Ka`u News Briefs July 18, 2012

The Ka`u Desert has many unusual soils and a landscape used for training to go to the moon and robots to Mars.
Photo by Tom Stein, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 

NASA IS ON THE BIG ISLAND to evaluate techniques for exploring the moon. The research is being done in lava-covered soil similar to the volcanic plains on the moon. The project tests a device that would map distribution of water and ice on the moon and drill into the lunar surface. NASA said, Tuesday, the lessons it learns will become increasingly important as it embarks on deep-space missions. The agency says that resources already on the moon could mean that a human could go to the moon knowing natural resources are waiting, instead of carrying everything along for the ride. NASA is working with the Canadian Space Agency on the project. Hawai`i’s Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems is assisting. 

     This follows an announcement last year of a new partnership between NASA and the State of Hawai`i in helping to develop an International Lunar Research Park, a project envisioned as a multinational base on the moon's surface from which future space research could be performed. An Earth based research park is planned for University of Hawaii-Hilo and could involve test sites inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to simulate lunar conditions. Ka`u Desert was used to train astronauts on the original Apollo moon-landing missions and for the robotic Mars Rover. 

     "These very islands of Hawai`i continue to provide a basis for training that's unparalleled anywhere else in the rest of our planet,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie. 

Public schools in Ka`u achieved AYP with encouragement by such activities
as this math and science fair earlier this year.
Photo by Nalani Parlin

NA`ALEHU, KA`U HIGH & PAHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS all achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in the Race to the Top program, according to results released yesterday. Ka`u’s schools joined a statewide trend of improvement with higher scores in reading and math in the 2012 Hawai`i State Assessment, according to data from the Hawai`i state Department of Education. Hawai`i stood out as the only state in the nation to better its scores in mathematics and reading in grades 4 and 8 on the Nation’s Report Card.
     U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan offered congratulations, “Student performance data signal an encouraging sign that more than ever before, Hawai`i is focused on efforts to support classroom instruction and student learning. Despite challenges and setbacks in meeting Race to the Top goals, Hawai`i has maintained a relentless commitment to moving forward.”
     Public schools superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said: “Our plan to create systemic change is working. Increasingly, more students in more schools across the state are on the path toward college and career readiness.”
      Among highlights: The number of students proficient in reading and math increased by about 6,000 in each subject, compared to the previous year. The statewide jump in reading and math proficiency was educationally significant at 5 percentage points.

REPUBLICAN LINDA LINGLE says the next governor should have "a foot in both camps,” referring to the deeply divided congress and public.

U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle and
Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley.
Photo by Vernon Brown

     During an interview with Honolulu Star Advertiser writer Derek DePledge, she said: "These people in Congress today have completely lost that their obligation is to the people, not to their political party. They should have known that but obviously they've really gone astray." Lingle told DePlege that it is “important to reflect in my language what I hear from the public, which is, ‘How come they don't get along? How come they can't get anything done? Why don't they compromise? How come they can't come together?'"
     Lingle said that being the former Hawai`i governor gives her an understanding and a leadership quality missing from Democratic contenders, former congressman Ed Case and current congresswoman Mazie Hirono.
     "The other candidates have never had to make tough personal decisions in a public setting. Personal in the sense it was them — they couldn't hide behind a committee chairman or a caucus or a legislative body," she said. "I had to make the decisions, sometimes very difficult ones, but I had to do it," she told the Star Advertiser.
     If Hawai`i elects Lingle to take the place of Sen. Dan Akaka, who is retiring, she will be the first Republican in the U.S. Senate for this state in 36 years. See this story in today’s edition. The story on Hirono was printed on Tuesday and the story on Case was carried on Monday. See www.honolulustaradvertiser.com. 

Mahalo Air flew prop jets from 1993 - 1997 between the Hawaiian Islands,
lowering the cost of inter-island travel. Hawaiian Airlines plans to
bring prop jets back to the market. 

TURBO PROP PLANES, similar to those that flew in the 1990s by Mahalo Air, may be the answer to more affordable interisland transportation and additional neighbor island destinations. Hawaiian Airlines also announced yesterday a drop in fares by four to 25 percent, which immediately drove up sales for the 170 daily neighbor island flights. 

Hawaiian has increased capacity to the neighbor islands by 13 percent over the last year. Hawaiian has also signed an intent to acquire three to six turboprops, according to spokesperson Ann Boticelli. Turboprops have a better chance of landing at such airports as Lana`i, Moloka`i and possibly Waimea on the Big Island than bigger jets during varying weather conditions. They also save on fuel.

KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE meets tomorrow at 4 p.m. at ML Macadamia office in Pahala. Anyone interested in irrigation water or joining can contact Jeff McCall at 928-6456 or mccalljeffreyw@gmail.com.

Hilo One plays tomorrow at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U meets tomorrow. Call 929-9731 or 936-7262 for more information.

KICK ICE SIGN WAIVING takes place in front of Na`alehu School gym on Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

HILO ONE performs tonight, 6:30 p.m., at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The group features Kahele Miura on electric 12-string rhythm guitar, Aaron Agres on electric upright bass, and R. Likeke Teanio on lead guitar and `ukulele. Five-dollar donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply. 

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.