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| Peter Anderson's Nene graced the cover of The Directory 2011. The public can vote for next year's cover during at art show in September at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union office in Na`alehu. |
NEW WASTEWATER SYSTEMS in Ka`u will receive some help from unexpected funding. A Stephens Media article by Nancy Cook Lauer states that Hawai`i County was slammed with a violation by the state Department of Health in 1990 for failing to mitigate wastewater in Kailua-Kona. In response, the county originally planned to open a new wastewater plant in Kona, but construction on Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway delayed the project. Rather than wait, the funding has been moved to Ka`u, where three large capacity cesspools left over from plantation housing camps in Na`alehu and Pahala are being replaced as they violate federal Environmental Protection Agency standards. The new sewage systems will cost up to $12 million and be completed in 2014.
MORE VOICES ARE SPEAKING UP against cutting Ka`u in two for determining boundaries for the state House of Representatives. Local music and language teacher Robert Domingos wrote: “At all cost, we should keep Ka`u one. This area has been a unit for many, many centuries! What can we do? Flag wave at the Punalu`u border crossing?” asked Domingos.
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| The green and brown areas show two different state House of Representative districts proposed for Ka`u. |
The proposed splitting of Ka`u would leave people from Punalu`u and Pahala voting with those from Volcano and deeper into Puna. It would leave Discovery Harbour, Kalae and Na`alehu citizens voting with people all the way up in Kona at Kahalu`u Beach.
Rep. Bob Herkes would most likely have to run for the district more aligned with Hilo, which is upsetting community leaders in Ocean View who have depended on him for help with their water system and their new mobile medical van.
Public meetings on the issue will be on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Hilo Council chamber and Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Kona Council chamber.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT will hold a special Household Hazardous Waste Collection event between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Wai`ohinu Solid Waste Transfer Station. Only household-generated and self-hauled waste will be accepted. The event will allow residents to dispose of acceptable hazardous waste to protect public health and the environment. Acceptable waste includes automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent lights and pesticides. A latex paint reuse collection and exchange will also be held. A list of acceptable and unacceptable waste is available at www.hawaiizerowaste.org.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is offering Value-Added Producer Grants with proposals due Aug. 29. Grants of up to $100,000 each are for developing business plans and feasibility studies including marketing plans. Grants of up to $300,000 are for working capital to operate a value-added business venture or alliance. To find out more, contact USDA Rural Development in Hilo or on its website.
BARBARA FAHS discusses Hawaiian medicinal plants tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Na`ohulelua Historical Garden on Kamaoa Road during the monthly plant and seed exchange. Fahs is the owner of Hi`iaka’s Healing Herb Garden and the author of the Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens. The garden is open from noon to 3 p.m.
VOLCANIC CRISIS AWARENESS will be held at the Hawai`i County Civil Defense Agency on Aug. 30 and 31. The one and a half days of classes will cover Hazards and Impacts, the Pulse of the Volcano, Case Studies, Awareness and Preparedness and will run through an Eruption Scenario where participants will learn key skills and decision-making tools. The course will be taught by Bruce Houghton, Gordon A. MacDonald Professor of Volcanology, with support from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawai`i County Civil Defense Agencies. Interested parties can contact Justine Nihipali at justinew@hawaii.edu.
FERNANDA, now a remnant low, is expected to bring some rain to the Islands, first to the Big Island perhaps later today. The former tropical storm is expected to pass south of Kalae on Monday and was located about 500 miles east-southeast of Hilo this morning. The Pacific Hurricane Center said there is zero chance of Fernanda reorganizing into a tropical storm.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS ARE BEING held today at Pahala Plantation House, with KAHU Radio and Channel 52 community TV on hand to film talk story sessions with people who grew up or worked during the sugar mill days. A former sugar cane truck, photos and a chance to find a photo of your old house from plantation times are offered to those attending. Music, ethnic food and dance and displays from the cultures of the community are available there. This afternoon tours of the new Ka`u Coffee Mill will be offered.
THE KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Annual Art Show and Contest is coming up at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. Artists can submit one piece of original art in any medium, and entry is free with a donation of two to five cans of food, or the cash equivalent, to be donated to the food bank. Three cash prizes will be given, and the winning art will appear on the cover of The Directory 2012, next year’s edition of the Chamber’s annual community and business directory.
Entries must be delivered to the Credit Union on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Entries should include the name of the piece, the medium used, the size, the price and the artist’s name. They will be on display Monday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Oct. 1 during the Credit Union’s business hours. The public can vote for their favorite piece throughout the week.
Coordinator Wanda Aus is asking artists to volunteer a few hours to host the show during the week.
The winner will be announced during the End of Show Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. For more information and to volunteer, call Aus at 929-9139.
Rep. Bob Herkes would most likely have to run for the district more aligned with Hilo, which is upsetting community leaders in Ocean View who have depended on him for help with their water system and their new mobile medical van.
Public meetings on the issue will be on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. in the Hilo Council chamber and Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Kona Council chamber.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT will hold a special Household Hazardous Waste Collection event between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Wai`ohinu Solid Waste Transfer Station. Only household-generated and self-hauled waste will be accepted. The event will allow residents to dispose of acceptable hazardous waste to protect public health and the environment. Acceptable waste includes automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent lights and pesticides. A latex paint reuse collection and exchange will also be held. A list of acceptable and unacceptable waste is available at www.hawaiizerowaste.org.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is offering Value-Added Producer Grants with proposals due Aug. 29. Grants of up to $100,000 each are for developing business plans and feasibility studies including marketing plans. Grants of up to $300,000 are for working capital to operate a value-added business venture or alliance. To find out more, contact USDA Rural Development in Hilo or on its website.
BARBARA FAHS discusses Hawaiian medicinal plants tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Na`ohulelua Historical Garden on Kamaoa Road during the monthly plant and seed exchange. Fahs is the owner of Hi`iaka’s Healing Herb Garden and the author of the Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens. The garden is open from noon to 3 p.m.
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| Fountains of lava reached the height of trees in March. Photo courtesy of USGS |
FERNANDA, now a remnant low, is expected to bring some rain to the Islands, first to the Big Island perhaps later today. The former tropical storm is expected to pass south of Kalae on Monday and was located about 500 miles east-southeast of Hilo this morning. The Pacific Hurricane Center said there is zero chance of Fernanda reorganizing into a tropical storm.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS ARE BEING held today at Pahala Plantation House, with KAHU Radio and Channel 52 community TV on hand to film talk story sessions with people who grew up or worked during the sugar mill days. A former sugar cane truck, photos and a chance to find a photo of your old house from plantation times are offered to those attending. Music, ethnic food and dance and displays from the cultures of the community are available there. This afternoon tours of the new Ka`u Coffee Mill will be offered.
THE KA`U CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Annual Art Show and Contest is coming up at the Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu. Artists can submit one piece of original art in any medium, and entry is free with a donation of two to five cans of food, or the cash equivalent, to be donated to the food bank. Three cash prizes will be given, and the winning art will appear on the cover of The Directory 2012, next year’s edition of the Chamber’s annual community and business directory.
Entries must be delivered to the Credit Union on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Entries should include the name of the piece, the medium used, the size, the price and the artist’s name. They will be on display Monday, Sept. 26 through Saturday, Oct. 1 during the Credit Union’s business hours. The public can vote for their favorite piece throughout the week.
Coordinator Wanda Aus is asking artists to volunteer a few hours to host the show during the week.
The winner will be announced during the End of Show Celebration on Saturday, Oct. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. For more information and to volunteer, call Aus at 929-9139.