Ka` News Briefs Sunday, March 29, 2015

Preliminary results are in from yesterday's Sanctuary Ocean Count of humpback whales. Photo from wayfaring.info

COTTAGE FOOD OPERATIONS are considered by the state House of Representatives tomorrow. SB 379 would require cottage food operators who produce non-potentially hazardous food products in a home or farm kitchen for direct sale to consumers to obtain a cottage food operation permit from the Department of Health.

Any cottage food product produced by a cottage food operation would have to be labeled as a cottage food product. The label must be displayed in a conspicuous place on the principal display area of the packaging or container and shall the words “Made in a Home or Farm Kitchen” and identify any allergens contained in the product.

Greg Smith, of Earth Matters Farm on South Point Road, submitted testimony
on a cottage food operations bill. Photo by Ron Johnson

Greg Smith, owner of Earth Matters Farm and president of Ka`u Farmers Union United, submitted testimony in support of the measure. “As an organic farmer on the Big Island, the need for value added products from my farm is crucial to keeping the farm income flowing,” Smith wrote. “I live out in the country, where finding someone to rent the kitchen is almost unheard of, and if you find a (certified) kitchen it is expensive. My wife is a certified master canner and preserver. She is so diligent with her canning safety measures for our Community Supported Agriculture customers that her kitchen is cleaner than the certified one she uses for our farmers market sales. To be able to do everything in one location, at home, would be a step in right direction. Please pass this bill for all of the creative value added folks in Hawai`i.”
Hawai`i Department of Health opposes the measure because “a comprehensive food safety regulation was recently adopted that incorporates the most current science in controlling risk factors known to cause foodborne illness,” according to DOH’s testimony. “The measure amends HRS 328 and conflicts with and creates confusion with existing Hawai`i Administrative Rules which currently regulate the food industry. HAR Chapter 50, Food Safety Code, already provides the Home-Made food industry the opportunity to produce non-potentially hazardous foods (i.e., cookies, breads, jams, etc.) from their homes for direct sales to consumers.
Testimony from The Kohala Center addresses DOH’s concerns. Regarding food safety, “the bill draws upon cottage food laws and regulations from across the nation and incorporates measures to control risk factors known to cause foodborne illness by recommending food safety training, product testing, kitchen inspections and food handling rules.”
Regarding current regulations, “the bill goes beyond the current Food Safety Code and creates a system for cottage food producers to sell non-potentially hazardous foods, including acidified foods, to retailers such as restaurants and hotels, provided that producers consent to kitchen inspections, undergo sufficient training, and, for certain foods, submit their products for testing,” according to The Kohala Center.
Ka`u residents can read the bill and testimony, as well as provide testimony, at capitol.hawaii.gov.
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T-shirt sales support Sanctuary Ocean Counts.

MORE THAN 600 VOLUNTEERS GATHERED data from the shores of Hawai`i Island, O`ahu and Kaua`i during the final event of the 20th Anniversary Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. The most whales volunteers saw in Ka`u were at Ka Lae, with three seen in each of three separate 15-minute time periods.

The count, conducted three times per year during peak whale season, is a shore-based census that provides snapshot data on humpback whales. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals’ surface behavior during the survey.
Volunteers collected data from 57 sites statewide. A total of 160 whales were seen during the 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period throughout yesterday’s count. The sites that reported the highest average number of humpback whales were predominantly located within sanctuary boundaries.
Varying weather conditions made for a unique experience at each of the project sites. Many Kaua`i volunteers enjoyed calm weather and clear visibility. Several Hawai`i Island and O`ahu sites were faced with rough seas, white caps and passing squalls.

“For 20 years, the Sanctuary Ocean Count has proven to be a fun volunteer activity for residents and visitors,” said Sanctuary Superintendent Malia Chow. “It also provides important population and distribution information on humpback whales around the Hawaiian Islands that we use to better understand and protect this important species.”
Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location is available at http://www.sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources/.
Additional information and T-shirt sales to support the program are available on the sanctuary’s website at http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
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Hui Panalau colonists onboard the Itasca helped secure and establish jurisdiction
of the United States over remote Pacific Ocean islands.
Photo from University of Hawai`i-Manoa

HAWAI`I’S U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION has introduced resolutions in the Senate and House of Representatives acknowledging and honoring young men from Hawai`i, the majority of whom were Native Hawaiian, who participated in the Equatorial Pacific colonization project. The efforts of these young men, also known as the Hui Panala`au colonists, helped secure and establish jurisdiction of the United States over equatorial islands in the Pacific Ocean during the years leading up to and the months immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the entry of the United States into World War II.
“Recognizing these young men for their service to our country is long overdue,” said Sen. Brian Schatz. “Nearly eight decades ago, during a pivotal time in our nation’s history, these men risked their lives and helped secure territorial jurisdiction over the key remote islands of Jarvis, Howland and Baker. This resolution honors the brave efforts of these young colonists and pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

James Carroll was a member
of Hui Panala`au.
Photo from Bishop Museum

Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “During my time as a member of Congress, I have had the opportunity to learn about the Hui Panala`au colonists, and as a member of the House of Representatives, I joined with the Hawai`i Congressional delegation in introducing a resolution to acknowledge and honor these young men on behalf of the United States. I was struck by how brave these young men had been while living on the remote islands of Howland, Baker and Jarvis. The work of the Hui Panala`au colonists was important, and their stories are riveting and heartbreaking. My condolences go out to the families who lost loved ones in this initiative all those years ago. I look forward to again working with my colleagues in the delegation to help these men and their families achieve the recognition they deserve.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, “We celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of the Hui Panala`au colonists... . More than 130 of these young men, a majority of whom were Native Hawaiian, participated in this project; some of them lost their lives representing our nation during their service, particularly in the years leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is time for our government to recognize the accomplishments of these brave souls, few of whom are still alive today, and honor the memory of those who are no longer with us.”
Throughout the seven years of colonization of the islands, 130 men joined the effort and risked their lives. Today, there are three known surviving colonists in Hawai`i.
“Although precious few of us remain, it is gratifying to know that the Hawai`i delegation is united in an effort to gain acknowledgment of our deeds and to honor the ultimate sacrifices made by the members of the Hui Panala`au,” said surviving Jarvis Island colonist Paul Phillips, 93. “It has been a long time coming, and I hope I live to see the day when the Hui Panala`au receive the recognition that they so honorably deserve.”

George Kahanu Photo from
Bishop Museum

Noelle Kahanu said, “As a granddaughter of one of the last surviving colonists, George Kahanu, I want to thank Sens. Schatz and Hirono and Reps. Takai and Gabbard for introducing resolutions to acknowledge the accomplishments and sacrifices of more than 130 brave young men of Hawai`i whose collective actions enabled President Roosevelt to claim these remote islands in the Pacific. It has been 80 years since this fledgling group of young Hawaiians, all recent graduates of Kamehameha Schools, set sail for these distant islands, representing their families, their schools, their communities and ultimately, their country.”
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KA`U LEARNING ACADEMY SCREENS THE FILM Secrets of the Mummy Dinosaur today at 6:15 p.m. at the charter school’s Discovery Harbour campus. Following the video, KLA Managing Director Joe Iacuzzo, one of the show’s producers, gives a talk on the role Thomas Jefferson played in the fossil history of America.
KLA begins teaching grades three through six in the 2015-2016 school year.
For more information, call 213-1097.

KA`U FARM BUREAU MEETS tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Election of officers is on the agenda, along with a guest speaker. For more information, email ralph@rustyshawaiian.com.

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