Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, August 8, 2019

Rendering of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Read about efforts to support TMT and Jam4Maunakea online protest, below. Image from TMT

WHILE PĀHALA RECORDED THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE ever witnessed in Hawaiʻi - 100 degrees Fahrenheit on April 27, 1931, Kaʻū has weathered this summer's statewide heatwave with relatively mild temperatures compared to many other places in the state.
      Record breaking temperatures have hit other areas and the heat remained heavy today, with a high today of 87 in Kona, though it was reported to feel like 98 due to humidity. Today was 90 in Lihue, Kauaʻi, which was reported to feel like 102 due to humidity. Kahului, Maui, was 90 degrees, but humidity reportedly made it feel like 96. Honolulu hit 91 today, but humidity only raised the temperature feel to 93 degrees.
     In June and July, temperatures in Pāhala have mostly been two to six degrees above average, with temperatures mostly staying in the mid-80s.

     Nāʻālehu has been very close to average - mid-80s - for the last two months, but did hit 90 on Saturday, Aug. 3. VolcanoVillagehas been between one and six degrees above average - mid-80s - for June and July. Volcano hit a record high of 93 degrees on June 13, 1983.

     Ocean View has seen many days where the temperature was up to three degrees below the mid-80s average, but OV also saw a 90 degree day on the 3rd. Miloliʻi also experienced a 90 degree Saturday, and most days within three degrees of the average mid-80s.

     The coldest temperature ever recorded in Hawaiʻi was also on Hawaiʻi Island, 12 degrees F at Maunakea on May 17, 1979. The hottest average temperature in the islands is also on Hawaiʻi, at Keahole airport, with an average of 77.7 degrees.

     Forecasters expect temperatures to start descending in September.

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SUPPORT FOR THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE comes from the statewide Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce President Sherry Menor-McNamara. She released a statement yesterday evening saying, "We view this important project as a catalyst that will help to grow and diversify our economy, provide unique educational opportunities, contribute to science on an unparalleled level, as well as elevate Hawaiʻi's presence on a global scale. Hawaiʻi competed against many other countries for this scientific endeavor, and that has not gone unnoticed.     "From a legal and regulatory process standpoint, the rule of law must stand. Undermining the integrity of our judicial system undermines our democracy. TMT followed a lengthy seven-year public and agency review. This regulatory process included many community outreach efforts that have recognized the cultural significance of Mauna Kea. TMT is committed and understands the need to be a good citizen of Hawaiʻi and will certainly be held accountable if it does otherwise.
     "From a business and economic standpoint, certainty and fairness are key to doing business in Hawaiʻi. Approved projects such as TMT that have gone through the proper process should not be stopped after the fact. Doing so compromises the integrity of the process and any efforts to improve the business climate for our communities."

     She pointed to The Honolulu Star-Advertiser's polling and said it "shows overwhelming support for TMT, so we know the community stands behind progress. With that said, we cannot and should not ignore the past. Rather, we should honor and inspire ourselves to do better moving forward. This is a pivotal moment in our state, nation and world — a time when partisanship, prejudice, and violence are becoming everyday occurrences. As an island state with diverse and close-knit communities, we cannot afford to be divided; we need to be united in our shared beliefs of respect, tolerance, inclusion, and following the rule of law.
     "Although stakeholders may disagree on this issue, we cannot let it divide our communities. We need to show the rest of the world that we can agree to disagree, move forward, and collectively work on issues to benefit the people of our state. Hawaiʻi is too small and important a place to be so fractured."

     TMT supporters have launched television advertising featuring navigator Kalepa Baybayan, one of the captains of the Hōkūleʻa for the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In the commercial, Baybayan calls Maunakea a spiritual place and suggested that people with different practices, astronomy, cultural, and spiritual, "share the mauna."

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Jam4Maunakea Video gives participants a chance to practice the medley for this Sunday's event. Photo from Protectors of Maunakea film

PROTECTORS OF MAUNAKEA WHO OPPOSE THE THIRTY METER TELESCOPE have announced a Jam 4 Maunakea live digital concert this Sunday from 11 a.m to 11:30 a.m. Hawaiʻi time. Called Hawaiʻi Loa Medley, Ku Haʻaheo, the broadcast will be a video of kūpuna artists and other protectors at Maunakea singing and jamming a medley. The Protectors call on people to play the video and go live on Facebook or other platforms "as you cheer, dance, sing or jam along - solo, with ʻhana and friends, or at a gathering in your community."

Sign language for Maunakea made by participants in the medley of songs  sung by Protectors of Maunakea. Photo from Protectors of Maunakea film

     For lyrics, chords, practice video, and instructions for going live or pre-recording, see puuhuluhulu.com/jam

4maunakea.

SPEAKER OF THE HAWAIʻI STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Scott Saiki is the new president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures. The bipartisan organization serves the nation's 7,383 state lawmakers and more than 20,000 legislative staff. Saiki was elected this week at the annual Legislative Summit in Nashville.

     The summit includes training, workshops, and such speakers as author and historian Jon Meacham, the presidential biographer, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. See reports and some of the sessions' livestream.
     Hawaiʻi state Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi said, "In these divisive times, Speaker Saiki's election to preside over one of our nation's most respected bi-partisan legislative organizations speaks volumes about the inclusive nature of the State of Hawaiʻi."

Scott Saiki

     Saiki, the current NCSL vice president, succeeds Speaker Robin Vos (R-WI.), Speaker of the Assembly from Wisconsin, who will become NCSL president. NCSL alternates leadership between the two parties each year. Saiki will be named NCSL president at the 2020 Legislative Summit.
     Said Saiki, "I appreciate the opportunity to serve as President-Elect and look forward to continued collaboration with my colleagues from around the country. NCSL has afforded legislators and staff an unrivaled opportunity to learn from the experiences of other states, exchange ideas and come up with policy solutions that can help propel our respective states and, ultimately, our entire nation forward. I look forward to continued work with our Washington office to ensure federal policies are in line with state priorities."
     Saiki has served as the speaker of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives since May 2017. He previously served as majority leader. As an active member of NCSL, Saiki has served on the Task Force on State and Local Taxation as well as the NCSL Executive Committee.
     Kouchi pointed out that Saiki has almost 25 years of experience since his election to the House of Representatives in 1994. "His vast institutional knowledge of the NCSL, coupled with his strong organizational and leadership skills, will be a tremendous asset to the NCSLi.
     Saiki was born in Honolulu. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and his J.D. from UH's William S. Richardson School of Law.