In addition to the written summaries here, you may hear most of the recent past programs at our news web site, www.bigislandnewscenter.com. Go to the site, look down on the right for the interviews.

Captain Charles Moore was sailing from Honolulu to Los Angeles in 1997 after completing the LA to Honolulu Transpac sailing race. He was astounded to discover large amounts of floating debris, mostly plastic. He has since begun studying the issue, and just released his book "Plastic Ocean," about what he's seen and found.

Carey Morishige is the Marine Debris Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is a science-based government agency. It's mission is science, service, and stewardship relative to the ocean and land that touches the ocean, and weather. Ms. Morishige says the large patch of plastic garbage has been in the ocean--in oceans--probably since plastic started being created in the 1950s. Plastic is a byproduct of oil, and starting in the 1950s both plastic and rubber in various forms started being manufactured.

How big is the garbage patch? NOAA says there's no way to estimate, but it's large...however the patch moves its location, it's not a solid patch but spread out, and it's hard to measure. Captain Moore said in total area, he would estimate it's BIG, perhaps as large in area as twice the size of Texas. He's done 10 research voyages to the area since his initial trip in 1997. On the trips, they've used large nets to capture some of the garbage and have tried to estimate the amount. Captain Moore says there are more than 100,000 pieces of garbage per square kilometer. He founded the Algalita Research Foundation after that trip to look into the issue more deeply. (Not covered in the interview, but a point of irony: Captain Moore's funding and family finances came from his grandfather, founder of Hancock Oil!)

The impact of plastic? Damaging to marine life that eats it and gets trapped by it, damage to coral reefs, damage to land, and just ugliness. Captain Moore said many of the laysan alabatross chicks on Midway Island are dying because they eat bottle caps. Ms. Morishige and Captain Moore agreed the garbage patches exist in 5 locations around the world where wind and currents create gyres, swirling areas. They also agree these patches contain a huge variety of trash. Much of it degrades--but that which does not degrade is plastic, which lasts for a very long time. Captain Moore said he's seen every kind of plastic object--umbrella handles, bottles, jars, tubing, nylon fishing nets...and lots of shards of plastic.

NOAA is working on having standard methodology to measure garbage in the ocean. She also said they're focusing on derelict fishing gear, large balls of fishing nets that are in the ocean because they continue to trap fish even though they are unattended. The nets are also particularly damaging to coral reefs.

Captain Moore says experts consider oil spills to be damaging, on a scale of 1 to 10, of around 5. They consider plastic garbage to be around 9. Oil can often be corralled and removed or it degrades and breaks up or sinks, whereas plastic does not degrade and it floats. The urgency doesn't seem to be there to clean up plastic spills as the urgency is when there is a big oil spill.

Where does the plastic come from? Captain Moore says it's "non point sources," meaning millions of sources from around the globe. He says it's possible to work with single source plastic polluters, but working with millions of people worldwide--more difficult. Captain Moore said six-pack rings now are manufactured so that the sun will break them down so the birds don't get their heads stuck in them. And the brittleness of plastic, especially here in Hawaii, doesn't mean that plastic actually biodegrades--it's photo degredation, the plastics break down into smaller bits, but they don't disappear nor fully biodegrade.

Can the garbage be cleaned up in the ocean? Ms. Morishige said no, it's not practical to clean up the surface of the ocean. NOAA does fund some volunteer efforts to clean beaches. For example, Kamilo Point here in Ka'u, the Hawaii Wildlife Fund cleans it regularly, and NOAA helps fund them. Captain Moore added that a UH Hilo professor is doing studies about the impact of plastic on Kamilo Point, and the plastic is actually lowering the average temperature of the sand, which may affect the sex of turtles born from eggs buried at that beach.

NOAA also removes fishing nets from the Northwestern Hawaiian Island. Captain Moore said the removal process is very very challenging, and even with the removal, it damages the coral reef. The best solution--get the nets before they hit the coral. NOAA says it removes 52 TONS of such nets a year.

Captain Moore said it's troubling that NOAA cannot take a more aggressive posture. He said with oil spills, we rush to clean, and we should do the same for plastic. We need to remove the biggest pieces as quickly as possible, understanding the ocean is 2 miles deep and much of the debris gets driven down below the surface where surface nets would not get the debris anyway.

There are now laws in place to prohibit ships from dropping plastic garbage, and other laws. But...it's not clear how effective all the laws are. In some countries, island countries, trash continues to be just dumped into the water--rivers, streams, oceans.

Japan tsunami debris: Carey said it's not clear how much, where, when. The NOAA web site (see below) has some information about it. (Note, we here on Hawaii Island had some experience with what could happen when the tsunami hit here, and especially at Kealakekua Bay we ended up with a house and all its possessions in the Bay, plus lots of other debris. Thanks to the wonderful volunteers who dealt with that situation, as there was limited "official" response.)

What's the solution? Education, re-using, recycling. Captain Moore said as with many things, educating our younger people as to the problems of discarding plastic improperly is important. And educating adults, too.

Captain Moore said he's found plastic shopping bags 1,000 miles away from land...so he supports reducing the use of those, and was glad the County Council and the Mayor have agreed and retailers will no longer offer plastic shopping bags in one year, similar to bans on Kaua'i and Maui and on the mainland.

Learn more about Captain Moore's work at www.algalita.org. You may find his book, "Plastic Ocean," at local bookstores including Basically Books in Hilo and Kona Stories in Keauhou Shopping Center, and online.

Learn more about NOAA and marine debris at their web site, http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ which also has information about expectations of the marine debris from the Japan tsunami in March, 2011.

On Monday, January 23, the United States Postal Service will release a series of bonsai stamps, five exquisite drawings of bonsai. Hilo artist John D. Dawson created the stamps. Last October we aired a talk story with John, when he'd been notified about the pending release but nobody then knew when. We rebroadcasting the interview to celebrate the release of the stamps, which will be available Monday, everwhere.

The rollout is in Sacramento, California, at the Sheppard Garden Center in McKinley Park. Sacramento was selected because it has the oldest bonsai clubs in America, started by Japanese Americans when they settled in Sacramento after being released from the internment camps in which they'd been imprisoned during World War II. I talked with members of two of the clubs, and they are very excited about the stamps--and all praised John Dawson for his beautiful depiction of the bonsai, which they said are very accurate.

John D. Dawson, is a Hilo artist. The USPS has an advisory committee that decides what stamp designs will be issued. They have six contracted art directors who assign the work to the artists. In this case, John was selected because he'd done some nature stamps before and because he was recommended by Howard Payne, Art Director for National Geographic.

John's first stamp was a cat stamp; he was selected because he'd done the "Morris the Cat" drawing for Nine Lives. The cat stamp first day issue was in connection with the musical Cats in New York City.

After the cat stamp, he did the Idaho Centennial Stamp (a bluebird, the state bird), flowering trees--a series of five, and Nature in America, one pane of ten stamps each year for twelve years. The last in that series was the Volcano Rain Forest set of stamps.

The USPS does not ask for artist input--they make decisions and assign the work to the artists.

For the Hawaii Rain Forest stamp, once assigned, John submitted sketches and ideas--a similar process for all stamps. The sketches go through the Art Directors, the Advisory Committee, and a panel of experts. In the Hawaii Rain Forest stamp, John had been working with experts at the park already--Linda Pratt, Jay Robinson, Andrea Okita--so he appreciated working with them and getting their input.

John's next stamp will be a series of bonsai, five different stamps, all of which will be "Forever" stamps that do not expire. John said on bonsai, he's not an expert so did a lot of research. The bonsai shown will be Sierra Juniper, trident maple, black pine, and banyan, in different styles. John did the work a few years ago.

The original stamp art is only twice as big as a postage stamp! John said he likes working small. The USPS owns the originals, but pay the artists well.

John was drawing at age 3, and he and his parents sort of knew that was to be his life. He had art classes in Junior and High School, good teachers, then took art classes at San Diego State, then the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His formal training was in commercial art and illustration; he worked in Detroit for a while. He did black and white car illustrations in classified ads and car drawings for car catalogues.

After six months, he was in danger of being drafted so join the Army Reserves. Though trained as an MP (Military Police), he spent his time in the reserves drawing maps.

John and his wife Kathie lived in Idaho--they moved there because John wanted to be able to fly fish. They were in Hailey, below Sun Valley, and very very cold in winter--too cold. When their kids graduated from high school, they moved to Hilo. They'd done work for National Geographic and spent time in Hawaii and found Hilo very appealing.

John's first job for National Geographic was "Ants of the World", a two-year project that resulted in 22 drawings appearing in the magazine.

Another terrific assignment for National Geographic: John and Kathie went to Peru to watch the unraveling of an Inca mummy in 2003; Kathie took photos, John then sketched the mummy and could show sort of a "time release" view of the process.

John says he would describe his artwork as very realistic. He especially does a lot of nature work.

Is he inspired by place? He says for him...hard to say...he loves everywhere he is. He says he draws and sketches constantly, in the airport, in the mall, in the doctor's office.

John says though he and his wife came from big cities--San Diego and Los Angeles--they have gravitated to Hilo, a small city, with the ability to live a simple lifestyle.

John says he's starting to draw more, and will have a one man show at Volcano Art Center next August. He's meeting more with other artists, a fairly recent development.

John uses acrylics, and does his sketches with pen and ink.

John has six large 2' by 4' panels in the visitors center inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They're a montage of everything inside the park, from the ocean to the top of Mauna Loa. Although the paintings are large, inside the paintings there is incredible detail.

John also has work at Imiloa Astronomy. He and Herb Kane worked together on a sixty foot banner. He and Herb Kane were friends since the 1970s, and Herb's wife Dion even asked John to paint a portrait of Herb which was in a recent show at Volcano Art Center.

John said he has thousands of pieces of art. For the National Parks, he has over 500 pieces of art in their collections, in their parks as signs, all over.

John's work is with private collectors, but he has no record of who has what. He said he'll sometimes get emails asking about the value of a piece--that he barely remembers.

John says he has no real idea how to price his work--and he said he gets comments that his work is priced both too low and too high. He says he's still working that out (after fifty years!).

John says you can be taught to paint, if you have the desire.

Although John has had other stamps, he said it was a great thrill to get the call that his bonsai stamps would be coming out this year.

You may see John's work at the Kilauea Visitors Center inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He also collaborated with Herb Kane on a large banner that's on display at Imiloa Astronomy Center.

You may see images of the bonsai stamps here: www.bigislandnewscenter.com/new-bonsai-stamps-coming-monday-have-local-ties/

John D. Dawson's web site is www.jdawsonillustration.com

State Representative Coffman and I continued our discussion about providing electricity in the state, and reducing dependency on imported oil.

The Hawaii Clean Energy Agreement is an agreement among the Federal Government's Department of Energy, Hawaiian Electric, and the State, with a goal to reduce the state's use of imported oil.

Is HECO committed to reducing their use of imported oil? Rep Coffman said yes, but he's concerned about their focus on biofuels. He says from Hawaii's perspective, biofuel isn't really commercially available, as we must import the biofuel. As example, a plant on Oahu uses biofuel made from animal rendering from Ohio, which must be shipped here. And HELCO recently tried to execute a contract with Aina Koa Pono, for a new biofuel plant in Ka'u...but where is the source material? Rep Coffman says we have geothermal power here, now, and we should expand what we have that is already proven to be commercially available. Apparently HELCO said they were trying to encourage experimentation, but Coffman said that's not appropriate.

On December 28, the national Energy Services Coalition recognized Hawaii as the state that's spent the most on improving energy efficiency--$150 million so far. Here in the County, that has included putting photovoltaic for power on county buildings, doing energy audits to determine how best to reduce energy use. Can efficiency measures really make a dent? Coffman says yes (and that was the message when I interviewed Hawaii Island energy auditor Alex Woodbury, from Woodbury Associates).

Our price on Hawaii Island per kilowatt hour is around 44 cents. On Oahu it's less. Our rates here are among the highest in the country. Although people here say they want to reduce dependence on imported oil--but is what they're saying, really, that they want to pay less for electricity? Rep Coffman said he is concerned about that--the efforts are focused on reducing the use of fossil fuels, but we REALLY need to focus on our own economic stability, which means reducing rates--not just reducing the dependence on imported fuels. And he says some of the "alternatives" are more costly, especially if we must import the "alternative" fuel sources.

Hawaii Island has the most resources for locally-produced power. We and Maui also have a fairly low requirement for power...around 200 megawatts, vs Oahu's 1200 megawatts. Rep Coffman said we can produce more power here, and ship it to other islands.

Rep Coffman said a possible good source of power is Liquified Natural Gas, which could be used on Oahu--shipped in, from the mainland, but a cleaner source than the oil and coal used now.

Hawaiian Electric has launched an ad campaign that says "the price of oil is going up." Have they thrown in the towel, are they unable to look for lower costs? Rep Coffman said it looks to him like HECO didn't themselves believe the price of oil would go up, and therefore did not plan for that possibility--and now with the increased price of oil, they're stuck with some higher prices.

Puna Geothermal now produces 30 mw of power, soon to increase to 38, but has the capacity now with their plant to produce 60 mw of power. What is stopping us from increasing the use of geothermal? Rep Coffman said so far, HECO has not asked for more geothermal power, but they're getting pressure now to increase the capacity. And back when geothermal was new here on the island, there were problems and Rep Coffman feels some of the state agencies became afraid of using geothermal. Yet our state laws demand the use of more geothermal power! Regarding geothermal, the first person to envision the use of geothermal as a power source was King David Kalakaua. And even Mililani Trask, the key lawyer fighting geothermal early on, is now part of a consortium wanting to provide geothermal power.

Professor Don Thomas at University of Hawaii has received funding to do independent studies to expand geothermal. And the state is funding the purchase of equipment to probe for more sources, sites, to produce geothermal power.

Can our power produced here on Hawaii Island be exported to other islands? Rep Coffman says ARRA funds were used to do evaluations; several reports say it's very doable from Maui to Oahu. A big question on the Alenuihaha Channel between Hawaii Island and Maui is whether its depth (6500 feet approximate) will support a cable, or whether it's too deep for maintenance).

If we use geothermal, how will that affect the cost of power to use here on Hawaii Island? Rep Coffman said it should go down. Right now, no matter what the cost to produce wind or geothermal power, the agreement with HELCO puts it at the same cost as if it were oil. Rep Coffman said his solution is to allow Puna Geothermal to expand but require renegotiation of the contract to produce lower costs--the contracts were negotiated by HELCO under a current model which may need to be changed.

Other sources of power: hydro, water--used on Kaua'i, and here on Hawaii Island we have a power plant in Hilo. Rep Coffman suggests waste-to-energy is a good technology, burning garbage to make power. Oahu has a plant now, the H-Power plant--and they need more garbage, so perhaps we should ship Hawaii Island garbage over there (thus solving our landfill problem and feeding their power plant).

Wind power: it's not appropriate for base power, or firm power, as it is intermittent...but it can be used as great intermittent power. It does need a battery backup to manage those times when wind stops.

Coal: there is a coal power plant on Oahu, AES. Rep Coffman said a new EPA regulation was just released requiring new environmental standards for coal plants--Rep Coffman is meeting with HECO and AES to get more information. Coal for Oahu is the cheapest source of power. Coal is shipped in from elsewhere (obviously).

Nuclear power: in 1978, the Constitution was amended to say we will not have nuclear power in the state. But the largest plant in the state has a place where they planned to build a nuclear power plant. Rep Coffman said every year, legislation comes in to provide for nuclear power. But there are a couple of factors: the Japanese tsunami reminded everybody of the potential danger of having a nuclear power plant. (And not in the interview, but my physicist husband told me that regulations call for nuclear power plants to have a clear evacuation plan for nearby communities, which is probably not possible on an island.)

Rep Coffman plans to introduce legislation to require the Hawaiian Electric Companies to merge and to offer statewide rates, to give the state a real look at what our energy rates and situation are. He said it will raise the rates on Oahu, lower the rates for Maui and Hawaii Island, but it will clarify the costs.

Geothermal: work needs to be done to identify more sources and sites for geothermal power; Rep Coffman said that work is starting soon.

A consortium has said they wish to take over Hawaiian Electric; Rep Coffman said if that happens he'll see then how anything has changed and then adapt.

Rep Coffman said in Week 1 that the State workers have said they did not want to "create winners and losers" in the quest for getting off imported oil, which to me sounds like a recipe for not doing much. Rep Coffman said the focus needs to be on finding practical, available-now power sources, not to encourage experimentation nor the use of technologies not readily available.

State Representative Denny Coffman represents West Hawaii/Kona in the State Legislature. He also is chair of the State House Energy and Environmental Management Committee.

The Committee is responsible for any bills assigned to the committee, which would be any with energy or environment as their primary focus. The Chair and the Committee decide whether to schedule a hearing for the bill and move it forward.

Rep Coffman said he got into the State Legislature mostly because he felt, and constituents felt, we needed to move forward faster on trying to use the state's natural resources to provide power -- that would be sun, wind, geothermal, etc. Rep Coffman said his focus is on practical technologies, i.e. not inventing new technologies or focusing on pilots of untried methods...but to use what's available. On Oahu, they have a waste-to-energy plants, called H Power (Honolulu Power); it takes trash from Oahu and burns it and turns it into electricity. Coffman suggested we send our trash to Oahu, or else build waste-to-energy facilities. Coffman said there are a variety of waste-to-energy technologies, but felt the company that tried a couple of years ago to sell its technology to Hawaii County was not proven. He's not sure if Hawaii Island is big enough (has enough trash) for its own waste-to-energy plant, but we could ship our trash. He says geothermal, which already exists here, is a readily available source. We have hydro, water, power here now, either from rivers (there's a hydro plant in Hilo) but there are also ways to store water in tanks and use that as the source.

The Hawaii Clean Energy Act requires Hawaii to move to locally-available, renewable resources and reduce our dependency on imported oil by 2030. Rep Coffman said he first must work with Senator Mike Gabbard, who's the Senate's Energy Chair. Rep Coffman said he and Senator Gabbard are aligned in their focus, but Rep Coffman is more into the technical details. Both have gone to all islands to hear more about energy options islandwide.

The Renewable Portfolio Standard requires 30% of the energy savings through efficiency, 40% through renewable sources. Castle and Cooke wants to build a 200 mw windfarm on Moloka'i. The citizens of Moloka'i have been vocal that they do not want that on their island. Citizens of Lanai, 2500 of them, are divided as to whether they want a windfarm on their island.

What is Rep Coffman's relationship with the State Administration? The Hawaii Energy Office is under the Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism. Richard Lim is the State's Energy Coordinator. Underneath Richard Lim, Mark Glick is the Energy Administrator. Rep Coffman said there are many managers in the State Energy Office.

State bureaucracy: that brings up the question--is it possible to actually accomplish anything with the state bureaucracy, and all these people in the State Energy Office? Rep Coffman said he's learned in his 3 years in the job that it takes a long time.

State Public Utilities Commission: former State Representative Hermina Morita was named Chair of the PUC by Governor Abercrombie, and she's focusing on getting everybody in the PUC to clearly understand the issues around electricity, regulation, rates.

Has the PUC been aggressive, will they be aggressive in moving forward and getting us to renewable energy. Rep Coffman says he has concerns about the HECO companies (HECO on Oahu, MECO on Maui, HELCO on Hawaii Island). He said there is no real "energy plan," a concern.

On the mainland starting in 2000, the trend was to deregulate the power companies, and sell off the power plants and leave distribution lines with the electric utilities. Here in Hawaii, the PUC told HECO to acquire power plans through a public bidding process. But since HECO is in charge of deciding when to add and what to add, they're completely in charge of the process. The PUC and HECO have not made provision for looking at the future, including retiring power plants that use fossil fuel, and moving towards renewable energy sources.

Rep Coffman said the agreements between the HECO companies and the power providers have not been open for public scrutiny, and Rep Coffman says they should be.

Re Hawaiian Electric: they are a regulated utility, but they're also a shareholder-owned company, a model used in around 70% of the country's power companies. So can they make money for shareholders AND meet the needs of the state? Are those goals compatible?

Rep Coffman said about 30% of the power provided here is through renewable, alternate producers. He wants to see HECO become transmission only, and see HECO put the "least cost" electricity on the grid, first. Reliability must still be the #1 criteria, but Rep Coffman says he wants to see the move which will benefit the ratepayers (i.e. us).

Rep Coffman is introducing legislation is to merge all three HECO companies (HECO, MECO, HELCO), then convert to having an arms' length relationship with the power plants--a transmission division, and the power plants. And each power plant would be operated under a Power Purchase Agreement, so the costs of each plant would be fully visible, fully understood. Rep Coffman says we need a statewide vision. He also wants statewide rates; right now Oahu customers pay lower rates than Hawaii Island or Maui, and so Oahu citizens and legislators will probably not like the idea. But Rep Coffman says we are one state, we need one focus on electricity provision.

Rep Coffman said HECO stock isn't highly rated; one problem is that because they are the sole source provider for the Power Purchase Agreements, HECO is assigned some of those companies' debt, impugned debt, which damages its credit rating.

Is there a better model than a publicly-traded utility? (Some places, like Los Angeles, have municipal utilites; on Kaua'i it's a co-op. Rep Coffman said it's not clear what the best model is, at this point.

Does Rep Coffman think reducing our dependency on imported oil is actually possible? He says yes. We're doing that now. We have the highest penetration of solar water heaters in the country. The State just was recognized as having put the most money per capita, $150 million, into energy efficiency by the state and counties. We also are using more and more photovoltaic, again reducing dependency on oil.

We will resume the conversation with Representative Coffman next week, Sunday, January 15, 2012. You may re-listen to this broadcast online, www.bigislandnewscenter.com, down on the right.

We first aired our talk story with Nutritionist Terri Ryan, who's based in Kona, on June 5, 2011.

Terri Ryan is a registered dietician. She has a private practice in Kailua-Kona and gets referrals from physicians and HMSA. She has a national certification. Hawaii just approved dietitians to be licensed here, but there is not yet a Hawaii license process set up.

Why do people go to dietitians? Usually for high cholesterol, diabetes, they may need to gain weight because of cancer treatment, any number of reasons.

Terri gives most people information about a heart-health diet focusing on balance, moderation, and variety. She says people cannot stick with draconian diets, so she tries to focus on either what they eat now--and teach how to eat less--or how to make better choices.

Almost all diseases have a nutrition component. Terri says, "You are what you eat" is true! She suggests choosing the best food as fuel for the body, rather than selecting food based on taste, convenience, or history (this is what I always eat....).

Should food be different for different lifestyles (sedentary vs athlete, for example)? Terri said the food could be the same, just quantities would differ. She noted that sports nutrition is a separate category for elite athletes.

Each meal should include carbohydrate, protein, fat. Each food group has a purpose--carbohydrate is for energy, for example.

The newest guidelines is using the Plate Method to figure out what to eat. Half your plate should be many-colored vegetables, salad, etc.; 1/4 should be protein--fish, chicken, pork, etc. ; 1/4 would be starch or carbohydrate. Terri suggests the visual on the plate is much easier to use (and the United States Surgeon General just this past week said the plate method is the new preferred method.)

Animal proteins make up a complete protein. You can also mix together two out of three non-meat sources to create a complete protein: bean, seed, grain. For example, rice and beans make a complete protein; wheat bread with sunflower seeds in it--a grain and a seed, again making a complete protein. Vegetarians can easily get protein. Terri said nationally, most people eat around twice as much protein as they need.

Colorful vegetables: why? Somewhat to do with variety, but also vitamins...and phytochemicals, which are present in fruits and vegetables. Studies show people who eat more fruit and vegetables do better. Phytochemicals help boost the immune system and protect against cancer. Since there is no money in doing research on fruits and vegetables--there isn't a lot of research. Nutritionists encourage eating darker, more colorful vegetables. Bright colors as found in nature provide the best diet.

If something has the same amount of carbohydrates--an apple vs ice cream--it will still turn into the same amount of glucose, blood sugar. The body will tell the difference between ice cream and an apple in weight, cholesterol, etc.

Fiber helps fill you up, helps people lose weight, helps with bowel regularity, helps bind cholesterol and excrete it. Fiber is the part of the plant that doesn't digest. Soluble fiber and insoluble fiber--most foods with fiber have both. Soluble dissolves in water, insoluble does not. It swells up, helps you feel full (apples, oatmeal). Insoluble fiber--broccoli, brown rice--works in the body like a roto rooter, cleaning out blood vessels, helps intestines.

Grains today are often refined to take fiber out. Whole wheat grains start with up to 27 vitamins and minerals. When the whole wheat is refined, the naturally-occurring vitamins are removed, but the government requires vitamins be put back--so 5 are put back, and the product is then called "enriched." Look for the term "whole" in the ingredient list. That's better.

How often should we eat, and when? Terri said it's personal preference, but she recommends at least 3 times a day to provide regular fuel.

Sugar, energy comes into our body from food or from our liver. If we don't provide the fuel, our metabolism will slow as the body thinks it may be in a starvation mode. Eating really speeds up the metabolism. People who don't eat breakfast tend to gain weight because after a night-long fast, then no food in the morning, the body thinks it needs to slow down metabolism to avoid starvation.

Eating late at night: usually people are sedentary after eating if it's night, so that often makes blood sugar higher, not a good thing. It also creates acid reflux if they lie down within an hour or so after eating.

Superfoods? What should we eat? Terri said all foods are good...all things can be eaten in moderation. Avoid sugary soda drinks. She said even at fast food restaurants, one can make healthy choices. But try to get foods as close to the way they appear in nature.

Sugar: it turns into glucose in our body, which our body turns into fuel. That's true for any carbohydrate. Once digested, whether a potato or a cookie, the glucose, if the same size serving, is the same. But the vegetables have other benefits, more vitamins, more fiber.

Nutritional supplements: we often cannot get all we need from food. Terri suggests a regular multi vitamin, just store brands..not "mega vitamins" with more than 100% of the RDAs. She also says Vitamin D and Calcium are also recommended by most physicians. Around 1,000 mg of calcium is a good goal between what you eat and a supplement.

Impact of nutrition on diabetes? Nutrition doesn't cause diabetes but does play a role in treating diabetes. To get diabetes, you have to have the gene--having the gene does not mean you WILL get diabetes, but you can. And then there is an environmental trigger. 90% of the people with diabetes have "Type 2" diabetes, which used to be called "Adult Diabetes" but now even kids are getting. Diabetes can be triggered by being overweight, or stress, or nutrition. She says if people lose weight or exercise more they often can prevent diabetes. Native Hawaiians have a tendency to get diabetes, also Japanese, Filipino.

For the sixth year at the holiday seasons, our guests were New Hope Waimea Chapel Pastor Sonny Shimaoka--also the police chaplain--and Kealakekua orthopedic surgeon Dr. Barry Blum, who is also a founding member of the Jewish congregation on the island, Kona Beth Shalom.

So what have my guests been doing over the past year--their reflections: Dr. Blum and his wife Gloria produced the play, The Diary of Anne Frank, at the Aloha Theater in Kainaliu. He said it was a remarkable experience--and it reminded everybody of the horrors of the holocaust, the fact that young people today don't necessarily know about this time in history, and how bullying can range from being picked on at school to what the holocaust was--bullying at the most extreme form, with entire groups of people (Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, disabled people) being rounded up and executed. Pastor Sonny said he's encountered people who've been victims of bullying--which is now intensified by what's posted on Facebook and social media sites. Pastor Sonny said when he counsels victims of bullying, he tries to remind them how valuable they are, just for existing.

Pastor Sonny said over the last year he's seen a strong spirit of collaboration, of working together...which is important in this time of poor economy. Dr. Blum said he agrees.

Dr. Blum and Pastor Sonny commented on the recent Christmas parades here on the island--around the island, SO many people entered and attended the parades--great community events.

The topic: bad things done in the name of religion--why does this happen? Pastor Sonny said he believes in God, not religion...people CAN do bad things in the name of religion...in a misguided way. Dr. Blum said different faiths and people have different concepts of God. He also told a story recounted to him by a rabbi--talking about how nature is balanced, with a variety of plants and animals...the variety of religion may be part of the plan, too, indicating there is no ONE truth, no ONE right way...that different perspectives are not bad. He also pointed out that the different religious texts were all written at different times...the first Gospel 40 or 50 years after Jesus died, the next ten years later. Everybody has a different take, and nobody today was around when Jesus was alive so everything is hearsay...he said the great danger is in believing there is only ONE right way.

Pastor Sonny said in his early days as a pastor, he felt it was his responsibility to make his congregation believe. Now, he says he feels he's a messenger, to deliver the message and each person bears personal responsibility to accept or not accept the message.

Personal responsibility: Pastor Sonny says although we cannot control everything, it's up to us to decide how we want to respond to whatever happens to us. Bad things do happen, but people take responsibility to revel in the bad things...some take responsibility to rise above.

Dr. Blum said he heard Ram Dass speak years ago, and he said something is true if it's a paradox. An example: free will. Yes, God is all knowing and seeing, but if one has free will they take responsibility. In Judaism the belief is, both are true--humans have free will, but God knows what one will decide but doesn't intervene. Some "free will" decisions are influenced by genetics, by others, but ultimately, we decide. However, he said that can be taken too far--in health, for example--we take responsibility for smoking or being careless...but people don't get sick because of things they've done in most cases. Dr. Blum said fundamentalism tends to push people towards the belief there is one way, only.

There was a recent USA Today article about "overt Christianity" -- which used Denver Quarterback Tim Tebow's post-touchdown responses as an example. Pastor Sonny said he sees Tim Tebow's thanking God as no different from other athletes who react in various ways (dancing, screams). Dr. Blum said using God as a support is great...to ask for skill, strength, capability..but he thinks it's wrong to ask God to help "beat" the other guy--that's like war--with often different groups using religion as their raison d'etre relative to war. Ditto politics.

Regarding politics: Dr. Blum said politicians who use God in their campaigns are wrong. Our U. S. system is based on freedom of, and freedom from all religions--people at the founding of our country were free to worship as they wished or not worship at all. He said it's wrong in our country for people to suggest there is a requirement for people to have a certain religion. Pastor Sonny said he believes people should communicate who they are by how they act and what they do. Just touting or flaunting their religion--whatever it is--is not appropriate. Nor necessary.

Dr. Blum invited the public to come to a community Hannukah party Monday, December 26, 4 p.m. at Outrigger Keauhou.

Dr. Blum said this is the best season because of the sharing--gifts, food, money, driving with aloha, being a citizen of our community. Both Dr. Blum and Pastor Sonny agreed--don't drink and drive.

Pastor Sonny said in his church at New Hope Waimea, their philosophy is "Pay it Forward" -- do good things for others in advance, help them and "pay it forward".

Our guest was Jim Kauahikaua. Jim is the Chief Scientist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, with offices inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Current status of our island's volcanoes:

Kilauea continues to erupt in two locations, one on the East Rift Zone. It's been putting out lava to the south, towards the ocean, and as of last week, the lava has entered the ocean. There is access from Chain of Craters Road inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and it's a four mile walk one way. You may also see it from the Kalapana Viewing Area.

There is also an eruption inside the Halema'uma'u Crater, a lava lake 250 feet below the floor, around 450 feet in diameter. That eruption is releasing lots of gas--on the order of 800 to 1200 tonnes per day, which creates concentrations of around 50 parts per million of sulphur dioxide, very dangerous to health. The south part of Crater Rim Drive is closed because of the emissions. But you may see the eruption from the viewing area at the Jaggar Museum inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Jim says even after all his time as a scientist, he is still excited by the eruptions.

Mauna Loa has been quiet--some seismicity over the last month--some movement of the southeast flank,but nothing to be concerned about.

There's nothing much happening at Mauna Kea, Hualalai, or Haleakala on Maui, and no unusual seismicity at Loihi, the submarine volcano off the south of our island. The last major activity at Loihi was in 1996 when there were several large earthquakes. UH sent down a submersible and found a big change in Loihi's summit, with a new pit crater.

Jim Kauahikaua's uncle was manager of Volcano House, inside the park, during the late 60s, so Jim spent some time inside the park, with his uncle, in their home across from Volcano House. Did that fuel Jim's desire to become a geophysicist? He says he had already decided he wanted to do something in science, outdoors, but it was his first geology class at University of Southern California that got him hooked. Jim went to Kamehameha Schools, but they didn't offer geology at the time.

Thomas Jaggar started Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in 1912--so January 17, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of HVO. He saw the eruption of Mount Pelier around 1902, which killed around 30,000 people. Jaggar noted there had been precursors, warnings, but nobody was capturing those early warnings to save lives. So he thought the key was to do realtime measurements around danger spots. In 1906 he went to Vesuvius, and saw the same thing. In 1909 he was on his way to Japan to visit a scientist doing some early work in prediction, and stopped in Honolulu. He saw Kilauea and got some Honolulu businessmen to fund the observatory--$5,000 a year for five years--to start Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (with cooperation from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Jaggar worked). It opened in 1912 with Frank Perret, the world's most famous volcanologist at the time, on staff. In 1919 HVO moved from being a private institution to becoming part of the Weather Bureau, a government institution and the only one at the time doing daily monitoring, as was HVO. For a while it was part of the National Park Service. Today it's part of the United States Geological Survey, headquartered in Menlo Park, California.

Frank Perret, the famous volcanologist, was the first to look at measuring seismicity; before that the main interest in volcanoes was in the chemical composition of lava.

The early instrumentation was primitive by today's standards. The seismometers were very large, with large boom arms. That turned out to be fortuitous--Jaggar noted that the booms also indicated earth swelling prior to an eruption, the ground tilts away from the center of the volcano--and after the eruption, it reverses. That knowledge has informed the work of HVO ever since. Today's seismometers are far smaller and far more sensitive. They can now measure seismic signals in the air (with microphones), they have electronic tiltmeters, GPS instruments using two frequencies that allow immediate understanding of ground movement and changes, satellites overhead monitor the volcano. There are webcams, both visual and infrared. HVO use helicopters to get to sites, and the helicopter pilots are quite observant--Jim says they're very helpful.

Tomorrow, December 19 Monday, Jim will talk at Lyman Museum at 7 p.m. The topic: What We've Learned in 100 Years of Volcano Monitoring. He'll talk about the seismographs, monitoring ground tilting, and more. When Thomas Jaggar first started his work, the thought was that all volcanoes are alike--but they are not. Much of what has been learned at HVO about the volcano plumbing has been a model for others around the world.

One measurement Jim would like to be able to measure more accurately is the change in gravity--an exploratory effort. One of the discoveries they've made about Kilauea is that the whole south flank is moving constantly away from the summit. They're not sure exactly why--is magma pushing the flank away or is there some gravitational mechanism that pulls the south flank and sucks magma in.

Predicting volcanic eruptions: they can predict unrest, but they cannot pinpoint exactly when the eruption will occur. But as earthquakes get more frequent and swelling occur and gas emissions increase, they can predict an eruption will happen sooner rather than later. But, volcanic activity can also just stop.

What does Jim want to do for future monitoring--his vision: they're trying to do more measurements of what the inside and underside of the volcanoes are like. And they'll be doing more gravity change measurements. And technology is always changing.

Jim and several other HVO scientists recently attended the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union--a gathering of 20,000 geophysicists in San Francisco. HVO had several sessions, 7 talks about the work at HVO including a presentation which Jim made about the 100th year anniversary of HVO. Jim said he was also pleased to see some of the work of those who use the data collected at Kilauea from other scientists. They take in gigabytes of data every day, and they freely share it to have others do study and analysis.

The current eruption started January 3, 1983. Does Jim see any end in sight? He says no, he cannot predict.

There will be several talks and presentations in January, which is always Volcano Awareness Month (the 29th anniversary of the current Kilauea eruption and this year, the 100th anniversary of HVO). See the web site, hvo.wr.usgs.gov. Jim also said geophysics is a great career--all about the earth on which we live--he recommends it.

Mayor Billy Kenoi has declared December as Think Local, Buy Local Month.

The County has awarded a $25,000 contract to a group to develop a campaign around the Buy Local notion. They're starting in downtown Hilo, with 40 businesses all displaying blue Buy Local signs, and displaying "Made in Hawaii" signs on products in the stores. There will be information about the Buy Local participants on a web site www.thinklocalbuylocal.org.

Think Local Buy Local doesn't mean just fruit vegetables--it means anything with a local connection. And the campaign includes all stores on the island--from Costco, Target, Home Depot, Walmart, Kmart, Lowes--to the small stores. The idea is to look, wherever one shops, at products locally made or locally sold. The campaign's coordinator, Andrea Dean, also pointed out that buying local does not have to cost more -- she used as an example the store Mac Made Easy, where you may purchae Apple Products at the same price as on the www.apple.com website--but the local store gets the business.

Let's all Think Local Buy Local.

Our guests were the AARP National Board President, Lee Hammond, here from Washington, D. C. and AARP's State Director, Barbara Kim Stanton. They were on Hawaii Island for a Caregiver Conference at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel on Wednesday, November 30. Hammond was the keynote speaker and did a Q and A session with members. They then stopped by the LAVA/KKOA studios.

The focus is now on helping people live well as they age.

AARP the parent has affiliates that offer products, which are not specifically AARP products, but which AARP endorses. Products are offered through AARP Services Inc. (ASI) and include car and health insurance, travel services, and more. AARP gets royalties.

AARP also has the AARP Foundation, which offers scholarships for women, tax preparation for seniors, financial education programs. They're also working on a drive to end hunger. Hammond said 6 million older people go to bed hungry at night, so AARP collects food whenever they can.

AARP dues are $16 per year, for a member and his/her spouse or companion. AARP's total revenue is around $1.2 billion. One third dues, 2/3 royalties from products and services. AARP spends around $20 million on lobbying Congress every year, through a separate lobbying subsidiary. Their lobbying efforts focus on maintaining services for seniors such as Medicare and Social Security.

Mr. Hammond said the issues raised here on Hawaii Island during the conference were similar to those raised by AARP members nationwide. He said issues these days are fairly complex.

AARP is opposed to Congress using Social Scurity to stop the deficit. He says the money for Social Security was deposited by working people and by employers, and employees should be able to draw the money out when they reach the applicable age (which is gradually increasing).

What needs to be done to make Social Security stronger and more sustainable? Hammond said there are fewer workers now paying in, and fewer employers paying in. He wants Congress to help create jobs to get more employment. The other thing is, at a certain salary level..now $106,000...employees stop paying in to Social Security. AARP feels the cap should be raised. Also, in 2012, AARP will be talking nationwide with members and the public to get their thoughts and educate them on what's going on. Hammond said it's critical that people get as much info about the issues as possible. Hammond said AARP's key point about Social Security is, it is NOT the funding source to reduce the deficit, which came about for many reasons and not because of Social Security.

Medicare: some legislators talk about it relative to reducing the federal deficit, and that's a viable discussion. But he says the entire health care system must be reviewed, because Medicare helps seniors (65 and over) with medical care--when is when the bulk of the medical expenses are incurred. But the health care system isn't efficient, and must be...just cutting Medicare benefits to doctors, hospitals, and individuals will only shift cost and reduce the amount of care that's offered. He said the focus needs to shift to quality, not just quantity (ie don't do every test in the book unless there's a clear sense as to why).

Affordable Health Care Act: AARP view is that Affordable Care Act provides many benefits including pilot programs to improve health care programs, closing of the "doughnut hole." The "doughnut hole" means that senior drug coverage only pays for around $2900 in drugs where 75% is reimbursed Then there is no reimbursement, til you've paid out $6,000. They coverage kicks in. But many end up paying huge amounts for drugs. The Affordable Care Act includes agreements by drug companies to cut the cost of name brand drugs by 50%, and generics by 14%. The Affordable Care Act also allows people to keep their kids on their insurance til age 26, not 18 as before.

Barbara Kim Stanton said a key issue for those getting older is a desire to age in their homes or in their communities. On this island, there are only a few places outside the home where older people could live--assisted living at Hualalai Regency, nursing home care at Life Care Centers of Hilo and Kona, some private care homes. On Oahu there are far more choices. Barbara Kim Stanton said AARP has supported giving nurses prescription drug coverage to help with the doctor shortage.

She also said here on Hawaii Island the County Office of Aging has set up the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Hilo in the old Sun Sun Lau, with "one stop shop" capability to direct seniors and caregivers to services. Hawaii County also has Handi-Vans for transportation for older people.

A point raised at the conference by Alan Parker, Hawaii County Office of Aging, is that many of the issues are women's issues: they outlive men, they often provide the bulk of the caregiving, they often haven't been in the workforce and therefore get reduced Social Security benefits.

Barbara Kim Stanton said AARP here in the state is focusing on making communities safer, especially for seniors walking. (Some of the pedestrian fatalities here on Hawaii Island have been older people crossing the street, especially Mamalahoa Highway.)

Stanton said AARP's focus is on helping seniors stay in the community...there is an aging boom and there need to be more services.

AARP has 38 million members nationwide, and 150,000 here on Hawaii Island.

More informtion online, www.aarp.org or through Hawaii County's Office of Aging, www.hcoahawaii.org. Or call, ADRC Statewide: (808)643-2372 Hilo: 961-8626 Kona: 323-4390

Our guests were Dr. David Sobel, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and Dr. Robin Seto, Kaiser Kona. Dr. Sobel has written several books, including the latest, "Healthy Pleasures: The New Science of Happiness".

Dr Sobel got interested in the topic of how "happiness" could have a positive impact on health as a result of his medical practice. He said if you focus on disease, about 74% of the time doctors cannot find a specific cause for symptoms. A significant portion of the unknown is the expression of psychological and bodily distress through symptoms. In other words, our mind affects our body.

A lot of the source of suffering is tht people don't have the basic coping skills to deal with the stresses we all have in our lives. Dr. Sobel said happiness is the positive side of that. He wants to relieve symptoms, but also to help people have a good life experience.

How to define happiness? Dr. Sobel said it's different for each person, whatever gives them pleasure, or what makes them "thrive" (the Kaiser Permanente model). Dr. Sobel asks patients what they really enjoy to figure out what drives them. Dr. Seto says she considers wellness to be a state of happiness. Wellness is a state of spiritual, mental, physical health regardless of the presence of disease. The goal of these doctors is to keep people able to keep doing what they really enjoy as long as possible. Dr. Seto said she also likes to gain insight into patients' hearts and spirit, as they face inevitable aging.

Is happiness based on external factors, or is it an inherent, internal capability? Dr. Sobel said, amazingly, about 50% is genetic---we can actually inherit a capacity for happiness, a tendency towards happiness. About 10% of our happiness is determined by life circumstances and events--marriage, the birth of a child, a job--having or not having, financial issues. The part we control most, is our thoughts and our actions--that's around 40%. The challenge for us, then, is to help us focus on our thoughts and actions, that which we actually do control.

Ram Dass' philosophy (from his books) of "be here now" seems to be key to this,the idea of embracing what one has, not always longing for that which we do not or cannot have. It's fruitless to always seek "something out there" as a key to happiness. Dr. Sobel said a part of his job is to help people focus on what they have that's good in their lives.

Do studies show that happiness influences our physical health? Dr. Sobel said there is a large body of research emerging now that "happy" people enjoy fewer health-related problems and live longer. He said he does not want to overstate that, but in one study they showed people who self-identified as happy had about 2 1/2 times fewer health complaints over a two year period. A study of nuns showed that those who were happier, more content earlier in their lives, 20 years later had about half the death rate. Even surrounding oneself with happy people can help. That said, Dr. Sobel said there is an advantage to still wanting to change the world, to seek to be content in the world.

Can one ward off cancer, heart disease by happiness, by attitude? Dr. Sobel said no, happy people still have health problems--and everybody dies. The important point, Dr.Sobel says, is that happier and more positive people can cope better with life's changes, whether good or bad. He said you cannot wish away disease with positive thinking.

Does happiness tend towards ages, ethnicities, cultures? Dr. Sobel said there is a huge amount of variability. But, he said there are happier cultures. One surprisingly happy culture is Denmark, as measured by overall life satisfaction and happiness. He said the country's social support system is significant--health care, long-term security, social services, etc. The society is homogeneous, with not much ethnic diversity. But he said also, they have low expectations (unlike Americans, since Americans tend to have very high expectations!).

Does getting more income affect happiness? If one is very poor, yes it does. But otherwise, for example, winning the lottery never seems to create happiness.

Altruism, kokua, caring for others, doing for others and society: how does that affect personal happiness? Dr. Sobel said doing for others actually can improve one's health, or one's perception of health, really by getting the focus off the self and onto others. Studies actually show lower death rates among those who give help to others, whether a person or a thing, something outside of self.

Can we be trained to be happier? Dr. Sobel said a professor at University of California at Davis did studies, asking people to do a daily journal of gratitude, things for which they're grateful. He said it helped people begin to LOOK for the positive, instead of seeing the negative. He also said it helped people develop a better attitude if they wrote notes to those to whom they were grateful.

Is "laughter the best medicine," as Readers Digest used to say? Not specifically, but laughter, funny videos, can give us a positive boost. Studies were done having heart patients watch a 30-minute funny video daily, and the patients required less heart-regulating medication, less pain meds, etc. And Dr. Sobel said even if it didn't do that specifically for one--how can it hurt?

Can people be happy even in the face of overriding issues that tend to make one not happy--no job, money woes, family problems? Dr. Sobel said one's internal "happiness" can help people cope, not let their circumstances dictate the quality of their life. Dr. Sobel said that's true even at the end of peoples' lives, some have the ability to still be optimistic and see good.

Can we train ourselves to be happier? Dr. Seto says a big part of her focus, and other Kaiser Permanente physicians, is to help patients pursue their own journey to happiness. Dr. Seto last year did a small study with a small group of patients with diabetes, bringing in the patients six times a month, to focus on helping them do positive actions to change their diet, lifestyle, etc. Dr. Seto said after a year, those patients did have a decrease in their blood sugar, and a bigger loss of weight than those not in this group.

Dr. Sobel said starting with small changes is how to go. Here on Hawaii Island, enjoying the natural beauty can be positive steps. He also suggested listening to music, and finding something each day to make life more enjoyable.

Dr. Sobel's books are online and available through our local bookstore. Kaiser Permanente's web site also has hints for "thriving," thrive.kp.org.

Our guests were local resident Glennon Gingo, who's been advocating for building a public gun range here on the island, and former National Rifle Association President Sandy Froman and Director of Advancement Communications Meg Gagong. Meg has Kona connections...her father, Chuck Moss, is a coffee farmer and her grandparents started coffee farming in Kona in the 1930s. The NRA folks were on the island for a fund-raising dinner.

The nonprofit group On Target has been working to raise funds and deal with the issues surrounding building a public shooting range near the Pu'uanahula Landfill across from the Waikoloa Resort Area.

Glennon said there are few places where local people can perfect their shooting skills or learn to shoot. There are no public shooting ranges, although often local farmers will open their properties for groups to shoot. The shooting range would have a variety of disciplines--pistols, rifles, shotguns, at a variety of distances. It would be fully open to the public, including high school rifle teams, the public, the military, and police. Even the police right now have only one "formal" shooting range, at the Hilo Police headquarters, and that's only four lanes and not always available.

Gun licensing laws require that people get training. Right now it's offered on a private basis, but Glennon said the educational component would be key, with courses offered in hunter safety and safe shooting skills, which would include those courses required for licensing in the State of Hawaii.

The National Rifle Association has created standards for shooting ranges and has suggested experts to build the range. The land in question is owned by the State, under the aegis of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. They're working with On Target and have selected PBR Hawaii as the major engineering company, the contractor, on the project. Kramer One, Loren Kramer, is a range architect who will work on the range.

Sandy Froman said the NRA, founded in 1871, is the largest gun educational organization in the world. Their range standards include building them to international competition standards.

Glennon said they want the public to see this range as something highly functional--hence the public/private partnership with the State, On Target, and the NRA. The State has fully endorsed the idea of the range.

How much? Not known yet. But the state has already earmarked federal funding of $305,000 from funds collected in licensing fees and taxes. The expectation is that this project will get $300,000 for the next three years as well.

Sandy Froman said she also cannot pinpoint the cost, but that the public/private partnership is a concept used successfully many places.

Would there be a requirement that those using the range and bringing their own firearms have legally licensed their firearms? Glennon said he doesn't know the specifics of the range operation yet. They intend to use "best practices" based on other ranges and the NRA standards.

Although police may ultimately decide to use the range, the police are making no commitment about their plans until the range is a reality.

The NRA does around 1100 fundraising dinners around the country annually, and recently did one at the King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel--dinner, auction, etc. Half the money goes to the NRA national, half stays in Hawaii for education programs. Glennon said he intends to apply for funding from both the State NRA and the national NRA.

