Ka`u News Briefs March 20, 2011

Supermoon over Ka`u last night in a photo taken by Peter Anderson. Look for another big moon over
the Big Island tonight, as the moon remains close to the Earth after sunset.

THE BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE to allow fuel tax money at the gas pump to help repair private roads like those in Ocean View passed the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations and Military Affairs on Thursday. It heads for the Ways and Means Committee, and on to the full Senate if it passes. The measure has the support of Mayor Billy Kenoi and County Council Chair Dominic Yagong, who said they recognize that people living in such subdivisions as Ocean View pay taxes at the pump and deserve a share of this state income to fix their roads.

Ocean View and other communities with private roads want some of the fuel tax
 charged at the pump in order to help make roads safer for such services
as fighting this fire. Photo by Charles Tobias

     It is proposed that a committee would accept proposals from private community associations that maintain roads, detailing how they would use the fuel tax money. There were only a dozen letters from the public at the Legislature, with most of them in support of the bill. However, the Tax Foundation of Hawai`i opposed the measure, saying it would make the county liable for road conditions in such private subdivisions.


MANAGEMENT AND THE PUBLIC MET concerning the future of Ka`u Hospital yesterday. Administrator Merilyn Harris said that $4.1 million has been released for air conditioning, air treatment against vog and to replace doors and windows to make the hospital airtight, when needed. A complication is asbestos in ceiling tiles, which requires an expensive process to remove them before putting in a new ceiling with air conditioning ducts.

Community members meet with the board and administration of Ka`u Hospital,
along with Sen. Gil Kahele. Photo by Julia Neal

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL include putting all records into a digital data bank in cooperation with Hilo Hospital. Computers can be rolled to a patient’s bed so that doctors and nurses can have medical records at hand. The digital recording of information also helps to reduce errors in diagnoses, treatment and mistakes in administering drugs. The Big Island is one of a few communities in the country that have received millions of dollars in grant money to go digital with hospital records. The efficiency and some sharing of data about health and sickness is expected to make medical care delivery more efficient and less costly. Some community members asked about the risk of patients’ private information being misused and were told that the privacy rules were becoming more strict.

Sen. Gil Kahele meets new Ka`u Coffee Farmers Cooperative president
Gloria Camba (l), along with Day Day Hopkins from the
County of Hawai`i Department of Research and Development.

THE NEED FOR HOME CARE was also discussed as the population is aging, and there are a number of Ka`u residents who have been trained as nursing assistants to deliver home care who need jobs here, said Jesse Marques, of the Ka`u Rural Community Health Care Association.

THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY in helping with the hospital in raising money and volunteering was applauded by members of the regional board overseeing the facility.

THE KA`U COFFEE FARMERS COOPERATIVE installed new officers last night at Pahala Community Center. The president is Gloria Camba, vice president is Leo Norberte, secretary is Trini Marques and treasurer is Richard Sambojan. They were sworn in by Day Day Hopkins, who has been assisting them with promotions, education and grants through the county Department of Research & Development since the sugar plantation shut down 15 years ago and many of the farmers lost their jobs in the sugar industry. Currently there are more than 35 members, and all of them own their homes, becoming part of the diversified agricultural economy that has grown after the demise of sugar.

THE KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION installed its officers last night. Manager Cheryl Weaver praised the community and her staff for their support during tough economic times. The president is Sharon Moore-Fisher, vice president is Eulalia Jara, treasurer is Rollie Litteral and secretary is Julia Neal. The credit union was founded generations ago by workers in the Ka`u sugar industry who found it difficult to get loans to start businesses and mortgages for homes. It has extended its reach to the entire community of Ka`u. It has more than 3,000 members.

A RUMMAGE SALE continues today until 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Center. Proceeds support Discovery Harbour’s Volunteer Fire Department.

KA`U MAIN STREET SPONSORS a Plant and Seed Exchange today from noon to 3 p.m. The exchange is held on the third Sunday of every month at the historic Naohulelua Church and garden on Kamaoa Road in Wai`ohinu.