Ka`u News Briefs March 16, 2012

Volunteers cleaned two miles of the Ka`u Coast last Saturday. Photo from Hawai`i Wildlife Fund

DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOTHERMAL energy transmission system that could deliver electricity from the Big Island to other larger population centers through an undersea cable will face federal regulations. They could also be strapped with paying leases, much like offshore oil wells. According to a Civil Beat story by Sophie Cocke, “For the first time, the federal government will charge companies in Hawai`i for placing renewable energy projects in its waters, which extend from three miles to 200 miles offshore.” She quotes a Department of Interior report showing that the fed collected $156 billion in the past 50 years. Other alternative energy projects that may be on the Hawai`i horizon include offshore windmills, and they too would require federal leases. Civil Beat reports that a state and federal task force has started talks to understand how the leases could affect energy projects here. See more at civilbeat.org. 

Mark Kimura documented results of volunteers' efforts along Ka`u's Coast.

LATEST KA`U COAST CLEANUP results are in. Hawai`i Wildlife Fund reports that 43 volunteers cleaned four different coves from Pulehua, south of Ka`alu`alu Bay, to the `Onikinalu lava flow to the south, covering more than two miles of coastline last Saturday. “We estimate that 3,742 pounds of marine debris were removed, including 300 pounds of derelict fishing nets,” said coordinator Megan Lamson. Findings included 2,000 oyster spacers from international mariculture, tinsel, several plastic helmets and a metal plaque with Japanese writing. As usual, plastic was the biggest component of the rubbish at almost 95 percent, followed by rubber, cloth, metal and less than a half-percent each of wood and glass. 

      HWF also sponsors cleanups of anchialine ponds in Ka`u, with the next one set for Tuesday, March 27. Volunteers can sign up with Lamson at 769-7629 or meg.hwf@gmail.com.

COMMENTS ON THE KA`U DISTRICT Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment are due a week from today - next Friday, March 23. The draft lists alternatives, including renovating or replacing the old gym, which would leave the open, grassy field. Demolition or retrofitting would have cost a lot of money and reduced funds to be used for a bigger and better gym. Also, the land around the old gym would have precluded construction of the newer, bigger gym. The EA also pointed out that the old gym is on the Register of Historic Places. 

Other open spaces at Ka`u High were considered but deemed too small for
the shelter and gym, according to the draft EA. Photo by Julia Neal

      Alternative sites within Pahala school grounds and within the district were also considered. Open areas other than the grassy field would limit the size of a new building to a size comparable to the existing gym, according to the draft EA. While using another site at the school would have maintained view planes from houses in the town and left the grassy field open for other recreation, the goal of creating a bigger gym and a disaster shelter with a large capacity could not have been met, the EA says.
      Alternative locations considered within the district included Na`alehu and Ocean View. According to the EA, however, a facility is already proposed for Ocean View that would supplement the Pahala shelter gym to meet full shelter needs of the district’s existing and projected population. “Both facilities are needed,” the draft EA states. “The advantage of locating the project in Pahala over Na`alehu is primarily to have the facility available for elementary, middle, and high school.” Another advantage to placing the project in Pahala is that school buildings “already serve as the district shelter, so the project does not introduce any new traffic impacts to Pahala as a shelter,” the draft EA states.
      The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments can be sent to Tammy Kapali, Planner, PBR Hawai`i & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Honolulu, HI 96813 or faxed to 808-523-1402. Comments can also be sent to County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works, Attn: David Yamamoto, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720 or faxed to 808-961-8630.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.

A GARAGE & BAKE SALE is offered in the Volcano Golf Course Subdivision tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`ekia`iu.

David Richey and Aloha Bluegrass offer An Evening of
Green tomorrow at Kilauea Theater.

AN EVENING OF GREEN, HAWAIIAN STYLE, a music concert hosted by Volcano Art Center, is held tomorrow at 7 p.m., at Kilauea Military Camp’s Kilauea Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Brittni Paiva, Keoki Kahumoku and Aloha Bluegrass perform. Tickets are $20 for VAC members, $22 for non-members. For more, call 967-8222. Park entrance fees apply.  

