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| Eucalyptus logs piled up to send to the Hu Honua, which still seeks approval to open its biofuel plant north of Hilo on the coast. The felled trees would be shipped through Hilo to burn them for electricity. Photo by Julia Neal |
HAWAI'I SUPREME COURT DISMISSED BIOENERGY PLANT HU HONUA'S appeal this week to delay a Public Utilities Commission hearing on the greenhouse-gas impact of its 28-megawatt facility located on the coast north of Hilo that would burn wood to generate electricity. The hearing had been set for Jan. 31 and the court turned down the appeal to delay it further.
In Kaʻū, above Pahala, stands of farmed eucalyptus and piles of logs are slated to be trucked to the power plant to burn them. The harvested wood has been decaying on the ground as Hu Honua continues appeals to the state Public Utilities Commission and courts to start up the electric plant.
With the hearing going forward, Life of the Land Executive Director Henry Curtis said, "Now we can finally cross-examine Hu Honua`s witnesses. Then the Commission will rule based on the documented facts including the higher costs, the climate change impacts, and the hidden environmental impacts," of the proposed bioenergy factory in Pepe'ekeo.
Life of the Land filed the motion with the Hawai'i Supreme Court against Hu Hunoa's appeal to require the PUC to delay its hearing on the matter. The court wrote, "any appeal by Hu Honua (including this one) merely creates unnecessary delay.”
Life of the Land described the history of the latest court decision as follows: "Hu Honua BioEnergy LLC wants to cut down forests and burn the wood to generate electricity to be sold to HELCO. In January, Hu Honua sought an indefinite delay in the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission's Evidentiary Hearing scheduled to have started on January 31, 2022. After the Commission rejected the idea, Hu Honua appealed to the Hawai`i Supreme Court. Life of the Land filed a motion to dismiss."
The court issued its decision on Friday, upholding Life of the Land`s motion to dismiss.
Life of the Land described the history of the latest court decision as follows: "Hu Honua BioEnergy LLC wants to cut down forests and burn the wood to generate electricity to be sold to HELCO. In January, Hu Honua sought an indefinite delay in the Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission's Evidentiary Hearing scheduled to have started on January 31, 2022. After the Commission rejected the idea, Hu Honua appealed to the Hawai`i Supreme Court. Life of the Land filed a motion to dismiss."
The court issued its decision on Friday, upholding Life of the Land`s motion to dismiss.
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| Tawhiri Power, with its windmills at South Point, opposes Hu Honua's wood burning model for making electricity. Photo by Peter Anderson |
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IN OVERTIME, THE TROJANS BEAT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY ACADEMY IN A PLAYOFF GAME in Girls Basketball on Saturday, Feb. 5.
The combined Kaʻū High and Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences team took the first two quarters over CLA with scores of 11-6 and 6-4. CLA come back with 11-3 in the third and the teams tied 11-11 in the fourth. The Trojans took the game with an 11-2 overtime. Final score was 43-34.
Scoring for the Trojans were Tyra Wong Yuen - 25, Heidi Vidal - 7, Nalani Blanco-Louis - 4; Riley-Ann Brown - 3; Kawai Smith - 3 and Grace Smith - 1.
For Girls Basketball, Big Island Interscholastic Semi's happen on Monday, Feb. 7 with Finals Wednesday, Feb. 9. State Finals are set for Wednesday, Feb. 16-19.
In Boys Basketball, at home on Saturday, Feb. 5, the Trojans hosted Kohala Cowboys.
In JV play, Cowboys took the first quarter 22 to 6. Ka'u took the second, 23-9. Kohala took the third 13 - 10 and the fourth 16 - 10. Scoring for the Trojans were: Tyson Junior Kuahuia-Faafia - 22; Collin Hanshew - 10; Keaka McDonald - 8; Ocean Nihipali-Sesson - 4; Jestin Panera - 3 and Patrick Riehle - 2.
In Varsity play, Kohala swept through the quarters with 26-6, 15-6, 18-4 and 8-6. The final score was 67-22. Scoring for the Trojans were Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu - 10; Ivan Ramos - 3; Michah /espejo - 3; cyrus Eder - 3; Keenan Toriano - 2 and Jonah Beck - 1.
The next game remains at home taking on Kea'au Cougars on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. The Trojans travel to play the Pahoa Daggers on Friday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m. and Waiakea Warriors on Monday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.
Swimming took the Trojan team on Saturday, Feb. 5 for islandwide competition to be hosted at Kamehameha School in Kea'au. Swimmers travel again to Hawai'i Preparatory Academy on Saturday, Feb. 12. BIIF finals are a two-day event on Friday Feb. 18 and Saturday, Feb. 19. State finals are March 4 and 5.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html
FREE HELP WITH FAMILY HISTORY in Kaʻū is available 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday. All are welcome to the Family History Center. The aim is to "Come Discover Your![]()
Past," says the statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which hosts the weekly sessions at 95-5682 Hawai'i Belt Road in Na'alehu. The drop-in assistance includes free Ancestry.com, Family search.org, and other online resources.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: LEARNING FROM EXCELLENCE IS THE KU'IKAHI MEDIATION CENTER topic for its free talk on Thursday, Feb. 17 as part of the Finding Solutions, Growing Peace Brown Bag Lunch Series. Talks are third Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.![]()
giving forces' that are present when a team, group, or business is working at its best. People become stronger when working from strengths, rather than weaknesses."
In this talk, learn about a positive development tool for creating change, resilience, and creativity.
Quinney specializes in appreciative and strength-based approaches, facilitating seminars and team events. Co-author of highly recommended training resources and articles on Appreciative Inquiry, she speaks at national events and international conferences. In 2019, Quinney moved back to live in NE Scotland, where she is part of the Findhorn intentional community.
Ku'ikahi's Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and connect with others interested in "Finding Solutions, Growing Peace."
To get the Zoom link, register online at https://freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku'ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.
This lunch-and-learn series is made possible thanks in part to funding from the County of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Island United Way.
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To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html.
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: LEARNING FROM EXCELLENCE IS THE KU'IKAHI MEDIATION CENTER topic for its free talk on Thursday, Feb. 17 as part of the Finding Solutions, Growing Peace Brown Bag Lunch Series. Talks are third Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom.
This month's speaker is Suzanne Quinney, who explained: "Appreciative Inquiry is a collaborative and highly participative approach to personal and community development. It identifies and enhances the 'life-
In this talk, learn about a positive development tool for creating change, resilience, and creativity.
Quinney specializes in appreciative and strength-based approaches, facilitating seminars and team events. Co-author of highly recommended training resources and articles on Appreciative Inquiry, she speaks at national events and international conferences. In 2019, Quinney moved back to live in NE Scotland, where she is part of the Findhorn intentional community.
Ku'ikahi's Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and connect with others interested in "Finding Solutions, Growing Peace."
To get the Zoom link, register online at https://freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Ku'ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.
This lunch-and-learn series is made possible thanks in part to funding from the County of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Island United Way.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See February events and Kaʻū Calendar newspaper sponsors at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/02/events-of-february-2022.html
SEE FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS & SPONSORS
See the February Print Edition of The Kaʻū Calendar at
