August 19, 2005

Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

CONTENTS

The tragic incidents of September 11, 2001, especially the evacuation of the World Trade Center Twin Towers, raised awareness of the challenges that people with disabilities encountered when they had to evacuate multi-storied buildings. Workplaces that were previously accessible and user-friendly changed in seconds to environments that were threatening and dangerous. Some people with disabilities evacuated buildings safely and survived, while others perished.

Experts analyzed the experiences of persons with disabilities and generated specific recommendations regarding Emergency Preparedness. The message is consistent and clear: take responsibility for your own safety and develop a personal disaster plan.

Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking that others will rescue you during a disaster.

An excellent resource on this topic is "Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety. A Guide for People With Disabilities" by June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant. This publication is available on line at www.cdihp.org/products.html#eeguide .

The guide states, "There is a universal human tendency to avoid thinking about possible emergencies. This avoidance has greater consequences for people with disabilities than for people without disabilities."

While the focus of the guide is emergency evacuation from buildings, the general principles of emergency preparedness can be carried over into any type of disaster or emergency situation that would require an evacuation.

The first step in this process is to ask yourself if you have any impairments or limitations, whether permanent or temporary, in some of the following major life activities that could affect your ability to evacuate the scene of an emergency:

• Walking, using stairs, climbing;
• Maintaining strength and stamina;
• Breathing or difficulties breathing that could be worsened by dust, smoke, volcanic ash;
• Thinking, concentrating, learning, functioning;
• Seeing;
• Hearing;
• Speaking.

Also, ask yourself if you use any assistive devices such as a power-operated wheelchair, lights, oxygen tanks or audible warnings that may not work during an emergency. Do you rely on an elevator?

Do you take medication?

Do you have a service animal to assist you with daily tasks?

By completing this checklist and identifying your needs, you can start to plan by focusing on the kind of assistance you will need in an emergency.

You then must decide if you wish to identify yourself as a person who needs special assistance to others. If you do, consider the following:

In the guide, Ms. Kailles points out: "Disaster and emergency planning is an activity that should be integrated into our lives …These activities need to be integrated into the fabric of organizations so that emergency plans are created and regularly reviewed, rehearsed, practiced and revised."

The Americans With Disabilities Act requires employers, state and local governments, retail establishments and services to modify their policies and procedures to include people with disabilities.

Consider getting involved in the planning process and participating in emergency evacuation drills on all levels – at work, at home and in the community.

Ms. Kailles suggests developing a support network. Identify at least 3 people at work and at home who can assist you in an emergency. Talk to them about your needs and show them how they can help you. Keep in contact with them and practice regularly.

Get into the habit of reporting safety problems such as inoperative equipment, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, obstructions in an accessible route or locked exit doors to the proper authorities.

Familiarize yourself with emergency exits, in hotels, workplace, shopping malls, movie theatres, recreation centers. Take a moment to plan what you would do if an emergency occurred.

Carry Emergency Health Information with you at all times. Have multiple copies at home, in your wallet, in your car, your office, your backpack. Let members of your support network know where the information is and give copies to them.

Learn how to give emergency responders quick and simple instructions on how they can assist you.

If you have difficulties hearing or speaking, consider carrying a pre-printed card with special instructions on it; also consider carrying paper and pen with you.

Imagine some worst case scenarios, such as breakdown of assistive equipment, and think what you would do in such a situation.

If you have an assistance or service dog, consider purchasing protective covering for its paws.

These are just a few of the valuable suggestions for people of all abilities in the emergency Guide.

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The County of Hawai`i's Solid Waste Division wishes to inform the community that the Papaikou Transfer Station in South Hilo will be gated and manned beginning Monday, August 22, 2005.

A security guard will be available to assist with information on other Solid Waste facilities and to ensure compliance with state-mandated operating regulations. The hours of operation will be from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.

All Big Island transfer stations are permitted for collection of household refuse only. Commercial haulers and residents with large loads (eg: mattresses, large furniture, and beds) need to take their refuse to the South Hilo or West Hawaii Sanitary Landfills.

We appreciate your kokua.

For more information call Bobby Gonsalves, Solid Waste Operations Superintendent at 961-8514.

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The community is cordially invited to a Communities Working Together Conference, aimed at providing information and access to resources at the federal, state, and County level to make your neighborhood a safer place to live.

There will be presentations and workshops on:

• Identity Theft
• Project Safe Neighborhoods
• Changing Environmental Design to Prevent Crime
• Planning Effective Public Meetings
• Disaster Preparedness at the Neighborhood Level
• Conditions of Bail, Classes of Crime and Community Input on Sentencing

During the lunch session, you will hear success stories of how community-oriented prosecution works, from representatives from the Islands of Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.

Lunch will be provided free of charge.

To register, please contact Kona Prosecutor’s office at 81-980 Haleki`I Street, Suite 150, Kealakekua, HI 96750 (808) 322-2552.

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The County of Hawaii is seeking community-minded applicants for an important new commission whose task is to advise the County on matters relating to public access and open space on the Island of Hawaii.

The Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission will include nine members, one from each Council District.

The Commission will develop a prioritized list of lands that qualify for preservation as open spaces, and explore methods of funding land acquisition and make recommendations to the Mayor.

The overall purpose of the Commission is to ensure:

1. Public outdoor recreation and education, including access to beaches and mountains;
2. Preservation of historic or culturally important lands and sites;
3. Protection of natural resources, including buffer zones;
4. Preservation of forests, beaches, coastal areas, natural beauty and agricultural lands;
5. Protection of watershed lands to preserve water quality and water supply.

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With the Pacific hurricane season now upon us, it is very important for all of our Hawai`i residents to be familiar with hurricane preparedness measures.

The County of Hawai`i’s Civil Defense Agency reminds the community that all areas of our Island of Hawai`i can be prone to hurricane hazards.

Residents must be aware that all parts of Hawai`i Island could be exposed to hurricane hazards, despite a common belief that our mountains of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa shield parts of the island from hurricane winds.

We hope our residents will take the time to familiarize themselves with hurricane preparedness measures by reading the County of Hawai`i’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The Hurricane Preparedness Guide is now available on the County’s website . To access the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, click on http://co.hawaii.hi.us/cd/hpg/main.html . There is also a link to the Civil Defense page http://co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_defense.htm .

If you’d like a hard copy of the Hurricane Preparedness Guide, copies will be available from the Civil Defense Agency after July 1.

For further information, contact the Civil Defense Agency at 935-0031.

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The County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites have new hours of operation beginning August 1. In addition, there is a new weekend site opening in Hawi in August.

Qualifiying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

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

**Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1:00-1:30pm for lunch.**

Please contact Atlas Recycling LLC 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.

Certified redemption centers are now accepting flattened aluminum and plastic HI5¢ beverage containers.

Flattened containers are weighed at redemption sites to determine deposit payment. The public is reminded that reverse vending machines will not accept flattened or crushed containers.

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 HI5¢ program or visit:

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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 in January 2005 and is expected to be completed by the end of August, 2005. Work is taking 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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State legislators are holding a series of statewide meetings to get public input on the establishment of Marine Managed Areas. These plans will affect the future use and preservation of Hawaii's ocean resources.

The following meetings are scheduled on Hawaii Island:

Marine Managed Areas are marine environment areas that are established by law or regulation in order to protect or enhance the area's natural and cultural resources.

The purpose of the meetings on the Big Island is to inform the community on the benefits and the drawbacks of Marine Managed Areas, and to gather feedback from residents.

The House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources have joined together to organize the meetings, hosted by Representative Ezra Kanoho, Chair, and members of the House Committee on Water, Land and Ocean Resources.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will make a presentation on the establishment of the Marine Managed Areas, their usefulness in Hawaii and the various tools and options used in other locations.

All interested community members are encouraged to attend the meetings.

For further information, contact Georgette Deemer at (808) 586-6133 or (808) 341-5043.

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Join the Kona Crime Prevention Committee at the "Officer of the Year" Luncheon on September 14, honoring the Officer of the Year (July 2004 - June 2005).

Where: Royal Kona Resort

When: September 14, Noon

Cost: $15.00 per person

Call Liz Holey for reservations or Mary Huebner at 895-6301.

The purpose of this organization is to encourage community involvement in aiding and supporting the Hawaii County Police Department, Kona District in their efforts to prevent crime, deter potential criminals and enforce the law.

Did you know...the Kona Crime Prevention Committee hosts the luncheon for all of the Officers of the Month who are candidates for Officer of the Year. If you can help with acknowledgments, please contact Liz Holey or Mary Huebner at 895-6301.

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The community is invited to "Facilitating Extraordinary Accomplishments of Hawaii's Youth," a conference on building youth activities organized by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Big Island and the County of Hawaii.

WHEN: Friday, October 7 Registration: 8:00 am, Workshop: 8:25 am to 4:00 pm

WHERE: Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, South Kohala

FEE: $20.00 fee covers breakfast, lunch and conference materials

To facilitate extraordinary accomplishments in Hawaii's youth by implementing a systematic plan composed of community recommendations, continued involvement and collaboration supported by character education.

Two panels, one of high-achieving youth and the other of program administrators and parents, will discuss their successes and program building for the future.

Presentations about "Achieving Health and Fitness through Partnerships" and "Bully-Proof Sports" will be presented by Hawaii specialists.

A Positive Coaching Alliance training workshop for parents and a proposal writing and funding resource workshop will be offered in the afternoon break-out sessions.

PCA Big Island board members, advisers, and other community supporters of Positive Coaching Alliance programs on the Big Island of Hawaii, educators, and others.

Please register by Monday, September 19, 2005. Registration forms are available from the County Parks and Recreation's Recreation Division at 799 Piilani Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Phone: 961-8740.

For further information, call Sports Line Hawaii at 969-3633 and leave your name and telephone number or email PCABigIsland@verizon.net

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FREE MULCH is now available at both the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations. At the present time, no loading fees are being charged, although the public is advised to ask the operator for loading assistance. There may be a short wait time if the operator is busy.

