http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/local/northshore News • Culture • Community English news@thehawaiiindependent.com Copyright 2011 The Hawaii Independent Corporation Thursday, February 9 2012 9:05 AM /story/letter-defend-oahu-coalition-to-lead-protest-against-corporate-greed-on-the /story/letter-defend-oahu-coalition-to-lead-protest-against-corporate-greed-on-the The following is a message from Defend Oahu Coalition calling for participation in a protest on October 28 at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Turtle Bay Resort on Kamehameha Highway. The Occupy Wall Street movement has grown into a global hot button issue as more and more concerned world citizens have recognized that institutional corporate greed is largely responsible for the current economic crisis. This movement, which appears to include folks from all walks of life, has arrived at Hawaii’s idyllic shores with full force. Groups like “Occupy Oahu,” “Occupy Honolulu,” and “Occupy Magic Island” have formed to voice their common opposition to corporate greed. Defend Oahu Coalition has been battling corporate greed for the past five-and-a-half years out on the North Shore of Oahu and has been somewhat successful in keeping over-development at bay. Case in point—the Turtle Bay expansion, which is currently owned by the banks and Wall Street hedgefund managers. However, the banks and hedgefund managers who now own the 880-acre Turtle Bay property have come for their due and are currently pushing plans to develop a large swath of pristine oceanfront real estate that is home to multiple endangered species. Defend Oahu Coalition has partnered with Unite Here to voice our opposition to their plan to pave over a large chunk of the North Shore. If you want to send the banks and hedgefund managers a clear message, join us from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on October 28 in front of Turtle Bay Resort to protest both the project and corporate greed. Defend Oahu Coalition North Shore, Oahu Related Stories: Turtle Bay developers propose $1.2 billion development of two hotels, 750 residential units Turtle Bay developers back at the bargaining table, hope for cool heads Abercrombie commits to being active in the future of Turtle Bay Protecting Koolauloa: Talk story session looks at future of Turtle Bay North Shore community group says revised Turtle Bay master plan still too much North Shore Community Land Trust reaches out to residents, asks what’s worth preserving Developers may face 15-year time limit due to Land Use Ordinance amendment Conservation group pushes to preserve 469 acres of North Shore ag land Supreme Court rules in favor of Turtle Bay opponents, developers must provide a new EIS Land Use Commission defers decision on re-zoning Turtle Bay land Turtle Bay expansion opponents hopeful after supplemental EIS hearing Conservation groups ask courts to hear case on outdated Turtle Bay EIS Supreme court asked to review Turtle Bay expansion News Culture Community Monday, October 17 2011 9:54 PM /story/what-is-homeopathy /story/what-is-homeopathy HALEIWA—As our nation’s leaders continue the healthcare debate, we’ve come to a place where the decisions we make for our health and well-being are influenced not only by the financial burdens we face, but what we’ve become accustomed to as a society. Like the housing and credit crisis, it’s up to us as individuals to educate ourselves on the process to a better future and keep an open mind to the options we have. When it comes to our personal well-being, there is an affordable and safer option, according to the National Center for Homeopathy, for much of the every-day ailments we face. Homeopathic treatments, called remedies, are used to treat a wide variety of common ailments from colic, to colds, to the flu using a 200-year old rule called the Law of Similars (LS), which in a nutshell, states that “like cures like.” Basically, LS says that a medicine can cure a sick person if it can cause similar sickness in a healthy person. First discovered in 400 B.C., it wasn’t until the 1800s when Samuel Hahnemann, a German doctor and chemist, fully stated the ideas of homeopathy after testing small doses of the medicine on himself and exploring LS fully. Derived from the Greek words homeos meaning “similar,” and pathos meaning “disease or suffering,” “homeopathic” means “to treat with a remedy that produces an effect similar to the disease or suffering.” An example given by NCH says that if you peel an onion, your eyes burn, itch, and water. You might also have a runny nose and begin to sneeze. If you had similar symptoms during a cold or allergy attack, such as a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing, a homeopathic micro-dose of the remedy Allium cepa (red onion) would help your body heal itself. Homeopathic practitioners maintain that these non-toxic remedies are prepared from substances found in nature and derived from plants and minerals. The original substance is diluted in liquid repeatedly and then vigorously shaken with each dilution. Unusual as it sounds, these very small amounts of remedies can act very strongly when used properly and are non-toxic, according to NCH. One of the main differences that homeopathic practitioners point to is that while conventional medicine looks at the absence of disease as health, homeopathy looks at a person’s overall emotional, physical, and mental levels. It’s important to note that homeopathy is not herbal medicine. These two systems of medicine are very different as herbal medicine uses tinctures of botanical substances only. “I take homeopathic remedies just about any time I get sick,” says Yari Rogers, a self proclaimed fan of natural medicines. “They have them for everything.” She adds: “I don’t want side affects from drugs, artificial dyes, and chemicals in my medicines, so I go for homeopathy.” In 1900, an estimated 20 percent of doctors in the United States were homeopaths, but because of societal changes, its popularity declined while European interest interest in homeopath remained steady. Recent decades have seen a strong resurgence of homeopathic interest in the United States in particular. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of complementary and alternative medicine use by Americans, an estimated 3.9 million U.S. adults and approximately 900,000 children used homeopathy in the previous year. The Nutrition Business Journal reported that in the U.S. consumer sales of homeopathic treatments reached $870 million in 2009, an increase of 10 percent from the previous year. Hawaii has no shortage of homeopathic doctors and a large array can be found on all of the main islands. Even today, however, homeopathy faces its fair share of skeptics, mainly professionals who practice traditional medicine. Conventional doctors who do not endorse homeopathy often say that the key concepts behind homeopathy aren’t consistent with established laws of science of chemistry and physics that traditional medicine draws from—and they say homeopathic remedies are nothing more than a placebo. But homeopathic doctors say that traditional drugs and homeopathic remedies should not be compared in the same way, because they are very different things that treat people in drastically different ways—traditional medicine treats the disease while homeopathy treats the individual. One example of a successful homeopathic remedy that can be found in many mainstream drug stores, not just health food stores, is a popular flu remedy called Oscillococcinum. Available in 60 countries, Oscillococcinum has an estimated annual retail sales in the United States over $20 million, according to the manufacturer, Boiron. It ranks 49th out of 318 cold and flu brand products that do more than $1 million in sales. “I know some people who think it doesn’t work, but they won’t even try it,” says North Shore resident Carolyn Reich. “I’ve gone the standard drug route, getting prescriptions from my doctor for flu medicine, but this stuff [Oscillococcinum] knocks it out of me without side affects or anything unhealthy like acetaminophen.” Acetaminophen is found in common pain relievers and fever reducers, misuse can increase your risk of liver damage. The active ingredient in Oscillococcinum? Extract of muscovy duck liver and heart. Homeopaths don’t claim to be able to fix everything with homeopathy. If a patient has a problem that necessitates a surgical intervention or other medical treatment, they will be referred to the appropriate doctor. Consumers need not fear that the natural remedies are even close to home brewed concoctions. They are prepared according to the guidelines of the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States (HPUS), which was written into law in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938. They are regulated in the same manner as nonprescription, over-the-counter drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that homeopathic remedies meet certain legal standards for strength, purity, and packaging. One requirement is that their labels must include at least one major indication, the medical problem to be treated, a list of ingredients, the dilution, and safety instructions. Also, if a remedy claims to treat a disease like cancer, it needs to be sold by prescription. Only products for self-limiting conditions, which are minor health problems like a colds or headaches that go away on their own, can be sold without a prescription. As flu season approaches, it can be helpful to remember that we are in a time with more options than ever to treat what ails us. If you’re feel down, or in search of a preventative, do some research and make an educated decision when choosing traditional drugs or an alternative natural medicine. For more information on homeopathy, visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) website here. The following recommendation comes from the NCCAM website. If You Are Thinking About Using Homeopathy * Do not use homeopathy as a replacement for proven conventional care or to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. * Look for published research studies on homeopathy for the health condition you are interested in. * If you are considering using homeopathy and decide to seek treatment from a homeopath, ask about the training and experience of the practitioner you are considering. * Women who are pregnant or nursing, or people who are thinking of using homeopathy to treat a child, should consult their health care provider. * Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of all you do to manage your health. This will ensure coordinated and safe care. For tips about talking with your health care providers about CAM, see NCCAM’s Time to Talk campaign. News Culture Community Saturday, October 8 2011 12:30 AM /story/north-shore-proposes-charter-school-for-100-students /story/north-shore-proposes-charter-school-for-100-students HALEIWA—Parents of school aged children on the North Shore hope to a see a charter school opened soon that would accommodate 100 seventh- and eighth-grade students. Educators and community activists say the purpose of opening