The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Monday, May 23, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Monday, May 23, 2016

Taking off, with birds set to wing to celebrate graduation at Ka`u High School last Friday. Photo by Pam Taylor

FORTY-EIGHT STUDENTS GRADUATED from Ka`u High School Friday. Deisha Gascon, who graduated with academic honors, is valedictorian for the Class of 2016.

Students heard a commencement address by Big Island Honda Hilo Assistant Manager Kiko Martinez. The keynote speaker graduated from Ka`u High 19 years ago, in the Class of 1997. Martinez discussed “Things that Helped Me Get to Where I Am Today.”

“This is a world right here, this gym,” Martinez told graduates. “Any type of career you guys want to get into, it’s a world. …

“I’m trying to share my vision with the world. When you try to share your vision with the world, people are going to feel that you’re crazy. … What you find out is that slowly, people are going to start enjoying it a little bit, and the world starts to see your vision, and the world starts to feel what you feel. And once you get the world to do what you feel, then you can influence.

“Bring your energy to the table; bring it into the world.

“Learn the art of influence because that’s the skill set that’s the most important thing in the world, to me, is learning how to influence people.

Kiko Martinez was keynote speaker at Ka`u High School
graduation ceremonies. Photo by Pam Taylor

“When you go out in the world, you have certain roles. My role, when I wake up, is I’m a husband. I get out the door, I see my kids, drive them to school, I go to work. Each area of my life, I’m influencing people, always trying to do so in a positive way.

“Wisdom is one of the most important things that I had to learn. … Don’t chase the money; chase wisdom, because everything follows wisdom. Success follows wisdom; money follows wisdom; the great marriage follows wisdom; great kids follow wisdom. Be wise in everything that you do. … Watch who you hang around with; make sure they are as wise as you, even more. …
“My only goal in life is to be better than yesterday. … If you continue to grow every day, don’t compare yourself to other people. What you compare yourself to is your potential. If you’re not fulfilling your potential, you better get up, you better work harder. Life is a journey, not a destination. That’s why I feel like I’m not successful. I’ll keep going until it’s my time.

“Understand that the hardest thing in life is, understand yesterday is yesterday. You guys have a new opportunity every day to change your life. What you were yesterday is not going to dictate what you are in the future. …
“Eliminate your bad habits, and replace them with good ones. Tell yourself what am I good at, what am I bad at, and what should I change. Change what you need to change. I promise that if you do that, you will be successful in whatever you do.

Ka`u High School Trojans Class of 2016 graduated 48 students. Photo by Pam Taylor

“Learn to turn all negatives into positives. Make negatives your best friends; make failures your best friends. Keep them close. Failure is the way to get better; failure will test your character. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the blessing.
“I view negatives as a video game. … Just like one video game, if you don’t pass all the levels, what are you going to do? Stay up all night. Practice. Figure it out. … If you are struggling, do whatever you can to get past it, because there’s another level waiting for you, a bigger and better level.
“Do not make any excuses. … By blaming others, you lose the chance of learning or building your character. Do not cheat yourself out of that.

“Find your passion. When we have passion, we have sacrifice.” Martinez said that when he found his passion, he devoted himself to it, even when it meant missing family gathers year after year.
“The world is right out this door. … As soon as you walk at that door, make wise choices. … Succeed, make Ka`u proud. …”
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Hawai`i County Council member Maile
David honored Keola Awong.
Photo from Hawai`i County Council

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL last week commended Volcano resident Keola Awong for being selected as manager of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit.

