Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, March 25, 2022

John Benner, a 23 year old plant researcher at Volcano, won the half marathon in the ‘Ōhi’a Lehua Runs
in 2021 during the Experience Volcano Hawai'i Festival. The events return on July 30. Photo by Mikey Brown

VOLCANO RUNS ARE BACK. Volcano’s ‘Ōhi’a Lehua Runs return for a third year in Volcano Village on Saturday, July 30, with a half marathon and 5k. The half-marathon will begin at 7 a.m. at The Volcano

‘Ōhi’a Lehua Runs help raise money to
study and protect the native trees.
Photo from ‘Ōhi’a Lehua Runs

School of Arts & Sciences campus on Old Volcano Road. The 5K will follow after the half-marathon runners are on their way. The course will take runners from the Volcano School up Wright Road. Road closures may be expected around the start of the event near the Volcano School.
    The Runs are part of Experience Volcano Festival weekend. This year the Festival will take place over two days, July 30 and 31 showcasing local artists, Hawaiian hula, musicians, and more. To register and for more information about this event, visit https://www.ohialehuahalf.com/. E-mail the Race Director with any questions at ohialehuahalf@gmail.com. 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.

SKILLS FOR A GROWING DIGITAL ECONOMY can be learned through the Hawai'i State Library System and State of Hawai'i Workforce Development Council.
    “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased not only our digital economy overall but our reliance on digital technologies to access employment, healthcare, education and other opportunities,” said Rep. Ed Case who helped to secure $975,000 in federal funding. “This means that we must even more rapidly expand training of our Hawai’i workforce in digital economy skills not only to keep pace but to take full advantage of these opportunities."

    Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Library System, offers digital literary training via in-person computer classes and access to online learning resources to help individuals attain computer skills and perform basic activities available online. The "targeted federal funding will allow for substantial expansion of these efforts to get more of our residents into this workplace faster,” said Case.
    Stacey A. Aldrich, Hawaii’s State Librarian, said the funding shows "recognition that a more digitally 
literate population enables Hawai'i to be ready for the challenges and opportunities that the future brings to our world."
    The funding supports expansion of a pilot project created by the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations and Workforce Development Council under leadership of Director Anne Eustacio. The WDC staff partnered with Hawai‘i State Public Library System and University of Hawai'i Community Colleges to deliver over 200 free classes and provide over 200 laptops and/or desktops to participants without devices. With the new funding, residents will have access to free classes in public libraries and community spaces to build digital skills.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.

THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS FROM MAYOR MITCH ROTH on Thursday addressed infrastructure, preservation of special places, food production, recreation for keiki, mass transit, community policing and more. See Part I of his address in Thursday's Kaʻū News Briefs at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_03_24_archive.html
    In Part II of his address, the mayor said, "We are proud to say that we have been an administration that has taken ownership of the outdated and sorely neglected infrastructure that we have inherited and have committed to addressing." He pointed to road and sewage treatment plant repairs, as well as rebuilding infrastructure in Puna where lava took out homes in 2018.
    He said his administration has added 428 projects to the Department of Water Supply pipeline, "with the

understanding that the water is a necessary building block for sustainable communities islandwide and will be critical in our quest to build affordable housing for our residents to thrive and succeed.
    "Aside from our roads, bridges, waste, and water infrastructure, we have committed to long-overdue improvements to our parks and recreational facilities. Over the past year, we have worked to complete ADA projects at Hilo Bayfront, Pana‘ewa Zoo, and Wong Stadium. By the end of this year, we anticipate completing long-awaited maintenance projects at Disappearing Sands and Miloli‘i, as well as continuing work on our active construction projects in Pa‘auilo, Pāpa‘aloa, Kolekole, Kahuku, Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala parks. We have also floated a bond ordinance that will provide us an additional $10 million for various maintenance and repair projects to County Parks. For our keiki to thrive and succeed, we know that they need safe places to play, grow, sharpen their athletic skills, and learn the power of teamwork And we are committed to ensuring that every keiki, regardless of where they live on this island, will have that same opportunity.

