April 30, 2004

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

The County opened bids this month for improvements to Kuakini Highway between Palani Road to Hualalai Road. This project is the first of several major planned road improvements in Kona to go out to bid, and the construction contract is expected to be awarded within two to three months. Construction may begin as soon as September of this year, and will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

This half-mile project implements recommendation for improvements to Kuakini Highway contained in the County of Hawai‘i’s Master Plan for Kailua-Kona (April 1994).

Present Deficiencies Daily traffic volume in the Kuakini Highway corridor exceeds existing capacity. Sidewalks do not currently exist in many areas along the corridor, and there are no bicycle facilities, even though the highway is used by bicyclists.

Solutions The proposed project will address these concerns by:

• Improving existing traffic congestion,
• Accommodating projected future traffic demands,
• Improving the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists using this portion of the highway, and
• implementing the recommendations for Kuakini Highway contained in the current community and transportation plans for Kailua-Kona.

Proposed Improvements Improvements to be constructed include:

• Construction of four through lanes and median left turn lanes,
• A connection between Ololi Road and Kopiko Street,
• Repaving of existing street surfaces,
• New drainage structures,
• Additional street lighting,
• Continuous sidewalks on both sides of Kuakini Highway,
• Synchronization of traffic signals,
• Four-foot wide bike lanes for most of the project, and
• Landscaping improvements.

The through lanes will be ten feet wide. The narrow lanes may help preserve a small town ambiance, which is a major concern to many Kailua-Kona residents.

It is expected that this project will have the following beneficial impacts:

• Substantially less traffic delay to motorists using the portion of the highway,
• Traffic demand through the year 2020 will be accommodated,
• Substantially increased safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and
• After construction, improved conditions for businesses adjacent to the highway because of improved transportation service for customers.

This project is 80% funded by the Federal Highways Administration through the State Department of Transportation. The remaining 20% is funded by the County of Hawai‘i.

During construction, efforts will be made to maintain traffic flow, including a pedestrian control plan. At least one lane will be maintained at all times as much as possible. There may be times when traffic must be rerouted, but the County will work with the contractor to minimize any inconvenience. The County will work with adjacent landowners to facilitate driveway adjustments.

For further questions, please call Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works, at 961-8321.

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During a ceremony Thursday at the Kea’au Recycling Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri awarded a $223,500 EPA grant to the County of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Island Economic Development Board to develop a Kona community recycling center.

The project is the second phase of the pilot project that started at Kea’au in East Hawai’i. The current effort will expand the recycling efforts to West Hawai’i.

"The management of solid waste is especially critical to an island state such as Hawai’i," said Nastri, "With limited land area for new landfills, reuse, recycling and composting all play an essential role in reducing the amount of solid waste that goes to the already overburdened landfills on the Big Island."

The goals of the project are to:

• transform a solid waste transfer station in Kona into one that maximizes recovery of resources;
• stimulate on-island reuse, composting, and recycling;
• create jobs and income for island residents;
• comply with the State's waste management goals;
• reduce the county's overall solid waste management costs; and
• create partnerships with the Kona area hotels to increase the amount of recovered materials.

The West Hawai’i project will be modeled after the successful Kea’au Recycling and Reuse Center that opened in March 2003 at the Kea’au transfer station. The Kea’au center has recycled over 1,000 tons of materials such as paper, plastic and aluminum. The center has also managed to reuse many of the useable items dropped off by the community.

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The new 2004 real property tax assessments are now available on the County website. Click on www.hawaiipropertytax.com.

If you look at your tax map key, you can view the land, building, and exemption values for this year.

For further information, call Real Property Tax Division at 961-8201.

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For more information, contact the County’s Consultant:

The County Office of Housing and Community Development has conducted and prepared an Analysis of Impediments (AI) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, and is informing citizens of accessibility of the AI.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires states, small cities and entitlement communities receiving federal funding for CDBG programs to certify that they are actively working to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH). To certify that a state or community is affirmatively furthering fair housing, HUD requires that they (a) conduct an AI to Fair Housing, (b) identify and implement activities aimed at overcoming the identified impediments, and (c) develop a system by which the activities undertaken to overcome the identified impediments may be monitored and documented.

