January 12, 2011 — West Hawai‘i State Legislator Round Table Discussion
Hawaii County Council Update
- County Councilman Angel Pilago, District 8
Individual State Legislators
- State Representative Cindy Evans, District 7
- State Representative Denny Coffman, District 6
- State Senator Josh Green, District 3
Round Table Discussion
- Representative Evans, Representative Coffman, Senator Green
February 8, 2011 — Replacing Fossil Fuel With Geothermal Energy
To read the Geothermal Working Group’s report to the State Legislature you can click here then page down to where it says to download the report.
Ku’oko’a is the new company which is seeking to purchase Helco, Heco, and Meco to accelerate the transition from fossil fuel to geothermal.
For more info on Ku’oko’a, please click here.
Approximately 70% of the electricity used on the Big Island of Hawaii is generated by expensive, imported fossil fuel. Our dependence on imported fossil fuel not only presents a serious risk to our power system and creates huge amounts of greenhouse gases, but also drains billions of dollars from our economy annually.
Hawaii Island is unique in that it has an unlimited amount of geothermal energy that is available 24 hours a day that does not pollute our planet.
How and when can this energy source help replace our dependence on imported fossil fuels?
The 2010 State Legislature assigned the task of building a plan for increasing geothermal energy on Hawaii Island to the Geothermal Working Group, led by Co-Chairs Richard Ha and Wally Ishibashi. The Working Group has submitted their Preliminary plan to the 2011 State Legislature.
The Geothermal Working Group presented their plan for replacing our dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Speakers
- Richard Ha, Geothermal Working Group Co-Chair
- Wallace Ishibashi, Geothermal Working Group Co-Chair
- Don Thomas, University of Hawaii Geochemist with the Center of Volcanic Studies
- Mike Kaleikini, Puna Geothermal Venture Plant Manager
- Guy Toyama, CEO of H2 Technologies presented related hydrogen and ammonia generation technologies
Council Update
- Brenda Ford, District 7 County Councilwoman
March 8, 2011 — Impact Fees and The Kona Community Development Plan
West Hawaii has a severe shortage of infrastructure and public services, like connecting roads, neighborhood parks, police and fire stations and sewer facilities.
Councilman Pete Hoffmann presented a seminar on Impact Fees and the role they can play in providing for important infrastructure needs.
- How can increased shortages be prevented when new developments are built?
- What are Impact Fees and how do they work?
- How will the infrastructure improvements which have been identified in the Kona Community Development Plan be funded?
- How can it be guaranteed that fees collected from future development be targeted to address the infrastructure and services needs in the surrounding community?
Ken Melrose, Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee Chairman spoke on funding mechanisms for the Kona Community Development Financing Plan.
Brenda Ford, District 7 County Councilwoman, provided a Council update.
April 12, 2011 — Emergency Preparedness For The Next Threat
Where were you when you heard about the Japan earthquake and the tsunami warning for Hawaii? Were you prepared for the impending tsunami?
The only sure thing is that there will be more emergencies such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis in the future.
Speakers:
- Quince Mento, Hawaii County Civil Defense Director
- Henry Tavares, Assistant Chief of Police for Hawaii County
- Carol Kitaoka, American Red Cross
- Wally Lau, Deputy Managing Director for West Hawaii
Dominic Yagong, Chairman of the Hawaii County Council, provided a County Council update.
May 10, 2011 — Hawaii County Budget and State Legislature Update
Hawaii County is still facing difficult economic times and property values continue to decline presenting a likely budget shortfall for next year.
- What should be done to balance the County budget?
- Should property taxes be raised again?
- Should County services be reduced?
- Should County expenses such as payments to the County employee Health Fund be deferred until the following year?
- Should County subsidies for golf and recreation be eliminated?
County Council members Angel Pilago and Dominic Yagong answered questions and listened to suggestions on the County Budget.
State Representatives Cindy Evans and Denny Coffman presented an update on the 2011 State Legislature session.
Councilman Angel Pilago provided a County Council update.
September 13, 2011 — West Hawaii State Projects Update
Honokohau Harbor and Kailua Kona Pier Projects Update
William Aila, Jr., Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Kona Judiciary Complex Project Update
Ms. Dawn West, Deputy Chief Administrator, Hawaii State Courts
West Hawaii Community College Project Update
Dr. John Morton, Vice President, Hawaii Community Colleges
October 11 — Protecting Tropical Fish In West Hawaii
How can Hawaii’s delicate coastal ecosystem, with its irreplaceable varieties of tropical fish, be protected and preserved?
Come listen and ask questions about this critical natural resource.
Guest Speakers:
- David Dart, West Hawaii Fisheries Council
- Pete Hoffmann, Hawaii County Councilmember, District 9
- Tina Owens, Founder of The Lost Fish Coalition — White Paper (pdf)
- Dr. Bill Walsh, Division of Aquatic Resources Biologist — His presentation slides can be found here (DS 1040-Walsh.pdf)
Council update: Councilmember Angel Pilago
Recent story on what the Council is proposing. West Hawaii Today (9/16/11)