September 11, 2011

Mayor Bloomberg and Sen. Inouye visited the 9/11 Memorial for which Inouye has introduced annual funding for the museum.
Photo from 9/11 Memorial

TODAY IS THE DAY TO REMEMBER the tragedy of 9/11 and the sense of unity between neighbors that followed. Here are the words read into the Congressional Record, penned by Hawai`i’s Sen. Daniel Inouye. 

     “On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people who would lose their lives in the most horrific attack on America since the bombing of Pearl Harbor began their day like it was any other. Many got dressed and headed for work. Others packed their bags and went to the airport. All would leave their loved ones that morning believing they would be home soon to continue the lives they worked so hard to create. Instead, these innocents were murdered by terrorists at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
     “This despicable act forever changed our great nation and the world. Families were shattered, a war began, and the relative peace and security we enjoyed was ripped away.”
     The senator said he recently visited Lower Manhattan. He wrote: “Although the rubble has been cleared and great structures are rising from the earth, there is a solemn air that permeates the place. Despite the bustling crews and the towering cranes stacking metal and shaping the new towers,” observed Inouye, “it is still the spot where husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers died in fiery fashion.”
      Said Inouye, “Being there reminded me of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the formative years that followed.” The senator was a boy of 17 when he heard the announcer shout over the radio that “Japanese planes were attacking Pearl Harbor. I remember running outside with my father to see the bright red suns painted on the wings of the Zeroes as they raced toward their target amid black puffs of anti-aircraft fire,” he recalled.

Waterfalls pour into the sites at the World Trade Center where the towers once stood.
Photo from 9/11 Memorial

“I knew at that moment that my country and my life would never be the same. Six decades later that moment came again when I watched passenger jets crash into the side of the World Trade Center. 

 Recalled Inouye: “After Pearl Harbor I put on the uniform and went off to fight for this country as did thousands of my brave brothers from the Greatest Generation. Our nation was shocked into action by the events of Dec. 7, 1941 and a generation of Americans fought and died to shape the new world that came after the bombs fell.
     “America was awakened in similar fashion on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 and ten years later we are still fighting and dying to create a future better than the one we lost that day,” the senator wrote.
     To honor Sept. 11 victims and heroes, foot prints of the fallen towers, sit side by side. The names of the fallen are engraved in panels that form a railing around each pool.
     “It is a fitting memorial for those who died but we must honor their memory by telling their story and educating the world about what happened on Sept. 11, 2001,” wrote Inouye.
     “Yes, it was America that was attacked, but the world changed forever that day and this memorial and museum is much more than a collection of artifacts, it is a symbol of America reborn and a reminder that the world order is always changing.”
     To support this effort, Inouye has introduced a bill to allow the United States, through the Secretary of the Interior, to take ownership of the lands, the Memorial and the Museum. 

The faces of heroes and victims of the attack on the World Trade Center.
Photo from 9/11 Memorial

     The Department of the Interior will enter into a cooperative agreement with the Board of the non-profit National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center, Inc., which may provide technical and financial assistance to the Memorial and Museum relating to its operations and maintenance.
     The legislation would authorize appropriations of $20 million in FY 2013, the first full fiscal year after which the Museum is scheduled to open to the public, and in subsequent years. All funds appropriated will be matched by non-federal sources like admission fees, gifts and fundraising, leaving the federal share being about 33 percent or less of the overall budget of the Memorial and Museum.
     New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo thanked Inouye for leadership in securing the future of the memorial. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, 
“The 9/11 Memorial is for our city, the nation, and the world. Sen. Inouye’s legislation is an important part of securing the legacy of 9/11.”

THE SPLITTING OF KA`U into two House Districts will be one of the issues at public hearings this week. The state Reapportionment Commission holds the first hearing on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the County Council chambers in Hilo and on Wednesday at the council chambers at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona, also at 5 p.m. The major issue for Ka`u is that one of the House of Representatives redistricting maps shows people living from Na`alehu through Ocean View voting with everyone in Kona, all the way up to the condominiums at Kahalu`u beach. People living in Pahala would vote with everyone living in Volcano and deep into Puna. 

Ka`u would be split in two and Herkes would no longer represent
Na`alehu to Ocean View and South Kona.

