Ka`u News Briefs, June 6, 2013

Hawai`i Health Connector, which is designed to help everyone get health insurance, joins Tropic Care free medical services in Pahala and Ocean View. Photo from www.hawaiihealthconnector.com

THE HAWAI`I HEALTH CONNECTOR will join Tropic Care, which is offering everyone free health screening and care from Air Force, Army and Navy reserve physicians, dentists, and optometrists. The screening and care takes place at Pahala High School and Ocean View Community Center daily through June 12. Hawai`i Health Connector will be onsite this weekend and early next week to assist individuals with obtaining health insurance as required by new federal law and help locate them appropriate programs. Tropic Care health care providers, who are Air Force, Army & Navy reservists, said they welcome everyone regardless of income or state of health to come to one of the two locations for free care from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until noon next Wednesday.

HELCO CAME TO KA`U yesterday evening to go over its Integrated Resource Plan for the future which it will soon submit to the Public Utilities Commission. The meeting was poorly attended by local residents compared to the meeting late last year when residents asked numerous questions about the proposed `Aina Koa Pono refinery. The `Aina Koa Pono issue is still alive, however, with more answers from Hawai`i Electric Light Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries to be submitted to the PUC within the next week.
      According to the plans presented to the public last night by HELCO biofuel is one of the possible future sources of energy for the electric company. HELCO officials, including the company president Jay Ignacio, talked about possibly using wood chips from existing eucalyptus plantations and other trees to feed its existing Puna electric plant that currently uses oil. Another possibility is the use of Liquid Natural Gas and HELCO is studying the cost of both along with the price to refit the power plant.

HELCO President Jay Ignacio came to Ka`u last night with plans for the future.
Photo by Julia Neal

     The utility and its sister companies across the state are making plans to lower customer bills, create a clean energy future, modernize the grid and come up with fairness policies, utility company representatives said. Fairness involves such issues as which source of electricity should be purchased when too much is coming on line for the load. For example, should all the power coming from existing windmills be purchased before taking the power produced by photovoltaic panels on homes? Under current pricing, the photovoltaic energy on homes is purchased at a higher price than alternatives, like wind, hydroelectric and geothermal. Is it fair to turn down more energy from those who have made large investments in wind, hydro, geothermal and even solar farms as more people install photovoltaics on their houses to feed back into the system?
      HELCO engineer Ken Waltjen explained that technologies are changing very fast and the utility has to make plans for the future that are flexible. Action plans will be made every three years and updated constantly, he said. The last Integrated Resource Plan for the electric companies was completed in 1998.
      Will Rolston, the county's Energy Coordinator, urged the public to weigh in on the planning and other utility issues on the PUC website by reading the documents and sending in comments to be posted in the official docket. Open dockets include `Aina Koa Pono and the planning for the utility company's future.
      Plans being made by HELCO include upgrading the hydroelectric plants on Wailuku River, decommissioning the Shipman electric plants Three and Four in Hilo, which are now on standby, and completing the review of proposals for independent energy producers to provide more geothermal for the grid. HELCO also plans to further study waste to energy projects and will confer with the county, which has also shown interest in making energy from waste that comes from households, businesses and other sources. To read HELCO and HECO planning documents, see www.irpie.com.

SOLAR HUB REPRESENTATIVES met with the Hawaiian Ranchos residents at Ocean View this week to answer questions about its planned solar installations on 18 empty houselots in the subdivision. Pat Shudak, of Solar Hub, told residents that the state and the governor of Hawai`i are committed to getting off of foreign oil. The premise is to use solar to keep the electricity cost from going higher, he said. He explained that the Public Utilities Commission and HECO started a feed in tariff program, allotting 60 megawatts for solar developers on O`ahu, 10 megawatts on Maui and 10 megawatts on the Big Island. He said the utility will buy the power for a cheaper price than the utility can produce it from oil and said the purchase price will be 23 cents per kilowatt hour. He said Solar Hub is locked into a set price for 20 years, which should help keep electric prices from going higher.

