Saturday, September 3, 2011

The `alala, Hawaiian crow, is extinct in the wild and being cared for at the refuge in Volcano. 
Photo by Donna Cooper/Audobon Society

THE MARSHALLESE COMMUNITY is holding an event today until 4 p.m. at Kahuku County Park in Ocean View with non-profit organization representatives arriving to hear about their many needs while living on this island. Among the Ka`u-based Marshallese, most of them living in Ocean View, are families with histories of being displaced from their homes generations ago when nuclear testing by the United States left some of their islands uninhabitable. The U.S. government promised and has helped them to move into safe communities and pay for their children’s education and other needs. A number of Marshallese who have been somewhat nomadic since the nuclear tests have moved here and their children and grandchildren attend elementary and high school in Ka`u.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA said this morning in his weekly address that he is worried that federal funding for highways and roads, on which this island so dearly depends, could be cut off, if congress allows the federal fuel taxes that pay for them expire. Congress must act by Sept. 30 or money flowing into states for road and bridge projects would be stalled. "There's no reason to cut off funding for transportation projects at a time when so many of our roads are congested, so many of our bridges are in need of repair and so many businesses are feeling the cost of delays,” said Obama. "This isn't a Democratic or a Republican issue — it's an American issue," the President said, urging congress to pass the measure.

Delta begins flights from Fukuoka on Dec. 28.

MORE VISITOR TRAFFIC FROM JAPAN could be in the pipeline with Delta Airlines and Sun Plus adding flights to Hawai`i this winter. Sun Plus, based in Tokyo, will send 21 direct charter flights to Hawai`i from Nov.13 to Jan. 3. The flights will open up new direct service from Hiroshima, Sendai and Kumamoto. Delta will link Fukuoka on Kyushu Island to the Hawaiian Islands with flights starting Dec. 28. This will be the only direct scheduled flight from Fukuoka, which is on Kyushu Island. The flights are a sign of pent-up demand for travel to Hawai`i, particularly from cities that have never had the direct flights, said Hawai`i Tourism Authority president Mike McCartney.

BRING ALL OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE to Wai`ohinu Transfer Station today until 3:30 p.m., as this opportunity is somewhat rare. Here is what is accepted: Automotive fluids (including antifreeze and used motor oil); corrosives (acids & bases); all types of batteries; unbroken fluorescent lights (tubes & CFLs) and chemical ballasts; mercury thermometers; unused or outdated prescription medications (no controlled substances or sharps & needles); toxic aerosol canisters; compressed gas cylinders (empty cylinders can go to Scrap Metal); oil-based paint & stains. liquid lead-based paints; toxic garden supplies (herbicides & pesticides); poisons; miscellaneous hazardous or toxic household products. Latex paint and base can be brought to trade for other paint or be left for other people to pick up . However, if the paint is junk/rusty solidify it by letting it completely dry out and dispose in regular trash.)

Bring household hazardous waste
to Wai`oahinu today.

     Here is what is not accepted: electronic waste (computers, TVs, printers & etc.); fertilizers; used cooking oil (solidify or absorb and dispose with trash; explosives or ammunition; pyrophorics; flares and water reactive materials; biological or infectious waste; controlled substances (e.g. illegal drugs or highly controlled/restricted medications); radioactive & shock sensitive materials;fire extinguishers & smoke detectors; detergents; tires; and non-hazardous material.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED PAYAYAS, the rainbow variety being grown on the Big Island, will have a new market with shipments beginning in about three months to Japan, according to the state Department of Agriculture. About 80 percent of all papayas grown here are GMO. The genetic modification was accomplished to save the industry from the devastating ringspot virus which almost put papaya farmers out of business. Some environmental and health organizations consider GMO’s a health risk to plant life diversity planet-wide. Japan just approved the acceptence of the Hawai`i grown rainbow papaya.

Nene, the Hawai`i State Bird. Photo by Julia Neal

THE KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER at Volcano has announced a public event on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. The Center s one of two operated by The Zoological Society of San Diego for the Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program. It helps establish self-sustaining populations of birds in the wild using captive propagation and reintroduction management tools.    
     During the open house, Jack Jeffrey and KBCC will introduce visitors to some of the last remaining `alala, the Hawaiian Crow, which is critically endangered and extinct in the wild; the Maui Parrotbill, an insectivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper; palila, a finch-billed honeycreeper only found on the slopes of Mauna Kea; nene, the Hawaiian goose; and puaiohi or Small Kaua`i Thrush. In the afternoon, after lunch at Kipuka Puaulu, drive 10 miles to the top of Mauna Loa Road and hike one mile round trip to see some native bird species in the wild such as i‘iwi, amakihi, and elepaio. Also see the endangered Mauna Loa Silverswords, and the view from the start of the historic Mauna Loa Trail. For registration, visit www.kohalacenter.org/TKCMemberEvents11/kbcc.html

