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Monday, August 04, 2014

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Aug. 4, 2014

June Domondon welcomes walk-in voters each day through Thursday at Pahala Community Center. Photo by Julia Neal
LITTLE MORE THAN 40 VOTERS HAD WALKED in to Pahala Community Center by Monday morning. However, poll workers are anticipating a bit of a rush ahead of Iselle, the category four hurricane that could reach Hawai`i by Thursday as a hurricane or tropical storm. The early electronic voting option, open 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. through Thursday, is being monitored by a worker representing the voting machine company along with poll workers June Domondon and Marlene Freitas. Election Day is Saturday, Aug. 9 with polls at Cooper Center in Volcano, Pahala High & Elementary School Cafeteria, Na`alehu School Cafeteria, Ocean View Community Center and Miloli`i Halau from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Electronic voting, only, is available at the walk-in voting station at Pahala Community
Center through Thursday, Photo by Julia Neal
MONEY SPENT IN THIS ELECTION for the County Council member is dwarfed by spending during the last three elections, when some candidates shelled out more than ten times what has been spent so far this year.
      Spending was highest in 2008 when winner Guy Enriques spent $81,705.12. To secure the seat in his 2010 reelection bid, he spent $48,592.15 but was defeated by Brittany Smart, who spent $14,096.81.
      In 2012, three candidates qualified for $41,000 each in public financing. The amount provided was based on the total spent by candidates in prior elections, and Ka`u is where the most money poured into coffers when Guy Enriques was running for Council, once successfully against Bob Jacobson and the second time drawing a loss to Brittany Smart.
      In the 2012 election, Brenda Ford spent $66,894.01, Maile Medeiros David reported $48,277.01, Bradley Westervelt, $43,423.77 and Lee McIntosh, $2,967.16. McIntosh did not accept public funding.
      Public funding in the amount tied to what Enriques spent in 2008 ended this year, leaving candidates to raise their own money.
      So far this election, according to campaign spending reports, Maile Medeiros David has spent the most with $8,580.50, followed by Jim Wilson with $3,102.13 and Richard Abbett with $1,515.97.
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Tonight is Ka`u's last chance to see the County Council District Six candidates at a forum. Richard Abbett, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson meet at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE MAILE MEDEIROS DAVID is leading her competitors when it comes to campaign donations. Medeiros David took in $6,920.49 with $375 being donations of $100 or less. That is more than three times the donations to Richard Abbett, who reported receiving $2,021.47 with $550 coming from donations of $100 or less. Donations to Jim Wilson amounted to $1,375 with $250 from donations of $100 or less.
      The three candidates participate this evening in their final forum before the Saturday, Aug. 9 primary election. The forum begins at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
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Former Gov. John Waihe`e supports Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Photo from Neil Abercrombie Campaign
FORMER GOV. JOHN D. WAIHE`E IS GOING TO BAT for Gov. Neil Abercrombie. He said he and the governor have been friends and colleagues for decades. “I’ve always known him to be an advocate for Hawai`i’s people and a tenacious campaigner,” he said. “That’s why I am confident he’ll win this election. He’s a rare leader with passion, integrity and a vision for providing a brighter future for Hawai`i.
      Waihe`e pointed out past elections where the winner was trailing in polls, as Abercrombie currently is in the race against Sen. David Ige. “In 1986, I first ran for governor against then-Congressman Cec Heftel,” Waihe`e said. “With two weeks left in the election, I was 18 points behind. Thanks to hard work and getting out the vote, I won.
      “In 1998, Ben Cayetano trailed then-Maui Mayor Linda Lingle in nearly every poll during his re-election bid. Ultimately, Ben went on to win by 5,000 votes.
      “Every campaign, every election eventually comes down to getting out the vote. With less than a week remaining in this election, polls no longer matter. Only votes count.
      “Please vote for Neil and urge 10 others to do the same on Aug. 9 or earlier by walk-in voting,” Waihe`e said.
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STATE AND LOCAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS in Hawai`i will receive $8,902,185 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grants will provide funding for various activities throughout the state for disaster management and preparedness, port security and terrorism prevention planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment.


