Ka`u News Briefs Monday, Aug. 24, 2015

AS OF 11:30 A.M., Hawai`i County Civil Defense reported that Hwy 11 near the Whitington Beach Park is closed to all traffic due to heavy runoff and flooding. The road closure extends from Punalu`u to Na`alehu. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and to use alternate routes if possible. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning effective through 2 p.m. this afternoon.

      A Flash Flood Watch continues until 6 p.m. today because an unstable and very moist air mass remains across the island. This tropical moisture interacting with island terrain could produce localized, intense and slow-moving heavy rains that may lead to flash flooding.

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OF THE MORE THAN 600 PARTICIPANTS at Saturday’s Volcano Rain Forest Runs Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, 120 were from out of state and 100 from other Hawaiian Islands. Keiki also had their own special 100- and 200-yard dashes sponsored by Kilauea Lodge.

      Shona McCulloch, of Nepean, CA won the 10K with a time of 35:38. Kailua’s Eri MacDonald won the men’s division at 35:42. Other 10K finishers from the local area and their times are Ella Johnson, Volcano 49:21; Meggie Olson, Na`alehu 51:51; Maxwell Mitchell, Volcano 51:57; Amy Kuhar, Volcano 58:30; Anne Farahi, Volcano 1:12:45; Casey Baker-Fien, Volcano 1:12:53; Maiki Cofer, Ocean View 1:14:56; and Marilyn Brown, Volcano 1:23:27.
      Winners of the 5K were Coday Ranfranz, of Kailua-Kona at 18:43 and Phoebe Wyatt, of Hilo at 23:08. Other 5K finishers from the local area were Haven Fisher, Volcano 21:54 (1st in age category); Toby Johnson, Volcano 25:03; Megan Denny, Pahala 25:31 (1st in age category); Robert Peck, Volcano 26:24; John Broward, Hawai`i National Park 28:05; Justin Denny, III, Pahala 29:24; Paul Udac, Na`alehu 30:47; Frank Bonaccorso, Volcano 31:43; John Poetzel, Ocean View 32:50; Jane Patton, Volcano 33:35; Angela Green, Ocean View 35:09; Justin Denny, Pahala 36:44; Molly Denny, Pahala 37:53; Marta Lepes, Volcano 38:20; Bryan Everett, Volcano 39:25; Robin Stratton, Ocean View 39:38; Jade Thomas, Volcano 40:25; Macy Orr, Hawai`i National Park 41:48; Liam Fien, Volcano 41:49; Paula Tailon, Na`alehu 43:08; Maesaka Kieran, Volcano 43:23; Nancy Chaney, Volcano 49:26; Jeanette Goss, Hawai`i National Park 49:55; Bill Hamilton, Hawai`i National Park 49:57; Kanani Rivera, Volcano 51:25; Liam Orr, Hawai`i National Park, 54:47; Travis Wood, Volcano, 54:59; Tim Orr, Hawai`i National Park 55:22; P. Montague-Mullins, Volcano 56:11; Ku`ulei Kekuewa, Volcano 57:35; Elizabeth Fien, Volcano 58:06; Lisa Canale, Volcano 58:27; Irma Ockerman, Volcano 58:39; Christine Woods, Ocean View 1:01:40; Philip Gordon, Hawai`i National Park 1:11:24; and Nadia Vogel, Hawai`i National Park 1:11:39.

      “A big mahalo goes out to all of the wonderful volunteers who helped in making this event be such a successful community day,” said race Director Sharron Faff. “A very special mahalo goes to Hawai`i Youth Challenge Academy for bringing 71 youth to be both volunteers and Color Guard presenting flags for the opening ceremonies and to have 23 run in formation while doing cadence in the 5K. A very special sight to see. Special thanks also goes to Miss Ka`u Coffee, Maria Miranda, for starting the races and putting the medals on the 69 Half Marathon Triple Crown participants – runners who completed the Hilo, Kona and Volcano Half Marathons in 2015.”
      Sponsors of the annual event include Volcano Art Center, Cooper Center, County of Hawai`i, Nutrex/BioAstin, Volcano Rotary Club and local businesses.
      Next year’s event will be on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, celebrating the National Park Service Centennial. Keep up to date with all the news about the 2016 event on Facebook/volcanorainforestruns.com and at www.volcanorainforestruns.com.

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NA`ALEHU RANCH LANDS purchaser Louis Leong and one of his investment groups is expected to open a 17-story Kalakaua Gardens senior living community across from Hawa`i Convention Center on O`ahu in March.

      Leong and his Ka`u Royal Hawaiian Coffee & Tea, LLC is also working on long-range plans for the 1,600 acres it recently purchased in Na`alehu. The land has mauka frontage along Hwy 11 toward Wai`ohinu and extends up the hillsides. The hui is planning for coffee, tea and other crops as well as a coffee mill and visitor center along the highway. The local contact is Tyler Johansen, of Elite Agri Services.
      On O`ahu, Pacific Business News reporter Loren Eleni Gill wrote this morning that the $75-million Honolulu project “will offer 164 independent and assisted living suites, 49 skilled nursing facility beds and 23 beds in memory care.”
      She quoted Steve Nawahine, manager for Kalakaua Gardens, saying that 150 to 200 employees will be hired, “with 20 management-level positions, 80 in-care and support staff jobs and 60 positions in dining, housekeeping and support staff.”
      Leong’s San Francisco, California-based Island Paradise Investments is the developer for the Kalakaua Gardens project designed by Architects Hawai`i Ltd, San Francisco-based Swinerton Builders as general contractor. Interior design is overseen by Philpotts Interiors.

       See bizjournals.com/pacific.
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KA`U PLANTATION DAYS begins organizing today. Interested parties are invited to the first meeting for the October 17 event tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Pahala Community Center.

ENTRY FEES ARE WAIVED TOMORROW at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park to celebrate Founders Day.

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN Steering Committee’s topic-related meetings continue this week. The committee reviews community feedback and makes preliminary decisions about revisions to the draft CDP. 

      Meetings are tomorrow, Aug. 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall to discuss development in that area and Saturday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. when the topic is Economic Development.
      Background information that has been prepared to inform and guide tomorrow’s meeting is available at http://www.hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/august-25-2015-steering-committee-meeting/DHinfopacket.pdf/view.
      Based on community input and related analysis, the Steering Committee will consider CDP revisions that preserve the residential area in Discovery Harbour; allow small, neighborhood-scale commercial uses on the gateway parcels (Kahiki and Wakea); and if Subdivision Covenants are amended to allow it, allow for small-scale resort development on the gateway parcels.

      The public is welcome to provide testimony during the meeting.
      See kaucdp.info for information and how to contact committee members.

PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY of `ukulele, the world-famous instrument that plays a significant role in contemporary Hawaiian music, Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Kilauea Visitor Center lanai in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Rangers share their knowledge and love of the Hawaiian culture and teach how to play a simple tune on the `ukulele. Participants leave with a new skill and treasured `ike (wisdom) to share with their hoa (friends) and `ohana (family).
      Free; park entrance fees apply. Call 985-6011 for more information.

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

BUSINESS SPACE IS AVAILABLE for rent at the open location where Kama`aina Kuts and Styles by Elise are located in Na`alehu. Call Corrine at 937-1840 for more information.