Ka`u News Briefs Aug. 14, 2012

Dominic Yagong is out of the race for mayor but will finish his term as County Council chair. Photo by William Neal

THE MAYOR’S RACE saw incumbent Billy Kenoi and former mayor Harry Kim beating County Council chair Dominic Yagong in all precincts in the Ka`u area during the primary election over the weekend. At Cooper Center in Volcano, Harry Kim earned 283 votes to Billy Kenoi’s 154 and Dominic Yagong’s 51. In Pahala, Billy Kenoi won with 139 votes to Harry Kim’s 48 and Dominic Yagong’s 26. At Na`alehu, Billy Kenoi won 141 votes to Harry Kim’s 80 and Dominic Yagong’s 76. In Ocean View, Billy Kenoi took 135 votes to Harry Kim’s 133 and Dominic Yagong’s 94.
      Billy Kenoi and Harry Kim face a runoff in the general election in November.

Paul Dolan won Volcano and Ocean View, but lost islandwide, leaving a
runoff between Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth for County Prosecutor.
Photo by William Neal

IN THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S RACE, Volcano saw Paul Dolan with 169 votes, while Mitch Roth took 156 and Lincoln Ashida took 136. At Pahala, Lincoln Ashida took 116 votes, while Paul Dolan took 46 and Mitch Roth 43. At Na`alehu, Lincoln Ashida won 115 votes to Mitch Roth’s 93 and Paul Dolan’s 69. In Ocean View, Paul Dolan won 149 votes, to Lincoln Ashida’s 109 and Mitch Roth’s 94.
       Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth face a runoff in the November general election.

THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION has defined the issues it will consider on deciding whether to approve the proposed Hawai`i Electric Light Co. contract to purchase biodiesel/ biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. `Aina Koa Pono proposes building a refinery along Wood Valley Road over three years with the help of 400 construction workers.   
      `Aina Koa Pono also proposes processing locally harvested trees and other agricultural inputs with a new Microwave Catalytic Depolymerization (Micro Dee) technology as it attempts to develop biofuel crops on pasture and other lands between Pahala and Na`alehu. The fuel would be tanker-trucked to the HELCO power plant near Keahole Airport for use as a substitute for fossil fuel. An additional eight million gallons a year in biofuel would be sold to a mainland-based company that would first try to sell it in Hawai`i, according to statements from `Aina Koa Pono.

PUC chair Mina Morita

      The proposal before the PUC projects increasing electric rates $1 per month for the average household. Last year the `Aina Koa Pono project projected raising electric rates an average of $2 per monthly household bill, and the PUC rejected the plan as “unreasonable” for the ratepayer.
       An Aug. 9 statement from PUC chair Mina Morita and commissioners Michael E. Champley and Lorraine H. Akiba, along with PUC attorney Michael Azama, says that regarding the new proposed contract, the PUC will consider:
       “Whether the commission should approve as reasonable and consistent with the public interest the Biodiesel Supply Contract for approximately sixteen million net United States gallons annually of locally produced biodiesel over twenty years, and the related contract costs, including the biodiesel transportation, and storage costs, and related taxes.
       “Whether the commission should approve as just and reasonable the establishment of a Biofuel Surcharge Provision that will permit HELCO to pass through the differential between the cost of the biofuel and the cost of the fossil fuel that the biofuel is replacing, in the event the cost of the biofuel is higher than the cost of the fossil fuel, over the customer base of HELCO and HECO, based on kilowatt-hour usage.”
       The PUC says it will determine “what ratepayer risks should the commission consider in evaluating the Biodiesel Supply Contract. What quantitative or qualitative values should be assigned to such risks.
       “To what extent, if any, will utility customers assume any economic risks, if the biofuel is not truly a ‘drop-in diesel’ or a substitute fuel or in the event that HELCO’s Keahole power plant must be subsequently modified, or operations altered, to accommodate biofuels.”

