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

Jingle Bell Rock is the theme for the Pahoa Holiday Parade slated for 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 3.
Grand marshal will be Louie Perry, Puna’s own four-time gold medalist special Olympian.
The Hawai‘i County Band and the Paradise Roller Girls are among those who have signed up for the parade that will run through historic Pahoa Village.
Judges will decide best keiki, best kupuna, best true to theme, and best overall. Kaleo’s, Boogie Woogie Pizza, Black Rock Cafe, Island Naturals, Jeff Hunt Surfboards, Kalani Honua Oceanside Retreat, Hawaii Island Gourmet, Puna Geothermal Venture, and Kapoho Kine Adventures have all provided donations.
Prizes will not only go to float winners, but also to the Pahoa business with the best decorated wreath.
Mainstreet Pahoa Association has initiated an adopt-wreath program to try and get Pahoa businesses intbe spirit to decorate for the holiday season.
Mainstreet Pahoa has also commissioned Jennifer Mydock (bigislandfacepainter.com) to paint windows of Pahoa storefronts. A group of volunteers will help Mydock with the townwide decoration on Wed., Nov. 23, the day before Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, the annual Pahoa High and Intermediate School Ho‘olaulea will follow the Dec. 3 parade. Keiki who would like their photos with Santa will be able to do so at the Pahoa High and Intermediate School Ho‘olaulea.
Mainstreet Pahoa asks prospective entrants, especially rock bands and those with classic cars to contact Jeff Hunt Surfboards at (808)965-2322 or Puna Style (808)965-7592 for an entry form.
See you parade day, and remember, it takes a village to raise a village, Jingle Bell Rock Pahoa by dining and shopping locally this holiday season.

(Media release) — Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will read a proclamation on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 10:30 am at the Mo’oheau Bandstand in Hilo declaring December as Think Local, Buy Local month. The mayor will be joined by Randy Kurohara, director of the Department of Research and Development, Hilo Downtown Improvement Association, Hawai‘i Alliance for a Local Economy and local business owners. The event is free and open to the public—light refreshments and entertainment to follow the reading of the declaration.

The Hawai‘i Alliance for a Local Economy (HALE) under the auspices of Sustain Hawai‘i is working under contract with the county Department of Research and Development to develop and launch a pilot public education initiative which highlights how purchasing locally made and grown products and shopping at locally owned businesses can benefit the community, environment and economy of Hawai‘i Island.

The Think Local, Buy Local initiative is being launched in downtown Hilo in partnership with the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association and 40 locally owned businesses. Participating Hilo businesses are displaying Think Local, Buy Local window signs and highlighting Made on Hawai‘i Island products. A cornerstone of the initiative is the Black and White Night/Think Local, Buy Local button which offers Hawai‘i Island residents discounts at participating locally owned businesses throughout the holiday season. Buttons are $5 and are available at the Hilo Information Center at the Mo’oheau Bus Station, Palace Theatre, Diabolik Surf and Glass and Basically Books.

Think Local, Buy Local is launching in downtown Hilo and expanding island-wide. Instead of a discount button, businesses outside of the downtown Hilo area will be offering coupons online at www.ThinkLocalBuyLocal.org to incentivize residents to think and buy local this holiday season.

A 2010 national report on “buy local” campaigns found that communities with an active “buy local” campaign experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to communities without such a campaign and independent retailers in “buy local” communities saw a 5.2 percent increase in holiday sales, while those elsewhere reported an average gain of less than 1 percent. During the holiday season, the Think Local, Buy Local campaign will be focusing attention on Hawai‘i Island grown and made products and locally owned businesses.

“Local businesses have always been the backbone of our economy,” said Mayor Kenoi. “During these challenging economic times, a renewed focus on products and food produced on Hawai‘i Island and on island-owned businesses is good for our economy and our community.”

To learn more and participate in Think Local, Buy Local visit www.ThinkLocalBuyLocal.org or call Andrea Dean at 960-3727.
(Submitted by Alice Moon.)

