Ka`u News Briefs April 7, 2011

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK has issued a request for public comments on its Air Tour Management Plan being crafted by the National Park Service and the Federal Aviation Administration. The purpose of the plan is to "develop acceptable and effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural and cultural resources, visitor experiences, and tribal lands." The public can read updates on the national park website and attend a meeting on Monday, April 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Kilauea Visitor Center and Wednesday, April 20 at Na`alehu Community Center from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

HAWAI`I COUNTY WORKERS may face a five percent pay decrease for the next two years if their Hawai`i Government Employees Association union members vote to approve the agreement between their leadership, the state and county. Governor Neil Abercrombie said the pay cut could save the state $88 million a year if it is accepted by all the state worker unions. The deal includes HGEA state and county workers throughout the islands. 

Hawai`i Government Employees Association
agrees to end of furloughs and
 a five percent pay decrease.

The agreement would end Furlough Fridays and would require members of the union to pay 50 percent of the cost of their health insurance. Right now government is paying 60 percent. The agreement does not cover United Public Workers, the State of Hawai`i Organization of Police Officers, the Hawai`i Firefighters Association and the Hawai`i State Teachers Association, for which negotiations are ongoing. The county of Hawai`i has also been involved in the negotiations. The county council is not necessarily going along with the deal. Councilwoman Brittany Smart voted yesterday to continue the furloughs, along with Council Chair Dominic Yagong. 

A ONE PERCENT HIKE IN THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX would generate $500 to $600 million a year to help balance a state budget with a two-year deficit of $1.3 billion. The proposal in the state Senate also calls for giving back $100 million to lower-income taxpayers. Some legislators are also calling for eliminating tax exemptions for subcontractors for such businesses as Hawaiian Airlines and high tech, shipbuilding and repair enterprises. Having them pay four percent would bring in about $200 million a year. A&B Electric Co., which works on ship repairs, testified that the exemption from the excise tax has helped create a healthy shipbuilding industry here in Hawai`i. The American Piping and Boiler Co., the Hawai`i Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Realtors testified against the GET hike. The Hawai`i Government Employees Association testified for the tax hike. The Democratic Party testified for the tax hike as did a number of social service agencies. The Republican Party testified against the tax hike yesterday. 

THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD INNOVATIVE READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM is looking to provide free labor for Ka`u nonprofit organizations, according to County Council member Brittany Smart. Call Deann Canuteson, Project Coordinator of the Ka`u Opportunities and Abilities Project at 936-4925 or 929-9611. 

ROAD TO THE SEA will have public access, according to councilmember Brittany Smart, who said yesterday that she will amend the bill to acquire 3,000 acres of coastline there for preservation to make sure that the access road is included. The bill to acquire the land goes to the full County Council on April 20th.

Road to the Sea.  From www.iFishHawaii.com

MAYOR BILLY KENOI will join councilwoman Brittany Smart tonight at Yano Hall in South Kona for a District 6 Matters meeting at 6:30 p.m. All the public is invited. 

THE OCEAN VIEW TRANSFER STATION has a $3 million appropriation in a $56 million bond float proposed by Mayor Billy Kenoi to the County Council. The $8.8 million Wai`ohinu transfer station has been put on the back burner, since it is Ocean View that has no permanent transfer station, and the Wai`ohinu proposal was an upgrade to be planned for the future.

DISNEY WILL SEND its first cruise ship to Hawai`i, stopping in Hilo on April 12, 2012. The 2,700-passenger ship will also call at Kahului, Honolulu, Nawiliwili and Ensenada, Mexico before heading back to Los Angeles. Shore excursions from cruise ships often include travel as far south as Punalu`u Black Sand Beach here in Ka`u. The name of the ship is the Disney Wonder. 

THE MONGOLIAN BARBECUE is on for this Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano Village. Wok masters will cook up stir-fried vegetables, tofu, chicken, beef and pork and charge 60 cents an ounce for each personalized creation. Funds raised go to the Cooper Center. Entertainment includes Komakakino from the Paul Neves Halau. See thecoopercenter.org or call 985-9508.