Ka`u News Briefs May 8, 2012

The beach at the end of Road to the Sea would be preserved with a 3,000-acre purchase using Legacy Land funds.

ROAD TO THE SEA land, some 3,000 acres at Kahuku in Ka`u, could be purchased by the county with the help of state Legacy Land funds. The proposal comes up before the state Board of Land and Natural Resources next week. Community members like Jamie Kawauchi and Megan Lamson are encouraging community members to weigh in on the issue. In her letter to the BLNR, Lamson says “the parcel exists in the middle of an 80-mile stretch of coastline that has been limited to no development. This claim is unheard of elsewhere in the state. Protecting this parcel is a step toward preserving the invaluable natural and cultural resources and history that are represented in this region. I adamantly believe that Legacy Land Funds would be well spent funding this purchase, and I urge you to support this decision.”

The property in Kahuku, makai of Ocean View, is up for
funding by the state next week.

      Lands have been purchased along the Ka`u Coast for preservation next to Punalu`u, at Kawa and Honu`apo ahead of development to make the largest coastal preserve in Hawai`i. The Ka`u Coast is considered a resource for Hawai`i residents statewide as well as an attraction for visitors interested in seeing wild coastal areas. The purchases were possible because land is still less expensive to buy in Ka`u than in other more developed areas.
      Interested parties can write to the Board of Land & Natural Resources, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Suite 130, Honolulu, HI 96813. Fax 808-587-0390. Send email to Adaline Cummings, Board secretary at Adaline.F.Cummings@hawaii.gov.

THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for the Ka`u District Gym & Shelter is now available for public review. The complex consists of two buildings, the gymnasium with main gym floor surrounded by rooms for various purposes and an ancillary building with a multi-purpose room. An exterior courtyard connects the two buildings.
      The Final EA shows increased capacity as a shelter, expanding total shelter space by 1,575 square feet. The Draft EA called for shelter for 1,500 people, while the Final EA says the complex will serve 1,928 people during such emergencies as hurricanes.

The Final Environmental Assessment for the Ka`u District Gym & Shelter
has been released for public viewing.

      The Final EA also shows increased capacity as a vog shelter. The Draft EA called for the air-conditioned multi-purpose room to be 2,000 square feet with a capacity to hold 120 people. The Final EA increases the size to 2,894 square feet with a capacity to shelter 192 people. Along with this room, the Final EA also calls for the recreation room within the main structure to have an air filtration system that would provide shelter from vog for another 125 people. Total capacity as a vog shelter is 317 persons. The Final EA says “the gym main floor area may not meet the true requirements of a vog mitigated room, however any entrance into the gym has at minimum a vestibule to help keep vog out of the gym area and may serve as an area for people to go who do not have severe reactions to the vog.”
      The Final EA calls for four more parking spaces than the Draft EA, for a total of 163 spaces. It also states that a zoning variance has been submitted to reduce the number of paved parking spaces and to allow grass parking.
      Noelani Whittington, of the county Department of Public Works, said bids will be solicited from contractors later this month.
      The Final EA can be viewed online at oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov. Click on current issue.

AIR QUALITY MONITORING inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has earned a national Safety and Health Group Award from the National Park Service. The park uses seven monitors and updates information online every 15 minutes to inform the public and employees about particulates and S02 levels. 

      Kilauea’s two active locations at Halema`uma`u and Pu`u `O`o influence air quality with their emissions. The findings are monitored and shared in real time at http://www.hawaiiso2network.com.

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park ecologist David Benitez checks the SO2
monitor at Steam Vents. Photo from NPS

      The site also reports on other air quality findings, weather conditions and wind direction with links to other sites for the state and Hawai`i Island, and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcams and updates.
      The team also established an Air Quality Policy to guide corrective actions within the park, including temporary area closures to protect visitors and staff from fumes. Mobile hand-held
monitors, or gas badges, are used by field crews.
      “Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has the highest average SO2 levels in the National Park Service due to ongoing volcanic activity, a natural event,” said Park superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Our air quality program is a model for naturally occurring SO2 emission management nationally. With a solid communications system in place, visitors can safely visit our fascinating World Heritage Site on Hawai`i Island,” she said.
      Park visitors, staff and the public are also alerted by mobile electronic road signs programmed to convey real time AQ conditions. Monitors displaying the AQ website are also available for the public and staff inside Kilauea Visitor Center on the visitor center lanai (accessible 24 hours a day), and at Jaggar Museum.
      The AQ team is comprised of staff from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Air Resources Division of the National Park Service, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association and USGS.

