Ka`u News Briefs July 19, 2011

The Southside Junior Boys Volleyball teams traveled to Minneapolis to compete in the Nationals earlier this month.

THE HAWAI`I STATE TEACHERS UNION filed for a court injunction to stop the state from reducing teacher pay, increasing health insurance payments, and other measures the state took to balance its budget without a vote by the union members. The new fiscal year began July 1, and the state implemented its changes after making what it called a “last, best and final offer” to the union. The state implemented a 1.5 percent pay cut plus furlough days on non-teaching days and the teachers taking responsibility for paying a higher amount of their health insurance payments. Gov. Neil Abercrombie said earlier that other government worker unions had accepted the cutbacks in order to keep the state budget intact and that the union leaders should have allowed the members to vote on the matter. The state has a week to respond to the request for the court injunction.

ALASKA AIRLINES plans another route to Hawai`i, this new one from San Diego. Alaska is already flying from West Coast cities to Hawai`i, and there is hope they will someday fly to Hilo as Alaskans find Hawai`i, the Big Island a favorite winter destination since this island has the large landscapes and plenty of room to move around, as well as hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports, just like Alaska.

Members of the 79th Recruit Class of the Hawai`i County
Police Department will do on-the-job training in Ka`u.

THE NEW CLASS OF POLICE OFFICER RECRUITS will be here in Ka`u and around the island on their four months of on-the-job field training with veteran police officers before they take on their own beats. 

     The 79th Recruit Class of the Hawai`i County Police Department is led by its president, Peter P. Tourigny, who addressed the graduating class last Friday. He said most of the recruits were born and raised on the Big Island, but some members traveled from O`ahu, Maui and as far as New Hampshire to be here. Prior to entering the Police Department, recruits worked as school teachers, retail sales associates, farmers, armored truck drivers, college students, personal trainers, loss prevention agent, police dispatcher, corrections officer, former police officer and amateur dancer.
     “I challenge each of you to wear your uniform with pride and remember that we are now held to a higher standard of living,” Tourigny said. “We must serve the community in a way that will never disgrace the honor of our badges.”
     During the ceremony, three of the recruits received special recognition for their excellence in training. They were Branden K. Watanabe, who excelled in academic training; Vaughn S. Kelii, who excelled in physical fitness training; and vice president Amy C. Masuyama, who excelled in firearms training. Mayor Bill Kenoi, County Council Chair Dominic Yagong and former Mayor Harry Kim also addressed the troops.

BANK OF HAWAI`I CUSTOMERS who were charged overdraft fees during the last five years have a good chance of getting them back, as Bank of Hawai`i is setting aside $9 million for such refunds. The settlement involves a change in policy in which the bank was listing debit card transactions from highest to lowest in dollar transactions, which maximized the fees it could charge. The bank already changed the policy and will make the refunds. Other banks are being asked to do the same. 

KANU HAWAI`I, a nonprofit environmental group, is asking people and businesses across the state to cut their electric and gas bills by 25 percent. It asks people to take up a challenge each week to focus on reducing energy use and energy bills. This week’s challenge is transportation, and the slogan is “Get out of the car and explore alternative transportation,” which is easy on this island since bus rides are $1 for the public and free for students, seniors and the disabled. Next week’s challenge: Participants can make pledges and enter contests to win free solar hot water heaters, lighting retrofits and gift certificates. Sponsors include Hawai`i Energy, Helping Hands Hawai`i, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, RevoluSun, EAH Housing and Hawaiian Electric. See kanuhawaii.org to make a pledge and enter a contest. 

THE SOUTHSIDE JUNIOR BOYS VOLLEYBALL teams are reporting that their summer competition in Minneapolis gave them lots of experience against tough competition. The 12-and-Under team won six out of twelve games and took fourth nationwide. They beat teams from Puerto Rico and O`ahu with Ka`u team members Kameron Moses, Nai`a Makuakane, Addison Enriques and Avery Enriques. The 13-and-Under team placed fourth and won nine out of the 12 games they played. The newly formed 13-and-Under team did not place but gained experience to get ready for next year’s Nationals being held in Dallas, Texas.

One Journey performs tonight at Kilauea Visitor Center
Auditorium in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

ONE JOURNEY, THE KA`U HIGH SCHOOL ensemble with lead singer and composer Eunice Longakit, will perform tonight at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium tonight at 7 p.m. Their CDs will be available for purchase and autographs. A $2 donation supports park programs, and park entrance fees apply.

KAREN HAGEN SHARES THE ART OF CERAMICS at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 967-7565 for more information.

KUA O KA LA VIRTUAL ACADEMY, a New Century Public Charter School, hosts a question-and-answer meeting tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Cooper Center in Volcano. The school’s hybrid program offers place-based, Hawaiian culture-focused electives coupled with an online academic program. For more information, call 808-342-0611. 

REDISTRICTING OF HAWAI‘I COUNTY is the topic at a District 6 Matters meeting tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Yano Hall in Captain Cook. County Council member Brittany Smart and attorney Michael Udovic, from the office of Corporation Counsel, will be on hand to answer questions.