Ka`u News Briefs Friday, July 31, 2015

Hurricane Guillermo, currently between latitudes 130 and 135, is forecast to strengthen and then weaken before reaching the vicinity of Hawai`i. Map from NOAA

GUILLERMO IS ON HIS WAY TOWARD HAWAI`I. This year’s seventh named Pacific tropical storm that developed in the Eastern Pacific became a hurricane this morning. 

      The current environment of low shear and a warm ocean is favorable for Guillermo to intensify further in the short term, and the National Hurricane Center forecast shows winds increasing.
      Beyond two days, the hurricane will begin to move into a less favorable shear environment as it approaches prevailing upper-level westerlies. By the end of the forecast period, when Guillermo is expected to be nearing the Hawai`i, most guidance, including NHC’s forecast, indicates that it should have weakened to a tropical storm.
      The storm continues to move west-northwestward. Guillermo will likely continue at this fast pace for another 24 to 36 hours while embedded within a layer of deep easterlies to the south of the subtropical ridge. After that time, the hurricane is expected to slow down as it approaches the southwestern edge of the subtropical ridge and encounters weaker steering currents.
      The track of the storm is still in question, with forecasters saying it could eventually head north of the islands.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Officers arrested seven more people on the summit of Mauna Kea
this morning. Photo from DLNR

OFFICERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT of Land & Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement arrested seven men on Mauna Kea early this morning. Pueo McGuire Turcotte, of Na`alehu, was one of them. Most bails were either $250 or $400. McGuire Turcotte’s bail was set at $2,850 for additional charges and outstanding warrants, according to DLNR. 

      Under the emergency rule approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources and signed by Gov. David Ige, it is illegal to be in the restricted area along Mauna Kea Observatory Access Road from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. The state put the rule into place after Thirty Meter Telescope opponents blocked passage of construction vehicles.
      Hawai`i County Police Department provided transportation support, and rangers from the Office of Mauna Kea Management provided logistical support. An additional six men were issued citations and voluntarily left the mountain. The arrests and citations follow more than a week of awareness efforts by the state to ensure people knew the particulars of the rule. Efforts included placing signage around the Mauna Kea Visitors Center and handing out educational flyers which detail the rule’s specific provisions. Additional law enforcement efforts can continue at anytime while the rule is in effect.
      “The emergency rules were enacted to ensure public safety and access after the road was blocked by boulders,” Ige said. The state has made sure people are aware of and understand the emergency rules before taking the next step. While we had hoped arrests would not have to be made in the process of citing violators last night, we were prepared to take action, and we did so.”
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The entrance to Thurston Lava Tube will also be the exit during the two-week
closure of the usual exit route. NPS Photo by Michael Szoenyi

THE EXIT ROUTE TRAIL LEADING out of Thurston Lava Tube in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will close starting Monday, while workers replace an electrical line. The lava tube will remain open, and the trail that leads into it will be used as both exit and entry. 

      The closed area extends from the far end of the lava tube toward the restrooms. The restrooms will remain open. Escape Road, from Hwy 11 to Thurston Lava Tube, will also be closed during the project.
      Thurston Lava Tube, or Nahuku, is one of the most popular features in the park. Visitation is heaviest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. To reduce congestion in the parking lot and lava tube, visitors are encouraged to enjoy it in the early morning or late afternoon.
      In a statement, park officials said they regret any impact to visitors and residents. Dates and times are subject to change, and the public will be notified if changes are necessary.
      The route is scheduled to re-open Aug. 14.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

George D. Szigeti

VISITOR SPENDING ON PACE for a fourth consecutive record-breaking year, according to Hawai`i Tourism Authority. The first half of 2015 started off strong with year-to-date expenditures reaching a record $7.6 billion (plus 3.5 percent) and contributing $806.92 million in state tax revenue. While visitor spending is slightly behind target, arrivals are pacing ahead, and HTA anticipates finishing the year ahead of 2014’s record-breaking numbers. 

       With more than 1,053 flights per week to the Hawaiian Islands, providing both visitors and residents with the ability to travel to and from the state, airlift remains the key to tourism’s success. “We continue to work with our partners to grow and maintain airlift, and through our collaborative efforts, project reaching a record 11.9 million total air seats to Hawai`i by the end of the year,” said HTA President and CEO George D. Szigeti.
      To strengthen ties with the airlines and continue to highlight the unique attributes of the islands, HTA will also be hosting its first-ever Airline Summit, during which HTA leaders will meet with 15 to 20 airline network planners from across the U.S. and Asia-Pacific regions. The summit will be held in conjunction with the 2015 Hawai`i Tourism Conference, the state’s premier tourism event, which includes informative sessions and workshops that provide insight, updates, trends and forecasts for the state’s lead economic driver.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sen. Mazie Hirono

U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO VOTED TO PASS the highway bill, which, if enacted, will increase highway and bus funding for Hawai`i. The six-year bill will give transportation agencies more certainty to plan for the long-term building and repair of our roads, bridges, public transit systems and other infrastructure needs. The bill also reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank, which supports jobs and small businesses in Hawai`i. 

      “This highway bill that passed the Senate today is imperfect,” Hirono said. There are many provisions that concern me, perhaps the most important being adequate funding. Republicans were unwilling to have a real discussion about how to pay for this bill. Particularly unacceptable was their initial idea to pay for the bill by cutting Social Security, among other programs.
      “The bill also raised safety concerns that I hope will be addressed in conference. I introduced an amendment to strike a provision that may jeopardize the safety of port workers and supported amendments to require manufacturers to more quickly report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the need for a vehicle recall or face imprisonment, require manufacturers to secure their vehicles from malicious hackers, ensure a broader federal complete street policy and other priorities.”
      Highway funding is set to expire today. Earlier this week, the House recessed, which prevents a six-year highway bill from reaching the President’s desk before expiration. As a result, Hirono also reluctantly supported a three-month extension of current funding, which prevents reckless shutdowns of critical ongoing projects.
      Under the transportation bill that passed the Senate, Hawai`i’s highway funding increases from a current level of $163 million to $171 million in the first year of the bill, a nearly five-percent increase, and up to $197 million in fiscal year 2021, a 20-percent increase from current funding levels. However, currently, the bill does not provide funding for the full six years.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u residents are invited to hike Kahuku's Palm Trail Sunday.
Photo from NPS

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Kahuku Unit presents free programs this weekend. 

      During People and Lands of Kahuku tomorrow at 9:30 a.m, participants learn about the powerful natural forces at work there and how people have adapted to, shaped and restored this land.
      A guided hike of Palm Trail takes place Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The hike is a moderately difficult 2.6-mile loop traversing scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. Highlights include relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures.
      Enter on the mauka side of Hwy 11 near mile marker 70.5, and meet near the parking area. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection, and a snack are recommended.
      Call 985-6011 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, July 30, 2015

People and Land of Kahuku is the topic of a guided hike Saturday. NPS Photo by Julia Espinosa

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE URGE MOTORISTS to drive with caution as school resumes. Motorists should expect an increase in traffic, especially in school zones, during morning and afternoon hours.

      Sergeant Robert Pauole, of the Traffic Services Section, suggests adjusting daily schedules and starting earlier to avoid the temptation to rush while commuting to work. Also, while driving within school zones, use caution and be attentive to children walking to school and crossing in marked crosswalks.

B'lane Daly teaches her students math at Ka`u Learning Academy.
Photo from KLA

      Ka`u Learning Academy held its first day of classes with great success, Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo said. Many parents were present the first day to see their children start the new school year.  Iacuzzo said the new teachers were thrilled to meet their students. The other charter school in Ka`u, Volcano School of the Arts  Sciences, also began the fall semester yesterday.

      At Na`alehu Elementary, pre-k through sixth grade, starts today. In Pahala, school begins for students in preschool, kindergarten, seventh and ninth grades tomorrow. Grade eight and all other classes in Pahala start school on Monday.
      Pahala and Na`alehu classes start at 8 a.m.
Kamehameha School starts next week in Kea`au.
      Call Pahala public school campus at 928-2088 and Na`alehu at 939-2413.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY WATER BOARD unanimously confirmed Kawika Uyehara as deputy of the Department of Water Supply at their monthly meeting yesterday.
      Newly selected Manager-Chief Engineer Keith Okamoto detailed the many reasons for his selection of Uyehara. Okamoto wrote about the attributes he felt were critical in a deputy and how Uyehara fulfilled each with his experience, education, leadership skills and community connection.
      A graduate of Waiakea High School, Uyehara went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from University of Washington. Upon completion of his degree, Uyehara worked several years with private firms in Seattle, Honolulu and Hilo. Uyehara joined the Department in 2007 as a licensed civil engineer in the Water Quality Assurance and Control Branch of the Engineering Division. Uyehara was promoted to branch supervisor in 2012.
      Okamoto cited examples of volunteer community service during Hurricane Iselle, National Drinking Water Week and coordinating general public education about the importance of source water protection for drinking water.
      Uyehara has a good understanding and knowledge of the potable drinking water industry, applicable federal and state laws, county codes and ordinances, departmental rules and regulations, as well as the ability to relate to customer and community needs, Okamoto said.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

M. Kahealani Nae`ole Wong
Photo from KSH

M. KAHEALANI NAE`OLE‐WONG has been appointed as po`o kula (head of school) for Kamehameha Schools Hawai`i. Kamehameha School serves Ka`u students with daily bus service to the 300-acre Kea`au campus, which opened in August of 2001. The student population is more than 1,100 in grades K-12. Over the last two years, Nae`ole‐Wong has served as the campus’ assistant head of school and has been serving as the interim head of school over the past two months. She takes over from Dr. Holoua Stender, who was promoted to helm a new executive vice president of education post with Kamehameha Schools. 

      “I’ve seen firsthand, Kahealani’s steadfast dedication to the faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community,” said Dr. Rod Chamberlain, Kamehameha Schools’ vice president of campus education. “She is an accomplished professional with a track record of improving educational and operational performance through vision, leadership and team building. She has a proven ability to affect change and drive continuous improvement.
      “The results of these efforts are a wonderful reflection of her genuine commitment to fulfill the mission and vision of our founder.”
      In her role as hope po‘o kumu (assistant head of school), Nae`ole‐Wong has led K‐12 campus curricular efforts associated with the Working Exit Outcomes framework, Standards-Based Kula Hawai`i and the Danielson Framework. She has worked with KSH and tri‐campus administrators and kumu to create a curriculum development infrastructure which results in the integration of Kula Hawai`i (Hawaiian School) and 21st century skills.
      “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as the po`o kula for KS Hawai`i and look forward to fostering a thriving culture of growth and learning for all who call KS Hawai`i home,” Nae`ole‐ Wong said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside a dedicated and talented team of students, families, faculty, staff and leaders who exemplify Ke Ali`i Pauahi’s vision of academic, social, spiritual and cultural excellence.”
      Nae`ole‐Wong has served the KS Hawai`i `ohana since 2003, first as a high school career academy coordinator and serving for eight years as po`o kumu o ke kula ha`aha`a (elementary school principal) before stepping into the assistant head of school role in 2013. Prior to joining KSH, she served as the vice principal for Waiakea Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Waiakea High School and in various capacities with Ke Kula Kaiapuni Hawai`i.
      A graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, Nae`ole‐Wong went on to receive her B.A. in Hawaiian studies from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo and two master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction and education administration (K‐12) from the University of Hawai`i at Manoa.
      Nae`ole‐Wong said, “I hope to build on a strong foundation and collaboratively lead our school to continue to grow as a Kula Hawai`i ‐ where all leaders, faculty, staff and students are committed to teaching and learning that supports the renewed vibrancy of Hawai`i’s indigenous people, and our life‐long success in the 21st century. It aligns with my core belief that applying our tradition of ancestral excellence and innovation in globally connected, Hawaiian culture‐based environments is a critical means to attain cultural vibrancy and ultimately achieve the mission of Kamehameha Schools.”
      Nae`ole‐Wong’s appointment is effective immediately. An interim assistant head of school will be appointed shortly, and recruitment for this position will begin in early spring for the 2016‐2017 school year.

Sensei Cliff Field congratulates Jake Villa.

JAKE VILLA HAS RECEIVED HIS International Karate League Junior black belt from Pahala Dojo Sensei Cliff Field. Field started the dojo in 2009, and it is open to new students from age five through adult throughout the year. Classes are every Tuesday and Friday at 5:30 at Pahala Community Center.

KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED to a fundraiser for Sen. Russell Ruderman tomorrow. Gary Hooser will discuss Taking Back Our Government - the Why, the How and the Hope. Hooser serves on the Kaua`i County Council, served in the Hawai`i state Senate from 2002 to 2010 and currently is President of Hawai`i Alliance for Progessive Action.
      Special musical guests are the Kalapana Awa Band. Price for the talk, band and dinner is $50. Without dinner, the fee is $25. Dinner is served by Luquins Restaurant, and a bar will also be provided by Luquins.
      Advance reservations are recommended as seating is limited. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sen-russell-rudermans-speaker-dinner-series-tickets-17573116665.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE LAND OF EB AIRS ON PBS today at 7:30 p.m. Jonithen Jackson, of Ocean View, stars in the fictional account about the Marshallese situation.
      See thelandofeb.com and pbshawaii.org for more information.

OCEAN VIEW RANCHOS SOLAR SUBSTATION, planned by Hawai`i Electric Light Co., is the subject of a steering committee meeting today at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. 

Susan Scott

AUTHOR AND MARINE BIOLOGIST Susan Scott discusses her adventures sailing on her 37-foot sailing vessel to Palmyra and her work there today at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. 

      Call 967-8222 for more information.

DURING STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., volunteers cut invasive Himalayan ginger on trails in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The hike is around a one-mile, moderate round-trip down Halem`auma`u Trail into Kilauea caldera, leaving from Kilauea Visitor Center. Free; park entrance fees apply. 

      For more information, call 985-6013.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Kahuku Unit presents People and Lands of Kahuku Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Participants learn about the powerful natural forces at work there and how people have adapted to, shaped and restored this land.
      Call 985-6011 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Keiki hike Kilauea Iki this summer. Camp Google's Nature Week experience connects and encourages children across the country to get outside, explore the great outdoors and keep asking questions. Photo from NPS

THE NEW ONLINE CAMP GOOGLE brings Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to kids across the country. Many who live thousands of miles from Hawai`i will have the opportunity to explore the park via the online experience. 

      The free, one-hour camp debuted today during Google’s Nature Week at 9 a.m. HST. Camp Google is full of fun science activities and adventures and is geared towards keiki ages 7-10, but, with proper supervision, is open to all ages. Kids don’t have to register or have a Google account to participate.

Superintendent Cindy Orlando interacts with keiki.
 Photo from Pacific Island Parks

      “As the National Park Service and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park step into our next 100 years of caring for America’s special places, the number one goal for our 2016 Centennial is to connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.
      The timing for Camp Google is ideal, Orlando said, because the new Every Kid in a Park initiative, which invites all American fourth-graders and their families to visit national parks and public lands for free during the 2015-2016 school year, will soon launch. Camp Google will share Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park with families and kids across the country, potentially inspiring them to visit Hawai`i.
      Google launched its first camp adventure with National Geographic explorers Sylvia Earle and Erika Bergman in mid-July. Kids plunged the Atlantic Ocean via a remotely operated vehicle and watched as filefish, lionfish, corals and other marine life came into view. Last week, kids found out what astronauts eat and helped create new space food with NASA astronaut Don Pettit.
      The Nature Week segment, filmed entirely on location in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, is co-hosted by Park Ranger Rebecca Carvalho, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist Don Swanson and Derek Muller, the creative director of Veritasium, a popular online science video channel. Keiki will learn how Hawaiian volcanoes, culture and biology are woven together by visiting Kilauea Overlook, Thurston Lava Tube and Steam Vents and observing Kilauea volcano’s summit eruption at Halema`uma`u Crater.
      Like Ocean Week and Space Week, the Nature Week segment will be available on the Camp Google website, so kids who weren’t able to join in today can participate at another time and earn their Camp Google badge.
      While the camp is free to everyone, some activities require common household items, usually under $5.
      See https://camp.withgoogle.com/.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY IS THE FIRST Ka`u public school to begin classes this year. Executive Director Kathryn Tydacka said that 50 to 60 students reported for the charter school’s inaugural day of instruction.

      KLA is an attempt to try something new when it comes to educating kids, Tom Hutton, executive director of the State Public Charter School Commission, told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.

      Hutton said the school’s plan is to provide more individualized attention for students, allowing students who excel to move ahead and providing more help for those falling behind.

      “Where this concept has really taken root in public education in America has been in special education, where every special ed student has an individualized education program that’s very well thought out and designed,” Hutton told Stewart. “They (KLA) are sort of taking that concept and applying it generally to their whole student population.”

Ka`u Learning Academy students began classes today
at Discovery Harbour Clubhouse. Photo from KLA

      The size of the school, which presently serves third- through sixth-graders, allows its administrators to be more flexible and provide that kind of individualized attention, he said.
      KLA Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo told Stewart that teacher-to-student ratios are manageable.
      “We are holding these children to a high standard that we know they can achieve,” Iacuzzo said. “We’re instituting a new methodology that we’ve called contextual foundation learning, and every child has an individual learning plan or education plan.
      “What we do is we have pull-out classes, where those students who master the standards are then allowed to go into the computer lab with one of our teachers and work at their level. That’s the unique nature of what we do.”
      Hutton told Stewart that community support was significant in the commission’s decision to grant the school a charter.
      “The commission has very significantly raised the bar for approval of a charter school application,” Hutton said. “That’s a national trend. There’s sort of a feeling that authorizers in the past were a little too loose on the front end. That didn’t serve children very well. So, we’re much more careful about the application process from the front end.
      “Theirs (KLA) was a very comprehensively thought out plan. … You have to have a solid plan in all three areas — academia, financial and organization. … You have to have that element of, is this the right team together with the right skill sets … and looking at KLA, that really impressed the evaluation team.”
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

ALL KA`U PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN this week. At Na`alehu Elementary, pre-k through sixth grade starts tomorrow. In Pahala, school begins for students in preschool, kindergarten, seventh and ninth grades on Friday. Grade eight and all other classes in Pahala start school on Monday, Aug. 3.
      Pahala and Na`alehu classes start at 8 a.m.
      Call Pahala public school campus at 928-2088 and Na`alehu at 939-2413.

Ocean View resident Jonithen Jackson stars
in The Land of Eb, debuting tomorrow.

THE LAND OF EB AIRS ON PBS tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Jonithen Jackson, of Ocean View, stars in a fictional account about the Marshallese situation. 

      The film follows Jacob, an immigrant father and grandfather, as he struggles to provide for his large family. Jacob keeps news of a cancer diagnosis to himself, foregoing treatment in favor of working to pay off his property, which he plans to pass down once he’s gone. Sensing his own end, Jacob turns a small video camera on himself and begins to record his story and that of his community.
      See thelandofeb.com and pbshawaii.org for more information.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

OCEAN VIEW RANCHOS SOLAR SUBSTATION, planned by Hawai`i Electric Light Co., is the subject of a steering committee meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The substation is designed to support solar farms on more than 20 lots in the community.

AUTHOR AND MARINE BIOLOGIST Susan Scott discusses her adventures sailing on her 37-foot sailing vessel to Palmyra and her work there tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

KA`U RESIDENTS CAN HELP OUT Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and the `aina by cutting invasive Himalayan ginger on park trails Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Loppers and gloves are provided. Participants are encouraged to wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and close-toed shoes. Work is often in the shade of the forest with sounds of native honey creepers like `apapane, `amakihi and `oma`o above to serenade volunteers. Water, snacks, rain gear and sun protection are recommended. This project is open to the public, and no reservations are required. Interested people can stop by Kilauea Visitor Center to get directions and more information. The hike is around a one-mile, moderate round-trip into Kilauea caldera down Halem`auma`u Trail, leaving from Kilauea Visitor Center. The hike involves walking over rough, uneven terrain on a dirt and rock path, with up to a 400-foot elevation change.
      Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 985-6013.

Partipants learn about People and Land of Kahuku Saturday.
NPS Photo by Julia Espaniola

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Kahuku Unit presents People and Lands of Kahuku Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The moderate two-mile, three-hour guided hike loops through varied landscapes to explore the human history of Kahuku. Emerging native forest, pastures, lava fields and other sites hold clues about ways people have lived and worked on the vast Kahuku lands – from the earliest Hawaiians, through generations of ranching families, to the current staff and volunteers of the park. Participants learn about the powerful natural forces at work here and how people have adapted to, shaped and restored this land. Sturdy footwear, water, rain gear, sun protection, and a snack are recommended. 

      Call 985-6011 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee holds five topic-focused meetings next month. Map from Draft Ka`u CDP

A SERIES OF TOPIC-FOCUSED Steering Committee meetings has been scheduled to review community feedback and make preliminary decisions about revisions to the Draft Ka`u Community Development Plan. 

      On Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, topics are Town Infill and Agricultural Subdivision.
      At Ocean View Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Steering Committee will discuss Ocean View Development and Special Permits.

