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| The first Ocean Sanctuary Count of 2016 takes place Saturday. See more below. Photo from Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary |
HAWAI`I COUNTY PLANNING DIRECTOR Duane Kanuha is reviewing the Ka`u Community Development Plan. Project Manager Ron Whitmore said he expects the process to be complete in March.
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| Hawai`i County Planning Director Duane Kanuha |
Near the end of last year, the Steering Committee made some final revisions to the CDP based on community feedback. It then recommended the CDP for adoption by the county. The project website at kaucdp.info includes minutes and meeting materials from that final set of Steering Committee meetings as well as the revised CDP being considered for adoption.
Following Planning Department review, the Windward Planning Commission will hold public hearings and make recommendations. Then, County Council will hold more public hearings and act on the CDP.
After the mayor signs the document, an Action Committee will be appointed to guide CDP implementation.
Supporting documents are also available on the website. Strategy Rationale explains each of the CDP strategies. Land Use Policy Guide is re-organized as a quick-reference guide for land-use planners. Guidance to Agencies is a quick-reference guide to CDP strategies that require cooperation with county, state and federal agencies as well as private organizations. Community-Based, Collaborative Action Guide provides detailed implementation steps for CDP strategies that require community-led initiative.
Following Planning Department review, the Windward Planning Commission will hold public hearings and make recommendations. Then, County Council will hold more public hearings and act on the CDP.
After the mayor signs the document, an Action Committee will be appointed to guide CDP implementation.
Supporting documents are also available on the website. Strategy Rationale explains each of the CDP strategies. Land Use Policy Guide is re-organized as a quick-reference guide for land-use planners. Guidance to Agencies is a quick-reference guide to CDP strategies that require cooperation with county, state and federal agencies as well as private organizations. Community-Based, Collaborative Action Guide provides detailed implementation steps for CDP strategies that require community-led initiative.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
TODAY IS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY of the Challenger disaster, which took the life of Hawai`i Island astronaut Ellison Onizuka. His wife is Lorna Leiko Yoshida, originally from Na`alehu, where her father Susumu worked for Hutchinson Sugar Co. Her mother Anna grew up in Na`alehu and later moved to Houston where she lives with Lorna, who has worked for NASA and as a liaison with Japan’s space agency. El and Lorna had two daughters, Janelle Onizuka-Gillilan and Darien Lei Shizue Onizuka-Morgan.
Onizuka graduated from Konawaena High School in 1964. He received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in June 1969, and a master's degree in that field in December of the same year, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He participated in Air Force ROTC during his time there.
This morning, the state Legislature held a session in Capitol Auditorium honoring Ellison Onizuka, and Gov. David Ige proclaimed Ellison Onizuka Day in Hawai`i.
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| Hawai`i astronaut Ellison Onizuka died 30 years ago today. |
Onizuka graduated from Konawaena High School in 1964. He received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in June 1969, and a master's degree in that field in December of the same year, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He participated in Air Force ROTC during his time there.
This morning, the state Legislature held a session in Capitol Auditorium honoring Ellison Onizuka, and Gov. David Ige proclaimed Ellison Onizuka Day in Hawai`i.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
DAILY FANTASY SPORTS CONTESTS, such as those run by FanDuel and DraftKings, constitute illegal gambling under existing state laws, Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin said in a formal advisory opinion issued yesterday.
“Gambling generally occurs under Hawai`i law when a person stakes or risks something of value upon a game of chance or upon any future contingent event not under the person’s control,” Chin said. “The technology may have changed, but the vice has not.”
Nearly sixty million Americans participate in fantasy sports, with the vast majority playing in a league with friends or colleagues that might be considered “social gambling,” which is legal in Hawai`i. In contrast, daily fantasy sports contests typically involve competitions between hundreds or thousands of people, are played daily, involve wagers of up to $1,000 and allow each individual multiple entries leading to top prizes of up to $1 million.
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| Hawai`i Attorney General Doug Chin |
“Hawai`i is generally recognized to have some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country,” Chin said.
By statute, the Attorney General provides opinions upon questions of law submitted by the governor, the state Legislature or its members, or a state agency head. The Department of the Attorney General is weighing next steps, including civil or criminal enforcement, consistent with its opinion.
By statute, the Attorney General provides opinions upon questions of law submitted by the governor, the state Legislature or its members, or a state agency head. The Department of the Attorney General is weighing next steps, including civil or criminal enforcement, consistent with its opinion.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO WELCOMED Clare Connors, nominee for the U.S. District Court Judgeship for the District of Hawai`i, to the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. Hirono affirmed Connors’ vast experience and called for the Committee to approve her confirmation quickly.
“Clare is a first-rate intellect and is described by her peers as an attorney of great integrity who works extremely hard and treats everyone with respect,” Hirono said. “It is because of Clare’s respected standing that the Hawai`i Judicial Selection Commission recommended her out of a record number of interested applicants. I expect that this committee will agree as well. I look forward to seeing her nomination be confirmed.”
