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| Humpbacks come to Ka`u and the longest uninhabited coast in Hawai`i each winter to calve and mate. Photo from NOAA |
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on this task force, which will allow the state of Hawai`i to have a strong voice in the national discussion on addressing the impacts of climate change,” Abercrombie said. “As the only island state in nation, Hawai`i is unquestionably vulnerable to changes in climate such as rising temperatures, droughts, flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification.”
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| Gov. Neil Abercrombie introduced state sustainability coordinator Jacqueline Kozak Thiel. Photo from Office of the Governor |
In conjunction with the announcement, Abercrombie introduced state sustainability coordinator Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, recently appointed by the governor to the newly created position. Thiel is charged with coordinating across departments and with counties, federal agencies and community partners to support progress on Hawai`i’s sustainability goals.
“The task force established by President Obama gives Hawai`i a direct line to provide recommendations on removing barriers to federal resources, identifying opportunities for collaboration and developing tools to better support our unique needs and local efforts,” Thiel said. “Gov. Abercrombie’s congressional experience, particularly on the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, as well as a senior member on the Natural Resources Committee, was cited as a factor in his selection, along with his ability to provide insight into the needs of the Asia-Pacific region.”
President Obama’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience will convene for the first time as early as next month in Washington, D.C., with its recommendations to the President expected within one year.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on this task force, which will allow the state of Hawai`i to have a strong voice in the national discussion on addressing the impacts of climate change,” Abercrombie said. “As the only island state in nation, Hawai`i is unquestionably vulnerable to changes in climate such as rising temperatures, droughts, flooding, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification.”
In conjunction with the announcement, Abercrombie introduced state sustainability coordinator Jacqueline Kozak Thiel, recently appointed by the governor to the newly created position. Thiel is charged with coordinating across departments and with counties, federal agencies and community partners to support progress on Hawai`i’s sustainability goals.
“The task force established by President Obama gives Hawai`i a direct line to provide recommendations on removing barriers to federal resources, identifying opportunities for collaboration and developing tools to better support our unique needs and local efforts,” Thiel said. “Gov. Abercrombie’s congressional experience, particularly on the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, as well as a senior member on the Natural Resources Committee, was cited as a factor in his selection, along with his ability to provide insight into the needs of the Asia-Pacific region.”
“The task force established by President Obama gives Hawai`i a direct line to provide recommendations on removing barriers to federal resources, identifying opportunities for collaboration and developing tools to better support our unique needs and local efforts,” Thiel said. “Gov. Abercrombie’s congressional experience, particularly on the Armed Forces Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, as well as a senior member on the Natural Resources Committee, was cited as a factor in his selection, along with his ability to provide insight into the needs of the Asia-Pacific region.”
President Obama’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience will convene for the first time as early as next month in Washington, D.C., with its recommendations to the President expected within one year.
According to a statement from her office, Gabbard has repeatedly voted against repeal and defunding of the Affordable Care Act and focused on targeted improvements to the law to strengthen it and ensure its affordability for all Americans. To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
HAWAI`I ISLAND LED THE STATE IN GROWTH for visitor expenditures (+17.1 percent to $1.4 billion) and per person per day spending (+12.5 percent to $179) for the first nine months of 2013. A solid increase in visitors from the U.S. East (+3.5 percent to 303,706) and Japan (5.4 percent to 157,413) offset minimal growth from the U.S. West (0.8 percent to 428,575) and a decrease in Canadian visitors (-1.4 percent to 69,451) year-to-date.
Total visitor expenditures across the state reached $11 billion (+4 percent), and total visitor arrivals surpassed six million (+4.5 percent) during the first three quarters of the year and continue to pace ahead of 2012, despite a dip in arrivals and spending in the month of September.
Year-to-date through September, Hawai`i’s tourism economy has contributed $1.15 billion in state tax revenue, $45 million more than same time last year.
In attracting visitors from new markets, the ratio of first-timers, who tend to spend more, also increased in September (+38.5 percent), in comparison to the year-to-date average of 35 percent.
