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| Pahala Hongwanji school building has been saved with a new re-roofing project. Photo by Julia Neal |
ANOTHER HISTORIC BUILDING has been saved in Pahala. The Pahala Hongwanji Japanese school, after years of rain pouring into the building that threatened to take the structure down, has been re-roofed. The effort began about seven years ago, with Pahala Plantation Cottages, which owns adjacent land, supporting the survival of the hongwanji and caring for its historic buildings with some $36,000 in rental fees for its parsonage over five years. The federal VISTA program donated a crew of volunteers, through the Boys & Girls Club, for a cleanup, and the Edmund C. Olson Trust committed more than $9,200 in re-roofing materials. `O Ka`u Kakou president Wayne Kawachi, who grew up in the hongwanji community, led the volunteer effort to put on the new roof, which was completed yesterday. He said the volunteers plan to fix broken windows, repair and sand wooden floors, repair plumbing and paint the building and its restroom facilities inside and out. He said that several community groups have already asked to use the building. After the Japanese school closed, it was used as a Judo hall, a lab for a University of Hawai`i archaeology project, and an art studio for Sandra Lei Johnson, who taught at Ka`u High School.
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| Mike Duminski, who lives in Discovery Harbour and Portland, Oregon, helps `O Ka`u Kakou president Wayne Kawachi put some of the last roofing sheets on the restroom of the old school and Judo hall, soon to be repainted and have windows repaired, wooden floor refinished and open for community use. Photo by Julia Neal |
Volunteers for the roofing project included: Kawachi, Irv Massey, Douglas Castro, Ron Ebert, Walter Wong Yuen, Mike Duminski, Bradley Westervelt, John Enriques, Rodney Kuahiwinui, Bob Kovach and Rodney Saragosa. Nadine Ebert, Carol Massey and Jeanette Howard provided food. OKK plans to help with another roof in Pahala and with repairing the broadcast stand on the campus of Ka`u High School, Kawachi said.
KA`U’S SENATOR GIL KAHELE has come out with a statement declaring the 2012 state Legislature “extremely productive for Hawai`i Island.” He helped bring home $35 million and credited the House and Senate Big Island legislative team for helping to “improve the quality of life for our Hawai`i Island families.” Kahele said he looks forward to working with “the executive administration and our governor to ensure that these funds are released so work can begin on these critical projects.”
KA`U’S SENATOR GIL KAHELE has come out with a statement declaring the 2012 state Legislature “extremely productive for Hawai`i Island.” He helped bring home $35 million and credited the House and Senate Big Island legislative team for helping to “improve the quality of life for our Hawai`i Island families.” Kahele said he looks forward to working with “the executive administration and our governor to ensure that these funds are released so work can begin on these critical projects.”
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| Sen. Gil Kahele promotes Ka`u Coffee. |
Among Kahele initiatives approved:
* Ka`u Irrigation System Upgrade – $1.5 million for plans, design and construction for improvements to the transmission ditch and flume system of the old plantation water system.
* Ka`u High School – Softball field improvements – $400,000
* Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary – Science Facility Upgrades
* Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences – $618,000 for plans and design to relocate Volcano School of Arts & Sciences to Keakealani School in Volcano Village.
*Volcano Road – $4 million for widening from Kea`au to Pa`ahana, with signs, pavement markings, drainage, guardrails.
* University of Hawai`i-Hilo College of AG, Forest & Natural Resource Management– $25,000 for plans, design, construction for beehive research facility.
* Miloli`i Wharf and Small Harbor Pier Renovation – $500,000 for plans, design and construction.
*Transpacific Cable Project– $2.2 million for plans to create privately managed, shared open access submarine fiber optic cable land stations statewide.
Successful legislation for which Kahele was primary introducer:
* Ka`u Irrigation System Upgrade – $1.5 million for plans, design and construction for improvements to the transmission ditch and flume system of the old plantation water system.
* Ka`u High School – Softball field improvements – $400,000
* Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary – Science Facility Upgrades
* Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences – $618,000 for plans and design to relocate Volcano School of Arts & Sciences to Keakealani School in Volcano Village.
*Volcano Road – $4 million for widening from Kea`au to Pa`ahana, with signs, pavement markings, drainage, guardrails.
* University of Hawai`i-Hilo College of AG, Forest & Natural Resource Management– $25,000 for plans, design, construction for beehive research facility.
* Miloli`i Wharf and Small Harbor Pier Renovation – $500,000 for plans, design and construction.
*Transpacific Cable Project– $2.2 million for plans to create privately managed, shared open access submarine fiber optic cable land stations statewide.
Successful legislation for which Kahele was primary introducer:
* 2648 –Authorizes use of campaign funds for scholarships to full-time students in higher education or vocational schools.
* 2337 – Authorizes state Department of Transportation to extend term of any airport concession in exchange for revenue enhancing improvements.
* 2386 –Requires Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to be responsible for verification documents provided by individuals seeking to be on the roll.
* 2337 – Authorizes state Department of Transportation to extend term of any airport concession in exchange for revenue enhancing improvements.
* 2386 –Requires Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to be responsible for verification documents provided by individuals seeking to be on the roll.
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| The 2012 state Legislature appropriated $618,000 for plans and design to relocate VSAS to Keakealani School. |
* 3003 –
Differentiates between “geothermal resources exploitation” and “geothermal resources development.” Makes permissible in all state land use districts and conservation district zones.
* 2001 –
Amends Hawai`i State Planning Act to include promoting development of indigenous geothermal energy resources located on public trust land as a firm source of power. Requires consultation from Native Hawaiian community and general public.
