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| Hawaiian Electric says it will not raise rates to make up for lost revenue from solar. Photo from ecohomemagazine.com |
NO INCREASE IN ELECTRIC BILLS will be levied to recover lost income from people installing solar energy. This is the word from Hawaiian Electric Industries. Proposals were reported last week and could have hiked the average Big Island bills by $1.01 a month. However, a Pacific Business News story by Duane Shimogawa says that HEI notified him that it won’t seek new rates to cover the “lost contribution to fixed costs.”
HEI spokesman Peter Rosegg told PBN, “It is true that there is currently a small cost to all electric customers to cover the fixed costs of generation, transmission and distribution facilities that must still be available to serve those who have solar photovoltaics when their systems are not generating energy.
“Currently, the value of adding more customer-sited renewable energy and using less oil is considered to outweigh this lost contribution to fixed cost,” the utility executive wrote.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS are going back to the bargaining table with the state. A letter to teachers from the union’s Hawai`i State Teachers Association president Will Okabe says the union took in 5,000 surveys from teachers when it toured the state for listening sessions, including a meeting here at Ka`u High School. He says there is clear consensus among teachers, and the union plans the following: accept Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s offer to return to bargaining; expand the union’s Negotiations Team to include State Officers of the union and a representative from its Negotiations Committee; and put any agreement before the Negotiations Committee before sending it to a vote by union members. Okabe also vowed to make sure teachers understand any tentative agreement before it goes to a member vote. The union is also continuing legal action with the state Labor Board, contending that the state violated the rights of union members by forcing teachers back to work after they voted against a settlement.
HEI spokesman Peter Rosegg told PBN, “It is true that there is currently a small cost to all electric customers to cover the fixed costs of generation, transmission and distribution facilities that must still be available to serve those who have solar photovoltaics when their systems are not generating energy.
“Currently, the value of adding more customer-sited renewable energy and using less oil is considered to outweigh this lost contribution to fixed cost,” the utility executive wrote.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS are going back to the bargaining table with the state. A letter to teachers from the union’s Hawai`i State Teachers Association president Will Okabe says the union took in 5,000 surveys from teachers when it toured the state for listening sessions, including a meeting here at Ka`u High School. He says there is clear consensus among teachers, and the union plans the following: accept Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s offer to return to bargaining; expand the union’s Negotiations Team to include State Officers of the union and a representative from its Negotiations Committee; and put any agreement before the Negotiations Committee before sending it to a vote by union members. Okabe also vowed to make sure teachers understand any tentative agreement before it goes to a member vote. The union is also continuing legal action with the state Labor Board, contending that the state violated the rights of union members by forcing teachers back to work after they voted against a settlement.
SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE BIG ISLAND PRESS CLUB are available to college students with Hawai`i Island ties who seek careers in journalism. The press club is comprised of Big Island media professionals and supporters of open government. Offered are the $1,500 Robert C. Miller Memorial Scholarship, the $1,000 Bill Arballo Scholarship, and $500 each in the name of the late Jack Markey and the late Yukino Fukabori. For an application go to bipc.wordpress.com and click on Scholarship Info and Apply for Scholarships. Deadline is June 9.
HMSA’S KAIMANA AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS deadlines are Feb. 17. The program, sponsored by the health insurer and the Hawai`i High School Athletic Association, promotes physical activity at Hawai`i high schools, rewards achievements of student athletes and supports education for coaches.
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| Kealani Gangwes |
Among Ka`u High’s veteran outstanding athletes was Kealani Gangwes, who received a Kaimana Award for her excellence in soccer and track and field in 2006.
Kaimana is the Hawaiian word for diamond, and the awards are accompanied by a crystal trophy. High school seniors are eligible to apply for Kaimana scholarships. Each scholarship is worth $3,000, with an additional $2,000 awarded to scholarship recipients with exceptional qualities. Scholarship selection is based on students’ individual athletic and academic achievement, sportsmanship, and community involvement, with special focus given to students in lower-profile sports. Applicants must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.75 and participate in one or more sports. Applications are available on the Hawai`i High School Athletic Association website at www.sportshigh.com.
HMSA also has a new website called Health Care Plain and Simple to answer questions about healthy living and choosing healthcare plans. See HMSA.com.
Kaimana is the Hawaiian word for diamond, and the awards are accompanied by a crystal trophy. High school seniors are eligible to apply for Kaimana scholarships. Each scholarship is worth $3,000, with an additional $2,000 awarded to scholarship recipients with exceptional qualities. Scholarship selection is based on students’ individual athletic and academic achievement, sportsmanship, and community involvement, with special focus given to students in lower-profile sports. Applicants must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.75 and participate in one or more sports. Applications are available on the Hawai`i High School Athletic Association website at www.sportshigh.com.
HMSA also has a new website called Health Care Plain and Simple to answer questions about healthy living and choosing healthcare plans. See HMSA.com.
RAT LUNGWORM DISEASE remains a problem, particularly on the Big Island. The debilitating parasitic affliction damages the nervous system and can kill its victims. It comes from eating wild or farmed fruit and vegetables that have not been washed thoroughly, and from drinking untreated water. The parasites are carried by tiny slugs that have been exposed to rat feces. A story in this morning’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser by Leila Fujimori reveals the horrific tale of a horticulture student from Minnesota who came to Puna to intern at an organic farm last fall and thinks he contracted the disease from eating a wild guava or passion fruit. He was hospitalized for months and needed life support. Thirty-four cases have been confirmed on the Big Island since 2005. One infant died from the disease. Some who recovered have had to learn to walk again.
VALENTINE’S DAY will be celebrated throughout Ka`u tomorrow.
Hana Hou Restaurant’s menu includes prime rib, fresh ono, pork tenderloin and surf and turf combos. The specials will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 929-9717 for reservations.
South Side Shaka’s has Valentine’s Day dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The menu includes prime rib and crab. Call 929-7404 for reservations.
Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café offers dinner at 6 p.m., with entertainment by Lito Arkangel. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for reservations.
AFTER DARK IN THE PARK tomorrow night features Capt. Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa, of Honu`apo, discussing Hawaiian canoes, from the first arrivals to working fishing vessels, giant war canoes and the sleek modern racing craft of today. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
Hana Hou Restaurant’s menu includes prime rib, fresh ono, pork tenderloin and surf and turf combos. The specials will be available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 929-9717 for reservations.
South Side Shaka’s has Valentine’s Day dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The menu includes prime rib and crab. Call 929-7404 for reservations.
Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café offers dinner at 6 p.m., with entertainment by Lito Arkangel. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8356 for reservations.
AFTER DARK IN THE PARK tomorrow night features Capt. Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa, of Honu`apo, discussing Hawaiian canoes, from the first arrivals to working fishing vessels, giant war canoes and the sleek modern racing craft of today. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
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| Mark Yamanaka |
MARK YAMANAKA shares songs from his debut Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning CD, Lei Pua Kenikeni on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Donations support future `Ike Hana No`eau programs, and park entrance fees apply.
THE ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT to benefit Ka`u Hospital takes place this Friday at Volcano Golf and Country Club. Sign up with Ron Young at 987-2761 or youngron19582@yahoo.com.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.