The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, June 15, 2022

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Ikaika Rodenhurst and the county administration parted ways this week. He served for 18 months as chief of the Department of Public Works. Photo from Tracy Niimi

IKAIKA RODENHURST IS GONE FROM HIS POSITION AS COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI PUBLIC

WORKS DIRECTOR. A statement from the county says as of Monday, June 13 – Ikaika Rodenhurst no longer serves as the head of the department. The new "primary point of contact" is Deputy Director Steven Pause, until a new chief of Public Works is selected by Mayor Mitch Roth and confirmed by the County Council.
The county also announced that Julann Sonomura is the new Acting Building Division Chief and Neal Tanaka is Acting Deputy Building Chief.
The mayor stated, “We would like to thank Ikaika for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors, as well as welcome both Julann and Neal to their new positions. Our administration remains

committed to helping our community thrive and succeed, and through that, we will continue to work diligently to address the issues surrounding our building permitting process. We understand that our folks rely on a consistent flow of permits to keep food on their tables and roofs over their heads, and we are dedicated to ensuring that they have every opportunity to do just that.”

Department of Public Works has been transitioning into a new online and streamlined permitting system and a backlog of permits and expired permits have built up in recent months.

A story by Nancy Cook Lauer in Hawaiʻi Tribune Herald on Wednesday said, "During his approximately 18-month tenure, Rodenhurst, 32, helped shepherd new building codes for the county, tried to work out the glitches in a long-in-the-works paperless building permit system, tried to advance overdue road projects such as Puna access roads, Waikoloa Road and Kalanianaole Avenue and became embroiled in a lawsuit over the administration’s decision to close Waipiʻo Valley Road."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

NEEDS OF THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES are subject of a public survey by Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities. The survey announced on Wednesday can be filled in online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSCDDsurvey. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. It is confidential and requires no identifying information to complete it. The survey is available now until Aug. 3 and the responses will inform the council and shape how the state of Hawaiʻi meets the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"It is our hope that we reach all individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hawaiʻi," said Daintry Bartoldus, the Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities. "We want to hear from them, their families and their caregivers about their health, educational and work or employment related needs that are so vital to their quality of life and well-being."

Those invited to the survey are people diagnosed with and not limited to: autism spectrum disorder; CHARGE syndrome; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; fragile X; a genetic defect; down syndrome; intellectual disability; Prader-Willi syndrome; Spina bifida; and Williams syndrome.
Council on Developmental Disabilities asks that the survey be filled out once for each individual with an intellectual and/or developmental disability. The survey link may be shared with everyone who is eligible to take it. Family members, support workers, educators, or caregivers, may assist the individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities in filling the survey out.
For more information on the Developmental Disabilities Council's needs assessment survey or to request a copy of the survey via mail, call (808) 586-8100, or via email HSCDDsurvey@gmail.com.
The Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities empowers, advocates, and supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities statewide. The council helps them control their own destiny and determine the quality of life they desire.
Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities envisions that: "Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are viewed as equal to all persons and enjoy basic human rights, life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness, and that they have choices about where they live, work, learn, play, and pursue their spiritual beliefs, are respected and receive the support they need."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

JUSTICE JAYDEN KAWELU KAAWA DIED AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT. The three vehicle collision happened Wednesday in South Kona, south of the intersection of Old Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 180) and Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11). This marks the third traffic fatality in as many days on Hawai‘i Island roads.
Kaawa, 19, was operating the the motorcycle and was listed as living in Kona. Responding to a 9:28 a.m. call, police determined that a gray 2019 Toyota 4Runner SUV operated by a 64-year-old Kealakekua woman, was making a left turn onto Highway 11 (north) when it was struck by a southbound black 2001 Honda VT1100 motorcycle operated by Kaawa. After striking the Toyota SUV, the motorcycle then struck a silver 2016 Kia Sedona van operated by a 38-year-old Captain Cook woman. The motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

The driver of the Toyota SUV and the Kia van were not injured in the collision. A 17-year-old male passenger on the motorcycle was transported to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment of his injuries and is listed in stable condition. The motorcycle operator was also transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 3:49 p.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death and the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation.

Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jason Foxworthy at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at Jason.foxworthy@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 19th traffic fatality this year compared to 12 at this time last year. There is a correction to the total number of deaths that was previously reported. One traffic fatality was determined to be due to a medical condition.

Peterson Balos arrested for burglaries in Ocean View.

TWO ARE ARRESTED FOR OCEAN VIEW PROPERTY CRIMES. According to Hawaiʻi Island police, during early morning hours of Monday, Ka‘ū patrol officers responding to a report of several windows damaged at two separate businesses on the 92-8600 block of Lotus Blossom Lane in Ocean View determined that the windows had been damaged after an object was thrown at them.
In the course of investigation, police determined that two more businesses, located on the 92-8700 block of Mamalahoa Highway, had also sustained damages to their windows after being struck with an object.
Upon reviewing video surveillance footage from several area businesses, police identified two suspects: 28-year-old Daeja Elizabeth Taetuna, of Kailua-Kona, and 33-year-old Peterson Balos of Ocean View.

At 4:42 p.m. on Monday, June 6, Ka‘ū patrol officers apprehended Taetuna in the area of Manuka State Park and she was taken into custody while a detective from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation.

Daeja Taetuna, arrested at Manuka State Park.

On Tuesday, June 7, Taetuna was charged with four counts of criminal property damage in the fourth degree and her bail was set at $2,000. She has since made her initial court appearance and is being held at the Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Facility.
Police determined that the second suspect, Balos, was also involved in two burglaries at a business located on the 92-8600 block of Lotus Blossom Lane in Ocean View. The first burglary occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, June 11, and the second took place in the early morning hours of Monday, June 13. During the course of investigating the burglaries, it was determined that video surveillance footage showed a man, later identified as Balos, entering into the business and removing items on two separate occasions while the business was closed.
At 10:35 a.m. on Monday, June 13, Balos was apprehended in the Ocean View area and taken into custody while a detective from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation. After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Balos was charged with two counts of burglary in the second degree and his bail was set at $4,000. Balos made his initial court appearance on Tuesday, June 14.
Investigators determined that Balos may be responsible for several other break-ins that occurred last November at other businesses in the Ocean View area. These investigations will be forwarded to the County Prosecutor’s Office for their review.

Anyone with information on these investigations is encouraged to contact Detective Donovan Kohara at (808) 326-4646 ext. 267, or via email at donovan.kohara@hawaiicounty.gov, or call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-331. Citizens who wish to remain anonymous can make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers does not record any calls or subscribe to caller ID.

VOLCANO VILLAGE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE welcomes walking and riding groups and individuals. It is sponsored by Volcano Community Association in Volcano Village from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Monday, July 4 parade starts at the Post Office at 9 a.m. and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd., followed by Cooper Center’s Independence Day celebration packed with live entertainment, craft and food vendors, keiki games and a large silent auction from 9 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. Parking maps can be found at www.thecoopercenter.org. (No parking at Cooper Center except handicap permitted vehicles with prior reservation.)

SPONSOR A BUCKLE,

VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN

ahead of the Saturday,

July 9 Rodeo sponsored by

Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association

and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to

be held on the rodeo grounds

behind Nāʻālehu Park.

Call 808-854-7917.

BECOME A VENDOR AT THE 3RD ANNUAL EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Last year, over 2,500 visitors attended and over 40 events were featured during the EVH festival. All vendor spaces are $50 for both days of the festival. Sign up as a vendor or a sponsor at experiencevolcano.com. If you have questions, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com.