the school is to offer an alternative school that promotes self-motivation, creativity, and courage to create community-minded problem solvers. The school would use progressive methods in delivering academic content to engage students in their own learning. If all goes according to plan, the school would open within two to three years. Signatures are currently being sought in a petition to open the school. Currently, students from K through sixth grade can attend Sunset Beach Elementary or Sunset Beach Christian School. Seventh-grade-and-up students who live to the east of Pupukea Road attend Kahuku High School, while those on the west of the road attend Wailua High. Numerous students on the North Shore above sixth grade do homeschool. Charter schools are independent public schools operating independently of the district Board of Education. Charter schools act as one-school public school districts. Educators, parents, community leaders and other people come together to write the charter plan and describe the school’s guiding principles, governance structure, and other measures. If the State approves the charter, funding for the charter is given on a per pupil basis. Unique elements propose a staggered bell schedule with the intent of the schedule allowing extra, personalized instruction for struggling students. For advanced students, the bell schedule is expected to be tailored to fit their needs. Music elective and foreign language electives will be required for all students. The curriculum will be online and based on national standards, allowing teachers to individualize their instruction to support each student’s learning ability. The plan is for students to work independently online for half the day and spend the other half with reading, hands on projects and working with peers to grasp benchmarks. Each student attending the school will be expected to provide three hours a week of community service, while one parent or guardian will have to commit to two hours of weekly volunteer service. If there are too many applicants, a lottery will be used to fill the spots. To support the North Shore Charter school, click here. News Culture Community Wednesday, October 5 2011 9:18 AM /story/north-shore-community-stops-redistricting /story/north-shore-community-stops-redistricting HALEIWA—Efforts made last week by members of Oahu’s North Shore community resulted in a stop to a proposed redistricting that would have made the Sunset Beach area a part of the Koolauloa district. Residents voiced their opposition via a petition and letters sent to the Hawaii 2011 Reapportionment Commission (RC), asking the RC to keep Sunset Beach voters as part of the North Shore. “I’ve got good news, [the commission] called ... and said the idea is off the table,” State Representative Gil Riviere (R—District 46) said last Friday. Riviere’s office sent out a mass email a day earlier to residents alerting them of the pending division and asking them to speak out to the RC. Riviere is also president of the community preservation group Keep the North Shore Country. Had the redistricting occurred, residents north of Pupukea Road would have been moved into the Windward side’s Koolauloa district, which stretches all the way to Kaneohe. “Sunset Beach has long been an important part of our North Shore community and residents are very concerned about the breakup of our community’s representation,” Riviere said in an email. “It was already known that Laie and Kahuku were going to be reunited into a Koolauloa District, but this latest change needlessly divides our North Shore District.” Redistricting is the process used to ensure each political district has been created equally with population. Redistricting occurs once every 10 years and is often confused with reapportionment, the process of dividing the number of State representatives and senators among the State’s population in order to assure, as close as possible, districts of equal size. A long time North Shore resident wrote in her letter against the redistricting: “The issues we face as a district are much more similar to those of the Haleiwa/Waialua/Mokuleia community than they are to those on the Windward side. Please do not change our district ... It makes no sense to change the boundaries of the district at this critical moment. We are facing development issues, agricultural issues, as well as wanting the continued sustainability of a relatively rural way of life.” North Shore resident also Jeannie Martinson circulated a petition around the North Shore that gained 59 signatures in the short time it was active. Community members and Riviere then organized a car pool to bring testifiers to the Hawaii State Capitol on Friday. But because the RC stated early Friday morning the idea was no longer a possibility, the car pool was cancelled. The commission stated that its initial reasoning for the district change was primarily for counting votes and that the Windward side needed more people in that count. “The thing is,” Riviere said, “[RC officials] have a five percent tolerance for going up or down to make the numbers acceptable. They would have changed the map, had we not spoken out. Sunset Beach would have been separate.” In order to even out the voting population without having to redistrict Sunset Beach, the RC made the decision last week to exclude certain members of the military from the population count.  According to the standards and criteria for redistricting, the “permanent resident population in each of the 25 State Senate districts shall be as nearly equal as possible. The population difference between the largest and smallest of the senate districts (the “maximum deviation”) shall be less than 10 percent.” The RC voted on its reapportionment plan on Monday, September 26. To view the State of Hawaii 2011 Reapportionment Plan, click here News Culture Community Wednesday, September 28 2011 4:01 AM /story/turtle-bay-developers-propose-1.2-billion-development-of-two-hotels-750-res /story/turtle-bay-developers-propose-1.2-billion-development-of-two-hotels-750-res The unveiling of the Turtle Bay master plan, called “Tomorrow’s Ahupua’a,” for the proposed development of the North Shore resort on Thursday was preceded by a sign waving rally held by opponents of the proposed large scale development. Soon after, both opponents and supporters of the master plan - which proposes two additional hotels with 625 units, 590 resort residential units and160 and community residential units - gathered at the resort for an open house held by Replay Resorts, the company overseeing ongoing management and a real estate development program for the resort. Although the master plan has been scaled back twice - the original plan proposed five more hotels with 2,500 units, 910 resort residential units and just 90 community community residential units while the first revision in March proposed four hotels and 750 condo units - it is still considered “too much” for the opposition. Actively trying to stop further expansion of the resort are many North Shore residents and environmental groups Defend Oahu Oahu Coalition (DOC) and Keep the North Shore Country (KNSC). The total cost for the project is estimated to be $1.2 billion. The open house was inspired by the filing of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) preparation notice on August 23, which is now in a 30 day public review period. “We were not required to hold a public meeting but we wanted to talk to the community,” Drew Stotesbury of Replay Resorts said. He added that the company wants to provide “as much information as possible to people here tonight.” The decision of the Supreme Court to order the developers to complete an SEIS was a result of a tireless effort by KNSC and the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club last year when they tried to reverse a 2006 decision by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) that Kuilima Resort Company would not be required to produce an EIS for their 25-year-old plan to expand the Turtle Bay Resort. Both the Circuit Court and Intermediate Court of Appeals had ruled in favor of Kuilima Resort Company and the City and County of Honolulu, and decided that as long as there would be no changes to the 25 year old project design, no supplemental EIS would be required regardless of how much the project’s surrounding environment changes. The last environmental impact statement (EIS), which was completed back in 1985, does not take into consideration significant community and environmental changes that have become relevant in the 25 years since the last EIS was finished. Environmental changes that community members are concerned with include a high increase in traffic, as well as the nesting of endangered species like the Hawaiian Monk Seal around the proposed construction area - neither of which are included in the original EIS. But the environmental groups persisted, and on April 8, 2010 the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in favor of Keep the North Shore Country and the Sierra Club Hawaii, requesting an SEIS for the expansion before resort expansion could begin. So with the recent filing of the SEIS, opposing groups and residents are again paying close attention to the proceedings of the development. Later during a presentation by the developers, Lee Sichter, who prepared the current SEIS as well as the first EIS in 1985, said they will do a traffic study of the area that will determine “where Turtle Bay visitors are coming from when they arrive, and where they are going when they leave.” A 2005 traffic study done for the developers estimated an increase of 2,050 additional cars per hour on Kamehameha Highway. Sichter said three additional traffic lights would be constructed in the area. “A 2005 traffic study done for the developers estimated an increase of 2,050 additional cars per hour on Kamehameha Highway.” Archaeological studies will also continue. Discussing the work that archaeologist Alan Haun, who also worked on the project in the mid-1980s, speaker Dawn Chang said they have imposed shoreline setback “more than we need to” since burials and cultural sights are likely near the shore. “He (Haun) will be clearing vegetation and trenching during the archaeology study. When you see that, it’s not construction, it’s the study,” she advised residents. Trenching is an excavation method used by archaeologists to search for material and physical remains. Trenches are dug, often in a grid pattern in select areas and are deeper than they are wide in order for different layers of strata to be searched. But the method also has the disadvantage of only revealing small slices of the whole volume. According to Haun, the past archaeological studies for the result revealed 25 individuals, three who remain “in place at Kahuku Point” while the others have been relocated. He said they’ve found deposits dating back to the 1400s, and back nearly 1,000 years ago. According to Sichter’s report, Turtle Bay Resort (TBR) and related companies are the current owners of approximately 1,300 acres of land between Kawela Bay and Kahuku point, both above and below Kamehameha Highway. While