Ka`u News Briefs June 18, 2011

Classic cars are a popular entry in the Independence Day parades this July 2 in Na`alehu and July 4 in Volcano.

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER PETE HOFFMANN said he is disappointed with Mayor Billy Kenoi’s veto of the Council version of the county budget this week. Hoffmann said he hoped the mayor would be satisfied with the council approving 97 percent of the mayor's $367 million budget. Hoffmann said the budget “presented itself for establishing a cooperative relationship,” but instead wound up with "political theater once again to resolve relatively minor budget changes." 

Pete Hoffmann

     Hoffmann also responded to the county Corporation Counsel’s and mayor’s contention that the council's new version of the budget has illegalities: “At no time during the budget discussion did I or other Council members believe what we were doing was illegal, nor did we ever hear from the Corporation Counsel that such actions might be in violation of the charter.” He pointed out that Corporation Counsel is the lawyer for the mayor, administration and the County Council.
     “I have always wondered how you can serve the proverbial two masters at the same time, and this is an instance where this might lead to real/imagined difficulties,” said Hoffmann.
     “Whether the Council votes to override the mayor’s veto or not, county residents are being treated to another in a series of political dramas that tend to reflect badly on all participants,” said Hoffmann.

THE DEADLY ACCIDENT at mile marker 35 on Hwy 11 between Volcano and Pahala is still a mystery to investigators, who are suspecting that car racing was involved in the tragedy. The accident took place on a strip of Hwy 11 that is apparently used by young people who commandeer the straightaway on the public highway for a drag strip, particularly on Saturday nights after midnight. The accident, which left one young man dead and his companion with reportedly serious brain and spine injuries, apparently took place at about 1:30 a.m. last Sunday along the illegal raceway. Investigators are asking any witnesses to come forward to confirm or debunk the story that this was a racing accident. The car apparently flew off the highway, and the two occupants were ejected into the lava. An ambulance transporting a patient from Ka`u Hospital to Hilo happened onto the accident, and paramedics called for help.
     Sometime this week, someone sprayed paint across Hwy 11 near the accident site that says R.I.P. – standing for Rest In Peace.
     Hawai`i Police Chief Harry Kubojiri has asked the community to help stop the car racing, as it is deadly not only to participants but could involve innocent people driving home from work and visitors driving back to accommodations after seeing the volcano late at night.

More seniors will have to make
their own co-payments.

SENIORS DEPENDING ON STATE CO-PAYMENTS at the pharmacy will have to look elsewhere. The state Department of Human Services will discontinue its Pharmacy Assistance Program for 43,000 low-income Medicare recipients on July 1, since the Legislature repealed the program. This will not affect eligibility for Medicare Part D. It will make the seniors responsible for their own co-payments. 

THE HAWAIIAN FOOD STAPLE, THE BREADFRUIT, will be depicted in works of art to promote its qualities. Artists from Ka`u and abroad are invited to submit their breadfruit creations by July 25 in advance of the Breadfruit Festival at the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in South Kona on Saturday, Sept. 24. The competition is also supported by the Hawai`i Homegrown Food Network, Breadfruit Institute of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and Donkey Mill Art Center. 

Breadfruit photo courtesy of Hawai`i
Tropical Botanical Gardens

     Breadfruit regions were an important source of food on the island, including a band of `ulu trees one-half mile wide and 18 miles long called kale `ulu that produced as much as 36,000 tons of `ulu fruit per year. Today, few of these trees remain. 

     Ho`oulu ka `Ulu is a project to revitalize `ulu as an attractive, delicious, nutritious, abundant, affordable, and culturally appropriate food which addresses Hawai`i’s food security issues.
     All Hawai`i Island artists are invited to submit original 2D media artwork to the art contest. Semi-finalists will bring original work to the Donkey Mill Art Center on Thursday, Aug. 11 for an artist’s reception and final judging. One winning piece will be selected to be reproduced into a collectable poster commemorating the Ho`oulu ka `Ulu project, which will be sold at the Breadfruit Festival and beyond as a fundraiser for the festival and project. See www.breadfruit.info.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER the Na`alehu Fourth of July Parade had been extended to July 1. `O Ka`u Kakou is sponsoring the parade on Saturday, July 2 at 11 a.m. Patriotic citizens, businesses and organizations interested in participating or donating can call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872. Residents are also invited to join the Fourth of July Parade in Volcano Village on July 4 at 9 a.m. Call 967-7800.

THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT airs on Na Leo O Hawai`i Community Television tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. and on Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.

KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP CELEBRATES Father’s Day with a brunch tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a Surf ‘n’ Turf special from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. Call 967-8371 for more information.