Ka'u News Briefs Jan. 4, 2012

Honu`apo received funding for restoration from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Photo from The Nature Conservancy

HONU`APO ESTUARY WETLANDS is the recipient of $549,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Honu`apo is one of 24 projects in 13 states sharing in a portion of more than $20 million in funding, according to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who made the announcement yesterday. “Coastal wetlands serve as some of nature’s most productive fish and wildlife habitat while providing storm protection, improved water quality, and abundant recreational opportunities for local communities,” Salazar said.
     Honu`apo is co-managed by the County of Hawai`i and Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, a community organization founded by John Replogle, who helped lobby for funding to buy the coastal lands that were being sold off for development. The land runs from the Honu`apo pier to the raised lava flow toward Pahala and includes hundreds of acres of coastal lands, estuaries, historic sites and cliffs and bays.
     It is a favorite fishing and gathering place and refuge for sea turtles and other marine life, as well as migrating birds.

Volcanic activity could be the source of electricity for the Big Island
and beyond. Photo by Teresa Tico

GEOTHERMAL is expected to be touted as the energy of the future for the Big Island and beyond, as the Geothermal Working Group releases its final draft today in the office of Mayor Billy Kenoi. Geothermal Working Group co-chair Wally Ishibashi will present the report in detail, with supportive comments presented by the mayor. 

     Geothermal Working Group co-chair Richard Ha will discuss issues surrounding peak oil and its relevance to Hawai`i Island. Ha recently traveled to Iceland where he observed how the country recovered from the biggest financial crash in modern history. Ha stated, “They are recovering because they inoculated themselves from high oil prices by using low cost hydro and geothermal for 100 percent of their electricity and house heating. It is clear to me that had they used expensive biofuel to generate electricity, they would not be competitive in making aluminum for export. And instead of coming out of this disastrous financial situation, they would be facing years of depression. This is exactly why Hawai`i should not be using expensive biofuels to make electricity when we have low-cost geothermal,” Ha said in a press release from the mayor’s office.

Richard Ha, the geothermal advocate, on his
family farm.

     Ha was also sponsored by the County of Hawai`i to attend this year’s Association for the Study of Peak Oil Conference, which took place this past October in Washington, D.C.
     A biofuel project on some 13,000 acres between Pahala and Na`alehu was seen as a possible creator of numerous jobs in Ka`u, but the state Public Utilities Commission turned down the proposal that would have put a refinery up Wood Valley Road and trucked the fuel up Hwy 11 to a power plant in Kona. The PUC said that the `Aina Koa Pono proposal would have increased electric rates to customers and that proposals to reduce electric rates should be considered instead. `Aina Koa Pono says it may re-apply and has also talked about growing biofuel crops to refine into transportation fuel, which would not need PUC approval.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC Industries is now asking the Public Utilities Commission for permission to install solar panels on homes at no upfront cost to the homeowners. The plan is for the homeowners to save on electric bills through solar. The proposal awaits PUC approval.

MICHAEL DUBOIS, of Ocean View, has gained the support of Council chairman Dominic Yagong in demanding competitive bids when it comes to the county’s trash and recycling efforts. The issue is the new sorting station that the county plans to operate by investing $9 million and creating new county jobs. 

     According to a report in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, DuBois filed a complaint on Dec. 27 with the county Department of Environmental Management, asking the county to hold off on its new sort station in Hilo in order to call for proposals from the private sector. DuBois, who is known for cleaning up junk vehicles from throughout Ka`u, wrote, “The administration cannot simply expand government services without explaining to the general public islandwide what it intends to accomplish and what it will cost.” He said that the Department of Environmental Management “is in a conflict of interest; the administration is taking an unfair competitive advantage to expand government services rather than explore the possibility that the best possible services exist within the private sector. It is unfair to strike out early and establish an irreversible advantage over its competition and take control of the sort station,” wrote Dubois.

Dominic Yagong pushes for private bids for sorting and
recycling. Photo from Big Island Video News

     According to the Tribune-Herald story, county Environmental Management director Dora Beck said the county plans to go forward with the sort station and that a permit from the state Department of Health should be approved “any day now.” The county plans to extend the life of the Hilo landfill by removing most of the green, paper and organic waste before garbage is disposed there. Using mini-excavators and loaders, workers would sort out recyclables and the rest would be loaded into a truck for the landfill. 

     Both Dubois and Yagong point to private companies that want to install a Materials Recovery Facility and invest private money to build it rather than adding onto county cost and county jobs. The MRF proposals would allow the private companies to collect tipping fees and sell off recyclables.
     Yagong wrote a letter to Mayor Billy Kenoi yesterday, asking for the bidding process to go forward. According to the story Kenoi objected. The garbage plans may become one of the campaign issues should Yagong go forward with running against Kenoi in this year’s mayoral contest.

