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| Fighting to the end with Trevor Taylor ripping 17 kills, Ka`u Trojans ended their boys volleyball season Tuesday night in a playoff game against Pahoa, after a stellar winning season with only one other loss. See story below. Photo by Pam Taylor |
DISCOVERY HARBOUR RESIDENTS attended the Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee Tuesday night at Na`alehu Community Center to talk about the future of their neighborhood. A large contingent asked questions regarding the CDP’s language regarding possible development there. Some residents said they favored low-density zoning, which allows up to six homes per acre. Others would like to see other types of development, including condominiums and shopping centers. Ron Whitmore, who worked as a county planner on the CDP, explained that there are many complications in Discovery Harbour’s zoning as it relates to the subdivision’s Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions that are beyond the scope of the CDP. He said current lawsuits would have to settle some of the disputes.
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| Ron Whitmore, who worked for many years on the Ka`u Community Development Plan, presented Planning Director Michael Yee's recommendation to approve the Ka`u Community Development Plan. Photo by Ron Johnson |
The Steering Committee discussed Hawai`i County Planning Director Michael Yee's recommendation to adopt the Ka`u Community Development Plan, with some non-substantive changes. According to Whitmore, the director’s recommended changes to the CDP “strengthened it by refining it.” He said Kanuha “wanted the language to be precise.” Many of the director’s changes clarify the CDP’s purpose relative to Hawai`i County’s General Plan. Language in the CDP calls for specific amendments to the GP, and Kanuha specified that such amendments be considered “as a follow-up to the CDP.”
One example of a non-substantive change by Yee was to clarify that suggested safety improvements on South Point Road apply to the section from Hwy 11 to Kama`oa Road.
With the changes accepted, the document next goes to the Windward Planning Commission for review. The commission will hold two public hearings on the topic, with the first one on Wednesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Another hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 1 at 9 a.m. at Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Following approval by the commission, the County Council will review the plan and accept public input before deciding whether or not to send it to Mayor Harry Kim for his signature. Whitmore said the process could be complete by the end of the year. One example of a non-substantive change by Yee was to clarify that suggested safety improvements on South Point Road apply to the section from Hwy 11 to Kama`oa Road.
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| Discovery Harbour residents talked about different plans for their community. Photo by Ron Johnson |
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| New County Planning Director Michael Yee |
Whitmore urged Ka`u residents to apply to become members of the CDP Action Committee, which succeeds the Steering Committee as a proactive, community-based steward of the CDP’s implementation. Members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the County Council. Applications are available at www.hawaiicountycdp.info/about-cdps/.
See kaucdp.info for complete information about the Ka`u CDP.
See kaucdp.info for complete information about the Ka`u CDP.
NORTH KOREA IS A THREAT TO HAWAI`I, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command stated in a U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday. Admiral Harry Harris Harris detailed potential vulnerabilities that exist within current U.S. missile defense capabilities that could put Hawaiʻi at risk.
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| Admiral Harry Harris recommended a study on basing missle interceptors in Hawai`i. |
When asked by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard about the threat of North Korea to Hawai`i specifically, Harris stated, “Kim Jong-un is clearly in a position to threaten Hawai’i today…Our ballistic missile architecture is sufficient to protect Hawaiʻi today, but it can be overwhelmed. If Kim Jong-un or someone else launched ballistic missiles—ICBMs—against the United States, then somewhere we would have to make the decision on which ones to take out or not. So that's a difficult decision. I think that we would be better served - my personal opinion is that we would be better served with a defensive Hawai`i radar and interceptors in Hawai`i. I know that its being discussed...we should study the basing of interceptors in Hawai`i."
The admiral said that defensive radar is coming to Hawai`i but "the interceptors piece is something to be determined....We would not be doing our job if we didn't look at it."
Following the hearing, Gabbard said, “Hawaiʻi is home to the largest concentration of U.S. military strategic assets for well over 3,000 miles, making it a prime target for North Korea’s aggression. As I travelled across Hawai’i during my recent state-wide town hall tour, I heard from my constituents on every island their concern about the threat posed by North Korea’s increased nuclear and ballistic missile activity and capabilities that place Hawaiʻi squarely within North Korea's crosshairs.
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| Rep. Tulsi Gabbard urged more anti-missile defense for Hawai`i. |
"It is the people of Hawaiʻi and our way of life that are at risk if North Korea’s missiles turn towards our shores. Admiral Harris’ testimony today affirmed the seriousness of this threat, and highlighted the need to strengthen our current missile defense infrastructure to ensure the defense of Hawai'i. I'm continuing this urgent push to strengthen the protection of Hawaiʻi against the threat that exists today, and the complex threat we know will emerge in the future. I urge my colleagues to take this threat seriously and provide the resources and tools necessary to defend Hawaiʻi against this threat.”
In a background statement, Gabbard' staff, said that missile defense has been one of her top priorities throughout her time in Congress. Last year, she passed two amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act—one to provide funding to begin the process of bringing an MRDR to Hawaiʻi, and the other to require the Missile Defense Agency to brief Congress on their short-term plan to enhance missile defense capabilities in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific—and also questioned then SECDEF Carter and Chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the need to increase Hawaiʻi’s missile defense. She has had ongoing conversations and meetings with the Missile Defense Agency Director, Vice Admiral James Syring, to discuss possible options for the defense of Hawaiʻi, to deal with short term and long term needs. This includes quickly deployable options that are available to further strengthen the existing defensive assets within the state.
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| Pete Dacallio achieved ten kills. Photo by Pam Taylor |
VISITOR APPRECIATION DAY will be held at the Na`alehu and Pahala branches of CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union on Friday. Members are invited to Member Appreciation Day to enter to win $200 in cash. Food, fun and giveaways will highlight the event. See more at www.cuhawaii.com.
KA`U HIGH BOYS VOLLEYBALL unexpectedly suffered an upset last night, ending their season in the playoffs when they lost to Pahoa High School. Despite Trevor Taylor ripping 17 kills, Pete Dacalio pounding 10 kills and Budd Flores nailing nine kills for the Trojans, Ka`u lost in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation first round of tournament playoffs. The scores were 25-21, 20-25, 22-25, 25-22 and 12-15 to give the win to Pahoa. The Trojans enjoyed winning all season with the exception of one loss before the playofff game with Pahoa.
Hawai‘i’s Reef Fish, Thu, April 27, 7 – 9 p.m., Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. John Hoover explains how fish take care of their food, security & reproductive needs. Free; donations accepted.
Coffee Talk, Fri, April 28, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A free monthly series of talks on various subjects. nps.gov/havo or 985-6011
Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, April 28, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.
Coffee Talk, Fri, April 28, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. A free monthly series of talks on various subjects. nps.gov/havo or 985-6011
Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, April 28, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.