Ka`u News Briefs April 1, 2011

The Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is open on weekends and will be the site of Kahuku Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 9.  Photo by Stephen Geiger

THE HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE has deferred a bill that would allow the Public Utilities Commission to approve a proposal to raise rates on customers in Honolulu and Maui Counties as well as the Big Island to help pay for the development of a biofuels refinery in Pahala.
     After the PUC turned down a proposal from Hawai`i Electric Industries to spread the cost of development of the `Aina Koa Pono biofuel across its customer base by slightly raising rates, `Aina Koa Pono and Hawaiian Electric went to the Legislature to change the law. In testimony on March 30 to the House Finance Committee, `Aina Koa Pono partner Chris Eldridge said the state cannot expect Hawai`i Island rate-payers to shoulder this increase in utility costs by themselves, when the Ka`u refinery “will open a new industry in Hawai`i, will significantly advance the statewide goals of developing clean and independent energy sources and will insulate the state from spikes in the price of petroleum fuels. Accordingly, any short-term rate increase in utility rates as a result of this project should be allocated across the state.” 

Mina Morita, new Director of the Public Utilities Commission.

     Eldridge said the facility in Ka`u “would produce up to 24 million gallons of biodiesel per year and create hundreds of long-term high-paying jobs, will bring outside investment into Hawai`i, will return agricultural lands to productive use and will help Hawai`i toward energy independence.” Most importantly, he said “a plant of this size will lead the way for an entire biofuel industry in Hawai`i.”
     The new director of the Public Utilities Commission, Mina Morita, and the state consumer advocate also testified. They said that parts of the bill, including automatic rate increases, needed to be studied and clarified and recommended amendments. The bill was deferred for study.

MATSON NAVIGATION announced it is raising its shipping charges again. Horizon and Pasha are expected to follow suit. These hikes are all based on their ability to tag charges to the cost of oil. Matson will raise its fuel surcharge to 43 percent on May 1. A letter to customers said that since its last increase in February, “the environment has failed to stabilize, causing the global fuel market to remain at near historic highs. Transportation companies are especially hard hit, with fuel consumption an unavoidable and significant component of operating costs.” Matson is expected to show an operating loss for the first quarter of this year and to tell its investors that fuel costs are the cause. Some farmers say that higher fuel costs can make local produce more competitive price-wise and encourage people to buy food from local farmers rather than driving long distances with gasoline being over $4 a gallon. 

Image from York Common Cents

THE COST OF REGULAR GASOLINE in Ka`u this morning was $4.24 at Kahuku Country Market. Also in Ocean View it was $4.30 at Kahala Gas and $4.40 at Ocean View Market. In Na`alehu it was $4.43 at the 76 Station and in Pahala it was $4.40 at Ka`u Gas. 

CUTTING OIL IMPORTS BY ONE THIRD by 2025 is a goal announced by President Barack Obama. He said today it is “achievable and necessary. A number of nationwide firms said they would seek alternative energies to run their operations and their transportation vehicles. They are UPS, AT&T, FedEx, Pepsi and Verizon. These companies are planning to run vehicles on electricity, ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, biodiesel and propane.
     Oil from fossil fuel was at a two-year high today.

CATCH THE SPIRIT OF KA`U at the free Kahuku Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 9. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and the Queen Lili`uokalani Children’s Center invite keiki to bring the families to explore Kahuku and learn about ancient traditions of navigation and modern-day global positioning systems. The program is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and lunch will be provided. Sign up by Monday, April 4 by calling 985-6019.

     The Kahuku Unit is now open to the public on most weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ka`u News Briefs March 31, 2011

Think Local First is a new campaign to encourage everyone to by local beef and other ag products.  Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I COUNTY RESIDENTS can do a lot to improve health through healthy eating and healthy living, according to a national study called County Health Rankings. The county ranks Hawai`i County higher than the other islands in premature deaths, and these can be correlated with more people smoking, more obesity, more drinking and less access to health care than the other islands. 

