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Here is your fast news headlines for Big Island today:

DLNR Announce Spring Turkey Season

The upcoming 2023 Spring Bearded Turkey Hunting Season will begin on Tuesday, March 1, 2023, and continue for a total of 46 consecutive days until Friday, April 15. This season is exclusively for bearded turkeys and is restricted to designated locations as specified below.

In terms of bag limits and tags, hunters may take up to three bearded turkeys per day, with a maximum season bag limit of three. All hunters are required to possess an unused turkey tag while hunting. As of now, residents can purchase tags for $5 each, while non-residents can purchase them for $20 each. It's worth noting that turkey tags are non-transferable and must be firmly attached to the neck or tarsus of any bird caught immediately following the kill. If tags are purchased online, they should be printed and placed in a resealable plastic bag secured with a rubber band. Online purchases can be made, and a limited number of commercial vendors on the island of Hawaiʻi will also have tags for sale.

'Io and Pueo Gets Studied

Researchers are conducting simultaneous projects on Hawai‘i Island that focus on ‘Io, the Hawaiian hawk, one of two raptors native to the region. The other raptor is Pueo, the Hawaiian short-eared owl. The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) are leading ‘Io research to better understand the range and behaviors of these majestic birds.

Despite not being forestry experts, the DOFAW ‘Io research team ventured into Ka‘u Forest Reserve earlier this month to clear the road of fallen trees. Once in a suitable location, the team played back ‘Io calls to attract birds while scanning the sky for sightings. The team uses cylinder-shaped wire traps with lures to catch the birds, which are then weighed, measured, given a health check, and a leg band. A GPS tag is also attached to each bird, providing crucial data on their location and behavior.

The DOFAW study has captured seven birds since it began last fall, with the SDZWA study capturing and tracking six birds in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve. The research is expected to provide valuable data for future projects, including the reintroduction of the ‘alalā (Hawaiian crow) into the wild. It is believed that ‘Io were responsible for attacking numerous ‘alalā during a past reintroduction project.

The researchers have found that ‘Io uses edge habitat and pastures on the edge of the Kaʻū Forest Reserve, sometimes moving into the forest or coffee plantations around Pāhala. The GPS tags help identify places where there is little ‘Io presence, which could be useful in identifying areas for future ‘alalā reintroduction projects.

The ‘Io research project is a collaborative effort, with the DOFAW, SDZWA, and the U.S. Geological Survey contributing to the development of an impressive data set.

DOH targets tobacco companies

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) and the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute have launched the second phase of a public service announcement campaign to call attention to strategies used by tobacco companies to target Hawaiʻi’s diverse populations. The campaign aims to educate the public about the tactics used by Big Tobacco, which have led to higher proportions of tobacco use in specific communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, those identifying as LGBTQ, those with lower incomes, and those with mental health or substance abuse conditions. In Hawai‘i each year, the tobacco industry spends an estimated $26 million on marketing, more than triple the amount the state spends on tobacco prevention and control programs. Marketing tactics have included pricing strategies in certain communities, glamorizing menthol flavors, event sponsorships, and community outreach. The Stronger Together campaign will run through April and includes TV, radio, digital, social media, and print advertisements. The public is encouraged to visit the campaign website, StrongerTogether.hawaii.gov, for more information about the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing tactics and to connect with their local Tobacco-Free coalition to stay informed and get involved. For those already addicted to tobacco products, the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline offers free coaching and resources to support the quit journey. My Life, My Quit is a free program with trained coaches to help youth quit smoking or vaping.

HSTA: 'Crisis' at Holualoa Elementary

The Hawai'i State Teachers Association raised concerns about the condition of Holualoa Elementary School. The school has reportedly been infested with rodents, termites, mold, and structural damage. Teachers and parents have expressed their worries about the safety and health of students and staff. The teachers association has urged the state Department of Education to take immediate action to address the issues at the school. Holualoa Elementary School has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Case Reintroduces the Safe and Quiet Skies Act, Tokuda supports

Photo Courtesy of Eric Connolly | US House Office of Photography

US Congressman Ed Case has reintroduced the Safe and Quiet Skies Act, otherwise known as the Air Tour Management Act, which would introduce more regulations on commercial air tour operators in Hawaii. The act would require the Federal Aviation Administration to adopt stronger safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, with the aim of preventing deadly crashes. State and local government would be granted authority to impose certain conditions of operation for aircraft to minimize noise and other community disruption. Congress is currently discussing FAA reauthorization, and the bill has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Key points from Congressman Cases Press Release Tuesday:

• Require that tour flights fly above the 1,500-foot altitude over actual ground at all times with very limited exceptions for emergencies and takeoff/landing.

• Require tour flights over occupied areas (including residential, commercial and recreational areas) to be no louder than 55 dbA, the same level of noise commonly allowed for residential areas.

