Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 2, 2011

The sugar plantation's old water system came down the mountain in wooden flumes to transport cane to the mill.
Now in pipes, it is used for irrigation and will be used to produce electricity.  Photo by Julia Neal

HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY, using abandoned sugar plantation water resources and Keaiwa Reservoir, is on tap for the farms along Wood Valley Road. Olson Trust workers recently laid pipe, drained the reservoir to repair it and set a course down the hillside to give the water the drop it needs to make electricity.

Keaiwa Reservoir is drained for repair.  Photo by Julia Neal

     Olson land manager John Cross said the goal is to make the new Ka`u Coffee Mill and macadamia husking plant totally “green and using only renewable energy.” Cross said that Olson also plans to use the excess water for additional agricultural projects such as growing watercress and a loi system to grow kalo – taro – and perhaps make poi. The irrigation water is already used for coffee trees, taro, and truck crops grown by farmers leasing the Olson Trust land. 

HAWAI`I SUSTAINABLE ALLIANCE is asking for support to amend the county building code to allow what it calls more eco-friendly communities and buildings. A resolution is set to go before the County Council this week.
     Council member K. Angel Pilago said the resolution requests the county Department of Public Works to “establish minimum requirements for owners/builders of rural dwellings on agricultural parcels, through waiver or exemption from existing codes, which will allow the use of substitute materials, procedures and alternatives, to the extent that a reasonable degree of health and safety is provided.”
     According to the Alliance, “thousands of Big Island residences have been constructed without Hawai`i County building permits, particularly in rural areas where the cost of house and outbuilding construction in accordance with current Building Code is out of the financial reach of many residents, especially during these dire economic times. In addition, Hawai`i’s need to create and support more sustainable paradigms in order to insure a healthy future is obvious...and, in fact, has been mandated by the state goal of becoming more self-reliant and sustainable by the year 2050.” See more at hawaiisustainablecommunity.org.

Detail of Akebono Ka`u, Kathleen Kam's winning
art for The Directory 2012 cover, showing
plantation history and the new
independent agriculture.

AKEBONO KA`U is the name of the art that won the cover contest for the next Ka`u Directory, the community and resource guide and phone book for the district. The winning artist is Kathleen Kam, who recently taught art at Na`alehu School and painted the murals at Punalu`u Bake Shop in Na`alehu, Kilauea General Store in Volcano, the Keauhou Bird Sanctuary in Volcano, KTA in Hilo and Kamehameha Schools on O`ahu. She has provided artwork for signage and displays at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and is currently completing murals at the Ka`u Coffee Mill. The selection of The Directory artwork was made through public voting all last week at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union. 

     Wanda Aus, organizer of the event and End of Show Celebration, thanked everyone who participated, including the 211 people who voted. Others who helped Aus include Gary Golding and Bill Kinney, who set up and took down displays; Deedee Bodine, who helped hang art; Peter Anderson, Bill Doar, Allan Stafford, Lee McIntosh and Deedee Bodine, who greeted the public during show hours.

     Aus was happy to announce that three of the submitted artworks sold.

     See tomorrow's Ka`u News Briefs for more on the art show.

     The deadline to submit changes or new listings and ads for The Directory 2012 is Monday, Oct. 31.

PROPOSED COUNTY COUNCIL REDISTRICTING MAPS go to public hearings around the island. The Ka`u hearing takes place in Na`alehu on Oct. 12 at 9 a.m. The Redistricting Commission is attempting to redraw districts so that each County Council member will represent 20,462 people. 

THE ACOUSTIC HAWAIIAN JAM at Honu`apo happens next Sunday, Oct. 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo and Keoki Kahumoku invite everyone to bring their acoustic instruments to this free family event to celebrate another year of Ka `Ohana’s stewardship of the park.

Homecoming Court members Talai Ke, Jennifer Haalilio, Alika Kaopua, Rochelle Koi, Mark Cuison and
Eunice Longakit performed following the Trojans' win.