SIGN UP FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNS with a change of date from July 3 to Sept. 17. Registration deadline for the annual event is Sept. 14. Organized by Hawaiʻi Island Racers, the 50K begins at 6 a.m., Half Marathon at 7 a.m., and 5K at 7:15 a.m., all starting from Kaʻū Coffee Mill at 96-2696 Wood Valley Road in Pāhala. Proceeds go to support ʻO Kaʻū Kakou. For more details on the event and registration fees, visit https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com

See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at

www.kaucalendar.com,

on newsstands and in the mail.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORS OF THE KAʻŪ CALENDAR

at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/05/sponsors-of-kau-calendar.html

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Yessah Fishing documents drone fishing from South Point in Ka'ū. Image from Yessah Fishing

HAWAIʻI COULD BECOME ONE OF THE FEW STATES TO OUTLAW DRONE FISHING. Fishers who come to South Point in Kaʻū and those who live here are awaiting Gov. David Ige's decision to sign, not sign or veto the 2022 Hawaiʻi Legislature's SB 2065 bill to ban fishing with the use of drones. The penalty for breaking the fishing drone ban would be a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail.
Drones are popular for locating fish and for carrying bait, hook and line out to sea and dropping them close to the prey, but opponents say that fishing line and equipment can be lost, can endanger wildlife, including turtles and monk seals, and that Hawaiian waters are already overfished. Supporters say fishing drones improve accuracy and save fuel and pollution from boaters driving around looking for fish. They also say less fishing tackle is likely to be lost at sea. The law is written to allow the use of drones to find fish but prohibits the drones from carrying the fishing line and bait. Use of drones, even for looking for fish, would require a license from the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.
The drone fishing ban was passed in the last few days of the 2022 Hawaiʻi Legislature. If the governor signs the bill by July 12, it becomes law. It he neither signs nor vetoes it by July 12, it becomes law without the governor's signature. If the governor intends to veto the bill, he must notify the Legislature by June 27 and deliver the veto by July 12. It the governor vetoes the bill, the Legislature can override the veto with a special session and a two-thirds vote in the Senate and House. Another state with a drone fishing ban is North Carolina.

SwellPro promotes the saving of fuel and lessening
of pollution by using drones. Photo from SwellPro

South Point is one of the popular drone fishing sites in Hawaiʻi. See Yessah Fishing at https://www.youtube.com/c/YessahFishing, which produced numerous Youtube productions that show launching drones from South Point carrying the bait and the successful reeling in of numerous types of fish. In one fishing show, Yessah Fishing Collaborative explains how to land more wahoo from the rocks at South Point Park. Another drone Youtube fishing show is from TBD Fishing. It takes viewers to drone fishing at what it calls called Suicide Rock at South Point. See on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TViKklvrSwQ

Fish Aggregating Devices will be modernized with a funding bill signed last week by the governor.
Images from state Department of Land & Natural Resources

LONGER-LASTING FISH AGGREGATING DEVICES ARE THE FOCUS OF NEW FUNDING. Gov. David Ige signed state Senate Bill 2767 last week, providing $350,000 to the state program for updating FAD equipment.
From the waters off Miloliʻi, around South Point to the waters below Volcano, Fish Aggregation Devices are deployed. The buoys last for a couple of years, start to fail or go missing and have a replacement cost of about $12,000. Last October the FAD named TT was redeployed off Kaneaʻa Point, 4.6 miles out to sea from Miloliʻi and 6.3 miles from Kauna Point. The FAD named C was also redeployed farther north, 13.2 miles from Miloliʻi, 4.6 miles from Loa Point and 6 miles from Kealakekua Bay.

Off Punalu'u is the FAD named SS. It is 9.5 miles from Apua Point and 15.5 miles from Punaluʻu. It was redeployed in the summer of 2020. Also brought back to life in August 2020 was RN, the FAD 17.7 miles from Apua Point and 7 miles from Ninole Cove.

FADs attract fish to aggregate around the floating buoys. Young fish and smaller adult fish use FADs for refuge, which attracts ahi and other larger fish. With all the fish gathering around the buoys, FADs also attract fishermen.

