A Taste of Puna Cook Off

Calling all creative cooks to
Kea'au, Hawaii Calling All Cooks Logo

Kea'au Shopping Center announces the 13th Annual Cook-Off on Saturday, May 15th. “A Taste of Puna” is the brainchild of Carl Okuyama, owner of Puna Fresh Foods, to promote the goodness of the District of Puna, and showcase our products, creative tastes, talents, and Aloha Spirit. All foodies and entrepreneurs are invited to compete in this fun community event. For more info visit:
http://keaaushoppingcenter.com/calling_cooks.php

JAL

PLEASE READ:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supporthawaii1

SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE - WE NEED JAPANESE TOURISTS!

THE COVE

Yet again, a big mahalo to Oprah bringing awareness to the documentary THE COVE and the work this group is trying to do to stop the slaughter of dolphins:

http://www.savejapandolphins.org

.ws (stands for WebSite) GDI

Just got a .ws website and hope you will check it out!


http://castleinhawaii.ws

thank the military for protecting us

Are you grateful we live in the U.S. in a democratic country?
Then say Mahalo to the service people. Warning - be ready for a "good" cry (not an "ugly" cry)

http://media.causes.com/576542?p_id=92681239

Whoever made this vid - GREAT JOB!

COMMENTS - PLEASE!

Not a fan of Obamacare?? Look what's coming up next!!

"CAP & TRADE" COMING TO YOUR HOME !

A License Required for your HOUSE?

If you own your home you really need to check this out. At the end of this email is the Google link to verify. If the country thinks the housing market is depressed now, wait until everyone sees this. No one will be buying homes in the future.

We encourage you to read the provisions of the Cap and Trade Bill that has passed the House of Representatives and are being considered by the Senate. We are ready to join the next march on Washington ! This Congress and their "experts" are truly out to destroy the middle class of the U.S.A.

A License will be required for your house...no longer just for cars and mobile homes....Thinking about selling your house? Take a look at H.R. 2454 (Cap and Trade bill). This is unbelievable! Home owners take note and tell your friends and relatives who are home owners!

Beginning one year after enactment of the Cap and Trade Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with the energy and water efficiency standards of this "Cap & Trade" bill, passed by the House of Representatives. If it is also passed by the Senate, it will be the largest tax increase any of us has ever experienced.

The Congressional Budget Office (supposedly non-partisan) estimates that in just a few years the average cost to every family of four will be $6,800 per year. No one is excluded. However, once the lower classes feel the pinch in their wallets, you can be sure that these voters will get a tax refund (even if they pay no taxes at all) to offset this new cost. Thus, you Mr. And Mrs. Middle Class have to pay even more since additional tax dollars will be needed to bail out everyone else..

But wait. This awful bill (that no one in Congress has actually read) has many more surprises in it. Probably the worst one is this: A year from now you won't be able to sell your house without some bureaucrat's OK. Yes, you read that right.

The caveat (there always is a caveat) is that if you have enough money to make required major upgrades to your home, then you can sell it. But, if not, then forget it. Even pre-fabricated homes ("mobile homes") are included. In effect, this bill prevents you from selling your home without the permission of the EPA administrator.

To get this permission, you will have to have the energy efficiency of your home measured. Then the government will tell you what your new energy efficiency requirement is and you will be required to make modifications to your home under the retrofit provisions of this Act, to comply with the new energy and water efficiency requirements.

Then you will have to get your home measured again and get a license (called a "label" in the Act) that must be posted on your property to show what your efficiency rating is; sort of like the Energy Star efficiency rating label on your refrigerator or air conditioner. If you don't get a high enough rating, you can't sell.

And, the EPA administrator is authorized to raise the standards every year, even above the automatic energy efficiency increases built into the Act. The EPA administrator, appointed by the President, will run the Cap & Trade program (AKA the "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") and is authorized to make any future changes to the regulations and standards he/she alone determines to be in the government's best interest. Requirements are set low initially so the bill will pass Congress. Then the Administrator can set new standards every year.

