Kalo Challenge

Cooking teams assemble near the stage as awards are 
presented and teams are  recognized for their efforts.

Ka Hana Noeau, a mentoring and leadership development group hosted their 4th Annual Sustainability event at the Intergenerational Center at Kamehameha Park in Kapaau.  This year's special ingredient is kalo which has been raised by several Kohala families in part of a sustainability demonstration project that has been on-going in Kohala for the past couple of years.


Several "celebrity" teams made of of representatives of the Governor's Office, County Council, Kohala Boys, ILWU, Mayor's Team and others prepared a variety of dishes from pastas, stews, and dumplings competing for selection as "Most Savory," "Most Creative," "Most Aromatic," "Best Presentation," and the "People's Choice" awards.

Rep Cindy Evans, Mark, Rep Jerry Chang,
Rep Heather Guigni, Trustee Robert Lindsey.
and Councilman Dennis Onishi

Participation had grown each year with six teams participating in the chicken cook off in the first year to a field of eleven teams this year participating in the Kalo Challenge.  These dishes have also been increasingly harder to judge as the judges bring a number of differences and expectations to the table.  Judging on such a diverse number of criteria also adds complexity to the challenge of balancing of diverse tastes, eye appeal and textures.  An additional category which was much more straight forward was based on sustainability.  This was measured by the cooking team's use of a variety of items that were brought in by local farmers and placed on a table for use by the teams.  The OHA Team led by Trustee Robert Lindsey took this recognition by utilizing sixteen ingredients from the table in their entry.

Hawai'i Wildlife Center Dedicated in Kohala

Dedication ceremonies were held for the Hawai'i Wildlife Center in Hala'ula.  The center fulfills the vision of Executive Director Linda Elliot who has labored tirelessly along with her Board of Directors in garnering community and financial support for the facility that will serve as the first line of care for native Hawaiian animals in the event of an environmental disaster such as an oil spill.

The mission of the Hawai'i Wildlife Center is to protect, conserve and aid in the recovery of Hawai'i native wildlife through hands-on treatment, training, research, science education and cultural programs.  Learn more about the center at www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org.

Tanohata Benefit

Recently, the Kohala Community held a benefit for the residents of Tanohata, Japan.  The Tanohata Village was devastated by the tsunami that hit Japan.  According to Mayor Kanji Kamitsukue of Tanohata, as of April 30, 2011, 18 people were dead and 22 were missing, 583 houses were damaged and over 540 people were forced to live as refugees.

Tanohata was selected because it is a small community much like Kohala and has a cost line that very much resembles the lush Kohala coast.

Kohala resident Hana Kuwabara Anderson coordinated the event.

Kohala Armory

The Kohala National Guard Alumni contacted my office regarding possible use of the old Kohala National Guard Armory.  The property sits in the middle of Kamehameha Park and the former guardsmen were hoping to use the facility for a meeting place and club house.  This seemed like an easy enough request and a call was placed with the Hawaii Department of Defense (DOD).  This is where the story got a little tricky.

It seems that after the National Guard abandoned the property, a closure report was made and the property was turned over to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).  The property was deeded to the Territory of Hawaii by Kohala Sugar Co. for the expressed purpose of housing an armory.  The deed provided for return of the property at the point that the government no longer needed the property for an armory.  Initial discussions with Dole Foods, the successor to Kohala Sugar went unanswered and the issue was dropped.

I am currently working with DLNR, DOD and the Attorney Generals Office to try and determine how to go about resolving this issue.  There is a need to remove some material from the property and the departments are currently at odds on how this will be accomplished.  There may be a need for legislation to direct that this be resolved and that negotiations commenced to remedy the ownership issue.  It is hoped that once the legislation is in place, negotiations can commence to allow for the clean up of the property and allowing the Guardsmen entry to the property for a meeting place and club house.

Kohala Ditch Reservoir Number 3

Following the Koloko Dam disaster on Kauai, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources stepped up the dam inspection program and began to review dam safety through out the islands. Many of the earthen reservoirs which are remnant from the past sugar cane era have come under scrutiny and have been identified for renovation or closure.
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Among the reservoirs currently being studied is Reservoir #3 along the Kohala Ditch. The reservoir serves Cloverleaf Dairy just south of Hawi -- one of only two dairys left in the state --and a number of other agricultural enterprises in the area. The importance of retaining the reservoir and insuring the stability and sustainability of water available to the dairy and other farmers in the area is key to a long-term plan for agricultural self-sufficiency on the Big Island.
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Toward this end, I will be drafting legislation which will insure the on-going viability of Reservoir #3 and will work with the community to identify additional sources of water in the event of future ditch disruptions.

Marc Kinoshita Project Manager of Ho'ea Agricultural Park and Dairyman Ed Boteilho stand in front of Reservoir #3.

Ho'ea Agricultural Park

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A brochure about the park states: "The Ho'ea Agricultural Park is located on 500 acres of privately owned agricultural land in the Hualua ahupua'a makai of Akoni Pule Highway. Since the closure of the Kohala Sugar Company, these lands have supported enhanced grazing for cattle and dairy cows, a successful sod farm, aquaculture ventures and a small hydroelectric plant.

A master plan now in development is taking a holistic approach to the layout and sequence of various crops, aquaculture operations, pasture use and agricultural processing facilities. Close attention is being given to sequential re-use of water and nutrients, efficient vehicle and equipment access, windbreaks as needed, and the distribution of power and water throughout the park."


Pictured above is Ho'ea Agricultural Park Project Manager Marc Kinoshita standing in front of a demonstration aquaculture pond planted with rice.