Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 NEWS BRIEFS

President Barack Obama signs bill honoring Japanese-American veterans.
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono co-sponsored the bill.

TODAY IS VETERANS DAY and county, state and federal offices are closed, along with banks, schools and libraries. There will be no mail delivered to Ka`u's post offices today.

TWO VETERANS DAY ceremonies are planned for Ka`u - One at Punalu`u Beach sponsored by the Kahumoku Ohana from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a concert with such musicians as `ukulele master James Hill, Hope and John Keawe, Keoki Kahumoku, Dennis Kamakahi and others. The Kilauea Military Camp ceremony in Hawai`I Volcanoes National Park is at 3:30 p.m. on the front lawn and will offer a free dinner for all U.S. Active and Retired Military and Veterans who pre-register.

KA`U'S CONGRESSWOMAN MAZIE HIRONO attended a White House ceremony yesterday to sign legislation to honor all of the Japanese American veterans who served during World War II. It grants a Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regiment Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service. Some of the living Ka`u residents receiving this honor are 92-year-old Toku Nakano, 91-year-old Tsuneki Omija and 88-year-old Iwao Yonemitsu.
 
IN HER VETERANS DAY ADDRESS, Hirono said, "These decorated Japanese-American veterans exemplify the kind of courage and loyalty to our country that serve as continuing inspiration to future generations. They signed up to fight in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific theatre at a time when the very nation they fought for had sent their families to internment camps." More than two-thirds of these Nisei veterans were born and raised in Hawai`i.
 
BANNING THE IMPORTATION of all green coffee from out of state is one of the proposals being considered to help fend off the spread of the coffee cherry borer. It is believed that Kona became invested by importing Mexican or other Latin American coffee to blend with pure Kona coffee. The borers, considered the most destructive coffee pest, live inside the cherry and the bean, making it useless. State and federal officials are considering a quarantine on affected areas in Kona and Wai`ohinu and are accepting testimony through November 17, when they will hold a meeting at the Plant Quarantine Conference Room on Sand Island on O`ahu. The quarantine would prevent the movement of coffee plants, green coffee beans, untreated coffee bags and other implements of the coffee industry outside of the quarantine area without permits.
 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE COFFEE CHERRY BORER damaging the Ka`u coffee industry? Farmers and other residents can testify by email to Carol.L.Okada@hawaii.gov, fax to 808-832-0584 or mail to 1849 Auiki Street, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96819.

About 40 people gathered at the County Council's site visit of the
one-and-one-half mile portion of Kamaoa Road west of
South Point Road on Tuesday, Nov. 9

THE KAMAOA ROAD ISSUE is being studied by former County Planning Director Chris Yuen. He is checking into whether the county has the right to sell of the road segment west of South Point Road to private landowners. Yuen apparently has documents to show that the road belongs to the state and has been used in the past to connect South Point Road with Mamalahoa Highway, according to incoming County Council Chair Domonic Yagong.
    

Tissy Kaniho says she wants the road to be private
to protect her cattle and horses

Proponents of the sale of the road include those who would buy it from the county at an estimated cost of $2,000. They include Tissy and Dean Kaniho, who own a 27-acre ranch next to the road, Kamehameha Schools and Monica Mallick, who own large parcels. 

Teri Nguyen says she wants her workers and the public
to have ungated access to her 99-acre farm

Teri Nguyen, who owns 99 acres adjacent to the road, said she objects, stating that it would reduce the value of her property by restricting access and that she wants the workers and visitors to her farm to come and go without having to go through locked gates. Those for the gates say it keeps their cattle, farms and ranches safe. The issue was a hot topic in the recent elections where the County Council seat changed hands from incumbent Guy Enriques to Brittany Smart. Enriques supported the sale, while Smart opposed it.

THE KA`U EPISODE OF MANTRACKER - the hit reality TV show featuring local paniolo Leon Chow and Canadian tracker Terry Grant chasing down human prey – will be shown this afternoon at 4 p.m. on the Discovery Science Channel.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND sponsors a beach cleanup in Ka`u this Saturday, Nov. 13. Participants meet at the Kaulana boat ramp and gather rubbish along the coast toward Mahana Bay. Call Meghan at 769-7629 with questions. 

A FREE HAWAIIAN MASTERS CONCERT takes place this Saturday, Nov. 13 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.  The concert features musicians currently teaching local students and visitors at the annual Kahumoku `Ohana Hawaiian Music & Cultural Workshop.