On July 1, the city began pre-fabricating replacement railings, addressing a long-standing problem. The work should be completed by the end of the month, city officials say.

But for some, the fixes haven’t come soon enough. They say that Hanauma Bay, one of Hawaii’s busiest tourist attractions, isn’t getting the timely repairs it deserves.

Hanauma Bay hosts about one million visitors each year or around 3,000 per day. Besides Waikiki Beach, the bay is one of the most-visited beaches in the state.

In addition to the rusted rails, the park suffers from a faulty projector, holes in the information booth鈥檚 roof and the broken touch-screen computers in the visitor center.

Volunteers at the bay say the repairs have been put on hold for years.

When asked about the concern about repairs taking too long, the city told Civil Beat that they鈥檙e 鈥渄oing everything they can to move the repairs as quickly as possible.鈥�

Around a year ago, then-Mayor Kirk Caldwell admitted there was a problem.

鈥淲e believe we need to do a better job,鈥� Caldwell said in an August 2010 press conference at the bay. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檝e done now. When we find things that need to be repaired, it will be repaired.鈥�

Bay Collects Lots of Fees, But Spending Them is Difficult

Gary Cabato, the city’s new Parks and Recreation director told Civil Beat that part of the problem is bureaucratic.

Since 1996, the Bay has a special fund that collects entrance, parking and concession fees. Its top funding priority is 鈥渇or the operation, maintenance and improvement of the preserve.鈥�

In , the city received $5.982 million in admission, parking and concession fees.

This fund may only be used at the Bay, but some complain that it takes too long to release the funds for repairs.

Even Cabato says he feels frustrated. He told Civil Beat that there needs to be a better system in place.

鈥淓very year I complain about it,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut if those are the cards I’m dealt, then that’s what I have to work with.鈥�

The process of getting the funding to go towards things like repairs, has to go through the same process as any other city project that grabs money from the general fund, the city said.

鈥淎nything over $5,000 and lasts five years or more would fall under CIP funding,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat’s a much longer process we have to go through.鈥�

Volunteers hope to streamline this process and create one specifically for the bay.

Indeed, slow repairs are a longstanding problem. A 2007 noted that the Department of Parks and Recreation needed to 鈥渋mprove its planning efforts in identifying current and projected needs of the preserve.鈥�

The audit also found that 鈥渢he Department of Parks and Recreation and Budget and Fiscal Services need to better coordinate their planning efforts to ensure the most effective use of preserve funds to support the preserve’s requirements.鈥�

Rusted Rails a Perennial Problem

For years, Friends of Hanauma Bay and other volunteers have asked the city to fix rusted and sharp-edged guardrails at the upper lookout.

When he took over the Parks and Recreation Department in December, Cabato said he visited the Bay to check on the railings.

鈥淭hey put duct tape around the pipes and that’s not a proper way to fix rust or holes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 stuck my finger through tape and my finger went right through it. That scared me, so I wanted to get this fixed right away.鈥�

The original plans to fix them put the estimated cost at $250,000, an amount that was in the 2012 Capital Improvement Budget.

The city recently told Civil Beat they’ve decided to do a less expensive fix.

鈥淲e determined that it was less expensive to have city welders do the work than to hire a private contractor,鈥� Cabato said. 鈥淭he cost for the rails would be around $80,000. We expect the railings to be available by July 1 and then we will begin to pre-fabricate the rails to fit.鈥�

The city plans to complete the pre-fabrication and installation by the end of July.

鈥淲e would prefer doing the work on Tuesdays, when the bay is closed, so we do not impact on our visitor operations,鈥� Cabato said.

The money saved ($170,000) from completing this project will go right back into the Hanauma Bay fund, according to Cabato.

Taking Care of the Backlog

Other back-logged repairs like the faulty touch-screen computers in the visitor center seem to be done, except one, which the city said, 鈥渋s under warranty and will be repaired by the vendor soon.鈥�

A $50,000 permanent replacement for the broken roof of the information booth on the beach remains on hold.

鈥淲e determined that the earlier repair is sufficient for now,鈥� Cabato said. 鈥淭here are no leaks and the repair materials are blending in. The complete roof repair is one of the CIP projects, besides the rock mitigation that will be put in our CIP.鈥�

A new projector that shows the required educational video was purchased for $5,000 and installed last year. A back-up projector is also being budgeted, according to Cabato.

Cabato told Civil Beat fees 鈥渨on鈥檛 be raised anytime soon to help with repair costs.鈥�

Over the years, CIP funds expended at the Bay were for new lifeguard towers ($600,000) in 2003, rock fall mitigation ($230,000) in 2010 and the master plan update ($50,000) also in 2010.

Transparency of the Bay fund

Some like Friends of Hanauma Bay President John Johnson feels the solution to the repairs problem at the bay is an onsite financial manager.

鈥淭he process for getting repairs approved is pretty cumbersome,鈥� Johnson told Civil Beat. 鈥淭here鈥檚 also no fiscal person on-site to manage the Hanauma Bay fund. It takes quite awhile for things to happen. It took months upon months to repair the projector. It took quite awhile for the computer kiosks to be repaired. When nobody鈥檚 using the fund, it gives a black eye to the bay.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e concerned with the transparency of the Bay fund,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚f we know how much money is there and what they project their expenses are, we鈥檇 be better able to understand what鈥檚 going on.鈥�

Johnson, who has been volunteering at the bay for seven years, said the Friends of Hanauma Bay board is meeting with Cabato soon to not only talk about repair issues, but about the selection of a new manager as well.

