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| First container from Pasha lands in Honolulu. Photo from Pasha |
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| Mayor Billy Kenoi and his County of Hawai`i contingent in a Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Julia Neal |
MAYORAL CANDIDATES DIFFERED on trash, land preservation and funding retiree health care during a forum held in Kona last night as the Aug. 11 primary election approaches. A report by Chelsea Jensen in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today says the “three leading candidates butted heads.”
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| Harry Kim |
Regarding health care, County Council chair Dominic Yagong has been trying to get the administration to pay ahead on health insurance payment for county retirees and pushed the point during the forum. Mayor Billy Kenoi has said the payments are on time but not ahead during this time of county fiscal restraint. Yagong has argued that advance payments are made to help cover shortfalls with possible rising prices in the future. West Hawai`i Today reports him saying last night: “My father always told me, ‘Never leave the problem to the next man. You do what you can today even if it’s only a portion.’ Making some kind of payment is something we should be doing as a government.” Former Mayor Harry Kim, who is running to win his seat again after serving the maximum allowable consecutive terms, said, “It should be paid,” the story reported him saying.
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| Dominic Yagong greeted residents watching a Fourth of July Parade. Photo by William Neal |
Regarding the 532 tons of trash generated by island residents and visitors each day, the Jensen story reported the former mayor saying, “I firmly believe the worst thing we can do is continuing land-filling.” Yagong said that new technology should be adopted to defer trash from landfills but said Hilo landfill should be expanded temporarily to give the county time to solve the problem. Kenoi said that Hilo International Airport is too close to the landfill to allow expansion and that the leaching of substances from the trash is a problem, the story reported.
Regarding land preservation, the West Hawai`i Today story reported that Kim said he’d like to see the coastline open for the people, but was sad the state Land Use Commission turned down a recent development that would benefit Kona and the island. Regarding 300 acres at O`oma site near Kona, Yagong said he supports development mauka and open space on the coast. Kenoi, while saying conservation land should be protected, said there is potential for commercial development fronting Queen Kaahumanu Highway, the Jensen story reported.
CHANNEL FOUR, KITV was dropped by Oceanic Cable TV as a result of a contract dispute between Hearst Television and Time Warner Cable. “The ownership of KITV has forced us to stop carrying this channel. “Visit www.twcconversations.com/local,” says the message from the cable company on the blackened screen. The agreement between Time Warner and KITV owners apparently ended at midnight. KITV.com continued to operate this morning online.
PASHA HAWAI`I is heating up competition in the ocean shipping business by adding containers to its offerings on routes between Hilo, Kahului, Honolulu and Nawiliwili and San Diego, Los Angeles and Northern California. The next Hilo arrival dates are July 20, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16. The company previously handled cars, motorcycles and boats but refitted the MV Jean Anne ship to take on up to fifty 40-foot containers each way, plus the vehicles. Pasha serves San Diego, while Matson, Inc. serves Long Beach, Oakland, Portland and Seattle. Pasha is also a major shipper for the military. See more at pashahawaii.com.
PASHA HAWAI`I is heating up competition in the ocean shipping business by adding containers to its offerings on routes between Hilo, Kahului, Honolulu and Nawiliwili and San Diego, Los Angeles and Northern California. The next Hilo arrival dates are July 20, Aug. 2 and Aug. 16. The company previously handled cars, motorcycles and boats but refitted the MV Jean Anne ship to take on up to fifty 40-foot containers each way, plus the vehicles. Pasha serves San Diego, while Matson, Inc. serves Long Beach, Oakland, Portland and Seattle. Pasha is also a major shipper for the military. See more at pashahawaii.com.
FALLING OIL PRICES have brought a slight reduction in electric bills, but the average price per household statewide is over $200 a month. On the Big Island, rates for homes dropped to 41.4 cents a kilowatt-hour. The rate last month was 42 cents. The average bill remained at $258.68, higher than rates on Kaua`i, Maui and O`ahu.
While rates fell this month statewide, they are still higher than last year and remain highest in the country. On the mainland, the average residential rate was 12 cents per kilowatt-hour in April. In Hawai`i the rate was 37.5 cents.
While rates fell this month statewide, they are still higher than last year and remain highest in the country. On the mainland, the average residential rate was 12 cents per kilowatt-hour in April. In Hawai`i the rate was 37.5 cents.
HAWAI`I’S BIRD POLLINATORS: A LOVE STORY is the title of tonight’s program at After Dark in the Park. UH-Hilo professor Jonathan Price explains the connection between Hawai`i’s native endemic birds and ancient flowers at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.
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| Volunteers remove derelict nets during a previous Ka`u beach cleanup. Photo from HWF |
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND is looking for volunteers with four-wheel-drive vehicles for this Saturday’s Ka`u beach cleanup. Volunteers meet at 7:45 a.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. The group should be back at the park by 3 p.m. To be sure of a ride to the remote site, sign up with Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629. HWF also sponsors anchialine pool workdays tomorrow and again on July 25.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.