Hawaii hotel occupancy 78.3%

Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Hawaii hotel occupancy 78.3%

Hawaii hotels were 78.3 percent full last week, Hospitality Advisors LLC reported Friday, with Kauai fullest and Big Island emptiest.

That 78.3 percent occupancy for the period Oct. 17-23 compared to 71.8 percent in the commensurate week last week -- and was slightly about two points from the previous week -- and room rates were up 3.4 percent from year-before levels.

Around the islands:

Oahu: 81.2 percent, up 13.2 percentage points from last year. The average room rate was $126.38 a night, up 0.1 points from last year.
Maui: 77.6 percent, up4.7 percentage points from last year. The average room rate was $172.03 a night, up 5.9 points from last year.
Kauai: 83.9 percent, up 1.1 percentage points from last year. The average room rate was $177.21 a night, up 8.3 points from last year.
Big Island: 66.3 percent, down 8 percentage points from last year. The average room rate was $139.90 a night, up 10.8 points from last year.
Nationally, the same Oct. 17-23 period saw hotel occupancy of 68.1 percent, Smith Travel Advisors LLC reported, with room rates 6 percent better than last year at the same time. Occupancy was 76.8 percent in Los Angeles, 76.2 percent in Orlando, and 74.8 percent in San Diego, with rates higher in California but down slightly in Florida.

New Bridge in Kauai

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

New Bridge in Kauai

Work to replace a Kauai bridge
offers residents a holiday
and a bit of nostalgia

By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com
LIHUE » For 24 hours yesterday, Kauai's North Shore stepped back in time.

State transportation officials closed Kuhio Highway to replace one of three bridges spanning the Wainiha River. They had expected cries of protest from the 2,000 residents who would be cut off from the rest of the island.

Instead, the stranded residents treated the day as a holiday, taking the day off from work and school. And tourists said the road closure added a bit of adventure to their trips.


ANTHONY SOMMER / TSOMMER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Construction workers pieced together a new bridge yesterday across the Wainiha River on Kauai's North Shore. The existing bridge had deteriorated to the point where it was no longer safe.

---

A few elderly residents said it was a return to the old days, when boats were used to cross streams and rivers after flooding closed the area's bridges. For them it was a chance to indulge in nostalgia.
The residents of the Haena area, which was temporarily isolated, are a mix of local families who have lived there for many generations, and wealthy retirees building expensive new homes.

Among those who jumped in to assist was Joseph Kauo, who helped residents get aboard a makeshift ferryboat throughout the day.

"I just saw this was very slippery and dangerous getting into that boat, so I've been helping out," he said.

The bridge was the worst of many along the same route that have deteriorated in recent years. Overweight trucks making late-night runs have worsened the problem, and the state has tried to stop them with portable weigh stations during the past month.

But the deteriorating bridges also have created a problem for emergency vehicles. The Fire Department pumper that serves the area weighs three times the 6-ton limit of the bridges.

The new bridge, the middle of three that cross the Wainiha River where it enters the ocean, is missing the trademark white wooden guardrails and planks of the other two. It is made of prefabricated steel, and its surface is covered with asphalt.

State officials closed the road Tuesday night, reopened it Wednesday and closed it again for 24 hours yesterday morning as workers put together the new bridge.

The sudden flurry of activity on what is normally the sleepiest part of the island drew a crowd.

The motorboat being used as a ferry was in constant use, carrying residents home with groceries and youngsters, who skipped school and went surfing east.

The Transportation Department did not have an estimate for replacing the bridge, although it will be into the hundreds of thousands of dollars when the work is completed.

And, like the wooden bridges that have been there for decades, the state is calling the new bridge temporary.

Coconut Beach Resort redo progresses

Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Coconut Beach Resort redo progresses

A $24 million renovation of the Kauai Coconut Beach Resort is set to be completed in December.

The hotel, bought by Presidio Hotel Group of California last year, will be rebranded as the Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Waipouli Beach. Presidio will manage the hotel as part of the franchise agreement.

So far, 311 guest rooms, public spaces, meeting rooms and the pool area have been redone on the 10.5 oceanfront acres on Waipouli Beach. The hotel will get a new restaurant and lobby.

"We anticipate finishing our lobby area, pool area and approximately two-thirds of our guest rooms by Christmas," said Glenn Okamoto, hotel general manager.

But the hotel is opening up some rooms for kamaaina to try at a special rate through Dec. 20, when the peak tourist season is expected to start.

The national weather service has issued a flash flood watch for the islands of Niihau, Kauai and Oahu until 4 p.m. today

KHNL.com

(AP)The national weather service has issued a flash flood watch for the islands of Niihau, Kauai and Oahu until 4 p.m. today.

A flash flood watch means that flash flooding is possible but not imminent in the watch area. Motorists should be alert for flooding and should not attempt to cross fast flowing water or rising water.
Persons in low lying areas along streams and other drainages should be prepared to take quick action if heavy rains or flooding occurs or a warning is issued.
An upper level low has produced a very moist and unstable atmosphere over Niihau, Kauai and Oahu.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms may develop at any time, resulting in flooding."

Hawaii hotel occupancy 76.5%

Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Hawaii hotel occupancy 76.5%

Tourists who don't know it's supposed to be the off-season -- or who are taking advantage of that to get somewhat lower hotel rates -- flocked to Hawaii last week, leaving hotels more than three-quarters full.

The statewide occupancy rate for Oct. 10-16 was 76.5 percent, an improvement of 2.3 points from the same period last year. Room rates were 4.3 percent higher than that same period, but well below peak summer levels, Hospitality Advisors LLC reported Friday.

Around the islands:

Oahu: 77.8 percent. More than half the hotel rooms in Hawaii are in Waikiki, and Oahu room rates actually declined 1.6 percent from the same week last year, to less than $124 a night.
Maui: 79.1 percent. Hotel rooms that cost more than $200 a night in the summer went down to an average of $174, though that was still 7.1 percent more than year-ago levels. Occupancy was up 11.7 points.
Kauai: 79.9 percent. Occupancy fell 5.9 points even though inventory is lower this year, the result of some Kauai hotels becoming vacation condos. Room rates rose 8.6 percent to an average $175.
Big Island: 66 percent. The Big Island is usually less full at this time of year, but this figure represents an 11.3 point decline in occupancy, year-to-year. Room rates rose 15 percent to an average $153 a night.
For comparison, the national hotel occupancy rate for the same seven-day period was 68.5 percent, a 2.4 point improvement from last year, with room rates up 4.7 percent, Smith Travel Research LLC reported. Orlando had the same occupancy as Oahu while Los Angeles and San Diego were less full.

Wrecking ball smashes Hemmeter's dream

Kauai Garden Island News

Wrecking ball smashes Hemmeter's dream

By Paul C. Curtis - The Garden Island

All of the buildings at Kauai Lagoons formerly known as Artisans Landing are now gone, and a portion of the buildings formerly known as Fashion Landing were also recently demolished.

And, somewhere above, it's hard to tell if the late developer Christopher "Chris" Hemmeter is laughing or crying.

Hemmeter, who came riding to Kaua‘i on his white horse after Hurricane ‘Iwa in 1982 to help redevelop the former Kauai Surf property and adjacent golf course into a super resort where people wouldn't need to rent cars or have any need to journey off resort property for any reason whatsoever, conceived of the ideas for the Artisans Landing and Fashion Landing, reachable primarily by mahogany boats plying the lagoon waterway system.

Once boasting upscale restaurants and shops, the two landings were never really popular or profitable. And now, one is gone, and the other is smaller.

The demolition work done recently is part of a new grand scheme by new owners of the Kauai Lagoons, Kauai Development LLC and GolfBC. The site is adjacent to the former Kauai Surf, the former Westin Kauai (as redeveloped by Hemmeter and others), now the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club, on Kalapaki Beach.

At the former Fashion Landing complex near Whalers Brewpub, the buildings that remain are getting re-roofed in clay tile by workers from Beachside Roofing, said Kevin Showe, manager of Kauai Development LLC.

Once the re-roofing is accomplished, rotting wooden siding will be replaced with stucco siding. Near Whalers Brewpub, an existing building will become a day and destination spa, Showe explained.

It's all part of "a very comprehensive redevelopment of the whole resort," that will also include 700 total units of timeshare, condominium and single-family homes, he said.

The master Special Management Area (SMA) plan should be submitted to county Planning Department officials within 30 days, he explained.

That master plan does not include a resort hotel along the coast in the area above the bodysurfing break known as "Running Waters." In 2002, leaders of former owner Shinwa Golf Group had approved by county officials a re-zoning that included abandonment of the resort zoning along the shoreline, Showe said.

After Shinwa leaders ran into financial difficulties, Kauai Lagoons was purchased by officials at Alexander & Baldwin, who in turn sold their interest to GolfBC, a Canadian development firm from Vancouver, British Columbia. Kauai Development LLC leaders partnered up with GolfBC in July, Showe said.

Showe and other Kauai Development LLC officials are the Hawai‘i members of the partnership, and are the local managers operating Kauai Lagoons' day-to-day operations during the "turnaround," he said.

Regarding the residential and resort development, Showe reported that an on-site sewage treatment plant has plenty capacity to handle the new development, and that a water study is under way to evaluate potable-water needs. Civil engineers are doing lots of other studies, too, he said.

Turning to the lagoons, which Showe said have suffered from a decade of neglect at the hands of previous owners, he said the new owners are installing a new aeration grid, and using "beneficial microorganisms" to treat the water and eat the layers of sludge built up at the bottom of the waterways.

A byproduct of the microorganisms' work is hydrogen sulfate, which has acted to kill off some of the large populations of tilapia, grass carp and other fish, some of them "huge, monster fish," he said. Getting rid of some of the tilapia, carp and other fish was necessary because of fish-overpopulation problems plaguing the lagoons, he said.

The more environmentally friendly way of cleaning up the ponds is in contrast to those utilized by previous owners, who used the toxic chemical copper sulfate to keep the lagoons clean, Showe said. The new owners are working with state Department of Health officials on plans for cleaning up the lagoons, and keeping them clean, Showe concluded.

Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.