TONIGHT’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK program features UH-Hilo’s vocal ensemble, Kapili Choir, performing an eclectic blend of gospel, early American and contemporary Hawaiian choral arrangements. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

Oral Abihai

ORAL ABIHAI shares his passion for creating `ukulele from discarded or naturally fallen pieces of wood tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply. 

A FULL LINEUP of entertainment is set for the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. with Emcee Skylark, Ka`u `Ukulele Band,
Keoki & Moses Kahumoku, Ben Kaili, Kaneala Aukahi Pride, One Journey, The Bamboo & Water Dance of the Miss Peaberry Court, Halau Hula O Leionalani, Cyril Pahinui & Moses Espaniola, Bruddah Waltah & Sammi Fo,
Keaiwa with Demetrius Oliveira, Riki Masaoka and Hands of Time.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs May 7, 2012

Aia Ke Ola i Malama Wao Kele o Ka`u - Life is in Caring for the Wilderness of Ka`u - is the new Kathleen Kam mural
unveiled at the grand opening of the Ka`u Coffee Mill yesterday, which has set hours for its visitor center from 8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

THE STATE’S HAWAI`I OCEAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN goes to public meetings this month in Hilo and Kona. The plan directs the state’s Coastal Zone Management Program, adopted in 1994 and updated in 1998 and 2006. The plan covers shoreline and ocean resource protection, management and economic development. It not only involves keeping water clean and protection of endangered species and cultural sites, but also recreational use of the shoreline as well as coastal development.

      The responsible entity is the state Office of Planning’s Coastal Zone Management Program, which is taking public input with a 5:30 p.m. open house and 6:30 p.m. presentation on Wednesday, May 16 at West Hawai`i Civic Center and Thursday, May 17 at Hilo High School cafeteria. While no meetings are planned in Ka`u, residents from this part of the island are invited to give their input in person or by mail and online. Ka`u has the longest uninhabited coastline in Hawai`i, and planners say they are looking for increased community and government agency collaboration. For more see www.state.hi.us/dbedt/czm/ormp/ormp.php. Email ORMP_Update@dbedt.hawaii.gov. Send hard copies to Office of Planning, Coastal Zone Management Program, PO Box 2359, Honolulu, HI 96804. For more information, call 808-587-2846.

Carl Okuyama, of Island Market and Wiki-Wiki Mart in
Na`alehu, judges Cookies, Candies and Crackers in the
Triple C Recipe Contest during the first weekend of the
Ka`u Coffee Festival. Photo by Rachael Sauerman

HISTORIC PRESERVATION efforts by the state of Hawai`i are underfunded and could lose another big chunk of money if the state Office of Historic Preservation fails to retain its federal certification, a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports this morning. Hawai`i could become the first state to lose its certification, says University of Hawai`i-Hilo professor of archaeology Peter Mills, and that would lead to a pullback in federal funding. 

       The story by Rob Perez says the federal government put the agency on a high risk status, pointing to lack of state funding and sufficient staff to do the job, failure to produce an adequate, searchable data base on historic and cultural sites, and failure to update the statewide historic preservation plan.

       The agency has unfilled positions for lead archaeologist on this island, Maui and O`ahu; three deputy archaeologists; a specialist on geographic information systems; and three other workers. The shortages have led to backlogs in reviewing proposed development plans and lack of an overall state plan to protect resources into the future. 

      According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser report, state Department of Land and Natural Resources chair William Aila, whose agency oversees the State Historic Preservation Division, said the DLNR plans to fill the positions and work toward federal requirements by next February, when the federal government plans to review progress in preserving historic sites in Hawai`i.
      Ka`u, with its vast open landscape, larger than any of the other islands and lacking intensive agriculture or development on its coastal lands, is considered to have the most number of archaeological and cultural sites in the state, with most of them unprotected.

EXEMPTION FROM COUNTY oversight for State of Hawai`i construction and development projects failed to pass the 2012 Legislature, which came to an end last week. Touted as an economic stimulus to fast-track and provide jobs for the construction industry, the initiative was met with opposition by agencies and community groups with long-term environmental, health and historic preservation concerns. 

