Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 28, 2010

Senator Russell Kokubun, speaking at a rally in Hilo, is being considered
for a position in Governor Neil Abercrombie's new administration.

RUSSELL KOKUBUN, our Senator for Ka`u, Volcano, Puna and beyond, is being considered for a position in Governor Neil Abercrombie’s new administration. Kokubun, a resident of Volcano, applied for a position and said this morning that the main issue is to serve the community and the public as he has been doing all his adult life. He said his experience is in land use, farming, natural resources and planning for sustainability. He said he respects Governor Abercrombie very much and would be honored to serve with him.
     Should Kokubun take a position with the state administration, his position as Senator would be filled by an appointment. Governor Abercrombie would appoint a new senator from a list of three nominees provided by the Democratic Party. The new Senator would serve for two years, until the next election.

ABERCROMBIE will be in Ka`u, meeting with everyone who wants to join him, at Pahala Plantation House, on Sunday, December 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kokubun said he will be there to welcome Abercrombie to his new post as governor.

Josh Green practiced at the Ka`u Hospital Emergency Room
and could become the next chief of the
state Department of Health.

ANOTHER STATE SENATOR up for a position in the Abercrombie cabinet is Dr. Josh Green, who has practiced medicine in Ka`u and represents Kona in the Senate. He is being considered for the head of the state Department of Health.

DURING THESE HOLIDAYS, not only are authorities looking out for drinking and driving, they are also looking out for illegal smoking in public places. Forty percent of children and more than 30 percent of non-smoking adults breathe in cigarette smoke on a regular basis worldwide. Children’s developing lungs can be permanently damaged, and they are more likely to have asthma and other respiratory diseases. Non-smokers of all ages die from disease caused by second-hand smoke. This new concern comes from a worldwide study of 192 countries by the World Health Organization. Here on the Big Island, smoking is banned in all public places, including Punalu`u Beach and all parks, as well as stores, restaurants and community centers. Enforcing the law is another challenge. 

Lisa Louise Adams, of the Volcano
Villages Artists Hui, which wraps up
its studio tour today.

THE VOLCANO VILLAGE ARTISTS HUI Art Studio Tour and Sale wraps up today in Volcano Village from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with quilts, paintings, pottery, photos, mixed media and other art. Visit the artist studios with discounted prices for Christmas gifts. Maps to all the studios are available by stopping in at Volcano Village businesses.

SENIORS ON MEDICARE face a December 31 deadline to change their drug and health plans. According to AARP, seniors should look at the cost of premiums, deductibles and cost sharing, coverage of drugs and seeing doctors and quality ratings. Good resources to check are www.medicare.gov and www.aarp.org. 

`O Ka`u Kakou is helping repair roads at South Point, Ka Lae,
where locals fish and visitors enjoy the view from the cliffs.

`O KA`U KAKOU spent part of Thanksgiving Week repairing a section of road to the fishing area and portable toilets at Ka Lae. Seven volunteer brought cement mixers, tractors, generators and a compactor to fill large holes. The effort is to protect the vehicles of many visitors and local residents who use the roads at South Point. The community group expects to continue with their work in the future, when they receive more donations in materials and equipment, said OKK member Fred Ramsdell. 

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 27, 2010

Monkeypod Tree, Pahala is the name of this artistic photo
by Mary Goodrich, whose work will be shown during
the Volcano Village Art Studio Tour and Sale
today and tomorrow.

MAYOR BILLY KENOI IS HOPING the county council will pass his proposal next week to float a $56 million bond. He pointed to the county’s good bond rating and said it makes good sense to finance important capital improvement projects for the Big Island to improve services and stimulate the economy. Among projects planned are an $8.8 million recycling and rubbish transfer station in Wai`ohinu. “Those who suggest we run for the bunker in tough economic times fail to see the opportunities that we have to make our island a better place to live,” the mayor said. He contended that floating the bond is based on sound economic principles. Other projects that will be funded include roads, parks and housing. The county takes up the issue on Tuesday, November 30.

THE GAS COMPANY PLANS to generate five percent of gas provided to customers through renewable bio-oil made from animal fats and other wastes. According to the Hawai`i state energy office, this will help Hawai`i reach 70 percent of energy coming from renewable sources by 2030. Ted Peck, who runs the energy office, said, “Our waste, which now costs us money to dispose, could become a revenue source.” The pilot program on O`ahu could expand to this island, where such waste as tallow from slaughter houses is buried in the ground. The bio-oil factory could also use waste from fish farms and sorghum and grasses grown here. In Ka`u, Ainakoapono hopes to farm thousands of acres and build a bio-fuel refinery in Pahala.

