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| Black Sand Beach at the end of Road to the Sea may be preserved through acquisition of some 3,000 acres by the county. |
EXEMPTION FROM SUBDIVISION REQUIREMENTS is another incentive before the Legislature for developers of alternative energy. William Aila, chair of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, yesterday presented testimony to the House Committees on Energy and Environmental Protection and Water, Land and Ocean Resources.
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| The DLNR notes that there would be no end date to alternative energy companies being exempt from the subdivision laws. |
Aila said the DLNR supports the intent of the bill to facilitate financing development of renewable energy projects, but noted that there is no new automatic repeal date indicated on the bill. The bill was originally passed in 2009 but was supposed to sunset in 2013. The new legislation has no end to the exemption from subdivision laws.
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| LURF supports exemptions from subdivision requirements for alternative energy projects. |
The Land Use Research Foundation, which is a nonprofit for major Hawai`i landowners, developers from Hokulia to Ko Olina, and Hawaiian Electric Company, gave testimony in strong support for the new measure, saying it would allow leases and easements for mortgages and other conveyances on land used for alternative energy without having to subdivide it out of a larger parcel.
THE $8.8 MILLION DOLLARS for the new recycling and transfer station at Wai`ohinu may end up taking a back seat to an emergency sewage pipe project in Hilo. According to council member Brittany Smart, the sewage pipe to Keaukaha along the Hilo coast is about to fail, which could lead to millions of dollars in fines by the federal government and millions of dollars to clean up the bay should the sewage make it to the ocean. While the loss of $8.8 million in capital improvements to Ka`u would be unfortunate, the emergency in Hilo needs the funding, said Smart. She said she is still making sure that Ocean View gets its own trash transfer station. “It is a top priority,” said Smart.
REP. BOB HERKES’ VOG TASK FORCE BILL is getting some traction in the state House of Representatives. The Task Force would study the effects of vog by setting up a panel and opportunity for public input on dealing with vog events here.
A THREE THOUSAND-acre parcel on the Ocean View side of Manuka State Park is in the top five on the list of potential county land acquisitions. It would be paid for with a portion of property tax revenues. The Road to the Sea, a popular fishing, hiking and camping area for Ocean View residents, would be owned by the county and likely managed by a community group similar to Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo.
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| Jeff Peterson |
Multiple Grammy and Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Jeff Peterson performs tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Peterson is renowned for slack key and other guitar stylings. Call 967-8222 for ticket information.
ON SUNDAY, HIKERS explore an isolated refuge of rare plants in the old-growth forest of Kipuka`akihi in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Pre-register by calling 985-6011.