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U’S Steak Fry and Laulau Fundraiser will be held on Monday, September 5th (Labor Day) in the Ocean View Market parking lot from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 2, 2011

Gloria Camba and Bong Aquino with an award for their Ka'u Royal Coffee.
Photo by Julia Neal

IN A VICTORY FOR COFFEE FARMERS, Safeway has agreed to put labeling on Kona Coffee showing the amount of coffee that is not from Kona. Department of Agriculture Chair Russell Kokubun wrote to Safeway saying it was misleading to label coffee Kona when 90 percent of it was coming from another country. He noted that such labeling is required in Hawai`i and wanted Safeway to voluntarily do the same at mainland stores. Safeway has agreed. Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative president Gloria Camba said, “This fairness in labeling should help both Kona and Ka`u in selling our famous pure Hawaiian grown coffees.” 

Jenn Rasmussen checks a hive for invasive small hive beetle.
Photo from BIBA

BEEKEEPERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD will explore this island and convene on worldwide risks to bee populations and agriculture Sept. 12 - 15. The gathering of the Western Apicultural Society will be at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. The public is invited and beekeepers are expected to visit some apiaries in Ka`u. Apiary recovery following assaults by Varroa mite and small hive beetles will be one focus of the meetings. Volcano encaustic artist John Matsushita will demonstrate painting with bees' wax Sept. 14. The public is invited to take part in the 2nd annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge that evening at the hotel.
     After the conference, Larry Connor, PhD., a beekeeping columnist and Wicwas Press publisher, will present a day-long masters' workshop in Hawi on Sept. 16 on rebuilding the apiary after losses. 

THE NEW TEMPORARY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE RESOLUTION PROGRAM is expected to go into action soon, according to Rep. Bob Herkes who explained his effort at the public forum hosted by Sen. Gil Kahele this week. It prevents non-judicial foreclosures without a mediator, in an attempt to put the lender and homeowner face to face to work out term. 

Rep. Herkes authored a tough law to stop lender abuse.

     The dispute resolution can last up to 30 days. Homeowners must have lived on their property for at least 200 days to be eligible. Homeowners have to prove their ability to pay off their loan.
     The new law also requires mortgage lenders with 20 percent market share in the state to have a local office in Hawai`i. The program was a response to what Herkes described as “tremendous lender abuse.”
     His bill that was signed into law earlier this year, has been called the toughest foreclosure legislation in the country. Herkes said that people were being tossed from their homes without even knowing that the lender had gone out of business and homeowners have had to spend substantial money to get their houses back.
     The new law also allows foreclosures to be conducted in the courts without juries and streamlines the process of converting a non-judicial foreclosure to a judicial one.
     “This levels playing field with borrower and lender,” said Herkes.

Interisland shipping ag. products is now
taxed. Photo by Julia Neal

MANY GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS are over, explained Sen. Gil Kahele at his forum this week. Under Bill 754, income from the following will be taxed: interisland shipping of agricultural products, loading and unloading of cargo, tugboat and towage services, aircraft and aircraft engine rent for interisland travel, sugarcane producers, real property leases of labor unions, shipbuilding and repairs, aircraft maintenance and construction, among others. Reimbursements received by federal cost-plus contractors for material, plant, and equipment costs will also be taxed. The bill also suspends deductions from contractors’ and real property lessees’ gross income. 

     “It was a tough decision to make for me personally,” said Kahele, “I voted for it but with reservations. Not to make an excuse for it, but I was not 100 percent.” According to Kahele, the bill will raise state $200 million annually at a time when the state struggles with a $1.6 shortfall. A building contractor in the forum expressed his concern over the suspensions, calling the bill inappropriate when contractors are “dying left and right.” The exemptions will be restored after June 30, 2013.

SEN. GIL KAHELE will host more community forums in Ka`u, at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center on Oct. 14 and at Pahala Community Center on Oct. 26.

MORE FINANCIAL AID is being proposed by the University of Hawai`i at Hilo administrators. The university plans to hike tuition at Hilo by $120 per semester, increasing the need of more grants. UHH plans to increase financial aid contributions by 1% annually over the next five years. By 2017, 20% of this new revenue would constitute increased financial aid, UHH Chancellor Donald Straney told Stephens Media. 

     UHH is also planning to increase the number of jobs on campus. “Studies show that the more students work on campus,” says Straney, “the more likely they are to take a full load (of classes) and be engaged in what they're studying. Basically, if you give them a job, they graduate faster," he told Stephens Media.  Public forums on the proposed tuition schedules will be held on Sept. 28, 3:30 p.m. at UH Hilo and Sept. 29, 2 p.m. at Hawai‘i Community College. 

