The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: Mar 14, 2022

Monday, March 14, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, March 14, 2022

U.S. military conducts training on Hawai'i Island, like this session at Pohakuloa called Exercise Lava Viper. The US. Department of Defense budget, passed last week, includes funding a study to create noise contour maps to be incorporated in community planning through a Noise Mitigation Community Partnership Program. See more on military funding for Hawai'i below.
Photo from U.S. Department of Defense

MANY PRIORITIES FOR HAWAI'I ARE INCLUDED IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEFENSE SPENDING APPROVED LAST WEEK BY CONGRESS, said U.S. Rep. Ed Case. He is a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary spending. Case voted March 9 with a majority of his colleagues to pass the $1.5 trillion funding for the federal government for the current fiscal year. The measure awaits the President’s signature.
Among local funding measure is $4 million to expand the work of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, the premier defense-supported research and education center in that fosters shared understanding and networked relationships among civilian and military leaders throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Another $293 million for Environmental Restoration will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation.
The budget also funds a study from the DoD’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation on how local communities are impacted by military helicopter and tiltrotor noise. This study will result in noise contour maps that can be incorporated in community planning through the OLDCC’s existing Noise Mitigation Community Partnership Program.
The funding includes $235 million for military construction throughout the state, and billions to fund the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen America’s national security in the Indo-Pacific and Hawai'i’s central role. The language includes a military contracting preference for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations.
Case stressed the Pacific Deterrence Initiative as key to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. “PDI provides the foundation for establishing a forward-deployed, properly equipped and postured force to deter aggression and assure our allies and partners,” he explained. “We must deter and deny our adversaries’ ability to engage in acts of aggression or coercion against our partners and allies. We need investments in Guam, our Pacific Island partners, training ranges throughout the Indo-Pacific and a new generation of weapons to overcome the tyranny of distance.”
Case emphasized continued Congressional support for the Homeland Defense Radar Hawai‘i. “Given the prominence of Hawaii’s military and strategic value, Hawai’i has become far more of a target to those who wish to do us harm. The need for a fixed, persistent and comprehensive missile defense cannot be understated. This requirement hasn’t gone away and won’t. The Homeland Defense Radar Hawai‘i is the solution. It is regarded by the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as vital and appropriate,” he said.

He said Hawai'i’s strategic importance is growing with the continued threats and instability in the Indo-Pacific, home to more than 50% of the world’s population, several of the world’s largest militaries, and two of the three largest economies in the world.
Case said this investment in the State of Hawai‘i has a direct economic impact, pointing to a 2021 report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. It places total defense-related payroll and contract spending in the state at $7.2 billion. He said construction for Hawai‘i military installations "plays a crucial role in keeping the U.S. safe and protecting the national interests worldwide, especially given the shift in our national security strategies and resources to the Indo-Pacific. Improvements to these facilities also expand Hawaii’s economy and support high-paying construction jobs that ensure a high-quality standard of living."
Key programs and provisions requested and secured by Case that are relevant to Hawai‘i include: $75 million to continue development of HDR-H. This “discriminating radar," said Case, is a "critical state-of-the-art system designed to protect our country and state from ballistic missile threats that is strongly supported by Indo-Pacific military leaders." It will identify and classifying specific missile threats and address current and emerging threats.
Funding includes non-construction elements of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program , to include $264 million for ongoing operations and maintenance (in addition to military construction described below). Case requested funds to ensure support for the SIOP, which is undertaking a multi-year $21 billion effort to improve the Navy’s public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawai'i’s largest industrial employer. The budget supports a Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program, with instructions to the Secretary of the Navy to induct classes of not fewer than 100 apprentices at each of the respective naval shipyards and to include the costs of the class of apprentices in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget request.

Case noted that he helped to block efforts to change the command and control structure of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He said efforts within the department to streamline control of forces under one command structure would have limited the ability of Navy forces in Hawai‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
He pointed out the approval of the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative, in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace. It requires the Department of Defense to work with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges.
Efforts to confront the climate crisis is shown with investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness and global security, to include $1.6 billion for restoration and modernization of military facilities.
Congress also funded $88 million for wargaming analytical tools to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, $59 million for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support planning and design efforts to advance future construction projects throughout the Indo-Pacific, $19 million to advance a Pacific multi-domain training and experimentation capability, a $4.6 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Congress also approved $500,000 for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s proposed Pacific Movement Coordination Center. It funded international security cooperation programs with countries in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on Maritime Security Programs.
The bill’s defense section supports federal agencies and programs in the DoD and Intelligence Community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The bill provides $728.5 billion for these national defense programs, an increase of $32.5 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level.

