9/1/06 Weekly Report: Mass Transit Agency Unveils New Daily Hilo to South Kohala Resorts Bus Schedule; Authorized Venues for ATV and Dirtbike Racing in East Hawaii

The County of Hawaii’s Mass Transit Agency is pleased to announce its new daily bus schedule serving the Hilo to South Kohala Resorts route. The new schedule went into effect on August 18, 2006.

Hilo to South Kohala Resorts

Departs	A.M.
Hilo Bayfront Parking Lot	3:30 4:00 4:55 5:05 5:15 5:20
Papaikou (Pinky’s)	3:35 4:05 --- 5:10 5:20 5:25
Laupahoehoe	4:10 4:40 --- 5:45 5:50 5:55
Honoka`a (Gym Complex)	4:30 5:00 --- 6:05 6:10 6:20
Waimea	4:50 5:20 6:00 6:25 6:30 6:40
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel	--- --- --- --- --- 7:00
Hapuna Prince	--- --- --- --- --- 7:05
Orchid Mauna Lani	5:35 5:40 --- --- 7:00 ---
Mauna Lani Bay	5:40 5:45 --- --- 7:05 ---
Hilton Waikoloa	5:20 5:55 6:20 6:45 --- 7:15
Marriott Hotel	5:25 6:00 6:25 6:50 --- 7:20


South Kohala Resorts to Hilo

Departs:	P.M.

Orchid Mauna Lani	2:05 3:05 --- --- 4:30 ---
Mauna Lani Bay	2:10 3:10 --- --- 4:20 ---
Marriott Hotel	2:25 3:25 4:10 4:25 --- 4:05
Hilton Waikoloa	2:30 3:30 4:05 4:20 --- 4:10
Hapuna Prince	--- --- --- --- --- 4:20
Mauna Kea Beach	--- --- --- --- --- 4:25
Waimea	2:55 3:55 4:35 4:50 --- 4:45
Honoka`a	3:15 4:15 --- 5:10 5:25 5:05
Laupahoehoe	3:35 4:35 --- 5:30 5:45 5:25
Papaikou	4:05 5:10 --- 6:05 6:20 6:00
Bayfront Parking Lot	4:10 5:15 5:40 6:10 6:25 6:05

Your Hele-On Bus service is free of charge on all regularly-scheduled, so please avail yourself of the comfort and safety of your public transportation system.

For Mass Transit information, please call 961-8744. Hele-On the Bus!

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Authorized Venues for ATV and Dirtbike Racing in East Hawaii

Operation of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s) and Dirtbikes is one of the fastest growing recreational activities in the nation and is an extremely enjoyable, family-friendly and wholesome activity when conducted legally and safely.

Operation of these vehicles can also be a very dangerous, intrusive and obnoxious activity when they are ridden illegally and without consideration for others. It really all depends on where and how one chooses to ride.

The County of Hawai‘i would like to strongly encourage all those who engage in this form of recreation to do so in a safe and legal environment.

First, some safety tips for ATV users

The National Safety Council has a list of safety tips for ATV users that is important to know if your children operate ATVs, or if you are thinking of purchasing one. The article was published to inform everyone that as the popularity of the sport increases, so do injuries and deaths. Here are some tips:

Wear appropriate riding gear, such as a helmet approved by the Department of Transportation or American National Standards Institute, as well as goggles, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Read the owner's manual carefully.
ATVs are not made for multiple riders. Never carry passengers on an ATV.
Do not operate ATVs on streets, highways or paved roads, (especially public roads, which is illegal and very dangerous.)
Do not allow children to operate an ATV without specialized training, and then only allow them to operate an ATV of an appropriate size.
Do not allow anyone younger the age of 12 to use an ATV with an engine size of 70cc to 90cc.
Do not allow anyone younger the 16 to use an ATV with an engine size greater than 90cc
Take care when adding attachments to the ATV. Attachments may affect stability, braking and other important functions.

Two Areas for ATV users in East Hawaii

Currently, there are two areas on Hawai‘i County that have been specifically designed for the operation of ATV’s and Dirtbikes by riders for riders.

The Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve in Kulani, just off the Stainback Highway, is home to the nationally recognized Upper Waiakea ATV/Dirtbike Park. Through the efforts of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Na Ala Hele Trails Program in particular, and the ATV Riders of Hawai‘i, a 56-mile riding trail was created for public use.
A Dirtbike and ATV racing track is located in Pana‘ewa, near the Dragstrip area. This track was created through the diligent efforts of countless volunteers and is controlled and maintained by 808 MX/ATV, a local non-profit group dedicated to ensuring this track can be enjoyed by riders of all ages for years to come.

