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| Miss Ka`u Coffee 2014 Amery Silva, with her crown, joins Ka`u Coffee pageant chair Gloria Camba (center) in showing the 2015 candidates Ka`u Coffee orchards. At left are Jennifer Tabios and Maria Miranda. At right are Louise Vivien Santos and Joyce Ibasan. They will make an appearance at the kick-off celebration for ten days of Ka`u Coffee festival this Friday evening at Pahala Plantation House. The pageant is Sunday at Pahala Community Center. Photo by Nalani Parlin |
LAST STRETCH FOR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISING for the Miss Ka`u Coffee program is this week, wrapping up Friday night at Pahala Plantation House with a kick-off celebration for ten days of the Ka`u Coffee Festival. Supporting Miss Ka`u Coffee scholarships with more than $5,900 raised to date are Olson Trust; CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union; Ka`u Royal Coffee & Tea, LLC; Ka`u Coffee Festival Committee; Pacific Quest; Bobby Tucker Family Trust; Ka`u Chamber of Commerce; Francisco Lobos, of Bio Eco Hawai`i; Punalu`u Bake Shop; Ka`u Specialty Coffee; Sen. Russell Ruderman; Sen. Josh Green; Rep. Richard Creagan; Rep. Richard Onishi; County Council member Maile David and Damian Eatinger. To donate, call Elijah Navarro at 928-6471.
The kick-off event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Miss Ka`u Coffee candidates Joyce Anne Ibasan, Maria Miranda, Louise Vivien Santos and Jennifer Tabios will make an appearance. Jazz great Jr. Volcano Choy and Keoki Kahumoku and friends will provide entertainment. Reigning Miss Ka`u Coffee Amery Silva will dance hula. Refreshments will be provided. For more on the Ka`u Coffee Festival, see www.kaucoffeefest.com.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Speak-out at Pahala Community Center yesterday featured recorders taking ideas from area residents to consider for incorporation into the Ka`u Community Development Plan. Photo by Julia Neal |
THE PAHALA SPEAK-OUT for the Ka`u Community Development Plan presented community and planner ideas for the future of the village and surrounding conservation and agricultural lands. Proposed general plan amendments would increase the amount of urban land within Pahala village to accommodate places where there has traditionally been or could be urban use in the walkable community. Displays also showed community comments. Some Pahala ideas include encouraging variances to maintain town character, prioritizing rural street standards and historic streetscape on Kamani Street and community-based efforts to retain town character and document local history.
Pointing to unique culture, an objective in the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan is to “establish and enforce standards for development and construction that reflect community values of architecture, beauty and distinctiveness.”
Several comments regarding local planning and agriculture reflected differing views on farm land. One community member said that farmers should be allowed to live on farm land. Another said that housing on farm land could introduce speculation and make land too expensive for real farming, contending that the Pahala model of living in town where there is childcare and facilities with farmers owning homes and going out from the village to farm is already a good model.
Several comments regarding local planning and agriculture reflected differing views on farm land. One community member said that farmers should be allowed to live on farm land. Another said that housing on farm land could introduce speculation and make land too expensive for real farming, contending that the Pahala model of living in town where there is childcare and facilities with farmers owning homes and going out from the village to farm is already a good model.
Read the CDP at kaucdp.info and at local libraries and community centers. Comments are accepted by June 1.
Special sessions will be held on Saturday, May 9 at Na`alehu Community Center. Agriculture is the topic at 9 a.m., with coastal management covered at 1 p.m.
Special sessions will be held on Saturday, May 9 at Na`alehu Community Center. Agriculture is the topic at 9 a.m., with coastal management covered at 1 p.m.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Betty Clark walked for babies on Saturday and is still nearing her fundraising goal. |
See Clark’s donation page at marchforbabies.org/Kaimiloa to learn more and make a donation to help her reach or exceed her goal of $500.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND SPONSORS Anchialine Pool Restoration Workdays Wednesday and Thursday at Ho`onoua.
For more information and to sign up, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
HAWAI`I’S HUMPBACK WHALE POPULATION and nine other distinct populations around the world are no longer endangered, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Today, NOAA Fisheries proposed to reclassify humpback whales into 14 distinct population segments under the Endangered Species Act, providing a more tailored conservation approach for U.S. fisheries managers. According to NOAA, protection and restoration efforts over the past 40 years have led to an increase in numbers and growth rates for humpback whales in many areas.
The humpback whale is currently listed as endangered throughout its range. The proposed rule finds that ten of those 14 populations, including Hawai`i do not warrant ESA listing.
While commercial whaling severely depleted humpback whale numbers, population rebounds in many areas result in today’s larger numbers, with steady rates of population growth since the United States first listed the animal as endangered in 1970.
Also under the proposal, two of the other four populations would be listed as endangered, and the remaining two would be listed as threatened. If the proposal is finalized, the humpback whale populations that would no longer be listed under the ESA would remain protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
“The return of the iconic humpback whale is an ESA success story,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. “As we learn more about the species – and realize the populations are largely independent of each other – managing them separately allows us to focus protection on the animals that need it the most.”
