Youth throughout the state started work earlier this week for the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps Summer Program (HYCC). After a weeklong training camp that took place on Oahu, nearly 150 youth will be spending the rest of their summer working with conservation organizations throughout Hawaii. HYCC’s Summer Program provides a once in a lifetime experience to the youth here in Hawaii , while also teaching them life skills, providing the opportunity to earn college credits, a stipend and an educational award. This summer, HYCC teams are hard at work on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Lanai and Molokai. Kupu, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that administers the HYCC programs, partners with various organizations statewide in order to provide youth with a hands on learning experience in the field of conservation. This year Kupu saw nearly 900 applications for the 150 available positions for the summer program. Each week teams of 10-12 work with different organizations at different locations, working to help restore and preserve Hawaii’s natural resources. Participants apply for one of two types of positions, members and team leaders, and typically range in age from 15-24 years old. The 2010 Summer Program has 15 teams statewide working alongside and learning from conservation managers, including the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission, and other agencies.

“Before I started HYCC I wanted to leave Hawaii. I thought there was nothing here for me. I now know my place is here working to make Hawaii better than it was and to save our native forests for our future generations,” said Michael Sarsfield, 2009 member and current participant in HYCC’s Hana Hou Summer Program.

HYCC participants work with different organizations at sites that are not always accessible to the general public, including a trip to Kaho’olawe. They work on various projects including invasive species removal and management, native outplanting, wetland restoration and trail maintenance. Participants also gain cultural knowledge and a greater appreciation for Hawaii and its natural resources. HYCC’s programs teach youth the importance of conservation, while helping them to develop vital life skills, and become the next generation of natural resource managers.

“HYCC is an important program in the community. It encourages our youth to get involved in shaping the communities that they are a part of. It helps these students find a depth of knowledge through more dimensions than a book can lend. Hands-on experience with culturally-significant areas and things bring about change through education and responsibility.” Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond, Maui Nui Botanical Gardens.

HYCC teams will be working throughout the state until July 23rd, 2010. For specific information on where the teams are working on each island please contact Brittney Orton at Brittney.orton@kupuhawaii.org, or 735-1221 ext. 1012. For more information about Kupu, visit: http://www.kupuhawaii.org.

Kapolei Commons announced a joint venture between Craig Realty Group and MK Kapolei Commons (local developers The MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group) to develop a 260,000 square feet Upscale Outlet Mall and Entertainment Center. The Outlet expansion is expected to begin construction in early 2011 with stores opening in late 2011, early 2012.

The William S. Richardson School of Law ‘ohana mourns the passing of their beloved founder Honorable Chief Justice William S. Richardson.

Current plans of farewell and to celebrate his life are as follows:

July 8, 2010

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.: Respects at the William S. Richardson School of Law Moot Courtroom

July 9, 2010

8 a.m. – 11: a.m.: Respects at St. Andrew’s Cathedral

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Memorial Service

Private burial following Service

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: “William S. Richardson – Realizing the Dream”

Where: 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

William S. Richardson School of Law Library

Music lovers, get ready! The sixth season of the Hawai’i Performing Arts Festival is coming July 6-27. The internationally known summer music festival brings talented students from all over the world to the Big Island to study and perform together with a renowned faculty of seasoned professionals. Based at Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea, the festival presents over sixteen concerts in seven venues all over Hawaii Island. Many concerts are free to the public. The concert series offers something for everybody…musical theater to TropicGlee, a pop-infused musical review based on the hit TV show ‘Glee’. Choose the world’s most famous opera, Carmen, or string quartet concerts featuring violinist Ignace “Iggy” Jang, for many years the popular concertmaster of the Honolulu Symphony. Or perhaps a family oriented original musical comedy version of Sleeping Beauty, combined with a storybook Broadway review.



HPAF’s faculty hails from all over the world, including festival favorites Jennifer McGregor [star of Opera Australia], Metropolitan Opera soprano Juliana Gondek and HPAF Artistic Director Val Underwood. Long Beach Opera’s Peabody Southwell will sing the title role in Carmen, and Kansas-born bass Tyler Simpson, [with a new contract to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in hand] will perform the role of the toreador Escamillo.



Check out the Opening Night Concert on July 10. It is the first of several French-themed presentations in a concert series called “Paris in Paradise.” Think Eiffel Tower, sidewalk cafes, crepes and delightful French music. More exciting concerts follow, culminating in Paris by Night at HPA on July 23.