A WRITING WORKSHOP, Zen Pen, takes place at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tom Peek leads participants in deepening the conversation with their souls by using writing as a means to explore the human spirit, foster compassion for others, understand suffering and ease anger and conflict. The workshop is $77 for VAC members and $85 for non-members. Call Julie at 679-8222.

A ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER SPECIAL is offered by Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The dinner includes roast lamb, corned beef & cabbage, soup, salad, potatoes, green beans and dessert priced at $14 for adults and $7.50 for children 6 to 11 years old. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

`Alala, bred at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center,
are extinct in the wild. Photo by NPS/Jay Robinson

A TOUR OF THE KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER, which is closed to the general public, is offered by the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Friday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. By using intensive captive propagation and release techniques, the center strives to re-establish self-sustaining populations of critically endangered birds in the wild. Friends general manager Julie Mitchell said, “Since the tour is during the breeding season, we may even have the unique chance to see chicks being fed.” $20 for Friends members, $30 for non-members and students with valid ID are half-price. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the conservation center. To register, call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org. 

THE HURRICANE, an original three-act play about a murder that occurs during an approaching hurricane, is set for Saturday, March 24 at 4p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Marge Elwell says the play is “an old-time whodunnit!” Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check to Hawaiian Food Pantry for the same amount. During intermission, cookies and beverages will be served, and prizes for the best answers will be awarded. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. For more, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka'u News Briefs, March 15, 2012

Kamehame, protected by The Nature Conservancy, is one of the pristine, undeveloped beaches along the Ka'u Coast.  
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK could expand again along the Ka`u Coast if legislation introduced by Rep. Mazie Hirono passes the U.S. Congress and funding is found. The movement on the federal level started in 2005 when then congressman Ed Case wrote to the National Park Service asking for a survey of the Ka`u Coast to determine suitability for inclusion as a unit within the National Park System.
      This study was done and Hirono has taken up the cause for further evaluation. She recently reintroduced the Ka`u Coast Preservation Act for lands between Kapa`o Point and Kahuku Point.
      Hirono told congress the National Park Service reconnaissance showed the Ka`u Coast meets National Park Service’s “demanding criteria as a resource of National Significance.”
     She noted the report recommends Congress proceed with a full resource study of the area.
      “Although under significant development pressure the coastline of Ka`u is still largely unspoiled,” Hirono testified. “The study area contains significant natural, geological and archaeological features. The northern part of the study area is adjacent to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and contains a number of noteworthy geological features, including an ancient lava tube known as the Great Crack, which the National park Service has expressed interest in acquiring in the past.”

A monk seal rests along the Ka'u Coast at Honu'apo.  
Photo by Julia Neal

      Hirono noted the study area “includes both black and green sand beaches as well as a significant number of endangered and threatened species, most notably the endangered hawksbill turtle,” and that at least half of the Hawaiian population of the rare sea turtle nests within the study area. It is also home to threatened green sea turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, endangered Hawaiian hawks, native bees, endangered and very rare Hawaiian orange-black damselflies (the largest population in the state), and native endemic birds. Humpback whales and spinner dolphins also frequent the area, Hirono told Congress. “The Ka`u Coast boasts some of the best remaining examples of native coastal vegetation in Hawai`i,” the congresswoman testified. She pointed to archaeological resources related to ancient Hawaiian settlements along the Ka`u Coast as “very impressive. These include dwelling complexes, heiau (religious shrines), walls, fishing and canoe houses or sheds, burial sites, petroglyphs, water and salt collection sites, caves and trails. The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail runs through the study area,” Hirono noted.
      She also said Ka`u’s “spectacular viewscapes, are an important part of Hawai`i's and our nation's natural and cultural heritage. I believe a full feasibility study, which was recommended in the reconnaissance survey, will confirm that the area meets the National Park Service's high standards as an area of national significance,” Hirono concluded.

