September 3, 2004

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Did you know that Big Island residents are now generating approximately 700 tons of rubbish a day? Where does it all go? If you answered "the landfill," you’re only partly right.

With such limited amount of land space on our island and increasing landfill regulations, Hawai`i County is working to limit the flow of rubbish into its landfills through a variety of diversion programs.

The County’s recycling programs have historically included green waste diversion, waste cooking oil collection, glass recycling, used residential motor oil, scrap metal, and hazardous waste. We’ve expanded our recycling programs to include used computer recycling, plastics and recycling of reusable items.

By recycling, you conserve natural resources, encourage new businesses that use recyclables, and reduce the need for expensive new landfills and waste disposal systems.

Last year, businesses and residents of Hawai`i County recycled or diverted nearly 37,700 tons of valuable resources from landfills. Approximately 16% of the total waste generated was diverted from our landfills through various programs that Hawai`i County administers.

The County’s goal is to reach a 45% diversion rate by the year 2008.

According to Lono Tyson, the County’s Solid Waste Division chief, "Recycling and diversion of waste from our landfills are the most important elements of this County’s waste management system, which is also the most cost-effective way to extend the life of our landfills."

Recycling efforts on the Big Island have greatly increased over the last few years. Although a lot of progress has been made, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Although we are keeping pace with the growth in solid waste generation as far as recycling goes, the County’s businesses and residents generated nearly 240,000 tons of solid waste this past year, a 17% increase over the previous year. These numbers don’t bode well for our rapidly declining landfill resources. On the bright side, diversions from the landfill increased by 6,000 tons (22%) this past year.

Plant clippings and prunings are processed into mulch, which is then available to the public for free at the Hilo and Kealakehe transfer stations’ greenwaste areas. Last year, nearly 18,000 tons of greenwaste were diverted from our landfills through this program. The County also hosts backyard composting workshops island-wide offered by Recycle Hawai`i.

Cooking Oil Nearly 64,000 gallons of used cooking oil from local businesses were diverted from landfills for use as biodiesel under diversion grants awarded by Hawai`i County.

Paper and Plastics The grants also give financial incentives to vendors collecting and recycling paper fibers (newspaper, cardboard, and office paper). Through this program, nearly 4,000 tons of paper fibers were recycled last year. Some of the shredded paper fiber is used locally as packing material in our floral and agricultural industries. Diversion grants are also available for plastics recycling and this past year we saw 22 tons of #1 and #2 plastics diverted from landfill through new recycling collection centers and the annual School Recycling Challenge.

Glass Hawai`i County’s glass recycling program is funded through a state grant. Last year, nearly 1,500 tons of glass were diverted from our landfills. All the glass was crushed and used locally for construction projects such as glasscrete, landscaping, pipe cushioning, and general backfill.

The Used Residential Motor Oil program, funded through a state grant, provides six permanent locations islandwide that accept used motor oil from do-it-yourselfers.

These sites include:

Ocean View
Waimea
Pa`auilo
Hilo
Two collection sites in Kailua-Kona

New sites are being pursued in Pahoa, Volcano, South Kona, and North Kohala. Last year, nearly 13,000 gallons of used residential motor oil were diverted from the landfill and re-refined for various uses.

Scrap metal processing facilities at Hilo and Kona recycle our island’s non-reusable large appliances, junked vehicles, and other metals, while properly disposing of fluids, batteries, and other wastes generated from these items.

Last year, approximately 14,000 tons of scrap metal were shipped to off-island markets for re-processing. Used tires from the abandoned/derelict vehicle disposal program will also be recycled and processed into crumb rubber and other construction materials.

As part of a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the County of Hawai`i established a pilot project at the Kea`au Transfer Station where residents can recycle traditional recyclables. Resident can also dispose of useful but unneeded items at the Reuse Center

The Center accepts reusable electronics, household items and appliances, garden and farm equipment, as well as office equipment.

The County plans to establish another pilot recycling convenience center in West Hawai`i at the Kealakehe Transfer Station this year, using a "two-stream" approach to recycling.

Residents will only have to separate their clean recyclables into two receptacles – one receptacle for glass, and the other for all remaining clean recyclables (i.e. paper fibers, plastics #1 and #2, tin cans).

