August 5, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

CONTENTS

Ho'oko Park, located adjacent to Waikoloa Elementary School, is a new 4.5-acre facility under development by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Prior to this time, the park's development was undertaken by local volunteers.

The park will fill a need for park space for the rapidly-growing Waikoloa population. (Up to now, Pu'u Nui Street Park was the only public park in the Waikoloa area.)

Ho'oko Park will feature:

• A pavilion with restrooms
• A 20-stall parking lot
• A field under expansion to support soccer/football games

Parks and Recreation is expected to complete construction of this park sometime around the end of 2005.

Isaac Hale (pronounced "Ha-lay") Beach Park is designed to provide much-needed recreational facilities lost during the Kalapana eruption.

This park provides one of the only public shoreline-accessible recreational areas in the entire Puna region.

The State of Hawaii's Pohoiki Boat Ramp is located adjacent to Isaac Hale Beach Park. At the park itself, there was a small pavilion and restrooms that were condemned and abandoned. For many years, only portable restrooms were available.

The improvements will take place thanks to a Land Water Conservation Fund grant of approximately $500,000 and matching funds from the County of an additional $500,000. In addition, the Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking $1.2 million in funding from the County for improvements to Isaac Hale Beach Park.

The project will be done in phases, pending the additional funds being made available and the completion of the park design.

Construction on the first phase is likely to start in early 2006.

The first phase of improvements at Isaac Hale Beach Park will include:

• Construction of a permanent restroom building at the park's mauka end
• Installation of a generator and lighting system for the restrooms and the graveled boat parking area.
• Campsite area construction including picnic tables, barbecue pits and tent pitching areas.
• Near the "Shacks" surfing area, the County plans to construct a 20-car parking lot and an outdoor shower.
• Between the "Shacks" surfing area and the state's boat ramp, the County will build an ADA-accessible walkway with three picnic shelters and five outdoor picnic tables.
• Adjacent to the boat ramp maintained by the State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), there will be a boat turnaround area and public parking area.

• The County will widen the junction of the Kapoho-Pohoiki Road near the park. (There are plans to gate this road and only allow access during park hours.)

The second phase of improvements at Isaac Hale Beach Park will include the following on the park's mauka side:

• A large pavilion
• Children's playgrounds
• Basketball and tennis courts

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The County of Hawaii's Department of Parks and Recreation has been working to replace a number of lifeguard towers around the island. Some towers were removed because they were old and posed safety hazards.

After the towers were removed, Parks and Recreation worked to come up with a suitable design to meet the health and safety needs of our lifeguards.

Among the design specifications was to make the towers lockable when not in use.

The decision was to start from scratch to come up with the best design to ensure safety and security.

The first new lifeguard tower, at Kahalu'u Beach Park, was constructed and donated by Territorial Builders.

The second new lifeguard tower, at Onekahakaha Beach Park, was recently built with the bulk of the construction donated by Aloha Welding.

(Both contractors did most of the framework on the towers while County of Hawaii carpenters did the finishing.)

The three towers, whose construction was put to bid earlier this year are at the following locations in Keaukaha:

• Leleiwi Beach Park
• Carlsmith Beach Park
• Richardson Beach Park

Construction is expected to begin in September 2005.

Parks and Recreation wants to build the towers as inexpensively and as quickly as possible.

The anticipated cost for each tower was less than $25,000.

Amid a very busy construction environment, the project to construct the three towers in Keaukaha was put out to bid.

To construct all three towers in Keaukaha (at Leleiwi Beach Park, Carlsmith Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park), the low bid was $179,000, while the high bid was $209,000.)

The lifeguards have used 10 x 10 pop-up canopies and folding beach chairs.

The lifeguard tower at Ahalanui Beach Park ("The Warm Ponds") is pending replacement. In addition, there will possibly be a new tower for the north end of Kahalu'u Beach Park. Since County Water Safety Officers also work at Hapuna, replacements are also being considered for Hapuna Beach State Park.