The city says there are no plans to hire an onsite manager to manage the bay’s funds.

Where are the funds going?

A 2010 city budget report on shows that the biggest expense at the Bay falls under the category of culture recreation under the Parks and Recreation division at $2.41 million.

The next biggest expense is for emergency services at $755,000. Just under emergency services is retirement benefits at $667,000.

All in all, the city finished up with a positive balance in 2010 with a total of $2.15 million.

*Includes Non-resident entry-fee increase ($5 to $7.50)
Source: Honolulu Parks & Recreation Dept.

Hanauma Bay Visitor Totals

Source: Honolulu Parks & Recreation Dept.

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In the two years since Honolulu’s went into effect, police have handed out 16,837 citations. The rate of ticketing is trending to about 10,000 a year, an average of about 27 tickets a day.

The fine and fees for first-time offenders are $97 鈥� up from $67 per violation when the law first took effect. On July 1, the fee will rise even higher to $147.

The hands-free law was passed in an attempt to cut down on people using cell phones while driving. But because of a computer issue, the Honolulu Police Department can’t track whether accidents are caused by drivers using cell phones.

All of Hawaii’s county police agencies use the same accident report, designed by the State Department of Transportation.

鈥淚t does allow an officer to check a box for ‘Cellular Phone,’ another box for ‘Other Electronic Communication Device’ and another box for ‘Other Electronic Device,’鈥� HPD spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter told Civil Beat. 鈥淗owever, these reports are entered into the current HPD Records Management System, which is not designed to capture these statistics.鈥�

Sluyter adds that HPD is trying to get a new, up-to-date system.

鈥淎lthough we don鈥檛 track it (distracted driving accidents related to cell phone use), we feel it鈥檚 important that it does keep people from getting into accidents,鈥� she said.

State DOT spokesperson Dan Meisenzahl says the department is in the process of compiling the statistics of accidents related to cell phone use. But it could be months before they’re ready.

鈥淲e have just one person doing this work and he鈥檚 not just sorting through one category 鈥� it鈥檚 everything,鈥� he said.

Meisenzahl says prior to the hands-free law, the Motor Vehicle Collision Report didn鈥檛 have a category specific to accidents caused by using a cell phone. Instead, the closest category that came to that was 鈥淒istracted by Occupant.鈥�

鈥淭hat could include anything from putting on lipstick to even possibly using your cell phone,鈥� he said.

The Skinny on the Law

The estimates that so far this year in the U.S., there have been a little more than 518,000 crashes, or roughly 100,000 per month, involving drivers using cell phones and texting.

In Honolulu, you鈥檒l get cited if you鈥檙e caught holding any mobile electronic device while driving. This includes texting, regardless of whether you鈥檙e holding the device or not. And even though it isn’t written into the law, according to the HPD, if both hands aren鈥檛 on the wheel while driving, 鈥渋t may be a violation,鈥� Sluyter said.

The only exemption is if you need to call 9-1-1.

Jason Kim was one of the 16,837 people cited for disobeying the Hands Free Law in the nearly two years it has been in effect.

The 34-year-old Honolulu entrepreneur told the officer he wasn鈥檛 on the phone, but was sternly reminded that by law, he was required to have two hands on the steering wheel at all times.

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 aware that you have to keep two hands on the steering wheel,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think they (HPD) educate the public well enough on those details. There should be more reminders to the public.鈥�

Kim ultimately was ordered to pay the $97 fine. But he said he feels the law, although fair for safety reasons, doesn鈥檛 seem clear enough.

He says he still sees lots of people on their phones while driving.

鈥淚 only learned my lesson the hard way by paying $97 and writing a letter,鈥� he said.

Here鈥檚 a year-by-year breakdown of hands-free citations handed out in Honolulu since the law went into effect. Civil Beat also compiled statistics of other citations handed out while driving, including not using a seatbelt and speeding.

Hands-Free Citations

( ^Law went into effect mid-year )
( **As of end of April)

Speeding Tickets

(*Year to date)

Seatbelt Violations

(*Year to date)

The HPD says it doesn鈥檛 receive money generated by hands-free citations. Instead, fines go into the state鈥檚 general fund. The State Judiciary tells Civil Beat that the entire fine and $20 from the administrative fee goes into the state鈥檚 general fund.

11-year-olds Responsible For Law

Honolulu has teenagers Caelyn Brown and Paige Jimenez to thank for the law. Both were ambitious 11-year-olds at the time. The kids, helped buy Caelyn鈥檚 mother, Catherine, encouraged then-council member Charles Djou to introduce a bill.

鈥淲e were driving on the H-1 and a woman cut me off,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淐aelyn yells from the backseat, 鈥淲hy don鈥檛 they have that law?鈥�

Djou said he also saw the need for a Hands-Free Law because of an incident involving a city bus driver, who was caught on video, playing a hand-held game while driving.

The first attempt to craft this type of legislation failed. It included outlawing only texting and playing video games while driving. HPD claimed it would be too hard to enforce.

鈥淭he Honolulu ordinance defines 鈥榰se鈥� as holding the device while operating a motor vehicle,鈥� Sluyter told Civil Beat. 鈥淭he officer just has to observe the operator holding the device while operating a motor vehicle and that would be a violation, not specify that the operator was texting, calling or talking to anyone.鈥�

Sluyter adds, 鈥淭he enforcement of the mobile electronic device law would be difficult if 鈥榰se鈥� of the device was restricted to texting or calling, as suggested by the first ordinance, but that is not the case here.鈥�

Despite some saying the law isn鈥檛 working, HPD claims it certainly is.

