Monday, June 10, 2013

Polynesian voyager Chad Baybayan (far right) greets his aunt, Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u President Blossom DeSilva, and civic club members Alan Stafford and Casey DeSliva (far left). Hokule`a floats in Hilo Bay behind them. Photo by Nancy Stafford

THE HOKULE`A and its sister Polynesian sailing canoe Hikianalia will soon sail to South Point – to Kalae on the first leg of its voyage around the world. Ceremonies began Sunday in Hilo, with the east side of Hawai`i island selected to begin the voyage because it is a place of first light (sunrise) for Hawai`i. The canoes will travel for a year in the Hawaiian Islands before setting off to circumnavigate the globe. During the Hilo festivities Polynesian Voyaging Society founder Nainoa Thompson said that he awakened from a dream at 3 a.m. one morning and realized that the Hokule`a should not go around the world without the support of all the people of Hawai`i. He decided that the voyage should visit many communities in the Hawaiian Islands before setting out to as far off places as Latin America and Africa.

Ceremonial offerings to wish the voyagers a safe journey. Photo by Teresa Tico

Many Hawaiian groups, including the Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka`u, were represented. During the ceremonies the symbolism of the gift of Pohaku was explained. One rock will remain on the Big Island to anchor the voyage. The other will ride on the canoe around the world. Organizers said that as Hokule`a and Hikianalia sail, they will (symbolically) string a lei of aloha around the world.
         Nainoa Thompson said: “Protecting our ocean is the greatest environmental issue today. It’s not a green planet, it’s a blue one.” Speakers talked about a “DNA of Aloha” being embedded in the “divine energy of the Hawaiian islands,” and that voyagers will take the energy around the world to heal the planet and bring the people of the world together.
     About 15 members of Hawaiian Civic Club of the Ka`u attended. President Blossom De Silva said her nephew Chad Baybayan accompanied Thompson on the first journey of the Hokule`a in the South Pacific. He is now associate director for Imiola Astronomy Center in Hilo and gave a preview of the journey to the Ka`u club. De Silva and Civic Club boardmember Alan Stafford were welcomed aboard the Hokule`a and the Hikianalia. DeSilva said she could "feel the mana of the crew being together like a family, sailing in close quarters for such a long journey." 

Nainoa Thompson said he dreamed the canoes will visit all the
 islands before setting off around the world. Photo by Teresa Tico

MORE TESTIMONY HAS COME IN to the state Public Utilities Commission regarding the proposal to build a refinery along Wood Valley Road and a biofuel farm between Pahala and Na`alehu. Richard Sasaki, of Capt. Cook, told the PUC, “I lived in Pahala from 1970 to 1979. This bio diesel venture could be a scam and it doesn’t pass the common sense test.”
      Hawai`i Electric Light Co. and Hawaiian Electric Co. submitted testimony defending the `Aina Koa Pono plan. In addressing economic, land use and environmental concerns, the utilities stated, “Externalities are an important consideration, but they are often intangible and difficult to quantify because, unlike a straight mathematical equation, externalities are generally valued based on the perception of the person viewing the externality. Nevertheless, the Commission should consider that the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract will create a direct economic benefit to the State and energy security, and is in line with the State's energy policy.”
           While there is a question of whether Ka`u farm land should be used for coffee, food crops and cattle production versus biofuel, the utilities state: “The AKP Bildiesel Supply Contract’s use of local energy crops supports local agriculture, and is consistent with State policy.”

