March 12, 2004

TRAFFIC ALERT

There are several ways the County can finance major infrastructure such as roads:

Government funds available for roads include:

Federal grants. The Federal Highways Administration provides money to states to pay for 80% of eligible new major highways. In Hawai‘i, these funds are distributed by the State Department of Transportation on the basis of a plan developed with input from the counties. The County must "match" the federal 80% with its own funds to cover the remaining 20% of project costs.

Fuel tax funds. A portion of the County fuel tax (3.8¢ per gallon) is set aside for road resurfacing and as matching funds for federal grants to build roads.

Bond proceeds. The County of Hawai‘i has the authority under state law to sell general obligation bonds to finance capital projects such as roads, buildings, and other infrastructure such as parks. When a project is financed through the sale of bonds, it is similar to an individual purchasing a house with a mortgage loan. The project is constructed right away and paid for over the next twenty years with interest. These payments are known as debt service.

Just as an individual has to make sure he can afford his mortgage payments, the County has to make sure it can afford the debt service payments it must make. The County works to keep its debt service payments under 15% of the total budget, so the amount of bonds that can be sold is limited by how much it will cost to repay the borrowed money.

How does the County use these funds? Where possible, the County uses bond proceeds and fuel tax collections as the required 20% match for federal funds. By doing this, it pays 20% of the cost of a road and 80% comes from the federal government. If the County has $10 million to spend on roads, it can build one mile of new roadway on its own. If it uses this money as the 20% match for federal funds, it means that $50 million is available ($10 million County and $40 million federal) and five miles of road can be built.

An example of this scenario is the proposed Ali‘i Parkway in West Hawai‘i. The County sold bonds in 2003 that included $9 million for this project. Federal funds of $35 million are also committed to this project. The County will spend $9 million and obtain a $44 million dollar road.

The process of getting a project approved for federal funding takes a year or more, so if there is urgency to getting a road built, the time delay must be weighed against the additional cost to the County if the road is constructed with only County funds.

If a road is needed but does not qualify for federal funding (only major roads qualify), the County will have to use its own resources from bonds and/or fuel tax to pay for 100% of the road cost.

Private funds are sometimes used to build roads. These include:

• Developers. Often, as a condition of their land being rezoned, developers are required to construct roads to County standards that can then be dedicated to the County. Because there is sometimes a delay of years between the time property is rezoned and when it is actually developed, roads of this type are not always built when they are needed. However, this can be a fair system when it works to makes a developer provide infrastructure that will be needed because of his development.

• Improvement districts. This method has been used in the past to construct roads. Hina Lani Street in Kona is an example of a road built by an improvement district. With this mechanism, property owners petition the County to sell improvement district bonds to finance construction, and they promise to pay the debt service on the bonds over the next 20 years. Improvement districts can be used when a proposed road gives special benefit to a specific group of property owners. Repayment of the debt service is guaranteed by a lien on the property in favor of the County.

Other methods that can be considered but have not been used yet in Hawai‘i County to build roads include tax increment financing, impact fees, and community facilities districts. The County is looking into all possible funding mechanisms for road financing in the future.

(go to Contents)

The County is undertaking safety improvements to Palani Road at the Kealakaa intersection in Kailua-Kona.

Adding signals and left-turn pockets at the existing intersection was not possible due to the close proximity of existing residential structures and a limited road right-of-way. The curve on Palani Road at Kealakaa does not provide drivers with optimal sight distance.

• Realign the eastern end of Kealakaa Street to intersect with Palani Road at Palihiolo Street to create a new intersection

• Creation of a fully signalized system with left-turn pockets,

• Construction of a new segment of Kealakaa Street

• Construction of concrete curb/gutter/sidewalks, retaining walls and guardrails

• Drainage improvements and utility relocation

• Roadway signing and striping

• Necessary land acquisition

To prepare the improvements, the County is doing an Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment assesses the general impact of a road on the corridor through which it passes. The Environmental Assessment also includes a cultural impact assessment that evaluates the road project’s impacts on all cultures in the road’s path.

