Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, July 28, 2013

The Weather Channel's track of Flossie shows the tropical storm's projected movement across Hawai`i Island Monday.

PLANNING FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL IN KA`U continues, following a meeting and spaghetti dinner at Pahala Hongwanji yesterday where organizers gave prospective parents of students an update. One of the backers of the effort, Ross Rammelmeyer, of Volcano, said former Na`alehu School teacher Kathryn Tydlacka is planning a hybrid of student/teacher face-to-face contact sessions and online educational programs. Various locations are being researched. He also said the program would include “guest lectures from persons well educated and experienced in various disciplines.”

      For more information, contact Tydlacka at 918-640-1267
      To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY reports that effective this morning, the National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for the island of Hawai`i. High wind, surf, surge run-up, heavy rains and flooding expected within the next 36 hours. 

      Residents in coastal areas are advised to take precautions. Boat owners are advised to secure their vessels and complete these activities before tonight. Residents in flood-prone areas are advised to expect flooding conditions and to take appropriate measures. Everyone is advised to anticipate possible power outages and interruptions in telephone communications.
      Residents can monitor local news and weather forecasts for updated information.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY’S free Information Handbook for Emergency Preparedness has information to help get ready for Flossie. It includes key numbers to have on hand, checklists for emergency supplies such as a home survival kit and first aid kit, electrical safety information, power outage preparedness and recovery, household and food safety tips and references and links to related resources such as the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency and civil defense agencies. 

      The handbook can be downloaded at helcohi.com.

DUE TO EXPECTED HIGH WINDS AND HEAVY RAINS associated with Flossie, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife on the Big Island has closed Ka`u’s Ainapo Trail and cabin as well as the Waimanu trail and campground and Pololu trail. The closures will stay in effect until staff can inspect the condition and safety of the trails once the storm system has passed.
      For further information, contact the DOFAW Hilo Office at 974-4221.

Ainapo Trail, which leads from Hwy 11 to the summit of Mauna Loa,
is closed due to Tropical Storm Flossie.

      DLNR also advises the public to avoid entering forest areas on all islands starting Monday as Flossie arrives in the Hawaiian islands. Storm conditions can trap recreationalists by blocking trails and roads from flash floods and falling trees. Falling rocks, falling trees and landslides pose additional threats to people in the forest reserves.
      “We advise that hikers, campers or hunters should avoid trails, streams and backcountry areas under these conditions,” said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson.

ALL OF THE SCIENTIFIC AUTHORITIES of the Mauna Kea Thirty Meter Telescope partners have signed a Master Agreement establishing a formal agreement among the international parties defining the project goals, establishing a governance structure and defining member party rights, obligations and benefits.

      TMT is a collaboration among universities in the United States with institutions in Canada, China, India and Japan, and with major funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Thirty Meter Telescope's Master Agreement has been signed by all the
scientific authorities of the partnership. Image from tmt.org

      “The signing of this Master Agreement marks a major milestone in the official commitment to and formalization of this global collaboration, ensuring that the TMT project is on schedule and progressing smoothly,” said Henry Yang, chair of the TMT Collaborative Board. “We have been working toward this moment for a long time, and this is a special day for astronomy’s next-generation observatory.”
      The Master Agreement brings together the TMT partners for the purpose of developing, designing, financing, constructing, commissioning, operating and decommissioning a next-generation, thirty-meter-class astronomical observatory.
      “We are pleased with this vote of confidence from the scientific authorities,” said Edward Stone, vice chair of the TMT Board. “Their signing of this Master Agreement is a key endorsement of TMT’s scientific merits as well as the project’s overall implementation plan.”
      The next step will be for financial authorities of the partners to similarly sign the document and finalize the funding plan.
      “With the scientific authorities now all on board, we welcome and look forward to the critical support of the remaining financial authorities in advancing the TMT project," said Yang.
      Construction of TMT is planned to begin in April 2014, and TMT is scheduled to begin scientific operations in 2022.

Plastic and other marine debris has been found in stomachs of
opah, or moonfish. Photo from NOAA 

LARGE, PREDATORY FISH FROM OFFSHORE WATERS around Hawai`i have been ingesting a surprisingly large amount of plastic and other marine debris, according to new research by scientists at University of Hawai`i-Manoa. 

