Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 5, 2024

Mayoral candidate Kimo Alameda sign waving during his "ohana Fun Day in Nāʻālehu in December of 2023. After
midnight, Monday morning, he led incumbent Mitch Roth in the race.
Photo from Friends of Kimo Alameda

UPDATE: NOV. 6

MAYOR-ELECT KIMO ALAMEDA’S VICTORY OVER INCUMBENT MITCH ROTH on Tuesday came with a total of 53.7 percent - 35,557 votes. Roth received 46.3 percent - 30,717 votes, according to results released Wednesday morning. Alameda who worked in the administrations of Mayor Harry Kim and Mayor Billy Kenoi, was backed by United Public Workers and Hawai’i Government Employees Union. Roth was backed by the ILWU.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE KIMO ALAMEDA LED INCUMBENT MITCH ROTH in the 11:40 p.m. printout for the General Election Tuesday night. Roth conceded early Wednesday morning, saying he was proud of all of the infrastructure and other improvements and programs he brought to the county, but was not the kind of person to brag about it.
    Earlier in the day, Gov. Josh Green described the candidates as "Two really good human beings." Green noted that Alameda has been "a terrific health care provider" and ran the Bay Clinic where Green worked for when he first came to Hawai'i Island as a young physician. Green said that Mayor Mitch Roth "has been a friend of mine going way back to when I lived on Big Island. There is lot to offer from both of those candidates but Mitch was my guy because I've been working with him as Governor. And as Lt. Governor, I also worked with him when we were going through Covid."

Mayor Mitch Roth helping with food distribution during the COVID pandemic. Photo by Julia Neal

    The Governor said that the Hawai'i County Mayoral competition is "a big race." and that  "the Governor has to rely on the mayors to ratify some of our collective bargaining. So it's a big deal who the mayors are. Also we have to have priorities that are kind of in sync." Green said he thought he would have same priorities with both Roth and Alameda.

     Mitch Roth spent the evening with his campaign party at the ILWU Hall in Hilo while challenger Kimo Alameda and friends were at Nani Maui Gardens, waiting for the results.

In the Primary Election, Roth received about 36.5 percent of the vote and Alameda received more than 26 percent.

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A 4.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RATTLED PĀHALA at 1:42 a.m. on Tuesday. It was located mauka of Hwy 11 between Punalu'u and Pāhala and was felt all the way to O'ahu.

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Kalaiki Road, already under repair from the recent hurricane, suffered flood damage
again on Monday. Photo by Phil Becker/ Aikane Plantation Coffee

THE STORM THAT FADED INTO LIGHTER RAINS ON TUESDAY left some damage along Kaaiki Road between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu. Highway 11 was closed over Monday night, reopening around 5 a.m. on Tuesday. Some people were trapped overnight and sought housing in Nāʻālehu  and Pāhala. Both communities were prepared with county and Red Cross shelters opened.

More damage from this week's flooding storm on Kala’aiki Road betweenNāʻālehu and Pāhala.
Photo by Phil Becker/Aikane Plantation Coffee

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KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP WILL HOST VETERANS DAY observance and celebration with ceremonies at 10 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Lt. Col. Christopher Marquez, Commander of Pohakuloa Training Area. 

    Lunch will be at Crater Rim Cafe from 11 a.m. to 1 p.,ml. and a Veterans Expo from 11 a.m.to 1 p.m.

     The lunch costs $38 per person for adults and $19 for Keiki ten. years and under. Reservations can be made and paid for by calling 808-967-8333.

    

KAʻŪ MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY WILL CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY, next Monday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a display of Kaʻū veterans photos and other memorabilia at Nāʻālehu Park next to the World War II Veterans Memorial.

OKK WILL CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY NEXT MONDAY, NOV. 11  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free lunch for veterans and their families, with music by Keoki Soriano. Venue is the 'O Ka'ū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu.

   

Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 4, 2024

Mauna Loa is closed on weekdays for survey, drilling and soil sampling. NPS photo

MAUNA LOA ROAD AT KIPUKAPUAULU GATE IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK CLOSED FOR SIX WEEKS on weekdays, beginning Monday for survey, drilling and soil sampling work. Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 to Kīpukapuaulu, Kīpukapuaulu Trail and the day-use area will remain open. The closure will start at the gate past Kīpukapuaulu from 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday due to a large trailer-mounted drill rig and heavy machinery that will dominate the narrow road.
    The road will reopen on weekends and holidays to all users, including Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 27 through Thanksgiving weekend, until work resumes the following Monday.
Mauna Loa Trail to Puʻuʻulaʻula and Red Hill Cabin will remain open, but access to and from the trailhead during work days will only be permitted before 8:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
    Mauna Loa Road (not to be confused with Mauna Loa Observatory Road off Daniel K. Inouye Highway) was first built as a truck trail by local members of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It has degraded due to tree root intrusion, seismicity and age.
    This initial survey, drilling and sampling work will determine the subgrade material and inform the design process for a major rehabilitation of Mauna Loa Road to Mauna Loa Lookout, where the bumpy and uneven road ends around 6,700 feet. The rehab project is anticipated to start in late 2025.
    The temporary closure of Mauna Loa Road is expected to last through mid-December. Visit the park website for additional temporary construction-related closures.

