Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Dec. 19, 2016

IMPORTANT AG LANDS LEGISLATION is proposed for the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature by all of the counties in state. The bill supported by the Hawai`i State Association of Counties asks for $500,000 to for more work to identify and map Improtant Agricultural Lands.

     The bill points out that the Hawai`i State Constitution establishes the state's duty to "conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands." The state Constitution also provides protections for lands identified as Important Agricultural Lands. The state legislature in 2005 enacted Act 183 to help carry out that duty.

     Act 183 directed each county to work with government and community stakeholders to, within 60 months of funding, identify and map potential Important Agriculrual Lands and recommend to the state Land Use Commission the designation of Important Agricultural Lands. Once designated, ag operations on these lands are eligible for state and county assistance and incentive programs, including grants and other funding assistance, tax incentives, favorable infrastructure and permit requirements, and farm and business education assistance.
     The bill supported by the Hawai`i State Association of Counties for the upcoming Hawai`i Legislature, asks for $250,000 for 2017 and $250,000 for 2018, noting that "to date, most counties have not received State funds to assist with identification and mapping duties under Act 183." Each county would receive $62,500 per year to carry out the mapping and identification of important agriculural lands.
    See more on Important Agricultural Lands incentives and mapping and other work accomplished at http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/chair/new-agriculture-initiatives/important-ag-lands-ial/

Drone's eye view of macadamia trees in Wood Valley and the Ka`u Coffee Trail Run, taken by Vernon Harvey, with permission of the race and property owner. Photo by Vernon Harvey

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DRONE REGULATION LEGISLATION is proposed for the 2017 Hawai`i State Legislature by all the counties in Hawai`i. The proposal states that the "legislature finds that unmanned aerial vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in Hawai`i and the rest of the United States. Hobbyists use them for recreational purposes, and businesses and government entities use them in a plethora of ways that benefit society and individual residents. The federal government is regulating the use of these devises and the airways see more usage all all stakeholders."
      The Hawai`i bill  proposes that no person shall operate an unmanned aerial vehicle  while intoxicated or drugged. It also would prohibit flying drones above an altitude of 400 feet or outside the visual sight of the operator (no binoculars or night vision goggles nor magnifiers). It would prohibit operations within five miles of an airport or 500 feet of an emergency response vehicle or first responder during an emergency. No drones within 500 feet of any water intake facility or electrical generator, substation or control center; and no drones within 100 feet of electric transmission facilities and 25 feet of any electric distribution facility or overhead cable would be allowed. Prohibited sites, without written permission, would be any open air assembly, school, school yard, hospital, place of worship, prison or police station.
     The legislation would also prohibit intentionally collecting, publishing or distributing personal information acquired through operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as using the drone to intentionally cause harm to persons or property.

Drone photography shows Ocean View's temporary transfer station. Photo by John Fretz

   However, it would allow law enforcement agencies to gather evidence and other information pertaining to criminal conduct or other violations, provided there is a warrant.
     Law enforcement and safety agencies would be allowed to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles, without a warrant, "when there is a reasonable belief that an emergency situation exists, whether or not the situation involves criminal activity, and the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle is necessary to prevent immediate danger or death or serious physical injury to any person."
     The bill also would allow drones for public agencies to use for search and rescue, to respond to a hostage situation, to dispose of a suspected or actual explosive device, and conduct training exercieses. It would allow public agencies to conduct environmental and disaster response and damage assessment, and  to monitor plant or animal populations, conduct atmospheric testing and monitoring, review traffic congestion, inspect public lands and survey ocean and coastline.
      For more on the drone legislation see http://hicounties.com and look at the Hawai`i State Association of Counties' 2017 Legislative Package.
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A 4.5 EARTHQUAKE shook the south side of the island yesterday at 6:30 a.m. The U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded an offshore magnitude -4.5 earthquake about 59 km (37 mi) south of Ka Lae (South Point) at a depth of 36.5 km (22.7 mi). A map showing its location is posted on the HVO website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/seismic/volcweb/earthquakes/.
     The earthquake was felt on the Island of Hawaiʻi, with the the USGS "Did you feel it?" Web site (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi/) receiving over 50 felt reports within an hour of the earthquake. Weak shaking, with maximum Intensity of III, has been reported across the island. At that intensity, damage to buildings or structures was not expected.

An oceanic plate likely bent near the seamount Lo`ihi to produce the 4.5 earthquake yesterday. Image from Mr. Ash's Science Website

     The earthquake occurred about 70 km (43 mi) southwest of Lō‘ihi, the live volcanic seamount south of Honu`apo. However, yesterday's tremor was not caused by activity on that submarine volcano. The depth, location, and recorded seismic waves of the earthquake suggest a source due to bending of the oceanic plate from the weight of the Hawaiian island chain, a common source for earthquakes in this area. Aftershocks are possible and could be felt.
     The earthquake caused no detectable changes in Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing eruptions, on Mauna Loa, or at other active volcanoes on the Island of Hawaiʻi.
     For information on recent earthquakes in Hawai`i and eruption updates, visit  http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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Ocean View Swap Meet receives musical Christmas cheer with Ben Houghton, next band leader on clarinet. Photo by Ann Bosted

SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS WITH KA`U `OHANA BAND livened up the weekly Ocean View Swap Meet on Saturday. Ka’u Ohana Band huddled under a collection of umbrellas and played crowd-pleasing music.

Christmas music by the Ka`u `Ohana Band. Photo by Ann Bosted

     This was a swansong for the band’s conductor, Steve Moon, who will hand over the baton to the band’s clarinet player, Ben Houghton.
     Moon, a talented trumpet player, stepped up to the plate when the former conductor, Lisa Archuletta, had to leave the island unexpectedly.
    Moon plays trumpet for the Chamber Orchestra of Kona (COOK), which will be playing a Christmas Concert on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel’s ballroom in Keauhou.
     The Ka`u `Ohana Band is actively seeking community musicians who want to join.  It meets every Friday evening at 4p.m. at the St. Jude’s Church in Ocean View, starting in January.