Eighteen one-acre solar panel installations are planned for Ranchos.
Photo from www.hawaiianliving.com

    Shudak said, in addition to his project, about ten other solar projects are proposed by developers mauka of the Hwy 11 in Hawai`i Ocean View Estates.
      The lots that were purchased by Solar Hub required three-phase power to accommodate the solar project.
"What are you bringing to this community?" asked one resident, contending that HELCO will not give the community cheaper electricity despite the solar project. Several talked about possible wear and tear on roads.
    One Solar Hub spokesman said the project would fund a  new substation near the highway that will stabilize power. A resident responded that there has never been a problem with black outs in Ranchos.
      “You are turning our subdivisions into an industrial complex,” said one person. Another said he preferred a responsible company – like Solar Hub - to come in and clean up lots and make nice landscaping over some uncared for lots where people raise dogs in Ranchos.
      Shudak said the solar lots would not be industrial eyesores. There would be one acre of solar panels on each 3-acre lot surrounded by a security fence and landscaping.
      One resident asked whether the Solar Hub project would preclude him from having his own feed-in tariff program in Ranchos. Shudak said he was told that the improvements to the electric grid brought in by the project should make it easier for the residents to install their own.
      HELCO is still negotiating with Solar Hub, which will be required to build a new substation for  HELCO, Shudak said.

LOW-INCOME FAMILES can sign up for assistance in paying their electric bills tomorrow at the Old Pahala Clubhouse on Maile Street from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and every Friday during the Month of June. Residents can also sign up Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hawai`i Economic Opportunity Council office in Na`alehu office behind the community center.

OCEAN VIEW SUMMER FUN PROGRAM sponsored by Hawai`i County Parks & Recreation Department, will run from Monday, June 10 through Friday, July 19 at Kahuku Park from 8
a.m. to 2 p.m. for keiki who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. There is still space available. Teresa Anderson (formerly

Teresa Anderson and Genny Galletes run Summer Fun in Ocean View.
Photo by Madalyn Mcwhite-Lamson

Alderdyce) was recently hired by Hawai`i County as a recreation technician at Kahuku Park and will lead the program with Genny Galletes. Both have been involved in organizing youth activities for many years in the Ka`u community.

      Registration fee is $100 per child ($20.00 payable by the parent/ family) and the remaining $80 to be subsidized by Friends of Kahuku Park, a committee of Ocean View Community Development Corp., as well as community donors. Robin Lamson , who started Friends of Kahuku Park in 2002 to improve the park, has retired as chairperson and has passed the torch to Genny Galletes.
      Summer Fun will have arts, crafts, sports, games, music and dance, nature exploration, special guests, snacks, etc. as well as five different excursions on Wednesdays to Punalu`u Beach (6/14 & 7/3), Makalapua Cinema (6/19), Kona Aquatics Center (6/26), and K.M.C. Bowling at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park (7/10). Register by or call Teresa at 929-9113 or Genny at 217-5593.

Ka`u News Briefs June 5, 2013

Military reservists in the medical professions join Ka`u residents waiting for eye tests, among the free screenings and care available through June 12 at Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center.
Photo by Julia Neal

A 5.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE struck the deep ocean off the southeast coast of Ka`u yesterday at 2:13 p.m. It was centered 12 miles east of Lo`ihi Seamount, which is just 22 miles offshore. Lo`ihi and the quake epicenter are on the flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, the largest volcano on the planet.

Yesterday's 5.2 magnitude earthquake is in red southeast
of the Ka`u Coast. Image from USGS

      Buildings rattled in Ka`u and all the way to Hilo. It was felt across the Big Island and on Maui. The location was 33 miles southeast of Pahala. 

      Neither injuries nor serious damage was reported. Civil Defense reported no tsunami threat from the quake.

THE FUTURE OF ELECTRIC UTILITIES IN HAWAI`I is taken up this evening in a public meeting begin held by Hawaiian Electric Light Co. and Hawaiian Electric Industries at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Public comment is welcome, and the electric company is tasked with planning for secure, affordable energy. Plans can be seen at www.irpie.com. The Public Utilities Commission will also review and approve the electric companies’ plans.

Jamae Kawauchi

FORMER COUNTY CLERK JAMAE KAWAUCHI AND FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR Dominic Yagong gained support from a judge yesterday regarding a suit that charged them with investigating and firing four election workers in a “willful and wanton way.” According to a story by Erin Miller, of West Hawai`i Today, Judge Elizabeth Strance said “the admissible evidence now before this Court appears to clearly support a finding that Defendants Kawauchi and Yagong acted both with cause and within the scope of their employment within the County of Hawai`i.” The judge also wrote that the “plaintiffs have not provided this Court with ‘clear and convincing’ evidence of any animus or ‘willful or wanton;’ tortious conduct by Defendants Kawauchi and/or Yagong towards the Plaintiffs…. Similarly, there is no evidence that Defendants Kawauchi and/or Yagong personally conducted any investigation, regarding the actions of the Plaintiffs in connection with the County Elections Warehouse.”
      The four were fired for allowing outside business activity and drinking in a county warehouse.
      An email from the defendants’ attorney Francis Jung, reported this morning in West Hawai`i Today, said, “Dominic Yagong and Jamae Kawauchi are both extremely thankful and pleased with the Court’s decision. All of their actions were made with the intent of fulfilling their duties to the public to the best of their knowledge and abilities as hardworking, dedicated and honest public servants. Hopefully, the young people of Hawai`i will not be afraid to seek future careers in public service or elected office out of fear of being persecuted by frivolous lawsuits. Justice will prevail in the end.” See more at westhawaiitoday.com.
      Since leaving the County Clerk’s post, Kawauchi has been working for the Prosecuting Attorney’s office. Yagong’s term ended as Council member, and he lost his run for mayor.

