• KPAA presents community indicators • Kaua‘i Museum hosts July ‘Ohana Day • Aqua Engineers and Army partnership saves water • KIUC announces savings • Hawaii Healing Garden fest to feature lei contest • Free antique repair estimates • Kalaheo
• KPAA presents community indicators
• Kaua‘i Museum hosts July ‘Ohana Day
• Aqua Engineers and Army partnership saves water
• KIUC announces savings
• Hawaii Healing Garden fest to feature lei contest
• Free antique repair estimates
• Kalaheo resident earns master’s in journalism
KPAA presents community indicators
Kaua‘i Planning & Action Alliance President and CEO Diane Zachary presented the results of a two-year-long community indicators project at its annual membership June 26, according to an alliance press release.
“Measuring What Matters for Kaua‘i n Community Indicators Report 2006” provides findings for indicators in seven areas of importance to Kaua‘i’s future:
• Economic and business climate
• Public education
• Neighborhood and community health and well-being
• Civic engagement
• Natural environment
• Land use and rural character
• Cultures and arts
The alliance formed a committee, which established 55 indicators designed to reflect the island’s quality of life, sustainability and resiliency. They are tracked and reported to the community every two years to provide a snapshot of how a community is doing and its progress in implementing a community vision. Kaua‘i’s indicators reflect the 200 General Plan, and the report should provide useful information to decision makers, states the release.
“This project is a first of its kind for Kaua‘i and represents the culmination of two years of work,” Zachary said in the release. “The findings show a variety of trends, some encouraging and others that should be of concern to decision makers and residents.”
The alliance has identified 28 opportunities for action using the indicators. To view the full report, visit the publications section of the alliance’s Web site, www.kauainetwork.org, or e-mail kpaa@kauainetwork.org. KPAA is a nonprofit membership organization that serves as a neutral facilitator, providing a forum for the community to develop and implement effective solutions to issues that matter to Kaua‘i.
Kaua‘i Museum hosts July ‘Ohana Day
The Kaua‘i Museum will attempt to answer what Lihu‘e means and why Nawiliwili is named twice at its ‘Ohana Day July 7. The free event will feature a lecture and admission to all the museum’s exhibits. Kenneth Stokes, executive director of the Kauaian Institute, will discuss “Place Names of Kaua‘i” from 10:30 a.m. to
11:30 a.m. .Stokes, the author of “Tending the Garden Island” and the forthcoming “Kauai Towns,” has researched creating sustainable development indicators, assessing ecotourism prospects in Hawai‘i, forecasting local real estate market activity, designing a community development indicators project, mapping town demographics, and assessing the market size for recreation, according to a museum press release about the event. For more information, call the museum at 245-6931, ext. 26.
Aqua Engineers and Army partnership saves water
A partnership between the Army and Aqua Engineers has saved more than a billion gallons of water a year, states a press release. Aqua Engineers operates and maintains 30 wastewater systems and more than 100 pumping stations and eight water stations throughout Hawai‘i. It was founded in 1981 to meet a need for trained operators for privately owned wastewater treatment plants on Kaua‘i. At a ceremony held in Honolulu, Aqua Engineers and U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai‘i, were given a Global Ecomagination Leadership Award. According to the release, the honor was bestowed for an innovative partnership that will make more than 1 billion gallons of potable water available for beneficial nonpotable uses, including irrigating land at the barracks. The award, handed out by GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Co., is given to organizations that demonstrate significant environmental and operational improvements, particularly in the areas of energy and water reductions, states the release.
KIUC announces savings
Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative announced savings from the initial verification period of the AdaptiVolt automated Conservation Voltage Regulation systems at the Lihu‘e and Kapa‘a substations, according to a KIUC press release. AdaptiVolt technology works by controlling voltage distributed on all feeders leaving the substation, resulting in more efficient delivery of electricity to the end-user. Savings could reach 6 million kilowatt hours annually, with a reduction in demand of 5 percent, CEO Randy Hee said in the release.
Hawaii Healing Garden fest to feature lei contest
The Hawaii Healing Garden festival will feature a lei contest for Kaua‘i residents and visitors, with a top prize of $100. There will be four categories: edible, medicinal, aromatherapy and recycled materials. All lei will be sold at a silent auction on July 14 at the Performing Arts Center at Kaua‘i Community College as a fund-raiser for the 2007 health and wellness scholarship fund. As for contest rules, edible lei must be 100 percent edible, with extra points for organic entries. The medicinal lei must be made from plants with known medicinal or health benefits. Aromatherapy lei will be judged on the fragrant and aromatic quality of the entry, while the recycled material lei must be made of found or recycled objects.
Lei must be received at the community college by 10 a.m. and will be on display until 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.KauaiHealthGuide.com/events.
Free antique repair estimates
Mark Nilsson, antique restoration specialist, is offering free repair estimates on broken or damaged antiques and collectibles from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today and tomorrow at Bambulei’s 10-year anniversary sale. Bambulei, a store with unique antiques and clothing, is located in Kapa‘a at 4-369D Kuhio Highway. For sale information, call 823-8641.
Kalaheo resident earns master’s in journalism
Longtime Kalaheo resident and former Poipu Beach Resort Association Executive Director Margy Parker recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a master’s degree in communications. Parker left the association in August of 2005 after 23 years to pursue graduate studies at the university’s School of Journalism and Communication. Parker completed her course work and graduated June 16. Awarded a graduate teaching fellow scholarship, Parker studied theory, research and planning in the public relations and strategic communications fields, with an emphasis on cultural identity in the media. Parker continues to work with the resort association on public relations projects.
