Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Thursday, March 31, 2016

Today is the final day for Ka`u young ladies to enter May's Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant. See more below. Photo by Pamela Taylor

HAWAI`I COUNTY MAYOR BILLY KENOI entered a plea of not guilty yesterday. Kenoi was indicted on eight charges related use of county-issued purchasing card. Kenoi used the card to purchase personal items and drinks at a Honolulu hostess bar.

Two of the eight charges are for second-degree theft, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Mayor Billy Kenoi

“It’s an overreach to call him a thief, and it’s fighting words,” Kenoi’s attorney Todd Eddins told John Burnett, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. “And Mayor Kenoi is going to fight these flimsy allegations all the way.”

Hilo Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Kenoi to appear for trial on July 18. However, Eddins told Burnett the trial may be delayed due to the amount of material that needs to be reviewed. It’s “hard to say at this point” if the trial would begin before Kenoi completes his final term and a new mayor replaces him in December, Eddins said. Kenoi is ineligible to run for mayor again due to term limits.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE ARE ASKING for the public’s help in identifying the driver and vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that seriously injured a pedestrian in Ocean View a week ago Saturday.

About 11 p.m. on March 19, Ka`u patrol officers responded to a report of a traffic accident involving a pedestrian on Hawai`i Boulevard. Police determined that a 24-year-old man, who had been lying on the road, was run over by a vehicle traveling north on Hawai`i Boulevard. The man sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Kona Community Hospital and later transferred to Queen’s Medical Center on O`ahu in critical condition.
The suspected vehicle is described as a newer-model, white, four-door Nissan pickup truck driven by a Caucasian man wearing a white-brimmed hat.
Police ask that anyone with information about the driver or vehicle call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Melissa D’Angelo at 939-2520.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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Hawai`i county Civil Defense Chief Darryl Oliveira is retiring.

HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE Chief Darryl Oliveira is retiring. Oliveira retired as county fire chief in 2011 and in 2013 replaced Ben Fuata at Civil Defense. He has seen the county through threatening lava flows, hurricanes, tsunamis and the ongoing dengue fever outbreak.

Oliveira’s replacement is up to Mayor Billy Kenoi. Oliveira told Nancy Cook Lauer, of West Hawai`i Today, that the timing of his retirement coincides with a quiet time in emergencies and that he is willing to volunteer his time to help the new administrator become familiar with the job.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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A magnitude-2.9 earthquake struck yesterday.
Map from USGS HVO

A MAGNITUDE-2.9 EARTHQUAKE struck on the slopes of Mauna Loa this morning, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported. Located 8.6 miles east-southeast of the summit, the quake was 6.2 miles beneath the surface. USGS originally reported the magnitude as 3.0 but later revised it.

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A HIGH SURF WARNING is in effect until 6 p.m. for west-facing shores of Hawai`i Island, including Ka`u and Miloli`i. National Weather Service reported that a large northwest swell bringing 10- to 12-foot waves will gradually diminish today. Beaches in Kona Kahalu`u to Mauna Kea Hotel are closed. NWS warns that large breaking surf, significant shorebreak and dangerous currents make entering the water very hazardous.

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U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ YESTERDAY met with Boys & Girls Club of Hawai`i members and honored this year’s Youth of the Year. In his keynote address, Schatz recognized the critical work the Boys & Girls Club does and challenged its young members to pursue a life of public service.

“Public service takes many forms, and you can find a way to serve that makes sense to you. But it is up to you to seek out those opportunities,” Schatz said.

Sen. Brian Schatz honored Boys & Girls Club yesterday.
Photo from Office of Sen. Schatz

The Boys & Girls Club of Hawai`i serves more than 30,000 youth, providing a safe, structured and positive environment for young people after school, during holidays and on summer vacation. BGCH currently operates 30 club sites across the state, including one at Pahala Community Center headed by Dolly Kailiawa.

Youth of the Year is a year-round character and leadership program that recognizes Boys & Girls Club members who are shining stars at their Club. Aged 14 - 18, these teens demonstrate academic achievement, leadership skills and service to their community.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Director Rachael Wong urges all individuals and families who received health insurance through the Connector in 2015 to file their taxes by the April 18 deadline.

Rachael Wong

This year, those who got their 2015 healthcare coverage through the Connector should have received a Form 1095-A. This form allows filers to calculate any advanced premium tax credits they received to help pay for insurance. It is important to include information from the 1095-A form in tax returns so that individuals and families can remain eligible for help with health insurance costs in 2017.

Individuals and families who had insurance through the Connector who have not received a Form 1095-A should contact 1-877-628-5076 or email support@hawaiihealthconnector.com.
Additional information about advanced premium tax credits, tax filings and healthcare coverage is available online through federal agencies like the IRS and Healthcare.gov and DHS. Low-income individuals and families may also get in-person assistance filing their taxes. More information about these resources can be found at humanservices.hawaii.gov.
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TODAY IS THE DEADLINE to enter the Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant that takes place at Ka`u Coffee Mill on Saturday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. Categories are Miss Ka`u Coffee, Miss Peaberry and Junior Miss Ka`u Coffee.
Those who sign up for the pageant are eligible to ride in Merrie Monarch Parade this Saturday.
Contact Trinidad Marques at 936-0015 or aliihhhcoffee@yahoo.com to enter the pageant. Donate to the pageant scholarship fund with Julia Neal at 928-6471 or mahalo@aloha.net.

Ka`u Natural Farming is the topic at Earth Matters Farm
on Saturday. Photo from Earth Matters

HAWAI`I FARMERS UNION UNITED’s Ka`u chapter and Earth Matters Farm sponsor a sustainability workshop Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The farm is two miles down South Point Road at the corner of Kama`oa Road.

Richard Perea, a certified Korean Natural Farming instructor, has developed a technique called Ka`u Natural Farming that is unique to our local area.
Workshop participants learn how to cultivate their own local microorganisms for sustainable gardening and farming, about the interface between soil and plants, and how to strengthen plants’ ability to receive available nutrients.
Cost is $25 and free to all HFUU members. A garden-fresh lunch is included.
For more information and to sign up, call Greg Smith at 443-3300, or email earthmatterskau@aol.com.

ZACH MERMEL, OF OLA DESIGN GROUP, shares Secrets of the Soil Part I & II on Saturday at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Part I covers soil basics. How is soil formed? What organisms reside within it? What are the different soil types on Hawai`i Island? In this interactive session, participants explore dynamics of the soil food web, various properties of soil and fundamentals of soil testing at the homestead and farm scale.

The workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. costs $40, or $30 for VAC members.
Composting is the topic of Part II from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ever wondered how to make compost that plants will devour like dessert? This hands-on session explores strategies for dramatically enhancing the life-giving properties of soil. Participants gain experience constructing a biologically active compost pile and a home-scale worm bin and applying compost tea sprays to plants and soil. Fee is $30, or $25 for VAC members.
Discounted fees of $60, or $50 for VAC members, apply when signing up for both parts.

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