Ka`u News Briefs July 23, 2012

Senate Bill 3399 proposes to study the Ka`u Coast and other locations in the nation to see if they would
 be suitable additions  for National Parks. Photo from apacificview.blogspot.com

ADDING MORE OF THE KA`U COAST to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will be studied if a bill introduced recently into the U.S. Senate passes. The bill proposes to study nine areas across the country including the Ka`u Coast to see if they would be suitable locations for national parks.
      There are only two national parks in Hawai`i, one being Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, and the other at Haleakala on Maui. The United States has 58 national parks.
      The list of places to be studied also includes sites in such diverse locations as villages of Makushin, Kashega and Attu on Attu in Alaska where Aleuts were forced to abandon their homes during World War II;  Japanese American Relocation Centers from WWII; the Hudson River Valley; Galveston Bay in Texas; and the island of Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands.
      New Mexico Democrat Jeff Bingaman proposed Senate Bill 3399, on July 18. It was assigned to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

VOTING FOR A NEW COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER, mayor, state Senator and Rep., and U.S. Senator and Rep. begins next Monday, July 30.  Early absentee ballot walk-in voting will be at Building T in West Hawai`i Civic Center,  and county annex in Waimea, and the county building in Hilo. Absentee voting can also be done by mail.
      The Pahala Community Center walk-in early voting program has been cancelled. The Hilo, Kona and Waimea walk-in voting will run from July 30 through Thursday, Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include Saturday, Aug. 4. Yellow cards have been sent from the county elections division to registered voters throughout the district. Absentee ballot applications are available at the County Clerk’s office in Hilo, West Hawai`i Civic Center, all U.S. Post Offices, police stations, fire departments, public libraries and state agencies.

Ka'u Coffee cherries. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

WOOD VALLEY COFFEE Co. manager Brian Riggs, whose coffee entries took first in the state Commercial Division and first and second in the Ka`u District competition at the Hawai`i Coffee Association over the weekend, gave credit to the land of Ka`u for the success of coffee. “The ‘terroir’ of Ka`u is so amazing. A lot of sweat and tears go into coffee. I personally would like to congratulate everyone in the Ka`u coffee industry," said Riggs. A trained winemaker, Riggs said, "Growing coffee is like growing grapes for fine wine.” On the farm, 28 sheep kept down the grass and desmodium weed between the rows and also fertilized the coffee. Riggs said he also mulched around the coffee trees. For the processing, Riggs said he used some traditional small tub fermentation practices learned from winemakers and later found the process was already employed by Ka`u Coffee farmers. “The Ka`u Coffee farmers are all professionals,” he said. Riggs said he also wanted to thank his partner in processing, Kimberly Granger.

Parchment full of coffee berry borer holes.
Photo from jimseven.com

HAWAI`I COFFEE GROWERS EXPECT SMALLER PRODUCTION this year, according to presentations at the annual meeting of the Hawai`i Coffee Growers Association, held over the weekend on Maui. Howard Dicus, who covered the meeting for Hawai`i News Now, said that the coffee berry borer infestation is up 20 percent over last year. It is largely limited to Kona and has spread to Ka`u. Tom Greenwell, a Kona coffee grower and miller, urged farmers to keep the ground clean in addition to spraying to try to keep the borer under control. Dicus reported that drought is also holding back coffee production and that some farmers have resorted to catchment. While production is smaller, quality is good, Dicus reported, making it hard to meet the demands of the market, which continues to grow for Hawaiian coffee.

H-Power plant on O`ahu.
Photo from heco.com

H-POWER IS THE WAY TO HANDLE GARBAGE that is expected to fill up Hilo landfill within five to eight years, according to Mayor Billy Kenoi. A story over the weekend by Tom Callis in Hawai`i Tribune Herald says the mayor favors a waste-to-energy project, following a test run earlier this year with the county hauling east side garbage to the west side landfill. The story quoted Kenoi saying: “My solution is that I believe we have to move to waste reduction, and I believe H-Power is our model.” Callis reports that H-Power on O`ahu can “consume 2,160 tons of garbage per day and can generate 46 megawatts of electricity. It also reduces landfill input by 90 percent, according to the utility’s website.” The story points out that a $125.5 million waste-to-energy project under former mayor and current candidate for mayor Harry Kim was turned down by the County Council in 2008. County Council Chair Dominic Yagong who is also running for mayor, said he too would consider the H-Power model to reduce waste and make energy.

THE HI-5 BEVERAGE CONTAINER FEE WILL INCREASE by half a cent to 1.5 cents per container on Sept. 1. This means the deposit plus container fee will increase to 6.5 cents – a 5 cent deposit to be returned to the consumer when the container is recycled and a non-refundable 1.5 cent container fee to cover administrative costs.