鈥淗onolulu鈥檚 ordinance is a valid enforceable law,鈥� Sluyter said. 鈥淗awaii has no state law, however, all of the other counties have adopted this ordinance based on Honolulu鈥檚 ordinance.鈥�

Tracing Cell Phone-related Accidents Can Be Problematic

The National Safety Council, an advocacy group striving to keep drivers safe, said it isn’t surprised HPD doesn’t keep these kinds of statistics.

In some states, it’s a paperwork problem. But in HPD鈥檚 case, it鈥檚 a computer issue.

Deb Trombley is a part of the NSC鈥檚 transportation initiatives division. She tells Civil Beat that in certain circumstances, the reporting of accidents related to mobile device distractions, doesn鈥檛 necessarily fall in the hands of authorities.

鈥淒rivers may not admit to cell phone use or in a single vehicle fatal crash, there may be no survivors or witnesses to report driver cell phone use or while it is possible to subpoena cell phone records, this can be seen as a last-resort measure and may be reserved for crashes involving serious injury, fatality or a lawsuit,鈥� Trombley said.

Ultimately, local crash report data informs national reports, such as this one by the .

This report provides the official national numbers on distracted driving fatalities.

鈥淵et, even the NHTSA acknowledges that due to limitations in capturing cell phone or other driver distraction data in crash reports, the fatality numbers in this report are certainly underreported,鈥� Trombley said.

Nationally, there are only nine states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington) and the District of Columbia that have banned talking on hand-held phones while driving.

But many more states have banned text messaging while behind the wheel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping the nation鈥檚 road safe, reports (http://www.iihs.org/laws/cellphonelaws.aspx) that text messaging while driving is banned in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

The post Two Years Later: Is Honolulu鈥檚 Hands-Free Law Working? appeared first on 天美视频.

Today, few people in Hawaii continue to make poi the traditional way, using board and stone. But with the Legislature’s passage of the , better known as the poi bill, what began as one man’s art has been transformed into a legal recognition of an ancient cultural tradition.

The story of the poi bill is largely the story of Daniel Anthony. He is the public face of the bill, which exempts the preparation of hand-pounded poi from certain Department of Health requirements regarding food safety, if certain conditions are met.

After passing both the House and Senate unanimously, it awaits the governor’s signature.

Anthony, 33, pounded 15,000 pounds of taro last year, which yields about 7,000 pounds of pa’i’ai. He ate about 1,000 pounds of it, gave away about 3,000 pounds and sold about 3,000 pounds 鈥� that is, before the Health Department caught up with him.

After that, he and a small group who practice traditional methods of pa’i’ai got together to talk about legalizing their poi.

Despite some struggles at the Legislature, the poi bill is the result.

鈥淚 believe this bill is one of the first victories for the taro community in a really long time,鈥� Anthony told Civil Beat. 鈥淲e need to continue to educate and pound away.鈥�

For centuries, Hawaiian families have been making their own poi, but never on a commercial scale. Families mostly did it recreationally and give it to family and friends. The poi bill means that pa’i’ai makers may now sell their product. Anthony said he expects to see more pa’i’ai show up in grocery stores and restaurants.

From Art Shows to Farmers Markets

鈥淚 grew up with the taro,鈥� Anthony said. 鈥淚 farmed it, but I didn鈥檛 really pay much attention to it at that time, but I鈥檇 always do it.鈥�

By age 12, Anthony, who grew up in Waianae, began learning kui鈥檃i, the traditional way of pounding pa鈥檌鈥檃i. Anthony, who is not Native Hawaiian, learned to love taro* from his step-grandfather, a Native Hawaiian who is the last kuleana taro farmer in Waianae Valley.

Around seven years ago, Anthony started to do kui鈥檃i exhibitions at art shows. Eventually, he and a small group got requests to do taro pounding demonstrations. Including farmers markets, they performed at around 150 events or nearly three per week.

Anthony said besides the cultural aspect, there鈥檚 a big difference between poi made by factories as opposed by hand.

鈥淲hen you hand pound taro, you lose 50 percent of it,鈥� he added. 鈥淧oi made traditionally is the very best starch. It鈥檚 cleaned down and we鈥檙e only using the best part of the taro.鈥�

In September of 2009, Anthony and his wife, Anuenue, decided to share this special product with others. They started a business called Mana Ai.

鈥淭here鈥檚 only good to this,鈥� Anthony said. 鈥淲here is it that you can make food traditionally, be sustainable and pay rent?鈥� Nobody has done this before in recent history, so it was exciting, yet there were a lot of unknowns.鈥�

They began selling the poi to restaurants, farmers markets and on the side of the road in Papakolea on Oahu¹. Their excitement about their venture grew 鈥� until they made it into the local newspaper.

鈥淎 photo of me was taken at the Ward Farmers Market and that鈥檚 where the Department of Health began to question what I was doing,鈥� Anthony said. 鈥淲hat we were doing wasn鈥檛 done anywhere else, so there were no rules for us. So we stopped selling and focused on education.鈥�

Early Struggles At the Legislature

Shortly after, he and numerous community members began meeting once a week to talk about legalizing pa’i’ai. Sen. Maile Shimabukuro, who鈥檚 is Anthony鈥檚 aunt, helped them introduce a bill.

