Ka`u News Briefs March 14, 2012

Republicans vote to nominate a candidate for U.S. President at Na`alehu School in the first ever Republican caucus in Hawai`i as an observer from the Democratic Party stands over the polling place. Photo by Julia Neal

LIBERTARIAN RON PAUL won the Hawai`i county Republican caucus last night with 32 percent of the vote, edging out Mitt Romney who took 31 percent, Rick Santorum with 23 percent and Newt Gingrich with 15 percent. The win gave Paul one delegate towards nomination to become the Republican candidate for U.S. President.

Republicans, comprised of Tea Party,
Liberation and traditional party members,
fly Old Glory at the caucus in Na`alehu.  
Photo by Julia Neal

      Paul lost on the other islands, with 30 percent of the vote in Maui County, just under Romney’s 31 percent. Paul took 26 percent of the vote on Kaua`i where both Romney and Santorum beat him.
      Romney took 56 percent of the vote in the City & County of Honolulu, followed by Santorum, giving Romney the win statewide. The allocation from the first ever Republican caucus voting in Hawai`i gives nine delegates to Romney, four to Santorum, one to Paul and zero to Gingrich.
      Voting was held in Ka`u at Na`alehu and Ocean View. There was also a Republican caucus in Volcano. Republican Party leaders said the turnout was bigger than expected and some places ran out of ballots. In Na`alehu, people exiting the polling place were open about their support; some chosing the Libertarian, small government ideas of Ron Paul, others the conservatism of Rick Santorum and still others the moderation of Mitt Romney. A number of people identified themselves with the Tea Party.

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT late yesterday afternoon as a truck carrying a big earth mover struck a utility pole on Kama`oa Road above Discovery Harbour. Traffic was rerouted for hours. No one was injured but the pole snapped, falling on the truck. Electricity was interrupted in Na`alehu.

A 3.4 EARTHQUAKE SHOOK the earth yesterday six miles south of Volcano Village inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. No damage nor injuries reported.

Photo from coffeebeandirect.com

INSPECTION OF GREEN COFFEE BEANS being shipped out of their origin region and also out of the state would end if House Bill 280 passes the state Senate. State Department of Agriculture Chair Russell Kokubun provided testimonyfor a public hearing yesterday before the Senate Agriculture Committee. He explained: “Prior to 1997, green coffee certification was conducted on a voluntary basis for users requesting certification. Following a counterfeit scandal, a coffee dealer was indicted for fraud for selling counterfeit green Kona coffee at depressed prices in the mainland. This prompted legislation that required all Hawai`i-grown green coffee be certified prior to leaving the geographic region of production. However, this requirement did not apply to roasted Hawai`i-grown coffee.”
      Kokubun noted that a reduction in state Department of Agriculture staff means there is only one full-time Agricultural Commodities Marketing Specialist to inspect coffee on the west side of this island. This results in delay of inspections with a turnaround time of up to three to four weeks. The delay in exporting the coffee “limits cash flow needed to pay their coffee producers in a timely manner,” Kokubun testified. He said his department supports voluntary certification of origin but would conduct unannounced inspections to make sure coffees are from their stated origin. He also said the measure “would not trump the current quarantines in place that are meant to prevent the spread of coffee berry borer or other potential invasive pests or diseases.”
      The statewide Hawai`i Farm Bureau also supported the measure “provided that stiff, enforceable penalties in the law will punish and deter the act of counterfeiting Hawaiian grown coffee,” testified its CEO Bryan Miyamoto. The Ka`u Farm Bureau, in testimony from its President Chris Manfredi, supports lifting the certification but urged making counterfeiting coffee origin “an enforceable felony offense."

Coffee growers are split on whether to eliminate government
origin certification. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      The Kona Coffee Growers Association, however, testified that its 320 members oppose eliminating government coffee origin certification. Its President Cecelia Burns Smith said she is a fourth generation coffee grower and called the bill “unnecessary and dangerous. If enacted it will cause significant economic harm to the hundreds of small family farms both in Kona and in other Hawaiian geographic origins statewide that are developing a reputation for superior quality.”  She said farmers depend on mandatory inspections to ensure grade and geographic origin are certified to maintain reputation for outstanding quality and price.
      Another coffee farmer wrote: “Rather than moving backwards, the State of Hawai`i should be strengthening its systems to provide for Hawai`i-grown coffee protections similar to what Florida provides for Florida Orange Juice, the State of Georgia for Vidalia Onions, Idaho for Idaho Potatoes, and California for Napa Wines.” An inspection fee could pay for the certification, several testifiers suggested. Rep. Denny Coffman, of Kona who, if reelected will represent Ka`u from Manuka through Ocean View to Honu`apo, also opposed the measure as did Rep. Faye Hanohano. The bill was deferred in the Senate Ag committee until March 20.

