Thursday, March 04, 2004
Hawaii Superferry shows catamaran ferry - 2004-03-04 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu): "Hawaii Superferry shows catamaran ferry
Hawaii Superferry, the company that plans to run interisland ferry service by 2006, has brought to the islands a boat similar to the kind it will sail, and plans tours across the state.
The Spirit of Ontario I, a massive catamaran similar but not identical to a pair of ships commissioned by Hawaii Superferry especially for local ocean conditions, arrived Wednesday in Honolulu.
It's a big enough to hold hundreds of cars, but not quite as big as the vessels commission by the company, scheduled for delivery in 2006 and 2008.
Invited guests will tour the boat Saturday night at Aloha Tower before the Spirit sails to Kauai for a Sunday afternoon public viewing at Nawiliwili Harbor. Another nighttime sail will take it to Maui for an afternoon public viewing at Kahului Harbor, then the same thing will happen in Hilo on Tuesday. "
Hawaii Superferry, the company that plans to run interisland ferry service by 2006, has brought to the islands a boat similar to the kind it will sail, and plans tours across the state.
The Spirit of Ontario I, a massive catamaran similar but not identical to a pair of ships commissioned by Hawaii Superferry especially for local ocean conditions, arrived Wednesday in Honolulu.
It's a big enough to hold hundreds of cars, but not quite as big as the vessels commission by the company, scheduled for delivery in 2006 and 2008.
Invited guests will tour the boat Saturday night at Aloha Tower before the Spirit sails to Kauai for a Sunday afternoon public viewing at Nawiliwili Harbor. Another nighttime sail will take it to Maui for an afternoon public viewing at Kahului Harbor, then the same thing will happen in Hilo on Tuesday. "
TheHawaiiChannel - KITV 4 News - Island Air Sale Delayed: "Island Air Sale Delayed
Airline Plans To Add Flights
POSTED: 2:45 pm HST March 3, 2004
HONOLULU -- Aloha Airlines' planned sale of its commuter line Island Air is being delayed at least one month. Both sides had wanted to complete the sale to Gavarnie Holdings LLC by March 1.
However, Island Air President Neil Takekawa told KITV 4 News the sale is taking longer than expected, so Island Air has delayed its plans to hire more staff and put more planes in the sky.
The new owners of Island Air planned to add six new interisland routes for the Big Island and Kauai. Island Air services some of Maui County's smaller airports, including Kapalua and Kaanapali on Maui, Hoolehua on Molokai, and Lanai City on Lanai.
In the meantime, Aloha Airlines' pilots' union has filed a grievance against Aloha, saying any code-sharing with Island Air would break a union agreement by allowing lower-paid Island Air pilots to serve the same airports as Aloha.
Aloha Airlines refused to comment on the grievance."
Airline Plans To Add Flights
POSTED: 2:45 pm HST March 3, 2004
HONOLULU -- Aloha Airlines' planned sale of its commuter line Island Air is being delayed at least one month. Both sides had wanted to complete the sale to Gavarnie Holdings LLC by March 1.
However, Island Air President Neil Takekawa told KITV 4 News the sale is taking longer than expected, so Island Air has delayed its plans to hire more staff and put more planes in the sky.
The new owners of Island Air planned to add six new interisland routes for the Big Island and Kauai. Island Air services some of Maui County's smaller airports, including Kapalua and Kaanapali on Maui, Hoolehua on Molokai, and Lanai City on Lanai.
In the meantime, Aloha Airlines' pilots' union has filed a grievance against Aloha, saying any code-sharing with Island Air would break a union agreement by allowing lower-paid Island Air pilots to serve the same airports as Aloha.
Aloha Airlines refused to comment on the grievance."
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Aloha Spirit Infuses Rookie With the Mets
Aloha Spirit Infuses Rookie With the Mets
By LEE JENKINS
Published: March 2, 2004
ORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., March 1 — At the Poipu Beach Broiler, on the south side of Kauai, Hawaii, the customers ask about Tyler Yates and remember the hurricane.
Every day at spring training, Yates demonstrates why he is the most intriguing candidate to become the Mets' fifth starter, and he shows that his surgically repaired right arm is back to full strength.
Kauai, the island he calls home, has also undergone reconstruction.
The Poipu Beach Broiler, owned by Yates's father, is bustling with locals who are now converted Mets fans. But not so long ago, every restaurant on the island was empty.
In September 1992, Yates was entering Kauai High School, less concerned with the velocity on his fastball than with the roof over his head. When Hurricane Iniki hit the island of 55,000 residents with 150-mile-an-hour winds on Sept. 11, it took with it the roof over Yates's house and many of the family's belongings. It left the 15-year-old Yates without a permanent home.
