Ka`u News Briefs May 27, 2011

A temporary transfer station in Ocean View accepts trash, and the county is trying to decide where Ka`u's trash will go in the future, as much of it, from Na`alehu through Volcano, is trucked to a landfill in Hilo. Photo by Al Sherman

A SPECIAL SESSION of the state Legislature to change the budget will not be necessary, according to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. It was feared that the Council on Revenues update might predict less income, leading to more cutbacks. The Council released its estimates yesterday, however, with no change predicted. The governor said the state is also being helped by private foundations, such as Conservation International, which is providing $2 million for the state to enforce fisheries laws, and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, which is giving $10 million toward education. The Council predicts a negative 1.6 percent growth this year and an 11.6 percent growth next year. The Japanese tourism market is starting to reverse its decline that followed the tsunami, and oil prices are dropping, leading to a better economic forecast. 

DURING FISCAL YEAR 2010, state departments reduced their total electric consumption by 2.8 percent from 2009 and saved more than $20 million in energy costs statewide, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
     The 2010 decline in the state’s energy consumption is the third consecutive year agencies have managed to cut energy use. 2010 also marked the first time state agencies were able to decrease costs from the previous year. Director Richard Lim said that “this promising turnaround reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy development to protect against escalating energy costs, expedite energy security and mitigate negative impacts on our economy due to volatile world oil markets.”

Moi is also being grown in aquaculture
farms.  Photo courtesy of NOAA

Two moi, for which the state has placed
a kapu on fishing. Photo courtesy of
U.S. Department of Agriculture

NO FISHING FOR MOI THIS SUMMER, says the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has closed the season through June, July and August. The DLNR ban makes it unlawful to take, possess or sell any moi during this time. DLNR chair William Aila, Jr. said that moi was carefully managed during Hawaiian kingdom days. As there was only a small population of the fish, it was reserved for the ali`i. Hawaiians placed kapu on many kinds of fish during the seasons to protect them from overfishing and to allow reproduction. From September through May, moi may be taken only if they are at least 11 inches long, and the limit is a total of 15. Commercial fish dealers are allowed to sell more than 15, but only by showing receipts verifying that fishermen take no more than the 15-moi limit. 

THE COUNTY MAY use a 20,000 square foot facility built for the failed waste to energy station near Hilo as a place to take out paper and organic garbage from trash going into the Hilo landfill. The process would lengthen the life of the landfill, where much of Ka`u’s garbage is taken from transfer stations. The county is also studying whether to expand the landfill or carry Hilo’s garbage to Pu`uanahulu on the other side of the island. 

The Southside Volleyball Club raised funds at a car wash
last Saturday.  Photo by Katherine Okamura

THE SOUTHSIDE VOLLEYBALL CLUB is looking for any jobs they could do to earn money for a trip to the mainland to participate in the nationals. They have been busy, selling Easter goodies, flower arrangements for Mother’s Day and snacks and drinks at a booth at the Ka`u Coffee Festival. They also held a car wash at Ka`u Federal Credit Union in Na`alehu last weekend. Contact Brenda at 928-8007. 

THE KA`U GONZO MUSIC SOCIETY is sponsoring a music festival on Memorial Day at Punalu`u from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with rock ‘n’ roll by the Ka`u Gonzo Music Society, other entertainers include Foggy, the Mile 25 Band and an Elvis impersonator. 

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP HOSTS A TRIBUTE to those who made the ultimate Sacrifice for Freedom’s Sake in a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the KMC front lawn. Lt. Col. Rolland Niles, Commander of Pohakuloa Training Area, will deliver the keynote address.

A MEMORIAL DAY BUFFET at the Crater Rim Café follows the ceremony from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It features beef pot roast, mahi mahi, clam chowder, salads, and more. The cost is $13.75 for adults and $7.75 for children 6 to 11 years old.
     KMC invites the public to attend. For more information, call 967-8371. Park entrance fees apply.

Mark Joseph Libunao
Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

Libunao's winning Chicken Breast
with Ka`u Coffee Rub

MARK JOSEPH LIBUNAO, OF PAHALA, won first in the Professional Entrée category at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest for his Chicken Breast with Ka`u Coffee Rub. He also took second in the Dessert I category for his Ka`u Coffee Lava Flow. He said he wanted a simple recipe that would allow the strong flavors of Ka`u Coffee to flourish. Libunao praised the help of others and said, “My family, friends and mentors inspired me to do this recipe. ” 

     Although it is only Libunao’s first year as a Culinary Arts Student at Hawai`i Community College, he took Culinary I at Ka`u High School and was hired as a chef at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Libunao said he pursued a culinary career because of his love for cooking and learning and because “it allows me to utilize my skills and senses of smell and taste.” He dreams of traveling around the world and learning about the great recipes that other cultures have to offer. Contact Libunao at mjil@hawaii.edu.