Hazardous waste is also diverted from our landfills with four County Household Hazardous Waste collection days annually. The next scheduled hazardous waste collections are on December 4th and 11th at the Hilo and Kealakehe Transfer Stations respectively.

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

This past year the County sponsored its first recycling event for used computers and peripherals. Nearly 25 tons of monitors, printers, CPUs, keyboards and other peripherals were kept from entering our East Hawai`i landfill. About 20% of the material was directed toward reuse within our community.

The County plans to make "compucycling" a permanent program with at least two collection days a year.

The Big Island is also preparing for the implementation of the state’s Beverage Container Deposit Fee system, better known as the Bottle Bill.

In January 2005, the public will be able to redeem their glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers for a nickel for each container (Containers must be labeled "Hawai`i 5¢" in order to receive credit). Similar legislation in other states has resulted in a significant reduction in roadside litter and increased diversion from landfills.

The County of Hawai`i has two locations where you can recycle appliances, vehicles and greenwaste for free (Hilo and Kona/Kealakehe transfer stations).

There are numerous convenient locations in your community to recycle glass, aluminum, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, mixed paper, used motor oil, and other recyclables. For help in locating the nearest location for you, pick up a copy of the Hawai`i Island Recycling Guide at any transfer station or contact Recycle Hawai`i at www.recyclehawaii.org or call the 24-hour information line at 961-2676.

By doing your part in reducing items that can be recycled from the trash, you can help us achieve the 45% diversion goal.

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

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Registered voters may vote early (absentee) beginning Thursday, September 3 through September 16, 2004.

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The County of Hawai`i Department of Public Works advises the public that as of Wednesday, September 1, 2004 the temporary southbound one-way traffic pattern along Ali’i Drive from Kaahumanu Place (Kailua Pier) to Hualalai Road has been eliminated.

This portion of Ali’i Drive will be back to normal operation as permanent two-way road, effective immediately.

The one-way traffic pattern had been in effect from 9:00 a.m. to Noon Monday through Friday as a trial solution to the lack of freight loading zones in the area.

For further information, please contact the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division at 961-8341.

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The Hawai`i County Department of Finance wishes to announce that any taxpayer may file complaints against the assessed value placed upon property in the County of Hawaii for the purposes of real property taxation.

Complaints may be filed only during the period from September 10, 2004 to September 21, 2004 with the Director of Finance at the County of Hawaii, Real Property Tax Office, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 4, Hilo, Hawaii, or at the West Hawaii Real Property Tax Office, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 112, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The complaints are for the purpose of assisting the Tax Board of Review in making additional notes for their report to the Mayor and the County Council concerning instances, which, in the opinion of the Board, the Director of Finance did not use proper methods in assessing real property for purposes of taxation.

Since this session or period is not for appealing assessments but only for receiving complaints, the Board cannot change any assessment during the process.

The period for complaints should not be confused with the filing of assessment appeals. The April 12th appeals deadline against the 2004 assessments has expired.

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The County of Hawai`i has developed and published its proposed Consolidated Plan (CP) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2005-2009 CDBG and HOME Programs and is providing affected citizens an opportunity to examine its contents and to submit comments on the proposed 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan.

The purpose of the County’s Consolidated Plan is to ensure that jurisdictions receiving federal assistance plan for its housing and related needs of low- and moderate-income families in a way that improves the availability and affordability of decent, safe, and sanitary housing in a suitable living environment.

The County’s Consolidated Plan describes the County’s needs, priorities, funding plans, proposed projects and certifies its compliance with the CDBG program requirements. HUD requires the County to submit a five-year Consolidated Plan (2005-2009 Program Years) and thereafter HUD requires the County to submit an annual Action Plan which contains the actual yearly projects and program certifications. In addition, the County’s Consolidated Plan includes the County’s HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program’s projects for informational purposes.

The County’s priorities for the use of its CDBG, HOME, and ADDI funds are:

• High priorities: Housing for households earning less than 80% of the median income; activities that protect the health and safety of the residents in Hawai`i County (i.e. Fire and Police); and activities which meet legal obligations or federal mandates (i.e. ADA).
• Medium priorities: Public facilities; infrastructure (other than housing-related); public service and economic development.
• Low priorities: Parking facilities, non-residential historic preservation and sidewalks.