In Third Circuit Court today, Monday, Nov. 21, Keolaokalani Kailianu pleaded guilty to felony counts of first-degree negligent homicide and failure to render aid in an accident involving death or serious injury for the moped death of UH Hilo student Ted Braxton. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend to a judge that he serve 10 years in prison. Both felonies carry maximum penalties of 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.

In court on Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Mitch Roth stated the facts that prosecutors would have proven should the case gone to trial: on the evening of May 28, approximately 10 p.m., Kailianu was drinking at Stephanie’s Lounge (750 Kinoole St.) before getting into an armored van while intoxicated and heading Puna bound on Kinoole.  Ted Braxton, meanwhile, was on a moped heading Hamakua bound on Kinoole Street.  At the intersection of Hualalai Street, Kailianu made a left-hand turn and struck the moped Braxton was driving.  Braxton and the moped were trapped under the van and dragged for 100 feet before Braxton’s body was dislodged in the area of K’s Drive In.  Kailianu then traveled another mile and a half to Banyan Drive, with the moped lodged underneath the van, the whole time sparks coming out the bottom of the van.

When he arrived at Banyan Drive, one of Kailianu’s friends saw him and kept him waiting until the police came.  The friend had seen the sparks from under the vehicle and went to check on Kailianu.

Kailianu was taken to the hospital and it was determined through a blood test that his blood alcohol level was a .283, three and a half times the legal limit.  He later was taken to the police station where he took a breath test and his blood alcohol level was .262.

Kailianu’s sentencing hearing is set for 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.

By Pete Hoffmann

I know this is only November, but the first rumbles from the next budget ‘brawl’ have appeared.  Perhaps that’s not such a terrible thing; after all, the budget should remain one of the principal legislative measures throughout the year, particularly in time of economic distress.

First we have the announcement of the Operating Fund Balance for the prior fiscal year 2010-2011 ending 30 June 2011.  The Mayor indicated that we have in excess of $24M as a fund balance, as compared to a $14M projected balance.  That isn’t bad and the administration has the right to ‘pat itself on the back’ a little, as it demonstrated fiscal restraint and budget management.  The administration cited cuts in expenses, hiring delays, and other actions that reduced costs and made the fund balance larger than estimated.  In that analysis, however, I heard nothing about the fact that the FY 2010-2011 budget featured increased property tax rates, thereby generating additional revenue to offset lower property tax assessments.  I remember arguing strongly against such rate increases as being unnecessary and potentially damaging to future investment.  That advice was ignored, although the tax rate increases  proved unnecessary and ill-advised.

Now the Council has entered the early phases of the budget battle with a proposal to alter the mileage reimbursement program for Councilmen.  This is touted as the first of several measures designed to tighten  expenditures.  Read the rest of this entry »

Hawaiian Telcom and Wavecom Solutions (formerly known as Pacific LightNet)/ TW Telecom’s submarine fiber-optic networks, which connect the Hawaiian Islands, are 17 and 14 years old. These critical communication links are nearing the end of life stage. However, these companies haven’t revealed their plans to replace these facilities.

The cost of laying new fiber is the likely reason why Hawaiian Telcom and Wavecom are standing pat. Paniolo Cable Co. spent $185 million connecting the main Hawaiian Islands. This network, which is affiliated with Sandwich Isles Communications, was activated in early 2009.

The timing was fortuitous because Wavecom Solutions/TW Telcom’s submarine fiber-optic network suffered a catastrophic failure on July 27, 2010. This outage caused major problems statewide. For example, Oceanic Time Warner Cable had to lease 70Gbps bandwidth from Paniolo until the Wavecom/TW Telecom fiber was repaired.

The Internet is an important component of Hawaii’s economy. However, our terrestrial and submarine communications infrastructure is aging rapidly. This doesn’t bode well for Hawaii’s economic future.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona

Hi Tiff — If you have time today — can I buy an ad from you through tomorrow?   If you don’t have time — no problem…

I have many beautiful items (sone 200 or so) in an live and on-line auction that is going on “in your neck of the woods”  at Paradise Auction  House  Kea’au Shipman Business Park — tomorrow Saturday the 19th

(need funds for daughter’s medical bills)      

see my blogposting on my site:  http://www.margaretwille.com/home/?q=node/709

and the Paradise Auction link to this auction  – Antiques, Fine Furniture,,  and Collectables.  http://www.paradiseauction.com/november-19-2011-fine-furnishings-collectibles.html

Anyway you want to link would be fine with me… and happy to  pay whatever your ad rate.  

