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| Ninole Hills, with their flat-top mountains between Pahala and Na`alehu, are two of the wonders of Ka`u that are featured in Ka`u Scenic Byway presentations. A meeting will be held his Wednesday in Na`alehu. |
The website for Ka`u Scenic Byway offers the tag line “The Slopes of Mauna Loa” and the word “Natural.” It describes the trip along Hwy 11 through Ka`u as “the route a traveler would normally follow from the Kona (west side) direction and driving toward Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The western slopes from Manuka State Park to the entrance to Kahuku section of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park feature a forest reserve and broad vistas with sweeping views of the ocean and mountain. This section includes landscape passing over relatively new lava so the traveler can experience transitions from substantially untouched to well vegetated volcanic terrain and rain forest.
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| Manuka State Park is an established rest stop for visitors. It has an interpretive nature trail and is featured along Ka`u Scenic Byway. |
The southern slopes from Kahuku to the county park at Honu`apo Bay include the green segment that winds into the Wai`ohinu Valley then down toward the ocean, with a panorama that may extend to a distant view of Kilauea volcano.
The eastern slopes cover the area from Honu`apo to the main entrance to Hawai`i Volcanoes National park and offer long, sweeping green views toward Mauna Loa summit as well as the spectacular and unusual Ninole Hills. The road rises from sea level to over 4,000 feet and is partly within the boundary of the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Ka`u Scenic Byway offers by far the longest stretches of unspoiled natural scenery to be found anywhere in the inhabited Hawaiian Islands.”
The plans call for some interpretive signage at visitor stops, as well education online. According to Dennis Elwell, the idea is to teach visitors about Ka`u and direct them only to those places the community would like to share with guests. “We’re not interested in promoting places away from the highway,” he said. See http://www.hawaiiscenicbyways.org/index.php/byway/kau-scenic-byway-the-slopes-of-mauna-loa.
NA MAMO O KAWA has set up an email address to connect with people interested in helping to plan the future of the lands around Kawa Bay, which were purchased from private landowners by the County of Hawai`i. The address is namamookawa@gmail.com. Fireman Lui Sales and land planner Pueo McGuire are among the people who formed the group, which includes surfers, fishermen and a number of people who have experienced Kawa throughout their lives. The land is more than 700 acres and includes estuaries, many native Hawaiian gravesites, heiau and Ka`u’s favorite surfing beach.
The county has provided a contract to Ali`i Security Systems, Inc. to provide management services at Kawa. Ali`i put in the low bid for $566.40 per night.
During last week’s county-sponsored meeting on the future of Kawa, several residents noted that Kawa had never had 24/7 security in the past and that a court order remains in place giving vehicular access to the public to use Kawa. Some speakers also said that a curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. precluded dawn patrol surfing, overnight fishing and other traditional activities.
Mayor’s representative Karen Teshima said that the county is “letting Kawa settle” while archaeological and environmental studies are being conducted and that the current hours for foot traffic are not set in stone in the planning for the future.
The plans call for some interpretive signage at visitor stops, as well education online. According to Dennis Elwell, the idea is to teach visitors about Ka`u and direct them only to those places the community would like to share with guests. “We’re not interested in promoting places away from the highway,” he said. See http://www.hawaiiscenicbyways.org/index.php/byway/kau-scenic-byway-the-slopes-of-mauna-loa.
NA MAMO O KAWA has set up an email address to connect with people interested in helping to plan the future of the lands around Kawa Bay, which were purchased from private landowners by the County of Hawai`i. The address is namamookawa@gmail.com. Fireman Lui Sales and land planner Pueo McGuire are among the people who formed the group, which includes surfers, fishermen and a number of people who have experienced Kawa throughout their lives. The land is more than 700 acres and includes estuaries, many native Hawaiian gravesites, heiau and Ka`u’s favorite surfing beach.
The county has provided a contract to Ali`i Security Systems, Inc. to provide management services at Kawa. Ali`i put in the low bid for $566.40 per night.