The Environmental Assessment is nearly completed as of this writing.

After the draft Environmental Assessment is completed, the County will hold a public hearing to receive input from the community. After that, the findings will be incorporated into the road’s final design.

The estimated time frame for reaching the final design is Summer 2004.

Once the design is completed, the County will purchase the land it needs to do the project.

The federal funding for the project, which comprises 80% of the road’s total funding of $2.8 million, is expected to be available by October 1, 2004.

The County plans to put the project out to bid around November 2004.

Construction would then start in early 2005. The duration of construction is expected to be around 11 months.

For further questions, please call Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works at 961-8321.

(go to Contents)

Mayor Harry Kim’s message to the County Council on the proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 is available on the County’s website. The direct link to the message (in PDF format) is http://co.hawaii.hi.us/mayor/2005_Budget_Message.pdf. Hyperlinks are also available on the What’s New page and the Mayor’s page.

The budget message, dated March 1, 2004, is a summary of the budget’s highlights.

(go to Contents)

The Ka‘u to South Kona Water Master Plan Draft Report, dated March 2004, is now available for public review on the County website at http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/k2skwmp/info.htm. The Plan was initiated to address potential water sources and water distribution systems for the southwest portion of the Big Island. The objective was to develop a long-range plan to provide water for homes, commercial businesses, and farmers in the Kau to South Kona region.

Townscape, Inc., wishes to extend appreciation to BK Engineering and Waimea Water Services, Inc. who contributed to the formulation of this plan. Townscape, Inc. would also like to thank everyone who has participated in the development of this plan, especially those who have attended public meetings and/or provided suggestions and help.

Please send your comments no later than Wednesday, March 31, 2004 to:

If you have any questions regarding the report, please contact Hilarie Keehne at 536-6999, ext. 103 or at hilariekeehne@townscapeinc.com.

(go to Contents)

Real Property tax assessments for the 2004-2005 tax year have been compiled and are on file at the County of Hawaii, Real Property Tax Office.

A "Notice of Property Assessment" will be mailed to property owners on or before March 15, 2004. Please review the assessment information carefully.

The notice of property assessment includes the taxable value placed upon buildings and all other real property and the amount of exemption, if any, allowed on the property. If you fail to receive the Notice of Assessment, contact the County Tax Office at 961-8201 or 327-3540.

Property owners may come to the Real Property Tax Office to inspect the assessment on their property and to confer with staff members so that errors may be corrected prior to the finalization of the assessment list.

The County of Hawaii has real property tax offices in East and West Hawaii. The East Hawaii Office is located at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, Hawaii, and the West Hawaii Office at 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 112, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

If you do not agree with the value placed on your property or if you are not allowed an exemption to which you believe you are entitled, an appeal may be filed with the Tax Board of Review or the Tax Appeal Court.

The deadline for filing appeals is April 12, 2004. Appeal forms to the Tax Board of Review are available at the Real Property Tax Office in East and West Hawaii. Appeal forms to the Tax Appeal Court are available at the Tax Appeal Court, Box 376, Honolulu, Hawaii 96809, or by calling (808) 539-4777.

(go to Contents)

The plans and specifications for the water system improvements of the Kona Coastview and Kona Wonderview Subdivision will be advertised for bidding on March 7, 2004.

Bid opening is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 2004. Funding for the preliminary estimate is secured with the USDA Rural Development Loan/Grant Program.

A public hearing will be held after the bid opening and prior to the bid award to inform residents of the subdivisions as to their final costs of the improvements.

For further information, please call the Department of Water Supply at 961-8050.

(go to Contents)

The Notice of availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the East Hawai`i Regional Sort Station was published in the OEQC Bulletin on February 23, 2004. The complete document is now available on the Department website:

http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_envmng.htm.