Mixed Martial Arts fighter, VISTA volunteer
Dylan Rush, is asking for community help
with Ka`u High School Senior Projects.
Photo from MMAHawaii.com

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL is seeking volunteers for a wide variety of activities including coaches, tutors and mentorships for senior projects. High school seniors must create a project to receive a Board of Education certified diploma. Seniors design projects around any topic they choose. Projects this year included a documentary about immigrant Filipino life in the islands, fashion design, stone sculpting, and a drive to collect school supplies. “If you are an expert or just a hobbyist in any field, a kupuna, or just a community member who wants to get involved, you are invited to register as a volunteer for our youth,” said VISTA volunteer Dylan Rush. To register as a volunteer, log onto HelpHawaiiSchools.com. For questions, contact Rush at 310-295-8177.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI and directors of county departments meet and talk with Ka`u residents about projects and issues important to their communities this Monday, March 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.

TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Ka`u `Ohana Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Activities include `oli, mo`olelo, GPS, compass and measuring distance by pacing. Call 985-6019.

HAZEL BECK, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, discusses what it takes to get a business started at a workshop this Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at Na`alehu Community Center. To register, contact Jane Horike at 961-8496 or jhorike@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Ka`u News Briefs March 13, 2012

Megan Collins, right, promotes The Local Buzz Ka`u Coffee and Macadamia Nuts in Philadelphia.

THE FIRST EVER HAWAI`I REPUBLICAN CAUCUS will be held around the state today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Caucus locations to vote for the Republican nomination for President of the United States include Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria just off Hwy 11 for Pahala, Na`alehu, Discovery Harbour, Green Sands and area residents; Ocean View Community Center on Leilani Circle for Miloli`i to Ocean View residents; and New Hope Church in Volcano for Volcano, Glenwood and Mt. View residents.

      Formerly, the Republicans hosted state conventions with delegates where party nominees were selected. For the caucuses this evening, Republicans can show up at any of the locations, just so they don’t vote at more than one location. If not already registered as a Republican, participants can register but must show permanent residency in Hawai`i. 

      The candidates are Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum. The voting sites are set up for all 51 state House Districts as well as Moloka`i, Lana`i and Hana so that anyone can participate in person. These are not mass meetings. They are organized as a party-run Primary Election. See more at http://www.gophawaii.com/2012-presidential-caucus.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY incorporated into school designs and renovations is one of the aims of a bill making its way through the state Legislature this year. SB1197, which goes to public hearing today, is written “to realize economic savings by increasing energy efficiency in state buildings, including schools by requiring the incorporation of alternative energy designs into the construction of, and major renovations to, state buildings,” says the committee report. The county is planning a new gym and community shelter in Pahala and is attempting to make the buildings as energy efficient as possible, given the budget of more than $17 million.

MAKING HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC CO. a distribution company only, in order to allow more competition in the production of power by many producers, failed to get the votes in committees at the state Legislature this year. The bill was authored by Rep. Denny Coffman. The idea is to move Hawaiian Electric out of the production of electricity over time, as Hawaiian Electric power plants are run with fossil fuel. The bill will likely come up again next year. Coffman, a Democrat, is expected to run for the expanded state House District that will span from Kona Airport to Honu`apo. The primary is in August. 

THE KA`U FARM BUREAU last night reviewed legislation involving agriculture. Among the bills discussed that are alive at the state Legislature is SB 2646, which would exempt nonresidential agricultural structures from building permits on land classified ag; SB2341, that would allow overnight stays on ag land; and another bill that would allow `ohana dwellings on ag land. Another bill would limit solar farms to the lower quality ag lands. A bill would allow beekeepers to produce honey without having potable water on site. Another bill would float bonds for loans to keep dams and reservoirs in good shape. Another would provide $147,000 in funding to help the Big Island Invasive Species Committee to eradicate wild and abandoned coffee, which is seen as a major problem in controlling the coffee berry borer. Anyone can go to capitol.hawaii.gov and look up any subject and find proposed legislation. Ka`u Farm Bureau meetings are held the second Monday of each month.

