Ka`u News Briefs Feb. 26, 2013

Hikers came across remains of a decaying whale south of Honu`apo yesterday. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE National Marine Sanctuary representatives came to Ka`u today to look for a possibly pregnant monk seal who has been coming ashore at Punalu`u and Green Sands Beaches. Justin Viesbicke said he hopes people will stay away from the seal who was born in 2004, possibly on Moloka`i. He said he also hopes to reach the site of a decaying beached whale south of Honu`apo.
      About a half dozen whales have washed up onto the shores of the Big Island in the last year, including the one seen yesterday by hikers along the Ka`u Coast and another last summer at Ninole. The decaying remains of the unidentified species seen Monday may have come from a whale that could have been more than 30 feet long, as judged from the bones of possibly its cranium, which appeared to be about five feet wide, hikers said.

Whale's cranium bone appear to be about five feet wide.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      Anyone seeing marine mammals in distress, entangled, beached or washed ashore can contact Viesbicke at justin.viezbicke@noaa.gov, 327-3697 or 987-0765.

NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION’S Hawai`i Chapter was announced yesterday. It “marks a major milestone in the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s efforts to engage local communities throughout the nation in support of our national marine sanctuaries. This chapter will empower local leaders, stakeholders, and local residents to play an active role in supporting the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary,” said a statement from the organization.
     NMSF president Jason Patlis said, “This is a game-changer for how we support our national marine sanctuaries. National marine sanctuaries are nationally significant resources and places that anchor local coastal economies and communities. A local enterprise backed by national support combines the best of both worlds.” 

      Hawai`i NMSF was first piloted in July 2012, twelve years after founding of National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. It was approved by NMSF Board of Trustees on Nov. 28. Lynette Poncin, chair of Hawai`i NMSF, said: “Its mission is to inspire, educate, and engage people of Hawai`i’s culturally-rich and diverse marine ecosystems by supporting the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The chapter is managed by a volunteer board made up of representatives from each of Hawai`i’s main islands and will coalesce community support for important initiatives to protect Hawai`i’s humpback whales and promote the value of national marine sanctuaries. 

      “Few people know that the thousands of endangered humpback whales that spend their winters here are in waters designated and protected as a national marine sanctuary. As a locally based chapter of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Hawai`i NMSF seeks to increase public awareness of this important fact.”
      Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is one of 14 sites in the national marine sanctuary system. An estimated 10,000 humpbacks visit the sanctuary annually and foundatino members say they are committed to the long-term protection of this endangered species.
      Sanctuary duperintendent Malia Chow said: “Hawai`i NMSF will help the sanctuary further reach out and build support of communities around the state. We are excited about the opportunities that the newly established chapter will create and look forward to having them as part of our sanctuary `ohana.” 

      For more information, visit HawaiiNMSF.org.

REGARDING  `AINA KOA PONO, the Public Utilities Commission last week published responses to more questions asked by the state Consumer Advocate, Hawai`i County and Life of the Land. The questions concern the proposed contract for `Aina Koa Pono to annually sell, at a fixed price for 20 years, 16 million gallons of diesel that would be manufactured at a refinery off Wood Valley Road above Pahala. The fuel, produced in 27 microwave units, would be sold to Hawai`i Electric Light and Hawaiian Electric Companies, with most of it trucked up Hwy 11 to a power plant in Kona. Electric bills on O`ahu and the Big Island would increase.
      “Please compare anticipated biomass yields per acre with actual experience in Hawai`i,” requested attorneys from Hawai`i County. “Convert these actual yields into estimates of how many cultivated acres will be required, and how many total acres this implies—along with required infrastructure (roads), supply yards, storage. Are there this many acres available on the Island of Hawai`i?
      “If AKP proposes making 16 million gallons on 12,000 acres, the AKP numbers imply production rates of 1,333 gallons per acre. It’s obvious this is much higher than other sources, about three times more productive than palm oil (which is a more direct route to biodiesel: since one starts with longer chain fatty acids) Please explain such productivity?”

