Ka`u News Briefs August 6, 2011

Proposed redistricting splits Ka`u into two state Representative districts.

PROPOSED REDISTRICTING for the state House of Representatives would cut Ka`u down the middle, with the line going between Punalu`u and Na`alehu.

     The map released this week is preliminary, but would require two different state House members for Ka`u. Some Ocean View residents are already organizing opposition, fearing they will lose their long-time legislator Bob Herkes, who has championed the new water well for the community. Martie Nitsche called Herkes a “walking computer” whose knowledge of the Ka`u communities is unsurpassed. Nitsche said that the Ka`u region should stay together with its unique rural needs.
     Under the proposed scheme, residents of Na`alehu, Wai`ohinu, Discovery Harbour, Green Sands, Ka Lae and Ocean View would be in the same district as people north to Kahaluu-Keauhou and including Honalo, Kealakekua, Captain Cook and Honaunau-Napo`opo`o and Miloli`i. People in Punalu`u and Pahala would be in the same voting district as Volcano, Fern Forest and Eden Rock. The new east side district would also include Fern Acres, a tiny bit of Hawaiian Acres, parts of Orchidland Estates, all of Kurtistown, Kea`au, and a swath to the ocean that would include sparsely populated land out to the ocean north of Kea`au but south of Hilo. Most of Hawaiian Paradise Park and Hawaiian Acres, as well as all of `Ainaloa, Pahoa, Kapoho and Kalapana would be in a separate district.
     Hawai`i Reapportionment Commission Chairwoman Victoria Marks said that public hearings on these preliminary maps will be held on Sept. 13 in Hilo and Sept. 14 in Kona. The maps may change depending on whether military personnel and non-resident students are counted in the population base of the county. While the County of Hawai`i chose not to count them, the state voted to do so, the reapportionment maps released being the product of the methodology of the latter. State Attorney-General David M. Louie called the state’s decision unconstitutional. Under state law, however, the final maps must be adopted by Sept. 26, no matter what methodology is used. 

Tradewinds eyed eucalyptus above Pahala for veneer.
Photo by Julia Neal

TRADEWINDS, ONE OF THE COMPANIES that had its eye on harvesting the thousands of acres of eucalyptus above Pahala, has asked the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to terminate its license to cut trees and make them into plywood veneer. The site would have been the old O`okala Mill north of Hilo. The company, apparently, could not raise the money for the operation. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources could cancel the license at its next meeting, which is next Friday. 

THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION issued a notice of violation to the Pohakuloa Training Area here on the Big Island and Schofield Barracks on O`ahu on Thursday. The commission concluded after an investigation regarding depleted uranium used in weapons systems in the 1960s that there was a security level three violation resulting in increased radiation. The notice could entail a $3,500 fine. However, due to the Army’s positive response in providing information to the NRC and taking measures to prevent further violations, the fine may be reconsidered. This has drawn criticism from members of the community including Jim Albertini of Malu `Aina, a community-based organization for education of sustainable organic farming and non-violent action. The NRC’s decision, he believes, is not enough, nor are the Army’s corrective actions to prevent further violations.

THE BRUSH FIRE that spread through Punalu`u this Wednesday burned 85 acres before it could be contained. Fortunately, the land scorched was vacant and no injuries were reported. The fire forced police to close Hwy 11 between the two entrances to Punalu`u Beach for six hours. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Christina Skaggs with her
Patina Prayers.

AN ART OPENING at Volcano Art Center Gallery today from 5 p.m. To 7 p.m. features Christina Skaggs with her Patina Prayers paintings that resemble carvings and textiles. The exhibit will be ongoing through Sept. 18.

THE WALLS OF PU`U `O`O CRATER collapsing are the subject of a video by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The spectacular documentation available online at the HAVO website begins with the lava flow in the crater on Wednesday. The lava progresses toward the rim of the crater until the crater floor collapses and drops 260 feet. By 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, the crater wall had collapsed into the lake of lava. A different video was recorded from helicopter by Mick and Ann Kalber of Tropical Visions Video and shows the spectacular lava flows in the crater. 

