Ka`u News Briefs Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013

THE KA`U TROJANS SCORED 20 POINTS last night in the first-ever Eight-Man High School Football game on Hawai`i Island, hosting the Cowboys from Maui’s Seabury Hall. Down 7-0, the Trojans used quarterback Chance Emmsley-Ah Yee’s arm and Cy Tamura’s height to complete a long pass down field to tie the game. At the half, Ka`u was up 13-7. A long run from scrimmage by Tamura put the Trojans on top.

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A BILL INTRODUCED BY KA`U’S COUNTY COUNCIL member Brenda Ford that would have banned genetically modified organisms is dead, reports Tom Callis in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. The bill was one of two considered during a meeting of the Committee on Public Safety & Mass Transit. The second bill, introduced by Kohala Council member Margaret Wille, is still alive and will be considered during a continuation of the meeting. Wille’s bill exempts GMO papaya from the ban.
      “We don’t want to be exempted,” papaya grower Eric Weinert told the committee members. Weinert expressed concern that the bill would cause GMO papaya to be considered bad and that “it will taint our reputation” and cause irreparable harm to the industry.
      Callis said the Council seems to be in favor of some action against GMOs, “including keeping the main biotech companies off the isle.”
      See more at hawaiitribuneherald.com.
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KA`U’S COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRENDA FORD is also introducing a bill that would ban fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, a process that uses pressurized liquid injected into the ground in order to extract resources. Ford told Tom Callis of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald that her concern about the practice is that it could contaminate the island’s drinking water supply. “We need to stop it before it starts,” she said. 

      According to Wikipedia, “proponents of hydraulic fracturing point to the economic benefits from the vast amounts of formerly inaccessible hydrocarbons the process can extract. Opponents point to potential environmental impacts, including contamination of ground water, depletion of fresh water, risks to air quality, noise pollution, the migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills and flow-back, and the health effects of these.”
       While Hawai`i Island has no sources of hydrocarbon, Ford said she is concerned about the possible use of fracturing in geothermal energy development.

      The bill will be considered during the Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee meeting Tuesday, Sept. 17.
      See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION asks parents of public school students to complete and return to their school a federal census survey card that was sent home on Sept. 4. The annual survey determines the number of federally connected students in the public school system for whom the state receives impact aid funds which provide partial reimbursement to the state for local tax loss resulting from tax-free federal installations. 

      “Federal impact funds are critical to support our students, educators and the overall operation of our schools,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “All parents are encouraged to complete and return the cards.”
      During the 2011-12 school year, the state accounted for more than 30,000 federally connected students and received more than $80 million — or an average of nearly $2,700 per student — in federal impact aid the following school year. The amount represents about 20 percent of the state’s average per-pupil expenditure.
      Parents should contact their school in case they have not yet received a survey card. Cards should be filled out and turned in as soon as possible.
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VOLCANO HOUSE HELD PUBLIC TOURS, events and a blessing yesterday, followed by an event hosted by Ortega National Parks, the company that won the concession to renovate and operate Volcano House Hotel, campgrounds, restaurant, lounge and gift shops. Ortega and National Park representatives said they looked forward to being the stewards of one of the most beautiful and exciting locations on the planet. Diana Aki played music in a place where she entertained decades ago, looking out over Kilauea caldera. Spontaneous hula erupted among Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park staff members and friends.

      The Ortega group presented illustrations on screen and in print – the before and after – of their changes at Volcano House.
      Regarding the Grand Lobby, Ortega writes: “Volcano House has undergone many changes since it was originally built in 1941. The simple elegance of the 1940s had long been lost, leaving the hotel tired and dated. Prior to our remodel, the grand lobby was a dark room that was not inviting. Now the grand lobby is open and airy with lighter colored wood paneling and the original polished concrete floors. The grand lobby previously served as a queuing area for a lunchtime buffet, which made sitting and relaxing in the room unpleasant. We changed the lunchtime food service style to eliminate the queuing problem. The lobby is once again the center of Volcano House and invites guests to relax by the fire.”

      Regarding the guest rooms, Ortega writes: “The remodeled guest rooms retain historic elements such as the original built-in desks. Island prints and natural materials have been incorporated into the room décor. Guest reviews have been very positive; many visitors voice their surprise at seeing such a high quality guest room in a National Park.”
      Ortega writes: “Views and Public Sitting Area ‘Reclaimed.’
      The previous concession located the main retail store in the original lanai footprint. The merchandise blocked views of the caldera. We moved the main retail store and ‘reclaimed’ the famous caldera views and created an inviting sitting room for the public.”
      “Excellent Thematic Merchandising – Very Local,” states Ortega. “The thematic retail product mix has been upgraded significantly. We carry 92 Hawaiian vendors and artists, and 76 percent of our retail products are made or finished in the USA.”

      Regarding Uncle George’s Lounge, Ortega writes: “We transformed Uncle George’s Lounge from a snack bar with hot dog roasters and ketchup packets to a fully functioning, classy bar. The original polished concrete floors were restored, and an outdoor deck was added for visitor enjoyment.”
      Regarding the dining room, Ortega writes: “We expanded the usable dining space for visitors and guests, removed unusual features (e.g. dance floor), added a service bar, created two outdoor decks to view the caldera and replaced or refinished all of the personal property in the dining areas.
      “In the recent past, the Volcano House dining experience did not match its special location and amazing views. Volcano House has become the premier dining spot in the area, where visitors and locals come to enjoy the view, have a nice dinner and cocktails, and even celebrate special occasions,” states the Ortega presentation.
      Regarding the view from Volcano House, the Ortega presentation states, “The glow is not the sunset – it’s the lava!”

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IN CELEBRATION OF ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH in October, Hawai`i Electric Light Company invites all Ka`u students in grades K-12 to participate in its My Clean Energy Hawai`i poster and poetry contests.
      The poster contest is for students in grades K-6, and the poetry contest is for grades 7-12. The contests offer students the opportunity to explore clean energy in Hawai`i and to share their ideas with the community in a creative way. Posters and poems should show how the students plan to do their part to conserve, save, and help keep Hawai`i beautiful for future generations.

      Entry deadline is Friday, Sept. 20. Entries from the finalists will be displayed at Hawai`i Electric Light’s Clean Energy Fair on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo. Winning entries will be announced during the fair. Winners receive prizes ranging from mega electronics kits to clean energy-themed field trips.
      For more information, call 969-0137.

MEDICINE FOR THE MIND, free Buddhist healing meditation for beginners and advanced practitioners, takes place tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. For more information, call Patty Johnson at 985-7470. 

KA`U’S COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRENDA FORD holds a talk story at Pahala Community Center Monday at 6:30 p.m. Ford seeks input regarding naming of the new gym/shelter and other issues.

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

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