Awong graduated from Konawaena High School in 1981. She holds a master’s degree in American Studies and graduate certificates in museum studies and historic preservation from University of Hawai`i at Manoa. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from University of Hawai`i at Hilo, minoring in Hawaiian Studies.
Awong began her career with Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in 1999 as a fee collector and moved to Volcano in 1984. From 2005, she served as the national park’s cultural anthropologist and continues to serve as the national park’s liason to the Native Hawaiian community.
“On behalf of the Hawai`i County Council, please accept this certificate of recognition with our sincere aloha and heartfelt appreciation for your personal achievements, hard work and extraordinary contributions to our visitors and the citizens of Hawai`i Nei,” Council member Maile David said.
“This is my small way for me to be able to take care of the `aina I love,” Awong said. “It wouldn’t have been possible without the support and love from my family.”
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HAWAI`I CONSUMER ADVOCATE’S questions to Hawai`i Electric Light Co. regarding a proposed substation and transmission line, while eliciting responses to many issues, did not address several concerns of Ocean View-area residents, according to Ranchos resident Ann Bosted.
One of those concerns is fire danger, Bosted said. Ocean View is prone to fierce winds and dry brush that can be a fatal combination. “Solar installation fires have been caused by electrical faults. Defective solar panels can also cause problems, and with 30,000 panels to be installed, the risk of even a small percentage being bad is significant,” Bosted said.

At the Public Utilities Commission’s public hearing in February, an Ocean View firefighter said, “You are going to get someone killed if you put all that (photovoltaic equipment) down there.” He said that each year the firefighting budget gets smaller, yet the amount of work gets larger. In letters to the docket, residents have called for an independent fire hazard study of the area.

Friends and family congratulate Ka`u High School seniors
on Graduation Day. Photo from KHPES

Also left off the CA’s list of questions was the cost of reimbursing property owners who may leave their homes because of the project. Many chose Ranchos for its rural, ranch-like atmosphere, low crime rate, wide-open vistas and ambiance. “From published comments by Ranchos residents, it is clear that many will move if the project is built,” Bosted said. “Added to the fire risk is the eyesore problem. Each PV site will be leveled edge-to-edge and surrounded by a six-foot chain link security fence. Herbicides will be used to control over 60 acres of weeds, so groundwater contamination is a risk for the whole town. The unwanted project will be a magnet for crime and vandalism. Some handgun owners have talked of using the solar panels for target practice. This is not what residents signed up for.”

According to Bosted, the CA asked questions about the 26 owners of the project, but allowed the answers to be filed electronically, “thus keeping the tangle of related and associated corporations a mystery,” she said. “It is assumed that 17 of the 26 owners are shell companies incorporated in Delaware, owned by another shell company, Calwaii, that is owned by SPI Solar, headquartered in Shanghai. The eight Kona South lots are supposedly leased from the Doolittle Trust, but county records do not indicate that. They appear to be under the control of Hawai`i FIT Twelve LLC, which appears to be a shell company of Green Island FIT LLC. The 26th site is supposedly under the control of South Point FIT LLC, also owned by Green Island, but county records show it belongs to Jasmine Drive Aina LLC. Does SPI Solar also own Green Island? The spokesman for the 26 owners, Ian Craig, of Roseville, California, refused to speak at the PUC’s public meeting, failed to show up at a community meeting he called in September and has declined to answer questions from West Hawai`i Today.”
The CA did not ask how the developer intended to access the eight sites in Kona South, for which FIT permits have been issued. Each subdivision in Ocean View is a “stand alone,” and it is not legal to access one from another, Bosted said. “Craig has asked the Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corporation for permission to access this subdivision from Ranchos and has been refused. Mats Fogelvik, President of HRRMC, was walking his dog when he encountered a surveyor staking out a route to be bulldozed from Ranchos to Kona South. Mr. Fogelvik ‘ran him off.’ Craig later claimed that the surveyor had ‘lost his way,’” Bosted said.
HELCO has until June 1 to answer the CA’s questions. The reply will be filed in the docket.
See puc.hawaii.gov for more on docket 2015-0229.
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Learn about the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project
tomorrow at After Dark in the Park. Image from NPS

LAUREN KURPITA, COORDINATOR of the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, reveals the differences between hawksbill and green sea turtles (honu), threats to hawksbills and the latest conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction 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.