Printed copies are available for review at all public libraries throughout the State. Both the electronic and the physical locations will be permanent sites for access to the document.

The proposed action is to construct and operate a solid waste processing, recycling, and transfer facility near the existing South Hilo Landfill, called the East Hawai`i Regional Sort Station. This action is proposed because the South Hilo Landfill, which now serves East Hawai`i, may fill to capacity in 2006.

The proposed action is intended as an interim solution that will operate as described in the Final EIS until a responsible alternative is available to serve the East Hawai`i waste stream.

The Sort Station will accept County commercial and residential waste from all areas of South and East Hawai`i. The waste will be reduced to the maximum practical amount through available recycling and resource recovery approaches.

County waste hauling trucks from the East Hawai`i rural transfer stations will bring loads to the Sort Station for reloading.

In the short term the residual waste that is not recycled will be placed into large transfer trailers and hauled to the Pu`uanahulu Landfill in North Kona. Initially, six trucks will make up to 12 round- trips per day to the Pu`uanahulu Landfill. As recycling infrastructure improves, the amount of waste requiring transportation is expected to decrease.

The proposed action serves two primary functions:

• The first is to provide continuous, convenient and cost effective solid waste management services for the County on an interim basis.
• The second is to provide a central processing facility for the County’s island-wide recycling efforts.

The County intends to increase waste diversion from the current level of 15% to 45% using available recycling and resource recovery. To achieve the overall goal of 80% diversion from landfill by 2014, the County has begun a process to identify cost-effective and environmentally responsible high-tech solutions that could substantially replace waste hauling.

Temporary impacts associated with the proposed action include noise, traffic and potential air and water quality impacts during construction of the facility. Traffic impacts of long-haul of waste are expected to be minimal based on a study of existing and proposed traffic levels.

The proposed action and alternatives that are considered in the Environmental Impact Statement include:

1. Construct and operate the East Hawai`i Regional Sort Station,

2. No Action,

3. Construct a new South Hilo Landfill and modified Sort Station adjacent to the existing landfill,

4. Construct a new landfill elsewhere in proximity to Hilo,

5. Construct a new landfill in a dry area to service East-side waste, and

6. Immediate implementation of a waste reduction technology, including Waste-to-energy combustion, gasification, and anaerobic digestion.

As a result of this Environmental Impact Statement and full consideration of the public and agency comments, the Department of Environmental Management recommends that the proposed action be implemented. The recommendation is based on judgment that the proposed action has the least environmental and social impacts, the least cost, and is most consistent with the County’s policy on integrated solid waste management and its objectives for solid waste diversion.

For further information, call the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8083.

(go to Contents)

The Department of Environmental Management would like to invite all building contractors and real estate developers doing business in East Hawai`i and all interested parties to a meeting March 18 to discuss commercial construction and demolition (C&D) waste disposal at the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill.

On hand will be Barbara Bell, Department of Environmental Management Director, and Lono Tyson, Solid Waste Division Chief. Joining them will be Mr. Patrick Felling, M.S., M.P.A., Honolulu Environmental Ombudsman, Compliance Assistance Office of the Hawai`i Department of Health, who will explain why C&D is a regulated waste stream.

WHEN: Thursday, March 18, 2004 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hawai‘i County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo

For more information, please call us at 961-8083.

If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to participate in this meeting (i.e. Sign language interpreter, large print), please call 961-8083.

(go to Contents)

The County of Hawai`i Office of Management will hold a series of public meetings regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations which require the abandonment of large-capacity cesspools by April 5, 2005.

The purpose of the public meetings is to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations, particularly to clarify the applicability of the regulations to land owners who may be utilizing large-capacity cesspools for wastewater disposal.

Possible alternative wastewater disposal systems available and potential means of financing the costs of upgrading the large-capacity cesspool with County, state and federal funds will also be discussed.

Schedule of Meetings: (Group meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified. One-on-one follow-up meetings will be held between meetings. If necessary, the personal consultations may be extended, by appointment, to the following day.)