鈥淲hen I heard about what was happening, I asked him if we could do something,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e really was the inspiration behind the bill. He gathered a bunch of friends and family and the group, 鈥楲egalize Pa鈥檌鈥楢i鈥� was formed.鈥�

From there, that group attended public hearings and even held a pa’i’ai demonstration at the Capitol on Hawaiian Caucus Day.

鈥淲e had unbelievable walls put before us,鈥� Anthony said. 鈥淲hat helped us was the variety of people from all different areas of expertise. We had doctors, lawyers, young kids and of course, taro farmers giving us support.鈥�

After a similar bill in the House died, Anthony said supporters put all their energies behind the Senate version.

鈥淭he House bill died because of misinformation and the fear of unknown,鈥� Anthony added. 鈥淏asically one person with a poi mill was afraid of the unknown. But a lot of dialogue happened. We talked about the differences and made him realize that this bill gives a lot of opportunity to farmers like him.鈥�

Anthony says it was this turning point that helped give the bill the final push it needed to pass.

鈥淭his is like the new frontier,鈥� Anthony said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a real chance to farm the aina. This means economic stability. My traditional practice has a value, a way to be measured in society and not frowned upon anymore. It makes me happy that kids aren鈥檛 going to have to fight this again. But we still need land and water, still need a lot of things. Our work is not done, but this gives us less to do on the bucket list.鈥�

Until the law is in effect, Anthony will continue to teach others what he has learned about the traditional way of making poi. In his possession, he has 15 stones and seven boards.

鈥淚鈥檝e made most of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or the stones and boards, I go and take care of the place that I gather them. It takes about eight hours each to shape one stone and a board.”

A Board and Stone For Every Hawaii Family

With the legalization of selling pa’i’ai so close to being realized, Anthony has big plans for the future.

鈥淚 want to turn my pa’i’ai business into a legit business,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will borrow money to buy land or go to the Department of Agriculture and ask them if I could lease land. Right now I have two taro patches in Kahaluu and I also farm in my yard in Kaneohe.鈥�

Anthony also has big plans for anyone else interested in his craft. His goal is to have every family in the state own a board and a stone, even if they’re not Native Hawaiian.

He hopes he and others interested in selling pa’i’ai should make a 鈥渃omfortable鈥� living from what they do.

鈥淚deally, we would like to have our own piece of land and just farm,鈥� said Anthony’s wife, Anuenue. 鈥淚鈥檇 love to farm and do educational programs on the land. If it can sustain our family, I鈥檇 love to do this for a living. Our larger goal is to go out in the community and show other families that it really is possible.鈥�

For Anthony, showing that it is possible took a lot of time and effort, but he feels cause is well worth it 鈥� especially if it means keeping an ancient Hawaiian custom alive.

鈥淚f you know it鈥檚 right and if they tell you no, inspire your friends to help,鈥� he said. 鈥淗opefully this inspires people.鈥�

*An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Anthony’s step-grandfather taught him how to kui’ai.

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The owners of Kauai Kunana Dairy are breathing a small sigh of relief after police arrested two men in the killing of a goat and her two unborn babies.

The four-year-old goat was slain听one week before she was due to give birth. The size of the reward 鈥斕�$11,000听鈥� for information leading to the arrest and conviction for the animal’s grisly murder was remarkable. And so was the reaction of the community in Kilauea, on Kauai’s north shore, which largely funded the reward through donations.

鈥淲e鈥檙e getting a little closer to feeling safe,鈥� co-owner Louisa Wooten told Civil Beat by phone on Thursday. 鈥淜nowing that there are a couple of drug-crazed people not on the streets anymore makes us feel better.鈥�

The Wootens publicly made note of the arrest on their Facebook page on Thursday afternoon saying:

鈥淵esterday the Kauai Police Department arrested two individuals suspected of killing our goat Kaitlyn. They confiscated the shotgun used, and were waiting for more details from the prosecutor. We will release more info as it becomes available.鈥�

UPDATED

The Kauai Police Department announced Friday afternoon that Russell Hoomanawanui and Ryan Winchell, both 29 years old, had been arrested for first degree criminal property damage, second degree theft, theft of livestock and firearm violations. Winchell’s bail was set at $8,100, Hoomanawanui’s at $8,000. Both posted bail and were released.

Police said sometime between 5 p.m., April 28 and 3:30 p.m., April 29, the suspects reportedly climbed over a fence in order to get the goat. She had been kept in a pasture at the farm in Moloaa, on Kauai鈥檚 northeastern shore.

Police said the men slaughtered the goat and left her organs and unborn kids behind. The owners estimate the death of the goat, a Saanen doe, will result in a loss of roughly $7,000 in production, annually. The farm keeps about 60 goats and artisan goat cheeses and goat milk.

At the scene, the Wootens said they found a pair of sunglasses, unspent shotgun shells and a Winchester hunting knife.

Wooten told Civil Beat they鈥檝e known the arrest was coming for over a week. She said her family isn’t familiar with the two suspects. They weren’t acquaintances, she said. Wooten also said she suspected drugs may have been involved in the incident.

Police aren鈥檛 releasing any details of the arrest yet, including the names of the suspects.