We encourage you to contact the representatives from each of these riding facilities to find out more so that you can enjoy and appreciate all of the hard work that went into the creation of the facilities.

Upper Waiakea ATV/Dirtbike Park (Kulani, off the Stainback Highway) – Irving Kawashima, DLNR (Na Ala Hele Trail Program) – Permits can be obtained from the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 19 East Kawili Street, in Hilo, Tel. 974-4221.
808 MX/ATV Pana‘ewa Riding Facility (Just past the Dragstrip near the landfill) – Glenn and Crystal Mukai – (808) 959-8463; MUKAIC002@hawaii.rr.com

Be safe, be smart and be a good representative of the ATV and Dirtbike riding community

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COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD

Captain Cook Area Mamalahoha Hwy Improvements – Public Meeting Sept 5

The Department of Public Works will be holding its next public informational meeting on Captain Cook area intersection improvements to the Mamalahoa Highway on Tuesday, September 5.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 5, 2006, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: 82-6130 Mamalahoa Highway (in the same complex as the State office of Taxation, next door to the Police substation in Captain Cook).

The highway hotline for information or updates on this road work is 323-2930.

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Community Review of Hawaii Island Tourism Plan – Deadline Sept 6

The Hawai’i Island Tourism Strategic Plan 2006 – 2015 is now available for public review and comment.

The Hawai’i Island County Tourism Strategic Plan (HITSP) identifies a shared vision for tourism on Hawai’i Island, and outlines a roadmap for achieving that vision. Through a series of public meetings around the island, the public provided valuable community input and comments.

The County of Hawai’i Department of Research & Development, along with an advisory committee of Hawai’i Island government, tourism industry and community stakeholders provided insight and input into the development of this plan.

Residents are encouraged to review and provide feedback on the plan via the web, email, fax or regular mail. For more information, or to request a hard copy to be mailed, please contact:

Krista Seitz, Project Director, at 1-877-535-5767 (toll free) or 1-808-440-0738.

The deadline to submit comments is September 6, 2006. The HITSP is expected to be completed by the end of September 2006.

To look at the plan online, go to our website: http://hawaii.smshawaii.biz

For further information, email Faith Rex at frex@smshawaii.com

Fax: 1-(808) 537-2686

To mail your comments, please address them to:

SMS Research

Attn: Hawaii Island Tourism Strategic Plan

1042 Fort Street Mall, Suite 200

Honolulu, HI 96813

SMS Consulting is the company contracted by the Hawaii Tourism Authority to facilitate the planning process.

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Land Use Planning Workshop in Waikoloa September 8

The County of Hawai`i’s Research and Development and Planning Departments are presenting a workshop that answers these questions: How is land use in our County regulated? What does a land owner have to do to get development approvals for their land? What is the community’s role in the land use planning and regulatory process? How do the County’s General Plan and Community Development Plans shape the long-range use and development of land? How can communities become involved in the process?

When: Friday Sept. 8th, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Where: Waikoloa Elementary Cafeteria.

Child Care and Refreshments provided.

For further information, please contact Sara Peck CDP Liaison at 329–2861, Waikoloa CDP Logistic Team at 883-9262, Alex Frost CRP/CDP Coordinator at 961-0614 or email: afrost@co.hawaii.hi.us .

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Water Shutoff Notice – Lama St from Awa Street to Railroad Avenue Sept 12

Water will be temporarily turned off in the above-mentioned area on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to install a pressure relief valve.

The affected area will be LAMA STREET FROM AWA STREET TO RAILROAD AVENUE in Hilo.

SOUTH HILO, HAWAI‘I

Upon resumption of water service, the waterlines will be flushed and cleaned during which

time you may notice turbid and/or discolored water.

You may also notice trapped air in your plumbing, which will be released as you initially use

water.

Please pardon this temporary inconvenience. If you have any questions, please call

Carl Nishimura, District Supervisor, Department of Water Supply, at 961-8790.

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Fire Chief’s Community Update for West Hawai`i on Sept 13

Please join Hawai`i County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira for a community update on the fire department’s activities and projects in West Hawai`i on:

WHEN: Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Liquor Control Conference Room, Kona Center Building. 75-5722 Hanama Place, Suite 1107, Kailua-Kona

The public is also cordially invited to attend the Hawai`i County Fire Commission meeting beginning at 10:00.