The NRA was founded in 1871 by Union soldiers after the Civil War, who had been dismayed by the poor marksmanship of the Union soldiers..the Confederates were better shots because of the large amount of hunting in the South. It was formed in New York as a marksmanship organization, to help young men perfect their skills should there be another need for military service. Sandy said the NRA never got involved in politics until the early 1970s. Today it has 4 million dues-paying members and is one of the largest lobbying organizations in the country. Sandy said there are another 25 million people who look to the NRA for leadership relative to second amendment rights (the right to bear arms) and shooting training. A 1999 survey by Fortune Magazine said that lawmakers considered the NRA the most effective lobbying organization in the country.

When I indicated I'd be doing this interview, the most frequently-suggested question had to do with why the NRA so vehemently (and successfully) lobbied against a ban on assault weapons in 2004. (Note, I'd talked with the police and learned that assault weapons are those that shoot many bullets very fast and very many at one time--not appropriate for hunting, but appropriate for killing people). Sandy said she would not address the question as it was political in nature. And she did not wish to share her personal feelings on the subject.

According to the Centers for Disease Control's latest numbers, Hawaii has the lowest percentage of gun-owning homes, and also the lowest percentage of deaths from guns. Is there a relationship? Sandy Froman said no, it's the culture here (that we don't tend to shoot each other). Glennon also said he doesn't see the correlation between those statistics, and that the problem is when guns get into the hands of wrong people. He also rightly pointed out it's harder to get guns here--on the mainland one can just drive guns from state to state or from other countries into a state. (As a note, Alaska has the highest percentage of homes with guns, and also the highest rate of death by gun.)

Meg owns a gun and said she does so because it's her constitutional right. Sandy Froman said she got a gun because somebody tried to break into her home in Los Angeles. She called her neighbors and none of them answered. She then called the police and it took around 15 minutes for them to arrive. Although she wasn't hurt, she went out the next day and got a gun. She discovered she was a good shot, she started competing, and she realized if she learned to do it well and responsibly, it could save her life. She got into the NRA and the political end when California wanted to pass a gun ban some years ago.

The Supreme Court has upheld the right of individuals to own guns, in a 2008 decision that was the first case involving gun ownership since 1939. Sandy says that less clear is their position on the right of the states to restrict ownership...she says the issues remain open. She says there was a case in Chicago saying the Second Amendment (right to bear arms) also applies to states. She says as a lawyer, she's interested in what the standards will be.

There was a Federal District Court Case in Washington, D. C. allowing them to ban assault weapons because they present a danger to the police. Sandy says that has not yet gone to appeal.

Our guests were from Hilo Medical Center, talking about the recent upgrade of both Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital to Trauma Level 3 capability. The only higher level of trauma care in the state is at Queen’s Medical Center. North Hawaii Community Hospital is in the process of getting certified, as well.

General surgeon Dr. Dan Hudak got his undergraduate degree at GeorgeWashington University in St. Louis, and got his medical degree and did his residency at John Burns School of Medicine at University of Hawaii on Oahu. Dr. Hudak was raised in Hilo and went to local public schools. Dan Brinkman, Chief Nurse Executive, came to HMC about five years ago from Vanderbilt University Hospital.

What are the implications of having two trauma level 3 hospitals here on the island?

What is trauma? Anything accident related—car accidents which result in traumatic injuries, falls, football field accidents, assaults, gunshot wounds, dog bites—unplanned events. Falls are the number two after car accidents.

Hilo Medical Center has activated the trauma team 90 times in 2011 related to car accidents, 28 related to falls, and a number of others.

What happens now when there is an accident, now that HMC and KCH are Trauma Level 3 Centers? Now, the trauma activation, either full or modified, can be called by the Emergency Medical Technicians in the field or in the emergency room. Trauma activation means the Emergency Department physician is there when the patient arrives—along with all other people needed to help—xray technicians, pharmacists, blood bank, everything needed to help when seconds count.

The process of our hospitals becoming Trauma Level 3 centers began a couple of years ago. The State Department of Health dedicated the tobacco tax dollars to develop a state trauma system. They provided the money to the local hospitals to help them get the training, facilities, and equipment needed to get the certification. To be certified, the hospitals had to ACT as a Trauma Level 3 center. For Hilo Medical Center, that was around $1 million over 2 ½ years.

The standards are set by the American College of Surgeons, and certification was done by the State Department of Health. State brought in a team that works with the ACS to actually take part in the process.

How does a surgeon like Dr. Hudak differentiate between a “normal” injury and an injury that calls for trauma activation. Dr. Hudak said it’s a tough call sometimes, and they constantly do quality control and peer reviews on past cases to see what could have been done better or differently. It’s a judgment call based on criteria set by the Trauma Care standards, with the Emergency Department physicians or the Emergency Medical Technicians trained on how best to proceed.

The Hilo Medical Center Emergency Department physicians are all Board Certified in Emergency Care. HMC uses a special group of physicians that specialize in Emergency Care, and they’ve also been trained in the latest trauma techniques.

Nurse coordinators at each hospital work together to bring training and share issues to make both hospitals’ trauma care better—Wendy Wagner at Kona Community Hospital and Louise Fincher at Hilo Medical Center.

Differences between Kona Hospital and Hilo Medical Center trauma capability? HMC has an “angio” suite, where they can do angioplasty and surgeries by the radiologists, which Dr Dan Hudak said often can save lives—for example in a pelvis bleed, very difficult to fix via “regular” surgery, much easier with the angio capability. Would patient from the west side be transported to HMC for this kind of treatment? They said that’s an individual decision, but it’s often quicker to transport to Maui Medical Center which also has that capability, or to Oahu.

Ongoing training? All the team members get ongoing training. Dan Brinkman said the state funding is a multi-year commitment, funded by the tobacco tax and other such taxes.

Although heart attacks and strokes are not considered trauma, the HMC team has in motion similar procedures when somebody comes in with heart attack or brain attack (stroke)—the team in place, ready to go.

Our guests were all returned Peace Corps volunteers, Bill Sakovitch of Hilo, Susan Wehren of Kona, and Margie Rowan of Waikoloa.

The Peace Corps was founded by President John F. Kennedy, around 1962. The idea was to engage young Americans (or any Americans, but mostly young) in volunteer work that involved going overseas, mostly to developing countries, to assist them, at their request.

There have been over 130 countries using the services of the Peace Corps, ranging from Africa to South America to Pacific Nations including Samoa, Yap, Micronesia, Guam, the Philippines, and more. Volunteers did everything from building roads to teaching to teaching teachers how to teach to helping local residents start businesses to farming and assisting local residents with agricultural projects.

Susan Wehren was in Yap, and said many volunteers were sent to Micronesia to fulfill the United States' obligation to assist them after World War II. She taught English as a second language and taught Head Start. Susan says she joined the Peace Corps to fulfill what for her was a long-held dream to join. She says she said so in her yearbook when she graduated from high school! It helped her travel. But she was inspired by John F. Kennedy's statement, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

Margie Rowan was in the Philippines, teaching local teachers how to upgrade their schools. Her former husband, also in the Peace Corps, did therapy for cerebral palsy patients in local clinics. Margie got engaged because she wanted to work internationally and wanted to get engaged in other cultures.

Bill Sakovitch said he graduated from college without a sense of what he wanted to do in life. He learned about the Peace Corps, thought it sounded like a nice idea, and then saw he'd get training in Hawaii (more on that later) and he could work in sports coaching and administration. He was in Indonesia and Morocco.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps. There are 8,600 volunteers still working around the world in 76 countries.

Here on Hawaii Island, there are more than 300 returned Peace Corps volunteers. Statewide it's estimated the number is more than 1,500.

One amazing connection to Hawaii Island: more than 7,500 Peace Corps volunteers trained here on Hawaii Island for their assignments. Margie was one of those, with initial training at Pepe'ekeo. She said her group was broken up into 5 different training sites; she was in Kapa'au, some were in Waipio Valley, some at Kealakekua. She said this was an ideal place to train for an assignment in the Philippines--they lived with Filipino families to learn the culture and language, and the five Philippine groups were separate by the language of the region to which they were going.

What was the training about? Language training, practical skills training, technical training. Some volunteers were dropped at Waipio Valley, had to hike in, and had to self-sustain and live off the land to get used to what they'd face. Margie said she actually taught

Bill Sakovitch said most training sites were former schools, also the old Hilo Memorial Hospital, and mostly all administrated by UH Hilo. Some training was at UH Hilo (then College of Hawaii at Hilo). Sites included Kurtistown, Waiakea Uka, Pepe'ekeo, Ninole, Honomu, O'okala, Hakalau, the old Kohala Girls School at the Bond Estate. He said people were also sent to live with families around the island, almost everywhere. Back then, Bill said, the Hawaii Island population was around 50,000 (today it's 180,000)

Bill said local resident Akio Hamakaua put together a fitness program, which included hiking up to Mauna Kea and down into Waipio Valley.

There was an article in the Hawaiian Airlines Magazine about the Peace Corps training. It indicated part of the training was to help volunteers get used to a more primitive life than most Americans lived. It also was used to weed out those, either of their own volition or imposed, who could likely not handle the rigor, the isolation, the challenges of the job. The volunteers would even meet with a psychologist who helped assess their fitness.

Susan Wehren's training was in-country, first at Guam, then at her destination country of Yap. The Peace Corps had built small huts for the volunteers; they were plopped down in family compounds and they shared meals and social experiences with the families on whose compounds they lived.

What did Bill get from the Peace Corps? He said he learned to see sports, coaching and administration, as a career. He lived in Saipan for 30 years, and was able to guide young people in learning sports and life.

Susan Wehren said the Peace Corps service opened her eyes to the rest of the world--and to appreciate being raised in, and live in the United States. Later, she traveled to Russia to talk with young people about volunteering, a concept sort of foreign to them.

Margie Rowan: being in the Philippines in the late 60s, she became convinced she wanted to work in family planning. She saw women with seven or more children, obviously unsustainable for any country to face unbridled population growth because of lack of knowledge on the part of women. Margie also had her desire to work internationally reinforced. She spent her career in public health working in 21 countries around the world.

To celebrate the 50th year, there are events around the island:

-In Kona, there is a potluck on Tuesday, November 15, 3 pm til pau at Old Airport Park, in one of the beach-side pavilions. Everybody is welcome, Peace Corps or not, anybody who is just interested. (They also have a sold-out dinner.)

-On the East side:

-Friday night, November 18, a potluck dinner at Wailoa State Park, 5 pm til pau.

-Saturday, November 19, at the UH Hilo Campus, a dedication of the John F. Kennedy Peace Corps monument, dedication starting at 3:30, followed by no-host cocktails and a look at Peace Corps memorabilia. Note, the memorial was dedicated in 1963 and put at the old Hilo Memorial Hospital--now relocated near the library at UH Hilo.

-Sunday, November 20, there is a site tour to seven former training sites-- reservations at 933-2717

-Sunday, November 20, a potluck at Wailoa State Park, 5 p.m.

-Monday, November 21, a tour of the Waipio Valley training site, reservations 933-2717.

All three former volunteers felt the Peace Corps service was invaluable, and can be for people today. Not only do you help others, but you bring back knowledge and a perspective to life here in the United States.

The Peace Corps still welcomes volunteers from 18 to later in life (note, one of my grammar school friends joined the Peace Corps at age 40!). Learn more about the Peace Corps online, www.peacecorps.gov

Major General Pete Pawling is the Mobilization Assistant to Admiral Robert Willard, head of the Pacific Command. I interviewed General Pawling at his office at Camp Smith, high above Oahu with a stunning view of Pearl Harbor. The base is so secured that I wasn't allowed to take in my cell phone!

General Pawling has a long and distinguished military career. He grew up on Oahu, and entered the military in 1972. I first met General Pawling around 2005, when the Hawaii Air National Guard, of which General Pawling was commander, was about to get eight C-17s, based at Hickam Air Force Base (now a combined Navy/Air Force Base). The C17s use Kona International Airport for landing and takeoff practice.

The Pacific Command is one of several commands, started in January 1947 by President Truman. (Of course General Pawling says the Navy reminds everybody they've been in the Pacific waters for 150 years.) The Pacific Command is the largest of all the commands; its borders touch all others. It covers 51% of the world's geography.

The Pacific Command includes 36 countries (Japan, China, Korea India, all countries within the Pacific Rim, 15 time zones, 3,000 languages. In answer to the question of why the U. S. military "divides up the world," General said the job is to help provide stability and deter aggression. That includes protecting trade and helping provide economic stability--for example, in the areas where pirates have in past years attacked cargo ships, the U. S. Navy helped deter that to where piracy has diminished.

The Pacific Command is headed up by Admiral Robert Willard, considered the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving within its area of responsibility--Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines. The chain of command runs from the President of the United States, through the Secretary of Defense, to the Commander, Pacific Command. It is the oldest and largest of the ten Unified Combatant Commands. General Pawling said the fact that the military head of PACOM reports to a civilian authority, Secretary of Defense, was intentional, to prevent the military from doing any kind of joint uprising against the U. S. It reinforces "civilian authority."

Around 320,000 personnel are part of PACOM. General Pawling praised the caliber of the men and women in the services. At Camp Smith itself, there are people engaged in diplomatic activities, with many foreign ambassadors and consuls general coming to get updates on the region. General Pawling said they don't do things like missile monitoring there, but that happens elsewhere on Oahu and also on the mainland. The headquarters at Camp Smith has around 700 personnel.

Another responsibility of The Pacific Command is to offer humanitarian aid. For example, when the Japan tsunami happened in March, 2011, PACOM mobiized, General Pawling said almost as if they were in a war mode to help with the earthquake and tsunami damage and the nuclear disaster. The hospital ship HOPE is part of USPACOM and offers 1,500 hospital beds when there are emergencies. One of the functions of the eight C17s stationed on Oahu is to provide humanitarian aid as well as military transport. (One C17 pilot with whom I spoke said he never knows when he goes to work where he'll go--he said recently he airvac'd a child from Guam who needed emergency medical treatment at Trippler Hospital on Oahu.) General Pawling said after a recent earthquake in China, the U. S. Military shipped in water via military transport to a small village--shocking the villagers when a plane landed in their tiny village!

Why is Hawaii considered strategically important? It's a US State, the closest to the Pacific Rim. It's halfway between Washington D. C. and Japan, so you can get to almost anywhere in the Pacific Rim by plane within a day.

The United States has "mutual aid treaties" with several countries: * U.S./Republic of the Philippines (Mutual Defense Treaty, 1952) * U.S./Australia/New Zealand (ANZUS – U.S., 1952) * U.S./Republic of Korea (Mutual Defense Treaty, 1954) * U.S./Japan (Mutual Defense Treaty, 1960) * Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. USPACOM fulfils each of these treaties; General Pawling said our obligation is to come to their aid if need be, and in the case of Taiwan, keep their military facilities up to date without creating a problem with China--a sensitive area.

A current focus of USPACOM is APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit) happening on Oahu in November. General Pawling said it is not a military event, in fact they're going overboard to have little military appearance. However, with President Obama and heads of countries coming, there will be very high security and the military will help with security zones, supporting Honolulu Police Department, State Civil Defense. There are going to be security zones on the ground, in the ocean, and in the air. Security in the ocean will be provided by the Coast Guard and the State Harbors Division.

Rimpac: Every two years there is the Rim of the Pacific exercise. It's in June or July, lasts two weeks, and brings together Navies from the U. S. and other countries. In 2010 it was one of the biggest, with 36 ships involved--25 of them from the U. S. They used Kona International Airport as a base for F16 fighters that pretended to be enemy fighters to engage the "good guys." General Pawling said that was invaluable...usually the F16 "enemy" planes take off from Hickam and everybody can see them. Taking off form Kona Airport, they weren't visible to the Rimpac participants so they had the element of surprise and made it more real. (Note, good for our economy, too, as there were around 100 personnel staying at our local hotels and eating locally.)

Pohakuloa Training Area: General Pawling said it's a vital training area to USPACOM and to our nation. It offers a variety of training in varied terrains that simulate the terrain in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.

Earlier this year, Admiral Willard signed an agreement to partner with UH Hawaii and work on issues such as alternative energy, waste management, and health care. General Pawling said they're doing more research on biofuel, to try to find ways to create fuel that lessens the military's dependence on not-so-friendly nations for fuel--since the military is highly fuel dependent.

General Pawling said in his previous job, Hawaii Air National Guard commander, he was "at the pointy end of the spear," they would deploy to war. He said he was surprised at the emphasis at PACOM, how much energy is expended, on creating peace and avoiding war.

Learn more about the U. S. Pacific Command ... I did...but remember some details may be unverified...at Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pacific_Command

Our guest, John D. Dawson, is a Hilo artist. In very exciting news, John's work, some drawings of bonsai, will be featured on United States Postal Service "Forever" stamps to be issued in 2012.

The USPS has an advisory committee that decides what stamp designs will be issued. They have six contracted art directors who assign the work to the artists. In this case, John was selected because he'd done some nature stamps before and because he was recommended by Howard Payne, Art Director for National Geographic.

John's first stamp was a cat stamp; he was selected because he'd done the "Morris the Cat" drawing for Nine Lives. The cat stamp first day issue was in connection with the musical Cats in New York City.

After the cat stamp, he did the Idaho Centennial Stamp (a bluebird, the state bird), flowering trees--a series of five, and Nature in America, one pane of ten stamps each year for twelve years. The last in that series was the Volcano Rain Forest set of stamps.

The USPS does not ask for artist input--they make decisions and assign the work to the artists.

For the Hawaii Rain Forest stamp, once assigned, John submitted sketches and ideas--a similar process for all stamps. The sketches go through the Art Directors, the Advisory Committee, and a panel of experts. In the Hawaii Rain Forest stamp, John had been working with experts at the park already--Linda Pratt, Jay Robinson, Andrea Okita--so he appreciated working with them and getting their input.

John's next stamp will be a series of bonsai, five different stamps, all of which will be "Forever" stamps that do not expire. John said on bonsai, he's not an expert so did a lot of research. The bonsai shown will be Sierra Juniper, trident maple, black pine, and banyan, in different styles. John did the work a few years ago.

The original stamp art is only twice as big as a postage stamp! John said he likes working small. The USPS owns the originals, but pay the artists well.

John was drawing at age 3, and he and his parents sort of knew that was to be his life. He had art classes in Junior and High School, good teachers, then took art classes at San Diego State, then the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. His formal training was in commercial art and illustration; he worked in Detroit for a while. He did black and white car illustrations in classified ads and car drawings for car catalogues.

After six months, he was in danger of being drafted so join the Army Reserves. Though trained as an MP (Military Police), he spent his time in the reserves drawing maps.

John and his wife Kathie lived in Idaho--they moved there because John wanted to be able to fly fish. They were in Hailey, below Sun Valley, and very very cold in winter--too cold. When their kids graduated from high school, they moved to Hilo. They'd done work for National Geographic and spent time in Hawaii and found Hilo very appealing.

John's first job for National Geographic was "Ants of the World", a two-year project that resulted in 22 drawings appearing in the magazine.

Another terrific assignment for National Geographic: John and Kathie went to Peru to watch the unraveling of an Inca mummy in 2003; Kathie took photos, John then sketched the mummy and could show sort of a "time release" view of the process.

John says he would describe his artwork as very realistic. He especially does a lot of nature work.

Is he inspired by place? He says for him...hard to say...he loves everywhere he is. He says he draws and sketches constantly, in the airport, in the mall, in the doctor's office.

John says though he and his wife came from big cities--San Diego and Los Angeles--they have gravitated to Hilo, a small city, with the ability to live a simple lifestyle.

John says he's starting to draw more, and will have a one man show at Volcano Art Center next August. He's meeting more with other artists, a fairly recent development.

John uses acrylics, and does his sketches with pen and ink.

John has six large 2' by 4' panels in the visitors center inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They're a montage of everything inside the park, from the ocean to the top of Mauna Loa. Although the paintings are large, inside the paintings there is incredible detail.

John also has work at Imiloa Astronomy. He and Herb Kane worked together on a sixty foot banner. He and Herb Kane were friends since the 1970s, and Herb's wife Dion even asked John to paint a portrait of Herb which was in a recent show at Volcano Art Center.

John said he has thousands of pieces of art. For the National Parks, he has over 500 pieces of art in their collections, in their parks as signs, all over.

John's work is with private collectors, but he has no record of who has what. He said he'll sometimes get emails asking about the value of a piece--that he barely remembers.

John says he has no real idea how to price his work--and he said he gets comments that his work is priced both too low and too high. He says he's still working that out (after fifty years!).

John says you can be taught to paint, if you have the desire.

Although John has had other stamps, he said it was a great thrill to get the call that his bonsai stamps would be coming out in 2012.

John D. Dawson's web site is www.jdawsonillustration.com

Our guests were Robbie Cabral and Mililani Trask from Innovations Development Group and Richard Ha, Hamakua Springs Country Farms farmer and member of the State's Geothermal Working Group.

Robby Cabral says IDG has two projects in New Zealand on which they're working. They have "strategic partners" who actually do the geothermal technical work, and IDG does consulting. Robby Cabral

Richard Ha is part of the state legislative-mandated Geothermal Working Group, the intent of which is to determine how best to use geothermal power in the state. Geothermal power, volcano power, CAN be used as "base power" for Hawaii Island. "Base power" is about 80% of Hawaii Island's electricity now, and it's all provided by oil-fired power plants here on the island. Hawaii Island has other sources of power--solar, wind, hydro--and that's about 20% of the Big Island's power. Those sources cannot be used as "base power" -- they are not stable and reliable enough. There are many examples of countries using geothermal power as their base power--Iceland, New Zealand, Ormat City in the Philippines.

Hawaii Island's total power requirement is around 200 megawatts. Currently, Puna Geothermal Ventures provides around 30 megawatts of power, which is sold to Hawaiian Electric. This is a contract going back around 17 years, and the geothermal power plant has been consistent in providing 30 mw. The State PUC has approved expanding that to 38 mw, and the plant is ready to go, all testing done.

Innovations Development Group's Cabral says they are consulting on one of their New Zealand projects, and owns -- is a key equity partner -- on the other.

I asked Robby about their technical expertise. She says they're using SKM Engineers out of Australia for engineering, and GNS out of New Zealand for their science. Robby says this information is not on their web site because of their need for confidentiality.

Mililani Trask was strongly opposed to geothermal power when Puna Geothermal was established almost 20 years ago. She feels Puna Geothermal did not respect the rights of the native Hawaiians to worship nor were they offering a safe option. She says now, cultural issues are protected by the courts, and so she's now focusing on social and community benefit.

Food security: how does the cost of energy impact our food security? Richard Ha says the cost of energy is lower on the mainland, and mainland power companies only use foreign oil for about 5% of their power. Here in the state, we use 75% to 90% foreign oil to provide power. So as the price of foreign oil rises, it affects the cost of producing food on Hawaii far more than on the mainland. Mililani added that we import most of our food, so the impact is greater. Farmers on Hawaii Island cannot afford to farm, according to Mililani.

Geothermal power is definitely cheaper than oil. However, the initial agreement between HECO and Puna Geothermal is that HECO will pay Puna Geothermal for their power at the same rate they currently pay for oil. So there is no cost savings to HECO, nor to the ultimate consumer, because of the use of geothermal power. Clearly a new model is needed. My thought was that this is an issue of Hawaii State's Public Utility Commission needing to change their regulatory model. Mililani says I'm wrong on this, that it's a federal regulatory issue. ***Note, I have invited State House Energy Chair Denny Coffman to be a future guest to clear that issue up.***

Richard Ha agrees the regulatory model in the state needs to change. He's part of a group that wants to buy Hawaiian Electric Company, get the regulatory model changed, and then turn the company back to being a public utility.

Mililani claims there are backroom deals being made between Puna Geothermal and HECO that means Puna Geothermal is intending to develop elsewhere, and that Puna Geothermal has done testing and acquired property (note, in the previous

Mililani says IDG will put $1.25 million per year back into the community. She claimed Puna Geothermal has only given back $500,000 to the community over 16 years. (Note, I checked with Hawaii County Deputy Finance Director Deanna Sako, who confirmed what Puna Geothermal had told me: Puna Geothermal annually returns about $1 million per year to the state--50% stays with the State, 20% goes to Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and 30% goes directly to Hawaii County and is designated for projects in Puna, which is where the plant is. Mike Kaleikini of Puna Geothermal says they've paid around $16 million over their past 17 years). Mililani Trask says they will give more, and the money will come from the profits from their endeavor. Note: I did NOT ask the logical followup question about why they wouldn't just lower the rates to the ratepayer, if there is that much additional profit.

Mililani said at some point, IDG would plan to give the plant back to the State of Hawaii for it to run the power plant. She said the State would have to find somebody or set up a system to run the geothermal plant.

Mililani Trask feels the relationship between Puna Geothermal and HECO and the State is a monopoly relationship, and does not benefit the community.

Robby says their company is not locked into any particular kind of equipment, nor technology, and they will search out the best partners to provide what's needed.

The Innovations Development Group website is www.idghawaii.com. A response from Innovations Development Group's counsel, Patricia Talbert, posted at the request of IDG:

From: Patricia Medina Talbert Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2011 at 1:17 PM Subject: Re: Island Issues/BigIslandNews center--Sherry Bracken interview To: Robbie Cabral Cc: Mililani Trask

This issue is the distinction between those funds an Ormat is required to pay - as you said - for "the cost of doing business" in Hawai'i, versus IDG's business model that affirmatively dedicates *additional* funds directly to the community. Any business that wishes to exploit Hawai'i's land assets - owned jointly by the public and by the Hawaiian - is required to make commensurate payments to the State and to OHA. To suggest these payments are a "community benefit package" means a business could also characterize the payment of taxes as part of its community benefit package. Hardly. IDG says otherwise. In *addition *to paying its mandatory costs of doing business, IDG commits to paying a pre-tax percentage directly to the community for its use. Since the public and the Hawaiian are stakeholders of the asset, they are necessarily entitled to receive direct benefit. IDG would not wait for the County to impose these requirements, as in the case of the current geothermal generator, but stands behind a public private partnership business model that makes sense in Hawai'i.

What are the payments being discussed that Ormat is required to pay? At the close of a September 19th, 1989 hearing, the Hawaii County Planning Commission voted to approve the permit request by Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV). The formal document, Geothermal Resources Permit (GRP), was issued on October 3, 1989, with 51 conditions attached. The 51st condition required PGV to contribute to a Geothermal Asset Fund (GAF) in the initial amount of $60,000, due within thirty (30) days after the effective date of the GRP permit, and annually to add sums of $50,000 (on or before the anniversary date of the GRP permit) over a period of eight (8) consecutive years, for a total of $460,000. (Note: At $1.25M/year, IDG would pay out $10M over the same time period.)

Annual contributions thereafter were either to be determined between the PGV and the State of Hawai'i or to be $50,000 annually, whichever was greater. The first priority of distribution would be for temporary or permanent relocation of those property owners who were found, in accordance with criteria established in the rules, to be adversely impacted by the activities authorized.

The County also created A Geothermal Relocation And Community Benefits Program, pursuant to Hawaii County Code,* *that is funded* by geothermal royalties,* any proceeds and rental fees received from the sale of property acquired and sold through this program. PGV was to maintain a minimum of $1 million in the fund which is to be used to purchase affected properties in lower Puna and to accomplish road improvement, water infrastructure, land acquisition, park and recreational facility needs, civil defense and mass transit improvements. Thus, over the seventeen-year life of PGV's generating, it has been required to make payments in the millions. The question to ask: what has it affirmatively and voluntarily given to the community?

Please direct any questions on Ms. Talbert’s commentary to her or to: Robbie Le'a Kapi'olani Cabral Founder, Senior Advisor Innovations Development Group 2990 Pacific Heights Rd Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Office: (808) 536-0434 Fax: (808) 536-0274 www.idghawaii.com

Rabbi Jack Gabriel, visiting from Berkeley, was here on the island for the Jewish high holy days. He has a pretty interesting background.

Jack Gabriel's first musical gig was with Bo and the Arrows, when he was 12, in the South Bronx. Bo got to be the lead because he was the only one with a musical instrument--an accordion. When Rabbi Jack was growing up in the Bronx, an immigrant with his family, what connected him to America was music.

Rabbi Jack went to Bronx High School of Science, but said he majored in basketball and music. In fact, his first song was about basketball..."Hoops."

Rabbi Jack's parents were Jews in Poland during World War II. Their lives were in constant danger. (Note, the Nazis killed 3 million Polish Jews...about 90% of the Jewish population.) His Mom, and then his Dad, spent 18 months in an attic, courtesy of a generous and loving Catholic woman. The attic entrance was through the stovepipe of a pot bellied stove, and the fact that it was too hot for the Nazis to touch saved their lives. Those in the attic had to be completely quiet all day long until they were sure no Nazis would come--as the Nazis would frequently come and search houses for hiding Jews.

Rabbi Jack said even in adversity, it's important to maintain hope, and to laugh to avoid crying. Rabbi Jack was born in a Displaced Persons' Camp in Italy. His Dad spoke several languages and was responsible for food distribution in the camp, and Jack and his mother always got fed.

Rabbi Jack's Dad helped them get out of Poland after the war by, at each border, saying he was going to the country beyond that one--and his prodigious knowledge of languages would help convince the border guards. At that time, there were few passports, most documentation had been lost. Rabbi Jack's parents wanted to go to Israel, then called Palestine. But, they could not...and finally ended up immigrating to the United States under the sponsorship of a distant cousin who guaranteed they would not go on welfare.

How did the war experience affect Rabbi Jack's parents? They lost their entire families in the war. They were very damaged by the experience...and Rabbi Jack said he realized even at an early age that he took a leadership role. Even at age 8, he realized he could not take his parents' fearful viewpoints as his own. They were afraid of so much--and Rabbi Jack had to sort of lead his parents to a better existence. He said, in retrospect, maybe the American pasttimes of baseball, basketball, and music including do wop and rock and roll helped him assimilate.

Rabbi Jack's mother sent him to a religious school, despite her stated anger at God. Rabbi Jack said he thought his mother perhaps wanted to make sure the Nazis would not succeed in removing the Jewish culture, so she wanted her son to learn about his culture, heritage, an religion.

Rabbi Jack became a rabbi at 40--to the shock of his music and radio business colleagues. He reassured them he would not change as a result!

During the war, the Nazis discriminated against and killed not just Jews, but many different groups--ministers, othr religious groups, gays and lesbians, handicapped people. With this kind of burden, this loss, in the past, how do people find joy again? It's important to do things you love, even if you don't feel like it. Find a spiritual path--and Rabbi Jack says that does not necessarily mean religion per se, but a way of connecting to nature or something greater than yourself. He says meditation is helpful. Finally, he says...make a CHOICE to be happy. Psychiatrist Victor Frankel said, you cannot always control outside circumstances--but what you can do is control your reactions to how you are treated. Rabbi Jack says, choose life--choose happiness.

Rabbi Jack sang with Kermit the Frog. He was in New York, mostly doing vocal training with people and studying to be a rabbi. The owner of a recording studio invited him to come and do some singing, and lo and behold, Rabbi Jack discovers Jim Henson is there..Rabbi Jack sang, they liked him, and he sang on four Kermit the Frog albums..."Sing Along with Kermit." Rabbi Jack said for his son, that's Jack's biggest credit ever.

Rabbi Jack has written songs. He sang a part of one I enjoyed, "Morning Light," which he wrote for a young girl's Bat Mitzvah, her confirmation of coming of age, the daughter of a friend in Boulder, Colorado.

Rabbi Jack visited reggae musician Bob Marley in Jamaica. Rabbi Jack in his early days dated a former girlfriend of Bob Marley. They visited Bob, Rabbi Jack met Bob, he invited Jack to go jam with the Wailers, Bob Marley's backup band...so he did!

In his pre-rabbi days, he hosted an oldies program on the Canadian Broadcasting Company's radio network.

He became a rabbi when he was 40, after hearing somebody talk about how difficult it was to teach young men what they needed to know about Bar Mitzvah. Jack said "Oh, it can't be THAT hard." The teacher challenged Jack to try, he did, he got hooked...and realized his calling was to teach, one of the main functions of a rabbi.

Rabbi Jack said he doesn't see his job as "knowing all, seeing all" he doesn't feel he has special insight in how to find God. A rabbi is essentially a teacher, and he uses music and what he's learned to help people find their own path. He says he uses music in his rabbi work to help people find themselves.

Rabbi Jack Gabriel says though he does not live here, he'd like to. He commented on the sweetness of those he's met here.

My guests were Dr Barry Blum and Gloria Blum, who are producing the play “The Diary of Anne Frank” at the Aloha Theater starting October 8; Konawaena High student Alec Lugo; and by telephone in a pre-taped conversation, Sandy Takamine of the Department of Education.

Bullying in the schools: the State DOE has an Anti Bullying Task Force that works I East Hawaii and South Hawaii. Ms Takamine told us it’s a multi-department effort, including DOE, Hawaii County Police, County Parks and Recreation, Queen Lili’uokalani Children’s Center. The goal is to make kids bully-proof.

Ms. Takamine said bullying incorporates a whole spectrum of behavior—in person to include teasing, taunting, hitting, sexual bullying, to cyber bullying. Off air, we had also talked with some school administrators at private schools and other public schools about their programs. They say they address the issue via morning student announcements, in their rules, in posters, with counseling. Mr. Alan Vogt, Vice Principal of Kealakehe High School said one of their biggest concerns is “cyber bullying,” via Facebook and other social media.

Alec Lugo is a 17-year-old senior at Konawaena High School. He said Konawaena emphasizes anti-bullying behavior, counseling students, encouraging students to not be bystanders—report bullying, discourage bullying. He said there is constant reinforcement and the bullying situation has improved.

Dr. Blum said the story of Anne Frank is the result of a diary written by the 13-year-old Anne Frank. She and her family were forced to go into hiding in Amsterdam to avoid being sent away to the concentration camps which Hitler established during WorldWar II. When Hitler came to power, he decided certain segments of the population in Germany and other countries in Europe were “bad.” That included Jews, homosexuals, some Christian ministers, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, handicapped people. Eleven million people were ultimately put to death or died in Hitler’s death camps. Anne and her family were put into hiding in an attic by friends. The diary is about the experience in the attic.

Although in the end, Anne’s family was found, captured, and sent to a concentration camp. But Dr. Blum says the message is about the triumph of the human spirit amidst horror, and about Anne’s belief that people, in the end, are ultimately good.

There are many scholarly works that address discrimination such as existed during Hitler’s time (and even into the present) as bullying in the extreme. Dr. Blum and Gloria Blum said they wanted to bring this play to both adults and children to remind everybody of the horrors of discrimination. To that end, they are also doing special school performances, bringing in kids from local schools to daytime performances.

Alec Lugo plays Peter Van Daan, a teenage boy who was in the attic along with his parents. Alec said this was the most challenging, emotional role with which he’s been involved in the 11 plays in which he’s appeared.

Sandy Takamine said part of the goal of the Anti Bullying Coalition was to change a silent majority of kids who observe bullying into a caring majority.

Gloria Blum said often bullies lack self esteem so part of the solution is to help people feel good about themselves.

Dr. Blum said only 14 years ago some Jewish cemeteries on Oahu were being desecrated, and some homosexuals on Oahu were being attacked….so he said this kind of discrimination is not in the past. Gloria Blum pointed out that some of the new laws being put into place in mainland states focus on having people who look different…Hispanic, mostly…being required to “prove” they are citizens…just based on their appearance.

Dr. Blum has prepared a curriculum for teachers, and even parents, to use as discussion guides.

The Diary of Anne Frank runs at Aloha Theater in Kainaliu Saturday, October 8 through October 22. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30, Sundays 2:30. Tickets (reserved seats) online, and also find the study guides: www.apachawaii.org/AnneFrank You may also call the theater at 322-9924.

We originally aired this talk story with former Congressman Ed Case on July 3, 2011. With current Congresswoman Mazie Hirono's interview airing last week, we decided to rebroadcast the Ed Case interview so Hawaii Island citizens may start to think about their candidates for the Democratic primary, coming next August, and the general election. Note, you may hear the interview with Congresswoman Hirono at our news web site, www.bigislandnewscenter.com, down on the right--listen online or download.

Congressman Ed Case, born and raised in Hilo, graduated from Hawaii Preparatory Hawaii, has served in the State House of Representatives and worked as an attorney. He also served as our United States Congressman for rural Oahu and all the neighbor islands from January 2002 to November, 2007.

How has Congressman Case been spending his time since leaving the U. S. Congress job in 2009? Working as an attorney, and graduating three out of four children from college. But now he's ready to return to public service...and has announced his candidacy for the United States Senate, to fill the position being vacated by Senator Daniel Akaka, who will retire in 2012.

Difference between U. S. Senate and U. S. House of Representatives? Each state has only 2 US Senators, whereas Representatives are assigned by population. Senators are expected to be national leaders, and have broader responsibility than in U. S. House. Senate also handles all foreign affairs policy. In the Senate, every state is equal--two Senators. A Senator must be ready to step forward to the national stage and make decisions of national import.

How has Congressman Case kept touch with Hawaii Island? He was born and raised here, has relatives here, and has continued being here. While our U. S. Congressman, he held repeated talk stories around the island in all communities, large and small. He said he knows the island well.

What does he see as the role of government? Case said at the national level a decision must be made as to what we want from government and what we can afford. Government must provide national protection, national defense, infrastructure, creating and maintaining a good business climate where private industry can survive, and a basic social service safety net for the needy. We need to focus on needs, not desires, at this point.

What should we not be doing? Case said economic stimulus has been necessary up to this point, but we can no longer afford it (he feels the economy would have failed had we not done it, but now it's time for the economy to move forward on its own.)

Deficit: under Bill Clinton we had a budget surplus. Starting under George W. Bush, and continuing today, we have a deficit that's growing. Case said we can return to a situation where we run government in a fiscally responsible manner and balancing our budget. Case said in the early 1990s, we had a comparable situation to today...but President Clinton (Democrat) worked with a Republican Congress to achieve compromise, and leadership, and they together made hard decisions to get the budget under control. They balanced the budget within six years, and by 2000 we had a balanced budget. Starting in 2000, there was a massive reduction in taxes and an increase in expense--and Case says it was not just due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was out-of-control spending. Case said Washington does have a small bipartisan group of legislators now who are approaching the problem and it's mandatory we do so.

Case supports Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. But they must change. Social Security: must make the age of collection older, must raise the tax cap (currently earnings over $90,000 are not taxed). He suggested there should be means testing--people who have very high incomes should perhaps not receive as much from Social Security. Case says once you are receiving benefits or are within ten years of retirement, the system should remain the same. But for younger people, with more time to plan, there must be changes. As we discussed, AARP has now come out and agreed essentially with what Case said.

Medicare: the problem with Medicare is out-of-control expenses, up 10% a year, plus Medicare fraud. Case said there are steps underway to deal fraud, just started within the last couple of weeks, to identify fraud.

Congress seems more polarized. What's the difference between Democrats and Republicans in Congress? Congressman Case said it's counterproductive to focus on "my party no matter what," and that discussion and compromise must happen. He said at the extremes, there are those who don't want any government at all and those who want government to do everything. Neither position really works to get the job done. He said there are clearly still differences in social policy.

Blue Dog Democrat: when Case was in Congress, he aligned with Blue Dog Democrats on being more fiscally responsible, balancing the budget, reducing debt. But he disagreed with other positions--they were not as environmentally focused whereas Case is rated high by environmental organizations, and some were more socially conservative than Case.

Monopolies: Case said he does not like monopolies, especially when created by the government. In Hawaii we are subject to several monopolies--airlines, energy, and more. Regarding shipping, the Jones Act requires only US-built, US-flagged ships to go between US ports. For Hawaii, that creates a significant monopoly for Matson and Horizon lines, the only two cargo companies that meet the Jones Act laws. It affects good going out and coming in. Case says farmers and ranchers are especially affected because they must get to mainland markets and it is expensive. In 1998, the Federal Government's General Accounting Office estimated that back then, the Jones Act cost each Hawaii household around $3,000 a year. (Note, legislation has been introduced as recently as last year, most recently by John McCain, to overturn or modify the Jones Act. The Hawaii delegation, Senators Inouye and Akaka and Congresswomen Hirono and Hanabusa, favor the Jones Act and do not want it overturned.)

Former Governor Ben Cayetano suggested the best way to judge candidates is not on promises, but on beliefs and values. In what does Case believe? Government, our constitutional values, our social contract with each other, democracy and debate and decision making, minority rights and lack of intrusive government, he believes deeply in Hawaii, and he believes Hawaii has many things to offer to the country and the world--national leadership from our unique perspective. He believes in not too much government and not too little. He believes in representative Democracy.

Ethnicity: Congressman Case says ethnicity has no place in political races. He says growing up in Hilo, he had no idea people were of different ethnicities! Congressman Case said in the recent Governor's race, the candidate who raised the issue of ethnicity probably lost respect from voters because of raising the issue of race.

Why does Ed Case want to be our United States Senator? He feels we need good, smart leadership, and we need a Senator who can move Hawaii and our country forward. He said now that Senator Akaka has decided to say "aloha" after a long and distinguished career, we need to have the next generation begin to lead in the Senate. He believes his background and experience will allow him to serve the people of Hawaii well.

Ed Case's wife Audrey is still a flight attendant with United Airlines. She will take time off to campaign with Congressman Case as he runs for Senate.

Congressman Case just finished reading the book "War" by Sebastian Junger ("The Perfect Storm"). He said it's an excellent look at the experience of being a soldier in Afghanistan and is very moving.

Learn more online, www.edcase.com, and email Congressman Case at edcase@edcase.com.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and former Congressman Ed Case have both said they will run in the Democratic primary next August, to fill the US Senate seat being vacated by Senator Daniel Akaka. This week, we aired an interview taped August 31 when Congresswoman Hirono was here on the island, in which I asked questions intended to mostly focus on her philosophies. On September 25, we will rebroadcast a similar interview with Congressman Ed Case, taped in late June, to give listeners a look (a listen) to both candidates side by side. As a note, no other candidates have declared from the Democratic or any other party.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono was born in Japan. Her other brought her two siblings and Mazie to Hawaii when she was a young girl. She became a citizen in 1959. She graduated from Kaimuki High. She graduated from University of Hawaii. She earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. After graduation, she returned to Hawai'i where she served as a Deputy Attorney General before entering private practice. In 1980, she was elected to the Hawai'i State House of Representatives. In 1994, Congresswoman was elected Lieutenant Governor.-- serving two terms with Governor Ben Cayetano, and then 5 years ago, became our US Congressional Representative. (As a note, the state's other Congressional representative is Colleen Hanabusa, who represents urban Honolulu.)

Congresswoman Hirono says she wants to run for the Senate because with two Senators for each state, an equal playing field for all states.

What she sees as differences between the US Senate and the US House: she says it's a much more level playing field. She says there are different rules in the Senate than the House. In the Senate, 60 Senators must agree to bring it to the floor. The Senate approves all the Judges and has different constitutional roles.

Constituents have expressed concern that Congresswoman is leaving the US House seat after six years, thus abandoning seniority she's been building up. Congresswoman says seniority is not so important, that relationships matter, and that's been her focus.

Congresswoman says despite her only five year seniority now, she feels she's been very effective in bringing home projects to Hawaii Island.

How will Congresswoman keep track of Hawaii Island issues if elected? She pointed out her territory includes far more than Hawaii Island. She says she's been coming here meeting with farmers and ranchers, and focused on the Hamakua Ditch. She says she listens to her constituents across the street. But to the question of how she'd handle ongoing communication, she said she'd use all different media...twitter, facebook, she said she'd make sure people get information from all kinds of different sources.

Role of federal government: education, supporting clean air and clean water, regulations to support health and safety and welfare, economic welfare such as Wall Street reform,consumer protection. She said the House Republicans want to get rid of consumer protection, and Congresswoman supported Elizabeth Warren's plan to protect consumers. She said she also advocates public/private partnerships.

What services provided by the Federal Government now should not be provided? Congresswoman said there are areas where Government could play a secondary role, but the areas of health, safety, and welfare are key. She said the Government needs to support large and small businesses. But she said there does need to be thought given to where the Government can pull back.

Federal budget and deficit: No deficit under Bill Clinton, but since then til now, we have a huge deficit. How'd we get into this, how do we get out? She said the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have added trillions of dollars to our deficit; the Bush tax cuts added trillions to our debt. We need to have a long term plan to deal with debt and deficit. She says we need to focus on job creation as we're still recovering from the economic crisis.

Medicare, Social Security must be protected. What kind of reform is possible? She says the biggest problem in Medicare is fraud and waste, and that must be addressed. She does not favor means testing for Social Security. She also said before Medicare, 40 million seniors had no health care.

She says she is a major proponent of early childhood education.

Jobs, how does she see the Federal Government creating jobs? She's glad there is discussion about what should be done to create jobs, but says there are people in the House of Representatives who want to cut cut cut and destroy jobs. Congresswoman wants more infrastructure investment, which will fix our infrastructure and create jobs at the same time.

Jones Act: that is a law, set up in the 1920s, requiring only US flagged ships between two US ports. That has created a cargo monopoly with only Matson and Horizon filling that requirement. Congresswoman says the Jones act brings 22,000 jobs to Hawaii. She also said there is a national security component in...we rely on ships for cargo, but if they were foreign-flagged ships, Congresswoman says those ships could be pulled away from Hawaii and leave Hawaii in dire straits. She says all the presidents have supported the Jones Act. She also says she does not agree with a General Accounting Office study from the late 1980s that indicated Hawaii households pay more, up to $3,000 per household annually, for cargo. A more recent UH study looks at the bigger picture, not just the "per household" cost, but the larger economic impacts and don't see the Jones Act as a bad financial move when looked at the state and country as a whole, not on a per-household basis.

Her beliefs and values: she loves Hawaii; she says she shares the values of the people--taking care of kupuna, keeping Social Security and Medicare in place; making sure our children are educated especially in early childhood; she is for creating jobs. She says she also shares experiences, being raised by a single Mom of three kids. Congresswoman says her mother brought the family from Japan to get better opportunities for her children. She says education is foundational, and the great equalizer. Her mother lives with her (actually, lives with Congresswoman's husband in Hawaii while Congresswoman works in Washington) and she feels deeply the needs of seniors.

Ethnicity: in the recent Gubernatorial race, one candidate raised the concept of ethnicity as a decision factor...how will she react if that issue is raised? She says she has experiences that cut across all racial and ethnic lines.

What is Congresswoman's commitment to service? She will be 65 by the time she'd get elected, and the Senate job is a six year job. It also is a job where seniority is important. Many might retire at that age...what's her plan? She says wherever she is, whatever position she's in, she'll do the best job she can. She says the average tenure in the Senate is 12 years.

She mentioned her mother lives with her; she lives here in Hawaii. Congresswoman says her Mom would not like Washington. She loves coming home and says she keeps in touch through many different media.

Can Congressional stalemates be resolved? She said the stalemates have only existed since the 2010 elections. She said the people need to vote for candidates who will get the job done.

Congresswoman is a reader...any sharing? She says she reads multiple books all the time. She also loves art, and does ceramics when she has the time. She says the creative part of people is important and she supports arts programs in the schools.

Her legacy? She says she doesn't really think about a legacy, but she wants to make peoples' lives better. Early childhood education is a big issue for her. She says she has a real sense of giving back to the state and country because of the opportunities she's had since moving from Japan as a child. She says she loves the state and wants everybody to achieve their dreams.

Learn more about Congresswoman Mazie Hirono. www.hirono.house.gov www.mazieforhawaii.com

My guest was Mayor Billy Kenoi, now in the third year of his first term as Mayor of Hawaii County.

Long term planning: he said when he hired department heads he wanted to make sure they were focused on the long term, not just the daily events that had to be handled.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperative is coming to Oahu, with events starting in September, and the final events in November. The Mayor said it will bring 21 world leaders from the Asia Pacific countries. The Mayor said there are a series of events coming to Hawaii Island that have already started that will help us take advantage of these opportunities. There has already been a "familiarization trip" for Chinese media, which were taken to the Natural Energy Laboratory, Imiloa Astronomy, and Mauna Kea.

Hawaii Tourism Authority Chair Mike McCartney arranged for Hawaii Island to host the US China Travel Summit, 100 of the top travel planners from the US and China, plus media, will be here this month.

The Oceans 11 Conference is bringing around 2800 top scientists from 48 countries around the world here to Waikoloa, to talk

Sister Cities: we will pick up two sister cities, with the first agreement being signed today, September 11, at noon at the Natural Energy Laboratory with Kumejima City. We will also have Ormac City in the Philippines, on the island of Leyte, as a sister city. Ormac City and Hawaii Island are similar in population, economic base of tourism and agriculture, universities of similar sizes. But the key benefit is learning more about their geothermal power model. We produce 30 mw of geothermal power...they produce 770 mw of geothermal power annually, and use it plus sell it. We have the capability to produce far more geothermal power (right now our provider is Puna Geothermal), but regulation has held forward movement back. Mayor says there is serious work going on to change the regulatory issues.