    "We are also committed to preserving natural, cultural, and environmental open spaces in perpetuity for generations to come On August 13, 2021, Property Management Division successfully closed escrow for fee simple purchase of the area commonly known as Kapanaiʻa Bay in North Kohala On Oct. 12, 2021, Property Management Division successfully closed escrow for a conservation easement purchase of Kaunamano in Kaʻū And on Dec. 17, 2021, Property Management Division successfully closed escrow for fee simple purchase of Waiʻele in Puna.
   "This is the most PONC purchases made in a single year by any administration in Hawaiʻi County. And that is because we are committed to saving and preserving the spaces that make our island so special.          Moving forward, we are under contract to purchase Conservation Easements of over 642 acres at Mahukona in North Kohala to preserve and protect the Mahukona Navigation and Cultural Complex We are also under contract to co-hold a Conservation Easement over 2,700 acres at Haloa Aina in Kealakekua to restore Sandalwood forest and canopy to the uplands of North Kona Furthermore, we are under contract to purchase in fee 18 acres at Kapanaia Bay to encompass the Kapalama Heiau.
    "And we aren’t stopping there In fact, our administration has worked tirelessly to aggressively go after grants to increase food production on our island so that we have not only conservation land but land that

provides for and feeds the Community – sustainably. That said, in late 2021, we were awarded $500,000 in a phase 1 grant from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration through their Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Hawai'i County’s application was submitted by members of our Research & Development team with a focus on improving the island’s agricultural economy. Phase 2 has just been submitted, and if awarded, will be eligible to receive up to $100 million to help support our local growers, producers, processors, and sellers here on Hawaiʻi Island.
    "We have also proposed an allocation of $500,000 in our current budget for grant writers in the coming fiscal year to help take advantage of the federal funding streams that are to become available As an administration, we understand the importance of our ʻāina and will continue to invest in it and those who care for it.
    "We are also committed to the idea of connecting our communities – not just farm to table – but from farm to farm, place to place, town to town, and home to home Through that effort, we have retransformed our Mass Transit Agency by implementing a new Hele-On fixed route, flex route, and paratransit network

with more buses islandwide, seven days a week, new express services, and additional services to the airports. We are also pleased to announce that Service is now free for the next two years. However, we know that free rides aren’t helpful if access to the routes is unreasonable. So we partnered with varying taxi companies to create a shared-ride taxi program in the Hilo area for travel up to nine miles on three cab companies, six days a week as a supplement to people who live outside the Hele-On fixed and flex routes.      "We also created a Kona Trolley for residents and visitors to traverse Kailua-Kona safely. Before summer, we will expand that program to add Uber and Lyft for additional transportation and start a new vanpool program for commuters who want to commute to work with others and create their own schedule, with Hele-On subsidizing up to $500.00 per van We have also obtained over $20 million in grants to replace the entire Hele-On fleet so that our residents can feel proud to take the ride on Hele-on Moving forward, we hope to be an island community that is closer than we have ever been, and we know Mass Transit will play a significant role in that.
    "We also hope to be an island that is safe and can adequately respond to the health and safety needs of everyone in our Community – from keiki to kupuna. That said, last summer, the Hawaiʻi Fire Department responded to the Mana Road Fire, which is the largest wildland fire on record in State History, consuming