鈥淲e鈥檙e told they鈥檙e trying to put charges together,鈥� Wooten said. 鈥淲e want these people to be convicted, so we鈥檙e doing all we can to help the prosecutor put together a solid case.鈥�

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call Kauai Police Dispatch at 241-1711 or Crime Stoppers at 241-1887.

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From 1964-1967, the commander-in-chief lived at 2234 University Ave. in Manoa with his mother and grandparents. The one-story dwelling sits on an 11,250-square-foot lot and has an ohana unit in the back.

The president recalls it as, 鈥渢he big, rambling house near the University,鈥� in his 1995 memoir, “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.”

But after it was bought around five years ago, early plans called for its destruction, to be replaced by a parking lot. However, after it was found that the house had ties to the president, that idea was nixed.
Now, the hope is to use the home鈥檚 lawn as a parking lot.

The Honolulu Christian Church purchased the house and lot in December of 鈥�06. Just about 200 feet separate the church and the home.

The church bought the property for $1.2 million. But it didn’t know anything about the Obama connection when it made the purchase, administrator Don Hirata told Civil Beat.

The church only learned that it was Obama鈥檚 childhood home in early November of 鈥�08, shortly after the election.

鈥淲e were having our renovation fundraiser and it was a big party to show what we were doing and we looked in the paper and saw the photo of the house we bought and how Obama spent time in it. We were thrilled.鈥�

The church, which has a congregation of just under 400, holds services in English and Japanese. The groups share the sanctuary.

It wants to build another sanctuary and bought the lot with Obama’s childhood home on it to add parking spaces.

Virginie Ching, her husband and two kids have lived in Obama’s old home for nearly five years. They believe the house and surrounding area should stay the way it is.

鈥淒rives me insane that they want to turn something so beautiful in Manoa into a parking lot,鈥� Ching told Civil Beat.

Neighbors like Nathaniel Ching (no relation to Virginie) also don鈥檛 want to see a parking lot in the area.

鈥淲e want to keep it residential,鈥� he told Civil Beat. 鈥淥nce you make a parking lot, you鈥檙e making it commercial. Secondly, the entrance and exit are going to be on busy University Avenue and I鈥檓 sure they鈥檒l use it on weekdays as well.鈥�

Nathaniel Ching, a retired doctor, has lived next door to the house since 1980.

鈥淎t first, I didn鈥檛 know it had a connection to Obama,鈥� Ching said. 鈥淭he original house was re-modeled in 2005-06 and the new home doesn鈥檛 really resemble at all what it looked like when Obama鈥檚 family lived in it.鈥�

On top of clogging up an already busy road in Manoa, Ching said homes nearby may lose value if the church goes ahead with its parking lot plan.

The church made a 鈥渢est run鈥� on Easter of 2007, he said.

鈥淭he church had its followers park on the lawn around the house,鈥� Ching said. 鈥淚 took pictures and then brought it up with the Manoa Neighborhood Board.鈥�

Tom Heinrich, a longtime Manoa Neighborhood Board member, said the panel never took a stance on the matter.

鈥淚 think what the board did was communicate concerns in letter form to the church, summarizing the concerns expressed by us and others in the community,鈥� he told Civil Beat.

The issue also picked up some national attention. It was featured in a July 5, 2009 .

In the piece, Hirata was quoted as saying, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone in his right mind would break down a house that belonged to one of the presidents.鈥�

Even though the house may be saved from destruction, what surrounds it is still in limbo.

Hirata said the church is currently doing a parking study on the property.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the hang up is right now,鈥� Hirata said. 鈥淭he person doing it isn鈥檛 finished with it yet. It sounds like the city is waiting for the parking study.鈥�

Hirata said the study began last year and it mainly looks into traffic issues in the area, with the heavy concentration of cars coming from schools like Punahou, UH-Manoa and Mid-Pac.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just re-organizing again and developed committees to go over this, to develop a general plan to go over exactly what we want,鈥� Hirata said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 really want to make a parking lot. It鈥檚 only on paper, so we can show the city that we have enough parking within a certain area that they said we have to have. In order to do any kind of renovation, we have to show the city we have more parking.鈥�

The city seems to not be buying that notion.

David Tanoue is the director of the City and County of Honolulu鈥檚 Department of Planning and Permitting.
In an email to Civil Beat, Tanoue wrote:

There is no pending application for an off-site parking facility at this address (2234 Univ. Ave.). We did not accept the most recent application for an off-site parking facility, submitted in September 2009, for processing.

Two conditional use permit (minor) applications related to this site were received on September 25, 2009. CUP application No. 2009/CUP-66 was to allow the major expansion of a meeting facility for Honolulu Christian Church at 2207 Oahu Avenue. This application could not be accepted for processing because it was incomplete.

Consequently, we also returned (and did not accept for processing) CUP application No. 2009/CUP-67 to establish an off-site parking facility at 2234 University Avenue, to meet with the parking requirements for the expanded facility off-site. Since we did not accept the meeting facility expansion application for processing, it was moot to consider the off-site parking application.

Hirata admits that the church wouldn鈥檛 hesitate to sell the property. It could use those funds to buy another home.

鈥淥ur real aim is to buy our next door neighbor鈥檚 house, in addition to the so-called 鈥極bama House.鈥� They鈥檝e got a big yard, it鈥檚 a private owner,鈥� Hirata said.

So for now, the president鈥檚 childhood home will be enjoyed by renters. At least until the church is able to move full speed ahead with its plans.