Today, NOAA Fisheries proposed to reclassify humpback whales into 14 distinct population segments under the Endangered Species Act, providing a more tailored conservation approach for U.S. fisheries managers. According to NOAA, protection and restoration efforts over the past 40 years have led to an increase in numbers and growth rates for humpback whales in many areas.
The humpback whale is currently listed as endangered throughout its range. The proposed rule finds that ten of those 14 populations, including Hawai`i do not warrant ESA listing.
While commercial whaling severely depleted humpback whale numbers, population rebounds in many areas result in today’s larger numbers, with steady rates of population growth since the United States first listed the animal as endangered in 1970.
Also under the proposal, two of the other four populations would be listed as endangered, and the remaining two would be listed as threatened. If the proposal is finalized, the humpback whale populations that would no longer be listed under the ESA would remain protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
“The return of the iconic humpback whale is an ESA success story,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. “As we learn more about the species – and realize the populations are largely independent of each other – managing them separately allows us to focus protection on the animals that need it the most.”
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| Hawai`i's humpback whale population is no longer endangered, according to NOAA. Photo from NOAA |
Approximate locations of proposed humpback whale distinct population segments are: West Indies, Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa, Western North Pacific, Hawai`i, Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Gabon/Southwest Africa, Southeast Africa/Madagascar, West Australia, East Australia, Oceania, Southeastern Pacific and Arabian Sea.
The two populations proposed as threatened – the Central America and the Western North Pacific – at times enter U.S. waters. Two other populations that do not enter U.S. waters – in the Arabian Sea and off Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa – would remain listed as endangered.
NOAA Fisheries is opening up a 90-day public comment period for this proposed rule. During this time, NOAA Fisheries welcomes public comments and any new information to ensure that its final determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial information.
The public can submit comments, information or data on this document, identified by the code NOAA-NMFS-2015-0035, by email at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2015-0035 or mail to Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
For general information on humpback whales, see: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/humpback-whale.html
To read the proposal’s Federal Register notice, go to: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-09010.pdf.
The two populations proposed as threatened – the Central America and the Western North Pacific – at times enter U.S. waters. Two other populations that do not enter U.S. waters – in the Arabian Sea and off Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa – would remain listed as endangered.
NOAA Fisheries is opening up a 90-day public comment period for this proposed rule. During this time, NOAA Fisheries welcomes public comments and any new information to ensure that its final determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial information.
The public can submit comments, information or data on this document, identified by the code NOAA-NMFS-2015-0035, by email at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D= NOAA-NMFS-2015-0035 or mail to Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
For general information on humpback whales, see: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/humpback-whale.html
To read the proposal’s Federal Register notice, go to: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2015-09010.pdf.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Scott Enright continues as head of state DOA. Photo from Gov.'s Office |
IN A UNANIMOUS DECISION, state senators confirmed Scott Enright as chair of the Department of Agriculture.
Enright has served as DOA director since January 2014 and deputy director for the previous two years.
Enright serves as national chair of the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture and has extensive knowledge of bioenergy fuel stock and broad experience in land use planning and policy as it pertains to agriculture in Hawai`i.
“We’re impressed with the fact that Mr. Enright enjoys support from every sector of agriculture, from large-scale industries including biotech to small farmers and the organic farming community. This ability to relate to and support all kinds of farmers is exactly what we need in Hawai`i today,” said Ka`u’s Sen. Russell Ruderman, chair of the Senate Agriculture committee.
Enright said, “It’s wonderful to be able to work with Gov. Ige as he moves to make Hawai`i’s diversified agricultural economy and food sustainability a success.”
The Senate also confirmed Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as deputy chair of DOA.
Shimabukuro-Geiser is a third generation descendant from a farming family on Maui. She has both bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in agriculture and has 30 years of experience in farming.
Enright serves as national chair of the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture and has extensive knowledge of bioenergy fuel stock and broad experience in land use planning and policy as it pertains to agriculture in Hawai`i.
“We’re impressed with the fact that Mr. Enright enjoys support from every sector of agriculture, from large-scale industries including biotech to small farmers and the organic farming community. This ability to relate to and support all kinds of farmers is exactly what we need in Hawai`i today,” said Ka`u’s Sen. Russell Ruderman, chair of the Senate Agriculture committee.
Enright said, “It’s wonderful to be able to work with Gov. Ige as he moves to make Hawai`i’s diversified agricultural economy and food sustainability a success.”
The Senate also confirmed Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser as deputy chair of DOA.
Shimabukuro-Geiser is a third generation descendant from a farming family on Maui. She has both bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in agriculture and has 30 years of experience in farming.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND SPONSORS Anchialine Pool Restoration Workdays Wednesday and Thursday at Ho`onoua.
For more information and to sign up, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.
KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST begins at 2 p.m. Saturday at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Enjoy culinary treats using Ka`u Coffee as an ingredient. Free entry and tasting for the public plus live entertainment. For more information, see kaucoffeefest.com or call 928-0550.
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/Directory2015.pdf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_April2015.pdf. |
