by Delia Montgomery

It was about six years ago green-movement “insiders” were talking about the upcoming bamboo fabric crash. Bamboo clothing was the rage at the time, so every eco-fabric industry leader wanted to ride the wave as long as possible.

Once word got to customers two years later, they fiercely resisted. Typical reactions were “I love my bamboo, you can’t take it away from me!”  —  along with expressions of disbelief. Read the rest of this entry »

by Delia Montgomery

Alan Joaquin founded FarmRoof, a privately held Hawaii Corporation, in 2008. His innovative company is based in Waimanalo, Oahu. Alan’s credentials include more than twenty years of experience in agriculture, engineering, environmental protection, and landscape construction.

The company’s primary focus is providing the world’s best rooftop environment for growing culinary herbs, gourmet greens, and heirloom vegetables. Through proprietary technology, the company may change our local food system and urban landscape. Although FarmRoof is gaining notoriety from eastern USA to Vancouver, Canada,  ―  Alan claims their roots are in the Hawaiian islands.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Delia Montgomery

Dovetail Partners, Inc. recently published a report titled Building Codes: Barriers to Green Innovation. I am confident that those concerned with the governmental nonsense we tolerate will find it a worthy read. My chosen intro excerpt follows:

Building codes ensure the health, safety and welfare of building users and the public. Unfortunately, many of today’s codes are prescriptive and based on traditional industry standards, thereby precluding innovative approaches to environmentally responsible design.

Dovetail Partners’ mission is to provide authoritative information about the impacts and trade-offs of environmental decisions, including consumption choices, land use, and policy alternatives. See where Hawaii ranks with the challenges presently faced.

RELATED POSTS:

Published on BIC through 2011 August

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 local resources be utilized on island for production of goods in sustainable manners.

As this endangered Toys for Tot event — a charity by motorcyclists for poor little kids — vacillates, I keep getting images from that old melodrama about sweet Pauline being tied to the railroad track. I suppose the cops are the railroad locomotive charging down the line.

Come on, is this necessary in a town of our size where the Mayor(elected) says fine and agents of the police chief say nope, while the (appointed) chief ain’t in town to rule on the matter.

Is this a turf war?  Or a legitimate pubic safety issue? Or just a grinch with a badge who wants to steal Christmas from youngsters who already have drawn a short straw in life? 
 (Hugh Clark is a retired newspaper reporter who lives in Hilo.)

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 »

Sampled Map

by Delia Montgomery, FoPF Secretary

The second Puna Redistricting Hearing will take place Saturday, October 15th, 2:00 pm, at the Kea’au Community Center. This hearing is a crucial event in determining Puna’s redistricting results for the next ten years.

We hope to have good representation from Upper Puna/Puna Mauka, as well as numerous citizens from Lower Puna/Puna Makai to demonstrate Puna’s solidarity in support of key goals presented at last Tuesday’s Pahoa Meeting.

To: HPP and other citizens attending last Tuesday’s Pahoa Hearing:  Please plan to attend this second hearing as well – to help us demonstrate that Puna means business!

KEY POINTS supported by a diverse group from Puna at Tuesday’s Hearing:

• Two council districts for Puna with no divided communities between districts.
• Keep all three of the major towns in Puna (Volcano, Keaau, Pahoa) within one or the other of those two districts.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Delia Montgomery

As a natural fiber enthusiast, I am noticing an increase in banana fiber production. Love the recent hessnatur advertisements and education of New SADLE, a nonprofit organization in Nepal that is responsible for weaving the banana silk scarves they offer.

Hawaiians are very creative with what they make from banana leaves. Yet fiber production is dormant on the Pacific islands. Wonder if that could change?

Read the rest of this entry »

By Delia Montgomery, FoPF Secretary

In regard to Puna News published by BIC earlier this week, Friends of Puna’s Future members are pleased to have the opportunity to submit our issues and questions to the Senator for the forums in advance.