The Act itself contains annual required increases in energy efficiency for private and commercial residences and buildings. However, the EPA administrator can set higher standards at any time. Sect.. 202 - Building Retrofit Program mandates a national retrofit program to increase the energy efficiency of all existing homes across America .

Beginning one year after enactment of the Act, you won't be able to sell your home unless you retrofit it to comply with its energy and water efficiency standards. You had better sell soon, because the standards will be raised each year and will be really hard (expen$ive) to meet in a few years. Oh, goody!

The Act allows the government to give you a grant of several thousand dollars to comply with the retrofit program requirements IF you meet certain energy efficiency levels. But, wait, the State can set additional requirements on who qualifies to receive the grants. You should expect requirements such as "can't have an income of more than $50K per year", "home selling price can't be more than $125K", or anything else to target the upper middle class (that includes YOU?) and prevent you from qualifying for the grants.

Most of us won't get a dime and will have to pay the entire cost of the retrofit out of our own pockets. More transfer of wealth, more "change you can believe in." Sect. 204 - Building Energy Performance Labeling Program establishes a labeling program that for each individual residence will identify the achieved energy efficiency performance for "at least 90 percent of the residential market within 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act."

This means that within 5 years 90% of all residential homes in the U.S. must be measured and labeled. The EPA administrator will get $50M each year to enforce the labeling program. The Secretary of the Department of Energy will get an additional $20M each year to help the EPA. Some of this money will, of course, be spent on coming up with tougher standards each year...

Oh, the label will be like a license for your car. You will be required to post the label in a conspicuous location in your home and will not be allowed to sell your home without having this label. And, just like your car license, you will probably be required to get a new label every so often - maybe every year.

But, the government estimates the cost of measuring the energy efficiency of your home should only cost about $200 each time. Remember what they said about the auto smog inspections when they first started: that in California ? It would only cost $15. That was when the program started. Now the cost is about $50 for the inspection and certificate.

Expect the same from the home labeling program. Sect. 304 - Greater Energy Efficiency in Building Codes establishes new energy efficiency guidelines for the National Building Code and mandates at 304(d) that one year after enactment of this Act, all state and local jurisdictions must adopt the National Building Code energy efficiency provisions or must obtain a certification from the federal government that their state and/or local codes have been brought into full compliance with the National Building Code energy efficiency standards.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2454

http://www.federalobserver.com/2009/10/01/thinking-about-selling-your-house-a-look-at-h-r-2454-cap-and-trade-bill/

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/oped_contributors/Cap-and-trade-is-a-license-to-cheat-and-steal-45371937.html

COMMENTS?

DR. WEIL'S TAKE ON MICROWAVING PLASTIC

It's not uncommon to see people microwaving leftovers in plastic dishes, heating up meals in the plastic containers they come in, or placing plastic wrap over foods to protect the inside of a microwave from splatters. Is all this as innocent as it seems?

I don't think so. While plastic has many terrific uses, when it comes to cooking it should be avoided. DEHA [di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate], sometimes found in cling wrap, and other chemicals commonly found in plastic are potential endocrine disrupters, and can negatively influence hormonal activity. While studies are underway to better define the health risks associated with plastics, it is best to steer clear of using plastic and plastic wrap in the microwave, as the heat can drive plastic molecules into your food. Instead, use glass or ceramic containers and cover foods with waxed paper or a paper towel. I also suggest avoiding pre-packaged foods that come in cling wrap (if you purchase such products, transfer these items to a different storage container once you get home).

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air plans flights to Hawaii

By Richard N. Velotta Friday, March 5, 2010 | 4:06 p.m.

Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air is going to Hawaii.

The airline’s parent company, Allegiant Travel Co., today announced plans to acquire six Boeing 757-200 twin-engine jets that would have the range to reach the Hawaiian Islands from western cities the airline currently serves.

Allegiant spokeswoman Tyri Squyres said several details of the company’s plans haven’t been determined, such as what routes would be served. Allegiant hasn’t identified what airports it would use in Hawaii and it’s unclear whether the airline would offer flights between Las Vegas and the islands.

