The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Ka`u High School valedictorian Jennifer Tabios, with her famous Ka`u Coffee grower parents Will and Grace Tabios, received
several scholarships and grants. Jennifer will attend St. John's University in New York City. Photo by Julia Neal

AFTER ALMOST 29 YEARS, CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY will end operations of Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Mauna Kea in September. Caltech will plan for dismantling of the observatory in close coordination with the Office of Mauna Kea Management, University of Hawai`i at Hilo, to ensure that it is undertaken promptly and in a culturally and environmentally respectful manner. Caltech has been present on Mauna Kea for nearly three decades. Caltech commits to dismantling of the telescope and site restoration according to the Decommissioning Plan approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Caltech is stepping up decommissioning of its telescope on Mauna Kea.
Photo from Caltech

Caltech’s announcement follows Gov. David Ige’s call for stepped-up decommissioning of Mauna Kea telescopes as a way of improving stewardship of the mountain, which Native Hawaiians consider sacred. A vigil continues at the summit by those opposing construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

“The CSO has played a central role in the development of the science and instrumentation of submillimeter and millimeter astronomy over the last three decades,” said Sunil Golwala, current director of the CSO and a professor of physics at Caltech. “The CSO legacy of combining training in instrumentation development, hands-on observing and science will live on via its former students and researchers as well as in new projects for which it has laid the foundation.”
“This has been a most exciting time in which the field of submillimeter astronomy has been developed, leading to an understanding of astrochemistry, star formation and distant, dust-obscured galaxies,” saidTom Phillips, founding director and now CSO’s director emeritus.
“The CSO has been foundational in creating the thriving discipline of submillimeter astronomy,” says Tom Soifer, Kent and Joyce Kresa Leadership Chair of Caltech’s Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy. “It is with a deep sense of gratitude to the people of Hawai`i that we thank them for hosting this magnificent facility for all this time.”
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Ka`u High School Class of 2015 is 50 strong, winning many scholarships and grants for higher education. Photo by Pam Taylor

SMALL COMMUNITY, STRONG BONDS AND TALENT have taken Ka`u High School’s 2015 Class through graduation and into a future of colleges, work and the military.

Speaker after speaker during last night’s ceremonies for the 50 graduates talked about the lifelong friendships developed at the tiny school, the family and faculty support and the appreciation of growing up in a special place called Ka`u.
Kehaulani Ke, senior class president, will enter the Air Force to become a mechanic and pilot. “We are a small class, but we get things done,” she said, pointing to Ka`u High’s state titles and athlete awards and scholarships in volleyball, basketball, eight-man football, track and other sports.
Denisha Navarro, student body president, talked about the closely knit class, students with their own qualities who came together over the years for service projects, such as raising money to buy books for the elementary school. She shared her personal journey of gaining more confidence as a public speaker and realizing the value of stepping up to ask questions. Navarro will attend Pierce College in Oregon on a basketball scholarship and study kinesiology to become an athletic trainer. She also earned a Ka`u Chamber of Commerce scholarship.

Salutatorian Kaweni Ibarra will attend
Sacramento State. Photo by Julia Neal

Jennifer Tabios, valedictorian, will attend St. John’s University in New York City. She listed the many clichés that often come with graduation speeches that could seem trite but true. She talked about being a product of the past who can change with the future. She advised: “Procrastination is not your friend. You are a work in progress. Your parents are your friends. The only one who can hold you back is you.” She urged everyone to grow and change.
Tabios noted that “the great thing about Ka`u is that we are small, but so many are talented.”
She will head to New York with a St. DePaul Scholarship, a Citizenship Award Scholarship, St. John’s University Grant, Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Scholarship and a Hugh I. Carey Community Grant. She also earned a scholarship in the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant 2015.
Keynote speaker Derek Kurisu, founder of the Mountain Apple brand of local foods under KTA grocery stores, emphasized the importance of buying local and touted 430 local suppliers.
Kurisu pointed to business leaders in Ka`u who have helped to develop the local economy, including Connie Koi with the Any Kine Bread innovation from Punalu`u Bake Shop that can be used as buns or rolls. He mentioned the Souza family with Na`alehu Dairy joining the Mountain Apple brand. He praised famous fish and meat cutters “Scottie and Magic Mike.”
Kurisu, who grew up on a sugar plantation, advised the Class of 2015, “Go where there is no path, and leave a trail.”
Ka`u High School Principal Sharon Beck said the class of 2015 is diverse but shows a sense of community. She said the mural on the school’s band room, designed and painted by artist Kathleen Kam and students, depicts the rich diversity. She commended Salutatorian Kaweni Ibarra for his leadership on the project. Ibarra will attend Sacramento State University, with scholarships from Foodland and Ka`u Chamber of Commerce.
Beck also noted the ongoing training for students by Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Student body President Denisha Navarro
earned a basketball scholarship.
Photo by Julia Neal

The principal reported that ten graduates will go to Hawai`i Community College, four to other colleges in the state, five to colleges on the mainland and four to the military. More than $150,000 in scholarships will help them. Cameron Enriques earned a men’s volleyball scholarship from Briar Cliff University. Mike Tamayo earned a Hawa`'i Community College tuition waiver. Lanni Ah Yee earned an Arthur Jackman Scholarship.

The graduation ceremony marked the last to be held in the historic 1930s Ka`u High Gym. A new gym that will accommodate more than 1,000 is expected to be completed by graduation 2016.
For 2015, Class Song is The Right Thing, by Kolohe Kai. Class Colors are mint and coral. Class Flower is Bird of Paradise.
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NEW HOPE FOR THE RETURN OF DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN JAPAN AND KONA is on the horizon. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will enter into negotiations with Japan’s Narita International Airport and nine countries for U.S. preclearance at 10 airports. The action could result in Tokyo flights returning to Kona International Airport. They shut down in 2010.
Through the preclearance program immigration, customs and agriculture inspections can be completed before departure from the originating country, allowing passengers to avoid further processing or delays at domestic airports.
“This is a significant step forward for Hawai`i’s tourism industry, which is the single largest component of the state’s economy,” said Gov. David Ige. Japan is Hawai`i’s biggest international market, accounting for about 18 percent of international travelers to Hawai`i, which brings in about $1.5 billion a year to the state’s economy.
“I would like to thank Hawai`i’s congressional delegation and the Hawai`i Tourism Authority for their work to expand preclearance to Japan’s Narita International Airport,” Ige said. Preclearance has been a top priority for my administration, and I’m happy to see that it is moving forward. It would provide our valued Japanese visitors with a more pleasant arrival experience by alleviating congestion at the Honolulu International Airport, the state’s only international airport and currently the country’s fourth busiest international port of entry. Easing access will encourage travel to the neighbor islands and repeat visits to our beautiful state,” Ige said.

“The fact that the United States will go forward in working to expand preclearance to Japan’s Narita International Airport is a good news for Hawaii`’s tourism industry, the economies of our state and nation and visitors from Japan who are eager to visit Hawai`i,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono. “Japan is one of our closest allies, and our countries have so much to offer one another. Travel between our two nations is just one way we can continue to strengthen our relationship. Tourism is our state’s number one industry, and anything we can do to promote travel to Hawai`i is a step toward strengthening our economy and creating jobs.”

“We’ve been pushing for preclearance for two years, and it has gone from pie in the sky to reality,” said Sen. Brian Schatz. “This is the first step toward making it a lot easier for Japanese visitors to come to Hawai`i. Although work remains to be done, this also has enormous implications in terms of our efforts in establishing direct flights from Japan to Kona.”

Ka`u CDP calls for and outlines how to strengthen infrastructure, facilities
and services.

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FEEDBACK ON THE KA`U DRAFT Community Development Plan is due Monday. The purpose of CDPs is to implement the broad goals within the General Plan on a regional basis and translate the broad General Plan statements to specific actions. CDPs are the forum for community input into coordinating the delivery of government services to the community.
Feedback forms are available at kaucdp.info. Copies of the draft are also on hand at local libraries and community centers.
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PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE of `ohi`a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, the many forms of the `ohi`a lehua tree and its flower on an easy one-mile walk tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Feedback on the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan is due tomorrow. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR became the first in the country to pass a bill to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 on tobacco products and electronic smoking devices.

Ka`u's state Sen. Josh Green

E-cigarette vapor, even when nicotine-free, has been found to damage lung cells, according to Stacy Brooks, of the American Physiological Society. Nicotine-free e-cig solutions were found to include lung-harming substances such as acrolein, which is present in both e-cig solution and vapor. Brooks reported that acrolein has been shown to damage the lungs by attacking molecules of cells that make up the lining of lungs.
According to Ka`u’s Sen. Josh Green, e-cigarette use has been rapidly increasing among middle and high school students over the last several years, and the extent of their detrimental health effects is still not entirely known. “My hope is that with the passing of SB 1030 we will see a decrease in this trend among Hawai`i’s youth as well as a decrease in tobacco- and smoking-related illnesses for generations to come,” Green said. “Mahalo to my friends at ‪#‎CoalitionForATobaccoFreeHawaii‬ for all of their help and hard work on this measure.
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HAWAI`I SUPREME COURT HAS DISMISSED a legal challenge raised by four individual plaintiffs to the Hawai`i Marriage Equality Act of 2013. The 2013 law changed Hawai`i’s statutes regarding marriage so that same-sex couples could marry.
The Supreme Court held that the plaintiffs were not harmed or injured by the Marriage Equality Act and therefore did not have standing to challenge it.

Attorney Gen. Doug Chin

“The most important part of the Supreme Court’s ruling was its conclusion that the ‘legislature’s decision to extend the right to marry to same-sex couples did not, in any way, diminish the right to marry’ for the plaintiffs or anyone else,” said Attorney General Doug Chin.
“This is an exciting time for marriage equality in our country, as we await the United States Supreme Court’s ruling that will govern so many other states,” said Deputy Attorney General Deirdre Marie-Iha, who argued on behalf of the defendants. “We hope that the United States Supreme Court will recognize, as our Supreme Court did today, that those who oppose marriage equality are ‘harmed not at all when others are given the liberty to choose their own life partners and are shown the respect that comes with formal marriage.’”
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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY scientists explore extraterrestrial lava lakes in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
“Exploration of volcanoes within our solar system has been much like the exploration of Hawaiian volcanoes in the 19th century: sporadic. We now know where most of the volcanoes beyond Earth are, but know little about how they work. But bits of information are being collected, and whether they are from Earth-based observations, satellite imagery or fly-by missions, every piece is important, because our best understanding will come from compiling all available data from every source.
“Even though exploration of planetary volcanoes has been sporadic, exciting discoveries have been made. And some of these discoveries have revealed volcanic features similar to those found on Hawaiian volcanoes.
“Active volcanism on Io, one of Jupiter’s moons, was first discovered by the Voyager 1 spacecraft during a fly-by mission in March 1979. Since then, more information has been obtained from limited observations by four additional NASA spacecraft as they passed through the solar system and from more frequent observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. A complete map of Io’s volcanoes was published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2011 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3168).

Loki Patera is the horseshoe-shaped feature at lower center.
Photo from NASA/JPL/USGS

“Combining these data, planetary volcanologists have hypothesized that Loki Patera, the largest depression on Io, hosts an active lava lake. The temperatures of this lava lake are in the right range for a molten silicate, but scientists can’t differentiate exactly what type of lava is in the lake by temperature alone.
“Loki Patera and the lava lake it contains are huge by Earth standards – about 200 km (125 mi) in diameter, which is larger than the entire Island of Hawai`i! Detailed analyses of all the data show that the lava lake is probably horseshoe-shaped.
“During the 1990s, the Loki Patera lava lake displayed periodic bursts of thermal energy every 18 months, suggesting that the lake was resurfaced by a new solidified crust during each burst. The areas of highest temperature within the lake seem to move during these cycles, so the speed of lake resurfacing appears to be about 2.3 cm per second (2.3 cm/s, or 1 in/s). These bursts have been irregular in the last decade.
“In the past few years, Earth-based Extremely Large Telescopes have been designed to achieve enough spatial resolution to obtain details of volcanic features on Io, as well as a more continuous record of volcanic activity. The first Earth-based ELT is the Large Binocular Telescope located at an elevation of 3,200 m (10,500 ft) on Emerald Peak in the Pinaleno Mountains of Arizona. It consists of two identical 8.4 m (27.6 ft) telescopes mounted side-by-side for a combined collecting area of a single 11.8 m (38.7 ft) telescope.
“Using an infrared camera with this telescope, scientists were able to achieve a final spatial resolution of less than 20 km (12 mi) on the surface of Io during a one-hour observation on Dec. 24, 2013. At the time, Loki Patera had just finished one of its brightening bursts. The 2013 infrared image also showed two hotspots. These two locations are interpreted to be a persistent hotspot in the southwest portion of the lake (seen before) and another hotspot to the east, which might be the leading edge of the recent lake-resurfacing burst.
“Back on Earth, the Kilauea summit lava lake within Halema`uma`u Crater is 1,000 times smaller than Io’s Loki Patera lava lake and contains molten basalt. The Halema`uma`u lava lake continuously circulates, with new crust generated at one side of the lake, then moving across the lake surface at speeds of around 15 cm/s (six in/s) before being consumed at the opposite side. It rarely resurfaces in the way envisioned for the Loki Patera lava lake, but, when it does, the Halema`uma`u lake resurfaces at about seven cm/s (three in/s).

“More sophisticated analyses of existing Io data, as well as more imagery data from spacecraft and Earth-based ELTs, will yield additional details of the Loki Patera lava lake. Studies on the behavior of the Halema`uma`u lava lake are also underway. As scientific papers are published, perhaps comparisons between Earth’s and Io’s lava lakes can be made and will reveal more about planetary volcanoes in the far reaches of our solar system.”

A resolution to accept state subsidies to fight coffee berry borer
is on Hawai`i County Council's agenda.

See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL HOLDS MEETINGS this week. Tomorrow, the council continues its consideration of county operating and capital improvements budgets.

Committees meet Tuesday, with Governmental Relations & Economic Development beginning at 9 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 10:15 a.m.; Planning, 11 a.m.; and Finance, 2 p.m.
The full council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo and are streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
The council will discuss a resolution authorizing the office of the mayor to enter into an agreement with the state Department of Agriculture for a coffee berry borer pesticide subsidy grant. The grant provides $450,000 to the county Research and Development Department to offer subsidies to farmers who purchase pesticides to combat the coffee berry borer.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu state office building.
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Ka`u's state Sen. Russell Ruderman

FEEDBACK ON THE KA`U DRAFT Community Development Plan is due tomorrow. The Steering Committee begins it review of comments from residents on Tuesday, June 9, when it meets at Na`alehu Community Center at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

Feedback forms are available at kaucdp.info. Copies of the draft are also available at local libraries and community centers.
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KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN hosts a talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ruderman will discuss newly passed legislation and seek input on bills to be introduced next year.
For more info, call 586-6890 or email senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_May2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Today is the final day for Ka`u residents to give feedback on the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan, with land use maps from the County General Plan.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. has submitted feedback regarding the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan. Today is the final day for Ka`u residents to provide feedback. The Steering Committee begins its review of comments from residents a week from tomorrow on Tuesday, June 9, when it meets at Na`alehu Community Center at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

OVCDC questions Ka`u CDP's recommendations for walkable, compact
urban centers.

OVCDC’s board of directors unanimously endorsed recommendations at a regularly scheduled meeting last Friday. “Many of our concerns have been addressed and mollified,” OVCDC stated. “Consequently, we find the current draft for public review to be much superior to prior iterations. There are, however, specific concerns that still need to be addressed.”
OVCDC calls for elimination of CDP recommendations for redevelopment of nonconforming subdivisions. “To our knowledge, there is no community interest and huge community opposition to any redevelopment or land readjustment schemes, punitive fees/taxes, taking of property in any form from Ocean View’s subdivisions,” OVCDC stated. “Since there is no community demand for such a plan, whose only proponent is the Planning Department, it should not be included in the CDP (thereby giving the false impression that it carries community support).”
OVCDC also called for planners to eliminate or modify recommendations for walkable, compact urban centers, stating that, “It doesn’t fit reality in Ka`u.”
OVCDC’s rationale is that the center of Ocean View “itself is not a center – the community center is two miles from the shopping areas, the park is two miles in the other direction, and the shopping areas are spread out on either side of state Hwy 11. Not safely or easily walkable.”
OVCDC also asks that the CDP modify the policy to “discourage intensive development in areas of high volcanic activity.” The hui compared such areas with those prone to tsunamis and concluded that high-risk lava zones are less dangerous than tsunami zones. “While the risk is real, it is very small,” according to OVCDC.
Feedback forms are available at kaucdp.info. Copies of the draft are also available at local libraries and community centers.
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George Szigeti

GEORGE SZIGETI HAS STARTED his new position as the president and CEO of Hawai`i Tourism Authority.

“We are pleased to welcome George,” said Aaron Sala, HTA board chair. “Our board is confident that his extensive business background and experience will make him an effective leader in ensuring a sustainable tourism economy for the state.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected by the HTA board of directors to lead the state’s tourism agency,’ Szigeti said. “There are a lot of people, not only in the industry but throughout our communities, who are impacted by tourism. They rely on us as an industry and as an agency to support one of Hawai`i’s largest economic drivers. I look forward to working with our staff, partners, government and community leaders to balance and maintain success for the industry and the state.”
Prior to joining HTA, Szigeti served as president and CEO of Hawai`i Lodging and Tourism Association, a statewide organization representing hotels, condominiums, timeshares and other visitor industry entities. During the three years under his leadership, HLTA reorganized its operations to enhance efficiency and productivity. As a result, Szigeti and his team helped increase the organization’s membership by 24 percent, grow its fundraising efforts to a record $1.87 million and enhance member and community participation in its Na Poe Pa`ahana, which recognizes visitor industry employees, and Citizenship Awards, which recognizes outstanding students from high schools statewide.
As an active community member, Szigeti has worked with various organizations that help support business and travel for Hawai`i. He currently serves on the Steering Committee for the Hawai`i Bowl and Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. He has also served as chair of the Hawai`i Food Industry Association, president of Hawai`i Liquor Wholesalers Association and as a board member of Hawai`i Foodbank, Hawai`i Restaurant Association and Hale `Aina `Ohana, which supports Hawai`i’s young chefs.

