The Presidental story with great acting.

http://politicalirony.com/2010/10/17/the-very-model-of-a-modern-us-president/

This is clever and true. Enjoy our Presidentail woes.

Happy Holidays To All :)

2010 was a challenging year for many of us. Wishing all a
Happy and Prosprous New Year.

This is an amazing Job. Watch this guy!

This takes a special person to do this kind of job. Not for the faint at heart.

http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player.swf?config=http://www.liveleak.com/mp53/player_config.php?token=07b_1284580365%26embed=1

Getting Ready to Organize a Coqui Frog group

Kona Coastview, Kona Wonderview, Kona Palisades, Kona Highlands.....
Do you hear couqi frogs at night?
Ready to join a group of neighbors to get rid of the frogs?

The County is doing NOTHING, the State is doing NOTHING.
Now it is time for action.
Baking soda worked for us. Now lets go to where they are and getem'

Call if you are interested in joining this group. 325-7576

Looking for Host family to Help a Foreign Exchange Student

I appreciate you help circulating this information.

Of the 13 foreign students currently placed in Kona this
school year, three are with first semester families.  I need to find new
host families for these three students ASAP.  They will need their new
homes by January.  I would love to find families that will agree to the
second semester, but I will also be happy to find families that will do it
until Easter, or even 6-8 weeks.

Two students are at Kealakehe: a  girl from Pakistan who just turned 17, and a boy from Cambodia who just turned 16.  The other is a 16 year old girl from Mali at
Konawaena. All speak very good English and are good hard working students,
doing lots of volunteer work and are just really nice teens.

Hosting is purely a volunteer experience: there is no
payment for hosting.  Hosting means offering room and board, making sure
the kids catch the bus to school, acting as a friend, mentor and parent and
enjoying the cultural interchange.  Families can be old or young, with or
without kids, big house or tiny coffee shack.  Willingness is the key
criterion.

Thanks for any help forwarding this message.  I can be
reached at 323 2117 or via email.  There is also a website: www.cci-exchange.com.

Aloha, PAMELA WANG

Local Coordinator for CCI

Center for Cultural Interchange

808 323 2117

Comments and responses from you on Floating the Bond -County of Hawaii.

Aloha,

Today, a majority of the council voted to have a public hearing on the Reconsideration of Bill 311 ($56 Million bond).  This positive action allows the incoming council to weigh
the public’s comments. The new, incoming chairperson will set the hearing
date. 

After the public hearing, Bill 311 will come back to the new council. At that time, the new council may be able to get more information from the administration on the project status to be able
to decide what to do with the potential bond issue – wait until the council
knows what the next budget deficit looks like, pass the bond in part or in
total, or vote down the bond issue in its entirety. 

It was very difficult for me to vote against the potential bond issue when two extremely important projects in my district (La’aloa Street Extension to Kuakini and the crosswalk in front of
the Kona Bali Kai) were on the chopping block as well, but the greater public
good was at stake.  However, now the council will have the time to analyze
and match all of the projects against the upcoming fiscal budget to
determine which ones, if any, get bonded. I will continue to work for the
La’aloa extension and the crosswalk in front of the Kona Bali Kai.

Mahalo for your understanding.

Brenda Ford

-------------------

Strong
points.

Josh Green

--------------------------

I too wrote to the Council and Mayor.

I want to know "How many jobs and where" will
they be created.  There is already $36 million waiting to be spent and the $56 million takes the county to the edge of their good credit rating.  Any more and the interest rates would go up
and the Country rating would go down.

Mike Reimer

----------------------------------------

Susan,

Good letter! I concur completely with your observations
and recommendations. Thanks for taking the time to write and share it with the "Aye" team in Hilo.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Curtis Tyler

---------------------------

 

 

We need you to Testify: Do we need to BORROW NOW? Wake up Hawaii

Dear County Council,
Please accept this letter has request to rethink this bond obligation. The property taxes are way down, the foreclosure rate is still on the rise in Hawaii.
To add this kind of debit during this time is just plane irresponsible. There is no plan on how the County is going to pay the addtional interest or the bond it's self.
We have lost 2 cruise ships, Aloha Air lines, and thousands of jobs. We have hundreds of properties sitting vacant with half the value of what they were purchased at.
How do you plan to pay for this? If you can answer this then it would be feasible other wises it is like robbing a bank and not thinking about the jail time ahead.
Common sence is a must in this changing age we live in. If you have a dollar in your pocket you don't spend ten and then figure it out later. Let the new Council decide. Those voteing for this are on the way out anyway.
Respectfully,
Susan McGeachy
Kailua Kona since 1988
=====================================================================

Public testimony can also be at the Kona and Waimea county council
offices by videoconferencing.

If you have questions, please call the Kona county council office
at 326-5684.

Also, you can read more about the issues involved at http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2010/11/24/local/local02.txt

A Special Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday November 30^th
at 9AM at the Hilo Council Chambers, Aupuni Street.

Please see below for details on how to submit testimony.

Click here to go to
the County of Hawaii’s on-line library for the full
agenda (Council Records -> Agendas).

THE RECONSIDERATION OF BILL 311 RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS      

Comm. 972.5: REQUESTS THE RECONSIDERATION OF BILL 311 RELATING TO THE
ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS:  

From Council Member Donald Ikeda, dated November 17, 2010, requesting the

reconsideration of Bill 311.  Bill 311 was approved by the Council at its meeting of

November 17, 2010, which passed second and final reading by the following vote:

7-ayes and 1-no (1-absent)

Comm. 972.9: From Council Member Donald Ikeda, dated November 18, 2010, requesting that a

Special Meeting by the Council be held before the end of this Council term

Comm. 972.10: From Council Member Dominic Yagong, dated November 18, 2010, requesting the

reconsideration of the vote on Bill 311.  Requests that this measure be placed on the

December 15, 2010 Council agenda

Bill 311:  Authorizes the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds of the County of Hawai‘i for

the Purpose of Funding All or a Portion of the Costs of Various Public Improvement

Projects; Fixing the Form, Denominations, and Certain Other Details of Such Bonds

and Providing for Their Sale to the Public; and Authorizing the Taking of Other

Actions Relating to the Issuance and Sale of the Bonds.  {Principal amount not to

exceed $56,000,000.  The projects include:  Kawaihae Housing Closure

($1,000,000), Kaloko Housing Project ($4,000,000), Pool Drainage Covers

($500,000), Hawai‘i Paradise Park-New Park Development ($5,500,000),

Kikala-Keokea New Park Development ($100,000), North Kohala Recreational

Facilities Repair and Upgrade ($2,000,000), Banyan Beach Parking Lot ($300,000),

Kapiolani Street Extension ($8,700,000), Puna Makai Alternate Roadway

($500,000), La‘aloa Extension ($20,000,000), Energy Efficiency and Related

Maintenance Upgrades ($4,000,000), Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station ($8,800,000), and

Waimea Recycle and Transfer Station Garage ($100,000), for a total of

$55,000,000.  (The correct total amount should be “$55,500,000”.  An additional

$500,000 is included for bond issuance costs.)}

   Re:  Comm. 972

   Intr. by:  Mr. Onishi

   1st Reading: November 4, 2010

   2nd Reading: November 17, 2010



(Note:  Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, Section 92, notice is hereby given that

if the motion to reconsider Bill 311 is approved, a re-vote will be taken on Bill 311 at

this meeting.  If reconsideration of Bill 311 is approved, there will be a pending

motion on the floor by Mr. Onishi and duly seconded by Ms. Naeole to approve

Bill 311.) 

SUBMITTING
TESTIMONY:

• In person: You may testify in person at the Hilo
       Council Chambers, or by videoconference from the Waimea or Kona Council
       offices.
• Written testimony: Testimony may be submitted before
       noon on the business day prior to the meeting: 
•  
• (1) by mail to the County
        Clerk’s Office in Hilo at 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, 96720
 
• (2) by fax to (808) 961-8912
 
• By email to counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us.
       

