Ka`u News Briefs Thursday, July 11, 2013

Revolusun representative Mark Duda said that the issue of fairness to non-solar users needs to be studied. Photo from Revolusun

WHO PAYS FOR PAVEMENT, if most people wind up buying electric vehicles, leaving little state and county income from gasoline taxes that goes to building roads and highways? This and other questions are evolving in journalism and among policy makers as Hawai`i develops more energy from non-fossil fuel sources. Both online journal Civil Beat and community organization Life of the Land released facts and commentary on the subject this morning.
      Civil Beat poses the question, “is your solar system driving up costs for the rest of Hawai`i’s electric customers?" Writer Sophie Cocke reports that Hawaiian Electric Co. says that cost is going up for those without solar. “The utility says it’s time to talk about whether solar system owners need to pay the utility more to help cover its operating costs.” The Civil Beat story reports HECO vice president for energy resources and operations, Scott Seu, saying “Today, the costs are not fairly allocated to all customers."

      The article reports the utility concluding that “As more people switch to solar to escape electricity rates that are three times the national average, the rest of HECO’s customers could see their rates go up. That’s because there will be fewer ratepayers left on the grid to cover HECO’s fixed costs.”
      According to the Civil Beat story, “People are opting out of escalating rates,” said Seu. “It is mostly people that can afford to opt out. So you have a situation where the people who are stranded are going to be increasingly burdened with carrying the (utility’s costs).”
      However, Mark Duda, of Honolulu-based RevoluSun, said the situation has to be studied to determine if rates would go up for those depending on the utilities for power, the Civil Beat story says.
      It also reports Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake, who is also a member of HECO’s energy advisory group, saying that changing to solar reduces fuel and transmission costs, which could wind up reducing rates for the rest of customers.
      According to Civil Beat, Moriwake said that “HECO needs to move away from a business model where it generates the power and distributes it over a transmission system it owns. The utility needs to find a way for other power generators — like individual rooftop solar — to fit more easily into the overall energy picture.” Raising fees for solar customers would be a Public Utilities Commission and state Legislature decision, the story points out.
      Life of the Land released a statement this morning saying: “The issue of fairness and of justice is critical and must be dealt with.
      “Picture a highway system where there are a few electric vehicles owners that do not pay for highway upkeep. No problem. Then picture a system where half of the vehicles are electric and only the non-electric vehicle customers are paying for the upkeep of the highways. Fair?? Certainly not !! 

Road repairs are supported by gasoline tax income which would be reduced if people
buy more electric vehicles. Photo from state Department of Transportation

      “Now picture the electric grid. The peak electricity use is from 5-8 p.m. The utility has to have all of its vast generation power available for that time slot. Along come one or two solar customers who add power to the grid during the day and remove it in the evening.
      “Their meter runs backwards when they are giving electricity to the grid and forward when they take electricity from the grid. The two transactions cancel each other out. No problem, right?
      “Now picture 1000s or 10,000s of customers who are decreasing electricity sales by using the grid as a battery. The remaining customers must pay all of the upkeep for the grid. Fair?? Certainly not !!
      “This can be very unfair to those without the economic means to install solar.”
      There are three solutions, states Life of the Land:  Ignore the problem and/or try to take advantage of it; restructure the program to deal with the fairness issue through time of use rates where transfers to the utility of daytime solar is at a lower rate; and removing electricity from the grid in the evening hours is at a higher rate;  and develop a totally new paradigm. See more at www.civilbeat.com and www.lifeofthelandhawaii.org.

GEOGRAPHICALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS AND RANCHERS in Hawai`i can sign up for up to $8,000 each in reimbursements for certain transportation costs. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will issue approximately $1.996 million in fiscal year 2012 payments through a program that assists farmers and producers outside the contiguous United States who paid to transport either an agricultural commodity or an input used to produce an agricultural commodity. The sign-up period for the FY 2013 program begins on July 22. 

Ka`u farmers can receive reimbursements for transporting inputs for growing crops
 and for transportation for exporting the final product. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

       “All farmers and ranchers face challenges but U.S. farmers and ranchers who are not on the mainland have a real competitive disadvantage when it’s time to move their products to market,” Vilsack said. “These payments help them offset some of their increased transportation cost, which not only helps the producers but also benefits consumers who have access to increased varieties of nutritious food for the family table.” 

       Authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill and extended for FY 2013 by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers provides payments intended to offset a portion of the higher costs of transporting agricultural inputs and commodities over long distances. The program assists farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau. Producers in Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are also eligible to participate in the program.

       Reimbursement of Transportation Costs Payment Program benefits are calculated based on the costs incurred by the producer for transportation of the agricultural commodity or inputs during a fiscal year, subject to an $8,000 per producer cap. Payments to geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers for FY 2012 began June 28; however, because total claims exceeded available funding, a payment factor of 0.7662762 was applied to program payments for all applicants.
      Farm Service Agency’s Hawai`i and the Pacific Basin State Executive Director, Diane Ley noted, “In FY 2012, there were 362 producers in the region that chose to participate, with payments totaling $797,821.92. Producers are encouraged to save their business receipts as signup for FY 2013 will begin on July 22, 2013, and end on Sept. 9.”
      For benefits, applicants must file their RTCP application Form FSA-218, in their administrative county FSA office no later than Sept. 9. An electronic version of Form FSA-218 can be found by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov and clicking on the “Forms” tab at the top of the web page. Applicants will have until Nov. 4 to provide supporting documentation of actual costs of transporting agricultural inputs and commodities in Fiscal Year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 – Sept. 30, 2013) to the FSA county office.
      For more information on the RTCP program, farmers and ranchers in eligible areas can call their local FSA county office or go online at www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport or view the 2013 RTCP Fact Sheet at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/rtcp_2013.pdf. 

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is live theater this weekend Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. from July 12 through 28. The venue is Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. KEDEN is the sponsor and tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Paradise Plants, The Most Irresistible Shop and by calling 982-7344. Prices are $15 general, $12 students/seniors and $10 children.

BEFORE THE PLAY, Beauty and the Beast, a casual dinner is served at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371

SATURDAY’S COASTAL CLEANUP at `Onikinalu Bay near Green Sands Beach is still open for volunteers. Contact coordinator Megan Lamson, of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629. 

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM ANDKAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Results of Ka`u Roping & Riding Association's Fourth of July Rodeo are in. Photo by Julia Neal

“A BILL AIMED AT CURBING THE INVASIVE ALBIZIA tree in East Hawai`i has residents of other areas worrying about an overreaching county government that could clear occupied lots of unpopular plants and bill the owners, placing a lien against their property if they don’t pay,” reports a story in this morning’s West Hawai`i Today by Nancy Cook Lauer. 

      “The county already has a similar ordinance for refuse and undergrowth on unoccupied lots. Bill 64 would add unsafe flora to the list and extend removal to occupied lots. It also lets an adjacent property owner make the initial complaint to the mayor, rather than a majority of adults in a 500-foot radius of the offending property, as is current county code.”

      The West Hawai`i Today story reports that the Hawai`i County Council’s Environmental Management Committee delayed passing the bill yesterday, in order to add amendments to reduce its impact.

Albizia trees tower over young coffee trees in Moa`ula.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

      Testifying from Ocean View, Gil Robinson warned that the bill could be “opening a can of worms.” According to West Hawai`i Today, he said that “feuding neighbors could engage the county. I just would rather have these issues stay a civil court matter.”
      Cook Lauer noted that Ka`u state Sen. Russell Ruderman wrote a successful resolution in the 2013 Legislature that directs the state Invasive Species Council to work with multiple agencies to eradicate albizia. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee also supports the proposed county law that would allow government to clear the unwanted vegetation.
      According to the West Hawai`i Today report, “South Kona/Ka`u Councilwoman Brenda Ford recounted a recent uproar in her district when the state Department of Transportation started cutting jacaranda trees along Napo`opo`o Road. She said she’s not familiar with albizia trees, but she dislikes them already.”
      Ford said she is concerned, however, about the impact of the legislation on the county budget, should the county have no way to collect money from property owners where trees have been cut without foreclosing on the properties, the story reports.