Ka`u News Briefs May 26, 2011

Hawai`i County's first double-decker bus is now in service after traveling through Ka`u on a trip around the island.

FORMER HAWAI`I COUNTY MAYOR and attorney Stephen Yamashiro passed away Tuesday night after suffering from pneumonia. He served on the Hawai`i County Council from 1976 to 1990, as its chair for more than a decade, and was mayor from 1992 until 2000. He was born in Honolulu and schooled at University School, Punahou and University of Hawai`i at Manoa. He became a U.S. Army officer after graduating from Officers Candidate School. He graduated from law school at Willamette University. 

Stephen Yamashiro

     Mayor Billy Kenoi released a statement saying, “Mayor Yamashiro loved this community, and was a loyal friend and mentor to many. He was always ready with advice and suggestions, sharing generously of his many years of experience as a community leader. He will be missed, and I want to offer my condolences to his wife Della.
     “As Hawai`i County Council chairman and mayor, Mayor Yamashiro led our community through a very difficult transition period. As the last of the plantations closed in the 1990s, the Big Island was searching for new directions, and Mayor Yamashiro helped steer our island community into the future. His support and advocacy of sectors such as diversified agriculture, forestry and geothermal power are still paying dividends for our residents today. He knew where we needed to go, and he led the way. We are grateful for Mayor Yamashiro’s many contributions to our community,” said Kenoi. Funeral services are pending.

THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLARS in federal funds to support Hawai`i small businesses are expected to be matched 10-to-1 by private investors over the next seven years. This could lead to $130 million in new funding for small businesses in Hawai`i, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced yesterday. “Now is the time for us to invest in industries that will move Hawai`i’s economy forward,” he said. “We have tremendous opportunities and potential in our clean energy, film, high-tech and other innovative industries. We must take advantage of these opportunities that will create good paying jobs for our local families, lead our drive toward self-sufficiency and bring dollars into our economy.”
     The funding comes as the result of the U.S. Department of the Treasury approving Hawai`i’s application to the State Small Business Credit Initiative, which was established by the Federal Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The Hawai`i Strategic Development Corporation will use the funds for its venture capital investment program. HSDC is an attached agency of the state Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism that supports economic development in Hawai`i by investing in local business ventures in partnership with private funds. 

     “We need to create an environment in Hawai`i for innovative industries to thrive. This investment will raise productivity and create good jobs in all areas of the economy and for all people,” said Richard Lim, DBEDT Director.

Michael Soto. Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

Soto's winning Tiramisu with
Raspberry Coffee Sauce

MICHAEL SOTO, OF PAHALA, WON FIRST in the Dessert I category of the Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest for his Tiramisu with Raspberry Coffee Sauce, second in the Pupu category for a Rosemary & Garlic Sautéed Shrimp with Spicy Lilikoi Coffee Sauce and third for his Braised Beef with a Cinnamon Coffee Sauce. 

     Soto just graduated from Hawai`i Community College and plans to be a chef. “There’s always an art when you put something on a plate. There’s no such thing as secret ingredients,” he said. “You have to believe in what you’re doing.” Contact Soto about his recipes at 333-2960.

THE FIRST DOUBLE-DECKER BUS in Hawai`i County stopped at Malama Market in Ocean View last week on its first trip around the island. It also stopped at Cooper Center in Volcano Village, and passengers, comprised of county officials and kupuna, collected food for the Hawai`i Island Food Basket. The new Hele-On bus seats 89 passengers. It is 14 feet in height and cost under $900,000. Just like other buses in the county transportation system, the fare will be zero until July 1. The County Council is still deciding whether to charge for the ride. The mayor proposes that $1 be charged for all Hele-On buses, with students, the elderly and disabled riding for free. If no decision is made, fares would go up to as high as $6 per ride. Council member Brittany Smart asked that the council take another vote on the issue, which will come up soon before the County Council. 

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF CLASSES at Ka`u’s public schools. Students will have more than two months before returning to school on Monday, August 1.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and State Rep. Bob Herkes
joined KMC's Memorial Day ceremony last year.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP HOSTS A TRIBUTE to those who made the ultimate Sacrifice for Freedom’s Sake in a special Memorial Day Ceremony to be held on Monday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the KMC front lawn. LTC Rolland Niles, Commander of Pohakuloa Training Area, will deliver the keynote address. Representative Clift Tsuji of House District 3 will also be a guest speaker. Other participants include Pastor Bob Bruzelius, Erin Gallagher, Josh Timmons, Brianne Schlegelmilch, and the Waiakea High School Naval JROTC. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Koa Room inside the lobby. 

A SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAY BUFFET following the ceremony features beef pot roast, mahi mahi, clam chowder, salads, and more. The buffet will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Crater Rim Café. Cost is $13.75 for adults and $7.75 for children 6 to 11 years old.
     KMC invites the public to attend. For more information, call 967-8371. Park entrance fees apply.