[I am hunkered down trying to write a court brief - -so don't have time to do much on this myself]

Thanks Margaret (Wille)

Mitch Roth

Mitch Roth intends to run for prosecutor in 2012.
Born  in Los Angeles in 1964, Roth came to Hawaii in 1983 to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  After graduating, he taught English in Japan before returning to Los Angeles to attend Whittier Law School returning to Hawaii in 1993.

Mitch has 18 years as Deputy Prosecutor starting  in Honolulu and then, at the invitation of former prosecutor Jay Kimura,  joined the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s office in 1998.

Roth views domestic violence as one of the roots of crime.  Among his many efforts in that area, he has served as the interagency coordinator for the Domestic Violence Interagency Team for Hawaii Island, and he was named the Advocate of the Year in 2002 for his dedicated work in domestic violence.

Mitch was the first Community Oriented Prosecutors in the State of Hawaii and is currently one of the nations longest standing Community Prosecutors.   As a community-oriented prosecutor, Roth has been instrumental in proactive measures to build community capacity to deal with crime and other social problem including the Department of Health’s I-Files community initiative, the County’s Healing Our Island mini grant project, and the Prosecutor’s Community Empowerment Organization project.

In 2003, he initiated the first successful civil drug nuisance abatement action to remove drug dealers from a downtown Hilo building.  He later used the same law to remove a drug dealer in Pahoa. The success of these efforts led the State Legislature to create a drug nuisance abatement team in the State Department of the Attorney General.

In 2005, Roth helped get Pahoa designated as a federal Weed and Seed site, with the mission of weeding out crime and seeding in positive social change.  The Pahoa Weed and Seed project has been highlighted in national community policing training for Weed and Seed projects.
Among the many community initiatives and projects that Roth helped establish while in Honolulu were the Community Coalition for Neighborhood Safety & Honolulu’s First Weed and Seed project . He also received the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Award of Excellence.
Since 1996, Roth has been an instructor for the Western Community Policing Institute, and served as board chair.  He has been recognized as one of the top instructors in Community Policing, and is frequently invited to present in other states.

Another community focus for Roth is traffic safety.  He is the chair of the State of Hawai‘i’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan whose goal is to reduce traffic fatalities.  He was also on the Ignition Interlock task force that helped pass the law requiring person convicted of driving under the influence to have an in car breathalyzer installed before driving. He was instrumental in bringing the Shattered Dreams alcohol prevention program to High Schools on the Big Island.

In 2001, Roth was instrumental in starting the Visitors Aloha Society of Hawaii (VASH)   on the Big Island.  This organization helps visitors who have been victims of crime or other traumatic incidences while on our island. Over the last 10 years he has served as board president and is currently a board member.

Mitch’s commitment to the community of Hawaii Island extends well beyond the legal realm. Among his many activities, Roth has served on the YMCA Corporate Board, Turning Point for Families Board, the Boards for the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island the State Highway Safety Committee and the Healing our Island grant committee   He has served as the PTA president at Waiakeawaena as well as the Cub Master for Pack 65.  He is currently on the boards Crime Stoppers, VASH, Citizens Corp., and the State Strategic Safety Highway Plan.

Roth has also received awards from the Rotary for Outstanding and Distinguished Service, Mothers Against Drunk Driving for Outstanding Service, Turning Point for Families’ Advocate of the year, and the Olo Pono Award.

He and his wife, Noriko, have three children (Anne 12, Aaron 14 and Alexandra 17), two enrolled in Hilo public schools and the third, a graduate of Waiakea High, is currently studying at Nanzan University in Japan as an international exchange student through the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
(Submitted by Mitch Roth.)

