December 9, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

CONTENTS

• New Graduated Drivers Licensing Program Starts January 9

• Kona Community Development Plan Brainstorming Sessions
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days: Dec 3 in Hilo, Dec 10 in Kona
• County of Hawai`i Holds Christmas Open House December 13
• 2004 County of Hawai`i Data Book Available in Print and On-Line
• Environmental Management Commission Seeks Applicants
• Holiday Closures of County Transfer Stations, Landfills
• Office of Housing Seeks Requests for Proposal for 2006 CDBG/HOME Program
• County Seeks Applicants for Cost of Government Commission
• HI 5¢ Redemption Centers – Locations and Hours of Operation
• Kuakini Highway Construction Update
• Job Announcements

• 21st Annual Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec 10
• Ah Quon McElrath to Address International Human Rights Day Rally Dec 10
• Filipino Festival Honors Filipino Centennial and Rizal Day Dec 10
• Christmas Tree Recycling is Here Again
• Free Mulch is Now Available at Hilo, Kona Transfer Stations

• Solutions Task Force Video Conferences on December 12
• Timelines for Spring Semester 2006 at West Hawai`i Campus of HawCC

• Signs and Markings Projects
• Update on Fiber Optic Cable Project in Hilo

UPCOMING EVENTS

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The following article is a brief introduction to the new Graduated Drivers Licensing program effective January 9, 2006. This new drivers license law affects all new minor drivers license applicants.

Under the new Graduated Provisional Licensing program, the minimum age to acquire a learner drivers permit is 15 and 6 months.

The new Hawaii law establishes a three-stage graduated licensing program for drivers under the age of 18.

The program allows beginning drivers to develop their driving skills over time as they gain experience and maturity.

Key elements of the new "provisional " stage include:

• Limits on unsupervised late-night driving
• The number of passengers allowed during unsupervised driving.

Applicants between the ages of 15 and 6 months through 17 must hold a valid Hawai`i instructional permit for a period of 180 days, instead of 90 days.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens.

Crash rates for young beginning drivers and their passengers are particularly high. Sixteen-year-old-drivers have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age, including older teen drivers.

Because of their inexperience, beginning drivers are least able to handle hazardous situations.

This, combined with aggressive driving behaviors and a lack of maturity, results in high crash rates.

Graduated licensing programs, already established in most other states, have resulted in fewer crashes, injuries and fatalities involving teen drivers. Currently 40 states have a graduated license program.

To qualify for the Instructional Permit Phase, the person:

• must be at least 15 and 6 months of age to acquire an instructional permit.
• must be in immediate possession of the permit when driving a motor vehicle.
• must be accompanied by a person who is at least 21 years of age and licensed to operate the same type of motor vehicle. Between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 .a.m., the parent or guardian must be supervising the driver and seated next to the driver.
• must have all occupants wear their seat belts and children under 4 years of age be properly restrained within child safety seat in compliance with Hawai`i State law.

The permit:

• is valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance; and
• may be renewed for another one-year period no sooner than 30 days before the expiration date of the permit and no later than 90 days after the expiration date of the permit.

Failure to renew the instructional permit within 30 days from the expiration date will result in an additional 180 days' waiting period for road test eligibility.

A person may be granted a Provisional License to operate a motor vehicle if that person:

• is at least sixteen (16) years old, but under the age of eighteen (18);
• holds an Instructional Permit and has held that permit for at least 180 days and there is no pending violation that might result in a suspension or revocation of that person ’s instructional permit;
• satisfactorily completes a State-certified driver’s education course and possesses the classroom and behind-the-wheel certificates; and
• successfully passes a road examination test.

The person granted a Provisional License is required to:

• have in their immediate possession their provisional driver ’s license;
• have all occupants wear their seat belts and children under 4 years of age must be properly restrained within child safety seat in compliance with Hawai`i State law.

The provisional license driver is not allowed to:

• transport more than one person below the age of eighteen (18), without being accompanied by a licensed driver that is the provisional license holder’s parent or guardian, unless that person is a household member.

The provisional licensee driver is restricted from driving between the hours of :

• 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by either a parent or guardian that is licensed to drive the same type of motor vehicle and is seated in the passenger seat beside the provisional licensee.

The person granted a provisional driver ’s license may drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without a licensed parent or guardian in the motor vehicle only under the following conditions:

• Traveling to or from the licensee ’s place of employment, where the operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for that purpose.

