Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 28, 2011

Bay Clinic's current building will be preserved for counseling and other offices.

THE NEW BAY CLINIC, with the capacity to see 3,400 new patients with 8,500 new appointments in Na`alehu, will be blessed on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. The public is invited. Called the Ka`u Family Health and Dental Center, it will be constructed in front of the current Bay Clinic, which is located in an old two-story building from the plantation days. Kahu Kauila Clark will lead the blessing. Keoki Kahumoku will provide music, and County Council member Brittany Smart, John Buckstead for Gov. Neil Abercrombie, and Ross Wilson for Sen. Daniel Akaka will give speeches.

The site of Bay Clinic's new building in Na`alehu
will be blessed Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m.

     “In addition to expanding access to affordable medical care, the new clinic will provide dental and family counseling services and fully incorporate Bay Clinic’s evolving care model known as the ‘Patient Centered Medical Home,’” said Paul Strauss, who said there is a “new day for health care in Ka`u.”
     To RSVP for the blessing, call Sarah Ferreira at 895-5872.

PAHALA LIBRARY WAS OPEN only 64 days of the 121 days that were scheduled between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 this year, according to Pahala resident Dorothy Kalua, who spoke at Sen. Gil Kahele’s forum this week in Pahala. She said the reason given by the state administration for libraries is that Pahala is always the library that closes when there are staff shortages at Na`alehu or Pahala. Librarian Dawn Shibano left her position at Pahala Library in April, and the Ka`u libraries are short two members, but the positions have not been posted, she said. Kahele and Rep. Bob Herkes said they both support keeping the library open and will look into the issue.

THE $17.9 MILLION DOLLAR DISASTER SHELTER AND GYM will be on the radar of Rep. Bob Herkes, who said at the Kahele forum this week that he plans to stay involved in the planning and construction to “make sure it gets done.” During the Kahele forum this week in Pahala he said he worked on the project to have a federally certified disaster shelter in Ka`u for eight or nine years. The money was recently released to the county to oversee construction and to manage the facility. He said it could be built on either county property next to Ka`u High School or on the school grounds, which are owned by the state.

Kenton Eldridge Photo courtesy of
The Nature Conservancy

KENTON ELDRIDGE, co-founder and partner in `Aina Koa Pono, which plans to build a refinery and biofuel farm in Ka`u, is the new chair of The Nature Conservancy of Hawai`i, according to a report in yesterday’s Pacific Business News. 

      Eldridge is managing director of Sennet Capital, which he co-founded with the new chair of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Richard Lim. Eldridge has a background in retailing with Federated Department Stores and Duty Free Shoppers. He is a former U.S. military intelligence officer, according to the story in PBN.
      Eldridge serves as advisor to Innovasc and The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawai`i. He has served on boards of American Savings Bank, Assets School, HiBeam and Hoku Scientific.
      The Olson Trust recently contributed $500,000 to The Nature Conservancy to protect native forests in Ka`u and South Kona. Its Ka`u mission includes caring for the endangered hawksbill turtle preserve at Kamehame Beach, the Kaiholena preserve and other pristine native forests in Ka`u that are owned by The Nature Conservancy.

HAWAI`I CELEBRATES DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. Volcano Art Center and East Hawai`i Cultural Center are hosting a two-day celebration next week of Dia de los Muertos, “Day of the Dead,” in remembrance of loved ones who have passed away. 

     The first day of the event takes place in Hilo on Tuesday, Nov. 1, with a procession through downtown beginning and ending at the East Hawai`i Cultural Center. Volcano Art Center education coordinator Anne Catlin says “participants are encouraged to dress in themed attire and bring flowers and candles in jars to illuminate the path with light and color.” Personal sentiments will be shared in short, individual readings of three minutes or less. 

     The second day of the event takes place at Volcano Art Center on Wednesday, Nov. 2, where guests are invited to dine and dance. Tickets, $12 in advance and $15 at the door, are available for purchase by calling 967-8222. Participants will vote for the most impactful, inspirational and festive art submissions. Art and jewelry will also be available for purchase during the event.
     Free Shrine Making and Mexican Folk Art activities are offered at both Volcano Art Center and East Hawai`i Cultural Center from now until Nov. 1. For more details, visit Volcano Art Center’s Dia de los Muertos page at www.volcanoartcenter.org. To get involved, contact Catlin at community@volcanoartcenter.org.

