Ka`u News Briefs March 23, 2012

Ash covered Ka`u during a volcanic eruption 222 years ago, as shown along the Footprints Trail between Pahala and
Volcano. Photo from Hawaiian Volcanoes Field Course/National Science Foundation.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to submit comments on the Ka`u Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment and  County Councilmember Brittany Smart has weighed in. She expressed support, saying, “It is a much needed component of our island’s disaster response infrastructure,” but pointed to several issues.  Smart asked the design and engineering company PBR Hawai`i to clarify in its Final EA that Ka`u Hospital is not available to the general public as a disaster shelter. “To imply that the ‘vog hardened’ and retrofitted Ka`u Hospital would be available during a vog incident is inadequate,” she said. 

      Smart asks PBR Hawai`i to thoroughly discuss and explain the process used to determine total capacity of the disaster and vog shelters. “The maximum number of residents able to receive shelter on bad vog days is inadequate, especially when taking into account the total population of Pahala while school is in session,” she said.
      Regarding the claim in the draft EA that “Civil Defense is comfortable with the present design capacity for 120 persons,” Smart said the final EA “should provide an elaboration of the basis for this number and documentation that it is Civil Defense’s position. As stated earlier in these comments, we strongly believe this number is inadequate and will be considered a serious defect of this proposal until appropriately addressed.”

Vog from Kilauea Volcano has triggered many vog
alerts since 2008. Photo by Julia Neal

      Smart said the Final EA should also discuss in greater detail explosive volcanic eruptions with accompanying venting of large amounts of toxic gasses, in addition to tephra. “These rare events could trigger the use of this emergency shelter, even if Pahala itself is not directly impacted,” she said. “Please include a thorough review of the 1790 ash fall disaster which killed a group of traveling Hawaiians” in the Ka`u desert.
      Smart also suggests that the final EA should discuss the need for disaster emergency managers to have a triage plan to determine “who gets sheltered and who gets turned away when shelter capacity is exceeded.”
      “We support using high efficiency LED lighting where possible,” Smart said. “Reduced light pollution by providing shields and reflectors on exterior light fixtures is desired.”
      She also supports the inclusion of solar panels to offset energy costs.

COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Bradley Westervelt also weighed in on the shelter gym. “It has repeatedly come to my attention that the state finds it difficult or impossible to meet FEMA standards for emergency shelters. Stepping back from such requirements is fiscally wise and will allow design that best harmonizes with the unique conditions and needs of our island communities.”
      He urges the county and designers Mitsunaga & Associates “to design and build the Ka`u Gym and Shelter in such a manner to make it secure enough for short-term effective sheltering against the toxicity of heavy vog and ash fallout.” However, he contends, “It need not have expensive HEPA filtering or other AC kind of systems, because it is reasonable to expect in the event of a major disaster that evacuation of the region will be the first priority. Plan for it to be a practical, multi-purpose shelter.” He also said that the “open plaza design is a most welcome direction, and I hope it is pursued.”

COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT EA for the Ka`u shelter and gym can be made today. It is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments 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.

CAREN LOEBEL-FRIED demonstrates her linoleum block print process and signs prints and copies of Legend of the Gourd, her latest book about a story set in Ka`u, at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

NA`ALEHU MAIN STREET presents its original murder mystery play, The Hurricane, tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check made out to Hawai`i Island Food Basket, with a notation in the top left corner stating Ocean View Pantry 551, for the same amount. For more information, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.

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

Ka`u News Briefs March 22, 2012

Ka`u High's robotics students will compete in the Rebound Rumble on O`ahu beginning today. Photo from FIRST

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL’S ROBOTICS TEAM headed by Leilani Desmond competes today through Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center at University of Hawai`i-Manoa. Ka`u and six other Big Island high schools are represented. The competition is called the Rebound Rumble and is staged on a carpeted mini court where robots attempt to put as many basketballs in a hoop as possible. The robots can be no larger then 28 by 30 inches and extend to a maximum of five feet tall. Some of the robots have a long arm that can dunk the ball and others can shoot the ball. The competition, called the Hawai`i Regional Robotics Competition, is sponsored by an organization called For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. 