Cheap energy: if we can take geothermal energy, produce it more cheaply, and have less expensive power, that would also enable us to attract more businesses. It would also allow our agriculture economy to flourish...right now, water is scarce and moving it is expensive. But if we can make energy cheaper, it enables moving water more cheaply.

Hawaii Island was recently voted by Travel and Leisure Magazine as the No 1 island in Hawaii, putting us ahead of Maui and Oahu. This should also help us gain visitors. Tourism is doing well right now...we just had the Queen Lili'uokalani Canoe Races, and in October the Ironman Triathlon is coming--both events bringing at least a few thousand visitors.

The Mayor is working to bring a Mayor's Summit to this island, to run concurrently with APEC, focusing on the mayors developing relationships. Mayor said when our two senior senators retire, our influence in Congress and our ability to access money will significantly diminish. Part of the goal is to bring Mayors, Chief Executives, and media. Mayor also wants to ask some of the key business leaders who have second homes here to participate--Michael Dell (Dell Computers), Charles Schwab (Schwab), and Marc Benioff (Salesforce.com), who recently appeared on the cover of Fortune.

The Mayor has recently talked to many Chief Executives from around the state...with construction down, we need to find alternate ways to grow. Tourism is saving us now, bringing money into the community But we need to find ways to tell more of our business story.

Mayor would like one outcome of APEC to be getting an international flight back to Kona (Kona lost its only Japan Airlines flight last year). We are still an international airport, in that we have Customs to handle occasional international charter flights. But we need to keep that designation.

Renewable energy: Mayor said the County is the largest energy user in the county, and Department of Water Supply is the biggest in the county. He said the County is taking steps to do many energy efficient things. Police stations have been retrofitted to be more energy efficient; a photovoltaic grid was installed at West Hawaii Civic Center; plans are moving for the Lalamilo Wind Farm in Waimea. The County is also trying to find ways to get geothermal power production not just in Puna but elsewhere on the island. Right now the challenge is getting Puna power elsewhere--distribution is an issue.

Land use philosophy: is it the best thing for Hawaii County to develop as much land as possible to what in real estate terms is "highest and best use"? That generally means resort, big homes, whatever creates the biggest tax base. Mayor said the County is proud to have helped purchase the 171 acres in North Kohala that were recently preserved, thanks to the 2% land fund. Mayor said philosphy has changed over the past years, not just with him as Mayor, but other organizations, as well, for example, Kamehameha Schools/Kamehameha Investment Company, which owns a tremendous amount of land here on the island. He said we continue to need appropriate development, but land preservation is very important and something we (county) will continue to value and support.

Why does it take things so long to happen in this county? Mayor sort of chuckled--he said he couldn't defend all that is frustrating and confusing in County government. Lots of progress has been made (Ane Keohokalole Highway being a great example), the West Hawaii Civic Center, roads around UH Hilo. But the example we discussed was La'aloa Street, which is supposed to be made a mauka-makai connector. The Mayor struggled to get the County Council to approve a bond to fund it, which they finally did...and at that time, months ago, Public Works chief Warren Lee said it was close to being ready to go. But.....as of today, it isn't. Mayor said you need to be good but you need luck...and with La'aloa, it has not been lucky. They're still close, but what happened: some people who WERE going to sell their land to the County now will not, so the County has started condemnation proceedings--and the state changed the speed of Kuakini Highway at La'aloa from 35 to 45, requiring re-engineering. But Mayor said his philosophy is still to focus on removing obstacles.

Mayor's thoughts on this most somber of days, September 11: Mayor said that day, he was one week into his new job with Mayor Harry Kim, working as his assistant on September 11, 2001. He was staying at his sister's house, with his family still on Oahu. The Mayor called him at 3 in the morning and told him to turn on the TV and get down to work. For Mayor, as well as others who suffered such unimaginable tragedy, it was a horrific day. It led our country to be involved in two costly wars, Afghanistan and Iraq, costly in both lives lost and money. Life has changed...and it has changed the way people think of each other. Americans have been strong and resilient. But it's clear there are a number of people who think the killing of innocents equates to martyrdom for them, and there WILL be some new terrorist attack on American soil at some point. Mayor said this is not a Muslim issue, it's an issue that there are groups of terrorists who think in this convoluted way.

Mayor also said should we ever have any disaster here, he feels the people of Hawaii County Civil Defense, our first responders, police and fire, county workers, and the citizens of the County are able to do what's right. He also said he's tried to hire the best people to get the job done.

Mayor closed, as usual, by reiterating what a beautiful island we have and how much he values its citizens.

Dr. Leroy Laney is a professor at Hawaii Pacific University, and consults for First Hawaiian Bank. Dr. Jack Seyderhoud is a professor at the Shideler School of Business at University of Hawaii. First Hawaiian Bank brought them both to Hawaii Island on August 25. They spoke in Hilo to the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, and at an afternoon event at the Hapuna Prince for members of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce.

Last year I interviewed both Dr. Laney and Dr. Seyderhoud...at that time both said they were cautiously optimistic. How do they feel now? They're more cautious, a little less optimistic.

Dr. Laney previously said we were in an L-shaped recession, falling off the cliff in 2008, and now sort of holding steady. He said he was correct, and the recession is not a totally flat bottom, with a very slight uptrend going on.

Dr. Seyderhoud last year said the national debt was a huge issue. He said legislators must have political courage to do the right thing. How does he feel about that now? He said it is interesting, Governor Abercrombie is starting to talk about some of those long-term issues such as underfunding of the state pension system and the state retiree medical system. He said we at all levels must stop making promises we cannot keep. Second, we must fix the problems made in the past...at federal and state levels. He said most legislators do indeed sacrifice the long-term good for short-term personal political gain. And yes, politicians must have the courage to stand up, tell the truth, and focus on the future.

Governor Abercrombie proposed this year that the State should tax pensions, which Hawaii does not do now. Dr. Seyderhoud said we don't tax pension and annuity income. He said if Hawaii is going to tax peoples' income, they should tax all income, not tax it differently based on the source of the income. He said this is another example of where politicians need to develop political courage to do the sensible thing.

Hawaii County has the highest unemployment rate in the state. Dr. Laney said that is the typical trend, Hawaii Island usually has the highest. He said reducing that will be a slow, gradual process. He said the unemployment rate is a lagging, not leading, indicator. Part of Hawaii Island's higher unemployment is based on the higher population being on the East side of the island, with more of the jobs on the West side of the island.

Tourism: we've lost the direct Japan Airlines flight to Kona, but gained mainland flights going directly into Hilo. Dr. Laney said that bodes well for Hilo side tourism--they have better access to the volcano, they have different kinds of attractions besides sun and sand offered at the west side resorts. But he said Hilo needs to upgrade its hotels. He said the reason the Banyan Drive hotels have never upgraded is that the leases they have from the state are too short to allow a return on investment. Why hasn't the state/why doesn't the state give longer leases? Dr. Laney does not know.

Construction is always seen as a leading economic indicator. The Carpenter's Union on this island says more than 90% of their members are not working in the trade. What does Dr. Laney see for improvement? He said residential construction will continue to be weak--it is so cheap to buy an existing home, builders are not building new homes. And interest rates cannot go any lower, so that is not a problem. He says he figures it will be at least a year to 18 months before home prices might turn around. At least.

Public education: Dr. Seyderhoud last year said the failures in public education were a huge issue for the economy. He said now, the new Board of Education, appointed by the Governor, increases a sense of accountability. He feels they are approaching issues with a more business-like focus. Education must be fixed--having a good education system helps create good citizens and good workers, people who can literally create the future. But it also affects the ability of businesses to attract workers...for example, University of Hawaii faculty members must want to come here and the schools may impact how they feel about moving their families.

Other economic indicators? Dr. Laney said he looks at building permits, consumer sentiment (influencing peoples' desire to vacation here), . Dr. Jack Seyderhoud said from an international dimension, we should look at the weakening of the dollar as good for attracting visitors--Australia, Canada, China most likely. Dr. Laney said we also have the opportunity to attract Chinese visitors, a brand new market.

Dr. Seyderhoud has written articles saying government is too big, too costly. Is he seeing evidence of change? He said yes....substituting technology for labor, prioritizing. Hopefully they will focus on core functions, and try to move away from other functions.

Dr. Laney said the cost of living in Hawaii is high--but it's a great place to live, and often good things cost more.

You may see the entire economic forecast at the First Hawaiian Bank website, www.fhb.com.

Around 171 acres of land in North Kohala are being preserved, either now owned by the state or by Hawaii County. Our guests were two Kohala residents, Toni Withington and Fred Cachola (who splits his time between Oahu and North Kohala) who have been involved in the effort. The work has gone on for 40 years. We recorded the interview in Toni's beautiful old home, a former home for the manager for the Homesteads Plantation, one of the sugar cane growing areas around Hawi. Toni has lived in Kohala for more than 30 years. Fred was born and raised in Kohala and it's where his heart lies.

This Wednesday, August 31, there is a celebration, a ho'olaulea, at Lapakahi State Park, to recognize this preservation effort. If you plan to go, PLEASE email the organizers so they know you're coming: laura.kaakua@tpl.org

The properties are along the coast north of Kawaihae. Kaiholena North, 151 acres, starts around Mile 9. Nu'uau is 11 acres inside Lapakahi State Park. Pao'o is 17 acres.

What makes property in North Kohala so special? Fred said the lands must be preserved because they tell the story of Kohala and of the Native Hawaiian culture. There are few undisturbed places left in the state. Toni pointed out these North Kohala coastline lands are where the Hawaiian nation started, where Kamehameha I was born, raised, nurtured. The people have always had access to this coastline to fish and gather, and they want to preserve the coastline area. Fred added that Kohala is proud to be Kamehameha's country. The shoreline north of Kawaihae provided food, and the whole district of Kohala provided warriors and supplies.

The County acquires Kaiholena for $6.5 million thanks to the 2% land fund. Fred says it has a large number of historical sites, intact, and is part of a string of fishing villages. All we would see is...a peaceful place of solitude, grasses, trees, the sea. Kamehameha IV actually got the land by exchanging it for other property in Kona. He felt the North Kohala property had great mana, power. The fishing villages in the area were occupied and active from around 1300 to the early 1900s. Fred said now that these lands are preserved, we have to have a process to be able to fully relate to the land.

In the three parcels, there are over 180 historic sites. Toni said they're working to acquire three additional adjoining parcels with a total of 400 historic sites. The sites include burials, canoe landings, canoe halau, homes/hale sites, wells.

Toni said the property was a focus for the community to preserve because a development was slated to go in, with 1500 hotel rooms and 500 condominium/timeshares. In the early 1990s, more than 100 people testified before the County Council that they did not want the land developed. Private groups joined with larger organizations to get funding: Trust for Public Land, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the State through its Historic Preservation Fund, and Hawaii County via the Open Space Preservation Fund, where 2% of the county's property taxes go to purchase and preserve special lands.

Pao'o is 11 acres, that in the late 1840s or early 1850s was set aside by Kamehameha as "government land," even though families were living there. Even then, the land was so special to the families that they wanted to buy it back. There are still remnants of the fishing villages there, with six burials and numerous home sites. In the early 1900s, drought drove many families away. The property was sold to private landowners who wanted to develop it, with one landowner getting a building permit for a home in the early 1980s. The owner blocked access to the ocean, to a special surf spot known as "Secrets." The Land Board decided to let the owner's permit lapse, did not renew it. The next property owner intended to build five structures wrapped around a significant burial, with an 11' high wall surrounding the property. After a contested case hearing, the landowner, whom Toni said turned out to be a great guy, agreed to sell the property for conservation and wait several years for the money to be raised. Pao'o is where Reverend Elias Bond, the famous Kohala missionary and benefactor, first landed.

Nu'uanu is 17 acres inside Lapakahi State Park. It is named after a family that lived on the land. It's one of the richest fishing areas in North Kohala. Before the coast road was built,in the early 1970s, a local physican bought it. Dr. Tabra and his wife Ruth, a well-known writer and artist, bought it primarily to preserve it. They allowed everybody to access it, and never improved access to help keep it intact. But after their death it was sold. Fortunately, the new owner agreed to sell it into conservation and waited for the groups to get the funds.

Fred said they are working to purchase other special lands. He said he hopes these first three major parcels provide incentive for people to think about preserving land, to be willing to put special lands into conservation. But the purchase is just the first step. Then the community needs to determine how to manage it. In the case of North Kohala, they worked for two years on the North Kohala Community Development Plan, which became incorporated into the County's General Plan as law. Toni and Fred say the Kohala community has accepted the responsibility to steward the lands they are preserving.

The North Kohala Community Development Plan is at the County's web site.

Donate to the efforts to preserve land in North Kohala to the North Kohala Community Resource Center, www.northkohala.org/ --or by phone, 808-889-5523.

My guest was Hunter Bishop, Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Management, a job he's held since April. The department's job is to keep the county clean and safe from environmental harm. They handle solid waste and waste water. They have 2 landfills, 21 transfer stations, and 2 wastewater treatment plants and all the associated facilities and functions.

Dora Beck was recently appointed interim director of the department. Lyle Hiroto is the Deputy Director of Waste Water and will move into Dora Beck's old position as Director of th Waste Water Division. Greg Goodale is in charge of the solid waste division.

The Environmental Management Commission has 9 members, appointed by the Mayor, one from each district. They advise the Department, although Mayor Billy Kenoi has the ultimate authority over the Department.

Hilo Landfill: we've been told forever that it's running out of space. Current status? Still room due to measures the department has taken to expand it horizontally and vertically, plus it's sinking in on itself a bit as garbage decomposes. A study is going on now to review expansion, and how to deal with the water that leaks out of the landfill as a result of Hilo's 120" of rain annually. One option may be to create a wetland facility to handle the runoff--done elsewhere, never here in Hawaii. The County built a sort station near the Hilo Landfill in 2003, in anticipation of putting in a waste to energy facility that would burn garbage to create energy. The sort station is not now being used, but soon the Department will start sorting garbage from Hilo landfill to remove recyclables. They plan to start in the Fall. Over five years they will introduce more sophisticated equipment to help with the sorting, although initially the effort will be more manual. The goal is to reduce what goes in to the Hilo landfill by 40%.

The Department is doing yet another study about trucking trash from Hilo to the Pu'uanaluhu Landfill across from the Waikoloa Resorts. The 2009 Solid Waste Management Plan called for another look at it. The Department is required to update the plan every 5 years, so the next one is due up in 2014. Will they do it internally, or hire another consultant? Not yet decided. Hunter said things do change frequently in the industry.

The County has just let an RFP to find a vendor to take all the compostable material from the landfill plus all the green waste and turn it into compost, which the vendor will then sell. Our county generates about 25% more trash than other comparable-size communities. Getting recyclables and compostable material out of the landfills will help.

The Department will upgrade all the transfer stations. The Pahoa was first when its chute collapsed! It recently opened, with solar, catchment water, environmentally friendly features, a good facility, lots of room, convenient and easy-to-use, and the model for future transfer stations. The Kea'au Transfer Station upgrade is going on now. And next is building a new transfer station at Hawaiian Ocean View Estates...they've had only a county-provided trash bin up to now. They're added a new re-use center in Waimea, where people can bring usable items and others can pick them up. Not all transfer stations have them; some are run by Recycle Hawaii, some are run by volunteers.

The fire under the old Kealakehe Landfill is still burning. They cannot get it out because lava tubes underneath constantly bring in oxygen, thus fueling the fire even as they try to put it out from the top.

Zero Waste (hawaiizerowaste.org): the County wants everybody to generate as little trash as possible. The web site gives ideas how, including recycling and more.

The County Council decided to postpone authorizing a three year recycling contract to the outside vendor. The Department now has a one year contract; a three year contract was better financially. Two testifiers in June, both of whom are connected with other recycling companies that were not getting the contract, objected to the contract. The Council is getting more information; meanwhile, the interim contract goes on (at a higher cost to the taxpayers than a multi-year contract). The recycling vendor sorts the recyclables, ships them to the mainland.

Green waste: in Hilo citizens take it all; in Kona, they have lots left over. It will be a moot point once they get the compost recycler, when they will take ALL the green waste.

Electronic waste: great news, the County is going to accept electronic waste (televisions, computers, phones, etc.) at four transfer stations starting in September (Date To Be Announced).

Hazardous waste: there is a Hazardous Waste collection (motor oil, batteries, paint, etc.) coming to Waiohinu Transfer Station September 3, 7:30 til 2:30. They also do hazardous waste collection on the irst Saturday of June and December in Hilo, second Saturday in June and December, in Kealakehe Transfer Station.

Waste water: all the water that goes out of our house, for anybody on the county sewer system. It gets pumped to a treatment plant, then oes into the ocean as clean, safe, bacteria-free water. Can it be used for watering plants? Yes, but they have not put in pipes yet to get the water out of the waste water treatment plant in Kona (in Hilo they don't need a lot of extra water). Parks and Rec will start using it on the Kona side as soon as pipes are put in.

Sewer leaks: we don't have too many on the island, but in April, there was a leak in a 48" main under Hilo Airport. To repair it might have required shutting off water to keaukaha, and pumping raw sewage into the ocean. Hunter said the waste water team was wonderful, they worked so hard to devise a plan to allow them to slow the flow, get in and analyze the situation, and determine the fix. They had a collar to put around the pipe, it worked, they were able to fix the problem without shutting off water to Keaukaha and without putting any raw sewage into the ocean. Hunter said the waste water teams were just terrific, so hard-working, so dedicated to get it right.

On Oahu, they frequently have sewer line breaks that ruin streets, shut off peoples' water, and put raw sewage into the ocean. We on our island do need sewer pipe repair and Hunter said they do have money and are asking for money in the Capital Improvement Plan budget to do sewer pipe maintenance.

Department budget is $40 million, of which solid waste takes around $27 million. We are still getting federal funds for some of the department work.

Learn more about the County Department of Environmental Management. /www.co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_envmng.htm

Our guests were County Prosecutor Charlene Iboshi, who took Jay Kimura's place when he retired, and First Deputy Prosecutor Dale Ross.

Role: public safety, prosecuting criminal cases, but with a role expansion to work with the police and social service agencies to provide prevention and interruption to help stop crime before it happens.

Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida deals with all civil matters and matters involving the County Council and the Mayor, a different role entirely.

How many in the Prosecutor's Office? 92, with a budget of $7.5 million

Dale Ross, as the First Deputy, handles much of the office's administrative work--grant writing, assessing office policies, counseling the other attorneys, supporting the victim witness counselors and investigators and supervisors. She in general will likely not handle active cases but has some cases left over that she'll continue to handle.

Why did Ms. Iboshi become a prosecutor? She initially wanted to be a social worker, and realized the role was limited so became an attorney going into county work. Dale Ross said she became an attorney almost by accident--a roommate was taking the entrance exam for law schools, so Dale did. She went to UH School of Law and clerked at the County Prosecutor's office and decided she liked it. She said the key to law work is great preparation.

The County Prosecutor office represents the State, under authority of the State Attorney General. They will also get involved in Federal cases, working with US Attorneys. Together they will do an analysis whether a case should be county/state or Federal.

They review each case before taking it on to ensure they have enough evidence to get a conviction. Each criminal usually comes with multiple charges and they have to look at each.

The County Prosecutor has someone on call 24 hours a day to consult with the police especially on drunk driving or other vehicle deaths to make sure things are in order. They need to consider the required times...once you make a charge you have to present witnesses within 24 hours, and bring the case to trial in 180 days. So the prosecutor will wait until they know they have what they need...even though it may seem like a delay to the public. The County Prosecutor's office also has Victim/Witness Counselors they get involved right away to serve as a liaison and help victims and witnesses with issues.

They do not tell the police how to do their work, what to do. When there is a search warrant served, the Prosecutor's office reviews, so they do know in advance on big drug busts, etc.

Bail: the police use standard guidelines provided by courts. They can deviate with special circumstances--the person's record, fear of the criminal fleeing, etc. and they can look at different bail. Rarely is a criminal given no bail.

The Prosecutor's Office takes on cases they know they can prove. They also look at whether a case can be diverted--ie somebody with mental health issues, a non-serious crime, maybe they can get the person into a treatment program to stop repeat cycles of law breaking.

What are the implications of the County Prosecutor being elected vs appointed? The Prosecutor is appointed for Maui but elected for the other 3 counties. Ms. Iboshi said being elected keeps a prosecutor independent, independent of whoever is in office that appoints them.

"The CSI Effect" is an issue nationwide. People watch television shows with fabulous evidence-gathering tools and analysis...but it's not that way in real life. For one thing, the police will not always gather fingerprints, depending on the crime. And DNA is not always present. There is a lab on Oahu that does much of the sophisticated processing but it is very backed up. In urgent cases they can send DNA and other evidence to the mainland, but it's very expensive. They will do it if necessary.

Both said they trust the jury system, and feel juries understand that what's possible on television is often not available in real life. They also pointed out that sometimes crimes here are discovered after the fact--a murder years after the fact--which makes it unlikely all the "television" evidence will be present.

We will resume this conversation in two weeks.

The County Prosecutor web site is http://www.co.hawaii.hi.us/directory/dir_prosecutor.htm

Leslie Wilcox is the Chief Executive Officer and President of PBS Hawaii, the State's public broadcast television station.

Leslie knew from an early age--8th grade--that she wanted to be a journalist. She was at Niu Valley Intermediate School in East Honolulu, and found through her school newspaper one of her classmates had a very unusual background. Leslie said even at that early age, she realized her relationships and understanding was superficial...and journalism was a mechanism to learn more about people and understand the world better. After high school, her first job in journalism was as a print reporter for the Honolulu Star Bulletin, then the state's largest newspaper. While working for the Star Bulletin, and getting her college degree at night, she got a job offer from respected television broadcaster Bob Sevey to join KGMB9 television. She did, and said she really struggled, but after about two years in television, things started working.

PBS Hawaii is a statewide broadcasting system. They began as a legacy education broadcaster, actually established by the State of Hawaii back in 1965 to support the University of Hawaii and the Department of Education. They got the Public Broadcasting franchise a few years later. In 1999 the State stopped funding Hawaii Public Television. Leslie said now they are a private, nonprofit organization, locally owned. Although raising the money to run the station is a challenge...the independence ensures fairness.

Public television vs commercial television: commercial television's goal is to get the most watchers so advertising rates will be high--it's a purely for-profit business. As Leslie said, commercial programs often cater to the lowest common denominator, whatever they think will get the biggest audience. Public television focuses not on getting every single person watching, but providing education and information, not driven by commercial interests or advertisers.

Why did Leslie leave commercial broadcasting to go to PBS? She had a long term contract at KHON, and was a well-known, well-respected anchor. She saw that commercial television stations were changing...cutting staff, leaving the "faces" in place, but the quality of reporting was necessarily getting worse. Leslie said she'd never expected to be offered the job at the top of PBS Hawaii. She said she no longer felt the same about commercial news and welcomed the new challenge.

Public television as a concept came about thanks to President Lyndon Johnson. Congress and President Johnson in 1967 reserved a section of the airways, not for commercial television, but for Public Radio and Public Television. President Johnson said perhaps the commercial airwaves might bend to generating controversy without understanding, and could generate passion without reason. Congress and the President wanted to ensure there was a place for all opinions to be heard, respectfully. Public access television (Na Leo 'O Hawaii) is always open to everybody in the community, given following general FCC guidelines. Public broadcasting (PBS Hawaii) will produce programming to bring together programming, balanced and fair.

Oahu centric vs neighbor islands? Leslie said they really try to include all the neighbor islands in their thinking.

PBS has a new program, HIki No. It's a student-led new program, that debuted last season and will resume again in October. They've gotten foundation grant funding. This is a statewide student news network, and Leslie said it has some of the BEST reporting she's ever seen. It's not what one would think of as "student news." She used an example of the very first report, by students from Kaua'i, about the shearwater controversy, and the need for Kaua'i to cancel night football to avoid hurting the birds. Leslie said the program is excellent, and in October they will air the show Thursdays at 7:30 p.m....prime time, preceding Island Insights with Dan Boylan.

Eleven Hawaii Island schools will be involved the next season: Kealakehe High, Kealakehe Intermediate, West Hawaii Explorations Academy, Konawaena High, Waiakea High, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Connections New Century Public Charter School, Hilo High, Kamehameha High, Kea'au High.

How do they make decisions on what national programs they purchase? Leslie said they're always looking for good programs. What they do is purchase a "programming stream" containing shows of likely interest from PBS nationally. They get a choice of programs within that stream and generally select from that list.

Annual budget: $7.5 million. Funding is $1 million from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (a federal grant), but all the rest is local foundations, local companies, and individuals.

Does PBS Hawaii have a liberal bias? Leslie says no, donations come about equally from Republicans, Democrats, everybody, and their programming policies are strictly non partisan.

Physical space: Since 1972 they've been on the University of Hawaii Campus. But they need to move--UH needs the space. They have purchased the former KFVE studios on Nimitz Highway at Sand Island Road, and now they must raise money for the capital improvements to make it work for them. They aim to move in 2014.

Challenges? Finding more sustainable revenue sources.

Leslie hosts the weekly interview Long Story Short. She considers it her "volunteer project." They need a local interview show, and she says she really loves doing it. She says it's a fabulous opportunity to learn about people. Leslie said she often learns surprising things during the show, even about people she thought she knew. She likes to focus on how people succeed in life--not financially, not in prestige--but how they use values to guide them. Some favorites: Nona Beamer, Roy Sakuma.

Leslie has four grown children (including one, Kai, born at Kona Hospital and adopted at birth by Leslie and her husband). She loves to read, and tries to walk every day.

Leslie said it's important for the island community to support nonprofit organizations, as they are the glue that holds us together...especially as the state can do less to help.

The PBS Hawaii web site is www.pbshawaii.org to learn more about programs, personnel, or make a donation.

Dr. Barry Raleigh is a co-founder and member of the board of Cellana. Cellana was started in 2004. A major partner was Royal Dutch Shell, and in 2009 we talked with its then-CEO, Gabriel De Scheemacher. In January, Royal Dutch Shell announced they were pulling out of research in five of their ten explorations into alternative technology to create oil--including selling their interest in Cellana.

Cellana's pilot facility is at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, just south of Kona Airport.

What has changed with the departure of Royal Dutch Shell? Royal Dutch Shell's interest in creating oil from algae was only in creating transportation fuels, biofuels. With the change, the company is focusing on creating other products besides transportation fuel. Algae has lots of protein and can be used to create food for fish or poultry. It has a high content of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Dr. Raleigh said they're turning from a fuel producer to a biorefinery concept, with a variety of products.

What about the money? Shell built the plant, and left Cellana with a $5 million departure fee. They are seeking investments to supplement their federal grants.

Dr. Mark Huntley, the chief founder, is still on the board but no longer at University of Hawaii and is on the faculty at Cornell.

Cellana will definitely create fuel from the algae oil. But Dr. Raleigh said with the high cost of imported feed for fish farms and poultry farms, Cellana is working to create that as a major product.

Cellana's goal is to invent a new kind of farming. Dr. Raleigh said they ARE farmers, growing algae to feed to fish and poultry, but they feel they can do it more cheaply.

Why use algae to create oil rather than other plants such as palm trees? Dr. Raleigh said algae can produce about ten times as much oil per acre as palm trees (the most productive oil-producing land plant). They use salt water, not fresh water, so they have a great source of water that doesn't compete with human needs. Algae start reproducing within four days, and then do so once or twice a day.

Cellana just received a 3-year, 5 year $5.5 million grant, thanks to Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The project involves Cornell and has to do with feed trials, which Cornell does a lot. They will see if algae can really replace fish meal as a protein source. Fish meal is $1500 per ton, almost three times as much as crude oil. So they're looking to see if they can create fish meal, and then turn it into a large-scale production item.

Algae have 30% by weight of triglycerides, the basis for biodiesel. Another 30% is protein, and it corresponds well to the kind of protein needed for human health. Combined with the omega 3s in algae, it can produce a sustainable food.

What's different about the Cellana algae from the algae that grows in ponds at home? There are tens of thousands of strains of algae, which change and adapt and modify remarkably well to changes in their environment. The University of Hawaii at Manoa library has tens of thousands of samples.

Skin care products: Cellana was approached by a major cosmetics firm. They are interested in the oils that might be used to blend into their cosmetics. Although Dr. Raleigh doesn't think it's a huge market, he said if they can work something out, this un-named company will include Cellana's oil products. And since cosmetics companies market their products big time, this could be quite interesting to have algae oil from Kona marketed in cosmetics!

Where will they put their large-scale production plant? They're negotiating with Maui Electric to build a plant on land next to their Ma’alaea Power plant. MECO will supply Cellana with carbon dioxide to feed the algae. Cellana will provide MECO with the oil from their algae as fuel for the power plant.

Why not build next to Keahole Power Plant across from Kona Airport? Cost of building too high, land not flat enough, and too rocky.

Right now Cellana uses salt water from the deep ocean at NELHA. At Maui, they will not be able to do that...they will use salt water taken from underneath the land at Maui...it's clean and cool. They'll dispose of their waste in that same water. Dr. Raleigh said the disposed water is clean. The algae actually eat all the bad nutrients that cause blooms in the water.

Employees? 60 at Natural Energy Lab, 40% local and the rest scientists and engineers who came in from off island. On Maui they expect to have 70 employees, and they guess 80% will be local.

Will they keep their pilot facility at the Natural Energy Lab once the Maui plant is open? Dr. Raleigh said they will still need to continue to do research to produce even more robust algae.

They need about $70 million to complete their production plant on Maui. They are seeking private investors, but also are relying on getting government grants and loan guarantees.

Dr. Raleigh said the dream, the vision for Cellana is to be able to produce products that can be sold in Hawaii. He knows that Hawaiian Electric has a requirement to have 20% renewables in their portfolio, and they want to do that. But he also said they really see their future in poultry food and fish food, to help farmers here find healthy, better and lower cost food. He also sees the high value products such as Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which now sell for around a million dollars a ton...they'd like to be part of that market.

Are Hawaiian Electric companies interested in Cellana's algae oil? Dr. Raleigh said they've been negotiating with the HECO companies for years, and he says they're saying yes.

Dr. Raleigh, a geophysicist, used to be on the faculty of University of Hawaii, as dean of the school of ocean and earth science and technology. He is no longer on the faculty of University of Hawaii, but they work with UH on some aspects of their research.

Learn more about Cellana online, www.cellana.com. By the way, "cellana" is the scientific name for opihi, which eat algae.

On July 6, 2011, Governor Abercrombie signed into law a bill that recognizes Native Hawaiians as the indigenous, aboriginal, ma'oli population of Hawaii. Senator Malama Solomon, D-Waimea/Hamakua, was the chief negotiator of the bill.

Senator Solomon said the signing ceremony at Washington Place (the former home of Queen Lili'uokalani) was very emotional. She said it was the culmination of a long journey, which started with the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. Although the United States issued a formal apology during the administration of Bill Clinton, this bill was the first time Native Hawaiians have been formally recognized by the State of Hawaii. Sen Solomon said many people, even those of her parents' generation, did not realize Native Hawaiians were not really recognized. She said the efforts to make this happen started at the time of Statehood with Reverend Abraham Akaka, the brother of Senator Daniel Akaka.

The bill recognizes Native Hawaiians as the official indigenous people of the state. In addition, it requires the Governor to set up a commission to include five Native Hawaiians to create a list, a census, of those who are qualified to be considered Native Hawaiians, who can trace their ancestry back to prior to 1778 (when Captain Cook arrived). Senator says Native Hawaiian organizations may nominate members, and Governor will select five. The Commission will likely use many existing lists--Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools--and add to them. (Note, it's thought there may be as many as 400,000 Native Hawaiians in the United States.) Once the list is compiled, the Native Hawaiians may then proceed to organize themselves.

The Akaka Bill: Senator felt it may have been trying to embrace too much. In its revised form, she hopes the State recognition will help the United States Congress pass the Akaka Bill. But its passage, or not, will not impact this State Law.

Organizing--how does she see this happening? She said the idea of organizing goes back decades. She personally likes the way political parties are organized in the US--a local convention, based on ahupua'a or community; island, then state. She likes the idea of organizing in a corporate model, similar to what the Native Alaskans use.

Senator says the Native Hawaiians have been given program after program since statehood--and millions of dollars have been spent. She says she does not think they are effective, or the Native Hawaiians would not have such a high rate of incarceration, poor health, highest rates of ten pregnancies. She wants to see Native Hawaiians take personal responsibility, work on uplifting the community.

Not all Native Hawaiians agree with Senator Solomon's approach--there were protesters at the signing. Senator says she hopes when the protesters actually read the bill, they will see it is very inclusive. She also said protesting is an opportunity afforded us by virtue of living in a democracy--it's part of our country's political process.

Do those of non Hawaiian blood still have a place in the state? She said of course, there is no intent in the legislation to exclude people. She says it's unfortunate if anybody feels that.

One of the biggest issues is that by law, Native Hawaiians own 20% of public lands, or "ceded lands." Senator Solomon also authored Senate Bill 2, which requires all public lands now to be put under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Currently there are properties under DLNR, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, University of Hawaii. Senate Bill 2 will give the Legislature a chance to look at what public lands exist, how they're being used, and how they could be used. She said it will be a challenge--the individual departments obviously did not want to volunteer to "give up" lands. But she says the State should not be in the financial crisis it is when there are 1.6 million acres of land owned by the State, much of which could be put to better use. One example: State Department of Transportation owns 4,000 acres at Keahole Airport, and has for 30 years, but hasn't really put much of the land to any revenue producing use. Another example: University of Hawaii has a huge piece of land at Puako that WAS to be a marine science center, but hasn't come to fruition. Senator says it is not right that the legislature constantly raises taxes when we have good potential revenue-producing properties available, but not used to their highest and best use.

DLNR has been a department under perhaps greatest criticism from the past, for its perceived lack of good management (one example: Honokohau Harbor). Senator said there was yet another bill: creation of Public Lands Development Corporation. It will include four departments: budget and finance, land and natural resources, accounting, and economic development. She said this new "corporate organization" will assume responsibility to help create public/private partnerships and expedite permitting to allow, for example, appropriate development at, for example, Honokohau Harbor. She sees Honokohau Harbor as an ideal first project.

Senator Solomon is also involved with the Beamer-Solomon Halau. Her sister took over the halau from their Mom, Flora Tita Beamer Solomon and grandmother, Louise Beamer. Senator Solomon is the researcher and spokesperson, the Kakau Olelo, for the halau. They will present the third part of a trilogy in February, 2012. Senator says the halau is a great love of her life.

We repeated our talk story with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN. He was here on Hawaii Island and we taped the interview April 24, 2011 and aired it May 1, 2011. Here's our initial summary: CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was here on the island, staying at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows. He was training with six "ordinary people" to do a triathlon in New York City August 7, working with Ironman Tim DeBoom. Dr. Gupta is a neurosurgeon. He spends most Mondays practicing neurosurgery, operating and seeing patients. He said he's in concert with most of his partners, who have other "things," such as research or teaching. He said the difference is, his other "thing" is media--and he feels he's better at both because of the challenge of both activities. Dr. Gupta said radiation from Japan, while a concern, did not pose a serious threat to the health of the people of Hawaii or the mainland. He said two easy things to do for our health: floss (reduces inflammation, which is a serious health problem) and drink a couple of cups of coffee every day (coffee has significant antioxidants, whether it's caffeinated or decaffeinated). More important than "going to the gym" kind of exercise: constant daily movement. That's what has kept those very healthy people around the world in the "blue zones," where people live longer, healthier lives, going strong. Hard work, daily activity...plus a positive attitude, a reason to get up every day. Dr. Gupta is himself training for the August 7 triathlon and acknowledges it is very difficult and challenging to find time in a busy schedule to exercise--but he says for him, it makes him more productive so he works hard to make time. Dr. Gupta was fun to talk to. He's clearly a thoughtful man and we had a wonderful conversation. You can see Dr. Sanjay Gupta's weekly program on CNN at 1:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Hawaii time (or 2:30 a.m. in winter). And he has regular "specials".

Congressman Ed Case, born and raised in Hilo, graduated from Hawaii Preparatory Hawaii, has served in the State House of Representatives and worked as an attorney. He also served as our United States Congressman for rural Oahu and all the neighbor islands from January 2002 to November, 2007.

How has Congressman Case been spending his time since leaving the U. S. Congress job in 2009? Working as an attorney, and graduating three out of four children from college. But now he's ready to return to public service...and has announced his candidacy for the United States Senate, to fill the position being vacated by Senator Daniel Akaka, who will retire in 2012. (As a note, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono has also announced her candidacy for the same position, and we have invited Congresswoman Hirono to be our guest as soon as possible.)

Difference between U. S. Senate and U. S. House of Representatives? Each state has only 2 US Senators, whereas Representatives are assigned by population. Senators are expected to be national leaders, and have broader responsibility than in U. S. House. Senate also handles all foreign affairs policy. In the Senate, every state is equal--two Senators. A Senator must be ready to step forward to the national stage and make decisions of national import.

How has Congressman Case kept touch with Hawaii Island? He was born and raised here, has relatives here, and has continued being here. While our U. S. Congressman, he held repeated talk stories around the island in all communities, large and small. He said he knows the island well.

What does he see as the role of government? Case said at the national level a decision must be made as to what we want from government and what we can afford. Government must provide national protection, national defense, infrastructure, creating and maintaining a good business climate where private industry can survive, and a basic social service safety net for the needy. We need to focus on needs, not desires, at this point.

What should we not be doing? Case said economic stimulus has been necessary up to this point, but we can no longer afford it (he feels the economy would have failed had we not done it, but now it's time for the economy to move forward on its own.)

Deficit: under Bill Clinton we had a budget surplus. Starting under George W. Bush, and continuing today, we have a deficit that's growing. Case said we can return to a situation where we run government in a fiscally responsible manner and balancing our budget. Case said in the early 1990s, we had a comparable situation to today...but President Clinton (Democrat) worked with a Republican Congress to achieve compromise, and leadership, and they together made hard decisions to get the budget under control. They balanced the budget within six years, and by 2000 we had a balanced budget. Starting in 2000, there was a massive reduction in taxes and an increase in expense--and Case says it was not just due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It was out-of-control spending. Case said Washington does have a small bipartisan group of legislators now who are approaching the problem and it's mandatory we do so.

Case supports Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. But they must change. Social Security: must make the age of collection older, must raise the tax cap (currently earnings over $90,000 are not taxed). He suggested there should be means testing--people who have very high incomes should perhaps not receive as much from Social Security. Case says once you are receiving benefits or are within ten years of retirement, the system should remain the same. But for younger people, with more time to plan, there must be changes. As we discussed, AARP has now come out and agreed essentially with what Case said.

Medicare: the problem with Medicare is out-of-control expenses, up 10% a year, plus Medicare fraud. Case said there are steps underway to deal fraud, just started within the last couple of weeks, to identify fraud.

Congress seems more polarized. What's the difference between Democrats and Republicans in Congress? Congressman Case said it's counterproductive to focus on "my party no matter what," and that discussion and compromise must happen. He said at the extremes, there are those who don't want any government at all and those who want government to do everything. Neither position really works to get the job done. He said there are clearly still differences in social policy.

Blue Dog Democrat: when Case was in Congress, he aligned with Blue Dog Democrats on being more fiscally responsible, balancing the budget, reducing debt. But he disagreed with other positions--they were not as environmentally focused whereas Case is rated high by environmental organizations, and some were more socially conservative than Case.

Monopolies: Case said he does not like monopolies, especially when created by the government. In Hawaii we are subject to several monopolies--airlines, energy, and more. Regarding shipping, the Jones Act requires only US-built, US-flagged ships to go between US ports. For Hawaii, that creates a significant monopoly for Matson and Horizon lines, the only two cargo companies that meet the Jones Act laws. It affects good going out and coming in. Case says farmers and ranchers are especially affected because they must get to mainland markets and it is expensive. In 1998, the Federal Government's General Accounting Office estimated that back then, the Jones Act cost each Hawaii household around $3,000 a year. (Note, legislation has been introduced as recently as last year, most recently by John McCain, to overturn or modify the Jones Act. The Hawaii delegation, Senators Inouye and Akaka and Congresswomen Hirono and Hanabusa, favor the Jones Act and do not want it overturned.)

Former Governor Ben Cayetano suggested the best way to judge candidates is not on promises, but on beliefs and values. In what does Case believe? Government, our constitutional values, our social contract with each other, democracy and debate and decision making, minority rights and lack of intrusive government, he believes deeply in Hawaii, and he believes Hawaii has many things to offer to the country and the world--national leadership from our unique perspective. He believes in not too much government and not too little. He believes in representative Democracy.

Ethnicity: Congressman Case says ethnicity has no place in political races. He says growing up in Hilo, he had no idea people were of different ethnicities! Congressman Case said in the recent Governor's race, the candidate who raised the issue of ethnicity probably lost respect from voters because of raising the issue of race.

Why does Ed Case want to be our United States Senator? He feels we need good, smart leadership, and we need a Senator who can move Hawaii and our country forward. He said now that Senator Akaka has decided to say "aloha" after a long and distinguished career, we need to have the next generation begin to lead in the Senate. He believes his background and experience will allow him to serve the people of Hawaii well.

Ed Case's wife Audrey is still a flight attendant with United Airlines. She will take time off to campaign with Congressman Case as he runs for Senate.

Congressman Case just finished reading the book "War" by Sebastian Junger ("The Perfect Storm"). He said it's an excellent look at the experience of being a soldier in Afghanistan and is very moving.

Learn more online, www.edcase.com, and email Congressman Case at edcase@edcase.com.

Note: we have invited Congressman Case's Democratic primary opponent, United States Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, to talk story. Her staff says she will do so in August.

Ken Wood, CEO of North Hawaii Hospital since October, 2010, continued sharing information about the Waimea-based 39-bed acute care hospital.

Parker Ranch road development plans: Parker Ranch got approval for their latest development and that included a road going behind Parker Ranch Shopping Center. Two thirds has been completed. Ken said having the road complete would be a benefit and give more access to the emergency room.

Private donors: they get $4 to $5 million annually from private donors. Is there thinking about creating a "door reward program" to give those donors preferential treatment? Ken said no, if anybody comes into the hospital emergency room, they will be triaged and the most serious treated first. What they are doing is establishing a relationship with part-time residents along the Kohala Coast so they will be ensured of having a doctor when they are here--many have no doctor now because we have few doctors. NHCH is hiring doctors directly and expanding their practices. They are offering a "coordinated care" program to get their records, ensure if they do need hospitalization the records are available. Now some of those folks come to the emergency room as their primary care physician, not the most cost effective use of the ER for the hospital. North Hawaii has a new doctor coming in September, who will head hte Adult Family Medicine Program, who will spearhead this program.

One thing the hospital does do is if famous people come into the ER, they typically try to get them into a room as quickly as possible--not necessarily to treat them sooner, but to preserve their privacy from others in the ER who may take their photo, whatever...same courtesy is extended to officials with security details, etc. (Note, I called Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, which treats many celebrities and asked whether they give celebrities "priority treatment" in the Emergency Room. They said emphatically no, they triage people, but they do put celebs into rooms asap for privacy reasons--same as Ken Wood said they do.)

In 2007 they laid off 59 people. But did they just give a raise? Yes, Ken said they just gave everybody a 2% raise. They also have established a pay for performance program--if the hospital maintains an 81% patient satisfaction score on exit surveys, each employee from lowest to highest (except management) will get a $250 bonus quarterly.

Hospitalists: they are a specific specialty, doctors who care for patients who are in the hospital, whether or not they have a doctor. It's a program commonly used now to allow the primary care doc to get back to the office and other patients. (Note, I have personal experience with the hospitalist program--when my husband had heart surgery there was a hospitalist to answer all my (and his) questions during his after-surgery recuperation. It was excellent.)

Communication: the hospital had received complaints previously about lack of communication, which Ken said was justified. They have established a community advisory board, with 14 people from around the NHCH service area from Laupahoehoe to the Kohala resorts, North Kohala, Waimea, Honoka'a. They also just did a mailing to 15,000 people in the service area to update. And their web site has information, it was newly designed just two weeks ago, to update on doctors, financials, www.northhawaiicommunityhospital.org

They also plan to continue two to three community meetings a year.

Cancer care: Dr. DeSalvo handles cancer care for both Kona Community Hospital and North Hawaii Community Hospital. Radiation is done at Kona and at Hilo Medical Center, chemotherapy at all three hospitals. NHCH has full capabilities to support those who've gotten treatment elsewhere--imaging, etc. We have more capability here on the island than some realize.

Note: Ken mentioned Dr. Bill Park is a surgeon at NHCH, one of the best micro- and minimally invasive surgeons around--formerly from Cedars Sinai.

Hospital food: Ken acknowledged hospital food isn't terrific...for patients sometimes dictated by the doctor's restrictions, but he said that's an area for improvement.

Emergency Department: state has provided funding to upgrade all three of our island hospitals to Trauma Level III hospitals. Kona and Hilo just completed their certification, NHCH will get theirs completed by the end of the year. The only higher level trauma center is Queen's Medical Center, Trauma Level II, the only one at that level in the state.

Trauma centers: they have a trauma team available when you arrive in the hospital, and if you need to be transferred to Queen's, they figure it out quickly. The biggest problem: even Queen's doesn't always have a neurosurgeon available. For heart care, the transfer is seamless and easy. But for head trauma, the transfer cannot be ok'd until the surgeon on Oahu gives the ok...and if there isn't a surgeon there at the time, the transfer is not done til he/she says go.

It's acknowledged that our emergency medical technicians in our ambulances are excellent and highly skilled.

Transport: always in an airplane, helicopters don't work as well. There is a medical transport plane at Waimea, Kona, and Hilo Airports.

Biggest challenges going forward: change the health care model, which NHCH is uniquely positioned to do.

Coordination with Kona Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center: they are meeting monthly to determine what services need to be at each hospital, which services can be shared.

Medical costs: hospitals inflate billings, in order to get better reimbursement. So hospital billings to patients are not reflective of true cost. Ken wants to rectify that.

Ken Woods' background is with insurers, Blue Cross of California and Blue Cross of Massachusetts. He feels that background gives him a good perspective into the reimbursement issues. He wanted to be the hospital's CEO to work with a good community, a forward-thinking board, great hospital staff, and to have a chance to make a difference as health care reform becomes a reality.

North Hawaii Community Hospital is a 39-bed acute care hospital in Waimea, right on the highway. It just celebrated 15 years. Our guest was Chief Executive Officer Ken Wood.

The hospital was preceded by the Lucy Henriques Medical Center, an office building still in use. Lucy Peabody donated 12 acres of land, and Lucy Henriques donated $100,000 when she died in 1935. The building was finally built in 1975. Twenty years later, NHCH was built.

NHCH is a full service acute care hospital, all specialties. It's known islandwide for its maternal health care program, delivering over 600 babies a year--a high number for the population normally served by NHCH. But women come from all over the island.

NHCH initial mission: improve health status of people of North Hawaii, providing affordable care. Today, the biggest challenge is just finding a physician, so NHCH decided to start finding and providing physicians. They now hire physicians as employees to make it easier for them to practice. Most recently, they hired back orthopedic surgeon Doug Hiller (who had moved to the mainland) and brought on orthopedic surgeon Dr. Diane Payne, who has a specialty in hand surgery (a very unusual specialty). They now have around 24 physicians and nurse practitioners who under the employ of or contracted to the hospital.

They've hired a native Hawaiian physician and a psychologist, to launch a new Native Hawaiian health program. NHCH has the highest proportion of Native Hawaiians, around 30% in the service area--plus around 30% Caucasians, which Ken said harkens back to the start of Parker Ranch with John Palmer Parker marrying Kipikane, a Native Hawaiian who was granddaughter of King Kamehameha. Native Hawaiians have some distinct health problems--more diabetes, more obesity. The concept is to provide programs to try to really get to the root of problems, offer longer appointments and figure out how to turn health problems around and keep people out of the hospital by improving health--the prevention model. They should open by September. Anybody can take part, even though it's geared towards Native Hawaiians.

A new physician is coming soon, to head up their family health practice with a goal of helping create this new model. He'll be responsible for all the primary care programs--the hospitalists, the Native Hawaiian, standard family care practices.

Upgrading: they're in the process of upgrading all equipment--xrays, mammography, pumps, cardiac monitors. They expect all to be upgraded/new by the end of the year. They are also working to "reinvent" their Emergency Department. It will take around 24 months, with a goal of setting it up so you can get some patients in/out quickly (minor problems) while giving those with more severe problems the care they need. The remodel will be complicated--they need to create a temporary Emergency Department while they redo the existing. They get more than 11,000 patients a year into the Emergency Department.

