Protesting Lands Bill; About Bees
Council chairman Jay Furfaro was among those protesting the PLDC bill. Coco Zickos photo
Just four weeks before the general election, it was particularly inspiring to learn just how impassioned Kaua‘i residents still are. They rallied in favor of repealing Act 55 Oct. 8 in front of the Historic County Building. The act (which passed quietly) established Public Lands Development Corporation, which will have the ability to develop nearly 2 million acres of lands that are supposed to be held in trust by the state. County Council hopeful Gary Hooser put it succinctly: “Unless you were in the building and checking your smart phone during the two-hour period preceding this hearing … you had no way of knowing it was even on the agenda. The original version did not exempt any projects from zoning or permitting. This was first added in the House and then dramatically expanded in Conference Committee. There are many other changes that happened during this process, and explains why many/most environmental watchdog groups did not engage this issue early.” Stay tuned …
The Kauai Community College Apiary Program will offer the last beekeeping courses for the season, and as Jimmy Trujillo tells me, for “wannabees,” “newbees” or experienced bee-keepers. These upcoming classes will focus on getting started, harvesting honey and expanding or developing your apiary. Classes are held Saturdays starting Oct. 27 at the KCC BeeLab.
These courses are designed for experienced beekeepers or people interested in bee-keeping who would like to get started managing bees for honey production or increased pollination on a farm or in a garden. These hands-on classes will work with bees, harvesting honey from the KCC apiary, field work relocating feral hives to a managed apiary, and learning how to build hive equipment in the KCC carpentry shop. To register for classes, email OCET@KCC or call 245-8318. For more information, call 346-7725 or email jtrujill@hawaii.edu …
Congratulations to Antonio Sabato Jr., who tied the knot with Cheryl Moana Marie (yes, she’s named after the John Rowles hit song) in a private sunset ceremony last month at an ‘Anini Beach estate here on Kaua‘i. The two were joined by 18 of their closest friends and family, including their 1-year-old son, Antonio Kamakanaalohamaikalani Harvey Sabato III. Fun fact: Cheryl was a teenager when crowned the youngest-ever Miss Kaua‘i America. She went on to place in the top five at the Miss Hawaii America competition and is an actress, recording star and former Oakland Raiderette …
Kui Nalu by Randy Bain
Happy one-year anniversary to Ka U‘i O Ka ‘Aina, located at Kaua‘i Cultural Center at Coconut Marketplace in Kapa‘a. Run by kumu hula teacher Leilani Rivera Bond, and open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., it features cultural demonstrations including lei-making and ‘ukulele lessons, and not only focuses on Hawaiian culture, but the Maori culture of New Zealand …
Congratulations to the men who paddled the 2012 Molokai Hoe men’s race. Similar to the Na Wahine O Ke Kai, Hanalei Canoe Club was the first Kaua‘i team (open division) to pass the orange buoy, with a time just under six hours: 5:59:00 (just six minutes after Outrigger Canoe Club). Following were Pu‘uwai and Namolokama canoe clubs with times of 6:08:28 and 6:08:52, respectively. Congratulations, too to Namolokama Masters (50-plus), who came in with a time of 6:47:22, and Senior Masters (60-plus) with 6:52:13, and open division West Kaua‘i, with a time of 7:39:39. The winning canoe for the open division was Shell Va’a of Tahiti, with a time of 5:15:49. Hana hou! …
So happy to hear about the upcoming blessing ceremony for Easter Seals Hawaii‘s newly renovated Waimea location Oct. 26. The renovation of the historic Waimea Dispensary will allow Easter Seals Hawaii the opportunity to provide expanded services for people with developmental disabilities throughout the island. The Waimea Dispensary served West Kaua‘i’s health care needs from 1927 until the mid-1990s when the building became vacant and unusable. Thanks to a partnership between Aupuni O Niihau, Kaua‘i Economic Development Board and Easter Seals Hawaii, the Waimea Dispensary will once again serve the needs of the West Kaua‘i community, according to a prepared statement from the organization. The newly renovated dispensary will provide a gathering place for adults with disabilities to enjoy and participate in therapeutic, social, vocational and recreational programs …
Anaina Hou Community Park may have a skate park thanks to Kaua‘i Skate Ohana and advocates for the project like Paul Clark. Clark is looking for community support in assisting what he calls a “unique project that will leave a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren.” Questions, constructive criticism and ideas are welcome. For more information, contact Cherie Grousset at 346-7879 or email cheriegrousset@gmail.com …
Plans for the Rice Camp project. Image courtesy County of Kauai
Artist/designer Randy Bain will have an opening of his work at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Java Kai in Kapa‘a (corresponding with the First Saturday Art Walk in Kapa‘a.) Keep an eye out for Bain’s work, which includes a Tiki mug project done with Holden Westland (check it out at Tikifarm.com). Bain designed three mugs, two of which were inspired by Ku and Lono, the third of which was based on the Tangaroa fishing god. Bain’s mugs also will be used in Michelle Rundgren‘s new Tiki Iniki bar, slated to open in March in Hanalei …
County officials announced recently the acquisition of two Lihu‘e parcels that will be used to build affordable housing units for seniors. The vacant lots are located off Malama and Ho‘ala streets, where a former plantation camp known as “Rice Camp” once stood. Representatives from the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency and Westridge Properties LLC met last month for the closing on the properties. The purchase price was $2.3 million. Funding for the land acquisition was appropriated by the County Council in the county’s capital budget for fiscal year 2013. While still in the conceptual phase, a total of 84 units are expected to be built on the two parcels, mostly one-bedroom, one-bath units with some two-bedroom, one-bath units. Plans are in place for the county to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to select a development proposal-team. The team will be responsible for all aspects of the Rice Camp project including design, financing, construction and management. To help bring the Rice Camp project to fruition, the county will provide funding assistance and a low-cost ground lease. “Fortunately, for our island, we are scheduled to receive the state’s entire HOME allocation for fiscal year 2013 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,” County Housing director Kamuela Cobb-Adams said. “So we plan to make the HOME funds conditionally available through the RFP.”
For more information about the project, call Cobb-Adams at 241-4418.
