Ka`u News Briefs April 20, 2011

Honu`apo is the subject of a study to protect wildlife, with a public meeting to be held May 15.  Photo by Teresa Tico

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE FAA are holding a meeting tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center. They are asking for comments from the public on preliminary alternatives for Hawai`i Island’s Air Tours Management Plan. This involves airplanes and helicopters that may fly over homes, farms, ranches and wilderness areas during air tours.

A MEASURE TO DELAY ZONING and General Plan amendment changes until after the Ka`u Community Development Plan is completed was itself delayed at council committee meetings Tuesday. Council member Brittany Smart, who proposed to delay zoning and General Plan changes, agreed to wait for input from the Ka`u Community Development Plan steering committee. She also noted that the proposed delays would likely have no effect on the proposed refinery and biofuels farm proposed by `Aina Koa Pono near Pahala and the resort planned on 16,000 acres makai of Ocean View at Nani Kahuku `Aina. Her measure was delayed until July.
     According to a report in West Hawai`i Today, some Ka`u residents expressed concern that the Ka`u Community Development Plan has lost momentum. The newspaper quoted resident Bill Savage as saying, “We find ourselves 31 months later with no idea when it’s going to end. We deserve to have a plan in place before any more developments are approved.”

A PLAN TO GIVE MORE AUTHORITY to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Committee on selecting open space to be preserved failed in the County Council’s Finance Committee Tuesday. The plan was authored by council member Pete Hoffmann, who also hoped to delete language that gave coastal lands more priority. The method of allowing the County Council to make the final decision on what land is purchased will stand.

HAWAI`I HAS THE HIGHEST GAS prices in the country, and prices on the Big Island are reaching their highest prices ever. Regular gas this morning in Ka`u was being sold for $4.48 at Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View. Kahala Gas in Ocean View is charging $4.54, and Ocean View Market is now refusing to give prices over the phone. The 76 Station in Na`alehu is charging $4.63 a gallon, and Ka`u Gas in Pahala is charging $4.61 a gallon for regular.

Kaiholena Preserve  Photo by John Replogle/TNC

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY’S KAIHOLENA PRESERVE recently marked its two-year anniversary of being pig-free. A six-mile-long animal-proof fence, completed at the end of 2007, protects the 1,200-acre lowland forest preserve, which is now thriving with rarely seen native species. 

     A local crew from the Sunshine Fence Co. built the six-foot-high enclosure, which is the state’s first mouflon-proof fence built in a forest. To do the job, crew members had to camp in the preserve during construction, clear fence lines by hand and have all fencing materials flown in by helicopter sling loads. On weekends, as many as 20 workers were part of the effort, which took eight months to complete. It took another year for hunters and Nature Conservancy staff to remove all the pigs.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE HONU`APO Wetlands Plan is invited during a presentation coming up on Sunday, May 15, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the park. The draft wetlands restoration plan gives the County of Hawai`i and Ka `Ohana guidelines to restore the aquatic functions of Honu`apo Estuary through the removal of invasive non-native plants; excavation of fill and contouring of the topography to enhance physical habitat; the planting of native plants; and the control of feral and predatory animals on native birds. In improving native bird habitat, this restoration will also help to improve fish and turtle habitats and other wetland functions. The draft plan is a part of and the next step in implementing Honu`apo’s Resources Management Plan. Likely to come up is whether and how much fencing should be done to keep out predators and what trees and other plants to remove. For questions on the plan call executive director Lehua Lopez Mau at 929-9819. 

THE LAST DAY TO VISIT THE U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the West Hawai`i Civic Center in Kona is tomorrow, Thursday, April 21. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Low-inerest Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the March 11 tsunami. Representatives at the center issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help each individual complete their application and close their approved loans.
     Disaster loan information and application forms are also available at 800-659-2955, disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
     The deadline to file applications for property damage is May 31. 

Certified Iyengar Yoga instructor
Steve Salkin-Krucker

CERTIFIED IYENGAR YOGA teacher Steve Salkin-Krucker is teaching at Pahala Community Center tonight and every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The class is for all levels, and is by donation. Besides being a student of senior Iyengar teachers in this country, Salkin-Krucker has studied with the Iyengar family in India and America. “Iyengar certification guarantees a yoga experience that is safe, suitable for individual physical conditions and beneficial for both body and mind,” Salkin-Krucker said. He can be reached at 345-1061. 

ONE JOURNEY will be on O`ahu Saturday night to perform during the finals of the Brown Bags to Stardom statewide high school talent contest. One Journey is comprised of Ka`u High School students, including lead singer Eunice Longakit. The band made the top ten, and their music video made the top six in the annual Brown Bags competition. The winners of both competitions will be announced on Saturday. Johnny Kai said this morning that he produces the event to create new musical stars in Hawai`i. He said he is worried that the Hawaiian music industry could collapse. “It is important to groom new musicians who can represent Hawai`i,” he said. “It is also important to the visitor industry, which supports the livelihood of our musicians.” While the Brown Bags finals will not be shown live on OC16 this Saturday, it will be broadcast within a few weeks, said Kai.

Choreographer Nalani Parlin teaches dance steps to young candidates
 in the Miss Ka`u Peaberry and Young Miss Ka`u Coffee categories
for this Saturday's pageants.  Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

ORIGINAL DANCES will be performed by the candidates for Miss Ka`u Coffee, Miss Ka`u Peaberry and Young Miss Ka`u Coffee this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Ka`u High School Gym during the annual pageant. The names of the dance presentations are: Beautiful Just the Way We Are and Umbrellas of Friendship Make a Thing Go Right. Tickets are sold out, so those without tickets are encouraged to ask friends and family who may not be using them or bought extras just to support the candidates. Food will be available for sale before the pageant and during intermission.