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LIFE OF THE LAND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Henry Curtis considers whether or not the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and Florida-based NextEra Energy is in the public interest in a blog entry at ililanimedia.blogspot.com.

According to Curtis, in order for the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission to approve the proposed merger, they must find that it is in the public interest.
Answering a question from Sun Edison, Curtis reported that NextEra stated, “Unless and until the proposed change of control is approved and consummated, NextEra Energy will be unable to identify the specific plans and projects that NextEra Energy could and would implement as the owner of the Hawaiian Electric Companies, as such plans and projects can only feasibly be developed after NextEra Energy has sufficient time and access to information and resources as owner to better understand the strengths and any limitations of the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ respective electric grids, systems, operations, and plans.
“Thus, NextEra Energy cannot at this time comment on the likelihood of its specific plans adopting most if not all of the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ clean energy plans previously filed with the Commission.”

Curtis concluded, “Thus, NextEra is asserting that during the merger debate they will go along with all of HECO’s plans, but once the merger is consummated they will re-evaluate everything.

Ledward Ka`apana plays Ipo Lei Manu
on the Aloha soundtrack.

“Hawai`i is the most isolated populated archipelago on the planet. How can it be in the public interest to turn over our valuable resources and our electric utilities to an entity that refuses to disclose what its real plans are?
“Once the merger is consummated, the HECO Companies would be a small part of a large company based 5,000 miles from here.”
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THE NEW MOVIE ALOHA FEATURES Hawaiian music by several musicians, including Ledward Ka`apana and Cyril Pahinui. Both have taught during Center for Hawaiian Music Studies workshops in Pahala.

Ka`apana plays Slack Key Lullaby (Live at the Nation State of Hawai`i) on the soundtrack, and Pahinui plays Ipo Lei Manu.
Videos on these songs and other music used on the soundtrack are at http://www.songonlyrics.net/soundtracks/aloha-soundtrack-list.html.
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U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD WAS ON CNN last week with Wolf Blitzer to discuss how the U.S. needs to provide resources and direct assistance to the Kurds and Sunni tribes to fight ISIS in the Middle East.
“The Kurds and the Sunni tribes, these are groups of people who have been tested and proven,” Gabbard said. “We fought shoulder-to-shoulder with them against Al-Qaeda in the past. They have the will to fight; they are our troops on the ground. They should be the ones we should be providing our primary support to.”

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`O KA`U KAKOU, A LOCAL VOLUNTEER organization, has awarded over $6,000 in scholarships to Ka`u residents. Scholarships are based on academic achievement, community service, honors, awards and a written essay.

The following are recipients and their respective colleges/universities: Kaweni Ibarra, CSU Sacramento; Emmett Enriques, California Baptist University; Denisha Navarro, Shoreline Community College; Rochelle Koi, University of Hawai`i; Tiare Shibuya, Hawai`i Community College; Kamrie Koi, University of Hawai`i; Kayla Andrade, University of Hawai`i; and Evan Enriques, Stanford University.
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Today is the deadline to enter Na`alehu's
Fourth of July parade.

INTERESTED IN BEING IN NA`ALEHU'S Fourth of July parade sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou? Today is the deadline to sign up. Call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL HOLDS meetings this week. Committees meet tomorrow, with Governmental Relations & Economic Development beginning at 9 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 10:15 a.m.; Planning, 11 a.m.; and Finance, 2 p.m.
The full council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo and are streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu state office building.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN hosts a talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ruderman will discuss newly passed legislation and seek input on bills to be introduced next year.
For more info, call 586-6890 or email senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

University of Hawai`i officials have announced plans to improve stewardship of lands UH leases at the summit of Mauna Kea.
Photo from UH

YESTERDAY, ON THE FIRST DAY of hurricane season, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center on O`ahu reported that a poorly organized yet persistent area of weak low pressure located about 1,200 miles southeast of Hilo was producing sporadic showers and thunderstorms. According to CPHC, upper level winds are not conducive for further development as the system tracks slowly toward the west. Today’s report mirrors yesterday’s, with forecasters saying the system, now 1,100 miles from Hilo, will not strengthen.

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A COMMITTEE OF THE STATE Charter School Commission last week approved changes in the projected enrollment of Ka`u Learning Academy, which is set to open for the next school year. KLA proposed, and it was approved, to reduce enrollment to 85 students, from grades three to six. Previous projections were to accommodate 111 students, but founders of the school requested the change because they believe “it is important to complete … pre-opening criteria as soon as possible.”

The change was recommended for approval by the staff of the state Charter School Commission.

Ka`u Learning Academy's requested changes have been approved.
Photo from KLA

Through the commission, licensed charter schools are provided with funds each year. Additional funding is often provided through grants and donations. Ka`u Learning Academy has been raising money through its Gilligan’s Café operations in the old Discovery Harbour golf course clubhouse where the school will be located.

Edmund C. Olson Trust II has donated two passenger vans to the charter school, and Gary McMickle, who owns 523 acres in the makai portion of Discovery Harbour and plans to build a lodge and shopping area near Wakea Avenue, has offered to donate five acres for a future campus in Discovery Harbour.
To read more about state funded charter schools, see chartercommission.hawaii.gov. On the About Commission tab, choose commission meeting info from drop-down list to see agendas and minutes from commission and committee meetings.
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HAWAI`I IS AMONG THE TOP 10 STATES in the nation regarding clean-energy adoption, according to a new report from Clean Edge, a renewable-energy research and advisory firm. Hawai`i improved its score by nearly five points in this year’s index to 56.5.

Chart from Clean Edge shows Hawai`i's nearly steady increase
in rankings for clean-energy adoption.

Hawai`i rejoins the top 10 after dropping to 12th last year. Other than last year, Hawai`i has climbed steadily up the ranks since placing 19th in Clean Edge’s inaugural index in 2010.
Hawai`i ranked third in Technology this year, after California and Oregon. According to the report, Hawai`i’s small island geography makes it ideal for electric vehicles and ranks second in the nation for EVs per capita. Hawai`i also placed ninth in green buildings per capita.
The report also highlighted Hawai`i state Legislature’s passage this year of the nation’s first statewide 100 percent renewable energy mandate.
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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I PRESIDENT David Lassner and UH-Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney will implement a plan for improved stewardship of Mauna Kea. They said Gov. David Ige’s statement last week, in which he listed actions for the university to take, is consistent with what they’ve have heard from the community. “We accept that the university has not yet met all of our obligations to the mountain or the expectations of the community,” they said. “For that, we apologize and lay out this outline of an action plan for improving our stewardship.

“Some of these implementation measures have been recommended to us in the past. As we move forward, we commit to increased engagement and active listening with the community, particularly from Kahu Ku Mauna, which has provided sage advice and guidance.”

According to the university officials, the Thirty Meter Telescope will be the last new observatory site developed on Maunakea, and any new observatories may only be placed on existing sites.

When Caltech Submillimeter Observatory ends operations in September, it will be the first observatory to implement the Decommissioning Plan for the Mauna Kea Observatories and should complete the process by 2018. Officials said they are discussing with directors of other observatories a definitive schedule of decommissioning Return of leased land to DLNR.

UH President David Lassner and UH-Hilo Chancellor Donald Straney
will implement a plan for improved stewardship of Mauna Kea.

The officials said they will consult with DLNR on how to identify and return to agency management lands that are currently part of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve that are not used for astronomy.
The officials will restart the Environmental Impact Statement process for the university’s new lease on the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, enabling them to include additional options for consideration and conduct a cultural impact assessment. They said the requested term of the new lease will be substantially less than a 65-year extension.
Regarding improved management of non-cultural access to Mauna Kea, in June, officials will begin a series of open house sessions for further public consultation, placing particular attention on the scope of rules on access. Draft rules are expected to be prepared by October to begin the formal public consultation phase of the rule-making process.
The university will work with Kahu Ku Mauna and other Native Hawaiian advisors to develop new cultural training and educational programs about Mauna Kea, including programs for visitors to ensure that all who visit Mauna Kea understand its cultural significance and how to respect the mountain.
Officials confirmed that the university is making, and will continue to make, full use of its observing time at Mauna Kea observatories.
Officials will discuss with sublessees the level of their investments in the operational and stewardship costs for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve as well as sublease payments under a new master lease.
UH will launch a campaign for new scholarship programs for Hawai`i Island and Native Hawaiian students to increase their participation in the sciences. The university will allocate a portion of its observing time to UH-Hilo for use in projects and programs to support greater participation and improved preparation of Hawai`i Island students for professional careers.
“I thank the University of Hawai`i for taking this initial step to improve the stewardship of Mauna Kea,” said Gov. David Ige. “I look forward to working together to make this plan a reality. Now comes the hard work as we move forward toward a new future for Mauna Kea.”
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Sciences Camps counselors Laura Baines and Jeff Gross.
Photo from Sciences Camps of America

SCIENCE CAMPS OF AMERICAN welcome new and returning staff this year. Bay Area Astronomy and Physics teacher Jeff Gross returns as an instructor/counselor. This will be Gross’ second summer at Science Camp. Gross is known for his great astronomy lessons and fantastic stories.
Laura Baines returns as Science Camps’ lifeguard/counselor.
Ashley Greenberg, a new instructor/counselor, holds a master of science degree from Johns Hopkins School of Education and is an elementary school teacher. When she was a teen herself, Greenberg went to the famous Space Camp in Alabama.

For the summer of 2015, Science Camps of America is hosting two sessions based at Pahala Plantation Cottages: Land & Sea Camp will be held June 29 – July 8, and Air & Space Camp from July 9 – 18.

Science Camp is a unique opportunity for teens to get out into the field to learn science, do science, meet scientists, make new friends and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each day, campers head out across the island to learn about volcanoes, the ocean, plants, animals, stars and more. A few scholarships and financial aid opportunities remain available. “Join us for this fantastic science learning adventure!” said founder Michael Richards.
View Science Camps itineraries and register for each session at sciencecampsamerica.com.
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Kamehameha Schools volleyball Coach Guy Enriques holds camps this summer.
Photo from Kamehameha Schools

KA`U STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO REGISTER for Kamehameha Schools’ volleyball camps.

All Day-All Night Volleyball Camp is for high school boys and girls, and a day camp is for elementary/middle school volleyball players.
Tuition for the high school sleep-over camp June 7-11 is $160 including snacks and three meals per day.
The day camp June 8-11 runs 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Cost is $115 or, with lunch, $140.
Kamehameha Coach Guy Enriques, of Punalu`u, heads the camps.
For more detailed information and registration, see blogs.ksbe.edu/hawaiiathletics/2015/04/24/boys-volleyball-program or contact Guy Enriques at 217-2253 or enriques@hawaii.rr.com or Kapua Serrao at 935.4508.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo. The meeting is streamed live at hawaiicounty.gov. Click on Council Meetings.
Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu state office building.

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Big Island Invasive Species Committee is battling albizia trees which, in Ka`u, dot the landscape in coffee and other agriculture fields. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

SENDING UP ROCKETS SOUTH OF KA LAE from a manmade raft may soon not be the only floating island activity in Hawaiian waters. A proposal to establish floating windmills in federal waters near Hawai`i will be presented today in Honolulu.

Duane Shimogawa, of Pacific Business News, reported that Alpha Wind Energy’s proposed $1.6 billion offshore wind energy project would be in federal waters off O`ahu’s northwest and southern coasts.
The project would consist of more than 100 turbines totaling 408 megawatts and would be the first floating offshore wind farm in the United States.
See bizjournals.com/pacific.
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HAWAI`I MEDICAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION recently filed a request with the state Insurance Division to raise premiums for individual Affordable Care Act health plans for 2016. The request for an average 49.1 percent increase is the highest premium increase the organization has ever requested. It will affect about three percent of membership and will cover the much higher than expected medical costs for these members.

Michael Gold

“At HMSA, we understand the frustration of rising health care costs,” said President and CEO Michael Gold. “We’re a local company that employs more than 1,600 Hawai`i residents. We care about all of our members who are often our family, friends and our neighbors.
“Our decision to ask for this premium increase was truly difficult. We explored every alternative for a smaller premium, but ultimately had to ask for this increase.”

According to Gold, almost everyone in Hawai`i already has health insurance from their employer, Med-QUEST or Medicare, and the small number of people left without coverage often had serious health conditions. Many of these previously uninsured people purchased HMSA’s ACA plans.

Because ACA plans are still new, this is the first time HMSA has been able to price these plans using actual claims and health information from these members. “We’ve learned many of these members are using substantially more medical services and prescription drugs than we expected,” Gold said. “Now we have a much clearer understanding of the true cost of caring for these members.”
This year, several thousand members from the Compact of Free Association countries, including Ka`u’s Marshallese community, purchased individual ACA health plans from HMSA. “These members came to us from the state Med-QUEST program, and we’re honored to serve them,” Gold said. “However, many of these members have conditions that will likely require intensive medical services and expensive prescription drugs.
“The ACA has helped thousands of Hawai`i residents get health coverage. That’s good for the well-being of our state. But it comes with a price that we’re seeing now,” Gold said.
According to Gold, other health plans around the country are reporting premium requests as high as 51 percent.
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`Imiloa lauches mobile education programs this fall.

MANU `IMILOA, A MOBILE OUTREACH program aimed at sharing `Imiloa Astronomy Center’s brand of culture-based science education across the island, begins this fall. MANU `Imiloa (Modern and Ancient ways of Navigating our Universe) will take `Imiloa staff on the road with an interactive curriculum inspired by the Polynesian Voyaging Society’s epic Worldwide Voyage and designed to explore skills involved in non-instrument ocean navigation, or wayfinding.

Outreach will be offered in two formats. NOIO (Non-instrument Orientation, an Introduction to Oceanic Wayfinding) is a 30-60 minute package that can be delivered on request by K-12 schools and community centers or offered as part of local events. Audiences of all ages gather around a model of the Hawaiian Star Compass or sit inside `Imiloa’s digital portable planetarium to learn how wayfinders rely upon stars and their relationship with the environment to determine course and direction.
The second offering, KOLEA (Keeping Our Legacy of Exploration Alive), is a two-week-plus curriculum package designed specifically for middle school teachers to adopt for seventh- and eighth-grade science or math classes. Titled The Geometry of Wayfinding, it explores the geometry and science that undergird traditional Polynesian non-instrumental navigation.
The 2015-2016 KOLEA program will be limited to a first cohort of 10 middle school teachers across Hawai`i Island. Applications close Saturday, August 15. Selection committee decisions will be announced by Sept.1.
For more information on `Imiloa outreach programs and costs, visit outreach page at www.imiloahawaii.org, email outreach@imiloahawaii.org or call 969-9721.
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Springer Kaye

THE FIRST MILESTONES IN A HAZARD mitigation plan to reduce the threat of albizia across East Hawai`i have been reached, according to Bill Buckley, albizia coordinator for the Big Island Invasive Species Committee. “This was all sugar cane into the 1990s, but now some of these trees are 200 feet tall, with massive trunks you can’t wrap your arms around,” Buckley said. The mile-long project created a 300-foot-wide buffer zone on either side of high-power transmission lines in North Hilo and Hamakua and included removal or treatment of more than 14,000 albizia trees.

Following Tropical Storm Iselle last year, stakeholders from all levels of government came together with private landowners at the behest of Sen. Brian Schatz to develop a plan for mitigation of the albizia threat.
“The message we’d really like to get across at this point is how 'do-able' this is,” said BIISC Manager Springer Kaye. “The stakeholders who deal with the trees every day developed this strategy. It’s cost effective, and it’s producing long-term results.”
Buckley’s team has treated an additional 16,000 trees on 200 acres, while hazard trees were managed by project partners, Hawai`i Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawai`i County Department of Public Works and Hawai`i Electric Light Co. Impacts are being carefully monitored by researchers at the U.S. Forest Service.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Russell Ruderman for $2.1 million to fund other portions of the mitigation plan did not make it to the full Senate for a vote this past session, but the Legislature did allocate $1.5 million to the Department of Transportation to address the albizia threat along state highways in 2016.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO VOTED FOR THE BIPARTISAN USA Freedom Act, which ends bulk-phone records collection by the government while preserving its authority to investigate terrorism. The measure passed the House last month 338-88 and passed the Senate 67-32.

“Today’s vote is a key first step in our ongoing effort to balance our national security and civil liberties,” Hirono said. “I will continue to fight to ensure there are responsible and effective approaches to strengthening privacy protections for law-abiding Americans while preserving our national security.

“As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am focused on keeping Americans safe, both here and abroad. We live in a world where terrorism is a serious threat to our country, our economy and to American lives. Our government needs appropriate surveillance and anti-terrorism tools to keep us safe, but it’s Congress’ job to ensure those tools strike the right balance between national security and protecting our privacy rights.
“The PATRIOT Act’s bulk-phone records collection program does not strike the right balance. I agree with the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals and a large bipartisan coalition that the NSA’s bulk collection of phone records exceeds Congressional authority.”

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Sen. Russell Ruderman

KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN hosts a talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ruderman will discuss newly passed legislation and seek input on bills to be introduced next year.
For more info, call 586-6890 or email senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.

NATURAL FARMING HAWAI`I HOLDS a potluck meeting Tuesday, June 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Komohana Ag Research Center in Hilo. Participants learn how to understand the benefits of natural farming down to their smallest detail by using a microscope.
According to Natural Farming Hawai`i, “Soil isn’t just a dead medium in which crops grow; it’s a matrix of living things, some beneficial, some harmful. In healthy soil, microorganisms interact in complementary ways, but pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers can disrupt that balance.”
The presentation at the meeting covers how to use the microscope, how to identify bacteria, fungus and nematodes and what all this means for soil health.
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New technology called WindFloat would allow wind turbines with towers as high as 300 feet to float in the ocean near Hawai`i,
connected to cables that would send electricity to land, according to Alpa Wind Energy. Photo from WindFloat

PROPOSALS FOR WINDMILL FARMS FLOATING IN THE OCEAN NEAR HAWAI`I drew concerns from military and environmental groups, as well as government agencies yesterday in Honolulu. The windpower project is proposed by a company from Denmark, the country that banned nuclear power and achieved the highest proportion of wind electricity in the world. Denmark produces from 23 percent to 61 percent of its power from wind each month, depending on how much the wind blows. Denmark has land windmills and nearshore and offshore wind turbine fields, with more planned in the Baltic and North Seas.
The Hawai`i venture comes from the Danish company Alpha Wind Energy, which would spend $1.6 billion to install 102 wind turbines, each as tall as 300 feet, and underwater cables sending the electricity to land. The first project would be two sites more than ten miles offshore of O`ahu, in federally managed waters, and Alpha contends it could produce 30 percent of that island’s electricity. As in Denmark, additional alternative energy could be produced by more solar. For the wind energy, Alpha would use a new technology called WindFloat, designed to make it unnecessary to extend the wind turbine towers to the bottom of the ocean, which is very deep around Hawai`i, according to a report by Casey Tolen from fusion.net. Tolen wrote that Alpha is still studying WindFloat's ability to resist hurricanes.

Whether the heavy construction of WindFloat can handle hurricanes is
under study. Photo from WindFloat

According to a story in this morning’s Honolulu Star Advertiser, the concerns came during a meeting yesterday sponsored by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Writer Kathryn Mykleseth reports: “NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said they wanted to know more about the effect the turbines and the cables that connect them to O`ahu would have on marine life. The Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration were concerned how the turbines would impact aircraft and vessel communication. The Coast Guard is concerned that electromagnetic fields might disrupt vessels’ navigation systems, said Ulysses Mullins, prevention department head at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu.
“The FAA said it would be interested in how the wind farms would affect the airways as the turbines may give false radar readings…. Community members requested that the public be considered by the agencies as a stakeholder. Ron Tam, secretary of the Hawai‘i Fishermen’s Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, said he was worried about the wind farms’ influence on deep-water and nearshore fishing.” See more at www.fusion.net and www.staradvertiser.com
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RAW DATA AND OPINIONS on the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan can be seen online. Speak-Out Comments, Focused Discussion Notes, Written Comments and Comments Submitted Online or by Email by the deadline of June 1 are posted for public review at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/plan-input/march-june-2015-public-comment-on-the-draft-cdp.
The next phase in the CDP process begins during a Steering Committee meeting next Tuesday, June 9, starting at 5:30pm at Nāʻālehu Community Center. Purpose is to review community input and prepare for future Steering Committee meetings. During future meetings, the Committee will consider specific CDP revisions in preparation for recommending a final draft of the Ka‘ū CDP for approval by the County Council. While public comment on agenda items is welcome at Steering Committee meetings, the Tuesday session is not designed as an opportunity for additional or repeated comment on the Draft CDP, says a memo from the county planning department Senior Long Range Planner Ron Whitmore.
Anyone with questions can contact Steering Committee members or Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin. Contact information is available at the project website www.kaucdp.info.
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DOUBLETREE BY HILTON will be the new branding for the Hilo Naniloa Hotel and Golf Course, a project funded by Ka`u coffee Mill owner Edmund C. Olson Trust and partners, led by Tower Development president Ed Bushor. According to a report in Pacific Business News, the hotel is undergoing a $16 million renovation and will continue to be managed by Aqua Hospitality. Bushor told PBN that a national chain restaurant, with farm-to-table reputation, will be announced soon to handle three meals a day at the hotel. The old music venue, the Crown Room, will become Willie K’s @ the Crown Room. There is also a plan for a Museum Bar in the lobby and involvement of marine artist Wyland.
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TRAPPING, SHOOTING FROM HELICOPTERS AND STAFF HUNTING of feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon and mouflon/feral sheep hybrids are scheduled for June, July and August on Mauna Kea and local hunters and the public can apply for permits to retrieve the meat. The elimination of invasive ungulates on Mauna Kea has been going on for generations, including a roundup in 1935 when more than 50,000 feral sheep were captured. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, will conduct the new animal control activities this summer within palila critical habitat in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve (Unit A), Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve (Unit K), and the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area (Unit G).

A 1935 roundup on Mauna Kea captured more than 35,000 feral sheep.
Photo from DLNR

According to a DLNR statement, aerial shooting is required for compliance with the federal court order mandating removal of sheep and goats from critical habitat for palila, a bird endemic to Hawai‘i. Control schedules are June 24 and 25, July 28 and 29, and August 26.
Public access to Mauna Kea Forest Reserve from Waikahalulu gulch, north to Kemole, and east to Pu‘u Kole, Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve, the Ka‘ohe Game Management Area and Mauna Kea Hunter Access Road will be restricted and allowed by permit only for animal salvage purposes beginning at 7 a.m. on June 24 and 25, July 28 and Aug. 26 and 27.

Ungulates destroy the habitat of the palila bird.
Photo from DLNR

The Mauna Kea Observatory Road will remain open. However, temporary closure, states DLNR, “is needed to minimize the dangers of incompatible uses in the forest area and safely conduct animal control activities.” Hale Pohaku and Kilohana gated entrances to Unit A and G and the gate behind Mauna Kea Recreation Area will be locked/reopened as follows: Locked 8 p.m. June 23, reopened 7 p.m. June 25; locked 8 p.m. July 27, reopened 7 p.m. July 29; and locked 8 p.m. Aug. 25, reopened 7 p.m. Aug. 27.
Due to high public participation, telephone call-ins to the DOFAW Kamuela Office at 887-6063 for salvage permits will be from 9 a.m. June 17 to 10 a.m. the day before each shoot day. One permit will be issued per call per vehicle for one day only. Applicants can have names added to a stand-by list for additional days, should all slots not be filled by other applicants. No standbys waiting at the gates will be allowed access. Driver, occupants, vehicle license plate, and make/model of vehicle are needed when calling in. A maximum of 15 permitted vehicles will be allowed at the Pu‘u Kohi location.

Carcasses taken during the shoot will be available to the permitted public for salvage (4-wheel drive vehicles required, and access permits will be issued). There is no guarantee that animals will be able to be salvaged. Salvage locations, which are subject to change, are set for June 24 and 25, and July 28 and 29, and 26 and 27, 2015, at Pu‘u Ko‘ohi. Permittees must meet at Mauna Kea Recreation Area at 7 a.m. sharp.

Contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo at 974-4221 or in Kamuela at 887-6063 for additional details regarding meat salvage or access permits.

See more on invasives on Mauna Kea at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/restoremaunakea/home/threats.
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Ka`u ranchers and farmers are invited to display at Taste.
Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U FOOD PRODUCERS are invited to display and sample their products at the 20th annual Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agricultural Festival on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The ag showcase again offers a free opportunity for Hawai‘i farmers, ranchers and food producers to hookup with participating chefs and attendees during the 6-8 p.m. Taste. The event is also open for agricultural and sustainability-themed organizations wanting to present informational displays.
Producers and ag-related educational organizations interested in participating may signup online at www.tasteofthehawaiianrange.com or by contacting Christine Osterwalder,christine@vividgecko.com, 808-895-4987. The deadline is July 31.
Taste headlines 35 statewide chefs who dazzle diners using various cuts of forage-fed meats and a cornucopia of island fruits, vegetables and other farm products. Also on tap is a 3 p.m. culinary activity, Cooking Pasture-Raised Beef 101, presented by celebrity chef and James Beard winner Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s Restaurants.

Pre-sale tickets for Taste are $45 and $60 at the door. Entry to Cooking 101 is $10 while the 1:30 p.m. class is free. Tickets go on sale July 1 at islandwide locations and online at www.TasteoftheHawaiianRange.com. Watch for ticket giveaways on Facebook at Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Twitter #TasteHI. For general event information, phone 969-8228.
The ag-tourism event is a partnership between CTAHR, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association, Hawai`i Cattlemen’s Council, Kulana Foods, UH-Hilo CAFNRM, County of Hawai`i Dept. on Environmental Management and community volunteers. Sponsorship also includes the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, Hawai`i County Research and Development, Hawai`i Community College Food Service & Culinary Program and KTA SuperStores.
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EAST KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN hosts a talk story at Cooper Center in Volcano Village this evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ruderman will discuss newly passed legislation and seek input on bills to be introduced next year. For more info, call 586-6890 or email senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.

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

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A talk story session about Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's draft general management plan, wilderness study and environmental impact statement is coming up next week. NPS Photo by Jay Robinson

WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION has approved HOVE Road Maintenance Corp.’s petition to intervene in hearings about expansion of mining activities in Ocean View, according to Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today. The board, which manages roads in Ocean View, will provide evidence and question witnesses regarding proposals to expand quarrying of cinder and rock.

Jill Raznov

Peter Dahlberg, an engineer who represents Arrow of Oregon and David and Laura Rodrigues, told Cook Lauer HOVE Road Maintenance Corp. is “asking for a lot of expensive tests that are not relevant to the mining activity.’
The organization collects assessments from property owners to maintain 157 miles of private roads in the subdivision. According to Cook Lauer, it can also assess heavy trucks $1,000 per vehicle annually to use the roads there.
Dahlberg also said the companies have agreed to setbacks from roads and other safety measures, “but they aren’t enough for the road company.”
Jill Raznov, a Hilo attorney representing the road company, said it needs to be able to set parameters to help regulate the mining companies’ activity. “These must be mandated and required to ensure the safety of life and property,” Raznov said. “We’re talking about a history of noncompliance.”
David Rodrigues told Cook Lauer, “We are willing to work with Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Road Maintenance Corp. for a fair assessment.”
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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THE STATE OF HAWAI`I IS TAKING STEPS to ensure a smooth transition for individuals seeking health care insurance in the November 2015 Open Enrollment following closure of Hawai`i Health Connector.

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services informed the Connector last week that federal funds were no longer available to support its long-term operations. Hawai`i Health Connector, a private nonprofit entity, has been unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain operations.

Viability of state health insurance exchanges has been a challenge across the country, particularly in small states, due to insufficient numbers of uninsured residents. Hawai`i has a high rate of insured residents due to employer-based health care coverage and Medicaid program expansions.
“The state is working with the Connector and CMS to determine what functions can be transitioned to state oversight to ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act by the next Open Enrollment,” said Gov. David Ige.
Hawai`i Health Connector’s consumer support operations will continue to assist with November Open Enrollment.
Based on ongoing discussions with the state and the Connector, CMS has agreed to provide limited funds for the transition so that Hawai`i can maintain a Supported State-based Marketplace. The amount of CMS transition funds has yet to be determined.
“The state remains committed to offering health care coverage through the Prepaid Health Care Act as it has for the past 40 years,” Ige said. “The state continues to provide millions of dollars to serve 300,000 Hawai`i adults and children who receive health care coverage through Medicaid.”
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF LAND & Natural Resource’s Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands will lead development of a statewide Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Report in coordination with the Interagency Climate Adaptation Committee. ICAC, which is tasked with delivering the SLR Report to the Legislature by the end of 2017, held its first meeting on Wednesday.

OCCL Administrator Sam Lemmo said, “The SLR Report will serve as the framework to address other climate-related threats and climate change adaptation priorities, ultimately leading to a Climate Adaptation Plan for the state, which will be prepared by the state Office of Planning. Over the next two and a half years we will meet regularly, engage climate change experts and keep the citizens of Hawai`i informed of our progress and recommendations to combat the negative impacts of sea level rise and other climate change threats.”

DLNR Chair Suzanne Case, who co-chairs ICAC with the director of the state Office of Planning, said, “The work of the ICAC is among the highest priority work we will do over the next few years. Beach erosion, drought, coral bleaching and rising ocean temperatures are already having measurable impacts on Hawai`i and are expected to accelerate in coming years. These threats include impacts to our host culture, including impacts to coastal artifacts and structures and reduced availability of traditional food sources and subsistence fisheries.”

Sen. Brian Schatz

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U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ, A MEMBER of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, introduced the School Building Fairness Act of 2015, legislation that would provide federal grants to states and local school districts to help them build, repair and renovate school facilities.

“When students are in a safe, well-maintained school environment, it improves their ability to learn and gives them a better shot at success. Today, a majority of our public schools in Hawai`i and across the country are in disrepair. It’s unacceptable,” Schatz said. “My bill invests in our students, giving states and local school districts the resources to build better schools and better futures for every student.”
In 2014, a report found that a majority of public schools in the country were in need of modernization or repair with the estimated cost totaling $197 billion nationwide. Today, despite the clear need and poor conditions of many public schools, federal funding is usually not available for school facilities.
The School Building Fairness Act is supported by U.S. Green Building Council, Rebuild America’s Schools, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, North America’s Building Trades Unions, AFL-CIO, Californians for School Facilities and Healthy Schools Network, Inc.
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THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO A TALK STORY session about the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park draft general management plan, wilderness study and environmental impact statement at Kilauea Visitor Center June 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, a formal wilderness hearing will be held during this meeting to receive comments specific to the wilderness study. Park representatives will answer questions and take comments.

General management plans are intended to be long-term documents that establish and articulate a management philosophy and framework for decision-making and problem-solving in national parks. In the 548-page document, three alternatives for Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park are presented for review. Each alternative offers a different approach to protecting and managing park resources, using facilities and providing a range of access and visitor experiences to meet the needs of local residents, off-island visitors and students of all ages. These alternatives were developed with the intent to include and celebrate Native Hawaiian values such as malama `aina (nourishing and taking care of the land) and kuleana (responsibility).
These alternatives are the result of five years of public scoping and comment, interdisciplinary research, field assessments, stakeholder discussions and Native Hawaiian consultation and are based upon the park’s purpose and significance, issues that need to be addressed, legal mandates and public comments provided on preliminary alternatives.  

To review the DGMP/WS/EIS and provide comments online, see parkplanning.nps.gov/havogmp. Comments can also be mailed to Superintendent, Attn: DGMP/WS/EIS, PO Box 52, Hawai`i National Park, HI 96718-0052. The public comment period is open through June 30.

Punalu`u Bake Shop's cookie kitchen
opens tomorrow.

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PUNALU`U BAKE SHOP COOKIE KITCHEN Grand Opening is tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Na`alehu, featuring entertainment and food. Call 929-7343 for more information.

THE QUEST FOR LIQUID LIGHT: Going with the Flow opens tomorrow. The exhibit features fine art photography by G. Brad Lewis. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Opening reception is tomorrow at 5 p.m.

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kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

Sen. Russell Ruderman discussed the 2015 state Legislature at Cooper Center in Volcano Thursday. Photos by Ron Johnson

KA`U’S STATE SEN. RUSSELL RUDERMAN reviewed the 2015 Legislature during a talk story in Volcano Thursday. Ruderman said his focus during this last session was on strengthening agricultural and food security. “As always, I am actively working on environmental stewardship, improving energy self-sufficiency and reliance, increasing educational support for our children, more diverse economic development and extending our community health funding and emergency services,” he said.

Ruderman expressed passion for issues
that affect Puna and Ka`u.

Accomplishments during his chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee included passing out a considerable and wide-ranging amount of legislation to help small local family farms and address invasive pests, cottage foods, good ag practices, ag workforce initiatives and an industrial hemp pilot project.
The Legislature also established a Farm-to-School coordinator in the Department of Agriculture to help farmers’ products become part of school menus, a medical marijuana dispensary system, a commitment by DOA and chair Scott Enright to begin a statewide farmer hemp project, insurance coverage for autism and a commitment by Department of Health to expand the cottage food program, which would allow certain products made in non-certified kitchens to be sold on a limited basis. Ruderman said that if DOH fails to develop rules, the Legislature would once again take up a bill that it dropped following DOH’s commitment.
Other milestones Ruderman listed include funding for albizia control, funding to fight the coffee berry borer and macadamia felted coccid and tax credits for residents forced to convert cesspools to septic systems.
Ruderman also said capital improvement project funding of $285,000 will go to Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences for plans, design and construction of a certified commercial kitchen.
Ruderman encouraged his Ka`u constituents to contact him on proposing legislation to improve the quality of life for everyone here and throughout Hawai`i. “Your active participation in the legislative process is paramount to making change for the better!” he said. Contact Ruderman at 974-4000 + 66890 or senruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov.
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Kealoha Pisciotta Photo from KAHEA

HAWAI`I SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR an appeal by Mauna Kea Hui regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope. The hui asked to have the case, which questions the conservation district use permit granted to University of Hawai`i-Hilo, transferred from an appellate court to the Supreme Court because it “involves a question of imperative or fundamental public importance.” According to the hui, this is one of the criteria the Supreme Court considers in granting applications for transfer.

A court document lists defendants as Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, Clarence Kukaukahi Ching, Flores-Case `Ohana, Deborah J. Ward, Paul K. Neves and KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance.
The grant of transfer comes in the wake of what the hui referred to as University of Hawai`i-Hilo’s “public concessions of its mismanagement of Mauna Kea and agreements to Gov. David Ige’s plans for purported ‘improvements’ on Mauna Kea, all of which fall short because they were premised on continued support of the TMT project.”
“These are interesting, to say the least, given the University’s vigorous opposition in legal battles,” said Richard Wurdeman, the hui’s lawyer.
Ward said the court’s decision to hear the case is “heartening,” and Kealoha Pisciotta, of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou, said, “This is good news and recognizes the importance of our case for all of Hawai`i.”
The case may bear on ways conservation districts islandwide will be treated. CDUPs, which are variances for construction in conservation districts, can be granted only if a project meets eight criteria, including absence of substantial adverse impact, preservation of natural beauty and consistency with conservation district purposes.
“The transfer signals that the Hawai`i Supreme Court, in unanimity, believes that the so-called TMT CDUP deserves the utmost legal scrutiny and priority,” said Clarence Kukaukahi Ching.
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William S. Richardson School of Law hosts a symposium
on Hawai`i's new Environmental Court.