"Our house was completely trashed," Yates said. "We had to keep moving and keep switching neighborhoods. Every time we got a new house, it seemed like there were leaks or there had to be maintenance. It took 10 years for Kauai to come back."
Yates, 26, recalls in vivid detail the day of the hurricane, how he stood in the kitchen after the roof was ripped off, and how he gazed into a sky that was filled with his neighbors' possessions. At one point, someone else's roof flew into Yates's house, all but destroying his parents' bedroom.
When he thought the worst had passed, he went outside to check on friends, but he was clocked by another gust that threw him into a nearby bush.
He hustled back inside and spent the rest of the night in the living room, which was still covered by a piece of roof, but had been swarmed by mosquitoes.
For the next week, Yates and his family had no running water or electricity. Then, slowly, they started piecing their lives back together. As Yates talks about the rebuilding years, he invariably refers to what he and fellow Hawaiians call the Aloha spirit.
"That means everybody pulls together and helps one another," he said. "In tough situations, you have to be there for others and you have to rebound."
He found his refuge on the field. Every fall, Yates muscled aside opponents on the offensive and defensive lines for the Kauai High football team. In the spring, he blew away batters and became the island's baseball player of the year in his senior season.
At 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, Yates still looks more like a lineman than a pitcher. Through the minor leagues, he stomped around the mound after a bad pitch and unleashed his fury with every fastball.
"He's a big guy with big stature," said the Mets' pitching coach, Rick Peterson, who was with the Oakland A's when they shipped Yates to New York in the David Justice trade. "He's got great mound presence."
Yates was among the Mets' top pitching prospects in 2001, with an earned run average of 1.32 at Class AAA Norfolk. During a home game against Rochester, Yates worked himself into such a frenzy that he reached 100 m.p.h. on the radar gun.
Immediately after releasing the pitch, he felt a burning in his right arm and dropped to one knee.
Yates said he knew that he had torn ligaments. He had Tommy John elbow surgery, and almost two years later, he has learned he can't test his limits on every pitch.
"There are times he cares a little too much," Mets catcher Vance Wilson said. "He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and if he misses, he looks disgusted with himself. He's really worked on that."
Of the six pitchers auditioning for the fifth spot, Yates may have the lowest profile, but he has the most velocity, the highest intimidation factor and perhaps the greatest potential.
Last season, Yates struck out almost a batter an inning in the minors, using a curveball and a changeup for the first time.
During the Mets' first intrasquad game Monday — the first time Manager Art Howe saw Yates pitch to batters — Yates went one inning, inducing a pop-up from Mike Piazza and giving up a softly hit single. The only pitcher to produce more buzz was Scott Kazmir, considered the organization's best prospect, who was equally impressive.
Although Yates is aiming for the majors and New York, he sometimes misses the laid-back lifestyle of Kauai, where he returns every winter. When he's not at his father's restaurant, talking baseball with the locals, he is at his favorite surfing spot, called Shipwrecks, about three miles from his mother's house in Koloa.
Yates says his pitching arm has been strengthened by his countless surf sessions. Paddling through the Pacific Ocean, he can work out his elbow, and riding back to shore, he can enjoy an unobstructed view of an island paradise that has managed its own inspiring comeback.
INSIDE PITCH
DAVID WRIGHT, a minor league third baseman who is the Mets' top position prospect, was 3 for 3 in the intrasquad game with a two-run home run. JOSÉ REYES, the starting second baseman, also hit a two-run homer. KAZUO MATSUI said much of the pain in his lacerated right middle finger had subsided.
Aloha Spirit Infuses Rookie With the Mets
By LEE JENKINS
Published: March 2, 2004
ORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., March 1 — At the Poipu Beach Broiler, on the south side of Kauai, Hawaii, the customers ask about Tyler Yates and remember the hurricane.
Every day at spring training, Yates demonstrates why he is the most intriguing candidate to become the Mets' fifth starter, and he shows that his surgically repaired right arm is back to full strength.
Kauai, the island he calls home, has also undergone reconstruction.
The Poipu Beach Broiler, owned by Yates's father, is bustling with locals who are now converted Mets fans. But not so long ago, every restaurant on the island was empty.
In September 1992, Yates was entering Kauai High School, less concerned with the velocity on his fastball than with the roof over his head. When Hurricane Iniki hit the island of 55,000 residents with 150-mile-an-hour winds on Sept. 11, it took with it the roof over Yates's house and many of the family's belongings. It left the 15-year-old Yates without a permanent home.
