Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, July 23, 2016

Punalu`u, where junior lifeguard training is taking place this month, is closed today due to Tropical
Storm Darby approaching Ka`u and Hawai`i Island. Photo from Brenda Iokepa-Moses

TROPICAL STORM DARBY continues to threaten Ka`u. At 11 a.m., the storm was 60 miles east of South Point and moving west-northwest at 10 miles per hour. 

      As Darby approaches, some parts of Hawai`i Island will see sustained winds over 39 mph with gusts over 60 mph. Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported that north-northeast winds were gusting over 50 mph in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park late this morning. Winds are forecast to reach 45 miles per hour today and fall below tropical storm force by early tomorrow afternoon.

      Increasing shear and gradually cooling water temperatures will lead to a slow but steady weakening. CPHC’s intensity forecast assumes that Darby will be able to maintain some organization as it interacts with the terrain of Hawai`i Island and no longer considers an alternative track scenario.

Central Pacific Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Darby will
cross Hawai`i Island today. Map from NOAA

      National Weather Service’s tropical storm warning for South Hawai`i continues until further notice. A flash flood advisory expires tomorrow at 6 p.m.

      Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported that Hele-On bus service is suspended, and solid waste transfer stations and landfills are closed today. Also closed are all county and state parks.

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GOV. DAVID IGE SIGNED a pre-landfall emergency proclamation as the state prepares for Tropical Storm Darby. The proclamation authorizes expenditure of state monies for quick, easy and efficient relief of disaster-related damages, losses and suffering resulting from the storm.
      “Our top priority is to protect the health, safety and welfare of Hawai`i’s residents and visitors,” Ige said. “I urge residents and businesses to follow emergency instructions, prepare for the storm and take steps to protect your families, employees and property. The state is standing by to assist the counties — particularly Hawai`i and Maui Counties — which are expected to be the first to feel the impact of Tropical Storm Darby.”
      The disaster emergency relief period began yesterday and continues through July 29.
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MAYOR BILLY KENOI ALSO SIGNED an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the Tropical Storm Darby's arrival. The proclamation allows easier access to county emergency resources, along with suspension of certain laws as needed for emergency purposes.

      “We want to make sure we are doing everything possible to protect the public,” Kenoi said. “This proclamation improves the county’s ability to respond quickly to any potential impacts from the impending storm.”
      The disaster emergency relief period for the proclamation began at noon yesterday and will continue for 60 days.
      The latest Hawai`i County Civil Defense message can be found at HawaiiCounty.gov. Recommended preparedness actions may be found on the Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency website at scd.hawaii.gov. Residents are also encouraged to enroll in local notification systems and monitor local radio and television broadcasts.
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Archaeologist Roland Reed, center, discusses the proposed wastewater
treatment site with community members, including Raina Whiting,
at left, and Keoni Fox, at right. Photo from Raina Whiting

HAWAI`I COUNTY HELD A MEETING about and site visit of the property proposed for Na`alehu’s wastewater treatment plant Friday. Among those attending were County Council District Six candidate Raina Whiting.

      “There are many reasons to take a step back and have more community input on the type of wastewater treatment plant, location and environmental and cultural impact we are willing to allow in our community,” Whiting said. “The proposed location is not only encroaching on Na`alehu town and our elementary school but also could have a significant impact on the makahiki grounds and iwi kupuna directly in this area. 

      “This project needs to be done correctly the first time. The county has made no progress since 2006 (the last public meeting) and has renewed its grant funding six times, said Dora Beck, of Department of Environmental Management’s wastewater division. It is not acceptable to now come down to the line and the community be forced to swallow a less than stellar project with only a slightly better environmental impact than we currently have with the gang cesspools and with great impact on makahiki and burial grounds.”

      Dates and times for a future public meeting are to be announced, according to department director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd.

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Sen. Hirono, second from left, observes U.S. Navy jet fighter landing 

aboard U.S.S. John C. Stennis. Photo from U.S.S. John C. Stennis

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO JOINED international partners and Hawai`i community leaders aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier U.S.S. John C. Stennis to observe the ongoing Rim of the Pacific Exercise – the world’s largest naval exercise. Hirono met with the U.S.S. Stennis Strike Group leadership about the U.S. Navy’s vital role to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance, the unmatched capability of U.S. aircraft carriers and observed air operations below and from the deck of the supercarrier. 

