Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 11, 2024

Mayor Mitch Roth took in the most votes in Saturday's mayoral primary and is headed
to the General Election against Dr. Kimo Alameda. Photo from Roth campaign

HAWAI'I COUNTY HAD THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT in the state for the Primary Election on Saturday, according to state elections officials who published the numbers of votes cast for each candidate. Citizens can still sign up for the General Election on Nov. 5 when there will be a runoff between Mayor Mitch Roth and Dr. Kimo Alameda in the nonpartisan race, in addition to other county, state and federal elections. See https://elections.hawaii.gov/register-to-vote/registration/.

MAYOR MITCH ROTH TOOK IN THE MOST VOTES in Saturday's mayoral primary, with 37 percent, followed by Dr. Kimo Alameda's 27 percent. The two will face off in the General Election on Nov. 5. His celebration was at the ILWU hall in Hilo.  Roth said, "Leadership isn’t about popularity; it’s about results. We’re grateful to our team for helping to continue making Hawai‘i Island better than we found it!"   He pointed to the accomplishments of his administration, including streamlining the building permit process, achieving a high county bond rating, improving infrastructure including roads and parks, and helping to reduce homelessness.  "We're much better off from where we took over four years ago and I think in another four years, we;re gonna be much better off than where we are not. We've go a lot of big projects we're working on, and we really want to get those projects done."

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Kimo Alameda has campaigned for two years. Photo from Friends
of Kimo Alameda.

DR. KIMO ALAMEDA CELEBRATED HIS ADVANCEMENT TO THE GENERAL ELECTION at Nanimau Gardens on Saturday, after garnering 27 percent of the vote. He said that the results giving thousands of votes to candidates other than the incumbent show that over 60 percent of the people want change. He praised all the candidates who entered the race for their positive campaigns, saying it takes the courage of the candidates and their families. He noted that he has been running for mayor for almost two years. "I want to be the mayor for everybody because our island is big." He said he seeks to represent all areas of the island in his administration and that the county administration has been Hilo centric for far too long "and our neighbors need change."

     He said that now that his kids are older, "I want to turn my attention to the community, because that's the place that they are going to be living..... I want them to live in a place that they can call their  home. I want our kupuna to enjoy their golden years  And I want our kids to have hope. Right now it doesn't feel like like there's hope.... We are the hope campaign."

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KAʻŪ'S REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS ISSUED THIS STATEMENT after winning the Democratic

Rep. Jill Tokuda won the primary.

primary on Saturday. "I am deeply humbled and grateful for your incredible support in the Primary Election. As we move forward, our mission is clear: we must stand united and work tirelessly to ensure that Democrats retake the U.S. House majority in the upcoming general election. The stakes have never been higher, and our collective efforts are crucial in shaping a future that reflects our shared values and aspirations.
    "This is probably one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. It is essential that we rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, doing everything in our power to get them to the White House. Their leadership is vital for the progress and prosperity of our nation, and we must be all in to make this happen.
    "Your support has been the backbone of our campaign, and I am counting on you to continue this journey with us. Together, we can create the change we want to see and build a brighter future for Hawaiʻi. Let's keep the momentum going!"

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 10, 2024

'Ua and her mom Michelle Galimba
Photo by Ursula D'Angelo

MICHELLE GALIMBA RECEIVED MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE VOTES and will not face a runoff with Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith, according to the tally of the votes cast, minus the number of blank votes in the contest. Without an announcement from county or state election authorities naming outright winners and candidates facing runoffs, numerous media outlets including this one followed the percentages listed on the state's official reporting and reported that there will be runoffs in several County Council races. That reporting included blank votes in its calculations.
    Civil Beat, which removed the blank votes from its calculations, reported, "Council member Michelle Galimba also won reelection outright in her four-way race in the huge District 6, which extends from the Volcano area through Pahala, South Point and Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and to Kealakekua.
"Galimba led with 54.9%, while challengers Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith had 30%, Kyle Jones had 9.7% and Marie Burns had 5.2%."
    The contest is over in the primary if one candidate takes more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
The council seat is for Kaʻū and the rest of District Six into South Kona and Puna.

    From her father Al Galimba's family home in Wai'ohinu with her daughter 'Ua and her dad Al Galimba, friends and family, the Council member said, "I love democracy. Whether by running for office, supporting a candidate or simply voting, it gives us all a stake in how our government runs. It takes a lot of heart to run for office and I have a profound respect for my fellow candidates for District 6. A big mahalo to the voters for their continued support."

    Galimba said she plans to work on affordable housing and toward the expansion of the Animal Control and Protection Agency to address urgent needs of animals and people. She said she will continue to work on challenges of increased drought and sea level rise, and to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient communities and economies. 

Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith and his wife Alyssia.
Photo from campaign

    Challenger Kailiawa-Smith ran on a platform of getting things done, food security and economic development. He moved away from the island with his wife Alyssia years ago. They recently came back with their four children. He campaigned on food sustainability and creating jobs so that young families can stay home and work where they grew up. He also opposes the proposed resort development at Punalu'u.

    He also said, "We need to get at least one transfer station open seven days a week, fix our roads and work with state representatives to fix the school bus situation!"

     

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MAYOR MITCH ROTH FACES A RUNOFF WITH DR. KIMO ALAMEDA on Nov. 5. The 10:56 p.m. print out on Saturday for Hawai'i County showed Roth with 37.1 percent, 17,196 votes. Alameda followed with 36.8 percent, 12,403 votes, Breeani R.P. Kobayashi followed with 19.3 percent, 8,961 votes. Tupai Jr. followed with 11.2 percent, 5,175 votes. They were followed by Yumi T.R. Kawano with 417, Daniel H. Cunningham with 342 and Kavin H. Kahikina with 297 votes. 

HAWAI'I COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY KELDON BRAUN AKONI WALTJEN ran unopposed to retain his position. He took in 31,690 votes.

Register to vote for the Nov. 5
General Election.

U.S. SEN. MAZIE HIRONO WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY on Saturday, this time with 84.8 percent of the vote. The Republican winner is Bob McDermott with 42.6 percent. The Green Party candidate Emma Jane Avila ran unopposed. They will face off in the Nov. 5 General Election.

KAʻŪ'S MEMBER IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JILL TOKUDA, won the primary on Saturday. She ran unopposed for the Democrats. She will face Republican Steve Bond in the General Election on Nov. 5. He also ran unopposed.

STATE SENATOR DRU KANUHA ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary on Saturday and will face Republican Kurt Sullivan in the General Election on Nov. 5. Sullivan also ran unopposed.

STATE REP. JEANNE KAPELA won the Democratic Primary on Saturday, with 66.8 percent of the vote. She beat Chantel Makuaole-Perrin. Kapela will face Republican Ashley Oyama who ran unopposed for the Republicans and Frederick Fogel, who ran unopposed for the Libertarians. The General Election is Nov. 5.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 9, 2024

Ballots Can be Cast 'til 7 p.m. in Nāʻālehu on Saturday

PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOTS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT NĀ'ĀLEHU POLICE STATION

24/7 UNTIL 7 P.M. AUG. 10, which is Election Day. Nāʻālehu Police Station is at 95-5355 Māmalahoa Hwy 11. The ballot drop box is outside the police staton. See voter guides in English, 'Ōlelo Hawaiian, Ilokano, Tagalog and Chinese at https://elections.hawaii.gov/.../2024-primary-election.../

GROUND DEFORMATION SHOWS STEADY INFLATION, ever since the July 22–25 pulses of strong seismicity and deformation indicated magma intruding into the upper East Rift Zone of Kīlauea. According to a report Thursday evening from USGS, more than 1,700 earthquakes occurred during this intrusion, along with changes in ground deformation patterns—Kīlauea’s summit region deflated as magma moved underground into the UERZ, where inflation indicated magma was accumulating near Pauahi Crater.  During the intrusion, some earthquakes were located in the upper Middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) past Maunaulu to Makaopuhi Crater. Beginning on July 23, ground deformation patterns in the MERZ began to show extension and uplift. Over the past week, extension and uplift has continued but the rates have slowed over time. In total, the area across Makaopuhi Crater has extended approximately 12.5 cm (5 inches) and uplifted about 7 cm (2.8 inches) since July 23. Starting on August 8, the POC tiltmeter located on the north flank of Puʻuʻōʻō in the middle East Rift Zone also began to showed movement consistent with the ongoing MERZ inflation. Ground deformation signals recorded by POC and nearby GPS stations indicate the center of deformation remains west of Puʻuʻōʻō.

Earthquakes have also continued to occur in the UERZ and MERZ since the July 22–25 intrusion. In the UERZ, around 70 events have occurred per day on average, while in the MERZ, around 25 events have occurred per day on average. Most events have been smaller than magnitude-2 and located 2.5–3.5 km (1.5–2.2 miles) beneath the ground surface.
    At Kīlauea’s summit, earthquake activity has remained low following the UERZ intrusion, while ground deformation patterns have shown steady inflation since July 26.

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HAWAI'I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE shared an ADVISORY message on Friday, noting USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory 's Kīlauea Volcano's alert status.
     ADVISORY means: the volcano is exhibiting signs of elevated unrest above known background level or, after a change from a higher level; or volcanic activity has decreased significantly but continues to be

closely monitored for possible renewed increase.
    Civil Defense stated that due to Kīlauea's Volcano Advisory:
Conditions indicate that magma has moved into the Middle East Rift Zone (MERZ) near Makaopuhi Crater.
    Kīlauea Volcano is NOT erupting.
    The current volcanic activity is within the National Park boundaries and does NOT pose a threat outside of the Volcanoes National Park.
    Civil Defense is coordinating with HVO who is monitoring the activity on Kīlauea Volcano around the clock.
    "You will be informed as conditions change. This is your Hawai'i County Civil Defense Agency."
For more information: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPENED THIS WEEK in the Kaʻū-Kea'au-Pahoa Complex Area. It covers the rural

districts of Kaʻū and Puna, which is vast in geography, about 100 sq. mi. bigger than entire area of Maui and O'ahu combined. The Fall semester opened without school bus service, due to a lack of drivers, but restoration of service is promised by Monday.