Smoking is one if the major health risks on the Big Island.
Image by David Hegarty

     The violent crime rate is lower than the other islands. However, deaths from traffic accidents on this island are the highest in the state. One thing better about the island is more access to recreational areas. Also, the state has a higher rate of residents covered by health insurance than the rest of the country. All of this data can be seen at countyhealthrankings.org. 

SPEAKING OF HEALTH, economic health was the target of a group of economists, business representatives and county and nonprofit organization representatives who met yesterday at the county building in Hilo. They want to come up with strategies on how to encourage residents and visitors to purchase local food and locally made products to help rev up the engine of the island’s economy. Some of the suggestions included promotions and tax incentives to buy local first, creating a sense of mission and pride for food sovereignty for the island, and incentivizing schools, hospitals and other organizations to serve food grown by local farmers. A Think Local First Action Committee was organized and will come up with a plan for the island. The project is sponsored by the Hawai`i Alliance for a Local Economy. See bigisle.sustainhawaii.org. 

Logo for Ka`u School of the Arts

KA`U SCHOOL OF THE ARTS has come up with a website at kauarts.org. On the website are sections on events, classes, gallery and projects, and the front page feature is the school's Spring Fling coming up on April 30 at Punalu`u Bake Shop. See kauarts.org. 

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL can also be followed on the Internet, on its blog, twitter, Facebook, Flickr and at kaucoffeefest.org. See photos of all the Miss Ka`u Coffee candidates and updates on both the pageant to be held Saturday, April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym and the Ka`u Coffee Festival on the weekend of May 14 and 15.

THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS Administration is offering low interest rate loans to victims of the March 11 tsumani. An SBA office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until April 26 in Kona.

Brian DeLima represents the Big Island
on the new Board of Education.

BRIAN DELIMA is the new Board of Education member for the Big Island, appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. He is an attorney and former member of the Hawai`i County Council. He is appointed for two years. The chair of the new statewide school board is Don Horner, the chair and CEO of First Hawaiian Bank. The Department of Education has an operating budget of $1.7 billion. The electorate voted last November to allow the governor to name the school board members rather than to elect them. Hawai`i has the only statewide school board in the country. 

THE KA`U VARSITY VOLLEYBALL boys have defeated Christian Liberty Academy in a three-game sweep at the Ka`u High gym. Set scores were 25-14, 25-16 and 25-19. Senior Tyler Navarro-Villa slammed six kills. Freshman Larry Al-Navarro, sophomore Donald Garo Jr., and senior Marcus Grace all put in four kills each.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND holds a Ka`u beach cleanup this Saturday. The volunteers meets at Wai`ohinu park at 7:45 a.m. to caravan to the site. Sign up at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call 769-7629.

Ka`u News Briefs March 30, 2011

Voting for One Journey, which made the finals to Brown Bags to Stardom, begins tonight.  Photo by Julia Neal

Sen. Dan Akaka reintroduces
the Akaka Bill to the Senate.
Photo by Julia Neal

Rep. Mazie Hirono will
reintroduce the Akaka Bill.
Photo by Julia Neal

SENATOR DAN AKAKA is reintroducing the Akaka Bill today on the U.S. Senate floor, and Rep. Mazie Hirono plans to reintroduce it in the House later this week to give federal recognition to Native Hawaiians. The measure is deemed important now since Akaka, the champion of the bill, plans to retire after his current term. The Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act would give Hawaiians many of the same privileges as Native American Indians. Many Hawaiian groups, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, supports the bill, while most Republicans oppose it, and some sovereignty activists think it would block their efforts to restore the Hawaiian Kingdom. When Gov. Neil Abercrombie served in Congress he helped build support for the Akaka Bill. 

EMERGENCY RELIEF for people whose property and businesses were damaged by the tsunami from Japan will be offered at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion again today between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. with state, county and private agencies on hand. You can also call 211 or contact Civil Defense. Civil Defense Director Ed Texeira said that so much has already been done with people helping people. 

