Ka`u News Briefs March 7, 2011

Fountains of lava along new fissures near Napau Crater between Halema`uma`u and Pu`u `O`o Craters.

CURTAINS OF LAVA extended along a 1.5-mile line of fissures yesterday following the collapse of Pu`u `O`o Crater and the vent inside Halema`uma`u Crater. The level of lava dropped deep inside the craters but burst out along the side of Kilauea volcano near Napau Crater. Alerts issued by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory are code red for aircraft and a warning for people on the ground. The outbreak of lava with fountains and spectacular flows is similar to an event in 1997. There have been only ten eruptions around Napau Crater in the last 200 years.
     Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s new Visitor Emergency Operations Center is in full operational mode, shutting down some roads, trails and campgrounds while managing an onslaught of visitors looking to see new lava activity. In the meantime scientists are in the air and on the ground to study the active volcano.

Lowest prices were in Ocean View
this morning.

THE PRICE OF GAS is soaring in Ka`u, just as it is across the country. The price has risen above $4 at three of the five stations in Ka`u. The lowest priced gas this morning was $3.95 at Kahuku Country Mart, followed by $3.96 at Ocean View Market and $4.01 at Kahala Gas in Ocean View. The 76 station in Na`alehu and Ka`u Gas in Pahala were both charging $4.03 for regular. Nationwide, according to the American Automobile Association, the average price is $3.51 a gallon - 78 cents higher than a year ago. 

     Joanne Kosinski said that her Flying K gasoline station at Kahuku Country Market is attempting to keep the price down. For more than 20 years, Flying K has traditionally offered the lowest gas prices in the district. Until a week ago, Flying K was able to offer prices lower than Costco, she said. Kosinski said, however, there have been three four-cent increases in what she pays for gas during the last ten days. Oil is now over $105 a barrel.

HELCO repaired a transformer in Ocean View and handled a
power outage in Puna during the strike over the weekend.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY WORKERS across the state are on strike for the fourth day today, though mediators, management and the union met late into Sunday night and were expected to meet again today. The International Brotherhood of Electric Workers and HECO are negotiating over retirement and other benefits and wages. HECO president Richard Rosenbaum said that a federal mediator who has been brought on board can help take the emotion out of the issue. The last strike was in 1973. 

IN KA`U, HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES responded to a lightning strike that knocked out a transformer in Ocean View. They replaced the transformer Saturday evening, and power was restored to the handful of customers who were affected. They also responded to a power outage in Puna. 

     The HELCO production department also brought a power generator on-line that had been shut down for scheduled maintenance. HELCO president Jay Ignacio said, “I am very proud of the way our employees responded this weekend. Employee and public safety are our first and foremost priority, especially when we have employees working in non-traditional roles.”

One Journey, at the high school band's CD release party and
fundraiser yesterday at KAHU Radio in Pahala.

ONE JOURNEY sold many dozens of their new CD yesterday at their fundraiser for money for their trip to O`ahu for the statewide high school talent contest called Brown Bags to Stardom. The band, comprised of some members of the Ka`u High School Ensemble led by Laura Saijo, were supported in their efforts by KAHU Radio, which hosted the event. Many musical groups played during the daylong event on Maile Street. 

MAYOR BILLY KENOI AND MEMBERS of his cabinet will hold a talk story tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Elementary School Cafeteria. Mayor Kenoi released the proposed budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 on March 1, and copies of the Mayor's budget message will be available at the meeting. Questions from residents on any subject dealing with county services and issues are welcome.

Miss Ka`u Coffee candidate
Alina Jerilong

THE FIRST MARSHALLESE candidate for Miss Ka`u Coffee during the pageant’s three-year history is Alina Jerilong. The Marshallese community plays an important role in the growing and harvesting of Ka`u Coffee as well as the culture of the community, with many Marshallese students now attending school in Ka`u. The event is Saturday, April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym. 

