Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Na`alehu Fourth of July Parade begins at 12 p.m. Saturday at Na`alehu Elementary School and ends at Na`alehu Hongwanji.
Photo by William Neal

WHILE HAWAIIAN AIRLINES has been one of the fastest growing airlines in the county, other major airlines have slowed growth and cut back on flights, a strategy that has drawn the attention of antitrust officials in the federal government. The Associated Press is reporting today that the “U.S. government is investigating possible collusion between major airlines to limit available seats, which keeps airfares high.” The story by reporters David Koenig, Scott Mayerowitz and Eric Tucker says that a document obtained by The Associated Press says, “The civil antitrust investigation by the Justice Department appears to focus on whether airlines illegally signaled to each other how quickly they would add new flights, routes and extra seats.”

The Justice Department, in a letter sent yesterday, demands “copies of all communications the airlines had with each other, Wall Street analysts and major shareholders about their plans for passenger-carrying capacity,” reports AP.
AP explains that “American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United now control more than 80 percent of the seats in the domestic travel market. Since the trend began in 2008 when more mergers were allowed, “they have eliminated unprofitable flights, filled a higher percentage of seats on planes and made a very public effort to slow growth in order to command higher airfares... . The average domestic airfare rose 13 percent from 2009 to 2014, when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And that doesn’t include the billions of dollars airlines collect from new fees: $25 each way to check a bag and $200 to change a domestic reservation.
“During the past 12 months, the airlines took in $3.6 billion in bag fees and another $3 billion in reservation change fees,” reports AP. “All of that has led to record profits for the industry. In the past two years, U.S. airlines earned a combined $19.7 billion.” These airlines could be more profitable this year with a huge drop in fuel prices, “their single highest expense,” the reporters write.
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Solar Impulse is two-thirds of the way to Hawai`i this morning.

ENTHUSIASTS CAN FOLLOW THE SOLAR IMPULSE 120-hour flight from Japan to Hawai`i at http://www.solarimpulse.com/leg-8-from-Nagoya-to-Hawaii. Endeavoring to reach Hawai`i from Japan to encourage the use of clean technologies the solar-powered aircraft of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg attempts the longest exploration leg of Solar Impulse’s round-the-World mission.

The website explains that the plane “flies within very tight margins – the batteries must be full at peak altitude in order to make it through the night, and the pilot cannot start climbing again until the sun provides enough power in the mornings.   Efficient sun is the term used to describe the time in which the energy generated from the solar cells is sufficient to fully power the motors. This period begins around two hours after sunrise and ends around two hours before sunset. At all other times, the batteries must at least supplement the power going to the motors. If the pilot begins climbing too early in the morning, then he could run the batteries below their minimum level (around 10 percent), which causes permanent damage.”

Ka`u residents can join Joe the Shark in tracking Solar Impulse's flight
from Japan to Hawai`i. Image from Solar Impulse

There is also discussion about fueling the future with alternative energy, including news updates such as “USA & Brazil announced a joint clean energy plan, promise 20 percent of energy from renewables by 2030: ‪goo.gl/mPUCI8 ‪@guardianeco ‪#COP21.”
A message about the pilot this morning: “André Borschberg is resting now. Let’s hope Joe the Shark won’t make too much noise to wake him up. In the meantime, the solar team monitors every minute of this flight, paying a close attention at André Borschberg’s spirit and health.”
A message about the solar batteries needing a charge: “The batteries state of charge is now 55 percent and with the current trend, they should be below 40 percent in one hour. Sunrise is close now, and in three hours and 45 minutes the solar cells should receive enough energy to charge the batteries again. Will we make it through the night this time?!”
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GOV. DAVID IGE SIGNED THREE BILLS relating to Native Hawaiian communities’ customs, cultural practices and rights into law yesterday during bill signing ceremonies at the State Capitol.

