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| Kilauea Volcano is the Big Island's trump card, according to U.S. News and World Report. Photo by Stephen O'Meara |
MUFI HANNEMANN, founder of Punalu`u Bake Shop, which is famous for its sweetbread and as a visitor stop, announced today that he will run for Congress. If the Democrat wins, he would represent District 2, taking the place of Rep. Mazie Hirono, who has decided to run for U.S. Senate.
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| Mufi Hannemann with Denise Peralta and Big D last August at Pahala Plantation House. Photo by Julia Neal |
Hannemann came through Ka`u several times last year when he was running for governor and plans to come back during his new campaign. A former mayor of Honolulu, he is now president and CEO of the Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association. He pointed to his experience as mayor and chair of the County Council on O`ahu, as director of the Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, and as a C. Brewer executive.
Hannemann said his support is strong on the Neighbor Islands, “where I have built and maintained many cherished friendships over the years. As someone who’s traveled from Ka`u to Kapa`a, from Kaunakakai to Kane`ohe, from La`ie to Lana`i, and from Wailuku to Wai`anae, and listened to the counsel and concerns of friends and strangers alike, I’ve decided that I can best contribute to the future of our islands and make a difference in the lives of our people and nation by seeking to serve in Congress,” said Hannemann.
KILAUEA VOLCANO is this island’s “trump card,” according to U.S. News and World Report, which placed the Big Island on the list of best “adventure vacation” destinations this year. The Big Island ranked seventh out of 16 locations, ahead of San Francisco and Miami Beach. The list cited Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park as one the “best things to do,” and noted Kilauea’s spectacular lava flows. The park attracts 1.6 million tourists a year – almost all of the 1.7 million tourists that visit the Big Island.
THE KA`U YOUTH INTERN PROGRAM, which trains for work in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and for other resource management organizations, has received a commitment for funding for 2012 from the Omidyar `Ohana Fund at the Hawai`i Community Foundation.
The effort is a partnership between Ka`u High School, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i Natural History Association and the National Park Service.
The Ka`u Youth Intern Program targets underserved youth in rural Ka`u for training and employment in the field of environmental conservation. The 2011 program trained 22 Ka`u High School students over a five-week period during the spring semester. Training provided students with natural and cultural resources interpretation and environmental education knowledge and skills.
Thirteen of these Ka`u youth and six additional local students were hired to work at the national park over the summer. They worked in a number of park divisions, including interpretation and cultural resources management.
Supervisory Park Ranger Kupono McDaniel said: “This program helps me meet both my personal and professional goals to help local kids understand how special and amazing Hawai`i is. When they see how interested the rest of the world is in our home, they are proud. When I see how much they have learned and grown, I am proud as well. These are amazing kids doing good work for Hawai`i.”
For more information, contact McDaniel at 985-6015 or kupono_mcdaniel@nps.gov.
Hannemann said his support is strong on the Neighbor Islands, “where I have built and maintained many cherished friendships over the years. As someone who’s traveled from Ka`u to Kapa`a, from Kaunakakai to Kane`ohe, from La`ie to Lana`i, and from Wailuku to Wai`anae, and listened to the counsel and concerns of friends and strangers alike, I’ve decided that I can best contribute to the future of our islands and make a difference in the lives of our people and nation by seeking to serve in Congress,” said Hannemann.
KILAUEA VOLCANO is this island’s “trump card,” according to U.S. News and World Report, which placed the Big Island on the list of best “adventure vacation” destinations this year. The Big Island ranked seventh out of 16 locations, ahead of San Francisco and Miami Beach. The list cited Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park as one the “best things to do,” and noted Kilauea’s spectacular lava flows. The park attracts 1.6 million tourists a year – almost all of the 1.7 million tourists that visit the Big Island.
THE KA`U YOUTH INTERN PROGRAM, which trains for work in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and for other resource management organizations, has received a commitment for funding for 2012 from the Omidyar `Ohana Fund at the Hawai`i Community Foundation.
The effort is a partnership between Ka`u High School, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai`i Natural History Association and the National Park Service.
The Ka`u Youth Intern Program targets underserved youth in rural Ka`u for training and employment in the field of environmental conservation. The 2011 program trained 22 Ka`u High School students over a five-week period during the spring semester. Training provided students with natural and cultural resources interpretation and environmental education knowledge and skills.
Thirteen of these Ka`u youth and six additional local students were hired to work at the national park over the summer. They worked in a number of park divisions, including interpretation and cultural resources management.
Supervisory Park Ranger Kupono McDaniel said: “This program helps me meet both my personal and professional goals to help local kids understand how special and amazing Hawai`i is. When they see how interested the rest of the world is in our home, they are proud. When I see how much they have learned and grown, I am proud as well. These are amazing kids doing good work for Hawai`i.”