      These observations are the first of their kind in scope and in number. Over a six-year period, researchers investigated the stomach contents of 595 fish representing 10 predatory open-ocean species, including commercially valuable tunas and billfishes. Seven of the 10 species ingested some form of debris, with varying degrees of frequency.
      “One of the species we looked at is opah, or the moonfish (Lampris guttatus), a popular fish consumed in Hawai`i and around the world,” said Anela Choy, a UH-Manoa graduate student and lead author of the study that was recently published in the scientific journal Marine Ecology Progress Series. “In the two species found in Hawaiian waters, 58 percent of the small-eye opah and 43 percent of the big-eye opah had ingested some kind of debris. This was based on looking into the stomachs of almost 140 opah.

      “Another large fish species, the longnosed lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox), had a 30 percent debris ingestion incidence,” Choy said. “Although this is not a species consumed by humans, it is a very common fish in open ocean waters globally and is very frequently caught by fisherman around Hawai`i.”

Longnosed lancetfish have a 30 percent debris ingestion incidence,
according to a UH-Manoa study. Photo from wikipedia.com

      The study was based on observations collected during multiyear diet studies. The primary objective of the study was to describe food habits and trophic ecology of large fish species in the region, according to Choy and her co-author Jeff Drazen, an associate professor in the Oceanography Department of UH-Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology.
      “What was most surprising was that the fish that most frequently ingested debris are all thought to be deeper-water species, generally those that live beneath the sunlit upper 500 to 600 feet of the water column,” Choy said. “Deeper water fishes may have been coming up close to the surface to ingest debris, which is an unusual and unexpected behavior.”
      Or, the debris could be coming to them, the study suggests. Buoyant plastics are known to sink into the deep ocean when waterlogged or perhaps weighted down by algae or encrusted by small sea animals. Wind-driven ocean mixing or water currents could also possibly transport debris to deeper waters.
      The effects of plastic ingestion on the health of these predatory fishes remain uncertain. Researchers don’t know how long debris stays in the stomachs of large fish or whether they are able to pass such debris.
      Many plastics are known to absorb or take up PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, metals, and petroleum hydrocarbons from sea water. However, it is not known whether the toxins are transmitted to the fish that consume the plastic, or ultimately to humans who consume the fish.

Laupahoehoe Train Museum is the topic at Tuesday's After Dark in
the Park. Photo from NPS

TUESDAY’S AFTER DARK IN THE PARK FEATURES Laupahoehoe Train Museum. Museum treasurer Doug Connors discusses the history of railroads on the island of Hawai`i, the sugar plantations and the development of Hamakua Coast. Topics include effects of the 1946 tsunami and the development of the train museum, which started in 1995. 

      The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

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.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, July 27, 2013

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke and voted against the federal government's mass data collection from the general public. Image from C-Span

HAWAI`I MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES broke rank this week in voting on whether the federal government should be allowed to continue to collect telephone call records, emails and other digitally communicated messages from the general population. The vote on the Amash-Conyers amendment saw Democrats and Republicans voting both sides of the issue, rather than voting party line. The amendment to the authorizing legislation for the Department of Defense budget would have stopped wholesale collection of data on U.S. citizens. It would have allowed such phone and Internet data collecting only on those being specifically investigated for specific crimes. To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

VOTING TO STOP MASS DATA COLLECTION was Ka`u’s Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, herself a military veteran of Middle East warfare. During floor debate on stripping funding for such activities, Gabbard spoke out against “sweeping collection of personal data by the National Security Administration and the continued funding of invasive surveillance programs that target innocent Americans,” a statement from her congressional office said.
      “Countless men and women from my state of Hawai`i and all across the country have worn the uniform and put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and our liberties,” said Gabbard. “I cannot in good conscience vote to take a single dollar from the pockets of hard-working taxpayers from across the country to pay for programs which infringe on the very liberties and freedoms our troops have fought and died for. Ben Franklin said, ‘They who give up liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.’”

Former Hawai`i resident Edward Snowden is wanted for espionage for
giving out classified information. He also created debate in Congress
when he revealed NSA data-gathering methods. The debate has taken
Hawai`i's House members in slightly different directions.

