Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, May 18, 2017

Eucalyptus trees above Pahala on Kamehameha Schools land, could be cut and hauled to Pepeekeo
to burn in Hu Honua electric plant being refurbished at the old sugar mill.
Photo by Julia Neal

EUCALYPTUS TREES ABOVE PAHALA MAY BE HARVESTED FOR ENERGY, according to a plan submitted to state and county governments for the Hu Honua power plant project in Pepeekeo. The plan mentions that the Hu Honua hui made "a due diligence review of plantation forestry operations and reviewed several relevant resources and information, including the Road Easement documentation for the Pinnacle and Pahala properties, Hawai`i County Grading Permit and Grubbing Permit terms and conditions, and Exemption from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for the construction of two engineered stream crossings at the Pinnacle property, in order to conclude that timber harvest and other forest management activities are feasible in the context of environmental regulations and operational constraints."

     The proposal also states that a law firm was retained "to evaluate land use and regulatory compliance issues associated with the future harvest and haul operations from the Pinnacle and Pahala properties to supply Hu Honua with feedstock from existing timber lands, and concluded that it did not find any permitting requirements that would prohibit Hu Honua to continue forestry operations on the Pinnacle and Pahala properties." 

     The eucalyptus groves are above Pahala on Kamehameha School lands. The trees would be felled and trucked up the Hamakua Coast to Hu Honua, which is rebuilding the old Pepeekeo power plant from sugar industry days. It has been dormant since 2003.

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PROPERTY TAX HIKES are up for debate, with Mayor Harry Kim going before the County Council today to explain the proposed 6.5 percent increase on all properties except for affordable rental housing.

Mayor Harry Kim when he presented the 6.5 percent property tax

 hike proposal to the County Council.Photo by David Corrigan. 

See the mayor's  presentation today at Big Island Video News

     To fund the $400 million budget, with a $20 million shortfall, the mayor explained the administration decided that "After all different options were reviewed, that the best, in regards to fairness to all, was across the board 6.5 percent" property tax hike. "There were so many things in the budget that are beyond our control," said the mayor, pointing to legislative directives and increases in union wages, as well as retirement benefits. Pay raises account for $8 million, said the mayor, those pay hikes negotiated statewide by unions representing the firefighters and other government employees.
     On the revenue side, said the mayor, county representatives asked the state legislature to try to encourage a fairer and better distribution of the Transient Accommodations Tax to the counties. He said the county suffer a $2 million shortfall in the TAT that it provided by the state to the county  this coming year.
     The mayor said he understands the 6.5 percent property tax increase will not be well received by most people. He noted that there are 17 tax bases for state and only three are under control of the county. About  71 or 72 percent of county income is from property taxes, he explained.
     He said the county was $20 million short for next year's budget, even after county departments made cuts. Anticipating a shortage in income, the mayor said, "Department by department, the first instructions to all of them was 'cut.' The second time around it was again, 'cut."
    He said, however, he would not support any furloughs or removal of county positions. "If money was not an issue, as I told the police chief, we could easily double the police department forces and still be short." He pointed to Ka`u and Puna. "The shortage of police officers there is not disputed. It is well known. We do wish we had the money to give to the police department to increase the services there."

Mayor Kim said he could not cut positions or furlough workers in
his budget considerations. Photo by David Corrigan. See the mayor's
presentation at Big Island Video News

     The mayor told the County Council that said the county "can defend, comfortably, the entire budget as a good one in regards of choices that have to be made."
     One department where an increase was allowed was for the transit system - with an addition of $600,000 to the budget for necessary expenses. The mayor noted that he made a personal plea to the mayor of Honolulu who will ship by late June "five to seven buses for our use. These are buses that they rotate out of their fleet." He said Honolulu has a "tremendous maintenance program and those buses would not be put on the road unless they were good, and the only thing that we have to pay for is the transportation of the buses to this island."  He said Honolulu County has been "very kind and gracious in giving us all that they can."
    Kim emphasized that most department budgets have been cut including the budget of the mayor's office. Cuts are small because budgets are small, he said. He gave and example of what he called a small cut in a $400 million budget. The county deleted its $12,000 membership to the National Association of Counties.
     See more of the mayor's presentation at www.bigislandvideonews.com.

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STATE TEAM OF THE YEAR: NextEra-Hawaiian Electric Merger Evaluation Team, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, is the winner, Gov. David Ige announced today.

     "This dedicated 15-member team worked tirelessly to process and analyze more than a hundred thousand pages of information in their review of the proposed $4.3 billion merger between NextEra and the Hawaiian Electric Companies. In each and every instance, they upheld the division’s mission to protect and advance the interests of Hawai‘i’s regulated utility consumers."

