Ka`u News Briefs March 25, 2012

Some Punalu`u condos are rented by out-of-state owners. Photo from Expedia

MAKING OUT-OF-STATE OWNERS of vacation rentals contract with a realtor or broker in order to rent them out is a bill still alive at the Hawai`i Legislature. It has drawn the ire of many owners, who claim they pay transient accommodations and general excise taxes to the state and should not be forced to give part of their income to a realtor. Realtors are claiming they can help the state better secure the taxes.
      The bill to require out-of-state owners to hire agents was all but dead until last week when it bolted back to life in the Senate Tourism Committee. The original bill to require agent involvement was initiated by Sen. Josh Green, set to become Ka`u’s senator from Kona to Honu`apo if he wins the next election. In the Senate Tourism Committee, only Sam Slom and Gil Kahele voted with reservations to let the bill move forward for further discussion. The rest of the committee voted for it, without reservations.
      A website has been launched to oppose the bill by a group called Rental By Owner Awareness Association. See http://rboaa.org.
      See a story on this issue at www.civilbeat.com.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES that indirectly support candidates without giving them money cannot be limited by the Hawai`i Campaign Spending Commission in the amount of contributions they receive, a federal judge ruled last week in Honolulu. According to a Civil Beat story, U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright “made permanent a preliminary injunction he imposed in 2010, ruling that limiting contributions to independent-expenditure-only committees was unconstitutional.” 

      Civil Beat reported that Campaign Spending Commission general counsel Gary Kam predicted the ruling will stand. “The commission has since begun to track independent-expenditure-only committees to better monitor contributions and expenses” wrote Civil Beat reporter Nanea Kalani. The Political Action Groups are legally known as “independent-expenditure-only committees.” The five that have registered in Hawai`i as of March 20 are: A Better Hawai`i PAC, Hawai`i Solutions, Kaua`i Women’s Caucus, MADPAC and Save Paradise.

      Civil Beat reports that A Better Hawai`i is led by Christopher Racine, who gave the maximum allowed donations to the Neil Abercrombie and Brian Schatz gubernatorial campaigns. Save Paradise is led by Steven Sue, whose company built the Ben Cayetano campaign website for his bid to become Honolulu’s next mayor. Both PACs list the same treasurer. MADPAC Hawai`i also supports Cayetano, Civil Beat reports.
      According to Civil Beat, “These groups can support or attack candidates through advertising, mailings and other means so long as they operate independently of the candidate. They can accept unlimited contributions and spend unlimited amounts. Groups cannot qualify if they make any direct contributions to candidates.” See more at www.civilbeat.com.

Sen. Gil Kahele (right), next to Alan Wong, establishing the bee sanctuary. Photos from UH-Hilo

SEN. GIL KAHELE AND CHEF ALAN WONG celebrated the campaign to save honeybees on Friday as the state Legislature honored Wong with a resolution for his Adopt a Beehive program. The program is operated by University of Hawai`i-Hilo and gives participants the opportunity to sponsor beehive care at the campus. The program was prompted by the rapid decrease of bee populations in nature and on farms, creating concern about the future of food for wildlife and humans.

Beekeepers at UH-Hilo

      Says Wong, “Bees are responsible for 90 percent of the world’s food supply whether directly pollinating fruits and vegetables or indirectly pollinating something cattle might eat.” Wong quoted Albert Einstein: “If the bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, we have seven years to live. That's how important they are.”
      Kahele said that “without the honeybee here - just imagine that - if they stopped, bzzzz, you know, pollinating a lot of the vegetables the farmers would be in deep hurt.”
      Wong said the U.H. program brings awareness and education to the community to help reverse the trend because “the bees are disappearing.” See the Adopt A Beehive program at http://www.uhfoundation.org/donor_resources/giving_opportunities/adopt_a_beehive_gallery.aspx.

THE 4.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE that hit Honomu, north of Hilo, yesterday at 10:47 a.m. was felt throughout Ka`u and all the way to Maui and O`ahu. The same area was rocked with a 6.2 quake that left $5.6 million in damages and more than 15 injured people in 1973. Yesterday’s quake, however, left no reported damage or injuries.

Transportation is offered for vets' medical appointments.

THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS Kona Chapter Seven offers transportation for veterans from the south side of the Big Island to and from their VA scheduled medical appointments. The vehicle runs daily and picks up passengers at homes at any location from Na`alehu and South Point to Honaunau and return. Three days notice before the appointment is required, and appointments should be scheduled in the morning if possible. For rides, call 756-1350 and leave a message. 

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ranger John Stallman discusses the natural history and conservation of Hawai`i’s ancient native palms at After Dark in the Park on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. $2 donations support park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

MEMBERS OF `AHA PUHALA O PUNA teach participants how to weave lauhala bracelets from the lau (leaves) of the hala (pandanus) tree on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon on the lanai of Kilauea Visitor Center in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The event is free, and park entrance fees apply.

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

Ka`u News Briefs March 24, 2012

Miloli`i Halau will be one of two gathering places when the new Community Enrichment & Historical Center is built.
Photo by Kai`ali`i Kahele

THE FUTURE OF KAWA, which has been purchased by the county, is drawing interest from some County Council members in regards to Abel Simeona Lui and the other people who live there. According to a Stephens Media article by Nancy Cook Lauer yesterday, County Council chair Dominic Yagong has written a letter to Mayor Billy Kenoi, saying that “members of the public have asked me to question you as to what action you will be taking” regarding a recent court order that would allow eviction of people living at Kawa. 

