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| Ocean View Water Well blessing drew public officials and long time advocates to the new filling station yesterday. Photo by the Charles Tobias |
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| Ted Blanco, Department of Water Supply Chief Quirino Antonio and Harvey Galapir will operate the Ocean View Water Station. Photo by Julia Neal |
The $6 million project establishes a basic drinking water system complete with a well, storage tank, transmission pipeline, and fill station for the Ocean View community.
SEN. JOSH GREEN is applauding Gov. Neil Abercrombie for signing a bill that will require private hospitals to pay up to 3 percent of their receipts to the state, which will allow more Medicaid funding to come to Hawai`i from the federal government. The money is expected to help such remote facilities as Ka`u Hospital.
The hospitals could pay some $42 million in provider fees and bring in $77 million from the fed.
Green, a physician who serves Kona, is running in the Aug. 11 primary for a Senate District that will extend from Honu`apo to Kona. He told the Honolulu Star Advertiser: "This was the Health Committee's most important bill. It brings in millions of federal dollars to keep our hospitals across Hawai`i open and to help us hire needed new physicians. The governor stepped up and did the right thing for our health care system."
DISPARATE TREATMENT OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS is the subject of meetings held by the Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Hawai`i Civic Center and next Saturday, July 14, at the Department of Education annex on Wainuenue Ave. in Hilo. A statement from the task force says the meeting will give voice to residents on neighbor islands who have longstanding concerns about “the disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians who are in prison in Hawai`i and the U.S. mainland.”
Task Force Chair Michael Broderick said the task force “is working hard to fully understand why Native Hawaiians are over-represented in the criminal justice system.” Broderick, who is also CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu, said “The numbers are clear, undisputable, compelling and disturbing. Less clear are the reasons for this tragedy.”
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs issued a report titled: The Disparate Treatment of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice System.
PRESERVATION OF COASTAL PARCELS in Kahuku and South Kona made progress in the County Council this week. In a measure introduced by County Council member Brittany Smart, the council voted and authorized the county finance Director to enter into negotiations to acquire access and a portion of the 16,000 acres around Pohue Bay at Kahuku. The report says that the acquisition of this parcel “would benefit the island community as well as nearby towns by allowing access to Pohue Bay, which is currently under private ownership.”
A separate proposal, initiated by council member Brenda Ford, was also approved for the acquisition of three forest parcels in the ahupua`a of Waikaku`u South Kona. Waikaku`u, is an old growth rainforest on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa. It is considered a critical watershed for Miloi`i and for the springs that support the ulua fishery. It is a home to a thousand year-old `ohi`a and kopiko forest.
Green, a physician who serves Kona, is running in the Aug. 11 primary for a Senate District that will extend from Honu`apo to Kona. He told the Honolulu Star Advertiser: "This was the Health Committee's most important bill. It brings in millions of federal dollars to keep our hospitals across Hawai`i open and to help us hire needed new physicians. The governor stepped up and did the right thing for our health care system."
DISPARATE TREATMENT OF NATIVE HAWAIIANS is the subject of meetings held by the Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the West Hawai`i Civic Center and next Saturday, July 14, at the Department of Education annex on Wainuenue Ave. in Hilo. A statement from the task force says the meeting will give voice to residents on neighbor islands who have longstanding concerns about “the disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians who are in prison in Hawai`i and the U.S. mainland.”
Task Force Chair Michael Broderick said the task force “is working hard to fully understand why Native Hawaiians are over-represented in the criminal justice system.” Broderick, who is also CEO of the YMCA of Honolulu, said “The numbers are clear, undisputable, compelling and disturbing. Less clear are the reasons for this tragedy.”
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs issued a report titled: The Disparate Treatment of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice System.