Alternative medicine--still a part of the NHCH vision? Ken said yes, they still want to blend the best of Western, Eastern, Hawaiian medicine. They provide a calm environment with private rooms and outside doors and views, plus massage, acupuncture, etc. Ken said the setting is important to healing.

Finances: they had a very bad year in 2007, losing $10 million that year. Hospitals, especially rural hospitals, struggle. Their costs/revenues are around $45 million per year. From Medicare and Medicaid, they lost around $6 million per year. Yet last year, they broke even, for the first time in the history of the hospital. They did some layoffs a few years ago, but the break-even this past year was mostly due to a better way to order supplies and more efficiencies. Goal is to break even every year. They also need to reinvest in the hospital, including renovation as the hospital will need new paint, carpet, etc. before too long (still the original paint from 15 years ago).

The new financial model from Medicare hinges more on care outcomes, not paying for the number of services offered.

NHCH has consistently performed well. In the insurer HMSA's ratings, NHCH is the #1 small hospital in all ratings, and #3 in the state for all size hospitals. For years, NHCH has had around 80% satisfaction rate on Medicare surveys, higher than any other hospital in the state (next highest in the 60%s).

Ken said the new revenue model from HMSA and other insurers is based on results and patient satisfaction surveys. The idea is, if you treat patients appropriately and they're satisfied and more healthy--proper care, eliminate errors, right diagnoses, right drug--the insurer will reimburse more than for hospitals that have errors, etc. Today hospitals get more money if patients come into the Emergency Room, are treated and admitted. In the future, that model will change.

About half of the hospital's $45 million cost is just being open 24/7, whether or not they have any patients.

NHCH is one of four beneficiaries of the estate of Richard Smart, last owner of Parker Ranch. They get 48% of the annual distribution. Last year they committed to an annual distribution of $2 million, which will give the hospital $960,000 per year. In the past, distributions have varied, often given in land, sometimes in cash (ie in 2007, they got $357,000). Ken said they get around $4 or $5 in other donations annually.

Ken said the Federal Government is also offering funding to hospitals to upgrade and they're taking advantage of all such opportunities.

We will continue this conversation next week. Meanwhile, for more about North Hawaii Community Hospital, see their web site, www.northhawaiicommunityhospital.org

Dr. John Pezzuto came to UH Hilo in 2006 to start the College of Pharmacy from Purdue and University of Illinois at Chicago.

UH Hilo College of Pharmacy started in 2007, and has 350 students, 70 faculty and staff, and just graduated its first class, in May.

Significance? Only college of pharmacy in the state, and the only one in the Pacific Rim. The profession of pharmacy has changed--there are still pharmacists in local pharmacies, but also in hospitals, with health plans, and in all manner of consulting positions.

The pharmacy curriculum: students must enter with at least two years of college, but many have a Bachelors. The curriculum is four years. During the first 3 years, they get 300 hours of practical experience. The entire fourth year is experiential, "on the job" training. In May, the 84 people in the first class returned to graduate. The first class began with 90--and graduated 84, a great percentage.

The graduates now need to pass their national boards and state boards to become registered and licensed in the state in which they want to practice. Dr. Pezzuto said some will go to community pharmacies, but they'll do surveys to find out where the grads end up.

Job prospects: when Dr. Pezzuto was at Purdue, the grads were getting around 15 job offers out the door; today it's around 2. Salaries typically start around $120,000 for a community pharmacist.

The college works closely with Hilo Medical Center, with students and faculty on site at HMC.

The profession of pharmacy is unique, Dr. Pezzuto says, because it always changes. The degree program is basically a six year program now. In the year 2000 the standard became more stringent and a doctorate is required, not just a bachelors. There are hospital pharmacists, consulting pharmacists, and pharmacists who specialize in nuclear medicine. Pharmacists now work more closely with doctors, who clearly can't know everything about all the new drugs--pharmacists can assist the doctors with more understanding about drug interactions, etc. And now Medicare is going to require that patients get consultation from pharmacists about their drugs. (Personal note: I think this is a great idea--when my parents were in the final years of their lives and taking many drugs, they could have benefited from having someone who really focused in on drug interactions and efficiency and effectiveness.)

Uh Hilo is the center of the Beacon Community. The County of Hawaii, with UH Hilo College of Pharmacist principal investigator Karen Pellegrin serving as point person, received a $16 million dollar grant last year to improve our rural health care capabilities. The grants are designed to improve efficiencies. That includes upgrading to electronic records. Astounding and impressive fact: our county was one of only 17 such grants awarded nationwide! Dr. Pezzuto said the last year has been spent in organizing the program, and now work will begin.

Physical facilities: the biggest challenge. Dr. Pezzuto calls the space now a "distributed model," with six locations around the campus and Hilo. But the State has provided money for planning a new College of Pharmacy to be located on 10 acres near Imiloa Astronomy Center. Now, funding--the State needs to provide the building funds. Dr. Pezzuto said the new building drawing literally brought tears to his eyes.

The College of Pharmacy provides practical training, and also has faculty engaged in research. Their laboratories may not look so great but they have state-of-the-art equipment, and they've been able to attract top faculty and top researchers who could have worked anywhere.

Dr. Pezzuto has a noted medical researcher. While still at the University of Illinois-Chicago, he was named Inventor of the Year. One of his projects--his team discovered the benefits of resveratrol, the compound in red wine thought to have big benefits in cancer treatment and prevention.

Resveratrol is not, in Dr. Pezzuto's opinion, a fountain of youth. BUT, his team has continued to work with resveratrol in a targeted way to let it interact with specific targets, a good attribute for a drug. Dr. Pezzuto has more than 600 papers to his credit, and continues to publish about 20 a year.

In addition to Dr. Pezzuto's research, many faculty members have their own independent research. Some is related to cancer, its mestastasis, anti TB agents, malaria, anti microbial, work with Native Hawaiian plants, coqui frog research (see previous notes from interview with Dr. Gary Ten Eyck). They've gotten funding from National Institute of Health.

They have professors on Oahu, Maui, and soon Kaua'i. Students learn from those off-island professors via online teaching, or go to them if they're doing on-the-job training on those islands. The College also offers continuing education for pharmacists and physicians.

Benefit to a university in having research: basic intellectual pursuits, writing the books, and economic value from getting outside funding--grants for applied research. Ultimately, some of the research may end up becoming drugs that (if properly protected) can lead to startup companies, licenses, royalties, and positive cash flow.

Cost of the permanent building? Maybe around $60 million. Dr. Pezzuto said their original "dream" was a building that would cost $110 million, so they scaled it down to a building more affordable. They will pursue outside funding, but they will most definitely need a majority of the funding from the state.

An economic impact study showed the College of Pharmacy will contribute $50 million into the State's economy.

Dr. Pezzuto came to found the College of Pharmacy...now that it's going, will he stay? He said there is much to be done--they're introducing new master's and PHD programs, and the building must be built.

Dr. Pezzuto closed saying it's an honor to serve as the College of Pharmacy's dean. He said the first graduating class of pioneers is a fantastic group of students--the most impressive, caring, and inspirational he's ever met.

Learn more about the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Pharmacy and see a rendering of its new building, http://pharmacy.uhh.hawaii.edu/

Terri Ryan is a registered dietician. She has a private practice in Kailua-Kona and gets referrals from physicians and HMSA. She has a national certification. Hawaii just approved dietitians to be licensed here, but there is not yet a Hawaii license process set up.

Why do people go to dietitians? Usually for high cholesterol, diabetes, they may need to gain weight because of cancer treatment, any number of reasons.

Terri gives most people information about a heart-health diet focusing on balance, moderation, and variety. She says people cannot stick with draconian diets, so she tries to focus on either what they eat now--and teach how to eat less--or how to make better choices.

Almost all diseases have a nutrition component. Terri says, "You are what you eat" is true! She suggests choosing the best food as fuel for the body, rather than selecting food based on taste, convenience, or history (this is what I always eat....).

Should food be different for different lifestyles (sedentary vs athlete, for example)? Terri said the food could be the same, just quantities would differ. She noted that sports nutrition is a separate category for elite athletes.

Each meal should include carbohydrate, protein, fat. Each food group has a purpose--carbohydrate is for energy, for example.

The newest guidelines is using the Plate Method to figure out what to eat. Half your plate should be many-colored vegetables, salad, etc.; 1/4 should be protein--fish, chicken, pork, etc. ; 1/4 would be starch or carbohydrate. Terri suggests the visual on the plate is much easier to use (and the United States Surgeon General just this past week said the plate method is the new preferred method.)

Animal proteins make up a complete protein. You can also mix together two out of three non-meat sources to create a complete protein: bean, seed, grain. For example, rice and beans make a complete protein; wheat bread with sunflower seeds in it--a grain and a seed, again making a complete protein. Vegetarians can easily get protein. Terri said nationally, most people eat around twice as much protein as they need.

Colorful vegetables: why? Somewhat to do with variety, but also vitamins...and phytochemicals, which are present in fruits and vegetables. Studies show people who eat more fruit and vegetables do better. Phytochemicals help boost the immune system and protect against cancer. Since there is no money in doing research on fruits and vegetables--there isn't a lot of research. Nutritionists encourage eating darker, more colorful vegetables. Bright colors as found in nature provide the best diet.

If something has the same amount of carbohydrates--an apple vs ice cream--it will still turn into the same amount of glucose, blood sugar. The body will tell the difference between ice cream and an apple in weight, cholesterol, etc.

Fiber helps fill you up, helps people lose weight, helps with bowel regularity, helps bind cholesterol and excrete it. Fiber is the part of the plant that doesn't digest. Soluble fiber and insoluble fiber--most foods with fiber have both. Soluble dissolves in water, insoluble does not. It swells up, helps you feel full (apples, oatmeal). Insoluble fiber--broccoli, brown rice--works in the body like a roto rooter, cleaning out blood vessels, helps intestines.

Grains today are often refined to take fiber out. Whole wheat grains start with up to 27 vitamins and minerals. When the whole wheat is refined, the naturally-occurring vitamins are removed, but the government requires vitamins be put back--so 5 are put back, and the product is then called "enriched." Look for the term "whole" in the ingredient list. That's better.

How often should we eat, and when? Terri said it's personal preference, but she recommends at least 3 times a day to provide regular fuel.

Sugar, energy comes into our body from food or from our liver. If we don't provide the fuel, our metabolism will slow as the body thinks it may be in a starvation mode. Eating really speeds up the metabolism. People who don't eat breakfast tend to gain weight because after a night-long fast, then no food in the morning, the body thinks it needs to slow down metabolism to avoid starvation.

Eating late at night: usually people are sedentary after eating if it's night, so that often makes blood sugar higher, not a good thing. It also creates acid reflux if they lie down within an hour or so after eating.

Superfoods? What should we eat? Terri said all foods are good...all things can be eaten in moderation. Avoid sugary soda drinks. She said even at fast food restaurants, one can make healthy choices. But try to get foods as close to the way they appear in nature.

Sugar: it turns into glucose in our body, which our body turns into fuel. That's true for any carbohydrate. Once digested, whether a potato or a cookie, the glucose, if the same size serving, is the same. But the vegetables have other benefits, more vitamins, more fiber.

Nutritional supplements: we often cannot get all we need from food. Terri suggests a regular multi vitamin, just store brands..not "mega vitamins" with more than 100% of the RDAs. She also says Vitamin D and Calcium are also recommended by most physicians. Around 1,000 mg of calcium is a good goal between what you eat and a supplement.

Impact of nutrition on diabetes? Nutrition doesn't cause diabetes but does play a role in treating diabetes. To get diabetes, you have to have the gene--having the gene does not mean you WILL get diabetes, but you can. And then there is an environmental trigger. 90% of the people with diabetes have "Type 2" diabetes, which used to be called "Adult Diabetes" but now even kids are getting. Diabetes can be triggered by being overweight, or stress, or nutrition. She says if people lose weight or exercise more they often can prevent diabetes. Native Hawaiians have a tendency to get diabetes, also Japanese, Filipino.

Chief Kubojiri was named to the position by the Police Commission in December, 2008. He's been with Hawaii Police since 1979. Chief Kubojiri graduated from University of Hawaii at Hilo with a degree in police science. He also attended the FBI's Leadership Training program at the University of Virginia at Quantico, Virginia, in 1999.

Police Department overview: 432 police officers, from Chief to the patrol officers. They have 150 civilian support staff. Police stations: the main stations are the Hilo station at 349 Kapiolani Street and the Kona/Kealakehe Station just north of Kailua Kona. They also have 8 other stations in Laupahoehoe, Waimea, Honoka'a, North Kohala, a substation in Captain Cook, Ka'u (Na'alehu), Puna/Pahoa. They're looking to add a station in Kea'au once they acquire property.

Budget: is the police department appropriately funded? Police Chief said yes. But, budget is tight. The civilian employees were furloughed two days a month in the last year and Chief says that has slowed getting paperwork managed. There are some paperwork items that have "drop dead" dates, for example when there is a request for information from the Judiciary or from the Office of Information Practices. They have 20 days to do the background checks when people request firearm licenses. So when there isn't time to get the work done, the quandry becomes whether to pay the employees overtime to compensate for having two furlough days a month. Chief said the civilian staff has been excellent and does their best to keep the paperwork flowing.

Accreditation: Chief had said when he got the job that accreditation was a goal. The department put in the formal paperwork request at the end of 2010, and they have 3 years to complete the requirements. Right now they are going to have Maui Police and Honolulu Police, both accredited, come do dry runs with them to make them ready.

Chief has been in the job two years. What does he feel he's accomplished? He feels the department's transparency is better, with more information getting to the public. They have monthly community meetings. And they have done a community satisfaction survey. They also have instituted the Nixle program, which broadcasts alerts to the media and anybody who signs up to get information about traffic, road closures, and crimes. (Anybody can sign up, just go to the police web site, www.hawaiipolice.com to get signed up--no charge.) The Police Department has used the service at no charge for two years, but there will be an annual fee of $1600 assessed starting July 1.

Chief feels there are many challenges, but the men and women of HPD are up to it. He's proud of the people in the department. He said they're also going paperless, instituting technology, internally.

Customer satisfaction survey: why? It's required for accreditation, that once every two years they get community feedback. But Chief said he wanted to get the feedback--he says sometimes they think they have the pulse of the community, but they don't. He said they can't fix something they don't know needs improvement.

Key learnings? The biggest thing was that although overall, the public's experiences with personnel was positive, there were too many cases where the public found the employees to be not professional. Or, in the case of some traffic stops...they considered the officers to be rude. Solution? Customer satisfaction training/aloha training. This is something the Police Commission asked for, too.

Chief had contracted for Dr. Kimo Alameda, a Hilo-based psychologist, to do the "aloha" training. Dr. Alameda has conducted this training for Maui Police Department, Department of Education, Kamehameha Schools, and other Hawaii-based organizations. However, Stephens Media pointed out that Dr. Alameda had been Mayor Billy Kenoi's campaign manager, and suggested that influenced the choice. Chief Kubojiri said he didn't even think about that because of Dr. Alameda's qualifications...but because of the questions raised, at this point, Dr. Alameda will do one training, probably within the next two months, at no charge. Going forward, it's not clear how they will get the additional aloha training done--Chief wants it for everybody in the department--but Chief said they WILL get it done.

Crime trends: Chief said there is a lot more domestic violence, and a slight increase in property crimes--burglary, theft. Chief said he thinks the economy plays a role, but there's no proof. The community is more involved with Neighborhood Watches and with people calling in and reporting suspicious behavior.

What crimes concern him most? Crimes against people, especially domestic violence. Chief said every day they get domestic violence calls. Maybe it's cause of the economy, but substance abuse often plays a part. The saddest thing is the children--to witness this, to think this is "ok" behavior.

How does Chief keep the department up-to-speed on current crime solving techniques for major crimes such as murder--we only have 3 to 4 a year. Chief said science is a big factor, and they try to keep up on forensic techniques. They get training from other police departments, the FBI does training and provides information about evidence-collecting techniques. The police even go back to cold cases, unsolved old cases, to use current science to see what they can solve.

Do we have a crime lab? Yes, in Hilo. But more sophisticated analysis--DNA--our police department uses the Honolulu Police Department, which has an accredited lab. They also sometimes send evidence to the FBI or to private labs. Chief said there is a big backlog for DNA analysis because of the high demand.

Chief and several other Hawaii Police Department officers have attended the FBI training in Quantico. The FBI holds four classes a year. Police and military from the US and foreign countries are eligible to attend, the rank of Lieutenant and above, with a commitment they will stay with their department 3 to 5 years. The FBI pays for everything--travel, lodging, the training--except incidentals. The program is actually a 15-credit program at University of Virginia, with other executives from law enforcement around the world. Chief said it's an excellent leadership program that also gives the attendees information about "best practices". It also includes physical fitness. Nine officers have attended, one is there now, one will start in July. Hawaii Police shares two slots each session with the other departments in the state and Guam.

Drunk and impaired driving: we continue to have the highest fatality rate per capita in the entire country because of impaired or drunk driving. Chief said they're maintaining their DUI roadblocks. The State Legislature passed an ignition interlock law that is now in effect, that requires convicted DUI drivers to have a device on their vehicle, a breathalyzer, they must below into before starting their car. Chief appreciates the high schools' Grad Night program, which provides a safe place to celebrate.

Chief said the DUI problem is huge--and he wishes he had "THE" answer. He welcomes input for anybody who may in fact have some creative ideas.

Biggest challenge? Budget. If it continues to be a challenge, the Department may not be able to continue some of their "extra" programs. He mentioned an example: bike patrols. He supports them, but budget cuts may make the continuance not possible.

More about the police department online, www.hawaiipolice.com

Governor Abercrombie was here on the island for the Big Island Democratic Convention, Saturday May 21.

Governor has been in office just under six months. The first time he was our guest to talk about his decision to run for Governor back in April, 2009. Whereas he could have continued in his career as a US Congressman, or he could have retired (he's 72)....so how's it been? The Governor says he's more excited now than then, about the possibility to have a fulfilling career, to put to good use his experience and his capacity to find success in some of the state's challenges. He says he's more optimistic that it could be done, but not satisfied with the pace of change.

How different is the job than he thought it would be? He says how he spends his time...what he expected. He was surprised at how long it takes to sign things! He says he wants to continue to focus on the big picture, and hire good people...but he says some in the carryover boards and commissions do not share his vision, and that's turned out to be a problem.

He also said the amount of budget shortfall was far greater than he was expecting. As of July 1, his administration's fiscal policies kick in, and he feels they'll be able to truly accomplish many of their goals.

Energy independence, food security, economic recovery, educational excellence--he still has those as goals. And he feels people expect change and that's why he was elected...he says it wasn't so much about personalities but what he wanted to accomplish and change.

Democrats have the overwhelming majority in the State Legislature, which just finished its session. Governor says he and the Democratic legislators must take responsibility for what is done and not done.

Honokohau Harbor was high on the Governor's list of "things to make better": but nothing has been done. The Harbor Users Group has sent a memo to the Governor and Director William Aila with suggestions. Governor says when their budget kicks in July 1, they will move forward on the 8"water line, the access road, the electric lights, the boat ramp. He plans for start date July 1, completion within a few months.

Most important, Governor just signed a bill that will allow DLNR to work with public/private partnerships to expand the businesses at Honokohau Harbor, the partnerships to include nonprofits, government agencies, the legislators to move development along. He expects the harbor to be a draw, a magnet for tourists and local people.

What about DLNR in general--there were complaints about their lack of responsiveness after the tsunami and overall. Governor says he wants to move decision making to the neighbor islands to take advantage of the employees' knowledge, talent, commitment. He says public employee morale is low, and the public is disillusioned.

The Governor's new homeless program: though it sounded very Oahu-centric at first, in fact it applies statewide. The goal--don't just feed homeless people, but help provide support to help them keep or get housing, to get jobs or learn how to get jobs, to move people into shelters or housing. On Hawaii Island, HOPE Services handles homeless shelters, feeding, and more. The director, Brandy Menino, with whom I spoke Friday, sounds very positive about using the Governor's initiative as a springboard to do more--such as allowing cars to park in their homeless shelters overnight even if there is no space--just provide a safe place.

Will the state legislators, administrators, judges get a raise July 1, as has been reported in the newspaper? Governor said no. A bill was passed to stop it, and Governor said had that not passed he could have stopped a raise via executive order--but that would not have been as satisfactory. He does wish the judges could continue to get a raise--he said they are exceptional public servants with huge responsibility. All the legislators and administrators will take a 5% pay cut.

Energy: we as a state say we want to get clean energy. Hawaiian Electric is our chief electricity provider, and they are a public company, with an obligation to provide return for shareholders. The rate per KWH in our state is high--30cents on Oahu to 40 plus cents per kwh on the Big Island, among the highest if not the highest in the country. Governor said the current rate model is not workable with the need to change. He wants an energy policy statewide that will encourage more clean energy; at this point any step we take is good. Hawaii Island already produces 30% of its power from Puna Geothermal. Governor said biofuels from here on the island will also be important.

Governor wants to expand the State PUC from 3 to 5, to get more statewide representation but mostly to get more going...somebody to work on the long term as well as the immediate needs.

Taxes: Governor said he would not raise GE Taxes, but the legislature did remove some GE Tax exemptions. While my thinking was those businesses would therefore push that loss of tax exemption to the users, Governor said some of the exemptions were not being used. And whether Hawaiian Airlines, which lost a big GE Tax exemption, would correspondingly raise rates--Governor said he's not so sure. Governor said he still wants to pursue removing some entitlements paid to state workers to help lower the state tax burden. The example: all who get Social Security also pay a Medicare Part B (look at your or your parents' or grandparents' Social Security statement). The State of Hawaii has chosen to reimburse its employees and former employees for that Medicare Part B, a benefit not offered to the vast majority of private individuals. Governor said that benefit alone costs taxpayers $50 million per year, and it is NOT a benefit that should be paid to state workers--it's a fairly recent addition. Governor tried to eliminate it this year, but the legislature did not agree.

Governor also wants to institute a soda tax of 5 or 10 cents per drink, the funds to go to state healthcare expenses.(This kind of tax is being used in many other states.) Governor said he wants taxes that are obvious and visible, and will be used for services needed in the state.

Priorities: workforce housing, energy, environmental sustainability, homelessness, school improvement (the state just got a $10 million grant from the Castle Foundation).

We don't see the Governor's wife, Nancie Caraway, very often. Governor said when they have time, they like just being home together--or walking the dog. They live at the Governor's mansion, on the grounds of historic Washington Place. Governor says they're putting in photovoltaic, they've started a garden. Their goal is to leave Hale Kia'Aina to the next Governor in a condition fit for the Queen (Lili'uokalani).

Governor now has full time security. He says he got used to it quickly, but it reminds him of the importance of his job--not of him, but of the job. He appreciates the sacrifices his security team and their families make. He says he knows the security is not because of him, but because of the job--and it reminds him to be humble.

Governor said he appreciated having a conversation rather than just giving sound bites.

Read about the Governor's priorities at his web site, http://hawaii.gov/gov/

Sabrina McKenna is the newest member of Hawaii's State Supreme Court. She was born and raised in Tokyo (military American Dad, Japanese Mom), and moved to Hawaii to go to college. She graduated from UH Manoa and went to the UH Richardson School of Law. After a successful career as a private and corporate attorney, she became a professor at University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law, and then became a judge.

The Hawaii Judiciary has 3 levels of trial courts: District, Family, and Circuit. There is the Intermediate Court of Appeals and the Hawaii Stte Supreme Court.

The First Circuit is the island of Oahu, Second Circuit is Maui, Third Circuit Big Island. There is no "Fourth Circuit" -- formerly there was a Fourth Circuit, the East side of Hawaii Island from 1892 to 1943. But in 1943 they folded the Fourth Circuit into the West side's Third Circuit. The Fifth Circuit is Kaua'i County.

Family Court handles divorces, paternity, guardianships of minors and adults, juvenile issues.

District Court handles civil and criminal cases of limited jurisdiction, petty misdemeanor cases. However, all jury trials are handled by Circuit Court. They also handle Landlord-Tenant Cases. Small Claims Court, a division of this, handles claims up to $3500 (though the legislature just upped the amount to $5,000).

While District Courts are limited in the amount of money at stake, Circuit Courts have unlimited financial jurisdiction and have all jury trials.

Hawaii Supreme Court hears appeals brought before the Court. They can applications from transfer from the Intermediate Court of Appeals, bypass the ICA, and go directly to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court must accept a case when it might invalidate an amendment to the State Constitution or is a constitutional issue, or if a sentence involves life in prison without possibility of parole. Transfer is discretionary in most other cases.

The bulk of the cases they get are discretionary appeals...around 150 appeals yearly, and they take around 50 each year. They will take cases when the Supreme Court thinks there has been a mistake in fact or law, or when there is inconsistency in lower court decisions.

How do the Supreme Court Justices decide what to hear? As of last Fall, all filings are electronic. The Justices can review all the filings, but one Justice takes the lead on each filing and presents his/her colleagues with a summary of the case and outlining the points of law and making a recommendation. However, each Justice reaches his or her own conclusion and then the majority rules.

Is there a relationship between the Hawaii State Suupreme Court and the Federal Supreme Court? Not directly. Federal Courts have limited jursdiction and hear cases relating to Federal law, the Federal Constitution, ambassadors, treaties, bankruptcy cases, disputes between states.

The Hawaii State Supreme Court also gives opinions to the Federal Supreme Court on what Hawaii Law is. They also hear cases of complaints regarding elections, or cases involving public officials not doing their jobs. They license attorneys, they set the rules for all other courts, and they discipline attorneys and judges when needed.

Under what circumstances would a Justice or Judge recuse themself from a case? (This is a small state, and Judges and attorneys know each other and many Judges might also know those brought before them.) The "rule of necessity" says that a Judge may hear a case in which they have a possible conflict but so may all Judges (example, a case regarding state pensions). The standard is vague, but the guidelines say a Judge must recuse if they have a bias, or their immediate family is a party to a suit. The same applies if the Judge has a direct financial interest, has expressed an opinion on a case. Justice McKenna said often, in this state, judges will disclose a "possible conflict" to the attorneys and sometimes the attorneys will waive the issue, and say they still want the Judge to hear the case as they feel the Judge can put aside whatever their personal involvement is.

Budget cuts to the judiciary, how are they affecting? Justice McKenna said the furloughs and cutting personnel have had an impact. Justice McKenna was a trial judge until the beginning of March, and said it was very difficult for all judges to keep up with the case load. She said funding appears to be sufficient this year.

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has said there must be a new Judiciary building on the West side of the island a new Judiciary building opened in Hilo in 2009). The current legislative budget includes funding for a building. Justice McKenna said it will be efficient to have all courts in the same place--right now there are separate locations for the courts on the West side--Judge Ibarra's court, Judge Strance's court, family court, and district court are all in separate places. That requires separate security staffs and having everybody together will improve efficiency (and one hopes reduce cost?).

Why did Justice McKenna want to go from a successful law career to being a judge? Justice McKenna said she is so grateful at the opportunities given her, she wanted to go into public service, first as a law professor, but then as a judge and now a Justice.

Justice McKenna went to University of Hawaii, and became a member of the Rainbow Wahine Basketball Team. She said what made that possible was Title IX, which is officially the Patsy Takemoto Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. That required federally funded institutions, including universities, colleges, schools, to provide equal opportunities for men and for women in education and sports. She said the act has benefited both men and women.

As the newest Justice, are there implications (the Federal Supreme Court requires the newest Justice to answer the door!). In Hawaii, Justice McKenna said others answer the door--but as the newest, she is the last into the Court, and last out. But she said all Justices' opinions are treated with respect, and she said she's been warmly welcomed to the Court.

Justice McKenna is the only graduate of the University of Hawaii law school, the Richardson School of Law. What are the implications? She said she chose UH Law School specifically to ensure she knew Hawaii law. Although Richardson School of Law covers all the "standard" subjects, it is permeated with the aloha spirit, AND she was able to take classes to understand Native Hawaiian rights...classes offered no place else.

Law as a career: she advises young people that law is an excellent career. But, she says the best thing is to start with a broad-based, well-rounded education. Good lawyers need to be good, thoughtful people with a broad perspective. Read, expand your horizons.

Learn more about the Hawaii State Judiciary online at www.courts.state.hi.us

Rahna Reiko Rizzuto was born and raised on Hawaii Island, the daughter of Jim Rizzuto and Shirley Rizzuto. Her Dad Jim writes a fishing column for West Hawaii Today and has several books on fishing and lures.

Reiko went to Hawaii Preparatory Academy and then to Wellesley College, the to Columbia University in New York. She got her degree in astrophysics, the first woman to get such a degree at Columbia. She stayed in New York because her boyfriend (whom she met here on Hawaii Island) was there and had gotten a job. He was an architect.

Reiko's first writing job was as a ghostwriter. She wrote four Nancy Drew mysteries! (They were my favorite books, growing up.) She got into promotion for a publisher, booking tours for famous writers like John Updike and Toni Morrison. She never really thought about writing a book.

She teaches in the Master's Program in Creative Writing at Goddard College. Although she did not get her Master's, she has discovered through teaching how much she's learned.

Her book Why She Left Us was . Her writing career started when she went with her mother and grandmother to an internment camp where her Japanese mother and her family had been interned, in Colorado, during World War II. Reiko's journey there created questions, and she started interviewing people who had been interned to get their stories. In the process, she realized many of them had never spoken of their experience being interned--there was a real code of silence around the experience. She wanted to know what life there was like. Her book, Why She Left Us is about a family that was interned. Reiko says she learned in the interviews that peoples' lives changed dramatically because of internment--divorces, new families, new alignments. In the book, an unmarried Japanese woman has two children, and after the war, leaves her son with her parents and keeps her daughter. The story is told through the eyes of the son, the daughter, the grandmother, and a brother. The book goes from 1910 to 1980, as the family explores the family dynamic.

This book was inspired by Reiko's Mom, but not a direct story about the family. Reiko said there were several family stories that came together in Why She Left Us.

Reiko's Mom Shirley was only 5 when she was released from the internment camp. Reiko said Shirley toured with her, and sort of adopted the book as part of her own story. She took pride in the book.

Reiko's second book is Hiroshima in the Morning. She got a grant from the Japanese government in 2001 to go to Hiroshima to research the book.

She went to Japan for several months. Although part Japanese, she'd never been there. She did not speak Japanese, but felt comfortable with the customs as many of those customs are part of Hawaii. She said she felt very comfortable there.

Hiroshima in the Morning is a story of the Hiroshima survivors, a Japan travelogue, and a personal memoir in which Reiko grapples with her own life, her relationship with her mother, marriage, and motherhood.

At the time, Shirley Rizzuto was in the throes of Alzheimer's disease. Reiko was in the process of losing her mother (Shirley passed away in late 2010.) But she wasn't available to Reiko, to answer questions Reiko had about how to negotiate motherhood. Reiko saw Shirley as an amazing, perfect mother, a wonderful caretaker, and Reiko was struggling with how to manage her own life.

The initial plan was to write a novel, which is not what Hiroshima in the Morning turned out to be. But the novel is on its way--it's now in final draft.

Hiroshima in the Morning was nominated for the prestigious Critics Circle Book Award. In the past several months she's been on The Today Show, The View, MSNBC, Canadian television, and more. But rather than focus on the book itself, most interviewers talked about Reiko's views about motherhood.

She was in Japan on September 11, 2001. That changed several things. First, Hiroshima survivors whose stories were very rehearsed became more emotional, more raw, and they became more willing to talk about new things about which Reiko wanted to talk.

The other thing that changed was Reiko and her family. Her husband was on the Brooklyn Bridge and saw the first plane hit the twin towers. Her Mom and Dad were at their home in New York helping care for their two boys, 3 and 5 at the time. When Reiko returned home, she and her husband divorced fairly soon after.

What predicated the divorce--Hiroshima--September 11...? Reiko said she thinks the separation highlighted areas where she and her husband had grown apart. But the fallout from all that was partly that her husband became the primary caregiver for the two boys. They have joint custody, and Reiko moved doors away. She has the boys three days a week...but most of the television appearances focused on her "leaving" her family to go to Japan, and then that her husband became the chief caregiver. Reiko says she was not one who had wanted children. She loves her boys (and they clearly love her)...but she says they have the best of both worlds living primarily with her ex husband and spending time with her.

Reiko has gotten lots of criticism for an essay she wrote on www.salon.com, detailing her fears about motherhood and the eventual outcome of her marriage. She said friends criticized her decision to go to Japan for a few months and they criticized her and her husband's decision that he would be primary caregiver. She even got some death threats! But she thinks some of the anger was because of fears people have about their own lives.

I met the boys, Kai and Kalei. They're now 12 and 14, and they came to the interview with Reiko and her Dad, Jim. They were confident and self assured, filled with humor, and affectionate and loving towards both Reiko and their grandfather.

Find or order Reiko Rizzuto's books at local bookstores...Hilo Bay Books, Kona Bay Books, Kona Stories, any of several independent bookstores. Or go to several online sources, or to Reiko's web site, http://r3reiko.com

CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was here on the island, staying at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows. He was training with six "ordinary people" to do a triathlon in New York City August 7, working with Ironman Tim DeBoom.

Dr. Gupta is a neurosurgeon. He spends most Mondays practicing neurosurgery, operating and seeing patients. He said he's in concert with most of his partners, who have other "things," such as research or teaching. He said the difference is, his other "thing" is media--and he feels he's better at both because of the challenge of both activities.

Dr. Gupta said radiation from Japan, while a concern, did not pose a serious threat to the health of the people of Hawaii or the mainland.

He said two easy things to do for our health: floss (reduces inflammation, which is a serious health problem) and drink a couple of cups of coffee every day (coffee has significant antioxidants, whether it's caffeinated or decaffeinated).

More important than "going to the gym" kind of exercise: constant daily movement. That's what has kept those very healthy people around the world in the "blue zones," where people live longer, healthier lives, going strong. Hard work, daily activity...plus a positive attitude, a reason to get up every day. Dr. Gupta is himself training for the August 7 triathlon and acknowledges it is very difficult and challenging to find time in a busy schedule to exercise--but he says for him, it makes him more productive so he works hard to make time.

Dr. Gupta was fun to talk to. He's clearly a thoughtful man and we had a wonderful conversation. You can see Dr. Sanjay Gupta's weekly program on CNN at 1:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Hawaii time (or 2:30 a.m. in winter). And he has regular "specials".

We first interviewed Dr. Pua Kanahele in May, 2009, after that year's Merrie Monarch Festival. She will be one of the commentators once again for the live broadcasts of Merrie Monarch on KFIV (Channel 5), Thursday April 28, Friday April 29, and Saturday April 30, from 6 p.m. until pau. Her insights on hula will be helpful as we prepare to watch Merrie Monarch, either in person or on television. She also talks about Hawaiian culture.

Here are our notes from the original interview:

Dr. Pualani Kanahele is a Hawaiian cultural expert--daughter of the renowned hula master Edith Kanaka'ole, director of Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation, honorary PhD in Hawaiian studies, consultant on all things Hawaiian, and herself quite a hula expert.

Dr. Kanahele was a commentator for television coverage for this year's Merrie Monarch. Dr. Kanahele talked about what the mele and chants were saying, to help us the viewers understand more about the performances. She partnered with Manu Boyd, who spoke of the clothing, the different halau, the steps. Dr. Kanahele said she also felt the coverage was better this year from the educational standpoint.

She recommended we listen carefully, for specific words even if we don't speak Hawaiian. Listen for place names, listen for specific Hawaiian words to help us place ourselves in the time of the dance. She suggests we note the clothing, which is designed to represent the period, based on style and color. Note the feet movement, the hands, look at the different body parts to begin to appreciate the intricancies. Dr. Kanahele feels we can self educate as well as learn from experts.

The Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation wants to perpetuate knowledge and intelligence. Dr. Kanahele feels people have intelligence, which they can use to advance their formal education through observation, looking, listening, reading. They can then begin to articulate for themselves what they learn about. Knowledge is information we're given, which can inform our intelligence.

The Edith Kanaka'ole Foundation helps organizations in the area of Hawaiian culture. Each program is tailored to the individual organization, based on research, questioning, a look at what's needed. A big focus now: a way to look at the universe with a Hawaiian focus.

Dr. Kanahele is working on a specific framework for learning, Papaku Makawalu. The framework for this work was contained in a traditional Hawaiian chant. Dr. Kanahele said she had to study the chant intensely to figure it out. Simplistically, the framework includes the entire universe. Her task has been breaking it down into manageable parts.

Papahulilani: three words, papa--huli--lani, combined into a larger concept. This refers to the space above our heads, from where we are to the stars and beyond. This covers all elements within this framework, the air, the sun, the moon, wind, clouds, rain, and more.

Papahulihonua: the most difficult of the concepts, refers to the earth, what we stand on, the ocean, the volcanoes and all that come from them (lava, vog) the foundation.

Papahanoumoku: things that procreate, things that give birth, which includes kanaka (people), animals, fish, plants, coral, all living things.

Is there conflict with a "Western" view of the universe? Dr. Kanakaole says no, the Papaku Makawalu, encompasses the entire universe, witha slightly different focus.

The Edith Kanaka'ole hula tradition is carried on by Aunty Pua's sister, Nalani, and Pua's two daughters. The tradition is bombastic, energetic, based on the fires of Madame Pele. Aunty Pua said hula is a living art, it changes constantly. We still live in the place of our ancestors, that's the constant, but language, clothing, colors, all of that changes with the time.

Learn more, www.papakumakawalu.org, or www.edithkanakaolefoundation.org. Take advantage, if you hear that Dr. Pualani Kanahele is lecturing--go! She's a very interesting and informative speaker, with a sense of humor.

This was a continuation of last week's Tsunami Debrief, with guests Quince Mento (head of Hawaii County Civil Defense) and Ed Teixeira (head of State Civil Defense).

As a reminder, you can be on the county alert system to be notified by text, email, voice, go to the county web site, www.co.hawaii.hi.us, look for Hawaii County Civil Defense, and you can sign up near the bottom of the page.

One point of confusion on March 11, after the tsunami, was when the "all clear" was called, and whose responsibility it is to make that declaration. Both Ed and Quince said somehow one or more of the television stations started saying there was a state "all clear," when there was not. It is up to the County to decide when it's "all clear." We at LAVA 105/KKOA/KHNU learned a lesson there....it is the purview of Hawaii County Civil Defense to make that call, and we will ensure we get that news from Civil Defense only.

Tsunamis: what is the expectation as to how long a tsunami might last, in the future? Ed said we can expect to be in a tsunami warning for up to 8 hours, which means those who need to be evacuated or shelter in place must plan to have sufficient food, water, and supplies to last at least that long. In this tsunami, the warning began at 9:30 p.m., the first wave hit around 3 a.m., the Warning was not moved down to Advisory until 7:30 a.m. And waves in some places throughout the state --Ke'ehi Harbor on Oahu, Keauhou Bay in Kona--sloshed significantly throughout the day.

If we have an earthquake right off our island, how quickly would tsunami waves come? In the last big Kalapana Earthquake in 1975, it took around 24 minutes to reach Hilo and 36 minutes to reach Kona. But if an earthquake is right off the island, if it's where YOU are...waves can come VERY quickly, within minutes. If you feel the earth shake and you are at the shore, walk inland. Quince says our land goes up very quickly...if you can walk in 1/4 mile, up to where the tsunami evacuation signs are, you will be safe. You want to get up to a 40 foot elevation. In a steel-and-concrete reinforced building, you should go up to at least the third floor. (Most hotels evacuate to the fourth floor and higher.) Waipio is very flat and that is a concern of Quince's.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: Congress has talked of cutting funding, but Ed says since the March 10-11 tsunami, he believes minds have been changed and the significance of that Center is being recognized. Not only did Hawaii apply for a Disaster Declaration, but so did California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

Are State and County Civil Defense adequately funded? Both said yes. Much of the funds comes from the Federal Government: FEMA, Homeland Security. The State is funding adding tsunami sirens (see Part 1--currently the resort areas have no sirens nor does Kings Landing).

Could we have a tsunami similar to Japan? Ed says we cannot rule out an offshore earthquake that would generate a quick tsunami. But the waves coming from distant locations--Japan, Chile, the Aleutians--can be very damaging. What we've seen makes it clear we need to be prepared to evacuate and then do so when told.

Quince said our coastal zones are not as flat as one might think. The waves in Japan went to a height of 26 feet. In Japan, you had to go in two miles to get to a 30 foot elevation. We get significant elevation change right from shoreline. Also, in Japan, they had rivers going in that helped carry the tsunami wave in; we do not have that situation. Regarding buildings, our reinforced steel-and-concrete buildings should hold up--in Japan many of the buildings were wooden, not reinforced.

Tsunami evacuation zones: University of Hawaii has developed models, and in every case our tsunami evacuation zones created in 1991 held up, were adequate to save lives if people evacuate to where they're told. State Civil Defense even convened an engineering panel to look at a model with a more severe tsunami and check the model--and it held up.

Can evacuation be made faster? Quince said now with instant communication, the citizens and the first responders find out about the need to evacuate at about the same time. There were some traffic jams, and police are considering ways to get the traffic to move more expeditiously. There were also traffic jams at gas stations. Now is a good time to think about putting up tsunami/hurricane/earthquake emergency supplies, and planning to keep a half tank of gas in your car so you don't feel compelled to get gas when the sirens sound.

La'aloa Street WAS open as an evacuation route from Ali'i to Kuakini, but that was not communicated. It will be in the future, and is an additional route to take pressure off the most heavily traveled mauka-makai connectors.

Ed said one additional learning point from this tsunami: we need to differentiate between land "all clear" and marine "all clear" as this last time, the small boat harbors were sloshing and boats could not go back in, some not until March 12.

There is a wealth of information at the State Civil Defense web site and at the County Civil Defense sites: Hawaii County Civil Defense web site: /www.co.hawaii.hi.us/cd . The State Civil Defense web site is www.scd.hawaii.gov

Hear the interview at our news web site, www.bigislandnewscenter.com, down on the right.

Our guests were State Civil Defense Director Ed Teixeira and Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Quince Mento. This is the first of two talk stories about the tsunami warning on March 10-11, plus discussion about the future.

At 7:46 p.m. HST on March 10, Japan was hit with a massive earthquake that spawned a tsunami in Japan that eventually reached Hawaii. At 7:46 p.m., the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a Tsunami Watch, indicating there is a possibility of a tsunami, but it's not yet definite. State Civil Defense goes on full alert even with a Watch. They are staffed 24/7, and begin automatic call outs at notification of a Watch (or a Warning, which is more serious). They contact all the heads of the county civil defense organizations, 9-1-1 on each island, and state agencies.

Quince Mento said he was only a few minutes from the Emergency Operations Center in Hilo when he got the call. Even on the way to the EOC, he was talking with police and fire to alert them and get them into the EOC. Once at the EOC, which was operational by 8 p.m., they initiated the callout to ensure all County agencies were notified. But Quince said most heads of county agencies and nonprofit agencies know without being called that they must mobilize. There are two Emergency Operations Centers in our county--the main one adjacent to the Hilo Police station on Kapiolani Street, plus a secondary EOC at the Kealakehe Police Station.

Ed Teixeira said they are immediately in contact with Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and they set up a conference call within 30 minutes with PTWC and all the county Civil Defense organizations. They are then able to get as much background information as is available.

Quince and Ed said they work closely together. Although Hawaii Island Civil Defense and all those involved in the EOC make the decisions for Hawaii Island, they rely on State Civil Defense. State Civil Defense also handles the tsunami sirens (more on that later). The head of Civil Defense for the State is Adjutant General Darryl Wong. Reporting to him is the State Director of Civil Defense. Each County has a State Deputy Director of Civil Defense, which is the Mayor. Then the Mayor appoints the day-to-day administrator (in Hawaii County, Quince Mento). That night, Mayor Kenoi called us at the radio station with an update from Washington, D. C.

The Hilo Emergency Operations Center: four tables with 8 seats each, with assigned tables for specific functions. Police, fire, National Guard, State agencies such as Department of Education plus volunteer groups like Red Cross that assist with sheltering. County Departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation. HELCO, the gas company. Quince said at mobilization, usually there are around 70 or 80 people, plus there is a counter for the media.

The Hilo EOC has a series of white boards to provide anybody with an immediate look at status. They also have television monitors for video feeds from ocean parks, for video teleconferencing with State Civil Defense, and for other video/television feeds.

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: State Civil Defense acts as the main contact. They're at Ewa Beach and provide services to many countries and Pacific Basin jurisdictions. There is an Alaska Tsunami Warning Center that focuses on the West Coast of the mainland. Pacific Tsunami is our main source of information. They have a large network to which they communicate information, and they also automatically post watch and warning information via the state's emergency broadcast system for both television and radio.

What if there are no phones? They have backup--radio, video teleconferencing, satellite telephones.

On Tsunami Night, the information was mostly about when the first wave wold hit Honolulu or Hilo, but not much about West Hawaii (which eventually took the brunt of the tsunami). PTWC does not have tidal buoys everywhere, and must extrapolate to get information...they have tide gauge buoys in Hilo and Kawaihae. Quince said they always take the first arrival time, no matter where it's going to be, and that's the time around which they gear all their alerts. The first wave in this case was expected at 2:59 a.m. on March 11 on Kaua'i.

Debrief: Mayor Billy Kenoi called a debrief for the Wednesday following the tsunami. Mostly they felt things went smoothly...all the County team automatically mobilized as they should without hesitation; we had plenty of warning. Some hiccups included communication challenges with AT&T's network going down, and less-then-perfect communication about which shelters would be open. Soon Quince will post shelter sites on the County Civil Defense website.

AT&T's network went out shortly before the Warning was issued. This was a huge problem statewide, and probably was a result of overload. Quince Mento has asked AT&T about fixing the problem, as has the State Director of Communications, because it's a needed service. Other networks did not go down.

Pets at shelters: some are pet friendly, and the list is now on the State Civil Defense site under Hurricane Shelters.

Tsunami sirens: there are areas on Hawaii Island with no tsunami sirens. One is King's Landing, Hilo side. Another huge area is the entire resort area on the Kohala/North Kona Coast. Hawaii County Councilman Pete Hoffman has been quite vocal about the lack of sirens. The State apparently expected private developers to put in sirens, and the resort developers did not, for...not sure why (prior to the talk story I contacted several resort areas and the Kohala Coast Resort Association and Waikoloa Land Company and their answers were not very specific as to why. The resorts say their private security contacts guests via their own methods, but there isn't a provision for those staying in condos or timeshares.) But now, Ed says they've made headway, and two of the $90,000 sirens will go into Hualalai Resort area, two more are going into Waikoloa, two around Mauna Lani.

Ed says there are 365 emergency warning sirens statewide, and they're tested monthly. Quince says county works closely with state on maintenance. He also says those who objected to the "noisy" sirens have had attitude changes since seeing some of the recent tsunamis.

Quince also said the sirens are just one of the notification methods. The County has an alert system, which will provide alerts to individuals via email, text, and voice. Sign up at the Hawaii County Civil Defense web site. Editor note: I find the alerts very useful and recommend you sign up! You can select how you wish to be alerted.

Prepare your own evacuation and emergency plan, and learn more about Civil Defense. Hawaii County Civil Defense web site: /www.co.hawaii.hi.us/cd . The State Civil Defense web site is www.scd.hawaii.gov

Hear the interview, go to www.bigislandnewscenter.com and look down to the right.

Kealoha is the only poet ever to have performed at a Governor's inauguration--he did his original poem "A New Day" at Governor Neil Abercrombie's inauguration.

What is slam poetry? Kealoha said "slam poetry" is basically performance poetry...following in the tradition of storytelling, sitting around the campfire telling stories, that kind of thing. The term "slam" is similar to a grand "slam" in tennis, the big competitions.

Kealoha is 33. He grew up on Oahu, a good childhood with loving and supportive parents. He said he had typical hanabatta days, easy, playing with the other kids. He went to Punahou School, where he became ranked #9 in the country in The National Math League. He went to Massachussetts Institute of Technology, majoring in physics, graduating with honors. He studied nuclear fusion, which he believes is the Holy Grail of energy technology and can be the environmentally safe, renewable energy resource our country needs. He said he observed while in college that there was less money being devoted to research in energy. While in college, he did some work for the Department of Defense, with a secret and top secret clearances.

After college he went into business consulting, and worked in San Francisco. He said he was financially successful, but not especially happy with the work. One day, he went to a Poetry Slam...and said his life changed from that moment. He said that night, his brain almost snapped from the stimulus--he literally felt tingling and knew that genre was for him.

Kealoha said slam poetry includes all the skills he loved -- thinking, theater, writing, creativity, logic. After coming home and reflecting while surfing, hiking, meditating, and writing...he started entering competitions with his poems. In 2002 he became a professional poet.