Ka`u News Briefs March 6, 2011

 New fissures between Halema`uma`u and Pu`u `O`o.         Photos courtesy of Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
                

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY has issued a warning alert level and an aviation code red due to spectacular activity at Halema`uma`u, Pu`u `O`o Crater and an eruption near Napau Crater. 

Pu`u `O`o Crater collapsing yesterday.

Before dawn yesterday the Pu`u `O`o floor collapsed and lava flowed from the west side of the crater, cascading down the center. The floor dropped throughout the day. An eruption has also started between Pu`u `O`o and Halema`uma`u near Napau Crater with several fissures with lava flows, spatterings and gas emissions. 

The new outbreak is between
Napau Crater and Pu`u `O`o.

At Halema`uma`u, deflation continued with rocks falling off the vent wall. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park closed Chain of Craters Road and all east rift zone and coastal trails and the Kulanaokuaiki campground. Check images and videos at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/images.html.

GO! MOKULELE is operating with its parent company, Mesa Air, emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The airline has a code-share agreement with U.S. Airways. The go! Mokulele schedule offers up to 110 daily flights serving Hilo, Kona, Honolulu, Kahului, Lihu`e, Moloka`i and Lana`i.

FOUR MORE NOMINATIONS have been confirmed for Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s cabinet:

William Aila, Jr.

William Aila, Jr. is the director of the Department of Land & Natural Resources. He has a degree in tropical agriculture from University of Hawai`i and was the longtime harbormaster for Waianae on O`ahu, having worked for the DLNR for more than two decades. He also served on state, regional and national committees and commissions, many of them related to land and marine use and the stakeholders involved in their futures. 

Darryll Wong

Major General Darryll Wong is the adjutant general, after having served as the Chief of Staff of the Hawai`i Air National Guard. A pilot and flight instructor, he has held many management positions at Hickam Air Force Base and with the Air Guard. He completed the program for National and International Security Management at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and has an MBA from U.H. as well as a Certificate in International Management from the U.H. Pacific Asian Management Institute.

Jodie Maesaka-Hirata

Jodie Maesaka-Hirata is director of the Department of Public Safety after working as the warden of Waiawa Correctional Facility and launching an offender re-entry program that provided offenders job experience while still incarcerated. She started off as a social worker serving the prison system at Halawa Correctional Facility in 1989. She earned a degree in social work from U.H. and a Master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Chaminade University. 

Bruce Coppa

Bruce Coppa is comptroller for Department of Accounting and General Services. He operated Coppa Consulting, Inc. that specialized in business development, strategy and general management. He was Chief Operating Officer of Communications Pacific, and executive director of Pacific Resource Partnership. He received an MBA from University of Phoenix. 

RAINY DAY AND HURRICANE RELIEF FUNDS may be used to help balance the state budget this year, just like last year when state legislators passed bills authorizing $91 million to be taken from those emergency funds. Similar bills had passed between the two legislative chambers by last Friday.

TODAY IS THE BIG FUNDRAISING day to help raise money to send Ka`u High’s band called One Journey to Brown Bags to Stardom competition. The fundraiser is being held at KAHU Radio in Pahala on Maile Street all day with a CD release party for One Journey and entertainment by Demetrius and Keaiwa, Chris and Gene Akamu, Kawekiu, Mokuleo and Hi-Town.

Miss Ka`u Coffee candidate Brandy Nicole Eder

MISS KA`U COFFEE CANDIDATES have been learning about the growing of Ka`u coffee in the coffee fields above Pahala. The pageant is Saturday, April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym. Tickets are $12 and include a four-color program. The Ka`u Coffee Festival is May 14 and 15 at Pahala Community Center.

Ka`u News Briefs March 5, 2011

The fundraiser for One Journey will be tomorrow at
KAHU radio station on Maile Street in Pahala.

