Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 15, 2010

Kamaoa Road becomes a trail and may be a right of way connection to Highway 11.

KAMAOA ROAD WEST OF SOUTH POINT ROAD was in existence as early as 1859, according to research by former county planning director Chris Yuen. The 1.5 mile segment was apparently a portion of the road connecting Ka`u to Kona in the mid 1800s. Whether it was sold or given away during the last 150 years is being researched, and this road-in-limbo may be a legal public right of way. Incoming County Council Chair Dominic Yagong opposes selling it off to private interests, saying it could set a precedent around the island. Ka`u’s incoming county council member Brittany Smart agrees. The issue is expected to be handled by the incoming County Council, which takes office on December 6.

HAWAI`I ISLAND’S HOTEL occupancy rate lags behind the other islands in recovering from the recession. The September occupancy rate rose from 40.6 percent to 52.1 percent for the same month in 2009. The other islands saw higher occupancy rates. O`ahu reached 81.7 percent, Maui reached 63.7 percent and Kaua`i reached 58.7 percent. The statewide occupancy rate was 70.8 percent, according to Hospitality Advisors, LLC and Smith Travel Research. The year-to-date rate of 71.2 percent is third highest in the U.S., with New York ranking first and San Francisco second. Hawai`i is also second in room rates, with the average at $172.71 per night. 

A NEW BOOK ON VOLCANOES will be unveiled Tuesday night at After Dark in the Park at 7 p.m. in the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Visitor Center Theatre. The title is Volcanoes – Global Perspectives. It was written by Volcano resident and volcanologist Jack Lockwood and professor and former Volcanoes park Ranger Rick Hazlett.

Auntie Reha Akoi

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK sponsored a very successful fundraiser last Friday on board Holland American Lines ship Zaandaam, which docked at Hilo Harbor. The cruise line sponsored a three-course meal for everyone who bought fundraising tickets to enjoy hula, music and story telling around the theme of boat days. Falsetto singer Stan Kaina and his halau Na Leo Nahenahe o Pohai Kealoha performed along with Friends President Ab Valencia, who danced hula with his Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu. Auntie Reha Akoi reminisced about Boat Days in Hilo. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando said the mantra of the park is “We cannot do it alone.” The park is involved in forest restoration, preservation of cultural landscapes, historic structures and native species. Friends supports the park with educational programs and volunteer support. 

THE SCENIC BYWAYS PROGRAM for Ka`u will be discussed tonight at the monthly Ka`u Chamber of Commerce meeting at Pahala Plantation House at 6 p.m. This federal and state program requires a community committee to help determine the educational and informational materials to be included on signage for the highway through Ka`u. The public is invited to attend.

HOW TO PRESERVE land for nature, culture and community will be the topic of a presentation by The Nature Conservancy and Hawai`i Island Land Trust this evening. Their representatives will talk about easements to conserve more than 8,000 acres between Pahala and Na`alehu. The meeting is sponsored by The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and will be held at 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Among the sites to be preserved through this program is the sacred mountain of Makanau. Conservation easements are being used around the state at Ulupalakua, Kuka`iau, and Hokukanu Ranches.

Peter Anderson's Nene

THE DIRECTORY 2011 is reaching its deadline for information about community groups and listings for local businesses. Sponsored by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, The Directory has important Civil Defense and community information and promotes local enterprise. The Directory is Ka`u’s very own phone book. This year’s cover features an image of the state bird, the Nene, by Ka`u photographer Peter Anderson. To be included in The Directory, call 928-6471.





IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO KONA this week, look out for alternating lane closures between Papa Bay Drive and the Yee Hop Ranch Road for painting new stripes on Hwy 11. Drive safely everybody.

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 14, 2010

Darci Baker, of Kamehameha Schools, taught choir at the Kahumoku Workshop
that culminated with live performances yesterday.

John and Hope Keawe

SLACK KEY GUITAR master John Keawe premiered a new song called Ilima, and his wife Hope created a hula for the composition performed at the Kahumoku `Ohana concert yesterday. Ilima is Hope Keawe’s middle name, and John Keawe wrote the song for her. The concert wrapped up a week of Hawaiian music workshops at Pahala Plantation House. The workshop hosted many young people on free scholarships, studying with such teachers as James Hill, George Kahumoku, Jr., Dennis and David Kamakahi and Ledward Kaapana. See a video of James Hill on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1jGz2UkmI0.

GOVERNOR ELECT Neil Abercrombie is asking for applicants to fill state jobs. Jobs are in many fields, from Department of Agriculture, to Department of Transportation, Hawaiian Homes Lands, and Department of Health. Anyone interested can go online to http://newdayhawaii.org/apply and find an application. 

THE PRESERVATION OF EIGHT THOUSAND acres in Ka`u for agriculture and nature will be the subject of a public meeting sponsored by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. John Henshaw, of The Nature Conservancy, and representatives of the Hawai`i Land Trust will be speaking. Establishing easements on such lands has made it possible for ranchers, farmers and other landowners to prevent subdivision of their properties for generations to come.

THE SCENIC BYWAYS Initiative, sponsored by state and federal programs, is being planned for Ka`u, and a theme is being considered - The Southernmost Scenic Byway in the U.S. More about the program will be explained tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House as part of the public Ka`u Chamber of Commerce meeting. The program is supported by state Senator Russell Kokubun, and the community is required to put together a scenic byways committee to work on the theme and educational signage.

