Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 5, 2012

Candidate to represent Ka`u and beyond in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, spoke on the DNC stage.
Photo from Tulsi Gabbard

TULSI GABBARD’S STAR KEPT RISING QUICKLY yesterday as she spoke at the Democratic National Convention. The speech was broadcast nationally. Within hours the Los Angeles Times carried a story about her life. The LA Times story points out: “At 21, she became the youngest person elected to the Hawai`i Legislature. At 23, she was the state's first elected official to voluntarily resign to go to war. At 28, she was the first woman to be presented with an award by the Kuwait Army National Guard. Now, at 31, Gabbard is on her way to becoming the first Hindu elected to Congress.”

 Gabbard is getting rising star press coverage following her DNC speech.
Photo from Tulis Gabbard

      The LA Times quoted Gov. Neil Abercrombie, saying, "She has an equanimity of spirit, a calmness, perhaps engendered by her military service. She's a young person who reflects on the world around her and reflects on her place in it." Reporter Kim Geiger calls Gabbard “an unlikely advocate on social issues, notably same-sex marriage and abortion. It's a compelling evolution for Gabbard, the daughter of state Sen. Mike Gabbard and former state Board of Education member Carol Gabbard, social conservatives known for opposing same-sex marriage and abortion. Gabbard once shared her parents' views but changed her mind after two deployments with the Hawai`i Army National Guard to Iraq and Kuwait,” the LA Times story reports.

      Gabbard is running to take the congressional seat being vacated by Mazie Hirono. Her opponent is Republican David Kawika Crowley.
      Here is the speech Gabbard gave yesterday at the DNC:
“Aloha. I’m Tulsi Gabbard, candidate for Congress in Hawai`i, and a Captain in the Army National Guard. When I stepped down from the State Legislature, where I served, and headed to a war zone, I joined a long, proud, line of Americans who sacrificed to make us the land of the free, and the home of the brave. As a combat veteran, I know the cost of war. The sacrifices made by our troops and military families are immeasurable. These days, it's often women in uniform - moms, wives, even grandmothers - who deploy and leave their families behind.

      “Such heroes and patriots need and deserve leaders who truly understand and care about their hardships, and will fight for them. Leaders like President and Michelle Obama, and Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden…the strongest advocates our military families could ever have. The Democratic women of the House standing here will honor the service and sacrifice of our troops to move America forward. Aloha. Mahalo!” 

Sen. Gil Kahele, Ka`u's state Senator, is a delegate to the
Democratic National Convention in Charlotte,
North Carolina this week. Photo from Gil Kahele

      The Hawai`i delegates, who include Ka`u’s Senator Gil Kahele, have front row seats, as Pres. Barack Obama calls Hawai`i his home state. Kahele said this morning from Charlotte that hope is "in the air. The feeling of Democrats coming together is overwhelming. Being here among Democrats - everything is moving toward the nomination with Bill Clinton taking the stage this evening, leading up to Barack Obama's speech and nomination." Kahele said, "Once again we have to make sure this president is reelected to continue all the good things he has done, including creating jobs, saving the auto industry and dealing with the banks and Osama Bin Laden." Kahale said, "You see the integrity among the Democrats - taking care of your neighbor. This is something that we need to continue, so he can finish the job and all the dream." 

      Kahele said that Charlotte is a different place than when he passed through there as a young marine in 1962. He said he remembers the bus station with "big wire screens separating black and white people waiting for the bus. It is wonderful to see all that has changed and people working together," said Kahele.

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS are scrapping over alleged inadequacies in handling the Primary Elections. Polling places opening late, lack of supplies, mis-delivered ballots and other complaints were reported to state election officials after the August primary. The discussion escalated this week when the state’s chief elections official said an ethics complaint has filed, saying that County Council Chair Dominic Yagong should not be helping out around the election office since his daughter is running for a council seat. Yagong said he was nowhere near ballots or any other materials that could affect the outcome of the General Election. He said he recently volunteered to help organize supplies so that the General Election could operate more smoothly.
      A story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald says that County Council Vice Chairman Angel Pilago introduced a resolution asking the state Office of Elections to come up with criteria for it to intervene in county elections management, when problems arise. The state Association of Counties would discuss the proposal and the Legislature could follow up, the Tom Callis story reports. See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

A table showing how many DUI arrests, per district, were made
from Aug. 27 to Sept. 4 compared with DUI arrests made
throughout the year. Table from County of Hawai`i Police Dept.

