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| The coffee orchards of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative are on the 2,000 acres where a subdivision is planned. Photo by Julia Neal |
The hui recently received approval from the county Planning Department for a Project Unit Development Plan for some 2,000 acres, which could eventually lead to subdividing the land and selling it. The plan includes the land where most of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members have been growing coffee since sugar shut down in 1996. The plan calls for selling coffee estates but allowing the local coffee growers to stay and farm while providing room for new owners to build their homes. He said he hopes to have long-term leases for the coffee growers soon.
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| Chris Manfredi |
Manfredi has promoted Ka`u Coffee for years and recently said he has lined up the sales of Ka`u Coffee to 140 Starbucks in Japan, Canada and on the U.S. mainland.
Manfredi is vice president of the statewide Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation, president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, one of the organizers of the Ka`u Coffee Festival, a director of the statewide Hawai`i Coffee Association, a district steering committee member of the Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative, vice president of the Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council, statewide origin representative for Ka`u on the coffee berry borer task force, a director of Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, vice president of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Ka`u Soil and Water Conservation District.
Public comments on the nomination of Manfredi are welcomed by the mayor’s office and the County Council, as the County Council must confirm the nomination.
OPTIONS FOR A NEW MANAGEMENT PLAN for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park go to public meetings this week from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dates and locations are Monday, Aug. 22 at Kilauea Visitor Center, Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Pahoa Community Center, and Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Na`alehu Community Center.
The General Plan was last implemented over 30 years ago. Since then the park has more than doubled in size, acquiring more than 117,000 acres at Kahuku, stretching high across the slopes of Mauna Loa, to Volcano. In addition, the number of park goers has grown dramatically, making Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park one of the most visited places in all of Hawai`i.
Options include making some of the roads only open to bicycles and group transportation but not to individual cars. Building more infrastructure at Kahuku for visitors is also an option.
The Park asks for comments to be sent by Sept. 30 online by going to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/havo or by mail to Cindy Orlando, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718.
Manfredi is vice president of the statewide Hawai`i Farm Bureau Federation, president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, one of the organizers of the Ka`u Coffee Festival, a director of the statewide Hawai`i Coffee Association, a district steering committee member of the Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative, vice president of the Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council, statewide origin representative for Ka`u on the coffee berry borer task force, a director of Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, vice president of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Ka`u Soil and Water Conservation District.
Public comments on the nomination of Manfredi are welcomed by the mayor’s office and the County Council, as the County Council must confirm the nomination.
OPTIONS FOR A NEW MANAGEMENT PLAN for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park go to public meetings this week from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dates and locations are Monday, Aug. 22 at Kilauea Visitor Center, Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Pahoa Community Center, and Wednesday, Aug. 24, at Na`alehu Community Center.
The General Plan was last implemented over 30 years ago. Since then the park has more than doubled in size, acquiring more than 117,000 acres at Kahuku, stretching high across the slopes of Mauna Loa, to Volcano. In addition, the number of park goers has grown dramatically, making Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park one of the most visited places in all of Hawai`i.
Options include making some of the roads only open to bicycles and group transportation but not to individual cars. Building more infrastructure at Kahuku for visitors is also an option.
The Park asks for comments to be sent by Sept. 30 online by going to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/havo or by mail to Cindy Orlando, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718.
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| Sugar truck is decorated in flowers, ti leaves and cane to open Ka`u Plantation Days. Photo by Michael Neal |
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS drew many former sugar workers to a decorated sugar cane truck with the signage “Last Run” yesterday near the old mill site in Pāhala. Retired police officer Bobby Gomes and Pastor Troy Gacayan opened the event with stories of plantation days and prayer.
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| WWII veteran Tokuichi Nakano, who served in the 442nd, talked about Japanese sugar workers leaving Ka`u to fight for the U.S. Photo by Michael Neal |
BARBARA FAHS discusses Hawaiian medicinal plants today at 1 p.m. at Na`ohulelua Historical Garden on Kamaoa Road during the monthly plant and seed exchange. Fahs owns Hi`iaka’s Healing Herb Garden and authored the Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens. The garden is open from noon to 3 p.m.