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The County of Hawaii is seeking community-minded applicants for an important new commission whose task is to advise the County on matters relating to public access and open space on the Island of Hawaii.

The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission will include nine members, one from each Council District.

The Commission will develop a prioritized list of lands that qualify for preservation as open spaces, and explore methods of funding land acquisition and make recommendations to the Mayor.

The overall purpose of the Commission is to ensure:

1. Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains;
2. Preservation of historic or culturally important lands and sites;
3. Protection of natural resources, including buffer zones;
4. Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands;
5. Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.

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The number of vacancies in the Hawaii Police Department has been reduced thanks to an aggressive police officer recruitment campaign involving both the Police and Civil Service departments.

The two departments embarked on a campaign that involves a continuous open recruitment with monthly examinations being administered. The campaign is supported by media advertisements, participation by civil service staff and officers at career fairs, school appearances, public informational meetings, recruitment ads in movie theaters and other community outreach.

The Police Department currently has two police recruit classes in progress, and has slated a third class to begin later this year, according to Police Chief Lawrence K. Mahuna.

The 65th Police Recruit Class, consisting of nine members, began the academic phase of its training on April 18, 2005, and will begin the field training phase with veteran officers on November 1, 2005.

the 66th Police Recruit Class, also consisting of nine members, began on July 18, 2005, and will begin the field training phase on February 1, 2006.

The 67th Police Recruit Class, which is expected to be significantly larger, will consist of applicants currently being screened and is slated to begin in November or December.

"Because the department still has 45 (sworn officer) vacancies, we will be continuing our recruitment efforts," Mahuna said. "We encourage anyone interested in a law enforcement career to submit an application with the Department of Civil Service."

Applications can be downloaded from Hawaii County's website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us or they can be picked up and filed at Department of Civil Service, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2, in Hilo, or at the Mayor’s Office at Hanama Place in Kailua-Kona.

For further information, contact the Department of Civil Service at 961-8361.

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Recruitment efforts are going strong as the Department of Civil Service continues its grassroots outreach campaign to solicit interested persons for County jobs.

The next district recruitment session is scheduled for August 10^th at the Keaau Community Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend these sessions to learn about available County jobs and to pick up test-taking tips. Job applications will also be available.

The Department of Civil Service reports progress in the recruitment of police officer applicants. The Hawai`i Police Department has recently filled more of its vacancies, and the number of police officer vacancies has been reduced from 63 to 45.

Gabriella Cabanas, Recruitment & Examination Division Chief for the Department of Civil Service, indicates that written tests are still being administered monthly to applicants for the Police Officer I recruitment. Persons who pass the written test are then scheduled for the physical agility test. Persons who don’t pass the written test are eligible to retake the test the following month provided they request the test retake.

As members of the public reach age 21, they are encouraged to submit an application as well.

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The Hawai‘i County Code, the laws of the County, contains ordinances enacted through June 30, 2005.

Printed copies of the Code will be available for purchase for $200 on August 1, 2005. A CD is included with the purchased copies of the printed Code, or may be purchased separately for $20 by calling the Clerk’s Office at (808) 961-8255.

Because the Code is constantly amended, the website will be brought up to date as ordinances are adopted. However, the official version will be the printed copy, which will be supplemented every six months.

The County Council recently transferred responsibilities for supplementing and reprinting the Code from the Office of the Corporation Counsel to the Office of the Council-Clerk. The Code and annual supplements were previously prepared by privately-contracted companies.

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If you are helping someone with grocery shopping, paying bills, providing transportation to doctor’s visits, or cooking meals, you already are a caregiver. Time spent caregiving can range from less than an hour or two a week to round-the-clock care.

With careful planning, good self-care and knowledge of available resources, you can better prepare yourself to help your loved one. It’s important to realize that as a caregiver, you are not alone.

AARP, HMSA, Alu Like, Inc. and the Hawaii County Office of Aging have joined together to support the family caregivers on the Big Island.

