Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 26, 2014

Hawai`i County Council District Six candidates Richard Abbett, at left, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson participated in a forum at Cooper Center in Volcano Village this morning. Photo by Julia Neal

PRIMARY ELECTION EARLY WALK-IN VOTING starts Monday at Pahala Community Center on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, Aug. 7. Early walk-in was unavailable in Ka`u during the last election, but election officials decided to reopen the opportunity for the primary and general elections. For the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, early walk-in voting is from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1.

      Registered Ka`u voters will be able to cast ballots for the following offices: U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District Two, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, state Senate District Three, state House of Representatives Districts Three and Five, Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-Large Trustees and Hawai`i County Council District Six.

      On the ballot for state Senate District Three are incumbent Josh Green, of Kailua-Kona, and Michael Last, of Na`alehu.
      State House of Representatives District Three candidates are Bill Dickson, of Mountain View; Fred Fogel, of Volcano; and incumbent Richard Onishi, of Hilo.

      State House of Representatives District Five candidates are Dave Bateman, of Holualoa; incumbent Richard Creagan, of Na`alehu; Jon Lalanne, of Ocean View; Gene “Bucky” Leslie, of Holualoa; and Randy Ruis, of Ocean View.

      On the ballot for Hawai`i County Council District Six are Richard Abbett, of Ocean View; Maile Medeiros David, of Captain Cook; and Jim Wilson, of Volcano.
      Sample ballots are available at hawaii.gov/elections.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ALL THREE CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY COUNCIL Volcano-Ka`u-South Kona District vowed to serve the people and not special interests today at a forum sponsored by Volcano Rotary Club. Candidates Jim Wilson, Maile Medeiros David and Richard Abbett gave talks about why and how they would benefit the community.

Maile Medeiros David and Richard Abbett, behind table, are running
for County Council District Six. Photo by Julia Neal

      All three tackled questions on their views on the proposed county incinerator to handle the island’s waste stream and whether they would allow commercial haulers to pick up garbage and take it to county transfer stations. 

     Volcano resident and Rotary member Jim Wilson, the retired publisher of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, said he has always, at times, been critical of the way the council does business and talked about a common sense, no nonsense approach. He said he researches topics through library and Internet sources. When asked about consulting people and experts on various issues, he said, “That goes without saying.” When asked about the needs of greater Ka`u beyond Volcano, he talked about an industry to provide jobs. He mentioned transportation, water and sustainable agriculture issues.
      When asked about Hawai`i Electric Light Co. and electric rates, he said, “They have us by the long hairs. Our rates are atrocious.” He said there has to be a way to “reduce the needs of HELCO” and to help lower prices.
      When asked how many of the candidates have read the integrated solid waste resource plan for the county, Wilson said he hadn’t. David said she attended hearings on it, and Abbett said he recently reviewed it.

      David said she could not give a pro or con on the idea of an incinerator without the request for proposals for county waste processing facilities moving forward to provide her with “all the information.”

County Council District Six candidate Jim Wilson is a Rotary Club member.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Wilson said the community can’t keep putting garbage in a hole in the ground and that he would support the best way to dispose of it, including recycling and upcycling.
      Abbett took the strongest stand against the incinerator. “There is a good reason they haven’t been built for 20 years,” he said. He called incinerators “an all around outdated idea.” He also said that the RFP requirement that the chosen technology for processing waste for Hawai`i County have a minimum 15-year history elsewhere is “an excuse to use old technology.” He said an incinerator “would completely erode” the county’s zero waste policies.
      Former County Council member Bob Jacobson asked, “Do you know who makes policy” for the county? Wilson answered first with the correct answer, the County Council.
      Questions were asked on whether the new council member would be independent in his or her considerations and decision-making from the mayor and county administration.
      All promised to study the issues and make their decisions independently. Abbett said he would do everything he could to set a reasonable tone at council meetings and to create a more mature outlook by council members. He said that personality conflicts, personal problems and conflicts between districts currently hinder the council’s work.
      David said she would always go to the people, study issues and abide by the legal process.
      See more on the forum in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.

      The candidates participate in another forum Monday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Registration for Ka`u Coffee Trail Run is available online.