HAWAI`I’S ENVIRONMENTAL COURT begins on July 1. The state Legislature passed a measure creating the court in 2014, making Hawai`i only the second state to have an Environmental Court. More than 350 of the courts now exist in 41 countries.

The court is a division of circuit courts and district courts that will hear proceedings arising from certain environmental laws. Environmental disputes are currently dealt with in a variety of courts. According the bill, “this organizational structure inadvertently promotes inconsistent application of the wide variety of environmental laws. The purpose of this act is to promote and protect Hawai`i’s natural environment through consistent and uniform application of environmental laws.
“The Legislature also finds that the continued maintenance and improvement of Hawai`i’s environment requires constant vigilance and continued stewardship,” the bill reads, “to ensure its lasting beauty, cleanliness, uniqueness and the stability of its natural systems, all of which enhance the mental and physical well-being of Hawai`i’s people.
“The Legislature further finds that Hawai`i’s natural resources are compromised every day resulting in numerous violations of the law. An environmental court will better ensure that the state upholds its constitutional obligation to protect the public trust for the benefit of all beneficiaries.”
A symposium on the Environmental Court takes place on Friday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at William S. Richardson School of Law in Honolulu. For more information and to register by June 19, email hiectsymposium@gmail.com.
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KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN’S Steering Committee starts the next phase in the CDP process during a meeting Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

Leina`ala Enos chairs the Ka`u CDP
Steering Committee, which meets
Tuesday in Na`alehu.

During this meeting, the Steering Committee will not be discussing or making any decisions about revisions to the Draft CDP. Planner Ron Whitmore said the purpose of the meeting is to review community input and prepare for future Steering Committee meetings. During those future meetings, the committee will consider specific CDP revisions in preparation for recommending a final draft of the CDP for approval by County Council.

Though public comment on agenda items is always welcome at Steering Committee meetings, this meeting is not designed as an opportunity for additional or repeated comment on the Draft CDP, according to Whitmore.
In preparation for Tuesday’s meeting, planners are finalizing an organized summary of community feedback on the Draft CDP. The raw data is available online at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/plan-input/march-june-2015-public-comment-on-the-draft-cdp.

Feedback from John Cross, land manager for Edmund C. Olson Trust II, states that the trust "opposes the apparent policy matter where Farm Dwellings would not be allowed on subdivided Agriculturally zoned parcels. The most basic element of land and home ownership for a farmer is living on the land he farms; all farmers want this. The other need is for a farmer to gain equity in the land and build wealth for his family. Land and home ownership gives someone the ability to grow and develop, to make better than where they once started."
Cross said that Whitmore indicated that this policy statement was going to be clarified, and its reference was to restrict home construction (ownership) on Leased or Licensed land. Cross said the trust agrees with that clarification in language.
"The tust strongly believes that judicious subdividing of lands for sale to farmers or ranchers is one of the quickest ways to bring economic wealth to the district," Cross wrote. "'Judicious' is used as a reference to those measures that are currently employed by the Planning Department when a subdivision is applied for. There are many checks and balances within the county process that will assure that subdivisions are planned appropriately and serve the best needs of the District and its residents."
For more information, contact Steering Committee members or Community Planning Assistant Nalani Parlin. Contact information is available at the project website (www.kaucdp.info).
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A GUIDED, 2.5-MILE, MODERATELY difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Kahuku Unit.

The seventh annual Volcano Pottery Sale is coming up Friday and Saturday.

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE is coming up Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year, 14 Big Island potters and ceramicists will participate in the annual sale at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus where browsers and buyers can meet artists and view their many unique pottery styles all at one venue.
In addition to the sale, the event features a special exhibition of potters’ new works, and the public is invited to bid for them in a silent auction. There will also be a wheel-throwing demonstration on Saturday.
Thai food by Aunty Po’s Cafe will be available for purchase on Friday, and Volcano Hanabi will have sushi and bentos on Saturday. Tea Hawai`i will provide Volcano-grown tea for your tasting pleasure.
For more information, call 985-8530.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Bobby Gomes and the Pahala Kupuna hula group entertain for the new cookie kitchen grand opening at Punalu`u Bake Shop.
Photo by Julia Neal

A NEW COOKIE KITCHEN for Punalu`u Bake Shop opened to the public yesterday just off Highway 11 in Na`alehu. Fellowship, food and entertainment were on the agenda. Punalu`u Bake Shop recently grew its cookie baking business through contracts with Hawaiian Airlines and other buyers that require additional baking capacity, as the employment for Ka`u residents grew to a team of 40.

Robert Taylor, of Taylor Built Construction Co., Inc.; Arnie Koss, Managing
Partner of Punalu`u Bake Shop; General Manager Connie Koi; Architect
Lloyd Sueda; and owner Duane Kurisu. Photo by Pamela Taylor

The new building’s architect is Lloyd Sueda, of Sueda and Associates, and contractor is Bob Taylor, of Taylor-Built Construction Co., Inc. County Council member Maile Medeiros David presented a certificate from the council yesterday, commending Punalu`u Bake Shop for its steadily growing success and teamwork among employees and with the community.
Managing partner Arnie Koss called General Manager Connie Koi and her Administrative Assistant Bernay Lorenzo “the backbone of this place” and said they are vigilant in their pursuit for excellence. To sell its Punalu`u Sweetbread and numerous other products, Punalu`u Bake Shop recently took its island delivery in-house, with new vehicles, drivers and a local marketing manager, Koss noted.
Owner Duane Kurisu, who grew up in a sugar plantation camp, said “Ka`u is a special place.” He said that the addition of the cookie kitchen is another step in sharing the staff’s quality, care and “love with the world.”
Connie Koi also recognized the crew for the expansion of the business, with new state, mainland and international markets on the horizon. One by one, she named every employee in the business to thank them.

Ka`u's Hawai`i County Council member presented a proclamation
to Punalu`u Bake Shop and General Manager Connie Koi.
Photo by Ron Johnson

Music for the event was by Brad Llanes and Ti Chun. The Pahala Kupuna Hula group with Bobby Gomes performed, as did Punalu`u Bake Shop staff members Jolene Moses and Miss Ka`u Coffee 2013 Tiare-Lee Shibuya. Kahu Brian Borshard gave the blessing. Miss Ka`u Coffee 2015 Maria Miranda was on hand to welcome guests. Emcee was Punalu`u Bake Shop retail clerk Mandi Andrade.
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USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY is hosting scientists from New Zealand and Alaska who are studying volcanic impacts. The scientists are here to focus on impacts of three globally relevant volcanic hazards: volcanic ash, volcanic gas and lava flows. They are funded in part by a joint U.S.-New Zealand Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation that supports international partnerships to co-develop advances in research, science and technology.
The team includes USGS geologist Kristi Wallace from Alaska Volcano Observatory and her New Zealand counterparts: Graham Leonard, from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences; Carol Stewart, from Massey University; and Tom Wilson, from the University of Canterbury. All are part of an international working group on volcanic ash.

Manager Connie Koi, with emcee Mandi Andrade, introduced
Punalu`u Bake Shop employees serving food in the new
cookie kitchen. Photo by Ron Johnson

HVO scientists discuss the working group’s objectives in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
“The working group’s mission is to provide guidance to people, businesses and communities facing potential impacts from volcanic ash,” the article states. “They work in close cooperation with the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network to understand impacts of ash on agriculture, infrastructure, water supplies and human health. Surprisingly, there is very little rigorous documentation of the effects of ash on these critical aspects of human activities. The New Zealand government has made it possible for the team to travel to sites of recent explosive eruptions to study how people were impacted and how they coped.
“New Zealand scientists in the working group have also conducted novel laboratory experiments to examine the impact of ash-fall on common electronics like computers and air-conditioning units. Imagine, for example, a desktop computer in an enclosed chamber. Now flip the switch and blast some gritty, abrasive, slightly acidic volcanic ash of varying concentrations into the chamber to see how well the hard drive, power supply and fan continue to function. (It turns out that they are surprisingly resilient.)
“Even Kilauea and Mauna Loa have ash-producing eruptions from time to time, and the current activity at the summit of Kilauea occasionally sends small qualities of ash downwind. So, despite the team’s focus on recurring ash eruptions from charismatic stratovolcanoes such as Mt. St. Helens, Hawai`i and HVO will gain something from their efforts.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda and the big
dough mixer at Punalu`u Bake Shop's new
cookie factory. Photo by Julia Neal

“The second objective of this international team is to learn about the impacts of Kilauea Volcano’s June 27th lava flow and ongoing volcanic gas emissions on people, infrastructure and agriculture here in Hawai`i. As Puna residents know all too well, the June 27th lava flow buried a road, destroyed one house, partially inundated a new solid-waste transfer station and threatened utility poles. Meanwhile at the summit of Kilauea, volcanic gas emissions continue to spread over the Island of Hawai`i and indeed the entire state.
“The scientists are also interested in how people who call the Puna District home deal with the stresses related to living on one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The team will be meeting with representatives from business and government to gather insights into how communities and individuals cope with the threat of lava inundation.
“Hawai`i is a spectacular laboratory for studying the ways in which people try to live in harmony with volcanoes and other natural hazards. For two weeks, scientists will be looking for insights that they can share with other citizens of planet Earth who find themselves in similar situations.”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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KA`U STUDENTS WHO LOVE NATURE and being outdoors, love a challenge and like to help plants and animals grow are invited to Agricultural Career Day for Youth a week from today on Sunday, June 14 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Anna Ranch in Waimea. Participants learn about mentorship, internship and educational opportunities, as well as find out how they can build a career in agriculture – feeding their community and the world.
“There is a wide variety of jobs in agriculture and supporting services going on right here on Hawai`i Island,” said Ka`u rancher Michelle Galimba. Topics at the event include Educational, Internship, Mentorship Opportunities; Careers in Agricultural Support & Science; Careers in Agriculture Production & Natural Resource Management; and Careers in Agricultural Processing and Marketing.

General manager Connie Koi and Kahu Brian Borshard, who
gave the Hawaiian blessing. Photo by Julia Neal

John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, and Zach Mermel, of Forest Team, give presentations on Natural Resource Management.
Farming presentations are provided by Derrick Kiyabu, of The Kohala Center; Mike Hodson, of Wow Farms; James Twigg-Smith, of Pacific Biodiesel; and Reggie Hasegawa, of Crop Production Services.
Ainahou Animal Center’s Brady Bergin discusses veterinarian Internships. Chris English and Sabrina White, of Ponoholo Ranch; Sara Moore, of Kealia Ranch; Jill Mattos, of Hawai`i Beef Producers; and Linus Tavares, of Farm Credit Services present more programs related to livestock.
This free event is open to students nine to 18 years of age and their parents or guardians. For more information, contact Galimba at mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com or 808-430-4927.
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KA`U RESIDENT CHRIS MANFREDI ASKED Ka`u Community Development Planners to justify removal of existing urban expansion areas from the draft document in feedback he provided regarding the Draft CDP. According to Manfredi, the CDP recommends shrinking such areas in Na`alehu and eliminating a major one adjacent to Pahala without an alternative area identified.

Bradley Llanes and Sonny Ancheta are bakers at the new facility.
Photo by Julia Neal

“As Ka`u grows, so too will its need for housing,” Manfredi wrote. “As written, the CDP will not allow a farm dwelling on a subdivided farm, and there are scant areas adjacent to Pahala for the community to expand. When questioned, the county planner (Ron Whitmore) stated there was ‘no obvious need’ for an alternative Urban Expansion area adjacent to Pahala.”
Manfredi asked, “Has the County examined the projected demand for agricultural workers and related housing over the expected life span of the CDP? How many acres will be planted in various crops surrounding the Pahala area over the life span of the CDP? What data did the county use to determine the number of workers required to service these farms during peak harvest seasons?”
More of Manfredi’s and other residents’ feedback is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/plan-input/march-june-2015-public-comment-on-the-draft-cdp.
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KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center to discuss feedback received during the draft document comment period and plan future meetings. The public is invited. Though public comment on agenda items is always welcome at Steering Committee meetings, this meeting is not designed as an opportunity for additional or repeated comment on the Draft CDP, according to planner Ron Whitmore. For information about the CDP, see kaucdp.info.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Hawksbill nesting season is underway, with many sites along the Ka`u Coast monitored by Hawksbill Recovery Project personnel. Photo by Dave Berry

HAWKSBILL TURTLE NESTING SEASON has just begun and continues through December. Punalu`u and Kawa are popular nesting sites for the endangered species, along with Kamehame, on the shore below Pahala, and other remote sites along the Ka`u Coast. Protectors of the turtles, guided by the Hawksbill Recovery Project based at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, often camp overnight to prevent dogs, cats, rats, mongoose and other animals from dining on the eggs, as well as to prevent human disturbance. At Punalu`u, it is common to see a fence around nests with signage warning onlookers to keep away.

With the return of nesting season, Hawksbill Recovery Project personnel will
again work to protect nests along the Ka`u Coast. Photo by Dave Berry

While Punalu`u is a popular site for watching turtles, it is the hawksbill, or honu`ea, and not the green sea turtle, honu, that nests there. Green sea turtles live all year long at Punalu`u, except when they swim off to a remote atoll to lay their eggs. The hawksbills live out at sea and only come in for nesting.
Lauren Kurpita, project coordinator for the Hawksbill Recovery Project, told Ivy Ashe, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, that more than 90 percent of documented hawksbill nesting has taken place on Hawai`i Island. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hawksbills also nest on Maui, Moloka`i and O`ahu.
Kurpita said most monitoring takes place along the coastline of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and other Ka`u coastal locations.
According to Ashe, honu`ea take 20 years to reach maturity, and they are subject to predation throughout their lifetimes, making their recovery slow. They also only nest every three to five years.
See more at http://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/nature/turtles.htm and at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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REPRESENTING NANI KAHUKU `AINA, a proposed Ka`u Coast resort development makai of Ocean View, Tom Schnell, senior associate at PBR Hawai`i, offered written feedback regarding the draft Ka`u Community Development Plan during the public review period.

Schnell requested that areas of Nani Kahuku `Aina’s property designated Conservation and Extensive Agriculture follow the State Land Use District Conservation and Agricultural District boundaries, “if these areas do not match already.”

Tom Schnell

Schnell also suggested that the CDP’s policy about setbacks of development along the coast “be deleted in its entirety. We feel that: 1) a setback at 1,320 feet (1/4 mile) is too arbitrary; and 2) there are other protections already in place to account for the “science-based assessment” criteria listed. As an alternative, we could support a setback policy based on erosion rates, as Maui County and Kaua`i County have already established such regulations.”
Schnell also noted that previous changes requested have not been made in the most recent draft.
According to the draft CDP, Nani Kahuku `Aina filed a petition with the County Planning Department for an interim amendment to the General Plan to allow development of a cultural center, resort and mixed-use town near the shoreline makai of Ocean View. The draft states, “Before finishing the Final Environmental Impact Statement required to complete the petition, Nani Kahuku `Aina abandoned the project and initiated talks with The Trust for Public Land, the National Park and the county about acquisition of the parcel or a portion of it.”
Schnell requested that the sentence regarding abandonment and acquisition be replaced with, “As of Sept. 2013, Nani Kahuku `Aina has not advanced the petition.”
More of Schnell’s and others’ feedback is available at hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/plan-input/march-june-2015-public-comment-on-the-draft-cdp.
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HAWAI`I STATE SENATE, under new president Sen. Ronald Kouchi, has assigned members to committees for the next legislative session.
Ka`u’s Sen. Josh Green, who will be majority floor leader and whip, will serve on committees for Housing, Human Services and Tourism & International Affairs. Sen. Russell Ruderman, who also represents Puna, will work on committees for Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health; Economic Development, Environment & Technology; and Water, Land & Agriculture. He also joins Green on Human Services Committee.

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Lew Cook's Sky Map helps Ka`u stargazers locate celestial
bodies as their locations change each month.

PLANETS AND STAR GLOBS ARE TOPICS in the June issue of Stars Over Ka`u in The Ka`u Calendar by astronomer Lew Cook.

The three brightest planets set in reverse order of their brilliance around mid-month, Cook wrote. Venus is very low in the west and sets just about 10 p.m. Venus passes quite close to an interesting and beautiful star cluster around June 13 – 15. Venus acts like a signal light saying, “Here’s the Beehive cluster!” Get out your binoculars and look for Venus. If you’ve got good eyes and good binoculars, you’ll see Venus as a half-moon shape. Off to the left, about the diameter of the moon, you’ll see a bunch of stars that resembles a swarm of bees around a beehive. This cluster was one of the first astronomical objects studied by Galileo. It is also called Praesepe (manger in Latin) and is M44 in Charles Messier’s list. Don’t wait until 10 p.m. to see it – it’ll be too low, and you don’t want to look through all that dust and vog. Just go outside after it is fairly dark, and Venus is still high in the sky.
Jupiter follows, having escaped the claws of Cancer, the crab, but now lies at the feet of Leo, the lion. Saturn has left his weigh-in with Libra (the Scales) and is doing battle with the claws of Scorpius.
The M13 globular cluster, the brightest one in the northern sky, doesn’t have a signal beacon like the comparatively puny (but nonetheless impressive) Beehive cluster. Comparing the two types of clusters (globular and galactic or open) is like comparing one boat to an armada! Don’t you just love that term – a glob of stars? How many stars are in a glob? Tens of thousands! The Beehive cluster contains around 1,000 stars. M13 is a globular cluster with nearly a half million stars.