Iron Man Father and Son team- the Hoyt's Real Human Spirit.

http://www.wimp.com/fatherson/

Dick and Ricky Hoyt: Fatherson and son team - This is the BEST of the BEST. The ture meaning of the Human Spirit.
We were lucky enough to see the Hoyt's back in 1996. This is a very special team.
This video tells the whole story.
Much Aloha's to the Hoyt's

You ole' rock and rollers will sure enjoy this one.

http://www.tvkim.com/watch/31/kims-picks-funny-old-rock-star-songs

Our Future- Plastic waste to Oil

http://www.flixxy.com/convert-plastic-to-oil.htm

This is incredible. This machine could change our future. worth every second to watch this video.
The machine takes plastic waste and turns it into oil. No drilling, no greedy deals........

How do I get one?
WOW.

How does Health Care in Hawaii work?

If you are employed for 20 hours a week for 4 weeks in a row; your employer is required to co-pay your health insurance. I know this has helped us over the years to pay for our medical and we have piece of mind knowing we are covered.
Our Country is one of the richest in the world and we have the worst health care. In many states people like Rick Scott came in with their corporations and bought up most of the hospitals and closed all but one or two. This way they can charge anything they want. Supply and demand.
The drug companies advertise on TV all the drugs they think you should be taking. Then there is a long list of side effects; in most cases are worse then the reason you are taking to drug to begin with. It is all about money. The insurance companies don't want Obama's health care because it requires that most of the money (.85 on the dollar) collected actually goes to pay for medical care and not share holders.
Why are we so unhealthy? Obesity is the norm in America. This will be the first generation that is not expected to out live their parents.
Physical exercise in the schools has become an elective and not a requirement. When I was a kid we had the Presidential Physical Fitness program. We were tested every year and PE was a requirement. We also didn't have computers and video games to veg out on. The motivation to be fit is no longer a priority. Children over 200 pounds is not acceptable.
We don't need free health care but we do need affordable health care.
I am looking forward to see what the Republicans call health care and who pays and who benefits from it?
All I have heard from the Republicans is repeal. What is there idea of coverage and what is it going to cost?
No one is perfect but we do need to learn a new word in Congress and the Senate it is "COMPROMISE"
No is not an answer. We need solution minded Government. The next two years will be a test.
Can the Republicans get along with the Tea Party?
Can the Republicans compromise and work for solutions?
Can the remaining Democrats compromise?

The Election is over. We are all winners!

After a nasty mean spirited election we are finally done. I consider alot of great things will come over the next 2 years.
First we are happy to have Neil Abercrombie as our new governor (Dem). Linda Lingle / Iona (Rep) took the State of Hawaii into the ditch. We lost 17 school days, the super ferry, 2 cruise ships, Aloha Airlines and the tax breaks for high tech.
Second we got rid of the idiot County Council members. Emily Nagole and Guy Enriques. Both of which couldn't come up with one idea to cut the Mayor's budget. Welcome aboard Brittany Smart and Fred Blas.
Let's work together as ONE island and get this County turned around.
Third we are very happy all the Republicans have new seats in Congress and the Senate, so now they can say something besides NO, NO, NO, NO and NO. They will be accountable for their decisions. Now maybe just maybe they will try to work together to right our course.

We are looking forward to what President Obama has to say this afternoon. John Bohner will now have to answer for his actions. The next 2 years should be exciting.

and last but not least. How do we change the Supreme Court's decision for disclosure of election contributions? The nasty, hateful election was something most of us DO NOT want to endure prior to every election. Open and Honest disclosure should be required.

Good Luck to all and we are hopeful this Country will be in good hands and solid direction.
ps keep the health care (gee it doesn't even take effect until 2012. So how do they know they don't want it?)

Tom McGeachy's work- Fauxcasso

http://fauxcasso.blogspot.com/
 Painted Stone Carvings- Hawaii

Rally to Restore Peace by Marjorie Cohn

Let’s Rally to Restore Peace
By Marjorie Cohn
Huffington Post

October 31, 2010
----------------------------------

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marjorie-cohn/lets-rally-to-restore-pea_b_776759.html

In their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, Jon Stewart and Stephen
Colbert effectively demonstrated how the media hypes fear. They
brought out Kareem Abdul Jabbar to show that not all Muslims are
terrorists. A couple of musical numbers dealt with the wars we are
fighting. But neither Stewart nor Colbert mentioned Iraq or
Afghanistan and how they are allowed to continue by the hyping of
fear.
Like his predecessor, President Obama also hypes fear - by connecting
his war in Afghanistan to keeping us safe, even though CIA director
Leon Panetta recently admitted that only 50 to 100 al Qaeda fighters
are there. Hoping to put the unpopular Iraq war behind him, Obama
declared combat operations over, although 50,000 U.S. troops and some
100,000 mercenaries remain.
Tragically, both wars have largely disappeared from the national
discourse. On October 22, Wikileaks released nearly 400,000
previously classified U.S. military documents about the Iraq war.
They contain startling evidence of more than 1,300 incidents of
torture, rape, abuse and murder by Iraqi security forces while the
U.S. government looked the other way. During this time the Bush
administration issued a “fragmentary order” called “Frago 242” not to
investigate detainee abuse unless coalition troops were directly
involved. U.S. authorities failed to investigate hundreds of reports
of torture, rape, abuse and murder by Iraqi soldiers and police.
Manfred Nowak, the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on Torture,
called on Obama to order a complete investigation of U.S. forces’
involvement in human rights abuses.
Many reports of abuse are supported by medical evidence. Prisoners
were shackled, blindfolded, and hung by their wrists and ankles. Some
were whipped with cables, chains, wire and pistols. Some were burned
with acid and cigarettes. Electric shocks were applied to genitals,
fingernails were ripped off, and fingers cut off. Some were sodomized
with hoses and bottles. Six died from their torture.
And there are reports of widespread killing of civilians by U.S. and
other coalition forces. But after a couple of days of reporting about
the largest incident of whistle blowing in our history, news of the
Wikileaks revelations has disappeared from the news cycle.
Both torture and the targeting of civilians are war crimes. And, in
spite of the reports of torture, Obama completed the handover of 9,250
detainees to the Iraqi government in July 2010. In so doing, he has
violated the Convention Against Torture, which forbids a party from
expelling, returning or extraditing a person to a country where there
are substantial grounds to believe he will be in danger of being
subjected to torture. This is called non-refoulement. The United
States has ratified the Torture Convention, making it part of U.S. law
under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
The newly released documents show that between 2004 and 2009, at least
109,032 Iraqis died, including 66,081 civilians. More than 80 percent
of those killed in incidents related to convoys or at checkpoints
throughout Iraq were civilians. Pregnant women were shot dead,
priests were kidnapped and murdered, and Iraqi prison guards used
electric drills to get prisoners to confess.
A U.S. helicopter crew was granted approval to attack two Iraqis on
the ground even though the pilots reported that the men were trying to
surrender. Under the 1907 Hague Regulations, it is prohibited “to
kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down his arms, or having no
longer means of defence, has surrendered at discretion.”
Last year, 239 American soldiers took their own lives and 1,713
soldiers survived suicide attempts; 146 soldiers died from high-risk
activities, including 74 drug overdoses. One-third of returning troops
report mental health problems, and 18.5 percent of all returning
service members have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or depression,
according to a study by the Rand Corporation.
Jon Stewart spent a whole show last week interviewing Obama about
everything from health care to the economy. But neither man mentioned
the wars, even though the billions spent on them could go a long way
toward fixing the economy and paying for health care.
It is time to put the wars back on the national agenda. Iraq Veterans
Against the War issued a statement saying, “We grieve for the Iraqi
and Afghan lives that were lost and destroyed in these wars. We also
grieve for our brothers and sisters in arms, who have been lost to
battle or suicide . . . We demand a real end to both wars, including
immediate withdrawal of the 50,000 “non-combat” troops who remain in
Iraq. The Iraq War Logs underscore the urgent need for peace,
healing, and reparations for all who have been harmed by these wars.
The first step is to bring our brothers and sisters home.”
We cannot rely on Obama to end the wars. It’s up to us to put
sustained pressure on him to do it.

Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and
past president of the National Lawyers Guild. Her latest book is
“Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent”
(with Kathleen Gilberd). Her anthology, “The United States and
Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration, and Abuse,” will be published
in December by NYU Press

Nov. 2nd Tue. VOTE VOTE VOTE

This election is very important. The Big Island of Hawaii needs to come out and VOTE. I am reaching out and asking for your vote for Neil Ambercrombie and Brian Schatz.