Signs similar to these that remain at Kawa were
removed from the mauka side of Hwy 11 yesterday.  
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

BANNERS AND SIGNS ALONG HIGHWAY 11 AT KAWA proclaiming Hawaiian sovereignty and illegal takeover of lands were removed yesterday by the rancher leasing the adjacent land. Noni Soares, who leases the land for cattle along with her husband Kyle, said that under the watchful eye of a police officer, they removed the signs and took them to the makai side of the highway for retrieval by people who supported the signage. Soares said that fences needed to be repaired so that the pasture could be used again. She said that with the signs on the fences the ranchers had been unable to maintain them for several years. She said her husband also used equipment on the makai side of the highway to locate a waterline that goes under the highway. She said they are coordinating with the state Department of Transportation for the preservation of the waterline when the state builds its highway project that will raise Hwy 11 above sea level at Kawa Flats to lift it up out of the flood zone. Soares said they were filmed as they were working on the waterline and fence by a group of people who objected to their activities, including taking down the signs. Supporters of Kawa sovereignty planted aloe and taro where the rancher cleared vegetation to look for the water line.

Kawa sovereignty supporters planted aloe and taro after
the rancher cleared away vegetation to look for waterlines.  
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      The county recently completed the purchase of Kawa to preserve it for wildlife, wetlands, surfing, fishing, and other public use, a plan that was opposed by Abel Simeona Lui who has lived on the property for some two decades. West Hawai`i Today quoted Deputy Managing Director Wally Lau as saying on Monday that he is in charge of putting together a stewardship plan for Kawa and other open space land the county purchases. The newspaper reported Lau saying that, “Any stewardship program, for any county property, would start with lineal and cultural descendants of the region.” According to the report, “That means Lui could end up being a steward for Kawa,” even after court decisions that would allow eviction. Lau said, “If he wants to be a player or a participant, we can’t exclude anybody,” according to West Hawai`i Today.

Kaua`i Coffee Company's estate. Photo from kauaicoffee.com

A PRIVATELY OWNED COFFEE COMPANY could be funded to build a new factory with state revenue bonds to make Hawaiian coffee into instant, freeze dried, syrups and other value added products. Senate Bill 2352 would “authorize $10 million in special purpose revenue bonds to assist Kaua`i Coffee Company, Inc. in the planning, construction and operation of a coffee processing facility for the production of Hawai`i-based coffee products.” The standing committee report says that “in order to develop additional markets for Hawai`i-grown coffee, the coffee industry must be able to offer new and innovative products. Therefore, creating a new coffee processing facility would allow the coffee industry to create products that the global market is demanding. The coffee processing facility will also benefit all Hawai`i coffee producers by allowing them to process their product in Hawai`i,” the legislation states. The legislation names liquid concentrated coffee and freeze dried coffee as examples. “Prospective buyers for these products include the United States military, overseas markets, and niche markets that demand portable and durable food products,” the legislation says.

Photo from mjbcoffee.com

      In support yesterday, state Department of Agriculture Chair Russell Kokubun noted that 54.4 million pounds of coffee have been produced in the state since 2003, with about 55 percent in Hawai`i County and the rest of the state producing 45 percent. “All counties have need for a processing facility for coffee as well as other agricultural commodities to add value to their production,” Kokubun contended.
      Dr. Bryce Decker, a member of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, testified against the bill. “Department of Agriculture needs to allocate resources to combat the coffee berry borer, which threatens the entire Hawaiian coffee industry. There are some 600 hundred coffee farmers affected. Bills that favor a single large producer, while neglecting 99 percent of them in real trouble with the borer, strike me as very unwise policy. We can do better,” he wrote.
      Coffee farmers Page Trygstad and Yoko Harada also opposed the measure. “This is inappropriate construction of a facility for a foreign owned company.” In the meantime coffee farmers suffer “from inadequate or no assistance from the state in its battle against the coffee berry borer,” they wrote.