well over 40,000 acres and destroying several structures. The firefighting effort highlighted the Community coming together to provide meals and logistical support to the first responders, encompassing representatives from the County, State, Federal, and private sectors.
    "The fire also highlighted the need to improve on information in times of natural hazards, which prompted our Civil Defense Administration to create an online Hazard Map so that residents can be informed in times of crisis and make educated decisions on how best to keep themselves and their families safe.
    "Since the fire, we have invested heavily in our departments and, with the help of the Sayer Foundation and other grants, have been able to secure 2 Big-Dog wildland fire response vehicles, two brush trucks, two water rescue crafts, and purchase a replacement for Chopper 2 -- totaling 6 million in investment toward the health and safety of our communities. We have also been able to hire 34 firefighters within the last year to help narrow the gap of vacancies and additionally secured nine critical leadership positions through the SAFER Grant over $3.5 million, which will ultimately result in a better response capability for the public we serve In addition, we Increased police presence throughout our neighborhoods in response to community concerns.
    "We’ve also continued efforts in downtown Hilo to address homelessness and crime with frequent foot and bike patrols, as well as upgrading the Mooheau Police Substation to allow for more police presence in the area.
    "We’ve increased partnerships with the DOE, DPW and State Highways to tackle and alleviate traffic congestion near our schools. Furthermore, we’ve increased Ag theft awareness and arrests, called for the immediate apprehension of criminals involved in high profile crimes, property and crime against persons, and increased response and attention to runaway cases within East Hawai`i.
    "Since coming into office, we vowed to be an administration that is committed to the sustainability of our island home, which to me means that we can create a place that our keiki and their keiki can thrive and

succeed for generations. In pursuing that vision, we knew that we wouldn’t be able to get there alone We understood the need for partnership and collaboration and found experts in their fields to help us manage our environment, create housing, maintain our infrastructure, bolster our economy, etc. So in early 2021, just 80 days into office, we hosted the first-ever Hawaiʻi County Sustainability Summit, where we brought together bright minds to explore and share sustainable ideas and solutions and celebrate individuals and collaborative sustainability efforts currently taking place on Hawaiʻi Island.
    "The two-day event featured seven inspiring keynote speakers and 14 engaging breakout sessions that cultivated imagination and developed actionable strategies which will set the course for a more sustainable island, State, and world. The virtual event received over 20,000 views online and set the tone for a TEDxCounty of Hawaiʻi event months later that shared, on a global stage, the fantastic work happening here on our island to advance sustainability and mitigate climate change. Through that event, we realized that collectively we could balance environmental health, social equity, and economic vitality and craft a thriving, healthy, diverse, and resilient island for all generations to come.
    "This year, we are proud to be hosting a second summit that will focus on policy and collective advocacy to address the growing and insurmountable challenges we face in terms of sustainable action on our island and across the State." Roth noted, "our administration’s request to Governor Ige asking him to declare an energy emergency so that we can get fast track our path to 100% renewable energy and lessen our State’s reliance on fossil fuels. Our island utility has the potential to be 100% renewable with the removal of some red tape, and we will stop at nothing to help them remove it Our island deserves it, our people deserve it, and the planet deserves it.

    "Lastly, we have committed to increasing transparency and improving communication across the board And we are excited to announce that we will be releasing phase 1 of our County mobile application,

Kāhea, which was created with residents in mind and is aimed at helping to inform and empower the Community through relevant, concise, and clear information – straight from the source.
    "The app will roll out in phases, with phase two projected to be completed by early 2023. There has been a steep learning curve, but because of the amazing individuals on our team and in the communities, we have been able to take significant strides to improve the lives of everyone on our island, and we have no plans of easing up now. We are committed to this island, its people, and the cultural and environmental aspects that make this island the best place to live in the world.
    "Our future is bright, and if we can all keep in mind how our actions impact the next generation and their ability to live, grow, and raise a family here, then I am confident that we will succeed in creating a vibrant and thriving Hawai'i Island for us all.
    "Mahalo for this opportunity to serve you and your 'ohanas We look forward to a year of learning, growth, and, most importantly, action. The time to do is now, and we are ready to heed the call. Mahalo and aloha" concluded Mayor Mitch Roth's State of the County address.