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First County Senior Job Fair Sept 28 during Employ the Older Worker Week

To connect senior job seekers with employers, the Senior Community Service Employment Program and the Workforce Development Division assisted by the Big Island Workplace Connection and Keep Hawaii Beautiful will host the first County of Hawaii Senior Job Fair at Aunty Sally Kaleohano's Luau Hale on Thursday, September 28, 2006 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mayor Harry Kim will open the first Senior Job Fair and greet the seniors and employers.

Employers have been invited to participate in this fair to:

· recruit dependable, loyal, hardworking seniors to meet staffing needs now or in the near future,

· enhance their businesses by hiring mature, stable seniors who offer their commitment, experience and skills, and

· promote public support and goodwill for their businesses through

Employers will be invited to speak briefly about their businesses.

Seniors enrolled in SCSEP as well as other seniors referred by WDD and BIWC are expected to attend this fair. Admission is fee of charge. The public is welcome. For more information about the fair, please call Leonard Chow at 981-2860.

Low-income seniors who may lack current work experience, references and training can overcome these obstacles to employment through SCSEP placements in community service agencies where they can turn these weaknesses into strengths. SCSEP enrollees are fully expected and required to use their current work experience and current host agency supervisors' recommendations to compete successfully for job openings in the job market at large.

Enabling enrollees to advance themselves toward economic self-sufficiency is the ultimate goal. For more information about the program, call SCSEP at 961-8750.

Mayor Kim has proclaimed September 24 through 30, 2006 as “Employ the Older Worker Week” to encourage island employers to hire seniors.

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Candidate Forum Dates in East and West Hawai`i

Be an informed voter. Listen to the candidates as they participate in the Election 2006 forums in East and West Hawai`i.

The following forums will take place in West Hawai`i:

When and Where: Wednesday, September 6th, 6 pm, Kealakehe High School Cafeteria

Candidates: United States House of Representatives (11 candidates)

If you would like to submit questions for candidates, please fax them to (808) 334-9646 or to konaoutdoorcircle@konacoast.com.

The following forums will take place in East Hawai`i:

When and Where: Wednesday, September 13th from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Palace Theater, Hilo.

Candidates: County Council candidates from Dists. 1, 3, and 4. Also candidates from Congressional Dist. 2 (currently Rep. Ed Case's seat). The sponsors for this forum are the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters. For further information, contact the League of Women Voters at mscheffe@hilo.net .

When and Where: Sunday, September 10^thin Hawaiian Paradise Park. Time and venue to be announced. Forum to be sponsored by HPP Ohana.

For further information on the HPP forum, please Barbara Kahnlanger at 937-0009.or bkahnlanger@earthlink.net

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Police Seeking Information on Vandalism of County Vehicles

The County needs your help in apprehending the people responsible for unlawfully entering the County Public Works base yard in Puna on August 22 and committing more than $37,000 in damage to two County maintenance trucks.

The perpetrators entered the locked base yard and are suspected of attempting to drive away two County vehicles.

The first vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet truck, appears to have been unsuccessfully hot wired. Damages to the ignition system and replacement of a broken window are estimated at $2,000.

A second vehicle, a 2005 Ford truck, was driven through the fence surrounding the base yard. County employees found the truck in flames in a macadamia nut field behind the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory. This truck is irreparable and the cost to replace it is estimated at $35,000.

If you have any information regarding this crime, please call the Hilo Police Station, at 935-3311, or Stanley Nakasone, at the highway maintenance division of Public Works, 961-8349.

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County Seeks Information on Potentially Contaminated Sites for Cleanup

Do you know of property on the Big Island that may be contaminated by hazardous substances or pollutants, but may have strong redevelopment potential? The County of Hawai’i wants to hear from you.

The Department of Environmental Management is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and property owners to identify and evaluate these potentially contaminated sites. This is not an environmental enforcement effort, but an opportunity to begin the process of cleaning up.

The intent of this project is first to identify all of the sites in the County. The next step is to select about five sites that have the best potential for redevelopment and evaluate their level of potential contamination.

There will be a preliminary evaluation (a phase one site assessment) of these five sites. The sites will then be reduced to three for a complete evaluation (phase two site assessment) that will include soil sampling.

These two assessments are necessary in order to begin the process of cleaning and redeveloping these sites.

It will provide potential users/developers with the information necessary to determine if redevelopment is appropriate now.

Additionally, completion of the site assessments is necessary to be eligible for federal cleanup grants and loans. The intent of the program is to encourage redevelopment of existing sites as a viable alternative to developing raw land.