Over the past 8 years with Linda and Duke, have lost/ sunk the super ferry, thrown our schools and kids under the bus, lost 2 cruise ships, lost Aloha Airlines.............

Step up to the plate and VOTE. Our keikei are depending on your vote.

Let's do a better job of voting then we have in the past. Reach out to your friends and neighbors. Ask everyone you know to VOTE>>>:]

Thanks Susan

Coffee Processing Help! How to remove the beans?

 We are small time coffee growers. We have 30 trees and most are just producing for the first time this year.
We need help with creative methods of home processing. We currently pick only the red cherries, soak them over night. The next day we squeese out the beans, wash and put on our rack. It sun dries for 2 weeks. Then we crunch up the bean to get the shaft off and end up with the green bean.

We do have a coffee roaster and a grinder so we enjoy every drop.

My question is does anyone reading this blog know a better method to remove the beans from the shaft?
If you have any advice, we would love to hear from you.
Thanks, Susan and Tom(JuanValdez)

Charles Flaherty - Affordable Housing hearing

Aloha e,
There will be a public hearing tomorrow, Thursday, October 28th at 3PM at the Keauhou Sheraton Resort regarding Forest City’s proposed Kamakana Villages at Keahuolu.

The developer applied to be a housing project under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 201H which authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to develop or assist in the development of housing projects which are exempt from certain statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules of any governmental agency relating to planning, zoning, construction standards for subdivisions, development and improvement of land, and the construction of units thereon provided that:

• The project primarily or exclusively includes affordable housing units (Forest City is proposing less than 60% at 140% of median income);

• The Corporation finds that the project meets minimum requirements of health and safety (Forest City does not); and

• The development of the project does not contravene any safety standards, tariffs, or rates and fees approved by the public utilities commission for public utilities or various Boards of Water Supply (Forest City’s development would).

The state agency, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation entered into a development agreement with Forest City Kamakana LLC which allows the developer to simply walk away from the development or any aspect of the development which may be deemed “financial unfeasible” with only 30 days notice.

HHFDC entered into development agreement without any regard to or consultation with the County of Hawai’i administration or its elected council representatives even though this development will have a great impact on the Kona community.

For instance, the county has reserved 431,360 gallons per day (“GPD”) capacity at the Kealakeke Sewage Treatment Plant, but Forest City’s documents state that the development will generate an average flow of 673,778 GPD with a peak flow of 2,555,477 GPD.

Further, as the Queen Liliuokalani Trust’s attorney’s have pointed out Forest City’s traffic studies are inadequate and incorrect.

But the biggest problem is that Forest City refuses to commitment to building any affordable housing units below 140% of median income. So how much money does your family have to make to buy a house in Forest City’s affordable housing project?

Household size = 1 person, $63,800; 2 people, $72,910; 3 people, $82,030; 4 people, $91,140; 5 people, $98,430; 6 people, $105,720; 7 people, $113,010; 8 people, $120,300.
From County of Hawaii website (2009 income schedule by family size)

The average household size in Hawai’i County is about 4.5, so the average family must make about $95,000/year to buy a Forest City “affordable” ($400,000+) home.

HRS Chapter 201H only gives the county council 45 days to make a decision or the project is automatically approved. At the last hearing, none of the county department heads had had time to read the latest revision to the exemptions being requested. It is clear that not all county departments, including police and fire have had time to evaluate what Forest City is proposing.

Forest City has purposefully ambushed the Kona council representatives and Forest City’s attorney has made substantial financial contributions to the political campaigns of council chair, Jay Yoshimoto, and council member Donald Ikeda. So please come speak out against this project as it is being currently proposed and designed. Tell them to go back to the drawing boards and to include our community, not special interests, in the process the next time instead of dictating demands.

Mahalo!
Charles Flaherty

Debbie Hecht on Charter Amendments and Open Space- Vote yes on 1

PLEASE FORWARD to Big Island Family and Friends-apologies for duplicates!
For a listing of ALL of the charter amendments: click here: http://www.dhecht.com/
and the League of Women Voters' Pros and Cons listing

On Nov. 2nd-or walk in voting is happening now!

Vote "YES" for proposition 1-

Relating to the Establishment of the Open Space Fund.

Mahalo to Council members Ford, Hoffmann, Yagong for supporting THE PLEDGE. Candidates Smart and Blas have also support THE PLEDGE. Angel Pilago and Emily Naole told me that they did NOT want to sign THE PLEDGE. After two phone calls and two emails, the following council members did not respond: Yoshimoto, Onishi, Enriques and Ikeda. PLEASE vote for Brittany Smart and Fred Blas; they will support resuming deposits to the fund and saving land for future generations.

ASK your council members to save our treasured lands and protect the aina.

The Save Our Lands Citizen's Committee asked all of the elected council members and candidates to sign our pledge to support the Open Space Fund charter amendment and to support resuming the deposits to the Fund in 2011. We felt this was important for three reasons: 1) If we can elect a council which agrees to fund the 2% amount, then we can acquire the lands that are pending; 2) so that the 100 people that showed up to testify during budget hearings won't have to attend the hearings, which will save their time and the council's time and 3) to introduce a degree of accountability in the Open Space Fund process.

The PLEDGE that we asked council members and candidates to sign states:

1. I support the Open Space Fund Charter amendment and will encourage my supporters to vote for Proposal #1 RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OPEN SPACE FUND on November 2, 2010.

2. I pledge to honor the voters of Hawaii County who voted for the 2% Land Fund ordinance in 2006 to deposit 2% of our property taxes in an open space fund. I will vote to support resuming the deposits to the 2% OpenSpace Fund in 2011 and I will vote to make sure that deposits are not suspended again.

Please vote for Brittany Smart and Fred Blas who have signed the Pledge and support saving Hawaii's great places.

Here's a SHORT LEGISLATIVE HISTORY of the 2%-1% Open space Fund. In 2006, The Save Our Lands Citizen's Committee collected 10,000 signatures on petitions, of which the County disqualified 6,000 signatures. The council placed the Open Space Fund measure on the ballot. 63% of Hawaii County voters voted to save Hawaii Island's treasured places in 2006.

In 2009, the county council voted to suspend deposits to the 2%Open Space Fund for two years. Mayor Kenoi submitted this measure BEFORE the budget was even printed. Stopping the Fund was his first piece of legislation in office. Only 3 council members voted against the suspending deposits to the fund: Greenwell, Ford and Yagong. The rest of the council: Naole, Enriques, Yoshimoto, Onishi and Hoffmann, voted to ignore the 2006 voter's mandate regarding the Open Space Fund. Deposits will resume as of July 1, 2011, unless the council votes to suspend the deposits to the fund again during budget hearings in the spring of 2011. THAT is why your vote for the council seats in Puna and Ka'u is so important.

The land fund is working! The county has acquired Waipio look out, Kawa Bay (Ka'u) and Kaiholena (N Kohala). Purchases that are pending if deposits resume are Pao'o and Kaiholena in N. Kohala, Kawa Bay in Ka'u and the Kingman Trust Parcels in Kona. To see past and pending purchases with matching funds go to:http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=196

IN 2010, the Save Our Lands Committee submitted a 2% Open Space Fund charter amendment to the charter commission. This amendment echoed the existing ordinance and was meant to replace the ordinance. We submitted the charter amendment because 1) Charter amendments can only be changed by a vote of the people, NOT by the council or Mayor; 2) and all other counties in Hawaii have an Open Space Fund charter amendment. The charter commission left the ordinance intact in the Code and put the Open Space Fund charter amendment on the Ballot at a minimum of 1% of our property taxes ($2 million per year). The 2% ordinance in the county is still in effect, so the council can still vote to fund the 2% amount or more. With the ordinance still in effect it became evident that we needed to make sure that the council members would fund this amount in 2011, so we could buy the properties approved by the Open Space Commission and the council to protect shoreline access, beaches, surfing and fishing.

