Posts Tagged ‘ West Hawaii ’

Pete Hoffman Commentary on Tsunami Sirens

March 27, 2011
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Hawaii County Council member Pete Hoffman (Waimea, Kohala) submitted this commentary.  The views expressed are Hoffman’s: There are times when one wonders whether anyone listens.  Part of the problem may be a lack of communication, or perhaps a lack of understanding of perhaps a lack of leadership.  You decide which of these applies in the recent tsunami siren debacle. In December 2009, my office initiated discussions with County Civil Defense to address obvious shortfalls in tsunami siren coverage in our resort areas in West Hawaii, brought to my attention by a Puna resident.  A little…

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Island Robotic Teams in Top 15 in Oahu Competition

March 26, 2011
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Two Hawaii Island schools, Waiakea High School and West Hawaii Explorations Academy are in the top 15 after the first day of competition at the 2011 FIRST in Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition at Honolulu’s Stan Sheriff Center.  The top 15 are: 1. Waialua High School 2. McKinley High School 3. Punahou School 4. Waiakea High School  (in Hilo) 5. Baldwin High School 6. Kapolei High School 7. Pearl City High School 8. Moanalua High School 9. Sacred Hearts Academy 10. Farrington High School 11. Waianae High School 12. Kalaheo High School 13. King Kekaulike High…

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County Council Budget Meetings Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

March 26, 2011
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Monday is the first  of three days of  the Hawaii County Council’s Finance Committee reviews of both the proposed operating and capital budgets.   Mayor Billy Kenoi will testify first, Monday morning at 9 a.m., to discuss his proposed $366 million operating budget and the $177 million capital improvement project budget.  Then each of his department heads will defend his or her proposed budget before the nine-member finance committee.   Finance Committee Chair Brenda Ford says this is the Council’s first opportunity to scrutinize each department’s plans in detail. The biggest item in the capital budget is…

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Palamanui Road Blessing Held

March 21, 2011
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A blessing was held and ground was broken Friday for the new road leading to the as-yet-unbuilt West Hawaii Community College campus at Palamanui.  The road will connect the new campus with Ka’iminani Drive.  The University of Hawaii will build the 1.5 mile, $4.7 million road.  The developer, Palamanui Partners, will spend the same amount toward building the first of three phases of the college.  They will also contribute another $5 million towards the campus. West Hawaii Community College currently operates out of several storefront buildings in Kealakekua just below McDonald’s.  The first phase of…

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Honolulu Students Honored for Helping Save Big Island Man

March 16, 2011
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The Honolulu City Council today (Wednesday, March 16) honored six Chaminade University students for their role in saving the life of Bobby Command, Executive Assistant to Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and former reporter with West Hawaii Today.   Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle met with the students following the Council’s presentation of an honorary certificate. Command was attending a basketball game on the shared campus of Chaminade University/St. Louis School on February 5.  Command collapsed in a secluded area near the Clarence T. C. Ching Hall.  Although Command was conscious and talking and said everything was…

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New County Council Chamber Blessing Wednesday

March 15, 2011
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The Hawaii County Council’s new chambers in the West Hawaii Civic Center will be blessed Wednesday morning, March 16.  The public is invited.  The events begin at 7:30 a.m. with Kona coffee, courtesy of local Kona coffee farmers, and music.  The program begins officially at 8 a.m., with a blessing by Danny (Kaniela) Akaka Jr.,   County Council Chair Dominic Yagong will welcome everyone, and Mayor Billy Kenoi will make remarks.  Former Mayor Harry Kim, under whose administration the $55 million building was commissioned, is also expected to attend.