We wish to share our concerns publicly as well:

Dear Honorable Senator Kahele,

We appreciate your representation of Puna in the Senate and hope to see you successfully reelected next year. The districts of Puna and Kau have spent a lot of time and energy on the Fuel Tax Revenue proposal which Faye Hanohano submitted to the legislature under HB 1626. We appreciate your help and Faye’s help in moving the bill through the committees, but it stalled at the final vote and your constituents would like to hear from you that you will get HB 1626 passed early in the next session.

Will you get this done?  Will you keep us all informed every step of the way?

We have not heard from you on this important subject since HB 1626 failed to make the final vote.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully submitted,
Board of Directors, Friends of Puna’s Future, a nonprofit 501(c)4 organization

If you share our issue, please speak up!

RELATED POSTS:

VIDEO: Sen. Gil Kahele kicks off talk stories in Volcano
Senator’s Press Release

Friends of Puna’s Future (FoPF) is a nonprofit 501(c)4 organization comprised of concerned Puna residents, businesses and associations working together to lobby for long overdue changes in the Puna district.

By Matt Rifkin
Rev Nancy Trial Day 9, verdict
The jury was told to report at 9:00am to begin deliberations. Several of Rev Nancy’s supporters were gathering in the hall for the wait. Around 11:00 it seemed likely things would go past lunch, so the group decided to head out for an early lunch. As we were getting into our cars, we got word that a verdict had been reached. A bit of a surprise, and of course, we weren’t sure if it was good or bad. It took until about 11:30am for all the concerned parties to assemble. The print media and a cameraman also made it in time.
Judge Hara and the jury return. The paperwork is handed to the clerk, who reads the verdicts…
Count one- commercial promotion in the 1st degree more than 100 plants – guilty
Count two- used or possessed paraphernalia – guilty
Count three- promotion of a detrimental drug in the 2nd degree (more than one ounce) -guilty
Needless to say there was shock at the defense table, and among the few supporters who had made it back in time. The jury’s fast decision was now clear.
After things settled down, Judge Hara turned to the question of bail. The state said there was to be no change in the current supervised release situation.
Damerville then said that Rev Nancy had been honorable throughout the four year process, and that although she may be depressed now, the state would only be seeking probation at sentencing (November 3 at 8:00am) and he hoped that was some consolation. Read the rest of this entry »

By Matt Rifkin
Rev Nancy trial day 8
15 in gallery….print media, blogger, video crew….
10:24am
Judge Hara enters…Damerville, Zamber present. Sulla is not

Judge going over jury instructions….other crimes, or acts not to be considered…reading 8.01, 8.02, modified to read, “…” as modified by agreement…8.02a, given by agreement…

Instruction 9, modified so paragraph 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 deleted, renumber 1-7. Defense objects, 8a, paragraph 1, 6 now would be 1,5 as modified, she is not the owner of the object concerning its use…court finds to give modified over objection…

Defense requested instructions, most duplicate the state requests, withdrawn…

Affirmative 7.06 generic …court refuses…Defense “ignorance of law, conduct not prohibited” …7.12 was refused, necessity, address it? she may have a justification defense, reasonably believed her conduct was to choice of evils…court finds no evidence that would raise this defense….as to 7.13 ignorance or mistake of fact…court refuses this instruction…your reason? It goes to state of mind, suggest there was info provided to the court for jury to decide factual, but mistaken to practice her religion, would like the jury to have that instruction. State feels no justification. Court finds no evidence in trial to allow mistake of fact. Court refuses. Mistake of law defense.

Mistake of law defense is codified by 702-220…doesn’t allow another defense. Haven’t provided any document that it is legal, DEA recommendation of rescheduling but does not make it law. No public officer, pubic body to find the offense is lawful. Damervillle has stated court’s view on mistake of law defense…Hara refuses 7.06 and special instruction 1.
6.04 – withdrawn, no reckless
Special defense 2…withdrawn…
Supreme court ruling v Walsh..defense object to wording…second sentence, draws negative inference….state doesn’t like it either, more appropriate as curative instruction, if prosecutor did something wrong…court gives it over objection…
10:51am recess
11:09am resume, jury returns
Hara to instruct you on the law applicable, printed copies given to the jury… Read the rest of this entry »

Andy Parx is a Kauai blogger with the site, "Got Windmills." Click here to visit.