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“Year-to-date results reflect our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable tourism economy through diversification,” said Hawai`i Tourism Authority president and CEO Mike McCartney. “With an additional $2 million in legislative funding for international marketing, HTA has been able to nurture developing global markets, which are collectively up nearly 10 percent in visitor arrivals and spending.
“Furthermore, despite a decline in total Japanese outbound travel, arrivals to Hawai`i out of this market have remained stable due to an increase in seat inventory and new routes from Japan to the Hawaiian Islands.
“HTA also continues to focus on marketing unique visitor experiences on each of the Hawaiian Islands to enhance distribution across the state. As a result, visitor arrivals and expenditures on all neighbor islands have continued to increase through September 2013.
“We will continue to monitor the effects of the federal government shutdown and delicate global economy to ensure the sustainability and success of our tourism industry,” McCartney said.
For more information, see hawaiitourismauthority.org.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
IT' IS WHALE WATCHING SEASON, AND WHILE NO WHALES have been reported seen in Ka`u so far, The Ka`u Calendar encourages reports of humpback whale sightings in Ka`u, along with photos, to be sent to mahalo@aloha.net and urges anyone coming across injured or entangled marine mammals to call NOAA's Marine Mammal Hotline, 1-888-256-9840 or the U.S. Coast Guard on channel 16. To report those approaching or harassing whales and other marine mammals, call NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline, 1-800-853-1964.
Sighting of humpback whales off other areas of Hawai`i Island have been reported. Justin Viezbicke, Hawai`i Islands Humpback
Whale National Marine Sanctuary marine conservation coordinator for Hawai`i Island, said friends reported whale sightings near Waikoloa, according to Erin Miller, of West Hawai`i Today.
Miller also reported that an anonymous boater left a message with Stephens Media on Thursday that he saw two humpback whales near Honokohau Harbor.
In the story, Viezbicke gave guidelines on interaction with whales, saying vessels and people are asked to maintain a 100-yard distance from whales and that if a whale approaches a motorized vessel, the operator should put the engine in neutral so the propeller won’t injure the whale.
If a whale surfaces closer than 100 yards to a non-motorized vehicle, the operator should try to move away from the whale, Viezbicke told Miller.
“Watch your speed, keep somebody on the helm at all times, and have a lookout,” he said.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
In attracting visitors from new markets, the ratio of first-timers, who tend to spend more, also increased in September (+38.5 percent), in comparison to the year-to-date average of 35 percent.
“Year-to-date results reflect our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable tourism economy through diversification,” said Hawai`i Tourism Authority president and CEO Mike McCartney. “With an additional $2 million in legislative funding for international marketing, HTA has been able to nurture developing global markets, which are collectively up nearly 10 percent in visitor arrivals and spending.“Furthermore, despite a decline in total Japanese outbound travel, arrivals to Hawai`i out of this market have remained stable due to an increase in seat inventory and new routes from Japan to the Hawaiian Islands.
“HTA also continues to focus on marketing unique visitor experiences on each of the Hawaiian Islands to enhance distribution across the state. As a result, visitor arrivals and expenditures on all neighbor islands have continued to increase through September 2013.
“We will continue to monitor the effects of the federal government shutdown and delicate global economy to ensure the sustainability and success of our tourism industry,” McCartney said.
For more information, see hawaiitourismauthority.org.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
IT' IS WHALE WATCHING SEASON, AND WHILE NO WHALES have been reported seen in Ka`u so far, The Ka`u Calendar encourages reports of humpback whale sightings in Ka`u, along with photos, to be sent to mahalo@aloha.net and urges anyone coming across injured or entangled marine mammals to call NOAA's Marine Mammal Hotline, 1-888-256-9840 or the U.S. Coast Guard on channel 16. To report those approaching or harassing whales and other marine mammals, call NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline, 1-800-853-1964.
Sighting of humpback whales off other areas of Hawai`i Island have been reported. Justin Viezbicke, Hawai`i Islands Humpback
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| Whales are often seen jumping at Ka Lae. Photo from NOAA |
Miller also reported that an anonymous boater left a message with Stephens Media on Thursday that he saw two humpback whales near Honokohau Harbor.
