Ka`u News Briefs March 6, 2012

Stepped lands above Hwy 11 between Pahala and Na`alehu show the pressure of the two volcanic plates.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE EARTHQUAKE SWARMS in late February on Kaoiki Pali may be linked to changes in pressure within Kilauea’s magma system, say scientists studying it. With Kilauea’s ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa’s unrest, “many forces have been at play,” says the latest edition of Volcano Watch from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which says, “We can probably expect more of these earthquake swarms.”
      HVO scientists explain that the south part of this island is “subject to forces arising from the movement of magma and forces arising from gravitational breakdown of its volcanoes.”
      Kaoiki Pali extends from west of Namakanipaio Campground all the way to Honu`apo. The Kaoiki-Honu`apo fault system was likely created by subsidence of Mauna Loa’s southeast flank before Kilauea was built against or on it. The surface expression of these faults is seen in stepped terrain just mauka of Highway 11 between Kilauea’s summit and Pahala. The steps are draped by unbroken 9,000-year-old lava and their movements are too minor to result in surface rupture despite earthquakes centered there, say the scientists. The recent swarm reaffirmed this with the lack of any shift of the ground surface during the quakes, according to HVO.
      The entire southeast flank of Mauna Loa frequently hosts earthquakes as it is squeezed and stretched between two very active volcanoes. HVO records show four damaging earthquakes in this area between 1941 and 1983, but none since. Earthquakes in 1974 and 1983 are believed to have enabled Mauna Loa's eruptions in 1975 and 1984. The recent swarm included two quakes above 4.0 magnitude.

THE STATE SENATE VOTES today on whether the Office of Hawaiian Affairs can accept a $200 million urban property on O`ahu in exchange for settling ceded land claims. Ceded lands are claimed as belonging to native Hawaiians but being held by the state. Some of those lands on the Big Island are in Hilo, where hotels are located on Banyan Drive. The settlement would end the OHA suits to claim the Hilo and other lands around the state and settle for the city land in Kaka`ako. If ultimately approved, this agreement will finally resolve claims relating to OHA’s share of public land trust revenues from November 7, 1978 to June 30, 2012. 

THE COUNTY BUDGET proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi has been analyzed by Stephens Media reporter Peter Sur. He notes that “the county Civil Defense Agency is getting its budget slashed from $1.7 million to $1.2 million, a difference of 26.4 percent. The Mass Transit Agency’s budget is shrinking 15.5 percent, from $4.0 million to $3.3 million, and the Office of Aging’s budget is falling from $2.9 million to $2.3 million, a difference of $550,073, or 19.1 percent. Departments with more funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1 include Office of Elections with an 11.6 percent increase to $888,674.The County Council, County Clerk and staff would enjoy an increase of 5.1 percent to $3.3 million. The Police Department budget goes from $53.8 million to $54 million, while the Fire Department rises 1.8 percent, to $37.3 million, reports Sur in West Hawai`i Today this morning. See www.westhawaiitoday.com.
      County Council chair Dominique Yagong, who is running against Kenoi in the August primary, said he is studying the budget and has a number of objections that he will discuss at the Council.

California growers provide most of the rice eaten in Hawai`i,
but shipping costs are soaring. Photo from calrice.org

THE NEW FUEL SURCHARGES took effect last week with steep increases that are causing a rise in the cost of imported food. According to a story in Pacific Business News, “Matson charges a base fee of $2,398 to ship a 40-foot container of rice from the West Coast to Hawai`i. Tack on that 45.5 percent fuel surcharge and the cost rises to $3,489, a $1,091 increase.” Young Brothers plans to review its fuel surcharges in May. 

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I-HILO has a new vice chancellor of Student Affairs. Dr. Matthew Platz joins the staff in January of 2013. Platz comes with a career as a chemistry professor and administrator at Ohio State University. He said he found UH-Hilo’s mission of encouraging students, particularly first-generation students, to reach their highest level of educational attainment “compelling,” noting that higher education had been a game-changer in his life. “I have had a wonderful life because of my dad’s decision to attend night school and become a first-generation college graduate,” Platz said. “So I know first-hand how the power of education can alter the destiny of a family.”

Dr. Matthew Platz
 Photo from UH-Hilo

      In his current position with the National Science Foundation, Platz has focused on funding the basic science that must be discovered to create sustainable food, water and energy to meet the needs of the world’s expanding population.

TONIGHT, THE TROJAN BOYS volleyball team hosts Christian Liberty Academy in the Ka`u High gym at 6 p.m. Off to a strong start, the team remains undefeated. Within a week of the season opener at home, the Trojans smashed Parker (25-10, 25-3, 25-8) and beat Hualalai in four sets (24-26, 25-22, 25-20, 25-12).

