Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Ka`u famers and ranchers support a bill at the state Legislature that would keep state water available until long-term leases are provided. Photo from Hawai`i Department of Agriculture

KA`U FARM BUREAU MEMBERS who ranch and farm are seeking protection for their sources of water that originate on state land, testifying that they could lose their revocable leases. Kapapala ranchers Lani Cran, Jon Cran and Bill Petrie told Sen. Russell Ruderman, during his public meeting in Ka`u last week, that they should be excluded from any canceling of water permits that originated through now defunct sugar plantations across the state that took water and diverted the natural flow of streams to use for their crops.

A case on Maui involves returning water diverted by a Maui sugar company back to its natural course for wildlife and more traditional farming. The Ka`u agriculturalists say their situation is different.

Between Kapapala and Na`alehu, the old plantation water system was not a matter of diverting streams from their natural flow. It was created by workers hired by the sugar companies to dig horizontal tunnels into the volcano where large amounts of rainwater percolate through the lava and into a lens of water deep in the volcano. As the water drips down within Mauna Loa, the tunnels catch some of it. The tunnel water, which was used in the past to carry sugar cane to the mills, more recently has been used for irrigation and watering livestock.

Ka`u sources of water to flume cane are being restored
for irrigation. Photo from Olson Trust

Kapapala ranchers said they had been called by Hawai`i Farm Bureau to help with the issue by testifying before the state Legislature on House Bill 2501, which would allow for extension of revocable permits if long-term lease applications are pending. They flew to Honolulu and testified with Kuahiwi rancher Michelle Galimba; John Cross, who represents Olson Trust, which grows coffee and macadamia in Ka`u; and Randy Cabral, a retired macadamia plantation manager in Ka`u who also has a small ranch here and is state president of Hawai`i Farm Bureau. All have been working for the last decade to restore old sugar tunnels for agriculture water, and state funding has been appropriated.

In written testimony given prior to the hearing, Cabral said the Maui case “is of special interest to agriculture as many of our farms and ranches depend on diverted waters for irrigation. Without water, there can be no agriculture. The Maui case involves one of the largest contiguous active agricultural lands in the state. The farm families and organizations along with their communities are at risk if an interim solution is not identified. We believe the proposed measure provides a good option. As stated, it is clearly an interim measure and not a means to get around the law. It provides time for the law to be interpreted and implemented in the best interest of the people and environment.”

Michelle Galimba wrote, “My family operates a cattle ranch in Ka`u district on Hawai`i Island. We live and work in a remote area where there is very little public infrastructure. We have a revocable permit that allows our ranch and several other ranches in the area to use water that originates from a water tunnel dug by the sugar plantation early last century. We only use the excess water left over after the County Department of Water Supply takes water for residential use. This water would otherwise simply be dumped on the ground. This excess water is used on our ranch, and other neighboring ranches, to create food, income, and jobs for local people, in an area where jobs are scarce.
“Sometimes there is water for our ranches, and sometimes, during droughts such as we are presently experiencing, there is little to no water available from our water permit. We do not divert water from streams, as there are no permanent streams in the district of Ka`u.
“We do our best to obey the regulatory requirements as defined by the state. We would have preferred to have been allowed a long-term water lease, however we understand how complex permitting is and have patiently worked with what tenure has been available to us. Now even the short-term tenure that these water permits offered are at risk. HB2501 will allow us all to work through the complex issues of water permits and leases without causing immediate harm to our agricultural businesses and homesteads here in Ka`u. I hope that you will vote in its favor.”

See tomorrow's Ka`u Calendar News Briefs for testimony in opposition to the bill.

Donald Trump

Track progress of this and other bills at capitol.hawaii.gov.
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DONALD TRUMP, MARCO RUBIO AND JOHN KASICH all talked to local news shows this morning in advance of the Republican caucuses to be held around the state today between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Nineteen delegates are up for grabs toward selecting the Republican candidate for the U.S. Presidency.
In 2012, 10,000 Republicans voted during Republican caucuses in Hawai`i. Anyone who lives in Hawai`i and is 18 years of age can register to vote at the caucus site tonight, if not already signed up. Caucus locations in South Hawai`i are Na`alehu School cafeteria and Yano Hall in Captain Cook.

Six names are on the ballot, including Jeb Bush and Ben Carson, who have already dropped out of the race. The other four are Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump.

Sen. Marco Rubio

Trump told Hawai`i News Now this morning that Rubio has never been here and never made any jobs here. Said Trump, “I own a big hotel, Trump International Hotel.” The candidate said it might be “your most highly rated hotel” in Hawai`i. He pointed to the people he employees and said he educates them and takes care of their health care. He said his Hawai`i hotel has “very low debt and tremendous cash flow.”
News anchor Grace Lee quoted former Hawai`i congresswoman Pat Saiki, who just ended her term as chair of the Republican Party. Saiki said that “Donald Trump has made of a mockery of the presidency of the United States. I think he’s torn us apart. He really has made us seem as though we don’t care about people. ... If any of my five grandchildren used the language that he has used or shown such disrespect for not only people but for the government, I’d wash their mouths with soap.”

Trump retorted, “She is backing another candidate. ... I can understand this.”

Gov. John Kasich

The Hawai`i News Now reporter asked about Trump’s questioning of Pres. Barack Obama’s place of birth, asking whether he was really born in the U.S. Lee said that many people in Hawai`i were offended since Obama was born here and there are birth certificates to prove it. “The president has never released his records, and that's his prerogative,” said Trump. “I don’t have his records. I haven’t seen his long-form birth certificates.” The reporter stated that the state Department of Health and Obama did release Obama’s birth certificates. Trump also stated that he doesn’t talk about the birther issue anymore.
Trump said that he has helped the Republican Party. “Because of me, the primaries have received millions and millions of additional votes.”
Lee asked him, “Do you really want to be President, or is this about winning?” Trump replied, “No, I want to make America great again.”

Sen. Ted Cruz

KHON reporter Diane Ako interviewed Florida's U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. He talked about winning the Republican delegates in Puerto Rico and said he could do the same here, helping the Hawai`i Republican Party. Regarding his advertising and interviews in Hawai`i, Rubio said he is the only one campaigning here. He talked about defunding federal contributions to Planned Parenthood and giving the money to federally licensed women health care programs.
He said states should run schools without interference from the federal government. He said he also has a plan to help students with school loan debt.
Hawai`i News Now reporter Chris Tanaka interviewed Ohio Gov. John Kasich. He said, “You don’t want to take the low road to the highest office in the land,” referring to course language from other candidates. Regarding the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, Kasich said, “We’re Americans, and I don’t understand the call for a nation within a nation. It’s not something that I would look too favorably on.” Admitting that it isn’t a subject he is very familiar, Kasich said some sort of federal recognition could possibly be considered.

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Making ahu la`i, or ti-leaf capes, is demonstrated tomorrow.
Photo from NPS

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK rangers demonstrate how to make ti-leaf capes tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

Free; park entrance fees apply.

VOLCANO SCHOOL OF ARTS & SCIENCES students present Dina Kageler’s original musical Archipelago! Thursday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
Free; park entrance fees may apply.

FOOTPRINTS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE is the destination of a Photography Tour, Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mary Goodrich leads the tour in conjunction with the current Sightlines exhibit at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Participants meet at the gallery and carpool to the site. Registration required at 967-7565.

KA`U'S COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER Maile David meets with her constituents Monday, March 28 at 6 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center. David will answer questions about local issues.

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