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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 26, 2014

Hawai`i County Council District Six candidates Richard Abbett, at left, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson participated in a forum at Cooper Center in Volcano Village this morning. Photo by Julia Neal
PRIMARY ELECTION EARLY WALK-IN VOTING starts Monday at Pahala Community Center on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, Aug. 7. Early walk-in was unavailable in Ka`u during the last election, but election officials decided to reopen the opportunity for the primary and general elections. For the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, early walk-in voting is from Oct. 21 through Nov. 1.
      Registered Ka`u voters will be able to cast ballots for the following offices: U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District Two, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, state Senate District Three, state House of Representatives Districts Three and Five, Office of Hawaiian Affairs At-Large Trustees and Hawai`i County Council District Six.
      On the ballot for state Senate District Three are incumbent Josh Green, of Kailua-Kona, and Michael Last, of Na`alehu.
      State House of Representatives District Three candidates are Bill Dickson, of Mountain View; Fred Fogel, of Volcano; and incumbent Richard Onishi, of Hilo.
      State House of Representatives District Five candidates are Dave Bateman, of Holualoa; incumbent Richard Creagan, of Na`alehu; Jon Lalanne, of Ocean View; Gene “Bucky” Leslie, of Holualoa; and Randy Ruis, of Ocean View.
      On the ballot for Hawai`i County Council District Six are Richard Abbett, of Ocean View; Maile Medeiros David, of Captain Cook; and Jim Wilson, of Volcano.
      Sample ballots are available at hawaii.gov/elections.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ALL THREE CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY COUNCIL Volcano-Ka`u-South Kona District vowed to serve the people and not special interests today at a forum sponsored by Volcano Rotary Club. Candidates Jim Wilson, Maile Medeiros David and Richard Abbett gave talks about why and how they would benefit the community.
Maile Medeiros David and Richard Abbett, behind table, are running
for County Council District Six. Photo by Julia Neal
      All three tackled questions on their views on the proposed county incinerator to handle the island’s waste stream and whether they would allow commercial haulers to pick up garbage and take it to county transfer stations. 
     Volcano resident and Rotary member Jim Wilson, the retired publisher of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, said he has always, at times, been critical of the way the council does business and talked about a common sense, no nonsense approach. He said he researches topics through library and Internet sources. When asked about consulting people and experts on various issues, he said, “That goes without saying.” When asked about the needs of greater Ka`u beyond Volcano, he talked about an industry to provide jobs. He mentioned transportation, water and sustainable agriculture issues.
      When asked about Hawai`i Electric Light Co. and electric rates, he said, “They have us by the long hairs. Our rates are atrocious.” He said there has to be a way to “reduce the needs of HELCO” and to help lower prices.
      When asked how many of the candidates have read the integrated solid waste resource plan for the county, Wilson said he hadn’t. David said she attended hearings on it, and Abbett said he recently reviewed it.
      David said she could not give a pro or con on the idea of an incinerator without the request for proposals for county waste processing facilities moving forward to provide her with “all the information.”
County Council District Six candidate Jim Wilson is a Rotary Club member.
Photo by Julia Neal
      Wilson said the community can’t keep putting garbage in a hole in the ground and that he would support the best way to dispose of it, including recycling and upcycling.
      Abbett took the strongest stand against the incinerator. “There is a good reason they haven’t been built for 20 years,” he said. He called incinerators “an all around outdated idea.” He also said that the RFP requirement that the chosen technology for processing waste for Hawai`i County have a minimum 15-year history elsewhere is “an excuse to use old technology.” He said an incinerator “would completely erode” the county’s zero waste policies.
      Former County Council member Bob Jacobson asked, “Do you know who makes policy” for the county? Wilson answered first with the correct answer, the County Council.
      Questions were asked on whether the new council member would be independent in his or her considerations and decision-making from the mayor and county administration.
      All promised to study the issues and make their decisions independently. Abbett said he would do everything he could to set a reasonable tone at council meetings and to create a more mature outlook by council members. He said that personality conflicts, personal problems and conflicts between districts currently hinder the council’s work.
      David said she would always go to the people, study issues and abide by the legal process.
      See more on the forum in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs.
      The candidates participate in another forum Monday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Registration for Ka`u Coffee Trail Run is available online.
A PAHALA BUILDER NAILED THE STATE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP for shotguns shooting aerial clay targets. Mike Munnerlyn traveled to Maui along with other Big Islanders Milford Tabura, Tracy Lewis and Alford Pestrello - all from Hilo - as well as Jimmy Watt from Mountain View and Tom Griffith from Kona. In C class, Tabura placed second. In D class, Griffith placed third, and in E class, Munnerlyn placed first.
      Munnerlyn will shoot in the National Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio, Texas in October. 
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U COFFEE TRAIL RUN IS COMING UP SATURDAY, SEPT. 20. This first time opportunity through private property offers breathtaking landscapes and panoramic views of the Ka`u Coast and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
      All runs and walks start at 7:30 a.m., beginning and finishing at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The 5K is an easy, family-friendly run or walk through macadamia nut orchards and coffee fields. The 10K follows the 5K course then climbs to higher elevations through a eucalyptus tree forest. The Half Marathon follows the 10K course before shifting into high gear and intensity through grazing pastures and former sugarcane fields to the highest elevation of 3,100 feet, then winds down through newly planted coffee fields.
      Awards go to top three men and women overall and top three men and women in age groups from 19 and under to 70 and over.
      After the run, participants can enjoy award-winning Ka`u Coffee, food, entertainment and many other family-friendly activities. A Kendama tournament is also planned.
KDEN's final performances of Ruddigore are tonight and tomorrow afternoon.
Photo from KDEN
      Registration for all events is available online at race360.com/21357. High school team members can participate for $10. Registration on or before Aug. 19 is $30 for the 5K, $40 for the 10K and $50 for the Half Marathon. Fees increase $5 from Aug. 19 through Sept. 13, and late registration is an additional $20.
      The event is sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou, and all proceeds stay in Ka‘ū to benefit the Ka`u community.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ROMANCE AND HUMOR ABOUND IN KDEN’S production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Ruddigore, or, The Witch’s Curse. Final performances are today at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $15 general, $12 for students and seniors over 60 and $10 for children 12 and under. Reservations can be made by calling 982-7344. 
      For more information call the number above, email kden73@aol.com, or see KDEN’s Facebook page.

HAWAI`I CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY IS BRINGING speakers to Ka`u tomorrow. Filipino leaders Dr. Romeo Quijano and Gilbert Sape speak with farmers, farm workers and others at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. A potluck begins at 5 p.m.
      For more information, contact Kasha Ho at 808-681-7688 or kho@centerforfoodsafety.org.

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE David Ige comes to Ka`u Monday for a talk story session at the Pahala home of Marion Villanueva at 4 p.m. The address is 96-1174 Holei Street, on the corner of Pikake Street. Ige, Finance chair of the state Senate, is challenging sitting governor Neil Abercrombie for the Democratic Party nomination in the Aug. 9 primary election.

HAWAI`I WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION hosts a free community wildfire preparedness workshop Monday at Pahala Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Topics include how to mitigate wildfire issues through proper home landscaping techniques and home structure modifications, how to develop a clear and achievable family emergency plan and what actions to take during a wildfire and proper evacuation procedures.
      For more information, email pablo@hawaiiwildfire.org, call 808-885-0900, or see hawaiiwildfire.org.

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

See kacalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.