The post Property of Obama’s Childhood Home in Manoa Could Become Parking Lot appeared first on 天美视频.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way of life and culture,鈥� said Kualoa Ranch president and co-owner John Morgan, whose family has been raising cattle for nearly a century and a half. 鈥淚n Hawaii, it鈥檚 one of the defining industries that gives us a keen sense of where we came from.鈥�

But today one part of the industry on Oahu is deeply troubled and the state is weighing stepping in and spending $1.6 million of the public’s money to take over the only slaughterhouse on the island.

Alan Gottlieb and fellow ranchers like Morgan are backing , which has passed the House and Senate and is in conference committee.

鈥淭o us, it just makes more sense to help the livestock industry, rather than just let it go bankrupt,鈥� said Gottlieb, who鈥檚 also the Hawaii Cattlemen鈥檚 Council government affairs chair. 鈥淲e know it鈥檚 having trouble financially, but this investment now, will be worth it in the end.鈥�

However others are much more skeptical, questioning why the state should step in to rescue a private business that can’t make it on its own.

Kapolei Plant Mostly Slaughters Hogs

The Hawaii Livestock Cooperative owns the 7-year-old plant in Kapolei, which sits on 6.5 acres of state land. Its main use is to process about 900 hogs a month that mostly originate from the mainland and are sold in Chinatown and other food markets.

The main source of cattle for the plant, a dairy, went out of business in 2002, two years before the slaughterhouse opened.

鈥淲e needed the dairy industry to survive here and it didn鈥檛, so we suffered from it, as it put a huge dent on our bottom line,鈥� Hawaii Livestock Coop general manager Leonard Oshiro told Civil Beat.

Oshiro feels the state investment is all about saving an industry for future generations.

鈥淓verybody has their own priorities,鈥� Oshiro said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e here because of the industry and I think lawmakers are realizing the industry needs help to grow and survive. We talk about agriculture and being self-sufficient, well, we鈥檙e part of that. We can鈥檛 constantly be shipping food. Plus, a few ranchers on Oahu have told us, they may send us more of their cattle.鈥�

Oshiro said in order for the state-of-the-art slaughterhouse to survive, it needs the state funding.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in $600,000 debt to the state,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e looked at paying off the $600,000 and then with the million left, we鈥檒l fund any necessary capital improvements and put in a photovoltaic system. This would cut one of my higher costs, which is the electric bill. We pay about $6,000 a month on that and it鈥榮 going to keep going up, so the solar panel system will pay for itself in the long run. It鈥榮 an investment.鈥�

Oshiro said the plan would be for the state to hold ownership and then lease the plant to the highest bidder, or the entity most capable of running it.

鈥淚f it鈥檚 us, it鈥檚 us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l save it for our industry. If the state didn鈥檛 step in, we鈥檇 have to make more payments, we鈥檇 probably go bankrupt.鈥�
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Lawmakers Mostly in Support

State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, a member of the agriculture committee, is a co-author of the bill.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 do something soon, we鈥檙e at the risk of losing our livestock industry,” he told Civil Beat. “We鈥榬e talking about an industry that could die.鈥�

When asked why the state should invest in a slaughterhouse, as opposed to any other industry, Dela Cruz said, 鈥淭he time is now to do this, the opportunity is there. They need our help right away.鈥�

State Rep. Corinne Ching, founder of the Hawaii Heritage Caucus, which has the mission to identify, protect and preserve the state鈥檚 cultural resources, supports SB249 as well.

鈥淭he primary reason is the step in the right direction for being sustainable,鈥� she told Civil Beat. 鈥淲hy now? I think you can get people to improve on it. We may lose this opportunity.鈥�

Asked about spending taxpayer money during a fiscal crisis for a slaughterhouse that鈥檚 failing financially, Ching replied, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a long-term decision and you have to make sacrifices. Should something happen here, where we cannot get shipments in, we need to be more self-sufficient. There鈥檚 always going to be an argument, now we have the opportunity to take care of this. It鈥檚 a confident, bold step of sustainability.鈥�
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Some Lawmakers, Groups Disagree

Ching鈥檚 colleague in the State House, Rep. Tom Brower, feels it鈥檚 a bold step as well.

But in the wrong direction.

鈥淚 think there are good intentions for continuing to have one on Oahu, but since it was not making it in the private sector, I鈥檓 not sure if the state should jump in,鈥� he told Civil Beat. 鈥淭he state shouldn鈥檛 be getting involved with something the private sector can鈥檛 take care of. We also have neighbor island slaughterhouses, so for now, that may have to help.鈥�

State Sen. Mike Gabbard is a lone ranger when it comes to voting against SB 249 in the Senate. His was the sole no vote.

鈥淕iven our budget crisis, the last thing our state should be doing is buying a slaughterhouse,鈥� he told Civil Beat. 鈥淲e’ve just got to be more careful. We should be putting that $1.6 million into worthy causes, like schools, instead of raising the GET or cutting basic services. If we do invest this funding, we鈥檙e going to have to keep investing. Look at the track record. If it was a thriving business, not so much in the hole, then maybe, but it just doesn鈥檛 make any sense to me.鈥�

The 鈥淥ahu Slaughterhouse鈥� bill also doesn鈥檛 make any sense to organizations like Animal Advocate Inc., Animal Rights Hawaii, PETA and other national organizations. It has sparked so much interest that a few weeks ago it jammed up the email system at the Capitol.

