VIDEO: Landslide YES vote for Laupahoehoe charter school

Laupahoehoe has voted YES to convert Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School to a public charter school.

The secret ballots were counted up after 7 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Laupahoehoe School and Public Library. The League of Women Voters’ past president Sue Irvine and volunteers Margaret Drake and Marianna Scheffer announced the results: One hundred forty five out of 180 voters cast their ballots in favor of charter.

After the results were announced, a small group of community members in favor of the charter conversion let out a cheer, and were quick to characterize the victory as a landslide.

The Laupahoehoe Alumni & Community Association will now be empowered to apply to the state to convert the school to a public charter school.

LHES has faced declining enrollment and reduced funding for years. As a result, the school is on the Hawaii Department of Education’s school closure and consolidation list. The school is also in restructuring for failing to meet the progress mandated in the federal No Child Left Behind Law.

In December 2008, a community-based organization called Save/Improve Our School (SOS) was created, and in October 2009, the US Department of Education awarded them a grant to convert LHES to Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School, or LCPCS. The organization says Pam Elders, a community member, was instrumental in submitting the grant, which brings $450,000 over three years for planning and implementation of the charter school.

With the greater control that will be afforded to community under the charter school conversion, plans to return certain electives to Laupahoehoe are being discussed. The SOS group mentions art, music, forestry, engineering, sports and cooking. The group also says that existing programs that will be improved include agriculture, auto shop, and wood shop. SOS also ads that in addition to the US DOE grant, support from the US Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture and other sources will be utilized to ensure “that great electives will be balanced with high educational standards.”

VIDEO: From the Top radio show tapes on Big Island

VIDEO: From the Top radio show tapes on Big Island

From the Top took the stage this week at two different locations on the Big Island of Hawaii to pre-record upcoming radio episodes featuring local music talent.

From the Top, a nationally broadcast radio show that reaches a listening audience of more than 700,000 people, can be heard on Hawaii Public Radio.

On Thursday, the show was produced in front of a packed audience at the William Charles Lunalilo Center at Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii, located in Keaau. It was the first ever trip to the Big island for the production, as was noted by the show’s host, acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley.

On Thursday’s show, Pahoa’s 16 year old slack key guitar virtuoso Sean Robbins, who introduced the song Ku’u Ipo Onaona by slack key master Ledward Kaapana to the appreciative crowd of classical music enthusiasts.

Robbins was also named a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist, receiving a $10,000 scholarship.

Earlier in the week, From the Top took to the stage at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea, and featured the talents of the Honokaa High School Jazz Band.

SPECIAL REPORT: Mangrove massacre in Puna

SPECIAL REPORT: Mangrove massacre in Puna

Mangrove trees are a familiar site at Pohoiki beach in Puna. They take root and thrive in the saline coastal habitats of the tropics.

Area resident Nani Pogline has a fondness for the familair site, and was appalled when she discovered the trees were being poisoned… a part of a systematic eradication effort.

The organization responsible for the poisoning is Malama O Puna, a non-profit volunteer organization which focuses on the environment. The group says such mangrove forests are unwelcome invaders, and bad for the health of the ecosystem.

But not everyone shares their view. A group of people joined Pogline last weekend at Pohoiki to protest the poisoning. It appeared that some other members of the local community shared their outrage.

Among Saturday’s protestors: author and head of the Good Shepherd Foundation, Syd Singer. He echoed the concerns of fellow poison protestors, and questioned the environmental assessment … that never happened.

Singer has stood in opposition to Malama O Puna’s environmental agenda in the past. The two sides have faced off on the issue of strawberry guava. Singer is also known for providing a puuhonoua to another invasive species with a poor public image…. the coqui frog.

It was a different scene the following Tuesday, when locals enjoying thier day at the same location diligently worked to prevent mangrove keiki from taking root on the tidal lava rock.

Malama O Puna proudly points to recent efforts at the treasured Wai Opae tidepools in Kapoho, where they say eradication efforts are saving this delicate coral ecosystem. The group has been awarded grant money to do the job.

As the mangrove eradication is debated, it appears that for now, there has been a halt to the poisoning.

VIDEO: BIIF Paddling Championship at Hilo Bay

VIDEO: BIIF Paddling Championship at Hilo Bay

It was a big day at Hilo Bay this past Saturday, as local high schools competed in the BIIF paddling championships.

It was a voggy backdrop for this year’s canoe championships, and hunderds lined the beach to witness the athletic drama.

Kamehameha took the girls title after the favored Pahoa Daggers buried the flag and were disqualified. Waiakea officially took second and Waimea’s public charter school, Kanu O Ka Aina, placed third.