the plan has numerous elements to it, some of the stand out features listed in the Turtle Bay Resort Environmental Assessment and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice include a “gathering place” that will include a “small collection of simple and authentic mismatched buildings pulling from the kamaaina architectural heritage of the island.” It will include local shops and restaurants, a day care facility for resort employees, lawns and a grove of trees. The report states that the built part of the gathering place will include less than 40,000 square feet of indoor space, primarily in single story buildings. A raised lanai and porches linking the buildings as well as a sports club will be also be constructed. According to the report, all buildings will be set back at least 100 feet from the certified shoreline. The Turtle Bay Park will be home to the outlet of the “rerouted Kawela Stream,” and will feature a “small amphitheater and stage.” Concerts, public performances, and other presentations are expected to take place in the amhpitheater. A Farmers Market will also be located near the park. According to the report, “Between events the farmer’s market will include a small number of permanent market stands.” According to Sichter, to improve traffic flow a second entrance from Kamehameha Highway will be installed approximately 4,200 feet west of Kuilima Drive, the current access to the resort. Also, a two lane privately owned and maintained driveway called Kaihalulu Drive will run parallel with the shoreline to Kaihalulu Beach before heading inland and connecting Marconi Road. Marconi Road, currently a dirt road, will be widened to two paved lanes and will be a secondary resort entrance with an “improved intersection” at Kamehameha Highway. Changing will also be made to Turtle Bay’s popular 18-hole Fazio Golf Course which will be reduced to a nine hole course.  A new Golf Clubhouse is proposed for a site of three acres next to the current 18th hole of the Palmer Golf Course, which will remain unchanged. In the report, Sichter wrote: If TBR were to proceed with development of the SEIS lands maximizing development to the extent allowed under current land use entitlements and approvals, TBR would be permitted to construct five new hotels including 2,500 units along with 1,000 new condominium units on the lands. TBR says it is responding to community sensitivities and concerns, and reflecting its own preference for a development plan sensitive to its physical environment. This “reduced density alternative” is the applicant’s (TBR) preferred alternative and the proposed action. According to the report, the current plan proposes a reduction in “density” from the original plan of 60 percent. While looking closely of one of many renderings of the plan, a North Shore resident in a green “Keep the Country Country” t-shirt said, “This plan may be a little smaller than the original one, but it’s still huge and will drastically change what we have out here. What they want to do isn’t keeping the country country.”   News Culture Community Monday, September 19 2011 12:58 AM /story/city-reapportionment-commission-to-discuss-redistricting-proposals /story/city-reapportionment-commission-to-discuss-redistricting-proposals HONOLULU—A City Council Reapportionment Commission meeting takes place on Wednesday, September 7 in Honolulu Hale. The commission will make a decision on proposed approaches to preparing redistricting maps. Proposals include determining a starting point: using Kaena Point or Makapuu Lighthouse as the starting point or having both Kaena and Makapuu act as dual starting points. Another proposal involves using existing districts with boundary adjustments based on Census numbers. For information on testifying and to view the full meeting agenda, click here For more information, call (808) 768-3119. 2011 Honolulu City Council Reapportionment Commission meeting Wednesday, September 7 at 4:00 p.m. Council Committee Meeting Room 2nd Floor, Honolulu Hale Related Stories: Will Hawaii care enough about deciding its political districts? How to tilt an election through redistricting News Culture Community Saturday, September 3 2011 12:40 AM /story/public-land-development-corp-faces-long-road /story/public-land-development-corp-faces-long-road HONOLULU—At an informational briefing held at the State Capitol on Monday, State officials discussed the status of the Public Land Development Corporation and its Public Lands Optimization Plan (PLOP). Despite the unfortunate acronym, the PLOP seems to be embraced by State officials who are looking to generate revenue through the commercial development of public lands in Hawaii through public-private partnerships. “This is a very exciting time,” said State Sen. Donavan Dela Cruz, who introduced the measure to create the Corporation. “The possibilities are endless.” Dela Cruz is co-chair of the joint committee overseeing the Corporation, which includes members of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Housing and the House Committee on Water, Land, and Ocean Resources. And while all of those who spoke on the matter were steadfast in their optimism, the briefing made clear that there is a colossal amount of administrative legwork and logistics that is still to be undertaken and completed before the Corporation can even begin work on its stated mission, as required by law. The set of rules by which the Corporation will operate has yet to be determined. Those rules must be approved by Gov. Neil Abercrombie before any meaningful action can be taken toward the development of public lands. The Corporation has thus far created a rules subcommittee, which includes boardmember Guy Kaulukukui and former Senate President Robert Bunda. “The rules should not circumvent the spirit of the law,” said Bunda of creating the rules by which the Corporation will operate. “We are going to lean on the Department of Land and Natural Resources early on for administrative assistance,” said Kaulukukui. He also stated the need for the Corporation to adhere strictly to current Sunshine Law requirements of public disclosure from government agencies. Before the Corporation can begin to propose, approve, and move forward with capital improvement and other projects, it must first identify and inventory public land holdings. State agencies holding title to lands in Hawaii include the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Education, among others. University of Hawaii Associate Vice President of Capital Improvements Brian Minaai, who spoke to the joint committee, was unable to provide an inventory of UH’s land holdings. He explained that the university had not yet been asked to provide such an inventory by anyone from the Corporation. Early proposals for the Corporation to create new revenue streams for the State include user impact fees at existing State facilities and improvements to those facilities. Kaulukukui was, however, clear on the matter of the potential sale of public lands to private entities. “We have no intention of selling State lands,” he said, adding that the State could actually increase its holdings through the Corporation. Another major aspect of the Corporation’s future actions will include transit-oriented development along the planned rail corridor. Honolulu Authority on Rapid Transit board member Ivan Lui Kwan was optimistic in his assessment of the possibilities of a partnership with the PLDC, calling the organizations’ objectives “synergistic.” Housing and tourism will also be key issues in the Corporation’s future. Dela Cruz, in his opening remarks, noted that job creation and helping Hawaii’s smaller communities thrive are two of the main purposes of creating the PLDC. And while all who spoke to the joint committee expressed their unabashed optimism for the future of the Corporation, concern was expressed by labor leader Mel Kahele, who worried that future projects may be able to skirt current construction licensing and requirements through exemptions provided in Section 19 of the law. He said that the Attorney General’s office has been notified, and that he is sure that labor’s concern can be remedied. The actual timeline for the Corporation’s actions in the future became the topic of discussion toward the end of the meeting, with State Rep. Mark Nakashima expressing his concern about the uncertainty of their timeline. Referring to transit oriented development, Lui-Kwan had said: “We want to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible,” but gave no concrete answer as to the commencement of development. Sen. Malama Solomon became affably assertive as Kaulukukui discussed the procedural difficulty the corporation already faces, including being understaffed (the Corporation has been funded for three executive positions, but will use the approximately $130,000 allotted for salaries for the Executive Director position alone). “Okay, okay,” said Solomon. “When?” What is certain is that the Corporation must have its rules established before the beginning of the 2012 legislative session, and that before any action can be taken, a complete inventory of holdings with development potential must be identified. Opponents of the law that created the Corporation have cited concerns that range from economic, cultural, and environmental. Bob Loy of the Outdoor Circle told The Hawaii Independent that his organization has no official position on the Public Lands Development Corporation, but that “we have seen repeated problems with other similar quasi-governmental development agencies in the past. The Hawaii Community Development Authority and Aloha Tower Development Corporation quickly come to mind. We believe these entities have generally been problematic and have not generated a track record of positive distinction in carrying out their responsibilities, which appear to be similar to those outlined for the new Public Land Development Corporation.”    