Ka`u News Briefs August 5, 2011

Crater Rim Drive has reopened after a precautionary closure with the recent collapse of the Pu`u `O`o crater floor and the creation of this new lava flow.  Photo from USGS

LIFE OF THE LAND, an environmental community action group, has formally asked the Public Utilities Commission for a contested case hearing on the proposed contract between `Aina Koa Pono and Hawaiian Electric Company. Approval of the contract would allow the electric company to raise customers’ rates to help fund a refinery and biofuel farm in Ka`u.
     Life of the Land wants to present research and arguments regarding claims of `Aina Kona Pono, concerning the probability that its microwave process and biofuel farming would be viable, as well as its possible effect on the environment, agriculture and community, and the plan to raise electric rates to pay for it.

Life of the land executive
director Henry Curtis

     Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land, said the PUC could also compare the growing commercial viability of wind, solar, geothermal and other alternative energies, and whether development of these alternatives would be hindered by tying up Hawaiian Electric and its rate payers in a long-term contract with `Aina Koa Pono.
     It also contends that Hawaiian Electric is asking the ratepayers to subsidize the utility purchasing biodiesel “at well above the cost that the utility could generate its own electricity and perhaps at the highest price any Hawai`i utility has ever paid for electricity.” Life of the Land points out that other proposals before the PUC would allow for purchase of energy at lower rather than higher rates.
     Life of the Land was allowed to intervene in an earlier case in which Hawaiian Electric planned to import palm oil from Asia to run oil burning power plants. That plan was rejected.
     Hawaiian Electric earlier objected to the participation of the county and community groups in the `Aina Koa Pono case after receiving requests by Life of the Land, Hawai`i Renewable Energy Alliance and Hawai`i County.

     `Aina Koa Pono contends that the cost of making the biofuel could be higher than other energy sources now, but with the cost of fossil fuel expected to rise, it would be come less expensive than fossil fuel in the long run, saving customers money later.

HAWAI`I CARPENTERS UNION representative Dean Au testified during the public hearings held in Hilo and Kona this week. He said that he loves Ka`u and comes shore fishing along the rugged Ka`u coast. He acknowledged that Ka`u would change with the `Aina Koa Pono project but said that many unemployed carpenters need the jobs.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK is calling for public input on a new management plan that would replace the one that's more than 30 years old. Proposed are four options, including a status quo plan, and plans that would approach managing the park quite differently. Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando noted that the plans take into consideration the needs of visitors, residents and students. The options can be viewed at www.nps.gov/havo/parkmgmt/gmp.htm. Talk Story sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Kilauea Visitor Center, on Aug. 24 at Pahoa Community Center, and Aug. 25 at Na`alehu Community Center. Park staff will present a brief overview of the options along with informational stations and maps. Some of the ideas included in the plans are incorporating more native Hawaiian land management practices and restricting traffic on Crater Rim Drive to bicycling, walking and shuttles.

CRATER RIM DRIVE has reopened after a precautionary closing with the recent collapse of the Pu`u `O`o crater floor and the creation of a new lava flow. The lava is unlikely to move toward Crater Rim Drive, park officials said.

Mazie Hirono

CONGRESSWOMAN MAZIE HIRONO introduced the Continuum of Learning Act of 2011 into Congress today. The bipartisan early childhood learning initiative helps educators from Head Start, other quality early childhood education programs, and elementary schools work together for successful transition from pre-K to elementary school, said Hirono.
     “Without spending any additional taxpayer dollars, this bipartisan legislation helps our keiki enter school ready to learn and increases their success in the early years,” she said. Hirono, a former teacher, is a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Hirono said the legislation “will strengthen the early education efforts for our nation’s 21.2 million children under age 5, some 86,000 of whom are in Hawai`i.”

TRAUMA INJURIES IN KA`U will receive better treatment at its larger sister hospital, Hilo Medical Center. Hilo has been upgraded to a Trauma Level Three Hospital. Gov. Neil Abercrombie visited Hilo Medical Center this week to commemorate the hospital’s new designation. Hilo Medical Center’s upgrade bolsters the entire Big Island’s readiness and ability to treat trauma patients.