The County’s goals (proposed accomplishments) for 2005-2009 are:

• Provide tenant-based rental assistance (75 households);
• Construct rental units for low-income families (60 units), elderly (92 units), persons with special needs (5 units);
• Provide homebuyer education and counseling (one per year);
• Provide down-payment/closing cost assistance (6 families); Construct affordable for-sale homes (50 units);
• Provide loans/grants for home rehabilitation (40 homeowners);
• Further fair housing;
• Construct a homeless shelter in West Hawai`i;
• Open a one-stop service center for the homeless;
• Rehabilitate domestic violence shelters;
• Provide transportation services;
• Provide infrastructure or other activities that will increase the production of new, affordable housing;
• Construct 2 new public safety facilities;
• Remove architectural barriers at 10 facilities;
• Improve 4 public facilities/senior centers;
• Provide construction management and inspection services for CDBG-funded projects;
• Update HUD required studies/plans and provide effective program management.

The proposed 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan will be available for public review and comment from August 16, 2004 to September 14, 2004 at the Hawai`i State Public Libraries in Honoka`a, Kamuela, Kohala, Pahala, Pahoa, Kailua-Kona, Hilo. It will also be available at the following locations Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on holidays:

• Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD)
  50 Wailuku Drive
  Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
  Phone: 961-8379

• Hawai`i County Services
  (Hanama Place)
  75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 103
  Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i 96740
  Phone: 329-5226

Persons, particularly those with low or moderate income, are encouraged to submit their comments regarding priorities, objectives and the activities proposed in their area.

The OHCD will consider any comments and views expressed by citizens on the proposed 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan and may modify it, if it deems it appropriate.

Persons who wish to comment on the proposed plan must submit their comments in writing or by fax (961-8685) to the OHCD by September 14, 2004 in order for the Hawai`i County Housing Agency to consider them in their review of the final 2005-2009 Consolidated Plan.

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Eight Waimea community groups will co-sponsor a non-partisan candidate forum on Thursday., September 9 from 5:30 p.m. at the Waimea Family YMCA’s Kahilu Town Hall.

Joining Waimea Community Association in sponsoring this forum will be Tutu's House, Waimea Power of Choice, Waimea Hawaiian Homesteaders Association, North Hawaii Rotary, Waimea Elementary School, Friends of Thelma Parker Memorial Library and Hawaii Community College -- UH Center West Hawaii.

The debate will feature candidates for all major public offices in the area in preparation for the coming elections. This includes candidates for Mayor, two Hawaii County Council seats -- District 1 (Hamakua -- which reaches into Waimea as far West as White Road) and District 9; as well as for State House of Representatives. Since Sen. Lorraine Inouye is unopposed, she will speak briefly but there will not be a question-and-answer forum.

All of the candidates for these offices have been invited and have confirmed their participation.

There is no charge to attend Waimea Community meetings. Membership not required but recommended. Refreshments will be provided.

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

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

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Hawaiian Beaches Community Cleanup Sept 18

Recycle Hawai`i is sponsoring a cleanup at the Government Beach Road adjacent to Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision on Saturday, September 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Government Beach Road, a dirt road located along the coast north of Hawaiian Beaches Subdivision, has become an eyesore and health hazard for residents in the area. This illegal dumpsite is filled with all kinds of garbage, appliances, furniture, dead animals and abandoned vehicles.

How to get to the site:

From Kea`au, go past the exit into Pahoa town and turn left onto Kahakai Blvd. Continue on Kahakai Blvd. past Keonepoko Elementary School and almost to the coastline. Turn left on Coastal Puna Pkwy, which is the next to last street. Go two blocks to the stop sign. After the stop sign, the road curves to the left and comes to a dirt road next to a white house. This is the site for the cleanup.

Food and drinks will be provided for the volunteers.

This cleanup comes after one on August 21, 2004, when a group of dedicated volunteers spent hours cleaning Government Beach Road. The cleanup, sponsored by Recycle Hawai`i, was a part of a project funded by the USDA-Rural Utilities Service, County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management and Matson Navigation’s "Ka Ipu `Aina" Program. The volunteers did a great job in cleaning the area, but there was still much work to.

