Ka`u News Briefs Friday, August 23, 2013

PRESERVATION OF ANCHIALINE PONDS along the Ka`u Coast received islandwide publicity this morning in West Hawai`i Today and the Hawai`i Tribune-Herald newspapers. The story covered a trek by writer Carolyn Lucas-Zenk, who accompanied Hawai`i Wildlife Fund and state conservation workers to the coast of Wai`ohinu. 

       “Over the past five years,” reports Lucas-Zenk, “Hawai`i Wildlife Fund has removed nonnative vegetation in and around the Ho`onoua anchialine pool complex, which includes two large pools and one small pool within 1,400 acres of shoreline in southeast Hawai`i Island. For decades, this debris has accumulated to create a thick layer of anoxic muck that severely degrades the habitat for native wildlife, said Lamson, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund projector coordinator.”
      The story reports Lamson saying that conditions of the pools are improving, with opae (shrimp) and native plant populations increasing. “Ilima papa (Sida fallax), makaloa (Cyperus laevigatus) and ahuawa (Cyperus javanicus) have taken root and are thriving in spots where volunteers removed Christmasberry, sourbush and lantana. Akulikuli (Lycium sandwicense) has sprouted from dried sediment beds created from pumping out pools. The coverage of native seagrass has also increased, Lamson said.”
     The story also reports that fountain grass has been removed from15 acres near the pools by a crew from the Hilo branch of the state Division of Forestry & Wildlife. “Visiting birds, including the akekeke (ruddy turnstone), kolea (Pacific golden plover) and aukuu (black-crowned night heron), have been spotted at the pools,” Lucas-Zenk reports.
     Funding includes a Hawai`i Fish Habitat Partnership grant for $22,300 from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a $10,000 donation from Dolphin Quest Hawai`i and a $25,000 grant from Hawai`i Community Foundation. “This work would not be possible without support of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife DOFAW and continued volunteer efforts from individuals and groups such as `Imi Pono No Ka `Aina, Big Island Substance Abuse Council, and the Ka`u Interact Club,” Lamson said.
      Anchialine Pool Workdays are scheduled Monday and Tuesday. For information about how to support HWF’s restoration efforts or to volunteer, contact Lamson at 769-7629 or meg.HWF@gmail.com.
      See westhawaiitoday.com and wildhawaii.org.
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POWER GRIDS’ DAYS ARE NUMBERED, according to a BloombergBusinessWeek headline published yesterday. The story by Chris Martin, Mark Chediak and Ken Wells states: “There are 3,200 utilities that make up the U.S. electrical grid, the largest machine in the world. These power companies sell $400 billion worth of electricity a year, mostly derived from burning fossil fuels in centralized stations and distributed over 2.7 million miles of power lines. Regulators set rates; utilities get guaranteed returns; investors get sure-thing dividends. It’s a model that hasn’t changed much since Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. And it’s doomed to obsolescence.” 

     The “doomed to obsolescence” is the opinion of David Crane, a Princeton-based CEO executive of a wholesale power company. “What’s afoot is a confluence of green energy and computer technology, deregulation, cheap natural gas and political pressure that, as Crane starkly frames it, poses “a mortal threat to the existing utility system.” He says that in about the time it has taken cell phones to supplant land lines in most U.S. homes, the grid will become increasingly irrelevant as customers move toward decentralized homegrown green energy. Rooftop solar, in particular, is turning tens of thousands of businesses and households into power producers. Such distributed generation, to use the industry’s term for power produced outside the grid, is certain to grow,” the Bloomberg BusinessWeek story says.
      When circulating the story in Hawai`i, Life of the Land executive Henry Curtis asks whether the local utilities will “understand and adapt, or collapse and perish?” Life of the Land has been arguing the case against building the proposed `Aina Koa Pono refinery off Wood Valley Road. The proposal is before the state Public Utilities Commission. See puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.
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KA`U PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE OFFERING BEGINNING COMPUTER CLASSES for people who have little or no experience with computers. Classes are taught at Pahala Public and School Library, and are free and open to the public. Each class is 45 minutes long, beginning at 11 a.m. 

