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| Construction continues at Bay Clinic's Ka`u Family Health Center in Na`alehu, where an anonymous donation was recently placed in the center's comment box. Photo from Bay Clinic |
KA`U’S STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES are leading efforts to repeal Act 97, according to Tom Callis in today’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. Adopted in the 2012 Legislature, the act eliminates geothermal subzones, or areas that were previously open to geothermal power projects. Callis said Sen. Josh Green, co-sponsor of the bill, told him that Sen. Russell Ruderman has drafted legislation that undoes the act. Green was also a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 3003, which became Act 97 upon adoption last year. He told Callis that, while he remains a supporter of expanding geothermal energy, he was unaware of the bill’s implications on county-level oversight and “believes that needs to be fixed. I think definitely we want local input and local control,” he said.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
According to the Tribune-Herald story, Hawai`i County has also raised objections to the legislation based on lack of county authority over permitting for the projects.
Councilwoman Brenda Ford has introduced a resolution urging repeal of Act 97 that is on the agenda of the County Council meeting next Wednesday. “Anytime you take away home rule from the county, I’m going to oppose that process,” Ford told Callis. “We are the closest to the issues and the problems here.”
See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE has issued a statement regarding the Public Land Development Corp., which was created when he signed Act 55 into law after it passed the 2011 state Legislature. “I believe in the legislative intent of Act 55, which has the potential to support using public lands for public purposes that otherwise will not have sufficient funding,” the governor said. “However, after reviewing the information compiled by the DLNR and suggested rule and regulation proposals, I believe the administrative rules process may not be able to reconcile existing support with opposing views to the extent necessary to satisfy outstanding concerns.
“The Hawai`i State Legislature may need to adjust Act 55 so that its good intention can be implemented appropriate to the goals of this law. Public understanding and support are essential. If the Legislature cannot achieve this outcome, the possibility of repeal will ensue. I will take that outcome into consideration, but we cannot walk away, should that occur, without a solution that moves us forward.”
The PLDC encourages public-private partnerships to develop state lands. Critics are concerned about exemptions to local land use and zoning regulations.
A bill to repeal Act 55 has been introduced at the 2013 Legislature by Big Island representatives Faye Hanohano, Nicole Lowen and Cindy Evans.
The PLDC encourages public-private partnerships to develop state lands. Critics are concerned about exemptions to local land use and zoning regulations.
A bill to repeal Act 55 has been introduced at the 2013 Legislature by Big Island representatives Faye Hanohano, Nicole Lowen and Cindy Evans.
HAWAI`I STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION and the state returned to the bargaining table yesterday. “HSTA is encouraged by the state’s appreciation for the teachers’ feedback assessing the implementation of the pilot program of the Educator Effectiveness System,” said HSTA president Wil Okabe. A formal response from the state is expected at the next bargaining session on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
AN ANONYMOUS GIFT OF $220 was found in Bay Clinic’s Ka`u Family Health Center’s comment box along with a note that said, “Donation. Keep up the good work!! Love and aloha!”
“I’ve said this before,” said Bay Clinic interim CEO Harold Wallace, “health care is about people. Receiving an anonymous gift like this reinforces my statement.”
Bay Clinic is constructing a new health and dental center in Ka`u in front of its facilities in Na`alehu as a source of care for nearly 6,000 residents. “Ka`u residents deserve a more up-to-date and comprehensive medical and dental center in their community that will decrease their travel time in accessing quality care,” Wallace said. “Once completed, the Ka`u Family Health and Dental Center will be equipped to provide greater services to all in Ka`u.”
“We thank all of our supporters who are helping us to make our mission a reality,” said Wallace, “and that includes you, our anonymous donor.”
VALENTINE VARIETY SHOW AUDITIONS continue Saturday at 10 a.m. Auditions are open to all ages and talents, and all applicants and performers must be able to make one mandatory dress rehearsal on Feb. 7 and 8 and show times, which will be either Feb. 9 and 16 or Feb. 10 and 17. Acts for the show to be held at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village should be no longer than five minutes and can be music, dance, drama, comedy, magic, juggling, acrobatics or any other form of entertainment. Solo and group acts are encouraged. The $15 application fee per act is waived for VAC members. For an application or more information, email julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
KAHUKU JUNIOR RANGER DAY is next Saturday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Keiki of all ages are invited to join park rangers for a day of activities connecting the culture, people and `aina through art, `oli, GPS, compass and mo`olelo. Register today to be included in free lunch. Call 985-6019.
“We thank all of our supporters who are helping us to make our mission a reality,” said Wallace, “and that includes you, our anonymous donor.”
VALENTINE VARIETY SHOW AUDITIONS continue Saturday at 10 a.m. Auditions are open to all ages and talents, and all applicants and performers must be able to make one mandatory dress rehearsal on Feb. 7 and 8 and show times, which will be either Feb. 9 and 16 or Feb. 10 and 17. Acts for the show to be held at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village should be no longer than five minutes and can be music, dance, drama, comedy, magic, juggling, acrobatics or any other form of entertainment. Solo and group acts are encouraged. The $15 application fee per act is waived for VAC members. For an application or more information, email julie@volcanoartcenter.org.
KAHUKU JUNIOR RANGER DAY is next Saturday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Keiki of all ages are invited to join park rangers for a day of activities connecting the culture, people and `aina through art, `oli, GPS, compass and mo`olelo. Register today to be included in free lunch. Call 985-6019.
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| Images of lava entering the ocean are part of a talk by HVO geologist Tim Orr Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Photo from USGS/HVO |
HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK waives entrance fees on Monday in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In conjunction with the park’s Fee Free Day, Kilauea Military Camp invites all park visitors to experience how KMC supports America’s troops by utilizing any of its facilities and services. For more information about KMC, call 967-8371.
HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY geologist Tim Orr presents a program at Pahala Plantation House this coming Wednesday. Orr’s talk includes photos and videos reviewing highlights and recent developments of Kilauea’s 30-year-long east rift zone eruption. The program, which is part of Volcano Awareness Month, begins at 6:30 p.m. Depending on turnout, more HVO programs could be scheduled in the future.
IN SPORTS, Ka`u High girls basketball team meets Pahoa High at home today.
Ka`u High boys and girls soccer teams play at home tomorrow. Matches against Kohala High begin at 1 p.m.
Ka`u High’s wrestlers have a meet in Pahoa tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Ka`u High’s wrestlers have a meet in Pahoa tomorrow at 10 a.m.
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.