June 3, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

As summer approaches, we will all be enjoying more time outdoors and traveling our roads to visit with family, go to the beach or mountains, and just enjoy. All drivers must all be alert for pedestrians when behind the wheel, and people walking must "walk wise." In recognition of the importance of this, the first week in May was proclaimed to be "Pedestrian Safety Week in Hawai‘i County."

A "Walk Wise Hawai‘i" pedestrian safety program has been developed by the State Department of Transportation. The tips listed below should be followed at all times, and we ask that parents talk about them to their children.

• When driving, please be aware of pedestrians. Recently enacted state law requires drivers to stop for a pedestrian when the pedestrian is in or about to enter the driver’s half of the road.

• Use extra care when driving on multi-lane streets. Pedestrians crossing the street may be hidden by a stopped car in front of you.
• In areas without sidewalks, be alert for pedestrians walking along the side of the road and allow adequate space when passing them.

• Always cross in a crosswalk. Crosswalks are marked to catch the attention of drivers, and drivers are more likely to watch for pedestrians in crosswalks.
• When possible, establish eye contact with drivers and continue looking left-right-left while crossing.
• While drivers should stop when a pedestrian is in the drivers’ half of the road, do not expect that they will. Remain alert to make sure you are seen by the driver and that the driver is stopping.
• When walking along a road without a sidewalk, stay as far out of the travel lane as possible.
• When walking at night, wear light colored clothes so you can be seen by vehicles.

Summer is a special time in Hawai‘i – let’s work together to ensure we all enjoy it safely.

(go to Contents)

First, you must provide a legal document to prove your identity and age, such as a certified birth certificate, certified marriage certificate, certified decree of name changes, state or military identification card, alien/refugee registration identification, etc. Photocopies are not acceptable.

You must also provide proof of your Social Security number, such as a Social Security card, a previous driver’s license that displays a Social Security number or a state or military identification card. Photocopies are not acceptable.

Finally, you must turn over all valid driver licenses in your possession in order to obtain a State of Hawaii driver’s license. No driver is permitted to hold more than one valid driver license at any time.

You will not be issued a driver license if:

• Your license has been suspended or revoked by a court of law.
• You have failed to pass the required driver’s test.
• You have not provided proof of financial responsibility — such as an SR21, verification of automobile liability insurance policy, surety bond or SR22, proof of financial responsibility — if the state law for this responsibility applies to you.
• The examiner of drivers has good cause to believe that you would not be able to operate a motor vehicle safely on public roads because of physical or mental disability.
• You are younger than 16 years old.
• You are 16 or 17 years old and do not have parental consent.
• You have a traffic violation that is unsatisfied or pending a court hearing.

There is a stopper on the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS).

You need to:

• Submit to written exam, eye test and fingerprinting.
• Pay appropriate fees and be photographed.
• Take a road test (This may be waived).
• Must be 18 years of age or older.

You need to:

• Report to processing station for application.
• Submit to an eye test and fingerprinting.
• Pay appropriate fees and be photographed.

You need to:

• Report to processing station for application.
• Pay appropriate fees and be photographed.

You may renew your Hawaii driver’s license while living out of state. To do so, you must mail or fax a letter of request to the Driver Licensing Section. The letter must include:

• Your name as it appears on your current driver’s license.
• Your Social Security or driver’s license number.
• Your date of birth.
• A phone number where you can be reached.
• An address where you can receive mail.
• Your signature.

After receiving a letter of request with all the information listed above, the Driver Licensing Section will send you a renewal packet for you to fill out and return.

If you are in the military and are ordered to a war zone, you may have your Hawaii driver’s license automatically extended. The extension is valid until 30 days after you return to Hawaii.

To apply for an extension, you must mail or fax a copy of your orders or a letter from your commanding officer to the Driver Licensing Section.

Requests for license renewals or extensions may be mailed or faxed. The address and fax number are:

Driver Licensing Section
Hawaii County Police Department
349 Kapiolani Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Fax: 808-961-8861

If you fail to renew your driver’s license by its expiration date, you can be cited for driving without a license and you must appear in court.