      Computer Basics are scheduled Friday, Sept. 6 and Friday, Sept. 13. Participants learn the basic parts of a computer, how to use a keyboard and mouse, and how to create a simple document using word processing software.
      Internet Basics is the topic Friday, Sept. 20. Prerequisite is Computer Basics or prior knowledge of mouse and keyboard use. Participants learn about Web browsers and navigating a Web page. If time allows, we will also perform a basic search and print our results.
      The final class, Library Resources Overview, takes place Friday, Sept. 27. Prerequisite is Computer Basics or prior knowledge of mouse and keyboard use. Topics include how to search the library’s catalog, check individual library accounts and request books. Students also learn about some of the many other free electronic resources the Hawai`i State Public Library System has to offer.
      Sign-up is required for each session. Call 939-2442 at least 48 hours prior to the class.
      A limited number of free one-on-one classes with a staff member at Na`alehu and Pahala Libraries are also offered upon request, depending on staff availability.
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THE KA`U TROJAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE IS SET for fall, launching the fast paced eight-man format. Led by Coach Kainoa Ke, the first game is at home in Ka`u against Seabury Hall from Maui on Friday, Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. On Friday, Sept. 20, the Kealakehe Waveriders come to Ka`u for a game at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Kamehameha Warriors host Ka`u. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Moloka`i Farmers host the Trojans. On Friday, Oct. 25, Ka`u travels to Kealakehe to play the Waveriders, and on Friday, Nov. 8, Moloka`i Farmers come to Ka`u for the Trojan Homecoming and Senior Night game, beginning at 6 p.m. 

      The annual Trojan Steak Fry takes place on Thursday, Nov. 7 on the Ka`u campus.
      The Trojans are fundraising for their October trip to Moloka`i. To donate to the Trojan team, call athletic director Kalei Namohala at 928-2012.
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KA`U HIGH SCHOOL’S BOWLING TEAM begins play on Saturday, Aug. 24 against Kealakehe at Hilo Lanes. Trojans go up against St. Joseph’s and Kamehameha at Hilo Lanes on 

      Saturday Aug. 31. The Trojans play Pahoa Wednesday, Sept. 4; Konawaena Saturday, Sept. 7; Waiakea and Kea`au Saturday, Sept. 14; and Hilo High Wednesday, Sept. 25.
      Big Island Interscholastic Federation championships are the Individual Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 28 and Team Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 12. Hawai`i state finals on O`ahu on Saturday, Oct. 26.
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VOLCANO WINERY has announced its first Harvest Festival, which will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pre-sale Tickets are $25. The event includes Hawaiian and popular music with Lito Arkangel, heavy pupus and wine.

      Volcano Rotary Club will sell hulihuli chicken. Those who come will be able to tour the farm and winery. Call 967-7772 or see volcanowinery.com.

HULA IS FEATURED AT HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK today and tomorrow, with programs at the hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Halau Kahula O Nawahine Noho Pu`ukapu, under the direction of kumu hula Ana Nawahine Kahoopii, performs at Sunset Hula this evening at 6:15 p.m.
      Kumu Leilehua Yuen and Manu Josiah present a 50-minute narrated demonstration of the preparation, protocol and offering of traditional hula and chant tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.
      In conjunction with the program, hands-on cultural demonstrations take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the VAC Gallery porch.
      Programs are free. Donations are welcome, and park entrance fees apply.

A GUIDED HIKE ABOUT THE PEOPLE & LANDS OF KAHUKU takes place tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike over rugged terrain focuses on the area’s human history.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BIRTHDAY IS SUNDAY, with special offers at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees are waived. 

      Volcano Art Center Gallery is extending a special gift to its patrons – an extra five percent off all purchases over $97. The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
      Kilauea Military Camp offers an open house so visitors can experience how KMC serves our troops by enjoying all facilities and services. Call 967-8371 for more information.

KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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