September 23, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

CONTENTS

The residents of Hawaii County face long commutes, whether for work, shopping, school, or medical reasons. The long commutes and traffic congestion, coupled with rising fuel costs, have had a negative impact on the quality of life of our people.

Transportation issues are a major concern of our residents, and with the Council’s support and encouragement, several steps have been taken to address them:

• Implemented transportation kokua zones (free ridership zones) between Pahoa and Hilo and between Ocean View and Kawaihae. Ridership has increased over 100 percent on these routes and continues to rise.

• Began a new route from Ocean View to Kona and South Kohala, providing workers affordable and comfortable transportation to work. Without public transit, many residents with commute times of two hours each way cannot get to work. This benefits West Hawai‘i employers who are struggling to find workers in this time of virtually full employment by opening up a new pool of potential employees, as well as benefiting Ka‘u residents who now have a way to get to areas in the County where jobs are available.

• Began an after school bus run between Pahala and Ocean View. Over 40 students a day use this service. Previously some students were unable to participate in after school activities as they lacked transportation home.

• Received funding from Senator Daniel Inouye and Representative Ed Case for the purchase of new buses. The County will receive seven new buses in November and three in December of this year. Due to the long commutes our riders face, all of these buses have fully padded seats, air conditioning and stereos. This will enable a bus ride to be a time of rest, which is especially significant to the daily commuters who catch the 4:00 a.m. bus to commute to work in South Kohala. These new buses will allow the establishment of additional routes.

• Provided funding for the construction of park and ride lots, where commuters will have a safe place to park their cars when they travel to work on the bus.

While much has been done, there is still much more we can do to address the transportation needs of Hawai‘i Island. We must make public transit more available to our residents and encourage them to use the transit system. Every new rider on a Hele-On bus represents either one less car on our congested roadways, or increased mobility for someone who would not otherwise have the means to go to work, shopping, school, doctor, or play.

To forward our goal of addressing these transportation concerns, and because of the extreme hardship caused by high fuel costs, effective October 1, under the authority granted by the Hawai‘i County Code, the County will expand the existing transportation kokua zones island-wide for the temporary period allowed by law.

A bill to designate the entire County of Hawaii as a permanent transportation kokua zone will be considered by the County Council. The bill expands on the successful kokua zones currently provided between Pahoa and Hilo and Ocean View and Kawaihae. Together with new and expanded routes, the people of Hawai‘i County will have unprecedented access to affordable transportation.

It is believed that the creation of an island-wide kokua zone will produce social, economic and traffic relief benefits. Some of these benefits are:

• It will provide our residents with no-cost transportation to go to work, doctor, school, and for recreation. With the distances our residents must travel for basic needs, they will now have the opportunity to participate in activities they may not have in the past. In addition to helping residents, employers will benefit from an expanded pool of potential employees. This has been demonstrated on a smaller scale by the successful Ocean View to Kawaihae kokua zone bus run.

• The kokua zone will help alleviate the impact of rising fuel prices on our residents by providing an affordable alternate means of transportation. This is especially significant for the many who have long commutes of over 100 miles per day.

• The kokua zone will have a positive impact on our local economy, as money currently spent on public transportation costs will now be available for other purposes. The money saved by not having to pay for transportation costs can now go to provide a better lifestyle for families. On one of the most heavily utilized routes, the daily commuting buses from Hilo to Waikoloa for work at the resorts, the average rider must pay over $100 a month at the present time. With the kokua zone proposal, this is now money that can be used by the riders to have a better lifestyle.

• With the transit agency receiving unprecedented support from the Federal government, the expansion of public bus service is needed, feasible and timely. New routes are planned for our residents to participate in various activities, whether it is for work, after school programs, or simply social reasons.

• Expanding bus service coupled with creating an island-wide kokua zone will affect many areas of our lives, whether it be the "war on ice", as we can now provide our youth with transportation service to activities; "affordable housing", as we can establish bus routes in new housing areas created for those who cannot afford to pay market value; and "transportation mobility", as many of our senior and physically challenged residents will now have the opportunity to travel to their destinations, thereby improving their social well-being.

