Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Jan. 6, 2014

`Aina Koa Pono promised the latest technology and jobs for rural Ka`u, similar to promises by Range Fuels, a failed energy project in
Georgia that was mentioned on 60 Minutes last night in a segment called The Cleantech Crash. Image from ainakoapono.com

SIXTY MINUTES, THE CBS NEWS PROGRAM, last night broadcast a segment called The Cleantech Crash. It featured chemical engineer and biofuels specialist Robert Rapier, who helped Big Island community groups, The Ka`u Calendar and local government analyze `Aina Koa Pono’s proposal to install a biofuel farm between Pahala and Na`alehu and a refinery on the edge of Wood Valley. AKP proposed to sign a contract to sell high-priced fuel to the electric utilities. The proposal was turned down late last year by the state Public Utilities Commission.

Robert Rapier, a chemical engineer and biofuels expert, helped guide community groups
and the county to study AKP. See him on 60 Minutes from last night's segment called
The Cleantech Crash. See cbsnews.com/viedos/the-cleantech-crash. Photo from CBS

           On Aug. 16, 2012, Rapier sent an email to The Ka`u Calendar, writing, “To me, the most important item is to protect ratepayers if (AKP) they fail to deliver. That’s what I consider absolutely unacceptable, but I worry about it. They build a plant, it fails to deliver, and they push through a surcharge to pay for a failed plant. Utilities do things like that all the time.”

           He also asked the question, “Would tying up one power plant fuel contract for 20 years set a precedent for other power plants around the state? I.e., if the Keahole power plant’s fuel oil costs raise electric rates in O`ahu, Maui and Hawai`i Counties for the single power plant, what if Hawaiian Electric Co. wanted to do the same for X number of power plants around the three counties it services? How many oil-burning power plants are there in Hawai`i, outside of Kaua`i?” (Kaua`i is not a HECO island).
           Rapier also asked other questions, such as why a process similar to the one chosen by AKP did not result in a contract in Wyoming and pointed to a local paper there at wyomingnews.com/articles/2007/02/11/news/local_news/02local_02-11-07.txt.
           He also wrote to The Ka`u Calendar saying, “I think there are definitely cheaper ways than this of producing electricity. Just combusting biomass for electricity is a cheaper way to make it. HELCO of course wants a liquid fuel so they can continue to use their infrastructure, but it isn’t going to be cheap, nor is it going to be environmentally sound. I say the latter because the energy balance of this process can’t be good, which has the potential to increase – not decrease – fossil fuel consumption.
           “On the other hand, I think it’s important for companies to get long-term fuel contracts like this in order to convince investors to invest. But my problem with this case is that promises are being made that can’t be kept. This technology is oversold. It does not produce a ‘drop-in’ diesel fuel. It produces a very low-grade oil that can be upgraded – at great expense – to diesel in very low yields.”

Investor Vinod Khosla founded Range Fuels.
Photo from wikipedia

           In regard to AKP’s contract with Mansfield Oil, which the company is still saying it will attempt to fulfill by manufacturing transportation fuel and selling it to the mainland company, Rapier wrote, “Getting a fuel contract is nothing. I can get a fuel contract without ever producing any fuel. The question to ask is ‘Has fuel been delivered? Can I have a sample of it for testing?’ That’s when the story will break down.” 

       Rapier also told The Ka`u Calendar that he would personally research more on AKP if it attempted to use government funding for its projects. AKP, to date, has said it uses no government funding for its biofuels venture.
      On the 60 Minutes segment called The Cleantech Crash, Rapier focused on mainland projects that used taxpayers’ money for such ventures as Range Fuels, a failed biofuel company set up in a needy rural community and touted as an economic savior for jobs, in much the same way as AKP promoted locally. Range Fuels, which aimed to use trees to make biofuel, created a boom and bust economy, leaving the tiny town of Soperton, Georgia in no better and perhaps worse shape than before the biofuels venture. However, a New Zealand company has bought the defunct factory and plans to make fuel and plastics.
      On 60 Minutes, Range Fuels’ founder Vinod Khosla, a Silicon Valley billioinaire and investor in some 50 energy projects, used a slogan similar to an AKP statement for his latest KHiOR biofuels project. In explaining the wood chips-to-energy process, Khosla said, “Nature takes a million years to produce our crude oil; KHiOR can produce it in seconds.” He also explained that the process adds “this magic catalyst and then out comes something that looks like crude oil.” 

