Ka`u News Briefs April 18, 2011

Wes Thelen, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's seismic network manager.  Photo courtesy of HVO

`AINA KOA PONO hopes to wrap up its financing for its biofuels refinery and biofuels farm in Ka`u by June or July and start preliminary work on looking for employees sometime this fall. Engineer Sandy Causey said this morning that traffic studies will be done for Pahala and the surrounding area. He said he expects about 40 trucks a day to drive down Meyer Camp Road through the Hester Farm to the refinery. The refinery would be located about four-tenths of a mile off Wood Valley Road on Meyer Camp Road.

Sandy Causey

He said that in addition to the 40 trucks a day coming into the mill there would be about eight trucks a day of biofuel leaving town, headed up Hwy 11 to the Kona power plant. In addition, one truck a week of imported catalyst used in making the biofuel would be delivered each week. There could be additional trucks bringing Christmas berry and other invasive trees and shrubs from various ranches and open land around Ka`u. Causey said the plan is to keep the trucks out of Pahala as much as possible. Causey also said that `Aina Koa Pono wants to help with such community project as police and hospital needs. 

THE STATE SENATE and House of Representatives conference hearings and committee meetings begin today at the state capitol to finalize new laws and the state budget before they go to the full House and Senate for a final vote before the 2011 Legislature adjourns on May 5. Some of the major bills supported by Sen. Gil Kahele include bringing prisoners back from Hawai`i and supporting CIP projects for Ka`u. Rep. Bob Herkes has been working on getting a foreclosure holiday to help families keep their homes and mortgages and efforts to preserve the South Kona coast, which is also supported by Kahele.

THE NEW SEISMIC NETWORK MANAGER for the U.S. Geological Service’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is Wes Thelen. He has a bachelor’s degree in geology and geophysics and a doctorate, specializing in seismology. Thelen has studied Mount St. Helens and the Bezymianny Volcano in Russia. He completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship with the Cascades Volcano Observatory.

A COMMUNITY MEETING about tsunami damage assistance will be held this evening at 6 p.m. at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. Council members Brittany Smart and Brenda Ford are co-hosting the meeting to provide information on the possibilities for financial or other assistance for damage or destruction created by the tsunami event in March. 

COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART is introducing a resolution to delay general plan amendments and rezoning applications in Ka`u. She wants the Ka`u Community Development Plan to be adopted before any changes are made. Nelson Ho, Smart’s legislative assistant, said the resolution is patterned after similar ones in Kona and South Kohala. Resolution 60-11 is on the Planning Committee’s agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19. The public is invited to testify at the meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.


GAS PRICES MAY BE HEADED for all-time highs in Ka`u. The lowest price remains in Ocean View at Kahuku Country Market at $4.48 a gallon; Ocean View Market was at $4.54; Kahala Gas in Ocean View refused to give out its gas price over the phone; the 76 station in Na`alehu was charging $4.61, and Ka`u Gas in Pahala was charging $4.61 a gallon for regular.

Filmmaker Edgy Lee

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK presents filmmaker Edgy Lee’s award-winning documentary film The Hawaiians – Reflecting Spirit tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Lee says her film “offers important cultural insights into who the Hawaiians are as a people, their origins, historical challenges and current social conditions.”

Ka`u News Briefs April 17, 2011

The Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant happens this Saturday, April 23 at the Ka`u High School gym.
Design by Tanya Ibarra

THE DEFERMENT OF FUNDING A NEW recycling and trash transfer station in Wai`ohinu was front and center this past week as the county had to repair a leaking sewer pipe that could have polluted Hilo Bay. Council member Brittany Smart said she agreed that the Wai`ohinu funding which was proposed at $8.8 million should be used for the sewer pipe in Keaukaha, since it was in danger of rupturing and could lead to gross pollution of the bay and tens of thousands of dollars levied against the county in fines. A four-inch break in the pipe was repaired by 3 a.m. yesterday morning after the pipe had been leaking about five gallons a minute, but did not reach the ocean. Department of Environmental Management Director Frank DeMarco said, “We are extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication of our Wastewater Division employees. They put in long hours on this plan to save our shoreline from the impact of untreated wastewater spilling into the ocean." 

     The Wai`ohinu transfer station upgrade has also been delayed in order to provide Ocean View with its own permanent transfer station.

The March tsunami smashed cars and washed away a house.
Photo by Julia Neal

A COMMUNITY MEETING about tsunami damage assistance will be held tomorrow, Monday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. Council members Brittany Smart and Brenda Ford co-host the meeting to provide information on the possibilities for financial or other assistance for damage or destruction created by the tsunami event in March. 

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ON THE BIG ISLAND dropped by .5 percent in March, compared with the same month last year. The workforce on the island is estimated to be 84,000 people, with about 76,000 now working. The highest unemployment was Moloka`i with 10.8 percent, followed by Hawai`i County with 9.5 percent, Kaua`i 8.5 percent and Honolulu 5.5 percent.

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL utility company production and distribution and delivery of electricity and new alternative energies is explained in the Honolulu Star Advertiser today by reporter Alan Yonan, Jr. He said homeowners and businesses going off-grid with solar and other alternatives are providing some competition with Hawai`i Electric Industries, which has to keep the oil-fired plants fired up to make back the money on their investments. The article reports producers of renewable energy complain that not enough solar and wind are being used. However, the electric company does support the manufacturing of biofuel which would be grown in Ka`u, refined near Pahala and driven up the highway to the oil-fired plant near Kona Airport.