鈥淣o other state owns slaughterhouses,鈥� Animal Rights Hawaii President Cathy Goegell said in an email. 鈥淲ith so many public services being cut, the last place we should be spending taxpayer dollars is on acquiring an unnecessary slaughterhouse.鈥�

Mark Fergusson, CEO of Hawaii鈥檚 all-vegetarian, organic and natural food chain store, Down To Earth, agrees with Goegell. Fergusson points out 鈥渋t鈥檚 interesting that in testimony to the Legislature, even the cattle industry states that the slaughterhouse is not needed for the beef industry, even though the preamble to the bill states the purpose is to benefit the beef industry.鈥�

For example, the Hawaii Cattlemen鈥檚 Council said in its testimony:

鈥淓ven if all of the Oahu cattle were kept in-state, there would still be a fairly small amount of cattle for this facility鈥︹��
鈥淐urrent practices of shipping calves to the Mainland have been done for economic reasons, not for lack of infrastructure.鈥�
鈥淯ltimately, if we can create a statewide network for a branded, high specification island grass finished beef, facilities such as the Oahu slaughterhouse will play an integral role in the network. Perhaps at that time, slaughter may be a small part of what that facility does for the cattle industry, but perhaps that facility may, for example, do all of the state’s value added processing. These are some of the elements that will be discussed in the coming months as we go county to county working on our Cattle Industry Master Plan鈥︹��

The Hawaii Farm Bureau wrote in its testimony:

鈥淥ur understanding is that at the present time, the facility is used mainly for pork processing but that it may also be useful for beef processing in the future.鈥�
鈥淲e hope that this bill will at least lead to further discussion on the situation and its potential resolution.鈥�

鈥淚n other words, according to the farmers鈥� testimony, this slaughterhouse 鈥榤ay鈥� be useful 鈥榠n the future鈥� if a large number of unknowns occur,鈥� Fergusson told Civil Beat in an email. 鈥淭axpayer funds should not be used for something so uncertain.鈥�
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State Ag Dept. Supports Bill

State Department of Agriculture spokesperson Janelle Saneishi told Civil Beat that if the department can help the slaughterhouse with the $1.6 million appropriated by the Legislature, it will keep the plant running as a viable business.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e carrying so much load and expenses,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f they come through this time, our goal is to keep that slaughterhouse open, because without it, it threatens the future of the industry.鈥�

Saneishi said if the plant shuts down, the cost to bring it back would be between $8 million and $9 million.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to preserve our livestock industry and Oahu has the market,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 some talk about establishing another dairy on Oahu and in order to sustain that kind of operation, we need that slaughterhouse. Without it, it鈥檚 a problem. People are interested in doing sheep and goat. If they choose to do nothing, the coop goes bankrupt, and the state may not get it back.”

Saneishi said the highest bidder may just dismantle it and state may bid again and spend even more money to acquire it.

鈥淓conomically, it鈥檚 best for the state to take over,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the long run, it may save us more money.鈥�

While the Department of Agriculture supports SB249, Gov. Neil Abercrombie still remains undecided. According to his press secretary, Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor hasn鈥檛 taken a position on this issue yet and 鈥渨ill need time to review it after a final draft is done.鈥�

Statewide Perspective

Currently, there are USDA-approved slaughterhouses on the neighbor islands: three on Kauai, two on the Big Island and Maui and one on Molokai.

But some ranchers Civil Beat spoke to on the outer islands said it just costs too much money to ship, so the benefit of an Oahu slaughterhouse staying open would be minimal.

Kauai ranchers are hoping to get funding from the county and state for an islandwide plant that could be shared by all. The Big Island also has similar plans to build another slaughterhouse. For now, most of the neighbor island cattle is shipped to the mainland as well.
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A National Perspective

Hawaii is not alone in its lack of meat processing centers. Nationally, the number of slaughterhouses has declined steadily for the past three decades.

The American Association of Meat Processors, North America鈥檚 largest meat trade organization, told Civil Beat that consolidation is a natural trend.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing more and more consolidation,鈥� AAMP executive director Jay Wenther said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the natural flow of people just getting out of the business. That鈥檚 going to continue to occur, with more going out than coming in to the business.鈥�
銆赌
Wenther told Civil Beat he鈥檚 never heard of a state buying a slaughterhouse or meat packing plant.

鈥淧risons would be the only place where the state owns a slaughterhouse to feed prisoners or even a lot of universities have them too, but that deals with the education-part of the institution.鈥�

Wenther said he doesn’t have a position on SB 249 because he doesn鈥檛 know enough about the entire situation.

鈥淎ll I know is that we鈥檝e been declining in slaughterhouses and meat processors,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an aging environment and culture, people don鈥檛 come out of high school saying they want to be in that industry, wanting to be in $2 million in debt, most of the time it鈥檚 transferred from family member to family member. If you look at the business of livestock, it鈥檚 a young man鈥檚 game, not a high-profit margin and they鈥檙e getting more specialized and looking at specific segments.鈥�
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If you haven鈥檛 guessed what I鈥檓 referring to by now, we鈥檙e talking about water main breaks in Honolulu.

We just had one, on Sunday April 3, in the heart of Hawaii鈥檚 tourist mecca, Waikiki. Board of Water Supply workers came to the aid of a blowout on a 12-inch water main on Ala Moana Boulevard at Hobron Lane, closing a couple of nearby businesses and causing traffic jams.

Some say it happens all too often, but the water board tells Civil Beat that Honolulu water main breaks are below the national average.

