Kaʻū News Briefs April 10, 2024

Kaunāmano stewardship is the subject of a public input meeting at Kahuku Ranch Cabins on Saturday, April 20. RSVP at tinyurl.com/kaunamano. Photo from Ala Kahaki Trail Association

IN ADVANCE OF ATTENDING THE PUBLIC INPUT SESSION ON KAUNĀMANO stewardship with the meeting set for Saturday, April 20, Nohopapa Hawai'i is asking for completion of a short RSVP form. It can be filled out at tinyurl.com/kaunamano, in order for the organization to estimate expected attendance.
    The open-house talk story is to share background information on the process and schedule fo the Stewardship Plan for Kaunāmano, gather mana'o on the cultural and natural resources to preserve and protect Kaunamano, share areas of potential concern relating to the resources, and share mana'o on opportunities for future stewardship.
    The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kahuku Ranch Cabins in the Koa building. Light pupus and drinks will be provided. With questions, contact info@nohopapa.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.

HAWAI'I IS RANKED SEVENTH GREENEST STATE by WalletHub, With Earth Day around the corner and the U.S. having experienced $92.9 billion in damage from weather and climate disasters during 2023, WalletHub made the announcement this week and said it aims to showcase the states that best protect the environment.
    WalletHub compared the 50 states in terms of 25 key metrics that speak to the current health of the environment and residents' environmental-friendliness.         The data set ranges from green buildings per capita to the share of energy consumption from renewable resources. Hawai'i ranked first in Soil Quality and Water Quality, second in the least Gasoline Consumption per Capita, and third in the least Energy Consumption per Capita.
    The Greenest States overall are California, followed by Vermont, New York, Maryland, Washington, Minnesota, Hawai'i, Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For the full report, visit:https://wallethub.com/edu/greenest-states/11987.

LIMITS ON SIX FOREVER CHEMICALS IN DRINKING WATER have been established by the Environmental Protection Agency. For the first time, EPA established maximum allowable levels of some Polyfluoralkyl substances or PFAS, the "forever chemicals." They were first manufactured in the 1940s

to waterproof and stainproof products. The chemicals are linked to cancers, liver damage, high cholesterol and other ailments. EPA is requiring water utilities to check for the chemicals in drinking water and remove when exceeding EPA limits. With an annual estimated cost of some $1.5 billion, the federal government has promised to assist with the funding.
    The six chemicals are PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA (GenX), and PFBS. They are found in carpets, rugs, upholstery, food packaging, cookware, makeup, cleaning ingredients, firefighting foam and much more.

HONOLULU HAS THE BIGGEST INFLATION PROBLEM, followed by Miami, according to a study by WalletHub released this week. Inflation, particularly in housing costs, has led to some residents fleeing to outer island places like Kaʻū to buy some of the least expensive properties in the state. However, prices have been going up quickly, with multiple prospective buyers bidding up sales prices higher than the asking prices.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands.

HAWAI'I PUBLIC RADIO'S spring membership campaign kicked off Wednesday on HPR-1 and HPR-2 across broadcast and online streaming platforms. Financial contributions from the community make up 94 percent of the station's $7.4 million operating budget statewide. "Funding from listener contributions and local sponsorships provide critical resources for HPR's in-depth news, talk and music programs, as well as the broadcast and digital infrastructure to deliver these programs to the public," says the HPR announcement.
    HPR's stated that its "primary goal for this campaign is to grow its membership base, which provides a steady, predictable revenue stream that allows the statewide station to plan for future growth. Automatic monthly donations from HPR members are the preferred way to support the local, nonprofit, noncommercial, community-owned radio service. Tax-deductible contributions can start at $10 a month.
    "Community support makes it possible for HPR to further invest in content that listeners rely on. While newsrooms across the country are shrinking, the HPR news team is expanding to bolster its commitment to statewide and global coverage." In July, HPR hired its first full-time reporter based in Maui County, longtime Moloka'i Dispatcheditor Catherine Cluett Pactol. On the music side, HPR welcomed a new contributing host to Bridging the Gap, Jeffery Ryan Long.
    HPR reportst that "HPR supporters are assured that their contributions will be used wisely. For 11 consecutive times, HPR has earned a four-star rating, the highest possible, from Charity Navigator, the country's largest independent evaluator of nonprofits. This sustained top score is an indicator of HPR's transparency and fiscal accountability, and assures donors that their contributions will be used wisely. Only 4percent of charities evaluated receive this sustained top rating."
    The campaign is scheduled to conclude at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 19. Donations may be made online at members.hawaiipublicradio.org or by calling 888-536-4700.