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| Hester's Farm is now selling its premium produce in front of KAHU Radio in Pahala on Wednesdays from 7 a.m. until noon at the new Pahala Open Air Farmers Market. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| Amery Silva represents Ka`u Coffee Mill. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| Lisa Dacalio with a decorative gourd. Photo by Julia Neal |
Vendors for the first day are Hester Farms, Lisa Dacalio with her and Jimmy Dacalio's Moa`ula Cloud Rest Ka`u Coffee and her decorative gourds, and Ka`u Coffee Mill, represented by Amery Silva and Brenda Iokepa Moses. The new market is a shift for Sokha and Ellis Hester who have been famous for years with their colorful produce every Wednesday morning at the farmers markets in Na`alehu. The drive to the Pahala market saves time and travel for the Hesters whose farm is located just above Pahala village. The market is being organized by the Hesters and KAHU public radio. Station manager Christine Ka`ehu`ae`a said she is open to a variety of vendors joining the Pahala Open Air Farmers Market every Wednesday morning.
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| KAHU manager Christine Ka`ehu`ae`a grabs a cup of hot coffee from Lisa Dacalio's Moa`ula Ka`u Cloud Rest Coffee stand. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
KAHU RADIO will not be the venue for an `Aina Koa Pono private meeting of select Ka`u residents this evening. KAHU public radio manager Christine Ka`ehu`ae`a said the radio station wants to remain neutral on the issue and said the decision was made after radio station management received input from community members who wanted the meetings to be open to the public.
`Aina Koa Pono seeks to build a refinery along Wood Valley Road and to clear brush and trees between Pahala and Na`alehu to grind and dry into pellets to be processed in 27 large microwave units to manufacture diesel that would be trucked to Kailua-Kona for Hawai`i Electric Light Co.’s oil-burning power plant. HELCO and `Aina Koa Pono are asking the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to sign a contract that would tie up the price of the diesel for 20 years. Last year the PUC turned down a similar proposal from HELCO and `Aina Koa Pono, saying it was unfair to the electric ratepayers. The PUC also stated concerns about a fixed price for biodiesel setting back the evolution of other technologies that could make electricity cheaper in the near future.
`Aina Koa Pono seeks to build a refinery along Wood Valley Road and to clear brush and trees between Pahala and Na`alehu to grind and dry into pellets to be processed in 27 large microwave units to manufacture diesel that would be trucked to Kailua-Kona for Hawai`i Electric Light Co.’s oil-burning power plant. HELCO and `Aina Koa Pono are asking the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to sign a contract that would tie up the price of the diesel for 20 years. Last year the PUC turned down a similar proposal from HELCO and `Aina Koa Pono, saying it was unfair to the electric ratepayers. The PUC also stated concerns about a fixed price for biodiesel setting back the evolution of other technologies that could make electricity cheaper in the near future.
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| A representative photo from ainakoapono.com. |
The new proposal, like the one last year, would raise electric bills across O`ahu and the Big Island to help pay for the new microwave refinery. `Aina Koa Pono says building the refinery would make 400 construction jobs over three years and 200 permanent jobs to run the factory, harvesting and biofuel crop enterprise. It contends that its approach of using trees and shrubs and growing grasses for biofuel is one cornerstone of Hawai`i’s goal of becoming independent from fossil fuel.
The public hearings on the issue are at Hilo High School Cafeteria, Monday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. and at Kealakahe High School cafeteria in Kona on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. Public testimony deadline is Nov. 30. See `Aina Koa Pono’s presentation at ainakoapono.com. See the presentation of the yet-to-be patented new microwave refinery process at the website of Sustainable Biofuels Solutions, a recently organized company established by former `Aina Koa Pono chair and SBS managing partner Melvin Chiogioji at biofuels-solutions.com. See public testimony and the proposed HELCO contract and justification at puc.hawaii.gov.
The public hearings on the issue are at Hilo High School Cafeteria, Monday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. and at Kealakahe High School cafeteria in Kona on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. Public testimony deadline is Nov. 30. See `Aina Koa Pono’s presentation at ainakoapono.com. See the presentation of the yet-to-be patented new microwave refinery process at the website of Sustainable Biofuels Solutions, a recently organized company established by former `Aina Koa Pono chair and SBS managing partner Melvin Chiogioji at biofuels-solutions.com. See public testimony and the proposed HELCO contract and justification at puc.hawaii.gov.
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| Representative image from hnei.hawaii.edu. |
HYDROGEN FUELED buses are in the works for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Hawai`i County, with the sources coming from the Puna geothermal plant. Hydrogen is a byproduct of geothermal energy. Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute next to Kona Airport will study hydrogen “as a potential energy storage technology with the side benefit of providing hydrogen for fuel cells to power one of the public buses on the Big Island,” according to a story in Pacific Business News. “In a draft environmental assessment published Monday by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control, the Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute said that the more energy storage available on the electricity grid, the more intermittent renewables such as wind and solar can be added to the grid. Currently, grids use backup, fast-start generators that, according to the Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute, is a system that is both inefficient and expensive,” reports PBN writer Duane Shimogawa. “The Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawai`i has a mandate to develop alternatives to imported fossil fuels for electricity and transportation and has established a major hydrogen fuel research and development program... Hawai`i Electric Light Co. has said that it needs energy storage technologies to support the large and growing share of power produced by intermittent renewable energy sources.
The Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute project is funded by the US Department of Energy and the Hawai`i Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Project elements include hydrogen production at the Puna Geothermal Venture plant, hydrogen transport to a dispensing station at the Kilauea Military Camp, located within the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, and fueling of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle shuttle buses used for visitors to the park. "Important benefits of this project are the validation of fuel cell vehicle operation and help in reducing barriers to the introduction of hydrogen infrastructure," says the Hawai`i Natural Energy Institute website at hnei.hawaii.edu. See more at bizjournals.com/pacific/news.
Read the EIS at the state Department of Health Office of Environmental Quality Control website at hawaii.gov.
RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS MEET tomorrow at 7 p.m. at H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. office in Ocean View. Current volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers are welcome. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.
KA`U TROJANS SPORTS LINE-UP FOR THE WEEK includes a home football game Friday versus Konawaena at 7 p.m. On Saturday, girls volleyball plays Kohala at Pahoa at 10 a.m. and an air riflery match is set at Waiakea.
Read the EIS at the state Department of Health Office of Environmental Quality Control website at hawaii.gov.
RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS MEET tomorrow at 7 p.m. at H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. office in Ocean View. Current volunteers and those interested in becoming volunteers are welcome. For more, call Hannah Uribes at 929-9953.
KA`U TROJANS SPORTS LINE-UP FOR THE WEEK includes a home football game Friday versus Konawaena at 7 p.m. On Saturday, girls volleyball plays Kohala at Pahoa at 10 a.m. and an air riflery match is set at Waiakea.
KA`U LIONS, of Pop Warner Football, play Keaukaha Warriors in Pahala this Sunday.
COOPER CENTER in Volcano Village hosts a Mongolian BBQ Saturday. For more call 985-9508 or visit volcanocommunity.org.
ATLAS RECYCLING AT SOUTH POINT U-CART in Ocean View, accepts recyclables Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
THREE GUIDED HIKES ARE OFFERED THIS WEEKEND, within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park – one Saturday and two Sunday.
PALM TRAIL HIKE is offered Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Kahuku Unit of HVNP. This relatively easy, guided 2.6 mile loop crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. The hike will be offered again on Sunday, Oct. 28. For more and to sign up, call 985-6011.
PEOPLE AND LAND OF KAHUKU, also in the Kahuku Unit, is offered Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This 2.5 mile hike is moderately difficult and takes participants over rugged terrain while the guide tells a story of the area’s human history. This hike is also offered Saturday, Oct. 27. For more and to sign up, call 985-6011.
COOPER CENTER in Volcano Village hosts a Mongolian BBQ Saturday. For more call 985-9508 or visit volcanocommunity.org.
ATLAS RECYCLING AT SOUTH POINT U-CART in Ocean View, accepts recyclables Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
THREE GUIDED HIKES ARE OFFERED THIS WEEKEND, within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park – one Saturday and two Sunday.
PALM TRAIL HIKE is offered Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Kahuku Unit of HVNP. This relatively easy, guided 2.6 mile loop crosses scenic pasture along an ancient cinder cone with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. The hike will be offered again on Sunday, Oct. 28. For more and to sign up, call 985-6011.
PEOPLE AND LAND OF KAHUKU, also in the Kahuku Unit, is offered Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This 2.5 mile hike is moderately difficult and takes participants over rugged terrain while the guide tells a story of the area’s human history. This hike is also offered Saturday, Oct. 27. For more and to sign up, call 985-6011.
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| Lincoln Ashida comes to Ka`u to talk story with residents this Sunday. Photo from Lincoln Ashida |
SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK, offered by Friends of HVNP, is this Sunday. The guide will take participants from the Mauna Loa Lookout (in the Kilauea Unit) on a four-hour, four-mile roundtrip hike to explore scenery, plants, birds and geology of the sub-alpine zone of the Mauna Loa Trail. The hike is free to Friends members and non-members are welcome to join in order to attend. For more or to sign-up, call 985-7373, email programs@fhvnp.org or visit fhvnp.org.
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN ASHIDA host a meet and greet this Sunday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Pahala Community Center. For more visit ashidaforprosector.com.
A CANDIDATE FORUM, sponsored by League of Women Voters, will be hosted Monday, Oct. 15, at the Cooper Center in Volcano Village. State Rep. for District 3 candidates Fred Fogel, Marlene Hapai, and Richard Onishi meet the public at 5:30 p.m. followed by Prosecuting Attorney candidates Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth at 6:45 p.m. For more visit lwv.org.
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN ASHIDA host a meet and greet this Sunday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the Pahala Community Center. For more visit ashidaforprosector.com.
A CANDIDATE FORUM, sponsored by League of Women Voters, will be hosted Monday, Oct. 15, at the Cooper Center in Volcano Village. State Rep. for District 3 candidates Fred Fogel, Marlene Hapai, and Richard Onishi meet the public at 5:30 p.m. followed by Prosecuting Attorney candidates Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth at 6:45 p.m. For more visit lwv.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.