By Andy Parx

Though you’d never know it via statewide media, the biggest trial in years on the Big Island has not only the corporate Hawai`i Tribune Herald’s attention but that of various news-blogs that have had blow by blow daily coverage by cannabis activist Matt Rifkin and others.

The two sides have rested in the trial of Rastafarian Rev. Nancy Harris of the Sacred Truth Mission on marijuana cultivation charges after Harris presented a defense based on her religious practice under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

But the trial took a turn yesterday that ought to concern not just journalists but everyone when Deputy Prosecutor Ricky Damerville subpoenaed Tiffany Hunt Edwards, a free lance journalist who hosts the Big Island Chronicle (BIC) “blog.” and has reported for various Hawai`i Island publications including the Big Island Weekly (BIW).

Early yesterday Edwards wrote:

From newswoman to newsmaker — Deputy Prosecutor Ricky Damerville “rush” subpoenaed me to testify in the religious use of marijuana trial.

This is a first in my journalism career.

I’m to appear at Third Circuit Court this afternoon to testify in the trial of Nancy Harris who is accused of commercial promotion of marijuana and is using a religious marijuana defense.

At issue is my June 2009 coverage of the case, specifically a free-lance article I wrote for the Big Island Weekly.

Although the trial ended without Edwards testifying the subpoena itself appears to be a blatant violation of the Act 210, the Hawai`i State News Media Privilege law, commonly known as the reporters’ “shield law.” Read the rest of this entry »

By Matt Rifkin
Rev Nancy trial day 7 part 2
2:48pm…Jury, Judge Hara return…
Damerville begins…
What is your birth name? Nancy Wade. When did you change your name, when did you marry Mr. Harris? Around 1982-84, not sure. Have you gone by that name since then? Largely. Largely? My ordination certificate says Wade. Yet you used Harris here?
Objection…badgering…sustained
You were ordained in 2000? Yes. As part of your ordination, you chose the name Wade? Yes. Why use that name? Read the rest of this entry »

By Matt Rifkin
Rev Nancy trial day 7
10:36am – running late
15-20 supporters in the gallery…print media, bloggers, video camera crew…all present…
Jury, Judge Hara enter.
Sulla calls next witness…defendant Rev Nancy Harris…
Sulla going over basic questions…born 1955, Columbus, Ohio. Went to college at 30, had been poor and couldn’t support family. Took ACT test, got a scholarship at community college. AS in Math, then college for MS science and math education. Fellowship at University of Arkansas, MS science and math. Got hired at UA as lecturer, teaching math to sight impaired and disabled students. She can read Braille. Taught from 1994 as a grad student thru 2004. Taught calculus 1 & 2, while raising a family. At some point learned about a church using cannabis as a sacrament, around 1999. Her family had gone through a traumatic event, and she was lost, low, no spiritual grounding. Working, but spiritually empty. Had been a using cannabis recreationally, yet, also found connection to higher source. Raised Christian, fallen to agnostic, no God feeling. Knew there was a higher power, cannabis helped make that connection. Met Rev Tom Brown, the minister at the First Church of the Majai, Fayetteville, AR, where he had been released from jail for the activities of his church. Services were held in a public park, which she attended from 1999 until the founding of STM. Read the rest of this entry »

