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| A snow covered summit of Maunakea, which is subject of a new Master Plan for the University of Hawaiʻi Maunakea Lands: E Ō I Nā Leo (Listen to the Voices). Photo from UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship. |
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| UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship runs the visitor center. Photo from U.H Hilo |
The plan lists strategies including, "broadening Native Hawaiian and community participation in planning and programming; measures to reduce impacts to the cultural landscape and natural resources, especially in the summit region, by limiting development; and repurposing the Halepōhaku mid-level facility into a Multidisciplinary Field Station."
The House plans to revisit increasing the minimum wage and providing more tax relief for low to moderate-income households. The House will appropriate $600 million to the Hawaiian Home Lands trust for Native Hawaiians who were hit hardest by the pandemic’s economic downturn.
Teacher pay, housing are just some policies advocates want to see passed this year: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2022-01-18/teachers-housing-education-advocates-legislature
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A COVID UPDATE ON SUNDAY FROM COUNTY OF HAWAI'I SAYS: "For Hawai'i County, Department of Health reports 371 new cases, 5,492 active cases, and 44 persons hospitalized. Monday, Community Testing is scheduled in Hilo at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium from noon to 7 p.m. and in Waimea at the Waimea District Park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.
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UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship is responsible for administering the Master Plan along with the Comprehensive Management Plan and the administrative rules. In addition to the CMP are four sub-plans (public access, cultural resources management, natural resources management and observatory decommissioning) that address activities that include hunting, gathering, recreation and traditional and customary practices. The administrative rules cover public and commercial activities.
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According to the statement, about 150 people submitted written testimony to the Board of Regents, a majority in support of the new plan, and about 30 provided oral testimony, predominantly in opposition of the plan. "Most of the opposition was not related directly to the plan but focused on other Maunakea-related issues including the Thirty Meter Telescope, the State House of Representatives Mauna Kea Working Group draft report, the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and whether astronomy and the existence of telescopes should continue on the summit."
UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a voted in favor of the plan and said,“The issues we have to resolve – historical issues, best management of Maunakea – this plan is not going to fix them. I hope that for us, as regents, and for those watching, we don’t continue to practice votes like this, meaning no one is listening and no one cares. I hope those who are concerned and hurt will still have a conversation about how we can do better.”
Greg Chun, executive director of Center for Maunakea Stewardship, agreed He said after the meeting, “These are important issues that go beyond the question of management that the State of Hawaiʻi and the broader community need to discuss.”
The statement says, "The purpose of the 65-year lease granted to UH by the State in 1968 was to operate the Maunakea Science Reserve as a scientific complex to establish astronomy in Hawaiʻi. The 1998 State audit critical of the university’s overall management of the mauna made it clear that the privilege of stewardship carries an even greater responsibility to care for Maunakea, which led to the development of the management plans, establishment of the Maunakea Rangers, greater protection of natural and cultural resources and other stewardship improvements.
"The Master Plan adopted was finalized after extensive consultation and public outreach by UH during which input and advice was sought from individuals, groups, and agencies, such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Land and Natural Resources , the Maunakea Management Board and Kahu Kū Mauna."
The university also received more than 1,450 comments (online, telephone messages, U.S. Postal Service) on the draft of the new plan during a more than month-long public comment period that ended in late October.
According to the statement, about 150 people submitted written testimony to the Board of Regents, a majority in support of the new plan, and about 30 provided oral testimony, predominantly in opposition of the plan. "Most of the opposition was not related directly to the plan but focused on other Maunakea-related issues including the Thirty Meter Telescope, the State House of Representatives Mauna Kea Working Group draft report, the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and whether astronomy and the existence of telescopes should continue on the summit."
UH Regent Alapaki Nahale-a voted in favor of the plan and said,“The issues we have to resolve – historical issues, best management of Maunakea – this plan is not going to fix them. I hope that for us, as regents, and for those watching, we don’t continue to practice votes like this, meaning no one is listening and no one cares. I hope those who are concerned and hurt will still have a conversation about how we can do better.”
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| The new Maunakea Master Plan addresses stewardship of the area managed by University of Hawai'i. Photo from UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship. |
The statement says, "The purpose of the 65-year lease granted to UH by the State in 1968 was to operate the Maunakea Science Reserve as a scientific complex to establish astronomy in Hawaiʻi. The 1998 State audit critical of the university’s overall management of the mauna made it clear that the privilege of stewardship carries an even greater responsibility to care for Maunakea, which led to the development of the management plans, establishment of the Maunakea Rangers, greater protection of natural and cultural resources and other stewardship improvements.
"The Master Plan adopted was finalized after extensive consultation and public outreach by UH during which input and advice was sought from individuals, groups, and agencies, such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of Land and Natural Resources , the Maunakea Management Board and Kahu Kū Mauna."
The university also received more than 1,450 comments (online, telephone messages, U.S. Postal Service) on the draft of the new plan during a more than month-long public comment period that ended in late October.
Learn more about Master Plan for the University of Hawaiʻi Maunakea Lands: E Ō I Nā Leo (Listen to the Voices) and UH Hilo Center for Maunakea Stewardship at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea/
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.
