Ka`u News Briefs March 9, 2011

Demetrius Oliveira with his new band Keaiwa raised money for One Journey
last Sunday, before Demetrius left for San Francisco for surgery.

KA`U RESIDENTS took their concerns to Mayor Billy Kenoi at a talk story meeting at Na`alehu School last night. He said he spoke recently to Gov. Neil Abercrombie and is hoping that the construction of the gymnasium and emergency shelter next to Ka`u High School will be funded soon. He said the county is fast-tracking the planning for the $20 million building, which would be owned by the county but used by the high school as its new gym. It would also be the only certified emergency shelter in Pahala. The funding would come from a state bond float.

POLICE SUBSTATIONS were a concern of the public during the mayor’s Ka`u meeting last night. Ocean View residents asked for a substation to be manned 24/7, saying many crimes in Ocean View occur at scenes too remote for police to respond in a timely fashion. Police Department representatives said that having a full-time police officer stationed at Ocean View is a priority and that new communications equipment planned for the substation could allow police to make their reports from Ocean View without driving all the way to the Ka`u headquarters in Na`alehu. Budget is a problem, but the police department is working toward a full-time officer for Ocean View.

Mayor Billy Kenoi met with Ka`u residents
in Na`alehu yesterday.

THE MAYOR explained his view of balancing environmental and cultural protection with economic development. He said he was born across from Kaimu on the coast in Puna - in a community with outhouses and kerosene lamps. He said he understands the need for open space and respecting the culture. He said he also understands the need for a thriving economy: “We are not out to take away any of the special beauty that makes our island unique,” Kenoi proclaimed. However, “All - we all like - a healthy, safe family. We need one thriving, vibrant economy,” said the mayor. “When people working? Families working: Pay the mortgage, pay the car note, can support the family. Then children are in a safe environment and have chance to have a good education.” High unemployment leads to high foreclosures, said Kenoi, causing skyrocketing divorces from financial stress. No more house, no more job, no more car - kids are not safe and many of them quit school, turn to gangs and drugs, said the mayor. 

THE INCREDIBLE ASSETS of the Big Island make the future bright for this county, the mayor predicted. He talked about two deep draft harbors, the best astronomy in the world, a college of pharmacy, open farmlands, and geothermal and biofuels potential. He pointed to renewable energy, saying that during an upcoming summit of world leaders on O`ahu, he hopes to host energy ministers from many countries and show them the Big Island’s potential. He also said that the U.S. and Japan may partner on ocean thermal energy. “We have one of the few places where it works,” said Kenoi.

Puna Geothermal Venture provides power for 30,000 homes
and will also produce hydrogen for transportation. It claims
to have the potential to provide all of the energy needs
of the Big Island.

HYDROGEN will be part of the energy future, said Kenoi, mentioning that the county will soon take possession of two hydrogen buses and that a hydrogen fuel station will be located at the Puna Geothermal facility. With hydrogen fuel being produced at the geothermal plant, a fuel tanker truck will be provided to fuel up county hydrogen vehicles. The geothermal plant will be able to make hydrogen for transportation fuel during off hours of the electric grid when the capacity of geothermal is underused. 

KAMOAMOA is the name of the new eruption at Kilauea. Pu`u `O`o Crater floor dropped more than 300 feet in a few hours over the weekend and the show continues near Kapau Crater.

UNITED & CONTINENTAL AIRLINES are expected to reduce flights because of increased fuel prices. Fuel prices are of concern to the local visitor industry since this increases the cost of coming to Hawai`i. United and Continental, which are now one company, are planning direct flights, daily from Los Angeles and weekly from San Francisco to Hilo, starting June 9. During the first quarter of this year there is a 13 percent increase in airline seats to Kona from the West Coast.

A NEW STATE TAX ON PENSIONS would only affect those single seniors earning at least $100,000 a year and $200,000 for couples. Seniors in Pahala petitioned against the measure when an earlier version of the bill would have taxed the pension of less wealthy seniors. The new version would tax five to six percent of seniors receiving pensions. The measure has passed the state House of Representatives and was sent to the Senate.

SEN. GIL KAHELE AND REP. ROBERT HERKES will host a talk story session this Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Ocean View. The two have been working on the Ocean View water well system, emergency shelters, and many more CIP projects for the district.

Miss Peaberry contestant
Cherrisse Althea Calumpit

CHERRISSE ALTHEA CALUMPIT is working on her talent for the Miss Peaberry category of the Miss Ka`u Coffee competition on Saturday, April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym. Sponsorships are available and tickets are on sale. 

