Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014

Biomass, such trees and grasses growing in Ka`u, may not be a good alternative to fossil fuel in creating electricity, according to a lawyer for a community group opposing the Hu Honua project in Pepeekeo. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION would implement a pilot project to research solutions for addressing the little fire ant threat in the state if HB2469 passes the Legislature. The bill calls for the department to address the spread of the little fire ants within infested county parks, test different types of pesticides for controlling and eradicating the little fire ant and develop model strategies to eradicate the threat of little fire ants that other counties can implement. The project would begin June 30 and last one year. The department would submit a report detailing findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature before convening of the 2016 legislative session.

      According to an Associated Press story in West Hawai`i Today by Sam Eifling, The ants live both in trees and on the ground, infesting crops and attacking people, pets and other animals. “They drive away insects, birds, lizards and mammals that prey on other pest insects, further harming crops.”

Legislation calls for research on eradication of little fire ants, which are much smaller
than tropical fire ants. Photo from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture 

      Cas Vanderwoude, research manager of the Hawai`i Ant Lab at University of Hawai`i, told Eifling that “officials can eradicate an entire colony using bait poisons that foraging ants carry back to the 90 percent of workers who don’t leave the nest.”

      Information on this and other bills is available at capitol.hawaii.gov.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

BURNING BIOMASS OR BIOFUEL TO CREATE electricity may not be a good alternative to burning fossil fuels, according to a lawyer representing the community group Preserve Pepeekeo Health and Environment. The group challenged the permit approved by the state Department of Health Clean Air Branch to operate Hu Honua power plant. Federal Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy has called for the state to consider pertinent factors, including pollutants that would be generated during start-up, shutdown and malfunctions at the facility, as well as by certain types of equipment, such as backup generators, and modify or reissue the permit.
      Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission approved the Hu Honua project, while it rejected twice the `Aina Koa Pono proposal to produce biofuel from plants and trees growing in Ka`u at a refinery above Pahala.
      “This (Hu Honua) is not an isolated facility,” attorney Mark Chytilo told John Burnett, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. “There is a number of biomass or biofuel facilities throughout the country that we’re all looking at pretty carefully. You may say, on one hand, biofuel, what a great idea to reduce our burning of fossil fuels for greenhouse gas purposes, but the reality is that there’s new analysis coming out that even burning wood waste may not be beneficial from a greenhouse gas perspective. Add to that the fact you can’t regulate it; you can’t clean it very well. You can’t clean the fuel very well.
      “Air pollution control devices can be very effective at scrubbing pollution out of a waste stream, but they need a uniform and regular effluent stream. Wood waste is never uniform because it’s an irregular fuel. For those reasons, these are issues that have significance well beyond this individual facility.”

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Rep. Mazie Hirono, second from right, has introduced the Native Adult Education
and Literacy Act. Photo from Office of Sen. Hirono

U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO, along with Sens. Jerry Moran, of Kansas, and Mark Begich, of Alaska, has introduced the Native Adult Education and Literacy Act, legislation that would “increase educational access to Native communities by awarding competitive grants for Tribal Colleges and Universities and Native Hawaiian Education Organizations,” according to Hirono’s office. 

      “Current law doesn’t do enough to respond to low high school completion rates, basic literacy skills and employment rates of adult American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians,” Hirono said.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.   

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD has supported passage of the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. The legislation aims to take steps toward protecting the United States from cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, both physical and technical.
      “The threat of cyber-attacks is real and is not limited to our bank accounts or email; they threaten our electrical grid, mass transportation and the management of water and gas pipelines,” said Gabbard, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “We take this threat seriously and establish necessary public-private partnerships to protect our critical infrastructure. A large-scale attack on any of these sophisticated systems would have devastating impacts on families and communities across our country.
      “The NCCIP Act is a first step toward strengthening our defenses against these kinds of cyber-attacks. It also guards personal privacy protections by requiring all federal agencies to report, without delay, network data breaches involving personally identifiable data to the National Cybersecurity and Communications Information Center, as well notifying any potential victims.”

Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia

      Privacy, national security and industry advocates have expressed support for the legislation. The bill now awaits consideration and a vote by the full House of Representatives.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

SANJEEV “SONNY” BHAGOWALIA IS HAWAI`I’S new chief advisor for technology and cyber-security. The new executive leadership position was created to establish Hawai`i as a premier technology and cyber-security hub in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as to strengthen ties between Hawai`i and Washington, D.C. in support of the state’s Business and Technology Transformation. 

      “Under Sonny’s exceptionally positive leadership and energy, the state of Hawai`i has made great strides in developing a strong technology and security foundation, launching key programs to transform business and technology in the state and charting a strong course for the future with a nationally recognized transformation plan,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “Now more than ever, we need Sonny to help our state take the next step by representing Hawai`i at a national level to ensure we establish a cohesive technology and cyber-security strategy, position Hawai`i for future federal collaboration and investments and encourage our community stakeholders to continue to support Hawai`i’s technology transformation.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

IN SPORTS, KA`U HIGH BOYS VARSITY basketball team won their last game of the season on Friday, beating St. Joseph’s 65 – 57. Larry-Dan Al-Navarro was high scorer, with 25 points. 

      Leah Mello-Waiwaiole won her wrestling matches at Waiakea and Hilo, pinning her four opponents.

ARCHAEOLOGIST JADELYN MONIZ-NAKAMURA discusses challenges faced by the National Park Service before, during and after World War II at Kilauea during an After Dark in the Park program at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today at 7 p.m. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

SAM AND EDNA BULDADO SHARE the cultural uses of the kalo (taro) plant tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.
      Call 987-5698 for more information.

WANT TO LEARN JAPANESE? The first class tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji gauges interest for future classes and starts with the absolute beginner; more advanced students are also welcome. Space is limited. 

      Contact Maiki at 989-4259 or hawaiiislandlife@gmail.com.

SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN MEETS with his Ka`u constituents Monday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. Ruderman will review the current legislative session and discuss issues important to the community.
      For more information, contact Ruderman at senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov or 808-586-6890.

SEE FEBRUARY’S ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For a page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Feb. 10, 2014

Edna Buldado shares the cultural uses of kalo, or taro, tomorrow at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from NPS

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD invites Ka`u High School students to participate in the first-ever Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Academic Competition. The House STEM App Challenge offers high school students in Hawai`i and across the country an opportunity to compete in the creation of a software application, commonly referred to as an app, for mobile, tablet or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

      “Our students are equipped to become leaders in technology and innovation, and friendly competitions like the House STEM App Challenge encourage them to explore advanced industries,” said Gabbard. “This is an opportunity for our talented keiki to showcase their abilities and work toward high-skilled opportunities in our 21st Century economy.”
      The apps will be judged by an appointed panel of individuals within the academic, tech and entrepreneurial fields. The winning student’s app in each participating congressional district will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and on display at an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol.
      Additional details about the competition and application are available at gabbard.house.gov/house-stem-app-challenge.
      The deadline to submit applications to Gabbard’s office is Wednesday, Apr. 30.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

AS THE U.S. SENATE PREPARES TO VOTE on the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act, a strong bipartisan coalition continued the push for an independent, objective and unbiased military justice system. Sen. Mazie Hirono joined 52 senators, including 43 Democrats and nine Republicans, who have publicly announced their support of this proposal that seeks to reverse the systemic fear that victims of military sexual assault consistently describe in deciding whether to report the crimes committed against them due to bias and inherent conflicts of interest posed by the military chain of command’s current sole decision-making power over whether cases move forward to a trial. 