Bobby Jean Leithead Todd

COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR NOMINEE Bobby Leithead Todd has gained support from a former Environmental Management director Lono Tyson, who says her experience on the job should make up for her not having an engineering or related degree required by County Charter. The statement was reported by Nancy Cook Lauer in West Hawai`i Today this morning. Leithead Todd earned a law degree and English degree, has served most recently as the Planning director and is a former County Council member. She also previously served as chief of the Department of Environmental Management, which oversees solid waste, including sewage systems and the handling of garbage and trash services of the county.
      According to West Hawai`i Today, Councilmember Brenda Ford said, “While there are pros and cons to having an engineer as the director of the Department of Environmental Management, I personally believe it should be an engineer to understand the technical aspects of the position. I support the charter as it was passed by the voters of Hawai`i County.”
      Leithead Todd’s nomination by Mayor Billy Kenoi needs approval by the County Council. See more at westhawaiitoday.com.

A PO`OKULA FOR KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS’ HAWAI`I ISLAND CAMPUS has been named for the first time. Kahealani Nae`ole-Wong is the first assistant head of school. Po`o Kula Holoua Stender, the head of the school, described her as “an exemplary educator who brings a wealth of teaching, curriculum development and instructional leadership experience to her new position.

Pierre Omidyar

Arianna Huffington

CIVIL BEAT AND HUFFINGTON POST recently forged a partnership called HuffPost Hawai`i.
      Civil Beat founder Pierre Omidyar, who also founded EBay, said the teamwork will help get Hawai`i news to the world. Civil Beat will run news feeds with Huffington Post.
      Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington was a keynote speaker at the Specialty Coffee Association Convention in Los Angeles where Bull Kailiawa placed as one of the top ten in the world. At the convention, The Ka`u Calendar publisher Julia Neal met Huffington and talked about the success of the farmers after losing their jobs when the sugar industry failed and their challenge with land security.
      The land where most of the Ka`u coffee farmers have expired leases went up in a foreclosure auction last month, and the bank owed money against the property, Lehman Brothers, made the highest bid. Whether Lehman will become the owner of the property or a higher bid will be cast will be determined at a court proceeding to finish the foreclosure, which is yet to be scheduled.

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE REMIND the public that the Kuleana Hotline is not a substitute for 9-1-1 calls. In an emergency, people should always call 9-1-1.
      The Kuleana Hotline is designed to prevent tragic events in public places, including schools, restaurants and other locations where members of the community gather.
      Unlike Crime Stoppers, to which citizens may report information about a specific crime, the Kuleana Hotline is an avenue for reporting something that may not be criminal yet but has the potential to turn disastrous if not prevented.
      “Many tragedies committed by individuals or organized groups have been preceded by warning signs,” a statement from the Police Department says. “We as a community are responsible for notifying the police if we see or hear anything that has the potential to turn into a malicious act.”

      The statement gives examples of what to call the Kuleana Hotline about:

• If you read a post on a social networking site about a person interested in purchasing a firearm and the person signals intent to cause harm with that weapon, call the Kuleana Hotline. 
• If you witness suspicious activity around public buildings, utility companies or bridges, call the Kuleana Hotline. 
• If you see something or someone’s behavior that may seem innocuous but gives you a “funny feeling” in your stomach that something is “just not right,” call the Kuleana Hotline. 

      Tips could help authorities intervene before those warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.
      Kuleana is the Hawaiian word for “responsibility. “The significance of the hotline’s name is that we are all neighbors living on this island together, and we are all responsible for preventing acts of terror or mass injury,” says the statement.
      The number for the Kuleana Hotline is 961-2219. It is not manned around the clock, but it allows for callers to provide information by leaving voice mail messages.

