Ka`u News Briefs, Thursday, September 19, 2013

Red zones show hot spots where geothermal energy production would be possible from Ka`u into Puna.
Geothermal resources map from Geothermex

A BAN ON FRACKING FOR GEOTHERMAL energy is going to the full Hawai`i County Council on Oct. 2 after this week receiving a positive recommendation from council’s Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability. Fracking is controversial on the mainland where fluids are injected into the ground under high pressure to fracture shale rocks to release natural gas. Other geological formations are fracked for oil. Water is usually mixed with sand and chemicals and is blamed for contaminating drinking water sources. Hydraulic fracturing and hydro fracturing are other terms for fracking. Within the U.S., fracking has been banned in such places as the state of Vermont; Highland Park, New Jersey; Dryden and numerous other towns and cities in New York; Mora County, New Mexico and Marcellus, Pennsylvania. Fracking is banned or subject to a moratorium in a number of countries, including France, Luxemberg, Bulgaria and Germany.

The Nation ran a story about farms and fracking. See
www.thenation.com/article/171504/fracking-our-food-supply#axzz2fMgzMHQC

         Council member Brenda Ford said she authored the bill on behalf of community members in Puna who asked for her help when their councilmember was not interested. She said she also is concerned about the possibility of drilling and fracking in Kona where geothermal is being investigated on the Hualalai volcano. After being approached by community members, Ford said, she researched fracking and consulted with a Phd in geology to come up with a bill to protect water resources.
         She said she is not against geothermal, but is concerned with contaminating groundwater with chemicals used to drill and frack for geothermal resources. Geothermal uses water heated by the volcanoes on the island to run turbines to make electricity.
     While fracking can also be used to find and develop potable water sources, the county Department of Water Supply does not and refuses to use fracking, Ford said.
         About 35 people testified in support of the Hawai`i County anti-fracking bill at the committee level. Noone testified against the bill.
     Several places in Ka`u are considered possible locations for geothermal. 

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Eagle rays are one of many species protected under new West
Hawai`i Fishery Management Area Rules. Photo from Wikipedia

NEW FISHERY RULES that include a ban on SCUBA spearfishing on the west side of Ka`u from Kalae, up the coast to Upolu Point in Kohala, are in the hands of Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. On Tuesday, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources passed to the governor the package of rules that were debated and refined over the last decade.   The new rules would also prohibit collection of many aquarium fish in the West Hawai`i Regional Fishery Management Area. They would set aside a Fish Replenishment Area along 1,500 feet of Ka`ohe Bay between Ka`u Loa Point and `Au`au Point. The Miloli`i Fish Replenishment Area is between Makahiki Point and Kaki`o Point.  In both Replenishment Areas nine shark and ray species, including eagle sting rays and two invertebrates would be protected.
     The SCUBA spear fishing ban would mke it illegal to carry SCUBA-diving gear along with spears and speared fish on any boat, or otherwise in one's possession on land or sea along the western coast of Ka`u and throughout the West Hawai'i Fishery Management Area. The management area was created in 1998 and its practices have been lauded by numerous research organizations as helping to restore fish populations.

     Aquarium fish that could still be collected along the west coast of Hawai`i Island, except for within Fish Replenishment Areas, would be: Yellow Tang, Zebrasoma flavescens; Chevron Tang,Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis; Goldring Surgeonfish, Ctenochaetus strigosus; Achilles Tang, Acanthurus achilles; Tinker’s Butterflyfish, Chaetodon tinkeri; Orangespine Unicornfish, Naso lituratus; Forcepsfish,Forcipiger flavissimus; Goldrim Surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigricans; Potter’sAngelfish, Centropyge potteri; Fourspot Butterflyfish, Chaetodon quadrimaculatus; Yellowtail Coris,Coris gaimard; Ornate Wrasse,Halichoeres ornatissimus; Orangeband Surgeonfish, Acanthurus olivaceus; Bird Wrasse, Gomphosus varius; 

Orangeband surgeon fish on the west coast of Hawa`i Island.
Photo from National Park Service by Bryan Harry