For further information, please call Margarita Hopkins at 961-8369.

(go to Contents)

WHEN: Friday, March 19, 2004, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Real Property Tax Conference Room, Aupuni Center

101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo

AGENDA

1. Call to Order, Vice-Chairman Gus Ogasawara
2. Statements from Public
3. Old Business
4. Approval of October 29, 2003 Minutes
5. New Business:

a. Welcome New Board Members

b. Election of Officers

c. Establishing Dates for 2004 Case Hearings

d. Other miscellaneous reports

6. Adjournment

(go to Contents)

When: Wednesday, March 24, 2004, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Where: Kona Police Department conference room, 74-5221 Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona

1. Call to order

2. Approval of minutes of February 25, 2004 meeting

3. Approval of addendum and/or supplemental agenda

4. Statements from the public on items listed on agenda

5. Correspondence/reports/discussion

• Director’s report (including updates on sort EIS)
• Solid waste division report (including update on life of Hilo landfill)
• Wastewater division report (including update on Kalanianaole sewer repair)

6. Unfinished business

• Discussion and recommendation on department of environmental management rules
• Discussion of fiscal year 2004-2005 department operating budget
• Discussion of fiscal year 2004-2005 department capital improvement projects budget
• Status report on draft update to integrated solid waste management plan (iswmp)
• Discussion and recommendation on ordinance for the department of environmental management to establish a process for enforcement and for appeals to be heard by the environmental management commission
• Discussion and recommendation on proposed capacity assessment fee ordinance
• Discussion and recommendation on proposed sewer connection loan program ordinance

7. New business

• Discussion and recommendation on future construction and demolition restrictions for landfills
• Discussion and recommendation on future commission meeting schedules

8. Future agenda items

9. Announcements

• April meeting has been cancelled
• Next meeting: May 26, 2004, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Hawai`i County Council room, Hilo

10. Adjournment

If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to participate in this meeting (i.e. Sign language interpreter, large print), please call 961-8083.

(go to Contents)

Hawaii County Resource Center is administering a $100,000 fund issued by the State Legislature. In response to recommendations from the community at our island-wide Meth Summit, the Mayor’s Office, County Council and State legislators worked together to make these funds available.

Grants are to be used on our island at the neighborhood and community level with a focus on drug use prevention and education.

Proposals may include community event(s), public awareness projects, mentoring, youth/family recreation, and renovation/beautification projects. Organizations do not need non-profit status to qualify. Neighborhood groups, community associations and faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply.

Proposals should reflect the basic goal of drug use prevention and education whether it is a one-time event or an ongoing project. It is expected that these drug- and alcohol- free projects will strengthen partnerships within the community. Preference will be given to projects which promote collaboration of two or more groups.

Maximum grant awards are $2,000.

The application process is simple and straightforward, with proposals being considered over the course of a three-month period spanning March through May, 2004.

Groups need to get their proposals in before the 15th of those three months to be considered for that month’s batching and review. Proposals are due March 15, April 15 or May 15.

Application forms are available online at www.healingourisland.com under the "What’s New" category, or at the Hawai'i County Resource Center, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 114, Hilo, telephone 961-8085.

For more information, call Louise Winn at 961-8035 or Shana Ross at 961-8085

(go to Contents)

Or call our 24/7 Job Hotline: 961-8618

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

(go to Contents)

Mayor Harry Kim has declared Saturday, March 13, 2004 Malama ’Aina Community Cleanup Day. Join in this island-wide effort to make our island more beautiful by weeding, picking up litter, painting, sprucing up our Hawai`i Island.

For trash bags and more information, contact:

Kona Outdoor Circle (Joan Lamont) 329-7286

Waimea Outdoor Circle (Carol Hendricks) 885-5210

Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle (Colette Cobb) 883-8009

Malama ‘O Puna (Rene Siracusa) 965-9254

Ocean View Chamber (Bob Zeller) 939-9282

Hilo Downtown Improvement Association 935-8850

After the cleanup, you can take your trash to the transfer station or in Kailua-Kona area, contact KOC at 329-7286 for pickup locations.