Related Story: Crown lands: New development arm of DLNR unbound by preservation mission News Culture Community Thursday, September 1 2011 7:48 PM /story/turtle-bay-developers-back-at-the-table-hope-for-cool-heads /story/turtle-bay-developers-back-at-the-table-hope-for-cool-heads News Culture Community Wednesday, August 31 2011 8:27 PM /story/sex-drugs-and-standardized-education /story/sex-drugs-and-standardized-education HONOLULU—When the school day starts, parents expect that their children to have a day of structured learning with friends on a campus where students are looked after and behavior is monitored. Yet somehow, even with teachers who do care, campus security, locked gates, and fenced-in areas, there will be misguided, be it determined, students who find ways to be deviant, bringing sex and drugs to the campus. The Hawaii Independent spoke in depth with a few teachers throughout the state who were willing to talk candidly about some of the more outrageous things they’ve seen on Hawaii’s campuses. In providing these candid recollections, many of these teachers requested to remain anonymous. These stories remind us that regardless of what we strive for, sex and drug use does happen at school. Campus security and cell phone privileges aside, many parents and teachers say home is where prevention should start. “The stuff I’ve seen on campus would make for a great dirty teen drama show,” says a Hawaii Island teacher, who recalled an incident on a campus she once taught at. “Four years ago, a 10th grade female student was busted for running a campus prostitution ring and so were the other students involved. She was making money setting up female classmates with male students who paid for sexual favors and eventually one of the girls involved confessed everything to her parents.” The Hawaii Island teacher warns parents to remember that the campus environment isn’t always safe and that children need to be educated at home on issues like sex and drugs. “I’ve had the elevator doors open to two students putting on a condom who I proceeded to drag out and bring to the office,” the Hawaii Island teacher says. “Cocaine in school isn’t uncommon these days and I’ve even found a syringe in the stairwell. Marijuana, well that’s got to be the least of the worries for what kids are doing in school today and that’s been in schools forever.” In 2009, 46 percent of high school students had sexual intercourse and 13.8 percent had four or more sex partners during their life, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Prior to the sexual activity, 21.6 percent drank alcohol or used drugs. Only 38.9 percent used a condom. To see more statistics by the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, click here According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 10 percent of American youths aged 12 to 17 were current illicit drug users in 2009—7.3 percent used marijuana, 3.1 percent engaged in nonmedical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutics, 1.0 percent used inhalants, 0.9 percent used hallucinogens, and 0.3 percent used cocaine. For the latest national survey results, click here In Hawaii, it’s estimated that 10,000 children aged 12 to 17 have used an illicit drug in the past month (the National Survey on Drug Use and Health bases that estimate on the 2007-2008 results). The definition of “illicit drugs” in the survey refers to marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription-type psychotherapeutics used nonmedically. Despite what the estimates may say, another Hawaii Island teacher, who has been teaching for 12 years, says that stricter guidelines have kept deviancy somewhat under control. “It used to be that kids getting busted for some marijuana or other drugs often wouldn’t usually see legal action,” the teacher says. “The evidence would disappear because security would take the marijuana home, the kid’s parent’s would be called, and a lot of times that would be it. Thanks to Chapter 19, we’ve seen much more attention and punishment come to students engaging in drugs on campus.” Chapter 19 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules regards “student misconduct, discipline, school searches and seizures, reporting offenses, police interviews and arrests, and restitution vandalism” in public schools. The document is distributed to all families from second grade up at the beginning of the school year.  To read the text of Chapter 19, click here “Ever since Chapter 19 came into play, things have gotten a lot tighter on campus. Students still do deviant things for sure, but 19 has helped the campuses clean up a lot,” the teacher says. She added that before Chapter 19 was implemented, “students usually just got a slap on the wrist and a short suspension or even in school suspension. Now, cops come, it’s a legal thing.”  Chapter 19 states that any student who possesses, sells, or uses intoxicating substances or illicit drugs while attending school may be expelled for up to 92 school days and the school shall administer a substance-use screening tool to determine whether there is a need for the student to be referred for a substance abuse assessment. Although 92 days is the maximum suspension, Hawaii’s public school students who get caught with illegal drugs commonly receive an automatic 45 day suspension. Drug treatment is arranged at varying treatment centers depending on the island (Hawaii Island offenders are sent to Big Island Substance Abuse Council) for intensive and outpatient substance abuse treatment. When the offending students get their intake analysis, they can petition against the evidence. “We’ve got parents who have their medical marijuana license, and then the kids come to school with weed,” the Hawaii Island teacher says. “The crazy thing isn’t the kids here. The parents come in and say, what’s the problem? We’ve got our license to grow why are you busting my kid? That’s when it gets crazy and child protective services and foster care gets involved.”  And the law demands that teachers respond appropriately. Under Chapter 19, officials and school employees who witness or have legitimate reason to believe an offense took place are required to report the offense. Chapter 19 states that failure to report class A or class B offenses occurring in school bring consequences for the teacher including an oral or written warning, suspension without pay, demotion or dismissal. Class A offenses include possession or use of a dangerous substance; use or possession of drug paraphernalia; sexual offenses; and possession, use, or sale of illicit drugs. Even with the law leaning against illegal behavior, teens acknowledge that drugs are fairly easy to come by. Twenty-nine percent of teens in grades 9 through 12 report that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property, according to teenhelp.com. Meanwhile 38 percent of teens in public schools reported that drugs are readily available to them elsewhere. According to the teen help site, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, barbiturates, and crack are the most accessible drugs to teen students. “It’s a toss up. It must come down to personality or individual desire to be good or bad.” Teachers say that technological advances such as cellular phones and social networking sites have only made matters worse when it comes to sex and drugs on campus. In a report published by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) in late August, teens aged 12 to 17 who use social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace are likelier to use drugs and alcohol. CASA found that compared to teens who spend no time on social networking sites in a day, teens that do are five times likelier to use tobacco, three times likelier to use alcohol, and twice as likely to use marijuana. “Students used to have to actually get together to engage in sexual activities and they had to meet up to exchange drugs for money,” says an Oahu public school turned home school teacher. “Now, they can text where the dealers are going to leave the drugs. They post photos of drug and alcohol use and of a sexual nature online, and text all this stuff too.” Dubbed “sexting,” texting of a sexual nature is not uncommon for teenagers. Headlines were made this month when police discovered two dozen Vermont students involved in a sexting ring where female students would text photos to the boys, who would then upload the photos and distribute them on school issued computers. Hawaii is no different, teachers say. But it’s not just cell phone based. One Hawaii teacher reports a female student being caught having sex on campus three days in a row, with a different male student each time. “They were in the bathroom each time,” the teacher says. “We told the parents she needed help. They said it was our fault, but the same girl with three different boys points to another issue.” Chapter 19 says inappropriate physical contact includes, but is not limited to, consensual sex or consensual touching of body parts, or both. “You know, I feel surprised and disappointed with a lot of kids, simply shocked with what they’re doing, their attitude, their behavior,” says one teacher from Kahuku High School. “Then you meet the parents and you realize these kids are actually doing pretty damn good considering who raised them.” He added: “It’s a toss up. It must come down to personality or individual desire to be good or bad. Some kids are doing so much better than their parents, and some parents who appear pretty together have some pretty crazy kids.”  Another Hawaii Island high school recently busted a mother-son drug dealing team that had taken the campus by storm for two school years. “The mother was a heroin addict and a pill dealer and the son was dealing the pills on school grounds. He had a very lucrative business going, I might add,” says a ninth grade teacher on the same campus. A Central Oahu mother sees the value in a good home environment to help students make good decisions at school. “One day my 13-year-old daughter came home from school and told me that the girls were wearing colored bracelets, different colors announcing to boys how far they would go sexually.” The mother explained that in an effort to prevent her daughter from joining the trend, she talked to her daughter—and made sure to keep talking.  The mother explains: “What was I supposed to do? Take her out [of her current school], just to put her in another school where the same thing is probably going on? I think it comes down to communication, and educating them about things that the school apparently isn’t. Those campuses are a world of their own where these kids learn to work their way around. You’ve got to talk to them and support them in good choices.” Teachers agree. “The best thing is for parents to be aware,” says the Kahuku High School teacher. “They need not be shy about talking about sex and drugs with their kids. That’s the best shot they have, dealing with it at home.” He adds: “The option to do bad things in school always has been, and always will be there. Kids just have to know better.”   