Ka`u News Briefs June 11, 2011

Half marathon runners come through the big dip on the old cane haul road heading toward Na`alehu.
Photo by Julia Neal

STEPHEN K. YAMASHIRO, who served in the County Council and as Mayor of the Big Island, will be honored on June 18. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has ordered flags statewide to fly at half-staff in honor of his service to the community. Yamashiro was mayor from 1992 to 2000 and on the County Council from 1976 to 1990, including 11 years as chair. He was also an attorney. He passed away in May.

     The governor extended his “deepest sympathy and condolences to the Yamashiro family on the passing of a true son of Hawai`i.”

Rep. Bob Herkes

REP. BOB HERKES is getting recognition nationally as one of the leaders in state legislation to address the mortgage crisis, according to state House of Representatives member Marcus Oshiro. “Other states are looking to Hawai`i right now to model the laws we just passed,” Oshiro said during a forum of legislators at University of Hawai`i in Hilo this week. Herkes championed the bill after hearing about foreclosures with no fair warning that surprised some local residents. The new legislation requires mortgage holders to interact directly with homeowners in an attempt to work out payments. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will administer the program, which will begin no later than Oct. 1 and continue through Sept. 30, 2014. The legislation is seen as the toughest foreclosure mediation bill in the entire nation. It was signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie last month.

THE NEW FARMERS MARKET at Kakaako on O`ahu opened yesterday with a big splash about Ka`u Coffee on network television news shows last night. Aikane Coffee was featured at the new farmers market, with Scott Halsted giving a shout out to Ka`u. He also talked about Ka`u Coffees getting high ratings internationally in the last five years - and this year’s top ten SCAA winner Bull Kailiawa. 

HOME SALES IN MAY increased on the Big Island, but prices dropped. There were 147 single-family homes sold, a hike of 14.8 percent over 128 homes sold in May last year. There were 61 condo sales, up 10.9 percent over the 55 sold in May last year.

KA`U FAMILY FUN FEST is ongoing today in its effort to raise money to build the new Bay Clinic medical building along Hwy 11 in Na`alehu. The half marathon took off this morning along with shorter runs. There are games and entertainment all day, including information and food booths, a live auction, a jumping castle, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing and a dunking booth. Entertainers include the Hawai`i County Band, Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis and David Kamakahi, the Lava Boys and One Journey.

Bay Clinic shows its services at Family Fun Fest today at
Na`alehu Park, a fundraiser for a new medical building
Photo by Julia Neal

     The fundraising is working to raise $15,000 to trigger a matching grant from the Edmund C. Olson Trust.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE by Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola, under the direction of Keala Ching, takes place today at 10:30 a.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, along with Hawaiian cultural demonstrations at Volcano Art Center Gallery until 1:30 p.m.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts the third annual Volcano Pottery Sale at its Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight Big Island potters showcase a large assortment of pottery and ceramic sculpture at the sale.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT airs today at 3 p.m. on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television on channel 54. It will air again on Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m.; Friday, June 17 at 2 p.m.; Sunday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m. and Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

BEACH AND OCEAN IS THE THEME at Kilauea Military Camp’s Summer Jam Disco this evening from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The cover charge is $3 for dressed-up contestants and $5 for everyone else. Park entrance fees apply.

THE FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK sponsor a moderately strenuous four-mile round-trip hike that explores the scenery, plants, birds and geology of the Mauna Loa Trail tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hike is free for Friends members, and non-members are welcome to join in order to attend. Call 985-7373 to register.

ANOTHER HIKE TOMORROW from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. explores Kipuka`akihi, an isolated refuge of rare plants in a remnant old-growth forest in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. This event is free, and pre-registration is required. Call 985-6011.

Ka`u News Briefs June 10, 2011

L.A. to Hilo passengers receive greetings of hula and such songs as Aloha Punalu`u.  Photos by Julia Neal

THE FIRST NONSTOP FLIGHT from Los Angeles to Hilo since 1983 landed last night with hula, the singing of Aloha Punalu`u and gifts of lei and local products. The United-Continental Airlines daily flight is expected to bring more weekend visitors from the West Coast and more people coming to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Tomorrow, another United-Continental flight begins a weekly nonstop service on Saturdays from San Francisco to Hilo. 

United-Continental flight greeted by a water curtain in
Hilo -- the first direct Los Angeles to Hilo flight since 1983.
Photo courtesy of Big Island Visitors Bureau

     Last night, the 160 passengers were greeted by fire trucks spraying a “water curtain” over the taxiing aircraft. The Big Island Visitors Bureau and its supporters presented each passenger with a bag of goodies. Hilo Coffee Mill provided steaming hot cups of local coffee as passengers waited for their luggage. Sen. Gil Kahele, Mayor Billy Kenoi and Miss Aloha Hawai`i Tatiana Boteilho greeted arrivals.