LEARN TO PLAIT Lau Hala Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Many Pacific cultures weave leaves of pandanus (called lau hala in Hawai`i) into useful and decorative items.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Sunday, May 22, 2016

Kumu Ab Kawainohoikala`i Valencia and his Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu performed yesterday at Ka`u
Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a. See more below. Photo by Denise Laitinen from Ka`u Coffee Festival

GREG SMITH, OWNER of Earth Matters Farm and president of Hawai`i Farmers Union United’s Ka`u chapter, is looking forward to industrial hemp production coming to the district.

“I believe Ka`u would be ideal,” Smith told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today. “There is plenty of soil and a lot of small farmers struggling to find a crop they can make money on. It’s exciting. It’s never been done before here.”

Greg Smith hopes Ka`u farmers will produce industrial hemp.
Photo by Ron Johnson

Yager said Smith is looking for strains of hemp that qualify for industrial cultivation and is planning a cooperative that could create a processing center.
Smith touted hemp’s values, including Asian and Japanese markets wanting hemp-based medicine. He said there are industrial possibilities for the crop and that it could help rebuild soils depleted by sugar cane production.
“Hemp is the new stepchild of cannabis, and it could easily be the next big thing once the drug classification is taken away,” Smith told Yager. “It’s not a drug; it doesn’t get you high.”
Smith also pointed to Hawai`i’s year-round growing season that could produce three crops annually.
“Hopefully, the state embraces the crop,” he told Yager. “The longer we wait, people in states like Colorado and Oregon are going to monopolize it, and it’s going to make this harder.”
The recently adjourned state Legislature passed a bill allowing pilot programs for industrial hemp production, and Yager reported that state Department of Agriculture chair Scott Enright hopes farmers can begin production by this fall.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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The Gomes `Ohana, featuring Pahala's own Phoebe and Bobbie Gomes,
entertained at the ho`olaule`a. Photo by Julia Neal

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL Ho`olaule`a saw a record turnout yesterday. An early threat of rain failed to materialize, and large, dark clouds filled the sky, keeping the crowd cool.

Cars filled Pahala Community Center lawn and lined surrounding streets as visitors flocked to get a taste of award-winning Ka`u Coffee and other local treats. Musicians and hula dancers, including Miss Ka`u Coffee 2016 Pageant contestants, graced the stage and entertained the crowd throughout the day. Tours to scenic farms informed participants about Ka`u Coffee production. The Ka`u Coffee Experience offered an opportunity to taste coffee brewed using a variety of techniques.

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Miss Ka`u Coffee 2016 Rochelle Koi onstage
at the annual Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a.
Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

HAWAI`I STATE CONSUMER ADVOCATE last week asked Hawai`i Electric Light Co. for answers to tough questions, including who owns the Ocean View solar project, who benefits from the project, how power will be curtailed, and the cost of restoring residential land that the solar project would industrialize.

The CA’s questions quizzed HELCO about some aspects of the project, but wide areas of concern from residents were not included, such as fire danger, the cost of compensating residents forced to move, and how power from the project would drive up the cost of retail power on Hawai`i Island.
HELCO has applied to the Public Utilities Commission for permission to construct an overhead transmission line to serve 27 photovoltaic projects slated to be built on 19 three-acre housing lots scattered among existing homes in Ocean View Ranchos and eight lots in Kona South, an undeveloped subdivision without legal access. The PUC has opened a docket for the case. The CA has filed 24 pages of questions for HELCO in docket number 2015-0229.
The Division of Consumer Advocacy’s role is that of a watchdog, and it is mandated to act in the “public benefit.” Executive Director Jeffrey Ono attended the PUC’s public hearing in Ocean View on Feb. 15, when many residents complained about having their rural neighborhood industrialized, the fire danger, the loss of property values, and the way HELCO’s Feed-in-Tariff program had been confounded. Since then, about 50 people and organizations have contributed “public comment” to the PUC’s docket on the case. With two exceptions, all are against the overhead transmission line, the substation and the project.