If your license does expire without being renewed, the following time limits apply:

• You will have 90 days after the expiration date to renew your license without a penalty.
• After 90 days and up to one year, you will be assessed a fee of $5 for every 30 days since the expiration date.
• After one year, you will be considered a new applicant. You must take the written and driving tests over again.

For more information, log into the Police Department's website at www.hawaiipolice.com and select "driver licensing." The section features the fee schedule for various kinds of licenses as well as the phone number of each driver licensing station and the times of day each station offers written and road tests.

The Driver Licensing Section maintains seven driver licensing stations located around the island. The stations are located in Hilo, Laupahoehoe, Honokaa, Waimea, Kapaau, Kailua-Kona and Naalehu. With the exception of the Kailua-Kona licensing station located at 75-5722 Hanama Place, all other driver licensing stations are located at the district police stations.

• The vehicle you intend to drive must have current license plates and registration card.
• The vehicle you intend to drive must have a current safety check.
• Your Hawaii motor vehicle insurance card must be current and valid. The name of the insured must be the same as the registered owner of the vehicle.
• You must have all personal data proof documents available when reporting for a driver’s license.
• You should review traffic laws and rules of the road. You should study the Hawaii Driver’s Manual before taking the tests. (Manuals are available at local bookstores and State libraries.)
• You must have an instruction permit before you can apply for a road test.
• If you are required to perform a road test, you may request a road test at the time of issuance of the instruction permit or in person at any listed location. There is a two-week waiting period for first-time drivers.

If you are unable to read and/or write and understand the English language, provisions may be made for an oral examination (restrictions may apply). Or if available, you may request to take the test in your native language.

The Hawai`i County driver licensing offices have seven languages available: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino (Tagalog), Samoan, Tongan and Vietnamese.

(go to Contents)

May is National Foster Care Month, a great time to become aware of foster care and what it does for children in need of love and support.

Every day, there are 523,000 children and youth living in foster care in the United States because of their own parents can’t take care of them, according to the National Foster Care Association. Foster care aims to help these children, who need a stable and secure home until they can either return to their parents or establish a lifelong connection to a nurturing adult.

We usually don’t have enough foster parents in our community. Many children and adolescents are unable to live with their families for a variety of reasons.

Among the reasons for an increased demand for foster home care:

• Drug abuse

• Increased stress among families due to financial difficulties, job loss, etc.

• More people are aware of all forms of child abuse and are reporting it to the authorities

We are seeing an increase in the number of children needing foster care, but we don’t have enough families that are willing to open their homes to these children.

By word of mouth, through newspapers, church and radio.

We’re looking for good homes for the children, and by that we mean:

• A family that is self-sufficient; that is not taking in foster children to make ends meet.
• Adults who know what it takes to be a parent or a committed to learning what it takes to be a good foster parent.
• We like to see sincere, caring attitudes toward children. Previous experience with children is extremely valuable.

These children have had very difficult lives. It take a special kind of family to welcome them into their home and really make an effort to make them feel comfortable and accepted.

We visit the home and interview family members. We require prospective foster parents to fill out a lot of paperwork. Families who aren’t committed to becoming foster parents are often weeded out during this process.

There is a six- to eight-week training course, which covers:

• Creating a safe home environment
• Assuming a teacher-like role for the child
• Learning effective praising techniques as well as positive consequences regarding children’s behavior
• Staying calm in crisis situations
• Teaching self-control
• Learning about separation and attachment issues
• Caring for a sexually-abused child
• Respecting cultural differences between families and children.

We also provide ongoing training and 24-hour support for foster parents once a child has actually been placed in their home.

Foster parents receive $1,500.00 per month.

You don’t need to have a professional therapeutic background. However, the weeks of training that foster parents undergo for our program is therapeutic in nature. A family needs to be able to set rules and limits in a caring and compassionate way. They need to have a structure in place to maintain that environment for the foster child.

Fostering means that the child is in the home for a limited time with the expectation of eventually returning to their parents or original caregivers.

Adoption means a permanent arrangement where the child will always remain with the adopted family.

Both foster homes and adoption homes need to provide basic living needs, structure, guidance, love and a nurturing environment for the child.

Our program has a 90% rate of eventually returning the child to the parents’ or original caregivers’ home. A child is returned to his parents or original caregiver once it’s established that the home is a safe, secure environment.

