Ka`u News Briefs March 13, 2011

Kapua Bay before the tsunami.

MORE TSUNAMI DAMAGE was discovered along the southern coast of the Big Island, and Sen. Gil Kahele was hiking into Kapua and Honomalino Bays today to check on historic sites, the reef and the remains of two homes that were washed away. 

Honomalino Bay before the tsunami.

     Rep. Bob Herkes said his district was hard hit, and he is helping with recovery at Kealakekua, where a home washed away and six others were severely damaged. With damage to beach parks, Ali`i Drive walkways and roadways, hotels, shops and restaurants, “We are really going to hurt, economically,” he told residents at a talk story at Ocean View Community Center yesterday. 

VOLUNTEERS AT PUNALU`U, organized by `O Ka`u Kakou, have been cleaning up the floating plants that were sucked out onto the beach from the pond by the waves of the tsunami. OKK member Fred Ramsdell said that the tsunami changed the look of the beach. “I almost couldn’t tell where I was,” he said. He noted that some roots of palm trees were exposed. Sand was moved mauka to makai, covering up some of the pools and rocky areas. Rocks and reef are now exposed where they were covered before the tsunami. A few fish were found on the rocks and in the sand.

`AINA KOA PONO has financing lined up for its proposed biofuels project in Ka`u, and “it’s ready to go,” the hui’s president Melvin Chiogioji told Pacific Business News. However, the Public Utilities Commission’s rejection of a proposal to allow Maui, Hawai`i and O`ahu customers share the cost of the development of the biofuels plant could delay or derail the plan, he said. He told PBN, “The fact of the matter to me is that this contract is very important in terms of the biofuel industry in Hawai`i, not just for ourselves,” said Chiogioji. “If the climate is not good for putting together biofuel plants, people could perceive that it is too difficult to do business here,” he said. 

     `Aina Koa Pono has invested $4 to $6 million in the project, according to Chiogiogi. “If the PUC decides not to approve the project, it’s going to be devastating for (the investors),” he told PBN.
     The PUC decision stated that the PUC is not allowed to charge people on other islands for the cost of producing electricity that would only be used, initially, on the Big Island. There was some suggestion that the Legislature might look at passing a law that would allow cost sharing across the state.
     `Aina Koa Pono plans to build an eight-acre refinery, four-tenths of a mile off Wood Valley Road on Meyer Camp Road. It proposes to truck the liquid fuel in tanker trucks to the power plant near the Keahole Airport and is looking also toward producing transportation fuel.

Rep. Bob Herkes

THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY has fallen short in applying for federal Rural Development grants and other opportunities that could help improve water services on the island, Rep. Bob Herkes told citizens at an Ocean View community meeting yesterday. He said there is a 32-mile stretch on the south side of the island with no potable water. There is undeveloped water in many other places on the island, he noted. Herkes said the water department’s chief engineer has said his job is to maintain the existing system and not to expand it. As a result, said Herkes, he is introducing a resolution at the Legislature on Tuesday, calling for the county to expand water facilities and to seek federal, state and county financial resources. He also asks that the county replace the members of the Water Board and the Department of Water Supply if they are deemed unwilling to expand the water facilities. 

ELECTRIC COMPANY WORKERS have ratified their contract with Hawaiian Electric Company and are expected to start work on Monday. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 represents more than half the employees of electric companies in Hawai`i, Maui and Honolulu counties. 

Bluegrass musicians are performing at St Jude's
in Ocean View today at 9:30 a.m.

BLUEGRASS MEETS PILI GRASS today at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View at 9:30 a.m., with a potluck lunch to follow at Kahuku Park. Hawaiian musician Keoki Kahumoku brought the mandolin, guitar, bass, fiddle and banjo players to the Big Island for a tour and workshops yesterday at Pahala Plantation House, where about 80 people came to a free concert. 

The Spring Wind Quintet plays today
at Kilauea Military Camp Theater.

THE SPRING WIND QUINTET performs today at Kilauea Military Camp Theater at 4 p.m. The five members of the Honolulu Symphony are recognized as one the country’s leading woodwind quintets and a major force in the development of chamber music in Hawai`i. They will perform original compositions by George Onslow and Jon Magnussen. Call 967-8222 for tickets.

