KEAUHOU Hawaii: Hawaii County Police have issued this media release in regards to an overturned double hull canoe at Keauhou Pier on Wednesday morning that reportedly led to the death of a man.

From the media release:

Big Island police have initiated a coroner’s inquest case in connection with the death of a canoe paddler.

Kona Patrol officers responded to the Keauhou Pier at approximately 7 a.m. Wednesday (February 1) after receiving a report of an overturned double hull canoe.

When officers arrived, Coast Guard personnel were already on scene. All 10 paddlers from the canoe were back on shore by 7:45 a.m.

A 67-year-old Keauhou man who was non-responsive at the scene was transported by ambulance to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:58 a.m. His identity is being held pending notification of his next of kin.

Police have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

By Visionary Video, David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Lynn Beittel and Matt Binder, Visionary Video]

KONA, Hawaii: An alarming sight for residents along the highway in Kona, as this small brushfire thrived in the day’s dry, windy conditions.

Firefighters had the blaze under control before long on Sunday.

In this video, acting captain of the Hawaii County Fire Department’s Keauhou Fire Station, Kel Kunitomo, offered the camera crew some insight into the incident.

There were no reported injuries as a result of this brushfire.

By David Corrigan, Lynn Biettel, and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by Lynn Biettel, Visionary Video]

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii: State Senator Josh Green gave the keynote speech on “health care transformation in America and what it means to West Hawaii” during a talk story at Kona Community Hospital on Monday.

Senator Green spoke about the importance of the subject matter, especially in light of the recent hospital closings on Oahu.

Green also spoke about the recent passage of the so called Obamacare health industry reform.

Green also said that it is going to be up to us to assume personal responsibility to alleviate some of the pressure on hospitals’ resources.

The state senator said that it will be important to find ways to provide incentive for physicians to relocate to this remote, rural setting

Senator Green will be taking part in more talk stories in the coming days. He will be joining State Representative Cindy Evans and Denny Coffman at the Old Kona Airport on Tuesday night at the Kona Town Meeting.

Media release from Kona Community Hospital:

The Kona Community Hospital (KCH) Auxiliary met on Monday, January 9 for its annual general membership meeting featuring guest speaker, Senator Josh Green, M.D. It drew a crowd of 60 attendees.

As the current Health Committee Chair and Emergency Physician at Kohala Hospital , Green discussed today’s healthcare climate, as well as the key bills in the new legislative session. He also talked about the challenges and opportunities that rural health facilities face. He excitedly said, “Volunteers such as you make a difference at our hospitals.”

Joy Nelson, Volunteer Hours Chair and Past-President, presented volunteer pins to those who met milestone volunteer hours. Kathy Golitzen, who knits newborn baby hats for the Obstetrics department, was the volunteer with the most hours at 1112. In 2011, the total number of volunteer hours provided by the Auxiliary was 8652 which equates to a contribution of $184,807 in services.

The newly elected 2012 officers consist of President Mary Quinn, Vice-President Pat Fornatano, Recording Secretary Beverly Page, Corresponding Secretary Phyllis Hanson, Treasurer David Clarke, and Directors – Christine Hoffman, JoDee Humme, Roger Knoblauch, Jean Leitch, Lorraine Miller and Joy Nelson. The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to both Ralph Jackson and Kathy Golitzen.

With 52 active volunteers, the KCH Auxiliary is the largest volunteer organization at the hospital. There are numerous volunteer opportunities such as helping in the infusion center to assisting in office work. They coordinate the Recycling Program, Gift Shop, Friday Bake Sale, and more. Monies go toward hospital activities and nursing scholarships. For more information, call 322-4577 or go to www.kchauxiliary.org.

Founded in 1914, KCH is a 94-bed full-service hospital with 24-hour emergency services that supports the west region of the island of Hawaii . It is a member of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a special agency of the state of Hawaii established in 1996. It is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Kona Community Hospital is dedicated to providing and enhancing accessible comprehensive healthcare services to the West Hawaii community.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The video to the right aired a few days after this video.

On Tuesday, we reported on the January 10th keynote speech given by West Hawaii’s State Senator Josh Green before a crowd at the Kona Community Hospital.

Senator Green spoke mostly about healthcare transformation in America and what it means to West Hawaii… and after the talk, he spoke on camera about the largest challenge facing health care on Hawaii Island.

Luckily, Senator Green is in the a position to directly affect change at the legislature. He told us what he thinks the future holds for health care on the Big Island.

The 2012 session of the Hawaii State Legislature begins on January 18th.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

[Video by David Corrigan]

KONA, Hawaii: As the coffee harvest winds down in Kona, farmers are getting a better idea of how the Coffee Berry Borer beetle pest is affecting their crop.

And so are the coffee processors. Here along the side of the highway, just one of many cherry buyers popping up around South Kona this time of year.

Tom Jenkins says there will be a shortage this year.

It it already looks like the CBB infestation will cause the price of Kona coffee to increase.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii: Two middle school students have been charged with terroristic threatening in connection with a fake homemade bomb confiscated at Konawaena Middle School on Wednesday.

Kona patrol officers responded to the school Thursday afternoon after a report that school officials had confiscated a homemade bomb from a student. Police investigation revealed that the device—consisting of an aluminum can with electronic parts and numerous wires—had been confiscated from a 13-year-old boy’s backpack on Wednesday and taken to the vice principal’s office.

It had been given to the 13-year-old boy by a 14-year-old boy, who is also a student at the school.

Police secured the building and called the U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Oahu.

Police say both students were arrested at the school at 2:30 p.m. After consulting with Hawai?i County prosecutors, police charged each of them at 3:30 p.m. with first-degree terroristic threatening. They were release to the custody of their parents or guardians pending an appearance in Family Court.

