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| Diners at The Rim, the newly named restaurant at Volcano House Hotel in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, have a spectacular view of the glow from Halema`uma`u Crater. Photo from hawaiivolcanohouse.com |
The former name of the Volcano House Restaurant was Ka Ohelo.
The Rim is open daily for breakfast 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Uncle George’s Lounge, which keeps its traditional name, is open with all-day menu and drinks from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For reservations, call 756-9625.
Churchill also presented a photo on this morning’s television news of one of the 33 newly redecorated rooms at Volcano House.
The posted rates are $350 a night for deluxe Crater View Room, $335 for a Volcano Crater View Room, and $285 for a Rainforest View Room. A kama`aina rate is posted for $185 per night, and there are discounts for seniors and the military.
Cabins are also available at lower rates. See hawaiivolcanohouse.com for more on accommodations and menus. Aqua Resorts promises locally sourced food.
LONGS DRUG STORE CONSTRUCTION is ongoing at Pahala Shopping Center. Longs is expected to be open in July. The old Tex Drive-In restaurant, which later became PT Café, has been gutted, and Longs plans to install new flooring and fixed windows and siding for the air conditioning required for its establishment. Taylor Built Construction is one of the contractors on the project along with architectural and project management from mainland firms, including The Hatch Group, a contractor which oversees construction of facilities from Walgreens, CVS/Pharmacy which owns Longs to commercial buildings for Marriott, Hilton, Loew, Hyatt and Embassy Suite hotels to grocery stores like Vons, Ralphs and Albertson’s on the mainland.
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| George Applegate |
GEORGE APPLEGATE, a veteran visitor industry career man, retired on Friday from his post as executive director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau. He is succeeded by Ross Birch, who has marketed the Big Island for 20 years and most recently was manager of Makalei Golf Club.
Applegate, 66, started at the Naniloa Hotel in Hilo as a bellman, became a vice president of Big Island Tours and started with the Big Island Visitors Bureau in 1989 as director of sales and marketing. He held the directors position for some 13 years.
Applegate has formed George Applegate Consulting, LLC, based in Hilo, and will continue to work with the Hawai`i Visitors and Convention Bureau, according to various business news reports.
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HAWAIKI RISING: HOKULE`A, Nainoa Thompson and the Hawaiian Renaissance is the topic at tomorrow’s After Dark in the Park. In his new book, author Sam Low tells the story of the Polynesian sailing canoe, Hokule`a, in the words of the men and women who voyaged aboard it. Nainoa Thompson and his crew became the first Hawaiians to navigate the Pacific without charts or instruments in a thousand years. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.
Applegate has formed George Applegate Consulting, LLC, based in Hilo, and will continue to work with the Hawai`i Visitors and Convention Bureau, according to various business news reports.
THE INTERAGENCY HAWAI`I INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL has launched a new website highlighting the growing role the council plays in cabinet-level coordination on invasive species issues in Hawai`i.
The website, accessible directly at hisc.hawaii.gov or via the state’s upgraded hawaii.gov Web portal, places new emphasis on the actions of the HISC, including resolutions, funded research reports, and strategic plans.
“Collaboration across state departments has resulted in clear progress toward addressing the impacts of invasive species in the Islands,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “The new HISC website, which is part of our state’s effort to expand the use of hawaii.gov as a resource for user-friendly information about government programs and services, provides greater opportunity for the public to join in this effort by learning more about what each and every one of us can do to protect Hawai`i.”
“Collaboration across state departments has resulted in clear progress toward addressing the impacts of invasive species in the Islands,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “The new HISC website, which is part of our state’s effort to expand the use of hawaii.gov as a resource for user-friendly information about government programs and services, provides greater opportunity for the public to join in this effort by learning more about what each and every one of us can do to protect Hawai`i.”
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| HISC lists woodrose as an invasive species. |
HISC was created in 2003, when the Hawai`i State Legislature declared invasive species “the single greatest threat to Hawai`i’s economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawai`i’s people.”