The provisional licensee must keep in his or her possession a signed statement from the employer including:

• Employer’s name, address and telephone number
• Employer's verification of the provisional license holder's employment and work hours.

The other exception is when a provisional license holder is travelling to or from a school-authorized activity, where the operation of a motor vehicle is necessary for that purpose.

In this case, the provisional licensee shall keep in his or her possession a signed statement from a parent or guardian including:

• Parent or guardian’s name, address and telephone number,
• Verification that the operation of the motor vehicle by the licensee is necessary to travel to or from the school-authorized activity.

In this case, the provisional licensee is not allowed to transport more than one person under the age of eighteen (18) between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without being accompanied by the licensed parent or guardian of the provisional licensee.

The provisional license will expire on the pro visional licensee ’s nineteenth (19th) birthday.

A provisional licensee may be issued a full driver ’s license if the provisional licensee:

• has satisfactorily held the provisional license for at least six (6) months;

• has no pending violation that might result in suspension or revocation;
• is at least seventeen (17) years old; and has satisfactorily complied with all he requirements of Chapter 286, Hawai`i Revised Statutes.

For 1st violation of items listed in the Provisional License Phase section, the provisional license shall be suspended for a 3-month period.

For a 2nd or subsequent violations of items listed in the Provisional License Phase section, the provisional license shall be revoked for a 6-month period.

If a provisional licensee is convicted of an offense relating to the operation of a motor vehicle:

• For 1st conviction, the provisional license shall be suspended or revoked for 6 months.
• For a 2nd or subsequent convictions, the provisional license shall be revoked for one year.

Under the new Graduated Provisional Licensing program, the minimum age to acquire a learner drivers permit is 15 and 6 months .

All license examinations and driver ’s education requirements will remain in place. Applicants between the ages of 15 and 6 months through 17 must hold a valid Hawai`i instructional permit for a period of 180 days, instead of 90 days.

You must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least 21 years or older, instead of 18 during the instructional permit phase. The licensed driver must be a parent or guardian between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. during the instructional permit and provisional phases.

To receive either a provisional license or full driver’s license, you cannot have any pending violations that may result in the suspension or revocation of either your instructional permit or provisional driver ’s license.

To obtain a full driver ’s license, you must hold your provisional driver ’s license for at least 6 months and be at least 17 years old.

You have until your 19th birthday to convert your provisional driver ’s license to a full driver’s license. The provisional driver ’s license expires on your 19th birthday.

If you fail to convert your provisional driver ’s license by your 19th birthday, you must reapply as a new applicant.

If your provisional driver ’s license expiration date is on a weekend or holiday for the County, then you must convert your provisional driver ’s license to a full driver’s license by the last working day prior to the expiration date.

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The Kona Community Development Plan (CDP) is the County of Hawaii’s pilot community development plan. The goal is to make this planning process an inclusive and community-based process.

To encourage community participation, Community Brainstorming Sessions are being held as an opportunity for residents to share their ideas about the future and how they can help to shape the future of Kona. The results of the sessions will be compiled and shared at the first of a series of community workshops to be held in early February 2006.

There will be several opportunities for the public to participate in the small group sessions. The community is encouraged to attend a session in their neighborhood or even host a meeting in their home.

Meetings are conducted by volunteer facilitators following a protocol which requires that no more than 12 people to attend each session. Meetings will be added as needed and anyone can host a meeting of their own. The following sites have offered to host sessions on the following dates:

Weekday sessions are from 6 -8 pm, Saturday sessions are from 3-5 pm. The community is encouraged to sign up and use this opportunity to share their thoughts. For further information and to reserve a space, please contact the Hawaii County Resource Center at 326-7269.

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The County of Hawai`i's Household Hazardous Waste collections will take place again in Hilo and Kailua-Kona.

Don't miss this opportunity to clean your garage of unwanted and dangerous items. These collection days are part of a twice-yearly amnesty program to dispose of household hazardous waste products.

The collections will take place:

• Saturday, December 3, 2005, at the Hilo Transfer Station, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, December 10, 2005, at the Kealakehe Transfer Station, 7:30 AM to 2:30 p.m.

Dumping household hazardous waste in your trash, which will go to the landfill, can cause groundwater contamination. Household hazardous waste collected on the designated dates is shipped to the mainland for safe disposal.

