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| Ka`u chapter of Hawai`i Farmers Union United plans to have a booth at Ka`u Farmers Market in Na`alehu where farmers can offer there products to the public. Photo from Earth Matters Farm |
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| Malian Lahey, President, Ka`u chapter of Hawai`i Farmers Union United |
The group is planning to have a booth at Na`alehu Farmers Market. “We would like the farmers to bring produce when in season or as available, Lahey said. Farmers will quote their wholesale price and get a receipt when dropping off items at the booth. Ka`u HFUU will mark up the produce 20 percent, then half of the proceeds will go to the person at the booth, and half will go to Ka`u HFUU.
Items that will go to the booth include truck crops from Gail and Greg Smith, bamboo starts and oranges from Richard Creagan, native plant starts and trees from Thomas King, herbs from Olivia Ling, coffee seedlings from David Kaawa, roasted coffee from Manuel Marques, mangoes from Marla Hunter and redworms from Marilyn Creagan.
Ka`u HFUU’s next meeting is on Saturday, July 12. For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.
MORE COMMUNITY INPUT is requested by county Planning Director Duane Kanuha regarding a proposed addition to the zoning code. The measure comes up at 10 a.m. at the Windward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, July 3 at Aupuni Center’s Conference Room on Hilo. It would “require the planning director to review and consult with a local design review committee for certain land use permit applications situated within a special district to promote consistency with applicable adopted design guidelines and/or standards,” says the agenda.
ALLOWING MULTIPLE FAMILY residential units on land zoned Industrial-Commercial Mixed is also on the Planning Commission agenda for July 3, also proposed by the county Planning Director.
Agenda is available at hawaiicounty.gov.
KA`U’S WASTE COULD BE BURNED TO CREATE electricity if Hawai`i County chooses one of three finalists who submitted alternatives to burying trash in landfills. The county has announced that Covanta Energy Corp., Green Conversion Systems, Inc. and Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. made the short list out of eight vendors who submitted bids for the project, according to Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today.
Cook Lauer reports that “it’s possible, though not likely, that the three companies are offering some other solution to the county’s waste reduction request for proposals,” since all three companies specialize in waste-to-energy systems.
According to the county, Hilo landfill will be full in approximately two years. Cook Lauer said ash from combustion of waste would probably be trucked to Pu`uanahulu landfill in West Hawai`i as it is the county’s only lined landfill.
A final decision is expected in January 2015.
CATHY AND TYSON BLACK SHARE THE ART of coconut leaf weaving Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SPONSORS a Candidate Forum
this Saturday, June 21. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. at Christ Church,
81-1004 Konawaena School Road
in Kealakekua.
County Council District Six candidates are featured from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. State Representative District Five candidates meet the public from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
For more information, call 933-VOTE (933-8683).
JIM WILSON, HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL District Six candidate, offers a talk story this Sunday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, email jimwilsoncouncil@gmail.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Items that will go to the booth include truck crops from Gail and Greg Smith, bamboo starts and oranges from Richard Creagan, native plant starts and trees from Thomas King, herbs from Olivia Ling, coffee seedlings from David Kaawa, roasted coffee from Manuel Marques, mangoes from Marla Hunter and redworms from Marilyn Creagan.
Ka`u HFUU’s next meeting is on Saturday, July 12. For more information, email malian@kauspecialtycoffee.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Duane Kanuha |
SOUTH POINT RESIDENTS REPORT that another fire that broke out yesterday was a continuation of the fire that began on Sunday, June 1. Yesterday’s fire was put out quickly. Rancher Tissy Kaniho reminded everyone that campfires are especially dangerous in summer, when the area is extremely dry.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
MORE COMMUNITY INPUT is requested by county Planning Director Duane Kanuha regarding a proposed addition to the zoning code. The measure comes up at 10 a.m. at the Windward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, July 3 at Aupuni Center’s Conference Room on Hilo. It would “require the planning director to review and consult with a local design review committee for certain land use permit applications situated within a special district to promote consistency with applicable adopted design guidelines and/or standards,” says the agenda.
ALLOWING MULTIPLE FAMILY residential units on land zoned Industrial-Commercial Mixed is also on the Planning Commission agenda for July 3, also proposed by the county Planning Director.
Agenda is available at hawaiicounty.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Dave Bateman, candidate for Ka`u's state Rep. District Five |
DAVE BATEMAN IS RUNNING FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES District Five, representing Kona to Na`alehu. Bateman owns Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee Farms, which he and his wife have operated for the past nine years. He is also a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Colonel, former Assistant Attorney General for Washington state and attorney in private practice for over 30 years.
“With the exception of tourism, our island economy is in worse shape now than two years ago. Living costs continue to spiral upward. And our elected leaders continually disrespect the voters by passing laws that the people have clearly said they do not want,” Bateman said, explaining his desire to listen to voices of the local community. He indicated he will push to add employment on Hawai`i Island by increasing agricultural jobs and farming opportunities, and also fight to reduce the high cost of living. Bateman also said he will work to improve education.
Bateman said he wants to help local families and farmers and promised to be a clear voice for the needs of the “mostly agricultural Kona and Ka`u districts.”
Bateman is past President of Kona Sunrise Rotary Club and a board member of Kona Coffee Council, Hawai`i Coffee Association and the Coffee Berry Borer Task Force. He and his wife Trudy live in Keauhou Mauka and have two grown children and three grandchildren.
