 |
| Devastation Trail is one of several that Ka`u residents can enjoy today when Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park waives entry fees for Presidents Day. Photo by Janice Wei |
A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF COFFEE BERRY BORERS looks promising, according to Andrea Kawabata, coffee and orchard crop assistant extension agent for University of Hawai`i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
 |
| Cathartus quadricollis Photo from Bug Guide |
Flat Bark Beetles attack other beetle species, including Tropical Nut Borers, H. obscurus, in macadamia nuts.
Island coffee farmers are helping with propagation and introduction of the species, according to Carolyn Lucas-Zenk, of West Hawai`i Today. Coffee farmers interested in rearing Flat Bark Beetles at a recent workshop received kits to grow the insects.
After a few months, farmers can release the bugs, or choose to scoop some of them out and place them near and on coffee trees. They rest can be retained to begin the rearing process again.
The program is a result of the Cathartus Project. In June 2014, Hawai`i Department of Agriculture approved and funded the project with approximately $55,000 in grant funds. The project involves CTAHR, UH’s Department of Tropical Plant and Social Sciences, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, and Daniel K. Inouye Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.
In tests Cathartus readily consumed CBB eggs, larvae and pupae and mangled adults, Kawabata told Lucas-Zenk. Researchers sampling coffee cherry at various farms also found Flat Bark Beetles are widely distributed and seen often in coffee trees, mainly overripe cherries and raisins. These insects have been found in samples of cherry from mills but not in green and ripe cherry samples. Also, most of Flat Bark Beetles placed in parchment and green beans in a laboratory study died within two weeks and caused no damage, she added.
For more information, see hawaiicoffee.weebly.com/predators-of-cbb or email cathartusproject@gmail.com.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
KA`U SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN’S proposed legislation regarding coffee labeling gets a public hearing tomorrow. SB 594 would require a specific listing of geographic origins of various Hawai`i-grown coffees and the geographic or regional origins of the various coffees not grown in Hawai`i that are included in a coffee blend to be listed on the front panel of a label. It would also increase the minimum percentage requirement for coffee blends to use geographic origin in labeling or advertising to 80 percent coffee by weight from that geographic origin.
Public testimony is due by 3:45 p.m. today. Testimony can be submitted online at capitol.hawaii.gov.
Public testimony is due by 3:45 p.m. today. Testimony can be submitted online at capitol.hawaii.gov.
 |
| Sen. Josh Green, M.D. |
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I STATE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE, chaired by Ka`u’s Sen. John Green, and the Senate Committee on Energy & Environment have advanced a bill that would establish notice and reporting requirements for any entity or person that uses restricted-use pesticides under certain conditions.
SB 801 would mandate public posting of warning signs in the area in which restricted-use pesticides are to be applied a minimum of twenty-four hours prior to the outdoor application of any restricted-use pesticide. The warning signs must remain posted during the outdoor application of any restricted-use pesticide and until expiration of the applicable restricted-entry interval established by the Environmental Protection Agency for the particular restricted-use pesticide.
The bill also would require pre‑application written notification to any entity or person within a yet to be determined number of feet of the property line where the restricted-use pesticide is anticipated to be applied outdoors a minimum of twenty-four hours prior to outdoor application of any restricted-use pesticide.
No later than sixty days following the end of each calendar year, any entity or person subject to this section shall provide annual public reports of all restricted-use pesticides used in outdoor applications during the prior calendar year to the Departments of Health and Agriculture. The annual public reports shall be posted online on each of the departments’ websites.
More information on SB 801 and other bills is available at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
The bill also would require pre‑application written notification to any entity or person within a yet to be determined number of feet of the property line where the restricted-use pesticide is anticipated to be applied outdoors a minimum of twenty-four hours prior to outdoor application of any restricted-use pesticide.
No later than sixty days following the end of each calendar year, any entity or person subject to this section shall provide annual public reports of all restricted-use pesticides used in outdoor applications during the prior calendar year to the Departments of Health and Agriculture. The annual public reports shall be posted online on each of the departments’ websites.
More information on SB 801 and other bills is available at capitol.hawaii.gov.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
EAST KA`U IS IN ONE OF HMSA’s Blue Zones. The purpose of the program by the state’s largest health insurer is to improve health by encouraging local leaders, businesses and other organizations to adopt and promote healthy choices and lifestyles. East Hawai`i and North Hawai`i were selected “based on the level of interest and engagement during the application process last year,” according to a story by Tom Callis in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
The communities “will now be working with experts from Blue Zones to create and implement a blueprint for creating permanent environmental, social and policy changes that transition people into healthier lives, healthier behavior and longer, happier lives,” said Blue Zones Project Hawai`i vice president Heidi Kim.
Michael Stollar, HMSA’s chief transformation officer, noted problems with obesity and diabetes in the state and said it takes everyone’s effort to improve health, and the purpose of the blue zones project is to increase community involvement.
“We want to help transform communities into blue zones where we, our children, our children’s children can grow up, have happy, healthy lives, fruitful lives and lessen the incident of chronic disease and increase the level of happiness and well being,” he said.
At the announcement, Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county plans to support the project in the zones as well as around the island.
“If you create bikeways, pathways and healthy recreation then your community will be healthier,” he said. “If we promote healthier homegrown local produce … everybody’s going to be healthier.”
Michael Stollar, HMSA’s chief transformation officer, noted problems with obesity and diabetes in the state and said it takes everyone’s effort to improve health, and the purpose of the blue zones project is to increase community involvement.
“We want to help transform communities into blue zones where we, our children, our children’s children can grow up, have happy, healthy lives, fruitful lives and lessen the incident of chronic disease and increase the level of happiness and well being,” he said.
At the announcement, Mayor Billy Kenoi said the county plans to support the project in the zones as well as around the island.
“If you create bikeways, pathways and healthy recreation then your community will be healthier,” he said. “If we promote healthier homegrown local produce … everybody’s going to be healthier.”
 |
| Kilauea Military Camp continues its open house today. |
ENTRY FEES ARE WAIVED today and tomorrow at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park for Presidents Day Weekend.
Kilauea Military Camp inside the park invites the public to see how it supports America’s troops by utilizing any of its facilities and services today and tomorrow.
LEHUA LOPEZ-MAU SPEAKS ABOUT Ka`u Heritage Center at Hawaiian Ranchos Community Association’s Annual Membership Meeting tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Ranchos Road Maintenance Building on Kohala. All are welcome to hear about these 15 acres of Ka`u Dryland Forest acquired in Kona Gardens for preservation and display.
Email ranchos96737@gmail.com for more information.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in this week’s Hawai`i County government meetings.
Tomorrow, County Council’s Finance Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Planning, 9:45 a.m.; and Public Safety & Mass Transit, 10:30 a.m.
Kilauea Military Camp inside the park invites the public to see how it supports America’s troops by utilizing any of its facilities and services today and tomorrow.
LEHUA LOPEZ-MAU SPEAKS ABOUT Ka`u Heritage Center at Hawaiian Ranchos Community Association’s Annual Membership Meeting tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Ranchos Road Maintenance Building on Kohala. All are welcome to hear about these 15 acres of Ka`u Dryland Forest acquired in Kona Gardens for preservation and display.
Email ranchos96737@gmail.com for more information.
KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in this week’s Hawai`i County government meetings.
Tomorrow, County Council’s Finance Committee meets at 9 a.m.; Planning, 9:45 a.m.; and Public Safety & Mass Transit, 10:30 a.m.
 |
| Dr. Claire Horwell holds a vog focus group in Pahala tomorrow. |
The full Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. All meetings take place at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.
All meetings are live-streamed online at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council meetings at left of page.
Videoconferencing is available at Ocean View Community Center, where residents can provide live testimony.
All meetings are live-streamed online at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council meetings at left of page.
Videoconferencing is available at Ocean View Community Center, where residents can provide live testimony.
KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED to participate in a vog focus group tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Library. Host Claire Horwell, director of the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network, is studying how people cope with volcanic emissions. To sign up, see https://www.facebook.com/groups/421925067973152/ or call 808-967-8809.
BERT NAIHE SHARES HIS LOVE OF HAWAIIAN music on stage Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Born and raised in Hilo, Naihe is a musician for Halau O Ka Ua Kanilehua with Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho. His first CD Bert Naihe: You’re the One was released in March 2014 and features his version of Na Makani Eha and Noho Paipai among other mele.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