Ka`u High students made this robot for the
competition. Photo from Steve Stephenson

      The FIRST organization, founded by inventor Dean Kamen in 1989, also created the First Lego League, Junior First Lego League and First Tech Challenge Competitions. It also hosts camps and other educational programs to promote teamwork, collaboration, respect toward one’s competitors and integrity in one’s actions. The students learn to work as engineers. Ka`u High science and chemistry teacher Theodore Brattstrom is faculty.

MORE RECYCLABLE ITEMS would be eligible for money under a pilot program that is being debated in the County Council. Schools, churches and nonprofits would be able to earn money by setting up a drop off place for a broader range of recyclables and taking them to a recycler to retrieve money. The measure would allow a pilot program operated simultaneously with the current recycling program at county transfer stations. The measure requests the county administration to provide money for recyclables not covered by the HI-5 program. Metal, cardboard, glass and plastic would draw five cents a pound. Council chair Dominic Yagong said he imagines recycling centers set up at schools, churches and other nonprofit locations. Ka`u Councilmember Brittany Smart said that with increased incentives, not recycling would be “like burning money.” South Kona Council member Brenda Ford said that people would have to understand that they would not individually receive money for turning in recyclables. It would be like donating money to the church, school or other nonprofit. The goal, said Yagong, it to divert more waste out of landfills.

THE COUNTY COULD HAVE AN ELECTED attorney, just like the prosecuting attorney, if another measure by Yagong is approved in a Charter Amendment. The Council’s Governmental Relations Committee is discussing whether to propose a found year term, like the prosecutor’s, or a six year term, as proposed by J Yoshimoto. The corporate council serves the County Council, departments and the mayor.

A BRUSH FIRE in the old mill yard near KAHU Radio Station in Pahala yesterday was extinguished after Mona Chow and Dean Nagasako, an announcer on the radio, reported it to the Fire Department.

COMMENTS ON THE KA`U DISTRICT Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment are due tomorrow. The draft environment assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments 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.

KA`U HIGH’S VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM welcomed Kea`au yesterday afternoon at Pahala Ballpark. Kihei Serrao hit a three-run homerun, while teammate Mark Cuison brought in a triple. Although Ka`u led 4-2 at the end of the first inning, Kea`au eventually won the game, 9-4. Pitching for the Trojans was Anthony Emmsley-Ah Yee.

Donald Garo, Jr. fakes a spike at last night's winning Ka`u
High School volleyball game. Photo by  Nalani Parlin

KA`U HIGH BOYS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL took down Konawaena last night on home turf. The Trojans were on fire, scoring 19 points in the first set within the first ten minutes of the game. They zipped through the first two sets, winning 25-10 and 25-12. Konawaena put up a fight in the last set, managing to tie the Trojans at 21 points. However, the Trojans inched ahead to win 25-23. Support the Trojans as they host St. Joseph on Friday and Laupahoehoe on Saturday. Both games start at 6 p.m.

COACHING positions are now open for Ka`u High fall sports. Applications for football head coach and cross-country head coach can be picked up at the school office. Deadline is March 30.

CAREN LOEBEL-FRIED demonstrates her linoleum block print process and signs prints and copies of Legend of the Gourd, her latest book about a story set in Ka`u, at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

NA`ALEHU MAIN STREET presents The Hurricane on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. The performance of this original three-act murder mystery benefits the Food Pantry. Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check made out to Hawaiian Island Food Basket, with a notation in the TOP LEFT corner stating Ocean View Pantry 551, for the same amount. For more information, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com. 