During last week’s county-sponsored meeting on the future of Kawa, several residents noted that Kawa had never had 24/7 security in the past and that a court order remains in place giving vehicular access to the public to use Kawa. Some speakers also said that a curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. precluded dawn patrol surfing, overnight fishing and other traditional activities.
Mayor’s representative Karen Teshima said that the county is “letting Kawa settle” while archaeological and environmental studies are being conducted and that the current hours for foot traffic are not set in stone in the planning for the future.
THE MONK SEAL, flown last week from the Big Island to O`ahu by the U.S. Coast Guard, has died. Willlife officials and veterinarians had hoped to help it survive at Waikiki Aquarium. Helping with the seal was Dr. Charles Littman, of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administrations Hawaiian Monk Seals Research Program.
For sightings of any entangled or injured seals, call 1-888-256-9840. All seal sightings can be reported to 808-220-7802. Email location of sightings and photos to pifsc.monksealsighting@noaa.gov.
For more information on the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team, see www.hmsrto.org.
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to enter Ka`u Golf Group’s annual Charitable Golf Tournament set for Saturday, Feb. 15 at Volcano Golf & Country Club. $75 entry fee includes golf cart and lunch. An auction is held during lunch. Proceeds benefit Ka`u Hospital’s emergency room. Contact Ron Young at 929-8390 or youngron19582@yahoo.com.
COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow, and the full Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Council chambers in Hilo. Committee meeting agendas are available at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-council-committee. Council agendas, along with information on how to submit testimony, can be viewed at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-council-meeting.
Ka`u residents can participate in the meetings at Ocean View Community Center, with a system that allows testimony to be given live from the site.
For more information, call 961-8536 or edistrict6@co.hawaii.hi.us.
For sightings of any entangled or injured seals, call 1-888-256-9840. All seal sightings can be reported to 808-220-7802. Email location of sightings and photos to pifsc.monksealsighting@noaa.gov.
For more information on the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team, see www.hmsrto.org.
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to enter Ka`u Golf Group’s annual Charitable Golf Tournament set for Saturday, Feb. 15 at Volcano Golf & Country Club. $75 entry fee includes golf cart and lunch. An auction is held during lunch. Proceeds benefit Ka`u Hospital’s emergency room. Contact Ron Young at 929-8390 or youngron19582@yahoo.com.
COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS begin at 9 a.m. tomorrow, and the full Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Council chambers in Hilo. Committee meeting agendas are available at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-council-committee. Council agendas, along with information on how to submit testimony, can be viewed at http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/lb-council-meeting.
Ka`u residents can participate in the meetings at Ocean View Community Center, with a system that allows testimony to be given live from the site.
For more information, call 961-8536 or edistrict6@co.hawaii.hi.us.
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| Jeff Sutton measures gases emitted from Pu`u `O`o. Photo from USGS/HVO |
PERFORMANCES OF A WALK INTO THE PAST take place tomorrow and every other Tuesday in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Attendees meet at Kilauea Visitor Center. The free programs are at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.
USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY geochemists Jeff Sutton and Tamar Elias explain how vog forms and what has been learned about its effects on our island environment Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Depending on interest from local communities, HVO hopes to bring more programs to the area.
VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES holds a public meeting Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. Architects will present renderings of Keakealani, and community fundraising efforts will be discussed.
RED HAT LADIES OF KA`U and Ka Lae Quilters raise funds to support improvements to the Ka`u Hospital’s emergency room with a bake and craft sale Friday and Saturday at 8 a.m. at Punalu`u. Contributions are welcome. Call Barbara Beatty at 929-9072.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB supporters can cheer on Youth of the Year winners and raise money for the club through the purchase of tickets to the Youth of the Year banquet on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at `Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. The event features inspirational speakers, awards, food and auction items. Individual tickets are $70 each. To purchase tickets in Ka`u, call Boys & Girls Club board member Julia Neal at 928-9811.
ST. JUDE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Ocean View celebrates Mardi Gras Friday at 6:30 p.m. with food, music and dancing. Tickets are $12 for one or $20 for two, with proceeds going to renew the Philippines Mission. Call 939-7555 for more information and tickets.
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.
