Ka`u News Briefs May 17, 2011

Sustainable Resources International, Inc. came to Honu`apo to make the wetlands study. Its co-principal Andy Hood
gave a presentation Sunday to local residents.  Photo by Kristin Dunn

PUBLIC COMMENTS are still being taken for the Wetlands Habitat Restoration Plan for Honu`apo Estuary. The deadline for comments is this Friday, May 20. The goal is to improve local and migratory bird habitat, and the proposal calls for controlling avial predators like cats, dogs and mongoose with active predator control, predator-proof fencing around the Honu`apo estuary, and removing kiawe trees and other alien vegetation to restore freshwater input. Alien vegetation in the mudflats would also be removed to improve bird forage habitat. Endemic and native plants would be planted to provide habitat. The effort would be to restore more open mudflats for foraging birds and deepwater pools for birds, fish and turtles. Call Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo executive director Lehua Lopez Mau to see the complete plan and with questions at 929-9891.

Sen. Dan Akaka

SEN. DAN AKAKA is backing up Hawai`i’s new law to force lenders to negotiate with property owners in foreclosure. He and ten other senators have introduced the Regulation of Mortgage Servicing Act. The bill is aimed at helping homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure stay in their homes by bringing more fairness and transparency into their dealings with mortgage servicers. 

     According to Akaka staffers, the act would end the dual track process, under which a foreclosure process proceeds at the same time that a homeowner is being considered for non-foreclosure alternatives. It would also require banks and other mortgage servicers to create a single point of contact for homeowners to work with and provide an independent, third-party review before sending a family to foreclosure.
     “My office has received countless requests for help from local families frustrated by delays, confusion, broken promises, and conflicting advice from their loan servicers. These families are simply trying to find a way to stay in their homes, and the added hardships they have endured are inexcusable,” Akaka said. “This legislation will help families and loan servicers to communicate and work more effectively toward their mutual benefit.”
     Hawai`i ranked 11th in the nation for foreclosures with one of every 45 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing during 2010. There were 12,435 properties with foreclosure filings — including notices of default, public auctions and bank repossessions — in Hawai`i last year.

THE LEGACY LAND CONSERVATION program is not only protecting coastal lands and other scenic places, it is purchasing agricultural land for preservation. The state Legacy Land fund is providing $4.5 million in grants for the purchase of lands on the Big Island and O`ahu, with $7.6 million in private, federal and county money.
     The legacy land money comes from ten percent of the state income from a tax generated when properties change hands. It is called the land conveyance tax. Ten percent of the conveyance tax goes to the Legacy Land Conservation Fund, and a commission decides which parcels to buy. This year’s funding goes to ag land in North Kohala and near the Turtle Bay resort on O`ahu, as well as a heiau and wetland. Ideas for other ag lands to be preserved are being taken for next year.

Ka`u Coffee Mill owner Ed Olson and miller Lee Segawa
check the coffee beans.  Photo by Julia Neal

THE NEW KA`U COFFEE MILL hosted visitors during the Ka`u Coffee Festival over the weekend. The mill can now take coffee cherry and mill it, dry it, hull it and roast it. Ka`u Coffee Mill has a Pinhalense mill and Diedrich Roaster. It is located on Wood Valley Road. To make an appointment to visit the mill or to bring in coffee call 928-0500. 

KILAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is holding auditions for their July presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta Patience. They are looking for five women, five men, a chorus of maidens and dragoons of all ages. Auditions take place at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park tonight starting at 6:30 p.m. Contact Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

NANI KAHUKU `AINA will present plans for their Kahuku Village development along the coast near Ocean View on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, call project manager Aaron Eberhardt at 808-224-5308.

Precious Ka`awa's Ka`u Coffee Espresso
Brownies.  Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST winner for the student category in Candies, Drinks and other Desserts is Precious Ka`awa, with her Ka`u Coffee Espresso Brownies. The winning recipe will be included in a cookbook to be produced by the Ka`u Coffee Festival. The recipe contest is an annual event at the Ka`u Coffee Festival at Pahala Community Center. 

THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN PETREL is the topic of After Dark in the Park tonight at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Seth Judge, from UH-Hilo, presents his graduate research on this species that has suffered a drastic decline because of numerous threats.

ALSO AT KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM, Halau Hula Kalehuaki‘eki‘eika‘iu, under the direction of kumu hula Ab Valencia, performs tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Ka`u News Briefs May 16, 2011

Miss Ka`u Peaberry and Young Miss Ka`u Coffee courts rode into the festival on a float
with artwork by Anna Kailiawa.  Photo by Julia Neal

AFTER BEING PRESENTED AT THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL on Saturday, the wetlands plan for Honu`apo drew about 40 people to the park yesterday. Longtime residents like Toku Nakamura, Iwao Yonemitsu and Pele Hanoa, who lived nearby and frequented the area when a sugar mill and port operated at Honu`apo, attended and shared their stories. Wildlife specialists and cultural practitioners also came to the meeting, including Megan Lamson and Bill Gilmartin of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund. Kiko Johnston-Kitazawa took people for rides in one of his outrigger canoes. The public reviewed the plan to protect the wetlands. Consultants said that trees, including some milo that are forming an island in the pond, kiawe, and possibly coconut trees would be cleared from the flat area around the wetlands. The wetlands would be fenced to provide a six-foot-tall barrier with a cap on the top to keep out cats and other predators. Clearing and fencing would require permits and more plans which could cost the county and Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo at least a hundred thousands dollars. The wetlands plan, which cost $40,000, is available by calling executive director Lehua Lopez-Mau. Another overall plan calls for building a new pavilion, roads, public campsites and fireplaces. Call 929-9891. 

