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| Fishermen like Guy Sesson, of Pahala, and other operators of boats with engines over 10HP may have to take classes and pass tests if the Board of Land & Natural Resources approves new rules on Friday. Photo by Julia Neal |
POWER BOAT OPERATORS would be required to pass a safety course if new rules are adopted by the state Board of Land & Natural Resources on Friday. The proposal would go into effect two years after being signed off by the governor. Rules would require operators to successfully complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and state-approved boating safety course to legally operate a motor vessel. The rules would set a minimum age for operating a vessel unsupervised. They would establish a fine between $50 and $1,000 for violators.
New rules would exempt those possessing a valid license to operate a vessel issued for maritime personnel by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as operators of vessels in Hawai`i’s waters who voyage here from outside the state and remain in state waters less than 60 calendar days. It would also exempt those vessel renters for the contract period who receive a safety briefing from the boat livery operator that is approved by the state.
Rules could also exempt vessels with motors under 10 horsepower.
Board of Land & Natural Resources chair William Aila, Jr. posted on the BLNR website, saying new rules are necessary because “our oceans are no longer the wide open spaces we remember. It is increasingly more crowded as people are diving and paddling farther from shore. We are experiencing more and more fatal accidents in our waters.”
The BLNR chief said, “It’s the right time to raise awareness about the growth of the number of people using our waters to recreate and make sure everyone operating a vessel understands the rules of the road. The department is working diligently to create an education requirement that improves safety for the entire ocean-user community yet is simple and reasonable for all boaters to comply with.”
Testimony can be sent to the BLNR board by tomorrow by emailing dlnr@hawaii.gov or adaline.f.cummings@hawaii.gov; by faxing 808-587-0390 or by mailing DLNR at 115 Punchbowl St., Room 130, Honolulu, HI 96813.
New rules would exempt those possessing a valid license to operate a vessel issued for maritime personnel by the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as operators of vessels in Hawai`i’s waters who voyage here from outside the state and remain in state waters less than 60 calendar days. It would also exempt those vessel renters for the contract period who receive a safety briefing from the boat livery operator that is approved by the state.
Rules could also exempt vessels with motors under 10 horsepower.
Board of Land & Natural Resources chair William Aila, Jr. posted on the BLNR website, saying new rules are necessary because “our oceans are no longer the wide open spaces we remember. It is increasingly more crowded as people are diving and paddling farther from shore. We are experiencing more and more fatal accidents in our waters.”
The BLNR chief said, “It’s the right time to raise awareness about the growth of the number of people using our waters to recreate and make sure everyone operating a vessel understands the rules of the road. The department is working diligently to create an education requirement that improves safety for the entire ocean-user community yet is simple and reasonable for all boaters to comply with.”
Testimony can be sent to the BLNR board by tomorrow by emailing dlnr@hawaii.gov or adaline.f.cummings@hawaii.gov; by faxing 808-587-0390 or by mailing DLNR at 115 Punchbowl St., Room 130, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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| Ka`u Coffee took half the top ten commercial spots at HCA's cupping event. Photo from kaucoffeefest.com |
KA`U TOOK HALF OF THE TOP TEN SPOTS in the statewide Commercial Division of the Hawai`i Coffee Association’s fourth annual cupping event last Saturday. Rusty’s Hawaiian placed in the top ten in all three divisions of competition. More details released Tuesday noted that 62 percent of the 51 Commercial Division entries and 68 percent of the 66 Creative Division entries achieved a cupping score of 80.0 or higher.
In the Commercial Division, Wood Valley Coffee Co. took first and second with its Wet Process Peaberry and its Wet Process #18 Screen. R&A Coffee Co., from the Javar family, took seventh. Rusty’s Hawaiian took eighth with its Wet Process Typica, and Ka`u Coffee Mill took tenth with its Natural Process Typica.
In the Ka`u District Division, Wood Valley Coffee Farm took first and second, followed by Rusty’s Hawaiian.
In the Ka`u District Division, Wood Valley Coffee Farm took first and second, followed by Rusty’s Hawaiian.
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| Ka`u Coffee Bag from kaucoffeemill.com. |
In the statewide Creative Division, Rusty’s Hawaiian took third with its Guatemalan Typica/Bourbon Wet Process. JN Coffee Farm, owned by the Leo Norberte family, took fifth with its Guatemalan Washed. Will and Grace Tabios took tenth with their Rising Sun coffee.
