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| Judged Most Colorful in the Na`alehu Independence Day Parade was Ocean View Evangelical Church. Photo by Julia Neal |
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS started early in Ka`u today as community groups, businesses, youth groups, pa`u riders on horseback, churches and clubs, as well as political candidates and Miss Ka`u Coffee and her court marched through Na`alehu under the shade of the monkeypod trees that line the streets.
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| Keiki from Lighthouse Baptist Church helped win the prize for Most Patriot at the Independence Day parade. Photo by Nalani Parlin |
See more on the celebration in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
GENE “BUCKY” LESLIE, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE for state House of Representative District Five, presented his views at the League of Women Voters forum last Saturday. Leslie said he wants to have a fresh approach to campaigning. He emphasized how his `ohana approach influences his way of getting things done.
Leslie said he wants to listen to constituents’ thoughts, concerns and ideas, “finding productive ways of working together as we strive and sometimes struggle to accommodate the change in our history.”
Leslie mentioned his experience as president of the Hawai`i Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and said he and the club have written and sent bills and resolutions to the Legislature that have passed.
He said his top priority in the Legislature would be “working with other people” and referred to the Legislature as an “elected `ohana.” He said, “Working together, we’ll get much more done than we can (individually). Together we can; together as one.”
Regarding education, Leslie said educational opportunities for everyone – keiki and kupuna – are important. He said, “The system is not working with us” and suggested reinstating programs “issued many years ago. “Revise them and bring them back to the table.” He also said, “We need people who leave for education to come back.”
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK offers its Palm Trail Hike tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
See more at nps.gov/havo.
GENE “BUCKY” LESLIE, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE for state House of Representative District Five, presented his views at the League of Women Voters forum last Saturday. Leslie said he wants to have a fresh approach to campaigning. He emphasized how his `ohana approach influences his way of getting things done.
Leslie said he wants to listen to constituents’ thoughts, concerns and ideas, “finding productive ways of working together as we strive and sometimes struggle to accommodate the change in our history.”
Leslie mentioned his experience as president of the Hawai`i Council of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and said he and the club have written and sent bills and resolutions to the Legislature that have passed.
He said his top priority in the Legislature would be “working with other people” and referred to the Legislature as an “elected `ohana.” He said, “Working together, we’ll get much more done than we can (individually). Together we can; together as one.”
Regarding education, Leslie said educational opportunities for everyone – keiki and kupuna – are important. He said, “The system is not working with us” and suggested reinstating programs “issued many years ago. “Revise them and bring them back to the table.” He also said, “We need people who leave for education to come back.”
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| Gene "Bucky" Leslie |
On the topic of health, Leslie said he thinks Kona Hospital is adequate but that more doctors and nurses are needed.
Another concept Leslie emphasized was balance. He said he wants to “bring balance to the Legislature.” He characterized balance of working with the legislators as “knowing how we can get things done.”
Leslie said the Legislature has “cut this balance off, that balance off” regarding bills that get modified to the point that they are no longer recognizable.
When asked how he would make Hawai`i a more attractive state to do business in, Leslie answered, “How do they balance?” He again stressed his `ohana approach to how to work on the issue.
When asked his stance on whether Kaloko Honokohau National Park should control the Keauhou aquifer, which, according to mediator Sherry Bracken, has the potential to limit completion of projects such as West Hawai`i’s community college and Kona’s judiciary building, Leslie said it should be maintained as a cultural resource. “I don’t think I would like the national park telling us what to do,” he said.
Regarding labeling of GMOs, Leslie said, “We should stand up and say let’s go for it – let’s label this.” Pointing to the audience, he said, “It’s all about you; it’s not about us.”
When asked about legalized gambling in Hawai`i, Leslie said he had previously written a resolution for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs supporting gambling, but that he now doesn’t support it and wants more education about it.
In closing, Leslie stressed his desire to “continue to work with our people here and bring home a plate of wonderful things.”
Another concept Leslie emphasized was balance. He said he wants to “bring balance to the Legislature.” He characterized balance of working with the legislators as “knowing how we can get things done.”
Leslie said the Legislature has “cut this balance off, that balance off” regarding bills that get modified to the point that they are no longer recognizable.
When asked how he would make Hawai`i a more attractive state to do business in, Leslie answered, “How do they balance?” He again stressed his `ohana approach to how to work on the issue.
When asked his stance on whether Kaloko Honokohau National Park should control the Keauhou aquifer, which, according to mediator Sherry Bracken, has the potential to limit completion of projects such as West Hawai`i’s community college and Kona’s judiciary building, Leslie said it should be maintained as a cultural resource. “I don’t think I would like the national park telling us what to do,” he said.
Regarding labeling of GMOs, Leslie said, “We should stand up and say let’s go for it – let’s label this.” Pointing to the audience, he said, “It’s all about you; it’s not about us.”
When asked about legalized gambling in Hawai`i, Leslie said he had previously written a resolution for the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs supporting gambling, but that he now doesn’t support it and wants more education about it.
In closing, Leslie stressed his desire to “continue to work with our people here and bring home a plate of wonderful things.”
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Several fishponds are located in Ka`u. Map from DLNR |
RESTORERS OF FISHPONDS ARE NO LONGER TRAPPED in the bureaucracy of federal and state regulations following the state Board of Land & Natural Resources’ approval of a streamlined permitting process. Now, persons wanting to restore fishponds only have to apply for one permit.