PRESERVATION OF COASTAL PARCELS in Kahuku and South Kona made progress in the County Council this week. In a measure introduced by County Council member Brittany Smart, the council voted and authorized the county finance Director to enter into negotiations to acquire access and a portion of the 16,000 acres around Pohue Bay at Kahuku. The report says that the acquisition of this parcel “would benefit the island community as well as nearby towns by allowing access to Pohue Bay, which is currently under private ownership.”
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| Pohue Bay may open to the public with purchase of the surrounding lands by the county. Photo from gladtravel.com |
A BILL TO GIVE THE HAWAI`I COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION more opportunity for review and input passed the first reading at the County Council. Initiated by council member Brittany Smart, the bill states that the environmental management commission shall advise the department on solid waste and wastewater programs and include any pilot projector program. The bill is in reaction to the county conducting a pilot program that delivered some 80 percent of the island’s trash to the Westside landfill, without notification to the council or committee.
THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT has donated equipment to the Big Island fire departments. To fight wildfires and or backup for the county, Hawai`i County will receive two 1,500 water tankers and three Class A Pumpers, which the County Council voted to accept this week.
ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FRONT, the County Council voted to allow the FBI to use office space in the Hilo Police Department in order to share resources to enhance investigations and cooperation between county, state and federal law enforcement.
THE GAME MANAGEMENT BILL will go on the ballot this fall. The measure, initiated by County Council Chair Dominic Yagong, would set up a Game Management Commission appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council consisting of nine members. It would “advise County, State and Federal agencies on matters relating to the preservation of subsistence hunting and fishing, as well as protecting traditional and cultural gathering rights.”
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| Royden Okinishi hunts with Bow and Arrow in Ka`u. Photo from Royden Okinishi |
THREE HYDROGEN POWERED buses are on their way to the Big Island, two for use in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and a third for the county Hele On Bus system. According to a Peter Sur report in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald, the Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute of the University of Hawai`i helped organize $5 million in funding from government agencies and fuel taxes. An electrolyzer-based hydrogen production system at Puna Geothermal Venture will be installed, along with a filling station at the National Park and at the county bus base yard.
SHIZUNO NASU TEACHES DANCING IN THE EARTH, an all-level class on creative flow and dance – including warm-up and expressive dance movements based on Hara Tanden chi energy. Classes are tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $45 for general public and $40 for Volcano Arts members. For more, call 967-8222 or email julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
A BARRY FLANAGAN CONCERT is tomorrow at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village, starting at 7 p.m. The singer-songwriter, musician and founder of HAPA has composed some of Hawai`i's popular songs of the last three decades. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org for more.
NA MEA HAWAI`I HULA KAHIKO will bring traditional hula, chant and cultural demonstrations to Volcano Art Center tomorrow, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Audience is encouraged to bring mats for sitting on the grass and be prepared for variable weather conditions. Hawaiian arts and craft demonstrations will also be held on the front porch of the Volcano Art Center Gallery from 9:30am to 1:30pm.
As park entrance fees apply and parking is limited, carpooling is strongly recommended. For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org or contact Julie at 967-8222 or julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
THE 34th ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY RODEO, by The Ka`u Roping & Riding Association, is tomorrow and Sunday at Na`alehu Rodeo Arena. Slack roping starts at 8 a.m., with the show kicking off at noon. New events to this year's rodeo include: Chute Dogging and Rescue Race. Other events include Open Dally, Team 90’s, Double Mugging, Ranch Mugging and Wahine Mugging. Entry to the rodeo is $6 before the event and $7 at the gate.
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| The 34th annual Fourth of July Rodeo, Saturday and Sunday in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal |
AUDITIONS FOR WOMEN IN COMEDY are this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Open to all women and “wanna-be” women. This audition is to fill an all-woman comedy show being held over Labor Day weekend.
MEDICINE FOR THE MIND will be held Sunday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Kilauea Military Camp Chapel in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Buddhist healing meditation topic: Island of Jewels – Our Precious Human Life. Fee. For more, call 985-7470 or email joyfulpath@aol.com.
