Ka`u News Briefs April 7, 2012

The first internship program, shown here in 2010, has grown to accommodate 52 students this year at
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from NPS

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S SCHOOL INTERNSHIP program began with Ka`u High and is growing to serve 52 students this summer from late May into August. The training started three years ago after visiting professor Joan Rubin and The Ka`u Calendar’s editor Julia Neal got together with Ka`u High School principal Sharon Beck and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park staff. They said the National Park and other natural resource conservation and wilderness activities organizations are a growing economic engine in Ka`u - a source of employment for youth and an inspiration for higher education in many fields, from geology and biology to ecotourism design and management, from trail building to accounting and customer service.

Students represent the park in their uniforms during
Na`alehu's Fourth of July parade. Photo by Julia Neal

      The committee successfully wrote a $60,000 grant, and Edmund Olson offered up classroom space in the Olson Trust Building in Pahala and a van to transport students. National Park staff led by ranger Kupono McDaniel provided training along with help from such organizations as The Nature Conservancy. A number of youth landed uniforms. Not only did they learn about the natural history and resources of their homeland, they learned to teach it to others and found that visitors really appreciate the knowledge coming from the locals.
      Ka`u High School graduate Moses Espaniola III took the training and landed a job in the park, which he continues as he attends college in Hilo. He said that after learning about the unique qualities of Ka`u that are famous worldwide, local students witness the visitors being amazed by the volcano, the forest, the wildlife and the ocean here. Espaniola said it makes the kids proud to be from Ka`u. Another Ka`u High School graduate, Jorge Zamudio, became an intern, landed a job in the park, and the hospitality training led him to a position with a resort.

Moses Espaniola III started as an intern
and landed a job at the National Park.

      The $60,000 grant has grown this year to $320,000, and the training will include students from communities on the other side of the National Park – from high schools in Puna and the community college in Hilo. Olson Trust is contributing transportation again, and professor Rubin said she is proud to see a program that started in Ka`u help so many other people. Ranger McDaniel said he thanks the Ka`u community for getting it started.

NEW STATE SENATE AND HOUSE of Representatives district boundary lines are subject to a suit filed yesterday in Honolulu. Plaintiffs want the reapportionment commission to include non-resident military, out-of-state college students and other non-residents in the population count which would give more representation to O`ahu. The state Supreme Court, earlier this year, ordered non-residents removed from the population count to give fair representation to those who live here, particularly on the Big Island, where population grew more than elsewhere in the state. The court decision gave Hawai`i County an additional seat in the state Senate. The new suit threatens the timeliness of campaigning for the Aug. 11 primary election, as candidates are off and running with the deadline to sign up on June 5.

Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a

WENDELL KA`EHU`AE`A, founder of KAHU, the community radio station in Ka`u, announced yesterday he will run for state Senate in District 2. Ka`ehu`ae`a said he wants to protect public radio and TV, which are losing channels to commercial stations. He said that his own experience covering community affairs for Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Access Television on the Big Island and at KAHU radio in Ka`u has given him a unique understanding of community issues and needs. Ka`ehu`ae`a, a Navy veteran, said that after his radio program this morning, he would be off the air until after the election. Ka`ehu`ae`a takes on veteran legislator Bob Herkes, an incumbent state House of Representatives member, who announced he will run for the Senate seat. Other candidates are Hawai`i Natural Foods president Russell Ruderman, former County Councilman Gary Safarik and school administrator Steve Hirakami. 

THE STATE LAND USE COMMISSION is looking for a new executive director. Dan Davidson retires May 1. The LUC is in charge of deciding land use classifications as Urban, Rural Agriculture or Conservation, and changes in these classifications must go before the LUC before local zoning changes can be made.

Map shows land use classifications in Ka`u.

      The LUC also has a new nomination for the commission itself. Ralph S. Inouye, a general contractor based on O`ahu, has been nominated by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. His website says his company was founded in 1962, and “for decades we have played an integral role in the growth and development of Hawai`i, having worked on a diverse range of commercial building, renovation and engineering projects for federal, state and city agencies, and many prestigious private entities.” The company can handle projects valued at more than $100 million. Among its completions are Shriners’ Hospital, shopping centers, apartment buildings and U.H. School of Architecture.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Planner Ron Whitmore said the sole business item is a CDP project update and that the draft CDP is still in progress and not on the agenda for discussion. “Initial drafts of several parts of the Natural and Cultural Resources section of the CDP have been completed, but more work remains before that section is complete,” Whitmore said. For more information, call Whitmore at 961-8137.

NA`ALEHU ASSEMBLY OF GOD hosts an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow. Call 929-7278 for more information. 

OCEAN VIEW EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY CHURCH presents The King is Coming, a free musical drama, tomorrow at 10 a.m. Call 939-9089 for more information.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP celebrates Easter with brunch from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Starting at 9 a.m. KMC, in partnership with Rotary Club of Volcano, hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for keiki 10 years old and younger in KMC’s Ohia Room. To pre-register call 967-8352. Tomorrow evening, KMC offers an Easter dinner special from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Crater Rim Café. For more, call 967-8366.

