Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, April 13, 2014

Hawai`i County Council Finance Committee asks the Finance director to begin negotiations to purchase Kaunamano for preservation. Photo from Hawai`i Pacific Brokers

NEW BUILDINGS FOR VOLCANO CHARTER SCHOOL are a go. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has released $618,000 to Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. The money will be used for planning, architectural, permitting and engineering fees for construction of 15 new classrooms, a new restroom and a multi-purpose building on the old Keakealani Outdoor Education Center campus on Haunani Road in Volcano Village. The school has a 60-year lease from the Department of Education.

Daryl Smith, Chair of Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences

      Daryl Smith, Chair of the Friends of Volcano School of Arts & Sciences board, said this morning, “We are grateful for all the help that we have received from such supporters as Sen. Russell Ruderman, Sen. Gil Kahele and Rep. Richard Onishi along with the enthusiasm of teachers, students and parents who signed and sent petitions and letters to the governor and our legislators.”
      With release of the funding, the school hopes to finalize its use permit, obtain a building permit and begin construction. Smith said that 13 contractors have volunteered to build a classroom, “which goes along way to making this happen. We also have 142 volunteers on the ground who can help with painting, installing windows and doors and other tasks.”
      “This is extreme makeover Volcano style,” said Lauris Aragon-Mata, facilities coordinator at the school.
      Smith plans to meet with representatives of the state Public Charter School Commission on Tuesday in Honolulu.
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PRESERVATION OF MORE KA`U COASTLINE adjacent to Honu`apo is being considered by Hawai`i County Council this week. On Tuesday, the Finance Committee takes up Resolution 351-14, submitted by Ka`u County Council Member Brenda Ford, authorizing the director of Finance to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of parcels with tax map keys 9-5-011:001, 9-5-011:004, 9-5-011:005 and 9-5-011:006 in the ahupua`a of Kaunamano and tax map key 9-5-012:001 in the ahupua`a of Poupouwela.
      The more than 1,200-acre Kaunamano properties are listed as a key priority for purchase in the 2012 Annual Report of the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. Cultural, archaeological and natural resources, along with education, recreation and preserving scenic vistas are reasons given in the nomination papers for Kaunamano.
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SEVERAL ITEMS ON THIS WEEK’S County Council meeting also pertain to Ka`u.
      Two resolutions provide grants for events sponsored by `O Ka`u Kakou. The community organization would receive $7,000 for the annual Punalu`u fishing tournament and $15,000 for a Coffee Trail Run and Fun Day scheduled for Sept. 20.
      Other resolutions would appropriate $2,000 each for the purchase of refrigerator-freezers for Na`alehu and Pahala Community Centers.
      A bill calls for posting of a yield sign on Ka`alaiki Road makai of Na`alehu Cemetery at the northeast approach adjacent to parcels 9-5-008:001 and 9-5-008:010.
      Ka`u residents can participate in this week’s County Council committee and regular meetings being held at West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.
      On Tuesday, the Agricultural, Water & Energy Sustainability meets at 9:15 a.m.; Human Services & Social Services, 9:30 a.m.; Public Works & Parks and Recreation, 10 a.m.; Public Safety & Mass Transit, 11 a.m.; and Finance, 1:30 p.m.
      The full Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m.
      Agendas are available at hawaiicounty.gov.
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AGRICULTURAL WATER for the Green Sands community and surrounding makai and mauka farm and ranch lands could be in the long-term future, according to County Council Member Brenda Ford, who attended a meeting yesterday of the Green Sands Community Association. As part of their outreach to Ka`u residents who could benefit from distribution of ag water, representatives of the Ha`ao Agricultural Water Cooperative and County Department of Water Supply were on hand. The county uses Ha`ao Springs for potable water. However, there is a surplus that could be used for agriculture. The districtwide plan is to develop ag water from Ha`ao Springs and seven other sources developed by sugar companies in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Map shows proposed pipe route for delivery of ag water from Ha`ao Springs to users makai. Map from haaosprings.org

       Surveys of the water systems have been taking place using $750,000 in state funding. The state Legislature has approved some $2 million in funding to restore and develop the ag water delivery systems. From Ha`ao, pipes would bring water to the culvert at the intersection of Hwy 11 and Ka`alu`alu Road.
      Mel Davis, President of Ha`ao Springs Co-op, is organizing as a 501C12 nonprofit organization that could raise money and apply for assistance to continue the pipeline makai of Hwy 11. This portion would require additional funding and an agreement with the state Department of Transportation to allow the pipeline to be placed through the culvert to potential users makai of Hwy 11.
      Ford said that the county Department of Water Supply estimated that running the pipe for ag water under Hwy 11 and makai to potential users could cost from $1.5 to $2 million or higher because the project would need to include one or more reservoirs.
      Potential users of ag water makai of Hwy 11 include residents who live on the agriculturally zoned lots in the Green Sands community, where orchards and gardens growing food for personal use and for sale could be expanded, and could also include nearby ranches that would be able to use the water for livestock.
      According to Ford, the Ha`ao Springs Co-op must be able to prove community interest in having ag water in order to obtain federal and state financial assistance. That proof would be by the number of people who become members of the co-op and support the project, she said. Applications are available online at haaosprings.org.

Ka`u's County Council Member Brenda Ford

      After the meeting, Ford met with co-op board members to discuss possible methods to reduce cost and speed up the process. There may be an opportunity to use the U.S. Department of Defense - Innovative Readiness Training program that can provide free labor to assist with the project. Ford said the first step would be for state officials from Department of Land & Natural Resources, which owns the state land from Ha`ao Springs to the highway, to apply to the Department of Defense for assistance. Taking advantage of the Innovated Readiness Training Program could save millions of dollars, she said. The program puts military engineers and construction teams to work in communities around the country. It supplies labor but not materials.

Jen Johansen, of the Alohahas

Rich Mears, of the Alohahas

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.