Ka`u News Briefs Friday, Sept. 25, 2015

Hawai`i Wildlife Fund staff and volunteers load 1,068 pounds of marine debris that they gathered from Kamilo on Sunday.
Photo from HWF

KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Plan Steering Committee approved a 1/4-mile shoreline setback at its meeting yesterday. In its current version, Policy 29 states: “On lots that are partially within the Special Management Area in the Ka`u CDP Planning Area, establish shoreline setbacks at the earliest stages of the land use planning and development process at 1,320 feet (1/4 mile). However, the applicant may request that the setback be reduced by providing information, including information required for SMA review, to the department which would allow the proposed activity’s impacts and in consideration of the physical limitations of the property. For lots created prior to the date of the adoption of the CDP with an average lot depth of two hundred feet or less, the shoreline setback line shall be 40 feet.”
Ka`u residents who testified at the meeting all favored some sort of setback. One Ocean View-area resident said ¼-mile is not enough, suggesting that having development at that distance would still effect ocean life because of run-off associated with such activities. She said 1.5 miles would be more effective in creating a balance between the environment and human impacts.

Ka`u CDP Steering Committee approved a 1/4-mile shoreline setback yesterday.
Image from Ka`u CDP

Another Ocean View resident, citing South Kona Wilderness Area as a successful example, said, “We must be very vigilant” on saving coastal land.
John Replogle, of Ocean View, said he understood people wanting a 1.5-mile setback, but that 1/4-mile “meets owners halfway. Everybody will be treated equally,” he said. “People feel this 1/4-mile setback will be taking something from them. It’s to keep our coast open and take care of the things that can’t talk. Ka`u will benefit so much from having this setback.”
After changing language from previous drafts of Shoreline Setback Policy 29, people previously and currently involved in stewardship of Honu`apo supported the current language. Megan Lamson, current President of Ka `Ohana O Honu`apo, expressed concern about a clause regarding choosing methods of determining setbacks, but the committee removed that language.
Former KOOH Executive Director Lehua Lopez Mau said, “I see no conflict with any future development at Honu`apo. It would only be reasonable to limit human (development activities) within 1/4 mile of the shoreline.” She cited climate change with rising sea levels, increased hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural events as reasons to keep development further inland.
Steering Committee member Ron Ebert, of Punalu`u, argued against the setback. “The Steering Committee is charged with creating economic development,” Ebert said. “How would this proposed setback affect anyone who wanted to come in here and provide a lot of jobs?” He gave examples of possible desalination and wave energy plants. “It seems this is very restrictive to any kind of development that … would provide jobs,” Ebert said.
CDP Project Manager Ron Whitmore said such projects can apply for variances.
Michelle Galimba, who represents Ka`alaiki and Honu`apo on the committee, said, “Protecting our resources will have an economic impact.”

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Tropical Storm Niala is expected to bring heavy rain to Ka`u. Map from NOAA

NIALA IS HEADING TOWARD KA`U. The tropical storm, 455 miles southeast of South Point at 5 a.m, is expected to track south of Hawai`i Island this weekend but bring heavy rain with it.

A flash flood watch will be in effect for Hawai`i Island from this evening through Monday. According to the National Weather Service, a surge of deep tropical moisture north of Niala will approach the island by tonight and remain in place through the weekend. Heavy showers and thunderstorms will favor east through south slopes but may reach any part of the island. Individual showers may be relatively brief, but extreme accumulation will be possible if showers train over a given location.
Overall coverage of the island should start relatively small tonight and expand significantly as Niala approaches tomorrow and tomorrow night. The threat of heavy rain will diminish as the very moist air mass moves away to the west next week.

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HAWAI`I WILDLIFE FUND AND VOLUNTEERS removed 1,068 pounds of marine debris from Kamilo on Sunday, with 87 percent being plastic. They removed 43 bags worth of debris, nets and line and large marine debris items, of which 219 pounds was recyclable or reusable. Forty-eight people participated from around Hawai`i Island (and one from California), including student groups with Hawai`i Community College and UH-Hilo. This was HWF’s eighth annual cleanup event at Kamilo for the International Coastal Cleanup (aka Get the Drift and Bag it) event.