THE DIRECTORY, the annual publication of The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, is coming up on a deadline to submit all information on your community group and your businesses. The cover of The Directory for 2011 is the award-winning photograph of the state bird, the Nene, by Peter Anderson. Anyone wanting to be included in The Directory can call 928-6471.

CONTESTANTS FOR MISS KA`U COFFEE can request an application for the February 20 event by calling Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-6471. Miss Ka`u Coffee Ulu Makuakane recently represented Ka`u Coffee at the Kona Coffee Festival.

THE RIVER OF LIFE Assembly of God in Pahala hosted a free and early Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday at the church, with many volunteers helping to provide the food.

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 13, 2010

Kahumoku `Ohana students practice at Pahala Plantation House
for a free concert today at 1 p.m.

A HAWAIIAN MUSIC MASTERS CONCERT is on today at Pahala Plantation House from 1p.m. to 5 p.m. The lineup includes Ledward Kaapana, George Kahumoku Jr., James Hill, Herb Ota Jr., David Kamakahi, Uncle Richard Ho‘opi‘i, Keoki Kahumoku, Tony Selvage and Konabob. Also performing will be students of the annual Keoki Kahumoku music workshop, including local youth attending on scholarships. 

THE POHUE PLAZA FUN FESTIVAL happens in Ocean View today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spirit Gas celebrates its new look and twenty-fifth anniversary with live entertainment, food vendors, arts and crafts and a raffle giveaway.

Royden Okinishi is a Ka`u bow hunter.

NEW REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING are posted on the Internet and open for public comment at www.gov.dlnr/rules. Public meetings will be held at 6 p.m. this Tuesday, November 16 at Hilo High School cafeteria and on Wednesday, November 17 at Kealakehe High School in Kona. New rules call for removing some Natural Area Reserves from hunting, while adding others. Comments can be emailed to dlnr@hawaii.gov or mailed in by Monday, November 29. Public hunting areas in Ka`u include sections of Kapapala Forest Reserve and Ka`u Forest Reserve. Huntings grounds described as unencumbered portions of Manuka, Kaulanamauna and Kipahoehoe are being changed to Waiaha Springs Forest Reserve and the Kapua-Manuka section of the South Kona Forest Reserve (also known as the Honomolino tract). For the Kapapala Ranch Cooperative Game Management Area, conditions for entry and public use for hunting are subject to landowner's approval.

HUNTING IS OPEN for game birds on Saturdays, Sundays and State Holidays on public lands where the hunting is approved. The season lasts through the third Sunday in January. Hunting is allowed on Wednesdays and Thursdays on land managed by cooperators. There are limits on the number of game birds that can be taken. They include pheasants, quails, partridges, francolins, sandgrouse, doves, turkeys and pea fowl. Licenses can be purchased online with a credit card or at the state Department of Forestry and Wildlife office in Hilo and Kamuela.

PRESERVATION OF EIGHT THOUSAND acres in Ka`u for agriculture and nature will be the subject of a public meeting sponsored by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce this coming Monday at 6 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. John Henshaw, of The Nature Conservancy, and representatives of the Hawai`i Land Trust will be speaking. Establishing easements on such lands has made it possible for ranchers, farmers and other landowners to prevent subdivision of their properties for generations to come.

LIBRARIES IN KA'U are always on the chopping block when it comes to cutting state funding. However, the state is allowing people to raise funds for their favorite libraries to improve them and keep them open. Groups can adopt a library and host a fundraising event. Donations are tax deductible, and checks can be made to the Hawai`i State Public Library System, with a designation of the library targeted for your donation.
     Our local libraries are expanding into the electronic world by offering tens of thousands of e-books. See librarieshawaii.org or visit public libraries in Na`alehu and Pahala.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI has proposed a prohibition on companies winning contracts with the county when county employees or their spouses and dependent children have a controlling interest in the company. The measure will come up before the County Council on Nov. 17 after being turned away by the county Board of Ethics. According to the West Hawai`i Today newspaper, one ethics board member called the propsal "speed bumps for free enterprise. In Hilo we are only two degrees removed. We're all related in some way," said David Heaukulani, according to the West Hawai`i Today story.

MICHAEL DWORSKY is leaving his post as Solid Waste Division Chief for the county Department of Environmental Management. He worked in the position for five years, overseeing landfills, transfer stations and the ever-growing challenge of taking care of garbage on the island. Incoming County Council member Brittany Smart, who is hoping to fast track a new transfer station for Ocean View, said she looks forward to keeping all the solid waste projects on track. "This is one of the most important services the county can provide,” she said.

ALL TRANSFER STATIONS will be closed on Thanksgiving, which means Wai`ohinu and Volcano will be closed on a day they are usually open. Pahala and Wai`ohinu will re-open Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and Volcano re-opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF HAWAI`I are looking at a new way to provide housing for a group that is underserved. They are grandparents raising grandchildren, mothers reuniting with their children and aging parents who have a hard time taking care of their disabled children. The first such transitional housing project will be opened in Makiki on O`ahu, but the model could serve for other locations around the state, including Ka`u.