"Our house was completely trashed," Yates said. "We had to keep moving and keep switching neighborhoods. Every time we got a new house, it seemed like there were leaks or there had to be maintenance. It took 10 years for Kauai to come back."
Yates, 26, recalls in vivid detail the day of the hurricane, how he stood in the kitchen after the roof was ripped off, and how he gazed into a sky that was filled with his neighbors' possessions. At one point, someone else's roof flew into Yates's house, all but destroying his parents' bedroom.
When he thought the worst had passed, he went outside to check on friends, but he was clocked by another gust that threw him into a nearby bush.
He hustled back inside and spent the rest of the night in the living room, which was still covered by a piece of roof, but had been swarmed by mosquitoes.
For the next week, Yates and his family had no running water or electricity. Then, slowly, they started piecing their lives back together. As Yates talks about the rebuilding years, he invariably refers to what he and fellow Hawaiians call the Aloha spirit.
"That means everybody pulls together and helps one another," he said. "In tough situations, you have to be there for others and you have to rebound."
He found his refuge on the field. Every fall, Yates muscled aside opponents on the offensive and defensive lines for the Kauai High football team. In the spring, he blew away batters and became the island's baseball player of the year in his senior season.
At 6 feet 4 inches and 220 pounds, Yates still looks more like a lineman than a pitcher. Through the minor leagues, he stomped around the mound after a bad pitch and unleashed his fury with every fastball.
"He's a big guy with big stature," said the Mets' pitching coach, Rick Peterson, who was with the Oakland A's when they shipped Yates to New York in the David Justice trade. "He's got great mound presence."
Yates was among the Mets' top pitching prospects in 2001, with an earned run average of 1.32 at Class AAA Norfolk. During a home game against Rochester, Yates worked himself into such a frenzy that he reached 100 m.p.h. on the radar gun.
Immediately after releasing the pitch, he felt a burning in his right arm and dropped to one knee.
Yates said he knew that he had torn ligaments. He had Tommy John elbow surgery, and almost two years later, he has learned he can't test his limits on every pitch.
"There are times he cares a little too much," Mets catcher Vance Wilson said. "He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and if he misses, he looks disgusted with himself. He's really worked on that."
Of the six pitchers auditioning for the fifth spot, Yates may have the lowest profile, but he has the most velocity, the highest intimidation factor and perhaps the greatest potential.
Last season, Yates struck out almost a batter an inning in the minors, using a curveball and a changeup for the first time.
During the Mets' first intrasquad game Monday — the first time Manager Art Howe saw Yates pitch to batters — Yates went one inning, inducing a pop-up from Mike Piazza and giving up a softly hit single. The only pitcher to produce more buzz was Scott Kazmir, considered the organization's best prospect, who was equally impressive.
Although Yates is aiming for the majors and New York, he sometimes misses the laid-back lifestyle of Kauai, where he returns every winter. When he's not at his father's restaurant, talking baseball with the locals, he is at his favorite surfing spot, called Shipwrecks, about three miles from his mother's house in Koloa.
Yates says his pitching arm has been strengthened by his countless surf sessions. Paddling through the Pacific Ocean, he can work out his elbow, and riding back to shore, he can enjoy an unobstructed view of an island paradise that has managed its own inspiring comeback.
INSIDE PITCH
DAVID WRIGHT, a minor league third baseman who is the Mets' top position prospect, was 3 for 3 in the intrasquad game with a two-run home run. JOSÉ REYES, the starting second baseman, also hit a two-run homer. KAZUO MATSUI said much of the pain in his lacerated right middle finger had subsided.
Kauai Garden Island News: "Irons Bros. and kids join forces at Hanalei
By TGI STAFF
Posted: Sunday, Feb 15, 2004 - 04:06:12 am HST
HANALEI � Back-to-back, two-time Association of Surfing Professionals world champion Andy Irons made a public appearence Saturday.
Irons won the ASP title in December with a decisive win over six-time world champion Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Florida at the Pipeline Masters.
Irons, and his brother Bruce Irons, who is also one of the top pro surfers in the world, hosted their annual 14-under youth surfing contest at Pine Trees along Hanalei Bay Saturday morning and afternoon.
The Irons brothers grew up at Hanalei and surfed the beachbreaks at Hanalei themselves while attending Hanalei School.
Billabong surfwear, Andy Irons' major sponsor, helped underwrite the day of action for the Kaua�i kids.
The brothers head off soon for the first ASP contests of the New Year, in Australia."
By TGI STAFF
Posted: Sunday, Feb 15, 2004 - 04:06:12 am HST
HANALEI � Back-to-back, two-time Association of Surfing Professionals world champion Andy Irons made a public appearence Saturday.
Irons won the ASP title in December with a decisive win over six-time world champion Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Florida at the Pipeline Masters.