KA`U HIGH VARSITY FOOTBALL brought home their first win last night just in time for Homecoming. The Trojans beat the Kohala Cowboys at the Pahala ball park during the Ka`u Homecoming game. Ka`u took off in the first quarter, earning 14 points. Ka`u added another six in the second quarter, but allowed Kohala to inch ahead 22 points. However, both the Trojans defense and offense turned on the juice in the fourth quarter. 

Trojan fans gathered on the field following the win.

On the second-yard line, senior quarterback Daellan Kai threw a short pass to senior Evan Vanderpool to score. Senior Alika Kaopua caught another short pass from Kai to earn the two- point conversion. The defense rendered the Cowboys scoreless the entire second half. Final score 28-22.

     Following the game, the Homecoming Court, which included football players Mark Cuison, Alika Kaopua, Talai Ke and Evan Vanderpool, performed a dance. Other court members are Eunice Longakit, Rochelle Koi, Shyann Carvalho-Flores, Janessa Jara, Jennifer Haalilio and Tyren Fukunaga-Camba.

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 1, 2011

The Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park opens a new trail next Saturday.

“WE ARE NOT DETERRED from the development of biofuels on the Big Island in any way,” Kenton Eldridge, executive vice president of `Aina Koa Pono, told West Hawai`i Today on Friday. That is the report from Stephens Media reporter Nancy Cook Lauer.
     The Public Utilities Commission turned down a proposed contract between `Aina Koa Pono and Hawaiian Electric Company on Thursday, saying that the confidential price was “excessive, not cost-effective, and thus, is unreasonable and inconsistent with the public interest.” In their unanimous decision, the three PUC commissioners said the 20-year contract could deter the use of other more affordable alternative energies.

Henry Curtis

     Life of the Land executive director Henry Curtis put it another way to Stephens Media: “`Aina Koa Pono proposed that HELCO buy biodiesel at about $170 a barrel and that HECO ratepayers subsidize the price.” According to West Hawai`i Today, “that price is more than twice the Nymex Crude Future price Friday of $79.20 a barrel as reported by Bloomberg.com.” 

     Some community members were concerned about the likely hike in their electric bills. While the increase was expected to be only a couple of dollars a month for the average household, increases in electric bills for businesses and public institutions could have been much higher.
     The decision does not mean that `Aina Koa Pono will abandon their plan to build a refinery between Wood Valley and Pahala and a biofuel farm between Pahala and Na`alehu. The company could reapply to the PUC with a new proposal for the electric company. 

     Hawaiian Electric Co. representatives said they were disappointed with the PUC decision to reject the `Aina Koa Pono contract and would study the decision. HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg wrote: “We are committed to providing a clear market for local biofuels to help landowners and biofuel providers here bridge the difficult and costly start up of production.” He said the utilities have “worked and continue to work with potential local biofuel providers to do this in the most cost-effective way possible. We will redouble our efforts to reach this very important goal.” HECO also announced an agreement with another company that plans to make biofuel from algae on O`ahu.

     Instead of biofuel for electricity, `Aina Koa Pono could concentrate on biofuel for transportation. Biofuel could be used to help the military and the public to wean itself from importing fossil fuel to Hawai`i. A new law that passed the 2012 state legislature calls for transportation in Hawai`i to increasingly rely on biofuel.
     Federal funding for biofuel has also become available in the last year. Should federal funding be used for the `Aina Koa Pono project, however, a full Environmental Impact Statement would be required. During a community meeting in September, `Aina Koa Pono promised an Environmental Assessment.
     `Aina Koa Pono has promised 400 construction jobs to build the refinery and several hundred permanent jobs at the farm and factory.
     Regarding the funding of alternative energies, Stephens Media reported that PUC chair Mina Morita said Friday: “There’s a huge policy issue that really needs to be discussed and vetted. Typically when new technology comes through ... it’s the investors who take the risk, or taxpayers if it has broad societal benefits, then taxpayers fund it through research and development."
     The PUC ruling states that “the degree to which utility customers should be required to provide financial assurances for indigenous biofuel development, and under what terms and conditions, is a critical policy issue that has not been fully vetted from a regulatory perspective.”