Squyres said the timetable for developing service would be based on certifications and regulatory approvals, but she expects details would be announced within a few months.

Western cities currently on Allegiant’s map include Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Maria, Fresno, Monterey, Oakland and Stockton, Calif.; Medford, Eugene and Bend, Ore.; Bellingham and Pasco, Wash.; and Mesa, Ariz., in addition to Las Vegas.

A release issued by the company said the six 757s are from a single fleet operated by a European company and Allegiant would take delivery of two of the planes within the next two months with the intent of beginning Hawaii service by the fourth quarter. One other plane would be delivered in November and the fourth in January with their use to begin in the first half of 2011. The final two jets would be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011 and in service by the first half of 2012.

The aircraft will come equipped for extended twin-engine operations required for long overwater flights.

The company plans to spend between $75 million and $90 million through 2012 acquiring the jets and preparing them for service. Company officials said that while Allegiant is capable of making the acquisition with available cash, it plans to finance a portion of the purchase.

Allegiant has been anxious to enter the Hawaii market but couldn’t do it with its MD-80 jets, which don’t have the range to fly to the islands.

“Hawaii is the most prominent U.S. leisure destination currently unserved by Allegiant and our small-city customers have been requesting this service,” Maurice Gallagher, chairman and CEO of the airline, said in a statement. “We are very optimistic about our ability to exploit the large third-party ancillary revenue opportunity we believe exists in Hawaii. We expect the sale of hotels, rental cars and many attraction and activities popular with Hawaii visitors will provide a very meaningful contribution to the success of the service.”

“The 757 is a new aircraft type for Allegiant but we otherwise see this program as consistent with our existing business model,” added Allegiant President Andrew Levy. “This transaction will enable Allegiant to extend to Hawaii its strategy of serving large leisure destinations from smaller cities with no existing nonstop service.”

Initially introduced in 1983 by Boeing, the 757 is one of the largest narrow-body commercial jets and capable of holding between 186 and 279 passengers. About 1,000 of the jets are in operation. Delta Air Lines currently has the largest 757 fleet.

The company said the acquisition of the 757s would not affect Allegiant’s efforts to buy more MD-80s. The airline currently operates 46 MD-80s and will have 52 in service by the end of 2010 in addition to the first two 757s.

A Letter written by Richard Koob, Founder/Director, KALANI Oceanside Retreat Village

Aloha Warren Lee and highway signage and bike path team.

We here at Kalani and many other residents in the area would like to improve the safety of 5 communities here in Puna Makai with 1200 lots and rapid population growth.

You’re familiar with our “roller coaster” ocean front scenic road, stretching from Kalapana to Kapoho.
The area with the greatest population is centered around Kehena beach. See attached map.
We’re requesting Public Work’s help with 3 important safety matters:

1. Methods to slow traffic along Hwy 137 and provide for safe pedestrian crossings. In particular Kalani requests a crosswalk at the Kalani entrance, and “Slow”, “Pedestrian Crossing” type signage and pavement markers. Kalani is non-profit educational, so qualifies for school-type safety designations.
2. A coastal bike/hike/walk/run path on the makai side of Hwy 137. The roll of the road results in limited views, creating a definite life risk for the increasing number of pedestrians and bicyclists. Just 2 miles of improvement, from the east edge of Kalani to the west edge of Kehena, would greatly reduce the risk for both locals and the visitors attracted to this beautiful preservation coast. Bicycle touring companies are increasingly using the road, as are moms with keiki and strollers!
3. County Water is overdue to the area. It’s been at Kikala Keokea subdivision for years. Only 3,000 feet more will bring it to Kehena Beach Lots, and 2 more miles stretches it along the coast to Kalani. Note 2 possible routes, shown on the attached map.

Richard Koob, Founder/Director, KALANI Oceanside Retreat Village

whales in hawaii on the big island

Yippee... "FINALLY"... caught them on video and can share this 8-)