Hanalei Bay Resort on SummitPacific.com

Hanalei Bay Resort on SummitPacific.com

Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii – SummitPacific.com announced today that it had added several new listings to its growing number of vacation rentals available by owners. "We are please to add Hanalei Bay Resort units 7305 & 6 in Princeville. This is a beautiful condo that can be rented with either one or two bedrooms. This is a nice 3rd floor unit and features vaulted ceilings, upstairs loft, and beautiful sunset views of Bali Hai and Hanalei Bay," said company president Doug Porter.

In addition to 18 units at Hanalei Bay Resort rented by owners, SummitPacific.com also offers a wide range of ocean view vacation rental condos and cottages on Kauai.

Crop Weather Improves

Crop Weather Improves

Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

The trade winds have returned in recent days, and Hawaii farmers have generally seen improved crop weather, though there have been a couple of unusual variations on the usual pattern at this time of year.

The Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service said there has generally been more rain to the west and less to the east, so Kauai has gotten above-normal rainfall at all monitoring stations since the start of September.

On the Big Island, Hilo is supposed to be the wet side and Kona the dry side, but Kona has gotten the highest rainfall total on the Big Island for the third consecutive month.

The National Weather Service reported that the dry conditions over the windward slopes of Hawaii island were quite unusual considering the presence of persistent trade winds.

EPA awards $396,000 to Kauai County to help redevelop brownfields

Waste News | Waste Management/Recycling/Landfill Headlines

EPA awards $396,000 to Kauai County to help redevelop brownfields

Oct. 20 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $396,000 to Kauai County, Hawaii, and the Anahola Homesteaders Council to redevelop brownfield properties on Kauai.

Kauai County is receiving $200,000 to inventory potential brownfield sites, perform environmental site assessments and do community outreach and involvement activities.

The Anahola Homesteaders Council is receiving $196,334 in brownfield funds for cleaning up hazardous substances on 20 acres of former sugar cane land contaminated with pesticides and herbicides containing arsenic and mercury, according to the EPA. The community plans to redevelop the site into a multi-use town center with a charter school and senior citizen housing.

The Anahola group also is receiving a separate $100,000 environmental justice grant to find viable solutions for property that is littered with illegally dumped items including automobiles, tires, appliances, batteries and other household goods."

TNT Presents Live Coverage of PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Nov. 23 & 24

Press Point
Turner Network Television

TNT Presents Live Coverage of PGA Grand Slam of Golf on Nov. 23 & 24

Star-Studded Event Features 2004 Major Winners Vijay Singh (PGA Championship), Phil Mickelson (Masters), Retief Goosen (U.S. Open) and Todd Hamilton (British Open)

For Release: Oct.20, 2004

The event, the toughest golf tournament to qualify for in the world, features the winners of golf's four major events. This year the tournament, which will be held for an 11th consecutive year at Poipu Bay Golf Course and Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, includes PGA Champion Vijay Singh, U.S. Open Champion Retief Goosen, Masters Champion Phil Mickelson and British Open Champion Todd Hamilton. Singh (1), Mickelson (4) and Goosen (5) represent three of the top five players on the PGA Tour's Official Golf World Rankings.

Ernie Johnson will serve as host, along with analyst Bobby Clampett in the booth, Billy Kratzert reporting from the course, and Jim Huber providing player interviews and essays.

The two-day, 36-hole, stroke-play tournament carries a $1-million purse, awarding the winner $400,000, second place $250,000, third place $200,000 and fourth place $150,000. This marks the 14th consecutive year that Turner Sports will present the Grand Slam, and the sixth year TNT will air the event. The event will be televised to some 88.9 million U.S. homes by TNT and to more than 100 countries worldwide. The network extended its contract with the PGA of America in June 2002 to continue televising the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the PGA Championship through 2011.

Property tax showdown

Kauai Garden Island News

Property tax showdown

By Lester Chang

LIHU‘E -- Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste said yesterday the county will very likely challenge the legality of the Ohana Kauai charter amendment if it is adopted by voters in the Tuesday, Nov. 2 general election.

Approval of the property-tax-reduction ballot measure will raise legal questions as to whether it can affect the taxing authority of the county, Baptiste said.

Ohana Kauai proponents forecast a loss of up to $1.5 million in the first year if their proposal is approved, but noted that the loss could be made up by taxing businesses, hotels and other properties at higher rates.

County officials, who have analyzed the impact of the Ohana Kauai proposal, say $3 million in revenues could be lost in the first year, and up to $44 million in 10 years, thereby jeopardizing police services, garbage service and other government services.

"I have grave concerns about the legality (of the proposal)," Baptiste said.' We are still searching that out," he said during a meeting of the Kaua‘i County Council's Committee of the Whole at the Lihu‘e Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.

The committee, headed by council Chair Kaipo Asing, held the meeting to flesh out the pros and cons of the measure and a competing council bill to drastically reform the county taxing system. The bill is based on a report done by the Kauai Real Property Tax Task Force.

Fewer than 10 residents attended the meeting.

The council wants to bring significant property-tax relief to homeowners who have been socked with skyrocketing property-tax bills over the last five years.

The situation has evolved due to high-priced and repeat sales that have pushed up property assessments.

The Ohana Kauai proposal advocates reducing property taxes for residents who occupy their homes to the tax amount they paid in 1998.

The initiative also would limit tax increases to 2 percent a year in 2006, a year after the proposal would take effect.

The county proposal calls for major changes in the current taxing system, including:



Levying higher taxes for buildings and lower taxes for the land, by a three-to-one ratio, based on the belief that larger homes would require more public services than smaller homes;


Establishing land assessments of each land parcel at a five-year average from 1999 to 2003;


Having only two tax classifications as opposed to the eight that exist today;


Implementing fair and equitable taxing for all properties on Kaua‘i, not just owner-occupied parcels.

Baptiste said it was his belief the Ohana Kauai proposal will bring about "unattended consequences" that will hurt the island.

As he sees it, the measure has an inflexibility about it, and could only be repealed by voters with a subsequent charter amendment.

The measure also will result in a shifting of the tax burden from Kauaians who own and live in their homes to other taxpayers.

Baptiste said he appreciated the work of the Real Property Tax Task Force because it represented the work of nine members who represented the diverse makeup of the community, while the Ohana Kauai measure was developed by a small group of folks.

The group, however, was said to have worked two years to secure thousands of petition signatures to have the proposal put on the election ballot.

Eric Knutzen, a representative for the county's Finance Department, said analysis of the Ohana Kauai proposal showed:


The Ohana Kauai measure only addresses the needs of owner-occupied properties, and would be detrimental to owners of businesses, single-family residences, apartments and agricultural properties;


The county would lose $3 million in revenues from owner-occupied parcels in the first year the proposal is initiated, and $44 million over 10 years. Ohana Kauai folks have said, however, that the proposal would only affect owner-occupied parcels, and that $1 million to $1.5 million would be lost in first year. Ohana group member Glenn Mickens said suggestions that $9 million in revenues could be lost through the Ohana Kauai measure were false. That figure is based on all "residence" categories, and that the Ohana Kauai measure targeted only owner-occupied homes. Mickens also said that nobody seemed upset when two property- tax-relief measures approved by the council and Baptiste resulted in a loss of $2.5 million in county revenues for this fiscal year.

"That is more than what we are projecting in losses," Mickens said before the council committee meeting.

Councilmembers Furfaro and Daryl Kaneshiro successfully pushed through those measures. Yesterday, Furfaro said the council and Baptiste showed, through the measures, that they reacted proactively to find temporary tax-relief measures before larger tax-reduction measures are put into effect;


The North Shore has perhaps the most expensive homes on the island, and would require more services than smaller homes. The area boasts only about 12 percent of the structures on the island, but under the Ohana Kauai proposal, property owners there will be paying 32 percent less in property taxes each year, or about $1 million less;


The Ohana Kauai measure will not result in much greater savings if implemented. In eight out of nine cases, property-tax bills would be lower under the county-endorsed plan than under the Ohana Kauai measure. The owner of a smaller house who currently pays $517 in property taxes would pay $517 under the Ohana Kauai measure, and would pay $444 should the county tax reform bill go through;


The county tax proposal will benefit farmers by assessing their land and charging taxes only when a homesite goes up. The homesite will be assessed uniformly with residential or agricultural parcel assessments;


As the property-tax revenues decrease and the cost of government rises, the county will have to cut back certain services, including police services, under the Ohana Kauai proposal;


12 percent of residents move out of their homes on Kaua‘i each year. If the Ohana Kauai measure were in place, the county could see more revenues, since the cap on the assessments would be reset for each new house sale.

Council Vice Chair James Tokioka and Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said while they appreciated the work Ohana Kauai proponents put into their proposal, they said the biggest problem with that it doesn't define what a resident is.

If that isn't done, and the measure is approved by voters next month, the county could be sued by non-resident property owners, and the county's taxing system could be left in disarray, the legislators contended.

Yukimura said that it has her belief that the charter amendment would be inclusive, and that without a definition of which resident could benefit from Ohana Kauai proposal, the situation "leaves us in a difficult place."

Lewis said the provision in the charter amendment clearly states the council is tasked with passing a law or laws to make the amendment work.

Lewis recommended the council adopt language to define that term, and if not, he said, "perhaps the term of residence should be left alone?"

Regardless of what the Ohana Kauai measure doesn't do, the measure is aimed specifically at helping those who own and live in their homes, Lewis said.

Yukimura asked how the Ohana Kauai measure would help young people buy their first homes.

"We don't know, and it depends on what the property-tax department does in the future," Lewis said. Lewis also asserted that no legal connection existed between the Ohana Kauai proposal and the county tax bill.

Knutzen's presentation will be put on the county's Web site, www.kauai.hawaii.gov, today, and will remain there until the Nov. 2 election. Go to the icon "Real Property Tax Update" at the bottom of the Web site for more information on the county tax bill.

Yesterday's committee meeting will be shown in its entirety on Ho‘ike Kaua‘i Community Television. Please call 246-1556 for channel and air dates and times.