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL records from Aug. 27 through Sept. 4 show that big Island police arrested 35 motorists for drunken driving. Six were involved in traffic accidents. One was under the age of 21.
      This year, there were 947 DUI arrests, compared with 974 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.8 percent.
      This year, there were 981 major accidents compared with 931 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.4 percent.
      This year there were 25 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 15 during the same period last year, an increase of 60 percent.
      This year, five fatalities were related to drugs, two to alcohol and six more to a combination of both, the Hawai`i Police Department reports.
      DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide. 

KA`U `OHANA BAND is looking for flute & clarinet players. The band rehearses today and every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Instruments are provided, and no experience is necessary. For more information, call 929-7544.

MUCK-SUCKING IS ON THE AGENDA at anchialine pool restoration workdays, tomorrow and Mon, Sept. 10, when volunteers help remove sediment from the pool. Sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

Trojan Girls volleyball - a  home match Saturday.
Photo by Nalani Parlin

KA`U TROJANS SPORTS LINE-UP FOR THIS WEEKEND starts with a football game at Konawaena Friday at 7 p.m. A home volleyball match versus Hilo starts Saturday at 10 a.m. Away Saturday events include a cross-county meet at Kamehameha at 10 a.m., an air riflery match at Waiakea at 10 a.m., and a bowling match at Kona Bowl in the afternoon. For more, call athletic director Kalei Namohala at 928-2012.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND hosts a beach clean up at Kamilo Saturday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All volunteers will meet at Wai`ohinu Park on Hwy 11 near mile marker 65 at 7:45 a.m. and are asked to bring sturdy shoes, bag lunch, sun and wind protection, plenty of drinks and four-wheel-drive vehicles if possible. HWF will supply cleanup materials. Those interested can contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 4, 2012

President Barack Obama receives a lei from Hawai`i. Photo courtesy of Democratic Party of Hawai`i

Former Big Island Mayor
Dante Carpenter

FORMER BIG ISLAND MAYOR DANTE CARPENTER is one of several Hawai`i residents with Big Island roots attending the National Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina today, where President Barack Obama will be nominated to run for re-election. Carpenter was Hawai`i County mayor from 1984 to 1988 and chairs the Democratic Party of Hawai`i. Other delegates from the Big Island are Sen. Gil Kahele and Dolly Salazar. Also on hand are Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Sen. Dan Inouye, outgoing Sen. Daniel Akaka, U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono and U.S. Senate candidate Colleen Hanabusa. Thirty-eight delegates from Hawai`i are attending the convention.

Tulsi Gabbard

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE TULSI GABBARD is slated to talk around 1 p.m. today on the Democratic Convention stage in Charlotte, North Carolina, focusing on the sacrifice and importance of members of the U.S. military. The appearance, led by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, is part of a presentation by six women members of Congress and two new candidates for Congress on the Democratic ticket. 

      Gabbard is also making headlines in the international press today with her background in the Hindu religion. If elected in November, Gabbard would become the first Hindu-American elected to Congress, according to Global Post. The story refers to an earlier interview in Press Trust of India. Gabbard said she “had the opportunity to study both Lord Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita and also the New Testament. And like Mahatma Gandhi, who also studied both the Gita and the teachings of Jesus Christ, I saw that the central message of both is that we can only be truly happy if we are using our life in the loving service of God and humanity. That is what I am trying to do in my life – to actually apply the universal spiritual teaching of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga,” the Press Trust of India reported.