Miss Ka`u Peaberry 2016 Chazlynn Pua-Queja shares her
talent at the ho`olaule`a. Photo by Julia Neal

In a set of Supplemental Information Requests, the CA asked detailed questions about the cost of not only placing the high voltage transmission line underground but also maintaining it for twenty years (the life of the project) and then removing the substation, transmission line and the project from home sites and restoring the sites. The CA has, as a participant in the FIT program, argued for lower rates to be paid to developers of PV projects for their wholesale power and has opposed the rate of 23.8 cents per kilowatt-hour. When the standardized rate was set, it was argued that the high rate was needed to allow the developer to cover the cost of building the PV installations. “The CA appears to be using this high rate to justify requiring the developer to cover all the costs of the project, including its dismantling, for twenty years, so that the costs are not passed on to future HELCO ratepayers,” said Ranchos resident Ann Bosted. “If the solar project goes forward and this tab is picked up by the developer, it will represent a huge saving for ratepayers down the line.”

The CA also raises questions of “curtailment” – the process by which HELCO can turn off power from generators when the grid is “full.” This happens during the day and after 10 p.m. when the supply of power exceeds the demand or the “load.”

Ka`u Coffee grower Leo Norberte shares his knowledge
with farm tour participants. Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

“If the CA finds that this power is not needed, he could recommend that the project not go forward as it is not in the public interest to build unneeded power generators,” Bosted said. “The developer, however, stands to gain from building PV generation projects, thanks to the very generous solar tax credits, by which 65 percent of the cost of the project will be paid back by state and federal governments, amounting to a subsidy by taxpayers. The CA will need to evaluate if the earning of these tax credits by the developer serves the public interest, in view of the fact that the Big Island is decades ahead of the state mandated renewable energy goals.”

The FIT permits were issued in 2011. Since then the “load” has decreased by about 20 percent, and several renewable energy facilities have been constructed, including a 1.25-megawatt solar farm at Miloli`i.

Skylark, at right, emceed at the ho`olaule`a, with assistance
from Kumu Debbie Ryder and Makana Kamahele.
Photo by Jesse Tunison/Ka`u Coffee Festival

The CA also quizzed HELCO for details about its claim that the substation is of benefit to the community because it will improve “reliability and power quality.” Ocean View residents have told HELCO representatives at public meetings that they do not have power outages and do not want the substation. The CA is now asking HELCO to document complaints over the last five years.

See more in tomorrow’s Ka`u Calendar News Briefs.
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Mayoral candidate and former Mayor Harry Kim, with festival organizer

Chris Manfredi, attending the ho`olaule`a.

Photo by Denise Laitinen from Ka`u Coffee Festival

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL’S ENVIRONMENTAL Management Committee last week supported banning Styrofoam. Bill 140 would prohibit the sale, disbursement and use of polystyrene foam containers and food service ware by food providers or vendors to customers effective Jan. 1, 2018.

“I think this is the very first step in our effort as policymakers as opposed to coming with an all-out ban entirely, that we take this step to be mindful policymakers,” Ka`u’s council member Maile David said. “It might not seem fair to everyone, but we have to start somewhere, and we have to take responsibility.”
With a 5-4 vote, the measure moves to the full council with a positive recommendation.
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Delvin Navarro manned a booth at the ho`olaule`a showcasing
his coffee. Photo by Denise Laitinen from Ka`u Coffee Festival

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN AND Rep. Richard Creagan hold a Legislative Talk Story Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.

They and other Hawai`i Island lawmakers will review the past legislative session, the budget and other issues pertaining to the community. There will also be time for questions and answers.

HONU`EA: ENDANGERED HAWKSBILL Sea Turtles of Hawai`i is the title of After Dark in the Park’s program on Tuesday. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has monitored and protected nesting honu`ea and their habitat since 1989. Honu`ea are critically endangered, and only 139 nesting females have been documented. Lauren Kurpita, coordinator of the Hawai`i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project, reveals the differences between hawksbill and green sea turtles (honu), threats to hawksbills and the latest conservation efforts to protect the species from extinction. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium.

