Ka`u News Briefs April 10, 2012

Top U.S. winners in Coffees of the Year, Bull Kailiawa in 2011 and Willie Tabios in 2012, join a large contingent from
Ka`u at the Specialty Coffee Association of America international convention in Portland next week.
Photo by Julia Neal 

NO BACKYARD BURNING or face as much as $10,000 a day in fines, says the state Department of Health. It amended its rules to make illegal open fires to heat water for bathing, burning trash and fires for anything but cooking. Fires in backyards have been banned on O`ahu since 1973 but are commonly seen throughout villages in Ka`u. The Department of Health says such fires give off air pollution with possible health effects and create fire hazards.

      Farmers and ranchers can burn green waste with an Agricultural Burning Permit from the Department of Health. The rules are available at http://gen.doh.hawaii.gov/sites/har/AdmRules1/11-60-1.pdf. See more on clean air at http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/air/cab/index.html.

Brandy Shibuya is Miss Aloha Hawai`i after
winning Miss Ka`u Coffee and will vie for
Miss Hawai`i. Photo from Miss Hawai`i

KA`U COFFEE GROWERS, Miss Ka`u Coffee and local coffee marketers are headed for Portland, Oregon next week to celebrate three local coffees winning top ten spots in the international Roasters Guild Coffees of the Year competition at the Specialty Coffees of America annual convention. Veteran winner Willie Tabios, whose coffee scored top in Hawai`i, with Lorie Obra and Trini Marques, who celebrate their first Coffees of the Year awards, will represent Ka`u.

      Others attending from Ka`u include Miss Ka`u Coffee Brandy Shibuya, who also earned the Miss Aloha Hawai`i title and is headed for the Miss Hawai`i official competition for the Miss America Pageant. Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative president Gloria Camba; Ka`u Coffee Festival chair Chris Manfredi, of Ka`u Farm & Ranch; Phil Becker, of Aikane Coffee; Joan Obra and Ralph Gaston, of Rusty’s 100% Hawaiian Ka`u Coffee; U.S. Barista champion Pete Licata, who now lives at Punalu`u; Malian Lahey, of Ka`u Specialty Coffees; John Cross, Lee Segawa, Richard Loero and Edmund Olson, of Ka`u Coffee Mill; and Bull Kailiawa, who placed in the top ten internationally at SCAA in 2011, will represent Ka`u in this largest international coffee convention on the planet.

GROWN IN HAWAI`I TEA may get extra protection from false labeling. The state Senate committees on Agriculture, Economic Development and Technology are requesting passage of Resolution SR42 to establish the Hawai`i-Grown Tea Working Group to come up with labeling rules and regulations for camellia sinensis, the species commonly used to make true beverage tea. The University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture would lead the committee of eight and assist in marketing Hawai`i-grown tea. Ka`u has tea growers in Wood Valley, Volcano and other areas of the district.

Tea Hawai`i supports protection of labeling for Hawai`i-
grown teas. Photo by Jack Wolford

      Among the supporters of the resolution are former Ka`u County Council members Bob and Julie Jacobson, who own Hawai`i Rainforest Tea; Eva Lee, owner of Tea Hawai`i & Co. in Volcano; and Sen. Gil Kahele, who co-sponsored the resolution. The resolution says that the global tea market is a multi-billion dollar industry and that the specialty tea market is projected to double in the next five years. “Making tea a specialty crop for the state would mean increased employment and revenue for the state at a time when both are sorely needed…. It is important to ensure that tea grown in Hawai`i is properly identified and protected by strict labeling requirements, just as coffee made from coffee beans grown in Hawai`i is properly identified and protected by strict labeling requirements.” 

THE HAWAII WILDLIFE CONSERVATION STAMP and Hawai`i Game Bird stamp art contest is open for entries through May 7. The state Department of Land & Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife hosts the competition. Art will be used on the Wildlife Conservation Stamp required to validate Hawai`i State hunting licenses and the Game Bird Stamp required to hunt game birds. Productions of the stamps will be available to wildlife stamp collectors. See www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw for entry form and rules. DOFAW encourages submission of paintings that depict the species of each category in the setting of its typical Hawai`i habitat or within its range of habitat.

The state bird illustrated the conservation stamp
back in 1996-1997.

      Winner will receive a maximum stipend of $1,000.
      Funds from sales of the Hawai`i Wildlife Conservation Stamps go into the state Wildlife Revolving Fund to support game animal populations and habitat, and to manage hunting in the state.
      Activities and projects supported by this fund have included surveys of game bird and mammal populations, land leasing for hunting, predator control, and maintenance of wildlife watering units. Planting native shrubs and trees, controlled burns, removal of invasive plants, and other wildlife habitat improvement and restoration projects are supported by the funds. Questions regarding the contest can be emailed to Edwin.D.Johnson@hawaii.gov or directed to 808-587-4185.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN update will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The public is invited. For more information, contact Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.

ERUPTION CYCLES AT KILAUEA are discussed at After Dark In The Park this evening at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Geologist Don Swanson explains how Kilauea’s eruptive cycles were recently recognized, what they mean in terms of how the volcano works and hazards implied by long explosive periods. The program begins Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

Ranger Adrian Boone demonstrates the bamboo nose flute.
Photo from NPS

`IKE HANA NO`EAU cultural programs are scheduled this week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center. Tomorrow, Sam and Edna Baldado discuss the cultural uses of kalo, the taro plant. Ka`ohu Monfort teaches how plants and Hawaiian culture are used to heal and nourish. Ranger Adrian Boone and volunteer Ed Shiinoki demonstrate and make traditional three-holed bamboo nose flutes, and praise and worship leader Rupert Tripp, Jr. shares his love for music. 

      On Thursday, Boone and Shiinoki again demonstrate nose flutes. The Makuakane `Ohana celebrates Merrie Monarch, sharing the arts and music of Hawaiian culture on Thursday as well as Friday.
      The programs are free, and park entrance fees apply.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.