The AI identifies existing barriers to fair housing and outlines a process for addressing those issues. It consists of four basic components:

1. An overview of the demographic and housing market conditions in the area, with particular attention devoted to the relevance of these topics to housing choice;

2. A profile of fair housing in the area, including current laws, policies and practices, as well as any fair housing complaints filed;

3. An overview of any market and public impediments to fair housing; and

4. A summary of actions, planned or recently undertaken, designed to eliminate identified impediments.

The AI will be accessible from April 16, 2004, at the Hawai`i State Public Libraries in Honoka`a, Kamuela, Kohala, Pahala, Kailua-Kona, and Pahoa, and also at the following locations, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on holidays:

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The County of Hawai`i Office of Management will hold a series of public meetings regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations which require the abandonment of large-capacity cesspools by April 5, 2005.

The purpose of the public meetings is to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations, particularly to clarify the applicability of the regulations to land owners who may be utilizing large-capacity cesspools for wastewater disposal.

Possible alternative wastewater disposal systems available and potential means of financing the costs of upgrading the large-capacity cesspool with County, state and federal funds will also be discussed.

Schedule of Meetings: (Group meetings will be held at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise specified. One-on-one follow-up meetings will be held between meetings. If necessary, the personal consultations may be extended, by appointment, to the following day.)

For further information, please call Margarita Hopkins at 961-8369.

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Or call our 24/7 Job Hotline: 961-8618

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

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Animal Control Task Force Meeting

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The 2004 EMS Run is dedicated to the memory of Mandy Shiraki, Danny Villarios and Ron Laubacher, who recently lost their lives while flying to the Big Island for a medical transport. We have commissioned a special commemorative t-shirt to honor our fallen heroes.

For information and registration form, please go to: Emergency Medical Services / 5K Family Fun Run / 2 Mile Walk

Bring the entire family for a day of fun at the park.

Check out the displays and entertainment for the kids.

The Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry will be conducting a FREE bone marrow donor registration and testing. Potential donors must be between 18 & 60 and in general good health. For more information, call the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry at 1-877-443-6667. Proceeds to benefit the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry and also help a County of Hawaii Firefighter’s 3 year old son in his battle with leukemia.

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Hawai’i Community College announces a three-part marine naturalist lecture series in Kona. Each class – Whales, Dolphins and Turtles - is three hours and the registration fee is $35.00 per session.

Register for just one or all three. Hannah Bernard, one of Hawaii’s noted marine biologists, will teach the classes.

WHALES: March 17 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or March 18 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

DOLPHINS: April 8 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or April 9 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

TURTLES: May 26 (5:30-8:30 p.m.) at Kealakehe High School or May 27 (9:00 a.m.-noon) at Kona Outdoor Circle.

**Please note that all Evening Sessions above are at Kealakehe High School. All morning sessions are at Kona Outdoor Circle.

For more information, call Kathy Kirk at 895-4939.

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The Rotary Club of Hilo Bay is currently accepting applications for its Teen Parent Scholarship. The scholarship awards a Hawaii Island teen parent with up to $1,000.00 to be used to continue his or her adult education.

The simple two-page application is available at the Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Prince Kuhio Plaza customer service counter as well as at the Community Technology Center Hawaii at 200 Kanoelehua Avenue Suite 105. Completed applications are due no later than May 31, 2004.

