Arthur Varady, having coffee at Woodland Center on July 11, 2011. Photo by Tiffany Edwards Hunt. All rights reserved. Use with permission only.

Meet Arthur Varady.  The retired nurse and insurance agent who hails from New York intends to run for Hawaii County Council next year.  Following are what Varady describes as what would be his first five projects in the event that he is elected as a Puna councilman:
1-the Bi-centennial bike ride (A FUN DAY)
All teams to have at least 1 rider 60 or more, another rider, 40 or more. Over 2 days. At the same time this is going on there will be canoe races at Hilo bay, rides, games, and the BEST of all, a charity dunking booth. Buy some baseballs and dunk a councilman or a council woman.
2-Hawaiian nation. NOW
3-Make plans to open an alcohol and drug detox facility at a location to be chosen later. Volunteerism, vs. county employment to be stressed except for those jobs needing professionals, like RN, MD, etc.
4-A WPA Project to begin before the end of 2012.
5-Division of the island into 2 counties. East Hawaii and West Hawaii to be 2 separate counties.

by Delia Montgomery

My drive to help aspiring designers who live in Hawaii is the basis for this post. We know most residents on Big Island go through an ordeal for proper services to birth a child. Apparently, it’s no easier for a student to find teachers to support their choice of artistic passion.

Of course it would be grand if students could be where the teachers are, but most don’t have the choice. My recommendations do require a computer with online access, so be prepared.
Read the rest of this entry »

by Delia Montgomery

The competition winner of Chic Eco’s 2009 Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer poll was Carrie Jekogian for LolaBabiez Organics. The announcement was written on FeelGoodStyle by Important Media Network.

I’m so sad to report that Carrie’s site has been down for a year and the phone number was disconnected. No clues as to what happened, but I hope you read about her and praises from her clients. (Because FGS was formerly run by Green Options Media, the comments were lost in conversion). Let’s hope she simply had to break from being a working teacher super-mom while running a business!

Our rapid global changes are effecting everyone as each individual seeks a balance between work and spirit. Hence, I can’t bring you an update about designer Carrie, but am compelled to help aspiring designers who live in Hawaii. For such individuals, I have some designer tools to share in my next post.

RELATED POSTS:
Chíc Eco — Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer Competition: Jennifer Murphy for Chapter One Organics
Chíc Eco — Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer Competition: Rachel Hart for Miss Sugar Pops
Chíc Eco — Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer Competition
Chíc Eco — Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer Competition: A Look at Sckoon Organics
Ever Gotten Organic Cotton?

Amongst other things, blog contributor Delia Montgomery, d/b/a Chíc Eco, is an agent for environmental designers and artists. She holds a burning desire to witness organic cotton, and other sustainable resources, to be farmed on Hawaiian islands. Please contact Delia if you wish to be known as a local-eco farmer or designer-crafts person.

By Pete Hoffmann
Recently there has been some speculation regarding my political aspirations since I am prohibited from running for a fifth consecutive term as Councilman next year.  I’ll admit that I have fueled some of that speculation and indicated that I am considering whether I should campaign for Mayor.   It is no secret that I am disappointed with the leadership demonstrated by Mayor Kenoi and have felt that I could do much better for the residents of this County.
 
However, translating that political desire/commitment into election votes is not easy.  I have analyzed the situation taking into account my participation in a campaign against the two most likely candidates for the Mayor’s office in 2012; Mr. Kenoi and Dominic Yagong.  From my perspective, I sought to determine whether I could survive the primary election, i.e. be one of the two candidates involved in a runoff in November 2012.  My objective has always been not merely to run for office – I don’t obtain much satisfaction from merely seeing my name in the papers.  My goal in campaigning would be to have a reasonable chance to win and thereby make a difference.  
 
My analysis, some of which relied on a professional survey, provided me with inconclusive results.  After further discussion with my wife, who is always involved in decisions of this nature, I have decided I will not seek the office of Mayor next year.  I am undecided if I will consider any other political office at this time, but unless the “candidate landscape” for the Mayor’s office changes significantly, I will not be a participant in that race.
 
