Maui Chronicle

Superferry headed for Supreme Court again

Moderator — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:18:59 +0000

from the Honolulu Advertiser

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal seeking to invalidate a state law that allowed Hawaii Superferry to begin operation last year without an environmental impact statement.

The court said it was transferring the case from the lower Intermediate Court of Appeals and would schedule oral arguments because it involves a matter “of imperative or fundamental public importance.” A date for arguments was not announced.

The Sierra Club, Maui Tomorrow and the Kahului Harbor Coalition requested the transfer as part of their appeal of a Maui Circuit Court ruling in November that upheld the new law known as Act 2.

Disturbing photo of Maui politician

Moderator — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:51:13 +0000

Wailea/Honua’ula 670 backer files Chapter 11

Moderator — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:53:37 +0000

Major news services are reporting that Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Chapter 11 is often referred to as “reorganization”, and does not necessarily lead to demise of a filing company. “Lehman Brothers” is known to be a major backer of, and partner in the Wailea/Honua’ula 670 project that received conditional residential zoning approval from Maui County earlier this year.

However, news reports state that the Chapter 11 filing does not involve subsidiaries of the company, and it is not clear at present whether the main company or a subsidiary is the partner in Honua’ula Partners, developer of the project. Other partners include Cargill Corporation, international provider of food, agricultural, and risk management products, and Steve Goodfellow of Goodfellow Brothers Construction.

The name “Lehman” has also been associated with financial backing of the Superferry. However, this is J. F. Lehman & Company, headed by former Secretary of the Navy, John F. Lehman. J. F. Lehman & Company does not appear to be associated with Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. John F. Lehman is an advisor to the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign.

Aquarium sports mini-windfarm

Moderator — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:37:46 +0000

THE FIVE ON THE RIGHT are spinning faster than the eye can see, but the camera stopped the motion. The one on the left is lollygagging and needs adjustment. Aquarium officials who know the specs on this setup, installed August 28, were unavailable for comment. Word has it that a press release is forthcoming.

Air Force Band Kihei Sunday — not what you think.

Moderator — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:07:38 +0000

Here is a Press Release from Maui County. The Air Force Band concert in Kihei last year surprised most people. Its not The Star Spangled Banner and Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder, but a whole musical variety show with vocalists and all:

A free concert will be presented by the Air Force Band of the Pacific this Sunday, August 24 at 7 p.m. at Kalama Park in Kihei, the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation announced.

The performance is free; people attending should bring a chair or mat to sit on.

The 10-member Air Force Band of the Pacific is the only military band that performs Hawaiian and Island favorites, along with a diverse repertoire of pop, classic rock and R&B. Their concerts, which have delighted military and civilian audiences throughout Hawaii and the Pacific, feature outstanding musicians and vocalists.

The band is also performing tonight at the 4th Marine Division Park in Haiku; the Maui concerts are sponsored by the County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information, call Lisa Almeida, Parks and Recreation Special Events Specialist, at 270-8070.

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Want to see hawksbill turtles?

Moderator — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:57:11 +0000

From Angelika Hofmann

*Save Makena .Org has an opportunity to help Hawaii Wildlife Fund with their Hawksbill turtle night watch at Oneloa-Big Beach!
This is a great volunteer experience, learning about the Hawksbill Turtle and spending the night at Oneloa-Big Beach!

*There are now 4 suspected nests at Oneloa, so we’ll be camping out there nearly every night from August 4th through September 6th, depending on when the hatchlings emerge and when the mother turtles lay more nests. So, if anyone wants to join the campouts (sunset to after sunrise), please let us know your availability and we’ll fill you in on the details. (call Cheryl: 385-5484 or Angie: 357-3134) It’s easy so anyone can get involved, you don’t need much, and it’s fun! For more info, see:
http://www.wildhawaii.org/volunteer.html

Turtle hatchlings typically emerge from their nests at night, but we’ve had many daytime emergences at Oneloa in the past. So we’re also scheduling daytime nest watches. If you can spare a few hours in the morning or late afternoon to sit by the nest(s), that would be great.

I got to watch “Orion” nest successfully with the HWF team 2 weeks ago. It was an amazing experience!
We hope to see you out there!
*NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE BEACH AT NIGHT WITHOUT REGISTERING WITH MYSELF, CHERYL KING OR HANNAH BERNARD. IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE THERE AFTER 7:00PM UNLESS YOU ARE WORKING WITH US. PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF US TO FIND OUT HOW. MAHALO NUI

Sustainable Living Expo on tap Aug. 16-17

Moderator — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:50:06 +0000

If the rising cost of food and fossil fuels is impacting your quality of life, then come learn about the potential solutions! Saturday, August 16th & Sunday, August 17th–The Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) will be hosting the first annual Maui Island Sustainable Living Expo (ISLExpo) at the UH- Maui Community College Campus, Pilina Building. The expo will feature two days of presentations and panel discussions surrounding the critical issues of Island Food Security, Island Energy Security, Sustainable Living Education and Island Based Local Economies. To attend these sessions, register online at www.sustainablemaui.org. The Evening of Saturday the 16th from 6-8 pm- a free community gathering- will feature live music, an exposition of local non-profit organizations and businesses focused on sustainability, a farm stand offering locally grown produce, and delicious dinner concessions. For more info, to volunteer or to exhibit visit www.sustainablemaui.org or call 984-3792.