Kamana`opono Crabbe, Ka Pouhana
(CEO) of OHA

Effective today, HB 207 (Act 169) requires certain state councils, boards and commissions to attend a legal training course administered by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on native Hawaiian customs and rights. The law ensures that state decision makers have the information necessary to carry out their constitutional responsibilities and ensure that places, practices and values are sustained for the benefit of all Hawai`i’s people. OHA will fund development and administration of the training courses.
Those to receive training include members of the state Land Use Commission, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management, Environmental Council, Agribusiness Development Corp., Board of Agriculture, Legacy Land Conservation Commission, Natural Area Reserve Systems Commission, Hawai`i Historic Places Review Board and Board of Health.
Also effective today, HB 209 (Act 170) provides OHA with nearly $3 million in general funds from the state in each of the next two fiscal years, matched by more than $6.4 million a year in OHA funds. More than 70 percent of the general funds will be used to support direct services for individuals, families and community groups.
SB 1166 (Act 171) helps to perpetuate the sacred Native Hawaiian traditions of preparing deceased beloved family members for burial. This law clarifies ambiguities in state law and allows these traditions to continue without the threat of criminal prosecution.
“This measure just makes it crystal clear that our laws will allow for anyone wanting to exercise the traditional burial practices of Native Hawaiians, that they would be allowed to do so,” Ige said.
“Hawai`i is a special place, and these new laws will help educate government officials on cultural protections guaranteed by the State Constitution and protect Hawaiian cultural practices. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs thanks Gov. Ige and the State Legislature for their support of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights,” said Kamana`opono Crabbe, Ka Pouhana (CEO) of OHA.
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THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. seeks public comment regarding Hawai`i Police Department’s policies and procedures, administration, operations and support services. CALEA is reviewing HPD to verify that it continues to meet National Standards that are required for the department to maintain voluntary accreditation.

Of the roughly 23,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, Hawai`i Police Department is one of only about 1,200 that have been awarded CALEA accreditation. The department was initially awarded accreditation on Nov. 17, 2012.
The review includes a public comment session at 5 p.m. on July 14 at Hawai`i County Council chambers in Hilo. The session will be hosted by the visiting assessment team, which is seeking the community’s input as to whether accreditation should be maintained.
Individuals who cannot attend the session are encouraged to phone in their comments to 961-2270 on July 14 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Written comments may be sent to CALEA, 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 22030-2215 or through the CALEA website at www.calea.org.
Comments are limited to the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.
A link to CALEA Standards is available on the Accreditation page of www.hawaiipolice.com. A full copy of the Standards may be viewed at the Police Department’s main station at 349 Kapi`olani Street in Hilo.
For more information, call Lt. Kenneth Quiocho at 961-2260.
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Early registration for Kahuku `Ohana Day includes free lunch.
Photo from NPS

INTERESTED KA`U RESIDENTS should sign up for Kahuku `Ohana Day by tomorrow to be included in the free lunch count. The event takes place Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Register at 985-6019.

“COME CELEBRATE OUR NATION’S BIRTHDAY in Na`alehu Saturday, July Fourth,” said `O Ka`u Kakou board member Lee McIntosh. “We have a full day of festivities planned for the whole family.”

First, the Na`alehu Independence Day Parade starts at 12 p.m. “Be sure to come early to find a good spot as the road will be closing at 11:55 a.m.,” said McIntosh, who is also parade committee chair. The route begins at Na`alehu Elementary School and ends at Na`alehu Hongwanji Mission.
There are 35 parade entries this year that include elected officials, a train, a bagpipe player and horses, among others.
After the parade, there will be a giant water slide and bounce houses for the kids to enjoy, along with free hot dogs, watermelon and shave ice at Na`alehu Park. While the kids are busy playing, senior bingo will begin after a free lunch at Naalehu Community Center, with prizes for everyone to win.
Call 929-9872 for more information.

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION'S 38th annual Fourth of July Rodeo is Saturday and Sunday, with shows at 12 p.m. both days. Slack roping begins at 8 a.m. Saturday.

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