iPhone version of video
Photography by Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

Music opens the school assembly at Pahoa High School to honor their basketball team.

Dancers entertain during the assembly in the Pahoa school gym.

The Daggers basketball team poses for photos.

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
336 AM HST THU MAR 11 2010

…HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EAST FACING SHORES OF KAUAI OAHU MOLOKAI MAUI AND THE BIG ISLAND…

KAUAI WINDWARD-OAHU KOOLAU-OLOMANA-MOLOKAI WINDWARD- MAUI WINDWARD WEST-WINDWARD HALEAKALA-SOUTH BIG ISLAND- BIG ISLAND NORTH AND EAST-
336 AM HST THU MAR 11 2010

…HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST THIS EVENING…

SURF HEIGHTS ALONG EAST FACING SHORES WILL BE 5 TO 8 FEET TODAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A HIGH SURF ADVISORY MEANS THAT HIGH SURF WILL AFFECT BEACHES IN THE ADVISORY AREA…PRODUCING RIP CURRENTS AND LOCALIZED BEACH EROSION.

MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 1, 2010, through March 7, 2010, Big Island police arrested 23 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Five were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 294 DUI arrests compared with 235 during the same period last year, an increase of 25.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		3
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	6		88
Puna    	2		31
Ka'ū    	0		11
Kona    	14		128
South Kohala	1		30
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	23		294

There have been 247 major accidents so far this year compared with 313 during the same period last year, a decrease of 21.1 percent.

So far this year, there were eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with four during the same period last year, an increase of 100 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

iPhone version of video
Video by David Corrigan | Big Island Video News

By Baron Sekiya | Hawaii 24/7

A community meeting Saturday morning (March 6) at SPACE (Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education) focused on the recent cease and desist order issued by the county Planning Department curtailing some activities at the center.

Leading the rally of supporters in the video above is HVC (Hawaii Volcano Circus) Founding Member and Executive Director Graham Ellis.

According to an e-mail notice and HVC Web site, the organization was granted a SUP (Special Use Permit) in 2001 in Seaview for a community arts center and home for the Hiccup Circus. The SPACE facility was later built to host the growing number of classes and events. SPACE has also been hosting weekly farmer’s markets, night bazaars, community meetings and charter school activities.

Messages in the online forum Punaweb cite noise, the influx of people, vehicles and parking issues in the residential community, extending beyond the private property and SUP as the impetus for the cease and desist order by the county.

Because of the order SPACE has cancelled the farmer’s markets and night bazaars, although charter school activities will continue as Mayor Billy Kenoi has made activities at the center by HAAS (Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences) exempt from the order.

SPACE supporters have started a petition to urge Kenoi to revoke the cease and desist order.

— Find out more:

SPACE Web site: hvcircus.org/arts_center.htm

MEDIA RELEASE

Jessica Mahi

The Hawai’i Police Department is searching for a 16-year-old girl reported as missing from Puna since October 22.

Jessica Mahi is described as 5-foot-1, about 125 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island Police are investigating a robbery Tuesday (February 23) at a Hilo pharmacy.

A man armed with a rifle entered the pharmacy, located in Puainako Town Center, and demanded drugs. A struggle ensued between the man and the pharmacy employees, who disarmed the man and, with the assistance of others, held him for police.

Police arrested Paul Santoro, 28, of a Puna address. He is being held at the Hilo cellblock pending investigation. He was also arrested for an outstanding bench warrant.

Two pharmacy employees were injured during the robbery. A female employee sustained an injury to the back of her head when she was allegedly struck by the suspect. The male pharmacist sustained lacerations to his hands. Both refused treatment.

The suspect complained of injury to his arm and was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

The pharmacy also sustained damages due to the struggle. The value has yet to be determined.

A loaded 30.06 bolt-action rifle was recovered at the scene. No shots were fired during the incident.

Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives are continuing the investigation.

Police ask that anyone with information about this case call Lieutenant Mitch Kanehailua at 961-2252, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of February 8, 2010, through February 14, 2010, Big Island police arrested 20 motorists for drunk driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 203 DUI arrests compared with 153 during the same period last year, an increase of 33 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	1		2
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	6		61
Puna    	1		19
Ka'ū    	0		7
Kona    	6		87
South Kohala	6		24
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	20		203

There have been 149 major accidents so far this year compared with 230 during the same period last year, a decrease of 35.2 percent.

So far this year, there were six traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with four during the same period last year.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.

MEDIA RELEASE

Jolan Brent Jones

Big Island police are searching for a 23-year-old man wanted for questioning in connection with investigations into terroristic threatening and harassment cases in Puna on December 19.

Jolan Brent Jones is described as Caucasian, 5-foot-11, 145 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.

Due to the nature of the terroristic threatening case, police consider him dangerous.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Lieutenant Mitch Kanehailua at 961-2252 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

MEDIA RELEASE

The public is invited to attend the Puna CDP Action Committee monthly meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2010, 3-6 p.m. at the Kea‘au Community Center.

Agenda topics include an update from Bill Walter of W.H. Shipman, LTD. on the status of the Kea‘au Town Conceptual Master Plan, amendments and other plans that W.H. Shipman may have in place for its lands in Puna.

Subcommittees of the Action Committee will provide status updates on their recent activities and the Action Committee will commence its review and discussion of the proposed amendments to the Puna CDP that have been received to date. Click on the following link to view the meeting agenda: tinyurl.com/yz2d7fd

The Action Committee is looking for volunteers to participate in the various subcommittees that were recently established: Amendments, Budget & Finance, Malama I Ka ‘Āina, Transportation, and Managing Growth. In addition, the Managing Growth Subcommittee has formed the following working groups: Agriculture & Economic, Social Services, Public Safety, Parks & Recreation, and Energy Sustainability.