A PAHALA BUILDER NAILED THE STATE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP for shotguns shooting aerial clay targets. Mike Munnerlyn traveled to Maui along with other Big Islanders Milford Tabura, Tracy Lewis and Alford Pestrello - all from Hilo - as well as Jimmy Watt from Mountain View and Tom Griffith from Kona. In C class, Tabura placed second. In D class, Griffith placed third, and in E class, Munnerlyn placed first.

      Munnerlyn will shoot in the National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas in October. 

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KA`U COFFEE TRAIL RUN IS COMING UP SATURDAY, SEPT. 20. This first time opportunity through private property offers breathtaking landscapes and panoramic views of the Ka`u Coast and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
      All runs and walks start at 7:30 a.m., beginning and finishing at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The 5K is an easy, family-friendly run or walk through macadamia nut orchards and coffee fields. The 10K follows the 5K course then climbs to higher elevations through a eucalyptus tree forest. The Half Marathon follows the 10K course before shifting into high gear and intensity through grazing pastures and former sugarcane fields to the highest elevation of 3,100 feet, then winds down through newly planted coffee fields.

      Awards go to top three men and women overall and top three men and women in age groups from 19 and under to 70 and over.

      After the run, participants can enjoy award-winning Ka`u Coffee, food, entertainment and many other family-friendly activities. A Kendama tournament is also planned.

KDEN's final performances of Ruddigore are tonight and tomorrow afternoon.
Photo from KDEN

      Registration for all events is available online at race360.com/21357. High school team members can participate for $10. Registration on or before Aug. 19 is $30 for the 5K, $40 for the 10K and $50 for the Half Marathon. Fees increase $5 from Aug. 19 through Sept. 13, and late registration is an additional $20.
      The event is sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou, and all proceeds stay in Ka‘ū to benefit the Ka`u community.

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ROMANCE AND HUMOR ABOUND IN KDEN’S production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Ruddigore, or, The Witch’s Curse. Final performances are today at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $15 general, $12 for students and seniors over 60 and $10 for children 12 and under. Reservations can be made by calling 982-7344. 

      For more information call the number above, email kden73@aol.com, or see KDEN’s Facebook page.

HAWAI`I CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY IS BRINGING speakers to Ka`u tomorrow. Filipino leaders Dr. Romeo Quijano and Gilbert Sape speak with farmers, farm workers and others at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. A potluck begins at 5 p.m.
      For more information, contact Kasha Ho at 808-681-7688 or kho@centerforfoodsafety.org.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE David Ige comes to Ka`u Monday for a talk story session at the Pahala home of Marion Villanueva at 4 p.m. The address is 96-1174 Holei Street, on the corner of Pikake Street. Ige, Finance chair of the state Senate, is challenging sitting governor Neil Abercrombie for the Democratic Party nomination in the Aug. 9 primary election.

HAWAI`I WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION hosts a free community wildfire preparedness workshop Monday at Pahala Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Topics include how to mitigate wildfire issues through proper home landscaping techniques and home structure modifications, how to develop a clear and achievable family emergency plan and what actions to take during a wildfire and proper evacuation procedures.
      For more information, email pablo@hawaiiwildfire.org, call 808-885-0900, or see hawaiiwildfire.org.

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

See kacalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, July 25, 2014

Leon Chow and Merle Becker represent Ka`u ranching and farming at Ka`u Plantation Days parade last October. This year's event is organizing for Oct. 11. Photo by Julia Neal

STEWARDSHIP OF KAWA, in partnership with Hawai`i County, is the subject of an application process with proposals from community groups to be postmarked or delivered to the Department of Parks & Recreation by Aug. 29.
      According to a legal notice posted in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald in July, the county will provide stewardship grants-in-aid for public safety, maintenance and preservation of the land acquired through the county Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Fund.

      Some 800 acres on Kawa Bay were purchased for the county using county, state and federal money for preservation of wildlife and natural resources as well as open space for the public. Some of the money came from a fund created by two percent of property taxes collected by the county.

Pu`eo McGuire describes surfing at Kawa as a Hawaiian cultural activity.
Photo by Julia Neal

      A similar relationship to manage open space is arranged between the County of Hawai`i and Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo.

