Saturday, March 05, 2011

Ka`u News Briefs March 5, 2011

The fundraiser for One Journey will be tomorrow at
KAHU radio station on Maile Street in Pahala.
BIG ISLAND COMMUNITIES with the largest Hawaiian populations are in Ka`u, according to the new census statistics. Wai`ohinu ranks top in percentage of Hawaiians at 23.5 percent Hawaiian, followed by Ocean View with 20 percent Hawaiian. The town with the fewest white people on the entire island is Pahala, with only 10 percent. Na`alehu is second in the fewest white people category, with 10.5 percent. However, right next door is Discovery Harbour, which ranks as fourth on the island, with 56.6 percent of the population being white. It is followed by Volcano, which straddles Ka`u and Puna and has a population that is 51.5 percent White. 
     Pahala ranks number four on the island in having the most Asians, with 42.9 percent. Ocean View ranks number two on the island in having the lowest Asian population, at 5.5 percent. This all shows great diversification of cultures in Ka`u.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS COMING OUT OF THE 2010 CENSUS:

Pahala’s population decreased in the last decade, from 1,378 to 1,356. The main ethnicity is Asian, followed by two or more races, then Hawaiian, Hispanic and White.

Seniors enjoyed bingo and lunch at
the `O Ka`u Kakou function in
Pahala yesterday.
Na`alehu’s population also decreased, from 919 to 866. Most are Asian, followed by mixed race, Native Hawaiian, White and Hispanic.

Ocean View’s population more than doubled, from 2,178 to 4,437. Most are White, followed by Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, then mixed races and Hispanic. The number of Hawaiian and Pacific islanders increased more than three times during the last decade.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. workers and union members on the other islands walked off the job at 3:30 p.m. yesterday. According to a report on KITV, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers chief Lance Miyake said they called the strike because management didn't want to negotiate over the weekend. On O`ahu, following a storm and downed poles, thousands of people are without power, though private contractors and non-union employees are trying to restore electricity to all the homes. Miyake said the failed negotiations date back to last October. 


Nani Kahuku `Aina's
proposed development
THE NANI KAHUKU `AINA PROJECT public meeting in Na`alehu this week brought people together to talk about the resort planned for five miles of coast between South Point and Ocean View. The project was scaled down from plans presented over the last few years. Developer representatives pointed out the planned area is 2,062 acres, a 72 percent reduction in the first phase of the development for the 16,456 acres. 
     They also pointed out that they are planning fewer units – a 47 percent reduction – as they now propose to build 1,659 resort and residential units.
     They are also offering a Heritage Park for visitation and education, which would include a research facility, visitor center, fishpond, fishing village, amphitheatre, maritime science center, petroglyph preserve, teaching hale, camping and housing with cabins.
     The resort would require reclassifying and rezoning land that is now protected by the Conservation district.
     The next public meeting will be held on April 7 at Yano Hall in Captain Cook at 6:30 p.m. Developer representative Aaron Eberhardt has been meeting with many community leaders and small groups about the development plan.

Mary Ibarra
Dorothy Louis
QUILTING PAHALA held its first workshop yesterday at Pahala Plantation House. The workshops are organized by Donna Masaniai. While yesterday's workshop focused on original art, future workshops will also include quilting by hand and machine. To organize a workshop, call Masaniai at 808-238-0505 or email pahalaquilting@gmail.com.


THE FUNDRAISER for One Journey’s trip to O`ahu for the Brown Bags to Stardom competition happens tomorrow, Sunday, all day at KAHU public radio station on Maile Street in Pahala. It begins at 9 a.m. and features singer Eunice Longakit and her band members with their CD release party, produced by Ka'u Productions, LLC. Also playing are Chris and Gene Akamu; the new band with Demetrius and Leka and friends, called Keaiwa; and the bands Kawekiu, Mokuleo and Hi-Town. There will be food and crafts. Donations will be accepted to help with the high school musicians’ travel expenses for Brown Bags.


Aiyana Galletes-Alapai,
Young Miss Ka`u Coffee
contestant

YOUNG MISS KA`U COFFEE is a new category in the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. This new category is in addition to Miss Peaberry and Miss Ka`u Coffee titles, which will be awarded on April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym with the pageant beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Tickets are $12. Area businesses can advertise in the program and become sponsors to support a scholarship. You can also become a Friend of Miss Ka`u Coffee for $5.