TROPIC CARE 2013 CONTINUES THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, with free health screenings and care at Ocean View Community Center and Ka`u High School. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on the last day when it ends at noon.
       Air Force, Army and Navy reserve  medical care teams are providing physical, eye and dental exams and care at no cost to anyone who goes to either location, first-come, first-served.
      In addition to medical services, residents living off the grid and using a generator for power will have access to service members specializing in mechanics, who will work on any systems that need attention.
      For more information about Tropic Care, call 701-566-1932.

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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Taiko srumming  and Bon dancing are in season around the island and Ka`u Bon dancers will be traveling to Buddhist temples to
participate. Taiko drummers joined in the 2009 O Bon Dance at Na`alehu Hongwanji. Photo by Peter Anderson

FREE HEALTH EXAMS AND CARE began today at 8 a.m. on the Pahala School campus and also at Ocean View Community Center. An Air Force, Army and Navy medical care team is providing physical, eye and dental exams and care at no cost to anyone who goes to either location, first come, first serve. By 11 a.m. in Pahala local residents were waiting, in particular, for optometry exams. Dental exams could be available tomorrow.

Air Force, Army and Navy  reserve physicians, dentists and optometrists
give free checkups and care in Ka`u through June 12.
 Photo from U.S.Army

      Tropic Care 2013 involves 75 military reservists providing health care services free of charge. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis and are advised that there may be long wait times. Clinics are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except for the last day, Wednesday, June 12, when they close at noon. Locations are Pahala School Campus and Ocean View Community Center.
      In addition to medical services, residents living off the grid and using a generator for power will have access to service members specializing in mechanics, who will work on any systems that need attention.
      For more information about Tropic Care, contact Arends at 701-566-1932.

HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY comes to Ka`u tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center for public comment on draft Five-Year Action Plans and the company’s Integrated Resource Planning, tasked with meeting future energy needs. According to the utility, themes include reducing electric bills, working for a clean energy future, modernizing the grid and fairness to all customers.
      The Resource Plans are required to ensure affordable electric rates, maintain service reliability, and accommodate expected increasing proportions of variable and/or intermittent generation resources. According to the Public Utilities Commission, integrated resource planning is for safe and reliable utility service at a reasonable cost. Draft planning documents can be read at
www.irpie.com, the website of the PUC’s independent representative facilitating and monitoring the process.

S02 LEVELS CAN BE HIGH even with blue skies and wispy clouds. With a bright sunny day, dawning in Pahala, there were runny noses and itchy eyes as the SO2 level created an Orange alert beginning at 5:45 a.m. but was back to a healthy Green status by 8:15 a.m. Orange means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and the recommendation from the state Department of Health is: "To avoid outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing or breathing through the mouth." For people experiencing health effects, the recommendation is that "If you experience breathing difficulties, such as chest tightness or wheezing, stop activities, use a rescue inhaler and find a place to sit down and rest." For healthy people potential health effects are not expected, "however actions to reduce exposure to vog may be useful." The simple closing of windows until the alert passes helps keep the air clean indoors. Turning on a fan can also be helpful. See http://hiso2index.info and click on Pahala and Ocean View for Ka`u levels of SO2, a history of the days levels and more information.

Hurricane Flossie pushed up against South
Point at Kalae but never climbed ashore. 

HURRICANE MAKANI IS an exercise for Civil Defense and all those signed up for Civil Defense alerts throughout the islands are receiving email and text alerts. This morning’s mock message - not a real hurricane- said that "Category 4 Makani is nearing landfall on the Big Island of Hawai’i ....Hurricane Hunter Aircraft are conduction what will be their final flight through Makani before the crew and plane must be grounded for safety. Satellite and aircraft data suggest that Makani may not be done strengthening."
     The Civil Defense exercise plots mock storm Makani tracking west-northwest all along the chain of islands. Civil Defense agencies on all islands use the pretend storm to practice their drills. The closest a hurricane came to Ka`u in recent years was Hurricane Flossie, which sat off South Point for several days and never came ashore in 2007. Ka`u Hospital, Pahala Plantation Cottages, the gas station in Na`alehu, Pahala Library and others boarded up their windows.

KA`U AND VOLCANO LOCATIONS are featured in the latest edition of Expression Gold, the Magazine for American Express card members. The photo feature includes the managers suite, living room, art and quilts at Pahala Plantation House, Ka`u Coffee Mill coffee and Trini Marques with her Ka`u Coffee Farm. The article cover Kilauea Lodge and Volcano Art Center as well as Volcano Art Center and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The article was coordinated by former Pahala and now Hilo resident Kaori Miitani. The 60-page magazine is mailed to all American Express Gold Card holders in Japan.