Ka`u News Briefs March 12, 2011

Bluegrass Meets Pili Grass tonight at Pahala Plantation House, with a free concert
following an overflow crowd last night at Hana Hou Restaurant.

KA`U’S JAPANESE COMMUNITY has been making contact with relatives and friends following the great earthquake that devastated the eastern coast of Japan and paralyzed Tokyo.
     Minako and Kayo Yamazaki, who own a home in Pahala, reported from Tokyo that Minako was in downtown when the 8.9 quake struck. It took five hours for Kayo to reach her by car – a drive that normally takes 20 minutes. Minako said that Mega-Tokyo, a metropolitan city with 30 million residents “has kept its lifeline. Electricity, water and gas are all in order.” She said the public transportation system was stalled for nine to ten hours, which made it difficult for workers to return home on Friday night, and many of them stayed at offices and evacuation centers. She said she is very proud of the infrastructure and community response that made the earthquake less devastating in downtown Tokyo.

Aftershocks continue this morning in Japan.

     She reported, for example, that 30,000 visitors stayed overnight at Tokyo Disneyland. 

     Nobuko Humphries, of Ocean View, whose mother and two sisters live in Tokyo, said that, fortunately, her mother was in Tokyo and not at her beach home on the coast when the earthquake struck. “All my family are good. My brother-in-law was working in an office and had to walk home five hours. My niece was waiting in a train station and was stuck there, but they are all OK, she said.”
     Keiichi Nishimura, of Na`alehu, said that his son Keith, who grew up in Ka`u and teaches English in Tokyo, is also fine. Brother Ned said that Keith called him to say he and his wife and children experienced a wild ride with dishes, books and other items falling in their house.
     Masako Sakata also has relatives in Japan and was able to locate her family – no injuries.
     George Yokota, whose wife Michiko has two brothers in Japan, said they are all fine. He said the bay where they live faces south, away from the brunt of the tidal wave that destroyed the eastern coast.
     Yumi Suenobu, daughter-in-law of Kazu and Joyce Suenobu, of Pahala, said she also heard that her brother is fine.

Hawaiian monks seals, like this one at Honu`apo, likely
headed to open ocean when the tsunami approached.

THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL remains the only official state mammal. Another contender, the Hawaiian hoary bat, won’t become the official Hawaiian land mammal until at least next year. The bill for the bat missed the deadline for bills to cross over from one chamber to the other at the state Legislature. Sen. Sam Slom promised to renew the effort to honor the hoary bat in the 2112 Legislature. The Hawaiian bat is the only land subspecies mammal found exclusively in Hawai`i. The marine-going Hawaiian monk seal will remain the official state mammal even if the bat earns the state land mammal title. 

     According to scientists, marine mammals are very sensitive to changes in the ocean and probably headed for deep waters when the recent tsunami was approaching.

Sen. Gil Kahele

SEN. GIL KAHELE AND REP. ROBERT HERKES will host a talk story session today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Ocean View. The two have been working on the Ocean View water well system, emergency shelters, and many more CIP projects for the Ka`u. They are expected to give a report to the state Legislature, which has passed its bills between the Senate and House and will continue to negotiate agreements on various measures. 

BLUEGRASS MEETS PILI GRASS tonight at Pahala Plantation House on Maile Street with a free concert of singing, mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass. The musicians, who live in Appalachia, Alaska and other far away places, are renowned for their bluegrass. Keoki Kahumoku with his students and friends will bring the Pili Grass Hawaiian music to the stage. The concert starts at 7 p.m.

THE SPRING WIND QUINTET performs tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater. Sponsored by Volcano Art Center, the concert features new works composed for the quintet, which is recognized as one of the country’s leading woodwind ensembles. The Spring Wind Quintet is a major force in chamber music in Hawai`i. Call 967- 8222 for tickets.

Kau News Briefs March 11, 2011

The tsunami sent waves onto Punalu`u Beach, filling the pond, leaving stands of water and debris, but sparing the buildings.

A yard at Punalu'u filled with water .