For information on all of the charter amendments and to get the link to the League of Women Voters Pros and Cons publication, go to http://www.dhecht.com/.
Debbie Hecht
Campaign Coordinator 2% for the Land Fund
(808) 989-3222

What was the Supreme Court Thinking?? Or were they?

The overwhelming horrible TV commercials attacking each other over this election has become unbearable.
The really bad part is that we don't have a clear cut view of who is creating and paying for these commercials. The Supreme Court ruled that NO ONE has to disclose who, what, where and when and why is supporting each canidate. Or how much they are spending?What can we do? Who do we write to?

Since when is America known for this kind of closed / unnamed / under the table kind of campaigning?

Just like the Health Care fight: with Rick Scott of Florida. He bought up all the hospitals in an area (3 States to be exact) and closed all but one. That way he could charge what he wants and the public has no other choices. He is now buying his way into the Senate. America has gone to the dogs.

What happened to our great Nation. We have turned to the dark side, I guess!

Buy AMERICAN MADE. Look specifically for MADE in AMERICA!

One Light Bulb at a Time

A physics teacher in high school once told the students that while one grasshopper on the railroad tracks wouldn't slow a train very much, a billion of them would. With that thought in mind, read the following, obviously written by a good American.

Good idea ... one light bulb at a time.

Check this out. I can verify this because I was in Lowe's the other day for some reason and just for the heck of it, I was looking at the hose attachments. They were all made in China. The next day I was in Ace Hardware and just for the heck of it I checked the hose attachments there. They were made in USA. Start looking.

In our current economic situation, every little thing we buy or do affects someone else - even their job. So, after reading this email, I think this lady is on the right track. Let's get behind her!

My grandson likes Hershey's candy. I noticed, though, that it is marked made in Mexico now. I do not buy it any more.

My favorite toothpaste Colgate is made in Mexico. Now I have switched to Crest. You have to read the labels on everything.

This past weekend I was at Kroger. I needed 60W light bulbs and Bounce dryer sheets. I was in the light bulb aisle, and right next to the GE brand I normally buy was an off-brand labeled, "Everyday Value. " I picked up both types of bulbs and compared the stats; they were the same except for the price. The GE bulbs were more money than the Everyday Value brand but the thing that surprised me the most was the fact that GE was made in MEXICO and the Everyday Value brand was made in - get ready for this - the USA in a company in Cleveland, Ohio.

So throw out the myth that you cannot find products you use every day that are made right here.

So on to another aisle - Bounce Dryer Sheets. Yep, you guessed it, Bounce cost more money and is made in Canada. The Everyday Value brand was less money and MADE IN THE USA! I did laundry yesterday and the dryer sheets performed just like the Bounce Free I have been using for years and at almost half the price!

My challenge to you is to start reading the labels when you shop for everyday things and see what you can find that is made in the USA - the job you save may be your own or your neighbors!

If you accept the challenge, pass this on to others in your address book so we can all start buying American, one light bulb at a time! Stop buying from overseas companies!

We should have awakened a decade ago.

Let's get with the program. Help our fellow Americans keep their jobs and create more jobs here in the U.S.A.

I Passed this on ......... will you ???????

by: Leslie Lichtenstein

We are returning to the Vacation Rental Business

http://www.konacoastviewvacationrental.com/

We are on the www://VRBO.com  #323528

One Bedroom with a king bed. Upstairs apartment attached to a 4000sq ft home in Kona Coastview.
Full kitchen, lanai, all tile and marble sinks, shower and kitchen., Laundry and private parking.
The property produces coffee, avacados, papayas, lemons, etc...Heliconias. All are available to our guests.
For reservations please call 808-989-4182 cell or 808-325-7576 office

effective 11/2010

Miyan and Jen get married in LA

left to right: Lucas, Jason, Melissa, Maryn, Jennifer, Miyan and in front Emily and Josh

Miyan and Jen

Emily, Miyan, Jen, Eugene, Tom, Susan and Grandma

I made them beaded fish magnets

Tom fit right in on Venice Beach

Miyan, Lucas and Jen and Maryn

Around 75 people came to celebrate

Joe preformed the harmonica for his baby girl

Ahh the Cakes!

next year is Emily. and We are all done.
It is a real tear jerker to see your kids grow up and get married.

Debbie Hecht Loses District 8

Aloha Kona friends,
These last two days have been confusing as to the election results because of conflicting reports. I recently got this information from Ken Goodenow, County Clerk as to how the results are figured. Since blank ballots are not included in the final tally, Angel Pilago won the primary with 51.1% of the vote (see the actual part of the charter that addresses this below).

A heartfelt mahalo for everyone who worked on my campaign and took time to tell me their concerns about our quality of life in West Hawaii. Mahalo for considering me to represent you as your council member.

THREE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:

THE 2012-2013 BUDGET: I hope Mr. Pilago will consider requesting the following budget items BEFORE the Mayor designs the budget so that they can be included in the 2011-2012 budget for District 8-North Kona. These were projects that you told me were important to you.

1.Open existing bathrooms or build new bathrooms near the police station at Hale Halewai

2. Open the parking lot at Hale Halewai for use by residents and tourists

3. Look into using portions of the parking lots at Lowe's and/or K-Mart for park and ride stops for the island wide bus system AND

4. Obtain two small buses circulating from the park and ride stops along Ali'i from the King Kamehameha Hotel to Huggo's, with a stop at the Regency to ease parking and congestion on Ali'i Drive

5. Pave Kaiminani

SHORELINE PARK: Would you be interesting in working to obtain a 2,000 foot setback on state lands from Kailua to Kawaihae to create a shoreline park? We can protect the Ala Kalakai Trail (The King's Trail) and possibly build a parallel trail for recreation and exercise. This supports the Kona Community Development Plan. We may be circulating a petition to lobby the state.

For more information go to: http://www.dhecht.com/?page_id=14


CHARTER AMENDMENTS: We will be starting a big push to pass the following new or amended charter amendments: The League of Women Voters has done a terrific job on writing the educational piece with the Charter Commission. We need to raise money to buy signs for the 1% Land Fund and educate the public.

1. 1% land fund

2. Recall

3. Revising the charter

4. Reapportionment

5. Preservation of Natural and Cultural Resources

6. WATCH FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE COMING WEEKS



A hui hou!
Debbie
989-3222
http://www.dhecht.com/

Hawaii County Charter- Section 13-27. County Election.

(a) No person shall be a candidate for more than one elective office in the same election. If no person is elected to a county office, the county council shall appoint a person to fill such office. County elections shall be conducted in accordance with the election laws of the state insofar as applicable.

(b) All county elective officers--mayor, council members and prosecuting attorney-- shall be elected in nonpartisan special elections. Such special elections shall be held with the primary and general elections of the applicable year.

(c) First special election. The first special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled primary election. Any candidate for mayor, prosecuting attorney or council receiving a majority of all votes validly cast for candidates for that office, excluding blank and spoiled ballots, shall be deemed elected. If there is only one candidate for the office, that candidate shall be deemed elected regardless of the number of votes received.

(d) Second special election. The second special election shall be held with the regularly scheduled general election. Unless a candidate has been elected in the first special election, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for the office in question in the first special election shall be placed on the ballot for the second special election. At the second special election the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each respective office shall be deemed elected.

Brittany Smart district 6 Let's go!

Aloha e,


Please check out this excellent Youtube interview with Brittany Smart…she REALLY IS akamai. What a great young lady for the county council!

1 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_IENp7Qj0w&feature=related

2 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBQOTKVNsA8&feature=related

3 of 3 videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYaKNLxdbgg

FROM BRITTANY SMART…

Aloha Friends, Supporters, and District 6 Residents:
Thank you for your generous support of my campaign. Please help spread the word that I came in first for Hawaii County Council’s District 6 seat in the Primary Election on September 18!

This is a very exciting time for the campaign and we feel that the momentum is on our side, but the race won’t be won until the General Election on Tuesday, November 2. I am humbly asking each and everyone of you for your continued support of my campaign. If you would like yard signs, respond to smartforcouncil@gmail.com  with your physical address and the number of signs you want and we will have volunteers drop them off. Please remind your friends and family to vote as well.

