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Friday, July 14, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, July 14, 2023

Storybook Theatre of Hawai'i founder Mark Jeffers with GIVE volunteers in Pāhala at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym. 
Photo by Julia Neal
STORYBOOK THEATRE OF HAWAI'I returned to Kaʻū this month with a giant inflatable tiger shark 
Storybook Theatre storytelling at Pāhala Preschool.
Photo by Julia Neal
serving as a venue for marine education inside its belly where children and adults sit and listen to the stories.
    Storybook Theatre founder Mark Jeffers came to Kaʻū annually before the pandemic and vowed to return more often. His many inflatable marine animals include a mother whale and calf. He also tells stories within a giant inflatable nēnē, the state bird Hawaiian goose, and other creatures.
    Jeffers shared stories this July with Summer Fun in Pāhala at the Herkes Ka'u Gym, Pāhala Preschool and with GIVE volunteer group staying in the village.
   The presentations were sponsored by The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper, Pāhala Plantation Cottages, Summer Fun and Pāhala Preschool.
    Storybook is based in Hanapepe, Kaua'i and has taken its entertaining and educational children all over the world, from Viet Nam to Australia, the Cook Islands and all around Hawai'i. Storybook also produces educational media for children.

Summer Fun students meet the giant tiger shark and learn about its life in the ocean before
going inside the inflatable for more storytelling. Photo by Julia Neal

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

MESSAGES OF CAUTION CONCERNING CALVIN, THE HURRICANE who rapidly increased to a Category Three on Friday but is likely to diminish to a tropical storm before reaching here, have been issued by NOAA and County of Hawai'i
    NOAA stated on Friday evening that Calvin is weakening but may pass over warmer waters on its way to Hawai'i which could bring it more strength: "Calvin is forecast to move across the central Pacific Ocean and approach the Hawaiian Islands early next week. It is too early to determine the exact location and magnitude of potential impacts given uncertainties in the track, intensity, and structure of Calvin as it approaches the islands. Interests in Hawai'i should closely monitor the latest forecast updates."
The water vapor view on Friday night of Hurricane Calvin heading toward Hawai'i, his color green. NOAA image

    Hawai'i County's response: "Hawaiʻi County is closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Calvin as it approaches the Central Pacific region. While current forecasts suggest that Hurricane Calvin may weaken below hurricane levels before reaching Hawaiʻi, County officials maintain that it is essential for

While Calvin is projected to come this way, the probability of tropical
 storm force winds remained small on Friday. Image from NOAA
residents to remain vigilant and prepared for potential hazards. The County emphasizes the importance of recognizing the potential impacts, which include flooding rains, high surf, and high winds that can affect the islands.
    "As part of the County's commitment to public safety, we urge all residents to be proactive and take appropriate preventive measures to safeguard themselves and their property before conditions become hazardous. Residents can stay informed about the latest updates by following guidance from public messaging channels. For the most reliable information, we encourage everyone to regularly check the Civil Defense webpage.
    "To ensure timely and critical alerts, the County encourages residents to sign up for Everbridge messages from Civil Defense. By doing so, residents will receive important notifications directly to their preferred communication channels, allowing them to stay informed and make informed decisions.
    "As we continue to monitor Hurricane Calvin's progress, the County will provide regular updates to keep residents informed and prepared for any potential impacts. We urge everyone to stay tuned to public messaging for the latest information and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety."

HPD ARRESTED TEN FOR DUI from July 3- 9. Hawai'i Island police arrested the ten motorists for
driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Two were involved in a traffic collision. One was under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 509 DUI arrests compared with 540 during the same period last year. This is a decrease of 5.7 percent.
    Hawai’i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 445 major collisions so far this year compared with 406 during the same period last year, an increase of 9.6 percent.
   To date, there have been 9 fatal crashes, resulting in 10 fatalities, (one of which had multiple deaths); compared with 19 fatal crashes, resulting in 21 fatalities (one of which had multiple deaths) for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 52.6 percent for fatal crashes, and 52.4 percent for fatalities.
    HPD promised that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.