      The utilities replied that, “according to AKP, it anticipates meeting all of the project’s feedstock needs from the land currently under consideration. Testing during 2013 will identify the exact details. With AKP’s farming methods, it is anticipated that a mature energy grass crop will be available for harvest in approximately nine months. Therefore, using sequential planting and harvesting methods, a continual supply of feedstock will be available. The advantages are many with a facility located on former sugar cane land. The infrastructure (roads and erosion controls) is already in place and should only need inspection and some slight improvements. Supply yards and storage is a function of commercially available and proven methods that are designed specifically for regional variability and local considerations.
      “According to AKP, there is no shortage of available productive acres on the Island of Hawai`i. In addition, there is also no shortage of excellent labor resources on the Island of Hawai`i. AKP states that the yield per acre and production of ethanol and biodiesel is an “apples to pineapples” comparison. Ethanol is a conversion of extracted sugars from a plant source, and biodiesel is dependent on extraction and conversion of plant oils. Neither process efficiently extracts the base energy content (sugars or oils). The MicroDee process targets the carbon and sugar content within the feedstock and through heat and catalysts, efficiently converts the majority of energy within the feedstock without having to initially go through an extraction (squeezing or pressing) process.
      “Feedstock yields of pyrolytic oils are consistently in the range of 80 gallons per ton of feedstock. Some other non-energy grass or woody biomass feedstock, not in consideration for this AKP project, has the potential of even greater yields. AKP is not producing a synthetic diesel with any fatty acids. The product from the MicroDee process is a synthetic diesel with the properties of a fossil diesel.
      “AKP is not producing oilseed crops. AKP is producing energy grass crops and will also be using woody biomass crops. The MicroDee process has demonstrated to AKP that biomass feedstock generally produced 80 gallons per ton of synthetic diesel.”

Sen. Russell Ruderman

      Ka`u News Briefs will cover more responses in the coming days.
      Complete responses to all questions are online at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN meets with constituents at Pahala Plantation House today at 5 p.m. to discuss issues before the state Legislature. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 974-4000, ext. 66890.

A NIGHT OF IMPROV is set for Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Alohaha’s Improv-Sketch-Comedy troupe performs a series of improvisational games and original comedy sketches. $10 tickets are available at the door at 7 p.m. for adults 18 years old and over. For more, call 345-2571 or email thealohahas@gmail.com.

Image from Debra Serrao

WOMEN’S ENERGY WORKSHOP takes place Sunday, March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Shizuno Nasu’s Volcano Village Dance Studio. The workshop features yoga and dance meditation with Nasu and Debra Serrao focusing on the Sacred Feminine. $55 includes lunch; space is limited. Register with Debra at 985-7545 or debwhiteflower@hotmail.com or Shizuno at 967-8574 or shizunodance@gmail.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Feb. 25, 2013

Sen. Russell Ruderman, seen here with his staff, from left, Michael Greenough, Trina Ishii, Dayva Keolanui and Eileen O`Hara, holds a talk story session tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Photo from Office of Sen. Russell Ruderman.

KA`U GYMNASIUM AND DISASTER SHELTER is expected to be under construction soon, following a vote yesterday by the Hawai`i Island Burial Council to approve a plan to preserve in place several burials in a lava tube on Ka`u High School campus. The entry to the lava tube where burials were found is next to land where the gym will be built and had been used as a dry well and storm drain. When the grading permit for the gym and shelter was submitted for review by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Historical Preservation Division, the burials on a shelf in the lava tube were noted and construction delayed until a plan could be made for protecting the graves.
      The Burial Council had concerns that the lava tube, under the road entering the campus, might not be strong enough to carry construction vehicles and could collapse the lava tube and damage access to the burials. It was concluded, however, that the tube has withstood other heavy vehicles such as school buses over the years and could withstand the weight of construction vehicles.