M13 globular cluster as captured by NASA's Hubble Telescope
Image from wikepedia

Earlier in the evening you can get a look at the really big globular cluster of omega Centauri. Just after darkness falls, look far to the south, just above and to the right of the Southern Cross (labeled Crux) on the star chart. Use your binoculars if you have a pair – or a telescope. It is labeled with a rounded “w” on the chart. You are looking at 10 million stars in that glob! Why aren’t these more impressive than the Pleiades cluster or any of the open clusters that we study? Are their stars particularly dim? Are they very far away?
The answers to these questions are, “No, their stars are bright,” and, “Yes, they are very distant.” They are all in our galaxy, but the Milky Way is a very big home. The Pleiades cluster is nearby, as cosmic distances go. It is around 500 light-years away. So is the Beehive cluster, at less than 600 light-years. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year – about six trillion miles.
So how far are these globular clusters? Omega Centauri is some 16,000 light-years distant, while its smaller cousin, M13, is over 20,000 light-years distant. That is why they appear so much fainter than they might be expected to. An interesting note: both were discovered to be globular clusters by Edmund Halley.

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KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life tomorrow and every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

Ka`u CDP Steering Committee meets tomorrow to summarize public participation
and feedback received about the draft CDP and to plan future meetings.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee’s meeting tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Public input is welcome on agenda items, which at this meeting are preparations for making final CDP recommendations. The committee summarizes public participation and feedback received during the draft document review period and prepares for future meetings.

According to planner Ron Whitmore, this meeting is not designed as an opportunity for additional or repeated comment on the Draft CDP.
For information about the CDP, see kaucdp.info.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK holds a talk story session about its draft general management plan, wilderness study and environmental impact statement at Kilauea Visitor Center Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition, a formal wilderness hearing will be held during this meeting to receive comments specific to the wilderness study. Park representatives will answer questions and take comments.
To review the DGMP/WS/EIS and provide comments online, see parkplanning.nps.gov/havogmp.
Comments can also be mailed to Superintendent, Attn: DGMP/WS/EIS, PO Box 52, Hawai`i National Park, HI 96718-0052. The public comment period is open through June 30.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Researchers are studying the effects of marine debris, such as plastic and fishing line, on monk seals and other sea creatures.
Photo by Julia Neal

GOV. DAVID IGE YESTERDAY SIGNED into law four energy bills, including one that strengthens Hawai`i’s commitment to clean energy by directing the state’s utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2045.

Gov. David Ige signs 100 percent renewable energy legislation.
Photo from Office of the Governor

Hawai`i State Legislature passed the landmark legislation (HB623) that fulfills one of Ige’s policy objectives by making Hawai`i the first state in the nation to set a 100 percent renewable portfolio standard for the electricity sector.
“As the most oil dependent state in the nation, Hawai`i spends roughly $5 billion a year on foreign oil to meet its energy needs. Making the transition to renewable, indigenous resources for power generation will allow us to keep more of that money at home, thereby improving our economy, environment and energy security,” Ige said. “I’d like to thank the Senate and House Energy Committee chairs for championing HB623 and ensuring that Hawai`i remains a national leader in clean energy.”
Another measure signed by Ige, SB1050, will help democratize renewable energy by creating a structure that will allow renters, condominium owners and others who have been largely shut out of Hawai`i’s clean energy transformation to purchase electricity generated at an off-site renewable energy facility, such as a large-scale solar farm.
The law is also expected to provide relief to homeowners and businesses who are located on highly saturated circuits that cannot accommodate additional PV installations.
In addition to the 100 percent RPS and community-based renewable energy bills, Ige signed into law HB1509, which sets a net-zero energy goal for the University of Hawai`i system and another that designates a state hydrogen implementation coordinator, HB1296.
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Jay Kreuzer

KA`U HOSPITAL’S SISTER FACILITY IN KONA is laying employees off and closing a unit due to a $6 million budget deficit for its fiscal year beginning July 1. Kona Community Hospital, one of several facilities operated by Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation, will eliminate 34 positions and close its skilled nursing unit. The announcement follows Ka`u Hospital Administrator Merilyn Harris’s statement that the main impact of budget cuts here will be having to limit the number of long-term care residents to 13 instead of 16.

“It is with deep regret that we must make these decisions,” said Jay Kreuzer, West Hawai`i Regional CEO of HHSC. “Over the past several years, the entire hospital staff has pulled together to help address our financial challenges. Our hospital departments are running efficiently, and there is no excess or waste to be trimmed. Sadly, these efforts do not offset our fiscal 2016 deficit due to lack of state funding.”
According to Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today, Kreuzer said increased labor costs due to collective bargaining arrangements and retiree health benefits no longer covered by the state added to the deficit.
Kreuzer also told Yager the facility is looking toward a public-private partnership like the one recently instituted at Maui hospitals to deal with budget issues.
State Sen. Josh Green told Yager the existing state-run health care model can no longer sustain a public safety net hospital system. “This is why we have been moving toward enabling partnerships for our hospital system,” he said. “A partnership for Kona and Hilo with a local private entity would have been preferable to any layoffs like these.”
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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Researchers in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands work and live out of tents while
conducting monk seal surveys and related studies. Photo from NOAA

BABY MONK SEALS MAY BE THREATENED by marine debris that piles up in as remote of places as Ka Lae in Ka`u and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Seals become entangled in discarded plastic lines, and plastic mixes with real food. Ingested, plastics damage the health of sea life, from birds to nursing mother seals and pups.

The situation was recently shown through a voyage of the research ship Hi`ialakai, which made a 21-day cruise up the Northwest Hawaiian island chain for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The crew picked up one male and one female malnourished monk seal pup, prematurely weaned by their moms on Pearl and Hermes Atoll, and dropped them off at the new Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola in Kona. The ship also dropped off more than a dozen researchers on French Frigate Shoals, Laysan Island, Lisianski Island, Kure Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Two to four mission members are camping for four months at each location to collect data and work on monk seal survival. In addition, day trips to Ni`ihau, Nihoa and Midway were planned for surveys.
According to a story in this morning’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser, “Stacie Robinson, a NOAA official with the Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, said the 14 researchers will be doing population counts, disentangling monk seals from marine debris and moving the young seals to areas where there are fewer sharks.” The story by Gary T. Kubota said, “The population of Hawaiian monk seals, or Monachus schauinslandi — one of the rarest marine animals in the world — has been on a decline from as many as 1,600 a decade ago to as few as 1,100 today, according to scientists.”

The recent cruise also involved Sustainable Coastlines Hawai`i. The story quotes its executive director Kahi Pacarro, saying that the mission “helped to broaden his understanding of the importance of developing nontoxic byproducts.” He also reported that in some places, animals are nesting in mounds of debris. Pacarro reported that “many of the young albatrosses at Midway had ingested plastic. The rib cage of one dead chick was filled with plastic,” Kubota reported him saying.

Pacarro noted that “debris arrives on the islands via the Pacific gyre garbage patch between Hawai`i and California,” the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
See more at http://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cruise/ha1502.php and staradvertiser.com.

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HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND AND FRIENDS host their first-ever underwater cleanup event on Hawai`i Island this Sunday, June 14 at South Point. They will be joined by 10 divers from Japan with the Sea Beautification Society, alongside a team from Big Island Divers in Kona and Line-X in Hilo, and other individuals from across the island. “We are still looking for a couple of shoreline support volunteers and free-divers/snorkelers to help us haul out the marine debris,” said coordinator Megan Lamson. “Pray for good weather and no swell.”

This event was planned for Sunday because it follows the annual S. Tokunaga ulua tournament, and there should be plenty of ulua slide weights and sugi (monofilament line) to collect, Lamson said. Any fishermen who join the cleanup are welcome to the lead. Email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or meet at the hoists at 10 a.m. with dive gear. This will be a one-tank dive and should be pau around lunchtime.

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KA`U RANCHERS CAN LEARN ABOUT a new mobile slaughter unit coming to Hawai`i Island at Pahala Community Center this Sunday, June 14 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hawai`i Island Meat’s 36-foot trailer, made possible with funding from the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, will meet USDA sanitation standards and be capable of processing eight to 10 head of cattle, 15 pigs and 30 lamb or goats per day.

For more information, see hawaiiislandmeat.com.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets today at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Public input is welcome on agenda items, which at this meeting are preparations for making final CDP recommendations.
For more information, see kaucdp.info.

Dr. Tom Wilson

VOLCANIC ASH IMPACTS AROUND THE WORLD: Lessons from the Field and Laboratory is the topic at After Dark in the Park this evening at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

What kind of impact does volcanic ash have on farming, agriculture, communities, computers and critical infrastructure? Dr. Tom Wilson, a lecturer of Hazard and Disaster Management in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, discusses what he and his team of scientists have learned researching both short- and long-term ash impacts in New Zealand, and the resiliency of rural and isolated communities to natural disasters. Their research has focused on the impact of recent disasters in the Canterbury region from snowstorm and flooding events, and the assessment of natural hazard risk for isolated communities.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK holds a talk story session about its draft general management plan, wilderness study and environmental impact statement at Kilauea Visitor Center tomorrow from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A formal hearing will be held during the meeting to receive comments specific to the wilderness study.
To review the DGMP/WS/EIS, see parkplanning.nps.gov/havogmp.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Ka`u fishermen are ready to participate in the S. Tokunaga Ulua Challenge beginning tomorrow. Photo from Hawai`i Fishing News

ULUA FISHING, celebrated by the annual S. Tokunaga Ulua Challenge taking place this week with many fishermen at Ka Lae, drew attention of The New York Times travel editors. Late last year they published a story featuring ulua fishing at South Point. Called Casting for a Big Fish on the Big Island of Hawai`i, the story by Lawrence Downes called ulua “a brute among fish. It’s linebacker-shaped, all blunt forehead and blocky torso, with the thin, bladelike fins of a high-speed ocean predator. Trophies can reach well over a hundred pounds of silver-clad muscle. Catching one is like towing a Volkswagen Beetle with your arms and a stick, then pulling it up a cliff.

Ulua Challenge weigh-in is this Sunday. Photo from Big Island Video News

“That’s right: cliff. The ulua we are discussing here are fished from a high, rocky Hawaiian shoreline. Any fool can hire Captain Quint and go plunder the deep sea. Ulua fishing, island style, means no boat, no sonar to track your monster, no mates to land it for you and winch it high for manly posing at the dock. It’s just you, with a rod and bait, plus muscle and courage,” writes Downes, who visited last May. He was guided by local ulua fishermen Desmond Valentin and Edwin Cabanting. Read the whole story at nytimes.com/2014/12/07/travel/casting-for-a-big-fish-on-the-big-island-of-hawaii.html.
The S. Tokonaga 12th annual Ulua Challenge is tomorrow through Sunday, with fishermen having staked out their fishing and camping spots for weeks at Ka Lae and other remote places along the coast of the Big Island. Weigh-in is Sunday, June 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, with an awards ceremony to follow. See tokunagastore.com/SpecialTopics/2015UluaChallenge.htm.
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Ka`u CDP Steering Committee yesterday discussed public feedback on the draft.
Photo by Ron Johnson

AREAS NEEDING FURTHER DISCUSSION before a final Ka`u Community Development Plan is approved were highlighted at the CDP Steering Committee meeting in Na`alehu yesterday. County planners reviewed feedback received during the two-month-long public comment period on the draft document and suggested that the Steering Committee give more attention to topics including coastal management and shoreline setback policy, special permit policies, quarries in Ocean View, Ocean View development, designated commercial areas, non-residential development in Discovery Harbour, designated resort areas, water system development in Mark Twain and Green Sand subdivisions, economic development, agricultural subdivision and infill development potential in Pahala and Na`alehu.
Regarding the CDP’s conclusions about infill potential, which some feedback questioned and suggested that the county do studies on, county long-range planner Ron Whitmore said the county performed studies to draw the stated conclusions.

In his presentation to the Steering Committee, Whitmore categorized feedback into various topics. Structural Improvements, such as executive summaries and glossary additions, could help clarify the CDP, he said. A topic called Easy Fixes entails processes such as amending wording to clarify language and refining policies. For example, amending Policy Six with new language is in italics to read: “The development of visitor accommodations and any resort development should complement the character of the area; protect the environment and natural beauty; respect existing lifestyles, cultural practices, and natural and cultural resources; provide shoreline public access; and provide affordable housing to meet demand created by the development.”
Two Green Sand subdivision residents questioned the proposed resort development at Discovery Harbour, expressing concerns about increased traffic. One said she was not able to get to her home during the recent fire there. They both said bringing emergency services and water to the area should be priorities.

Once the Steering Committee finalizes the CDP after holding more public meetings, the document goes to the Windward Planning Commission for review and recommendation, then to the County Council, which would hold public hearings before forwarding it to the mayor.

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HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES shareholders approved the $4.3 billion merger agreement with NextEra Energy, Inc. in a vote today.

“We’re extremely pleased that our shareholders, many of whom are Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawai`i Electric Light customers, have shown their strong support for this historic partnership by approving the proposed merger,” said Jeff Watanabe, HEI’s chairman of the board. “The approval marks another significant milestone in our efforts to accelerate Hawai`i’s clean energy transformation by bringing the expertise and resources of NextEra Energy to our state to achieve even higher levels of renewables and lower energy costs for our customers.”
Of the shares voted, approximately 90 percent were in favor of the merger. HEI is required under Hawai`i law to obtain supermajority approval from 75 percent of its outstanding shares. Hawai`i is the only state with such a high approval requirement for a merger.
While the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved the proposed merger, the transaction remains subject to other regulatory approvals including approval by the state Public Utilities Commission and other customary closing conditions.
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Alan Oshima

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANIES applauded Gov. David Ige and the Hawai`i Legislature for setting the most aggressive clean energy goal in the country – 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

“Reducing our dependence on imported oil and increasing our use of renewable energy is critical to our state’s future,” said Alan Oshima, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO. “It’s the clean energy transformation we all want for Hawai`i. Reaching this goal will require a diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources and strong, upgraded electric grids, and that’s exactly what we’re working toward.”
According to HECO, the proposed merger involving Hawaiian Electric and NextEra Energy would provide additional resources to help make these ambitious goals a reality. The company stated that NextEra Energy has developed, built and operates one of the nation’s most modern grid networks and is the world’s largest producer of renewable energy from the wind and sun.
“Reaching these goals will be a challenge that our entire state must work together to meet. And we’ll do that with strong collaboration among all stakeholders and our collective commitment to building a better energy future for Hawai`i,” Oshima said.
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KA`U FOOD PRODUCERS ARE INVITED to display and sample their product at the 20th annual Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agricultural Festival on Friday, Oct. 9 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
The state’s premiere ag showcase again offers a free opportunity for Hawai`i farmers, ranchers and food producers to hook up with participating chefs and attendees during the Taste. The event is also open for agricultural and sustainability-themed organizations wanting to present informational displays. Producers and ag-related educational organizations interested in participating may contact Christine Osterwalder at christine@vividgecko.com or 808-895-4987  by July 31.

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SEVENTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE begins Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. The sale is an opportunity to see a wide range of ceramic works and meet and talk story with artists.

Call 985-8530 or ron@ryhpottery.com for more information.

AN AQUATIC RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR is needed at the state Department of Land & Natural Resources. The state Department of Human Resources Development is advertising an open-competitive recruitment through June 19. Those interested can complete an application on the Department of Human Resources Development website at dhrd.hawaii.gov/job-seekers/civil-service-hawaii-state-government-jobs. Click on the link, go to the bottom of DHRD page, select Natural Resources for category and Statewide for location, click on Apply Search, and follow the directions from there, including creating an account if this is the first time applying.

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK holds a talk story session about its draft general management plan, wilderness study and environmental impact statement at Kilauea Visitor Center today from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A formal hearing will be held during the meeting to receive comments specific to the wilderness study.
To review the DGMP/WS/EIS, see parkplanning.nps.gov/havogmp.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee’s meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church.
For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Pa`u riders and horses bedecked in lei, like these during Merrie Monarch, are popular in many Hawai`i parades, including ones celebrating Kamehameha Day today. Photo by Julia Neal

TODAY IS KAMEHAMEHA DAY, a public holiday celebrating the life of the king who unified all the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Ni`ihau in the decades just before arrival of missionaries. Kamehameha I formally established the Hawaiian Kingdom as an internationally recognized government in 1810. During his reign from 1795 to 1818, fur traders and merchants, picking up local sandalwood on their way to markets in China, stopped in Hawai`i on their sailing ships. Pineapple and coffee crops were introduced.

King Kamehameha statue in the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Julia Neal

Kamehameha’s great-grandson Kamehameha V established the holiday in 1871, and Kamehameha Day quickly grew to include such events as carnivals, horse and foot races, parades featuring pa`u riders – the flower-bedecked horseback contingents representing each island – hula competitions and ho`olaule`a. The holiday continued as Hawai`i became a part of the U.S. It was one of the first holidays to be written into law when Hawai`i became a state in 1959.
There are four statues of Kamehameha, one in Hilo, another in Kapa`au, a third in Honolulu and a fourth in the U.S. Capitol visitor center in Washington, D.C. All are the sites of lei ceremonies each year on Kamehameha Day.
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KA`U'S STATE REP. RICHARD ONISHI, who serves as vice chair on the House Agriculture Committee, applauded Hawai`i State Legislature for passing a key bill that he introduced. HB 850 appropriates funds for four additional extension agents administered by the University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, with one position in each county.
Extension personnel provide various services ranging from individual consultations, educational workshops and short courses on relevant subjects, including agriculture, home economics, family living, 4-H and other youth activities, nutrition and health. “These much needed agents provide direct help to farmers with information, assistance and research on issues affecting farms,” Onishi said.
Onishi also supported the Legislature’s increase in funding for Hawai`i Invasive Species Council, which will receive $8 million for the next two fiscal years. He said he is working to get that funding to the Big Island to help with albizia eradication and to create a little fire ant pilot project that would help homeowners to combat the pests.
Onishi encouraged his constituents to contact him, saying “I appreciate and value your input because it allows me to see issues from many different perspectives.”
Contact him at 808-586-6120 or reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov.
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Henry Yang

THIRTY METER TELESCOPE PARTNERS yesterday announced plans to support education of students in Hawai`i. Henry T. Yang, chair of TMT’s International Observatory Board, said universities involved with TMT plan to establish scholarships, summer internships, graduate program fellowships and research assistantships in the areas of science and technology for Hawai`i’s students.