One longer-range goal of this project is to develop a large inventory of properties, with substantial redevelopment potential, that we can work from for years to come.

While we will work towards a completed re-development of the most promising sites in the near-term, there will also be sites that are discovered through this process that have great potential in the future.

If you have any information about such sites, please contact Terin Gloor of the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division at 961-8058.

Thank you for your kokua in making the Island of Hawai`i an even nicer place to live.

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County Elections Division Seeking Election Day Officials

The Elections Division is currently seeking individuals who are interested in serving as Election Day Officials for the Primary and General Election.

However, we are experiencing difficulty in staffing precincts islandwide, especially in the districts of:

North / South Kona
North / South Kohala
Ka`u
Puna
Hamakua

We are seeking individuals to serve as Precinct Chairpersons, Voter Assistance Officials and Precinct Officials. Please see the attached Fact Sheet on Precinct Officials for information on the qualifications, duties and stipend.

The Elections Division will provide the necessary training.

We are appealing to the citizens in the community to volunteer as Election Day Officials, so that the voters in Hawaii can have a pleasant experience at the polls.

Interested individuals may contact the Elections Division at 959-5126.

Serve as an Election Official – It’s fun and rewarding

Assisting your neighbors and fellow citizens to vote is a fun, challenging and rewarding experience. This is your opportunity to volunteer your services to the community, and at the same time gain first-hand knowledge and experience in the electoral process.

Need a fundraiser?

This is an excellent opportunity for your nonprofit organization. Not only does your organization earn money, you are getting involved and participating in the electoral process. Requirements to participate are:

Each participant must meet the minimum qualifications.
Each organization shall not be a political action committee or organized for a political purpose.
A completed Tax Clearance Application for each organization.
A signed Memorandum of Agreement for each organization.
A completed recruitment worksheet for each organization.

When are the elections?

Primary Election: Saturday, September 23, 2006

General Election: Tuesday, November 7, 2006

How long will I be working?

The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., however precinct officials start at 5:30 a.m. and end at 7:00 p.m.

What are the Minimum Qualifications?

Each precinct official must meet all of the following requirements:

Be 16 years old on or before June 30, 2006.
Be a registered voter in the State of Hawaii.
Able to read (i.e., 11 point font) and write English.
Able to lift 25-35 pounds.
Attend a training session and pass a certification exam.

Restrictions

No parent, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary as defined in HRS Chapter 572C, child, or sibling of a candidate may serve as a precinct official in any precinct where votes may be cast for the candidate.

No candidate for elective office may serve as a precinct official in the same election in which the person is a candidate.

No candidate who failed to be nominated in the primary or special primary election may serve as a precinct official in the following general election.

What will I be doing?

Each polling place consists of a Chairperson, Voter Assistance Official(s) (VAOs), and Precinct Officials (POs).

Precinct Chairperson’s Responsibilities and Duties:

Manages the polling place and is responsible for the security and integrity of ballots issued and votes cast.
Assists voters and administers special procedures such as spoiled ballots, mail-absentee ballots, voter registration update, curbside voting, language assistance.
Organizes and supervises precinct officials and voter activity.
Ensures that all election procedures are correctly followed.
Receives the Supply Box before each election.
Maintains inventory and control of all election materials.
Completes all Election Day documents correctly.

What are the general qualifications for a Chairperson?

The Chairperson shall be the first named precinct official on the list prepared by the chief election officer.

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Experience in at least two (2) elections is desirable.
Experience as a Voter Assistance Official is desirable.
Meets all other minimum qualifications.

What are the responsibilities and duties of the voter assistance official (VAO)?

Assists the Chairperson in managing the polling place.
Operates the Voter Assistance Station.
Assists voters and administers special procedures such as spoiled ballots, mail-absentee ballots, voter registration update, curbside voting, language assistance.
Assists the Chairperson in completing all Election Day documents.
Assists the Chairperson with miscellaneous duties.

General qualifications for a voter assistance official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Experience in at least one (1) election is desirable.
Meets all minimum qualifications.

What are the responsibilities and duties of the precinct official (PO)?

Operates the following stations at the polling place:

1. Information and Ballot Demonstration Station

2. Poll Book Station

3. Ballot Issuing Station

4. Ballot Box Station

Assists voters with Election Day questions.
Assists the Chairperson and/or Voter Assistance Official (VAO) with miscellaneous duties.

General qualifications for a precinct official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Meets all minimum qualifications).