      AKP’s website at ainakoapono.com says that AKP “is aimed at cracking dependence on fossil fuel by using a microwave process to compress to 50 minutes the millions of years it takes nature to convert biomass into crude oil.”
      AKP also says its process needs an imported catalyst to produce the biodiesel.

      In the 60 Minutes interview, Dr. Steven Koonin, a former U.S. Under Secretary of Energy who has a physics degree from Caltech and a doctorate from MIT, weighed in on the wave of energy investments. He said there has been a lot of arrogance among biofuels venture capitalists. He said venture capitalists have underestimated the risks in the energy market. He pointed out that venture capitalists usually want to get in and out in three to five years. He also noted that there is an expectation that nine out of every ten startups will fail. 

      On 60 Minutes, Rapier pointed out that many of the venture capitalists getting into energy in recent years had little background in energy. “You know Khosla is very smart, but would you let him operate on your heart? No, because that is not his area of expertise.”
      He said the Khosla and other venture capitalists got caught up in their own hype. Khosla, for example, “over-promised and under-delivered, and so the public and the politicians all developed unreasonable expectations.”
      See the 60 Minutes segment at cbsnews.com/videos/the-cleantech-crash.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT’S statistics for 2013 automobile accidents show decreases in most categories as compared to 2012.

      Major accidents in 2013 numbered 1,326 compared with 1,466 in 2012, a decrease of 9.5 percent.
      There were 25 fatalities on Hawai`i Island compared with 38 fatalities in 2012, a decrease of 34.2 percent.
      Thirteen fatalities in 2013 were related to drugs only, alcohol only or a combination of both, compared with 28 in 2012.
      There were 308 drivers arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant who were involved in traffic accidents in 2013 compared with 352 in 2012, a decrease of 12.5 percent.
      There were 123 drivers arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant who were under the age of 21 in 2013 compared with 104 in 2012, an increase of 18.3 percent.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Ka`u's Council member Brenda Ford wants to get water
to Ocean View's Kahuku Park in 2014.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL HOLDS its first meetings of the New Year this week. A special meeting at 8:15 a.m. tomorrow is expected to go into executive session as requested by chair J Yoshimoto. A 2/3 vote is necessary to hold an executive session. The Council will consider hiring of a legislative auditor and conduct interviews of the top three applicants during this meeting. Members will also consult with Council’s attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Council’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities. 

      Governmental Relations & Economic Development Committee meets tomorrow at 11 a.m. On the agenda is Council member Margaret Wille’s proposal to establish “HIPP” (“Hawai`i Island Produce and Products”) as the logo for Hawai`i Island; and in the case of organic produce and products, “HIPP-O” (“Hawai`i Island Produce and Products - Organically Grown”).
      The Planning Committee meets at 1:45 p.m. to discuss Ka`u Council member Brenda Ford’s bill relating to the maximum amount of lots permitted in a subdivision. It adds a new section to the County Code requiring that the square footage of certain improvements and features within a subdivision be subtracted from the total land size of the subdivision prior to determination of the maximum amount of lots permitted within that subdivision.
      Other committees meeting tomorrow are Public Works & Parks & Recreation at 1:30 p.m., Finance at 2:30 p.m. and Public Safety & Mass Transit at 3:30 p.m.
      The regular Council meeting begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday. One agenda item is Council member Brenda Ford’s proposal adding the Parks and Recreation Kahuku Park Main Water Line Improvements project for $150,000 to the Capital Budget. Funds would be used to plan and construct a main water line from Ocean View Well Number One to Kahuku Park.
      Funds for this project would be provided from general obligation bonds, capital projects fund balance and/or other sources.
      All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Tomorrows's After Dark in the Park program features geologist
Tim Orr. Photo from USGS/HVO

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY GEOLOGIST Tim Orr reviews highlights from the past 31 years of eruption on Kilauea’s east rift zone and talks about recent developments tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply. 