ONE MORE DAY TO COUNT WHALES for the National Marine Sanctuary this year. It will take place on the Ka`u Coast and inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Saturday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Volunteers count and record whale behavior. Register at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org. See http://hawaiihumpackwhale.noaa.gov. T-shirts for the 2012 Sanctuary Ocean Count are also available.

SEE OUR SPONSORS AT WWW.PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGS.COM AND WWW.KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.

Ka'u News Briefs March 21, 2012

Years ago, Derek Kurisu began promoting locally produced foods with television, print and visiting Ka`u and other schools.
Photo from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture

DEREK KURISU, who started the Mountain Apple Brand label for locally grown foods, has been appointed to the Agribusiness Development Corp. ADC is the quasi government agency considered important for restoring old plantation water systems for the future of agriculture in Ka`u. Kurisu has been a commencement speaker at Ka`u High and brings his flare for cooking with local ingredients to the campus for presentations. He produces cable TV shows Living in Paradise and Seniors Living in Paradise. Kurisu is Vice President of Purchasing and Executive Vice President of Perishable Operations at KTA Super Stores. He has worked at KTA for 44 years.

      Gov. Neil Abercrombie also submitted the name of Letitia Uyehara for reappointment to an at-large seat on the ADC. She is director of marketing and special programs at Armstrong Produce, Ltd., following 30 years with the state where she was Deputy Director of Agriculture and Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control.
      The governor also appointed developer Patrick Kobayashi for the Honolulu seat on the Agricultural Development Corp. He is President and CEO of Kobayashi Group, LLC, and worked for the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C.

THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE could see two new members appointed by the governor. Glenn Hong is President of Hawaiian Tug & Barge Corp. and Young Brothers, Ltd. He is completing his third year as Board of Governors Chair of the Hawai`i Employers Council. Lynn DeCoite is appointed to the Maui County seat. She is owner and manager of a sweet potato farm, L&R Farm Ent., LLC, and V-8 Ranch in Ho`olehua. Ka`u has a representative on the Board of Agriculture, rancher Michelle Galimba. All of the appointments require confirmation by the state Senate.

INVEST IN AMERICA would provide new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs, says Rep. Dan Akaka. After opposition from such groups as AARP, the AFLCIO and some investment groups, he co-sponsored an amendment to the Act before congress. He said his amendment would “help capital in a way that protects investors, provides financing so businesses can expand and hire more workers, and encourages U.S. companies to export and compete in a global marketplace.”

     Akaka said it would “ensure banks and other large companies, with lots of shareholders, are subject to basic transparency, integrity, and accountability protections; and reauthorize the Export-Import bank, which provides crucial funding to American businesses and supports almost 300,000 jobs yearly.”

      “In order to keep our nation on the path to economic recovery,” declared Akaka, “we must help small businesses access capital and reduce barriers for start-ups. However, we should not do so at the price of consumer safety or market integrity. We must be very careful to do all we can to promote robust capital investment, and at the same time, ensure investor protections are securely in place.”

COMMENTS ON THE KA`U DISTRICT Gym & Shelter Draft Environmental Assessment are due Friday. The Draft Environment Assessment is available at Pahala and Na`alehu Public Libraries and online at hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html. Comments 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.

Waipio, First Light. Robert Frutos offers a class in Volcano Saturday.  
Photo by Robert Frutos

WATCH FOR THE HURRICANE this weekend. The original three-act murder mystery is set for this Saturday, 4 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center; doors open at 3:30 p.m. The performance benefits the Food Pantry. Attendees are asked to bring canned food equivalent to $10 or a check to Hawaiian Food Pantry for the same amount. For more information, call 929-7236 or email marge@hawaii.rr.com.

DEMYSTIFY YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA, a class offered through Volcano Art Center by Photographer Robert Frutos, is scheduled for this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Frutos will show participants how their cameras work and teaches how to optimize ones’ camera depending on the specific need. All are welcome; participation fees are $68 for VAC members and $75 for others. Call 967-8222.