(go to Contents)

Hawai’i Community College announces a three-part marine naturalist lecture series in Kona. Each class – Whales, Dolphins and Turtles - is three hours and the registration fee is $35.00 per session.

Register for just one or all three. Hannah Bernard, one of Hawaii’s noted marine biologists, will teach the classes.

WHALES: March 17 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or March 18 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

DOLPHINS: April 8 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or April 9 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

TURTLES: May 26 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or May 27 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

**Please note that all Evening Sessions above are at Kealakehe High School. All morning sessions are at Kona Outdoor Circle.

For more information, call Kathy Kirk at 895-4939.

(go to Contents)

Position: Director of Office of Continuing Education and Training, position number 89382, Hawaii CC (Hawai'i Community College), general funds.

Duties: Manages the workforce development, basic skills development, international programs and operations of the office. Leads the office with strategic planning experience and entrepreneurial skills to generate resources for the College and provide training opportunities for the Island of Hawaii.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s Degree or equivalent. Attainment of academic rank of associate professor or have demonstrated a record of comparable professional management experience prior to appointment. Experience in planning, organizing promoting, and implementing programs in an educational agency, industry, or government. Ability to communicate and interact effectively with diverse constituencies. Ability to manage, plan, develop, revise and implement creative and innovative education and training programs. Knowledge of fiscal operations and budget development.

Desirable Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Business Administration of Education or equivalency. Experience as administrator or in carrying out administrative responsibilities with emphasis on personnel supervision and budget development. Knowledge of skills and experience with educational marketing and public affairs. Knowledge of community education, mission of a community college and its interrelationship to instructional programs and support services; skills in personnel development and training; familiarity with obtaining and managing private, federal, and state grants and contracts for training and workforce development, such as Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Employee Training Fund (ETF), and other funding sources for students; familiarity with coordinating apprenticeship and journeyworker training programs; familiarity with training programs for international clientele and students; ability to relate effectively with the various internal and external constituencies of a complex organization and to build systematic and collaborative working relationships with diverse constituencies.

To apply: Nominations and applications are being accepted for the position. Candidates must submit a cover letter summarizing the candidate’s interest and qualifications for the position, a current curriculum vita, and three (3) letters of recommendation. For more information about Hawai'i Community College please go to www.hawcc.hawaii.edu. For a job description and specific application/nomination requirements, please go to www.hawaii.edu/executivesearch/ or http://workatuh.hawaii.edu.

Application address: Office of the Chancellor, Search Committee for Director OCET, Hawai'i Community College, 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091. Complete faxes to (808) 974-7692 are acceptable with originals postmarked no later than three working days after the fax receipt.

Inquiries: (808) 933-0806 or sdaniel@hawaii.edu. Continuous recruitment: Review of applications will begin on April 5, 2004 and will continue until the position is filled.

(go to Contents)

The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay is currently accepting applications for its Teen Parent Scholarship. The scholarship awards a Hawaii Island teen parent with up to $1,000.00 to be used to continue his or her adult education.

The simple two-page application is available at the Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Prince Kuhio Plaza customer service counter as well as at the Community Technology Center Hawaii at 200 Kanoelehua Avenue Suite 105. Completed applications are due no later than May 31, 2004.

"We are extremely pleased to once again be able to award a deserving teen parent with this scholarship," said Mike Gleason, President of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay. "Faced with the additional responsibility of raising a child of their own, it is often difficult for teen parents to continue their adult education.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Were 19 years old or younger at the time they first became a parent

• Are currently a parent and primary caregiver of at least one living child under 18 years of age

• Are a current resident of the Big Island of Hawaii

• Will have received a high school diploma or equivalent by September 1, 2004

• Are currently attending or planning on attending an accredited institution of learning including but not limited to Hawaii Community College or the University of Hawaii at Hilo

Applicants can be either male or female. Applicants do not need to have just graduated from high school; parents who have stayed home to care for their child and now want to return to school are eligible.

