Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, May 16, 2021

    Sakihara, based in Hilo, conducted the biological surveys of the stream to assess the impacts from the incident. During today’s board meeting he testified, “The illegal and unethical use of these pesticides in streams have shown to cause extremely damaging and long-lasting effects to all aquatic stream animals, native and non-native. These pesticides are highly toxic to all aquatic animals and result in extensive recovery time, particularly for native and endemic stream life. Typically, non-native and invasive species are the first to repopulate these impacted streams. Therefore, these types of activities can severely alter the natural biological conditions and overall health of the stream ecosystem. Further, human health and pets (cats) can be at risk if the prawns that are captured using pesticides are consumed.”
    Case said, “This kind of use of poison to harvest natural resources is appalling and extremely damaging to our natural resources wherever used. Globally it’s understood to be a terrible method of collecting fish which is harmful, not just to those fish and potentially to the people who consume them, but very devastating to the native resources around them. And it takes a long time to recover. This very significant fine lets illegal fishers know that we take these matters, very, very seriously. Responsible citizens, acting as witnesses, and our officers are watching streams closely, and if you’re engaged in these types of activities, eventually the law will catch up with you. This kind of illegal and extremely harmful fishing behavior collecting prawns in streams using poison is unacceptable and we will enforce it at every turn.”
    Case singled out the efforts of the community in the area, Officer Shishido, DAR legal fellow Ryan McDermott, DAR biologist Sakihara, Dept of Agriculture Pesticide Branch in Hilo and the Dept of Ag Oʻahu Laboratory, Hawaiʻi County Police Department Officer Matt Lewis for their combined efforts helping DOCARE make the individual accountable for his actions.

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UHERO; ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN HAWAIʻI ARE IMPROVING. The University of Hawai`i Economic Research Organization reported on Friday that the "dominant US visitor market has outperformed expectations, and built-up savings and pent-up demand will drive mainland arrivals to near normal levels in coming months. International markets will be much slower to recover."
    The study notes that "local employment gains have been limited so far, but the vaccine rollout in Hawaiʻi and nationally sets the stage for broader economic reopening by this summer. Still, a full recovery will take several years to accomplish." The researchers also note that more than half of the US adult population has now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and full vaccination of an increasing share of the US population will support a robust recovery. An accumulation of savings during the pandemic and pent-up demand will fuel a boom in consumer spending.

    UHERO predicts that the US economy will expand by about 6 percent this year. "Slower vaccine rollout elsewhere, especially in developing countries, will present a hurdle for global recovery."
    In April, the statewide number of daily visitors surpassed half of the pre-pandemic level, with all of the recovery taking place in the domestic market. In international markets, lagging vaccination rates, still large numbers of infections, and obstacles to overseas travel will keep the visitor numbers low. A near-term supply constraint is the availability of rental cars, while airlift and accommodations remain underutilized. Total visitor arrivals will climb to more than 70 percent of their pre-pandemic level by late summer.
    The recovery of jobs has trailed behind tourism. March payrolls were still more than a hundred thousand jobs below their pre-pandemic level. Despite this, firms report difficulty finding necessary labor, as the available labor force has been reduced by outmigration, ongoing virus concerns, and the need to supervise children until schools reopen. Vaccination progress will support an improvement of job gains. However, the payroll job count will not approach prepandemic levels for several years, UHERO predicts.
    The study says that unprecedented level of federal spending has provided essential support for the Hawaii economy over the past year, and a substantial recovery impetus will come from massive additional support now in the pipeline.
    Direct aid to state and local governments will help to offset a significant fraction of budget shortfalls.
    While the pandemic’s economic toll threatened many families with housing insecurity, federal assistance to renters and homeowners has helped to limit the negative impacts. Rents, which fell in 2020, have turned upward in recent months, and home prices have continued to soar. Commercial real estate has suffered from weak demand.
    Says UHERO: "There remains a significant range of uncertainty around our baseline forecast path, although firming visitor numbers and progress in vaccination are beginning to narrow that range. Our optimistic scenario envisions even more buoyant US arrivals, driven by a stronger-than expected US economic surge and early achievement of high vaccination rates. A broader upturn in spending facilitates a more rapid recovery of employment.
    "In the pessimistic scenario, persistent surges of COVID-19 in developing economies adversely affect global production arrangements, harming US manufacturing and hindering global economic recovery. The revival of international travel is further delayed. "

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A TRAFFIC FATALITY NEAR MILOLIʻI was announced today by Hawai`i Police Department, which reported that a Washington man died following a two vehicle collision that occurred on Saturday .1 mile south of the 88 mile marker on Highway 11. The 52-year-old male has been positively identified as Brian Kamaka Moa.
    According to HPD: Responding to a 3:57 p.m. call, police determined that a blue 2007 Ford F-350 pickup was overtaking a black 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck that was traveling northbound. The Ford pickup lost control and side swiped the Nissan pickup causing both vehicles to overturn. The 52-year-old male passenger of the Ford pickup was transported to the Kona Community Hospital and was pronounced dead at 9:57 p.m.
    The 33-year-old female driver of the Nissan pickup and four of her passengers were taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment. The driver and her passengers were treated and later released.
    The 59-year-old female driver of the Ford pickup was injured in the collision and was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. The driver was arrested for Negligent Homicide and Operating a vehicle after license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. She was later released pending further investigation.
    An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
    The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a Coroner’s Inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Severo Ines at 326-4646, ext. 229 or email at severo.ines@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo.
    This is the 10th traffic fatality this year compared to 8 at this time last year.