     See the August Complex Area newsletter for the local schools and community at https://online.fliphtml5.com/fxutw/imzl/#p=1.

     It says that the theme for schools statewide is Ne'epapa: "To move as a whole unit, moving or working together in unison' combined, united."

     The Kaʻū-Kea'au-Pahoa area theme is Ho'okahi wa'o ka like: "We are all made of the same water."

     The area vision is Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua: "Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good."

    The area mission is No na keiki mau a mau: "For the children, forever and ever."               

    Listed intentions for the area schools are to: Improve educational outcomes; Create thriving learning environments; Connect school to the community and beyond." 

    Succeeding with the intentions will be done with: High Quality Classrooms, People Development and Supportive Systems & Environments, and with Effective Instructional Leadership, says the newsletter.

    The newsletter includes the following.

OVER 400 BOOKS WENT HOME WITH STUDENTS in Kaʻū and Pahoa to address summer learning loss. In Kaʻū, the local sponsor was O Kaʻū Kakou. In Pahoa it was Pahoa Promise Partnerships. More than 150 families were involved in this Summer Slide program.

KAʻŪ HIGH & PAHALA ELEMENTARY'S HAWAIIAN STUDIES SUMMER PROGRAM STUDENTS learned about and visited two culturally significant places, Kaiholena and Honu'apo. They also participated in the creation of Malama 'Aina Compostables and presented Zero Waste informaton to community members as part of their summer learning.

EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER RECEIVES A SCHOOL SUPPLIES YOOBI CLASSPACK for 30 students in a program sponsored by the Kids in Need Foundation's Rural Indigenous School Equity program, Yoobi, and Royal Hawaiian Movers. This year's outreach to Hawai'i Island is the first outside of the state of Minnesota, the home of Kids in Need Foundation.

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Kamalani Fujikawa inspires the girls during the winning 2023 season.
2024 begins Thursday, Aug. 15 with a home game. Photo by Julia Neal

KAʻŪ TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL hosts the first game of the season at home next Thursday, Aug. 15 at the Herkes Kaʻū District Gym. Kaʻū travels to Kea'au on Tuesday., Aug. 20 and hosts Christian Liberty on Thursday, Aug. 22. Kaʻū is on the road to Ka Umeke on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and again to the Kamehameha Tournament, which runs from Thursday, Aug. 29 through Saturday, Aug. 31. LCPCS/SIS comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 3. and Pahoa comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Trojans go on the road to Waiakea on Friday, Sept. 13 and again to Kamehameha on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Hilo comes to Kaʻū on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kea'au comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Kaʻū travels to Christian Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 28 and again to LCPCS/SIS on Monday, Sept. 30. Ka Umeke comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū travels to Hilo on Saturday, Oct. 12 and again to Pahoa on Monday, Oct. 13. Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by Big Island Interscholastic Federation playoffs.

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Trojan football begins with a home game on Saturday, Aug 23.
Photo by Mark Peters

KAʻŪ TROJANS FOOTBALL BEGINS with Pahoa at Kaʻū on Saturday, Aug 23. The next game is Hawai'i Preparatory Academy at Kaʻū at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, followed by   Kaʻū at Kohala on Saturday, Sept. 7, Kaʻū at Kamehameha in Kea'au on Friday, Sept. 13, and Kaʻū at Honoka'a at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. Kaʻū travels to Pahoa on Thursday, Sept. 26. Kohala comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kaʻū goes to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 19. Honoka'a travels to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 26, followed by BIIF Division Championships.

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Five positions are open for fencing in
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Photo

HELP REPLACE 40 MILES OF FENCING IN HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND GET PAID $28.97 to $33.81 per hour to work in natural resources, managing invasive species.
     The fencing is to keep ungulates out of areas in the Park. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is looking for five workers for the mission.
     Deadline to apply is Aug. 19, but the Park will stop receiving new applications after 101 come in.
The Park statement says, "If you're ready to get down and dirty for conservation, apply here: https://ow.ly/66kS50STuq8#JobOpportunity #Conservation #HAVO #JoinOurTeam #USAJOBS

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

The Reunion features the screening of a PBS film Ka'u Sugar,
A Town Remembers on the history of the sugar plantation
 and the closing of the mill in 1996. It will also feature a film 
on history of the local coffee industry.