Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Results of Ka`u Roping & Riding Association's Fourth of July Rodeo are in. Photo by Julia Neal

“A BILL AIMED AT CURBING THE INVASIVE ALBIZIA tree in East Hawai`i has residents of other areas worrying about an overreaching county government that could clear occupied lots of unpopular plants and bill the owners, placing a lien against their property if they don’t pay,” reports a story in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today by Nancy Cook Lauer. 

      “The county already has a similar ordinance for refuse and undergrowth on unoccupied lots. Bill 64 would add unsafe flora to the list and extend removal to occupied lots. It also lets an adjacent property owner make the initial complaint to the mayor, rather than a majority of adults in a 500-foot radius of the offending property, as is current county code.”

      The West Hawai`i Today story reports that the Hawai`i County Council’s Environmental Management Committee delayed passing the bill yesterday, in order to add amendments to reduce its impact.

Albizia trees tower over young coffee trees in Moa`ula.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      Testifying from Ocean View, Gil Robinson warned that the bill could be “opening a can of worms.” According to West Hawai`i Today, he said that “feuding neighbors could engage the county. I just would rather have these issues stay a civil court matter.”
      Cook Lauer noted that Ka`u state Sen. Russell Ruderman wrote a successful resolution in the 2013 Legislature that directs the state Invasive Species Council to work with multiple agencies to eradicate albizia. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee also supports the proposed county law that would allow government to clear the unwanted vegetation.
      According to the West Hawai`i Today report, “South Kona/Ka`u Councilwoman Brenda Ford recounted a recent uproar in her district when the state Department of Transportation started cutting jacaranda trees along Napo`opo`o Road. She said she’s not familiar with albizia trees, but she dislikes them already.”
      Ford said she is concerned, however, about the impact of the legislation on the county budget, should the county have no way to collect money from property owners where trees have been cut without foreclosing on the properties, the story reports.

      See more at westhawaiitoday.com.

VETOING BILLS was on Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s agenda recently, striking down House Bill 654, which would have included members of professional health organizations on the Center of Nursing Advisory Board. He vetoed HB 763, which would have changed the composition and quorum of the Hawai`i State Building Code Council and revised the state Building Code. Abercrombie also vetoed HB 988, which would have amended the Environmental Response Revolving Fund to include funding for a standby operations center for oil or fuel disasters.
      The total of bills signed into law from the 2013 Legislature is 269. “We will look back at 2013 as the year that launched truly transformative measures that will have lasting positive impacts on the future of our state,” said the governor.

Young paniolo learn the ropes at Na`alehu Rodeo Arena.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY RODEO at Na`alehu Arena drew hundreds of paniolo and other enthusiasts to the two-day event sponsored by Ka`u Roping & Riding Association. Rodeo Queen was Jacie Umemoto, and princess was Aysha Kaupu. Here are the results for the competition held July 6 and 7:

     Open Dally Team Roping - First: Boots Kaapana and Gilbert Smith; Second: Danny Joseph and Mike Smith; Third: Travis Gomes and Chris Awa; Fourth: David Joseph and Danny Joseph; 

     Kane Wahine - First: Brandy Gomes and Joshua Gomes; Second: Brian Dimattos and Cookie Kawamoto; Third: Cienna Joseph and Westin Joseph;

Jaycie Pakele, daughter of Valerie and Michael Pakele, of
Pahala, was rodeo queen. She is eight years old and will be
attending third grade this fall.

     Team 90s - First: Cookie Kawamoto and David Joseph; Second: David Joseph and Bob Hamilton; 

     Double Mugging - First: Billy Benevides and Dayson Perreria; Second: Boots Kaapana and Kawehe Garo; Third: Troy Mandoloniz and Danny Joseph; 

     Ribbon Mugging - First: Billy Benevides and Kepa Benevides; Second: Evan Manoa and Boots Kaapana; Third: Troy Mandaloniz and Boots Kaapana; 

     Wahine Mugging - First: Raisha Karratti and Cheyenne Fuerte; Shannon Carmichael and Makayla Awa; Third: Chelsey Fuerte and Nysa Kaniho;

     Rescue Race - First: AJ Midallia and Hoku Aiwohi; 

     Po`i Wai U - First: Billy Benevides; 

