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| Hana Hou Restaurant's Christmas Party for keiki and their families takes place tomorrow afternoon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Here, Hana Hou employees from past years hand out lucky numbers. |
Todd said that if people in Ocean View could not come up with specific plans for their community during the CDP process, broad planning principles would be adopted which could allow more specific plans later. Several small community groups are meeting in Ocean View to study the CDP and make recommendations.
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| Ocean View residents currently use temporary rubbish bins until the transfer station gets built. |
Greg Goodale, the new county Solid Waste chief, updated the community on the Ocean View Transfer Station. He said the county is working on a design for the site on the newly purchased 21.65 acres just off Hwy 11 at the 79- mile marker. The county is working with the state Department of Transportation to design turn lanes and increase the width of the highway. The transfer station could open within a year and a half. A community committee will help work on the design and land use, Goodale said. He said $3.1 million has been allocated for the project through the floating of a bond.
THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY will hold a public meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center to talk about the well and water filling station. The county is working on the last details of the water supply system, troubleshooting with the electric company and contractor to provide high-voltage power to run the water pumps. The Water Department is also working with the state Department of Health to ensure water quality. In addition to the spigots for the general public, metered water will be available at the water filling station for businesses and nonprofit organizations.
BRITTANY SMART spends a lot of her time as a County Council member working on the new building code for Hawai`i Island, she told The Ka`u Calendar yesterday. She said, during an interview, that her goal is to help make owner-built housing more affordable and to assist homeowners in bringing unpermitted housing up to code without being subject to fines or criminal charges that can make them afraid to upgrade their homes. The county is in the middle of updating the building code, following the state adopting a new building code. Debate has centered over whether the county code can be less strict than the state code.
THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY will hold a public meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center to talk about the well and water filling station. The county is working on the last details of the water supply system, troubleshooting with the electric company and contractor to provide high-voltage power to run the water pumps. The Water Department is also working with the state Department of Health to ensure water quality. In addition to the spigots for the general public, metered water will be available at the water filling station for businesses and nonprofit organizations.
BRITTANY SMART spends a lot of her time as a County Council member working on the new building code for Hawai`i Island, she told The Ka`u Calendar yesterday. She said, during an interview, that her goal is to help make owner-built housing more affordable and to assist homeowners in bringing unpermitted housing up to code without being subject to fines or criminal charges that can make them afraid to upgrade their homes. The county is in the middle of updating the building code, following the state adopting a new building code. Debate has centered over whether the county code can be less strict than the state code.
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| Brittany Smart |
Smart said that she has also worked to take suggestions from the public for farmers and ranchers to be allowed larger and additional unpermitted farm buildings on ag land. The Council has revised the new code to allow non-residential, one-story buildings no larger than 600 square feet on ag land and one-story buildings on residential properties no larger than 120 square feet. The proposed change is being reviewed by the Planning Department.
Another building code issue is determining where houses must have safe rooms or be made hurricane-proof. She said that the new code will most likely limit this requirement to specific places close to the ocean.
Another initiative that Smart says she is working on is using old tires to make paving materials for roads. She said she doesn’t want the county to be put in the position of having to import chipped tires, but that using tires discarded on this island would save a lot of tires from landfills and avoid the cost of shipping them off-island for disposal. Smart said she is not sure whether the initiative will be for a “mind set, public policy or legislative change.”
Smart met with Ocean View Community Association last night.
THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION for County Council seats will hold a meeting this Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Hilo Council chambers to address concerns of gerrymandering. A story by Jason Armstrong in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald says the claims center around Council member Dennis Onishi sending emails stating that new redistricting would put him and J Yoshimoto in the same Council district that could have them running against one another. The emails apparently drew responses to the Commission. Commissioner Rene Siracusa called such emails an ethics violation, as the Council member is not allowed to lobby to influence the redistricting lines. Onishi told Armstrong he was simply stating the facts to 40 to 50 friends, explaining how the district boundaries could change. The meeting is set to clear the air, said Siracusa.
Another building code issue is determining where houses must have safe rooms or be made hurricane-proof. She said that the new code will most likely limit this requirement to specific places close to the ocean.
Another initiative that Smart says she is working on is using old tires to make paving materials for roads. She said she doesn’t want the county to be put in the position of having to import chipped tires, but that using tires discarded on this island would save a lot of tires from landfills and avoid the cost of shipping them off-island for disposal. Smart said she is not sure whether the initiative will be for a “mind set, public policy or legislative change.”
Smart met with Ocean View Community Association last night.
THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION for County Council seats will hold a meeting this Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Hilo Council chambers to address concerns of gerrymandering. A story by Jason Armstrong in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald says the claims center around Council member Dennis Onishi sending emails stating that new redistricting would put him and J Yoshimoto in the same Council district that could have them running against one another. The emails apparently drew responses to the Commission. Commissioner Rene Siracusa called such emails an ethics violation, as the Council member is not allowed to lobby to influence the redistricting lines. Onishi told Armstrong he was simply stating the facts to 40 to 50 friends, explaining how the district boundaries could change. The meeting is set to clear the air, said Siracusa.
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| Alapaki Nahale-a with Gov. Neil Abercrombie |
HAWAIIANS ON THE HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS waiting list for more than 40 years are invited to meet with Hawaiian Homes Commission chair Alapaki Nahale-a regarding a new Kauhale project. The Kauhale project goal is to put people in housing as early as 2012. He said in old Hawai`i people lived together with large kitchens and outlying sleeping areas. He described a modern possibility to Hawai`i Tribune Herald reporter Jason Armstrong: “You might have multiple structures or a larger structure designed in an appropriate way that can house multiple families on one lot. Anywhere from three, four, even five families on one lot. And it’s still within building code. We can oversize the kitchen, oversize the laundry, make sure there’s appropriate parking, but the goal is to serve more families on one homestead award.”