Foster parents receive support from all of the agencies involved in the child’s care, whereby agencies advocate for the children and foster parents. Foster parents receive ongoing training, support from our agency’s Mental Health Specialist, the program’s Support Coordinator and the Program Director.

There are many ways that the community can help. Communities need to understand a child’s need for complementary support services. It’s very important that the community understand that the child needs support to achieve positive change.

Community resources such as counseling professionals can support the program and make themselves aware of the issues of a child needing foster placement.

Members of the business or religious community can also help by posting our recruitment materials in stores, offices and places of worship.

In fact, everybody in the community can help by encouraging their neighbors, friends and families to consider sharing their homes with a child in need.

The first step is to contact Child and Family Service at 935-2188. People may call the agency and speak with the Support Coordinator or Mental Health Specialist, then fill out the required paperwork and receive training and licensing to be a foster parent.

(go to Contents)

The County of Hawai`i’s household hazardous waste collection days will take place again in Hilo and Kailua-Kona.

Don’t miss this opportunity to clean your garage of unwanted and dangerous items. Sponsored by the County of Hawai`i’s Department of Environmental Management, the collection is a twice-yearly amnesty program to dispose of household hazardous waste products.

The collections will take place:

• Saturday, June 4, 2005, at the Hilo Transfer Station, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 11, 2005, at the Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona) Transfer Station, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

These Household Hazardous Waste collections are scheduled annually for the first Saturdays of June and December in Hilo and the second Saturdays of June and December in Kona.

Dumping household hazardous waste in your trash, which will go to the landfill, can cause groundwater contamination. Household hazardous waste that is collected on these dates is shipped to the mainland for lawful and safe disposal.

Among the hazardous waste materials being accepted include automotive fluids, all types of batteries, corrosives, mercury thermometers, oil-based paints and stains, solvents and thinners, garden supplies, poisons, and miscellaneous hazardous household chemicals. In addition, clean and/or contaminated used motor oil will be accepted.

Materials that WILL NOT be accepted include waste from a business, explosives, pyrophoric, water-reactive, biological, infectious, radioactive, and shock sensitive materials, as well as, latex paint and base, compressed gas cylinders, flares, fire extinguishers, detergents, non-hazardous items, and non-household generated waste.

Questions regarding this program call the County’s Recycling Coordinator at 961-8942.

Recycle Hawai`i is a non-profit educational membership organization serving the Big Island of Hawai`i. Recycle Hawai`i currently offers free recycling education services on behalf of the County of Hawai`i, the State Department of Health and Recycle Hawai`i supporting members. For more information, call Recycle Hawai`i at 329-2886 or 961-2676, or visit www.recyclehawaii.org.

(go to Contents)

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include:

Soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and certain alcoholic drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass, or plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include:

Milk, wine, and hard liquor containers.

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

** Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1-2pm for lunch.**

Please contact Atlas at 935-9328 (Hilo) or 329-6868 (Kona) for further information about additional scrap value paid on aluminum cans and their mobile redemption sites in rural communities.

Please call the Recycling Specialists with the Department of Environmental Management, County of Hawai’i, at 961-8527 or 961-8549 for information about the HI 5¢ program or visit:

www.hi5deposit.com | http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_envmng.htm

(go to Contents)

The County of Hawai’i Department of Environmental Management, Wastewater Division will be renovating the Kailua Harbor Sewage Pump Station (formerly known as the King Kamehameha Sewage Pump Station) located at the corner of Ali’i Drive and the Kailua-Kona Harbor Access Road fronting the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

This work commenced during the 3^rd week in January of 2005 and will last approximately five (5) months. Work will take place between the hours of 8 am and 5:30 pm during week days and possibly Saturdays.

This renovation project will add capacity to the pump station resulting in better ability to accommodate the increasing number of future developments in Kailua-Kona. As an added benefit, renovation of the King Kamehameha Sewage Pump Station helps with preparing for future abandonment of the Queen Emma Sewage Pump Station located at Emma Square. This should enhance the area for nearby businesses as maintenance activities by Wastewater Division personnel will no longer be required in Emma Square.