If everyone would encourage two or more of your friends, family or neighbors to vote, we can win this. The last day to register to vote in the General Elections is OCTOBER 4, 2010. Click on the link below to download the information and application from the State of Hawaii’s Office of Elections.

http://hawaii.gov/elections/voters/registration.htm

And please check out my website to view more about me and the campaign at SmartForCouncil.org.

Mahalo nui loa for all your support,

Brittany Smart
Candidate for County Council, District 6

Paid for by the Friends of Brittany Smart, Brittany Smart Treasurer, PO Box 7151, Hilo, HI 96720
smartforcouncil.org    • 989-6110

Microwave ovens ARE NOT SAFE.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/microwave-cancer_b_684662.html

Read this and get rid of your microwave.

Hand Beaded Humuhumunukapua Fish

A straight talking polition. How Refreshing!

I hope this guy runs for president!!!!

I love this guy. He tells it like it is and does not pander to any group or individual. He is the kind of guy we need in the White House. This video is a classic and worth watching. It’s little long but this guy is unbelievable.

http://www.breitbart.tv/nj-gov-christie-delivers-brilliant-laceration-of-teachers-union/

sumbitted by Tom Pyne.

Emily McGeachy Judging Horse Show this Weekend in Billings, Montana

Emily McGeachy graduated Rocky Mountain College May this year with a Business Degree in Equestrian. She will be juding this weekend for Rocky Mountain College Horse Show. Attached is the local newspaper.
Great Job Emily!

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_6a7ad4c2-c1c7-11df-a2b1-001cc4c002e0.html

My Personal Choices:

My choices are based on Education, Experience, and actual past Accomplishments.

These are the Best Choices for Hawaii and Hawaii County. We are looking for People to represent all of us as ONE ISLAND, weather it is Honolulu including Kona or Hilo including Kona. We need people with enough (college) Education to now how to problem solve and write and vote on solutions. No more Ol'e boys lined up in Hilo voting against Kona (the cash cow). We need solution minded people.

Dan InouyeSenator
Neil Ambercrombie Governor
Brian Schatz- Lt. Govenor

Pete Hoffman- District 9

Debbie Hecht- District 8

Brenda Ford- District 7
Maegan MacGregor District 7 State House 

Brittany Smart- District 6
Denny Coffman- District 6 State House

James Weatherford-District 5
Fred Fogel- District 5 State House

Anthony Marzi-District 4 State House

Cliff Tsuji-District 3

Sammye-Ann Young-District 2
Mazie Hirono- District 2 State House

Mark Nakashima-District 1

Brenda Ford District 7 Needs your Vote

Aloha Friends and Voters,

I appreciate the trust you have placed in me these past 3.5 years. I was an advocate for the community for 10 years before I was elected to office, serving with the American Red Cross (Disaster Action Team), Neighborhood Watch (Coordinator), Kona Orchid Society (former Director and Secretary), personally went to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an illegal redistricting plan (case not heard), worked collaboratively to design the La'aloa Street Extension, and testified many times before the Planning Commission and the County Council - all before I was elected.

Most of us want to stop the backdoor dealings in government, but there are powerful forces trying to unseat me as a Council Member and continue the Hilo-centric power structure. My opponent has no experience with County issues, and I have never seen my opponent testify before the Council on any issue in the almost four years that I have served. He stated that he will “cooperate” with the Hilo council members, which has been proven in the past to be to our disadvantage. Being civil and respectful is appropriate, and I continue to act in a civil and respectful manner despite the frequent attacks on me personally. However, if “cooperation” means rubber-stamping the Administration or the Hilo-centric majority's continuing view that West Hawai'i should send as many tax dollars to Hilo as possible and then keep quiet, it won't work!

As you undoubtedly know, I am fiscally conservative which is why I voted against the Mayor's budget and the real property tax increase that was so discriminatory against West Hawai'i, farmers, owners of rental property, and the renters themselves. We needed to cut the budget, not raise taxes. I've received many calls from around the island from distraught taxpayers since they received their tax bills and saw the increases in this difficult economic time.

I have been told that my opponent has copied my campaign platform rather than be completely truthful about his real motivations for running against me in District 7. My platform is simple - I work for the people of District 7 to fix and improve the infrastructure (roads, a new fire station in Keauhou, non-salty drinking water, etc.), protect the environment, get more police officers in Kona and a new Captain Cook police station to reduce crime, reduce the drug problem, get drunk drivers to stop driving under the influence of alcohol and killing or maiming our people, promote open and transparent government, require concurrency of infrastructure in development, and increase jobs. If those issues label me as "liberal", so be it. That's what District 7 wants, and I will support it.

District 7 is a complex district of various people, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, social and economic mixes, and many great religious groups. I absolutely believe in the U.S. Constitution that there is a "separation of church and state" and equality for everyone. I treat everyone equally and do not favor any group no matter what the basis of the "group" is.

Walk-in voting started on September 3rd at the Office of Elections at the intersection of Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Street. For District 7, the election is going to be decided in the Primary on Saturday, September 18th. Be sure to vote and ask your friends and neighbors to vote. District 7 is on the back of the ballot, so please turn the ballot over and vote for District 7.

My radio ads begin this week, and my sign waving continues. Please forward this email to your friends. We all deserve to have good, honest, open government. That is what I will support. I respectfully ask for your vote.

Mahalo for your support.

Brenda Ford

p.s. A list of some of my accomplishments follows

BRENDA'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TAX AND BUDGET: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Voted against a property tax increase.

• Supported 3% cap on property tax increases.

• Supported furloughs rather than layoffs for County employees.

• Voted against a 22% salary increase for Council members.

SAFETY: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Initiated legislation for a Captain Cook Police station for better police protection.

• Opposed building in flood-prone areas.

• Supported safer road improvements such as the repairs at Napoopoo junction.

• Supported upgrading the flood plain code.

HEALTH AND WELFARE: Addressed major issues, such as:

• Supported opening Mamalahoa bypass road both ways for 12 hours per day.

• Supported banning GMO taro and coffee on our island.

• Provided contingency funds toward West Hawai'i Community Health Center- Keiki Clinic.

• Provided contingency funds toward mobile dental services.

• Provided contingency funds to improve West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery (12 flag poles).

• Worked with a coalition and the West Hawai'i Community Health Center to bring the Ohio 178th Air National Guard Medical Group to provide free medical and dental services.

OPEN AND BETTER GOVERNMENT: Addressed many issues, such as:

• Supported strengthening ethics codes.

• Introduced vote by mail resolution to the State.

• Initiated multiple Charter amendments to go before the voters.

• Initiated Charter amendment for funding the office of the independent auditor.

• Supported a separate Planning Commission for West Hawaii.

• Support Open and Transparent Government.


BRENDA’S GOALS FOR UPCOMING COUNCIL TERM

ROADS:

• Continue to upgrade road conditions and add roadways where needed.

• Reduce traffic congestion by completing La’aloa Street Extension, Lako Street Extension, and creating more interconnecting roads.

• Finish the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass road.

• Add synchronized traffic signal lights to Ali’i Drive to improve traffic flow.



POLICE SERVICES:

• Build the South Kona Police Station in Captain Cook. The land is already purchased and the design and engineering process is underway.

• Supported remodeling of the substation to add a kitchen and improved barracks.

• Support a 24/7 staffing of the Captain Cook Police Station with officers and administrators.

• Support more officers on duty on all shifts.

• Support Neighborhood Watch to aid the police.



TRANSPORTATION:

• More bus routes in West Hawai’i.

• Support federal funds for buses using alternative fuel sources (hydrogen, anhydrous ammonia, etc.).

FIRE SERVICES:

• Support building a new fire station in Keauhou.

• Get more equipment and add appropriate emergency vehicles to all stations including the volunteer stations.



CONCURRENCY:

• Expand concurrency to include parks, fire stations, police stations, etc.

• Require infrastructure to be in place before subdivisions are finished.

• Reduce burden on taxpayers subsidizing development’s infrastructure.



KONA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

• Enforce the Kona Community Development Plan in all County planning decisions. This assures that future development is in compliance with the intent of the majority of Kona citizens.



IMPACT FEES:

 • Support impact fees to fund new infrastructure

 • Stop illegal “fair share” fees



PARKS & RECREATION:

• Create more bike and walking paths.