HELCO president Jay Ignacio explained the `Aina Koa Pono proposal in
January of 2011. Photo by Julia Neal

      The PUC also asks: “To what extent should utility customers be required to provide financial assurances for indigenous biofuel development, and if so, under what terms and conditions. Are there any additional investment and operating costs associated with converting a portion, or all, of the Keahole power plant to utilize liquid biofuel. This could include, but not be limited to, additional fuel delivery infrastructure, environmental compliance modifications and plant operation and maintenance requirements.”
       The PUC asks: “To what extent should traditional generator economic dispatch or short-term/long-term avoided cost methodologies be modified in order to accommodate or reflect the conversion of existing fossil-fuel generators to utilize indigenous or imported biofuels.”
       The statement says the PUC intends to review, “the electric utility’s ability to meet its applicable renewable portfolio standards in the event that the Microwave Catalytic Depolymerization technology is proven unsuccessful in producing biofuels on a commercial operations basis;
       “Whether the failure of the Microwave Catalytic Depolymerization technology on a commercial operation basis to produce biodiesel that meets the contracted for fuel specifications should constitute an event or circumstance that is beyond or outside of the electric utility’s reasonable control in the event that the utility is unable to meet its applicable renewable portfolio standards.”
       The proposed contract and PUC statement are available at puc.hawaii.gov. To access it and other related documents, click on Document Management System (DMS) and enter 2012-0185 in the Docket Quick Link box. When the docket opens, click on Documents.
       Comments, with Docket 2012-0185 referenced, can be sent to Public Utilities Commission, 465 South King Street, #103, Honolulu, HI 96813; faxed to 808-586-2066; or emailed to hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov.

Hydrogen for transportation and other energy uses
is proposed by H2 Technologies,

HYDROGEN CARS AND SCOOTERS, which are quiet and have no emissions, could be one of the low-cost transportation fuels in the future, according to H2 Technologies, of the Big Island, and Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies, of Taiwan. The technology, stemming from the research of Dr. John Allen of the University of Hawai`i Engineering Department, uses sonochemistry. It was shown at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo at Hawai`i Convention Center on O`ahu yesterday. H2 is partnering with Asia Pacific Fuel cell Technologies of Taiwan to bring in hydrogen fuel –cell scooters, according to a Sophie Cocke story in Civil Beat. She reports that the Taiwanese government is using the hydrogen scooters as fleet vehicles.
       Hawai`i has about 15,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. The hydrogen vehicles are seen as tying into the growth of geothermal energy on this island, as hydrogen is a byproduct of the process. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and the County of Hawai`i have engaged hydrogen buses in plans to reduce use of fossil fuel.
       “General Motors announced that it planned to make Hawai`i the test bed for its hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, which are supposed to be unveiled in 2015,” the Civil Beat story says. See more at www.civilbeat.com.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Agenda items include an update on progress of the draft CDP, updates on initiatives in Ocean View, recommendations to the Planning director regarding forecasted CDP project expenses for the 2013-2014 County budget and Sunshine Law amendments. The agenda does not include the following topics, which, according to planner Ron Whitmore, will not be discussed: Kahuku Village, Pohue Bay, Ocean View Water System, Ocean View Transfer Station, Agricultural Water Co-ops, National Park Service Shoreline Study, Kawa Stewardship Plan, Kawa Drainage EA, `Aina Koa Pono Biofuels Facility, Ka`u District Emergency Shelter and Gym and Ka`u Forest Reserve Environmental Assessment.
      For more information, contact Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

DIANA AKI offers a free concert at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.

HA`AO SPRINGS & MOUNTAIN HOUSE Ag Water Co-op meets Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Anyone interested in restoration of ag water to the area is invited.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Aug. 13, 2012

A rendering of the new Ka`u Shelter and Gymnasium. The $17 million  contract went to Summmit Construction.
Image from Hawai`i County Department of Public Works

THE KA`U SHELTER & GYM to be constructed next to Ka`u High School in Pahala has received another $200,000 in funding, released last week by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The County of Hawai`i recently awarded the $17 million construction contract to Summit Construction. Construction is expected to begin this fall and last approximately 18 months to complete. The gym and additional recreational facilities are for use by the public and school students, as well as for a disaster shelter.

DEADLINE FOR INDIVIDUALS OR COMMUNITY GROUPS to ask to intervene in the Public Utilities Commission’s review of the contract for `Aina Koa Pono to annually sell 16 million gallons of locally produced biofuel to HELCO is Aug. 22. Intervention gives individuals or community groups more legal standing in the discussion. Life of the Land and Hawai`i Renewable Energy Alliance  asked to intervene and Hawai`i County asked to participate without intervening in the PUC discussion of the previous contract between the electric company and `Aina Koa Pono, but were turned down by the PUC. Life of the Land has intervened in earlier rate cases and takes credit for stopping a HECO plan to import large quantities of biofuel in the form of palm oil from Asia, where rainforests are taken down to plant palm trees for biofuel. The Energy Alliance, which represents the company that owns the windmills at South Point, said last year that  its members are concerned that HECO would be deterred from buying more wind and other alternative energies, should the `Aina Koa Pono contract be approved.

