Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Rangers offer informational talks daily at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, which waives entry fees through Sunday. Photo from NPS

PERSONNEL FROM HAWAI`I COUNTY are trying to find Pahala’s gang cesspool and evaluating the sewer system today until 3 p.m. As of 10 a.m., they hadn’t been able to find the site in the vicinity of the Old Mill, makai of Maile Street near the former KAHU Radio Station.

Crews are testing Pahala's sewer system
in the defined area. Map from Hawai`i County.

Testing involves injecting a non-toxic, clean and harmless smoke into the old plantation sewer collection system within this area. According to Department of Environmental Management’s Wastewater Division, smoke may be seen coming from vent stacks on buildings or holes in the ground.

“Information gathered will be used to create a plan to close the large-capacity cesspool in the near future,” Wastewater Division Chief Dora Beck wrote in a letter sent to property owners in the area.
According to Civil Engineer Curtis Bailey, a public meeting is being planned regarding the future sewage treatment plant that will replace the cesspool.
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A BILL REGARDING LAUNCH OF SATELLITES from Hawai`i Island is advancing at the state Legislature. The Senate approved House Bill 2263, calling for funding of a study on development and economic viability of a small satellite launch and processing facility. Although the bill does specify Ka`u as a site for the facility, Ka`u’s state Sen. Russell Ruderman spoke in opposition to the bill. “I just want to express my token opposition, which I’ll express anytime someone proposes a development for my neighborhood without talking to my neighborhood about it,” Ruderman said during the bill’s third reading before the Senate. His was the only vote in opposition to it. Video of Ruderman’s comment before the Senate is available at bigislandvideonews.com.

State Sen. Russell Ruderman

“Hawai`i has long been recognized as an ideal location for the launching of spacecraft due to its geographic location,” HB2263 says. “This is especially true of Hawai`i island, which is unrivaled in the United States for equatorial launches of spacecraft, particularly small satellites, due to its global position. The development of a small satellite launch and processing facility on Hawai`i Island has tremendous economic potential for both Hawai`i Island and the state of Hawai`i.”

In its testimony, the Aha Moku Advisory Committee of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources said, “In the past twenty years, there have been attempts and plans to establish satellite and launching facilities in the Moku of Ka`u where it was deemed to be the best place for such a facility. The area identified in Ka`u is the site of the most sacred wahi pana. It is the site where the first Tahitians landed in Hawai`i prior to the ninth century. It is as sacred to Hawaiians as Mauna Kea.”
The bill now goes to a House/Senate conference committee. Ka`u’s state Rep. Richard Onishi is one of the House conferees.
Track this and other bills at capitol.hawaii.gov.
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Mayor Billy Kenoi spoke in favor of a general excise
tax increase. Image from Hawai`i County

A PROPOSED HALF-PERCENT INCREASE in Hawai`i County’s general excise tax is the topic of a public meeting today at 5 p.m. Hawai`i County Council considers Bill 165, which calls for the tax to be levied from 2018 through 2027. According to the bill, funds raised would be used for operational and capital costs of public transportation systems, including roads and highways, buses, pedestrian and bicycle paths, sidewalks and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mayor Billy Kenoi supports the increase. At a budget meeting last Wednesday, he told the council that counties “deserve to have additional revenue-generating tools in their toolbox.”
“We’ve tried always to limit the burden that people have to show for the operation of government programs and services we deliver,” Kenoi said.
The council holds its regular meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona.
Ka`u residents can participate in both meetings via videoconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building. Meetings are streamed live from Kona at hawaiicounty.gov.

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Rhea Lee-Moku, of HELCO

POWER GENERATION RESERVES REMAIN tight on Hawai`i Island, according to Hawai`i Electric Light Co. After two unexpected trips of the 60-megawatt Hamakua Energy Partners power plant on Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the HEP plant remains out of service and is not expected to return until Friday. Hawai`i Electric Light is experiencing narrow generation reserves this week.

To meet customers’ electricity needs, HELCO is running all of its available firm generating units. It is working to return its Hill Six steam plant early from its annual overhaul and plans to have it return to service by Tuesday evening. HELCO’s Puna steam unit, which was on standby status, was returned to active service as well. The unit was taken out of regular service in 2014 and now is used for this type of contingency. Renewable resources like wind and hydro are adding generation during peak use hours and helping to increase generation reserves during this time.
“Our dedicated employees have been working long hours to meet the electricity needs of the community during this fluid situation. With the variable wind and hydro resources, we expect to have enough generation to meet the peak use period this week. However, we don’t have additional generation resources if there are unexpected technical problems on one of the larger units on our system,” said Rhea Lee-Moku, HELCO spokesperson. “We want to assure the community that we’re doing everything we can to provide sufficient generation.
“While we currently expect to have enough generation this week, we want to share this information with our customers to help them plan ahead just in case. In the event we have a sudden loss of generation, we may need to ask customers to conserve electricity use during the evening peak hours between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. We will give as much notice as possible though conditions can change suddenly. We sincerely apologize for any concern this may cause and appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding.”
Updates will be provided at www.hawaiielectriclight.com.
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Friends of Ka`u Libraries plan to sell T-shirts
and tote bags at Ka`u Coffee Festival
Ho`olaule`a. Photo by Julia Neal

FRIENDS OF KA`U LIBRARIES are preparing for the 2016 Ka`u Coffee Festival Ho`olaule`a at Pahala Community Center on Saturday, May 21. They will be selling books, baked goods and FKL T-shirts and tote bags. They welcome donations of baked goods and volunteers to help that day.

Drop off baked items Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Package baked items and label if they contains fruits or nuts in case people may have a food allergy. For those who may not be able to bring baked items on Saturday, they may drop non-perishable items off at either Pahala or Na`alehu Libraries from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Volunteers are needed on the day of the sale: set-up 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.; sales 9 a.m. – 11, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; help sort and pack unsold books, 3 p.m.
Call Ann Fontes at 987-7448 to volunteer or for more information.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS for Ken Wicks Ka`u Chamber of Commerce Scholarships is Sunday, May 1. High school seniors and adults seeking to re-enter the educational system are encouraged to apply. Applicants are asked to write an essay about how their educational experience will benefit Ka`u. Preference will be given to those who intend to remain in or return to Ka`u and live here.

Scholarship money can be used for all college and vocational training and will range from $300 to $1,000. See kauchamber.org to download the application form. Call Lee McIntosh at 929-9872 with any questions.

Plan now to participate in Na`alehu's Independence Day Parade.
Photo by Peter Anderson

PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY for Na`alehu Independence Day Parade on July 2 at 11 a.m. The parade begins at Na`alehu Elementary School and ends at Na`alehu Hongwanji Mission. Anyone who would like to participate or donate can call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

CELEBRATE HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park’s and the National Park Service’s centennials during National Park Week with entry fees waived through Sunday.

HAUNANI’S ALOHA EXPRESSIONS presents a hula performance tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The all-Hawaiian group of kane and wahine kupuna range in ages from 70 to over 90 years old. For many years, on their own time, they have volunteered to welcome visitors on incoming cruise ships and at Hilo Airport to share the aloha spirit.

FAMILY READING NIGHT IS THURSDAY at Ocean View Community Center. The gathering begins at 5 p.m. For more information, call 939-7033.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA`U meets Thursday at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 929-9731 or 936-7262.

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