Did you know that many composers have written music about animals? Tails at Twilight on July 11, a fundraising concert in partnership with Hawai’i Island Humane Society at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, will offer an entertaining spectrum of music ranging from “Lion King” to the famous Cat Duet by Rossini.



From Mozart to Madonna, a light hearted look at the history of classical music, will be performed by Howard Dicus and Ben Gutierrez of KGMB TV-9 with Iggy Jang and the Green Sneakers quartet on July 18 at Mauna Lani Bay Resort & Bungalows. Perfect for those who skipped “Classical Music 101”, and entertaining for even the most knowledgeable music lovers.



For three years HPAF brought the late Ellen Masaki and her phenomenal group of piano prodigies from Honolulu to perform. Pianothon, the final concert of the season, will take place on July 27 at the Kahilu Theater, a tribute to the legendary Honolulu piano teacher, many of whose students have won international competitions.



HPAF’s official 2010 piano sponsor is Charles Walter Pianos, available through the Ellen Masaki School of Music in Honolulu. These superbly crafted instruments are available at special festival prices.



Concert schedule is subject to change. For more information, visit http://www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org or call 808-333-7378.

Photo courtesy ZELINSKY


By Mark Bratton

Retail sales: by watching the gross sales of retailers, you can predict if they’ll be able to pay rent, and how the property as a whole will perform. In 4th quarter 2009, sales began to go up again, and that could be the saving factor for rental rates and occupancy rates in Hawaii.

Retailers expanding and contracting: The biggest surprise is that Luxury retailers, along with best sellers, discount retailers and apparel and department stores, showed an increase in sales. Stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom had about a 4.5% increase in sales.

Shopping Center statistics: We’ve been seeing a drop in tenant sales that increases as you get further away from the core of Honolulu, and interestingly enough, Landlord revenues have gone up slightly. We’ve also been seeing Landlord expenses go down as owners buckle down to get through the year.

Vacancy Rates: Compared to the West Coast, Hawaii is in good shape, but when we look at the neighbor islands, you see rates jump to as high as 11.53%. It is definitely a Tenant’s market, as we’ve seen rental rates drop from $5 to $2-3 in a short period of time.


2010: Expect a slight increase in vacancy, we’re predicting 4.5%, as well as a 5% increase in sales. Not quite up to 2008 sales yet, but we’re getting close.

Expanding Retailers:

Slides 11 and 12 list Tenants who have opened in 2009, spent money, made the investment, and took the risk. These are very few and far between.

Ideas for Landlords:

The key is to create momentum, and increase advertising. Hire merchandising consultants because most Tenants are not capable of producing great storefronts. They could gain a lot from a professional consultant. Twitter campaigns are working for impulse daily specials, such as a restaurant tweeting a daily special.

Subscribe Videos on Hawaii Real Estate Forecast here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5TH0V6rDEM

Mark Bratton is President of Bratton Realty Advisers, Ltd., and exclusively contracted with Colliers Monroe Friedlander, Inc., Hawaii commercial real estate organization. Specializes in the sale of investment properties in Hawaii. Visit http://markbratton.com for more info.


Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1592069_33.html

A Green Sea Turtle Adventure

By Rico Leffanta

A recent edition of the “Oahu Island News” featured “The Art & Science of the Green Sea Turtle.” So I grabbed a copy to see what more I could learn about this elusive creature.

“The Honolulu Advertiser,” and the “Honolulu Star-Bulletin” then featured articles about green sea turtles basking in the sun on Laniakea Beach. I decided it was time to go there, and see the turtles for myself

I couldn’t find “Laniakea Beach” on any of the tourist maps, nor on any telephone directory maps, so I called The Bus for directions. That truly was the beginning of my green sea turtle adventure!

The Bus operator had never heard of Laniakea Beach; she asked other operators, and they eventually reached a consensus that it was somewhere around La‘ie.

I knew Laniakea Beach wasn’t near La‘ie — I’ve been to all those beaches. So I called the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).
After a good 20-minutes of listening to telephone messages explaining why this person, that person, and the other person was not available to answer the telephone, I called the Governor’s office, and was transferred to another person who didn’t know, but who gave me another number to call ad infinitum until I reached a “civil” servant who didn’t have a clue where Laniakea Beach was located, but suggested I call the City & County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department, where neither answering machine nor person knew where Laniakea Beach was located – and had zero interest in finding out what it was!