The public may drop off green waste at either facility between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm seven days a week. Loading assistance is available at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona processing sites Monday through Saturday.

Residents are encouraged to contact any of the local trucking firms to arrange for delivery of large loads of mulch to their homes or places of business. Although there is no charge for the mulch and loading fees are waived, the public will need to pay their own delivery charges as negotiated with a local trucking firm.

EKO Composting Systems has assumed the operations of the County of Hawaii’s green waste drop-off and pick-up areas at the Hilo and Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Transfer Stations as of July 1, 2005.

The County is working on the development of a composting facility at the materials recovery area of the West Hawai`i Sanitary Landfill, which will also include receiving bays for used cooking oil and grease trap waste. When the new composting facility is completed, EKO will commence the production of high quality, U.S. Council certified, compost.

In addition, EKO Composting Systems along with partner company Pacific Biodiesel will be initiating the capture of waste oils for the production of biodiesel.

The public should be aware that there are size requirements that must be met in order to drop off residential and commercially hauled green waste at the processing facilities at Kailua-Kona and Hilo green waste yards.

These size requirements must also be followed for any green waste dropped at the Keaau Recycling and Reuse Center, as well as for any green waste disposed of at one of the County’s 21 residential solid waste transfer stations.

At this time, no pallets may be delivered to the green waste processing facilities although the County intends to begin receiving pallets for chipping starting next year.

If loads delivered to the green waste drop-off sites and/or County transfer stations do not meet these criteria, the other option will be to dispose of the load at either the County’s South Hilo or West Hawai’i Sanitary Landfills. Green waste loads that do not meet acceptable requirements will be charged a special handling fee of $85/load in addition to the tip fee of $65/ton IF taken to either County landfill.

For further information, please contact the County’s recycling coordinator at 961-8942.

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An important factor in matching potential organ, tissue and marrow recipients to donors is genetic similarity, with ethnicity being one of the key factors that contributes to compatibility.

While minorities donate in proportion to their population numbers, certain groups have a greater need for transplants due to a higher susceptibility to conditions that lead to organ failure such as hypertension and diabetes.

As of July 8, 2005:

• 21,794 African Americans were waiting for a kidney, making up 35% of the waiting list
• 10,385 Hispanics were awaiting a kidney, making up 17%
• Asians, Native Americans, Native Alaskans and Pacific Islanders constituted 7.3% of the kidney waiting list.

People of every background, heritage and ethnicity are needed as donors for the nearly 90,000 people on the transplant waiting list. Learn more about organ and tissue donation and how to make the decision to "Donate Life" by visiting www.organdonor.gov.

Lizbeth Alcala was diagnosed with a tumor on her liver when she was just 13 months old. Chemotherapy treatments were successful in reducing the tumor’s size, but she was required to undergo an operation to remove it completely.

Little Lizbeth ’s heart stopped several times during the surgery,and she became very sick afterwards. Her family was informed that she would need a liver transplant in order to live.

After a wait of three months on the transplant waiting list, Lizbeth’s mother received a call that there was a liver available for her daughter. The transplant was a success, and Lizbeth celebrated the sixth anniversary of her transplant on June 23, 2005.

My name is Brittany Plater. I was born with serious heart problems that kept me in the hospital a lot. I was on the organ transplant waiting list for 10 months before I received my heart transplant at age 9.

I am now 12 years old, the age my donor was when she died. If it were not for the donor family giving me the "Gift of Life," I might not be here. I am thankful to be healthy.

Since getting my transplant, I can participate in cheerleading, my favorite activity.

Learn more about organ and tissue donation at www.organdonor.gov.

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

The opihi is the subject of our latest in a series of free ReefTalks:

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 6:30-8:30 pm

WHERE: Kealakehe HS Library, mauka of Honokohau Harbor

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

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Kona Outdoor Circle is offering the Fall 2005 Julie M. Ellison Master Gardener Scholarship, a full scholarship for the Master Gardener Certification Program offered by KOC, in cooperation with the University of Hawaii.

The scholarship is for $225, and enables the recipient to complete the three series of classes offered annually. To complete the requirements for certification as a Master Gardener, students must participate in the three series of classes and pass the tests at the end of each series. They must also put in volunteer hours.

To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must be accepted into the Master Gardener Certification Program and state his or her intention to complete the certification process. Students who have already completed one or two series of classes are eligible, as well as new students in the program.

The application form for the Fall 2005 scholarship is available online at konaoutdoorcircle.org. The deadline is September 15, 2005. For further information or to request an application form, call Kona Outdoor Circle at 329-7286.

The scholarship is in honor of the late Julie Ellison, a renowned landscape designer and two-time winner of Kona Outdoor Circle’s Beautification Awards who died in 2002.

Following her death, donations were made to the Kona Outdoor Circle in her memory and the Julie M. Ellison Fund was established. The fund is used to provide scholarships for individuals participating in the Master Gardener Certification Program.

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(All project schedules based on weather permitting.)

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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.

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