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| Wahi Kupuna Internship Program students present results of their studies this summer at Pali Kulani and other Ka`u sites today at 4 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Photo from Wahi Kupuna Internship Program |
HAWAI`I NEWS NOW REPORTED THIS MORNING that 1,000 coffee trees have been destroyed in Ka`u and 2,000 macadamia nut trees were damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Iselle.
Damage amounts to $100 million, Howard Dicus said during his business report.
Dicus noted the years it takes for coffee trees to produce and additional years it takes for macadamia trees to produce after replanting.
Dicus noted the years it takes for coffee trees to produce and additional years it takes for macadamia trees to produce after replanting.
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| Ka`u farmers suffering damage from Iselle may be eligible for low-interest loans. Photo by Anne Celeste |
Most farmers are attempting to stand coffee and macadamia back up in the fields, hoping to get a head start on recovery.
Local estimates from farmers involve many thousands of macadamia and coffee trees in Ka`u.
See hawaiinewsnow.com.
Local estimates from farmers involve many thousands of macadamia and coffee trees in Ka`u.
See hawaiinewsnow.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
FARMERS SUFFERING DAMAGE FROM ISELLE may be eligible for low-interest loans from the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture Agricultural Loan Division.
An agricultural loan officer will be available at the two Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers on Hawai`i Island, which will be opened jointly by Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (formerly State Civil Defense) and Hawai`i County. The DARCs will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow at Pahoa Community Center, 15-2910 Puna Road, and Saturday and Sunday at Mountain View Gym, 18-1345A Volcano Road.
Hawai`i Board of Agriculture has the authority to approve the parameters for the emergency loan program. Farmers needing loans of $25,000 or less may apply for micro-loans for swifter processing and faster approvals.
If possible, farmers should bring photos of damage with them to the DARCs. Those who are unable to make it to the DARCs may call the Hilo office at 933-9975.
For more information on agricultural loans, call the Agricultural Loan Division at 808-973-9460.
FARMERS SUFFERING DAMAGE FROM ISELLE may be eligible for low-interest loans from the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture Agricultural Loan Division.
An agricultural loan officer will be available at the two Disaster Assistance and Recovery Centers on Hawai`i Island, which will be opened jointly by Hawai`i Emergency Management Agency (formerly State Civil Defense) and Hawai`i County. The DARCs will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow at Pahoa Community Center, 15-2910 Puna Road, and Saturday and Sunday at Mountain View Gym, 18-1345A Volcano Road.
Hawai`i Board of Agriculture has the authority to approve the parameters for the emergency loan program. Farmers needing loans of $25,000 or less may apply for micro-loans for swifter processing and faster approvals.
If possible, farmers should bring photos of damage with them to the DARCs. Those who are unable to make it to the DARCs may call the Hilo office at 933-9975.
For more information on agricultural loans, call the Agricultural Loan Division at 808-973-9460.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Tropical Storm Karina is strengthening in the eastern Pacific, while more disturbances are active in the central Pacific. Image from CPHC |
WEATHER CONDITIONS IN THE PACIFIC continue to favor development of tropical storms. An area of low pressure about 1,100 miles east-southeast of Hawai`i Island has a 60 percent chance of become a tropical storm, according to the Center Pacific Hurricane Center. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for gradual development of this system during the next two days as it moves slowly north or northwest.
Tropical Storm Karina developed in the eastern Pacific, as did Genevieve, Iselle and Julio. Karina continues to strengthen and is expected to become a hurricane by tomorrow. It is 550 miles off the coast of Baja, Mexico and moving west at 10 miles per hour.
Tropical Storm Karina developed in the eastern Pacific, as did Genevieve, Iselle and Julio. Karina continues to strengthen and is expected to become a hurricane by tomorrow. It is 550 miles off the coast of Baja, Mexico and moving west at 10 miles per hour.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Rep. Colleen Hanabusa |
WHO BECOMES THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE for U.S. Senate will be decided tomorrow, following Hawai`i Third Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura’s rejection of a motion filed by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa to delay the vote. The candidate filed a lawsuit claiming that holding the election in Puna tomorrow would deny voters in two precincts their constitution rights to vote. Tomorrow’s election is to give voters at two polling places that were closed on Election Day because of Tropical Storm an opportunity to vote. Hanabusa wanted Chief Election Officer Scott Nago to postpone the election “to a reasonable date where voters can exercise their right to vote.”
Hanabusa currently trails Sen. Brian Schatz by 1,635 votes.
Hanabusa currently trails Sen. Brian Schatz by 1,635 votes.
“Due to the storm, voters in the affected precincts are still without power and water, and many roads are inaccessible or blocked with debris,” Hanabusa's motion stated. “There is still limited electricity and phone service in these areas, and it is unlikely that full power will be restored or that roads will be unblocked prior to or on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. This will make it impossible to ensure the voters will receive adequate notice of the election, or that those that receive notice can physically access the precinct, depriving these voters of the right to vote.”
West Hawai`i Today reported Hanabusa saying, “I’ve spent the last four days traveling in Puna talking with people, listening to their stories of destruction and damage and seeing first hand the magnitude of the devastation they have suffered. It is completely unrealistic to think people struggling to find basic necessities or get out of their homes will have the ability to go to the polls this week.”
West Hawai`i Today reported Hanabusa saying, “I’ve spent the last four days traveling in Puna talking with people, listening to their stories of destruction and damage and seeing first hand the magnitude of the devastation they have suffered. It is completely unrealistic to think people struggling to find basic necessities or get out of their homes will have the ability to go to the polls this week.”