News Culture Community Tuesday, August 30 2011 8:19 PM /story/sand-maintenance-at-makaha-intended-to-replenish-3800-cubic-yards-of-erosio /story/sand-maintenance-at-makaha-intended-to-replenish-3800-cubic-yards-of-erosio HONOLULU—A sand restoration project will be held on Oahu’s famed Makaha Surfing Beach on Monday, August 22 beginning at 8:00 a.m. State officials said that one of the goals of this project is to help prevent the recurring erosion along the base of the roadway. It is also aimed at ensuring public safety, facilitating access to the beach, restoring a natural beach slope, and helping to protect the existing natural vegetation. The beach has been eroding for years the west end of the beach, threatening the stability of the lifeguard stand, parking lot, and trees. “Our first priority is to minimize public hazard and improve access to the lifeguard stand and other structures, which are in danger of losing their foundations due to erosion caused by the high surf,” said Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D), who organized the restoration project. Shimabukuro represents District 21—Kaena Point, Makua, Makaha, Waianae, Maili, Nanakuli, Kahe Point, Ko Olina. Heavy equipment will move sand from several parts of the beach to replenish about 3,800 cubic yards of erosion. The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Facilities Maintenance will conduct the operations under the direction of the City and County of Honolulu’s Parks and Recreation Department. News Culture Community Monday, August 15 2011 8:46 PM /story/city-council-to-vote-on-laie-marriott-hotel-complex /story/city-council-to-vote-on-laie-marriott-hotel-complex HONOLULU—When the Honolulu City Council convenes on Wednesday, August 17, councilmembers will be voting whether to grant a Special Management Area Use Permit to Hawaii Reserves, Inc. for a hotel complex part of the controversial Envision Laie development. Resolution 11-84 CD1 pertains to a large Laie Marriott Hotel complex: a four-story, 222-unit hotel, which includes a restaurant and banquet/meeting facilities; a stand-alone McDonald’s restaurant; and a new-two-story commercial building at 55-370 and 55-400 Kamehameha Hwy. For information on testifying and for the full agenda, click here Oahu residents opposed to the development have stated that the proposed Laie Marriott does not fit in with the rural character of the Koolau Loa District. Those in opposition have urged the City Council to shrink the Laie Marriott by half, down to 50 to 100 rooms, and make the buildings only 1 to 2 stories with an architectural style that reflects the rural character of the country. Related Stories: Envision Laie: 222-room Marriott is one step closer to calling Koolauloa home Koolauloa politics heat up, physical assault alleged 220-room Laie Marriott permit a key hurdle for Envision Laie development plans Commission defers action on petition to dissolve Koolauloa Neighborhood Board Koolau Loa Neighborhood Board support for Envision Laie ruled null and void News Culture Community Monday, August 15 2011 7:08 PM /story/energy-curriculum-underway-in-oahu-classrooms /story/energy-curriculum-underway-in-oahu-classrooms HONOLULU—Middle school science teachers at six Oahu public schools are set to bring lessons on sustainable energy into their 6th and 8th grade classrooms this fall. To get ready for the curriculum, teachers attended the Sustainable Schools: Educators’ Energy Exchange workshop in July to learn innovative teaching practices and gain tools to facilitate the study of renewable energy with Hawaii students. The workshop was the culmination of a partnership between the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE), Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women in Technology, and Punahou School. “Science and the related fields of technology, engineering, and math are pathways to solving many energy issues that challenge Hawaii,” said Kathryn Matayoshi, DOE Superintendent. “Through the workshop, science educators will broaden their understanding of renewable energy and bring a fresh approach to teaching energy-related studies in the classroom.” Nine teachers from Ewa Makai Middle School, Jarrett Middle School, Lunalilo Elementary, Nanakuli High and Intermediate, Palolo Elementary, and Washington Middle School took part in the inaugural workshop held at Punahou School’s Omidyar K-1 Neighborhood. Each teacher received the Island Energy Inquiry (IEI) curriculum, based on lesson plans and alternative energy resources developed by the MEDB’s Women in Technology Project, and a supply kit containing materials to create and build wind turbines in class and a 5-volt solar panel for small solar experiments. “Inquiry-based learning leads to a deeper understanding of the content, said Gentry Hirohata, a 7th grade science teacher at Punahou School and IEI co-instructor with Pam Kohara, Resource Teacher for Kaimuki, McKinley, and Roosevelt schools complex. “To show the students that science goes beyond the classroom, the lesson starts with asking the essential question on how this study impacts a real energy issue, for example, how does wind energy impact energy sustainability in Hawaii?” In November, the teachers will reconvene to share their resources and lessons learned during the semester to improve future workshops. For more information on the IEI curriculum, visit www.islandenergyinquiry.org. News Culture Community Thursday, August 4 2011 3:58 AM /story/haleiwa-arts-festival-brings-art-food-music-to-the-north-shore /story/haleiwa-arts-festival-brings-art-food-music-to-the-north-shore HALEIWA—The Haleiwa Arts Festival returns to the North Shore this weekend, once again offering an abundance of arts and crafts, food, and entertainment. All of it embodies the wonderful diversity of talent and vision inherent in Oahu’s arts community. Celtic Pipes and Drums will start the festival with the stirring, marshal sounds of bagpipes and marching drums. Performances throughout the event will include bluegrass music, opera, ukulele, rockabilly, and a musical theater performance by the Castle High School Performing Arts Center. The Haleiwa Arts Festival will feature the work of approximately 140 artists. All were selected by jury and include artists working in a wide variety of media. A host of local food vendors will be on hand, offering a cornucopia of local and ethnic foods. Several North Shore merchants, vendors, and galleries will offer special promotions on the festival grounds throughout the weekend event. The Haleiwa Arts Festival began in 1998, dedicated to education and the promotion of public awareness about the arts in Hawaii. The festival conducts workshops, demonstrations, and classroom education on Oahu year-round. Haleiwa Arts Festival Saturday and Sunday, July 16 to 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Haleiwa Beach Park News Culture Community Friday, July 15 2011 12:33 AM /story/waimea-valley-to-celebrate-re-dedication /story/waimea-valley-to-celebrate-re-dedication WAIMEA VALLEY—Waimea Valley will celebrate its re-dedication with Pulama O Waimea, an annual event that provides family fun, guided walks, a kalo workshop, arts and crafts, a plant sale, food, and entertainment. The event will feature a kanikapila, or backyard-style musical jam. Musicians of all skill levels are invited to participate. The Kalo Workshop brings experts, farmers and community members together to learn and share all about Kalo.  The workshop is interactive with special guest speakers, breakout sessions and walking tours to the kalo gardens.  The Waimea Valley Kalo Workshop is free and open to all interested individual and groups. Waimea Valley was acquired by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in August, 2006, in partnership with the City and County, the United States Army, the Trust for Public Land, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Light refreshments will be available at the kalo workshop registration. You can bring lunch or purchase something delicious at Nā Mea Ono. To register or for more information, please contact Jennifer Yagodich at (808) 638-5859 or jyagodich@waimeavalley.net. Activities: 9:00 a.m.—Re-dedication Ceremony at the Entrance of the Valley 9:30 a.m.—Botanical Plant Sales from Waimea Valley collection at the main Lawn 10:00 a.m.—Hawaiian Games with the Valley’s cultural programs staff 11:00 a.m.—Hula Lessons at the Waterfall Noon—Live music at lunch at the Main Lawn, Ono Hawaiian Plate Lunch by Chef Kimo as well as refreshing shave ice Noon—Hula Lessons at the Waterfall 1:30 p.m.—Native Footsteps – Historical Tour of Waimea Valley 1:30 p.m.—Hula Lessons at the Waterfall 2:30 p.m.—Hula Lessons at the Waterfall 5:00 p.m.—Pūlama `o Waimea Concludes Pulama O Waimea 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa Saturday, August 13 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. News Culture Community Thursday, July 14 2011 11:05 PM /story/wind-farms-in-hawaii /story/wind-farms-in-hawaii HALEIWA—Soaring 200-foot wind turbines have become a regular sight on the Kahuku landscape and on Maui. And while it’s no secret that Hawaii holds claim to being the most fossil fuel dependent state in the nation, wind farms are becoming an increasingly viable option for Hawaii lawmakers who hope to take advantage of our islands’ trade winds. The latest plans for wind power would see the creation of an interisland high voltage electric transmission cable system from Molokai and/or Lanai to transfer what amounts to 10 percent of Oahu’s energy needs. There could potentially be a total of 170 turbines, each taller than the First Hawaiian Bank Building, over 22,000 acres of land. On July 25, a roundtable discussion on the big cable and Big Wind will take place at the Democratic Headquarters in Ward Warehouse. Scheduled to talk about the questions and concerns are Gerald Sumida, Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative; Estrella Seese and Maria Tome, Hawaii State Energy Office; and Robin Kaye, Friends of Lanai. To see the entire schedule of Securing Our Future on July 18, July 25, and August 1, click here Although wind farms generate clean, renewable energy, the method is often a subject of controversy and contrasting opinions by both Hawaii residents and experts on the subject. Although the huge turbines produce clean energy, they can have negative impacts on their surrounding environment, wildlife, and people. Research has shown one thing is for certain: The positive and negative impact of a wind farm varies greatly between locations. Under the banner of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI), wind farms have been constructed at several locations in the islands. Launched in 2008 by the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of Energy, the HCEI is Hawaii’s solution to being four times more dependent on oil than any other state. The HCEI aims to achieve 70 percent clean energy by 2030, with 30 percent coming from efficiency measures and 40 percent coming from locally generated renewable sources. Viewed as an inexhaustible resource in the islands, wind has been identified as the most commercially available and economically viable option that Hawaii has, apart from geothermal, solar, biomass, and ocean thermal energy conversion as other alternatives. Because of this, wind farms currently exist on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu. If wind farm developers are successful with current proposals, they may soon be constructed on Molokai and Lanai. Oahu recently became home to the first wind farm the island has seen in over 20 years. Kahuku Wind, a subsidiary of First Wind, a Massachusetts-based clean energy company, was constructed in 2010 and went on grid producing enough energy to power 7,700 Oahu homes. Twelve 2.5-MW, 410-foot tall steel turbines stand on the 578-acre farm. In addition to the turbines, the farm consists of a battery energy storage system providing short-term energy storage and a 30-foot high microwave communication tower that acts as a safety measure, allowing for grid stability. The farm produces approximately two to three percent of Oahu’s energy needs. On Maui, First Wind constructed the 30 megawatt Kaheawa Wind Power that has been producing power since mid-2006. The farm consists of 20, 1.5 MW turbines made by General Electric. The second phase of the Kaheawa is currently under construction on Maui and is expected