CREATING A STATE BANK OF HAWAI`I also failed to make it through this year’s Legislature. The idea, based on the state bank of North Dakota formed in 1919 by farmers to help them with agricultural and home financing, was considered a threat to private institutions. The state bank legislation was co-introduced by Ka`u’s state Rep. Bob Herkes. Herkes joined four other state House of Representatives members to introduce House Bill 2103 to establish the state bank. Herkes said that the mission is to work with other banks, not against them. Its profits in North Dakota help fund the state budget and guarantee student loans.

      Herkes supported the idea particularly to help people who are facing foreclosure. The state bank would offer lower interest rates and monthly payments than original mortgages. He proposed the state bank purchasing troubled loans from Bank of America and other mortgage holders, whom Herkes claims conducted unfair mortgage practices.

Ka`u music ambassadors Kona Bob Stouffer, Keoki Kahumoku and students Derek Valez, Alysha Gustaffson-Sciivella,
Jamal Buyuon, Trevor Taylor, Altthea Ramones, Gabriel Santos and Kun Mongkya.

WAIKOLOA BOWL was the stage for Ka`u students on Saturday who performed for a huge audience during the annual hula and cultural celebration that attracts halau and Hawaiian musicians from around the world. They were led by Keoki Kahumoku with the help of Kona Bob Stouffer. The Ka`u students performing were Derek Valez, Alysha Gustaffson-Sciivella, Jamal Buyuon, Trevor Taylor, Altthea Ramones, Gabriel Santos and Kun Mongkya.

Ed Olson congratulates Triple C Recipe Contest Grand
Prize winner Chelsea Lynn Kauionalani Rosario with
a $500 check. Photo by Julia Neal

THIS IS KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL WEEK, and it began yesterday with the Triple C Recipe Contest for Cookies, Candies & Crackers during the Grand Opening of the Ka`u Coffee Mill on Wood Valley Road. Grand Prize winner, taking home $500, was Chelsea Lynn Kauionalani Rosario, of Ocean View, with her Biscotti, which took first in the Amateur Cracker category. Ka`u Coffee farmer Trinidad Marques, of Pahala, took first in the Professional Cookie competition, using her coffee that ranked in the top ten in the world during the recent Specialty Coffee Association of America competition. The name of her entry? Ka`u Kope Mocha Cookies. First in the Amateur Cookie category with her Ka`u John Bull Cookies was Ka`u Coffee farmer Lisa Dacalio, of Pahala. First in Amateur Candy was Gwen Edwards, of Kona, with her Ka`u Coffee Brigadeiros. 

      Malie Ibarra, of Pahala, won first in the student division with her Ka`u Coffee Toffee. All first place winners took home $150. Second place winners took home $100, and third place winners earned $50.
      Local chef Brad Hirata, of Ka`u Hospital; foodie Carl Okuyama, owner of Wiki-Wiki Mart and Island Market in Na`alehu; and Ka`u Coffee Mill founder Ed Olson served as judges. For more about the Ka`u Coffee Festival, see kaucoffeefest.com.

Ka`u Coffee farmer Trini Marques took first in the
Professional Cookie Competition, flanked by judge
Brat Hirata and Ka`u Coffee Mill manager
John Cross. Photo by Julia Neal

      The grand opening included entertainment with slack key and vocals by Moses and Keoki Kahumoku, cello and guitar by Andy Rising and Stephen Cline, the Ka`u `Ukulele Kids, and Ka`u School of the Arts’ Ka`u `Ohana Band and Ka`u Community Chorus. During the opening, Kathleen Kam’s new mural at Ka`u Coffee Mill was unveiled and named Aia Ke Ola I Malama Wao Kele o Ka`u, which translates to “Life is in Caring for the Wilderness of Ka`u.” The Ka`u Coffee Mill Visitor Center is now open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. View the milling, drying and roasting operations and visit the retail store. See kaucoffeemill.com.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK tomorrow features UH-Hilo’s vocal ensemble, Kapili Choir, performing an eclectic blend of gospel, early American and contemporary Hawaiian choral arrangements. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

ORAL ABIHAI shares his passion for creating `ukulele from discarded or naturally fallen pieces of wood Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs May 6, 2012

Kilohana Domingo hosting the Ka`u Coffee Festival dinner last night. Photo by Julia Neal

DEMOCRATS met yesterday to set the Big Island’s party platform. They passed a resolution for the state Democratic Party Convention that asks for the break up of Hawaiian Electric Light Company, noting that electric rates are four times the rates of many places on the mainland. Delegates traveled from Ka`u and all around the island to Honoka`a. Among them were candidate Russell Ruderman, who is running against Rep. Bob Herkes, Steven Hirakama, Gary Safarik and Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a for state Senate District 2 that includes most of Puna and all of Volcano and Ka`u to Honu`apo.

