Ka`u News Briefs April 15, 2011

Medic Adam Busek stands next to Na`alehu Fire Department's brand new ambulance.  Photos by Ron Johnson

DEREK HARA, one of Ka`u's favorite fishermen, passed away yesterday while free diving off the Ka`u Coast. Hara, owner of MIzuno Superette in Pahala, was spearing fish with friends who found him unresponsive. Word spread throughout the district of the loss of the smiling and humorous fisherman. The Mizuno store shut down to honor his life and re-opened this morning. He and friends were diving at Osaka Flats, makai of Hawaiian Ranchos subdivision in Ocean View. Hara was 46 years of age.

INITIAL CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT dropped 4.5 percent last week over the same week last year on the Big Island, according to the State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Statewide, 2,447 initial jobless claims were turned in - down 14.7 percent from claims during the same week last year. Maui had the biggest decrease in claims, down 33.7 percent from last year, Kaua`i was next, down 32 percent and O`ahu followed, down 10.6 percent.

GASOLINE PRICES IN KA`U remain high. Here are the prices per gallon this morning for regular. Kahuku Country market is $4.44, Kahala Gas is $4.50; Ocean View Market will no longer give out gas prices over the phone; the 76 Station in Na`alehu is $4.61; and Ka`u Gas in Pahala is $4.61.

Hawai`i County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira talks
with the public at Na`alehu Community Center.

HAWAI`I COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT met with the public at Council member Brittany Smart’s District 6 Matters meeting at Na`alehu Community Center last night. Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira announced that a new ambulance is now in service in Na`alehu. Fire Department personnel showed the 2011 Dodge to Ka`u residents. Medic Shane Paulos said it is much more efficient than the previous ambulance, with more organized storage space and an engine that is better for the environment. He invited everyone to stop by the station anytime to see the new ambulance, ask questions and have your blood pressure checked. 

Medic Shane Paulos shows Na`alehu's
new ambulance to Ka`u residents.

     Oliveira announced that a new 2,000-gallon tanker truck is being procured for use in Ka`u to fight fires. He also said that funding has been approved for a fire hydrant at the Ocean View well site.
     Oliveira discussed other projects that the department is working on. He hopes that private land can be used for the permanent lifeguard tower at Punalu`u. Julie Enriques suggested that leased land near the lei stand may be used. Until the permanent tower is in place, they are looking into using a portable one.
     A resident brought up the subject of safety at the Ocean View Swap Meet held each Saturday at Pohue Plaza. She said that people double and triple park and that traffic control is needed. Chief Oliveira said that fire lanes must be kept clear, and that “there is always a way to find a solution and support business.”

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT has won the support of hundreds of community members who each donated $5 to become Friends of Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. They raised more than $4,000 to support the event, the activities of the candidates and winners and for scholarships. 

Moa`ula, the Cloud Rest farms where some of the
top Ka`u Coffee is grown.  Photo by Julia Neal

    The pageant is sold out and will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ka`u High School Gym. The Ka`u Coffee Festival will be May 14 and 15 at Pahala Community Center.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts a benefit concert tonight at 6 p.m. at its Niaulani campus in Volcano Village. Medicine for the People will play to raise funds for singer Nahkohe Parayno’s eye surgery. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 967-8222 or at the door.

THE LARGEST EASTER EGG HUNT in Ka‘ū will be held tomorrow at Na`alehu Park. Sponsored by Ka‘ū community churches, the event is open to all ages, and everyone is encouraged to bring their own basket. The event features music, games and prizes. For more information, contact naalehuag@hotmail.com or call 929-7278.

