Ka`u News Briefs May 7, 2011

Aikane Plantation, on the old cane haul road between Pahala and Na`alehu, made the LA Times today in a story
about sampling Hawai`i's new coffee region.

FUNDING FOR THE `AINA KOA PONO refinery and plantation around Pahala would be easier if Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs a bill that passed the state Legislature in its final days. `Aina Koa Pono and Hawaiian Electric Light Co. asked the Legislature to change the law after the Public Utilities Commission turned down their request to raise customer rates on O`ahu, Lana`i, Moloka`i and the Big Island to help pay for the $320 million refinery that would be located just off Wood Valley Road above Pāhala. The PUC ruled that customers on other islands could not be charged to pay for the cost of energy they would not receive. `Aina Koa Pono and the electric company testified that such cost sharing is needed to fund alternative energies such as their project. Their project aims to put biomass into large microwaves to make a vapor, which would be condensed with additives to make fuel. The synthetic fuel would be hauled in tanker trucks from Pahala to the Hawaiian Electric Light Company plant near Kona Airport. The refinery would also produce transportation fuel, which would be trucked out of Pahala. The investors in the refinery promise hundreds of jobs, with 300 union construction workers building the plant followed by several hundred permanent jobs. `Aina Koa Pono claims it can use trees and shrubs, all of them invasive species, for the feedstock for the first few years until it comes up with an appropriate crop to grow to make the biofuel. 

Rep. Bob Herkes

     Rep. Bob Herkes was quoted in the Hawai`i Tribune-Herald and West Hawai`i Today, saying, “I am not convinced the project has the soundness and viability to survive, but neither am I ready to stop it.”
     The owners of other alternative energy concerns already in place, such as the wind farms at South Point, attempted to intervene in the PUC decision to subsidize the `Aina Koa Pono project with rate hikes, saying that the other alternative energies, like wind, will have a smaller chance of being used by the electric company if such a refinery is approved and subsidized through raising electric rates.

THE LOS ANGELES TIMES TODAY FEATURED a photo of Aikane Coffee Plantation between Pahala and Na`alehu on the old sugar cane haul road. The story, entitled Coffee Sampling in Hawai`i’s New Growing Region, says that from Kona a “spectacularly beautiful 90-minute drive leads to Pahala and Aikane Plantation Coffee Co., where Phil Becker and his wife, Merle, welcome guests.”
The story promotes both the Aikane Coffee farm and the Ka`u Coffee Festival coming up next week. “The Beckers’ farm is in the Ka`u district, which is gaining an international reputation for its excellent coffee, celebrated each year at the Ka`u Coffee Festival,” writes Ray Jones. “This year’s festival begins Saturday. At it, guests can sample local brews, plus food items with coffee among the ingredients. The event at the Pahala Community Center also features Hawaiian music and hula dances.”
     The story also quotes Phil Becker: “If someone calls and would like to see our plantation, we welcome them to come and share the coffee experience. We don’t advertise, so it’s a special tour for each guest. And it’s free.”

Eddie Wroblewski explains the drying process for Ka`u Coffee
at the Ka`u Coffee Mill to the OC-16 Brown Bags TV crew.

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS are also getting attention from Johnny Kai, who produces a show for the OC-16 television station on O`ahu. Kai filmed Bull Kailiawa and his coffee farm yesterday, following the Kailiawa’s winning of the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s international award as top in the USA and top ten in the world. He also filmed Eddie Wroblewski running the Ka`u Coffee mill pulping operation. The footage will be on the Brown Bags to Stardom show with host Ka`ailani McBrayer. Johnny Kai is filming Miss Ka`u Coffee today at other farms in Moa`ula. 

Johnny Kai films Brown Bags winners One Journey at
Ka`u High School on Friday.  Photos by Julia Neal

ONE JOURNEY was filmed by the Brown Bags production crew at Ka`u High School yesterday. One Journey, which won the Brown Bags event in Honolulu on April 23, is waiting to see the final results of the Brown Bags music video competition for which One Journey has reached the top six in the finals. The results will be released sometime in June. One Journey will be a headliner at the Ka`u Coffee Festival ho`olaule`a next Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Admission is free. 

THE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS expected to start falling as oil companies report record profits and oil drilling in the gulf resumes along with predictions of increased stability in the Middle East. The gas prices started climbing rapidly in mid-March. Today, the price of regular was $4.59 a gallon at Kahuku Market in Ocean View. Ocean View market would not give prices. Kahala Gas was $4.64 a gallon. It was $4.66 at the 76 station in Na`alehu and at Ka`u Gas in Pahala.