AB KAWAINOHOIKALA`I VALENCIA and Puamae`ole O’Mahoney share the art of lei making Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

BLAISE DE LIMA, A STAFF MEMBER from U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office, meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Call 541-1986 for more information.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE VOLCANO IN YOUR BACKYARD? is the title of a program Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. USGS volcanologist Frank Trusdell discusses Mauna Loa’s eruptive history and current status.

KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment atsurveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline has been extended to Jan. 31.

SEE THE DIRECTORY from the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce at http://snack.to/fzpfg59c.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014

Ka`u Coffee Farms are not only famous, they help protect water resources and prevent desertification.
Photo by Julia Neal

"THE KA`U DISTRICT IS AN EXAMPLE of change in local climate. Thousands of trees have been planted there during the past 40 years. The region around Pahala has been reforested with macadamia trees and windbreaks. It was transformed from a dry, dusty region known for its incessant winds into a green and productive oasis.” This is the conclusion of Norm Bezona, once an agronomist at Ka`u Sugar. Bezona himself planted a collection of trees in the open space in the middle of Pahala, with a cork tree, bat-pollinated sausage tree and many other tropical trees among them creating a park-like setting on the grounds of what is now Royal Hawaiian Orchards and Pahala Plantation Cottages - the old Sasaki Store and Ka`u Meat Market.

Macadamia trees on Olson Trust lands protect the watershed and create
compost. Photo from olsontrust.com

     In his 2014 outlook on Hawai`i Island and the planet, first printed in West Hawai`i Today, Bezona writes about his New Year’s resolution that fits well with the multicultural, economic and environmental diversity of Ka`u, which can be an example for others. Writing mostly about others, Bezona says:
     “Humans seem to be hardwired to exclude. We tend to think of our team versus their team or our tribe is better than your tribe. We live in exclusive neighborhoods and go to exclusive schools or clubs, and others don’t. We tend to think having lots of material things makes us better than someone with less. The recent movie, The Wolf of Wall Street, is a good example of materialism carried to the extreme. This kind of mindset makes us vulnerable to an ‘us versus them’ way of thinking that affects our spiritual, political and cultural point of view. It can breed cynicism, fear and hate.
      “How do we diffuse the constant bombardment of negativity we experience? It’s not easy, but we can practice in our everyday life by being aware of what isolates us from one another. Prayer and meditation can help us find balance. When it comes to politics, to think inclusively is to respect the other person’s point of view even when it is different than ours. When it comes to humans in general, remember there is only one race: the human race.

      “Comedian Frank DeLima put in bluntly, and I will paraphrase: When every culture is reflected in your family tree, it’s hard to find anyone to hate. We are blessed in Hawai`i, where we have many cultures and religious philosophies coming together. It gives us an opportunity to practice inclusiveness. Our multicultural community is reflected in our landscapes.

MacFarms macadamia orchards help prevent deserts in Ka`u and
South Kona. Photo from macfarms.com

      “Let’s look at how we can learn some lessons from our gardens, parks and forests. We can focus on the value of planting and protecting native trees, but recognize the value of plants that have been brought by Polynesians, folks from Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia and other regions. Our gardens reflect the cultural diversity of our people.
      “We can view plants we see as weeds in a broader sense by seeing they are really pioneer species trying to heal the wounds created by human or animal activity or natural disturbances such as flood, drought, lava flows and fires. If we find ourselves or our environment out of balance, we can approach the issue without fear or anger, but determine the role we can play to achieve connection, balance and aloha.
      “We know our planet is suffering from climate change and deforestation, but what can we do to reverse this trend? Parts of China, Africa and India are examples of vast areas that were deforested over the centuries. However, more damage has been done in the past 50 years than in the past several centuries. Untold numbers of species have been lost and climates altered.

      “How does thinking inclusively affect what we plant? We have a much broader palette of plants to use if we think outside the box. New reforestation projects often require drought-hardy species such as eucalyptus and neem, or fast growing types such as bamboo. Whatever trees we use, we need to start soon. Much of the tropics could become desert if this deforestation and climate change continues. Imagine how our island appeared when the first Polynesians set foot on it. There were forests covering the Kohala Mountains, Mauna Kea, Hualalai and much of Mauna Loa. Dryland forests extended to Kawaihae. It is time to reverse the trend of deforestation. It would be difficult to replant these vast areas with only native trees since we can’t be certain what was here before the first humans. Besides, the climate has probably changed since those ecosystems were destroyed.
      “Some advantages to planting forests are reducing wind velocity and erosion; preserving forest watersheds, native ecosystems and recreation opportunities; and, of course, tying up some of the excess carbon in our atmosphere.

