Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Dec. 14, 2015

Santa and helpers ride the sleigh to give Merry Christmas candies and holiday greetings to Pahala villagers during yesterday's annual Christmas parade. Photo by Julia Neal

STORING ENERGY AS HEAT IN ROCK is the new approach for a commercial solar demonstration project on the Big Island. Edisun Heliostats, of Pasadena, CA, plans to concentrate energy from the sun through mirrors into rocks that would heat up to 900 degrees and store the energy for hours. A heat exchanger would use the heat to make electricity on demand – particularly when the sun doesn’t shine. The project would be installed on four acres next to Kona Airport at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai`i Authority campus, which has given preliminary approval.

Curious George cheered keiki during the parade.
Photo by Michael Worthington

      The idea is to lower cost by using rock as a less expensive storage medium than batteries.
      In a West Hawai`i Today story this morning, writer Chelsea Jensen reports Peter Stricker, Edisun’s chief commercial officer, saying that “we are trying to do inexpensive but smart. We are trying to use every engineering tool and cost to make it economical.”
      See more at westhawaiitoday.com and edisun.com.
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DOUBLING DOWN ON KILLING `OHI`A TREES is a second strain of fungus causing Rapid `Ohi`a Death. USDA researchers announced their findings on Friday and also noted that humans play a role in spreading spores that have already killed tracts of `ohi`a forest on the island. Both strains of Ceratocystis fimbriata are transmitted through the soil and can enter the trees through damaged places in the bark, scientists have concluded. Bringing in `ohi`a wood to Ka`u for fence posts, fires and other uses from diseased and dying forests elsewhere will rapidly spread the fungus throughout some of the most intact native forests in Hawai`i, they warn. The spores can also be carried on footwear, clothing, tools and vehicles. Beetles and pigs are also suspected as vectors for transmitting the disease. Closest to Ka`u, the fungus has been identified in Volcano Village and South Kona. See rapidohiadeath.org.

Ka`u Coffee Mill's float featured Darth Vader
and crew. Photo by Julia Neal

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PAHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE, famous for winding through the village past many outdoor family gatherings, marked its 39th year yesterday. It is organized by Eddie Andrade, family and friends, with support from the Edmund C. Olson Trust and Holy Rosary Church, which sponsors the post-parade celebration. Parade participants stopped in at Ka`u Hospital to entertain patients, long-term residents and staff. Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative with Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda, Tutu & Me, Pahala Filipino Community Association, Holy Rosary Choir, Pahala Preschool, Ka`u Coffee Mill and local police and fire departments were among the many who joined the parade.
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U.S. SENATE VETERANS AFFAIRS Committee approved two of Sen. Mazie Hirono’s proposals to improve services for veterans and their families as part of S. 425, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act. Hirono’s provisions expedite the Department of Veterans Affairs survivors benefits claims process and improve VA practices to recruit physicians.

Bobby Gomes sings and plays
for the parade. Photo by
Julia Neal

Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda and friends greet
parade watchers. Photo by Cheryl Weaver

      “The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act makes progress on ensuring that veterans and their families receive the care and services that they have earned,” Hirono said. “My provisions will eliminate cumbersome paperwork from the survivors’ claims process and ensure that VA physicians have more flexible schedules like their private sector colleagues, making VA service more attractive for health professionals. I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this bill through the full Senate.”
      S.425 is a wide-ranging omnibus bill that also expands support for homeless veterans, restores GI Bill benefits for those affected by closure of educational institutions such as Heald College, supports caregivers and improves VA health care’s pain management guidelines.

Parade sponsor Ed Olson confronts a Christmas Icon.
Photo by Julia Neal

      The bill incorporates two bills authored by Hirono, S. 1450, the Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Staffing Recruitment and Retention Act, and S. 1451, the Veterans' Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act.

      S. 1450 allows VA Medical Centers to implement flexible physician and physician assistant work schedules. Currently, the VA’s policies don’t sync up with how private sector medical professionals manage their schedules. Hospitalist and Emergency Medicine physicians who specialize in the care of patients in the hospital often needing to work irregular work schedules to accommodate the need for continuity of efficient hospital care. Hirono’s provision would give the VA authority to align VA policies with the private sector, facilitating the recruitment, retention of emergency physicians and the recruitment, retention and operation of a hospitalist physician system at VA medical centers.
      S. 1451 eliminates the need for survivors or spouses of deceased or totally and permanently disabled veterans to file a formal claim before the VA settles and pays claims for survivors benefits. Right now, survivors or spouses of veterans have to file a formal claim and go through an often lengthy process in order to receive VA survivors benefits, like burial/funeral benefits or disability pensions, for veterans who are deceased or totally and permanently disabled. Hirono’s provision would give the VA authority to pay a survivors claim without a formal application when sufficient evidence is already on record. The authority would allow automation of the following benefit categories: VA burial/funeral benefits, VA dependency and indemnity compensation, VA Survivors Pension and VA payment of certain accrued benefits upon death of a beneficiary to survivors.

Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative
parades for Christmas.
Photo by Julia Neal

Tutu & Me invites families to its
educational services for young
children. Photo by Julia Neal

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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD VOTED IN FAVOR of H.R.158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. Gabbard has repeatedly called for a temporary suspension of the Visa Waiver Program for specific countries with a high number of citizens identified as ISIS foreign fighters and introduced such legislation over a year  ago.
      VWP allows citizens from 38 countries from around the world, including the United Kingdom, France and Belgium, which have all identified thousands of their passport holders to have traveled to fight with extremist grounds in Iraq and Syria, to enter the U.S. without a visa.

Holy Rosary sponsored floats and after-parade gathering
at the church. Photo by Julia Neal

      H.R.158 requires dual-citizens of VWP countries and Iraq, Syria or other state-sponsors of terrorism, as well as those who have visited Iraq and Syria since 2011, from entering the U.S. through the VWP and to instead go through the regular visa application process, which provides for more security screening measures. In addition, it requires all travelers from VWP countries to have an e-passport with relevant biographic and biometric information to make it harder for people travel under a false identity and requires VWP countries to certify that their ports of entry can validate these e-passports.

      “I am pleased that leaders in both parties have grown to recognize the important necessity of addressing and fixing the vulnerabilities that exist within the program,” Gabbard said. “Following last month’s tragic attacks in Paris, many European leaders have raised concerns over their own ability to collect critical intelligence information and monitor European passport holders who travel freely in and out of Syria through open borders with Turkey and then throughout Europe among countries that make up the borderless Schengen zone. As the U.S. looks to develop long-term changes that can better identify those coming into our country that present a threat to our national security, this legislation will help to address some of the security gaps that exist through this program. However, more must be done to address the gaping hole in Turkey’s border with Syria, which still allows European foreign fighters to travel in and out of Syria to fight alongside ISIS, without a trace.” 

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OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP is bringing holiday cheer to the Marshall Island atolls. The U.S., Australian and Japanese Air Forces are delivering fishing nets, food, soccer balls, toys and other goodies that land in giant packages on the islands via parachutes. The tradition began in 1952 and is the longest-lived humanitarian relief mission led by the U.S. military. The targets for gift giving include 56 islands in the Marshalls, Micronesia and Palau and some 20,000 people, some of them living on remote atolls with populations as small as 300. Pilots often fly low enough to see the islanders waiving. In some situations, islanders swim out to retrieve Santa’s deliveries.

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IN SPORTS, Ka`u High boys soccer team travels to Kamehameha tomorrow for a match at 3 p.m. On Saturday, Trojans hosted Makua Lani and lost 8-0.
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KENNETH MAKUAKANE PERFORMS Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply. See nps.gov/havo.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015

Grants from NOAA will support coral reef conservation and coastal management. Photo from NOAA

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC Administration has awarded $1,485,007 in various grants to support coral reef conservation and coastal management in Hawai`i and throughout the Pacific. The funding will support efforts to improve water quality, fisheries management and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Funds will also support UH’s Sea Grant Program as it continues its work to supply science and technical expertise to support resilient coastal communities. 

     “Climate change and other manmade threats pose a serious risk to Hawai`i’s coral reefs and fisheries, vital parts of our state’s ecosystem and economy,” Sen. Mazie K. Hirono said. “The federal investments will support efforts by the Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Conservation International Hawai`i, the Nature Conservancy in Hawai`i and the University of Hawai`i to search for solutions to protect and responsibly manage our ocean environment.”
      Sen. Brian Schatz said, “Coastal communities live by the health of the ocean, reefs and beaches. The variety of Hawai`i institutions that have received funding demonstrates our state’s deep commitment and understanding that coastal management and conservation depends on all of us. I hope that grantees use this opportunity to make real progress for a better environment and to help grow public understanding and commitment to our oceans and beaches.”
      Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, “Hawai`i’s coral reefs are vital to protecting our coastline, marine life, ecosystem and local economy. Warmer than normal ocean temperatures have put the survival of our reefs at serious risk, especially following a major coral bleaching event just last year. While there is much more that must be done to address the causes of this destruction, this funding will support projects in Hawai`i and in many of our other coastal states and territories that work to protect and conserve our precious reefs.”