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

Ka`u News Briefs April 6, 2012

ML Macadamia's Pahala husking plant on Olson Trust lands. Photo by Julia Neal

ML MACADAMIA ORCHARDS, LP, with offices in Pahala and Kea`au, plans to change its name to Royal Hawaiian Orchards to expand its husking plant in Pahala and possibly build its own processing plant to make macadamia nut products here. ML, with its 5,000 acres of macadamia trees, currently operates the husking plant between Pahala and Hwy 11 on Olson Trust land. ML says it is the largest macadamia nut grower in the world. According a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, if it raises the money ML may invest $10 to $12 million in a processing plant, and $1.5 million to $2 million for drying and storage facilities as well as improve the husking plant. ML would invest in existing orchards to increase yield and seek mature orchards to add to its inventory. ML would spend $5 million to $7 to develop the Royal Hawaiian Orchards brand name, a variety of products and new packaging, wholesaling and retailing. 

ML Macadamia, with offices in Pahala and Kea`au, is
planning its own mac nut brand. Photo by Julia Neal

      “ML plans to rely on existing investors in the company to finance an ambitious plan,” says the story by Honolulu Star Advertiser reporter Andrew Gomes. He writes that ML has registered to sell partnership units to existing owners to generate up to $20 million to finance the expansion. The effort could double the market value of the company, the story predicts.

      If it raises the money to roll out its own brand, ML Macadamia would stop selling raw nuts to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., as its contracts expire, and use its own nuts to process and sell under its new name, Royal Hawaiian Orchards.
      The new executive vice president of sales and marketing is Scott Wallace, a former president and CEO of Mauna Loa. He also ran a fresh fruit company called Fruit Patch.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE meeting is open to the public on Tuesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Hawai`i County long -range planner Ron Whitmore says the purpose of the meeting is solely to give a project update. “The draft CDP is still in progress and is not on the agenda for discussion,” said Whitmore. He added that once the draft is complete there will be several publicized opportunities to discuss it.
      Whitmore gave an update on the following Ka`u planning matters not on the agenda for the CDP meeting:

Kawa is the subject of a county stewardship and not on the agenda for
the CDP meeting Tuesday. Photo by Julia Neal

      Kawa Stewardship Plan. The Mayor’s office is working with local families and community members to draft a stewardship plan for the land purchased for the public at Kawa.
      Kawa Drainage Environmental Assessment. The comment period has closed for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed raising of Hwy 11 at Kawa by the state Department of Transportation to prevent road flooding. The Draft EA is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      Pahala Emergency Shelter & Gym is being planned by the county. The comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment closed in March. The Draft EA is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      Ka`u Forest Reserve Environmental Assessment for the management plan for the state Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife is underway by Ron Terry of Geometrician Associates (969-7090, geometricianassociates.com). Terry invites public comment on the Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan that is under development.
      Kahuku Village/Nani Kahuku `Aina proposed private development. Comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement closed in November 2011. The Draft EIS is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      For more visit www.kaucdp.info or call Whitmore at 961-8137.

Tunnel work to restore water above Pahala for
irrigation. Photo courtesy of Olson Trust

THE KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT committee will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 12 at Pahala Community Center at 4 p.m. Steering committee member Jeff McCall said that, after Mayor Billy Kenoi’s talk story meeting in Na`alehu, the group was asked to work with Dayday Hopkins of the Hawai`i County Research & Development agency to meet and discuss ag water in Ka’u. Representatives of the state Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Development Corp., Department of Land & Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Kamehameha Schools, USDA Rural Development and county Department of Water Supply are invited. 

      Scott Enright, deputy director of Department of Agriculture, and Jimmy Nakatani, executive director of Agribusiness Development Corp., came to Ka`u recently to visit irrigation facilities and receive updates. Enright said $500,000 released by the governor to the state Department of Agriculture is for planning the revitalization of the old plantation water system in Ka`u. Each region is being asked to prioritize projects for their areas.

A HEALTH FAIR TOMORROW is open to everyone at Miloli`i Halau. It is sponsored by University of Hawai`i-Hilo pharmacy students who belong to Gamma Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public can receive cholesterol and diabetes screenings, blood pressure monitoring and health education while enjoying live entertainment, raffle prizes, children’s activities and free lunch.

EASTER SUNDAY brings several events to Ka`u.

IN NA`ALEHU, Assembly of God hosts an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. Call 929-7278 for more.

The King is Coming to Ocean View.

IN OCEAN VIEW, The King is Coming, a free musical drama, is offered at 10 a.m. by Ocean View Evangelical Community Church. Call 939-9089 for more.