Hazardous waste materials being accepted include:

• automotive fluids
• all types of batteries
• corrosives
• mercury thermometers
• oil-based paints and stains, solvents and thinners
• garden supplies
• poisons
• miscellaneous hazardous household chemicals
• **Clean and/or contaminated used motor oil will also be accepted.

Please note: There will be a special latex paint and base collection.

Usable paints will be offered to the public for trade that day. All remaining usable paints will be sent to the Kea`au Recycling and Reuse Center for resale. Any unusable paints collected during the collection will be properly disposed of in the local landfill.

Materials that WILL NOT be accepted include industrial waste, explosives, pyrophoric, water-reactive, biological, infectious, radioactive, and shock sensitive materials, as well as compressed gas cylinders, flares, fire extinguishers, detergents, non-hazardous items and non-household generated waste.

For further information, please call the County's Recycling Hotline at 961-5044.

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In the spirit of the season, the County of Hawai`i cordially invites the community to our Christmas Open House on the evening of Tuesday, December 13.

When: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 from 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Where: Hawai`i County Building, 25 Aupuni Street

The seasonal celebration will feature the Kanilehua Chorale, conducted by Julianne Cross; the Waiakea Ukulele Band, directed by George Camarillo, Jr.; and Na Pua Mae`ole of Pahoa Intermediate and High School.

Welcoming you will be Mayor Harry Kim and Hawai`i County Council Chairman Stacy Higa.

Refreshments will be provided. Please be sure to stop by to enjoy the festivities.

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The 2004 County of Hawaii Data Book, a publication of the Department of Research and Development, is now available for purchase. This publication represents a part of the continuous effort by R&D to provide informational services to other governmental agencies and the general public.

This edition is the 23rd in the series and is intended to serve as a convenient collection of statistics on the social, economic and political organization of the County of Hawaii.

The data book contains a wealth of information about Hawaii County, including such 2004 data as: 162,971 resident population; 159,627 motor vehicle registrations; 432 persons per police officer; $50,455,000 floriculture and nursery product sales; 58,861 residential electric consumers; 38,016 waterworks services; 975,051 domestic visitor arrivals; 303,662 international visitor arrivals; 137.49 inches of rainfall in Hilo, and 87.42 inches of rainfall in Kealakekua.

Many federal, state, County and private organizations cooperated with R&D in the preparation of this data book. They are credited in the source references that accompany the tables to which they contributed.

The 2004 County of Hawaii Data Book may be purchased for $15.00 per copy from the Department of Research & Development, at the Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 109, Hilo, HI 96720-4252, Phone: 961-8366; or the Office of the Mayor, Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy #103, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, telephone 329-5226. Copies may also be ordered by sending $20.00 per copy (postpaid) to the department.

The 2004 County of Hawaii Data Book (as well as previous editions) is also currently available on the County of Hawaii website: http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us .

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The Environmental Management Commission will soon have two vacancies when terms expire on December 31, 2005. Community-minded residents are encouraged to apply for the vacancies for commissioners to represent. :

• District 2 (Council member Donald Ikeda's district) and
• District 5 (Council member Gary Safarik's district).

Members of the Environmental Management Commission advise the Department of Environmental Management on waste reduction strategies, recycling, litter control, community involvement, and other issues related to the functions of the department.

Under the Hawaii County Charter, appointments to the commission are made by the Mayor with Council approval. Commissioners serve 5-year staggered terms.

The commission is made up of nine members, each representing one of the nine Council districts.

To obtain an application, please contact the Office of Information and Complaints, Mayor's Office, Room 217, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo. Phone: 961-8223 or at the Kona Mayor's Office, Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona. Phone: 329-5226.

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The Department of Environmental Management wishes to inform the community that all County of Hawaii Solid Waste Transfer Stations and Landfills will be closed for the following Holidays:

• Christmas Day – December 25th – Sunday
• New Years Day – January 1st – Sunday

We respectfully ask your kokua on these holidays. Personnel will be on hand at all Transfer Stations. Our Solid Waste Division employees appreciate the opportunity to spend the holiday with their families, and thank everyone in our community for their kind cooperation.

All of the transfer stations and the landfills will reopen the day after the holiday, and resume normal operating hours.

For more information, please call Bobby Gonsalves, Solid Waste Operations Superintendent at 961-8514.

