Ka`u News Briefs April 28, 2011

The Ka`u `Ohana Band will open the Spring Fling at Punalu`u Bake Shop's new pavilion on Saturday.

COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART has issued a fact sheet about her resolution to delay Council action on general plan amendments and rezoning applications in Ka`u. When she introduced the resolution, the Council rescheduled it to give the Ka`u CDP Steering Committee members and the community time to understand what it does and does not do.
     Smart’s resolution calls for the County Council to wait until the Ka`u CDP is complete, or until December 31, 2012, whichever comes first, before approving general plan amendments and rezoning applications.
     The fact sheet says the resolution does not affect subdivision proposals, special permit applications and variances, “since Planning and Public Works Department permits and approvals do not come before the Council.”
     It also says it does not affect the Ocean View transfer station project or `Aina Koa Pono’s biofuel proposal in Pahala, “which does not need any County Council approval.”
     Smart said a District 6 Matters meeting to be held in June will focus on her Resolution 60-11, and the County Council Planning Committee will consider it on Monday, July 6.
     Call Smart at 961-8536 for more information.

Daniel Elmore, a trainee from last year's Summer Youth
Employment Program, guides visitors at
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

KUPONO MCDANIEL, Supervisor Ranger of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, says the park will be training 22 pre-selected high school juniors and seniors for summer employment. However, the park will only have enough funding and space to hire 10 of these individuals. McDaniel hopes the other 12 trainees will be hired on by other organizations or become volunteer rangers at the park. Hawai`i Community Foundation donated $25,000 to the park’s effort. Some of the young rangers will be repeats from last year’s program, which Joan Rubin helped write the grant for. Jorge Zamudio, a participant in last year’s Summer Youth Employment Program at the park and now full-time employee as an Intern through KUPU, will be a mentor once the trainees start working. Classroom training will be held this spring after school on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. by rangers and biologists such as Adrian Boone, Dean Gallagher, and John Stallman. Once their training is complete, John Replogle, of The Nature Conservancy, will take the trainees on a camping excursion. 

INSPIRED BY REP. BOB HERKES’ April fundraiser for Hawai`i tsunami relief, Tesoro Hawai`i has donated $5,000 in gasoline cards to be administered by the Hualalai Ohana Foundation to needy families and individuals. The foundation is also contacting companies to assist in providing for basic necessities to those still recovering from the tsunami. 

KAHU 91.7 FM is looking for local residents who are interested in walking alongside the station’s turtle car and banner in the Merrie Monarch Parade. The parade is this Saturday morning. Call the KAHU office at 935-8874 or Wendell Ka`ehu`ae`a at 640-1435 to sign up.

TO MARK THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY of the local sugar mill closing down, a Ka`u Plantation Days celebration is being planned for Saturday, August 20. Under the trees at the Old Manager’s House in Pahala, there will be displays, food, demonstrations, music and dance by the people of Ka`u. Those interested in taking part and sharing stories, songs, photos, films and skills can call Ka`u Plantation Days Committee members at 928-9811, 928-0303 or 928-8478. 

Bull Kailiawa at his Ka`u Coffee farm.

KA`U COFFEE FARMER Bull Kailiawa is in Houston, Texas, representing Ka`u at the Specialty Coffee Association of America convention. His coffee was chosen as the best coffee in Hawai`i and the U.S. at the convention and placed as one of the top ten coffees in the world. 

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART holds a District 6 Matters meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano. Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira answers questions from the public about Fire Department issues and services.

KA`U SCHOOL OF THE ARTS hosts the Spring Fling at Punalu`u Bake Shop’s new pavilion on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Opening the day will be the Ka`u `Ohana Band, playing patriotic and inspiring marches. Other performers include the Na`alehu Civic Club Singers, Hands of Time and Keoki Kahumoku. Ka`u artists and artisans will display their creations and offer them for sale, give demonstrations and lead art activities.

VOLCANO ART CENTER hosts its second annual May Day is Lei Day Festival this Sunday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. This free family event is for residents and visitors of all ages to join in the creative and cultural tradition of making and wearing lei.
     Cultural practitioner Loke Kamanu will showcase a display of various lei and assist in hands-on lei making using ti and kui style, using flowers.
     Lei makers of all ages and levels of experience can enter a lei contest. All lei entries become part of a silent auction fundraiser to benefit VAC’s year-round educational offerings.
     Call 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org for details.

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES for the Ka`u Coffee recipe contest has been extended to Saturday, May 7. Applications are available online at www.kaucoffeefest.com. Contact Michelle Galimba at 430-4927 or mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com for more information.