Sunday July 7, 2013

KA`U COMMUNITY RADIO manager Christine Kaehuaea is selling off more of the station’s assets. In addition to the license which is being sold for $20,000 to Hawai`i Public Radio, she is selling off equipment described in an email circulated online. Among the items is the Crown 2,000-kilowatt FM transmitter, valued at $16,280, for which she is seeking $8,500 or best offer. Other items include a Crown 600-watt “T” transmitter for $7,500 and a Shively Antenna, 2-bay full wavelength, for $4,250. An Audio Arts Console R55e is for sale for $3,525, and a Sage Digital Endec for $1,950.

      Also on her for-sale list are a Crown Broadcast Equipment FM 2000PS FM Power Supply for $1,500, a cabinet with racking fans and thermostat for $1,475 and 71 feet of 7/8-inch cable for $725. There are many other items from chairs to desk to cables, pipe and anchors for the radio tower. Kaehuaea is offering free delivery between Ocean View and Hilo. The cost of gas or $40 will be charged for delivery on Hawai`i Island, beyond Hilo and Ocean View, she states in her email.
      “Your purchase will be helping us fulfill our obligations with our vendors. We appreciate you,” she states in the email that she signed as Station General Manager & Owner, KAHU 91.7 FM, and as President/Director of Ka`u Community Radio, Inc.
      Wendell Kaehuaea, the only other person now named as an officer of the Ka`u Community Radio organization, said he hopes the income from the equipment and license will go to pay off debt owed to local businesses hired to work on building, setting up and maintaining the radio station or for services while KAHU was on the air. The station shut down recently when Hawai`i Electric Light Co. turned off the power.
      To purchase equipment or for more information on the transition of the station to Hawai`i Public Radio, contact Christine Kaehuaea at 925-895-9098 or kahufm@yahoo.com.

COFFEE FARMERS are signing a petition, hoping to continue the practice of paying pickers by volume instead of by the hour. 

      The petition says that “Hawai`i is unique as the only state that grows coffee. Its coffee pickers are primarily local individuals who pick the ripe coffee beans over a period of months – as the coffee beans ripen. They are paid on the amount of coffee picked, not on how many hours it takes. To require ‘minimum wages’ and ‘overtime requirements’ will be the demise of the coffee industry. Coffee picking abilities and hours per day vary substantially based on the pickers’ abilities and availability.
      “We, the following Petitioners, support a change in the State and Federal laws to clearly exempt seasonal coffee pickers, who pick by hand and are paid piece-rate by the pound, from the Federal Wage and Hour Employment Security Laws and Regulations.
      Petitions are due by July 15. The petition drive is organized by Friends of Kona Coffee, c/o Virginia Isbell, PO Box 926, Kealakekua, HI 96750.

COUNTY OF HAWAI`I HAS SUBMITTED QUESTIONS to the Public Utilities Commission regarding Hawaiian Electric Co.’s testimony on the proposed contract to purchase biofuel from `Aina Koa Pono. AKP plans to use feedstock from Ka`u to refine biofuel at a facility above Pahala.
      The county questions HECO president Robert Alm about his testimony regarding economics of the `Aina Koa Pono project.
      Regarding Alm’s statement that “Hawai`i’s most important economic enterprise right now is to pursue energy independence,” the county asks Alm to comment on whether the “important economic issue now in mid-2013 is reducing electricity rates to enable economic growth, vitality, survivability (for some) and financial independence for all?”

      Regarding Alm’s statement that “it is also important to note that unlike other sources of renewable energy that require the construction of new facilities or plants, biofuels can be utilized in the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ existing generating units, which often require little to no changes to operate on biofuel,” the county asks, “Would HECO/HELCO sign a statement that any modifications needed to Keahole Power Plant (or any other power plants using AKP Biodiesel) to receive the fuel and burn the fuel, or clean-up the fuel, never be borne by the ratepayer?”

      Hawai`i County asks Alm to explain the economic theory that underlies his statement that “keeping energy expenditures at home” grows a “sustainable economy,” and “to provide justification for the theory within classical economics, including verification whether this style of mercantilist approach has historically proven to make people within an economy better or worse off?
      “Further, please cite peer-reviewed studies to justify this assertion that modern-day application of mercantilist, import substitution policies improves the well-being of people, especially in light of the extensive body of literature discrediting import substitution policies and the resultant impoverishment of populations who have been subject to them.”
      “Is it your position that the AKP2 price has become a fair price, because it is lower than the AKP1 price?” the county asks.
      Regarding Alm’s statement that “a diversified portfolio is prudent and in the public’s interest,” Hawai`i County asks:

• Does HECO/HELCO believe it is prudent to commit for twenty years such a large percentage of Hawai`i Island’s biodiesel demand to such an unproven technology, especially when your statement seems to indicate that HECO/HELCO has its own doubts whether AKP will be able to deliver the expected amount of biodiesel? 
• Many experts might also have their doubts, so it is prudent to ask what the Utilities’ contingency plan is if AKP is incapable of delivering contracted quantities of on-spec biodiesel.”

      This and other testimony is available at puc.hawaii.gov. Docket number is 2012-0185.

KA`U RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO A FREE KIDNEY SCREENING, co-hosted by west Ka`u state Senator Josh Green, who is a physician, and the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai`i. The screening is Wednesday, July 10 and includes Kidney Early Detection Screening (KEDS) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Hawai`i Civic Center, Building G. Free health services will include blood pressure checks, a blood glucose assessment to check for diabetes, urinalysis to screen for kidney disease and a health consultation. For most accurate results, it is best not to eat for eight hours before the tests (optional), advised the senator. 

      Questions about the event and pre-registration can be directed to project partner Kim Oyama at kim@kidneyhi.org.

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION wraps up its rodeo today at Na`alehu Arena with many events for wahine, kane and keiki. Tickets are $6.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The free programs begin at Kilauea Visitor Center and continue at Whitney Vault by Volcano House in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Park entrance fees apply.

THE NEXT KA`U COASTAL CLEANUP is this Saturday, July 13 at `Onikinalu Bay, just north of Mahana Bay – Green Sands Beach. Hawai`i Wildlife Fund volunteers have room for a handful of helpers in their vehicles but are always recruiting more. “Many hands make light work!” said Wildlife Fund organizer Megan Lamson. The group could use more four-wheel-drive vehicles. Pam Longobardi of the Drifter’s Project and Boyan Slat of the Ocean Cleanup are helping with the cleanup. 

      Participants meet at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at Wai`ohinu Park to caravan and carpool to the cleanup site. Bring sturdy footwear, bag lunch, snacks, re-fillable water bottle, sun/wind protection and gloves and buckets if available. Hawai`i Wildlife Fund will provide extra gloves, some buckets, trash bags, water refills, first-aid kit and a composting lua.
      If enough people RSVP, the organization will rent a van. Volunteers are asked to RSVP to kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com as soon as possible.

KA`U HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1973 is getting ready for its 40-year class reunion at Pahala Community Center Aug. 17 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The potluck family event features live entertainment. Any questions, contact Darlene Vierra at 640-8740.

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

ALSO SEE KAUCALENDAR.COM AND FACEBOOK.COM/KAUCALENDAR.