VOLCANO ART CENTER IS HOSTING a fundraiser tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village to help support the people of Japan who were stricken by the earthquake and tsunami in March. The fundraiser features a movie made possible by Joe Okuda about the famous Shinto shrine and its man-made forest in the Center of Tokyo. Volcano resident and dancer Shizuno Nasu will perform, along with Shiho Watanabe on Koto.
     Tickets are $15, and all proceeds go to the people of Japan. Call 967-8222 for tickets. Donations are also accepted.

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES for the Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest is today. Applications are available at R&G Store in Pahala and online at kaucoffeefest.com. Contact Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com for more information.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie called for a New Day on the sreps of Pahala Plantation House last December.               Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE says there are many positive outcomes of the 2011 Hawai`i Legislature, which adjourned yesterday. “We started this legislative session by laying out a bold plan to move Hawai`i in a new direction,” the governor said. “We were determined to conduct ourselves with a spirit of collaboration. We said repeatedly that everyone must contribute and that our decisions must reflect our values and priorities.
     “We have found that support for the political status quo, abetted by private interests, remains strongly in place. It will take time and action by the executive to change this culture,” said Abercrombie. “While we did not get all we wanted in this legislative session, we have made meaningful strides forward.” He listed achievements:
     Moving the Board of Education from an elected body to an appointed body of diverse community leaders to move schools in a new direction; signing a civil unions bill that ensures equal rights for all people of Hawai`i without recreating the heated battle lines of the past; and securing private funding to transform the state’s antiquated technology system to streamline government services and save taxpayers millions of dollars.
     Abercrombie said, “The people of Hawai`i don’t want to hear excuses and arguments about why things can't be done. They want action. Our administration will take the budget we have and transform government as we know it by being innovative, resourceful and relentless in the face of our challenges. There is no doubt in my mind that, together, Hawai`i is on the way to a New Day. Imua Hawai`i!” the governor proclaimed.

THE STATE SENATE finished its session with the singing on Hawai`i Aloha. More than 3,000 bills were submitted for consideration and about 250 made it through. Senate President Shan Tsutsui said it was challenging particularly with the very difficult economic times. However, “we were able to balance our budget while protecting the most vulnerable in our society and we passed some of the most historic legislation in the history of Hawai`i,” Tsutsui said. Among those historic bills, he said, was the recognition of Native Hawaiians as the only original indigenous people of the islands," a bill for which Sen. Gil Kahele testified on the Senate floor. The legislature also passed a measure that reforms the foreclosure process to require lenders to negotiate with homeowners or go to court. It is perhaps the toughest foreclosure law in the nation and was championed by Rep. Bob Herkes, of Ka`u.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Brandy Shibuya.
Photo by Julia Neal

NOISY DOGS will have to be dealt with - first among neighbors - before the police are called, if Mayor Billy Kenoi signs a law passed this week by the County Council. The language of the new law says that those upset by noisy dogs would have to “make a reasonable attempt to advise the owner or custodian,” before contacting the appropriate enforcement agency. Reasonable attempt is defined by an email, letter through the post office or personal visit. Mayor Billy Kenoi plans to meet with the police chief before deciding whether to make the bill a law.

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE is learning from other venues about the value of festivals as an economic stimulus and engine for the Ka`u community. Coffee Farmers Trini Marques and Gloria Camba, who have both chaired the Ka`u Coffee Pageant; Miss Ka`u Coffee Brandy Shibuya; coffee lands manager Chris Manfredi and Pahala Plantation Cottages manager Ron Johnson are at Festival training at Keauhou Beach Resort today. It is sponsored by the Hawai`i Tourism Authority and Festivals of Hawai`i. 

VOLCANO ART CENTER IS HOSTING a fundraiser this Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village to help support the people of Japan who were stricken by the earthquake and tsunami in March. The fundraiser features a movie made possible by Joe Okuda about the most famous Shinto shrine and its man-made forest in the Center of Tokyo. Volcano resident and dancer Shizuno Nasu will perform, along with Shiho Watanabe on Koto. Tickets are $15, and all proceeds go to the people of Japan. Call 967-8222 for tickets. Donations are also accepted.