Photo from hillsbros.com

      Coffee farmer Bruce Corker also opposed the measure. He wrote, the “committee is giving a hearing to a bill to provide special financial assistance to a ‘Big Ag’ corporation-while providing no apparent support for coffee farmers facing economic devastation…Why does the HDOA support allocation of economic resources to Kaua`i Coffee Co. when it is unable to hire and place an entomologist in Hawai`i County?” he asked.
      Coffee farmer Sandra Scarr wrote that in January 2019, Alexander & Baldwin “sold its coffee operations to global coffee giant Massimo Zanette. MZ is the world’s largest privately owned coffee group, comprised of 49 companies operating in over 35 countries. In addition to Kaua`i Coffee, their brands include Hills Bros, MJB, Chock-Full-Of-Nuts, Chase & Sanborn and others. Why does MZ need Hawai`i state-guaranteed bonds? Is this just cheap money or were the bonds part of an A&B promissory note on the sale?” asks the coffee farmer.
      The bill is scheduled for decision-making in the House Agriculture committee tomorrow. Anyone can testify by going to www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

Photo from Blue Planet Foundation

REPLACING OLD LIGHT BULBS with new energy efficient bulbs is once again a fundraiser possibility for Ka`u community groups. Blue Planet Foundation hopes residents across Hawai`i will replace 25,000 incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. Schools community groups, social clubs, churches and athletic teams are welcome to apply for up to a thousand free CFLs at a time. The groups will receive 50 cents for each old bulb turned in that has been replaced by a CFL. Replacing 25,000 light bulbs is calculated to save $4.8 million during the life of the light bulbs and reduce Hawai`i’s dependency on importing fossil fuel. Interested organizations can call 954-6161 to sign up and attend an orientation. Deadline is March 30.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.

Keoki Kahumoku performs at
Kilauea Theater Saturday.

EVENTS PLANNED FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY, in Volcano, include a workshop, concert and dinner. A zen inspired writing workshop, Zen Pen, taught by Tom Peek is hosted at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $77 for VAC members, $85 for non-members. Call Julie, 967-8222. VAC offers An Evening of Green, Hawaiian Style bluegrass concert that evening at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camps, Kilauea Theater in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. A St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Special is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ka`u News Briefs March 14, 2012

Republicans vote to nominate a candidate for U.S. President at Na`alehu School in the first ever Republican caucus in Hawai`i as an observer from the Democratic Party stands over the polling place. Photo by Julia Neal

LIBERTARIAN RON PAUL won the Hawai`i county Republican caucus last night with 32 percent of the vote, edging out Mitt Romney who took 31 percent, Rick Santorum with 23 percent and Newt Gingrich with 15 percent. The win gave Paul one delegate towards nomination to become the Republican candidate for U.S. President.

Republicans, comprised of Tea Party,
Liberation and traditional party members,
fly Old Glory at the caucus in Na`alehu.  
Photo by Julia Neal

      Paul lost on the other islands, with 30 percent of the vote in Maui County, just under Romney’s 31 percent. Paul took 26 percent of the vote on Kaua`i where both Romney and Santorum beat him.
      Romney took 56 percent of the vote in the City & County of Honolulu, followed by Santorum, giving Romney the win statewide. The allocation from the first ever Republican caucus voting in Hawai`i gives nine delegates to Romney, four to Santorum, one to Paul and zero to Gingrich.
      Voting was held in Ka`u at Na`alehu and Ocean View. There was also a Republican caucus in Volcano. Republican Party leaders said the turnout was bigger than expected and some places ran out of ballots. In Na`alehu, people exiting the polling place were open about their support; some chosing the Libertarian, small government ideas of Ron Paul, others the conservatism of Rick Santorum and still others the moderation of Mitt Romney. A number of people identified themselves with the Tea Party.

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT late yesterday afternoon as a truck carrying a big earth mover struck a utility pole on Kama`oa Road above Discovery Harbour. Traffic was rerouted for hours. No one was injured but the pole snapped, falling on the truck. Electricity was interrupted in Na`alehu.

A 3.4 EARTHQUAKE SHOOK the earth yesterday six miles south of Volcano Village inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. No damage nor injuries reported.