"We are extremely pleased to once again be able to award a deserving teen parent with this scholarship," said Mike Gleason, President of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay. "Faced with the additional responsibility of raising a child of their own, it is often difficult for teen parents to continue their adult education.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Were 19 years old or younger at the time they first became a parent

• Are currently a parent and primary caregiver of at least one living child under 18 years of age

• Are a current resident of the Big Island of Hawaii

• Will have received a high school diploma or equivalent by September 1, 2004

• Are currently attending or planning on attending an accredited institution of learning including but not limited to Hawaii Community College or the University of Hawaii at Hilo

Applicants can be either male or female. Applicants do not need to have just graduated from high school; parents who have stayed home to care for their child and now want to return to school are eligible.

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There is a bumper crop of free mulch currently available at the Hilo Transfer Station, which is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The County of Hawai`i’s Department of Environmental Management sponsors the mulch program.

Residents may self-load the mulch for free or receive loading assistance from the site operator for a fee ranging from $10 - $40 depending on vehicle size.

Thanks to the participation of all the island’s residents and businesses, nearly 18,000 tons of greenwaste were diverted from landfills in 2003 under the County’s diversion program and processed into high quality mulch for the public.

In Kailua-Kona, the Kealakehe Transfer Station base yard is still accepting drop-offs of greenwaste, while a new public pickup area is being prepared for the processed mulch. The free mulch program will resume at Kealakehe sometime in March or April once the site modifications are completed.

For more information, please contact the County’s Recycling Coordinator at 961-8942.

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The Big Island Substance Abuse Council (BISAC), a Hawaii United Way, CARF-Accredited non-profit agency, offers FREE pre-employment preparation to individuals in our community who qualify under the federal poverty guidelines.

Employment Core Service Program (ECSP) is partly funded by the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, Office of Community Services, in partnership with BISAC, whose primary goal is self reliance of all individuals. These pre-employment preparation classes facilitate learning: basic computer skills, resume writing, filling out applications, interviewing skills, job retention skills and employment skills to enhance the person’s marketability and more. An Employment Core Services Program is personalized to include continued support for up to one year after the individual completes the academic portion of the program. Interested individuals are required to provide verification of low-income status.

Days: Tuesday, May 4, 2004 thru Thursday, May 6, 2004

Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Where: 297 Waianuenue Avenue (across from the Hilo Public Library)

The next class is scheduled to start on May 11, 2004 thru June 17, 2004.

To sign-up or for more information, please call Gloria J. Egle, CEO, at 969-9994 or BISAC’s Vocational Services office at 935-4927 ext. 232 or 238 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m to 4:30 pm).

County Agent/Community Educator Nancy Honda is the featured speaker at a workshop entitled "Fruit Flies-Having Fruit Fly Problems in your Yard, or Is it your Neighbors?". If you’re interested in protecting your peaches and many other fruits, come to this workshop and we’ll partner and solve this problem. Come and learn how to make your own fruit fly traps.

Where: Waimea Civic Center (back of courthouse)
When: 4/14, 5/12, 6/9, 2004. Time: 4-5:30 P.M.
Supplies: Free
For further information, call Nancy Honda at UH Cooperative Extension Service at 959-9155.

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Family ASTRO is a national program to help parents (and other caregivers) to get more involved in their children’s science education, and to spend more time together enjoying hands-on activities. At these evening or weekend events, about 5 to 10 families get together to conduct experiments, play games and explore a particular topic in astronomy.

Family ASTRO brings science to kids and their parents in a fun and comfortable setting. Parents are able to work with their kids to explore hands-on experiments and learn more about a particular topic in astronomy. No astronomy background is required, and take-home games are provided free to families to help them continue the fun at home.

Family ASTRO seeks Event Leaders to bring this program to more youth groups in Hawaii.

Event Leader training will be held in Waimea on April 7, May 12 and June 17th from 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. at W. M. Keck Observatory headquarters in Waimea. There is no fee to attend. Activities are designed for children ages 7 and up and their parents or guardians. Event leaders will get supplies and games to lead their own family science nights for groups of 10 or 20.

For registration and more information, please contact Laura Kraft at 881-3827 or e-mail lkraft@keck.hawaii.edu.