During the construction period of the renovation project, businesses along Ali’i Drive can anticipate uninterrupted sewer service and conduct their business in a normal fashion.

Pedestrian traffic will be safely re-routed around the construction area at the King Kamehameha. There will be very little impact to vehicular traffic.

Some construction work will take place at the Emma Square location while giving consideration to pedestrian traffic. This work may include minor improvements to the rock wall and concrete walkways with the intent of making the area safer for pedestrians.

The public is welcome to direct any questions or concerns during construction to the Construction Manager, SSFM International, Inc. at 933-2727. General questions may be directed to the Wastewater Division at 961-8338.

(go to Contents)

The Department of Water Supply is experiencing drought conditions around the island and is requesting our customers to conserve drinking water. Due to continuing dry weather conditions, water consumption in the affected areas has increased to a point where water sources and water distribution systems are strained. Drought conditions may last for some time, and the Department is requesting all our customers around the island to use water wisely.

This Water Conservation Notice is a request to reduce your daily water usage by 10%.

The following areas are under WATER CONSERVATION:

1. SOUTH KOHALA - Waimea Town.
2. HAMAKUA - Ahualoa, along Kahaua Drive, Kalopa State Park, Kapahu, Paauilo Mauka, and Pohakea.

Listed are some ways to conserve water to reach the 10% goal:

• Wash full loads of laundry only.
• Wash full loads of dishes only.
• Serve drinking water only when requested.
• Do not let the faucet run unnecessarily.
• When bathing, use water only to wet and rinse off.
• Do not fill up the bathtub.
• Use a glass to rinse when brushing your teeth.
• Do not flush toilets unnecessarily.
• Stop lawn sprinkling.
• Stop car and boat washing.
• Stop dust control watering.
• Use drinking water wisely.

Agricultural users shall irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure will reduce water loss due to evaporation and minimize water system drain during peak demand.

For more information, please contact Daryl Ikeda at the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

(go to Contents)

Due to ongoing dry weather conditions, exceptionally large water consumption, and repairs being done at the Hualalai and Kalaoa Wells, the Department of Water Supply would like to remind customer in North Kona that they are under Water Conservation.

The Water Conservation Notice is a request to reduce your daily water usage by 10%. (See above article which lists some ways to conserve water to reach the 10% goal.)

Agricultural users should irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure will reduce water loss due to evaporation and minimize water system drain during peak demand.

If this trend of large consumption continues, the next water conservation action will be mandatory reduction. Please conserve water.

For more information, please contact Daryl Ikeda of the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

(go to Contents)

Construction work to widen Kuakini Highway, from Palani Road to Hualalai Road, commenced on November 8, 2004.

Kuakini Highway will be widened to four lanes for automobiles, including two through-lanes in each direction, and a pocket lane for left turns where appropriate. In addition, there will bicycle lanes on both sides throughout most of the project. The construction will last 18-24 months.

One lane will be open at all times from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while construction is in progress. Outside of these hours, one lane in each direction will be open.

The contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, will work with the adjacent businesses and residences to assure that a reasonable access to the businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the construction period. However, motorists traveling in the area should drive with caution.

We are most grateful for the public’s patience and apologize for any inconvenience caused.

The public is invited to a weekly update on the Kuakini Highway, Palani Road to Hualalai project every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at the Kona Mayor’s West Hawai`i Office conference room at Hanama Place. Light refreshments will be served.

Representatives from the contractor, Hawaiian Dredging, and the County, Public Works Department are available at the meetings. Everyone is welcome at these informal "talk story" sessions.

A large project map and a complete set of plans are available for reference at the Kona Mayor's office.

The Tuesday morning updates will continue, and information will also be available via the County website.

For more detailed information on the construction, please contact Hawaiian Dredging Contracting Co., Inc. at (808) 483-4270. You can also call Pete Hendricks, Deputy Managing Director at 329-5226.

(go to Contents)

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

Click on employment opportunities to download all of the forms.

(go to Contents)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be holding two public information meetings in Waikoloa and Waimea regarding Unexploded Ordnance Training.

The purpose of the meetings is to inform the public about the upcoming Unexploded Ordnance Training program, a five-week training program sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The information meetings will be:

The Corps of Engineers plans to pay for the unexploded ordnance training (course fees, transportation, meals and lodging) for up to 24 individuals.

