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| Democrats return to Mo`oheau Bandstand in Hilo on Aug. 12 for their traditional Primary Election Grand Rally. Photo by Julia Neal |
CANDIDATES WHO WANT to represent Ka`u will be heading to Hilo on Friday, Aug. 12 for the Primary Election Grand Rally at Mo`oheau Bandstand. The tradition, hosted by the Democratic Party, dates back to 1954.
According to an article by Michael Janovsky posted at hawaiicountydemocrats.org, “The landslide election results from that 1954 election tectonically changed the political landscape of the Territory and later the state of Hawai`i, which has always maintained a dominant Democratic majority ever since.
“That is why, as the current active Democrats, we are obligated on carrying on this tradition, not just for the local rally, but it is incumbent that we support and maintain this sacrament for all those Hawai`i Democrats whither so ever disbursed.”
Democrats on Ka`u ballots include U.S. Senate candidates Makani Christensen, Tutz Honeychurch, Arturo Reyes, Brian Schatz and Miles Shiratori; U.S. House District II candidates Shay Hodges Chan and Tulsi Gabbard; state Senate District II candidates Greggor Ilagan and Russell Ruderman; state House District III candidates Ainoa Naniole and Richard Onishi; and state House District V candidate Richard Creagan.
Sign waving before the rally begins at 3:30 p.m. on Kamehameha Ave. Speeches begin at 5 p.m.
“With over 50 Democratic candidates seeking your vote in our county, this election season is about a lot more than the highly publicized Presidential Election,” said Phil Barnes, chair of Hawai`i County Democratic Party.
Sign waving before the rally begins at 3:30 p.m. on Kamehameha Ave. Speeches begin at 5 p.m.
“With over 50 Democratic candidates seeking your vote in our county, this election season is about a lot more than the highly publicized Presidential Election,” said Phil Barnes, chair of Hawai`i County Democratic Party.
EARLY WALK-IN VOTING for the Aug. 13 primary election continues weekdays through Thursday, Aug. 11. Hours are 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Voters can walk in far away from home at any of the four locations around the island. Hilo's Waipuni Center is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. West Hawai`i Civic Center Bldg. G in Kona is open 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Waimea Community Center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
For more election information, call 961-8277.
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For more election information, call 961-8277.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT A DOZEN SUPPORTERS of Raina Whiting gathered in Ocean View Tuesday to wave signs and publicize the County Council candidate to passing motorists and bus passengers arriving in Ocean View.
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| Raina Whiting and supports waving signs on Hwy 11. Photo from Raina Whiting |
Whiting, a Na`alehu school teacher who lives in Ocean View, is challenging incumbent Maile David to represent District VI, which includes Ka`u. Many of the sign-wavers were from Pahala and South Kona. Her team used Facebook Live Video to send images of the event to supporters who were unable to attend.
With a history of grassroots activism, Whiting has positioned herself as a representative of the people’s interests. “Politicians should be beholden only to the people and community voices – not corporate or big money interests,” she said. “My motivation is justice for our community and island. We have some elected officials who are not supporting our best interests, their campaigns have been funded by interests that are not aligned with our communities. Our communities and environment are being put on the side burner.
“Elections should be about who has the better ideas.”
Whiting said she is opposed to the utility-sized solar farm planned for Ocean View by an overseas corporation. Hawai`i Electric Light Company’s application to install an overhead transmission line to service the project is before the state Public Utilities Corporation. The Consumer Advocate has taken a position to oppose the application, saying that the project is not in the public’s interest.
“This is an example of get-rich-quick people taking advantage of a community without resources to fight back,” Whiting said. “We need sustainable development that will benefit the whole community, not one that will leave us worse off.
“If the PUC allows this, it will make a huge impact on the community which we cannot afford.
“Our communities need to feel secure in their homes, their income, their families and their future on this island. The county needs to provide a secure infrastructure.”
The solar project is also opposed by Ka`u’s elected representatives, including David, state Rep. Richard Creagan and state Sen. Josh Green. All three have written letters urging the PUC to not support HELCO’s application. In addition, about 90 letters from Ka`u residents and organizations have been filed in the docket, together with a petition opposing the project, signed by over 600 residents.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
With a history of grassroots activism, Whiting has positioned herself as a representative of the people’s interests. “Politicians should be beholden only to the people and community voices – not corporate or big money interests,” she said. “My motivation is justice for our community and island. We have some elected officials who are not supporting our best interests, their campaigns have been funded by interests that are not aligned with our communities. Our communities and environment are being put on the side burner.
“Elections should be about who has the better ideas.”
Whiting said she is opposed to the utility-sized solar farm planned for Ocean View by an overseas corporation. Hawai`i Electric Light Company’s application to install an overhead transmission line to service the project is before the state Public Utilities Corporation. The Consumer Advocate has taken a position to oppose the application, saying that the project is not in the public’s interest.
“This is an example of get-rich-quick people taking advantage of a community without resources to fight back,” Whiting said. “We need sustainable development that will benefit the whole community, not one that will leave us worse off.
“If the PUC allows this, it will make a huge impact on the community which we cannot afford.
“Our communities need to feel secure in their homes, their income, their families and their future on this island. The county needs to provide a secure infrastructure.”