MILOLI`I COMMUNITY MEMBERS met yesterday regarding the proposed Nani Kahuku `Aina resort project on 1,600 acres of mostly conservation land near the ocean between South Point and Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos. During the meeting sponsored by Pa`a Pono Miloli`i, fishermen said they are worried about the possible impact of runoff from golf courses, fresh water irrigation and other pollutants damaging the fishery along the coast. They said currents could bring such runoff toward Miloli`i. They also talked about the non-profit group that would oversee cultural and environmental programs as well as the protection of Pohue Bay, where endangered hawksbill turtles nest. The board of the nonprofit is comprised of the resort developers.
     Attorney Kehau Watson advised the group on responding to the draft Environmental Impact Statement which is available online at the state Department of Health website under the Office of Environmental Quality Control. The deadline for comments on the DEIS is Nov. 6.

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL asked Pa`a Pono Miloli`i yesterday whether the community group wants to apply for funding for a community driven project to help restore some of the fish population to make more fish available for the diet of community members. Community members talked about some species being depleted by aquarium fish exporters. Others talked about the condition of the reef. Dr. Kehau Watson talked about Samoa where the people living in an area are allowed to fish while outsiders need permission. There was talk about reviving a Makai Watch, a kind of Neighborhood

Watch for the ocean.

A NEW TRAIL AT THE KAHUKU UNIT of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park opens next Saturday. The Palm Trail crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with panoramic views. A celebration takes place at the trailhead at 10 a.m., followed by a guided hike. Another guided hike begins at 11 a.m. The Kahuku Unit is open weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. except for the first Saturday of each month.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to vote for the cover art for The Directory 2012, the community resource and phone directory sponsored by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce. Voting on artwork submitted for the competition will continue until 11:30 a.m. today at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. The deadline to submit and renew listings and advertising for The Directory 2012 is Oct. 31. Applications are online at kauchamber.org or call 928-6471.

ELECTRONIC WASTE CAN BE dropped off at the Wai`ohinu transfer station today until 4 p.m. This is the first day for the program that will rotate between Wai`ohinu and three other locations each Saturday. E-waste will be accepted at Wai`ohinu on the first Saturday of each month. Items accepted include TVs, monitors, laptops, VCRs, DVD players, stereo equipment, cameras and telephones.

KA`U HIGH’S HOMECOMING GAME starts at 6 p.m. tonight. A parade through Pahala precedes the game.

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 30, 2011

This artist's rendering shows `Aina Koa Pono's proposed Ka`u Energy Farm.

THE STATE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION yesterday denied the contract between `Aina Koa Pono and Hawaiian Electric Co. by a unanimous vote. The contract, which called for higher electric bills to pay for the project, would have helped secure financing to build a refinery between Wood Valley and Pahala and to grow biofuel crops on some 13,000 acres between Pahala and Na`alehu. 

     AKP had promised 400 construction jobs and hundreds of permanent jobs for the mill and farm.
     However, the PUC called the price at which the AKP-produced biofuel would have been sold to the electric company “excessive, not cost-effective,” and “unreasonable and inconsistent with the public interest.” The commission wrote: “In effect, from a real world, bill-paying perspective, the HECO Companies seek the commission’s approval to consistently charge affected ratepayers a premium for HELCO’s purchase and use of AKP-produced biofuel under the terms of the twenty-year contract. Such a result is unreasonable and not in the public interest.” 