     The merger of Florida-based NextEra and Hawaiian electric Companies, which includes the utility for this island, did not go through, after much evaluation by the state and counties and consumer groups.

     Team of the Year was one of the titles given in the state Employees of the Year competition. The individual Employee of the Year is a school custodian, Lowell Spencer who works for the Department of Education. Manager of the Year is Mark Patterson, corrections manager with the state Department of Human Services.

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KICKOFF PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE FOR THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL is this Friday, May 19 at Pahala Plantation House beginning at 6 p.m. El Leo, the Puerto Rican band will play music along with Sen. Russell Ruderman, who is back from the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. Also meet Rep. Richard Creagan, Chair of the Agriculture Committee for the state House of Representatives. Meet Miss Ka`u Coffee Jami Beck and her court. Taste Ka`u Coffee and meet the farmers. The event is free.

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KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST is Sunday, May 21 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The annual Ka‘u Coffee Recipe Contest is part of the Ka`u Coffee Festival and offers cash prize. Entries are accepted in adult and student divisions, in pupu, entree and dessert categories and all recipes are made with Ka‘u coffee. Free coffee tasting. Meet Miss Ka‘u Coffee. Find contest entry info at www.kaucoffeemill.com or call 808-928-0550. 

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Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Rough waters today led to dangerous conditions for swimmers along the Ka`u Coast, with the rescue by
helicopter of two swimmers with assistance of a water rescue man in the ocean near Punalu`u.
This image is of a stormy ocean at South Point. Photo by Peter Anderson

A HELICOPTER RESCUE NEAR PUNALU`U plucked two teenagers and a lifeguard from rough waters on Wednesday around noon. Three swimmers were off Ninole Horseshoe and drifted out to sea. 

Helicopter rescue
near Punalu`u

      Big waves started rolling in. One swimmer made it to shore and ran toward the Punalu`u lifeguard stand, on the way dialing 911. A rescue person in the water helped the helicopter crew to hoist them into the air, one at a time, delivering them back to shore. There were no injuries.

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Former FBI Director Robert Mueller
is the special council named by
the Department of Justice to
investigate the Russian interference
with the U.S. election

"A VICTORY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" is how Sen. Mazie Hirono characterized today's appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate the possible connections between Russian operatives and Pres. Donald Trump's campaign. She wrote that Americans "have demanded the truth about Russia’s goal to undermine our democracy and the Trump team’s ties to these efforts. As someone who has been calling for a special counsel for months now, I applaud the selection of former FBI Director Robert Mueller who has a reputation for independence and a dogged pursuit of the truth. I hope that Director Mueller’s investigation will be truly independent and free to follow the facts wherever they lead. The American people deserve no less.”   
     Mueller was FBI Director under George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He is a Republican known for skills in sorting through complex evidence in such investigations the 911 tragedy. He as also served as a prosecutor and federal attorney in California, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.. He is a Viet Nam War veteran.

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Sen. Mazie Hirono and her mother Laura. Photo from Sen. Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO UNDERWENT SURGERY on Wednesday to remove a cancerous kidney. She sent this message. "Got out of surgery and doing okay! Thank you everyone for the well wishes."

     When announcing the situation yesterday, she said she has a good recovery plan and expects to continue her work and run for re-election.

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NET NEUTRALITY, which prevents internet service providers from withholding internet speed from customers or blocking certain content, depending on how much customers pay, is a hot topic with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Brian Schatz.  The FCC meets Thursday to review the landmark rules established on net neutrality.  Said Gabbard, "Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai is bent on overturning this popular regulation. We need to keep the internet free and open to all people. Anything less is corporate censorship sponsored by a government agency, and unfortunately, that’s what the big ISPs and their friends in the FCC want. More corporate profit, more restricted access for users, and the ability to take customers private browsing data to turn over to advertisers for a profit."
     According to Gabbard, "With a boom in internet technology, it’s hard enough keeping our laws and regulations up to speed to protect consumers. Overturning net neutrality takes us in the wrong direction. She provided a link to "Sign our petition today to show the FCC that our rights to privacy and information aren’t up for auction."

     Declared Gabbard, "The American people made their preference clear in 2015, flooding the FCC website with over four million public comments in favor of net neutrality, which the commission established. Just last year, a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ruling. Now under new Republican leadership, the FCC’s attempt to pull that regulation out from under the public is a brazen ploy to give corporations yet another advantage over consumers.
    "We can’t allow the FCC to stifle consumer choice in the name of protecting the largest internet service providers’ profits. Net neutrality must remain."

