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Josh Stanbro, who heads the new Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability, joined Gov.
David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell in Honolulu to sign commitment in support of the Paris Accord. |
HAWAI`I BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO SIGN LEGISLATION TO COMMIT TO THE PARIS ACCORD initiatives today. Gov. David Ige and representatives of the counties and Hawai`i Legislature gathered at the Capitol rotunda in Honolulu to sigh the measures.
Will Okabe, representing the Big Island as county Managing Director, said that there is no question "as far as trying to go green needs to be clean." He said the Big Island is trying to establish biofuel and looking at hydrogen and different ways to "be green on the Big Island." He said the mayor sends a clear message to the world and the rest of the nation. "In order for Hawai'i to be an active participant in going green and looking at alternative energy, we want to be the first, and we want to be the trendsetter for the rest of the world."
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County Managing Director Will Okabecommitted to the
Big Island "going green." |
Josh Stanbro, known for his land conservation work in Ka`u, is the new Chief Resiliency Officer of Honolulu and heads the new Office of Climate Change, Resiliency and Sustainability. He was introduced as representing Honolulu as one of the new 100 Resilient Cities, a hui established by the Rockefeller Foundation. Honolulu was chosen to join the group out of 1,100 in the world who applied. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said that Stanbro learned that, "We need to survive, adapt and grown the face of change and uncertainty."
The governor signed
SB 559(Act 032) which expands strategies and mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions statewide in alignment with the principles and goals adopted in the Paris agreement. He also signed
HB 1578(Act 033) which establishes the Carbon Farming Task Force within the Office of Planning to identify agricultural and aquacultural practices to improve soil health and promote carbon sequestration – the capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change.
Said Ige, “Hawai‘i is committed to environmental stewardship, and we look forward to working with other states to fight global climate change. Together, we can directly contribute to the global agenda of achieving a more resilient and sustainable island Earth. The Hawai‘i State Legislature understands the importance of taking action, and I applaud its work this session to ensure that we continue to deliver the island Earth that we want to leave to our children.”
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| Gov. David Ige signed measures to further commit Hawai`i to Paris Accord initiatives. |
Sen. J. Kalani English, senate majority leader who introduced SB 559 on greenhouse gasses, said, “The measure adopted relevant sections of the Paris agreement as state law, which gives us legal basis to continue adaptation and mitigation strategies for Hawai‘i, despite the Federal government’s withdrawal from the treaty.”
MODERNIZING THE MARINE CORPS' ground tactical and combat vehicles is one of Sen. Mazie Hirono's efforts in the U.S. Senate.
Hirono, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, calls for continued innovation and testing of technology to support Marines in Hawai`i and around the world. She is speaking at hearings as the Armed Services Committee considers the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which sets Department of Defense funding levels.
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Sen. Mazie Hirono testifies in hearings supporting innnovation for
the Marine Corps. |
“In the years to come, these Marines will continue to be an integral part of supporting our strategic interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,. Given the evolving nature of the threats we face, it is also crucial that our Marines remain ready and capable to address contingencies at a moment’s notice. We owe it to these men and women to ensure that the resources are available for training and readiness activities and to ensure they have the best, most advanced, and fully functional equipment to get the job done,” said Hirono.
Witnesses from the Marine Corps answered questions on the development and testing of amphibious and ground vehicles that will replace vehicle models that have been used for up to 40 years. The Third Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawai`i is scheduled to receive approximately 300 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) in 2020. The JLTV is being developed to replace the Humvee.
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GRAFTING OF FRUIT TREES will be the workshop Saturday, June 17. Ocean View Community Association encourages gardeners and farmers to
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A jack fruit tree photographed by Ken Love who will
teach a fruit tree grafting session on June 17. |
head north for the grafting class presented by Ken Love of Hawai`i Tropical Fruit Growers. The session takes place at Ma`ona Community Garden in Honaunau, above the Rodeo Grounds Arena.
The workshop is sponsored by The Kohala Center—Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program funded by the USDA and in collaboration with the Hawai`i Tropical Fruit Growers, University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College Program and Na Maka O Papahanaumokuakea.
Ma`ona Community Garden is located at 84-5097 Keala O Keawe Road in Honaunau, just above the Rodeo Grounds Arena. See map below. For more information about The Kohala Center visit:
http://kohalacenter.org/farmertraining. For more information about University of Hawai`i Sea Grant College Program visit:
http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/ For more information about the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers visit:
http://www.hawaiitropicalfruitgrowers.org/
COFFEE BERRY BORER ALERTS are the latest innovation to help farmers monitor and prevent infestation by the pest. This month, University of Hawai`i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources announced that Luis Aristiabal, Junior Extension Agent, will start issuing the alerts to coffee producers "These alerts will contain information related to current on-farm CBB activity as well as general recommendations for its management on the Big Island. In the future, these alerts may be extended to other islands should resources be provided towards an expanded monitoring program," said a message from his colleague Andrea Kawabata.
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Farms in Ka'u are monitored for CBB activity for each farm's particular practices as well as individual micro-climate. During the last two weeks of May 2017, evaluations of CBB infestation levels and CBB positioning on berries were conducted. "Field monitoring, using the 30 Trees Sampling Method, showed high levels of green berries with holes caused by CBB. Additionally, many CBB were found in the A/B alive position,"
In Kona and Ka`u, CBB infestation levels (% of green berries with holes) ranged from 1% to 26% with an average of ~10%. CBB in the A/B alive position, a position vulnerable to spraying, ranged from 16% to 67% with an average of ~43% .
The sampling "indicates that CBB are actively pursuing and boring into new berries on farms monitored," the University reported.
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SUPPORT FOR KUPUNA AND CAREGIVERS islandwide is the goal of two mediation centers combining their efforts and reaching into Ka`u. The program is entitled Communication & Conflict rResolution for Kupuna & Caregivers, sponsored by Ku`ikahi Mediation Center and West Hawai`i Mediation Center, in partnership with Hwai`i County Office of Aging. The workshops aim to
help those taking care of parents and grandparents. Contact one of the mediation centers if caring for an adults 60 or older, or an individual with Alzheimer;s or a related disorder, age 60 or older. Caregivers can be spouses, adult children, siblings, relatives, friends, neighbors or other unpaid helpers. Workshops are entitled Communicating Needs to Family Members and Service Providers. The other is Communicating More Effectively in Challenging Situations.
Open Mic Night, Wed, June 7, 6 – 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp’s Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees apply.
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ADOPT A BLOCK IS A NEW INITIATIVE for Fridays in Ocean View. "Help keep Ocean View clean," urges the OV Community Association. Sign up at the Ocean View Community Center and pick up street-side trash on Fridays. Free colorful trash bags will be available at the Community Center. Those needing someone to take bags to transfer station, call 238-6025.
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