 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

                          SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at

www.kaucalendar.com

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, March 24, 2022

Cleanup, demolition, and repair of old buildings and infrastructure at Punalu'u will be allowed under an SMA Minor permit and exemptions from  SMA permits that were recently issued by County of Hawai'i Planning Director Zendo Kern.
Photo by Bob Martin

A MINOR SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA PERMIT AND SOME EXEMPTIONS FROM SMA PERMITTING FOR WORK AT PUNALU'U have been approved for Black Sand Beach, LLC. by County Planning Director Zendo Kern. The Special Management Area designation, which aims to protect coastal resources, covers about 437 acres, all of the land owned by Eva Liu and Black Sand Beach, LLC, makai of Hwy 11.
    The Planning Director gave an exemption from the Minor Special Management Area permit for work described as cleanup, repair, demolition and maintenance. Sites authorized for SMA permit exemptions include the old Punalu'u Restaurant Complex next to the pond at Black Sand Beach where the Planning Director gave an SMA permit exemption for "Demolition of building components that are considered hazardous." Also exempted is "Removal of dilapidated building materials and trash from the restaurant complex area," and "Hand clearing of undergrowth and invasive species removal."

Demolition and removal of trash and materials from the abandoned
  Black Sand Beach Restaurant Area at Punalu'u will be allowed
under an exemption from an SMA permit. Photo by Bob Martin

   The county document explains the reason for exemption of these activities from Special Management Area permitting, saying they "can be considered exempt actions in accordance with SMA Rules and Regulations as they are primarily common or typical repair, maintenance and demolition activities."    

    The document also notes that demolition or removal of structures is exempt, "except those structures located on any historic sites as designated in national or state registers." At Punalu'u there are no sites listed on state or national registers. However, the county informs: "In the event that surface or subsurface historic resources, including human skeletal remains, structural remains (e.g., rock walls, terraces, platforms, etc.), cultural deposits, marine shell concentrations, sand deposits, or sink holes are identified during the demolition and/or construction work, the applicant shall cease work in the immediate vicinity of the find, protect the find from additional disturbance and contact the State Historic Preservation Division."
    Conditions of the SMA permit exemption include that "some minor machinery will be used to grind larger stumps into chips to be left on site. No grubbing or land alteration will occur within 20 feet of Punalu'u Pond, and lands makai of the pond."
    The county document says, "No work is proposed within the Shoreline Setback Area or Conservation District, and best management practices (BMPs) will be employed to mitigate any potential impacts to coastal resources and to protect the Punalu'u Pond."

Black Sand Beach, LLC posted this collage earlier this year
supporting its quest to clean up Punalu'u's dilapidated buildings
 and grounds. Images from Punaluu Community facebook

    Other projects at Punalu'u exempted from SMA permitting by the Planning Director include: Repair and maintenance of existing water and sewer lines and fire hydrants; repair and maintenance of existing private roadway, including clearing of encroaching vegetation, shoulder and pavement repair and streetlight repair; and repair and maintenance of existing irrigation system, including irrigation pond.
    The county document says, "The objective of the proposed project is to mitigate existing hazards from a largely unmaintained development and to repair the existing structures in this area to their original operating status."
    It says the Planning Director "finds that the proposed on-going repair and maintenance, landscaping, and other proposed activities listed above as 'exempt' for the Black Sands Beach/Punalu'u area project are exempt from the definition of 'development' and will not have a cumulative impact, or significant adverse environmental or ecological effect on the Special Management Area."
    In addition to the exemptions, the Planning Director approved an SMA Minor permit to allow Black Sand Beach, LLC. to apply for building and other permits for limited activities. They are: reconstruction of the tennis pro shop and tennis courts, the Sea Mountain Maintenance Center, and the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies buildings. The Planning Director accepted the assessment from Black Sand that the valuation of the improvements for all three will total $225,000. Improvements valued at $500,000 or more would trigger the requirement for a major Special Management Area permit.
    The Minor SMA permit and the exemptions allow Black Sand to apply for grubbing, demolition, building and other permits from county, state and federal agencies where required to proceed with the project. The permit gives Black Sand Beach, LLC two years to acquire any permits required for work authorized under the SMA Minor permit.
    The document notes that "The project site is designated as a 'Minor Resort Area' by the Hawai'i County General Plan (GP), a designation that allows for no more than 500 visitor units and requires both active and passive recreational opportunities commensurate with the scale of development."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS BY MAYOR MITCH ROTH was released on Thursday. He reviewed his administration of Hawai'i County to date:
    "When we took office in late 2020, we knew that our administration would be up against one of the toughest challenges our County had ever faced. At the time, the world and our island was in the grips of a growing global pandemic, and uncertainty for our residents, small businesses, and local industries was at an all-time high It was clear that we would have to do everything in our power to keep our people

