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| Water from the sugar plantation has served Ka`u for many generations. Photos from state Department of Agriculture |
WOOD VALLEY WATER AND FARM COOPERATIVE is hoping to secure a backup source for potable water and also more water for agriculture by revamping Weda Tunnel. A proposal was made to the Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative District, which is helping to plan the use of state funding to repair old plantation water systems between Kapapala and Wai`ohinu. Weda Tunnel was developed during plantation days but fell into disrepair as the sugar industry abandoned the tunnel system. Weda would not only help agriculture but serve as a back up for Noguchi Tunnel, which serves Wood Valley residents with potable water under a state Department of Health license.
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| The state has released money to plan for tunnel repairs. |
Wood Valley co-op has a restriction on adding more homes to its service until more water can be developed. Weda Tunnel, which is considered non-potable, would be used largely for ag, freeing up Noguchi to perhaps serve more homes and farms.
Wood Valley co-op supplies water to an area encompassing approximately 1,000 acres of homestead agricultural and other agricultural land. There are five to six farms producing cut flowers, tea, macadamia nuts and coffee. Other users have cattle, animal breeding, tree farms, niche crops and small-scale agriculture. Approximately 20 percent of the current service area is in active agriculture. Many of the current users would likely increase the intensity of agriculture if more water became available.
Development of Weda Tunnel would also provide a temporary emergency source of water should the primary source and/or supply main fail. Wood Valley Water and Farm Cooperative experienced a failure in the November 2000 flood which destroyed large sections of its supply main and distribution system.
Wood Valley co-op supplies water to an area encompassing approximately 1,000 acres of homestead agricultural and other agricultural land. There are five to six farms producing cut flowers, tea, macadamia nuts and coffee. Other users have cattle, animal breeding, tree farms, niche crops and small-scale agriculture. Approximately 20 percent of the current service area is in active agriculture. Many of the current users would likely increase the intensity of agriculture if more water became available.
Development of Weda Tunnel would also provide a temporary emergency source of water should the primary source and/or supply main fail. Wood Valley Water and Farm Cooperative experienced a failure in the November 2000 flood which destroyed large sections of its supply main and distribution system.
THE REV. DENNIS KAMAKAHI took home the award for top Slack Key Album of the Year at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards last night in Honolulu. The album is Waimaka Helelei and also features Stephen Inglis. Kamakahi teaches each year at Pahala Plantation Cottages at the Keoki Kahumoku music workshops where many local students receive scholarships and other students come from the around the world to study with the masters. Kamakahi says he will soon move to Na`alehu to teach and operate his recording studio.
ROBERT CAZIMERO won Best Hawaiian Language Album at the Na Hoku Hanohano awards. He also frequents Ka`u and recently shared his music at an official Ka`u Coffee Festival dinner at Kalaekilhohana Bed & Breakfast on South Point Road. His album is called Hula.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR is Kaunaloa by Kuana Torres Kahele, a solo album from the star of Na Palapalai. Kahele has deep roots on he Big Island and has written songs about many places here, from Halema`uma`u to Miloli`i. Kahele also won Male Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Liner Notes of the Year. The awards are issued by Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts.
TODAY IS MEMORIAL DAY, and Kilauea Military Camp’s ceremony begins at 3 p.m. on the front lawn. Iwao Yonemitsu, Toku Nakano and Tsuneki Omija are Congressional Gold Medal recipients from Ka`u who will be honored along with other Gold Medal recipients of Hawai`i Island. Keynote speaker is state Rep. Jerry Chang, and guest speaker is Major Darrin Cox, executive officer of the 1st Squadron, 299th Calvary.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND has a busy week planned in Ka`u. A cleanup of an anchialine pond takes place tomorrow, and the third annual beach cleanup at Manuka Natural Area Reserve is on Saturday. Volunteers should be able hikers wearing sturdy shoes and bring bag lunches, water bottle, snacks and sun and wind protection. Sign up for the events with Megan Lamson at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.
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| Ranger John Stallman guides hikers at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's Kahuku Unit. Photo by Dave Boyle |
KILAKILA O KA`U celebrates the lunar eclipse and Venus transiting the sun this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, June 2 – 4, at Aikala Ranch on South Point Road. Activities include Hawaiian Language Scrabble Tournament, astrology, palmistry, tarot cards, psychics, psychic mediums, gems, stones, Reiki and massage. For vendor spaces, call 968-1781; for camping, call 557-7043.
FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK sponsor a sneak preview of Kahuku Unit’s Kona Trail on Sunday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Park ranger John Stallman guides this four-mile roundtrip trek through highland pastures that offers participants excellent bird-watching opportunities along with information about the area’s natural and cultural heritage. $50 for Friends members; $70 for non-members. Students (K-12 and college with valid student ID) are half-price. Non-members are welcome to join the nonprofit Friends in order to get the member discount. Call 985-7373 or email institute@fhvnp.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.