CAPTAIN ROBERT MOORE AND MEGAN LAMSON present an update on plastics in the ocean this Friday at 5 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center Niaulani Campus. Moore is the author of Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain’s Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Ocean. Cassandra Phillips, who lives on the Big Island, is co-author. Moore was sailing his 50-foot catamaran from Hawai`i to California when he discovered the Pacific Garbage Patch, full of plastics and other trash from around the Pacific basin, concentrated in a gyre than circulates out at sea. Since the discovery, he has researched the damage discarded plastics are doing to the marine food chain as well as creating hazards to ocean life. Lamson works with Hawai`i Wildlife Fund organizing volunteer clean-up days along the Ka`u coast, where plastic washes up on shore.

Ka'u News Briefs Jan. 3, 2012

Civil Defense and the National Weather Service warn beachgoers of high surf through Thursday morning. High surf in
the past has produced this explosive activity at the South Point Blowhole. Photo by Peter Anderson

INSURANCE PREMIUM COMPARISONS FOR HOMEOWNERS and renters are available online for the first time, courtesy of the state Insurance Division. Homeowner’s insurance is not required by law in Hawai`i. When a home is mortgaged, however, lenders almost always require insurance for the duration of the loan. Homeowner’s insurance provides protection for the dwelling, personal property, and on-site buildings if damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. 

     The state comparison of insurance costs also includes condominiums. Hawai`i insurance commissioner Gordon Ito said insurance prices were provided by those companies that volunteered to give them out, about half the insurance companies doing business in Hawai`i. “While Hawai`i residents face increasing prices and rising fees, taking advantage of the premium rate comparison table is one way they can help themselves manage costs,” Ito said. “Insurance companies are spurred to lower costs when consumers shop around and compare.” See the comparison charts at www.hawaii.gov/dcca/ins. Some insurance companies charge almost half as much as others.

AN ORANGE ALERT for elevated SO2 blanketed Pahala for seven and a half hours yesterday. In addition, monitors registered more than an hour of moderately bad air on the same day. For orange alerts, the state Department of Health says, “Members in sensitive groups, including healthy individuals with mild asthma, may experience health effects. Toward the upper end of this range, most asthmatics who are active outdoors are likely to experience some breathing difficulties. General public not expected to be affected in this range.” The health department recommends: “Avoid outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing through the mouth. If you experience difficulties, such as chest tightness or wheezing, stop activities, use a rescue inhaler and find a place to sit down and rest. Potential health effects not expected, however actions to reduce exposure to vog may be useful,” says the recommendation. 

     Planners for the new regional disaster shelter and gymnasium to be built in Pahala are deciding how many square feet of shelter area where air can be cleaned from SO2 and particulates will be designed into the building. The project, with more than $17 million released in funding, is overseen by the county Department of Public Works and Department of Parks & Recreation. The architect and engineer is Mitsunaga & Associates of Honolulu. An Environmental Assessment by PBR Hawai`i & Associates is expected in February.

MONSTER WAVES are starting to roll into the islands. The northwest swell is expected to peak with high tide tonight. Water and riptides are expected to be very dangerous. Waves could top 30 feet. This is the first big swell of the year. Be careful at the South Point Blowhole and even along the Kalae cliffs and the beaches at Punalu`u and the shore of Honu`apo.

     Hawai`i County Civil Defense has issued a warning, and the National Weather Service has issued a High Surf Warning for the north, east and west facing shores effective this evening until Thursday morning. Due to the high surf the following safety precautions are in effect, says Civil Defense. Oceanfront residents and beachgoers along the affected shores are urged to be on the alert for high and dangerous surf conditions. Boat owners should take measures to secure their vessels. The National Weather Service reports that surf will increase dramatically tonight and peak Wednesday afternoon.

Lava flowing into the ocean, visible during recent weeks from boats offshore. Photo by Teresa Tico

THE CONTINUOUS ERUPTION of Kilauea Volcano marks 29 years today. Just after midnight on Jan. 3, 1983, the East Rift eruption began. Since then it has taken houses, destroyed beach parks and started forest fires, as well as adding land onto the island. 

     This is also Volcano Awareness Month. Tonight geologist Tim Orr reviews highlights and talks about recent developments on Kilauea’s east rift zone at After Dark in the Park at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donation supports park programs.
     As part of Volcano Awareness Month, guided hikes are scheduled throughout the month. Tomorrow’s hike, exploring the hidden world of lava tubes, begins at 1 p.m. at the Kilauea Iki Overlook on Crater Rim Drive. Park entrance fees apply.

CAPT. ROBERT MOORE AND MEGAN LAMSON will present an update on plastics in the ocean this Friday at 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus. Moore is the author of Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain’s Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Ocean. Cassandra Phillips, who lives on the Big Island, is co-author. Moore was sailing his 50-foot catamaran from Hawai`i to California when he discovered the Pacific Garbage Patch, full of plastics and other trash from around the Pacific basin, concentrated in a gyre than circulates out at sea. Since the discovery, he has researched the damage discarded plastics are doing to the marine food chain as well as creating hazards to ocean life. Lamson works with Hawai`i Wildlife Fund organizing volunteer clean-up days along the Ka`u coast, where much of the plastic washes up on shore.