Mayor Billy Kenoi on Hawai`i News Now confirmed all major roads in and out of neighborhoods to the main highways have been cleared. “This has been a complete team effort, and we all got to remember that as challenging as Iselle was, it wasn’t as difficult as it could’ve been,” Kenoi said. “Every incident gives us an opportunity for lessons learned. Given this incident and our response, certainly we can learn from this – strengthen our preparedness recovery system and the next time be even more well prepared – because at the end of the day, you can fix stuff, you can put stuff back together, but you cannot fix a loss of life.”
See westhawaiitoday.com.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT invites volunteers to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meet at Kilauea Visitor Center. Free; park entrance fees apply.
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK offers its new Pu`u o Lokuana program tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Participants climb to the top of the grassy cinder cone on a free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike and learn about the hill’s formation and various uses of it over time. The summit affords a breathtaking view of lower Ka`u. Call 985-6011 for more information.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS in Volcano Rain Forest Runs can carbo-load for Saturday’s events at Cooper Center’s Dine & Dash Pasta Buffet tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost for the buffet is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Ka`u High had the lowest Election Day voter turnout of the five local precincts. Photo by Julia Neal |
MOST OF THE FIVE LOCAL POLLING PLACES had more voters than the rest of Hawai`i Island on Election Day last Saturday. The islandwide turnout was 14.2 percent. At Cooper Center in Volcano, 379 out of 1,815 registered voters, or 20.9 percent, went to the polls. Na`alehu School saw 217 voters, or 15.8 percent of those registered. Ocean View Community Center’s turnout was 16.2 percent, with 305 of 1,888 registered voters. Miloli`i Halau precinct had 548 registered voters, and 84, or 15.3 percent, voted on Election Day.
Ka`u High was the only local precinct with a turnout lower than the islandwide figure. Out of 844 registered voters, 105, or 12.4 percent, went to the polls.
Most local precincts also reported more absentee votes than Election Day votes. Absentee voters in Cooper Center precinct totaled 415. In Ka` High precinct, 209 residents voted absentee – almost double Election Day turnout; in Na`alehu School precinct, 272; and in Miloli, 94.
Ocean View Community Center precinct reported 244 absentee ballots received, lower than turnout on Election Day.
Cooper Center precinct’s overall turnout, which included absentee and Election Day ballots, was 43.7 percent, higher than islandwide at 37.6 percent and statewide at 41.4 percent. For Ka`u High’s precinct, the percentage was 37.2; for Na`alehu School, 35.5 percent; for Ocean View Community Center, 29.1 percent; and for Miloli`i Halau, 32.5 percent.
Ka`u High was the only local precinct with a turnout lower than the islandwide figure. Out of 844 registered voters, 105, or 12.4 percent, went to the polls.
Most local precincts also reported more absentee votes than Election Day votes. Absentee voters in Cooper Center precinct totaled 415. In Ka` High precinct, 209 residents voted absentee – almost double Election Day turnout; in Na`alehu School precinct, 272; and in Miloli, 94.
Ocean View Community Center precinct reported 244 absentee ballots received, lower than turnout on Election Day.
Cooper Center precinct’s overall turnout, which included absentee and Election Day ballots, was 43.7 percent, higher than islandwide at 37.6 percent and statewide at 41.4 percent. For Ka`u High’s precinct, the percentage was 37.2; for Na`alehu School, 35.5 percent; for Ocean View Community Center, 29.1 percent; and for Miloli`i Halau, 32.5 percent.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Students conducting research in the vast fields of Ka`u. Photo from Wahi Kupuna Internship Program |
PAHALA PLANTATION HOUSE HOSTS THE HO`IKE for Wahi Kupuna Internship Program today from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The presentation gives the community an opportunity to learn about research that students have been conducting in Ka`u this summer, when they conducted an archaeological reconnaissance survey of the entire coastline of Punalu`u ahupua`a.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT invites volunteers to help remove invasive Himalayan ginger from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park trails tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meet at Kilauea Visitor Center. Free; park entrance fees apply.
KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK offers its new Pu`u o Lokuana program tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Participants climb to the top of the grassy cinder cone on a free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike and learn about the hill’s formation and various uses of it over time. The summit affords a breathtaking view of lower Ka`u. Call 985-6011 for more information.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS in Volcano Rain Forest Runs can carbo-load for Saturday’s events at Cooper Center’s Dine & Dash Pasta Buffet tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost for the buffet is $15 for adults and $7.50 for children.
VOLCANO RAIN FOREST RUNS take place Saturday. Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m., followed by the 10K at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K at 8 a.m. Keiki runs begin at 10 a.m. Registration is available at volcanorainforestruns.com.
See map at right for race routes and road closures.
Late registration and packet pickup is available tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No race day registration for Half Marathon.
OCEAN VIEW EVANGELICAL CHURCH HOSTS a Ho`olaule`a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lu`au for God in Jesus’ name includes free Hawaiian food while supplies last, different worship teams, hula, door prizes, games and prizes for children, keiki ID and a prayer booth. Call 345-5899 for more information.
BLACK & WHITE NIGHT IS SATURDAY at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants dress up in their best black and white attire. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-8365.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
Late registration and packet pickup is available tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No race day registration for Half Marathon.
OCEAN VIEW EVANGELICAL CHURCH HOSTS a Ho`olaule`a Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lu`au for God in Jesus’ name includes free Hawaiian food while supplies last, different worship teams, hula, door prizes, games and prizes for children, keiki ID and a prayer booth. Call 345-5899 for more information.
BLACK & WHITE NIGHT IS SATURDAY at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants dress up in their best black and white attire. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-8365.
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. |