Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Gary Tomondon caught this image of the tour boat owner trying to create a bigger ramp for his
Hang Loose lava boat operations at Punalu`u. 

VIOLATIONS BY THE OWNERS OF THE PUNALU`U BOAT RAMP AND TOUR BOAT  who planned lava viewing excursions along the coast between Punalu`u and Puna could lead to fines. County Managing Director Will Okabe told about 100 citizens who attended a meeting at Na`alehu Community Center on Monday night that the County of Hawai`i was unaware of the tour boat plans. No permits were issued for construction at the historic Punalu`u boat ramp where Simon Velaj, of Hang Loose Boat Tours, surprised locals by moving pohaku- stones and concrete from the area in order to create a boat boat ramp to accommodate his 34-foot, 24-passenger, aluminum catamaran.

     The local residents told him to leave, documented the incident and called the property owner and public officials.

     Okabe said state, federal and county agencies are investigating. "I think the landowner and also the boat operator have to take responsibility," said the County Managing Director.

Hawai`i News Now is covering the Punalu`u Boat
Ramp story. 

      Okabe explained that lava tours are a hot business these days. The nearest boat ramp to the lava flowing into the ocean is at Poho`iki. Velaj is on the waiting list and the launch ramp is owned by the state, which limits the number of tour operators at Poho`iki to four.
       Velaj attended the Ka`u meeting Monday and apologized for using heavy equipment that disturbed the Punalu`u boat ramp site. During the meeting, numerous protectors of Punalu`u expressed outrage towards him and property owner SM Investment Partners, connected to Roberts Hawai`i, when Velaj maintained he was attempting to clean, make safe and improve the boat ramp area.
     The issue is being covered by Honolulu network television, Big Island Video News, daily newspapers and extensively on video and social media directed by Demetrius Oliveira, of Pahala.
     During the Na`alehu meeting, former County Council member and community group O Ka`u Kakou founder Guy Enriques said that he had heard about the plans to operate the boat tour at Punalu`u. Enriques said he voiced objections to Roberts, saying, "There ain't no way in hell you're going to do that." Enriques also contacted Roberts last week and the company sent him the letter that cancelled the agreement with Valaj.
      The license between Roberts Hawai`i and Velaj was for $3,700 a month. The Hang Lose Tour Boat owner said he would have been allowed to launch at the ramp and to park his truck and boat at the old restaurant area at Punalu`u. Roberts, however, cancelled the license last Friday after calls from Enriques, County Council member Maile David, news media and citizens.

    The Punalu`u boat ramp is the only privately owned boat ramp on the Big Island map produced by the state Department of Land & Natural Resourced. Boat ramps operated by the county and state can be regulated in the public interest, while private boat ramp owners can use their own discretion in giving permits for use by commercial operations.

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 Class of '66 are front row Henry Grace, Allen Yoshida,

 Robert Ahia, Neal Kanda. In back row are Elaine Fukunaga

 Yamada, Doris Arakaki Grace, Roxanne Galiza Gacayan, 

Priscilla Kai Shimamoto, Wanda Okinaka Lau, Eva Taylor.

THE CLASS OF 1966 organized this year's Ka`u-Pahala School reunion in June for graduates of all ages. It was well attended last week in Las Vegas.      "The revitalized Pahala-Ka'u High School Reunion has gained in popularity beyond all expectations," said Joe Tateyama, one of the promoters and documentarians of reunions and history of the school and its graduates. The reunion was held June 23 and 24 at the Las Vegas California Hotel & Casino.
     After taking over sponsorship of the annual event from the Class of 1959 last year, the Class of '66 increased participation to a packed 200 banquet attendees plus others who joined in for the `Ohana Night activities. "Everyone had a wonderful time visiting old friends, exchanging stories, reminiscing about the old days and meeting new attendees who came for the first time. Congratulations to the Class of '66 Reunion Committee for a job well done," Tateyama said.
     With the reunion spearheaded by a nucleus of Neal Kanda, Wanda Okinaka Lau, Priscilla Kai Shimamoto, Roxanne Galiza Gacayan, Gary Ota, Allen Yoshida and Robert Ahia with some special `Ohana Night assistance from Margaret Ebanez Burns and her `ohana, "the organizers can be extremely proud of their accomplishments from a very grateful alumni," Tateyama said.

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Pāpale (Hat) Workshop, Wed, June 28, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants weave a hat from coconut leaves Free; park entrance fees apply.