Using land for growing more coffee or taking on biofuel
crops is one of the issues. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

          While there is a question of whether there would be an impact on the community should the refinery be built, coffee farm expansion curtailed, ranchers evicted and AKP unable to produce the promised biofuel, the utilities state that the electric companies’ “customers bear no financial risk if the Microwave Catalytic Depolymerization technology fails to produce biodiesel that meets the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract’s specifications.”
           The utilities sate that “The AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract is a critical part of a new chapter in the energy and agriculture industries in Hawai`i. The AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract will provide HELCO with between 14 million to 16 million gallons of biodiesel per year for 20 years, which is intended for use at HELCO's Keahole Power Plant As discussed in further detail below, the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract will also benefit Hawaiian Electric, due to its RPS contribution.
      “As recognized in Governor Abercrombie's New Day plan, ‘Hawai`i's most important economic enterprise right now is to pursue energy independence.’ The Companies understand and support the significance of this vision and recognize the many important benefits of locally produced biofuels, including:
      “Creating new jobs in renewable fuel technology and agriculture;
      “Retaining a large portion of the billions of dollars that are now spent on imported oil and reinvesting those dollars here in Hawaii; increasing Hawaii's energy security and energy independence by having a local renewable source of fuels;
      “Converting fallow land for production of energy crops and invigorating Hawai`i's agriculture industry; supporting the State's goal of diversifying Hawaii's economy by encouraging the development of local agriculture;
      “Reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions; utilizing existing power generation infrastructure to provide clean electricity; and
      “Although the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract sets forth contractual obligations for HELCO to purchase a minimum volume of 16 million gallons of biodiesel, it also provides AKP with the flexibility to adjust and set the volume amount in the early stage of the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract, in the range of 14 to 16 million gallons, based on actual feedstock and biodiesel production yields. providing a local, renewable energy alternative for fossil fuels used for marine, land and aviation transportation, which represents two-thirds of the fossil fuel use in the State.”

Changing pasture land to biofuel is another issue in the `Aina Koa Pono decision.
Photo by Julia Neal

      The electric companies also put forth that they “recognize that it is necessary to advance renewable energy in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. The Companies believe that they and Hawai`i need to be at the forefront of renewable energy efforts in order to sustain Hawai`i for future generations.” 

      The utility company’s testimony also points out that the County of Hawai`i” concludes that the AKP Biodiesel Supply Contract is not reasonable, and should not be approved due to its ‘excessive biofuel price, long-term contract, unproven technology, lack of due –diligence, and associated negative externalities, including ‘crowding-out’ of better alternatives.”
      The utilities, however, disagree with the county’s findings, contending that the AKP project is “reasonable.”
      Regarding testimony submitted by Life of the Land regarding environmental concerns, the utilities contend that many of them would be “more appropriately addressed in the Project 

Command central for free health care in a Ka`u High School classroom. Photo by Julia Neal

permitting process, or in a mandatory environmental impact statement of environmental assessment process, if so required.” The utilities point to AKP having promised a “voluntary environmental assessment, which is tentatively scheduled to include the following: Socioeconomic Impact Assessment, Archaeological Inventory Survey Plan, Cultural Impact Assessment, Flora & Faunal Biological Assessment, and a Traffic Impact Assessment Report.”
      Rebuttals to the utility companies’ testimony is expected soon from Life of the Land and the County of Hawai`i. Both contend that the estimated price of $200 a barrel in a fixed 20-year contract could hold back other more affordable alternative energies.
      See more in tomorrow’s Ka`u News Briefs or read the entire testimony on the docket at http://dms.puc.hawaii.gov.

FREE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE continues on the campus of Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center through Wednesday at noon. Tomorrow the clinics for dentistry, optometry, hearing, and general health are open from 8 a.m. until noon. Reservists from the Army , Navy and Air Force are on a practice mission for disasters and warfare through serving the Ka`u community at field hospitals set up in public buildings.

Ka`u News Briefs June 9, 2013

Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Xochitl Amador Aznar, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, treats dental patients in Pahala at no charge as team member of Tropic Care. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U SCENIC BYWAY Committee has received $2098 from the Hawai`i Tourism Authority and Hawai`i Community Foundation, with $500 in matching funds from Ka`u Chamber of Commerce. The funding is for an educational display along Hwy 11 that will explain the views from the turnout between Ocean View and South Point Road and will be illustrated with photography of the area and the native ohia trees. A handout is proposed to further educate visitors and residents about the scenic wonders of Ka`u, said Byway organizer Dennis Elwell. The next meeting of the Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee is Monday, July 1 at Na`alehu Methodist Church Hall. 