      See more at westhawaiitoday.com.

VETOING BILLS was on Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s agenda recently, striking down House Bill 654, which would have included members of professional health organizations on the Center of Nursing Advisory Board. He vetoed HB 763, which would have changed the composition and quorum of the Hawai`i State Building Code Council and revised the state Building Code. Abercrombie also vetoed HB 988, which would have amended the Environmental Response Revolving Fund to include funding for a standby operations center for oil or fuel disasters.
      The total of bills signed into law from the 2013 Legislature is 269. “We will look back at 2013 as the year that launched truly transformative measures that will have lasting positive impacts on the future of our state,” said the governor.

Young paniolo learn the ropes at Na`alehu Rodeo Arena.
Photo by Julia Neal

THE ANNUAL FOURTH OF JULY RODEO at Na`alehu Arena drew hundreds of paniolo and other enthusiasts to the two-day event sponsored by Ka`u Roping & Riding Association. Rodeo Queen was Jacie Umemoto, and princess was Aysha Kaupu. Here are the results for the competition held July 6 and 7:

     Open Dally Team Roping - First: Boots Kaapana and Gilbert Smith; Second: Danny Joseph and Mike Smith; Third: Travis Gomes and Chris Awa; Fourth: David Joseph and Danny Joseph; 

     Kane Wahine - First: Brandy Gomes and Joshua Gomes; Second: Brian Dimattos and Cookie Kawamoto; Third: Cienna Joseph and Westin Joseph;

Jaycie Pakele, daughter of Valerie and Michael Pakele, of
Pahala, was rodeo queen. She is eight years old and will be
attending third grade this fall.

     Team 90s - First: Cookie Kawamoto and David Joseph; Second: David Joseph and Bob Hamilton; 

     Double Mugging - First: Billy Benevides and Dayson Perreria; Second: Boots Kaapana and Kawehe Garo; Third: Troy Mandoloniz and Danny Joseph; 

     Ribbon Mugging - First: Billy Benevides and Kepa Benevides; Second: Evan Manoa and Boots Kaapana; Third: Troy Mandaloniz and Boots Kaapana; 

     Wahine Mugging - First: Raisha Karratti and Cheyenne Fuerte; Shannon Carmichael and Makayla Awa; Third: Chelsey Fuerte and Nysa Kaniho;

     Rescue Race - First: AJ Midallia and Hoku Aiwohi; 

     Po`i Wai U - First: Billy Benevides; 

     Tie Down Roping - First: Evan Manoa; 

     Wahine Barrels - First: Cheyenne Fuerte; Second: Tanyalee Castillo; Third: Kamaluhia Garcia; 

     Youth Barrels - First: Trisyn Kalawaia; Second: Khevain Nobriga, Third: Lenaia Andrade; 

     Senior Dummy Roping - First: Mac Castillo; 

     Dummy Roping Ages Four and Under - First: Kolh Pascual;

     Five to eight in Dummy Roping - First: Cash Prettyman; Second: Derick Souza; Third: Chance Miranda;

Ka`u Roping and Riding held a successful Fourth of July Rodeo last weekend.
Photo by Julia Neal

    Goat Undecorating Ages Four and Under- First: Kolh Pascual; Second Teani Souza; 

     Goat Undecorating Ages Five to Eight  - First: Jamin Medeiros; Second: Khevain Medeiros; Third: Clancy Aku; 

     Mutton Busting - First: Laakea Ke; Second: Nicolai Makuakane; 

     Junior Bulls - First: Trisyn Kalawaia;
     Anyone wanting to help sponsor rodeos in Na`alehu so the organizers can provide winning buckles and other awards can contact Tammy Kaapana at 929-8079 or 854-7917.

Jeffrey Ono

HAWAI`I STATE CONSUMER ADVOCATE asks for clarification of several points in Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility above Pahala. 