The program covers five permits or authorizations and compliance with seventeen different state and federal laws that currently govern an element of fishpond restoration. The permits are the coastal zone management consistency statement from the state Office of Planning, environment assessment from the Office of Environmental Quality and Control, general permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, water quality certification from the Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch and Conservation District Use Application from Department of Land & Natural Resource’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands.
DLNR’s plan creates a three-tier review process based of scope of proposed work. Tier I includes minor repair, restoration, maintenance and operation of existing fishponds, construction or placement of minor structures, stocking and harvesting with traditional methods and removal of alien species. Tier II is for emergency repairs or fishpond repair, restoration, maintenance and operation involving work that is in excess of 10 percent but less than 50 percent of the original fishpond structure. Tier III is for repair, restoration, maintenance, and operation involving work that is in excess of 50 percent of the original fishpond structure, and DLNR has discretion to exclude major projects from the Programmatic Permit due to potential for significant environmental impacts. Tier III also covers dredging involving the use of mechanized equipment and any activity that may moderately affect/alter sandy beaches or sediment deposition.
DLNR’s plan creates a three-tier review process based of scope of proposed work. Tier I includes minor repair, restoration, maintenance and operation of existing fishponds, construction or placement of minor structures, stocking and harvesting with traditional methods and removal of alien species. Tier II is for emergency repairs or fishpond repair, restoration, maintenance and operation involving work that is in excess of 10 percent but less than 50 percent of the original fishpond structure. Tier III is for repair, restoration, maintenance, and operation involving work that is in excess of 50 percent of the original fishpond structure, and DLNR has discretion to exclude major projects from the Programmatic Permit due to potential for significant environmental impacts. Tier III also covers dredging involving the use of mechanized equipment and any activity that may moderately affect/alter sandy beaches or sediment deposition.
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| BLNR Chair William Aila, Jr. |
“This is a triumphant day for cultural practitioners and community organizations,” said BLNR chair William J. Aila, Jr. “For decades, the effort to restore traditional fishponds has been obstructed by a highly complex multi-agency permitting scheme. Today, we took a huge leap in making restoration and conservation more feasible for grassroots communities.”
While similar efforts have been made in the past, DLNR, headed by the executive BLNR, took a new, innovative approach to addressing the issue this time.
“In the past, the effort began with granting only a small number of ponds the opportunity to participate, so very few communities benefitted,” said Michael Cain, staff planner for DLNR’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. “This time, we began with the presumption that community restoration efforts and cultural practices are good for Hawaii and its environment, so we cast the net as wide as possible, hoping to encourage communities to get involved in conservation. As long as a pond and its activities fit into the framework we developed, it is eligible to apply to this program.”
While similar efforts have been made in the past, DLNR, headed by the executive BLNR, took a new, innovative approach to addressing the issue this time.
“In the past, the effort began with granting only a small number of ponds the opportunity to participate, so very few communities benefitted,” said Michael Cain, staff planner for DLNR’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. “This time, we began with the presumption that community restoration efforts and cultural practices are good for Hawaii and its environment, so we cast the net as wide as possible, hoping to encourage communities to get involved in conservation. As long as a pond and its activities fit into the framework we developed, it is eligible to apply to this program.”
The program was funded by Conservation International and Hawai`i Fish Trust and completed by Honua Consulting, a local consulting group, with support from DLNR and other state and federal agencies.
“This program is a wonderful illustration of how partnerships between nonprofit organizations and state agencies play a vital role in managing Hawaii’s fragile environmental and cultural resources,” said Jack Kittinger, the trust’s director.
The next step will be for the issuance of a similar programmatic permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“We have worked closely with the Corps on this effort from the start,” said OCCL Administrator Sam Lemmo. “I am confident that the federal agencies involved appreciate as much as we do that this is an opportunity to highlight how state and federal agencies can effectively serve communities when they cooperate.”
Lemmo expects the U.S. Army Corps permit to be issued within one month.
For more, see hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl.
“This program is a wonderful illustration of how partnerships between nonprofit organizations and state agencies play a vital role in managing Hawaii’s fragile environmental and cultural resources,” said Jack Kittinger, the trust’s director.
The next step will be for the issuance of a similar programmatic permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“We have worked closely with the Corps on this effort from the start,” said OCCL Administrator Sam Lemmo. “I am confident that the federal agencies involved appreciate as much as we do that this is an opportunity to highlight how state and federal agencies can effectively serve communities when they cooperate.”
Lemmo expects the U.S. Army Corps permit to be issued within one month.
For more, see hawaii.gov/dlnr/occl.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| KRHCAI CPR & First Aid students focus on instructor David Roque. From left, front: Brandy Cordeiro, Lono Grace, Margie Wiley, Jeanie Jara and Leslie Rosario. Back: Jamie Pasion, Emily Bolaoen, Sam Panglao and Walter Espejo. Photo from KRHCAI |
KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. is offering quarterly CPR First Aid/Infant, Child and Adult Certification classes. Nine KRHCAI students received certification from instructor David Roque on Saturday, April 26. KRHCAI Executive Director Jesse Marques said, “In keeping with KRHCAI’s mission, “To Do Whatever It Takes To Keep Ka`u Healthy, there are now nine residents who are trained and certified in CPR and First Aid.”
The next class takes place Saturday, July 26. Cost is $75. To register, contact KRHCAI at 928-0101.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK offers its Palm Trail Hike tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop trail provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
See more at nps.gov/havo.
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. |