Irons, and his brother Bruce Irons, who is also one of the top pro surfers in the world, hosted their annual 14-under youth surfing contest at Pine Trees along Hanalei Bay Saturday morning and afternoon.
The Irons brothers grew up at Hanalei and surfed the beachbreaks at Hanalei themselves while attending Hanalei School.
Billabong surfwear, Andy Irons' major sponsor, helped underwrite the day of action for the Kaua�i kids.
The brothers head off soon for the first ASP contests of the New Year, in Australia."
Kauai Garden Island News
Oscar party makes for a festive Kilauea afternoon
Oscar partygoers at the Kilauea Theater enjoyed a bar-b-que pot luck and attempted to guess who would win Oscars later in the day.
By TGI STAFF
Posted: Monday, Mar 01, 2004 - 05:11:43 am HST
An Oscar party hosted by the Kilauea Theater's Damon Marc raised funds Sunday for the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay's plan to construct a firefighting and rescue equipment building in Hanalei.
The Oscar party included a live broadcast of the awards show on the big screen at the theater, and a contest with prizes for those who came closes in guessing the winners of Oscars during the day.
It was the night of the "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" at 76th annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Top winners according to an Associated Press report included:
Best Picture: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Actor: Sean Penn, "Mystic River." Actress: Charlize Theron, "Monster."
Supporting Actor: Tim Robbins, "Mystic River." Supporting Actress: Renee Zellweger, "Cold Mountain."
Director: Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Cinematography: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."
Marc said a preliminary tally showed that the probable winner at Kilauea was Gwen Squyers of KKCR radio on the North Shore.
Oscar party makes for a festive Kilauea afternoon
Oscar partygoers at the Kilauea Theater enjoyed a bar-b-que pot luck and attempted to guess who would win Oscars later in the day.
By TGI STAFF
Posted: Monday, Mar 01, 2004 - 05:11:43 am HST
An Oscar party hosted by the Kilauea Theater's Damon Marc raised funds Sunday for the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay's plan to construct a firefighting and rescue equipment building in Hanalei.
The Oscar party included a live broadcast of the awards show on the big screen at the theater, and a contest with prizes for those who came closes in guessing the winners of Oscars during the day.
It was the night of the "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" at 76th annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Top winners according to an Associated Press report included:
Best Picture: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Actor: Sean Penn, "Mystic River." Actress: Charlize Theron, "Monster."
Supporting Actor: Tim Robbins, "Mystic River." Supporting Actress: Renee Zellweger, "Cold Mountain."
Director: Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King."
Cinematography: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World."
Marc said a preliminary tally showed that the probable winner at Kilauea was Gwen Squyers of KKCR radio on the North Shore.
KPUA.net - KPUA Hawaii News - Big Island faces possible gas tax hike: "Big Island faces possible gas tax hike
By Associated Press
(Hilo-AP) -- Big Island motorists would pay even more for gas under a proposal from Mayor Harry Kim.
Kim wants to boost the gas tax by six cents a gallon. The county currently pays eight-point-eight cents a gallon.
The increase would put the Big Island more in line with other counties.
Honolulu drivers pay a gas tax of 16-point-five cents a gallon. In Maui County, the rate is 18 cents, and Kauai County charges 13 cents.
In addition, the state imposes a 16-cents-a-gallon gas tax.
Kim says the increase would raise another five-point-one (m) million dollars a year for the county highway fund. And it would bring in one-point-six (m) million dollars annually for expanded bus service."
By Associated Press
(Hilo-AP) -- Big Island motorists would pay even more for gas under a proposal from Mayor Harry Kim.
Kim wants to boost the gas tax by six cents a gallon. The county currently pays eight-point-eight cents a gallon.
The increase would put the Big Island more in line with other counties.
Honolulu drivers pay a gas tax of 16-point-five cents a gallon. In Maui County, the rate is 18 cents, and Kauai County charges 13 cents.
In addition, the state imposes a 16-cents-a-gallon gas tax.
Kim says the increase would raise another five-point-one (m) million dollars a year for the county highway fund. And it would bring in one-point-six (m) million dollars annually for expanded bus service."
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
SARAH KAILIKEA / 1911-2004
Hawaiian cultural icon
defended giant tree
More obituaries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com
LIHUE >> Aunty Sarah Kailikea will be buried at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lihue Cemetery in what may be one of the largest funerals in the history of Kauai.
A living connection to Kauai's history and a cultural icon in the Hawaiian community throughout the state, Aunty Sarah died Feb. 25 at age 93 at the Big Island home of kumu hula Coline Kona Kaualoko Aiu, her favorite student.