• Having more people riding buses will help alleviate some of the traffic congestion we are experiencing in certain areas of the island. It will also improve the environment as it reduces the number of cars on the road.

We realize that this is an unprecedented initiative, but it is truly believed that public transportation is a service that should be and must be provided by government to meet the needs of the people it serves. Hawai‘i Island is different from the other islands in the state. The size of the island is unique in the state. The transportation needs are different, the people are different, and the problems are different. That is why we must use different means to meet the needs of our residents.

For more information, please contact the Transit Agency at 961-8744.

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Hawai`i County is currently recruiting citizen volunteers to serve as commissioners on the Cost of Government Commission.

This Commission was created by Charter amendment in 2000. The Commission serves for a period of 11 months only, and is empaneled one year after the Mayor is elected into office.

Their mission is to study and investigate present operations within the County of Hawai`i, and make recommendations to the Mayor and Hawai`i County Council on how improvements in County government may be made.

Amid rising demands placed on the County, limited resources and the need to provide our citizens the very best service, the importance of this Commission is evident. Please consider volunteering your time and life experience to help your County government to better serve you and your fellow citizens.

Completed applications can be dropped off at the above County offices.

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DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 2005

TIME: 9:00 a.m.

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 ten days prior to the meeting date. Comments may be sent to Department of Environmental Management, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 210, Hilo, HI 96720 or emailed to cohdem@co.hawaii.hi.us

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Residents can once again recycle many of the same types of items that they used to bring to the now-closed Community Recycling Center on Railroad Avenue in Hilo.

At the Hilo Transfer Station (just beyond the HI5 Redemption Center), residents can now recycle the following:

• Cardboard and brown paper bags
• Newspapers and magazines
• Glass (mayo jars, wine bottles, etc.)
• Aluminum (pie tins, etc.)
• Plastics #1 & #2 (milk jugs, detergent bottles, etc.)
• Office paper (white, ledger, colors – no brights)

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Waimea area residents can now recycle non-HI5 glass and other recyclables at the Waimea Transfer Station, just opposite the transfer station chutes.

Two separate containers are accepting the following:

• Glass – all non-HI5 glass, such as mayonnaise jars and wine bottles;
• Mixed Recyclables – flattened cardboard and boxboard, newspaper and magazines, mixed office paper, junk mail, phone books, rinsed aluminum and tin cans, plastics #1 and #2 (rinsed & no caps).

What happens to these recyclables?

The glass is crushed and used on the Big Island. The mixed recyclables are bailed and shipped to mainland sorting facilities, where they’re earmarked for new product markets.

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The County of Hawaii Planning Department invites the public to an informational meeting regarding

North and South Kona Community Development Plan. Please attend one of the two meetings:

When: Tuesday , September 27, 2005, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm

Where: Kealakehe Intermediate School

Also:

When: Thursday, September 29, 2005, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Konawaena High School

For more information or to request special accommodations, please contact Earl Matsukawa at 808-946-2277.

The Planning Department has announced that Wilson Okamoto Corporation of Honolulu has been selected as the consultant to conduct the North and South Kona Community Development Plan (CDP).

The consultant has put together an exciting project team offering national-recognized expertise to help with various aspects of the planning process; including the Environmental Simulation Center – New York, ACP – Visioning & Planning, Ltd. – Ohio, Harrison B. Rue – Virginia, Charlier Associates, Inc. - Colorado, David Paul Rosen & Associates, California and Will Allen – North Carolina.

Recognizing that rapid growth is occurring in the Kona area, there is an urgent need to develop a long range plan to manage growth for the North and South Kona districts.

In conformance with the General Plan requirements, the first step is to develop a North and South Kona Steering Committee. The consultant will be required to work with this volunteer steering committee to ensure that the planning process is inclusive and reflects a broad-based public involvement process and that the CDP document is prepared in the best interest of the health and welfare of the community.

