Ka`u News Briefs Monday, April 27, 2015

      More than $7,200 in scholarships was donated by businesses, public officials and community organizations.
      Miranda won the Talent trophy playing piano, accompanied by a show of photographs of Ka`u Coffee farms on stage. Ka`u Coffee farmers Annabelle and Franklin Orcino presented the trophy and $500 in scholarships with $250 from Ka`u Specialty Coffee and Malian Lahey, $150 from County Council member Maile David and $100 from Pahala Plantation Cottages and Julia Neal.
      Miranda won the Evening Wear and Speech trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Maile and Efren Abellera. She earned $500 in scholarships, with $250 from state Sen. Josh Green and $250 from state Rep. Richard Onishi.
      Vivien Santos won Miss Congeniality, with trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Maria and Roberto Miranda, with a $250 scholarship from Rep. Richard Creagan.
      Joyce Ibasan won the Miss Photogenic trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Verna and Milton Dacalio and a $250 scholarship from Sen. Russell Ruderman. Ibasan also won the Miss Popularity trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Jackie and Leonardo Castaneda.
      Third Miss Ka`u Coffee Princess Jennifer Tabios took home a trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Herme and Leo Norberte and $700 in scholarships, with $600 from Friends and Family of the late Bobby Tucker and $100 from an anonymous donor in honor of the late Leiani Camba-Penera and Zaileah.
      Second Miss Ka`u Coffee Princess Vivien Santos received her crown from Pageant Director Nalani Parlin and Ka`u Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi and a trophy from Lorie Obra. She received $900 in scholarships, with $500 from the Ka`u Coffee Festival Committee; $350 from Bio-Eco Hawai`i, Inc., presented by Francisco Lobos; and $50 from Damian Eatinger.
      First Miss Ka`u Coffee Princess Joyce Ibasan received her crown from Miss Ka`u Coffee Pageant Chair Gloria Camba and Roger Kaiwi, of Hawai`i Coffee Co., with a trophy from Ka`u Coffee farmer Rogelio Aquino. She received $1,500 in scholarships, with $1,000 from Hawai`i Coffee Co., presented by Roger Kaiwi and $500 from Ka`u Royal Hawaiian Coffee & Tea, LLC presented by Tyler Johansen.

      Miss Ka`u Coffee Queen Maria Miranda received her crown from Miss Ka`u Coffee 2014 Amery Silva and Edmund C. Olson, with a trophy presented by Ka`u Coffee farmers Trini and Francis Marques and a scepter presented by Miss Peaberry 2014 Madison Okimoto. Her $2,500 in scholarships: $1,000 presented by Sammy Stanbro and Olson Trust; $500 from CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union, presented by Lester “Mako” Okazaki; $500 from Pacific Quest; $250 from Punalu`u Bake Shop, presented by Connie Koi; and $250 from Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, presented by Donna Masaniai.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY elected a new chairman at its annual convention Saturday. Hilo resident Phil Barnes’ agenda includes engaging more young people in the political process. According to Nancy Cook Lauer, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald, Barnes also wants to bring videoconferencing of state meeting to neighbor islands.
      Barnes has lived in Hawai`i since 1998. Prior to moving, he lead Alaska’s political action committee for the National Education Association.

Activity at Kilauea's summit lava lake, which continues to rise in Halema`uma`u, is attracting crowds to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from HVO

      Barnes replaces David Tarnas, who oversaw the process of replacing Ka`u’s state Rep. Denny Coffman when he resigned. In January 2014, the party sent three nominees to Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who appointed Na`alehu resident Richard Creagan to the position.
      See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KILAUEA’S LAVA LAKE LEVEL CONTINUES to rise as the summit slowly inflates. Inflation started on Tuesday, April 21. The lake rose to about seven feet below the floor of Halema`uma`u Crater this morning. Also, according to Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, seismic activity beneath Kilauea’s summit and upper East Rift Zone remains elevated. 

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

HAWAI`I STATE LAWMAKERS are holding conferences to finalize bills passed by the House and Senate prior to adjournment on Thursday, May 7. 

      Sen. Josh Green said, “As we head down the home stretch of the 2015 legislative session, I’ll be focused on reforming our community hospital system, providing insurance for people with autism, finalizing details for a medical marijuana dispensary program that will work for all of Hawai`i’s patients and several bills that enhance our society’s safety net.
      “Thank you all for your commitment to Hawai`i and to people everywhere who need a little extra help to make it.”
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE, Joe Souki, has asked to hear from farmers on all islands who are interested in growing hemp.
      “We need all farmers who want to grow hemp to send an email to  Souki now,” said Hemp Working Group Chair Denise Key, with Hawai`i Farmers Union United. “We must convince Speaker Souki that there is farmer support. It is up to our farmers to decide the fate of this bill, as it should be.”
      “We are at a Do-or-Die moment for industrial hemp bill HB 508. The House of Representatives needs to know that there are farmers who are interested in collaborating with University of Hawai`i to expand the research they have started for seed development and/or using industrial hemp seed as animal feed.
      According to Key, House Ag Committee Chair Clift Tsuji would like to remove the hemp language from HB 508. The bill calls for authorizing the growing of industrial hemp for certain purposes under specified conditions and appropriates funds for Department of Agriculture staff to implement the qualified feed developer grant program and assist in registration of industrial hemp growers and seed testing.

      It also would establish within the livestock revitalization program a grant program for qualified producers of certain products and feed developers and appropriate funds for the feed developer grant program, reimbursements to qualified producers and feed developers for feed cost, assistance to feed developers in the planning and construction of feed mills and a survey of local feed ingredient sources.
      The bill has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Testimony emails need to be received by tomorrow by 3:30 p.m. to be considered at the meeting.
      Contact Souki at repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov or 808-586-6100.
      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.