Then inspiration struck! Why not call a politician? I called the office of Council Chairman Dela Cruz and BINGO! I was immediately informed Laniakea Beach is located on the North Shore, and told exactly when and where to pull The Bus #52 cord for the stop (“when you see all the horses under the tree in the big pasture mauka”.

As soon as The Bus drove away, I was disappointed! Laniakea Beach is more of a local dog run than a beach. Other than signs requesting attention and concern for green sea turtles, all I saw were unleashed, flea-bitten dogs roaming up and down a thin strip of sand. I decided to walk back to Hale’iwa, looking for seashells along the way, but after passing the first house, I saw a nice patch of clear water. Irresistible! I jumped in, and went snorkeling.
It wasn’t long before I saw several green sea turtles, but they were not a welcome sight! All of them had missing flippers, damaged shells, or were afflicted with horrible fibropapilloma tumors.

After splashing about without finding anything new or remarkable, I turned back toward shore and saw a bright red fishing float bobbing up and down.
My first instinct was to get out of there fast before some fisherman cast a four-inch hook into my back. Then I noticed the float was attached to a green sea turtle, and it was swimming right at me!

I took a couple of photos before it dawned on me that the turtle’s right flipper was cinched so tight by fishing line, it was about the size of a toddler’s wrist!
What to do?

I knew green sea turtles were an endangered/threatened species, and that it is illegal to approach/touch them, but this turtle was clearly in a predicament. Fishing line ran from her flipper to her mouth, and I didn’t know if it was because this turtle had swallowed a hook, or if she was just trying to pull the line off of her flipper.

I decided to risk it, and set about trying to unravel the fishing line. The turtle “hung loose” until I reached a place where the line was really snarled, then she instinctively pulled away from me.

In no time at all, I learned I was no match for a turtle in the open sea, despite the difference in size!

Like the Cavalry coming to the rescue, suddenly I saw surfer Lane Davey heading to shore, and hollered to her for help. Lane said she would call it in as soon as she got home, and if no one from NOAA could respond, she would come back straight away with a pair of scissors to cut the fishing line.
In the meantime, I tried to herd the turtle ashore so the operation could commence in a timely manner.

Big surprise! I quickly learned that I was no match for a determined turtle on shore! The turtle used her superior knowledge to catch the next wave out, dragging me along behind like a rag doll!

Eventually, I let go and soon lost track of her. Back on shore I met NOAA’s angel, Cori Wilbanks. We sighted the turtle again, but Cori decided the current was too strong for a rescue attempt, so we would just have to wait until the turtle beached herself.

I waited around the beach for several hours with no luck at all, and decided to head for home. Just as I reached The Bus stop, Cori gave a shout, and there was the turtle waving a bright red fishing float as it struggled ashore!

Cori recognized the turtle as NOAA’s “L6”, and with the help of a few volunteers, set about cutting the fishing line from the flipper of a very uncooperative turtle patient! Then, without any sign of gratitude, “L6” decided it was naptime.

According to George Balazs, NOAA Turtle Research Program leader, the fishing line was cinched so tight around her flipper that any further delay may have resulted in amputation.

So the fishermen lost and NOAA won one more battle to save the green sea turtle.

Although this may appear to be a happy ending to a green sea turtle adventure, it isn’t.

“L6” may have escaped amputation this time, but we all know that fishermen will continue casting their fishing lines amongst divers, surfers, swimmers and turtles, just like we know people will continue to let their pets run loose on the beach.

Aloha isn’t just a saying; we must all live it.

Rico Leffanta is a retired senior citizen and lives in Honolulu.

New federal regulations concerning “accidentally” hooking a green sea turtle can be found on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wed site at: http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/pir/news/sbst.pdf with a copy of the handling regulations at:
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/pir/ghhst.htm.

WARNING WITHDRAWN – ALL CLEAR

HISTORIC INFO BELOW

BULLETIN
TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 16
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
935 AM HST SAT FEB 27 2010

TO – CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT – TSUNAMI WARNING SUPPLEMENT

A TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME – 0834 PM HST 26 FEB 2010 COORDINATES – 36.1 SOUTH 72.6 WEST LOCATION – NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL CHILE MAGNITUDE – 8.8 MOMENT

MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
—————————- ——-—————- ———————- ——- CABO SAN LUCAS MX 22.9N 109.9W 1833Z 0.36M / 1.2FT 12MIN DART TONGA 51426 23.0S 168.1W 1844Z 0.04M / 0.1FT 30MIN HIVA OA MARQUESAS 9.8S 139.0W 1741Z 1.79M / 5.9FT 12MIN PAPEETE TAHITI 17.5S 149.6W 1810Z 0.16M / 0.5FT 10MIN NUKU HIVA MARQUESAS 8.9S 140.1W 1745Z 0.95M / 3.1FT 04MIN MANZANILLO MX 19.1N 104.3W 1705Z 0.32M / 1.0FT 24MIN DART MANZANILLO 434 16.0N 107.0W 1611Z 0.07M / 0.2FT 24MIN ACAPULCO MX 16.8N 99.9W 1549Z 0.16M / 0.5FT 24MIN RIKITEA PF 23.1S 134.9W 1559Z 0.15M / 0.5FT 22MIN DART MARQUESAS 5140 8.5S 125.0W 1531Z 0.18M / 0.6FT 18MIN BALTRA GALAPAGS EC 0.4S 90.3W 1452Z 0.35M / 1.2FT 14MIN EASTER CL 27.2S 109.5W 1205Z 0.35M / 1.1FT 52MIN ANCUD CL 41.9S 73.8W 0838Z 0.62M / 2.0FT 84MIN CALLAO LA-PUNTA PE 12.1S 77.2W 1029Z 0.36M / 1.2FT 30MIN ARICA CL 18.5S 70.3W 1008Z 0.94M / 3.1FT 42MIN IQUIQUE CL 20.2S 70.1W 0907Z 0.28M / 0.9FT 68MIN ANTOFAGASTA CL 23.2S 70.4W 0941Z 0.49M / 1.6FT 52MIN DART LIMA 32412 18.0S 86.4W 0941Z 0.24M / 0.8FT 36MIN CALDERA CL 27.1S 70.8W 0843Z 0.45M / 1.5FT 20MIN TALCAHUANO CL 36.7S 73.4W 0653Z 2.34M / 7.7FT 88MIN COQUIMBO CL 30.0S 71.3W 0852Z 1.32M / 4.3FT 30MIN CORRAL CL 39.9S 73.4W 0739Z 0.90M / 2.9FT 16MIN SAN FELIX CL 26.3S 80.1W 0815Z 0.53M / 1.7FT 08MIN VALPARAISO CL 33.0S 71.6W 0708Z 1.29M / 4.2FT 20MIN LAT – LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH) LON – LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST) TIME – TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME) AMPL – TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL. IT IS …NOT… CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT. VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS AND FEET. PER – PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.

EVALUATION

A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF LONG OCEAN WAVES. EACH INDIVIDUAL WAVE CREST CAN LAST 5 TO 15 MINUTES OR MORE AND EXTENSIVELY FLOOD COASTAL AREAS. THE DANGER CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE AS SUBSEQUENT WAVES ARRIVE. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST. TSUNAMI WAVES EFFICIENTLY WRAP AROUND ISLANDS. ALL SHORES ARE AT RISK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THEY FACE. THE TROUGH OF A TSUNAMI WAVE MAY TEMPORARILY EXPOSE THE SEAFLOOR BUT THE AREA WILL QUICKLY FLOOD AGAIN. EXTREMELY STRONG AND UNUSUAL NEARSHORE CURRENTS CAN ACCOMPANY A TSUNAMI. DEBRIS PICKED UP AND CARRIED BY A TSUNAMI AMPLIFIES ITS DESTRUCTIVE POWER. SIMULTANEOUS HIGH TIDES OR HIGH SURF CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TSUNAMI HAZARD. THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME IN HAWAII OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS 1105 AM HST SAT 27 FEB 2010

MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Earthquake/Volcano/Tsunami Update Links

Aloha and welcome to our out-of-state readers.

Find Volcano/Earthquake/Tsunami News at the following links:

Honolulu Advertiser (http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com)

Honolulu Star-Bulletin (http://www.starbulletin.com)

TV – NBC Ch. 8 KHNL (http://www.khnl.com)

Big Island Media

West Hawaii Today
Daily Newspaper—Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii
(http://www.westhawaiitoday.com)

Hawaii Herald
Daily Newspaper—Hilo
(http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/)

Government/Other

Kilauea Volcano Update

USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory
(http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update)

U.S. Geological Survey
(http://www.usgs.gov/)

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
(http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/)

Steve and Sophia’s House from Makakilo, Hawaii in West Oahu.
(RECOMMENDED)
(http://www.hawaiiss.com/weather/earthquake.htm)