Hula from Hawai`i at Democratic National Convention.
Photo courtesy of Democratic Party of Hawai`i

      Another first, according to advertising by Gabbard, is that she would be the first woman combat veteran elected to Congress. According to reports at civilbeat.com this morning, Gabbard could be among several combat veterans, including Tammy Duckworth, to be elected to the House in the general election. If the others win, Gabbard may not be first, as Hawai`i is often the last state to announce winners since polls close later here because of the time difference.
      Gabbard was born in American Samoa, and her family moved to O`ahu when she was the age of two. After growing up on O`ahu and earning an International Business degree from Hawai`i Pacific University, she was elected to the Hawai`i state Legislature. A member of the Hawai`i Army National Guard, she was deployed to Iraq twice. She came home and won a seat on the Honolulu City Council. She defeated former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary for Congress in August for the seat being abandoned by Mazie Hirono, who seeks the U.S. Senate seat left open by the retiring Dan Akaka. After defeating Ed Case in the primary, Hirono faces the Republican, former Hawai`i Gov. Linda Lingle, in the Nov. 6 election.

Dylan Nonaka and Mitt Romney Photo from Dylan Nonaka

DYLAN NONAKA is also making the national stage at political conventions. Introduced by House Speaker John Boehner, Nonaka led the Republican Convention last Thursday in the Pledge of Allegiance, wearing a maile lei. Nonaka, a combat veteran of U.S. marines in Iraq and a reservist with the Army in Hilo, is a graduate of University of Hawai`i-Hilo. In past years, he came to Ka`u to march in parades to support campaigns for former County Council member Guy Enriques. Now 31, Nonaka has been a leader of the Republican Party both locally and statewide and was a delegate to the 2012 Republican National Convention last week in Tampa, Florida.

KA`U `OHANA BAND is looking for flute & clarinet players. The band rehearses tomorrow and every Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Instruments are provided, and no experience is necessary. For more information, call 929-7544. 

MUCK-SUCKING IS ON THE AGENDA at anchialine pool restoration workdays, Thursday, Sept. 6 and Mon, Sept. 10 when volunteers help remove sediment from the pool. Sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

Maile Yamanaka

MAILE YAMANAKA presents her monthly First Friday program at Volcano Art Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Sept. 7. Kona in Myth, Chant, Dance & Song is the topic from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Hula, the Art of Hawaiian Dance, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; and Keiki Hula from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Events are free, and park entrance fees apply. Call 937-4249 for more information. 

KA`U’S KULEANA LANDOWNERS are invited to learn how the Office of Hawaiian Affairs can help them apply for property tax exemption at a meeting next Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.
      Handed down through Hawaiian families for generations, kuleana lands are usually small parcels surrounded by larger tracts of property and sometimes are landlocked. Call 808-594-1967 for more information.

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Ka`u News Briefs Sept. 3, 2012

U.S. Department of Energy is holding scoping meetings this month on Hawai`i's energy plans.

INPUT ON THE FUTURE OF CLEAN ENERGY IN HAWAI`I will be collected at federal U.S. Department of Energy scoping meetings this month. The Kona meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 13 at Kealakehe High School, and the Hilo meeting will be Friday, Sept. 14 at Hilo High School. Both will be at 5 p.m.

Hawai`i's goal is 70 percent clean
energy by 2030.

       Department of Energy representatives will collect public input as they work on the Hawai`i Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the state’s Hawai`i Clean Energy project. Comments can be contributed at the scoping sessions and through the Hawai`i Clean energy Programmatic EIS website at www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com.
      The website explains that the federal Department of Energy and State of Hawai`i “entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2008 that established a long-term partnership to transform the way in which energy efficiency and renewable energy resources are planned and used in the state.” The MOU established working groups to address key sectors of the energy economy, such as electricity, end-use efficiency, transportation, and fuels. This led to establishment of the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative with a goal of meeting 70 percent of Hawai`i’s energy needs by 2030 through energy efficiency and renewable energy.