     Tie Down Roping - First: Evan Manoa; 

     Wahine Barrels - First: Cheyenne Fuerte; Second: Tanyalee Castillo; Third: Kamaluhia Garcia; 

     Youth Barrels - First: Trisyn Kalawaia; Second: Khevain Nobriga, Third: Lenaia Andrade; 

     Senior Dummy Roping - First: Mac Castillo; 

     Dummy Roping Ages Four and Under - First: Kolh Pascual;

     Five to eight in Dummy Roping - First: Cash Prettyman; Second: Derick Souza; Third: Chance Miranda;

Ka`u Roping and Riding held a successful Fourth of July Rodeo last weekend.
Photo by Julia Neal

    Goat Undecorating Ages Four and Under- First: Kolh Pascual; Second Teani Souza; 

     Goat Undecorating Ages Five to Eight  - First: Jamin Medeiros; Second: Khevain Medeiros; Third: Clancy Aku; 

     Mutton Busting - First: Laakea Ke; Second: Nicolai Makuakane; 

     Junior Bulls - First: Trisyn Kalawaia;
     Anyone wanting to help sponsor rodeos in Na`alehu so the organizers can provide winning buckles and other awards can contact Tammy Kaapana at 929-8079 or 854-7917.

Jeffrey Ono

HAWAI`I STATE CONSUMER ADVOCATE asks for clarification of several points in Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility above Pahala. 

     According to the Consumer Advocate, the company indicated a final fuel forecast would be prepared after the Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Final Release is issued. The full AEO 2013 report was released in April 2013.
     The Consumer Advocate asks the utilities to provide the final forecast and to clarify which forecast is referred to in the companies’ rebuttal testimony. If not already discussed elsewhere, please discuss whether the companies have refreshed any of their analyses previously provided in the proceeding as a result of the Final Release. If so, please provide a copy of each of those updated schedules, workpapers, and/or calculations.
     Regarding the utilities’ statement that the proposed contract “represents the lowest cost biodiesel available today,” the Consumer Advocate asks for a copy of the analysis that supports this statement. “If not already provided, please provide a copy of market data for Hawai`i and the nation that identifies the actual price of comparable biodiesel over the last 12 months as well as forecasted prices over the life of the proposed contract. If a forecast over the life of the proposed contract is not available, please provide a copy of the forecasts for comparable diesel for at least the next five years.”

     “The companies indicate that the proposed contract is consistent with HELCO’s third major integrated resource plan,” The Consumer Advocate states. “On June 28, 2013, the companies released their most recent integrated resource plan. Please update the companies’ assessment of whether the proposed contract is consistent with its most recent integrated resource preferred plan. 

     “In HELCO’s most recent integrated resource preferred plan, it appears that HELCO will be repowering the Waiau hydro plant to increase the capacity, entering a power purchase agreement for a new 25 MW geothermal, and deploying demand response programs. Please provide an updated analysis that demonstrates that, if the proposed contract is approved and HELCO is able to implement its preferred integrated resource plan on a timely basis, HELCO will be able to consume the entire volume of biodiesel expected to be produced by AKP.”
     See more in future Ka`u News Briefs.
     This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

KDEN PRESENTS DISNEY’S THEATRICAL PRODUCTION Beauty and the Beast at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from July 12 to July 28. Tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Paradise Plants, The Most Irresistible Shop and by calling 982-7344. Prices are $15 general, $12 students/seniors and $10 children. 

BEFORE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, casual dinner is served at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371

VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO SIGN UP for Saturday’s Ka`u Coast Cleanup at `Onikinalu Bay near Green Sands Beach. Contact coordinator Megan Lamson, of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Pepe Miranda with Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members on July 4 at Lorie Obra's Moa`ula Farm, training to
hold back the coffee berry borer. Photo by Ralph Gaston

KA`U FARMERS AND BACKYARD COFFEE GROWERS are able to receive benefits of federal and state grant assistance to help hold back the coffee berry borer pest that threatens to devastate Ka`u Coffee the way it severely damaged Kona Coffee. Pepe Miranda, who runs the program operated by Synergistic Hawai`i Agricultural Council, said that a person with even one coffee tree can qualify for help in identifying and quantifying the pests as well as application of a fungus that kills the coffee berry borer. 