Lead judges for this year’s cupping panel were Shawn Hamilton of Java City Roasters, Warren Muller of Inter American Coffee, and Paul Thornton of Coffee Bean International. “This event seems to be creating more interest in learning and improving,” said Thornton, who also serves as president of the Specialty Coffee Association of America. “There are more, better coffees than ever.”
The new Hawai`i Coffee Association president Greg Stille said, “New farms and the improvement and expansion of existing farms are combining to raise the bar on innovation and quality for the benefit of the entire Hawai`i coffee industry and the drinking enjoyment of the specialty coffee consumer.”
Stille and his wife Suzie operate the small Piliani Coffee farm on Maui where their motto is “Sustainable Farming Practices, from Seed to Cup.” To grow its coffee, Piliani employs worm propagation; organic compost; cinnamon/clove oil weed control; mazi injected compost tea; good bug blend plants and nitrogen fixing ground cover.
The new Hawai`i Coffee Association president Greg Stille said, “New farms and the improvement and expansion of existing farms are combining to raise the bar on innovation and quality for the benefit of the entire Hawai`i coffee industry and the drinking enjoyment of the specialty coffee consumer.”
Stille and his wife Suzie operate the small Piliani Coffee farm on Maui where their motto is “Sustainable Farming Practices, from Seed to Cup.” To grow its coffee, Piliani employs worm propagation; organic compost; cinnamon/clove oil weed control; mazi injected compost tea; good bug blend plants and nitrogen fixing ground cover.
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| Cartoon from Hawai`i State Ethics Commission |
HCA promises complete rankings and scores for the cupping event will soon be published on its website at www.hawaiicoffeeassoc.org.
FINES FOR FAILING TO FILE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS will be levied on 22 state House and Senate candidates, according to the state Ethics Commission. The fines which will be collected from several incumbents and other candidates will be $25 each. The paperwork filed by candidates discloses sources of income, property and business ownership and other financial interests. The commission is yet to release the names of those who failed to make the filing deadline.
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| County Council candidate Maile David visits Pahala Community Center this Thursday. Photo by David Howard Donald |
FRIENDS OF MAILE DAVID host a talk story session this Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Supporters Bobby and Phoebe Gomes are organizing the event for David, who is running to take the District 6 County Council seat of Brittany Smart, who is running for state House of Representative rather than for re-election.
HOSPICE, WHICH SERVES KA`U, is providing training for volunteers willing to be a part of its team, providing compassionate end-of-life care and support. Volunteer training sessions are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 25 through Hospice of Hilo. Volunteer manager Pearl Lyman said Hospice volunteers perform supportive services, including patient care and feeding, respite care, bereavement care, transportation, companionship, shopping, errands, active listening and reading, as well as office administrative support, community education and public relations.
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| Training for Hospice will be given at the new Hospice of Hilo center, which serves Ka`u. Photo from Hospice of Hilo |
Volunteers can serve locally or travel to Hilo to the new Pohai Malama Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Care Center “where there will be a need for cooking, gardening and even playing the piano,” Lyman said. “Our volunteers give so much, and ask for so little. They meet the families where they’re at, and they journey with them through the unknown. I am so lucky to work among these wonderful people.”
Volunteer Nancy Molitor said it’s all about, “caring for all humanity.”
Hospice periodically offers retreats for bereaved teens at Pahala Plantation House.
To find out more about becoming a Hospice volunteer, contact Lyman at 969-1733 or email pearl@hospiceofhilo.org.
Volunteer Nancy Molitor said it’s all about, “caring for all humanity.”
Hospice periodically offers retreats for bereaved teens at Pahala Plantation House.
To find out more about becoming a Hospice volunteer, contact Lyman at 969-1733 or email pearl@hospiceofhilo.org.
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| Ka`u Scenic Byway extends from Manuka State Park to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. |
KA`U `OHANA BAND rehearses today and every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The band is looking for flute and clarinet players. Instruments are provided, and no experience is necessary. Call 929-7544.
KA`U SCENIC BYWAY committee invites the public to meet today at 4:30 p.m. at Punalu`u Bake Shop’s upper pavilion. Agenda items include a GIS training proposal, federal funding and project status.
HA`AO SPRINGS/MOUNTAIN HOUSE AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE meets tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Everyone interested in seeing an ag water system for the area is invited to attend.
KA`U SCENIC BYWAY committee invites the public to meet today at 4:30 p.m. at Punalu`u Bake Shop’s upper pavilion. Agenda items include a GIS training proposal, federal funding and project status.
HA`AO SPRINGS/MOUNTAIN HOUSE AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE meets tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Wai`ohinu Park. Everyone interested in seeing an ag water system for the area is invited to attend.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.