      Several local organizations have discussed joining a team to manage Kawa, including Pu`eo McGuire and Na Mamo O Kawa, which met with members of families associated with Kawa in an attempt to become a liaison between the county and local interest groups. McGuire said last year that “we want to see what they want done, how they want to see Kawa managed. He said he and other members of the new organization are talking with “the families, the young, the recreational users and surfers.” McGuire talked about surfing at Kawa as more than recreation. “It is not like we are out there playing. It is a spiritual activity. It is a Native Hawaiian cultural activity that we do down there.” He and member Lui Sales said that in addition to the families, the group would talk with Karen Teshima and other representatives of Kawa as the planning goes forward.

      The county recently conducted an archaeological survey of Kawa finding numerous historic sites.

      According to the county, only 501(c)(3) organizations or an organization that operates under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit shall be considered for a stewardship grant.
      In addition to the grant application, the applicant must submit a detailed business plan for the project along with a signed agreement to file a written report on what has been accomplished and how the money was spent within one year after receipt of funds.

      Applications are available online at hawaiicounty.gov, selecting Boards & Commissions from the bottom left side and Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. Hard copies are available at the Parks & Recreation office in Aupuni Center at 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 in Hilo. Deadline to submit proposals is Friday, Aug. 29 at 4:30 p.m. Contact Jason Armstrong at 961-8311 with questions.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Vice Principal Wilma Roddy

KA`U HIGH & PAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL has announced job openings for the fall semester. The school would like to hire paraprofessional tutors for 19 hours a week with pay of $13.34 an hour. They would serve as academic tutors within the classroom, supporting students mainly in math and language arts.
      The school would like to hire one part-time teacher for 17 hours a week with pay of $22.34 an hour. The teacher will provide direct instruction in math intervention skills for middle and high school math courses. The teacher would design intervention lessons based on Common Core standards as well as use computer-based programs to support learning.
      The public school is also looking for classroom substitutes and substitutes for educational assistants and adult supervisor positions.
      Those with experience in working with students and who enjoy working with kids can stop by Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School’s main office to fill out an application, for an interview by an administrator and a background check.
      For more information, call Vice Principal Wilma Roddy at 313-4112.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U PLANTATION DAYS, SET FOR SATURDAY, Oct. 11 at Pahala Plantation Manager’s House, will hold planning meetings on Mondays, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 at Pahala Community Center. The theme is Sweet Memories and will include a parade in Pahala with pa`u riders and representatives of farms, ranches and community groups.

      For more information and to participate with booths and entertainment, contact chair Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740. Sponsors are Ka`u Multicultural Society, `O Ka`u Kakou and Pahala Plantation Cottages.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Mayor Billy Kenoi participates in Volcano Rain
Forest Runs. This year's runs are three weeks
from tomorrow. Photo from Sharron Faff

REGISTRATION IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS on Saturday, Aug. 16. The Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m., followed by the 10K at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K at 8 a.m. All runs start and finish at Cooper Center on Wright Road. 

      Packet pick-up and late registration is Friday, Aug. 15 at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
      Cooper Center will be having a Dine & Dash Pasta Buffet on Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., all inclusive for $15.
      Participants in 10K and 5K can register race morning at Cooper Center until 7:30 a.m. T-shirts are not guaranteed for late registrations. There is no race day registration for the Half Marathon.
      Keiki ages 1 – 7 can register for the free 100- or 200-yard dashes on race morning until 9:30 a.m. The Keiki runs, sponsored by Kilauea Lodge, begin at 10 a.m. All entrants receive a ribbon and other goodies after coming through the finish line.
      Volcano Rotary Club serves an $8 BBQ Grill Lunch on race day from 9 a.m. Other activities include face painting, balloon animals with the Hiccup Circus to delight the children and craft and other booths for everyone’s enjoyment.

      “Parking is limited within Volcano Village so come early and carpool, please,” said Race Director Sharron Faff. There are parking lots located at Volcano Store, Thai Thai Restaurant and Volcano Garden Arts. All parking lots are located on Old Volcano Road and within walking distance of Cooper Center.