"She died peacefully in a grove of coconut palms she had given to Coline 10 years ago," said her son Malcolm. "When she became ill, she wanted to spend her last days with Coline so she could share her wisdom with her one last time."
Malcolm Kailikea said he expects many people to attend the funeral.
Until Christmas, Aunty Sarah worked in her yard every day. "She was out there with a pick and a shovel and mowing the lawn as always," her son said.
But a few days later, she became ill, suffering from congestive heart failure and later a stroke.
Born in 1911, Aunty Sarah was a genealogist, a hula master, a chanter, a composer and, as her son described her, "a walking encyclopedia on Hawaiian culture. She had a photographic memory and she was a very gifted teacher."
She was a student of both David Bray and Mary Kawena Pukui. On Kauai, her birthplace and lifelong home, she was best known as the feisty and articulate protector of the immense Chinese banyan tree, the largest in Hawaii, that grew in her back yard.
The tree was planted some time between 1890 and 1895 by Grove Farm founder George N. Wilcox near what was then his summer home in Nawiliwili. At one time it was the centerpiece of Menehune Botanical Gardens, a tourist attraction operated by Aunty Sarah and her husband, Melvin, who died in 1989.
In 1976, she led a fight to have the county declare it an "exceptional tree," which gave it legal protection from damage by neighboring property owners. She returned to the County Council and Planning Commission many times to defend the tree, which kept growing onto adjoining property.
"It's my baby," she said in a 1999 interview with the Star-Bulletin. "Feed it and it just grows and grows."
The tree stands 110 feet high and 250 feet wide, covers two acres and has more than 1,000 air roots. The botanical gardens were closed in 1992 after Hurricane Iniki and it has not been available to the public since then. A fire in 2000 destroyed a portion of the tree, but it has since recovered.
The Kailikeas also operated Luau Garden and it was through Aunty Sarah's authentic shows and storytelling that she taught Hawaiian culture to visitors. In 1995, the Kauai Museum bestowed upon her the title of "A Living Treasure."
She is also survived by son Melvin Jr., daughter Lei Christensen, brothers Norton and Joseph Malina, three grand children and four great-grandchildren.
SARAH KAILIKEA / 1911-2004
Hawaiian cultural icon
defended giant tree
More obituaries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com
LIHUE >> Aunty Sarah Kailikea will be buried at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lihue Cemetery in what may be one of the largest funerals in the history of Kauai.
A living connection to Kauai's history and a cultural icon in the Hawaiian community throughout the state, Aunty Sarah died Feb. 25 at age 93 at the Big Island home of kumu hula Coline Kona Kaualoko Aiu, her favorite student.
"She died peacefully in a grove of coconut palms she had given to Coline 10 years ago," said her son Malcolm. "When she became ill, she wanted to spend her last days with Coline so she could share her wisdom with her one last time."
Malcolm Kailikea said he expects many people to attend the funeral.
Until Christmas, Aunty Sarah worked in her yard every day. "She was out there with a pick and a shovel and mowing the lawn as always," her son said.
But a few days later, she became ill, suffering from congestive heart failure and later a stroke.
Born in 1911, Aunty Sarah was a genealogist, a hula master, a chanter, a composer and, as her son described her, "a walking encyclopedia on Hawaiian culture. She had a photographic memory and she was a very gifted teacher."
She was a student of both David Bray and Mary Kawena Pukui. On Kauai, her birthplace and lifelong home, she was best known as the feisty and articulate protector of the immense Chinese banyan tree, the largest in Hawaii, that grew in her back yard.
The tree was planted some time between 1890 and 1895 by Grove Farm founder George N. Wilcox near what was then his summer home in Nawiliwili. At one time it was the centerpiece of Menehune Botanical Gardens, a tourist attraction operated by Aunty Sarah and her husband, Melvin, who died in 1989.
In 1976, she led a fight to have the county declare it an "exceptional tree," which gave it legal protection from damage by neighboring property owners. She returned to the County Council and Planning Commission many times to defend the tree, which kept growing onto adjoining property.
"It's my baby," she said in a 1999 interview with the Star-Bulletin. "Feed it and it just grows and grows."
The tree stands 110 feet high and 250 feet wide, covers two acres and has more than 1,000 air roots. The botanical gardens were closed in 1992 after Hurricane Iniki and it has not been available to the public since then. A fire in 2000 destroyed a portion of the tree, but it has since recovered.
The Kailikeas also operated Luau Garden and it was through Aunty Sarah's authentic shows and storytelling that she taught Hawaiian culture to visitors. In 1995, the Kauai Museum bestowed upon her the title of "A Living Treasure."
