Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Ka`u Multicultural Society leaders Liz Kuluwaimaka (left) and Darlyne Vierra with driver Elisha-Ann Vierra and Jazmyn Navarro
 organized the pa`u riders for the Independence Day Parade last weekend in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

MONITORING OF KILAUEA VOLCANO will improve with an $86,462 grant from the National Science Foundation. “Kilauea’s spectacular volcanic eruptions have attracted much attention over the last three decades. More than 5,000 travelers visit Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park each day,” Sen. Brian Schatz said during his announcement of the grant. “And because Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, eruptions also pose a real threat to life and property as experienced by hundreds of families on Hawai`i Island who have lost their homes and been forced to start over. This grant will help better monitor Kilauea’s activity and increase public safety for residents and visitors.”

Ikaika Derasin rides tall to accompany Pa`u Princess Kircia Derasin representing

 the island of Hawai`i with the color red. Photo by Julia Neal

      The National Science Foundation grant will support high-speed photography and high-resolution analysis of released volcanic gas so that researchers can better forecast the course of future eruptions.
      Researchers will also study the Stromboli volcano in Italy and, if activity permits, the Etna volcano, also in Italy.

KULANI CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IS OPEN once again after being closed in 2009 as a cost-cutting measure by then Gov. Linda Lingle. The minimum-security facility will house 200 inmates transferred from prisons on the mainland who are serving less than four years of their remaining sentences.
     Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who attended the opening yesterday, said it is “an opportunity to reclaim lives,” reports John Burnett, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. “If we send people away from paradise, if we send people away from `ohana, from family, how are they going to work their way back? How will they find their way back? The mainland is no place for those who have stumbled, for those who have gone astray. Whatever chance that they have to restore our community, to restore themselves and their families in their communities, it has to be done here in Hawai`i. And this is the first step, today.”

La`a Ke accompanies Pa`u Princess Keana Kuluwaimaka representing the island of 

Maui with the color pink. Photo by Julia Neal

BEFORE HEADING TO THE REOPENING of Kulani Prison, Gov. Neil Abercrombie at Hilo Yacht Club enacted measures with direct relevance to Hawai`i Island. It was the first time a governor of the state of Hawai`i signed bills into law on Hawai`i Island. 

      “Signing these bills here in Hilo allowed the legislators who introduced them to witness their becoming law alongside the very people who will be most affected. I applaud the members of our Legislature, including Hawai`i Island legislators, for their leadership in advancing these important measures.”
      Senate Bill 3093 appropriates $200,000 to University of Hawai`i at Hilo to support its memorandum of agreement with RISE 21st Century After School Program.
      House Bill 1823 requires mediation in disputes regarding the fair market value or fair market rental of public lands and provides for binding arbitration in the event of unsuccessful mediation. Ka`u Reps. Richard Creagan and Richard Onishi co-introduced the bill with other Hawai`i Island representatives.
      House Bill 2152 appropriates $500,000 to the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems to support administrative and general tasks and strategic program initiatives. Ka`u Rep. Richard Onishi and other Hawai`i Island and state representatives co-introduced the bill.

      Also related to Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems, Senate Bill 2583 appropriates $250,000 for an engineering assessment of a proposal to establish a laser optical communications ground station in Hawai`i. Ka`u Sen. Josh Green co-introduced the bill with state senators from other islands. 

   

Jesse Lorenzo accompanies Lorilee Lorenzo, representing Kaua`i
with the color purple. Photo by Julia Neal

     Senate Bill 2953 provides that all royalties from geothermal resources on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands shall be paid to DHHL. 

     Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reports Abercrombie saying, “I hope this will act as an incentive and as an urging, to the (Public Utilities Commission) and to public opinion, on the opportunity to move forward on the incredible geothermal resources that exist here on the Big Island. All over the world … where there are geothermal resources, they are being explored to the maximum. They are being utilized to the maximum. 

     “This is a resource for the 21st Century in terms of alternative and renewable energy that probably is inexhaustible, and probably bodes as well as anything on the face of the earth to move us away from oil dependency and carbon-based dependency,” he said. 

KA`U PANIOLO CONTINUE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS with Ka`u Roping & Riding Association’s Rodeo Saturday and Sunday at the Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds. Events include Open Dally, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Ranch Mugging and Wahine Mugging.

KA`U PANIOLO RODE in the annual Independence Day Parade in Na`alehu last Saturday, with pa`u riders representing five of the Hawaiian islands - the Big Island, Kaua`i, Moloka`i, Maui and O`ahu. Their participation was organized by Ka`u Multicultural Society, which collects photos and memorabilia of ranch and plantation life in Ka`u and hosts the upcoming annual Ka`u Plantation Days on Saturday, Oct. 11 at Pahala Plantation House with a pa`u parade in the village.
      For more information, call Darlyne Vierra at 640-8740.

Raylene Welker represents O`ahu with the color yelllow. She was accompanied by
Frank Lorenzo, Jr. Photo by Julia Neal

RODEO QUEEN for this weekend’s Na`alehu Fourth of July rodeo has been announced. She is five-year-old Caliyah Silva Kamei, daughter of Clifford “Pepe” Magumi Kamei, Jr. and Kavelle Nalani Napoleon Silva, and niece of Miss Ka`u Coffee Amery Silva. The family is from Pahala. 

VOLCANO VILLAGE HOLDS ITS FOURTH OF JULY Parade & Celebration on Friday. The parade begins at 9 a.m. at the post office and travels Old Volcano Road to Wright Road to Cooper Center, site of vendor booths and tables, entertainment, keiki games and silent auction.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK reminds the public that fireworks are prohibited in national parks, including the Fourth of July, according to federal law. Visitors will notice “Fireworks Prohibited” signs posted near the park entrance.
     “Our priorities as stewards for public lands are to keep the public and our natural, cultural and historical resources safe,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “We wish everyone a safe and healthy Independence Day.” 

Makana Gravella accompanies Teani Souza who represents Moloka`i wearing
the color green. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ANNOUNCES the following upcoming flight plans for July: July 7 and 11, between 8 a.m. and noon, to transport fence materials, supplies and personnel for fencing project from Mauna Loa Road to Upper Mauna Loa; July 15, between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., for invasive weed management on Mauna Loa between 5,000 and 7,000 ft. elevation; July 15 and 17, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., for ungulate surveys and control work in Kahuku between 3,000- and 7,000-foot elevation; July 16 and 17, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., for petrel monitoring from the summit of Kilauea to Mauna Loa at about 9,000-foot elevation; and July 24, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., to transport fence materials, supplies and personnel for fencing project in upper Kahuku above Ka`u Forest Reserve.
      Management of the park requires use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources and maintain backcountry facilities.
      A statement from the park says that it regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.

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

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