Kayakers rescued from swollen Waialua River

KPUA.net - KPUA Hawaii News - Kayakers rescued from swollen Waialua River

Kayakers rescued from swollen Waialua River

By Associated Press

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) _ Coast Guard crews rescued about 30 kayakers today who were stranded after heavy rain swelled the Waialua River on Kauai.

Officials say two groups of kayakers were safely returned to the boat ramp at the mouth of the river. No injuries were reported.

A 23-foot Coast Guard vessel and two smaller boats were used in the rescue effort.

The smaller boats picked up the stranded kayakers and transported them to an area where the larger boat could pick them up.

Officials say the operation was completed by 6 p-m. "

Go figure the visitor market

Maui News

Go figure the visitor market

Maui as a destination is hardly a secret. We’ve been named “Best Island in the World” by readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine for the 11th year in a row.

Curiously, the world has not beaten a path to our door as a result. The number of tourists visiting Maui is just about the same as it was 15 years ago.

One idea that has been around for nearly as long is how to define the “carrying capacity” of the island. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is now putting some research money into this question.

Yet, it seems the market – or something – has already decided on the answer. Maui County gets somewhere around 2.4 million visitors a year, an average of, very roughly, one for every three residents on any particular day.

Nothing seems able to nudge this number very far either up or down.

When Hurricane Iniki wiped out tourism on Kauai, driving something like 30,000 visitors a month somewhere else, Maui’s tourism count did not go up by 30,000 or anything like it.

Yet, the bereft Kauai visitors could have afforded us, and we were easier to reach by plane. So why didn’t they come?

The opposite side of the same coin is the effect – or virtual non-effect – of the terrorist attacks on America in 2001. Tourism numbers dropped everywhere, and even here for a few months. They still are down in many important destinations, but there’s no evidence in the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau numbers that it had any real effect on our traffic.

Tourists obviously didn’t avoid Maui – occupancy rates prove that – but speculation that they would flock here because Maui would be perceived as safe (or “safer”) didn’t pan out, either. The safety issue, in fact, seems to be a notion that doesn’t influence travelers one way or the other; at least, not for long.

The only island that really competes with Maui for travelers’ esteem in the upscale travel magazine polls is Bali. After terrorists bombed Bali in 2002, tourists did flee the island – for a while. But in the other magazine poll, conducted by Travel??, Bali has finished at the top of the best island category for the past three years.

In tourist destinations that are not blessed with the equable climate that we have, there’s a saying about visitors: Summer people, and summer not.

Whichever, they’re hard to figure.

Billabong Pro Mundaka: Parkinson rises to the challenge

Surfing News & Contests, Surf Reports & Forecasts

Billabong Pro Mundaka: Parkinson rises to the challenge

Joel Parkinson : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Billabong Pro Mundaka

Association of Surfing Professionals
2004 World Championship Tour
October 5 – 16, 2004

Parkinson Rises To The Challenge

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Friday, October 15, 2004 (Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain) Australian Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast) today rose to the challenge of pursuing this year’s world title during the Billabong Pro at Mundaka. The Foster’s men’s ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) resumed with remaining third round heats, before quarterfinalists were decided this afternoon. The US$260,000 event is set to climax tomorrow.

Solid and stormy 6-8 ft (2.5m) surf greeted contestants. Great rides were on offer, including hollow barrels, and continued to improve throughout the day while heavy rain persisted.

Following the shock elimination of Kelly Slater (USA), CJ Hobgood (USA) and Nathan Hedge (AUS) yesterday, the race dramatically narrowed down with only Parkinson mathematically left in the hunt against reigning two-time world champ Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW). Needing to finish at least one place higher than the Kauaian here at Mundaka to keep his fight alive, ‘Parko’ eliminated Nathan Webster this morning and then upped the ante against another Australian, Richie Lovett, to storm into the quarterfinals.


Peterson Rosa : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Against Lovett, the 23-year-old emerged from an incredible backhand barrel to post the best single score of the Billabong Pro so far for a near-perfect 9.83. Combined with another 8.23, the current ratings #4 left his opponent a combination of rides behind, and clearly announced his intentions to battle Irons to the very end.

“I got a barrel I didn’t think I would make,” admitted Parkinson. “I was in there, but a big curtain fell down and I just hung on… all of a sudden I was out (laughs). I was happy with the score for sure.

“I’ll just play my game and he’ll be doing the same thing for sure,” he continued, of the situation with Irons. “I know it’s bad to say, but I’ve got to hope he loses. I’ll be there watching, but have to keep going myself. It’s only over when the fat lady sings and I’m not giving up. We’ll just have to see what unfolds. Good to be in the hunt still.”


Luke Egan : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Irons also continued his charge towards a third consecutive world title with a commanding victory over good friend Cory Lopez (FL, USA), posting two 8.67 scores. Having already won two WCT events this season, the 26-year-old would obviously love nothing more than to claim another Billabong Pro title (after his first in 2002), and nail the world title in the process. He’ll face another Floridian, Damien Hobgood (FL, USA), in tomorrow’s second quarterfinal.

“That was a clutch heat right there,” acknowledged Irons. “Cory surfs so good in those kind of conditions and I knew he was going to come out blazing. I was lucky to get my first wave and a good barrel. Then I built off it with another good one, and was in rhythm the whole time.

“I didn’t even know that,” he responded, when told he could win the title if ‘Parko’ places any lower at Mundaka. “That would be crazy, and so cool to be able to go to Brazil and be able to relax, and then be in Hawaii with it all sewn up. But Joel is no slouch, so I wouldn’t expect him to get anything less than two nines in his heats. I’ll be watching.”


Nathan Webster : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Kalani Robb (HAW) literally put his arm into the last wave he caught against Mick Lowe (AUS) this morning to utilize a deep barrel. The Hawaiian emerged to score an 8.67 and take control of the heat, but dislocated his shoulder in the process and was rushed in by Jet Ski to seek attention from Billabong Pro sports physiotherapist Luke Pickett. The current ratings #26 had his left arm popped back into place, and despite tremendous pain, opted to compete against Luke Egan (AUS) in the day’s final heat. His opponent was too strong however, carving the big lefts for a quarterfinal showdown against Brazilian Peterson Rosa.

“Kalani’s been one of the form surfers of the contest, so it was unfortunate he did that to his shoulder this morning,” offered Egan. “It was a courageous effort to still get out there and try to have a go. Thankfully he didn’t do more damage to it and will be able to compete in the remaining events this year and re-qualify for next year. I’m feeling great though, and just hope the swell hangs around tomorrow.”

Rosa continued his great European leg of the tour by defeating Shane Beschen (Haw, USA) today. The current ratings #16 maintained a slender lead, despite breaking a fin from his surfboard and being forced to grab a backup midway through. Tomorrow will mark his second consecutive quarterfinal berth from as many starts.


Kalani Robb receives medical aid : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

“I broke the fin and had to change my board to ride a 6’5”,” explained Rosa. “It still worked well, so I was happy. When Shane beat Kelly yesterday I saw a window open for me, and a chance to do good. I know Beschen is a really good surfer and I respect him a lot, but I saw the chance and went after it. This is my second good result in a row, so I’m stoked.”

Tom Whitaker also reached the quarterfinals, eliminating fellow Australian Dean Morrison with two eight plus scores. The current ratings #33 made semifinals of the opening tournament this year, but has suffered poor results since and needed a strong finish at Mundaka to ensure his re-qualification for 2005. He’ll face another Aussie in Phil MacDonald tomorrow.

Billabong Pro Mundaka Round Three Heats
(1st>Rnd4; 2nd=17th receives US$4,225)
H10: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 14.33 def. Pat O'Connell (USA) 8.36
H11: Luke Egan (AUS) 13.83 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 10.94
H12: Kalani Robb (HAW) 15.5 def. Michael Lowe (AUS) 14.17
H13: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.17 def. Nathan Webster (AUS) 7.4
H14: Richard Lovett (AUS) 15.74 def. Lee Winkler (AUS) 15.67
H15: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.5 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 11.5
H16: Daniel Wills (AUS) 16.43 def. Victor Ribas (BRA) 11.5

Round Four
(1st>Quarterfinals; 2nd=9th receives US$5,000)
H1: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 16.67 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.5
H2: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 14.97 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 7.0
H3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.16 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 6.4
H4: Andy Irons (HAW) 17.34 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 14.16
H5: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 13.33 def. Shane Beschen (USA) 10.16
H7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.06 def. Richard Lovett (AUS) 13.56
H8: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.17 def. Daniel Wills (AUS) 13.5
H6: Luke Egan (AUS) 14.23 def. Kalani Robb (HAW) 9.23

The Billabong Pro Mundaka is supported by prestigious co-sponsors such as Vans, Von Zipper, Hertz, Yamaha and Cobra Jetski, as well as local companies and administrations such as Mundaka, the Mundaka Surf Club, The Basque Surfing Federation, Bakio and the Bakio Surf Club.

For more information: www.billabong.com

Kauai officials slam property tax ballot bill

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News

Kauai officials slam property tax ballot bill

By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com

LIHUE » Mayor Bryan Baptiste and each member of the Kauai County Council took turns yesterday bludgeoning the property tax reform measure on the Nov. 2 ballot.

A group calling itself Ohana Kauai got enough signatures on a petition to place the measure on the ballot, the first initiative in 20 years.

The ballot measure would amend the County Charter to freeze all owner-occupied residential property tax bills at 1999 levels plus 2 percent a year.

But the group acknowledges that the measure does nothing for renters, businesses or farmers and does not apply to future home buyers.

Proponents and opponents say the ballot measure either complements or competes with a proposal submitted by a blue-ribbon Property Tax Task Force to the Council, which is the reform the mayor and Council are backing.

The Task Force proposal would freeze the assessment -- but not the tax rates -- on every property on Kauai at the average between 1999 and 2003. Unlike the Ohana Kauai ballot measure, the taxable value would remain with the property if it is sold.

The task force proposal also offers incentives for owners of rental properties to find long-term tenants instead of using the home for vacation rentals.

Ohana Kauai says the major fault in the task force proposal is the failure to address tax rates, leaving that decision to the mayor and County Council.