      The website says that the DOE’s “proposed action is to develop guidance that it can use in making decisions about future funding decisions and other actions to support Hawai`i in achieving the goal established in the HCEI.
      “The Hawai`i Clean Energy PEIS will analyze, at a programmatic level, the potential environmental impacts of clean energy activities and technologies in the following clean energy categories: Energy Efficiency, Distributed Renewables, Utility-Scale Renewables, Alternative Transportation Fuels and Modes, and Electrical Transmission and Distribution. The State of Hawai`i and U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are cooperating agencies in preparing this PEIS.”

Wind is one renewable source of energy in Hawai`i. 

      In Ka`u, existing clean energies include Tawhiri windmills at South Point, individual solar systems for farms and homes and the proposed `Aina Koa Pono project to use trees, brush and grasses between Pahala and Na`alehu to manufacture biodiesel at a refinery at the mouth of Wood Valley. `Aina Koa Pono is listed in Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative documents as a stakeholder.
      The Clean Energy Initiative reports that biodiesel demand is growing. One of its reports states that HECO is purchasing three to seven million gallons for electricity generation and wants 12.6 million gallons a year. Pacific Biodiesel produced under one million gallons in 2011 and is constrained by shortage of feedstock. The federal Department of Defense is purchasing 90,602 gallons of biofuel and wants 450,000 gallons in the near future.
      See more at hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org.

`AINA KOA PONO, on its website, says its biodiesel refinery and farm “will be based on the productive and sustainable use of agricultural land-renewable for the long term.”
      It says, “Hawai`i will re-establish the capability to ‘grow’ a part of its own energy resources instead of remaining dependent on increasingly volatile and costly sources of imported fossil fuels prone to supply disruptions.”
      The company also promises a $250,000-a- year “community benefits package that focuses on education and the environment.” The `Aina Koa Pono website says a Community Advisory Board will be formed to recommend how the funds should best be used.

Ken Kaneshiro Photo
from UH-Manoa

      Other `Aina Koa Pono benefits, the website says, “could include significant impact for landfill and solid waste management. Through Micro Dee technology, municipal solid waste, construction debris and tsunami or disaster debris and green waste can be converted to more than five times the kilowatt hours than regular combustion.”
      The `Aina Koa Pono website also touts biochar as a byproduct, saying it “is a high-quality char that has potential use as a soil amendment to increase biomass or food crop yields.” It quotes professor Ken Kaneshiro of the University of Hawai`i as saying that yields improved by a factor of three when soils treated with char were used. “Alternatively, the char (which has a high BTU value) may be used as fuel for clean power generation,” the website says. See more at ainakoapono.com.

AGRITOURISM IS THE TOPIC at a public meeting tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Hilo County Council chambers. The County Council is completing rulemaking for agritourism businesses on agriculturally zoned lands. New rules were already passed by both county Planning Commissions. Once the rules are in place, they will go into effect immediately. Agritourism businesses on ag-zoned land will be required to submit a plan for approval, which will be reviewed within 30 days by the county Planning Department.BIG ISLAND

POLICE DEPARTMENT reminds drivers to Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over. The national campaign with increased enforcement of drunken driving laws continues through Wednesday. So far this year, Big Island police have made more than 800 DUI arrests, and 12 of 24 traffic fatalities this year involved drugs, alcohol or both. 

LABOR DAY BUFFET is available at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The menu includes BBQ chicken, pot roast, chili, steamed rice, corn, salad and potato bar, ice cream and a beverage. Adults, $15; children 6 to 11 years old, $8. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests, and park entrance fees apply.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND sponsors anchialine pool restoration workdays, Thursday, Sept. 6 and Mon, Sept. 10. This will be volunteers’ last chance for a while to help remove sediment from the pool, according to organizer Megan Lamson. RSVP to Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. 

NA`ALEHU HONGWANJI PRESENTS Aloha Buddha: The Story of Japanese Buddhism in Hawai`i next Monday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. The film tells how Japanese Buddhism came to Hawai`i, why it is fading and about efforts to save it. Refreshments follow the screening. Call 929-7236 for more information.

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

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND YOUTUBE.COM/KAUNEWS.