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Wednesday, March 01, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park in 1934. Photo from HVNP

THE CLINTON'S VISITED HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK in February as other U.S. Presidents were remembered. The former U.S. President Bill and former Senator and Secretary of
Bill and Hillary Clinton with ranger staff at Hawai'i
Volcanoes in February
. Photo from HVNP
State Hillary toured the park with their daughter Chelsea and her family along with a security team.          According to park spokesperson Jessica Ferracane, "The wet weather did not dampen their enthusiasm for steaming views of Kaluapele, the caldera, or walking through Nāhuku and the rainforest." The former President also shopped the the Hawai'i Pacific Parks Association store at the visitor center and welcomed photos with admiring park visitors.
    The Clinton's visited just after President's Day and the park staff noted other Presidents who toured and helped the park. In 1952, then-California Sen. Richard Nixon and wife Pat explored Hawai'i Volcanoes and were photographed near the lava tube. 
Richard and Pat Nixon visiting the lava tube
at Hawai'i Volcanoes in 1952. Photo from HVNP
    In 1934, Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt draped in lei, and his sons Franklin, Jr. and John, motored around the park with USGS Volcanoes Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas A. Jaggar and Park Superintendent Thomas Wingate. According to the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Jaggar offered the president ʻōhelo berries picked by park laborer Charles Kauhi so he could make an offering to Pele.
    Pres. Woodrow Wilson never visited the park, but in 1916 signed legislation that established Hawai'i National Park which then encompassed the volcanic summits of Haleakalā National Park and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. "We would stamp his Passport Book today for that noble Act if we could!" said Ferracane.


The proposed Kalae 2 Solar Farm on 16.09 acres at 92-2307 South Point Road.
 See the clearer images for locations of the two proposed solar farms on the applicants' website at https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae2-shared-solar and https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae-shared-solar.

TWO MORE SOLAR FARMS ARE PLANNED NEAR NĀ'ĀLEHU. Hawaiian Electric made the announcement Wednesday along with naming two in Waikoloa and another on O'ahu. The two shared solar projects for Kaʻū are both accessible from South Point Road. Neither are planned to include battery backup. A third solar farm, with batteries, is planned by Nexamp near Kamaoa Road.
    Pivot Energy is sponsor and Arion Energy is owner of the two new projects. 
     A .50MWac Solar PVGeneration Plan covering 15.4 acres would be known as Ka Lae 1 Solar Farm. The address is 93-5570 Kai Makani Place. The TMK is 3-9-3-004-040. See the website at https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae-shared-solar.
    A .50 MWac Solar PV Generation Plant covering 16.09 acres would be known as Ka Lae 2 Solar Farm. The address is 03-2307 South Point Road. The TMK is 3-9-3-004-027. See the website at https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae2-shared-solar.
     Subscribers, including households, local businesses and organizations would save on their Hawaiian Electric bill. The summary says that the project "brings local jobs and economic benefits, and helps the Island of Hawai'i transition to clean renewable energy. Renewable energy can help increase grid reliability, improve air quality and improve public health."
    The online presentations promise more community outreach as final contracts and construction permitting is sought. The expected date of construction to begin is October of 2023 with completion of solar farms January of 2025.


                           The proposed Kalae 1 Solar Farm on 15.04 acres off South Point Road on Kai Makani Place. See the clearer images for locations of the two proposed solar farms on the applicants' website at https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae2-shared-solar and https://go.pivotenergy.net/ka-lae-shared-solar.


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FREE FOOD


St. Jude's Hot Meals are free to those in need on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until food runs out, no later than noon. Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can contact Karen at pooch53@gmail.com. Location is 96-8606 Paradise Circle Drive in Ocean View. Those in need can also take hot showers from 9 a.m. to noon and use the computer lab from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Meals Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are served from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Nā'ālehu Hongwanji. Volunteers prepare the food provided by 'O Ka'ū Kākou with fresh produce from its gardens on the farm of Eva Liu, who supports the project. Other community members also make donations and approximately 150 meals are served each day, according to OKK President Wayne Kawachi.
OUTDOOR MARKETS



https://www.okaukakou.org/scholarships
-for-local-students


Volcano Evening Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, Thursdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with live music, artisan crafts, ono grinds, and fresh produce. See facebook.com.


Volcano Swap Meet, fourth Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon. Large variety of vendors with numerous products. Tools, clothes, books, toys, local made healing extract and creams, antiques, jewelry, gemstones, crystals, food, music, plants, fruits, and vegetables. Also offered are cakes, coffee, and shave ice. Live music. Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village on Sundays, 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with local produce, baked goods, food to go, island beef and Ka'ū Coffee. EBT is used for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps. Call 808-967-7800.


O Ka'ū Kākou Market, Nā'ālehu, Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Nadine Ebert at 808-938-5124 or June Domondon 808-938-4875. See facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket.


Ocean View Community Market, Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., corner Kona Dr. Drive and Hwy 11, near Thai Grindz. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no rez needed. Parking in the upper lot. Vendors must provide their own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling is encouraged.