A caregiver’s conference is scheduled at the Hawaii Naniloa Resort on Thursday, August 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $15 for unpaid family caregivers and $20 for all others. This fee includes refreshments, lunch, workshops and resource exhibits.

A Resource Fair will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Local service agencies and organizations will provide information and products available with helpful tips and tools to assist the caregiver at home.

Local pharmacists will offer private consultations from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. to assess and evaluate all over-the-counter and prescription drugs a person is taking to avoid the danger of potential adverse reactions.

The morning keynote will feature Lee White’s Keeping Things Together Without Falling Apart – A Caregiver’s Story, about a family’s heartwarming and personal experiences of caring for a loved one.

Dr. Kalani Brady, who is featured on a weekly KHON (Channel 2) morning news segment, will present "Be an Empowered Caregiver! A Doctor’s View on How Caregivers can be Advocates for Themselves and Their Families" in the afternoon.

Twelve other sessions focusing on a wide variety of caregiver topics are offered during the day.

A special Alzheimer’s course will be available for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. Another session addresses questions and concerns of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Other sessions include topics such as mental health, home safety, Medicaid vs. Medicare, financial preparedness and tax information and many others.

Scholarships are available for Native Hawaiians or unpaid family caregivers of Native Hawaiians through Alu Like, Inc. Respite care for older adults may also be available so caregivers can attend this conference.

Registration deadline is July 27 and you must be registered to attend. This conference was at maximum capacity last year, so attendance is on a first come, first served basis.

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With the Pacific hurricane season now upon us, it is very important for all of our Hawai`i residents to be familiar with hurricane preparedness measures.

The County of Hawai`i’s Civil Defense Agency reminds the community that all areas of our Island of Hawai`i can be prone to hurricane hazards.

Residents must be aware that all parts of Hawai`i Island could be exposed to hurricane hazards, despite a common belief that our mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa shield parts of the island from hurricane winds.

We hope our residents will take the time to familiarize themselves with hurricane preparedness measures by reading the County of Hawai`i’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The Hurricane Preparedness Guide is now available on the County’s website . To access the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, click on http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/hpg/main.html . There is also a link to the Civil Defense page http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_defense.htm .

If you’d like a hard copy of the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, copies will be available from the Civil Defense Agency after July 1.

For further information, contact the Civil Defense Agency at 935-0031.

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The County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites have new hours of operation beginning August 1. In addition, there is a new weekend site opening in Hawi in August.

Qualifiying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

**Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1:00-1:30pm for lunch.**

Please contact Atlas Recycling LLC at 935-9328 (Hilo) or 329-6868 (Kona) for further information about additional scrap value paid on aluminum cans and their mobile redemption sites in rural communities.

Certified redemption centers are now accepting flattened aluminum and plastic HI5¢ beverage containers.

Flattened containers are weighed at redemption sites to determine deposit payment. The public is reminded that reverse vending machines will not accept flattened or crushed containers.

DID YOU KNOW….that the average office worker throws away from 0.5 to 1.5 lbs. of high grade recyclable paper every day. Your office can reduce paper waste by reusing the blank sides and making double-sided copies. Used office paper can be recycled at the recycling bins at the County buildings.

Please call the Recycling Specialists with the Department of Environmental Management, County of’

Hawai’I, at 961-8527 or 961-8549 for information about the HI5¢ program or visit:

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The County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management, Wastewater Division will be renovating the Kailua Harbor Sewage Pump Station (formerly known as the King Kamehameha Sewage Pump Station) located at the corner of Ali’i Drive and the Kailua-Kona Harbor Access Road fronting the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

This work commenced in January 2005 and is expected to be completed by the end of August, 2005. Work is taking place between the hours of 8 am and 5:30 pm during week days and possibly Saturdays.

