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| `Amakihi is one of the native forest birds that will benefit from the Kipuka Mosaic Project. Photo by John DeMello/TNC |
KIPUKA MOSAIC is a new program to protect the native forest canopy in neighborhoods where people build houses. The effort is designed to encourage the nestling of homes into the rainforest rather than clear-cutting houselots. A dedication for this program will be held tomorrow at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus on old Volcano Highway at 4 p.m. The program conserves the forest canopy as a flyway for native birds and a pathway for other native life. It preserves the forest within the residential community, with landowners donating an easement on their properties, insuring that the forest and its overstory are there forever. The project is co-sponsored by the Hawai`i Island Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy and the Volcano Community Association.
GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE’S meeting with area residents has been changed from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 12. The ceremony to welcome the governor and meet with him is open to everyone. Children from the Boys & Girls Club, representatives of the schools, hospital, coffee farmers, seniors and other groups are planning to attend. It is followed by the annual Pahala Christmas Parade at 1 p.m.
KA`U MAIN STREET celebrates the ninth anniversary of the Ka`u Farmer’s Market in Na`alehu, tomorrow, Saturday, December 4th. The public is welcome to celebrate all day long.
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| A coffee berry borer in relation to coffee cherry. |
A PLANT QUARANTINE INTERIM RULE went into effect yesterday, establishing two quarantine zones to restrict movement of coffee plants, plant parts, unroasted coffee green beans and coffee bags to prevent and slow the spread of the Coffee Berry Borer on this island and to the rest of the state. One quarantine area extends from Kaloko in Kona to Manuka State Park to keep the borer out of Ka`u. The other quarantine covers the entire island and requires heat treatment, fumigation or other methods before shipping coffee green beans from here to other Hawaiian Islands. Coffee growers can call the Plant Quarantine Branch at 808-832-0566.
Farmers can also call Brenda Iokepa-Moses to receive coffee borer traps provided by the Department of Agriculture to check on coffee orchards to make sure they are clean of the coffee borer. Call 928-0500.
PUBLIC HEARINGS on whether to allow a San Diego shipping company into Neighbor Island service should have been held by the Public Utilities Commission on the Neighbor Islands, Ka`u’s state senator Russell Kokubun said yesterday during an information meeting on O`ahu. The lack of local public hearings showed that the PUC is O`ahu–centric, he said. Farmers and ranchers submitted complaints, some noting Young Brothers’ threat to cut services in face of the competition. The decision to allow the ocean freight company Pasha to service routes from Honolulu to Hilo and Kahului twice monthly has already been approved by the PUC. Young Brothers testified that Pasha is “cherry picking routes,” leaving Young Brothers to service the less profitable routes. This could become an issue in the next state legislature.
For cargo going to and from the mainland, both Horizon Lines and Matson have already announced rate increases. Farmers and ranchers fear that interisland rates will also rise and service will be reduced.
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of the Big Island is searching for a new Chief Operating Officer. The club services some 200 young people in Ka`u, which has one of the biggest organizations on the island. The job description can be found at www.bgcbi.com.
SENIOR HOLIDAY BINGO will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou, it is open to everyone 55 years of age and older.
A SUICIDE PREVENTION CLINIC will be held on December 8 and 9 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Pahala at the River of Life Assembly of God Church on Pa`au`au Street. Those interested can call Teresa Alderdyce at Ka`u family Center at 929-9611, Ext. 10 or email suicide preventionhawaii@gmail.com.
PUBLIC HEARINGS on whether to allow a San Diego shipping company into Neighbor Island service should have been held by the Public Utilities Commission on the Neighbor Islands, Ka`u’s state senator Russell Kokubun said yesterday during an information meeting on O`ahu. The lack of local public hearings showed that the PUC is O`ahu–centric, he said. Farmers and ranchers submitted complaints, some noting Young Brothers’ threat to cut services in face of the competition. The decision to allow the ocean freight company Pasha to service routes from Honolulu to Hilo and Kahului twice monthly has already been approved by the PUC. Young Brothers testified that Pasha is “cherry picking routes,” leaving Young Brothers to service the less profitable routes. This could become an issue in the next state legislature.
For cargo going to and from the mainland, both Horizon Lines and Matson have already announced rate increases. Farmers and ranchers fear that interisland rates will also rise and service will be reduced.
THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of the Big Island is searching for a new Chief Operating Officer. The club services some 200 young people in Ka`u, which has one of the biggest organizations on the island. The job description can be found at www.bgcbi.com.
SENIOR HOLIDAY BINGO will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou, it is open to everyone 55 years of age and older.
A SUICIDE PREVENTION CLINIC will be held on December 8 and 9 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Pahala at the River of Life Assembly of God Church on Pa`au`au Street. Those interested can call Teresa Alderdyce at Ka`u family Center at 929-9611, Ext. 10 or email suicide preventionhawaii@gmail.com.
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| Peter Anderson's Nene will grace the cover of The Directory 2011. |
THE KA`U DIRECTORY, which serves as a local phone book and guide to businesses, services and community groups in Ka`u, is nearly pau. Contributors are urged to finalize all their information in the next week. Call 928-6471 or contact the sponsor, the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce.
THE CHAMBER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE will have its monthly meeting Monday, December 6 at Ocean View Community Center at 7 p.m. The mayor’s information officer will be the keynote speaker and will discuss the temporary transfer station at the county’s Kahuku Park. Note the time has been changed from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. That temporary bin is accepting bagged rubbish tomorrow, and every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the county Kahuku Park.
GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE’S meeting with area residents has been changed from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, December 12. The ceremony to welcome the governor and meet with him is open to everyone. Children from the Boys & Girls Club, representatives of the schools, hospital, coffee farmers, seniors and other groups are planning to attend. It is followed by the annual Pahala Christmas Parade at 1 p.m.
FLOATS ARE BEING PLANNED for the Christmas Parade, and all walking groups and floats are welcome to participate. Call Eddie Andrade at 928-0808.
KA`U MAIN STREET celebrates the ninth anniversary of the Ka`u Farmer’s Market in Na`alehu, tomorrow, Saturday, December 4th. The public is welcome to celebrate all day long.