(go to Contents)

Solutions: Neighborhoods In Action's Traffic Task Force has scheduled two meetings in West Hawai`i:

WHEN: Thursday, March 18, 2004 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Kaiwi Square, 2ND Floor, West Hawaii Drivers Education,

74-5565 Luhia Street, Kailua-Kona

WHEN: Tuesday, April 13, 2004 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

WHERE: KTA Waimea Center - upstairs room 2C

The Traffic Task Force continues its work on the key islandwide safety issue identified at the Solutions 2003 Seminar held last year: Speeding through Neighborhoods.

Other agenda items: review Bill HB 2290 - Graduating License. Also, a report on the recent Traffic Conference held on Oahu. Continue work on the Pace Car Program.

To review articles and results of an islandwide survey, go to www.solutionsislandhawaii.com . Click on Traffic. For further information, contact Laura Ward 331-1422 or email whde@verizon.net

(go to Contents)

There is a bumper crop of free mulch currently available at the Hilo Transfer Station, which is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The County of Hawai`i’s Department of Environmental Management sponsors the mulch program.

Residents may self-load the mulch for free or receive loading assistance from the site operator for a fee ranging from $10 - $40 depending on vehicle size.

Thanks to the participation of all the island’s residents and businesses, nearly 18,000 tons of greenwaste were diverted from landfills in 2003 under the County’s diversion program and processed into high quality mulch for the public.

In Kailua-Kona, the Kealakehe Transfer Station base yard is still accepting drop-offs of greenwaste, while a new public pickup area is being prepared for the processed mulch. The free mulch program will resume at Kealakehe sometime in March or April once the site modifications are completed.

For more information, please contact the County’s Recycling Coordinator at 961-8942.

(go to Contents)

Please join us for a fun, interactive and informative 2-part workshop on intermediate and advanced composting.

WHERE: Kea`au Recycling & Reuse Center (Kea`au Transfer Station)

• The first half of our workshop will focus on backyard composting, basic biology and fundamentals of compost, compost critters, control factors, compost and compost "tea," troubleshooting common problems, and a Q&A session.

Take a tour of our compost demonstration site and see working bins in action. All are welcome to join the fun.

• The second half of this interactive workshop, entitled "Worms Worms Worms!", will explore intermediate and more advanced vermi-composting in Hawaii.

Composting with worms is an easy and fun way to save money and turn your kitchen scraps into garden "gold" or free fishing bait.

Highlights include a "How To" demonstration on home worm bins, management and troubleshooting, basic worm biology, reproduction, compost and harvesting tips. A few worm bins (and worms) will be given away to lucky workshop participants as "door prizes," so come join us to learn about composting and worms in Hawaii.

A free compost hoop will be given to each family participating. This project is funded by the County of Hawaii to satisfy county obligations under a consent agreement with the State Department of Health for past solid waste violations.

The two-part Compost Happens workshops will also be held at the Kalani Honua Oceanside Retreat and Resort on the following dates:

Directions to Kalani Honua Oceanside Retreat and Resort : Hwy 130, Pahoa-bound. Take Hwy 130 about 8 miles past Pahoa, turn left towards Kalapana (Coastal Highway 137 Kalapana-Kapoho). Follow the bend in the road to the right. After 1/3 of a mile you will reach a T-junction. Turn left at the T-junction (towards Kapoho). After about 5 miles, Kalani will be on your left, between the 17 and 18 mile-marker. Workshop will be in the compost demonstration area near the cafeteria/kitchen.

