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| Volunteers cleaned two miles of the Ka`u Coast last Saturday. Photo from Hawai`i Wildlife Fund |
DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOTHERMAL energy transmission system that could deliver electricity from the Big Island to other larger population centers through an undersea cable will face federal regulations. They could also be strapped with paying leases, much like offshore oil wells. According to a Civil Beat story by Sophie Cocke, “For the first time, the federal government will charge companies in Hawai`i for placing renewable energy projects in its waters, which extend from three miles to 200 miles offshore.” She quotes a Department of Interior report showing that the fed collected $156 billion in the past 50 years. Other alternative energy projects that may be on the Hawai`i horizon include offshore windmills, and they too would require federal leases. Civil Beat reports that a state and federal task force has started talks to understand how the leases could affect energy projects here. See more at civilbeat.org.
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| Mark Kimura documented results of volunteers' efforts along Ka`u's Coast. |
LATEST KA`U COAST CLEANUP results are in. Hawai`i Wildlife Fund reports that 43 volunteers cleaned four different coves from Pulehua, south of Ka`alu`alu Bay, to the `Onikinalu lava flow to the south, covering more than two miles of coastline last Saturday. “We estimate that 3,742 pounds of marine debris were removed, including 300 pounds of derelict fishing nets,” said coordinator Megan Lamson. Findings included 2,000 oyster spacers from international mariculture, tinsel, several plastic helmets and a metal plaque with Japanese writing. As usual, plastic was the biggest component of the rubbish at almost 95 percent, followed by rubber, cloth, metal and less than a half-percent each of wood and glass.
HWF also sponsors cleanups of anchialine ponds in Ka`u, with the next one set for Tuesday, March 27. Volunteers can sign up with Lamson at 769-7629 or meg.hwf@gmail.com.
A WRITING WORKSHOP, Zen Pen, takes place at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tom Peek leads participants in deepening the conversation with their souls by using writing as a means to explore the human spirit, foster compassion for others, understand suffering and ease anger and conflict. The workshop is $77 for VAC members and $85 for non-members. Call Julie at 679-8222.
A ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER SPECIAL is offered by Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The dinner includes roast lamb, corned beef & cabbage, soup, salad, potatoes, green beans and dessert priced at $14 for adults and $7.50 for children 6 to 11 years old. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
THE HURRICANE, an original three-act play about a murder that occurs during an approaching hurricane, is set for Saturday, March 24 at 4p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Marge Elwell says the play is “an old-time whodunnit!” Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check to Hawaiian Food Pantry for the same amount. During intermission, cookies and beverages will be served, and prizes for the best answers will be awarded. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. For more, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
COMMENTS ON THE KA`U DISTRICT Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment are due a week from today - next Friday, March 23. The draft lists alternatives, including renovating or replacing the old gym, which would leave the open, grassy field. Demolition or retrofitting would have cost a lot of money and reduced funds to be used for a bigger and better gym. Also, the land around the old gym would have precluded construction of the newer, bigger gym. The EA also pointed out that the old gym is on the Register of Historic Places.
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| Other open spaces at Ka`u High were considered but deemed too small for the shelter and gym, according to the draft EA. Photo by Julia Neal |
Alternative sites within Pahala school grounds and within the district were also considered. Open areas other than the grassy field would limit the size of a new building to a size comparable to the existing gym, according to the draft EA. While using another site at the school would have maintained view planes from houses in the town and left the grassy field open for other recreation, the goal of creating a bigger gym and a disaster shelter with a large capacity could not have been met, the EA says.
Alternative locations considered within the district included Na`alehu and Ocean View. According to the EA, however, a facility is already proposed for Ocean View that would supplement the Pahala shelter gym to meet full shelter needs of the district’s existing and projected population. “Both facilities are needed,” the draft EA states. “The advantage of locating the project in Pahala over Na`alehu is primarily to have the facility available for elementary, middle, and high school.” Another advantage to placing the project in Pahala is that school buildings “already serve as the district shelter, so the project does not introduce any new traffic impacts to Pahala as a shelter,” the draft EA states.
The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments can be sent to Tammy Kapali, Planner, PBR Hawai`i & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Honolulu, HI 96813 or faxed to 808-523-1402. Comments can also be sent to County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works, Attn: David Yamamoto, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720 or faxed to 808-961-8630.
MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.
A GARAGE & BAKE SALE is offered in the Volcano Golf Course Subdivision tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`ekia`iu.
Alternative locations considered within the district included Na`alehu and Ocean View. According to the EA, however, a facility is already proposed for Ocean View that would supplement the Pahala shelter gym to meet full shelter needs of the district’s existing and projected population. “Both facilities are needed,” the draft EA states. “The advantage of locating the project in Pahala over Na`alehu is primarily to have the facility available for elementary, middle, and high school.” Another advantage to placing the project in Pahala is that school buildings “already serve as the district shelter, so the project does not introduce any new traffic impacts to Pahala as a shelter,” the draft EA states.
The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments can be sent to Tammy Kapali, Planner, PBR Hawai`i & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Honolulu, HI 96813 or faxed to 808-523-1402. Comments can also be sent to County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works, Attn: David Yamamoto, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720 or faxed to 808-961-8630.
MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.
A GARAGE & BAKE SALE is offered in the Volcano Golf Course Subdivision tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with proceeds benefiting Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`ekia`iu.
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| David Richey and Aloha Bluegrass offer An Evening of Green tomorrow at Kilauea Theater. |
AN EVENING OF GREEN, HAWAIIAN STYLE, a music concert hosted by Volcano Art Center, is held tomorrow at 7 p.m., at Kilauea Military Camp’s Kilauea Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Brittni Paiva, Keoki Kahumoku and Aloha Bluegrass perform. Tickets are $20 for VAC members, $22 for non-members. For more, call 967-8222. Park entrance fees apply.
A WRITING WORKSHOP, Zen Pen, takes place at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tom Peek leads participants in deepening the conversation with their souls by using writing as a means to explore the human spirit, foster compassion for others, understand suffering and ease anger and conflict. The workshop is $77 for VAC members and $85 for non-members. Call Julie at 679-8222.
A ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER SPECIAL is offered by Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The dinner includes roast lamb, corned beef & cabbage, soup, salad, potatoes, green beans and dessert priced at $14 for adults and $7.50 for children 6 to 11 years old. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
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| `Alala, bred at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, are extinct in the wild. Photo by NPS/Jay Robinson |
A TOUR OF THE KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER, which is closed to the general public, is offered by the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Friday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. By using intensive captive propagation and release techniques, the center strives to re-establish self-sustaining populations of critically endangered birds in the wild. Friends general manager Julie Mitchell said, “Since the tour is during the breeding season, we may even have the unique chance to see chicks being fed.” $20 for Friends members, $30 for non-members and students with valid ID are half-price. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the conservation center. To register, call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org.
THE HURRICANE, an original three-act play about a murder that occurs during an approaching hurricane, is set for Saturday, March 24 at 4p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Marge Elwell says the play is “an old-time whodunnit!” Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check to Hawaiian Food Pantry for the same amount. During intermission, cookies and beverages will be served, and prizes for the best answers will be awarded. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. For more, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.