Shortly after 6 p.m., when school was closed, the Army’s bomb squad arrived and determined that the bomb was a simulation that did not contain any explosives.

Major James O’Connor from the Area II Operations Bureau, said this incident is a reminder of the importance of communication between parents and their children.

By David Corrigan, Lynn Beittel and Stephanie Salazar

[photos by Lynn Beittel, file video from 2009]

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii: The Fruit Hunters have come and gone, and now Kona waits to see the finished cut of award-winning Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang’s new documentary.

Lynn Beitell of Visionary Video, who often provides video for the Big Island Video News casts, assisted the five person Canadian crew from Eye Steel Productions in Montreal. She provided these photographs of the behind-the-scenes.

Island residents may notice Ken Love – Kona’s resident fruit advocate and Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers President – acting as guide… and they may also notice actor and so called fruit activist Bill Pullman. Both played a big role in the local taping… which took place at the Culinary School in Kealakekua, Dick Kuehner’s home orchard near Kealakekua Bay, The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the Keauhou Farmers’ Market, Captain Cook and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, to name a few.

The film is said to explore the diversity of the world’s fruit, and the passions fruit ignites in the heart of fanatics.

Crew arrived late Friday, Oct. 22 and as supposed to leave on Tuesday, Oct. 25, but extended their stay until Oct. 27 because they had so much to shoot. The crew stayed at the Manago Hotel and reportedly loved the ambiance.

Also, The Keauhou Beach Resort is the new location of the 6th annual Hawai‘i Avocado Festival. The free, community event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 and offers a wealth of activities for attendees of all ages.

Fun and informative festivities include demonstrations on avocado grafting and growing, an avocado recipe contest, free guacamole sampling, farmer’s market, arts and crafts, healing arts, eco fashion show and a full lineup of performing arts. Last year’s all-day event attracted 3,000 attendees.

Also on display and for sale will be original festival art and t-shirts.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

MILOLII, Hawaii: A woman has died after an apparent crash in Milolii early Sunday morning.

Fire and rescue crews responded to a 12:04 a.m. Sunday alarm to the end of Milolii Road for an SUV crash.

Firefighters found an SUV rolled-over, 20 yards off the road in the lava fields due to a high speed crash. Crews found a woman in her mid 30s to early 40s dead on the ground 25 feet from the SUV apparently ejected from the vehicle.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

CAPTAIN COOK, Hawaii: In South Kona, today we report on a West Hawaii Seed Exchange set for November 5th.

According to the Kohala Center, Island farmers and gardeners who save seed are invited to attend the annual West Hawai‘i Seed Exchange from 2–4 p.m. Saturday, November 5, at the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook. The exchange coincides with the garden’s annual Arbor Day Plant Give-Away.
Farmers and gardeners are invited to bring saved seed, cuttings, huli, and corms of food crops that grow well in home gardens and on farms.

Organizers say that you bring envelopes to gather seed, and be sure to name the known varieties that you bring.

The goal of this annual gathering is to network seed among home gardeners and local farmers. Organizers say seed is the foundation of our food sources, and since 1900, 97 percent of varieties grown in home gardens in the United States has been lost. Sharing knowledge and varieties will encourage home production and food security for West Hawaii.

If you have not yet started a home garden, please come, meet experienced gardeners, and talk story about locally adapted varieties you can grow to feed your family.

For more information, please contact Diana Duff at hokudi@aol.com.

By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar

KONA, Hawaii: South Kona councilwoman Brenda Ford’s opponent in the 2010 county council election is seeking approval to join the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission.

Enock Freire lost to Ford in a heated District 7 primary. He has been nominated by Mayor Billy Kenoi to serve on the body that forwards to the council a prioritized list of land recommendations for possible purchase using the 2% fund. The money, which comes from 2% of real property taxes, amounts to roughly $4 million annually.

The nomination will go before the Finance Committee today. Ford is the chairwoman of the committee.

The two debated each other numerous times on the campaign trail in August of last year.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Ford’s effort to initiate a charter amendment to make the 2% land fund a requirement of county charter will get its third and final reading. The voter initiative will replace the current mandate of 1% if passed.

By David Corrigan & Stephanie Salazar

MILOLII, Hawaii: In South Kona news, an arrest has been made in connection with a house fire in Milolii.

Hawaii County police have arrested 62-year-old Donald McKay of Miloliʻi Village on suspicion of arson in connection with a house fire on Wednesday, October 12th. McKay is being held at the Kona police cellblock pending further investigation.

The blaze occurred at an unoccupied house on Kai Avenue in Miloliʻi. Police say after the flames were extinguished, a a scent-discriminating canine helped the Fire Department to determine that the fire was of a suspicious nature. Damages from the fire were estimated at $480,000.

Police investigation led to McKay’s arrest in Kailua-Kona on Fridy morning. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section are continuing the investigation.

Video by Matt Binder & Lynn Beittel, Visionary Video | Voice of Stephanie Salazar

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii: The Kona Historical Society celebrated the Portuguese contributions to Kona’s ranching heritage with their Portuguese Festival, held on Saturday on Kamehameha High Schools pasture lands in Kealakekua.

The free event showcased the sort og things the Portuguese in Kona are known for…

One of the proud sponsors this year: the Paniolo Preservation Society, and one of the festival’s big exhibits showcased saddlemaking and other paniolo artisans. Master saddle maker Albert Moniz took the time to talk story for this video.

And of course, what is a trip to the Kona Historical Society without a stop for some Stone Oven Baked Portuguese Sweet Bread. Carla Draxlir shares her breadmaking knowledge in this video.

The event also featured Local Musicians like Kunia Galdeira, Kevin Teves and A`oia! There were also Free Tours of the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum