Ka`u News Briefs July 4, 2013

KAHU-FM Radio station volunteers marched in a Fourth of July Parade in Volcano in 2011. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U COMMUNITY RADIO is likely to experience a rebirth as one of the Hawai`i Public Radio stations, broadcasting from Honolulu around the state. According to Michael Titterton, president and general manager, HPR “is prepared to become the licensee of KAHU-FM (Pahala). HPR will pay the current licensee, Ka`u Community Radio (KCR) $20,000 on closing.” He said that HPR’s Washington, D.C. attorney has drawn up the appropriate papers and that KAHU manager Christine Kaehuaea has initiated the transfer with the FCC.
   KAHU was founded and originally managed by Wendell Kaehuaea with board members under the umbrella of the Haola native Hawaiian community organization. Wendell Kaehuaea was one of the original managers, broadcasters and drivers to create the station also known as "The Shepherd." He was succeeded by his daughter Christine.

      In a letter to Christine Kaehuaea, Titterton wrote that, “although HPR plans to completely re-equip the broadcast equipment of KAHU, it is HPR’s intention to provide broadcast service as soon as possible to the community of license, once the license transfer is complete, using the equipment as currently installed, in order to provide both programming and Civil Defense access to this completely terrain-shielded (and otherwise radio-less) area.

      “The program service provided will be that of HPR-2, currently heard over KIPO (Honolulu), KIPM (Wailuku), KIPH (Hana), and KHPH (Kailua-Kona).”

Volunteers and contractors using Civil Defense money moved equipment
in October 2011 to a communications tower to provide a broader reach
for KAHU-FM Radio. Photo by Julia Neal

      When asked whether local programming would be possible, Titterton said that the long-range plan is for local origin programs to be broadcast from various communities around the state, but establishing them could take five to ten years.
      KAHU offered local talent and community members the opportunity to broadcast music, interviews and news to Pahala and beyond. Over its several years of operations, the radio station took in grants, donations and underwriting, with at least one local resident donating more than $40,000.
       Most of its staff volunteered, including Bobby and Phoebe Gomes, The Ka`u Calendar newspaper staff, Demetrius Oliveira, Harry Evangelista, Bobby Tucker, Kahea Dolan, Nadine Ebert and Mike Munnerlyn, who donated his construction and repair skills as well as broadcasting sporting events from Ka`u High School. Camille Marie Rupe, Leonida Hill, Joannie Shellhorn, JWayne Ryker, Manny Pascua, Papa Joe Demoruelle, Shammah Haynes, Kala Kaluna, Shanell Leilani Dedman, Adam Zaki, Dean Nagasako, Mika Mulkey, Alan Sebastian and Denise “The Deeva” were among the other broadcasters. Other volunteers helped put up the radio tower on Maile Street in Pahala, build out the studio and make upgrades and repairs.
      Much of the equipment purchased with local donations, grants, loans and Civil Defense funding has been sold, and KAHU went dark months ago, leaving Pahala and surrounding areas – as far as the radio signal reached – without Civil Defense and local origination programming. The state Civil Defense office provided more than $70,000 to help the station reach more of Ka`u, but equipment was taken off the communications tower near the cane road between Pahala and Na`alehu when radio station management was unable to pay the monthly bill. Hawaiian Electric Co. followed up by turning off the electricity.
      Kaehuaea made numerous appeals for more funding but said she faced more than $80,000 in debt. Many are local small businesses waiting to be paid through the $20,000 of income from selling the Ka`u Community Radio license.

Maile David and Brenda Ford both received public funding to run for
County Council last year. Photo by Charles Tobias

THE TEST PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PUBLIC FUNDING to Hawai`i County Council candidates may not be available during next year’s elections, reports Nancy Cook Lauer in West Hawai`i Today. According to the story, the fund has less that $3.1 million and is required by state law to have $3.5 million in order to be usable. 

      In last year’s election for Ka`u’s County Council seat, Brenda Ford and Maile David each qualified for $48,893 in public funding for the primary and general elections, the most of all candidates running for Council islandwide.
      While the public funding came from $3 donations checked off on state tax returns, the amounts for each district varied. District 6 had the most funding, which is based on the amount of private money raised for Council campaigns before public funding started. In one election, Guy Enriques raised a large sum for his County Council campaign, more than any other candidate around the island, leading to the big publicly funded money pot for Ka`u Council District candidates.