      Kenoi addressed the public in Na`alehu last Monday, asking for patience, and said that when the mayor was growing up and seeing people evicted from Sand Island and other places around the state, he always hoped he would never be in a position to wield power to carry out evictions.
      During his talk story meeting, Kenoi listened to Hawaiians with ties to Kawa who said they are afraid to go there and feel intimidated by the people living there. Kenoi said he wants to settle the situation “one time,” with a community-based management plan run by Ka`u families. He said he could carry out evictions, but that could lead to $25 fines and people returning to live at Kawa time after time.  Several residents said that Kawa should be managed by the public now, and the mayor promised it will be settled soon.
      Opinions of Council members Brittany Smart and Brenda Ford were quoted in the Stephens Media story, with Ford referring to the court decision that would allow the county to evict  Lui and other Kawa dwellers: “The county has legally acquired the property, and we hold clear title. It’s the mayor’s responsibility to enforce the ruling of the court.”
      The story quotes Smart staffer Nelson Ho saying that Smart understands the Ka`u community is deeply divided over what should be done at Kawa and that any management plan must be publicly transparent and set timelines for actions.

Classes in Hawaiian fishing traditions are planned.
Photo by Kai`ali`i Kahele 

A MILOLI`I COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT & HISTORICAL CENTER is planned for property near the ocean. The Draft Environmental Assessment has been posted on the website of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. The EA describes the multi-purpose community center as three structures totaling 4,800 square feet to be built on state land. “The project purpose is to address the community’s long-recognized need for a covered community center and gathering space for public meetings, activities and educational and recreation programs,” the EA states. The center will be funded by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Plans call for a historical center/library, kitchen, classroom and 2,000-square-foot covered lana`i. It will be managed by Pa`a Pono O Miloli`i, which has been hosting such programs as creation of a marine managed area, community-based marine management and fishing education programs, Miloli`i Makai watch, the Opelu Project and the Miloli`i Lawai`a `Ohana Fishing Camp at Ho`opuloa Beach.

Ka`u Hospital administrator Merilyn Harris, Ka`u Hospital Charitable
Foundation member Naomi Yoshida, Red Hat Ladies president Barbara
Beatty and Foundation president Bradley Westervelt. 

GOLFERS, QUILTERS & THE RED HAT LADIES have come up with more than $18,000 for Ka`u Hospital in recent fundraising events. Checks were presented yesterday at the hospital for money raised from a golf tournament, spaghetti dinner, a silent auction and dinner, bake and craft sale at Punalu`u, and a weekend rummage sale.

KA`U COFFEE FESTIVAL has expanded to include two weekends of events in May. The main event, the Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center, will be on Saturday, May 12 with a full day of The Coffee Experience inside Pahala Community Center and entertainment with headliners including Cyril Pahinui. Also playing will be Keoki and Moses Kahumoku, Keaiwa, Bruddah Waltah and Sammi Fo. Hula halau will entertain. On the grounds will be educational and vendor booths with Ka`u Coffee, foods and crafts for sale.

LEAD-UP EVENTS to the Ka`u Coffee Festival begin on Saturday, May 5 at 5 p.m. with the Ka`u Farmers’ Table: A Feast for the Senses hosted by Kalaekilohana Bed and Breakfast on South Point Road. The event features an evening of music with Robert Cazimero and a paired five-course gourmet meal from executive chef Morgan Starr of Mi’s Italian Bistro. A Ka`u Coffee dessert bar complements the feast. Tickets are $100 in advance. The event is sponsored by Mi’s Wine and Cheese Shop, Hana Hou Restaurant and Kalaekilohana. For information and tickets, contact Kalaekilohana at 939-8052.

Brandy Shibuya won Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawai`i
and heads for Miss Hawai`i where the Miss America
contestant will be chosen. Photo from Miss Hawai`i

A KA`U COFFEE RECIPE CONTEST for cookies, candies and crackers will be held Sunday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Chef Brad Hirata and other culinary experts will blind judge the professional, amateur and student entries. Grand prize is $500, and entrants earn a chance for their recipes to become a signature food of Ka`u Coffee Mill. The public is invited to visit the new mill and visitor center and for Ka`u Coffee tasting. The event is co-sponsored by Pahala Plantation Cottages, OK Farms and Edmund C. Olson Trust. Rules for the competition will soon be available at www.kaucoffeefest.com and www.kaucoffeemill.com. Call 928-0550 or 928-9811.

BRANDY SHIBUYA, who won the Miss Ka`u Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawai`i titles, recently assisted Sam Choy with the annual poke contest at the Sheraton Keauhou Beach Hotel. Jayson Kanekoa of Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa took first in traditional, spice and cooked categories. Kevin Lanning, of Island Thyme Gourmet, won the soy sauce category. Shibuya will compete in the Miss Hawai`i pageant in Honolulu. 

THE HURRICANE TAKES PLACE today at 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. Attendees to the murder mystery play 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.

THE FINAL WHALE COUNT for 2012 is next Saturday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Volunteers count and record whale behavior on the Ka`u Coast and inside Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Register at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org. See http://hawaiihumpackwhale.noaa.gov. T-shirts for the 2012 Sanctuary Ocean Count are also available.

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

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.