Kamehameha also took the boys race, with Kealakehe and Konawaena finishing second and third, respectivley.

In the mixed race, Pahoa found redemption with its dominant first place finish, ahead of second place Kealakehe and third place Kona.

Many teams were forced to declined the state berth for different reasons, such as a lack of funds to make the trip to Oahu.

For many of the teamates, it an emotional last chance to compete together in BIIF action.

VIDEO: New farmers market opens in Pepeekeo

VIDEO: New farmers market opens in Pepeekeo

The Hamakua Coast welcomed in a new roadside farmers market this week in Pepeekeo.

The open-air marketplace located right off Highway 19 on Kaakepa Street is a new location for Big Island craftsmen, vendors and farmers to sell their Hawaii grown and made products.

Huli huli chicken, shave ice, and fresh produce were available to shoppers when this video was taken on Sunday.

The market is open on Thursday from 2:00 pm to dusk, and on Sunday from dawn to 2:00 pm.

VIDEO: Helicopter hunt planned for Mauna Kea

VIDEO: Helicopter hunt planned for Mauna Kea

The Department of Land and Natural Resources planned to close the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and Kaohe Game Management Area this past Tuesday and Wednesday to conduct an aerial hunt feral goats, feral sheep, mouflon using helicopters.

The grazing animals are knwon to reduce the density and productivity of mamane trees in the area, which are relied upon by the endemic Palila bird, a finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper.

The DLNR says a federal court order requires the state to conduct the aerial shooting.

VIDEO: Mysterious 'fire in the sky' seen over Big Island

VIDEO: Mysterious ‘fire in the sky’ seen over Big Island

This mysterious “fire in the sky” caught the attention of residents all over the island this week.

Big Island Video News captured this image of what appeared to be some sort of flare over Mauna Kea. This shot was taken from the top of Kohala Mountain Road, facing Waimea.

We have been unable to confirm if this was part of recent training exercises at the military’s Pohakuloa Training Area. The internet was abuzz with chatter from local residents, wondering what the flickering, unidentified lights may have been.

VIDEO: Kohala School Task Force says 'don't consolidate'

VIDEO: Kohala School Task Force says ‘don’t consolidate’

A meeting to discuss the possible consolidation of the Kohala Middle, High and Elementary schools was held on Thursday evening at in Kapaau.

Because of significant upgrades needed at Kohala Middle School, the consolidation study was triggered based on Hawaii Administrative Rules.

The Kohala Schools Consolidation Task Force is recommending that there be no consolidation, based on their recent study.

The local community was invited to comment on the task force recommendation, and seemed to agree.

Hawaii Complex Area Superintendent Art Souza will now forward the recommendation to the Department of Education’s superintendent and the Board of Education. A final decision should be made within six weeks.

VIDEO: Kealakekua mauka fire update

VIDEO: Kealakekua mauka fire update

The Kealakekua Mauka brush fire that has been burning all month continued to smolder this week, and Fire Chief Darryl Oliviera said fire crews remain on the scene to continue with mop up operations. All burning and smoldering hot spots continue to remain well within the fire area. Some of these hot spots are estimated to be approximately one-quarter mile from the perimeter and in areas difficult to access.

The chief says fire breaks remain secure. No homes in South Kona are threatened at this time.

VIDEO: Ikeda Ohana Peace Park dedicated in Hilo

VIDEO: Ikeda Ohana Peace Park dedicated in Hilo

The unvieling and dedication of the Daisaku and Kaneko Ikeda Ohana Peace Park was celebrated in Hilo on Monday.

The event, held on the open space next to Soka Gakkai International-USA on Makalika Street, drew hundreds of excited residents, buddhists and community leaders.

The event was fittingly held on the day honoring civil rights leader and peace activist Martin Luther King, Jr. The president of Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda, is known the world over as a Buddhist philosopher, educator and peacebuilder (and has been equated to King in exhibitions like Gandhi, King, Ikeda, whch showcased the peace efforts of the two leaders along with India’s Mahatma Gandhi.)

Ikeda himself was not present for the event, however the executive director of Soka Gokkai International, Yoshitaka Oba, was on hand to bestow another honor on Mayor Billy Kenoi’s mother in law, Kumiko Culhane: The Soka Gakkai International White Lily Award.

The mayor was also honored to have his name engraved on the signage fronting the peace park, which enshrines the various peace-promoting quotes attributed to Ikeda.

Soka Gakkai International is a Buddhist religious organization with 12 million members in 192 countries and territories.