This renovation project will add capacity to the pump station resulting in better ability to accommodate the increasing number of future developments in Kailua-Kona. As an added benefit, renovation of the King Kamehameha Sewage Pump Station helps with preparing for future abandonment of the Queen Emma Sewage Pump Station located at Emma Square. This should enhance the area for nearby businesses as maintenance activities by Wastewater Division personnel will no longer be required in Emma Square.

During the construction period of the renovation project, businesses along Ali’i Drive can anticipate uninterrupted sewer service and conduct their business in a normal fashion.

Pedestrian traffic will be safely re-routed around the construction area at the King Kamehameha. There will be very little impact to vehicular traffic.

Some construction work will take place at the Emma Square location while giving consideration to pedestrian traffic. This work may include minor improvements to the rock wall and concrete walkways with the intent of making the area safer for pedestrians.

The public is welcome to direct any questions or concerns during construction to the Construction Manager, SSFM International, Inc. at 933-2727. General questions may be directed to the Wastewater Division at 961-8338.

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The Department of Water Supply is experiencing drought conditions around the island and is requesting our customers to conserve drinking water. Due to continuing dry weather conditions, water consumption in the affected areas has increased to a point where water sources and water distribution systems are strained. Drought conditions may last for some time, and the Department is requesting all our customers around the island to use water wisely.

This Water Conservation Notice is a request to reduce your daily water usage by 10%.

The following areas are under WATER CONSERVATION:

1. SOUTH KOHALA - Waimea Town.
2. HAMAKUA - Ahualoa, along Kahaua Drive, Kalopa State Park, Kapahu, Paauilo Mauka, and Pohakea.

Listed are some ways to conserve water to reach the 10% goal:

• Wash full loads of laundry only.
• Wash full loads of dishes only.
• Serve drinking water only when requested.
• Do not let the faucet run unnecessarily.
• When bathing, use water only to wet and rinse off.
• Do not fill up the bathtub.
• Use a glass to rinse when brushing your teeth.
• Do not flush toilets unnecessarily.
• Stop lawn sprinkling.
• Stop car and boat washing.
• Stop dust control watering.
• Use drinking water wisely.

Agricultural users shall irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure will reduce water loss due to evaporation and minimize water system drain during peak demand.

For more information, please contact Daryl Ikeda at the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

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Due to ongoing dry weather conditions, exceptionally large water consumption, and repairs being done at the Hualalai and Kalaoa Wells, the Department of Water Supply would like to remind customer in North Kona that they are under Water Conservation.

The Water Conservation Notice is a request to reduce your daily water usage by 10%. (See above article which lists some ways to conserve water to reach the 10% goal.)

Agricultural users should irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure will reduce water loss due to evaporation and minimize water system drain during peak demand.

If this trend of large consumption continues, the next water conservation action will be mandatory reduction. Please conserve water.

For more information, please contact Daryl Ikeda of the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

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Construction work to widen Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Hualalai Road, commenced on November 8, 2004.

Kuakini Highway will be widened to four lanes for automobiles, including two through-lanes in each direction, and a pocket lane for left turns where appropriate. In addition, there will bicycle lanes on both sides throughout most of the project. The construction will last 18-24 months.

One lane will be open at all times from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while construction is in progress. Outside of these hours, one lane in each direction will be open.

The contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, will work with the adjacent businesses and residences to assure that a reasonable access to the businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction period. However, motorists traveling in the area should drive with caution.

We are most grateful for the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The public is invited to a weekly update on the Kuakini Highway, Palani Road to Hualalai project every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Kona Mayor’s West Hawai`i Office conference room at Hanama Place. Light refreshments will be served.

Representatives from the contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, and the County, Public Works Department are available at the meetings. Everyone is welcome at these informal "talk story" sessions.

A large project map and a complete set of plans are available for reference at the Kona Mayor's office.

The Tuesday morning updates will continue, and information will also be available via the County website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us.

For more detailed information on the construction, please contact Hawaiian Dredging Contracting Co., Inc. at (808) 483-4270. You can also call Pete Hendricks, Deputy Managing Director at 329-5226.

