A “Vog Vlog” for Hawaii County

Downtown’s “biggest strolling party” draws a crowd
November 7, 2008 - Hilo, Hawaii

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A family oriented night of strolling took place in Downtown Hilo, as the Black and White Night festival welcomed hundreds of visitors.

The shops around Hilo’s popular bayfront were busy with activity late into the evening hours. People were encouraged to dress entirely in black and white, and even to wear costumes.

Jazz and swing bands filled the air with music, and vendors offered food to guests.

The event is designed to bring increased interest in Downtown Hilo, and support for the small businesses that make up the heart of the community. Black and White Night is produced by Alice Moon and Company in partnership with the Big Island Conservation & Development Council. It is sponsored in part by P.O.S.H. (People Out Supporting Hilo) as well as Councilman Stacy Higa and the County of Hawaii Research and Development.

Two movies on different ends of Hollywood spectrum
11.7.2008 - Hilo, Hawaii

Two locally significant films will be premiered in Hilo this weekend, each representing both sides of the Hollywood spectrum.

Ryan and Sean’s Not So Excellent adventure will be screened this Sunday at the Prince Kuhio Theaters. The movie is based on the real life comic hijinks of Hilo teenagers Ryan Higa and Sean Fujiyoshi, who’s self-made YouTube videos have exploded in popularity and have been viewed by millions. The film, directed by Richard Van Vleet, stars the real life Ryan and Sean, and imitates reality with its plot… about a Hollywood producer who tries to cash in on the pair’s internet phenomenon by making them into movie stars.

As the two Hilo youths’ whirlwind introduction to Hollywood (real and fictitious) launches this weekend, another famous Hawaii actor is opting for a different life, out of the bright Hollywood lights. Jason Scott Lee is the subject of Rick Bacigalupi’s documentary film in progress, Toward Living Pono, which will be screened tonight at the Palace Theatre. The film focuses on Lee’s journey from movie stardom to living sustainably on his off-the-grid taro farm.

Toward Living Pono will be seen along with other “Big Island Innovators of Sustainability” shorts, part of this weekend’s `E Malama `Aina Sustainability Festival at Hilo’s Mo`oheau Park.

For more info visit livingpono.com, and ryanandseansmovie.com.

People vote to make pot lowest police priority
November 5, 2008 - Hawaii County

A measure to make marijuana the lowest enforcement priority for the Hawaii County Police Department has won the vote of the public. In yesterday’s 2008 general election, over 53 percent of the votes cast were in favor of the Peaceful Sky initiative, which was placed on the November ballot by a Hawaii County Council vote in August.

According to language in the ordinance introduced by council, the purpose of the article is to “provide law enforcement more time and resources to focus on more series crimes”, free up prison space and the court system, and “reduce the fear of prosecution and the stigma of criminality from non-violent citizens who harmlessly cultivate and/or use Cannabis for personal, medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes.”

38% of the voting public voted against the measure. 8% of all Big Island voters left the ballot question blank.

The above pot pics were taken from the Hawaiian Highlands website.

Defeats opponent Angel Pilago by nearly 10,000 votes
November 4, 2008 - Hilo, Hawaii

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Billy Kenoi has been declared the winner in the race for Hawaii County’s mayor seat.

Kenoi defeated opponent Angel Pilago by a healthy margin. The final numbers, released by the state of Hawaii at 9:23 pm, had Kenoi winning with 36,671 votes (55.6%) to Pilago’s 26,962 (40.9%)

At age 39, Kenoi becomes one of the youngest mayors in the Big Island’s history. He was the former executive assistant to outgoing mayor Harry Kim. In September’s primary election, he was the highest vote getter amongst the 8 mayoral candidates.

Kenoi arrived at his Hilo headquarters just as the news of his victory was being announced to the fervent crowd of supporters. In his post victory speech, Kenoi remained humble, thanked Pilago, and promised that more hard work is ahead.

Big Island Democrats’ tradition
November 3, 2008 - Hilo, Hawaii

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Kamehameha Avenue along Hilo’s bayfront was alive and animated by sign waving supporters on the eve of the general election.