     Both Rep. Bob Herkes and Sen. Gil Kahele have introduced a tsunami emergency bill in the state Legislature asking for funds as well as fast tracking permits to make repairs. The resolution also asks Congress to refrain from cutting money for the tsunami Pacific System.
     Councilwoman Brittany Smart asked the governor to help Ka`u prepare for any future disaster by providing funds to build a $20 million shelter and gym in Pahala next to the school grounds.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS introduced by Sen. Gil Kahele and Rep. Bob Herkes that are still alive at the Legislature include $2.5 million for the Ka`u irrigation system, $6.7 million for buildings at Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, $10 million for the Na`alehu School Administration and Library and $250 million for a U.H. Ag Research station in Volcano.

THE STATE COUNCIL ON REVENUES met yesterday and said that the possible reduction in tax revenues from Japanese canceling vacations to Hawai`i because of the tsunami is unknown since it is unclear when they will start traveling again or how much they will continue to travel. However, the council is worried because state tax revenues collected in February were down, even before the tsunami. As a result the Council on Revenues has readjusted its prediction of state income downward, making an even more difficult challenge for the state Legislature. Ideas to raise money to balance the budget range from gambling, to establishing a lottery, to ending Hawaiian Air’s tax relief and to raising the four percent excise tax. 

THE HAWAI`I 2050 Sustainability plan may get more teeth from the state Legislature if SB 283 passes. The bill incorporates definitions, guiding principles and goals of the 2050 Sustainability Plan into the Hawai`i state planning act. Department of Agriculture Chair Russell Kokubun, who helped craft the plan when he was a state senator, submitted testimony. He said the Department of Ag is “committed to the re-establishment of agriculture as essential to the well being of our island society by rejuvenating the economy, protecting important resources and gaining greater self-sufficiency in food production and alternative energy development.”
     The Nature Conservancy also testified in support of the 2050 legislation, saying “the health of Hawai`i’s unique but threatened natural resources directly affects our economy and quality of life. Residents and visitors alike are awed and inspired by the Hawaiian Islands natural wonders. Beyond breathtaking beauty, these resources provide essential natural benefits that make life possible in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. From native forests that give us fresh water, erosion control and cultural treasures to abundant coral reefs that provide food, recreation and protection from storms, we all depend daily on nature to sustain us,” The Nature Conservancy testified.

A mobile care van similar to the one that will come here.

A HEALTH BILL championed by Rep. Bob Herkes supports tele-health services coverage for Medicaid and Quest patients through a new mobile health van that will come to Ka`u from Kona Hospital. The measure passed the state Senate and is in the House of Representatives. The Hawai`i Association of Health Plans testified that the Big Island of Hawai`i’s geography and sparsely distributed population may translate into barriers to care for some. Bringing access to medical care to the neediest of populations via a mobile medical van makes sense to improve health of rural underserved populations. It was noted that the Big Island of Hawai`i represents over 65 percent of all the landmass in the state and also has lowest population density. 

     The purchase of the van is funded by $350,000 appropriated previously by the Legislature.

VOTE FOR ONE JOURNEY tonight, if you like, as Brown Bags to Stardom music video competition among the finalists kicks off at 7:30 p.m. The Ka`u High School music group One Journey has made the top six, and their music video is being shown on OC16 television. Anyone with an email address or access to the Internet can vote. Log onto brownbagstostardom.com to see the video Lover’s Dream, written by Eunice Longakit and James Tyson. You can also vote through watching OC16 and using your interactive remote control. The band, under the direction of Ka`u High School teacher Laura Saijo, has been raising money to fund its trip to the Brown Bags to Stardom talent contest on O`ahu on April 23. The band also hopes to print more copies of the CD, which sold out at its recent fundraiser at KAHU-FM 91.7 radio.