She is also survived by son Melvin Jr., daughter Lei Christensen, brothers Norton and Joseph Malina, three grand children and four great-grandchildren.
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
Storms do fresh damage to macadamia trees and other crops - 2004-03-03 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Storms do fresh damage to macadamia trees and other crops
Howard Dicus
Damaging storms, which began to pound the islands last Thursday and continued through the weekend, have destroyed or damaged some macadamia nut and coffee trees and harmed others crops, from Maui onions to Oahu greens, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture reports.
The weekly crop weather report disseminated Tuesday covers last week's conditions and does not include wind, rain or flood damage taking place this week, but still shows the storm system has been bad news for some farmers.
"Although all islands were affected by the storm system, the heaviest damage to agriculture occurred on Oahu and Hawaii islands," said Don Martin, director of the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service. "Preliminary statewide estimates of dollar losses to agriculture were estimated at between $1.5 to $2 million."
A lot of that, Martin said, is severe damage and tree losses to macadamia nut orchards in the Honomalino area of south Kona caused by a suspected tornado/water spout late Friday night. One farm lost nearly 2,500 trees.
Tree losses to coffee and macadamia orchards in central Kona from strong winds were not as severe but leaf stripping was bad enough to affect yields later in the growing season.
Macnut tree losses were also reported in the Ka'u district, to mostly younger, not yet bearing orchards, although the full extent has not been determined yet.
Kona coffee farmers reported up to 30 percent damage to mature trees. The news came just as Starbucks was announcing that for the first time in seven years it will offer Kona coffee in its 4,000 shops nationwide. Kona coffee production is only 0.02 percent of world coffee production in the best of times. Coffee growers weren't uniformly slammed by the storms, though: the rains were beneficial to Kauai coffee orchards and should trigger the flowering that leads to next season's crop.
On Oahu the heavy rains created havoc with vegetable and melon growers.
"Crops were underwater," Martin said, "or field conditions so muddy that farmers were unable to enter fields to carry out planting and harvesting operations. It will be several days, provided there are drier conditions, before farmers can get back into their fields."
On Kauai, heavy mountain rains caused the Hanalei River to overflow on Thursday night and inundate some adjacent taro fields, but drained so quickly that farmers could still do some harvesting.
On Maui, the first days of the storms did not do serious crop damage. The Maui onion crop remained in marginally fair to poor condition due to past weeks' rains. Low production is expected to continue from older and developing fields due to wet conditions. Crop loss estimates from January's rains ranged from 35 percent to 60 percent depending on field location and cultural practices prior to the storm.
Reach Howard Dicus at hdicus@bizjournals.com.
Storms do fresh damage to macadamia trees and other crops
Howard Dicus
Damaging storms, which began to pound the islands last Thursday and continued through the weekend, have destroyed or damaged some macadamia nut and coffee trees and harmed others crops, from Maui onions to Oahu greens, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture reports.
The weekly crop weather report disseminated Tuesday covers last week's conditions and does not include wind, rain or flood damage taking place this week, but still shows the storm system has been bad news for some farmers.
"Although all islands were affected by the storm system, the heaviest damage to agriculture occurred on Oahu and Hawaii islands," said Don Martin, director of the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service. "Preliminary statewide estimates of dollar losses to agriculture were estimated at between $1.5 to $2 million."
A lot of that, Martin said, is severe damage and tree losses to macadamia nut orchards in the Honomalino area of south Kona caused by a suspected tornado/water spout late Friday night. One farm lost nearly 2,500 trees.
Tree losses to coffee and macadamia orchards in central Kona from strong winds were not as severe but leaf stripping was bad enough to affect yields later in the growing season.
Macnut tree losses were also reported in the Ka'u district, to mostly younger, not yet bearing orchards, although the full extent has not been determined yet.
Kona coffee farmers reported up to 30 percent damage to mature trees. The news came just as Starbucks was announcing that for the first time in seven years it will offer Kona coffee in its 4,000 shops nationwide. Kona coffee production is only 0.02 percent of world coffee production in the best of times. Coffee growers weren't uniformly slammed by the storms, though: the rains were beneficial to Kauai coffee orchards and should trigger the flowering that leads to next season's crop.
On Oahu the heavy rains created havoc with vegetable and melon growers.
"Crops were underwater," Martin said, "or field conditions so muddy that farmers were unable to enter fields to carry out planting and harvesting operations. It will be several days, provided there are drier conditions, before farmers can get back into their fields."
On Kauai, heavy mountain rains caused the Hanalei River to overflow on Thursday night and inundate some adjacent taro fields, but drained so quickly that farmers could still do some harvesting.
