Ka`u News Briefs April 6, 2012

ML Macadamia's Pahala husking plant on Olson Trust lands. Photo by Julia Neal

ML MACADAMIA ORCHARDS, LP, with offices in Pahala and Kea`au, plans to change its name to Royal Hawaiian Orchards to expand its husking plant in Pahala and possibly build its own processing plant to make macadamia nut products here. ML, with its 5,000 acres of macadamia trees, currently operates the husking plant between Pahala and Hwy 11 on Olson Trust land. ML says it is the largest macadamia nut grower in the world. According a story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, if it raises the money ML may invest $10 to $12 million in a processing plant, and $1.5 million to $2 million for drying and storage facilities as well as improve the husking plant. ML would invest in existing orchards to increase yield and seek mature orchards to add to its inventory. ML would spend $5 million to $7 to develop the Royal Hawaiian Orchards brand name, a variety of products and new packaging, wholesaling and retailing. 

ML Macadamia, with offices in Pahala and Kea`au, is
planning its own mac nut brand. Photo by Julia Neal

      “ML plans to rely on existing investors in the company to finance an ambitious plan,” says the story by Honolulu Star Advertiser reporter Andrew Gomes. He writes that ML has registered to sell partnership units to existing owners to generate up to $20 million to finance the expansion. The effort could double the market value of the company, the story predicts.

      If it raises the money to roll out its own brand, ML Macadamia would stop selling raw nuts to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., as its contracts expire, and use its own nuts to process and sell under its new name, Royal Hawaiian Orchards.
      The new executive vice president of sales and marketing is Scott Wallace, a former president and CEO of Mauna Loa. He also ran a fresh fruit company called Fruit Patch.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE meeting is open to the public on Tuesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Hawai`i County long -range planner Ron Whitmore says the purpose of the meeting is solely to give a project update. “The draft CDP is still in progress and is not on the agenda for discussion,” said Whitmore. He added that once the draft is complete there will be several publicized opportunities to discuss it.
      Whitmore gave an update on the following Ka`u planning matters not on the agenda for the CDP meeting:

Kawa is the subject of a county stewardship and not on the agenda for
the CDP meeting Tuesday. Photo by Julia Neal

      Kawa Stewardship Plan. The Mayor’s office is working with local families and community members to draft a stewardship plan for the land purchased for the public at Kawa.
      Kawa Drainage Environmental Assessment. The comment period has closed for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed raising of Hwy 11 at Kawa by the state Department of Transportation to prevent road flooding. The Draft EA is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      Pahala Emergency Shelter & Gym is being planned by the county. The comment period for the Draft Environmental Assessment closed in March. The Draft EA is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      Ka`u Forest Reserve Environmental Assessment for the management plan for the state Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife is underway by Ron Terry of Geometrician Associates (969-7090, geometricianassociates.com). Terry invites public comment on the Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan that is under development.
      Kahuku Village/Nani Kahuku `Aina proposed private development. Comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement closed in November 2011. The Draft EIS is available at http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov.
      For more visit www.kaucdp.info or call Whitmore at 961-8137.

Tunnel work to restore water above Pahala for
irrigation. Photo courtesy of Olson Trust

THE KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER COOPERATIVE DISTRICT committee will hold its next meeting Thursday, April 12 at Pahala Community Center at 4 p.m. Steering committee member Jeff McCall said that, after Mayor Billy Kenoi’s talk story meeting in Na`alehu, the group was asked to work with Dayday Hopkins of the Hawai`i County Research & Development agency to meet and discuss ag water in Ka’u. Representatives of the state Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Development Corp., Department of Land & Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Kamehameha Schools, USDA Rural Development and county Department of Water Supply are invited. 

      Scott Enright, deputy director of Department of Agriculture, and Jimmy Nakatani, executive director of Agribusiness Development Corp., came to Ka`u recently to visit irrigation facilities and receive updates. Enright said $500,000 released by the governor to the state Department of Agriculture is for planning the revitalization of the old plantation water system in Ka`u. Each region is being asked to prioritize projects for their areas.

A HEALTH FAIR TOMORROW is open to everyone at Miloli`i Halau. It is sponsored by University of Hawai`i-Hilo pharmacy students who belong to Gamma Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public can receive cholesterol and diabetes screenings, blood pressure monitoring and health education while enjoying live entertainment, raffle prizes, children’s activities and free lunch.

EASTER SUNDAY brings several events to Ka`u.

IN NA`ALEHU, Assembly of God hosts an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. Call 929-7278 for more.

The King is Coming to Ocean View.

IN OCEAN VIEW, The King is Coming, a free musical drama, is offered at 10 a.m. by Ocean View Evangelical Community Church. Call 939-9089 for more.

IN VOLCANO, Kilauea Military Camp offers three events. From 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crater Rim Café guests can feast on glazed ham, beef pot roast, omelets, breakfast meats, potatoes, fresh baked goods and desserts. The Easter Brunch is $17 for adults and $8.50 for keiki 6-11 years old. Starting at 9 a.m. KMC, in partnership with Rotary Club of Volcano, hosts an Easter Egg Hunt for keiki 10 years old and younger in KMC’s Ohia Room. To pre-register call 967-8352. That evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., KMC offers an Easter Dinner Special in the Crater Rim Café. For more, call 967-8366.