For more information, contact McDaniel at 985-6015 or kupono_mcdaniel@nps.gov.
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| Axis deer are considered highly invasive. |
AXIS DEER COULD BE HUNTED on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands following approval of a permit for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to survey the land around South Point. Reports of axis deer have been made in Ka`u. The deer are considered highly invasive and could destroy plant life and agriculture. There is rumor that deer may have been brought in by helicopter by people who want to develop more game hunting opportunities.
AVERAGE GAS PRICES DROPPED OVER 10 CENTS during August to an average of $4.03 statewide, according to price-tracker website GasBuddy.com. Gas prices were at their highest this year when they topped over $4.50 per gallon in May. However, Hawai`i residents still pay about 40 cents more per gallon on gas than the average American. Gas prices in Ka`u remain higher than the state average.
Yesterday, Ka`u Gas in Pahala sold gas for $4.25, the 76 station in Na`alehu for $4.24, Kahala Gas in Ocean View for $4.17, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View for $4.17, and Ocean View Market sold gas for $4.13.
What will happen next? Oil on the international market topped $89 a barrel this morning.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT awarded a $13 million grant for Native Hawaiian Housing last week, according to Civil Beat. Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the award at the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement convention in Honolulu, saying that affordable housing is key to reducing poverty among the native population. “For too long,” he said, “you have lacked a federal partner who is committed to Hawaiians.”
In the same convention, the U.S. Department of Treasury awarded $1.5 million to “help community-based financial institutions provide affordable loans and financial services to Native Hawaiians.”
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| Cleaning up the Ka`u Coast. Photo from wildhawaii.org |
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND will host its next beach cleanup at Kamilo Point and Ka`alu`alu Bay Saturday, Sept. 17. It is co-sponsored by NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and supported by the Surfrider Hilo Chapter and the University of Hawai`i in Hilo. All volunteers will meet at Wai`ohinu Park on Hwy 11 near mile marker 65 at 7:45 a.m. and are asked to bring sturdy shoes, bag lunch, sun and wind protection, plenty of drinks and four-wheel-drive vehicles if possible. Volunteers will set out to the sites at 8 a.m. and finish cleaning at around 2 p.m. HWF will supply cleanup materials. A second beach cleanup for Nov. 17 will gather debris along an undetermined part of the Ka`u coastline.
Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.
SEN. GIL KAHELE’S first in a series of community forums will be held tomorrow at Cooper Center in Volcano from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. He will provide a re-cap of the 26th legislative session as well as address specific issues pertaining to the community. Participants may email questions or concerns prior to the meeting to senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov. More sessions in Ka`u are scheduled for October.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN could be in draft form for the public to review by early next year, according to county planners. The 11-member steering committee will meet for the first time in a long time on Sept. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, and the public is invited. In the meantime, members of the steering committee have been hosting booths to meet with the public at farmers markets and other events.
Jason Armstrong, of Stephens Media, has a story today restating elements of the Ka`u CDP values and vision statement. It says, “While other communities may talk about the importance of community character and a lifestyle inspired by a sense of place, Ka`u lives it. Honoring that connection between people and place will be essential.” For more, see www.kaucdp.info.
SEN. GIL KAHELE’S first in a series of community forums will be held tomorrow at Cooper Center in Volcano from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. He will provide a re-cap of the 26th legislative session as well as address specific issues pertaining to the community. Participants may email questions or concerns prior to the meeting to senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov. More sessions in Ka`u are scheduled for October.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN could be in draft form for the public to review by early next year, according to county planners. The 11-member steering committee will meet for the first time in a long time on Sept. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, and the public is invited. In the meantime, members of the steering committee have been hosting booths to meet with the public at farmers markets and other events.
Jason Armstrong, of Stephens Media, has a story today restating elements of the Ka`u CDP values and vision statement. It says, “While other communities may talk about the importance of community character and a lifestyle inspired by a sense of place, Ka`u lives it. Honoring that connection between people and place will be essential.” For more, see www.kaucdp.info.
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| Recycle Hawai`i, Keep America Beautiful and Coca Cola sponsor Adopt A Bin. |
AN ADOPT A BIN PROGRAM invites community groups to apply for bins for recyclable beverage containers and place them in high traffic areas to raise money for their organizations. The bins come from a grant from Coca Cola and Keep America Beautiful given to Recycle Hawai`i, one of 70 recipients of the 800 applicants nationwide. To sign up, call 969-2012.
THE OCEAN VIEW FOOD BASKET is today from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7000 for more information.
HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE can be dropped off at Wai`ohinu Transfer Station this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent lights, pesticides and latex paints are some of the items being accepted. For more information, call 961-8554 or visit hawaiizerowaste.org.