RAISING FUNDS FOR FRIENDS OF VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK and promoting Ka`u and Volcano businesses and the arts converge at the 13th Annual Friends' 4th of July Silent Auction at Cooper Center. Donations of goods and services, including meals at restaurants, B&Bs and vacation rental stays, arts, crafts, Ka`u Coffee, locally grown teas, photography, jewelry, massage gift certificates note cards and more are welcome to help raise money for the non-profit organization that supports the national park with education, exploration and service. The silent auction coincides with the annual Volcano Fourth of July Parade, which ends at Cooper Center. Contact Ab Valencia at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org to make a donation or volunteer to help at the event.

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE IN NA`ALEHU is taking applicants for the Saturday, June 29 event. Individuals and groups who would like to participate in the parade call Debra McIntosh 929-9872. Those wanting to volunteer with the parade set up call Lee McIntosh at 929-9872. The parade, which was saved by the McIntosh family when it was abandoned four years ago, is under the umbrella of the non-profit community organization `O Ka`u Kakou. Debra McIntosh said that the parade will start at Na`alehu School and end at Na`alehu Hongwanji Mission, a reverse of the parade direction form earlier years. The reason for the change in direction is that that there is more room for the floats, riders and walkers to organize at the beginning of the parade at the elementary school, McIntosh said.

Parade walkers, riders and floats can sign up for Independence Day in Na`alehu.
Photo by Julia Neal

KA `OHANA O HONU`APO’s Fathers Day event on Sunday, June 16 is looking for contestants for its Bar-B-Que pork contest. First prize is $100. The afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., is called Pork in the Park and includes musicians on stage, samples of pork for the voting for a Fan Favorite, shaved ice on sale and a shady tent to enjoy Honu`apo Park on Fathers Day. For more on the contest and the celebration, call Lehua Lopez-Mau at 929-9891.
     Ka ‘Ohana O Honu‘apo’s mission, as stated on www.honuapopark.com is: “To restore, care for and protect the natural and cultural resources within the Honu‘apo area. Utilizing the values of malama ‘aina (care for the land), kupono (honesty and integrity), and kuleana (duty and responsibility), we will work in community partnerships to preserve this area for future generations.”

OBON SEASON IS ON and while no bon dances are planned this year in Ka`u, dancers from the district are expected to visit the temples around the island for the dance in the round, Japanese string and wind instruments, taiko drums, ethnic foods, and honoring ancestors during harvest season. Here is the schedule:

Saturday, June 8 - Keauhou Shopping Center at 6 p.m. Call 323-2993.

Saturday, June 15 - Honomu Henjoji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 963-6308.

Saturday, June 22 - Papaikou Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 964-1640.

Saturday, June 29 - Honomu Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 963-6032.

Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 - Puna Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 966-9981.

Saturday, July 6 - Kohala Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 775-7232.

Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13 - Hilo Meishoin Mission at 7:30 p.m. Call 935-6996.

Saturday, July 13 - Daifukuji Soto Mission in Honalo in Kona. Call 322-3524.

Saturday, July 13 - Paauilo Hongwanji Mission, at 7 p.m. Call 776-1369.

Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20 - Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin at 8 p.m. Call 961-6677.

Bon Dancers shown here from a past dance at Na`alehu Hongwanji will join in festivities around the island beginning this weekend.
Photo by Peter Anderson

Saturday, July 20 - Honoka`a Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 775-7232.

Saturday, July 27 - Hilo Hongwanji Mission, 7:30p.m. Call 935-8331.

Saturday, July 27 - Kona Hongwanji Mission, 7 p.m. Call 323-2993

Saturday, July 27 - Papa`aloa Hongwanji Mission at 6 p.m. Call 962-6340.

Saturday, Aug. 3 - Kurtistown Jodo Mission at 8 p.m. Call 966-9777.

Saturday, Aug. 3 - Taishoji Soto Mission at 8 p.m. Call 935-8407.

Saturday, Aug. 10 - Hamakua Jodo Mission at 8 p.m. Call 775-0965.

Saturday, Aug. 10 - Higashi Hongwanji Mission at 8 p.m. Call 935-8968.

Saturday, Aug. 17 - Hakalau Jodo Mission at 8 p.m. Call 963-6110.

Saturday, Aug. 17 - Kamuela Hongwanji Mission at 7 p.m. Call 885-4481.

Saturday, Aug. 24 - Pahoa YBA Kaikan at 8 p.m. Call 966-9981.

Saturday, Aug. 31 - Honohina Hongwanji Mission in Ninole at 7 p.m. Call 963-6032.

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