Coastal Development and Management is on the agenda of one of next
month's meetings. Image from Draft Ka`u CDP

      Coastal Development and Management are on the agenda Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.
       Discovery Harbour Community Center hosts a discussion about development in that area on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
      The Steering Committee returns to Na`alehu Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., when the topic is Economic Development.
       Meeting ending times are approximate, and other meetings may be scheduled as needed. Agendas and more information about the meeting topics and format will be shared as the dates approach. Steering Committee meetings are open to the community, and public testimony is welcome.
       The CDP Planning Team plans to provide materials in advance of each meeting that bring into clear focus public input, critical issues and alternative strategies related to each topic, said Planner Ron Whitmore. Each meeting will be actively facilitated to help the Steering Committee consider trade-offs of different strategies. It is hoped that each meeting will conclude with preliminary decisions by the Steering Committee about CDP revisions.
       A Steering Committee is also scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22 starting at 5:30 at the Na`alehu Community Center to make final recommendations for CDP revisions and adoption. Before that meeting, a summary of all CDP revisions being considered will be made available.
       Summaries of feedback received during the March-June public review period are available in the CDP Input section of the project website, kaucdp.info.
      Steering Committee members or Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin are available to answer questions. Contact information is available on the website.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Gov. David Ige announced members of his Leadership Team on Homelessness.
Photo from Office of the Governor

GOV. DAVID IGE’S NEWLY FORMED Leadership Team on Homelessness is tasked with finding short-term and long-term solutions as state and federal governments work together to address the issue in Hawai`i. 

       The leadership team includes Gov. Ige, state Sen. Jill Tokuda, state Rep. Sylvia Luke and designees of U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono.
       “The underlying issues that lead to homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing, cannot be resolved quickly,” Ige said. “Meanwhile, we cannot wait for a comprehensive, long-term solution. There are measures we can take and will take immediately.”
       The leadership team will identify and assign parcels of land to be used for creation of temporary shelters in one or two communities; implement measures to transfer residents of homeless encampments to shelters; work with service providers to establish protocols to assess shelter residents for financial, physical, mental health and other needs; and determine costs and obtain funding to meet these objectives.
      The leadership team will also consult with law enforcement leaders, nonprofit organizations and other interested parties to assist with implementing short-term objectives.
       In addition, as a result of the team’s discussions and findings, legislation may be introduced in January 2016 to fulfill unmet or unfunded needs and services.
       “The Legislature understands the gravity of the situation and the need to pull all executive and governmental agencies to the table in an effort to execute and implement solutions that can be replicated in communities across the state,” said Tokuda, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
      Ige said, “This isn’t just another committee. This team is making a commitment to work together to find solutions now. There is something important going on. We are the people responsible for the public’s welfare. This team is meeting face to face to address homelessness, and we are going to hold each other accountable.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard discussed TPP
on the House floor. Image from C-SPAN

REP. TULSI GABBARD REITERATED her frustration with lack of transparency in the Trans-Pacific Partnership in a speech on the House floor today. TPP trade ministers from the 12 participating nations begin private meetings in Ka`anapali, Maui today, where they are expected to conclude negotiations on the deal that will impact 40 percent of the world economy. Protesters will gather at the Westin Hotel on Maui tomorrow at 12 p.m. to voice objections on the secrecy of this deal and the potential impacts it will have. 

       “Not only were the American people shut out of this trade deal when Congress passed fast-track authority legislation,” Gabbard said, “these negotiations continue as we speak in a shroud of secrecy, with the American people reliant on sites like WikiLeaks as they seek information about how this agreement will impact us.
      “The people of Hawai`i and all Americans are rightfully concerned about how this trade deal will impact our jobs, our families, our economy, our environment and our nation’s sovereignty. We, the American people, deserve to know what’s in this deal and to have a say in what happens. How can a genuine public debate occur on a deal as monumental as this when no one knows what’s in it? It is hard to imagine a deal more demanding of transparency.
      “People from Hawai`i and around the world are gathering tomorrow on Maui to protest this secret deal. They are sick and tired of multinational corporations benefiting on the broken backs of working-class Americans, and they will not stop until their voices are heard.”
      Gabbard, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, has repeatedly called for transparency in TPP negotiations and voted against granting the Administration “fast-track” Trade Promotion Authority earlier this year. While Congress passed TPA, she has called for increased protections for domestic workers displaced by trade, including Trade Adjustment Assistance.
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TD8E may become a tropical storm before dissipating on its way to Hawai`i.
Map from National Hurricane Center

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 8E continues its voyage toward Hawai`i Island but is expected to dissipate before arrival, according to the National Hurricane Center. Models show no or minimal strengthening, but the official forecast still allows for the system to become a tropical storm sometime during the next 24 hours. 

