Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Friday, Aug. 26, 2016

Pres. Barack Obama has expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
See more below. Photo from PMNM

IS CONSERVATION THE HIGHEST priority for Hawai`i County residents? At forums on Tuesday in Hilo and yesterday in Kona, attendees answered questions about preferences regarding development over the next 25 years. Ka`u residents had an opportunity to participate at a remote site at Na`alehu Community Center. At the main sites, participants had keypads on which they answered questions, and results were instantaneous. In Na`alehu and other remote sites, attendees filled out questionnaires that will be included in results.

At yesterday’s forum, 30 percent of respondents said conservation was the highest priority for new development between now and 2040. When asked the same question in relation to their grandchildren, the percentage increased to 44. Cost of housing was the next highest priority, at 26 and 30 percent.

Presenters proposed methods to conserve agricultural land, including imposing a minimum lot size based on scale of production and prohibiting lots smaller than the minimum. When considering both themselves and their grandchildren, 40 percent favored such a scenario.
Offering low housing and transportation costs was also important to respondents. Seventy percent said low-cost housing was extremely important, and 85 percent said low-cost transportation was extremely or moderately important.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD comes to Ka`u this Monday, Aug. 29. Gabbard will host a Tulsi in Your Town meeting at Ka`u Coffee Mill. She will meet with Ka`u community and other Hawai`i Island constituents there to talk story, assist with federal casework and discuss legislative updates and priorities related to supporting local agriculture and farmers.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard meets with her
Ka`u constituents Monday.

Gabbard’s visit is part of a six-stop farm and agriculture tour on Hawaiʻi Island that day. She will tour three different Hawaiʻi Island farms, discuss state and federal research on invasive species and meet with local farmers. The Tulsi In Your Town forum follows similar events she has held over the past few weeks, including Kailua-Kona. All meetings are open to the public and give constituents an opportunity to hear from the congresswoman on her legislative priorities, ask questions and share their ideas and concerns.

Here and at other stops, Gabbard will also discuss legislation she’s introduced to help control invasive species in Hawai`i and across the United States and her work to help secure green bean pricing valuation for Hawai`i-grown coffee, fight for truly transparent GMO-labeling, support the viability and success of local coffee farmers and producers, and more.
“Throughout my work in Congress, I’ve fought to secure sensible, transparent food policy, support our local farmers and agriculture industry, and strengthen Hawai`i’s food security,” Gabbard said. “In past visits to our local farms in Hawai`i, I’ve seen firsthand how invasive species like the coffee berry borer, fruit flies and macadamia nut felted coccid and others have impacted our local farmers and cost our agriculture industry millions in lost revenue. I’m looking forward to hearing from both state and federal researchers and to update them on legislationI’ve introduced to fight invasive species in Hawaiʻi and across the country. I’m also looking forward to touring more of our Hawai`i Island farms and continuing to meet and hear from constituents across our islands before I head back to Washington, DC after Labor Day.”
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Papahanaumokuakea is home to many endemic species.
PMNM Photo by James Watt

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA today issued a proclamation expanding Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument “for the purpose of protecting those objects, reserve as a part thereof all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the federal government within the boundaries.”

The federal lands and interests in lands reserved in the expansion consist of approximately 442,781 square miles, “which is the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected,” Obama’s proclamation states. The monument will be expanded from 139,800 to 582,578 square miles. The expansion is expected to provide critical protections for more than 7,000 marine species.
As a result of the expansion, “all federal lands and interests in lands within the monument’s boundaries are withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing or other disposition under the public land laws to the extent that those laws apply, including but not limited to, withdrawal from location, entry, and patent under mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to development of oil and gas, minerals, geothermal, or renewable energy,” the proclamation states.
While commercial fishing and mineral extraction will be prohibited, permits are available for Native Hawaiian subsistence fishing and cultural practices as well as scientific research “to further understanding of Monument Expansion resources and qualities,” according to the proclamation.

On Wednesday evening, Gov. David Ige sent a letter to President Obama conveying his support for the expansion.

The expansion adds more than 400,000 square miles.
Map from NOAA

“Mahalo to your administration for taking the time to conduct direct meetings and public forums to hear from the public, even though this proposal involves only federal waters and does not impact state jurisdiction,” Ige said. “Doing things the right way for the right reasons leads to better decisions, and I know the input of fishers, Hawaiian cultural practitioners, scientists, conservationists and others interested in the proposal strengthened it. Based on public input, I appreciate that Sen. Brian Schatz’s proposal limits the expansion in the current monument southern boundary, to preserve popular fishing grounds for recreational, subsistence and commercial fishers from the main Hawaiian Islands. …

“You may be familiar with the Hawaiian proverb, E ota ke kai, e ota kakou – As the ocean thrives, so do we. This proposal strikes the right balance at this time for the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, and it can be a model for sustainability in the other oceans of planet Earth.”
“This is one of the most important actions an American president has ever taken for the health of the oceans,” Sen. Brian Schatz said. “Expanding Papahanaumokuakea will replenish stocks of ahi, promote biodiversity, fight climate change and give a greater voice to Native Hawaiians in managing this resource. President Obama’s declaration is only the beginning. To create continued success, we will need to follow through with management, research, educational opportunities, and enforcement. This declaration sets us on a strong path forward for our irreplaceable environment and the generations to come.”
“I congratulate and thank the President for taking the important step to be a global leader in protecting ocean resources,” Sen. Mazie Hirono said. “President Obama’s efforts to enhance protections for our ocean ecosystem will help to combat climate change, preserve biodiversity and honor cultural traditions. As part of his announcement, I appreciate the President’s recognition of the importance of commercial fishing to Hawai`i’s way of life and our shared goal of supporting Hawai`i’s sustainable pelagic fisheries.”
Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that Obama will address the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu on Wednesday before traveling to Midway Atoll. Ka`u residents attending the conference include representatives of The Nature Conservancy, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Dick Hershberger portrays Dr. Thomas Jaggar in Kilauea 1916; A

Centennial Celebration of KMC & HVNP. Photo from KDEN

ENTRY FEES ARE WAIVED at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today through Sunday to celebrate National Park Services 100th birthday.

KILAUEA 1916 CONTINUES through Sunday. In honor of Kilauea Military Camp’s and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s centennial, Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network presents a look back at the people who were a part of the beginnings of both entities.
Performances take place at Kilauea Theater today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.

Keiki watch Hula Halau Ulumamo o Hilo Paliku perform during a

previous Cultural Festival. NPS Photo by Jay Robinson

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK holds its 36th Annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free festival invites people of all ages to engage in Hawaiian cultural practices and learn how native Hawaiians lived closely to the land as its stewards.
BioBlitz, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., returns to the festival again this year. Participants join scientists and cultural practitioners and discover biodiversity that thrives in the park. Register for free inventories at fhvnp.org. See nps.gov/havo.

KAHUKU UNIT OF HAWAI`I VOLCANOES National Park offers free programs this weekend.

Palm Trail Hike tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is a moderately difficult, 2.6-mile, loop-trail hike that provides one of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer.
On Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., participants on a moderate, one-mile walk discover Hawaiian goddesses Hi`iaka and Pele and the natural phenomena they represent.

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