The program provides comprehensive, hands-on training that teaches participants to assist in the safe detection, location, identification and disposal of unexploded ordnance.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will graduate as certified Unexploded Ordnance Technician Level 1.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Unexploded Ordnance Training Program is invited to attend the information meeting.

For more information, contact:

(go to Contents)

Recycle Hawai`i will be hosting two basic composting workshops led by Hawaii Rainbow Worms owner Piper Selden on June 4, 2005 in Waimea and Hawi.

The Hawi workshop will be held behind Kohala Village Inn from 10:00 to noon. The Waimea workshop will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Waimea Nature Park, behind Canada-France-Hawai`i Telescope Office building.

"Compost Happens!" will discuss basic methods for soil improvements and a better environment by recycling greenwaste through composting.

A free Presto home composter will be given to each family participating, while supplies last. The second hour of this interactive workshop will explore worm composting in Hawaii. Learn fun and easy worm composting techniques, and how to turn your kitchen scraps into garden "gold" or homemade fishing bait. A few worm bins with worms will be given away as door prizes.

A minimum of ten participants is required for each workshop, so please pre-register by calling Recycle Hawaii at 969-2012. $10 for adults, kids free.

Both workshops are made possible with funding provided by the County of Hawai`i Department of Environmental Management.

(go to Contents)

Recycle Hawai`i will be hosting back-to-back workshops on Saturday, June 11, at La`akea Community near Pahoa. The workshops are:

• Intermediate/Advanced composting from noon–3 p.m. led by Piper Selden, Master Composter/Recycler of Hawaii Rainbow Worms. Backyard composting, basic biology and fundamentals of compost, compost critters, control factors, compost and compost "tea," and troubleshooting common problems will be the focus of the first part of Piper’s workshop. A "How To" demonstration on home worm-composting bin management and troubleshooting, basic worm biology, reproduction and harvesting tips will highlight the second half. A few worm bins (and worms) will be given away to lucky workshop participants as "door prizes," so come join us to learn about composting and worms in Hawaii.

• Building Raised Bench Gardens from 3:00–4:30 p.m. led by Tim Lloyd. Tim Lloyd will show how lined raised-bench gardens (no bending, no weeds, no bugs) can be easily fabricated by recycling wooden pallets.

Workshops cost $10 each, includes free composting unit.

Directions to La`akea Community: Going south on Highway 130 past Pahoa and Leilani Estates, turn right on Ala`ili, go one mile to driveway on the right with the "La`akea" sign. If you’re coming from Kalapana, make a left off Highway 130 onto Ala`ili just past the Steam Vent Inn.

(go to Contents)

The Big Island community is cordially invited to celebrate We Are `Ohana Day on Sunday, June 5 from noon to 5 p.m.at Wailoa State Park in Hilo.

Live performances by Bruddah Kuz, Brittni Paiva, Rupert Tripp, Jr., Hula Halau O Kou Lima Nani E, and Lava Roots Dance and Drum will be featured. There will also be presentations by students from Kua O Ka La Public Charter School, Na `Opio O Waimea, and Ka`u Middle School.

The purpose of the event is to bring people together to share a message of hope with those individuals and families in Hawai`i who are struggling with substance abuse and addiction. The community, as `ohana and as family, must come together to address the issue.

The day will be filled with music, dance and stories of those who have overcome their addiction and are now in recovery.

The event is free and open to the public. Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace and the North Hawai`i Drug-Free Coalition are sponsors of the event with major funding support from the Hawai`i County Resource Center. Contributing sponsors are KHBC Radio, Creative Arts Hawai`i, Peck Tunes and Kumanu Music.

Performing and Fine Artists For World Peace is documenting the event the video Your Heart Will Lead You Home that supports the popular CD We Are `Ohana-Songs of Hope.

Footage will also be included in the video We Are `Ohana-Stories of Hope and Recovery to be used to support Performing and Fine Artists For World Peace’s outreach project at schools, treatment centers and correctional facilities this autumn.

Everyone is invited to come and be a part of the video. Whether you have stories to share or just come to listen, your participation is welcome.

