Ka`u News Briefs March 18, 2011

Students made signs to get ready for Marine Debris Awareness Week. Photo by Megan Lamson

MARINE DEBRIS AWARENESS WEEK has been declared for March 20 - 26 by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz. To get ready, Hawai`i Wildlife Fund has been very busy with students from Kamehameha School, Ka`u High and visitors from the ocean education organization Kai Makana from O`ahu. 

Ka`u High students with a truck
full of marine  debris.
Photo by Megan Lamson

Students hold up a variety
of marine debris.
Photo by Megan Lamson

     Students from Ka`u High and Kamehameha were led by Terry Shibuya of Honua Ka Pili, who noted that, for some, it was their first visit to Ka`alu`alu Bay and Kamilo Point. They helped with a beach cleanup and learned ocean science from Megan Lamson. They studied their cultural connection to the ocean through the Kumulipo chant and by recognizing their kuleana - as Hawaiians - to malama the coastline, with help from Donna Kahi Kahakui.

THE WILDFIRE BURNING in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has gone through more than 500 additional acres over the last couple of days, with burned land totaling 1,780 acres. Yesterday winds were still strong, but the fire, heading south, was held back by reaching lava flows and areas previously burned. A crew from California joined the Volcanoes park fire crew today. This weekend local fire-qualified park staff, called the Volcano Fire Militia, will join in. Some of the winds have made it too dangerous to fight the fire more aggressively, said Fire Education & Information Manager Gary Wuchner. However, plans are being made for water drops from helicopters. Fuel moisture measurements are being taken to find out where the firefighting will have the best chance of success, he said. 

Members of the Hawaii Fire Department’s 39th Fire Fighter Recruit Class: Blair Howard, Robin Gleason,
Jonathan Hara, Calvin Soo, Justin Santiago, Adam Busek, Paul Kekela, Matt Loper, Jordan Maeda, Justin Lee,
Sean Tamura, Gavin Pamarang, Gary Ahu, William Bloss, Caleb La`a, Michael Brown, and Jay Kahe`e.

MEMBERS OF A NEW CLASS OF FIREFIGHTERS are taking up new positions including staffing fire stations in Ka`u. The 39th Fire Fighter Recruit Class completed five and a half months of training through a nationally recognized fire science curriculum, wildland fire training, hazardous materials operations training, rescue operations familiarization, lifeguard certification, and driver training. They earned Emergency Medical Technicians Basic and Intermediate certifications and spent nine weeks applying skills on clinical rotations on ambulances, and in the Emergency Room, obstetrics, and Intensive Care units at Hilo Medical Center. 

WHILE RADIATION IN MINISCULE AMOUNTS from Fukushima, Japan’s broken nuclear power plants reached California this morning, Gov. Neil Abercrombie issued a statement Thursday to ease local fears. He said "residents do not need to take protective measures at this time. I want to reassure residents and visitors that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the highest authority on radiation in the nation, has indicated Japan’s nuclear emergency presents no danger to Hawai`i."
     "Our state and county monitoring systems have not detected any increase in radiation levels, and based on all available information, state and federal experts do not anticipate any risk of harmful radiation exposure to our islands. We are open for business. Hawai`i continues to be the world’s paradise,” said Abercrombie. President Barack Obama also said that he doesn’t expect any negative health effects in Hawai`i and on the mainland from radiation from Japan.
     The worry among nuclear experts remains, however, whether workers, risking their lives in the radioactive environment of the power plants, can contain the radioactive materials and prevent any larger explosion that would send radioactivity high into the air and into the jet stream where it could be more widely distributed. Today, the U.S. is employing its Constant Phoenix radiation detection airplane to measure real time radiation in the skies over Japan to assess the amount of radiation and where it may travel.

HAWAI`I STATE CIVIL DEFENSE officials are encouraging people whose property, homes, recreational boats or businesses were damaged by the Japan quake tsunami a week ago to report any losses. Reports can be made through Aloha United Way’s 2-1-1 information and referral service. "Although the damage sustained in Hawai`i is not as dramatic as what was experienced in Japan, there are still people here that need help to get back on their feet," said vice director of Civil Defense Ed Teixeira. Call 2-1-1- Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and state Civil Defense will follow up, Teixeira said. Gov. Neil Abercrombie has declared a disaster to provide commercial and personal loans and to ease government requirements to rebuild. County Civil Defense has provided estimates for repairing Ali`i Drive in Kona and to parks, sewage pump and waterline, said Civil Defense administrator Quince Mento.

Mufi Hannemann

MUFI HANNEMANN, whose new job, after running for governor, is president of the Hawai`i Hotel & Lodging Association, said that stakeholders will join together to shore up the Japanese visitor market. The Japanese spent $2 billion last year in Hawai`i, and there is worry about the disaster’s effect on the local economy. Hawai`i Tourism Authority manager Mike McCartney said that Japanese visitors come here to rejuvenate - it is not just a vacation. Hanneman said on his Facebook page, however: “While this is an important issue for us in the visitor industry, our top priority right now is to find ways to provide needed assistance, aloha, and aid to the people of Japan in their time of need.” 

A PUBLIC HEARING on the proposed $366.1 million county budget will be held by the County Council on Monday at 5 p.m. in Hilo. Council Chair Dominic Yagong said he wants to keep county furloughs for another year and will negotiate with county firefighters and police unions to hold back pay raises until the economy recovers. Mayor Billy Kenoi wants to end the furloughs and give the raises to police and fire departments.

The moon should appear 14 percent larger
and 30 percent brighter Saturday evening.

A SUPERMOON will rise over Ka`u on Saturday evening as the moon will be closer to the Earth than at any other time since 1993, creating higher and lower tides. The waxing moon, almost full, should appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter. Moonrise will be around 5 p.m., and moonset will be around 5:30 a.m. On Sunday, spring begins at 1:21 p.m., with day and night equal – each 12 hours long. 

THE KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION holds its annual meeting and induction of officers tomorrow at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. Officers will be inducted before a steak fry put on by the Na`alehu Roping & Riding Club is on the menu.

KA`U HOSPITAL INVITES THE PUBLIC to meet its administration and public officials tomorrow at 3 p.m. The meet and greet session follows the East Hawai`i Region of HHSC Board of Directors meeting to be held at the hospital in Pahala. On hand will be Sen. Gil Kahele, the board, and hospital administrator Merilyn Harris and her staff. Plans will be presented to improve Ka`u Hospital.

A RUMMAGE SALE TO SUPPORT Discovery Harbour’s Volunteer Fire Department is set for Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Center. There will also be a pancake breakfast at the center tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

THE HAWAI`I SEAL OF QUALITY PROGRAM is the topic tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Matthew Loke, of the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture, discusses the statewide branding effort for genuine, top quality products from Hawai`i.