Ka'u News Briefs Oct. 31, 2011

Redistricting map with Volcano separated from Ka'u and South Kona, could pit Council members Smart and Ford against one another.

COUNTY COUNCIL REDISTRICTING decisions will be considered again this Thursday at 10 a.m. in Council chambers in Hilo. A final decision before public hearings will likely be made by Nov. 10, a tentative date set by the redistricting commission.

Map showing Volcano as part of Ka'u County Council district.

     The group is concentrating on two maps. One would keep Volcano Village with Pahala and the rest of Ka`u in a County Council district now represented by council member Brittany Smart. The other would draw the line in the desert of Ka`u. Volcano would be included in a district that would be mostly Puna. Ka`u would be included with South Kona all the way to Keauhou. This could pit council member Brenda Ford against Brittany Smart should both candidates decide to run in next year’s election. The commission has to change the district lines throughout the island since the population grew 25 percent in ten years and each elected official must represent approximately the same number of residents.
     Comments are being taken by email, letter or in person this Thursday at 10 a.m. in the County Council chambers in Hilo.
     Proposed maps can be seen at: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/council/reapp/index.htm.

KA`U VETERANS OF THE 442ND Regiment from World War II have arrived in Washington, D.C. to receive a Congressional Gold Medal at the Capitol this Wednesday. Tokuichi Nakano and Iwao Yonemitsu are accompanied by family members. Yonemitsu served in the 442nd, Third Battalion, Company L, while Nakano served with Headquarters of the 442nd. The slogan for the members of the 442nd is “Go for Broke.”

Dwight Takamine runs the state
unemployment fund.

THE STATE UNEMPLOYMENT FUND is operating in the black again, according to Dwight Takamini, director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The unemployment fund borrowed money from the federal government to keep operating last December and could have ended up owing $1 million in interest. However, the Legislature crafted a mechanism, signed off by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, allowing the state to pay interest on the money borrowed for the unemployment fund. The Legislature also passed tax savings for businesses. The unemployment fund reserves have improved as the economy has slightly improved, with businesses paying into the fund.

IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY, HAWAI`I IS 12th in the nation, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Hawai`i earned two extra points for its second straight year in 12th place. The 2011 rankings measure utility, public benefits programs and transportation policies, energy codes for buildings, combined heat and power, state initiatives and appliance-efficiency standards. Hawai`i earned 26.5 out of 50 possible points. See http://aceee.org/research-report/e115.

ML MACADAMIA Orchards, LP has been doing well in the stock market lately. At closing last Friday ML led Hawai`i stocks with a three-percent gain. ML leases and owns macadamia orchards around Pahala and operates a macadamia husking plant just mauka of Hwy 11. The company sells its nuts to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., which is owned by The Hershey Company.

Bull Kailiawa and Roast, Inc. owner Brad Wood
meet in Houston. Photo by Julia Neal

KAILIAWA COFFEE from Bull and Jamie Kailiawa was celebrated in Nashville this past weekend with promotions by Roast, Inc., which purchased the Ka'u coffee in a fundraiser called Grounds for Health.
      The purchase by Roast, Inc. for $45 a pound came after Kailiawa was rated one of the top ten coffees in the world at the 2011 Specialty Coffee Association of America annual convention in Houston. Roast, Inc., which operates a roastery and single-cup café, is selling Kailiawa coffee for $7.50 a cup, with $5 going to the Grounds for Health program that offers women’s health care in poor coffee growing regions around the world.

SPOOK NIGHT came early, before sunset last night at
Na`ohulelua Historical Gardens, with characters including
Bishop Desmond Tutu and the ghost of Bob Marley.

HALLOWEEN DAY is a time to be careful when driving through neighborhoods with trick-or-treaters. The HPD has issued tips for trick-or-treat walks around neighborhoods: Supervise children crossing streets; exit cars curbside instead of traffic side; drive slower than the speed limit during trick-or-treat time; watch more closely for children on streets and medians; and be extra careful at driveways and alleyways.

THE KA`U DIRECTORY DEADLINE for listings and ads for the 2012 edition is today. 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.