$2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html
and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2016.pdf.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, May 21, 2016

Merle Becker, adorned with maile lei, takes hayriders on a tour of Aikane Plantation's coffee and cattle fields yesterday.
Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a continues today until 5:30 p.m., with entertainment, food, farm tours,
and the Ka`u Coffee Experience. See more below. Photo by Jesse Tunison

LANI CRAN PETRIE, of Kapapala Ranch, received a certificate of recognition from Hawai`i County Council this week for her work in the horse and cattle industry.

Lani Cran Petrie, manager of Kapapala Ranch, is seen here
with her late father Gordon Cran. Both are members of
the Paniolo Hall of Fame. Photo by Julia Neal

The council honored Petrie for being the fifth woman inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame, which recognizes yesterday’s and today’s paniolo statewide - Hawai`i's cowboys and cowgirls who have contributed to keeping Hawai`i’s paniolo heritage alive.

Petrie grew up riding the rugged terrain of the Waianae Mountains and the pasture lowlands, where she gained a wide perspective of raising livestock and ranching. She pursed a career in animal husbandry and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics.
The Cran family moved to Pa`auilo in 1975 to establish the S.C. Ranch Partnership, where she spent summers and all school vacations working on the ranch. The Crans moved to Kapapala in 1977.
In the early 1990s, Petrie organized Hawai`i Cattle Producers Cooperative’s Transportation Division to help ranchers move cattle to West Coast ports. In 1995, she and her husband Bill revitalized the Old Kona Meat Market Co. that supplied the statewide military with beef.

Hawai`i County Council honored
Petrie with a certificate. Photo
from Hawai`i County Council.

Petrie has managed Kapapala Ranch since 2004 and has served as president of Hawai`i Cattlemen’s Association and Hawai`i Cattle Producers Cooperative.

“It is with great pride and respect that we acknowledge your accomplishments, dedication and passion for an industry so deeply rooted in our unique and special island culture,” council member Maile David said.

Petrie thanked the council for honoring her for being a woman in the cattle industry, suggesting that others “make sure you keep a good man around. I’ve tried to do that for 21 years,” she said. She listed ways that ranching benefits Hawai`i Island and the state, including reservoirs that provide early response to fires and water for nene, game birds and mammals.
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YESTERDAY’S KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL events included Coffee & Cattle Day and Stargazing atop Makanau.
Participants enjoyed a ranch lunch and tours of Aikane Plantation’s coffee and cattle operations. Phil and Merle Becker, descendants of J.C. Searle, the first coffee grower in Ka`u, explained how coffee is integrated into cattle ranching and other agriculture.

Stargazers use laser pointers while exploring Ka`u's dark skies.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

Stargazers enjoyed a nearly full moon as the sun set, then used laser pointers and a telescope to learn about Ka`u’s clear, dark skies.

John Cross, of Olson Trust, discussed the land’s history and significance.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH has identified a single imported case of dengue on Hawai`i Island, according to Hawai`i County Civil Defense. Vector control crews have treated the person’s residence and adjacent properties.
There is no evidence to indicate a local transmission has occurred. There have been no reported dengue cases attributed to local transmission since March.

Riding through pasture was one highlight of Aikane Plantation's
Coffee & Cattle Day. Photo by Jesse Tunison

As the summer approaches and more travel is anticipated, Civil Defense reminds the public that the most effective method to reduce the spread of dengue or other mosquito borne illnesses is for everyone to avoid and prevent mosquito bites. Fight The Bite by wearing clothing that minimizes exposed skin, using mosquito repellent and avoiding activities in areas of high mosquito concentration during early morning and late afternoon periods when mosquito activity is greatest.

If feeling ill and unsure if you may have dengue, remain indoors to avoid getting bitten and infecting mosquitoes, and contact your health care provider.
For information on dengue, see health.hawaii.gov or call DOH at 974-6001.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD and more than 120 lawmakers urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to take action to combat the Zika virus by bringing the President’s request for $1.9 billion in emergency funding to the House floor.

