Ka`u News Briefs July 30, 2012

Ka`u High and Pahala Elementary School welcomed back students today to its large, uncrowded campus.
Photo by Julia Neal

TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND public school students are back to class today throughout the state.

      In Ka`u, Na`alehu School provides education to 420 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. At the helm is principal Darlene Javar and vice principal Karen Pare.
      Pahala Elementary School is teaching 154 students. Ka`u Intermediate is educating 135 students in grades 7 – 8. Ka`u High School is preparing 252 students for their futures. The principal for all three is Sharon Beck, assisted by vice principal Stacy Bello.
      Ka`u is unaffected by the statewide loss of some school bus routes. Elsewhere, some 2,000 students are making it to school without a school bus. About 1,000 of them will be able to go to school on city buses. For Ka`u, however, the school bus service will remain the same, and the Hele-On public bus service continues to provide after-school routes enabling student participation in sports and other activities.

TEACHERS ARE WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT. Those who teach full time belong to the Hawai`i State Teachers Association, and the union has urged them to return to work as union leaders attempt to go back to the bargaining table for a final settlement with the state Department of Education. Gov. Neil Abercrombie notified the teachers they could not use the contract they first rejected and then accepted in May and urged starting with a clean slate.

TSUNAMI CLEANUP GRANTS of up to $50,000 for each state are available from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Selected states are Hawai`i, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. All of them face the Pacific, where debris from the Japan tsunami last year is expected to land. 

      NOAA has also launched an online reporting system and Marine Debris Handling Guide at http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/tsunamidebris/debris_handling.html.
      Nancy Wallace, director of NOAA’s marine debris program, said federal funds will help with disposal fees, cleanup supplies and dumpster rentals and that NOAA will help the states address contingency planning, monitoring and research.

Matson delivers cargo to Hawai`i. Photo from matson.com

MATSON AND PASHA may have to pay more for fuel, which could raise cargo shipping costs for Hawai`i. An EPA rule goes into effect this week requiring lower sulfur fuel content when ships travel within 200 miles of land. The state of Alaska has been aggressive in lobbying for relief from the new EPA ruling. The Alaska Economic Journal reports that fuel costs could go up 20 to 25 percent for the required “special blended diesel.” Some shippers are predicting an eight percent rise in shipping rates. They also contend that a larger quantity of fuel will be necessary to travel the same distances, as the low sulfur mix produces less energy. They also claim that engines will eventually have to be replaced or modified to handle the new fuel.

Pasha's Jean Anne Photo from
pashahawaii.com

      Alaska is more affected by the new rule since ships travel close to land when sailing between large West Coast ports and Alaska. On their journey between Hawai`i and the mainland, however, shippers are allowed to switch to the higher sulfur fuel once they are 200 miles off the coast.

Four candidates are on the ballot for County
Council District 6.

THE PRIMARY ELECTION COMING UP IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS could end up in a number of run-offs. One of the County Council candidates - Brenda Ford, Maile Davis, Lee McIntosh or Bradley Westervelt - would have to receive 50 percent plus one vote to make the primary the determining election for District 6. With no clear majority, a run-off would be scheduled for the general election on Nov. 6. For the mayor’s race between incumbent Billy Kenoi, former mayor Harry Kim, County Council chair Dominic Yagong and candidates Share Christie, Daniel Cunningham, Anne Marsh and Rand Walls, the top two vote-getters will campaign for the win in the general.

EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARY starts today in Hilo, Kona and Waimea, but no longer at Pahala Community Center. Voters can cast ballots at West Hawai`i Civic Center Community Room, Waimea Community Center and Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo through Thursday, Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., including Saturday, Aug. 4.

State lands in Ka`u are in light green, showing a large swath
next to Ocean View, the Wai`ohinu ahupua`a going to the
ocean, property near Punalu`u and the largest holding, the
Ka`u Forest Reserve.

THE NEW PUBLIC LAND DEVELOPMENT CORP. is starting to move on its mission to make more efficient and economic use of state lands. On the Big Island, the agency is proposing to take control of a kiawe forest and protect it. On O`ahu, it’s tidying up a lease for the golf course in Waimanalo. The agency is taking proposals from private developers to develop farmland in Ewa. 