      The recommendation of the Burial Council is to leave the burials in place and to seal the dry well – storm drain. Kauanoe Ho`omanawanui, Burial Sites Specialist for the Big Island, said she will draft a letter reflecting the Burial Council’s approval within the week.
      The $18 million gym and shelter will be operated by the county Department of Parks & Recreation and will become the main gymnasium for the high school, junior high and elementary school campus. It would serve as a shelter during natural disasters and also be open for public recreation and community events.

MORE THAN 650 VOLUNTEERS gathered data from the shores of Hawai`i Island, O`ahu and Kaua`i during Saturday’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. The count is a yearly shore-based census that provides snapshot data on humpback whales. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey.
      Volunteers collected data from 57 sites statewide. At Ka Lae, 15 whales were seen between 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. A total of 287 whales were seen statewide during the 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout the day’s count, with 54 sites reporting.
      Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at www.sanctuaryoceancount.org.
      One more Sanctuary Ocean Count is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 30.
      For more information on becoming a Sanctuary Ocean Count volunteer visit sanctuaryoceancount.org or hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or call 1-888-55-WHALE ext. 253.

REGARDING THE `AINA KOA PONO proposal, the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday published responses to more questions asked by the state Consumer Advocate, Hawai`i County and Life of the Land. The questions concern the proposed contract for `Aina Koa Pono to annually sell, at a fixed price for 20 years, 16 million gallons of diesel that would be manufactured at a refinery off Wood Valley Road above Pahala. The fuel, produced in 27 microwave units, would be sold to Hawai`i Electric Light and Hawaiian Electric Companies, with most of it trucked up Hwy 11 to a power plant in Kona. Electric bills on O`ahu and the Big Island would increase.
      Life of the Land asked about externalities, or consequences of an economic activity that are experienced by unrelated third parties.
      According to Life of the Land, HECO and HELCO have only listed positive externalities such as added greenscape and jobs related to the AKP project. “Yet, in a previous docket, HECO submitted its Externalities Workbook to the Commission which listed hundreds of negative externalities,” Life of the Land stated. “Does HECO/HELCO believe that there are any potential negative externalities associated with this proposal?” Life of the Land asked.
      The utilities responded that they “believe there are externalities associated with any new large-scale facility/project. The AKP project may have potential negative externalities, but it is difficult to determine the impact, if any, it will have. Also, it is important to note that a positive externality that impacts one group may create a negative externality for others. For example, the creation of jobs for any new project may result in the loss of jobs for others. Below is a short list of potential negative externalities based on the Externalities Workbook which was filed in Hawaiian Electric’s Integrated Resource Plan 1998-2017 (“IRP-2”), Docket No. 95-0347:

• Outdoor air pollution, specifically possible increase in nitrogen oxides. 
• Fuel spills or leaks (fuel storage and transportation) 
• Economic 
• Social issues, specifically traffic congestion 
• Land use, specifically roadway damages and noise. 

      “The Companies have assessed externalities in the context of the subject proceeding, namely the Companies’ request for Commission approval of a biofuel supply contract. The Companies maintain that it is beyond the scope of this proceeding, and the role of the utility, to assess externalities more directly associated within the AKP project itself. Such an assessment of the AKP project is more appropriately addressed in the project permitting process, or in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment process if so required.

      Life of the Land also asked about the lack of provisions in the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract to address potential issues with the removal and restoration of property on which AKP’s facility will be located if it is unsuccessful. “If the Commission requires a decommissioning scenario, how would the utility address it?”
      The utilities replied, “If the Commission requires a decommissioning scenario, the Companies would discuss the issue with AKP. However, restoration of property issues are normally not addressed in fuel contracts. Further, HELCO believes that Commission approval of the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract will send a signal to the agriculture industry that the transformation to energy crops is indeed a reality, which would be contrary to a decommissioning scenario.
      “In the case of AKP, it is also important that the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract is not built only for HELCO, as that may create accounting consolidation issues. Accordingly, the
      AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract requires AKP to have multiple customers for its products, in addition to HELCO, and it is unknown at this time whether AKP will continue to operate its facility to supply other customers with its products after the termination or expiration of the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract. As such, because AKP’s plans beyond the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract are currently unknown, it is not practical to include contract provisions regarding the removal of plant and equipment.”
      Ka`u News Briefs will cover more responses in the coming days.
      Complete responses to all questions are online at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

Sen. Russell Ruderman

ISSUES BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE will be discussed at a talk story session with Sen. Russell Ruderman at Pahala Plantation House tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 974-4000, ext. 66890.

