A “Vog Vlog” for Hawaii County

Popular food event brings the community together
October 26, 2008 - Pau`uilo, Hawaii

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It was another year of family fun and locally grown food at the ballfield at Pau`uilo School on Saturday, when the town hosted the Hamakua Alive festival.

Founded by Jim Reddekopp of the Hawaiian Vanilla Company, the event featured the unique agricultural bounty of the Hamakua Coast. Peope browsed tables set with organic honey, taro, fruits, tea and more.

Family oriented games and music were also enjoyed.

This was the second Hamakua Alive event in October. The first was held in 2007.

For one day, residents disposed of computer parts properly
October 26, 2008 - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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On Saturday, Hawaii’s Education and Government eWaste Disposal Days 2008 allowed island residents an opportunity to discard the computer trash that is forbidden at landfills.

Personal eWaste was brought to several locations throughout the islands. On the Big Island, designated locations at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Kealakehe High School in Kona assisted residents in getting rid of monitors, keyboards, hardrive towers and video equipment.

These electronics contain hazardous materials that must be disposed of using a sensitive approach to avoid polluting the environment, according to a Hawaii Department of Education website. The website also said that the eWaste that was collected on Saturday would be recycled into commodity grade materials like metals, plastics and glass. Recycling and disposal services were reportedly provided by Apple.

Traditional Hawaiian blessing involves the community
October 26, 2008 - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Hundreds gathered at an empty lot in the Kealakehe section of the Big Island of Hawaii to bless the grounds of the future West Hawaii Civic Center.

Mayor Harry Kim and North Kona councilman Angel Pilago joined other officials in assisting Kumu Keala Ching deliver the ceremonial ritual.

The 85,000 square foot facility, situated on 7.2 acres of land along the Kealakehe Parkway, will consolidate 22 Hawaii County agencies and one state agency. These agencies are currently scattered at different locations throughout West Hawaii.

A Community Center and Pavillion, as well as four conference rooms, will be available for meetings.

The Department of Public Works estimates construction of the complex will take two years, with a projected public opening in 2011. The cost of the project is estimated at $50.5 million.

Miguel Ferrufino, 26, last seen Saturday near Kapa`a Beach Park
October 24, 2008 - Kapa`a Beach Park, Hawaii

Kapa`a Beach Park Video

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a kayaker gone missing, according to an updated release issued this evening.

Miguel Ferrufino was last seen on Saturday, when he was paddling a yellow kayak off of Kapa`a Beach Park on the North Kohala coast of the Big Island. He was said to be wearing multi-colored shorts and a dark blue T-shirt.

Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Civil Air Patrol have conducted 49 separate searches over the past five days, covering an area approximately four times as large as the Big Island. The entire Kohala shoreline has been scoured, as well as the Alenuihaha Channel.

“We saturated the area with all assets possible, but we were unable to find any sign of Ferrufino,” said Chief Petty Officer Seth Haynes in a Coast Guard press release. “It’s always unfortunate when we don’t reunite the missing with their family and friends.”

Anyone with info or possible sightings is asked to call the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600.

Miguel Ferrufino, 26, last seen Saturday near Kapa`a Beach Park
October 24, 2008 - Kapa`a Beach Park, Hawaii

VIDEO

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for a kayaker gone missing, according to an updated release issued October 23.

Miguel Ferrufino was last seen on Saturday, when he was paddling with relatives off Kapa`a Beach Park on the North Kohala coast of the Big Island. He was said to be wearing multi-colored shorts and a dark blue T-shirt. He was using a yellow kayak.

Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Civil Air Patrol have searched an area of approximately 16,000 square miles in an attempt to locate Ferrufino, which is an area four times as large as the Big Island. The entire Kohala shoreline has been scoured, as well as the Alenuihaha Channel. Yesterday, a small craft advisory was in effect for the channel.

Anyone with info or possible sightings is asked to call the Coast Guard at 808-842-2600.

$16.3 million complex proposed for vacant land near Waiakea Villas
10.23.2008 - Hilo, Hawaii

VIDEO

A story by John Burnett in Wednesday’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported on a proposal by two Big Island businessmen to build an entertainment center on 6.2 acres of vacant land in Hilo. The land, overgrown by with vegetation, is zoned for resort and commercial use, and sits next to the Waiakea Villas.

Ho`oluana Place LLC and David DeLuz Sr are the interested business parties. The development, known as Hilo Family Entertainment Center, would include a 32 lanes bowling alley, laser-tag, indoor mini-golf, and private banquet rooms. There would also be restaurants and sports bars. A retail complex is planned for later project phases.

The proposal requires the completion of an environmental assessment, as well as other state and county approvals.

Hawksbill honu hatchlings have Hawaiian help
October 22, 2008 - Kawa`a, Hawaii

VIDEO

The miracle of life is caught on tape, as baby sea turtles hatch from nest eggs and crawl through the rocky black sand towards the ocean.

In this instance, the honu hatchlings had guardian angels in a handful of local residents, who kept a vigil by the nest for weeks as the eggs incubated. Once hatched, residents protected the baby sea turtles as they scrambled to the water’s edge.

