Forest Legacy Program accepting applications
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking projects for the Hawaii Forest Legacy Program to protect working forest lands from the threat of conversion to nonforest uses. The U.S. Forest Service-funded Forest Legacy Program, administrated through DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife, welcomes applications for conservation acquisition assistance.
The Hawaii Forest Legacy Program works with private landowners, conservation nonprofit groups, the counties and other state agencies to promote sustainable, healthy forests.
Roughly 58 percent of the land in Hawaii is privately owned, and 45,000 acres have been protected under the state’s program. The Division of Forestry and Wildlife is also working on projects that will protect an additional 5,000 acres of forested watershed lands through the establishment of conservation easements.
Conservation easements, similar to the agreement reached this year between the state, City and County of Honolulu, The Trust for Public Land, and Turtle Bay Resort for 665.8 acres in Kahuku, Oahu, are a relatively new conservation tool that allows a landowner to retain ownership of the restricted title to their property while providing permanent protection from development or unsustainable uses, providing landowners with an alternative to selling their land to development companies. While entering into a conservation easement is voluntary, restrictions are binding to all future owners in perpetuity.
The Hawaii Forest Legacy Program has identified forest lands throughout the state as important and in need of permanent protection, complementing the state’s broader watershed initiative, “The Rain Follows the Forest.” More about this can be found at dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/lap/forest-legacy. The Hawaii program accepts both fee title and conservation easement acquisitions. Fee title acquisitions are voluntary and can provide landowners with the knowledge that their property will be managed and owned in perpetuity by the state.
The deadline for the next round of applications is Aug. 20. Applications can be found at dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/lap/forest-legacy and should be submitted to Irene Sprecher by email at irene.m.sprecher@hawaii.gov. Landowners and nonprofit entities are encouraged to contact Sprecher at the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife at 587-4167 or by email to discuss their property and interest in the program.
Jury questionnaires going out in mail
Every August, the Hawaii State Judiciary mails juror questionnaires to individuals who have a Hawaii state driver’s license and are registered to vote in the state. This year, beginning Monday, approximately 235,000 juror questionnaires will be mailed to 85,000 residents on Oahu, 55,000 on Maui County, 70,000 on the Big Island and 25,000 on Kauai. The questionnaires are used to help select potential jurors who may be eligible to serve in 2015.
Those who receive a questionnaire have 10 days to complete and return the questionnaire to the Jury Pool Office. Anyone who fails to respond may be penalized.
To be eligible to serve as a juror, a person must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Hawaii, and able to read and understand English.
Concussive injury program planned
North Hawaii Community Hospital invites the community to “Recovery from Concussive Injury — It Takes a Village” by Melinda Roalstad, M.S., P.A.C., at 6 p.m. Monday in the hospital’s Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa meeting rooms. This discussion is free and open to the public.
Roalstad, former medical director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, created protocols for treating elite athletes following head injuries. These protocols have been adopted by the International Ski Federation to properly manage concussion injuries in the sport of skiing and snowboarding around the world. She is also the co-founder of Think Head First LLC, a program devoted to raising consciousness about and helping to coordinate recovery from concussive injury.
Nakamura graduates from basic training
Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler H. Nakamura has graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Nakamura is the son of Jenny and Kent Nakamura of Keaau.
He is a 2002 graduate of Waiakea High School. He earned an associate degree in 2005 from Hawaii Community College, Hilo.
Society resumes bread baking program
The Kona Historical Society Portuguese bread baking program will resume its regular schedule on Thursday. The public is invited to help roll out dough at 10 a.m. and buy a warm, fresh loaf of Portuguese bread starting around 12:30 p.m. until sold out.
For more information, visit konahistorical.org or call 323-3222.