Ka'u News Briefs Jan. 2, 2012

New Year's Day at Punalu`u with a Hawaiian green sea turtle appearing to watch over swimmers, beachgoers and an
outrigger canoe taking the ashes of Punalu`u son, Uncle Chris Bangay, out to sea. Photo by Julia Neal

  

 TOURISM racked up some $12 billion for the Hawai`i economy in 2011, even though businesses and families overall experienced a lot of economic stress. Growth in tourism is expected to continue, particularly from Asia, as Chinese and Korean trends are following the Japanese tradition of coming to Hawai`i. Japanese honeymoon traffic was up 23 percent last year. Also up was Japanese staying in vacation rentals, indicating more independent travel for longer stays. The overall number of people staying in bed and breakfasts increased last year, keeping more of the visitor money in the local economy.


AN ADDITIONAL $235,300 IN DESIGN FUNDS were relesed for the Ka`u FEMA-certified Civil Defense Shelter, to be built next to the Ka`u High campus. This is in addition to the $16.9 million previously released after the state Legislature approved $17.9 for the project. The governor announced the release of the money at the end of the year as portion of a total of more than $63.7 million for projects statewide.

     Mitsunaga & Associates was given the contract for the architecture and engineering for the project which is overseen by the county.

FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY projects for the Big Island were reported this morning by Peter Sur in Hawai`i Tribune Herald in a story on whether the $2.2 billion in government stimulus money helped the state of Hawai`i. He writes that the Legislative Federal Economic Stimulus Program Oversight Commission has filed a draft report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
     Projects affecting Ka`u include more than nearly $8 million in work in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, including the $6.6 million Emergency Operations Center, which is already completed. The federal money also funded $3.3 million in upgrades for U.S. Geological Survey equipment at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; and $1 million in mass transit funding.

The Visitor Emergency Operations Center at Hawai`i Volcanoes National
Park was built with federal stimulus money. Photo by Stephen Geiger

     Other projects, according to the Tribune-Herald report, included $16 million for University of Hawai`i at Hilo College of Pharmacy electronic medical record pilot project; more than $3 million for job training and homeless prevention; $4 million for Fire Department equipment and station construction; $7.5 million for sewage systems; $2.69 million for habitat restoration; $4.74 million for drinking water projects; $5.3 million for upgrades to the Hilo federal building; $2.58 million to install photovoltaic systems at the Pohakuloa Training Area; $2.31 million for security improvements at Hilo and Lihu`e airports; $3.6 million for improvements to North Kona and Hamakua public housing projects; $2.64 million in small business loans; and $3.3 million for senior housing.
     According to the Tribune-Herald story, the committee, commenting on the stimulus spending statewide, did not come up with a strong opinion on the spending. “Whether and to what extent the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 accomplished its purpose will not be clear for quite some time and is a question best left to others better qualified and equipped to make that judgment," their report to the 2012 state Legislature said.

THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP AND KAULUNANI URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAMS are reaching out for volunteers to be committee members. Under the auspices of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee reviews project proposals and management plans for the Forest Stewardship and Forest Legacy Programs. Ideal candidates are those with significant forestry and/or conservation experience in Hawai`i. The committee meets four times a year in venues throughout the state, and appointments are for three years.
     For further information, contact Sheri Mann, at DLNR-Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 808- 587-4172, or email Sheri.S.Mann@hawaii.gov. Visit hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw.
     The Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program Council reviews proposals to DLNR for funding to encourage citizen involvement in creating and supporting long-term urban and community forestry projects and programs throughout Hawai`i.
     Issues of concern include mapping the urban tree canopy and maintaining a tree inventory; advancing the knowledge of tropical urban forestry, management plans, and best management practices; training for urban forestry industry professionals; and creating public awareness of the value and benefits of trees.
     The council meets four times per year and appointments are for three years. For more information contact Teresa Trueman-Madriaga at 808-672-3383 or by email at ttm@hawaii.rr.com.
     Ka`u and Volcano have the largest pristine native forests in all of Hawai`i.

Uncle Chris Bangay was honored on New Year's
Day at the Henry Opukaha`ia Chapel at Punalu`u.
Photo by Julia Neal

PUNALU`U AND HONU`APO BEACH PARKS were hubs of New Year’s Day activities yesterday. A special ceremony with chanting, prayer and the launching of an outrigger canoe celebrated the life of the late Chris Bangay, who grew up at Punalu`u and was known as a friend to all. Bangay, along with his sister Pele Hanoa, was instrumental in locating historic sites at Punalu`u during various discussions for proposed developments there. He assisted with a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in Pahala and was known for his fishing skills and storytelling.

TOMORROW IS THE 29TH ANNIVERSARY of Kilauea’s ongoing east rift zone eruption. Geologist Tim Orr reviews highlights and talks about recent developments on Kilauea’s east rift zone at Tuesday’s After Dark in the Park program at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donation supports park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

CAPTAIN CHARLES MOORE discusses his book Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain’s Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Oceans on Friday, Jan. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Moore identified and studied the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where plastic debris from around the North Pacific Rim is swirled together by ocean currents. His book will be available.