* 3001 –Prohibits interisland possession, transfer, transport, or release after transport of wild or feral deer; establishes mandatory fines.
* 3002 –Amends provisions relating to licensing and penalties for real estate brokers and salespersons by requiring real estate commission to consider whether a licensee relied in good faith on the information they provided.
Successful Resolutions for which Kahele was primary introducer:
* SCR 156 – Urges creation of exploratory committee for an International Aviation Training Center at Hilo International Airport with Advanced Degree Training Program at University of Hawai`i at Hilo. Requests that the governor convene a 10-member exploratory committee to examine feasibility and resources for the program. Requires committee to report findings, recommendations and budget requests to the 2013 Legislature.
* SCR49 – Requests Department of Transportation to form a working group to expeditiously resolve the issue of Roads in Limbo statewide.
* SCR67 – Urges Hawai`i Agriculture Research Center to establish proposed Kunia Agriculture Processing and Sales Center.
* SR33 – Urges counties to preserve property tax exemptions for kuleana lands.
* SR42 – Establishes working group to discuss creation of strategic plan for development and marketing of Hawai`i tea industry and makes recommendations for labeling requirements.
* 3001 –Prohibits interisland possession, transfer, transport, or release after transport of wild or feral deer; establishes mandatory fines.
* 3002 –Amends provisions relating to licensing and penalties for real estate brokers and salespersons by requiring real estate commission to consider whether a licensee relied in good faith on the information they provided.
Successful Resolutions for which Kahele was primary introducer:
* SCR 156 – Urges creation of exploratory committee for an International Aviation Training Center at Hilo International Airport with Advanced Degree Training Program at University of Hawai`i at Hilo. Requests that the governor convene a 10-member exploratory committee to examine feasibility and resources for the program. Requires committee to report findings, recommendations and budget requests to the 2013 Legislature.
* SCR49 – Requests Department of Transportation to form a working group to expeditiously resolve the issue of Roads in Limbo statewide.
* SCR67 – Urges Hawai`i Agriculture Research Center to establish proposed Kunia Agriculture Processing and Sales Center.
* SR33 – Urges counties to preserve property tax exemptions for kuleana lands.
* SR42 – Establishes working group to discuss creation of strategic plan for development and marketing of Hawai`i tea industry and makes recommendations for labeling requirements.
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| Hilo Hattie was a sponsor of Ka`u Coffee Festival and provided transportation from the Hilo store. |
FOUR KA`U COFFEE LABELS are selling well at Hilo Hattie, which became a sponsor of the Ka`u Coffee Festival for the first time this year. The longtime Ka`u Coffee at Hilo Hattie is Aikane Plantation Coffee Company, which has sold there for more than three years and serves up samples at the store when cruise ships dock in Hilo. Aikane is featured in every Hilo Hattie store in the state, said Ka`u Coffee farmer Phil Becker. Joining the Ka`u Coffee display during the festival and beyond are Rusty’s Hawaiian 100 Percent Ka`u Coffee, Ali`i Hawaiian Hula Hands Coffee and the Local Buzz. Hilo Hattie helped with the festival by advertising the event with large displays in its store and post cards with an offer that raises money for the festival. Two shuttle bus roundtrips between its Hilo store and Pahala Community Center ran last Saturday during the Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a.
Hilo Hattie is still cooperating, selling collectible festival posters and T-shirts. Island manager Randy Repp said, “We are going to keep on keeping on with Ka`u Coffee” and that Hilo Hattie is open to other Ka`u Coffees, ready to cup them as the Ka`u Coffee producers bring them in to sample.
Ka`u Coffee Festival Committee chair Chris Manfredi said that Hilo Hattie has “capabilities that go beyond the typical sponsor relationship. Their customer demographic is an important one for the festival. It was great working with their team. We look forward to collaborating with them even more in the future.”
Ka`u Coffee Festival Committee chair Chris Manfredi said that Hilo Hattie has “capabilities that go beyond the typical sponsor relationship. Their customer demographic is an important one for the festival. It was great working with their team. We look forward to collaborating with them even more in the future.”
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| Puna Coast Day by Patti Pease Johnson |
THIS SATURDAY is National Kids to Parks Day, with activities planned at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Junior Ranger Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with activities at the Kahuku Unit including `oli, GPS, compass, pacing, mo`olelo of Ka`u and the string game hei. Open to children of all ages and their `ohana. Call 985-6019 to pre-register and be included in lunch.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Volunteer Forest Restoration Project this month is a kid- and family-friendly event set for 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea summit area near Kilauea Visitor Center. Participants plant native tree seedlings and remove invasive ginger. Volunteers can be any age, and children must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Pre-registration is required. Call 985-7373 or email forest@fhvnp.org.
PATTI PEASE JOHNSON offers a workshop on pastels this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Class begins with an overview of pastels, papers, fixing and mounting paper. Students practice on newsprint and then choose the design for their original 8X10 finished piece. Beginning and experienced artists are welcome. The fee is $65, plus $10 for materials. To sign up, call 967-8222 or email julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Volunteer Forest Restoration Project this month is a kid- and family-friendly event set for 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea summit area near Kilauea Visitor Center. Participants plant native tree seedlings and remove invasive ginger. Volunteers can be any age, and children must be supervised by a parent or guardian. Pre-registration is required. Call 985-7373 or email forest@fhvnp.org.
PATTI PEASE JOHNSON offers a workshop on pastels this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Class begins with an overview of pastels, papers, fixing and mounting paper. Students practice on newsprint and then choose the design for their original 8X10 finished piece. Beginning and experienced artists are welcome. The fee is $65, plus $10 for materials. To sign up, call 967-8222 or email julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.