Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, January 27, 2019

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National park will welcome visitors to more areas, with the funding of the National Park Service, after 35 days of the partial government shutdown, reversed on Friday night. Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park helped keep parts of the park open by raising money. Photo from Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

OPENING OF MORE AREAS OF HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK is ongoing with the approval for three weeks of funding by Pres. Donald Trump and Congress on Friday night. According to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Facebook, "With the enactment of the continuing resolution, park staff will resume regular operations over the next several days. Chain of Craters Road will remain closed until staff can return to work and check for road hazards and impacts to critical resources such as nēnē, the endangered Hawaiian goose. Please visit nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes for updated information about the park."

Elizabeth Fien, President and CEO of Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

     The Park's Facebook acknowledges community help during the shutdown: "We greatly appreciate the generous contributions of park partners, especially Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park." Friends helped to raise money to keep parts of the park open. An anonymous donation came in for $76,320. County of Hawaiʻi gave $38,160. The combined total of $114,480 funded many days of service, said Friends Executive Director Elizabeth Fien. The funding helped to pay park rangers and Friends guides to serve the public.
     Fien announced today another donation of $50,000 to Friends from Hawaiian Airlines Team Kokua Giving. Hawaiian Air's Hawaiʻi Island Sales Manager Craig Shiroma nominated Friends for the funding.
     Friends also announced that its new Chairman of the Board is Bernard Balsis, known in Kaʻū for his years as manager of Kaʻū Federal Credit Union. The board recently named Fien as its President and CEO. She began working with Friends seven years ago as Education and Outreach Coordinator, moving to Director of Development, Executive Director, and President and CEO. She was recently reelected to serve on the steering committee of the National Park Foundation's Friends Alliance.
     Fien, a resident of Discovery Harbour, said she plans to help develop the Friends organization into a self-sustaining major partner with Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, much like the Friends organization at Yosemite.
     See more about Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on its website and Facebook.

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ELIMINATING TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES is the goal of the formation of a Vision Zero Task Force for Hawaiʻi Island. Mayor Harry Kim will sign a proclamation Friday, Feb. 1 to create the task force, says a statement from the mayor's office.

     The task force will be comprised of agencies and organizations with expertise in transportation, enforcement, education, public health, emergency response, equity, transit, biking, walking, and vehicles,. The Vision Zero initiative "focuses on thinking differently about traffic safety, to work together as a community for a truly worthy outcome: the elimination of traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets."

Mayor Kim's Vision Zero Task Force aims to eliminate traffic injuries and deaths. Photo from dmv.org

     The statement says Hawai’i County has the highest traffic fatality rate per capita in the State. In 2018, 32 people died in traffic crashes on Hawai‘i Island. Another 1,200 people sustained serious injuries. On average, three people are treated for traffic-related injuries in Hawai‘i County every day. Every month, two die from traffic-related injuries, the statement says.

     "Vision Zero recognizes that we all make mistakes, and that transportation systems should be designed to minimize the impacts of those errors.  When crashes do occur, they should not result in death or serious injuries. Crashes are not accidents; they are preventable – with the right actions and commitment.

     "Vision Zero is committed to reducing the severity of crashes so that crashes don't result in death or serious injuries. Everyone has the right to safely travel on our streets, no matter where they are going or how they travel.

     "By committing to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through a Vision Zero plan, we will create a safer and more vibrant island for generations to come."

HAWAIʻI COUNTY SALARY COMMISSION TO DISBAND? Former Salary Commission Chairman Hugh Ono approached the commission on Thursday, suggesting the idea, according to a report from Nancy Cook Lauer of Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald.

      "I'm beginning to believe the County of Hawaiʻi can do without the Salary Commission," said Ono, testifying as a member of the public, reported Lauer. "Everything is in place."

     The Tribune-Heraldreported Ono said the commission has provided a process for the Department of Human Resources "to recommend salary levels, with public participation possible when the County Council sets the budget. The HR director is hired by the Merit Appeals Board, whose members are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, providing another layer of separation from those receiving the raises."

     To disband the Salary Commission, a ballot amendment would need to pass, as it is in the county charter. On Jan. 11, the commission voted 5 to 6 against an amendment that would empowered the County Council and mayor to veto salaries submitted by the commission.

     The Salary Commission was created to give the public more notice on raises for public servants. Commission members have added steps in their process to gather more information to compare salaries from the Finance Department and private-sector groups.

Former Hawaiʻi County Salary Commission Chairman Hugh Ono. Photo from Big Island Video News

     Lauer reports Commissioner Milton Pavao said, "We recently gave huge raises to catch up. I think before we give any more raises, we should really understand the county's financial situation. … It's nice to give raises and there's no question in my mind that they deserve it, but I cant see us giving raises to the detriment of the county itself."

     Chairman George Campbell, reports the Tribune-Herald, said the commission will consider Ono's suggestion at a future meeting. "Although it's not required that we look at finances, we take it very seriously. That's something the commission takes very seriously as commissioners and as taxpayers."

     Public testimony will be accepted at 10 a.m. on March 7 in Hilo regarding the new rules.