Tag: maui

June 29, 2011 Ag Tourism, General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

The Cowboy Calendar | Coordinating Rodeo & Equine Events in Hawaii

Makawao Rodeo 2011

ANNUAL MAKAWAO RODEO – A very exciting rodeo event presented by the Maui Roping Club – more than 350 paniolos (cowboys) attend the rodeo from all over the world. Oskie Rice Rodeo Arena, Makawao Rodeo, a mile above Makawao town, on Olinda Road at Kaanaolo Ranch on Maui. This Hawaiian style rodeo, with rough stock and roping events, features rodeo clowns. Before and after the rodeo, enjoy live entertainment and country western dancing. For more information call (808) 572-8102.

The Cowboy Calendar | Coordinating Rodeo & Equine Events in Hawaii

February 2, 2011 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Diminishing water supply concern for new council

WAILUKU – Council Member Riki Hokama reopened the issue of moving the Central Maui sewage treatment plant inland at a meeting of the Water Resources Committee on Tuesday.

It was a surprise from the fiscally conservative Hokama. While he was off the council because of term limits, the County Council debated the wisdom of moving the Wailuku-Kahului plant (which is in a tsunami zone near the airport), but it shied away from the price tag of $300 million to $400 million.

But as long as members of the new council were throwing out surprising ideas, Council Member Joe Pontanilla mused that perhaps the county should “have an ordinance about how much greenery to put in” in landscaped dry areas.

He didn’t pursue that, but it showed that the council is concerned about diminishing water supplies.

The item under discussion was a report from the Department of Environmental Management about ways to increase the use of treated sewage effluent from the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

All the public testimony was in favor of making more use of reclaimed water. Even if it means higher rates and fees, said Irene Bowie, executive director of the Maui Tomorrow Foundation.

It would. Department of Environmental Management Director Kyle Ginoza said he had anticipated such a question, and the cheapest alternative would mean about a $5-per-month increase in water rates if spread out over the whole county.

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February 1, 2011 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

ML&P issues layoff notices

Unknown number of workers at Kapalua golf courses to lose jobs under a new manager

KAPALUA – A number of Maui Land & Pineapple employees will lose their jobs when an independent firm takes over management of the Kapalua Plantation Golf Course and Bay Golf Course at the end of March, the company announced Monday.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, ML&P said the total number of employees affected by the turnover is still uncertain, but that it had sent a 60-day layoff notice to workers, in compliance with U.S. labor laws.

There are about 100 ML&P employees working at the two courses, approximately half of the company’s total work force of 200, said Chief Financial Officer Tim Esaki.

Troon Golf, of Scottsdale, Ariz., will take over management of the courses on April 1, the company said.

Esaki said golf course employees were sure to be involved in the change, but “it may affect other employees as well.”

“Troon Golf, assuming the management of the golf course, will have an impact on other areas of our operations, but we’re currently in the process of evaluating what that is,” he said.

ML&P sold its Bay Course last year to TY Management Corp. for $23.6 million, with an agreement to lease back and continue to operate the links until March 31.

TY also purchased the Plantation Course from money-losing ML&P for $50 million cash in 2009, also with a lease-back contract.

ML&P issues layoff notices – Mauinews.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Visitor’s Information – The Maui News

November 30, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Public hearings set for Na Wai Eha water withdrawal applications

PAIA – The state Commission on Water Resource Management will hold two days of hearings starting Wednesday on competing applications for withdrawal of water from Na Wai Eha, the surface water collection system that serves Central and South Maui.

During earlier proceedings, the commission received applications from existing users to continue withdrawing water pending a final commission decision on allocating the water resource. Most of the applications have been challenged because there likely will be less water allocated by the commission than the total of present withdrawals, even before applications for new uses are considered.

Starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Paia Community Center, the commission will hear testimony from users to justify the reasonable and beneficial uses they intend for water.

The commission staff will present a new map, which graphically represents the users’ locations and the ditches and gates where they seek to draw off the water. Commission staff member Roy Hardy said the map should help sort out exactly which applications are in conflict.

Two commissioners, Neal Fujiwara and Sumner Erdman, will conduct the hearings.

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November 26, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Limited Time to Change Hunting Rules

Conservation Council for Hawaii News Release

The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing revisions to Hawaii Administrative Rules relating to hunting and game, and asking the public for their feedback. This is an opportunity to urge the state to change the hunting and game management paradigm to reduce the damage caused by introduced continental feral ungulates and game mammals, and provide more opportunities for hunters to help control animals and bring home the meat.

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November 5, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Sugar rush – Restating the Obvious by Harry Eagar – Mauinews.com

Funny how things work out. Our new mayor wants to take over plantation water systems (although when he had a chance four years ago, he backed down).

A couple of years ago, a combination of drought and low prices had HC&S on the ropes, and the board at A&B was beginning to wonder whether sugar was a business they wanted to be in. At best, it accounts for only about 7% of revenue. HC&S is such a small part of A&B that it cannot ever contribute largely to profits, although it can — and recently has — hammered them down.

Since A&B answers to Wall Street, which does not give a damn about Upcountry water meters, low sugar prices open the way to a county takeover of EMI. This would be a disaster, but, like I say, funny how things work out.

Arakawa’s in, sugar prices are up, A&B will presumably stick with HC&S for a while longer, the valley will be green and Kihei will not have to live through endless dust storms.

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