Ka`u News Briefs Friday, March 28, 2013

Royal Hawaiian Orchards released its first annual report since changing its name from ML Macadamis Orchards, LP
Photo by Julia Neal

ROYAL HAWAIIAN ORCHARDS yesterday released its annual report, the first since launching its new brand and changing its name from MLMacadamia Orchards, L.P. The Ka`u branch of the company farms 3,785 acres around Pahala and employs approximately 150 people, more than half of its islandwide workforce. Other orchards are located at Kea`au and north of Hilo at Mauna Kea.
      The company report says its 2012 farming operations were profitable, generating a net income of $521,000. The total 2012 revenue was $20.1 million, an increase of 12 percent over 2011, the report says, with nut sales up 12 percent and contract farming revenues up 6 percent. The Partnership was paid an average contract price of 77.4 cents per pound for mac nuts sold, according to the annual report.
      “In late 2012, the Partnership launched its own line of all-natural, ‘better for you,’ branded macadamia products in response to historically volatile macadamia pricing and to reduce its dependence on a single customer,” the company statement reports. That single customer was Mauna Loa for which long term contracts were expiring.

Royal Hawaiian promotes health, orchard to market, aloha and no GMO's. 

    According to the report, “Branded product sales were initiated in November 2012 and amounted to $91,000 for the year. This investment seeks to enable the Partnership to generate stable and attractive margins despite commodity price swings and is intended to increase unit holder value once critical mass is achieved. Approximately 7 million nut-in-shell pounds or 1.4 million pounds of kernel will become available, from expired sales contracts, for the Partnership to sell as branded or bulk macadamia nuts in 2013 and approximately 3.0 million kernel pounds will be available for sale in 2014.”
  The new www.royalhawaiianorchards.com says the products are gluten free and made without sulfites and artificial ingredients. It also brands them as non-GMO. Various tag lines include “Live Long, Live Well, Live Aloha” and “Find Your Balance.”
      The website promotes the similarity between macadamia oil and olive oil and its health benefits, along with the high protein content of mac nut products.
      According to a story in today’s Honolulu Star Advertiser, Royal Hawaiian plans to soon gain shelf space at ABC Stores, Foodland, Food Pantry, Longs and Walgreens. “The company expects to be in approximately 5,000 stores in Hawai`i and the western U.S. by the end of 2013,” the Star Advertiser says, quoting CEO Dennis Simonis: "We're very enthusiastic about the start. It's in the early stages and we think it's well positioned. They're very good products and everybody who has tried them has really enjoyed them. We're very optimistic."
      Among the new product line offerings are Hawaiian Barbecue, Maui Onion. Salt & Black Pepper, Sea Salt and Wasabi Soy snacks. Other snacks include nuts with dried fruit and Kona Coffee.

LEGISLATION ALLOWING USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL LANDS for private development by leasing them for housing and commercial enterprise passed state Senate and House of Representatives committees yesterday. Numerous groups, from contractors to unions, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state agencies submitted testimony supporting the measure, contending it will bring in money needed to ugrade schools. Various educational groups testified to “underutilized school lands,” aging facilities, and the need for 21st Century School design.

Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary & Intermediate School Campus will see construction starting soon, but for a gym and
 disaster shelter for students and the community. Photo by Julia Neal