TONI PARRAS, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER for Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, presents an overview of Hawai`i’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site tomorrow at After Dark in the Park. The program, which covers the people, the partnerships and the promise for the monument, begins at 7 p.m.
 at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

VOLCANO VARIETY SHOW takes place this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Acts include sketch, comedy, music and dance. Appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 children under 17. Call 967-8222.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Feb. 24, 2013

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National  Monument is the topic of this Tuesday's After Dark in the Park.
Photo by James Watt

OF THE 2,000 BILLS INTRODUCED to the 2013 Hawai`i State Legislature, the sugary beverage tax, which has failed in past sessions, is one of about 300 with the possibility of success this year. The bill would impose a fee on sugar-sweetened beverages. It would also establish the obesity and chronic disease prevention special fund and the Hawai`i interagency obesity prevention council to support obesity prevention programs. It would make an appropriation from the obesity and chronic disease prevention special fund to the state Department of Health. SB1085 passed second reading in the Senate Health Committee, chaired by Sen. Josh Green, who represents Ka`u. It also passed the Committee on Judiciary and Labor. The two no votes came from Republicans Sen. Mike Gabbard and Sen. Sam Slom. The measure is now before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
      The language of the bill states that, “In Hawai`i, childhood obesity increased by 38 percent between 1999 and 2009, and adult obesity has more than doubled between 1996 and 2011. As a result of health risks and complications related to obesity, this generation of children may be the first generation not to outlive their parents.

A tax on sugary drinks would fund state obesity prevention and health
promotion programs. Image from nih.gov

      “Obesity-related medical expenditures in Hawai`i were calculated to be over $470 million in 2009 and are continuing to increase. Sugar-sweetened beverages have been identified by many scientific studies as a major contributor to the costly obesity epidemic.
      “A 2004 study found that sugared soft drinks are the single largest contributor of calorie intake in the United States.
      “According to nutritional standards, sugar-sweetened beverages such as non-diet soft drinks, energy drinks, sweet teas and sports drinks offer little or no nutritional value and contain massive quantities of added sugars and calories. For example, a twelve-ounce can of soda contains the equivalent of approximately eight to ten teaspoons of sugar.”
      The American Diabetes Association wrote, “If we do not do something about this growing epidemic, the quality of life and the economic cost to Hawai`i will be crippling.” The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Hawai`i Public Health Association support the bill.
      The Grocery Manufacturers Association, Hawai`i Bar Owners Association, and local soft drink manufacturers oppose the bill.
      The tax would be one cent per ounce and would increase the cost of an average soft drink by 17 percent. Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s testimony said the tax is “expected to reduce consumption by eight to 10 percent and maybe even higher on youth. If this bill passes, in 2014-15 we are hoping to raise $38 million in new revenue and will use these funds to support childhood and adult obesity prevention and health promotion programs,” wrote Abercrombie.
      Other supporters of the tax include The Queen’s Health System and numerous health organizations.

      Progress on this and other bills in the state Legislature can be tracked at capitol.hawaii.gov.

REGARDING THE `AINA KOA PONO proposal, the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday published responses to more questions asked by the state Consumer Advocate, Hawai`i County and Life of the Land. The questions concern the proposed contract for `Aina Koa Pono to annually sell, at a fixed price for 20 years, 16 million gallons of diesel that would be manufactured at a refinery off Wood Valley Road above Pahala. The fuel, produced in 27 microwave units, would be sold to Hawai`i Electric Light and Hawaiian Electric Companies, with most of it trucked up Hwy 11 to a power plant in Kona. Electric bills on O`ahu and the Big Island would increase.
      County of Hawai`i asked the utilities to explain what it called “the rationale behind raising electricity prices to support a single new industry sector that may decrease the profitability of other sectors.”
      The county cited a Biofuels Study incorporated in the Final Report to the Legislature in Accordance with Act 203, Session Laws of Hawai`i, 2011, which, according to the county, states that “biorefineries produce a variety of products, including a variety of biofuels, enabling one or more of the products (such as fuel for electricity generation and/or fuel for the Department of Defense) to be supplied under long-term contracts at known prices.