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Hawaii Island Landscape Association (HILA) and Hawaii Community College (HawCC) will offer the 2004 Certified Landscape Technician Training Program in West Hawaii from April 30th to June 4th.

In addition, a two-day Irrigation School will be held on Friday, May 14th and Saturday, May 15th.

Experienced landscapers and serious gardeners will be especially interested in these classes.

The registration fee for an individual class is $40; the fee for the entire 12-class series is $420 that includes a $75 study manual. The registration fee for the Irrigation School is $250.

For additional information about the classes and the certification process, call Diana Duff at HILA (326-9738). To register, call the Office of Continuing Education and training (HawCC) at 974-7531. Registration deadline is April 15th.

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May 3, 2004 Monday

(No road work scheduled.)

May 4, 2004 Tuesday

Where/Location: Puna - Nanawale Estates Subdivision.

What: Repaint centerlines and replace raised pavement markers.

May 5, 2004 Wednesday

Where/Location: South Hilo - Kupulau Road, from Ainaola Drive to Kawailani Street.

What: Repaint centerline.

May 6, 2004 Thursday

Where/Location: South Hilo - Hualalai Street, from Kapiolani Street to Kilauea Avenue.

What: Thermoplastic centerline.

May 7, 2004 Friday

Where/Location: South Hilo - Hualalai Street, from Kapiolani Street to Kilauea Avenue.

What: Thermoplastic intersection markings and parking stalls.

Contract Crew Striping Projects

May 3, 2004 - May 7, 2004

Where/Location: Puna District; Keaau Town Road.

What: Complete restriping work.

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Safe driving speed are dependant upon a variety of factors such as the road surface, intensity of light, weather conditions, type of vehicle, and the driver's experience. Sudden braking on slippery roads can be very dangerous. Always drive in control. Saving time is not more precious than saving your life.

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(Pana‘ewa, Hawai‘i) – Motorists are advised of the following lane closures and work locations as contractors work on a fiber optic cable system in the Pana‘ewa area. From April 26^th thru April 30^th Island Mechanical Hawai‘i will be boring and trenching in the following locations (see overall project map for specific locations):

• Along Pu‘ainako Street between Railroad Avenue and Kanoelehua Avenue – Lane Diversions
• Along Pilipa‘a Street from Pu‘ainako Street for approximately 300 feet – Shoulder Work
• *Along Holomua Street from Maka‘ala Street for approximately 200 feet – Shoulder Work

The work will start at 8:00 am and continue until 3:30 pm during the weekdays, weather permitting. Contractors are in their 1^st week of work and estimate that this leg of the project (known as Kaei Hana) will be completed at the end of June 2004. Motorists are advised to use caution while driving through the work area and to allow for extra travel time. Questions can be referred to Chuck Eckman (Resident Engineer), Mid State Consultants, at 640-9509.

Mahalo for your patience and cooperation!

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We encourage everyone to use web-based calendar links. Please add your own events to the respective calendars so others can get the word and not conflict with your plans.

County of Hawaii: http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cgi-bin/webcal/webcal.pl
State of Hawaii: http://www.state.hi.us/calendars.htm
Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau: http://calendar.gohawaii.com/
Hawaii.com: http://www.hawaii.com/live/
Alternative-Hawaii: http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/calendar.htm
Kamuela.com: http://kamuela.com/calendar/default.asp
Hawaii Nonprofit Community Events (HCF): http://www.hcf-hawaii.org/hcf/hcfg/comcal.jsp
Hawaii Public Radio: http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/psa.htm
Hawaii Theatre Network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiitheatre
UH at Hilo Theatre Events: http://performingarts.net/Theatre/seasoncalendar/calendar.pl
Waikoloa Village: http://www.waikoloa.org/WVCalendar.html
Public School (click on your school): http://doe.k12.hi.us/calendars0203/index.htm
Hilo Downtown Improvement: Go to www.downtownhilo.com (click on Hilo Activity Guide, and follow directions on how to submit an event.) For information call Alice Moon at 933-9772.

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