Nū Hou - Newsbriefs

By Ka Wai Ola Staff

Hawai'i County Council: No can grow GMO

At a specially convened meeting that stretched into the wee hours of November 13, the Hawai'i County Council voted to reverse Mayor Harry Kim's veto of Bill 361, banning the genetic engineering of kalo and coffee in Hawai'i County. The bill is now an ordinance, and violators will be fined $1,000.

Bill 361 was introduced by Native Hawaiian councilman Angel Pilago to help protect kalo, a staple crop considered the eldest Hawaiian and thus sacred to Hawaiians, and Kona coffee, a unique economic resource for the island.

Proponents of the ban fear that engineered varieties of kalo and coffee could contaminate organic and other specialty varieties of the plants, something that has happened with other engineered crops. Opponents of the ban say scientific engineering is needed to protect important crops from disease and pests, and some farmers fear that the GMO ban could be extended to their crops.

The bill was initially passed 9-0 by the council in early October.

Sonar restrictions lifted in California, remain in Hawai'i

In a defeat for environmental groups, the U.S. Supreme Court last month lifted restrictions on the Navy's use of sonar in training exercises off the California coast.

Under a previous lower court decision, the Navy's submarine-hunting exercises were required to use precautions whenever their ships came within a set distance of whales, including several protected species. Environmentalists, citing evidence of whales' susceptibility to serious and fatal injury caused by the effects of sonar testing, filed suit to keep limits on the Navy practice exercises in place.

The majority opinion did not address the merits of the claims put forward by the environmental groups. It said, rather, that the overall public interest tips “strongly in favor of the Navy,” and the need to adequately train a U.S. anti-submarine force.

Meanwhile, limits on Navy sonar testing in Hawaiian waters remain in place under an injunction imposed last February by U.S. District Court Judge David Ezra. This marked a court victory for Earthjustice Hawai'i. A lawsuit brought by Earthjustice against the Navy, mirrored the one by environmental groups in California in citing research that whales suffer life-threatening physical harm from sonar. Sonar testing continues to take place in Hawaiian waters but must follow the court-imposed requirement to stay at a safe distance from whales.

DHHL chooses Target, Safeway for Pana'ewa

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has selected a partnership between Safeway, Inc. and Target Brands, Inc. to lease a 15.5-acre commercial property in Pana'ewa, Hilo, Hawai'i Island that will generate $18.1 million over the next 25 years to build more affordable housing for native Hawaiians.

“We welcome the opportunity to support the economy and improve the quality of life for residents by providing job opportunities and expanded services,” said Micah Kāne, director of DHHL. “The revenue we generate also goes back into our existing communities and helps develop new affordable homeownership opportunities for native Hawaiians.”

The site is behind Wal-Mart, across the street from Home Depot, and kitty corner to Prince Kūhiō Plaza. Wal-Mart was considering building a Supercenter on the site in 2007. The proposal drew community opposition, culminating in an unsuccessful move on the Hawai'i County Council to ban stores like the Supercenter. Wal-Mart later cancelled the plans, citing a new strategy of slower growth.

Target operates over 1,600 stores in 47 states. Target's first Hawai'i stores, in Kapolei and Āliapa'akai, O'ahu and Kona, Hawai'i are scheduled to open next year. Safeway operates over 1,700 stores under five names across the U.S. and Canada, including 19 Safeway stores in Hawai'i. One Safeway is located in the nearby Prince Kūhiō Plaza.

Blaisdell, Young awarded Pa'a Mo'olelo

Dr. Kekuni Blaisdell and Dr. Benjamin Young are recipients of the 2008 Pa'a Mo'olelo award from the Hawaiian Historical Society. The honor recognizes individuals for a lifetime of significant contributions to the preservation and perpetuation of Hawai'i's history. In addition to their years of service to the community as Native Hawaiian medical doctors, both Young and Blaisdell have demonstrated enduring commitment to the cultural traditions and history of the healing arts in the Hawaiian Islands. Young has conducted extensive research in documenting the life and times of Native Hawaiians in the field of medicine, dating back to the late 19th century. Blaisdell has studied the history of lā'au lapa'au and its relevance to contemporary issues of Native Hawaiian health. The Pa'a Mo'olelo award presentation was set to take place during a special program Oct. 30 at the University of Hawai'i Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies.

Another military first for Kenui

In 2005, Elizabeth Kapua Kenui of Nānākuli became only the second woman to achieve the rank of sergeant major in the Hawai'i Army National Guard. And this November, Kenui made another mark in the history books with her promotion to command sergeant major. The first female in Hawai'i to ever achieve the rank, Kenui is now the senior enlisted leader and second in command of the Hawai'i Army National Guard. The Kailua High School graduate has served in the guard for 27 years.

“I am honored that the Commander (of the Hawai'i Army National Guard) has the confidence in me to do the job. I am ready to relinquish my old duties and start taking better care of our soldiers,” Kenui said.

Her primary responsibility is to take care of the Hawai'i Army National Guard's over 2,700 soldiers and families, a kuleana that comes in many forms. “You take care of whatever issues your soldiers have, and you try to take care of the problems before they arise. You never know,” she said.

Hawai'i Army National Guard Brigadier General Joseph Chaves, Kenui's commanding officer, offered lots of praise. “[Kenui] is a role model soldier. She is
 definitely an inspiration for many of our young female soldiers, and throughout her career she has always exceeded expectations and the Army
standards for performance,” Chaves said.

Papahānaumokuākea workshop nominees sought

The stewards of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are seeking educators and conservation leaders to participate in a workshop designed to foster a more intimate understanding of Papahānaumokuākea's wildlife and cultural resources. The program, called Papahānaumokuākea 'Ahahui Alaka'i (PA'A) will be held from June 13 through 23, 2009.

Nominations are being accepted through through January 2 from educators, community leaders, and people in positions that support community change and stewardship. Up to 12 people will be chosen to participate. More information is available at papahanaumokuakea.gov. Forms are available from Ann Bell at fw1pie_paa@fws.gov or (808) 792-9532. Nominations must be postmarked by January 2, 2009. Questions about the PA'A workshop can be addressed by contacting Linda Schubert at (808) 933-8181.