All residents from Kalapana to Pohoiki are invited to meet July 22, 2-4pm at Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana.
The meeting will introduce a survey to collect the viewpoints of all residents.
Kalapana-Pohoiki Neighborhoods Organization (KAPONO)
Kalapana to Pohoiki Community Input Survey
Presented by the Steering hui of the Kalapana-Pohoiki Neighborhoods Organization (KAPONO).
NOTE: The survey is directed to only those that own or rent along 137 between Kalapana to Pohoiki.
KAPONO Mission Statement: KAPONO is a community-directed organization that welcomes community members from Kalapana to Pohoiki to join together with local government, businesses, organizations, and individuals for the protection and enhancement of the health, heritage and safety of our communities: our homes, our ‘ohana, and our lifestyles.
Goal of Survey – Development of a Long Range Community Plan that gives us a voice in our future
KAPONO first meeting was in July 2011 and now after a year of meetings and hard work, we are organized and excited to present a Community Input Survey. Much of the survey elements are taken from the Puna Community Development Plan** (PCDP), to gain input as to what is important to our community and also guide the priority of implementation.
All responses will be tabulated and presented at a community meeting at the end of September.
Please come and meet July 22, 2-4pm at Uncle Robert’s in Kalapana. — Richard Koob
Source: PUNA NEWS: Big Island Chronicle
Showing posts with label Pohoiki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pohoiki. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Harry Kim to File for Mayor
By Dave Smith - June 4, 2012
Source: Big Island Now
Former two-term mayor Harry Kim today took out nomination papers to run for the chief executive position on the Big Island.
Kim told Big Island Now this afternoon that he will definitely file to run for mayor tomorrow, which is the election deadline for the Aug. 11 primary election.
Kim’s candidacy adds a significant twist to the mayor’s race where he will become the 10th candidate, according to Friday’s report from the state elections office.
Those with the highest profiles, incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Kim, 72, served as mayor from 2000-2008 after a 24-year stint as director of the county’s Civil Defense Agency. He was prevented by term limits from running for re-election immediately after that.
Kim knows his chief opponents well.
Yagong ran against him for mayor in the 2004 nonpartisan primary where he received 26% of the vote to Kim’s 62%. Kim has known Kenoi for many years and coached him as a player on the Waiakea High School football team. Kenoi also served as an executive assistant in the last six years of Kim’s administration.
Kim said he didn’t have qualms with either candidate who he said have a “different style of management” from him. Kim had endorsed Kenoi’s bid for mayor in 2008.
Kim said today that his return to politics was largely driven by actions that occurred during the past session at the state Legislature dealing with geothermal development.
He said he was disheartened by the easing of restrictions for those activities including the removal of the requirement for subzones for geothermal development.
But what prompted him into direct action, Kim said, was a request from DLNR Director William Aila Jr. to the state Environmental Council. Aila had asked the panel to exempt exploratory geothermal drilling from the state law that mandates the preparation of an environmental assessment or the more rigorous environmental impact statement.
Kim said he was dumbfounded when a committee of the council voted almost unanimously to recommend approval of Aila’s request.
“I couldn’t believe (the committee) did this,” Kim said. “I said, nah, they wouldn’t do that.”
After being urged to intervene by Gary Hooser, head of the state Office of Environmental Qualify Control, Kim spent four days researching the matter and preparing testimony.
After Kim appeared in person before the full Environmental Council in Honolulu, its members reversed the committee’s recommendation and voted to deny the change Aila had requested.
After that, “I really started thinking about geothermal, safety and health in government,” he said. “How could they do this?”
Kim said he also wondered how, if the exemption stood, government could justify requiring environmental studies for other types of projects.
Kim said his jaw dropped when he heard Aila say drilling for geothermal is comparable to drilling for water.
“I realize that some people truly think that geothermal is harmless,” he said. “I would think people in authority should do some research.”
Kim said he decided to re-enter politics to make sure geothermal and other development “is done right.”
“I realized that it’s not just about geothermal, it’s about faith in government,” he said.
Kim said another subject he is concerned about is solid waste. He said he has never been a proponent of landfills anywhere in Hawaii, and believes the solution is a plant like Oahu’s H-Power where garbage is burned to generate electricity.
