Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Miss Kaʻū Coffee Pageant 2018, held for the first time at Kaʻū District Gym. The pageant is looking for young wahine,  age three to 24, to enter the annual scholarship pageant. See details, below. Photo by Julia Neal

THE CHALLENGE OF GARBAGE, and how to fund and organize recycling and disposal, was the subject of a meeting last evening at Pāhala Community Center. County representatives focused on dropping the number of days open from four to three per week at Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station. Hours would remain from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
     Greg Goodale, Solid Waste Division Chief, said the county wants the community to help choose which day to close it. Several attendees suggested Sunday, saying Saturday is a popular day for home projects and yard work, with much use of the transfer station. They also asked for an explanation for reducing the number of days open.
     Goodale said it is a matter of tonnage. Other communities with about the same tonnage produced in Pāhala are open three days a week. Adding a fourth day for Pāhala was a recent addition, under the mayorship of Billy Kenoi. The county needs to cut costs and one way is to reduce the days that Pāhala is open, said Goodale. He also noted that Waiʻōhinu Transfer station, about 14 miles from Pāhala, is open seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many Hawaiʻi county residents drive farther to dispose their garbage.

Pāhala Recycling & Transfer Station will be open three instead of four days a week. The county wants to known which day should it be closed? Photo from County of Hawaiʻi Solid Waste Division

     The Soild Waste Chief also spoke about planned improvements to Waiʻōhinu Recycling & Transfer Station, which could create more services and opportunities. He said that once improvements are complete, commercial disposal would be available for businesses, construction, and institutions with food service. The nearest commercial disposal place is more than a five hour round trip drive to Puʻuanahulu Landfill, near Waikoloa.
     The distance makes it nearly impossible for businesses in Kaʻū to comply and for the county to charge for commercial disposal of garbage in Kaʻū. With an improved Waiʻōhinu facility, the county would be able to charge commercial users to help offset the transfer station costs.
     When asked whether there is any way to create income from the transfer stations, Goodale said the thrift shop at Waiʻōhinu transfer station helps offset discarded items going into the landfill, but the venture is not profitable to the county. He said green waste mulching might be another opportunity at Waiʻōhinu. In addition, perhaps commercial garbage collection operations could be developed by private citizens in Kaʻū, once there is a centralized commercial disposal place in Waiʻōhinu.
     Also being improved, said Goodale, is the design of garbage chutes, to make them easier to use. Pāhala resident Eddie Andrade said he would appreciate the improvement.

Waiʻōhinu Transfer Station, where commercial disposal is planned and enough land is available for making mulch from green waste. Photo from County of Hawaiʻi Solid Waste Division

     County Council member Maile David attended and asked the county administration to consider opening transfer stations, when possible, the day after a holiday closure. She and Goodale said they will continue to reach out to the Pāhala community regarding which day to close Pāhala Transfer Station and will hold another meeting in March.

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EQUAL RIGHTS is Rep. Tusli Gabbard's focus today. She spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging lawmakers across the country to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Hawaiʻi became the first state to ratify the ERA on March 22, 1972, following a long history of advocacy.
     In 1920, the women's suffrage movement culminated in the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. The 19th reads: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

     In 1923, a broader equal rights amendment was proposed to cover equal treatment in employment, services, and other areas, declaring that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or United Statesor any State on account of sex." However, it did not win congressional approval until almost 50 years later, in 1972, when it was sent to the states for ratification. By 1977, 35 states had ratified the amendment - three short of the 38 required. In 2019, only one more state is needed for ratification.

The League of Women Voters sent out mailers and set up meetings to help make Hawaiʻi the first state to ratify the ERA in 1972. Ratification by one more state would add it to the U.S. Constitution.

     Gabbard said, "It's been nearly 100 years since women fought for and won the right to vote. Yet, we still do not have equal rights and protection under the United States Constitution. There are too many examples in our everyday lives where women still do not get equal pay for equal work and where we still face discrimination simply for being a woman.