Following is a question-and-answer email exchange with lead Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida and Big Island Chronicle publisher Tiffany Edwards Hunt:

TEH: What is your reason for pursuing this position as prosecutor? 

LA: The reason for pursuing this position is because I think we can do some really good things in the Prosecutor’s Office. As a lawyer, you have the means (your law license and expertise) to help persons who are not able to help themselves.  As a prosecutor, you have the means (and responsibility) to help victims of crime.  I can think of no more important responsibility as a lawyer.  You cannot “undo” the victimization, and you surely can’t turn back the hands of time so that the crime didn’t happen.  However you play an important role in facilitating closure for crime victims.  You allow them to compartmentalize their victimization and find a place for that event in the fabric of their lives.  It allows them to move on.  Traditionally, prosecutor offices across the country have been known as “training grounds” for new lawyers. The government underwrites your malpractice, you focus on a single area of the law, and it is understood this is a training ground before you move on to private practice.  In fact the average tenure of a prosecutor nationwide is 3.5 years.  I love building teams. We were fortunate at Corporation Counsel to recruit attorneys from different walks of life and different experiences.  It was neat to see everyone gel and work together as a team.  The whole was truly larger than the sum of all parts.  We can do the same thing at the Prosecutors.  There are many great lawyers and persons there. I think with some tweaking, focused leadership and developing a culture of “team first,” we can truly become the very best Prosecutor’s Office anywhere.  In doing so, we can limit attrition and seek and maintain “career prosecutors” who dedicate their careers to this calling.   

TEH: Weren’t you already there, having covered such cases as the Dana Ireland murder…?

LA:  Yes, I was there for 13 years (16 if you count my years as a law clerk during summers back from Law School).  And those were 16 wonderful years. You bring up the Dana Ireland case. Yes, that was the “one” that got the most publicity by far, but we need to keep things in perspective. I was involved in over 200 felony cases during my career there; many of those were resolved via guilty pleas that spared a victim the trauma of testifying and revictimization, while offering them prompt closure.  To those victims, their cases were “just as” important (if not more) than the Ireland case; it just didn’t get the publicity.  As a prosecutor you need to always remember that.  It shouldn’t “just be another case” to you (like referring to it with a file number).  It is a victim’s life.  One thing I learned from a good friend Jeri Gertz (who served as a Victim Assistance Counselor) was that many young female sexual assault victims have a very dim view of males in general due to their victimization. Jeri always reminded me that I had a responsibility to be a positive male role model in their lives.  Having a daughter now and looking back, that was wise counsel from a wise friend.  It may sound corny to some, but one thing we will change immediately when we get to the Prosecutor’s Office is to have the files include in prominent letters the name of the victims.  The files have the defendant’s name, and a file number, but we want our attorneys to understand and have a prominent reminder whenever they look at the cover of a case file that someone’s life has been affected, and we have a duty to use our means to help them.

TEH:  What makes you want to step away from Corporation Counsel? You seem to have the ideal seat in politics already.

LA:  I love the Corporation Counsel’s Office and the people I have the privilege of working alongside every day.  If given the opportunity to lead the Prosecutor’s Office, no doubt I will miss them.  I have looked forward to coming to work every single day over the years as both a prosecutor and as Corporation Counsel; I know it may sound corny, but I have been living a dream. You have always been straight with me, Tiff, and you asked a straight question about “what makes (me) want to step away from Corporation Counsel.”  You deserve the straight answer:  I am the longest serving Corporation Counsel in the history of the County of Hawai`i.  No matter how good things may be going, I think we fool ourselves if we think there could not be some benefit from different perspectives. I don’t want to wake up one morning, put on “my new clothes,” and be oblivious to needed change and growth.  A good friend often reminds me that “Change is inevitable.  Growth is optional”  (I think Walt Disney actually said that, but my buddy takes credit for it).  And to your question and observation about having “the ideal seat in politics already,” I think there is some danger in feeling that way.  If you think (or worse yet believe) that you “are there,” have arrived and done all you can do, that is recipe for complacency and stagnation that strangles good organizations.  My dream is to return to the Prosecutor’s Office that I love, do the work that I know I can, and serve the community where I was born and has been so good to me.