      Please check the Notice to Motorists information found in this newspaper for road closures on race morning.
      “Everyone please use caution throughout the village during the race morning to insure the safety of all participants, volunteers and spectators,” Faff said. “A big mahalo goes out to everyone involved in this fifth annual community event.”

      All participants are responsible for knowing their race route. For more information, maps, FAQs, registration and volunteering, see volcanorainforestruns.com, or call 967-8240.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U SUMMER BASKETBALL LEAGUE PLAYS EVERY WEEK on Mondays and Wednesdays at Pahala High School gym. Seven men’s teams started the round robin play on Monday, July 23 and will continue until all teams have played one another. While the men’s teams are set, women’s teams are invited to organize. Play is expected to run into September.
      Call Elijah Navarro at 430-9461.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.   

COOPER CENTER IS THE VENUE for Volcano Rotary Club’s forum featuring County Council District Six candidates tomorrow at 8 a.m. Candidates on the primary election ballot for Aug. 9 are Richard Abbett, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson.

HAWAI`I CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY IS BRINGING speakers to Ka`u this Sunday. Filipino leaders Dr. Romeo Quijano and Gilbert Sape speak with farmers, farm workers and others at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. A potluck begins at 5 p.m.
      For more information, contact Kasha Ho at 808-681-7688 or kho@centerforfoodsafety.org.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN MEET GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE David Ige this Monday, July 28 for a talk story session at the Pahala home of Marion Villanueva at 4 p.m. The address is 96-1174 Holei Street, on the corner of Pikake Street. Ige, Finance chair of the state Senate, is challenging sitting governor Neil Abercrombie for the Democratic Party nomination in the Aug. 9 primary election.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.

 

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, July 24, 2014

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Wildfire preparedness is the topic of workshops tomorrow at Cooper Center in Volcano Village and Monday at Pahala Elementary School. Ka`u wildfire photo from Hawai`i County Fire Department

FOUR OF THE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR STATE HOUSE District Five discussed agricultural issues at Konawaena Elementary School yesterday.

Dave Bateman

      Regarding labeling of coffee blends as 10 percent, Republican candidate Dave Bateman, who grows coffee in Kona, said he would support designating the blends as 90 percent foreign, reported Bret Yager for West Hawai`i Today. “I’d like to get all sides together and resolve this once and for all,” he said.
      Democrat incumbent Richard Creagan, of Na`alehu, agreed that the labeling issue needs to be resolved, Yager said. “I’d be glad to sponsor and introduce such legislation, but it would require strong backing by the coffee industry if it’s to get any further than it has in the past,” he said.
      Gene “Bucky” Leslie, a Democrat from Holualoa, said, “The purity of the Kona coffee brand needs to be protected. But until broad federal legislation can be completed, farmers need to exert their own strong quality control.”
      Non-partisan candidate Randy Ruis, of Ocean View, also agreed that protecting the name of 100 percent Kona coffee is important. “I am in favor of labeling the source of the other 90 percent,” he said.

Rep. Richard Creagan

      All candidates agreed that more needs to be done to battle invasive species. Bateman called for “more robust inspections at entry points and in the field.”
      According to the story, Creagan said the state has been penny-wise but pound-foolish in its fight against invasive species. “We’re heading for major disaster,” he said. “You can’t pick coffee in a field with fire ants. We need to jump on the fire ant problem immediately.”

      Leslie said the state needs to add agricultural inspectors and restore inspection of green coffee. “We need to take mandatory inspections seriously,” he said. “We need ag inspectors at every port.”
      Ruis said, “I believe the state must do a much better job to protect ag lands and residents from invasive species.”
      How to encourage more agriculture in the state and House District Five, which stretches from Na`alehu into Kona, was another topic.

Gene "Bucky" Leslie

      Bateman called for two-year agriculture degrees that would qualify young farmers for low-cost agriculture loans, He also wants to eliminate general excise tax on farm products. Encouraging farmers markets would be “one way to get our ag products out there,” Bateman said.

      Yager said Creagan called for a “rural renaissance” to support dwellings for farmers who are working to take over the land from older farmers. He called for farmers market vendors to be exempt from excise tax for unprocessed food sales and for markets to be permitted on agricultural land.
      Yager said Leslie proposed working with landholders to encourage a new generation of farmers. While calling for better access to water and other resources, “it’s not possible for the state to guarantee affordable lands,” he said.

