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| A baby Pseudorca, a false killer whale, in Hawaiian waters. Photo by Robin Baird, courtesy of cascadiaresearch.org |
THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL went to federal court this week to put Pseudorca, the false killer whale, on the Endangered Species list. The false killer whale is rare, with an estimated population of under 200 remaining in Hawaiian waters. It is known to be somewhat friendly, even offering to share its own fish catch with other marine animals, divers, snorkelers and fishermen. Its face is also known to appear to be smiling.
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| False killer whale grabs mahi for dinner. Pseudorca has been known to offer its catch to people. Photo by Dan McSweeney courtesy of cascadiaresearch.org |
Scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service recommended early last year that the false killer whale be listed as an Endangered Species. Fisheries, however, is yet to make a final decision, leading to the suit.
According to a report by Associated Press reporter Audrey McAvoy, Michael Jasny, a senior policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council, calls listing Pseudorca a “no-brainer…. It represents our best chance to save them. Saving them could go a long way toward preserving the remarkable marine oasis of which they are a part,” he said.
Listing them as an Endangered Species is expected to encourage Hawai`i’s longline fishing fleet to take more care. The AP story says that before new rules recently changed the types of hooks allowed, the fleet “was accidentally killing or seriously injuring an average of 7.4 false killer whales each year. This exceeds the 2.5 per year that the fishery could kill or seriously harm without affecting the population’s ability to survive.”
According to a report by Associated Press reporter Audrey McAvoy, Michael Jasny, a senior policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council, calls listing Pseudorca a “no-brainer…. It represents our best chance to save them. Saving them could go a long way toward preserving the remarkable marine oasis of which they are a part,” he said.
Listing them as an Endangered Species is expected to encourage Hawai`i’s longline fishing fleet to take more care. The AP story says that before new rules recently changed the types of hooks allowed, the fleet “was accidentally killing or seriously injuring an average of 7.4 false killer whales each year. This exceeds the 2.5 per year that the fishery could kill or seriously harm without affecting the population’s ability to survive.”
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| Kalaekilohana hosting the recent Ka`u Coffee Festival dinner. Photo by Julia Neal |
KALAEKILOHANA WOULD BECOME A LODGE with approval of a special permit application by the Windward Planning Commission. The application asks that a permit for the four-bedroom bed and breakfast establishment and certified kitchen facility allow expansion into a five-bedroom lodge with a certified kitchen that will also offer meals to registered guests and accommodate small community and private events once a month. The property is located in Kama`oa Haven Subdivision on the east side of South Point Road about one mile from Mamalahoa Hwy. Kenny Joyce and S. Kilohana Domingo are owners, and the application goes before the Planning Commission on Thursday, June 7 at its meeting at Council Chambers in Hilo at 9 a.m.
COMMENTS ON THE KA`U FOREST RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN’S Draft Environmental Impact Statement are due June 22. Copies are available at Na`alehu and Pahala Libraries as well as online. The plan would be implemented over a 15-year time frame. To help preserve native species, it includes options for fencing portions of the 61,641 acre Ka`u Forest Reserve mostly in the upper elevations. The plan would provide trails for hunters and hikers.
The reserve is located between 2,000 and 7,000 feet in altitude above the villages of Pahala, Na`alehu and Wai`ohinu. It has some of the most pristine native Hawaiian forest in all of the Islands and is managed by the state Department of Fish & Wildlife. The agency is tasked to protect, manage, restore and monitor the natural resources of the Ka`u Forest Reserve. The reserve was established on Aug. 2, 1906 to protect the forest on the lower slopes of Mauna Loa, with particular regard to the water supply of the agricultural lands of Ka`u. The reserve is bordered by lands of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Kamehameha Schools, The Nature Conservancy and private property owners, as well as state land leased to farmers and ranchers.