KA`U COFFEE GROWERS Megan Collins and Scott Buske, of Paradise Meadows Orchard & Bee Farm, are just pau with the Philadelphia International Flower Show, one of the largest conventions held in the U.S. with fresh-grown greenery, flowers and agricultural products. They showed off their Local Buzz coffee and macadamia nuts. Their farm is located on 75 acres just off South Point Road. Other Ka`u Coffee that went to the show included award-winning Rusty’s Hawaiian 100 Percent Ka`u Coffee, owner Lorie Obra told the Ka`u Farm Bureau last night. Collins said the show was beautiful and drew 270,000 people. The theme of this year’s show was Hawai`i, and a Big Island General Store promoting local products was sponsored by the county. The Orcino family coffee was also represented and sold out. 

THE NEW COFFEE BERRY BORER educational film was promoted by Melanie Bondera of the Kohala Center on Hawai`i News Now television this morning. The ten-minute film teaches farmers and backyard coffee growers how to fight the pest that could devastate the Ka`u Coffee industry if it gets a hold here. She talked about freezing, drying and burying infected beans. Kona coffee farmers are suffering from 80 percent of their coffee being attacked by the borers. Bondera said that Kamehameha School is mailing out DVDs of the film on fighting coffee berry borers to all its tenants. The film can be seen on the Kamehameha Schools youtube channel. Ka`u Coffee Mill is also planning to provide the DVD to all farmers who bring their coffee for processing at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The film can be viewed at  www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWNWScDGAA8.

KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION will complete its merger with CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union in the first week of April with the final data merger between the two organizations. For April all Ka`u Federal Credit Union members will begin receiving statements from CU Hawai`i. The legal merger with the larger, islandwide credit union was finalized on Feb. 1. All accounts remain insured through the National Credit Union Administration for up to $250,000. Members of KFCU need not take any action if they have certificates with the credit union. No action is needed if for paychecks, social security or any other reoccurring checks deposited in the credit union. Automatic payments from credit union accounts will also be continued by CU Hawai`i. KFCU members can log onto www.cuhawaii.com to become familiar with CU Hawai`i. 

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL MEETING will be held next Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center, not tonight as reported in yesterday’s news briefs. The meetings will be held every two weeks until the festival on May 12.

AKU HAUANIO, a Hawaiian kau la`au fisherman, offers a look at cliff-top fishing, or hang baiting at After Dark in the Park tonight at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

Lehua Domingo demonstrates her art. Photo courtesy of NPS.

LEI HULU A ME ULANA PAPALE LAUHALA are topics tomorrow from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Lehua Domingo shares the `anoni style of weaving pandanus leaves into a hat. Her son, lei maker Kilohana, demonstrates the art of feather work, and his na lei hulu, or feather lei, will be on display. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK invites the entire family to Ka`u `Ohana Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Kahuku Unit. Activities include `oli, mo`olelo, GPS, compass and pacing. Tomorrow is the deadline to sign up. Call 985-6019.

HAZEL BECK, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, discusses what it takes to get a business started at a workshop on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at Na`alehu Community Center. To register, contact Jane Horike at 961-8496 or jhorike@co.hawaii.hi.us.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs March 12, 2012

Feral pigs on the run in Hawai`i. Photo from yourdiscovery.com

REMOVING FERAL PIGS should be accompanied by removing invasive plants where protecting native forests is the goal. This is suggested by a University of Hawai`i study published in Biotropica: The Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation. The study conducted at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park showed that 16 years after pig eradication from a section of the park, native plant growth increased, but so did invasive plant growth. Some hunters contend that pigs help keep the invasive plant populations down, but an author of the study told Civil Beat that the pigs carry the seeds of the invasives all over the forest.
      Civil Beat reporter Laura Berbusse writes about the research and reviews the history of pigs here. “Native plant species first came into contact with pigs when the animals were brought to Hawai`i by early Polynesian settlers more than 1,000 years ago. Then, in 1778, Captain Cook released European pigs, among other grazing animals, on the Hawaiian Islands in order to ensure a food source for crews of future voyages. Conservationists say the pigs damage the environment by eating and destroying native vegetation, by wallowing and rooting and contaminating watersheds,” the Civil Beat story says.
      During recent meetings on managing state and national park forests around the islands, hunters testifed that lifting hunting restrictions could help get rid of the pigs faster.

      Civil Beat reports the view of Mary Ikagawa, a botanist working on her University of Hawai`i masters degree, who maintains the website rarehawaii.org. Ikagawa said the “big thing is that other states are very clear with their residents about the need to control feral pigs, and even engage the public to help.” She said that Texas, Florida, Missouri and several others encourage public control of pigs through trapping and unlimited hunting. These plans are counter to those proposed for such places as Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area on the Big Island, where hunters opposed a hunting ban for 4,800 acres at recent hearing. Civil Beat quotes Ikagawa, saying the state is “alienating hunters from conservationists when the two should be tight, working together to protect the land.” See more at www.civilbeat.com, www.tropicalbio.org and www.rarehawaii.org.