Hawaiʻi Island state Senator Lorraine Inouye co-introduced the funding into the 2022 Hawaiʻi Legislature. She said, “The FAD program is also an important tool to reduce fishing pressure on Hawaiʻi’s nearshore fishing resources. A lack of funding for the FAD program has decreased the frequency of FAD deployment in recent years. The current FADs have a two-year life expectancy. Keeping up on FAD turnover is labor intensive and expensive. Trying to modernize the gear with funding from SB 2767 will allow the FAD program to deploy longer- lasting FADs, which will have approximately a 30% to 50% longer life expectancy than the current FADs.”

EIGHTEEN MOTORISTS WERE ARRESTED FOR DUI during the week of June 6 through June 12. Hawai‘i Island police made the arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. One of the drivers was involved in a traffic accident. One of the drivers was under the age of 21.
So far this year, there have been 479 DUI arrests compared with 542 during the same period last year, a

decrease of 11.6 percent. There have been 339 major accidents so far this year compared with 350 during the same period last year, a decrease of 3.1 percent.
To date, there were 14 fatal crashes (one fatal crash reclassified on 5/30/22 due to a medical condition) resulting in 16 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths, and one of which was reclassified due to a medical condition), compared with 11 fatal crashes, resulting in 11 fatalities for the same time last year. This represents is an increase of 27.3 percent for fatal crashes, and 45.5 percent for fatalities.
Police promise that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

SPONSOR A BUCKLE,

VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN

ahead of the Saturday,

July 9 Rodeo sponsored by

Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association

and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to

be held on the rodeo grounds

behind Nāʻālehu Park.

Call 808-854-7917.

BECOME A VENDOR AT THE 3RD ANNUAL EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL

on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Last year, over 2,500 visitors attended and over 40 events were featured during the EVH festival. All vendor spaces are $50 for both days of the festival. Sign up as a vendor or a sponsor at experiencevolcano.com.

If you have questions, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com

See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at

www.kaucalendar.com,

on newsstands and in the mail.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORS OF THE KAʻŪ CALENDAR

at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/05/sponsors-of-kau-calendar.html

Monday, June 13, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, June 13, 2022

A tree canopy map of Kaʻū and the entire state is available to help manage threats to canopy, tree planting and forestry master
plans. The interactive tool is provided by state Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program, the state Division
of Forestry & Wildlife and USDA Forest Service.

A NEW TREE CANOPY VIEWER SHOWS COMMUNITIES TREE RESOURCES to help make management decisions. The interactive viewer shows the extent and location of the tree canopy. The tree canopies of Kaʻū and across the state can be seen at https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/communityforests/?cid=fseprd995876
A statement from the Department of Land & Natural Resources says the view will help local leaders manage threats to canopy loss as well as prioritize locations for tree planting, develop urban forestry master plans. The interactive website is provided by the USDA Forest Service and the Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Program at the DLNR’s Division of Forestry & Wildlife.

"Canopy cover is a driving force behind numerous environmental, social, and economic benefits such as reducing peak temperatures, improving air quality, increasing stormwater absorption, and providing wildlife habitats," says the DLNR statement.
“Trees are vital infrastructure that make our communities more livable, loveable, and resilient,” DOFAW Urban and Community Forester Heather McMillen said. “Being able to clearly communicate where we need to focus our efforts to expand tree canopy will be critical as we work with community leaders and policy makers to use infrastructure funding for the greatest good, not only for now but for future generations.”
Pacific Southwest Region Forester Jennifer Eberlien said she and her colleagues see the tree canopy viewer as a "...vital equity tool. The viewer allows people to freely access statewide tree canopy layer and help identify communities disproportionately burdened by risks that urban tree cover may help alleviate.”
The tree canopy layer in the viewer is made possible through the partnership and technical expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office for Coastal Management. “I’m excited about this work,” said Nate Herold, head of NOAA’s coastal land cover program. “Not only did we provide a superior product that will be used to have an impact related to tree cover and equity, but because of the

partnership approach between NOAA, the state, and the U.S. Forest Service, we were able to produce the data faster, cheaper, and better than any of us could have otherwise and with no duplication of effort.”
NOAA plans to use this data to update the agency’s Coastal Change Analysis Program, which provides Hawaiʻi with additional data on impervious cover, wetlands, and changes over time.
The viewer’s tree canopy layer uses one-meter resolution from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Maxar Vivid imagery compiled up to 2020 under a contract with EarthDefine. Other layers in the viewer highlight related socioeconomic, geographic and environmental characteristics.
Fellowships will be offered to support research that uses the Hawai‘i tree canopy viewer and data to contribute to the mission and purpose of Kaulunani, as well as contribute to the goals of the Hawai‘i Forest Action Plan.
The Tree Canopy Viewer is available here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/communityforests/?cid=fseprd995876/