      “The awareness of sexual assault in the military has led to a number of important changes,” Hirono said. “But, in listening to the survivors, we have not made what they consider the most important change: putting the decision to prosecute these crimes in the hands of trained military prosecutors. While we have more than 50 senators supporting this bill, the challenge right now is for us to get the 60 votes necessary to bring this bill to the floor for a vote. We are still hopeful we can bring this bill to the floor.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

U. S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ HAS CO-INTRODUCED the Safe Streets Act of 2014, legislation intended to improve safety of Hawai`i’s and the nation’s roads and expand access for all users. With many roads today designed only for cars and busy traffic, communities across the country have pushed for safer, more livable, Complete Streets. Complete Streets policies call for safely accommodating travelers of all ages and abilities, including drivers, transit passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians. 

      The Safe Streets Act would change the approach to the way federally funded roads are planned, designed and built, ensuring new roads follow Complete Streets policies that make sure sidewalks, crosswalks, and safe transit access are taken into consideration as roadway plans are developed. Safe Streets legislation would increase safe travel options, like walking and biking, and help save lives, Schatz said.


      “Too many people are killed or injured each year because our streets are simply not designed and built with the safety of everyone – including pedestrians and bicyclists – in mind. Our communities deserve safer streets,” Schatz said. “Many of our roads in Hawai`i and across America make travel difficult for seniors, families, youth and others who are unable or choose not to drive. Our legislation provides common sense solutions to consider the needs of our seniors and children, encourage alternative forms of transportation and make our roads and communities safer for everyone.”

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Hawai`i County prosecuting attorney Mitch Roth
Photo by Chuck Green

THE STATE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS has upheld Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura’s dismissal of a civil lawsuit against several county officials. Nakamura, in Jan. 2013, said Hawai`i County’s initiative making marijuana use by adults on private property the lowest law enforcement priority is unenforceable. The initiative passed in 2008 by a vote of 35,689 to 25,940.
      A group of marijuana activists filed a suit against several county officials, including County Council members, in March 2011, alleging that they failed to implement and enforce the initiative.
      In the decision for a panel of three judges, Associate Judge Daniel R. Foley wrote: “The County derives its powers to enact and enforce ordinances from the general laws of the state of Hawai`i. … The county’s authority to enact and enforce ordinances, however, is limited by the Legislature’s power to enact laws of ‘statewide concern.’”
      Foley also said state laws that criminalize and regulate adult use of cannabis “provide further evidence of legislative intent to pre-empt the Lowest Level of Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.”
      One of the defendants, Hawai`i County prosecuting attorney Mitch Roth, called the ruling “the right decision for the court to make,” reported John Burnett in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
      County deputy corporation counsel Michael Udovic, who represented the county in the original lawsuit and in the appeal, told Burnett the opinion was “an appropriate decision” and “pretty straightforward.”  

      “Once you have a state law that covers a specific area, the County Council really doesn’t have any authority to make any laws which are in conflict with the state law,” he said. “That’s what the whole thing was all about.”

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Daryl "Sammy" Sampaga, wearing his Never Give Up shirt,
never gave up and has completed his trek around the island.
Photo by Julia Neal

AFTER ARRIVING IN PAHALA ON JAN. 18, Daryl “Sammy” Sampaga has completed his walk around the island to raise funds for his nonprofit Operation Sammy Muscular Dystrophy. Sampaga plans to use money raised from the walk to purchase two Hawaiian canoes that he plans to use to teach handicapped keiki how to paddle. 

      Hawai`i Tribune-Herald reported that Sampaga raised $8,000 of his goal of $25,000. Mayor Billy Kenoi, who had walked with Sampaga on his way through Hamakua, told Sampaga, “Whatever you short, no worry, because we goin’ buy those wa`as. And we’re goin’ finish the fundraising for you. … You got all the community behind you,” reported John Burnett.

      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.  

JOANN AGUIRRE DISCUSSES HOW TEA has served as the foundation for romance in the arts tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Free to VAC members; donations welcome.
      For more information, email teaquiero77@gmail.com.

HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE is available Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Na`alehu United Methodist Church. Kamehameha Schools representatives meet with students who want to pursue education beyond high school and families who want help with summer program applications and more information about resources.
      For more information, call 935-0116.