Lehua Lopez-Mau (right), Ka `Ohana president Ken Sugai,
vice president Wendy Vance (with hat) and member
Ola Kochis presented a wetlands plan at the Ka`u
Coffee Festival on Saturday and at Honu`apo
on Sunday.  Photo by Julia Neal

KA `OHANA O HONU`APO has a new president, Ken Sugai. Sugai owns the home next to the ponds and has been a key supporter of preservation of the Ka`u Coast and wetlands within the 235-acre park. Also on the board are secretary/treasurer Megan Lamson, vice president Wendy Vance, Chris Manfredi, Michelle Galimba, Puahi Pulham and Sue Barnett.

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS were warned that keeping their farms clean of berries and branches on the ground and using a fungus spray to hold back a coffee berry borer infestation is the only way to keep the pest from destroying farms. Only one active farm in Ka`u has been found with the borers, and Ka`u Coffee Farmers Cooperative members volunteered to help the farmer strip all the branches of berries and bury them. The borers can be buried underground or burned to get rid of them. In Kona, some farms are cleaning up and some seem to have given up, according to UH-Manoa researcher Dr. Elsie Burbano, who has been studying the small beetle that lives inside the coffee cherry and eats the bean.

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS wound up their two day festival with a day of education yesterday from coffee roasters, buyers and café chain owners who have been in the business for many years. They stressed the importance of the place, which they admired as a good coffee growing location in the mountains of Ka`u. They stressed good farm practices, processing and storage and described many techniques to farmers on hand. They noted that the best coffee can bring a high price to people who want the highest grade coffee for their restaurants, stores and homes.

The Norberte family, with their JN Coffee Farms, got ink in
West Hawai`i Today when Joann Norberte called Ka`u Coffee
 "Kona's hotter, younger sister."  Photo by Julia Neal

THE KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL made the front page of West Hawai`i Today on Sunday. Reporter Chelsea Jensen quoted Joann Norberte as saying, “Ka`u Coffee is like Kona’s younger, hotter sister.” Promoter of her family’s JN Coffee Farms, Norberte told West Hawai`i Today that “coffee all happened in Kona first, and we were able to learn from the good and bad to create a special coffee.” Joann Norberte, daughter of Leo and Herme Norberte, grew up in Pahala and lives in Las Vegas, where she promotes here family coffee online and to buyers and at conventions. The farm has 25 acres and produces 200,000 pounds of cherry each year. She also told the newspaper that she knows that the Ka`u farmers will pull together to keep the coffee borer pest from spreading and ruining crops. 

ROAD PAVING IS PLANNED throughout the week on Hwy 11 in the vicinity of South Point Road. Alternating lane closures will occur between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, as weather permits.

KILAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is holding auditions for their July presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta Patience. They are looking for five women, five men, a chorus of maidens and dragoons of all ages. Auditions take place at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today and tomorrow starting at 6:30 p.m. Contact Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.

THE ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN PETREL is the topic at After Dark in the Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Seth Judge, from UH-Hilo, presents his graduate research on this species that has suffered a drastic decline because of numerous threats.

ALSO AT KILAUEA VISITOR CENTER AUDITORIUM, Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu, under the direction of kumu hula Ab Valencia, performs on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ka`u News Briefs May 15, 2011

Public and wildlife use of Honu`apo is discussed at a public meeting on the wetlands today.  Photo by Teresa Tico

A DRAFT OF THE HONU`APO Wetlands Habitat Restoration Plan will be presented for public review at the park this afternoon. Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo and the county Department of Parks and Recreation invite comments from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The plan is the next step in implementing Honu`apo’s Resources Management Plan. For more information, call Ka `Ohana’s executive director Lehua Lopez-Mau at 929-9819.

Lori Lei brings her halau to celebrate
Ka`u Coffee.  Photos by Julia Neal

Skylark emcees at the
Ka`u Coffee Festival.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE joined Ka`u Coffee farmers to celebrate at the Ka`u Coffee Festival ho`olaule`a yesterday. After many days of clouds and rain, the skies cleared and the sun shined throughout the morning. In the afternoon, the clouds returned to keep festival-goers cool, while mist enveloped Cloud Rest and the other Ka`u Coffee-growing areas above Pahala. 

     Skylark emceed throughout the day of entertainment, coffee tastings and recipe contest. 

Mayor Kenoi congratulates Bull and
Jamie Kailiawa for winning
top ten coffee in the world.

Coffee tasting shows off Ka`u Coffee
to the public and mainland buyers.

     Mayor Billy Kenoi made an appearance and congratulated Bull and Jamie Kailiawa for their recent win as one of the top ten coffees in the world. He said it’s a win for all of Ka`u. 

EDUCATION ABOUT coffee production, quality and marketing is happening at the Ka`u Coffee College until noon at the Pahala Community Center today, the second day of the Ka`u Coffee Festival. There are also farm tours.

COMPETITORS AGES 13 AND OVER are participating in a surf meet today at Kawa. The event includes surfing and body surfing competitions for males and females.

KILAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK is holding auditions for their July presentation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta Patience. They are looking for five women, five men, a chorus of maidens and dragoons of all ages. Auditions take place at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow and Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. Contact Suzi Bond at 982-7344 or kden73@aol.com.