Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, June 7, 2015

Bobby Gomes and the Pahala Kupuna hula group entertain for the new cookie kitchen grand opening at Punalu`u Bake Shop.
Photo by Julia Neal

A NEW COOKIE KITCHEN for Punalu`u Bake Shop opened to the public yesterday just off Highway 11 in Na`alehu. Fellowship, food and entertainment were on the agenda. Punalu`u Bake Shop recently grew its cookie baking business through contracts with Hawaiian Airlines and other buyers that require additional baking capacity, as the employment for Ka`u residents grew to a team of 40.

Robert Taylor, of Taylor Built Construction Co., Inc.; Arnie Koss, Managing
Partner of Punalu`u Bake Shop; General Manager Connie Koi; Architect
Lloyd Sueda; and owner Duane Kurisu. Photo by Pamela Taylor

The new building’s architect is Lloyd Sueda, of Sueda and Associates, and contractor is Bob Taylor, of Taylor-Built Construction Co., Inc. County Council member Maile Medeiros David presented a certificate from the council yesterday, commending Punalu`u Bake Shop for its steadily growing success and teamwork among employees and with the community.
Managing partner Arnie Koss called General Manager Connie Koi and her Administrative Assistant Bernay Lorenzo “the backbone of this place” and said they are vigilant in their pursuit for excellence. To sell its Punalu`u Sweetbread and numerous other products, Punalu`u Bake Shop recently took its island delivery in-house, with new vehicles, drivers and a local marketing manager, Koss noted.
Owner Duane Kurisu, who grew up in a sugar plantation camp, said “Ka`u is a special place.” He said that the addition of the cookie kitchen is another step in sharing the staff’s quality, care and “love with the world.”
Connie Koi also recognized the crew for the expansion of the business, with new state, mainland and international markets on the horizon. One by one, she named every employee in the business to thank them.

Ka`u's Hawai`i County Council member presented a proclamation
to Punalu`u Bake Shop and General Manager Connie Koi.
Photo by Ron Johnson

Music for the event was by Brad Llanes and Ti Chun. The Pahala Kupuna Hula group with Bobby Gomes performed, as did Punalu`u Bake Shop staff members Jolene Moses and Miss Ka`u Coffee 2013 Tiare-Lee Shibuya. Kahu Brian Borshard gave the blessing. Miss Ka`u Coffee 2015 Maria Miranda was on hand to welcome guests. Emcee was Punalu`u Bake Shop retail clerk Mandi Andrade.
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USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY is hosting scientists from New Zealand and Alaska who are studying volcanic impacts. The scientists are here to focus on impacts of three globally relevant volcanic hazards: volcanic ash, volcanic gas and lava flows. They are funded in part by a joint U.S.-New Zealand Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation that supports international partnerships to co-develop advances in research, science and technology.
The team includes USGS geologist Kristi Wallace from Alaska Volcano Observatory and her New Zealand counterparts: Graham Leonard, from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences; Carol Stewart, from Massey University; and Tom Wilson, from the University of Canterbury. All are part of an international working group on volcanic ash.

Manager Connie Koi, with emcee Mandi Andrade, introduced
Punalu`u Bake Shop employees serving food in the new
cookie kitchen. Photo by Ron Johnson

HVO scientists discuss the working group’s objectives in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
“The working group’s mission is to provide guidance to people, businesses and communities facing potential impacts from volcanic ash,” the article states. “They work in close cooperation with the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network to understand impacts of ash on agriculture, infrastructure, water supplies and human health. Surprisingly, there is very little rigorous documentation of the effects of ash on these critical aspects of human activities. The New Zealand government has made it possible for the team to travel to sites of recent explosive eruptions to study how people were impacted and how they coped.
“New Zealand scientists in the working group have also conducted novel laboratory experiments to examine the impact of ash-fall on common electronics like computers and air-conditioning units. Imagine, for example, a desktop computer in an enclosed chamber. Now flip the switch and blast some gritty, abrasive, slightly acidic volcanic ash of varying concentrations into the chamber to see how well the hard drive, power supply and fan continue to function. (It turns out that they are surprisingly resilient.)
“Even Kilauea and Mauna Loa have ash-producing eruptions from time to time, and the current activity at the summit of Kilauea occasionally sends small qualities of ash downwind. So, despite the team’s focus on recurring ash eruptions from charismatic stratovolcanoes such as Mt. St. Helens, Hawai`i and HVO will gain something from their efforts.

