Ka`u News Briefs, Friday, November 8, 2013

Ka`u's Filipino residents worry about victims of Haiyan, the biggest typhoon in recorded history to hit land. It crossed the Philippines  today.  Map from www.wunderground.com

THE BIGGEST TYPHOON – hurricane, cyclone - to hit land in recorded human history left the Ka`u Filipino community extremely worried this morning about relatives back home. Gloria Camba, President of the Ka`u Coffee Growers Cooperative and former President of the Pahala Filipino Community Association, said it is the Visayan community which is hardest hit. Camba said her heart broke when she saw the typhoon smashing into country terrorized by a 7.2 earthquake a month ago in the Bohol Province of the Central Vasayas Region, which left 5,000 people living in tents. “They never even went back to their houses, after the earthquake, and now this,” she said.
    Typhoon Haiyan, also called Typhoon Yolanda, made landfall in Guiuan municipality, Eastern Smar Province, Eastern Visayas Region with sustained winds of 150 mph and gusts to 170 mph. It also hit the provinces of Leyte, Cebu and Iloilo. In Lyete, the typhoon passed through the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc before heading toward Capiz and Aklan provinces. Damage is expected in more than 33 provinces on the islands of Visayas, Luzon and northern Mindanao.
   Save the Children country director for the Philippines, Anna Lindenfors, told The Guardian newspaper this morning: “We expect the level of destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan to be extensive and devastating, and sadly we fear that many lives will be lost. As the storm batters across the country, homes, schools and offices are being destroyed by the record-breaking winds. The storm surge is causing widespread flooding.”
    The typhoon, the width of the country of India, was on its way out of Philippines today, heading across the South China Sea toward Vietnam.  To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

Moa`ula and Pear Tree coffee lands are included in the bulk land sale. Photo from www.kaucoffeeandranchlands.com

5,880 ACRES OWNED BY LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS in Ka`u have gone on the market, but without disclosing a price for the 76 lots of record. Signage can be seen along Hwy 11 on the Pahala side of Na`alehu, both mauka and makai.
        Descriptions, maps and photos of the coastal, ranch and coffee acreage, along with two houses in Na`alehu (including the former Becky's Bed & Breakfast) and several lots, can be seen at www.kaucoffeeandranchlands.com.
    The website says: “Kennedy Wilson, through its affiliate KW Hawaii Inc. (“KW”), is the exclusive listing broker for the sale of a collection of properties comprising over 5,880 acres of lands in the District Ka‘ū, on the Island of Hawai‘i. The owner, HI BIV LLC, a special purpose entity owned by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., has ordered the real estate to be sold in a single package which includes 76 lots of record. The bulk of the properties form three distinct large continuous sections of land: Mo‘aula Coffee Farm Lands, Na‘ālehu & Waikapuna, and Honu‘apo.
         “The properties include agricultural lands used for growing coffee and papaya, pasturage, miles of ocean frontage, residential, commercial and industrial zoned land. Three cellular tower site leases, pasturage leases, and farming licenses provide current income. Measured in total acreage this offering is the seventh largest private land holding in the District of Ka‘ū.”
     A section of the website regarding 2,046 acres is called Moa`ula Coffee Farms Land and deals with the place where most of the award-winning Ka`u Coffee is cultivated by local farmers. It notes that “the farms are producing award winning coffees garnering an international reputation,” and says that 300 acres were licensed for coffee farming and 345 acres were leased for pasture.

Lands mauka of Honu`apo and makai at Waikapuna along the coast are included in the sale. Photo from www.kaucoffeeandranchlands.com

   Another section of the website is called Na`alehu and Waikapuna. “Waikapuna is the name of the former fishing village that was located near the shore where there is a small bay of the same name. Waikapuna translated to English from Hawaiian is ‘water from the spring.’ Na`alehu means 'the volcanic ashes' and is the name for the southernmost town in the United States, and urbanized residential and commercial center in the County of Hawai`i,” says the website. It also notes that the 2,029 acres are subject to two pasture leases revocable with 90-day notice. The website says that the agricultural zoning allows a minimum building site of 20 acres.
     A section called Honu`apo Ranch Lands says Honu`apo means “caught turtle.” It notes that the 1,753 acres is zoned agriculture with a minimum building site of 20 acres. It also notes that three pasture leases are revocable with 90-day notice. Also within the acreage are two houses in Na`alehu.
    A color brochure with a close-up photo of Ka`u coffee cherry, coffee orchards and a ranch road to the shoreline can be downloaded at www.kaucoffeeandranchlands.com. The brochure cover says: “Bulk Sale – All properties are being offered together in a single sale. Price Not Disclosed.” The realtor listed is Joel K. LaPinta at jlapinta@kennedywilson.com and 961-0161.  To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