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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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The community is cordially invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for Hawaii’s first State Veterans Home on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, 3:30 – 5:00 pm, at the site of the newly-demolished old Hilo Hospital, next to the Hilo Medical Center.

Governor Linda Lingle will be the keynote speaker.

The State Veterans Home will be a 95-bed long-term care home and adult daycare center. The facility will help to relieve over-crowded long-term care facilities statewide. It will also provide for the health and welfare of our veterans in recognition of their service to our country.

The construction of the State Veterans Home will begin this summer/fall and is anticipated to be completed by January 2007.

When completed, it will be the first veterans long-term care home in the state of Hawaii. Currently, there are only three states (Alaska, Delaware, and Hawaii) that do not have a State Veterans Home.

For further information contact: Joni Urasaki, Management Analyst/Community Relations at 974-4741 or email: jurasaki@hhsc.org

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State legislators are holding a series of statewide meetings to get public input on the establishment of Marine Managed Areas. These plans will affect the future use and preservation of Hawaii's ocean resources.

The following meetings are scheduled on Hawaii Island:

Marine Managed Areas are marine environment areas that are established by law or regulation in order to protect or enhance the area's natural and cultural resources.

The purpose of the meetings on the Big Island is to inform the community on the benefits and the drawbacks of Marine Managed Areas, and to gather feedback from residents.

The House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources have joined together to organize the meetings, hosted by Representative Ezra Kanoho, Chair, and members of the House Committee on Water, Land and Ocean Resources.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will make a presentation on the establishment of the Marine Managed Areas, their usefulness in Hawaii and the various tools and options used in other locations.

All interested community members are encouraged to attend the meetings.

For further information, contact Georgette Deemer at (808) 586-6133 or (808) 341-5043.

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Join the Kona Crime Prevention Committee at the "Officer of the Year" Luncheon on September 14, honoring the Officer of the Year (July 2004 - June 2005).

Where: Royal Kona Resort

When: September 14, Noon

Cost: $15.00 per person

Call Liz Holey for reservations or Mary Huebner at 895-6301.

The purpose of this organization is to encourage community involvement in aiding and supporting the Hawaii County Police Department, Kona District in their efforts to prevent crime, deter potential criminals and enforce the law.

Did you know...the Kona Crime Prevention Committee hosts the luncheon for all of the Officers of the Month who are candidates for Officer of the Year. If you can help with acknowledgments, please contact Liz Holey or Mary Huebner at 895-6301.

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Free mulch is now available at both the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations.

At the present time, no loading fees are being charged, although the public is advised to ask the operator for loading assistance. There may be a short wait time if the operator is busy.

The public may drop off green waste at either facility between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm seven days a week. Loading assistance is available at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona processing sites Monday through Saturday.

Residents are encouraged to contact any of the local trucking firms to arrange for delivery of large loads of mulch to their homes or places of business. Although there is no charge for the mulch and loading fees are waived, the public will need to pay their own delivery charges by arrangement with a local trucking firm.

EKO Composting Systems has assumed the operations of the County of Hawaii’s green waste drop-off and pick-up areas at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations as of July 1, 2005.

The County is working on the development of a composting facility at the materials recovery area of the West Hawai`i Sanitary Landfill, which will also include receiving bays for used cooking oil and grease trap waste.

When the new composting facility is completed, EKO will commence the production of high quality, U.S. Council-certified compost. Additionally, EKO Composting Systems along with its partner company, Pacific Biodiesel, will be initiating the capture of waste oils for the production of biodiesel.

The public should be aware that there are size requirements that must be met in order to drop off residential and commercially hauled green waste at the processing facilities at Kailua-Kona and Hilo green waste yards.

These size requirements must also be followed for any green waste dropped at the Keaau Recycling and Reuse Center, as well as for any green waste disposed of at one of the County’s 21 residential solid waste transfer stations.

