has announced that it is under new ownership. “New owners Zane Monteleone and Marc Umayam, both from Lahaina, are bringing in a fresh taste to the menu with local Kuahiwi Ranch beef and locally caught Kaʻū fresh fish. They have a passion for supporting local and offering friendly service.” Hana Hou still serves pizza, local plates, daily specials and bakery favorites. The hours are extended to being open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 8 pm. In the coming months the hours will be further extended to Sunday brunch and breakfast, said the new owners. Also on tap is live music 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

Marc Umayam and Zane Monteleone are the new owners of Hana Hou Restaurant, bringing new hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and live music Friday and Saturday nights. Photo bv Cynthia Monteleone

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