An optometrist from Auburn, California checks Auntie Kaiwi Perkins. Photo by Julia Neal

TROPIC CARE is encouraging Ka`u residents to take advantage of free hearing, eye, dental and physical checkups today until 4 p.m., Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday until noon. The Air Force, Army and Navy reserve units are comprised of health care professionals and administrator and logistics professionals who live all over the country, including Puerto Rico, and have come to Ka`u to practice delivering medical care the field. They have set up camp in the Pahala Gymnasium and Ocean View Community Center. Classrooms have become clinics at Pahala and the Community Center in Ocean View is a second health care delivery site.
       Tropic Care uses sophisticated medical equipment for testing and is offering dental procedures from filling cavities to extractions. Free glasses are offered to those who need them after an eye check.
     Also on hand are representatives of the Hawai`i Health Connector, which helps residents obtain health insurance.

SCIENCE CAMPS OF AMERICA is offering scholarships for Ka`u students for a Land & Sea Camp from June 22 through July 1 and an Air & Space Camp from July 1 through July 10. Science Camps, founded by O`ahu resident Mike Richards, is for boys and girls who are in their teens. The Science Camps website advises teens on the camp culture. “How You’ll Learn – Field Trips, Field Exercises, Lab Exercises, Multimedia Resources… How You Won’t – Sit in a Classroom and Homework.”
      Each ten-day session will feature six or seven travel days. Some trips will take all day while some will take a few hours. Time is set aside each day for creative activities including drawing, photography, videography and music. Students will stay at Pahala Plantation Cottages with counselors and food is provided. To download the scholarship form see http://sciencecampsofamerica.com

Green Sand Community Park & Garden plans a pavillion. Photo by Bobby Tucker

THE CULTIVATING COMMUNITY event at Green Sand Community Park & Garden on Saturday drew nearly 100 people to learn about bees, composting and worms as well as how to grow many food and ornamental plants in Ka`u.
      The community organization, which is building an ornamental and edible garden at the park, hosted a seed exchange and plant sale.
Boardmember Bob Martin said the organization plans fundraising to erect a pavilion at the park.
      Jendaiyi Miller ran a keiki corner with children learning how to plant vegetables and flowers. An art corner encouraged keiki to paint their own wooden flowerpots and make planters from newspapers and recycled containers. The Hawaiian Roots Band with Kai McGuire and friends entertained the crowd.
      A composting and worm workshop by Piper Selben drew about 50 participants. See www.hawaiirainbowworms.com.  Recycle Hawai`i gave out certificates for free bakyard composters for those who took the composting workshop. See www.earthmachine.com and www.recyclehawaii.org.

Jendayi Miller at the Keiki Corner
 at Green Sand Community Park
& Garden. Photo by Bobby Tucker

   Artemis Smiles Honey Bee Sanctuary offered a tour of the education center, attended by a group from Pacific Quest farm and area residents. Alison Yahna, director of the bee sanctuary, said she encourages Ka`u residents to keep backyard beehives as bees in the wild and hives in small gardens have been declining quickly in Ka`u. She said more hives near homes, where residents can care for bees and watch for pests and disease could help the overall bee population come through a time of many hives dying off. The culprits include hive beetles, which lay their eggs inside the beehive, the beetle larva fouling the honey and taking over the hive. Another culprit is the varroa mite and another is a parasitic protozoa called nosena that reduces the life of the bee by about a third.
      Yahna said that a wild bee population building resistance through natural selection is important to the overall survival of bees worldwide. As with much of agriculture, the diversity of bee populations has diminished as factory produced queen bees are shipped all over the world without the immune system and genetics for each niche environment where be hives are established. Yahna, who has cared for bees in Ka`u since 2001, said, "There is a movement nationwide to return to small-scale, backyard beekeeping." A number of people came by the Green Sands Park yesterday and said they are missing the wild and domestic bees in their backyard orchards and gardens Yahna said “wild bees in Ka`u are pretty much wiped out.” To reach her and learn about backyard beekeeping, see www.artemissmiles.com.
      Boardmembers of Green Sand Community Association are Bob Martin, Donna Ambrose and Margaret McGuire.

