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| Stained Glass Cottage Hawaiʻi is affiliated with Experience Volcano, which took its concerns to a public hearing Friday regarding proposed Short Term Vacation Rental rules. Testifiers talked about possible damage to the local economy and harm to residents who depend on vacation rentals to make their living. Photo from Experience Volcano |
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| Chris Becker said many vacation rental owners would find it hard to pay for surveys of their parcels to meet new rules. Photo from Big Island Video News |
be allowed to apply to become grandfathered in. Homes on agricultural lots would be able to apply if the lots were of record before June 4, 1976. After grandfathering in of those Short Term Vacation Rentals that meet requirements, no additional vacation rental licenses would be issued on residential or agriculture lands.
New vacation rentals would be allowed only in areas zoned resort and on some commercial properties. The only resort zoning in the Kaʻū through Volcano area is at Punaluʻu, with its condominiums, many of them timeshares, a far different experience than the cottages, traditional homes, and cabins across Kaʻū and Volcano.
Big Island Video News covered the hearing.
Chris Becker said he and his partner sank everything they had into their vacation rental in Volcano. He described the county's proposed requirements to approve vacation rentals "onerous and designed to weed out vacation rentals." He pointed to a requirement to produce a plot plan for each vacation rental. He said that it is something most owners would be unable to produce on their own and that hiring surveyors would be very costly, as many businesses are still trying to recover from last year's volcano disaster. He suggested that the plot plan used to approve the homes when they were built should be sufficient for county review.
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| Ira Ono, President of Experience Volcano Hawaiʻi, contended that the Planning Department is overreaching with complicated and expensive rules. Photo from Big Island Video News |
The overreach of the planning department by creating complicated and expensive rules "that are not in the current [County Council] 108 bill that will financially impact our entire community," he said. Ono said the planning department's plan "to publish the names, locations, house numbers, and tax key maps of vacation rentals in the newspaper is more than just a needless invasion of privacy, it's a road map for a crime wave and invaluable handbook for thieves." He said vacation rentals are especially attractive targets for thieves. Attractive to visitors because they are quiet and rural, vacation rentals are attractive to thieves for the same reason, he said. According to Ono, vacation rentals often have one of a kind furniture and artwork that are valuable to thieves.
Ono said vacation rental owners "invest not just dollars in them, we invest in creativity, our personal labor, and our self esteem."
Many vacation rentals were lost to lava flow in Puna, according to those who testified. The Pāhoa economy is also hurting with fewer visitors staying there, and only the very wealthy are able to reestablish themselves by buying homes that were not destroyed, said one testifier. Another said lava victims will not be able to meet the deadline to meet requirements to become licensed vacation rentals as they have to rebuild homes. She asked for a five year extension for lava victims.
Hawaiʻi County Planning Director Michael Yee said a third and final hearing will be held in Hilo in early April. The department maintains a webpage, hiplanningdept.com/short-term-vacation-rentals, dedicated to all the details related to the rulemaking.See more at Big Island Video News and in Sunday's Kaʻū News Briefs.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS REGARDING RATE INCREASE REQUESTS from Hawai‘i Electric Light Co. are postponed by the Public Utilities Commission. The PUC will hear testimony about general rate increases, and revised rate schedules and rules, on Thursday, April 11, 5 p.m. at West Hawai‘i Civic Center County Council Chambers, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kona; Friday, April 12, 5 p.m. at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 1, Hilo.
Hawai‘i Electric Light is seeking a 3.38 percent increase in revenues, or $13.4 million over revenues at current effective rates. Any increase would likely not take effect until late 2019.
KAʻŪ BOYS VOLLEYBALL fought hard at their first season game. Kaʻū hosted neighboring Pāhoa, who scored 26, 25, and 25 to Kaʻū's 24, 21, and 18.
See upcoming Spring games, below.
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com |
Kaʻū Trojans Spring Sports Schedule
Baseball:
Mon., March 4, 3 p.m. , host Konawaena
Wed., March 6, 3 p.m. , @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 1 p.m. , host Kohala
Sat., March 16, 1 p.m. , host Keaʻau
Thu., March 21, 3 p.m. , @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 1 p.m. , host Honokaʻa
Softball:
Tue., March 5, host Konawaena
Thu., March 7, @Kamehameha
Sat., March 9, 11 a.m. , host Kohala
Mon., March 11, host Kamehameha
Wed., March 13, 5:30 p.m. , host Pāhoa
Sat., March 16, 11 a.m. , host Keaʻau
Wed., March 20, @Waiakea
Sat., March 23, 11 a.m. , host Honokaʻa
Boys Volleyball:
Fri., March 8, 6 p.m. , @Kealakehe
Tue., March 12, 6 p.m. , @Makualani, Varsity
Fri., March 15, 6 p.m. , host Waiakea
Tue., March 19, 6 p.m. , @Kealakehe
Track:
Sat., March 9, 2 p.m. , @Keaʻau
Sat., March 16, 2 p.m. , @Konawaena
Sat., March 23, 9 a.m. , @Waiakea
PĀHALA RECYCLING & TRANSFER STATION'S FUTURE will be discussed at a community meeting on Tuesday, March 19, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pāhala Community Center
A release about the meeting says, "We welcome any input and participation from the community and users of this facility. Please join us for this public informational meeting!"
