Ka`u News Briefs July 11, 2011

The Ka`u Coast is featured in Trash Inc: The Secret Life of Garbage.

KA`U’S KAMILO BEACH IS FEATURED on the CNBC production called Trash Inc: The Secret Life of Garbage. The television show covers the overwhelming garbage problem in China, garbage emitting methane to fuel the U.S. BMW manufacturing plant, and plastic bottles used for making fibers for everything from T-shirts to carpets. It focuses on Kamilo Beach here in Ka`u as an example of what is happening to the world’s beaches. They are turning into plastic - even tiny grains of plastic sand. The program mentions the volunteers who clean up Kamilo through the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund. It also interviews the founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation and its leader, Capt. Charles Moore, who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch a decade ago, floating between here and California, and larger than the continental U.S.

Capt. Charles Moore and his team visit Kamilo Beach in Ka`u.
Photo courtesy of Algalita Marine Research Foundation

     Interviewed at Kamilo Beach, Moore says the plastics won’t degrade for 600 years and that in addition to helping clean it up, the best way to prevent plastics from going into the ocean is “source reduction.” He said products made of plastic should be designed by planning to recycle them into new products before they are made. Only about 20 percent of plastics are recycled in the U.S., and U.S. companies making products out of recycled plastics have to import them from countries that recycle more, like Argentina, showing the low rate of recycling here compared to some other countries.
     Moore also said it would be impossible to skim the entire world ocean to get rid of the plastics, since the ocean covers one third of the planet. Most plastics circulating in the ocean are thrown on the side of roads, rivers and streams, where they work their way down to the sea. Trash Inc was first aired last September, is being repeated on MSNBC and can be watched online at video.CNBC.com. Search Trash Inc. in the video gallery. The Algalita Marine Research Foundation also has a video on TED.com.
     Hawai`i Wildlife Fund’s next cleanup along the Ka`u coast will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Andrew Hetzel wants transparency
in judging Hawai`i Coffee.
Photo by Julia Neal

COFFEE CONSULTANT ANDREW HETZEL is calling for more transparency and publishing of results at the Hawai`i Coffee Association cupping competition held over the weekend. Hetzel told Hawai`i 24/7 that the Hawai`i Coffee Association departed from practices at this year’s competition by “not publishing a list of point scores or ranking of the top ten coffees statewide. Only the top three farms from each district will be named, a move that we calculate was made after last year’s event where only one Kona coffee placed in the list of top five Hawaiian coffees,” noted Hetzel.
     “Bowing to fragile egos and political pressure to not disclose fairly and objectively selected quality ranking data undermines the core value of competition and discredits those who excel, Hetzel said.
     “Most egregiously, the association announced at its award ceremony that every farm submitting a sample will receive a certificate imprinted with only the positive cupping characteristics of their coffee — criticism and constructive comments would arrive separately in a private letter. In a contest where everyone is a winner, what is the incentive to improve? Are Hawai`i’s farms submitting coffees to improve their chances of survival in competition with others from around the world or are they just looking for a shiny new plaque to place on the wall of a visitor center to (falsely) impress the next boatload of uneducated tourists? asked Hetzel.
     “The lack of transparency at this year’s event embarrassingly proclaims to the specialty coffee industry that farmers from Hawai`i still see no difference in medals awarded by the Olympics and Special Olympics; no difference in achievement and participation,” Hetzel told Hawai`i 24/7. See www.hawaii24/7.com.

The quality of Ka`u Coffee has made it a top finisher in local and international competitions. Photo by Julia Neal

MIGUEL MEZA, who has worked for the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative as a consultant, was also on hand at the Hawai`i Coffee Association event. Coffee consultant Andrew Hetzel described Meza in a Hawai`i 24/7 story as an “honorary” member of the Obra family who joined the Obras to receive the grand champion award from newsman Howard Dicus.

GLORIA CAMBA, president of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Association, presented the co-op’s coffee to Japanese buyers at the Hawai`i Coffee Association event. Camba said she was very happy that Ka`u Coffee is winning so many awards and also credited the Ka`u Coffee Mill on Wood Valley Road with making processing easier for the farmers. Camba and Bong Aquino’s own Ka`u Royal Coffee came in first for the Ka`u region three years ago at the Hawai`i Coffee Association cupping competition – the first year that Ka`u competed.