Kahikina, the Polynesian Pirate
Photos by Julia Neal

Denise Peralta, the Deevah

KAHIKINA AND THE DEEVAH will emcee next Saturday’s Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant at 5:30 p.m. at Ka`u High School Gym. The sold out event will include the competition for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Miss Ka`u Peaberry and Young Miss Ka`u Coffee. Kahikina, also known as the Polynesian Pirate and Tommy Ching, has been grand marshal of the Ka`u Fourth of July Parade and an emcee for many music workshops, events and radio shows on this island. The Deevah is a soulful singer and radio announcer on KAHU 91.7 FM public radio in Ka`u. Also known as Denise Peralta, she resides in Pahala and covers the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. broadcast on KAHU. She also performs with Demetrius Oliveira and his band Keaiwa.

SIGN UP TODAY TO PARTICIPATE in `O Ka`u Kakou’s first annual Ka`u Family Fun Fest on Saturday, June 11 in Na`alehu. The deadline for early registration is May 11. Proceeds benefit the Ka`u Family Health Center Construction Fund. The event includes a half marathon, 10K and 5K runs along with a hunter’s obstacle course and tournaments in archery, Jan Ken Po, Portuguese horseshoes and Hi-Pal youth basketball. Register online at www.race360.com/15811 or call 961-4080. Anyone interested in volunteering, sponsoring or donating can call 265-8251 or email kaufamilyfunfest@gmail.com. 

KA`U MAIN STREET’S monthly plant and seed exchange at the Naohulelua Garden on Kamaoa Road takes place today from noon to 3 p.m. Sue Barnett will explain how to make the most of your garden, especially for growing food.

AFTER DARK IN THE PARK presents filmmaker Edgy Lee’s award-winning documentary film The Hawaiians – Reflecting Spirit this Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Lee says her film “offers important cultural insights into who the Hawaiians are as a people, their origins, historical challenges and current social conditions.”

Ka`u News Briefs April 16, 2011

The Ka`u Fourth of July Parade will be on Saturday, July 2. Rep. Bob Herkes, who has been raising money for tsunami victims, and his wife Jo-Anna are regulars.  Photo by Julia Neal

REP. BOB HERKES is still receiving checks for his Red Cross fundraiser to bring in money for Hawai`i victims of the March 11 tsunami from Japan. More than $25,000 came in during his Breakfast with Bob, which drew more than 70 people at the Pacific Club in Honolulu. 

#426 American Red Cross Hawai`i Chapter CEO
Coralie Matayoshi and Rep. Bob Herkes

     Herkes said he usually has an annual Breakfast with Bob to raise money for his political campaigns but decided this year to turn all the money over to local tsunami victims. He shared the amazing story of Dustin Ballesteros, who went to Honaunau to save his father's 40-foot double-hull sailing canoe. He took it out to sea the night of the tsunami. When he was coming in the next morning, he saw the tsunami hit. As he got to shore, he thought he saw a pile of rocks but it turned out to be his friend's destroyed house, where Ballesteros and his wife spent their wedding night. 

COUNCIL MEMBERS BRITTANY SMART AND BRENDA FORD co-host a community meeting to provide information on the possibilities for financial or other assistance for damage or destruction created by the tsunami event in March. The meeting is on Monday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. 

     The recent announcement by President Barack Obama regarding a Declaration of Disaster for the State of Hawai` i allows federal assistance only to repair county-owned and state-owned infrastructure damaged in the recent tsunami event. Such infrastructure includes roads, bridges, public buildings, and harbors, sewers, and water systems, etc.
     Olivia Humilde, of the Small Business Administration, said there may be some assistance for homeowners, renters, and business owners through the SBA. She encourages everyone who sustained damage to their homes, businesses, rental property, and contents of their buildings to contact the SBA for applications.
     Patrick Hurney, of Habitat for Humanity, will explain their programs to empower families with home ownership and to increase their financial assets. Additionally, some families whose houses were destroyed by the tsunami and who meet Habitat for Humanity requirements may be able to qualify to have a Habitat for Humanity house built as a replacement.

Much of the locally raised cattle are grown without the
constant feeding of antibiotics.  Photo by Julia Neal

A WARNING ABOUT STAPH found in supermarket meats across the country suggests that bloody rare meat may carry much more risk than medium or well-cooked meat. Some of the staph found in the meats tested by scientists turned out to be the drug-resistant variety that can lead to serious long-term illness and infections. They suggest that the antibiotics given to cattle and chickens may create the drug-resistant staph. Among the kinds of staph found was the superbug MRSA, which can be fatal. Cooking thoroughly not only kills the staph but the more common E. coli and salmonella, which contribute to more cases of food-born illnesses than staph. The study was done by Transitional Genomics Research Institute in Arizona. The FDA does not regularly test meat for staph. 

`O KA`U KAKOU IS SPONSORING the 2011 Na`alehu Independence Day Parade July 2 at 11 a.m. Patriotic citizens, businesses, and organizations interested in participating or donating can call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872. Parade entries must be submitted by May 18.

THE LARGEST EASTER EGG HUNT in Ka‘ū is happening today until noon at Na`alehu Park. Sponsored by Ka`u community churches, the event is open to all ages, and everyone is encouraged to bring their own basket. The event features music, games and prizes. 

AT KA`U MAIN STREET’S monthly plant and seed exchange at the Naohulelua Garden on Kamaoa Road, Sue Barnett explains how to make the most of your garden, especially for growing food. The event takes place tomorrow from noon to 3 p.m. Call 929-7236.