      North-northwesterly shear that is currently affecting the depression is expected to decrease gradually after 12-24 hours. Then, the cyclone will also be moving into a drier air mass, further limiting its strength.
      A subtropical ridge continues to steer the depression west-northwestward, but the cyclone is expected to turn westward later today and maintain that trajectory.
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Susan Scott

OCEAN VIEW RANCHOS SOLAR SUBSTATION, planned by Hawai`i Electric Light Co., is the subject of a steering committee meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The substation is designed to support solar farms on more than 20 lots in the community. 

AUTHOR AND MARINE BIOLOGIST Susan Scott discusses her adventures sailing on her 37-foot sailing vessel to Palmyra and her work there on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Her experiences are the subject of her book Call Me Captain.
      Scott will also discuss her artwork made from marine debris collected during her work on Midway. Scott said Palmyra and Midway are “book-end” atolls both significant to Hawai`i’s past and present.
      Scott writes a weekly column called Ocean Watch for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and has written six books about nature in Hawai`i.

      Call 967-8222 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, July 27, 2015

Although a tropical depression tracking toward Hawai`i Island is growing, forecasters expect it to lose strength before arriving.
Map from NHC

RESEARCH IN COFFEE BERRY BORER management is opening new paths in pest control, according to a story in the Economist, and it could be coming from the gut. Researchers have found that, while caffeine is toxic to most insects, coffee berry borers have bacteria that shield them from harmful effects of caffeine by destroying it before it can be absorbed through the bugs’ gut linings.

Unlike other insects, coffee berry borers have a natural
tolerance of caffeine.

      Researchers hope to create bacteriaphages that would kill the bacteria, allowing caffeine to migrate into other parts of CBBs and kill them.
      In one experiment, researchers led by Eoin Brodie, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Fernando Vega, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, sterilized pests’ guts and place them through an entire life cycle lasting 44 days. They reported that population dropped by 95 percent and that those that survived had trouble moving from larva to pupa stages.
      “Many plants use poisons to protect themselves from insects,” researchers said. “Being able to circumvent these natural insecticides is an important part of becoming abundant enough to constitute a pest. It is possible other agronomists who have been seeking to understand how critters do this have been looking in the wrong place – i.e., at the critters themselves, rather than among the bacteria in their guts.”  

      See economist.com.
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Members of a group on Mauna Kea show documents delivered by DLNR.
Image from Na`au News Now

NA`AU NEWS NOW ON FACEBOOK is providing daily updates from the summit of Mauna Loa, where a group is holding vigil in opposition to construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope despite state emergency rules in place that limit camping supplies and access to the summit. On yesterday’s video entry, one person held up a list of rules and pointed out that one of the documents had no official state seal or signatures. The text on the entry states that, “While most of our kia`i were out doing morning pule, DLNR stopped by our aloha `aina checkpoint to serve one of our protectors a couple of frivolous documents while again being reminded of the rights and laws that protect us as kanaka maoli, Hawaiian Nationals, and religious and cultural practicioners here on our sacred Mauna. Mahalo nui for the commited support. We love you guys!”
      According to an entry this morning, DLNR today served a paper along with the emergency rule changes. “Looks like they are incompetently suggesting that a bunch of frivolous state laws may apply to our vigil here to protect our mauna,” the entry states. “If this doesn’t convince you of the level of shear dysfunction the defacto state and its agencies operates at, maybe the fact that they still haven’t addressed the mounting piles of fecal matter, from unaccommodated visitors and tourists, littering our critical mamane habitat will.” 

      See facebook.com/pages/NAAU-News-Now.
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HAWAI`I IS FACING OF SHORTAGE of translators who speak English and languages of Compact of Free Association nations, including the Marshall Island, Palau and Micronesia. According to an Associated Press story by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, court requests for translation services “have soared due to an influx of migrants” from these nations. 