Five thousand in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
See the July edition of The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper
www.kaucalendar.com




















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Thursday, July 13, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, July 13, 2023

Hurricane Calvin, with its wind predicted to come in from Mexico to Kaʻū as a tropical storm next week,
bringing heavy rain. Image from NOAA
 HURRICANE CALVIN MAY BRING HEAVY RAINFALL TO KAʻŪ next Tuesday or Wednesday, reaching Hawai'i Island as a tropical storm and churning up the eastside of the island. The National Hurricane Center reported at 5 p.m. on Thursday: "Hurricane Calvin has been quickly improving in organization today. Infrared satellite imagery shows a small ragged eye that is surrounded by deep convection with cloud-top temperatures down to -80 degrees C. Subjective and objective satellite intensity estimates have increased as well. SAB and TAFB estimates wereT5.0/90 kt and T4.5/77 kt and University of Wisconsin-CIMSS AiDT is up to 82 kt.

    "Based on a blend of these estimates, the initial intensity is set to 85 kt for this advisory. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions continue to be conducive for additional strengthening, and model guidance suggests these conditions will persist for the next day or so. Based on Calvin's recent intensification, the forecast peak has been shifted up to 95 kt at 12-24 h, which is at the upper-end of the model guidance. The cyclone should then begin to move over cooler sea surface temperatures, and the deep-layer vertical wind shear is expected to gradually increase which should induce a weakening trend.     
    "The official forecast shows Calvin weakening beyond 24 h and, aside from a higher peak intensity, is very similar to the previous advisory. Calvin is moving westward at about 13 kt. The strong mid-level ridge centered over the southwestern United States is expected to steer the storm westward to west-northwestward through the forecast period. Model guidance remains generally well-clustered and the official track forecast is nudged slightly north of the previous advisory and lies a little south of the model consensus aids."

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RAINFALL WAS ABOVE NORMAL FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE FARMERS AND RANCHERS in recent months, the higher than average precipitation also reaching north to Kona Coffee farms. The extra rain has benefited both the coffee and cattle industry. In June, the gauge at Kapāpala Ranch between Pāhala and Volcano, measured 4.07 inches, more than 2.5 times normal rainfall. Pāhala registered 2.64 inches, 28% above average June rainfall. Kahuku Ranch, between Ocean View and South Point Road, registered 4.19 inches, almost twice its normal June rainfall.


KAʻŪ'S CONGRESSWOMAN JILL TOKUDA is asking the citizenry to take her survey to help her stay in touch with community preferences. She wrote: "As we continue to see the far-right attempting to further restrict reproductive care for women and an ultra-conservative Supreme Court that continues to roll back years of progress, we hope that instead of feeling defeated, you will continue to stand with us and fight back!
    "Your input is invaluable to us, so we want to know: What issues matter most to you right now?
    "Your voice will shape our actions as we strive to create a better future for our keiki.
    "Please take our Quarterly Priorities Survey and tell us what issues are top of mind for you and your family. Knowing the issues you care about really does help to shape priorities."
    Take survey at 
https://secure.ngpvan.com/JfclxfdiME-dJuUOQFfqNA2?emci=16ee20b3-b821-ee11-a9bb-00224832eb73&emdi=c16270fb-c121-ee11-a9bb-00224832eb73&ceid=13058587.


KAʻŪ FARMERS WILL BE HEADED TO SOUTH KONA NEXT THURSDAY for the Hawai'i Farmers Union Hawai'i Island meeting on July 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be held in Captain Cook at Ma'ona Community Garden, 84-5097 Keala O Keawe Rd.
An HFUU statement notes that the HFU State President Kaipo Kekona will be on hand, along with a visiting delegation from the National Farmers Union led by President Rob Larew. "The NFU delegation is visiting Hawaiʻi to learn more about our chapters, the unique issues that face farmers in Hawaiʻi, and to get to know our members. This will be their last stop on their journey across the islands following their visits to Oʻahu and Maui."
Register at: https://hfuuhawaiimeeting0720.eventbrite.com
Five thousand in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
See the July edition of The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper
www.kaucalendar.com





















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Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Gov. Josh Green at U.N. Headquarters in New York City on Wednesday where he gave a Voluntary Local Review on Hawai'i's Sustainable Development. Photo from the Governor

