Earthquakes Keep Rattling the Big Island – 3.0 Magnitude Registered Tonight

Magnitude	3.0
Date-Time	Monday, November 26, 2012 at 08:40:08 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	19.433°N, 155.595°W
Depth	2 km (1.2 miles)
Region	ISLAND OF HAWAII, HAWAII
Distances	28 km (18 miles) NNW (334°) from Pahala, HI 31 km (19 miles) E (93°) from Honaunau-Napoopoo, HI 33 km (21 miles) ESE (103°) from Captain Cook, HI 54 km (33 miles) SE (127°) from Kalaoa, HI 61 km (38 miles) WSW (240°) from Hilo, HI 312 km (194 miles) SE (131°) from Honolulu, HI
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 0.6 km (0.4 miles); depth +/- 0.8 km (0.5 miles)
Parameters	Nph= 26, Dmin=2 km, Rmss=0.29 sec, Gp= 43°, M-type=duration magnitude (Md), Version=2
Source	U.S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Hawaii National Park, Hawaii
Event ID	hv60434846

 

Third Annual Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge – RESULTS

This year’s Hawaiian Natural Honey Challenge was a special event.  For the first time this year the award categories were expanded to reflect varietal types of honey, the category of comb honey was added, and multi-floral blends were divided into three types (light, amber and dark).  A total of fifty-two entries were submitted by Hawaiian Natural Honey producers from around the state.

Judging took place at two events; the Formal Judging on November 2 conducted by a panel of five judges selected for their discriminating taste, and the Public Tasting event on November 10 at which anyone who bought a ballot could vote for the “People’s Choice” awards in three categories (liquid, solid, and comb).

Award winning entries in the Liquid category based on scores given at the Formal Judging are:

• Best in Show – a light noni/palm honey submitted by Ron Hanson of Bee Mo Bettah.
• Best Albizia Honey rated highest for appearance, texture and taste – an amber Albizia honey submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Kiawe Honey rated highest for appearance – a light Kiawe honey submitted by Jenny Bach of Bee Love Apiary.
• Best Taste for a Lehua Blend Honey – a light Lehua blend submitted by Jen Rasmussen of Paradise Nectars.
• Best Appearance, Best Texture for a Lehua Blend Honey – a light Lehua blend submitted by Julie Myhre of J & J Coffee & Cacao.
• Best Macadamia Honey rated highest for appearance, and texture – a dark Macadamia honey submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Mac Plus Honey rated highest for appearance and texture – a dark Macadamia blend honey submitted by Joyce Takahashi of Miki Macs Honey, Kauai.
• Best Mango Honey rated highest for appearance, texture and taste – an amber Mango honey submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Ohia/Lehua Honey – an amber Ohia Lehua honey submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Appearance for a Ohia/Lehua Honey – an amber Ohia/Lehua honey submitted by Greg Johnson.
• Best Tropical Multi-floral Light Honey rated highest for texture – a light multi-floral honey submitted by Larry Reiss of Parsantha Apiary.
• Best Tropical Multi-floral Amber Honey rated highest for appearance, texture and taste – a Tropical Multi-floral honey submitted by Ron Hanson of Bee Mo Bettah.
• Best Aroma for a Tropical Multi-floral Amber Honey – an amber multi-floral honey submitted by Callie McNew.
• Best Tropical Multi-floral Dark Honey rated highest for appearance, texture and taste – a dark multi-floral honey submitted by Tony Lydgate of Steelgrass Farm, Kauai.

Award winning entries in the Comb Honey category based on scores given at the Formal Judging are:

• Best in Show – an amber Tropical Multi-floral honey submitted by Larry Reiss of Parsantha Apiary.
• Best Macadamia Honey rated highest in appearance – an amber Macadamia honey submitted by Ron Hanson of Bee Mo Bettah.
• Best Mac Plus Honey – a dark Mac Plus honey submitted by Joyce Takahashi of Miki Macs Honey.
• Best Lehua Blend Honey rated highest in appearance – a light Lehua blend honey submitted by Carol Conner of Jaycee’s Bees.

Award winning entries in the Solid Honey category based on scores given at the Formal Judging are:

• Best in Show – a light Ohia/Lehua honey submitted by Henry Iuker of Daddy’s Stolen Honey.
• Best Lehua Blend Honey rated highest in appearance – a dark Lehua blend submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Texture for a Ohia/Lehua honey – an amber Ohia/Lehua honey submitted by Henry Iuker of Daddy’s Stolen Honey.
• Best Tropical Multi-floral Dark Honey rated highest in appearance and texture – a dark Tropical Multi-floral honey submitted by Patrick Weder of Lotus Buddhist Monastery.

The entries winning this year’s three People’s Choice awards are:

• Best Liquid Honey – a dark Eucalyptus honey submitted by John Hanson.
• Best Comb Honey – a light Noni/Palm honey submitted by Ron Hanson of Bee Mo Bettah.
• Best Solid Honey – a dark Tropical Multi-floral honey submitted by Patrick Weder of Lotus Buddhist Monastery.

The Big Island Beekeepers Association owes much to the all those who contributed to make this year’s Challenge a success beginning with all those who choose to take on the Challenge and send in their entries to be evaluated.

We also want to extend a special thank you to our judges who labored seven hours on a Friday to rate all fifty-two entries.  Mahalo to:

• Lauren Rusert from the Hawaii State Apiary Program.
• Lorie Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee Farm.
• Joan Obra of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee Farm and Isla Custom Coffee.
• Ralph Gaston of Rusty’s Hawaiian Coffee Farm and Isla Custom Coffee.
• Sonia Martinez monthly columnist for the Hamakua Times, Farmers Market produce writer for Ke Ola Magazine and Farmers Market and farmers feature writer for the Hawai’i HomeGrown Food Network.

