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| Burned out Pa`au`au Gulch makai of Ka`u Hospital and Pahala Village, where firefighting has come to an end. Photo by Julia Neal |
PAHALA FIRES ARE PAU, in terms of firefighting operations, according to Hawai`i County Fire Department who made the announcement Sunday evening. The Fire Department said the fires are 95 percent contained in the coffee lands and eucalyptus farms and pasture where 400 acres burned and 60 percent contained in the wildlands and pastures around the makai macadamia orchards where some 5,200 acres burned, including 150 acres of mac nut trees. On-duty personnel will continue to monitor hot spots within the fire breaks, fire officials said.
CANDIDATES CARRIED their political messages down Hwy 11 in Na`alehu Saturday, walking, riding and shaking hands during the Independence Day Parade. The march followed the Friday night forum sponsored by Ocean View Community Association. Here is more from that forum:
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| Lincoln Ashida came to the candidate forum Friday and the parade Saturday. Photo by William Neal |
LINCOLN ASHIDA was the sole candidate for county Prosecuting Attorney to attend the forum. He talked about growing up in Hilo, going off to college at University of Michigan and law school at Creighton. He said experience qualifying him for Prosecuting Attorney began with summer internships in the Hawai`i County prosecutor’s office for three years, followed by a job offer that he accepted after law school. He named another asset as the administrative role of his current job as corporate counsel for the county. Ashida said he is up at 4 a.m. every morning and likes to be the first one in and the last one to leave the office and says he likes to lead by example. He called himself a “servant leader” and said he would seek to encourage attorneys to make a career in the prosecutor’s office by encouraging them with the question, “How can I serve you to help you to do your jobs better?” He noted that the average tenure nationwide for prosecuting attorneys is just three years. Most attorneys use the job to get started and leave for private practice. Career attorneys and electing Ashida would help give the prosecutor’s office continuity, the candidate said.
Ashida said he originally planned to be a tax attorney but ended up as a “gunslinger” in court and as a Hawai`i county prosecutor stayed for 13 years. He prosecuted the famous case involving the murder of Dana Ireland, leading to the conviction of the murderer, and said that he is honored that her family supports his run for Prosecuting Attorney.
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| Supporters walked in the parade for Lincoln Ashida for Prosecuting Attorney. Photo by William Neal. |
Regarding crime in rural areas, Ashida recommended getting the detectives out of their offices in Kona and Hilo and into the field. He said detectives stationed in communities get to know the area, the people, “and who the snitches are.” Regarding burglaries and robberies, he noted that 80 percent of the crimes are committed by 20 percent of the criminal population. When inmates get out of jail, crime commonly goes up in their home neighborhoods. He said the most important element in catching thieves is having leads. People calling in right away when crimes occur and expanding neighborhood watch programs could help, he said.
Ashida also mentioned several initiatives for state laws to curb crime. One would making it illegal to drive under the influence of kava. Another would tackle the problem of people stealing identities online and pretending they are the victim when contacting people on social media.
THE NEW WATER WELL AND SPIGOTS at Ocean View will be blessed at 9 a.m. on Thursday, but may open sooner for public use. The Ocean View well is the deepest well on the island that is managed by the DWS. The powerful three-phase submersible pump must push 100 gallons of water per minute up a 12-inch pipe nearly a half-mile to the 300,000-gallon reservoir.
THE NEW WATER WELL AND SPIGOTS at Ocean View will be blessed at 9 a.m. on Thursday, but may open sooner for public use. The Ocean View well is the deepest well on the island that is managed by the DWS. The powerful three-phase submersible pump must push 100 gallons of water per minute up a 12-inch pipe nearly a half-mile to the 300,000-gallon reservoir.
The blessing will be on site at the fill station at the corner of Lehua Lane and Hwy 11. Light refreshments will be served. The publicly funded $6 million project establishes a basic drinking water system with well, storage tank, transmission pipeline and fill station for the Ocean View community.
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| New tools to study information recorded by seismographs is available online. Photo from NPS/HVO |
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY seismologist Wes Thelen introduces new online tools available to interpret earthquakes at After Dark in the Park tomorrow 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. Call 985-6011 for more information.
NA`ALEHU PARK is the site of Fun on the Fourth in Ka`u Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. `O Ka`u Kakou provides seniors with bingo & free luncheon, while keiki enjoy free games, hot dogs & shaved ice.
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| Hawai`i Wildlife Fund in last year's Volcano Parade on July 4. Photo by Julia Neal |
VOLCANO VILLAGE’S annual Fourth of July Parade & Celebration takes place Wednesday. The parade begins at 9 a.m. at the post office and follows Old Volcano Rd. to Wright Rd., turning left to Cooper Center, site of craft fair, entertainment, food, games and silent auction. The silent auction, sponsored by Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, starts at 9 a.m. in Cooper Center. Items include bed & breakfast stays, adventure tours, massage and acupuncture sessions, golf packages, admissions to area attractions, retail store and restaurant gift certificates, original art, photography, prints, jewelry, crafts & more. The auction supports volunteer and educational projects in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Call 985-7373 or email admin@fhvnp.org for more about the auction.
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP celebrates Fourth of July with a Country Hoedown & Western Dance
Party at Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with BBQ pork on a hoagie bun, corn, baked beans and warm buttermilk biscuits for $10. The Dance Party is set for 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with no cover charge. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8371 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
Party at Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with BBQ pork on a hoagie bun, corn, baked beans and warm buttermilk biscuits for $10. The Dance Party is set for 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with no cover charge. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8371 for more information.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.