On Maui, the first days of the storms did not do serious crop damage. The Maui onion crop remained in marginally fair to poor condition due to past weeks' rains. Low production is expected to continue from older and developing fields due to wet conditions. Crop loss estimates from January's rains ranged from 35 percent to 60 percent depending on field location and cultural practices prior to the storm.
Reach Howard Dicus at hdicus@bizjournals.com.
Monday, March 01, 2004
KPUA.net - KPUA Hawaii News - Kauai band selected for Tournament of Roses: "Kauai band selected for Tournament of Roses
By Associated Press
(Lihue-AP) -- A Kauai band has been selected to march in next year's Tournament of Roses Parade.
The Kauai All Island Ku Kilakila Band includes about 250 high school and middle school musicians and hula dancers.
It's the first time a band from Kauai has been selected for the annual New Year's Day parade in Pasadena, California.
Last year, a band including members from throughout Hawaii marched.
The parade is seen by about 80 (m) million people nationwide and 350 (m) million people across the globe.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) "
By Associated Press
(Lihue-AP) -- A Kauai band has been selected to march in next year's Tournament of Roses Parade.
The Kauai All Island Ku Kilakila Band includes about 250 high school and middle school musicians and hula dancers.
It's the first time a band from Kauai has been selected for the annual New Year's Day parade in Pasadena, California.
Last year, a band including members from throughout Hawaii marched.
The parade is seen by about 80 (m) million people nationwide and 350 (m) million people across the globe.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) "
While mainland vehicle sales fall, Hawaii sales rise - 2004-03-01 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
While mainland vehicle sales fall, Hawaii sales rise
Howard Dicus
Hawaii new vehicle registration, excluding rental fleets, rose 17.6 percent in 2003 to 62,712 units. National registrations fell 2.1 in 2003, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association reports.
The figures also show that U.S. automakers have almost 56 percent of the total car and light truck market nationwide, but less than 31 percent of the Hawaii market.
Big Three car sales rose 2.7 percent in the islands, but Korean car sales rose 5.4 percent, European car sales rose 6.7 percent, and Japanese vehicle sales rose 9.9 percent.
One thing is the same here and on the mainland. Light trucks, including pickups, SUVs and vans, account for more than sales than regular automobiles. Nationwide they make up 56.3 percent of consumer vehicle sales; here, 56.6 percent.
Here is the Hawaii market share held by major automakers during the fourth quarter:
1. Toyota, 23 percent.
2. Ford, 11.2 percent.
3. Honda, 11 percent.
4. Nissan, 11 percent.
5. Chevrolet, 5.8 percent.
6. Dodge (Daimler Chrysler), 5.2 percent.
7. Mazda, 4.9 percent.
8. Lexus, 2.8 percent.
9. Volkswagen, 2.1 percent.
10. BMW, 1.8 percent.
Toyota had the two most popular cars (Corolla and Camry) and most popular truck (Tacoma) while Honda had the number three and four cars (Civic and Accord.)
Other brands, lower in the overall rankings, nevertheless showed significant sales growth in 2003. Infiniti G35 sales tripled last year to put this model in 12th place. Mini Cooper sales doubled, putting it 13th. Mazda 6 sales quadrupled to place it 15th. Sales of the Honda Pilot doubled to place it 15th among light truck sales.
Sales fell 10 percent or more during 2003 for the Mazda 3, Ford Ranger, Nissan Xterra and Volkswagen Jetta.
Here's how 2003 new car sales broke down by locality:
Oahu: 44,013, up 16.2 percent from 37,878 in 2002.
Big Island: 7,841, up 23.7 percent from 6,338 in 2002.
Maui: 7,584, up 21.7 percent from 6,232 in 2002.
Kauai: 3,273, up 14.2 percent from 2,866 in 2002.
Island preferences differed. Honda was much more popular on the Big Island than elsewhere, accounting for a quarter of all Big Island sales in 2003. Ford trucks were twice as popular on Maui as elsewhere and accounted for almost a third of all Maui light truck sales. Volkswagen had only half the market share on Kauai as it had on the other islands.
And a few loose notes:
Every Hummer gets noticed, but only 82 were sold to consumers in Hawaii last year.
Mini Cooper sales, 238 in 2002, rose to 477 last year.
More than 300 Jaguars a year are sold in Hawaii.
Hawaii consumers bought 436 Volvos and 168 Saabs last year, well above 2002 sales figures for either brand.
Kauai Car Rentals:
Discounts rental cars from Avis, Dollar, and Thrifty
Plus Free Avis Upgrade!