PARKING LOT AND ROAD CLOSURES within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will be in place this week and next while improvements are made. Superintendent Cindy Orlando said "much-needed improvements will make the park even more enjoyable for everyone."
     Hilina Pali Road is closed to traffic during the day. Hikers and campers wanting access to backcountry trails and campsites including Halape are encouraged to use other routes; backcountry permits and alternate route information are available at the Kilauea Visitor Center. Kulanaokuaiki campsite will not be accessible by vehicle during daylight hours, and campers are encouraged to consider the newly remodeled facilities at Namakani Paio campground.
     Parking lot partial or temporary closures for next week include: Devastation Trail lot on Nov. 1 and Pu`u Pua`i lot on Nov. 2 – visitors are still welcome to hike between the two lots; Thurston Lava Tube (Nahuku) and Kilauea Iki lots will have limited accessibility on Nov. 3.
     Due to ongoing road work, visitors should expect 15-minute delays in construction areas near Crater Rim Drive, the bike trail and pedestrian paths near Steam Vents and Sulphur Banks, and the sidewalks at Kilauea Visitor Center. These areas will remain open to the public. Work at the front entrance station is scheduled to begin Nov. 9. Check www.nps.gov/havo for updates.

Today is the last day to apply as human prey for
Mantracker.  Photo from Bonterra Productions

THE DEADLINE TO TRY OUT FOR MANTRACKER, the Discovery Science Channel reality show, is today. Casting is for a team of two on foot, to be hunted by Mantracker and his sidekick on horseback. Producers are looking for two teams of prey who think they can outsmart the Mantracker in Ka`u. Each team will have 36 hours to make it over 25 miles of Ka`u wilderness without getting caught by Mantracker.            

     The prey must be “exciting, competitive and compelling people who have the strength, smarts and strategy to outfox and evade,” says Mantracker production coordinator Michelle Budden. Members of each team of prey must be related in some way. They could be siblings, co-workers, or husband and wife. 

     To apply, visit www.mantracker.ca or email Budden at contact@bonterraproductions.com for more information. Mantracker airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

Ka'u News Briefs Oct. 27, 2011

Abandoned windmills near South Point Road are featured in a short film by PF Bentley. Photo by Julia Neal

SOUTH POINT WINDMILLS have become the stars of a short film called I Aloha Moloka`i - Aftermath, but the windmills are not the new, operating windmills at Kalae. They are the abandoned windmills nearest South Point Road. Filmmaker PF Bentley writes in Civil Beat this morning that residents of Moloka`i and Lana`i don’t want this apocalyptic scene to occur on their islands. He said that such a scene of abandoned technology “is a continuing modern-day David vs. Goliath story.” See the film at civilbeat.com.
     Before the new windfarm was built at South Point, promises were made to take down the old windmills. Explanations for keeping them there have included waiting for a metal recycling opportunity and that plans keep coming up to rehabilitate them and get the old ones running again.

Ella Louis, Dorothy Kalua and Marion Villanueva talk
to Sen. Gil Kahele about saving Pahala Library.
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

THE DEMISE OF PAHALA LIBRARY was a hot topic at Sen. Gil Kahele’s community forum last night in Pahala. Dorothy Kalua said she has researched the days the library is open and found 57 closure days this school year – almost a third of the days scheduled. Kalua and Marion Villanueva talked about the library’s problems. It is open only on Monday, Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., which doesn’t give students and families much time to be there after school or any time on weekends. Students have a hard time getting a library card. Their parents have to come in person to sign for them during library hours, which are working hours. Many teachers and parents are hesitant to take responsibility for lost books and refrain from encouraging students to check out books.
     Rep. Bob Herkes stated that the library, which is air-conditioned, is one of the only buildings safe from vog in Pahala. Anna Carriaga said that perhaps off-duty teachers could help keep the library open. Kahele said he supports the library being open for the children.

Rep. Bob Herkes talks about the new disaster shelter and gym.  
Photo by Kaiali`i Kahele

DURING THE KAHELE FORUM last night, Rep. Bob Herkes talked about his mortgage foreclosure bill that became law this summer. Kahele called it “landmark legislation.” For non-judicial foreclosures it requires banks and homeowners to go through mediation. Herkes said he will write an op-ed piece for the Honolulu newspaper this weekend regarding the measure, which has been called the toughest anti-foreclosure legislation in the country.