U.S. Navy pilot Carlos Reyes hugs his family
after arriving on the flight from L.A.

     Hilo native Lance Lau piloted the 737-800, with revered Hawaiian hula and music maestro Robert Cazimero on the full plane of passengers. When military wife Chanda Reyes and young daughter Maya greeted Navy Lt. Carlos Reyes at the bottom of the escalator, many eyes teared up. The family has been apart for six months while helicopter pilot Reyes served in Kandahar. “The Navy gave me this chance to meet my family anywhere for a reunion, and we chose Hilo, a beautiful halfway spot between home and Afghanistan,” he said.   

     Big Island Visitor Bureau Executive Director George Applegate said that no one expected another nonstop after ATA quit its flight from Oakland to Hilo in 2008. He gave kudos to the mayor for being proactive to bring in the new direct flights. “These flights don’t materialize like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Applegate. 

Pilot Lance Lau with Sen. Gil Kahele

     The Hawai`i Tourism Authority estimates the new flights could generate 40,000 additional visitors and about $50.6 million in visitor spending annually.
     The new United-Continental flights depart Hilo daily at 8:55 p.m. to Los Angeles, and on Saturdays at 9:20 p.m. to San Francisco.

CANOE DISTRICTS in which legislators would represent sections of more than one county are off the table in the meetings of the state Reapportionment Commission. The commission voted down the idea eight to one yesterday. The practice was banned more than a decade ago in favor of senators and representatives serving only one county. The panel also voted to keep single-member districts. There had been discussion about possibly having larger, multimember districts to help balance their size with population changes following the recent census.

THE HAWAI`I POLICE DEPARTMENT is asking for tips, leads and any other information to help find the shooter who unloaded six shots from a passing vehicle, apparently aiming at a 44-year-old man outside his Ocean View Home on Aloha Blvd. The crime took place at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Police initially classified the case as reckless endangering, but detectives reclassified it as attempted murder.
     Anyone with information can call Detective Sharlotte Bird at 326-4646, extension 228, or the non-emergency police line at 935-3311. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

TODAY IS KAMEHAMEHA DAY, a state holiday to honor King Kamehameha the Great, who ruled over all the Hawaiian Islands and helped to develop Hawai`i’s trading and agricultural industries. The draping of the Kamehameha statue will be held in Hilo today and Kohala tomorrow, and the Kamehameha Day parade will be in Kona tomorrow.

Contestants perform at the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant in April 2011.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT airs today at 1 p.m. on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television on channel 54. It will air again on Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m.; Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m.; Sunday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m.; and Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

THE BIG WEEKEND EVENT here in Ka`u will be the Ka`u Family Fun Fest tomorrow. A half marathon, 10K and 5K races begin at 7 a.m. at Na`alehu Park. Other events beginning at 9 a.m. at the park are a hunters’ obstacle course and tournaments in archery, Jan Ken Po, Portuguese horseshoes and basketball. Registration and fee schedules for the races and tournaments are available online at race360.com/15811. Race packets and late registration are available today from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. at the park.
     Throughout the day at the park there will be information and food booths; a live auction; a jumping castle; bungee jumping; rock wall climbing and a dunking booth. Entertainers include the Hawai`i County Band, Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis and David Kamakahi, the Lava Boys and One Journey. For more information, call 265-8251 or email kaufamilyfunfest@gmail.com.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE by Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola, under the direction of Keala Ching, takes place tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, along with Hawaiian cultural demonstrations at Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts the third annual Volcano Pottery Sale at its Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight Big Island potters showcase a large assortment of pottery and ceramic sculpture at the sale.

BEACH AND OCEAN IS THE THEME at Kilauea Military Camp’s Summer Jam Disco tomorrow from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. The cover charge is $3 for dressed-up contestants and $5 for everyone else. Park entrance fees apply.

Ka`u News Briefs June 9, 2011

Learning to throw net is one of the activities wrapping up today at Miloli`i for the Pa`a Pono Miloli`i Camp.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

AT NA`ALEHU COMMUNITY CENTER tonight at 7 p.m., Council member Brittany Smart discusses her proposed resolution to delay Council action on any rezoning or general plan amendments in Ka`u until the Ka`u Community Development Plan is completed and in place, or until December 31, 2012, whichever comes first. For more information, call 961-8536.