      Hirono also met with U.S. Ambassador to China and former Sen. Max Baucus, where they discussed China’s participation in this year’s RIMPAC and recent events involving China in the Pacific region.
      “The Rim of the Pacific Exercise is a critical opportunity for the United States and our partners to simulate real-world scenarios in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” Hirono said. “While on board the Stennis, I interacted with sailors, many of whom were young men and women, but they were all highly trained and skilled. I was impressed with the level of discipline and professionalism of all the sailors. Today’s experience helps me in my role as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower.”
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PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER received an $8.8 million federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families to fund its Early Head Start and Head Start programs on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island. 

      “Research shows the many short and long-term benefits of early education, including increased academic development and achievement, reduced child abuse, neglect, and crime rates, increased income equality, and more,” Ka`u’s U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said. “I've visited preschools and Head Start classrooms across Hawai`i and have seen how these early childhood education programs have an incredible impact on our keiki and our communities. PACT has a decades-long history of strengthening our local families and communities and creating opportunities for those most vulnerable. This grant will enable PACT to expand access and opportunity to those who need it the most.”
      “We are excited and grateful to continue to provide these important services to communities on O`ahu and Hawai`i Island,” said Ben Naki, PACT’s vice president of early education. “We will be able to serve over 800 children and their families with high quality, comprehensive, early childhood services that are so needed by our community.”
      Founded in 1968, PACT provides a wide array of educational social services to families in need. Assisting more than 18,000 people across the state annually, PACT helps families identify, address and successfully resolve challenges through its 16 programs. Among its services are developmental screening, early childhood education, child abuse/neglect and domestic violence prevention and intervention, mental health support, youth activities, and community and economic development.
      For more information, see http://www.pacthawaii.org/.
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Margaret Barnaby's woodblock print is part of
of Endemic Understanding. Image from VAC

LOCAL ARTISTS ARE FEATURED in Endemic Understanding, which opens today at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The multi-media exhibit, which showcases the extraordinary biodiversity found within Hawai`i Island’s five national parks, will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Aug. 28.

      The artists, including Margaret Barnaby, Heide Cumes, Lanaya Deily, Jack Jeffrey, Susan Litteral, Liz Miller and Karen Schuster were selected from the 2015 Hawai`i Nei exhibition celebrating native species and asked to further investigate the plants, animals and environments found within Hawai`i Island’s national parks yet found nowhere else. Through a series of educational events, the artists gathered information that helped them craft three to five works each, based on their unique artistic perspective.
      “The exhibition title Endemic Understanding refers to the ecological state of the species being unique to a defined geographic location, in this case Hawai‘i Island’s national parks,” gallery manager Emily Weiss said. “Through the exhibit, we hope to honor the centennial celebration of the National Park Service and its role in helping to protect and understand our natural resources.”
      The exhibit is open to the public and free of charge. Park entrance fees apply, with the exception of Aug. 25-28 when fees are waived to celebrate National Park Service’s Birthday Weekend.

EVERYONE IS INVITED to Bon Dance practices beginning tomorrow at Pahala Community Center. They are scheduled from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the next four Sundays leading up to Pahala Hongwanji’s first Bon Dance since 1999, set for Sunday, Aug. 21.

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Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, July 22, 2016

Tropical Storm Darby is expected to make landfall on Hawai`i Island tomorrow morning. Ka`u is expected
to be affected by tropical storm wind and rain later today. Map from NOAA

SOUTH HAWAI`I ISLAND is under a tropical storm warning and flash flood and high surf watches issued by the National Weather Service as Darby approaches from the east-southeast. A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours. In some areas of Hawai`i County, winds could be as high as 50 to 60 mph with gusts to 70 mph.

A tropical storm warning and flash flood and high surf watches
are in effect for South Hawai`i. Map from NOAA

      Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported that Darby’s track has shifted southward slightly, indicating landfall over Hawai`i Island. The storm’s center is expected to pass over Hawai`i Island tomorrow morning, but tropical storm conditions are forecast to arrive later today.
      Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion today. Residents are urged to complete storm preparations before nightfall.
      In a tropical cyclone, conditions can change quickly. Evacuate if directed to do so by local officials, or if homes are vulnerable to high winds or flooding. Persons living near the shore should be prepared to evacuate quickly should building surf threaten. Secure or bring indoors any loose outdoor objects that could become destructive projectiles in strong winds.
      Stay calm and keep informed. Closely monitor local news outlets for official storm information. Listen for warnings or changes to the forecast.
      Tropical storms can bring very heavy rain, leading to flash flooding. People near streams, rivers, and low-lying flood-prone areas are urged to be especially alert to flash flooding.
      As of 11 a.m., Tropical Storm Darby was 310 miles east of South Point and moving west at 12 miles per hour. Maximum sustained winds are 60 miles per hour with higher gusts.
      For updates on Tropical Storm Darby, see http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/tc_graphics/latest_w.php?stormid=EP052016.
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Ka`u High School opens as a shelter at 4 p.m. today. Local families
stayed their when Iselle hit Ka`u in August 2014.
Photo by Ron Johnson

HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE reported that all camping and pavilion reservations at county and state parks are cancelled today through Sunday. County lava viewing and swimming pools close at 12 p.m. today. Beginning tomorrow, all state and county park facilities will be closed until further notice. 
      Civil Defense urges residents and visitors to shelter in place or with family and friends if possible and safe. Pet-friendly emergency shelters open today at 4 p.m. at Ka`u and Konawaena High Schools. Bring bedding, food, water and any personal items needed.
      For updates, see http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense/.
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TO KEEP VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES SAFE as Tropical Storm Darby approaches, officials will close all backcountry areas and certain roads in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park at 5 p.m. today.

Namakanipaio Campground is among areas of Hawai`i VolcanoesNational Park
closed in advance of Tropical StormDarby's impending arrival. Photo from NPS

      Park closures include Kulanaokuaiki Campground and Namakanipaio Cabins and Campgrounds, Kahuku Unit, Mauna Loa Road after Kipukapuaulu, Hilina Pali Road, Chain of Craters Road at Crater Rim Drive intersection, lava viewing area and Coastal Ranger Station, and the entire backcountry, including all coastal sites, Napau and Mauna Loa.
      Closures will remain in effect until Darby has passed and conditions are safe. Additional closures may be warranted as the storm gets closer and any damage is assessed. Volcano House and Kilauea Military Camp will remain open for registered guests.
      “Although we aren’t closing Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in its entirety, we strongly encourage visitors to consider changing their plans if they were planning to visit Friday afternoon or this weekend,” Chief Ranger John Broward said.
      Popular visitor areas at the summit of Kolauea will remain open, including Nahuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Kilauea Visitor Center and the Jaggar Museum and observation deck. Visitors can check nps.gov/havo for the latest information on openings or call 985-6000.
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Hawai`i Island Food Basket is preparing for Tropical Storm Darby.
Photo from Hawai`i Island Food Basket

HAWAI`I ISLAND FOOD BASKET is preparing for potential effects of Tropical Storm Darby. 
      The agency has prepared by safely storing needed items should mobilization become necessary.
      “Through the generosity of the community, we are well stocked with water and other necessities should the storm hit the Big Island full force,” Executive Director En Young said. “We learned many lessons from Tropical Storm Iselle, and The Food Basket staff and our partner agencies are much more knowledgeable and coordinated. While none of us can predict the effects of the storm, you can be assured that we are ready and able to assist in the event of an emergency in your area.”
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KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN FAVORS relocating the proposed massive solar project proposed in Ocean View. Green wrote a letter supporting the Consumer Advocate’s opposition to the project and suggesting that the project be relocated closer to Kona on “true agricultural land.”
      Green’s letter is one of 90 so far sent to the Public Utilities Commission objecting to Hawaiian Electric Light Co.’s application for the construction of an overhead transmission line that would serve the controversial project. Ocean View residents are objecting to the location of 27 solar sites among homes, as they fear it will industrialize their town.

Sen. Josh Green

      Consumer Advocate Jeffrey Ono recommended that the line be placed underground – an option that would make the project more expensive for the developer, SPI Solar, a corporation headquartered in Shanghai and registered in the Cayman Islands. Ono has made other mitigating recommendations – such as having the developer pay for maintenance of the line and substation for 20 years and their removal, together with removal of the solar installations.
      “I fully support the Consumer Advocate, Mr. Jeffrey Ono, and his position in this matter,” Green wrote. “Mr. Ono has shown a remarkable grasp of the situation and forethought. The developers’ choice to locate their industrial development among homes demonstrates that they care little for the town or its residents.
      “Yet, although Mr. Ono has recommended every measure in his power to mitigate the effects of the project, I encourage the commission to look behind the curtain and determine if the project itself is in the public interest. I support Mr. Ono, but would prefer to see the project cancelled.
      “There are many objections listed in other letters to the docket, which, I trust, the commission will take seriously.
      “I want to make it clear that while we support solar and energy plans, they need to fit the true spirit of our zoning intentions. I believe that the legislative intent was not for solar projects to be in residential areas.
      “May I earnestly and very respectfully request that the Commission revoke the FIT permits on the grounds that the permits were issued based on information that has since proved to be untrue. I refer to the fact that the project is not shovel ready, the developer did not have site control (both basic requirements), and they combined twenty-seven 250kw permits to create a 6.75-megawatt project to circumvent the limits for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Further, they have made no attempt to bring the project on line quickly, which was a basic goal of the FIT program.