Festivities included a drumming circle beneath the monkeypod trees of Mooheau Park along with roadside sign waving, seen in the video above. Afterwards, there was entertainment, and a round of last minute campaign speeches, under the Mooheau Bandstand.

According to numbers published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, Hawaii County has already had 26,571 votes cast in absentee and walk-in voting. This is more than double the number of people who voted early in the 2004 election.

At this rate, powered in part by public interest in the pivotal national election, the Big Island is likely to see an historic, high voter turnout.

Big Island business can link candidates to common ancestry
November 3, 2008 - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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A Big Island couple who operate a genealogy service has been making headlines throughout the election season. They have even managed to link this year’s presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, to a common ancestor, which is no stranger to having its descendants lead America.

Bruce and Kristine Harrison, who founded the Family Forest Project in 1995, have been popping up in news articles all over the world, as the ancestral histories they have mapped keep revealing interesting tidbits about the backgrounds of world leaders, past and present.

In this interview, the Harrisons show how the resource they created works, and how a new finding reveals that presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain are related through Sulgrave Manor, which is also the ancestral home of George Washington.

Recently, an AP article detailed the link, uncovered by the Harrisons, between Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and recent Saturday Night Live costar, Alec Baldwin. According to Harrison, they are “fairly distant cousins”. Palin was also found to have ancestral connections to several prominent Hawaii families, such as the Cooke family of Bank of Hawaii, the Atherton family, and Monty Richards of Kahua Ranch.

Event showcases all natural, cultural wellness
November 3, 2008 - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Hawaii’s only statewide collaborative health and green festival made its way to the Big Island this weekend.

Many interested residents visited the Amy Greenwell Ethno-Botanical Garden in Captain Cook to learn about organic, cultural cooking and the use of medicinal herbs. Demonstrations, music, healthy food, artists and networking were all a part of the two day event.

Remedies for VOG, taro talk, Amazon jungle medicine, and healthy salad dressings were the varied subject matter of special presentations seen through out the day.

A tree giveaway and plant sale also took place on Saturday.

Originating on Kauai and organized by the online Hawaii Health Guide, the festival now takes place across the state of Hawaii, with stops on many islands.

Coucil chairman intends to override action
October 31, 2008 - Hawaii County

Mayor Harry Kim has reportedly vetoed Bill 361, which would ban GMO, or genetically modified organism, coffee and taro from being grown and tested on the Big Island of Hawaii. The veto occured on the day of the deadline for his approval, after the bill was unanimously adopted by the county council earlier this month.

Kim reportedly cited difficulty in enforcement, and the benefits of such research in his communication. He also suggested creating a GMO advisory commision, as recommended by councilman Angel Pilago, who authored the bill.

Council chariman Pete Hoffmann told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald that he plans to attempt an override of the veto. According to the article, only six council votes are needed to nullify the veto and force the bill into law.

2nd ship launch delayed by at least one year
10.29.2008 - Hawaii County

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The Hawaii Superferry announced that it is putting its planned Big Island to Oahu service “on hold”, citing the current economic uncertainty. The second ship service was scheduled to begin in early 2009, once it was delivered from Mobile Alabama shipbuilder, Austal USA.

“Hawaii Superferry remains committed to serving the people and business of Hawaii,” said Hawaii Superferry President and CEO Tom Fargo in a press release. “Postponing the introduction of our second ship will defer over $10 million in start-up costs and enable us to maintain our sound financial position. Given today’s economic uncertainties, this decision is both prudent and provides us with additional time to develop this market, while continuing to grow our successful O`ahu and Maui service.”

Fargo went on to say that serving the islands, including the Big Island and Kauai, remains the Superfery’s goal.

The release also stated that the company “will look at short-term opportunities for use of the ship prior to its induction into service in the islands.”

HPA Ohana Association sponsors the 17th annual event
October 27, 2008 - Waimea, Hawaii

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Families gathered for a Sunday of harvest season fun and entertainment on the scenic grounds of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Upper Campus.

The free event drew thousands of Big Island residents, and featured a huge pumpkin patch with organically grown pumpkins. Games, prizes, music, a silent auction, and a scarecrow competition were highlights of the 17th annual event.

The event is said to be the largest pumpkin patch on Hawaii island.