Monday, July 24, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, July 24, 2023

Hawai'i Department of Health produced this visual image noting pesticides as a risk to water quality in Hawai'i. The state
 Department of Agriculture is offering a way to dispose of pesticides for free, no questions asked.

DISPOSING PESTICIDES IN A SAFE WAY IS A COURSE via webinar beginning this Tuesday July 25 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., sponsored by Hawai'i state Department of Agriculture. The zoom link is https://hawaii-gov.zoom.us/j/97764030639; or One tap mobile at +16694449171,,97764030639# US;
or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on location) +1 669 444 9171 US. The webinar ID is 977 6403 0639. International numbers available: https://hawaii-gov.zoom.us/u/adLQYBuFXi
    Adam Williams, Environmental Health Specialist and Project Manager for state Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Disposal Program, said Tuesday's meeting is the start of a series of zoom meetings to discuss the state Pesticide Disposal Program.
State DOA offers option for pescticieds.

    Williams said the program "will provide an available, affordable, and environmentally accessible mechanism by which any agricultural entity, licensed pest control operator, landscape professional, pesticide dealer, and other commercial users of pesticides in the State can, for free, dispose of up to 250 lbs of canceled, suspended, unwanted, and unlabeled ("CSUU") pesticides." He emphasized that " No enforcement action will be taken against participants for disposing of CSUU pesticides."
Pesticides to be disposed could include old pesticides saved from sugar plantation days in Ka'u.
    Williams said, "The goal of the PDP is to promote a cleaner and safer Hawai'i by reducing the amount of pesticides which could potentially impact human health or the environment. The webinar offer discussion on: Acceptable and unacceptable materials; Who's eligible to participate; Getting registered;The event date and time; and Frequently asked questions.
     The online meetings will be held weekly from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., from this Tuesday, July 25 to Tuesday, Sept. 5.


Pa'a'au Stream, the rocky bed transformed by Army Corps of Engineers. Photo from Army Corps of Engineers
PA'AU'AU DRAINAGE CORRIDOR, WITH PROJECTS BY ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, is the subject of a County Department of Public Works community meeting  on Wednesday, Aug 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at  Pahala Community Center. This meeting will discuss the Paʻauʻau flood channels, encroachment issues, and future assistance that may be provided by US Army Corp. The original Pa'au'au Stream Flood Control project in Pahala was completed in October 1984 at a cost of $1,820,279 paid for by the federal government.
      Army Corps of Engineers describes its work here: "The project consists of a levee about 260 feet long; five concrete rubble masonry (CRM) walls totaling 1,800 feet in length; 2,700 feet of boulder concrete slope lining; and floodplain easement and management along the left bank. There are approximately 273 homes located within the project area. To date, the project has prevented more than $1.52 million in projected damages, within the project area. The local sponsor is the County of Hawai‘i, Department of Public Works.


Makana Kamahele will be an artist performing his music at this weekend's Experience Volcano Festival. He
spent years residing in Kaʻū and now lives on O'ahu. He will perform form 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday
at Volcano Winery, one of the many venues for the festival. Photo from Experience Volcano Hawai'i


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Five thousand in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
See the July edition of The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper







Five thousand in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
See the July edition of The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper


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