Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 11, 2011

 HECO has asked the Public Utilities Commission for more time to file a motion for reconsideration and/or clarification
 for its proposed refinery and biofuel farm in Ka`u.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO. has asked the Public Utilities Commission for an extension of time to file a motion for reconsideration and/or clarification of the PUC’s Decision and Order that denied the contract between the utility and `Aina Koa Pono. Approval could have led to construction of a refinery off Wood Valley Road and biocrop farm between Pahala and Na`alehu. 

     The PUC also denied a surcharge that would have likely led to higher electric bills.
     “The Decision has potentially far reaching implications,” HECO’s request says. “The Companies need time to evaluate the impact of the Decision on many different fronts, including but not limited to, the impact of the Decision on the Companies’ provision to supply renewable electricity in accordance with the State of Hawai`i’s clean energy initiative and the Governor's ‘New Day’ plan, liquid fuel options, and the Companies' strategy to meet renewable portfolio standards as well as broader policy considerations.”
     The original deadline to file a motion was today. HECO is asking for the deadline to be extended “through Nov. 10.”

MICHAEL CHAMPLEY, the governor’s newest appointee to Hawai`i’s PUC, was one of the three commissioners who made the unanimous decision to deny the contract. The decision stated that the cost of the biofuel was “excessive, not cost-effective, and thus, is unreasonable and inconsistent with the public interest.” According to a report in this morning’s Civil Beat, Champley, whose career in the electric utility business spanned four decades, “has expressed skepticism in the past about biofuels and whether they are in the customer’s best interest or only help the utility’s bottom line.” Biofuels “are clearly in the shareholders’ interest,” Champley told Civil Beat before he joined the commission. “What you don’t know is if it’s in the customers’ interest.” 

     According to Civil Beat, “the ruling suggests that with Champley’s addition to the PUC, the commission will be taking a harder line toward HECO and intends to play a bigger role in directing the state’s energy policy.”

INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT more people to live centrally in Ocean View may encourage some people to buy or build houses at the lower elevation near Hwy 11, but many people have chosen to live remotely in the cool, high altitudes on agricultural lands, said Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee member Loren Heck. He was responding this morning to a Stephens Media story that quoted some people’s concerns about planning options that could include incentives for people to move out of the more remote areas of Ocean View. The idea is to encourage more community members to live in more of a walkable Ocean View town, where infrastructure could be concentrated. The idea was being circulated to Ocean View steering committee members and to Ocean View residents for feedback for the CDP.
     Heck said that the county would have to be wary about seeming heavy-handed about where people should live. He said any idea that the county could condemn land and force people to move into a more concentrated housing area would bring on “a sizeable class action suit.” He said the CDP process should be careful not to “treat people like cattle. The idea that, ‘Here you strayed up too far on the hill so we need to bring you back into the herd so we can take care of you,’ will not fly,” said Heck.
     Heck said that upper Ocean View “has a lot to offer. Keep it agriculture. Put money into the unique growing conditions there. It is one of the coldest areas where farmers can grow fruit trees, grapes and produce that you can’t grow in other parts of the island,” he said.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE meets today from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The church is located at 92-1572 Keaka Parkway at the corner of Paradise Circle.

THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NEW COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT lines is tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Six maps show different district lines for Council member representation.
     District lines will change, as required by law, since the county has experienced a population growth rate of almost 25 percent in a decade.

     Concerning state redistricting, Ka`u residents have been lobbying to prevent the Ka`u district from being split in half. A preliminary redistricting plan would put state Rep. Bob Herkes with Puna, as he lives in Volcano. People living between Honu`apo and Ocean View would be represented by a district that would run all the way to Kona, and Herkes would no longer be able to represent them. Testimony will be taken at the state Reapportionment Commission’s meeting at the state Capitol in Honolulu on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE GRIEVIN’ AND GROOVIN’ art exhibit at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus are due this Friday. In the tradition of Dia de Los Muertos, the two-day celebration on Nov. 1 and 2 will present artwork, writing, movement and rituals based on the subject of death, loss, mortality and the passage of time. For more information, contact Anne Catlin at 967-8222.

Pu`ukohola Heiau is the topic at tonight's
After Dark in the Park.
 Photo courtesy of Big Island Visitor Bureau

PU`UKOHOLA HEIAU IS THE TOPIC at tonight’s After Dark in the Park at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea, Jr. shares information about this place where the history-makers of Hawai`i lived and where their history comes to life. 