GOV. JOSH GREEN REPORTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS ON HAWA'I'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. On Wednesday, Green presented Hawaiʻi's second Voluntary Local Review to the UN during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. A statement from his office called it a "good news/bad news scenario. The review highlights progress on achieving the six Aloha+ Challenge goals, which are the state's local implementation of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and clearly defines what is lacking. Hawaiʻi stands as the sole state in the United States to have
submitted a VLR, with the report being prepared by Hawaiʻi Green Growth with input from local partners."
    The Governor said, "As the world reels with new undeniable impacts of climate change, it lends another level of urgency that Hawaiʻi youth express in the Voluntary Local Review:  'We cannot put off changing things any longer. We refuse to stand idle when 2030 looms closer and closer...We only have one Island Earth, let us do our best to take care of it and each other. We are one species, with one planet, one chance.'"
    Hawaiʻi's status on its goals can be seen on the Aloha+ Dashboard for predictive planning at https://aloha-challenge.hawaiigreengrowth.org/dashboard/. The Governor said that the state is on track to meet its 2030 targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency, but not for clean transportation with its goal of reducing petroleum usage to 165 million gallons per year. The most recent data show that 472 gallons per year were used.
   The goal to double food production by 2030, first introduced by the 2050 Sustainability Plan in 2008, is not on track, said Green. "Production of most crops has not increased at a pace to reach the goal, but there was a 4% increase in the number of farms from 2012 to 2017. Progress, however, is difficult to measure because of a lack of funding for agricultural statisticians."
    The progress on the health, nutrition and access goal was hindered by the pandemic when food insecurity increased from 11.2% to 16.8% between 2018 and 2020, said the Governor.
   Regarding the ocean, he said, "Existing conservation commitments and the Sustainable Hawaiʻi Initiative informed the natural resource management goal of effectively managing 30 percent of Hawaiʻi's nearshore waters by 2030.
    "Watershed Projection (20.5% of the 30% target reached) and invasive species control (68% of 147 recommended actions ongoing, initiated, or complete) are both on track while freshwater security, marine management and protection of native species need work."
    Green said that the solid waste goal recommits to a previous law mandating a 50% reduction by 2000 and an increase in 2020 to 70% by 2030. "Recycling is the good news on this goal with 695,931 tons recycled and composted as of 2021. Waste diversion as of 2015 is at 43% of its 70% target. 
    "Public, private and community recommendations contributed to the smart sustainable communities' goal which measures affordable housing, economic prosperity, disaster management, resilience, and mobility. Economic prosperity as measured by the Self Sufficiency Standard income level improved from 45.5% in 2014 to 34.7% in 2020. But in 2020, 9% of people were below the federal poverty line and 33% were Asset-Limited Income-Constrained Employed (ALICE) households."
   There was some decrease in miles traveled per vehicle, but 67.2% of commuters still drive alone, 13.5% carpool and only 4.9% use public transportation.   
    The housing affordability index is trending downwards from 98.5 in Q1 2015 to 82.2 in Q4 2021. "More data are needed to assess resilience, but a local index is being developed. The state's vulnerability increased on the Social Vulnerability Index – from 0.468 in 2018 to 0.400 in 2020 on a scale of  0 to 1 from the least to the most vulnerable."
    The statement said that the green workforce and education goal recognizes the importance of education, jobs, innovation and an integrated green economy in achieving Hawaiʻi's sustainability goals. 
    "The goal measures workforce development – needs improvement but as of February 2023, the unemployment rate decreased to 3.2%; educational attainment looks good with 85.9 percent of students graduating from high school on time as of 2021, and of residents 25 and older, 92.3 percent of at least a high school diploma and 32.9% have at least a bachelor's degree as of 2018; equitable access to education also looks good with 86.6% of youth (16 to 24) attending school or employed, up from 85% in 2010; and finally sustainable tourism, which needs improvement – 46 businesses were certified as sustainable eco-tourism businesses as of 2020 – but better data are needed for more accurate measurement.'
     Green represented Hawaiʻi at two events at the 2023 United Nations High-Level Political Forum, the only U.S. state leader to do so. His remarks at the Local and Regional Governments Forum and the Local2030 Coalition Special Event noted "Hawaiʻi's unique contribution to the global community rooted in its community values." The Governor also extended Hawaiʻi's spirit of Aloha via Hawaiʻi Green Growth UN Local2030 Hub, the Local2030 Islands Network, and the Aloha+ Dashboard as key platforms for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals locally and globally," said the statement from his office.