Materials not accepted at these green waste drop-off sites include:

• garbage bags
• plastic
• lumber
• metal
• glass
• rocks
• logs longer than 5 feet in length and logs more than 18 inches in diameter.

Please note: at this time, no pallets may be delivered to the green waste processing facilities although the County intends to begin receiving pallets for chipping starting next year.

For loads that do not meet these criteria, residents may dispose of the load at either the County’s South Hilo or West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfills. Such green waste loads that do not meet acceptable requirements will be charged a special handling fee of $85/load in addition to the tip fee of $65/ton IF taken to either County landfill.

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

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UH Manoa College of Education is recruiting for three programs to be offered for West Hawaii residents via the UH Center, West Hawaii.

The three programs are the Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education program 2006, the Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education program 2006, and the Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Special Education program 2006.

All three programs provide eligibility for initial teaching licensure. A public information session for these three programs is scheduled for Friday, August 12 from 7 p.m.–9 p.m. at the UH Center, WH, Building 4, Room 3.in Kealakekua.

Dr. Darlene Martin, on site Kona Coordinator for UHM COE with representatives from College of Education will provide additional information.

Interested applicants may contact the UHM Office of Student Advising Services at 808 956 7849 for application materials and check the COE web site for additional information http://www.hawaii.edu/coe/departments/outreach/ Prospective students are encouraged to apply immediately.

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The prevailing public sentiment indicates that every year there are fewer and fewer opihi, and there is some truth to this. However, commercial take of opihi has been relatively stable since 1960. No significant population crashes have occurred since the 1.25" size restrictions were implemented in 1978, but there has been no recovery either.

The opihi is the subject of our latest in a series of free ReefTalks:

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 6:30-8:30 pm

WHERE: Kealakehe HS Library, mauka of Honokohau Harbor

Join Chris Bird to learn about the complex interactions among humans, opihi, haukeuke (shingle urchins), limu (seaweed), and other organisms that have impacts on opihi growth rates, reproduction and, ultimately, population size.

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The West Hawai’i Fisheries Council, a community-based marine advisory organization, will hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2005, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Hawai`i Big Game Fishing Club at Honokohau Marina in Kailua, Kona.

The Council will be discussing, among regular reports, the Hawaii Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. The DLNR and DOFAW will be surveying the Council for comment on the Marine Strategy which is to be submitted to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

If you cannot come to the meeting, the website for review and comment is: www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/process_strategy.htm .

One of the Council's missions is to recommend West Hawai’i fisheries management actions to enhance the marine environment for the Division of Aquatic Resources and the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

All of the interested ocean community is cordially invited to the Council meetings on the third Thursday of every month. The next West Hawai`i Fisheries Council meeting will be on Thursday, September 15, at Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club at 6:30pm.

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Kona Outdoor Circle is offering the Fall 2005 Julie M. Ellison Master Gardener Scholarship, a full scholarship for the Master Gardener Certification Program offered by KOC, in cooperation with the University of Hawaii.

The scholarship is for $225, and enables the recipient to complete the three series of classes offered annually. To complete the requirements for certification as a Master Gardener, students must participate in the three series of classes and pass the tests at the end of each series. They must also put in volunteer hours.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be accepted into the Master Gardener Certification Program and state his or her intention to complete the certification process. Students who have already completed one or two series of classes are eligible, as well as new students in the program.

The application form for the Fall 2005 scholarship is available online at konaoutdoorcircle.org . The deadline is September 15, 2005. For further information or to request an application form, call Kona Outdoor Circle at 329-7286.

The scholarship is in honor of the late Julie Ellison, a renowned landscape designer and two-time winner of Kona Outdoor Circle’s Beautification Awards who died in 2002.

Following her death, donations were made to the Kona Outdoor Circle in her memory and the Julie M. Ellison Fund was established. The fund is used to provide scholarships for individuals participating in the Master Gardener Certification Program.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

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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.

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Hawai‘i County ... a nice place to live.