Ka`u News Briefs May 28, 2011

Axis deer hunted on Lana`i by Darrel Colburn, an active duty U.S. military soldier.

AXIS DEER, seen as a major threat to the native environment and to farmers, have been seen in Ka`u, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Working with a coalition of resource managers on Hawai`i Island, the staff has confirmed recent sightings of what it calls “an introduced, damaging large mammal.” They have also been seen in areas from Kohala to Kona and Mauna Kea. “We consider this a serious problem with far-reaching economic and environmental impacts to the agriculture industry and native ecosystems on the island,” said DLNR chief William Aila, Jr. He said the search is being expanded and a removal plan developed by DLNR, the state Department of Agriculture, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, federal natural resource management agencies, ranchers, farmers, private landowners and concerned citizens. “Strong, swift action is needed to protect this island from newly introduced damaging ungulates that threaten the environmental character of the Big Island, he said.

DLNR chief William Aila, Jr.

     Jan Schipper, BIISC program manager, said that “ranchers and farmers have already expressed their concerns to me that deer and other species that are suspected to have been illicitly introduced on the Big Island would destroy their crops and possibly introduce new diseases to our island, as has happened on other islands.”
     Besides agriculture and public safety concerns, conservation agencies are particularly concerned about the impact to forest and native ecosystems and threatened and endangered species. There are no fences on Hawai`i Island that are tall enough to keep deer out. If deer become established, conservation and deer exclosure fences on the island will have to be raised to eight feet. Retrofitting the more than 300 miles of fences could cost tens of millions of dollars. Farmers, ranchers and public safety officials would also need to install fences to protect crops and to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
     “DLNR’s mission is to preserve and protect our natural resources, paramount of which are our watersheds and native ecosystems. We will need to take quick and effective action to prevent costly and destructive impacts on the Big Island that will last for generations, perhaps forever,” said Aila.
     DLNR asks the Big Island residents to report any sightings of deer or any other unusual new or introduced mammal anywhere to call the BIISC Hotline at 808-961-3299 or email Jan Schipper at gjs@hawaii.edu. Provide your name, contact information, an estimate of how many deer, and the location where you saw the deer. Anyone with information relating to the unauthorized introduction of these or any other restricted or prohibitive animals is urged to also contact BIISC.

Hurricane Jimena brushed against Ka`u in 2003.
Doppler image courtesy of NOAA

CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCIES around the state have been working on a mock hurricane exercise during the last week, just days before the beginning of hurricane season, which starts June 1. The exercise, called Makani Paihi, has come up with all the statistics of the fake hurricane happening, with appropriate notification of the public and coordination of emergency services. The Civil Defense exercise orchestrated Makani brushing Ka`u and described it as “an extremely dangerous category four storm packing winds of 150 miles per hour, with higher gusts when the center makes landfall on O`ahu. The mock message described many gauges no longer reporting across “the extreme southern portion of the Big Island. While a spotter in Na`alehu reports he could make out the South Point radar during breaks in the heavy rain, we are no longer receiving data,” the make-believe hurricane discussion stated. 

     In 2003, Hurricane Jimena brushed up against the Big Island and sat just offshore of Ka`u until it dissipated. The eye passed some 110 miles below South Point. The Ka`u Doppler radar was able to record its wind and rainfall. It was the closest that a hurricane or tropical storm had come to the Doppler radar system, which was installed across the state in the 1990s.

THE KA`U GONZO MUSIC SOCIETY is sponsoring a music festival on Memorial Day at Punalu`u from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The group members are Bill Filbey on piano, guitar, and harmonica; Tom Pasquale on drums; Tom Favarra on bass; and Rich Zazzi and Dan Corippo on guitar. The group covers rock ‘n’ roll, R & B and reggae, and also plays original songs. Other entertainers include Foggy (aka Gary Cole), the Mile 25 Band and an Elvis impersonator. 

Kara Adanalian           Photos by Geneveve Fyvie

Adanalian's winning
Ka`u Coffee & Spice
Shortbread Cookies

KARA ADANALIAN WON FIRST in the Amateur Dessert I category at the Ka`u Coffee Festival Recipe Contest with her Ka`u Coffee & Spice Shortbread Cookies. Adanalian said she has competed in recipe contests for about 20 years now. In 2004, she was named America’s Best Home Cook by Fine Cooking magazine. Adanalian revamped a shortbread cookie recipe to use Ka`u Coffee and other Ka`u ingredients, including ginger and honey from the Ka`u Farmers Market in Na`alehu. Contact Adanalian at kara@acmegraphics.net.