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| A public hearing on proposed state Senate and House of Representative district boundaries takes place this evening at 6 p.m. in County Council chambers in Hilo. The green and light pink areas would be new House Districts, splitting Ka`u. Ka`u would also be in two Senate Districts, outlined in orange. |
She writes that “a fair share assessment is levied against new development to help pay for infrastructure to support the additional population that development brings.... Ironically, the district of Puna, the fastest-growing region in the county, has no fair share funds available in any category of infrastructure. Nor are there any funds available in Ka`u,” where Ocean View was a fast-growing community over the last decade.
The story points out that concerns about individuals being able to afford to build homes has prevented the County Council from levying fees on each house built rather than on developers creating subdivisions and the larger development projects. Council member Pete Hoffmann, who called for a change to impact fees for each building, told the Tribune-Herald that $3 million is not “a lot of money to do anything with,” noting that one mile of road costs $3 million.
A MINIMUM OF SIX DAYS NOTICE for public hearings for issues under consideration by the county could be out the window, if a bill in the state House of Representatives passes the 2012 Legislature. Civil Beat reported on the measure this morning, noting that the Legislature is already exempt from the law, which allows deal making at the last minute with little input from the public. The measure for the counties, which goes to hearing today, is House Bill 2742. It has raised concern with Common Cause and community watchdogs Ian Lind and Larry Geller. Civil Beat reporter Michael Levine wrote: “We’ve seen the effect that this kind of exemption has on the Legislature. At the Ledge, the Sunshine Law exemption essentially has meant that much of the horse-trading over which bills live and die happens behind closed doors. Unless lawmakers want to talk about it, you never find out what happens, and you never get the full story.” See more at civilbeat.com.
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| A Ka`u Family Center program supports Ka`u fathers. Photo from United Way |
KA`U FAMILY CENTER is offering a new program aimed at supporting Ka`u fathers. Family Support Hawai`i’s Fatherhood Initiative, Na Makuakane Maika`i O Hawai`i, has been available to fathers in Kona for the past eight years and is now available to men in Na`alehu and the surrounding communities.
The Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is “to support men in developing and applying the fathering skills needed to be a positive influence to their children,” shared Pam Naumann, Youth Development Program Manager. The program offers both personal visits and group activities. During personal visits male family support staff and community mentors can visit fathers in the home, community, or workplace to be supportive in caring for their children. They can also assist with personal and family issues such as parenting skills, stress management, conflict resolution and child development.
Group activities involve social activities and parenting classes just for fathers to discuss parenting issues. Father Coach Larry Ursua will be offering these services at the Ka`u Family Center on Thursdays. For more information, call Ursua at 334-4153.
ORDERING LIBRARY BOOKS, DVDs and other services from home has become more dynamic with the Hawai`i State Public Library System’s new portal at www.librarieshawaii.org. While Pahala Library is often closed and Na`alehu Library is small, the new system provides patrons with the ability to more effectively order from anywhere in the state library system and have the books, DVDs and other materials delivered directly to a library in Ka`u. Its powerful new search engine simultaneously explores the library system’s holdings, OverDrive ebook and digital audio books and music holdings, newspaper index entries, and subscription online databases.
The Fatherhood Initiative’s mission is “to support men in developing and applying the fathering skills needed to be a positive influence to their children,” shared Pam Naumann, Youth Development Program Manager. The program offers both personal visits and group activities. During personal visits male family support staff and community mentors can visit fathers in the home, community, or workplace to be supportive in caring for their children. They can also assist with personal and family issues such as parenting skills, stress management, conflict resolution and child development.
Group activities involve social activities and parenting classes just for fathers to discuss parenting issues. Father Coach Larry Ursua will be offering these services at the Ka`u Family Center on Thursdays. For more information, call Ursua at 334-4153.
ORDERING LIBRARY BOOKS, DVDs and other services from home has become more dynamic with the Hawai`i State Public Library System’s new portal at www.librarieshawaii.org. While Pahala Library is often closed and Na`alehu Library is small, the new system provides patrons with the ability to more effectively order from anywhere in the state library system and have the books, DVDs and other materials delivered directly to a library in Ka`u. Its powerful new search engine simultaneously explores the library system’s holdings, OverDrive ebook and digital audio books and music holdings, newspaper index entries, and subscription online databases.
The new portal showcases several technological enhancements, including “fuzzy logic,” a feature that corrects errors such as misspellings and typos, and yields search results every time. The portal is mobile friendly, adjusting to allow the website to be viewed and used by mobile browsers.
The new portal offers ChiliFresh, a global patron interaction platform to facilitate peer book reviews, creation of book clubs by staff and patrons, and provide a vehicle for interaction between book club participants.
Funding for these electronic services is provided by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
NEW STATE REAPPORTIONMENT MAPS for Hawai`i County will be presented at a public hearing today at 6 p.m. in County Council chambers in Hilo. The maps show the addition of a fourth state Senate seat for the Big Island and new boundaries for state House of Representative districts. With a boundary west of Punalu`u, Ka`u would have two state representatives.
DONATIONS FOR A RUMMAGE SALE to benefit Ka`u Hospital Charitable Foundation’s scholarship fund are being accepted this week. The scholarship fund assists any Ka`u student enrolled in any medical training program. Items can be dropped off at Kama`aina Kuts behind Na`alehu Ace Hardware through Saturday. The rummage sale takes place Saturday, March 3. Call Ursula at 896-2624.
NOELANI HOOPAI, of Kamehameha Schools East Regional office, will be at Na`alehu United Methodist Church social hall on Monday, Feb. 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help Hawaiian families complete applications for any summer enrichment program and Ho`oulu Data Center.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
The new portal offers ChiliFresh, a global patron interaction platform to facilitate peer book reviews, creation of book clubs by staff and patrons, and provide a vehicle for interaction between book club participants.
Funding for these electronic services is provided by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act, which is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
NEW STATE REAPPORTIONMENT MAPS for Hawai`i County will be presented at a public hearing today at 6 p.m. in County Council chambers in Hilo. The maps show the addition of a fourth state Senate seat for the Big Island and new boundaries for state House of Representative districts. With a boundary west of Punalu`u, Ka`u would have two state representatives.
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| Helene Hayselden, seated, demonstrates the art of making a feather kahili. Photo from NPS |
VIOLET MAY MAKUAKANE and Helene Hayselden demonstrate the art of making a feather kahili tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.
DONATIONS FOR A RUMMAGE SALE to benefit Ka`u Hospital Charitable Foundation’s scholarship fund are being accepted this week. The scholarship fund assists any Ka`u student enrolled in any medical training program. Items can be dropped off at Kama`aina Kuts behind Na`alehu Ace Hardware through Saturday. The rummage sale takes place Saturday, March 3. Call Ursula at 896-2624.
A SPAGHETTI DINNER to benefit Ka`u Hospital takes place this Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
NOELANI HOOPAI, of Kamehameha Schools East Regional office, will be at Na`alehu United Methodist Church social hall on Monday, Feb. 27 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to help Hawaiian families complete applications for any summer enrichment program and Ho`oulu Data Center.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.