Royal Hawaiian Orchards macadamia orchards are also home for bees
that help increase production of many agricultural crops.
Photo by Julia Neal

      “Forests and their effect on climate are nothing new, but as important as they are, they have not been put to use as much in Hawai`i as they should be. A primary purpose of forests is to reduce wind velocities to a degree that will provide protection. Some secondary effects of reducing wind velocity are temperature modification, increased humidity and reduced evaporation in the protected area. This reduces dust problems and supplies shelter and food for wildlife. They also add beauty.”
      In addition to the orchards of Ka`u, Bezona points out that “lava flows of West Hawai`i are being transformed by urban reforestation to create parks, gardens and golf courses. This means jobs for landscapers, gardeners and plant nurseries. Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea and Waikoloa also could benefit from this kind of long-range planning and planting. Unfortunately, trees take years to grow, and we too often think in terms of short-term profits.
      “Around East Hawai`i, forests of macadamia, banana, rambutan and other tropical fruit are sprouting up where sugarcane lands were abandoned. Giant timber bamboos could be grown as well. Many bamboos are easily maintained and extremely ornamental. Landscaping coastal lava fields to golf courses and homes planted with trees is not popular with some folks, but this too is urban forestry.
      “In many ways, we are on the track to create a better balanced environment, but it is important to continue to make a difference with cool heads and warm hearts. We can do this best by working together with respect and remembering we are all on this planet and need to treat it and each other in a consciously sustainable and inclusive manner.”

TO HELP MAKE THE NEW YEAR GREENER, the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Environmental Management is offering treecycling. Through Jan. 31, Ka`u residents may leave trees in the designated area at Wai`ohinu transfer station. Attendants will direct the public to the proper drop-off point. 

      Trees should be free from all decorations, lights, tinsel and ornaments. Artificial or flocked trees are not accepted.
      In addition, residents may recycle Kadomatsu decorations, which are normally a combination of bamboo, pine and flowers. Kadomatsu is a tradition that began 600 years ago in Japan as a way of offering luck in the New Year.
      For more information on recycling, visit www.hawaiizerowaste.org or call the Solid Waste Division Office at 961-8270.

SAFETY, EFFICIENCY AND PROTECTION OF DARK NIGHT SKIES are being taken into account in design of exterior lighting at the Ka`u Gym and Disaster Shelter, according to Hawai`i County Energy coordinator Will Rolston. “We are planning to install the new LED lights, fully shielded, in the parking lot,” he said. Rolston said these advanced lights will have a filter that restricts 98 percent of blue light, which is the wavelength that scatters in the atmosphere, mostly due to water particles, and mitigates the dark skies that the astronomy sector relies on. He said the lights should prevent most of the glare created by conventional lighting and put the most light on the ground. The lights also would improve safety through a more visible light spectrum. They are more efficient, as well, using half the wattage of the previous lighting requirement.
      David Yamamoto, Building chief from Department of Public Works, is overseeing the construction and working with Traffic Department chief Ron Thiel as well as lighting consultant Robert Billingsley on design of the lighting.

Frank Trusdell presents a Volcano Awareness Month program
Wednesday at Ocean View Community Center.
Photo from USGS/HVO

AS PART OF VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory offers two programs this week. At After Dark in the Park on Tuesday, geologist Tim Orr reviews highlights from the past 31 years of eruption on Kilauea’s east rift zone and talks about recent developments. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply. 

      How well do you know the volcano in your backyard? USGS volcanologist Frank Trusdell discusses Mauna Loa’s eruptive history and current status Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.

KA`U HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS hosted Honoka`a yesterday. In Junior Varsity, Deisha Gascon scored Ka`u’s 6 points, while 

Honoka`a came up with 44
. 

Varsity 
also lost 32 – 65. Denisha Navarro was high-point scorer, with 9 points.

KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment atsurveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline has been extended to Jan. 31.