Kealoha said he does make his living being a slam poet, and there are probably 100 nationwide who do. He said he constantly works--it's a 24/7 job, and one must love it or one fades away.

Kealoha has been working with the students at Waimea Middle School. His participation has been funded by State Foundation on Arts and Culture, and he's working with other schools, too. His goal is to help the students with their language, performance, and thinking skills.

He said that right away he works on helping them create a poem, before they get any sense that they cannot do it, or that poetry is somehow "uncool." He uses a combination of performance, games, then writing, analysis, and working on the students' performance skills.

The work helps students put their thoughts on paper and express their thoughts. Kealoha said, and Waimea Middle School Principal John Colson has said, this is part of developing a student's life skills. Kealoha commented that Waimea Middle School is a learning community.

Kealoha has had lots of success as a poet. But he said he probably would not be where he was without a strong education, both high school and college, and the ability to garner critical thinking skills to ensure he could create the poetry he does.

Learn more about slam poet Kealoha at his web site, www.kealohapoetry.com

Hear the interview, go to www.bigislandnewscenter.com and look down to the right.

We talked with Ronald and Nancy Reagan's daughter, Patti Davis. Patti is one of four Reagan children--her brother Ron, and two half siblings of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, Michael and the late Maureen.

How is Nancy Reagan doing? She's 89, a bit frail, but Patti said she's fine.

Patti formerly lived in Manhattan and moved back to Los Angeles after her Dad developed Alzheimers and she needed/wanted to spend more time with her parents. She said she's glad she had that time.

Nancy and Ronald Reagan had one of the closest relationships a couple could have...Patti said her Mom misses her Dad, but believes she'll see him again on the other side. But, she muscles through it.

For years, Patti had a contentious relationship with her parents, especially her Mom. Patti said she's gotten over feeling any resentment about being excluded from her Mom and Dad's close relationship. She feels sorry for her Mom, not having a closer relationship with her children. Patti wrote a book, "The Lives Our Mothers Leave Us," about the relationships of well known women with their mothers which addresses some of the issues.

Patti wrote "The Long Goodbye," about the time when Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer's and the struggle. When he was diagnosed, the family went public. The book is well written, very emotional, a very good read. Patti said when she wrote the book, there wasn't that much information available about people's "stories" about living with Alzheimers. You can let your grief pull you from that person, or you can let your grief pull you closer to that person and share their journey.

Patti said she did not read a lot about Alzheimer's from the clinical perspective...she knew the basics...but she wanted her experience with her Dad to be her experience, hers alone. Lately, she says it's acknowledged that everybody with Alzheimer's is different..some common characteristics, but it's truly a unique journey for each. Patti said she wanted to come to the experience not burdened by expectations.

In the book, she also spoke of the tendency of many with a loved one with Alzheimer's to job them into the present. But Patti decided to live within Ronald Reagan's reality. She feels that's a kinder path than trying to move Alzheimer's patients from their reality into a current reality.

During that time, the family grew closer. Patti used that time as a healing. She'd been a very vocal opponent of her father's policies and wrote about her parents and their differences...but she says now, at 58, she is over that. She feels she did things as a young person she would do over again...if she had today's wisdom (wouldn't we all?).

During the time Reagan was ill, his daughter Maureen by Jane Wyman developed melanoma. Patti and Maureen grew closer, but Maureen was died, and died before Ronald Reagan did.

The family does not really have a close relationship. Patti sees her Mom every week, and knows her brother Ron comes down once in a while from Seattle...but they do not get together as a family.

Patti says their journey was somewhat easier because they had money to afford round the clock nursing care.

Embryonic stem cell research: although most in the Republican party are against government funding for embryonic stem cell research, Nancy Reagan came out quite strongly in favor of it. Patti said it still baffles her that we discard in vitro cells and are unwilling to use those cells for research.

Politics: recent elections seemed focused on the "need" for politicians to have specific religious beliefs--we even saw that in Hawaii. Patti said she feels and believes her father felt using religion as a political weapon was wrong. She said her father would be appalled. Right now there is a rampant use of his name...politicians indicating they're the "next Ronald Reagan." Patti said she thinks they need to figure out how to be themselves.

When her Dad became president, Patti was 28, and not especially happy about it. Being followed by Secret Service agents wasn't that fun.

When she was young, demonstrating for world peace, she thinks all she was really demonstrating was that she was at war with her parents.

Ronald Reagan seemed comfortable and confident in his decisions. What informed him? From where did his strength come? Patti said Ronald Reagan was elusive, and even Nancy admits that Ronald Reagan had secret parts. Patti thinks it all goes back to being child of an alcoholic. She said her Dad is a textbook case...children of alcoholics develop survival mechanisms.

Her father seemed to be, and Patti was, an endless optimistic. Patti said she thinks the optimism was another response to his own father's alcoholism, the need to see cheer in the dark areas of his childhood.

The Ronald Reagan Library is in Simi Valley, California, just north of Los Angeles. Nancy Reagan is involved, and goes there for meetings and occasional events. (Editorial note: I've been to the Reagan Library twice--it's a beautiful and evocative place. There are great photos of the family and of Reagan, and the physical setting is terrific, high atop a hill. Last time I was there, they had some of the gifts given him on display--including a saddle from Parker Ranch!)

Now, Patti does think about what it would be like to have her Dad alive (without Alzheimer's)...she thinks many children who've lost their parents do.

Pressure? Many offspring of famous people feel a pressure to be significant. Patti said her Dad was more than famous, he was an icon. She said it's a strange club to be in, where other people think they own your parent...and the knowledge that it's pretty tough to accomplish what a parent like that has accomplished.

Patti said she feels acceptance, now, and received strength from both parents. She does not share her Dad's sense of optimism...she'd like to...but has to work hard to see the bright side of life.

Patti Davis spends her time writing, that's where her talent lies. She's working on a screenplay about a fictional first daughter, has a novel she's shopping now about an earthquake. Her book "The Long Goodbye" is a moving story of a daughter's final and very long aloha to her ill Dad. "The Lives Our Mothers Leave Us" is interviews with prominent women about their relationships with their mothers. You can find or order Patti Davis's books at Kona Bay Books and Hilo Bay Books, Kona Stories in Keauhou, Basically Books, Hairy Monkey, and Book Gallery in Hilo, and online (but it's always good to buy local when possible).

Hear the interview, go to www.bigislandnewscenter.com and look down to the right.

Our guest was Jim Kauahikaua, Chief Scientist at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, part of the United States Geological Survey. They are located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in a building adjacent to Jaggar Museum. It's been a very busy week, with an active eruption. We recorded this at Jim's office overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater inside Kilauea Caldera on Saturday afternoon, March 12. (We were set to record on Friday, but everybody was exhausted after pulling all-nighters on tsunami night.)

Last Saturday, March 5, the newest eruption, Kamoamoa Fissures, began. We want an update!

Jim's office literally overlooks the Halema'uma'u Crater, which since March, 2008, has been erupting in gas and steam explosions and filling with lava. Jim and his colleagues have an extensive network of computers, with web cams, monitoring, etc.

The Kamoamoa Fissure eruption is in a pause. It's between Napau Crater and Pu'u 'O'o Vent. It started Saturday, March 5, and paused Wednesday, March 8. There have been a number of earthquakes at Kalapana, with 25 earthquakes (the largest 4.6) happening at 10:38 p.m. Thursday, just following the Japan 8.9 quake. Jim says there is likely no relation between the Japan quake and anything happening here. He also said there are frequent earthquakes around Kalapana and have been for decades.

Did the USGS scientists know the eruption was about to start on March 5? Jim said prior to March 5, activity was normal. Starting Saturday afternoon, Pu'u 'O'o had collapsed, and seismicity indicated "something" might happen near Pu'u 'O'o.

On Saturday March 5, Jim said there was only one USGS person actually witnessing the start of the Kamoamoa Eruption. Saturday is a light-staff day. But when the seismometers indicated "something" was going on, the County helicopter took one USGS employee out to the site. They could see the collapsed Pu'u 'O'o vent, and they checked all sites. They were able to pinpoint the start of the Kamoamoa Fissure eruption within ten minutes as they saw the ground cracking and lava beginning to spurt out. Jim said at one point the fountaining was 250' high, which they know cause the helicopter was hovering at 250' a bit away and was looking parallel at the top of the fountain.

Webcam: once the Kamoamoa Fissure started, HVO put up a webcam powered by cell phone modem. They've been trying that technique for about six months, and it works better than cameras that bounce off satellites. They took a webcam from Kalapana and mounted it atop Pu'u 'O'o vent. The only problem was with the high mounting, the night-time fog would obscure the view for several hours each evening. And the tradewinds were blowing in a way that the emissions sometimes obscured the view of the lava. Jim said the views of the lava were, when visible, spectacular.

The day the eruption shut off, they had just installed a second webcam!

Halema'uma'u Crater: it started its current large gas and steam eruption, with an open pit into the magma chamber, in March, 2008. The summit started inflating, the Halema'uma'u lava lake started receding very rapidly. They fly over with an infrared camera to see through the SO2 fumes, and the bottom is now mostly rubble. There is no liquid lava, for a couple of days.

Kilauea Volcano is all a huge network of plumbing. The typical plumbing is lava comes from the earth, under the summit, goes out at a depth of 2 to 3 miles into the rift zones.

It appears lava from Pu'u 'O'o must have been pushed backward towards the summit, to feed the new eruption.

How do they measure lava? Satellite radar data tells how much the ground surface changes, and they try to determine how much lava would be needed to create the change.

The summit has dropped about 7 centimeters. They look at how much Pu'u 'O'o has dropped.

The summit for this volcano is considered the main Kilauea crater (although the high point is near Kilauea Iki). They use the main caldera as their "summit." There are several magma chambers under the Kilauea Caldera and its Halema'uma'u vent.

With all this inflation/deflation, how does the building stay intact? Jim says the building is built on a very strong foundation. There is a benchmark on the front of the Jaggar Museum/HVO building, showing change of around 6 feet over time.

Basedon history: what might happen next? Jim will make no predictions, but based on past patterns in 1997 and 2007, the result was after the fissure stopped, lava started refilling the collapsed Pu'u 'O'o. In 2007 it created a lava lake, but it only lasted for 3 weeks before rupturing and sending the lava down towards Kalapana. But Jim says there is unpredictability. But he does say he does not expect another eruption very soon.

The summit has deflated back to its level of about a year ago, indicating the volcano is not in a pressurized condition.

Halema'uma'u future: unknown, because there is so little experience with a Halema'uma'u eruption. Over the past several decades, most of the eruptions have been in the East Rift zone. Jim says the Halema'uma'u eruption has been interesting.

Emissions: Jim says the emissions in the last week were highest ever, 10,000 tonnes per day, on two days the worst...but one of those days it rained and that kept the SO2 levels down. Before this, the highest was 8,000 tonnes a day, in July, 2008. Right now it's about 500 to 600 tonnes a day.

Jim says our eruption emissions do travel worldwide. When he attended a meeting of the American Geophysical Union last year, a Japanese group had done a study showing significant emissions near Japan over the ocean.

Mauna Loa, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, no activity at this time but they monitor all three carefully.

Separate topic: there is work going on in California, at University of California Berkeley, to set up an early warning system for California earthquakes. It's based on the earlier P waves preceding the more damaging S waves. Using sensors, they are working on giving warning of between a few seconds to 2 minutes. The application? Power plants could shut down generators in an orderly fashion, an individual could avoid stepping into an elevator, etc. The technology came out of work initially done by Thomas Jaggar's people right there at HVO, to determine how to predict tsunami.

Jim says this last week's eruption has been "very cool," very exciting. Worldwide people found it exciting--there were so many hits to the web site, they brought down the USGS server on the mainland and they had to move the HVO part of the site to a new server.

Jim said USGS/HVO is mandated by Congress to monitor and provide early warning of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. They use an extensive network of instruments to do this. Although they cannot provide exact predictions (ie an eruption will occur tomorrow, or next week) but they can sense changes and unrest. They of course worry about Federal funding, and are concerned about a possible need to furlough or shut down. Their work is more than full time.

Jim's final comments: get to know your volcanoes! If you live on this island, you live on a volcano...it's important to be aware of that.

The USGS web site is hvo.wr.usgs.gov. It has a wealth of information, webcam links, and more. Go directly to the daily eruption at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php

Hear the interview, go to www.bigislandnewscenter.com and look down to the right.

Dr. Steven Edelman is an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in diabetes. Dr. Edelman is hosting a diabetes seminar today at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, from noon til 5.

Dr. Edelman is at University of California, San Diego, and director of the Diabetes Care Clinic at the Veterans Center in San Diego. He founded Taking Control of Your Diabetes in San Diego in 1995.

Dr. Edelman says endocrinology is the study of hormones, and the single most common disease in his field is diabetes. Dr. Edelman himself has Type 1 Diabetes, formerly called Juvenile Diabetes, and was always interested in the specialty.

He founded Taking Control of Your Diabetes to bring education directly to the public. Although doctors study diabetes, there is so much new information all the time that doctors just cannot keep up. The organization is funded via grants from foundations and the Federal government. Dr Edelman also gets funding from diabetes drug companies. But, he says, there is no "bias" as a result of the sponsorship.

Diabetes: the sugar in one's blood is too high. The most common--about 90%-- is Type 2, adult onset diabetes, means one is insulin resistant. Type 1, formerly juvenile onset, means the person has antibodies in their system which destroys their body's use of insulin.

Why is diabetes bad? Dr. Edelman corrected my question and said it should be "why diabetes CAN be so bad." He says diabetes is very treatable. In fact, some with diabetes, once instructed on healthier eating and exercise habits, end up being more healthy. Organs most susceptible to damage from insulin resistance include the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart. Insulin resistance also leads to high cholesterol, high blood pressure.

Dr. Edelman says diabetes is a highly genetic condition. Most likely, those who can get diabetes have a gene, received from their parents. They most often will also have the gene to become overweight. Being overweight does not mean you will get diabetes, but if you have the gene and get heavy, that will bring out diabetes sooner. If you do not have the gene, you will not (in most cases) get diabetes.

Ethnic groups most subject to diabetes: Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, Asian countries like China, India, Native Americans. BUT, if you have the gene, no matter your ethnicity, you can get diabetes?

If you don't have the diabetes gene it is highly unlikely you will get diabetes. Unfortunately, there is not yet testing to determine which gene (which would then allow some kind of gene therapy). Dr. Edelman said a bulk of research now is going towards identifying the diabetes gene.

Eating sugar, eating other carbohydrates do not cause diabetes. But eating too much, if you have the gene, can lead to overweight which can increase one's insulin resistance and lead to diabetes.

Bariatric surgery to take out part of one's stomach? If you have the gene, you will always have the gene. If bariatric surgery helps you lose a hundred pounds...and can keep you slim...not a bad idea. If you have the gene, it will not go away, but controlling your weight can control diabetes.

Are there natural herbs to keep blood sugar down? Dr. Edelman says no, although studies have been done on cinnamon and chromium but have not been determined to lower blood sugar.

Blood glucose monitoring: if one has diabetes, depending on how stable and how much in control one's diabetes is, blood glucose monitoring may be needed from 10 times a day to only 2 times a month. If one does not have diabetes, they should be tested at least once a year.

Dr. Edelman stressed the importance of telling your doctor if a close relatives has diabetes. Diabetes has no symptoms in its early stages.

Diabetes control via diet: Dr. Edelman says the main thing is moderation and well-balanced meals. Avoid sugar and fat, but he stresses moderation and portion control.

Dr. Edelman also recommends eating something filling like an apple, or cup of soup, something low calorie yet filling around 20 minutes before a meal to make one feel more full.

The hormone leptin: leptin was supposed to be "the big promise," with the belief that overweight people had low leptin levels. But in studies they gave leptin to overweight people and it didn't help. However, studies continue to use leptin in conjunction with other hormones.

Continuous glucose monitoring: once one has diabetes, Dr. Edelman says this is one of the best new developments. And it's not widely known. It's a device you wear on your body, and it monitors blood sugar every 5 minutes, and gives a 3- and 6-hour history. The traditional finger sticks only show results at one point in time. If one has diabetes, the continuous glucose monitor gives a history to help know if blood sugar is rising or falling--very good for those on insulin.

Latest on diabetes treatment? Type 1 diabetes, biggest advancement is the above device. There are at least 3 brands available. Type 2 diabetes: GLP1 analogues, or incretins...another hormones discovered to be deficient in Type 2 diabetes. It affects appetite as well as blood sugar. There are a couple of drugs that mimic the deficient hormone. This is a new (within 5 years) discovery.

Dr. Edelman says it's most important for those with diabetes, or in a pre-diabetes stage, to "take control of your diabetes" and work as a partner with their caregiver. He stressed it is so difficult for docs to keep up with all the new developments, and sees nothing wrong with learning about options and discussing them with their doctors.

Exercise: one of the cornerstones of diabetes--it helps keep blood sugar down and improve insulin resistance. He feels exercise and eating less can work as well as most drugs.

Sugary sodas: There was a move in the state to add a tax to sugary sodas, to help restrict them especially to kids. Although that effort did not pass the legislature, Dr. Edelman said we do need to give kids healthier options...good tasting no calorie vitamin water or other drinks, if not plain water. He said more kids are developing Type 2 diabetes because they have the gene AND are getting overweight earlier.

Today's (Sunday, March 6) seminar is at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. It starts at noon with registration and light lunch, and goes til 5. The seminar will include exhibitors with the latest, plus talks with updates on the latest diabetes research, and individual counseling. Several Hawaii Island Diabetes Educators will take part. The cost if $15, but if you cannot afford it, they will welcome you in anyway.

Learn more online, tcoyd.org

Justin Viezbiecke is with the Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. We talked with him about whales, monk seals, and green sea turtles.

Long range plan: The Sanctuary is in the process of revising its long range plan. It's mandated by Congress that they review their plan every five years. And Viezbiecke said they know funding will be a challenge, so they want to ensure they're meeting the needs of the Sanctuary and the community.

Justin said there are around 20,000 whales in the north Pacific population, and 10,000 to 12,000 of those whales come to Hawaii. According to ocean count observations at the end of January, the population is increasing by 5% to 7% a year. In the last count, observers saw about 4 whales every 15 minutes.

It's believed all humpback whales migrate south; they feed in Alaska or Russia, and mate and give birth in the warmer water of Hawaii or Japan.

Listeners from Kona have asked why they are seeing fewer whales this year? Justin said last year was a fabulous year for south Kona observations, this year a little less so...the whales this year seem to be more off Waikoloa, Kawaihae, and of course off Maui.

Whales seem to have been coming to Hawaii for the past 200 years. Ancient Hawaiians had sperm whales as a key part of their culture; we still have sperm whales.

Whaling was a big part of Hawaii. The first documented whale kill was a sperm whale off Kealakekua Bay in 1819. In the 1820s to the 1840s, Honolulu and Lahaina were big whaling ports. In one year, 1846, 733 ships were noted to have come to Hawaii! Once oil was discovered in Pennsylvania in the late 1840s, plus the Civil War started, whaling in Hawaii pretty well died out.

Many local Hawaiians became crew on whaling ships and as a result, that took Hawaiians to the West Coast of the United States, and even to Nantucket.

Whale pods: usually a Mom, a baby, and a number of male escorts, many of whom are competing to be the next male in that Mom's life.

Whale behaviors: breeching is often to remove barnacles or whale lice, but could also be a form of communication. Tail slaps, flipper slaps, they're thought to be communication. Mother whales often breech and then the calves try to mimic. Viezbiecke said it's not unusual to see a baby whale practice breeching 10, 20, 30 times.

Baby whales can be 10 to 12 feet long at birth, and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. They need lots of maternal support to learn to breathe, the moms often physically support the calves by holding them at the surface.

Juveniles often like to touch things and can therefore get into trouble and entangled with things because of their curiosity.

It's very difficult to identify a male vs a female whale without being very close and underneath (unless it's a Mom with a baby).

Whale songs: all whales sing the same song; only males sing; as the song changes they all change the song. You can hear the high pitched whale songs if you're underwater, even snorkeling, or on a whale watch when they put the hydrophone in the water. Justin said he has heard the song while on a boat and can even feel the reverberations. He suspects if close enough to the water you may be able to hear it from land.

Monk seal update: We have 6 or 7 on Hawaii Island. Right now there is a female juvenile, born on Ko'olawe, who's been hanging out in Kailua-Kona. The population of the northwest Hawaiian Islands is in trouble, whereas the monk seal population in the main Hawaiian Islands is doing well. Justin said they're trying to see how they can bolster the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands population. Justin cautioned...we must stay away from monk seals--use the "rule of thumb": put your arm out, if the seal is covered by your thumb, you're far enough away. Don't bother the seals.

Green sea turtles: they're doing well. Justin said recently they found a turtle at Kahalu'u with fishing line wrapped around its right flipper. They sent the turtle to Oahu in a dog carrier via Aloha Air Cargo; the flipper had to be amputated. But all is well..."Lefty" is now back at Kahalu'u Beach.

Justin says he hasn't seen any hawksbill turtles lately.

On Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 am til 11 am, Justin and volunteers have guided whale watches at Pu'ukohola Heiau in Kawaihae--they have binoculars and more; stop by...no charge. (Justin is an enthusiastic and energetic guide, as listeners probably know.)

Learn more about the Hawaii Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and their management plan online at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov or call Justin Viezbiecke on his cell at 808-987-0765. To sign up for the final whale count of this year on March 26 call 1-888-55 Whale x 253.

(Editor note: my husband and friends and I went on a whale watch cruise with Ocean Sports from Waikoloa's Anaeho'omalu Beach two weeks ago and saw so many whales--I recommend it. You can also hear a daily whale update on the LAVA 105.3 fm morning show around 7:20 a.m. with Jonathan from Ocean Sports; you can call them at 886-6666).

Donald Straney is the new Chancellor of University of Hawaii at Hilo. He started last July. Chancellor Straney most recently was dean of the College of Science and professor of biology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and served on the board of directors of the Desert Studies Center and the Ocean Studies Institute as well as on the Strategic Planning Council of the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology.

UH Hilo just broke through the 4,000 student number (UH Manoa has 20,000 students). They offer 36 majors, 6 Masters Programs, and 2 PhD programs, in Pharmacy and in Hawaiian Language. In fact, UH Hilo just awarded the first two PhDs in the Language program. There are 225 faculty members, and just over 300 staff.

Students: 70% are Hawaii state residents; 30% from the mainland or international. This year's freshman class: 50% of the freshmen went to high school on Hawaii Island and 25% went to high school on Oahu.

Why do students select UH Hilo: The degree programs, the smaller classes, the great faculty.

UH Hilo has 700 acres, 500 of those acres still available for development. Most of the new development will be in the Science and Technology Park. They have astronomy headquarters and United States Department of Agriculture laboratories. They are also seeking companies to come into that space. Not only do they pay rent, but students can do internships at those companies.

There's been talk of high school students not being prepared for college, academically. Chancellor Straney said that's true nationwide, not just of Hawaii's high school students. Chancellor said he's been meeting with high school principals here, working on programs to bring college students into the high school and counsel juniors on why they should go to college, and why they should take Math and English for all four years to help them be prepared for college. For schools near UH Hilo, they're also looking at having college students do after-school tutoring.

What is the role of the Chancellor? He said his job is to "make the trains run on time," to make sure they're giving students the best education at the best cost.

Chancellor Straney's background is as an evolutionary biologist (Undergraduate and Master's at Michigan State University, PhD at University of California at Berkeley). Why did he want to be Chancellor at UH Hilo? He was most recently at Cal Poly Pomona, and in California, the university is looking inward and downward. UH Hilo is looking at the future, and at growth and expansion. Straney said there's a productive discussion going on now between the governor, the legislature, and the university about the future.

Funding: UH Hilo has gotten lots of state funding, but what's the future? Straney said the faculty is focused on finding federal grants to help supplement state income. This year, faculty has gotten $30 million in research and program grants (up for $18 million last year). He understands the state funding must be supplemented. What kinds of projects? Straney said there is a range--learning support programs (example: National Science Foundation study groups); research on everything from ohia forests to the ethics of the human genome project; in College of Pharmacy, new chemicals and compounds affecting cancer, malaria, and other diseases.

Chancellor Straney noted he used to think coqui frogs were cute...now, he has a different opinion. He has a dog that chases them away from his yard.

Chancellor Straney's relationship to the Hawaii Community College system, both Hilo and Kona? Chancellor said his first meeting after arriving was with the Chancellor of the Hawaii Community College. He believes they must have a strong working partnership to meet the educational needs of the island. Part of the plan is to offer many programs/classes required in the first two years through HCC, and other courses at UH Hilo required for the four year degree without duplicating. They're offering some classes in Honoka'a and Waimea. They're also preparing to introduce a four year program in West Hawaii. They're also exploring offering classes in Puna.

The new Palamanui campus for Hawaii Community College on the west side? Chancellor Straney said they're ready to go, permits have been issued.

The vision for UH Hilo: offer classes that are smaller, offer classes in a non-urban setting. Chancellor said UH Hilo needs to focus first on meeting the needs of learners on this island and in this state. He wants to have them have careers that can keep them here. While tourism is our biggest industry, Chancellor Straney thinks technology related fields can be more developed on this island--not manufacturing, but testing equipment, developing software. Rural healthcare is another area appropriate for this island.

Thirty Meter Telescope: the process is underway for approval, with the final approval meeting scheduled for Friday, 25 in Honolulu (the Board of Land and Natural Resoruces will meet). Chancellor Straney said he's reviewed all the documents. If built, there will be around $1 billion in construction, much of which will be spent here on the island. That includes skilled trades and engineering. Chancellor wants to see programs that can take a person who works in the electronics area and help them earn an engineering degree.

More students at UH Hilo receive financial aid than at any other UH campus. 2/3 of the students receive financial aid; the freshman class--3/4 of the students receive financial aid. Much of the money comes from private funding--last year, UH Hilo offered $500,000 in scholarships. The interesting fact about the scholarship recipients is that they repay them at a faster rate than students nationally. Chancellor thinks it's because students here are interested in working, and getting on with their careers after graduation--which provides capability to repay the loans.

UH Hilo broke $50 million in construction in Hilo. The student services building will allow students to meet all their financial and business-related needs in one location. The College of Hawaiian Language will allow one of the University's gems to be in one place. The building was designed by a local (Hilo) architect, and enhances the sense of place appropriate to the Language program.

What else noteworthy is going on? They have a Center for rural Health last Fall, bringing many of th health programs together to figure out how best to provide health care in a rural setting (such as this island). It brings together programs in Clinical Psychology, Pharmacy, and Nursing.

The Chancellor thinks one of the areas that can best be addressed at UH Hilo is conservation biology, and they've brought in scholars to address that.

Chancellor Straney first came here on a visit 20 years ago.

Chancellor said it's been a learning experience coming to UH Hilo. He feels there are tremendous opportunities for both the university and the community, and he feels the partnership is what will ensure the university contributes as it should.

Learn more about University of Hawaii at Hilo online, www.uhh.hawaii.edu.

Jim Rizzuto has written about fishing off the Kona Coast for more than 40 years, with a Monday column in West Hawaii Today plus books and other articles for outdoor publications. (So far he's written about 2,000 weekly columns!)

Jim has fished since he was 3 or 4. He was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, and fished for catfish and eels in the Delaware River. Even as a child he sold them to fish brokers!

Jim was educated at Rutgers University, and his first "real" job was as a math teacher. He was head of the Math Department at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. As a note, he also had a teaching credential in French.

His first experience in writing about fishing was as a Freshman in college, writing for an English composition course.

What's different about fishing off the Kona Coast, what makes it special? Jim said it's simple: big fish, close to shore, calm water.

What attracts the 1,000 pound fish (granders) to Kona? We have a lee gyre here, ocean currents creating long spiral currents going on to offshore, and around again. It's an ideal spawning area, giving the marlin fry a chance to survive and grow. This is the blue marlin capital of the Pacific. Female marlins are generally over 300 pounds, males 300 pounds and under. Fish are attracted here by the ability to spawn. They continue to come back.

Marlin food? They eat everything, Jim says--other fish, other marlin, anything conveniently available. They'll also chase plastic fishing lures.

Biggest fish? Jim said local anglers are so prideful of our large marlin, that they often refer ONLY to marlin when they speak of fish. Everything else is bait fish. The biggest fish known to be caught off the Kona coast was a 1649- or 1656-pound marlin. The difference in weight? That's the weight of a 7 pound rope that was included, mistakenly, in the weight. Bart Miller was the captain.

To be recognized as a world record, the International Game Fish Association has rules: one angler, leader of a certain length, no help til the very last moment...Jim didn't go into all the rules.

The largest marlin ever caught in Hawaii was off Oahu--in 1971--1,805 pounds as officially recorded. However, it was so big, they had to take it to a truck scale to weigh, not a "certified" fishing scale cause there wasn't one big enough. It's not considered an "official" world's record because five people helped bring it in, and the rules say "one angler only."

Are the marlin here in Hawaii increasing, decreasing, staying the same? Jim said it's hard to tell--if fewer boats are going out (last year), obviously fewer fish would be caught. Two years before, many boats, and record-setting catches. Also, there is much more "catch and release," not all reported. Additionally, with all animals, there are good years and bad years. So: it's a cyclical thing.

How does Jim get his stories? He said his biggest problem is culling them...most who come to him present him with interesting stories. He doesn't just write about who caught what, but the human interest and interesting angle to the story. He said if a story amuses him, he hopes it will amuse others. He also hopes to be instructive and informative for the anglers.

Jim wrote a book about lures. Many of the best lures were created here on Hawaii Island, in Kona. This has started local industry, and even great lures knocked off by others. Some of the earliest lures were created by Henry Chee and by Captain George Parker. Making lures is a local pride thing, going back to the earliest Hawaiians. He said making lures is creative, and an art form. The marlins will chase the lures, and it arouses their curiosity and their predator instinct. Captain George Parker, who caught the first officially recognized blue marlin in the Pacific, which was a grander (weighed 1002 pounds). When the Kona Inn was being remodeled in the early 1950s, he took some of their old chrome bathroom towel racks, used wooden dowels, and made lures. Did people laugh at the design? Jim says, probably, but not much once they turned out to catch marlin! Captain Henry Chee used bar glasses as molds, for plastic resin. He always used a bit of shell to honor the old traditions and provide some shine. Most of the lures made here are hand-made.

Jim is not the only writer in his family. His oldest daughter, Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, has written "Why She Left Me," about Japanese internment and based on the family history of Jim's late wife, Reiko's mother, Shirley. She has a new book, "Hiroshima in the Morning." Reiko was in Hiroshima researching for the book on 9/11. Reiko lives in New York City, and Jim and Shirley were there caring for her kids--and saw the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

Find Reiko's books at local stores, or online, http://r3reiko.com. Find Jim Rizzuto's writings and books in local bookstores, or at his website, www.fishinghawaiioffshore.com, or email him, rizzuto@aloha.net.

United States Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa spoke with us by phone from her Honolulu office. Although Congresswoman represents Honolulu, not the neighbor islands, with only two Congressional reps, we depend on her to represent our needs just as Congresswoman Mazie Hirono does.

Hanabusa is going from being the State Senate President to one of just 435 legislators. She says it's easy to meet people--being from Hawaii, that's an icebreaker cause she says everybody wants to talk about Hawaii. She recognizes that building long term relationships will just take time. But that's the nature of being a legislative body.

Hanabusa is on the Armed Services Committee, and on the subcommittees for Readiness and Oversight. The Readiness Subcommittee addresses base closings, construction, and the military budget and is therefore critical to Hawaii. There is a recognition now that the key arena to watch is the Pacific Arena, is Asia. So the good news is, the military does not plan to cut the budget for the Pacific Command, which manages the region and is headquartered in Honolulu. We have all four services represented, as well. Hanabusa said the Vice Admiral speaking of Pearl Harbor said they will be adding positions, not cutting.

The Oversight and Investigations Committee focuses on eliminating waste and fraud. Hanabusa said she wants to ensure the committee isn't used as a political ploy to embarrass the President.

Hanabusa's second committee is Natural Resources, one of the oldest committees in Congress. It handles the national parks, the oceans, Native Americans and Native Alaskans, and this is where Native Hawaiians would rest to review any entitlement issues. Water, power, fisheries, energy, and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Hanabusa is the only freshman (newbie) on her committees.

Funding for Pohakuloa Training Area and Saddle Road? Hanabusa said she will advocate for same.

Hanabusa has met with President Obama twice. The night before the State of the Union, the President hosted a reception for the new legislators. Two nights before that, he came to the Democratic retreat in Maryland. Hanabusa said when he saw her, both times, he greeted her: "Eh, howzit?" She said if anybody ever doubted his being born and raised in Hawaii--that would have to dispel any such notion! Only locals use that greeting.

Atmosphere in Washington, following such a nasty election campaign season? Hanabusa said when the session opened, there was rhetoric, and nastiness. But there has been a change...which Hanabusa attributes to the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Hanabusa said that toned things down. She said even during the discussions about health care, although the vote was strictly partisan, there was no nasty rhetoric. She feels the President's moving speech in Arizona helped, as have articles in the media pointing out everybody could do things differently.

During the President's State of the Union address, the people from the different parties sat together, and she said except for mentions of health care, everybody, both parties, were standing and applauding.

Hanabusa met Gabrielle Giffords on January 6, when the legislators were reading the Constitution. She said Giffords mentioned the negative campaign season. Giffords was shot just two days later.

Hanabusa had agreed to sign on to a bill Giffords was introducing, to cut Congressional pay; Hanabusa said there is another bill to eliminate Congressional cost of living increases unless they're given to Social Security recipients.

As a result of the shooting, security is heightened in Washington, D. C. Hanabusa said it's good to be from Hawaii, where she feels no threat.

Since Congresswoman Hanabusa doesn't officially represent the neighbor islands...how does she see working with Mazie Hirono? She says one or the other may take the lead on specific issues...but they will work together. She feels the two Senators and two US Reps will work together.

Hanabusa is currently living in a condominium that's three metro stops from the Cannon Building where her office is. She's in the process of trying to purchase a townhouse in Washington that will be within walking distance of the Capitol. Locally, she's moving too--she currently lives in the Second Congressional District (rural Oahu, Waianae) but is looking for a place to live in her own First Congressional District (downtown Honolulu). She said the cold is manageable--it's a matter of layering...and the cold in Washington isn't as cold as the Midwest cold.

Hanabusa said the museums in Washington are fascinating; she's been before though has not yet had any time to visit them. She said 2012 is the hundred year anniversary of the Washington, D. C. cherry trees and they'll be having special celebrations--a great time to visit!

Hanabusa said she's been getting wonderful support from Senators Inouye and Akaka. She said the main advice they've given: tell the truth, stick to your word.

Congresswoman Hanabusa was a guest on National Public Radio on January 8 and there have been articles about her in the Washington Post and other publications. She said for whatever reason, she seems to be getting some attention from the media. (That can only be good for our state.)

To contact either of our United States Congresswomen, best to do by phone or email as snail mail is delayed these days by security inspections. Congresswoman Hanabusa's web site: hanabusa.house.gov/office/honolulu and Honolulu office phone: (808) 541-2570.

Congresswoman Mazie Hirono represents the neighbor islands and rural Oahu. Her web site: hirono.house.gov/ Her phone: (808) 541-1986.

Russell Kokubun is the new Director of Department of Agriculture. He's also Chair of the Board of Agriculture. Our state constitution, when it was set up, established Boards for two key departments--Land and Natural Resources, and Agriculture. In these two departments, the Board has authority to make the decisions; the Department implements. That is not true for most other State Departments (Transportation, etc.). Russell said that's probably because when our state was established, agriculture and land were such key components of the state.

Why did he decide to apply for the new job? He is a farmer by background (that's why he moved from Honolulu to Hawaii Island) and he was inspired by Governor Neil Abercrombie's vision, A New Day for Hawaii.

Our state's situation is challenged, especially budget-wise. Governor Abercrombie said in his State of the State address that he'll be asking each Department to seek budget cutting. Director Kokubun says the Department of Agriculture in fact has funding to fill vacant positions, which the previous administration chose not to fill. So he's intending to fill positions and use the budget rather than saving it. He also expects to seek federal funding and grants, which his department has traditionally done.

Positions needing filling here on Hawaii Island? Kokubun said he is looking for at least two agriculture inspector on the West side (to add to the existing two). He plans to add an entemologist, an insect expert, on the West side. On the East, where so many plants are exported from Hilo--they are funded for 9 ag inspectors, and there are a few missing so he'll be working on filling those. (As a note, Director Kokubun has only been in the job for 3 weeks--so it's expected he may not know everything!)

Director Kokubun says Agriculture is a three-legged stool: water, land, and farmers. Regarding water, some ag water systems such as the Hamakua Ditch and other former plantation water systems have been taken over by the state. The Kohala Ditch is privately owned, but Director says they want to work with the owners to see how water can be used for Ag. He says the State is not in the business of making a profit off water for farms, and he wants to make sure they're charging fairly. Some farmers get water from the County. In Mayor Kenoi's recent State of the County address, he commented that the County Department of Water Supply is fairly inefficient--using lots of electricity and wasting it--he pledged to make it more efficient. That COULD lower rates.

Invasive species: Director Kokubun said it's clear that the most important thing to do is prevent the entry--it is way too expensive and virtually impossible to control and eradicate invasive species once they're here. That's why he wants to provide more ag inspectors here to stop the entry. He also says they need to fund the island invasive species councils on all islands.

Extension agents with University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture: the Kona side has no agent...but Director said the University is in the process of filling that position. (Virginia Easton Smith held that position before her retirement.) Director said that position, all the extension agents, are important.

Director said it's important to work closely with UH and also the Pacific Basin Research Center. Both do research to help the farmers, especially with pesticides and natural solutions.

Coffee berry borer beetle: State Department of Ag just approved using two pesticides containing a fungus that kills the borer, the pesticides currently in use in 49 other states (for other pests) and in other coffee producing areas such as South America and Africa. At the next Board of Agriculture hearing, Director wants to ask for permission to allow its widespread use, rather than just a few-farm test, given its efficacy elsewhere. The meeting is February 22. He wants that meeting in Kona so the coffee farmers can be present.

Land: the State has control over much of our island's and state's land, under control of Department of Land and Natural Resources. Yet many of those lands have ag leases, and DLNR has a lack of expertise in what's appropriate for ag leases. Four years ago, a program began to move administration of those lands from DLNR to the Department of Ag. Director Kokubun says he'll work with DLNR Director William Aila to further that.

Director also said there is tension between the current push to establish land to grow biofuels for alternative energy. But all the land used for that means those lands cannot be used for food production. With 90% of our food coming in from off island--should we not refocus, not lose sight of the need to devote lands to food growing.

Farmers: where do farmers come from? Many of our island farmers are getting older...where does the next generation come from? Director Kokubun says we need to not only honor farmers but ensure young people have the opportunity to learn about farming. He referenced the school garden programs as a way to get young people engaged in growing their own food. There are also opportunities at high school and college level and wants to encourage education. The Department also is offering New Farmer Loans to help farmers start working with financial assistance.

Education: Director Kokubun went to the Oahu private school, Punahou, and then got his degree in Business Administration, with a Finance Major, at Southern Methodist University. He said young people need to absolutely get their degree if possible...it established knowledge, discipline, the way of problem solving that will provide a foundation for whatever career they choose--farming included. He reminded us that farming is a business.

Director says the future of agriculture is critical to the community. If we value agriculture, we need to support ag--including buying local.

The interview reminded us that there is overlap among State Departments. We asked Director Kokubun if there is willingness to give up power to ensure efficiency. He said he's seen a great bit of collaboration at the Cabinet level. He said Governor Abercrombie is fostering that spirit.

Contact Director Kokubun by email, Russell.S.Kokubun@hawaii.gov, or his assistant, Gayle Nakamura, at gayle.m.nakamura@hawaii.gov. Their phone number on Oahu is 808-973-9550.

Council Member Dominic Yagong represents District 1, Hamakua, first elected ten years ago. He served three terms, left after an unsuccessful bid for Mayor, and returned. He was elected County Council Chair this past December.

Council Member Yagong has had an ethics charge levied against him, by Michael Cadaos of Puna. Cadaos alleges that Yagong has violated ethics clauses by having a financial interest in a business that would have been affected by Yagong's vote last August in a request by a developer to extend time allowed to complete a project. Yagong asked the developer to add a separate entrance to the new shopping area Woodland Center in Pahoa. Yagong at one time worked for Malama Market, which ironically would be DIS advantaged by the road request.

Yagong, in addition to his County Council job, works as a manager for food Pantry LLC. He's General Manager for Whaler's General Store in Waikoloa...but Yagong has been doing this for over 20 years, during his entire time on the Council. He feels he must be managing both responsibilities well because he keeps getting re-elected.

His role as chair? Set the tone. Yagong said the Chair has the same number of votes as others (1), but he feels his job is to ensure everybody gets to contribute, to talk, to introduce legislation...and hopefully to do it in a respectful manner.

He also feels his role is to help protect the County taxpayers (as evidenced in a recent Hawaii Tribune-Herald political cartoon).

The Council also provides the check-and-balance against the Executive Branch (Mayor and administration). Our form of government is set up with three branches (judicial, legislative (Council) and Executive (Mayor) for precisely that reason.

Relationship of Council to Mayor? Yagong feels it must be a professional relationship. He says all the members and the Mayor have a good personal relationship, but the work must be done in a way to benefit the County, the taxpayers. They must all be open and respectful.

Recently, West Hawaii Today editor Reed Flickinger wrote an editorial indicating both Mayor Kenoi and Chair Yagong will run for Mayor and their actions will be shaded by that. Yagong said if you focus on what happens in 2012 or in some future race, it's easy to lose focus on today. He says the focus needs to be on the County Budget and other key items for TODAY.

Budget: Mayor Kenoi testified before the State Legislature and said on Island Issues last week that County government is now a government we cannot afford. Dominic's thoughts? He feels it's good the Mayor is dealing in reality. Government got this size between 2002 and 2006, under former Mayor Harry Kim, when the budget went from around $250 million to $400 million, adding 500 employees.

County Council Member Angel Pilago mentioned that Maui and Kaua'ai Counties have pulled themselves out of their budget doldrums; what does that tell us? Yagong said our dependence on tourism was greater, and we've lost more.

Public employees: negotiations with the Union are done at a State level, with all counties and State working together. That makes dealing with the truly high cost of government employees a huge challenge. Mid- and lower-level employees in governments nationwide are generally paid at a higher level than in private industry, and they often are promised lifetime benefits. How deal? We cannot afford this, ongoing...but Yagong said even government employees have to realize the challenging situation we're in. Yagong said we have to change...tough as it is.

One small example: Yagong is proposing a bill to do away with the police department policy of paying for gas for all police officers' cars, whether or not the use is strictly police business. Today the police are paid for their gas to include their commute, even if from Hilo to Kona, and Yagong said though this is a small amount of money overall....this change would be symbolic and a sign of the ability of the County to change.

The $56 million dollar bond: Mayor has requested that the County float a $56 million bond to cover 13 projects islandwide--roads, parks, etc. The decision on the bond has been deferred. Yagong said he wants to see the Mayor's budget before the Council decides on whether it's appropriate to borrow the money...is there another tax increase coming? Will there by worker furloughs? What programs will be cut?

What about the Mayor's argument that borrowing money is the cheapest ever right now, and that contractors are far more willing to reduce profits a bit since there is less work? Yagong said he feels that will still be true in five months.

Yagong intends to hold public hearings to get input on the bond float. Also, he wants the bond float to specifically name the projects, which was not how it was presented to the Council initially. Yagong said if it names specific projects and situations change--the administration can always go back to the Council for the okay to redirect the funds.

Property tax philosophy: what is Dominic's? He believes if you raise taxes, you must explain to the public WHY the raise is needed, and more importantly, ensure that expenses have been cut appropriately. He also is asking the County Auditor to review how assessments are set as there have been complaints about inequal assessments within same neighborhoods.

What other Council priorities? Council Vice Chair Pete Hoffman is looking to establish impact fees for new construction. Yagong said they'll also look at the ability to develop "ohana housing," building a second dwelling on appropriately-sized property.

Council Chair Yagong said he is very privileged to serve Hamakua (from Waimea to the singing bridge just before Hilo town). He said his constituents are very outspoken, very clear, very involved, very respectful.

Contact Chair Yagong at dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us or by phone, 961-8225 x 1.

Mayor Billy Kenoi just completed his first two years in office.

The state of the County: great economic challenges, similar to those being faced nationwide. Mayor said we've tried to reduce the cost and size of government over the past two years. We cannot afford the government we currently have.

Mayor also said in addition to addressing budget deficits, we have to address opportunities.

Newspapers have characterized the relationship of the County Council and the Mayor as negative. His thoughts? He said they both recognize the need to reduce the budget, and they may have differing ideas on how, but he feels they are working cooperatively. He said he feels the personal relationships he has with the County Council members are positive...that everybody's working for the good of the county. He said the point of having a legislative and an administrative branch is to have opportunities for discussion. He said it's critical for them to work together.

Are the Mayor's actions being informed by the fact that he will likely run for Mayor again in two years, and that Council Chair Dominic Yagong (per West Hawaii Today) is likely to run for Mayor? Mayor Kenoi said that is in the future; this is now. He said many people may run for Mayor...but that's not until September and November, 2012. Mayor said he respects Council Member Yagong and knows they will work together to try to support economic growth in the County.

Economy: past four decades it's built on construction and tourism. He said we need to support those industries but try to focus on renewable energies, support astronomy and healthcare and the universities, seek other opportunities for job growth.

Mayor said we cannot solely rely on construction and tourism. He also supports keeping our rural lifestyle.

Mayor said he is seeking ways to get some of the government participants in the upcoming (November, 2011) APEC conference here on the island. He wants to see whether we can get some of those foreign countries to invest in Hawaii Island industries.

Speaking of renewable energy: ten days ago Hawaiian Electric announced they're giving a contract to the new company 'Aina Koa Pono to create biodiesel fuel to use at Keahole Power Plant. Mayor said there are many good ideas that come to him, and he supports renewable energy technology. He told the company they needed to get a Power Purchase Agreement from HECO; they did. Mayor said the next step is, they need to work WITH the Ka'u community on this. They plan to put their plant in Pahala. Councilwoman Brittany Smart hosted the first community meeting last Wednesday and has asked for another. Mayor said the company cannot TELL the community what they will do--they need to listen to the community.

County budget: Mayor reminded me there were significant budget cuts last year, with cuts of 155 positions, and cutting 182 actual people. The budget deficits faced now are the biggest ever in County history, with the cost of government employees and benefits only going up. Mayor said next year is more challenging--County employees will not be on furloughs because the state is abolishing furloughs, so that increases the cost...plus the minimum 1% land fund set aside from property taxes returns.

Mayor said he's seeking input and advice from the Chambers of Commerce and other business groups. He'll also have more community meetings.

Mayor said he does not want to cut programs for seniors, keiki, and nonprofits. He said those improve quality of life,and for keiki, keep them occupied and off drugs and not forming gangs.

The $56 million bond: why is this a good time to borrow $56 million for the many islandwide projects (extension of La'aloa, a park in Hawaiian Paradise Park, about 10 more projects)? Mayor said the cost of money is lowest in history; firms are underutilized therefore bidding lower; local firms hire local workers. And the cost of the projects won't get any cheaper. Mayor says he has not floated any bonds since becoming Mayor and he feels this is the time.

Mayor Kenoi and the other mayors in the state met with Governor Abercrombie just after Governor was inaugurated. Mayor said Governor Abercrombie was very warm and welcoming and wants to work as a partner with the County Mayors. He wants to help fast-track construction projects that involve state funding.

Mayor says Governor Abercrombie's cabinet selections are good for Hawaii Island and the State. Two are former State Senators (Dwight Takamine-Labor and Russell Kokubun-Agriculture). Two are 1986 high school graduates from Hilo--Sunshine Topping (Personnel) and Alapaki Nahale-a (DHHL). Dr. Neal Palafax (Health) helped jump start the UH Hilo Medical Residency Program. Mayor says the relationships will be key, and the personnel are good and thoughtful.

Is there an answer to the nationwide problem faced by the cost of government, especially the commitment for future lifetime benefits? Mayor said there is no easy answer and Collective Bargaining is a long process.

West Hawaii Civic Center is complete and the workers are starting to move in. Mayor said the project started under the Mayor Kim administration. Maryl Development, a local builder, got the Design-Build contract. The $50.5 million project is the largest public works project ever in the county and it has come in on time, on budget. In the 8 years preceding Mayor Kenoi, the administration routinely approved change orders that increased the cost of projects between 33% and 100%. Mayor said any time a change order was requested, he and his team queried--will this increase cost? will this add to the timeline? If so...not allowed.