The tsunami generated from the 8.9 great earthquake in Japan ran up onto shore at Punalu‘u before dawn, filling the black sand beach pond with seawater. The waves sucked out, leaving the Punalu‘u shoreline covered in debris. Punalu‘u resident Guy Enriques said that the small shops next to the ocean were spared as was the pole house owned by the Dahlbergs, though the yards are full of rubbish.

Campers at Punalu‘u Beach Park were cleared last night and the 76 Punalu‘u condominiums were evacuated by 2 a.m. Manager Dianne Naski said the resort was 75 percent occupied with about 100 guests who gave their full cooperation. She thanked the Hawai‘i Police Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department and Civil Defense for calling repeatedly and arriving on the scene to offer help. Evacuees stayed overnight at Civil Defense shelters at Pahala and Na‘alehu Community Centers. They returned to the condos around 10 a.m. this morning. As the tsunami waves failed to reach the resort, inland from the beach, there was no damage.

Campers, condo evacuees and motorists along Hwy 11 who were stopped at inundation zones, added up to some 55 people staying in Na‘alehu and 20 in Pahala shelters overnight, said county spokesman Hunter Bishop.

All beach parks are closed today due to the tsunami that hit early this morning. Dangerous areas were taped off.

Park managers were inspecting Punalu‘u and Honu‘apo today. At Honu‘apo, rocks were thrown about and tsunami waves nearly reached pavilions but, like Punalu‘u, there was no major damage. Seven groups of campers were evacuated from Honu‘apo, said Ka‘u county parks maintenance manager Dennis Reardon.

Last night Ka‘u Hospital went into its disaster mode with the health care association’s emergency management network. Hospital administrator Merilyn Harris said the hospital, civil defense and other hospitals across the state were in constant communication. The clinic was closed for the morning but set to open this afternoon. Overnight, some hospital staff living at Punalu‘u took shelter at Pahala Plantation Cottages. The Bay Clinic in Na‘alehu remained closed today.

Paramedics were seen along Hwy 11 this morning talking to Kawa resident Abel Lui, but there is no word of injuries or damage at Kawa. The ambulance was used in helping to warn people along the shoreline to evacuate before the tsunami waves hit.

Mayor Billy Kenoi said the island is fortunate in that major infrastructure at ports and airports were spared and that damage was limited. However, water did wash into the grounds of Hilo hotels and through the lobby of the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kona. Along Ali‘i Drive in Kona, Hulihee Palace, just repaired from major earthquake damage, was hit this time by water from the tsunami filling its basement. Pavement on Ali‘i Drive along the seawall is buckled and broken and likely undermined. There were reports of restaurant furniture from establishments along Ali‘i Drive floating out to sea. Also reported was at least one structure sucked into the bay at Napo‘opo‘o.

Police blocked traffic above the Punalu'u condos and Ka`u's beach parks through mid-morning today.Visitors and residents stayed in shelters overnight. 

Ka‘u’s Japanese community was trying to contact relatives in Japan where the biggest earthquake in Japan’s history, and the tsunami destroyed towns, airports, harbors, farmland and put a nuclear plant in jeopardy of releasing radiation.

The Big Island mayor said he is concentrating on helping Japanese visitors to be comfortable while they are here. His said his wife has just returned from Japan. Flights to Hawai‘i from Japan were cancelled this morning by Continental Airlines, simply because people couldn’t make it to the airport from Tokyo.

Hilo Airport reopened at 8:15 this morning for Neighbor Island flights. Musicians coming to Ka‘u for the Bluegrass Meets Pili Grass workshop and concert were stranded on Maui, hoping to make there way here for classes and a concert tomorrow at Pahala Plantation House.

A 4.5 EARTHQUAKE hit the east rim of Kilauea this morning, followed by a series of small quakes, but none of them related to the tsunami and Japan quake, scientists said.

KAHU RADIO, 91.7 received its upgrade yesterday, with new emergency radio capabilities, before the Japan quake sent a tsunami our way. Messages from Civil Defense were broadcast during the tsunami warning consistently throughout the night on KAHU, the Shepherd, Ka‘u’s only public radio station. Founder and General Manager Wendell Ka‘ehu‘a‘ea said the radio team is excited the equipment is in place to broadcast the Civil Defense messages, “but we never imagined that it would be put to use so quickly.”