Lincoln Ashida

I am formally announcing my candidacy for election to the office of Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawai`i in 2012.  Jay Kimura’s retirement after over 30 years of distinguished service to our County has provided an opportunity for me to seek an office I have always looked forward to holding and serving.

I started my legal career in 1985 as a summer law clerk with the Prosecutor’s Office.  I clerked for three consecutive summers with the Prosecutors, and after passing the bar exam in 1987, was appointed as a deputy prosecutor in November 1987 by former Prosecuting Attorney Jon Ono.

I have prosecuted every type of crime in my thirteen years of service as a prosecutor, concentrating primarily in homicide and child- and adult-victim sexual assault cases.  I supervised felony prosecutions including Crimes Against Women and Children (federally funded units), developed the conferral process with the police for early assessment and prompt prosecution of major felony cases, and developed training protocols for police recruits, patrol officers, and CIS/CID detectives.

I was appointed and confirmed as Corporation Counsel, the County’s top civil attorney, in December 2000.  As Corporation Counsel, we developed County-wide training for our County clients, and collaborated with the corporation counsels from the other counties to spearhead the Statewide Municipal Attorneys Training Conference.  In addition, I was the 2009 statewide recipient of the Hawai`i State Bar Association’s Schutte Award for outstanding and meritorious service to the legal community and profession.  In 2010 I received the HSBA’s Government Lawyers Section pro bono service award and was recognized statewide for exceptional commitment to traditional pro bono and community service.

If elected Prosecutor, these are some of the major initiatives we will undertake:

1.    We want our prosecutors to be the best attorneys in the courtroom.  We want our attorneys to receive the necessary training, mentorship and support to take on any legal challenge given them.  Instead of “throwing inexperienced lawyers” to the wolves, we will develop a comprehensive training and evaluation program for each litigator and make appropriate assignments to cases based on ability and merit.  Our community demands and expects that a prosecutor charged with handling a victim’s case be more than competent.
2.    Training the police is our responsibility.  The National Prosecution Standards demand that prosecutors work with their local police to provide them training.  Excellent training leads to excellent investigations, which ultimately result in excellent prosecutions.  We will create and restore comprehensive training programs for our police.
3.    It is all about the team.  All successful prosecutions are the product of cohesive teamwork.  A big part of this team is the crime victim, as well as the public we represent.  Plea bargaining will be done responsibly, and the community will be informed why decisions are made, while protecting the privacy rights of victims.  The community-oriented prosecution program will not be limited to one person, but instead be the responsibility of all of our attorneys and staff.  Each of our attorneys will be assigned to a community on our island, outreaching to them and providing tips on avoiding victimization, identifying systemic sources of criminality and utilizing the criminal justice system to create safer communities.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has an honorable history.  Yoshito Tanaka was the first “County Attorney” who handled both criminal and civil cases (imagine that!).  Paul de Silva, Jon Ono, and Jay Kimura all served honorably.  Building on this tradition is a responsibility I am ready for, and take very, very seriously.  I was born and raised in Papaikou, a plantation community just north of Hilo.  I graduated from Hilo High School, the University of Michigan, and Creighton University School of Law.  I am part of the faculty of the Political Science department at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, where I have taught for over 15 years.  I have been married to my wife Jonna (she works in radiology at the Hilo Medical Center) for 22 years.  We have two children, Scott (17) and Kaitlyn (15), who attend Kamehameha Schools.  I am very proud of our island home and community, and would be honored to lead the Prosecutor’s Office.