      According to this morning’s Honolulu Star Advertiser, it is the director of the Public Land Development Corp. who is allowed to select projects for state land. The agency is tasked with increasing state revenues from land managed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Projects could include harbors, resorts, commercial centers and recreational centers. The Public Land Development Corp. is exempt from land use classification and zoning regulations. The Star Advertiser reported on an O`ahu public hearing last week where the Sierra Club protested the process and a historian said, “We don’t trust what you guys are up to,” and several Ewa residents said they would fight the development on farmland owned by the state.
      No lands have been proposed for development in Ka`u, although the state does own properties along the Ka`u Coast, including parcels adjacent to Punalu`u.

BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME to play Duplicate Bridge, tomorrow and every Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Contact Pat at 375-6271 or Susan at 375-6821 or stbrown@hawaii.edu for more information. 

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Ka`u News Briefs July 29, 2012

A report from North Hawai`i Outcomes Project shows Ka`u as the district with the highest poverty rates on the island, contributing to health challenges.

THE HEALTH PROFILE OF HAWAI`I COUNTY has improved by some measures and worsened by others, according to the recently released 2012 Community Health Profile Report. 

      The report, which can be read online at nhop.org, was put together by the North Hawai`i Outcomes Project and leads with the saying, “Community health is profoundly affected by the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs of everyone who lives in the community.” It also says poverty contributes to health challenges and shows Ka`u as the district with the highest poverty rates on the island.

Chart from North Hawai`i Outcomes Project
shows factors that determine health.

      The study shows that confirmed child abuse cases are decreasing. Traffic deaths dropped by half during the last decade. However, diabetes rates doubled statewide, and suicide rates in this county increased, the study says. Project director, Dr. Sharon Vitousek, said that suicide rates are 20.7 deaths per 100,000 Big Island residents. This far exceeds the statewide average of 12.8 per 100,000 and slightly exceeds the nationwide average of 20 per 100,000.
      The study ties higher suicide rate on the neighbor islands to economic challenges, with 50 to 70 percent tied to alcohol, drugs and depression. The 2005 rate for suicide in Hawai`i County was five per 100,000 residents.
      Diabetes continues to be a problem, and the lack of primary care physicians may mean that some people are not getting diagnoses of diabetes early, leading to a higher rate of people being hospitalized for diabetes than in other counties. Ten percent of Big Islanders have reported a diagnosis of diabetes.
      The overall population of Hawai`i County is shown to be less healthy than the overall state, attributing the problem to “lower income per capita, more income disparity, higher smoking and binge drinking rates, higher obesity rates and significantly lower access to healthcare.”
      It suggests public policy interventions to improve education; economic development of education, science, energy and health sectors; and workforce development of the same sectors.

Ed Case
Photo by William Neal

ENDORSEMENTS FOR U.S. SENATE candidates are building. 

      Ed Case recently won the endorsement of West Hawai`i Today and also Maui News and the University of Hawai`i Professional Assembly, as well as Elevator Constructors Local 126 and Veterans in Politics International. 

Mazie Hirono
Photo by William Neal

      Mazie Hirono last week received the endorsement of U.S. House Rep. Don Young, a Republican from Alaska, drawing criticism from his party and from Hawai`i Republican senatorial candidate Linda Lingle. Hirono also has endorsements from the Honolulu Star Advertiser, League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Ocean Champions, Women’s Campaign Fund and numerous unions, including AFL-CIO, Hawai`i Laborers Union, Hawai`i Government Employees Association, Hawai`i State Teachers Association, Hawai`i Firefighters Association, United Public Workers and International Longshore & Warehouse Union.

Linda Lingle supporters marched in a Fourth of July Parade.
Photo by William Neal

Linda Lingle has been endorsed by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hawai`i Restaurant Association, State of Hawai`i Organization of Police Officers and Honolulu Fire Department Retirees. 

THE STEERING COMMITTEE of the Ka`u Agricultural Water Cooperative District is moving forward, with its subgroups coming up with articles and bylaws for managing water systems for crop and orchard irrigation and livestock. Dennis Horita, of Honolulu, is expected to send a crew soon to survey the tunnels and waterways from the old plantation water system between Kapapala, Na`alehu and Wai`ohinu. The water sources have such names as Ali`i Springs, Ha`ao Springs and Noguchi Tunnel.
      During the July meeting, the Moa`ula group members reported that they were awaiting legal review of their articles and bylaws. The Ha`ao group reported their articles and bylaws are ready for review.
       Melanie Bondera, of the Kohala Center, offered advice and direction on organizing co-ops. She shared water rules and membership agreements developed by the East Kauai Water Users’ Cooperative as examples for the regional entities. She presented a sample irrigation survey that could be distributed to members and prospective members to measure interest in the organization and willingness to contribute with time and/or finances.
       The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 9 at 4 p.m. at the ML Mac Nut Field Office. For more information, contact Jeff McCall at 928-6456.