     According to the Consumer Advocate, the company indicated a final fuel forecast would be prepared after the Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Final Release is issued. The full AEO 2013 report was released in April 2013.
     The Consumer Advocate asks the utilities to provide the final forecast and to clarify which forecast is referred to in the companies’ rebuttal testimony. If not already discussed elsewhere, please discuss whether the companies have refreshed any of their analyses previously provided in the proceeding as a result of the Final Release. If so, please provide a copy of each of those updated schedules, workpapers, and/or calculations.
     Regarding the utilities’ statement that the proposed contract “represents the lowest cost biodiesel available today,” the Consumer Advocate asks for a copy of the analysis that supports this statement. “If not already provided, please provide a copy of market data for Hawai`i and the nation that identifies the actual price of comparable biodiesel over the last 12 months as well as forecasted prices over the life of the proposed contract. If a forecast over the life of the proposed contract is not available, please provide a copy of the forecasts for comparable diesel for at least the next five years.”

     “The companies indicate that the proposed contract is consistent with HELCO’s third major integrated resource plan,” The Consumer Advocate states. “On June 28, 2013, the companies released their most recent integrated resource plan. Please update the companies’ assessment of whether the proposed contract is consistent with its most recent integrated resource preferred plan. 

     “In HELCO’s most recent integrated resource preferred plan, it appears that HELCO will be repowering the Waiau hydro plant to increase the capacity, entering a power purchase agreement for a new 25 MW geothermal, and deploying demand response programs. Please provide an updated analysis that demonstrates that, if the proposed contract is approved and HELCO is able to implement its preferred integrated resource plan on a timely basis, HELCO will be able to consume the entire volume of biodiesel expected to be produced by AKP.”
     See more in future Ka`u News Briefs.
     This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

KDEN PRESENTS DISNEY’S THEATRICAL PRODUCTION Beauty and the Beast at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from July 12 to July 28. Tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods, Paradise Plants, The Most Irresistible Shop and by calling 982-7344. Prices are $15 general, $12 students/seniors and $10 children. 

BEFORE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, casual dinner is served at Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371

VOLUNTEERS ARE INVITED TO SIGN UP for Saturday’s Ka`u Coast Cleanup at `Onikinalu Bay near Green Sands Beach. Contact coordinator Megan Lamson, of Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or 769-7629.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.

Ka`u News Briefs Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Pepe Miranda with Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative members on July 4 at Lorie Obra's Moa`ula Farm, training to
hold back the coffee berry borer. Photo by Ralph Gaston

KA`U FARMERS AND BACKYARD COFFEE GROWERS are able to receive benefits of federal and state grant assistance to help hold back the coffee berry borer pest that threatens to devastate Ka`u Coffee the way it severely damaged Kona Coffee. Pepe Miranda, who runs the program operated by Synergistic Hawai`i Agricultural Council, said that a person with even one coffee tree can qualify for help in identifying and quantifying the pests as well as application of a fungus that kills the coffee berry borer. 

      Miranda said the goal is to exterminate the coffee berry borer on all lands in Ka`u, even abandoned coffee farms, which could become breeding grounds for the tiny beetles that could infest the working farms.

Help is available to anyone fighting the coffee berry borer.

      Miranda has trained and provided assistance since December. He said the help includes providing the Beauveria bassiana fungus in the form of Botanigard, as well as Wide Spread, a soapy chemical that helps spread the fungus on the coffee tree. The amount of Botanigard distributed to farmers is one quart per 800 trees or a fraction of that amount. Coffee tree owners are encouraged to adopt an Integrated pest Management Program that involves counting any affected coffee cherries and keeping good records that can be used to analyze progress in fighting the borers.
      On July 4, Miranda came to Ka`u to work with the Ka`u Coffee Growers and Palehua Cooperatives at Pear Tree and Moa`ula coffee farms. He said that income of each grower is not involved in qualifying for the Botaniguard. Coffee tree owners do not have to be members of a cooperative to qualify. Miranda said the goal of the grant is education, mitigation, prevention and compiling a database.
      To sign up, call Rod Yonemura, of Synergistic Hawai`i Agriculture Council, at 345-4217 or Miranda at 443-7100.
      Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill in late June to provide $250,000 a year over two years to the state Department of Agriculture for research and another $300,000 to control and mitigate the coffee berry borer.

Sen. David Ige

STATE SEN. DAVID IGE HAS ANNOUNCED his candidacy for governor of Hawai`i, according to a report on KITV this morning. He is challenging fellow Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie. 