One of the most rewarding aspects of being in public office at any level is the opportunity to meet and work with interesting and talented personalities.  I have been honored to have had that opportunity while serving as Councilman.  It truly makes a sometimes frustrating experience worthwhile.  To those individuals island-wide, who have urged me to run for Mayor, and/or who have simply encouraged me to continue my advocacy for  resolving some of the contentious issues facing our County, I can only extend thanks and deep appreciation.  You have made this effort exciting.  
 
As we look ahead, I urge all to continue to support candidates in next year’s elections who are able to distinguish between narrow political objectives and the best interest of the residents of our island.  I am committed to evaluate my choices on that basis.  Meanwhile, I will continue to work hard to bring positive change and effective government to our County and encourage all to support those efforts.  Thank you again for allowing me the chance to serve and try and make positive changes for our County.
 
​​​​​​​(Pete Hoffmann is a council member representing Kohala.)

Diane Morgan art

(Media release) —  The Big Island Beekeepers Association wants to get word to beekeepers and apiaries throughout the state, alerting them to requirements for entering the 2nd Annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge. This year the honey challenge is being held in conjunction with the Western Apicultural Society Conference set for Sept. 12-15 at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on the Kohala coast, according to Cary Dizon, BIBA president.

For the 2011 Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge, samples in either liquid or solid form must be collected and bottled by the contestant from hives located within the state. No heat may be applied in the extracting or bottling process and no additives, seeding or flavoring may be used. Entries also should not be processed in any way such as “creaming,” “spinning,” or “churning.” Honey may be strained through mesh no smaller than 500 microns.

The deadline for honey producers to submit completed entry forms and payment is Sept. 2. Honey samples can be mailed with entry forms and payment by Sept. 2 or the samples alone can be submitted in person between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Komohana Agriculture Research & Extension Office in Hilo or Kainaliu Extension Office in Kainaliu, Kona. Contestants may submit multiple samples for judging, with separate entry forms and a $5 entry fee for each submission. Read the rest of this entry »

Photos by Tiffany Edwards Hunt. All rights reserved. Use with permission only.

Residents of lower Puna coastline communities are planning to meet the first Wednesday of every month at 5 p.m. in the Rainbow Room of Kalani Honua to discuss growth and development and the Puna Community Development Plan for the area. Depicted are photos taken from the most recent meeting.  The public is welcome to attend.  The group is hoping to have three representatives from each beach community between Kalapana and Pohoiki.

Editor, Big Island Chronicle

Sometimes, a little knowledge can be harmful.
A little bit of history can be helpful.
For many years, the windward side of the Big Island produced most of the real property revenue.  When sugar was king, and West Hawaii was undeveloped, East Hawaii “picked up the tab” for many of the civic necessities in West Hawaii.
It wasn’t until the 1970’s and 1980’s that resorts were finally developed in multitude in West Hawaii, and their tax revenues began to roll into the County coffers.
Newcomers to the Big Island who are members of the County Council—and members of the media who parrot their comments—would do well to study a little of the history of Hawaii County before they moan about the inequities of the tax system.

Walt Southward
Hilo

Alright, Big Island Chronicle readers.  let’s work together on this.  I want you to help me fill out this form.  Read the following and share whatever is the first to pop into your mind.  Let’s see if we can reach a consensus and come up with the Best of the Big Island from what I have listed or what you suggest is pertinent.

customer service

beach

visitor attraction

art gallery

Medical facility

farmer’s market

local’s hangout

shave ice parlor

video rental

health food store

Yoga Read the rest of this entry »

Congratulations to friend and fellow Big Island Press Club member Peter Serafin for his first place award in sports writing from the Society of Professional Journalists for his Honolulu Magazine piece entitled, “Outside the Octagon” about BJ Penn.