Coffee Talk, Fri, June 30, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries available for purchase. Free.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, June 30, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

www.kaucalendar.com

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017

Ka`u News Briefs Monday, June 26, 2017

A new delta collapse at the lava entry to the ocean in Puna is creating dramatic scenery for tour boat operators.
See story on Punalu`u lava tour boat issue below. Photo from Big Island Video News and seelava.com

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT announced today it will take up the Travel Ban case that has pitted the State of Hawai`i against President Donald Trump who wanted to ban people from six Muslim majority countries from entering the United States for an extended time. The Hawai`i Attorney General succeeded in federal court, which blocked the ban, but the Trump Administration appealed to the higher court. The Supreme Court takes up the issue after its summer holiday.

Hawai`i AG explained the state's case against the Trump Travel Ban
on MSNBC today. Watch.

     The Trump attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow the ban to be enforced until it rules on the case. However, the office of Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Ching explained: "This morning the United States Supreme Court denied in part and granted in part the Trump Administration’s request to stay the injunctions issued against the travel and refugee bans by the Fourth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal. 

     "The travel ban and refugee ban remain blocked and will not go into effect for people with a 'bona fide' connection to the United States. If it had gone fully into effect, the travel ban would have prevented nationals of six Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States for 90 days, and the refugee ban would have prevented all refugees from any country from entering the United States for 120 days.

   "In the same order," reported, Hawai`i's AG staff, "the Court also granted discretionary review (called certiorari) to hear arguments regarding the underlying merits of the lower court decisions. These arguments will be focused on the substantive issues considered by both the Fourth and Ninth Circuits, including whether the travel and refugee bans exceeded the Trump Administration’s authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act and whether the Executive Order violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment."

Gosling and parent seen in February have moved on from Pu`u Pua`i.
NPS Photo

     Hawai`i's AG himself said, “The important thing is that by a vote of 6-3, today’s order continues to block implementation of the travel and refugee bans for people with a connection to the United States. This means people such as students accepted to the University of Hawai`i and Dr. Elshikh’s family may still enter the country. Immigration into the United States should not be restricted due to religion or national origin.”

     Chin went on MSNBC and said he will be putting the argument that the Travel Ban is unconstitutional before the Supreme Court. Watch.

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HAWA`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK OVERLOOK at Pu'u Pua'i has reopened after being closed since February to protect breeding nēnē (endangered Hawaiian geese) in the area. During the closure, the nēnē parents successfully raised their single gosling and the family has now moved on to their summer grounds.
     It's been a decade since the last gosling was reared in the vicinity, and that nēnē is the grandfather of this year's gosling, according to Kathleen Misajon, wildlife biologist at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Pu`u Pua`i gosling growing up. NPS photo

     "This year's gosling was the fifth generation of the same nēnē family I've monitored over the years. After a 10-year hiatus, it is really exciting to see this female return to a favored family spot," Misajon said.
    In 1952, only 30 nēnē remained statewide. In the 1970s, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park began efforts to save the species from extinction. Today, more than 250 wild birds thrive in the park from sea level to around 8,000 feet. There are more than 2,500 nēnē statewide.
     During the closure, the park's facilities maintenance team made improvements to the popular deck, which overlooks Kīlauea Iki crater and trail. Missing boards were replaced, and the deck was painted prior to the reopening.
     Pu'u Pua'i is a massive reddish-brown cindercone that formed during an eruption at Kīlauea Iki crater in 1959. It is visible from many areas along Crater Rim and Kīlauea Iki trails.

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IN DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL FISHERMEN and beachgoers are posted at www.bigislandvideonews.com concerning protection of the wharf and boat ramp at Punalu`u. The coverage filmed Sunday by Dave Corrigan shows concern of residents who witnessed the wharf and

Aftermath of heavy machinery at Punalu`u Wharf.
Photo from Big Island Video News

boat ramp area being excavated and jack hammered, leading to their calls for help to government officials, community leaders and the surrounding landowners for help.
     Those who witnessed the construction work said they were told that a tour boat operator was attempting to build a new and larger ramp for his vessel, which would take passengers from Punalu`u to the lava flowing into the ocean in Puna. A recent delta collapse has created dramatic viewing.
     Big Island Video News coverage at Punalu`u includes video taken by the local residents showing a confrontation with the boat owner who worked on the wharf with an excavator. A community meeting at Na`alehu Clubhouse was set for 5:30 p.m., today, Monday.

Heavy equipment image captured by campers at Punalu`u.
Photo by Whitney Cardoza

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CRIMES COMMITTED BY IMMIGRANTS are the focus of a new federal office, according to Sen. Mazie K. Hirono and six other Senators. On Monday, they demanded answers from the Trump Administration on a new office created to focus on publicizing information about the crimes of immigrants. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, the Senators asked for answers about the purpose for creating the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office due to concerns the office’s activities could lead to misinformation and potentially illegal discrimination.

