• ‘Floriculture’ • Smart meter deferral • TVR proposals • Toxic environments • Eric Tanouye • Marcia Favaloro • Chris Worley • Jose Bulatao Jr. ‘Floriculture’ I couldn’t have felt more proud of what Hawai‘i had accomplished at the recent
• ‘Floriculture’ • Smart meter deferral • TVR proposals • Toxic environments • Eric Tanouye • Marcia Favaloro • Chris Worley • Jose Bulatao Jr.
‘Floriculture’
I couldn’t have felt more proud of what Hawai‘i had accomplished at the recent Philadelphia International Flower Show.
The theme, “Hawai‘i, Islands of Aloha” was reflected in the beauty of Hawai‘i’s amazing array of flowers. And the response from the people who attended was extremely gratifying, knowing that so much effort went into presenting this show
Needless to say, our floriculture industry got very excited when they heard the news that Hawai‘i would be the central theme of this prestigious flower show.
We were thrilled with the prospect of sharing our beautiful flowers and aloha way of life.
We reached out to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and all the counties of Hawai’i.
We were greeted with helping hands and spirit of cooperation.
On behalf of Hawai‘i’s floriculture industry, I would like to say mahalo nui loa to all who gave their time and resources to make this show a tremendous success.
“Live aloha” was the message our flowers conveyed.
Eric Tanouye President
Hawai‘i Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hilo
Smart meter deferral
Did anyone else read the latest email alert from KIUC?
In small print at the bottom of the alert was this paragraph: “Members who would like to be placed on the deferred installation list may contact KIUC at 246-4300 to request a deferred installation request form. This deferral program does not reflect a final determination by KIUC regarding advanced meter installations and KIUC may decide to obtain cost recovery for the costs and impacts caused from those members who decide not to receive an advanced meter.”
KIUC is saying that they may sue those who decide on deferred installations??
Cost Recovery? You have got to be kidding. Whose co-op is this?
I was kinda iffy about the whole smart meter issue until I read that KIUC would even consider threatening cost recovery from those exercising their rights. Sign me, disgusted with KIUC in Kapa‘a.
Marcia Favaloro, Kapa‘a
TVR proposals
New bills at the state capital will “stick it” to off-island vacation rental (TVR) owners.
HB 2078’s stated goals are to: find TVR tax cheats, find those TVRs in illegal zones, and assure guests have a local contact.
Everybody, even Mainland TVR owners, agree these goals are all good.
But there is an unstated goals inserted between the lines: Revive the Property Manager (PM) industry.
Owners are currently permitted to manage their own TVRs. Unlicensed caretakers are also permitted, but may only work one property (makes sense for KipuKai, but not my little 800 square foot condo).
The “between the lines” twist: The proposed bill changes the current requirement so the “local contact” requirement will now fall under the caretaker definition for Mainland TVR owners (which makes no sense), so a PM would be our only legal recourse.
We can’t afford a 50 percent cut in our revenue to revive the PM industry.
This will put many of us out of business and some into bankruptcy. This will drive unemployment higher for those currently being paid by Mainland owners.
If you have dealt with Mainland TVR owners, please let your state representatives know your thoughts on losing our business.
Chris Worley, Salt Lake City, Utah
Toxic environments
The Department of Health response to the community of Kilauea regarding the presence of toxic contaminants in its town is encouraging.
With so many sugar plantation towns all over the state of Hawai‘i, is this the precedent for all of those sugar plantation towns with exactly the same predicament to anticipate — that each will get the same attention and effort to rectify the situation and to remediate the toxic environment which persists in the soil and water?
With Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. chiming in on how important it is to address the health and well-being concerns of our residents and visitors to our island, those of us who live in what were formerly sugar plantation towns like Kilauea can now look forward to fair and equal treatment.
Mahalo DOH. Mahalo, Gary Gill. Mahalo Mayor Carvalho.
Mahalo to all those responsible and responsive about environmental safety here in Hawai‘i!
We here in Kekaha, are watching and waiting to see how soon action beyond words will take place in Kilauea and in Kekaha, as well.
Other former sugar plantation towns will be just as eager, I am sure, to have contamination concerns properly addressed.
This step in the right direction will be carefully observed and monitored.
The students at Kekaha School who took the time to study and familiarize themselves with this subject will be focusing on the benchmarks and timetables of this noteworthy endeavor: to de-toxify our environment.
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
