YOUNG BROTHERS and the Hawai`i County Council are concerned about a Public Utilities Commission decision to allow Pasha Hawai`i Transport lines to deliver cargo to Hilo and other Neighbor Island ports while it is sailing between Hawai`i and San Diego. Young Brothers has called the approval unfair since Young Brothers is required by the state to serve many ports, even at times when service is unprofitable. Pasha would be allowed to cherry pick routes, Young Brothers claims. Guy Enriques, who chairs the council's Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, fought for a resolution passed by the County Council last week, asking the PUC for public hearings on the issue. Big Island legislators also contacted the PUC about the problem. Young Brothers has threatened to decrease its existing service of two times a week to Hilo and Kawaihae should Pasha be allowed into interisland shipping service.
THE OUTGOING COUNTY COUNCIL has scheduled a special session on November 30 to consider the mayor's proposed $56 million bond issue to fund capital improvements for the island. Among them is the proposed $8.8 million recycling and rubbish transfer station in Wai`ohinu. The majority of incoming council members have questioned the debt load the bond could bring to local government.
REDUCING THE TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE on the Big Island, particularly during these holidays, is the goal of numerous county, state and community agencies since our island posts triple the number of traffic fatalities as O`ahu. Agencies met Wednesday to roll out a program that includes not only the holiday roadblocks to check for heavy drinkers, but a taxi coupon program that can give intoxicated customers rides home from local drinking establishments. Police chief Harry Kubojiri said he is alarmed that many under-age drinkers are among those being arrested and that so many deaths on the highways are related to drinking and driving. The total number of traffic fatalities so far this year is 27.
THE TEMPORARY TRANSFER STATION will be open again tomorrow in Ocean View at the Kahuku County Park form 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rollaway bin is being provided in Ocean View every Saturday by the county until the community has a permanent rubbish transfer station. The location is on Paradise Circle, makai.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY continues with the works of dozens of Hawai`i artists and artisans helping Volcano Art Center kick off the holiday season today through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
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| Multimedia art called 55 MPH by Ira Ono for the art studio tour in Volcano today through Sunday. |
THE ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE Art Studio Tour and Sale invites everyone into Volcano Village to meet the artists today through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual studio tour features eight studios with works ranging from quilts, paintings, pottery and photos to sculptures and hand-blown art glass. Many of these original creations are available for sale as Christmas gifts at affordable prices. A map for the tour is available at businesses in Volcano Village.
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| Sign up to be in the Pahala Christmas Parade by calling Eddie Andrade at 928-0808. |
TO COORDINATE WITH THE PAHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE AT 1 P.M., GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE is welcoming Ka`u and Volcano residents to Pahala Plantation House from 11 a.m. until noon on Sunday, December 12. Everyone is invited.
SIGN UP YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP, business or church group for the Christmas Parade in Pahala by calling Eddie Andrade at 928-0808.