Ka`u Calendar News Briefs Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016

Conservationists worry that a herd of goats near Makanau cold damage native plant and animal habitat.
Photo by Nohea Ka`awa

A HERD OF GOATS NEAR MAKANAU has drawn the attention of conservationists concerned about preserving native plants and animals. Megan Lamson, who works with the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, said, “Our wildlife organizations are very concerned they will degrade native plants in the area, like alahe`e, which is now in bloom. It makes us both very sad and ultimately rather frustrated with this rash decision," she said, referring to the possibility that the goats may have been recently released in the area. "Goats have the potential to ravage local farms, native vegetation and the entire watershed," said Lamson.
The Nature Conservancy, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, ranchers and other organizations have spent millions of dollars in Ka`u building fences to keep ungulates out of areas to maintain native landscapes and create habitat for native species. Ungulates also spread avian malaria by creating pockets of water where mosquitoes breed.

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NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER is reporting on two storms in the East Pacific.

Tropical Storm Madeline is moving northwestward and expected to reach the Central Pacific basin tonight.

Tropical Storm Madeline is forecast to reach Hawai`i by the middle
of next week. Map from NOAA

Madeline is moving toward the northwest near nine miles per hour, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days, NHC reported. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Madeline is expected to become a hurricane by tomorrow night.

According to NHC, it is too early to determine what impacts Madeline could have on the Hawaiian Islands late in the forecast period. The average four- and five-day track forecast errors for eastern Pacific tropical cyclones are around 145 and 170 miles, respectively.
Hurricane Lester is behind Madeline and heading west.
NHC’s intensity forecast calls for only modest intensification the next day or two, during a time when environmental conditions appear most optimal. After that time, extremely dry conditions are expected to cause slow weakening.
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HAWAI`I IS LEADING THE WAY in preparing highway systems for a future without fossil fuels.

The Federal Highway Administration awarded nearly $4 million in competitive grant funding to Hawai`i Department of Transportation as part of the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives program. The grant will allow the HDOT Highways Division to study and explore alternative methods of funding state and county transportation systems in the future.

Ford Fuchigami

“Trends toward more fuel-efficient, hybrid and electric cars have a significant impact on transportation funding in Hawai`i because of our current reliance on the gas tax as a transportation funding mechanism,” Gov. David Ige said. “While I encourage the move away from fossil fuels as part of our commitment to a clean energy future, the resulting lower consumption reduces the funds available for highways projects. Moving forward, we need to explore new ways to fund our state highway system. We are thankful for FHWA’s commitment to help Hawai`i confront this challenge.”

HDOT Highways Division plans to use the grant to study alternatives to the gas tax by working with county and state officials and stakeholders to design new systems to obtain highways funding. These systems will then be tested with Hawai`i residents and visitors. One example of an alternative funding mechanism is road maintenance fees based on the number of miles driven, similar to how electric or water utilities are metered.

“Our goal is to design a system for highways funding that is fair, transparent and easy to use for the public,” said Ford Fuchigami, HDOT director. “We will continue to work toward creating a sustainable funding source for the many projects we have, to address the care and maintenance of Hawai`i roads.”
Dwindling gas tax revenues is a national problem. Congress created the grant program so that states can study alternatives that will help the federal government restore solvency to the Federal Highway Trust Fund. For federal fiscal year 2016, a total of $15 million in STSFA funds were granted to states on a competitive basis.
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VOLCANO FESTIVAL CHORUS begins rehearsals. On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the Volcano Festival Chorus will have its annual organizational meeting at Keakealani Middle School Campus of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences on Haunani Road. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Everyone who enjoys singing is invited to join the choir under the direction of Roch Jones.

Rehearsals of holiday music are every Tuesday at 7 p.m. The final performance, which is the group’s Winter Holiday gift to the community, will be presented on Dec. 3 at Kilauea Military Camp Theater in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
“Come join our musical family and enjoy the fun of singing with like minded adults,” said Suzi Bond, of Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network. “All you need to bring is your love of music; everything else is provided.”
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Casey Baker-Fien

HAWAI`I ISLAND POLICE are searching for a 16-year-old Volcano girl who was reported missing.

Casey Baker-Fien was last seen in Volcano on Aug. 4. She is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-3, 140 pounds with blue eyes and dark brown shoulder-length hair.
Police ask anyone with information on her whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
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ENTRY FEES ARE WAIVED at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park today and tomorrow to celebrate National Park Services 100th birthday.

TODAY AND TOMORROW are the final days to see Kilauea 1916. In honor of Kilauea Military Camp’s and Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s centennial, Kilauea Dram a & 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 at 7:30 p.m. and tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com. Tickets are also available at the door.

PARTICIPANTS ON A MODERATE, one-mile walk discover Hawaiian goddesses Hi`iaka and Pele and the natural phenomena they represent. The program takes place tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard comes to Ka`u Monday.

MEET KA`U’S U.S. REP. Tulsi Gabbard Monday. Gabbard will host a Tulsi in Your Town meeting at Ka`u Coffee Mill from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. She will meet 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.

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.

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