Hawai`i Renewable Energy
Alliance logo

       The PUC also turned away the County of Hawai`i’s attempt to intervene in the previous contract proposal, stating that it was too late to enter the discussion. The county claimed that it is Hawai`i Electric Light Company’s largest customer and wanted to discuss the energy alternatives available to the island.

      The proposed contract is available on the Public Utilities Commission website, puc.hawaii.gov. To access it and other related documents, click on Document Management System (DMS) and enter 2012-0185 in the Docket Quick Link box. When the docket opens, click on Documents.

      Comments, with Docket 2012-0185 referenced, can be sent to Public Utilities Commission, 465 South King Street, #103, Honolulu, HI 96813; faxed to 808-586-2066; or emailed to hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE meets tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Agenda items include an update on progress of the draft CDP, updates on initiatives in Ocean View, recommendations to the Planning director regarding forecasted CDP project expenses for the 2013-2014 County budget and Sunshine Law amendments.

       Planner Ron Whitmore issued a list of topics that he says are not on the agenda and will not be discussed. The topics are Kahuku Village, Pohue Bay, Ocean View Water System, Ocean View Transfer Station, Agricultural Water Cooperatives, National Park Service Shoreline Study, Kawa Stewardship Plan, Kawa Drainage Environmental Assessment, `Aina Koa Pono Biofuels Facility, Ka`u District Emergency Shelter and Gym and Ka`u Forest Reserve Environmental Assessment.

      “Please direct comments about these issues to the appropriate place,” Whitmore said. For more information, contact him at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

MORE THAN HALF THE VOTERS on the Big Island cast their ballots before last Saturday’s primary election, according to state election office statistics. In Hawai`i County, 43,347 of the 101,728 registered voters cast ballots, with 53 percent of them voting by mail or early walk-in voting. Forty-seven percent walked into the polling centers between 7 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. To bolster voting, County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi mailed out permanent absentee ballot registration forms to all registered voters. For people living in some remote areas of the island, the only way to vote was through the mail or by visiting an early walk-in voting site in Hilo, Waimea or Kailua-Kona.

VOTING BY PRECINCT FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION can be studied on the state elections division website at http://hawaii.gov/elections/results/2012/primary. The following are some of the primary election day precinct results for the tighter races among candidates vying to represent Ka`u.

Maile David, left, and Brenda Ford, second left, face a runoff in November for District 6 County Council. Photo from Big Island Video News

FOR COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, Brenda Ford took in 2,098 votes, while Maile David took in 1,531, Bradley Westervelt 559 and Lee McIntosh 179.
      At Cooper Center in Volcano, Brenda Ford took in 231 votes over Maile David’s 117, Bradley Westervelt’s 78 and Lee McIntosh’s 37. At Pahala Elementary School, Maile David garnered 104 votes, while Bradley Westervelt took in 56, Brenda Ford 43 and Lee McIntosh 6. In Na`alehu, Maile David took 104 votes, Brenda Ford earned 88, Bradley Westervelt 77 and Lee McIntosh 32. In Ocean View, Brenda Ford earned 194 votes, Maile David 110, Bradley Westervelt 43 and Lee McIntosh 28. At Miloli`i Halau, Brenda Ford took in 63 votes to Maile David’s 39, Bradley Westervelt’s 6 and Lee McIntosh’s 5. At Ho`okena Elementary School, Maile David took in 71 votes to Brenda Ford’s 59, Bradley Westervelt’s 5 and Lee McIntosh’s 0. At St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in South Kona, Brenda Ford received 98 votes to Maile David’s 74, Bradley Westervelt’s 5 and Lee McIntosh’s 1 vote. At Konawaena Elementary School, Brenda Ford received 318, Maile David 259, Bradley Westervelt 18 and Lee McIntosh 11.
      The general election will see a runoff between Maile David and Brenda Ford.

FOR STATE SENATE, PUNA TO PUNALU`U, Russell Ruderman earned 3,105 votes over Bob Herkes’ 2,755 votes, Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a’s 1,227 votes and Gary Safarik’s 1,192 votes.
       Ruderman edged past Herkes at the Kea`au precinct, voting with 292 to 261 votes and won at Pahoa Community Center with 263 votes over 104. At Keonepoko Elementary School, Ruderman drew 465 votes to Herke’s 229 and at Hawaiian Paradise Community Center, Ruderman drew 464 votes over Herke’s 249. Herkes beat Ruderman in Mt. View with 175 over 134 votes. At Cooper Center in Volcano, Ruderman edged past Herkes with 184 votes to Herkes 181 votes. In Pahala, Herkes took 160 votes and Ruderman’s 14.
      Ruderman becomes the Democratic nominee for state senator facing Republican Daryl Lee Smith.