BIG ISLAND COMMUNITIES with the largest Hawaiian populations are in Ka`u, according to the new census statistics. Wai`ohinu ranks top in percentage of Hawaiians at 23.5 percent Hawaiian, followed by Ocean View with 20 percent Hawaiian. The town with the fewest white people on the entire island is Pahala, with only 10 percent. Na`alehu is second in the fewest white people category, with 10.5 percent. However, right next door is Discovery Harbour, which ranks as fourth on the island, with 56.6 percent of the population being white. It is followed by Volcano, which straddles Ka`u and Puna and has a population that is 51.5 percent White. 

     Pahala ranks number four on the island in having the most Asians, with 42.9 percent. Ocean View ranks number two on the island in having the lowest Asian population, at 5.5 percent. This all shows great diversification of cultures in Ka`u.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS COMING OUT OF THE 2010 CENSUS:

Pahala’s population decreased in the last decade, from 1,378 to 1,356. The main ethnicity is Asian, followed by two or more races, then Hawaiian, Hispanic and White.

Seniors enjoyed bingo and lunch at
the `O Ka`u Kakou function in
Pahala yesterday.

Na`alehu’s population also decreased, from 919 to 866. Most are Asian, followed by mixed race, Native Hawaiian, White and Hispanic.

Ocean View’s population more than doubled, from 2,178 to 4,437. Most are White, followed by Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, then mixed races and Hispanic. The number of Hawaiian and Pacific islanders increased more than three times during the last decade.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC LIGHT CO. workers and union members on the other islands walked off the job at 3:30 p.m. yesterday. According to a report on KITV, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers chief Lance Miyake said they called the strike because management didn't want to negotiate over the weekend. On O`ahu, following a storm and downed poles, thousands of people are without power, though private contractors and non-union employees are trying to restore electricity to all the homes. Miyake said the failed negotiations date back to last October. 

Nani Kahuku `Aina's
proposed development

THE NANI KAHUKU `AINA PROJECT public meeting in Na`alehu this week brought people together to talk about the resort planned for five miles of coast between South Point and Ocean View. The project was scaled down from plans presented over the last few years. Developer representatives pointed out the planned area is 2,062 acres, a 72 percent reduction in the first phase of the development for the 16,456 acres. 

     They also pointed out that they are planning fewer units – a 47 percent reduction – as they now propose to build 1,659 resort and residential units.
     They are also offering a Heritage Park for visitation and education, which would include a research facility, visitor center, fishpond, fishing village, amphitheatre, maritime science center, petroglyph preserve, teaching hale, camping and housing with cabins.
     The resort would require reclassifying and rezoning land that is now protected by the Conservation district.
     The next public meeting will be held on April 7 at Yano Hall in Captain Cook at 6:30 p.m. Developer representative Aaron Eberhardt has been meeting with many community leaders and small groups about the development plan.

Mary Ibarra

Dorothy Louis

QUILTING PAHALA held its first workshop yesterday at Pahala Plantation House. The workshops are organized by Donna Masaniai. While yesterday's workshop focused on original art, future workshops will also include quilting by hand and machine. To organize a workshop, call Masaniai at 808-238-0505 or email pahalaquilting@gmail.com.

THE FUNDRAISER for One Journey’s trip to O`ahu for the Brown Bags to Stardom competition happens tomorrow, Sunday, all day at KAHU public radio station on Maile Street in Pahala. It begins at 9 a.m. and features singer Eunice Longakit and her band members with their CD release party, produced by Ka'u Productions, LLC. Also playing are Chris and Gene Akamu; the new band with Demetrius and Leka and friends, called Keaiwa; and the bands Kawekiu, Mokuleo and Hi-Town. There will be food and crafts. Donations will be accepted to help with the high school musicians’ travel expenses for Brown Bags.

Aiyana Galletes-Alapai,
Young Miss Ka`u Coffee
contestant

YOUNG MISS KA`U COFFEE is a new category in the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. This new category is in addition to Miss Peaberry and Miss Ka`u Coffee titles, which will be awarded on April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym with the pageant beginning at 5:30 p.m.. Tickets are $12. Area businesses can advertise in the program and become sponsors to support a scholarship. You can also become a Friend of Miss Ka`u Coffee for $5.