• Allow states and localities to impose additional requirements – stricter than the minimum national requirements called for in the Act – on tour flights.

• Require that all regulations under this Act, in addition to any updates to any Air Tours Common Procedure Manuals (voluntary understandings between operators and the FAA), include public engagement.

• Prohibit tour flights over military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges.

• Apply the “sterile cockpit rule” to tour flights, which requires that pilots only focus on safely operating the aircraft and would define tour-giving and narrating as outside of the duties required for safe operation.

• Require FAA to implement NTSB recommendations regarding Part 135 regulations, which most tour flights fly under.

• Require all tour flights to fly under Part 135 regulations and prohibit tour flights from flying under less restrictive Part 91 regulations.

The full bill can be found here

County Calendar

County Council Meetings: Date:02/22/2023 9:00 AM Location: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

• 9:00 a.m. County Council Meeting

Committee on Aging: Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 10:00 AM Location: Aging & Disability Resource Center Training Room 1055 Kinoole St., Hilo, HI 96720

Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting Date: 02/22/2023 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (“ICT”): The Zoom Link is: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/16005021475?pwd=eE1nazNKWVhUL3YzQkZuM3BqWWtGdz09

Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee Meeting Date: 02/22/2023 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Location: Nāʻālehu Community Center 95-5635 Hawaiʻi Belt Road Nāʻālehu, Hawaii 96772

Legislative Update:

• SB304: Establishes the Visitor Impact Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the department will collect a fee for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes, and appropriates moneys into and out of, the Visitor Impact Fee Special Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

• An upcoming Town hall hosted by Representative Jeanne Kapela on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30p in Cooper Center, Volcano HI. Those who are interested in attending may contact Community Liaison - Zee Zaidoff at [email protected] for more details.

• Click on the picture below to redirect to the State of Hawai'i Legislature site.

Road Closures:

— VOLCANO ROAD/MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) NORTH OF PAHALA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 46 and 50, vicinity of Kapapala Ranch Road on Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) NAALEHU (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 62 and 66, vicinity of Naalehu Driver Licensing Station and Hao Springs Road, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mowing and grass cutting.

3) OCEAN VIEW

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 70 and 71, vicinity of Kahuku Ranch Road, on Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mechanical mowing.

4) CAPTAIN COOK (WEEKEND AND WEELY WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 106 and 109, vicinity of Honaunau Elementary School and Koa Road, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mowing.

— KUAKINI HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) HONALO

Single lane closure on Kuakini Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction in the vicinity of mile marker 114, near West Honalo Road, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for Kuakini Drainage Improvements.

— HAWAII BELT ROAD (ROUTE 19) —

1) PAPAIKOU TO PEPEEKEO (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 9 and 11, vicinity of Onohi Loop/Kahalii Place and Old Mamalahoa Road (near Makea Stream), on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for mowing and grass cutting.

2) HAKALAU (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 12 and 14, vicinity of Kolekole Beach Park, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for tree trimming and shoulder work.

3) HAKALAU TO NINOLE (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 14 and 16, vicinity of Kolekole Beach Park and Umauma Stream, on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for vegetation cutting

4) LAUPAHOEHOE

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 23 and 28, Kapehu Road to vicinity of Stevens Road, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for paving.

5) KAMUELA

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between Mud Lane and Iokua Place on Tuesday, Feb. 21, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for core sampling in preparation for repaving.

— KAWAIHAE ROAD (ROUTE 19) —

1) KAMUELA (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Kawaihae Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 58 and 60, vicinity of Ko Uka Street and Ohina Street, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 20, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for shoulder work.

— KEAAU-PAHOA ROAD (ROUTE 130) —

1) KEAAU (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 0 and 3, Volcano Road and the Adopt A Highway sign, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— MAMALAHOA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 190) —

1) KAMUELA

Roving single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 2 and 12, vicinity of the Waimea Kohala Airport and past Waikoloa Road, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for installation of “animal crossing” signs.

2) WAIKOLOA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 6 and 10, Saddle Road to vicinity of Waikoloa Road, on Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mowing.

3) NORTH KONA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 18 and 26, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Mamalahoa Highway Safety Improvements, East and West Puuwaawaa Ranch.

4) NORTH KONA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 21 and 25, vicinity of Puu Kamanu Loop, on Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mowing.

— KOHALA MOUNTAIN ROAD (ROUTE 250) —

1) KOHALA (WEEKEND AND WEEKLY WORK)

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 7 and 9, vicinity of Kohala Ranch Road, on Saturday, Feb. 18, through Monday, Feb. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for tree trimming.

2) KOHALA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 13 and 15, vicinity Puuhue Road, on Monday, Feb. 20, through Friday, Feb. 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for tree trimming and shoulder work