September 5, 2010 – Kona, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan

District 7 incumbent Brenda Ford meets challenger Enock Freire in a special candidates forum held on Thursday, September 2nd.

Una Greenway moderated the event, which also included candidates running for District 6 and District 8 council seats.

The forum was held at Kona Marshalling Yard in Keauhou Mauka, and was hosted by the Kona County Farm Bureau. Therefore, many of the questions posed to the candidates related to coffee and agriculture.

The extended videos found on this page have been edited to present only the answers from the District 7 candidates. Videos featuring the other district candidates will be forthcoming, and will be found on separate pages. It should be noted that, of the four microphones available to candidates at the forum table, the one in front of Ford and Freire produced a strange echo that persisted through-out the forum.

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August 5, 2010 – Kona, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan, Voice of Tim Bryan

The mango season was celebrated on the Garden Lawn of the Keauhou Beach Resort on Saturday, during the Hawaii Healing Garden Mango Festival.

The mango-themed activities, presentations, music and entertainment on two stages was organized by hawaiihealthguide.com and The Sanctuary of Mana Ke‘a Gardens.

In addition, a Healthy & Green Living outdoor expo featuring natural products, medicinal plants, and arts and crafts was also a part of the event.

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July 29, 2010 – South Kona, Hawaii

Transcript

TENNIS

4th Annual Philippine American Friendship Doubles Tennis Tournament was held in Keauhou last weekend.

The Kona Visayan Club hosted the contest at the Holua Tennis Center at Mauna Loa Village.

The event categories of the tournament were recreational, men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.

KVC is a non-profit organization and proceeds from the tournament will support scholarship grants to high school graduates in Kona.

YOUTH SUMMER FILM BOOT CAMP

Short films produced by Hawaii Island youth were premiered at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu on Saturday.

For the second year, an intensive two-week Summer Film Boot Camp held in Kealakekua taught keiki the art of television production. The University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii joined forces with Na Leo O Hawaii to provide the opportunity for the kids, grades six through nine.

The kids split up into teams and produced public service announcements for the grand finale. The youth are now certified producers for the public access television station.

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July 26, 2010 – Kainaliu, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan

Short films produced by Hawaii Island youth were premiered at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu on Saturday.

For the second year, an intensive two-week Summer Film Boot Camp held in Kealakekua taught keiki the art of televisoin production. The University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii joined forces with Na Leo O Hawaii to provide the opportunity for the kids, grades six through nine.

The kids split up into teams and produced public service announcements for the grand finale. The youth are now certified producers for the public access television station.

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July 15, 2010 – South Kona, Hawaii

In this video:

• Painted Church Road assault
• Hawaii Coffee Association Conference

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June 26, 2010 – Honaunau, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan | Voice of Tim Bryan

The Department of Public Works’ Traffic Division has converted this intersection to a three-way stop at Middle Ke‘ei Road & Painted Church Road in South Kona. A department spokesperson says this is being done to make the intersection safer because of the limited sight distance at this location.

The DPW is asking drivers to exercise caution when driving through this intersection, and is reminding motorists using Middle Ke‘ei Road that they must now come to a complete stop.

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June 23, 2010 – Hilo, Hawaii

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Tim Bryan

The Hawaii County Council votes to accept a donation of heavy duty coqui sprayers for use in the Big Island’s ongoing war against the introduced frog.

The sprayers were taken away from the county when funding for the spray program ran out, leaving those fighting in the trenches of the “frog war” without a pivotal weapon.

June 11, 2010 – Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii

As the state moves forward with an update to the Master Plan for the Kealakekua area, a group of local residents stand opposed to the planning process.

In this video, resident and activist Chuck Flaherty talks about the issues he and others have with the state’s plan.

June 7, 2010 – South Kona, Hawaii

The County of Hawaii issued the following media release on Sunday:

The Mamalahoa bypass will be open 12 hours a day, seven days a week beginning Monday, under a new easement agreement between the County of Hawaii and 1250 Oceanside Partners, developer of Hokuli`a.

The bypass will open to traffic in both directions from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

“This agreement is a significant development for commuters and all residents of West Hawai‘i who, instead of being stuck in traffic, will be able to spend more time with their families and in more productive activities,” said Mayor Billy Kenoi. “We are very pleased to reach this agreement with 1250 Oceanside Partners.”

Currently, a large portion of the South Kona community works in either North Kona or South Kohala and commutes daily along Mamalahoa Highway. The new two-lane bypass gives motorists an alternate route between North and South Kona.

Opening this bypass on the 12/7 plan was one of Mayor Kenoi’s priorities upon taking office in December 2008. The Mayor was personally involved in talks with Mauka Kona residents to insure that the opening of this bypass helps meet the critical need for the transportation infrastructure in West Hawaii.

“My administration continues to honor its commitment to opening roads, building new roads, and improving the lives of our residents in West Hawaii,” said Mayor Kenoi, noting that the County broke ground for the new $35 million Ane Keohokalole Highway in West Hawaii on March 30.

The Mamalahoa bypass road was previously opened in one direction for limited hours only under an agreement reached in February.

The bypass is located midway between the shoreline and Mamalahoa Highway. The northern portion of the bypass starts at the southern edge of Keauhou and runs approximately three miles to the bottom of Haleki`i Street in Kealakekua’s Kona Scenic subdivision.”

June 4, 2010 – Captain Cook, Hawaii

The Hawaii Police Department have issued the following press release, and surveillance video image, in regards to vehicle break-ins and alleged stolen credit card use in South Kona:

Big Island police are investigating multiple cases of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in Captain Cook.

Sometime between 11:30 p.m. Monday (May 31) and 8 a.m. Tuesday (June 1), the suspect broke into three cars parked at a home in Captain Cook and stole multiple items, including a credit card.

The credit card was later used at a gas station in Captain Cook. The person using the card was captured operating a dark pickup truck. The credit card was later used at another business establishment.

Police ask that anyone who recognizes the person in the surveillance video call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers calls are kept confidential.

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Tim Bryan

The South Kona community met with consultants and state officials over the weekend to discuss the future of Kealakekua Bay State Park.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking input on possible alternatives for a new Master Plan for the popular park.

The updated plan will serve as a guide for the long-term use and management of Kealakekua Bay.

The state says the Master Pan is needed to better manage park visitors and resources at both Napoopoo and Ka’awaloa, which are located on either side of Kealakekua Bay.

Some of the residents in attendance objected to the format of the meeting, while others took full advantage of the opportunity to get “hands on” in shaping the plan.

Two killed when ultralight falls into bay

Video by David Corrigan, voice of Tim Bryan

Tragedy struck the waters off Kona last week, when the pilot and sole passenger aboard an ultralight aircraft crashed into Kealakekua Bay on Wednesday morning.

Police say 38-year-old Tedd Robert Hecklin, owner of Tedd’s Flying Adventures in Kailua-Kona, and his female passenger, 37-year-old Kathryn Grace Moran of Kailua-Kona, were recovered from the scene and pronounced dead at Kona Communtiy Hospital. Police say they were the only people on the flight.

Captain Mitch Kaufman, aboard the Captain Zodiac tour operation, was one of the first on the scene.

Police say autopsies conducted on the victims have determined that both died from “multiple traumatic injuries” from the fall.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.