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| Geothermal is the power resource for the city of Ormoc in the Philippines. |
COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART has proposed that Hawai`i County set up a sister relationship with the Visayan city of Ormoc on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. She said the island is particularly of interest since it is almost entirely powered up by geothermal energy, with the rest of the electricity generated by hydroelectric plants. She said there is a lot to learn from our Filipino friends. The mayor of Ormoc is in support, and Mayor Billy Kenoi is positive about the relationship, said Smart. She plans to present a resolution to the county council by the end of the year. The proposal also has the support of the Congress of Visayan organizations.
A TIME OUT LAW for foreclosures got the signature of Gov. Neil Abercrombie yesterday. Keali`i Lopez, director of the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, said this morning that the law, which requires lenders to meet face-to-face with homeowners to work out a settlement, will help keep people in their homes. She predicted that it will not lead to mortgage companies pulling out of Hawai`i. Lenders would still take homeowners to court when unable to reach a settlement.
`AINA KOA PONO is planning its biofuel farm and has a researcher on the ground in Pahala to check out the land and help determine which plants to grow to make energy. According to engineer Sandy Causey, the company will use sterile grasses and no GMOs. The company plans a refinery on Meyer Camp Road and thousands of acres of plantings that would be used to make biofuels to be trucked to Kona to the electric plant next to the airport.
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| Bull Kailiawa grows taro, banana, papaya and other food plants around the imu at his coffee farm. Photo by Julia Neal |
KHON2 FEATURED KA`U COFFEE growers Bull Kailiawa and his nephew Bubba George last night and this morning on news broadcasts in a feature about their farm. “A slice of coffee heaven can be found on Hawai`i Island,” said reporter Jai Cunningham. “It’s called Cloud Rest and it’s where the Kailiawa Coffee Farm is nestled. It’s in Ka`u, and was just recently named a top ten coffee in the world, the only American-grown coffee to receive such an honor.”
“We got a lot of deep volcanic soil here, and anything grows good in volcanic soil, and it’s proven right now,” said Thomas ‘Bull’ Kailiawa. The secret to the Kailiawa success is no secret. “Hard work, hard work, tender loving care,” said Kailiawa. As for the top international honor, he said, “Really excited, really excited. It means a lot, especially for us farmers here in Hawai`i, and especially the people in Ka`u.”
The award is just another example that Hawai`i Island is now the place when it comes to coffee, said the KHON2 newsman.
Kailiawa and all the Ka`u coffee farmers will be at the festival this weekend, with a ho`olaule`a, coffee tasting and recipe contest on Saturday, all day, and coffee education on Sunday. Farm tours will be held both Saturday and Sunday.
The award is just another example that Hawai`i Island is now the place when it comes to coffee, said the KHON2 newsman.
Kailiawa and all the Ka`u coffee farmers will be at the festival this weekend, with a ho`olaule`a, coffee tasting and recipe contest on Saturday, all day, and coffee education on Sunday. Farm tours will be held both Saturday and Sunday.
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| Eucalyptus trees above Pahala are being harvested and sent to China. Photo by Julia Neal |
ABOUT 1000 TREES are being cut from Kamehameha Schools land above Pahala for a test run for selling the eucalyptus to China. The tentative plan is to harvest the trees on site and load them into closed shipping containers and deliver them straight to the harbor, where they will be shipped to China.
THE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP for this Saturday’s Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center is growing. Big D will be on board with the Brown Bags to Stardom winners One Journey, Cyril Pahinui, two halau - with one coming all the way from Lana`i and one from Ka`u – Lori Lei’s Hula Studio. Lorna and Mary Ann Lim, Bobby Koanui, the Kahumokus, Bolo, Tony Salvage, the Ka`u `Ukulele Kids and Hands of Time are all on the program.
Opening at 9 a.m. will be Miss Ka`u Coffee Brandy Shibuya and her court. She will dance hula to the song Poliahu.
KILOHANA DOMINGO DEMONSTRATES the intricate art of feather work on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center today from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. His mother, Lehua, also shares her `anoni style of weaving pandanus leaves into hat designs. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park entrance fees apply.
HAWAI‘I COUNTY TRANSIT DIRECTOR Tom Brown discusses the Hele-On bus system and other mass transit issues at Ocean View Community Center this evening at 7 p.m. The meeting is one of County Council member Brittany Smart’s District 6 Matters meetings.
STUDENTS AT VOLCANO SCHOOL of the Arts and Sciences present their ninth season of an Evening of Theater tomorrow. Curtain time is 6 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater. Sixth-grade students present the Nathan Hartswick comedy The Ever After, seventh-graders perform in the Robert Swift melodrama The Paper Bag Bandit Rides Again, and eighth-graders present The Beggar and the Wolf by Patrick Rainville Dorn.