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| Families took part in last year's annual `O Ka`u Kakou Keiki Fishing Tournament at Punalu`u. This year's tournament takes place tomorrow. Photo by Julia Neal |
Was it the old and narrow bridge on state Hwy 11 that gives many people pause whenever they cross it - two vehicles at a time? Did the visitor who was driving steer to the right to hug the side of the bridge when he saw the wide truck coming, then over-adjust when the concrete wall of the bridge seemed too close? Did the driver, who was reported to have some heart problems, experience a heart attack or stroke? These are some of the questions circulating in Ka`u.
No one may ever know the answers, but dead are Richard Taylor, 65, and Trini Evengelista Ballesteros, 56, of Na`alehu. Dead are a grandfather, son, and grandson, leaving two grieving women who lost three generations of men in their family in one horrible accident.
The visitors were identified yesterday as Donald Ingoglia, a 73-year-old attorney from Sacramento, CA; his son, 39-year-old Philip A. Ingoglia, of Costa Rica; and the nine-year-old grandson, Isidora I. Ingogila, of Costa Rica.
The grandfather and his wife were regular visitors to the Big Island, and the family was staying in Keauhou at a condominium.
County Council member Brenda Ford said she will look into the accident and the safety of the bridge and that concerned citizens could contact the state Department of Transportation and their state legislators.
Police said speed was not a factor in the crash.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman |
SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN announced his program for the 2013 state Legislature yesterday, the last day for bills to be introduced.
Proposals help to foster renewable energy, including Senate Bill 368, called the Solar Loan Guarantee Program & Revolving Fund. It would allow homeowners to secure a loan guarantee from the state for loans made for solar energy devices, including photovoltaic and solar water heating. The measure would also make solar investments available to lower- and middle-income households, lowering their energy costs.
Senate Bill 379, called Virtual Net Metering, would allow renters and property owners to purchase solar electricity at an offsite location and receive credit to their meter and utility bill for the renewable energy produced at the remote location. “This would expand access to solar power and extend this opportunity to those who currently can’t take advantage of it,” says a statement from Ruderman.
Senate Bill 366, called Utility Interconnection & Grid Saturation Cap, would remove barriers to photovoltaics by requiring the utility – not homeowners – to pay for any interconnection study for 10 kilowatt or smaller systems to hook up to the grid.
Senate Bill 372, called Biodiesel-Blended Fuel, would require increasing levels of biodiesel in all on-road diesel sold in Hawai`i starting from a B5 blend in 2015 to a B20 blend in 2025. Unlike ethanol, said Ruderman, “biodiesel is being produced in Hawai`i, and these blended rates do not harm engines.”
Senate Bill 371 would repeal Act 97 to “return control to the county and community and strengthen home rule,” Ruderman writes. He said that Act 97 passed in 2012 “as a way to fast-track geothermal development in Hawai`i. It stripped the counties of land use control and opened all lands in the state to geothermal development.”
Senate Bill 375, called a Fracking Prohibition, would ban any hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Hawai`i “until proper oversight and permitting are established. Fracking can inject harmful chemicals into the earth and has been linked to earthquakes, groundwater pollution, and other impacts,” said Ruderman.
Senate Bill 379, called Virtual Net Metering, would allow renters and property owners to purchase solar electricity at an offsite location and receive credit to their meter and utility bill for the renewable energy produced at the remote location. “This would expand access to solar power and extend this opportunity to those who currently can’t take advantage of it,” says a statement from Ruderman.
Senate Bill 366, called Utility Interconnection & Grid Saturation Cap, would remove barriers to photovoltaics by requiring the utility – not homeowners – to pay for any interconnection study for 10 kilowatt or smaller systems to hook up to the grid.
Senate Bill 372, called Biodiesel-Blended Fuel, would require increasing levels of biodiesel in all on-road diesel sold in Hawai`i starting from a B5 blend in 2015 to a B20 blend in 2025. Unlike ethanol, said Ruderman, “biodiesel is being produced in Hawai`i, and these blended rates do not harm engines.”
Senate Bill 371 would repeal Act 97 to “return control to the county and community and strengthen home rule,” Ruderman writes. He said that Act 97 passed in 2012 “as a way to fast-track geothermal development in Hawai`i. It stripped the counties of land use control and opened all lands in the state to geothermal development.”
Senate Bill 375, called a Fracking Prohibition, would ban any hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Hawai`i “until proper oversight and permitting are established. Fracking can inject harmful chemicals into the earth and has been linked to earthquakes, groundwater pollution, and other impacts,” said Ruderman.
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| Sen. Russell Ruderman promotes advancement of agriculture in Ka`u and Puna. Image from The Kohala Center |
ADVANCEMENT OF AGRICULTURE in Puna and Ka`u would be the result of state Senate Bill 380, proposed by Sen. Russell Ruderman. It calls for a learning center assessment by the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management at University of Hawai`i-Hilo for a higher-education learning center in Puna. “This effort will advance development of agriculture production and processing businesses in the district and support entrepreneurs and new job creation in Puna and Ka`u,” he said.
SENATE BILL 363 is called the Family Farm Income Tax Break. It would exempt the first $50,000 in annual income to individuals earning their primary income from farming.