(go to Contents)

UH Cooperative Extension Service Workshops on Fruit Flies

County Agent/Community Educator Nancy Honda is the featured speaker at a workshop entitled

"Fruit Flies-Having Fruit Fly Problems in your Yard, or Is it your Neighbors?". If you’re interested in protecting your peaches and many other fruits, come to this workshop and we’ll partner and solve this problem. Come and learn how to make your own fruit fly traps.

Where: Waimea Civic Center(back of courthouse)

When:  4/14, 5/12, 6/9, 2004. Time: 4-5:30 P.M.

Supplies:  Free

For further information, call Nancy Honda at UH Cooperative Extension Service at 959-9155.

(go to Contents)

The Hilo Downtown Improvement Association & County of Hawaii Planning Department are co-sponsoring a community planning workshop entitled "Downtown Hilo:Our Past, Present and Future".

WHEN: Monday, March 22, 2004, Two Sessions:2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. OR 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m

WHERE: Central Christian Church Meeting Hall, 109 Haili Street, Hilo

The Community Planning Workshop will feature Cherie Enns, planning consultant and university professor from British Columbia.

The workshop will address your dreams and visions for Downtown Hilo, as well as Smart growth.

Come and hear about exciting trends occurring in small towns across North America and how other towns have revitalized themselves. Participate in a hands-on community mapping experience. School-aged children are welcome to participate.

Refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call Mary Ann Wanush @ 935-8850 or Susan Gagorik @ 961-8288.

(go to Contents)

Attention all Youth Sports Parents, Coaches, and Leaders. Please plan to attend one, two or three of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) workshops set for the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on March 23, 24, and 25, 2004 at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Pre-registration and a materials fee of $5 per workshop per person are required. The public is invited to attend.

Three separate workshops—one each for parents, coaches, and leaders—will be presented by the PCA manager of trainer development, Ruben Nieves.

From 1986 to 2001, Nieves coached volleyball at Stanford, serving as Men’s Head Coach for the last 11 of those years. Nieves was twice named NCAA Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year, in 1992 and 1997. In 1997, he guided the Cardinals to the NCAA title. Nieves spent the summer of 2001 as Head Coach of the USA Men's Volleyball World University Games Team, which captured the Gold Medal in Beijing, China. It was the first American squad in history to win a gold medal.

Please contact Kathy McNally at UHH Athletic Department (974-7621) for registration form and Jeanne Yagi (959-8154) for additional information.

(go to Contents)

The Hawaii Small Business Development Center in association with TeamWorks will be hosting a seminar entitled "Return to Prosperity: Advancing Organizational Success".

This seminar is a practical, high-impact one-hour program pioneered in the United Kingdom with a growing track record on the mainland.

Use training as a vehicle for participants to gain the tools, skills and focus necessary to produce immediate, measurable performance results.

The focus is on how to effectively manage resources, process, and relationships and

• Enhance customer loyalty

• Motivate/sustain workforce productivity

• Translate strategy into measurable gains

When: Thursday, March 25th, and Friday, March 26^th 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Where: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Cost: $15.00 (Continental breakfast included)

For reservations and information, call 933-0776.

(go to Contents)

An evening fit for royalty takes place when Hulihe`e Palace lights up for the annual Evening at the Palace-Hulihe`e After Dark on Saturday, April 3 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Browse among oceanside culinary stations featuring chefs from the best restaurants and resorts in West Hawaii. Enjoy beer and wine provided by local purveyors, dancing under the stars to Pacific Fusion, live and silent auctions and guided tours of Hulihe`e Palace.

See the spectacular koa armoire commissioned by King Kalakaua that won a silver medal at the 1889 International Exhibition in Paris. Other palatial standouts include two imposing, century-old makaloa mats made from the perennial sedge and an inlaid table featuring 20 different Hawaiian woods. Marvel at the trunk Queen Kapi`olani used in 1887 to carry her belongings to England for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee-it was one of six. Lead-lined for waterproofing, it bears her motto: Kulia i ka nu`u --Strive for the highest.