THE NEW MEDICAL VAN for Ka`u and South Kona will be on the road before Christmas, said Herkes. He said it will likely overnight at the Ka`u Rural Health Community Association in Pahala, and visit schools and remote locations with a medical staff and telemedicine. Home base will be Kona Hospital.

CONCERNING THE NANI KAHUKU `AINA resort proposal on 16,000 acres across the highway from Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at Kahuku, Kahele reminded community members that the deadline for comments on the Draft EIS is Nov. 6. The document is available online at the state Department of Health website and in hard copy at Na`alehu Library. Click on this link: http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Documents/EA_and_EIS_Online_Library/Oahu/2000s/2008-07-08-DEA-Kahuku-Village.pdf.
     See more on the Kahele forum in tomorrow’s news briefs.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I - HILO and Hawai`i Community College will see tuition increases, following a 9-3 vote last night by the Board of Regents. The vote raised tuitions throughout Hawai`i's public higher education system.
     For residents, UH- Hilo tuition will go from $5,640 to $5,800 for the 2012- 2013 school year. HCC tuition will go up $60 a semester. Increases will follow each year, reaching $7,656 for resident tuition at UH Hilo by the 2016 - 2017 school year.

Fresh food from Hester's Ka`u farm is sold at
Volcanoes Farmers Market. Photo by Julia Neal

KOHALA CENTER has received grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help enable Electronic Benefits Transfer card users to purchase food from Volcano Farmers market and five other farmers markets around the island with their EDB cards. Not being able to use EDB cards, which replaced food stamps years ago, is seen as a barrier to healthy eating. The other farmers markets to gain EDB card purchasing are: Hilo Coffee Mill Farmers Market in Mountain View, Ho'oulu Community Farmers Market in Kona, Keauhou Farmers Market in Kona, Kinoole Farmers Market in Hilo, and Maku'u Farmers Market in Puna. Project coordinator Melani Bondera said that low-income households on this island "spend nearly double what their mainland counterparts spend on food. "Increasing EDB access at farmers markets will respond to the immediate needs of island residents to obtain fresh local food that will improve the overall health of their families,"Bondera said.

HAWAI’I COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSION  has released new maps which can be viewed on the county website: http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/council/reapp/index.htm. For more information, contact Karen Eoff at 323-4264 or keoff@co.hawaii.hi.us. The commission will meet again on Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. in Hilo. One of the plans separates Volcano from Ka'u and could see Brenda Ford and Brittany Smart running against each other.

PARKING LOT AND ROAD CLOSURES in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park include today and tomorrow, when Hilina Pali Road will be open at night only. Kulanaokuaiki campsite will be inaccessible by vehicle during daylight hours and campers are encouraged to consider the newly remodeled facilities at Namakani Paio campground. Due to ongoing road work, visitors should expect 15-minute delays in construction areas. Check www.nps.gov/havo for updates.

TROJAN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL put up a strong fight against Sacred Hearts at Kaimuki Gym yesterday on O`ahu. Sacred Hearts, however, defeated Ka'u 25-15, 25-23 and 27-25.

Ka'u News Briefs Oct. 26, 2011

Kawa is a popular surfing spot for Ka`u residents and surfers from elsewhere. Photos by Julia Neal

Kawa oceanfront encampment during a surf meet.

THE COUNTY PURCHASE OF KAWA could close within a week, says attorney Paul Alston, according to a Nancy Cook Lauer story in West Hawai`i Today this morning. Federal Judge Alan C. Kay ruled yesterday that federal court has no jurisdiction to block the purchase.
     Abel Simeona Lui, however, contends that he and his family own the land. Lui, who has lived for more than 20 years on Kawa land planned for a park, claims it was unfairly taken from his family generations ago. The judge yesterday remanded Lui’s case back to state court. State Judge Joseph P. Florindo, Jr. ruled earlier this year that Lui has no right to the property and Lui has filed an appeal.