to in commercial operation by the end of 2011. The second farm will generate 22 MW of clean, renewable energy. Hawaii Island is home to the Pakini Nui Wind Farm in South Point where 14 General Electric turbines produce 21 megawatts. Owned and operated by Tawhiri Power LLC., it went online in April 2007. In North Kohala, a 10.5 wind farm has been constructed that produces 10.5 MW of energy, and began producing power in 2006. The farm is owned by Hawi Renewable Development. A simulated view of the proposed Auwahi Wind turbines situated on the hillside at Ulupalakua Ranch. In October 2009, Sempra Generation, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, acquired Auwahi Wind Energy LLC from Shell WindEnergy Inc., a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Auwahi Wind is developing a 22-megawatt wind energy and battery storage project on Maui. Sempra Generation says the proposed project may begin commercial operations in 2012 in the southeastern region of Maui. Construction could begin this year. Another First Wind project is planned for the Kawailoa area on Oahu’s North Shore. When complete, the Kawailoa wind farm is expected to generate 70 MW and will be the largest wind farm in Hawaii. Construction is anticipated to begin this year on land owned by Kamehameha Schools. Still early on in the process, 30 turbines are planned for the site, each slightly smaller than the ones at Kahuku. Combined, they will have the capacity to power approximately 15,000 homes. On the island of Lanai, as part of the Big Wind project, Castle and Cooke has proposed to install a 200 to 400 MW wind facility. The electricity from the wind farm would then be transported to Oahu via submarine cable. Approximately 56 wind turbines will be installed within 12,800 acres, based on a 3.6 MW turbine model. The $1 billion undersea cable will require reef destruction and will run through a whale sanctuary, and connect to Oahu at a landing point between Pearl Harbor and Kaneohe Bay. They estimate that enough wind energy will be produced to supply approximately 15 percent of Oahu’s energy needs. In April 2011, Castle and Cooke Renewable Energy agreed to assign a portion of its wind energy allocation to Pattern Energy Group, which will enable Pattern Energy to pursue construction of a wind farm on Molokai. This means Pattern Energy would be able to build a roughly 200 MW wind facility, half of Castle and Cooke’s original allotment. The proposed wind farm will cover an estimated 18 square miles of Molokai. All wind energy produced on Molokai will also be sent to Oahu via the underwater cable. The State is expected to pay for the $1 billion underwater cable installation, while Castle and Cooke would earn as much as $3 billion over the project’s 20–year life expectancy. Wind industry officials often tout that wind energy is clean and takes a different approach. Electricity is produced as the wind turns the three blades. This causes gearboxes at the top of the turbine to spin, creating electricity. Through underground cables, the electricity travels from the tower to a substation and battery facility. There, the electricity is transferred to Hawaiian Electric Company’s transmission lines, sending electricity to consumers across the island. The turbines currently on Oahu and Maui he have a 20-year life expectancy, after which they will be scrapped and replaced with new ones. The planned turbines for Molokai and Lanai also have a 20-year life expectancy, something opponents to wind energy cite as a reason to forgo construction. The 30 MW of electricity produced by Kahuku Wind will eliminate approximately 154,000 barrels of oil used each year in Hawaii to produce conventional power. According to HawaiiEnergy.com, 10.1 million MW of power was sold last year by Hawaii’s electric utilities, the equivalent of 100 wind farms that generate 30MW, like Kaheawa Wind on Maui. Critics of wind energy question how much fossil fuel goes into creating each farm, and note the impact they can have on the surrounding environment and wildlife. However, there isn’t a simple answer to the question of whether wind farms are good or bad for the environment, because the visual impact, noise, and effects on wildlife vary drastically between locations. Harm and death to birds and bats, known in the wind energy industry as “take,” are a side effect of spinning turbines. While it’s true these creatures can die from flying into the tall structures, the rate of turbine related bird deaths has been estimated to be lower than with other artificial structures. Bird deaths vary greatly by location. While some wind farms across the continental U.S report very high bird take, other show very little. In early 2011, Kekoa Kaluhiwa of Kahuku Wind said the Maui farm’s take is much lower annually than allowed. To determine bird and bat fatalities, on-site biologists search a marked grid under each turbine on a regular basis. Hawaii’s interest in wind energy may seem like a new venture, but the State has experimented with wind farms for decades. From 1985 to 1993, HECO’s parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries, developed and operated a 9-megawatt, 15-turbine wind farm in Kahuku. The site shut down in 1996, three years after ownership changed hands. It provided power to Oahu’s grid, but met its demise due to what HECO representatives called “low production and problems with equipment.” Years later, HECO and First Wind have high hopes for clean energy and agree that wind turbine technology has seen considerable improvement. Hawaii Island’s Pakini Nui windfarm replaced the out-of-commission 9.3 MW Kamaoa Wind Farm that began commercial operation in the late 1980s and had 37 Mitsubishi turbines on 100 acres of land. The Lalamilo Wind Farm near Waikoloa, originally built in 1985, has also been decommissioned. According to Hawaii Electric Company, Hawaii County and the Water Board are in the process of procuring a developer/contractor to build a new wind farm at this location.  Hawaii’s future in energy and oil consumption is uncertain, but interest in wind energy by utility companies, renewable energy companies, and wind farm construction companies appears to remain steady. Sources say Hawaii has some of the worlds best wind location to power turbines, and interest in utilizing our wind will most likely continue to grow. If that is the case, it’s important that Hawaii residents take part in determining whether the locations are sufficient. News Culture Community Tuesday, July 12 2011 9:29 PM /story/pupukea-farmer-sees-a-potential-for-growth-in-community-supported-agricultu /story/pupukea-farmer-sees-a-potential-for-growth-in-community-supported-agricultu NORTH SHORE—A new crop of farmers are learning to navigate a historically difficult path to sustainable agriculture in the islands. Like many of Hawaii’s young farmers, Meleana Judd is optimistic of Hawaii’s food future, but is also cautious and meticulous in the details of her literally up-hill battle to make ends meet. Driving the length of Judd’s farm in Pupukea requires you to scale up the mountain it settles up against. It becomes a steep incline, particularly as you get toward the house way in the back. And it’s not without its aches. “People who’ve been around here a while swear they lose weight from just walking up and down,” Judd says. But what’s a real bother are the pigs that frequent her fields and harass her ground cover (her traps have yet to catch one.) As for those pesky stray chickens that scratch around for seeds and grub? She replied, “The first chicken I ever cooked, let alone killed, was a wild chicken visitor.” Since Judd and her father purchased the three-acre property nearly four years ago, the new farmers have been busy getting the place up to productivity. Once a horse stable overgrown with thickets of cane grass and haole koa, the place is now awash in organically grown greens and fruits, the variety of which is impressive, although nearly mandatory for an enterprise like Judd’s. She operates a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, which Judd started at the end of 2009. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a CSA program consists of a community of individuals who pledge support to a farm operation so that the farmland becomes, either legally or spiritually, the community’s farm, with the growers and consumers providing mutual support and sharing the risks and benefits of food production. Typically, members or “share-holders” of the farm or garden pledge in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation and farmer’s salary. In return, they receive shares in the farm’s bounty throughout the growing season, as well as satisfaction gained from reconnecting to the land and participating directly in food production. Members also share in the risks of farming, including poor harvests due to unfavorable weather or pests. By direct sales to community members, who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, growers receive better prices for their crops, gain some financial security, and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing. A good variety of organic fruits and vegetables gives Judd a lot of options, particularly in the case a crop happens to go awry. Plus, people who join CSA’s in general like a bit of variety; it keeps things fun and interesting. Just a few of things presently cultivated at Judd’s farm are sweet basil, fennel, pineapple, sweet potato, cowpeas, bananas, chards, and tomatoes, for starters. Then there are the more unique items (and previously unknown to me): Cuban oregano, chaya (tree spinach), and Malabar spinach, to name a few. Although she’s just 29 years old, Judd has had a relatively long relationship with agriculture. She started tending to plant nurseries in high school, took botany classes in college, and even apprenticed at an intensive permaculture centre at the renowned Djanbung Gardens in Australia. Still, there’s nothing quite like starting a farm from scratch. It took a year of renovating existing structures, another dedicated to clearing brush, and then several months of applying compost to all corners of the parcel. (Organic fruit cultivator Charles Boerner, of Ono Organic Farms on Maui, paid a visit on the same day as my visit and recommended even heavier applications of the cow poop mixture to vitalize her fruit tree saplings.) So it makes sense that Judd’s always on the hunt for compost. In a follow-up email exchange with The Hawaii Independent, Judd recalled that when the CSA first started, she distributed the weekly goodies in buckets, hoping that customers would return the next week with a healthy pile of organic scraps. “That didn’t work for many reasons,” she wrote. Judd moved on to baskets, which, she happily noted, are cheap, cute, and prevent the produce from bruising. And when Judd is not getting a handle on bugs (what farmer isn’t?) or migrating her baby goat “Getmy” around the hills for natural weed control, she’s looking for more ways to fund farm projects. Judd is awaiting word from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s EQIP program on whether she’ll have some financial