     Sen Brian Schatz, the lead Democrat on the Senate subcommittee overseeing FCC matters, is outspoken in his effort to preserve net neutrality. He claims Trump's new chief of the FCC is attempting to destroy the internet itself. Schatz told CNET that the "internet is working because it's free and open and there's no discrimination." Without the existing rules, "ISPs could treat content differently based on commercial interests or even ideology," Schatz said.  "If they go through with this there will be no guarantees in terms of the law that an ISP wouldn't block, throttle, prioritize or otherwise mess with your content."

     A comment period for new rules for the internet begins May 18. 

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FRIENDS OF KA`U LIBRARIES is asking for volunteers and bake sale items for the Ka`u Coffee Festival, Saturday, May 27 at Pahala Community Center. Anyone wanting to help out can drop off baked goods at Pahala and Na`alehu Libaries on Friday,  May 26th during their regular schedules. Acceptable items include cookies, pies, small loaves of banana/fruit breads, cup cakes, muffins, should be packaged and priced fro 50 cents to $2 each.

     Volunteers for sales at the Ka`u Coffee Festival are needed from 7:30  a.m. in shifts until 4 p.m. 

Call or e-mail to confirm a time to volunteer, phone 929-9244 or 987-7448 or email friendskaul@gmail.com.

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KICKOFF PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE FOR THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL is this Friday, May 19 at Pahala Plantation House beginning at 6 p.m. El Leo, the Puerto Rican band will play music along with Sen. Russell Ruderman, who is back from the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. The event is free.

KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST is Sunday May 21 at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The annual Ka‘u Coffee Recipe Contest is part of the Ka`u Coffee Festival and offers  cash prize. Entries are accepted in pupu, entree and dessert categories and all recipes are made with Ka‘u coffee. Free coffee tasting and meet Miss Ka‘u Coffee. Find contest entry info at www.kaucoffeemill.com or call 808-928-0550.

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Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Sen. Mazie Hirono has a long history advocating for children's education in Ka`u and other rural places in
Hawai`i, seen here in 2007 at a Boys & Girls Club `ukulele class at Pahala Plantation House
when she was Ka`u's Representative in the U.S. House. Photo by Julia Neal

"I FACE THIS FIGHT WITH THE SAME DETERMINATION that I've fought for the people of Hawai`i. And I'll never quit, especially when things get tough," Sen. Mazie K. Hirono said today. She revealed that, “During a routine pre-operative physical for my eye surgery, my doctor discovered an abnormality on my chest x-ray. After a series of follow up tests, I have been diagnosed with kidney cancer that is also present in my seventh rib. 

Sen. Mazie Hirono said today she will
fight cancer and also seek reelection.

    “My treatment is being overseen by one of the preeminent kidney cancer specialists in the country at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. He has designed a comprehensive treatment plan – including surgery to remove my right kidney and an innovative, non-invasive, outpatient procedure called Cyberknife to eradicate the lesion on my rib. At the conclusion of this treatment, there will be no identifiable disease left untreated. My doctor expects I will make a full recovery from these treatments. I will continue working during my recovery, and look forward to returning to the Senate as soon as possible," said Hirono.

     The 69-year old Senator who who has also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Ka`u, said, “I appreciate your support and good wishes, and look forward to getting back to the Senate to continue fighting for Hawai`i as soon as possible.”
     Hirono also wrote a letter to supporters, following her statement about her cancer treatment: "And here’s what I also want you to know: I am, without question, running for re-election in 2018. The stakes are too high and our shared values are under attack like never before. Mahalo for the honor of continuing to serve you in the United States Senate, and for your support and aloha during this time."
     Rep. Tulsi Gabbard released the following statement: "I send my warmest aloha, prayers and well wishes for a quick recovery to Senator Hirono as she undergoes treatment for kidney cancer. I talked with Mazie today, and she was upbeat and fearless as she takes on this fight. I look forward to seeing Mazie back at the Capitol soon to continue our work together on behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi.”
     Gov. David Ige said, "Mazie is a fighter, and I know that she brings that spirit to this latest challenge. Dawn and I pray for Sen. Hirono’s full recovery and we send our best wishes to her and her family."

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EDMUND C. OLSON RECEIVED A LIFETIME LEGACY AWARD FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION during  a Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce gathering at Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo on Monday.

