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| Honu`apo preserved for wildlife and keiki. Photo by Julia Neal |
FORMER CONGRESSMAN ED CASE has announced he will run for U.S. Senate, this time in hopes of winning the seat of Sen. Dan Akaka, who retires next year. Case served as the congressman for Ka`u and rural Hawai`i from 2002 through 2007 but stepped down to run against Akaka for Senate and lost. He said he looks forward to working as junior senator to Sen. Daniel Inouye.
The names of other candidates being bantered about include Rep. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hanneman, Tammy Duckworth, General Eric Shenseki of the Veteran’s Administration, former Gov. John Waihee and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz.
Case helped raise money to preserve the Ka`u coast and held frequent meetings in the Ka`u district during his time as congressman, flying back from Washington and visiting this district on many weekends.
In 2006, Case introduced the Ka`u Coast Preservation Act. He said that “Ka`u is one of the last truly unspoiled places left in our Hawai`i. It is, however, under tremendous development pressure, despite the fact that these coastal lands are subject to volcanic eruptions, seismic activity, tsunami, and other hazards. More earthquakes occur in the Ka`u area than anywhere in the state, with the hazard risk level in the study area ranging from the highest (category 1) in some parts to between 3 and 6 for the balance of the area. Thus, development would not only destroy one of the most unique resources in our state, but would pose ongoing risks to human life.”
Case helped raise money to preserve the Ka`u coast and held frequent meetings in the Ka`u district during his time as congressman, flying back from Washington and visiting this district on many weekends.
In 2006, Case introduced the Ka`u Coast Preservation Act. He said that “Ka`u is one of the last truly unspoiled places left in our Hawai`i. It is, however, under tremendous development pressure, despite the fact that these coastal lands are subject to volcanic eruptions, seismic activity, tsunami, and other hazards. More earthquakes occur in the Ka`u area than anywhere in the state, with the hazard risk level in the study area ranging from the highest (category 1) in some parts to between 3 and 6 for the balance of the area. Thus, development would not only destroy one of the most unique resources in our state, but would pose ongoing risks to human life.”
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| Ed Case and wife Audrey |
In the race for the Senate, neither Akaka nor Inouye have said they would endorse Case or anyone else in the Democratic primary.
The Republican expected to challenge whoever wins the primary election is expected to be Gov. Linda Lingle.
HERE ARE THE MONDAY MORNING prices for regular gasoline around Ka`u. The least expensive is Kahuku Country Market at $4.40 a gallon for regular. Ocean View Market is at $4.50. Kahala Gas, also in Ocean View, is $4.50. The 76 Station in Na`alehu is charging $4.60, and Ka`u Gas in Pahala is charging $4.51.
BANK OF HAWAI`I AND THE KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION are still taking donations for relief for Japanese tsunami victims. One fundraiser with many community organizations raised more than $1.6 million over the weekend with a telethon in Honolulu. Bank of Hawai`i Foundation has given $100,000. Donations can be made, small or large, at any Ka`u Federal Credit Union branch in Ocean View, Na`alehu and Pahala or the Bank of Hawai`i branch in Pahala.
LIBRARIES IN KA`U are celebrating National Library Week. Pahala Public and School Library hosts storyteller Sandra MacLees today at 3 p.m. The program is for children age 5 and older who are accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
On Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., Na`alehu Public Library invites the public to hear two narratives from the recently published book Talking Hawai`i’s Stories: Oral Histories of an Island People.
The Republican expected to challenge whoever wins the primary election is expected to be Gov. Linda Lingle.
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| Kahuku Country Market has Ka`u's lowest price gas today. |
BANK OF HAWAI`I AND THE KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION are still taking donations for relief for Japanese tsunami victims. One fundraiser with many community organizations raised more than $1.6 million over the weekend with a telethon in Honolulu. Bank of Hawai`i Foundation has given $100,000. Donations can be made, small or large, at any Ka`u Federal Credit Union branch in Ocean View, Na`alehu and Pahala or the Bank of Hawai`i branch in Pahala.
LAST WEEK IN SPORTS, the Ka`u Varsity volleyball boys beat Kea`au at home in three sets. Scores were 25-18, 25-21 and 25-14. Kill leaders were Tyler Navarro-Villa with 8 and Marcus Grace with 7. Last Friday, Ka`u Varsity softball took on Pahoa in Pahala. Kaʻū lost 13-0.
TONIGHT THE VOLLEYBALL BOYS are slated to face Waiakea at the Ka`u High gym at 6 p.m. Tomorrow, girls softball is scheduled to travel to the Kamehameha-Kea`au campus to compete against the Warriors at 3 p.m. On Thursday, the Varsity baseball boys play against Kamehameha in Pahala at 3 p.m., and on Friday the softball girls will play St. Joseph’s, also in Pahala at 3 p.m.
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| KDEN works with Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences for a May performance. |
AUDITIONS FOR KILAUEA DRAMA & Entertainment Network’s summer musical, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience, will be held Monday and Tuesday, May 16 and 17 at KMC’s Kilauea Theater starting at 6:30 pm. Patience involves two rival "aesthetic" poets in love with Patience, the village milkmaid. It is the fourth Gilbert and Sullivan operetta for KDEN director Suzi Bond and musical director Pedro Ka`awaloa. There are roles for five women (two sopranos, two mezzo sopranos and one alto) and five men (three baritones, one bass-baritone and one tenor). There is also a chorus of maidens and dragoons of all ages. Rehearsals start May 20. The show runs July 8 - 24. Call 982-7344 or email KDEN73@aol.com.
LIBRARIES IN KA`U are celebrating National Library Week. Pahala Public and School Library hosts storyteller Sandra MacLees today at 3 p.m. The program is for children age 5 and older who are accompanied by a parent or caregiver.
On Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., Na`alehu Public Library invites the public to hear two narratives from the recently published book Talking Hawai`i’s Stories: Oral Histories of an Island People.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE will be collected this Saturday and Sunday. The closest to Ka`u will be Sunday, April 17 at Pahoa Solid Waste Transfer Station. Collections will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The ARC of Hilo’s HI-5 Certified Redemption Center will remain open during the Pahoa event. These events are for household-generated waste only. No business, farm waste or electronic waste will be accepted. Acceptable household hazardous wastes include automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent lights and pesticides. For a more complete list of acceptable or unacceptable wastes, please visit www.hawaiizerowaste.org. The website includes other useful information on solid waste diversion and recycling. The next household hazardous waste collections will be on June 4 in Hilo and June 11 in Kona. For more information about these events, contact Chris Chin-Chance, recycling specialist with the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8554 or email recycle3@co.hawaii.hi.us.