Steering committee members will be asked to attend steering committee meetings, participate in training, attend community workshops, and be a source of information about the CDP process for individuals and community groups. Other responsibilities will evolve as the committee begins its work.

The Planning Department is accepting nominations for the steering committee. Interested persons may also nominate themselves. According to the General Plan, the steering committee members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the County Council.

Deadline to submit applications is Monday, September 26, 2005 at 12:00 noon.

Applications are available at the County of Hawaii Planning Department – Kona and Hilo office or by calling 327-3510 or 961-8288.

Forms can also be downloaded from the County of Hawaii Planning Department web site at http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_plan.htm.

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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. There is a new site that recently opened in Hawi on Saturday, August 20. Hawi now has official certification and is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 am-4:30 pm, closed from 1-1:30 pm for lunch.

Qualifying 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.

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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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.

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 invited to "Facilitating Extraordinary Accomplishments of Hawaii's Youth," a conference on building youth activities organized by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Big Island and the County of Hawaii. Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001, who is a proponent of character education, will present the keynote address.

Baraquio, a former youth athlete, teacher, coach and school athletic director, recently served as a spokesperson for First Hawaiian Bank. She and three of her sisters host a popular weekly television broadcast, "Living Local with the Baraquios."

Five outstanding local students who excel in academics, leadership, sports and other activities will lead off the daylong program.

The high achiever youth panel includes Waiakea High School student body president Evan Alicuben, Kamalu Blaisdell, who graduated from Kea’au High School, Keisha Kanekoa, from Honoka’a High School, a junior who earned the most outstanding player award at the 2005 State tournament in Honolulu, Christy Wagner, an accomplished student at Waiakea High School who has competed as a diver and now counts water polo as her sport, and Kim Kopra, an outstanding HPA student.

Randy Hirokawa, Arts and Sciences dean at the University of Hawaii at Hilo will serve as lead facilitator.

During a lunchtime panel, the DOE’s Hawaii District educational specialist for athletics, Keith Morioka, will moderate a panel of five youth activities leaders.

The panel includes Mary Correa, complex area superintendent for Ka’u, Kea’au, and Pahoa, Steven Pavao, Boys and Girls Club executive, Lt. James Sanborn of the Big Island HIPAL program, Byron Tomono, youth sports specialist in the County Department of Parks and Recreation, and Bob Wagner, Kamehameha School athletic director.

For the afternoon session, participants will choose either a Positive Coaching Alliance Sports Parents training workshop or a proposal-writing and grants resource workshop.

WHEN: Friday, October 7 Registration: 8:00 am, Workshop: 8:25 am to 4:00 pm

WHERE: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, South Kohala

FEE: $20.00 fee covers breakfast, lunch and conference materials

To facilitate extraordinary accomplishments in Hawaii's youth by implementing a systematic plan composed of community recommendations, continued involvement and collaboration supported by character education.

Two panels, one of high-achieving youth and the other of program administrators and parents, will discuss their successes and program building for the future.

Presentations about "Achieving Health and Fitness through Partnerships" and "Bully-Proof Sports" will be presented by Hawaii specialists.

A Positive Coaching Alliance training workshop for parents and a proposal writing and funding resource workshop will be offered in the afternoon break-out sessions.

PCA Big Island board members, advisers, and other community supporters of Positive Coaching Alliance programs on the Big Island of Hawaii, educators, and others.

Please register by Monday, September 19, 2005. Registration forms are available from the County Parks and Recreation's Recreation Division at 799 Piilani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Phone: 961-8740.

For further information, call Sports Line Hawaii at 969-3633 and leave your name and telephone number or email PCABigIsland@verizon.net.

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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 as negotiated 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, generated from West Side green wastes only, please.

(East Side-generated green waste will continue to be mulched at the Hilo facility.)

In addition, EKO Composting Systems along with 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.

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.

