Gmos, Home Rule Top Topics of Kohala Candidate Forum

Vol.11, No. 8 August 25, 2012 GMOs, Home Rule Top Topics of Kohala Candidate Forum Story and photo by Lynda Wallach were each given three most candidates agreed that communi- On Saturday morning, August 8, questions, some sub- ties should have the right to decide for more than 60 people gathered in the mitted from the audi- themselves whether or not they wanted Kohala High School cafeteria to meet ence. The candidates GMOs, opinions on GMOs varied. some of the candidates running for state had not seen the ques- Another issue of importance to and county offices, listen to their ideas tions in advance. The Kohala is the shortage of healthcare and ask them questions. The event was questions covered a professionals in Hawaiì and what can organized by Lisa Andrews, who said wide range of subjects be done about it. This question was she wanted it to be an opportunity for from crime preven- addressed to the candidates for state all the candidates, the less well-known tion and prison over- Senate and U.S. House. Here the pro- as well as the front runners, to present crowding to penalties posed solutions varied, from Malama their platforms. for marijuana posses- Solomon’s emphasis on the University Attending the Forum were the can- sion and improving of Hawaii’s educating doctors who didates for County Council District 9: public education. might tend to stay and practice in the Robert Green, William Sanborn, Sonny The subject of islands to Lorraine Inouye’s support Shimaoka and Margaret Wille; for genetically modified for a program that sent interns to rural mayor: Share Christie, Daniel Cunning- organisms (GMOs) areas. Tulsi Gabbard suggested that ham, incumbent Billy Kenoi, Harry Kim, coupled with the issue Hawaii would benefit from a law like Rand Walls and Dominic Yagong; for of home rule came up the Frontier Act of Alaska which pro- prosecutor: Lincoln Ashida, Paul Dolan most frequently. Can- vides for increased Medicare reimburse- and Mitch Roth; for State Senate District Audrey Veloria talks story with mayoral candidate didates for the state ment rates for doctors serving in rural 4: Kelly Greenwell, Lorraine Inouye and Harry Kim at the Kohala candidate forum August 8. Senate, County Coun- areas; Esther Kiaàina said her priority Malama Solomon; and for U.S. Rep- cil and mayor were all would be for the federal government to resentative District 2: Tulsi Gabbard, gram began, moderated by Megan Solís, questioned regarding their positions provide scholarship forgiveness loans Esther Kiaàina and Bob Marx. editor of the Kohala Mountain News. on GMOs and whether they would for doctors and other health specialists After a blessing by Kealoha Sugi- The candidates each had two minutes to support a community’s decision not working in rural areas. yama, the structured portion of the pro- introduce themselves after which they to have GMOs in their area. Although See Forum, page 3 Action Committee Discusses Land Sunshine Hardware Moving to Hawi Gym Use, Community Outreach Story and photo by Tom Morse sunshinehardwarekohala.com, under After 37 years in its present loca- the New Location link. By Lynda Wallach Presenting the county Planning tion across from Kamehameha Park in As Greg plans to retire soon after the Land use dominated the topic of Department’s land use report, Rosalind Kapaàu, Sunshine Hardware will move move, he is transitioning control of the discussion at the August 13 meeting of Newlon, Planning’s NKCDP liaison, to expanded facilities at the Hawi Gym. store to his son, Jake, who now works at the North Kohala Community Develop- stated that plan approval was pending “We wanted to add more products. the current location. “Jake is good with ment Plan Action Committee, including for a proposed four-unit multi-family The Hawi Gym is twice as big and has people and computers and is learning the withdrawal of a special use permit dwelling on Akoni Pule Highway near twice the parking,” said for the establishment of a school on Kapaàu Road. The lot is zoned com- owner Greg Chilton. “We Hoèa Road. mercial. Hermann Fernandez requested will be able to add more clarification that a “Plan Approval” type lawn and garden equip- of request should not require scrutiny ment, building materials, by the Growth Management subcom- and maybe a housewares Seniors Sizzle in mittee since Planning verifies that such section. My wife Te Iwi and Summer Softball a request is a permitted use of the prop- I were looking at this same erty, that all requirements have been met location back in 2009, and and that it complies with the require- now it’s finally happening.” ments of the CDP. Greg, along with Glyn Newlon then reported the special and Rolf