assistance to buy mulch as well as plant more banana trees for use as windbreaks. (If you’re a new farmer, EQIP is for you.) “We can’t afford what we’re doing,” she says with a flat humor. Truth be told, her family’s property rentals do keep her afloat. But, she explains, starting a farm isn’t easy, particularly during the first few years when infrastructure costs can be excessive. Judd is not deterred, however. She’s counting on her CSA subscribership to grow (it’s up to 15-strong now) and eyeing to score some restaurant accounts. But, of all her ventures, she’s most excited about starting up a co-op in Pupukea. “This area has a lot of potential for farmers, and people already have all kinds of things growing in their backyards,” she says. “We have an incredible opportunity to build a local food shed here.” If you’re interested in subscribing to Meleana’s CSA (which also features items from other nearby farms), interning, ordering particular produce for a family party, dropping off compost, or keeping yourself informed of upcoming events, check out www.meleanasfarm.com or contact Judd at MeleanaJudd@gmail.com or (808) 551.8132. News Culture Community Tuesday, June 21 2011 9:36 PM /story/kahuku-farms-now-offering-public-tours-of-diversified-ag /story/kahuku-farms-now-offering-public-tours-of-diversified-ag KAHUKU—Kahuku Farms is now offering tours of its facilities to those interested in seeing how diversified agriculture is being implemented on Oahu. Kahuku Farms is a family operated business growing papaya, long eggplant, taro leaf, apple banana, and cacao for chocolate, among other things. The tours are organized by Kylie Matsuda, who says that the farms supplies a variety of supermarkets. Kahuku Farms sells a variety of culinary and bath and body products as well. Kahuku Farms was incorporated by Clyde Fukuyama and Melvin Matsuda in 1995, both of whom are third-generation farmers. Leasing land from Campbell Estate, Dole Foods, the State of Hawaii, and Kamehameha Schools, Kahuku Farms spans over 300 acres. The tractor-pulled tours provide detailed information about the history, people, and products produced at Kahuku Farms. Tours include a sampling of the farm’s products. Specialty tours are available for schools, church groups, and seniors. Discounts are available. The farm plans to offer daily tours beginning late July. For more information, visit kahukufarms.com or call (808) 372-7522. Kahuku Farms Public Tours Wednesday through Sunday Admission: Adults $15, Children $12 (children under 4 free) 56-800 Kamehameha Hwy. News Culture Community Tuesday, June 21 2011 9:24 PM /story/waiahole-ditch-water-in-central-oahu /story/waiahole-ditch-water-in-central-oahu HONOLULU—The Waiahole Ditch water system was completed in 1916, and diverted nearly 30 million gallons of fresh water from the Koolau Mountains and Windward Oahu watersheds to the Ewa Plain for irrigation purposes. It is a 25-mile system of collection tunnels and ditches that stretch from the mountains of Kahana to central Oahu. Built by the Oahu Sugar Company, the tunnel effectively deprived many Windward farmers of access to water they enjoyed for generations. Surprisingly, all that is needed to divert water from the Windward Oahu to the Ewa plain is a seven-foot by seven-foot wooden gate. Due to the characteristics of Leeward Oahu, the sugar industry built the Waiahole Irrigation System, in order to provide water to their crops. Over time, smaller farms and ranches, focusing on diversified agriculture, emerged utilizing the same irrigation system that the sugar plantations constructed and employed. Although the Oahu Sugar Company shut down in 1995, water from the Waiahole Ditch remains a vital part of agribusiness in both Windward, Central, and Leeward Oahu. Following contentious legal battles over the allocation of water, about half of the water from the Waiahole Ditch has been returned to Windward Oahu, fostering a resurgence of farming in places like Waikane, Waiahole, and Kahana. East vs. West One cause of continuing conflict on Oahu is that parties from the Windward side want to see water diverted through the Waiahole Ditch returned to streams in Windward Oahu, while Leeward Oahu farmers require the water to sustain their crops. The Water Commission tried to resolve the dispute through a contested case hearing, but their decisions have resulted in appeals and cross appeals to the State of Hawaii Supreme Court.  The case arose from the efforts of small family farmers and Native Hawaiians, led by citizen groups Hakipuu Ohana, Ka Lahui Hawaii, Kahaluu Neighborhood Board, Makawai Stream Restoration Alliance and a coalition of supporters (collectively the “Windward Parties”), to restore streams originally diverted by Central Oahu sugar plantations. The Windward Parties sought to return diverted flows to the streams to restore native stream life, such as `o`opu, `öpae and hïhïwai; protect traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices; support the productivity of the Kaneohe Bay estuary; and preserve traditional small family farming, including taro cultivation. Large scale agricultural and development interests, including Campbell Estate, Robinson Estate, Kamehameha Schools, Dole/Castle and Cooke, and others, joined by the State, pushed to continue the flow of Windward water to Leeward lands to subsidize golf course irrigation, short-term corporate agriculture, and housing development. After seven months of administrative hearings, the Water Commission issued its first decision in 1997, which both the Windward and Leeward parties appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court.  The Windward Parties argued that not enough water had been restored to the streams, while Leeward interests complained that too much water had been returned. In August 2000, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in the first appeal. Although the Court acknowledged the Commission’s efforts at stream restoration, it vacated the Commission’s decision and sent the case back to the Commission. In October 2010, the State appeals court rejected two of three claims by Windward Oahu interests to restore more water to Windward streams, upholding most of a 2006 decision by the Commission on Water Resource Management regarding the allocation of Waiahole water, which provided roughly equal amounts to Windward and Central Oahu. The price of water Another issue surrounding the use of Waiahole water involves the cost of water use. In 1999, the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) purchased the Waiahole Irrigation System. ADC’s mission is to acquire, and manage in partnership with farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups, selected high-value lands, water systems, and infrastructure for commercial agricultural use. The corporation also directs research into areas that will lead to the development of new crops, markets, and lower production costs. ADC charges a user fee for water from Waiahole, which is used to pay off their debt from the acquisition of the irrigation system. In comparison with State run and privately run irrigation systems, water from State run systems is cheaper than water from Waiahole by approximately $0.10 per 1,000 gallons. However, water from private irrigation systems can run anywhere from five to eight times as much as water from State run systems, and four to five times as much as water from Waiahole. Add in service and meter charges and the cost rises substantially, which can have a negative impact on businesses. To read the State’s “Economic Impact of the Waiahole Irrigation System,” click here In Central Oahu, thousands of jobs are attributed to water from the Waiahole Ditch. Thirty percent of land on Oahu is classified as agricultural, 22 percent of which is in Central Oahu. The number of jobs generated by businesses that utilize Waiahole water exceeds 2,000. In a 2002 report, the State Department of Agriculture estimated the amount of revenue generated by those businesses at $95 million. Of the over 12 million gallons of water that flow from the Waiahole Ditch to Central Oahu, the Monsanto Company, the world leader in genetically engineered seed and bovine growth hormone production, receives 2.63 million gallons per day for its 2,052 acres. Robinson Kunia Land receives 2.39 million gallons per day for 995 acres. Dole/Castle & Cooke/Robinson receive 2.13 million gallons for 1,459 acres. Five other permits are issued to smaller entities that use the water for diversified agriculture and irrigation purposes. Some of the water is permitted for research purposes, as with the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center. Non-agricultural permits are used by others, including the Mililani Golf Course, Mililani Memorial Park, and the Waiawa Correctional Facility. Future of water on Oahu While farmers and lawmakers recognize the agricultural potential of areas such as Oahu’s North Shore, the kinds of fruits vegetables that can be grown are limited due to water quality. In an interview with North Shore Rep. Gil Riviere (R) on Olelo, Susan Matsushima, chief executive of Alluvion farm, talked about finding a way to tap into the Wahiawa Reservoir/Lake Wilson to irrigate farms on the North Shore. Currently, water that reaches the North Shore through plantation era irrigation is of R-2, a lower grade than required for low-lying vegetables. Hawaii uses three categories of recycled water: R-1, R-2, and R-3. Water from R-2 recycled water has a slightly lower quality relative to R-1 recycled water and must be oxidized and disinfected to meet Hawaii’s requirements for various uses. R-2 recycled water can only be used under restricted circumstances where human contact is minimized. While Matsushima and legislators are looking at new ways to recycle water and get water to Oahu’s farmers, Riviere said there must first be a commitment established to the farmers themselves. In order for farmers on Oahu to be able to develop a successful business model, Riviere explained, there needs to be consistent support for getting sufficient water there that will produce crops that are safety certified. “There seems to be so many moving parts here,” Riviere said. “If we can get the fresh water, get more farmers on the land, get more fresh crops, then there needs to be a committment ... to deliver and to deliver consistently. And then they’ll have a business that could be promoted and worked with [by local chefs].” Local restaurants are enthusiastic about using locally grown fruits and vegetables. However, safety certification (which protects our public health from contaminated food) on Oahu is hard to come by for many local farmers. And without the right water, in quality or quantity, no amount of enthusiasm is going to make our local farms into sustainable businesses. Stay tuned to The Hawaii Independent for coverage on Hawaii’s new farmers and the next generation of restauanteurs. News Culture Community Saturday, June 18 2011 2:12 AM /story/you-say-tomato-i-say-tomahto /story/you-say-tomato-i-say-tomahto Food Smarts with Jade Eckardt There are over 7,000 varieties of tomatoes, and a broad spectrum was up for tasting this