(go to Contents)

With the theme "Land of the Free...Home of the Brave", the 10^th Annual Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade on July 4 in Kailua-Kona will follow the same route as last year, but will be held in the early evening, for coordination with other community activities scheduled immediately after the parade.

The parade will start at 5:30 pm from Kona's Gymnasium parking lot and take the traditional Kuakini-Palani-Ali`i route to the Coconut Grove Marketplace, where a short awards ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the parade.

That will be followed by free family concert/entertainment and fireworks in the same area.

A color guard, at least one band, marching units, floats, decorated vehicles and other varied entries are expected from the armed forces, schools, churches, businesses, service clubs, and other community organizations and individuals.

Awards will be given in the four categories of floats, keiki, marching and most patriotic, plus possibly others.

There will be no charge for entries from non-profit groups. The entry fee for commercial participants will be $25 each and political entries will be charged a fee of $50 each. No more than five vehicles or eight motorcycles are to be included in any one entry, and each entrant is to display at least one U.S. flag. Air horns are not to be used.

(go to Contents)

The Foundations of Jack Gifford and Betty Kanuha, in cooperation with the County of Hawaii Parks & Recreation Department, will sponsor the Kalae Iki Youth Baseball Clinic July 24-26 at the Kailua-Kona Regulation Baseball Diamond and adjoining playing fields.

This three-day clinic is free of charge and is open to boys & girls ages 7-17.

Several outstanding collegiate coaches have been lined up for the camp:

Present NCAA Division I head coaches Mark Marques (Stanford), Sam Piraro (San Jose State), Ed Sprague (Pacific), Mark O’Brien (Santa Clara), Ritchie Price (Kansas), Lindsey Meggs (Chico State), and Joey Estrella (UH Hilo), along with assistants Tom Kunis (Stanford), Chad Konishi (UH Manoa), Tom Myers (UC Santa Barbara), and former UCLA head coach, Gary Adams, and assistants, Glenn Mickins, Jason Green, and former major league pitcher Tim Leary.

The clinic will feature two sessions daily:

• 8:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. for the 7-11 year-olds
• 1 p.m.–4 p.m. for the 12-17 year-olds

Each participant should bring his/her own glove, batting helmet, bat, shoes, and appropriate baseball protective supports (as required by all youth leagues for participation) and water bottles.

Registration will be handled at the Parks & Recreation offices at the Kailua-Kona Permits Office (located by the Aquatics Center), Waimea Community Center at Parker Gym, Waikoloa Elementary, School F Bldg, and Parks & Recreation Division Office located at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo and at Sports Line in Hilo.

Each session will be limited to the first 200 applicants in their respective age group.

A Coaches Clinic for all youth and high school coaches will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 10 a.m. at the Hapuna Prince Hotel (Hau Lehua Room).

The clinic staff welcomes volunteer help for all drill stations. For more information, call coach Joey Estrella at 974-7700.

(go to Contents)

The Free Mulch Giveaway at the Hilo Transfer Station has been such a success that they have run out of mulch at this site. Mulch will again be available at the Hilo Transfer Station Green Waste Area sometime in July. Many thanks to all residents for their participation in this project.

Free mulch is still available at the Kealakehe /Kona Transfer Station’s Green Waste Area.

Large loads (30 cubic yards or more) are being delivered FREE to certain areas: from Kawaihae to Ho’okena and from Palani Road to the Saddle Road Junction. To schedule a delivery, call 808-306-1876.

For small loads, residents can visit the pick-up area at the Kealakehe/Kona Transfer Station’s Green Waste area.

Loading assistance is free from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

People may also bring a pitchfork to self-load a vehicle from 6:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m., 7 days a week.

(go to Contents)

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a program of UH Hilo’s College of Continuing Education and Community Service, offers noncredit classes to diverse communities of lifelong learners throughout the Big Island, focusing on those 45 and over. There are no tests, grades, or papers – just learning for enjoyment, personal growth and intellectual stimulation.

OLLI, funded in 2004 by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco, California, is one of more than 60 such programs based at universities across the United States, from Maine to Hawaii, from Harvard to UH Manoa. Lectures, short courses, educational activities and events are planned by community members in collaboration with OLLI coordinators.