The solar project is also opposed by Ka`u’s elected representatives, including David, state Rep. Richard Creagan and state Sen. Josh Green. All three have written letters urging the PUC to not support HELCO’s application. In addition, about 90 letters from Ka`u residents and organizations have been filed in the docket, together with a petition opposing the project, signed by over 600 residents.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Tawhiri Power has operated windmills at South Point since 2007. Map from Tawhiri's draft HCP |
A PUBLIC HEARING on the Draft Pakini Nui Habitat Conservation Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at Hawai`i Gateway Energy Center, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i, 73-4485 Kahilihili Street, Kailua-Kona.
Tawhiri Power, LLC, the Pakini Nui project proponent, operates an existing 21-megawatt wind energy facility at South Point with 14 turbines and associated power lines. Since operations began in 2007, the facility has not operated under an HCP and associated incidental take license. Tawhiri has now prepared an HCP and is requesting a 20-year ITL.
Mitigation efforts include a monetary contribution toward maintenance of fencing at Kahuku, predator control, and funding for species recovery. According the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, all mitigation measures were developed to provide a net ecological benefit to the species.
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Mitigation efforts include a monetary contribution toward maintenance of fencing at Kahuku, predator control, and funding for species recovery. According the state Department of Land & Natural Resources, all mitigation measures were developed to provide a net ecological benefit to the species.
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A NEW POLL OF HAWAI`I ISLAND residents shows a two-to-one margin in support for Thirty Meter Telescope construction.
The public opinion poll conducted in July 2016 by Ward Research, Inc. shows that 60 percent of Big Island residents support moving ahead with construction of the TMT project, with 31 percent opposed.
In a previous scientific poll taken in October 2015, 59 percent of Big Island residents supported moving ahead with TMT construction, while 39 percent were opposed to it.
“It was important for us to understand how Hawai`i Island residents feel about the project, and the latest poll results demonstrate that opposition to TMT on Hawai`i Island is decreasing," said TMT Executive Director Ed Stone. “That’s significant, and we are most grateful that the community’s support of the project remains high. The findings also show that the general public on Hawai`i Island understands the benefits TMT will bring in terms of Hawai`i’s economy and education, both of which are very important to TMT.”
The public opinion poll conducted in July 2016 by Ward Research, Inc. shows that 60 percent of Big Island residents support moving ahead with construction of the TMT project, with 31 percent opposed.
In a previous scientific poll taken in October 2015, 59 percent of Big Island residents supported moving ahead with TMT construction, while 39 percent were opposed to it.
“It was important for us to understand how Hawai`i Island residents feel about the project, and the latest poll results demonstrate that opposition to TMT on Hawai`i Island is decreasing," said TMT Executive Director Ed Stone. “That’s significant, and we are most grateful that the community’s support of the project remains high. The findings also show that the general public on Hawai`i Island understands the benefits TMT will bring in terms of Hawai`i’s economy and education, both of which are very important to TMT.”
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| Results of a recent poll show support for TMT construction. Image from TMT |
Among the key findings in the latest poll: 89 percent of Hawai`i Island residents agree there should be a way for science and Hawaiian culture to co-exist on Maunakea; 76 percent agree that TMT will help create good paying jobs and economic and educational benefits for those living on Hawai`i Island; 70 percent agree that failure to move forward with TMT will hurt educational opportunities for Hawai`i Island children with the termination of TMT’s annual $1 million contribution to the THINK Fund and workforce pipeline program; 69 percent agree that TMT has followed a lengthy approval process, so work should proceed; and 66 percent agree that failure to move forward with TMT after following all regulations would hurt Hawai`i’s reputation as a place to do business.
In addition, the poll found that support for TMT’s construction is split among Hawaiians/part Hawaiians on Hawai`i Island, with 46 percent of those polled in support of the project and 45 percent opposed.
“As a Hawaiian, I strongly support the Thirty Meter Telescope because it affords us the ability to share new discoveries of stars, planets and science with our children and grandchildren, keeping in line with the traditions of our ancient Hawaiian navigators,” said Kirstin Kahaloa, executive director, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. “Think about it. The best science in the world happening on the best mountain in the world right here in Hawai`i. How can you not get excited about that? The time has come for everyone including Hawaiians to stand up and support TMT.”
Maunakea remains the preferred choice for the location of TMT, and the project is continuing to pursue a permit to build on that site. TMT is simultaneously evaluating alternative sites, should the Hawai`i option not prove feasible. “We hope that permitting activities continue apace in Hawai`i so that TMT can be under construction on Maunakea by April 2018,” Stone said.
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“As a Hawaiian, I strongly support the Thirty Meter Telescope because it affords us the ability to share new discoveries of stars, planets and science with our children and grandchildren, keeping in line with the traditions of our ancient Hawaiian navigators,” said Kirstin Kahaloa, executive director, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. “Think about it. The best science in the world happening on the best mountain in the world right here in Hawai`i. How can you not get excited about that? The time has come for everyone including Hawaiians to stand up and support TMT.”
Maunakea remains the preferred choice for the location of TMT, and the project is continuing to pursue a permit to build on that site. TMT is simultaneously evaluating alternative sites, should the Hawai`i option not prove feasible. “We hope that permitting activities continue apace in Hawai`i so that TMT can be under construction on Maunakea by April 2018,” Stone said.
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| Haleakala National Park is the House of the Sun. Photo from NPS |
LEARN ABOUT HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK tomorrow at 7 p.m. when Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park screens the 51-minute film Haleakala: House of the Sun at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Rangers also share their knowledge and respect for the park, its natural treasures and the connection to Hawaiian culture perpetuated there.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
Free; park entrance fees apply.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| Click on document to enlarge. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_August_2016.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