See bateman2014.com.
Bateman said he wants to help local families and farmers and promised to be a clear voice for the needs of the “mostly agricultural Kona and Ka`u districts.”
Bateman is past President of Kona Sunrise Rotary Club and a board member of Kona Coffee Council, Hawai`i Coffee Association and the Coffee Berry Borer Task Force. He and his wife Trudy live in Keauhou Mauka and have two grown children and three grandchildren.
See bateman2014.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U’S WASTE COULD BE BURNED TO CREATE electricity if Hawai`i County chooses one of three finalists who submitted alternatives to burying trash in landfills. The county has announced that Covanta Energy Corp., Green Conversion Systems, Inc. and Wheelabrator Technologies, Inc. made the short list out of eight vendors who submitted bids for the project, according to Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today.
Cook Lauer reports that “it’s possible, though not likely, that the three companies are offering some other solution to the county’s waste reduction request for proposals,” since all three companies specialize in waste-to-energy systems.
According to the county, Hilo landfill will be full in approximately two years. Cook Lauer said ash from combustion of waste would probably be trucked to Pu`uanahulu landfill in West Hawai`i as it is the county’s only lined landfill.
A final decision is expected in January 2015.
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| Covanta Energy Corp. is one of three finalists in the county's search to find an alternative to landfills. |
At yesterday’s meeting of the county Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability, more than thirty residents testified on a resolution to stop the project and issue new requests for proposals.
Kohala Council member Margaret Wille author the resolution, saying the RFP “was flawed because the specifications in the solicitation didn’t align with what Kenoi said his intentions were when he met with the County Council in January to explain the project,” according to Cook Lauer.
Cook Lauer reports former Ka`u Council member Bob Jacobson telling the council that “it is the policymaking body, not the mayor, and it should stick to the policies it laid out in its zero-waste initiatives instead of falling back to the ‘old polluting technologies.’ Instead of doing the right thing, (Kenoi) put forth this perverted RFP.”
Cory Harden, representing the Sierra Club’s Moku Loa group, said, “Instead of committing taxpayer dollars to a big silver bullet that ties us to off-island interests for decades, we should first try multiple small-scale local operations that allow us to change course as needed.”
According to Cook Lauer, only one testifier approved of the incineration plan, saying she thought waste-to-energy is a good idea, “provided there is upstream segregation to remove the valuable components.”
Most testifiers said burning trash would reduce the county’s incentive to reach its zero-waste goal, and some expressed concern about cost and the environmental risk, Cook Lauer said.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
Kohala Council member Margaret Wille author the resolution, saying the RFP “was flawed because the specifications in the solicitation didn’t align with what Kenoi said his intentions were when he met with the County Council in January to explain the project,” according to Cook Lauer.
Cook Lauer reports former Ka`u Council member Bob Jacobson telling the council that “it is the policymaking body, not the mayor, and it should stick to the policies it laid out in its zero-waste initiatives instead of falling back to the ‘old polluting technologies.’ Instead of doing the right thing, (Kenoi) put forth this perverted RFP.”
Cory Harden, representing the Sierra Club’s Moku Loa group, said, “Instead of committing taxpayer dollars to a big silver bullet that ties us to off-island interests for decades, we should first try multiple small-scale local operations that allow us to change course as needed.”
According to Cook Lauer, only one testifier approved of the incineration plan, saying she thought waste-to-energy is a good idea, “provided there is upstream segregation to remove the valuable components.”
Most testifiers said burning trash would reduce the county’s incentive to reach its zero-waste goal, and some expressed concern about cost and the environmental risk, Cook Lauer said.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Owners of Hilo Coffee Mill are selling the business they started in 2001. Photo from Hilo Brokers |
ONE OF THE PROCESSORS AND BUYERS OF KA`U COFFEE is up for sale. The Hilo Brokers real estate listing for Hilo Coffee Mill says, “With excellent retail frontage along Hwy 11, this business is in a prime position to take advantage of the up to 1.6 million visitors who use the roadway each year to access the nearby Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
“Over 6,000 actively producing coffee trees supply a well established retail and wholesale business with more than 2,500 square feet of production and showroom space.
“This environmentally friendly operation comes equipped with a large solar array providing substantial cost savings on utility bills. There are many options for the use of space under the solar array, and currently provides cover for a weekly farmers market.”
Listing details and images are available at hilobrokers.com.
“Over 6,000 actively producing coffee trees supply a well established retail and wholesale business with more than 2,500 square feet of production and showroom space.
“This environmentally friendly operation comes equipped with a large solar array providing substantial cost savings on utility bills. There are many options for the use of space under the solar array, and currently provides cover for a weekly farmers market.”
Listing details and images are available at hilobrokers.com.
For more information, call 938-5757 or email HiloBrokers@gmail.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| League of Women Voters sponsors a Candidate Forum Saturday. |
AT STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT FRIDAY from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails. Free; park entrance fees apply.
CATHY AND TYSON BLACK SHARE THE ART of coconut leaf weaving Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.
County Council District Six candidates are featured from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. State Representative District Five candidates meet the public from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
For more information, call 933-VOTE (933-8683).
JIM WILSON, HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL District Six candidate, offers a talk story this Sunday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Refreshments will be served.
For more information, email jimwilsoncouncil@gmail.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. Click at bottom right to turn pages. |