A proposed solar project in Ocean View would require a new
substation, as depicted here. Image from HELCO

      “If, however, the commission is unable or unwilling to cancel the FIT permits and end the project, may I respectfully suggest a compromise solution? May I suggest that SPI Solar be allowed to relocate the 16 permits that were issued for housing lots in the Ranchos subdivision onto true agricultural land, closer to the “load?” No doubt HELCO will object that this is against the FIT rules. However, when one considers that HELCO’s enforcement of the rules has resulted in a town being threatened, project completion dates ignored, permits issued based on false information being sold for a profit, PPA rules circumvented, and an unwanted project with no public benefit, perhaps the rules should be managed differently going forward.
      “If this avenue were explored, I think you would find favor in many quarters. I understand that the SPI Solar has concerns about working in a hostile environment and that the spokesman, Mr. Ian Craig, has been the subject of verbal threats at a town meeting. If offered a chance to relocate, he would likely jump at it in order to avoid threats of sabotage. SPI Solar could sell the land and recover those costs. I also understand that the Independent Observer, Mr. Harry Judd, has no objection to some of the permits being relocated. Certainly my constituents in the Ranchos subdivision of Ocean View, the primary victims of the ill-considered project, would favor relocation, as would other residents of Ka`u.”
      Ka`u residents continue to email letters of objection to the PUC. In July, 17 thumbs-down letters were sent by Janeen Marie, Ed NeSmith and Victoria Elford, Peter and Ann Bosted, Tim and Linda Schutt, Paul Montague, Anna Towner, Greg Guithues, Loren Heck, Dan Snyder, Rosemarie and John O’Connor, Bob and Sue Werner, Janice Hazen, Jim and Tammie Ewers, Kerstin Mueller, Sandra Shelton, Stanley and Kassy Kemp, and Verna & Frank Loosli.
      Public comment can be emailed to puc.comments@hawaii.gov with docket number, 2015-0229 in the subject line.
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Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, July 21, 2016

National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for Ka`u as Darby edges toward Hawai`i Island.
See more below. Image from NOAA

HAWAI`I STATE LEGISLATURE, meeting in special session, yesterday overrode Gov. David Ige’s veto of Senate Bill 2077. The bill authorizes Hawai`i Health Systems Corp. employees on Maui to opt to receive either severance benefits or a special retirement benefit in lieu of exercising any reduction-in-force rights. The employees face position abolishment, reduction-in-force or workforce restructuring as a result of HHSC’s Maui Region facilities moving from state to private operation. HHSC also operates Ka`u Hospital.

HHSC operates facilities throughout the state. Map from HHSC

      “Our primary concern is and always has been the health and well-being of Maui’s residents and visitors as we work to privatize Maui region hospitals,” Ige said. “We are committed to a successful transfer and transition to a new Maui health care system for all stakeholders, which includes our employees.

      “However, this transaction must be done correctly for the common good. The concerns expressed in my veto message have not changed. Three areas of concern remain: the bill jeopardizes the Employees Retirement System’s tax exempt status; the bill does not appropriate funds for lump-sum cash payments for affected employees; the bill adds an additional unfunded liability of about $17.2 million to the ERS and $18.4 million to the Employer Union Benefits Trust Fund. This puts the state’s long-term financial position, along with its bond ratings in jeopardy. Bond ratings determine what the state pays in interest on borrowed funds.
      “The next steps for my administration include conferring with the attorney general to assess and evaluate the impact of the veto override, continuing to work in good faith with the UPW to bring resolution to the federal court injunction and to finalize the details, … (and) continuing to work on a smooth transition in order to provide a new system of health care for Maui.
      “This is an historic, complex multi-stakeholder transformation, and we are optimistic that we will resolve all unforeseen issues.
      “In the interim, I am confident that the existing Maui hospital staff and operations team will continue to provide quality health care services to the people of Maui.”
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Tropical Storm Darby tracking toward Hawai`i Island.
Map from NOAA

KA`U IS UNDER A TROPICAL storm watch. The National Weather Service issued the watch this morning, as Tropical Storm Darby edges closer to Hawai`i Island. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours. The watch follows a flash flood watch issued earlier this morning.