Ohana Kauai spokesman Walter Lewis testified first and said both the Charter amendment and the task force proposals could be implemented. Council members said they believe the two cannot be reconciled.

Councilwoman and former Mayor JoAnn Yukimura, the Council's most vocal opponent of the Ohana initiative, tore into Lewis with so much criticism that Council Chairman Kaipo Asing had to remind her to ask questions rather than debate Lewis.

Lewis left the meeting immediately after his presentation.

No one from Ohana Kauai remained to rebut Baptiste and Deputy Finance Director Eric Knutzen, who teamed up to hammer the ballot proposition.

Baptiste said that because the ballot item is a Charter amendment, the county would be left without the flexibility to address sudden changes in the economy. The Charter could not be changed until the next election.

"The Ohana proposal will shift the tax burden to businesses, farmers and new homeowners," Baptiste said. "I do not believe the Ohana ballot measure will result in the equitable tax relief we are looking for."

The mayor was followed by Knutzen, who predicted county tax revenues would drop by at least $3 million in the first year. About half of the county's $102 million in general fund spending comes from property taxes.

Knutzen said that a drop in revenues could result in decreases in police and fire services and a long list of county programs.

Tax issue emerges in Kauai Senate race

Tax issue emerges in Kauai Senate race

Tax issue emerges in Kauai Senate race

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ The state Senate's leading Republican is taking on Kauai's incumbent Democratic senator over an old tax problem, injecting some drama into Senator Gary Hooser's race for re-election against former Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka.

Minority Leader Fred Hemmings says Hooser is advocating a state excise tax increase when he and a business partner allegedly failed to pay taxes on their own business for several years.

Kusaka, former two-term Kauai mayor, says she's staying away from the issue, but Hemmings has been speaking out against Hooser.

The Kauai Democrats says the issue goes back 20 years and he settled it with the state eight years ago, before he was elected to the Kauai County Council or the Senate.

Hemmings has accused Hooser of hypocrisy for supporting a one-cent or 25 percent increase in the state excise tax to fund education while failing for several years to file state taxes for his own business.

(Copyright 2004 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.) "

More than 21-thousand added to voter rolls

More than 21-thousand added to voter rolls
Posted: Tuesday, October 12th, 2004 5:29 AM HST
By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ More than 21-thousand names have been added to Hawaii's voter registration rolls since the Primary Election.

Elections Chief Dwayne Yoshina says 647-thousand-238 Hawaii citizens are registered to vote in the November 2nd general election. This is an increase of 21-thousand-118 over the number registered for the September 18th primary.

October 4th was the deadline to register for the general election.

Yoshina says the increase between the primary and general is the largest in recent elections.

The city-county of Honolulu had an increase of nearly 15-thousand, while the Big Island saw an increase of more than 26-hundred, Maui nearly 24-hundred and Kauai 11-hundred."

Developer Looks To Rebuild Coco Palms

Developer Looks To Rebuild Coco Palms
POSTED: 3:31 pm HST October 11, 2004
HONOLULU -- There is a new effort being made to rebuild the Coco Palms Resort on Kauai.
The hotel is owned by Wailua Associates. Wailua Associates has authorized South Carolina developer Richard Weiser to apply for permits for the purpose of rebuilding the hotel.
The Coco Palms Hotel became famous when Elvis Presley filmed parts of 'Blue Hawaii' in 1961. In the mid-1800s it was home to Kauai's last reigning queen, Deborah Kapule, wife of King Kamualii.
In 1992, the Coco Palms was badly damaged by Hurricane Iniki and was never reopened.
Another developer applied for a permit to rebuild the Coco Palms in 2001, but a group of Hawaiians on Kauai objected saying the Coco Palms property is a historical, sacred place that includes burial sites. The developer withdrew.
The Kauai Planning Department will hold a public hearing at the Lihue Civic Center Tuesday. The developer will make an application for a permit to reconstruct the property."

HSTA backs Democrats in Nov. 2 elections

Maui News

HSTA backs Democrats in Nov. 2 elections

HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Teachers Association is backing Democrats for the Nov. 2 general election in Maui County.

The union representing more than 13,000 public school teachers statewide is endorsing: U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, U.S. Rep. Ed Case, state Sens. Roz Baker (West, South Maui) and J. Kalani English (Upcountry, East Maui, Molokai, Lanai), and state Reps. Joseph Souki (Kahakuloa, Wailuku, Waikapu), Bob Nakasone (Kahului, Puunene, portions of Wailuku and Paia), Cort Gallup (South Maui), Kyle Yamashita (Upcountry) and Sol Kaho’ohalahala (East Maui, Molokai, Lanai).

Also, for Neighbor Island seats on the Board of Education, the union is supporting Herbert Watanabe (Big Island) and Maggie Cox (Kauai).

The HSTA reviews candidate track records, conducts interviews and receives questionnaires from those seeking public office.

Famed Hotel to be Rebuilt?

KESQ NewsChannel 3 Palm Springs, CA: Hearing tomorrow on proposal to rebuild famed hotel

Famed Hotel to be Rebuilt?

LIHUE The Kauai Planning Commission will hold a public hearing tomorrow on a request for a special management area permit that would allow the famed Coco Palms hotel to be rebuilt.

South Carolina developer Richard Weiser wants to spend 200 (m)million dollars to rebuild the hotel to look the way it did at the peak of its popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.

Some native Hawaiians are opposed to the rebuilding. Kauai architect Avery Yuen says the resort is built on property that historically has been the home of Kauai alii and in the mid-1800s was the home of Kauai's last reigning queen, Deborah Kapule, wife of King Kamualii.

The hotel was the location for much of Elvis Presley's 1961 movie 'Blue Hawaii.' Presley and his bride, Priscilla, honeymooned there after their 1967 wedding in Las Vegas.

The resort was heavily damaged by Hurricane Iniki on September 11th, 1992, and never reopened."

Heralded Aloha Pride cruise has a rough maiden voyage

Heralded Aloha Pride cruise has a rough maiden voyage

Heralded Aloha Pride cruise has a rough maiden voyage

By Steve Hendrix
The Washington Post
October 10, 2004

"Twenty minutes?" cried a red-faced man at the hostess of the Palace Main Restaurant. "You said that an hour ago!" He was nearly shouting, and she looked close to tears as she bit her lip and glanced from her hopeless seating chart to the crowd of impatient, arms-crossed diners surrounding her.

The carping of cruise passengers is nearly a force of nature. Cruisers tend to be more emotionally invested in their travels than other tourists, and a little good-natured kvetching is as standard to ship life as lifeboat drills and trashy novels. But on the inaugural and subsequent voyages of Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of Aloha, it hasn't been a little, and it hasn't been good-natured.

"I've heard more grumbling on this cruise than any one I've ever been on," said Don Derick, an alarm services dealer from Farmington, Conn., on the inaugural trip. He and his wife, Donna, have been taking yearly cruises since 1986, mostly on NCL ships.

"Some people are going way overboard with the complaining. But still, something's not right. There's a line for everything. They're running out of things like coffee and butter."

Maintenance, service issues

According to industry observers, the first two months of the newly refurbished Pride, which launched its seven-day inter-island Hawaiian service in July, has been one of the roughest cruise debuts in memory.

The long-awaited first U.S.-flagged and U.S.-staffed ocean-going cruise ship in nearly 50 years has been marked by reports of staterooms going uncleaned, hours-long waits for meals and overwhelmed workers deserting at every port.

"It was 10 hours before we could get our bathroom door open," said Jennifer Jopling of Plano, Texas, who with her husband, Doug, was on her third Hawaiian cruise, all with NCL. The Pride voyage, they said, cost three times what the previous one had.

"They kept telling us to use the public restrooms. We finally went down to reception and said we weren't leaving until someone came with us to open the door."

The final indignity for many passengers came at checkout, when those who hadn't read the fine print discovered the cruise line was charging them $10 a day per person -- $140 a trip for a couple -- as a mandatory service charge in lieu of some tipping (you were still expected to tip on bar orders and other transactions). Judging by the purple oratory echoing around the reception lobby, it was a touchy time to introduce a compulsory gratuity scheme.

Despite published reports that the charge was non-negotiable, NCL President and CEO Colin Veitch said in a phone interview that passengers who have brought complaints to the ship's attention and still feel they didn't get satisfaction may be able to get an adjustment in the 10 percent charge at checkout time.

"Agents on board the ship have that authority," Veitch said. And if you don't complain in advance? "We really want this to be an incentive for people to bring problems to our attention so we can address them," he said.

After weeks of seeming to downplay the problems -- and driving Internet cruise chatterers into a proper frenzy -- NCL went into emergency response mode. Letters of apology began appearing under cabin doors, and the company is offering former Pride passengers a 20 percent discount on a future NCL cruise. It has pledged to reimburse half of the mandatory service charge to those who have already sailed, and, for now, has suspended the policy for new cruisers.

"We've had teething problems," Veitch said. "But that's what they are. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with the product or the crew that we have."

He asserted that new training and hiring efforts are beginning to take hold.The root of the problem, he said, is the huge chore of building a crew from scratch. Unlike most start-ups, which draw fleetwide on experienced crew members from all over the world, the Pride of Aloha was obliged to hire green recruits from the United States alone. That was part of the deal when NCL won the right to loop between Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island and Maui week after week without ever touching an international port.

Hawaiian cruises tend to include such out-of-the-way stops as Ensenada, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada; and Fanning Island, a middle-of-nowhere atoll belonging to the Republic of Kiribati. That's because of a protectionist U.S. law known as the Jones Act, which prohibits any ship from running an all-U.S. itinerary unless it's American-flagged, American-built and American-staffed. That's usually too expensive to be profitable.

But NCL, having won some vital congressional wiggle room on the "American-built" part, is trying to make a go of it with American staffs on the 853-foot Pride of Aloha and two new ships scheduled to launch over the next two years.

Losing crew members

But in an industry where most employees come from Manila, Jakarta, Kingston and other low-wage labor pools -- workers willing to endure endless shifts and minuscule quarters -- building a crew from the likes of Honolulu, Los Angeles and New York has been tough. According to Veitch, the Pride has lost more than half its crew in the past three months, compared with an attrition rate closer to 20 percent a year in the rest of his fleet.