     “Given President Trump’s aggressive rhetoric on immigrants and the reported increase in hate crimes in the past year, we are troubled that VOICE could contribute to discrimination and violence against immigrants and those perceived to be immigrants,” wrote the Senators. “In particular, after recent reports that a searchable database launched in conjunction with VOICE included information on children and asylum seekers, we are concerned that personally identifiable information released by VOICE will lead to the direct targeting of individuals, including children.”

      In addition, the Senators expressed their concern that VOICE, in its stated goals, was duplicative of existing resources without creating any real benefits.

      The letter was also signed by Senators Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), and Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.).

Sen. Mazie Hiorono, interviewed  on MSNBC on Monday about her views
on the Travel Ban.

     National immigration advocates joined the Senators in their concerns.

      “VOICE is a propaganda machine to defame America's immigrants. Report after report has shown that immigrants commit far less and are far less likely to commit crime than native born Americans. We all want to be safe, and those who mean us harm should be dealt with. But this approach is an insult to this nation of immigrants and does not make us safer. We need to heal the wounds of hatred, not fan them,” said Clarissa Martinez de Castro, the National Council of La Raza’s Deputy Vice President, Office of Research, Advocacy and Legislation.

      “The creation of the VOICE office is yet another dangerous and ill-conceived action of this administration that promotes the profiling of immigrants and promotes racism and xenophobia while doing nothing for public safety,” said John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. “VOICE sounds a clarion call to those who will target their vitriol and violence toward immigrants, legitimizing their hateful actions through fear-mongering government policies.”

     “We hope the Department of Homeland Security takes the safety, privacy and confidentiality concerns of all victims and survivors of gender-based violence, including detained immigrant victims, very seriously and adheres to the VAWA confidentiality protections mandated by Congress,” said Ruth Glenn, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Click here for a copy of the letter.

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Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, June 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

Pāpale (Hat) Workshop, Wed, June 28, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants weave a hat from coconut leaves Free; park entrance fees apply.

Coffee Talk, Fri, June 30, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries available for purchase. Free.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, June 30, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

www.kaucalendar.com

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017

Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, July 25, 2017

Punalu`u from the wharf where local residents vowed to prevent desecration of the rock walls and boat ramp.
Photo by Lihauulaokalani Kaawa Davis

CAMPING AT PUNALU`U WHARF, protectors of the Punalu`u wharf and boat launch ramp stayed the weekend and met with visitors, media, officials and locals to talk about protecting the place from excavation for planned tour boat operations. The protectors camped following community outreach to property owners, boat company and government officials last week, leading to cancellation on Friday of the license to allow a tour boat to launch from Punalu`u to view lava entering the ocean in Puna.
     Annette L. Kailiawa wrote to The Ka`u Calendar, "Always the case..planned lava tour operation but no community input.....that's why the community get hard feelings...did land owners and lessee present a meeting of these plans that would affect the area???? No."
     Kailiawa was writing about SM Investment Partners, associated with Roberts Hawai`i, renting space to Hang Loose Boat Tours. The Kona company wished to store its boat and operate tours from SM's private boat ramp at Punalu`u without community input.
     Ramona Navarrette wrote, "Wow...very sad. But happy for the quick response. Punalu'u is a natural marine sanctuary and a cultural heritage site. It needs to be preserved and protected." Jamie C. Lee wrote, "Defend Ka`u." Diane Easler Corso wrote, "Defend the protectors."

Local residents confront the boat owner about

disturbing the wharf at Punalu`u.

From facebook video

     The license was signed by SM in April and the community became aware last week.  Operator of the Hang Loose Boat Tours, Simon Velaj, arrived with machinery and started to repair the road to the boat ramp and possibly enlarge the boat ramp for his operations.

     As the public saw that stones of the wharf were being moved, locals confronted Velaj about the history of the wharf, told him about the mana in pohaku- the stones, said that ancestral bones could be buried in the area, and that the wharf itself, marked by the engraving "Built 1916 by K. Ishii" could not be disturbed without study and permitting.
     Some of those confronting him shouted and swore at him, called him a "f'in haole," chased after his van and made physical threats, as shown in videos that were posted on facebook. Online, some posters called for opponents to go to the Hang Loose facebook page to complain. They did and the Hang Loose page was offline Sunday evening.

     Others called for calm and due process.
     Velaj wrote a letter Sunday, saying, "I wish we met in better circumstances with love and aloha; unfortunately we are humans and we make mistakes and I am very sorry if I disrespected anyone as it was not in my intentions. All I wanted to do is help maintain the place clean so nobody can get hurt and the community and local fishermen can use the property along with me.
     "By doing so, I thought that I am doing the right thing to be accepted by the community and that people would see that I am there not only to make my living but to help everyone around me to make this place better for each one of us.
     "From the beginning, nobody wanted to talk to me or guide me in the right way, this is when made a mistake and backed up because fighting is not in my intentions. I am not a person from a big corporation. I am a self-employed one man operation that works hard to make a living to support my family. Again, I apologize for my actions."

