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| Pahala Volunteer Fire Department chief Ron Ebert has been hoping for the shelter for his equipment for years. The garage is out to bid for construction. Photo by Julia Neal |
KA`U VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS will soon be able to enjoy new garages for their fire trucks in Pahala and Na`alehu. The county Department of Public Works posted a description of the $75,000 project was to bring in estimates from qualified contractors. The bids close on June 21, and changes in the project were announced today.
The new Pahala Disaster Shelter & Gym also went out for bidding, which closed on June 12. The estimate for the construction budget for the facility next to Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School is listed by the Department of Public Works as $16.5 million. The engineering, design, planning and permitting studies cost more than $1 million and were conducted by Matsunaga & Associates Architects, Inc. of Honolulu.
Another recent public works project in Ka`u was repairing and re-roofing Pahala Community Center. That construction contract went to Certified Construction, Inc., of Honolulu, and the cost was $106,436.
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| Strong winds and waves are expected to create high surf and perhaps some action at this South Point blow hole. Photo by Peter Anderson from 2007 |
CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICIALS are warning drivers to use extreme caution when traveling today. A gale warning is issued for seas, and high wind warnings and advisories on land are the outlook. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Pahala and South Point to Miloli`i, where winds are gusting up to 50 mph and more. Upslope on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea for elevations above 8,000 feet, a high wind warning with gusts up to 80 mph is issued through 6 p.m.
These strong winds can bring down tree branches and make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles, the National Weather Service warns. Drivers should use extra caution on roadways.
When a power pole snapped in two yesterday evening in North Kohala, more than 5,900 people lost power.
The winds are being caused by a high-pressure system Northeast of the islands and should reduce to moderate strength on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is also a gale warning through 6 p.m. today for the Alenuihaha and Pailolo Channels along with waters south of the Big Island. A small craft advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for all other Hawaiian waters and channels.
When a power pole snapped in two yesterday evening in North Kohala, more than 5,900 people lost power.
The winds are being caused by a high-pressure system Northeast of the islands and should reduce to moderate strength on Tuesday and Wednesday.
There is also a gale warning through 6 p.m. today for the Alenuihaha and Pailolo Channels along with waters south of the Big Island. A small craft advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday for all other Hawaiian waters and channels.
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| Tulsi Gabbard |
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| Mufi Hannemann |
TULSI GABBARD and MUFI HANNEMANN are in a dead heat to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to a poll by Civil Beat released this morning. The office, currently held by Rep. Mazie Hirono, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat of Dan Akaka, who is retiring, serves Ka`u, Volcano and all rural Hawai`i.
Civil Beat surveyed voters twice in the past two weeks and reported that Gabbard has “overcome a 45-point deficit with the former Honolulu mayor two months before the Democratic primary likely to determine Hawai`i’s new representative in Congress.” The latest poll showed Hannemann with 34 percent and Gabbard with 33 percent. Bob Marx and Esther Kia`aina were at 10 percent. Twelve percent of voters were undecided.
Civil Beat found the following:
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| Esther Kia`aina |
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| Bob Marx |
Of those who picked jobs and the economy as their top priority, 39 percent backed Gabbard and 38 percent Hannemann;
Of those who said debt was the number one issue, Gabbard scored 37 percent and Hannemann 36 percent;
Of those who identified the environment and energy as most important, Hannemann got 25 percent to Gabbard’s 24 percent. This last issue was a strong area for both Marx, with 20 percent, and Kia`aina, with 16 percent.
GAS PRICES DROPPED LAST WEEK. Statewide, retail prices fell 8.7 cents per gallon, averaging $4.36/gallon yesterday. The national average dropped to $3.53 per gallon, according to gasoline price website HawaiiGasPrices.com.
Of those who identified the environment and energy as most important, Hannemann got 25 percent to Gabbard’s 24 percent. This last issue was a strong area for both Marx, with 20 percent, and Kia`aina, with 16 percent.
GAS PRICES DROPPED LAST WEEK. Statewide, retail prices fell 8.7 cents per gallon, averaging $4.36/gallon yesterday. The national average dropped to $3.53 per gallon, according to gasoline price website HawaiiGasPrices.com.
Prices yesterday in Hawai`i were still 33.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago, but 12.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has decreased 17.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 12.6 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago.
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| Na`alehu Fourth of July parade is on June 30. Photo by Julia Neal |
GasBuddy.com senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan said that gas prices could go up “as markets feel more upbeat about the economic situation.”
Here are the current prices for regular gasoline in Ka`u: at Ka`u Gas in Pahala, $4.60 per gallon; at Wiki-Wiki 76 in Na`alehu, $4.56 per gallon; at Ocean View Market, $4.56 per gallon; at Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, $4.62 per gallon; and at Spirit Gas in Ocean View, $4.68 per gallon.
THERE IS STILL TIME to sign up to participate in Fourth of July parades. Na`alehu’s parade rolls down Hwy 11 on Saturday, June 30 at 11 a.m. from the Hongwanji to Na`alehu Elementary school. Community groups, local businesses, elected officials and candidates are invited to show their patriotism. Call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.
Volcano Village’s parade takes place Wednesday, July 4 at 9 a.m., starting at the post office and following Old Volcano Road to Wright Road, where it turns left to Cooper Center. The celebration continues with an arts and crafts fair, silent auction, live music and entertainment. Parade registration deadline is June 27. For more, see volcanocommunity.org or coopercenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
Here are the current prices for regular gasoline in Ka`u: at Ka`u Gas in Pahala, $4.60 per gallon; at Wiki-Wiki 76 in Na`alehu, $4.56 per gallon; at Ocean View Market, $4.56 per gallon; at Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, $4.62 per gallon; and at Spirit Gas in Ocean View, $4.68 per gallon.
THERE IS STILL TIME to sign up to participate in Fourth of July parades. Na`alehu’s parade rolls down Hwy 11 on Saturday, June 30 at 11 a.m. from the Hongwanji to Na`alehu Elementary school. Community groups, local businesses, elected officials and candidates are invited to show their patriotism. Call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.
Volcano Village’s parade takes place Wednesday, July 4 at 9 a.m., starting at the post office and following Old Volcano Road to Wright Road, where it turns left to Cooper Center. The celebration continues with an arts and crafts fair, silent auction, live music and entertainment. Parade registration deadline is June 27. For more, see volcanocommunity.org or coopercenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.