Ka'u News Briefs Oct. 26, 2011

Kawa is a popular surfing spot for Ka`u residents and surfers from elsewhere. Photos by Julia Neal

Kawa oceanfront encampment during a surf meet.

THE COUNTY PURCHASE OF KAWA could close within a week, says attorney Paul Alston, according to a Nancy Cook Lauer story in West Hawai`i Today this morning. Federal Judge Alan C. Kay ruled yesterday that federal court has no jurisdiction to block the purchase.
     Abel Simeona Lui, however, contends that he and his family own the land. Lui, who has lived for more than 20 years on Kawa land planned for a park, claims it was unfairly taken from his family generations ago. The judge yesterday remanded Lui’s case back to state court. State Judge Joseph P. Florindo, Jr. ruled earlier this year that Lui has no right to the property and Lui has filed an appeal.

Floating debris from the tsunami that hit Japan
on March 11, 2011, heads toward Hawai'i.
Photo from US Navy

NO RADIATION is expected from the Japan tsunami debris field that is headed toward Hawai`i, according to researchers at University of Hawai`i. The explanation is that most of the debris washed out to sea during the March 11 earthquake and tsunami before the nuclear plant disaster released radiation.
     The blanket of debris is estimated to be 2,000 miles long and 1,000 miles wide and is loosely floating in the Pacific, driven this way by currents. The state Department of Health promises to test for radiation, whenever the debris reaches Hawai`i.
     The east side of South Point here in Ka`u is one of places with the most ocean most debris landing on the shore.
     The Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, which organizes regular clean-ups on the Ka`u Coast, is seeking volunteers to prepare for picking up any non-radioactive tsunami debris. A team of oceanographers and the UH School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology are working to track the debris. The estimate is that five to 20 million tons of debris washed away during the tsunami and could reach here as early as Spring of 2013. The debris field is now near Midway Island.
     The next cleanups by the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund are both on Saturdays, the first on Nov. 12 and the second on Jan. 14. Call organizer Megan Lamson at 769-7629. See Hawaii Wildlife Fund on Facebook or email kahakai.cleanups.gmail.com.

MORE MONEY for land preserves and parks purchased with the county’s 2 percent land fund is a campaign launched by County Council member Brenda Ford. The additional money, totaling .25 percent of county property taxes, would be used to take care of the land, according to a Jason Armstrong story in this morning’s Hawai`i Tribune Herald. Ford told Armstrong that the money for maintenance could be capped at $3 million. The .25 percent of property taxes would amount to about $500,000 a year. Her bill on this issue would go on the ballot for a Charter Amendment vote, along with another measure to protect the 2 percent land fund.

SEN. GIL KAHELE holds a public forum at Pahala Community Center tonight at 5:30 p.m. Kahele said he will listen to concerns of constituents who can help him prepare for the upcoming 27th Hawai`i Legislature, which begins in January. He will report on the 26th legislative session and address specific issues.

Mantracker, on horseback, will hunt prey on foot in Ka`u.  
Photo from Bonterra Productions

THE DEADLINE TO TRY OUT FOR MANTRACKER, the Discovery Science Channel realty show, is this Friday. The casting call is for a team of two on foot, who would be hunted by Mantracker and his sidekick on horseback. Mantracker is returning to Ka`u to film two shows. The producers are looking for a team of prey who think they can outsmart the Mantracker. Each team will have 36 hours to make it over 25 miles of Ka`u wilderness without getting caught by Mantracker.
     The prey must be “exciting, competitive and compelling people who have the strength, smarts and strategy to outfox and evade,” says Mantracker production coordinator Michelle Budden. Members of each team of prey must be related in some way. They could be siblings, co-workers, or husband and wife.
     To apply, visit www.mantracker.ca or email Budden at contact@bonterraproductions.com for more information. Mantracker airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.

SHORT FILMS BY LOCAL YOUTH will be debuted at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park’s third annual Digital Mountain youth film festival this Saturday at 6 p.m. in Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium. This year’s theme is “It’s My Trail.” The public is encouraged to attend and to vote for their favorite film in advance. The public is also invited to a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. preceding the festival.
     Awards, including MacBook Pro laptops and Olympus digital cameras, will be presented at the event to winners selected by a weighted combination of judging by a variety of professionals and popular voting. See films and vote at youtube.com/itsmytrail.
     People may vote once each day for their favorite film on YouTube or by emailing itsmytrail@gmail.com.
     The Digital Mountain youth film festival is free. For more information, contact Laura Williams at 985-6304 or laura_williams@nps.gov.


THE KA`U DIRECTORY DEADLINE for listings and ads for the 2012 edition is this Monday, Oct. 31. Published by the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce, The Directory provides information on businesses, community organizations, important phone numbers, an events calendar, maps of Ka`u, and many photographs as well as art from winners of the latest cover art contest.
     For an application, visit kauchamber.org or call Ron at 928-6471.

Historic church at the Na'ohulelua Historical Garden.  
Photo from Ka'u Main Street

CHICKEN SKIN GALORE is promised at Na`ohulelua Historical Garden’s second annual Spook Night on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The garden is on Kama`oa Road, 1.7 miles from Hwy 11. Parents are invited to bring children. Organizers suggest bringing pupus for six, sweaters and flashlights. Prizes for best story, best costume and for showing up alive! For more information, call 929-7236 and ask for Igor or Loke.

KA`U HIGH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM is at states on O`ahu today, playing Sacred Hearts at Kaimuki Gym. Coach Elijah Navarro said, "We have a good team and we should do well." If the Trojans win and make it to the final round, they will play at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Ka`u took third in Division II on the Big Island, qualifying the Trojans to fly to O`ahu for states. The team is still raising money to offset expenses. Call Coach Navarro at 430-9461 to donate.