      Miranda said the goal is to exterminate the coffee berry borer on all lands in Ka`u, even abandoned coffee farms, which could become breeding grounds for the tiny beetles that could infest the working farms.

Help is available to anyone fighting the coffee berry borer.

      Miranda has trained and provided assistance since December. He said the help includes providing the Beauveria bassiana fungus in the form of Botanigard, as well as Wide Spread, a soapy chemical that helps spread the fungus on the coffee tree. The amount of Botanigard distributed to farmers is one quart per 800 trees or a fraction of that amount. Coffee tree owners are encouraged to adopt an Integrated pest Management Program that involves counting any affected coffee cherries and keeping good records that can be used to analyze progress in fighting the borers.
      On July 4, Miranda came to Ka`u to work with the Ka`u Coffee Growers and Palehua Cooperatives at Pear Tree and Moa`ula coffee farms. He said that income of each grower is not involved in qualifying for the Botaniguard. Coffee tree owners do not have to be members of a cooperative to qualify. Miranda said the goal of the grant is education, mitigation, prevention and compiling a database.
      To sign up, call Rod Yonemura, of Synergistic Hawai`i Agriculture Council, at 345-4217 or Miranda at 443-7100.
      Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill in late June to provide $250,000 a year over two years to the state Department of Agriculture for research and another $300,000 to control and mitigate the coffee berry borer.

Sen. David Ige

STATE SEN. DAVID IGE HAS ANNOUNCED his candidacy for governor of Hawai`i, according to a report on KITV this morning. He is challenging fellow Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie. 

      “The citizens of Hawai`i continue to face serious issues,” Ige said. “We need to strengthen and diversify our economy, improve education, and re-engineer government to better serve the people. It is time for real and enduring solutions to ensure that we are taking the right steps to create opportunities for our children and future generations, but government cannot do this alone. It takes people who are committed and engaged, and a leader who listens and works together to find solutions. Throughout my career in the Legislature, I worked in this way, bringing people together to identify common goals, find solutions, and build trust in our government. As governor of the state of Hawai`i, I will work with our communities in that same way to move our state forward.”

LIFE OF THE LAND HAS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS regarding Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility above Pahala.

      Life of the Land questions HECO about the proposal for O`ahu electric rates to go up to pay for the biofuel produced and used on Hawai`i Island.
      “HECO has asked the Commission for a Waiver from Competitive Bidding to negotiate five wind and solar contracts for on-island renewable energy projects,” Life of the Land states. “Under Protective Order, please identify the projects and their parameters.
      “Please provide detailed cost analysis of these five projects in comparison with the costs proposed for the `Aina Koa Pono proposal.
      “Is there sufficient renewable energy resources on O`ahu so that HECO can meet its renewable energy requirements on its own?
      “Please provide all documentation, analysis, etc., on why HECO ratepayers should pay a premium for the `Aina Koa Pono proposal when they can save money on the five waiver projects.

      “If the cheapest renewable energy resources are on O`ahu, wouldn’t it make sense to only install new renewable energy projects on O`ahu and to allow all islands to share in those reduced prices?
      “A HECO employee was quoted in Civil Beat as saying that the five waiver projects should put downward pressure on other renewable energy developers. Does this include any current proposals before the PUC?”

      Regarding possible Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements, Life of the Land says, “As you know, the chair of the Commission, in a previous life re: Superferry, noted that any EIS had to precede all permit approval, and that obviously includes the Commission. Are you stating that if the State Department of Transportation determines there is a need for an EIS, then the preparation of the EIS should occur after a Commission ruling on the reasonableness of the Project?”
      Regarding HECO’s statement that assessment of possible positive or negative impacts of the AKP project “is more appropriately addressed in the Project permitting process or in an EIS or EA process if so required, Life of the Land asks, “When did the company change its position from analyzing externalities in an IRP docket prior to an Application to waiting until the permitting process after the Application has been approved by the Commission?”
      See more in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.
      This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED for free or reduced-price school meals during the upcoming school year.
      An online application is available at ezmealapp.com.
      DOE is also sending application forms to all parents and guardians, who can fill them out and return them to schools where their children are enrolled.
      The Department of Education has revised income eligibility levels for the program.
      School begins Monday, Aug. 5.