Ka`u News Briefs May 25, 2011

This holua slide would be preserved by the South Kona Wilderness Area. Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

SUPPORTERS OF THE SOUTH KONA WILDERNESS AREA, championed by Sen. Gil Kahele and Rep. Bob Herkes, are awaiting the signature of Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The measure passed both the House and Senate in the 2011 Legislature. The land includes the only holua slide going all the way to the ocean remaining in the state, as well as ancient homesites, a heiau and burial caves. 

The ancient Hawaiian trail, paved with stones, in the
South Kona Wilderness Area. Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

     The area includes approximately 1,458 acres in Honomalino and Okoe that extend from the shoreline to 6,000 feet inland as well as land in Kaulanamauna and Manuka that extends from the shoreline to the Manuka Natural Area Reserve boundary.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL is looking for office space in Ka`u, where it could install video conferencing so the public could more easily give testimony and witness County Council meetings. The office was a campaign promise of Brittany Smart, who ran on a platform of more transparency and a better flow of information and ideas between the county council member and the public. Having an office in Ka`u would also give her more time with the public, since she spends a lot of time each workday driving to her council office and council chambers in Hilo or to Kona for some council meetings. 

Na`alehu Civic Center

     Offices that have been considered include one in Ocean View that was scrapped after improvements were estimated to be too costly. The annex of the Na`alehu Community Center was also considered, but there was concern that it would preclude community activities from taking place there. Currently under consideration is the state-owned courtroom facility in the Na`alehu Civic Center near the post office on the makai side of Hwy 11. The courtroom is vacant, as all court proceedings have been moved to Hilo and Kona.
     Other suggestions have included offices in Pahala to make the County Council proceedings and the council member more available to nearby high school teachers, students, the regional hospital, and such employment hubs as the macadamia and coffee farms.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie promotes energy and food security.
Photo by Julia Neal

RENEWABLE ENERGY is at the forefront of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s priorities, he said at the Democratic Convention in Kona last weekend. “This is a matter of our survivability. This is a matter of keeping us from being inundated by international global forces that are going to be working against us when carbon and energy is concerned. We’ve got to do this. We are not going to have sustainable agriculture; we are not going to have food security unless we get the energy question underway, and the Big Island is a key to that,” he proclaimed. The governor said, “We’re running out of time. I want to get past arguments about biofuels vs. geothermal, versus solar, versus wind. We’re going to have to do everything we can, just to survive,” he said. On his desk is legislation that would help win approval of a contract between Hawaiian Electric Industries and `Aina Koa Pono, the company planning an alternative energy refinery and biofuels farm near Pahala. 

THE STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION and efficiency program today ends its $1,000 solar water heating incentive for systems purchased with cash, as funds are exhausted. Hawai`i Energy increased the solar water heating incentive to $1,500 in March with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Within a month, funds were depleted, and program officials reallocated additional ARRA funds to continue the incentive at $1,000 per system.
     “The use of solar water heaters is one of the most effective ways of reducing the residential electricity consumption,” said Estrella Seese, Energy Program Administrator.
     After today’s deadline, residents wishing to finance their solar water heating systems may sign up for the Hot Water, Cool Rates (solar loan interest buy down) offering. For more information, visit hawaiienergy.com/94/hot-water-cool-rates. Hawai`i Energy will also make a waitlist for its next program-year beginning July 1 upon approval of program funding by the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission. State and federal tax credits are still available.
     Typical single-family households installing solar water heating systems will save between $587 to $849 per year in electricity costs, and the equivalent to 150 gallons of fossil fuel per year. The savings with solar water heating systems will continue to rise as oil prices increase, said a statement from Hawai`i Energy.

Maria Zamudio

First in the Student Dessert I category
was Black Bottoms by Maria Zamudio.
Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

MARIA ZAMUDIO, OF OCEAN VIEW, won first in the Student Division Dessert category for cakes, cookies and pies at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest with her Black Bottoms recipe. Zamudio just graduated from Ka`u High and will be attending Hawai`i Community College in Kona this coming fall. She said she learned a lot through Culinary I and gained a lot of cooking confidence from the course. Her advice to those entering the contest in the future is, “Just give it a try, even if you don’t feel confident. It can’t hurt.” Contact Zamudio at mariazamudio_kau@yahoo.com. 

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK Ranger Jason Zimmerman demonstrates how to make poi this morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the lanai at Kilauea Visitor Center. Zimmerman's grandfather taught him to make poi more than 10 years ago.

HAWAI`I COUNTY TRANSIT DIRECTOR Tom Brown discusses the Hele-On bus system and other mass transit issues at Yano Hall in Captain Cook tonight at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is one of County Council member Brittany Smart’s District 6 Matters meetings.