Saturday's the day to take hazardous household waste to Wai'ohinu.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U’S Steak Fry and Laulau Fundraiser will be held on Monday, September 5th (Labor Day) in the Ocean View Market parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

TOMORROW IS THE DAY TO DROP OFF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE at Wai`ohinu Transfer Station. That’s this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent lights, pesticides and latex paints are some of the items being accepted. Latex paints can be traded out. For more information, call 961-8554 or visit hawaiizerowaste.org.

Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 1, 2011

The Deep 7 fish, which can be legally fished during the bottom fishing season. Photo from Hawai'i state Dept. of Aquatic Resources.

BOTTOM FISHING SEASON FOR THE DEEP 7 opened today. The Deep 7 fish are: onaga, ehu, opakapaka, kalekale, gindai, lehi, and hapu‘upu‘u. Even with the season open, there is a kapu on a section of water to the southeast of Kalae – South Point. Two other restricted areas are along the northeast side of Kohala and Hamuka, and just southeast of Hilo. A kapu on all the Deep 7 prohibited fishermen from catching these fish from March 12 through yesterday. Federal fishing regulators have set an Annual Catch Target for Hawai`i at 325,000 pounds of Deep 7 fish. When the limit is reached, based on required reports by fishermen, the fishing season will be closed.

Kulani Correctional Facility. Photo from Dept. of Public Safety

KULANI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY LANDS are still be considered as one of the locations to help return prisoners from the mainland and transition back into the community.
      According to Sen. Gil Kahele, who held his first community forum last night at Cooper Center in Volcano Village, the main correctional facility could be constructed on Hawaiian Home Lands closer to Hilo. The effort is to help prisoners be closer to their families, provide local counseling that will help them become good citizens and train them for employment. The effort is also directed at keeping tens of millions of dollars in Hawai`i that go out each year to pay for out-of-state. Kahale also noted the need for retaining the Youth Challenge Academy, which is now at Kulani.

Rep. Bob Herkes. Photo by Julia Neal

THE MOBILE MEDICAL VAN, championed by Rep. Bob Herkes and supported by Sen. Gil Kahele with successful legislation this year, should be on the road in November. Herkes gave the update at Kahele’s public forum last night. The van will likely be stationed at Na`alehu School and will be supported by telemedicine. It will travel to the most rural areas of Ka`u and South Kona. Referring to Neil Abercrombie signing off on the legislation in July, Herkes said: “I can’t tell you how happy you are, after all that hard work, when the governor signs it.”

A FOOD SECURITY bill that helps farmers receive loans is already helping agriculture, said Kahele, who helped push Bill 1153 through the Legislature this year. He noted that some farmers have already received loans from the program.

THE SOUTH KONA WILDERNESS AREA that passed the Legislature this year to preserve the cultural, biological ad historical aspects of the area could be expanded. The measure was championed by Kahele and Herkes for decades. Kahele said he wants to add the ahupua`a of Kapua onto the Wilderness Area. It is owned by Honolulu developer Jeff Stone.

KILAUEA LODGE OWNER LORNA JEYTE said that she hopes tourism officials will help to educate visitors on the local culture, nature and out-of-the way places and activities. She said that the visitor promotions concentrate too much on “sand and palm trees.” Other speakers at the Kahele forum asked that farmers markets be publicized to visitors.

Sen. Gil Kahele. Photo by Julia Neal

THE AXIS DEER threat came up at the Kahele meeting, where it was noted that permission has been given for state personnel to hunt them on Hawaiian Home Lands around South Point. Several people asked whether local hunters could take part and Kahele said that could happen over time.

DAVID HOWARD DONALD, of Volcano, suggested that the state might consider pushing forward its alternative energy goals by acquiring Hawaiian Electric Industries and using the profits of the electric company to give back to the community with lower rates and other programs. He said that electric rates are low in such places as Quebec in Canada, where the people own the power company and profits don’t have to be exported to investors.

INTERNET AVAILABILITY for remote areas also came up at the Kahele meeting. One speaker suggested installing at the end of cable lines, a transmitter to beam internet to even more remote areas.

REVAMPING BUILDING CODES and the permitting process is a project planned by Rep. Bob Herkes. He said last night that the Big Island has a bad reputation for taking a long time to get a building permit and that he would be talking with the mayor this morning.

SEN. GIL KAHELE will host more community forums in Ka`u, at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center on Oct. 14 and at Pahala Community Center on Oct. 26.

ALTERNATING LANE CLOSURES continue through tomorrow in both directions on Hwy 11 between Mileposts 69 and 72 near South Point Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The road crew is resurfacing and installing guardrails.

THE HIGH SURF WARNING has been extended by the National Weather Service until 6 p.m. Several days of high surf have seen crashing waves along the Ka`u Coast and waves washing over the beach at Punalu`u into the ponds.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U’S Steak Fry and Laulau Fundraiser will be held on Monday, September 5th (Labor Day) in the Ocean View Market parking lot from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.