Alison Yahna at her bee sanctuary in the Green Sand community.
Photo from www.artemissmiles.com 

BOOK SPEED DATING is on for this Wednesday, June 12 at Na`alehu Public Library starting at 3:30 p.m. Patrons are asked to bring a favorite book, regardless of genre, fiction or non-fiction, or a short summary to share with others. The event is intended for young adult and adult readers.
     Library assistant Jennifer Losalio said that with Book Speed Dating each person has three minutes to share his or her favorite book with a listeners before changing chairs. The purpose is to highlight details of the story, without giving too much away. The goal is to interest people in reading a variety of books and to bring together readers who could start a book club hosted at the library once a month.
     Space is limited. Sign up in advance at the library’s circulation desk or RSVP at 929-2442. Depending on its success, the event may be hosted again.

PORK IN THE PARK, Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo’s Father’s Day event on Sunday, June 16 is looking for contestants for its barbeque pork contest. First prize is $100. The afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., includes musicians on stage, samples of pork for the voting for a Fan Favorite, shave ice on sale and a shady tent to enjoy Honu`apo Park on Father’s Day. For more on the contest and the celebration, call Lehua Lopez-Mau at 929-9891.

Ka`u News Briefs June 8, 2013

Cardiologist Larry Derbes checks Minda Brown at free heart screenings by Hawai`i Island Cardiovascular, Inc. that end
this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Ka`u High School near the band room. Other free screenings and treatments by military
reserve medical providers continue through the weekend and Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ocean
View Community Center and Ka`u High School, wrapping up at noon on Wednesday. Photo by Julia Neal

LAST DAY FOR HEART SCREENING at Ka`u High School. The free service offered by Dr. Larry Derbes, MD, FACC, a Waimea cardiologist, and Hilo cardiologist Nathan Zilz, MD, PhD, runs until 4 p.m. today and is sponsored by Hawai`i Island Cardiovascular, Inc. EKGs and echocardiograms are offered.

Mary Stancill heads up Hawai`i Island Cardiovascular at the
Ka`a Ho`ola health care van sponsored by Kona
Community Hospital and HMSA.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Mary Stancill said the nonprofit she directs seeks to improve heart health on the Big Island where there are more cardiac problems than among the state population overall. The service is in the HMSA Ka`a Ho`ola rural healthcare van stationed near the band room at Ka`u High School. The team is also offering the all-in-one free immunizations for tetanus, whooping cough and dyptheria and finger prick preliminary blood screening for diabetes as well as blood oxygen screening.

TROPIC CARE, with Air Force,  Navy and Army reservist medical care providers, continues its free dental, eye, medical, psychiatric screening and care Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Wednesday until noon. Locations are Ka`u High School and Ocean View Community Center. The reservists are staying onsite as if they were in the field for the military. Care is open to anyone with or without insurance. Many of the physicians are specialists.

DEADLINE FOR FILINGS BY HECO AND HELCO regarding the proposed `Aina Koa Pono project was yesterday, and the testimony is expected to be online Monday on the state Public Utilities Commission website at puc.hawaii.gov.

      West Hawai`i Today and Hawai`i Tribune-Herald reported yesterday that state Consumer Advocate Jeff Ono said recently that he supports the proposed biofuel farm and refinery up Wood Valley Road.
      Ono flew to the Big Island recently and toured the proposed refinery location, saw the test plot for biofuel crops and some of the lands where the crops would be grown. He was accompanied by AKP partner Chris Eldridge and a representative of Olson Trust, which owns most of the property proposed for the project.