When I was confirmed as Corporation Counsel in 2000 after being nominated by then Mayor Harry Kim, I was humbled to have the only two bosses I ever had (Jon Ono and Jay Kimura) appear at my confirmation hearing and offer the enclosed testimony.  It was a very difficult decision to leave the Prosecutor’s Office back then; it was where I “grew up” as a lawyer, and I was surrounded by many friends.  Today I am glad I made the decision to leave and gain the experience and knowledge so that I may return to the Prosecutors and help the office become the very best Prosecutor’s Office anywhere.
Lincoln Ashida

Of some interest is how the dumb Stephens Media’s copyright scam has backfired with the feds seizing assets, according to Sunday’s on-line edition by Hawai’i Free Press @

hawaiifreepress.com 
 
Aloha, Hugh (Clark)

(Media release) —  Volcano Art Center and Donkey Mill Art Center open their hearts, minds and walls to residents and visitors inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement that began in New York City on Sept.17, 2011 and has since swept across many states and countries.  These partnering arts organizations offer a place for healthy communication about socially relevant issues, using art as a vehicle for expression.

To provide a venue for creative and peaceful responses to this movement, people of all walks of life and arts experience are encouraged to submit heartfelt and artful contributions to be exhibited.  At Volcano Art Center, “OCCUPY ART,” exhibit and “Zero Currency Trade Event,” will be open to the public Dec. 2-9, 2011, with intake beginning at the end of the November.  In Holualoa, The Donkey Mill Art Center will host a sister exhibition called “BEYOND WALL STREET” Dec. 20, 2011 through Feb.11, 2012.  Intake for this exhibition will be Dec. 9-10, 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Courtesy of Margaret Wille

By Margaret Wille
BOTTOM LINE: The Redistricting Commission rejected Plan A and adopted Plan B.   With the help of community members around the Island, I drafted the original version of Plan B (Plan 40).

For those who have not been following this island wide drama here is a little background: Plan A would have shifted the County Council (legislative) Districts clockwise.  As a result of that proposed shift, District 1 would have been cut in half with the southern portion of the Hamakua coast lumped into an urban/suburban South Hilo District  (for practical purposes this would give urban South Hilo an extra council seat at the expense of Hamakua – and eliminate the Hamakua council seat).  Plan A would have also pushed Honokaa into District 9 to be lumped with Waimea, North Kohala, and Kawaihae-Puako, and likewise bump Waikoloa out of District 9 into a Kona dominated District 8.

On the other hand, Plan B, on a regional basis, preserved the overall general orientation of the current county council districts – adding in a more mauka makai alignment where possible.

For some residing in the Puna area, the problem Plan B was that Volcano remained in District 5 and some folks wanted it shift into Puna District 5. (There were also some who felt Volcano was more appropriate in District 6, and who said if shifted to District 5, Volcano  would control politics in District 5. These folks also pointed out that given the population limitations, that if Volcano were included in District 5, then upper Puna would be pushed back into Hilo District 3)

UPDATE – THE NOVEMBER 10, 2011 COMMISSION MEETING: Chairperson Rene Siracusa requested that the Commissioners first again consider Plan A – with the  objective of attempting again to shift Volcano from District 6 into District 5 while at the same time not making a mess of the other Districts. This attempt was unsuccessful.

Councilperson Linda Ugalde from Volcano, the Commissioner appointed to represent District 6, argued strenuously to shift Volcano to District 5. However by midday, she conceded that this relocation of Volcano was not possible – without causing a negative domino effect around the island.  At that point she said she would accept that Volcano must remain in District 6, but wanted to make sure all of greater Volcano should stay together –  including Volcano Village on both sides of Route 11 up to, but not including Fern Acres. The other Commissioners all expressed appreciation to Commissioner Ugalde for this concession made in the interest of the island as a whole.

Another area of particular concern has eastend Waimea .  The current district 9/1 line is at White Road and Mana Road area. The update of Plan B that worked on would have kept that district boundary at White Road and a bit further East along portions of Mana Road – but not as far as Lakeland.  At the November 10th hearing Bill Sanborn and a few other Waimea residents testified that East Waimea/Lakeland residents were not being adequately represented. Based on his and other similar testimony, Commissioner Poindexter (District 1 rep) successfully argued to move the District 1 line closer to Waimea-town – reasoning that this would increase the clout of Lakeland and East Waimea generally in District 1.