Brenda Ford waves to onlookers at last year's Volcano Fourth of July
Parade. Photo by David Howard Donald

      Gary Kam, general counsel for Hawai`i Campaign Spending Commission, told Cook Lauer that partial public funding is available through another program based on the number of registered voters in each district. It provides less money but lets candidates raise private funds, as well.
      See more at westhawaiitoday.com.

AFTER HEARING TESTIMONY FROM HUNDREDS of people for two straight days at meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, Hawai`i County Council has delayed voting on a bill banning GMOs on Hawai`i Island.
      Ka`u’s Council member Brenda Ford, chair of the Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee, which held the meetings, said, “It is time for us to deliberate, and this is what we’re going to do.”
      Kohala Council member Margaret Wille said she plans to propose amendments, including removal of a requirement for buffer zones for existing GMO crops, which are exempted from the ban. Wille also said she wants to exempt floral crops from the ban.

VOLUNTEERS CUT INVASIVE KAHILI GINGER along park trails in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants meet at Kilauea Visitor Center. Call 985-6172 for more information.

Volcano Art Center hosts a Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party tomorrow.
Photo from VAC

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DANCE PARTY takes place for tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Liz Miller, Cookie, Michael Miller, Peggy Stanton and Maj Balej offer a night of fun. Tickets are $10 or $9 for VAC members. For more information, see volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222. 

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION’S Fourth of July Rodeo will be held at Na`alehu Arena this Saturday and Sunday. Events include Open Dally, Kane-Wahine Dally, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Ribbon Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Rescue Race, where riders race to the other end of the arena and pick up a partner who rides behind them, Po Y U, Tie Down Roping, Wahine Barrels, Youth Barrels, Senior Dummy Roping, Dummy Roping for the Keiki, Goat Undecorating, Mutton Busting and Junior Bulls.
      There will be a food booth, and tickets are $6. Rodeo Queens are selling tickets. Slack roping begins at 8 a.m. Sunday finals are at 11 a.m.

THE COMMUNITY BOOKSTORE AT KAUAHA`AO CHURCH in Wai`ohinu is open the first Saturday of each month, as well as each Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 938-0411 for more information.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S LAVA LOUNGE in Hawai`I Volcanoes National Park host a Country Dance Party with DJ Tiki Saturday at 6 p.m. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-8365 after 4 p.m.

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.

Ka`u News Briefs July 3, 2013

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park rangers rappelled nearly 200 feet into this remote pit crater to "rescue" seeds and
cutting from four extremely rare plants. NPS Photo by Mark Wasser

IT’S NOT ALWAYS LOST OR INJURED HIKERS who get rescued by park rangers. 

      Rangers from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park rappelled nearly 200 feet into a remote pit crater last week to “rescue” seeds and cuttings from four extremely rare Hawaiian plants in the national park. The park will use the seeds and cuttings to help re-establish these species.

      During the mission, seeds and cuttings from haha, Cyanea stictophylla, a federally endangered shrub found only on Hawai`i Island, were carefully collected. This plant is extremely rare, and in 1996, only 20 plants were estimated to survive in the wild.

Ranger Jon Maka`ike collects seeds from haha.
Photo from NPS

      Seeds and cuttings from other rare species collected included a species related to haha, Cyanea pilosa, an odorless Hawaiian mint, Phyllostegia sp., and a native shrub in the African violet family, ha`iwale, Cyrtandra lysiosepala.
      Although 4,000-foot elevation and steep, sheer walls of the forested pit crater aid in protecting its ecology, those conditions make it challenging to retrieve cuttings and seeds. Two specialized teams from the national park, the Natural Resources Management rappel team and the Search and Rescue team, descended into the crater, retrieved the seeds and cuttings, and returned safely to the surface – a 12-hour mission.
      Joining rangers were members of Hawai`i County Fire Department and Pohakuloa Training Area’s fire management team. This enabled the project ample contingency resources in the event of an incident, and fostered interagency cooperation that will be seeds in themselves for future mutual assistance.

