Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, March 18, 2018

MORE THAN ELEVEN TONS OF MARINE DEBRIS were loaded in a single day by local Environmental groups, states a release from Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund:

     On the morning of Sunday, March 4, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and volunteers donned gloves and began hauling derelict fishing nets, ropes, and other plastic marine debris collected from the shores of Kaʻū. With a volunteer heavy equipment operator from JD Services LLC, the team loaded the 11.6 tons of marine debris into a 40 ft. Matson container, making this effort the single largest container load. Recently, HWF has had to increase efforts to keep up with the barrage of marine debris washing up along the Kaʻū shoreline, as this year has already seen record amounts.

     "We have our work cut out for us as these large derelict fishing net bundles continue to wash up along our shores. Net and rope bundles present special entanglement hazards for our native wildlife, including protected species like the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and humpback whale. HWF and volunteers removed 66,235 lbs. of marine debris from Hawaiʻi Island in 2017, plus another 10,060 lbs. on Maui, of which 43% by weight were derelict fishing nets," says Megan Lamson, HWF Program Director.

     Since 2005, HWF and volunteers have loaded over 106,000 lbs. of plastic marine debris into containers bound for O‘ahu in the Hawai‘i Nets-To-Energy program. Once on O‘ahu, the nets will be transported to Schnitzer Steel Industries, where they will be chopped into pieces suitable for combustion at the City and County of Honolulu's H-Power energy waste facility, run by Covanta Energy; transport and other services are donated free of charge. The combustion process drives steam-powered turbines to produce electricity. The Nets-To-Energy Program, organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is a multi-organizational marine debris partnership between local nonprofit community groups and private businesses.

     HWF is a small nonprofit conservation organization, founded in 1996, to conserve native wildlife. During its 22-year existence, HWF and volunteers have removed a total of 260 tons of marine debris from the shores of Hawaiʻi Island (86% by weight), Maui, Midway, and the French Frigate Shoals. In 2017 alone, HWF and volunteers have removed 60,838 lbs. of marine debris from Hawaiꞌi Island and Maui. The majority of HWF's marine debris removal work is conducted by volunteer labor, with financial support from the federal government - grants from the NOAA's Marine Debris Program and Kona Brewers Festival; local businesses - Matson Navigation's Ka Ipu ʻĀina and Kona Surf Film Festival; and private donations from around the world.

     If you would like more information on the project or how to get involved with HWF, please contact them at kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or at 808-769-7629, or check the HWF website at www.wildhawaii.org.

A TOP SCORE ON NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION'S LEGISLATIVE REPORT CARD has been issued to Senator Maize Hirono, for strong and consistent leadership on behalf of public school students and teachers.

     "Senator Hirono has a very strong record of supporting and protecting Hawaii’s public schools, students, and educators. The HSTA is grateful to her for always fighting at the federal level for improvements to public education," Corey Rosenlee, President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association said.

     "We applaud Senator Hirono for her tireless support for public education and the important issues facing public schools," National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García said. "Students should have the opportunity for a fulfilling education experience. We know that public education has always been the great equalizer; and we must do everything we can to keep it that way and give every child growing up in Americathe ability to succeed and be the best they can be. In recognizing Public Schools Week, we acknowledge the combined efforts of educators, families, communities, businesses, and services to come together and support public schools."

     Hirono was recognized for her strong support of legislation to increase federal funding for school infrastructure projects, support rural schools, provide working families with affordable child care, increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024, and renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program, among other important priorities. Last year, the Senator strongly opposed the confirmation of now-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos because of her "lack of experience and questionable commitment to our nation’s public school educators and students," and she is fighting the Trump administration’s efforts to "undermine public education" during National Public Schools Week.

     "Our nation's public schools are foundational to the success of millions of students in Hawaiiand across the country," Hirono said. "At a time when Betsy DeVos and Donald Trump are working to dismantle our public school system and attack teachers, I will continue to fight on behalf of our keiki and our educators."

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FIREFIGHTER COMMENCEMENT OF 45th RECRUIT CLASS ON FEBRUARY 3 at Sangha Hall in Hilo inducted sixteen new firefighters into the Hawai‘i Fire Department.

     The new firefighters are: Marcus Hoeflinger, Dayne Kato, Kiley Kawazoe, Chase Komatsu, Brock Miller, Aaron Moniz, Michael Presiados, Tysen Pasco-Brown, Stephen Shirk, Jacob Smith, Keoni Soares, Sean Soriano, William Spain, Adam Veloria, Jordan Victorine, and Brian Wilson.

     Hawai‘i Fire Department issued an announcement, describing training the new firefighters received in order to graduate: "The class underwent months of intensive instruction/classroom exercises and fieldwork. These included fire and rescue training that included a nationally recognized fire science curriculum, wildland fire training, rescue operations familiarization, aquatics competency certification, hazardous materials response, and driver training.

     "The ending of their Fire Fighter Recruit training was spent at the EmergencyMedicalServicesTrainingCenter where the fire fighters earned their Emergency Medical Technicians Basic certification. The entire Emergency Medical Technician program was approximately 10 weeks long, and included four weeks on clinical rotations on Hawai‘i Fire Department and American Medical Response ambulance units around the island, as well as at the Emergency Room, Obstetrics, and Intensive Care Units at Hilo Medical Center and Kona Hospital.

     "The recruits also went through 80-100 hours of live burn training at the Hawai‘i Fire Departments burn trailer - simulating smoked out, limited to no visibility conditions, with intense heat, trying to prepare them as best as possible for being inside of a live structure fire."

     Guest speakers at the commencement included Hawai‘i County Fire Commissioner Robert Becker, Hawai‘i Fire Fighter Association Hawai‘i Island Representative Charles Spain, Fire Chief Darren Rosario, Assistant Fire Chief of Support Services Lance Uchida, Training Captains, Recruit Training Officers, and class President Sean Soriano.

     "The most beautiful aspect was watching a group of individuals mold into a team of one. 16 strangers progressed to 16 friends and eventually 16 brothers at the end of class. Bond became stronger each day and while as a class we faced many challenges, fears and anxieties – we all helped each other through tough times," said Soriano.

MAKER FAIR SPRING SPREE celebrates handcrafted art on Mother's Day weekend in VolcanoVillage: Saturday, May 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at The Cooper Center. The all-handcrafted artisan shopping market features unique items from only local makers.

     Get to the Maker Fair early to receive a free shopping tote, distributed to the first 50 adult shoppers. Both adults and kids can get crafty at free make-and-take project booths. Kids will also love the scavenger hunt with treats. Bring the whole family and capture the memories with a free professional Mother's Day photo taken by Spark Productions. The Maker Fair is always free to attend.

     More details and artisan applications are online at makerfair.org. Contact Sara Krosch at contactmakerfair@gmail.com, 520-389-0620, or facebook.com/MakerFair.

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SB2563SD1 HD1, AG WORK DEVELOPMENT - Next Hearing: Monday, March 19

Appropriates funds to the department of labor and industrial relations for the K-12 agriculture workforce development pipeline initiative.