By Hugh Clark
The last mayor to really look after park facilities, let alone develop them well, was Mayor Shunichi Kimura (1969-1974).

No one should express an iota of surprise by our failing parks-recreation sites cited today in the Stephens’ story in WHT and the HTH.The report is only a decade or more tardy.

Deferred maintenance is a bureaucratic  term for negligence. If we treated our homesteads like that, we would be in a helluva mess — if not in foreclosure.

This causes me to wonder about the grand debate over spending two percent, or less, of our income on land acquisition at a time wen we fail to keep up our existing resources is not sheer folly.

Mlllion-dollar swimming complexes sitting idle for lack of proper maintenance is a waste of taxpayer investment. I neither swim nor play tennis but  believe those who do should be rising up in arms.

If we paid attention now rather than funding some aimless, fanciful future, we would be further along.
(Retired Honolulu Advertiser reporter and Big Island Press Club honorary member Hugh Clark is a friend and mentor to Big Island Chronicle.)

Aloha YWCA Members,

As the end of July is near, we want to remind all of you who have colored punch cards (Aqua-X Pass, Lap Swim Pass, Plunge Pass) to please remember to use it before July 31, 2011. After that date, we will no longer accept these cards and we will not exchange them for credit.
In response to the numerous feed back from you, starting August 1, 2011 we will offer an Instructional 10 Punch Pass for $70.00, which is good for ten water aerobics or AQ Zumba classes. We will also offer a Non-Instructional 10 Punch Pass for $40.00, which is good for attendance to Lap Swim or Family Swim. Both cards have a two month expiration date from the date of purchase. Don’t forget, we offer monthly passes and drop in rates for our aquatic classes and activities! If you have any questions please contact Hoku Sumiki at 935-7141 ext.111 or athsumiki@ywcahawaiiisland.org. Have a great day!

YWCA of Hawaii Island
145 Ululani St.
Hilo, HI, US
96720

(Media release) — Parker School welcomes five new members to the 11 person Board of Directors for the 2011-2012 school year.  The new Directors will serve a three year term, joining Chair, John Ray, Treasurer, Saundra Gulley, Lois Gregg, M.D., Jerry Denz, Steve Gajadhar, and John Richards.  The new members are Barbara Robertson, Jacqueline Johnson Hirt, Karl Kasberg, John Stover and Vaughan Winborne.  Parker School is pleased to add these community leaders to the board and is grateful for their time, commitment, and expertise in serving the school’s mission.  Visit www.parkerschool.net for more information.

(Submitted by Jennifer Schack.)

Image courtesy of Dakine.com

(Media release) — Hawaiʻi Police Department is proud to be a participant in a backpack drive to assist children less fortunate in these hard economic times. All police stations around the island will double as drop-off points between July and September for those interested in helping children in need.

Backpacks have been identified as the most requested non-food item for charities in Hawaiʻi. The donated backpacks will be distributed to children at women’s shelters, homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities around the Big Island.

This is the third consecutive year the Police Department has worked in partnership with HOPE Services Hawaiʻi (formerly known as the Office of Social Ministry) and From Kids For Kids in the collection and distribution of these items.

Hope Services Hawaiʻi provides a continuum of homeless and transitional programs from outreach to emergency shelters, including permanent supportive housing placements.

From Kids For Kids was founded in 2006 by Big Island resident Nani Welch-Keliihoomalu, then 10, who was responsible for distributing backpacks containing books, clothing, art and school supplies.

Police Chief Kubojiri again offers police stations as drop-off points to make it convenient for anyone who wishes to donate backpacks for the project. “I humbly ask those of you who have backpacks your child is no longer using to consider donating them to this worthy cause,” Kubojiri said. “I know that the continuing economic downturn across our nation affects all of us, but I also know that the aloha spirit is alive and well when it comes to opening our hearts and lending a helping hand.”

(Submitted by Hawaii Police Department.)