Dean, and Bill and permit request by Kohala Wishing Well, Carol Price, formed a hold- LLC allowing the establishment of a ing company to purchase nonprofit pre-K through eighth-grade the land and building. The country school for up to 50 students on holding company will lease the site of the former Big Island Poul- the facility to Sunshine True try Farm had been withdrawn by the Value Hardware. The new applicant. David Rotstein commented location is scheduled to Greg and Jake Chilton, father and son, operate from the audience that there had been open in July 2013. Planned Sunshine Hardware, which will move to larger facilities in Hawi in the coming year. See CDP, page 2 improvements to the gym include a new roof, electrical upgrades, the product lines,” he said. and painting. Pictures of the building Born and raised in Kohala, Jake Community Meeting and the documentation of its transition graduated in 1997 from Kohala High September 12 are available on their website, www. See Sunshine, page 6 —photo by Megan Solís The annual Community Meeting Charlie Karratti of Local Boyz shows Kohala Mountain Publishing, LLC great concentration as he takes is set for Wednesday, September 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kohala Inter- PO Box 639 PBST STD a swing during the State Senior Kapaàu, HI 96755 US Postage Softball Tournament on Kauaì. For generational Center. The public is PAID encouraged to come and learn more tournament results and pictures of ECWSS Kapaàu, HI 96755 Local Boyz and Kohala teams, see about the NKCDP and talk story Permit No. 9 pages 10 - 11. with Action Committee members. POSTAL CUSTOMER Page 2 The Kohala Mountain News August 25, 2012 CDP, continued from page 1 would have to be six feet of pavement Hermann Fernandez suggested that it is far from their house so they know a petition from residents on Hoèa Road added to Hoèa Road where it turns would be more useful if, when Newlon where their lines are in case they need objecting to the school on the grounds into a one-lane road, in order for there sends AC meeting minutes and other to be repaired. It is a complex problem, that it would significantly increase to be safe traffic to and from the school. communications to AC members, she however, and there are many issues that traffic. He stated that he, as a resident This would be very expensive. New AC should also send them to the commu- need to be considered before any plans on Hoèa, felt that the traffic issue chair John Winter stated there was noth- nity email list. The committee is also can be made. was “bogus” and was “easily solved” ing the AC could do about the project at looking into getting a fixed place on the Susan Fischer said that the name of and that “education is important; it is this point since the request had already local bulletin boards where AC and sub- the Infrastructure B subcommittee has embarrassing that people would contest been withdrawn. committee information can be posted. been changed to Power, Viewplanes a school.” In early business, the committee In addition to the upcoming Com- and Erosion Control. The subcommit- Fernandez added that many people considered a request from Kate Sterling, munity Meeting, John Winter proposed tee has been looking at traffic problems had attended the last Growth Manage- spokesperson for the Mahukona Cat the AC have a booth at the Kohala in Kohala, specifically backups at the ment subcommittee meeting in order Colony Caregivers, that the minutes Country Fair. Although in the past the Kynnersley Road intersection and the to discuss the permit request for the from the previous meeting be corrected AC booth has not drawn many visi- fact that the mauka and makai portions school. There were two main objections, to delete the statement that “there was tors, Susan Fischer suggested that, if the of Hawi Road are offset but not by the he said: that there would be a significant an issue with the cats and the trash committee were able to get large blow- required 150 feet, making hazardous increase in noise and traffic on Hoèa cans.” She said there is no issue; the ups of the original CDP maps, they may driving conditions. Roundabouts were Road, which is reportedly already dan- statement was deleted. attract more people. It was decided that discussed as an alternative to traffic gerous, and that they did not want the The investigative committee on how the AC would have a booth, and Winter lights. Answering the question as to nature of the agricultural subdivision to improve communications with the and Newlon will explore getting some why the wind farm cannot be used to changed with the addition of a noisy Kohala community continues working large maps.

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