Connors was nominated in September 2015 by President Obama to fill the vacant U.S. District Court judge position created when Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway retired from active service. The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is the first step in the Senate’s confirmation process.
Connors is a trial attorney who began her legal career in 2001 with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2002, she served as a clerk for the Honorable Judge David Ezra, in his capacity as a federal district court judge. She returned to Hawai`i to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney. She continues to practice law as an associate at Davis Levin Livingston in Hawai`i.
A graduate of Punahou School, Connors has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Yale College and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She has served on the faculty of the William S. Richardson School of Law as a Lecturer in Law for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic. In 2014, she was appointed to be a Lawyer Representative for the District of Hawai`i to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and previously served as a Lawyer Delegate to the Hawaii District Conference.
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| Clare Connors presents a lei to Sen. Mazie Hirono. Photo from Sen. Hirono |
A graduate of Punahou School, Connors has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Yale College and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She has served on the faculty of the William S. Richardson School of Law as a Lecturer in Law for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic. In 2014, she was appointed to be a Lawyer Representative for the District of Hawai`i to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and previously served as a Lawyer Delegate to the Hawaii District Conference.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ and 20 other senators are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to expand its regulation of methane emissions. As a part of the president’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA has begun to address industrial sources of methane, but not all sources of the gas are currently included in the final rule.
VOLCANO RESIDENT RUSSELL ATKINSON discusses Burning Man this evening at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Atkinson has been a "burner" since 1999.
EXPLORING FLAG BOOKS is the topic of a workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Charlene Asato presents the fun and captivating nature of this form of expression. The flagbook is based on an accordion book where papers are glued to sides of the accordion. Register at volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.
JAZZ IN THE FOREST 2016 SERIES begins Saturday at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Vocalist Jeannine Guillory’s background in jazz, reggae, pop and rhythm & blues lends a strong, versatile sound and energy. Tickets are $20 for VAC members and $30 for non-members for the 4:30 p.m. matinee; $25 for members and $35 for non-members for the 7:30 p.m. show. Call 967-8222, or see volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
U.S. SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ and 20 other senators are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to expand its regulation of methane emissions. As a part of the president’s Climate Action Plan, the EPA has begun to address industrial sources of methane, but not all sources of the gas are currently included in the final rule.
In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the senators wrote, “Your agency has been clear that in order to achieve its methane goals, additional action will be necessary. This is backed by studies that have shown that almost 90 percent of projected emissions in 2018 will come from oil production and existing natural gas production. In order to achieve our international commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, we simply must address existing sources of methane emissions.”
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| Mike Tamayo and Kalei Namohala accept winnings from OKK's June Domondon. |
Methane’s effect on climate change is up to 34 times greater than that of CO2, Schatz said. To address these emissions and reduce the climate footprint of these industries, the president committed to cut methane emissions by 40-45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025 through both voluntary measures and agency rulemakings.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
IN KA`U HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, Trojans teams hosted Kea`au yesterday. Boys basketball Junior Varsity lost 28-48, and Varsity lost 36-66.
Mike Tamayo earned $500 from `O Ka`u Kakou for Ka`u Athletics by making a Half-Court Shot. He received a $20 gift card for his efforts.
Trojan soccer player Kun Monkeya made two goals, and Trevor Taylor made one, but Kea`au brought the final score to 3-7.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
Mike Tamayo earned $500 from `O Ka`u Kakou for Ka`u Athletics by making a Half-Court Shot. He received a $20 gift card for his efforts.
Trojan soccer player Kun Monkeya made two goals, and Trevor Taylor made one, but Kea`au brought the final score to 3-7.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar.
VOLCANO RESIDENT RUSSELL ATKINSON discusses Burning Man this evening at 7 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Atkinson has been a "burner" since 1999.
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| Charlene Asato offers a workshop Saturday. Photo from VAC |
THE FIRST OF THREE HUMPBACK WHALE counts through March takes place Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Hawai`i Island south shore sites include Ka`ena Point in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, Punalu`u and South Point.
Registration is required at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
EXPLORING FLAG BOOKS is the topic of a workshop Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Charlene Asato presents the fun and captivating nature of this form of expression. The flagbook is based on an accordion book where papers are glued to sides of the accordion. Register at volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.
JAZZ IN THE FOREST 2016 SERIES begins Saturday at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Vocalist Jeannine Guillory’s background in jazz, reggae, pop and rhythm & blues lends a strong, versatile sound and energy. Tickets are $20 for VAC members and $30 for non-members for the 4:30 p.m. matinee; $25 for members and $35 for non-members for the 7:30 p.m. show. Call 967-8222, or see volcanoartcenter.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/Directory2015.swf and kaucalendar.com/Directory2105.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_January2016.pdf. |