THE STATE AND COUNTY have pretty much given up on trying to control coqui frogs on this island, according to a Stephens Media report. Funding dried up, and the state now hopes to simply keep the tiny, noisy frogs from spreading to the other islands. Coquis can live from the seashore all the way up to at least 5,000 feet and have even taken hold in Volcano. Without funding the county keeps its anti-coqui spray equipment at the Department of Research and Development for community members to use in their own neighborhood fights against the pest. The coqui is native to Puerto Rico and is believed to have come here in a shipment of potted plants. Ka`u is one of the least infested areas on the island when it comes to the coquis.
AFTER DARK IN THE PARK on Tuesday will feature geophysicist Mike Poland of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. He will review Kīlauea’s March Kamoamoa fissure eruption and discuss Pu`u `O`o’s current activity. The floor of the Pu`u `O`o vent on Kilauea’s east rift zone collapsed in March. Lava erupted between Napau and Pu`u `O`o, beginning the Kamoamoa fissure eruption that reached over a mile long. The event begins at 7 p.m.
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| Bluegrass musicians return for a concert at Pahala Plantation House this Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. |
BLUEGRASS MUSICIANS return to Pahala Plantation House this coming Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. with the same group of musicians who brought down the house in March when they performed in Ka`u. Tyson Alteri sings and plays lead mandolin. Katy Rexford sings and plays lead fiddle. Rion Schmidt sings and plays lead banjo. The stand-up bass player will be Shea McKusic, who is also famous for her Johnny Cash and June Carter duets. Also joining in will be Keoki Kahumoku and friends.
The concert is free, but donations are accepted for the musicians. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House this coming Tuesday.
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER BRITTANY SMART, state Office of Aging executive director Wes Lum and Hawai`i County Office of Aging executive Alan Parker are hosting meetings on needs of senior citizens. The first will be on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 1:30 p.m. with South Kona Seniors Club at St. Benedict’s “The Painted” Church. They will hold two meetings on Friday, Aug. 26, the first at 10:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and the second at 2 p.m. at Pahala Senior Center. Smart will continue to tour the district in September and join the Volcano Seniors Club at Cooper Center on Sep. 29 at 9:45 a.m.
WHAT REMAINS OF FORMER tropical storm Fernanda has the potential to dump heavy rain on Hawai`i Island today, forecasters at the National Weather Service said. Also, a high surf advisory is in effect until 6 p.m., with a small craft advisory in effect until tomorrow morning.
COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER BRITTANY SMART, state Office of Aging executive director Wes Lum and Hawai`i County Office of Aging executive Alan Parker are hosting meetings on needs of senior citizens. The first will be on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 1:30 p.m. with South Kona Seniors Club at St. Benedict’s “The Painted” Church. They will hold two meetings on Friday, Aug. 26, the first at 10:30 a.m. at Na`alehu Community Center and the second at 2 p.m. at Pahala Senior Center. Smart will continue to tour the district in September and join the Volcano Seniors Club at Cooper Center on Sep. 29 at 9:45 a.m.
WHAT REMAINS OF FORMER tropical storm Fernanda has the potential to dump heavy rain on Hawai`i Island today, forecasters at the National Weather Service said. Also, a high surf advisory is in effect until 6 p.m., with a small craft advisory in effect until tomorrow morning.
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| Jaggar Museum will remain open during repaving of exterior areas. |
REPAVING THE EXTERIOR OBSERVATION areas and pathways at Jaggar Museum in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park begins tomorrow and is expected to last until mid-October. Visitors are encouraged to use the Kilauea Overlook as an alternate area to view Halema`uma`u Crater. Jaggar Museum will remain open throughout the repaving project.
THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE OUTREACH TEAM will be in Hilo tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to process Philippine passports and accept applications for dual citizenship, delayed registration of birth, report of marriage abroad and other consular services. The consulate comes to Hilo only once a year from Honolulu in order to help citizens avoid interisland travel expenses when submitting applications.