      The increase is expected to result in an additional $4.5 million in annual program revenues for the state Department of Health. It charges the fee to manufacturers, distributors and importers of beverages in Hawai`i. The fee was last raised four years ago. After consideration of the fiscal year 2012 redemption rate of 77 percent and evaluation of current deposit beverage special fund balance, DOH Director Loretta Fuddy increased the fee and notified distributors.

      “The half-cent fee increase was written into the bottle law from its inception to ensure the recycling program could sustain itself and continue to pay back deposits to consumers,” Fuddy said. “We were able to hold off a fee increase for four years by using existing funds. However, the special fund is now too low to continue the program through 2014, and the current fee is not enough to build critical program reserves necessary to conduct essential operations.” State law requires the container fee to increase from 1 cent to 1.5 cents per container if the redemption rate exceeds 70 percent, unless DOH’s director, in consultation with the state auditor, determines a fee increase is not needed.
      A decision to postpone the fee increase was made in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 based on the program’s ability to continue operations by drawing from existing reserve funds.
      Because the law only requires beverage distributors pay the container fee to DOH, there is no guidance on how retailers may decide to pass on the fee to customers. Retailers may choose to round-up or round-down the additional half-cent charge.

Roberta Muller teaches the art of Hawaiian
Quilting, at After Dark in the Park tomorrow.
Photo from the Hawaiian Quilt Research Project

ROBERTA MULLER PRESENTS STITCHING A LEGACY at After Dark in the Park tomorrow night, 7 p.m., at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Muller teaches the art of Hawaiian quilting. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

SOUTHSIDE ALATEEN MEETS today and every Monday at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Call Sandy at 557-9847 for more information.

KA`U SCENIC BYWAY COMMITTEE invites the public to its meeting Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Punalu`u Bake Shop’s upper pavilion. Agenda items include a GIS training proposal, federal funding and project status.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs July 22, 2012

Volunteers scrubbed Kamilo Point of debris, leaving natural materials, at Hawai`i Wildlife Fund's Ka`u Coast
  cleanup last Saturday. Photo from HWF

WOOD VALLEY COFFEE CO. took the top two spots in both the statewide Commercial Division as well as the Ka`u District awards at the Hawai`i Coffee Association cupping contest this weekend. For coffee grown on land owned by Asha Mallick, James and Brian Wolf won with #1 Peaberry, followed by their #3 Washed Typica. Among the Ka`u Coffees entered in the cupping, R&A Coffee Farm took 7th; Rusty’s Hawaiian #3 Typica took 8th; Ka`u Coffee Mill #2 Typica Natural took 10th; Paradise Meadows #2 R Field took 11th; Paradise Meadows #3 Miranda took 13th; Kailiawa Farm took 14th; Gascon Coffee Farm took 16th; Miranda Farms took 17th; Isla Coffee took 22nd and Wood Valley Coffee Co. #2 Natural Typica took 31st. There were a total of 104 entries from around the state. The event was held on Maui. Ka`u took more that a third of the top 32 spots in the commercial competition.

Wood Valley Coffee Company won the two
top spots in HCA's Commercial Division.

      Regarding Wood Valley winning the top two scores in the statewide commercial and Ka`u region competition, James Wolf said, “All the credit should go to Brian Riggs, the coffee farm manager, and his team for doing all the work to bring the coffee back to a quality production over the past several years through hard work and a lot of TLC.” The 22-acre coffee farm is located in Wood Valley along Center Road. Owner Asha Mallick said she plans to plant an additional 1,100 coffee trees there this week.
      Wolf said this morning that the coffees were milled at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Ka`u Coffee Mill founder Ed Olson said that “Wood Valley is a great coffee growing area and we congratulate the winners for producing great coffee. We are proud to have milled that coffee.”
      Wood Valley took 1st in the Ka`u District award with a wet process peaberry and 2nd with a wet process #18 screen. Rusty’s Hawaiian took 3rd.

Lorie Obra took third in the  Ka`u District competition
and the statewide Commercial Division.
Photo from Rusty's Hawaiian

      In the statewide Creative Division, Ka`u Coffees took a quarter of the top 27 spots in the competition. Rusty’s Hawaiian came in third with its #1 Typica/Bourbon. JN Coffee Farm came in 5th with its #1 Washed. Rising Sun came in 10th, Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands came in 11th, Rusty’s Hawaiian #2 Yellow Caturra Natural came in 15th, Joe Farm came in 18th, and JN Coffee Farm #2 Pulped Natural came in 27th.
      The Hawai`i Coffee Association also elected new officers. President is Greg Steele, a coffee grower from Piilani Kope on Maui. Vice president is Chris Manfredi, a coffee broker and representative of investors in land where Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffees are grown in Ka`u. Treasurer is Jonathan Sechrist, owner of Makahiki Farms in Captain Cook, and secretary is Gloria Biven, of Royal Kona Coffee in Kona.