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KAʻŪ MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY WILL CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY, next Monday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a display of Kaʻū veterans photos and other memorabilia at Nāʻālehu Park next to the World War II Veterans Memorial.

OKK WILL CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY NEXT MONDAY, NOV. 11  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free lunch for veterans and their families, with music by Keoki Soriano. Venue is the 'O Ka'ū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu.

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HERE ARE THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS FOR NOVEMBER for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park:
    Nov. 12 and 15 between 9 a.m. and noon for transport of crew and equipment for fence replacement on Mauna Loa between 4,000- and 6,500-ft. elevation.
    Nov. 20 and 22 between 6:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. for Hawaiian petrel monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000- and 9,000-ft. elevation.
    USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
    The park regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
    Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities. 

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HEAVY RAIN BUT LITTLE WIND POUNDED KAʻŪ MONDAY NIGHT with a National Weather Service Flash Flood Warning extended until almost 11 p.m. to cover the entire island. Highway 11 became impassible at points between Punalu'u and Honu'apo with the mountain alternate route also flooded at gulches and dangerous to use. Ahead of Hwy 11 closing between the 57 mile marker and 62 mile marker, schools closed early to get students home on the buses. 

      Herkes Kaʻū District Gym opened as a shelter as did Nāʻālehu Community Center and Kea'au Armory.

      Kaʻū Coffee farmers visiting their orchards said they observed some soil runoff and gullies in their farms. 

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Kaʻū News Briefs Nov. 3, 2024

 

   

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: From Hopeless to Hopeful is the talk at After Dark
in the Park this Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.

THE LATEST ON THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH between Hawai'i and the West Coast will be presented at After Dark in the Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park  on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. The title of the talk is The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: From Hopeless to Hopeful.
    The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a flotilla of trash in the Pacific Ocean the size of Texas. Ranger Dean Gallagher will lead a virtual cruise that traces the trash items back to their point of origin. Learn about the impacts of marine debris and what is being done to turn the tide and clean up oceans to protect future generations.

    The session is part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing After Dark in the Park programs and co-sponsored by the Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free, but park entrance fees apply.

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Hula dancers from Ulu Makuakane's Na 'A'ali'i of Nāʻālehu supported the Mālama ʻĀina Fun Day on Saturday in Nāʻālehu at the 'O Ka'ū KākouFarner & Artusa Market. Photo by Yuri Soriano

MĀLAMA 'ĀINA FUN DAY on Saturday, Nov. 2 saw Kaʻū High School students showing the public their business venture Malama 'Aina Compostables at the 'O Ka'ū Kākou Farmer & Artisan Market in Nāʻālehu. Participants were: Kayson Pagan, Anastasia Kovalik, Elliott Grimm, Helen Miranda, Herika

A game of feel and guess the waste.
Photo by Yuri Soriano

Lokot, Kaui Young, Kona Smith, Laci Ah Yee, Roxie Castaneda, Wailea Kainoa Haili-Barawis, Tancy David, Trinity Sheldon-Baji, Nyori Noelle Soriano and Chazlyn Mukini.

    Supporting the event with dance were members of Na 'A'ali'i hula group based in Nāʻālehu, led by Ulu Makuakane.

    The Student-Led Zero Waste event aimed to spread awareness on reusing, reducing, and recycling. The Recycle Hawai'i and EPA sponsored venture's goal is to raise awareness on the impacts that a Zero Waste lifestyle has on the world. Students not only host events such as Mālama 'Aina Fun Day,  but also travel to other states to interact with other students in similar programs.
    During the Saturday Mālama ʻĀina interaction with the public, students collected cardboard boxes and Hi-5 to be entered into a prize raffle. They promised that resources collected will be reused, repurposed and diverted from the landfill. Some of the cardboard was recycled for use in art. A game called Waste Sensory asked participants to put a hand into a box, feel something there for ten seconds and name its waste type.

Students upcycle cardboard to use for art and practical projects. Photo by Yuri Soriano

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A FLOOD WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AT 6 p.m. has been issued by the National Weather Service. Hawai'i County Civil Defense released a statement:
    A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for possible flooding to occur.
    Due to the Flood Watch, be advised:
    Residents in flood prone areas, please take this time to prepare for possible heavy rains and potential flooding.
    Road closures may occur without notice.
    Do not attempt to cross flowing water in a vehicle or on foot; turn around don't drown.
    Remember, if lightning threatens your area, the safest place to be is indoors.
For more information, visit the County of Hawaii Hazard Impact Map

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