KA`U COFFEE FARMS brought in over $2,200 for the Grounds for Health during the international coffee auction held over the last two days. Ka`u Coffee green beans went for high prices, with Kailiawa Coffee selling at $45 a pound and Rusty’s Hawaiian selling for $30.20 a pound. Other Ka`u Coffees selling for good green bean prices were JN Coffee; Paradise Meadows; Rising Sun; R&G Farms; Pumehana Fernendez; Kehau Coffee; Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative and Ka`u Forest. The money all goes to health care in medically underserved coffee growing regions around the world.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND has released statistics from cleaning up the shore at Manuka Natural Area Reserve and Kamilo Point. “Many hands indeed make light work!” said organizer Megan Lamson. The volunteers collected and removed over 5,404 pounds of marine debris. At Manuka, 35 participants combed a half mile of coastline and picked up 700 pounds of non-net marine debris. Of the 15,225 pieces, 75 percent was comprised of plastics, 17 percent metal, seven percent cloth, three percent glass, two percent rubber and one percent wood. Finds included a night heron carcass, dead eel, loads of Department of Land and Natural Resources metal tags, a wetsuit, swimsuit and sarong. Most of the plastic collected was super brittle. Also found were piles of degrading aluminum cans, used batteries and busted glass left by campers.
     At Kamilo, 45 participants combed a half mile of coastline, picking up 3,705 pounds of non-net marine debris and 1,000 pounds of derelict fishing nets. About 95 percent of the debris was plastic, and there was much microplastic – like confetti – sorted from the beach sand. Among the finds were a five-gallon bucket lid with barnacles, old Japanese liquor bottles, a three-legged rhino toy, various army men toys, and several fishing vessel tags. Dr. Drew Kapp brought students from the university and college in Hilo, and Lindsay Englund brought students from Waiakea High School to one of the cleanups.

     During the past few years, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund has found a number of boat tags, including two that said 503, which indicates Portland, Oregon; the number 360 from Seattle, Washington; 650 from the San Francisco Bay area; and 707 from Northern California. The next Ka`u beach cleanup will be on Saturday, Sept. 17. Stay tuned for more locations.

VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND this Sunday to load more than seven tons of derelict fishing nets into a Matson container. The nets came from Ka`u Coast Cleanups and are stored at Wai`ohinu Transfer Station until shipment to O`ahu for processing in a nets-to-energy program. Call 769-7629 or email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com to register. 

Looking for opelu via glass bottom box at the Miloli`i camp sponsored by Conservation International.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

KAPUA BAY was the destination of a hike and canoe ride for students at Pa`a Pono Miloli`i’s annual Lawai`a `Ohana Camp yesterday at Miloli`i. The hike was led by Sen. Gil Kahele, who told the history of the fishing settlements along the coast. Students saw the aftermath of the Japan tsunami that hit the coast south of Miloli`i in March, destroying one house and throwing others off their foundations at Honomalino, Kapua and Okoe. Students also saw the remains of thousands of fish along the trail which were thrown onshore by the tsunami. The day was completed by paddling canoe back to Miloli`i and a lu`au. Students presented music videos on their camp experience and enjoyed a live performance by Miloli`i native and renowned Hawaiian singer Diana Aki. The camp wraps up today. It is sponsored by Conservation International and its Hawai`i Fish Trust program.

Sen. Gil Kahele leads youth along the coast between Miloli`i and Kapua Bay, sharing the history of the Hawaiian fishing settlements. 

RAY BROWN, JR., SON OF ELLA FITZGERALD, PERFORMS tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani campus in Volcano Village. His vocals range from jazz and pop to rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 at the door. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org to purchase tickets.

FAMILY FUN FEST IS this Saturday. `O Ka`u Kakou sponsors a fundraiser for Bay Clinic’s building fund. All donations up to $15,000 will be matched by the Edmund C. Olson Trust II. A half marathon, 10K and 5K races begin at 7 a.m. in Na`alehu Park. Other events beginning at 9 a.m. are a hunters’ obstacle course and tournaments in archery, Jan Ken Po, Portuguese horseshoes and basketball. Registration and fee schedules are at race360.com/15811. Throughout the day enjoy information and food booths, a live auction, a jumping castle, bungee jumping, rock wall climbing and a dunking booth. Entertainers include the Hawai`i County Band, Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis and David Kamakahi, the Lava Boys and One Journey. For more information, call 265-8251 or email kaufamilyfunfest@gmail.com.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT begins airing today at 3 p.m. on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television on channel 54. It will air again on Saturday, June 11 at 3 p.m.; Wednesday, June 15 at 6 p.m.; Friday, June 17 at 6 p.m.; Sunday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m.; and Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE by Ka Pa Hula Na Wai Iwi Ola, under the direction of Keala Ching, takes place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, along with Hawaiian cultural demonstrations at Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts the third annual Volcano Pottery Sale at its Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eight Big Island potters showcase a large assortment of pottery and ceramic sculpture at the sale.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP hosts a Summer Jam Disco Saturday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. DJ Erik Strom requests fancy dress with the theme of Beach and Ocean. The cover charge is $3 for dressed-up contestants and $5 for everyone else. Park entrance fees apply.