      “This process has been identified by the industry as extremely important for success, and should be viewed as contributing to, rather than competing with, the success of other biofuel products. Having long-term contracts at high prices is attractive in any industry, but when electricity prices in Hawai`i are already the highest in the nation and eroding other industry-sector profits, there may be a net-negative effect to the economy from such contracts.
      HELCO and HECO replied, “As explained in the Application, the approval of the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract is reasonable for, among other reasons, (1) the use of the biodiesel will help to meet State energy policy objectives and Hawaiian Electric’s, HELCO’s and Maui Electric Company, Limited’s mandated Renewable Portfolio Standards requirements; (2) the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract provides a locally sourced fuel supply which will contribute to the State’s goal of greater energy security and energy self-sufficiency; (3) the fixed biodiesel price, with a nominal escalation provision, is reasonable and is projected to fall below the price of petroleum diesel during the term of the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract; (4) use of the biodiesel in place of petroleum diesel will not result in any additional curtailment of existing as-available renewable resources or otherwise impede the consideration of additional renewable resources to HELCO’s system; and (5) the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract is consistent with HELCO’s third major integrated resource plan.

      “HELCO is also aware that having its customers absorb the entire differential between the cost of the biofuel and the cost of the fossil fuel that the biofuel is replacing is unfair, especially given that the use of the biodiesel helps the Hawaiian Electric Companies, in total, meet the Renewable Portfolio Standards requirements. Therefore, the Companies are proposing the establishment of a Biofuel Surcharge Provision that will pass through the differential between the cost of the biofuel and the cost of the fossil fuel that the biofuel is replacing, in the event the cost of the biofuel is higher than the cost of the fossil fuel, over the customer base of the Companies, based on kilowatt-hour usage. Using the Biofuel Surcharge Provision, HELCO estimates that the impact to HELCO’s customers is relatively small, with the estimated overall bill impact (without MECO) for the Companies in the range of $0.84 to $ 1.00 per month (which is lower than the $1.55 to $ 1.86 per month from AKP1) for a residential bill of 500 to 600 kWh.
      “Finally, it is important to note that the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ strategy is to actively seek and incorporate a diverse portfolio of new renewable energy resources (as opposed to a single sector) including wind, solar power, hydro, geothermal, biomass, biofuels, and other types of renewable generation that may emerge and become commercially viable several years down the road (e.g., wave energy, ocean thermal energy). Along with adding new renewable energy resources, biofuels are a critical component of a “green” energy future for the Hawaiian Electric Companies because biofuels can be used to generate energy from existing conventional generating units which provide essential grid services including load following, frequency response, voltage control and on-line operating and spinning reserves. Moreover, utilizing biofuel in existing generating units is expected to achieve cleaner air emissions and facilitate compliance with new and revised environmental regulations. Increasing the use of biofuels in existing power plants will ensure that the Hawaiian Electric Companies meet the Renewable Portfolio Standards requirements.”
      Ka`u News Briefs will cover more responses in the coming days.
      Complete responses to all questions are online at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

Sen. Russell Ruderman

A TALK STORY WITH SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN takes place at Pahala Plantation House Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ruderman meets with constituents to discuss issues before the state Legislature. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 974-4000, ext. 66890. 

PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA Marine National Monument is the topic at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday. Toni Parras, communications manager for the monument, presents an overview of Hawai`i’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. The program, which covers the people, the partnerships and the promise for the monument, begins at 7 p.m.
 at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.