AS A RESULT OF CONTINUED MODERATION of bunker fuel prices, Matson has announced it is lowering its fuel surcharge for its Hawai`i service by two percentage points, from 36.5 percent to 34.5 percent, effective this Sunday.
      “This marks the third consecutive decrease in 2013 of our Hawai`i fuel surcharge,” said Dave Hoppes, senior vice president of ocean services. “For most customers, this downward adjustment represents a reduction in shipping costs ranging from $45 to $80 per container. We continue to be encouraged by the recent moderation in bunker fuel prices, and remain focused on diligently exploring ways in which we can maximize fuel efficiency for our fleet. Matson has made a practice of giving 30 days notice for upward rate adjustments, but passes on downward adjustments to our customers as soon as possible. We will continue to monitor fuel costs and adjust the surcharge accordingly.”
      Matson’s last adjustment to its fuel surcharge was a decrease of 3.5 percentage points effective April 28.  See more at 
matson.com.

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS SIGNED one bill relating to tax deductions resulting from donations to charitable organizations and two bills related to law enforcement.
      HB430 exempts charitable deductions from the itemized state income tax deduction caps.
      “With the state economy and revenue picture greatly improved since I took office, we now have an opportunity to further support nonprofit and charitable organizations in their efforts for the greater good,” Abercrombie said. “The measure is a result of a partnership between charitable organizations, the Legislature and the Administration.”
      SB69 closes a loophole regarding fingerprint, photograph and background checks for those bringing firearms into Hawai`i, providing consistency with firearms obtained locally.
      SB2 amends the offenses of terroristic threatening in the first degree and robbery in the first degree to include the use of simulated firearms.  “These bills assist law enforcement in their duty to serve the public and keep people safe,” Abercrombie said.

Sen. Mazie Hirono is profiled at www.makers.com.

IN A VIDEO ON A WEBSITE CALLED MAKERS.COM, Hawai`i’s U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono shares her story “of immigrating to America with her single mother from Japan, learning English and discovering her knack for politics, first as a campaign manager and eventually as the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate.”

      The website also gives a biography of Hirono:
      “Hirono was born in the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan and spent her early years on her grandparents’ rice farm. She immigrated to Hawai`i with her mother at the age of eight, without knowing a word of English. 

      “Hirono eventually put herself through the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, earning a B.A. in psychology, then law school at Georgetown University. 

      “Hirono is the first Asian-American woman, the first Buddhist and the first woman from Hawai`i to be elected to the United States Senate. 

      “After ten years of running other people’s campaigns, Hirono decided it was time to run for office herself. She served in the Hawai`i House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995 and as lieutenant governor of Hawai`i from 1994 to 2002. In 2006, Hirono won the U.S. House of Representative seat for Hawai`I’s 2nd congressional district, which she re-won for three terms. 

      “In May 2011, Hirono announced her candidacy for open Hawai`i U.S. Senate seat. With 63 percent of the vote, Hirono became the first Asian-born immigrant elected to the Senate.”  

      Others featured on the website include Nobel Prize-winning biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, Author and activist Rita Mae Brown, Star Trek actress and NASA recruiter Nichelle Nichols and vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Tiare-Lee Shibuya rode in Na`alehu's parade last Saturday and will also ride in Volcano Village's Fourth of July
Parade tomorrow. Photo by Julia Neal

MISS KA`U COFFEE TIARE-LEE SHIBUYA will represent the Ka`u coffee industry tomorrow at the Fourth of July parade in Volcano. She will be riding in the Corvette convertible donated by Aikane Plantation Coffee. The driver will be police officer Duane Shibuya, the father of Miss Ka`u Coffee. The coffee queen rode in the Na`alehu Independence Day parade last weekend and has been visiting churches and community groups as Miss Ka`u Coffee. She plans to be at the starting line of the Volcano Rain Forest Runs on Aug 17. Other venues include Kamehameha School and the Heart Walk. Last weekend Dexter Lee, of Pahala, drove her in his classic 50s Corvette convertible. The Volcano Fourth of July Parade starts at 9 a.m. and is followed by festivities at Cooper Center on Wright Road. 

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S CRATER RIM CAFÉ in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers a Fourth of July buffet tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Menu includes local-style fried chicken, barbecue pork ribs, buttered corn on the cob, salad bar, rice, homemade biscuits and honey, ice cream and coffee, tea or a fountain drink. Price is $16.50 for adults $16.50 and $8.50 for children 6 – 11. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests, and park entrance fees apply. 967-8356

VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN Stewardship at the Summit Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to cut invasive Kahili ginger along park trails. Call 985-6172 for more information.

Fourth of July Rodeo happens this weekend in Na`alehu.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DANCE PARTY takes place for Friday at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Liz Miller, Cookie, Michael Miller, Peggy Stanton and Maj Balej offer a night of fun. Tickets are $10 or $9 for VAC members. For more information, see volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222. 