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Deborah Craig

AN OCEAN VIEW WOMAN has been charged with seven offenses in connection with three burglaries in Kailua-Kona. Deborah Craig, of Ocean View, also known as Deborah Dias, was arrested Thursday and taken to the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation. 

      On Friday, she was charged with three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree theft, one count of attempted second-degree theft and one count of fourth-degree criminal property damage. Her bail was set at $19,250.
      Craig remains at the cellblock pending her initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14.
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A NEW, MANDATORY GOVERNANCE process administered by the state Office of Enterprise Technology Services is meant to ensure success for information technology programs and projects. 

      “Proper governance outlined by the Office of Enterprise Technology Services will ensure that taxpayer funds for IT development and modernization programs will be subject to an efficient planning review and approval process,” Gov. Ige said. “The goal is to provide the essential state oversight necessary so that intended objectives are achieved and positive return on investment is realized for the people of Hawai`i.”
      Under the IT governance process, projects must pass several review gates during four key phases: pre-initiation (concept), initiating, planning, and contract execution and implementation.

Todd Nacapuy

      At each gate, prerequisite documentation will be required for an investment or project to be approved, denied or deferred by a reviewing body before proceeding to the next phase. This graduated approach provides multiple review points for IT investments and projects, from inception through completion.
      “The IT governance process has been set up to promote efficiency and accountability, as well as to help us make smart, informed and coordinated decisions about our IT investment portfolio that will incorporate strategic goals and objectives, leverage value and mitigate risk,” Chief Information Officer Todd Nacapuy said. “In consultation with state agencies, our IT governance team has developed a strong process based on industry best practices to provide appropriate oversight and to maximize opportunities to leverage resources to improve and enhance state business operations.”
      The process will also require that state-executed contracts include all necessary functional and technical requirements, including measurable performance delivery metrics in order to approve and remit contract payments. Should the contract delivery metrics not be met as determined by the designated state contract administrator, the state will reserve the right to withhold payment delivery due to insufficient performance.
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FORMER PUBLIC UTILITIES CHAIR Mina Morita agrees with Hawaiian Electric Co.’s changes to its rooftop solar programs, which limit rooftop solar because too many systems can endanger the grid, according to HECO.

Mina Morita

      “Rooftop solar has only benefited between 10 to 15 percent of electricity customers but has created a situation where critical upgrades must be made to ensure stability and reliability of the electric grid,” Morita wrote at minamoritaenergydynamics.com. “Without correct pricing signals and adjustment to fix charges, the bulk of these upgrades will be paid by electricity customers who cannot afford or do not have access to rooftop solar. The Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission order was well-reasoned and justified to protect these customers and the general public interest advocating for fairness and equity of the electric system to ensure clean energy policies benefit all electricity customers.” 

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FIREWORKS PERMITS WILL BE AVAILABLE for purchase beginning Saturday, Dec. 26 for the upcoming New Year’s celebration at firecracker vending outlets, including TNT Tents at Wai`akea Center Parking Lot, 325 Maka`ala Street in Hilo, Kona Crossroads Parking Lot, 75-1027 Henry Street in Kona and 78-6831 Ali`i Drive in Keauhou; KTA Puainako in Hilo and KTA at Kona Coast Shopping Center.
      Fireworks permits will also be available for purchase on Dec. 28, 29, 30 and 31 at Fire Administration Office, Hilo County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2501 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at Kona Fire Prevention Office, West Hawai`i Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Bldg E, second floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
      Each permit costs $25 and will entitle the holder to purchase 5,000 individual firecrackers. Multiple permit purchases are authorized. Permits shall only be issued to persons 18 years of age or older and are non-transferable and non-refundable. Fireworks sales end at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
      Permits are not required for purchasing novelties and paperless firecrackers. Permits must be visibly displayed at the site of use during the time of the firing.
      Setting off of fireworks is allowed between 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL HOLDS its final meeting of the calendar year tomorrow at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
      The agenda and live streaming of the meeting are available at hawaiicounty.gov.
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Kenneth Makuakane performs Wednesday at Kilauea Visitor Center.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK’S Na Leo Manu – Heavenly Voices program presents Kenneth Makuakane in Concert Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

      Makuakane is recognized as the producer of producers of Hawaiian music. He has recorded many groups, including Na Leo, HAPA, Amy Hanaiali`i Gilliom, O’brian Eselu, Raiatea Helm and the Pandanus Club. He has received more than 150 nominations and a total of 15 Na Hoku Hanohano awards and in May of this year received the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award,  the youngest award recipient at age 60. 