Mayor said the Kealakehe Parkway area, where the new Civic Center is, is going to also house the new judiciary building and become a center of government. County workers will move in starting next week--(see the schedule at www.bigislandnewscenter.com) and the grand opening will be in April or May.

Mayor spoke of Junior Kanuha, who passed away in December and whose memorial was January 8. Mayor said Junior--a cultural preservationist and waterman-- represented the values of the community, with over 1500 people at his memorial of all ages, ethnicities, walks of life, areas of the island and state. Mayor said we're well to keep our values in mind as we move forward.

Mayor said government is here to serve the community and he welcomes good ideas. He also says government can always do better. Mayor's office is 961-8211.

The commanding officer of Pohakuloa is Lt. Col. Rolland Niles. He started his assignment at PTA June 24, following an assignment at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He's been in the Army 17 years.

The mission of PTA: provide training facilities and infrastructure and logistics support so troops, generally based in Hawaii, can train. Col. Niles mentioned part of his job is to maintain a partnership with the Hawaii Island community. Part of that means troops in training often do community service projects.

Around 200 people work at PTA, 100 of which are contracted, 100 active duty military (Marines, Army).

On Thursday, Admiral Robert Willard said that Hawaii is of extreme strategic importance because of our location in the middle of the Pacific, closest to Asia. Col. Niles said PTA is key to that mission because of the need for ongoing training.

What PTA provides that's unique: a large training area allowing the soldiers to fire their weapons in real life situations. They also offer terrain not too dissimilar to Afghanistan and Iraq, and have now built a "village" with a "manor" to allow the troops to practice entering villages and searching dwellings, as they must do in real life.

Who trains at PTA? Army, Marines, Air Force and Navy, including having planes and helicopters do maneuvers. Occasionally foreign troops will train there...during last year's Rimpac (Rim of the Pacific training), troops from Tongan Nations, Australia, and Indonesia.

There is bombing at PTA. Col. Niles said they also practice dropping bombs...at night, and during the day, but far from Saddle Road. When that is to occur, PTA informs a NOTAM, Notice to Airmen, informing that planes must not fly around or near PTA.

High altitude training: the plan is to have more planes training, to practice being able to fly over terrain 9,000 feet high--planes act differently, and the pilots need to practice.

Drinking water: trucked from Waimea, coming up via Saddle Road. They are working with UH Hilo to see if a well might provide a viable long term water source; Senator Daniel K. Inouye's office is talking with UH Hilo about funding possibilities.

Sewage: on site septic tanks.

Are there underground bunkers at PTA? No.

Current construction: battlefield changes. There is also a quarry at PTA, and trucks are using the material for Saddle Road construction, the work going on now on the Hilo side not far from Hilo town.

Most soldiers training at PTA are going on to Afghanistan or Iraq.

Has there been feedback as to how effective the PTA training is, in actually preparing soldiers adequately for what they will face in Afghanistan or Iraq? Col. Niles said yes, but not recently, and they are always gathering input.

PTA is planning to do additional work, including modernization of their 1955 facilities (quonset huts, phone, electric cables) and building new/better battlefields. They are having two preliminary meetings...Tuesday, January 11, Hilo Intermediate, 5:30, and Wednesday, January 12, Waimea Middle School, 5:30. This is to let the public see what PTA wants and get input. This is very preliminary...it will result in a preliminary EIS, but at this point they have no specific plans. This is a long range projects--it will take at least two years to get the plans, and probably 9 years before any work would start.

Depleted uranium: some members of the community have expressed concerns about depleted uranium, which may have been a byproduct of the Davey Crocket weapons used in the 1960s. Col Niles said air studies done by PTA and by two independent results show no DU in the air, but the one contractor who works in the suspect area has very specific rules to protect the individuals working in the area, and the community.

Fuel storage: they have aviation fuel and vehicle fuel, purchased locally. They have plans in case of a spill and secondary containment tanks.

There have been cattle (Parker Ranch) grazing on some of the PTA grasslands. They're starting to use the 23,000 acre Keamuku parcel for training, and must obviously not have cattle there during live training. Regarding fire protection, fuels management, the PTA Fire Chief Moller has a fuels management plan that includes using livestock to keep the grass down.

Mauna Kea State Park: PTA is a good neighbor, but has no direct involvement with park management (editor note: it's currently under DLNR, and the County has told DLNR the County wants to take it over...DLNR to this point has not been receptive to the suggestion).

Saddle Road: Hilo side is being worked on. There is a plan for what the Army calls the Saddle Road bypass, a new section going from the Kilohana Girl Scout Camp down to Mamalahoa Highway at Mile Marker 14. The existing Saddle Road will remain, but not be used by the Army anymore. PTA has asked Department of Defense to contribute money to help fund the new part of Saddle Road, which is 95% designed. The existing part of Saddle Road will not officially be used by the Army, but individuals will use it, not official military convoys. Ultimately the plan is to extend that Saddle Road extension down to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway...long long term plan.

Economic benefit to PTA being on the island: Col. Niles said previous year, around $50 million; this year, around $75 million as funds spent here on Hawaii Island. That does not count anything spent on Hawaiian Airlines or Young Brothers to transport people/equipment.

Col. Niles lives in Waimea. He and his wife and three children (age 3 to grade 5) have just adopted a dog at the Kona Humane Society. Col. Niles said he and his family are loving being here on the island.

For questions about PTA in general, call Colonel Niles' community relations officer, Steve Troute, at 969-2405. For comments about the high altitude training or the EIS plans for next week, call Mike Egami on Oahu, 808-656-3158.

Kawika Winter is the director of the Limahuli Garden on Kaua'ai, part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. He was here on the island several months ago to present a talk about Ahupua'a Restoration as part of the Puana Ka 'Ike lecture series sponsored by Kamehameha Schools, Kohala Center, Outrigger Keauhou Resort, and University of Hawaii at Hilo. We sat down then and talked.

What is an ahupua'a? It's generally considered a land division extending from way up mauka, often the highest point, down into the ocean. Each ahupua'a contains the vast majority of resources needed by a community.

Kawika says he's always been interested in the subject of ahupua'a. Two of his mentors were his kumu hula from Moloka'i, John Ka`imikaua, and a friend, Eddie Kaanaana of Ho`opuloa and Miloli`i, South Kona. Eddie was born 1925, and grew up in the old style. His family lived in hale pile (grass shack), fished, made own canoes, and more. He passed away in 2006.

What's the relationship of the 'aina, the land, to humans? One of the most important geneology chants, the kumulipo, says all land, all plants, all people, are related. One legend says, "The land is king, and people are servants upon it."

Ahupua'a restoration is restoration of the land, the community, and the body of philosophy such as aloha and pono. It is not about going back in time, in giving up modern life and conveniences, but adopting a sense of the good things from before.

The idea of sustainability is talked about a lot. Hawaii used to be fully sustainable; now about 90% of our resources come from off island. In thinking about how to become more sustainable...Kawika suggests we look back to the system that worked for hundreds of years. The concepts of ahupua'a management were similar island to island, but adapted to each locale...he said it's foolish to think everything was identically done on all islands.

Were all resources available within the ahupua'a? Kawika said he and Dr. Kamana Beamer from Waimea have differed on that point--Dr. Beamer convinced him that sometimes resources were shared ahupua'a to ahupua'a, out of necessity. History also shows that the ahupua'a worked together...for example, each ahupua'a might have a kapu on different kinds of fish, with the ahupua'a working together to protect and nourish all resources to the best advantage to all. One key principle: you were not allowed to take resources from another ahupua'a unless you asked permission. That practice still applies in many areas.

One of the principles was "first give, then take." Kawika said within each ahupua'a the caretakers took great care of their resources...an example was fish. They would kapu on certain species during spawning. They would also gather food to feed the fish, to help them grow and become abundant, especially during the no take period, to ensure the preservation of the species. A proverb says "Feed, then take."

The five lessons for sustainability that have been learned from the ahupua'a system, no matter who or where you are:

•Fresh water is supremely important. The word for fresh water is wai; the word for wealth and abundance is waiwai. Water was always considered key. If you have clean, fresh water, it keeps the ahupua'a and people healthy.

•The health of the land affects the health of the water.

•Resources are limited, but they can be managed for abundance. You cannot just take-take-take and expect resources to survive.

•Ecosystem services can be increased. The term "ecosystem services" are the services that are provided by the land--trees to help provide better air, practices to enhance the services. In old time days, growing taro actually helped the land hold fresh water more.

•If you look at the layout of the community, the places where the soil was most fertile were always reserved for agriculture. Houses were built where you couldn't grow food.

Can we live a fully sustainable life? Kawika said that varies community to community, based on the people and the land. His hope is that we can move closer to sustainability by incorporating good practices.

Ha'ena Ahupua'a: it's on the northwest corner, at the end of the road past Hanalei. It's only a few thousand acres, one of the smallest in Hawaii...which makes it perhaps more manageable. It's also unique because in 1848 after the mahele, when the ali'i granted land ownership to all, many became dispossessed of their land. But the people in Ha'ena, 38 families, bought the entire ahupua'a in the 1860s. They survived as a hui until the early 1960s.

Limahuli Garden: Kawika is the director. It's a 1,000 acre valley, owned and managed by National Tropical Botanical Garden. After the breakup of the hui in the early 1960s, Juliet Rice Wichman, bought the land with a vision of restoration. She donated the front part of the land to the NTBG, then left the rest to her grandson, Chipper Wichman. In 1995, he and his wife Hau'oli donated the rest of the land and wanted to ensure it would be preserved into perpetuity. Part of ahupua'a restoration is restoring the land, part is ensuring health of the community. Kawika said the top of the garden is pristine with species of plants and birds seen nowhere else--unfortunately, 45 species are probably on the verge of extinction. Lower down, the land is far more degraded, with invasive species.

The Ha'ena community is challenged because some of the properties have been bought for huge sums--beautiful oceanfront property--and that's raised property taxes even for those living there longtime. That has made it so difficult for longtime Hawaiian families to survive.

How has the knowledge been passed down on how best to restore the ahupua'a? Kawika said knowledge still comes from the kupuna, the elders. It's important to record their stories, and fortunately many of the stories have been preserved in archives.

The role of hula and chant in passing down knowledge? The ancient traditions of hula and chant...they are vehicles to preserve knowledge. The words of the chants and the motions of the dance recall history and events of the past.

Why should we use native plants vs imported plants? A lot of the invasive species were brought in as ornamentals or ag experiments. One thing not realized: the new plants displace the old plants, and change the forest from a highly diverse set of species, to often one or two invasive species (such as strawberry guava or miconia). Kawika said we should focus on plants that have been here for time.

In the 1990s, the families of Ha'ena came together, knowing they did not any longer own the land but wanting to perpetuate the traditions. They felt it was most important to sustain the traditions, even not owning the land...a positive and collaborative approach.

Learn more about the National Tropical Botanical Garden at www.ntbg.org.

For the fifth year in a row (during the interview we thought it might be the fourth...but it's fifth!)...my guests for the holiday program were Dr. Barry Blum, Kona Beth Shalom, and Pastor Sonny Shimaoka, New Hope Waimea.

Death: Pastor Sonny: nobody gets out of this alive. But in his belief system, Jesus Christ died so that man may live, and have an afterlife. Pastor Sonny said the process for many is "in and out," as people are ready to pass over the threshhold they sort of come and go. Why does God allow suffering and uncertainty at the time of death? Pastor Sonny said he doesn't know, but it's God's will...some people pass easily out of this life; some experience pain and fear and trauma. Dr. Blum said many people and many religions try to figure these things out...but there are not necessarily answers, and if there are, we may not understand the answers.

Dr. Blum pointed out that religious Jews believe the soul is eternal, as do Christians...so maybe it's easier to accept passing from this life into whatever is next. The Jewish prayer for the dead is the Kaddish...but it doesn't mention dying; it's a sanctification of God. It's recited not just at death but at the end of each segment of a Jewish service as it marks the passing of one segment in moving to another.

What about the concept of allowing people to hasten their death? If we believe in God, what's wrong with allowing people to take drugs, for people to decide? Pastor Shimaoka spoke only from his personal viewpoint: for him personally, he felt if he's in pain, with anxiety...if he was in serious pain and that was causing his family pain, and his prognosis was terminal---for him personally he would want to hasten his death.

Dr. Blum spoke of Dr. Kervorkian (the well known "death doctor"): he did not like what Dr. Kervorkian was doing because he didn't really know the patients. He provided a technique and Dr. Blum said a much better approach is to have a doctor who knows you, and can help you as you approach death to ease pain and suffering. Dr. Blum also spoke of an experience early in his career where doctors would advise NOT advising patients they're dying, to be "kind"...which was not in reality kind. Kona Hospital, and many other hospitals, have Palliative Care programs. This program allows people to go off drugs (like chemotherapy) and choose no treatment, and get pain relief and more. Dr. Blum said rather than hastening death, it often lengthens death by relieving uncertainty. Both agreed that allowing patients to suffer unnecessarily is not humane. It's a very personal decision...and Dr. Blum said bringing in lawyers and committees is not the best process.

Is there a purpose for death? Dr. Blum said death enables life. If plants didn't die, there'd be no fertilizer for the next plants. If no people died, the world would be a very crowded and unhappy place. Though we hate to say goodbye....death is a cycle, part of a process.

Religion and politics: in this election year, religion entered into the elections, even here in Hawaii. The issue of religion caused divisiveness not only between candidate camps, but within them. At one time, early on, states could dictate that citizens follow a certain religion. Then the First Amendment to the Constitution guaranteed religious freedom.

Dr. Blum said he remembered being taught about freedom of religion and separation of church and state. In his Brooklyn public school and was told this was an absolute. At the same time, being Jewish, he witnessed Anti Semitism in the US and Europe. The most extreme example is the Holocaust, but even here in the US there has been overt anti Semitism and anti other religions. Dr. Blum said he would complain about a candidate's religion if the candidate intended to make all his state decisions based on his religion. The concern when John F. Kennedy was elected was that the Pope would dictate decisions...but that didn't happen.

Pastor Sonny just started reading a book "I'm OK with God--it's Christians I Cannot Stand." Pastor said one should never bring religion into one's governing choices, but feels that religion should inform how one lives one's life. He pointed out that this is one of the few states with a motto that has religious overtones (The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness). Pastor Sonny interprets that as we must do the right thing...not that we must be of a certain religion.

Pastor Sonny made the point that even though his candidate did not win the Gubernatorial race...he believes, and has so advised his congregation, that we MUST support the current administration. He said he does not subscribe to the theory that you want to wish for an elected official to fail to "prove we were right." He said we must move forward, united as a people and strive for the best for our state.

Dr. Blum said the challenge always is how to deal with strongly held beliefs in a productive way, how to resolve issues is a huge challenge.

Pastor Sonny said when he has opposing views from someone his approach is to first develop a relationship with them. Know the person, learn to see through their eyes to try to find common ground. Although sometimes it's best to just avoid tough subjects.

We will have other elections: what advice would Pastor Sonny give to the candidates coming up, to avoid such negativity (which doesn't seem attractive to most voters with whom I've spoken)? Pastor Sonny said it's important for candidates to be clear on their values, but there may be no solution. Dr. Blum said his study indicates the way to a successful country is a strong middle class. If you have too many aristocratic upper class and too many disenfranchised, poor, homeless....there need to be more centrality.

Pastor Sonny said he appreciates leaders who say what they mean and mean what they say. Pastor said he's encouraged our current mayor to let his values speak for themselves, especially relating to developing strong families...the heart of the community.

There's still skepticism about whether politicians can get the job done--even if one's candidate won! Dr. Blum said watching Governor Lingle get total pushback from the Democratic legislature was not positive, and not productive for our state. Pastor Sonny said the Bible says we must support our elected officials. The adage of "for the good of the people" should prevail.

Final thoughts: the days are growing longer and we can be hopeful. These are seasons of light. Dr. Blum and Pastor Sonny were united: they enjoy these philosophical discussions, they love our Hawaii Island community, and they urge everybody to drive carefully. Neither one wants to work on New Year's Eve (Pastor Sonny--Police Chaplain; Dr. Blum--Orthopedic Surgeon).

My guests were Jerry from Hilo, a longtime member of Alcoholics Anonymous and his wife Maurine, a member of the support group Al Anon. In keeping with the anonymity tradition of AA, we only went by their first names. Special thanks to them for breaking their anonymity to a degree to share their mana'o.

Who can join AA? Anyone who has come to the realization that alcohol has been a problem in their life, or want to stop the grip alcohol has on them. No restrictions on age, ethnicity, gender, financial standing. No cost to be part of the program. Members include doctors, lawyers, construction workers, teachers, homeless people, a huge range of the population. Jerry pointed out he himself became an alcoholic at 9.

Some indicators that alcohol is a problem: DUIs, losing a job, health issues, hospital stays, or family difficulties created because of the drinking. And the person cannot stop.

What does AA do? Come to an AA meeting, the members will help with an assessment--is there really a problem? And what to do next?

ex[erience, strength, and hope: Experience is how those in the program relate their life to each other. Strength is about the current member, called old timers, standing in support of the new member, who--if they're willing to work the program--can arrest the problem. Hope is longterm that once a person tries to achieve sobriety, they will be able to continue the sobriety for a long time. Sobriety creates change in a person's life--emotionally, physically, spiritually.

One of the AA principles is "one day at a time": Jerry confirmed, they focus on only the next 24 hours, trying to not drink one day only. The next day is a new day.

What does AA do to help those needing help? They have literature that helps explain the situation, including The Big Book, the manual of AA. They also suggest every new member select a sponsor, somebody who's been in the program who's willing to help them individually and talk. They also have the entire AA membership with whom to network. The program is a 12 step program, but not a religious program.

Part of the program is seeking a "higher power" to help provide an emotional support, especially when no other member is around to support. Most members learn to rely on the higher power, ie turn over will and life to whatever one considers a higher power. Is the higher power God? Jerry said it's God if you want it to be...but one does not need to believe in God to find AA effective.

Twelve step program: the program has 12 logical steps, through which one progresses. First step is admitting that one is powerless over alcohol, that things are going on out of our control...then the steps move on to finding ways to cope. It's also about relying on the higher power to lean on. Other steps are trying to complete the recovery by making things right, by making sure one is correcting damage done by the alcoholic. The last of the 12 steps is sharing, extending the message...which is why Jerry wanted to talk with me on the radio.

Re the issue of Higher Power: what if somebody does not believe in God? Jerry said the Big Book addresses that issue, and they have atheists, agnostics, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, Hawaiian cultural practitioners....the fear of the word God or fear of the word Christian can be put aside. The concept is of giving the drinker a chance to put weight of managing their sobriety elsewhere...to nature, to the ocean, to whatever.

The Big Book is the manual for Alcoholics Anonymous, created partly by founders Bill W. (Bill Wilson) and Dr. Bob. It includes experiences, stories of others, the recovery steps and why they are what they are. Jerry said it's a hopeful book. He said it's a good story that the early founders had serious life problems and this program helped them recover and lead productive lives. Jerry said he met Bill W.'s wife, Lois, after Bill W. died...he has also met some longtime members. He said he has received comfort and solace from the longtime members...hope.

What is an AA meeting like? There are dozens of meetings around the island, at least one every day. Some meetings are "open," available to anybody to come, sit, observe, listen. No pressure to speak or share. They also invite doctors, nurses, judges, employers to learn more about AA and its work. Some meetings are discussion meetings--some are on a specific topic--some they have a specific speaker who shares his/her own personal story. Other meetings are closed, open only to those who are part of AA.

Anonymity: it is imperative for those in AA to preserve others' anonymity. Jerry stressed they don't talk about others in the program. On this small Big Island, is it possible to retain anonymity? Jerry said yes, you trust the people in the program to keep what's said and done in the AA meetings private. The spiritual principle of the program's anonymity is that those sharing recovery share and preserve anonymity to help everybody's journey to sobriety.

Is alcoholism environmental or genetic? Jerry said in his case, he's sure alcoholism is genetic...there was a family history of alcoholism, and the first time Jerry was provided with alcohol (by a family member!!), he found it so seductive, so powerful...he was hooked.

Jerry's wife Maurine was with us, and she talked with us about Al Anon. This is a support group for friends and family of those with an alcohol abuse problem. It's a program to help those in Al Anon work through their own recovery problem. Watching somebody else (the drinker) and their self destructive behavior can be quite daunting and depressing; Al Anon helps those members learn how to change their own lives, actions, behaviors. The focus is on the Al Anon member having a full and happy life despite the drinker's drinking.

AA meetings: Jerry said there is a meeting here on the island every day, several times a day, around the island. They also do networking if somebody needs help when there is no meeting.

How successful is AA? Jerry said he speaks as an AA member, but he's also a counselor. He said he's seen AA work the best because the alcoholic is working with others who have the same and similar experiences, so it's people who share the same intimate experiences who can help understand and bring them to a new way of dealing with the situation.

Does the AA group address issues such as why our island has the highest rate of fatalities (in the nation) due to impaired driving? Jerry said as a group, no; individually they may have their own opinions. He said he's driven drunk and most members have, many times.

Can somebody attend an AA meeting if they're not really sure they want to be there? Jerry said that's exactly how he started. The answer is yes. No pressure. Jerry said the main thing is, give them time.

Find Al Anon: Call 935-0971 (you get a recording, it'll give a number for a real person who'll talk with you)

Find an AA meeting: West Hawaii: www.westhawaiiaa.org, or call 808-329-1212. On the East side: 808-961-6133 or online, www.hawaiiaa.org. Also you might contact Dr. Kevin Kunz in Kona; he's an addiction specialist and is aware of which meetings might meet your particular need.

Our guest was Billy Matthews, who's the NBC Sports Television Producer for the Ironman broadcast. Ironman was in Kona on Saturday, October 9. The program will air next Saturday, December 18, 11 a.m. on KHNL Channel 8. I spoke with Billy a few days before Ironman last October, at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel.

Billy started as an intern in 1987, when he was a senior at Rutgers University. He said the department was expanding for the summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea in 1988. After unpacking boxes for 4 weeks--he just started getting more and more responsibility.

What does a TV producer do? The producer is responsible for content, vs the director, who controls the look of the show. The producer handles budgets, hiring, and putting the entire production together.

Cost to NBC to produce the Ironman broadcast? Around $2 to $3 million.

Ironman has its own "producer," Peter Henning. Henning works with all the broadcast networks around the world and creates the www.ironmanlive.com live feed, as well as working with Billy on what the NBC show will ultimately be. Billy and Peter consult in advance about what they want the show to look like.

Billy's goal in producing the broadcast? He wants a good race, a dramatic finish, a competitive tough race. Billy wants hot sun, tough wind, wants the athletes to "suffer" so it's more rewarding than a casual jog in the park. That makes for better TV.

What challenges does Billy face? Not missing a key moment. They have relatively few cameras--17 cameras, one in a helicopter, plus motorcycles and cars. The challenge is with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 marathon, "key moments" can happen anywhere, at any time. Friday before the race, the camera teams meet so everybody is clear WHERE they are supposed to be. Then Billy's job is to redeploy as needed, and then they just hope they are there when things happen. They use one helicopter, and one decision Billy has to make is when to refuel it, to ensure they don't miss key moments. (There may be other helicopters following the race, but not from NBC.) When the helicopter swoops in for a bike shot, they radio in advance to have chase motorcycles and cars back off so the biker looks to be alone...when they're not really.

Is Billy able to see what all cameras are shooting during the race? No, Billy rides in a chase Mustang, usually following the lead men. He has several time Ironman Mark Allen in the car to give him advice on the splits, the competitors, and who to watch. That allows Billy to decide where and how to deploy his cameraman.

Prior to the race, in the few days prior, Billy interviews each of the top pros plus several top amateur age groupers. They arbitrarily select several people to highlight, based on what seem to be interesting, compelling stories.

Editing takes around 4 to 6 weeks. They spend 2 weeks looking at all the footage, just hoping they've captured what they need to tell good stories.

Billy was the producer for the Vancouver Winter Olympics' snowboarding coverage, with Sean White. What did Billy learn there to help with Ironman? Billy said everything's really based on a good story, not just on who wins the race. He said having a story with a beginning, a middle, an end pulls the viewer along. The television producer needs to pique the viewers' interest to get them to want to watch the show.

How many NBC crew working on the production? Around 40 to 50. Additionally, they hire a lot of local people: drivers, underwater cameramen, support help -- probably 20 to 25. They also get lots of volunteers, which Ironman provides from local residents and visitors.

The television producing is intense: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, they interview athletes from 7 am til 7 pm. Friday before the race they do last minute prep and have their camera crew meetings. Saturday, race day, they film from before sunrise until just after midnight. Then they meet in the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel bar to do a short briefing about what happened, what they shot that may turn into a good story. Then Billy and a select few of his crew return to New York and begin the job of actually creating the television show.

They have 25 to 30 hours of continuous interview footage. They also have 17 cameramen shooting continuously on race day for 18 hours. When they return to New York, Billy and 3 or 4 of his team look at every bit of footage. That takes 2 weeks. Then after 4 to 6 weeks of editing, they come up with a finished show. Billy says it takes them up til the week before the broadcast...it takes as much time as they have, because he says he's always tweaking to make it better.

Will Billy do Ironman, as a competitor? No, he said he's seen how hard it is...and he loves what he does behind the camera.

You may see the Ironman broadcast on NBC on Saturday, December 18, KHNL 8, scheduled for 11 a.m. start. This year the program is 2 hours long.

As an aside, after I sat with Billy at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel, a couple of his crew members approached me. They told me, without my asking, that Billy is a great guy, a joy to work with--probably a result of his remembering when he was just an intern, and treating people well.

This Tuesday, December 7, marks the anniversary of America's entry into World War II in 1941. It also marks the day our country started imprisoning Americans of Japanese descent. We replayed our interview with Brian Niiya of Japanese Cultural Center about Japanese internment here in the state and on the mainland. See the summary for August 8, 2010, for the story.

We talked about Planned Parenthood, with the state ceo Andrea Anderson and Hawaii Island educator and outreach dirctor Razia Zelko. Planned Parenthood is a sexual and reproductive health service.

Planned Parenthood was started in 1921 by Margaret Sanger. Sanger was a social worker who often saw women with multiple children, close together, who were struggling to deal with their large families. She began educating women in how babies are conceived, how to space pregnancies, and how to manage pregnancies. This was against the law at the time.

What makes Planned Parenthood different, in that they offer services offered elsewhere, by doctors. Planned Parenthood focuses on sexual and reproductive health, a topic that even sometimes doctors don't fully address. Andrea was involved with developing medical school programs to help doctors be comfortable in talking with patients about their sexual activity. They also work with teachers to help them be comfortable teaching classes about health and sexuality.

Planned Parenthood is on Oahu on King Street, in Kona on Hualalai Road, same building as Kaiser Permanente, and a location on Maui.

Razia Zelko's job is primarily working with adolescents on health education, all age appropriate, talking about anatomy and physiology, sex education, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexuality. The state provides this education in 5th, 7th, 9th grades. She also does workshops for parents and professionals who work with young people to help them find the words and the comfort level to talk with young people about sexual and reproductive issues.

Services offered by Planned Parenthood here on the island in Kona: they offer reproductive health services--birth control advice--midlife counseling and treatment--HIV/AIDS testing--regular women's health checkups. Fees: on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay, and they accept insurances of all kinds. They can usually see a woman within a week or two if she needs a checkup. They have a staff nurse practitioner who conducts the exams, and a doctor who visits weekly. They also have a statewide medical doctor director who ensures standards are kept up throughout the state for Planned Parenthood. (Editors note: wow, getting to see a medical professional right away--that's something special here on the island with our doctor shortage!)

Planned Parenthood does not espouse any particular "agenda" in educating young people. Their first approach is abstinence, but they also explain birth prevention and disease control options--condoms, etc. Studies show that teens given information about both abstinence and other options are much more likely to delay sexual activity, and much more likely to prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

Planned Parenthood also works to counsel pregnant teens, which includes adopting out their baby if they wish.

Services are offered to both men and women (and by the way they welcome male and female volunteers!). How do they work with boys? They counsel boys on their readiness to start a family, on sexually transmitted diseases, on birth control, and more.

Although nationwide, a recent study shows the biggest users of condoms nationwide are teen boys, Hawaii has the lowest condom use among teens in all 50 states. Planned Parenthood has a condom distribution program here on the island, thanks to the Kukio Foundation. After educating teens, Razia gives them coupons they can redeem for condoms at stores from Honoka'a to Ka'u (Hawaii state law prohibits distribution of condoms in the schools). The same program is available on East side through Bay Clinic (contact is Syd Hoffeld).

Does Planned Parenthood advocate abortion as the best method to prevent births, as some believe? Andrea Anderson said no, they discuss ALL options. Planned Parenthood has been in the court a lot fighting for their right to provide all kinds of counseling.

Interestingly, Hawaii was the first state in the nation to decriminalize abortion. Governor John Burns, a staunch Catholic, allowed the legislation to become law without his signature. He said that although he was personally against abortion, he realized decriminalizing abortion was the right thing to do for the common good.

Funding: many sources, including Title X Funding from the federal government to underwrite the cost of family planning; private donors; grants.

How does Planned Parenthood use the courts to further their causes? Andrea said advocacy is a key part of the PP program. They have had to go to court to defend their rights to offer legally-available services, to ensure the privacy laws are upheld. None of this has been needed here in Hawaii--a state filled with aloha, with the "live and let live" attitude.

Reach Planned Parenthood here on the island at their Kona location 329-8211. Razia Zelko welcomes your call. Website is www.pphi.org; you can learn more or make a donation.

My guests were Dr. Bill Wiecking from Waimea's Hawaii Preparatory Academy and local contractor, Ken Melrose of Pa'ahana Enterprises. Ken is also involved with Kona Community Devlopment Plan.

Hawaii Preparatory Academy has a new, 6,000 square foot Energy Lab. HPA is a private K through 12 school with 500 students, many from Hawaii Island, but also students from the mainland and around the world.

Dr. Wiecking told us that HPA students started driving the HPA focus on being "green," being more energy conscious. They hired a consultant to help them become truly "green," which resulted in several meetings (called charettes) and came up with several ideas. One resulted in this Energy Lab, which cost around $8.4 million dollars total for land preparation and building (building alone about $3.8 million). The project was fully funded by one of the HPA parents (thank you to him!).

The Energy Lab has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for Schools. HPA is the first in the state to qualify for this certification. They are only the fourth in the world! The certification was quite significant because of our remote location in the middle of the Pacific.

What made the Energy Lab qualify for this certification? Ken Melrose said the process starts with the design, and requires a commitment from everybody on the design and building team.

The site, an empty space on the HPA campus, had to be cleared of previous building materials which had been discarded on the site. A big aspect of the LEED certification is recycling: the builders separated all the materials, gave some away to be reused, and ended up recycling or reusing about 97% of their material.

The other component of LEED is how the building works: in this case, because of Waimea's cool, windy location, they use natural air flow for cooling (although they do have a heat-pump based HVAC system). They use natural lighting and hardly ever turn on the lights.

In selecting materials, the goal was to get materials closer to home and follow the manufacturing process to ensure it's all eco-friendly. They also could not use materials toxic in manufacture, use, or eventual disposal--which meant, for example, they could not use PVC pipe.

HPA's Energy Lab is also trying to achieve the Living Building Challenge, which requires being fully self sufficient in water, energy, recycling, etc. The Living Building Challenge only kicks in one year after a building is built--to see how the building actually functions. The audit for Living Building Challenge is in February. Both Dr. Wiecking and Mr. Melrose said they're on track to achieve the Living Building Challenge. To get the LEED Platinum, you have to get a certain amount of points; for Living Building Challenge you either achieve or you don't; you must achieve every goal. LEED and Living Building Challenge are part of the US Green Building Council.

The building uses louvers that naturally draw the breeze through the building. The building is naturally lit with skylights and windows, and the lights will only go on when the room is occupied and when light levels are not high enough. There is energy monitoring, looking at how much electricity is consumed and produced by the three photovoltaic systems on the roof which produce 23 kw of power. The building is using about 40% of the energy which it produces. They initially had a windmill, but it wasn't productive so was removed (though Ken said they would like to try again to harness the wind for power).

Dr. Wiecking said people have been coming from around the world to see how the Energy Lab managed to be so energy efficient and meet the LEED standards when on an island where almost all materials must be sourced from afar. Dr. Wiecking said although this building isn't something most would attempt due to cost, much of the technology and techniques are things we at a residential level can use.

How does the Energy Lab inform the educational process at HPA? Students K through 12 plus visiting students from Stanford, Cornell, and other universities use the facility. Classes there may focus on energy, or the art classes may come to take advantage of the views and light; Hawaiiana classes may analyze sweet potatoes and determine how to turn them into biofuel. Plus, Dr. Wiecking said it's just a comfortable space in which to hang out--no "new building" smells, comfortable temperature, pleasant light. So students often just come to be there.

To schedule a visit to the HPA Energy Lab, email elabassistant@hpa.edu. See more about the energy lab at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy website, www.hpa.edu. Check the weather, sun, see what really goes on at the Energy Lab. HPA's phone number is (808) 885-7321.

Our guests were Gov Elect Neil Abercrombie (recorded last Sunday, November 8, at a mahalo event for his volunteers Kona side) and Lt Gov Elect Brian Schatz (recorded from his cell phone last Wednesday; he's in Honolulu).

Gov Elect Abercrombie said he was humbled--he flew into Kona Airport last Sunday and when he got off the plane, people in the arrival/waiting area applauded. He said the task is daunting, but he's ready. He thanks everybody for their support.

Gov Elect has spoken with Kathryn Matayoshi, Superintendent of Education, and pledges to restore early childhood education as well as focus with UH President MRC Greenwood on higher education. Gov Elect says his job is to pull the ideas together to present to the legislature in January.

Department of Land and Natural Resources: Gov Elect says he heard about problems with DLNR everywhere, from the time he started campaigning. DLNR cares for parks, land, water, conservation. He says he needs to find a good leader plus set priorities. He feels the DLNR staff has been demoralized and the public has no confidence; current rules are not enforced because of lack of administrative support and personnel cuts. He also mentioned Honokohau Harbor as a microcosm of what must be made better to restore public confidence.

Gov Elect plans to name department heads as soon as he can (editor note: department heads are key, as they're the ones who actually implement the policies). He's asking people to apply for jobs on the web site, www.newdayhawaii.org. You can also review the Abercrombie Transition Plan at the site.

What about the 40% of the people who did not vote for Abercrombie-Schatz? Gov Abercrombie said he hopes everybody in the state will have a smile on their face in a year--he knows he's governor for everybody, and we must all work togther and his job is to serve everybody in the state.

Our conversation with Lt Gov Elect Brian Schatz:

What will Lt Gov Elect Schatz's role be going forward? Lt Gov Elect is establishing the Hawaii Fair Share Initiative. The intent is to make sure that our government and nonprofits and other businesses can bring in the most money possible from out of state, whether federal, corporate investment, grants, or whatever.

Will Lt Gov Elect also focus on getting the money actually moved through the state? Sometimes the money seems to get "stuck" at state level. Lt Gov acknowledged that's key. He said he knows the state procurement code has created problems in getting funding from the Feds; he knows that must be resolved.

Lt Gov Elect Brian Schatz: he said this is all very exciting, and he's anxious to get to work.

Brian Schatz, before running, served 8 years in the state legislature, His parents have 4 sons, his father is a professor of internal medicine at UH, his identical twin brother Steve is with DOE, a complex area superintendent on Oahu. Lt Gov Schatz is married to Linda Quock. He and Linda live with her parents and their two children. Lt Gov Elect also has two brothers on the mainland.

Reflections on the election? Lt Gov Elect says people are ready for change, and they want a government that solves problems. He says he and Gov Elect Abercrombie plan to work hard and really dig into the tremendous challenges. He feels they have to be calm, serious, rational, and sober in approaching the challenges, especially in public education.

Lt Gov Brian Schatz used to head up Helping Hands Hawaii, following his 8 years in the legislature and an unsuccessful run for US Congress. Lt Gov says his experience in both the Legislature and the nonprofit will serve him well.

Have they moved into state offices? He said right now they're working wherever they can.

Governor Abercrombie will have an official residence on the grounds of Washington Place. The Lt Gov does not have an official residence, and he will live where he does now. The Lt Gov is assigned State Security, a requirement of the job. He says he does not want his private life to change. However, he appreciates that Public Safety officers are needed, and that's a requirement of the job.

Senator Russell Kokubun represents Hilo, Puna, Ka'u, and is our island's senior State Senator. He's served in the Senate since 2000. Prior to that he was in Hawaii County Administration, served on Hawaii County Council, and was on the Board of Land and Natural Resources. He and his family live in Volcano and he had a background as a farmer.

Senator Kokubun and the other senators are on Oahu

Senate President will be Shan Tsutsui from Maui, Vice President Donna Mercado Kim from Oahu, Chair of Ways and Means Senator David Ige from Oahu. Senator Michelle Kadani is the Vice Chair. Senator Kokubun said having a Senate President from a neighbor island is positive for our island because the neighbor island senators must pull together to ensure legislation is not just Oahu centric. Senator said creating relationships is the only way to get things done in the legislature.

State Senate vs State House of Representatives? The job is similar; both bodies make policy. No legislation can be passed without both houses agreeing. We have 7 State House Representatives and 3 Senators. Senator Kokubun said the Hawaii Island team tries to work together.

The Legislature goes into session on the third Wednesday of the New Year, this year, January 19, 2011. They are in session 60 working days, usually to the first week of May.

The economy: Senator says he thinks the economy is gradually returning, but as everybody says, it's slow. Senator is most concerned about unemployment, which is higher on our island than elsewhere. He's looking to Government to play a role by getting infrastructure projects going. He feels that can also encourage private industry to invest.

Acknowledging that tourism on our island is our biggest industry and has been affected more than other islands--Senator says more flights are coming from Canada and Korea, hopefully bringing more people here. He feels the APEC conference coming in 2011 to Oahu can benefit our island. He said the conference is bringing heads of state, their staffs, their families from 21 foreign countries. Mayor Kenoi is working with the legislature and tourism board to try to get a formal involvement of Hawaii Island--to help establish us as a tourist destination and a possible business location.

State tax and fee increases? Senator said the Governor Elect Abercrombie has stated he wants no tax increases. Senator said it may be appropriate to raise some fees. Example: if DLNR cannot improve Hapuna Beach with existing funds, perhaps charging a fee for visitors to state parks might be an option--with residents exempted from fees.

Voters nationwide rejected "government as usual." In Hawaii, the incumbents were re-elected. Does Senator Kokubun see "government as usual" as appropriate here? Senator says no, the legislators realize people want accountability and open communication. He says even here, legislators need to develop trust.

Senator says one area the government needs to be more involved is in developing and using alternative energy--and in communicating clearly what the cost and benefit is to the public. And whether and how that translates to lower rates for electricity at some point.

Re Puna Geothermal: Senator fees that can provide a very solid foundation for our base load requirements, but even here, there must be demonstration of need...and we cannot wait 20 or 30 more years til the price of oil is even higher.

Will there be a difference now, with a Democratic Governor and a Democratic Legislature, vs the last 8 years? Senator said he feels more will get done--he feels the team of Abercrombie-Schatz team will work well with the Legislature. He feels the new administration will sit down and try to work out collaborative solutions.

Kulani Prison: recently converted into National Guard Youth Challenge Academy. Senator wants to keep it as Kulani Prison, BUT he says we must be clear: he is very much in favor of the Youth Challenge Academy for challenged youth. But he feels we have other options for where it can be here on Hawaii Island. Getting prison space is very difficult statewide, and Kulani has been accepted as part of the Hawaii Island commuity since the 1940s. The treatment program for the sex offenders housed there is the most successful such program nationwide, with the lowest recidivism rate. Each inmate had 8 hours a day of job skills, practical and training. Senator also says that sending Hawaii inmates to the mainland may seem initially cost effective, but not in the long run. We need to take the responsibility for our citizens, even those that are prisoners.

Department of Land and Natural Resources has received a lot of criticism for its handling (or lack thereof) of parks and harbors. Senator says the Department needs good leadership, to start, and then priority setting. We need to keep and maintain our parks for use by residents and visitors--it's recreation for those who live here and can attract tourists. Senator also says the Historic Preservation Division must be fixed to ensure our cultural resources aren't allowed to deteriorate.

Senator's priority for the next session: healthcare. Ensuring our hospitals are solvent, supporting the new Hilo-based Rural Residency Program to get new docs here, and supporting dental care access.

Senator closed by saying he wants to continue developing Hawaii Island as a sustainable island. He says it's a huge movement, and although government would like to take credit--it's up to the citizens.

When I spoke with Lowell Kalapa of Tax Foundation of Hawaii two weeks ago, it was such an interesting conversation (to me), we talked for about 60 minutes. We aired the first part of the conversation October 10. Today we aired Part 2.

Lowell Kalapa's Tax Foundation of Hawaii is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and takes no public funding in order to remain objective. Lowell comments on Hawaii's budgets, expenses, and taxes.

When we aired the program last time, we had asked Mr. Kalapa if it was possible to cut the state's expenses and taxes. He said: yes, but the state (and other states) must reform the way public workers are paid, given benefits, and how the pensions are set up. When our state first allowed collective bargaining back in the 60s, public employees wanted better pay and benefits. But since then, what's happened is our lower-level and mid-level public employees are paid more than comparable positions in the private sector...higher level positions in the state could likely make more in the private sector. But in addition, public employees are given health care for life, often that's given their spouses, too. At this point, in this economy, the public sector is therefore far better compensated than the private sector--and it is the taxpayers, each of us, who has to pay for it.

Mr. Kalapa commented on how the state invests its money: in the Employee Retirement System, for years they were invested in the equity market. In the late 80s, early 90s, the fund was doing really well....but the state legislature decided it would take revenues above a certain level, and use that money for other state expenses. If the legislature had allowed the money to stay in the fund and be reinvested, the state employees retirement fund would be fine...but, that's not what the state did. And is the state doing a good job managing investments, including the state retirement fund? Mr. Kalapa said the state and county both need to look at having multiple investment managers look seriously at how they invest their money....and ensure they're highly qualified at the job, including analyzing risk.

Mr. Kalapa has said legislators mask the actual cost of running government. How do they do this? Mr. Kalapa said years ago we decided to limit the state's expenditures by putting a limit on the general fund...as he said, silly us...the legislature then just created "special funds", sort of out of sight, out of mind. They are funded either out of General Fund revenues or they set up special fees to fund. So some projects are funded out of "special funds" and it is never clear how much money the state is actually spending. It's a shell game...by removing certain expenditures from the general fund and creating "special funds" and imposing fees to pay for the activities covered by special funds...there are many sort of hidden fees and taxes.

Mr. Kalapa said we must at state level look at the total money that's being spent...and where it comes from. A small example: the 5 cent deposit on bottles and cans. The thought was, people will return those to HI 5 locations..but there is $35 million dollar that should have been reclaimed, returned to the public that hasn't been because people don't want to take their cans and bottles to the HI 5 locations and wait to get their money.

Property taxes: there are examples of unequal property tax rates everywhere. Here in Hawaii County, recent property tax increases raised the rates for conservation, agriculture, and non owner occupied houses. Lowell says this hides the cost of government by shifting the increases away from the largest constituency, the homeowners. Other classes, such as conservation, ag, and non owner occupied homes pay in some cases double for the same $1,000 of valuation. Lowell says if the rates were the same for all, homeowners, voters, would realize the actual cost of government. And the rationale that conservation, ag, non owner occupied can often "pass along the increased cost" -- Lowell points out, if that's true, it's just shifting the burden and passing it along in the cost of the crop, or raising the rent for the renter, or increasing the fee for the use of the conservation land.

Mr. Kalapa said if the citizens started focusing on the cost of government, they might recognize the need to ask for fewer services.

Is there a formula to suggest that based on population, the cost of running the county should be $X? Lowell said no, no formula: and again, it comes back to what services do we want and therefore are willing to pay for? Do we think it's important enough to subsidize golf, or have a county band, or for the county to provide a free kupuna hula festival, that everybody else pays for it? Those are questions to ponder, and then...tell the county council members and mayors what is wanted. We've gotten very used to the county taking care of many needs...maybe not even "needs" but "nice to haves" if there is money.

Many legislators don't have a clear understanding of the above, Mr. Kalapa says, partly due to lack of life experience, lack of experience in the working world. Oftentimes voting is a matter of popularity and sign waving...but Mr. Kalapa suggests we need to look at what the potential legislators have really DONE, what life experiences they've had, to help judge how they might legislate. Although there is a lot of anger with current government, Lowell feels legislators need to look at the ramifications of the laws they're considering in the bigger context.

What's the biggest challenge facing our state? We need leaders who know where we're going and have a vision; they need to figure out how to get there. And they need to "help" the state employees get to the future.

County governments face similar challenges, but we must remember they do not operate the education or state highways or other statewide systems, which are state costs.

Mr. Kalapa thinks one of the biggest challenges faced by neighbor islands especially, especially Maui and Hawaii Island, is lack of water. He'd like to see money put into desalinization technology...that's our biggest limiter, and in this drought, a serious challenge for farmers and ranchers.

Do state legislators pay attention to Lowell Kalapa's thinking? Mr. Kalapa says maybe not, but his columns are there to stimulate thought. But he said those who actually read and think about his comments are beginning to grasp some of the concepts and rethink how to run government.

Lowell's final comment: Get out and vote. But research the candidates first to see what they really know, what they really stand for.

Read Lowell Kalapa's column in West Hawaii Today on most Sundays, or online, tfhawaii.org

Our guests were incumbent Guy Enriques and challenger Brittany Smart. Ms Smart took the most votes in the primary, but not 50%. So she and the second vote getter, Guy Enriques, move on to the November 2 General Election. Note, walk in voting opens October 19.

Mr. Enriques says he's most proud of having 30 projects in the district during his less than two years in office (a note, that is more than one per month, probably more than any other Council member in the history of Hawaii County--I should have followed up a bit more on that wonderful record.) Mr. Enriques said he initially ran because there was not enough money coming into the district. His plan, if re-elected, is to try to get more projects done within District 6. He also says he looks to the community to tell him what exactly is needed. He says he's held 24 talk stories so far.

Mr. Enriques says he's working on road paving between Fern Acres and Hawaiian Acres for some emergency access. He also says he's working on improving the transfer station in Waiohinu (side note, Mayor Kenoi has already sent a request to Hawaii County Council for the ok to float a bond to finance improvements to the Waiohinu transfer station, road improvements Kona and Hilo, and other projects.)

Brittany Smart says she wants to improve access for the community to know what issues are coming up before the Council and see if there is a way to set up a satellite testimony capability, similar to Waimea and Kona. She also wants to institute regular meetings with the communities. She feels there has not been as much communication as has been needed.

Brittany is 27. She says she's been involved in politics for a long time and feels it's time for her generation to step up and play a role. She feels she can help involve our younger citizens as well as relate to all citizens. Even in high school she participated in Youth Government, she's been in Model United Nations. She's a political science graduate from University of Hawaii at Hilo with professor Todd Belt as her chief advisor. She interned with the County in Research and Development and developed a database of nonprofits in the County. She worked in the Solid Waste Division under the Recycling Coordinator, working on Hi 5 and illegal dumping and abandoned vehicle programs. She went to a college program for Peace and Conflict Resolution in Washington, DC. She now works for Big Island EKO Systems, which does mulching and recycling.

Budget: Can the County reduce its budget or are we on a continual path of property tax improvement? Our current Council was not able to find even one dollar to cut!! Councilmember Enriques said he feels the Council worked really hard with the Mayor's budget, and feels happy that the tax increases protected the "most vulnerable" of our island people, the homeowners and the low income people. He felt those whose taxes were increased, the ag users and conservation and non owner-occupied homes, are those able to shoulder an additional burden. Mr. Enriques said we may have to cut services and go to four county employee furlough days if times continue to be tough. He said it's tough to raise taxes. He thought the Mayor's budget did the job very well.

Ms. Smart and budget: she feels raising the agricultural property taxes was wrong, as we need to find a way to support our ag producers. She feels we can save money by changing how contract are awarded (she used the example of the $2.7 million in repairs for the Hilo County building--just done, and the roof leaks!). She said hiring the cheapest vendor may not be the best as the ongoing cost may be higher. She has ideas of how to make some programs pay for themselves, such as the abandoned vehicle program...auction them off, or sell the parts.

Mr. Enriques responded: he said the county had reduced its budget from $400 million dollars to $375 million, have cut 125 workers, have county workers on double time, and with the situation having developed over years, we cannot just change things overnight. He feels this Council has made positive changes in tough times.