A FREE CONCERT takes place tomorrow at Pahala Plantation House from 6:30 p.m. until pau. Composer and musician Bolo, who sings and plays the `uketar, `ukulele and slack key guitar, offers original songs, including Bull Kailiawa Coffee Farmer, a song about the original Ka`u Coffee farmer back in the 1800s and a composition he co-wrote about the mountain Kaiholena. Musician and dancer Sammi Fo will join him.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND’S Ka`u Beach Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday. Volunteers can sign up with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

THE FIVE TIBETAN RITES are the topics at a workshop on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Old Pahala Clubhouse. Certified Kripalu Yoga teacher Jo Caron explains the background of the Rites and their effects on health, as well as postures. Tea and fruit will be served after the workshop. All levels, including beginners, are welcome. Pre-registration is $25, or $35 at the door. Call 443-6993 or email jocaron7@mac.com.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs March 5, 2012

Hawaiian-style table decor at Philadelphia International Flower Show this week. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

KA`U COFFEE & PROTEA FROM KA`U are some of the offerings this week at the Philadelphia International Flower Show, which is expected to draw more than 250,000 people.
      The title of the show is Hawai`i: Islands of Aloha. Displays include the inside of a volcano comprised of flowers, a 25-foot-tall waterfall, settings for tropical dining, a surfer’s hideaway on a lagoon and many more scenes of paradise.

Anthuriums with surfboard at
Philadelphia International Flower
Show. Photo by Anthony DeMarco

      The multi-ethnic diversity of Hawai`i is also gaining ground at the show. In addition to aloha wear, women are wearing orchids in their hair and Asian-inspired dresses. The Hawai`i Tourism Authority is expecting the event to help improve visitation from the East Coast. The most direct flight from Philadelphia is on U.S. Air to Phoenix and on to Hawai`i. New direct flights to the Islands are scheduled from Washington, D.C. and New York City.

HEALTH EXPERTS from around the Islands and around the country will gather at the state Capitol Auditorium this Wednesday at 8 a.m. for a public meeting. Challenges from making sure patients take or receive the right dose and type of medicine to new ways to deliver Medicaid services and care for chronic diseases are on the agenda. Gov. Neil Abercrombie will talk about his health care priorities.

FEHR & PEERS, a transportation consulting company based in Walnut Creek, CA, conducted a "focused transportation impact analysis" to evaluate the potential traffic impacts expected from building the planned Ka`u District Gym & Shelter. The report includes an analysis of existing and near-term future conditions with the project in place. It concludes that, given the low existing traffic volumes on the surrounding roadways, the anticipated future traffic conditions for the project will not warrant additional road improvements in the area.
      The study recommends that the feasibility of providing a wider pedestrian path on Kamani Street, the main entrance to town, between Puahala and Pikake Streets, be investigated. It also suggests improving pedestrian and bicycle access to the site from Hapu Street, above Hu`apala St.,  as part of an emergency access. “While increased connectivity is always desirable to distribute traffic over the entire street network, this connection is not needed” for vehicle traffic, the report states. “However, an emergency access connection should be provided via a locked gate such that emergency responders can drive onto the school campus should vehicle access be blocked at the Kamani Street entrance." 

A traffic study recommends improving pedestrian
access to the Ka`u District Gym & Shelter.

      The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html.
      Comments, due March 23, can be sent to Tammy Kapali, Planner, PBR Hawai`i & Associates, Inc., 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Honolulu, HI 96813 or faxed to 808-523-1402. Comments can also be sent to County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works, Attn: David Yamamoto, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7, Hilo, HI 96720 or faxed to 808-961-8630.

GAS PRICES ROSE AGAIN IN KA`U. This morning Ka`u Gas was selling at $4.66 per gallon in Pahala. In Na`alehu, the 76 station was selling for $4.66. In Ocean View, Kahala Gas was selling for $4.47, at Ocean View Market for $4.45 and Kahuku Country Market for $4.40. Around the state, over the last week, gas prices rose 4.6 cents per gallon, yesterday reaching an average of $4.33 per gallon. The national average reached $3.71 a gallon. See HawaiiGasPrices.com.

VOLUNTEERS CAN STILL SIGN UP for a Ka`u Beach Cleanup taking place Saturday. Contact Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN BOLO, who sings and plays the `uketar, `ukulele and slack key guitar, performs at a free concert Wednesday at Pahala Plantation House from 6:30 p.m. until pau. Bolo offers original songs, including Bull Kailiawa Coffee Farmer, anoher tune about the original Ka`u Coffee farm (now `Aikane Plantation) back in the 1800s and a composition he co-wrote about the misty mountain preserve called Kaiholena. Musician and dancer Sammi Fo will join him. 

