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| Tiny Houses, 500 square feet or smaller, will be allowed on agriculturally zoned land for farmer housing only, if Gov. David Ige signs the bill that passed the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. Photo from One Island |
Hawai`i County Council passed a resolution to endorse the bill and it won unanimous approval from the Senate, after passing through the House of Representatives, with full support from Ka`u Rep. Richard Creagan.
The bill was opposed by Hawai`i Farm Bureau and its President Randy Cabral, a Ka`u rancher and former manager of macadamia operations. It was supported by Hawai`i Farmers Union United.
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| A sample of a tiny house that could be placed on a farm for ag worker or farm owner. Photo from One Island |
The legislation allows tiny on-farm housing, under 500 sq ft, on permanent foundations or wheels, on agricultural lots being farmed on the Island of Hawai`i. This island is considered a test case for the measure intended to provide affordable farmer and farm worker housing and allow farmers to live close to their crops to take care of them and prevent theft.
Supporters of the Tiny House Initiative are asking citizens to provide comments to encourage the governor to sign the bill.
One Island, the community organization leading the charge for Tiny Houses on ag land, stated that "Meetings with Mayor Harry Kim, the Housing and Community Development team, County administrators, and the Planning Department Director are building a network of people ready to collaborate on County implementation when the time comes to turn this great idea into a viable reality. We are planning an island wide Housing Summit for Fall of 2017."
One Island sponsors Tiny House Community Conversation gatherings around the island, with more than 500 people attending to date. "These high-energy, standing-room-only meetings signal just how needed the Tiny House solution is, and show a diversity of needs and applications for smaller foot print housing options," states One Island on its website at www.oneisland.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN public hearing is this Wednesday, May 10 at Na`alehu Community Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Citizens can read the entire document at www.hawaiicountycdp.info. The hearing is before the Windward Planning Commission. When approved it will move to the County Council and then Mayor Harry Kim for his signature.
After approvals, a committee to help implement the plan will be selected from the community.
The documents created to support the plan offer a detailed look at Ka`u, its history, geography, land use and possibilities for the future.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
MISS KA`U COFFEE CANDIDATES COMPETE THIS SATURDAY at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Showtime is 6 p.m. with beauty, smarts and talent on display.
Pageant director is Trini Marques.
Contending for Miss Ka`u Coffee are Jami Beck, Alysha Guystafson-Savella and Shaenese Tailon.
Aiming for Junior Miss Ka`u Coffee are Cristina Kawewehi, Calaysa Koi and Jacie Umemoto.
Competing for Miss Peaberry are Ava Estabilio-Lazar, Melo Keohuloa, Adriyana Lorenzo, Gwendolyn McEroy and Jazmynn Navarro.
Vying for Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower are Lylamae Lazar, Lilianna Marques, and Evalynn Ornellas.
Contenders have represented Ka`u Coffee in the Merrie Monarch Parade and visited Ka`u Coffee Mill and Ka`u Coffee farms to learn more about the industry that is sponsoring their pageant. The activities room at the new Ka`u District gym has provided the practice hall for the pageant.
Winners will receive scholarship money for titles and their talents. See stories about the contenders in Ka`u News Briefs all this week.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
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REP. TULSI GABBARD IS INVITING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS and adults to vote for the People's Choice Award from 13 finalists in her Fifth Annual Kaha Kiʻi Second Congressional District Art Competition. Voting is through the Gabbard Facebook Page where the public can select favorites. A gallery of the finalists’ artwork is now on display in the halls of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. Each spring, the congresswoman sponsors the event to recognize and encourage creativity across Hawai‘i as part of a nationwide high school art competition with other Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ka`u High School students can start creating works of art now and this summer for next year's competition but familiarize themselves by participating in this year's judging. “I encourage everyone in the community to check out the art being showcased by these gifted students from across the state of Hawaiʻi. You will be impressed and inspired by their talent and
creativity,” said the Congresswoman.
“Our annual Kaha Kiʻi Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to recognize the creative abilities of Hawai`i’s young adults and encourages them to further pursue their artistic talents. The overall winner of the district-wide competition will be announced on May 13th in a ceremony at the Hawai‘i State Capitol. The first-place piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from all other congressional districts. The second-place and third-place pieces will be hung in Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Washington, DC and Hawaiʻi offices (respectively) for one year. All winners will be awarded with a cash prize.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
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Supporters of the Tiny House Initiative are asking citizens to provide comments to encourage the governor to sign the bill.
One Island, the community organization leading the charge for Tiny Houses on ag land, stated that "Meetings with Mayor Harry Kim, the Housing and Community Development team, County administrators, and the Planning Department Director are building a network of people ready to collaborate on County implementation when the time comes to turn this great idea into a viable reality. We are planning an island wide Housing Summit for Fall of 2017."
One Island sponsors Tiny House Community Conversation gatherings around the island, with more than 500 people attending to date. "These high-energy, standing-room-only meetings signal just how needed the Tiny House solution is, and show a diversity of needs and applications for smaller foot print housing options," states One Island on its website at www.oneisland.org.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN public hearing is this Wednesday, May 10 at Na`alehu Community Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Citizens can read the entire document at www.hawaiicountycdp.info. The hearing is before the Windward Planning Commission. When approved it will move to the County Council and then Mayor Harry Kim for his signature.
After approvals, a committee to help implement the plan will be selected from the community.
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| The Ornellas family is getting keiki ready for the Miss Ka`u Coffee pageant this Saturday at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Evalynn Ornellas is vying for Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower. |
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
MISS KA`U COFFEE CANDIDATES COMPETE THIS SATURDAY at Ka`u Coffee Mill. Showtime is 6 p.m. with beauty, smarts and talent on display.
Pageant director is Trini Marques.
Contending for Miss Ka`u Coffee are Jami Beck, Alysha Guystafson-Savella and Shaenese Tailon.
Aiming for Junior Miss Ka`u Coffee are Cristina Kawewehi, Calaysa Koi and Jacie Umemoto.
Competing for Miss Peaberry are Ava Estabilio-Lazar, Melo Keohuloa, Adriyana Lorenzo, Gwendolyn McEroy and Jazmynn Navarro.
Vying for Miss Ka`u Coffee Flower are Lylamae Lazar, Lilianna Marques, and Evalynn Ornellas.
Contenders have represented Ka`u Coffee in the Merrie Monarch Parade and visited Ka`u Coffee Mill and Ka`u Coffee farms to learn more about the industry that is sponsoring their pageant. The activities room at the new Ka`u District gym has provided the practice hall for the pageant.
Winners will receive scholarship money for titles and their talents. See stories about the contenders in Ka`u News Briefs all this week.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Ka`u High School students can start creating works of art now and this summer for next year's competition but familiarize themselves by participating in this year's judging.
creativity,” said the Congresswoman.
“Our annual Kaha Kiʻi Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity to recognize the creative abilities of Hawai`i’s young adults and encourages them to further pursue their artistic talents. The overall winner of the district-wide competition will be announced on May 13th in a ceremony at the Hawai‘i State Capitol. The first-place piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside winners from all other congressional districts. The second-place and third-place pieces will be hung in Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Washington, DC and Hawaiʻi offices (respectively) for one year. All winners will be awarded with a cash prize.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
