Kaʻū News Briefs, Friday, October 4, 2019

PLASTIC AND SOME PAPER WILL NO LONGER BE RECYCLED through Hawaiʻi County transfer and recycling stations due to "significant decreases in the global market for recyclables," states a message from the county. Starting Wednesday, Oct. 16, the Two-Bin Recycling Program at recycling and transfer stations will collect only corrugated cardboard: clean, non-contaminated – no pizza boxes; and brown kraft paper bags, such as paper shopping bags.

     Glass bottles and jars will continue to be collected in a separate glass bin: clean non-HI-5 containers such as wine bottles, pickle jars, cosmetic jars, with no caps, covers, or lids.

Pāhala's only traffic jam will now require less sorting, as plastic and some paper will no longer be recycled by Hawaiʻi County as of Wednesday, Oct. 16. Photo by Julia Neal

     Small clean metal cans – soup, canned meat, canned vegetables, pet food – will no longer be allowed in the Two-Bin Recycling Program; they may be recycled in the scrap metal.

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A BRUSH FIRE AT KA LAE, SOUTH POINT, THIS MORNING shut down the boat ramp and Ka Lae Cliffs for the whole day, stated a message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense.

THE SEARCH FOR A HAWAIʻI ISLAND FOREST PROGRAM NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER is underway to work for  The Nature Conservancy.

     The Natural Resource Manager develops and implements large-scale threat abatement projects aimed at controlling invasive plants and animals; manages experimental weed and feral animal control operations in remote, rugged areas; develops deliverables for threat abatement grants and contract; and develop methods and implement forest inventories for private and public landowners.

     The position is also in charge of conducting forest and ecological inventories; developing certifiable forest management plans for private landowners, partners; and TNC preserves; conducting field and helicopter surveys to monitor threat status and assess the efficacy of threat abatement strategies; collecting and managing GPS and GIS data related to threat abatement goals, objectives, and activities.

     The manager is responsible for providing spatial data analysis; reports on program actions; supervising field staff in planning; executing fieldwork and other essential tasks; and participating in field operations in remote, rugged terrain involving camping and helicopter transport.

The Nature Conservancy is looking for  a Natural Resource manager. Photo from TNC

     Minimum qualifications include a Master's Degree in biology, ecology, forestry or science related field plus 1 year of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience; experience collecting, manipulating, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data, and preparing reports of findings; experience collecting and managing GPS and GIS data related to threat abatement goals, objectives, and activities; experience coordinating multiple field projects in remote, rugged conditions involving invasive plant and animal control, fence construction, and helicopter operations; and experience working with Hawaiʻi's natural systems, and cultural resources and management practices. A successful candidate will also have a current and valid driver's license. Candiaites should also have a personal passion for conserving and protecting the natural world and a belief in The Nature Conservancy's mission

     External applicants should apply at nature.org/careers. Internal applicant apply through PeopleSoft. Apply online with cover letter and resume to Job #48080. The application deadline is November 1, 6 p.m. Technical problems? Contact applyhelp@tnc.org and include the job opening ID.

TRAVEL ON ALASKA AIRLINES BETWEEN KONA and San Francisco, and Kona and Sacramento, ends March of next year. Alaska will replace the flights with more service between Kona and San Jose, and Kona and San Diego.

     Daniel Chun, Alaska Airlines' director of sales, community, and public relations for Hawaiʻi, told Pacific Business News that "there is not a net decrease in service. It's still the same amount of flying to Kona – the same amount of seats, the same amount of planes. We really look at demand and where our guests want to go… there's more demand for both of those markets.

     Alaska Airlines averages 29 flights to and from Hawaiʻi, daily, and offer Kona-Oakland, Kona-Seattle, and seasonal Kona-Portland and Kona-Anchorage flights in winter and spring.