      The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 217-205.
      In another effort to scale back the data collecting, Gabbard was one of 22 Democrats and 24 Republicans in the House - and the only one from Hawai`i - who introduced the NSA Surveillance Act in June. H.R. 2399 is called the Limiting Internet and Blanket Electronic Review of Telecommunications and Email Act. This LIBERT-E Act would restrict the federal government’s ability under the Patriot Act to collect information on Americans who are not connected to an ongoing investigation. The bill would also require secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court options to be made available to Congress and summaries of the opinions to be made available to the public.

      Referring to revelations by former Hawai`i resident and security contractor Edward Snowden, who has been charged with espionage by the U.S. government, the coalition issued a statement saying, “The recent NSA leaks indicate that the federal government collects phone records and intercepts electronic communications on a scale previously unknown to most Americans.
      “The LIBERT-E Act imposes reasonable limits on the federal government’s surveillance. The bill puts some teeth into the FISA court’s determination of whether records the government wants are actually relevant to an investigation. It also makes sure that innocent Americans’ information isn’t needlessly swept up into a government database. LIBERT-E prohibits the type of government dragnet that the leaked Verizon order revealed.
       “We accept that free countries must engage in secret operations from time to time to protect their citizens. Free countries must not, however, operate under secret laws. Secret court opinions obscure the law. They prevent public debate on critical policy issues and they stop Congress from fulfilling its duty to enact sound laws and fix broken ones.
       “LIBERT-E lets every congressman have access to FISA court opinions so that Congress can have a more informed debate about security and privacy. And the bill requires that unclassified summaries of the opinions be available to the public so that Americans can judge for themselves the merit of their government’s actions.
       “We are proud to lead a broad, bipartisan coalition that’s working to protect privacy. It shouldn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Defending the Constitution and protecting Americans’ rights should be an effort we all can support.”
      The LIBERT-E Act was assigned to a congressional committee. To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa voted to
continue mass data collection.

VOTING TO CONTINUE MASS DATA COLLECTION by opposing the amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill that would have stopped such information gathering was urban Hawai`i congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa. She stood by the NSA data operations for now but said she has deep concerns. A statement from her congressional office says: 

      “I believe that much of the PATRIOT Act is problematic and overreaches on the powers we intend to grant the government to protect our national security. This is why I voted against its extension in February 2011.
      “However, elimination of a national security program requires an informed, transparent, and deliberative process. Quick fixes like the Amash amendment could have unintended consequences for the intelligence and law enforcement communities beyond the specific problems being targeted. A provision of this nature deserves a more meaningful forum than an amendment to a defense appropriations bill with debate limited to ten minutes on each side, far less time than required to discuss such complex matters of policy. This issue should be the subject of a stand-alone bill that provides a complete review in an open forum involving all stakeholders, including the American public. If a thorough review shows that the law is bad, we should repeal it, not simply de-fund it.
      “Instead, I voted in favor of the Pompeo Amendment, which would prevent the National Security Agency from using appropriated funds for the bulk monitoring, collection, or storage of Americans’ telephone and electronic communications. My vote was to reinforce safeguards that would prevent the NSA from spying on American citizens while evaluating the NSA program, including its impact on our citizens and its effectiveness in providing for our nation's security.
     “I look forward to supporting and continuing a full debate on the appropriate balance between national security and civil liberties,” Hanabusa concluded.
      The vote on the amendment to curtail government data collecting was 111 Democrats favoring curtailment and 83 votes against and 94 Republicans favoring curtailment and 134 against.
      To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial commemorates one of the bloodiest
wars in American history, which ended 60 years ago today.
Photo from Wikipedia

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS PROCLAIMED TODAY, the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended one of the bloodiest wars in American history, National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Sen. Mazie Hirono, a member of the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees, said, “This weekend, I ask all Hawai`i residents to remember those brave Americans who served alongside our allies to defend our freedom and stop the spread of communism in Korea. Some have dubbed the conflict ‘the forgotten war,’ but to the families of the more than 36,000 Americans who died and the countless others who were wounded, the physical and emotional scars remain. More than 10,000 surviving veterans live in Hawai`i, many of them in their eighties. These veterans have earned the respect of succeeding generations. 