Floating debris from the tsunami that hit Japan
on March 11, 2011, heads toward Hawai'i.
Photo from US Navy

NO RADIATION is expected from the Japan tsunami debris field that is headed toward Hawai`i, according to researchers at University of Hawai`i. The explanation is that most of the debris washed out to sea during the March 11 earthquake and tsunami before the nuclear plant disaster released radiation.
     The blanket of debris is estimated to be 2,000 miles long and 1,000 miles wide and is loosely floating in the Pacific, driven this way by currents. The state Department of Health promises to test for radiation, whenever the debris reaches Hawai`i.
     The east side of South Point here in Ka`u is one of places with the most ocean most debris landing on the shore.
     The Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, which organizes regular clean-ups on the Ka`u Coast, is seeking volunteers to prepare for picking up any non-radioactive tsunami debris. A team of oceanographers and the UH School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology are working to track the debris. The estimate is that five to 20 million tons of debris washed away during the tsunami and could reach here as early as Spring of 2013. The debris field is now near Midway Island.
     The next cleanups by the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund are both on Saturdays, the first on Nov. 12 and the second on Jan. 14. Call organizer Megan Lamson at 769-7629. See Hawaii Wildlife Fund on Facebook or email kahakai.cleanups.gmail.com.

MORE MONEY for land preserves and parks purchased with the county’s 2 percent land fund is a campaign launched by County Council member Brenda Ford. The additional money, totaling .25 percent of county property taxes, would be used to take care of the land, according to a Jason Armstrong story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald. Ford told Armstrong that the money for maintenance could be capped at $3 million. The .25 percent of property taxes would amount to about $500,000 a year. Her bill on this issue would go on the ballot for a Charter Amendment vote, along with another measure to protect the 2 percent land fund.

SEN. GIL KAHELE holds a public forum at Pahala Community Center tonight at 5:30 p.m. Kahele said he will listen to concerns of constituents who can help him prepare for the upcoming 27th Hawai`i Legislature, which begins in January. He will report on the 26th legislative session and address specific issues.

Mantracker, on horseback, will hunt prey on foot in Ka`u.  
Photo from Bonterra Productions

THE DEADLINE TO TRY OUT FOR MANTRACKER, the Discovery Science Channel realty show, is this Friday. The casting call is for a team of two on foot, who would be hunted by Mantracker and his sidekick on horseback. Mantracker is returning to Ka`u to film two shows. The producers are looking for a team of prey who think they can outsmart the Mantracker. Each team will have 36 hours to make it over 25 miles of Ka`u wilderness without getting caught by Mantracker.
     The prey must be “exciting, competitive and compelling people who have the strength, smarts and strategy to outfox and evade,” says Mantracker production coordinator Michelle Budden. Members of each team of prey must be related in some way. They could be siblings, co-workers, or husband and wife.
     To apply, visit www.mantracker.ca or email Budden at contact@bonterraproductions.com for more information. Mantracker airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

SHORT FILMS BY LOCAL YOUTH will be debuted at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s third annual Digital Mountain youth film festival this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. This year’s theme is “It’s My Trail.” The public is encouraged to attend and to vote for their favorite film in advance. The public is also invited to a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. preceding the festival.
     Awards, including MacBook Pro laptops and Olympus digital cameras, will be presented at the event to winners selected by a weighted combination of judging by a variety of professionals and popular voting. See films and vote at youtube.com/itsmytrail.
     People may vote once each day for their favorite film on YouTube or by emailing itsmytrail@gmail.com.
     The Digital Mountain youth film festival is free. For more information, contact Laura Williams at 985-6304 or laura_williams@nps.gov.


THE KA`U DIRECTORY DEADLINE for listings and ads for the 2012 edition is this Monday, Oct. 31. Published by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, The Directory provides information on businesses, community organizations, important phone numbers, an events calendar, maps of Ka`u, and many photographs as well as art from winners of the latest cover art contest.
     For an application, visit kauchamber.org or call Ron at 928-6471.

Historic church at the Na'ohulelua Historical Garden.  
Photo from Ka'u Main Street

CHICKEN SKIN GALORE is promised at Na`ohulelua Historical Garden’s second annual Spook Night on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The garden is on Kama`oa Road, 1.7 miles from Hwy 11. Parents are invited to bring children. Organizers suggest bringing pupus for six, sweaters and flashlights. Prizes for best story, best costume and for showing up alive! For more information, call 929-7236 and ask for Igor or Loke.

KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM is at states on O`ahu today, playing Sacred Hearts at Kaimuki Gym. Coach Elijah Navarro said, "We have a good team and we should do well." If the Trojans win and make it to the final round, they will play at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Ka`u took third in Division II on the Big Island, qualifying the Trojans to fly to O`ahu for states. The team is still raising money to offset expenses. Call Coach Navarro at 430-9461 to donate.