Standby Precinct Official

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Reports to Election Headquarters on election morning for dispatch to a polling place that requires additional staffing.
Personal transportation required.
Responsible for precinct official duties.
If polling places do not require additional staffing, the Standby Official will still be compensated the full rate.
Meets all minimum qualifications (please see page 2).

Alternate

May belong to any political party or be nonpartisan.
Stands-by at home on election morning for dispatch to a polling place that requires additional staffing.
May be contacted prior to Election Day to replace a precinct official that is unable to work.
Responsible for precinct official duties.
If the Alternate is contacted and works in a polling place on Election Day, he/she will be compensated at the same rate as a Precinct Official.
If polling places do not require additional staffing, the Alternate will be compensated $5.
If the Alternate is contacted to work but declines, he/she will not be compensated.
Must meet all minimum qualifications.

Note: Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes §11-72, all qualified political parties shall submit names to the Chief Election Officer by a statutory deadline. The recruitment deadline for the 2006 Elections was May 26, 2006, 4:30 p.m.

Precinct officials recruited by their respective political party and submitted to the Office of Elections by the statutory deadline have first priority when being assigned to a specific polling place. You are encouraged to call the political party of your choice to volunteer your services as a precinct official.

In the event that all positions are not filled by the political party recruitment deadline, HRS §11-72 gives the Chief Election Officer the authority to fill the vacancies with any qualified person, without regard to political party affiliation.

Mail outs to the past elections’ precinct officials, public service announcements, and presentations by election staff ensure the required number of precinct officials to fully staff the polling places on Election Day.

How will I know what to do on Election Day?

Everyone is required to attend at least one training session and pass a certification exam. Precinct officials will be instructed in the standard operating procedures for each station within the polling place.

The chairperson of the polling place will assign precinct officials to their workstation. Precinct officials rotate through all the stations during the course of the day and perform additional duties that may be required.

When is training?

Training sessions are held between June and November. The Precinct Operations staff will schedule you to attend a convenient training session in your area.

Where will I work?

State Law requires precinct officials to work in the precinct in which they vote. However, if no vacancy exists within your precinct, you will be placed in a precinct within your district. If no vacancy exists within your district, you will be placed in a neighboring district. The earlier you volunteer to work, the better your chances for working close to home.

Will I be paid?

Yes, the compensation rates for each election worked for the 2006 Elections are:

Chairperson – Rates are based on the unit size of the polling place. The unit size is based on the registered voter count in each precinct.

• for one-unit precinct $ 85

• for two-unit precinct $100

• for three-unit precinct $115

• for four-unit precinct $130

• for five-unit precinct $145

Voter Assistance Official $ 80

Precinct Official $75

Standby Precinct Official $75

Alternate $5

Every vote counts and so does your help!

Contact the Precinct Operations Section for more information at 1-800-442-VOTE (8683) or 1-800-345-5915, TTY: 808-453-6150.

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Recycling Drop-offs: Update

Due to a temporary transition in our recycler’s processing facility, the following Transfer Stations will be affected:

· Hawi

· Honokaa

· Keauhou

· Laupahoehoe

· Pahala

· Pahoa

· Puako

· Waimea

We WILL NOT be accepting the following recyclable materials in the mixed recycling bins ONLY.

NO Paperboard or boxboard (cereal or tea boxes, snack food boxes, etc.)

NO Plastics #1&2 (milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, etc.)

NO Metal cans (tuna and cat food cans, soup cans, etc.)

These materials can be taken to the Kealakehe, Hilo or the Kea‘au Transfer Stations. We will let you know if and when other sites become available.

Still accepted in the mixed recycling bins are:

YES for Newspapers and magazines

YES for Cardboard (flattened)

YES for Mixed office paper (No Brites) and

YES for Phonebooks

This is a temporary change until January 2007. Look for signage at your Transfer Station. Thank you for your kokua. For more information, please call 961-8554 or 961-8942.

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10,000-Year-Old Wooly Mammoth Tusk on Display at Aupuni Center

The County of Hawai`i’s Aupuni Center has a new display featuring a 10,000-year-old wooly mammoth tusk, on loan from Japan.

The 10-foot tusk is on loan from the family of the late Toshihiko Saiga of Osaka, Japan. It was originally designed to be displayed at the Big Island Country Club golf course at Pu`uanahulu, a course that the late Mr. Saiga developed and subsequently sold.

Up to recently, the display was housed at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo’s Edward Mookini Library. However, due to the upcoming renovation of the library, there was a need for an interim home for the display.

