Wednesday, August 05, 2015

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015

Cooler water and westerly winds are helping to weaken Tropical Storm Guillermo on its path north of Hawai`i.
Map from Weather Underground
KA`U AND VOLCANO CONSERVATIONISTS are at University of Hawai`i-Hilo this week for Hanohano Hawai`i Kua`uli, the 23rd Hawai`i Conservation Conference, through Friday. The Hawaiian title of the conferences means Celebrating Collaboration and Wisdom Across Hawai`i’s Ecosystems. The conference logo was designed by Sig Zane.
      The event is sponsored by the Hawai`i Conservation Alliance of organizations, ranging from Office of Hawaiian Affairs to The Nature Conservancy, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, The Kohala Center and Hawai`i Wildlife Fund. This morning’s keynote speaker was Dr. Kamanamaikalani Beamer, the new president and chief executive officer of The Kohala Center, who recently hosted a session in Pahala for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral scholars working on Hawai`i projects. He has long been a researcher on governance, land tenure and Hawaiian resource management and directed the `Aina-Based Education at Kamehameha Schools and Stanford University’s First Nations Futures Institute.
Kamanamaikalani Beamer
      Tomorrow’s keynote speakers will be U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and state Department of Land & Natural Resources chair Suzanne Case. Workshops during the week include such topics as Building Partnerships to Support Science and Management of West Hawai`i’s Marine Ecosystem, Climate Change and Dominant Vegetation, Malama `Aina, Recapturing Kuleana and Enhancing Public Involvement in Management of Threats to Coral Reef Ecosystems.
      See a complete schedule, program and summaries at www.hawaiiconservation.org
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION volunteers, including its president Sandy Alexander, Richard Abbett and Karen and Ron Gall, submitted testimony to Hawai`i County Council’s Environmental Management Committee yesterday in support of a bill that would limit the county’s use of herbicides.
      According to Abbett, the Ocean View group testified that “the problem associated with over-application, airborne drip, inadequate warnings and postings and drying times, have proven to be nearly impossible to address. Residents refuse to accept any longer excuses of an inadequate budget to not implement pest management practices.
       “Short-term fiscal costs are less important than addressing the long-term cumulative effects, which are hidden costs, such as pervasive tumors and infections in sea turtles. It has also been tied to the loss of productivity, nearshore reefs and marine habitat.
     “Also, we are concerned with the continued use of herbicides by road maintenance entities in developments such as Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos. It should be disallowed, as runoff on right-of-ways flows onto private property and county-maintained roads downhill.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Tropical Storm Guillermo continues to lose strength on its path
north of the state. Map from NOAA
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH for Ka`u and Hawai`i Island is over. At 11 a.m., Tropical storm Guillermo was 245 miles from Hilo and continuing to move west-northwest with further weakening anticipated. The center of Guillermo is expected to pass about 160 miles north-northeast of the Big Island late tonight. Although the latest forecast is for sustained winds to remain below tropical storm force of 39 miles per hour, only a small change in the track could result in higher winds. 
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I’S FIRST-EVER Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area could be a model for Ka`u to follow. The result of years of discussions and collaboration between the Haena, Kaua`i community and various stakeholders, this historic rules package gives the Haena hui an opportunity to protect its ocean resources based on traditional fisheries management practices.
      Gov. David Ige said, “The Haena CBSFA is an outstanding example of self-determination and governance for a local community, which wants to not only preserve but enhance its local fishery for sustainability. I personally want to thank everyone involved for their patience and kokua in bringing this long process to a great conclusion.”
CBSFA coordinator Erin Zanre
Photo from DLNR
      The rules for the Haena CBSFA were approved by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources in October 2014. DLNR will hold a public hearing on the CBSFA Management Plan at a later date.
      DLNR Chair Suzanne Case said, “Community-based management of this nature isn’t only the past, but is now the future. This CBSFA reflects the hard work and commitment of the greater Haena community and provides a great example of how other communities and the state can collaborate to manage precious natural resources.”
      The Haena CBSFA is the result of more than a decade of work, overwhelming support from the local community and strong recognition that government cannot do it alone and community-based management and buy-in is critical to sustaining natural resources now and for future generations.
      The state requires interested communities to propose this type of designation, including management plans, to DLNR for consideration, said coordinator Erin Zanre. Areas must be proposed by community groups or organizations that have a charter and a membership. This requirement is meant to make the designation more inclusive of the entire community, according to Zanre.
      See dlnr.hawaii.gov.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Sen. Brian Schatz
U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ SUPPORTS Pres. Barack Obama’s recently announced, ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent by 2030. 
      “Regulating carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act is morally and legally the right thing to do. Climate change impacts the health and welfare of all Americans. Severe weather events like droughts and wildfires have increased significantly, and coastal states including Hawai`i face direct threats from the impact of rising sea levels. The Clean Power Plan takes direct action to reverse climate change by regulating and reducing harmful carbon pollution from power plants. The plan establishes ambitious goals but gives states and regions flexibility on how to meet them.
      “By 2030, the plan will result in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels, which will improve the health of American citizens, create thousands of jobs, encourage the development of clean energy and reduce the cost of energy bills. Earlier this year, more than half the Senate acknowledged, ‘Climate change is real, and human activity significantly contributes to climate change.’ President Obama’s Clean Power Plan is a milestone in the fight against climate change, and I pledge my full support in his effort to implement it.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS, sponsored by the Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network, is gathering for another season. Anyone who likes to sing and is interested in joining a holiday choir is invited to join in. The chorus gathers for its first meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences’ Keakealani campus at 7 p.m. Rehearsals on Tuesdays usually last for a couple hours. Performances will take place early in December.
      For more information, call Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or Roch Jones at 985-7026.

Wes Awana and `ukulele students. Photo from VAC
ALOHA FRIDAY at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park features `ukulele lessons with Wes Awana from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. 
      Call 967-8222 for more information.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S Niaulani Campus offers yoga classes on today and tomorrow.
      Kripalu Yoga with Jo Caron at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday is suited for beginners as well as long-time practitioners. Caron is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts, where she lived as a full-time resident for several years and taught yoga classes, meditation and self-development workshops. Cost is $5 per class. For more information, call 443-6993.
      Emily Catey Weiss helps students relax their bodies and rejuvenate their souls tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. The focus is on stretching and releasing both physical and mental tension. Open to both beginning and intermediate students, classes meet in the Great Room unless otherwise noted. Weiss also teaches on Mondays at 7:30 a.m. For more information, email emilycatey@hotmail.com.

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_August2015.pdf.