Eyestripe Surgeonfish, Acanthurus dussumieri; Multiband Butterflyfish,Chaetodon multicinctus; Saddle Wrasse, Thalassoma duperrey; Brown Surgeonfish, Acanthurus nigrofuscus; Flame Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus jordani; Thompson’s Surgeonfish, Acanthurus thompsoni; Peacock Grouper,Cephalopholis argus; Bluestripe Snapper, Lutjanus kasmira; Redbarred Hawkfish, Cirrhitops fasciatus; Psychedelic Wrasse, Anampses chrysocephalus; Hi Whitespotted Toby, Canthigaster jactator; Fisher’s Angelfish, Centropyge fisheri; Hi Dascyllus, Dascyllus albisella; Milletseed Butterflyfish, Chaetodon miliaris; Blacklip Butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii; Pyramid Butterflyfish, Hemitaurichthys polylepis; Shortnose Wrasse, Macropharyngodon geoffroy; Black Durgon, Melichthys niger; Spotted Boxfish, Ostracion meleagris; Blackside Hawkfish, Paracirrhites forsteri; Hi Longfin Anthias, Pseudanthias hawaiiensis; EightlineWrasse, Pseudocheilinus octotaenia; Fourline Wrasse, Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia; Smalltail Wrasse, Pseudojuloides cerasinus; Lei Triggerfish, Sufflamen bursa; and Gilded Triggerfish, Xanthichthys auromarginatus. 

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KA`U HIGH'S NEW EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL team takes on Kealakehe tomorrow at home, beginning at 6 p.m. The Trojans take on Kamehameha on Saturday, Sept. 28 and play the Farmers on  Moloka`i on Saturday, Oct. 5.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY GIRLS VOLLEYBALL has three wins and three losses after falling to the Hilo Vikings on Tuesday in Hilo. Scores were 25-21, 25-17, 25-17. Junior Varsity girls lost in two sets against the Vikings. Scores were 25-17, 25-15. Ka`u Girls Volleyball will face the Kealakehe Waveriders on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Kealakehe School gym at 10 a.m.

HMSA medical van offers free sports physicals for students at
Pahala and Ocean View. Photo from HMSA

FREE SPORTS PHYSICALS for students are available at the HMSA Medical Mobile Van from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Jude’s Church and Ka`u High School three days a week. No appointments are necessary. During the next month the van will be at Ocean View on Mondays, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14; on Tuesdays, Oct. 1, Oct. 8, Oct. 15 and Thursdays, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Oct. 17. The medical mobile van will be open at Ka`u High near the band room on Mondays, Sept. 23, Oct. 21, Oct. 28; Tuesdays, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Oct. 29 and Thursdays, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, and Oct. 31.

PARENT AND GUARDIAN SURVEYS for Ka`u High, Pahala Elementary and Na`alehu School are being circulated. Called the On-Site School Review, they ask for such feedback as whether "My child believes he or she can do well in school," and "My child enjoys attending school." They ask for ratings on whether there are sufficient after-school sports and other activities "to allow my child to participate in those of his/her choice." They also ask for opinions on such topics as "I support school discipline policies," and "The school has clearly explained the rules for student behavior and the consequences of not following those rules." Comments are also invited for the three-page survey. The survey can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/KKPpartent. The survey deadline is Nov. 11 and they can be completed online or returned to the schools by mail or in person. A community meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Pahala Elementary PSAP Room; and on Wednesday Dec. 4 from 5 p.m.m to 6 p.m at the Pahala School Cafeteria.  The surveys were developed by School Synergy, LLC. See www.schoolsynergy.org.

KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT meets today at 4 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Orchards field office in Pahala. For more information, contact Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

A BIPARTISAN STATES’ RIGHTS MEETING is tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. at the upper pavilion of Punalu`u Bake Shop in Na`alehu. Organizer Robert Williams calls it S.O.S. – Save Our States. For more information, contact Williams at 929-8565.

SILK PAINTING WORKSHOPS are Saturday at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. A workshop for beginners takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and a three-hour intermediate workshop begins at 2:30 p.m. Fee is $65 or $58.50 for VAC members, plus a $10 supply fee per session. Call 967-8222 to sign up.

FALL EQUINOX CONCERT & GATHERING with Anela Strings brings music on Saturday at 6 p.m. to Valentine Sanctuary in Wai`ohinu. Fee is $15, and seating is limited. RSVP at 937-8103 or info@valentinesanctuary.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATION-COTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

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