      “In Hawai`i, we understand the sacrifices made by these men and women in order to secure the Pacific. The war taught us the importance of eternal vigilance. Many Hawai`i residents have ties to Korea or loved ones still living there. We must be ready to protect our state and allies from aggression in the Pacific. As we honor the memory of those who fought six decades ago, let’s recommit ourselves to the defense of the liberty and freedom for which they sacrificed.”
To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

The latest forecast of Flossie's path takes it across Hawai`i Island Monday.
Image from National Weather Service

TROPICAL STORM FLOSSIE IS EXPECTED TO REACH Hawai`i Island Monday afternoon. While not a hurricane, drenching rains are expected, with the possibility of flash floods and mudslides. 

PROHIBITION OF GMO CROPS IN HAWAI`I COUNTY will again be considered at a special meeting of the Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee on Tuesday at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. The committee chair is Ka`u’s Council member Brenda Ford. This is a continuation of meetings held July 2 and 3 when hundreds of Big Island residents offered testimony on Bill 79, proposed by Kohala Council member Margaret Wille.

THE ALOHAHAS, AN IMPROVISATIONAL, comedic sketch company, perform at Ocean View Community Center at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per person, 18 and older.
      Cast members will perform original comedy sketches and a series of improvisational games with suggestions from the audience.
      For more information about the show and cast, see thealohahas.com, email thealohahas@gmail.com or call 345-2751.

VOLUNTEERS CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR MONDAY and Tuesday’s anchialine pool/plant workdays sponsored by Hawai`i Wildlife Fund. Volunteers meet at Wai`ohinu Park at 7:45 a.m. to carpool to the site. Register at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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.

                                                        PUBLIC NOTICES

Ka`u News Briefs Friday, July 26, 2013

Hawai`i Ocean Resources Management Plan mentions Honu`apo Estuary as an example of Community and
Place-based Ocean Management Projects. Photo from The Nature Conservancy

GOV. NEIL ABERCROMBIE HAS SIGNED THE 2013 Hawai`i Ocean Resources Management Plan, which brings county, state and federal partners together to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of Hawai`i’s ocean and coastal resources for current and future generations. 

      “It is essential that government agencies at all levels work together to address Hawai`i’s resource challenges,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Our lives are intertwined with the natural resources of these islands, from the local economy to our island way of life. This plan provides a clear roadmap for achieving a necessary balance between use and preservation.”

Mitigating damage to coral reefs is one of the priorities of the Hawai`i
Ocean Resources Management Plan. Photo from The Nature Conservancy

      The plan was developed with the participation of county, state and federal agencies responsible for ocean and coastal resources. It identifies 11 management priorities for the next five years and pathways for achieving goals:

1. Appropriate Coastal Development – “addresses issues … including coastal hazards (including sea level rise), historic resources, coastal ecosystems and Hawai`i’s economy for current and future generations;” 
2. Management of Coastal Hazards – lists disaster avoidance measures including “institutional and governmental measures to reduce risks from coastal hazards;” 
3. Watershed Management – focuses on “the health of the water supply, allowing for water recharge, and preserving good water quantity entails taking care of the watersheds;” 
4. Marine Resources – protection focuses on control of marine debris and aquatic invasive species; 
5. Coral Reef – focuses on threats such as land-based sources of pollution, including sediment, nutrients, cesspools, sewer treatment plant overflow, road run-off, grounded vessels and climate change; 
6. Ocean Economy – “Hawai`i’s economy is dependent on the health of the ocean;” 
7. Cultural Heritage of the Ocean – focuses on Native Hawaiian access and gathering rights as “protected by state laws and 
by the State of Hawai‘i constitution. These laws also require all state and county agencies to affirmatively protect and enforce these rights;” 
8. Training, Education and Awareness – considers classes in environmental literacy, public education and outreach materials and programs and youth are involved in ocean resource management; 
9. Collaboration and Conflict Resolution – suggests increasing partnerships and collaborations for effective and efficient conservation efforts in the Hawaiian Islands; 
10. Community and Place-Based Ocean Management Projects – active involvement of community members who work to restore part of an ecosystem and begin to monitor and watch that ecosystem. The report lists Honu`apo Bay in Ka`u as an example; 
11. National Ocean Policy and Pacific Regional Ocean Initiatives – focuses on improving spatial information on the condition of the oceans and creating a marine spatial plan for the Pacific Islands Region. 