In the story, Viezbicke gave guidelines on interaction with whales, saying vessels and people are asked to maintain a 100-yard distance from whales and that if a whale approaches a motorized vessel, the operator should put the engine in neutral so the propeller won’t injure the whale.
If a whale surfaces closer than 100 yards to a non-motorized vehicle, the operator should try to move away from the whale, Viezbicke told Miller.
“Watch your speed, keep somebody on the helm at all times, and have a lookout,” he said.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
THE FOLLOWING KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND FRESHMAN have earned a place on the first quarter honor roll:
Grade 10:
Summa Cum laude (3.75-4.0): Khairalyn Denny, Deisha Gascon, Janet Parlin, Jay-R Abalos, Ashley Amaral, Sheilla Mae Felipe, Kristy Kahookaulana-Kuanoni, Maricar Jane Manantan, Shawn Mooney, Elaina Neece and Yuting Quan.
Magna Cum laude (3.5-3.74): Tiani Castaneda-Naboa, April Joy Miguel, Monica Lynn Covarrubio and Keana Kuluwaimaka.
Cum laude (3.0-3.49) Leiani Camba-Penera, Gissele Corpuz, Charlotte Esquida, Trieson Pascubillo, Leanalupualii Aipia Dolan, Jami Beck, Joy Escobar, Rowland Aldwin Flores, Marciana Henry and Evan Manoha.
Grade 9:
Summa Cum laude: Sheanale Agpaoa, Mariah Chavez, Chloe Gan, Travis Taylor, Trevor Taylor, Julia Chavez, Chadwick Pajimola, Jr, Augustina Sanchez, Magna Cum laude: Cedrick Felipe, Malika Maynard, Jamal Buyuan and Jacob Flores, Jr.
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Cum laude: Tristan Davis, Charisma Felipe, Alysha Gustafson-Savella, Jenny Mauricio Henriquez, Richard Souza III, Benjamin Gouveia, Jacob Maygra, Zaylee Pascubillo, Titan Ault, Benly Bolaoen, Pete Dacalio, Sheri Lynn Freitas, Yokko Nagel, Lomon Silk, Destiny Beck, Le Ann Galope, Nanea Medeiros and Joven Padrigo.
More honor roll recipients from other grades will be announced in future Ka`u News Briefs.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
BETTER CHOICES, BETTER HEALTH: A FAMILY AFFAIR is the name of the health fair taking place next Saturday, Nov. 9 at Pahala Community Center. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the fair offers health, education and prevention booths, nutrition and healthy food demonstrations, Hawai‘i Health Connector enrollment, games and door prizes.
Summa Cum laude (3.75-4.0): Khairalyn Denny, Deisha Gascon, Janet Parlin, Jay-R Abalos, Ashley Amaral, Sheilla Mae Felipe, Kristy Kahookaulana-Kuanoni, Maricar Jane Manantan, Shawn Mooney, Elaina Neece and Yuting Quan.
Magna Cum laude (3.5-3.74): Tiani Castaneda-Naboa, April Joy Miguel, Monica Lynn Covarrubio and Keana Kuluwaimaka.
Cum laude (3.0-3.49) Leiani Camba-Penera, Gissele Corpuz, Charlotte Esquida, Trieson Pascubillo, Leanalupualii Aipia Dolan, Jami Beck, Joy Escobar, Rowland Aldwin Flores, Marciana Henry and Evan Manoha.
Grade 9:
Summa Cum laude: Sheanale Agpaoa, Mariah Chavez, Chloe Gan, Travis Taylor, Trevor Taylor, Julia Chavez, Chadwick Pajimola, Jr, Augustina Sanchez, Magna Cum laude: Cedrick Felipe, Malika Maynard, Jamal Buyuan and Jacob Flores, Jr.
More honor roll recipients from other grades will be announced in future Ka`u News Briefs.
To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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| Keoki Kahumoku |
HAWAIIAN MASTERS HEADLINE A FREE CONCERT next Saturday, NOV. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The concert is the finale of the annual, week-long music workshop held by Keoki Kahumoku and where youth win scholarships to study with the masters.
Bring folding chairs or mats for seating on the lawn.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
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SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.