Keiki paniolo practices his horseriding skills during Coffee & Cattle Day.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

“We write to you today to express our extreme concern over the increasing threat posed by the Zika virus,” the lawmakers’ letter stated. “As you know, there are significant challenges associated with combating Zika, and we must act swiftly to ensure that we have all of the necessary tools at our disposal, including robust funding to support research and response efforts. That is why we support the administration’s full request of $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations to combat this international public health threat. We strongly urge you to bring such legislation to the floor.

“In recent months, it has become evident that we do not have a comprehensive understanding of the Zika virus – how it works and what its immediate and long-term health implications are. As it continues to spread, it is imperative that we make immediate, sustained investments in research that, hopefully, will yield a Zika vaccine, diagnostic method and guide our continued response strategy. We are encouraged by the research being done across the country, including in many of our districts, but there is still much we do not understand. Until we have these answers, we must prioritize robust funding for Zika research.

Participants watch a nearly full moon above the Ka`u Coast
during yesterday's Ka`u Coffee Festival Stargazing event.
Photo by Jesse Tunison

“Zika has spread rapidly in other parts of the world, and we are seeing the same pattern here in the U.S. There are at least 503 reported cases of Zika in the U.S. to date and at least 701 reported cases in U.S. territories. Among these, pregnant women account for 113 cases. This number will continue to rise until Congress acts. Given the neonatal neurological implications of this virus, it is unconscionable to further delay action on this very critical issue.

“We must not underestimate just how destructive invasive pests and diseases can be. We are gravely concerned about the implications of this virus and, for this reason, research and response efforts have our full and steadfast support. We urge you to give this your full and fast consideration and ask that you bring to the floor legislation to provide $1.9 billion in emergency appropriations for Zika.”
Gabbard has strongly supported the President’s emergency request to prepare and respond to Zika. Last week, she hosted a telephone town hall with close to 5,000 residents across Hawai`i to discuss the Zika virus, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Hawai`i expert guests Chief Darryl Oliveira from Hawai`i County Civil Defense and state Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park joined Gabbard on the call to address live questions about mosquito-borne illnesses.

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U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO MET with Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court. Hirono also called on her Republican colleagues to hold a hearing to consider Garland’s nomination.

Sen. Mazie Hirono with Judge Merrick Garland.
Photo from Sen. Hirono's Office

“Judge Garland’s character and record of judicial service are impressive, and Americans deserve to hear from him in a public Judiciary Committee hearing,” Hirono said. “In the Senate’s history of holding public confirmation hearings, the majority party has never before denied a Supreme Court nominee a hearing and vote. It’s been more than two months since the President did his job by nominating Judge Garland, and it’s far past time for my Republican colleagues to do their job by holding a hearing and vote on the nomination.”

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KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL HO`OLAULE`A continues at Pahala Community Center today until 5:30 p.m. The event features entertainment, displays, Ka`u Coffee tasting, farm tours, the Ka`u Coffee Experience and food.

Ka`u Coffee College closes the Ka`u Coffee Festival tomorrow.
Photo from Ka`u Coffee Festival

KA`U COFFEE COLLEGE PARTICIPANTS learn about integrated pest management, coffee berry borer and coffee quality’s impact on price.

Andrea Kawabata, assistant extension agent for coffee and orchard crops with the University of Hawai`i CTAHR cooperative extension service, and biologist Arturo Ballar Ortiz PSM, farm development and research director at Greenwell Farms, discuss Six Years of Farming with CBB: Reflecting and Moving Forward.

Award-winning roast master Mike Perry delves into Coffee Quality’s Relationship to Price Sensitivity.
Falling Coffee, Falling Profits will be discussed by Robert G. Hollingsworth, research entomologist of Hilo’s USDA-ARS-Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center and a specialist on coffee berry borer.
Miguel Meza, owner and director of Paradise Coffee Roasters in Hawai`i and Minnesota, teams up with Lee Paterson, owner of Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, to direct a coffee quality workshop.
The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow at Pahala Community Center.

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