The ship leaves Honolulu every Sunday, making the short steam over to Kauai for two days, then on to the Big Island for separate overnight stops at Hilo and Kona, followed by two days on Maui before landing back in Honolulu the following Sunday. In all, the ship spends more than half of the trip tied up at one pier or another. It's all about going ashore.

NCL markets the shoreside events heavily -- passengers get a lush 130-page catalog of options, ranging from Kona coffee plantation tours to a rim walk around Maui's Haleakala crater to horseback trekking, ATV riding, snorkeling, diving, surfing, dolphin swimming, helicopter riding, sailing and shopping all over the four islands.

What's missing, on a ship that spends minimal amounts of time sailing, are such quintessential at-sea diversions as casinos, midnight buffets and nonstop bingo.

So, should you go? It depends. If waiting a half-day for your cabin to be ready would shatter your mood and a half-day of snorkeling in the Pacific wouldn't put it back together, then no. You may be better off waiting for this ship to mature or for its bigger, newer sister ships to arrive over the next two years.

Kauai median home price $535,000

Kauai median home price $535,000 - 2004-10-10 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Kauai median home price $535,000

Howard Dicus
The median price of a single-family home in Kauai County, which fell from $506,500 in July to $485,000 in August, rebounded to $535,000 in September. That's $110,000, or 26 percent, more than the median price one year earlier.

Hawaii Information Services reports the median price of a condo, which fell from $373,500 in July to $330,000 in August, surged to $415,000 in September. That's $128,500, or 46 percent, more than the median price one year earlier.

The median is the point at which half of all sales go for more and half go for less. It's a metric less easily skewed by a few very expensive or very low price sales than an average could be. But on Kauai the low volume of sales still makes prices more variable than in other markets. Only 46 existing homes sold on Kauai last month and 41 condos. These figures were lower than both month-before and year-before counts.

Of Kauai's five districts, the greatest number of sales, 14 homes and 19 condos, were in Hanalei, where the median prices were $657,500 for homes and $430,000 for condos. There were 13 homes sold in Kawaihau district for a median price of $455,000 and 11 homes were sold in Koloa district for a median price of $700,000.

Reach Howard Dicus at hdicus@bizjournals.com

Space age plan to tame might of hurricanes

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Space age plan to tame might of hurricanes

Space age plan to tame might of hurricanes

Microwave radiation and controlled oil slicks could change the path and sap the power of tropical storms

Robin McKie, science editor
Sunday October 10, 2004
The Observer

Scientists are developing techniques aimed at taming the power of the world's most devastating storms. The project, backed by funds from Nasa, would involve seeding clouds, coating seas with biodegradable 'slicks' and even beaming microwave radiation from orbiting power stations to slow or even halt hurricanes.
Controlling these great, rolling tempests - known as hurricanes in the Atlantic, typhoons in the western Pacific and cyclones in the eastern Pacific - is now considered an urgent priority. Last month Hurricane Ivan killed more than 70 people and destroyed thousands of homes, miles of roads, swaths of vegetation and scores of hotels as it swept over Grenada, Jamaica, Tobago, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and finally Cuba. Three similar recent storms caused the same kind of devastation, and meteorologists predict the next two decades will see increases in numbers and severity of hurricanes. Global warming is likely to worsen the problem.

'Nothing stands in the way of hurricanes,' says Ross Hoffman, in the current issue of Scientific American. 'But must these fearful forces be forever beyond our control?' The answer is 'no', he adds, for one day they could be controlled thanks to developments in computing, satellite technology and material sciences.

Backed by Nasa funds, his team of scientists at Atmospheric and Environmental Research, a research and development consulting firm, have created computer simulations of past hurricanes, including Hurricane Iniki which caused enormous damage to the Hawaiian island Kauai in 1992, and Hurricane Andrew, which devastated south Florida in the same year. To their surprise they found that by making only relatively small changes to temperatures and other meteorological variables they could induce major alterations in its path and behaviour. Slight tinkering sent Iniki on a route that missed Kauai, for example. 'The question is: how can such perturbations be achieved?' asks Hoffman.

The team has proposed several answers. One is to coat the ocean in front of a hurricane with a biodegradable oil which would slow the evaporation of water from the sea surface, depriving the developing storm of its sustenance. Another technique is to seed the eyes of hurricanes with silver iodide crystals, speeding formation of ice from water vapour. Spread by aircraft, these seed clouds could cause hurricanes to dissipate, although the group acknowledges that early tests have been only partially successful.

The ultimate technique would be the construction of a flotilla of orbiting power stations that would collect the Sun's rays and beam them to Earth as microwave radiation. These satellites are considered a promising, non-polluting energy source for the future, but could also be used to heat the sea and air around hurricanes, altering their paths and dissipating their energy.

Hale Kauai closing Kawaihau store

Kauai Garden Island News

Hale Kauai closing Kawaihau store

By Phil Hayworth - The Garden Island
Posted: Thursday, Oct 07, 2004 - 09:37:06 am HST

KAPAHI -- Hale Kauai Ltd., the oldest hardware and home construction supply company operating on Kaua‘i, is closing its Kawaihau Road store Friday, Oct. 15.

Citing a lack of continued residential growth in the area, and a location where few people are willing to shop off the beaten path of Kuhio Highway, the company is shutting its doors on their Kawaihau Road location, but keeping open their Koloa town store.

"Everyone knows that in retail, it's all about location, location, location," said Tom Rietow, Hale Kauai chief executive officer. "Well, this location is a tough place to be, especially in our business."

The Kawaihau property, which includes a large retail store and a lumber yard/storage area, is being sold to Aloha Lumber Company for an undisclosed sum. The deal is in escrow. Aloha has already poured some 1,000 yards of concrete in constructing a 20,000-square-foot dry-storage and loading/unloading site at the Kawaihau Road location.

The closure of the Kawaihau Hale Kauai store was a long time in coming. Business had dwindled during the four years the location was in operation, Rietow said, and the company found itself focusing on their retail operations.

Hale Kauai owners around a year ago sold the company's Nawiliwili building and lumber yard and brick-making operation, and Halfway Bridge concrete batch plant, to a partnership of Jas W. Glover Ltd. and Honsador.

"When we sold the heart and soul of the business -- the ready-mix and lumber businesses -- we became a true hardware store," Rietow said.

With their attention on retailing, Hale Kauai leaders more than ever had to rely on customers to come from far and near to purchase basic household supply items, instead of relying on a steady stream of residential buyers and builders looking for ready mix (concrete) and lumber.

"We had to rely on customers coming to us," Rietow said.

But being three miles up Kawaihau Road discouraged customer traffic, and customers more often chose one of Hale Kauai's competitors, such as Aloha Lumber in Kapa‘a, Honsador in Nawiliwili or Home Depot at Kukui Grove.

Rietow insists that the presence of super store Home Depot had little to do with the demise of their four-year-old location.

"Home Depot was not a big factor in this decision at all," Rietow said. "This year started to slow. Sure, Home Depot took part of the market share, but not enough. There just are not as many houses being built in this area."

In a final effort to drive customers to their out-of-the-way location on Kawaihau Road, Hale Kaua‘i joined forces with Senter Petroleum to build a gas station in front of the retail store, selling gas at a reduced cost.

But licensing and permitting snafus stalled the project, and Rietow thinks customers viewed the unfinished gas tanks as a potential safety problem. Finally, after four years and a long-suffering bottom line, company officials decided to sell.

"They decided on a change of direction for their company," Rietow said. "As things evolve, not everyone wants to be in this business."

At one time, there were 16 full-time workers at the Kawaihau location. Today, they're down to six, and all of them have been given other jobs within the company, or with similar businesses.

Meanwhile, Aloha Lumber, flush with a steady and loyal stream of residential and commercial customers, is basking in a boom time.

"Times are good," said Randy Boyer, Aloha Lumber president. "Residential business is really brisk, and the outlook is positive."

Started in 1980, Boyer's company now employs 28, and spreads out over four locations, including the new 20,000 square-foot storage site on Kawaihau Road.

Boyer isn't concerned about the location of the new site, mostly because there are no plans as of yet to open a retail operation there. For now, the company will focus on using the area as a site for dry storage and container loading and unloading. As for the gas station, Boyer said Aloha Lumber hopes to complete it by year-end.

A big part of Aloha's success is their drafting, planning and bonding department, Boyer said, where six full-time drafters sketch out plans and projects.

Aloha Lumber has developed the reputation of being a company that can get the job done, even with tight deadlines, Boyer said.

"Someone might call at 2 p.m. and want a delivery the next day in Waimea. We can handle that job effectively," Boyer said.

It's that kind of confidence, built on a solid reputation, that has Boyer unafraid of competition from the likes of Home Depot, and looking forward to more success here on Kaua‘i.

"Home Depot is great for the economy because they sell products that we choose not to sell," Boyer said.

Workers at Hale Kauai's Kawaihau location are selling everything at cost until they close their doors Oct. 15, a sale that has generated lots of traffic to the store this week.

Hale Kauai was founded in 1945, and is still owned by the same three long-time Kaua‘i families: Ellis, Wilcox and Moragne.

Phil Hayworth, business editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or phayworth@pulitzer.net.

Maui voted top island

Maui voted top island - 2004-10-08 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Maui voted top island

Maui was voted the 'Best Island in the World' by readers of Conde Nast Traveler for the 11th year in a row.

The island beat Bali, Vancouver island, Bermuda, Mykonos and Cyclades to take the top slot.
The award presentation was held Thursday night in New York City and Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, was present to accept the award. The awards' list will be in the November 2004 magazine.
'This never gets old,' Vencl said. 'Maui is magical for so many reasons.'
This is the 17th year the Readers' Choice Awards poll.
Maui scored 91.2 to get to the top of the Pac Rim islands subset, which included Kauai (ranked 2nd), Big Island (4), Lanai (6) and Oahu (7). "

Telephone company hearings hit the road

Telephone company hearings hit the road

Telephone company hearings hit the road - 2004-10-09 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has taken to the road -- to the skies, really -- to hold hearings around the state on the proposal of Verizon Communications to sell its former GTE operations in Hawaii to the Carlyle Group, a mainland investment group, for $1.65 billion.