• Add more parks to West Hawaii.

• Support Ali’i Drive as a Scenic Byway with more access to shoreline.



AGRICULTURE:

• Support Kona Community Development Plan to protect agricultural lands.

• Support efforts toward 100% Kona coffee branding.

• Support Country Of Origin Labeling (“COOL”).

• Support Truth-in-Labeling for agricultural products.

West Hawaii Today endorses Debbie Hecht for District 8

A big Mahalo to West Hawaii Today for their endorsement of my candidacy for County council District 8. It means a lot to have the support of intelligent people who care about our community!


Quoted directly from Sunday's paper on the editorial page:

"Voters in Hawaii County Council District 8 should weigh the past two years carefully and consider who has been active and visible and in what regard. Only one person has shown dedication to the community and issues it has embraced and as such only one deserves our endorsement: Debbie Hecht. She was the architect and catalyst behind the 2 percent land fund approved by voters and later disemboweled by Mayor Billy Kenoi and his enabling cohorts on the council. Hecht was right there fighting to keep it alive, and to keep some form of public land fund viable for the county. She comes from a business background yet holds a keen sense of community and environmental values that would serve her district and the island well."



*****************SEE ATTACHED CAMPAIGN FLYER*************

Can you support our campaign too?

The Elect Hecht campaign appreciates your support:

Can you help with Sign waving? walk your neighborhood with Debbie? donate? to P.O. Box 4148, Kailua Kona, HI 96745. I am a publicly funded candidate, your donation of $100. or less goes to get dollar for dollar matching funds AND is tax deductible.

Warm aloha!
Debbie

3 SOURCES FOR VOTER INFORMATION

1. Big ISLAND CHRONICLE voters guide:

http://www.bigislandchronicle.com/?p=16883#comments
2. West Hawaii Today has their voter's guide Sunday, September 12th Newspaper.

3. League of Women Voters has a great website for candidate information, includign Board of Education candidates, Click here: http://www.lwv-hawaii.com/candidates.htm

WALK IN VOTING NOW at the Elections office at Kuakini and Hualalai on the north makai corner across from Dixsons's 76.


VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.
--

Debbie Hecht, Candidate for Hawai'i County Council District 8

http://www.dhecht.com/ For articles that appeared in West Hawaii Today, complete resume and current projects.
(808) 989-3222


Not sure if you are registered?
Call Elections- 961-8277
Haven't registered to to my website (above) and click on register to vote in the right hand column.

September 11th Changed the World forever! We will never forget.

We will never forget.

Our lives have been changed forever.

Travel internationally will never be the same.

Our trust in all men has been shaken.

We are a resilant people and will work through it but we will never be the same.

God Bless America!

Who did the Kona Coastview Water system???

Let’s get the story straight.


After Joe Fagundas’sattempted to do the water without success, I stepped in and organized the neighborhood. No we don’t have a homeowners association so It was by mailing, calling and setting up email correspondence so we can work together. My help researching and putting this project together came from Bonnie Goodell of Volcano. She was my first point of guidance. She came out and walked the subdivision and worked on solutions. I could talk to her and trouble shoot.

My core group was Contractor David Livingston, Jim Williams, Margaret Marceron, Julian and Karen Silva, Jake Jacobs. David wanted a private system but we needed the Federal funding in order to do it and the County fought for a deductible system and it had to be their design. We had an engineer do his Masters degree on our system for ¼ the cost of the county system. The water from the Mamalahoa crashing down the hill ran the entire system without any power (OIL), It had metal tanks and heavy duty PVC type of pipe (they have been using over the past 2 decades, due to iron pipes breaking down and leaching shards of iron into the water system. The research showed Concrete tanks were NEVER used in a seismic area due to cracking and huge maintenance and repairs). The County wanted the concrete tanks and iron pipes, and the county was the only one that could sign for the USDA Federal Funding (Clinton Water 2000), (I found calling Washington D.C.).

The original thought was to complete a fire station at the same time as the water system so our homeowners insurance would go down (within 5 miles of a fire station) and cover the $65.00 cost of the new system. The Matsumoto water company was in the rears for our water for more than a decade. Harry Kim and Curtis Tyler signed a contract to get 1 acre of Matsumoto’s land (between Palisades and Coastview) for the fire station. Due to the lack of follow up from both Harry and Curtis we lost the land because the contract they signed stated the County had one year to survey the land. They failed to do it and it was sold to Bolton.

Then comes time for the County to offer their design and it comes in at over $16,000.00 a lot. We knew people couldn’t afford it if it was over $10,000.00. So we found Attorney Alan Tuhy to work pro bono. He told me to order the Kona Coastview subdivision file from Hilo through the County building department. 2 weeks later it comes in and the file is almost 4 inches thick. I was told it is .10 per copy, so I had a $20.00 in my purse and just starting copying away. I took all my copies to Alan and he began looking through it and asked if I could order the whole file again so he could come down and review it. The file comes back form Hilo and now it is less than ½ inch. It lost weight between Hilo and Kona??? Go figure. By the grace of God I had copied the County dedication of the roads dated 1963. But when the file came back that was gone! So the water department had to redo the figures and take out the $860,000.00 they were charging for the cost of our roads. Then the figures came back under $10,000.00 per lot.

Harry and the water department failed to add all the of costs in the Water Improvement (add in meters and hook up into the USDA funding) so when it came time to hook up we had up charges ( in the thousands) of a new meter, water pipes (and standards to hook up? None provided and what about those that couldn’t afford it?.) We had a meeting with at my house with plumbers, back hoe operators, and George Wilkins (water board volunteer), no I didn’t see Harry, or Angel there. I fielded call after call asking what are the standards to hook up? What if I can’t afford it??????? I helped dig holes and find pipes to give those that couldn’t afford it. No Angel wasn’t there.

After all that work do you think the County (Angel at the time) would step in and help those in need. NO he was not there. Finally I had it. I was exhausted, not being paid for hours and hours of work and I told people to call your county council man (Angel) and let him do the job he is being paid to do. Then and Only then did Angel’s office field the calls (Karen Eoff). As I said before Angel was not there in the time of need for his constituents. For him to claim he did the water system in Kona Coastview is laughable.

Susan McGeachy

West Hawaii Today - Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > Politician responds

West Hawaii Today - Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > Politician responds

Jim Rath responds to my letter to the editor. Regarding Politicians claiming credit when they were never there.
Thank you Jim I really appreciate this.

World Newspapers At Your Fingertips

Subject: World Newspapers At Your Fingertips

Just put your mouse on a city anywhere in the world and the newspaper headlines pop up...

Double click and the page gets larger. You can read the entire paper

on some if you click on the right place. You can spend forever here.

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/

Politics of Lieing - District #8 K. Angel Pilago

Politicians LIE

First Harry Kim claims he built the Kona Coastview/ Wonderview water improvement district. Now K. Angel Pilago in his run for District #8 claims he was responsible for building Kona Coastview/ Wonderview water improvement district. Even Cindy Evans claimed credit for the project too.

The truth is NONE of these people have showed up at a single meeting, fund raiser, planning or execution of the contract.
Jim Rath lives in the neighborhood and he never showed up to a single meeting either.

The process was one of 3 tries over 30 years. We finally got it with the help of NO ELECTED OFFICIALS. We spent 7 ½ years working, planning, researching and holding meetings to get this project complete. The project credit should go to the Homeowners who persevered over the many years and meetings. It was the homeowners that found the funding from the USDA. It was the homeowners that did the entire project and donated it to the Semi-automous Water Department. We are still paying for the project (30 year loans). It was the homeowners that organized and helped those that couldn’t hook up in the end. Meeting with plumbers, back hoe operators, etc…

So the next time a Politian claims they did the Kona Coastview / Kona Wonderview water improvement project. KNOW for a FACT they are lieing.

Susan McGeachy
Kona Coastview since 1988

Nonpartisam moderated Candidate Forum 8/31 from 6-9pm

The public is invited to a nonpartisan, moderated candidate forum.
Thursday, August 31, County Council Candidate Forum, 6 p.m. til 8 p.m.

Come early, food sales benefit Kealakehe High Culinary Program and Rotary Sunrise by Tante's Restaurant at 5 p.m.