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The County of Hawaii`s Office of Housing & Community Development (OHCD) is currently planning for its 2006 Consolidated/Action Plan process for the aforementioned programs.

The County’s five-year 2005-2009 CP describes the County's housing and community development needs, funding plans, priorities and objectives, and includes the County's Annual Action plan for the use of CDBG and HOME Program funds.

The County of Hawai`i is, therefore, seeking eligible project proposals to include in its 2006 Annual Action Plan to HUD.

The County expects to receive approximately $2,500,000 for its CDBG Program and $1,000,000 for the HOME Program.

Project proposals submitted to the OHCD must comply with the program criteria, meet eligibility requirements, program objectives, and be consistent with the County’s priorities and objectives as contained in the County’s 2005-2009 CP.

All original project proposals and two (2) copies must be received by 4:30 p.m. on January 12, 2006, by the OHCD, 50 Wailuku Drive, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720-2456.

The proposal forms and federal guidelines covering the eligible activities will be available at the following locations beginning October 28, 2005, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on holidays. Proposal forms will also be mailed, upon request, after October 28, 2005.

Hilo Armory, 50 Wailuku Drive, Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Phone: 961-8379

Hanama Place, Suite 103, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway

Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i 96740 Phone: 329-5226

In addition, copies of the County’s current CP; Citizen Participation Plan and past performance of CDBG and HOME funds are also available at the Office of Housing and Community Development, 50 Wailuku Drive, Hilo, Hawai`i.

The County’s approved 2005-2009 CP is also available for public review at the Hawai`i State Public Libraries in Honoka`a, Kamuela, Kohala, Pahala, Pahoa, Kailua-Kona and Hilo.

A brief description of the CDBG and HOME Programs are as follows:

Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383) created the CDBG Program, which became effective January 1, 1974. Under the CDBG Program, a community is able to develop a flexible, locally designed comprehensive community development strategy in order to address the program's primary objective: "...development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low and moderate income."

Under the CDBG program, grants or loan assistance may be used by eligible public agencies, private non-profit organizations, and Community Based Development Organizations (CBDO), (non-profit organization) for the following activities provided that these activities either 1) principally benefit low and moderate income families, 2) aid in the prevention or elimination of slums and blight, or 3) meet other community development needs having a particular urgency.

• Acquisition, disposition of real property, relocation payments, clearance
• Public facilities
• Public service
• Payment of non-federal share
• Homeownership (i.e. subsidize interest, mortgage guarantee, down payment, closing cost)
• Rehabilitation and preservation
• Economic development, micro-enterprises
• Planning and administration

The HOME Program was created under Title II (the HOME Investment Partnership Act) of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. The purpose of the HOME Program is to expand the supply of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing for very low and low-income persons.

Under the HOME Program, equity investments, interest-bearing and non-interest bearing loans or advances, deferred payment loans, grants, may be used by eligible public agencies, private non-profit organizations, developers, owners, community housing development organizations or other private organizations are eligible to utilize HOME funds for the following activities.

• Development hard costs defined as the actual cost of constructing or rehabilitating housing.
• Acquisition costs.
• Related soft costs defined as other reasonable and necessary costs incurred and associated with the financing or development (or both) of new construction, rehabilitation or acquisition of housing assisted with HOME funds.
• Relocation costs.
• Cost related to tenant-based rental assistance.

Applicants applying for HOME funding are required to match for every $1.00 of federal HOME funds expended for the project with at least $.25 of eligible matching funds.

For more information, please contact the Office of Housing and Community Development at 961-8379.

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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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The following is a primer on the State of Hawai`i's beverage container redemption program works, and the location of the County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites:

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:

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 Department of Environmental Management has a new information line? Call 961-5044 for HI5¢ redemption, recycling, and other solid waste information. Or visit:

www.hi5deposit.com / http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_envmng.htm

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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.

• Construction of retaining walls is in progress at Kona Ranch House and fronting McDonald’s.
• Curb, gutter, and sidewalk work is ongoing in front of Auto World, McDonald’s, and Kuakini Tower.
• Underground utility work at Kuakini Highway/Hualalai Road intersection is in progress.
• Placement of asphalt concrete base course between Henry and Kalani Streets is in progress.
• Driveways at various locations are being graded in preparation for the asphalt paving.
• During this week, the Department of Water Supply did pipe-laying along Kuakini Highway in the vicinity of Nakukui Street.