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers a Sunday Walk in the Park from noon to 2 p.m. Nick Shema leads the two-part, two-mile roundtrip walk. It starts at Kilauea Visitor Center and explores Sulphur Banks Trail and Crater Rim Trail. The second part starts at Kipukapua`ulu (Bird Park) for a loop trail in a species-rich, ancient, mesic forest. Free to Friends members; non-members are welcome to join in order to attend. For more call 985-7373, email admin@fhvnp.org or visit fhvnp.org. Park entrance fees apply to all KMC and Friends activities mentioned.

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

Ka`u News Briefs April 5, 2012

Ag tourism would be perpetuated by a bill up for vote next week in the state House of Representatives. Photo by Julia Neal

MORE TOURISM ON AG LAND would be allowed under law up for passage in the state legislature. The introduction to the bill says: "The legislature finds that there are many examples across the country of agricultural tourism incorporated within productive farms and ranches. For example, several sites in Napa valley in northern California are well-known agricultural tourism destinations. Agricultural tourism serves as a means to provide not only additional income for farmers and ranchers but also serves as a learning experience for many people who do not have a connection to agriculture."
      Senate Bill 2341, Senate D2 and House D2 would repeal prohibitions on overnight accommodations in ag districts. It would authorize agricultural tourism, including overnight stays for 21 days or less. However the bill is currently written for only those counties with a population greater than 100,999 and less than 150,000, and only in counties with ordinances regulating agricultural tourism. The population restrictions appear to be a final negotiating point of the bill, as none of the counties fit into population requirements. The 2010 census showed Kaua`i with 67,226, Maui with 155,000, the Big Island with 185,406 and O`ahu with 953,207.

Many of Ka`u's ranches and farms are also visitor destination icons like the table top mountains. Photo by Julia Neal

     The Hawai`i Farm Bureau testified that many activities comprise agriculture: farm stands, tours, demonstrations, you-picks and B&Bs. The Farm Bureau sees “as a priority the need to keep bona fide agricultural operations as the primary activity on farmland. Crossing the line to tourist related activities without the agricultural production was not the intent of this measure.”
     The Sierra Club opposed the measure. “To allow such activities as a matter of right would fly in the face of decades of careful protection of agricultural lands.” The Sierra Club testimony quoted the Hawai`i Constitution: "The state shall conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands." The measure goes to vote on the House floor Tuesday, April 10.

Pete Hoffmann

HAWAI`I PROPERTY TAX LAW is unusual nationwide in that each county in this state has leeway in setting property tax policies, according to a recent study. The report studied 3,141 counties across the country and noted relatively low tax rates here compared to other places, reports a story by Peter Sur in Hawai`i Tribune Herald this morning. He covered the presentation yesterday to the County Council Finance Committee by tax consultant Richard Almy.

     Councilman Pete Hoffmann suggested that the reason that that the county sets property taxes at a relatively low rate could possibly relate to the local jurisdiction not being directly responsible for funding schools. Since the school system is operated by a statewide school board with a statewide budget, county council members are one step removed from responsibility for costs of education. Hawai`i is the only state with a centralized school system. Most places have local school boards pressuring local government for higher taxes to pay for better schools.
     The Hawai`i County Council is studying some 40 recommendations on improving tax policies here, ranging from looking at tax exemptions for ag land where ag is not legitimately practiced, to more frequent assessments of property value and a better way for the public to appeal property tax values and other related matters.

A KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL RECIPE CONTEST will be held at the Grand Opening of the Ka`u Coffee Mill on Sunday May 6. Applications for the Triple C Recipe Contest - for cookies, candies and crackers - can be found inserted in this month’s Ka`u Calendar newspaper in the mail and online. Deadline to enter is May 1. For more information visit kaucoffeefest.com or kaucoffeemill.com.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets tonight, 7 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more.

Maui parrotbill. Photo by Alan Lieberman, KBCC

KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER Tour takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees see and learn about native birds that the facility houses, including the ‘alala (Hawaiian crow), which is extinct in the wild; the palila, a finch-billed honeycreeper found only on the slopes of Mauna Kea; the Maui parrotbill, an insectivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper; and the puaiohi, or small Kaua`i thrush. Cost is $20 for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park members and $30 for non-members. Students are half-price. Call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org to register.

FIRST FRIDAY AT VOLCANO ART CENTER is tomorrow at Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the public is invited to join a free class  to search for Hawaiian values and study the Lord’s Prayer (Pule a ka Haku) and other familiar Hawaiian literature. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., VAC offers a free hula class for adults. Keiki Hula, $10 each, will be held from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. For more, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

MILOLI`I HEALTH FAIR is offered this Saturday by Gamma Theta Chapter of Phi Delta Chi Professional Pharmacy Fraternity from University of Hawai`i - Hilo. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public can receive cholesterol and diabetes screenings, blood pressure monitoring, and health education while enjoying live entertainment, raffle prizes, children’s activities and a free lunch.

