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| Kaʻū Coffee Mill manager Louis Danielle at the Specialty Coffee Association Expo in Boston this weekend, with Hawai'i Coffee Association Executive Director Chris Manfredi and Rusty's Hawaiian's Ralph Gascon in the background. Photo from Kaʻū Coffee Mill |
KAʻŪ COFFEE WAS REPRESENTED at the Specialty Coffee Association of America Expo this past weekend in Boston. Kaʻū Coffee Mill's manager Lou Danielle and roaster Kalikoweo Keolanui; Alla Kostenko of Kaʻū Mountain Coffee Farm and Hawai'i Coffee Association; Ralph Gascon and Rusty Obra, from Rusty's Hawaiian; and Chris Manfredi, who brokers Kaʻū Coffee and serves as Executive Director of Hawai'i Coffee Association, helped to man the HCA booth. Also assisting was Jeff Clark of Olson Trust.
Hawai'i Coffee Association will host its own annual convention, live at the Kona Outrigger Resort & Spa from May 19-21, with its 13th Statewide Cupping Competition. Kaʻū Coffee farmers do well in the competition each year. Registration to submit green coffee for competition began April 1 and runs through April 29. See https://hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-4659305. Also to be launched soon is the 2022 virtual Kaʻū Coffee Festival. See www.kaucoffeefestival.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
THE NEW PLAN TO MANAGE MAUNAKEA BECAME MORE COMPLICATED on Friday with amendments to a bill that's before the Hawai'i Legislature. The Senate Ways & Means Committee recommended a "joint oversight" of Maunakea between the University of Hawai'i and newly Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Committee Chair Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said the amendments would lead to "balance the interests and concerns of our native Hawaiian community to properly steward a cultural treasure with the interests of the state," and for "University of Hawaiʻi to continue its world-class science-based education and academic research unit in astronomy on Maunakea. In collaboration with the Higher Education Chair, these proposed amendments are reflective of the discussions that we’ve had with various community groups, stakeholders, and from testimony submitted." The original language of the legislation would have removed University of Hawai'i management of Maunakea and establish the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority as the primary managing agency.
The new language, said Dela Cruz, "creates joint oversight of Maunakea between the University and the newly created Authority. The responsibilities to manage the mountain will be bifurcated and split between two entities. The new Authority will manage approximately 9,450 acres on the mountain, while the University will manage the astronomy research lands comprised of the Astronomy Precinct, the Halepohaku complex, and the Maunakea Access Road, or approximately 550 acres.
"The existing 1968 and 1999 state leases between the State Board of Land and Natural Resources and the University will be kept in place. They’re expiring in 2033.
"The university, as lessee under the State leases, will sub lease to the Authority within a year of its operational formation, lands totally 9,450 acres – which we have labeled the Maunakea Conservation Lands. The Authority will be charged to properly conserve, protect, and manage the public uses of the Maunakea Conservation Lands. At the same time, the University will be solely responsible to care for and manage astronomy research lands.
"The joint oversight structure addresses the perceived threat to the future of astronomy in our State through a collaborative sharing of management duties and responsibilities between the Authority and the University of Hawaiʻi. The current administrative organization under the aegis of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will be kept in place, and will continue to service the operational and staff needs of both the new Authority and the University, thereby avoiding any additional costs associated with creating a new organizational structure, or two separate administrative structures."
The new language, said Dela Cruz, "creates joint oversight of Maunakea between the University and the newly created Authority. The responsibilities to manage the mountain will be bifurcated and split between two entities. The new Authority will manage approximately 9,450 acres on the mountain, while the University will manage the astronomy research lands comprised of the Astronomy Precinct, the Halepohaku complex, and the Maunakea Access Road, or approximately 550 acres.
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| Measures at the Hawai'i Legislature would change the management of Maunakea and its telescope campus, cultural sites and open lands. Photo from Center for Maunakea Stewardship |
"The existing 1968 and 1999 state leases between the State Board of Land and Natural Resources and the University will be kept in place. They’re expiring in 2033.
"The university, as lessee under the State leases, will sub lease to the Authority within a year of its operational formation, lands totally 9,450 acres – which we have labeled the Maunakea Conservation Lands. The Authority will be charged to properly conserve, protect, and manage the public uses of the Maunakea Conservation Lands. At the same time, the University will be solely responsible to care for and manage astronomy research lands.
"The joint oversight structure addresses the perceived threat to the future of astronomy in our State through a collaborative sharing of management duties and responsibilities between the Authority and the University of Hawaiʻi. The current administrative organization under the aegis of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo will be kept in place, and will continue to service the operational and staff needs of both the new Authority and the University, thereby avoiding any additional costs associated with creating a new organizational structure, or two separate administrative structures."
See the proposed legislation and testimony at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2024&year=2022
ANTI PRICE-GAUGING LEGISLATION has been introduced into Congress by Sen. Mazie Hirono and colleagues. She said, "Over the past two years, corporate executives have exploited the COVID crisis to
drive up prices and line their own pockets. It is unacceptable for companies to increase their profit margins at the expense of the American people by inflating prices for essentials like insulin and gasoline. The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act will strengthen the FTC's ability to combat this kind of price gouging and protect American consumers."
The legislation aims to prohibit selling essential goods and services at exorbitant prices, during or in anticipation of a natural disaster, pandemic, or state of emergency. Hirono noted that the Federal Trade Commission and other federal agencies have limited legal authority to prevent price gouging. The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act would give the FTC more tools to go after excessive and unjustified price increases in the sale of certain products and services when an emergency or disaster occurs. |
| Image from National Law Review |
It would: Prohibit selling, or offering for sale, essential goods and services at an unconscionably excessive price during or in anticipation of a natural disaster, pandemic or state of emergency. It would apply to goods and services that may be used to preserve, protect, or sustain the health, safety or welfare of members of the public from potential harms resulting from a natural disaster, a pandemic or the circumstances giving rise to a state of emergency.
It would provide for potential civil penalties; and it would not preempt state price gouging laws.
The full text of the Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act can be found here.
NANI COLORETTI IS TOP RANKING FILIPINO IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. Last week she became Deputy Director of the federal Office of Management and Budget. A native of Hawai'i, she has served as Senior Vice President at the Urban Institute and also as Deputy Secretary at U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and United States Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Management. She was also Budget Director for the City of San Francisco after working in state government in Hawai'i.
The 53-year old has an undergraduate degree in Economics & Communication from University of Pennsylvania and Masters of Public Policy from University of California, Berkeley.
Sen Brian Schatz said, "“Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino American leaders in Hawai'i and across the country. “I am proud to call Nani a friend, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role at OMB.”
It would provide for potential civil penalties; and it would not preempt state price gouging laws.
The full text of the Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act can be found here.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
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| Nani Coloretti, from Hawai'i, is the highest ranking Filipino in the federal administration. |
The 53-year old has an undergraduate degree in Economics & Communication from University of Pennsylvania and Masters of Public Policy from University of California, Berkeley.
Sen Brian Schatz said, "“Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino American leaders in Hawai'i and across the country. “I am proud to call Nani a friend, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role at OMB.”
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.
ST. JUDES EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Ocean View has announced its Easter Week services. April 14 is Maundy Thursday Agape Meal at 4 p.m. Good Friday is Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m. Easter Sunday Worship is at 9:30 a.m. to be followed by the annual Easter Brunch. Zoom address for Easter Sunday service is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85987340947?pwd=VmJOUWkvM3lCT0N2cVN2RUFiM1kzQT09
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| See The Ka'u Calendar April edition at www.kaucalendar.com, on newsstands and in the mail. |
SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO
at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html