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| Royal Court takes the stage at the Merrie Monarch Festival Ho‘ike on Wednesday night. Photo by Tracey Nime |
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| The official poster of the 2024 Merrie Monarch Festival by Eddy Y. See merriemonarch.com |
Performing this week is Hālau Hula o Leonalani, under the leadership of Kumu Debbie Ryder. They danced on Sunday and Wednesday and will perform again this Saturday at noon at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
Among the many local entities promoted during Merrie Monarch Week are Kaʻū Coffee Mill and Shaka Tea, with much of its mamaki tea grown in Wood Valley. Shaka is offering free samples of mamaki outside its Hilo headquarters on Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 116 Keawe St. Also numerous crafters and artists with roots in Kaʻū will display and sell their creations at venues throughout Hilo.
Upcoming Merrie Monarch events include the Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Miss Aloha Hula competition, which is sold out but covered live on television, starts on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Edith Kanakaole Stadium. The Group Hula Kahiko (ancient) hula competition is sold out but will be televised live and starts on Friday at 6 p.m. The Group Hula ‘Auana (modern) competition is sold out but will be televised late and starts on Saturday at 6 p.m.
See more at merriemonarch.com. See the compeititions live on K-5 television and live streamed and archived at HawaiiNewsnNow.com/MerrieMonarch.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
RESTRICTION FOR VEHICLES IN TREE MOLDS RECREATIONAL AREA OFF MAUNA LOA ROAD has been announced by the National Park Service. Due to recent safety concerns, restrictions have ALSO been imposed on accessing Tree Molds Road via the northern gravel road from the horse corral.
The temporary closure of Tree Molds Road and recreational area to vehicles is due to heavy equipment operations. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be allowed access on paved sections of Tree Molds Road but must use caution and yield to trucks and machinery on the roadway. Access to Tree Molds Road via the northern gravel road from the horse corral is closed to pedestrian and bicyclist during times of construction.
The restrictions will begin Thursday, March 21 through early April, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The road and Tree Molds area will be open to vehicles at all other times.
The statement from NPS says, "Work continues on Phase One of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Disaster Recovery Project and traffic safety and infrastructure upgrades. The latest project updates include establishing a materials staging area at the former horse corral off Mauna Loa Road."
Construction closures and delays are updated on the park's new construction webpage: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/construction-closures.htm.
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| Hālau O Kekuhi - Nālani Kanaka‘ole during the Merrie Monarch Ho'ike on Wednesday evening. Photo by Tracey Nime |
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| Awhina - Ora and Leilani Kihi, Maori dancing at Merrie Monarch Ho‘ike on Wednesday. Photo by Cody Yamaguchi |
SHAKA TEA AND KAʻŪ COFFEE MILL are supporting the Merrie Monarch event and promoting locally-grown farm products this week. Kaʻū Coffee Mill is supporting statewide television promotions of Merrie Monarch, featuring employee and Pāhala resident Melinda Eder at Kaʻū Coffee Mill's farm. Shaka Tea, with products created from tea, much of it growing in Wood Valley, is offering free māmaki sampling at its headquarters in Hilo Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 116 Ke'awe St.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC'S ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY PROGRAM "launched a new framework that
streamlines choices for customers," says a statement issued April 1. Called Smart Renewable Energy, "it represents the next step in Hawaiian Electric’s push to bring more
customer-sited renewable energy resources onto the grid as Hawai‘i strives to achieve its
ambitious clean energy goals," according to Hawaiian Electric.
"Smart Renewable Energy, also known as Smart DER, was developed under the oversight of the
Public Utilities Commission. It consolidates and replaces all Hawaiian Electric’s previous rooftop
solar programs except for Net Energy Metering (NEM). For solar customers who want to pair
their rooftop systems with energy storage, Hawaiian Electric is also offering a new incentive
program called Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), which is replacing Battery Bonus. 
"Going forward, customers who apply to install a grid-connected solar system must do so
through Smart Renewable Energy, which offers an export and a non-export track. Customers
enrolled in one of Hawaiian Electric’s rooftop solar or energy storage programs prior to today
have several options to choose from as the company transitions to Smart Renewable Energy
and BYOD":
For Net Energy Metering and NEM Plus: No changes will be required for customers in these programs.
Customers with Grid Supply, CGS Plus and Smart Export: Customers enrolled in
these programs must transition to the Smart DER export track no later than seven years
after their initial agreement date, starting Oct. The transition will be done
automatically by Hawaiian Electric.
For Customer Self Supply or Standard Interconnection Agreement, customers are not required to switch to Smart Renewable Energy, but if they
choose to do so they will transition to the program’s non-export track.
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| New programs to offset electric bills by feeding solar into the grid are offered by Hawaiian Electric. Photo from Hawaiian Electric |
Customers in any of the above programs have the option of transitioning to Smart
Renewable Energy before their agreement end date by filling out a form on Hawaiian
Electric’s website.
Battery Bonus customers are not required to transition to the new BYOD program but
have the option to do so prior to their Battery Bonus agreement ending.
“We are excited to offer our customers Smart Renewable Energy and BYOD, which give them
an opportunity to offset their energy bills while helping make the grid more resilient,” said
Kaiulani Shinsato, Hawaiian Electric Customer Energy Resources co-director. “Hawaiian
Electric is thankful to all the stakeholders who worked so hard to bring this to fruition.”
Smart Renewable Energy and BYOD are the culmination of a multi-year regulatory effort that
included input from the PUC, Hawaiian Electric, solar industry representatives and the
Consumer Advocate.
The Smart Renewable Energy export rates and other information about the new programs are
available at hawaiianelectric.com/smartprograms
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
The temporary closure of Tree Molds Road and recreational area to vehicles is due to heavy equipment operations. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be allowed access on paved sections of Tree Molds Road but must use caution and yield to trucks and machinery on the roadway. Access to Tree Molds Road via the northern gravel road from the horse corral is closed to pedestrian and bicyclist during times of construction.
The restrictions will begin Thursday, March 21 through early April, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The road and Tree Molds area will be open to vehicles at all other times.
The statement from NPS says, "Work continues on Phase One of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Disaster Recovery Project and traffic safety and infrastructure upgrades. The latest project updates include establishing a materials staging area at the former horse corral off Mauna Loa Road."
Construction closures and delays are updated on the park's new construction webpage: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/construction-closures.htm.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
KAʻŪ BOYS BASEBALL boys team beat Kealakehe 6-3. Kealakehe took the Girls Softball game 20-1, both played on Wednesday.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.
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