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LOW INTEREST RESIDENTIAL REPAIR LOANS ARE AVAILABLE from County of Hawai'i to eligible low-and moderate-income homeowners. Funds may be used to repair, improve or modernize homes or remove health and safety hazards. Loans range from $2,500 to $25,000 at 3% simple interest.
Loan payments are deferred for 15 years, at which time full payment will be due. Eligible homeowners who are 62 years or older or persons with a disability may be eligible to have 30% of the loan’s principal

balance forgiven at the end of the loan period. Funds are limited and granted on a first-come-first-serve basis.
County Housing Administrator Susan Kunz said, “Helping people stay in their own home and keep it in good repair supports families and their communities. Homeownership helps families and individuals build savings over time. In addition, it strengthens communities and helps many kinds of businesses that support the local economy.”
Mayor Mitch Roth said, "Our administration is committed to fostering a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island where our keiki can thrive and succeed. By helping local families upkeep their homes, we are helping them in ensuring their home’s viability for their keiki and loved ones for generations to come. That is sustainability.” Applications and program information may be found online at: tinyurl.com/4twc5557 or by contacting Marcia Yoshiyama by email at ohcdloans@hawaiicounty.gov or phone at (808) 961-8379.

SUMMER JOBS AT SUMMER FUN ARE AVAILABLE AT NA'ALEHU COMMUNITY CENTER. The County of Hawai'i has extended its application deadline. Applicants must possess a current First Aid certification, submit a completed Summer Fun application, and be available to work June 2 through July

Jobs are available for working at Summer
Fun in Na'alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

15, 2022. Summer Fun starts June 6, following a mandatory two-day training period for all temporary employees.
Summer Fun applications are available online at: https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/facilities-parks/recreation, the Recreation Division Office at 799 Pi‘ilani Street in Hilo, and various County gymnasiums located around the island. The department will continue to accept completed job applications until all positions are filled. For more information about the Department of Parks and Recreation’s 2022 Summer Fun Program job opportunities, please contact the Recreation Division at 961-8740.

STREAMLINING THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS is a goal of the county Planning Department.

Hawai'i County is streamline photovoltaic permits.
Photo from Hawaiian Electric

One effort is Office of Housing and Community Development's streamlining photovoltaic installations with an updates Residential PV Worksheet & Declaration of Compliance Form (eff. 3/2/22). This form is to be completed and submitted by property owners or owner’s authorized agents utilizing a pre-approved PV system. This form shall include the structural engineer stamped railing system and related span tables (as provided by the railing manufacturer). This form is to be attached to a Residential PV building permit application submitted to our EPIC System. Electrical drawings certified by a Hawaii Licensed Electrical Engineer will still be required. These drawings shall include applicable site plans and mounting details: PV ELECTRICAL DRAWING EXAMPLE_rev.pdf This form can be located on our DPW Building website under our Permit Information: Applications/Forms section: PV Structural Evaluation Worksheet (hawaiicounty.gov)

SOME AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES ARE EXEMPT FROM BUILDING CODES and the county Department of Public Works Building Division has the paperwork. DPW has updated the HRS 46-88 Declaration of Compliance form for qualifying agricultural structures as covered by HRS Section 46-88. The two-part form is to be submitted by property owners or owner’s authorized agents to declare exemption from building code requirements for agricultural structures under the provisions of HRS 46-88.

Upon completion of construction of structures covered by this declaration, the HRS 46-88 Final As-Built Notification form is required to be submitted. The Final As-Built Notification form is to be submitted within one year of Declaration of Compliance acceptance date and within 30 days of completion, occupancy, or use of the structure.

A Declaration of Compliance form without a Final As-Built Notification form will be declared invalid. This form can be located on our DPW Building website under our Permit Information: Applications/Forms section Declaration of Compliance Forms may be submitted via email at cohbuild@hawaiicounty.gov or in person at Building Division locations in Kona or Hilo.

Questions can be addressed to DPW Information and Education Specialist, Sherise Kana’eKāne at sherise.kanae-kane@hawaiicounty.gov or 808-961-8499.

POHAKEA LIPE, OF KA'U, IS SOUGHT BY HAWAI'I ISLAND POLICE. The police department is

asking for the public’s assistance in locating the 32-year-old. He is wanted on an outstanding bench warrant and for questioning in connection with other criminal investigations.
Lipe is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, 190 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He is known to frequent Nā‘ālehu and Kona.
Police remind the public that harboring or concealing a wanted person can result in criminal charges being filed against the person who harbors or conceals the wanted person.
Persons with information on Lipe’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 267; or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov. They may also contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at
www.kaucalendar.com

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Monday, March 14, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, March 14, 2022