Recycle Hawai`i would like to thank the following organizations, government agencies, businesses and individuals for their support for the cleanup; Keep Hawai`i Beautiful, Kahakai Neighborhood Watch, County of Hawai`i Department of Environmental Management, Matson Navigation Co, Atlas Recycling, Big Island Scrap Metal, Treeworks, Chris and Mealoha Kraus, Joel Nathansen, Andy Aquino, Ruth Larkin, Ron Phillips, Pat Anakalea, Patti and Norman Blank and Nan Chun.

Special thanks to the County’s Solid Waste Division for assisting in cleaning this site by removing many junk vehicles and automotive parts through the derelict/abandoned vehicle program.

For more information call: 985-8725, or e-mail us at: howard@recyclehawaii.org .

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Back by popular demand! High-quality free mulch is now available at the new public pick-up area adjacent to the Kealakehe Transfer Station. The access to the new mulch pick-up area is directly across the street from the transfer station chutes. Residents may self-load mulch at the site from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. Bring a pitchfork and help yourself.

Plenty of free mulch is also available at the Hilo Transfer Station which is open 7 days a week, 7:00am-5:00pm. The green waste pick-up and drop-off area is just past the entrance to the transfer station chutes on the right-hand side of the road.

The County of Hawai`i’s Department of Environmental Management sponsors the free mulch program. At this time, loading assistance for small vehicles is available only at the Hilo location and fees range from $10-$40 depending on vehicle size.

If you want to arrange for a large truckload to be delivered to your residence, business, or farm, from either the Hilo or Kona green waste processing sites, please call the Big Island Recycling representative at (808) 306-1876 to make those arrangements.

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

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Compost tumblers rapidly break down greenwaste into useable compost for your lawn or garden.

Learn how to build your own compost tumbler from materials readily accessible islandwide. Classes sponsored by Recycle Hawai`i. Class fee: $10. All Classes will be held at Kea`au Recycling & Reuse Center

Classes will be held on the following dates: Saturday, Sept 11th –4pm-6pm and Saturday, Sept 24th –4pm-6pm. Take your pick.

For more information or to sign up for classes, contact Recycle Hawai`i at 969-2012.

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Employers are invited to attend a pau hana reception to recognize employers who have created successful workplaces in West Hawaii. Learn from business leaders who will share their "best practices" to assist you in recruiting, training and retaining your work force.

Call the Big Island Workplace Connection (Lori Sasaki) at 327-4797 for more information.

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These non-credit courses provide the required education hours to satisfy certification/re-certification requirements of the State of Hawaii Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division for Certified Substance Abuse Counselors.

The course offerings are:

043N014 Sept. 11 9:00a-4:00p

043N015 Sept. 18 9:00a-4:00p

043N202 Sept. 25 9:00a-4:00pm

Cost per class is $99; if taken as a series—$267. Deadline to register is September 8.

Tuition assistance is available. Call 974-7531 for more information and to register.

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The Arc of Hilo is hosting training for family members and Health and Human Service Professionals who assist families raising children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND).

On the following day, September 15, a workshop will be held to provide "Train the Trainer" instruction on FAS/ARND for those interested in training others. Participants are encouraged to attend both days if interested in training others. Participants will be given PowerPoint slides of the curriculum, the curriculum and handouts, as well as instruction on how best to share this information.

Both training sessions are being provided by the Arc of the United States, with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have questions about this training, contact Cindy Robinson at (808) 935-8535 ext. 22 or email her at crobinson@hiloarc.org

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On Friday, September 17, The Kohala Center will host a one-day seminar for land stewards, developers, architects, and planners -- in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Honolulu Field Office.

This seminar, entitled Conservation through Development, will explore new tools and concepts that can link conservation and development. In many rural communities, escalating opportunity costs for land stewards threaten to outweigh cultural and ecological concerns.

Where: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Hotel

When: Friday, September 17 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The fee is $125, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch and program materials.

This workshop will discuss ways to identify critical conditions, before we lose the places we value. The instructors will discuss development strategies that promote the kind of long-term economic sustainability required to preserve the cultural and ecological health of the land and the community.

The seminar will include presentations of related case studies; current research and relevant techniques; a focused exercise involving a specific ahupua' a/moku; and finally, discussions which illustrate ways of making the design process and the marketplace effective tools for conserving the land.