By Matt Rifkin
Court resumes at 9:58am, jury, Judge Hara enter. Detective Prudencio on the stand. Sulla to finish his cross examination.
Exhibit 203, 6th item, two signs…shown to jury. One is torn, or cut. Not listed as such in the evidence receipt. Prudencio doesn’t recall it being ripped. Sulla tries to pin point when Prudencio arrived at the scene, 23:15 is noted as the start of evidence recovery. Who else what there? Don’t exactly recall, but Bello, Webber, Fernandez and Shimabukuro. Was the scene under control? Yes. Did you note other officers damaging other items when you left? No
Did Officer Webber, who was lead officer, ask you to collect the photos/business cards that were stuck in some of the plants? Did you know who the photo was of? Yes, Ken Slaughter. Were those items in the reports, why didn’t Webber have you collect them? No and I don’t know why.
Shows photo to jury. Whose name is on the envelope? Kena Miyamoto Slaughter. You saw no one at the property? Yes. You didn’t collect this item? No. Was there evidence of other people living there? Yes, I believe so. You collected a receipt that was two years old, with Rev Nancy Harris on it? Yes. Where? In the greenhouse on a table
Sulla finishes. Damerville to redirect.
You testified about pots? Yes. There were more pots with marijuana in them? Yes, only took a few pots as evidence.
Technical issues posting the photo on the screen…Damerville, “so much for our $90 million investment”
The enlarged photo, you reviewed before coming to court, can you read anything? Yes, Kena. But you did not recover this as evidence, because you were not directed to? Yes
Looking at the torn sign. Do you think a razor did that? No. You started collecting evidence at 11:15pm, about how long does it take? 2 hours maybe. What do you do when you leave a scene? Try to secure as best as possible. Do people sometimes trash a place after the police leave? Yes
Some questions about TV show CSI and getting DNA from cigarette butts.
Questions about officers leaving the police force, some go back to the mainland, others get jobs locally.
Sulla objects…Hara overrules…make this the last question.
10:37am Damerville finishes redirect…witness excused subject to recall
State calls Rev Kenny Miyamoto Slaughter Read the rest of this entry »

By Matt Rifkin

Rev Nancy trial day 4 (See Rifkin’s day three coverage here.)

It was a slow, methodical day. Prosecutor Damerville is showing the presence of marijuana that was found on the property. Two evidence custodians. Boxes, documents, holes from rodents. Confirming items that were in yesterday’s photographs. Civilian criminalist, tests confiscated plants, confirming they are marijuana. Technical discussion about testing methods. The day closes with the start of testimony from Officer Prudencio, the evidence recovery officer.

Damerville implied that after Prudencio, he would likely call only one more witness. So, the State seems ready to rest its case on Monday (by lunch, perhaps?).

Judge Hara instructed the jury to arrive at 9am on Monday, as he wants to get a prompt start to the week.

Following are my notes from today, for those who want the blow by blow. Read the rest of this entry »

(Editor’s note:  Matt Rifkin, who leads the Big Island chapter of Amercians for Safe Access and Friends for Justice, has sat in on the religious use of marijuana trial against the Rev. Nancy Harris each day since the jury selection process commenced on Monday. Following are the notes he took today, day three, which he has shared with Big Island Chronicle and others.)

By Matt Rifkin

The jury is called in at 10am (I didn’t know we do an “all rise” for the jury too.). Judge Hara arrives soon thereafter (“all rise”). He goes over an outline of trial, and other instructions. Preliminary instructions are done and all potential witnesses leave the courtroom.

Prosecutor Damerville makes opening argument. I have not seen him do this before, but he seems very low key. He says, the state will prove Rev. Nancy is guilty of the charges of possessing plants, dried marijuana and paraphernalia. At the end of a long driveway the police found marijuana plants, arrested Rev Nancy, got a warrant and found more plants. On her property she had signs saying her church, Sacred Truth Mission, saying they could grow and consume “copious” amount of marijuana. The jury must return a verdict “that is true.” And, before you knew it, his opening argument was done. Didn’t seem overly strong or impassioned. But, I don’t know, it could be his Southern, gentlemanly style.

The defense decides to make their opening argument after the Prosecutor rests their case.

Damerville calls first witness…Officer Peter Fernandez, rank 3, Hilo vice squad. 12 year veteran of the force, in Vice since April 2006. Worked in a grocery store before becoming police. Read the rest of this entry »