WHERE IS DEMETRIUS OLIVEIRA? The KAHU radio host and composer spent Sunday supporting the fundraiser for the One Journey band that is headed from Ka`u High School to O`ahu for the Brown Bags to Stardom competition. Then he headed off to San Francisco on Tuesday for his much needed surgery for which the community has raised $20,000. Said Demetrius, “I’m scared but know that I need this surgery and believe that this will give others in Hawai`i the strength to decide that living healthier is a better option.”

Ka`u News Briefs March 8, 2011

Spatters fly as high as 100 feet from the new fissures between
Pu`u `O`o and Halema`uma`u Craters. Photos from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

KILAUEA VOLCANO continues to spew along a mile-long line of fissures between Pu`o `O`o and Halema`uma`u Craters. Some of the lava has been flying 50 to 100 feet into the air and providing a spectacular show for scientists who have been flying over the area and hiking into the lava flows. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory head scientist Jim Kauahikaua said this morning that the lava was spattering in two places.

This kind of activity was last seen
15 years ago.

Lava is flowing through the rain forest
and burning trees.

     This kind of activity at Kilauea last occurred almost 15 years ago. He said he doesn’t expect people outside of the park to be negatively affected by the new lava activity. However, the vog may travel over communities, as always, depending on which way the wind blows. This morning the air quality across Ka`u was good. Heavier trade winds were expected this afternoon that could bring some vog our way. 

     Inside Halema`uma`u, the lava remains deep in the vent, where more of the vent wall fell away yesterday, sending up huge dust plumes. The lava had come as close as 150 feet of the rim of the crater floor late last month, but is now more than 650 feet deep. The emissions rate is many times higher than during recent months. On March 7 it was measured at 1,100 tons per day.
     Emissions are also up from the fissures closer to Pu`u `O`o.

FOUR OF THE FIVE GAS STATIONS IN KA`U WERE POSTING PRICES OVER $4 a gallon for regular this morning. Nationwide this marks the highest price ever for gasoline in the month of March. Regular gas this morning was $3.95 at Kahuku Country Market, $4.01 at Kahala Gas and Ocean View Market, $4.03 at Ka`u Gas in Pahala and $4.09 at the 76 station in Na`alehu. Propane is also going up and was $5.55 a gallon at the 76 station in Na`alehu and $4.69 daily and $4.59 on Wednesdays and Saturdays at South Point U-Cart. At ACE in Ocean View it was $4.99 a gallon.

THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS union leadership has come to an agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company, and the strike could end later this week at its subsidiary Hawaiian Electric Light Company and other HECO companies around the state, if the union membership approves the agreement.

Mayor Billy Kenoi

MAYOR BILLY KENOI comes to Na`alehu School Cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. today to present his county budget message and to answer questions about anything having to do with county operations. Kenoi is expected to talk about his three-year program that has rolled back government to make it more affordable. Some of these cutbacks have been painful, he said, including discontinuing funding for the police cadet program, some of the funding for the Hawai`i Island Humane Society animal control, and cutting hours at solid waste transfer stations. 

     County agencies cancelled and delayed buying vehicles. They cut mileage payments for workers and delayed replacement of aging computers and the purchase of new software. Agencies cut advertising budgets for the mass transit system and other public education campaigns. Departments deferred and sometimes eliminated employee training.
     The budgets for law clerks’ salaries and expert witnesses and depositions were cut. The Fire Department delayed buying new trucks. Overtime spending was reduced 22 percent last year. There are 141 fewer people working for the county than when Kenoi took office. His new budget proposes to cut funding for an additional 100 currently vacant positions. The cut in the number of employees saves the county $7.1 million over three years, he said.

ONE JOURNEY is still raising money for the high school band’s trip to the statewide talent contest Brown Bags to Stardom to be held on Saturday, April 23. Money is needed for air and ground transportation and hotel rooms. The students almost sold out their CDs at $8 each, which has raised substantial money toward the effort. Donations can be dropped by KAHU radio station in Pahala or given to the members of the band or to their music teacher Laura Saijo at Ka`u High School.

Young Miss Ka`u Coffee candidate
Malia Nicole Corpuz

YOUNG MISS KA`U COFFEE candidate Malia Nicole Corpuz joins the new age category for the pageant, which also includes Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Peaberry, to be held Saturday, April 23 at Ka`u High School Gym. Sponsorships through tickets, advertising in the programs and $5 donations to become a Friend of the Miss Ka`u Coffee pageant are welcome. 

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.