      At 11 a.m., Darby was 595 miles east of South Point and forecast to make landfall Saturday evening. Maximum sustained winds were near 65 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.
      “Interests in the Hawaiian islands should monitor the progress of Darby,” Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported. “Remember, it is important not to focus too closely on the exact track and intensity forecasts because the average track error 72 hours out is near 100 miles, while the average intensity error is about 15 knots. In addition, the hazards of a tropical cyclone can extend over a broad area well away from the center.”
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Lava was visible at Kilauea's summit lava lake yesterday.
Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

“A LONG, HOT HIKE WAS NOT NEEDED to see red lava” yesterday, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists reported this morning. Vigorous spattering from Kilauea Volcano's summit lava lake was visible from the Jaggar Museum Overlook in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The lava lake surface, measured at 82 feet below the vent rim, was high enough for spattering to be seen from afar.

      The 61G lava flow active on Kilauea’s south flank, which does require a long, hot hike to view, is currently .4 miles from the coastal emergency road and .5 miles from the ocean. Advancement is slow, with lava spreading out on the coastal plain.
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U.S. REP. MARK TAKAI lost his battle with cancer yesterday. He had recently announced that he would not seek re-election in his First Congressional District because of health issues. The district encompasses much of O`ahu and is one of the only predominantly Asian American districts in the United States.

The late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai
Photo from Office of Rep. Takai

      Takai served as a member of Hawai`i National Guard for 17 years. He deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009.

      Takai was a 20-year member of the state House of Representatives before being elected to Congress in 2014, where he served on Armed Forces and Small Business Committees.
      “I’m deeply saddened today as we mourn the passing of my friend, colleague and fellow soldier, Congressman Mark Takai,” U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said. “I’m grateful to have known and worked with Mark for over a decade. With a servant’s heart, full of aloha, he dedicated his life to serving the people of Hawai`i and our nation, in the Hawai`i State Legislature, in the Hawai`i Army National Guard, and in Congress. I had the good fortune of serving with Mark in all three of these capacities and saw firsthand that no matter where he was, he always kept his service to Hawai`i’s people at the forefront of his actions. Mark’s smiling face and ready laugh will truly be missed, but the impact that he made through his life of service to the people of Hawai`i will always be remembered. My heart and prayers are with Sami, Matthew, Kaila and all of Mark’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
      “This is the deepest of losses and one that I feel very personally because of my friendship with Mark,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Throughout his life, he was all about serving the people of Hawai`i. He gave so much and had so much more yet to give. My condolences to his wife Sami, his children, his parents and his whole `ohana, whose pride and support meant everything to Mark. This is a sad day for all of Hawai`i.”

The late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai with Gov. David Ige
Photo from Office of Gov. Ige

      “I affectionately called Mark my younger brother,” Sen. Mazie Hirono said. “We shared so many of the same values and supported each other during challenging times. Mark’s passing is a tremendous loss for all of us who loved him and for the state of Hawai`i. But he said it best: ‘As often happens, we find ourselves on a different journey than we had planned.’ While we find that our journey is not as bright without Mark, we will continue his work to make Hawai`i a better place. My thoughts and aloha go to his wife Sami, his children Matthew and Kaila, and the Takai `ohana.”

      “Mark humbly and effectively served the people of his state House and Congressional districts,” Gov. David Ige said. “In the often tumultuous world of politics, he has been a shining example of what it means to be a public servant.
      “While we will deeply feel the loss of Mark Takai in the public arena, we cannot forget that he was a family man first. His wife, children and extended family will miss him every moment from this day on. Dawn and I extend our deepest sympathies to Sami, Matthew and Kaila. Your husband and father was a man of principle and goodwill. Thank you for sharing him with the citizens Hawai`i.”

Explore Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone Saturday.
Photo from NPS

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EXPLORE MAUNA LOA’S Southwest Rift Zone Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. After a short hike to an overlook on the Upper Palm Trail in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, rangers orient participants to numerous prominent geologic features of the many eruptions in the area. Learn about the fascinating natural processes that create these features and the cultural traditions associated with them.

      Pack a lunch to enjoy during the program.
      See nps.gov/havo.

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