Punalu`u wharf protectors camped for the weekend.
From facebook video

    In sharing Velaj's letter, Lihauulaokalani Kaawa Davis posted on her facebook, after talking to him: "He sounded very apologetic on the phone but most of all, he is asking for a chance to make Hoʻoponopono with our Kaʻū Community. Please remain with Kapu Aloha as I know this issue has hit each and everyone of us as individuals pretty hard within the naʻau. A Hoʻoponopono ceremony is in the early stages of planning but as members of our Kaʻū community, what is your suggested solution as a way to remedy this issue?" Davis asked the community.
     Starlette Freitas wrote, "Make him go down there and find a way to put it back by hand even if he gotta need help from others that are willing to help him make Pono."

     Teresa Lee Salgado Nakama wrote: "This is not a Ho'oponopono situation...an illegal act of destroying with an machinery equipment is not ----"Oh I didn't know I wasn't suppose to do that"... Like two days of it....being in business means, there are rules and regulations, both with State and County, and boating deals with DLNR rules and regulations...this is a crime that was committed. One does their homework and talk to others that are in tour industries and they do talk about rules and regulations and the permitting process they had to go through...you mean to say this guy, just open up a business, with out researching it...Ka'u Lahui was not born yesterday!!!!!"
     Tiana Ka`auamo wrote, "Feel like the Kupuna that rest there need an apology as well."

Rocks removed in wall at Punalu`u
From facebook video

     Vivialn-malia Moana Brown wrote: "We ain't Akua and everyone deserves to right their wrong. He's already been forgiven! A suggestion to Simon Velaj - make right clean up your opala and others who was involve in this - he wasn't the only one involved in this mess...IESU PÜ ME 'OE 2 All."
     Jolisa Masters wrote: "Sounds sketchy to me. Almost seems like it was an attempt on SM to try developing after being shut down by the community so many times before. Let it fall on Hang Loose.
     "Doesn't mean I feel that Hang Loose shouldn't be held responsible just seems that there's more to the story. SM had to have known what was going to happen. Why else would you lease land to a business owner. Commercial leasing is so much more than just signing a contract, saying you can use the land and do whatever you want. There's addendums and all kinds of different aspects.
      "SM and Hang Loose should make all documents and agreements public if truly it was just an attempt to clean up the area for the community. They should be present at all Ka`u Development Plan meetings along with the community if they truly care about what the community and families of Ka'u want and don't want.
     "Why is SM or Roberts and Hang Loose not involved in community events or fundraisers for things in our community that benefit the families of Ka'u? I feel like SM, Roberts and Hang Loose have to participate in this meeting, disclose all information and intentions and never try to pull a fast one on Ka'u again!"

      For Velaj, SM Partners cancelled the license on Friday for using their parking at the old restaurant site and their boat ramp. He said, however, he still wants to come to a public meeting to apologize to the community.

     See more in last Friday's and Saturday's Ka`u News Briefs.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE will host a public meeting this Wednesday, June 28 at Na`alehu Community Center at 6 p.m.. Members of the public are invited to speak to any items on the agenda. 

     The agenda addresses the General Plan Comprehensive Review. Members of the county's Long Range Planning Division will provide an overview of scenario planning as it relates to the General Plan Comprehensive Review. This will include using scenario planning to explore the Ka'u CDP Planning Area. The Steering Committee will have an opportunity for questions, discussion, and

recommendations to the Planning Director.

A covered outdoor area hosted long term residents to
celebrate improvements at Ka`u Hospital.
Photo from Ka`u Hospital Chairitable Foundation

    Members of the public who want to speak need to fill out and submit a yellow request form provided at the meeting and give it to the Planning Assistant or Steering Committee Chairperson prior to the Public Comment session. Comment shall be limited to three minutes in length per agenda item, subject to the discretion of the Chair of the Ka'u CDP Steering Committee.

KA`U HOSPITAL RESIDENTS recently shared  their excitement about projects being scheduled that will finish the outdoor area designed for them with expanded walkways, raised planting beds, windbreaks, more plants and rain cover. The projects are sponsored by the Ka`u Hospital Charitable Foundation. See www.kauhospital.org.

HOVE Road Maintenance board of directors meeting, Tue, June 27, 10 a.m., St. Jude’s Church. 929-9910

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, June 27, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

Pāpale (Hat) Workshop, Wed, June 28, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Participants weave a hat from coconut leaves Free; park entrance fees apply.

Coffee Talk, Fri, June 30, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An informal conversation on a wide variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries available for purchase. Free.

Ocean View Community Development Corp. meeting, Fri, June 30, 5 p.m., Hawaiian Ranchos office.

www.kaucalendar.com

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017