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Governor Abercrombie Tours Damaged Areas (w/video)

March 15, 2011
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Tuesday morning, Governor Neil Abercrombie toured sites in West Hawaii damaged by last Friday morning’s tsunami.  While walking on Ali’i Drive, he spoke with Israel Gonzales, Eddie Ombac, and Danny Jesser on the LAVA 105 Big Island Big Morning Show.  He said he wanted to see the damage himself so he can assist in procuring emergency funding (both state and federal) that may be needed.  He said repairing Kailua Pier is of utmost importance because of the need for the weekly cruise ship, Pride of America, and other cruise ships to be able to have…

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Aila Says DLNR to Assess Tsunami Damage

March 14, 2011
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Head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources William Aila said Sunday that assessments of damage of West Hawaii piers, facilities, and reefs will start today, Monday.    Aila estimates Kailua Pier sustained at least $500,000 in damage.  A structural engineer is scheduled to do an assessment.  Wednesday’s cruise ship Pride of America, which transports passengers to Kailua Pier in tenders, will not stop in Kailua this week. Aila said DLNR will do an assessment on how best to remove the house from Kealakekua Bay that was swept into it during Friday morning’s tsunami.  He…

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Tsunami Hits Keauhou Bay Hard

March 13, 2011
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Tsunami Hits Keauhou Bay Hard

  With its wide-open entrance, elevated sides and tapering outline, Keauhou Bay is especially vulnerable to the power of a tsunami.  Friday’s surges swept into the picturesque little South Kona port and trashed it. Capt. Billy Murtagh, skipper of the charterboat Nainoa, heeded the warnings and took his 31-footer offshore to wait it out through the dark and was aghast at the scene he saw at dawn. “I couldn’t believe that I was looking at the same place I go in and out of every day and it was now too dangerous to go back…

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Calvin Delaries is West Hawaii Officer of the Month

March 2, 2011
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The Kona Crime Prevention Committee honored Officer Calvin Delaries as “Officer of the Month” for March on Wednesday, March 2 at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.   Officer Delaries was recognized for his work with the Special Enforcement Unit.  In August, 2010, Officer Delaries was working undercover along Ali’i Drive, and witnessed a narcotics transaction near the parking lot near Ali’i Sunset Plaza and Coconut Grove Marketplace.  A suspected drug dealer appeared to sell narcotics to the occupants of a vehicle.   Officer Delaries and other members of the police force arrested the vehicle’s occupants, who…

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Hawaii County Population Grows by 25%

February 25, 2011
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Hawaii County Population Grows by 25%

Hawaii County’s population is now 185,079.  The latest census date was released Thursday, and Hawaii County has grown 25% since the last census 10 years ago.  In the 2000 census, Hawaii County’s population was shown as 148,677. The census looks at population in regions of their own design (not based on Hawaii County’s current County Council districts).   The Kea’au-Mountain View area grew most, with its population increasing just over 50%, from 22,738 to 34,266.    Other fast-growing areas of Hawaii Island include North Kona, with a 32.69% population growth from 28,543 to 37,875 in the past…

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Governor’s Office Gets Funding

February 24, 2011
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Governor Neil Abercrombie has signed into law a bill to fund the operations of the Executive Branch for the rest of the fiscal year.  Senate Bill 1286 provides $1,423,750 to fund the Offices of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor until June 30, 2011.  The funding includes $345,000 that is due to former Governor Linda Lingle’s staff for unused vacation.  The funds will also be used to hire staff and purchasing computers.  Abercrombie’s Chief of Staff, Amy Asselbaye, said the funds will bring the total amount allocated to the Governor’s office to $2.7 million, compared…

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Kona Hospital Names Jay Kreuzer CEO

February 18, 2011
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Kona Community Hospital has a new Chief Executive Officer.  The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation West Hawaii Regional Board has named Jay Kreuzer as the new CEO of the West Hawaii Region, which includes Kona Community Hospital and Kohala Hospital. Kreuzer has over 30 years of health care leadership.  He comes to the position from Resurrection Health Care in Chicago, where he served as Executive Vice President of the not-for-profit health system.  Resurrection includes 8 hospitals, 7 nursing homes, 5 independent living facilities, and 3 assisted living facilities.  He concurrently was the Chief Executive Officer for…

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