County Council District 7, South Kona: Incumbent Brenda Ford, Enoch Friere

County Council District 8, North Kona: Incumbent Kelly Greenwell, Debbie Hecht, Angel Pilago, Jim Rath

Forum moderator is Sherry Bracken, news reporter for Hawaii Public Radio and host of the LAVA 105.3 fm and KKOA 107.7 fm weekly broadcast, Island Issues.
Please submit questions in advance to sherryb@lava105.com or at the forum. Questions call Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, 329-1758.

Sponsors:
West Hawaii Today
Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce
Kohala Coast Resort Association
Kona Outdoor Circle
Community Enterprises - Kona Town Meetings
Rotary Sunrise and Tante's Restaurant
LAVA 105.3 FM/Mahalo Broadcasting
Kealakehe High School

> Council Woman Naeole Beats her new husband?

Emily Naeole has proven time and time again she can not separate Church from State at the County Council meetings. Now the truth comes out. She held him hostage, took his money and beat him.
If God is in your heart you don't need to advertise you are religious.
What goes around comes around. She is receiving from the seeds she has sewn.
In Hawaiian: poor ting.

West Hawaii Today - Local > Naeole Beats Him?#blogcomments

Sarah Palin DOESN'T SPEAK FOR ALL WOMEN.

Sarah is Extreme. I would never instill her values in my child. She has not proven to be an example of anything but crazy views way out of the main stream. Womem are MUCH smarter than that.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fvideo%2F%23%2Fvideo%2Fpolitics%2F2010%2F08%2F17%2Fbts.emilys.list.anti.palin.campaign.cnn&h=36b65

US Weather Facts and Extremes, coldest, hotest, windy, snowy, earthquakes.......

United States Weather Facts and Extremes

Top 10 cities with
Least weather variety
Based on temperature variation, precipitation, wind, severe weather

1. San Francisco, California

2. San Diego , California

3. Los Angeles , California

4. Santa Barbara , California

5. Eureka , California

6. Long Beach , California

7. Honolulu , Hawaii

8. Santa Maria , California

9. San Luis Obispo , California

10. Kahului , Hawaii


Top 10 hail prone cities
Based on frequency and severity of hail

1. Tulsa , Oklahoma

2. Amarillo , Texas

3. Oklahoma City , Oklahoma

4. Wichita , Kansas

5. Dallas / Fort Worth , Texas

6. Arlington , Texas

7. Denver , Colorado

8. Colorado Springs , Colorado

9. Shreveport , Louisiana

10. Kansas City , Missouri / Kansas


Top 10 Tropical storm / Hurricane prone cities
Average # of years with no storm. Totals based on data from 1871- 2007, hitting within 60 miles of the city

1. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina 2.49

2. Delray Beach , Florida 2.54

3. Hollywood , Florida 2.58

4. Deerfield Beach , Florida 2.58

5. Boca Raton , Florida 2.58

6. Florida City , Florida 2.63

7. Grand Isle, Louisiana 2.63

8. Ft. Pierce , Florida 2.69

9. Miami , Florida 2.69

10. Ft. Lauderdale , Florida 2.69


Top 10 Tornado states
Avg number of tornadoes per 10,000 square
Miles, occurring from 1953-2004

1. Florida 9.4

2. Oklahoma 8.2

3. Kansas 6.7

4. Iowa 6.6

5. Illinois 6.2

6. Indiana 6.1

7. Mississippi 5.7

8. Maryland 5.7

9. Louisiana 5.6

10. Texas 5.2


Top 10 Thunderstorm
Cities Avg annual number of thunderstorms

1. Fort Myers , Florida 89

2. Tampa , Florida 87

3. Tallahassee, Florida 83

4. Gainesville , Florida 81

5. Orlando , Florida 80

6. Mobile , Alabama 79

7. W. Palm Beach , Florida 79

8. Lake Charles , Louisiana 76

9. Daytona Beach , Florida 75

10. Vero Beach , Florida 75


Top 10 Tornado prone cities
Ranked by tornadoes per 1,000 miles

1. Oklahoma City , Oklahoma

2. Tulsa , Oklahoma

3. Dallas - Ft. Worth , Texas

4. Wichita , Kansas

5. Springfield , Missouri

6. Kansas City , Kansas / Missouri

7. Ft. Smith , Arkansas

8. Little Rock , Arkansas

9. Jackson , Mississippi

10. Birmingham , Alabama


Top 10 Earthquake prone states
# of earthquakes in the last 30 years
Centered in the state