Ka`u News Briefs April 4, 2012

Farmers are using several different fungi to combat the coffee berry borer. Photo by Karla Casco

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRENDA FORD is questioning Hawai`i Electric Company’s barriers to homeowners wanting to invest in solar energy equipment and sell excess electricity back to the utility. During yesterday’s County Council committee meeting on Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability, she pointed to homeowners having to pay up to $15,000 for a study before HELCO will consider hooking up their solar voltaics to the grid. “Those of us on the council represent a lot of angry consumers of electricity,” Ford told HELCO Pres. Jay Ignacio, according to a story in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today. The report by Nancy Cook Lauer says Ignacio explained that the study is necessary to make sure the electric grid would be stable and said that HELCO customers should not have to pay for the analysis. Ford pressed Ignacio to explain HELCO's profits and high rates charged to customers.

Good farming practices in Ka`u are helping to keep the
borers away, according to a researcher speaking to
farmers last night. Photo by Karla Casco

KA`U COFFEE FARMS are clean and with continued good mnagement have a good chance in successfully battling the coffee berry borer, said researcher and Kona farmer John Sigurdson of Makapueo Farms. He spoke last night at the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative meeting, saying Ka`u farms are different than in Kona where some farms are completely surrounded by abandoned or feral coffee fields full of borers. He also said he observed that Ka`u farmers are taking good care of their coffee fields, through pruning and keeping leaves and old berries off the ground. He presented his research on using a fungus found in Hawai`i to combat the borer and said the cost of this homegrown fungus could be much cheaper than other fungus brought into the islands to fight the problem. He said that one coffee berry borer beetle can produce 30 to 50 beetles in 25 days and with this exponential reproduction rate can produce 6 trillion beetles in eight months. The beetle has devastated farms in Kona.

RADIATION IN THE OCEAN from last year’s Japan tsunami that damaged Fukushima nuclear plants remains under study. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, released this week, report scientists studying the dispersion of cesium-134 and -137, two radioactive isotopes unnatural to the ocean. Cesium-134 has a half-life of a little over two years and could only come from Fukushima reactors. Cesium-137’s half life is about 30 years. It entered the Pacific during above-ground nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s and 60s, providing a benchmark for measuring releases from the Fukushima reactors. Debris from the tsunami could reach the Hawaiian Islands next year, but the scientists expect that much of the radiation will have fallen to the ocean floor before arriving here.

The University of Hawai`i research vessel,
Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa, helps track radiation from the
Fukushima disaster.  Photo from NOAA

     Last summer scientists departed Yokohama, Japan, aboard the University of Hawai`i research vessel Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa. They sampled water from the surface to 3,200 feet in depth and hauled in samples of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and small fish. Their ongoing effort examines 15 different radionuclides likely to have been released from Fukushima.
     They found that the combined amount of radioactive material from the damaged power plant constitutes the largest accidental release of radiation to the ocean in history. However, none of the sampling so far has shown radiation above EPA drinking water standards since it dispersed so broadly in the ocean.

DOLL MAKERS ARE MAKING DOLLS. Musicians are rehearsing. Crafts persons and artists are registering for Ka`u School of the Arts' Spring Fling on May 5 on the grounds of Punalu`u Bake Shop. The vendor form and details are available on-line at www.kauarts.org. Several vendor spots are still available to be reserved.

NEW HIGHS FOR GASOLINE PRICES were recorded this morning. According to AAA, regular averages $4.60 statewide, up more than 27 cents a gallon from a year ago. The nationwide average is $3.93 and the state with the second highest gasoline prices is Alaska. Maui and Big Island prices are higher than O`ahu’s. In Ka`u the price for regular in Pahala at Ka`u Gas is $4.80. It is also $4.80 at the 76 in Na`alehu. In Ocean View, the price of regular at Kahala Gas is $4.72, $4.76 at Ocean View Market and $4.66 at Kahuku Country Mart.

PAHALA COMMUNITY CENTER’S Easter Egg Hunt & Fun Day happens today. Registration and activities begin at 3 p.m., and egg hunt starts at 4 p.m. Call 928-3102 or 929-9611.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH meets tomorrow night, 7 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. Call 939-7033 for more.

Palila on Mamane at Keauhou Bird Conservation Center.
Photo by Ken Bohn

KEAUHOU BIRD CONSERVATION CENTER Tour takes place Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Attendees see and learn about native birds that the facility houses, including the ‘alala (Hawaiian crow), which is extinct in the wild; the palila, a finch-billed honeycreeper found only on the slopes of Mauna Kea; the Maui parrotbill, an insectivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper; and the puaiohi, or small Kaua`i thrush. Cost is $20 for Friends members and $30 for non-members. Students are half-price. Call 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org to register.

FIRST FRIDAY AT VOLCANO ART CENTER is this coming Friday at the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the public is invited to join a free class in which participants search for Hawaiian values and study the lord’s prayer (Pule a ka Haku) and other familiar Hawaiian literature. From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the VAC offers a free hula class for adults. Keiki Hula, $10 each, will be held from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. For more, call 967-8222 or visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.

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