Bradley Westervelt

COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE BRADLEY WESTERVELT held two talk story events in Ka`u yesterday. He reports “a rising tide of support,” with the events being well attended. He said supporters are looking for a candidate “who is not a bureaucrat or career politician.” Among the topics discussed were the county’s landfill issue and residents’ visions of sustainability. Sustainability is one of Westervelt’s key platform topics. “We must prioritize resources toward sustainability for our economy, our environment and most importantly, the people,” he says on his website. He co-authored Resolution 167-11, the sustainable habitat resolution calling upon Public Works to create an owner option alternative building code for supporting structures on ag-zoned parcels, which passed County Council in last September. He is director and treasurer of Hawai`i Sustainable Communities Alliance. See more at bradwestervelt.com.

EARLY ABSENTEE WALK-IN VOTING begins tomorrow and runs through Thursday, Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include Saturday, Aug. 4. The ballot includes choices for a new County Council member, mayor, state senator and representative and U.S. senator and representative. Pahala Community Center walk-in early voting has been cancelled. Voters can cast ballots at West Hawai`i Civic Center Community Room, Waimea Community Center and Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo. Absentee voting can also be done by mail. 

SOUTHSIDE ALATEEN MEETS tomorrow and every Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The meetings for teenagers who are affected by family members’ heavy drinking provide a safe place to talk and share experiences. For more information, call Sandy at 557-9847.

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Ka`u News Briefs July 28, 2012

The Primary Election on Aug. 11 will determine the new County Council member, two state senators and two state representatives for Ka`u.  Photo from University of Hawai`i.

COUNTY CLERK JAMAE KAWAUCHI flew to Honolulu Thursday to meet with the state Attorney General regarding the island’s voter registry. According to the Nancy Cook Lauer story in West Hawai`i Today this morning, she told the newspaper, “Based upon my review of the County of Hawai`i voter registry, I found some things I thought should be investigated further, so I contacted the state Office of Elections…. I also met with the state Attorney General’s office.” 

      The story says she asked the AG to “help sort out apparent discrepancies in the county voter registration” after she shut down the voter registration office for a full day last Monday to conduct an audit.
      At least one County Council member has weighed in. According to the Cook Lauer story, council member Dennis Onishi wrote to state chief elections officer Scott Nago requesting that the state assume management of the upcoming Aug. 11 primary election in Hawai`i County. Onishi’s letter, obtained by West Hawai`i Today, says: “I must strongly insist that the state Office of Elections take all control of the operations for the coming elections…. This has put the integrity of the Election Office in shambles. Now, who can say this coming Primary Elections will be fair and open? I feel that transparency of fair and open elections has been lost.”
      Kawauchi was nominated and approved as County Clerk by the County Council majority chaired by Dominic Yagong, who is running for mayor against incumbent Billy Kenoi. Kawauchi declined to comment on whether she thinks Onishi’s characterization of her review of the voter registry is political, according to West Hawai`i Today.
      The newspaper quoted her: “The public is the priority. The Office of the County Clerk wants the public to know we are doing everything we can to make sure that our county has a fair and well-run election,” Kawauchi said, “We will keep the public informed as appropriate.”

Unemployment has gone down during the last two years.

A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE for Hawai`i continues to register in national statistics. The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations announced yesterday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June in Hawai`i was 6.4 percent, a 0.1 percentage point increase from 6.3 percent in May. 