A petition is being circulated urging the commission to keep Ka`u in one district. Ocean View resident and former Ka`u Chamber of Commerce President Rel Woodward pointed to the work of Rep. Bob Herkes, who has championed the Ocean View potable water well development and the mobile health clinic. Herkes would no longer represent Ocean View, Wai`ohinu, Discovery Harbour, Green Sands, Kalae and Na`alehu under the proposed redistriciting map.      Herkes has also been a champion, along with Sen. Gil Kahele, of the South Kona Wilderness Area, which passed the legislature last session. Herkes would no longer represent this area, and the nearby beach communities, including Miloli`i. 

     Another point of contention is that the state commission, based on O`ahu, has decided to include the non-resident military population in counting the number of people to be included in each district. This skews the population heavily for O`ahu and means that the Big Island, which is the fastest growing island in the state, would most likely not receive a fourth state senator, which it would be entitled to, if those stationed in Hawai`i in the military were not counted. The 2010 census count showed that this county grew 24.5 percent in the last decade. The proposed redistricting maps can be viewed at hawaii.gov/elections/reapportionment/ and at public libraries, according to the redistricting commission.

Ka`u News Briefs September 10, 2011

Gov. Neil Abercromibe and County Council member Brittany Smart worked on funding for the Ka`u shelter and gym, continuing the drive by former council member Guy Entriques.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE NEW KA`U GYM AND COMMUNITY SHELTER will be built. Gov. Neil Abercrombie released most of the money – more than $17 million - to the county this week. Council member Brittany Smart said last night that she was pleased to learn yesterday that the governor not only released funds for planning but also money for construction. She congratulated former County Council member Guy Enriques for initiating the project and continuing to support it. Sen. Gill Kahele said he visited with the governor’s office earlier this week to help with the release of funding for Ka`u projects. The county is expected to take design and build bids for the shelter gym soon. The shelter gym is expected to be the largest building constructed in Pahala since the old sugar mill was built, and will be the biggest building in the historic town. The proposed location is on the Ka`u School campus, on open land near the tennis courts. The school campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sen. Gil Kahele went to the governor's
office to seek release of Ka`u funding.
Photo by Julia Neal

    During inauguration ceremonies at Pahala Plantation House last December the governor promised that Ka`u would thrive and that the dreams of the community would come true. One of Smart's first consversations as a new council member,  with the governor, concerned money for the gym and shelter. The governor said he would work on getting the entire funding if the county could build it quickly, she said. Kahele followed up to help release the money.

DEVELOPERS OF LARGE SUBDIVISIONS and planned residential and resort communities would  have to construct affordable housing instead of paying a fee to the county to offset the affordable housing requirement, if a bill passed by the County Council Planning Committee passes the full council. Supporters say that developers paying money to government instead of coming up with affordable homes has failed to result in sufficient affordable housing on the island.

BUILDING PERMIT PRICES for new homes and other buildings on vacant lots would rise dramatically, if an ordinance designed to help pay for county services passes the full County Council. The council’s Planning Committee voted six to three this week to institute new impact fees that would be levied with building permits.
     The cost would depend on the size of the building. It would range from $4,471 for a small home to $7,026 for a home 3,500 square feet or larger. The measure could lead to restoration of existing buildings or tearing down and rebuilding, as no impact fee would be charged for renovating or replacing a home or business with new construction.
     Some critics noted that people saving up to build on vacant lots have already paid property taxes year after year and should be spared additional barriers to constructing a new house, business or community building on empty land.
     According to Stephens Media reporter Jason Armstrong, Ka'u Councilwoman Brittany Smart “said while the bill will increase building costs and pose a hardship for some, it's a necessary tool to bring needed services and infrastructure to deserving communities like hers.”
     The money is slated to pay for additional county services and infrastructure required when a community grows. At least 80 percent of revenues from the impact fees would be used in the community where impact fees would be collected. The remaining 20 percent could be spent in the area or adjacent “benefit zone.” For Ka`u, the benefit zone is the entire district. The impact fee bill now goes to the full council.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT in the University of Hawai`i system has reached its highest level. According to the system’s website, U.H. Hilo enrollment increased by 65 students, 1.6 percent. Hawai`i Community College based in Hilo was the only community college to see a gain, 83 students, or 2.2 percent. U.H. West O`ahu saw the largest increase by far, 13.7 percent. In all, the system gained 288 students. Many people have decided to go back to school during a time of job scarcity.