     "In 1923, the ERA was introduced to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, and was reintroduced every session until it finally passed in 1972. In the past two years, we've inched forward with successful votes in Nevadaand Illinois, and now we're just one state away from finally passing the Equal Rights Amendment.

     "This is not about politics. It's about equality. It's about humanity. It's long overdue that we pass the Equal Rights Amendment and include equality between men and women in the United States Constitution." Watch her speech here.

ENSURING BACK PAY FOR FEDERAL CONTRACT WORKERS affected by the 35-day partial shutdown of the federal government was Sen. Mazie Hirono's goal on Tuesday. She, other senators, and members of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, held a press conference.

     Hirono said, "I don't think there is anything scarier for any family than to face the prospect of not receiving a paycheck. That was happening during this totally unnecessary, unconscionable shutdown."

     She said she heard stories of people facing eviction and relying on Hawaiʻi Foodbank, where she volunteered last week. "This kind of support for our federal contractors needs to be enacted because as government privatizes jobs, every time something like this happens, more and more people are going to be harmed."

     Last week, 23 senators, including Hirono, introduced the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act, which would "provide back pay up to $600 per paycheck for federal contractor employees who were furloughed or suffered reduces hours during the government shutdown." Hirono says the bill "aims to help low-wage federal contractor employees, including janitorial, food, and security services workers."
     In December, the Senate unanimously passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act which would provide back pay for federal workers affected by the shutdown. Hirono was an original cosponsor of the bill.

MISS KAʻŪ COFFEE PAGEANT will accept applicants through Feb. 28. The pageant will be held again at the Ka‘ū District Gym on Saturday, April 27, 6 p.m.

     Miss Kaʻū Coffee and her court will represent the Kaʻū Coffee industry throughout the year at events in the community and beyond, her appearances sponsored by the Edmund C. Olson Trust, II. Pageant Director is Trinidad Marques. Scholarship Committee Directors are Julia Neal and Gloria Camba.

     The community can support the pageant through purchasing tickets, volunteering, and providing scholarships. Last year, Leahi Volleyball team provided a food concession and the Miloli‘i Volleyball team helped with tickets and other tasks on pageant day.

     Girls three to 24 years of age are encouraged to enter the pageant. Talents often include hula and singing. Competitive categories include Talent, Gown, Photogenic, Career-Interview, Characters Outfit, and Swimsuit for Miss Kaʻū Coffee. Pageant hopefuls contend for titles of Miss Ka‘ū Coffee, Jr. Miss Kaʻū Coffee, Miss Kaʻū Peaberry, and Miss Kaʻū Coffee Flower.
      Miss Ka‘ū Coffee 2018, Reishalyn Kekoa Jara, will crown her successor. Email tmarques@yahoo.com.

A LIFEGUARD TRAINING COURSE is offered at Pāhala Pool Feb. 4 through 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the county Department of Parks and Recreation, Aquatics Section, and the American Red Cross, the course fee is $75.
     Participants are required to pass a prerequisite test at Pāhala Pool, scheduled by contacting 928-8177. The course fee and registration forms, available at Pāhala Pool, are due immediately following completion of the test. The test includes: 300-yard continuous swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both; two minutes treading water, without using hands; and completion of a timed event in 1 minute 40 seconds. The timed event is: Starting in the water, swim 20 yards, retrieve a 10-pound brick from the deep end, return the brick to the starting point, and exit the water.

Pāhala Pool, where the county and Red Cross will host a lifeguard training course starting Feb. 4. Photo by Julia Neal

    Participants are responsible for providing their own supplies, including CPR mask, swim suit, goggles, towel, American Red Cross Lifeguard Manual, etc. The manual can be downloaded for free at redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding/lifeguard-preparation/lifeguard-manual.
     For more information about becoming a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard, contact the nearest county swimming pool, or the Parks and Recreation Aquatics Specialist at 961-8694.