Mahalo to our sponsors whose donations helped our bottom line:

• American Apitherapy Society, Inc.
• Bee Culture
• Bee Mo Bettah
• Big Island Bees
• Big Island Packaging
• Hawaiian Springs
• Island Princess Macadamia Nut Company
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds
• Mann Lake
• Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company
• Miki Macs
• Paradise Nectar
• RevHoney
• Royal Hawaiian Honey
• Rusty’s Hawaiian
• Sustainable Island Products
• Volcano Island Honey Company

Mahalo to our amazing volunteers who made it happen:

• Chandra Boyd
• Pat Chu
• Cary Dizon
• HASS Bee Club members:  Rose Hanks, Dillan, and Juniper.
• Heather O’Connell
• Amy Ketner
• Sean Kirkpatrick
• Val Kimbrough
• Star Newland
• Jen Rasmussen
• Larry Reiss
• Randy and Danny Sosnansky
• Allen and Juanipa Sylvester
• Rod Vanderhoef
• Catarina Zaragoza-Dodge

And most of all our Registrar, Pattie Rechtman, upon whose shoulders most of the organization and records keeping fell.

Thank you to Danielle Downey and Lauren Rusert of the State Apiarist Office who attended the event and made themselves available to the many beekeeper attendees who had lots to talk about.

We also wish to thank Alice Moon of the Downtown Improvement Association and Sam Robinson of Lets Grow Hilo for providing the venue and their helpers Georiga Pinsky and Lonnie who also contributed significantly to the overall organization of the event.

Kea’au Christmas Parade Committee Accepting Application for Wreath Contest

The Kea’au Community Christmas Parade committee is accepting applications to the Christmas Wreath Contest. Applications must be submitted by November 30th and wreaths put up by December 2, 2012.

If your business do not have a store front, no worries! Wreath may be displayed at Kea’au Village Market with prior arrangement.

Judges will randomly visit each business during the week of December 3rd to 7th. Judging criteria are based on 1) incorporation of parade theme “Hawai’i Disney Christmas”, 2) creative use of materials, and 3) quality of workmanship.

Winners will be announced at the main stage before the parade begins on December 8. Winners will receive various gift certificates.

Application forms are available for download at www.kybc808.com. For more information, please contact Lily at 938-2387.

Hawaiian Pride Senior Softball Team Wins 2012 Winter World Championships

Pete Hoffman on “A Softball Saga”:

Normally I write about some politically related issue that is capturing the local headlines.  Permit me to change gears a little and relate a sports story.

On 15 November, the Hawaiian Pride Senior Softball Team won the 2012 Winter World Championships in the 70+ age group, Major League Division in Phoenix, Arizona.

Of the 18 members of the team that competed in Arizona, fourteen are Big lsland residents, to include Coach/Player Danny Ayala, Mel Hirayama, Frank Amaral, Dave Belaski, Jack McMenimen, Mike Fontes, Herb Leite, Billy Lyman, Clyde Nishioka, Jerry Tulang, George Kodani, Travis Warner, Richard Rodero and Pete Hoffmann.

The tournament victory emphasizes several noteable achievements.  First, I think it attests to the success of the County’s efforts in promoting senior softball.  When I arrived on the Big Island in 1997, there were eight senior softball teams.  There are currently 23 or 24 depending upon the eventual 2013 Kupuna League set up.  Senior softball remains one of the County’s biggest success stories for the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Second, when the Hawaiian Pride team travels to the mainland, it regularly faces teams that represent much larger constituencies:  New Mexico, Oregon, Central California, for example.  We do not enjoy the relatively large pool of potential players from which others draw players.  Nevertheless, we remain very competitive in all aspects of the game, and not just in the 70+ age group.

Which leads to the third conclusion, the quality of play on the Big Island is quite good and the spirit intense.  In the Phoenix tournament, four of the six games were decided in the final inning.  Exciting games are the ingredients that bring players back season after season.  Big Island Senior Softball certainly confirms the validity of that observation.

Just thought you’d like to be aware that politics is not the only subject we can discuss!!!

PETE HOFFMANN

Annual Closure of ‘Ama ‘Ama (Striped Mullet) Season Begins December 1st

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reminds the fishing public that the season for ‘ama‘ama (striped mullet) will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 through Sunday, March 31, 2013.

‘ama‘ama (striped mullet)

“ ‘Ama‘ama are about to enter their peak spawning season, which increases their vulnerability to fishing pressure,” said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR chairperson. “The annual winter closure is designed to help the fish reproduce successfully and protect the species from overfishing.”

Violations of the size or season restrictions can result in fines of up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail, plus up to $100 for each fish taken.

“We ask the public’s kokua in complying with the closed season,” Aila said. “While it’s DLNR’s job to protect our marine resources, everyone shares in the responsibility to take care of important fish species like ‘ama‘ama to ensure their survival into the future.”

Copies of statewide fishing regulations for ‘ama‘ama and all other marine species are available in Honolulu at the DLNR-Aquatics office, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 330, and at all neighbor island DLNR-Aquatics offices. Fishing regulations can also be found on the Division of Aquatic Resources’ website at hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar. To report fish catch size or net violations, call (808) 643-DLNR (643-3567).

Matt Levi Investigates: “The Colt Brennan Story”

A couple of weeks ago the following aired on TV.  It’s now available online:

Matt Levi in an exclusive interview with Colt Brennan.

Colt talks openly about his rise to iconic football hero and his fall in the wake of injuries, arrests and substance abuse.