working, businesses from closing, and our island’s economy from shutting down, as it did months prior.
    "To do that, we implemented policies that were data-driven and backed by the best information we could gather. We leveraged experts in epidemiology and public health and convened numerous working groups led by our Civil Defense Administration to define our response strategy and tactics. In total, we spent $125,598,396 in grants, government reimbursement funds, and county dollars to secure our ports of entry, amplify community testing, and launch widescale vaccination efforts when vaccines became readily available. Through our efforts, we vaccinated 148,870 individuals, administered over 439,375 COVID tests, and caught 18,828 positive cases here on Hawaiʻi Island.
    "We could not have pulled off such an incredible feat without our partners at the State, including Governor Ige, General Hara and the Hawaiʻi National Guard, Dr. Char, and the Department of Health, which includes Jason Dela Cruz, our on-island health officer, as well as the many community groups such as Community First and Mālama ya Hawaiʻi who stepped up in a time of need to convene, advise, and actively work towards a safer and healthier Hawaiʻi Island.
    "That said, the work of the Community cannot be understated Because of each and every one of you, we were able to keep our numbers in the hospital to a manageable level while significantly reducing the spread amongst our most vulnerable populations All without the need to divide our Community by implementing mandates or vaccination passports. Together we have overcome a tremendous amount, and on Friday, March 25, the governor’s emergency rules will sunset, marking our return to new and safer Hawaiʻi for us all.

    "So again, I say to you all – mahalo, mahalo, mahalo.
    "Aside from the tremendous community response. we knew that the key to a thriving Hawaiʻi Island would be to support our local small businesses, the backbone of our economy, in every way possible. And that is exactly what we did.
    "With cooperation from numerous credit unions and the outstanding leadership of HCFCU, we were able to get $22 million directly into the hands of small businesses islandwide Through the Holomua Grant Program, we kept many businesses from shutting down temporarily, laying off employees, and ultimately closing their doors for good. This was just one shining example of the County, private sector, and the Community coming together, in times of hardship and uncertainty, to accomplish a common goal of providing lasting relief to the heart and soul of our local economy.
    "We also knew that if we were truly committed to a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island, where our keiki can all thrive and succeed – here, then we would have to make sure that they were able to keep the roofs above their head and food on their tables In total, we spent $13,992,616 in emergency rental assistance, supporting 1,866 local families experiencing housing uncertainty We are expecting to spend an additional $4,926,571 in rental assistance by the beginning of summer, for a cumulative total of $18,919,187 in