      The priorities are based on community outreach conducted in all four counties through public meetings, oral and written submissions, and social media.

Map of main Hawaiian Islands marine managed areas from Hawai`i Ocean
Resources Management Plan.

      “The 11 management priorities address resource management challenges that can only be achieved through a statewide, coordinated effort among various government and community partners,” said Jesse Souki, director of the state Office of Planning. “It addresses some of the greatest challenges of our time, including the impacts of climate change and balancing economic, cultural and environmental considerations to ensure sustainable stewardship of our resources.”
      Tracking the success of the plan will be coordinated with the state Office of Information Management and Technology to take advantage of the state’s data.hawaii.gov portal.
      The Office of Planning is responsible for coordinating the periodic update of the plan pursuant to Hawai`i Revised Statutes sections 205A-62 and 225M-2(b)(6). The project leverages federal funding through the Hawai`i Coastal Zone Management Program.
      To learn more about the plan and download a copy, visit planning.hawaii.gov or call the Office of Planning at 808-587-2846.
To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Steve Hirakami

ORGANIZERS OF THE PROPOSED PAHALA LEARNING ACADEMY plan to update prospective parents on the their plans at a spaghetti dinner tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Pahala Hongwanji campus. One of the organizers, Ross Rammelmeyer, said this morning that the group will be working toward an online learning and mentoring center to begin to establish a Learning Academy somewhere in Ka`u. 

      Hawai`i Academy of Arts & Science withdrew its proposal yesterday to make Pahala Hongwanji one of its satellites. Rammelmeyer said there could be other options of a sponsoring institution for the parents wanting a charter school in Ka`u.
      Steve Hirakami, director of HAAS, who attended the State Public Charter School Commission’s committee meeting yesterday, said that he didn’t think the campus could receive an occupancy permit for the school from the county for the fall session but is still interested reaching out to Ka`u in the future. “I’ll be back,” he told the committee meetings.
      Hirakami told The Ka`u Calendar this morning that charter schools and public schools can work side by side in a community and partner with one another. He said Ka`u is a community where that could happen as it has in Pahoa where HAAS is based.
      To comment on this story, go to https://www.facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Residential Emergency Repair Program loans are available for installation
of solar water heating systems. Photo from pocosolar.com

THE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT is currently accepting applications to its Residential Emergency Repair Program. RERP loans are available to low- and moderate-income homeowners who are interested in repairing and improving their primary residences. The RERP loan can be used for roof repairs, electrical and plumbing work, sewer improvements, termite treatment, damages caused by termites or wood rot and the installation of a solar water heating system. Loans range from $2,500 to $25,000 at three percent simple interest. Loan payments are deferred for 15 years. Applicants 62 years or older or with special needs may have 30 percent of the principal balance of the loan forgiven as a grant. 

      For more information or for an application, contact Brandi Ah Yo at 959-4642 or by email at ohcdloans@hawaiicounty.gov.
      Application packets can also be found online at hawaiicounty.gov/office-of-housing.

Ever Changing Island features glass art and
watercolors on silk. Photo from VAC

EVER CHANGING ISLAND, AN EXHIBITION of glass art by Hugh Jenkins and Stephanie Ross and watercolors on silk by Clytie Mead, opens tomorrow at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park Free. An opening reception takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The free exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Sept. 8. Park entrance fees apply. For more information, call 967-7565 or see volcanoartcenter.org. 

A WORKSHOP CALLED PROCESS PAINTING – SPIRIT OF CREATIVITY takes place tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Patricia Hoban offers this explorative art process. No previous art education or experience is needed. Cost is $45/40 VAC members plus a $5 supply fee. Register at 967-8222.

VOLUNTEERS CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR MONDAY and Tuesday’s anchialine pool/plant workdays sponsored by Hawai`i Wildlife Fund. Volunteers meet at Wai`ohinu Park at 7:45 a.m. to carpool to the site. Register at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

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.