So does its claim hold any water?

The board manages nearly 2,100 miles of pipeline, servicing almost every community on Oahu. On top of that, it oversees 94 potable water sources, 90 booster pump stations and 170 reservoirs.

The board says Honolulu experiences an average of one main break per day. This equates to an annual average of more than 17 breaks per 100 miles of pipeline. According to the American Water Works Association, the national average is 25-30 breaks per 100 miles of pipeline.

The AWWA, an international, nonprofit, scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply, reports about 700 breaks per day in the U.S.
Here鈥檚 a look at the yearly breakdown of water main breaks in Honolulu, going back five years:

Honolulu Main Breaks

Civil Beat took a closer look at similar-sized cities near the ocean whose pipes are around the same age: Portland, Seattle and San Diego.

The Honolulu water board said it doesn’t compare its frequency of breaks with other cities. But we thought it’s reasonable to check its claim against what residents of these other similar cities experience.

Honolulu looks bad in comparison.

Portland

First, we checked in with the Portland Water Bureau鈥檚 director of maintenance and construction, Kelly Rae Mulholland. He told Civil Beat the 鈥淐ity of Roses鈥� encompasses 2,600 miles of pipeline.

鈥淲e started tracking in 2008,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had big years, but we average about 160 breaks a year and that鈥檚 what we budget for.鈥�

Here鈥檚 how Portland鈥檚 yearly main breaks stack up:

Portland Main Breaks

That’s six breaks for every 100 miles of pipeline, or one-third of Honolulu’s rate.

Seattle

Next up is Seattle. The 鈥淓merald City鈥� has 1,800 miles of pipeline.

鈥淭his includes everything from pinhole leaks, to vertical and horizontal breaks,鈥� Seattle Public Utilities media relations coordinator Andy Ryan wrote Civil Beat in an email.

Seattle Main Breaks

That’s an average of 132 breaks per year.

That’s slightly more than seven breaks per year for every 100 miles of pipeline, less than half Honolulu’s rate.

San Diego

And then there鈥檚 San Diego. 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Finest City鈥� has a water system that includes approximately 3,300 miles of pipeline.

San Diego Main Breaks

That’s an average of 117 breaks per year. San Diego’s rate of 3.6 breaks for every 100 miles of pipeline is one-fifth of Honolulu’s rate.

While it鈥檚 true that Honolulu falls below the national average for water main breaks, the frequency of water main breaks here is much higher than in these three other cities.

So why the clear cut difference? Civil Beat posed the 鈥渂urning,鈥� or should we say 鈥渃ooling,鈥� question to the Board of Water Supply.

鈥淥ne of the BWS鈥檚 greatest challenges is one faced by utilities throughout the nation, that of an aging infrastructure,鈥� communications specialist Kurt Tsue wrote Civil Beat in an email. 鈥淢ore than 40 percent of our pipelines are between 30 to 60 years old. While our own water infrastructure may not be as old in as many parts of the country, the longevity of our underground infrastructure is significantly impacted by severely corrosive marine environments that shorten the service life of our pipeline assets.鈥�

Tsue said other factors include corrosion, stray electrical currents, accidental damage during excavation and drastic changes in system pressure.

鈥淒rastic changes in soil conditions also play a role in the main breaks,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e tend to notice it after heavy rains and the ground saturates (soil expands) and when the wet soil dries (soil compacts).鈥�

The American Water Works Association refused to speculate why Honolulu has more water breaks than these other cities.

鈥淚 really can鈥檛 speak to their situation,鈥� AWWA director’s of communications, Greg Kail, told Civil Beat. 鈥淭here could be a lot of reasons, including how a main break is classified. One utility’s break might be a leak to other utilities, but that鈥檚 just speculation.鈥�

Kail also said the AWWA doesn鈥檛 perform in-depth studies on cities.

Solutions

The water board said it has taken several proactive steps toward reducing the amount of breaks on the island.

鈥� As part of its 鈥淨uality Infrastructure Conservation Initiative (QUINCI), field crews gather data at the main repair site to determine why different pipelines failed. The data can be used to develop solutions that can be later be incorporated in pipeline design, installation and/or maintenance.

鈥� A team is dedicated to detecting leaks within the water system. When leaks are detected, a crew can execute a planned repair job on the main, thereby fixing the leak before it turns into an emergency main break.

鈥� Working on corrosion control methods in an attempt to extend the life of its waterlines. In an ongoing effort to provide a safe and dependable water supply, the board carefully manages and plans for the renewal and improvement of its infrastructure. To do this, the board analyzes information collected on the water system and prioritizes its pipeline replacement projects based on four factors:

1) Condition assessment, analyzing data such as main break records, pipe age and material, soil type, health, and other conditions helps determine which pipe segments have a high probability of failure.

2) Fire protection improvement. The BWS puts priority on waterline projects that enhance fire protection through increased water pressure, enlarging pipe size, or adding more hydrants.

3) Public impact. Priority is given to projects that replace pipelines where breaks would have a large impact on residents, businesses, or major traffic routes. Also, pipeline servicing customers that provide essential services (such as hospitals) or serve large numbers of people are also given higher priority.

4) Project coordination. Priority is given to waterline replacement projects that can be combined with a project by other utilities or the city or state. This would reduce the project’s overall impact on residents or motorists.

A National Problem

In its 2009 on America鈥榮 infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the country鈥檚 drinking water system a grade of 鈥淒鈥� minus.

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