Ka`u News Briefs June 16, 2013

RESULTS OF THE 56TH ANNUAL 4-H Livestock Show & Sale at Mealani Research Station in Waimea are in. Grand Champion in the Market Beef category was Blueberry, raised by Ka`u’s Kealia Galimba, 9. Reserve Champion Steer was Ambrose, raised by `Ua Alencastre-Galimba, 11, of Ka`u. Both are from Kuahiwi Ranch.

      KTA bought the grand champion steer for $4.70 per pound. Reserve steer brought in $4.20 per pound.
      Other results of judging by Jan Busboom, of Washington State University:

• Champion Market Hog: Cullen Andrade, 13, of Honoka`a; 
• Reserve Champion Market Hog: Micah Miranda, 12, of Waimea; 
• Grand Champion Market Lamb: Cullen Andrade; 
• Reserve Champion Market Lamb: Abigail Andrade, 10, of Honoka`a; 
• Grand Champion Market Goat: Kamuela Santa Maria, 11, of Hilo; 
• Reserve Champion Market Goat: Kawaiola Santa Maria, 13, of Hilo; 
• Grand Champion Poultry: Geronimo Enocencio, 9, of Hilo; 
• Reserve Champion Poultry: O2 Enocencio, 12, Hilo; 
• Rabbit entry first place: Mariah Byrd, 16, Pahoa. 

Showmanship:

• Junior Beef Showmanship: `Ua Galimba; 
• Junior Hog Showmanship: Micah Miranda; 
• Senior Hog Showmanship: Dylan Joaquin, 17, of Hilo; 
• Junior Lamb Showmanship: Cullen Andrade; 
• Senior Lamb Showmanship: Tony Connors, 17, of Paauilo; 
• Junior Goat Showmanship: Liana Stout, 11, of Honoka`a; 
• Senior Goat Showmanship: Dylan Joaquin; 
• Junior Poultry Showmanship: Maximus Enocencio, 10, of Hilo; 
• Senior Poultry Showmanship: Jaysha Alonzo-Estrada, 15, of Hilo.

      “I think this is a start, and hopefully we can do it in other sports in the future,” BIIF executive secretary Lyle Crozier told O’Rear. “It gives our fans a chance to watch state-caliber tournaments, and it gives our schools a chance to make money with the concession as well as cut down on travel costs.”
      O'Rear said that, under the pilot program, the state would keep regional gate receipts, and BIIF would keep concession monies. Crozier said the host school of the state tournament would be allowed to keep the money raised in the concession during the event.
      “The BIIF schools will be placed in a rotation system and each get a chance at some point to host the state tournament,” Crozier said. “It’s a good situation for the BIIF.”
      See more at hawaiitribune-herald.com.

HAWAI`I STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION released tax revenue statistics Friday. During the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, general excise tax revenue rose nearly 10 percent. The state had $2.7 billion in general excise tax receipts from July 2012 through the end of May, compared to $2.5 billion for the same 11 months of the previous fiscal year.
      Transient accommodations tax revenues from hotel rooms and other short-term accommodations increased 13 percent from the previous fiscal year, totaling $339 million.
      Individual income tax receipts were up 14 percent. 

HAWAI`I STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM Customer Satisfaction Survey will be conducted to obtain feedback from library users about collections and services from June 17 through July 31. The survey will help HSPLS identify areas where it can improve its services and better meet the needs of its communities. The customer satisfaction survey will also gather responses concerning online databases, e-Learning resources, eBooks/eAudio/eMusic collection and the Internet scheduling self-service system, which HSPLS needs for its annual Federal Library Services and Technology Act report. 

      “Your feedback is very important to us,” State Librarian Richard Burns said. “The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and will be available online at librarieshawaii.org and in paper version at all 50 libraries statewide.”

U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD HAS VOTED for final House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2014. The legislation authorizes more than $400 million for Hawai`i defense priorities and contains other measures strongly supported by Gabbard. The bill passed the House by a vote of 315-108. 

      “This bipartisan Defense authorization bill provides good jobs in Hawai`i and ensures Hawai`i’s significant role in our national security strategy and rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region,” said Gabbard. “The legislation includes key provisions to responsibly end the war in Afghanistan and honor our commitments to those courageous Iraqi and Afghan civilians, such as essential combat interpreters, who risked their own lives and the safety of their families to serve alongside our troops. I was pleased to see that our missile defense has been allocated the resources necessary to create a strong deterrence and defensive capability to protect Hawai`i and the mainland United States.”
      Gabbard has pledged to continue working to ensure that Hawai`i’s priorities and other critical provisions are included in the final House-Senate conference bill that is expected to pass later this year.

KA `OHANA O HONU`APO’S FATHER’S DAY EVENT takes place this afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event features musicians on stage, sales of food, beverages and shave ice, and a shady tent to enjoy Honu`apo Park on Father’s Day. The Pork in the Park barbecue contest has been postponed due to lack of participation. For more information, call Lehua Lopez-Mau at 929-9891.

VOLCANO ART CENTER’S NI`AULANI CAMPUS in Volcano Village hosts Tea for Fathers & Daughters/Mothers & Sons Tuesday at 2 p.m. The menu at this special tea to celebrate children, mothers and fathers and grandparents includes finger sandwiches, salad, scones, desserts and a special tea favor all for $15 per person. Reservations are required by tomorrow. Contact JoAnn Aguirre at teaquiero@yahoo.com or 982-7691.