Please note: With the Kuakini Highway project nearing completion, the weekly Kuakini Highway talk story meeting held every Tuesday morning has been discontinued effective November 22, 2005. However, Information on project status will be provided via this newsletter, the County website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us and the Mayor's West Hawaii Office at 329-5226.

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For job postings, visit our website: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/civil_serv/civ_serv.htm

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

Or visit our webpage: co.hawaii.hi.us

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

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The 21st annual Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade, whose theme this year is "Na Mele O Kalikimaka - Songs of Christmas", will be held Saturday, December 10, 2005 from 5:00 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded for the best parade participants in the categories of: Commercial, Floats, Keiki, Marching, Best Crowd Pleaser, Best School Entry, Best Musical Entry, and the Best in Lights Entry.

The parade starts at Kona's Kekuaokalani Gym, continuing along Kuakini to Palani to Ali`i Drive and on to the Coconut Grove Marketplace.

Awards to follow at Coconut Grove Marketplace.

• Big Island Honda on Kuakini Highway
• King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
• Torchy's Restaurant
• Pancho and Lefty's Cantina & Restaurante
• Kimo's Family Buffet at Uncle Billy's Kona Bay Hotel
• Waterfront Row
• Rio's Seafood Grill & Bar

For parade entry form or sponsorship, please call Renee H. Kraft at 345-2108 or Barbara Kossow at 329-5226. E-mail Konakolohe@yahoo.com   .

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Ah Quon McElrath, a pioneer in Hawai`i's labor movement, will be the featured speaker at rally in Hilo marking International Human Rights Day on Saturday, December 10.

She will join other speakers including Mayor Harry Kim, Hawai`i County Council Chairman Stacy Higa, Hawai`i State AFL-CIO president Randy Perreira and Hawaii Newspaper Guild Administrative Officer Wayne Cahill.

WHEN:         Saturday, December 10, 2005, 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Kamehameha Avenue parking lot (fronting the canoe halaus), Hilo

International Human Rights Day brings together labor leaders, union members and community allies to highlight a key human rights issue involving workers' loss of freedom to form unions and collectively bargain for contracts with employers.

For further information, please contact the Hawai`i Newspaper Guild office in Hilo at 969-3088.

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The entire community is cordially invited to the Filipino Fiesta, in honor of the Filipino Centennial and Rizal Day on Saturday, December 10. The Filipino Fiesta is a time for the entire community to rejoice with cultural music, traditional folk-dancing and feasting. It is a time of joy in a spirit of cooperation and giving, while working towards the common goal of a brighter future.

WHEN:       Saturday, December 10, 2005, from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Kamehameha Park Gym, Kapa`au, North Kohala

Free admission to a day of entertainment, delicious food, cultural displays, demonstrations, Parol Lantern-making contest and plenty more.

Kohala is known for its annual Rizal Day, honoring Dr. Jose Rizal, who was executed for his pro-independence activities by firing squad on Dec. 30, 1896. His two novels are credited for galvanizing the Filipino national identity, which led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896 against Spain.

The Centennial Celebration will honor the Filipino laborers of the plantation era and their descendants who have enriched Hawaii's multi-ethnic culture.

The day's events start at 10:00 a.m. with a parade that includes the Grand Marshal, 104-year-old Jose Carpio who came in 1946; as well as Ms. Philippines Rose Rosimo, the grand dame of Kohala and a bevy of beauty queens representing various islands in the Philippines. The parade will travel from Kohala High School to the Kamehameha Park Gym, where the other activities will commence.

Entertainment will be provided by local groups and the Philippine Cultural Group of Hawaii of Honolulu will be the featured entertainers.

There will also be a "parol" Filipino lantern contest, symbolizing the light in the midst of darkness.

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This holiday season the County of Hawai`i's Solid Waste Division and Highway Maintenance Division will again be holding the annual island-wide Christmas Treecycling community project.

After Christmas until Sunday, January 8, 2006, the County of Hawai`i will be collecting and chipping Christmas trees at the following 10 transfer stations: (Chipping of the Christmas trees will be done at each site.)

• Hilo
• Honoka`a
• Ka`auhuhu
• Kea`au
• Kealakehe
• Keauhou
• Pahoa
• Puako
• Waimea
• Wai`ohinu.