See the video of Mayor Mitch Roth delivering the State of the County

 at facebook.com/HIMayorMitch

rental relief for our working class And we didn’t stop there It’s not enough to just assist with rent; we needed to make sure that we helped our residents with managing their finances so that their families can flourish beyond monetary assistance programs And so we established Financial empowerment centers in partnership with the national nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA), and Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union (HFFCU) to offer free professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a public service to residents. "These centers helped hundreds of residents 18 and older to manage their finances, pay down debt, increase savings, establish and build credit, and access safe and affordable mainstream banking products Another example of great partnership in an effort to build a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi Island.
    "However, housing goes so much beyond just being able to rent We need places for our local families to buy, and furthermore for them to be able to afford. That said, when we took office, there were 1,243 affordable housing units in the pipeline; meaning that they are either in the conceptual, planning, or construction phase Today, there are 5,509 total affordable housing units in the pipeline In just over a year, through the leadership of our Office of Housing and Community Development, we have added an additional 4,266 affordable housing units, making up 35 active projects in the pipeline 292 of which we expect to complete by the end of the year.
    "We have always said that sustainability to us is creating an island where our keiki and their keiki can thrive, and ensuring they have a place to live is one way we are committed to ensuring that can happen However, we cannot get houses built if we cannot fix our current building permitting process And we are proud to say that since taking office, we have been aggressively tackling the process and, after a year, are finally beginning to see the results of our efforts. That said, we understand that there is a tremendous

amount of frustration and discontent related to the EPIC system or the Electronic Processing and Information Center that was inherited and implemented when we came into office.
    "The tribulations of the transition from paper to paperless were felt severely on both sides – for the users and the administrators. We knew we had to make the transition quickly, much like ripping off a band-aid, and that’s what we did. We set an aggressive timeline for implementation and, within seven months, successfully converted the system over. The transformation was painful, but it was a learning experience that our administration took in stride. As a measure of where we are versus where we were, we can look at the average of building permits issued month by month In 2020, before our administration took office, an average of 269.75 permits were issued a month In 2021 with the implementation of EPIC and a two-month delay in processes, we eventually were able to up the status quo to 296 permits a month. So far this year, we are averaging 529 permits issued a month, nearly doubling the status quo.
    "If we can maintain the current momentum, we will be able to issue over 7,000 permits this year alone, beating the average of roughly 3,500 permits per year in the two years prior.
    "Let me be clear – we are not where we want to be yet But we have made considerable progress, and we will continue to push the envelope We are committed to it, our staff is committed to it, and we will make it happen In the meantime, we would like to send our sincerest appreciation for your continued patience as our staff works day-in and day-out to remove red tape and make government more accessible, more transparent, and more “for the people” than it has been in the past With that, it is not only about the volume of permits, but the time in which our residents have to wait for them And by the end of 2022, it is our hope that we will see no more than a 6-week wait time in permit review, response, and issuance It’s an aggressive goal, but one that our residents deserve Again, this is about creating a sustainable Hawaiʻi Island, and that means one where our families can build a place to call home for generations to come – all while supporting the blue-collar, working-class in the building trades and supply industries."
    See more of the Mayor's State of the County in Friday's Kaʻū News Briefs. Also see the video of

Roth delivering the State of the County at facebook.com/HIMayorMitch.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

                          SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at

www.kaucalendar.com

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Sen. Brian Schatz with the late Madeleine Albright and Sen. Chris Coons. Schatz praised Albright today and explained that she is family to him. Albright's daughter is married to Schatz's brother. Photo from twitter.

"MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S STORY IS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY IN HAWAI'I," said Gov. Ige today, after the announcement of her death at age 84.
    "She was a refugee and immigrant who believed in the ideals of our nation and dedicated her life to upholding them. Her leadership as the nation's top diplomat and first female Secretary of State changed the course of world history. During her years of unwavering service, she was a source of inspiration to women and girls everywhere. Dawn and I send our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones," said the governor.

     Sen. Brian Schatz knew Albright as family and tweeted: "Madeleine Albright is a towering figure in American and world history, but I knew her as family. She is my oldest brother’s mother in law, and when I came to Washington, we became friends. Actual friends. She was thrilled to have a politician in the family, and wanted to help without casting a long shadow, so she discreetly asked her friend Sen. Barbara Mikulski to keep an eye out for me."
     Schatz described Albright as "a tireless and sharp political strategist, the kind of person who would watch CSPAN for fun, who was endlessly fascinated by politics at all levels, from municipal elections to the United Nations. I remember all of our long talks about everything, but mostly about our two shared loves, family and politics over a meal, which she would let me pay for occasionally. 

