Ka`u News Briefs April 8, 2011

Floating debris from the Japan tsunami is headed toward Hawai`i.  Photos courtesy of the U.S. Navy

VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP CLEAN THE KA`U COAST may have an even bigger job in a couple of years or sooner as a giant flotilla comprised of the remains of buildings, vehicles and other debris from the great 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 10 is headed this way. Scientists predict that the northern Hawaiian islands could receive the garbage within a year, and the southern end of the Hawaiian chain within two years. It could reach California in three years. 

     The debris field is expected to combine with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which floats northeast of Hawai`i. As it breaks up, it will come this way, and scientists say that Hawai`i’s coastline will stand as the recipient of the most trash from Japan in about five years. These predictions were presented at the recent International Marine Debris Conference in Honolulu by the UH-Manoa International Pacific Research Center. Photos taken by the U.S. Navy showed the vast flotilla of debris that came from entire villages swept into the ocean following the quake and tsunami. 

     Ka`alu`alu and other beaches near South Point are major collectors of flotsam from around the world. 

HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, one of the largest employers in Ka`u, has been planning all week for tonight’s possible shutdown of the federal government as the result of Congress failing to approve a budget. When the U.S. government closes down all national parks shut their gates and employees go home without pay. The last time the government shut down was in 1995 under Pres. Bill Clinton. Guests were directed to check out of Volcano House and leave Volcano House restaurant and the rest of the park. 

Volcano House is already closed, and the rest of
Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will turn away
visitors and workers at midnight if the
U.S. government shuts down.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

     This time Volcano House is already closed for renovations and selecting a new hotelier. Kilauea Military Camp guests would be given notice to be gone by Monday morning. Volcano Art Center, KMC store and the bowling alley would also be closed.
     At full staffing, more than 1,000 people work within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. It is the largest employment campus in Ka`u, with workers at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, KMC, Volcano Art Center, concessions and the National Park Service.
     If the U.S. government does shut down, signs would go up at the closed gates, which would be staffed only for security and emergency operations, said park superintendent Cindy Orlando. No one, not even workers who want to volunteer, would be allowed in the park except for a skeleton crew at KMC and the emergency operations center. Those on duty would only be the caretakers to protect government property and oversee fire safety.
     The staff at the park has been working on this possibility for a couple of months. Congress started the conversation about a possible shutdown more than a month ago. “This time it has a lot more legs on it, and there are daily meetings with the staff,” said Orlando. She noted that Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park has experience in managing park closures and partial park closures, as this happens during volcanic, vog and fire events. “Our staff has a handle on what to do. We love our park and we know the public loves our park,” the park superintendent said.

These mac nuts go from the Olson husking plant on Wood Valley Road
to Hamakua Mac Nut, where the kernels are extracted and the shells
are used for activated carbon.  Photo by Julia Neal

MACADAMIA NUT SHELLS from nuts grown on the Edmund C. Olson Trust property around Pahala will be used to produce activated carbon, as a manufacturing plant is set to start production by mid-month in Kawaihae. Nuts from the Olson lands are husked here and shipped to Kawaihae to Hamakua Macadamia Nut Co. After the kernels are removed, the shells are sent next door to Big Island Carbon, LLC, which is managed by Rick Vidgen, former president of ML Macadamia. The carbon factory is expected to have 25 to 30 fulltime employees and purchase about 10,000 tons of macadamia shells a year, creating up to 1,500 tons of granular, activated carbon used for air and water filters and by the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Big Island Carbon also plans to produce some biofuel and have an electric plant for its own power. 

ENDING TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR SELECT BUSINESSES passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee over at the state Legislature yesterday, but the proposed hike in the General Excise Tax failed. Raising the excise tax to five percent had been seen by some senators as a way to balance the state budget. Many business leaders testified against the measure, while social service and union leaders testified for it, noting the recent cuts in pay and the ending of many health and social benefits programs.

Sen. Daniel Akaka
Photo by Julia Neal

THE NATIVE HAWAIIAN Government Reorganization bill passed out of the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee yesterday and is headed for a vote by the full Senate. Sen. Daniel Akaka introduced the bill in 1999 and hopes it passes before his announced retirement. It would be the first time it faces a vote by the entire Senate. Called the Akaka Bill, it would give many of the rights to Hawaiians in self-governance as those enjoyed by Native Alaskans and American Indians. "Over the years, we have had extensive hearings on this issue - all stakeholders have had an opportunity to present their views, and we have strengthened our bill with their input," said the senator. The bill would allow Hawaiians to form a government to negotiate with the federal and state government on such matters as land and cultural issues. Akaka noted that it does not include seceding from the U.S., taking over private land or allowing gambling. 

HUNTING WILL BE ALLOWED during the next two weekends within sections of Pohakuloa Training Area in order to eliminate wild goats and sheep in conservation areas. The effort seeks to protect 15 species of federally protected plants, four mammals and 17 bird species. Dr. Peter Peshut said the protected species, “as well as native plants and animals in general, require an intact native habitat to survive." Licensed hunters are allowed access at 5 a.m. tomorrow. Hunter check-in stations are at the Huluhulu station on the east side of Pohakuloa, and Kilohana station west of Pohakuloa. Hunters can call the Hunter's Hotline at 969-3474 for specific information. 

Diagram of geothermal power
generation.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN community organizers and representatives are taking another look at the pros and cons of geothermal energy on the Big Island. A community forum is taking place this morning in Puna, with a presentation by a firm that has developed geothermal energy on Maori trust lands in New Zealand. Innovations Development Group said there will be presentations by six native Hawaiian leaders who will offer their views on how development of geothermal energy can be done in a way that protects cultural and natural resources. Organizers say they hope to encourage development of geothermal projects in addition to the existing Ormat Technologies geothermal plant. Representatives of the Native Hawaiian community attending the forum include Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Bob Lindsey, Laulima Title Search and Claims chief officer Kale Gumpack, advocate Mililani Trask, Kealoa Estate’s Kealoa Cooper, and cultural advisor Cy Bridges. 

A BENEFIT FOR THE OCEAN VIEW Children’s Garden takes place this Sunday, April 10 from noon to 5 p.m. Ken Love, president of Tropical Fruit Growers, will discuss the future of farming in Hawai`i. Luncheon, music, and a farm tour are included in the price of $25 for adults and $15 for children. All proceeds go to the children’s garden. The event is sponsored by Earth Matters Farm. RSVP at 939-7510 or gailandgreg@mac.com.

THE DEADLINE TO APPLY for the Ken Wicks Scholarships offered by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce is this Monday, April 11. Applications available at Ka`u and Konawaena High School counseling offices or www.kauchamber.org. For more information contact Stephen Sampson at 929-9136 or scholarship@kauchamber.org.