SEE THE DIRECTORY from the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce at http://snack.to/fzpfg59c.

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

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014

State Representative District V, with its southern boundary at Honu`apo, is getting a new representative after the resignation of Denny Coffman.

NAMING OF NEXT STATE REPRESENTATIVE for west Ka`u and Kona is expected at any time. The state Democratic Party has declined to reveal the names of the three selected by local Democrats and sent to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who will pick the next Representative to fill the seat vacated by Denny Coffman. The governor will submit the name for confirmation by the state Senate.

Former State District V Rep. Denny Coffman

      After a persistent request from The Ka`u Calendar, Big Island Democrats did reveal the names of nine Democrats in District V who applied for the job. In alphabetical order, they are: Abigail Au, who works in the governor’s office in Kona; Kaliko Chun, who has worked for the state Legislature for 12 years and sits on national park and other advisory committees; Richard Creagan, retired physician and farmer in Ka`u; Barbara Dalton, governor’s representative in Kona and retired Na`alehu post office manager; Una Greenaway, coffee farmer and organic farming advocate; Lei Kihoi, Kona social worker and attorney; Gene Bucky Leslie, Holualoa florist; Michael Matsukawa, a Kona attorney who has worked on community issues; and Steve Sakala, a diversified farmer in Kealakekua.
      Selection of the three was made through the voting of 12 Democrats attending the selection meeting and one proxie. The candidates were not interviewed and did not attend the meeting where the selection was made (except for those among them who had applied and recused themselves from voting). Candidates were apparently well known to those making the selections.

MORE THAN HALF THE UNITED STATES RECENTLY enacted laws to reduce availability of abortion, according to a report in yesterday's New York Times. With the Hawai`i Legislature opening Jan. 15, pro-choice and pro-life supporters are reviewing Hawai`i’s and other state’s laws to propose adjustments. 

     According to the New York Times story by Erik Eckholm, three states placed a ban on abortions at 20 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period. Four states further restricted reasons for abortion. Four enacted tougher abortion reporting laws. Nine states enacted new restrictions on abortion providers, including a requirement for the doctor to have practicing privileges at a hospital. Ten states further restricted insurance coverage. Seventeen further limited abortions achieved by administering drugs. Twenty-three states enacted limitations requiring more parent involvement for minors, ultrasound requirements and waiting periods.

     According to Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Hawai`i Coalition, the rules in Hawai`i are as follows:
     A woman can legally obtain an abortion up to 24 weeks into her pregnancy. Abortion after this point is only permitted to save the life or preserve the health of the woman. Females under the age of 18 can obtain an abortion without having to notify or get permission from a parent. “While you may want to seek the advice of a parent or another adult, you are not required to obtain their permission. Further, there is no imposed waiting period to receive an abortion in Hawai`i,” reports the Healthy Mothers website.
     In Hawai`i, medical records are private and confidential. However, these laws may not apply to insurance records, “so while an insurance company should not share personal medical information with an employer, privacy is not guaranteed by law. To find out how insurance reports to an employer, and what type of information is provided, call the customer service office for the insurance plan,” the website recommends.        
      Medicaid in Hawai`i covers abortion services. Those in a Medicaid managed care plan have the right to obtain an abortion or contraceptive care from any Medicaid provider who offers these services without a referral or prior approval from a managed care organization.
      Those not on Medicaid already but are unable to pay for an abortion may be eligible for Medicaid due to “presumptive eligibility.” This allows quick and temporary enrollment in Medicaid in order to obtain needed services. Many abortion providers will help arrange this coverage.
      In Hawai`i, a pregnant minor has the right to decide for herself whether to continue a pregnancy or have an abortion. In addition, any pregnant woman can consent to medical, dental, health and hospital services relating to prenatal care. Any necessary medical treatment a pregnant woman receives can be regarded as “relating to prenatal care.” For this reason, a pregnant teen can consent to all or almost all health care services on her behalf.
     Those under 18 using parents’ health insurance or Child Health Plus benefits may not maintain confidentiality. Itemized benefit statements sent to the family can sometimes reveal confidential information. A young person seeking services under a parent’s private insurance plan can contact the insurance company directly to inquire about its policy and thus be aware of the risks of disclosure before choosing this method of payment.
     Medicaid offers two programs that will enroll teens without counting family income. Pregnant teens may be eligible for coverage under Medicade’s Prenatal Care Assistance Program. It covers nearly all health care during pregnancy and, for most teens, will also cover abortion services. Medicaid’s Family Planning Benefits Program covers most family planning services such as contraceptives (including prescriptions), pregnancy tests, STI/HIV tests, and Pap smears.
     In Hawai`i, a teen can also protect medical information confidentiality by paying for care directly, rather than relying on insurance. Because medical care is costly, the teen may have to seek out care with a low-cost provider, states the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies website.
      See NYTimes.com and also hmhb-hawaii.org.