Leo Norberte was one of the top place finishers in the Hawai`i
Coffee Association competition on Saturday in Waikoloa.
Photo by Julia Neal

CHRIS MANFREDI, of Ka`u Farm & Ranch, LLC, gave the Ka`u report at the Hawai`i Coffee Association’s annual meeting and trade show over the weekend and was re-elected to the HCA’s Board of Directors. He noted the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant, successes of Ka`u Coffee farmers at the international Specialty Coffee Association of America’s Expo this year, and for five consecutive years. He highlighted the third annual Ka`u Coffee Festival’s role in helping to build the industry. He said media attention went worldwide through the Associated Press picking up the Ka`u Coffee story. He joked that Ka`u has its own “Kamehameha” and showed a photo of Bull Kailiawa, who won Coffee of the Year from the U.S. and Hawai`i at the 2011 SCAA Expo. He also congratulated Lorie Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian for winning Grand Champion of Hawaiian Coffee two years in a row at the HCA’s statewide annual cupping competition. Manfredi said that every time one Ka`u farmer wins a coffee award, all the farmers benefit. Manfredi manages the property where many of the award-winning coffee farms are located. He is also owner of Ka`u Local Products, which markets Ka`u Coffee and other local products.

THE PAHALA SENIOR CLUB meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Pahala Senior Center. Call 928-3101 for more information.

Maile Yamanaka   Photo courtesy of Volcano Art Center

VOLCANO ART CENTER presents the Arts and Traditions of Hula at Kilauea tomorrow at the Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kumu Maile Yamanaka offers basic lessons in hula, crafts and `ukulele. The free lessons are open to all ages, and no experience is necessary. Call 967-8222 to sign up.

REDISTRICTING OF HAWAI`I COUNTY is the topic at a District 6 Matters meeting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. County Council member Brittany Smart and attorney Michael Udovic, from the office of Corporation Counsel, will be on hand to answer questions.

Ka`u News Briefs July 10, 2011

Hula is always a part of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's Annual Cultural Festival.  Photo by Stephen Geiger

RUSTY’S HAWAIIAN 100 PERCENT KA`U COFFEE took the grand prize in the statewide Hawai`i Coffee Association competition at Hilton Waikoloa Village yesterday. Second place was Tommy Greenwell of Greenwell Farms. For the Ka`u District, Lorie Obra took first, and Leo Norberte with his JN Coffee took second, while Trini and Frances Marques took third with their Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee.

Lorie Obra holds her championship
award.  Photo by Ralph Gaston

     Obra said, “I never thought that I could feel such two strong emotions at once. Extremely saddened because Rusty (her late husband) is not here with us and extreme happiness because I could fulfill his dream for him.”

     The event, which started on Thursday, included tasting, roasting and pest prevention workshops and a trade show where Ka`u Coffee drew a lot of attention.
     Business reporter Howard Dicus talked about a possible increase in tourism, particularly to Hilo with the United Airlines/Continental direct flight that began last month. He said the flights could help the coffee industry here, which is already becoming well known. Agritourism is a growing interest among visitors.

THE SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS was seen last night, orbiting overhead in the clear Ka`u skies, as a dim light just behind the International Space Station. The Space Station appeared as a fast moving bright light emerging from the west-northwest and descending into the eastern horizon. Atlantis hooked up with the space station this morning. The next viewing will be in the morning on Tuesday July 19, the day before the shuttle is scheduled for its final landing before being retired to a museum. 

     The shuttle carried some Honolulu cargo to the space station. Adult stem cells were sent aloft to study them in a weightless environment. The experiment is sponsored by Tissue Genesis, Inc., a regenerative medicine company in Kaka`ako on O`ahu. Two Hawai`i residents, Shannon Iwami and Anthony Yang, work on the project.

`Ukulele lessons wer part of the cultural festival yesterday
at Kahuku.  Photo by Stephen Geiger

GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE has signed a bill intended to help more homeowners and renters access and afford clean energy. The measure directs the Public Utilities Commission to investigate on-bill financing, a program that allows customers to purchase a renewable energy system or device on their electric bill and pay for it over time through energy savings. 