Ocean View Community Center offers videoconferencing of tomorrow's
County Council meeting.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. On the agenda are Mayor Billy Kenoi’s appointments of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd as director of Environmental Management and Duane Kanuha as director of Planning. 

      Ka`u residents can participate and provide testimony at Ocean View Community Center’s videoconferencing site.

      Agenda is available at hawaiicounty.gov.

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library. The Tulsi in Your Town program takes place in Pahala on the second Wednesday of each month. Call 987-5698 for more information.

Joe Iacuzzo, here with Samson, a tyrannosaurus rex fossil, brings Jurassic
Park to Na`alehu Public Library tomorrow. Photo from Joe Iacuzzo

THE DOCUMENTARY FILM SECRETS OF THE DINOSAUR MUMMY screens tomorrow at noon at Na`alehu Public Library. After the film, Joe Iacuzzo discusses his latest book, Last Day of the Dinosaur Mummy, at 1 p.m. For more information, call 939-2442. 

TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR PUNA CHICKS. “Puna Princess” Sherri Carden, “Puna Tita” Angie Libadisos and Tanya Anne, VAC’s Chief Entertainment Officer, present the night of comedy Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, July 8, 2013

A contestant wrangles a cow at Ka`u Roping & Riding Association's Fourth of July Rodeo held at Na`alehu Arena
Saturday and Sunday. Photo by Julia Neal

THE PANIOLO TRADITION of ranchers and other rodeo riders gathering together with families filled the Na`alehu Arena grounds over the weekend with events designed for keiki, wahine and kane. Junior bull riding and keiki riding sheep in the mutton busting event entertained the crowds, along with grown-up competition, including roping, mugging and showing off horses trained to herd and round up cattle. The annual Fourth of July Rodeo is sponsored by the Ka`u Roping & Riding Association. See results in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.

SOUTHSIDE BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM members returned victorious late last week to the Big Island, with Mayor Billy Kenoi and Sen. Gil Kahele among a thousand people who greeted them at Hilo Airport. The Boys 14-year-old team won the 2013 United States Association of Volleyball National Championship for their age category in Reno, Nevada. Ka`u members of the team are Addie Enriques, Avery Enriques, Nai`ia Makuakane and Kameron Moses. The 16-years-old team took seventh out of 68 teams in the national competition. Ka`u members are Brian Gascon, Emmett Enriques and Kai Enriques.

Southside Boys 14 at Hilo Airport after winning the 2013 U.S.
Association of Volleyball National Championship.
Photo from Southside Volleyball

      Hilo Airport Fire Chief Nawai Chartrand welcomed the returning teams with a Water Lei, as firefighters turned water cannons onto United Airlines Flight 1004 as it taxied to a stop, bringing home the winners.
      The public greeted the team with cheers, applause, hugs, lei and an air horn.
      The mayor awarded each team member a certificate of congratulations stating, “The magnitude of your accomplishment is awesome!” Kahele noted his connection with volleyball as his own son Kaiali`i Kahele played volleyball in his youth and becoming a star at University of Hawai`i at Manoa. Gov. Neil Abercrombie sent his eastside representative Wendy Botelho-Cortez to present to each player a Certificate of Special Recognition.
      Sam Thomas, who coached the team along with Guy Enriques, announced that the last timeout taken during the final match was in order to tell the players that they were about to win a national championship for the Island of Hawai`i and the state of Hawai`i. He also related how it was more than just about volleyball, recalling that before and after each match, the team made a special effort to clean up discarded beverage containers and other trash left by the other teams who played on the court and how this was very important to the team.

NATIVE HAWAIIANS MAY FIND IT EASIER to qualify for benefits under a new state law which allows more ways to prove ancestry. The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission, called Kana`iolowalu, will be able to use state Department of Health, Kamehameha Schools and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and other agency records to determine ancestry. 

      To date, there are under 15,000 on the list being comprised to help form a Hawaiian parallel government similar to those formed by Native American Indian tribes on the mainland.
      A deadline to sign up has been set for January of 2014.

COUNTY OF HAWAI`I HAS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS regarding Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility it would build along Wood Valley Road above Pahala. Hawai`i County questions HECO about its position regarding externalities, or positive and negative impacts of the project.