The Garden Island, the Lihue newspaper, reported this week that more than 50 people showed up for the Kauai hearing, including union employees of Verizon's local operations who support the acquisition.

Pat Bustamente, president of Pacific LightNet, has made himself a part of the process by raising questions about the technical expertise of the prospective buyers, and by calling on them to put any rate promises in writing. Former Federal Communications Commission Chairman Bill Kennard, who is now managing director of the Carlyle Group, has said the venture intends to undertake significant technical upgrades without raising rates.

Pacific LightNet, like Time Warner Oceanic, is both a telecoms competitor of Verizon Hawaii and a customer, since it is a unique feature of the telecoms industry that competitors must cooperate to complete calls from one provider's phone to another's. Inept technical or billing operations by company X can adversely affect company Y. Bustamante asserts that Verizon Hawaii got a previous rate hike with promises of technical upgrades that have not been wholly forthcoming.

Verizon Communications took scores of jobs from Hawaii when it moved local billing and other "back office" functions to the mainland. First Hawaiian Bank Chairman Walter Dods, who is advising the Carlyle Group in its effort to acquire the phone company, says Carlyle intends to bring those functions back to Hawaii. This has been seen in some quarters as one of the best features of the proposed deal, but Bustamante questions whether Carlyle can rapidly assemble such an operation.

Shark attack victim writes of faith in God

CULTURE DIGEST: Shark attack victim writes of faith in God - (BP)

Shark attack victim writes of faith in God

Oct 6, 2004
By Erin Curry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Bethany Hamilton, the 14-year-old surfer who lost her left arm when she was attacked by a shark nearly a year ago, has written a book in which she credits her relationship with Christ for providing the strength necessary to recover.

Hamilton recently appeared on NBC's “Today Show” to discuss the book she coauthored with her pastor, titled "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board."

"To be honest, I never wanted to write a book," Hamilton said. But after encouragement from her family and friends, she decided it was the right thing to do in order to provide people with a larger picture of her faith and the people who have helped her get back into the water after the attack.

In the book's forward, Hamilton tells how she spent many hours pouring her heart out to Rick Bundschuh, her spiritual adviser and pastor at Kauai Christian Fellowship Church in Koloa, Hawaii.

"In the end, I'm really proud of what I've written here," Hamilton writes. "... I hope it helps people find faith in God and in their own strength and ability. I hope it motivates someone going through a tough time right now to keep on fighting until they rise above it."

Hamilton said she doesn't want people to pity her for losing an arm at such a young age. She wants them to see an example of how to cope when life doesn't go as planned. And she clearly states what her sources of strength have been.

"My strength came from my relationship with Christ and from the love and encouragement of my family and friends," she writes.

The teenager even has an answer for those who wonder why God would allow such a tragedy to happen to a young, vibrant surfer who showed so much promise as a professional competitor.

"I don't pretend to have all the answers to why bad things happen to good people," Hamilton writes. "But I do know that God knows all those answers, and sometimes He lets you know in this life, and sometimes He asks you to wait so that you can have a face-to-face talk about it.

"What I do know is that I want to use what happened to me as an opportunity to tell people that God is worthy of our trust, and to show them that you can go on and do wonderful things in spite of terrible events that happen," she adds.

Billabong Pro Mundaka: Armando Daltro eliminates Occy

Surfing News & Contests, Surf Reports & Forecasts

Billabong Pro Mundaka: Armando Daltro eliminates Occy

Dean Morrison : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Billabong Pro Mundaka

Association of Surfing Professionals
2004 World Championship Tour
October 5 – 16, 2004

Brazilian Armando Daltro Eliminates Occy

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Wednesday, October 6, 2004 (Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain) Brazilian Armando Daltro today created a major upset in the Billabong Pro at Mundaka, eliminating 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (AUS). Round one of the Foster’s men’s ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) was completed, as well as all 16 second round elimination heats.

Solid 5-6 ft (1.5-2m) waves were breaking this morning. As Guernika River began to drain out around midday, long lefthanders graced the Basque region’s mythical surf venue, though crumbling sections made conditions difficult to ride. Light rain continued to fall throughout the day, with onshore winds increasing this afternoon.

Daltro, who is currently rated 46th, won the low-scoring exchange with just an 11.17-total. Nonetheless, the natural footer was able to hold ‘Occy’ off any substantial rides toward the end of their clash, with the Australian only requiring a wave worth 5.68-points. Having won the 1999 event at as part of his successful world title campaign, the current ratings #8 is always considered a favorite at the epic lefthander. Currently rated #8, the loss signifies the 38-year-old’s second consecutive 33rd place finish.


Jake Paterson : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

“I’m so happy,” began Daltro. “It wasn’t a great heat and I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to show good surfing, but it’s a great win. I used my priority at the end to hold him off any high scoring waves, and this worked well. I’m sure my next heat will be really hard too, but I’ll try my best to beat the top seeded guys. I’ve got nothing to lose and just want to surf well. I haven’t competed many times at Mundaka, so I’m still learning how to ride it best.”

World #4 Joel Parkinson survived the closest of battles against Billabong wildcard Pete Mendia (FL, USA). Neither found any great waves or big scores, but ‘Parko’ managed to maintain a slender lead over his goofy foot opponent.

“I won on two four-point rides,” said a disbelieving Parkinson. “A win’s a win, but I was struggling. The waves looked good, but were really bumpy and fast, making it hard to find a place to do a turn. I’m glad I won, but it was tight. I was really nervous going up against him cause he’s a wildcard with nothing to lose. This wave really suits his surfing too, since it’s fast and powerful, but thankfully I got it.”


Taylor Knox : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

Fellow Australian top seeds Taj Burrow (West AUS) and Luke Egan (Gold Coast) also progressed, eliminating wildcard opponents Hodei Collazo (ESP) and Shaun Cansdell (AUS), respectively. Egan, in particular, put on a fantastic display with two eight plus scores in his tally, though never underestimated Cansdell’s ability in the lineup.

“Shaun’s been surfing unbelievably,” offered Egan, of his rival. “I knew I’d have to perform, as he’s been competing so well on the Junior series and World Qualifying Series (WQS). The conditions were pretty tricky, but I managed to read them well.”

Current ratings #7 Damien Hobgood (FL, USA) accounted for local Basque replacement surfer Eneko Acero in round two. The Floridian began with a strong 7.33 ride, but despite a low backup score, amassed enough points compared to his opponents’ tally. Acero was only granted a spot in the Billabong Pro this morning - following the late withdraw of Chris Davidson (AUS) due to personal matters - but was unable to survive either of the rounds he contested.


Beau Emerton : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

“I was trying to get amped up for the heat, but my mind’s kind of been all over the place,” admitted Hobgood. “I caught one decent wave at the beginning, and ended up making it with just another three. Eneko’s a great surfer, but it was a slow heat. I’m getting married right after this event, and the European leg is a tough part of the tour, so my mind’s been elsewhere. I’m just stoked to be able to surf here.”

Californians Taylor Knox and Shane Beschen secured big wins today, eliminating Luke Hitchings (AUS) and 2000 world champ Sunny Garcia (HAW), respectively. Knox produced a stellar performance with the highest combined total of the tournament so far on 18.03-points. The current ratings #17 executed a series of long floaters and a big closeout re-entry for his best 9.53 score.

“I had a lot of fun then,” said Knox. “I thought my best wave might have been a closeout, but at Mundaka you never know and just have to take a chance. My board feels really fast and made the floaters, and then I got a good section at the end to kind of go upside down on. Mundaka is such an amazing place. The church overlooking the beach, the wave itself… just a really cool village.”


Eneco Acero : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

WCT replacement Troy Brooks (AUS) eliminated Bruce Irons (Kauai, HAW) from the Billabong Pro. The Kauaian, who only days ago secured his best result of the season with a runner-up placing in France, failed to lock in any high scores and suffered his fifth 33rd placing of the year.

“Bruce surfed really well last contest and it’s always scary going out against a finalist from the week before,” acknowledged Brooks. “I just played my own game plan and the waves got a bit funky as well, but luckily I got some at the end of the heat.”

Raoni Monteiro (BRA) continued his great run of late, eliminating world #7 Kieren Perrow (AUS). The Brazilian reached the quarterfinals last week in France for his best result to date, and with a good surfboard and happy home life, the 22-year-old reasoned all the usual distractions are absent, allowing him to simply focus on his surfing.


Pat O'Connell : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

“This is a real good moment in my life,” said Monteiro. “I got ninth in California, fifth in France, and I’m still going here, past Kieren Perrow. It was a hard heat, but my first wave was good. I’ve got a good sponsor, a daughter, I got married, am on the WCT… feel relaxed and just want to put on a good show for everyone. I’m trying my best in every contest, really focused and surfing powerfully. My surfboard is great, so everything is perfect in my life now.”

Guilherme Herdy (BRA) was actually winning his heat against Nathan Webster (AUS) this afternoon, but stood up after the heat was over on a wave his opponent was still being scored for, and there incurred a penalty. Despite holding priority seconds earlier, as soon as the siren sounded, the Brazilian was no longer entitled to interfere. Subsequently, his final 7.17 ride was dropped from his two-wave tally, handing the match to Webster.

Australia’s Trent Munro (Scott’s Head) posted the day’s best single score for a near-perfect 9.6 ride to advance directly from round one to three.


Nathan Hedge : photo ASPWorldtour/Tostee

A minute’s silence was witnessed today between the first and second rounds, in honor of Australian photographer Kevin ‘Twiggy’ Sharland who passed away two days ago in France. A friend to all on tour, the father of two will be missed dearly.