ARCHAEOLOGIST JADELYN MONIZ-NAKAMURA discusses challenges faced by the National Park Service before, during and after World War II at Kilauea during an After Dark in the Park program at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura

SAM AND EDNA BULDADO SHARE the cultural uses of the kalo (taro) plant Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply. 

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.

      Call 987-5698 for more information.

WANT TO LEARN JAPANESE? The first class on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Na`alehu Hongwanji gauges interest for future classes and starts with the absolute beginner; more advanced students are also welcome. Space is limited. 

      Contact Maiki at 989-4259 or hawaiiislandlife@gmail.com.

SEE FEBRUARY’S ISSUE of The Ka`u Calendar newspaper online at kaucalendar.com.

SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For a page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014

Quilt Shop-Hoppers came to Pahala Quilting & Creative Sewing Center yesterday during one of several tours of island quilt shops which run through Feb. 20. For information, see facebook.com/BigIslandQuiltShopHopHawaii. Photo by Ron Johnson

FOLLOWING KA`U’S REJECTION OF A SPACEPORT years ago, state officials are considering Kona Airport to become the state’s first certified spaceport. According to a story in West Hawai`i Today, suborbital space flights could begin as early as next year. Future possibilities include long-distance flights across the planet and launching of satellites from aircraft.
      Jim Crisafulli, state Office of Aerospace Development director, told reporter Tom Callis that the airport has been selected among 27 potential locations across the islands as the best home for space tourism based on its runway length, location away from highly populated areas and uncongested skies.

Suborbital space flights could begin taking off from Kona International Airport
as soon as next year. Image from XCOR

      Crisafulli called space tourism the “third dimension” of Hawai`i’s visitor industry, and he told Callis that he believes the state should be at the forefront.
      According to the story, the office is conducting several studies, including an environmental assessment, so it can seek Federal Aviation Administration approval. Crisafulli told Callis he expects to start the FAA application process later this year, with certification coming in the “first or second quarter of 2015.” Crisafulli said he believes impacts of the current proposal would be minor. “A more time-consuming Environmental Impact Statement won’t be needed if the assessment doesn’t find any significant impacts,” reported Pacific Business News previously, referencing Crisafulli. “Other studies around the country for these so-called ‘spaceports’ haven’t required an EIS,” PBN reported. A public review process, however, is required.
      Space tourism flights reach an altitude of about 61 miles, Crisafulli said, which is far enough from the planet to experience weightlessness.

      Hawai`i Tourism Authority chief Mike McCartney had previously told Pacific Business News that a spaceport would support luxury resorts, high-end restaurants and other enterprises catering to the ultra-rich.
      See westhawaiitoday.com.

A PISCES project studies using material from lava rock to build a sidewalk.
Shown here is Ala Kahakai Trail in Ka`u. Photo by Julia Neal

PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL SPACE CENTER for Exploration Systems is researching how to turn regolith, found in lava rock and moon rock, into usable material. The material is similar to the basaltic rock that makes up the islands, and PISCES executive director Rob Kelso told Tom Callis, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald that the material can be used for building materials as well as to make fuel. 

      Using a three-dimensional printer, PISCES plans to combine basaltic dust with a binding material to form a hard surface and build a sidewalk as a demonstration project.
      Kelso told Callis it is partnering with Hawai`i County Public Works Department on the project in March. A location has not been selected.
      Another project being considered would demonstrate how rovers could extract regolith and, along with other machines, turn it into fuel or other material that it can use. “If a part breaks, you can’t send a repair mission,” he said. “But if it has a 3-D printer, it can scoop up some regolith, and it could in theory be able to repair itself.”
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Sen. Russell Ruderman

Sen. Josh Green

KA`U’S STATE SENATORS Josh Green and Russell Ruderman have introduced legislation that would increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, from 18 to 21. SB2029 passed hearings at Senate Health and Commerce & Consumer Protection Committees Thursday. A hearing by the Judiciary & Labor Committee has yet to be scheduled. The bill follows Hawai`i County’s approval of a similar law in December of last year.
      Unlike Hawai`i County’s law, which subjects distributors, but not purchasers, of tobacco or electronic cigarette products to fines, this proposal would fine both parties. The bill calls for any person under twenty-one years of age who purchases tobacco products to be fined $10 for the first offense. “Any subsequent offense shall subject the violator to a fine of $50, no part of which shall be suspended, or the person shall be required to perform not less than forty-eight hours nor more than seventy-two hours of community service during hours when the person is not employed and is not attending school.”
      This and other bills are available at capitol.hawaii.gov.