Robert Alm

      Regarding HECO executive vice president Robert Alm’s statement that externalities of a project “are often intangible and difficult to quantify,” the county asks, “Are you saying that … only certain externalities – such as those cited immediately after this statement – should be considered by the Commission?” Alm had listed direct economic benefit to the state, energy security from locally produced feedstock, alignment with the state’s energy policy and lower greenhouse gas emissions as examples of externalities to consider.
      Regarding a similar statement from manager of HECO’s Fuels Department Cecily Barnes that the utilities “have not quantified any negative externalities, and it is difficult to determine the impact, if any, they will have,” Hawai`i County asks: “Are you saying that it is not worth considering negative externalities, since their impact is difficult to determine?
      “You list several negative externalities prior to this statement. Are these the only negative externalities you believe should be considered? If not, could you please provide a full (list) of all externalities you identified as being important?”
      Barnes had testified that “potential negative externalities include: fuel spills or leaks associated with fuel storage or transportation of the biodiesel; social issues, such as traffic congestion; and, land use, such as roadway damage and noise.”
      Hawai`i County states that, “although negative externalities are always difficult to determine, sometimes useful estimates can help provide some perspective. For example, you cite the possibility of fuel spills or leaks as a few. Suppose there is a biodiesel leak in one or more of the four 300-thousand-gallon fuel storage facilities contractually required to be located at the AKP facility (say, from an earthquake), would you be able to compare the estimated clean-up costs to, for example, the promised community benefits package?”

Cecily Barnes

      County of Hawai`i had previously raised the issue of decommissioning the AKP facility if it goes bankrupt. The county asks: “How would these costs compare to the community benefits package?
      “Please quantify the cost of remediation or decommissioning of the AKP facility, and who would be required to cover that cost?
      “Please describe what would be involved in such remediation or decommission process to restore the town of Pahala to its original condition.”
      Regarding statements by Alm and Barnes that assessment of many externalities “more directly associated within the AKP Project itself … is more appropriately addressed in the Project permitting process, or in an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment process if so required,” the county asks, “Are you asserting that the Commission is not to consider either positive or negative externalities of the AKP project? Please be clear whether HELCO is asserting that Commission has no role in evaluating either positive or negative externalities.
      “Is it HECO/HELCO’s position that the Commission should not concern itself with externalities of the AKP project, but that the Commission should concern itself only with the AKP contract?”
      Barnes had testified, “Benefits of locally produced biofuels include the creation of new agricultural and manufacturing jobs, a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, increased energy security and independence, and the shifting of a portion of our significant expenditures on Imported fossil fuels to locally produced biofuel.”
      County of Hawai`i asks: “Are these the only externalities that you believe should be considered?
      “Do you believe there will be no other agricultural or manufacturing jobs created if the AKP project does not proceed?

      “On what basis do you assert there will be a reduction in GHG emissions? Please provide detailed GHG emissions evaluation based on actual AKP feedstocks and actual AKP processes (including all inputs)?
      “Can you please elaborate on why you believe AKP will contribute to increased energy security and independence, given the many identified risks of on-island fuel production and physical barriers to attaining energy independence?
      “You imply there is an advantage to having ‘significant expenditures’ go toward locally produced biofuel, but can you please elaborate where those ‘significant expenditures’ would go – to whom, how much to investors and technology providers, to management versus workers of AKP, the Island economy, etc.?”
      See more in future Ka`u News Briefs.
      This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library. The Tulsi in Your Town program takes place in Pahala on the second Wednesday of each month. Call 987-5698 for more information.

Jurassic Park comes to Na`alehu Public Library
Wednesday. Photo from Joe Iacuzzo

JURASSIC PARK COMES TO NA`ALEHU Public Library Wednesday when Joe Iacuzzo presents the documentary film Secrets of the Dinosaur Mummy at noon. Iacuzzo discusses his latest book, Last Day of the Dinosaur Mummy, at 1 p.m. For more information, call 939-2442. 

VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO SIGN UP for Saturday’s Ka`u Coast Cleanup at `Onikinalu Bay near Green Sands Beach. Contact coordinator Megan Lamson, of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.