Photo from coffeebeandirect.com

INSPECTION OF GREEN COFFEE BEANS being shipped out of their origin region and also out of the state would end if House Bill 280 passes the state Senate. State Department of Agriculture Chair Russell Kokubun provided testimonyfor a public hearing yesterday before the Senate Agriculture Committee. He explained: “Prior to 1997, green coffee certification was conducted on a voluntary basis for users requesting certification. Following a counterfeit scandal, a coffee dealer was indicted for fraud for selling counterfeit green Kona coffee at depressed prices in the mainland. This prompted legislation that required all Hawai`i-grown green coffee be certified prior to leaving the geographic region of production. However, this requirement did not apply to roasted Hawai`i-grown coffee.”
      Kokubun noted that a reduction in state Department of Agriculture staff means there is only one full-time Agricultural Commodities Marketing Specialist to inspect coffee on the west side of this island. This results in delay of inspections with a turnaround time of up to three to four weeks. The delay in exporting the coffee “limits cash flow needed to pay their coffee producers in a timely manner,” Kokubun testified. He said his department supports voluntary certification of origin but would conduct unannounced inspections to make sure coffees are from their stated origin. He also said the measure “would not trump the current quarantines in place that are meant to prevent the spread of coffee berry borer or other potential invasive pests or diseases.”
      The statewide Hawai`i Farm Bureau also supported the measure “provided that stiff, enforceable penalties in the law will punish and deter the act of counterfeiting Hawaiian grown coffee,” testified its CEO Bryan Miyamoto. The Ka`u Farm Bureau, in testimony from its President Chris Manfredi, supports lifting the certification but urged making counterfeiting coffee origin “an enforceable felony offense."

Coffee growers are split on whether to eliminate government
origin certification. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      The Kona Coffee Growers Association, however, testified that its 320 members oppose eliminating government coffee origin certification. Its President Cecelia Burns Smith said she is a fourth generation coffee grower and called the bill “unnecessary and dangerous. If enacted it will cause significant economic harm to the hundreds of small family farms both in Kona and in other Hawaiian geographic origins statewide that are developing a reputation for superior quality.”  She said farmers depend on mandatory inspections to ensure grade and geographic origin are certified to maintain reputation for outstanding quality and price.
      Another coffee farmer wrote: “Rather than moving backwards, the State of Hawai`i should be strengthening its systems to provide for Hawai`i-grown coffee protections similar to what Florida provides for Florida Orange Juice, the State of Georgia for Vidalia Onions, Idaho for Idaho Potatoes, and California for Napa Wines.” An inspection fee could pay for the certification, several testifiers suggested. Rep. Denny Coffman, of Kona who, if reelected will represent Ka`u from Manuka through Ocean View to Honu`apo, also opposed the measure as did Rep. Faye Hanohano. The bill was deferred in the Senate Ag committee until March 20.

Mixed Martial Arts fighter, VISTA volunteer
Dylan Rush, is asking for community help
with Ka`u High School Senior Projects.
Photo from MMAHawaii.com

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL is seeking volunteers for a wide variety of activities including coaches, tutors and mentorships for senior projects. High school seniors must create a project to receive a Board of Education certified diploma. Seniors design projects around any topic they choose. Projects this year included a documentary about immigrant Filipino life in the islands, fashion design, stone sculpting, and a drive to collect school supplies. “If you are an expert or just a hobbyist in any field, a kupuna, or just a community member who wants to get involved, you are invited to register as a volunteer for our youth,” said VISTA volunteer Dylan Rush. To register as a volunteer, log onto HelpHawaiiSchools.com. For questions, contact Rush at 310-295-8177.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday, March 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Ka`u `Ohana Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Activities include `oli, mo`olelo, GPS, compass and measuring distance by pacing. Call 985-6019.

HAZEL BECK, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, discusses what it takes to get a business started at a workshop this Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at Na`alehu Community Center. To register, contact Jane Horike at 961-8496 or jhorike@co.hawaii.hi.us.