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| Seasonal streams ran this morning in Ka`u, flattening vegetation. Photo by Julia Neal |
APPROVING FINAL LINES for state House and Senate districts was delayed again yesterday as the state Reapportionment Commission referred maps to its technical staff for possible adjustment. One challenge for election officials is timely notification of 600,000 voters around state about their voting districts and polling places. Another is that candidates can’t file papers to run until the district lines are settled. The primary election is early this year – Aug. 11.
The Reapportionment Commission meets again on Tuesday, when a final vote could be taken. If there are changes, the vote could be next Friday. While gerrymandering accusations were an issue at the reapportionment meeting this week, commissioners said they could find no evidence that they were rigging the districts pro or con for any likely candidate.
Any final changes are more likely on O`ahu than the Big Island, but Ka`u has already become particularly affected. The proposed House district that now includes all of Ka`u will be split with the boundary between Punalu`u and Honu`apo. The new House district from Punalu`u into Kea`au is lacking candidates. The district from Honu`apo into Kona would become part of incumbent Denny Coffman’s territory. Current Ka`u House of Representatives incumbent Bob Herkes says he will run for a new Senate seat that would run from Punalu`u to Kea`au and include all of Puna. Sen. Gil Kahele’s District would move from Ka`u into Hilo. The other Senate seat will run from Honu`apo into Kona, where incumbent Josh Green lives.
The Reapportionment Commission meets again on Tuesday, when a final vote could be taken. If there are changes, the vote could be next Friday. While gerrymandering accusations were an issue at the reapportionment meeting this week, commissioners said they could find no evidence that they were rigging the districts pro or con for any likely candidate.
Any final changes are more likely on O`ahu than the Big Island, but Ka`u has already become particularly affected. The proposed House district that now includes all of Ka`u will be split with the boundary between Punalu`u and Honu`apo. The new House district from Punalu`u into Kea`au is lacking candidates. The district from Honu`apo into Kona would become part of incumbent Denny Coffman’s territory. Current Ka`u House of Representatives incumbent Bob Herkes says he will run for a new Senate seat that would run from Punalu`u to Kea`au and include all of Puna. Sen. Gil Kahele’s District would move from Ka`u into Hilo. The other Senate seat will run from Honu`apo into Kona, where incumbent Josh Green lives.
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| Sen. Josh Green |
SEN. JOSH GREEN made it official this week, asking voters from Na`alehu, through Ocean View, Miloli`i and up to Kona Airport to support him for re-election to District 3. Green now lives in Kona but started off his medical career after his residency in Pittsburgh here at Ka`u Hospital and lived in a house at Punalu`u beach. He was elected first to the state House of Representatives eight years ago, and then to the Senate, where he has been a leader in health legislation.
“Together we have suffered natural disasters, then united to rebuild our community after earthquakes and tsunamis,” said Green.
“Today our hospitals and clinics are stronger, our roads are wider and safer, and our schools receive the resources they need to teach a new generation of students,” stated the senator.
A NATIVE HAWAIIAN LANDS SETTLEMENT passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday, and Ka`u’s Senator Gil Kahele voted for it. The bill gives 30 acres in urban Kaka`ako makai on O`ahu to Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The land settlement concerns native Hawaiian lands that the state has been holding and using. The bill now crosses over to the House, however, where it may face some opposition.
THE KA`U DISTRICT GYM & SHELTER Draft Environmental Assessment says that “a final determination has not been made as to the number of paved parking spaces and those that could be accommodated on grass areas. It may be feasible to limit the number of paved spaces and ‘land bank’ an area for future expansion of the paved area if needed.”
“Today our hospitals and clinics are stronger, our roads are wider and safer, and our schools receive the resources they need to teach a new generation of students,” stated the senator.
A NATIVE HAWAIIAN LANDS SETTLEMENT passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday, and Ka`u’s Senator Gil Kahele voted for it. The bill gives 30 acres in urban Kaka`ako makai on O`ahu to Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The land settlement concerns native Hawaiian lands that the state has been holding and using. The bill now crosses over to the House, however, where it may face some opposition.
THE KA`U DISTRICT GYM & SHELTER Draft Environmental Assessment says that “a final determination has not been made as to the number of paved parking spaces and those that could be accommodated on grass areas. It may be feasible to limit the number of paved spaces and ‘land bank’ an area for future expansion of the paved area if needed.”
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| Parking spaces would be built on the east and south sides of the Ka`u shelter and gym. |
As part of incorporating Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design concepts, with the goal of achieving an equivalent to LEED Silver Certification, the EA calls for minimizing parking lot size. “Consider sharing parking facilities with adjacent buildings and grass parking,” it states. There are 46 parking spaces immediately adjacent to the site and approximately 26 more spaces on the school grounds adjacent to Puahala Street. “
A new parking lot would be constructed along the east and south sides of the gymnasium complex that includes a total of 159 spaces. A parking variance would address the acceptability of the proposed number of spaces that reflects shared parking with the school and grass (unpaved) overflow parking.
Peak parking demand under typical late afternoon and early evening conditions is estimated to be 194 spaces, assuming activities in all parts of the gym complex. If a basketball game is scheduled, the peak demand is expected to be slightly higher, at 214 spaces. A major event where every available seat in the gym is occupied would generate a theoretical demand of 577 parking spaces. However, this scenario is expected to occur rarely and would require other arrangements for transporting people to the site, the EA states. This would likely include remote and off-site parking and frequent shuttle service, or the use of high-capacity passenger buses.