ACCORDING TO AMERICANS UNITED FOR LIFE, Hawai`i lacks the most basic protections for women and unborn children. On its website at aul.org/states/hawaii, the pro-life organization states Hawai`i’s abortion policies and its views about them.
      Hawai`i “fails to require informed consent for abortion, to mandate parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision, or to ensure that abortion clinics meet minimum health and safety standards.
      “Hawai`i has adopted a ‘Freedom of Choice Act.’ The act provides a ‘right’ to abortion even if Roe v. Wade is eventually overturned, specifically providing that ‘the state shall not deny or interfere with a female’s right to choose or obtain an abortion of a nonviable fetus or an abortion that is necessary to protect the life or health of the female.’
      “Hawai`i has no informed consent or parental involvement law.
      “Hawai`i maintains no enforceable abortion clinic regulations; however, only licensed physicians, surgeons, or licensed osteopathic physicians or surgeons may perform abortions.
      “The state has an enforceable abortion reporting law, but does not require the reporting of information to the Centers for Disease Control.
      “Hawaiian taxpayers are required by statute to pay for ‘medically necessary’ abortions for women receiving state medical assistance. This requirement essentially equates to funding abortion-on-demand in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s broad definition of ‘health’ in the context of abortion.
      “Hawai`i offers ‘Choose Life’ license plates, the proceeds of which benefit pregnancy care centers and/or other organizations providing abortion alternatives.
      “Hawai`i allows a pharmacist to provide ‘emergency contraception’ to women without a prescription, provided the pharmacist has a collaborative therapy agreement with a licensed physician.
      “Health insurance plans that provide prescription coverage must also provide coverage for contraception. An exemption exists for religious employers.”

KAMEHAMEHA WARRIORS OVERCAME the Ka`u High Trojan boys basketball teams at home yesterday. Junior Varsity score was 60 – 80, with Evan Manoha scoring 17
 points and Titan Ault scoring 16. 

The 

Varsity
 game ended 56 – 81. 
Alexis Alejo scored 11
 points, and Chance Emmsley AhYee and Brian Gascon scored 9 each. 

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S NEXT EXHIBIT OPENS next Saturday, Jan. 11, with the opening reception at 5 p.m. for New Earth, New Art, The Colors of Sacred, featuring neo-primitive paintings by Christina Skaggs. Call 967-7565 for more information.

ALSO NEXT SATURDAY IS VOLCANO ART CENTER’S Colossal Rummage yART Sale, a major fundraiser at Ni`aulani from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop off donations on Wednesday, Jan. 8 & Thursday, Jan. 9 at Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village.

Tom Peek, author of Daughters of Fire, holds a writing workshop
next Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

IN HIS WORKSHOP ENTITLED Tapping Your Creative Right Brain, Tom Peek helps participants unlock the part of their minds that holds wild dreams, fascinating associations, deep metaphors and other gems of imagination, then apply them to writing. The workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 at Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus is open to all levels and genres, and no writing experience is necessary. Sign up at 967-8222. 

A BENEFIT CONCERT TAKES PLACE next Saturday, Jan. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Ka`u High School senior Kamrie Koi is producing the event to raise money for cancer research through the United Way. Entertainment includes Just in Case, JR Band, Keaiwa, Boni Narito, Honokua, Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko, Ka`u High School ensemble class and more. The event also features vendors, games, raffle tickets and prizes. Call Kamrie Koi at 430-4964 or Jolene Koi at 936-6249.

KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment atsurveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline has been extended to Jan. 31.

SEE THE DIRECTORY from the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce at http://snack.to/fzpfg59c.

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