THE BIG ISLAND WAS SAFE from any tsunami threat from the strong earthquake that struck Canada yesterday. A 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook southwest British Columbia 9:41 a.m. Hawai`i time, but produced no tsunami. The last tsunami to affect the Ka`u coast occurred on March 11 of this year after an earthquake in Japan. The tsunami ravaged eastern Japan and washed away houses in South Kona.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI is supporting efforts to protect babies from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. During a presentation Friday at West Hawai`i Civic Center, he called for more counseling of pregnant women: “If we can get to our mothers before the last trimester, we can prevent fetal alcohol syndrome,” said the mayor. He was speaking during International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day, a worldwide movement to raise awareness about the largest known, entirely preventable, cause of mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day was recognized with bell-ringing and flags representing the work being done on this island . Healthcare providers and social workers screen pregnant women to identify alcohol use during pregnancy. A positive screen is a mother who admits to using substances during their pregnancy.

     “These screens allow the provider the opportunity to offer these women a brief intervention, or short education about the risks associated with their behavior. We count it as a success if we even help one woman and change the outcome for her baby,” said Sharon Bechler, Children’s Research Triangle’s Hawai`i State Director.

     THE FIRST TROJAN FOOTBALL home game this season is today, Sept. 10, against Hawai`i Preparatory Academy at the Ka`u High School field. Game time is 6 p.m. Ka`u plasy volleyball in Kohala today as well.

Ka'u News Briefs Sept. 9, 2011

Sen. Gil Kahele expects an extension on public comments for the draft EIS for Nani Kahuku 'Aina's proposed resort development near the coast below Ocean View.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES has submitted testimony to the Public Utilities Commission arguing for raising electric bills on both O`ahu and the Big Island to help pay for its proposed `Aina Koa Pono contract to purchase biofuel that would be manufactured at a refinery between Wood Valley and Pahala. The state Consumer Advocate had suggested that the Big Island be exempt from the electric bill hike since this island already has a high amount of alternative energy toward meeting state goals.
     The proposed contract calls for O`ahu and Big Island customers to pay an additional $1.75 to $2.10 more per month on the average household electric bill. The Consumer Advocate suggested that the surcharge should apply only to O`ahu ratepayers because the Big Island has made the most progress in producing renewable energy.
     The electric company’s attorneys, however, argued that the Big Island customers should pay for the benefits of the new alternative power source. Nonetheless, the electric company said it would still go forward with hiking electric bills only on O`ahu, should the PUC approve its `Aina Koa Pono contract and require it. The attorneys noted that the rates are a PUC policy decision. The surcharge would have a “relatively small” impact on costumers and would producing benefits of employment and self-sufficiency to outweigh the costs, argued the electric company.

AN EXTENSION ON PUBLIC COMMENTS for the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed resort development on the coastal section of the 16,000 acres at Nani Kahuku `Aina between South Point and Ranchos is expected, according to Sen. Gil Kahele. He said that the developers have been asked to resubmit their draft EIS, as some sections are incomplete. This means that the comment period could go into November.

The historic Ka`u High School Gym would be retained on the campus, with the addition of a new $18 million gym and community shelter. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

THE PAHALA DISASTER SHELTER AND NEW GYM will go into its design and planning phase, according to Sen. Gil Kahele, who made the announcement at last night’s annual Ka`u Farm Bureau meeting. Referring the governor’s office, he said he went to the “Fifth Floor” of the state capitol to find out about funding for Ka`u projects and learned that funding for the gym is being released and would make its way to the county. He also said $200,000 is being released for surveying and design work to restore and improve the old plantation irrigation system between Kapapala and Na`alehu, above Pahala and the pasturelands. Several million dollars have been approved for the project and will be released in phases by the state government.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE, yesterday, sent a recommendation to the full County Council saying it wants a different nomination for a new Windward Planning Commissioner. Mayor Billy Kenoi’ had nominated Chris Manfredi, of Ka`u Farm and Ranch, who represents the owners of 2,000 acres where Ka`u coffee farms are located and recently approved for an agricultural subdivision, plus 4,000 acres of additional land in Ka`u, some of along the ocean. According to a statement from the office of County Council member Brittany Smart, “It was concern about the overall philosophical balance of the Planning Commission (perceived as already friendly to development) and the number of opposition letters from the community concerning that balance” that resulted in No vote. The full County Council, which is made up of the same nine members as the Planning Committee, will hear Manfredi’s nomination again on Sept. 21 when a final vote will be taken. The committee recognized Manfredi’s work with the Ka`u Farm Bureau and other community organizations in Ka`u.