FOR STATE SENATE FROM HONU`APO INTO KONA, Josh Green, in the Democratic primary, received 5,941 votes, and 1,244 ballots were left blank. In the Republican Primary, Jeff LaFrance received 825 votes and John Totten 690 votes. There were 442 blank votes. In the Non-Partisan primary, Michael Last received 34 votes, and 64 ballots were blank.
       Incumbent Green becomes Democratic nominee for state senator facing Republican Jeff LaFrance.

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, PUNALU`U INTO PUNA, Republican candidate Marlene Hapai received 521 votes. Libertarian Fred Fogel received 17 votes. Democrat Richard Onishi received 3,298 votes, while Brittany Smart received 2,259 votes.
       At the Kea`au precinct, Smart beat Onishi with 414 votes over 379. At AJA Memorial Hall, Onishi beat Smart with 580 votes over her 171. At Mt. View, she beat Onishi with 229 votes over his 220 votes. At Cooper Center in Volcano, Smart beat Onishi with 288 votes over 127. At Pahala precinct, Richard Onishi gathered 130 votes to Brittany Smart’s 61.
       Onishi became the Democratic candidate facing Republican Marlene Hapai and Libertarian Fred Fogel in the general election.

Diana Aki performs Wednesday evening.
Photo from NPS

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, HONU`APO INTO KONA, Republican race, Dave Bateman received 777 votes. In the Democratic race, Denny Coffman received 2,462 votes, while Leolani Oyama received 1,164.
       In Na`alehu Leiolani Oyama beat Denny Coffman, 110 to 90. Republican Dave Bateman received 44 votes. In Ocean View, Denny Coffman beat Oyama, 139 to 93. Republican Dave Bateman received 66 votes. At Miloli`i Halau, Denny Coffman took in 53 votes to Leolani Oyama’s 29. At Ho`okena School, Denny Coffman received 61 votes while Leolani Oyama received 30. Republic Dave Bateman received 5. At St. Benedict’s Catholic church, Denny Coffman received 89 votes, Leolani Oyama 51 and Republican Dave Bateman 12. At Konawaena Elementary, Denny Coffman received 269 votes to Leolani Oyama’s 152. Republican Dave Bateman received 11. At Konawaena High School, Denny Coffman received 201 votes to Leolani Oyama’s 64. Republican Dave Bateman received 19 votes. At Kona Vista Recreation Center, Denny Coffman took in 309 votes and Leolani Oyama 72, while Republican Dave Bateman took in 156.
      Denny Coffman won the Democratic primary and faces Republican Dave Bateman in November.

DIANA AKI performs at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The concert is free, and park entrance fees apply.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Aug. 12, 2012

Russell Ruderman, speaking at Friday's Democratic Rally in Hilo, won the Democratic primary election for state Senate District 2 and faces Republican Daryl Lee Smith in November's general election. Photo by William Neal

Billy Kenoi

Harry Kim

YESTERDAY’S PRIMARY ELECTION narrowed the field of candidates for November’s general election. Hawai`i County’s incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi faces a runoff against former mayor Harry Kim on Nov. 6. Neither candidate received a majority of votes in yesterday’s primary to win outright. According to the state’s final summary report, Kenoi received 42.4 percent of the votes, Kim 34.1 percent and County Council chairman Dominic Yagong 19.3 percent.
      Candidates for Prosecuting Attorney also face a runoff. Lincoln Ashida received 45.6 percent of votes, while Mitch Roth garnered 29.8 percent in the primary. Paul Dolan is out of the race, receiving 15.8 percent.
      For Hawai`i County Council District 6, Brenda Ford, who received 45.5 percent of the votes, will face Maile David, who garnered 33.2 percent. Candidates Bradley Westervelt and Lee McIntosh are out of the race.