The announcement followed Gov. David Ige’s request last month that TMT increase its support of Native Hawaiian students interested in science and technology through admission to and scholarships at its partner institutions, with priority given to Hawai`i Island students and then to students statewide. “Young people need to reach for the stars, literally and figuratively,” Ige said.
“TMT and our partners support the governor’s vision,” Yang said. “Caltech and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences have pledged their support, and we will work within each university’s curriculum and requirements to establish educational programs that fulfill the governor’s vision. More of our partner universities are considering establishing similar programs to host Native Hawaiian students from Hawai`i Island and elsewhere in the state.”
Yang said the Department of Astronomy at the University of Tokyo and the Department of Astronomical Science at the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, affiliated with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, are encouraging applications from Hawai`i for graduate studies. NAOJ’s Subaru Telescope has been offering job and internship opportunities to UH students in its various activities and has agreed to collaborate with UH-Hilo on its graduate program in astronomy.
“As our plan evolves and develops over the next few weeks and months,” Yang said, “we anticipate and foresee that within a few years, a significant number of Native Hawaiians will not only gain educational experiences at prominent universities in our partner countries, but also return to Hawai`i to carry on the Hawaiian tradition of scientific exploration, technological innovation and environmental sustainability, for the betterment of Hawai`i and all of humanity on Earth.”
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Corey Rosenlee

RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES including Hawai`i’s low teacher pay, teacher turnover, lack of air conditioning in schools and educational inequities are some priorities of the newly elected president of Hawai`i State Teachers Association.

“We have to see the fight for good schools as a civil rights fight,” Corey Rosenlee told Jessica Terrell, of Civil Beat. “If you see it as a civil rights movement, then you use civil rights strategies.”
Rosenlee also said he wants teachers to have a larger presence in proposing legislation.
“Too often teachers voices are not heard,” Rosenlee told Terrell. “We want to make sure that when we make public policy decisions about education, people hear about how it is going to impact teachers and students.”
Rosenlee said his job will be finding out what teachers’ priorities are and engaging them in the process before suggesting future actions. “I want to take it step by step,” Rosenlee said. “I don’t want to move too fast for my own board, and I don’t want to move too fast for our teachers, either.”
On Hawai`i News Now, Rosenlee said public schools are underfunded, and that paying teachers the lowest salaries in country and testing students more without better teachers won’t solve the problem. He talked about other places like Singapore, which incentivized top college graduates to go into teaching with high pay and other benefits.
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New tipping fees on businesses will fund expansion of greenwaste recycling
facilities to more county transfer stations like the one in Wai`ohinu.
Photo from Hawai`i Zero Waste

HAWAI`I COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT will begin charging a new tipping fee on July 1 to businesses that drop off greenwaste at recycling facilities in West Hawai`i and East Hawai`i. Revenue will help finance an expansion of greenwaste recycling services across the island.

The new fee will not affect residential customers with self-hauled greenwaste from their private residential property. Residential customers will continue to be allowed to drop off greenwaste free of charge at seven locations around the island.
The county currently pays more than $1.8 million a year to recycle greenwaste into mulch that is then distributed free to the community. The new tipping fee is expected to raise more than $500,000 a year to help finance an expansion of organics recycling services islandwide, including establishing new greenwaste drop-off locations at additional transfer stations.
Hawai`i County Council established the fee in 2005, but county administration delayed imposing the fee during the recession.

Free mulch and free assisted mechanical loading will remain available to both residents and businesses at the West Hawai`i and East Hawai`i Organics Facilities.
For more information, see HawaiiZeroWaste.org.
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SEVENTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE begins tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED to Ka`u Scenic Byway Committee’s meeting today at 5 p.m. at Na`alehu Methodist Church.
For more information, email richmorrow@alohabroadband.net.

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

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park received a federal award for its many environmentally responsible efforts, including recycling.
NPS Photo

AN EXAMPLE OF SAVING THREATENED agricultural land is rolling out on O`ahu, where Hawai`i lawmakers have allocated $10 million to purchase 500 acres of ag land for a project to revitalize the local ag industry. According to a story in Pacific Business News, the plan is to bring farmers and the state together to increase local food production, create jobs and provide affordable housing.

The state is purchasing ag land on O`ahu to keep it in food production.
Photo from ADC

The most threatened ag land in Ka`u where farmers are hoping for a plan for land security is at Moa`ula and Pear Tree. There, above Pahala, displaced sugar workers and other local farmers have built a successful coffee industry during the last two decades, only to find themselves with the land up for sale, the coffee used to market the land, and no long-term leases.
In another state effort to save ag land, but on O`ahu, PBN reported that the state Legislature appropriated $500,000 to study feasibility of exchanging state land for 5,000 acres that Dole Food Co. wants to sell.
The state previously acquired a warehouse in Central O`ahu for $4.3 million, beginning a plan that includes thousands of acres of farmlands and an agricultural hub with an ag technology park, an ag foreign-trade zone, workforce housing and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at University of Hawai`i Manoa.
The state’s Agribusiness Development Corp., an agency of the Department of Agriculture, is heading the plan. ADC’s mission is to acquire and manage, in partnership with farmers, ranchers and aquaculture groups, selected high-value lands, water systems and infrastructure for commercial agricultural use and to direct research into areas that will lead to development of new crops, markets and lower production costs.
The agency’s main goals are to transition former plantation land and water systems for diversified agriculture, initiate development of facilities and provide support as necessary for successful diversified agriculture and provide solutions to certain bottleneck issues facing the agriculture industry.

See bizjournals.com/pacific.
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Hawai`i's endangered false killer whales are seldom seen.
Photo by Julie E. Steelman

FALSE KILLER WHALES HAVE BEEN SEEN in Big Island waters, and Ka`u fishermen, paddlers, surfers and divers are urged to report any sightings along the Ka`u Coast. The endangered mammals are actually a dolphin species and can be identified by their gray throats and necks. They have slender bodies with elongated, tapered heads. Tall dorsal fins are sickle-shaped, and flippers are narrow, short and pointed. Their fins and flippers have distinctive humps or bulges in the middle of front edges.

The social animals travel in pods of 10 to 20 individuals and dine on fish, including ono, mahimahi and tuna, as well as cephalopods. Hawaiian populations, estimated to be around 130 individuals, are the most studied groups of false killer whales.
The pod seen last week near Kohala was most recently seen four years ago, with one of them not seen for almost three decades.
Call 800-747-7329 with any sightings.
For more information, see cascadiaresearch.org/Hawaii/MayJune2015.htm.

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THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY recognized Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park with the agency’s Federal Green Challenge Regional Overall Achievement award as part of its efforts to encourage federal departments to reduce their environmental footprints through sustainable practices.

“We applaud National Park Service staff for leading the way toward zero waste and educating the millions of visitors to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “This unique landscape deserves protection, and that starts with the commitment by the federal employees who work there.”
“We are extremely honored to receive this level of recognition for our climate-friendly efforts,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Our staff is dedicated to implementing environmentally responsible practices, and we encourage our visitors and park partners to do the same.”

Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park encourages
visitors to avoid plastic bottles.

The park had top regional achievements in the Federal Green Challenge Waste and Purchasing target areas, increasing recycling by 167 percent to achieve an overall rate of 76 percent, while decreasing copy paper purchases by 89 percent. In addition, 95 percent of its cleaning products met Environmental Preferable Purchasing criteria.

Park employees reach out to the community and visitors throughout the year with programs, exhibits and presentations on the values and importance of being climate friendly and sustainable.

The park actively works to reduce their environmental footprint in all six Federal Green Challenge target areas: energy, water, waste, electronics, purchasing and transportation.

The park is home to Hawai`i’s largest public rainwater catchment system that stores 5.3 million gallons of water that is treated, filtered with cartridge and sand filters and disinfected to supply water to 56 areas throughout the park. Water bottle refilling stations, posters and sale of refillable stainless steel water bottles educate the public to “Step Away from the Plastic.”
In addition, the park’s Visitor Emergency Operations Center, which opened in 2011, earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is currently the only federal building in Hawai`i to receive LEED Platinum certification. The 4,896-square-foot building is powered by photovoltaic panels and is constructed from mostly recycled or reused materials.

The park has made more great strides in conserving energy. Park rangers ride electrically powered Eco Bikes to their programs along the Kilauea summit, saving fossil fuels and parking spaces. Kilauea Visitor Center features special yellow LED lighting to conserve energy and keep night skies dark. Solar panels generate renewable energy, and electric and alternative fuel vehicles further reduce energy and transportation-related emissions.

For more information on the Federal Green Challenge, see epa.gov/fgc.
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THE COALITION FOR TOBACCO-FREE HAWAI`I-East Hawai`i awarded Bay Clinic Inc. the third annual Community Excellence award in recognition of World No Tobacco Day.

CTFH-East Hawai`i chose to honor Bay Clinic for its comprehensive tobacco-use policy, which prohibits use of all tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, on all nine of its campuses, including Na`alehu.

Sally Ancheta, CTFH-East Hawai`i community coalition coordinator, and Lenard Allen, Department of Health, public health educator of East Hawai`i, presented awards to Bay Clinic CEO Harold Wallace and patient services manager Meleah Lerma.

“Bay Clinic has been a forerunner in tobacco control policies and practices for the past 10 years,” Ancheta said. “They are the leading providers of tobacco treatment with programs at the Hilo, Kea`au, Pahoa and Na`alehu clinics.”

Logan Kahele Bishop

For more information about the Bay Clinic tobacco treatment program, contact Jennifer Griffith at 333-3504 or Ancheta at 936-2686, or email sally@tobaccofreehawaii.org.

Also see www.tobaccofreehawaii.org.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE are searching for a 25-year-old Na`alehu man who is wanted on a bench warrant for violating probation. Logan Kahele Bishop is also wanted for questioning in connection with a robbery in Ocean View on June 9. He is described as 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Levon Stevens at 326-4646, extension 275, or levon.stevens@hawaiicounty.gov.

THE BAGRADA BUG, A SERIOUS ECONOMIC PEST of agricultural crops, was discovered on Hawai`i Island recently, reported Andrea Kawabata, of the University of Hawai`i Agricultural Extension Service.

Bagrada bugs love cruciferous crops. Photo from UH-CTAHR

Preferred hosts are cruciferous vegetable crops including broccoli, tatsoi, cabbages (head cabbage, Chinese cabbages, etc.), cauliflower, kale, radish, turnip, mustards, brussels sprouts, sweet alyssum, collards and arugula. The bagrada bug can also feed on corn, cucumbers, okra, sugarcane, papaya, potato, cotton, figs and some legumes. In the absence of preferred host crops, this polyphagous pest will feed on a variety of weeds, also in the Brassicaceae plant.
Growers suspecting this insect on their farms or properties are asked to contact Stacey Chun (HDOA Hilo) at 808-974-4146 or stacey.g.chun@hawaii.gov or Rob Curtiss (HDOA Kona) at 808-323-7579 or Robert.T.Curtiss@hawaii.gov.
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SEVENTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE begins today from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

In addition to the sale, there will be an exhibit of new work by each potter, and the public is invited to bid for these pieces in a silent auction. Demonstrations of throwing on the potter’s wheel take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call 985-8530 or email ron@ryhpottery.com for more information.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND AND FRIENDS host their first-ever underwater cleanup event on Hawai`i Island Sunday at South Point. Divers are coming from as far away as Japan and Canada for the cleanup.
Email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or meet at the hoists at 10 a.m. with dive gear. The one-tank dive should be pau around lunchtime.

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

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

Ka`u residents can join Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and participate in a hike of Kilauea Iki Trail tomorrow.
Photo by Elizabeth Fien

IN WHAT COULD BE THE FIRST of multiple bills authorizing public-private partnerships to help Hawai`i’s state-operated hospitals deal with budget deficits, Gov. David Ige last week signed into law House Bill 1075. The bill authorizes the Maui Region of the Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation to enter into negotiations for a public-private operational and management agreement. HHSC also operates Ka`u Hospital in its East Hawai`i region.

Maui Memorial Medical Center is Maui's only full-service, acute medical
care facility. Photo from HHSC

“This bill gives us an historic opportunity to transform the delivery of healthcare to the people of Maui. We have a lot of work to do to ensure the successful implementation of this new law,” Ige said.
The governor said the state will work collaboratively with the Maui Region Board and HHSC to select a private partner and finalize the terms and conditions of this partnership by the end of the year so that implementation can begin in 2016.
“We are committed to working with our dedicated public employees who are key to the successful implementation of this policy and central to a smooth transition that is focused on patient care and quality service to the people of Hawai`i,” Ige said.
HHSC chief executive officer Linda Rosen, M.D., said, “With the enactment of HB 1075, we look forward to eventually reducing the amount of taxpayer moneys subsidizing healthcare delivery in Hawai`i. Through the assistance of a private partner, the Maui County community can look forward to the stabilization of available health services and the eventual growth of new services.”
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U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke on the House floor,
celebrating King Kamehameha Day.
Image from C-SPAN

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD SPOKE in celebration of King Kamehameha Day Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“Today in my home state of Hawai`i we are celebrating King Kamehameha Day to honor the legacy of King Kamehameha I, who established the kingdom of Hawai`i in 1810,” Gabbard said.
“King Kamehameha knew that for a nation to be vibrant, it is fell safe and secure. He proclaimed the Kanawai Mamalohoi, the law of the splintered paddle, as the law of the land. This law still enshrined in the Hawai`i State Constitution today, protects the inalienable rights of all men and women to be safe and secure in their home.
“Kamehameha also knew that to ensure the health, safety and welfare of his people, it was imperative to create economic opportunities. He invested resources to maintain viable fish ponds and taro patches, protect freshwater streams, fertile soils and forest lands. He built schools and trained an entire new generation of leaders.
“As we observe Kamehameha Day, it’s a true day of Aloha for the people of Hawai`i. Those who are visiting the Capitol this week may have seen the many fragrant and beautiful flower lei draped on the statue of King Kamehameha in Emancipation Hall.
“All this week in Hawai`i, across the state, there will be further lei-draping ceremonies taking place to pay homage to the legacy of Hawai`i’s first king. As legislators we’re called upon to embody the servant leadership and humility of leaders like King Kamehameha I.”

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Filipino veterans of World War II.

FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II may receive the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal under legislation introduced by Hawai`i’s congressional delegation. The legislation acknowledges over 260,000 Filipino and Filipino-American soldiers who responded to President Roosevelt’s call-to-duty and fought under the American flag against the Imperial Forces of Japan during World War II.

“The Filipino veterans of World War II have faced many challenges in their fight for compensation, family reunification and verification of wartime service. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal would go a long way toward making sure that their stories are never forgotten,” said Sen. Mazie Hirono, who in March introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, a bill that would expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. “I have been an advocate for Filipino veterans since I first learned their stories — fighting to reunify Filipino veterans with their families and to ensure that every Filipino veteran who sacrificed for us during World War II can receive the benefits they have earned. Time is running out for the diminishing number of Filipino World War II veterans, and I call on my colleagues in the Senate to award these brave soldiers the Congressional Gold Medal, giving them the honor and recognition they earned.”

“More than 200,000 Filipinos who fought alongside American soldiers during World War II have still not been properly recognized for their courageous service,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Today, far too many have not received the basic veterans’ rights they earned. While we continue to work in Congress to give Filipino veterans and their families the benefits they deserve, awarding them with the Congressional Gold Medal will honor them for their heroic service and patriotism.”

“Filipino veterans fought bravely alongside American forces during World War II, and our recognition of their service and sacrifice is long overdue,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said. “Our nation owes these individuals our deepest and sincere gratitude. I am pleased to join my colleagues in a bipartisan and bicameral effort to honor these veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal, a well-earned tribute for their service.”

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SEVENTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE continues today until 3 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.

The public is invited to bid for new work by each potter in a silent auction. Demonstrations of throwing on the potter’s wheel take place today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call 985-8530 or email ron@ryhpottery.com for more information.

HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND AND FRIENDS host their first-ever underwater cleanup event on Hawai`i Island tomorrow at South Point. Divers are coming from as far away as Japan and Canada for the cleanup.
Email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or meet at the hoists at 10 a.m. with dive gear. The one-tank dive should be pau around lunchtime.

CHERYL GANSECKI LEADS A FOUR-MILE Sunday Walk in the Park exploring Kilauea Iki Crater tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This monthly program, offered on second Sundays, brings together members of Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to share in the park’s trails. Participants should bring a bag lunch for a rest stop along the walk.

Cheryl Gansecki

Kilauea Iki Trail begins on the crater’s forested rim. The trail descends 400 feet through the rain forest, with native birds flitting through the canopy, onto the crater floor. Hikers cross the still-steaming crater past the gaping throat of the vent that built Pu`u Pua`i cinder cone and ascend the far rim. Of interest on the hike are forest plants, birds, insects, the 1959 lava lake, steam vents and cinder and spatter cones.

This hike, rated moderately difficult, traverses pahoehoe lava and forested trails. Participants should be prepared for the 4,000-foot elevation as well as for variable weather conditions, including sunny, windy, chilly and/or rainy.
Sunday Walks in the Park are free for Friends members, and non-members are welcome to join the Friends in order to attend. Annual memberships, $30 for individuals and $45 for families, come with a variety of benefits.
To register, contact FHVNP at 985-7373 or admin@fhvnp.org. For more information, visit www.fhvnp.org. Park entrance fees apply.

KA`U RANCHERS CAN LEARN about a Mobile Slaughter Unit tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Hawai`i Island Meat presents this informational workshop for producers interested in accessing the service. For more information, see hawaiiislandmeat.com or email hawaiiislandmeat@gmail.com.