SENATE BILLS 373 AND 367 involve Direct Farm to Consumer Food Sales and Home-based Food Production and Sales. They would exempt producers of unprocessed Hawai`i-grown agricultural products from state Department of Health rules when selling directly to the consumer and allow home-based baking businesses to sell food items directly to consumers provided certain conditions are met.
TAXING GMO SEED SALES is another Ruderman initiative. SB 365 would eliminate the exemption to the state’s General Excise Tax currently extended to GMO seed export crops grown in Hawai`i on an estimated $225 million in gross income per year.
SENATE BILL 370 attempts to gain more protection of agriculture products against invasive species. It would require a permit from the state Department of Agriculture to import, introduce or develop any new species of genetically engineered organism. The department would conduct a public hearing to determine whether to grant a permit.
BANNING ALL AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTING is another proposal from Ruderman. SB 374 would prohibit the taking of reef fish for sale for aquarium purposes.
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| A bill proposed by Sen. Russell Ruderman would require both chambers of the Legislature to provide opportunities for video testimony from neighbor islands. |
NEIGHBOR ISLAND VIDEO TESTIMONY, proposed by Ruderman as SB369, would require both chambers of the Legislature to implement rules to permit residents to present testimony through audiovisual technology.
Ruderman said he encourages everyone to get involved by following legislation and providing testimony on these and other bills by registering at www.capitol.hawaii.gov/login/register.aspx; by subscribing to hearing notices and by providing testimony. He said the public can contact him by phone, email or mail to voice concerns about District 2, Puna through Ka`u, and also about state-wide legislation.
His email is senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov. His phone numbers are 808-974-4000, ext. 6-6890 and 808-586-6890. His mailing address is State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., Room 217, Honolulu, HI 96813.
His email is senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov. His phone numbers are 808-974-4000, ext. 6-6890 and 808-586-6890. His mailing address is State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., Room 217, Honolulu, HI 96813.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB supporters can cheer on the Youth of the Year winners and raise money for the club through the purchase of tickets to the Youth of the Year banquet which will be held on Friday, Feb. 8, 5:30 p.m. at `Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo. The dinner will feature 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.
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE today released its Final Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for Protecting and Restoring Native Ecosystems by Managing Non-Native Ungulates in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The plan provides a park-wide framework to systematically guide non-native ungulate management activities in a manner that supports long-term ecosystem protection, supports natural ecosystem recovery and provides desirable conditions for active ecosystem restoration. It also supports protection and preservation of cultural resources.
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| Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park plans to manage non- native ungulates with complete boundary fencing of Kahuku and `Ola`a rainforest. Image from NPS |
The plan says the preferred alternative to manage ungulates includes a progression of management phases, monitoring and considerations for the use of management tools; a population objective of zero non-native ungulates, or as low as practicable, in managed areas; complete boundary fencing for Kahuku and `Ola`a rainforest; and potential use of localized internal fencing to assist in the control of non-native ungulates. “Control techniques would be primarily lethal, but non-lethal techniques could also be considered,” the report says. Volunteer programs would continue, but modifications would be required for lethal removal programs to meet current NPS practices.
The plan/EIS is available online at http://park-planning.nps.gov/havo_ecosystem_feis. After a required 30-day waiting period following release of the plan/EIS, the National Park Service will finalize its choice of alternative in a record of decision.
`O KA`U KAKOU’S 5th annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive takes place Saturday, with check-in from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Punalu`u Beach Park. Fishing begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. Free lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and awards and prizes are handed out at 1 p.m.
Registration forms are available in Pahala at Pahala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette and Pahala Gas Station; in Na`alehu at Na`alehu Elementary School, 76 Gas Station and Ace Hardware; in Wai`ohinu at Wong Yuen Gas Station; and in Ocean View at Ace Hardware and Kwik Mart.
The plan/EIS is available online at http://park-planning.nps.gov/havo_ecosystem_feis. After a required 30-day waiting period following release of the plan/EIS, the National Park Service will finalize its choice of alternative in a record of decision.
`O KA`U KAKOU’S 5th annual Keiki Fishing Tournament and Canned Food Drive takes place Saturday, with check-in from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Punalu`u Beach Park. Fishing begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 11:30 a.m. Free lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and awards and prizes are handed out at 1 p.m.
Registration forms are available in Pahala at Pahala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette and Pahala Gas Station; in Na`alehu at Na`alehu Elementary School, 76 Gas Station and Ace Hardware; in Wai`ohinu at Wong Yuen Gas Station; and in Ocean View at Ace Hardware and Kwik Mart.
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| Patti Pease-Johnson offers a workshop on experimental watercolor. Image from volcanoartcenter.org |
EXPERIMENTAL WATERCOLOR is the topic of a workshop tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Patti Pease-Johnson offers this new, innovative class where intuition and a playful attitude are part of the creative journey. Each student creates three to five separate 8”X8” watercolor paintings on hot press paper using broken glass as a catalyst. $40/$36 VAC members plus $10 supply fee. Call 967-8222 to sign up.
A HULA KAHIKO INFORMANCE takes place tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Kumu Leilehua Yuen and Manu Josiah present a 50-minute narrated demonstration of preparation, protocol and offering of traditional hula and chant at the hula platform. Hands-on cultural demonstrations are available from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Donations are welcome, and park entrance fees apply.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS NOW OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.