Brenda Ford Photo by William Neal

      “It is difficult to outright win a primary when there are four contestants,” said Brenda Ford. “It is a brand new district, and I am grateful for the 48 percent who supported me for my hard work and my 99 percent-plus attendance at meetings and Council sessions.” She said that employment is one of the most important issues for District 6 and that she will work to make sure the Ka`u Disaster Shelter and Gymnasium is built. She said that the West Hawai`i four-year college will provide jobs for 30 years in construction and education. She said she will work to ensure a partnership between the county, state, University of Hawai`i and private partners for the new campus. She said that construction of a new intersection at Napo`opo`o Road and Hwy 11 will be another $6 million project to generate jobs. She said that the plan should be for a roundabout instead of a streetlight to keep traffic flowing and help Ka`u, Puna and South Kona residents get to work on time in Kona, North Kona and Kohala. She said there is $80 million in deferred maintenance at county parks and recreation facilities and that the community has been waiting for a Request For Proposal for re-roofing and asbestos removal at Yano Hall for three years.
      For garbage, she said she supports a process that would not only sort trash for recycling and reuse but also “take down” the Hilo landfill by going through the buried trash. Ford said she supports an automated material recovery facility. She said there have been proposals at no cost to the county that would take out all the recyclables like metals, paper and cardboard that haven’t been composted. Green waste would be recovered and composted. “All of this comes out, and the process makes biochar at low temperature that kills everything. The biochar can be used as soil amendment and other products that could be sold,” she said.
      “They could take down Hilo landfill to bedrock, and the new, lined landfill would not be leeching into the ocean,” said Ford. She said that the best location would be Hilo landfill. The material recovery facility “would preserve all county employees jobs. They would take down the landfill instead of building it up,” she said.
      Maile David said the primary election was “very exciting and a roller coaster ride last night until the final printout. I am very happy with the results. I kind of anticipated that it would be that way (a runoff). I am very excited and looking forward to a very hard campaign.” David said that, “because of the rural nature of this district, I want to really work with the underserved population for basic services that they are entitled to.” She noted that mental health and child and family social services “that are basic needs for any rural community have been cut. I think a partnership with our state representatives could help get them reinstated.”

Maile David Photo from Maile David

      She also said, “I really want to meet with the community and find out what their needs are." She said she wants to meet “with small farmers and big farmers.” She said she supports more “diversified and sustainable ag. I know that there are a lot of small pockets of farmers who already exist, like the Ka`u Coffee farmers. A small community of farmers has banded together to become successful. They are on the right track. We just need to help them,” she said.
      David said she is looking forward to the Community Development Plan that would alleviate “the contentious situation that happens when development comes piecemeal. That is why the CDP is very important. A good CDP can prevent contested case hearings that split a community." She said she attend the next CDP meeting, which will be held at Ocean View Community Center this Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
      She said that the Kona CDP is already done and other districts can learn from it. “It is a very good document and will save a lot of time and effort in the future if you predetermine what your community will look like,” she said.
      “Ka`u is very special, and residents can predetermine how they want their community to look through the CDP process. There has to be an open line between the community and the government. That is why I want to sit and listen and help bridge some of the gaps so it is a completed document, something that everybody can bless,” she said.
      Russell Ruderman won the Democratic primary for state Senate District 2 by four percentage points over Bob Herkes, who ran for Senate after reapportionment cut his state House district in half.  In the general election, Ruderman faces Daryl Lee Smith, who ran unchallenged in the Republican primary.
      “It was a really wonderful campaign and took every bit of all of our efforts,” Ruderman said. It is a win for grassroots politics over business as usual. I think people want us to help them grow in a positive direction as a sustainable community.”
      Ruderman has built a chain of food stores and said, “I really think that my experience having developed my business is very relevant for what our community needs. What I have learned to do is to create jobs in the food industry and promote local foods and food producers, and I think that is exactly what we need. We need to grow our agricultural economy. My dream is that Puna and Ka`u should be the breadbasket of the state and along the way we'll create permanent jobs and reduce our dependence on imported food.”
      Ruderman said, “It is important for me to say to people who supported my opponents that I want to be your senator also, and I am very concerned with all their concerns. I am going to be there for everyone. Everyone is tired of the influence of money in politics.”

Jeff LaFrance

Josh Green

      In state Senate District 3, Republican primary winner Jeff LaFrance will face Democrat Josh Green and non-partisan Michael Last.
      For state Representative District 3, candidates in the general election will be Republican Marlene Hapai, Libertarian Fred Fogel and Richard Onishi, who won the Democratic primary with 59.23 percent of the vote compared to Brittany Smart’s 40.76 percent.
      In state Representative District 5, Republican David Bateman will face Democrat Denny Coffman, who won the primary over Leolani Lagat Oyama.
      Candidates in the general election for U.S. Senate are Mazie Hirono, who beat Ed Case in the Democratic primary; Linda Lingle, the winner of the Republican primary and non-partisan Heath Beasley.
      For U.S. House of Representatives District 2, Democratic primary winner Tulsi Gabbard who beat Mufi Hannemann and will challenge Republican Kawika Crowley.

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