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| The 2022 Hawai'i Legislature opened on Wednesday, with Miloli'i through Volcano represented by Senators Dru Kaniho and Joy San Buenaventura and Representatives Jeanne Kapela and Richard Onishi Photo from Hawai'i Public Radio |
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| Sen. Dru Kanuha serves West Kaʻū from Honu'apo into Kona: senkanuha@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
THE HAWAI'I LEGISLATURE OPENED ITS 2022 SESSION MIDWEEK. In the Senate, Dru Kanuha represents West Kaʻū into Kona. Joy San Buenaventura represents East Kaʻū into Puna. In the House of Representatives, Jeanne Kapela represents West Kaʻū into Kona and Richard Onishi represents Kaʻū into Hilo. Here is a report from Hawai'i Public Radio:
The new legislative session always begins on the third Wednesday of the year. For 2022, that was Jan. 19. The state Senate and House of Representatives gave their opening remarks to kick off the 2022 legislative session on Wednesday. The state Senate’s opening day was relatively subdued.
Senate President Ron Kouchi highlighted some of the priorities of the coming session, listing several issues that have worsened during the pandemic. Those ranged from the need for mental health services to supporting strategies that work to fight homelessness, which he says could take different forms on different islands. Kouchi says other priorities for the legislative session include affordable housing, teacher pay, raising the minimum wage, and supporting local agriculture by getting local produce to schools, hospitals and prisons around the state. But Kouchi says the issue that keeps him up at night is finding ways to address the learning loss suffered by students during the pandemic.
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| Sen. Joy San Buenaventura serves East Kaʻū from Honu'apo into Puna: sensanbuenaventura@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
Senate Minority Leader Kurt Fevella also talked about mental health services and support of agriculture, as well as the hospitality industry. He signaled he was open to increasing the minimum wage and supporting what he called “reasonable living wages.”
Over in the House, Speaker Scott Saiki spoke about three main goals the legislative leadership wants to achieve this year — economic, environmental, and cultural justice. "Cultural justice requires the restoration of cultural practices. The House will expand community-based efforts to restore fish ponds and lo'i; repatriate cultural artifacts; teach financial literacy; and provide cultural training to the military. Related to this is the issue of tourism management. We need to take action now before our visitor count again reaches 10 million," Saiki said.
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| Rep. Jeanne Kapela serves West Kaʻū from Honu'apo into Kona: repkapela@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
Saiki also emphasized achieving environmental justice by defueling and decommissioning the Red Hill fuel storage facility, with all costs coming under the responsibility of the federal government.
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| Rep. Richard Onishi serves East Kaʻū from Honu'apo into Hilo: reponishi@Capitol.hawaii.gov |
Several senators and representatives attended the opening session remotely, while others sat at their desks on a socially distanced Senate and House floor amid multiple lei and flowers. The Senate closed the session by standing for a moment of silence, recognizing the damage and suffering of the people in Tonga from the recent volcanic eruption. Representatives opened their session with remarks and prayer for Tonga.
Read and listen to Hawai'i Public Radio coverage of the Hawai'i Legislature, including the following stories:
House leaders propose hiking minimum wage to $18 over several years: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2022-01-20/house-leaders-propose-hiking-minimum-wage-to-18-over-several-years;Teacher pay, housing are just some policies advocates want to see passed this year: https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2022-01-18/teachers-housing-education-advocates-legislature
A COVID UPDATE ON SUNDAY FROM COUNTY OF HAWAI'I SAYS: "For Hawai'i County, Department of Health reports 371 new cases, 5,492 active cases, and 44 persons hospitalized. Monday, Community Testing is scheduled in Hilo at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium from noon to 7 p.m. and in Waimea at the Waimea District Park from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For those who would like Covid self-test kits, Covid at-home test kits are available at covidtests.gov.
For a comprehensive calendar and list of all pharmacies and clinics providing vaccination and testing, visit the Civil Defense website. www.hawaiicounty.gov. Vaccinations in Kaʻū are at Kaʻū Rural Health Clinic, Bay Clinic and the CVS/Longs in Pāhala.
For a comprehensive calendar and list of all pharmacies and clinics providing vaccination and testing, visit the Civil Defense website. www.hawaiicounty.gov. Vaccinations in Kaʻū are at Kaʻū Rural Health Clinic, Bay Clinic and the CVS/Longs in Pāhala.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.
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The Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES) is accepting applications for its summer 2022 internship program. PIPES is a 10-week undergraduate internship program May 31 to Aug. 5, offered through University of Hawai'i at Hilo. The goal is "to connect under-represented undergraduate students, especially those who are Native Hawaiian or kamaʻāina, to internship opportunities with agencies and organizations responsible for research, management, and education relating to environmental issues in Hawaiʻi and throughout the Pacific region. Internships are paid experiences. Participants may be eligible for additional housing assistance. For more information, visit: https://hilo.hawaii.edu/uhintern/ The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022. |
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| See archives of The Ka`u Calendar at www.kaucalendar.com and find the monthly print copy in mailboxes from Volcano through Ocean View. |