The residents counted over 20 hatchlings that made it to the sea. The danger for the turtles is not over. It is said that only 1 in 1000 will survive to adulthood.

The nesting season along the Ka`u shore lasts from mid-May through November. It is estimated that the majority of the state’s endangered hawksbill turtle nesting occurs here. The video in this feature was shot about a month ago.

I could never do this race. I couldn’t even survive the 2.4 mile swim at the start. These athletes are admirable madmen, willful beasts of nature. This Ironman Championship, as I am learning, challenges everything. Even video guys, who are too ashamed to show the strain of carrying heavy gear all day in front of the real athletes.

It was 10 am when I realized I might be stranded in Kona till midnight. With no bedroom to sleep in, and a two hour drive home to Hilo. This, after I woke up at 2 am just to get here. I had to park at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, where the events were being staged. I had to get there before the sunrise start in order to film the 4:50 am body paint numbering. Alas, I outfoxed even myself. The lot, conveniently situated along Palani Rd, is closed shut by order of the Ironmen, leaving me locked within.

I suspected it would be like this since Thursday, when I arrived to cover the press conference, and the prevailing media technique was the dreaded catch as catch can journalism… the one that drives us videographers nuts. No mic feed from the podium, still photographers and print journalists in the shot, no risers to shoot over heads… but I can’t complain. I was thankful to be granted media credentials: who am I to rock the boat? More importantly… this is the Ironman Championship! There can be no complaining, not in the same room as athletes who bike 128 miles through lava fields, only to be rewarded with a marathon run when they finish. So I was ready for the steamrolling inevitability of race day.

The event lived up to the hype. Covering it was madness. Bodies flying around, left and right. Fans cheering, ringing Ironman brand cowbells. It was my first time witnessing it, and finding my way around was a challenge. All I had was my camera and a purple wristband that granted me limited special access, but not as much as the NBC Sports crew. I had been wearing the purple wristband for three days, as if surgically attached to my arm, since it was given to me on Thursday. I also got free shoes, and some other media goodies… like the Ironman cologne; and I wonder how long it will take for me to gather the courage to take a whiff. The media is treated well by the Ironman organization, and we were thankfully kept apprised of the race developments with an excellent live broadcast available for viewing in the cool media center: a refuge from the hot Hawaiian sun.

I stayed till Chrissie Wellington finished. I was happy to see her parents, who I interviewed before the race began earlier, run out to congratulate her.

And I was lucky enough to find a back route out of the closed King Kamehameha hotel lot, so my midnight departure fears were premature.

On the way out of town, I caught a glimpse of the other side of the Ironman race… figures on the physical edge, blurred on the horizon of a coastal dessert. A scene that contrasts with the loud din of an enthusiastic town crowd. I’m sure it is those long stretches of barren, barrier less lava that is most memorable to the tested triathlete. I thought I got some good stuff, but I can’t shake the disappointment of having failed to capture these Kohala race scenes.

There’s always next year.

For now, I am happy to liberate myself from the purple wristband.

It may not look like much, but there was a lot of work put into this new version of the website. The changes are far from radical, but I do hope they make things easier to navigate.

For one thing, you’ll notice a new recent news items section at the top of the site, next to the interactive Big Island graphic. This is where all the updated news links on the site will listed, so you’ll find them right off the bat when you visit the homepage.

We are introducing a slightly different approach to some of these news items. You will notice that by clicking on some of the headlines, you will be taken to a newly created summary page. These pages will have a small video window, usually looping some file footage, next to that same interactive Big Island graphic. A slightly different way to present the news of the day, and don’t worry: we’ll still be producing those longer video stories, too. The hope is that this will enable the site to present more content in a way that is unique but not too taxing on resources. As always, focus will remain on video.

Get used to that interactive Big Island graphic. It will make many appearances. Still in production: a tour feature, which (in time) will guide a visitor around the island. The regions of the island will be broken down to focus exploration. It will also help focus the news headlines to be of greater local significance.

Also lurking around the site are badges for a newly created networking site, Big Island Video Hui. It will be a place to share video or pictures of the Big Island with other residents and visitors over the internet. Sometimes, video uploaded to the Hui may end up appearing on the Big Island Video News site. Although the Big Island Video Hui is a not for profit social network, it was created by myself to encourage everyone to get some good footage and share it (responsibly, of course) so please consider this an invitation to join. It is free. And this IS Hawaii, perhaps the world’s most beautiful place… how hard can it be to get good video?

Enjoy the updates and keep visiting. News will be coming more often, now.

You may have noticed the site has been lacking in daily news updates the last week. This is because Big Island Video News is on the verge of introducing some new features to the site that will increase functionality, and bring visitors more video when they visit.

A “tour” section is in the works, and will categorize news items by region. It will also create a video high lite reel for some of the island’s unique towns and beautiful landscapes. The hope is that it will serve to answer questions for visitors, as well as present news items for locals who may be interested in specific areas of the island.

There will also be a link to a new “Big Island Video Hui” network, that will give everyone a chance to share video clips. Some of those clips may even find their way onto the Big Island Video News page, under the “hui” section. The hope is that visitors will enjoy the new interactivity that this will provide the site.

Stay tuned. This improvements will be taking effect over the course of the next few days.