      “As one of the most remote places in the world, Hawai`i faces unique security challenges and vulnerabilities,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “In what is expected to be a very active hurricane season this year, we must remain vigilant and be ready for all hazards. These FEMA grants will ensure programs in Hawai`i have the resources to strengthen our resilience to natural disasters and improve security at our ports, in our communities and throughout the state.”


      FEMA program funding includes $3,733,000 for the state homeland security, $3,546,080 for emergency management, $1 million for Urban Areas Security Initiative and $623,105 for Port Security.
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Kumu Leina`ala Brown Dombrigues
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN this week’s county government meetings via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center. Council committees meet tomorrow morning, and County Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo.
      Agendas are available at hawaiicounty.gov.

KUMU LEINA`ALA BROWN-DOMBRIGUES has announced hula and cultural classes beginning this week.
      The Dance of Life: Olapa Kahiko Oli starts Thursday, Aug. 7 and continues each Thursday, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
      Cultural Classes are held once per week on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
      For more information, see peacewarriorprincessleinaala-kapoeaohiwa.org, call 808-333-7914, or email kumuleinaala@yahoo.com.

WAHI KUPUNA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN KA`U is wrapping up their fifth year this summer and residents to a community ho`ike on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
      For more information, email kuyeoka@hawaii.edu.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life tomorrow at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

Medals are ready for winners of Volcano
Rain Forest Runs.
VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS ARE LESS THAN two weeks away, and registration is still available. Entry fees are $85 for the Half Marathon, $50 for the 10K and $35 for the 5K. The Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, followed by the 10K at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K at 8 a.m. All runs start and finish at Cooper Center on Wright Road.
      Packet pick-up and late registration is Friday, Aug. 15 at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
      Cooper Center offers a $15 Dine & Dash Pasta Buffet on Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
      Participants in 10K and 5K can register race morning at Cooper Center until 7:30 a.m. T-shirts are not guaranteed for late registrations. There is no race day registration for the Half Marathon.
      Keiki ages 1 – 7 can register for the free 100- or 200-yard dashes on race morning until 9:30 a.m. The Keiki runs, sponsored by Kilauea Lodge, begin at 10 a.m. All entrants receive a ribbon and other goodies after coming through the finish line.
      Volcano Rotary Club serves an $8 BBQ Grill Lunch on race day from 9 a.m. Other activities include face painting, balloon animals with the Hiccup Circus to delight the children and craft and other booths for everyone’s enjoyment.
      “Parking is limited within Volcano Village so come early and carpool, please,” said Race Director Sharron Faff. There are parking lots located at Volcano Store, Thai Thai Restaurant and Volcano Garden Arts. All parking lots are located on Old Volcano Road and within walking distance of Cooper Center.
      “Everyone please use caution throughout the village during the race morning to insure the safety of all participants, volunteers and spectators,” Faff said. “A big mahalo goes out to everyone involved in this fifth annual community event.”
      All participants are responsible for knowing their race route. For more information, maps, FAQs, registration and volunteering, see volcanorainforestruns.com, or call 967-8240.

Iselle, a Category Four Hurricane, with 140 mile an hour winds,
 rolls across the Pacific toward Hawai`i. Image from NOAA
HURRICANE ISELLE reached Category Four strength this morning, with 140 mph winds and higher gusts. Iselle is headed toward Hawai`i, though forecasters expect her to lose some strength and downgrade to a tropical storm by the time she reaches the islands. The 11 a.m. National Weather Service forecast says "Iselle has an impressive signature on visible satellite imagery....Iselle should only gradually weaken in the short term while it moves over marginal sea surface temperatures and in a relatively light-shear environment." While predicting a weakening over cooler waters, the forecasters say that the ocean will warm up again "just to the east of Hawai`i, which would allow Iselle to maintain some inteensity."  A mid-level anticyclone is expected to develop and strengthen between California and Hawai`i in a day or two and could force Iselle to turn west-northwestward and accelerate her speed toward the islands starting late Tuesday. The forecast continues to bring the center of Iselle across the main Hawaiian Islands between 72 and 120 hours from 11 a.m. this morning - the earliest arrival being Thursday afternoon, when she might clip the north shore of Hawai`i Island. While not in the direct, predicted path, Ka`u is in the cone of possible landfall destinations for Iselle.



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