Randy Ruis

      Ruis suggested that the state build an inventory of ag land and offer long-term leases to young farmers. The state must also protect agricultural land from development, he said. He also said he wants to limit permits required for vendors at farmers markets.

      Libertarian candidate Jon Lalanne, of Ocean View, was on the mainland and did not participate in the forum.

      See westhawaiitoday.com.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

REOPENING OF KULANI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY can proceed following Hilo Circuit Court Judge Glenn Hara’s granting of a summary judgement against `Ohana Ho`opakele. The Hawaiian group had sued the Department of Public Safety, saying the state’s environmental assessment didn’t consider a pu`uhonua.
      John Burnett, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reported Hara saying, “I basically believe the state’s position is the correct … statement of the law.” The judge noted he previously “made a statement to the effect that if this isn’t a proper purpose, I don’t know what was … in respect to the land being used for a prison and public safety.”
      `Ohana Ho`opakele representatives said they’ll appeal the decision.

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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Sen. David Ige

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR debated issues on the Big Island yesterday. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his challenger, Sen. David Ige, met in Waimea.
      Tom Callis, reporting for Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, said the candidates had few major policy differences and emphasized their leadership abilities and knowledge of neighbor island needs.
      Regarding the high cost of electricity, both said geothermal could help reduce it and that utility companies need to change the way they do business. Ige said, “I think the real key is really challenging the pricing model the utility uses,” which involves “requiring them to change from a generation and distribution of energy to primarily the distribution of energy.”
      Abercrombie said if the electric utilities don’t reform themselves, “we will do it for them.”
      Both candidates agreed that more needs to be done regarding invasive species.
      Ige said the state needs a comprehensive biocontrol program to intercept invasive species. Abercrombie referred to little fire ants as “terrorists not open to group discussion.”
      Ige pledged to listen to communities on all the islands, while Abercrombie said, “You know if there was an issue to be faced … you know Neil Abercrombie was there.”

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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BrandUSA promotes tourism in Hawai`i and the entire country.

THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Colleen Hanabusa to reauthorize BrandUSA, a public-private partnership that promotes U.S. travel to the global community. The Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4450) was introduced by members of the Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus. It will reauthorize BrandUSA for five years and will add several accountability and transparency measures. The bipartisan legislation passed 347-57.


      “Tourism is the most powerful driver of our local economy in Hawai`i, as we welcome visitors from countries in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world,” said Gabbard, a member of the Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus. “We need this commonsense legislation because if Congress supports tourism, we create jobs, grow our economy, and increase opportunity in our communities across the country. In Hawai`i, we are uniquely positioned to take full advantage of the BrandUSA reauthorization and the public-private dollars that will be spent to promote the U.S. abroad.”
      Last year, tourism in Hawai`i contributed $1.5 billion in total state tax revenue and supported 168,000 jobs, making it the largest generator of jobs across the islands.


      BrandUSA’s work is supported through a combination of private sector contributions and matching funds from an existing international visa fee. In fiscal year 2013, BrandUSA’s marketing efforts generated one million incremental visitors, which resulted in $7.4 billion in total sales and supported more than 53,000 new U.S. jobs.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION hosts a free community wildfire preparedness workshop tomorrow at Cooper Center in Volcano Village from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Topics include how to mitigate wildfire issues through proper home landscaping techniques and home structure modifications, how to develop a clear and achievable family emergency plan and what actions to take during a wildfire and proper evacuation procedures. 

      For more information, email pablo@hawaiiwildfire.org, call 808-885-0900, or see hawaiiwildfire.org.

COOPER CENTER IS THE NEW VENUE for Volcano Rotary Club’s forum featuring County Council District Six candidates Saturday at 8 a.m. It was originally to be held at Volcano House in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Candidates on the primary election ballot for Aug. 9 are Richard Abbett, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson.

PATRICIA HOBAN TEACHES PROCESS PAINTING Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Hoban guides participants as they experiment, explore, discover and play with paint. No previous art experience needed. Register at 967-8222.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.