Remaining Billabong Pro Mundaka Round One Heats
(1st>Rnd3; 2nd&3rd>Rnd2)
H11: Michael Lowe (AUS) 9.23; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 9.1; Nathan Webster (AUS) 8.73
H12: Trent Munro (AUS) 16.93; Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.87; Daniel Wills (AUS) 6.84
H13: Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.74; Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 9.56; Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 9.2
H14: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.67; Michael Campbell (AUS) 9.87; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 3.3
H15: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.8; Taylor Knox (USA) 12.16; Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.7
H16: Lee Winkler (AUS) 13.17; Troy Brooks (AUS) 9.47; Eneko Acero (ESP) 6.9
H5: Richard Lovett (AUS) 11.17; Beau Emerton (AUS) 10.0; Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.93

Round Two
(1st>Rnd3; 2nd=33rd receives US$3,400)
H1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 8.83 def. Peter Mendia (USA) 8.34
H2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.23 def. Hodei Collazo (ESP) 5.83
H3: Luke Egan (AUS) 16.67 def. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 10.67
H4: Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.66 def. Eneko Acero (ESP) 9.5
H5: Jake Paterson (AUS) 10.77 def. Eric Rebiere (FRA) 8.8
H6: Armando Daltro (BRA) 11.17 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 10.17
H7: Daniel Wills (AUS) 13.27 def. Beau Emerton (AUS) 9.73
H8: Shane Beschen (USA) 13.5 def. Sunny Garcia (HAW) 6.33
H9: Taylor Knox (USA) 18.03 def. Luke Hitchings (AUS) 13.17
H10: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 13. 27 def. Toby Martin (AUS) 9.83
H11: Paulo Moura (BRA) 14.67 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 10.7
H12: Nathan Webster (AUS) 13.5 def. Guilherme Herdy (BRA) 7.67
H13: Pat O’Connell (USA) 14.17 def. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 14.17 (wins on best wave - 8.5)
H14: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.67 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.5
H15: Troy Brooks (AUS) 12.77 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 8.0
H16: Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) 10.73 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 10.0

The Billabong Pro Mundaka is supported by prestigious co-sponsors such as Vans, Von Zipper, Hertz, Yamaha and Cobra Jetski, as well as local companies and administrations such as Mundaka, the Mundaka Surf Club, The Basque Surfing Federation, Bakio and the Bakio Surf Club.

Prospective buyers plan to turn Verizon into Hawaiian Telcom

Prospective buyers plan to turn Verizon into Hawaiian Telcom - 2004-10-04 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Prospective buyers plan to turn Verizon into Hawaiian Telcom

Verizon Hawaii will be renamed Hawaiian Telcom if global investment firm The Carlyle Group's deal to buy the phone company gets final approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.

The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal in August and the state PUC is expected to rule by the first quarter of 2005. Carlyle first announced an agreement to buy Verizon Hawaii in May.

"The name and logo reflect The Carlyle Group's commitment to create a local, stand-alone company by returning key functional areas back to the islands," Carlyle Managing Director William Kennard said in a statement.

The name Hawaiian Telcom resulted from input by consumers and businesses gathered by the Honolulu market research firm The OmniTrak Group.

Carlyle also has set up a Web site relating to questions about the sale of Verizon Hawaii at www.askcarlyle.com.

Kennard is in Hawaii for PUC hearings scheduled on the following days and times.

Oahu: Tuesday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m., State Capitol Auditorium, basement level, 415 S. Beretania St.
Kauai: Thursday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m., Lihue Neighborhood Center (old building), 3353 Eono St.
Maui: Tuesday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m., Maui Waena Intermediate Cafeteria, 795 Onehee Ave., Kahului
Molokai: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m., Mitchell Pauole Center, conference room, Kaunakakai
Lanai: Thursday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Lanai High & Elementary School cafeteria, Fraser Avenue
Hawaii-Hilo: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 6 p.m., Hilo Intermediate School cafeteria, 587 Waianuenue Ave., Hilo
Hawaii-Kona: Wednesday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m., Kealakehe Intermediate School cafeteria, 74-5062 Onipaa St., Kailua-Kona

Island Air begins Kauai service

Island Air begins Kauai service - 2004-10-05 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Island Air begins Kauai service

Island Air began serving Kauai with two routes Monday. It now flies to Lihue from both Honolulu and Kahului.

The interisland commuter will fly two times a day between Lihue and Kahului and between Lihue and Honolulu.
The airline, spun off from Aloha Airgroup this summer, has built its fleet up to nine aircraft. With the additions, the airline has expanded its routes and added more flights on high-volume routes.
Island Air will offer an evening flight from and to Lihue to help business travelers, said president Neil Takekawa.
'Our goal is to offer routes that provide both visitors and residents the air transportation they need,' he said.
The carrier offers 82 daily interisland flights on its de Havilland Dash-8 aircraft."

Condo tax correction wrong, some say

Maui News

Condo tax correction wrong, some say

By ILIMA LOOMIS Staff Writer
WAILUKU – A survey sent last year to condo owners requiring them to verify their property tax classifications resulted in “corrections” that brought an estimated $1.4 million in new revenue to the county.

But some condo owners are upset that their tax classifications were “corrected” involuntarily. When they didn’t respond to the survey, their condo units were automatically reclassified to “hotel/resort,” which is charged the county’s highest tax rate.

Many are now appealing to the Real Property Tax Review Board to undo the change.

The board received a total of 309 property tax appeals this year, compared with 243 last year. While finance officials aren’t sure how many cases are directly tied to the condo surveys, they do feel the reclassifications that resulted from the survey had an impact.

Fifty-seven of the appeals were to dispute property tax classification this year, compared with 26 last year. Twenty-seven owners appealed because they were denied owner-occupant status and the related tax exemption, compared with two last year.

“There’s definitely been more appeals because people didn’t fill out the form or filled it out incorrectly,” said Bruce Erfer, vice chairman of the review board.

Real Property Tax Administrator Lance Okumura said the increase should be taken in context of the total number of people involved in the surveys.

“Out of 19,700 or so, that many appeals doesn’t seem very (significant),” he said.

But for condo owners caught in the middle, the reclassification and appeals process has been a source of frustration.

“I think they’re just taking advantage of people, which, for lack of a better word, sucks,” said Christopher Mathews, whose condo was automatically reclassified.

Mathews lives in Boston and bought a Kaanapali condo in January, after the surveys had been sent out. The condo’s previous owners never filled out the questionnaire, so Mathews was stuck with the higher tax rate.

His appeal to the Real Property Tax Review Board was turned down in August.

“We thought it was a slam-dunk, and then we got a letter in the mail from the Finance Department saying, ’Sustain at hotel/resort,’ “ he said.

Mathews estimated the higher tax rate would cost him about $1,200 in additional taxes.

The county sent a letter to about 19,700 condo owners in November 2003, asking them to declare how they were using their apartments.

The idea behind the mailing was to update county real property tax rolls. It was widely believed that some condos classified as long-term residential units, which pay a lower tax rate, were actually being used as short-term vacation rentals.

Condo owners were on an honor system in filling out the questionnaire, and well over half the recipients returned the survey, many voluntarily upgrading their classifications to the hotel rate. But those who did not respond were automatically reclassified to hotel/resort.

Okumura did not know how many were upgraded voluntarily and how many were reclassified because the owners failed to respond.

Before the survey, county tax rolls listed 939 hotel properties; that number increased to 2,606 units after the survey.

Erfer said it was common for new property owners to be stuck with the property tax classifications set by the old owners, and that the issue has come up regularly even before this year.

In some cases, the new owners want a lower tax category than the old owners were using; in other cases, the new owners want a homeowner’s tax exemption, and the old owners didn’t qualify. Of course, it can also work the other way around, where the new owners get a better deal on their taxes because of a property’s old classifications.

This year, there have also been several cases like Mathews’, where new condo owners were automatically reclassified because the old owners didn’t fill out the survey.

“It’s almost like it’s no one’s fault, but it’s just the way it is,” Erfer said.

Whether it’s a new owner or an old one, anyone appealing to the Real Property Tax Review Board needs to present hard evidence to prove his or her claims, Erfer said.

“When the evidence is presented to us that there was a mistake, we’re able to act on it and change the classification,” he said. “When there’s no hard evidence presented, we normally don’t make changes.”

In short, the owner’s word alone is not enough. Successful appeals have included utility bills, letters, leases or other documentation that proves the property is used as a long-term rental or a personal residence, not a vacation rental.

In cases where people claimed they did not receive the condo survey or a second warning letter sent out by the county, the board did accept some appeals when it was shown the intended recipient of the survey had changed addresses.

“But had their address been the same and the county was sending it to that address – no,” Erfer said.

People who are turned down by the review board can take their appeal further, to the Tax Appeal Court.

Or they can simply wait for the start of the next tax cycle to change their classification by filling out a simple form, no evidence or justification necessary.

Erfer said he could understand the frustration of condo owners automatically reclassified in the survey, but that he still felt the county did the right thing. At bottom, he felt it was the responsibility of the condo owners to respond to the survey – and they were warned their homes would be reclassified if they did not.

“A lot of the appeals we get are from people who have not filled out forms properly . . People don’t do what they have to do to get the privilege of paying lower taxes,” he said. “This is kind of one of those instances.”

The goal of the condo survey was a good one, and the effort should probably be repeated every few years to keep tax rolls up to date, he added.

“The county has to do this somehow, and this is a way of doing it, and I think it’s a reasonable way,” he said.

But Mathews did not think the system was fair, calling the reclassification an “absentee owner tax” that penalized condo owners who live off island. Taxing condos as hotels makes no sense in an area where zoning prohibits vacation rentals, he added.

“It’s zoned residential, so what they’re doing is violating their own rules,” he said.

And Mathews was especially disappointed that the property tax board didn’t give him a reason when it rejected his appeal.

“This is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth about Maui, and I’ve been coming there for 12 years,” he said. “Once we became homeowners and all this happened I was totally disillusioned.”

Vacation-rentals targeted

Kauai Garden Island News

Vacation-rentals targeted

By Tom Finnegan - The Garden Island
Posted: Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004 - 03:51:22 am HST

LIHU‘E — County Planning Department officials are looking for the public's help as they update the county Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance over the next year, Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste announced yesterday.

The CZO, Chapter 8 in the Kaua‘i County Code, contains all the regulations on land use and property development on the island. It is one of the most utilized chapters of the code.

Baptiste said vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfast operations will be "the starting point," a focus of the plan.