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION’S Fourth of July Rodeo will be held at Na`alehu Arena this Saturday and Sunday. Events include Open Dally, Kane-Wahine Dally, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Ribbon Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Rescue Race, where riders race to the other end of the arena and pick up a partner who rides behind them, Po Y U, Tie Down Roping, Wahine Barrels, Youth Barrels, Senior Dummy Roping, Dummy Roping for the Keiki, Goat Undecorating, Mutton Busting and Junior Bulls.
      There will be a food booth, and tickets are $6. Rodeo Queens are selling tickets. Slack roping begins at 8 a.m. Sunday finals are at 11 a.m.

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.

Ka`u News Briefs July 2, 2013

Ka`u residents gathered signatures on a message of thanks for our troops during Na`alehu's Independence Day
celebration. From left are Robert Williams, Peter Anderson, Roy Kochis, Art Cecil, Donna Cecil, Judith Ball,
Audrey Anderson and Richard Ball. Photo courtesy of Peter Anderson

RESCUED SWIMMER JACOB SELMAN has issued a mahalo to the people who recently saved his life at South Point. The Montana man wrote on The Ka`u Calendar facebook page, “Thank you so very much to all the people that helped to save my life. Especially, thank you, Jackie (Kailiawa). I don’t think I would have made it much longer. I’m doing much better now, and I’m forever indebted to Jackie and all the local folks who cared and risked their own safety to save my life. I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

Jacob Selman, sitting on the rocks, has sent a message
thanking those who helped rescue him, including
Jackie Kailiawa, with boogie board.
 Photo by U`i Makuakane

      Selman was swept out to sea at South Point, and waterman  Kailiawa, who grew up in Pahala and now lives in Volcano, dove in and rescued him in dangerous conditions. 

      Messages from Ka`u and beyond call Kailiawa a hero. Kau`i Makuakane-Gouveia wrote, “What an amazing individual!” Thomas Pasquale wrote, “A true Hero!” Chris Kawaauhau wrote, “Awesome job Jackie.” Ronnie Akaka said, “No kidding, Good job.” Valerie and Roger Leong posted “Awesome cousin!” Jade Ah Ho wrote, “God sent these wonderful Samaritans!” Tom Young, of VolcanoPC, offered Kailiawa a free computer tune-up and said, “Thanks for being there in a time of need.” See more on the June 25 Ka`u Calendar facebook page and kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com postings.
      There are many heroes in Ka`u. Please send the stories of local heroes to mahalo@aloha.net to be published in The Ka`u Calendar newspaper and in the daily Ka`u News Briefs.

Ka`u Coffee Stands Tall is the headline of
Hawai`i Business magazine's SmallBiz
section this month.

KA`U COFFEE EARNED THE FRONT PAGE of the SmallBiz section of Hawai`i Business magazine for July. One headline is Ka`u Coffee Stands Tall and sports a full-page photo of Chris Manfredi riding a horse in Ka`u, the caption describing him as managing partner at Ka`u Farm & Ranch Co. and president of Ka`u Local Products and noting that he “brokered a 2011 deal that placed Ka`u coffee in 250 Starbucks outlets in the U.S., Canada and Japan that sell the ultra-pemium Starbucks Reserve coffees.” 

      The other headline calls Ka`u the Cinderella of Hawai`i Coffee and notes that Ka`u coffee’s success took almost two decades of hard work. The article focuses mainly on Lorie and Rusty Obra, describing them as “unlikely coffee farmers. They had emigrated from the Philippines to New Jersey in 1972 to begin their careers, Rusty as a chemist and Lorie as a medical technologist.” The article tells of their success and Lorie continuing the building of the Ka`u coffee brand after Rusty’s death.
      Writer John Stickler details the history of C. Brewer shutting down its sugar company and investors coming in, with businessman and philanthropist Edmund C. Olson and a separate group, to which Manfredi belonged, buying thousands of acres of land here. The story talks about Olson building Ka`u Coffee Mill. The story also mentions award-winning Ka`u coffee farmers Willie Tabios, Marlon Biason, Manuel Marques, Bull and Jamie Kailiawa and Trini and Francis Marques as well as Lee Segawa, roaster at Ka`u Coffee Mill. See more business stories at hawaiibusiness.com.

“SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION’S approval of the `Aina Koa Pono biofuel contract, generating units at Keahole Power Plant will be converted to firing biodiesel,” states Hawaiian Electric Companies’ 2013 Integrated Resource Planning Report and Action Plan, released Friday. “Biofuels are an integral part of HELCO’s renewable energy strategy to actively seek and incorporate a diverse portfolio of new renewable resources” to meet or exceed Renewable Portfolio Standards.

      The report says, “Biofuels, produced from local energy crops, have the following benefits: creates new jobs in Hawai`i, retains the billions of dollars that are spent on imported oil in the state, increases Hawai`i’s energy security, invigorates Hawai`i’s agriculture industry, supports the state’s goal of diversifying Hawai`i’s economy by encouraging the development of local agriculture, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and provides a local fuel alternative for marine, land, and aviation transportation.
      “Another important consideration is that biofuels can be used to generate renewable energy for existing conventional generating units which provide essential grid services, including load following, frequency response, voltage control, and on-line operating and spinning reserves.”
     HELCO expects the Keahole Power Plant to begin burning biofuels in 2018 in several select runs, according to the report.
      The entire report is available at hawaiianelectric.com.

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS ENACTED LEGISLATION that strengthens laws protecting the rights of women and children throughout Hawai`i.


      “I commend the Hawai`i Women’s Legislative Caucus, Commission on the Status of Women, and women’s advocates for their dedicated efforts in support of these measures, which address a wide variety of issues ranging from protections for domestic workers, to human trafficking, to recognition of the societal and health benefits of breastfeeding,” Abercrombie said. “Many of these bills, now enacted as law, are the result of members of the community getting involved in the legislative process to protect the rights and safety of women and children.”

 The governor also signed bills that extend the voluntary foster care age to 21 as well as keep keiki safe from a parent who has been convicted of a sexual assault.

 “SB529 not only shields the child from a convicted sex offender, it also protects the survivor from being further victimized,” Abercrombie said. “Through SB1340, which extends the voluntary foster care age to 21, we are sending a message to former foster youth that we will continue to support their transition to adulthood, independence and self-sufficiency. Doing so lays the foundation for long-term positive outcomes for youth when they leave foster care. It will also result in substantial cost savings in future government services.”

Donna and Art Cecil sign the message of thanks that
is to be delivered to troops at PTA.
Photo by Peter Anderson

NINETY-FIVE PEOPLE SHOWED THEIR support of U.S. military troops by signing a message of thanks during Na`alehu’s Independence Day celebration. Organizer Peter Anderson said he and other Ka`u residents gathered the signatures at a booth and by circulating the message through the crowd. The message read, “ We appreciate your service and the support your family has given to make your service possible. As a sign of gratitude, we have placed our signatures in this binder.” 

      The message will be delivered to troops at Pohakuloa Training Center, Anderson said.
      See more coverage of Na`alehu’s Independence Day celebration in this week’s Ka`u News Briefs.

KEN CHARON TEACHES HOW TO GAIN inspiration from the natural environment of Kilauea tomorrow and each Wednesday during July at 10:30 a.m. Participants meet on the porch of Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The 1.5-hour classes are open to park visitors and island residents over eight years of age. Sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the class. They are free, and park entrance fees apply.
      For more information, call 967-8222 or see volcanoartcenter.org.

VOLCANO VILLAGE’S FOURTH OF JULY celebration takes place Thursday, with the parade starting at 9 a.m. The parade begins at the post office and goes to Cooper Center on Wright Road, where festivities continue with craft and food booths, entertainment, a silent auction and games for children.

Paul and Jane Field removing invasive Kahili ginger.
NPS Photo from Jessica Ferracane

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S CRATER RIM CAFÉ in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park offers a Fourth of July buffet Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Menu includes local-style fried chicken, barbecue pork ribs, buttered corn on the cob, salad bar, rice, homemade biscuits and honey, ice cream and coffee, tea or a fountain drink. Price is $16.50 for adults $16.50 and $8.50 for children 6 – 11. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests, and park entrance fees apply. 967-8356 

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers meet at Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to cut invasive Kahili ginger along park trails. Call 985-6172 for more information.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DANCE PARTY is set for Friday at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Liz Miller, Cookie, Michael Miller, Peggy Stanton and Maj Balej offer a night of fun. Tickets are $10 or $9 for VAC members. For more information, see volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

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.