Ka`u News Briefs April 14, 2011

The Air National Guard could help with a second well in
 Ocean View.  Photo from bigislandliving.blogspot.com

THE LIST OF PROJECTS IS GROWING for the proposed Air National Guard’s Readiness Program, which came from Washington, D.C. to meet with community, business and Marshallese leaders in Ocean View yesterday. Master Sgt. Chip Stoyer and Lt. Col. Dwight Hall represented the Guard.
     Ocean View Community Development Corp. President Loren Heck said the corps of 45 to 50 guardsmen will arrive in Ka`u in the spring or fall of 2012. Priorities for training their men and women involve activities to prepare them for developing water systems after a natural disaster or in remote parts of the world that have never had water systems. They dig wells, lay pipe, and install catchments and cisterns. Heck noted that an old Ka`u-to-South Kona water master plan, for example, shows the installation of gutters along the roads going mauka-makai to catch water and carry it to an open reservoir. Such simple plans could play into the future of water in Ka`u and would be the kind of project for which the Guard could volunteer. 

Kahuku Park could receive upgrades.
Photo by bigislandliving.blogspot.com

     People attending the meeting also supported putting in fire hydrants and water tanks to fight fires. Building a charter school and shelter in Ocean View was also suggested, along with upgrading Kahuku Park with a community garden, a better baseball and soccer field and lights. The Guard is also interested in helping develop the transfer station for Ocean View, Heck said.

MORE CASES OF DENGUE FEVER have been spread by mosquitoes in the Islands. The first recent cases were seen on O`ahu, and now some people have come down with the disease on Maui. State Health Director Loretta Fuddy said, “We need the public’s help to clean up mosquito breeding by emptying all standing water and checking gutters and other areas that collect water. Residents can repair window and door screens to keep mosquitoes from entering indoors. Wear clothing to cover and protect skin from biting mosquitoes.” 

Aedes mosquito carries dengue fever.

     Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito that occurs primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The illness is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and rash. Younger children tend to have a milder illness than older children, and adults and may show no symptoms. Symptoms may last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take two to four weeks. Treatment consists of rest, fluids, and medications to reduce fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Aspirin should not be used to treat a dengue patient. The health department is interested in finding out who has dengue fever, so if you think you have it, stop by a physicians office or clinic to be tested. 

With no shelter in Ka`u, the Humane Society takes
 most animals to Kona.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE WESTSIDE HUMANE SOCIETY SHELTER will be closer to Ocean View, as the organization has purchased a new site to replace the one next to the green waste dump and the Kealakehe Police Station on county property. The new facility 12 miles south of Kailua-Kona near the 110-mile marker will also be cooler for the animals, as it will be located upcountry at the former location of Fuku-Bonsai and the old quarry. The facility will have a dog park and 60 kennels instead of the current 16 for dogs plus more cages for cats. The property was purchased with help from a generous, anonymous donor. 

THE NEW WALGREENS STORE in Hilo will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with pharmacy hours from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. This all begins this Sunday at the old Borders bookstore building just off Hwy 11 and comes with a $10,000 donation to the University of Hawai`i College of Pharmacy, also in Hilo. The Walgreens is nearly 15,000 square feet, and its opening follows the opening of the 61,000 square foot Safeway nearby last month.

THE ANNUAL BON DANCE will be Saturday, June 4 at the Na`alehu Hongwanji. Booths are available through Eleanor Powell at 939-7536 or 936-6426 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.

CALLING ALL SUSHI MAKERS and those who want to learn to make sushi. You can volunteer to make sushi on Saturday, May 7 just before Mother’s Day at Na`alehu Hongwanji. Sushi making will begin at 7 a.m., and sushi will be sold until about noon to raise money for the building fund. Call Takumi Shirakawa at 929-7462 to sign up to make sushi. 

KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is coordinating re-certification classes for Certified Nurse Aides. Any CNAs who are in need of re-certification and are interested can call Jessie Marques at 928-0101 for more information.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART holds a District 6 Matters meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira answers questions from the public about Fire Department issues and services. One topic expected to be discussed is the Ocean View Swap Meet that takes place at Pohue Plaza each Saturday. Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. president Galen Lutz said the swap meet has become so popular that the intersection at Hwy 11 is dangerous. He also said that insufficient parking is making traffic dangerous to pedestrians. 

Medicine for the People performs Friday night at Volcano
   Art Center's Niaulani campus in Volcano Village.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts a benefit concert Friday at 6 p.m. at its Niaulani campus in Volcano Village. Medicine for the People will play to raise funds for singer Nahkohe Parayno’s eye surgery. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 967-8222 or at the door. 