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE also made an appearance at Keaukaha Elementary School in Hilo, and the governor joined the University of Hawai`i at Hilo in celebrating the opening of the campus’ Science and Technology building and then made an appearance at the East Hawai`i State Office Building, where a public hearing was earlier held concerning the plans of the biofuel company `Aina Koa Pono to develop lands in Ka`u. During the Hilo visit, Abercrombie was confronted by citizens supporting the state and the Hawai`i State Teachers Association. Protestors opposed the pay cuts, health insurance hikes, and furlough days that the state imposed on teachers last month.

Ka`u News Briefs August 4, 2011

A brush fire burned between the two entrances to Punalu`u yesterday.
Photo by Tim Bryan courtesy of Big Island Video News

KA`U RESIDENTS testified this week at the public hearing on the proposed biofuels refinery between Pahala and Wood Valley and biofuels farm between Pahala and Na`alehu. Dennis Elwell, a Discovery Harbour resident and retired university science professor, suggested that before the contract is approved to fund a high risk, high return energy project like this, there should be a pilot project built to prove that it can work. He said the plan to use a microwave reactor to make biofuel is still experimental.
     Chris Manfredi, manager of Ka`u Farm and Ranch for owners of 6,000 acres in Ka`u, said that it is important to study the proposal entirely before changing the direction of local agriculture, which has diversified into coffee and other products in recent years. He said the project uses "the air we share," the water used for agricultural and pointed to the the seismic risks since large earthquakes have been recorded here.
     Manfredi is president of the Ka`u Farm Bureau but said he was speaking for himself. He asked for a farm plan to show what would be grown for biofuel crops. He also said it would be good will toward the community to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement to answer questions from the community, even if there is no trigger requiring it. He brought up dust, smoke and odors as questions for the developers. And asked where any such biofuel plant is up and running in a community anywhere on the planet.

     The public is invited to send testimony to the Public Utilities Commission at 465 South King Street #103, Honolulu, HI 96813 or hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov.
     See more in tomorrow's Ka`u News Briefs.

A BRUSH FIRE BURNED between the two entrances to Punalu`u yesterday, shutting down Hwy 11 into the afternoon and evening and forcing traffic through Ninole Loop. The fire burned on both sides of the highway, and the road did not reopen until 11 p.m. Water was still being dropped by helicopter this morning to put out the hot spots. The fire started on the Hilo side of the north entrance to Punalu`u, jumped Ninole Loop and then Hwy 11. Most of the damage was to grasslands. Arson is suspected. Discovery Harbour and Pahala volunteer firefighters responded. Engine 10 from Pahoa joined the Pahala county firefighters, along with Engine 19 from Volcano. A water truck from the county road crew helped out. 

Lava broke out on the west flank of the Pu`u `O`o cone.
Photo from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

MANY PEOPLE DROVE to Jaggar Museum and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory last night and witnessed three glows. A bright glow lit the crater walls of Halema`uma`u crater. A very bright glow was shining from Pu`u `O`O, and the moon presented a glow to the south. Pu`u `O`o crater floor collapsed yesterday afternoon, taking the lava lake with it. About 15 minutes after the start of the collapse, a high-volume lava flow issued from west flank vents on the Pu`u `O`o cone and flowed northwest and south along the west edge of previous flows. At the summit, the lava lake surface started to slowly recede yesterday afternoon. Seismicity was elevated within the summit area and low elsewhere. Gas emissions remained elevated from summit and rift zone vents, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists. 

Raylene Moses
Photo from Bay Clinic

RAYLENE MOSES, OF NA`ALEHU, has been nominated and confirmed to fill Rell Woodward’s position on the Hawai`i Windward Planning Commission. She works with Ka`u Electric, a family contracting firm, and is a longtime member of the community group `O Ka`u Kakou. 

“THE SLOPES OF MAUNA LOA” is the theme being used by the committee that is working on designating Hwy 11 through Ka`u as a federally recognized scenic byway. The group had three public meetings recently and has divided the highway into three sections for different subcommittees to focus on. The sections are: from Manuka Park to South Point Road, from South Point Road to the Punalu`u turnoff and from the Punalu`u turnoff to the entrance to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Anyone interested in helping can call Marge or Dennis Elwell at 929-7236.