Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, November 18, 2019

Morita - an energy consultant, former Public Utilities Commission Chair, and former state Senator - defended HEI. She said that ValuAct Capital "is not paying attention to the reality of what it will take to attain a 100 percent renewable future when it falls back on mantras like '100 percent renewables' or 'no fossil fuels.' These soundbites, or insisting on a ValuAct-approved CEO, are not at all helpful and will not get us to Hawaiʻi's lofty energy objectives any sooner." She wrote that Ubben's assessment of Hawaiʻi's utility sector is "simplistic."

     Morita objected to Ubben's comment that HEI is at a point where management could "be driven either by more of the same inertia or, alternatively, by innovative, forward-looking thinking and action."

Mina Morita. Photo from hawaiiwire.org

     She told PBN in an email that she is concerned with HEI's plans, saying that community input is missing, that there has been "an overemphasis" on power generation, "focusing on 100 percent renewable rather than what needs to be done to modernize the entire system cost-effectively." Morita stated that Hawaiʻi and HEI face difficulties in achieving the state's renewable energy goals without liquified natural gas as a bridge fuel. She also stated that, without NextEra Energy's proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of HECO, the utilities were left with "few options to control costs… necessary to enable a distributed energy grid. Hawaiʻi's energy transformation is a complex and uncertain transition during a time of rapidly advancing technologies… The only thing that I am sure of is Hawaiʻi's energy transformation is a 'kakou' thing — which means that one company or its regulator cannot do it alone."
     HEI is the parent company of Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co., which serves this island.

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SEN. KAI KAHELE EARNED THE ENDORSEMENT of former Kauaʻi Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. in his campaign to represent Kaʻū and the rest of Hawaiʻi's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Kahele is running for the seat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will be giving up at the end of her term, in order to focus on the presidential race. Carvalho issued the following statement today:

      "From his service to our country as a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard, through his time as a state senator for Hilo, I have great confidence in both his dedication to our island communities and his leadership capacity...

     "We will be facing serious challenges in the years ahead. From affordable housing to climate resilience, there are many community issues that will need federal support and funding. We need someone who will help bring in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding so we can build more homes for our kūpuna and young families. We need someone who will help us secure Federal Highways money and other funding to make our communities more resilient to sea-level rise and severe storm events. We need someone who can help direct U.S. Department of Agriculture funding to our local farmers and food-producing lands."

     Carvalho served for ten years as the Mayor of Kauaʻi County, from 2008 to 2018.

Former Kauaʻi Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. with Sen. Kai Kahele. Photo from Kahele

      Said Kahele, "I am grateful for Mayor Carvalho's endorsement… He is an experienced leader whose reach extends beyond Kauaʻi. Mayor Carvalho is respected for his dedication and service throughout our great State of Hawaiʻi. I look forward to working with him in the coming months as we continue to grow our grassroots campaign in every community and across every island in the state."

     Kahele serves as Majority Floor Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Water and Land in the Hawaiʻi State Senate where he represents his hometown of Hilo. He is an 18-year combat veteran aviator who was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawaiʻi Air National Guard.

     Former Hawaiʻi Governors John Waiheʻe, Ben Cayetano and Neil Abercrombie serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Kahele for Congress Campaign Committee, which raised over $600,000 since launching in January 2019.

     The 2nd Congressional District encompasses Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kahoʻolawe, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kauaʻi, Niʻihau and the rural parts of Oʻahu, including Waimānalo, Kailua, Kāneʻohe, the North Shore, and the Leeward coast.

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NĀ‘ĀLEHU SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR kicks off tomorrow at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School Library. The public is invited to come check out books and other items, and support the school. Public hours are: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7:30-8a.m. and 2:07-3:30p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2:07-7p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 21, 7:30a.m.-3:30-p.m.; and Friday, Nov. 22, 7:30a.m.-2p.m.

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A SPIKE IN UTILITY SCAM CALLS AND PHISHING during the holiday season is expected by Hawaiʻi utilities. In a joint press release, the Hawaiian Electric Companies, Hawaiian Telcom, Hawaiʻi Gas, Board of Water Supply, and Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative, along with the state Office of Consumer Protection and Honolulu Police Department, states they are working to combat scammers who target utility customers, as part of national Utility Scam Awareness Week.

     The joint release warns customers to remain vigilant against "thieves and scam artists posing as utility workers and bill collectors. Customers need to be alert and recognize scams, especially when criminals threaten to disconnect service unless a payment is made.
     Stephen Levins, executive director of the state of Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection, said, "Utility scammers can sound convincing on the phone and will say anything to trick consumers into making payments. To protect themselves, consumers should never wire money, purchase gift cards, or give out personal or financial information to anyone who initiates contact."

     The utilities state that scammers are targeting customers who rely on vital services such as electricity, water, gas, and telecommunications. Although there have been fewer reports of customers paying money to scammers, "customers cannot let their guard down."

     The utilities offer the following tips:

     If the caller says your utility account is delinquent and threatens to shut off service

immediately unless payment is made, it's a scam.

     If someone calls from a utility demanding immediate payment over the phone, via money transfer, prepaid debit card, or by Bitcoin, it's a scam.

     If the caller asks to meet the customer in person to pick up a payment, it's a scam.

     If you receive an email from your utility urging you to click on an embedded link or

attachment to resolve a utility issue or pay a bill, think before you click. It's likely a scam.

     If a utility worker shows up at your home or place of business, ensure that person is

wearing official attire with a logo, driving a properly labeled vehicle, and carrying company identification. When in doubt, call the utility's customer service center.

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Treating little fire ants at Steam Vents. Photo from NPS by Janice Wei

STEAM VENTS PARKING LOT WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW, Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to noon for little fire ant treatment in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Only the Steam Vents parking lot and the trail from the parking lot to Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will be closed; Wahinekapu and Crater Rim Trail will remain open. If it rains, a backup date is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the same time. 

     LFA detections have decreased by at least 99 percent at Steam Vents since the park began treating the area in February, stated the Park. In 2018, LFA were abundant and readily observed on vegetation and along the edge of the parking lot. In September, park pest control workers found LFA on just 0.1 percent of bait stations.

     Pest control workers will continue to treat Steam Vents every four to six weeks and the park will announce closures in news releases, at nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes, and via social media. The goal is to completely exterminate the ants from the area. Visitors can help by checking their gear and vehicles for LFA before coming to the park.