THE LARGEST EASTER EGG HUNT in Ka`u will be held this Saturday, April 16 at Na`alehu Park. Sponsored by Ka`u community churches, the event is open to all ages, and everyone is encouraged to bring their own basket. The event features music, games and prizes. For more information contact naalehuag@hotmail.com or call 929-7278. 

THIS SUNDAY there is a plant and seed exchange at the Naohulelua Gardens on Kamaoa Road from noon to 3 p.m. with a talk by Sue Barnett on making the most of your garden, especially for growing food. Call 929-7236.

Ka`u News Briefs April 13, 2011

Council member Brittany Smart

COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART is introducing a resolution to delay general plan amendments and rezoning applications in Ka`u. She wants the Ka`u Community Development Plan to be adopted before any changes are made. Nelson Ho, Smart’s legislative assistant, said the resolution is patterned after similar ones in Kona and South Kohala. Resolution 60-11 is on the Planning Committee’s agenda for Tuesday, April 19. The public is invited to testify at the meeting that begins at 9 a.m. at the West Hawai`I Civic Center in Kona.

REPRESENTATIVES AT THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD Innovative Readiness Program are meeting with Ka`u community leaders at the Ocean View Community Center this morning. The Pentagon has approved the concept of the Guard setting up camp here and volunteering to complete community projects in Ka`u. Some 55 National Guardsmen would live and work here, rotating through Ka`u, over a three to five year period. Ocean View Community Development Corp.

     President Loren Heck said such projects as drilling a second well for Ocean View, building septic systems for the homes of the Marshallese, building roads and bridges and repairing and upgrading community centers and public hospitals are all within the abilities of the Readiness Program. The Guard provides the labor, and the community comes up with the materials. Community groups with ideas can call Deann Canuteson, Project Coordinator of the Ka`u Opportunities and Abilities Project at 936-4925 or 929-9611. 

RADIOACTIVE CESIUM AND IODINE have been found in Big Island milk, but the state Department of Health says the trace amount is not a health risk. Dean Okomoto, president of the Hawai`i Agricultural Foundation, said that all Hawai`i agricultural production is safe. He said he is worried that people will refrain from “buying local,” even though the health risk is negligible.

The amount of iodine 131 radiation found in milk was 18 picocuries per liter. The “action level” which would pull milk from shelves is 4,700 picocuries per liter. The level of cesium-134 and cesium-137 combined found in local milk was 43 picocuries. The federal action level is 33,000 picocuries per liter, said state Environmental Health Services Director Lynn Nakasone. She pointed out that trace levels of radiation have also been found in California milk. Hawai`i milk will be tested again next week. 

THE STATE SENATE approved an $11 billion state budget for fiscal year 2012 and $10.8 billion for fiscal year 2013 yesterday and will work the next two weeks with the state House of Representatives in conference committees. To balance the budget, Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Billy Kenoi and most of the other county mayors and the Hawai`i Government Employees Association leadership have agreed to a five percent pay cut for state and county HGEA workers. Teachers and United Public Workers are expected to join in the cost saving measure, and all three unions would have to vote on the pay cut. The Senate also voted to cut General Excise Tax exemptions for airlines, contractors, those who sublease and other businesses like shipbuilding and repair enterprises. The measure had strong opposition from business, but support from social service agencies and government worker unions facing pay cuts. It may be modified or taken off the table in the conference committee meetings. Also not included in the Senate budget is raising the General Excise Tax.

Mayor Billy Kenoi

MAYOR BILLY KENOI and other Neighbor Island mayors are expected to keep close track of what happens to the Transient Accommodation Tax income to the state, which is currently shared with the counties and on which Hawai`i County depends to balance its own budget. The Legislature is considering putting a cap on the amount of income given to the counties. 

RETIREES will be keeping a close tab on the effort to tax pension plans. The Senate killed the bill, even though it was only for higher income retirees and would have generated some $17 million for the state. The House kept it alive as one of the options to raise money to pay for the state budget.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART holds a District 6 Matters meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira answers questions from the public about Fire Department issues and services.