If loads delivered to the green waste drop-off sites and/or County transfer stations do not meet these criteria, the other option will be to dispose of the load at either the County’s South Hilo or West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfills. 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 further information, please contact the County’s recycling coordinator at 961-8942.

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Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge will be celebrating its 20th

anniversary during its annual open house on Saturday, October 15.

Reservations are now being accepted to participate in hikes through portions of this first-of-its-kind refuge set aside to protect Hawaii’s unique rainforest birds and their habitat.

Residents and visitors are invited to hike through the Pua ‘Akala Tract, which harbors a high-elevation rainforest. It is home to many native birds such as ‘i‘iwi and ‘elepaio, and significant numbers of endangered species including the Hawai‘i creeper and Hawai‘i ‘akepa.

A historic 110-year old koa cabin also will be open for viewing.

Visitors will be met by refuge staff and tour leaders at the Pua ‘Akala Barn anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. They will receive a briefing on refuge management objectives and strategies and a description of the plants and animals the Refuge protects. Rainforest hikes of varying lengths will be offered.

The hikes will be led by biologists and staff familiar with native Hawaiian flora and fauna. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the refuge greenhouse and learn about the forest restoration program. Cultural resource protection, weed control projects and the University of Hawaii’s field station will also be highlighted.

Participants must arrange their own transportation to the Refuge. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required for the two-hour drive from Hilo, Waimea, or Kona.

Visitors should come prepared for wet chilly weather and bring their own lunch, water, binoculars, and rain gear.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling the refuge office in Hilo at 933-6915 by October 12.

Directions and additional information will be mailed to all participants.

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The Kailua-Kona Lions Club is organizing its First Annual Flea Market, Car Show & Swap Meet on Saturday, October 22, from 7 am-4 pm at The Swing Zone.

We are actively seeking people who have something they want to sell, crafters, and musical groups who want to show their talent. In addition, any group can hui together to sell those items that have been gathering dust around the house and garage all these years.

The Car Show will feature all types of vehicles from antiques, hot rods, custom cars and pickups to motorcycles and low riders.

The cost to rent a 10x10 ft space is $20 for the entire day. Proceeds from the space rentals benefit local high school seniors through the Lions Scholarship Fund. For information, call Sonia at 329-7133.

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The Hilo-based Japanese Community Association of Hawaii is putting out a call for Hawaii residents to share their personal internment stories at the Japanese Culture Day in Hawaii celebration on November 19, 2005, 10-2 pm at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin Sangha Hall.

The story of Hawaii residents who were taken from their homes and relocated to internment camps on the U.S. Mainland during World War II is an important family story in the Japanese-American community. This occasion is an opportunity to share those experiences.

Anyone interested in sharing his or her personal story is invited to send in a written submission using the following questions:

• What is your most vivid memory of internment?
• How did internment affect your life afterwards?
• What lessons did you learn from the experience?
• What would you like to share with future generations?

The committee is planning for several relaxed settings in which the people who have stories to share can "talk story" prior to the Japanese Culture Day on November 19.

Later, several will participate onstage at Sangha Hall in a facilitated talk story session led by Randy Hirokawa, UHH dean of arts and science.

Those with a story to share should send their written submission by September 26, to Japanese Community Association, P. O. Box 1124, Hilo, HI 96721 or fax to 935-8314. Please Include your full name and contact information.

There will be a display of personal mementos during the Japanese Culture Day in Hawaii.

This year’s Japanese Culture Day will also feature Senator Daniel K. Inouye as keynote speaker who will also assist in honoring our World War II AJA Veterans.

The event will also offer demos and displays including Tea Ceremony, bonsai, ikebana, traditional crafts such as oshibana, chigiri-e and shishu, as well as mochi-tsuki, kendo, and Japanese food. Entertainment includes taiko, koto, song and dance, as well as, Calligraphy and Shichi-go-san Kimono Dressing for children ages 7-5-3.

For more information, please contact Jan Higashi at 961-6848.

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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.