      Coffee consultant Richard Loero, who has worked with several Ka`u Coffee growers, said that Ka`u Coffee has a very strong market that is outstripping supply which should lead to a very bright future for this new industry for Ka`u.
      Also on the board representing Ka`u Coffee is John Cross, of Edmund C. Olson Trust II and Ka`u Coffee Mill.

OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC joined together Friday at Washington Place in Honolulu for the historic signing of the Native Hawaiian Roll. Described on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs website, Kana`iolowalu, the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, is a year-long effort to create a base roll of Native Hawaiians who will then be eligible to participate in the formation of a sovereign government and also gather signatures from Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians on petitions declaring support for the reunification of Native Hawaiians and recognition of Native Hawaiians’ unrelinquished sovereignty.

Former governor
John Waihe`e

      “We are collectively a people who are driven to do what is right, what is pono,” said former Hawai`i governor John Waihe`e at the ceremony. “This work only serves to formalize what Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians know intuitively – Hawaiian sovereignty, while dormant at times, has been unrelinquished, and does not harm our community at large but rather enriches us all.”

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

      Gov. Neil Abercrombie said, “I proudly proclaim today the start of the Year of Kana`iolowalu and encourage all people of our Aloha State to join us in celebrating the work and goals of the roll commission. This is about building a better future for all of us with respect to the continuing development of a reorganized Native Hawaiian governing entity.”
      In honor of his efforts on behalf of Hawaiian self-governance, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka was the first person to join the roll and sign the petition. “Native Hawaiians are on a long and difficult journey to regain control of our collective future and transmit our culture, knowledge and values to future generations. Signing this petition affirms that, as a state, we recognize the rights of Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawai`i, to perpetuate the culture of our island home. It is time to holomua, to move forward together, and to express our commitment to the future of Hawai`i and her indigenous people,” he said.

Sen. Brickwood
Galuteria

      Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, chairman of the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs, said, “Today’s signing is a great testimony to the courageous individuals who decades ago saw injustice and stepped forward. The inauguration of this roll marks the next step in the framework toward self-governance for the Hawaiian people.” 

Sen. Clayton Hee

      Sen. Clayton Hee, author of the measure that established the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, said, “The signing of this legislation signifies an important stage in the long journey toward justice and self-determination for the people of the first nation of these islands. The people of Hawai`i and, in particular, the native Hawaiian people, have the opportunity and privilege to move forward together toward self-determination with a renewed sense of optimism for our future together as one.” 

Sen. Malama Solomon

      Sen. Malama Solomon, the chief negotiator of the measure, said, “The signing of the Native Hawaiian Roll moves forward the reconciliation process for mending relations between the State of Hawai`i and the Native Hawaiian people.“

VOLUNTEERS AT LAST SATURDAY’S Ka`u Coast cleanup sponsored by Hawai`i Wildlife Fund removed over 3,400 pounds of marine debris from Kamilo Point last Saturday. This included 1,000 pounds of derelict fishing nets and 2,413 pounds of miscellaneous non-net debris in 75 trash bags, or approximately 880 cubic feet of debris. Most of the haul was plastic, as usual. Other finds included a chair, a cooler, a large pole with kanji and a Japanese “Do Not Enter” construction sign. The next Ka`u Coast cleanup is on Saturday, Sept. 15. Sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

Roberta Muller

STITCHING A LEGACY is the topic at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Roberta Muller teaches the art of Hawaiian quilting. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

SOUTHSIDE ALATEEN MEETS tomorrow and every Monday at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Call Sandy at 557-9847 for more information.

KA`U SCENIC BYWAY COMMITTEE invites the public to its meeting Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Punalu`u Bake Shop’s upper pavilion. Agenda items include a GIS training proposal, federal funding and project status.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs July 21, 2012

Helen Wong Smith Photo from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

HELEN WONG SMITH, archivist for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, has been elected to the Nominating Committee of the Academy of Certified Archivists for a two-year term. 

      The Academy is a national independent, nonprofit certifying organization of professional archivists. Individual members qualify for certification by meeting a series of defined professional standards.