2023 HAWAI'I LEGISLATURE BILLS SIGNED BY GOV. JOSH GREEN were the subject of an announcement by the Governor on Wednesday. He said that as of July 12, he had hosted 18 bill signing ceremonies covering topics from good governance, affordable housing, destination management at state parks, to protections for victims of domestic violence, traffic safety, and cost of living. Green also signed more than 100 additional bills, separate from the ceremonial signings in his public office and that he issued 11 vetoes on July 7, "due to serious legal and programmatic concerns."
    He thanked legislative leaders and key stakeholders for "helping pass important legislation for our state's priorities. While this past session was chaotic toward the end, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature still managed to support major areas for our residents. Critical funding was passed to shore up our statewide health care system, address housing and homelessness, take on climate initiatives, and lower the cost of living for residents. We've balanced the budget and I look forward to executing on the successes of last session." On Wednesday, five bills became law without the Governor's signature. He said they will become law without his signature "because on balance, they are more beneficial than objectionable, and reflect strong stakeholder support for these measures."
    These bills, with summaries, are as follows:
    SB45 SD1 HD2, Relating to Minors, which will be enacted as Act 259Description: Allows minors 16 years of age or older and emancipated minors to petition for domestic abuse protective orders.


    HB161 HD1 SD1 CD1, Relating to Collective Bargaining, which will be enacted as Act 260Description: Establishes that the representative of labor on the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board shall be a person selected by a majority of the exclusive representatives of the collective bargaining units.
    HB717 HD1 SD2 CD1, Relating to Nepotism, which will be enacted as Act 261Description: Prohibits,  under certain circumstances, state employees from appointing, hiring, promoting, or retaining relatives and household members and from making or participating in certain other employment-related decisions and from awarding a contract to or otherwise taking official action on a contract with a business if the employee's relative or household member is an executive officer of or holds a substantial ownership interest in that business.
    HB923 HD1 SD1 CD1, Relating to Bonds, which will be enacted as Act 262Description: Requires (1) counties with a private activity bond issuance program to exhaust their allotment before applying to the state for the state allocation and (2) the state, if it receives a county allocation, to award that same amount to project or projects in that county.
    HB1359 HD2 SD2 CD1, Relating to Hemp, which will be enacted as Act 263Description: Repeals redundant regulations on hemp production; recognizes the unique constraints of Hawaiʻi farmers; permits the licensure of hemp producers to sell hemp biomass; establishes of the Hawaiʻi Hemp Task Force.
    The Governor summarized that in his term to date, he has enacted the following laws for the people of Hawaiʻi:
    Affirming reproductive rights Good Government Grouping Part 1 (7 bills)
    Firearms Bills (2 bills)
    Vaping Bill    Hāʻena State Park Bill
    Domestic Violence/Sex Assault (8 bills)
    Child Welfare Bills (7 bills)
    Affordable Housing and Homelessness (10 bills)
    Health Care Access (13 bills)
    Good Governance Part 2 (19 bills)
    Tax Credit Bill and the State Budget
    Education and Early Education Bills (11 bills)
    Agriculture Bills (11 Bills)
    Clean Energy and Climate Bills (6 bills)
    Beaches and Shoreline Bills (11 bills)
    Traffic Safety Bills (7 bills)
    Kūpuna and Disability Access Bills (13 bills)


Library Manager Sara Kamibayashi, who celebrated Pāhala Library's 60 years of service in March, announced this week that starting next Monday, Pāhala and Nā'ālehu Libraries will be open weekdays. Photo by Julia Neal

LIBRARIES IN KAʻŪ WILL BE OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK starting next Monday, July 17, with publications, computers and events for the public.
    Pāhala School & Branch Manager Sara Kamibayashi reports that Pāhala will be open Mondays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays noon to 4p.m.
    Nā'ālehu Public Library will be open Mondays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays 10 am. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays noon to 4 p.m.



Five thousand in the mail, 2,500 on the street.
See the July edition of The Kaʻū Calendar Newspaper
www.kaucalendar.com





















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