MONDAY, NOV. 8, 2010 - NEWS BRIEFS

THE KA`U ROAD ISSUE INVOLVING AN effort to sell off a segment of Kamaoa Road to private landowners is the subject of a public and County Council site visit tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9 at 3 p.m., followed by a public hearing at Na`alehu Community Center. Outgoing County Council member Guy Enriques and incoming County Council member Brittany Smart are expected to attend. Enriques said the road has no public use. Smart said that selling off the road could set a bad precedent regarding blocking off hiking and hunting trails.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Plan steering committee meeting has been postponed from tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9 to Tuesday, December 14. The committee meets to guide the creation of a plan for the future of Ka`u, including economic development, neighborhood planning and land use.

KA`U KEIKI TOOK FIRST AND SECOND place in the annual Kona Coffee Festival recipe contest. Precious Ka`awa (left), of Na`alehu, took first, and Emily McKinley (right), of Ocean View, took second in a tough competition with judges who are all renowned chefs and culinary experts.

EMMA PADILLA, OF OCEAN VIEW, was one of the stars at the Kona Coffee Festival. This first-year culinary arts student at West Hawai`i Community College assisted chef instructor Paul Heerlein in his cooking demo. Chef Paul called the 2010 Ka`u High School graduate Emma Padilla very sharp, with great potential to become a chef.

 DEANNA DELMAR (right), OF OCEAN VIEW, was another standout in the Kona Coffee Festival recipe contest, with an entry that was quickly gobbled up by festival-goers. She was accompanied by her father, Caddy (left), of Volcano.

 







MISS KA`U COFFEE, ULU MAKUAKANE, was surprised and pleased to see that her Kamehameha schoolmate, Lacy Deniz, won the title of Miss Kona Coffee 2011. Lacy said that she studied hula with Ulu and that they were great friends in school, and are happy to be representing the Big island’s two major coffee regions, Kona and Ka`u. Ulu represented Ka`u as an honored guest at the Kona pageant.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT WILL be held February 20, 2011, with a Miss Peaberry Contest for young girls and the main event for high school and college-age contenders. For applications, call Nalani Parlin at 217-6893, Gloria Camba at 928-8155 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811.

THE KAHUMOKU MUSIC WORKSHOP is in its third day at Pahala Plantation House, with musicians arriving from Japan, California, Washington, D.C. and other far-flung places. Local students attend on scholarships. Such musicians as `ukulele master James Hill, Danny Akaka Jr, John Keawe, Jeff Peterson, Herb Ohta Jr and Keoki Kahumoku are teaching. A free concert will be held this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Pahala Plantation House. The musicians will also give a free concert at Punalu`u on Veterans Day, this Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.