      On Hawai`i Island, a case is currently delayed because of a defendant’s right to hear the proceedings “in the Marshall Island’s tongue,” Sinco Kelleher said. The man is accused of shooting a woman and a police officer.
      “The Pacific Island languages are a really hard one,” Debi Tulang-De Silva, program director of the state Judiciary’s Office on Equality and Access to the Courts, told Sinco Kelleher. “It’s really difficult to find qualified interpreters in those languages.”
      The story states that Republic of Marshall Islands Consulate in Honolulu estimates that 3,000 to 4,000 people in the state speak Marshallese. The total number of COFA citizens is estimated at 20,000.
      For more information about translation opportunities, see http://www.courts.state.hi.us/services/court_interpreting/court_interpreting.html.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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A LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM MORE THAN 1,900 miles east-southeast of Hilo has acquired enough persistent deep convection near the center to be upgraded to a tropical depression, according to the National Hurricane Center. TD Eight-E has a well defined circulation center and inner-core wind field. Although the depression is a sheared tropical cyclone, a Dvorak satellite classification also justifies upgrading the low to a tropical depression at this time.
      The NHC model guidance expects the tropical cyclone to move toward the west-northwest for the next 72 hours or so due to a strong deep-layer ridge locate to its north.
      The cyclone is not expected to intensify much due to persistent moderate northwesterly vertical wind shear and the cyclone moving over marginal sea-surface temperatures after 72 hours.
      There will also likely be occasional intrusions of drier and more stable air, which lies just to the north of the forecast track, into the cyclone. However, the well-established southerly low-level inflow of unstable air should help to maintain enough convection to keep this system as a tropical cyclone throughout the forecast period.
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ONE IN EIGHT CHILDREN IN HAWAI`I LIVE in poverty, according to KIDS COUNT data. University of Hawai`i reported Ivette Rodriguez Stern, of the University of Hawai`i at Manoa Center on the Family, saying, “We have more children in poverty now, more children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, and over a quarter of our children living in families where parents lack secure employment.” That’s over 40,000 children – worse than in 2008, at the height of the recession. The mainland is also seeing worsening child poverty. 

      UH’s numbers are from the 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which presents data on education, health and family and community as well as economic well-being.
      Stern said that three of the four economic conditions tracked have worsened since 2008. The only one that improved was the share of children living in households with a high housing burden, where more than 30 percent of household income goes for housing. Despite this improvement, Hawai`i still has the fifth-worst high housing burden rate in the nation. In general, Hawai`i’s high cost of living makes the poverty burden worse.
      Living in poverty can also worsen other outcomes for kids, UH reported. “Research shows that growing up in poor and low-income households can have long-lasting effects on children’s learning, health and earning potential as adults,” said Marianne Berry, director of UH's Center on the Family.
      Income boosters can help change outcomes for children. “The good news,” Berry pointed out, “is that when we invest in the right strategies and policies, we can make a difference for kids.” Stern said, “Studies show that boosting low family income by just a few thousand dollars can really make a difference in changing outcomes for children, especially early in childhood.” She suggests that a state Earned Income Tax Credit would bolster effects of the successful federal EITC to provide those critical dollars.
      High-quality and reliable early care and education programs targeting low-income families can also minimize achievement gaps caused by poverty.
      The Data Book, which ranks each state on overall child well-being, shows Hawai`i is right in the middle, 24 out of 50. There have been some gains in education, with steady improvements in reading and math proficiency rates and in on-time high school graduation. However, Hawai`i is still near the bottom third among states in education. Health conditions – percent of low-birthweight babies, children without health insurance, child and teen deaths and percent of teens who abuse substances – have remained somewhat stable since 2008, and Hawai`i has the second-smallest share of children without health insurance. Hawai`i is also relatively high among states in the area of family and community well-being, 11 out of 50.
      See aecf.org/resources/the-2015-kids-count-data-book and hawaii.edu.news.
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TODAY, U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD commemorated National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, marking the anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire agreement signed on July 27, 1953.
       “Today our nation honors the 5.7 million American men and women who served during the Korean War era,” Gabbard said. “We pay tribute to 407 service members from Hawai`i who made the ultimate sacrifice. The service and sacrifice of our Korean War veterans will never be forgotten.”
      Gabbard is a cosponsor of H.R. 1475, the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act, and H.Con.Res. 50, a bill that would establish a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery for service members who died or who are missing in action, unaccounted for or died on the Korean peninsula after the Korean War armistice was signed.
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HOVE ROAD MAINTENANCE board of directors meets tomorrow at 10 a.m. at St. Jude’s Church. Call 929-9910 for more information.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_July2015.pdf.