"I can't tell you what will come out" of the process, said Baptiste at his weekly media chat. "Other areas, I'm sure, will open. (We hope to) come up with something comprehensive."

"The project has just begun, and should be completed by summer of 2005," said Planning Director Ian Costa. "The project is expected to culminate with a recommended CZO ordinance for County Council adoption that puts a new ‘face' on Chapter 8 of the Kaua‘i County Code."

The public will be invited to provide input at public meetings in front of the Planning Commission and the County Council, said Costa. Meetings should be scheduled in about a month, he added.

The first step, Costa said, was utilizing $90,000 in funds to hire a Honolulu planning firm, Helber, Haster, and Fee, to help the planning staff with the review.

Their focus (and 20 percent of the funding) will start at gathering data on the amount of vacation-rental units, how long they have been in service, and how many are registered for hotel-room-tax purposes, said Costa.

Planning-firm officials (using the rest of the money) will then begin by looking at changes recommended by a consultant hired in the mid-1990s, as well as in the 2000 Kaua‘i General Plan that have yet to be adopted, Baptiste said.

They will then make recommendations before the County Council and the Planning Commission, and solicit public comments.

Asked why it has taken so long for changes, first suggested almost 10 years ago, to be implemented, Baptiste said, "People have been bringing this to our attention. It's not just something that happens overnight."

Costa added that, in 2000, the County Council spent six months discussing changing the code regarding vacation rentals. No bills were ever passed.

"It's a testament to how difficult (the process) is," said Costa.

"The problem is how to approach this legally and ethically," said the mayor, by avoiding "unintended consequences" such as hurting those long-time residents who have turned to vacation rentals to pay their taxes.

The community is polarized, Baptiste said, between those who believe what they do with their own property should not be regulated strongly by government, and those who believe that vacation rentals are destroying communities.

"All (CZO) issues come down to growth issues. It's about keeping rural lifestyles and characteristics with a growing population," Baptiste said.

"If you build your house and not live in it, is that not your right?" Baptiste asked. "The vacation rental (owners) are people who live here six months out of the year. It'll be interesting what comes out of it," the mayor added. "It's probably taken so long to come to the forefront. There are no quick solutions."

The whole issue, it seems, really boils down to a few words in the CZO. The CZO currently states that transient vacation rentals are allowed only in Visitor Destination Areas, such as Poipu, Lihu‘e, Wailua-Kapa‘a and Princeville.

But, according to Costa, in 2000, a deputy county attorney decided in testimony before the County Council decided that the restrictions of vacation rentals did not apply to single-family residential homes.

In a copy of the CZO on the Kauai Board of Realtors Web site, "transient vacation rentals" are defined as "rentals in a multi-unit building."

But changing those words to include single-family residential houses would "regulate owners on how they can rent their homes," said Baptiste, and he wasn't sure if that was constitutional.

"It's a very complex issue that touches on many different" areas, he added.

Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.

Surfing News & Contests, Surf Reports & Forecasts

Surfing News & Contests, Surf Reports & Forecasts

Billabong Pro Mundaka contest window opens tomorrow
Association of Surfing Professionals
2004 World Championship Tour
October 5 – 16, 2004

Billabong Pro competition window opens tomorrow

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Monday, October 4, 2004 (Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain) The Billabong Pro at Mundaka enters its waiting period tomorrow (October 5-16), with good waves predicted from the outset. Round one of the Foster’s men’s ASP World Championship Tournament (WCT) is expected to begin around midday (local time), conditions pending.

A traditional Basque welcoming ceremony will officially start the event tomorrow morning at 9am, with the opening non-elimination round scheduled to follow.

Alongside the world's top 45 surfers, three up-and-coming competitors have also been invited to compete in the Billabong Pro Mundaka: Peter Mendia (USA), Shaun Cansdell (AUS) and local Hodei Collazo (Basque Country).

Reigning two-time world champion Andy Irons (Kauai, HAW) – who yesterday extending his ratings lead by winning the WCT in France - has enjoyed both career highs and lows at the Mundaka event. In 2002 he won the WCT tournament only to return a year later and suffer a first round elimination, the worst result of his professional career. He will again face a wildcard in round one, this year in the form of goofy footer Peter Mendia (FL, USA).

“I’m going to try and keep a level head after this win, and just knuckle down and take it heat by heat. I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” said Irons after his win yesterday.

“All the wildcards are a threat,” he continued. “They’ve got nothing to lose and all to gain. I’ll be studying the lineup and keeping an open mind. Kelly is always going to be a contender in this contest. I’ll be watching his heats for sure, but also a lot of other guys, like Parko, who’s also coming off a couple of wins this year.”

The Billabong Pro is the 9th WCT event of the 2004 ASP world tour. Finishing a run of four back-to-back tournaments, a strong result in Mundaka is crucial to the world’s top 45 surfers heading into the remaining two events.

Defending event champion Kelly Slater's (USA) masterful win in 2003 saw the former six times world champion close the rating gap on Irons and challenge for the 2004 world title right down to the final heat at Pipeline.

Mark Occhilupo's (AUS) victory in Mundaka's perfect left barrels in the inaugural 1999 tournament played a major role in his claiming the ASP world tile that year.

“’99 was a special year for me and Mundaka was part of it, a highlight for sure,” said Occy. “We had great waves. Mundaka changes a lot. Goofy footers have an advantage, but Andy, Kelly and guys like Bruce too, the way they ride the barrel on their backhand has taken away the advantage.”

Mundaka, renowned for producing long tube rides, is a mythical left-hander situated in the Basque region of Spain. The famed venue is dramatically affected by swell, tide and wind conditions, and the river mouth sand break tests a surfer’s wave selection, fitness and mental strength.

Billabong will set up an alternate site on the nearby beach break of Bakio to allow the competition to advance through the seven (7) rounds. The decision to surf either at Mundaka or Bakio will be taken on a daily basis by the contest director, after assessing the conditions in both sites with the surfers and ASP officials.

In addition to the contest, the Billabong Pro Mundaka will host a unique acoustic live concert of Donavon Frankenreiter. The Californian surfer/musician (who plays with Jack Johnson) will play on October 8th in Mundaka. More info www.donavonf.com

Billabong also expects the presence of big-wave legend Mike Parsons who holds one of the world's records for the biggest wave ever surfed (66ft at Cortes Bank, California). He will come to present the new lifejacket specifically designed by Billabong for big-wave surfing.

Billabong’s live webcast technology has improved with every event. This year’s production will resemble a virtual TV show, with action replay’s, 3 camera angles, webcams in the judging and surfers’ areas, live interviews, commercials, and previews of sick Billabong movies! On top of all this, you’ll not only be able to email the commentary team, you’ll be able to speak to them live through skype.com!

The live webcast of the Billabong Pro Tahiti and J-bay this year made surfing history and Mundaka is next in line! Check it out on www.billabongpro.com

The Billabong Pro Mundaka is supported by prestigious co-sponsors such as Vans, Von Zipper, Hertz, Yamaha and Cobra Jet ski, as well as local companies and administrations such as Mundaka, the Mundaka Surf Club, The Basque Surfing Federation, Bakio and the Bakio Surf Club, BBK, Telefonica and the Basque Government.

Last body recovered from helicopter crash; victims identified

ONN. Ohio News Now: Last body recovered from helicopter crash; victims identified

Last body recovered from helicopter crash; victims identified

LIHUE, Hawaii -- Rescue workers removed the last of five bodies Friday from the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed on a steep mountain slope on Sept. 24.

Authorities also released the identities of the victims, two of whom were from Ohio, while removing most of the wreckage from the site in central Kauai.

The first four bodies were recovered earlier this week, but rescue workers had been unable to retrieve the fifth victim, who was pinned beneath the wreckage.

The last body, which an official said was that of Thomas Huemmer, 36, of Avon, Ohio, was brought down from the mountain Friday on the second of two trips to retrieve the wreckage

Authorities identified the other victims as pilot Shankar Tummala, 39, of Kauai; Willy Braun, 59, and Heike Braun, 38, of Germany, and Tamara Zytkowski, 30, of Avon, Ohio.

The helicopter, owned by Bali Hai Helicopter Tours, crashed into the side of the mountain, leaving wreckage about 2,700 feet up.

Nicole Charnon, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said no cause had been determined for the crash.

"We have a decent amount of wreckage here," she said. "We've got things to look at."

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Hawaii hotel occupancy 77.7%

Hawaii hotel occupancy 77.7% - 2004-10-01 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

Hawaii hotel occupancy 77.7%
Howard Dicus
The slow season is turning out not to be all that slow for Hawaii tourism this year. Hospitality Advisors LLC, in its latest weekly report on hotel occupancy, says hotels across the state were 77.7 percent full through Sept. 25, 10.8 points better than the same time last year despite 2.3 percent higher room rates.

Not every island is getting this shot in the arm: Oahu hotels were as full last week as they are at the height of the summer, and Maui occupancy was far above year-before levels. Big Island occupancy was flat but with higher room rates. Kauai hotels also charged more and were less full than last year.

Around the islands:
Oahu: 81.6 percent, up 17.6 points, with room rates up 2.4 percent to an average of more than $123 a night.
Maui: 78.7 percent, up 10.7 points, with room rates up 3.9 percent from last year to an average of nearly $165 a night.
Kauai: 73.9 percent, down 7.7 points, but with room rates up 3.8 percent from last year to more than $172 a night.
Big Island: 64.3 percent, essentially flat (actually down three-tenths of one point) with average room rates up 2.7 percent to nearly $130 a night.
For the same period, Smith Travel Research LLC reported national hotel occupancy of 67.3 percent, 6.2 points better than last year with room rates up 4.6 percent.

Comparison locales:

Los Angeles: 73.2 percent, up 1.7 points from the last year, with room rates up 7.1 percent to an average of $96.
Orlando: 65.5 percent, up 27.4 points from the last year, with room rates up 11.3 percent to an average of $85.
San Diego: 70.8 percent, up 8.4 points from the last year, with room rates up 4.4 percent to an average of nearly $110.
Reach Howard Dicus at hdicus@bizjournals.com