Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, Sept. 9, 2022

      The Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee is comprised of Ka'u citizens tasked with helping move forward the Kaʻū CDP, in partnership with the Hawai'i County Planing Department and other community stakeholders. However, all public meetings sponsored by the county with the Action Committee were recently canceled by the county, siting staff changes and an effort to better plan community engagement. 

    Kaʻū's Action Committee members are: Leina'ala Enos, Babette Morrow, Catherine Williams, Kaohinani Mokuali'i, Pernell Hanoa, Jason Masters, Kaweni Ibarra and Jessie Ke. See story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_08_22_archive.html

    According to the county Planning Department's CDP team, "results of this survey will directly inform our direction moving forward; therefore, your participation is extremely important. It should only take about 10 minutes of your time." It asks that Kaʻū citizens "Please share this link with your network. Please be on the lookout for more information and opportunities for you to contribute to this effort as we seek to improve our community engagement practices. Mahalo for your participation!" With questions, contact cdp@hawaiicounty.gov.

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A HAWAI'I COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY report was recently published, and the state and county are looking for public input by the end of September.

     Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board, Inc. is under contract with the state Office of Planning & Sustainable Development and the U.S. Department of  Commerce's Economic Development Administration to develop the plan.

     The Vision section of the plan states: "Building upon Hawai'i County's healthy pre-pandemic economy, we strive to develop a more vibrant, sustainable economy; improve resilience to systemic shocks; identify and foster opportunities of shared prosperity for Hawai'i Countys diverse Communities."

    The study identifies common themes and trends: Affordability, Cost of Living, Poverty; Diversification; Education & Workforce Development; Housing, Infrastructure; Innovation & Technology; Labor Force Shortages; and Water.

     The study says the authors recognize "Hawai'i's geographic isolation supports an economy based on 'local' industry sectors and human capital." It identified ten key sectors and industry clusters: Agriculture & Food Systems; Astronomy & Technology; Creative Arts & Industries; Education, Knowledge Creation & Workforce Development; Energy & Resiliency; Environment & Climate Change; Government; Health & Wellness; and Hospitality & Tourism.

     The 110-page report has numerous charts regarding affordability in Hawai'i County, as well as a list of the types of jobs and average earnings.

     Its also discusses the future of such industries as agriculture, saying its threats include: farmers and ranchers aging out of the industry; cost of living and doing business; housing; invasive species and pests; ideology and misinformation and disinformation regarding science data; over regulation; labor shortages; shipping and transportation challenges; climate change; cost of land and more.

    There is also a section on economic impact of the telescopes on Maunakea.

    See the entire document at  https://planning.hawaii.gov/spb/ceds/. Send comments via email to hi.ceds2022@gmail.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

      
HELPING HAWAI'I SMALL BUSINESSES EXPAND INTO OVERSEAS MARKETS is the aim of $500 K approved by congress. According to Sen. Mazie Hirono, a member of the Senate Small Business Committee, over the past decade, the funding has provided more than $5 million for Hawai'i, supporting creation of more than 900 jobs. The half million dollars will go to the state Department of Business & Economic Development through the U.S. Small Business Administration's State Trade Expansion Program.

    Hirono recently hosted national SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman to visit small businesses in Hawai'i and organizations that support them. She said over the last decade the program enabled Hawai'i small businesses generate over $80 million in new exports and hundreds of jobs. 

    She noted that only 1 percent of America's more than 30 million small businesses export their products and services because they often lack the relationships and expertise necessary to secure business in the global marketplace.
    Congress created STEP in 2010 to increase opportunities for small businesses to engage in international trade. The program awards grants to state economic development agencies so they can help small businesses attend international trade shows and connect with customers in foreign markets. The grants also allow economic development agencies to provide counseling and training to help small businesses understand the rules of international trade.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HAWAI'I COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY KELDEN WALTJEN DISAGREES WITH A STATE SUPRME COURT DECISION issued this week and is taking his concerns to the governor and to the Hawai'i Legislature. Waltjen issued this statement on Thursday:

     “Today, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court released its opinion in State v. Richard Obrero, which determined

Prosecuting Attorney Kelden  Waltjen disagrees with a Hawai'i Supreme Court decision.

that Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 801-1 precludes the State from initiating felony prosecutions by way of complaint and preliminary hearing. Our Office is extremely disappointed in the Court’s decision in Obrero. 

    "This decision contradicts established criminal law practices and procedures which have been in place in Hawai‘i for the past forty years. It also disregards the intent of voters, interferes with law enforcement, and jeopardizes public safety. The decision impedes the commencement of criminal proceedings in arrest and charge situations for serious cases, including but not limited to murder, kidnapping, robbery, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and sexual assault. 

    "As a result, offenders may be released until prosecutors are able to proceed via information charging or schedule a grand jury presentation. To make matters worse, not all criminal charges are eligible to be initiated via information charging and opportunities for grand jury presentation are limited. 

    "Here on Hawai‘i Island, we are only afforded grand jury opportunities three times a month—twice per month in Hilo and once per month in Kona. Our Office agrees with the dissenting opinion of Chief Justice Rectenwald, which provides in relevant part that the ‘fact remains that the Majority today reaches a result that neither the legislature nor the electorate ever intended.’ I have reached out to our Hawai‘i State lawmakers and the Governor for their assistance to expedite the amendment of Section 801-1 to limit the adverse effects of Obrero. This decision will not deter our Office from seeking justice for victims and working toward making Hawai‘i Island a safer place.”

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Trojan girls stood up to Division 2 team Hilo  High on Friday. Photo by Julia Neal

KA'Ū TROJANS STOOD UP TO HILO HIGH IN GIRLS
VOLLEYBALL Friday in home games. Coach Josh Ortega noted that Kaʻū was responsible for recovering the ball in a series of "incredible digs." Principal Sharon Beck said she was impressed that the JV and Varsity teams never gave up and noted that Hilo, a Division 1 team, probably didn't expect the Ka'u Division 2 team to play so amazingly well. In the end, Trojans JV's lost. Varsity lost to Hilo 16-25, 17-25 and 19 25, but Trojans remain undefeated in Division 1 play.

     The games were well attended at Kaʻū District gym, with families driving the Hilo players out to Pahala for the event.

    For Football, Kaʻū travels to Kohala this Saturday, with start time at 1 p.m.

    In Cross Country, Kaʻū goes to Kamehameha on Saturday for an islandwide track event that begins at 9 a.m.

    For Bowling, Kaʻū travels to Kona bowl this Saturday for an all schools event at 9:05 a.m.

    Riflery competition this Saturday sees Kaʻū traveling to Kamehameha School in Kea'au for an all island event beginning at 10 a.m.