We cordially invite you to attend this inaugural event for Maui Island. Please find the attached a community invite which includes event details and registration costs, a program outlining the weekends’ speaker and panel line-up* and an event flier that can either be printed and posted in areas near you, or forwarded on via email. Please feel free to share these attachments with anyone who may be interested in attending the Maui ISLExpo.

*Program subject to change. Please refer to www.sustainablemaui.org

We sincerely hope you will be a part of this inaugural and vital event for Maui Island.

Mahalo nui loa and a hui hou,

Alex de Roode
Executive Director (SLIM)

Alyse Takayesu
Public Information Officer (SLIM) for the latest schedule info.

Sammy Hagar restaurant at Kahului Airport

Moderator — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:34:17 +0000

The state Department of Transportation is pleased to announce a grand opening ceremony for the Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill restaurant at Maui’s Kahului Airport on Wednesday, August 13, at 10:00 a.m. Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill is the namesake of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Maui resident Sammy Hagar, former lead singer of the rock band Van Halen.

Developed in a partnership between HMSHost Corporation, food services operator at Hawai‘i airports, and Sammy Hagar, the new eatery will be a full-service restaurant that provides classic American fare with an island theme in a casual, beach-inspired atmosphere.

“The state and HMSHost are very excited to offer this dynamic new eatery to our Maui travelers,” said state Department of Transportation director Brennon Morioka. “We are very pleased by the creativity and dedication of HMSHost in providing Maui travelers with such a wide array of dining choices at Kahului Airport.”

One-hundred percent of Sammy Hagar’s profits from the restaurant chain will be donated to local Hawai‘i charities via the Red Rocker Foundation, an organization Hagar and his wife Kari are establishing to help support children’s organizations.

New airport concession upgrades such as the addition of Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill are part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s $2.3 billion airports modernization plan. Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill will join food outlets already servicing Kahului Airport, including the Plantation Snack Bar, Stinger Ray’s Grill and Bar and Starbucks Coffee.

More eateries, including Jamba Juice, California Pizza Kitchen ASAP, and Burger King are scheduled to open in November.

(DOT Press Release)

Paris Hilton promotes Maui in McCain political ad fiasco

Moderator — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:10:47 +0000

A video of a swimsuit clad Paris Hilton mocking John McCain for featuring her in a political ad is making international news. Maui gets some much needed worldwide publicity in the video. Paris pauses to say that she needs to finish reading an article about where she went to get the best tan. She looks into an issue of Conde-Nast Traveler and says, “Oh yeah, Maui. Loved it”. See the video: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

Public DLNR meeting re Stable Rd. sand dunes July 30

Moderator — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 03:51:23 +0000

PAIA – Representatives from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Maui County Planning Dept will hold a public information meeting on Wednesday, July 30, 4:30 p.m. to provide a general overview of the permit process and status of a proposed beach restoration project at Stable Road in Spreckelsville.

The meeting will be held at the Kaunoa Senior Center, rooms 101/102, at 401 Alakapa Place in Paia.

Robb Cole, consultant for the applicant, Stable Road Beach Restoration Foundation, will provide a detailed project overview. He and representatives from DLNR and the County will be available to answer specific questions that arise.

Background:
The application for a beach nourishment permit is being reviewed by DLNR. Should it be approved, it would be conditioned upon a final biological monitoring plan, final sand source approval and a Department of Health, Clean Water Branch Water Quality Certification.

The project is proposed to start in the summer of 2009, before which time DLNR plans to coordinate dialogue with interested stakeholders, including fishermen.

Initial biological surveys of the nearshore indicate this area is subject to extreme erosion due to seasonal sand movement. The local marine nearshore is composed of coral rubble, coralline algae and thin sand beds. Very few coral heads were observed.

The NMFS suggested the applicant conduct additional and ongoing nearshore biological surveys to assess any changes to the marine ecosystem that may be attributed to the project but did not express significant concern to the proposed project based on the existing nearshore ecosystem.

Part of the rationale and justification behind this project is to restore the sandy beach approximately 30-40 feet further seaward, to its former wider profile circa 1990. The proposed activities would be restoring the beach to a past position rather than covering a previously uncovered area.

The use of sand bags known as “geotubes” is intended to retain as much of the placed sand as possible.