Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, Aug 3, 2014

      Regular voting will be this Saturday on Primary Election Day from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano, Ka`u High School & Pahala Elementary School Cafeteria, Na`alehu School Cafeteria, Ocean View Community Center and Miloli`i Halau.
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Bill Kaneko

CAMPAIGNS FOR HAWAI`I’S LEADING DEMOCRATIC gubernatorial candidates have opposing views of polls recently released that show Sen. David Ige with a comfortable lead over incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The statewide voter survey by Hawai`i News Now and Honolulu Star-Advertiser shows Ige with a 54 percent to 36 percent lead over Abercrombie.
      “We don’t believe it for a second,” Abercrombie’s campaign manager Bill Kaneko said. “We’ve been polling, too, and our results have us tied. That means the entire election boils down to a race to drive voter turnout in the final days of the campaign.
      “We must finish strong and ensure our friends, family, and supporters show up to vote. We’re continuing to build momentum with each passing day, and victory is in reach. Thousands of people like you across the islands are joining the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and President Barack Obama in support of Neil Abercrombie.”
      Ige said the poll “confirms that with your hard work our campaign message is being heard. … This is a great boost for all of us, and I urge you to keep talking to your family and friends over the next six days and remind them to vote.
      “As I have said as each new poll has come out this election season, ‘The only poll that counts is on election day.’
      “Working together, we continue to move forward for Hawai`i. I am honored by the outpouring and generosity of my supporters’ time, and I ask you to stay strong this final week to ensure our efforts equate to victory on Saturday, Aug. 9.”
      For more on the campaigns, see neilabercrombie.com and davidige.org.

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ISELLE IS NOW A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE with maximum sustained winds near 115 miles per hour and higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected the rest of today, reports the National Hurricane Center, and gradual weakening is forecast to begin by Monday.
      Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles.
      Iselle, now about 1,675 miles from Hilo, is moving toward the west near 10 miles per hour, and this motion is expected to continue through tonight. A decrease in forward speed is expected Monday and Monday night.
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KA`U RESIDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE in county government meetings this week via videoconferencing at Ocean View Community Center.
      Committee meetings take place Tuesday, with Governmental Relations & Economic Development at 8:30 a.m.; Public Works and Parks & Recreation, 10 a.m.; and Finance Committee, 10:30 a.m. The committees meet at council chambers in Hilo.
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LEHUA COURT PROFESSIONAL AND RETAIL PLAZA in Ocean View comes before Hawai`i County Council Wednesday. The project received favorable recommendations from the Windward Planning Commission and Hawai`i County Planning Committee. The property is on the mauka side of Hwy 11 and connects with Lehua Lane and Keaka Parkway.
      The applicant, William C. Foulk, is seeking to change the site’s zoning from Agricultural to Village Commercial. The 4.143-acre site would be developed with 54,000 square feet of commercial space and another 12,500 square feet of open, landscaped area for periodic craft fairs, thespian events and public gatherings.
      The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at Council Chambers in Hilo.
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HAWAI`I ISLAND IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST earthquake hazard areas in the country, according to the latest issue of Volcano Watch. U.S. Geological Survey made the claim in a story published in newspapers across the country on July 18 to announce the release of its National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project’s updated seismic hazards map of the conterminous 48 states.
      Hawaiian Volcano Observatory assisted in a FEMA-sponsored project to measure geophysical properties that influence strong shaking, such as that recorded in 2006 during the Kiholo Bay and Mahukona events (magnitudes 6.7 and 6.0, respectively). Two subsequent USGS-supported research projects developed equations for predicting strong ground shaking in Hawai`i from future damaging earthquakes here.
      “The uses of these research results extend beyond probabilistic seismic-hazards mapping,” the article states. “A ground-motion prediction equation from one of these studies in 2010 has been incorporated into the USGS ShakeMap utility. ShakeMaps have proven themselves useful in both post-event assessments and earthquake-scenario planning.
      “As one of the USGS’s volcano observatories, HVO dedicates its seismic-monitoring efforts to the abundant microseismicity accompanying active volcanic processes culminating in eruptions. Because it maintains the largest USGS seismic-monitoring network in Hawai`i, HVO is also responsible for cataloging all significant earthquakes in the state.
      “The USGS performance assessment after the 2006 Kiholo Bay and Mahukona earthquakes led to significant upgrades to both HVO’s infrastructure for seismic data analysis and its field network of instruments. Since initial installation and implementation, these continue to offer improved capabilities.”
      Plans for updating the hazards maps for Alaska and Hawai`i are underway.
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER PRESENTS a County Council District Six candidate forum tomorrow at 6 p.m. Richard Abbett, Maile Medeiros David and Jim Wilson participate in this final forum before the primary election Saturday, Aug. 9.
      Call 939-7033 for more information.

Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park is the site of Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park's next Volunteer Forest Restoration Project. Photo from FHVNP

TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER for Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park’s Forest Restoration Project on Friday, Aug. 8. Volunteers remove invasive plants in a kipuka of native `ohi`a forest with a mix of other native trees and understory. The project takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kahuku Unit.
      Register at forest@fhvnp.org or 352-1402.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life Tuesday. AWalk into the Past programs take place every other Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
      Free; park entrance fees apply.

EARTH MATTERS FARMS HOLDS A COMMUNITY POTLUCK two weeks from today on Sunday, Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gail and Greg Smith provide green salad and chili made from local grass fed beef. They request that everyone bring a side dish or a dessert of some type appropriate for a local foodie event. “We will be having local food products for sale; bring your shopping bag!” said Gail Smith.
      Guest speakers include Vince Mina, President of the Hawai`i Farm Union, Greg Smith and Ken Love, well known food activist.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.