      His songs have been performed many times at the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, and his music has been featured on major films such as Honeymoon in Las Vegas, Ka`iulani and Parent Trap in Paradise. He has five solo CDs and two `ukulele instrumental CDs to his credit.
      The concert is free; park entrance fees apply. See nps.gov/havo.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.

Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015

Kupuna and Keiki: `O Ka`u Kakou founding member Jeanette Howard offers a teddy bear to a grateful recipient during Hana Hou Restaurant's Keiki Christmas Party last Wednesday. Photos by Lee McIntosh

COFFEE STUMPS SHOULD DRAIN to cut down on water pooling where mosquitoes breed. On the public Hawai`i Dengue Fever Awareness Facebook page, Joachim Oster writes that “many older trees have developed holes where rain water accumulates. Like the one in this photo (from South Kona), even weeds find enough moisture to grow. There is no easy way to drain these trees of their water without damaging them permanently. But with the upcoming pruning sessions, farmers could cut/drill the wood carefully so these pockets can empty. Large enough to not get clogged with the next leaf dropping; small enough to not injure the tree too much.”

Pockets in coffee trees can hold water and become mosquito
breeding grounds. Photo from Hawai`i Dengue Fever
Awareness Facebook Page

      Oster estimated that there are a couple hundred water-holding trees on the average three- to five-acre coffee farm. He described the situation as “a much, much bigger issue than … old car tires,” which Hawai`i Department of Health has been pointed to as a major contributor to high mosquito populations.
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I OLA NA `AINA MOMONA held an open house for the Ka`u community last night to present the organization’s missions and goals. President Malian Lahey listed food sustainability for Ka`u, land security for agriculture and free education for farmers. Presidents of Ka`u’s two coffee cooperatives attended. There was discussion on strategies for attempting to purchase Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffee lands through private, state legislative and county land preservation funds, as well as possibly with help from “compassionate investors.” An Iowa farmer, Grant Schultz, of Versa Land, shared that he faces a similar situation as a tenant farmer. He said that if purchased by the state, Ka`u coffee lands could be put into an ag easement to keep the land out of the real estate speculation cycle.
      John Ah San, president of Palehua Cooperative for Ka`u Coffee farmers, said that Ka`u Coffee farmers are under a lot of stress with the purchase of their farms by a new company and that community support is needed to take some of the stress off their shoulders.

      Rick Warshauer, a member of the state Legacy Land Commission, noted that an agricultural easement would preclude development on the property and help insure land security for the farmers.

      Board members for I Ola Na `Aina Momona are Gail Kalani, Donna Masaniai, Michael Klungness and Malian Lahey. For more information, call Lahey at 808-280-2851.
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Bicycles stand ready for keiki to them drive off the lot at Hana Hou.

KA`U COFFEE FARMER LEASES: The Colorado company, Resource Land Holdings, LLC, buying Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffee lands above Pahala, represented by Brenda Iokepa Moses, meets with coffee farmers tonight to discuss its new lease proposal for the farmers. The coffee farmers earlier this month sent a letter to state Rep. Richard Onishi asking for help in raising money through the Legislature to purchase the coffee lands, should RHL be a willing seller, in order to establish an ag park where farmers would have long-term leases.

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GOV. DAVID IGE APPROVES of Hawaiian Electric Co.’s changes to its rooftop solar programs but still disapproves of its proposed merger with NextEra Energy. 

      Ige told Kathryn Mykleseth, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that he agreed with the decision to limit rooftop solar because too many systems can endanger the grid. “If rooftop solar is saturated and we don’t solve the storage challenge, then we will really start to get to instability in the grid,” Ige said.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus await keiki to join them for photos.