He acknowledged that the waste-to-energy facility considered during his second term carried a steep price tag of $125 million, but feels that it’s the government’s duty to find a way to do it affordably.
He said he was also opposed to the County Charter amendment that set aside 2% of county revenues to purchase land to be preserved as open space, partly because it didn’t include funding for maintenance of those lands.
“That’s not a good way to spend public money,” he said, adding that such funding should be found elsewhere.
In the area of public funding, Kim will likely be subjected to questions about his administration’s practice of increasing the size of government during flush times, when soaring property values inflated county coffers.
During Kim’s eight years in office, the county’s operating budget more than doubled to more than $400 million. That included a tax increase of nearly 25% for homeowners sought by Kim and approved by the council for the 2002-03 fiscal year.
Kim said today he will run a campaign similar to his other two, in which he describes himself as an “applicant” for the mayor’s job.
While he has relatively little time for fundraising, that also includes continuing his policy of not taking any campaign donations greater than $10. Kim said no amount of advertising he could purchase would overshadow public perception of his years of public service.
“I worked for the people here for more than 40 years, and by now they should know me and my methods,” he said.
Kim acknowledged that his health could be an issue in the campaign, as he suffered two heart attacks in his final year in office.
“My health at this point is good,” he said, while acknowledging that he is currently undergoing additional cardiac testing.
He also admitted that because of the health issues his family did not want him to run, but supports his decision to do so.
Source: Big Island Now
Former two-term mayor Harry Kim today took out nomination papers to run for the chief executive position on the Big Island.
Kim told Big Island Now this afternoon that he will definitely file to run for mayor tomorrow, which is the election deadline for the Aug. 11 primary election.
Kim’s candidacy adds a significant twist to the mayor’s race where he will become the 10th candidate, according to Friday’s report from the state elections office.
Those with the highest profiles, incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, could not be immediately reached for comment.
Kim, 72, served as mayor from 2000-2008 after a 24-year stint as director of the county’s Civil Defense Agency. He was prevented by term limits from running for re-election immediately after that.
Kim knows his chief opponents well.
Yagong ran against him for mayor in the 2004 nonpartisan primary where he received 26% of the vote to Kim’s 62%. Kim has known Kenoi for many years and coached him as a player on the Waiakea High School football team. Kenoi also served as an executive assistant in the last six years of Kim’s administration.
Kim said he didn’t have qualms with either candidate who he said have a “different style of management” from him. Kim had endorsed Kenoi’s bid for mayor in 2008.
Kim said today that his return to politics was largely driven by actions that occurred during the past session at the state Legislature dealing with geothermal development.
He said he was disheartened by the easing of restrictions for those activities including the removal of the requirement for subzones for geothermal development.
But what prompted him into direct action, Kim said, was a request from DLNR Director William Aila Jr. to the state Environmental Council. Aila had asked the panel to exempt exploratory geothermal drilling from the state law that mandates the preparation of an environmental assessment or the more rigorous environmental impact statement.
Kim said he was dumbfounded when a committee of the council voted almost unanimously to recommend approval of Aila’s request.
“I couldn’t believe (the committee) did this,” Kim said. “I said, nah, they wouldn’t do that.”
After being urged to intervene by Gary Hooser, head of the state Office of Environmental Qualify Control, Kim spent four days researching the matter and preparing testimony.
After Kim appeared in person before the full Environmental Council in Honolulu, its members reversed the committee’s recommendation and voted to deny the change Aila had requested.
After that, “I really started thinking about geothermal, safety and health in government,” he said. “How could they do this?”
Kim said he also wondered how, if the exemption stood, government could justify requiring environmental studies for other types of projects.
Kim said his jaw dropped when he heard Aila say drilling for geothermal is comparable to drilling for water.
“I realize that some people truly think that geothermal is harmless,” he said. “I would think people in authority should do some research.”
Kim said he decided to re-enter politics to make sure geothermal and other development “is done right.”
“I realized that it’s not just about geothermal, it’s about faith in government,” he said.
Kim said another subject he is concerned about is solid waste. He said he has never been a proponent of landfills anywhere in Hawaii, and believes the solution is a plant like Oahu’s H-Power where garbage is burned to generate electricity.
He acknowledged that the waste-to-energy facility considered during his second term carried a steep price tag of $125 million, but feels that it’s the government’s duty to find a way to do it affordably.
He said he was also opposed to the County Charter amendment that set aside 2% of county revenues to purchase land to be preserved as open space, partly because it didn’t include funding for maintenance of those lands.
“That’s not a good way to spend public money,” he said, adding that such funding should be found elsewhere.
In the area of public funding, Kim will likely be subjected to questions about his administration’s practice of increasing the size of government during flush times, when soaring property values inflated county coffers.
During Kim’s eight years in office, the county’s operating budget more than doubled to more than $400 million. That included a tax increase of nearly 25% for homeowners sought by Kim and approved by the council for the 2002-03 fiscal year.
Kim said today he will run a campaign similar to his other two, in which he describes himself as an “applicant” for the mayor’s job.
While he has relatively little time for fundraising, that also includes continuing his policy of not taking any campaign donations greater than $10. Kim said no amount of advertising he could purchase would overshadow public perception of his years of public service.
“I worked for the people here for more than 40 years, and by now they should know me and my methods,” he said.
Kim acknowledged that his health could be an issue in the campaign, as he suffered two heart attacks in his final year in office.
“My health at this point is good,” he said, while acknowledging that he is currently undergoing additional cardiac testing.
He also admitted that because of the health issues his family did not want him to run, but supports his decision to do so.
County Council Must Address Community Impact from Geothermal
James Weatherford
The Hawaiʻi County Council is considering legislation to redirect the county's share of geothermal royalty funds back to their original purpose - addressing community impacts from geothermal development.
James Weatherford, candidate for Hawaiʻi County Council District 4, fully supports this initiative and says Bill 256-12 must be passed.
“This is not about being 'pro' or 'anti' geothermal. This is about responsible government being responsive to community concerns," Weatherford said in a statement released by his campaign today.
"The incumbent from Puna has had a year-and-a-half to address the concerns of the community in the vicinity of the geothermal plant," Weatherford added. "Instead of responding to and addressing his constituents' concerns regarding impacts of geothermal in the community, he has been spending geothermal funds for other purposes. Instead of draining the geothermal royalty fund, I will bring Puna taxpayers’ money back to Puna by doing the work required through the budget process to get capital improvement projects for the district.”
Bill 256-12, introduced by Council Chair and Mayoral Candidate Dominic Yagong, will provide an opportunity for residents now living within one mile of the Puna Geothermal Venture facility to be relocated, and would prevent those properties from being reinhabited via resale or rental. This will start to create a buffer around PGV, where as now, some residents live right next to the geothermal power plant.
In addition to relocation, Bill 256-12 also promotes public health and safety by providing expenditures on health studies, air quality monitoring and real-time public notification of emissions.
Mandated emergency evacuation preparedness is also being considered by the council in a separate measure.
On May 16th, the legislation received a favorable recommendation from the Council’s Agriculture, Water, and Energy Sustainability Committee. Scheduled for June 6th is the first of two more votes needed before being sent to the Mayor for signing into law or veto.
Submitted by the campaign of James Weatherford for Puna Council District #4
More on the web: www.jamesweatherford.com
Source: Hawaii Reporter
More on the web: www.jamesweatherford.com
Source: Hawaii Reporter
Monday, May 21, 2012
Puna geothermal plant to hold evacuation drills this summer
By TOM CALLIS
Source: Tribune-Herald staff writer
tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com
HILO — Hawaii County is planning its first evacuation drill for a disaster at Puna’s nearly two-decades old geothermal power plant.
Planning for the exercise is still in its early stages, but Benedict Fuata, the Big Island’s civil defense coordinator, said he is aiming to hold a three-day drill in mid-July.
It will be the first drill since the plant, now operating at 38 megawatts, went online in 1993. It will also act as a test of the county’s first geothermal evacuation plan, now being drafted.
Fuata said the county is acting in response to the outcry from dozens of Puna residents concerned that there isn’t enough health and safety protections in place. Those anxieties have resurfaced in the wake of Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s recent efforts to expand geothermal operations on the Big Island by up to 50 megawatts.