The public is asked to remove all decorations, nails and stands. Please be aware that no plastic bags, flocked trees, or other rubbish will be accepted, as they damage the chippers.

Free Christmas tree chips will be available on site on a first come, first serve basis between January 9 and 15, 2006. The timing will depend on available equipment. Chipping Christmas trees and making the material available for use in gardens helps the County divert thousands of trees from landfills. Tree chips add valuable mulch to the soil, too.

Residents and businesses alike are encouraged to participate in this practical and beneficial recycling opportunity.

For more information, please call the County of Hawai`i Recycling Hotline at 961-5044.

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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.

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.

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

• No garbage bags
• No plastic
• No lumber (No logs greater than 5’ in length, no logs greater than 18" in diameter)
• No glass
• No metal
• No rocks

Please note that 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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Solutions: Neighborhoods In Action Traffic and Animal Control Task Force Groups will meet on Monday, December 12, 2005 via video conference at the Kona Mayor's Office - 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy and Hilo Prosecutor's Office - 34 Rainbow Drive, with a new site added: the County Council Office in Waimea, next to Waimea Feed Supply.

Time: 10 a.m.- 11 a.m.

Agenda will be to continue working on "Speeding In Neighborhoods". The group will also review the new Graduated Driver’s License law effective January 9, 2006. Also updates on the "Community Road Safety Watch" program. Contact: Lil Beaufrere at 325-0039 or email konalil@hawaii.rr.com  

Time: 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Agenda will be to continue working on the proposed Animal Control Ordinances and community projects. Contact: Nancy Zorn at 328-9931 or nzzorn2@kona.net  

Please visit the "Solutions" web site for further details: www.solutionsislandhawaii.com  

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The West Hawai`i campus of Hawaii Community College is now accepting applications for the Spring 2006 semester. The priority application deadline for new/transfer/returning students is December 9.

The Office of Student Services located in Kealakekua will be open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day) to accept applications from 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The Spring semester begins January 9, 2006 and ends May 12, 2006. Interested individuals can call the Student Services Office at 322-4856 for additional information.

College representatives will also be at the annual Hawaii College and Career Fair on November l8th, 2006 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

Continuing students who attend the College this fall semester may now pre-register for the spring semester on line based on their time ticket information. Check the web at http://www.hawaii.hawaii.edu/ucwh   for a listing of the spring schedule of classes.

Hawaii Community College offers the liberal arts Associate of Arts (AA) degree to prepare students to transfer to UH campuses of Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu as well as to mainland colleges and universities.

Three certificates in special areas of study are also included as options within the AA degree:

• Environmental Studies
• Hawaiian Lifestyles
• Human Services.

Hawaii Community College presents options in Early Childhood Education, Food Services, Hotel Operations, Nursing, and a special Substance Abuse certificate.

Of special importance are the three teacher licensure programs in the Neighbor Islands offered in 2006 by UH-Manoa College of Education with an application deadline of January 13.

The Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Secondary Education, the Post Baccalaureate Certification in Special Education, and the Bachelors of Education in Elementary Education are all taking new applicants for the cohorts beginning 2006.

Check the web at http://www.hawaii.edu/coe/departments/outreach/programs.html   .

These programs require Internet access, computer access, and some weekend travel.

Please check the web address for the center for a complete list of degrees offered.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

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Motorists are advised of the following work locations as contractors install a conduit system in the Hilo area. From Monday, December 12 through Friday, December 16, Willocks Construction will be boring and trenching in the following locations:

• Along Bayfront Highway Avenue between Waianuenue Avenue and Kanoelehua Avenue. There will be no lane closures.

The work will start at 8:30 am and continue until 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time.

Contractors are in their 10th week of work and estimate the work to be completed at the end of February 2006.

For further information, please contact Chuck Eckman (Resident Engineer), Mid State Consultants, at 640-9509. Mahalo for your patience and cooperation.

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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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County of Hawaii WebSite Address: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/

Information & Complaints: cohinfo@co.hawaii.hi.us
County Departments: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/email.htm
Hawaii County website: co.hawaii.hi.us

To add or remove your name from distribution, e-mail Janet Snyder: jsnyder@co.hawaii.hi.us

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For more information, contact:
Janet Snyder
Phone: (808) 961-8223
Fax: (808) 933-1521
e-mail: jsnyder@co.hawaii.hi.us

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