KAHU-FM 91.7, NOW BROADCASTING Hawai`i Public Radio’s HPR2 programming, aired a feature last week called How American Food Companies Go GMO-Free in A GMO World. The producers interviewed farmers who are making money selling to Japanese and other buyers who want GMO-free food. It is all about the market driving a desire for GMO-free food, the NPR report stated.

Pahala Quilting owner Donna Masaniai, at left, greets a Shop-Hopper at yesterday's stop.
Photo by Ron Johnson

      Dan Charles, of NPR, spoke with Lynn Clarkson, who was at the forefront of the non-GMO market. When Clarkson was looking for buyers of his corn, he recognized a problem food companies were having. When the companies processed corn, they were getting inconsistent results because of too much variation in raw materials. Clarkson told them the cause was simple; they were getting many different genetic types of corn in each shipment.
      Clarkson said the solution was to buy “a single variety, a single hybrid, delivered at any one time, so you’re not mixing different cooking characteristics.”
      To be able to deliver grain the companies wanted, Clarkson signed contracts with farmers and agreed to pay them a premium for specific corn hybrids or varieties of soybeans.
      He delivered this uniform, predictable grain to food companies, first in Chicago and then to foreign buyers, particularly in Japan.
      When GMO crops became available about 20 years ago, his Japanese customers didn’t want them. Clarkson told Charles that Japanese food companies were suspicious of the new technology and didn’t want to risk a hostile consumer reaction.
      To accommodate these customers, Clarkson made sure the farmers he bought grain from grew varieties that weren’t genetically engineered.
      According to the report, most of these farmers don’t object to genetic engineering, and most of them grow both GMO and non-GMO crops.
      Doing so requires extra work, cleaning machinery between harvests of different fields and keeping crops separated by at least 100 feet. While the separation doesn’t always work perfectly, Clarkson said the food industry knows small traces of GMOs must be tolerated. “It always comes down to: How do you define GMO-free?” he told Charles. “What’s the tolerance level? If it’s zero, we might as well have a drink and part friendly, because we can’t do business. We cannot hit a zero standard.” According to Clarkson, in the U.S., “GMO-free” means that the product contains no more than 0.9 percent GMOs.

ROMANCING THE LEAF is the topic Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. JoAnn Aguirre discusses how tea has served as the foundation for romance in the arts. Free to VAC members; donations welcome. 

      For more information, email teaquiero77@gmail.com.

HIGHER EDUCATION ASSISTANCE is available Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Na`alehu United Methodist Church. Kamehameha Schools East Hawai`i Resource Center representatives meet with students who want to pursue education beyond high school and families who want help with summer program applications and more information about resources. 

      Services include help with admission applications for summer programs, financial aid and scholarship services, Ho`oulu Hawaiian Data Center forms and general information about Kamehameha Schools programs and resources. For more information, call Nikki or Noelani at 935-0116.

AT AFTER DARK IN THE PARK TUESDAY at 7 p.m., Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park archaeologist Jadelyn Moniz-Nakamura shares a presentation of the challenges faced by the National Park Service before, during and after World War II at Kilauea, in what was then called Hawai`i National Park.

U.S. Army Signal Corps in the 1940s at Kilauea Military Camp. Photo from KMC

      The findings of Moniz-Nakamura’s extensive research were recently published in the Hawaiian Journal of History. The program takes place at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply. 

SEE THE DIRECTORY 2014 ONLINE. For a page-turning version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf. For a pdf version, see kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.pdf.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.