      HECO also replaced its net energy metering program with two programs that lower caps on amounts returned to customers who export excess power to the grid. Ige told Mykleseth that caps could change when energy storage becomes cheaper. “The key to 100 percent renewable is storage,” he emphasized.
      Regarding the proposed merger of HECO with Florida-based NextEra, Ige told Mykleseth, “What we would like is a partner that is truly committed, not only to the goal of 100 percent. You have to realize and recognize that a utility that is 100 percent renewable is unlike any utility in the country. You want management and leadership that truly embraces that challenge.”

      “At least the leadership in HECO is here,” Ige said.
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THE 2015 UNITED NATIONS Climate Change Conference closed yesterday. Sen. Brian Schatz was one of 10 U.S. Democratic senators who participated in negotiations over the international climate change accord that took place in Paris.

Like Hana Hou's says: "... m m m m ... GOOD!" Everyone enjoyed a free meal.

      “It’s already a success,” Schatz said regarding the conference. “If you had told any knowledgeable observer that they were going to get 185 countries representing 97 percent of countries, 98 percent of emissions and 150 heads of state in the same place at the same time, if you had said that two years ago that would have sounded wildly optimistic. We are really making progress.”
      According to Schatz, the agreement does not require Senate approval. “There have been more than 18,000 such agreements that our presidents in the past have entered into over time not requiring Senate approval,” he said.

      Schatz also pointed out that the agreement is “not enough. If we want to hit the two-degree Celsius target, this only gets us about 40 percent there,” he said. “It is way more than expected and way more than ever before.”
      Schatz anticipated being able to ratchet up the agreement every three to five years on an international basis. “Once you unleash the power of clean energy on the private sector, there’s no turning back,” he said.

Somebody can't wait to get on a new scooter.

      Schatz is confident about accountability and transparency mechanisms in the agreement. Negotiators developed a matrix to help countries keep their data accurate.
      Schatz said international climate action is popular in the United States, noting that two-thirds of Americans, a bare majority of Republicans, a decisive majority of young Republicans and decisive majorities of Democrats and independents support it.
      “There is no turning back, either legislatively, politically or in terms of the momentum that we have in the private sector,” Schatz said.
      See https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IVccTygzvaI.
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IN LIGHT OF RECENT TRAGEDIES on the mainland, Hawai`i Island police are reminding the public that individuals may call the Kuleana Hotline to report warning signs that could lead to possible harm against the community. 

      The Kuleana Hotline is not a substitute for 9-1-1 calls. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1. 

Uncle Ernie Kalani added to the festive
atmosphere at Hana Hou.

      The Kuleana Hotline is designed to prevent tragic events in public places, including schools, restaurants and other locations where members of our community gather. Unlike Crime Stoppers, to which citizens may report information about a specific crime, the Kuleana Hotline is an avenue for reporting something that may not be criminal yet but has the potential to turn disastrous if not prevented.
      According to Hawai`i Island police, warning signs have preceded many tragedies committed by individuals or organized groups. “We as a community are responsible for notifying the police if we see or hear anything that has the potential to turn into a malicious act,” police stated. “For example, if you read a post on a social networking site about a person interested in purchasing a firearm and the person signals intent to cause harm with that weapon, call the Kuleana Hotline.
      “If you witness suspicious activity around public buildings, utility companies or bridges, call the Kuleana Hotline.
      “If you see something or someone’s behavior that may seem innocuous but gives you a ‘funny feeling’ in your stomach that something is ‘just not right,’ call the Kuleana Hotline.

      “Your tip could help authorities intervene before those warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.”
      The Kuleana Hotline is not manned around the clock but allows for callers to provide information by leaving voicemail messages. Callers who prefer not to leave callback information are asked to provide enough details to allow police to follow up on the lead. Calls are not recorded, and the line has no caller ID.
      The number for the Kuleana Hotline is 961-2219.
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KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park presents People and Lands of Kahuku tomorrow. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the guided, 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history.

Frosty the Snowman is expected to join Pahala Christmas Parade again tomorrow.
Photo by Julia Neal

PAHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE is tomorrow at 1 p.m. with floats, walking groups, tractors and classic cars, choirs, public officials, schools and more. Participants wind their way through the village from the armory to the hospital and to Holy Rosary Church for refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
      For more information, call 928-0808. 

FRIENDS OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park explore Kipukapuaulu and have picnic lunch with Executive Director Elizabeth Fien tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 1.2-mile loop trail reveals a story of struggle and survival for some of Hawai`i’s rarest plants. Free for Friends members; non-members can join in order to attend. 

      Register at 985-7373 or fhvnp.org.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf
and kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_December2015.pdf.