     The governor originally planned to veto the bill because it requires the PUC to complete an investigation without any additional resources. After hearing about the governor’s intent, private partners led by the Blue Planet Foundation offered to work with the PUC to cover costs and lessen the burden to fulfill the requirements of the bill. The spirit of problem-solving and partnership exhibited by the parties prompted him to sign the bill. “Working together, we can advance our clean energy goals with the kind of urgency and determination that these times demand,” Abercrombie said.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S 31st Annual Cultural Festival took place yesterday at the park’s Kahuku Unit. The day was filled with Hawaiian music, hula and arts and crafts demonstrations. 

The growing of kalo, the staple food of Hawai`i, is explained
at the cultural festival.  Photo by Stephen Geiger

THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAY called Patience has a matinee today at 2:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theatre in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The spoof about the 19th century aesthetic movement has a large cast of maidens, lads and dragoons and continues every weekend on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons through July 24. 

THE PAHALA SENIOR CLUB meets on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Pahala Senior Center. Call 928-3101 for more information.

VOLCANO ART CENTER presents the Arts and Traditions of Hula at Kilauea on Tuesday at the Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kumu Maile Yamanaka offers basic lessons in hula, crafts and `ukulele. The free lessons are open to all ages, and no experience is necessary. Call 967-8222 to sign up.

Ka`u News Briefs July 9, 2011

Keiko and Morton Bassan with their Ka`u Gold oranges.  Photo from www.organic-kau-orange.com

THE KA`U GOLD ORANGE farm near Kalae has been up for sale, and the owners are trying to reorganize under Chapter 12 filings designed for family farms and fishing enterprises. Morton and Keiko Bassan claimed in a similar filing in 2008 that people were stealing their oranges, creating a loss that drove the company under. The plan was to subdivide the farm and sell it off, but the real estate market tanked. Chapter 12 allows the owners to keep farming.
     In 2001, Ka`u Gold had 18,000 orange trees on 150 acres. The company started growing oranges in Ka`u in 1979, eventually producing 95 percent of the state’s orange crop, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
     The Ka`u Gold Orange website offers opportunities for domestic and international work exchange and volunteer vacations. “We encourage a diverse group of individuals from all over the U.S., Canada and throughout the world to come here to learn organic food production and to network,” it says. The farm also produces tangerines and tangelos. See organic-kau-orange.com.

THE HAWAI`I STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION filed a complaint against the state on Friday, claiming that the administration engaged in prohibited practices when negotiating for a five percent pay cut and requiring teachers to pay more for their health care benefits. Teachers union president Wil Okabe contended that the state violated the Hawai`i Constitution, which guarantees rights for collective bargaining. The complaint argues that the state violated these rights when it made a last, best and final offer to the teachers ten days before their contract ended. He said the state should have continued negotiations. The complaint also contends that the administration illegally went directly to employees during negotiations, circumventing the union, which represents the 12,500 public school teachers statewide. 

     The state implemented its cuts in pay and share of health insurance payments on July 1. The union is asking that the old contract be reinstated and negotiations continue.
     Most public workers have already accepted the pay cut. The Department of Education is also trying to reform the school system, which will require additional negotiations with the teachers’ union.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK road repairs start Monday on Crater Rim Drive, beginning at Jaggar Museum and working toward the parking lots at Volcano House and Kilauea Visitor Center. There will be one-lane traffic in the area as repairs progress. Also scheduled for repaving is two miles of Mauna Loa Road, including paved areas at Tree Molds and the picnic grounds at Kipukapuaulu.

Kenneth Makuakane

Kai Ho`opi`i

THE ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL, a free event sponsored by Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, takes place today at the Kahuku Unit, just off Hwy 11 between mile markers 70 and 71. The celebration is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes hula performances by Halau Ulumamo o Hilo Paliku and Haunani’s Hula Expressions. Hawaiian music will be provided by Joseph Nahale, Kenneth Makuakane, falsetto singer Kai Ho`opi`i, and Aunty Diana Aki and friends. 

THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAY called Patience continues tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theatre. Directed by Suzi Bond, it stars Cristina Hussey as Patience. The poets are Mark DeMoss as Bunthorne and Byron Karr as Archibald Grosvenor. There is a large cast of maidens, lads and dragoons. A matinee will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. It continues every weekend through July 24.

THE FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK sponsor a three-mile hike from Mauna Ulu parking lot to Pu`u Huluhulu tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Non-members are welcome to join in order to attend. Call 985-7373 to register.