Additional information on the subcommittees and working groups, go to www.punacdp.info or call Rachelle Ley, 937-3217.

UPDATED, 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25

Isaac Rusty Caraballo was located uninjured Saturday (Jan. 23) in the Puna District, after he presented himself to patrol officers at the Keaau Police Station.

MEDIA RELEASE

Isaac Rusty Caraballo

The Hawai’i Police Department is searching for a 29-year-old Puna man who was reported missing on Monday (January 18).

Isaac Rusty Caraballo was last seen walking on Nanawale Boulevard in Nanawale Estates in Puna on January 18, 2010, at 9:15 a.m.

He is described a 5′11″, 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo on the left side of his neck. It was reported that he may be in need of medical attention.

Police are asking that persons who may have further information call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (1/22/10)

Police traffic investigators have identified a 17-year-old boy from Pāhoa who died Wednesday (January 20) from injuries he sustained in a two vehicle crash the night before on Kahakai Boulevard, .2 miles north of Punawai Street in Hawaiian Beaches.

The victim was identified as Gary A. Gonsalves, Jr., of a Pāhoa address.

MEDIA RELEASE (1/20/10)

A 17-year-old boy from Pāhoa died Wednesday (January 20) from injuries he sustained in a two vehicle crash the night before on Kahakai Boulevard, .2 miles north of Punawai Street in Hawaiian Beaches.

Responding to a 6:53 p.m. call (January 19), Puna patrol officers determined that a 74-year-old Pāhoa man was operating a 2009 Dodge pick-up truck and traveling east on Kahakai Boulevard when he crossed the centerline and collided with a 1989 Subaru two-door sedan traveling east.

Both drivers were transported by Fire Rescue personnel to the Hilo Medical Center.

The 17-year-old boy was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he died this morning at 2:02 a.m.

Two passengers in the pick-up truck, a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both of Pāhoa were not injured.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but speed was a factor in this crash.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118.

This is the 5th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to one at the same time last year.

(Reader Opinions Disclaimer: This column allows members of the community to share their opinions and views, which do not necessarily reflect those of Hawaii 24/7, its staff, sponsors or anyone other than the writer. Hawaii 24/7 reserves the right to refuse any column deemed to be misinformation, of an unethical nature, a personal attack, or a blatant commercial pitch.)

Your Tax Dollars Not at Work
How Mayor Kenoi’s Appeal for TAT Supports Puna’s Appeal for FTR

Most people are vaguely aware of paying tax on their gasoline purchases and that the taxes are used to maintain the roads they drive on. However, what they may not realize is that these taxes haven’t been used to maintain all the roads they drive on – just some of them. If you live and drive in any one of a number of private subdivisions on the Big Island you pay the fuel taxes but you do not receive full benefit of them.

This is the center point of a bill to be proposed in council by District 1 Councilman Dominic Yagong. Recently, as then Chairman of the Finance Committee, Councilman Yagong was approached by Friends of Puna’s Future (FoPF) with a proposal to create a grant-in-aid program to benefit the nonprofit community organizations bearing the responsibility and financial weight of maintaining the roads in their subdivisions.

The logic of the bill goes like this:

Fuel Tax Revenue (FTR) is charged on every gallon and is intended for the maintenance of roads in our county. But for decades the funds have only been used for some of the roads, not all of them. FoPF views this as a issue of tax fairness. Thousands of Big Island residents live within private subdivisions created by the county at the time of statehood. There are hundreds of miles of such roads with no county funding. Those who drive on these roads pay fuel taxes but fail to get the benefit of those taxes for their roads. Residents, tourists, police, fire and emergency vehicles all use these roadways — but the homeowners associations are left on their own to deal with the entirety of road maintenance.

Mayor Billy Kenoi recently made a similar argument to the state government regarding the TAT (or hotel tax). Mayor Kenoi maintains that the County is rightfully due a share of the TAT funds collected by the State in exchange for shouldering a large portion of the maintenance burden of tourism. Likewise FoPF says that since the county collects FTR taxes for road maintenance and private subdivisions carry the cost burden of keeping their roads maintained for everyone, – the subdivisions are due a share of FTR funds. As Mayor Kenoi says regarding TAT – It’s only fair.

FoPF is proposing that the Public Works Department be instructed by council to fund a Grant-in-Aid program. Nonprofit organizations with road maintenance responsibilities could apply for cash grants in a simple process which would be completed in ninety days or less. The funds would not be allowed for acquisition of land for new roads. Under no circumstances would county work crews be expected to perform maintenance on private subdivisions roads. The nonprofits would have full discretion in allocating the funds for road surfacing, road base, shoulders, signage and safety.

There is a history of FTR funds not being fully used by the county year by year. This has resulted in a carry-over of funds from one year’s budget to the next. For example, a total of $4.6 million dollars of fuel tax allotments for the entire island from 1994 – 2004 lapsed and had to be re-appropriated. This is appalling considering the conditions of our County roadways. Having to carry over and re-appropriate fuel tax funds is not productive when one considers the struggle of private subdivisions to maintain these roads – roads which were established by acts of council and are open to everyone’s use.

Please call FoPF at 965-1555 or email to friendsofpuna1@mail.com or visit www.fopf.org

Rob Tucker
Puna