At the November 10th hearing, one of the most interesting debates was between Commissioner Jeff Melrose (District 2 rep) and Commissioner Mike Middlesworth (District 3 rep).  Commissioner Middlesworth had submitted a plan revising Plan B so that that District 3 preserved its more rural orientation, with District 2 a “downtown” Hilo District.  On the other hand, Commissioner Jeff Melrose argued in favor of keeping the mauka- makai orientation of both Districts 2 and 3, so that each would have an “urban” component and a mauka “rural” component.  Commissioner Middlesworth expressed the concern that this would undermine the rural orientation of District 3.  The Commission’s draft final plan is oriented as advocated by Commissioner Melrose – both South Hilo Districts containing an urban and a rural area.

With respect to Kona area, Commissioners Craig “Bo” Kahui (District 8 rep) and Dru Kanuha (District 7 rep) said they could work the boundary between their two “Kona” Districts. Commissioner Kahui also made a point of saying that keeping Puako and Waikoloa in District 9 is appropriate (rather than in Kona District 8).

So now we have the draft final plan…  which will go to public hearing on November 21 (Kona) and November 22 (Hilo) – so that although the big question of the general orientation of the Plan has been fixed, any alternative modifications of the individual boundary lines can be addressed.

One question I have is in which District should Mauna Kea – top of mountain be located:  Hamakua District 1 (where it is now), Kona District 8; or Hilo District 2 (where it is on the draft final plan.  What do you think? This question would not affect any

AN ASIDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NUANCES OF THIS PROCEEDING — CURIOUSLY: Following the November 3rd Commission meeting, I worked on an alternative to Plan B with the goal of addressing several concerns expressed by Commissioner Patrick Kahawaiolaa and Rene Siracusa (concerning the boundaries between Districts 2/3, 3/4 , and 4/5).   I submitted testimony to the Commission showing two different updated alternative configurations to Plan B both of which contained the revisions I had included to address the concerns expressed by these two Commissioners. A few days later I met with District 9 Representative Joe Carvalho and he discussed my updated revision (Plan B alternative 1) and explained that Commissioner Middlesworth and further revised that Plan B alternative 1 (which was called Plan B alt 1.1). Joe indicated he was supportive of this revision Plan B alt 1.1. This revised Plan B is available on the restricting site – at the link with the yellow file icon that is labeled “OPEN”.   Now what I found curious is that at the November 10th Commission meeting that Plan B alt 1.1 was never mentioned.
For those at the Kona council office who were watching the November 10th Commission proceeding that this alternative draft worked on by two of the Commissioners was particularly strange.  Cheryl King from Kona had brought copies of that plan with her to the meeting.  When the Commissioners began working off the 11-1 draft of Plan B, seeking to make the same revisions that had already been accomplished in this updated version, Commission Bo Kahui inquired of the other Commissioners about this revised version, Plan B alternative 1.1, but there was no response from the other Commissioners.

​Strange … almost as if some superior force had deleted Plan B alt 1.1 from the minds of the Commissioners familiar with this revision.

For those who have emailed me inquiring about the Puna area boundaries on the Commission’s final draft (PLAN B DATED 11/10/11) ​I attach some screen shots.

[INSERT SCREEN SHOTS except for the Commission’s draft final plan]

For those who are interested, here is a screenshot of that Plan B alt 1.1 draft (note the different layout of Districts 2 and 3 (a more urban versus rural alignment). Also note the more upper versus lower Puna orientation of Districts 4 and 5.

[PLAN B alternative 1.1]

(Margaret Wille is a lawyer and blogger who lives in Waimea. Her commentary has been republished here with permission.)

The first Rock & Roll Toys for Tots Fundraiser will be this evening at Uncle Roberts in Kalapana starting at 6:30. Entertainers are Linda/Ray Molina(Hawaiian Music, Big Island Elvis, Dan Nix and Kathy Emory, Commedian.  Please come, bring friends  and help support Big Island underprivileged children by bringing an unwrapped toy or a check made out to Toys for Tots.  I thank you for your support.   Have a wonderful weekend.
 
 
                                                                                          MJ Svoboda