Miss Ka`u Coffee Maria Miranda and the big
dough mixer at Punalu`u Bake Shop's new
cookie factory. Photo by Julia Neal

“The second objective of this international team is to learn about the impacts of Kilauea Volcano’s June 27th lava flow and ongoing volcanic gas emissions on people, infrastructure and agriculture here in Hawai`i. As Puna residents know all too well, the June 27th lava flow buried a road, destroyed one house, partially inundated a new solid-waste transfer station and threatened utility poles. Meanwhile at the summit of Kilauea, volcanic gas emissions continue to spread over the Island of Hawai`i and indeed the entire state.
“The scientists are also interested in how people who call the Puna District home deal with the stresses related to living on one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The team will be meeting with representatives from business and government to gather insights into how communities and individuals cope with the threat of lava inundation.
“Hawai`i is a spectacular laboratory for studying the ways in which people try to live in harmony with volcanoes and other natural hazards. For two weeks, scientists will be looking for insights that they can share with other citizens of planet Earth who find themselves in similar situations.”
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch.
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KA`U STUDENTS WHO LOVE NATURE and being outdoors, love a challenge and like to help plants and animals grow are invited to Agricultural Career Day for Youth a week from today on Sunday, June 14 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Anna Ranch in Waimea. Participants learn about mentorship, internship and educational opportunities, as well as find out how they can build a career in agriculture – feeding their community and the world.
“There is a wide variety of jobs in agriculture and supporting services going on right here on Hawai`i Island,” said Ka`u rancher Michelle Galimba. Topics at the event include Educational, Internship, Mentorship Opportunities; Careers in Agricultural Support & Science; Careers in Agriculture Production & Natural Resource Management; and Careers in Agricultural Processing and Marketing.

General manager Connie Koi and Kahu Brian Borshard, who
gave the Hawaiian blessing. Photo by Julia Neal

John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, and Zach Mermel, of Forest Team, give presentations on Natural Resource Management.
Farming presentations are provided by Derrick Kiyabu, of The Kohala Center; Mike Hodson, of Wow Farms; James Twigg-Smith, of Pacific Biodiesel; and Reggie Hasegawa, of Crop Production Services.
Ainahou Animal Center’s Brady Bergin discusses veterinarian Internships. Chris English and Sabrina White, of Ponoholo Ranch; Sara Moore, of Kealia Ranch; Jill Mattos, of Hawai`i Beef Producers; and Linus Tavares, of Farm Credit Services present more programs related to livestock.
This free event is open to students nine to 18 years of age and their parents or guardians. For more information, contact Galimba at mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com or 808-430-4927.
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KA`U RESIDENT CHRIS MANFREDI ASKED Ka`u Community Development Planners to justify removal of existing urban expansion areas from the draft document in feedback he provided regarding the Draft CDP. According to Manfredi, the CDP recommends shrinking such areas in Na`alehu and eliminating a major one adjacent to Pahala without an alternative area identified.

Bradley Llanes and Sonny Ancheta are bakers at the new facility.
Photo by Julia Neal

“As Ka`u grows, so too will its need for housing,” Manfredi wrote. “As written, the CDP will not allow a farm dwelling on a subdivided farm, and there are scant areas adjacent to Pahala for the community to expand. When questioned, the county planner (Ron Whitmore) stated there was ‘no obvious need’ for an alternative Urban Expansion area adjacent to Pahala.”
Manfredi asked, “Has the County examined the projected demand for agricultural workers and related housing over the expected life span of the CDP? How many acres will be planted in various crops surrounding the Pahala area over the life span of the CDP? What data did the county use to determine the number of workers required to service these farms during peak harvest seasons?”
More of Manfredi’s and other residents’ feedback is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/plan-input/march-june-2015-public-comment-on-the-draft-cdp.
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KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center to discuss feedback received during the draft document comment period and plan future meetings. The public is invited. Though public comment on agenda items is always welcome at Steering Committee meetings, this meeting is not designed as an opportunity for additional or repeated comment on the Draft CDP, according to planner Ron Whitmore. For information about the CDP, see kaucdp.info.

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