Last year Ed Olson gave Trust for Land
$2 million toward its land preservation
efforts. Yesterday, he received the
SBA's Makana Ho`oko No Ke Ola
award. Photo from TPL

     The Makana Ho`oko No Ke Ola award was given for Olson's preservation of agricultural lands and support of cultural and environmental heritage in Hawai`i. Olson was key to the preservation of the Ka`u Coast from Honu`apo to Kawa and Punalu`u. At the request if community members, he bought Ka`u Coast land that was for sale and could have been developed. He held the land until government, nonprofit groups and private donors could come up with money to purchase and preserve it. He has also helped with the preservation of the rodeo grounds in Na`alehu.
     The 86-year old entrepreneur owns 8,000 acres in Ka`u including such historic places as Makanao which is stewarded by Demetrius Oliveira and his `ohana. On land owned by Olson is one of two known hula heiau in the state. Olson made an arrangement for its conservation and restoration through the Edith Kanakaoli Foundation.  Olson also provided a large endowment to Trust for Public Land which has worked to preserve coastal lands in Ka`u.        
     Olson built Ka`u Coffee Mill, grows his own coffee along Hwy 11 and around his mill and is working on a hydroelectric plant in Wood Valley. He provides affordable farm lots for local farmers and is one of the top funders of the Ka`u Festival. Olson has made numerous donations to Ka`u Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club Ka`u High School and many other community efforts in Ka`u. He owns homes in Pahala and Wood Valley.
    The SBA award also honors successful business owner who "has had an extraordinary impact and created a strong legacy of supporting economic vitality, small business growth, and exemplifies the best practices in business and community," says a statement from SBA.

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A CAR CHASE TO APPREHEND A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE led to damaging two cars and arresting four people in the HOVE subdivision of Ocean View. The saga began with two teams from a bail bond company responding to information on the whereabouts of a wanted fugitive, Jerrilynn Rego, who was at large in Ocean View.
     According to information given to the police, the first team of bail bond agents, driving a small SUV, were looking for Rego and were stopped on the side of the road, when their quarry drove by in a white Chevrolet truck. Accompanied by a female passenger, Rego passed them at the intersection of Reef Parkway and Ohia. The bail bondsmen in the SUV recognized her and gave chase, while communicating their whereabouts to their second bail bonds team in a Mercedes Benz. Police were later told that this allegedly high-speed chase lasted about 15 minutes before Rego allegedly backed her truck into the front bumper of the SUV driven by the first team of bail bondsmen, then drove away.

Police in Ka`u found that a car chase between bail bondsmen
and a fugitives led to a crash. Four arrests were made.
Photo by Ann Bosted

     While turning left onto Tradewinds Blvd., Rego’s truck ran off the road, damaging her left front tire. The tire began smoking so she had to stop. One of the bail bondsmen followed, captured and held Rego. According to information supplied to the police, the woman who had been riding with Rego, grabbed a tire iron and began threatening the bail bondsmen. One of the bail bondsmen then apprehended Rego, searched her, and took money from her. It is alleged that the bondsman also threw Rego to the ground, hand cuffed her and sprayed her with mace. It is also alleged that the female passenger grabbed the money from the bondsmen and gave it to another person, who fled the scene.
     Meanwhile, the police had been summoned to the scene. Upon arrival they found that Rego had cuts on her right cheek, and her face was irritated by the spray. The police took possession of Rego’s truck, and after they obtained consent from Rego and her passenger to search the truck, they found marijuana, a scale and Ziploc packets. The police also took possession of the bail bondsman’s SUV, which they used for evidence in the reconstruction of the vehicle collision. Police have since released the SUV.
     Rego was arrested for warrants and discharge of sureties, and transported to the Kona cellblock. She has since been released on bail. Rego’s female passenger was arrested for hindering prosecution, terroristic threatening and promotion of a detrimental drug and released pending further investigation.

Kickoff party for Ka`u Coffee Festival is this Friday at
Pahala Plantation House at 6 p.m, featuring a Puerto Rican band.

   Two bail bond agents were arrested for reckless endangering, reckless driving, assault and conspiracy to commit theft and both released pending further investigation. Police are seeking a male, who was assisting the bail bond company, for information as well as the outstanding no-bail warrant. The pending investigations will be routed to the Prosecutor’s Office.

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AUDITIONS FOR FINIAN'S RAINBOW, produced by Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network, as its annual summer musical will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16 and 17, at Kilauea Military Camp's Kilauea Theater starting at 6:30 pm. Directing the show will be Suzi Bond, with musical direction by Walter Greenwood.

HAUNANI'S ALOHA EXPRESSIONS entertain Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium. Enjoy an evening of music and hula of Haunani’s Aloha Expressions. With their handmade colorful costumes and lei, these energetic kūpuna have competed at, and won, various hula festivals. They bring to life the magic of old Hawai‘i. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ongoing Nā Leo Manu Heavenly Voices presentations. Free.

KICKOFF PARTY AND OPEN HOUSE FOR THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL is this Friday, May 19 at Pahala Plantation House beginning at 6 p.m. El Leo, the Puerto Rican band will play music along with Sen. Russell Ruderman, who is back from the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. Also playing are the Back Yahd Bruddahs, with Ti Chun, Makana Kamahele and Sheldon Salmo. The event is free.