THE KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT Steering Committee will meet at the ML Mac Nut Field Office in Pahala on Thursday at 4 p.m. On the agenda will be progress on the tunnel surveys, status of the transfer of the tunnel sources to Agribusiness Development Corp., funding status and formation of new regional cooperatives. For more information, contact Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

SEN. GIL KAHELE MEETS with the public at Ocean View Community Center on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Sen. Kahele is using forums to hear the concerns of his constituents as well as help him prepare for the upcoming 27th Legislative session in January. He will provide a re-cap of the 26th Legislative session as well as address specific issues pertaining to the community. Constituents can call 808-586-6760 or email senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov with issues or questions for the forum.

AN OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION takes place on Friday at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church on Paradise Circle in Ocean View. The menu will include brats and sauerkraut, boiled potatoes, dill pickles, German chocolate cake and beverages. A live polka band will add to the festivities. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, $12 each or two for $20, can be purchased by calling Cordelia at 939-7555. For more information or to volunteer to help, call Phyl at 929-7146.

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 10, 2011

Residents and visitors enjoyed the Acoustic Hawaiian Music Jam sponsored by Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo
at Honu`apo Park yesterday.  See Ka `Ohana's website at honuapopark.org.  Photo by Julia Neal

OCEAN VIEW’S WATER WELL IS PAU, the HOVE Road Maintenance Corp. reported during its meeting on Saturday, Oct. 8. Mike Million said that contractors are removing their equipment, and that the county’s next step is to run tests on the water. He expects water to be available for pick up from the spigots in two or three months. 

FOUNTAIN GRASS REMOVAL has been an ongoing effort in Ocean View since 2005. At the meeting, David Benitez, of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, presented information about semi-annual programs to uproot the invasive weed that colonizes new lava flows and increases fire hazard for the community. The next removal date is planned in January or February. Contact Benitez at 985-6085 for more information. 

Milton Pavao

THE COUNTY BOARD OF WATER meets today and will take up the search for a new manager. Milton Pavao has worked for the county Department of Water Supply for almost 40 years and has been its chief for more than 15 years. Pavao, 62, has announced that he will retire. 

THE NEW PUBLIC LAND REDEVELOPMENT CORP., which could lead to state lands being developed outside of county zoning and state Land Use Commission classification, has hit a snag, according to a report this morning on CivilBeat.com. Enabling legislation passed by the state Senate and House of Representatives during the 2011 Hawai`i Legislature lacks a mechanism to transfer land from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Development Corp, according to the attorney general’s office. Civil Beat reporter Sophie Cocke quotes Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz as saying he disagrees and plans to visit the attorney general’s office. Dela Cruz has called the new effort to develop state lands “an out-of-the-box opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to partner with the state to get the economy going again,” according to the Civil Beat story. 

     About a third of the land in Ka`u District is owned by the state.

Marie Burns

UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE, AN ANCIENT HAWAIIAN TRAIL AND A HEIAU are unmapped in the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Nani Kahuku `Aina resort development, according to Marie Burns, of Ocean View. She said yesterday that she and other volunteers were walking the property to document assets when they came upon a large unexploded military ordnance. She said she contacted police, the military and developers. She also said her hui plans to submit information to the state on trails and other archaeological sites that are not listed in the draft EIS for Nani Kahuku’s `Aina’s Kahuku Village resort. She said she also plans to bring the issues to the Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee. 

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at St Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The church is located at 92-1572 Keaka Parkway at the corner of Paradise Circle.

Soil sampling at the old Pahala sugar
mill site.  Photo by Julia Neal

A NEW MACADAMIA NUT DRYING FACILITY may be developed on the old Ka`u Sugar Company mill site in Pahala. Drilling rigs taking core samples of the soil on the mill site were operating last week, and workers said the plan may involve building concrete slabs and “pods” for drying macadamia nuts. Nearby macadamia orchards and a husking plant are operated by ML Macadamia, with nuts shipped to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp. in Kea`au. 

THE PUBLIC HEARING ON NEW COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT lines is this Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Na`alehu Community Center at 6 p.m. Six maps show different district lines for council member representation.
     District lines will change, as required by law, since the county has experienced a population growth rate of almost 25 percent in a decade.
     Concerning state redistricting, Ka`u residents have been lobbying to prevent the Ka`u district from being split in half. A preliminary redistricting plan would put state Rep. Bob Herkes with Puna, as he lives in Volcano. People living between Honu`apo and Ocean View would be represented by a district that would run all the way to Kona, and Herkes would no longer be able to represent them. 