Role of Council vs Mayor/Administration? Both agree, we have 3 branches of Government, and each is to serve as a check and balance. The Council should be the check and balance to the Mayor. Ms. Smart said she was concerned at Mr. Enriques previous remarks, quoted elsewhere, that he felt the Council needs to support the Mayor. Mr. Enriques responded...saying he's not a rubber stamp for the Mayor, that he's fought against the mayor, example, fought against shortening hours at the Ka'u transfer stations, against charging for water from the County spigots. He says he does agree with much of what Mayor does, but not all.

New development in Ka'u? Ms. Smart said we don't have the Ka'u infrastructure, it can barely support what's there now. We need to support growing Ag and small businesses, as the south part of the island is so far from the major centers in Hilo and Kona.

Councilmember Enriques on development: he feels there are proposals for positive developments to help the community--he mentioned a water well in Ocean View, and says he's working with Ka'u Coffee Farmers to get them to coordinate and market as one unit. When I pressed on new houses, new homes, new resorts: he said there is a place for two big developments near Punalu'u and Kahukuaina, but wants to hold on development til the Ka'u Community Development Plan is in place.

Ms. Smart also reinforced the need for the Ka'u Community Development Plan and urged everybody to participate, do not be deterred.

If elected, Ms. Smart will quit her job and the County Council job will be her full and only job. Council member Enriques said the job is a full time job. He runs volleyball camps in Oregon and says he spends 4 to 6 weeks in Oregon and Washington. In two years he says he's missed two meetings in each year.

Mr. Enriques received 1526 votes, 34% of those cast in the primary. Mr. Enriques says he knows he needs to get out in the County with the citizens more than he has. He says with the Council job being full time, it's not as easy for him to campaign. His focus now til Nov 2 is to bust his okole and tell people what he's done.

Ms. Smart received 1679 votes in the primary, the most of any candidate in District 6...but not 50%, which would have elected her outright. She says she feels the election is a report card. If a good job is done, the incumbent should be re elected. She feels she can represent the people of Ka'u by listening and acting on the peoples' wishes. She says she's been told promises were made and not kept.

The Kamaoa Road, Old Homestead Road: Council member Enriques has proposed making it private. The homeowners have gated the road, which is public. Mr. Enriques said Planning Director Leithead-Todd feels the road, 1.5 miles long, serves no public purpose. Although Mr Enriques made the proposal, he says the Council members will vote, they need a site visit, and there will be a public hearing. Ms. Smart says she feels closing the road is very wrong--it's rewarding the behavior of owners who illegally gated the road years ago, and now want to be rewarded by being able to buy the road. One argument has been it's needed to keep livestock from wandering...but she says any responsible rancher or farmer fences his animals, doesn't just let them wander onto public (or private) roads.

Ms. Smart's closing comments: she thinks more can be done for Council 6 district and she believes she can affect positive change. Learn more about Brittany Smart at www.smartforcouncil.org. Mr Enriques closing comments were that he works hard for the community, born and raised here, coaches in the community, and feels he's proven himself as a leader by bringing meaningful projects into the district. He also says he has 30 years more life experience than his opponent (she's 27, he's 30 years older) so he wants to continue moving in the same direction he's established.

A final note: please vote!

The Tax Foundation of Hawaii is a nonprofit institution that does research in the area of public finance--taxes, expenditures, debt, programs, accountability. Its founder and principal, Lowell Kalapa, is highly educated: undergrad degrees in economy and political science, a masters in peer counseling, a degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Tax Foundation of Hawaii accepts no public funding in order to remain absolutely unbiased and neutral. They don't even accept public funded research projects. They rely completely on donations.

Our state General Excise Tax: what is it? This is sometimes mistakenly called a sales tax, but it is not. Sales taxes are the responsibility of the purchaser. The GE Tax is the responsibility of the business or the service provider. In the words in the law, it's imposed for the privilege of doing business in the state.

The base of the GE Tax is substantially more than a retail sales tax base would be. Retail sales taxes are applied only at the final point of sale. In Hawaii, the GE Tax is applied at every step along the way: on sales by the manufacturer, sales by any middleman, sales by the end retailer. GE Tax is also applied to all services (example: the plumber, the tax accountant, the doctor visit). Sales taxes are generally not applied to services in those states that have sales tax. Services apply to about 60% of the GE Tax base--that's HUGE. The sales tax base is about 49% in California. Here in Hawaii, the base for GE tax is 141%...because the item is subject to the sales tax at several different points in its life.

Some legislators have suggested we should have sales tax...Lowell said in order to produce a similar amount of revenue as is produced by GE Tax, the rate would need to be 10% to 12% of the retail base...to produce the approximately $2.4 billion dollars now created by the GE Tax. We would then have the highest sales tax rate in the nation. (Note: in other states, individual counties also have the ability to impose tax; in our state, the only authority which can impose the GE Tax is the states, not counties.)

What would a "modest increase" in GE Tas mean (as suggested by some legislators)? A 1% increase would be a 25% increase in the tax...so even a "small" increase would not be modest. Because the tax would be imposed several times, the total increase would be great. Businesses, because they are also consumers, also end up paying GE Tax on goods and services which they consume...so they will pass those costs along. So a "modest" increase in GE Tax would balloon.

Lowell reminded us that even though Honolulu has an extra half percent GE Tax, to help pay for rail--we all pay for that because goods and services which we get which come from Honolulu have that higher rate, and most likely we are being charged, one way or another.

What is the role of State Government in getting our economy back on track? Lowell said most would agree...government must get out of the way. Stop imposing extra regulations on businesses; our state is always listed in the bottom 10 states in the "easy to do business in" category. Lowell said the rules, regulations, permits are onerous. Lowell had his own example: he's been involved in trying to get permits to start a "build your own home" development. He said it's taken five years! Entrepreneurs who can and wish, would tend to go elsewhere. He used the example of Arizona, where contractors say it takes not much more than a week to get permits to build. Many small businesses need to borrow money to cover their costs, even before they can get into business!

We also need to begin selecting WHICH services should be offered. He said we've become an entitlement society, with many expecting government at all levels to provide every single thing. The cost of providing services is high.

To what degree CAN our new Governor make a difference in our economy? Lowell said although we have to elect somebody, he doesn't see the candidates as having the inspiration and leadership. Are candidates willing to set aside their political ambitions, ie not focus solely on their next election, but focus on doing what's truly best for the state and the community? It takes a lot of effort to pull people together...he feels that must happen. If the candidate recognizes that...they're the one.

What qualifications should we seek in elected officials--county council, state, federal? Candidates must be able to say no....they need to take a reasonable approach, and sometimes just say we cannot do every thing for every body. Many candidates are not able to set priorities.

An example: tax credits, such as the high technology business credit, designed to lure businesses here, by giving them a tax break, and theoretically stimulating more business. Lowell said the theory is good, but we don't in this state tend to measure the results. He said in the 60s or 70s, a consultant study said yes, try the tax credits, but then review, analyze, and if not profitable--kill the program! An example: American Hawaii Cruises was given significant tax breaks to do business here. Once they started expanding to Tahiti, our state said they were not going to continue their 20-year subsidy...and American Hawaii Cruises said "Oh, no thanks...good bye." Lowell said we, Hawaii State, were subsidizing American Hawaii Cruise Lines, and that only became clear once the state asked to review their books and they refused and left the state.

In the state of the high tech tax credits, a review was done in 2007...and it turns out it was costing the state $130 million dollars---not a benefit to the state. And Lowell said if we allow the tax credit to terminate at the end of this year, it's a credit claimed over 5 years, so we'll still feel the impact.

Film credits: do we need to give? Are the benefits of year-round filming, beautiful scenery enough to bring film and TV companies here?

Our state revenue picture is not improving, despite slight improvements in the economy. Lowell said the demand for increased taxes last legislative session came primarily from the public employees' unions. The union leadership has promised their employees raises...in order to provide that, Lowell says we will pay higher taxes. He also said we really need to review the union situation. Our public employees may be paid at a lower rate at the highest paid jobs than in private industry. BUT, at middle and lower levels, they are paid far more. The public employees also receive significant lifetime benefits. But, can we afford this?

The other issue is, again, setting priorities as to what Government provides. Government should provide education, health and safety, security, infrastructure, public transportation. But, can we afford the extras? And do we need to provide extra services to those capable of fending for themselves?

Can the state reduce expenses? Yes, we can, but a huge liability in the public employee sector is pensions and lifetime healthcare, for the employees and their spouses. Lowell said the inequities now between private industry's lower cost and fewer benefits and the public sector's higher salaries and generous benefits are an ongoing financial problem.

We flat ran out of time...but my conversation with Lowell extended another 30 minutes, so we'll air the rest on October 24. More about Tax Foundation of Hawaii online, www.tfhawaii.org.

Family Support Hawaii, formerly known as Family Support Services of West Hawaii. Our guests were Executive Director Patrick (Paki) Story, Fatherhood Initiative Coach Kauila Ho, and Board Member Gabriella Cooper.

Family Support was founded in the 1970s, incorporated in 1979, to provide various kinds of support for families and children. Initially they served only West Hawaii, but recently began serving Hilo as well--hence the name change to Family Support Hawaii.

Family Support has numerous programs,providing support for early childhood development, early childhood education, teens at risk, fathers (helping fathers be better dads), helping Moms get the right kind of prenatal care, visiting new Moms in hospitals to ensure they know of support resources. They have a family center in Ka'u and help teens at transitional housing, and provide a food program for teens at Old Airport Park.

One key program is the Fatherhood Initiative. Dads participate for a variety of reasons--they want to learn more about being a good father, some are referred from probation or family court, some come cause they hear from other dads about how cool the program is. The Fatherhood Initiative also celebrates Dads and their role with children. It's been well proven that children whose Dads are closely involved turn out better. Girls and boys learn confidence and learn about what fathers and mates should be by observing their Dad.

The budget is around $4 million per year. They get funding from private grants and donations, state and federal funding to provide specific programs.

Family Support's every-two-year major fundraiser, An Old Hawaii Night, is Saturday, November 6. It's at Waikoloa Marriott, and includes a gourmet, three course sit-down dinner, Hawaiian music and sunset cocktails, and their signature: silent and live auctions focusing on Hawaiiana. They'll have 300 items in their silent auction--lots of koa, interesting Hawaiian items, Imari and other fine items...many fun things for your home or yard. Their live auction will include a commissioned koa wood buffet (wood from McCandless Ranch, built by Tom Ferguson) plus fun getaways and more. Tickets and information: www.familysupporthawaii.org, or 334-4152.

Get full detail about their programs at the web site www.familysupporthawaii.org . They may be reached by phone at 808-326-7778.

We will vote on 19 Charter Amendments in the general election on Tuesday, November 2. Our guests were two members of the Charter Commission, chair, attorney Ed Haitsuka, and member, Amerigas manager in Kona, Scott Unger.

Charter Commission is 11 members, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the County Council. Members include Edmund Haitsuka, Chairman; David Fuertes, Vice Chairman; Daphne Honma; Casey Jarman; Guy Kaulukukui; Jamae Kawauchi; Joseph Kealoha; Alapaki Nahale-A; Susie Osborne Todd Shumway; Scott Unger.

Function of County Charter: rules the government. Amendments are needed to reflect changes over time. To arrive at the 19, they considered 38 proposed amendments submitted by the public, by the commissioners, or by the County Administration.

Procedure: Ed Haitsuka said they took testimony several times and debated, almost endlessly, how to proceed, to arrive at the 19.

#1: Open Space Fund: Scott said this garnered the most testimony and most attention. Background: in 2006, voters approved an ordinance to take 2% of existing property tax revenues and put it into a fund to purchase open space--no new taxes, no increased tax, just setting aside some funds. But in 2007, the County Administration, seeing the recession, asked the County Council to approve a moratorium on the fund, which they did.

This charter amendment mandates the County to set aside funds for an open space fund, at a minimum of 1% of existing property tax revenues, though in good times the percentage could be made more. We are currently the ONLY county in the state without an open space fund. One of the members of the commission also pointed out, the voters voted for an open space fund, and the charter should honor that.

The charter amendment on Open Space also will allow a place on their property tax bill for people to contribute a specific additional amount to the open space fund, or allows for other donations to the open space fund.

#2 Recall: the public can vote to recall an elected official. This amendment lowers the number of voters needed to request a recall. Before it was based on total registered voters; now it's based on the number of voters who voted in the last election.

#3 Votes needed for new Charter Amendment: lowers the number to reflect the last number of voters who

#4 Civil Service Laws: says state law takes precedence over county law (procedural)

#5 Reapportionment Commission: renames to Redistricting Commission. Also adds rules as to how district lines will be drawn if the U. S. Census shows an increase or decrease in the population, to make the district lines more logical. Unger said the group felt this way more fair than previous laws.

#6 Natural and Cultural Resources: County must protect and conserve natural and cultural resources. Already in the state constitution. But the county amendment would bring it home to the county plus add preservation of surf spots and historic structures.

#7 Corrects grammar and spelling (procedural)

#8, #9, renaming, retitling (procedural)

#10 moves fire department under the jurisdiction of the fire commission. Current charter has fire department under Managing Director, yet we don't operate that way since the fire commission was created. (procedural)

#11 Mayor can tell director of Environmental Management what to do. Why? This is an evolving department and the current job description may not fully reflect future needs relative to recycling, waste management, etc. Unger said this is designed to prevent the need to establish another (costly) department, if a current director objects to expanded job responsibilities

#12 Requires Director of Department of Environmental Management to have a specific degree. Currently they have to have 5 years of administrative experience. This was hotly debated by the Commission, and they determined there is flexibility needed but this position needs to be degreed as it will be so important going forward with the challenges of high tech waste management.

#13 Duties of Prosecuting Attorney and expands duties to include education and the ability to accept donations to fund educational programs on crime prevention and research, domestic violence, etc. Prosecuting Attorney

#14 Staggering terms of Merit Appeals Board: procedural so all terms do not expire all at once. This board deals with promotions.

#15 Directors serving under Commissions must be given reasons in writing if they are to remove the Director, and that Director has the right to appeal.

#16 Charter Commission appointed July 1 prior to the start of the following year. All the Charter Commissioners thought they needed more time, and this would provide that.

#17 Members of Boards and Commission may be paid by the County. I had thought all members of Boards and Commissions were volunteers! But apparently current law allows for the county to pay them. This amendment lowers the amount of the compensation to two times minimum wage. Usually the volunteers can request payment, but often they do not.

#18, #19, Posting of meeting notices: putting meeting notices online as well as in print. Idea is to get the notices of meetings more readily available. (Only problem I see, it's not mandatory, but recommended...not made mandatory because some county departments don't have the ability to post notices on the internet ... editorial comment : THEY CAN'T POST NOTICES ON THE INTERNET??? I WONDER WHY?!

The Charter Amendments, if passed, will take effect July 1, 2011.

Please vote . There are brochures with the amendments in county offices, and online. http://www.hawaii-county.com/council/CharterCommission.htm Also, after we recorded this interview Wednesday before the Sunday airing, I found out the League of Women Voters has issued a pro-con summary: www.lwv-hawaii.com/hawaii.htm . It will be available in hard copy at libraries, county offices, and they're working on getting it into other public places. You may also get that brochure at candidate forums and Kona Town Meeting...if questions, if you want to find out where to get the League brochure, call Sue Dursin 328-8514.

We talked story about all the election results. Karin Stanton, who writes for Associated Press, was formerly with West Hawaii Today, and along with Baron Sekiya founded the news web site www.hawaii247.com, was our guest and shared her insights.

Josh Green is a State Senator, one of three who represent Hawaii Island. (His colleagues from our island are Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine.) Hawaii Medical Association, a professional organization made up of the state's doctors, gave Josh the "doctor of the year" award for 2009-2010.

What can/should the State Legislature do this next year to help deal with our state/island's healthcare issues? Josh said we are now 22% short of physicians, a number that is predicted to grow to 40% within ten years. The numbers are based on a study by University of Hawaii's John A. Burns School of Medicine (aka JABSOM). They can determine, based on population, how many docs are needed--and our island is short. Dr. Green said repaying doctors' students loans is a very effective way to get new docs to come to the island. The average medical student's loans are around $175,000. His legislation to do that last year did not get through, but he will reintroduce it. If Hawaii agrees to such repayment, the Federal Government will kick in, too, on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

There is a cardiac catheterization lab at Hilo Medical Center, but they still need additional cardiologists to staff it.

Tort reform/medical malpractice reform: this is about whether there should be a cap on lawsuits against doctors for medical malpractice. Such laws are in place in some states, and Dr. Green said those states get more docs. He is working now with the medical school and law school to craft such legislation, which might put a cap on the "pain and suffering" part of such lawsuits (perhaps $250,000) but for cases of negligence, ensuring the patient's care is reimbursed. Josh said his last such bill included capability for a judge to award $1Million to $3Million for non economic damages, which still is a cap. (Note, this is my interpretation..when such a bill is under consideration, be sure to read it!)

We have three hospitals, the private North Hawaii Community Hospital and the two state hospitals, Hilo Medical Center and Kona Community Hospital. In the past, the state has funded state hospital shortfalls--but they are less willing to do so now with budget squeezes. There have been proposals, one of which was submitted by Josh, to allow the two state hospitals (and the others under the Hawaii Health Systems Corp system) to re-form as 501c3 nonprofit organizations. The theory is they could then pull in far more grants from private and federal sources. They could not completely break free of state funding, but they'd have many more sources. A significant difference would occur: the state hospital employees are now civil service employees, which makes our two state hospital costs around 21% to 22% higher than similar other hospitals.

Herb Schultz with Federal Department of Health and Human Services was here recently at Hilo Medical Center. He spoke of the new patient affordable care act enacted in March. On September 23, some aspects of that bill will kick in: people will not be able to be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, plus coverage of young people up to age 26 will be guaranteed under their patients' insurance. A note: those who are uninsured now can get treatment at any hospital, with the federal government (yes, that means the taxpayers!) reimbursing the hospital. Part of the healthcare act is to make it easier for people to get insurance so we hopefully have fewer people getting very expensive treatment at emergency rooms for minor problems that should not require an ER visit.

Dr. Green mentioned the state must pass enabling legislation to allow Hawaii to tap into the funds available at federal level because of the new healthcare bill. Josh also said he intends to keep good contact with Herb Schultz to ensure Hawaii can tap into any program available to help with our healthcare access.

Dr. Green also wants to work in the next year on getting our population better access to drug treatment programs. Plus, he feels we need additional DUI legislation to address a huge problem for Hawaii Island: we have the highest rate of deaths on the highways due to impaired driving--highest in the country! Starting 2011, the Interlock Ignition law goes into effect--convicted DUI drivers will have to blow into a device to be able to start their car. But he wants to see more.

The State Senate recently approved Mark Rechtenwald as the new Supreme Court Chief Justice. Josh fully supports Judge Rechtenwald and feels he will do an excellent job. But he felt the process within the Senate was not fully inclusive. Specifically, the Governor's first nominee was Katherine Leonard, a sitting judge whose name came to the Governor as part of a list of all judges considered qualified for the position. Josh said he felt the process was biased against Judge Leonard as a woman, and that the questions asked of her were somehow different than those asked of Judge Rechtenwald. The negative focus on her seemed to be focused around what kind of volunteer work she did. Josh also said the Bar, after considering her qualified as a lawyer and a judge, then sent on an "unqualified" recommendation. Josh said the Bar does so anonymously, based on protecting their board members from some retaliation...but he feels submitting such a recommendation anonymously is not fair to any candidate as it so affects their job.

What about the current political season and the growing role of racism and religion in politics? Josh said it's despicable to suggest a candidate isn't "godly" enough or "doesn't look right" as reasons to vote for or against. It's divisive, not inclusive. He feels there is no room for this kind of divisiveness. Josh feels there is no room for using somebody's religious beliefs to divide rather than unite. Good leaders have good character, regardless of their religious affiliation. Regarding religion: I also spoke with Kona resident Gloria Blum, who happens to be Jewish, who commented the way to solve problems is through unity, not separatism. She said we're no better than Muslim extremists if we encourage hate rather than focusing together to get things done. Josh said ideas should be freely debated, even if different--but leave the denigration and any discrimination behind.

Josh reminded us we must vote; he said he does not care which party wins as long as the next governor is a decent human being. Hawaii is a melting pot state and we should respect and embrace our differences and our samenesses.

The island is getting its own air show...May 28 and 29, 2011. Our guests to discuss the upcoming event were organizer Terri Thomas, Kona Airport Manager Chauncey Wong Yuen, and Mayor Billy Kenoi.

Terri Thomas has been working on creating an air show in Kona for six years. She initially focused on having it at the Hilo Airport, but limitations imposed by weather, frequent low ceiling, and flight schedules made Kona a far better choice. The air show is a "civilian" air show, but will include aircraft both civilian and military.

The military aircraft will include a C17 demonstration, hopefully the new F22 fighter stationed on Oahu, and a C5 on the ground. There will also be aerobatic civilian aircraft. Terri is working to try to get a performance team...the Thunderbirds. That would be so cool (editorial note--we hope that works out!)

Terri is focused on having this be a fun family event, with young people given the chance to get excited about aviation as a career. Mayor Billy Kenoi reinforced that as a key driver to the County's agreement to have the air show here in Kona. The cost to the County will be minimal, Mayor said; support will come from the usual sources--police and fire and Department of Park and Recreation. Mayor also said the event, at the end of May, will be good for tourism--anything that draws people to the island and provides good family entertainment--he supports.

Chauncey Wong Yuen, who grew up in Kona in the 60s, supported the idea of aviation as a career...whether as a pilot or in support areas, such as the job Chauncey has or working in some capacity for an airline.

The airport will face challenges in hosting the air show: parking and crowd management. Thomas estimates 8,000 daily attendance--that contrasts with 4,000 people a day coming and going on planes. Chauncey said they are already working closely with the Air Show organizers to ensure no disruption of those traveling. Regarding safety: the Air Show will have two "Air Bosses", very experienced Air Traffic Controllers who work on the ground to supplement the regular Air Traffic Controllers. Kona Airport's own fire/safety crews will be on standby, supplemented by County resources if necessary. But Terri Thomas said Air Shows have great safety records.

More information about the Hawaii Invitation Air Show online, www.hawaii-airshow.com Learn about sponsorship, tickets, activities.

First Hawaiian Bank brought two noted economists to the island last Thursday, August 26. Jack Seyderhoud is with UH Manoa, on the State Council of Revenues, and contributed to the book The Price of Paradise, published in 1992 but still relevant. Dr. Leroy Laney is with Hawaii Pacific University, worked in Washington as a senior economist for the Federal Reserve, was staff economist for First Hawaiian Bank for nearly 10 years and continues to advise FHB and other major island clients on economic trends. They spoke at a Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Waikoloa Marriott and at a Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce evening event at Hilo Hawaiian. I talked story with them at the Waikoloa Marriott before they went to Hilo.

The Council of Revenues focuses personal income and state general fund revenues. The general fund revenue forecast tells how much the state can spend. Seyderhoud said we've come out of a very bad time period and the forecast for growth is modestly positive for 2011 and 2012.

Dr. Seyderhoud forecasts national economic factors. Are we having a turnaround, really? Dr. Seyderhoud said predicting the economy now is very challenging. They think the recession ended in 2009, but the recovery is very anemic and not self-sustaining, but boosted by monetary and fiscal stimulus vs private sector growth.

How can our national economy really turn around? Dr. Seyderhoud said the private sector must grow, without government assistance. Most large companies have been profitable lately, but because of cost cutting, not growth.

Many consumers got into debt over their head, but are now cutting back themselves.

Size and cost of government: Dr. Seyderhoud says our Hawaii state government is bloated. We have to focus on spending priorities--how much money does the state have, and where should we spend it? Dr. S says our state has made commitments we cannot meet--the state pension funds, the state's retirement medical commitments to retired and retiring employees. The promises we've made are very expensive and he says we may need to cut back on those promises. The only way to fund such things is either raise taxes or raise fees such as UH tuition, boat harbor fees, airport harbor fees, road taxes--any revenue source.

In the book Price of Paradise Dr. Seyderhoud had spoken of our state government being larger than any others. He said still, our state government is the most centralized. All other states decentralized education to the local level, and they decentralize other functions as well. Another example is the after school A+ program--Dr. S said there was public pressure to provide an after school care service, and before A+, it was handled privately. Our state created the A+ program and had to add employees, bureaucracy, and more (and put those private providers out of business).

Dr. Laney said in our state we seem to look for the Government to step in first; in other places people look for the State Government to do things as a last resort.

Is our state unfriendly to business? Dr. Laney said in national surveys, consistently in good and bad times, Hawaii ranks low relative to the other states relative to attitude towards business. Our state has a paternalistic attitude. Tax structure does not favor business. We have the General Excise Tax, sales tax, visitor taxes.

Dr. Seyderhoud says we do rank worse in terms of business friendliness and rank high in quality of life--are we comfortable with our "unfriendly to business" practices?

Can Hawaii become more friendly to business? Dr. Seyderhoud said the Legislature just raised the top marginal income tax rate, signaling our state is not serious about wealth creation or job creation. He does not think we should provide exemptions in the GE Tax as that only leads to those with most political clout getting preferential treatment. Dr. Laney concurred, no exemptions as that puts Government in the place of determing who are winners and losers. He feels the private sector feels winners will emerge if they are the most competitive.

How much difference does it make who becomes Governor? Can the Governor Dr. seyderhoud said til the last 8 years, he thought the answer was yes....but now he thinks the main thing is, the Governor and the Legislature need to be on the same page. He thinks the biggest problem we have is our public education system. That pushes families to feel they must send their kids to private schools, thus making it more difficult to hire people to work in Hawaii.

Dr. Laney focused on the state and island economy in his talks. The question is, what does our recession look like--he says it's an "L" shaped recession, both nationally and localy. In 2008 we fell off the cliff,for many reasons: Aloha Airlines' demise, loss of two cruise ships, and the national economy. He says we went to the bottom of that cliff, and we're now going along the bottom of the L and the only question is what kind of upward slope there is. He feels the ascent will be far slower than the descent. There are some good signs, tourism is coming back--better visitor arrivals, slow return of construction. He says construction is lagging, but he feels construction on our island will begin to return. Some permits are being pulled. Maui and Kaua'i are still seeing a decline in construction permits, whereas our island is showing a slow improvement.

Tourism: in 2009, Dr. Laney did a study showing that 74% of all jobs are touched by the visitor industry. What can be done to help our island in that area? Dr. Laney said the main thing is getting more airline seats flying to Kona and Hilo. Bad news, Japan Airlines will cease its Japan to Kona flight in October. Visitor industry experts need to work on convincing airlines to come here.

Dr. Laney said Thirty Meter Telescope is critical to the state and island's astronomy industry. And regarding jobs, there will be construction jobs (stretching over 8 years) and ongoing jobs, many of which will be very well paid.

Education: impact of UH Hawaii at Hilo? Dr. Laney said he would hate to think about Hilo economy if UH Hilo were not there! It's a major employer, it makes Hilo a "university town" with restaurants and other related businesses. UH Hilo is one of the few campuses with room to expand, which UH Manoa does not have. A lack has been student housing, that has impeded increasing enrollment. He sees UH Hilo growing.

Dr. Laney's comment on the impact of any one governor on the state's economy: during an election year, this so perhaps more, we see many politicians with suggestions for the economy. Having worked in Washington on the Council of Economic Advisors, he thinks the economy can do way more to politicians than politicians can do to or for the economy. He said politicians always give the impression they can affect the economy way more than they can.

Dr. Seyderhoud said we have to come to grips with the debt overhang we have in our economy. How is government going to deal with the same issue? Our government has so many unfunded liabilities: social security, medicare, state pension plans, state retiree medical plans--it all will require significant leadership--do the politicians have the courage?

How should our legislators look at taxes? Dr. Seyderhoud said taxes should be adequate to develop the required revenue; they should be simple; the tax should be neutral and not cause behavior changes unless it's targeted to do so (ie tobacco tax). He would resist the temptations to carve out exemptions as it complicates the tax, makes it higher for others, and invites a lot of political activity around the tax in lobbying for exemptions.

Dr. Leroy Laney: this recovery has bee driven by fiscal and monetary policy--he feels the private sector must catch on to create a sustained recovery. We're out of ways to create more fiscal and monetary "saves" of the economy--the Federal Reserve interest rate is at zero...regarding fiscal policy, stimulus money has been put in, and we cannot risk creating more deficit.

See the reports by Dr. Laney and Dr. Seyderhoud online at the First Hawaiian Bank website, www.fhb.com/hm_news-2010.htm

My guest was Ted Coombs, author of the book Banyan Drive: the Stories of Incredible People. We first aired this program July 4, 2010; see that date for a summary of our talk story. You may find the book, which I enjoyed greatly, at Basically Books, Kona Stories, Lyman Museum, Book Gallery.

We talked with Mayor Kenoi on Friday, August 13, 2010 at the Waikoloa Marriott. The Mayor's Healthcare Conference was in progress, with over 450 attendees--medical professionals, service providers, people who just wanted to know more.

Mayor said the focus of the conference was on forward progress, good things happening regarding health care. The County applied for and received a $16.1 million grant to create a medical database system which will provide kiosks and online access for patients to get their medical info. They will also be able to email their docs.

Mayor recently participated in an exclusive urban design conference with 7 other mayors, sponsored by American Institute of Architects. He presented the project Honokohau Village, which is the area around the upcoming West Hawaii Civic Center. It will fit the profile of the current urban design standard, with bike paths, walking paths, as well as roads. He noted they had a luncheon speaker who's an expert in the impact of urban design on health. Proper urban design, which creates opportunity for healthy lifestyles, can help reduce the cost of healthcare by helping people be more fit.

Budget and property taxes: based on economic forecasts of a very very slow return to a robust economy, it's safe to say we can expect more property tax increases in the future. Property tax revenues are the only source, other than Transient Accommodation (Hotel) Tax, for the County. We urged Mayor to do more expense reduction.

One budget item was the proposed sale of Hamakua lands, former sugar plantation lands, for $8 million. They did not sell, are we in trouble? Mayor said they reduced expenses further to cover.

We also spoke of the new 1739 acre agriculture park, created out of some of the Hamakua lands. The project Kapulena is between Honoka'a and Waipio Valley. It is being cleared and fences built by inmates from Hawaii Correctional Center, and getting ready to have cows come and graze it down. The plan is to use the area partly for education, to help create true future farmers, as well as grazing land for our own island cattle.

Mayor closed in his usual optimistic tone of appreciating the people and beauty of the island.

My guest was Brian Niiya from Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu. Brian was here on the island doing workshops about the Japanese interment, at Kilauea Military Camp in Volcano. We recorded our interview there. JCC is in Honolulu on Beretania Avenue. They focus on the preservation of the Japanese culture in Hawaii. Brian used to work at Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, with Irene Hirano Inouye, wife of our senior U. S. Senator.

For years before the entry of the United States into World War II, it was believed the U. S. would get into war with Japan. Therefore, the U. S. had several Japanese living in America (including Hawaii) under surveillance. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, many were arrested immediately, on the mainland and in Hawaii--priests, language teachers, community leaders, members of the Japanese consular community. Subsequently, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, on February 19, 1942. That required the imprisonment (nicer term of interment has been used for years) of all those of Japanese ethnicity. That order was effective on the entire West Coast of the United States; in Hawaii the situation was different and not all Japanese were interned. A note on the term "internment": Brian said there is controversy over what term to use. During World War II, they called the process "relocation" or "evacuation," but now it's more common to use "incarceration, forced exclusion, imprisonment."

In addition to Japanese being put in camps, citizens of Italian and German descent were also imprisoned, even here in Hawaii. Obviously they were far fewer in numbers, but larger in percentage.

The action taken was not aimed at individuals who may have committed a crime or supported the Japanese war effort; the action was taken on a group basis based on ethnicity/race. Senator Daniel K. Inouye said previously that none of those interned were ever charged with a crime.

Numbers: 120,000 interned on the West Coast, that includes everybody who ever passed through the War Relocation Agency--babies born in the camps, everybody. The Hawaii internees: 1500 to 2500. Some of those were family members of the men who were interned. Families often chose to join the Dads who were interned because generally the father was the only breadwinner, and the family often had no other means of support so had to join the father in the camp.

Japanese Americans not on the West Coast were not interned. Most Japanese lived on the West Coast, so those not interned...a small number. Brian commented the government even pulled children out of orphanages, children who probably had no identification of themselves as Japanese, and threw them into camps.

During the war, there were around 160,000 to 170,000 Japanese in Hawaii, around 40% of Hawaii's population at the time. So the percentage of those interned here was small (compared to 100% of those in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona).

Why were Japanese in Hawaii not interned? Brian said they were such a critical part of society, and the Japanese in Hawaii were fully integrated into the population. Robert Shivers, director of the FBI here in Hawaii and one of the decision makers, had a live-in maid of Japanese descent, whose family he knew well, and whom he considered almost as a daughter. Brian said it's a lot harder to demonize an entire racial group when you know them...in Washington D. C. the decision makers did not know the Japanese as the Hawaii decision makers did.

It took a huge amount of political will, money, fear, and military resources to imprison the Japanese on the mainland. Here in Hawaii, there was more rational thinking. However, those who were imprisoned included consular agents on each island (go betweens for Japanese consulate and the Japanese living in Hawaii), Buddhist priests, teachers. Brian said there were many Japanese living here in Hawaii who were not allowed by law to become citizens, some who'd lived here for decades, and therefore they needed consular officials on each island. The imprisonment threw the Japanese community into turmoil, with the community leaders taken away, leaving the younger generation Nissei (born here, of Japanese-born parents) in charge.

Professor Alan Rosenfeld from U. H. West Oahu had begun looking more closely at those interned. His work shows that on Kaua'i, the percentage of those interned on Kaua'i was higher than on Oahu because of the resident consular agents. Brian said he did not have figures at hand, but thought the same would apply here on Hawaii Island.

On the mainland, how many interment camps, and where? The main camps--10, Manzanar, Tule Lake, Heart Mountain, each holding between 7,000 and 17,000. In addition, there were dozens of smaller camps.

In Hawaii, the main camp was Sand Island on Oahu. There were camps on each neighbor island, including here at Kilauea Military Camp! Internees would be held here for a few months, then transferred to Sand Island, and often ultimately sent to mainland camps. After 1943, a new camp on Oahu was Honouliuli Gulch, between Makakilo and Royal Kunia, a bit north of the H-1. It's very much intact because it's been privately owned and inaccessible since the war, yet only a mile from H-1. It's now in the process of being restored.

What happened to the internees' homes and possessions? On the mainland, most lost everything. In Hawaii, that was less true--fewer internees, more friends around to be caretakers, although there were those who lost everything.

What was life in the camp like? On Sand Island--very harsh, tensions were high, at the start of the war it was very difficult. As the war went on, conditions became somewhat better, with more benevolent camp leadership. Although there was no physical punishment, and the internees were allowed a certain amount of "freedom" -- the punishment was just being there. The conditions for "enemy aliens" were better...enemy aliens being the immigrants, those who came from Japan and were not yet citizens. That's because there was a belief that treating the immigrants well could translate to the Japanese treating American POWs well.

What did they do in the camps? Crafts, gardening, camp maintenance. There is a traveling exhibit now on the mainland, "The Art of Gaman," exhibiting the craft objects that came out of the camps. Teenagers, however, often felt the time in the camps was happy time. They were with their friends and they did not have the sense of loss which the older generation did. When released, many of the older generation were very bitter, having lost everything. Many of the older people were never able to re-establish their lives. Younger people were able to go into the military, take advantage of the GI Bill--some ended up with greater motivation as a result of the camps, somehow feeling they had to prove they were better than others.

Historical perspective: was there any justification for throwing those who were Japanese in prison? Brian said no, although there may have been individuals who were threats. The reasoning at the time was that because of the appearance of the Japanese, it would be impossible to tell who was loyal and who was not. In the 1980s, there was an official apology by the U. S. Government, and those imprisoned were given some monetary reparation. But Brian said after the 9/11 attacks...similar concerns exist about those who appear to be of Arab descent, or practice the Muslim religion. Brian said Japanese Amerians have the obligation to continue to work for people NOT to be demonized because of race. During the workshop, Brian showed a film featuring an internee who said when one demonizes a group because of ethnicity, or appearance, or lifestyle, it's a threat to our democracy.

Brian's final thoughts: we study history not because of nostalgia or to make ourselves feel good or bad, but because of how it can inform the present and future.

Learn more: online at the Japanese Cultural Center web site, www.jcch.com, or google "Japanese internment". Or visit the Japanese Cultural Center when on Oahu. If you visit Los Angeles, consider visiting the Japanese American National Museum, right near downtown in Japantown. It's very interesting, and has so many Hawaii connections. It also has a barracks moved from Heart Mountain, Wyoming, which helps one appreciate the horrible conditions in which the internees had to live.

Blood Bank Hawaii provides blood to the 19 civilian hospitals in the state, which includes our three major island hospitals and their affiliates. Tripler, a military hospital, collects blood from military personnel. Blood Bank and Tripler do share blood if needed.

Our state uses around 60,000 units (pints) of blood annually. Here on the island, we use around 4100 units annually. Blood is needed all year round.

Red blood cells are the oxygen carriers in the blood. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood (mostly made of water). Platelets are natural bandaids, per Sheri. They help with clotting.

The doctors in the hospital go through their own in-house labs to request blood. Each hospital has about a week's supply on hand. If there is some special need, Blood Bank can air ship blood over. If the state were to (heaven forbid) run out of blood, it is possible to get it from the mainland West Coast...but that's expensive.

Red blood cells last a month to six weeks. Plasma can be frozen. Platelets only last 5 days. Blood is needed by Blood Bank daily to replenish the supply.

Our blood type is determined by our parents...A, B, AB, O, but then there's the RH factor positive or negative. There are also factors specific to individuals or specific ancestry, such as Polynesian or Southeast Asian, certain antigens they have or do not that make blood donations from those individuals especially critical. There are over 300 different markers! This is why whenever a patient receives blood, there is always a thorough "cross and type" done to determine the blood the patient receives is the RIGHT blood. (Note: we need to get a blood doctor on to discuss the nuances of the blood types!)

Safety first: Blood Bank Hawaii screens each individual, and tests all blood with 13 tests, to ensure the blood is safe.

How much blood in our bodies? For each 10-12 pounds we weigh, we have a pint of blood. The body regenerates blood automatically, so when we donate or lose small amounts of blood, the body makes more. It takes 24-48 hours for the blood volume to return. Red blood cells take 4 to 6 weeks to regenerates. That's why Blood Bank Hawaii allows people to donate every 8 weeks.

Why do people need blood? Accidents are a small percentage of the need; most blood is needed by cancer patients. Chemotherapy kills many cells in patients, so chemo patients need replacement blood to keep the energy level up and replace killed blood cells with good, fresh blood.

How much blood do individuals get? Infants can get as little as a teaspoon. Organ transplants: may require 30 units of platelets, 40 units of red blood cells. Many donors are needed, 60 to 70 for a transplant donor. Open heart surgery also requires lots of blood, and many surgical procedures such as hip transplants.

Personal blood banking: many patients will donate their own blood if they're doing non-emergency surgery. That's handled by the individual hospitals.

How many people on our island donate? Roughly 1,000, out of our population of around 165,000. There are no paid donations in Hawaii, and the FDA does not permit any paid donations to be used for transfusions.

Blood Bank collects around 300 units on the West side every 8 weeks (1800 a year); Hilo side they collect 400 units of blood every 8 weeks (2400 a year). That about meets our need but Blood Bank would like to see more donors.

The process to donate:

--Call Blood Bank to schedule an appointment 800-372-9966.

--They check your i.d. and give you a mini physical

--You lie down on the gurney, they take a pint of blood, it takes less than 10 minutes for the actual giving.

Who can donate? Healthy individuals, no active cold or flu. People on chronic meds (insulin, blood pressure medication, cholesterol meds) can donate. You need to be 18 or 17 with parent permission, and weigh 110 pounds or more. (The 110 pound limit is because the bags are set up to collect one pint, and those under 110 cannot give that much blood.)

Blood Bank Hawaii budget is around $15 million annually. Their funding is from fees charged the hospitals for the blood.

Cord blood: there is a Hawaii cord blood bank for saving the cord blood from newborns, at Kapiolani Medical Center.

Donation sites on the island include the County Building, Aupuni Center; Aunty Sally's; Mormon Church Kailua-Kona; hotels; high schools; several other sites. Blood Bank is here about every 8 weeks, West side and East side. 60% of us will need blood at some point; only 2% of us donate now. Blood Bank Hawaii wants to increase the donor population!

Learn more or schedule an appointment: www.bbh.org or call 800-372-9966.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann

See his web site, www.mufihannemann.com, for a look at his background, education, and background in private industry and in government--federal, state, and local.

Mufi Hannemann's work with C. Brewer: he was Vice President of Corporate Development and Marketing, which included overseeing Punalu'u Sea Mountain Resort here on the island. He also lobbied Congress to impress upon the importance of agriculture to Hawaii and seek funding. Mayor Hannemann started the Punalu'u Bake Shop and Sweetbread Factory Visitor Center in Na'alehu.

Why did Mayor decide to resign his position midway through his term and run for Governor (a note, the law requires him to resign if running for another seat): he felt the time was right for what he feels is his collaborative leadership style, working with the legislature, county mayors, and federal congressional delegation. He says he made it clear when he ran for Mayor in 2008 that he might not complete his term.

Will Mayor Hannemann fulfill his term as Governor if election (he indicated ambitions to the U. S. Congress)? He says he commits to the four year term and then will go from there.

How can voters best assess a candidate's values and character as we decide for whom we'll vote? Mayor Hannemann says he suggests voters look at one's upbringing and education (Hannemann was raised in Kalihi, went to public schools, then to Iolani and then Harvard). He says his parents impressed upon him and his six siblings the importance of "giving back" to the community. He invites a look at his record of involving people from all parties and his track record of credibility.

Mayor Hannemann says look at his record in working with the other county mayors to keep the state legislature from removing the Transient Accommodations Tax from the counties (for Hawaii County, that's around $18 million dollars) and other projects to see how he will work and support the neighbor islands as well as Oahu.

Key initiatives: his "3 Es" are the economy, education, and environment. He says the economy is his first priority to provide funds for education. He says here on Hawaii Island, he wants to find a way to stop JAL from stopping direct air service to the island from Japan, to help improve tourism.

Re education, he will treat the school superintendent as a cabinet member.

The environment: on Oahu, he has an award-winning 21st century ahupua'a project, combining best practices with cultural preservation. He includes energy in the environmental "e".

How will he put people back to work? He wants to strengthen tourism. He has already lobbied to bring APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) to Oahu. He wants to restore the Superferry to provide alternatives for interisland transportation and another method for farmers to get products to market. He wants to get a long term Pro Bowl contract for Oahu but find ways to involve the neighbor islands, such as sending some of the players to neighbor islands to focus tourism everywhere.

His first priority: a statewide audit, which he thinks will take 3 months, to find easy ways to save money. He says he did the same in Honolulu, that resulted in eliminating a 20-year-old payroll system with better technology, he combined some telephone systems for efficiency and cost saving of over $1 million. He says he would not wait til the end of the audit to implement cost savings--some should be obvious.

The Governor must submit a budget 20 days after taking office and Mayor Hannemann would submit the current Administration's budget, but inform the legislature he may not agree with all.

Education, for pre school through 12--what really has to happen? Hannemann promotes public school education and feels having a Governor be a strong champion of education is critical. He also wants to leverage more Federal grants. He also says the State Administration currently has held onto grant funds, even federally funded grants, rather than pass those grants through to the requesting agencies--schools and other agencies.

How does Mayor Hannemann answer critics who say he's crossed the line of propriety with what was reported as inappropriate fundraisers by those who may have a stake in the Honolulu Rail project? Mayor Hannemann says look at his record, he has had no whiff of scandal, he's been forthright in all things. The Pittsburgh fundraiser was put on by somebody who's no longer involved with the Rail contractor, and because of the controversy, Mayor said he's accepted no funds from that fundraiser. He says there will be no "pay for play" in his administration.

Other listener questions: a union steward was upset about furloughs and cessation of automatic pay raises--a small business owner felt state employees are treated very generously and that's driving our state budget too high. Mayor Hannemann says he's asking nothing of unions that he won't ask of himself, and he'll work with the unions and the individuals to have everybody be realistic and work to make our state be efficient. He also feels his "open book" attitude will help--he welcomes looks at all the finances. He also says he will have an open door policy, with conversations both on the record and off the record.

Is there a conflict as a result of Mayor's many union endorsements? Mayor Hannemann says he's proud of the union endorsements. He says his track record shows that he can work with the unions to get better services for Honolulu and he can do the same at state level.

Energy: Mayor Hannemann applauds the Hawaii Clean Energy Act, which is intended to move our state from 90% dependency on imported oil. He plans to take the agreement signed by Governor Lingle to the next level. He also says Governor Lingle formed a partnership with Okinawa for clean energy, and he wants to continue and advance that as well. He also wants the counties to be more involved in creating clean, renewable energy.

What is Mayor Hannemann most proud of? He's proud that he entered public service and stayed with it. He feels he's handled very controversial issues and done so effectively.

Learn more: www.votemufi.com or www.mufihannemann.com.

Lieutenant Governor James "Duke" Aiona was our guest. Lt. Governor is running for Governor. He received his nickname after the baseball player Duke Snider. He was born and raised on Oahu, and worked as an attorney and judge prior to his 2002 election as Lt. Governor, serving with Governor Linda Lingle.

How can voters assess the character and values of the candidates? LG agrees that's an appropriate assessment, as issues come and go and change in intensity. LG is a father to four, married 29 years, a strong member of the Catholic Church, a coach and mentor, an attorney and judge for both Family Court and Circuit Court. LG says those experiences have shaped his life and values.

What are LG's key goals if elected? Ensuring we have balance, integrity, and good judgment in government; creating jobs; investing in the quality of education.

Regarding education, preschool through 12: the first thing he would do is call for a comprehensive, independent audit of the Department of Education, by an outside firm. Right now, it's not clear who's accountable for public education--Superintendent? Board of Education? Legislation? Governor? ... and where is the money? LG says the parties involved (DOE) have not agreed to such an audit; his goal would be to get that agreement for a very independent audit, not done by the internal legislative auditor. From that, changes can be made. He wants Principals to be fully in charge of the school, including the money and authority to hire/fire teachers, and be judged on the objectives.

Principals and teachers are in unions (different ones). How will LG deal with that, as now the unions are pretty much in control. LG said we're the only state with principals in a union--therefore no worry about job security nor performance. He said the solution is to work closely with the unions and try to get common ground.

Test results for our schools were good, just released Friday July 16(the day we recorded the interview). LG isn't sure if furloughs are good are bad--he says some students really hate furloughs, for less learning time, and other students love furloughs, more chance to catch up, breathe, relax. LG feels the people need

In November we'll vote for a constitutional amendment to have an elected or appointed school board. LG says having an appointed school board is one positive step but not the only answer.

Union shop steward question: what about furloughs being forced on state workers; what will LG do to restore automatic pay raises and eliminate furlough days for the state's union workers? LG said the Governor went to the unions and said labor costs, the biggest expense of our state, had to be cut in face of declined revenues. She proposed graduated pay cuts, less for lower-paid workers. The unions initially asked for a same percent cut across the board, then came back and wanted furloughs, pay cut but days off.

Lt. Governor Aiona has visited more than 100 businesses across all islands. He visited several businesses here on the island, in International Marketplace, Sig Zane, tourist businesses by Kailua Pier and Honokohau Harbor. Two messages from businesses: cut unemployment taxes and eliminate red tape required for permits. LG intends to work on that as Governor.

I asked LG how he can be successful with the legislature when Governor Lingle has had initiatives blocked. LG said they have been more successful than obviously seen; many of the initiatives are initially rejected then reintroduced by the Legislature as "their own."

Are there steps aimed at helping small businesses on our island? LG said they last year introduced PACE, a program to help offset taxes for installing energy efficient systems; didn't pass this year, he'll try again next year.

Republican strategist Karl Rove was recently with LG Aiona on Oahu, hosting a fundraiser. Is there a role for Karl Rove in LG's campaign for Governor? LG Aiona said no, and that Karl Rove will not be involved in how LG campaigns.

Civil unions: Governor Lingle recently vetoed the Civil Unions Bill, HB 444, which would have allowed two people of opposite gender or same gender to declare themselves a "civil union" and have certain rights, priviliges, and responsibilities. LG said this is a bill that must go to voters. He said the bill said "civil unions" but really meant "marriage," becoming available to couples of same gender. Although in 1999 the voters passed a constitutional amendment giving the Legislature the power to declare marriage as between a man and a woman. The following year, the state passed a Reciprocal Benefits Law, giving couples of same/opposite gender certain rights and priviliges. LG urges all to read HB 444 and see that it equates civil unions with marriage. Note, I consulted with three law professors at University of Hawaii Law School who said the bill was about civil rights and discrimination, not about marriage. Their concern was leaving any civil rights issue to a popular vote. The example: if there had been a popular vote (vs legislative mandate), it's felt women would not have been given the vote, people of color would not be able to vote, inter-racial couples might not be able to marry, there would have been no Civil Rights Act of 1964. A Star Advertiser editorial on July 7 pointed out that voters vote on whim, on the mode of the day...legislators are supposed to rise above.