Community Partnership Grants are available from Kaulunani with the deadline July 22. The programs receiving grants must align with the purpose or Kaulunani, which is "to plan for, establish, manage and protect trees, forests, and green spaces across Hawai‘i with a focus on underserved communities. Through these actions and through supporting relationships among people and trees, the program provides social, economic, ecological, and health benefits to Hawaiʻi’s communities. It supports collaboration across governmental, private, non-profit, and community-based organizations to improve the biocultural well-being of communities and the ecosystems they inhabit."

'ULU AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES are the focus of a new guide and also a free Webinar this Wednesday, June 15. See the 'Ulu Agroforestry in Hawai'i Guide. at https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2263/2015/files/HUPC-Ulu-Agroforestry-Guide.pdf?v=1654287013.
A statement from Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative says the organization and partners have developed the

guide to clarify terms related to agroforestry, which has become a "buzzword" in recent years, and to provide concrete examples of how Hawaiʻi ʻulu farms practice various agroforestry techniques.
The webinar aims to provide ʻulu agroforestry education through the Zoom event. It is free on Wednesday, June 15 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and features guest practitioners Andrew Trump, Noel Dickinson, Dr. Noa Lincoln, Dave Sansone, Noeʻau Peralto, Zach Mermel, Troy Keolanui and Harry Greene.
The statement says "Benefits of agroforestry can include increased soil health and overall crop production, while challenges may include increased installation or harvesting costs. We hope this guide and webinar will help Hawaiʻi ʻulu farmers and backyard growers better understand these considerations and work to implement sustainable, achievable, and effective practices on their land!"

Register for this Wednesday's webinar at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdTl1WnQgS8EAvUjcXxlOtRE8iE5a8Gk6g2pw6D_SIUPP0-w/viewform.

The deadline has been extended. Call Katie Graham
at 808-785-8088.

KAUKAU 4 KEIKI is still taking signups for free food on Fridays to be distributed in Ocean View, Nāʻālehu and Pāhala. Contact Katie Graham at 808-785-8088.

There will be three pick up sites in Kaʻū: Pāhala Hongwanji, Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, and Ocean View at Kona Drive and Hwy 11 between mile marker 79 and 80. Pickup will be on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The summer food distribution starts the week of June 20 and ends on July 29.
Kaukau 4 Keiki is funded by the County of Hawaiʻi and administered by The Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island's Food Bank.
Kaukau 4 Keiki will distribute $53 of food benefits per week (a $35 grocery gift card and an $18 value of Hawai'i grown produce) to help families with economic hardship. There will be a limit of one Kaukau 4 Keiki set per family.

Harmony in the U.S.A. and Love, along with the patriotism of the American flag, were the messages from

these paraders in Volcano Village July Fourth Parade in 2019. The annual event comes back on the first

Monday of July. Photo by Leilani Esperanza

THE VOLCANO VILLAGE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE welcomes walking and riding groups and individuals. Volcano Community Association President Aubrey Hawke and Cooper Center President Linda Ugalde explained that the annual event is sponsored by the Volcano Community Association in Volcano Village from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade on Monday, July 4, starts at the Post Office at 9 a.m. and ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd., where it will be followed by the Cooper Center’s Independence Day celebration packed with live entertainment, craft and food vendors, keiki games and a large silent auction from 9 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. Parking maps can be found at www.thecoopercenter.org. (No parking at Cooper Center except handicap permitted vehicles with prior reservation.)