      Archivists can become certified only by meeting educational and experience requirements and passing the archival certification examination. Individual members demonstrate continuing professional commitment that goes beyond education and experience.
      “Helen is one of only 12 certified archivists in the entire state of
 Hawai`i,” said Laura C. Schuster, chief of Cultural Resources Division for Hawai`i Volcanoes. “Her highly specialized skills include making sure historical and modern records and data are retrievable and searchable. She serves a vital function not only for the Park and the Academy, but also to future generations.”
      Wong Smith holds a Master’s of Library and Information Science and is the lead archivist for a multi-year backlog cataloging project for all national parks in the Pacific Island Network, including Haleakala National Park, Kalaupapa National Historical Park and parks in American Samoa, Guam and Saipan.
      Wong Smith has been a certified archivist since 2001. She has been a member of the Committee on Education and the Nominating Committee for the Society of American Archivists, and has served twice as the president of the Association of Hawai`i Archivists.

THE STEP UP CAMPAIGN has drawn more than 5,200 students statewide from the Class of 2015 to earn the state Board of Education’s Recognition Diploma. The Hawai`i P-20 Partnerships for Education made the announcement, noting that more than 14,200 students from the Classes of 2013, 2014 and 2015 have pledged for the Step Up campaign over the past three years. 

      Step Up is an initiative of Hawai`i P-20 Partnerships for Education and encourages Hawai`i public school students to “Step Up” to the challenge of career and college readiness upon high school graduation and sign a pledge form to earn the BOE Recognition Diploma. 

Students participate in the Step Up campaign.

      This optional diploma, which requires credits in specific math, science and English courses and the completion of a senior project, is designed to prepare high school graduates for successful entry into college or a living-wage job. Students who earn this diploma are rewarded with incentives such as special consideration for scholarships and job application advancement with various employers.

      The Class of 2015 was the final class eligible to pledge to earn the BOE Recognition Diploma. Starting with the Class of 2016, all Hawai`i public school students will be required to earn a single college and career-ready diploma that was passed by the Board of Education in September 2011. 

      Karen Lee is executive director of Hawai`i P-20, a collaboration of the Early Learning Council, state Department of Education and University of Hawai`i. “College and career readiness is at the top of the state’s education agenda, and the BOE Recognition Diploma gives students a clear pathway to preparing themselves for life after high school, whether they choose to enter college or the workforce,” Lee said. 

      She said that Hawai`i P-20’s partners share a sense of urgency about the need to improve educational outcomes in an increasingly global economy and have established a goal of 55 percent of Hawai`i’s working-age adults having a two- or four-year college degree by 2025.

ISLAND AIR has launched an image and brand overhaul, as well as new fleet of energy-saving ATR 72 prop jets in August. The ATRs carry more passengers than Dash 8 aircraft, which will be replaced. “We’ve been working on our new business model for well over a year,” said Lesley Kaneshiro, CEO of Island Air. “We will be the first to operate this comfortable ATR72 Jet-Prop aircraft in Hawai`I, and with additional aircraft delivery on the horizon, we’ll be Hawai`i’s fastest growing interisland carrier.” 

      Charles Willis IV, chairman of Gavarnie Holding LLC, the parent company of Island Air, said, “This affirms our ongoing dedication to commercial aviation in Hawai`i and our focus on innovation coupled with steady growth.” 

New look and larger planes for Island Air.

      Mark Neely, vice president of Marketing and Sales for ATR North America said, “We are pleased to support Island Air with their plan to introduce the ATR product into the Hawaiian Islands. With the complete family of ATR42 and ATR72 aircraft, Island Air will be able to serve any major airport, with the lowest cost and greatest level of passenger comfort. We congratulate Island Air on their accomplishment.”
      For over 30 years Island Air has served residents of Hawai`i and inbound tourists for interisland travel needs. “Island Air has always maintained an unwavering commitment to its strategic partners, investors, over 250 employees and, most of all, the local community and sees this as a golden opportunity to expedite a business plan it has had in the works for some time,” says a statement from the company.
      Founded in 1980 to provide scheduled service between Princeville and Honolulu, the airline offers 352 weekly flights between Honolulu, Kahului and West Maui, Molokai, Lana`i, Kaua`i and Kona. See www.islandairgroup.com.

IMPROVEMENTS AT BOTH MAJOR AIRPORTS serving the Big Island received funding this week when Gov. Neil Abercrombie released $14 million for a new cargo terminal at Hilo International Airport. For Kona International Airport, he released $4.875 million for the design of improvements at the terminal building to enhance capacity, efficiency and security, including a centralized security check-in, baggage handling system, common-use passenger processing systems, flight information displays and other items. Another $2.329 million was released for construction of a new and relocated Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Station to meet FAA requirements.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.