IN VOLCANO, Kilauea Military Camp offers three events. From 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crater Rim Café guests can feast on glazed ham, beef pot roast, omelets, breakfast meats, potatoes, fresh baked goods and desserts. The Easter Brunch is $17 for adults and $8.50 for keiki 6-11 years old. Starting at 9 a.m. KMC, in partnership with Rotary Club of Volcano, hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for keiki 10 years old and younger in KMC’s Ohia Room. To pre-register call 967-8352. That evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., KMC offers an Easter Dinner Special in the Crater Rim Café. For more, call 967-8366.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers a Sunday Walk in the Park from noon to 2 p.m. Nick Shema leads the two-part, two-mile roundtrip walk. It starts at Kilauea Visitor Center and explores Sulphur Banks Trail and Crater Rim Trail. The second part starts at Kipukapua`ulu (Bird Park) for a loop trail in a species-rich, ancient, mesic forest. Free to Friends members; non-members are welcome to join in order to attend. For more call 985-7373, email admin@fhvnp.org or visit fhvnp.org. Park entrance fees apply to all KMC and Friends activities mentioned.

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

Ka`u News Briefs April 5, 2012

Ag tourism would be perpetuated by a bill up for vote next week in the state House of Representatives. Photo by Julia Neal

MORE TOURISM ON AG LAND would be allowed under law up for passage in the state legislature. The introduction to the bill says: "The legislature finds that there are many examples across the country of agricultural tourism incorporated within productive farms and ranches. For example, several sites in Napa valley in northern California are well-known agricultural tourism destinations. Agricultural tourism serves as a means to provide not only additional income for farmers and ranchers but also serves as a learning experience for many people who do not have a connection to agriculture."
      Senate Bill 2341, Senate D2 and House D2 would repeal prohibitions on overnight accommodations in ag districts. It would authorize agricultural tourism, including overnight stays for 21 days or less. However the bill is currently written for only those counties with a population greater than 100,999 and less than 150,000, and only in counties with ordinances regulating agricultural tourism. The population restrictions appear to be a final negotiating point of the bill, as none of the counties fit into population requirements. The 2010 census showed Kaua`i with 67,226, Maui with 155,000, the Big Island with 185,406 and O`ahu with 953,207.

Many of Ka`u's ranches and farms are also visitor destination icons like the table top mountains. Photo by Julia Neal

     The Hawai`i Farm Bureau testified that many activities comprise agriculture: farm stands, tours, demonstrations, you-picks and B&Bs. The Farm Bureau sees “as a priority the need to keep bona fide agricultural operations as the primary activity on farmland. Crossing the line to tourist related activities without the agricultural production was not the intent of this measure.”
     The Sierra Club opposed the measure. “To allow such activities as a matter of right would fly in the face of decades of careful protection of agricultural lands.” The Sierra Club testimony quoted the Hawai`i Constitution: "The state shall conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands." The measure goes to vote on the House floor Tuesday, April 10.

Pete Hoffmann

HAWAI`I PROPERTY TAX LAW is unusual nationwide in that each county in this state has leeway in setting property tax policies, according to a recent study. The report studied 3,141 counties across the country and noted relatively low tax rates here compared to other places, reports a story by Peter Sur in Hawai`i Tribune Herald this morning. He covered the presentation yesterday to the County Council Finance Committee by tax consultant Richard Almy.

     Councilman Pete Hoffmann suggested that the reason that that the county sets property taxes at a relatively low rate could possibly relate to the local jurisdiction not being directly responsible for funding schools. Since the school system is operated by a statewide school board with a statewide budget, county council members are one step removed from responsibility for costs of education. Hawai`i is the only state with a centralized school system. Most places have local school boards pressuring local government for higher taxes to pay for better schools.
     The Hawai`i County Council is studying some 40 recommendations on improving tax policies here, ranging from looking at tax exemptions for ag land where ag is not legitimately practiced, to more frequent assessments of property value and a better way for the public to appeal property tax values and other related matters.

A KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL RECIPE CONTEST will be held at the Grand Opening of the Ka`u Coffee Mill on Sunday May 6. Applications for the Triple C Recipe Contest - for cookies, candies and crackers - can be found inserted in this month’s Ka`u Calendar newspaper in the mail and online. Deadline to enter is May 1. For more information visit kaucoffeefest.com or kaucoffeemill.com.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets tonight, 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more.

Maui parrotbill. Photo by Alan Lieberman, KBCC

KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER Tour takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees see and learn about native birds that the facility houses, including the ‘alala (Hawaiian crow), which is extinct in the wild; the palila, a finch-billed honeycreeper found only on the slopes of Mauna Kea; the Maui parrotbill, an insectivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper; and the puaiohi, or small Kaua`i thrush. Cost is $20 for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park members and $30 for non-members. Students are half-price. Call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org to register.

FIRST FRIDAY AT VOLCANO ART CENTER is tomorrow at Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the public is invited to join a free class  to search for Hawaiian values and study the Lord’s Prayer (Pule a ka Haku) and other familiar Hawaiian literature. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., VAC offers a free hula class for adults. Keiki Hula, $10 each, will be held from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. For more, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

MILOLI`I HEALTH FAIR is offered this Saturday by Gamma Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity from University of Hawai`i - Hilo. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public can receive cholesterol and diabetes screenings, blood pressure monitoring, and health education while enjoying live entertainment, raffle prizes, children’s activities and a free lunch.