1. Alaska

2. California

3. Hawaii

4. Nevada

5. Washington

6. Idaho

7. Wyoming

8. Montana

9. Utah

10. Oregon


10 all-time hottestTemperatures
Obtained from state temperature
Records, NCDC

1. Death Valley , California 134

2. Lake Havasu , Arizona 128

3. Laughlin , Nevada 125

4. Lakewood , New Mexico 122

5. Alton , Kansas 121

6. Steele , North Dakota 121

7. Ozark , Arkansas 120

8. Tipton , Oklahoma 120

9. Seymour , Texas 120

10. Usta, South Dakota 120


10 all-time coldest Temperatures
Obtained from state temperature
Records, NCDC

1. Prospect Creek , Alaska -80

2. Rogers Pass , Montana -70

3. Peters Sink, Utah -69

4. Riverside , Wyoming -66

5. Maybell , Colorado -61

6. Tower, Minnesota -60

7. Parshall , North Dakota -60

8. Island Park Dam, Idaho -60

9. McIntosh , South Dakota -58

10. Couderay , Wisconsin -55


10 hottest cities
Average annual temperature, F

1. Key West , Florida 77.7

2. Miami , Florida 75.6

3. W Palm Beach , Florida 74.6

4. Ft. Myers , Florida 73.9

5. Yuma , Florida 73.9

6. Brownsville , Texas 73.6

7. Orlando , Florida 72.4

8. Vero Beach , Florida 72.4

9. Corpus Christi , Texas 72.1

10. Tampa , Florida 72.0


10 coldest cities
Average annual temperature, F

1. International Falls , Minnesota 36.4

2. Duluth , Minnesota 38.2

3. Caribou , Maine 38.9

4. Marquette , Michigan 39.2

5. Sault Ste Marie , Michigan 39.7

6. Fargo , North Dakota 40.5

7. Williston , North Dakota 40.8

8. Alamosa , Colorado 41.2

9. Bismarck , North Dakota 41.3

10. St. Cloud , Minnesota 41.4


10 driest cities
Avg annual precipitation in inches

1. Yuma , Arizona 2.65

2. Las Vegas , Nevada 4.19

3. Bishop , California 5.61

4. Bakersfield , California 5.72

5. Phoenix , Arizona 7.11

6. Alamosa , Colorado 7.13

7. Reno , California 7.49

8. Winslow , Arizona 7.64

9. El Paso , Texas 7.82

10. Winnemucca , Nevada 7.82


10 wettest cities
Avg annual precipitation in inches

1. Hilo , Hawaii 128.00

2. Quillayute , Washington 104.50

3. Astoria , Oregon 69.60

4. Blue Canyon , California 67.87

5. Mobile , Alabama 64.64

6. Tallahassee , Florida 64.59

7. Pensacola , Florida 61.16

8. New Orleans , Louisiana 59.74

9. W Palm Beach , Florida 59.72

10. Miami , Florida 59.55


10 snowiest cities
Avg annual precipitation in inches

1. Blue Canyon , California 240.8

2. Marquette , Michigan 128.6

3. Sault Ste Marie , Michigan 116.7

4. Syracuse , New York 111.6

5. Caribou , Maine 110.4

6. Mount Shasta , California 104.9

7. Lander, Wyoming 102.5

8. Flagstaff , Arizona 99.9

9. Sexton Summit , Oregon 97.8

10. Muskegon , Michigan 97.0


10 windiest cities
Avg annual wind speed in mph

1. Blue Hill Observatory, Massachusetts 15.4

2. Dodge City , Kansas 14.0

3. Amarillo , Texas 13.5

4. Rochester , Minnesota 13.1

5. Casper , Wyoming 12.9

6. Cheyenne , Wyoming 12.9

7. Great Falls , Montana 12.7

8. Goodland , Kansas 12.6

9. Boston , Massachusetts 12.5

10. Lubbock , Texas 12.4


10 sunniest cities
Annual percent of possible sunshine

1. Yuma , Arizona 90%

2. Las Vegas , Nevada 85%

3. Phoenix , Arizona 85%

4. Tucson , Arizona 85%

5. El Paso , Texas 83%

6. Flagstaff , Arizona 79%

7. Fresno , California 79%

8. Reno , Nevada 79%

9. Sacramento , California 78%

10. Albuquerque , N.M. 76%


10 cloudiest cities
Avg number of cloudy days per year

1. Astoria , Oregon 240

2. Quillayute , Washington 240

3. Olympia , Washington 229

4. Seattle , Washington 227

5. Portland , Oregon 223

6. Kalispell , Montana 213

7. Binghamton , New York 212

8. Beckley , West Virginia 211

9. Elkins , West Virginia 211

10. Eugene , Oregon 209


10 most humid cities
Avg relative humidity in %

1. Quillayute , Washington 83.0

2. Olympia , Washington 78.0

3. Port Arthur , Texas 77.5

4. Lake Charles , Louisiana 77.0

5. Apalachicola , Florida 76.5

6. Gainesville , Florida 76.5

7. Corpus Christi , Texas 76.0

8. Eugene , Oregon 75.5

9. New Orleans , Louisiana 75.5

10. Houston , Texas 75.0


10 least humid cities
Avg relative humidity in %

1. Las Vegas , Nevada 30.5

2. Phoenix , Arizona 37.0

3. Yuma , Arizona 38.0

4. Tucson , Arizona 39.0

5. El Paso , Texas 42.5

6. Albuquerque , New Mexico 44.5

7. Winslow , Arizona 46.0

8. Grand Junction , Colorado 48.0

9. Winnemucca , Nevada 48.5

10. Reno , Nevada 50.5


10 rainiest cities
Number of days per year with rain

1. Hilo , Hawaii 277

2. Quillayute , Washington 210

3. Astoria , Oregon 191

4. Elkins , West Virginia 171

5. Syracuse , New York 171

6. Buffalo , New York 169

7. Marquette , Michigan 168

8. Sault Ste Marie , Michigan 166

9. Erie , Pennsylvania 165

10. Binghamton , New York 162


10 least rainiest cities
Number of days per year with rain

1. Yuma , Arizona 17

2. Las Vegas , Nevada 26

3. Bishop , California 29

4. Santa Barbara , California 30

5. Long Beach , California 32

6. Los Angeles , California 35

7. Great Falls , Montana 35

8. Phoenix , Arizona 36

9. Bakersfield , California 37

10. San Diego , California 42

Largest annual temperature variation
Change in average temperature between summer and winter

1. Fairbanks , Alaska 90.8

2. Bettles , Alaska 90.0

3. International Falls , MN 88.8

4. Fargo , North Dakota 87

5. Williston, North Dakota 86.6

6. Aberdeen , South Dakota 86.5

7. McGrath , Alaska 86.2

8. Bismarck , North Dakota 86.1

9. Alamosa , Colorado 85.9

10. St. Cloud , Minnesota 85


10 most uncomfortable cities
Average combination of summer heat and humidity

1. Phoenix , Arizona

2. Corpus Christi , Texas

3. San Antonio , Texas

4. Dallas , Texas

5. West Palm Beach , Florida

6. Miami , Florida

7. Waco , Texas

8. Houston , Texas

9. Montgomery , Alabama

10. New Orleans , Louisiana


Top 10 clean air cities
Based on long-term particle pollution

1. Cheyenne, Wyoming

2. Santa Fe , New Mexico

3. Honolulu , Hawaii

4. Great Falls , Montana

5. Tucson , Arizona

6. Anchorage , Alaska

7. Farmington , New Mexico

8. Bismarck , North Dakota

9. Albuquerque , New Mexico

10. Rapid City , South Dakota


Top 10 dirty air cities
Based on long-term particle pollution

1. Los Angeles , California

2. Bakersfield , California

3. Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania

4. Visalia , California

5. Fresno , California

6. Detroit , Michigan

7. Hanford , California

8. Cleveland , Ohio

9. Atlanta , Georgia

10. Chicago , Illinois


Best cities for allergies
Based on pollen counts from 1999-2002

1. Grand Rapids , Michigan

2. Milwaukee , Wisconsin

3. Seattle , Washington

4. San Francisco , California

5. Minneapolis , Minnesota

6. Chicago , Illinois

7. Syracuse , New York

8. Salt Lake City , Utah

9. Los Angeles , California

10. Denver , Colorado


Worst cities for allergies
Based on pollen counts from 1999-20002

1. Kansas City , Mo /Ks

2. Louisville , Kentucky

3. Tampa / St. Pete , Florida

4. Tulsa , Oklahoma

5. Atlanta , Georgia

6. Austin , Texas

7. St. Louis , Missouri

8. Sacramento , California

9. Orlando , Florida

10. Indianapolis , Indiana


Chart data sources: The National Climatic Data Center, Riskmeter Online, Hurricane City , Weatherpages.com,

National Lung Association, Sperling's Best Places

Fastest warming 12 hour warm-up: 83 degrees. From -33 in the morning to 50 by late afternoon in Granville , ND on February 21, 1918
15 minute warm-up: 42 degrees. From -5 to 37 degrees in Fort Assiniboine , Montana on January 19, 1893
7 minute warm-up: 34 degrees in Kipp , Montana in 1896

Fastest Cooling
24 hour chill: 100 degrees. >From 44 to -54 below zero in Browning, Montana on January 23-24, 1916.
12 hour chill: 84 degrees.. From 63 to -21 below zero in Fairfield , Montana on December 24, 1924.
2 hour chill: 62 degrees. From 49 at 6:00am to -13 at 8:00am in Rapid City , South Dakota on January 10, 1911
15 minute chill: 47 degrees. >From 55 at 7:00am to 8 at 7:15am in Rapid City , South Dakota on January 10, 1911


Interesting U.S. weather facts

Through August 2007, the U.S. experienced its hottest year ever. During the month of August, more than 8,000 new heat maximum and minimum records were set or tied across the country.

In Hawaii , where surface temperatures are always above 50F, there is snow. Between 1 and 2 feet of snow falls each year in the mountains above 5,000 feet.

The coldest football game ever played was the NFL Championship Game on December 31, 1967 in Green Bay, Wisconsin between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys when the temperature fell to -13. The 2007 NFC Championship game in Green Bay between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers was the third coldest game in history with a temperature of -1 and wind chill of -23.

The longest rain-free period in the United States was 767 days (2 years, 37 days), from October 3, 1912 to November 8, 1914 at Bagdad, California.

A world record rainfall occurred at Holt, Missouri on June 22, 1947 when it rained 12 inches in just 42 minutes.. This averages to over 1/4 of an inch of rainfall per minute. On July 4th, 1956 In Unionville, Maryland 1.23 inches of rain fell in 1 minute.

The average yearly temperature of New York, St. Louis and San Francisco differs by only 1.8F degrees.

Which is the least rainy city - Seattle, New York City or Miami? Although on average Seattle is cloudy 227 days a year, it only receives 39 inches of rain per year, compared to New York City (42 inches) and Miami (60 inches)

Is Chicago really "The Windy City?" Of the 262 major weather reporting stations in the United States , 27% or 72 stations average higher annual wind speeds than Chicago , which averages 10.3 mph. For example, New York City 's annual wind speed is 12.2 mph.

Due to Florida's proximity to the equator, the state receives more than a hundred times the UV exposure that Maine does.

Cheyenne, Wyoming averages the most hail storms in the United States per year with 10 and Tulsa, Oklahoma experiences the most severe hail storms annually.

The United States leads the world with an average of over 1,000 reported tornadoes each year. A distant second is Canada with an average of approximately 100 reported tornadoes.

Kansas has received the most F5 tornadoes since 1880. Oklahoma encounters the highest number of significant and violent tornadoes per square mile.

Of the total reported tornadoes in the United States each year, 20 can be expected to be F5 tornadoes with winds over 200 mph and nearly complete destruction.