The desired outcome of this workshop: fiscally and physically modeled examples of place-appropriate land use and conservation.

Conservation through Development will be co-taught by Clark Stevens, nationally renowned architect, and Ian Robertson, successful kama‘aina developer and Chairman of the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC).

To register, please call 808-887-6411, email The Kohala Center office at info@kohalacenter.org or register on line at www.kohalacenter.org .

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The Rotary Clubs of Hawai`i (District 5000) are seeking applicants to a Group Study Exchange team that will travel to Manila, Republic of the Philippines from February 12 to March 14, 2005.

Applicants must be non-Rotarian young professionals age 25-40 and must not be related to a Rotarian. Applicants must be Hawai`i residents who are U.S. citizens.

Successful applicants will be personable, articulate, cooperative, exemplary in their work and enthusiastic about their vocations. Although there is no language training necessary since English is widely spoken in the Philippines, team members must be willing to undertake other preparation for the month-long mission.

Rotary Group Study Exchanges are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain new perspectives and an enlarged world vision, as well as an understanding of a nation’s culture, commerce and government. The four team members, accompanied by a Rotarian team leader, act as ambassadors to the host country.

Rotary International and the host district pay for all airfare, lodging, food and local transportation.

For application forms, email Mark Moore at hale1632@aol.com or fax: (808) 734-3235. Mailing address: 1632 Halekoa Place, Honolulu, HI 96821. Deadline: September 15, 2004.

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Malama A Ho'opili Pono, a Department of Health initiative for mother and child health, will be holding the- East Side's 3rd Annual Healthy & Hapai/WIC's Breastfeeding Challenge on Saturday, October 2, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Maternal & Child Health/Family Health Agencies interested in reserving a booth, please call Haunani at 974-4291.

Malama A Ho'opili Pono will also hold a Healthy & Hapai Health Fair - Ka'u on Oct 30, 2004 (Halloween Saturday) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Na'alehu Community Center & Park. The event will feature fun, music, costume contests and much more. Maternal Child & Health Agencies interested in reserving a booth, call 939-2437 and ask for Pat or Sandy Lei.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

Where/Location: Holiday – Labor Day

What: No work scheduled.

Where/Location: North Hilo District – Mauna Kea Access Road.

What: Maintain edge-of-pavement markings.

Where/Location: North Hilo District – Mauna Kea Access Road.

What: Continue edge-of-pavement striping.

Where/Location: North Hilo District – Mauna Kea Access Road.

What: Continue edge-of-pavement striping.

Where/ Location: South Hilo District – Mauna Kea Access Road.

What: Maintain crosswalk markings.

1. Central Striping crew on Queen Kaahumanu Highway job.

2. Back-up crew diverted to Maui, this means Keaau Village, Huina Road, Kaiulani Street, Ululani Street and Kawailani Street temporarily on hold.

Where/Location: No work scheduled.

What: No work scheduled.

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Accept the fact that driving demands your full attention. Always be alert for the unexpected while driving. Don't daydream, but concentrate on your driving. Get the "big picture": Look down the road far enough ahead to see what's ahead. And never drive when you are under stress or emotionally upset!!!

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Kalaniana’ole Avenue between the Bay Clinic and Kea’a Street will be closed for Keaukaha-bound traffic on a 24-hour basis beginning August 9, 2004 through September 17, 2004 to allow for much- needed rehabilitation work on the County of Hawai’i sewer line.

Please note that Hamakua-bound traffic will remain open along Kalaniana’ole Avenue and local traffic both ways up to the Bay Clinic will be allowed.

Keaukaha-bound motorists will be detoured through Kamehameha Street and Silva Street while construction improvements are in progress. Please use caution when traveling through the area.

For additional information, please contact Isemoto Contracting Co., Ltd. at 935-3102 or the County of Hawai’i Wastewater Division at 961-8338.

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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 Nonprofit Community Events (HCF): http://www.hcf-hawaii.org/hcf/hcfg/comcal.jsp
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
Hilo Downtown Improvement: Go to www.downtownhilo.com (click on Hilo Activity Guide, and follow directions on how to submit an event.) For information call Alice Moon at 933-9772.
Prince Kuhio Plaza: http://www.princekuhioplaza.com/html/Events.asp

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