      Several community members who have studied the issue, given testimony or are farmers and ranchers in Ka`u said they were not contacted to meet with Ono while he was here to discuss possible impacts of AKP on the expansion of coffee and other food crops.
      Sen. Josh Green said he would contact Ono and ask him to visit with Ka`u residents who represent a broader view of the community than those partnered with the venture.
      County energy coordinator Will Rolston told Stephens Media reporter Nancy Cook Lauer that the county will continue to oppose the project. “Hawai`i County Mayor Billy Kenoi has repeatedly said he’s not in favor of any more alternative energy sources for the island unless they result in a lowering of utility bills, not raising of them.”
      Rolston told the reporter that that “he questions whether the refinery, relying on what he says is unproven technology, will even result in a net increase in energy, after plants are grown and harvested, then microwaved, and the resulting fuel is hauled 80 miles from the refinery to the HELCO plant.”
      According to the Stephens Media report, Rolston said, “We’re sitting here and we’re trying to figure out how it could work. The math doesn’t add up.”
      The story also reports that reporter Cook Lauer called Kenton Eldridge, co-founder and chairman of the board of `Aina Koa Pono, last Thursday and that he declined to discuss the PUC process other than saying, “We have technology that works.”
      While the public hearings in Hilo and Kona are over, testimony can still be submitted to hawaii.puc@hawaii.gov. Case number is 2012-0185.
      See more at www.westhawaiitoday.com.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signing the Civil Liberties and the Constitution
Day bill. Photo from Office of the Governor

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS SIGNED a bill establishing Jan. 30 of each year as Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day in recognition the actions of individuals who have fought for the constitutional and civil rights of all Americans, While not a state holiday, the observance is intended to celebrate, honor and educate the public about these individuals’ commitment to preserving civil liberties.


      “Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day will serve to recognize and remind us of the courage of those who remained committed to freedom, even when their own civil liberties and rights were being challenged,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “It is the actions of these individuals – these brave ‘resisters’ – that best reflect the ideals of the U.S. Constitution.”

      Senate Bill 856, enacted as Act 94, was passed by the 2013 Legislature without dissenting votes and was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, Hawai`i Council for the Humanities, Japanese American Citizens League, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education, State Civil Rights Commission, and University of Hawai`i.
      The bill references actions of the United States government, including the internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on Feb. 19, 1942, authorizing the removal of any or all individuals from military areas as deemed necessary and desirable and mandating the forced internment of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Hawai`i and the entire West Coast of the United States would later be defined as a military area, resulting in the relocation of more than 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry to internment camps. One month later, on March 21, 1942, United States Congress passed Public Law 77-503, which established penalties for violations of Executive Order 9066.

Sunday Walk in the Park explores
Kilauea Iki. NPS Photo by
Jay Robinson

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK hosts its monthly Sunday Walk in the Park tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Nick Shema leads an exploration of Kilauea Iki Trail, Na Huku, Escape Road and Crater Rim and Byron Ledge Trails. Free for Friends members; non-members can join the organization in order to attend. For more information, call 985-7373 or email admin@fhvnp.org.

NA`ALEHU PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS BOOK SPEED DATING this Wednesday, June 12, at 3:30 p.m. Patrons up are asked to bring their favorite book, regardless of genre, fiction or non-fiction, or at least have a short summary prepared to share with other patrons. The event is intended for young adult and adult readers.
      Library assistant Jennifer Losalio said that at the event “in pairs, each person has three minutes to share his or her favorite book with his or her partner. The purpose is to highlight details of the story, without giving too much away, so as to convince his or her partner to read the book. After each partner has had three minutes to share his or her favorite book, one partner will rotate out so that everyone will have a chance to speak to each other.” She added that the “goal of this event is not only to get people interested in reading different books, but to also bring together readers who are perhaps interested in starting a book club that could be hosted at the library once a month.”

      Space for the event is limited. Interested patrons are encouraged to sign up in advance at the library’s circulation desk or call and RSVP at 929-2442. Depending on its success, the event may be hosted again in the future.

PORK IN THE PARK, Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo’s Father’s Day event on Sunday, June 16 is looking for contestants for its barbeque pork contest. First prize is $100. The afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., includes musicians on stage, samples of pork for the voting for a Fan Favorite, shave ice on sale and a shady tent to enjoy Honu`apo Park on Father’s Day. For more on the contest and the celebration, call Lehua Lopez-Mau at 929-9891.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.