“I was mandated by Mayor [Billy] Kenoi to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “He has concerns and I have concerns.”
Fuata said he expects homes to be evacuated as part of the exercise but the scope of the drill hasn’t been determined. The plant, operated by Puna Geothermal Venture, sits in a largely residential area in Pahoa. County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd estimated last week that between 87 and 140 homes are located within a mile of the plant.
Source: Tribune-Herald staff writer
tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com
HILO — Hawaii County is planning its first evacuation drill for a disaster at Puna’s nearly two-decades old geothermal power plant.
Planning for the exercise is still in its early stages, but Benedict Fuata, the Big Island’s civil defense coordinator, said he is aiming to hold a three-day drill in mid-July.
It will be the first drill since the plant, now operating at 38 megawatts, went online in 1993. It will also act as a test of the county’s first geothermal evacuation plan, now being drafted.
Fuata said the county is acting in response to the outcry from dozens of Puna residents concerned that there isn’t enough health and safety protections in place. Those anxieties have resurfaced in the wake of Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s recent efforts to expand geothermal operations on the Big Island by up to 50 megawatts.
“I was mandated by Mayor [Billy] Kenoi to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “He has concerns and I have concerns.”
Fuata said he expects homes to be evacuated as part of the exercise but the scope of the drill hasn’t been determined. The plant, operated by Puna Geothermal Venture, sits in a largely residential area in Pahoa. County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd estimated last week that between 87 and 140 homes are located within a mile of the plant.
During recent Hawaii County Council meetings, neighbors of the plant recalled having to flee their homes in 1991 during a well blowout, which released steam created by volcanic activity into the air. Some have claimed adverse health effects as a result.
Fuata, who became civil defense coordinator in March, said part of his job is to investigate those claims to understand the public’s risk. “I’m in fact-finding mode right now,” he said.
The steam, used to create electricity, carries harmful toxins, the worst being hydrogen sulfide. The plant operates with a closed system, meaning no steam is released unless there is a problem. PGV has its own community evacuation plan in place, but it is unclear why it hasn’t been tested since the blowout or why the county hadn’t developed its own plan before.
Fuata refereed to the company’s plan as “general” and said he thinks a more detailed and coordinated effort is needed. Both Kenoi and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who is challenging Kenoi in this year’s mayoral race, said it’s time for the county to do more to address the issue. Kenoi said the county needs to be prepared for any disaster, whether a tsunami, hurricane, or geothermal related. “Every time you go through a drill you learn something,” he said. “You become better, you become more prepared.”
Yagong said he also has been discussing the need for a county plan with Fuata over the last few weeks. He plans to introduce a bill June 6 that would also require an evacuation plan to be developed for current and future geothermal operations. Yagong gave praise during a phone interview Saturday to Puna residents who have brought their concerns to light. “People have expressed their outrage and that has moved government to action,” he said.
Fuata, who became civil defense coordinator in March, said part of his job is to investigate those claims to understand the public’s risk. “I’m in fact-finding mode right now,” he said.
The steam, used to create electricity, carries harmful toxins, the worst being hydrogen sulfide. The plant operates with a closed system, meaning no steam is released unless there is a problem. PGV has its own community evacuation plan in place, but it is unclear why it hasn’t been tested since the blowout or why the county hadn’t developed its own plan before.
Fuata refereed to the company’s plan as “general” and said he thinks a more detailed and coordinated effort is needed. Both Kenoi and County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong, who is challenging Kenoi in this year’s mayoral race, said it’s time for the county to do more to address the issue. Kenoi said the county needs to be prepared for any disaster, whether a tsunami, hurricane, or geothermal related. “Every time you go through a drill you learn something,” he said. “You become better, you become more prepared.”
Yagong said he also has been discussing the need for a county plan with Fuata over the last few weeks. He plans to introduce a bill June 6 that would also require an evacuation plan to be developed for current and future geothermal operations. Yagong gave praise during a phone interview Saturday to Puna residents who have brought their concerns to light. “People have expressed their outrage and that has moved government to action,” he said.
The plant has had six air emission violations. Detected levels of hydrogen sulfide were not considered harmful, according to the state Department of Health, which doesn’t consider the plant to be a threat to public health.
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