Senate candidate Russell
 Ruderman

      According to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald, Ruderman said solar is the best, safest option for alternative energy for this island. “Solar can be put on every school and business with no downside,” Ruderman contended.
      He took issue with recent support for geothermal. The Hawai`i Tribune Herald reported Ruderman saying that “nobody who lives near (Puna Geothermal Venture’s plant) is in favor of” expanding geothermal. Ruderman described residents near the geothermal plant as having “a horrible, horrible experience,” according to the story by John Burnett, who also reported Ruderman claiming that people promoting geothermal are not from Puna, where geothermal was first established.
      The story reports David Gomes describing geothermal as “a one-legged stool,” with expansion possibilities on Mauna Loa and Hualalai, as well as Haleakala on Maui. Brenda Ford, the incumbent County Council woman who is running for the new district that covers South Kona and Ka`u, pointed to solar, wind and wave. “For those who support geothermal, there is geothermal,” the story reports her saying. The delegates voted for a resolution to support geothermal expansion.

Brenda Ford Photo by
Chuck Greene

      Resolutions supporting loosening restrictions on marijuana also passed, including one to repeal prohibition, allowing more medical marijuana plants to be grown at home and pardoning inmates jailed for marijuana.
      Ka`ehu`ae`a, who was also a delegate at the convention, said his media experience in radio and television should help him understand most of the issues in the Senate district, including agriculture in Ka`u and geothermal in Puna.

THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for the Ka`u shelter and gym has been released, according to a story by Chelsea Jensen in West Hawai`i Today. The approximately 42,000-plus-square-foot facility includes athletic courts, recreation and multipurpose rooms, restrooms, lobby, concession area, storage rooms, a locker and shower room and an athletic training room. Some 26,145 square feet is dedicated NCAA and Hawai`i High School Athletic Association regulation size courts, a recreation room and a multipurpose room, according to the assessment.
      Many areas of the facility, totaling nearly 29,000 square feet, will serve as an emergency and congregate shelter capable of serving a maximum of 1,928 people. According to the story, it will be built to withstand a Category Three hurricane, which has sustained winds between 111 and 130 mph.

Site of the future Ka`u District Gym & Shelter. Photo by Julia Neal

      The story says that, in addition to shelter, some 4,474 square feet, comprising two rooms, will be dedicated as “vog shelter.” A maximum of 317 people would be able to use the rooms, which will have an air filtration system. Only one, capable of holding 192 people, will be air conditioned.
      “This area is intended for the most vulnerable persons sensitive to vog that include: asthmatic persons, respiratory and cardiac compromised individuals (including smokers), children and adolescents, and healthy, but sensitive, individuals,” the assessment says.
      Construction of the $16.9 million project is expected to begin this summer and be complete in 2014.
      The EA may be downloaded beginning Tuesday at the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s website at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html.

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL kicked off last night with piano and singing by Robert Cazimero at an opening dinner at Kalaekilohana Bed & Breakfast on South Point Road. The many-coursed meal employed fresh local farm produce and featured Ka`u Coffee. Supporters of the success of Ka`u Coffee and press attended after visiting coffee farms at Pear Tree and Moa`ula.

GRAND OPENING OF THE KA`U COFFEE MILL is today at 1 p.m. with the public invited. It features the Triple C Recipe Contest, an official event of the Ka`u Coffee Festival, as well as music from the Ka`u Ohana Band, Ka`u Community Chorus and Moses and Keoki Kahumoku. Mill and farm tours will be offered as the visitor center is officially opened for regular hours. The annual Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a is next Saturday, May 12 at Pahala Community Center, with a long lineup of entertainment, the new Ka`u Coffee Experience, food and coffee tasting and buying.

Kapili Choir performs at After Dark in the Park Tuesday.

KAPILI CHOIR presents a Concert on Kilauea Tuesday at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. UH-Hilo’s vocal ensemble performs an eclectic blend of gospel, early American and contemporary Hawaiian choral arrangements beginning at 7 p.m. Two-dollar donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply. 

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