CERTIFIED KRIPALU YOGA teacher Jo Caron introduces the Five Tibetan Rites at the Old Pahala Clubhouse this Saturday at 10 a.m. The two-hour workshop explains the background of the Rites and their effects on health, as well as postures. Tea and fruit will be served after the workshop. All levels, including beginners, are welcome. Pre-registration is $25, or $35 at the door. Call 443-6993 or email jocaron7@mac.com.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka`u News Briefs March 4, 2012

Defunct windmills will be taken down soon, according to owners of the new Pakini Nui Wind Farm along
South Point Road. Photo by Julia Neal

THE BANK OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`I, where profits stay here and support families with mortgage challenges, investment in alternative energy and creation of more economic development – this is an idea brought to Ka`u by Rep. Bob Herkes last week when he came here with the state Vog Task Force.
      Herkes joined four other state House of Representatives members to introduce House Bill 2103 to establish the state bank. Herkes said that while the idea could seem ominous, the state bank has precedent in the Bank of North Dakota, established in 1919 largely to help farmers who did not trust private banks. Its mission is to work with other banks, not against them. Its profits help fund the North Dakota state budget and guarantee student loans.
      Herkes said he supports the idea particularly to help people who are facing foreclosure. The state bank would help families who could afford to pay mortgage at perhaps a lower interest rate and monthly payments than their original mortgages. He suggested that the state bank could buy troubled loans from Bank of America and other mortgage holders, whom Herkes claims conducted unfair mortgage practices. The Hawai`i Housing Finance & Development Corp. would set up a temporary fund and system to deal with mortgage foreclosures until the state bank could be created.

Bank of North Dakota was founded in 1919 to help farmers
who feared private banks. Photo from BND

      Capital for the bank could come from moving part of the state’s $4 billion in assets from private banks to the Hawai`i bank. Herkes and other supporters pointed out that banking originally began to help pool community money for community interests. The idea of a Hawai`i state bank runs parallel to the credit union movement, which has been growing rapidly during the recent recession after the collapse of Wall Street. Credit unions are owned by their members.
      Herkes chairs the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce. Rep. Marcus Oshiro, who chairs the state House Finance Committee, also supports the state bank idea, asking why state money would be any less secure deposited in a state bank rather than private banks.
      Opponents have asked about the health of good standing banks like First Hawaiian and Bank of Hawai`i should the state move money out of those institutions. Other concerns focus on the risk of more public money being invested by the state itself rather than maintaining a check and balance of keeping funds with private banks.

The fourteen new windmills produce enough power for all the homes in Ka`u. Photo by Julia Neal

OLD WINDMILLS ARE EXPECTED TO COME DOWN soon, perhaps within a couple of months, according to the owner of the 14 new windmills along South Point Road. Steven Pace, CEO of Apollo Energy Corp., which operates the new Pakini Nui Wind Farm owned by Tawhiri Power, LLC, said the new, more efficient windmills could provide enough power for all the homes in Ka`u. He said the new windmills have the potential to deliver nearly double what typical wind farms deliver. Pace said that “other than hydroelectric and geothermal generation, which are essentially limited to the island of Hawai`i, wind energy is one of the few mature electrical generating technologies capable of providing a significant percentage of renewable energy to the state of Hawai`i. Wind turbines don’t need to burn anything, and the potential for wind generation is huge in Hawai`i,” Pace said.
      The old windmills are likely to be sold off for their scrap metal value. Pace said his company is unconnected with the old windmills.

Miconia is one weed BIISC will be
looking for during its survey. Photo
from hawaiiinvasivespecies.org

WEED SURVEYS will be conducted later this month at Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and Hawaiian Ranchos to detect exotic species early to help prevent their spread. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee employees will use binoculars to find flowers, seeds, and leaf patterns to identify the invaders along public rights of way and will contact landowners with the results. Those working on the project will drive vehicles with signs stating “University of Hawai`i Botanical Survey in Progress.” For more information, call 333-0263 or see www.bigislandisc.org.

TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE to sign up for Aloha Friday Boat Day on March 9 at 11 a.m. The nonprofit Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park present the nostalgia and aloha of Hawai`i’s old-time boat days aboard Holland America Line’s m.s. Rotterdam, docked in Hilo Harbor. The event includes a four-course lunch served with wine, music and hula. Tickets are $65 per person, and group rates are available for parties of five or more. Contact Friends at 985-7373 or www.fhvnp.org.

A FREE HOUSE CONCERT with Bolo, the composer and musician who sings and plays the `uketar, `ukulele and slack key guitar, takes place Wednesday at Pahala Plantation House from 6:30 p.m. until pau. Bolo offers original songs, including Bull Kailiawa Coffee Farmer, a tune about the original Ka`u Coffee farmer back in the 1800s and a composition he co-wrote about the mountain Kaiholena. Musician and dancer Sammi Fo will join him. 

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND sponsors a Ka`u Beach Cleanup this Saturday. Volunteers meet at Wai`ohinu Park to carpool to the site. Register with Megan Lamson at 769-7629 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.

VISIT OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.