HWF volunteers push a large debris item
away from the coast. Photo from HWF

“Thanks to Hawai`i Kombucha for the amazing keg of pineapple booch,” coordinator Megan Lamson said. “Mahalo for your help shuttling volunteers, Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Many thanks for your attendance: Tobacco Free Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, Nurdle in the Rough, UHH, HawCC, `Aina Provide, Kona Hiking Club and many more individuals!”
To participate in a cleanup event or make a donation to support these efforts, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com or call HWF’s debris hotline for Hawai`i Island at 769-7629.

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TWO PROGRAMS AIMED AT TRAINING and supporting the next generation of farmers in Hawai`i are seeking applicants for sessions being offered this fall.
The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program’s 14-session course begins on Friday, Nov. 7 in Honoka`a. The course meets every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. University of Hawai`i researchers, extension agents and other agricultural experts cover subjects such as production planning, farm design, soil management, composting and vermicomposting, cover cropping, business planning and marketing and sales. The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 30.
For high school students and recent graduates interested in sustainable agriculture, The Center’s weeklong High School Agriculture Internship Program runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Oct. 5 through 9 in Honoka`a. With the `aina serving as their classroom, interns are introduced to various aspects of agriculture in Hawai`i – from learning about pre-contact indigenous farming systems to modern local, sustainable and organic agriculture. Interns gain hands-on farm experience from seed-to-sale and visit successful agricultural businesses. Upon completion of the program, students receive a $125 stipend. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Oct. 1.
More information and application materials are available at kohalacenter.org by calling 887-6411.
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Laureen L. Martin

GOV. DAVID IGE RELEASED NAMES of judicial nominees that were provided by the Judicial Selection Commission to fill a vacancy on the Third Circuit Court of Hawai`i Island.

The Judicial Selection Commission reviewed and evaluated the backgrounds and qualifications of all applicants before submitting its nominees to the governor.
Ige has 30 days to submit his selections to the Hawai`i State Senate, which must confirm the nominees.
Gregory A. Ferren specializes in general litigation and business transactions, including real estate, contracts, personal injury, constitutional rights, public sector law and legal ethics. He has represented clients such as Oracle, Yahoo! and Apple. He graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1987 and the William S. Richardson School of Law in 1995.
Melvin H. Fujino is a District Family Court judge. He has also served as a deputy attorney general and was a team leader responsible for the statewide Wiretap Review Unit and Asset Forfeiture program, a deputy prosecuting attorney, and was the supervisor and community oriented prosecutor for the West Hawai`i branch of Hawai``i County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Robert D.S. Kim has a private practice where he concentrates on civil litigation, commercial, real estate, environmental, family and criminal law, as well as public interest litigation. He has practiced law in Hawai`i since 1990. He received a B.A. from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo and his J.D. degree from the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Laureen L. Martin is Section Chief for Hawai`i County's Litigation Division. Martin received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in Business Administration with a minor in Economics. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University where she graduated cum laude and was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Awards in Products Liability, Criminal Law and Real Estate Transactions.

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Paul and Jane Field lead Stewardship at the Summit tomorrow
for National Public Lands Day. Photo from NPs

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK invites everyone to volunteer and help protect the native Hawaiian rainforest on National Public Lands Day tomorrow. Everyone gets in for free, and volunteers receive a free pass to use on another day of their choosing.

Stewardship at the Summit takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants meet at Kilauea Visitor Center, then head into the forest to remove Himalayan ginger from park trails.
For more information, see nps.gov/havo or call 985-6011.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers an open house tomorrow to celebrate National Public Lands Day. Park visitors can experience how KMC supports America’s troops by using its facilities and services.
For more information, call 967-8371.

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