Mayor Harry Kim agreed to display the tusk, which will return to the Saiga family at the end of September.

The display also includes a scale model of a wooly mammoth being attacked by Neanderthal hunters.

The Pleistocene-era tusk itself weighs approximately 152 pounds, and was found in Siberia in what was then the Soviet Union.

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Motor Vehicle Registration Office in Kona has Moved

The County of Hawai`i Treasury Division’s Motor Vehicle Registration office in Kona has recently moved, effective on July 17, 2006.

Please note that the Motor Vehicle Registration office in Kona is now located at the old Territorial Savings and Loan office space on the northeast corner of Kuakini Hwy. and Hualalai Rd. The office address is 75-5751 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 107 in the Territorial Centre building.

The telephone number remains the same: 327-3543. However, the new fax number is 327-4410.

For further information, please contact Cheryl Ono of the Motor Vehicle Registration office in Kona at 327-3543 or Mike Okumoto, Treasurer at 961-8303.

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Public Works Proposes Emergency Evacuation Road for Waikoloa Village

The County’s Department of Public Works is seeking comments from the public on a draft environmental assessment for a single-lane gravel road for emergency evacuations from Waikoloa Village.

The proposed road would start at the end of Hulu Street in Waikoloa Village and run makai for 2.13 miles, connecting at the 72-mile marker Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, which is mauka of the Mauna Lani Resort entrance.

The proposed emergency road would be gated and opened only during emergencies, as authorized by the County’s Civil Defense Agency.

More than 5,000 residents in addition to visitors reside in Waikoloa Village and because it is surrounded by dry grass in an area of high wind speeds, it is very vulnerable to brush fires.

In the August 2005 wildfire, 25,000 acres burned, cutting off the mauka portion of Waikoloa Road and severely congesting traffic on the makai portion of Waikoloa Road.

Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment are available at public libraries.

For an electronic version of the Draft Environmental Assessment go to:

http://co.hawaii.hi.us/info/nh/WaikoEmergRoadDEA.pdf

Please note: September 7, 2006 is the postmark deadline for original comments. They should be directed to:

Ron Terry

Geometrician Associates

HC 2 Box 9575,

Kea’au, Hawaii 96749

Copies of your comments should also be sent to:

Director, Office of Environmental Quality Control

235 South Beretania Street /Ste. 702

Honolulu, Hi 96813

and

Department of Public Works, County of Hawaii

101 Pauahi Street, Suite # 7

Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Attn: Jiro Sumada, Deputy Director.

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Absentee Mail Ballot Applications Accepted for Primary, General Elections

Beginning July 1, 2006, the Hawai`i County Elections Division began accepting applications for absentee mail ballots for the 2006 Primary and General Elections. The deadline to request an absentee mail ballot for the Primary Election is 4:30 p.m. on September 16, 2006. The deadline to request an absentee mail ballot for the General Election is 4:30 p.m. on October 31, 2006.

Applications for an absentee mail ballot can be obtained from the Elections Division or by downloading it at www.co.hawaii.hi.us/elections .

Absentee Walk-in Voting:

Primary Election Absentee Walk-In Voting begins on September 11 - 21, 2006.

General Election Absentee Walk-In Voting begins on October 24 - November 4, 2006.

Hours of operation and venues are as follows:

Elections Division - Prince Kuhio Plaza 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday

Kona Mayors Office Conf. Room - Hanama Pl. 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

Waimea Community Center 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Thursday

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday

North Kohala Courthouse 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Pahala Community Center 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please exercise your right as a U.S. citizen. Register to vote and cast your ballot in the primary and general elections. Your vote counts!

For further information, please contact the Hawai`i County Elections Office at 961-8277.

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Officer of the Year Luncheon in Kona September 13

The Kona Crime Prevention Committee is holding an Officer of the Year luncheon on September 13, 2006 from 11:45 a.m. at the Royal Kona Resort Ali'i Surf Room.

Cost for the luncheon is $25.00 for members and $30.00 for non-members.

For reservations please contact Liz Holey at 326-7787.

The purpose of the Kona Crime Prevention Committee 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.

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County Transfer Station Improvements Nearly Complete

The County of Hawaii’s Department of Environmental Management is pleased to announce that the improvement work at Waiohinu, Glenwood, Pahoa, and Waiea Transfer Stations is nearly completed.

Among the improvements that residents will notice are new fences and gates. The gates will be closed at night to help deter misuse and abuse of our transfer stations and to promote cleanliness at these facilities.

Nighttime gate closures will begin July 31