PUC chair Mina Morita

     The PUC also called the proposed biofuel pricing a “a mystery to all but a select few,” as it remained confidential to all but the electric company, `Aina Koa Pono, the PUC and the Consumer Advocate. The PUC stated in its decision that the price would have been an estimated eight-figure amount (at least 10 million dollars) in 2015, the first year in which the sixteen million gallons of biofuel could have been produced. “Over the course of the twenty-year contract period, the total estimated cost impact of using AKP-produced biodiesel instead of petroleum fuel will be a nine-figure amount,” (a minimum of 100 million dollars), the PUC wrote.
     While the commission wrote that its decision was largely based on the high cost of the biofuel, it noted commissioners’ other major concerns with the contract, such as the likelihood that using the biofuel to keep the electric company’s existing power plants operating “will displace or curtail existing cheaper renewable alternatives.”
     The PUC also listed community support and opposition in its written decision. Community concern, noted by the PUC included:
     “The lack of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement for the AKP Project; emissions generated from burning biofuel, which is not a clean renewable energy resource; health, safety, and ground transport (i.e., trucking) concerns related to the AKP Project;
     “Inadequate water supply for the source crops; utilizing the land for food crops, and not as source crops for biofuel. Utilizing other renewable energy resources, which are ‘clean’ and lower in cost, in lieu of biofuel; 

     “The AKP Project will increase, and not decrease, electric utility rates; 

     “Based on the HECO Companies’ estimated amount of the proposed monthly biofuel surcharge, the cost of AKP-produced biofuel (which is filed under confidential seal) is not economical;  

     “The proposed biofuel surcharge is unfair and unnecessary;
     “Arbitrary, preferential treatment for the biofuel industry;
     “The MWDP (microwave) technology is unproven on a commercial scale (i.e., the AKP Project is not technically or economically feasible);
     “Net zero displacement of petroleum diesel, when one energy unit of petroleum diesel is used to produce one energy unit of biofuel;
     “Lack of ratepayer benefits.”

The Halau at Miloli`i is the site of a meeting about the Nani Kahuku `Aina
development today at 2:30 p.m.  Photo by Julia Neal

A MEETING ON THE Nani Kahuku `Aina development will be held at Miloli`i today, sponsored by Pa`a Pono Miloli`i at 2:30 p.m. at the Halau - the Miloli`i Pavilion. The organization is calling for more community involvement in reviewing the plan to change land to Urban designation from Conservation along the coast between South Point and Ocean View Ranchos to create a development called Kahuku Village. The meeting will be followed by a presentation by Conservation International and Pa`a Pono Miloli`i on a marine conservation program. 

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY for comments on the plan to put a sidewalk on the mauka side of Hwy 11 in Na`alehu. The state Department of Transportation’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan ranks the project as number one on the Big Island. The plan can be read, and comments can be made, at hawaiipedplan.com or 808-587-6395. 

VOTING CONTINUES THROUGH tomorrow morning at Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu for the cover art for the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce’s Directory 2012. The End of Show celebration takes place tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. The Directory is Ka`u’s phone book and resource publication. Deadline to submit listings and advertising is Oct. 31. Applications are online at kauchamber.org or call 928-6471.

ELECTRONIC WASTE CAN BE dropped off at the Wai`ohinu transfer station tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the first day for the program that will rotate between Wai`ohinu and three other locations each Saturday. E-waste will be accepted at Wai`ohinu on the first Saturday of each month. Items accepted include TVs, monitors, laptops, VCRs, DVD players, stereo equipment, cameras and telephones.

SPIRIT WEEK CONTINUES AT KA`U HIGH. Today is Flashback Friday and features students wearing clothes from different eras. The Homecoming Dance is tonight, and the parade tomorrow precedes the homecoming game, with kick-off at 6 p.m. on the Ka`u High football field against Kohala.

KA`U HIGH GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL beat St. Joseph’s in the Ka`u High gym last night. The Trojans only gave up one set in the match and came back strong to quickly vanquish St. Joe in the fourth set, allowing them to score just 10 points. Set scores were 25-22, 21-25, 25-22 and 25-10. During the game a serious injury to a St. Joseph's player stopped the game for 45 minutes.