     Testimony will be taken at the state Reapportionment Commission's meeting at the state Capitol in Honolulu this Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

KUMU MAILE YAMANAKA OFFERS lessons in hula, lei making and `ukulele tomorrow at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The lessons are free, and park entrance fees apply. Call 967-8222 for more information.

PU`UKOHOLA HEIAU IS THE TOPIC at tomorrow’s After Dark in the Park at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Superintendent Daniel Kawaiaea, Jr. shares information about this place where the history-makers of Hawai`i lived and where their history comes to life.

Ka`u News Briefs Oct. 9, 2011

Plan 10

Plan 28

REDRAWING THE COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT lines will go to public hearing this Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Na`alehu Community Center at 6 p.m. Six maps shown here are proposed as possibilities for determining the district lines for council member representation.
     The county has experienced a population growth rate of almost 25 percent in a decade. This means district lines will change, as required by law, to ensure that each County Council member represents approximately the same number of people all around the island.

     Ka`u residents have been lobbying to prevent the Ka`u district from being split in half in the state redistricting for the House of Representatives. Testimony will be taken at the Reapportionment Commission's meeting at the state Capitol this Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART reports that Pahala will soon receive a new fire truck. She also said she may be working with county Department of Public Works on the proposed new county building code. The County Council is attempting to keep housing affordable while meeting new state building code standards.

Plan 17

Plan 30

GEOTHERMAL IS GAINING STEAM, according to this morning’s Honolulu Star Advertiser. It reports on findings by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, predicting that “geothermal resources on Hawai`i Island and Maui are sufficient to create more than 1,500 megawatts of electrical generating capacity, an amount roughly equivalent to the peak electrical load of the entire state.” A geothermal resources map shows that the South Point area and Ka`u Desert are possible geothermal sites. However, these resources are located a long way from major population areas. Ormat Technologies, Inc. is already planning to add another eight megawatts by early next year, bringing production of its Puna Geothermal Plant to 20 percent of the electricity used on this island. The Honolulu Star Advertiser story says that “Ormat’s Puna facility, the state’s only operational geothermal plant, sits on one of the best geothermal resources in the world. Underground temperatures in the Kilauea East Rift Zone can exceed 650 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant captures steam from mile-deep geothermal wells and uses it to turn turbines that in turn run electrical generators. Puna Geothermal Venture has been in operation since 1993.
     According to the Star Advertiser, “One of the main advantages of geothermal compared with solar- and wind-generated energy is that the steam from the geothermal wells produces firm power similar to that of a traditional oil-fired power plant. Solar power is available only during daylight hours, and even then the electrical output of photovoltaic panels can spike up and down depending on cloud cover. Similarly, the energy produced by a wind turbine can vary depending on wind speed.”

Plan 23

Plan 40

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE will meet, and the public is invited, this Tuesday, Oct. 11 at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View at 92-1572 Keaka Parkway at the corner of Paradise Circle. The public is encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for Ka`u’s Emergency Food Pantry.
     The agenda says members of the public are invited to speak for up to three minutes on any items on the agenda. Project manager Ron Whitmore will update the status of the CDP and will also provide an update on the CDP elements related to Nani Kahuku `Aina’s proposed Kahuku Village resort.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE starts today, with collection beginning at Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View and continuing at many locations tomorrow throughout the district.
     People needing food can stop by the Ka`u Family Center in Na`alehu with a photo I.D. Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and receive emergency supplies for their family once a month. The policy has been to provide a two-day supply, but only a one-day supply is available until the Food Drive can bring in more donations.
     Food drive collection sites are Pahala Community Center, Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.; Na`alehu Island Market, Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Ka`u Family Center, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Discovery Harbour Community Association, Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; and Kahuku Country Market, daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call Teresa Alderdyce at 929-9611, ext. 10.

HONU`APO PARK is the site of an Acoustic Hawaiian Jam today from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to celebrate the restoration of the wetlands and the improvement of the gathering place at Whittington Beach Park and Honu`apo estuary. The free event will feature slack key and `ukulele master and teacher Keoki Kahumoku, who encourages everyone to bring along instruments. The event is free. Honu`apo is managed by Hawai`i County and the community group Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo. Most of the land was purchased by the county with public and private funding after it was put on the market as a place to buy land for houses on stilts overlooking the fishponds.

THE ANNUAL MONGOLIAN BARBECUE is set for Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano next Saturday, Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The fundraiser for Cooper Center features 14 masters of the wok preparing each diner’s desired stir-fry combination. This will be the 42nd Mongolian Barbecue held at Cooper Center. Volunteers can show up this Friday at 8 a.m. at Cooper Center to help with the Chop-Chop chopping of the ingredients.