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES for the Ka‘ū Coffee Recipe Contest is tomorrow. Applications are available at R&G Store in Pāhala and online at kaucoffeefest.com. Contact Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com for more information.

FREE HELE ON BUS SERVICE for senior citizens, students, the disabled and keiki under five years of age will continue after July 1, when the free transportation will start costing $1 per ride. The bus service has been free for more than five years. The new fees will raise more than a half a million dollars a year. Passengers will be able to purchase monthly passes for unlimited rides for $20 and will get 25 percent off if buying ten tickets at once.

Ka`u News Briefs May 5, 2011

`O Ka`u Kakou joins with other community organizations to clean up Punalu`u Pond.  Photo by Nalani Parlin

PENSION REFORM is expected to pass the state House of Representatives today, meaning new-hires in state government would have lower retirement income. They would also have to reach an older age to qualify for maximum retirement benefits. The state is faced with a $7.1 liability and is trying to figure out a way to pay for it. The legislation is expected to save more than $440 million in the first five years and more as new-hires fill state jobs. If the House passes the measure, it goes to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. The Hawai`i Government Employees Association has tentatively agreed to the idea, but some other unions are worried that it will hurt government’s ability to attract good employees.

Examining a coffee berry picked from a tree, showing
borer damage.  Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS are going into the fields this weekend to attack coffee borer beetles. The Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members are joining together to search and clean any affected coffee trees and to set up traps. Just one field has been found with the borer at the Cloud Rest area where Ka`u’s award-winning coffee is produced. The Department of Agriculture is sending out staff to help the farmers and is encouraging everyone to make sure coffee pickers who come here from Kona have clean boots, clothes and vehicles so they don’t carry more coffee cherry borers to the region. 

SEN. GIL KAHELE is one of the Native Hawaiian senators who supports state recognition of Native Hawaiian people. The bill is designed to be compatible with the Akaka Bill that would recognize Hawaiians on a federal level. Said Kahele, “I was one of several Hawaiian senators who spoke in support of SB1520. The essence of asking my colleagues in the Senate to support SB1520 was the importance of recognizing native Hawaiians as an indigenous people. It was time to make ‘pono’ what was long overdue to the host culture and the meaning of ‘aloha’ as it meant to me as I grew up in the village of Miloli`i. In this legislative session, it was very important that we take this step of assisting Senator Akaka in his efforts of having native Hawaiians recognized at the federal level.”

Boys & Girls Clubs in Ka`u received approval for
county funding yesterday.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS GRANTED $1.5 million in funding for the next fiscal year to more than 92 nonprofit programs. The Ocean View Boys and Girls Club is receiving $25,000, while $20,000 goes to the Pahala Club’s Positive Youth Development Programs. `O Ka`u Kakou is receiving $15,000. The Ka`u Family Center is receiving $55,000 through Family Support Hawai`i. Other organizations that serve in the vicinity of Ka`u are the Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council, which is receiving $58,000 for its Youth Mentoring Language and Arts Multicultural Program, and Hui Malama Ola Na `Oiwi, with $5,000 for its diabetes management program and $15,000 for its cancer program. 

AT ITS MEETING YESTERDAY, the County Council approved the installation of another set of water spigots at Wai`ohinu Park. This would double the number of spigots available for public use.

THE COUNCIL ALSO POSTPONED acting on a bill that imposes impact fees on new construction. Council member Pete Hoffmann, who first introduced the bill last September, asked for the delay so that he could make revisions.

Tyler Navarro-Villa lead Ka`u to victory over
Hualalai Academy last night.

KA`U BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL defeated Hualalai Academy last night at the Ka`u High gym to move on in the BIIF playoffs hoping to earn a berth to states. The boys went into the playoffs as the number one seed on the East side. Although Hualalai beat out two teams to play the Trojans, Ka`u took them down in three swift sets that lasted less than an hour. The set scores were 25-15, 25-15 and 25-11. Lead scorers were Tyler Navarro-Villa with 10 kills and Dillin Ballo with six. 

Riley Louis celebrates Ka`u's victory.
Photos by Nalani Parlin

     Ka`u moves on to play in the semi-finals tomorrow at Waiakea at 4 p.m. If they win tomorrow night, they will most likely attend states again for the first time in six years. 

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES for the Ka`u Coffee Recipe Contest is this Saturday. Applications are available at R&G Store in Pahala and online at www.kaucoffeefest.com. Contact Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com for more information.