The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html.
Comments, due March 23, 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.
HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTENING AND THUNDER swept across Ka`u last night into this morning as seasonal streams and waterfalls began flowing. A winter weather notice was issued for the summits of the volcano, and heavy snow and icy roads burdened workers on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Pahala, Punalu`u, Kawa Flats and Na`alehu. Vegetable growers Ellis and Sokha Hester said that hard rains always wash away some of their seedlings on their hillside farm above Pahala.
GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION is important in deciding which U.S. post offices should be closed, said U.S. House Rep. Mazie Hirono. She recently championed preservation of the post office at the remote Kalaupapa settlement on Moloka`i, where victims of Hansen’s disease live. No post offices in Ka`u are on the chopping block yet, but remote Hana on Maui may lose its post office.
MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Aloha Friday Boat Day Fundraiser on Friday, March 9 at 11 a.m. The nonprofit Friends present the nostalgia and aloha of Hawai`i’s old-time boat days aboard Holland America Line’s m.s. Rotterdam, docked in Hilo Harbor. The event includes a four-course lunch served with wine, music by the Kuahiwis and hula by Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu. Tickets are $65 per person, and group rates are available for parties of five or more. Due to TSA security regulations, tickets are not transferable, and photo ID is required. Contact the Friends at 985-7373 or www.fhvnp.org.
BOLO, the composer and musician who sings and plays the `uketar, `ukulele and slack key guitar, will perform at a free house concert this coming Wednesday, March 7 at Pahala Plantation House from 6:30 p.m. until pau. Bolo offers original songs, including Bull Kailiawa Coffee Farmer, a tune about the original Ka`u Coffee farm back in the 1800s and a composition he co-wrote about the mountain Kaiholena. Musician and dancer Sammi Fo will join him.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATION COTTAGES. COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
A new parking lot would be constructed along the east and south sides of the gymnasium complex that includes a total of 159 spaces. A parking variance would address the acceptability of the proposed number of spaces that reflects shared parking with the school and grass (unpaved) overflow parking.
Peak parking demand under typical late afternoon and early evening conditions is estimated to be 194 spaces, assuming activities in all parts of the gym complex. If a basketball game is scheduled, the peak demand is expected to be slightly higher, at 214 spaces. A major event where every available seat in the gym is occupied would generate a theoretical demand of 577 parking spaces. However, this scenario is expected to occur rarely and would require other arrangements for transporting people to the site, the EA states. This would likely include remote and off-site parking and frequent shuttle service, or the use of high-capacity passenger buses.
The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html.
Comments, due March 23, 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.
HEAVY RAIN, LIGHTENING AND THUNDER swept across Ka`u last night into this morning as seasonal streams and waterfalls began flowing. A winter weather notice was issued for the summits of the volcano, and heavy snow and icy roads burdened workers on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Pahala, Punalu`u, Kawa Flats and Na`alehu. Vegetable growers Ellis and Sokha Hester said that hard rains always wash away some of their seedlings on their hillside farm above Pahala.
CONCERNING FARMING, a Michigan company with the idea to grow biofuel to manufacture ethanol outbid all ranchers and food farmers for all of the county agricultural park leases north of Hilo. The land was acquired by the county in lieu of property tax payments from a defunct sugar company. The county expected to lease the parcels to local farmers, but the biofuel startup submitted higher bids for all 16 parcels. The company, called All Cool Fuel, registered to do business in Hawai`i last August, according to a Nancy Cook Lauer story in the Hawai`i Tribune Herald.
GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION is important in deciding which U.S. post offices should be closed, said U.S. House Rep. Mazie Hirono. She recently championed preservation of the post office at the remote Kalaupapa settlement on Moloka`i, where victims of Hansen’s disease live. No post offices in Ka`u are on the chopping block yet, but remote Hana on Maui may lose its post office.
KA`U HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION raised thousands of dollars last night in a silent auction and sale. A rummage sale continues today until noon at Na`alehu Community Center to raise more money for the hospital.
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| Displays of dolls celebrate Hinamatsuri today. |
HINAMATSURI is today. This means Girls Day, and it is celebrated in Hawai`i by the Japanese community with displays of dolls in homes and public places. Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi, doll floating. Straw hina dolls are placed in a boat that floats down river to the ocean, taking troubles and bad spirits with them.
MONDAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Aloha Friday Boat Day Fundraiser on Friday, March 9 at 11 a.m. The nonprofit Friends present the nostalgia and aloha of Hawai`i’s old-time boat days aboard Holland America Line’s m.s. Rotterdam, docked in Hilo Harbor. The event includes a four-course lunch served with wine, music by the Kuahiwis and hula by Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu. Tickets are $65 per person, and group rates are available for parties of five or more. Due to TSA security regulations, tickets are not transferable, and photo ID is required. Contact the Friends at 985-7373 or www.fhvnp.org.
BOLO, the composer and musician who sings and plays the `uketar, `ukulele and slack key guitar, will perform at a free house concert this coming Wednesday, March 7 at Pahala Plantation House from 6:30 p.m. until pau. Bolo offers original songs, including Bull Kailiawa Coffee Farmer, a tune about the original Ka`u Coffee farm back in the 1800s and a composition he co-wrote about the mountain Kaiholena. Musician and dancer Sammi Fo will join him.
VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATION COTTAGES. COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.