This year, the caretakers of the Kailua-Kona palace, the Daughters of Hawai`i, are celebrating their centennial and will be honored by the chamber with a special presentation.

Tickets are $65 for members and $75 for non-members and those sold at the door. For reservations, call 329-1758.

Organized by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, this event is also a fundraiser for the Daughters of Hawai`i.

For further information, contact Lori Honl, 960-1868.

(go to Contents)

The 3rd Annual AstrDay 2K4 will be back at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on Saturday Apr 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event will feature Mauna Kea Observatory exhibits, demonstrations and presentations, Hawaiian Culture displays, student science fair projects, IR cameras, StarLab Planetarium shows, telescopes, comet making and expanding universe for the kids.

After dark, there will be star-gazing at the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. Admission is free.

For more information, contact Gary Fujihara at 969-9101 or email him at fujmon@mac.com .

(go to Contents)

Signs and Markings Projects

Where/Location: Puna District; Pahoa Village Road.

What: Finish up restriping edge-of-pavement lines.

Where/Location: Puna District; Nanawale Estates Subdivision.

What: Restripe centerlines, edge-of-pavement lines, crosswalks & stoplines, on County maintained roads.

(No scheduled road work.)

Where/Location: Puna District; Nanawale Estates Subdivision.

What: Continue with striping work.

Where/Location: Puna District; Kamaili Road.

What: Restripe centerlines and stopline at various locations from the State highway intersection to the Kalapana-Kapoho Road intersection.

Where/Location: Kamehameha Avenue; Ponahawai Street to the State right-of-way (Downtown Hilo side of Wailoa Bridge).

What: Continue with striping work.

Where/Location: Kamehameha Avenue; Mooheau Bus Terminal driveway.

What: Continue the installation of underground street light circuit work and concrete foundations.

(go to Contents)

Always remember to buckle your seat belt. Even if the ride is just around the corner. Keep your children in proper restraint seats, or properly-adjusted safety belts if they are older. (Using the phrase "OK, everybody... Buckle up!" works well before starting the car.)

(go to Contents)

Preliminary sewer repairs are currently underway and will continue for the next several weeks at Kea’a Street, off Kalaniana’ole Street in Keaukaha.

We apologize for any temporary traffic delays or inconvenience caused during the work.

For further information, please call Peter Boucher at Waste Water Division, County of Hawai`i at 961-8338.

(go to Contents)

Island Mechanical – Hawai’i is installing a fiber optic cable system in the Hilo area. The route will extend from the vicinity of Richardson Beach Park (Nene Street) in the Keaukaha area to the vicinity of Kawailani Street/Kanoelehua Avenue from Kalanianaole Street to Leilani Street.. We expect the project to take about seven months to complete (March 2004).

We apologize in advance for the temporary inconvenience you might experience during the project. Our standard working hours will be between the hours of 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. In certain areas, we are using advanced construction techniques (horizontal directional drilling) to minimize pavement disturbance and traffic disruption.

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding this project to: Chuck Eckman, Resident Engineer, Mid-State Consultants, Inc. at (808)640-9509 (new, Hawaii Island number)

Mahalo for your patience and understanding.

(go to Contents)

We encourage everyone to use web-based calendar links. Please add your own events to the respective calendars so others can get the word and not conflict with your plans.

County of Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.pl
State of Hawaii: http://www.state.hi.us/calendars.htm
Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau: http://calendar.gohawaii.com/
Hawaii.com: http://www.hawaii.com/live/
Alternative-Hawaii: http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/calendar.htm
Kamuela.com: http://kamuela.com/calendar/default.asp
Hawaii Public Radio: http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/psa.htm
Hawaii Theatre Network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiitheatre
UH at Hilo Theatre Events: http://performingarts.net/Theatre/seasoncalendar/calendar.pl
Waikoloa Village: http://www.waikoloa.org/WVCalendar.html
Public School (click on your school): http://doe.k12.hi.us/calendars0203/index.htm

(go to Contents)

(go to Contents)