      Statewide, there were 607,800 employed and 41,500 unemployed in June, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 649,350. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.2 percent, the same as in May.
      Initial claims were down 6.1 percent, and weeks claimed were down by 7.8 percent compared to one year ago. Initial claims rose by 4.2 percent, and weeks claimed grew by 1.7 percent in June compared to May.
      The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawai`i and the U.S. are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology. The not-seasonally adjusted rate for the state increased to 7.1 percent in June from 6.3 percent in May.
      In a separate measure of employment, total seasonally adjusted nonagricultural jobs decreased by 1,800 jobs over-the-month.
      Within industry sectors, job gains were experienced in Other Services (+600) and Construction (+100). Employment in Manufacturing, Financial Activities, and Leisure & Hospitality remained stable.
      Job losses occurred in Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (-200), Professional & Business Services (-200), and Education & Health Services (-1,000).
      The decrease in Education & Health Services was primarily concentrated in Health Services, as Social Assistance employment (childcare and individual & family services programs) has shifted downward in May-June due to the recent years’ changes in the public school schedule.
      Government jobs contracted by 500 over-the-month, with the bulk of the decline attributed to a drop in hourly workers at the Department of Education. Over-the-year, total seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs have expanded by 7,100, with the largest increases taking place in Leisure & Hospitality (+6,400), Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (+2,700), and Financial Activities (+1,300).

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies depicted in painting by Pegge Hopper.

HEALTHY MOTHERS HEALTHY BABIES COALITION of Hawai`i helps mothers and mothers-to-be in Ka`u with online advice on how to ensure the good health of their babies. The website directory displays phone numbers in Hawai`i that mothers and mothers-to-be might find helpful, including WIC, child care, family services, substance and alcohol abuse groups, Department of Health and many others. There is also information about prenatal health, including eating habits and exercise, and newborn and infant care including child development, breastfeeding, and immunizations. 

      The national organization was founded in 1981 to foster “a child’s right to be born healthy and raised in a safe and nurturing environment, equal access to quality health care, a collective voice to facilitate change, eliminating health disparities among all populations, cultural competence and respect for diversity and education to encourage healthy choices.” For more information, visit hmhb-hawaii.org.

PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KA`U starts Monday at Pahala Elementary & Intermediate, Ka`u High and Na`alehu Schools. A new program for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, called After-School All-Stars Hawai`i, is free and targets middle school youth with three hours of after-school programming Monday through Friday. “It includes academics, enrichment and health/fitness activities,” explained Dawn Dunbar, president and CEO of After-School All-Stars Hawai`i. Initiatives include “service learning, sports-based youth development and career exploration. Our goal is to provide at-risk youth with the opportunities to participate in educational, sports, cultural and community enrichment programs, to build confidence and self-esteem and to encourage youth to say no to gangs, drugs and violence and yes to hope, learning and life,” Dunbar said. 

      From July 30 on, seventh- and eighth-graders at Ka`u Middle School can enroll. All-Stars begins Aug. 13 and meets at the end of each school day until 5:30 p.m. Registration forms, which must be filled out in order for any child to attend the program, were sent with school registration packets, but parents can also contact All-Star Ka`u site coordinator Thu-Tam Doan to arrange for registration at 557-7414 or tdoan@asashawaii.org.
      Five part-time program leaders will be hired for Ka`u. Each leader will work about 15 hours a week depending on the classes he or she teaches and will be paid a minimum of $12 an hour. For more about applying, contact Doan.

Moola Moola joined residents for a  Birthday Bash at CU Hawai`i's
 Pahala branch yesterday. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

CU HAWAI`I’S MOOLA MOOLA BIRTHDAY BASH was held at Na`alehu and Pahala branches yesterday. Kids were offered free cookies and juice, and those under 13 with a CU Hawai`i savings account were able to sign up for the drawing to win a free movie ticket. A winner from each branch was picked at the end of the day. Eight-year-old Dustin Dancel won in Na`alehu, and six-year-old Trulayna Bullo-Saladino won in Pahala. 

      “Moola Moola promotes savings programs for our younger members,” said AVP/Marketing manager Cheryl Weaver. For every five dollars deposited they get a stamp that they can trade in for prizes. Those prizes range from beach balls and coloring books to a maximum of three stamp cards traded for a free movie ticket. “It’s a way of teaching our youngest members financial responsibility,” Weaver added.
      Those interested in opening an account for their children can do so at any of the seven CU Hawai`i branches on the Big Island. To sign up a child, parents are required to present their own valid state I.D. and provide the child’s name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
      For more information about CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union and their branch locations, visit cuhawaii.com or call 933-6700.

LILA FLOOD facilitates Dances Of Universal Peace at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. This spiritual practice incorporates folk-dance-like steps and sacred mantras that draw from all major spiritual and religious traditions. No experience is necessary, and all are welcome to this free event. Donations accepted. For more call 985-9109 or 967-8222.

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