Classes and programs are taught by a wide range of talented community members in the arts, sciences, humanities, recreation and health, with a goal of using regional resources and topics of interest. OLLI also seeks to partner and collaborate with art centers, theatres, libraries, schools, clubs, businesses, and community organizations.

The first series of North Hawaii OLLI classes are taking place from May through August. They are:

• Sustainable Landscaping and Gardening: May 21 and June 25, 9-11:30 am, Waimea Outdoor Circle, Ulu La’au Park, Waimea, $25/class
• Play the Ukulele with Grammy-Winner Keoki Kahumoku: May 23, 1-4 pm, Hotel Honoka’a Club, Honoka’a, $25
• Mixed Level Watercolor Painting: June 17 and August 19, 9-11:30 am, Hale Kukui Orchard Retreat, Kukuihaele, $40/class
• Introduction to Organic Agribusiness: June 17, 1–3:30 pm, Volcano Island Honey Co., Ahualoa, $25.

For more information on these and OLLI classes taking place in other regions of the Big Island, to register for classes, or to connect with your area coordinator to discuss future program opportunities, call UH Hilo’s College of Continuing Education and Community Service at 974-7664.

(go to Contents)

Where did all the opihi go?

The prevailing public belief is that every year there are fewer and fewer opihi, and there is some truth to this. However, commercial harvest of opihi has been relatively stable since 1960. No significant decline of the opihi population has occurred on since the 1.25" size restrictions were implemented in 1978, but there has been no recovery of population, either.

Join presenter Chris Bird to learn about the complex interactions between humans, opihi, haukeuke (shingle urchins), limu (seaweed), and other organisms that have impacts on opihi growth rates, reproduction and, ultimately, opihi population size.

REEFTALKS are co-sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College

Program, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and the Malama Kai Foundation. Talks are free public service presentations, held monthly, alternating between the Waimea/Kamuela and Kona areas.

(go to Contents)

A conference on E ‘Imi Pono (best practices) in substance abuse treatment will be held at Hawai`i Community College July 17-21, 2005.

This conference is sponsored by Hawai'i Community College Substance Abuse Counseling and Administration of Justice Programs and the Office of Continuing Education and Training.

Among the internationally renowned presenters will be Terence Gorski, Stephanie Covington, Dennis Daley and Pualani Kanaka’ole Kanahele.

Topics of the conference will include:

• Adolescent and Adult Relapse Prevention
• Girls and Women in the Criminal Justice System
• Adolescents and Adults with Co-occurring Disorders
• Native Hawaiian Approaches to Substance Abuse

(go to Contents)

(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

Call us at 961-8341 to report streetlights that are not working properly. Anyone who answers the phone can help you. Please remember to give us the exact location of the light, including the number of the pole it is on. We need this information because our crew conducts repairs during the daytime hours, when all lights are out.

We have three basic types of malfunctions:

• Lights being completely out
• Lights always on
• Lights cycling (on and off during the night).

Repairs are normally done within fifteen working days. For further information, call the Traffic Division of Department of Public Works at 961-8341.

(go to Contents)

The County of Hawai’i Department of Public Works advises the public that on December 21, 2004 four temporary loading zones went into effect along Ali’i Drive as follows:

• 30-minute freight loading zone on mauka side of Ali’i Drive north of the Ocean View Restaurant
• 30-minute freight loading zone on the mauka side of Ali’i Drive south of the Ocean View Restaurant
• Three-minute passenger loading zone on mauka side of Ali’i Drive south of the Ocean View Restaurant
• 30-minute freight loading zone on the makai side of Ali’i Drive across from Uncle Billy’s Kona Bay Hotel

This change was to remain in effect for a 90-day trial period until 12 noon on March 18, 2005.

Field adjustments were made and it was determined that further evaluation was necessary. The Department of Public Works has extended this trial for an additional 90 days, to end at 12:00 Noon on June 15, 2005.

No parking will be allowed in these zones, and the no-parking rule will be enforced.

The Department of Public Works asks for your patience and cooperation during this trial period.

For further information, please contact the Department of Public Works, Traffic Division at 961-8341.

(go to Contents)

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.

(go to Contents)

(go to Contents)

Hawai‘i County ... a nice place to live.