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SUNDAY, MARCH 3
Dispose of Hazardous Household Waste, Sunday, March 3, 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m. , Pāhoa Recycling and Transfer Station. See complete list of acceptable or unacceptable household hazardous waste at hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/household-hazardous-waste. Contact Chris Chin-Chance at 961-8554 or recycle3@hawaiicounty.gov.
Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, March 3 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m., Manukā State Park
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Coastal Net Patrol, Monday, March 4. Register in advance. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, 769-7629
Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Monday, March 4, 9:30-11:30a.m. , Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu. All ages receive screening for near and far vision. Keiki are screened for color deficiencies, adults for eye diseases. Keiki receive free sunglasses, adults free reading glasses. Sponsored by Tūtū & Me and Project Vision Hawaiʻi, projectvisionhawaii.org, 808-282-2265.
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, March 4 and 18, 1p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Parent-led homeschool activity and social group, building community in Ka‘ū. Confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Monday, March 4, 4-6p.m. , Ocean View Community Center
Free Vision Screening for All Ages, Tuesday, March 5, 9-11a.m. , Pāhala Community Center
Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tues
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
Ash Wednesday Service, Wednesday, March 6, 3p.m. , St. Jude's Episcopal Church. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org
Arts and Crafts Activity: Tissue Paper Butterfly, Wednesday, March 6, 3:30-5p.m. , multi-purpose room, Ka‘ū District Gym. Register keiki ages 5-12 through March 5. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
Open Mic Night, Wednesday, March 6, 6-10p.m. , Lava Lounge, Kīlauea Military Camp. Call 967-8365 after 4p.m. to sign up and for more details. Park entrance fees may a
Women's Support Group, Thursday, March 7 – 1st Thursday monthly – 3-4:30p.m. , PARENTS Inc., Nā‘ālehu. Women welcome to drop in. Free. Lindsey Miller, 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
All Ages Game Nite, Thursday, March 7,
Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Mtg., Th
FRIDAY, MARCH 8
Mardi Gras Fundraising Dinner, Fri
SATURDAY, MARCH 9
Pancake Breakfast and Raffle, Sat
The Business of Art, Saturday,
Stained Glass Basics 2, Saturday, Ma
Zentangle: Lava Layers with Dina Wood Kageler, Saturday, March 9, 10a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center. Returning tanglers invited to bring favorite drawing supplies; loaner supplies available. Bring snack to share. $30/VAC member, $35/non-member, plus $10 supply fee. Register: volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Hula Kahiko - Nā Kumu Hula Ka‘ea Lyons and Lily Lyons with Hālau Ka‘eaikahelelani, Sa
Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe - Hālauolakalani, Sat
Kauahaʻao Congregational Church Fundraising Bazaar, Saturday, March 16, 9-2 pm , just above Wong Yuen Store in Waiʻōhinu. Bazaar vendor spaces on the church lawn are $10 for 10' X 10'. Vendors are responsible for bringing all supplies, including electricity. Church members will sell kalua pig and cabbage bowls, and roast chicken with gravy bowls, as well as baked goods, produce, and crafts. Submit application with fee by Sunday, March 10; call Debbie or Walter, 928-8039, for application.
Applications for a Job to Help Kids with Healthy Eating and Living in Kaʻū are open through Friday, March 15. Full-time 11.5-month commitment from
Preschool Opens Doors Applications are open for the 2019-2020 school year. The Department of Human Services encourages families to apply before Friday, March 29. This program is for families seeking aid in paying for preschool. Applications, available at patchhawaii.org, received during this period will be considered for preschool participation during July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020. For more information, visit bit.ly/2TolEOm or call 800-746-5620.
Beginning Farmer Institute Cohort Applications open through Monday, April 15. Free training program which "prepares new producers of any age or operation type for a successful future in agriculture." Applications at nfu.org/education/beginning-farmer-institute.
Booth fees are $100 for food vendors; $60 for non-food items and crafts, including coffee and coffee samples; and $35 for pre-approved information displays. No campaign and other political displays. Fifty percent discounts for non-profit organizations and cooperatives selling food, crafts, and coffee. Vendors must also obtain county vendor permits costing $30 each and a Department of Health permit, if serving food. Call Gail Nagata 933-0918. Apply by Friday, April 26. Application at KauCoffeeFestival.com. Email to biokepamoses@gmail.com; mail to Brenda Iokepa-Moses, P.O. Box 208 , Pāhala , HI 96777
Applications for Paid Internship in Kaʻū for Kupu Hawai‘i and The Nature Conservancy are open. Year-long, full-time position in TNC's Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program stewards native forest preserves in Ka‘ū and South Kona. $1,600 monthly living allowance, before taxes; a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefit, if eligible; and receiving an entry-level conservation career experience. Application at kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy, 443-5401, or call Kupu Hawai‘i, 808-735-1221.
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