Ka`u News Briefs, Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee is planning more educational signage projects along Hwy 11 in Ka`u. This stretch is between
Pahala and Volcano, adorned with a rainbow last Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

ON THE AIR AGAIN - KAHU 91.7 FM RADIO can be heard in Pahala and into Na`alehu, and on the Ka`u side of Volcano. The station is operated by Hawai`i Public Radio and broadcasts the HPR2 programming. HPR engineer Don Mussell turned the station on yesterday, after installing a new antenna on the old wooden pole behind the KAHU radio station building on Maile Street in Pahala. He said this morning that the station is working fine and looks forward to expanding the broadcast range to the entire south end of the island. According to Michael Titterton, general manager of Hawai`i Public Radio, the nonprofit organization plans to put broadcasting equipment at Kulani between Volcano and Hilo, which will allow everyone in Puna and throughout Ka`u to hear the station.
     KAHU was founded by Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a with the help of many local donors, grants, volunteer broadcasters and The Ka`u Calendar news organization. Ka`ehu`ae`a said he hopes that local origination programming will come back to KAHU in the future. Titterton said that local programming is in the long-term plan for Hawai`i Public Radio and its HPR2 remote stations like Hana and Ka`u.

Radio engineer Don Mussell installed equipment and returned KAHU 91.7 to the
airwaves yesterday with programming from Hawai`i Public Radio. Photo by Julia Neal

      Titterton also said that Al Kam, whose group owns the old mill site from where KAHU is transmitting HPR2,  has “graciously donated the location for the station.”
     HPR2 programs include BBC World Service News, All Things Considered, the BBC’s World Today, Prairie Home Companion, the TED Radio Hour, jazz, blues and bluegrass shows, as well as a Kanikapila Sunday of Hawaiian music.
    See www.haawaiipublicradio.org and http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org
/hpr2programlistings.
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AFTER HEARING MORE THAN FOUR HOURS OF TESTIMONY from almost 100 people yesterday, Hawai`i County Council decided to adjourn and continue its meeting about a bill banning genetically modified organisms on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 9 a.m.
      Ka`u’s Council member Brenda Ford suggested that testifiers who hadn’t spoken might be willing to allow the meeting to move to discussion, but other Council members wanted to hear more testimony. Council member Valerie Poindexter, of District 1, was pleased with the progress, saying, “We’re in the second Council” with this bill. Council chair J Yoshimoto agreed.
      More than 80 percent of the testimony was in favor of Bill 113, which bans GMO crops on Hawai`i Island with a few exceptions, including papaya. It also allows for emergency exemptions.
      Following are some statements by testifiers, both for and against the ban:
      SUPPORTING BILL 113 and a ban on GMOs:
o GMO is an invasive species.
o GMOs are man-made viruses.
o Keep Hawai`i Island pure and create pure-seed companies.
o I have a right to know what’s on my land and in my food.
o Let’s play it safe.

Actress Rosanne Barr supports the GMO ban. She owns a mac nut farm on
Hawai`i Island. Photo from Big Island Video News

o GMO does not equal more money for farmers.
o Papaya farmers are spraying 10 times the national average of pesticides.
o Hawai`i is a healthy destination for visitors.
o We have a responsibility to the keiki.
o It’s not the end of farming; it’s the beginning of farming.
o It’s about changing integrity of the landscape.
o Everything is already provided for us here.
     Actress Rosanne Barr, who owns a farm in Hamakua, said, “What I want back for my taxes is for my grandchildren not to be poisoned.”
      David Case, president of Hawai`i Hawai`i Farmers Union, said there are economic consequences to use of GMOs and said pollination of non-GMO crops is an issue.
      East Ka`u’s state Sen. Russell Ruderman, who owns the Island Naturals chain of grocery stores, said, “Organic is the fastest growing food sector. GMO is the taint; not this bill.” Ruderman mentioned a list of GMO crops that foreign markets will not accept. “Keep other Big Island crops off the boycott list,” he said.

      OPPOSING BILL 113 and a ban on GMOs:
     · We’re not gardeners; we’re farmers. We feed the locals, and we feed the world.
     · There are only 93 certified ag farmers in state.
     · This bill discriminates against farmers and ranchers.
     · Farmers need freedom to choose.
     · What happens to our (farming) families?
     · GMOs have been lumped together with dangerous chemicals.
        Dennis Gonsalves, who led the team of scientists that developed genetically modify papaya, said, “I know of no cases where GMO papaya cross-pollinated with non-GMO papaya.”
   A geneticist at University of Hawai`i who grew up in Ka`u said, “Things that are dangerous should be banned, not all GMOs. He said there are ways to handle products that are dangerous, such as recalls and making changes to the products.
    Former Council member Kelly Greenwell said GMOs are necessary to maintain a food supply. “The natural is long past,” he said.
   An agronomist from University of Hawai`i encouraged the council to table the bill and gather more information from farmers, scientists and others with knowledge on GMOs.
   Text of Bill 113 is available on the County Council agenda at hawaiicounty.gov. Written testimony was also submitted. To comment on of “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u Scenic Byway at Honu`apo Lookout with a rainbow. Photo by Carrie Berry

KA`U SCENIC BYWAYS COMMITTEE members met this week and talked about reaching out to the community to explain the mission and receive input for future byway projects. The organization, a committee of the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, plans a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church.
     Stephanie Donoho, the County of Hawai`i's representative on the state Advisory Committee for Hawai`i Scenic Byways, talked about funding avenues. The public is invited to view displays of current projects, which include a Ka`u Byways website, new signage and plans for the future. The next regular byways meeting will be on Monday, Dec. 2, also at Na`alehu Methodist Church at 6 p.m. The committee recently held a blessing for its first educational signage installation at South Point lookout on Hwy 11. The organization also attended the Pancake Breakfast in Ocean View to spread the word. For more information, call Marge or Dennis Elwell at 929-7236.

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BENTO RAKUGO VISITS PAHALA PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY tomorrow, Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Performers present a comic story while sitting on a Japanese cushion throughout the entire performance, speaking all of the voices in both the first person and third person. All stories are spoken in English. The program is suitable for ages 5 and older, and young children must be accompanied by parent or caregiver. Call 928-2015 for more information.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC MASTERS AND THEIR STUDENTS present a free concert Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The concert, featuring Dennis Kamakahi, Ledward Kaapana, Keoki Kahumoku, George Kahumoku, Jr., James Hill, Anne Davidson, Bolo and many more celebrates the eighth annual Hawaiian Music & Lifestyles Workshop held by Keoki Kahumoku and his Center for Hawaiian Music Studies. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and mats for seating on the lawn. Plate lunches will be available for purchase.

BETTER CHOICES, BETTER HEALTH, A FAMILY AFFAIR will be held this Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, with health education, prevention booths, nutritional and healthy food demonstrations, Hawai`i Health Connector enrollment and much more. It is sponsored by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association, Inc.

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

ALSO SEE WWW.KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.