HISC’s statutory authority mandates identification of state funds available for invasive species prevention, control, outreach and research and requires HISC to coordinate the state’s position on invasive species issues and provide advice to the governor and Legislature.
The website details how these funds have been spent, making final project reports and research results available for the entire eight-year history of the organization.
HISC has committed to providing more public education by utilizing its new website as a one stop shop for information on high-profile invasive species in Hawai`i, recent news regarding invasive species, and detailed reports for all projects funded via the HISC.
“Because invasive species have such a detrimental effect on critical things like our water and food security, we are committed to working across departments on this important issue,” said HISC co-chair William J. Aila, Jr. “But we also need the public’s help, especially in spotting pests like snakes and other plants and animals that don’t belong in Hawai`i. The new HISC website provides information on how to report a pest by phone or online.”
The website details how these funds have been spent, making final project reports and research results available for the entire eight-year history of the organization.
HISC has committed to providing more public education by utilizing its new website as a one stop shop for information on high-profile invasive species in Hawai`i, recent news regarding invasive species, and detailed reports for all projects funded via the HISC.
“Because invasive species have such a detrimental effect on critical things like our water and food security, we are committed to working across departments on this important issue,” said HISC co-chair William J. Aila, Jr. “But we also need the public’s help, especially in spotting pests like snakes and other plants and animals that don’t belong in Hawai`i. The new HISC website provides information on how to report a pest by phone or online.”
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC AND HAWAI`I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANIES hold a two-hour meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center to seek public comment on draft Five-Year Action Plans. The Action Plans are part of the Integrated Resource Planning process, which looks at how the utilities will meet future energy needs.
According to HEI, strategic themes of the plan are to lower customer bills, work toward a clean energy future, modernize the grid and address issues to create fairness to all customers.
The companies must consider whether the Resource Plans effectively ensure affordable electric rates, maintain service reliability, and accommodate expected increasing proportions of variable and/or intermittent generation resources.
According to the Public Utilities Commission, “The goal of integrated resource planning is to develop an Action Plan that governs how the utility will meet energy objectives and customer needs consistent with state energy policies and goals while providing safe and reliable utility service at a reasonable cost through development of Resource Plans and Scenarios of possible futures that provide a broader long-term perspective.”
Information about IRP, including the four energy scenarios that guided the planning analysis, is available at www.irpie.com, the website of the PUC’s independent representative facilitating and monitoring the process.
The completed analysis and Draft Action Plans are also available for public review on the website.
The companies must consider whether the Resource Plans effectively ensure affordable electric rates, maintain service reliability, and accommodate expected increasing proportions of variable and/or intermittent generation resources.
According to the Public Utilities Commission, “The goal of integrated resource planning is to develop an Action Plan that governs how the utility will meet energy objectives and customer needs consistent with state energy policies and goals while providing safe and reliable utility service at a reasonable cost through development of Resource Plans and Scenarios of possible futures that provide a broader long-term perspective.”
Information about IRP, including the four energy scenarios that guided the planning analysis, is available at www.irpie.com, the website of the PUC’s independent representative facilitating and monitoring the process.
The completed analysis and Draft Action Plans are also available for public review on the website.
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| Hawaiki Rising is the topic at After Dark in the Park tomorrow at 7 p.m. |
PAT SHUDAK, CEO OF SOLAR HUB UTILITIES, meets tomorrow with Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos residents to discuss the company’s plans to place solar panels on 20 HOVR lots. The meeting begins 4p.m. at the Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. building. A Facebook message from Kahuku Photography asks residents to come to the meeting to learn how this development will impact the neighborhood.
HAWAIKI RISING: HOKULE`A, Nainoa Thompson and the Hawaiian Renaissance is the topic at tomorrow’s After Dark in the Park. In his new book, author Sam Low tells the story of the Polynesian sailing canoe, Hokule`a, in the words of the men and women who voyaged aboard it. Nainoa Thompson and his crew became the first Hawaiians to navigate the Pacific without charts or instruments in a thousand years. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. $2 donations support park programs; park entrance fees apply.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.