RECYCLING ON THE BIG ISLAND is up from 24 percent to 36 percent over the past three years. Last year more than 87 tons were diverted from landfills, said county recycling coordinator Linda Peters.

THE TEMPORARY COUNTY RUBBISH BIN will receive only plastic-bagged trash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the county park at Kahuku in Ocean View. All other rubbish will be turned away. At the end of the day the bin is hauled away. The bin is being made available every Saturday until a permanent county recycling and transfer station is built.

A STUDENT TRACKING SYSTEM to help prevent challenged school students from falling through the cracks is coming on line with $2.6 million in new software at Hawai`i public schools. The plan is to give kids mini-tests so problems can be handled before the annual Hawai`i state assessment tests. Funding comes from a 75 million dollar federal Race to the Top grant. The tests are taken online or by filling in bubbles on written test sheets. Some educators and parents worry about too much test taking. Others agree that teachers and administrators need to understand the abilities of each student to personalize education and help those who have fallen behind.

THE ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE ART STUDIO TOUR AND SALE invites everyone into Volcano Village to meet the artists today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual studio tour features eight studios with works ranging from quilts, paintings, pottery and photos to sculptures and hand-blown art glass. Many of these original creations are available for sale as Christmas gifts at affordable prices. A map for the tour is available at businesses in Volcano Village.

Ka`u News Briefs Nov. 26, 2010

MATSON PLANS TO INCREASE its shipping costs by $120 for every container coming in, and $60 for every container going to the west coast. The company also plans to hike its terminal handling charge by $175 for incoming containers and $85 for containers leaving Hawai`i. Spokesman Jeff Hull said the price hike will pay for rising operating costs and investments in Matson’s Hawai`i service. Look for increases in prices in all imported foods and other goods, accordingly.

YOUNG BROTHERS and the Hawai`i County Council are concerned about a Public Utilities Commission decision to allow Pasha Hawai`i Transport lines to deliver cargo to Hilo and other Neighbor Island ports while it is sailing between Hawai`i and San Diego. Young Brothers has called the approval unfair since Young Brothers is required by the state to serve many ports, even at times when service is unprofitable. Pasha would be allowed to cherry pick routes, Young Brothers claims. Guy Enriques, who chairs the council's Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, fought for a resolution passed by the County Council last week, asking the PUC for public hearings on the issue. Big Island legislators also contacted the PUC about the problem. Young Brothers has threatened to decrease its existing service of two times a week to Hilo and Kawaihae should Pasha be allowed into interisland shipping service.

THE OUTGOING COUNTY COUNCIL has scheduled a special session on November 30 to consider the mayor's proposed $56 million bond issue to fund capital improvements for the island. Among them is the proposed $8.8 million recycling and rubbish transfer station in Wai`ohinu. The majority of incoming council members have questioned the debt load the bond could bring to local government.

REDUCING THE TRAFFIC FATALITY RATE on the Big Island, particularly during these holidays, is the goal of numerous county, state and community agencies since our island posts triple the number of traffic fatalities as O`ahu. Agencies met Wednesday to roll out a program that includes not only the holiday roadblocks to check for heavy drinkers, but a taxi coupon program that can give intoxicated customers rides home from local drinking establishments. Police chief Harry Kubojiri said he is alarmed that many under-age drinkers are among those being arrested and that so many deaths on the highways are related to drinking and driving. The total number of traffic fatalities so far this year is 27.

THE TEMPORARY TRANSFER STATION will be open again tomorrow in Ocean View at the Kahuku County Park form 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rollaway bin is being provided in Ocean View every Saturday by the county until the community has a permanent rubbish transfer station. The location is on Paradise Circle, makai.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY continues with the works of dozens of Hawai`i artists and artisans helping Volcano Art Center kick off the holiday season today through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Multimedia art called 55 MPH by Ira Ono
for the art studio tour in Volcano
today through Sunday.

THE ANNUAL VOLCANO VILLAGE Art Studio Tour and Sale invites everyone into Volcano Village to meet the artists today through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual studio tour features eight studios with works ranging from quilts, paintings, pottery and photos to sculptures and hand-blown art glass. Many of these original creations are available for sale as Christmas gifts at affordable prices. A map for the tour is available at businesses in Volcano Village. 

Sign up to be in the Pahala Christmas Parade
by calling Eddie Andrade at 928-0808.

TO COORDINATE WITH THE PAHALA CHRISTMAS PARADE AT 1 P.M., GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE is welcoming Ka`u and Volcano residents to Pahala Plantation House from 11 a.m. until noon on Sunday, December 12. Everyone is invited. 

SIGN UP YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP, business or church group for the Christmas Parade in Pahala by calling Eddie Andrade at 928-0808.