REGISTRATION CONTINUES for the sixth annual Volcano Rain Forest Runs taking place in Volcano Village on Saturday, Aug. 22. “Whether it’s the Half Marathon, 10K or 5K participants are guaranteed of being in one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth, the enchanting native rain forests of Hawai`i,” said race director Sharron Faff.

The Half Marathon begins at 7 a.m. followed by the 10K at 7:45 a.m. with the 5K at 8 a.m. All runs start and finish at Cooper Center on Wright Road.
Keiki ages 1-7 can register for the free 100- or 200-yard dash on race morning until 9:30 a.m. The Keiki runs sponsored by Kilauea Lodge begin at 10 a.m. All entrants will receive a ribbon and other goodies after coming through the finish line. Everyone is a winner.
Volcano Rotary Club will be serving a BBQ Grill Lunch from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. for $9.
There will be entertainment for everyone with juggling, face painting and balloon animals, plus other craft booths, food booths, music and much, much more. A great family fun day.
Volcano Half Marathon is also the final event for the Big Island Half Marathon Triple Crown Series. All participants will have completed the Hilo, Kona and Volcano Half Marathons.
For more information, maps, FAQ’s, and registration information, see volcanorainforestruns.com or call 967-8240.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

Hawai`i's green sea turtle population has less occurrence of a lethal tumor disease than other populations around the world.
Photo by William Neal

HI-SEAS MAUNA LOA MARS researchers came back to civilization yesterday after leaving the simulated space station at 8,000 feet up on the volcano and landing by parachute in Kona.

Hawai`i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation’s six crew members began their eight-month simulated stay on Mars last October. This was the third and longest mission on Mauna Loa in a quarry site containing little vegetation, no rare, threatened or endangered species and no archaeological sites or cultural practices.

Crew of the third HI-SEAS simulated mission to Mars returned
to civilization yesterday. Photo from HI-SEAS

The HI-SEAS III mission, funded by NASA, studied team cohesion, with researchers gathering data on cognitive, social and emotional factors that may impact team performance.
Mission commander was Martha Lenio. Additional crew members were Allen Mirkadyrov, Jocelyn Dunn, Zak Wilson and University of Hawai`i-Hilo graduates Neil Scheibelhut and Sophie Milam.
See hi-seas.org.
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A TURTLE DISEASE CONFERENCE that wraps up today drew scientists from around the world to Hawai`i. The disease is fibropapillomatosis, which kills green sea turtles with its tumors. The conference is chaired by veteran Hawai`i turtle researcher George Balazs, of the Turtle Research Program under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
A Honolulu Star-Advertiser story today reported that in Hawai`i, while FP is the leading cause of green sea turtle strandings, it is also on the decline here. U.S. Geological Survey wildlife disease specialist Thierry Work told reporter Timothy Hurley that at its peak in the mid-1990s, nearly half of all green turtles had tumors, but currently less than 10 percent of the population is affected.
According to Hurley, Balazs and Work said the tumors are a form of cancer. Work said FP is common in coastal areas that suffer from wastewater, agricultural and storm runoff and that finding a cause could lead to improved coastal development and cleaner oceans.

See staradvertiser.com.
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National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, CO helps Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory monitor local seismic activity. Photo from USGS

WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER have to do with Hawai`i? USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists ask and answer this question in the current issue of Volcano Watch.

“One of the marvelous aspects of our modern, Internet-connected world is the ability to share vast amounts of data at the speed of light across the globe,” the article states. “Increasingly, government agencies responsible for monitoring hazardous processes (like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions) are taking advantage of technology to use resources efficiently and support public safety. A great example is how the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado helps us here in Hawai`i.
“The location of NEIC seems odd at first. We are often asked, “There aren’t many earthquakes in Colorado, why is the NEIC there?” The relatively low seismic hazard in Colorado, compared to Hawai`i, Alaska and the West Coast, makes it an ideal backup location in case a large earthquake or other natural disaster disrupts a local seismic network (like the one used by HVO to monitor earthquake and volcanic activity here in Hawai`i). In addition, there are major telecommunications hubs that run through the Denver area. The NEIC takes advantage of these to ensure highly reliable connectivity with lots of communication capacity.
“The role of NEIC as remote backup has already proven its worth. Indeed, during Hurricane Iselle, HVO systems were down for several days, during which NEIC backed up HVO’s earthquake monitoring operations. Though there weren’t any large earthquakes during the outage, the NEIC could have located the event and assigned a magnitude, if needed. HVO personnel were also in contact with scientists at the NEIC to provide local expertise.
“Also during the outage, a single temporary station was installed to monitor Kilauea Volcano’s summit. Data from this station was collected by the NEIC using a cell modem radio because HVO had no communications or power. When Internet was available, HVO scientists based in Hilo could then see the data in Golden and keep track of Kilauea Volcano.
“But, the NEIC is much more than just a backup for the local authorities.

NEIC operates Did You Feel It? program for HVO. Map from USGS/HVO

“The NEIC monitors earthquakes worldwide using a global network of seismometers supplemented by regional seismic networks (like those operated by HVO). With this global coverage, the NEIC is able to analyze earthquakes worldwide down to about magnitude-4.5 or less. So, when a large earthquake occurs in Japan, Indonesia, Nepal or elsewhere in the world, the magnitude and location reported in the news are typically from the NEIC.
“In order to be able to respond to earthquakes anywhere in the world at any hour, the NEIC is in operation 24 hours each day, seven days a week. At least two geophysicists are on duty at the NEIC at all times.
“HVO now uses the NEIC’s 24/7 capability to better monitor volcanoes on the Island of Hawai`i. Currently, geophysicists at the NEIC check on Kilauea and Mauna Loa in the middle of the night Hawai`i time to make sure nothing out of the ordinary is happening at either volcano. This helps HVO more closely provide 24/7 ‘eyes on the data’ without additional staffing. The program has been successful enough thus far that the Alaska Volcano Observatory is planning to use NEIC for overnight checks of critical volcanoes in Alaska by the end of the summer.
“The NEIC is also a leader in software and data visualization innovation. Several powerful computer programs that HVO relies on to monitor earthquakes were developed at the NEIC. Of public interest, the NEIC develops and runs the Earthquake Notification Service where anyone can sign up to receive notices of earthquakes around the world (https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/).
“The NEIC also developed and operates Hawai`i’s Shakemap, Did You Feel It? and PAGER products, all very popular among earthquake enthusiasts and emergency managers far and wide. The NEIC website that delivers these products along with earthquake locations and magnitudes is a rich source of earthquake information. We invite you to check it out: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/
“So, despite its location in landlocked Colorado, the National Earthquake Information Center is an important part of the seismic and volcano monitoring effort at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Working with NEIC, HVO will continue to improve the ability of the public in Hawai`i to explore earthquake information in intuitive and useful ways.”

See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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Gov. David Ige

GOV. DAVID IGE WILL BE TRAVELING to Japan to meet with government officials and members of the travel industry to promote and expand travel from Japan to the Hawaiian Islands.

Japan is the number one international market for Hawai`i with 18 daily flights to the Hawaiian Islands that bring in 1.5 million visitors annually, accounting for $2.4 billion in spending a year, which provides $257 million in state tax revenues.
During the trip, Ige will meet with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and the Minister of Tourism to discuss possible pre-clearance of flights from Japan to Hawai`i and the U.S., which would ease access to the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu is the nation’s fourth largest port of entry for overseas arrivals to the U.S.
Ige will also meet with travel partners from airlines, travel agents, wholesalers, corporations and businesses to encourage more travel to the islands, including meetings, conventions and incentive travel.
“We want the people of Japan to know that the people of Hawai`i welcome them to the Hawaiian Islands,” Ige said. “Japan and Hawai`i enjoy a special connection, and I want to honor this enduring relationship.
“As a new governor, I intend to assure our partners that we appreciate them and will continue to work with them to strengthen the cultural, social and economic bonds we share.”
Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will be Acting Governor while Ige is out of the state until Friday, June 19.
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Information about a new mobile slaughter unit is coming to Pahala today.
Photo from Hawai`i Island Meat

KA`U RANCHERS CAN LEARN about a Mobile Slaughter Unit today from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Hawai`i Island Meat presents this informational workshop for producers interested in accessing the service.

For more information, see hawaiiislandmeat.com or email hawaiiislandmeat@gmail.com.

KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED to Community Enterprises’ monthly forum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, in the County Council Chambers at the West Hawaii Civic Center. The topic is about electricity in Hawai`i and changes that will affect the state’s energy future. This is the first in a two-part series.
The event’s featured speakers are Hawaiian Electric Light Co. President Jay Ignacio, Life of the Land Executive Director Henry Curtis and Hawai`i Island Energy Cooperative Secretary Marco Mangelsdorf.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m, with pupus and beverages served prior to the free program.
For more information, email west-hawaii-forums@googlegroups.com.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

Ka`u livestock producers next year could have an option to hauling their animals to distant processing plants. Photo by Julia Neal

LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS FROM KA`U gathered at Pahala Community Center yesterday to discuss and learn more about a mobile slaughterhouse proposed to handle small numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs. Like their counterparts on the mainland, many meat producers on Hawai`i Island face significant barriers to starting and maintaining their businesses. The island currently imports a significant amount of its beef and more than 95 percent of its pork, lamb and goat products due to competition from imported meat products, high operational costs and insufficient access to U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected slaughterhouses.

Rep. Richard Onishi

Hawai`i Island Meat is a producer-owned and operated cooperative. Its 36-foot trailer, made possible with funding from the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, will meet USDA sanitation standards and be capable of processing eight to 10 head of cattle,15 pigs and 30 lamb or goats per day.
State Rep. Richard Onishi lent support to the group that includes Carol Zimmerman, who owns a 360-acre ranch at South Point and Kama`oa Roads where she raises cattle alongside Earth Matters vegetable farm. Barney Frazier, with his lambs that serve as lawnmowers in his orchards, said he acquired sheep and lamb to clean his orchards, leading to people wanting the meat from his farm west of Wai`ohinu. Mick Sharp said he will need slaughterhouse services for his lambs on Ka`alu`alu Road. Former state senator and state Department of Agriculture chief Russell Kokubun, of Volcano, said he is preparing paddocks to raise sheep, goats and pigs.
Mike Amando, who has a 200-acre ranch in Pa`auilo, said he is looking forward to a mobile service that is humane and provides the best services for home, store and restaurant consumption. He said Hawai`i has the disadvantage of being 2,500 miles away from many services for processing livestock. Several producers talked about existing services on the island requiring long drives and long waits for Ka`u ranchers.
Melanie Bondera, of the Kohala Center, said the mobile slaughter facility is designed for small and diversified producers. She said the mayor’s advisory committee on agriculture is very supportive, as is the state Department of Agriculture.
The mobile slaughterhouse would come to Ka`u, perhaps to one or two places, when there are enough animals scheduled. The locations, yet to be determined, would have to have accessibility, a restroom and a few other amenities. They could be on private or public land.
Several farmers and ranchers from outside Ka`u also attended, including Phil Bath, of Puna Pigs.
More information about the program is available at HawaiiIslandMeat.com or via email at HawaiiIslandMeat@gmail.com.
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Puna CDP map of zoning in Kea`au.

AN EXAMPLE OF HOW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS guide planning is occurring in Puna, where a proposal coming before the Planning Commission on July 2 recommends bringing the county General Plan, another guide to land use recommendations, into concert with that district’s CDP. While the General Plan recommends and does not force zoning changes, it guides them when landowners make requests.

The proposal from Hawai`i County Council focuses on Kea`au, where 587 acres makai of Hwy 11 would be classified as medium density urban, which currently applies to 52 acres in the commercial area of town. The proposal includes 112 acres currently designated as important agricultural lands that would be recommended for urban zoning in the General Plan.
According to a story in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald by Tom Callis, Hawai`i County Council requested the change to make the General Plan consistent with the Puna CDP and help the county plan for public services needed in the area of expected growth.
County planning program manager Daryn Arai told Callis the medium density classification does not allow for industrial development, which would have been permitted if the previously proposed urban expansion designation had been adopted.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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Sen. Josh Green

KA`U’S STATE SEN. JOSH GREEN discusses past accomplishments and future efforts in the state Legislature on his Facebook page. “Working together over the last 11 years, we have achieved extraordinary results for our community with over $1 billion committed to improve roads, schools and hospitals in West Hawai`i,” Green said. Of that funding, over $75 million annually comes from the Hospital Sustainability Act to strengthen Hawai`i’s hospitals, including Ka`u Hospital.
“At your urging I have sponsored important new laws to care for Hawai`i’s children,” Green said, “such as the 2015 mandates for insurance to cover autism and surgery for children with cleft palate. No state is more compassionate in its commitment to children’s health needs now, and in 2014 we were named the healthiest state in the nation. As health chairman, all of these many years, this particular designation made me very proud of the work we have done together.”
Green also list fighting against special interests to protect the environment and supporting renewable energy as additional accomplishments.
“In the coming years, I plan to work to improve opportunities for all of the people in Hawai`i,” Green said. “We need better employment options to help keep our children in Hawai`i. Housing must become more affordable, and we have to finally address the crises of homelessness and drug addiction, problems that have plagued our nation for generations.

“Thank you for all of your personal notes, letters and words of encouragement over these years. As ever, I hope to continue to hear your best ideas on how to make our state a more extraordinary place to live. It's only paradise if we make it so.”

A reward is offered on this stolen truck. Photo from Ka`u Coffee Mill

Contact Green at 808-586-9385 or sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov.
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A REWARD IS OFFERED FOR INFORMATION leading to the return of a truck stolen from Ka`u Coffee Mill late Saturday night. The 1985 Toyota Pickup was stolen and driven through a barbed wire fence to escape. Notify police and call Randy Stevens with any information at 368-3996.

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KILAUEA DRAMA AND ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK’S summer musical production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I opens soon. Performances are July 10 - 26 at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
The musical, the fifth by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II, is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, which is derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s.

The King and I cast members rehearse Getting to Know You. Photo from KDEN

The musical’s plot tells of the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher, hired as part of the king’s drive to modernize his country. The king is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. The relationship between the king and Anna is marked by conflict, as well as by a love that neither can admit. Along with the score, which includes Shall We Dance, Getting to Know You and Hello Young Lovers, is the Jerome Robbins ballet, The Small House of Uncle Thomas.
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 general admission, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for children 12 and under. Pre-sale tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Kea`au Natural Foods and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Tickets are also available at the door.
For more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
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Hawai`i Island native Lito Arkangel performs at Kilauea
Visitor Center Auditorium Wednesday. Photo from NPS

KA`U VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO HELP Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in their next Forest Restoration Project should register today. At the event on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants clear invasive, non-native faya plants in the Kilauea section.

Register at forest@fhvnp.org or 352-1402.

HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS tomorrow at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona. Ka`u residents can participate via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. The meeting is also streamed live. See hawaiicounty.gov and click on Council Meetings.

ENTERTAINER AND SONGWRITER Lito Arkangel shares his original compositions and other Hawaiian favorites Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. A native of the former plantation town of Ola`a (now known as Kea`au), Arkangel learned music by turning pages for his grandmother as she played piano for the local church. After decades of backyard jam sessions, he is now a full-time entertainer and musician and just released his debut album, Lito Arkangel … Me ke Aloha, produced by Grammy Award-winner Charles Michael Brotman. Arkangel was a finalist for Most Promising Artist at the 2015 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manage Palmyra Atoll, which TNC calls "a treasure chest of biological riches and a natural marine laboratory."Photo from TNC

KA`U RURAL HEALTH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC. is one of the organizations likely to lose funding to help Ka`u residents sign up for health care as Hawai`i Health Connector starts to shut down. KRHCAI has promoted and helped people sign up for government sponsored health insurance at many community gatherings and at its offices next to Pahala Library.

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services last month informed the Connector that federal funds were no longer available to support its long-term operations. The Connector, a private nonprofit entity, has been unable to generate sufficient revenues to sustain operations.

Based on ongoing discussions with the state and the Connector, CMS agreed to provide limited funds for the transition so that Hawai`i can maintain a Supported State-based Marketplace. “We are anticipating being able to continue to some degree, but we haven’t got word back from the federal government how much of that expense they’re willing to fund,” Jeffrey Kissel, executive director of the Connector, told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. “As a result, because the grants are effectively expiring June 30, and we’re not able to renew them, until we get approval from the federal government, several of the market assister organizations are having to give notices to their employees.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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Conservation and scientific research are The Nature
Conservancy's roles on Palmyra Atoll.
Map from TNC

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, with its Big Island headquarters in Ka`u, has reached out to Palmyra Atoll, almost 1,000 miles south-southwest of here, to install wind and solar energy to power the island, which TNC manages with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

“Installing solar and wind energy at Palmyra will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by 95 percent,” said Mark Fox, acting executive director of the Conservancy’s Hawai`i and Palmyra programs. “It will eliminate an annual 21,000-gallon shipment of diesel fuel previously used to run the atoll’s generators.”
“We have basically locked in 20 years of low-cost energy and made the station economically and environmentally sustainable,” added David Sellers, the Conservancy’s acting Palmyra director. “Our carbon footprint has been reduced dramatically, and we have mitigated the environmental risk of having to transport and store all that fuel.”
Buying and shipping diesel fuel needed to run the research station took up more than half of the Conservancy’s operating budget for Palmyra and produced 349 metric tons of CO2 annually. Including shipping, fuel costs were between $11 and $13 a gallon. “That’s about 93 cents per kilowatt hour for our energy needs. The average cost on the U.S. mainland is 12 cents,” Sellers said.
In 2012, the Conservancy substituted biodiesel for regular diesel to power the atoll. While it proved to be a clean and effective alternative, it wasn’t any cheaper to purchase and ship than regular diesel. That’s when the Conservancy decided to take Palmyra renewable.
The six-week project saw Conservancy staff and a crew of 30 volunteers install 385 solar panels, a solar hot water system, a deep-cycle battery system to store sunlight for use at night and a prototype bird-friendly wind turbine — all of it creating a custom 100-kilowatt solar micro-grid.
“The wind turbine gives us a diversity of power sources, which is really important in a remote location,” Sellers said. “We cannot rely on just one system.”
For extra backup, the Conservancy maintains a three-year supply of biodiesel made from 100 percent recycled vegetable oil to run existing generators.
“The commitment to making the station sustainable reflects the long-term dedication that the USFWS and the Conservancy share in protecting the rich natural resources and biodiversity found at Palmyra,” said Stefan Kropidlowski, Palmyra Atoll Refuge Manager for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“With the renewable energy system in place, we can now focus on what we do best – conservation and scientific research to inform that conservation,” said Fox. “Going forward, we will work with the USFWS to ensure that the renewable energy systems have little to no negative impact on the atoll’s wildlife and habitat.”