past weekend at the Haleiwa Farmers Market Tomato Festival. Tomatoes were on display in a rainbow of colors and celebrated by the 3,000 people who gathered to enjoy the juicy red goodness in its many forms: pizza, fresh squeezed tomato juice, salsa, tomato watermelon salad, fried green tomatoes, and so much more. A personal highlight was finally learning the answer to the age-old debate: Is the tomato a fruit for vegetable? According to Big Wave Tomatoes, botanically speaking, tomatoes are the fruit of vines (berries to be precise), but a vegetable according to a famous court decision, the Tariff Act of 1883. In the United States, tomatoes are second only to potatoes in U.S. vegetable consumption, according to enotes.com, and if people are enjoying tomatoes even a fraction as tasty as the ones in Haleiwa today, it’s no surprise why. Each tomato at the Big Wave tomato tasting tent was a far cry from the hard, faintly red, dry tomatoes found in many of our local supermarkets. All the tomatoes up for sale and sampling were non-GMO and were locally grown: the Hawaiian current, a tiny red variety; North Shore black, an almost purple cherry tomato; pink and black cherry; pineapple tomatoes; and many more. Every variety had its own distinct and unique taste, and were all so good it would be a shame to see a single one wasted on tomato throwing, a universal tradition that dates from the mid-nineteenth century. Begun in rural areas and moving to theaters to express lack of appreciation, tomato throwing became an organized event in Bunyol, a town 25 miles west of the Mediterranean city of Valencia, Spain in the late 1940s. Since 1979, the city has officially sponsored the Tomatina Festival where over 30,000 people pelt each other and the city with tomatoes for an hour on the last Wednesday of August. Tomatoes samples galore were shared with visitors who tried fresh squeezed tomato juice that was a world of difference from the canned tomato juice many of us are familiar with. Samples of individual tomatoes, salsas, and tomato salads were all up for grabs. Even Ono Pops, the local popsicle company known for their unique flavors, created a tomato basil pop that took home second place in the tomato recipe contest, and was a satisfying and refreshing changed from their sweet and fruity counterpart. Luckily for visitors, all of the submitted recipes were open for sampling after judging. It was here I discovered that the common tomato has the versatility to create some very uncommon and wonderfully palate pleasing dishes, such as watermelon, feta, and tomato salad, tomato and sea asparagus salad, and a tomato and pineapple dish. Three winners took home a gift certificate for Leonardo’s Restaurant at Turtle Bay. Most visitors went home stuffed on tomatoes, like my son who ate an entire pound himself. I went home inspired to experiment and cook up some new tomato dishes, and many left with a new take on tomatoes. “Eating tomatoes usually means a slice on a burger for me,” said a woman sampling the winning dishes. “I didn’t know they could be used in so many dishes, I’m going to have a tomato night at my house after this.” Best Fried Green Tomatoes Courtesy of AllRecipes.com Ingredients 4 large green tomatoes 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup cornmeal 1/2 cup bread crumbs 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 quart vegetable oil for frying Directions Slice tomatoes 1/2 inch thick. Discard the ends. Whisk eggs and milk together in a medium-size bowl. Scoop flour onto a plate. Mix cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate. Dip tomatoes into flour to coat. Then dip the tomatoes into milk and egg mixture. Dredge in breadcrumbs to completely coat. In a large skillet, pour vegetable oil (enough so that there is 1/2 inch of oil in the pan) and heat over a medium heat. Place tomatoes into the frying pan in batches of 4 or 5, depending on the size of your skillet. Do not crowd the tomatoes, they should not touch each other. When the tomatoes are browned, flip and fry them on the other side. Drain them on paper towels. You can also fry up red tomatoes with this recipe but make sure they are not over ripe or they will be mushy. News Culture Community Wednesday, June 15 2011 11:42 PM /story/new-agri-tour-offers-insight-into-where-our-food-comes-from /story/new-agri-tour-offers-insight-into-where-our-food-comes-from HALEIWA—The North Shore is home to numerous farms that utilize the rich soil that has nourished various crops for generations. I was lucky to be invited on the virgin voyage of Oahu Agri Tours’ North Shore farm tour—a new venture by Annie Suite and Pamela Boyar, the women behind the highly successful Haleiwa Farmers Market. The tour isn’t a run of the mill tour of the usual Oahu sights. It’s the island’s first tour to take locals and visitors alike to the farms on the North Shore that cultivate the vegetables and fruits we find in our fridge. More importantly, the tour gives back to the farmers by contributing part of the profits to participating farmers. Ducks get cozy at Poamoho Farms. While the comfy E Noa tour bus began its journey in Waikiki, which departs from several hotels, mine began at Poamoho Farms, where Al and Joan Santoro own and operate their seven-acre organic fruit orchard. Al, a former career naval Intelligence officer and Joan, a computer systems engineer, never imagined they would turn fallow sugar cane land covered with the ever-annoying guinea grass into a flourishing and beautiful organic farm. Above the Poamoho Gulch, the birthplace of Hawaiian Royalty, approximately 300 fruit trees flourish. Mangos, oranges, avocados, lemons, limes, lychee, and so much more. A bird’s eye view from above Poamoho Gulch. An interesting note: The bright orange oranges in supermarkets from California and Florida are dyed orange (yuck). While Hawaii’s oranges are what Al called “ugly,” there’s a reason for that. Hawaii lacks the cold nighttime temperature that causes the fruit to turn a deep orange, and they tend to re-green when the temperature is warmer again during the day. Al and Joan’s farm is strictly organic and complies with the USDA’s National Organic Standards. Lemons at Poamoho Farms reflect a unique and natural Hawaii color. The next stop along the way was Mohala Farms. I was able to put a face to the cultivator of the salad greens I buy weekly from Celestial Natural Foods. Started in 2005, Mohala rests on six acres of former sugar land in Waialua and cultivates a variety of veggies using homemade compost, cover crops, crop rotations, and nutrient rich foliar sprays as a foundation for their organic practices. The farm also hosts “wwoofers,” volunteers participating in the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms who travel the world volunteering and staying at organic farms. On the day we visited, youth volunteers from the YMCA were planting trees, pruning hedge, and happily breaking up a freshly completed batch of compost that took four months to cure. The tour gets a close and personal look at the salad greens from Mohala farms. Mohala has a beautiful crop of collard greens, kale, swiss chards, herbs, and more. Although the farm has accepted a few grants, “We’re trying not to accept many because we want to get more people into farming,” said farmer Mark Hamamoto. “We’re committed to making it financially so we can let others know that you can actually make it as a farmer.” Rows of kale line Mohala farms. The tour then made another stop in Waialua to Dole Plantation’s chocolate operations. Dole has 12,000 cacao trees on 18 acres of land that was left alone and ignored after about five years of testing from 1995 to 2000. The orchard was then left dormant from 2000 to 2005. Long story short, when it was revived, samples were sent off to the Guittard Chocolate Company of San Francisco with no reply. One day a Guittard representative called saying: “I’d like to see your cacao. I’m at the airport and we want to work with you.” Six years later, the cacao is flourishing and is grown and processed in Waialua. A special blend of the criollo, trinatario, and forestero varieties, the extra dark chocolate, is 70 percent cacao and marketed as Waialua Chocolate. Pre-chocolate cacao at Dole Plantation. We also traveled over to the Waialua Sugar Mill that closed in 1996 after more than 100 years in operation. The mill now houses Waialua Coffee, surfboard shapers, and a shop selling local products. We also got a quick coffee demonstration and enjoyed some Waialua coffee, the first I’ve been able to actually enjoy black. The next stop was my favorite, a kalo (or taro) farm in an unsuspecting area in Waialua where Steven and Kuuipo Bolosan cultivate several varieties of kalo. They educated us on the ins and outs of kalo cultivation, harvesting, and processing, and also gave us a presentation on the cultural significance of the plant. A kalo pounding demonstration in Waialua. The growing and cultivation of the kalo plant is a tradition that stretches back for more than a thousand years. Native Hawaiians loved, honored, and cared for kalo and were in turn, as the creation story implies, fed and supported by it for generations. More than 300 varieties of kalo were selected for certain conditions, climates, and soils and by hand-pollinating over a millenia. A fresh water spring provides the Bolosan’s drinking water that tests at 99.9 percent pure. The large pool has been there for years feeding the land’s residents. “The owner is 95 and he remembers playing in this spring as a child,” Steven said. The husband and wife maintain the kalo themselves and produce what was hands down the best poi I’ve ever had. We were treated to a delicious lunch, a Hawaiian studies presentation, and a kalo pounding by Steven himself, and so will the visitors that take the tour in the future. A view of the loi. Last on the tour was Tin Roof Ranch where Luann Casey and Gary Gunder raise and process their own chickens right across from Chun’s Reef. They sell eggs laid on the land, and even process turkeys for Thanksgiving. The couple had stumbled into ranching accidentally, they said, when they were asked to adopt 25 chickens. Next thing they knew, they were collecting and eating their eggs, then raising and processing. With a broad of over 300 egg layers and a rotation of “eating chickens,” the husband and wife are supplying fresh organic chicken to the North Shore, having earned quite the reputation. Turkeys at Tin Roof Ranch. “They always sell out at the farmers market, no matter how many we have,” Luann said. Both the egg layers and eating chicken free range on the land and consume only organic chicken feed. They are currently processing around 100 eating chickens a month, something Luann said she had to get accustomed to doing. Oahu Agri Tours offers a rare peak into the island’s farms and insight into a dimension many of us don’t think about: where our food comes from and what the people who produce it must endure. I recommend the tour for island residents and tourists alike. For more information on the tour, visit www.oahuagritours.com. News Culture Community Wednesday, June 15 2011 11:03 PM