Ka`u News Briefs Friday, July 8, 2011

One Journey, recipients of numerous Brown Bags to Stardom awards including best song and best singer, received a certificate from the County Council. Photo by Amy Miwa

MEMBERS OF ONE JOURNEY, the band coming out of Ka`u High School who won the statewide Brown Bags to Stardom competition this year, received a certificate of honor from Council member Brittany Smart and the rest of the County Council yesterday in council chambers.
KA`U COFFEE QUEENS AND PRINCESSES received a certificate from County Council member Brittany Smart at the same meeting. Brandy Shibuya, the Ka`u Coffee Queen, traveled with the young ladies to Hilo for the presentation before the entire County Council.

Ka`u Coffee Court receives certificates from Council member Brittany Smart yesterday in Hilo. Photo by Amy Miwa

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KA`U COFFEE FARMERS will be represented by their co-op at the Hawai`i Coffee Association’s annual competition this weekend at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Ka`u Coffee Queen Brandy Shibuya will represent the district on Saturday. Many Ka`u Coffee growers have once again submitted their coffee for the tasting competition. Last year local grower Lorie Obra won first place in the state and a number of coffee farmers ranked high in the event. Farmers said they are set to meet with Japanese buyers and also to strategize on keeping the devastating coffee cherry borer pest out of Ka`u. Newsman Howard Dicus will give the keynote address tomorrow.

ALLEGIANT AIRLINES is planning to connect Las Vegas with Hawai`i by starting service to the islands. The company serves smaller cities and there is hope that it will come to Hilo with its new 757. The Hawai`i Tourism Authority has been encouraging Allegiant to come to the Islands for several years.

Allegiant Airlines plans to offer service from mainland to Hawai`i

BIG ISLAND BUSINESS LEADERS are hoping to draw some of the attendees to this island before and after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation convention set for Waikiki this November. According to a report in Pacific Business News, Barry Taniguchi, president and CEO of KTA Super Stores and chairman of the APEC 2011 Hawaii Host Committee’s Neighbor Island subcommittee, has been working on pre and post activities to include the Neighbor Islands. Some local businesses will be able to exhibit at Ala Moana Center through the host committee’s business innovation showcase competition. County economic development offices will judge the entries and six finalists will come from the Big Island. There will be one winner from each county.

ABEL SIMEONA LUI says he is hoping for the President of the United States to help him avoid eviction at Kawa. He told the County Council that he sent a packet of paperwork to President Barack Obama. Lui was filmed by Big Island Video News at the County Council last week saying that Kawa is a country. The county purchased land for a park at Kawa from realtor Marcia Johnson and is finalizing purchase of more acreage on the South end of Kawa and between Kawa and Punalu`u from the Olson Trust. Lui said the land was taken from his family illegally but a judge recently ruled that Lui has no title to the property, clearing the way for the selling of the land for a public park and wetlands preserve. Lui said he will appeal to state and federal courts and government agencies.

KA`U IS USUALLY A LOW crime area but police are looking for a group of thieves who broke into the Punalu`u Golf Course concession by the tennis courts and stole a safe that was heavy enough to require four people just to carry it into the building. The attendant found the mess at 4:15 a.m. in the morning when arriving to work. Thieves also stole the chips, candy, and golf balls and broke the cash register. Police suspect that the thieves came in through the opening in the wall where the air conditioner was installed. In another incident, thieves broke into the Ka`u Gas station in Pahala and stole money, going int through louver windows. Anyone with information call the Crimestoppers line at 961-8300. 

THE 31ST ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will take place tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. just off Hwy 11 between the 70 and 71 mile markers in the Kahuku unit.The free event celebrates Hawaiian culture with top Hawaiian entertainment, hands-on cultural demonstrations, local food, crafts and much more.

PATIENCE, the Gilbert & Sullivan musical, opens tonight at Kilauea Military Camp Theatre. A production of Kilauea Drama & Entertainment Network, the play pokes fun at the Aesthetic movement that was prevalent in England in the late 1800s. Showtime is at 7:30  p.m. every Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through July 24.

Patience is on stageevery Friday and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through July 24.