Ka`u News Briefs August 7, 2011

While prices of Hawai`i County homes dropped in July, the number of sales increased.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA proposes a "reverse boot camp" to get Iran and Afghanistan veterans back to work. The plan is to provide $120 million in tax credits for businesses hiring these vets in order to assist them in returning to civilian life. Obama said he hopes businesses will hire or train 100,000 unemployed veterans and their spouses by the end of next year. 

Mayor Billy Kenoi

MAYOR BILLY KENOI has almost $60,000 on hand in his re-election coffers, and the Friends of Billy Kenoi campaign committee owes no money, according to Campaign Spending Commission reports due last week. According to the filing, the Kenoi campaign collected $33,000 from January through June. While County Council Chair Dominique Yagong is considered the most likely candidate to run against Kenoi, Yagong has not formally announced and collected and spent no money during the first half of this year. 

     Candidates have less time to campaign for the next primary, which takes place on Aug. 11, 2012 rather than the usual September primary.
     Kenoi’s contributors included the Hawai`i Firefighters union, the Carpenters union, homemaker Elaine Mukai, investor James Campbell, developer Stanford Carr, agro-forestry enthusiasts Muriel and Kent Lighter, and Reynolds Aluminum Recycling president Terry Telfer.
     Among County Council members, only Dennis “Fresh” Onishi received contributions during the first six months of this year amounting to $450.
     Ka`u’s Council member Brittany Smart showed 79 cents on hand, with no contributions to her coffers and no expenses.
     For more on all the public officials fundraising, see http://hawaii.gov/campaign

PUC commissioner
Carlito Caliboso

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER CARLITO CALIBOSO resigned on Friday. Caliboso had served as a commissioner since his appointment by former Gov. Linda Lingle in 2003. Until March, he was the PUC’s chairman. Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Hermina Morita earlier this year, and she became its new chairperson. Caliboso will serve until the end of August and plans on practicing law in the private sector. His successor has yet to be appointed. The PUC is currently considering whether to approve a contract between Hawaiian Electric Co. and `Aina Koa Pono for a proposed refinery between Pahala and Wood Valley and a biofuels farm between Pahala and Na`alehu. 

BIG ISLAND CONDO AND HOME prices fell in July, says the Hawai`i Information Service. According to HIS, single-family home prices fell 6.2 percent, and condominium prices fell 22.8 percent. But while the Big Island saw these price depreciations, the number of homes and condos sold has increased. Single-family home sales jumped 10.7 percent, and condos 25 percent. Kaua`i saw a similar drop in prices and increase in sales. 

HSTA leader Wil Okabe

THE HAWAI`I TEACHERS UNION has voted for mediation to settle contract disputes with the state. Leader Wil Okabe wrote a letter to Gov. Neil Abercrombie asking for mediation in response to a YouTube video of the governor telling Hawai`i State Teachers Association-Big Island leader Wayne Joseph that the state would be willing to continue talks with the union with mediation by a third party. The state imposed a contract on the union last month that cut salaries and forced teachers to take furlough days and pay more for their health insurance. The union subsequently filed a complaint, saying that the state violated their collective bargaining rights. A hearing on the case will be held this Wednesday.

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.