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| Jacob Satterwhite in his home near Ha'ao Springs. Hurricane Hone'sintrusion brought mud and rocks into the house. Photo by Mariah Satterwhite |
THE HOBBIT HOUSE FAMILY is digging out from the flood that sent rocks and dirt through their home near Ha'ao Springs in Wai‘ōhinu on Sunday. Offers are coming in to help them.
Jacob Satterwhite, who sells his Jacob's Ladder honey at the 'O Ka'ū Kākou Farmers Market on |
| Sharon Mastandrea and her son Jacob Satterwhite, whose home near Ha'ao Springs was invaded by a wall of rocks and earth during Hurricane Hone. A GoFundMe is at https://gofund.me/d8c82902 . Jacob is a beekeeper and honey merchant who will be at OKK Market in Nāʻālehu Friday and Wednesday. Photo by Mariah Satterwhite |
Wednesdays and Fridays, said he will be there this week and hopes folks can help by buying more of his honey, offerinfg a donation, or putting together a volunteer group to help them dig out.
Satterwhite said he woke up to an explosive sound at about 3 a.m. Sunday. He saw water hitting the window of his bathroom and shooting through the sides of a door in his main room. He said he grabbed important papers and ran them upstairs, but when he returned, he had to break open a door with a crowbar to get in, the water and mud rising from two inches to three feet within minutes.
Satterwhite said he rescued his bottled honey from the flood and fortunately, the water, rocks and dirt flowed around his beehives that remain intact.
His mother Sharon Mastandrea, 78, lives there too. She has been in Ka'ū for almost a decade. Mastandrea is known for her roadside cleanups while exercising in the Green Sands community. Over time, she built a community around helping keep the roadsides clean. Her volunteer work extended to Green Sands park, which she helped bring back into play.
"She is always there for the community, and always optimistic that something better is going to result during challenges," said her eldest son John Satterwhite, of Montana. He owns the adjacent property, where the river of mud cut through to his mother's land and home.
Satterwhite said he rescued his bottled honey from the flood and fortunately, the water, rocks and dirt flowed around his beehives that remain intact.
His mother Sharon Mastandrea, 78, lives there too. She has been in Ka'ū for almost a decade. Mastandrea is known for her roadside cleanups while exercising in the Green Sands community. Over time, she built a community around helping keep the roadsides clean. Her volunteer work extended to Green Sands park, which she helped bring back into play.
"She is always there for the community, and always optimistic that something better is going to result during challenges," said her eldest son John Satterwhite, of Montana. He owns the adjacent property, where the river of mud cut through to his mother's land and home.
The Mastandrea/Satterwhite family bought the Hobbit House from Bill Whalen who operated it as a bed and breakfast for many years, gaining a reputation for its unusual architecture and hospitality.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family at https://gofund.me/d8c82902
To volunteer to clean up, call 406-560-0912 or 406-560-2358,
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family at https://gofund.me/d8c82902
To volunteer to clean up, call 406-560-0912 or 406-560-2358,
A county crew was working on Ha'ao Springs Road on Monday and Tuesday to clear it from debris and to help other home and landowners as well. Mastandrea said a neighbor's home was isolated when the same gully that flooded her house cut across their land, blocking their access.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
Information reported to police dispatch was that a male party was in the area attempting to break up dogs that were fighting. However, another caller reported seeing a male party abusing his dogs. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a medium size black colored canine was deceased and laying in the middle of the roadway. The animal appeared to have several puncture wounds to the right side of its body. This same male party was observed by a witness to be kicking the dog minutes before the dog’s body was found.
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| Robert Harris charged with Animal Cruelty in First Degree. Photo from HPD |
As a result of the investigation, the male party, identified as 64-year old Robert Harris of Ocean View, was arrested. He was also found to have a marijuana smoking pipe in his possession.
Upon conferring with a Deputy Prosecutor, Harris was later charged with Animal Cruelty in the First Degree, Promotion of a Detrimental Drug in the Third Degree and Drug Paraphernalia. His bail was set at $5000.00
He was scheduled to make his first court appearance at Kona District court on Monday.
HPD is asking that anyone who has information regarding this incident to please call Officer Taylor Au at (808) 939-2520 or the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar
. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
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| Sensei Alan Moores, left. Photo from Dojo |
He has over 50 years martial arts experience in Aikido and Karate and has attended training with three of the direct students of Morihei Ueshiba ,founder of Aikido, including Yamada Sensei 8th Dan, Kanai Sensei 8th Dan and Akira Tohei Sensei 8th Dan.
Moores said he is looking forward to teaching the current students and is accepting new student enrollment, ages 7 to adult. Classes will be 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Sensei will also offer for the first time Class 65+,specifically designed for seniors on Fridays – 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
All classes are provided free of charge. To register call:Sensei Moores @ 808-295-9677 0r by email: artbyalan2011@gmail.com
WITH TRAFFIC FATALITIES NEARLY DOUBLE OVER THIS TIME LAST YEAR, Hawai’i Police Department is strongly urging residents and visitors to drive safely this Labor Day weekend with its annual public awareness campaign Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. As part of the campaign, patrol officers in Ka‘ū, the largest district on island, sign waved on Tuesday and will do it again Sunday, Sept. 1 to remind motorists to drive safely.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Torey Keltner, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services program manager.
Expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints across Hawai‘i Island throughout the holiday weekend. “Our officers are committed to keeping our roads safe and will be actively monitoring for impaired drivers,” said Keltner.
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Nationwide, Labor Day weekend is particularly deadly, with 490 fatal traffic crashes during the three-day holiday in 2022, the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of those 490 traffic deaths, 39 percent involved a drunk driver. Locally, as of August 27, 2024, in Hawai’i County there have been 19 fatal crashes resulting in 21 fatalities with impairment by alcohol or drugs a factor in 63 percent of those deaths.
Hawai‘i Police Department offers the following driving tips for a safe holiday weekend:
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Torey Keltner, Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services program manager.
Expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints across Hawai‘i Island throughout the holiday weekend. “Our officers are committed to keeping our roads safe and will be actively monitoring for impaired drivers,” said Keltner.
Hawai‘i Police Department offers the following driving tips for a safe holiday weekend:
Before heading out, decide on a safe ride home. Use public transportation, rideshare services, or call a friend if you’re impaired.
If hosting an event, ensure your guests have access to safe transportation options.
Be aware of the consequences: drunk driving offenders face fines, license suspensions, and possible imprisonment.
If hosting an event, ensure your guests have access to safe transportation options.
Be aware of the consequences: drunk driving offenders face fines, license suspensions, and possible imprisonment.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone can enjoy their Labor Day Weekend without the fear of impaired drivers on the road,” said Keltner. “We ask for everyone’s cooperation in making smart, responsible choices.”
Those who see an impaired driver on the road, call 911.
Those who see an impaired driver on the road, call 911.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.
IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE HONE, county Department of Environmental Management's Wai'ōhinu Transfer Station will be open this Wednesday, August 28, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for solid waste disposal caused by the hurricane.
The county statement says, "This added day will accommodate the increased demand for waste disposal following the storm and ensure that residents have the ability to clear storm debris safely and efficiently. The Wai'ōhinu Station will maintain its regular Monday/Thursday/Saturday schedule. For more, see https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/facilities."
The county statement says, "This added day will accommodate the increased demand for waste disposal following the storm and ensure that residents have the ability to clear storm debris safely and efficiently. The Wai'ōhinu Station will maintain its regular Monday/Thursday/Saturday schedule. For more, see https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/facilities."
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