      Opponents predicted that places like Waikiki where the land is the most expensive will lose school playgrounds, school gardens and precious open space.
      Liz Larson testified: “As a mother of two children who go to Jefferson Elementary School, I am deeply concerned that the land that is precious to our community and treasured by the school, parents, and children will be taken away permanently. lf a high rise structure is developed on the property of Jefferson Elementary School (in Waikiki), the land will never be reclaimed for the children.
      “You cannot put a price tag on the value of the outdoor instruction, gardening, and scientific discovery that my children experience daily because of the programs Jefferson Elementary School is able to provide because of the land. “Raising children in the city in a small one bedroom apartment, I understand first-hand how important this open space is to the children and to the community of Waikiki……One unintended consequence of the bill will be that inner city schools, such as Jefferson Elementary School, will be targeted even though land and open space is most needed by the children and citizens of those communities.
      “The lack of local community and parent involvement in the decision making of our schools comes from the centralized nature of the school system in Hawai`i. This bill only highlights the problems that already exist in a centralized school system that discourages local participation by not allowing the public to even know which two schools are being considered for redevelopment.
      She said she also opposes the measure “because revenues generated from the pilot schools will be put into a Twenty-first century schools special revolving fund. The system of dispersal of these funds is not transparent and funds can be arbitrarily dispersed at the discretion of the DOE and the school board.
     "The best investment for our future is in our children. School land should be used for the purpose of educating our children. Once the land has been developed for other purposes such as housing, it will be forever lost.”
      Sharon Wileford testified: “As a 30- year Department of Eduation/Hawai`i teacher - The Land should be kept for the children! Where will they play? Not enough exercise -they need to learn to plant gardens - use it for education not profit!”
      Jeannine Johnson testified: “As a Hawaiian I am used to this. As a parent, I am appalled at the audacity of our government officials. I know the reason is because none of you send your children to public schools and therefore don’t care that my keiki won’t have playgrounds, playing fields and room to run around. So I ask you, in all fairness, would you force this on Punahou students? If your answer to that is no, your vote must be no to SB237, SD2.”
      Some opponents compared it to the Public Lands Development Corp. which received a slew of opposition over the last year for planning to lease out state lands to developers.
      Lisa Andrews wrote: “No way. Take your hands off our public school lands. Hawai'i children need open space to roam, exercise, and grow. No more PLDCs - you don't fool us anymore. We are watching. Pay attention to the legacy you are creating.”
      Todd Andrews testified: “Kids need to learn about where their food comes from by farming the land around their schools. Exercise, skills, aina awareness, environment awareness, opportunity to grow healthy food, etc. No PLDC.”
      Janice Palama-Glenlie testified: “How can legislators -- representatives of the People -- continue to support PLDC look- alikes, which is what privatizing our schools is? please oppose bills that are good for corporations and bad for People. Mahalo.”

Pelekapu Dedman fights aerial hunting with his Pele Defense Fund.
Photo from Pele Defense Fund

AERIAL HUNTING to rid natural areas of ungulates, like sheep, goats and pigs, received strong testimony yesterday at the County Council’s committee meeting on agriculture water and energy sustainability. According to a story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald, Palikapu Dedman, President of the Pele Defense Fund, supports a ban on aerial hunting, and pointed out that the state Department of Land & Natural Resources is filing suit to prevent the ban. The County Council passed the ban last year.
      However, aerial hunting is used by the state to reach remote areas to kill the ungulates which are considered a danger to the native forest and its rare plants and animals, as well as the watershed. Hunters have testified that they want to be the ones to hunt the animals to provide food for their families.
      Pele Defense Fund announced last November that it filed a suit against the DLNR, which fences out ungulates from protected areas. Pele Defense Fund is also attempting to prevent fencing of thousands of acres in the Ka`u Forest Reserve. Dedman said that native rights, land tenure, hunting and subsistence living should be given more weight in such decisions. See more on Erin Miller’s coverage of the council meetings at www.hawaiitribune-herald.com

REOPENING OF KULANI PRISON was taken up by the County Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Transportation, chaired by Ka`u council member Brenda Ford. According to a story in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today, Public Safety Director Ted Sakai said a Pu`uhonua program that would be low security and allow for reintegration into the community would be helpful. A man recently released from prison testified that the jails are like revolving doors and the inmates need training and rehabilitation. The committee plans to draft a resolution supporting the state plan to reopen Kulani, according to the Erin Miller report. See more at www.westhawaiitoday.com.

Last humpback whale count of the season is Saturday.
Photo from NOAA

SOUTHSIDE VOLLEYBALL BOYS won their division, 14-and under last night at the annual Haili Volleyball Tournament in Hilo. The team, coached by Guy Enriques, won all six games this week. Team members are: Nai`a Makuakane, Adison Enriques, Avery Enriques, Cameron Moses, Abi Campbell, Tristen Cross, Logan Thomas, Chase Carter and Nakana Nakana.

THE LAST HUMPBACK WHALE COUNT of the year is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at South Point, Punalu`u Black Sand Beach and Ka`ena Point at the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Sign up at sanctuaryoceancount.org.

EASTER EGG HUNT will be held this Sunday, March 30 at Kilauea Military Camp for children ten years of age and under. Bring Easter baskets. Register at 967-8352.