      “The citizens of Hawai`i continue to face serious issues,” Ige said. “We need to strengthen and diversify our economy, improve education, and re-engineer government to better serve the people. It is time for real and enduring solutions to ensure that we are taking the right steps to create opportunities for our children and future generations, but government cannot do this alone. It takes people who are committed and engaged, and a leader who listens and works together to find solutions. Throughout my career in the Legislature, I worked in this way, bringing people together to identify common goals, find solutions, and build trust in our government. As governor of the state of Hawai`i, I will work with our communities in that same way to move our state forward.”

LIFE OF THE LAND HAS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS regarding Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility above Pahala.

      Life of the Land questions HECO about the proposal for O`ahu electric rates to go up to pay for the biofuel produced and used on Hawai`i Island.
      “HECO has asked the Commission for a Waiver from Competitive Bidding to negotiate five wind and solar contracts for on-island renewable energy projects,” Life of the Land states. “Under Protective Order, please identify the projects and their parameters.
      “Please provide detailed cost analysis of these five projects in comparison with the costs proposed for the `Aina Koa Pono proposal.
      “Is there sufficient renewable energy resources on O`ahu so that HECO can meet its renewable energy requirements on its own?
      “Please provide all documentation, analysis, etc., on why HECO ratepayers should pay a premium for the `Aina Koa Pono proposal when they can save money on the five waiver projects.

      “If the cheapest renewable energy resources are on O`ahu, wouldn’t it make sense to only install new renewable energy projects on O`ahu and to allow all islands to share in those reduced prices?
      “A HECO employee was quoted in Civil Beat as saying that the five waiver projects should put downward pressure on other renewable energy developers. Does this include any current proposals before the PUC?”

      Regarding possible Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements, Life of the Land says, “As you know, the chair of the Commission, in a previous life re: Superferry, noted that any EIS had to precede all permit approval, and that obviously includes the Commission. Are you stating that if the State Department of Transportation determines there is a need for an EIS, then the preparation of the EIS should occur after a Commission ruling on the reasonableness of the Project?”
      Regarding HECO’s statement that assessment of possible positive or negative impacts of the AKP project “is more appropriately addressed in the Project permitting process or in an EIS or EA process if so required, Life of the Land asks, “When did the company change its position from analyzing externalities in an IRP docket prior to an Application to waiting until the permitting process after the Application has been approved by the Commission?”
      See more in upcoming Ka`u News Briefs.
      This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED for free or reduced-price school meals during the upcoming school year.
      An online application is available at ezmealapp.com.
      DOE is also sending application forms to all parents and guardians, who can fill them out and return them to schools where their children are enrolled.
      The Department of Education has revised income eligibility levels for the program.
      School begins Monday, Aug. 5.

Ocean View Community Center offers videoconferencing of tomorrow's
County Council meeting.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. On the agenda are Mayor Billy Kenoi’s appointments of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd as director of Environmental Management and Duane Kanuha as director of Planning. 

      Ka`u residents can participate and provide testimony at Ocean View Community Center’s videoconferencing site.

      Agenda is available at hawaiicounty.gov.

A STAFF MEMBER FROM U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office meets with constituents and assists with casework and other issues tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Pahala Public & School Library. The Tulsi in Your Town program takes place in Pahala on the second Wednesday of each month. Call 987-5698 for more information.

Joe Iacuzzo, here with Samson, a tyrannosaurus rex fossil, brings Jurassic
Park to Na`alehu Public Library tomorrow. Photo from Joe Iacuzzo

THE DOCUMENTARY FILM SECRETS OF THE DINOSAUR MUMMY screens tomorrow at noon at Na`alehu Public Library. After the film, Joe Iacuzzo discusses his latest book, Last Day of the Dinosaur Mummy, at 1 p.m. For more information, call 939-2442. 

TICKETS ARE ON SALE FOR PUNA CHICKS. “Puna Princess” Sherri Carden, “Puna Tita” Angie Libadisos and Tanya Anne, VAC’s Chief Entertainment Officer, present the night of comedy Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.