Managing the reserve is not new. DOFAW maintains roads for public access, removes wild cattle from the forest, surveys birds and other wildlife, re-introduces native plants into the reserve and removes weeds. One of the options in the Draft EA is to re-introduce the native Hawaiian Crow, the `Alala, into the wild within the Ka`u Forest Reserve.
To read the Draft EA, see http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Hawaii/2010s/2012-05-23-DEA-Kau-Forest-Reserve-Management-Plan.pdf.
Managing the reserve is not new. DOFAW maintains roads for public access, removes wild cattle from the forest, surveys birds and other wildlife, re-introduces native plants into the reserve and removes weeds. One of the options in the Draft EA is to re-introduce the native Hawaiian Crow, the `Alala, into the wild within the Ka`u Forest Reserve.
To read the Draft EA, see http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Hawaii/2010s/2012-05-23-DEA-Kau-Forest-Reserve-Management-Plan.pdf.
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| Blueberries grow well in Hawai`i. Photo by Randall Hamasaki/UH |
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| Tea grown at Volcano Winery. Photo from Volcano Winery |
At Volcano Winery, see how local ingredients such as tea are used in winemaking. There will be a chance for tasting and to walk through their tea fields. To make reservations, call Perci at 887-6183 or email proque@hawaii.edu. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis with wait list after reaching maximum enrollment.
Enrollment in the Risk Management School at Old Pahala Clubhouse on Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is available to coffee farmers by registering by May 31. Call Perci at 887-6183.
Enrollment in the Risk Management School at Old Pahala Clubhouse on Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. is available to coffee farmers by registering by May 31. Call Perci at 887-6183.
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| Toku Nakano (left) and Iwao Yonemitsu celebrated before going to to Washington, D.C. to receive their Congressional Gold Medals. Photo by Julia Neal |
CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL recipients of Hawai`i Island, including Iwao Yonemitsu, Toku Nakano and Tsuneki Omija , from Ka`u, will be honored at Kilauea Military Camp’s Memorial Day ceremony and buffet on Monday. Yonemitsu and Nakano will attend the ceremony that begins at 3 p.m. on KMC’s front lawn. Keynote speaker is state Rep. Jerry Chang, and guest speaker is Major Darrin Cox, executive officer of the 1st Squadron, 299th Calvary. The Memorial Day Buffet is 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Crater Rim Café - $14.25 for adults and $8 for children.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND sponsors its third annual beach cleanup at Manuka Natural Area Reserve next Saturday. Volunteers should be able hikers wearing sturdy shoes and bring bag lunches, water bottle, snacks and sun and wind protection. Sign up with Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.
SUMMER CREATIONS takes place on the grounds and lanai of Pahala Plantation House at the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets this coming King Kamehameha Day. The June 11 public art event is from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch is included. Local artists will guide attendees through processes to
create their own art pieces in diverse media such as batik, quilting, weaving, macrame, painting and drawing. All ages are welcome. This event is free, although some classes may have a modest materials fee. Secondary goals are to introduce and practice Aloha, `Ohana, Ho`olaulima, Lokahi, Malama and Kokua in an active art setting and to provide a safe, encouraging environment for creativity within community. Ka`u School of the Arts is a nonprofit charity organization 501(c)(3) that sponsors this and a rainbow of other art opportunities for the people of Ka`u. See more at www.kauarts.org.
For more information, contact Theresa Lyon 938-9767.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
create their own art pieces in diverse media such as batik, quilting, weaving, macrame, painting and drawing. All ages are welcome. This event is free, although some classes may have a modest materials fee. Secondary goals are to introduce and practice Aloha, `Ohana, Ho`olaulima, Lokahi, Malama and Kokua in an active art setting and to provide a safe, encouraging environment for creativity within community. Ka`u School of the Arts is a nonprofit charity organization 501(c)(3) that sponsors this and a rainbow of other art opportunities for the people of Ka`u. See more at www.kauarts.org.
For more information, contact Theresa Lyon 938-9767.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