The meetings are open to the public and will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 14 at the Hawaiian Home Lands Kuhio Hale, 64-756 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Dec. 15 at Keaukaha Elementary School Cafeteria, 240 Desha Ave. in Hilo from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
DISCOUNTED INTERISLAND AIRLINE TICKETS, in bulk, will soon be available from Hawaiian Airlines, the carrier states. However, the company is still considering whether to give kama`aina rates to local individuals. According to Hawaiian, its fuel cost is expected to go up by $200 million this year, and fuel costs are unpredictable. If kama`aina tickets become available, Hawaiian Air will make the announcement when they are available.
DISCOUNTED INTERISLAND AIRLINE TICKETS, in bulk, will soon be available from Hawaiian Airlines, the carrier states. However, the company is still considering whether to give kama`aina rates to local individuals. According to Hawaiian, its fuel cost is expected to go up by $200 million this year, and fuel costs are unpredictable. If kama`aina tickets become available, Hawaiian Air will make the announcement when they are available.
Sen. Malama Solomon has joined a group of people signing a petition online asking for kama`aina rates again to allow local residents to fly more to see families and help the economy. The online petition is at http://signon.org/sign/hawaiian-air-price-fixing. It says, “Interisland travel is essential for keeping Hawai`i families connected. Hawaiian Air doubled the price of interisland tickets since Aloha Airlines and the ferry was forced out of business. There are no longer discounted kama`aina, senior, or youth rates, and no more coupon books for frequent travelers, so it is prohibitive for people to visit their children, grandchildren and family. We are calling on our government to take action.”
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. According to the agenda, discussion will be limited to the roles of the Steering Committee and the community in the CDP production process. For more information, contact planner Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS a schoolwide Science Fair tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Students have been putting in extra effort and hours to develop original projects, which will be judged by local science and technology experts. Winning projects will be entered into the East Hawai`i Science Fair. From there, top projects will move on to the State Science and Engineering Fair. Students’ experiments will be on display in the High School science rooms, M-101 and M-102.
THE KUAHIWIS PERFORM LIVE IN CONCERT at After Dark in the Park tonight at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Copies of their debut CD, Kuahiwis, Hawaiian Music, which was nominated for traditional Hawaiian music CD of the year, will be available for sale.
THE FRONT ROW OF COTTAGES at Kilauea Military Camp have been decorated for KMC’s third annual Holiday Challenge. The public can vote for their favorite display and receive a Holiday Dollar redeemable at several KMC venues. Park entrance fees may apply.
THE KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu is tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free goodie bags and keiki IDs will be offered, along with a free buffet-style dinner. Lucky numbers will be drawn for bicycles, games, books, toys and more. Santa will be there for photos with the keiki.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER’S Keiki Christmas Party is on Saturday at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to this free event, which includes food, music, gifts for every child under 12 and a visit from Santa.
OVCA asks for donations of new, unwrapped gifts for the keiki. Residents can take ornaments off of Gift trees set up at merchants around Ocean View and buy gifts for children of age groups noted.
For all donations of time, money and gifts, call 939-7033.
THE CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA celebration takes place Sunday around a lighted Christmas tree on Kamani Street. Donations are being taken for needy families who otherwise might not be able to afford a happy Christmas. Canned foods, turkeys, toys, gift certificates and beverages can be donated by calling Keala Kailiawa at 928-0500 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811, or dropping donations by KAHU community radio station on Maile Street.
THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee meets tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. According to the agenda, discussion will be limited to the roles of the Steering Committee and the community in the CDP production process. For more information, contact planner Ron Whitmore at 961-8137 or rwhitmore@co.hawaii.hi.us.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL HOSTS a schoolwide Science Fair tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Students have been putting in extra effort and hours to develop original projects, which will be judged by local science and technology experts. Winning projects will be entered into the East Hawai`i Science Fair. From there, top projects will move on to the State Science and Engineering Fair. Students’ experiments will be on display in the High School science rooms, M-101 and M-102.
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| Jeff Scofield |
AFTER THE SCIENCE FAIR, Jeff Scofield, former president of Pacific Financial Aid Association, will present vital information on college financial aid in the Band Room at 6 p.m.
THE KUAHIWIS PERFORM LIVE IN CONCERT at After Dark in the Park tonight at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Copies of their debut CD, Kuahiwis, Hawaiian Music, which was nominated for traditional Hawaiian music CD of the year, will be available for sale.
THE FRONT ROW OF COTTAGES at Kilauea Military Camp have been decorated for KMC’s third annual Holiday Challenge. The public can vote for their favorite display and receive a Holiday Dollar redeemable at several KMC venues. Park entrance fees may apply.
THE KEIKI CHRISTMAS PARTY at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu is tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free goodie bags and keiki IDs will be offered, along with a free buffet-style dinner. Lucky numbers will be drawn for bicycles, games, books, toys and more. Santa will be there for photos with the keiki.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER’S Keiki Christmas Party is on Saturday at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to this free event, which includes food, music, gifts for every child under 12 and a visit from Santa.
OVCA asks for donations of new, unwrapped gifts for the keiki. Residents can take ornaments off of Gift trees set up at merchants around Ocean View and buy gifts for children of age groups noted.
For all donations of time, money and gifts, call 939-7033.
THE CHRISTMAS IN PAHALA celebration takes place Sunday around a lighted Christmas tree on Kamani Street. Donations are being taken for needy families who otherwise might not be able to afford a happy Christmas. Canned foods, turkeys, toys, gift certificates and beverages can be donated by calling Keala Kailiawa at 928-0500 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811, or dropping donations by KAHU community radio station on Maile Street.