Energy independence: LG Aiona says this is a major reason why he wants to be Governor, to continue the work of the Clean Energy Initiative, an agreement between the State, the US Department of Energy, and the electric utilities in the states.

Hawaii Island already has more than 30% renewable energy resources, thanks to Puna Geothermal, an amazing and endless resource. LG said there is a proposal now to link a cable between Oahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i to bring renewable energy to Oahu. No plans to link to Hawaii Island at this point. For now, he says we want to develop energy resources on Hawaii Island so it can become the first island with 100% renewable resources.

What has LG done of which he's most proud? The Clean Energy Initiative, the first drug control plan in the state using various stakeholders working together, and the state's healthy initiatives.

Re the LG's Healthy Initiatives program: will he continue that? And can we get the State Department of Transportation to follow through with promises to put bike paths and walking paths in? DOT removed the bike / walking path intended to run parallel to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway; will LG get them to restore such plans? LG said from now on, all roads will include paths and bikeways. Not only is this good for health, it's good for the environment. LG recommends we all get out there and move more!

With Oahu having the bulk of the population, and our island having 165,000 people: how likely is it that our or any neighbor island will get money, attention, and resources from the state in this time of challenged budgets? LG said each island should get what it needs. He used examples of recent fund releases for UH Hilo, Hawaii Community College at Palamanui.

Why a Republican Governor? Balance, and life values such as assuming individual responsibility.

LG said from statehood (1959) to 2002, the legislature overrode 120 Gubernatorial vetoes. From 2002 to present, they overrode 1 veto. He said that's not a good check/balance system, it needs to be more balanced.

LG Aiona says he takes this responsibility of running for Governor very seriously. He always wants to do what's best for the people.

More about Duke Aiona online, www.dukeaiona.com.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye and his wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, came to our Kona studio on Monday, July 5. On July 4, Senator was Grand Marshal for the Kailua-Kona Independence Day Parade. Their entry was followed by members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, in which Senator served during World War II. Prior to the parade, Senator met with the men of the 442nd at Kona's Kekuaokalani Gym.

How did Senator like reuniting with his 442nd comrades? Senator said it was the best welcome he's had in a long, long while, coming home to Hawaii to be with his buddies. He noted the numbers are dwindling--the first time he came to Kona after the war, he said there were hundreds. He said the average age of the 442nd men now is 88.

Senator said he really liked his parade experience--he said although Kona is known as a small resort town, there were thousands lining the parade route.

On June 28, with the death of Robert Byrd, Senator Inouye became the longest serving member of the United States Senate. He is now President Pro Tempore. Some of his duties are administrative; Senator Inouye must now sign all bills and resolutions for the Senate. That means he may be called upon to sign bills anytime of day or night.

One change is that Senator is now third in line of succession to the U. S. Presidency, after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. Senator said the change in his lifestyle has been dramatic and drastic...for one thing, he's now protected 24 hours a day by United States Capitol Police. Senator is no longer allowed to drive himself, and Capitol Police will travel with him, they are with him 24 hours a day.

Senator noted that during any joint session of Congress, such as during the State of the Union address, the President Pro Tempore is not present--he's in a secret bunker as all other key cabinet officers are present.

Senator said he's made it clear to Capitol Police he wants to be accessible to his constituents, to the public. But he is protected, front and back, all the time.

Senator is head of Senate Appropriations Committee, the largest and most powerful committee in the Senate. Senator signs off on all expenditures, all appropriations. Senator said he has 12 subcommittees, each dealing with one area of appropriations. Last year, 9 of the 12 were unanimous in agreeing about expenditures; 3 subcommittees had only one dissenting vote. Senator was proud of the bipartisan nature of his committee.

Washington Post columnist David Broder wrote an interesting column about the responsibility of the Senate, to rise above populist issues and focus on the good of the nation. The Senate Republicans, prior to the recess, did not bring a bill forward to extend unemployment benefits to 1.3 million unemployed people..the bill had been passed by the House...so benefits for unemployed will stop for a period. Senator said it was not a good move, and the Senators did not follow the law in extending unemployment benefits.

Senator has said he wants to "return the Appropriations Committee to the traditions of regular order." What does this mean? Senator said in the past, oftentimes the Senators would not come to agreement on appropriations, and they would just do blanket funding of programs from the previous year, whether or not they were current. They also would provide an "omnibus" bill, just put all the money in, and divide it between the states. Senator said he wants to have a current budget for each year, based on current issues.

Senator's goals for his ninth term, for which he's running in November: Saddle Road, completing projects here on the island such as continued funding for UH Hilo. From a national standpoint, the Pacific Rim is now considered an area of major concern. The Admiral of the Pacific Command looks at half of the world, and this includes countries often at odds with each other...China, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam...Senator wants to focus on keeping the peace, and feels Hawaii and the military's Pacific Command are instrumental in this effort.

Akaka Bill: at the time of the recording on Monday July 5, Senator told us that Governor Lingle would shortly announce her support based on changes to which Senator Akaka, Senator Inouye, and Attorney General Mark Bennett had agreed. On Wednesday, July 7, Governor did indeed announce her support.

Both our Senators have served for years, in a governmental system that rewards seniority. When our Senators retire at some point, what will happen to the money that comes in? Senator said he assumes our Hawaii house members will be more senior and start chairing key committees. Senator said he's also brought along younger members from the state by including them on his staff, grooming them to serve not only in politics but to serve as leaders within the community: Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, Honolulu Managing Director Kirk Caldwell, who's running for Honolulu Mayor, and others.

Senator married Irene Hirano Inouye two years ago. Mrs. Inouye is highly educated (bachelors and masters at USC), and has had more than 30 years in public service and public administration. She was the founding chief executive officer of the Japanese American National Museum. Mrs. Inouye said although it's in Los Angeles, it's really a national museum, focusing on the hidden stories of Japanese Americans. One of their earlier projects was the Kona Coffee Story. It also focuses on the World War II story, the incarceration of Japanese Americans and the service of the 442nd members as examples.

The museum contains a barracks from Heart Mountain, Wyoming, moved piece by piece from Wyoming by a team that included former residents of the Heart Mountain camp. If you visit Los Angeles, try visit...their information is online, www.janm.org.

Mrs. Inouye is president of the Japanese American Council, an organization focusing on developing people-to-people relationships...not just government based, but personally based.

After a 57-year marriage to his late wife, Maggie, Senator married a career woman. In his first marriage, Senator said he never entered the kitchen...never knew how to use a microwave or the dishwasher. How do the Inouyes manage their now two-career family? Senator said he now makes the bed every day, uses the microwave, and loads the dishwasher.

Senator said he's lucky...he's had a great career, unheard-of opportunities, a good family, and great friends. Mrs. Inouye said she loves being home in Hawaii, and is always gratified to see how people approach Senator and are grateful for the funds Senator has provided to advance our island infrastructure and facilities.

My guest was Ted Coombs, author of the book Banyan Drive: the Stories of Incredible People. Ted lives in Puna, and previously wrote 13 books, in the "For Dummies" series.

The lava flow that makes up the Waiakea area was from around 610 AD, from Mauna Loa. It created everything east of Kilauea Avenue.

Reed's Bay: on Banyan Drive across from Ken's House of Pancakes, was named after William Reed. He moved to Hilo 1840s, and was an industrialist, building bridges and buildings. He married the widow of the missionary the first Shipman. He was the grandfather of Herbert Shipman.

The ice pond name of Reed's Bay is because of cold freshwater springs in the Bay which makes the water really pretty chilly.

Ted says the area was considered sacred. There were several heiau, including a sacrificial heiau, where the ancient Hawaiians would drop a large stone or stones on prostrate Hawaiians who had violated the kapu.

When the earliest banyan trees were planted, in the 1930s, there was no Banyan Drive as we know it. Ted said there were some vacation shacks, and the area was covered by strawberry guava. On maps, it was called "government land." There were some parks, the start of what is now Lili'uokalani Park, and some fishing ponds, and fishing shacks.

Hilo Yacht Club started in 1897. They built the first clubhouse, a small two story building, where the Naniloa Volcanoes Hotel is now. They actually had yachts back then...as opposed to now, with no yachts. Eventually Dudley Childs bought the building and started the hotel. The Yacht Club then moved to their current location in Keaukaha.

Banyan Drive has hotels now, Hilo Hawaiian and Naniloa. The only big hotel for a long time was the Naniloa, although there were some small hotels..Orchid, Travelodge, both gone, one now turned into condos.

How did the idea of planting the banyan trees come up? The County Parks Commission wanted to beautify the area, and decided in 1933 they would plant banyan saplings 110' apart, and that someday, they would have a road connecting the banyans. Herbert Shipman was a member of the Parks Commission. Cecil deMille was on the island in 1933, filming a movie called Four Frightened People. He was using Shipman's properties, and Shipman thought it would be good to honor Cecil B. DeMille and some of the actors, including William Garghan, Herbert Marshall, Edna Best, Leo Carillo, and Mary Boland.

How did the luminaries get selected for banyan tree plantings? The week after the first planting, Babe Ruth was here on the island (!) and planted a tree. The tree in front of the Hilo Hawaiian is the Babe Ruth Tree. As famous people came to the island, they planted trees.

Banyan Drive came about thanks to Franklin Roosevelt. He came to the island to fish on the Kona side. Hired 80 people, using Federal Works Projects funds, to tear out the strawberry guava and pave the road with crushed coral. Annabelle Ruddle, on the Parks Commission, went to Kona, met with the president, and convinced him to come to Hilo.

When excavating, several Hawaiian burial sites were found during the excavations. There were many caves, and they found many Hawaiians buried standing up, in the style of the ancients.

Knefler McGinnis was a Naval Aviator who flew sea planes. In 1934, sea planes were quite slow. He flew an entire squadron of sea planes across the ocean from California to Hawaii, to Kaneohe Bay. The Navy put ships across the ocean every hundred miles, to keep an eye on the planes and provide fueling stops for the planes.

Juliette Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. As a baby, the nurse cleaning her ears made her deaf in one ear. At her wedding to Mr. Low, some thrown rice went into her other ear, deafening her!

About 70 trees have been planted, with around 50 still standing. Some are on the golf course.

V. A. Carvalho, Virginio, the founding principal of the Prince Jonah Kalanianaole School. He was friends with Prince Jonah, and oral family tradition has it that Carvalho actually wrote the Hawaiian Homelands Act which Prince Jonah then introduced and passed. Carvalho was honored because he had five sons who joined Hawaiian National Guard at the same time.

Benjamin Bond was a doctor in Kohala, missionaries. One of Bond's loves was plants, inherited from his mother. Many sea captains came to Kohala and many stayed with the Bonds. The ship captains would often bring back flowers and plants from the far East; Mrs. Bond is credited with being the first on the island to plant white ginger. His goal was to reforest the island.

Thomas Jaggar: he was part of the MIT Astronomy Center which came here in 1911. It was through his strength and genius

Princess Abigail Kawananakoa: a well loved monarch. She formed one of the four Ali'i Beneficial Organizations, Hale O Ali'i o Hawaii.

Who made decisions on the trees? The Hilo Women's Club was very powerful; sugar was king, there was a lot of money in Hilo town. Hilo Women's Club brought culture to Hilo, one way by bringing well known speakers to the island. Amelia Earhart, when here to teach some classes at the university, spoke to the women's club and had a tree planted.

Uncle Billy Kimi, owner of the Uncle Billy Hotels Hilo and Kona. He pretty much decided he wanted a banyan, so Uncle Billy took some of the hanging roots from the Knefler McGinnis tree and moved them and helped them root. The tree is right in front of Uncle Billy's Hotel.

Helene Hale: Helene, around 90 today, has been in Hawaii politics as a member of Hawaii County Council and the State House. Helene started United Nations Council, and remains active in promoting world involvement.

Kent Warshauer. His was the last to be dedicated. Ken died in 2006 of cancer. He wrote the Hawaii Tribune-Herald column called "The Sugar Mill Spy", all about Hilo's history, the great bits and pieces about what used to be in East Hawaii. Ted met Kent when he was writing the book, and Ted says he learned a lot from Kent. Kent also gave him all his research two weeks before he died.

Hilario C. Moncado was a Filipino sugar worker, but quickly became a labor organizer. He was loved by the Filipino workers. He moved to California and organized the Filipino workers there. He met a spiritual worker, and they formed a coalition in which it was claimed that Moncado was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Moncadistas continue to believe.

Ted Coombs is in the Guinness Book of World Records. In 1979 he roller skated across the United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Coombs

The book is Banyan Drive: the Stories of Incredible People. You can get it at Basically Books in Hilo, also try Book Gallery, at Lyman Museum, and Kona side, at Kona Stories in Kainaliu. I recommend it--a great look at interesting information about Hilo's history.

Our guests were County Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira, and members of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization: Executive Director Gail Byrne, board members Mike Nakahara and Pohakuloa Training Area Deputy Fire Chief Eric Moller.

Fire Chief Oliveira gave us some general updates. Ka'imi the Arson Detecting Dog is more than earning his keep. He's the only fire dog in the state. He's been called out to around 70 fire scenes, and has found evidence of arson in 22 of those. He's been to Kaua'i and Maui to help. Recently when he and handler Captain Bobby Pereira were on a training trip to Missouri--on the way back they stopped in Las Vegas and Ka'imi's services were requested by the Las Vegas Fire Department!

Budget: Fire Chief says his department is tightening its belt, like all departments, but they feel they can effectively serve at the budget level they've forecasted. (As a note, we did not discuss this, but the Daniel Sayre Foundation has an annual fundraiser, coming up early September, at Fairmont Orchid that raises funds to provide additional equipment for Hawaii County Fire and Rescue teams.)

Weather: we are in a drought...with Hawaii Island being the driest place in the United States. Fire Chief said the National Weather Service even had to update its drought maps--they initially did not include Hawaii (what a surprise...). Forecasts are for this drought to continue, even though Kona is starting to get its traditional summer rain. Even Hilo is way dryer than usual.

Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization is the only such group in the state. They started to provide information and assistance in helping prevent wildfires, which can be very serious here. The group includes fire professionals, ranchers, conservationists. They encourage people in fire-prone areas to clear firebreaks around their homes, to plant natives and succulents, which are more drought tolerant and more fire resistant, and to have family evacuation plans.

They encourage adherence to the nationwide "Ready-Set-Go" plan. That encourages families to know what the dangers might be, have a plan, and if a fire starts--evacuate. Gail pointed out part of our island's fire danger is because of poor planning--witness the Waikoloa Village area, with one road in and out. Fire Chief said the alternate access road is available, but only when the gate is opened during an evacuation situation. Fire Chief said do not wait to be told to evacuate if it's obvious you should go.

Fireworks: please be very very careful with such dry conditions...please buy only legal fireworks...and take advantage of watching our island's spectacular professional displays. Lehua Jaycees and Hawaii County will have fireworks over Hilo Bay, starting July 4th around 8 to 8:30ish. Big Island Honda, Kona Commons, Hawaii County, and many generous donors have enabled fireworks over Kailua Bay, with Hawaii Pyrotechnics doing the work, starting around 8:30 p.m. Simultaneous patriotic music on LAVA 105.3 fm! Chief and all say, please have water close if you're doing your own fireworks and watch the keiki.

Contact Hawaii Wildfire Management Organizaton: 885-0900, or their web site, www.hawaiiwildfire.org

Governor Cayetano published his memoir last year: Ben, A Memoir, from Street Kid to Governor. It received two major awards from the prestigious Hawaii Publishers Association. I read it and found it fascinating (very detailed, be prepared).

How did he have such recall? He used the Honolulu Advertiser Archives and the journals given to each legislator for each year they're in office. He talked to lots of people. (He said legislators then, his time, made way more speeches than legislators now!)

Governor Cayetano said our state governor is one of the most powerful in the country because in Hawaii, many functions typically handled at local county level (roads, education) are handle here at state level. He said there is not much issue difference between Democratic candidates, and that most who run for Governor are smart. He said the challenge is uncovering their character--do they have the political will to "do the right thing" even if it's hard? Do they keep their word? Will they be beholden to special interest groups...or can they do what is right for the people in this state?

Education: Governor Cayetano has joined with former Governors Waihe'e and Ariyoshi to create a white paper on reforming education. They believe an appointed, not elected board is proper: they feel the elected board members can be subject to political pressure.

Governor says the teachers' union is an issue (note, the teachers union endorsed Cayetano for every office, and he says he has a soft spot in his heart for them.)

Governor feels the board of education should be appointed, not elected. He feels the current board responds to every special interest group in a way that takes them away from the basic mission.

Get Ben Cayetano's book, Ben, A Memoir: From Street Kid to Governor at the usual online sources or Borders or Basically Books or Kona Stories locally.

Note, you can see our talk story with Congressman Abercrombie at our web site, www.lava1053.com

My guest was former United States Congressman Neil Abercrombie, who is running for the Democratic nomination to be on the General Election Ballot as the Democratic candidate for Governor. We recorded the interview Saturday afternoon, June 12. His major opponent, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, will be our guest towards the end of July. Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona, the presumptive Republican nominee, has not yet selected a date.

Why does he want to be governor? He feels there's a void in leadership in the state, and a leader is needed who will do the right thing relative to education, energy independence, and more. He felt he needed to run for the job to leverage his Washington, DC experience for the benefit of the state. Our relationships in Washington are not being fully utilized now.

Congressman was criticized for leaving his US Congress job early. What was his decision process? He feels the campaign is a referendum on leadership. Congress passed several recovery programs, yet back here in Hawaii, we did not utilize the funds as we could. Example: State Department of Business Development only used 2% of money available to the state, creating only 12 jobs. Abercrombie feels he can help the state get and use the money more effectively. He says he was tired of helping pass important bills that could bring money in and over the past couple of years, seeing the money underutilized. He also said he had voted on all major votes, including Health Care Reform, prior to resigning. He also said he felt it would be dishonorable to stay in his job and pretend to focus on it while campaigning, he could not look at himself in the mirror.

How could Congressman ask the state to spend $1 million on a special election? He said it was far less than $1 million, and the funds were provided by the Federal Government, not the state. Congressman pointed out the irony...he was elected in 1986 in a special election when Cec Heftel resigned to run for Governor...Mufi Hannemann ran in that race for US Congress, too.

Honolulu Star Advertiser columnist David Shapiro wrote a recent column, saying Abercrombie had called for a "re-establishment of a public conscience". What does that mean? Congressman said the examples are those pointed out by Shapiro...while the state legislature agreed to take a 36% pay raise, they were asking others to cut their salaries; there are other examples at state and county levels. Abercrombie says the phrase was one he used in a speech at the Democratic convention, and says we also have to act with civic courage. There were two people who inspired and informed his thinking in this. One was Dietriech Von Hoffer, a pacifist minister involved with trying to assassinate Hitler...a man whose principles had been so sorely tested he felt he needed to do something. Frances Perkins, first secretary of labor, said in the midst of the depression, said we must have a public conscience--that the government is there to work with the people on their behalf. We need to take courage in ourselves and our capacity to deal with the current issues. An example: if we truly value children and education, how could we possibly put instruction days on the bargaining table?

My scheduled guest next week is former Governor Ben Cayetano (full disclosure, Congressman Abercrombie wrote the introduction to Ben Cayetano's recent book). In my advance discussions with Gov Cayetano about being on Island Issues, he said it's really challenging for Governor candidates to deliver every single thing they say they will. He said we should look at candidates' character, not just what they say they will do. What decision process will Congressman expect to use if elected? He said all decisions must go back to the basic values of the state, and of the party, and of the people in the state. Priorities become clear if values are the benchmark. He also says since he's not going to run again for another office, his decisions will not be based on what comes next, but what comes now. He feels he can act on behalf of the community interest.

A union steward submitted a question asking what Congressman Abercrombie would do to eliminate union worker furloughs and the hold on automatic raises currently in effect. Congressman Abercrombie said we must go back to values and priorities, and eliminate the thought that we can do nothing about our current poor economy. He feels utilizing the public workers' expertise and ideas more robustly will help to look for other ways to approach the work--restructuring work days and times, other things. The main thing: get revenues moving in the state so we do not have to have furloughs...take advantage of federal funding, move faster on new projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope. Leadership from the Governor is required to get things moving, and increase those revenues.

Key points of Congressman Abercrombie's energy independence plan: use the resources of the Big Island--geothermal epecially, plus wind. Be aggressive. The state has reports making back to 1978 saying the same thing...but Abercrombie says the Governor needs to get things moving.

Congressman Abercrombie has an extensive background in education (teacher, assistant to School Superintendent, head of state legislative committees on education). Congressman said he'd prefer to appoint the Superintendent of Education, but doubts that will happen. There is aproposition on the November ballot to have the board named by a State Legislative Committee, who would select names, send them to the Governor, who would send them back to the Senate for review and approval. Congressman says that is unworkable and he hopes that proposition does not pass. He intends to appoint whoever the Superintendent of Education is to his Cabinet and truly include them in decision making.

Why so much time on the Big Island? Congressman said he HAS been spending a lot of time on the Big Island and appreciates and likes it. But....is this part of a political strategy, to spend time here when clearly there are so many votes on Oahu, not as many here. Abercrombie says he feels the neighbor islands will determine who gets the Democratic nomination. He also said it's crystal clear that all neighbor islanders feel state government is very Honolulu (not just Oahu) centric. He feels our state is the Hawaiian Islands...in the plural...he wants to not have such a Honolulu-centric government. He wants to find ways to more easily enable neighbor islanders to participate, via video testimony, in state government...he feels neighbor islanders have been disadvantaged. He feels neighbor islanders will conclude that Neil Abercrombie will be the their best friend at Washington Place (the Governor's residence).

Honolulu Advertiser writer Derrick DePledge (now Star Advertiser) wrote that Mufi Hannemann's gubernatorial announcement implied that Congressman did not have the stamina to run for Governor. I asked, does he have the energy and stamina to run for and perform as Governor? Abercrombie laughed...he said he has more energy now than ever, and challenges anybody to meet him at his gym and be on the recumbent bike for 45 minutes! He said his health is good, and his energy and spirit have never been better.

How would his colleagues view him relative to his ability to keep his word, to do the right thing for the public? Congressman says he always kept the mission at the forefront...what is the objective...and feels he was able to work bipartisanly to get the job done for the people.

Please plan to vote...primary is September 18, walk in balloting starts September 3, general is November 2. We need to have a voice in our state government, which we can if we vote. Stay tuned for future talk stories with Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Lieutenant Governor Duke Aiona.

North Hawaii Community Hospital is a nonprofit hospital (not part of the state hospital system) in Waimea, on Mamalahoa Highway. They have 39 beds; usual occupancy is 20. John White has been the CEO for about a year. They have an Emergency Department, OB/GYN, surgery, regular inpatient services, radiology. They have an orthopedic surgeon, general surgeon, thoracic surgeon, a variety of docs. Oncology (cancer) care is offered by Dr. Tony DeSalvo, who also practices at Kona Community Hospital. They offer chemo at NHCH but radiation is offered at Kona Hospital.

They have two cardiologists, one full time, one visiting weekly from Oahu. Cardiology is an area, island-wide, where more docs would be desirable.

The annual budget for NHCH is around $40 million dollars. 2008 (prior to John White's arrival), they lost $10 million. This past year, they lost $5 million. Their goal this year: lose only $2.5 million. In 2008, they had some one-time costs for information systems, but John said that kind of loss is unsustainable.

They recently had some layoffs. John pointed out their business has been down--fewer docs in town, therefore fewer patients, people deferring elective surgery. Recent layoffs were not in core hospital services, they were in rehab and home health care. John feels the cuts will not affect basic service. He says they do not anticipate future layoffs (barring any unforseen developments).

Where do they get money to cover shortfalls? Generous donors, grants. However, John pointed out the $2.5 million anticipated loss this year is partly an accounting loss, so for actual cash flow--money in and out--they'll about break even. (Good news for us on the island, as we need all 3 of our hospitals).

NHCH used to be managed by Adventist Health Care, more recently by Quorum Health Resources...they no longer hire folks through QHR. John and others are all direct employees of NHCH, thus eliminating the cost of using a management company. They do continue to use Quorum's purchasing network, to get the benefit of bulk purchasing.

In addition to finances, physician shortage continues to be a huge issue. NHCH is bringing in physicians as employees, as a solution to the problem. They've recently brought in two new Ob/Gyns, and a new orthopedic surgeon and hand doctor (Dr. Diane Payne!!, do you think she selected this profession because of her name??).

Other key focus items: quality and safety, including infection control. They have a Comprehensive Unit Based Safety Program, intended to reduce bloodstream infections--and NHCH has not had such an infection in two years. They use checklists extensively to ensure everybody is following the right procedures, all the time. (A note, the "new thing" hospital industry-wide, is reliance on checklists, just ensuring procedures are the same, every time. For more, see the book The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande.)

Impact of health care reform on NHCH? First known impact, a huge plus, the 340B Drug Program allowing NHCH to purchase drugs at a much greater discount. That will make a $15K to $20K per month difference in NHCH's finances. They're also getting help as a result of the federal program to encourage hospitals to use electronic records, which are more efficient and cheaper.

Trauma Care: NHCH, like Kona and Hilo hospitals, is Level 3 Trauma. They, like the others, must transport to Oahu if someone comes in with a brain injury, serious head wounds, as we have no neurosurgeon here on the island. They do have a General Surgeon 24/7, so can treat many problems without transporting.

Blood: NHCH has around 88 units of blood on hand, about a week's supply, at all times. If they need more blood immediately, they can get it from the other two hospitals. They restock Tuesdays.

Air Ambulance service: if one needs transport to Oahu, they go by ambulance from NHCH to the Waimea Airport, then they fly in the special Air Ambulance, then by ambulance to Queen's Medical Center. We have several small planes for ambulance service. John said if he wanted to make an improvement, he'd have a medical helicopter with overwater capability here, so transport from the scene of an accident directly to Oahu could happen.

Community Outreach: they have quarterly update meetings, the public is invited. Mr. White also welcomes calls and emails.

For more, call NHCH at 881-4400, go to the web site www.nhch.com, or email John White directly at whitejr@nhch.com. John's assistant is Rachel Black-Santiago, and very very knowledgeable and helpful.

Dr. Gary Ten Eyck joined the faculty of University of Hawaii Hilo School of Pharmacy in January. Dr. Ten Eyck came to UH Hilo most directly from New York University. For more than 15 years, Dr. Ten Eyck has been researching the coqui frog.

Dr. Ten Eyck said his wife started the move to Hawaii by taking the family on a surprise vacation to Oahu in 2006. When he learned of the expansion of UH Hilo School of Pharmacy, he decided to come here. His location here provides him direct access to the coqui frog--no longer does he need to fly to Puerto Rico. He also will be involved directly with undergraduates in the Pre Pharm program, those students taking courses to help them enter the School of Pharmacy. He said he likes the challenge. Additionally, there is a new PhD program coming on line with which he wants to be involved, focusing on cancer research. And, he is excited about joining a relatively new program and helping grow it.

What prompted Dr. Ten Eyck to start studying coqui? He said at University of South Dakota, his advisor brought back coqui from Puerto Rico and they turned out to be great research subjects. They have interesting behaviors, different from other frogs.

Dr. Ten Eyck is a neuropharmacologist. That's using drugs to influence the brain. For example, he's using certain drugs to try to influence the coqui. That work is difficult to do with humans (obviously) but easy to do with coqui.

What were Dr. Ten Eyck's initial goals in coqui research? As a graduate student in South Dakota, he was intrigued that coqui have no tadpoles. At that time he was working on bone and cartilage development, and that progressed to looking at coqui brains, specifically seratonin and dopamine. He was comparing the coqui to "regular" frogs.

Coqui is a frog that develops directly, egg to frog...no tadpole. The 1/4" eggs are transparent, and you can even see the mini frogs inside. The father sits on the eggs...another way they are different (usually it's the Mom). The dad sits on, guards, broods, keeps them from drying out, and maybe other things yet to be determined. The dad typically stays at the nest for 3 or 4 days after the eggs hatch (and doesn't eat them, which is remarkable). When the frogs are hatched, their seratonin systems are developed enough for functioning, but in the first 3 to 5 days, the brain systems and seratonin grow fast. It appears the dad stays til the brain chemicals are developed, to protect the young frogs.

How are Puerto Rican frogs different from Hawaii coqui? Not at all, per Dr. Ten Eyck. He thinks the coqui use our lava pukas, not available in Puerto Rico, to hide during the day. He says that has not really been studied nor documented.

Where is Dr. Ten Eyck's research leading? Coqui frogs are good models to study stress and aggression. The calls stake out territory...a signal to both males and females. Males will challenge other mails, and Dr. Ten Eyck is looking at brain chemistry changes at that time. The thought is the study of aggression may be able to translate to humans, looking primarily at seratonin and dopamine.

Dr. Ten Eyck introduces stresses to the coqui in natural ways by exposing them to another male or a female while the dad is sitting on the eggs. If the approaching male calls (ko-kee), the dad will be stressed, and may flee, or eat the eggs, or dad can just hunker down on the nest. They've created a model system to use a speaker to bring the call to the sitting male...and they can adjust the intensity, volume of the call to see dad's different reactions. They can then look at the effects of the stress. Some of the males attack the speakers! It's all about sound, not appearance.

Can Dr. Ten Eyck's work lead to practical applications for us here, to control or diminish or silence the frogs? He says the research can lead to ways to stress the dads to abandon the nest. His goal, however, is to study the frogs, not kill them. They are doing research in drugs to silence them, that turns the seratonin system on and keeps them quiet. One drug they are testing is Prozac, a human anti-depression drug! Males given Prozac are less aggressive. They do the studies by injecting the frogs with Prozac or, as a control, a saline solution.

Although Dr Ten Eyck says the coqui is a great research subject, it is a non native, alien species in Hawaii, and it should be eradicated. Of course, he acknowledges it's the noise that's a huge issue for humans.

Practical applications of his work? Paternal stress...and how brain chemicals change during times of aggression.

Dr. Ten Eyck had high praise for the UH Hilo College of Pharmacy program and for the students in the program--bright and intelligent and fun.

Hawaii County spends a tremendous amount of money on energy: the power bills for the year ending June, 2008: over $4 million on energy for its buildings and facilities, $1.4 million on traffic signals and street lights, and $18 million for the Department of Water Supply. Mayor Billy Kenoi appointed some County employees to focus on energy efficiency, and they hired Kailua-Kona energy consultant Alex Woodbury to perform an Energy Audit. Woodbury audited ten sites...only...and from those sites alone made recommendations that can save Hawaii County $500,000 per year. Wow!

Wil Rolston, Energy Coordinator, is in the County's Research and Development Department. His job is to find ways to help the County become more sustainable. Alex Frost coordinates the County's Green Team, a group of interdepartmental folks who focus on reducing energy use within their departments.

Alex Woodbury with Woodbury Consulting was hired by the County to conduct an Energy Audit on ten County facilities. Mr. Woodbury says he's probably the only person on the island with his unique qualifications. Woodbury Consulting does home inspections. In 2005, they realized energy use was a huge issue. Alex became a Certified Home Energy Rater, one of fewer than 3,000 in the country. He has LEAD accreditation (a program designed by US Green Building Council). Woodbury does energy consulting for both businesses and residences, for existing and being-built homes and buildings. Energy usage cripples many here...our rates are 25% higher than Honolulu and up to three times higher than other places in the country. (Note, I will be having Alex Woodbury back as soon as we can arrange it to discuss more general energy saving issues.)

The ten sites were the biggest energy users in the county, those with the highest bills (except for Department of Water Supply). They include the Kona Pool, Pahoa Pool, Kona Police, Hilo Police/Civil Defense, Hilo Armory (Office of Housing), Department of WS, Aupuni Center, Hilo Athletic Complex.

County spends $18 million for supplying water to the county. Wil Rolston said this audit did not include that, but the Water Department has its own energy engineer, Julie Myhre, with whom Wil coordinates. I have heard the Water Department is the biggest energy waster in the county--Wil said he believes that's changing due to focus on being more efficient.

The audit began October, 2009; the last audit completed March, 2010. The county paid Woodbury $22,000. As a note, Woodbury found a $5,000 credit due the county, PLUS the Hawaii Energy Corporation will likely reimburse the County $10,000 for conducting the audit.

Woodbury said there are three broad categories of facilities in his audit: pools, 24-hour offices (police), and 8-10 hour offices (normal office hours).

Pool key findings: they can install newer technology pumps, plus use solar water heating instead of propane to heat water for the showers. Pahoa Pool is not heated. Kona Pool has to be heated 80% of the time and ....cooled!...20% of the time. Woodbury suggested pool covers to reduce water evaporation, understanding that requires manpower.

Office buildings: Woodbury said energy usage typically is 1/3 to cooling the building, 1/3 to light the building, 1/3 to operate office equipment. He said most buildings could benefit from adding occupancy sensors that turn off lights when the building is unoccupied. He also suggested at night, they can light only those occupied desks. He also agreed the county offices are often too cold, but the air conditioning systems are often quite advanced and the employees need to learn how to operate the systems. There are county employees in some buildings who actually have been using space heaters because the buildings are kept so cold...obviously that uses way more energy. Woodbury also suggested that office equipment should be turned OFF when people go home--not in sleep mode, but turned off. There are "smart" power strips that can do this automatically. And these items are apparently fairly low cost. He mentioned there are "vampire" devices that use power even when theoretically off (such as our home DVD players and DVRs).

Are there plans to actually implement Woodbury's recommendations? Wil Frost said there is a workshop in Hilo June 8 for county workers, at Aupuni Center Conference Room. They will discuss the energy saving measures. They will ask all employees to adhere to power saving measures, and discuss actions for individual facilities that are free or low cost to implement. There are no plans at this time to do such a workshop Kona side.

Wil Rolston said the audit has been shared with Mayor Billy Kenoi, Department Head Randy Kurohara, and will be shared with the County Council at the next committee meeting for Energy Sustainability. The Council members are also invited to the workshop June 8. Wil Rolston said Mayor Kenoi is 100% supportive of this initiative and full implementation. So, who will follow up and audit implementation? Wil Frost says that's his job as Energy Coordinator.

The in-progress West Hawaii Civic Center is expected to be very energy efficient, and is being constructed as a LEAD Silver building.

Alex Woodbury says significant rebates are available to businesses and residences, through the third party company Hawaii Energy. Formerly HELCO handled rebates, but now, Hawaii Energy--Alex said they've been "neat" to work with and are most eager to give rebates. The money comes from US...anybody in the state (except Kauai) who pays an electric bill pays into the rebate fund.

Federal grants? The County has received a $700,000 federal grant (stimulus funds) and will use $500,000 of it to upgrade street lights to LEDs, more energy efficient.

Green Team is doing a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory ... the first County in the State to do this.

Alex Woodbury said the County is actually being quite proactive in approaching energy efficiency...surprisingly to him, way more involved than many private businesses.

Alex Woodbury's company is online, woodburygreen.com. As I mentioned above, before Alex left he agreed to schedule another interview--we'll try to get the Hawaii Energy organization in with Alex to talk about energy efficiency, rebates, and more.

A note of apology: my fault, operator error, another yet-to-be-edited program starting running on LAVA 105 at 8 a.m....we started this one around 8:15. You will be able to hear my excellent interview with Ted Coombs about his Banyan Drive book in late June or early July, and I encourage you to listen.

Our guests were the Hawaii Family Health Clinic Director, Dr. Lucy Bucci, and Boyd Morayama, from Hilo Medical Center's business side.

Hawaii Island Family Health Center is a medical practice, providing care to all ages from newborns to elderly, including delivering babies. Their focus is on the care of the whole family.

They are not a federally qualified community health center like Bay Clinic or West Hawaii Community Health Center. They are affiliated with Hilo Medical Center, USERA (University Clinical, Education Research Associates), and John A. Burns School of Medicine (University of Hawaii). .

They opened in April, 2009, located at 45 Mo'ohuli Street, by Hilo Urgent Care. The long term plan is to have the clinic be part of a certified medical residency program, where doctors who have gone to medical school, received their MDs (Medical Doctors) or DOs (Doctor of Osteopathy) come for additional training. It would be a three year training program, the length determined by the subjects to be covered. The plan is to start with four residents. The core learning must in Hilo at either Hilo Medical Center or the clinic, all under supervision. It is possible they may rotate to other facilities here, but the focus will be on the two key learning facilities.

Staffing: office manager, receptionist, two physicians (Dr. Jaynelle Nishiyama and Dr. Lucy Bucci), currently hiring an RN clinic manager who will supervise the clinic alongside the medical director. They also have a visiting Psychiatrist in collaboration with the John Burns School of Psychiatry. They're recruiting a Nurse Practitioner. They plan to recruit two more full time family medicine physicians, and then will apply for accreditation as a Residency Program. They'll also work with the Nursing School and School of Pharmacy (currently they have Pharmacy students rotating through).

What kind of training will Residents get? The supervision is 100%, although as the Residents get more skilled and competent, the direct hands-on supervision will decrease.

There's been a move to get a Residency program here since the 1990s. Dr. Bucci said the benefit is that Residents tend to stay and practice where they train (about 80%, history shows); this is one way to address the statewide physician shortage. The goal is to have them stay in the State, if not the Big Island.

Boyd Moriyama is the Medical Group Practice Director for Hilo Medical Center. As such, he focuses on issues such as physician recruitment, opening clinics, and helping get the Residency program to fruition. He came from Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Kaua'i (where he was born), and prior to that was at UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco).

Dr. Bucci said the patients for the clinic are bringing in all the usual diseases. There are many with chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems, and more. They also have people with psychiatric programs, also known as behavioral health problems.

Once the Clinic submits its application to be a Residency program, the governing body has up to a year to review the application. Dr. Bucci said it will take up to two to three years to have the Residency program up and running.

Funding:is a challenge. Hilo Medical Center is the responsible financial party. Boyd Moriyama says they're applying for grants and seeking private donations to cover the expense of the program, which includes paying the Residents as well as supporting the faculty and staff and physical facility. There will be a $550,000 shortfall annually, which is the amount above that which would be reimbursed by insurance, or patients paying bills. Dr. Bucci said HMSA Foundation has given some generous grants to outfit the space, plus provided seed money for faculty recruitment and faculties. Tri West has also been generous.. The program is seeking State support, but who knows if the State can/will support.

Odds of success? Boyd believes the community has and will show great support. Hilo Medical Center Foundation is also helping. Those who wish to donate, please contact Hilo Medical Center Foundation...935-2957.

Barriers to success? Dr. Bucci said it is difficult to recruit physicians, that's a challenge; funding must be there; but Dr. Bucci said things are promising and there is a positive attitude about the ability to succeed.

Hilo Family Health Clinic is at 769-6100, 45 Mo'ohuli Street, Hilo, HI 96720. They ARE accepting new patients! And this is a better way to find a doctor instead of going to the emergency room.

Our guests were Hilo Medical Center CEO Howard Ainsley and Chief Nurse Executive Dan Brinkman.

Hilo Medical Center has 275 beds; the Veterans Home has 95 beds. Ka'u Hospital is also under the aegis of Hilo Medical Center. HMC is the second state-run hospital on our island (along with Kona Community Hospital).

When we last talked a year ago, HMC was facing a $7 million shortfall. This year, the year ending June 30, 2010, Mr. Ainsley believes they'll be close to breaking even. They've had no layoffs, but they've cut costs in other ways. They would like to be less dependent on state funding. One way they want to do that is bring in more services to HMC so patients do not have to go off-island for services.

Hilo Medical Center has been given authority by the state to reform itself as a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Mr. Ainsley said there is no plan to do that at this time. HMC does have a nonprofit foundation (Hilo Medical Center Foundation) which does raise funds to help HMC. They're working on a plan to remodel the lobby now.

A year ago, HMC had around 35,000 emergency room visits, and was just finishing remodeling the Emergency Room. Dan Brinkman said the ER is on track to see 38,000 patients this year. The facility with its remodel is quite capable. Additionally, they've instituted some new procedures which has helped make their average Emergency Room wait time to be seen is 21 minutes (below the national standard of 30 minutes). It used to be hours. They've also instituted a triage system so patients with minor issues to be "fast tracked", to get treated sooner. Average in time to out time for those, 2 hours. They have 28 beds (formerly 14, pre-remodel).

Trauma care: a portion of cigarette taxes goes to improve trauma care. Trauma is defined as any sudden, severe injury--from a fall to a car accident to a skateboard accident.

Level 1 trauma care, not available in Hawaii, is a facility with all specialties available fast. Level 2 trauma care in the state is provided at Queen's Medical Center (Dan said Queen's is, in his mind, capable of Level 1 but has to complete some requirements to prove it). HMC is 2 years into a 5 year state plan to upgrade all trauma care. Dan said today, HMC's trauma care is sort of like the TV shows where when you arrive, you're greeted by the entire team. The EMTs call the hospital en route, so the hospital can call in the specialists needed and be ready to go. Dan said the ER team has really stepped up and they do a great job.

Howard Ainsley commented that a helmet law here would help cut down on head trauma cases, most of which must be transported to Queen's Medical Center where a neurosurgeon is available.

When someone does need to be transported, it's done so after consultation with Queen's. Factors considered when deciding to send someone to Oahu: injuries (head trauma), need for surgery with multiple specialties, plus weather and and travel conditions.

HMC has cardiologist on staff, Dr. William Sammond. HMC can now do angiograms (cardiac catheretizations) to analyze heart problems. They've done 100 so far. HMC now can do telemetry to monitor heart problems; they have 34 monitoring devices which can be put on patients.

The only Veterans Home in the state is at Hilo Medical Center. This is essentially a nursing home for veterans. They have a new director, Juan Babiac (spelling probably not correct), coming on board to replace the retiring director. They're at 90% occupancy.

Mr. Ainsley said "Inside Hospitals" magazine recognized HMC as bringing good service to the community and how they've met the challenges of physician shortage and more.

HMC has just implemented an Electronic Medical Record system, the first state-run hospital to implement such a system.

HMC was recognized by American Heart Association for upgrading its cardiac care and stroke services.

Both Howard and Dan had high praise for all the HMC employees.

Our guest was Chief Executive Officer Earl Greenia.

Financials: all the Hawaii state run hospitals have significant financial challenges. Kona Hospital is at this moment operating in the black, a good thing, although they are facing a cash shortage as we approach the end of the fiscal year (June 30). At the beginning of last fiscal year they owed vendors $6 million, but are keeping up with payments.

Does the cash crisis have implications such as layoffs? Earl Greenia said NO, no layoffs foreseen. But he said they'll be conservative with spending, try to push expenses to July 1. They will get around 15% of their income from the state, and they have been funded by this year's legislature (which just completed their work two days ago). They have money set aside for payroll, physicians, and a contingency fund. Day to day operations will continue uninterrupted.

Structure: Kona Hospital (and other state hospitals) are now run by local boards of directors, rather than run by the central Hawaii Health Systems Corporation out of Oahu. The challenge is that now the regional boards need to work together, rather than getting tops down direction. Will Kona Hospital become a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization? The state will allow that to happen but has provided no funding to help make it happen. It may happen down the road. Senator Josh Green, the only medical doctor in the State Senator, introduced a bill to provide funding for study of the transition, but it did not make it through. Benefits to the hospital(s) to become nonprofits? They can get direct donations from foundations and donors, perhaps more easily.

There is a nonprofit foundation, Kona Hospital Foundation (president Jim Higgins) does solicit tax deductible donations for the hospital. Currently they're doing an "adopt a room" project, and upgrading hospital rooms, costing around $25,000 each for the upgrade for new bed, equipment, decor, etc.

Earl said over the past two years their internal maintenance department have completed 20,000 work orders, routine maintenance and upgrading. Earl said the hospital is clean, and their infection control practices are top notch.

Last year Mr. Greenia told us their plan was to not have long term care (nursing home type care) in the hospital. Three months ago, they transitioned their remaining long-term nursing home patients to private facilities. They still do Skilled Nursing Facility, which is short term, 5 to 7 day stays where the patient is in recovery from surgery and needs less than acute care but cannot yet go home. There are some new small nursing homes on the island which have taken longer term nursing home patients. Mr. Greenia also praised Life Care of Kona, one of two Life Care facilities here on the island, for their good patient care. There is also a plan in play by a private organization to build another skilled nursing facility, completely separate from the hospital.

Traums care: all three island hospitals are working to upgrade their traums care. Kona Community Hospital is the first Hawaii Island hospital to begin operating as a Level III Trauma Center, capable of providing a certain level of service, having a surgeon available 24/7/365 for emergency services. There is only one Level II Trauma Care Center in the State, at Queen's Medical Center on Oahu. The state is funding our island hospitals to upgrade their trauma care. Mr. Greenia praised Wendy Wagner and Dr. Rich McDowell for their work to make it happen.

Does the Trauma Care designation change where the EMTs might take a patient after an accident? No, Mr. Greenia said they'll take them to the nearest facility, whether North Hawaii Commuity Hospital, Kona Community Hospital, or Hilo Medical Center. If the problem cannot be handled, the patient will be medi-vac'd to Oahu, to Queen's.

Kona Community Hospital is working with John A. Burns School of Medicine (University of Hawaii) to bring third and fourth year residents here to the hospital to do rotations in pediatrics or other areas. They're also working with A. T. Skill University, which offers the D. O. degree (Doctor of Osteopathy). Two students from there have rotated through so far.

Kona Hospital have partnered with West Hawaii Community Health Center to bring in a pediatric dentist. They've done 21 dental surgeries on children over the past couple of months, services the keiki would not have been able to get otherwise.

Cancer: what facilities does Kona Hospital provide? Mr. Greenia said their cancer program is robust. Oncologist Dr. Tony DeSalvo works both at Kona Hospital and up in Waimea. He's a superb physician, with the hospital 3 years. Kona Hospital has a linear accelerator and can provide radiation, chemotherapy, etc. The hospital is pursuing a certification in cancer treatment. They've also re-established a "Tumor Board," where up to 25 specialists meet on any one cancer case to review/discuss and come up with the best treatment, using the best ideas. North Hawaii Community Hospital takes part in the Tumor Board. (Note, these nationwide have proven to be superb ways to improve cancer care.)

Clinical scores: Kona Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center both have improved clinical scores, as measured by Medicare. All hospitals nationwide are part of this. In 25 measures, KCH has been at or above 90% for the past six quarters.

Biggest challenges? Money continues to be the biggest challenge. That's pretty much true nationwide for hospitals. Earl praised the hospital employees for their dedication, and for their willingness to accept pay cuts to get through this tough economy. In spite of the challenges, the latest employee survey showed a 4% increase in satisfaction...Earl said the employees are THE BEST, and they are the folks who really make the difference.

Community outreach is high on the agenda, with programs in diabetes education, CPR, palliative care, available. They're also sponsoring a management leadership mini MBA program for hospital and other medical professionals.

Last week, National Volunteers Week. Earl praised all the volunteers, including his board. Coming up, Nurses Week and National Hospital Week. Earl said the nurses also truly make the difference. Every job in the hospital is important.

Our guests were police Chief Harry Kubojiri and County Prosecutor Jay Kimura. My request to them was predicated on the two fairly recent horrible West side drunk driving accidents, the one over a year ago where the suspected drunk driver killed a baby at the Lako/Kuakini intersection, and the one in February where the 17-year-old Kealakehe girl, Angela Apostidero, was killed by a suspected drunk driver on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.

Distracted driving: effective January 1, it's illegal to use a hand-held device while driving. Police Chief said his officers have given 188 tickets since January 1.

When we talked with Dr. Sharon Vitousek two weeks ago, she said we on the island had the highest-in-the-nation impaired driving fatality rate through 2008. Police Chief says in 2009, our rate was down slightly. In 2010, rates are up.

Police chief brought statistics which we did not mention on the radio, but which he gave to me: in 2009, of 19 crashes with fatalities, 15 involved the use of alcohol or drugs or both.

Prosecutor Kimura said keiki on our island are exposed to alcohol at early ages, they have more access. There are efforts to reduce sales to underage people, via stings and education.

Police Chief says the police department places a high priorities on stopping impaired driving. Officers are all trained in use of the intoxylyzer, plus drug recognition which is a presumptive test (ie not like the intoxylyzer breath test). Prosecutor said the courts recognize the presumptive tests for drugs as probable cause (ie dilated pupils, red eyes, whatever).