Kaʻū News Briefs Oct. 23, 2024

KA'U COFFEE FARMERS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT INFO TO SHARE WITH COFFEE BUYERS at the 2024 Tawian International Coffee Show, as part of the 2024 Taiwan Coffee & Tea Expo, Nov. 15-18. Deadline to fill out a survey with coffee info is Nov. 1.

     Ka'u Coffee farmer and marketer Ralph Gaston of Rusty's Hawaiian, along with coffee educator Madeleine Longoria-Garcia, are leading the mission through a Synergistic Hawai'i Agriculture Council marketing grant.

    A statement from Hawai'i Coffee Association says, "Our coffee industry will return to Taipei for the 2024 Taiwan Coffee & Tea Expo. We will continue our work of promoting Hawai'i coffees from several growing regions, with the continued goal of raising awareness and knowledge of Hawai'i's coffee industry in this emerging coffee market.
    "So....if you produce green 100% Hawaii coffee that you're looking to sell, please fill out this survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024_Taiwan. We will share your contact info with interested buyers. Please submit this survey no later than November 1st."

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Coffee Berry Borer is one of the invasive species that state Department of Agriculture hopes to fight with new rules passed on Tuesday, allowing quarantining moving plant materials in areas where  invasive species threaten farming and nature.
Photo from Department of Agriculture

STOPPING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES, including Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust, both damaging to Kaʻū Coffee farms, is the goal of state Board of Agriculture. On Tuesday it approved permanent rules that will enable the state to designate quarantine areas in places of infestation. It voted to establish monthly updates on invasive species management and progress, and  to come up with a guide to educate businesses threatened by invasive species.

   The new rules mean that plants and other materials tainted with invasives can more easily be banned from moving them around the islands where they could spread the infestation. The new rules give the state the authority to inspect movements of plant materials.
    Support has come from agriculturalists, environmentalists and public health advocates. Such invasives as Little Fire Ants attack and hurt pets and people; they are often carried in potted plants from nurseries into communities.

Little Fire Ants can sting and blind animals and attack people. Photo from state of Hawai'i Invasive Species Council 

    Coconut rhinoceros beetles that live in decayed plants can be carried around in potted palms, in moving palms and in mulch and compost. They kill palm trees and damage and destroy banana, taro, papaya, sugar cane and pineapple.

    Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust can seriously reduce production and kill coffee trees.
    Department of Agriculture has developed action plans to deal with various invasives. and plans to further strategize with such agencies as state Department of Land & Natural Resources, which has the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council and University of Hawai'i, which has Invasive Species Committees on each island.
    Board of Agriculture Chair Sharon Hurd said the new campaign will begin with education, followed by regulation. She said, “educate before you regulate.” Before adoption, the rules will go to state Small Business Regulatory Review Board and then to Gov. Josh Green for final approval.

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THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC DEATHS HAS SOARED across this island this year. The latest involves an eight-year old boy driving an ATV on Tuesday. It overturned and his 13-year old passenger died. The tragedy took place on Puakala Road, mauka of Kona International Airport. The deceased boy has been identified as Maxim Beregovoy. This was the 25th traffic fatality this year on Hawai'i Island. Last year at this time there were 15.

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POLICE ARRESTED 15 FOR DUI from Oct. 7 through 13. Hawai'i Island police arrested the motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Two were involved in a traffic accident. One was under the age of 21.
    So far this year, there have been 770 DUI arrests compared with 767 during the same period last year, an increase of 0.39 percent.
   Hawai'i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 764 

major crashes so far this year, compared with 660 during the same time last year, an increase of 15.8 percent.
    Through Oct. 13, there were 21 fatal crashes, resulting in 23 fatalities, compared with 13 fatal crashes, resulting in 14 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents an increase of 62 percent for fatal crashes and 64.3 percent for fatalities.
    In 2024, the non-traffic fatality count through Oct. 13 (not on a public roadway) was zero compared to zero non-traffic fatalities for the same time last year.
    HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

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TROJANS GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TEAM hosted Parker School from Waimea on Tuesday. Parker managed the win 25-23, 27-25, 12-25, 25-19.

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