Chris Manfredi

CHRIS MANFREDI, of Ka`u Farm & Ranch, was reelected last night to be the President of the Ka`u Farm Bureau. Vice President is Phil Becker, Secretary is Michelle Galimba and Treasurer is Lori Obra. Additional board members are Jeff McCall, Gloria Camba, Manuel Marques, Brenda Iokepa-Moses, Ellis Hester and Effren Abellera.

NO APPLICATIONS TO DESIGNATE KA`U LAND as Important Agricultural Lands have been received by the state Land Use Commission. Passed in 2008, the Important Agricultural Lands law provides financial incentives to land owners to preserve their land for agricultural use. Landowners who apply receive up to $7.5 million in annual tax credits for ag facility investments, up to a $2.5 million in loan guarantees, expedited ag processing facility permits and employee housing allowances on prime ag land. Parker Ranch has petitioned the Land Use Commission for IAL designation for almost half its property - 56,772 acres. Parker Ranch would join other landowners in the state to receive an IAL designation, including Alexander & Baldwin Inc. on Maui and Kaua`i, Castle and Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc. on O’ahu, and Mahaulepu Farm LLC on Kaua`i.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS CALLING for more public input on a new bill to once again allocate 2 percent of tax revenues to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund. The County Council’s Financial Committee voted this week for the bill 7 to 1, sending to a vote by the full council. The fund has been used to purchase coastal lands in Ka`u, including a portion of Kawa. Another several hundred acres at Kawa is expected to close soon. If passed, the bill would effectively double the current funding of $2 million a year. The fund previously received 2 percent of county tax revenue, but was reduced to 1 percent in response to the economic crisis and the county’s need to balance its budget.

Shree Padre

THE TIME FOR QUALITY AND PROFITABILITY, is the theme for the 21st Annual Hawai`i International Tropical Fruit Conference, which starts today and continues through Sunday at the Keauhou Beach Resort. Headliner is Shree Padre of India, a specialist in value-added products and a farmer/journalist who is known for his passion for rainwater harvesting and water conservation. USDA employees fig expert Howard Garrison and pomegranate guru Jeff Moresfelder of Davis, California, will also be presenting.
    Dr. Kent Fleming of UH Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will present Understanding Risk Management and the Cost of Production. Attendees will be invited to participate in sessions like Selling to Wholesalers and Ag Tourism; a lively Farmer-Chef Roundtable with members of the ACF Kona Kohala Chefs Association; and a plantation tour of the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Keauhou. HTFG, a statewide association, was incorporated in 1989 to promote tropical fruit grown in Hawai'i. The Kona event is open to the public. Registration forms and fee schedule are available at http://www,Hawaiifruit.net or by contacting kenlove@hawaiiantel.net.

THE VOLCANO ART CENTER NIAULANI CAMPUS will host the Volcano Rain Forest Autumn Harvest Art Camp next month. The center invites participants ages 6 to 14 to join in on luau cooking classes, traditional tool making, and art and outdoor activities. The camp will take start on Oct. 3rd and end on the 7th, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Regular campers cost is $165 and $148 for VAC family members. Partial financial aid is available. To register call 967-8222 or email community@volcanoartcenter.org. Applications are due by Sept. 21.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI asks residents to participate in “Stop and Remember” in honor of the 10th anniversary of the September 11th Attacks. “Stop and Remember” was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate to call for everyone to stop regular day activity for one minute as bells and sirens sound. “Stop and Remember” will occur 7 a.m., Hawai`i time this Sunday, 9/11.