See nature.org.

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Diagram of cesspool from Hawai`i Department of Health

A TEMPORARY INCOME TAX CREDIT for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a septic system or an aerobic treatment unit system or connecting to a sewer system is provided following Gov. David Ige signing HB1140.
Ka`u’s Rep. Richard Onishi voted against the bill because he wanted the program to have a sliding scale based on income, according to a story in West Hawai`i Today. “I think it’s a great idea in terms of getting people to connect,” Onishi told reporter Nancy Cook Lauer, “(but) I felt that there are people who have the ability to pay for it.”
Onishi said he also opposed mandatory rules originally proposed by the Health Department. One proposed rule would have not only prohibited use of new cesspools but also required an upgrade to a septic system or connection to a sewer system within 180 days of the sale of any property with a cesspool.
“I think, in general, the concern over cesspools was warranted, but the question is how to go about it,” Onishi told Cook Lauer.
The credits apply to tax years 2016 through 2020. Priority is given to owners whose cesspools affect public drinking water wells and are within 200 feet of the shoreline, streams or wetlands.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE Program applications are available in Ka`u this month. LIHEAP helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs. The program provides federally funded assistance in managing costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs. Households may apply for help with either their shut-off or regular bill, from either the electric or gas company.

Applicants must have a utility bill from their utility company dated not more than 30 days prior to the date of the application. They must report all members of the household, have a utility cost for the residence they are applying for, be income-qualified and have an active utility account to receive credit.
Ka`u residents can apply Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center and the Hawai`i County Economic Opportunity Council office behind Na`alehu Community Center. A staff member is also in Pahala at the Olson Trust II office building on the corner of Maile and Pikake Streets on Tuesdays, including today, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call 961-2681, ext. 415.
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Lito Arkangel Photo from NPS

LITO ARKANGEL SHARES HIS ORIGINAL compositions and other Hawaiian favorites tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

FAMED, AWARD-WINNING GUITARIST John Keawe returns to Ka`u with a performance Thursday at 3 p.m. at Na`alehu Public Library. Keawe is a regular instructor at annual music workshops in Pahala, where he teaches slack key guitar to visitors and local students who receive scholarships.
Keawe offers A Tribute to Slack Key during his visit to Ka`u. He performed at Pahala Public Library in 2012 and also offers annual Christmas programs at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Shizuno Nasu

RENOWNED AND CLASSICALLY TRAINED dance artist Shizuno Nasu presents her latest workshop rooted in deep listening and improvisation Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Students walk through Niaulani’s native rainforest to gather inspiration for movement passages, explore Fu-Sui-Ka movements based on the elements of water, wind and fire and enjoy seated movement meditation inspired by the female goddess Miroku.

Nasu began her classical ballet training at age three. She was chosen as an exchange student with the Bolshoi Ballet at age seven and made her debut as a professional dancer at age 19. Shizuno’s quest for her own stylistic voice led her to study old Japanese mythological dances. She undertook a multi-year pilgrimage, deepening within her the skill and spirit of mai, the dance. Beyond the influence of both the West and the East, Shizuno continues to refine her unique mai, a dance attuned to the rhythms of Mother Nature. She currently resides in Volcano, where she generates new Spiral Visions, teaches dance and aspires to bring cultures together through international cultural exchange.
Shizuno says of her work, “I am dancing with Life itself, expressing the magnificent drama, fleeting and precious!” She emphasizes that in her workshop, all hearts are welcome.
Joining Shizuno during her workshop are crystal bowl musician Izumi Hashimoto and workshop dance assistants Rieko Inoue from Kyoto and Jenn Eng, from Hilo.
Fee is $50 for VAC members and $55 for non-members. For more information or to register call VAC at 967-8222 or register at volcanoartcenter.org. No dance experience is necessary.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

Ka`u's food growers can find out what crops grow well on their property through an online tool developed by The Kohala Center.
Photo from Earth Matters Farm

A NEW ONLINE TOOL MATCHES CROP varieties to Hawai`i’s microclimates. The Kohala Center recently launched the online tool to help Hawai`i gardeners and small-scale farmers select crop varieties most likely to succeed in their specific geographic areas. The new tool, developed through The Center’s Hawai`i Public Seed Initiative, also offers a detailed representation of local plant hardiness zones based on Hawai`i’s diverse microclimates.

Knowing the climate zone their property is in can
help Ka`u growers choose proper plants.
Map from Hawai`i Seed Initiative

The Seed Variety Selection Tool for the Hawaiian Islands, accessible online at HawaiiSeedInitiative.org/svst, was created to help seed savers, gardeners and small-scale farmers share information about which crops perform well in their locations. Gardeners and small-scale farmers with at least two years of successful experience growing specific varieties are encouraged to submit their crop-performance data at HawaiiSeedInitiative.org/svst/seed-input. Names, physical addresses and contact information of contributors are kept confidential and are not published on the website.
“What’s unique about the Hawaiian Islands is how abruptly our microclimates change,” said Lyn Howe, coordinator of The Center’s Hawai`i Public Seed Initiative. “A difference of just a mile or two, or a slight increase in elevation, can mean very different soil and growing conditions. This tool is meant to help anyone in Hawai`i determine their specific climate zone and learn from the success of other growers who garden or farm in similar conditions.”
Users are encouraged to submit their feedback and ideas to seedproject@kohalacenter.org.
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SEVEN PEOPLE IN OCEAN VIEW ESCAPED without injury before fire destroyed a structure they were occupying yesterday. Fire and rescue units responded to a 10:17 a.m. alarm at 92-8841 Coral Parkway.
When crews arrived, the single-story structure was engulfed in flames. The structure was a total loss estimated at $10,000.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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KA`U SENIOR EVAN MANOHA, teaming up with Kea`au senior Lexis Andrade, took first place in double mugging at Hawai`i High School Rodeo Association finals Saturday at Parker Ranch. Manoha also participates in rodeos in Na`alehu. Last year, he and his partner took first place in Junior Dally Team Roping. He also played on Ka`u High’s eight-man football team.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL YESTERDAY passed Mayor Billy Kenoi’s request for a $99.75 million bond issue. Funds go toward projects in all nine council districts.

Gov. David Ige and Japan Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe

Nancy Cook Lauer, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, reported that departments receiving funding include Parks & Recreation, with $50 million for 18 projects. Public Works has $20 million for projects, including improvements to Mamalahoa Highway. Department of Environmental Management projects costing $10 million include wastewater and recycling project improvements. Funding of $5,000 for Mass Transit goes toward building bus shelters and creating a master plan for islandwide bus routes.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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GOV. DAVID IGE MET WITH JAPAN Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, his first day of meetings in Tokyo, Japan.

Ige and Chief of Staff Mike McCartney also met with executives at Hitachi Ltd., IBM Japan and Amuse, Inc., a Japanese management, production and publication company.
Yesterday, Ige is met with various airlines and travel agencies before attending an evening reception. Ige is in Japan to boost business and economic development in Hawai`i and promote and expand travel to the Hawaiian Islands.
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THE OFFICE OF MAUNAKEA MANAGEMENT has scheduled public meetings regarding its work on content for Administrative Rules for public and commercial activities within University of Hawai`i-managed lands on Maunakea.
The purpose of rules is to provide proper protection of natural, cultural and scientific resources and maintain public safety and welfare.

Meetings are from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center County Council Chambers, Bldg A in Kona on Tuesday, June 23; ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo on Wednesday, June 24; and Kuhio Hale, DHHL West Hawai`i District Office, 64-756 Mamalahoa Highway at Mile Marker 55 in Waimea on Thursday, June 25.
For more information, call 933-0734 or email omkm@hawaii.edu.
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TRANS FATS ARE NOW BANNED FROM U.S. FOODS. The Food and Drug Administration finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in human food and calls for food manufacturers to remove PHOs from products within three years.

“The FDA’s action on this major source of artificial trans fat demonstrates the agency’s commitment to the heart health of all Americans,” said FDA’s Acting Commissioner Stephen Ostroff, M.D. “This action is expected to reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year.”

This determination will significantly reduce the use of PHOs in the food supply.

U.S. FDA has banned trans fats from food.

Since 2006, manufacturers have been required to include trans fat content information on the Nutrition Facts label of foods. Between 2003 and 2012, the FDA estimates that consumer trans fat consumption decreased about 78 percent and that the labeling rule and industry reformulation of foods were key factors in informing healthier consumer choices and reducing trans fat in foods. While trans fat intake has significantly decreased, the current intake remains a public health concern. The Institute of Medicine recommends that consumption of trans fat be as low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet.
“Studies show that diet and nutrition play a key role in preventing chronic health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, and today’s action goes hand in hand with other FDA initiatives to improve the health of Americans, including updating the nutrition facts label,” said Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “This determination is based on extensive research into the effects of PHOs, as well as input from all stakeholders received during the public comment period.”
The FDA has set a compliance period of three years. This will allow companies to either reformulate products without PHOs and/or petition the FDA to permit specific uses of PHOs. Following the compliance period, no PHOs can be added to human food unless they are approved by the FDA.
The FDA encourages consumers seeking to reduce trans fat intake to check a food’s ingredient list for partially hydrogenated oils to determine whether or not a product contains PHOs. Currently, foods are allowed to be labeled as having “0” grams trans fat if they contain less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, including PHOs.
Many companies have already been working to remove PHOs from processed foods, and the FDA anticipates that many may eliminate them ahead of the three-year compliance date.
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Last year's forest stewards on one of several field trips. Photo from UH-CTAHR

KA`U RESIDENTS INTERESTED in forest stewardship can apply for a program that educates community leaders in good forest land management and empowers them to reach out to their communities to improve forest conservation.
Now in its fourth year, the program consists of an intensive, three-day workshop on forest land management in Hawai`i, including Hawaiian natural history, wildlife habitat, tree farming, invasive species, forest protection, koa forestry, agroforestry, working with professionals, taxes, estate planning, financial matters and Hawaiian culture. Half-day classroom sessions are balanced with afternoon field trips to managed private forests.

The program is held at Kilauea Military Camp, with field trips to surrounding forests in East Hawai`i. Lodging is covered by the program. Participants are responsible for transportation to Volcano and their own meals at KMC’s Crater Rim Café or in Volcano Village.

John Keawe, here during a past performance at Punalu`u,
returns to Ka`u tomorrow.

For more information, see http://www2.ctahr.hawaii.edu/for-estry/workshops/ForestStewards_2015.html.
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LITO ARKANGEL SHARES HIS ORIGINAL compositions and other Hawaiian favorites this evening at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Free; park entrance fees apply.

JOHN KEAWE PRESENTS A FREE tribute to slack key tomorrow at 3 p.m. Na`alehu Public Library.

DANCING ON EARTH: CREATIVE FLOW and Dance Meditation workshop takes place Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Shizuno Nasu’s workshop is rooted in deep listening and improvisation.
Register at volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

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

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.pdf and
kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf.

See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_June2015.pdf.

Volunteer divers gather debris from the ocean at Ka Lae during Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and friends' first-ever diving cleanup on Hawai`i Island. Photos from Cynthia Hankins Photography

VOLUNTEERS REMOVED 157 POUNDS of debris from the ocean at Ka Lae during Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and friends’ first-ever dive cleanup last Sunday. Most of the debris was derelict fishing gear, with the number one item being monofilament line.

Divers and other volunteers show off their catches.

The cleanup was a success with a total of 12 scuba divers, three free divers and eight shoreline support volunteers, including Simon Chan, who kept a lookout with binoculars from the cliffs the whole time, and Japanese-English interpreter Hanako Yokota. Organizer Megan Lamson said the group was “blessed by a visit from a pod of dolphins and friendly fishermen sharing the same rocky shoreline.”
HWF volunteer and marine biologist Lindsey Kramer noted the presence of additional invasive limu and invertebrate species on the sugi line that was removed. “This gives us all the more reason to continue this type of work for the health of our native marine wildlife,” Lamson said.
Along with the individual divers, others who made the day a success included NOAA Marine Debris Program, Sea Beautification Society’s team of eight divers from Japan, Line-X Hilo, Big Island Divers, DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, S. Tokunaga and Cynthia Hankins Photography.
“We are all so thankful that this first-ever HWF Dive Cleanup event on Hawai`i Island was a success and are most appreciative of all the collaboration needed to make this happen!” Lamson said.
HWF hopes to be able to plan another dive event next year.
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FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S 4.5 PERCENT raises for public school educational officers including principals and vice principals, the state Board of Education recently gave superintendents four percent increases. Salaries will range from $125,000 to $180,000 for 15 complex-area and six assistant superintendents and one deputy superintendent.

Principals’ salaries range from $110,812 to $148,380.
While the BOE sets salaries for most public schools, state-licensed and funded charter schools have more flexibility. For example, in its three-year budget submitted to the State Public Charter School Commission, the new Ka`u Learning Academy lists salaries for executive director as $96,000 and for managing director as $72,000 annually for the first two years. Their salaries increase the third year, as enrollment and staffing increases, to $112,000 and 92,000, respectively.
KLA founders Kathryn Tydlacka and Joe Iacuzzo recently asked and received approval from the commission to reduce its enrollment expectation from 111 to 85 students. The school at Discovery Harbour Clubhouse will initially offer instruction in grades three through six.
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STATE TAX REFUND CHECKS ARE LATE. According to an Associated Press story in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a delay of up to four months is due to fighting tax fraud, which increases the time it takes to issue legitimate refund checks.
A tax fraud unit has caught nearly 8,600 suspicious tax returns and prevented phony refunds of almost $22 million from being issued this year, state tax director Maria Zielinski said.
Last month, the state sent out refunds of $275 million, about $160 million less than the amount returned at the same time last year.
More refunds of about $100 million are expected to be sent after the end of this month.
See staradvertiser.com.
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BILL COLLETT, WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL in Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative’s acquisition of Kaua`i Electric, is advising Hawai`i Island Energy Cooperative, according to a story in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. HIEC is a nonprofit co-op formed by community and business leaders to explore potential merits of a community-based, cooperative ownership structure for electric utility service on this island.

Collet is founder and president of Kansas City-based financial advisory firm Collet & Associates that provides investment banking services to energy and infrastructure clients.
The firm concentrates on strategic acquisitions of generation, transmission and distribution assets by cooperatives, development and financing of utility-scale renewable energy generation facilities, financing alternatives for energy efficiency and conservation programs, and innovative alternatives for financing growing industry capital requirements.
Collett is recognized for developing a template for successful acquisition of utility properties on behalf of electric cooperatives.
David Bissell, president and CEO of KIUC, told reporter Chris D`Angelo that Collet “played a key role” in KIUC’s formation and advised the co-op on valuation to support its successful purchase offer. “Bill also provided financial analysis, projections and testimony to the Hawai`i PUC in support of the KIUC transaction,” Bissell said.
Bissell said Collet has advised on the majority of cooperative acquisition deals that have taken place during the last decade.
HIEC is also an intervenor in the Public Utilities Commission’s docket regarding the proposed merger of Hawaiian Electric Co. and NextEra Energy. It role, according the the website, is “to bring to the proceedings its specific focus on the energy needs of Hawai`i Island and its unique perspective on potential cooperative ownership structures.”

See hiec.coop and hawaiitribune-herald.com.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD VOTED against allowing the Obama Administration’s Trade Promotion Authority, also known as fast-track. Gabbard criticized Republican leadership’s attachment of the measure to an unrelated bill that serves public safety workers. H.R. 2146 allows firefighters and other public service safety employees, who have forced retirement requirements, to take early withdrawals from a government pension without being penalized. Gabbard also voted against the fast-track legislation last week.

“It is an affront to the American people that leaders in Congress have attached fast-track authority legislation to a wholly unrelated bill that serves our firefighters and public safety workers,” Gabbard said. “I strongly support the original version of H.R. 2146. However, I voted against the measure today because this fast-track legislation takes away the opportunity for the American people’s voice to be heard in determining our future. Instead, fast-track places our future in the hands of multinational corporations and foreign governments. The American people are deeply concerned about how any potential trade deal will impact their jobs, livelihood and our economy, and they deserve to have their voices heard through Congress in the trade negotiating process.”
According to Gabbard, TPA allows the Administration to negotiate trade deals behind closed doors and then send the finished deal to Congress for an up or down vote, without allowing lawmakers to amend.
The House of Representatives passed fast-track authority by a vote of 218-208 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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SHIZUNO NASU PRESENTS Dancing on Earth: Creative Flow and Dance Meditation tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Register at volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

Hikes explore inside Pu`u o Lokuana.
Photo from NPS

HIKERS SATURDAY LEARN ABOUT FORMATION and various uses of the grassy cinder cone Pu`u o Lokuana and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka`u. The moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Kahuku unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park features hula performances Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., featuring Na Mea Hula with Kumu Ab Valencia and Halau Hula Kalehuaki`eki`eika`iu. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Kumu hula Iwalani Kalima and Hula Halau O Kou Lima Nani `E perform on the hula platform.
For more information, call 967-8222.

MEMBERS OF KA`U AGRICULTURAL WATER Cooperative District are invited to a conflict resolution workshop Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ka`u Coffee Mill. The workshop, sponsored by The Kohala Center, presents skills current and future board members need in conflict prevention, management and resolution in order for co-ops to be effective.
Scott Enright, Chair of Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, will present an update on water access through state agencies.

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