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| The Pahala Christmas Parade begins at 1 p.m. today. Floats, trucks, cars, Santa and Christmas characters wind through town, with a visit to Ka`u Hospital. Refreshments will be served at Holy Rosary Catholic Church after the parade. Photo by Julia Neal |
The site with the highest rating is the farthest north at Koloko Makai on Hina Lani St. near Costco. The farthest south location is at Makalapua Center, where K-Mart is located.
The complex will include circuit court, family and district courts, Children’s Justice Center, drivers’ education, holding areas and a law library.
The judicial complex will be big - 141,800 square feet - and will cost some $90 million. It is scheduled to be completed by 2017. It will replace small courtrooms around the island including the one in Na`alehu that long served Ka`u.
The EIS can be read on the state Office of Environmental Quality Control website: www.oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/Environmental_Notice/current_issue.pdf.
The proposal goes to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his review and on to Chief Justice Recktenwald for final choice of the new location.
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| Alcohol and drugs were found in many victims of traffic deaths. Map from Hawai`i Island Traffic Safety Report |
TRAFFIC FATALITIES went down islandwide at the end of the last decade, but police are still pushing hard to stop drunken driving on all roads. According to a Stephens Media report by Chelsea Jensen, there was a 30 percent decline in traffic deaths, with 98 compared to 140 deaths during the beginning of the last decade.
“Between 2005 and 2009, more than 75 percent of the drivers involved in 107 fatal car crashes on Hawai`i Island tested positive for alcohol, and about 70 percent had drugs in their systems. The data on contributing factors in fatal crashes didn’t assess the 2006 to 2010 time frame,” Jensen reports.
“Substance-positive drivers were also three times more likely to have not been using seat belts at the time of the crash, and nearly three times more likely to have been speeding, according to the data, which found those behaviors ‘contributed to elevated fatality rates among substance using drivers compared to other drivers,’” said the Stephens Media story.
“Of the 387 motorists injured, not killed, in crashes and subsequently transported to Kona Community Hospital between late 2009 and October, 66 tested positive for alcohol and 15 people were drug-positive,” the story reports.
DUI checkpoints are planned around the islands during the holidays.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER hosts a talk story with County Council member Brittany Smart tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. She will answer questions and give updates to topics including the Ka`u Community Development Plan, the Ocean View transfer station, the Kahuku Village development and biofuel production.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. According to the agenda, discussion will be limited to the roles of the Steering Committee and the community in the CDP production process. For more information, contact planner Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.
THE KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu is coming up on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Santa will be there for photos with the keiki. Free goodie bags and keiki IDs will be offered, along with a free buffet-style dinner. Lucky numbers will be drawn for 30 bicycles, games, books, toys and more.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER’S Keiki Christmas Party begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. Everyone is invited to this free event, which includes food, music, gifts for every child under 12 and a visit from Santa.
OVCA asks for donations of new, unwrapped gifts for all ages up to 12. Gift trees are set up at merchants around Ocean View, where residents can take ornaments off the tree and buy gifts for children of age groups noted.
For all donations of time, money and gifts, call 939-7033.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK and Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center are calling kids of all ages to Ka`u `Ohana Day next Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park’s Kahuku Unit. Participants will experience the medicinal values of Hawaiian plants as Ka`ohu Monfort shares her knowledge about la`au lapa`au. Other activities will include making feather kahili and playing makahiki games like `ulu maika, konane and moa pahe`e. Bring water, sunscreen and a ball cap. The entire `ohana is welcome. For more information, call 985-6011.
THE CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA celebration takes place next Sunday, Dec. 18, around a lighted Christmas tree on Kamani Street. Donations are being taken for needy families who might otherwise not be able to afford a happy Christmas. Canned foods, turkeys, toys, gift certificates and beverages can be donated by calling Keala Kailiawa at 928-0500 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811, or dropping donations by KAHU community radio station on Maile Street.
“Substance-positive drivers were also three times more likely to have not been using seat belts at the time of the crash, and nearly three times more likely to have been speeding, according to the data, which found those behaviors ‘contributed to elevated fatality rates among substance using drivers compared to other drivers,’” said the Stephens Media story.
“Of the 387 motorists injured, not killed, in crashes and subsequently transported to Kona Community Hospital between late 2009 and October, 66 tested positive for alcohol and 15 people were drug-positive,” the story reports.
DUI checkpoints are planned around the islands during the holidays.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER hosts a talk story with County Council member Brittany Smart tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. She will answer questions and give updates to topics including the Ka`u Community Development Plan, the Ocean View transfer station, the Kahuku Village development and biofuel production.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. According to the agenda, discussion will be limited to the roles of the Steering Committee and the community in the CDP production process. For more information, contact planner Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.
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| The Kuahiwis. Photo from NPS |
THE KUAHIWIS BRING their special blend of Hawaiian music, hula, family and friends to After Dark in the Park on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Last year the Kuahiwis played to a packed house with their music deeply rooted in the volcanic soil of Hawai`i. Their debut CD, Kuahiwis, Hawaiian Music was nominated for traditional Hawaiian music CD of the year. Copies will be available for sale.
THE KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu is coming up on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Santa will be there for photos with the keiki. Free goodie bags and keiki IDs will be offered, along with a free buffet-style dinner. Lucky numbers will be drawn for 30 bicycles, games, books, toys and more.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER’S Keiki Christmas Party begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. Everyone is invited to this free event, which includes food, music, gifts for every child under 12 and a visit from Santa.
OVCA asks for donations of new, unwrapped gifts for all ages up to 12. Gift trees are set up at merchants around Ocean View, where residents can take ornaments off the tree and buy gifts for children of age groups noted.
For all donations of time, money and gifts, call 939-7033.
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| Kilauea Military Camp invites the public to vote for their favorite display at the Holiday Challenge. |
THE ELVES AT KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP have decorated the Front Row Cottages for their third annual Holiday Challenge. The public can vote for their favorite display and receive a Holiday Dollar redeemable at several KMC venues. Park entrance fees may apply.
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK and Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center are calling kids of all ages to Ka`u `Ohana Day next Saturday, Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park’s Kahuku Unit. Participants will experience the medicinal values of Hawaiian plants as Ka`ohu Monfort shares her knowledge about la`au lapa`au. Other activities will include making feather kahili and playing makahiki games like `ulu maika, konane and moa pahe`e. Bring water, sunscreen and a ball cap. The entire `ohana is welcome. For more information, call 985-6011.
THE CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA celebration takes place next Sunday, Dec. 18, around a lighted Christmas tree on Kamani Street. Donations are being taken for needy families who might otherwise not be able to afford a happy Christmas. Canned foods, turkeys, toys, gift certificates and beverages can be donated by calling Keala Kailiawa at 928-0500 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811, or dropping donations by KAHU community radio station on Maile Street.