THE STATE SUNSHINE LAW should stay strong, according to the County Council Committee on Government Relations and Economic Development. It voted 8-0 this week to oppose a measure that would remove a restriction that now prevents more than two council members from meeting outside of council meetings and discussing issues that may come up on council agendas. The measure would allow such meetings as long as they are open to the public.
    The exemption, which would go to the 2014 state legislature as part of the Hawai`i Association of Counties’ legislative package, if all four counties approve it, is expected to fail in Hawai`i County only. Maui initiated the proposal and O`ahu and Kaua`i councils approved it. The exemption, as proposed, states that “Members of a county council may jointly attend and speak at a community, educational or informational meeting or presentation, including a meeting of another entity, legislative hearing, convention, seminar, conference or community meeting, without limitation, provided that the meeting of or presentation is open to the public.”
     Ka`u council member Brenda Ford described the bill as “poorly written.” She said she is particularly concerned about the language “without limitation.”
     League of Women Voters of Hawai`i County vice president Linda Scheffer stated that the exemption could “move county government to the closed and darkened back room. The public cannot truly know how their elected representatives think and act if issues are discussed, dissension is silenced and votes are counted in private. Citizens do not need sound bites; we need thoughtful discussion and actual facts.”

Terri Chopot and Fidel Augustine help with taro leaves to be used in laulau. Photo by Julia Neal

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HAWAIIAN LIFESTYLE WORKSHOP wraps up today at Pahala Plantation House, ending a week of choir with Kamehameha School’s Darcy Baker, lei-making with Mona Chow, lauhala weaving with Auntie Kaiwi Perkins, imu-making with Keoki Kahumoku and Fidel Augustine, and guitar, `ukulele and other stringed instruments lessons from such greats as Dennis Kamakahi, John Kiawe, the Kahumokus, James Hill and Kona Bob. A free concert for the Ka`u community will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House.
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MOLOKA`I COMES TO KA`U today to take on the Eight-Man Football team of Ka`u High School. The game begins at 6 p.m. and follows a 3:30 p.m. homecoming parade through Pahala Village. Eight-man football was launched for Big Island high schools by the Trojans this year to come up with a faster running, higher scoring sport that requires fewer numbers of players to make up a team. The Trojans traveled to Moloka`i for a game against the Farmers and also played Seabury Hall, which came from Maui. Trojan coach Kainoa Ke said he hopes that other small schools on Hawai`i Island will launch Eight-Man Football so that a league can form and playoffs will be held with other schools around the state.

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS will be tomorrow at Pahala Community Center during the Better Choices, Better Health: A Family Affair. The health fair is scheduled from 9 a.. to 2 p.m. and features health, education and prevention booths, nutrition and healthy food demonstrations, Hawai`i Health Connector enrollment, games and door prizes. The event is sponsored by Ka`u Rural Health Community Association.  To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

DERELICT FISHING NETS will be loaded by volunteers with Hawai'i Wildlife Fund into a Matson container this Sunday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Waiohinu Transfer. Volunteers have collected the nets along the Ka`u Coast since last December. Megan Lamson, of Hawai`I Wildlife Fund, said, “this is our contribution to NOAA's Nets-to-Energy project. These efforts are partially funded by Matson's Ka Ipu 'Aina program, NOAA's Marine Debris Program and would not be possible without the generous donation of the skidsteer and operator (mahalo JD) and full-time storage of our nets by the County's Dept of Environmental Management & the Wai'ohinu transfer station staff!” She said the group could use another set of hands. Contact 217-5777 or kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com.  To comment on or “like” this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

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.