AGRICULTURAL THEFT is a felony, the Hawai`i Police Department is reminding the public. HPD is looking for someone who stole longon plants and also investigating the reported theft of Manuel Marques’ coffee cherry from Moa`ula. Local farmers and homeowners also complain that people steal their bananas and possibly sell them. Felony theft can draw jail time.

SOME HAWAI`I COINS were misprinted by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia with extra islands shown northwest of the Big Island. Collectible coin expert Joe Au-Franze says he has seen about 85 of the misprinted quarters so far, with ten main Hawaiian Islands instead of eight. He will display the Hawai`i quarters at a coin collectors meeting on O`ahu this week. The misprinted Hawai`i quarters are expected to become very valuable.

KA`U RESIDENTS WILL HAVE an opportunity to meet and talk with county leadership about projects and issues important to their communities next Monday, March 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School. The visit by Mayor Billy Kenoi and directors of county departments is hosted by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association and Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u.

COMMENTS ON THE KA`U DISTRICT Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment are due by Friday, March 23.
      The draft EA discusses pertinent impacts that could change depending on design changes prompted by budget limitations and public input.
      The impact on views from nearby houses could change depending on the building’s height. The plan shows the gym higher than code allows, requiring a variance. The variance could be denied or the roof made flat in order to save money. The taller building was planned in order to allow volleyball and basketball games without the balls hitting the ceiling and also to maintain a plantation-style roofline.
      The design requires balancing school and community needs within budget, the draft EA puts forth. The determination on whether functional spaces should be designed for a recreation room, multi-purpose room, weight room, wrestling/martial arts room; and whether these rooms duplicate existing facilities at the community center or school, provide multi-purpose opportunities such as classroom space, or complement the uses of the old gym and existing room building “are questions being worked on by a multi-stakeholder user group that includes the Department of Education, County Parks & Recreation, and Civil Defense Agency,” the draft EA states.

The proposed roofline of the gym is subject to change depending on budget constraints, public input and
receiving a height variance, since it is currently higher than code allows.

      The document explains that air-conditioning and filters for vog mitigation systems are expensive and that the capacity would depend on the primary use of selected space and the relative proportion of the budget allocated to this purpose. The draft EA states that Civil Defense is comfortable with the present design capacity as a shelter from vog for 120 persons in a room separate from the gym. However, new Civil Defense director Ben Fuata said he will study the issue.
      Another issue being addressed is sustainability features, which reduce the impact in terms of energy and resource consumption and water quality impacts such as mitigation of impervious surfaces. The proposed design and current budget supports an equivalent to LEED silver certification. However, “the potential to increase impacts on energy consumption and water quality increases as compromises are made in the design to fit budget constraints,” the draft EA states.
      The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html.
      Comments can be sent to Tammy Kapali, Planner, PBR Hawai`i & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Honolulu, HI 96813 or faxed to 808-523-1402. Comments can also be sent to County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works, Attn: David Yamamoto, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720 or faxed to 808-961-8630.

KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL meetings take place tomorrow and every Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center leading up the festival on May 12 and an education day on May 13. Members of the public who would like to help the farmers promote their award-winning coffee and put on the event to thank the community for their support can join in.

AKU HAUANIO, a Hawaiian kau la`au fisherman, offers a look at cliff-top fishing, or hang baiting at After Dark in the Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Two-dollar donations support park programs. Park entrance fees apply.

Kilohana Domingo displays his feather lei.
Photo from NPS

LEI HULU A ME ULANA PAPALE LAUHALA are topics Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center’s lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Lei maker Kilohana Domingo demonstrates the art of feather work, and his na lei hulu, or feather lei, will be on display. Domingo’s mother, Lehua, shares the `anoni style of weaving pandanus leaves into a hat. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply. 

THE ENTIRE FAMILY is invited to Ka`u `Ohana Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Activities include `oli, mo`olelo, GPS, compass and pacing. Sign up by Wednesday at 985-6019.

HAZEL BECK, of Hawai`i Small Business Development Center, discusses what it takes to get a business started at a workshop on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at Na`alehu Community Center. To register, contact Jane Horike at 961-8496 or jhorike@co.hawaii.hi.us.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.