While mainland vehicle sales fall, Hawaii sales rise
Howard Dicus
Hawaii new vehicle registration, excluding rental fleets, rose 17.6 percent in 2003 to 62,712 units. National registrations fell 2.1 in 2003, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association reports.
The figures also show that U.S. automakers have almost 56 percent of the total car and light truck market nationwide, but less than 31 percent of the Hawaii market.
Big Three car sales rose 2.7 percent in the islands, but Korean car sales rose 5.4 percent, European car sales rose 6.7 percent, and Japanese vehicle sales rose 9.9 percent.
One thing is the same here and on the mainland. Light trucks, including pickups, SUVs and vans, account for more than sales than regular automobiles. Nationwide they make up 56.3 percent of consumer vehicle sales; here, 56.6 percent.
Here is the Hawaii market share held by major automakers during the fourth quarter:
1. Toyota, 23 percent.
2. Ford, 11.2 percent.
3. Honda, 11 percent.
4. Nissan, 11 percent.
5. Chevrolet, 5.8 percent.
6. Dodge (Daimler Chrysler), 5.2 percent.
7. Mazda, 4.9 percent.
8. Lexus, 2.8 percent.
9. Volkswagen, 2.1 percent.
10. BMW, 1.8 percent.
Toyota had the two most popular cars (Corolla and Camry) and most popular truck (Tacoma) while Honda had the number three and four cars (Civic and Accord.)
Other brands, lower in the overall rankings, nevertheless showed significant sales growth in 2003. Infiniti G35 sales tripled last year to put this model in 12th place. Mini Cooper sales doubled, putting it 13th. Mazda 6 sales quadrupled to place it 15th. Sales of the Honda Pilot doubled to place it 15th among light truck sales.
Sales fell 10 percent or more during 2003 for the Mazda 3, Ford Ranger, Nissan Xterra and Volkswagen Jetta.
Here's how 2003 new car sales broke down by locality:
Oahu: 44,013, up 16.2 percent from 37,878 in 2002.
Big Island: 7,841, up 23.7 percent from 6,338 in 2002.
Maui: 7,584, up 21.7 percent from 6,232 in 2002.
Kauai: 3,273, up 14.2 percent from 2,866 in 2002.
Island preferences differed. Honda was much more popular on the Big Island than elsewhere, accounting for a quarter of all Big Island sales in 2003. Ford trucks were twice as popular on Maui as elsewhere and accounted for almost a third of all Maui light truck sales. Volkswagen had only half the market share on Kauai as it had on the other islands.
And a few loose notes:
Every Hummer gets noticed, but only 82 were sold to consumers in Hawaii last year.
Mini Cooper sales, 238 in 2002, rose to 477 last year.
More than 300 Jaguars a year are sold in Hawaii.
Hawaii consumers bought 436 Volvos and 168 Saabs last year, well above 2002 sales figures for either brand.
Kauai Car Rentals:
Discounts rental cars from Avis, Dollar, and Thrifty
Plus Free Avis Upgrade!
Hawaii new jobless claims rise - 2004-03-01 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Hawaii new jobless claims rise
Layoffs stemming from the concrete strikes are beginning to show up in Hawaii's new claims for unemployment compensation, though not at the levels expected in the next week or two.
For the week ending Feb. 21, the Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations counted 1,461 new jobless claims, and 9,818 total claims.
That was 131 new claims from the week before. But Maui and Kauai actually reported fewer new claims. On Oahu, most affected by the Teamsters strikes against Hawaiian Cement and Ameron Hawaii, new claims rose by 114 to 969.
Total jobless claims on Oahu barely rose at all at the Honolulu office but rose 120 to 920 at the Kaneohe office, and rose 216 to 2,629 at the Waipahu office, which would serve most construction workers affected in the early stages of the walkout.
Builders and subcontractors say they laid off scores of workers last week and will lay off more this week; claims are typically filed in the following week and reported the week after that.
Hawaii new jobless claims rise
Layoffs stemming from the concrete strikes are beginning to show up in Hawaii's new claims for unemployment compensation, though not at the levels expected in the next week or two.
For the week ending Feb. 21, the Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations counted 1,461 new jobless claims, and 9,818 total claims.
That was 131 new claims from the week before. But Maui and Kauai actually reported fewer new claims. On Oahu, most affected by the Teamsters strikes against Hawaiian Cement and Ameron Hawaii, new claims rose by 114 to 969.
Total jobless claims on Oahu barely rose at all at the Honolulu office but rose 120 to 920 at the Kaneohe office, and rose 216 to 2,629 at the Waipahu office, which would serve most construction workers affected in the early stages of the walkout.
Builders and subcontractors say they laid off scores of workers last week and will lay off more this week; claims are typically filed in the following week and reported the week after that.