    "But most of all I will remember Grandma Maddie, who was kind and curious with my kids, taking us out to dinner in Georgetown, and being one of the most giving, decent human beings that I have ever known. May her memory be a blessing."
    Albright spoke at a League of Conservation Voters Action Fund fundraising breakfast for Schatz in 2013. Both Albright and Schatz served on the board of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. According to a Civil Beat report, contributions to Schatz campaigns have come from Albright herself as well as Albright Capital Management executive Gregory Bowes, Wyoming rancher Joe Albright, Katie  Albright, and Schatz's brother, San Francisco attorney Jacob Schatz. 

    Brian Schatz has recommended the reading of Madeleine Albrights' book, Fascism, A Warning.

Read My Pins was a slogan of the late Madeline Albright, who  who loved and wore images of turtles. Photo from Department

 of State's National Museum of Diplomacy. See https://readmypins.state.gov/see-the-pins/

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

NEW ELECTRIC BUSES SUPPORTED BY A CHARGING NETWORK, along with new hydrogen buses, are in the future of the county's Hele-On fleet, according to a plan brought to the County Council on Tuesday. The county is planning to transition away from leasing buses from transportation companies as it builds its fleet, with the arrival of 26 vehicles ranging from 26 to 45 feet long in 2023, followed by 18 in 2024. One hydrogen bus was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
    With 55 vehicles and free ridership, the county aims to attract more people to forgo their private vehicles for public transportation.

New transportation chief for Hawai'i County,

John Andoh. Photo from Hele On

    County Council Chair Maile David said after the meeting: "It's a huge step in the right direction, building back the county's mass transit system with electric and hydrogen busses will begin to address historical maintenance challenges and antiquated equipment issues. More importantly, it is good for our environment. The expertise of Mass Transit Administrator John Andoh has moved Mass Transit forward and has begun the much talked about, and critical goal, of becoming less dependent on fossil fuels and thee goal of moving this county forward with environmentally efficient methods with respect to public transportation."
    Andoh, who assumed the county's top transportation post in early January, presented the mass transit master plan to County Council's Committee on Public Works & Mass Transportation. He said that five of the electric buses plus solar voltaic charging stations at Hilo baseyard, Mo'oheau bus station and Puna Kai shopping center will be operated through a state contract with Sustainability Partners, LLC. Five additional electric buses will come through a federal grant. According to the plan, which requires Council approval, Sustainability Partners will receive income from the county for their buses, maintenance and for building out and running the charging stations to serve some 20 electric buses.
    With he busses running at no cost to riders, the county will pay for public transportation using income from general excise taxes. The goal is to use solar and hydrogen to eventually get the fleet off fossil fuel and avoid drawing electricity from the grid to run the buses. Another proposal presented by Andoh to the County Council is approval of accepting a dozen buses being retired from the City & County of Honolulu as a stopgap along the way to fossil-fuel free transportation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC'S SHARED SOLAR PROJECT PROPOSALS, due in May, got another boost at the County Council committee meetings on Tuesday during discussion on soaring electric bills and a review of the status of alternative energies on this island. See the March 11 Ka'u News Briefs story on Shared Solar opportunities at  http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_03_11_archive.html

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

COUNTY COVID TESTING EVENTS WILL SHUT DOWN THIS WEEK, according to a statement from the county on Wednesday. "The decision comes as on-island case counts and hospitalizations related to COVID have drastically decreased, significantly reducing community need for largescale testing sites. Additionally, the suspension will supplement the sunsetting of Governor Ige's Emergency Proclamation related to COVID-19, which will end Friday, March 25, at 11:59 pm.
    "However, some private vendors may maintain COVID-19 testing operations islandwide, and the County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Administration will maintain its database on alternative testing locations, which may be found at hawaiicounty.gov/testing."

                          SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/03/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

See March edition of The Kaʻū Calendar newspaper at

www.kaucalendar.com